#and better yet my husband and I both have weird complicated family situations!

[x-enocyon]

Sorry for the long absence here folks. I’ve been doing a lot of traveling, divorced parents over the holidays and all that.

[peachymilkandcream]

My Husband, My Monster|Part 1|William Afton x Wife!Reader

(A/N: So this is the fandom that won the poll! I'll try and keep these and Break Me Slowly regular, but still feel free to give me requests for both in my inbox, I do oneshots and headcanons as well as I'll answer your questions and comments! (Please just read the rules first) I think I have a general timeline and idea of the lore [It's FNAF lore it's complicated as fuck] so I'm going with my best guess on things. Hope you guys enjoy!)

WARNINGS: noncon, dubcon, power imbalance, age difference, manipulation, mind breaking, yandere themes, yandere behaviours, domestic violence, misogyny, violence, William's a warning himself, etc.

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Who knew that a bit of twisted words and cash made all of your problems go away? William had struggled to stay open with Henry Emily's company showing such strides in mechanical technology. He was still wearing homemade cloth suits while his rival had dancing puppets that children adored. His dreams and ideas were being stolen right out from under him in his eyes, rolling in mountains of debt and the threat of closing down looming over his head. They were his characters, his dream, his business idea, and the bastard had to steal it and make it better. Even though he had bought William out of debt all those years back, it didn't change the sting of defeat when the two businesses merged.

Now he didn't regret it, Fredbear's Family Diner was just starting out but it was already projected to be a success. His characters took centre stage and had never been more alive, delighting young and old alike, his legacy started now.

Which is when he noticed the girl sitting at a table with her friend, they were giggling and laughing together over some inside joke. William had always had a soft spot for pretty girls, his more reckless years spent taking what women offered him freely, now he didn't have the time.

However for this girl he might just be able to make the time.

Casually he walks over, pretending to just be passing by, when he spies the job application she's filling out on the table and catching snippets of their conversation.

"I'm just saying, you're not going to have time for school while getting even a part time job." The friend was saying this, a slightly concerned expression on her face. "And now offence, you're not the brightest bulb, you need all the time to study that you can get."

"Well thanks." She mutters, giggling slightly. "But I can't afford college with my situation now. Mom and Dad agreed to pay for most of it, but-" She hesitates with a blush. "I want the full college experience."

"Ooh~" Her friend seems intrigued. "My best friend finally loosing her innocence? Scandalous."

She scoffs. "Look I just haven't found the right guy yet, it'll happen when it happens."

At this William can't help but interject. "Excuse me, I couldn't help but glance over your shoulder and see you're applying for a job here."

She meets his eyes, and man was he a sucker for a pretty face. "Yeah I am, are you a manager here?"

He chuckles a little. "No actually, I'm the owner." While co-owner was technically true he liked to tell people he owned it solely to give himself an ego boost. "If you wanted, I could do the interview right here."

"Wait really?"

"Actually, she's fine, thanks, she's going to get a job with my mom or something. Come on let's go-" Her friend slides out of the booth, trying to drag the woman with her.

"Well I'm going to be brutally honest with you here ma'am, for a girl your age your options are going to be extremely limited. And even though the pay isn't great it's a great experience."

She stops, considering his words before waving off her friend. "Go ahead, I think I'll still fill it out, never hurts."

"If you'd like I can interview you right now, save some time."

"Oh wow that would be awesome-"

"Seriously? Listen, this guy gives me a weird feeling, let's just go okay? And I'll find you something better." The friend again reaches for her to come along, but the girl refuses.

"I'm serious, go on and I'll tell you how it went later."

With a huff her friend leaves, a clearly annoyed expression evident on her face.

William regains his composure before sitting across from her. "So, a job. Tell me what you can do." He crosses his hands on the table in front of her, a smile easily coming to his face.

"Well, I was thinking I would be a good server, I'm good with people, especially kids, and I love to clean. I can cook pretty well too but I think something at this scale would be too much for me." She laughs a little, clearly trying to ease a little nervousness.

He joins in on her laughter, hoping to make her comfortable around him, since that's what he wanted. "I suppose that's fair. Out of curiosity, why is it you want this job?" She was hired already, that he knew, a pretty face with a nice ass? What more could you want from an employee?

"Well I'm in college, and I want to be able to afford just some extras to really experience that life before it's too late."

"College?" He feigns interest, in his opinion all she was doing was wasting her most fertile years and her money. If she's halfway decent at any of her qualifications then she'd easily find a rich enough man like him, pop out a few kids and have a truly fulfilling life. "Can I ask what for?"

"Psychology, the human mind has always fascinated me."

"Oh yes definitely." He suppresses an eye roll, even more of a useless degree, maybe he could help this girl from throwing her life away because she thinks deep thoughts will make her money. "Then I should ask for your class schedule for hours."

"Right, I always keep it with me because I'm always forgetting." She giggles again, pulling it out of her purse and handing it to him. "I cannot work these times but anything else I'm there."

Wanting these hours to know when not to schedule this girl was the last thing on William's mind. "Well I'll do what I can, but it's not that easy, you have to be flexible in the real world."

"Of course, I understand that sir."

"William, call me William. My grandfather was sir and my father was Mr. Afton, so I'm just William." He flashes another smile, coaxing one from her lips as well.

"Alright, William." She tests his name out on her tongue with a soft smile and a subtle blush, the poor girl clearly hasn't been within five feet of a man before.

"Now Miss, have you had any work experience prior to this?"

"No, I haven't, this sounds entitled but I've never really had the need to up until now?"

"There's nothing wrong with that, although I'll need to teach you the proper dynamic between employee and employer. But I trust that won't be a problem, right?"

"Not at all sir-er-William. I'm more than happy to learn."

"Good, all you need to know is that I'm your friend, but I have authority over you so you need to follow what I say without question."

"Why without question?"

Oh she was so naive. "Insubordination, it's grounds with which you can be fired. So best not to stray too far towards that right?" He winks.

"Absolutely-" She shivers slightly.

"Then if that's it..." He draws the moment out for it to seem authentic. "Welcome to Fredbear's Family Diner and we're happy to have you on the team." He extends a hand to shake, which she grasps eagerly, her rows of white teeth on full display.

"Oh thank you so much! When do I start?"

"We'll have you start next week, let's say, Monday."

"That's perfect, that's so perfect-" She glances at the door. "I really should go, I think I've pissed her off enough as it is, thank you for your time." She shakes his hand and hurries out the door.

"Oh trust me, don't worry about it." He watches her go, a small smile coming to his face.

This was just the beginning.

[oitommothetease]

Invisible String (6/?)

Pairing:  Bucky Barnes x Female reader (Modern AU)

Description: James Buchanan Barnes, the owner of the most expensive-looking club in town and your new apartment. He was a dick and you hated him. What could possibly go wrong when you, the new girl in town, start bartending at his club to pursue your dreams?

Word Count: 2.1k words

Bucky couldn't recall the last time he had a genuine conversation with someone who wasn't his best mates, Sam and Steve. He enjoyed your company and as much as he hated to let his guard down, he wanted to do just that with you. You were everything that Bucky thought he would find repulsive, but he couldn’t help but be attracted towards you. And for the first time he wanted more, he didn't want a one-night stand or a fling with you, he wanted to know you. He admired your courage and bravery, but mostly he admired you. You, with all your stupid yet funny jokes and spontaneity; he liked you more than he would like to admit.

But there was this thing that you were his employee and one meal doesn't count as a date. It was just a meal. But yet, Bucky wanted it to be more. He had never been so intrigued by another person, but it was also clear that you didn't reciprocate his interest. And Bucky would have all of his 206 bones crushed out rather than giving his heart to someone only for it to be not requited. 

So, when you walked into the club the next day, pretending as if nothing had changed, Bucky knew where your relationship lay with him, and he was content with it. Okay, he wasn't content with it, but he knew he couldn't force something that wasn't there. He would choose to be in your life as your boss, acquaintance, or maybe even a friend if he's lucky enough than to not be in your life at all. 

***

When you got settled behind the counter, your mood wasn't that great. It could be because you weren't drunk this time, or maybe because you enjoyed your meal with your boss a little too much for your liking. You wouldn't call it a date, but it sure as hell was a lot better than all the dates or meals you've had with people.

Your good mood was definitely not because of the fact that your mother called only to inform you that this family friend's son is not going to wait around long, and you should at least find a stable job if you can't find a suitable boyfriend. Then she started boasting about your sister and her amazing profession and how she and her husband save lives every day. And you might have had enough of her bullshit and lied that you indeed have a stable job and relationship. None of which is true. 

Bartending only pays the bills, and you haven't had a relationship in years and none of them were serious. You always ran away from any sort of commitment because you knew you would eventually have to introduce your partner to your family and nobody deserves to see that circus, and you told yourself that you're doing a favor to those previous partners by leaving them or as your friends like to call ghosting them. In your defense, dealing with you and your family is more horrific than any scary movie. 

Well, until now because tomorrow your sister and her family are coming to meet your partner and take you back to your parents' place for the weekend. The only problem is that you lied to them about your job and your partner. The worst part is that both of them are pretty non-existent.

"Hey, How are you feeling? " Peter asked you, noticing how you still weren't paying attention to the customer in front of you. 

“Great, not drunk, if that's what you're wondering.” 

“I'm fine," you retorted, glancing at the concerned look Peter was giving you. You quickly took the customer's order and proceeded to make the drink. 

"The last time you said you were fine, you threatened to kill a dude," Pietro interjected, enjoying the faux disbelief that landed on your face. You looked over to Wanda for help, but she just chuckled at her brother's antics.

The rest of the night at work went by as it usually did. Pietro making a sarcastic remark here and there, Wanda countering her brother with a snarky response, you were laughing your ass off watching the duo and Peter awkwardly tried to suppress his amusement. In a weird custom, these three coworkers were the only thing that felt normal. 

By the time you were done, it was mostly you left like always, with the addition of security guards that James added since Rumlow. You wanted to talk to him, especially after the wonderful not date you had, but the situation with him was not under your control anymore and it released from your grasp which scared the shit out of you. If James and you had met under different circumstances, then you would have tried to date him, but with him being your boss and the whole Rumlow thing made everything so complicated, and you didn't have time for any sort of relationship complication in your life. At least that's what you kept telling yourself.

When you were done with your shift and were about to leave, a very familiar voice called for you. You've been trying to ignore him all day and just when you thought you've succeeded, he catches up to you. 

The thing that scared you with James was that you felt safe, too safe with him. You were scared that you were going to become dependent on him for your security, and you hated that. You always despised women who weren't anything except their husband's wife, as if their whole identity was being a man's property. Furthermore, you knew the only thing to be blamed here was patriarchy and men, but you decided that you weren't going to be someone's property, you were going to be your own person. 

And you rebelled a lot to reach here, dyed your hair blue just because your mom told you not to, pursued your dream just because your dad told you to follow a secure nine to four job, left ex-partners because they told you what to and what not to wear. And some part of you knew that James wasn't like that. He wouldn't exploit you and your weaknesses. 

But what you didn't realize was that these were merely excuses that your brain mustered up because you were too scared to be dumped. A long time ago, you decided that it is better to leave than be left. And James — well, James made you feel things that you didn't want to chase. You feared commitment and abandonment too much to go after a guy. 

Your thoughts were brought to a halt when he held your wrist gently and called your name again. Reluctantly, you turned around, pretending to be surprised as if you didn't see him. 

He obviously caught on to you. "Why are you ignoring me?" 

"What?" You scoffed in feign disbelief, taking your hand away from his grasp and setting it on his shoulder. "Why would I ignore you, bud?"

Bud? What the fuck? , both of you thought at the same time.

Carefully, he eyed your hand and then you, "Okay, come on, I'll drop you home."

"No, James, it's fine, I can go on my own." 

"Yes, yes, you are an independent, strong woman but come on," He teased, but you didn't seem to pick up the glint of mischief in his eyes. 

You heard that as a taunt, a taunt your father has told you an ample number of times, that you indeed can never be anything on your own if you don't have a man beside you. While you were lost in your thoughts, James was moving towards his car, assuming that you were following him.

 "But I am," you argued. 

Your voice sounded distant to him, he turned around and walked towards you. "You are what?" 

"I am strong and independent."

"Yes, you are," he agreed as a matter of factly because it was the truth. He had never met someone so strong who would leave behind their whole life to pursue their dreams. He, being the mob boss, and filthy rich couldn't do the same, and he may not tell you this, but he admired you so much. 

Once you got the assurance you needed, you started walking towards his car. "Are you coming or not?" and he followed you. 

Of course, you knew you were strong, but your life had not been going as smoothly as you anticipated. You're stuck in writer's block, your family interference and lack of trust in you hurts like a bitch. You were somewhat crushing on your boss, and you blurted random embarrassing stuff in front of him without thinking. You know, normal crush things. 

When you reached the apartment, he insisted on dropping you to your floor. The car ride was spent in peaceful silence, but the time spent in the elevator was everything but that. No, the fifteen seconds were spent in James fidgeting beside you because he wanted to say something but didn't know how to. 

After you unlocked your door, he finally spoke up. "Um, I was just wondering whether, you know, - I had fun last night and I don't have smooth conversations with people - um, I don't know, I'd like to go out with you again," he didn't finish, but your eyebrows shot up to your forehead and he quickly backpedaled. " Not as a date, if that's what you want. It could be a meal shared between you and your boss. Not that I'm implying that you are obligated to go with me just because I'm your boss. I'm asking this as a stranger, well, not as a stranger but as a friend, I think."

"James,” you spoke softly, and he could feel the denial coming his way.” I had fun too, but you're my boss. This is highly unprofessional."

He signed in defeat and looked at you one last time. There was so much he wanted to say, he wanted to tell you that he enjoyed your company more than he should. He wanted to tell you that he liked you. He wanted to tell you that he wanted to see where this thing would lead with you, but he knew better than that. At the end of the day, you were his employee and if you were to get involved with him in any form, it would only end in your tarnished reputation. So, he nodded, not trusting himself enough to speak much after the clear rejection. "I understand."

"Y/N! “

Both of you turned towards the source of the voice and frowned. He frowned because he was confused, whereas you, oh, you weren't confused, you were furious at the person standing there and at yourself for forgetting about their arrival.

 "Hi, Carol. I thought you were coming tomorrow," you stated, faking a smile, and everyone in the area could see your distressed attempt at looking excited.

 Well, everyone except your sister because she shrieked with happiness and ran towards you to throw her arms around you. Her husband followed behind and gave you and James an awkward smile.

 "I just couldn't wait to meet my baby sister and we'll take you guys back for the weekend."

You guys, James and you thought at the same time. James looked at the side of your face for an explanation, and you kept looking forward at your sister, avoiding his gaze.

Fuck, you forgot about that. How can you forget about that? You mentally cursed yourself and didn't say anything because you didn't know what to do. 

Your sister picked your silence as her cue to talk and pointed her index finger at James, who was standing beside you now. "Is this him?"

Your sister looked at you, expecting an answer, your brother-in-law looked at you with something called, please hurry up, I just want to go back to the hotel. James looked at you with bewilderment. 

You sighed and took your boss's hand in yours, who also happens to be the most dangerous person in the town. He complied, holding on to you tightly, running his thumb on the back of your hand in a soothing manner. It felt like the most obvious thing as if your hand was made to be held by him. The thought sent a pleasant shiver down your spine, but you were too stubborn to accept it.

"Yes," you finalized. "This is James, my boyfriend."

TAGS: @bananapipedreams @akkinda10 @rivers-rambles21 @emmabarnes @goodcleanfunsis @valsworldofcreativity @boofy1998 @marvel-3407​ @priii​

[haleigh-sloth]

Thoughts on Rei? I feel like I’m in the minority in that I don’t think she’s like morally on Enji level but I also don’t think it’s wrong to feel resentment towards a mother who didn’t protect her kids even if she was a victim too... like I want her to reconcile with Touya and all her kids (glad for her progress!) while I don’t so much for Enji (even if he will probably in the end) so I don’t mean to write her off but... sometimes I feel the fandom gives her a pass because her situation is so tragic and impossible to condemn, yet irl kids do resent the parents who are bystanders and I wish ppl would acknowledge that when saying she deserves no criticism?

Dude this is so weird. @redphlox and I were discussing EXACTLY THIS EARLIER TODAY WHEN WE WERE HANGING OUT WTF. WERE YOU THERE EAVESDROPPING. Lol. Anyway.

Ohhh god. I'm kind of terrified to comment how I really feel because some people get really upset over this but here goes nothin.

Please--if you disagree that is okay. I understand. Do not come to my inbox and be a bitch.

CW: Abuse, domestic violence under the cut

So before I can really comment on Rei I need to lay some things out.

Firstly--I've made it clear on here many times that I work in child welfare. I'm not talking out of my ass when I say the things I do. I find it really hard to converse about the Todofam a lot of the times because I look at it from such a different perspective that there's just a disconnect between what I think and what others think. Which is fine, it really is. Maybe this disclaimer will make sense after you read all of this to come lol.

Also: I am speaking from an American POV. I have said it before but I cannot comment on Japanese protocol for child abuse. But the psychology behind it all is all the same.

Secondly--a lot of people who give Rei a 100% pass do not understand how ugly and complicated family abuse and domestic violence is. I'm gonna have to talk about two different aspects here, because two different things were happening in the Todoroki household: domestic violence and child abuse.

In real life: When domestic violence occurs and children are involved---it does not matter who hit who or who started it or what the fuck ever. Both parents are responsible for the safety of their children. The victim of the domestic violence is held JUST AS RESPONSIBLE for their children's safety. They weren't the ones endangering their children per say, but they are responsible for getting their children out of that situation. By law, they are responsible. If a mother who is constantly abused by her husband fails to remove her children from that mentally and emotionally (potentially physically) damaging environment, BOTH parents are considered guilty for being neglectful of their children's wellbeing. For different reasons obviously, but's that's how it is looked at by law because those children NEED to be protected. They have to be. It does not matter who did what.

Now domestic violence does not always involve child abuse, but in the Todoroki household it did. Which makes it even MORE complicated and ugly. Rei, a mother in distress who is losing control over her life, is still responsible for her children's wellbeing. Touya and Shouto were both being abused by their father. Rei, as a mother, had a responsibility to her children. But could she stand up to Enji?

For Shouto: It's pretty clear that by the time Shouto was being beaten by Enji, she had no control over the situation. We saw her stand up to him once, and she probably tried other times as well. But it didn't save Shouto. We already know Shouto doesn't blame Rei at all, and he hardly views himself as an abuse victim and instead views his mom as the sole victim.

For Touya: This is the reeeaaalllllllyyyy complicated part. We know that when Touya was starting to spiral Rei had some semblance of control. Rei was in a better position to take control of the situation happening with Touya. The truth here is--Touya was abandoned by his dad at a much younger age than when he started really spiraling. Did Rei step in? We don't know. But judging by Touya's reaction to her attempt at helping him, and their disconnect as mother and son--I'd say she didn't step in when she could have early on.

