#and emma likes it. and emma too is more open than she would normally be

[slightlycomicobsessed]

i don’t think emma would ever use her powers on dani. but what if she did. there’s so much potential for those two to have a fuckbuddy relationship that starts when rahne leaves and dani is at her lowest point, and emma comes to “help”. and that “help” starts with alcohol and it ends with them fucking.

[mariespen]

Everyone Knows It - ♥∞˚.

protective!Rafe Cameron x fem!Reader ˚. Summary: Rafe will always defend you. Warnings: descriptions of physical injury, vulgar name-calling, arguing, themes of anxiety based on this ask!

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ೀ⋆｡˚── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

“How long does this shit take?” Your boyfriend, Rafe Cameron, asked as you began to apply your favorite mascara. You looked at him, rolling your eyes playfully as he tried to stifle his own smile.

“I dunno, Rafe.” You replied with a shrug, giggling as his eyes rolled into his head out of annoyance.

“C’mon baby, we gotta go.” He said, borderline pouting from across the bathroom.

You turned away, finishing your makeup and adjusting your outfit, looking at him with a teasing smile as you walked back over. You tilted your head up, meeting him with a soft kiss as he pulled you closer.

“Not too long, hm?” You said, watching him scoff.

“Oh yeah, only two hours.” He said with a smile of his own.

Rafe dragged you to the car as you looked at him with hesitance. He had been so set on going to a huge party on figure 8 and he eventually convinced you to come with him. Initially, you were equally as excited, if not more. You’ve always loved parties, but this week had been especially stressful on the both of you, so it took some pleading from Rafe to get you up.

However, your mood quickly turned when you were talking with your best friend, Jessica, and she hesitantly told you that all three of Rafe’s ex-girlfriends would be stalking around the party. 

Of course you knew that Rafe loved you and only you. He had been dating you for two years now, far longer than all three of them combined. But, you also knew that none of them had gotten over him and all of them hated your guts.

At least to him, Rafe was blissfully unaware of your concern because you didn’t want to bring it up. Maybe it wasn’t as huge of a deal as you were making it, maybe you were overthinking the whole thing. Rafe didn’t need to know about your predicament, it shouldn’t even matter.

That’s what you told yourself, at least, as you picked your fingers anxiously while Rafe drove, his clueless hand on your thigh. The drive seemed a lot shorter than normal and Rafe was just starting to pick up on your nerves as the two of you pulled into the beach parking lot.

“Hey..” He started, putting the car in park and watching your eyes as you looked at the sunset.

“Hm?” You acknowledge him briefly, hiding the shake in your voice.

“Are you like.. okay?” He asked, sucking in a breath while trying to read your eyes and taking another look at you before continuing, “You just seem a little off, y’know?” Rafe knew how to read you like a book, but he had a strong tendency to second-guess himself. You could thank his father for that gift.

“Yeah, m’okay.” You muttered out, not wanting to concern him now, out of all times. Rafe kissed you softly on the cheek before getting out of the car. You tried to work up the courage before Rafe opened your door, offering his hand to you. A small ‘thank you’ came from your shaky lips and he nodded in recognition.

His hands were stuffed in his pockets when he checked behind him, seeing you practically hiding in his dark shadow. You felt too aware of everything, feeling imaginary eyes on your body. One of the few things you didn’t notice was his ex, Emma, watching the two of you with a hawk’s eye. “Baby-“ He tried to start before you saw Jessica and suddenly your nerves began to ease up.

“Jessie!” You called out, speed walking past Rafe to meet her as the two of you gushed out girly greetings.

Rafe smiled and rolled his eyes, keeping himself close to you while also lingering next to Topper and Kelce.

At some point, the last thing you were worried about was Rafe’s two-faced ex-girlfriends. The drinks were letting you ease up and Rafe trusted Jessica just enough to let you go off on your own, just a few feet into the dense crowd.

Everything was perfect, especially when your favorite song for the past month started playing. A smile spread across your face when you went to find Rafe in the crowd, a small dance in your step as you giggled to yourself.

That same smile faded as you saw one of his exes brushing up on him. You stood deathly still, astonished that he was letting this happen so openly. It was obvious that he wasn’t paying her any mind and even making an effort to step away a few times, but the fact that she was near him made your skin crawl. All confidence that you once had slowly disappeared when you looked to the right ever so slightly and made dead eye contact with his other two exes. The worst part? They had started to stalk closer to Rafe, inch by inch.

You nearly screamed out of jealousy before Jessica noticed the same thing and turned you around. You knew it was a weak attempt to distract you, but it inevitably worked as Jessica held your hand instead, spinning you on beat.

Things faded out again until one spin got a little too personal and you stopped yourself, dizzily looking over at Rafe. The girls were nowhere to be seen, which brightened your face. You started over to Rafe again, wanting to lean into him and to let him show you off like he always did. You were his girl, everyone knew that.

It wasn’t anything but a few steps in his direction before you felt a hand sweep you the other way, followed by two more. Confusion drained the happiness from your smile as you looked around, everything going too quick to fully make out any faces connected to the hands pulling you back and forth.

You tried to protest but found yourself silenced when they stopped and held you still.

“You’re a fucking whore.” Emma spat.

Emma, his first long-term ex. ‘Six months in hell’ Rafe would always say, rolling his eyes and kissing you to remember how victorious his escape was.

The two other girls, Natalee and Avery held you upright, nodding along with whatever Emma said. You rolled your eyes at their ‘yes-man’ mannerisms, which gained you a scoff from Emma.

“You stole Rafe from me. You fucking slut!” She yelled, getting closer and closer.

“Didn’t steal anyone..” You mumbled, making every reasonable attempt to back away but ultimately failing.

She scoffed. In fact, you heard all three of them scoff. You knew that they were jealous, and honestly, you would be too. Rafe broke their hearts and told them he ‘wasn’t ready for a relationship’ before skipping off to the next. All three of them assumed you to be another one of his heartbreak victims, but when you stuck for a little too long, the hatred naturally got stronger within the three.

You were lost in thought, trying to squirm away before you felt a faint sting on your cheek. You looked over at Emma and caught her just as her hand moved away from your face. 

Instantly, tears poured from your eyes as you felt utterly helpless at their fists. One punch landed before another and suddenly you were being jostled around with no thoughts besides the pain coursing through your face and stomach.

Your ears were ringing by the time Rafe ran over and tore you away from their hands. You didn’t hear him yelling or pulling you away. It barely registered in your head when he picked you up and carried you from their jealous screams with a worried look on his face.

The car door slammed shut and you regained a little bit of yourself, feeling hazy in the passenger’s seat. You heard the driver’s side door open and close, watching Rafe struggling with the ignition through your slightly blurred vision.

You felt his panic hit you like a wave throughout the entire car ride, feeling him try and keep your head upright. His voice cracked and his hands shook while he fought through to keep his confident facade. 

The two of you made it to Tannyhill and Rafe had barely put the car in park before he was rushing to your side. As much as he tried to seem careless and tough, you and him both knew that he couldn’t stifle his sensitivity around you.

His emotions crashed down on him while he tried to keep himself together, carrying your weakening body into the cushy living room.

“Talk to me, princess.” He whispered, laying you on the couch and pulling up your dress to look at the bruise quickly forming on your ribs.

You didn’t say anything but a groan of pain. Not because you couldn’t, but more because you didn’t have any words. Shock overtook your originally tearful face and realization set in. For the rest of the night, Rafe held you in his arms. He didn’t let you lift a finger and made sure you were okay before calling a few ‘friends,’ as he said, to take care of the three girls.

It truthfully didn’t matter to you what happened to them. Here he was, Rafe Cameron, with his face buried in your hair and leaving soft kisses as gentle reminders that he loved you more than anyone else.

You were his girl, everyone knew that.

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ೀ⋆｡˚── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

[fritzes]

and away we go! here are my two cents on the australian open draw. as always I try to be as unbiased as possible... but sometimes that isn't very possible. anyways, here it is:

wta:

I gotta say it's really weird not seeing iga in the top spot on the draw. so massive props to aryna. the fact that she's #1 is indicative of how great she's been, especially on hardcourt. she's the clear favorite, and her draw only supports that. her projected quarterfinalist is qinwen, her known pigeon. mirra is also lurking in this quarter, but when she beat aryna at rg aryna was very clearly ill, and she just beat mirra in brisbane. however, the bane of aryna's existence, donna vekic, is in this quarter but she's on the other side and could be beaten by someone like diana or qinwen. a lot of interesting names in this quarter, but I don't think any of them can beat aryna

coco was in great form at the united cup, but she's got her work cut out for her. her record against jess, the projected quarterfinalist, isn't great, and marta and paula being in the quarter is a little concerning. however, there are a bunch of players who could normally be threats that are completely neutralized by coco (I'm thinking karo, leylah, and penko), so that's a lot of seeds that are out of her way. naomi is also in this quarter and obviously has a great record at ao and has shown that she can do some damage at slams. if she's healthy, she can potentially make a run here

aryna vs coco is so interesting right now, and I think they can both get to the semifinal. aryna is #1 and this is truly her tournament, but coco's improvement over just the last few months has been great, and she was beating aryna even before that

I've already been seeing people write off jasmine, and I think that's a mistake. people forget that her first slam breakout was at ao24, not rg24, and she proved at united cup that she's very competent on this surface. that being said, a healthy elena is a pretty bad draw for her. she beat elena at rg and the wta finals, but elena wasn't fully fit and those were slower surfaces. I think this quarter has the weakest field (not to say there aren't good players, but the other three quarters have more). maybe dayana will make a surprise run again, or madi will have one of her random slam runs, but I'd for sure take the top seeds over the field here

and finally, iga's quarter. at the bottom of the draw. I'm still getting used to that, it's weird. it's interesting because if this draw came out a few months ago, I'd say emma navarro is super dangerous and could be a threat, but she's been in legitimately terrible form lately and I could honestly see her losing first round. if this draw came out a few years ago I'd say maria would go far, but she's been so lost for months now. I think ons jabeur could make a surprise run in the top half of this draw, she's been having some good wins lately and we know how capable she is at slams. I also think there's an opportunity for anna here, as well as vika who is known for being great at this tournament

jasmine has steadily been making her matches with iga closer, and this is a surface iga isn't comfortable on, so I think if that match did happen it could be pretty close

interesting r1 matches: sabalenka/stephens, tomljanovic/krueger, gauff/kenin, osaka/garcia, bencic/ostapenko, navarro/stearns, osorio/sakkari, alexandrova/raducanu, siniakova/swiatek

atp:

I swear they're giving jannik meme draws now. adm? bvdz?? holger??? hubi???? matteo????? TALLON GRIEKSPOOR????? strangely enough, the person who is the biggest threat to jannik is somehow stefanos tsitsipas, but he's on the other side of the draw and I highly doubt he will make it too the quarterfinals. besides, the last time he beat jannik really shouldn't have happened because of that line call in monte carlo. other than him, everyone in this quarter is someone jannik can comfortably, convincingly beat. I don't like to jinx players but he's the world #1 and this quarter is his to lose. on the other side, I do think adm can make the quarterfinals but based on that h2h with jannik, I'm not sure if he wants to

I think the second quarter is the most up in the air. taylor and daniil are both strong contenders to go deep in this tournament but with a lot of question marks around them. daniil because of his recent form and because his wife just had a baby, and taylor because of his mentality. we just don't know how he's gonna handle being a top 4 seed. this quarter is pretty stacked, with gmp, ben, lorenzo musetti, rublev, frances, and alexei. there are also some snaky contenders, like nakashima, shapo, arnaldi, and marozsan. to me, this is the hardest quarter to predict

I don't think I need to say anything about the projected semifinal. just look at the us open final scoreline. taylor has improved a lot since then, but he's just not at the level to beat jannik right now

djokovic/alcaraz quarter. I never thought we'd see the day. but there's a lot to get through before either of them can get there. opelka, who novak just lost to, is very close to him in the draw, as is tomas machac who beat him in geneva. grigor and jiri could also potentially make things difficult for him. on carlos' side, he has to deal with jack and korda who, despite his self-proclaimed greatness at wimbledon (and first round flopping), has actually done pretty well at ao. jack has some injury concerns, but when does he not? if we did get the projected quarterfinal and carlos and novak did play, I'd have to favor carlos but I'm honestly not sure? we haven't seen carlos play this season and ao is easily his worst slam, but novak just lost to opelka so. who knows

the last quarter is very frustrating and you know why. frankly I'm not in the mood to analyze it. I will focus on the top part though because there could be a major upset with felix and casper

interesting r1 matches: hurkacz/griekspoor, zhang/rune, tsitsipas/michelsen, shelton/nakashima, arnaldi/musetti, rindreknech/tiafoe, struff/auger-aliassimee

[peachhcs]

home opener

so high school au (emma grace x gabe perreault)

gabe has pre game jitters hours before his second year’s sold out home opener

wc: 1.7k

WOW! look who finally updated this au! i made this kind of sappy lowkey but guys i promise i won’t abandon this again. send in any requests u have!

au masterlist

the first game back of the new season was always the most nerve racking game, especially with how well the boys did last season. they had a lot to live up to with the expectations that they'd win the championships in march. the conte forum completely sold out for the night meaning the boys would have a majority of the bc student body's eyes on them.

gabe was normally never this nervous for a game considering all the ones he's played in so far, but something was picking away at his brain. he hardly focused all morning during class, mind always wandering and rerunning the plays in his head to pick away at everything he needed to work on. when he made it to the rink hours before puck drop his teammates even started noticing the forward's unusual silence. 

