#and he'll be like well our wedding is not so far out that starting now versus on our wedding night matters...

[teiasviago]

colin 🤝 anthony: making an heir in s3

[charliehoennam]

karma's kiss

a/n: @harmonity-vibes requested a smutty lil fic with anthony because he is foooooine so here it is

Pairing: Anthony Saint Claire x F!Reader

Summary: Anthony finds himself swindled by a con-artist and tracks her down to get his own justice.

Warnings: 18+ ONLY, dark themes like rough sex, asphyxiation, stealing, dub-con, smut (let's remember anthony is not a nice guy like our sweet little adorable professor so read at your own risk)

SHARING IS CARING SO REBLOG IF YOU LIKE IT

The bar you’re in is far different compared to the dive bars you started in your early years.

Your job isn't the kind you include in resumés, but it's paid your bills since college and you've managed to work your way up to a more high-end clientele.

Sitting at the bar, you can feel eyes boring into your side as you sip your daiquiri.

You smile at the bearded man, waiting to see if he'll approach you first. And, indeed, he does taking your smile as an invitation.

"Staring isn't very polite, you know" you smirk setting your drink on the bar as he sits next to you.

"Well, can you blame me? A beautiful woman like you in a dress like that is bound to get some attention, right?" he smiles slyly.

You smile pretending to be flattered by his compliment. It's nothing you haven't already heard before. It might be just bait that he tells all the girls he meets to get what he wants out of them, but you have to admit it feels a little nice coming from someone as attractive as he is.

In order to hide your real name and identity, you give him a fake name as you hold your hand out to shake his.

"Anthony," he smirks shaking your hand lightly before lifting his whisky for a sip. "Are you here with your husband?"

He glances down at the fake wedding ring and band on your finger. There is no husband. You just wear the rings because you've found it makes you more intriguing to most men.

You never really understood why, but if you had to guess, you'd guess it must have something to do with the chauvinistic idea of conquering something that's not theirs or that belongs to another man.

It doesn't exactly surprise to see a gold band on his finger too.,

"Are you here with your wife?" you retort.

"Touché," he smirks raising his glass to your witty observation.

"I'm not here with my husband, but he does know I'm here."

"Your husband lets you go out alone dressed like that?"

"We have an open relationship."

Anthony's smile stretches from ear to ear. Attending underground sex clubs, he's no strangers to forbidden kinks. They arouse him. Your beauty attracted him, but now, you have his full attention.

"That's interesting. You don't hear that every day," he smirks. "Tell me more about this relationship. I'm intrigued."

"Well, once a week, he allows me to go out on my own. I like getting to meet new people and he likes watching me get fucked by other men."

Your bluntness has his cheeks turning pink as he beams with amazement.

"So it's a kink?"

"I prefer the term alternative modern lifestyle," you smile mischievously at him. "Keeps the marriage spicy."

"I can imagine. And how's it work huh?"

"I go out, find a very attractive man," you explain glancing at his lips and making no effort to hide it. "We talk, drink, kiss and I take him home to fuck me in front of my husband."

"Seems simple enough" he smirks catching your glance at his lips. "How do you choose the man?"

"Consent is the most important factor, of course. If he's not alright with that, then everything stops. But I tend to gravitate towards those that are more pleasing to the eye."

"And are there candidates yet?"

"The night is still young. This is still my first drink and I'm already interviewing one," you reply with a cheeky smile.

"Oh, my. I am very flattered," he chuckles pretending to be surprised. "I'm very interested. Although I've never done anything like this before."

"You'd be surprised at how many have."

"I'm guessing a lot?"

"More than you think. Open relationships are becoming more and more common and accepted nowadays."

It hardly takes him any further convincing. You can tell by the way his legs and hips squirm in his seat he's turned on by the sole thought of it.

Moving to a more private table, you sit in the corner of the high-end bar sharing details about what you and your husband enjoy.

Anthony is up for anything. Just the thrill of fucking you in front of your husband already his dick leaking with anticipation.

The hardness in his pants is noticeable when you place your palm on his crotch after he tells you how big he is when you ask about his size.

Granted he is perfectly sized and thick, it doesn't change any of the plans you have for him.

You invite him to come back to the motel you're staying at under the guise you and your husband always go out of town for your escapades to avoid running into people you might work who wouldn't understand your lifestyle.

A sexual deviant himself, he knows just how well it is to have to hide your sexual fantasies and desires from others.

In the backseat of a taxi on the way to the motel, his lips are all over yours mauling yours as his head tilts to the side. His tongue wrestles for dominance between you. The thumb on the hand on your neck strokes your cheek.

His touch warms you from the inside. You can't let yourself give in, but it doesn't mean you can't enjoy it while you can.

You have to focus. This is our opportunity to get what you need.

Your hand glides down his chest under his leather jacket towards his crotch. With a firm unexpected squeeze to his cock, he moans into your mouth.

The driver can't help but glance at the rearview mirror, torn between stopping you from getting too heated and letting you go on to enjoy the show.

You palm Anthony's cock over his jeans. You have to admit, the man does have a nice size that makes your panties wet.

Reveling in your touch, his knees spread to invite you in as his torso adjusts to face the front.

"You like that, huh?"

"Can't wait to get my mouth around it."

"Why wait?" He smirks darkly.

Taking a glimpse at the driver, he immediately looks away and back to the road when your eyes meet his in the mirror.

You smirk back at Anthony as he unbuttons his jeans and pulls his cock out.

Lowering into the darkness of the backseat, you lean down to take it into your mouth, letting your tongue swirl around his tip to lap at his precum.

Anthony closes his eyes as his head dips backwards at the welcomed warmth of your mouth. With one arm stretched along the backseat, he uses the other to rest his hand against your bobbing head.

Too lost in the sensation, he doesn't notice or feel your hand sneaking into his pocket to steal his wallet.

The thrill of accomplishing your mission excites you enough to add a little more enthusiasm into the blowjob until the driver clears his throat to get your attention as the car rolls to a stop.

"We're here. That'll be 8.50."

"I got it" you say quickly to stop Anthony from looking for his wallet.

Taking a 10-dollar bill from your bra while Anthony tucks himself away, you hand the money to the driver and thank him telling him to keep the change.

Climbing out of the cab, you lead him to your room fumbling for your room key.

Anthony follows you inside and takes a look around. The room is nothing fancy as expected but it has a double bed which is all you need. Or so he thinks.

"My husband is on his way. He'll be here soon. Why don't you get comfortable while I freshen up real quick? I'll be just a minute."

You smirk sliding your hands up his chest to gently push at his black leather jacket.

“Don’t mind if I do,” he smirks down at you with lustful eyes.

As he shrugs off his jacket, you walk to the bathroom. While he takes his shoes off, you quickly race to the back wall of the bathroom to open the high shower window. You pop off the bug screen and let it fall to the ground. The collision makes an echoing noise and catches Anthony’s attention.

“Fuck,” you whisper to yourself.

Using the ledge of the dingy tub, you pull yourself up into the window and see-saw on the sill. You planned the escape; should’ve also planned the landing of it.

Your heart races when Anthony knocks on the locked door.

“Hey, sweetheart. Everything ok in there?” he questions growing suspicious.

Your legs flail in the air, knocking the shower rod and one of your high heels down. The clattering encourages him to throw his shoulder against the door to bust it open. Pushing yourself forward, you hold your arms out to soften the drop to the ground outside just as Anthony is able to break inside, catching a quick glimpse your feet just before they slip out of view.

“Hey! The fuck are you going?!” Anthony shouts bewildered as he pats his pockets for his phone and realizes his wallet is gone so he darts to the window, standing on his toes to pop his head outside.

It dawns on him that this is a set-up. Everything you told him was merely a lie to get him alone. And now he’s stuck in a run-down motel with no way to chase after you.

“Hey! Get back here, you little fucking thief!”

Giggling to yourself with his wallet in hand, you quickly limp toward the car you’d left in the alleyway behind the motel specifically for your get-away.

He tries to climb out through the window and, although he’s much better at it than you, you’re already speeding down the alleyway and onto the road when he stands up. He tries to run after you, but he knows his feet are no match to your car.

“Fuck!” he shouts angrily as he pants.

Standing in the alleyway, he quickly whips out the cellphone you thankfully managed to leave behind and types in the digits of your license plate in his digital notes before he can forget them.

Once they’re saved, he goes through his list of contacts which – unfortunately for you – is rather long and full of assorted figures. Some, which thanks to his night job in an underground sex club, happen to be people in powerful positions. Judges, lawyers, law enforcement. You name the job and he’s guaranteed to have someone of the area in his pocket.

Cashing in a favor with a sketchy local sergeant of the police department, Anthony asks him to notify him as soon as they get a hit on your plate. The sergeant doesn’t ask any questions. Anthony wouldn’t answer him with anything other than a threat of blackmail if he didn’t, but the less he knows, the better.

It takes a few days, but Anthony eventually gets a call informing of the car’s whereabouts and original owner. He’s not surprised to know it’s not you.

Assuming you live practically on the run, moving from motel to motel, he knows he has to act fact but still cautiously. There’s still quite a bit that he doesn’t know about you like if you work with any other parties or if you impose any danger. And if so, what level of danger could it be?

With a recently purchased gun tucked into the waistband of his jeans, he sets his helmet on and speeds off to the illegally given address. He lurks from a distance and waits until you finally leave the room.

He keeps his distance from you, but decided to stalk you as you go about your day, buying groceries and clothes with his money. There wasn’t much pocket money, but you were able to clone his cards and identity to cash up a couple thousand.

He could’ve stopped you and cancelled all his cards, filed an official report. But you’ve would known and been caught before he’s had the chance to make you pay. And a couple thousands aren’t going to cause a lot of financial troubles for him, thanks to his fairly wealthy income from the night job.

As you go about your day, you can’t shake the feeling that someone is onto you. You keep looking over your shoulder, but there’s no one there. No one that you notice, at least. But then again, you always get this feeling after a theft.