"You're guilty too, Mom."

Here's the thing, Touya was smart. We know this. He caught on quick to what was going on. Rei's situation with her marriage to Enji aside--she is his mother. She is supposed to protect him. In ALL ways--physically, mentally, and emotionally. And she didn't. She did not protect him from the emotional harm that was being thrown onto him. By this point ^^^^ it was already too late. She didn't protect him and the emotional damage done by Enji was done.

Rei knew the reason she got married. She knew why Touya was born.

Touya has every right to resent Rei for not protecting him.

When you're a child and you're suffering on a daily basis because of one of your parents, and your other parent doesn't protect you? Yes--that is going to hurt. Touya is allowed to hold her responsible. She is his MOTHER.

HOWEVER---before some people lose their shit on me

Rei was in a very complicated position. From Touya's perspective--she did it to herself. That's not necessarily true--but that brings me back to the one FACT that rings true above all else. Rei is his mother and is responsible for protecting his wellbeing.

To put is as simply as I can: Rei is not 100% guilty by ANY MEANS, but she is not 100% innocent. Or rather--her feelings of guilt are justified, and absolutely normal. She did not go out of her way to hurt her children. She didn't . She is not guilty of abusing her children or neglecting them. Her failure lies in where she had room to step into a more protective role of her children--specifically for Touya. She tried with Shouto and we saw how that went. But with Touya the situation was different. It hadn't escalated to that point yet. As soon as the doctor told them to stop having kids--that is when she had the opportunity to step in and try to mend what was already so fucked up to begin with. Would it have worked? Maybe, maybe not. We'll never know. But her attempt that we saw with Touya didn't work because he had already spent years being emotionally abused by his father and watching his attempted replacements be born--one of them being a success. It was too late.

I guess my closing statement on Rei is:

As a mother, she didn't protect her children from mental and emotional harm. As victim of domestic violence, she didn't have any control over the situation. From one of her children's perspective (Touya), she didn't save him. From the other (Shouto), she tried and couldn't. All of those things can coexist. The fact of the matter is--domestic violence is ugly. But at the end of the day--BOTH PARENTS are responsible for their children's wellbeing.

It isn't just ugly and complicated in fiction. It's fucking BAD in real life too. Believe me they're the most complicated cases to resolve.

Needless to say: As a reader, I don't blame Rei at all. I still think the retcon of Enji is fucking bullshit. BUT, Rei feeling guilty as a parent is absolutely normal. It is. Even if she tried her best, for her to FEEL like she could have done more is a normal thing to feel.

[cheekygreenty]

His Queen - The Darkling x Reader

bitch, I think I outdid myself on this one. I'm shocked I wrote this

He hated the Tsar. He hated himself, but he didn't hate you. How could he of let this happen, he's never been a slave to his emotions. You were married, no, scratch that, you were the Queen for Saint's Sake. The Tsar had made it common knowledge that you didn't belong anywhere but the Grand Palace, in a glittering gown and a jeweled crown upon your always perfect hair sitting in front of a fire sipping on your tea. He wanted you nowhere near the action or actual Palace life. You were merely an accessory to him.

The young and innocent girl raised in nobility, who caught the old bastard's eye by fluttering your eyelashes at him, longing for his person.

Bullshit.

Aleksander could see your repulsion whenever you were in your husband's presence. The longing eyes as you looked at the doors, the shiver that rattled your spine as his sweaty hand gripped yours, or the increasing sadness in your eyes as the months went on. The jewels around your neck glistened, but your eyes didn't. Not anymore.

He had done some digging in the months following the wedding, and rest assured you didn't belong anywhere near the palace. You were scrappy, ready for a fight at all times. There were numerous accounts of you running around villages, fighting your way through pubs and inns. Your parents, the Duke and Duchess, were downright ashamed of you before your big day. You were itching to drop everything and join the First Army the second you had the chance. You were skilled in ways no noble was; you had street smarts.

Then the late Queen died and you were presented on a silver platter to the King, donning all the family jewels that never sit quite right. The King couldn't help himself, the public blamed the grief for his hasty marriage, 'he needed a companion.' But in reality, he saw what he could have and grasped you up the second he had the chance. And now you were stuck here, in a cage with no way out.

Aleksander didn't take a liking to you at the start. All he saw was what the King wanted him to see and for that, he feels tremendous guilt. He thought you to be proper and uptight and spoiled, so when you approached him the first time, franticly asking for advice about a simple state matter that was dropped into your lap by the General himself, he couldn't help but snigger at you and convey news of the stupid Queen to his fellow Grisha.

He didn't know the King treated you like a child or that all of this was new to you. I should've seen it he cursed himself, for the weeks to follow you were the talk of both the Palaces and news spread to camps on the front.

The stupid, young, ditsy girl who couldn't put together a luncheon for Ravka's war heroes was the Queen. Ridiculous.

He believed it too until he had seen you out one night when he couldn't sleep. You were deep in the forest, tending to your black stallion and in what looked like peasant clothing. You had mud on your boots and your hair was messily braided. There was a tatted punching bad tied up on a tree and another person sitting against a log, breathing heavily and clutching his side. Aleksander never made himself known, just blended into the darkness as he did best but continued to watch you eagerly. Only then did he faintly make out your bruised knuckles and the tears in your breeches.

'Again?'

'Saints Y/N no, I've got a way to go and the way you just bruised my ribs, I've a painful journey ahead of me' mused the sitting man.

That night, Aleksander sent out his best Grisha to collect information and asked Genya to tend to you, but you denied yet again (only after asking her to fix up your hands).

Ever since then, Aleksander has been observing you and getting to know you when he could, telling his Grisha it was to gather information since Genya was no longer garnering the Queen's secrets, but he felt drawn to you for whatever reason. You were the best part of his day; whether it was a simple smile sent his way or you rambling about the ways you avoid being followed around the palace, he listened intently and set the shared memories into his brain.

The General was a mystery to you. With his extremely handsome face and confident stances, he mesmerized you to the point of a blank mind. Whenever your eyes met his, it could be in a room of 60 people, rest assured you were right by his side in an instant. You had sought out his presence wherever you went and clung to it while you could.

But the King had made his opinion of the Darkling obvious, and his hatred ran deep. 'He likes to think he rides a horse above everyone else.' 'He's most unnatural.' You didn't care though. As long as he kept himself away from you and just used his words and not actions, you were fine.

You had gathered a particular kindness for late evening walks before bed, silently slipping onto the grounds of his palace, awaiting his companionship. It might have only been 40 minutes out of your day, but it was always better than not seeing him.

Ivan had pointed out that you had an air of hostility around you every time you were in a room with your husband and your heart tended to beat dangerously fast as if you were panicking. So Aleksander attempted to pull you away from him and distract you from the horrid man, and it seemed to work. He grew to like you and would miss your witty humor when he went back to the Little Palace.

Months had passed and he never grew sick of your presence, ironically he craved more of it. He tried to tell himself that you were just a part of his plan, nothing more, but things got even more complicated. He had accidentally mentioned seeing you that night in the forest, and instead of being hostile about it, you told him you enjoyed a fight or two and invited him to join you. That night, after multiple rounds of sparring and hard hits, he kissed you fervently. And again and again, until you both got past the point of going back.

You acknowledged the risk only after it happened and started to panic. You had an affair with the General of the Second Army. He seemed to be in the same state as you. But before you went your separate ways, he held you in his arms and promised it would all be ok. You believed him.

He got back to his chambers that night and his demeanor changed behind the closed doors. He was so mad. He always swore to take what the King loved most and destroy it before his very eyes, but this was a sick joke the Saints played on him. He needed to protect you, get you out of the Tsar's grip, and hide you away from any harm. There was nothing he wouldn't do to keep you out of danger's way and he knew it. Why did he let this happen? He knew that whatever your ending may be, you would get hurt, maybe not physically, but definitely emotionally.

You had told him of all the things the King did to you, how he treated you and paraded you around. You begged Aleksander to do something about it, to help you get out of that life and back to your old one, but there was nothing he could do and it broke his heart.

'I wish I could do something Y/N, I truly do, but I am not as powerful as you may think I am. The King is still the King' he had told you, guilt building in him.

He was sitting at his desk in his chambers now, looking out the window feeling fidgety. You were late for your evening walk, like really late. Sure it happened before, but Aleksander had a weird gut feeling that something happened. Maybe the King found out? or maybe you finally realized the magnitude of the situation and came to your senses?

He knew if the King whiffed out a sliver of what was going on with his wife and Aleksander, he would rain hellfire. He was a powerful man, the most powerful man in all of Ravka and there was nothing more dangerous than an embarrassed man's actions.

His thoughts were interrupted by a loud noise he hadn't heard in a very long time, followed by the very loud thuds of falling books. The tunnel?

'ALEKSANDER?' your panicked voice reached him and triggered something primal in him. fight or flight. He and his shadows shot up and ran to you but stopped dead in his tracks, the black matter disappearing in on itself. You stood at the entrance to the tunnel, visibly shaking with anger, but that's wasn't the cause of his shock.

'Saints Y/N' He whispered, realization flooding over him like a nasty wave of ice-cold water. Your once ivory white nightgown was drenched in crimson but you were uninjured, it wasn't yours. The huge green Lanstov emerald sitting atop your left hand was smeared in red too, giving it a brown tinge.

'I need to get out of here right now.' You sounded solid and stern, the panic was long gone. The scrappy fighter was back.

Aleksander had always known what to say. But now, he didn't have a single word come to his mind and his body refused to move, he was rendered speechless and useless. This is a nightmare, surely, he prayed.

'Y/N I-I, What happ-'

'Aleksander, unless you want to see my head on a pike by dawn, I suggest you help me' You said as you moved across the room, after closing the tunnel door firmly shut. How does she even know about these tunnels?

'I once heard a drunkard speak of tunnels beneath the palaces, I tried my luck' You said answering his question without even being asked,

Your hands moved quick, shedding yourself of the nightgown and holding it in your hands as you moved to grab his black robe off a chair. Aleksander still stood there, his head whirling with so many thoughts, it debilitated him. He needed her to say it.

'Y/N did you do what I think you did'

'You know I did'

At that moment the doors burst open to reveal Ivan with an alarmed look on his face and his hands raised, ready to jump into action, most likely alerted by the falling books. But he faltered when he saw you, The Queen, covered in blood and holding a bloody nightgown in the most secure room of the Little Palace.

'Great another witness' You huffed and dumped the gown into the fireplace.

'Moi soverenyi, what is the meaning of this?'

'Ivan I wish I could tell you.'

'I killed the King. I have approximately 3 hours before somebody notices him laying in his own blood with his neck slit open' You sighed and sat down, head in your hands. This was the first moment you'd had to process it all, and it was overwhelming, to say the least.

A silence enveloped the room as the fire roared back to life, already having burnt the evidence to a crisp. Aleksander finally came to his senses, moved and grabbed a bowl of water and a cloth.

'Did anybody see you leave?' He asked as he handed you the items to wash your hands of the sticky blood.

'No. I made sure of it. I traveled through the tunnels.'

'And the King? There is no weapon near him?' Ivan interrupted.

Slowly you bent down and pulled a small dagger out of your shoe. Small but sharp.

'Give that to me' Aleksander took it out of your hands and walked out of the room while you continued to scrub the crimson off your hands.

You momentarily looked at Ivan, he didn't look mad or upset. He looked like a soldier.

'Are you not mad your King is dead?' You mused.

'He was not my King'

'That makes two of us' You were done cleaning your hands and moved to clean the ring. Should I burn this too?

'Leave it on. If things go sideways, you can buy your freedom' Aleksander returned. 'Ivan go get 2 horses and pack essentials. Get Genya too. I trust you to keep quiet.'

'Yes Moi soverenyi, Moya tsaritsa' He bowed his head quickly and waltzed out the room.

'Aleksander I'm scared now.....what have I done' You whispered. He took hold of your hand and pulled you into him. He held you tight, not wanting to let go.

'It's going to be ok. I promise. There's a small cottage down south I want you to go to. Ivan will take you. You will be safe. I will right this. I will protect you as I should've done earlier.' He kissed you deeply, letting all of the emotions flow through without the need for words.

'And what then?' You whispered against his lips.

'You be you. Perhaps go to Ketterdam. I feel you belong there... or come back to me when the time is right' He kissed you again, it was sweet and sad. A goodbye kiss. 'I love you, and even though you don't like it, you are my Queen. Forever'

'I love you too' Your hands fisted at his beautiful black kefta as tears dripped off your face.

****

That night you fled, your hair and appearance completely changed. The peasant clothes you felt comfortable in were on your back while the heartrenderer galloped beside you. Os Alta was still asleep as you sped down south, praying to the Saints that leaving Aleksander to deal with your mess was the right decision. That he would be ok too.

Ravka was shaken by the news of their dead King and the missing Queen. Some say she was dead, kidnapped by Fjerdans, and slaughtered mercilessly, others said Kerch merchants had her thrown in the Fold as she refused to give up information.

Either way, Aleksander had made sure you weren't regarded as a murderer and kept his promise to give you a chance to return to the Little Palace, to him.

Also if u can see this fic plz interact with it!! Idk if my tumblr is fixed yet and I need to make sure!!! If u were tagged and it didn’t notify you like last time, plz tell me!!!! 💓💓

Taglist (tell me if u want to be added)

@theonelittleone @searching-for-gallifrey @lostysworld @0-artemis @exo-1204 @staradorned @bookfrog242 @simp-for-ben-barners @keepdaydreamingbb @acciorudolphx

[margarethx]

I really wish people gave more personality and plot relevance to the side characters (especially Sarah, her kids, and Torres) in the Sambucky fanfiction other than just “matchmakers”.

I get why writers do that, to be honest. Having a separate person in the narrative who pushes two main, oblivious characters to be together is very convenient when you’re coming up with the plot. A matchmaker is a good outside force to move the story forward and they can often express the emotions that the audience feels while reading (like the frustration: “why are they not a couple already?!” or relief and fondness: “they finally got together, I love them!”).

But it still feels weird to have a person like Sam’s literal sister, who knew Sam for years and who has a family or a business on her own, and only make her care about her brother’s love life. Same thing with Joaquín who has more of a prefessional relationship with Sam, but also admires him a lot as a superhero... (let’s ignore his pretty obvious crush for a moment). They both care about Sam, for sure. But it’s not like their lives are entirely devoted to him and his heart problems.

(Btw. people often use Sharon or Zemo as the default matchmakers too, but it’s a little bit different with them, expecially Zemo, considering that they are not exactly friends with Sam and Bucky and they wouldn’t spend this much time together outside of the missions.)

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

And the thing is... it would be incredibly easy to make these characters have more depth than just: “Sarah is there to make Sam jealous” and “Torres is there to make Bucky jealous”. You really don’t have to put much effort into treating these characters better.

If you want Bucky to have an honest conversation with Sarah where she gives him hints that Sam likes him? Go ahead. But that conversation can happen when Bucky helps her with her business. They can talk about her efforts to feed people in their town. She can tell Bucky some stories about her and Sam from their childhood or just talk about her kids and husband. They can talk about missing their parents. Maybe Bucky solves some problem for her and she decides that maybe she can pay him back by helping with the “Sam situation”. It really doesn’t have to be like: “hello, I’m Sarah, I am here to tell you that Sam likes you too... I have to go somewhere else suddenly, bye”. But that’s way too often how she’s written.

Same with Joaquín... I never really see anything about him getting new wings (which he’s obviously excited about), but he could easily bond with Sam by flying together, so he can train faster with Sam’s help. They can talk about working for the military, being away from their families. What hobbys do they share? Why did Torres know how to repair Redwing? How does Torres feel about working with an actual Avenger? How was his life when half the population disappeared? Is Sam protective over his younger colleague? If they talk about Sam’s crush, maybe they can talk about Joaquín’s too (on Sam or not)?

And the same thing goes for stories where it’s Sam talking with Sarah and Bucky talking with Torres.

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

I do not expect people to write 30k fanfics about side characters that the audience doesn’t know that much. It’s very cool if you do that, but it’s harder to get inspiration and ideas if a character isn’t well-established in canon. I don’t blame writers for not writing whole separate stories about Torres yet. We’ll probably see more of him in the future and there will be time for my “where are the Joaquín fics!?” campaign :>

But like I said... You don’t have to come up with an insanely complicated storyline for these characters to make them feel more real and interesting. They can still act like matchmakers, get frustrated by Sam and Bucky’s obliviousness, and plot to get them together etc. It’s just way better when they have a personality outside of that.

A story where “Joaquín tries to learn how to fly, asks Sam for help, and they became closer friends, so now he wants to help Sam with his chaotic love life while they make jokes about Bucky hating Redwing all the time” sounds way more enticing to me than a story where “Sam said one nice thing to Joaquín which made Bucky so jealous that he was mean to Torres for the next two weeks and never said sorry... but we don’t even know how Joaquín feels about it, because author doesn’t care”.

I cannot be the only one who thinks that.

[itscalledbisexualcrisis]

Legacy

Request: Hii! Could you do a angst/fluff with Kuvira where r is like from an important family and they meet when they're young but then r joins the avatar? Finish how you'd like! Thank youu

Thank you to depressed-bi-bitch for the request, this was a lot of fun writing!

When Suyin was creating Zaofu, she knew she needed a dependable supply of metal. The valley, where eventually Zaofu would be erected, was a small mining village. It had an abundance of precious metals, but were predominantly used in trade with neighboring villages. There, Suyin met your family, the esteemed owners of one of the largest mines of the village. Suyin was eloquent with her ideas and clear passion for leading people. Her husband, Baatar, had already made a name for himself as an architect from Ba Sing Se. Meanwhile your family was one of the established families of the village, producing most of the metals and negotiating with outsiders trade deals. Together, your family and the Beifongs created Zaofu, a technological city of the future.

Growing up in a sprawling metal city was like living in a story tale. Big spiraling metal structures, an abundance of art and culture blooming all around you, and spending most of your childhood with the Beifong family were your earliest memories. You were surprised one day, while playing with Opal in the Beifong estate, to find Suyin bringing in another child. The girl seemed older than both you and Opal and she had a firm pout on her lips. Her clothes were more plain compared to what usual Zaofu citizens wore and she wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone. 

“This is Kuvira. She’ll be living with us and be part of our family now, Opal. Think of her like your sister,” she introduced.

From being the adored only daughter to having to share with another little girl was not easy for Opal to adjust. Including sharing you, her childhood best friend.

“I don’t want a new sister!”

The way Kuvira’s face was already apprehensive, turned into a scowl quickly as she looked between the two of you before running off.

While Suyin sat down with Opal and tried to explain Kuvira’s situation, you went off to find Kuvira. She was sitting down under a low hanging awning by the river. You could hear small sniffles coming from her. Six year old you approached her without caution, bumbling up to her with the perkiness only a child could contain.