"hey, you okay?" ryan lowered his voice while him and gabe sat in the locker room rolling out. his friend's gaze slid over to him, nodding.

"yeah, fine. why?" 

"you just seem quieter than usual," the brunette pointed out with a small shrug like he didn't want to push it. 

"oh. sorry. just thinking is all," the hockey player mumbled and brushed ryan's concern off. 

ryan stared at gabe for another quick seconded before letting it go as well. he wasn't one to poke into his friends if they didn't want to talk, but he wasn't still slightly concerned. he's never known gabe to be this quiet before a game, so when the taller boy left the room, ryan dug his phone out.

ryan leonard 

hey idk what ur doing rn but u should 

come down to the rink. 

emma cooper 

is everything okay? 

ryan leonard 

i think so. gabe's just in some sort of funk

and i was wondering if he'd talk to u more

he won't talk to me

emma cooper

now that u say that i noticed it this morning 

too

i'll be there in 15 

if there was one person who could get to gabe besides ryan and will, it was emma. she was the only other person the boy opened up to and even then it wasn't something that happened often, but if gabe wouldn't talk to ryan, he wanted to hope he'd talk to his girlfriend. 

like every pre-game ritual, gabe found an empty seat in the stands to sit with his thoughts and stare out at the rink, envisioning himself and his teammates out there with the student body yelling absurdities at the other team. sitting up in the stands really helped him visualize the things he wanted to make happen tonight and remember how lucky he was to be there in the first place. the conte was a beautiful arena and the hockey player couldn't be more grateful to be a part of the history happening. 

emma got to the rink 15 minutes on the dot. she walked around the outer circle, her eyes scanning into the stands for her boyfriend. she finally found him in his usual section near the middle. his legs were propped over the seat in front of him and he just looked so peaceful sitting there, the girl wondered what was running through his mind that made him so quiet. 

she dropped her backpack near the top of the seats before quietly descending down the steps to where he was. there were a few other guys skating around the ice to just get some laps in and warm up their bodies a bit more before actual warmups. emma shuffled her way into gabe's row where he finally caught her gaze, a look of surprise on his features. 

"what are you doing here so early?" he smiled nonetheless as she sat down next to him.

"class got out early so i wanted to come by," it wasn't a complete lie. emma's class did get out early 30 minutes ago, but she knew when she wanted gabe to open up to her that she couldn't just jump right into it. she needed to get him talking and then he would eventually start saying what was on his mind.

"lucky you," his hand slipped over her knee where he gave it a gentle squeeze. her own hand cupped his, slowly intertwining their fingers. 

"i figured you'd be out here. hopefully i'm not interrupting your pre-game rituals," emma smiled a bit and gabe shook his head.

"you're not, i'm glad you're here. how's your day been so far?" having her here was actually a good distraction for gabe because sometimes he tended to get into his own head before he game, especially this one. 

"pretty good. after i saw you this morning, i met up with morgan and we studied some before going to class. i got lunch with her and lindsey and then i had my second class and now i'm here," this was gabe's favorite part. he loved hearing about emma's day and catching up on the things he missed while they were apart. 

"sounds exciting. are morgan and lindsey coming later?" 

"morgan might be, but tyler is. he's been looking forward to opening night for like months," the two shared a laugh.

"i've heard. he's told me every time he's seen me how excited he is," a grin painted the boy's lips. he always loved how supportive emma and tyler were and tried showing up to every home game. 

"don't even get me started. all he's been talking about is hockey and swimming to me," emma chuckled again, shifting further into her seat so she could find a spot for her head on gabe's shoulder. the boy leaned his head onto hers, his little curls tickling the top of her forehead.

"so how are you feeling?" emma began her slight prying. gabe shrugged beneath her head. 

"okay," he was brief which she expected. 

"are you nervous at all?" 

the boy hesitated for a moment like he was debating on telling the truth. it wasn't that he didn't want to open up to her, he's just never really opened up about things before until last year when they started dating, so this was all very new territory for the darker-haired boy. although, emma did make it easy and he's never felt more comfortable opening up to her when he did find the courage. 

"kind of," he finally admitted. 

"that's okay. it is the first game back," the blonde hummed. 

"i think that's why i'm nervous. it just feels like a lot of pressure, you know? we have a lot to live up to this year," gabe continued his thoughts, slowly opening up what's been picking a part his brain for the last few hours. 

"yeah, i think i get it. don't be too hard on yourself though. you're gonna play great this season," emma lifted her head so she could see gabe's face. the two exchanged a glance and he mustered his best smile.

"yeah, i know. just nervous, but i'll be fine. i guess it's also because we're playing without will and not saying oskar isn't a great player, he's phenomenal, it will just be different. it sounds stupid," the boy quickly shook his head, worried he sounded pathetic that he was missing his friend and the line they all had. 

emma quickly frowned for a second realizing they finally hit the true reason gabe's been so quiet and spacey. she curled her arm around his, resting her chin on his shoulder. 

"hey, it's not stupid, p. it's the first time you guys aren't playing together since you were like 16. that's a lot. it's normal to feel weird about it," emma quickly reassured her boyfriend who flushed. 

"i guess i just wish the last time we all played together was actually gonna be the last time. we all thought we'd have another year together at least," the boy continued with a small frown. 

"have you called him at all? i'm sure he'd appreciate hearing from you guys. maybe it will help ease some of your nerves," the girl suggested because whenever her brother was nervous about his swim meet, he'd their parents and it'd instantly make him feel better.

"yeah, maybe i will."

"it could help. it's not stupid to miss your best friend, gabe, but i know you guys are gonna do really well tonight. i'll be here too," her words made him smile as he quickly leaned over to place a gentle kiss to her head. 

"thank you, sorry i was so weird about it. i'm still working on this whole opening up thing," he grimaced, but emma quickly shook her head.

"don't apologize, p. you're doing really great. i love you. i'm gonna run back to my place to change, but i'll see you at the game. do you need anything else?" the blonde wondered as she sat up, gabe quickly missing the feeling of her so close to him. 

"i don't think so, i love you too. hurry back, i wanna see you before we go on," he squeezed her hand, reluctantly letting it go for now. she blew him a big kiss. 

"i will," with that, emma hurried back up the stairs to grab her backup and rush back to her apartment. 

feeling a lot better than before, gabe got himself up and headed back into the locker room. ryan was still at his stall doing some of his tape job. he eyed his friend as he passed. 

"doing okay?" the brunette asked again. this time gabe had a more confident nod.

"yeah, i am. i was thinking about calling will before the game? would you wanna talk to him?" the darker-haired boy fished for his phone in his backpack. ryan quickly smiled.

"for sure. i'll always talk to smitty," he got up to sit closer while gabe pressed the call button. 

the line connected a moment later, "hey!" will's voice cheered. 

gabe quickly smiled, the weight lifting off his shoulders as the three friends caught themselves up and the other bc boys occasionally chimed in with their own hellos to will and expressed how much they missed him. 

will echoed their sentiments and promised he was gonna watch the game in a few hours. 

he must've been their lucky charm because boston won the game 4-2 in the home opener, already setting the precedent for the rest of the exciting season.

[vixensbrainrotts]

Committed to you - Manjiro >Mikey< Sano

(part two)

Idea/ prompt: Mikey from the last timeline who wants to propose to us but has no idea how to ask so he ask advices from draken and emma

Vixen's two cents: Hi. I know ive been gone for like 2 weeks, I dont know why but it's been hard writing lately. anyway, thanks a million to @anahryal for giving me this idea whilst I was in the pits of my writers block!!! thanks girl, I can't tell you how much this helped. anyway, REQUESTS ARE OPEN and I advise you to use them! now please enjoy my revival piece!

Mikey has thought every possible thought he could have. He had run through every possible situation, every possible outcome, every possible setting, but damnit why was this so hard? He couldn’t do it. Not for the life of him.

He had browsed millions of travel blogs, pondering about every possible spot on earth to take you for the occasion. He had woken in and out of more jewelry stores in the past month than he had ever in his entire life. He had specifically stood in corner stores, reading the wedding catalogues in the magazine section trying to figure out what the hell he was supposed to do.

None of it helped.

Manjiro wanted it so bad. So so very bad. Every white dress he walked by, he envisioned you in it. Every bakery shop he passed, his eyes flitted up and down the fancy display cakes, pondering whether or not it would be good enough. Any time he woke up next to you, every time he joined you in the shower, every time he watched you cook, the urge to sink to one knee overtook him.

He knew he couldn’t make it that simple though. It was too domestic for him, so little of a gesture. He wanted you to know that he loved you, that he would bring you the moon if you wanted it. He needed you to see just how much he appreciates you for sticking with him through everything, and for that he needs a grand gesture.

However it seemed that nothing he could think of was quite big enough, quite meaningful enough, quite heartfelt enough. He was at the end of his wits. For one and a half months- seven weeks he had been fighting this battle alone.

He had made some progress in that time, having picked the ring because when he picked it up he just felt that this was the one. It was a niche store, and he was initially appalled by the average price of the rings, but decided, ah what the fuck? and entered the store for mostly shits and giggles. He was greeted by an expensive looking elderly gentleman who donned a monocle and silk gloves, clearly the clerk, and clearly an expert. He had the longest, most engaging talk with the man, explaining his situation and his frustrations, to which the man nodded understandingly and told of his own story and experience with marigge.

Seven long weeks he had kept it a secret from everyone, and now he couldn’t take it anymore.

He was just about to throw the towel on this whole thing and say fuck it and give up on this whole marriage thing and just accept that he would never make it, when he remembered that he didnt have to be alone in this. Not at all matter of fact. His best friend married his sister after all. If Ken could do it with the pressure of Shinichiro, Izana AND Mikey breathing down his neck, then surely he could do it too, right?

You were out on a girls night with Hinata, Senju and Yuzuha. Emma would have tagged along normally too, but with the addition of a new-born baby, she decided that it would be best to sit out this time. Either way you were out of the house for the night, and Mikey was left to his own devices. You had left him with a kiss and a home-cooked meal (which he felt bad about leaving behind so he completely stuffed himself before coming here) before he gave Ken a quick heads up over the phone that he was coming over with a VERY important problem.

Thats how he found himself here. Standing in the Kitchen of Emma and Ken‘s flat, hands perched on the counter, looking down at the surface, face in a deep frown. „What’s goin on? What’s the problem?“ Ken asks roughly, leaned on the refrigerator as he eyed his friend. Mikey didnt really respond though.

„What problem?“ Emma‘s voice was hushed as she entered through the kitchen door, pulling the door shut behind her, probably for the sake of the baby. „I dont know.“ Ken responded, rubbing his eyebrows „Ask your brother.“ he sighed as he gestured to Mikey who was still staring down the counter.

“Mikey?!” Emma sounded confused and a little concerned as she turned to look at him, eyes flitting between her brother and her husband. “Did you know he was coming over?”

Ken nodded wordlessly. “Said he needs our help about something.” Emma’s head tilted in question but accepted the fact. “What’s up Mikey?” She asked, approaching him and joining Draken at the other side of the counter.

Mikey didn’t say anything though, instead reaching into his pocket and producing a small, black, silk-encased box. He dropped it onto the table and looked up at the couple in desperation. “How do I do it?”

Ken gasped and felt his lips tug into a smile, happy that finally, finally Mikey was wiping you up (he had told him to do so since they were teens).

Emma slapped her hands over her mouth to muffle a silent scream, beginning to voice up and down on excitement as she realized- her brother was marrying you! She thanked the gods that Mikey fell in love with you because there was no better in-law than her Soulsister.

“Ahhhhh! Oh my goodness Mikey! I’m so happy for you! Can I see? Wow! Oh my god Ken are you seeing this!? He’s proposing! Ah I’m so glad!” Mikey nodded in response and let Emma pick up the box and crack it open, revealing the beautiful white-gold wedding band, encrusted with more diamonds than she could count. Notably, one large diamond sat in the middle of the ring, flanked by two smaller diamonds on each side.

“Oh.” Emma breathed. “Ken why didn’t you ask Manjiro for help when picking my ring?” Emma sounded slightly offended as she spoke, glaring down at the ring.

“Nah nah, don’t get it twisted girl. You told me what ring you wanted, I didn’t have much picking liberty other than the price.” Ken waved his hands in dismissal, brushing off her accusations with a grin still wide on his face. He made his way over to Mikey and clapped a hand on his shoulder, congratulating him for the occasion.