You head back to the motel where you’d left your car. After a theft gone right, you always opt to get around on foot with the most important things in your bag at the slightest sight of a cop. That way, if anyone is onto you, it could provide you some time to get away.

Assuring the motel is safe, you head to the room you’d paid to stay at for the night and unlock the door. But just as you open the door, you instantly feel cold metal press against the side of your head. Your groceries drop and scatter on the ground as you hold your hands up.

“Don’t get smart again. I found you once and I can find you again.”

You can’t see the face of the figure, but you can tell it’s a man and you’re almost certain who he is.

“Close the door and step away from it.”

You don’t have much of an option. Run away and he’ll find you again. Or worse, shoot you down in the parking lot of this crappy motel and that’s not how you want to die.

With your hands carefully raised, you slowly close the door with your foot and walk deeper into the room just as ordered. You keep your back turned to him as he locks the door and face him only after he says you can.

The newfound power intoxicates him. It swells him with an authority that he's never felt before. You, on the other hand, are filled with fear. You try to play it cool to avoid letting him know that you're actually scared.

With your hands carefully raised, you slowly close the door with your foot and walk deeper into the room just as ordered. You keep your back turned to him as he locks the door and face him only after he says you can.

"I want my money and my documents back."

"I can give your documents back and all the copies I've made. But the money is already gone. I already spent it."

"Well, it seems like we got a bit of a predicament here, doesn't it?"

"I can pay you back, but it's gonna take some time."

"I don't have time," he lies. "I want it back now."

"I don't have any money now. Why do you think I do this?" You sigh. "Look, what if... I paid you back some other way?"

"What other way?"

You lower your hand to unbutton your white shirt and reveal your lacy bra.

"This is what you wanted in the first place, isn't it?"

His eyes lower from your face down to your chest. He stays silent, considering your offer but his gun stays aimed at you. 

"It was..  it still is."

"So why don't you put that away and take what you want?"

A sly smirk grows on his lips. His eyes darken with a sudden and familiar lust that revisits his being.

"I'm gonna keep this, just in case." He stated walking over to sit on the bed, manspreading his legs as he keeps the gun pointed at you.

"C'mere. On your knees."

Glancing at the weapon, you take slow steps to approach him and kneel between his knees.

"You know what to do. You did it so well before. Don't be shy now." 

You nod and raise your shaky hands to unbutton his jeans, pulling down his zipper.

Feeling the end of the barrel rest against the side of your head, you carefully release his dick from it's confine. It's not quite hard as before, but its getting there with you under his will.

You hold his dick up to take him into your mouth, lathering his member with your spit.

"Eyes up here, sweetheart."

His order is your command which you obey. You don't know what he's capable of and you don't want to find out.

Looking up at him, he relishes in the contrast of your teary eyes and dirty mouth full of his dick. He takes his free hand and threads his fingers into your hair, holding it back to keep it away from distracting you. How thoughtful, you think sarcastically.

Anthony's moans and groans fill the room as he breathes heavily, cock twitching with every bob of your head.

The grip on your hair tightens with every twitch. After forcing himself to the back of your throat, you buy yourself sometime to breath by licking up the backside of his heavy cock and swirling your tongue around his dome, putting your saliva pool against your plush lips.

"Fucking Christ" he groans deeply as he watches your mouth working its wonders, his angry cock throbbing with desire.

"Take them off" he orders nodding at your clothes.

Obeying his command, you slowly stand between his knees and unbutton your pants. He tisks as you move too fast.

“Slow… and turn around for me.”

You turn your back to him and slowly push your pants down, gliding your palms over your cheeks as you undress just to tease him a little. You figure you might as well enjoy it.

He smirks at the sight of your matching panties and admires how they perfectly hug your curves. As you bend forward to push your pants down to your ankles, he takes advantage of your position and trails the edge of his gun down the split of your cheeks.

Your body tenses at the touch of cold metal. You remind yourself to take calming breaths to keep yourself together.

“Nice fucking ass you got here, sweetheart,” he simpers, poking the barrel at your clothed cunt from behind. “Bet you got a cute pussy too…. Show me it.”

You gulp and lift your trembling hands to slide your panties down to reveal yourself to him. Although Anthony is undoubtedly attracted, you don’t trust him. The fact that your life is essentially in his hands is still in your mind. You comply to his orders, but you pray that he doesn’t hurt you too much. Not enough to be fatal at least.

“Atta girl.” He says removing the gun from between your legs. You quietly sigh in relief.

“Now come on over here.” Anthony stands behind you and presses the gun into your side.

“On the bed. Face down.”

Accepting your fate, you climb onto the mattress and lay on your front. Out of your view, you hear the jostling of his belt as he removes it with one hand and climbs on top of your legs to lock you in place. Setting the gun beside his foot, he takes the belt and tightens the leather tightly around your wrists.

You wince as the leather pinches your skin, but he doesn’t seem to care if it hurts you. You can feel his emotionless eyes on you, so you turn your head to the side to avoid look at him.

He climbs off of you and the bed, but he stays close. You try to zone out as you listen to him undress.

Walking around the bed now completely naked, he kneels down to pet your hair and wipes a tear from your cheek.

“Listen, sweetheart. I’m sorry for the scare. I’m not gonna kill you, alright? I’m not a monster.”

You nod looking up at him confused.

“I’m just gonna fuck you. Really, really hard. I think I deserve to get my money’s worth, right? Even you gotta agree with me on that.”

His words don’t exactly ease you, but the promise that he won’t shoot you dead is enough. After all, he doesn’t have to. It’s not like you can simply go to the cops to report him anyways.

“Ok,” you agree. “C-can you just please put the gun away?”

“I can do that. But don’t get smart. Deal?”

“Deal.”

He walks back around the bed and takes his gun to set it on the nightstand. You feel like you can finally breathe after what seemed like hours holding your breath.

You feel his weight on the mattress as it dips beside you again. He pulls you up by your arms and stands you on your knees.

“I want you to do something for me first. Sit on my face. Can you do that?”

You’re almost surprised by his request and the contact on your wrists as he unbuckles the belt, letting your wrists go just to bind them again but in front of you this time. He wants to…. pleasure you?

“I’ll make you cum if you’re a good girl.”

Once he’s on his back on the bed, you straddle his head carefully and lower your hips down to meet with his hungry mouth. With your ass spread by his hands, you lean forward to place your hands on his taut abs for balance.

You can’t hold back the moan you release as he licks a long-wet stripe from your hardening clit to your puckered ring of muscle. The hands that keep your cheeks apart squeezes into your flesh when his tongue begins its work on your pussy.

Anthony just can’t enough of you. Your taste is wonderfully delicious to him that he just has to fuck you with his tongue. And the position allows him to flick at your sensitive nub, making your walls slick.

“Jesus, fuck!” you gasp as he toys with your clit bringing you closer and closer to the brink. You’re so turned on although you feel like you shouldn’t be. He held you at gunpoint. This is wrong. So wrong, but it feels so fucking good.

His beard heightens the sensitivity between your legs as his nose pokes at your asshole. He pulls your hips down against his face harder, restricting himself of air.

“T-That feels so good!” you whine with tears prickling at your eyes feeling the pleasure snaps in waves throughout your body.

You’re not sure what comes over you, but you find yourself leaning forward to wrap your mouth around his cock again. The burning heat that bubbles from your core provoking yet another orgasm has you so hot for him that you need to suck him off.

He chuckles surprised by your sudden urge as he lifts your hips up to hiss out in pleasure. It doesn’t take him long to start thrusting his hips violently up, shoving his cock down your throat. He stops suddenly and pushes you off him, feeling himself close.

Shoving you onto your back, he spreads your legs and eagers aligns his dick with your hole before pushing himself into your wetness.

His hips relentlessly thrust against yours as he pounds you raw. The sounds of your wet cunt squelching around him make your cheeks warm as you realize how wet you really are for him.

The lecherous stare down at your body proves he’s getting closer. He pants as he watches your breast bouncing free from your bra. Eager to feel them, he stills and tear the bra in half to expose you completely.

He growls dipping his head to grope and maul at your breasts. Your skin burns with his prickly beard and rough teething kisses.

With one hand squeezing your breast, the other sneaks around your neck. He squeezes your neck and throat, choking you as he restricts your oxygen. His hips drill you into the mattress as you watch him, slowly losing your conscious.

Anthony looks like he’s been possessed by something else and it scares you a bit. You claw at his wrists as you feel the pressure in your head weighing heavy. Your eyes roll to the back of your head from the combination of pleasure and pain.

You gasp for air as he finally releases your neck and fills you with his heavy load, spilling into your pussy in hot ropes.

He pants as he eases his cock out and into you again, admiring how his cum trickles out from your hole and coats his cock.

“We’re gonna have a very long night.”

“Night?” you question. Could you even last a night with him?

“I told you. I want my money’s worth.”

[ladyxskywalker]

lost without you, i & ii

Anakin Skywalker x F!Reader/OFC

a momentary separation between you & anakin happens while you are not feeling well. however, despite the circumstances, your hearts have only grown fonder of one another each time you speak on the phone. 💙

I wrote this a while ago & was kindly asked to repost it here on tumblr. also available to read on ao3. based on a real life situation. 🌼

i.

It's been weeks since you've been together. Something awful and truly beyond your control, forcing your current separation. A horrible flu making the rounds in your home world, where you - after attending a wedding, unfortunately, had come down with it as well.

"I confess, my love, I haven't been doing well without you." Anakin confides quietly in you, taking advantage of whispering in hushed tones over the phone.

"Anakin..."

"I know you're still recovering, but I can't help it, I'm selfish for you. I want you here...right now."

A softened sigh of your breath leaves your chest with a slight struggle, a cough escaping there, and a tear drop too.

"I will be back soon, I promise. Being without my other half has truly been unbearable."

"I just...I just want to hold you."

"You will again, soon enough. I promise."

But what you really meant to say, through the emotional heartbreak you've been facing is - yes, I know things have been difficult, I just hadn't realized that you'd been going through this just as much as I was.

"Will I, though?"