“Hi.” You introduced yourself to her with a wide toothy grin and a welcoming outstretched hand. She jumped and turned around, quickly wiping away a stray tear. Her deadpan glare penetrated your outstretched hand left open. Being a child, you didn’t let it affect you. Instead you asked, “Do you want to come to my house? I have a dollhouse we can play with!”

Kuvira hesitated, looking from your still extended hand to your beaming face.

“Opal doesn’t like me.”

“Opal’s not coming.”

Oh to grow up with Kuvira. She was quite hot tempered as a child. And you admit, some days it was hard being her friend. She let her emotions take control, most of the time not realizing that she was bending until the dolls were disfigured under her metal grip. You never blamed it on Kuvira though, and you always came back to each other at the end of the day. It took a long time under Suyin’s guidance for Kuvira to gain a better understanding of her own earthbending. But once she did, it was like a flip switched.

While gaining more control, she became more reserved. She pulled farther from the Beifongs and moved out of the estate, choosing to live with the guards in the dormitories instead when she became a teenager. It didn’t change your close relationship though. From running around your estate playing games to her joining you in your metals lab in your research to helping her study for her test to join the Metal Guards; you and Kuvira supported one another through everything.

In the back of your mind you always knew things weren’t great for Kuvira at the Beifongs. But it was always something so hard to bring up to Kuvira whenever you tried to get her to talk about it. It also complicated your friendship with Opal, navigating between their polar personalities was always a challenge. So you opted not to, instead playing mostly neutral grounds and after she moved out, things did get better. 

As you got older, there was more pressure on you to take on the family business. Your whole life you’ve studied metals and how different properties of metals work together to create new things. An inventor, truly gifted, but there were always parts of you that wanted to leave Zaofu.

“I don’t want to study rocks my whole life. I want to learn from other cultures, get a bigger insight!” you confessed one day to Kuvira. You lay back on the soft grass of the lawn. You were visiting the Beifongs casually one afternoon when you ran into your favorite guard. It took minimal convincing for her to take a break from duty to lie with you. It was known that Kuvira always had a soft spot for you. It took one big smile to get her to crumble to you.

But seeing you smile was something she could never get enough of. “You wouldn’t leave me here alone, would you?” Kuvira semi joked.

“I’d take you with me, of course,” you laughed. “See the world together. Maybe fight some bad guys, who knows?”

Kuvira knew that would never be possible. Not with how Suyin ran things, but she didn’t say that, choosing instead to have a lighter hearted moment with you.

Going through the ranks, she saw potential in the Metal Guards, in the people of Zaofu actually. The fact that Suyin rejected most international requests, slowly infuriated her over the years. She watched as her fellow soldiers grew in strength, but all of it went to waste within the metal domes. Kuvira had long surpassed everything Suyin taught her, choosing to go off in her own studies to continue growing as a bender. When not on duty, you’d find her studying different types of bending in the Zaofu library or coming to your lab to practice with rarer metals. Sometimes it seemed like Kuvira never stopped at bettering herself.

You were mesmerized every time you saw Kuvira use her bending. Something as simple as making casual shapes from a slab of meteorite could keep you entertained for hours. It was times like these that were your favorite. She had her armor off and was sporting a long green sleeved spandex shirt with her dark green uniform pants. Her braid was slightly disfigured and helmet thrown off to the side somewhere. She was playing with a piece of meteorite, leaning forward on the bench as she manipulated it with firm concentration. The way her hands moved delicately through the air with precision; every crook and bend of her fingers and knuckles; how soft yet also strong they looked as they bent the metal into a small flower. It rested perfectly in her slender palm as she handed it to you.

It made your stomach flutter and a heat build in your chest. You reached out to take it from her and suddenly feeling nervous. Almost immediately, a gust of wind blew Kuvira over the bench making her tumble down and the metal flower scattering somewhere on the ground.

You both were left gaping. You were born as a non bender, so suddenly being able to airbend made you freak out. Kuvira grabbed your wrists, telling you to breathe as you started rambling off about never being able to bend before and not being the daughter of Avatar Aang and what if your mother had secretly had an affair with the AVATAR and oh god what would your father think-

“We need to find Suyin.”

Learning that Opal also gained airbending made you feel better, and it was something you two could bond over. Suddenly you were spending more time with Opal, trying to learn more about this new weird power to Kuvira’s dismay.

When Avatar Korra and her crew came to Zaofu to rebuild the Air Nation, you laughed off the idea of becoming an Air Nomad. Your future was set in the metals your family mined. You were supposed to live your life in Zaofu, continue your legacy here to grow the city.

“This is where I belong,” you said sheepishly. Korra seemed disappointed, but if that’s what you wanted there was nothing she could do. Although she did debate dragging you on to the ship, kidnapping an heiress to an empire would definitely cause an international crisis that Korra frankly couldn’t afford.

Kuvira was relieved to say the least. The fear of losing her closest friend didn’t sit well with her. But she also saw how you were with your new bending, carefully exploring what your bending could do; how it frustrated you when you couldn’t gain your own footing straight or when wind would blow back in your face.

“Maybe you should consider it.” Kuvira’s response surprised you. It was another day at your estate this time laying on the grass. It was one of Kuvira’s few days off. When she became the Captain, her free time became very limited, but this afternoon was a peaceful rarity. Tonight would be Opal’s farewell dinner, where you would be saying your final goodbyes before she boarded the airship to the Northern Air Temple. You were casually bending a circle of air above your heads, watching as leaves swirl around in a hypnotizing way. It immediately dissipates upon Kuvira’s confession, leaves slowly falling around the two of you.

“What?” you snort. “I thought you’d be the first person to ask me to stay.”

It left a lump in Kuvira’s throat. She never wanted to be the reason you held back your potential. She knew how talented you were as an inventor, but to bring that strength as an airbender? And the opportunity for you to build a nation that was up until recently deemed extinct? Kuvira knows an honor like that is something you’d thrive in, and the only way you could do that is to leave Zaofu.

So with some more convincing from Kuvira, you came around to the thought of being an Air Nomad. Sure shaving your head wasn’t the most appealing thing, but to be able to explore the world outside of Zaofu? It felt like this was your true calling all along. And Kuvira was the one to help you realize that. You gaze softly at her face, trying to find any hint of doubt you could. But she wholeheartedly believed in you and that in the end is what had you knocking on Korra’s door before the big dinner.

“Avatar Korra, I’ve changed my mind. I will join Opal to the Northern Air Temple and help rebuild the Air Nation.” Korra’s face broke into a wide grin and she gave a big cheer, deeming another success in her Avatar duties. You smiled back, feeling giddy at the thought of finding something more than rocks and metals for your future.

Seeing you and Opal boarding the aircraft shattered Kuvira’s heart. Her face is stone and her back is straight, watching the two of you talk wildly about your new adventures to come.

It seemed like at the last second, you pulled away from Opal and turned around, catching Kuvira’s unwavering gaze. You bite your bottom lip and tell Opal to go on without you, that’d you catch up momentarily. She was confused, but realized what you were doing when you ran back down the ramp and towards Kuvira.

Before she knows what’s happening or can ask what in the spirits you were doing, you nearly plow Kuvira over with a bone crushing hug, knocking her helmet right off her head. Burying your face into the crook of her neck, you feel her muscles tense under your touch, and then melt right into your hug. Strong arms wrap around you and clunky armor gets in the way.

But Kuvira can’t picture something more perfect.

She is speechless and squeezes her eyes shut, willing any tears to hold back. This was a momentous day for you, and she didn’t want your potentially last moment with her to be a sniveling mess. Instead she tries to memorize the way your hair smells, how firm your torso feels under her arms, how soft and warm your skin is. Everything she possibly can in these fleeting seconds with you.

“This isn’t goodbye,” you whispered in her ear. The way your breath fanned across her neck made Kuvira’s eyes flutter. She could stay in this embrace forever. “I will see you again.”

“I know,” she breathed out, suddenly finding it hard to find her voice. “I know.” It was something she had to tell herself more than to you.

You hesitated, wanting to say more. But how could you tell Kuvira that most nights you fell asleep thinking about what her lips would feel like against yours? How could you tell her that you still dreamed of traveling the world with her one day? How do you tell your childhood best friend that you’ve been in love with them when you’re about to board a ship to a new life?

Instead you take the chance and lean in, placing a soft quick kiss on her cheek just below her mole under her eye. With one last watery smile, you turn and board the ship. Your future terrified you, but you know for certain that you will keep your promise and return to Zaofu for her. One day.

If you had turned around you would’ve seen Kuvira steeled in stoicism, seemingly unaffected by your gesture. Meanwhile, inside she was on fire. Her cheek was burning where your lips touched. She had to replay the moment again and again in her mind to make sure it wasn’t her own imagination making it up. But it was real; the feeling of your hesitant lips pressed against her cheek made the flush in her chest grow. Her breath comes out in one shaky stream as she lifts the radio to her ear for the guards to close the domes.

And as the metal flower-like structure enclose her in, Kuvira can’t help but let her eyes linger on the sky where your ship disappeared.

This isn’t goodbye.

[softsebnbuckystan]

Soul ties - Part 10 (Bucky Barnes au)

“And when I felt like I was an old cardigan under someone's bed,

You put me on  and said I was your favourite”

Word count : 1712

Going back to everyone wasn't even as awkward as you'd predicted ; what had just happened with Bucky was pretty obvious. Yet, all the guests decided to cheer you up and spend their night telling you jokes or just talking to you about random memories. When you went back to your  room for good, you made sure Bucky walked you there : you were silently thanking Steve for giving you a room this far away from the others, since it gave you the opportunity to speak freely.

"So, about earlier,"  you started, "I think..."

"Hum,  yeah. I get it must be complicated for you." He scratched the back of his head as you stopped in front of your bedroom door.

"It's not, actually." You looked him in the eyes. "I know exactly what I want."

Something gleamed in his eyes – a hint of hope, maybe.

"You do?" he asked. "I don't want you to be in this situation, so..."

"I swear," — you gently grabbed the front of his shirt  – "I promise I know you're who I want." You lowered your gaze. "I'd be a fool to pretend otherwise."

Bucky tilted his head down to see you better, breathing on the tip of your nose. "This makes me...really happy." He kissed your nose, making you feel an instant warmth in your chest. "Now go get some rest. You've had an eventful night."

"You're right." You let go of him to grab the doorknob and turned around. "Wait, before I go..." You span and placed your hands on his shoulders to help you reach his height and planted a kiss on his lips again. "I really wanted to do this again."

You chuckled and left him at the door, quickly closing it behind you so that he wouldn't see you smiling like a teenager. Changing into your pyjamas, you were still unable to think about anything else than the  first kiss you'd shared and the emotion it'd gifted you with. You chose not to go to sleep right away : you knew a knock on your door would come. Around twenty minutes afterwards, you were ready to open the door to your sister right after hearing her.

"So, that happened," she said when she sat on your bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Don't you already know that?" you teased. "I thought you were supposed to be a mind-reading enchantress or something. Your skills are getting rusty, sis."

Wanda couldn't help but laugh before asking her question  again. "Seriously, I want to hear it from you, not  from your thought process. It's too much of a mess anyway."

You rolled your eyes at the skies  before sitting next to her. "It was... I don't know how to describe it." You shrugged. "It felt right."

"And what are you going to do about Darren? I heard you saying you were over, but are you actually doing it?"

You stopped to think for a moment. What would divorcing Darren concretely mean? You'd have to go through a divorce procedure, and you didn't know how those were  supposed to go. Maybe you could  ask Tony if he knew any good lawyers who might you out. But there was another thing you'd need to do.

"I'll  go get my stuff tomorrow. I'm thinking  of asking Tony if I can stay here...permanently."

You wrapped your hands around your legs and rested your chin on your knees.

"I'll go with you. I don't trust him."

"Thanks, Wanda."

Your sister hugged you tight before lying down next to you.

"I'm here for you. We're family," she noted. "Now get some sleep ; you need it."

You lay next to her and as it turned out, you fell asleep pretty fast. Maybe soulmates had that effect on people.

---

"He's not even here," you remarked. "Even after our fight last night, he doesn't bother showing up at his own apartment."

Darren's behaviour was already heating up your anger, and you were once  again patting yourself on the shoulder for refusing both Steve and  Sam's help that day. They would not have handled this by calming you down. Maybe Steve would've tried, but well, even he had his limits. Messing with his family was one of them.

Your sister followed you to your bedroom, where you dragged a suitcase from under your bed. When you opened it, Wanda's eyes lingered for a second : it wasn't empty.

"Were you packing for a trip?" she asked.

You looked away and shrugged. "I don't know if I was planning for a honeymoon or a bad fight," you admitted. "Turns out it's the latter." You kept running around the place, packing everything from your most random flannel shirt to your favourite coffee mug.

"I think I'm ready to go," you ended up saying as you closed your suitcase. "I'm- wait. Did you hear the door too?"

"Y/n?"

"Fuck." You looked at Wanda, who'd recognised Darren's voice as well. You walked out of the bedroom, your suitcase rolling behind you. Your husband's eyes fell on your luggage before going back to you. You tried searching for any trace of sadness on his face ; all you found was anger and disappointment.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked. "And what is she doing here?"

"Wanda's here because she wanted to help me get as far away from you as possible," you replied. "My whereabouts are none of your business anymore."

"You can't just leave like that. You're still my wife, as far as I know."

"Not for long."

Darren's face got bright red as he went in the kitchen. You knew he was about to start yelling, so you went for the door. His arm stopped you ; you hadn't seen him turn around. He grabbed your wrist, causing you to let out a faint scream. Wanda didn't need any more excuses to use her abilities.  She pinned him against the wall with a slight gesture of her hand.

"Don't you touch her again," she breathed. "You don't want me to use my full strength."

You could see Darren's nostrils flaring with anger and his fist clenching. You hated seeing him like this : some part of you still remembered the guy you'd fallen for several years earlier and you wished you could've made him stay like that.

"Don't blame  yourself for his behaviour, y/n," Wanda told you, not looking away from Darren. "Trust me, this man can't be changed. He'll always be a douchebag."

Your sister let go of him and opened the apartment's door for you. You were finally stepping out of that place, walking away from Darren.

"So what?" you heard him yell. "You're just gonna go back to that weird staring guy?"

You turned around and stared at him. You were done looking down and letting him hurt you. "Stop."

"What is it, huh?" – He walked closer to you and you gestured towards Wanda to let her know you were okay. "Is he better in better in bed than I am? Because I highly doubt that any man could make a good one out of you."

"Wow, you got to this level of insults. I shouldn't be surprised, coming from you." You paused, unsure of what his reaction would be to your next words. "I'll have divorce papers sent to you."

His jaw dropped, your words leaving him speechless. HIs insults still left a bitter taste in your mouth as you did your best to hide your pain. You didn't think such a long relationship could end like this, in a heartbeat, in the drop of a coffee cup.

Going back to the compound seemed to take less time than it took going to Darren's place. You were looking out of the window in silence, even though you knew your sister was holding back her remarks about Darren : you didn't need mind-reading powers to know that.

"Go ahead. Tell me I should've seen it coming."

"I'm not going to tell you that. Believe it or not, I wish I'd been wrong about him."

You gave Wanda a side glance : her grip on the stirring wheel was stern but her eyes were filled with sympathy.

"But I should've seen it coming. Damn, I despised his friends the moment I met them and he's just like them."

Wanda chuckled, which seemed inappropriate at first. "You didn't see that coming."

These words forced a smile out of you. "He would kick his ass, wouldn't he?"

"Absolutely. And he wouldn't be gentle about it."

You fiddled with your fingers. "Moments like these... I miss him the most."

"I know." Your sister's hand grabbed yours for a second before going back to the wheel. Her voice had gotten a little shaky from the emotion. "I also know he would've liked Bucky for you."

"Maybe. I shouldn't rush into this, though."

"Wait, what?" Wanda was confused, it seemed. How could she not be?

"Wanda, I just got out of a long relationship. I'm not even divorced yet. Bucky deserves better than this mess of a situation."

"Oh c'mon, he won't care about that. Have you seen how the man looks at you?"

A grin made its way to your lips as you remembered the numerous occasions Bucky  had laid his blue eyes on you, and yesterday, on your lips.

"I feel like I can't do this to him, you know? There are so many things I like about him, from the way he bothers pronouncing my name correctly, not the bland American way, to the habit he has of scratching his neck... You  know, dumb stuff. But what do I have to offer him? I'm not..."

"Stop. That's Darren speaking, not you," your sister softly reprimanded you. "You're worth so much more than you think you are. I also know that the guy who's going to rush to you to make sure you're okay is falling in love with you, if he hasn't already. His mind is almost as big a mess as yours."

"Wow, that's a first," you joked, the mention of love making you anxious. "The mess thing, I mean."

"Yeah, sure," — she snickered – "the mess thing."

--- They're getting serious, guys! I hope this part was good and that you liked it. Part 11 will come soon. :)

Tag list :

@ginger-swag-rapunzel @joscelyn02 @writehistorynotthegrocerylist @bluemoon-icecream @lady-loki-ren @simplybombshell @lizajane3

[katherinewilliams221b]

A Very Walsh Christmas

Part 3/3

Summary: Charlie and Kate spend the day before Christmas at Kate’s grandfather’s house.  Set in 1995 but I apologise if there’s some inaccuracies (Don’t think so but…)

Pairing: Charlie Weasley x ofc

You technically could read this as a one shot but you maybe miss out some things.

[Part 1] - [Part 2]

The day after the evening with the Walsh family, I woke up with a pleasant feeling in my body; the dim light coming in through the window, the warmth of the sheets and a sleeping Kate next to me made the world peaceful for a moment.

I did not recognise the room immediately, it took me several blinks to adjust my memories.

I stared at the ceiling for a while, concentrating on my breathing, and I smiled to myself remembering the Muggle story my father used to read to us. Or was it a song?

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Not quite, I thought. The door was closed, but I have no qualms about boasting that my hearing was good enough to hear some faint music.

I got up very carefully, trying not to wake her up, although I started to shake so violently that I was afraid that the chattering of my teeth would ruin everything.

I immediately put on the jumper I had brought with me, and for the moment it was enough.

I heard a sound of sheets and turned to see Kate looking for me with one hand in her dreams. I couldn’t help smiling, and selfishly thought of coming closer and having her find me, but the day ahead would require at least one more hour of sleep for her.

I realised too late that I left the room in my pyjamas and contemplated my options; Kate’s parents had already left, and they were the ones who worried me the most, so without further thought I followed the Christmas music downstairs.

The dining room table had plates and spoons, it was almost ready for breakfast and only with that detail I understood Bernard’s need to keep us in his house as long as possible. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to go to Grimmauld Place.

A piano version of Gloria In Excelsis Deo came out of a record player in the dining room. I wondered why Mr Walsh hadn’t turned on the machine with the smaller discs, since he seemed so happy with it, so much so he convinced Kate to buy one. I didn’t think it was a bad idea, but we wouldn’t get anything from the Weird Sisters in a Muggle shop.