“Good on you man! Finally givin it the push, hah?” Ken was smiling as he searched for Mikey’s eyes, but he didn’t look up. “What’s up with the long face? You’re about to propose dude, you should be over the moon!”

Mikey sighed and shook his head. “I’ve been trying to propose to her for months. Months Ken. I can’t do it. It’s never right.”

The couple halted their celebrations and turned to look at Mikey again, Emma putting down the dainty box as her looks turns to one of concern. “What do you mean?” She fingered at the box as she leaned across the counter.

“It’s… i don’t know. Ken made it look so easy when he proposed to you, and Pah-chin was even more mindless about it! I really want to. I really do, but every time I get close, I chicken out because I get scared or because something isn’t right, and I’m starting to think that it’s better if I just… don’t.” Mikey sighed and cradled his head in his hands, his elbows resting on the counter.

Emma and Ken shared a look, a wordless exchange of worry and empathy. "What kind of proposal were you thinking of? Big? Small? Public? Private?" Emma started, hand rubbing soothingly across her brother's back.

"Big." Mikey mumbled into his hands, remaining hunched over the counter. "Big and public. I wanna make sure that everyone knows, everyone sees, I want them all to know. want them to know how much I love her."

Emma's eyes softened and she suppressed a smile, because all in all, it was cute. She had always known her brother to be big and strong, undefeatable, and most of all unwaverable. Mikey always put up the strong front when really, he was hurt. Vulnerability wasn't something that she was used to seeing from him, which made this moment all the more special.

"Do you want to go somewhere with her?" Ken steps in and asks, an idea arising. Mikey only grunts, a noise of agreement sounding through the room. "Do you know what kind of places she likes?" Ken continues.

Mikey's head slowly raises from the position on the table and he stares forward at the refrigerator. "Europe."

Emma and Ken looked at one another again, sensing that they were getting somewhere. "Then take her on Vacation. You both have that long shared break coming up, don't you? Travel through Europe and when it feels right, ask!" Ken said.

"How do I know when it feels right, though? What if it's not the moment?" Mikey asks, still not entirely convinced. "You'll know. I promise you, you'll know. I knew too and I didn't think I had the stuff to ever get married." Ken reassures again, and this time the two share eye contact, and it takes Draken a lot not to tear up.

Draken took a moment in his mind to look at Mikey. He had stuck by his side since they were kids, through thick and thin it's always been the two if them against the world. And now as he looked at Manjiro he no longer saw the unmatchable delinquent he saw ten years ago, but rather a distinguished person with complex thoughts and emotions. He saw a man that felt, a man that cared and a man that loved in front of him, and he couldn't be prouder.

Ken nodded at Mikey, and Mikey nodded back at him. "Yeah. She'll love it! Thanks, I'll do that! Gosh I don't know what id do without you two.."

"Oh, please propose to her in front of the Eifel Tower! Or the Coliseum! Or on some romantic Bridge in Venice!" Emma swooned and held her hands over her chest, hearts in her eyes.

Mikey smiled at her and nodded again. "I'll try and film it if I can."

-

The rest of the evening was spent with the three of them checking about a thousand booking sites, mapping travel routes and destinations, and the occasional cacophony of laughter which led to a grumpy Ryuguji-baby. Manjiro couldn't wait to go with you, he thought as he sat on one of the armchairs, gently running a thumb over the silk box that sat pretty in his hand.

[carminecherry]

RAIN STAINED CRIMSON | mikey sano

this is part five of the series kill the lights

⇝ PAIRING: timeskip!biker!mikey sano x fem!reader

⇝ SERIES SYNOPSIS: after moving by yourself to tokyo, you black out at a party and wake up with a new friend. as she sweeps you up in her fast-paced city life, you feel yourself falling deeper and deeper for her mysterious brother. but something dark is brewing in the city. as his past threatens to resurface, mikey must fight not only physical enemies but the mental battle of his feelings for you. he can't resist you , but could he ever forgive himself if something happened to you? he'll love you selfishly and protect you savagely.

⇝ PART FIVE LENGTH: 3.6k words

⇝ PART FIVE WARNINGS: violence, injury, blood, distress (18+ minors do not interact):

all characters are 20+; Alternate Universe! Canon Divergent. you meet up with emma for another coffee date and get the debrief. however, on the way back to your apartment, the comfortable life that you've known will be stained in darkness. there is a world of suffering that has never touched your life until now... something is set into motion and nothing will be the same.

⇝ AUTHOR'S NOTE: this one was pretty heavy to write. happy spooky month but please take care of yourself! more chapters coming soon! keep an eye on the tags and stay safe! <3

DO NOT INTERACT WITH THIS WORK IF YOU ARE A MINOR. BY CLICKING THE READMORE, YOU CONSENT TO VIEWING ADULT CONTENT.

You woke to rain. The droplets tapping on your window, drawing you out of sleep. The sound is barely louder than the hum of your AC. It was peaceful. The darkness the thick clouds provided left you dozing in and out for a few more minutes. The sky was churning shades of black and gray, thick like torn wool. The gentle patter of the droplets didn’t match the scene.

You finally rise, starting your routine. Your phone is your companion this morning, as your TV screen sits, black. There was still a gnawing feeling after the news stories yesterday. Two violent attacks in one day are highly irregular, at least here in the city. You knew your mental health would suffer more if you shuttered yourself inside for a second day. Seeing Emma would be good. Surely, her sunshiny personality would wash away some of the anxiety prodding you for attention.  

You leave, locking the door behind you. The rainy weather provided some relief to the heat of the previous week. It came in gentle waves, washing over you and your umbrella. The commute to the café was uneventful. You had a dutifulness that kept you from burying your nose in your phone like you would normally do. You watched the world pass by out of the train window, thin streams of water chasing each other. With each droplet the stream acquired, it grew fatter and heavier, rushing across the pane. You entertained yourself with this as you approached your stop, placing bets on which stream would win.

Emma was waiting for you near the ticket gate. She lit up when she saw you and you already started to feel better, your shoulders relaxing. You tap your train card to exit and the moment you’re through the gate her arms are around you. You’re starting to acclimate to Emma’s physical affection. “It’s so good to see you!” she says, swaying with you. “You too! I’m glad to see you’re in one piece” Releasing you, she whines, “I thought I was gonna die yesterday!”

You begin the short walk to the café. “I thought you were gonna die two nights ago. How come it hit you so hard anyways. I thought you were some crazy party girl, shouldn’t you know your limits by now” You tease. At that, she taps her umbrella into yours, the droplets shaking off. “You see, it’s because I’m a ‘party girl’ that I willingly surpass those limits, my friend. Often.” With that, the two of you arrive at the café.

It's quaint, tucked under the train tracks. The old brick is covered in thick ivy that hangs heavy with rain water. You push open the door, greeted with cool air and the smell of freshly ground coffee. The grinder hummed pleasantly, the sound of soft music mingling with the ambient noise. Your eye is caught by the source of the music; a vintage record player. There is natural wood throughout and dark, warm accents.

It was cozy and small with only a few other people seated at the counter. One typing away at their laptop, another lost in the pages of a fat novel. You tried to peek at the cover to no avail as you approached the counter and ordered. There are two worn leather sofas near the front window, the ivy from outside giving some natural privacy. The two of you sit there, sinking into the seats. You chat, waiting for your drinks. You feel at peace

***

“I can’t believe I did that!” She said, burying her face in her hands. “It’s all good, I think Mikey and Draken took care of it.” You say, taking a sip of your iced coffee. ���On my LIFE, I’m swearing off liquor!” You look at her incredulously. She flicks some of the condensation water from her glass at you. “At least until next weekend.” She compromises. “Speaking of, there’s an event at a club I promote at. I get plus three if you want on the list.” 

This grabs your attention, “Really? That sounds like a lot of fun! I’d totally be down. What’s the vibe?” “It’s a hip-hop place, they want more cute girls in there to drum up drink sales. Basically, we just go, shake ass, and get free drinks from guys that pay the event markup. The club makes a fat stack and we party for free.” She says devilishly.

You could get on board with that. It’d been ages since you’d gone clubbing. You used to be a bit of a club rat in your university years. You imagine that clubbing in the city would be more fun than at the grungy college clubs you used to frequent. A question popped into your head, “You said plus three, are you going to invite anyone else?” “Yeah, Senju already said yes. I wish I could’ve introduced you at the party. I know you guys are gonna get along great. I also invited Yuzuha. She’s gonna try to make it work with her schedule.” Emma says thoughtfully pulling out her phone. You nod, the prospect of making more female friends is exciting.

Emma turns her screen to you, displaying a pretty girl with short, fluffy, white-bleached hair. She’s pixie-like with small defined features. “This is Senju” Emma says, swiping through a few pictures on her social media page. “And this is Yuzuha.” Emma turns her phone back to you. Yuzuha is more mature in appearance, sensual. She has long, silky, coppery hair that falls over her shoulders. “They’re so pretty.” You say, awestruck, unable to look away from the pictures as she scrolled through Yuzuha’s feed. “Wait till you see them in person.” She winks.

“I’ll make a group chat later so we can coordinate and you can add them.” She says, placing her phone on the table. She laced her fingers together and rested her chin on them. “So, you and Mikey?” She says, a glint in her eye. Catching you mid-sip and off guard. You choke on your drink, some of it going down the wrong way. As you cough you manage, “What do you mean?” 

She laughs, a twinkling sound that cuts through the buttery air of the moody café. “You’re too easy to read. How charming~” The compliment adds to the redness in your face as you get your coughing fit under control. “No, I’m not.” You counter, doing your best to pull a stoic expression. She laughs in your face again. “You’re blushing ! Too cute, trying to be serious.” She gushes, your face growing hotter. 

“I mean, he gave me a ride home if that’s what you mean.” Turning to your drink for a distraction. “Boo~ you’re so boring. I’m talking about at the party. Gimme the goss.”  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You half mean it. You didn’t want to tell Emma about your dark fantasies about her brother . “Don’t be like that~'' She teased, the look in her eye told you she had something in mind. “Why? Did you hear something?” “You. Mikey. Sofa.”

Your heart skipped a beat. “Oh, I mean we talked.” She hummed incredulously. “No, really. We just talked about bikes and stuff.” “Boooooring.” She huffs, thudding into the leather of the sofa as she reclines. “I thought it was gonna be something juicy. I heard you had him wrapped around your finger.” Your mind raced to replay the evening. In what way shape or form had you had that man “wrapped around your finger”. 

“You should check your source. I think they might’ve mixed us up with the couple on the sofa before us.” You pictured the pair again, their hot and heavy conversation. “He was practically inside of her before Mikey showed up.” Now this piqued Emma’s interest as she sat up from the sofa, leaning across the table to you, a conspiratorial look in her eye.

What had his name been? “Yeah, it was some guy Mikey knew, his name was like Hakk- something.” “Hakkai?!” Emma supplied excitedly. You shot her a finger gun, “That’s it! Blue hair, mouth scar.” You dragged your finger across your lips tracing the phantom scar the blue-haired man sported. “And she was GORGEOUS. Long brown hair, big,” You gesture to your chest, mimicking the woman’s endowment. “She was like on top of him. A houseplant might not have been the only thing Yuuki would be replacing if you catch my drift” The thought of cleaning velvet makes you cringe. “Once she saw Mikey she switched it up pretty quick though.” Remembering the way she had fawned under his gaze.

Emma made a face and snatched up her phone, “No. Way. Is this her?” Emma showed you a picture of the woman from the sofa, but in this picture she was in the arms of a different tattooed man. Another solid 10. “Yeah, that’s her!” You confirm. Emma makes a noise, fingers flying across her screen as she types a message to someone. 

“That’s Sera. Not to not be a girl's girl, but she’s a total wannabe and a homie-hopper. Hakkai should know better than that. I miss when he couldn’t even look at women.” You nod, soaking in the tea. Picturing a little Hakkai freezing up when a girl tried to talk to him was an endearing image. One in stark contrast to what you’d seen on Friday. “She’s been trying to get with Mikey for ages and she won’t take no for an answer. I guess fucking all of his friends is her plan B.”

You hum. You’d met your fair share of fuck boys and girls in university. After hooking up with a couple of them you decided that you preferred to stay out of the drama. “I guess that explains some things. They cleared out after he saw Mikey.” You sip thoughtfully, nearing the end of your drink. Remembering how Mikey hadn’t acknowledged the pretty brunette’s presence. It was starting to make more sense now. “That tracks” Emma replied, her phone buzzing but she makes no move to check it.

She finishes her drink, the ice settling as she returns the glass to its coaster. She runs her fingers up and down the side, tracing a pattern in the condensation. “Well, whenever you’re ready to talk about what happened with you and Mikey, let me know. He’s been acting weird all weekend” She said in a teasing tone. “Nothing. Happened.” You impress upon her. Tucking that crumb of information she tacked on at the end in your pocket. 