It hurts the most when his own mind leads him away from reality and the truth. Right away thinking or feeling like he'll never see you again. But the thoughts are only just intrusive ones, they have no real bearing on what lies in your heart.

"Yes."

Your head starts to feel too heavy, and your pillow is much too nice for you to even attempt getting up right now.

Sleep was inevitable. You hadn't been able to rest in days. Too nervous with worry to let your eyes close.

Too sad and unable to sleep without him all alone.

"This war...sometimes feels as though I am completely by myself, even though I know I'm not. I sense everything so strongly, it's harder than I thought."

"You need human contact. I understand that more than you know."

"Yes. I want it from you."

All while laying down, your cheeks have felt your eyes as they've already gone ahead into weeping. Another sort of instinct, telling you to finally let it all out.

"Tell me...what you miss...what you hope for most when eventually I do return."

Anakin pauses on his side of things, taking a breath before surrendering to his own heart.

"I just...I just want to be close to you."

"I want that too."

"I want to hug you for as long as I'm able to. Hold you in my arms while we sleep together in our room. Watch you smile at me from the door when you wake up. But..."

"But what, handsome?"

"The days...they're too long, too far."

After holding things in for so long, he begins to get a little bit choked up.

"I miss you, Anakin."

"I miss you too..."

So for now, all the two of you can do for one another is wait. A few more days for him to be home, and another stretch of time for you to start feeling better once more.

And then, there's a little static.

Background noise.

Another voice coming through over the phone.

"General Skywalker, there are enemy hostiles about. We should flank them on foot. Surround them."

"Good call, Commander. Lead the way, I won't be long."

You can almost picture his face in your mind then. A distance resonating in his eyes, veering off somewhere towards the setting suns, before looking back down.

Confident.

Brooding.

And, maybe even a little bit tired from it all.

"Go."

"I'll call you again tomorrow. And..."

"Hm?"

"I just want you to know, I'm not going anywhere."

Right then and there, even from across the airwaves, you sensed his light and the force of his love deep within your bones.

... 🌼

ii.

after being apart from one another for quite some time, anakin gives you a warm welcome home ❤️

this part is rated M or E for smut feel free to skip if this is not for you additional content tags: soft smut, couch time, sleepy morning intimacy, implied things happening, nothing crazy

It started with a long hug and a gentle hello. A smile for you, already gleaming with excitement as he greeted you by the door.

You were going to dinner that night. A fancy one he'd been planning for weeks for your birthday. Thoughtful gifts, wrapped with care, just needing to be opened. A release of kind breath, leaving the anxious state of your lungs then, because now - finally, all is well.

And you were home .

"Are you feeling better, sweetheart?"

"Mhmm."

He pulls you closer. Your hands, finding their way up to the back of his neck to feel his still wet hair from the shower.

Anakin hums, tracing the tip of his nose along your neck - leaning into it, enjoying the touch of your skin. The smell of your perfume that he loves so much.

"Do I look stupid?" He chuckles, all while holding you tighter to him.

"No. You're perfect."

"Good. Now go, open your gifts. You've waited long enough."

But for just a minute, you'd rather just take him all in there instead. To say how much you truly missed him while you were apart. That the greatest feeling in the world right now is knowing that Anakin is the best gift of all.

The night went by so fast. Laughing with each other first, then with friends...

Sneaking off somewhere for a while in a dark corner of the bar...

The softened shadows, encasing you both in their ease of surrounding comfort. And his hands, showing you the way toward his hips in front of everyone else, without a care in the world.

Your arms wrap around him easily.

His incredible blue eyes, focus on your lips.

Then your palms cup his face, completely letting go - falling on air immediately when he begins to kiss you hard.

"Want to get out of here?"

"Mm. Yes ."

"We don't need to be here anymore."

And so, you go.

"Come here."

He reaches for you to straddle him on the couch, insistent on his keys landing somewhere on the hard surface of his table below. Making a slightly abrupt noise that he knows someone else might have complained about...

But, he doesn't care where anything is supposed to go right now, and neither do you.

Not with the way you've been eyeing him sweetly from above...

Your shoes ending up someplace with his boots as they've already fallen over...

His belt buckle, already lost underneath his messy chair on the floor.

"I missed you. I thought...I thought you were never coming back. That, maybe you were gone for good."

Anakin caresses your face, brushing your cheek with care at the tips of all his fingers.

"You're my other half, I'd never leave you. Never..."

Anakin sighs, almost afraid to speak. Always brooding, so deep in thought.

"All those weeks...I couldn't bear it. I wasn't myself."

You kiss him slowly, slotting your lips together, chests pressing, getting even closer.

"I know."

Leaning down, you trace every line of his neck with kisses. Gripping the hems of his clothes. Shifting your hips against his, silently begging for him to help take them off.

But it's you that he wants first.

Completely vulnerable and bare on top of him.

Another hand, slipping between your thighs - teasing you with his strong and capable curling. Eliciting a budding sensation there that makes you moan.

The tip of his tongue, encircling the pebbled skin of your breasts, his eyes soothed to a close as he takes each one into his mouth.

"Yes... oh , please... please ."

Then, he grins, feeling that stray shiver he seems to know so well. Shifting you just the slightest for a second to take his pants off. Guiding your hand lower against his hardest part just to arrogantly show what you do to him.

"I want you. Right here ."

And as you lower yourself down upon him, it feels as though everything is made right again.

Affectionate sighs of impassioned relief, escaping there from you both...

Foreheads dipping into an almost blind surrender to the simplest form of selfish touch...

It took some time for you to drift off. The adrenaline and excitement of seeing and truly being with him again, almost feeling like too much.

He hums when he sleeps sometimes, sensing when occasionally your eyes tend to open - watching him. Closing them softly again when you know you've been caught.

You missed his bed. The smooth sheets. His warm pillows.

The broad span of his chest, and the cool feel of his arms.

Snuggling closely to him, you check the time. Looking across the room at towards the window, judging that by now it had already been morning. Your calming hint being the comforting light of the sun.

"Mm. I haven't slept at all..."

You whisper to yourself. Unable to fathom the last time you did something like this. Or that all of it had truly been real as well.

"There you are..."

Anakin slowly opens his eyes, allowing them to adjust.

"Morning, handsome."

Looking over, you see that all this time, the sheets have grown tighter. Sliding your hand beneath the warmth of your blankets to palm what lies beneath them. Though, before you know it, both he and you are no longer guarded by your covers.

"Where do you want me?"

You whisper, pressing each word against his waiting mouth.

His kiss, feeling like the only sort of sensual welcome you ever want to know.

Then, wordlessly, he takes you by the wrist, carefully and protectively, leading you back up and over where you belong.

Reaching around the hardened length of him, the pad of your thumb grazes over the smooth tip, before guiding it towards that sensitive spot. Letting go.

He kneads at your flesh, grasping at the skin of your thighs, rolling you forward, kissing you hard. His fingers, holding tightly to the back of your head. Freeing you only when you stretch, sitting back up. Your entire being, on passionate display for him there.

"I'm a lucky man..."

He smiles, all while mumbling a string of endless thoughts. Secrets from his mind that he's been keeping. Allusions to everything he loves about you, never spoken, always bottled up. Until this overwhelming moment.

Until, right now.

"You're a goddess... so beautiful..."

You can't help it when a single tear begins to fall, when you see his pure surrender to joy slipping with dampened eyelids of his own.

A rough hand then changing the scene...

Emotions running wild when a mere gentle moment turns into something else.

Your lips, pressed into momentary capture by the welcome feeling of his palm.

All you can do is watch him, as he's watching the joining spaces between you. The quickened pace that comes from the rolling of your hips. Your fingertips, toying with your own chest there...

And then he releases you. A moan escaping, then his shuddered breaths...

Another kiss...

Then one final glide.

Your blinding wave and loving fall, following his right after...

He's so warm, so safe like this. That when he eases you off of him, carefully making space for you to sleep next to him some more, you almost can't believe that you are really here with him now.

That you've almost spent four seasons of time with this amazing man.

That either one of you no longer had to fear the thought of being alone.

No universe exists where you would ever dream of being with someone else.

And you loved him.

... ❤️

thanks so much for reading 💌 xo A

[wreckedhoney]

still thinking about that bts shot "looks like Obi wan has hijacked Anakin and padme's honeymoon" and the tag "#necessary third party obi-wan kenobi my beloved. invited to the honeymoon the way a couple would bring their dog with them" and imagining a universe where soon-to-be-newlyweds anidala just let themselves (particularly anakin lbr) be weird with it early on. padmé recognizes that anakin is enamored and Not Normal about obi-wan, anakin grapples with what obi-wan really means to him, and the way this is executed is, naturally, to kidnap obi-wan, but like softly. like clumsily dropping a frog into water already boiling.

Obi-wan, come with us, we just want to share something with you very quickly. Yes, of course, Senator, Anakin, what is it exactly? and boom, it's their wedding. obi-wan standing as witness with the droids thinking, No…Are they serious? But why? But I'll have to snitch though. Is that the plan? Do they want me to snitch? but as soon as the ceremony is done they each take him by the arms, and start walking. What is the meaning of this, he says, and Do you know you'll have to leave the Order, Anakin, and Where are we going? obi-wan gradually feeling more panicked while padmé tries for pleasantries and anakin tries for apologies and promises that he'll take care of the issue on his own, and soon enough obi-wan realizes that they and padmé's attendants are leading him quite forcefully towards a craft. Oh, you'll love it there, padmé says. Where? obi-wan doesn't ask shrilly. Help, he says next, to someone they pass by, but he isn't sure exactly how or from what yet and so the plea doesn't come across as serious enough to act on. It'll be a good place to help you relax, anakin consoles. Where? obi-wan asks again. everyone is now inside the craft. they do not let go of his arms. Unhand me, he says, probably calmly, except no one does. surely he's not actually in any danger. WHERE are we GOING, Anakin- and the craft is up. the land he sees out the window appears farther and farther away. he's considering breaking and jumping right out of the window. anakin holds onto him tighter. Are you going to kill me to keep me quiet, obi-wan asks, because he has always been eloquent and clear. Of course not, anakin answers, and with an odd inflection adds, We're going to our honeymoon.