I found Bernard serving tea in a single cup. Although the slippers I was wearing were very quiet, he turned to see who was entering the kitchen.

“Merry Christmas, Charlie.” He commented with a small smile and continued to serve tea, “Katie told me you were an early bird.”

“Good morning, and Merry Christmas to you too. What time is it?” I sighed with relief when I saw the striped pyjamas he was wearing.

“It’ll be seven in a while. You can sleep a little longer if you like, Cornelia and her husband are still asleep...”

“Oh, no, I like this time of the day. Everything is silent, and the world seems to be in its place.” I laughed, “That’s what Kate says, but at three in the morning.” Bernard huffed a laugh and gave me a tray with glasses to take to the table.

“I’m with you on this. Things have to be done when there’s light. Tea?”

“Yes, please.”

Together we sat at the table while the song changed to a slow version of Oh Christmas Tree.

“How do you celebrate Christmas at home, son?”

Every Christmas at home went through my mind like a movie, all different and special in its own way.

“Well, they got more complicated with each new sibling.” We both laughed, and the complicity in his eyes for understanding me reached my heart. “There’s always a big banquet, Mom cooks for a battalion... but between you and me: there’s never much food left.”

He smiled, but I saw something strange in his eyes. He looked down, but I decided not to ask questions about it, I was afraid to remove delicate feelings. “This is the first year I’ve seen them at Christmas since I left for Romania,” I continued, but he interrupted me.

“Don’t tell me that! That can’t be, no.” He raised an accusing finger and pointed it at me to scold me like when Mum did it when I was a child. “Let me tell you something: some people don’t like Christmas. They don’t want to give presents, or have to prepare food, or see those pesky cousins,” he put his hand on my wrist and with a calmer tone he continued, “but the family, the family, Charlie, has to be taken care of and the perfect excuse is this season.”

He tapped my hand and nodded sharply, ending his speech. I sighed, knowing that he was right, but a dark part of me had enjoyed the holidays on my own in the reserve tent and the first Christmas alone with Kate.

I adored my family, of course, but I could not deny that particular and inexplicable fullness of those years.

“After this year, who knows if we will be able to get together again.” I took the cup to my mouth, the liquid comforted my throat but not so much that the words kept coming out.

“I know something is happening. The atmosphere in the chess club has changed, there are men working in the ministry, you know? And last night...”

I looked up, but I bit my tongue. It would be better if Kate explained everything when we got to Grimmauld Place.

“It’s a bit long to explain. When we’re in a safe place, you’ll know everything.”

Or not. In saying this, it occurred to me that perhaps Kate would not want to involve her grandfather in what the Order and Dumbledore were up to, yet she agreed when I proposed that he accompany us to Sirius’ house.

The record had stopped spinning as we spoke, allowing us to hear voices coming down the stairs. Kate’s uncle, Secondo, and her aunt, Cornelia, joined us in the dining room.

“Dad! Merry Christmas!” Cornelia threw herself into Bernard’s arms and he caught her in a warm embrace. I couldn’t wait to hug my father like that.

“Merry Christmas, A stóirín.” He chuckled, “I’ll start preparing breakfast.”

Cornelia wished me a Merry Christmas with a kiss on the cheek and went to the kitchen with Bernard. Secondo patted my shoulder and went after them.

“We’ll prepare everything and I’m sure Kate won’t be able to resist the smell of coffee.” Bernard announced.

Together we started to take out cups and plates, we went around carrying tea, biscuits, coffee cups, milk, toast... at some point Bernard turned the record around, playing The Holly and The Ivy. The domesticity of the moment relaxed me, and although I had been with Kate for many years, it was only at that moment that I began to be part of the family.

It was a strange situation, no doubt, that made me contemplate how Kate put down roots in our home, how mum and dad and all my brothers adopted her immediately, long before we became a couple and, I dare say, before we became friends. Bill had been the first to meet her and obviously spoke of her with great esteem and admiration, despite the fact that we were only children. Mum already adored her and had never even seen her.

I understood at that moment, with a jar of jam in my hand and with some slippers on that were not mine, that this was what she had lacked during her life and that she found behind the doors of the Burrow.

I prayed to some Muggle god I didn’t believe in so she could make up for lost time with her grandfather.

With the first notes of Sans Day Carol, Kate appeared through the kitchen door dishevelled and with her eyes almost closed, but with a big smile that made me breathe deeply.

Congratulations and hugs began immediately, followed by frantic and chaotic conversations of which I could only discern a few words. I didn’t mind staying out of the family moment, I just enjoyed watching Kate trying to act like a human being before breakfast.

When she came to me, I couldn’t resist planting a kiss in the square on her mouth; she accepted it in surprise and a laugh escaped on the way. She asked me with an eyebrow, but I only shook my head.

“Don’t move.” She listened to me (have someone write down the date on the calendar), and when she saw a finger approaching her face, she closed her eyes.

I carefully pulled out the sleepy dust that was stuck to her tear duct and she smiled at me in gratitude. I left her free, and she trotted to the table to proceed with her breakfast.

“We must leave in a while,” announced Cornelia, “Secondo’s parents are waiting for us.”

“Of course, of course...” agreed Bernard, but I noticed the sadness in his words. Home For The Holidays just added more melancholy to the moment, and I looked at the record player as if the object could understand what I was asking for.

It made a strange noise that startled me; I hadn’t done that. Do You Hear What I Hear replaced the previous tune. I looked at Kate, who already had her eyes on me, and she blinked very slowly behind the cup she had taken to her mouth.

Although I already knew this, every time something like this happened I was overcome with a deep admiration for being able to speak without words. I agreed with Ginny internally, for being the first to point it out.

If anyone at the table observed the exchange, no one made any comments about it.

 After Kate’s aunt and uncle left, she, Bernard and I were left alone in the house.

“Is there anything you’d like to do today, Grandpa?” Kate asked after drying the last of the dishes.

Bernard took the pick out of the record player and turned his back on us while he put the vinyl away.

“I have some errands...”

“All right, we’ll go with you...”

“No, no, why don’t you go directly to that mysterious place of yours and I will join you later?”

“You don’t even know where it is, Grandpa.”

He remained sullen as he brushed the crumbs off the tablecloth with a kind of brush that I had never seen before.

“Do you want to go and see Grandma?” Kate suggested.

“Yes, but it’s unnecessary to go all together, really, it’s something very quick that...”

“I feel like it too.” She interrupted before addressing me, “Charlie, could you take our things to the house? I’ll accompany my grandfather to the cemetery.”

I nodded, this would give me time to explain to Mom that we would have one more guest.

“I’ll stop by the hospital first.”

 “Really, you don’t have to do this.”

“But I want to!” She gave him a half hug, and a shy smile appeared under his moustache.

“It’s decided. See you in Gr...” Kate’s withering gaze silenced me and I raised my hands to declare my innocence.

“Let’s get our stuff together.”

From the cupboard under the stairs we took out the bags we had brought for my family. I was a little embarrassed to have gifts as simple as socks or candy, but it was what I could afford to have gifts for everyone.

“And if I’m not there, whose arm are you going to hold on to when you get dizzy from apparating?” I teased her when I handed her her coat.

“Very funny, my knight errant, but I can manage on my own.” The huff of false indignation blew a little curl from her forehead that had fallen when she bent over, and I had to laugh at her attitude.

“Remember that St Mungo’s is crowded at Christmas. If they make you wait too long to see your father, find Madame Louise and tell her I sent you.”

I nodded, memorising the name, and after checking the cupboard, we left all the things by the door and went upstairs to get dressed.

 --

Either someone had lied to me or my father had vanished because no one knew where to find him.

With a thousand bags in each hand, I left St Mungo’s and walked into an alley.

It had taken us quite a while to leave the Walsh house, so I showed up at Grimmauld Place, hoping that Mum had taken him out of the hospital.

Pulling out my wand was quite a feat and opening the door was even more difficult, but in the end I managed to get in.

The painting of Sirius’ mother almost tore my ears with its rales and I had to throw away all the things I had in my hand to be able to cover the bloody woman with a bed sheet.

“But what is this scandal? Fred, George! What are you doing? Charlie, darling...” Mum appeared wiping her hands on her apron and when she saw me she rushed to receive me with open arms. “Oh, but what joy you have given me, son. But where is Kate, I thought she would come?”

“She’s with her grandfather now, she’ll come later.”

“Well, she’ll have a plate of food when she comes...” With a grip stronger than one would expect for a woman of her size, she dragged me through the corridor.

“I’ve invited her grandfather, Bernard, to join us, is that okay?”

“But of course, darling! I’m delighted to meet someone from her family. That girl is so reserved... Ginny, love, look who I’ve found!”

“Mom, there’s something I wanted to ask you...” As if a cannonball had hit me, my sister threw herself at me with all the strength she had.

“Charlie! I thought you weren’t coming!”

I caught her in the air and anchored her so she wouldn’t fall. At that moment I heard a couple of ‘pop’ sounds behind my back and two identical redheads surrounded me.

“Oh! The favourite brother has arrived!”

“It’s actually Bill, but since he’s not here, we’ll settle for you.” Fred and George hung on to my arms and my knees almost dropped me.

“Thanks a lot, boys, I love you too.”

 “Let my poor boy breathe, we have no spare.” I blew Ginny’s hair out of my face as best I could, and over her shoulder I saw Dad leaning against the door. My heart turned over when I saw him in that state, but the relief I felt was greater than the fear of what almost happened to him.

I tried hard not to think about it, and after kissing Ginny on the forehead, I took her off my torso so I could say hello to him.

I tried not to press too hard on the hug, and I noticed that he was grateful. I felt a few taps on my shoulder and found Ron waiting to greet me.

I didn’t hold back from him; in this case, I held him as long as I could until he felt embarrassed or suffocated, whichever came first.

It was the embarrassment, of course, but I couldn’t care less.

I saw Sirius Black sitting in the kitchen and went over to squeeze his hand cordially and wish him a merry Christmas. He turned out to be a nice bloke, against all odds, and I made a mental note to thank him for what he was doing for the Order.

Ron’s friend, Hermione, came to the door and greeted me after whispering something in his ear. I returned the greeting and saw them marching up the stairs.

“They’re going to be with Harry, the poor angel’s having a hard time lately.” Mum explained. “He hardly says a word.”

Dad sat down on one of the chairs around the table and I put a hand on his shoulder. He patted it before drinking from his cup.

“Isn’t Kate with you?” I was surprised that it was Sirius who asked, but I shook my head with a question in my eyes. “Dumbledore has asked me to deliver a letter to her.”

“Hey, Charles, did you bring us any presents?” George asked.

“Oh, don’t be like that.” Mum said. I just laughed and pointed to the front door where I had thrown all the bags. They both stampeded out in that direction.

“I’ll take the one I like best!” announced Fred. My father and I laughed, and I sat down next to him for a chat.

--

 Kate and Bernard didn’t show up until long after the meal. I looked for something in their expression that would tell me what had taken them so long, but I saved the questions for another time.

“Have you eaten anything?” I asked her as I hung up her coat.

“Yes, I’m sorry. We talked a lot and walked around. We ate in the street. And your father?”

“He’s here! They brought him from the hospital this morning.” I could not contain my enthusiasm when I revealed that the family was almost complete. I was saddened by the situation with Percy I felt like giving him a hug too.

“Another thing: Sirius has something from Dumbledore for you.” The surprise on her face was understandable.

“Do you have any idea what it is?”

“A letter. I don’t know more.”

Bernard came up to us and I reached out my hand for his scarf and hat.

“I think we need to make introductions, don’t you?”

“Yes, come on, my mother is looking forward to meeting you.”

My parents were delighted with Bernard Walsh, and George and Fred soon became friends with him; Kate’s grandfather matched the mischief of the twins and quickly made his way into the family.

When he was in good company, I left the kitchen to look for Kate, but I ran into Ginny in the hallway.

“You should talk to her, she seems worried.” She pointed to the stairs and went into the kitchen with the rest.

Upstairs I found Ron and Hermione on the landing, knocking on one of the doors where Harry Potter was probably hiding.

To my right, I saw part of Kate’s green dress on the other side of an ajar door. I met her and closed the door behind me.

“Read this.” She handed me a scroll, and I recognised Professor Dumbledore’s fancy calligraphy. I scanned the document and raised my eyebrows.

“Durmstrang?”

Kate mouthed a ‘yup’ and sat on a purple divan next to a really ugly lamp.

“A mission of the Order in a school. Can you believe it?”

I read the letter again, frantically searching for the date of departure, and I felt like collapsing when I saw that it was sooner than I would have liked.

“In less than two weeks! For how long?” She looked at her hands, afraid to tell me. I read the paper again and at the end of it all was the unfortunate word: ‘indefinitely’.

“You’d better get that thing sorted out as quickly as possible.” That was the only thing I could think of to say.

I sat down next to her and put a hand on her knee. She covered it with hers immediately and put the other hand around my arm, leaving me anchored to her leg.

We stayed like this for a while in silence until I suddenly stood up and extended my hand to her.

“Come on. Now is not the time.” She agreed, and we followed the voices, not to the kitchen but to a small living room.

Everyone was crowded around a table where two people were sitting. We approached Hermione, who was watching cross-armed from the door.

“What’s going on?”

“Well, Harry doesn’t want to talk to anyone.” She commented, raising her shoulder.

“I meant, what’s going on here?”

“Ron has decided to play chess with your grandfather, Kate.”

Her eyes widened, and she let go of my hand to join the group. I followed happily because something had managed to distract us.

Bernard and Ron looked at the board in silence, each one concentrating on their own strategy. I must admit that I’m not a bad player, but until now I didn’t know anyone who had beaten Ron, Harry perhaps.

However, Kate had told me that her grandfather was a fierce and ruthless player so I would not have bet my galleons on Ron.

My brother shook his head and toppled his queen, declaring his defeat.

“You beat me in three.” He stated.

Bernard smiled, and his eyes shone behind his glasses. He extended his hand to Ron, and he shook it, sealing the game. Bernard raised his index finger before moving one of my brother’s pawns to another square.

“Can’t you see? You could have blocked the knight.”

Ron put his hand to his head and let out a shy laugh before nodding.

“You’ve got talent, kid. You play better than some lads from the Club.”

“Oh, this was wonderful!” exclaimed Mom. “I didn’t understand a thing.”

“Another one?” Ron proposed and Bernard nodded. With a twist of the hand, the pieces flew across the board to opposite sides. Now Ron would play with white.

I left Kate and the others in the room watching the game, except for Dad, who came out into the hall with me.

“We forgot! We have presents for you too!” I hugged him by the shoulders and we went into the kitchen. “Somebody’s going to have to explain to that nice gentleman why we’re here.” He whispered.

“Kate may have already done that. Now let’s enjoy what’s left of Christmas and that you’re here with us.”

“Son, I couldn’t agree more.”

-

A/N It wasnt very christmas-y but it felt right writing all of that.

[fairymadnessyeah]

Family Feud

Shigadabi week day 2

Ao3 Link

Summary:  Family is complicated. Add heroes, pity and romance, and you got yourself a new type of drama.

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Ugly / Horror / Family

The hero community was a mess of gossips and rumours and drama. And the best one who left everybody reeling was the rivalry between the Todoroki and Shimura family. Or more specifically, between Kotaro and Enji.

It all started when they met at a Charity Gala. The Nana project was a not-lucrative organization made by the late Nana's Shimura son, Kotaro. By the time for the Gala, the project was rather new, but it easy got attention from the hero community as well as the press. The organization's objective was to help the families of pro-heroes. Their motto was 'if heroes are helping us, then who will help them?'. It had easily gathered a following. And as the number two hero and 'family man', Endeavor had to attend, along with his wife and sons and daughter. What he didn't know or expect was Kotaro's own hatred towards heroes.

It was weird, but the man that helped the family of heroes hated heroes more than villains did. He didn't like villains either, but it was a shock to most, especially, his hate towards All Might. Apparently, the first time he presented his idea to him, Might Tower being one of his first associates, he blackmailed the hero into donating a lot of money. Endeavour had gone with the hope of finding another ally in his hate towards the number one hero. Instead, he found a man who was more than able to see his image as a family man was fake and that the family situation was not the best.

The Gala was spent with Enji trying to prove Kotaro wrong. He gushed about his family, held baby Shouto and even booked a therapy session with one of the psychiatrists in the Gala. Rei was shocked, but strangely looking forward to this new change her husband was going through. Same as Fuyumi and Natsuo. But his eight-year-old son though, wasn't as convinced. Touya had seen the worst of his father recently. The training he put him through was painful and he didn't believe for a second his father was trying to change. Who changed to spite somebody? He was also a bored eight-year-old at a grown-up party. The moment Fuyumi and Natsuo fell asleep, he was out of people to play with. His father tried to show him off to the other guests, but when he heard Enji calling for him, he slipped away from the main hall of the Gala.

He ran through different hallways, feeling his father right behind him. In one of these hallways, he came across a door open and swiftly ran inside, closing the door behind him. He waited with his ear pressed against the door until the heavy footsteps of his dad vanished. Sighing in relief, he separated from the door and took a better look at the room he entered. There was a small couch and a table with a coffee pot. The Nana Shimura project was still new, so they didn't have a main office yet. The Gala was taking place in a 5-star hotel, so this must be a staff room. As he walked to the couch, he noticed a small head peeking from behind it. When the owner of the head noticed he was spotted, he squeaked and went back down. The person hiding was small, so Touya was sure he was a kid. He had grey-blue hair, red eyes and was wearing a weird type of fingerless-gloves except for two fingers.

"Hi, I'm Touya," he says with a small wave. "Why are you here alone?" he asks as the head starts to slowly come out of hiding.

"I- I don't like it over there..." the mophead whispered.

Once he was fully out, Touya noticed he was wearing a fancy suit and was holding something in his hands. The kid was still trying to hide, and his hair covered part of his face. It didn't work though. Touya could see his scarred and scratched lips and the little mole next to it. It was kind of cute.

"Um... what's that?" he asked, staring at the device in his red-gloved hand.

"A- a game I was playing with..." the kid says and sits in the farthest corner on the couch.

"Can I watch? It's boring upstairs..." the guy stares for a while before nodding quietly. Touya sits next to him and watches as he plays a racing game. "Hey what's your name? You already know mine," he asks after seeing him play a couple of times.

"Tenko,"

"Hi Tenko, nice to meet you," he gives him a small smile and Tenko's cheeks turn pink.

They stayed there for an hour or two until Touya's mom came into the room. His dad had tried to find him, but gave up when he noticed the boy was hiding for him. Rei came looking for him when her husband and the head of the Shimura family started debating who had the better family. It was Nao Shimura who told her about the only room that wasn't locked, where her son was.

"Mom?"

"Come on, honey, your father is getting worried," she tells him and extends her hand for him to take it.