“Whatever you say~” She shrugs, finally checking her phone. She smiles rising from the sofa. “Mikey usually doesn’t let anyone on the back of his precious bike. So do with it what you will.” Two crumbs in your pocket. Your blush returns. You try to turn from Emma but it’s too late. She snickers.

“Let’s do this again, next Sunday. We can have ‘Sundates’.” She proposes. “I’d like that.” You smile moving to exit. “I’ve got some errands to run out here so I’ll split after we get to the station.” You nod. The two of you call back a ‘thank you’ to the barista as the bell above the door jingles.

You say your goodbyes at the station and board the train. The rain falls harder now, in heavy sheets that pelt the windows of your train car. The train lurches to a stop one station before your home station. The doors open to the platform and an announcement plays, “Due to extreme weather conditions, the service on this train line will be temporarily suspended. We apologize for any inconvenience.” The message plays on a loop and you curse how close you were to getting home. 

You weigh your options. Truthfully, it wasn’t a far walk. Maybe 15 minutes. The platform grew more crowded as people retreated from the rain. The growing crowd made you nervous and you decided a 15 minute walk is preferable to elbowing your way onto a packed muggy train when it does start running again. You ready your umbrella and venture out into the storm. Thunder clapped loud enough to shake the trees, a sprinkle of extra water added to the downpour you were battling. It was amazing how loud just the rain was.

Your visibility was poor and you were having second thoughts about this adventure. You were about halfway at this point, too late to turn back. Over the sound of the rain you heard something. A voice. You stop dead in your tracks, frantically looking for the source. Again, a voice cried out. The pain in the voice sliced through the deafening rain. Your body was moving before you could think. If you had, you probably would’ve frozen. You round a corner, carelessly splashing through the puddles in the sidewalk. You’re met with an alley, tucked between two large buildings, the space somewhat sheltered from the rain.

It was then you saw a figure crumpled on the ground and a larger one standing over them. The larger figure, a man, loomed over them. His dark hoodie drenched in rain. Your eyes scanned down his back and landed on the knife in their gloved hand. The blade reflected back a sickening red. Your body starts to shake. You want to run, to disappear. The body on the ground curled into the fetal position and cried out again. 

“Help! Someone. Please.” Their voice cracking. The gurgle in their words made your stomach twist. The hooded figure stomped them once, then again. The wounded cried out with each impact. “ Oi oi- .” The attacker punctuated each blow. “It’s no fun if you don’t fight back~” His tone was saccharin and sing-songy. It makes your skin crawl. “I swear I didn’t-” The attacker kicked them hard in the stomach. The sound of retching pushing you over your fear threshold. “ If you’re gonna FUCK around you better be ready to find OUT! ” The hooded man’s deep voice echoes off the walls.

Now was the time to act. You could slip away unnoticed, pretend none of this ever happened, or better yet, call the police and have them sort it out. But in your heart you knew that if something didn’t happen now, that person was going to die. Thunder crashed again and you took a deep breath, forcing your body to move. Your eyes land on a pile of trash, tied up for pick up. Next to the bags you see a rusted pipe. You wrap your fingers around it, wet and grimy. You test its weight in your hand, dropping your umbrella, breaking into a sprint. The hooded figure stooped, coming to kneel over the smaller who tried to crawl away. He raised the knife.

CRACK! It was a sick, wet sound as you brought the pipe down on the man’s head. His body went limp on top of the figure below. You kick the knife hard and far into a pile of trash bags before grabbing the wet material of his hoodie and heaving him off and away from the other. You step, splashing a puddle that stains the hem of your pants red. You rush over, kneeling next to the injured figure, their body shaking harder than yours. You let the pipe drop. The figure crawls to you, hugging your legs with little strength. You see now he’s just a boy. No older than 18. His lip trembles, tears pouring from his eyes. He looks so scared.

You move to cradle him, your body blocking the rain. “T-thank you.” He cries weakly. You nod, the lump in your throat prevents you from responding. You look him up and down, your vision blurring through the tears. You count 2 stab wounds to his chest and stomach. The red is spreading through the material of his T-shirt faster than you care for. You manage, “I’m going to call for an ambulance. Can you press on the wound?” You wiggle to free your phone from your pocket, fighting the water on your screen to dial the emergency number. “Which one?” He tries to chuckle before wincing. He still has a sense of humor, that’s a good sign. You hit the speakerphone button as the line starts ringing.

It quickly connects and you steady your voice, telling the operator, “Hello! Please, I need help. There’s been a stabbing, um..” You look around, realizing you don’t actually know where you are, “Are you at the location now?” the operator asks, she has a soothing voice. “Yes!” You say ardently. “Alright, I have your location on my screen now, we have emergency service vehicles on their way to you, but it’s going to be a few minutes. Are you with the victim now?” “Yes, I’m here, he’s here. He, uh, he has at least two stab wounds to the torso.” You tell her frantically. The words feel strange and clinical.

“Okay miss, we’re going to apply pressure to the wound. I want you to look for something you can use, like a towel or blanket.” You look around the dirty alley. “Nothing, there’s nothing.” You say, a sob escaping. “That’s alright, so what we’re going to do is, I want you to use your hands to apply pressure.” “I-I am. I’m doing that.” “Good, you’re doing great. EMS is almost at your location.”

The stab wound in his chest seems to open further as the red seeps between your fingers. You quickly adjust your hands to apply more pressure to the wound, wiping your tears on your sleeve. “Please tell them to hurry.” You say pathetically, more tears streaking down your face. He starts to fade, his eyes fluttering “No. Stay with me.” You say firmly. 

He’s fighting. He locks eyes with you, “I don’t want to die.” He whispers, voice cracking. “Please, please, please.” You mutter, each a prayer that EMS will arrive. “I’m scared.” He says with a strangled voice. “I’m here with you. I’m here.” You cry. “ Mom .” He begs. You hear from your phone, “We’re going to do this together. EMS is a minute away. Hang in there” You hear a groan as the hooded figure reanimates. The boy sobs out, his limp body unable to move.  “Please, please, please.” You pray. The hooded figure groans again, bringing a hand to his head.

“Miss, I need you to talk to me, what’s going on?” You hear the operator ask. “Police! We need the police. The man, he’s waking up.” You squeak, your veins feeling electric. Then you hear them. Sirens in the distance. “Police are on their way, miss. They’re almost there. You’re doing so well.” The operator encourages. 

The hooded figure pushes himself up feeling around. He sees the two of you, his masked face streaked with blood. His or the boys you couldn’t be sure, “ You bitch. ” He says venomously, his golden eyes searing into you. The sirens are so close. “Please.” You beg the universe. He looks around once more, seeming to hesitate before he takes off; staggering out of the alley. Your eyes follow after him, sure you'll see him reappear. 

The body in your arms slackens. “No!” You cry, jostling the boy. “No, please.” You move again to adjust the pressure. You see them from the other end of the alley, the flashing lights of the ambulance.

What happens after is all a blur. You lean back on the wall of the alley, watching them work. You can’t look at your hands but you feel the warm liquid growing cold and sticky. He has a pulse, you gather from the paramedics. He lost so much blood, too much blood. They load him into the back of the ambulance and they are gone. 

You don’t remember when, but the police must have arrived. You feel a blanket being wrapped around your shoulders as you're led to a police car. “Yes. No.” Those are the only words that remain in your vocabulary. “Miss, are you injured?” “No.” "We're going to have the paramedics check you, okay?" "Yes." “We're going to take you to the station the station to help us file the report, are you able to do that?” “Yes.” “Is there anyone we can call for you?” “No.”

You don’t know how long you were at the station. How many questions you answered. You hear word that the boy was in serious condition at the hospital but doctors were hopeful. They said you saved him but it hardly felt like it. There was a familiar hole in your chest. How long has it been since this old friend visited you? You let the world move around you, there was a child-like comfort in releasing control to someone else. That a parent knows best and will act in your favor.

A police woman, perhaps a decade your senior, takes you to another room. She has kind eyes and her touch is soft. She helps you change out of your clothes. She told you they would be evidence. She uses warm, wet rags to clean you. You sit there and let her gently wipe between your fingers. She is attentive and steady. She moves slowly, like you're something fragile. Right now, you are. The minutes tick away before she is dressing you in a light, baggy shirt and sweatpants that are a bit too big. You let yourself be led to a police car. The edges of the sky taking on that luminous blue that previews sunrise.

You ride in silence. It’s not long before you are home. The engine is turned off and the officer exits the car, opening the door for you. He offers you an arm and you take it. “If you need anything. Please call or message me. Any time.” He hands you a crisp, white business card. You pocket it, quietly thanking him. He walks you to your door and makes sure you get in safely. You stand in your entryway, back against your door until you hear the car pull away. You slide down the wall and sit there. The smell of the cheap, plastic shoes from the police station is unpleasant. Still, you sit.

[stusbunker]

Spotless: Tronco

Chapter Thirty Two

Featuring: Dean Winchester/Reader, Dean/Bela

Other characters: Both bands, staff, and Gibson

Word Count: ~2475

Warnings, etc: Mutual pining, still unbeta'd, rockstars, Emma is a Red Herring don't worry there, uncle-ness and a big decision

Series Masterlist

“SAN DIEGO! You’ve been amazing!” Dean professed into the mic, breathing heavily and sweating from effort. “We’re gonna do a couple more for y’all tonight— since you’ve gone and made us feel so welcome. We gotta show that love right back to ya--- Sound good?”

The crowd erupted.

Dean grinned. God, it was so easy up there, so freeing. He looked around to see the pride and amusement shining back at him in his team’s eyes. His family. His band. 

Sam smirked and rode a note down his A string. 

“Sammy’s ready!” Dean teased, playing to the crowd. “Kev-o?!”

Kevin started on the high notes, tinkling them like fairy bells then crashed down into the basement, thundering into a paralleling rattle. 

“Oh, I’d say he’s ready. PAMMY! Let’s hear it, girl!” Dean bellowed, barely remembering to use the mic.

She kicked the bass drum, setting the beat, pulsing as she pushed it faster, the heartbeat of the night. 

Lee answered with a wail.

Dean wagged a finger at him comically and gestured back to the kit, as if to say ‘it’s the lady’s turn.’

Lee shrugged and held up his hands.

The crowd ate it all up.

Then the cymbals crashed and Pam arrived, bass still pumping in everyone’s ears, high hat and snare collided and her sticks ricocheted across the set like an avalanche. It was times like this that Dean could have sworn she had more than two arms. Her instincts always bordered on precognition, but when she was left to her own devices, she soared.

“PAMELA! FUCKING! BARNES!” Dean bellowed.

And the audience lost whatever ounce of voice they had left. It was sheer pandemonium.

Dean couldn’t help but laugh, the amount of joyous energy had to go somewhere. She just kept going. “GOD, WOMAN, OKAY! We hear YOU!” 

Lee cackled and shook his head at Dean, it was his funeral.

It didn’t matter, up there, they were all invincible.

“Well, I guess she’s ready, Lee? Buddy? Should we join her?”

Lee didn’t say a word, instead he tied a fresh bandana around his head and waited for Dean to start the opening riff for ‘The Sword’ from their second album, then flew above him on an ominous chord.

Pamela dropped the beat, silence rang out for a single moment. On cue they all jumped in place and crashed back into the fan favorite song. 

The crowd sang along and Dean couldn’t hear himself a single bit, but he also couldn’t care less. This was it. 

This was rock’n’roll.

And he was a fucking star.

They all were.

The hotel in San Diego was fantastic, but staying in one place for too long was dangerous. Fans started clocking them and it wasn’t too far of a drive for Paps to be on the prowl. They kept the tour buses at the venue and got cars back to the hotel after the trip down, it just wasn’t practical to drive around town in those gas guzzlers.

But they had a full week to kill before they were due to take on Vegas.

So they improvised. Sam called ahead and rented a restaurant on the older edge of town, somewhere that wouldn’t draw attention. Someplace normal people went on payday or special occasions, not a random Thursday in March.

Their hostess guided them to a small banquet room with its own private bar, clearly confused on who they were and why they were suddenly closed for a private party. The staff hadn’t gotten much warning, but Dean knew Sam made sure everyone scheduled would be making more in tips than they had averaged since probably the holidays. 

That’s the way they did things, they took care of the people who took care of them.

“Thanks, sweetheart. Uh, we’ve still got a dozen or so more people showing up and we’ll need one kids’ menu if you’d be so kind,” Dean explained as he took in the room and the simple layout of round tables of eight.

“Of course, anything else you need right now?” She seemed like a good kid, probably a college student, with bright eyes and long, light brown hair.

“Not at the moment, but I’ll let you know—?”

“Emma.” She smiled, moved the extra menus she was holding, and held out her hand for him to shake.

“Emma, of course. Thanks. I’m Dean. I’m the brother of the idiot paying for this whole thing.”

“Well, make yourself comfortable. I’ll be back when the others arrive.”