OUR honeymoon…?

Our honeymoon, it's confirmed, matter-of-factly.

in a few hours, obi-wan will be facing a beautiful shore, and whether or not he is anywhere close to relaxing is, well, up in the air.

BONUS: it doesn't take long for obi-wan to feel less like an outsider and more like it really is a honeymoon, one that he's an unwilling participant of, not separate but wholly part of it. the romantic dinners, the stay-in holovid nights, and perhaps most crucially, the scenic stroll on the beach.

except what "stroll on the beach" truly means is obi-wan is making his best attempt at an escape yet, gunning full-sprint on the shore where anakin's most hated type of surface should come in obi-wan's favor. still, anakin and a handful of attendants and droids are at his heels, but obi-wan is able to make it to a boat, one that could reach the shipyard, and he starts it before any of his pursuers can climb aboard as well. It's over, Anakin, he'll scream from his position at the wheel, because he can see the stubborn gleam in anakin's eyes. I have the high ground - which is to say, the boat's dock is too high for anakin to jump without the risk of obi-wan disrupting his landing in some way. and yet- anakin makes the leap, hurling high and far, reaching over the dock- where obi-wan throws the rope that the boat came with so that it tangles around anakin's legs and he stacks it. obi-wan quickly tries to wrestle the other so he can toss him over the side while simultaneously undoing the tangle so anakin doesn't just, like, drown.

it doesn't work, and as soon as anakin is free, they wrestle one another on a moving boat that neither of them are steering. You were the chosen one, obi-wan begins to roar, frustrations at last reaching a peak. You were supposed to bring balance to the force, not- not whatever this is-! ("this" being bring obi-wan to a holiday against his will to form an obtrusively romantic attachment post-"illegal marriage" while convincing him not to snitch; very unbalanced) at which point anakin may respond with something equally frazzled and dramatic as they pause to catch their breathes, something like, I hate you, and You always do this, to which obi-wan might say something like, Do what?

This! You never just let yourself go, you never let yourself be with who you love and admit you love them, and obi-wan might give an exasperated sigh that sounds like he's reconsidering the not-drowning and say, Anakin, i do love- love you, I never hid that- and anakin would likely cut him off to clarify that he doesn't mean that love, the one he can tell obi-wan is talking about, that generic and too-distant love that insists he always keep anakin and all else at arms length. he wants more than that, he has always wanted more than that. the kind of love that padmé tries and is willing to give him. the kind he's learned he wants from obi-wan and has for quite some time.

which is, of course, all well and good, and all things that need to be said; the beginning of a conversation and road that will take time for them to navigate now that the situation has come to this kind of head. still, it doesn't stop obi-wan from taking advantage of anakin being momentarily caught up in the moment. he has since before the start of the confession gone back to steering the boat to the honeymoon's exit.

once it's noticed and before obi-wan can try to get a word in response, anakin lunges.

[wuzetianadmirer]

Obey Me x Queen Reader

Warnings: slight yandere and implications of foetus murder

I'm basing this off a C-drama I love; Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace

As a woman, a daughter of the Qing Emperor you had few options. It didn't help that you were the daughter of a low ranking concubine and not an Imperial Consort. You most likely would be married off to somewhere far away, to a chieftan or duke or any other noble. However, you knew you could do better than marry a good man. You decided to become Emperor yourself. After the death of your father, your half-brother had been crowned Emperor. Oopsie! If only a mere servant didn't poison him on his wedding night! And one by one, the Imperial sons were either killed or implicated and banished. The Imperial daughters were married to obscure men of the Empire. And officials began disappearing.

Who was doing this? You!

You had all the right people in your pocket. You had disposed of those who were unneeded.

In the span of two years, you had seized control of the Qing Court. Elevating your mother to Queen Dowager and yourself as Emperor. A female Emperor? There hasn't been one since Wu Zetian! You were strongly opposed but within days, those kind if thoughts were quelled. It was a blood bath, whether it was a necessary one, you did not know.

You had everything now.

Power was in your hands!

You married powerful men and secured your position.

And after five long years, you are your beloved King Consort were expecting. You were finally pregnant! You could establish your own dynasty at last.

But you were now in the Devildom. How frustrating!

I imagine the Mc to look like this:

Lucifer

Yeah, he didn't really care at first.

The only royalty he acknowledged was Lord Diavolo.

He didn't quite regard your ambitions with much interest.

But when you showcased your amazing leadership skills, as well as great diplomacy, and managing to quell those annoying noble demons, you got our boy falling fast!

He then started to understand your situation better, and you began to reside in him too

He too lost everything after the Fall

So now the both of got somebody to relate to

At times, you'd discuss certain politics over a glass of demonus

He also shared some tips as to how you could strengthen your hold over others

Has mixed feelings about the bae

On one hand, you want to go back to your husband. Everything you worked hard for shouldn't be in vain

But on the other, when you first came here, you were beyond stressed. Rarely did you let yourself relax

He decided to help you

And while you may not agree, you can have everything you'd want here. He'd make sure of it!

You want power, he'd make sure you'd dominate the Devildom.

And dont worry about the kid. He himself has unofficially adopted six demons under his care, what's another

Best dad/husband material if you ask me. (Better than the Emperor in the actual show)

Mammon

Man just wants to scam you out of your crown and jewellery. But as a powerful woman yourself, you decide to out him in his place

You, a human, put Mammon in his place. Kneeling at your feet, your heel atop his head.

Man would be lying if he said he wasn't whipped!

After that, he's like a puppy, following you around.

He listens to your story and how you had to struggle and conive your way into power.

He respects that. He's just sad, that a person as brilliant as you had to prove your worth tenfold before anybody aknowledged you

He was the first demon to form a pact with you. Thus, he wants to be your everthing. Your forst man as well as the person to take care of you

But that little bundle in your belly complicates things.

Nevermind! He'll just have to the best dad there is. For both your happiness and his.

Treasure, if you think you can go back...you've got another thing coming...

Leviathan

Your an Emperor?

Thats so cool! Totally OP

Was a bit sceptical at first as you didnt know shit about video games, much less technology.

You're alot like Simeon in that sense

He starts teaching you how to play videogames

And lets just say, you might have been rocky before but you're slaying it now

Especially since you have good critical thinking you can make quick counters

You find that you have a liking towards otome games.

They're similar to the fact that they're alot like dealing with people at court. Kiss up to a few people and destroy the ones that aren't needed

He thinks your so cool.

And after hearing you life story as to how much you had to give up in order to get where you are today, he's just in awe.

Promises to be your bestest friend as well as godfather to your bundle of joy

Satan

Doesn't really care, much like Lucifer

At first, that is

Everyone is astounded that you handle his anger so well

Must be because you're used to having to deal with hot heads

Especially those who didn't deem you worthy as Emperor.

Satan is firmly neutral towards you

Until he discovers your shared love of literature

Is is impressed at your prowess of poetry and appreciates it. Finally, somebody to confide in

Then he finds out, because of your constant strive for power, as well as your status as Emperor, you had to time for pets. Especially not a cat

He decides to change that

And suddenly your living quarters are now a pet shop.

Not to say you hated it, you're already having baby fever due to being....um...pregnant, but now you're having kitty fever!

Our man is definitely in love

Which makes him feel uneasy about your pointy belly

Contemplates killing the babe once its born, but holds himself back. He doesn't want all your hard work to be for nothing

Definitely helping you reclaim your throne if anybidy opposes you in the near future

Very angry about you going back to your husband but keeps it in

Cant loose a good friendship over this, now can ge?

Asmodeous

This echantress is set on seducing you.

Only your resolve is strong

He tries his best, only to realise that his charms don't quite work on you.

Nevermind that, your fashion sense is so chic!

He then decides that you need a makeover. Dont misunderstand him, you're beautiful as is, not as beautiful as him, but all that stress isnt good for you honey.

Insists you get nine hours of sleep

All that court shenanigans and running the empire has given you bags inder your eyes. And are those wrinkles! Honey, I'm gonna get you the best spa day of your life!

You become fast friends, surprisingly. Even you are baffled.

The both of you share makeup tips. He even introduces you to modern makeup as well as cosmetics and fashion.

You insist on wearing longer dresses and do your hair up. You sport long, elegant clothes. And while you think its fine wearing your hair loose every now and then you ultimately stick to your roots.

And while he insists that you'd look stunning in anything you wore, he ultimately respects your fashion choice.

He even replicates traditional Qing dynasty qipao. As the Avatar of Lust, he does have connections to all the high end fabric stores.

And in respect to your status as Emperor he insists that you only dress as the best!

He even manages to get someone to make a few sets of liangbatou for you (the type of headdress Qing dynasty women wore)

Is excited as to being an uncle! Definitely going on a baby shopping frenzy

Practically your best friend!

Beelzebub

I personally think he thought your crown was made of candy.

Cant blame this baby boy

He once even thought you were made of white chocolate with how smooth your skin is

Has tried eating you

Your glare, made his mouth go dry

You're much like Lucifer as to how you baby him sometimes.

You're quite tall yourself but still look like dwarf next to him.

A bit confused as to why you ate so little, even offering your food to him every now and then

He thinks its the pregnancy hormones.

Makes sure you're eating well, cuz honey, you're not just eating for yourself but for your kid too.

Definitely sees you as Lilith.

This hunk of a man swears nothing bad will come to you.

Much like Asmo, he wants to be an uncle so bad

"(Yn), you haven't eaten yet? Are you craving something. I'll go to Hell's Kitchen to get it".

Belphegor

Doesn't give a shit

Just sleeps

Only after Beel stats giving you attention does you pay a shit

You look like one of those prissy nobles

Literally doesn't care that you're an Emperor

Does that mean you can sleep all day?

Is horrified that you tell him that you barely get any sleep due to the stress.

A bit worried at first, cuz you look older than you are

Subtly tells you to get some shut eye. He even puts a spell on you in order to get better sleep. Makes sure your bed is comfortable.

He takes a bit longer to finally start caring as he isnt exactly the most proactive.