"Likely story," he grumbles under his breath and get down from the sofa. "Bye, Tenko," he waves goodbye at the boy when he takes his mother's hand.

"Bye, Touya," the boy waves back.

Rei and Touya walked hand in hand back to the Gala. When they arrived next to Enji, not a second went by before Endeavour picked up his son and sat him on his shoulder. He had both youngest and eldest sons, each on one shoulder, and was in a staring contest with Kotaro, who had his daughter on one hand. The two were locked in a silent battle as few heroes who were in the conversation, looked around uncomfortable.

"This is my eldest, Touya. He is one of my prides and joys. And he has the quirk of a hero," Enji says buffing his chest and then turning to him. "Show them, son, like we practised," he orders him.

Touya obeys, sticking out his hands and letting off the biggest flame he could without it hurting. The pros around all gasp, awe and compliment him on his quirk and it's hero potential. It makes Touya smile, and his chest swells with pride with the comments.

Kotaro quickly turns to his wife and tell her to bring their son here before presenting his daughter. "This is Hana. She is the smartest of her class and has my mother's quirk. Show them, darling," the girl in pigtails looks around confused at first. She then shrugs and scrunches up her face in concentration. Suddenly, her feet aren't touching the floor anymore. She floated for a few seconds before she dropped to the ground again and did a little bow.

The pros complimented her too, and then Nao comes back with a boy on her arms. The same boy Touya met at the other room. He is shying away from everyone, squeezing his face against his mom's shoulder. Kotaro takes him from her and places him by his side, Hana taking his hand in comfort.

"This is Tenko, my son," Kotaro introduces him and takes a pair of goggles off a hero near him. "Tenko, why don't you show the pros your quirk," he tells him and shows him the goggles. The boy starts to hyperventilate and look around scared. His sister takes his hands, and he calms down before he takes off one of his gloves. With his gloveless hand, he takes the goggles from his father and everybody gasps as they see the object crumble into ash.

"Well, that is certainly an interesting quirk," Endeavour smirks after everybody praises the young boy. "Does anybody in your family have a quirk like that?"

"No, it's a mutation," Kotaro says back. "But, I understand why you would jump to such conclusions. I bet your wife wishes to be with somebody else instead of you..."

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"Alright, here is the battle-plan," Enji orders as he and his family get driven to the fundraiser The Nana Project was doing that night. They are all decked to the 10, with Rei, Natsuo and Fuyumi using blue formal-wear with red details and Enji, Touya and Shouto using their Hero uniforms.

"Natsuo, you remind everybody that you got a scholarship and that you will become the best hero doctor," he tells his middle son.

"Dad, I don't know if I'm going to be a hero doct-" the albino tries to tell him, but is ignored.

"Shouto, you tell everyone about your time in UA and how you won the Sports Festival," he addresses his youngest son, who only slurps on his drink.

"Rei," he re-direct to the ice woman.

"I will tell everyone what a good father and husband you are and how you are the best hero," his wife says, repeating Enji's order by heart.

"Good, and Fuyumi and Touya, you'll keep an eye on those Shimura siblings," he seethes at his oldest pair of kids. Fuyumi nods kindly, and Touya moans.

"I should have taken that extra shift with Eraser," he complains and leans over his baby brother.

They arrive at the place without a problem and get a warm welcome by the Shimura's. Rei and Nao get into a friendly conversation while Kotaro and Enji get trapped in glare-down as they shake hands. Natsuo and Shouto, once they say their hellos, go to the food trays, and Fuyumi and Touya stay with Hana and Tenko.

"Hey, Yumi-chan, goes it going?" Hana asks.

"Great, Hana-chan, I have a new student from America, his dad is a model," Fuyumi tells her.

The reality of the Shimura-Todoroki rivalry was more centred into the fathers of the families. Ever since the feud had started, Endeavour and Kotaro had pegged their eldest against one-another. With Fuyumi going against Hana and Touya against Tenko. For example, when Touya got into the hero course at UA and Fuyumi into General Education, Hana and Tenko went to the business course. It had not gone the way they wanted it to, though. Their kids, instead of seeing the other pair as the enemy or bitter rivals, got along well and only kept the pretences that they hated each other when their parents were around.

"Fuyumi, why don't you tell the Shimura's about your work as a teacher and how you are leading the next generation on a better path," suddenly Enji and Kotaro enter the conversation.

"Hana, tell Todoroki about how you graduated from law school and plan to follow on your fathers' footstep," the two women groan as their fathers get carried away.

"Hey, can I keep an eye on you over the bar?" Touya whispers to Tenko.

"I have liquor in my office, can you do it from there?" the younger man whispers back.

Touya says yes, and they both turn the way and leave. They walk through hallways and get into the elevator in peace. Once the doors shut, they collide into each other in a mess of limbs and tongues. Touya pushes Tenko to the wall as his hands find a place in his hip and hair. Tenko is trying to pull him closer by the lapels of his hero coat and pressing his knee against the others crotch. They only separate when there is a ding and the doors open again. Their clothes were ruffled, their lips were swollen and Tenko's hair, which was collected in a small pony-tail, was dishevelled.

The two continue walking and go to the door marked with the youngest's name. Unlike their sisters, who were friends and nothing more, the two boys were much more than friends. After their first meeting, the boys had instantly become friends, despite their age difference. The two especially got closer on Touya's last year at UA and Tenko's first. After that they fell for one another. But neither did anything until Tenko's graduation and 18th birthday. Touya took care of the younger male as he got wasted and ended up kissing in the car in front of the Shimura's household. They tried to keep their relationship a secret at first, not wanting to deal with any sort of lecture their fathers might have for them on 'dating the enemy'.  Or worse, using their relationship to for their own selfish gain.

That being said, they didn't hide it very well...

The first one to find out was Tenko's sister, Hana. When Tomura went to college, the two siblings shared an apartment. It was cheaper this way, and they were already accustomed to the other, having lived their entires lives together. The only difference was that while they were both doing a Business mayor, Tenko had an art minor and Hana a journalism minor. So, some evenings, Tenko would have the entire apartment for himself. It was in one of these occasions, one evening when a villain attack made their classes be cancelled, that she found out. She just walked into her apartment to find her baby brother and the hero Dabi kissing in the living room. Although she was shocked at first, she was happy for her brother. She knew he had feeling for the red-head and was thrilled to know, his feelings were returned.

She wasn't as happy though when her father heard rumours about the Hero Dabi being spotted near their apartment, and she got questioned about her relationship status. Which EW. But she kept the secret.

The next one was Natsuo. Touya and Tenko decided to go away for a weekend one summer to the beach, renting a hut on the coast. Natsuo, who didn't want to spend all of summer vacation with his parents, dropped by unannounced. The albino walked in the middle of a romantic dinner, and they had to explain everything to the guy. Natsuo was happy about their relationship. A little too happy maybe. Touya had to kick him out to get back on their time alone and give him money for a bus ride back home.

Which was how the next person learned about them, Touya's mom, Rei. Natsuo, in all his himbo glory, told their mom the second he saw her. Natsuo tried to explain himself, saying it was an accident, but Touya was too busy killing him to listen. Even if Natsuo was taller than him and bigger compared to his lanky frame, Touya was still the eldest and knew a lot of ways to keep his authority. His mom though, congratulated him. She told him she wanted him to be happy. They did have a lovely dinner at his place where they also told Tenko's mom. She was the fourth person to find out and the first person they actually told the secret.

The next person, or people really, who found out were Fuyumi and Hawks. It was after another fundraiser of the Nana Project taking place in a hotel in another city. Many heroes had attended, one of those being Hawks. He and Fuyumi had talked all night and decided to get to know each other better on the privacy of Hawks room. Too bad that room happened to be the one exactly next Tenko's. A room who Touya and Tenko were stepping out of in that exact moment. There was an awkward tension for a few seconds before the two siblings agreed to leave the discussion for later. Each couple went their way, and on the morning, the eldest Todoroki siblings talked about what they saw that night. It ended well though, with them swearing secrecy and her congratulating him on finding someone who made him happy.

(He also had a conversation with Hawks, he would love to reget. The chicken interrupted one of his patrols, pissing off Aizawa, who then gave him extra paperwork.

"So... About that night. You didn't... tell your dad, right?"

"Hawks, Fuyumi is an intelligent and responsible woman who can make her own decisions. If she want to have a one-night stand with you, she is free to do it without me or our old-man going ballistic about it,"

"Oh, great- Wait, what you do mean with 'One-night stand'?"

"Hawks, you're not sisters type, I don't think she'll call you anytime soon,"

"Why not!? I could be her type!"

"My sister dates nerds, you are a flying chicken nugget,")

The last one to know had been Shouto. Their parents were out of town and with Fuyumi busy with grading homework and Natsuo getting fucked by finals, Touya looked after the little candy cane. However, that didn't mean he and Tenko couldn't spend time together. If anything, this was a great opportunity. A way for him to give the middle finger to his old man and be with Tenko under his roof. Until one morning when Shouto found Tenko in their house. That morning, as he made breakfast, his brother came into the room and told him he couldn't find part of his uniform. Touya sent him away, telling him to look harder, and when he came back, he hadn't found the item yet, but he had seen Tenko. It took him a little bit, but in the end, the two brothers came to a deal beneficial enough for both parties. Shouto wouldn't say anything to their old-man and Touya, when the time came, would offer a personal internship with him. The older sibling could almost swear the kid just wanted to spend more time with him, since they didn't hang out as much since he moved to his own apartment. But he was not going to tell the kid that and waste an easy deal. Shouto was happy either way, though he did make fun of his brother by asking Tenko what he saw in him and that he could do better.

The two young men had been together for four years now and wanted to move forward in their relationship. To get straight to the point, Touya wanted Tenko to live with him. He was almost done with college, graduating at the end of this semester and even if he would still work with his dad just like Hana was, he wanted to wake up every morning to his adorable mophead. However, that meant telling their fathers. And while they had done a pretty good job of hiding from them so far, they didn't think they would be able to hide who they were living with from them.

"I do want to move in with you... But how are we going to tell them?" Tenko says as they try to look presentable again after their make-out.

"Well, we could follow Fuyu's advice," Touya says and takes his gloved hand. "We do it directly, honestly and in a public place, so they don't throw a fit," Tenko chuckle and Touya caresses his cheek gently. "It's going to be fine, we are adults, right?"

"Yeah, we are..." the younger one agrees and leans in.

The two kiss softly, and for a moment, they are filled with hope. Their fathers might take a while to come to peace with it, but they'll survive. They are together, and that was the only thing that mattered. Only them. By each other side.

Then, the door opened with a slam.

Their fathers with looks of horror in their eyes stared at their sex-messed appearance from the doorway. "Well, I guess that's one way to tell them..."

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

The reason the two fathers of the family had been in Tenko's office was because Kotaro wanted to show off to Enji both his kids' new offices. They started with Hana's office and then moved on to his son's. It was a good thing they did, though. If they started with his office, they would have come into a worse sight than they did. But once the shock from the find had passed, both called a family meeting. The Todoroki's and the Shimura's ended in one of the conference rooms, with Enji and Kotaro going off about trust and betrayal, sometimes shoving jabs about one another. The couple was sitting on the other end of the conference table. The rest of the family on each side. Todoroki's on the left and Shimura's on the right. The two male adults were so lost in their banter, they didn't notice Tenko whisper something in Touya's ear before the red-head noded determined.

"Your sibling would never do something so horrendous! So traito-" Enji was saying, his face flaming hot, but got interrupted.

"Well, I wouldn't say that..." Touya intervened and pointed to one of his siblings. "Shouto doesn't want to go on an internship with you, he asked me for one," he says.

"What!?" Enji exclaims, his face angry and sad at the same time.

"Nii-san!"

Touya, as an Underground Hero, was very good at gathering information. He normally used it against organized crime syndicates or villains. But if he was going down, so were they. "And Natsuo had a pregnancy scare with his girlfriend," he moves to his other brother.

"Dude!"

"And Fuyumi slept with one of your co-workers, Hawks," he finishes and watches as his old-man falls to his chair defeated.

Kotaro lowly chuckles next to him, amused by the situation. "Endeavour, it's alright," he mocks the hero. "You're just not as a devoted father as you thought you were-"

"You're not either," Tenko interrupts this time. "Did you know Hana has a tattoo?" his father gasps.

"Tenko!"

"Or that she meets weekly with All Might and Gran Torino?" another horror gasp.

"Tenko!"

The couple had opened Pandora's Box. And with that, chaos ruled over the room as the people inside blamed the other for something. In all the commotion, they failed to notice the couple slip away from the room. They head towards the elevator.

"Uber should be here in five minutes," Tenko says as they can hear the shouting and fighting from the conference room.

"Family reunions are going to be fun from now on," Touya chuckles as he drops his arm over his boyfriend's shoulders.

[argent-vulpine]

The Queen’s Scheme(r)s

Fandom: Fire Emblem Three Houses

Rating: G

Characters: Yuri/F!Byleth/Claude

Chapter Six: Entering the Locket

Read it on AO3

The Locket was an impressive beast, nestled in the mountains of Fódlan’s Throat, a fortress designed to keep the Almyran ‘threat’ at bay. And for a long time, House Goneril had done a marvelous job at exactly that, culminating in Holst himself being well known as a formidable general and warrior.

Of course, that had changed in recent years. The fortress was still in use, and ostensibly still there to protect Fódlan, but with the Queen of Unification being married to the King of Almyra, there wasn’t much to defend against beyond some particularly testy people on both sides who were resistant to change.

When Byleth and Yuri arrived at the Locket, they were greeted by Holst himself, his younger sister Hilda… and King Khalid, who stood a little ahead of the pair with a broad, mischievous grin.

“It’s so nice that Queen Byleth has graced us with her presence,” he said, shooting her a wink. “I was wondering how much longer it would take you.”

She gave an amused snort and moved toward him, Yuri a half-step behind, while Claude descended the stairs to meet them. The three met and embraced, heads pressing together and arms tangling in a knot, hands grasping and uncaring who they touched. They stood like that for a long moment, until Holst cleared his throat, drawing them back to their surroundings.

“I hate to interrupt, Your Majesties,” and it was clear he included Yuri in this, “but dinner’s waiting, and I hate to let the kitchen’s efforts go to waste.” He said this with a broad grin, waving Hilda over.

The group began the climb up the steps, with Byleth looking around curiously. “No Nader hovering about?” she finally asked.

“Oh, I sent him on to Judith for a few days. His whining was terrible,” replied Claude with a grin.

“Your whining hasn’t been any better, Leader Man,” chirped Hilda from Holst’s other side, earning her a baleful glare from the Almyran king. “Ever since you got here it’s been nothing but ‘Oh, I miss them so much, how much longer until they get here, what’s taking so long’. Really, Claude, a couple days longer is nothing!”

Holst sighed fondly at his sister, but shot a sidelong glance at the trio of royals. “It wasn’t quite that bad… but it might have been close,” he confided in Byleth with a grin. “I have to admit, I was part of the group that wasn’t too sure how the Archbishop being married to two people would go over, but seeing you together, it makes sense.” He gave a decisive sort of nod, as if settling the matter.

“The situation is certainly complicated,” she agreed smoothly, hooking her elbows around Claude and Yuri arms, drawing them closer to her. “But we manage. And I have to be honest… I’m not sure if I’d be able to run things half as smoothly if I didn’t have both of them by my side.”

“The same for me. I know I can’t bring them both to Almyra right now, and things are still a little shaky, but the day-to-day stuff is made easier with more heads in the matter.”

Yuri seemed to take all of this in stride, not offering up anything of his own to the current conversation. Not that Claude and Byleth wouldn’t have listened; quite the contrary, they would have listened with great intent. But in this, he knew that he was the reason their burdens were eased. Without an entire country to run – or a church to govern – he had more flexibility, and thus an easier time being the person to help ease their strains.

“Hey, if it ain’t the professor!” bellowed a familiar voice as soon as they stepped through the doors. “And my pal Yuri!”

“I see they haven’t kicked you to the curb yet,” replied the lavender-haired main dryly as Balthus bounded into view.

“Well, not yet, but maybe soon!” he replied, his deep laughter booming down the halls. “Ah, I’m just stopping in for a few days before I head back home. Couldn’t resist a visit to my buddy Holst here!”

“So Constance isn’t with you?” asked Byleth with an amused quirk to her lips.

“Nah, she was in the middle of some weird magic… thing… and couldn’t be bothered. She did say to give you this when I saw you, though!” And saying that, he produced a thick envelope, waxed and stamped with the seal of House Nuvelle. “Hapi included a letter, too!” he added with a grin.

While Balthus and Constance had married and resettled House Nuvelle to encompass Kupala, Hapi’s home, it was known to their friends that the trio enjoyed a relationship similar to Byleth and her husbands, if a little less official. Byleth had been told that it was her example that had them choosing to give it a go, but they preferred less public displays than those Byleth as Queen had to endure.

Balthus handed the letter to Yuri when he extended a hand, and he tucked it away for later; they would have time to read it after dinner. “We’ll make sure to write a response for you to take back,” Byleth assured him with a slight smile.

The group continued onward toward the dining hall, chatting amiably as they did. Yuri separated from her first so he could pull Balthus aside, catching up on important news and undoubtedly preparing to dispatch a few careful letters of his own. Neither she nor Claude had even bothered trying to turn him into a law-abiding citizen; they’d only cautioned he be careful with what he did now that he was in a more public view.

Still, the underworld was where he flourished, and he’d been ‘king’ of that long before he’d become King Consort of Fódlan.

Dinner ended up being a relaxed affair, with only the Gonerils, the crowns, and their close friends in attendance. A larger, more elaborate dinner would come the next day, when they had time to relax and prepare. This one would include delegates from Fódlan and Almyra, one of many such parties to get their nations to mingle and come to some sort of understanding.

It helped, some, that Byleth’s reputation as Ashen Demon had traveled into Almyra, as well; they respected her for her battle prowess, even if they still thought Fódlan’s elite were cowardly.

After dinner, Byleth and her husbands retired to the rooms set aside for them, taking time to bathe and then settling down in front of a hearty fire. Yuri was in the middle for tonight, the thick envelope in his hands, waiting for the others to get comfortable. When they were, he cracked the wax seal and pulled out a sheaf of papers.

“She really does talk a lot, even in text,” he muttered with a wry grin, leafing through the sheets until he found where Constance’s letter ended and Hapi’s began. “Let’s start with Hapi, yeah?”

“One sheet compared to four?” He nodded at the question, a move more felt than seen. “… yes, let’s start with Hapi.”

On the other side of Yuri, Claude chuckled, taking the other letter from the stack and setting it aside.

Yuri’s voice was soothing as he read, though he mimicked Hapi’s speech pattern perfectly. “Hey Chatterbox,” it began, “and Yuri-bird, and Claudester.” He paused, chuckling at the order. “Guess she’s decided who’s most important for this letter.”