Dean grinned and turned back to the first carful of folks, which had also held Sam, Donna, Nancy, Bobby and Annie. Over the course of the next twenty minutes, everybody trickled in. Dean tried not to flinch when Victor and you came in together, but Jody and Kevin were so tight on your heels that Dean could tell you were all in a shared conversation. You hadn’t been alone with him on purpose, probably.

Gibson rushed in, hair slicked back and new bracelets from the merch stand proudly thrust out for Dean to comment on.

“Alright buddy! Bad ass! Here, you’re next to me for dinner.”

Dean fist bumped him and pulled out his chair, where the four-pack of crayons and outlined placemat-style menu waited.

“You get any sleep last night?” Dean asked after seeing Pamela drop like a brick into the seat on the other side of Gibson.

“A little,” Gibson said offhandedly as he ripped into his art supplies.

Pamela shook her head. “He had to tell me all about the show— in detail�� the entire ride back to the hotel. Then he was hungry.”

“Well, you’ll sleep in tomorrow. Me too, if I’m lucky. Then again I’ve got nothing planned until we head out for Vegas. You guys?”

“Probably get to an aquarium at some point, if nothing else catches his eye,” Pamela said. “No solid plans, except I’m taking a day for myself tomorrow. So if you want to hang with your awesome nephew, call Lee.”

Dean chuckled and went to ruffle Gibson’s hair, but caught himself once he remembered all the product and care put into the ‘do. “I can do that.”

Everyone slowly got situated, taking up three of the tables closest to the bar. Each table had two servers at their disposal, adding to the seamlessness of the process. The food was amazing, Dean couldn’t remember when he last had a steak so well cooked outside of Bobby’s backyard.

Gibson picked at his food, carefully wiping off his hands between each bite so as not to sully his masterpiece.

Dean’s family talked around them, Donna and Benny seemed to be hitting it off across the table, discussing their favorite places to visit in New Orleans. Benny promised to show her where to get the real gumbo and she made him pinky promise not to forget. Bobby, Cesar and Kevin were laughing at the table on Dean’s right, while Annie and Trouble were sneaking pictures of the trio. Probably for blackmail later, Bobby did look a little tipsy after all.

Patience stood behind Lee massaging his scalp, it was unclear if this was a relaxation technique, a haircare discussion, or a potential mindmeld. With the two of them, nothing would surprise Dean anymore. The servers were bringing out a dessert cart and Dean leaned down to whisper to Gibson that he better finish his broccoli pronto.

Which the kid actually did without complaint, though sugar was always a good motivator.

The group grew more casual, standing and playing musical chairs when someone got up to grab drinks, or find the restroom. It was an easy night out with just the bands and their support staff, nights like that would grow further apart the longer the tour went on. After living in each other’s pockets for the next few months, they’d get sick of everyone else’s faces soon enough. But it was still early days and they were all still getting to know one another. 

Nancy plopped down on the seat Pamela had vacated without so much as introducing herself to Gibson.

“Hey! Can I color too?”

Gibson didn’t even look up, he only nodded and said, “you gotta find your own paper, though.”

Dean smirked. “Trouble’s probably got a legal pad or something, if you want. Or I’m sure the hostess could grab you a menu too.”

He liked Nancy, there was something innocent about her that made him instantly equal parts protective and endeared. Kinda like when he first met Charlie, though he learned quickly that the redhead was far from innocent, just earnestly nerdy. Speaking of Charlie, Dean quickly glanced around the room, he hadn’t clocked where she was during dinner, he was too involved with his plate.

Nancy didn’t get up, she just pulled a little notepad out of her bag and commandeered the blue crayon that Gibson had set down.

Dean leaned back and continued to take in the room and all the good energy while he looked for his best friend to harass. Eventually he spotted her, chatting up the bartender and decided he was too comfortable to go and mess with her just yet. A swaying blob in the corner caught his eye, and all too late Dean realized the instrumental music playing in the background. It was Pam and Lee getting cozy in their own little world, their song playing over all the comfortable chaos.

Something inside Dean ached.

He didn’t want to come off judgemental, both Lee and Pamela had gotten their share of rants about their relationship from Dean over the years. But he also couldn’t look away. Here were two people so in love, that they found their way back together time and time again. He swallowed when he realized he was tearing up and cleared his throat.

“I’m gonna get some air,” Dean muttered as he left Gibson with Nancy and beelined to the restaurant proper, empty as it was.

He rubbed his face and tried to clear his thoughts. Something had been building inside of him this past week, and even though you still hadn’t given him a finish line, a reasonable hurdle to clear before calling this thing with Bela off, Dean knew he had to end it. It wasn’t helping anymore, in fact, it only seemed to stack more worry onto his plate.

Besides, at the end of the day, he didn’t want to be posting selfies with all the right hashtags with her. He wanted to be having a drink and a laugh with you, or doing literally anything else with you.

He pulled out his phone and dialed before he could guilt himself out of it.

She answered on the third ring.

“Dean, hi! Let me guess, she told you to tell me to shove it?” Bela said breezily.

Confused by the greeting, Dean fumbled. “Uh— no? I’m calling for me.”

“Are you now? And Y/N didn’t tell you I’ve been a bitch and that you shouldn’t play with me anymore.”

“No. But, actually, that is kind of why I’m calling. How do you feel about having an amicable break up?”

Bela hummed. “Are you sure you aren’t just trying to get her out of taking my calls?”

“What?! No. Look, you guys can work out your own shit. I have no idea why she’s ignoring you or if you were actually being a bitch or anything. I just need out. For me.”

There was a menacing patch of silence. “I see.”

“Oh don’t be like that, we’ve had a good run. You’ve even gotten more flashy names on the guest lists for any foreseeable fundraiser between all the suits you charmed and their significant others.”

“That is a good point. But, Dean, this was all about your image. What happens to that if you break my heart?”

“You’ll survive.”

Bela laughed. “Thrive, you mean. I know. But what is worth all the runaround this is gonna cause? Especially while on tour?”

Dean hadn’t thought she’d need a reason. They weren’t invested in one another emotionally. His brain spun its tires trying to come up with something other than the truth.

“Is there somebody else?”

Dean huffed. “Technically, you’d be the somebody else.”

Bela decided it was best to start toying with him. “Now I know it can’t be the drummer and the redhead’s like a sister to you— so that means—”

Dean groaned. “Shut up, like you didn’t already have some sort of idea.”

“Oh, no, Dean, you wear your heart on your sleeve quite nicely. But Y/N on the other hand is much harder to read.”

Dean felt his steak threaten to make a comeback. 

“She hasn’t said anything about me?”

“Oh, she’s said plenty. But nothing that tells me anything you want to hear at the moment.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re certainly welcome. See the truth comes out eventually and I think this little nugget of information could settle whatever it is that has Y/N firmly in the avoidance zone.”

Dean felt the icy chill of panic drag down his back. “You can’t tell her— I should be the one— I need to see her face when she hears it— from me.”

Bela tisked. “Dean, I’m not gonna ruin the surprise. I mean the break up. I want to tell her. Hell, I’ll even take the blame if you’d like. But all the sentiments and grand gestures are in your hands. I promise.”

Dean exhaled. “That sounds fair. What am I missing here? Why does this feel too easy?”

Bela hummed with mirth. “Because what we’re doing is easy. But in practice—”

“We’re just giving Trouble more work to do! FUCK!” Dean kicked himself for the late realization. “You sure you’re good to pile this on her, too? Especially while she’s all catty with you?”

“Dean— we’ve been friends since college. We lived together for like two and a half years. Y/N and I have come back from far worse than me calling you a manchild who used her as an errand girl.”

“Ouch!”

“There was the time she ruined my Louboutins on spring break.”

“Not exactly the same thing here.”

“Probably not, but still, we’ll be okay. Just gotta let each other breathe a bit. Plus, we are missing like twenty brunches while you whisk her away all summer.”

“I’m not doing shit— it’s the job.”

“Well, maybe, you should think about the whisking and the wooing, then?”

Dean sighed and turned back toward the banquet hall. “Yeah, maybe. We’ll see if this puts me in the doghouse first.”

“I’ll save you some room on the rug if it comes to that.”

“Thanks, Bela. For everything.”

“You too, Dean. Never contact me again.”

Dean laughed at that. “Deal. Be good.”

He could still hear the smirk in her voice. “Ta-ta!”

Tagging:

@deans-spinster-witch

@mrswhozeewhatsis

@cosicas-cuquis

@fics-pics-andotherthings-i-like

@suckitands33

@ladysparkles78

@deans-baby-momma

@stoneyggirl2

@sassy-pelican

@leigh70

@globetrotter28

@winharry

@lastactiontricia

@rockhoochie

@brightlilith

@coldhearted93

@djs8891

@beautiful-places-blog

@n-o-p-e-never

@spxideyver

Chapter 33: Stronello

[car-o-line]

Hear me out, tpn trio x reader MODERN AU hcs??? Like, dating them as normal teens going to school nd stuff???

oh ur giving me too much free will with this one😼

Modern Tpn trio dating hcs(part2??)

Emma:

She’s such a cutie omg.

Like she’d want to be around you 24/7/365-

And if she’s not there she’ll just call you.

Your contact in her phone is “Sunshine���” 😭

If you both go to the same school it’d literally be her heaven.

Every class you have together is a field day for her.

She’s a pda person so hugs and kisses all the time, but if you return that affection she’ll die of happiness.

🧍🏼‍♀️=💀💖

(Thats her dying btw)

Loads, and I mean loads of stupid pet names.

She’d be that kind of gf to plan y’all’s wedding before you even dated.

If someone would’ve hit on you she would literally agree with them😭

“Hey beautiful how you doin-”

“Awe! You think y/n’s beautiful!? Me too, they’re the best bf/gf in the world!!”

Honestly it almost embarrasses you how much dotting she does to you.

But you love her sm that she does deserve a soul for being ginger<3

Norman:

Very calm, very nice, very smart bf.

If you’re almost at an A in any classes he’ll literally stay up with you the whole night just so you get from a B to an A.

I like to think he has the most trouble using a phone out of the trio(because it’s funny) so he’ll just keep your contact as “y/n” to save him the trouble of nicknaming you.

He’s not as clingy as Emma is but if he hasn’t seen you for like, a day, he’ll stay around you more than normal when he does seen you.

Norman isn’t one to cause a scene so if you get hit on he’d literally just grab your hand and leave.

Definitely more of a private affectionate person so he’ll get flustered just by a simple cheek peck in public.

He’d play chess with you ig😒

But even though he loves you he still won’t let you win.

Real men don’t get distracted during chess.

Ray:

Said this in my last one and I’ll say it again, I hope you like books.

If you don’t then he wants a divorce.

If this boy got a phone I think he’d be able to understand how it works in like 2 seconds.

He’d name you “don’t reply even tho s/he cute” in his contacts😭

You wouldn’t even be able to fail a class if you were with him, he’s studying like all the time when he’s at school.

Forces you to read with him.

If you ever got hit on he’d either give them a death glare or give a tired sigh.

Little dates at the cafe.

Sometimes he just barges into your house and does whatever.

“Ray! You can’t just break into my house!”

“The door was open, and I wanted a cookie.”

He knew he was down bad when you actually listened to his rant about all his complaints.

He doesn’t talk much but when he does he lets out all his thoughts.

Isabella approves of y'all's relationship👍

[skeletboi]

Super short update because my life is a mess.

But here is part 24 of the Intridimensional Au!

First /// Previous /// Next

__________________________________________

“Impressive as ever.” Ford said as he looked at the robot arm on the work bench.

“Thanks, Stanford.” Fiddleford replied quietly.

Ford watched Fiddleford place his good hand over the arm then glanced up at Fiddleford's face and frowned.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

“Lots a’ things are, I reckon.” Fiddleford said with a humorless huff of laughter. “Ya know when I went back home fer Christmas and fergot ta get Emma-May a present?”

“I recall, yes.” Ford responded, his frown deepening.

“She was already purdy darn mad at me before that. I wore baggy sweaters ta try and hide the metal cast on my arm so she wouldn't go worryin’ ‘bout it, but Tate ain't dumb and heard the hum of the components. He asked me about it, ‘cuz he's at that age where they ask a million questions, and I told him it was a metal cast. ‘Course he's an imaginative kid so he immediately started calling it a robit arm. He ran ta Emma-May ta tell her, and I thought she was ‘bout to murder me on the spot.” Fiddleford paused and picked up the arm. “He'd love this, but Emma-May would hate it.”

“I love it, if that makes you feel any better.” Ford said, placing a hand on Fiddleford's back.

“It does.” Fiddleford said with another quiet laugh. “But I can't stop thinkin’ about that. Emma-May knew how I felt ‘bout you in college, and we got in a purdy big fight ‘bout it before I came ta Gravity Falls. I love Emma-May, but our parents both loved the idea of us bein’ together more than we did. I think maybe we were more like best friends than spouses, but I promised her I'd be back ‘cause, above all else, we jus’ wanted Tate ta have a normal childhood.” Fiddleford set the arm back down and choked on a laugh that sounded suspiciously more like a sob. “‘Spose I'll jus’ hafta live with the fact that he won't. I don’ know if he'll ‘member me at all.”