Same as Beel . Sees you as Lilith

Not too enthusiastic about your being pregnant. It just means a baby's gonna keep him up later on. But still cares. Definitely tries his best.

On the same side as Beel, Asmo and Levi; wants to the kids uncle.

Overall, you've got seven demons on your side. Quite useful incase there was any opposition on your part. Your kid is gonna have the best uncles!

[burningivy]

What is your fic idea for Clue 👀

@noah-moth-cursed-chaos

starting this by saying, I'm probably never gonna write this,,, BUT the idea has been stuck in my brain for over a year now

Ok so,,, it's based on the movie and, to me, it makes the most sense to take place after ending B

right, so we open on Mrs. White, and she's smart, y'know. even with the blackmail, she's still got money, but it's still starting to run out, and between the scandal of the dinner party and her own five "disappearing" husbands... well, her social standing has been better

so, she needs a new husband. or she doesn't, but honestly, it feels like marriage is all she's ever done, all she's ever known. marry a man but always have an escape plan. when one starts to get handsy or angry or a million other little things, there's always another ready to take his place

except now there's not, and even if there were, well someone already found out about her whole "black widow routine," and she can't afford any more blackmail, or worse. so she needs to figure something out. find a husband who she can tolerate, who can tolerate her, who wouldn't even want a wife, preferably. lord knows she never wanted a husband

and she keeps thinking back to that night. nowadays, everything seems to trace back to that dinner party, to the murders, to the blackmail. well, Wadsworth didn't seem to like her much, and even if that was all an act, he's still an fbi man. Plum was far too sex-obsessed for her tastes. and Mustard was, well, if he was married, she pitied his wife. but there was still...

CUT TO: Mr. Green, a bit paranoid, a bit anxious but when was he not. it's not like he's unjustified. it's the 1950s, it's the lavender scare, it's one wrong move and his whole life is ruined, and it almost was.

the dinner party was a wakeup call. maybe Mrs. Peacock was the only one who didn't walked away unscathed, but how long can he keep up his appearances for. sure, it was fine when he was just starting out with the State Department, as long as no one knew he was a homosexual, he was fine. and he could make up a woman here or there that he went on a date with. it. was. fine

until it wasn't. he isn't as young as he used to be, and it seems everyone's become more paranoid recently. so maybe they notice that he never goes on more than two dates with a woman. or that he's never brought a date to a work event. or that he never seems interested by a new lady hire. or that he still isn't married

so he needs some sort of "proof" he's a geniune one-hundred-percet heterosexual, or at least he needs damn good forgery of proof. and sure, a marriage, a wife, would solve that problem, but it's not like he's getting one of those anytime soon. so he'll keep skating by, paranoid and anxious, for as long as he can

it's Mrs. White who arranges the meeting, in a cute little D.C. cafe, the kind that would almost be romantic. she's the one who proposes the arrangement: "we met at the party, but didn't want our relationship to be caught up in the scandal. it's been a whirlwind romance. you're already thinking of proposing."

and Mr. Green is, of course, skeptical. she's already likely killed five husbands; he doesn't want to be number six. but she does have a point, he could use the sham marriage. still, he doesn't get what's in it for her

"we have more in common than you might think, Mr. Green" she's still using his name from the party, and he still doesn't get what she's very subtly alluding to. she inhales, looks around, lowers her voice. "let's just say, my husband was not the one Yvette was having an affair with"

and there it is, the realization written all over his face. it doesn't take him too much longer to agree after that

the wedding is a small affair, a few "close friends," who never knew them all that well. her father, who seemingly never tires of walking her down the aisle. his parents and a brother and sister-in-law, who never thought they'd see the day, not that they'd say it. so they're married. yay

from this point the fic would split into two plotlines. one following Green and White as they like actually get to know each other and actually become friends. something like "oh you're not actually the worst person I could've married because we have xyz in common" in so many words. the other plotline would follow them having to keep up the appearances of being a happily married, in love couple, specifically while they keep running into the other guests

like they're out at some fancy dinner, and, while sitting alone, White is approached by none other than Ms. Scarlet who starts trying to chat. which White is having none of but can't seem to get Scarlet to go away, so she mentions that she's out with her husband. Scarlet makes some comment about her getting married again and something like "maybe I'll stick around to meet him, he might be good for business. your last one sure was." and who shows up then but Green. hilarity ensues

it'd probably go pretty similar with the other guests, just different locations and reactions. I think they'd run into Plum at like some UN party or something (idk the State Dept works with the UN I think??), and I honestly have no idea where they'd run into Mustard. for Peacock though, because this takes place after the B ending remember, I have this idea of her like bursting into Green's office to try to get him to testify in her favor. and in walks White casually starting a conversation, and then seeing Peacock

also, idk where it would fit, but I have this (to me) hilarious, vivid image of the two of them being like "yes, we are so happy together and in love" and they're like holding hands but they're standing a full foot apart and smiling THE FAKEST smiles

anyway, the fic would end with them receiving letters addressed to Mr. Green and Mrs. White-Green, inviting them to a meeting/dinner/something at the house the original party was at

[ourowndemise]

" And you, ne vehvi, don’t think I’ve forgotten about you— " Kohga holds up a small bundle for his husband to take. Inside is a specially carved mask made solely for Kamai, along with a pair of Yiga styled earrings that resemble boar tusks. There’s also another present atop that’s suspiciously shaped like a large bundle of bananas. Wonder what that could be.

" A little late to the party with this one… and you don’t have to wear it. " Kohga scuffs at the ground with a foot. " It’s merely symbolic. As you know masks are important to we Yiga, so uh… just wanted you to have one of your own. Lord Gan—" wow, he hasn’t used that one in a while, meanwhile his face has gone a brilliant crimson and the Yiga scratches sheepishly behind his neck in a rare display of… humility, is that?

" Ahem— Kamai, beloved moon to my stars….thanks for all you’ve done for me… a-and for all of us in the Yiga Clan. You’ve helped the Yiga achieve so much with our little alliance. It’s more than I…and all of them, could ever ask for. I’m… uh… well," somehow he’s become impossibly redder, cheeks puffing out like little apples. " You know…glad to call you my partner, partner. "

@mightiestbanana

Ah, the winter feast gift exchange; A delight every year, truly, for the Gerudo King--as it was expected that he should spend more time with those close to him. Which, he couldn't complain about; There was something so nostalgic about curling up with his sisters in front of the hearth, while their Mother read to them.

Naturally, they drank spiced wine and warmed ciders, rather than the milk porridge they used to...but Kamai can't find it in him to mind the little discrepancy.

There is an addition to the family festivities this year, of course.

Namely, his husband: Master Kohga, formerly of the Yiga clan, now merged to the Gerudo community to make the Yiga as a recognized people.

And how odd to think, now, that Kohga hasn't always been a part of this. How seamlessly he blends into their family, trading jokes with Ehani, switching to tech jargon with Reka, helping Mother Bosah in the kitchen and only stealing a few bites before the rest can eat--

It's a comfort in and of itself, the Gerudo King thinks.

When his twin starts to doze by the fire, held securely in their older sister's arms--Kohga asks for a minute of his husband's time; And he is correct in assuming that it is for their own, personal gift exchange.

Of course, the imported silks and painstakingly forged and woven wedding band he'd made pale in comparison to Kohga's gift. He knows the other is fidgeting nervously the longer he stands there, holding that box like fragile glass, too stunned to speak...

But what really puts the icing on this tender moment are the warm, small tears that run down Kamai's cheeks. Wordlessly, he sets the box down, first picking up and inspecting the earrings; His own set is discarded without thought, and those faux boar tusks are set in place, framing his face flatteringly.

Then the mask is lifted, and placed into Kohga's hands while his husband cradles his wrists.

"Will you help me put it on..?" He asks, his voice a quiet murmur, reserved for the two of them alone--and Kamai can't help but lean forward to press his lips to Kohga's forehead, not wanting to be too far from his lover.

Kamai doesn't need help to tie the mask into place; Anyone with eyes could see that. But this moment is special, and he'll be damned if he doesn't make his husband, his love, his songbird feel any less than treasured in this moment.

[saiilorstars]

Chapter 24: The Honorable Ladies Souzas

Fandom: Doctor Who

Current Masterlist || Previous Story

Taglist: @ocappreciationtag​​​​​​​ @arrthurpendragon​​​​​​​​​​​​ @anotherunreadblog​​​​​​​​​​​​ @maaaaarveeeeel​​​​​​​​​​​​ @stareyedplanet​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​ @foxesandmagic @kmc1989​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

If you’d like to be a part of this OC’s work/edits, let me know!

The Doctor stepped out of a grocery store holding a rather large chocolate egg in his hands, minty fresh of course, for his—

He scrunched up his face at the water that practically smacked him in the face.

"Sorry!" He heard Minerva's cry right after. He lightly sighed as he patted his face dry with a cloth from his pocket. Minerva quickly reached him with an apologetic face that he frankly couldn't ignore. "Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! I was just trying to practice again and then...well..." she made a face as she patted his cheeks, "...on the bright side I finally got my 2 seconds to turn into two minutes?" She gave a small, nervous smile.

"Which means I'm proud of you," the Doctor declared and placed a kiss on her lips.

"Yeah? Cause Zohar says I'm behind. Donna's practically mastered the snow by now! She's moving onto the ice!"

"Everyone has their own pace, dear. Plus, Donna isn't also learning how to raise up a kingdom, how to form relationships with other planets' leaders and she isn't learning about all of time and space at the same time."

"But still, I'm the princess and I still can't hold water for five minutes. And I can't even activate my ice and snow. It's a bit disappointing to my grandfather..."

"To be fair, he's gotten a lot more difficult to impress lately," the Doctor sighed, "The only thing he's going to be happy about is the day you tell him you've finally left me."

"Never," she declared dead serious, "I told him on the day of our wedding this was final. You and I forever, always together. It'll take him some time but he'll eventually have to accept it, I'm married now."

"And what lovely time it's been so far," he Eskimo kissed her, making her giggle.