Claude feigned offense at being last on the list, but it had no real heat in it.

Hapi’s letter continued, talking about the state of Kupala, how well it was doing now that House Nuvelle encompassed it. She spoke of seeing the stars from the mountains, and how she missed certain sweets from Garreg Mach’s kitchens (Byleth made a mental note to have some sent her way as soon as she could). She assured them that ‘Coco’ and ‘B’ were treating her well – how could they not – and that she was happy to be home, though home now meant going between her family’s home in Kupala and the Nuvelle manor.

It was not a long letter, more of a general update to let them know that she missed them and had been thinking about them. The gesture was appreciated by the trio. They missed their friends, too, but life after the war and with the shifting of power in the country meant that there was a lot happening that took them… everywhere.

Byleth took the letter this time, setting it down on her side of their pile while Claude handed the thicker mass from Constance back to Yuri.

It was addressed to them in the same order, but in a far more formal fashion. She regaled them with talk of her newest magical discoveries (and a few accidents as well), how they had been building outdoor structures for her to address the people of her territory in a proper matter, and a great many other things.

They all politely declined to comment when the tone shifted for about three paragraphs, indicated a time when she had been outside.

Yuri’s voice was soothing enough that Byleth had begun to drift off near the end of the letter. He nudged her to wakefulness and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Would you like me to write the response for all of us?” he asked.

“…maybe,” she said with a slight huff. “You write hers and I’ll write Hapi’s?” she offered, biting back a yawn.

“Deal.”

“And I… will get the bed ready,” announced Claude with a smirk. “… and then join you in letter-writing. I have a few I need to start penning as well.”

They stayed up late into the night, writing letters and simply enjoying each other’s presence, before finally climbing into bed, limbs entangling together as they sank into easy, comfortable slumber.

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

Once Bitten, Twice Stupid prt 124

124

Keith couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t breathe and he couldn’t stand. He didn’t understand this. He didn’t understand it all. First Shiro, Sam, Curtis and Matt... now Lance. The four of them. The four of them were missing. He’d left Lance behind. He’d left him behind and believed he’d be safe. Coran had rushed off with Rieva and the waiting medical team. Allura, Krolia, Pidge, Colleen, and Hunk, had all been waiting in the reception when they’d gotten back. He’d thought... he thought they were all worried because of Rieva... until Pidge threw herself into his arms sobbing. Allura as downtrodden as she softly explained Lance had gone missing. He’d said he was going to call Keith, but hadn’t come back. Keith hadn’t gotten any call. He’d been so busy trying to call Shiro that he’d... that he hadn’t tried to call until they were nearly back at VOLTRON. He’d run a red light trying to call his beloved boyfriend... fear gripping him tightly as he choked on his own panic.

He’d lost it. He’d lost it at Allura... then Hunk... then finally crumpled in Pidge’s hold. He didn’t understand. Lance wouldn’t simply go off on his own. None of them understood. None of them cared. He’d yelled it in anger and felt none the better for doing so. Allura was supposed to protect Lance. She was supposed to stay by his side. Lance hadn’t been confident, yet he’d taken control of the situation. He’d stepped up forced himself to step back. He shouldn’t have made Lance stay. This was his fault. Lance... Lance who’d barely been awake the last few days. Who loved cuddles over violence and knew he was panicked over Shiro. He’d stayed to stay safe.

“Keith, we have work to do. The four of them going missing at once is no coincidence. We need to get started as soon as possible on their trail. I know it’s hard, but we’re going to get them back. You can’t lose hope before the search begins. Allura, we’ll make use of the Blades main briefing room. We need access to VOLTRON’s security feed. Pidge... Lance says you’re some kind of technical whiz, until our agents arrive, I need your help. Keith, did you take photos of the scene?”

Keith stared up at his mother, galaxy eyes filled with tears as he nodded

“Good. Hunk can help you with those. Whatever happened, we’ll work this out. Colleen, I’ll need your help too. I’m unfamiliar with the college and car park layout”

His mum sounded painfully like Lance. Lance knew how to brain when it really mattered. Not like him. He always lost his head when it came to Shiro. Extending both her hands, she pulled he and Pidge off the floor at the same time. Pidge already pulling herself together

“I should be able to get a location on their phones, but I need access to a laptop”

“Lance’s laptop’s in his room”

“Allura and I will go. You guys get started working out what we know. I’m going to kick Matt’s arse if he’s okay”

Keith didn’t want to break it to Pidge that Matt wouldn’t have willingly left Rieva. She already knew it, but it was one of those things best left unsaid out loud.

*

Setting up in the briefing room, Allura wheeled in another white board so they could work off that. Krolia was on the phone now, James and the rest of the werewolves on route the scene that Kolivan was now at. Keith didn’t know what to do with himself once Hunk helped him get the photos off his phone and onto Lance’s laptop, which Allura had Pidge print. Colleen had written a timeline on the whiteboard, filling in when Lance had called Pidge, roughly what time Allura had returned with Hunk, and what time Lance had gone missing. She’d also filled in when she’d last heard from Matt and from her husband.

Keith hadn’t thought about how she must feel. Her son’s girlfriend was in surgery. Her son and her husband were missing. He knew the relationships were very different, yet he couldn’t stop thinking about how his boyfriend had disappeared from VOLTRON. Lance was so stupid as to wander off... but surely they must have searched for him. He wanted to search himself, in case Lance had collapsed somewhere close and needed their help but couldn’t call for help. He’d been doing a lot better, other than the exhaustion. They’d talked a little about the future. About making plans once the case with Sendak was over. It hardly seemed like a week since they were up at the cabin for his birthday.

“Alright. I’ve got the surveillance up from outside the bookstore...”

Pidge pulled it up, playing it over the projector for all of them see. Keith couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Lance alone. His phone in his hands, and his shoulders hunched as if he was trying to look smaller. Out of nowhere his boyfriend slumped to the ground, phone sliding across the pavement as a large car pulled up. In less the ten seconds Lance was in the car and it was gone. Two large figures dressed in layers to disguise their shape and size had picked Lance up like he was nothing, all but throwing him into the back of the car, then pulling away as if nothing happened.

“What the fuck?!”

Pidge’s exclamation overlapped Hunk’s worried “Oh man, oh man, oh man”. Keith shaken that they’d not only taken Lance, but Lance had gone out the front on his own

“I’m going to see if his phone’s still there...”

Allura shut her down. The last thing needed was something happening to Pidge

“I’ll go. You see if you can find the footage from the hallway. He left from Coran’s office”

“Why would he leave?”

Keith’s question wasn’t really directed at anyone. He couldn’t make sense of what he’d seen. Allura already on the move to check the front of the store. He and Coran came through the front door. He hadn’t even looked. He’d been too preoccupied opening the door so Coran could carry Rieva in

“Hunk, did Lance say anything? Was he acting strange?”

Hunk jumped slightly at Krolia’s question

“No. He was worried about Rieva... and Keith. He said he was going to call Keith because they should have reached Rieva by now”

If he’d just fucking called. If he’d called Lance...

“Keith. Don’t do that. Those thoughts won’t help”

It was Keith’s turn to jump at Krolia suddenly talking to him

“I should have called... I was so busy trying to find Shiro...”

“Stop. Now. Why would Lance head out the front when he knew there was danger?”

“I don’t know!”

“Getting angry isn’t going to help anyone”

“Excuse me?!...”

His mother was pushing all the wrong buttons

“... He’s sick and he’s fucking pregnant, if you haven’t forgotten!”

“I am well aware of Lance’s condition. What I need is to know why he’d walk into danger”

“He’s only do that if... if he thought we were in danger... or Keith... What about his mum?”

Pidge brought up a point none of them thought about. Miriam

“Does he have any other family in town?”

Krolia knew a little of Lance’s family dynamic, Keith supposed he knew actually knew the most

“His brother Luis. Luis’s wife Lisa... and I think maybe his brother Marco. I don’t know where Veronica and Rachel are. Lance isn’t contact with his siblings”

Pidge raised an eyebrow

“He has more than one brother? I think he mentioned it at some point... but there’s more of them?”

“He... doesn’t get along with his family, other his Mami... Luis... ah... it’s complicated. I don’t think they’d be involved in this”

“I’m going to have to grill him for not telling us”

Pidge was trying to lighten the mood, instead she flinched as Keith glared without thinking, words falling out cold as ice

“There’s a reason he doesn’t talk about them. They fucking kicked him to the curb. It’s not like you and Matt. They never got over their fear. That’s part of the reason he was so scared to tell everyone what he was”

Pidge visibly gulped, Krolia scolding him

“That’s not how we talk to friends. Are you sure his brothers aren’t involved?”

“Luis wouldn’t do that again. We should pick Miriam up. She’s Lance’s mother”

“I’ll go. I know her, and I’ll be able to protect her if anything happens”

That Krolia would volunteer was weird. He was still adjusting to his mother being an actual human and not a hunter... Before she’d come here it’d been pretty much inconceivable that she’d be this involved with his life. Now his mother was rushing out, knowing there was danger on their doorstep. He was scared that her leaving would result in her not returning... like everyone else...

“Keith, I’ll be okay. In the mean time, you guys keep working. They’ve pissed off the wrong people. We’re going to get them back and we’re going to crush those who took them”

Okay. There was his mother. Absolutely ruthless. Keith couldn’t help but voice his fear

“You... will come back, right?”

“I will. I’m not going to give up until their all back... and I’ve shot them all at least twice for being kidnapped”

“Please don’t shoot my boyfriend again”

“Fine, but only because he’s carrying my grandbabies...”

Colleen waited until Krolia had left before turning to them with her hands on her hips

“I think all of you better explain what’s going on with Lance. And just what you’ve all gotten yourselves into”

Pidge groaned at her mother

“Mum, not now. We have to find them first”

“Don’t you take that tone with me, Katie. Don’t think I won’t put you under house arrest”

“Yes, yes. But kind of busy looking for whoever took Matt and Dad right now”

“We should call the police”

The police would kick it back to them if they knew the people involved

“What are the police going to do against werewolves and vampires? I feel like that’s not part of their training”

“Don’t take that tone with me... Your father and brother are missing”

Pidge snapped back at her mother

“And I’m doing what I do best!”

Colleen scared him at the best of times... but she was still only human. She might know about things other people didn’t, but she didn’t know what Keith knew

“Mrs Holt... Recently there’s been a lot movement in the vampire community. A war of sorts... one of the vampires involved is named Sendak and he’s really bad news. VOLTRON has been harbouring the son of a very powerful vampire couple, which hasn’t gone over well. Sendak was sent to retrieve him, yet he refuses to leave. I don’t know what you know about vampires but Lance is a rare kind of vampire. He’s valuable to the vampire community. Lance told me that he thinks that this vampire’s family may have had something to do with the death of Rieva’s biological parents. Rieva isn’t fond of him at all, and he’s both lied and manipulated us on multiple occasions. That’s part of the reason Coran wanted us all here for Halloween, due to the unrest this vampire’s caused. We’ve been hunting Sendak for months now. That he’d move now wasn’t expected... but it was to... only that he’d... I didn’t think he’d target people working directly for VOLTRON seeing we had Lotor”

If this was a hostage exchange, Keith would personally tie a bow around Lotor’s neck before handing him over with a gift tag and a strict “no backsies” policy. Did Sendak know Lance’s worth? Was his boyfriend taken to ensure they’d take the deal? And where was Loturd? He wasn’t one to miss being able to inject himself into any situation where he might have his ego inflated...

Colleen’s voice wavered slightly as she asked

“S-so they took my husband and son... because of Lance?”

How the fuck was this Lance’s fault. Keith nearly blew a fuse, Colleen saved by Allura rushing in

“I’ve got his phone!”

Pidge shooting to her feet and holding her hand out

“Quick, hand it over”

With Lance’s phone in her hand, privacy didn’t matter as Pidge tapped away on the screen

“The last message is from Shiro. It says Matt wolfed out and they’ve stolen a car... This doesn’t sound like Shiro”

Keith snatched Lance’s phone out Pidge’s hand. Reading the message he shook his head

“This isn’t Shiro. What’s the red bar at the top mean?”

Pidge took it back

“It means Lance isn’t the idiot he claims to be! He’s got it on voice recorder, he did have, I mean. Okay, everyone be quite”

Pidge played the short recording. It was mostly background noise until the thud, then small snippets of conversation

“That him?”

“Careful they want him in one piece”

“The half demon confirmed the pregnancy”

“Why do we have to touch something like this”

The voices were faint. Lance’s phone picking them up despite the distance. There was the sound of moving, then the car leaving... ending with Allura letting out a kind of excited squeal at finding the phone. Keith nearly dropped Lance’s phone listening. It clicked. They’d caused the disturbance away from VOLTRON with the hopes of Lance being unguarded. The message had too little grammar to be from Shiro. His brother relied on autocorrect... In a panicked situation it was a normal response to think Shiro didn’t care for grammar, but these days it was easier to rely on the phone than typing short handed messages

“Allura, where’s Lotor?”

“In his quarters...”

“Find him and bring him up here. I don’t care what you have to tell him to get him to cooperate”

“Wait... you can’t think...”

“They knew about the pregnancy. We didn’t tell hardly anyone about it. Lance suspected Lotor knew before we did. He has some explaining to do”

Allura’s face feel before her expression became down right scary

“I’m going to rip his heart from his chest if he’s involved with this! Wait... where’s Krolia?”

“Collecting Miriam. We’ll have her wait in your office. She doesn’t need to know Lance was purposely taken”

Keith surprised himself with his own words. Krolia would decide what to tell Miriam, but Keith hoped it wasn’t the full truth, not that his mother knew Lance had been intentionally take, Allura soft yet objecting

“She’s his mother...”

“That’s why. Lance has nearly lost her twice, he really did think he would when she had pneumonia. Mami might be strong, but knowing everything will only upset her. When Coran returns, he’ll know what to say. For now we have to work the evidence because that’s all we have to go on until Rieva wakes up and tell us what happened. We need to add his abduction to the time line, and do you have any idea what would make him collapse like that?”

Allura shook her head

“No. I don’t. It concerns me...”

Pidge asked, always so damn curious, though it was another point of investigation

“Can you tranquillise a vampire?”

“You can, but you need a very very high dosage, or something to weaken them immensely, alternatively you mix it with blood, which a vampire would know”

“Lotor might know...”

Fuck... asking Lotor for information... he didn’t know if he could keep his temper and whatever this weird composure that’d set in. Allura nodding quickly

“I’ll go get him. Stay together until I return”

*

Lotor looked thoroughly unamused. Unamused and unimpressed. Keith wasn’t sure he even cared about their missing friends as he sat back in his chair and rewatched Lance being taken away. Hunk definitely felt uncomfortable, alternating between sitting and staring at the evidence board. Pidge had seemed shocked, though Keith could see she was working hard to contain all the questions inside of her. She only knew “Lance’s Standard” when it came to being a vampire, not “Lotor’s Standard” with his flashy suit and stupid ego.

“So what exactly is it that you’re asking me to do?”

Keith could murder him. He really could. Up and over the briefing table and behead the bastard. Gritting his teeth together, he left talking to Lotor up to Allura

“We were looking for an explanation as to why Lance would collapse like that, and your opinion as to whether it was related to the dramas occurring in the vampire clans”

With his arms crossed, Lotor moved his hand as he shrugged

“I really couldn’t say. News on his status has obviously been leaked. Perhaps he caught someone’s eye when out”

Or perhaps Lotor was a lying snake protecting Sendak seeing Sendak was Zarkon’s lapdog

“Surely you have some opinion. You heard the recording Lance made. Do you think it’s possible Sendak and Honerva know about Lance’s status?”

Lotor scoffed

“Come now, Allura. You and I both know that Lance is valuable. Not only is he pregnant, he is a young vampire turned at a young age. He can do many things most of us cannot, and he can bare full blooded vampire children if he truly desired, or at least sire a superior bloodline. That on top of his skills to transform shape. He’d make an excellent source of data when comparing what makes him genetically different to other vampires”

“Get out!”

Every held their breaths as Allura yelled at Lotor

“Allura...”

“Lance is not a valuable specimen! He’s our friend! You have no right to reduce him to bare facts!”

“You asked if I knew why he’d been abducted...”

“I was asking you to help us! This is ridiculous! A hundred years hasn’t changed you, neither will a hundred more. I’m revoking your right to stay here a moment longer!”

“Come now Allura. I was merely stating facts”

“Your facts don’t help when you refuse to treat him with respect! I know he broke through your ego! I swear if you are involved in this, I will make your life unbearable”

“Allura, there’s no use for theatrics. All of you aren’t thinking about this objectively. Objectively Lance is valuable. His pregnancy is valuable. If you’d done your jobs as his protectors then this could have been avoided. I don’t believe they will harm for fear of accidentally terminating the pregnan-...”

Striding over to Lotor, for the first time in his life Keith felt a minute amount of sympathy at the loud sound of Allura slapping Lotor across the face

“That’s Keith’s mate you are talking about! His children! Lance isn’t an experiment! He’s far more of a man that you”

“I have been nothing but on your side. Taking your fear out on me is a human emotion, far below you”

“I’d rather be afraid then be soulless! Think very carefully before you say your next words...”

Lotor pulled himself up. Straightening his suit jacket as he did

“I’m in no way involved in what has happened. Nor will I tolerate the moods of a spoilt child. I can only hope your actions will not bring a second more permanent death upon Lance’s head. You have clearly been betrayed. Perhaps you should look closer at those you surround yourself with. I, for one, would not tolerate mice in my castle, let alone rats”

Lotor swept from the room, slamming the door behind him so hard that it buckled inwards. Whelp. That was overly dramatic. Kicking Lotor’s chair over, Allura then scrubbed at her face, before shaking her head and pulling herself back together

“I’m sorry. I know I acted unseemly, but I cannot tolerate the way he looks down on Lance”

Keith could have kissed Allura. She’d been totally bad arse, sticking up for Lance like that couldn’t have been easy for her, but fuck if he didn’t appreciate it.

Letting out a long sigh, Pidge was staring at Allura, Allura noticing

“I’m sorry if I upset you, Pidge”

“No... not at all. I actually kind of want to hug you right now”

Allura was first taken back, then smiled softly

“Lance is important to me. He really is hopelessly human, but he’s always been so very proud of you. He always talked about how smart and talented you and Hunk are. I know you didn’t ask to be involved, and I am truly sorry you had to see that, but I have more faith in you, and all us, than I do in Lotor when it comes to locating Lance. I hope you’ll let me continue to remain here”

Pidge sucked in a shaky breath

“Lance really does talk about us a lot, doesn’t he?”

“He does. He’s met many humans, but none of them have ever been as close as you three, four including Keith. He’d do anything for any of you”

“He’s an idiot...”

“He is, but he’s a good idiot. Keith, I’m sorry Lotor...”