“Fidds…” Ford said softly, unsure of what else to say with his own guilt and regret tearing at his chest.

“If I knew it was gonna turn out this way I prolly woulda jus’ said screw it and kissed ya as soon as ya opened the door to yer damn creepy cabin in the woods.”

Ford cracked a smile at that, but Fiddleford still looked a thousand miles away as he stared down at the arm.

“You would have stopped me.” Ford said after a moment.

Fiddleford glanced over at him in question.

“You say you would have kissed me right then, but I know you, and, if you had known this was the outcome, you would have left.” Ford clarified.

“Maybe.” Fiddleford responded thoughtfully, “But maybe not. Maybe I’m too scared in every timeline.”

“Fuck that.” Stan said, coming up behind them and dropping the last box at their feet. “I saw your face when Ford mentioned fighting back against Bill. That wasn't fear. That was determination.”

Fiddleford smiled sadly over his shoulder at Stanley.

“I thought you'd grow out of being so cheesy.” Ford deadpanned.

“Nope!” Stan replied with a smile. “But if you two are done being nauseating, we have some boxes to go through. I found a box of brown meat! It says it expires in 1993, but who the fuck knows what year it is in this dimension. My plan is to eat it now, ask questions later!”

“I believe you meant ‘die of food poisoning later’.” Ford noted.

“Or die of starvation! Might as well eat mystery food and die the fun way!” Stan laughed.

“Dysentery don't sound fun.” Fiddleford replied.

“Whatever, nerds.” Stan said, motioning to the boxes. “Just grab what you want so we can get on with life. I found a shot gun, too. You're welcome.”

Fiddleford laughed but did as he was told and put aside his arm project to start rummaging through the boxes.

___________________________________________

Sorry non-Fiddauthor fans. I needed Fiddauthor.

I originally wasn't going to write this bit in, but I wanted to give some context to the guilt they're both still feeling and the relationship between Emma-May and Fidds. Emma-May is bi in this universe, but prefers woman. Is that a cop-out to make myself feel better about how much Fidds hurt her? Yes, yes it is. But I am doing it anyway because I do what I fucking want.

I have another art piece nearly done, so I'll probably post it tomorrow. For now, enjoy. Or whatever.

[pepis-benis]

different wednesday, different-ish wip

will def be rated at least M

—————

Cake was had, and champagne turned into shots at Ruby’s behest as Henry begrudgingly went to bed and both Neal and Robin were tucked into the guest bedroom. Regina agreed to a shot, which, with Ruby, turned into three. Soon Regina was swaying with Emma in their dining room, the table magicked away for their makeshift dance floor. Emma sang completely wrong lyrics into her ear as they moved to a song Regina almost remembered but couldn’t recall the title. She had more to drink than she normally did, blissfully drifting along in Emma’s arms, safe and loved.

“I love you,” she said, not bothering to lift her head from where it had come to rest on Emma’s shoulder. Emma turned them slightly, swaying away from Snow and David as they spun dramatically across the room. Emma’s hands smoothed over her back, tracing up and down the knobs of her spine. She moaned quietly at the sensation, far too content to care if their house was still filled with people. Desire reared its head, unable to be coaxed away in her current state. “Shhh,” Emma chided with a smile, softly assuring her, even as she continued the motion. “I know, baby. I love you, too.”

Regina moaned a little louder, pressing her lips to Emma’s neck. “I know; I wish all these people would leave.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Why’s that, baby?” Emma asked teasingly.

“I really want to fuck you.”

Emma swore softly, kissing her temple as she spun them. The teasing tone dropped from her voice, replaced with one that matched the huskiness of Regina’s. “Gina, there’s like thirty people here.”

“They should leave,” Regina insisted, voice muffled as her lips grazed Emma’s throat, tongue darting out slightly to tease rapidly reddening skin. “So I can fuck you.” Emma’s hand immediately ceased its drifting and settled with the other at the small of Regina’s back.

“I can't exactly kick everyone out of my dad’s birthday party, which you agreed to host by the way, because you’re incapable of keeping in your pants.”

“Mmmmm… guess we’ll see,” Regina breathed, latching her mouth to Emma’s neck, teeth scraping against tender skin before retreating. Emma’s chest heaved, pulse racing under Regina’s lips. She grinned, pressing one last kiss to her girlfriend’s throat. Emma groaned. “You are evil, aren’t you?”

“The absolute worst, darling,” she purred in response. Emma chuckled, low and dry, before peeling herself off of Regina. Regina whined. Emma kissed her softly, just a peck really, taking her hand and pulling her from the dance floor. The world spun momentarily as it widened from being only Emma. Regina blanched as her drinks suddenly caught up to her, vision blurring slightly as she clung to Emma. Emma navigated them through the throngs of people settled in their house, making small talk with friends they passed as she led Regina to the kitchen.

Once they made it to the thankfully uninhabited kitchen, Emma pressed Regina against the sink, leaning down to kiss her. Regina immediately parted her lips, hands threading into golden hair as Emma acquiesced, tongue running hotly over Regina’s. She moaned; she wanted Emma there and then, no more waiting, regardless that the party didn’t seem to be ending anytime soon. She thought, for just a moment, that Emma was on the same page. Hands found her hips, and she was flush with Emma, her body enveloped by the blonde’s aura as the counter dug into her lower back. Pleasure rippled through her as Emma’s hands purposely wandered lower, lifting her to sit on the counter. Regina wished that she had worn a skirt as hands roamed her jean clad legs, inching closer and closer to where she needed Emma’s fingers. But just as suddenly as she found herself on the counter, Emma was gone.

“Hey!” Regina protested, head spinning as Emma darted away. Her skin was on fire, lips puffy, and achingly wet between her thighs. Emma shot her a grin as she opened a cabinet and produced two glasses. She returned to Regina, kissing her cheek before filling a glass at the sink. The glass was pressed into her hand, and she frowned. “I don’t want water.”

Emma smiled widely at her and filled the second glass before taking a sip. “Water’s good for you, baby, especially when you’re as drunk as you are.”

“I’m not drunk,” Regina scoffed. Sure, she had some champagne and a couple of shots, but Regina Mills did not get drunk. She would admit to being a little tipsy, at least to herself. Emma finished her glass in two gulps and placed it in the sink, looking at Regina expectantly. “Fine,” she seethed, exasperation bubbling up as Emma’s hands settled on her thighs. Regina attempted to hold on to the irritation, but Emma’s face did the thing, the one that melted like acid through every wall around her heart. Her head tilted slightly, a wave of blonde curls falling over her shoulder as she ran her hands encouragingly over Regina’s thighs. It cut her to the core; no one had looked at her with such softness in years. There had been moments with Daniel, a lifetime ago now, when she had been nothing more than a girl in love. Emma made her feel that way again. Regina would never confess to reveling in the stolen kisses and shameless flirting, but Emma always made her feel wanted; Regina believed her now, that she deserved to feel this way.

So she drank the stupid water. Emma rubbed her thighs encouragingly, taking the empty glass from her hand and placing it in the sink next to her own when she was done.

[katsune-nya]

Emma's first period.

Platonic!Emma × Reader.

Gender neutral but she calls you with the "-nee" suffix once in the beginning and you enter the restroom with her.

Mentions of Shin being dead. Grandpa Sano mentioned lmao.

You are suddenly startled by the ringing of your phone. You set your items next to the aisle and pick them up.

"Hello?"

"Y/N-nee, something is wrong." The girly voice says from the other side.

You used to be friends with Shinichiro before he passed, thanks to him you met his two younger siblings, Manjiro- no, he would throw a tantrum if you said that: Mikey, and Emma.

After the loss of their older brother, you started visiting them and their grandpa every chance you could. You helped out around when you felt like it and tried to offer some semblance of normalcy in their lives. Helping them with school work (well, forcing Mikey to do his homework), gossiping about Emma's crush, telling them stories about Shin and even guiding them through their recent start on teenagehood whenever they allowed you to.

"What? What happened? Are you OK?" You ask now concerned, already about to leave your stuff stranded there to run to the girl's rescue.

"I'm... I'm in the toilet and I'm bleeding." She responds.

You think for a moment. "Wait... Where are you bleeding from."

"Well... Down there?" She responds shyly.

"Oh, thank God." You might have forgotten to talk about one very important topic. You didn't expect it to be so soon "You'll be OK, love. You got your period. I'll be at your place in a moment. Is anyone else home?"

"Grandpa is teaching and Mikey is napping, I think."

"Alright, if you feel unwell while you wait you can try calling one of them, but I promise you'll be OK, I'm on my way." You grab some pads and snacks from a nearby shelf and get some pain meds before paying for all the items and rushing to the Sano residence.

You unlock the door with your keys that Grandpa Sano had made for you some time ago and step in, setting your bags on the dinner table and going to the restroom Emma might be in.

You knock. "Emma? It's me."

"You can come in." Says the girl, opening the door slightly.

You step inside carefully and crouch on the floor in front of her.

"It hurts..." She says softly. "I thought something was wrong..."

You get some pads from the bag you brought with you. "Here, I'll teach you how to stick them." You unwrap the pad for the girl and show her the covered sticky sides. "Now uncover the bottom one and stick it right in the middle of the underwear." She does as you say. "Perfect. Take the plastic off the wings and stick them tightly on the sides of the cloth." She does so a bit slowly, accidentally making one of the wings stick to itself and then trying again.

"Done." She says.

"Good job. I'll wait for you outside, yeah?" She nods and you leave the bathroom, putting the padded packet back in your bag and waiting for her to come out. After around a minute, she does.

You go with her to her bedroom and she immediately lays in bed with a grumpy face. "Does this mean I'm grown at least?" It's obvious she doesn't like the situation, but she always had the want to show she was already a woman, so the words just came out.

"Eh... Not really." You set the pads on her nightstand and sit next to her on the bed, caressing her honey-blonde hair. "You are bigger than you were yesterday, but you're still a kid... well, teen, and that's fine. Don't rush it."

She looks up at you with a pout and you start talking again. "This will be uncomfortable for a few days and maybe hurt a bit, but it shouldn't be too bad. If it is, we'll tell your grandpa to take you to the doctor."

"I thought it was supposed to start later?" She looks almost offended.

"Well, it depends, some get it at 8, others at 17, there's not one exact age." You caress her hair some more and she starts to relax.

"How long will it last?"

"Hmm. From three to seven days normally. Sometimes more or less."

"Ugh." That's all she says.

"You might get bloated, break out, have pain in weird parts of your body, feel fatter, uglier, weaker, more uncomfortable, or like everything sucks, but try not to listen to those thoughts too much, it's not ALL bad, you're in your period. When it's over, you'll go back to normal. Your hormones are hell right now, so don't think you're crazy if you suddenly start crying or yelling about something you don't normally even care about."

"Ugh." She groans. "That sucks."

You chuckle. "Hey, but it's a good excuse for some stuff."

"Like what?" She asks, getting in a better position with her head on your thighs.

"Well, chocolate sometimes helps with the pain, so you can eat all you want." You start. "Even though exercise can help too, you need to rest, so you can stay all day in bed, or on the couch watching TV."

She doesn't look too convinced, but she doesn't seem to dislike the ideas.

"You can go and act like a poor damsel in distress and get Mikey to do your chores for you."

Her eyes brighten. "OK, I don't have a choice, and it still sucks... But it's not ALL bad." Her expression is more relaxed now.

"Oh no, you look like you're in pain."

"What? Oh no, it's honestly not th-"

"We better have some chocolate to make it better!"

"Oh, I mean, ouch! So hurt, such pain!" she says dramatically.

•••••

I'm on my period and have older sister syndrome so I got this idea and needed to write it.

I headcanon she developed early from what we've learned.

And also like, she definitely has an obsession with seeming grown.

She deserved a good female role model ffs.

[countrymusiclover]

9 - A Man Named Jefferson

Princess Red Thief

Part 10

Tag list - just ask to be added @mystrey101 @melvia-ito @kmc1989 @tallrock35

Blinking my eyes a couple of times I groaned trying to wake up. Slowly glancing around the room I saw I was in the back room of the pawnshop. Shifting my body up further on the old cot I heard the wooden floor creak under someone's feet. "Eve! You're awake."

"Henry. What are you doing here?" Rubbing my eyes to wake myself up more I saw the ten year old boy enter the room.

He answered me. "I heard you being locked up in the hospital until Mr. Gold bailed you out."

"Yeah. Where is Mr. Gold exactly?" I questioned the kid.

Henry came over to my bedside reaching inside his backpack. "He's out with Regina for some reason. So we don't have much time to talk with somebody you need to meet."

"Henrh, I just woke up. I am not really in the mood to meet someone right now." I sat upright holding a hand to my forehead struggling to push away some pain that must have been caused from all the drugs they pushed into my system.