"Oh yes," she linked arms with him and began walking down the London night street with her husband, "Still feels like yesterday we married...actually, it still feels like our wedding night..." she admitted with a blush as she looked to the side.

"What? You're telling me that's not how the first four months as a married couple is supposed to feel?" the Doctor looked at her with a teasing face, though he also sported his own blush.

"Oh shut up," she playfully hit his arm with her free hand, "And eat your chocolate instead."

"What ever you wish, wife," he smirked as he began unwrapping his chocolate.

~ 0 ~

Not too far away from the couple, a woman with long black hair and brown eyes was running down the night streets carrying a heavy backpack. She looked back as a police detective was hot on her tail along with several other policemen. She noticed a bus not too far ahead and quickly ran for it, the detective seeing her and running after her.

She jumped inside the bus and gave a small smile to the bus driver, "Hello. I'm so terribly sorry. That card paying device thing, that's a Lobster card, am I right?"

"Oyster card," the driver gave her an odd look.

"Ah, well, that's the problem, you see. I only use my Oyster when there's an R in the month."

"It's April," the driver reminded.

The woman sighed with no patience. She took her earrings off and held them to the driver, "Diamonds. Genuine," she dropped them into his palm, "Drive!"

"Works for me," the driver shrugged.

The woman quickly hurried down the bus and sat down at the first open seat by the window. Before the bus shut its doors a lovely couple entered and the woman swiped a card.

"You're just in time," the driver remarked.

"Thank you!" she called to the driver as they continued through the bus. With the sudden start of the bus, the pair fell to different sides of the bus, "No, thank you!" the woman called as she sat up and saw her husband across her, "You okay?"

The Doctor looked down at the chocolate egg in his hands and grinned, "Yes!" he looked over to the woman that sat beside him, "Sorry about that, by the way."

"It's fine," the woman mumbled, waving him off.

"I'm the Doctor! That's my wife, Minerva! Happy Easter!"

"The chocolate is minty by the way," Minerva added with a grin, "It's really good. Glad you were able to actually land us on Easter," she looked at the Doctor, "Maybe getting rid of that hammer actually improved your piloting."

He mock-glared at the Clever Girl. "I still can't believe you actually did that."

Minerva had actually chucked his hammer out into outer space! Granted she had warned him of her intention two minutes before she'd actually done it. He thought she'd been kidding...

...she had not been kidding.

"I promised the old girl," Minerva shrugged and looked at the woman beside the Doctor, "I'm sorry. You shouldn't hear a lousy disagreement, it's Easter!"

"Funny thing is, I don't often do Easter," the Doctor admitted then smiled at Minerva, all disagreements forgotten, "Perhaps now that I have a wife with excellent human memories, I'll start having Easter more often," Minerva silently smiled back, "Although I never could find it, it's always at a different time. Although I remember the original. Between you and me, what really happened was... "

A beeping sound interrupted him and so he quickly handed the chocolate egg to the woman beside him while he reached into his pocket, "Oh, sorry, hold on to that for us. Actually, go on, have it, finish it."

"Hey!" Minerva frowned upon seeing their chocolate I'm the hands of another woman, "I still wanted it!"

"It's full of sugar," he declared, "You're energetic enough and I'm determined to keep these teeth," he bared his teeth to her.

"Funny, cause you didn't seem to have that problem with me last night," she shot him a smirk when he blushed.

"Anyways..." he quickly looked down as he pulled out the gadget he'd been searching for in his pocket, "Ah! Oh, we've got excitation!" he shook it and garnered an odd look from another passenger behind, "I'm picking up something very strange."

"I know the feeling," the black-haired woman gave him a quick glance, actually hoping he'd go sit with that wife of his and leave her out of whatever that gadget was all about.

"Rhondium particles, that's what we're looking for," the Doctor began to explain to the black-haired woman since Minerva knew all about it. Minerva could see the woman had no interest in the Doctor's words but Minerva kept quiet for the Doctor's sake, and because he looked so adorable rambling on, "This thing detects them," the Doctor was tapping the gadget in his hands, "The little dish should go round, that little dish there...

"Right now, a way out would come in pretty handy. Can you detect me one of those?" the black-haired woman finally spoke up in a normal tone.

Behind the trio was another couple where the woman seemed nervous as she looked to her husband, "Lou, can you hear them?"

"Hear what, sweetheart?" Lou asked, sensing her nervousness rising.

"The voices. So many voices. Calling to us. Calling so far."

"Oh, the little dish is going round!" the Doctor exclaimed, "Look Minerva."

She smiled and nodded, "Yup. Oh, but..." the dish started spinning until a part of the gadget exploded, "I don't think it's supposed to do that.."

"Excuse me. Do you mind?" a blonde woman behind them gave both a sharp look, irritated with the commotion.

The Doctor stood up, "Sorry. That was my little dish."

"Can't you turn that thing off?" the black-haired woman asked

"What was your name?" he looked at her for a second.

"Christina."

"Christina, hold on tight," he told a seat beside Minerva ad wound an arm around her waist while the other hand held onto the handle, "Everyone, hold on!"

The bus lurched and shook, making the passengers scream and jerk forwards. The Doctor fell to the floor with Minerva unfortunately.

"The voices! Oh, the voices, they're screaming!" Lou's wife cried.

One of the bus windows shattered and sparks flew from the overhead wires. A young man toppled down the stairs from the upper deck and shouted as soon as he could, "What's going on?!"

With a blinding light, the rest of the windows started shattering. A couple minutes later, the Doctor opened his eyes to find the wrecked bus and the sunlight that streamed through the window, that had definitely not been there a couple minutes ago!

"Oh, it is hot" Minerva groaned as she sat up.

"Are you alright!?" he quickly turned to her, "Is it too much!?"

She shooed his hands off her as they stood up, "A bit of a new heat, but..." she looked around, seeing the endless sand hills that was now their new environment, "...manageable."

He sighed in relief, it seemed that the adaptation was going just fine for his Clever Girl. It was a fact that she, unlike the rest of the Moontsays except Zohar, could withstand much higher levels of heat. However, that didn't mean she was easily resistant to all types of heat. So, the Doctor had made it his job to slowly introduce her to those other heat levels little by little. It was a work of patience and even if he really had none, he magically garnered extremely high levels of it when it came to Minerva. It seemed like it was all paying off seeing how she was taking the new desert they were in.

The pair moved to the doors and opened it up to look at the desert, "End of the line," the Doctor declared as he stepped out, taking Minerva by the waist and pulling her down, "Call it a hunch, but I think we've gone a little bit further than Brixton."

The other passengers slowly started coming out of the bus where they took observation of their bus and environment. The bus's tip deck was crushed with smoke wafting from it. Apart from that, it seemed lie they were the only ones around.

Minerva watched the Doctor laying on the ground letting the sand sift through his fingers. She really didn't know what he was trying to accomplish. The sand was just...sand. She supposed this was one of the lessons he was yet to teach her. She'd been learning a lot faster now that she wasn't human anymore, but it wasn't like she was a genius either. Even with a fast pace the universe was vast and had many complicated things about it that simply didn't stick in her head.

"That's impossible. There are three suns. Three of them!" A blonde woman exclaimed, horrified at the sight in the sky.

"Like when all those planets were up in the sky!" a second young man added.

"But it was Earth that moved back then, wasn't it?" the first young man asked.

"Oh, man, we're on another world!"

"It's still intact, though! Not as bad as it looks," the bus driver was studying the bus, "The chassis's still holding together. Oh, my boss is gonna murder me!"

"Can we please desist of the word 'murder', please?" Minerva had looked back with a displeased face. That word was still sensitive to her and she didn't wanted to hear it any more.

"Can you still drive it?" the blonde woman asked the driver.

"Oh, no, the wheels are stuck. Look at them, they're never gonna budge," the driver gestured to the tires that were deep inside the sand.

Christina took off her jacket once she felt the desert heat and put on some black sunglasses, "Ready for every emergency."

The Doctor and Minerva looked back and saw the woman with her sunglasses. The Doctor took off his own glasses and used the sonic to tint them then promptly put then back on, "Me too!" he cast a concerned look at Minerva, "Would you like some, dear?"

"No," she declared rather fast, "I wanna get used to this kind of heat. Eyes too," she pointed at them.

"And what's your names?" Christina asked them.

"Minerva," the brunette raised a finger.

"I'm the Doctor."

"Name, not rank," Christina gave him a sharp look.

"The Doctor."

"Surname?"

"The Doctor."

"You're called 'the Doctor'?"

"Yes, I am."

"That's not a name, that's a psychological condition."

Minerva snickered. "That is the most underrated line of your life!" she looked down at the Doctor.

He mock-glared at her for a minute then returned to the sand, "Funny sort of sand, this. There's a trace of something else," he put some of the sand on the tip of his tongue to 'taste' it then crinkled his face, "Blah, that's not good."

"That's sand," Minerva frowned and made a distasteful face, "And this is me...stepping away from your mouth."

Quietly, the Doctor scoffed and mumbled: "That won't last long."

"What was that?"

"Nothing, dear," he flashed a small smile.

Minerva rolled her eyes, "You walk on thin land, Martian. Why don't we get back to business? What, I dare to ask, did that sand taste?"

At that, the Doctor's sense of playfulness faded. He really would rather not answer that and really scare her, "Nothing important," he dismissed the question, avoiding the questioning look she was giving him.

The rest of the passengers started coming over, one person singled out already as the culprit, "Hold on a minute, I saw you, mate! You had that thing, that machine. Did you make this happen?" one of the young men had a pointing fingers at the Doctor.

"Oh, humans on buses, always blaming me," the Doctor mumbled, not even surprised anymore, "If you must know, we were was tracking a hole in the fabric of reality. Call it a hobby. But it was a tiny little hole, no danger to anyone. Suddenly it gets big, and we drive right through it."

"But then where is it? There's nothing, there's just sand!" the driver gestured to the surroundings.

"All right. If you want proof," the Doctor reached down for some sand, "We drove through this," he threw the sand at the space behind the bus to real a swirling vortex that quickly disappeared as fast as it had appeared.