Keith cut Allura off

“It’s not your fault. Honestly, when you slapped him... It was far better than what I wanted to do”

“Oh no! Did I prevent a famous “dick punch”?”

Allura had spent too much time around him and Lance... Lance would have snorted with laughter

“I didn’t particularly feel being that gentle about it”

Lotor rubbed him the wrong, but if he was right, then they wouldn’t simply kill Lance off once and for all. Though being captured wasn’t necessarily better, it did mean his boyfriend would remain alive... and that was all he could ask for. Allura smiled sincerely at him

“I will not rest until we’ve located him, and the others. I promise you all this”

[adventuresasmrsfindley]

I've got a lot to say so buckle up!

About a month ago (?? Ish) I posted about needing a lot of grace and patience to deal with a situation. I never said much else about it because there was just a lot to unpack (mentally) and we were really busy but now I'm ready. Cole has two sisters, one older (A) and one younger (T). A is who watches Knox for us and has for going on a year now. T got married in October 2018 and had a baby in June 2019. She lived in Oklahoma with her husband and was a stay at home mom. Until about a month ago...... when she packed up her stuff, left her husband, and moved back here. Now, this wouldn't normally be a huge deal. More family around? Awesome! Except that she's the baby of the family and VERY used to being treated that way. She had absolutely no plan when she moved here regarding where she and her son would live and basically bounced around between my MIL and my MILs sister's house. A few days after she got here, she asked Cole if, when we got our basement finished, they could stay here until she got on her feet. Which is what prompted my post because I was noooottt crazy about the idea. At all. But Cole felt like he needed to help her because it's his baby sister.

Fast forward maybe a week after that happened, A's apartment flooded due to a dumb error made by the maitenance workers in her building. She and her fiancé were wanting to move into a house anyway but were about 6 weeks from their lease being up when the flood happened. Honestly it couldn't have been better timing because they got to break their lease at no expense to them, got a shit ton of money from insurance to replace their belongings, and found themselves house hunting at the same time T needed a place to live. They decided to all move in together (A, her fiancé, T, T's son). Perfect. We dodged a bullet there.

Untilllllllllll T got a job. (Obvi. She's a single Mom now). One of the main reasons we chose A to watch Knox is because it's a 1:1 setting. Now granted, he missed out on the social aspect that a daycare setting would provide but especially when he was much littler we loved knowing that he was getting the attention he needed. (Not bashing daycare here and saying babies don't get attention. Do not come for me. This was OUR decision that worked for OUR family.) But anyways with T working she needed help with her son. It kind of bothered Cole and I just because it was so sudden and Knox was already trying to adjust to the new house and then had to start splitting time with his auntie when he was used to having all her attention all day long. Plus I am pretty sure T is not paying A, and we do, so that's also kind of a weird piece of the puzzle. But I try not to get too far into their business.

We've been making it work for a few weeks, but today A sprung it on us that she is having knee surgery in July. She's been having issues for a while but thought she could get by with physical therapy. Which, obvi if she needs the surgery we will have to accommodate. I'm off for 2 weeks in July and her surgery is right at the beginning so we are hoping between that and some help from both of our Moms, we will get through her recovery without too much drama. But it's just another thing.. I know this has nothing to do with T moving here but ever since she did it just feels like everything has gotten a lot more complicated.

So Cole and I started talking tonight about possibly looking for a daycare center once Knox is around 2, so like 7-8 months from now. I hate that we would be giving up that 1:1 (well now 1:2) attention, but I know he would definitely benefit from being in a more structured setting. Learning more. Playing with more kids his age. It's just so much to think about and we definitely didn't plan on having to make these decisions quite yet. We really planned on leaving him with her until he was around 3-3 1/2. One of our good friends is the assistant director at a really good daycare center so I was texting with her a little tonight, getting a feel for pricing and wait lists and stuff. Which, the $$ alone is really going to hurt. We will have to pay like $300-$400 more a month. But idk. I think it would be worth it to gain a little bit more stability, I guess?? Not that A is not reliable. There are just a lot more factors now that make our situation less beneficial than it used to be.

I probably sound like a huge brat. I just really stress about who is going to watch Knox while we work. Obvi. I'm sure every working parent feels this way. But today sucked enough without adding the weight of starting those conversations and making those decisions.

I'm so glad I have a partner in all of this though. Cole told me early on in the day he would do bath and stories tonight since I was up with Knox last night. He played with him outside when they got home this evening so I could clean up and get dinner going without the tornado running around behind me. Little things just make me really thankful to have him and to know I don't have to face these big scary decisions alone.

WOW. That was a novel. Really won't blame you if you don't read it all but I feel better getting it out. It's just been a lot today. I really hope we get some better sleep tonight. My poor kid is absolutely miserable and cutting at least 4 teeth that I can see. So I won't be surprised if we are up again but I'm hoping not. Either way, tomorrow is a new day. Just gotta keep putting one foot in front of the other.

[melanch0lyism]

Here it is bois- Jagged Little Pill full plot synopsis

So, a lot of people in the JLP tag have been asking for a detailed synopsis of the show. I’m here to deliver! This goes out to @sunveiins and @lovebug1313 who I think were the first couple of people to start asking and wanted to be tagged to know when this was posted. Hope this helps for anyone who can’t get out to see the show!! (Also sorry this was delivered a bit later than promised I’m the worst sksdfn)

Warnings: Drug addiction, sexual assault, heavy topics like that and obviously spoilers if you want to go see the show for yourself

ACT 1:

-Mary Jane Healy is a mother obsessed with being seen as perfect, the best at everything, and with her family’s squeaky clean image. Literally all her energy is invested into making sure nobody knows that a single thing is wrong in her life.

-The show opens at Christmastime, and she is writing her annual family Christmas letter (the purpose of which is basically to brag about how great the Healys are doing and how she’s winning at life). 

-She writes about how her husband Steve got yet another promotion at work. Her daughter Frankie is in high school, as artistic and expressive as ever. (“In fact, right now, she’s upstairs with her best friend Joann working on a little craft project. *Lights on Frankie and Jo upstairs literally making out* “We always emphasize the importance of female friendships.”) And her golden boy, her perfect oldest son Nick, has just been accepted early to Harvard. (Right Through You)

-A celebratory breakfast for Nick reveals that the family is actually falling apart. Steve works so much that his marriage to MJ is now distant, hostile, and non-intimate. MJ is pressuring Nick to be perfect and keep up the family’s image. She’s constantly arguing with Frankie, who is adopted and feels the fact that she is black is being erased by her family in this white trash Connecticut town. (All I Really Want)

-Nick’s friends at school congratulate him and encourage him to come to a party that night to celebrate. Frankie and Jo complain about their complicated relationships with their mothers (Jo’s mom does not accept that she’s gay). (Hand in my Pocket) 

-MJ has a prescription for opiates as she had been in a car crash earlier that year. When they are unable to refill the prescription, she gets in touch with a dealer. (Smiling) WARNING THIS SONG WILL BREAK YOU EMOTIONALLY :)

-In class, a student named Phoenix (a good boy 12/10, the only man in the show apart from Steve who deserves rights) defends Frankie’s writing as the rest of the class ridicules it. The two start talking and developing feelings for one another, and they plan to meet up that night at the same party Nick had been invited to. (Ironic)

-Steve calls MJ to say he has to work late again. They get in an argument. Steve loves MJ and wants to work on things between them, but MJ is having none of it. (So Unsexy) Nick consoles an upset MJ who tells him that he’s “the only thing she’s done right.” She asks him to hang out with her, but he says tells her he was planning to go to the party. Nick sings about the pressure he feels from his mom to never screw anything up. (Perfect)

-Frankie and Nick roll up to the party. (Lancer’s Party [So Pure]) Frankie finds Phoenix and the two bond over their complicated home lives. Jo, who was dragged to a church function by her mother instead of being able to go to the party, joins the song. (That I Would Be Good)

-Bella, a friend of Nick’s, had gotten drunk at the party. The next morning the students are circulating pictures of her passed out with her shirt pulled up and talking shit about her. Frankie and Jo go to check on her and make sure she’s ok (despite the fact that they literally do not know her). Bella tells them that another friend of Nick’s named Andrew had raped her the night before while she had been drunk, but that no one will believe her. Frankie and Jo assure her that they believe her.

-Frankie goes home to confront Nick, who she knew had been with Bella and Andrew at the party. Nick brushes it off, citing Bella having been drunk and being known for her tendency to be dramatic. Their argument is overheard by MJ and Steve. Frankie tells Nick that as the only witness, he has to go to the police. MJ and Steve insist that he do nothing, as he had been drinking at the party as well and there could be consequences if that gets out. Also- insert subtext that MJ went through something similar to Bella in her college days. (Wake Up)

-MJ goes to church for the first time in years to pray for help with her addiction, her marriage, and her children. (Forgiven) (No one asked but this is my favorite song in the show, such a powerful moment. Idk if they do this still but at the ART they made it snow onstage, which really added to the sense of isolation the characters were feeling. One of the like 5 points in the show where I bawled my eyes out.)

ACT 2:

-Steve finally convinces MJ to go to marriage counselling with him, where she insists the problem is entirely his. (Not the Doctor) Big argument. Steve is frustrated that they haven’t had sex in almost a year while MJ says they shouldn’t need to since she knows from looking at his internet history that he watches weird porn every day. She feels unheard and unappreciated for all she does. He tells her she doesn’t have to do so much and starts singing a love song to her that gets hijacked by Phoenix and Frankie singing to each other. By the end of the song, the two end up in bed together. (Head Over Feet)

-Jo walks in on Phoenix and Frankie. While storming out of the house she runs into Steve and MJ and tells them what Frankie is doing upstairs. Phoenix gets the fuck out of there, so Frankie's alone to deal with her parents. She gets very upset that her parents aren’t ok with her choosing to have sex while they don’t care about what happened to Bella. She runs away from home, telling them some piece of paper doesn’t make her their daughter. That turns into yet another big fight between Steve and MJ.

-Frankie takes a train alone to NY. (Unprodigal Daughter) She tells Phoenix over the phone that she loves him, and is pissed that he isn’t ready to say it back. 

-Students at the school discus how outrageous they think Bella’s accusation is. Bella comes to the Healys’ house to talk to Nick, but only MJ is there. MJ tells Bella that the same thing happened to her in college (likely the first time she had said it out loud). After Bella leaves, Nick, feeling the guilt of being the only person with the power make people believe Bella, tells MJ the full extent of what happened the night of the party. He had been in the room when Andrew assaulted Bella, but had been drunk and in shock and did nothing to stop him. (Predator) Nick tells MJ that he wants to go to the police and help Bella bring Andrew to justice. She tells him what’s done is done, and the only thing telling the truth would accomplish is ruining his own life. Nick accuses her of only caring because harm to his reputation is harm to hers. 

-Jo comes to New York to pick up Frankie (who ran out of money and became desperate) and ends whatever undefined relationship/FWB situation they had going on. (You Oughta Know) (Holy shit. This one song alone deserves a tony. I cannot stress this enough- Lauren Patten is a GODDESS. I’ve never seen a standing ovation in the middle of a show before this.)

-MJ has overdosed on her painkillers and ends up in the hospital. (Uninvited) Steve arrives at the hospital and the fact that he didn’t know she was struggling rUINS HIM. (Mary Jane) They finally agree to actually put work into fixing their marriage. 

Steve, through tears: “I never meant to make you feel like work was more important than you or the kids. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed, I’m sorry. I’ve made so many mistakes. I’m such a mess.” MJ: “I’m detoxing from opiates. I win.”

MJ admits to Nick that she was wrong, and tells him to go to the police- Bella’s story is more important than their family’s reputation. Nick had already told the police what had happened.

-Everybody attends a rally Frankie throws for Bella, believing her now that Nick had come forward. There’s an important moment between Nick and Bella where he apologizes and she's mad that he gets to be the hero, that her saying it had happened wasn’t enough. (No) (Side note: in the ART version I don’t think Nick had a line in this song, letting Bella speak, and he just held up a sign that said “silence is violence” which was so much better.)

-The time has come for MJ’s next Christmas letter. She decides it will be the last one she writes and is honest for the first time about what had happened in the past year.

She writes about how she is in awe of Frankie, who spent the past year fighting for justice for Bella. MJ publicly admits her own past of sexual assault. She mentions that Andrew is being taken to trial and will not defend himself- he wants Bella’s to be the only story told. MJ and Frankie reconcile. (Thank U)

Instead of discussing Steve’s work again, she talks about how they are both in therapy individually and as a couple. He took up guitar lessons, but only knows how to play one Alanis Morissette record.

She opens up about her overdose and her experience in treatment.

Frankie dares her to send out the letter, and she does. “Merry fucking Christmas!” (Wow MJ Healy telling all her friends she has flaws? We love character development)

-Everyone reflects on what they learned (very cliché but it works). Frankie and Jo rekindle their friendship. Jo has a new girlfriend. Frankie and Phoenix decided to be friends. (You Learn)

[ma-gic-gay]

The kiss had complicated things.

Asking for an anullment had complicated it even more.

This was just supposed to be a marriage of convenience, a marriage built upon keeping Wiley safe from everything that could hurt him. Especially Nelle. They got married to protect him, so Michael could have a better chance in court against her.

After they won sole custody, the psycho bitch had kidnapped him after slashing Brook Lynn's throat. Thankfully, Michael had found them and saved Wiley.

That damn kidnapping is the reason Willow's thinking like this. Well, maybe one good thing came out of that besides extra quality family moments: her kiss with Michael after he'd brought their son back home.

Their son. Willow was officially adopting Wiley. Diane had the paperwork ready to go, all they had to do was sign it tomorrow and then her and Michael would always be in each other's lives, whether they wanted to or not.

She really wanted to be in his life in a bigger way than just a co parent for Wiley. As much as she loved that little boy, and there was no way to put the love she has for him into words, she didn't want to be the parent who's house he goes to on the weekends or a visitor to him. Granted, Michael would never let that happen. He was too kind, too perfect when it came to that, amongst other things. Michael wanted to make sure that their family stays just that, a family. Dysfunctional to an extent, yes, but a family.

It's almost like everyone is yelling for them to get together. Even his grandmother and brother who had met Willow ten seconds before saying how obviously happy she made his little brother.

Maybe she's just overthinking this. After all, Michael might still be in love with Sasha. It's completely possible; they were together for a long time.

But...

What if she's not? What if this isn't all in her head, and she's not freaking out and internally losing it over nothing? What if this is real, a genuine connection, and they're just throwing it away?

Dante said something about this when they'd met, in between quick witted remarks about the dysfunction she had married into. He'd actually said a lot of important things, she thinks.

"I'd ask my little brother if you make him happy, but you obviously do. I can see it written all over his face," Dante had said as soon as they were introduced.

Michael had brought up getting an annulment as opposed to a divorce, which she explained had been in part because they didn't have any irreconcilable differences. "Well, I just got here, so what do I know, but you two seem pretty happy together. And compatible- genuinely, that's a rare thing! But you guys know what's best for you guys."

She couldn't believe it. Each day, their family moments, it felt more and more like normal. Her broken heart had mended, she knew it. When she had to speak to Chase the other day, she didn't feel like she was in love with him anymore. She could look him dead in the eyes and still not feel that spark.

It was a confusing situation in general, with Michael having asked for an annulment after saying how great she was and kept looking at her with that look, the half smile and loving eyes.

How she loved that look. It was becoming a favorite thing of hers, seeing him look at her like that. She didn't know what it was, but if anyone was going to, she figured it would be Dante.

Or she could ask Michael himself. After all, they always promised to tell the truth to each other no matter what happened. Honesty and trust were the foundation of their marriage. Despite the fact it would be ending a lot sooner than she would've liked, they were still married. Rules still applied.

And that's how she ended up waiting anxiously in the foyer for her husband to come home. "Hello, Willow. What are you doing?" Dante asks when he walks in the door. "I mean no offense by that, of course, it's just you look like you've got something on your mind. Or, rather, someone. You also look like Lulu back when we were just married and she was so excited to see me at home, so I'm going to guess you're looking for Michael and have something important to tell my little brother."

"I can't get anything past you," she chuckles softly. Dante genuinely cared about the people around him and who made his family happy, that she could see easily.

"So why are you waiting for my brother?"

Willow takes a deep breath, sitting on one of the stairs so she stops pacing. "Well, you look like there's something on your mind. Wanna talk about it?"

Dante let's out a quiet laugh. "You don't want to go first, fine, I will. I just saw Lulu at the Floating Rib. She was there for Maxie's engagement party, I guess. Something I was not invited to, since she didn't know I was back in town. Anyways, we were chatting and then Dustin walked in. He was talking about a PTA meeting. I knew they were serious, but I had no clue that they were serious enough he's on the PTA."

"Dustin's not on the PTA, he's a teacher. He had to make a presentation. I know because I'm a teacher too. I get kids who have been transfers from his school." Willow informs him, watching as relief goes over her brother-in-law's face.

"That's good, but still. He then offered to start getting to know me, practically insinuating that I'm just some dude he has to deal with in Lulu's life. It feels like a bad love triangle, the first of many you'll experience as Wiley's mother. I don't know, I don't like the guy," Dante sighs.

"I don't know if this will make you feel any better, but to be honest, his reviews are meh at best. The kids like him, for sure, but I don't know. Haven't made up my decision about him yet," she smiles.

Smiling back, Dante says, "Well, you've got to tell me now. What are you so desperate to tell Michael you're pacing like a newlywed who needs sex?"

She bursts out laughing. "You're blunt, Dante. Lulu isn't going to pick Dustin, you know that."

"It's Lulu Spencer. I'd like to think I know her, but I don't know. She's... Changed since I last saw her. In a good way, but still, change is change. Peter offered me a job where we might be working together, so there's that. Anyways, enough of me. You're not getting out of talking about Michael anymore."

Willow playfully glares at Dante. "Fine. I'm going to tell him that I don't want an annulment."

A huge smile breaks out onto Dante's face. "Thank God, I was half convinced you weren't going to tell him or he wasn't going to tell you."

"Wait, Michael doesn't want one either?" Willow asks, confused. He had been sending mixed signals for a while now, but so had she. Her feelings were... Complex, that'd be the ideal phrase to describe them. She didn't know if she loved him yet, nor did she want to rush into that or anything, but there was an attraction she couldn't shake to him.

"Wow, Willow. You're both the most oblivious people on the planet. You're perfect for each other," Dante laughs. "Of course he doesn't want an annulment! Have you seen the way he looks at you lately? That's not how you look at your friend, or convenient wife. That's how you look at someone you love! I've only seen the two of you together a couple of times, but my big bro instincts are telling me that he's doing his thing where he doesn't go for what he wants."

Willow laughs along with him. "That's so frustrating, right? He won't allow himself to have anything good without overthinking it."

As they're laughing, Michael walks in. "What's so funny?" He asks Willow and Dante, confused.

"It's not even really funny, it's just that- Michael, I'm going to let you two speak for a minute. I've got to get to... Somewhere that's not here," Dante excuses himself.