He held open his storybook to a certain page. "But what if I told you there's someone else in this town that has been seeing things just like you."

"And that person in your book would be?" I trailed off scanning my eyes over the book pages seeing a man surrounded with over a dozen hats.

Henry taped a finger on the image. "The Mad Hatter. He goes by Jefferson here."

"Henry...I. You need to leave before he gets back. He doesn't care for unwanted visitors inside his shop." I warned the ten year old.

He didn't back down, shoving his book back inside the bag. He holds out his hands waiting for me to put my hand in his and follow him willingly like I normally did before I was locked away. "Please Eve. You'll start to believe me once you talk with him. I swear."

"Fine, kid. But this doesn't mean I believe you." I put my hands in his getting to my feet and together we slipped outside of the pawnshop in search of where this Jefferson man lived. "Henry, why do you think I will believe before Emma?"

He kept walking, sending me a half smile. "Because you follow your heart more than what your mind tells you." I parted my lips considering what he was saying to me in the moment.

The double doors shut behind me with two guards shutting them. I had decided to keep living in my parents castle which wasn't too far from the Charming castle. My short brown boots clicked against the stone floor until I stood at the edge of the round table to meet Snow. "Everly. I was hoping I'd see you."

"My parents aren't worried about me. Honestly they trust me when it comes to helping y'all with your kingdom. You're glowing by the way." I sent her a smile pulling out one of the chairs near hers.

She was sitting down in one of the head chairs, leaning her elbows on the table. "Thank you, Eve. Your letter said that you wanted to talk with me about something."

"Indeed I do wish to. I've been having certain feelings lately and since we are friends I was hoping we could talk about them." I twiddled my thumbs together on the table.

Snow asked sweetly. "Of course. Is this about a guy?"

"Is it that obvious?"

She nods, chuckling. "I'm sorry to say yes. Besides it's not like I don't remember you saying you always had teaching lessons to return to."

"Oh geeesss." Covering my face with my hands I was blushing like a red tomato.

Snow clasped her hands together. "So who is the stranger you are getting lessons from?"

"It's magic lessons. The man I'm getting taught by is named Rumplestilskin." Heavy silence fell across the large room with an intense feeling falling between the two of us. Everyone in the land generally knew his name and what kind of magic he dabbled in.

"Everly, he...he uses dark magic."

"I know that." I said back. "But I am needing his help to teach me how to control the power that I was born with. Neither of my parents have magic, yet I somehow got it."

"You have feelings for him, don't you. Why else would you be defending the teachings he is showing you." Snow put the pieces together with a smirk on her lips.

"Maybe I do. What do I do about it?" I asked the other princess in the room.

The former bandit princess got up from her chair and I rose to my feet standing up in front of her. "In my experience you just have to follow whatever your heart tells you."

"Even when the person you care about might not feel the same." I knitted my brows at her, wrapping my father’s red cloak tightly around my body.

Snow takes my hands in hers showing me the wedding ring from her Prince Charming. "That's a risk that we each have to take when we love someone. Never stop following your heart, Everly."

"Henry, are you sure we're not breaking and entering? It doesn't even look like he's here. Emma is the sheriff now and I wish to not be placed inside a prison cell anytime soon." Looking around at the area outside the mansion front door. He had pulled out some set of keys he had taken from his mother's office that could open any door.

He pushed one of the keys in the hole and it unlocked with the door swinging open. "We'll be fine. He believes everything about my book. Now come on. Jefferson!" Henrik walks into the house and I follow after him seeing that it was almost pitch black inside giving the creepy loner type guy vibes to me.

"Henry. Henry, wait we can't just - mmm!" I grunted my fighting instincts kicking in when one hand wrapped around my waist and the other hand clasped over my mouth before the front door slammed shut behind me.

A man's voice growled in my ear. "Did anyone follow you?"

"No." I mumbled the best reply I could trying to remove the stranger's hand.

The man removed his hands from my body, spinning me around to face him. "So you're the famous Red Thief who falls in love with the Dark One."

"You've read the story too." I made a confused expression.

The guy named Jefferson responded. "It's more than just a story and his storybook is more than just a book."

"It can't be more than a book. None of those stores are real. I know they are simply just stories." I shake my head thinking back on why I got put in the mental hospital in the first place.

Henry spoke up behind me heading down the hallway. "She's a little slow, Jefferson. That's why I brought her to you. So she'll wake up like you have." Jefferson grabs a hold of my arm dragging me after the young boy until we entered a room filled with hats that all matched the familiar hat the Mad Hatter would have worn.

"You've obviously got an obsession with Alice in Wonderland."

"He's the Mad Hatter, Eve." Henry declares sitting the book on the table, opening it to the page he had shown me back in the shop.

Jefferson pushed me down in the chair with the book laying in front of my face. He flipped through some pages stopping at one photo that showed Rumplestilskin holding up a ring. The woman who wore a red cloak that looked like the one I owned stood in front of him. "Look at the picture and tell me if you recognize anything."

"Jefferson, Henry has already tried this with me once before. It didn't work then, it won't work now." Shifting around in the chair I eyed the man.

Jefferson rounded the table to be on the other side grabbing my chin in between his thumb and index finger so I'd look him in the eye. "Use your power and look into my mind. Then you'll see what I'm saying is the only truth you need to believe."

"Look into your mind. That's not possible."

Jefferson declared not backing down. "You have to open your mind, Red Thief."

"You're losing your mind, Jefferson." Pushing myself away from him he let go of my chin. Stomping towards the doorway about to leave I halted in my tracks grabbing a hold of the doorway when he spoke up about my past.

"You couldn't pay your rent when you first came here. So you made a deal with Mr. Gold. Take my ring and I'll work for you, you said."

Glancing out the corner of my eye I asked. "How do you know about that? He swore he'd never say anything."

"Because it's almost the exact same deal you made with Rumplestilskin after he agreed to teach you magic. You are Princess Everly, daughter of Abigail and Fredrick." Henry stands by the edge of the table.

Shutting my eyes I pushed back the desire to believe them. I couldn't be a princess. I couldn't have magic and the town couldn't all be cursed. Otherwise I belonged back in the mental hospital. "Henry, I'm sorry but all your saying is nonsense."

"It won't all be nonsense once you look for the necklace inside his suit jacket and...." Jefferson trailed off in thought.

Turning around in my boots I dared to ask the question. "And what Jefferson?"

"And you'll believe us when you find the ring in his possession." The man who truly thought he was the Mad Hatter answered my question, sitting one of his hats on top of his head smiling wickedly at me. Henry remained silent and simply nodded in agreement. "As close to his heart as it could possibly be."

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[ladylooch]

the devils moms trip has me thinking about Emma with Lio, Sam with Luca, and Connor with Kailey (I think that’s her name I’m not very sure)

Yes. I'm so glad you brought this to my inbox nannies. Because I have thoughts on what these boys are like with mama on the road trip.

Emma/Lio: The poshest duo for real. Like Lio is matching their outfits together. He's asking his mom what she brought, tailoring his suit selection and accessories to her. It's the Meier way to show up dazzling and expensive. Lio even buys her new bracelets to match his cuff links. He normally doesn't get that fancy, but with mama in town, he has to. Lio loves his mom so much. Getting to share these memories with her means a lot to him especially after his spiral. When his mom is in town, she is center stage and he falls back into the audience, watching her make connections and build friendships with all the mom's. Every one wants her number at the end of the trip and he feels so lucky she's his.

Sam/Luca: Luca "circles" this trip on the calendar every year, especially once he is traded to the Kings. Before, when he was in Minnesota, he spent so much time at his family home. But after he gets traded, it gives him a new perspective on how precious time with his parents can be. He loves getting to spend one on one time with his mom too. She helps him feel grounded and grateful for the life he lives. She's also ridiculously proud of him. She beams at him every time he gets off the ice whether it was a good or bad game. She knows exactly what to say to get him back in better spirits. Or she won't say anything and encourages him to forget about hockey when he needs to. Having her with him and sharing this big piece of his life with her is magical. He wishes it was the mom's trip more than once a year.

Connor/Kailey: Golden retriever son Connor Wood is so ecstatic that this mom is on the trip with him. He introduces her to EVERYONE. Anyone walking by with the team he's like "HAVE YOU MET MY MOM!?!?!" Just so proud to be her kid and loves having her positive, happy energy especially because he is in a bit of a slump. They have good, easy conversations on the trip together and it makes an impact in his play on the ice. Sometimes, Connor needs to be reminded that he is carrying a lot on his shoulders. And he needs to lighten that load at times with his team on and off the ice.

David/Lexi: (OPE!!!!) It takes several years before Lexi is invited on a mom's trip for the Rangers. Not because David doesn't see Lexi as a maternal figure, but because it's tough for him to invite someone else. He misses his mom a lot on these trips and he'd rather stick with the other players who don't have a guest, then be front and center of all that attention. He knows it would re-open that wound about his mom's death. The relationships with his parents were different, so although he invites Nico on the dad's trip, it doesn't feel like it does with his mom. However, as Mack and David are together longer, David heals a lot. Lexi helps with that too in the way she shows up for him as a MIL. She truly embraces David as a son and it make a difference in his life. So, towards the end of his career, David asks Lexi to join him on the trip. It's a BIG deal. HUGE. They are so proud in their picture before getting on the plane. Lexi has tears in her eyes and she's just telling him how much she loves him 🥹

[lillaydee]

Wisdom

Francisco 'Catfish' Morales / Reader

Part of the Frankie and Emma Morales Series

Frankie had his wisdom tooth removed.

WARNINGS:Wisdom Teeth, Sick Francisco "Catfish" Morales, Dentists, High Francisco "Catfish" Morales, Fluff, Crushes.

---

You sat in the waiting room waiting for your name to be called. They took your fiancé in an hour ago, the man too quiet for words from the moment he woke up to the moment you kissed him goodbye.

You understood his hesitation; who in their right mind liked dentists? You had to lie there, your mouth opened, and very loud, very sharp instruments were shoved into your mouth and there was nothing you could do about it. Even the prospect of moving your head was scary, so you had to lie there, all vulnerable, and surrender your fate to the people with the fucking drill in their hands and hoped they knew what they were doing. So yeah, you understood the fear of dentists – you suffered from that particular affliction yourself, make no mistake about that.

But Francisco Morales was no ordinary man. He was an ex-Special Forces man. He ran towards danger, not away from it. He charged into dangerous territories, flew helicopters into warzones, cold-camped in ridiculous weather, rescued hostages, killed evil warlords, terrorists and drug lords. And these days, whenever he was on duty for his company, he looked fierce, immoveable, someone enemies feared, thought twice before crossing.

And oh so sexy and handsome. But that’s beside the point.

The point was that your gorgeous fiancé was a man’s man. Wall hammering, beer drinking, helicopter flying sort of man.

But he was terrified of the dentist.

He had been in pain for weeks, it seemed, ignoring it because the mere idea of going to the dentist was enough to make his entire body shrink into nothingness. You had noticed that he had been eating less and less these last two weeks, wanting food at room temperature, not hot, not cold. He slept on his back instead of his usual left, gargling more often than he normally did. You caught him with his hand on his left jaw several times, but he would let go once he realized you were looking. And then he made the mistake of taking a bite from your popsicle two days ago, his face morphing into a shade of beet you had never seen before, so scrunched up in pain the veins on his forehead popped up, his body taut, shaking slightly in his efforts to hide the enormous discomfort from you.

He tried to downplay it, even going so far as using his sobriety as an excuse to avoid treatment, but when he woke up the next day with half of his usually chiselled jaw round as a balloon, you called the dentist immediately.

So that morning, you kissed his huge pout of protest goodbye as they took him in for surgery to remove his infected wisdom tooth and waited patiently in the waiting room for him.

You saw them wheel him out, him looking groggily around, perhaps for you. They called you to the counter to settle payment, and you spent nearly ten minutes filling out the same information you filled in when you first brought him in, shaking your head. All this technology and you still had to fill in forms. Sheesh. You glanced at him several times through the glass wall, him still lying on the gurney, his shoulder so broad making the gurney look comically small.

The first time you did, he was looking at some poster on the wall with great interest, asking God knows what to the nurse who was monitoring him, his mouth full of cotton swabs.

The second time you glanced at him, he was already staring at you, quickly turning his head away to look at the poster again, asking the nurse some question, which you were guessing did not make sense as she started smiling kindly at him. The third time you chanced a look at him, he looked away far too late, his ears red, muttering something to the nurse, who then looked at you with a sweet smile. You had no idea what she said to him, but his hand immediately went to the back of his neck, and he lowered his body a bit as if to hide from you.

When you finally got done with all the red tapes, you went into the room, finding him red in the face, blanket covering his entire body up to the neck, whispering something to the nurse, who answered, yes, Mr Morales, she’s coming in here. He averted his eyes, hand coming out from under the blanket to fix his messy curls.