"And that was?" Christina stared where the Vortex was.

"A door in space!" Minerva exclaimed excitedly, quickly realizing the other may not have been as excited to know that information.

"So what you're saying is, on the other side of that is home? We can get to London through there?" the bus driver asked

"The bus came through, but we can't," the Doctor answered but apparently ignored.

"Well, then what are we waiting for?" the bus driver looked at the other passengers.

"Oh, no, don't," the Doctor tried calling but the man wouldn't listen.

The driver headed for the portal, "I'm going home, mate!"

"I said don't!"

The driver headed into the portal and screamed as his body caught fire.

"He was a skeleton, man! He was bones, just bones!" one of the young men cried.

Minerva walked back to the bus, observing its state, "It was the bus that kept us safe, right?" she looked at the Doctor who had moved up beside her, "It protected us, right?" he smiled and nodded before kissing her head, making her beam she'd gotten another thing right.

"Rather like a Faraday cage?" Christina walked over, staying by the entrance of the bus.

"Like in a thunderstorm, yeah?" one of the young men asked, "Safest place is inside a car, cos the metal conducts the lightning right through. We did it in school."

"But if we can only travel back inside the bus...a Faraday cage needs to be closed. That thing's been ripped wide open," Christina looked at the top of the bus.

"Slightly different dynamics with a wormhole. There's enough metal to make it work, I think. I hope," the Doctor made a face as he also looked over the bus.

"Then we have to drive five tonnes of bus, which is currently buried in the sand, and we've got nothing but our bare hands. Correct?"

"I'd say nine and a half tonners..." the Doctor trailed off

Minerva peered around him with a polite smile, "But he means you're correct."

"Then we need to apply ourselves to the problem with discipline! Which starts with appointing a leader."

"Yes, at last, thank you, so..." the Doctor turned to the group...when Christina took over.

"Well, thank goodness you've got me! Everyone do exactly as I say! Inside the bus immediately!" she motioned for everyone to get on inside.

"Is it safe in there?" one of the young men asked.

"I don't think anything's safe any more, but if it's a choice between baking in there or roasting out here, I'd say baking is slower. Come on! All of you. Right now! And you. 'The Doctor'," Christina eyed him before stepping inside.

Minerva giggled at the face her Martian was making and moved in front of him, "Is someone upset their dominance is being threatened?"

He looked at her with a mock-glare and pointed, "Shush."

She rolled her eyes and pulled him inside the bus, "C'mon, Martian."

~ 0 ~

Christina was busy giving her speech to the other passengers, declaring herself as the leader of the far, neither the Doctor nor Minerva had argued against it. She seemed fine and, at the end of the day, she had the same goals as the rest of them. Getting home was pivotal.

"Point five, the crucial thing is, do not panic. Quite apart from anything else, the smell of sweat inside this thing is reaching atrocious levels," Christina said, still grimacing. "We don't need to add any more. Point six. Team identification. Names. I'm Christina, this man is apparently 'the Doctor' and that is Minerva," she gestured to each of the pair.

"Hello," Minerva wiggled her fingers at the group.

"And you?" Christina turned to one of the young men.

"Nathan," he waved.

"I'm Barclay."

"Angela, Angela Whittaker," the blonde female went next

"My name's Louis, everyone calls me Lou, and this is Carmen," the third man gestured to his wife beside him.

"Excellent. Memorize those names. There might be a test. Point seven, assessment and application of knowledge. Over to you, the Doctor," Christina pointed to the man.

"I thought you were in charge," the Doctor made a face, confused for a minute.

"I am. And a good leader utilizes her strength. You seem to be the brainbox. So, start boxing."

He shrugged and moved to sit on the back of his seat, facing the rest of the group, "Right. So, the wormhole. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was just an accident."

"No, it wasn't. That thing, the doorway. Someone made it. For a reason," Carmen cut in.

"How do you know that?" Minerva asked, curious.

"She's got a gift. Ever since she was a little girl, she can just... tell things. We do the lottery, twice a week," Lou explained.

"You don't look like millionaires," Christina remarked.

"No, but we win ten pounds. Every week, twice a week, ten pounds. Don't tell me that's not a gift!"

The Doctor hid three fingers behind his back as he moved up to Carmen, "Tell me, Carmen. How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Three," Carmen replied and when the Doctor added another finger behind his back, she spoke again, "Four."

"Very good! Low level psychic ability, exacerbated by an alien sun," the Doctor sat down across her, "What can you see, Carmen? Tell me. What's out there?"

"Something... Something is coming. Riding on the wind. And shining."

"What is it?"

"Death. Death is coming."

Angela began weeping at the words, "We're going to die."

"I knew it, man, I said so," Barclay shook his head.

"We can't die out here. No-one's gonna find us," Nathan looked out to the endless sand.

The passengers started talking all at once, all sharing the same fear.

"This isn't exactly helping," Christina rubbed her temples.

"Shut up, we're not your soldiers," Barclay snapped.

"It's not doing any good..." Nathan said.

"You're upsetting her, be quiet!" Lou exclaimed.

"Will we be bones, like the bus driver?!" Nathan cried.

"Hey, STOP IT!" Minerva shouted, her voice above all the others. She stood in the center of the bus with her hands on her hips, "God I really miss my whistling abilities," she mumbled to herself.

The only sound new heard in the bus was Angela's quiet weeping. The Doctor moved to stand in front of her, gripping her shoulders, "Angela, look at me. Angela, Angela, answer me one question, Angela. That's it, at me, at me," she stopped crying to look up at him, "There we go, Angela, just answer me one thing. When you got on this bus, where were you going?"

"Doesn't matter now, does it?"

"It does matter this time," Minerva gave a small smile and moved beside them, "So just answer the question."

"Just home..." Angela answered

"And what's home?" the Doctor asked her.

"Me, and Mike and Suzanne, that's my daughter. She's 18."

"Brilliant age," Minerva remarked and patted Angela's shoulder. She looked over to the others, seeing them still uneasy, "What about you, Barclay? What was going on tonight?"

"Dunno. Going round Tina's," he shrugged, sighing.

"Who's Tina? Your girlfriend?" the Doctor looked back.

"Not yet..." Barclay smiled a bit mischievously.

"Good boy. May I suggest you not waste time, it's a very precious thing," the Doctor smiled softly as he glanced back at Minerva.

She blushed under his gaze and looked at Nathan instead, "What about you, Nathan?"

"Bit strapped for cash, I lost my job last week. I was gonna stay in. Watch TV."

"Brilliant. And you two?" the Doctor called to pair at the back of the bus.

"I was going to cook," Lou replied first.

"It's his turn tonight. Then I clear up," Carmen added.

"What's for tea?"

"Chops. Nice couple of chops and gravy. Nothing special," Lou said.

"I think if you're eating together and happy, then it's very special," Minerva corrected, "I know it's special to me when I eat with my Martian."

"The brownies are my favorite part," the Doctor admitted with an excited grin, "So it is very special, Lou, Carmen."

"What about you, Christina?" Minerva looked back at the black-haired woman who had been oddly quiet for the moment.

"I was going... so far away..." she answered absently.

"Far away. Chops and gravy. Watching TV. Mike and Suzanne and poor old Tina," the Doctor shrugged as Barclay gave him a sharp look.

"Hey!"

"He's kidding," Minerva apologetically smiled at Barclay then promptly smacked the Doctor upside the head, "Stop being rude to people!"

"Sorry, dear," he mumbled and rubbed the back of his head, "Alright, back to the point: just think of them and what your plans were for tonight. 'Cos that planet out there, all three suns and wormholes and alien sand, that planet is nothing. You hear me? Nothing compared to all those things waiting for you. Food and home and people. Hold on to that. Cos we're gonna get there. I promise. I'm gonna get you home."

"We're going to get you all home," Minerva corrected the passengers and clarified to the Doctor. She would have no more of this 'he saving the world', no. They were married now and as such she would stand by him in all situations that affected them: together.

~ 0 ~

Barclay and Nathan were coming out of the bus holding seat cushions where the Doctor and Minerva met up with them, "Here we go! That's my boys! We lay a flat surface between the bus and the wormhole, like duckboards, and reverse into it!"

"Let some air out of the tires, just a little bit. Spreads the weight of the bus, gives you more grip," Christina joined them.

"Oh, that's good," Minerva remarked.

"Holidays in the Kalahari."

"Yeah, but those wheels go deep," Barclay reminded.

"Then start digging," Christina shrugged.

"With what?"

"With this," Christina reached into her bag and pulled out a folding shovel.

"Wow, got anything else in there?" Minerva blinked as the Doctor took the shovel and opened it then handed it to Barclay.

"Try that, might help with the seats," Christina handed a small axe.

"Thanks!" Nathan took the axe and headed back to the bus.

"I can't find the keys!" they heard Angela from the inside of the bus.

"Buses don't have keys!" Minerva half-shouted as she poked her head inside the bus, "I saw that when I used to travel. There's this master switch, one button for start, the other one for stop, yeah?"

Angela, sitting in the driver's seat, checked for the button, "Hold on, oh, I've got it," she flicked a switch, "Here we go, hold tight, ding ding!"

"Clever one you are," the Doctor neared Minerva from behind and kissed her head.

"It's not clever, it's observation," she corrected.

Angela had pressed the button but the engine spluttered for a second then died.

"Oh, that doesn't sound too good," the Doctor took Minerva and himself over to the engine and took a look, "Oh! Never mind losing half the top deck, you know what's worse? Sand. Tiny little grains of sand. The engine's clogged up."

Christina walked around to where Barclay and Nathan worked on the wheels, "Anyone know mechanics?"

"Me!" Barclay stood up, "I did a two-week NVQ at the garage. Never finished it, but..."

"Well come on!" Minerva called, "Let's see how much you learned!"

"Try stripping the air filter, fast as you can," the Doctor took Minerva's hand and started heading away towards the dunes, "Back in two ticks."

"Wait a minute!" Christina called after them and quickly hurried to follow, "You're the man and woman with all the answers. I'm not letting you out of my sight."