That was weird, Michael thinks as Willow stands. "Is it just me or is he asking weird?"

Willow smiles, "He's not, but we do have to talk."

Taking a deep breath, Michael nods his agreement. "Okay, you wanna go to the living room so we can sit for this conversation, because I've got something to tell you too."

"Me first," Willow says as she sits on the couch next to him. "Michael, I don't want an annulment."

Michael breathes a sigh of relief, "Can I ask why?"

"If you still want to get one, of course we'll get one. But I don't want to. I want to stay married to you and not just because of the house and not cooking or cleaning, which are huge pros. I want to stay married to you because you're kind and loving. You always treat me with respect I didn't know I deserved until we got married. Chase was- he was great, but you don't put work before me, or your family. Family is the most important thing to you, not work or money or any of that stuff. You love Wiley as much as I do, and you're the only person who understands what it's like to be dealing with this stuff as a parent, and as a person. He's not just something that comes with me for you, he's someone important and who you love. I don't feel like I'm a second choice, or that I'm too needy, or that I've got to reschedule my plans so you can do something. And with Chase, it didn't always feel like that. You found out about something I loved and instantly found a broker to get the best wine selections because you wanted me to be able to have that back. Look, what I'm trying to say is I like you, Michael."

There's a quiet in the room as Michael takes in everything Willow just said to him. "As in romantically?" He asks, still processing what he just heard from her.

"Yes, romantically. And I get it if you don't feel the same, it's just that I feel like you might because you're acting like you're into me sometimes and you did say that I was everything you could've hoped for so I guess I just wanted to say this. I Also, Dante was surprisingly helpful in getting me to be able to say this to you," Willow smiles anxiously at the man sat next to her on the couch.

His brain is going a million miles an hour, trying to properly process everything. Willow can't deal with the silence, however, and starts rambling: "If you're trying to think of an easy way to let me down, Michael, just do it flat out. No harm, no foul. It doesn't change what I feel, but it will make me feel less embarrassed about putting you in such an uncomfortable situation."

"You done?" Michael half smirks, and she nods before he kisses her, soft yet perfect. Willow can feel herself falling in love with this kiss, which is arguably better than the other two they've had, as fantastic as they've been.

When they pull away, Michael gives her the look again. It's more intense, but she's realized he's always got it when he's talking to her. "Willow, I like you a lot. I've liked you since we first met, and honestly, I don't know if I ever entirely stopped. The only reason I suggested the annulment is because I knew it would take some time, and because I wanted to know if you wanted to stay married. In my mind, I've always hoped it'd turn out with us together, no matter how real what we both had with Chase and Sasha was. It took me until you accepted my proposal- which, by the way, was absolutely terrible and I'm sorry for that- to realize that I really like you. So I'll call Diane and tell her to call off the annulment."

She smiles. "What does this mean for us, Michael? I can't live in this state of limbo forever."

"I don't know right now. Let's give it a time limit for the state of limbo: Wiley's 2nd birthday. It's a few months away, which is plenty of time to figure it out and still not feel like we're rushing through anything."

"Sounds... Perfect."

You should post this!!!

[doof-doofblog]

"I Can't Believe It!"

Tuesday 10th November 2020

(Part 2)

Hello again folks! Hope your week is going well so far. Today's blog is going to be reviewing the second episode which aired on Tuesday evening. The first part ended with a big cliff-hanger where Rainie asked Tiffany to be a surrogate for her and Stuart. Will Tiffany agree? I'm certain the majority of you are well ahead compared to me, but I hope you'll enjoy reading this blog regardless.

Anyway, let's jump right into. The episode begins with Tiffany, Rainie and Stuart in the Café. This clearly looks to be the day after Rainie asked Tiffany the biggest favour of her life. Stuart and Rainie are eager to hear whether Tiffany has made a decision on whether to be their surrogate. Tiffany admits she still hasn't come to a decision as she admits that there's a lot to take into consideration. It's understandable that she'd be worried about Keegan also and what he'd say. I mean, £10,000 is a lot of money, Tiffany and Keegan would be able to make such a good life for themselves with that money, how could she say no?! Plus she'd be giving a couple something they've always wanted, don't they deserve to be parents? As Rainie and Tiffany are discussing the situation, Keegan makes his way into the Café, he briefly acknowledges Stuart, but Stuart can barely look him in the eye and leaves without saying a word. Keegan looks instantly suspicious, why would Stuart avoid him like that?! As Rainie follows Stuart out of the Cafe, Keegan approaches his wife and asks basically what is going on and mentions how weird Stuart acted towards him. He questions whether it was because they were still angry about Rainie's accident, but Tiffany assures her husband that that's not the case, she then feels like she has to come clean, he'll only find out eventually, so it's probably best if she tells him now, it's then she admits the truth that they've asked her to be a surrogate for them.

Meanwhile, Denise has taken young Raymond to the park, it's incredibly sweet how she's trying to bond with her son. It's understandable why the boy is so shy and timid, he's been swooped into a new environment and - as far as I know - has no idea where his Nan or parents or siblings are, how can a young boy his age understand what's going on. Denise is unknown to him, she's just this lady who has taken him in, but of course he's not going to know that she's his Mum, and probably won't know for a long time. I love how Denise is so gentle with him, talking to him even though he doesn't respond. As she's talking to the young boy, Jack turns up as he's running through the park. Even though they have split up, they remain friendly as Jack asks how little Raymond is getting on, Denise confirms that he's settling in slowly but he still doesn't talk very much, she mentions that she's going to take him to a specialist just to see if it'll help as she doesn't feel ready to put him into a nursery yet. Jack mentions perhaps he could socialise with other children - which I think would be a brilliant idea, the amount of children on the Square, I'm sure it wouldn't be long until he made friends. Maybe Denise might let him play with other children eventually?

At the undertakers, Keegan is livid about what the Highway's have asked of his wife. He accuses Stuart of wanting to sleep with his 17 year old wife (Also I had no idea that Tiffany was just 17! I thought she was at least 19/20!) ... Anyway, Stuart and Tiffany both reassure Keegan that Stuart wouldn't have to sleep with her for her to carry a baby, Stuart confirms that it's all done in lab, and the baby biologically would be Stuart and Rainie's, they simply just need someone to carry the baby for them, someone they trust. Everything would be above board and legal. Keegan sighs as he seems to understand everything but he informs Stuart that they're going to have to find someone else - the next line I didn't really like the sound of "My wife's body is not for rent!" - I'm amazed how Keegan can even see it like that! Like seriously, how does his brain work?! Tiffany would be doing a wonderful act for a couple who can't conceive and who are desperate to have a child, I think it's probably the most honourable thing you could do for someone. Tiffany is speechless as her husband walks out leaving Stuart devastated.

Meanwhile on the Square, Phil walks past Kat on her stall, and once again she's winding him up as she's still wearing his West Ham football shirt. Phil has had enough of her games and tells her to give him his top back. But I love how Kat winds up him up even more, questioning whether she should take her own clothes off or strip Phil of his clothes. As Phil walks up to her she warns him not to come any closer as she will scream, but Phil doesn't believe as the closer he gets, she warns him further and further. Suddenly she lets out this blood curling scream for the whole Square to hear. The only thing is, as she screams, Denise can be seen walking down the street with young Raymond - has she seen everything? Something tells me that she is going to completely get the wrong end of the stick. She'll question as to why Kat was screaming as she won't believe Phil's side of the story and stop him from seeing Raymond.

At the Atkins household, Shirley is watching as Gray finishes a phone call with Karen. He reveals to her that Karen wants to meet up with him in the park. Shirley believes it's a good thing and that he should, it's been quite a while since he's seen his children. She persuades him that the children should be back living with him, but Gray seems to think that they're better off with the Grandparents. It's then Shirley tells him of her experience being a Mother, she still believes that she hasn't been the best parent, even though she thought she was doing the best for her children. But she does give Gray some really good advice, the longer he leaves it the harder it'll get.

Back out on the Square, Stuart approaches Keegan on his sandwich stall and tries to apologise. He describes that he and Rainie are like kids in a sweet shop once they get an idea in their head. Stuart acknowledges that Keegan has had it tough the past few months regarding the death of his sister, Chantelle and him trying to make a name of himself. It looks like that they both have a mutual understanding with each other and Keegan admits that it just feels weird for him knowing that - to put it politely - a part of Stuart is going to be inside his wife. Suddenly Tiffany approaches them and I can totally understand what she's saying her husband. She tells Keegan that the way he is speaking about her is awful, it's her body and she can do what she likes - why is it that he's making the decisions? And she is telling the truth, Tiffany hasn't even given them an answer yet, it's a though Keegan is making the decision for her, when it actual fact, it's completely up to her at the end of the day. Keegan apologises to his wife and she tells him that she actually does in fact like Stuart and Rainie and part of her does want them to be happy and have a family. She tells her husband that £10,000 could change their lives! She pleads to him to just sit down and talk/think it through, Keegan once again takes another big sigh and promises he'll think it through, for his wife's sake, he says that he'll try and support her and stand beside her, but at the end of the day she will be the one that's giving birth ... I don't understand why that's such a big deal, babies are born every day! Women give birth every day! The human body is an incredible thing and what a woman's body goes though is astonishing, being able to carry a tiny human for 9 months and then give birth is a wonderous thing. There shouldn't be anything fearful about it ... BUT ... (And my mind has gone a completely 1-80 here!) - What if something tragic happens during the birth and Tiffany dies in childbirth? What if there are complications with the pregnancy?! As much as this story could be beautiful, I do (Now) have a feeling that something tragic could happen.

Returning to Denise at home, she appears to be on the phone to someone, a specialist I'm assuming? It looks like she's trying to get help of trying to build a bond with her young son. She's trying to get through to them and trying to explain that she's his birth Mother and the poor boy has no idea who she is. It looks like she's pleading for someone to help her whilst she's trying explain the situation. I do feel for Denise, she's trying her absolute best to support and be there for her son, but of course he's been through something traumatic and everything he once knew has all gone. It's hard for a little boy his age to understand completely what's going on or what's happening. I'm hoping in time, he'll come to open up to Denise and eventually they'll be able to build a bond with each other.

At home, Tiffany looks as if she's watching birthing videos online - which is probably not the best idea. Labour and giving birth is a different experience for every woman. Some have really easy births, some have it a lot harder - it simply depends on the baby. But of course watching videos like that are going to terrify her and perhaps scare her into going through with it. Outside on the Square, Mitch finds his son in a world of his own. In not so many words, Keegan tells his father that he and Tiffany are having a disagreement - I kind of liked the way they were describing things by magic and pulling rabbits out of a hat - it was quite a clever take on things. Mitch sits along side his son and gives him some really good fatherly advice, he asks Keegan whether he has heard of the phrase "Happy wife, happy life!" - to which Keegan shakes his head. Now I think sometimes that phrase can be a a bit shady, but Mitch describes in such a lovely way, mentioning his Grandparents having a happy marriage which lasted over 50 years. He says that if your wife is happy, it should make you happy and as he says all this to son, it look as if Keegan completely understands what he has to do.

Back in the park, Whitney approaches the Atkins children, Mack and Mia as they play football. As they play they ask whether their father will be joining them. Whitney informs the children that unfortunately he has to work, this disappoints the kids as they tells Whitney that he hasn't played with them since their Mum passed away. He spends all his time with Shirley now and not them, Whitney is surprised to hear this and informs the young girl and boy that their father loves them dearly and would do anything for them. It's then as they continue to play, Whitney takes out her phone - is she going to convince Gray to make some time with his kids? Meanwhile at home, Gray and Shirley look as if they're doing work, Gray is on his laptop and Shirley is looking at paper work while Tina is sat in the living room behind them, (I loved Tina in this scene, I loved her clumsiness)  She's complimenting the house that Shirley has found herself in. I loved how she asked whether the cushion on the sofa was filled with feathers, Shirley's response was brilliant - I'll fill you with feathers if you don't be quiet, and then of course when Tina switches the television it blares through-out the whole household. Tina then asks whether it's possible to stay there for a while as the place she's living at is just constantly full of arguments. Shirley informs her sister to grab her coat as she's going to walk her back to her place, as they leave Gray's phone pings and as he looks over he can see that he's received a message from Whitney telling him that his children want to see him, along with a picture of his children.

At home, Denise appears to be juggling a few things, trying to sort out little Raymond's tea whilst trying to sort out appointments with the salon on the phone, so much so that she burns her finger on the burning hot oven tray. Suddenly the doorbell rings, Denise is surprised to see Jack standing there. She hangs up her phone call and invites him in. It's then that Jack holds out to her an envelope full of money, he admits he wants to help contribute with the expense of Denise seeing a specialist. Denise, at first, is reluctant to take it from him as she explains that it's not his problem and she can't take money from him. But Jack admits that he still cares about her and begs her to take the money, as it'll mean she wont have to bother Phil and also it would be a friend helping out another friend. Denise smiles and thanks her ex-boyfriend for his kindness and accepts the money. As she offers him a cup of coffee, they both smile - do you think her and Denise will rekindle their romance? Will Jack be able to stand by Denise and support her in bringing up Raymond? I'd like to see them get back together, it's clear they still care for one another.

Meanwhile, at the Slater household, Kat returns to find the household empty but is surprised to hear Phil's voice coming from the living room. She is stunned to see him sat in a chair and asks him how he entered their property, to which he reveals that the door was left open. She threatens to call the police if he doesn't leave the house but Phil is quick to respond. He tells her that he's come for his shirt and Kat questions him why he wants it back so desperately, it's then he admits that the top has sentimental value and it was going to be a gift for young Dennis for his 18th birthday. Kat is quick to apologise and admits she only took/wore it to get his attention and assures him that she was going to give it back. Kat then proposes that she'll only give him the top back if he goes and checks out the job she mentioned to him a while back, Phil can't believe what he's hearing. But Kat tells him that if he was to go with her, he'd see she wasn't as stupid as he thought. Something tells me that Phil will only go through with this dodgy robbery job just so he can get the shirt back? What do you guys think?

Returning to Jack and Denise, Denise informs him that trying to sort things out over the phone she's facing a battle of questions that she doesn't know how to answer, because unfortunately she hasn't got the answers to give them. How is she supposed to know if Raymond knows he's adopted, when he won't even speak. Jack throws in suggestions maybe asking a family friend or another family member or someone she might be able to contact, and it's then he recalls that Raymond's adoptive father was a vicar to which Denise reacts positively and recalls which church he was registered at. Okay - something is giving me a very bad feeling - I'm sure you guys remember that Denise's ex-husband Lucas was a pastor of some kind, or was a holy man and had something to do with the church - what if Denise goes to this church and finds that Lucas is now out of prison and back at the church. We know Lucas is returning to the Square, I feel this may just be the start of his return, what do you guys think? Personally, I am SO excited for Lucas and Chelsea to be returning and I hope their return to the Square will be a permanent one. But it feels that this build up into helping Raymond will be the most brilliant way in bringing them back into Denise's life, of course it may be unfortunate for her, but it'll be SO interesting. How is Chelsea going to react when she finds out she has a little brother and that her Mum slept with Phil Mitchell?! It's going to be brilliant I'm sure!

Back out on the Square, Phil bumps into Isaac and asks him why he hasn't updated him on Raymond in recent weeks. Isaac admits that Denise knows so unfortunately he can't continue giving him information, to which Phil tells him to give him his money back. But Isaac reveals he spent the money on treating Raymond to pizza and a toy, to which Phil can't really react to. He knows that if the money has been spent on his son, he can't really be mad. Isaac tells him that if he's so desperate for information on his son then he can speak to Denise, there should be no harm considering he is his father.

Returning to Tiffany and Keegan, she reveals to her husband that she's watched a video online of someone giving birth, but she couldn't finish it. But then she admits that she forced herself to watch the video till the end and she admits to her husband that she found it beautiful. She tries to persuade her husband that they can go through with this, they can treat it like their doing a job and/or a favour to someone, Rainie and Stuart will have the baby they've always longed for and Tiffany and Keegan will be able to use the money to evolve Keegan's business, they'll be able to get all the equipment and supplies they need to really make his business take off. But Keegan, once again, is so mopey thinking that people like him don't deserve to be successful and have dreams, but Tiffany then tells him that his sister wouldn't want him thinking that way and they would both want him to achieve his dream and be a big success.

Back at the Atkins household, Gray is finally reuniting with his children as they show him their drawings they've done of their Mum. Gray is incredibly touched and praises his children for drawing such gorgeous pictures. He suggests to them that they do some more drawing and eagers them to get their drawing supplies so they can do some together. As the children leave to grab their things, Gray thanks Whitney in bringing the children back to him and helping and it's then she tells him that if he ever needs any more help or if he needs her to look after the children until he feels ready to have them back permanently, she's willing to help whenever she can. Gray smiles and thanks her, to which Whitney smiles back.

Above the undertakers, Rainie is fast asleep on the sofa, but Stuart wakes abruptly as he announces that they have visitors, slowly Tiffany and Keegan appear from the staircase. This scene well and truly touched me, I began to well up! Tiffany begins to apologise for what happened earlier in the day, but then she softly reveals to the couple that after a long discussion with Keegan and thinking long and hard about it, they want take them up on their offer and will happily help them have a baby. Everyone is silent as they take in the news, both Rainie and Stuart tear up and Stuart asks whether they're being serious, and Tiffany confirms that she will carry their baby for them. Rainie is tearful as she thanks the red-head. Stuart excitedly states that between the four of them they will make a beautiful baby and he rushes to embrace his wife. Tiffany excitedly joins them and everyone is incredibly happy and excited. But as the three of them embrace in a huge hug, Keegan is left standing and watching, he looks towards the camera and appears less excited than anyone else.

Urgh ... Why can't Keegan see that they're doing something wonderful for the couple?! Of course he's bound to have concerns, is he jealous maybe? Or does he simply not want his wife to do this? I don't know, I think, personally, Keegan needs to realise that this is adult stuff, he's not a kid anymore. He can't mope around because he hasn't got his way, he needs to put on a smile and remain positive. Will Keegan eventually come round to the idea? Could this maybe even break Keegan and Tiffany? I mean this is EastEnders, as much as I want and hope that Stuart and Rainie get the baby they've always longed for, I fear that maybe there could be tragedy along the way. Could Tiffany lose the baby? Will she die in childbirth? Who knows? But this is another story I think is really going to touch people and will end up being gripping, it'll either have a wonderful or devastating ending. What do you guys think?

I hope you've enjoyed reading this blog, I have really enjoyed writing this one. I hope you all enjoy your day and I will be back tomorrow with another blog. Thank you again everyone for taking your time read, I really do appreciate it, it means the world. Every comment, every message, every like - I do notice it and I want you guys to know that it means the world to me that you enjoy this blog as much as I enjoy writing it. Enjoy the rest of your day folks and I'll be back very soon. Love you all xXx