When you got to his bedside, he looked at you shyly, cheeks pink from embarrassment, before looking at the nurse with a nervous look. It’s okay, she told him. You can say hi to her. He scoffed a shy smile, mumbling something at her, which made her clamp her hand to her mouth in an effort to not laugh out loud at whatever he said.

“Hello,” you said to him. “Feel better?”

His cheeks got redder. His smile got wider, the bloody cotton swabs showing. His fingers were busy playing with his nails, avoiding direct eye contact with you, nodding a little to answer your question, still smiling like a little boy to himself.

‘Okay Mr Morales, you’re all set now. She’s going to take you home okay?” the nurse said, taking the blanket off him, giving you his jacket and a wheelchair.

His eyes widened. “You’re going to take me home?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Is that your job?”

You looked at the nurse, who pointed upwards behind his bed, “He’s high as a kite,” she whispered to you.

Ah…

“No I’m not,” he protested, a bit aggressively. “I’m in NA, I haven’t done drugs in over a year,” he told you, looking a bit gloomy now, as if you were going to be angry at him.

“I know, they have to give you some painkillers, honey, so you don’t feel the pain,” you told him.

He blushed again, looking at the nurse, “She called me honey,” he said, giggling like a school girl.  

“Maybe she likes you,” she told him, clearly enjoying your fiancé’s antiques.

Frankie huffed, “No… that’s impossible. She’s engaged,” he said, pointing at your engagement ring, pouting a little at her. “Your fiancé is a very lucky man,” he told you, looking a bit sad now.

“I’m the lucky one, Mr Morales, he’s a very sweet man,” you told him, taking his hand to help him up.

“Nah…” he said, still pouting. “He’s so lucky,” he sat down on the wheelchair with a grunt, and you placed his jacket and paper bag of medicine on his lap and began wheeling him out. The nurse followed you, telling you he kept gushing about you when he first saw you at the counter.

You laughed quietly as you wheeled him to your car. He kept looking at you, turning his entire torso to do so, quickly looking away again every time you caught his eyes, his face red from getting caught.

You helped him into the passenger seat of your car, and his eyes followed you as you returned the wheelchair to the nurse, thanking her. You got into the driver’s seat to find him sitting with his entire upper body turned towards you, his head resting on the head rest, his eyes looking at you with such adoration and regret.

“You’re so pretty,” he told you.

“Thank you.”

“I wish you weren’t engaged.”

“Why not?”

“Because then I can ask you out on a date, you’re so pretty,” he repeated, now looking like he was about to cry. “Your fiancé is so lucky. But he’s stupid. He lets you drive a strange man around. I would never let you go in a car with a strange man alone. I would keep you safe. I would take care of you. Cause you’re so pretty,” he said, his lips wobbling a little bit, eyes starting to get teary.

“Why are you sad?”

“Because I’m in love with you and you’re engaged,” he said, tears falling, his lips downturned and trembling so much the cotton swabs almost fell out. You fixed it for him, deciding to put him out of his misery.

“I’m engaged to you, baby, you are my fiancé.”

His face immediately lit up. “I am?”

“Yeah, baby, you are.”

“You’re going to marry me?”

“I am.”

He grinned so widely, happiness clearly written all over his face, his cotton swabs falling out of his mouth, onto his lap before ending up on your passenger side floor. You quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped his mouth, taking more cotton swabs out of the paper bag and asking him to open his mouth, placing them on his wound before telling him to bite down and not talk anymore. Okay, he said, still looking elated.

He spent the entire drive home sitting with his torso turned towards you, a smile on his face, his eyes fixed on you. He continued looking at you until you got home and helped him into bed, lying with him until he fell asleep on your lap with an icepack on his jaw, his fingers caressing your face, telling you how pretty you were, and how lucky he was to be your fiancé, pouting when you suggested otherwise.

He woke up the next morning looking so much more like himself, the swelling had gone way down. He kissed you good morning, thanking you for taking him to the dentist the day before.

“I didn’t embarrass myself while I was high, did I?” he asked, sipping on his warm tea, coffee verboten until his wound healed.

You shook your head, smiling to yourself.

“Thank God. I kept seeing all those videos of people saying silly things when they got their wisdom teeth out, thank God I didn’t do that.”

“No, you didn’t baby.”

Yeah… you should’ve recorded him.

[lee1504]

Could you write some banner family fluff or angst? I've been eating it up recently and there isn't as much as compared to other families like the Clarks :)

Emma Banner noticed her daughter was getting quieter and quieter by day. She usually wasn't social, and mostly kept to herself, but she's been getting strangely quiet. It was almost if she was trying to seem nonexistent, as if she wasn't a part of the family anymore.

It started when Ashlyn was seven.

Emma's heart couldn't take it. It pained her to see Ashlyn sit alone, waiting for her and Mike to pick her up from school, when all the other little kids, her classmates, would run around and chat with each other. She knew Ashlyn was very introverted--even more so as a kid. She'd notice her daughter staring at her feet, which tapped against the ground, always moving, or staring to the side, her eyes blank.

More than once she'd tried getting Ashlyn to meet new people. She met their neighbors, who had a kid her age but eventually moved away, the Hernandez twins, who were in the same grade as her, but soon their father passed, making it difficult for them to be happy again.

One night, Emma opened the door to Ashlyn's room. She was still her baby, but she looked older now. A few years have passed, and now Ashlyn was fourteen. Next year, she would be attending high school.

And to be honest, Emma was scared.

"Hey, Trooper," Emma murmured. She sat down on the edge of her daughter's bed, next to Ashlyn. Mike stood at the doorway, watching, his hands tucked in his pockets as usual. Ashlyn, like always, was staring at her feet.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"Hey, so..." How should she start this? It was summertime, and heat seeped through the windows, even though Ashlyn's fan was on. It made a low whirring sound. "Are you excited? For high school?"

Ashlyn said nothing. She never really did, unless she was asking what was for dinner and things like those.

Tap. Tap, tap.

"Baby?" Emma placed a hand on her daughter's knee.

Immediately Ashlyn flinched. Emma's eyes flashed to Mike's. "Baby, are you okay?"

Tap, tap, tap.

"Please don't touch me." Ashlyn's voice was low, barely there, a murmur.

"Trooper?" Mike spoke up, coming closer. He looked concerned. He held out a hand, placing it gently on his daughter's shoulder. "Baby, are you okay?"

Taptaptap.

"Please don't touch me!" Suddenly, Ashlyn sprang up. Her eyes were wide, and there were tears in her eyes. "I-I don't like to be touched. It doesn't feel normal. I--"

The tapping was gone.

Emma stood up too. Her brow was furrowed. "Baby, Ashlyn, please, are you okay?"

"Don't touch me!" The outburst was unexpected. Ashlyn's hands were curled into fists; she didn't know if her daughter realized it. Her breaths were quick, like she was hyperventilating. "Don't touch me! I don't like to be touched!"

Tears formed in her daughters eyes.

"Okay, Trooper, we won't touch you if you don't like it," Mike said gently. He moved forward slightly, but Ashlyn stepped back a foot. Her hands immediately clamped to her ears, covering it. She squeezed her eyes shut.

"It's too loud....Don't-Don't come near. Please--!" Without warning, Ashlyn turned and bolted, dashing towards the bathroom. Emma and Mike quickly followed her.

The door slammed shut. Emma heard the lock click.

"Please leave me alone!" her daughter called from the inside. "I don't want to be outside right now--!" Her breaths were still quick.

Emma hesitated. What was she supposed to say? "Alright," she replied. "We can wait. It's okay."

That night, when Ashlyn finally went to bed, Emma and Mike stayed up the whole night. They sat on the couch in the living room, staring at their shared computer the whole time. The screen illuminated their faces.

+++++

The results came in. Ashlyn was diagnosed. Her psychiatrist had recommended buying Ashlyn stronger, more soundproof headphones, since the ones she currently had wasn't strong enough.

One afternoon, the three of them, Emma, Mike, and Ashlyn, were sitting in the living room, watching a recap of Ashlyn's favorite concert. Her daughter's head rested against her shoulder, and her breathing was soft. Even. She was almost falling asleep. Mike sat on Emma's other side, his arm resting against the back of the couch.

"Mom? Dad?"

Emma turned down the volume slightly. Mike's eyes slowly drifted from Emma's to Ashlyn's.

"Yes, Trooper?" Mike replied.

"Am I...am I normal?" Ashlyn's voice quivered slightly.

Emma's eyes flashed to Mike's in a milisecond, then back to her daughter's. "Of course you are," she replied.

A few tears rolled down Ashlyn's face. Emma gently brushed them away.

"I don't feel normal. I feel like...I feel like I don't know what's wrong with me." Ashlyn swallowed, not looking her parents.

"There's nothing wrong with you," Mike said softly, smiling.

Ashlyn seemed to hesitate. "Are you...are you sure? That there's nothing wrong with me?"

Emma smiled. "Of course we're sure."

"But what if--what if I have another episode? Just like the Doctor said?" Her voice was still shaking. "Would you...would you guys still love me?"

"Of course we'd still love you, baby," Emma said, planting a small kiss on her daughter's forehead.

"But what if the episode lasts longer than a few minutes? What then?"

Mike smiled. "Don't worry, Trooper. If it lasts longer, we'll be patient. We'll always be patient for you."

"...Okay. I believe you"

Their daughter soon fell asleep, and summer passed by quickly.

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Season 4 Rewatch Drabbles: 4x2 White Out

(Gif not mine. I couldn't find who to attribute it to. If you're the creator, let me know, and I'll credit you.)

Summary:  A series of 100-1000 word drabbles to accompany my    rewatch of season 4 of Once Upon a Time.  There will be a drabble–either a deleted scene, a “fix it” fic or a character musing for each episode of the season.  Focus will be on Emma, Henry, the Charmings and Killian–with an emphasis on Captain Swan’s epic love story.

Word Count: 662

Other Chapters: (1) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

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

Emma had stopped shivering.  Surely that was a bad sign.  People who were dying of hypothermia stopped shivering, didn’t they? That, combined with the fact that the desire to go to sleep was overwhelming should have sent alarm bells going off in her head.

But she just didn’t even have the energy to care.  She watched dispassionately as Elsa found her magic and began to slowly open a hole in the wall.  

And then there they were, her father and her…well, whatever Killian was to her.  Her father looked concerned, of course, but Killian, Killian looked frantic, devastated, like his whole world was about to crumble.  He all but climbed into the ice wall himself to get to her.

A sudden warmth kindled inside her at the sight of him.  When had anyone, anyone ever looked at her like that?  Like she was their whole world?  Like losing her was the most terrifying thing he could even imagine?

And so, as soon as she was out, as soon as she was free, as soon as she was in his arms, she hugged him back, as fiercely as her depleted, frozen strength would allow.  

“You okay?” he murmured into her hair.

She nodded, too weak to voice a word.

Words had never been her strength anyway, so she used her actions instead. She cupped the back of his head–the same way her dad always did when he hugged her–pouring out all the reassurance and comfort she could muster.

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

Killan’s heart gradually slowed to a normal rhythm.  She was here, alive, in his arms, hugging him and nodding in answer to his questions.  He felt the tears prickle the back of his eyes.

He’d been so afraid, so bloody terrified that he’d lost another woman he loved, and this time, he was sure he’d perish with her.  He couldn’t lose her; couldn’t.  It would more than devastate him. It would destroy him.

Her strength gave out and she sagged against him. In one quick swoop, he picked her up, one arm supporting her upper body and the other under her knees.  She was free from immediate danger, but she was still perilously cold.  He must get her to warmth, to safety.

And so he did.  He carried her to her father’s vessel, held her as Charming drove through the streets of Storybrooke, warm air pouring from the vents of the vehicle.  He carried her up to the loft, held her hand as her father and Elsa brought her a blanket, wrapped his arm around her..

When she laid her head on his shoulder and laced her fingers with his, he knew she’d accepted his comfort, knew she needed him as much as he needed her.

As her parents, her son and Elsa gradually went about their business, she turned to him.  “Hey,” she said.

“Hello, yourself,” he responded with a gentle smile, wrapping his arm around her again, and gently rubbing her shoulder.

“Thanks for saving me,” she said simply.

His smile grew more tender, and he planted a gentle kiss against her temple.  “It was Elsa who did that, love, and I suppose your father as well, as he was the one to talk her through it.”

“But you tried, you wanted to,” she countered.

“Aye,” he said.  “Always.”

Emma smiled up at him, raising a still weak and frigid hand to cup his cheek. She said nothing more for long moments, but he could see it all in her eyes. 

I’d save you too.  I care about you too.  I don’t know what I’d do without you either. It means everything to me that you’re here.

One day she’d say the words aloud, but for now, it was enough.  For now, she was safe and in his arms, and he was never letting her go again.

When she quietly, almost hesitantly asked him to stay with her that night, he didn’t even hesitate.

There was nowhere in the world he’d rather be.

NEXT CHAPTER->