~ 0 ~

Minerva passed a hand through her hair, feeling slightly enclosed with the heat as she walked through the desert. She could take it, she knew it...but it wasn't going to be easy. She shrugged her elbows to try and lift off a piece of hair for at least a second. Then, she'd run her hand through it just to lift off her shoulders once more. She had even discarded her gray sweater in the middle of the desert, ignoring the Doctor's suggestion to simply hand it over where he could keep it safe. She was determined to make this work, she would not give up at the first real struggle of heat, no sir.

"Do you happen to have something for hair inside that bag of yours?" she settled for asking Christina for a bit of help, but only for a bit. At the first sign of genuine help the Doctor was sure to overreact and quickly send her back to the bus where it was slightly less hot.

Christina nodded and reached for one of the backpack's smaller pockets in front and took out a black scrunchie, "Ever thought of just cutting it?"

"NO..." Minerva made a horrific expression that made Christina laugh.

"Asking her to do that is like asking her to stop breathing," the Doctor casually remarked.

"Really?" Christina raised an eyebrow, making it sound like it was ridiculous, but to her it really was.

"Thank you," Minerva took the scrunchie from Christina and proceeded to pick up her hair, "Let me make a comparison to you, Christina, that'll make you understand the value: asking me to cut my hair is like me asking you to leave that backpack behind."

"No, no, this goes where I go," she pointed to the backpack, playfully rolling her eyes at the look Minerva was giving her, "Yeah, fine, I get it now."

Minerva chuckled as she fixed the last part of her ponytail, "Knew it would work. I'm clever like that, you know."

"My clever wife," the Doctor remarked, wounding an arm around her waist.

"You two are married?" Christina blinked, surprised, "Really?"

"Why do you say it like that?" Minerva raised an eyebrow, not offended simply curious of the reaction.

"Just didn't strike me as the married couple. I can see it Carmen and Lou, but...not you two..." she eyed the pair to see if she could be wrong but simply did not see the picture 'happy married' couple.

"Well, to be fair, you didn't strike me as a woman who's afraid of sirens," the Doctor gave her a sharp look, "Just who are you?"

"As much of a mystery as you two are," Christina countered.

"We're not mysteries," Minerva corrected, "We're just a pair of travelers, that's all."

"Let's just leave it as mysteries, shall we?"

Minerva shrugged and gave up.

"So why not tell me about Carmen's prediction?" Christina asked, "If that wormhole's not an accident, then what is it? Has someone done this on purpose?"

"I don't know," the Doctor answered as they stopped walking, "But every single instinct of mine is telling me to get off this planet, right now."

"And do you think we can?"

"We live in hope, it's kind of our thing," Minerva informed casually, "But I know we'll get out of this, just like we always do."

"That must be nice..." Christina paused and eyed the two before holding her hand out to the, "It's Christina de Souza. To be precise, Lady Christina de Souza."

"Hey! We're cousins," Minerva laughed as she shook Christina's hand, "Minerva Souza, get it? Only I'm not a Lady..."

"You very well can be, you're a princess after all," the Doctor corrected as he shook Christina's hand, "And I'm a Lord."

"Princess of what? And Lord of what?" Christina raised an eyebrow.

"Quite a big estate," Minerva answered, "For both of us..."

"No, but there's something more about you," Christina looked at the Doctor suddenly, "That device you were carrying, and the wormhole. Like you knew. And the way you stride around this place, like..."

"Like?" the Doctor asked.

"Like you're not quite..."

"Anyway! Come on! Allons-y!" the Doctor continued on with Minerva, the brunette groaning as they did.

"What have I said about that word?"

"That it was very adorable when I said it," he smirked.

"Shut up," she playfully rolled her eyes.

They stopped on a high dune that looked to the horizon where they could ahead in a distance the sky was becoming grayer and grayer.

"Ah. Don't like the look of that," the Doctor said.

Christina shaded her eyes, "Storm clouds. Must be hundreds of miles away."

"But it's getting closer," Minerva frowned.

"If that's a sand storm, we'll get ripped to shreds," Christina said.

"It's a storm. Who says it's sand?" the Doctor challenged, all three immediately running back.

~ 0 ~

Lou and Carmen were still sitting in the bus, Carmen with her eyes closed and mumbling: "Closer... and closer and closer..."

The Doctor hurried inside the bus with Minerva, Christina and Barclay behind him, "Where is it?"

"There, there on the seat," Barclay pointed to his seat where his cellphone laid in.

"You're hardly going to get a signal, we're on another planet!" Christina exclaimed.

"Oh, just watch me. Right, now, bit of hush, thank you," the Doctor started dialing on the phone, "Gotta remember the number, very important number."

"Hello, Pizza Geronimo?" they heard a man on the other line answer as the phone was on speaker.

"Pizza is an important number?" Minerva raised an eyebrow.

"Shush," the Doctor pointed as he hung up and redialed, "Seven-six, not six-seven..."

"This is the Unified Intelligence Taskforce. Please select one of the following four options," a new voice answered.

"Oh, I hate these things!" the Doctor exclaimed, noticing how pale Minerva had gotten once the phone had been answered again.

Minerva was severely uncomfortable with UNIT, despite being the place her best friend worked at. To say the word 'uncomfortable' wouldn't even cover half of her feelings towards the place...terror described it perfectly. Now that she knew who she was and what UNIT could've done to her if they had figured out her actual origin before her...well...she'd had some pretty bad nightmares that would describe it. She knew UNIT had closed their investigation on her and left in the dark but it didn't stop her fear that one day someone new in the place would pick up the file and re-open the case. The Doctor had tried numerous times to remind her that he was still working for them (in technical terms) and that he would never allow UNIT to lay even a finger on her. Plus, he was actually on good terms with UNIT nowadays and just by that relationship the two shared, Minerva wouldn't be harmed. He just needed to prove that to her, perhaps today could be the day...

"No, if you keep your finger pressed on zero, you get through to a real person," Angela suggested to the Doctor, "I saw it on Watchdog!"

"Thank you, Angela," the Doctor sat down and reached for Minerva's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze to let her know he was here and she would be okay.

"UNIT helpline, which department would you like?" a new woman's voice answered the other line.

"Listen, it's the Doctor! It's me!"

~ 0 ~

A soldier approached the captain with a mobile, "Captain! Urgent call, ma'am, relayed direct from HQ."

"Who is it?" the captain asked.

"It's him, ma'am. It's the Doctor."

The captain took the cellphone and spoke through it, "Doctor. This is Captain Erisa Magambo," she saluted, "Might I say, sir, it's an honor."

~ 0 ~

The Doctor made a face, "Did you just salute?"

"...no."

"Erisa, it's about the bus. HQ said you're at the tunnel, yeah?"

"And where are you?"

"I'm on the bus. But apart from that, not a clue," the Doctor looked out the window, "Except it's very pretty and pretty dangerous."

"A body came through here. Have you sustained any more fatalities?"

"No, and we're not going to. But I'm stuck. I haven't got the Tardis, and I need to analyse that wormhole."

"We have a scientific advisor on site, Dr Malcolm Taylor..."

~ 0 ~

Erisa was entering a mobile physics lab filled with electronic equipment. Malcolm, an older man wearing glasses and a white lab coat sat in the midst of the place.

"Just the man you need, he's a genius," Erisa said.

"Oh, is he? We'll see about that," the Doctor said, over the speaker phone as well.

"Don't be rude!" Minerva's voice came afterwards.

"Here's the Doctor," Erisa told Malcolm as she shut the door.

"No, I'm all right now, thanks. It was just a bit of a sore throat, although I've got to be honest, a cup of tea might be nice," Malcolm cluelessly said.

"No, it's the Doctor."

"Do you mean... "the Doctor" Doctor?!" Malcolm nearly gasped.

"I know. We all want to meet him one day, but we all know what that day will bring," Erisa mumbled.

"I can hear everything you're saying," the Doctor reminded.

Malcolm incredulously upon hearing the Doctor's voice, "Hello, Doctor? Oh, my goodness!"

"Yes, I am. Hello, Malcolm!"

Malcolm chuckled, "The Doctor! Cor blimey. I can't believe I'm actually speaking to you! I mean, I've read all the files!"

~ 0 ~

Minerva mindlessly bit her nails as the Doctor spoke on the phone through...UNIT. The man, Malcolm, sounded very nice, cheerful even, but that didn't change the fact he worked for UNIT...the institution that had wanted to seize her as human...it terrified her.

"Really? What was your favorite, the giant robot? No, no hold on, let's sort out that wormhole," the Doctor shook his head and stood up, 'Scuse me," he took Minerva's hand and led them to the front of the bus, needing her to see he wouldn't let go of her for one moment when UNIT was involved. He plopped down on the driver's seat, pulling Minerva down to his lap. He gave her a kiss on her temple and wound his arm around her waist, "Malcolm, something's not making sense here. I've got a storm and a wormhole, and I can't help thinking there's a connection. I need a complete full-range analysis of that wormhole, the whole thing," he ordered.

"I've probably got the wrong idea, but I've wired up an integrator. I thought it could measure the energy signature," Malcolm said.

"No, that'll never work. Just listen to me."

"It's quite extraordinary, though! I'm measuring an oscillation of 15 Malcolms per second."

"Fifteen what?" the Doctor blinked.

"Fifteen Malcolms. It's my own little term. A wavelength parcel of ten kilohertz operating in four dimensions equals one Malcolm."

"You named a unit of measurement after yourself?"

"It didn't do Mr Watt any harm. Furthermore, 100 Malcolms equals a Bernard."

"And who's that, your dad?"

"Don't be ridiculous, that's Quatermass."

"Right. Fine. But before I die of old age, which in my case would be quite an achievement, so congratulations on that, is there anyone else I can talk to?" the Doctor felt a small chuckle escape his wife and beamed, "Actually, no, stay on the line, you're doing someone very important to me good," he smiled at Minerva.

"Um...okay," Malcolm slowly said, confused, "I set the scanner to register what it can't detect and inverted the image."

"You did what?"

"Is that wrong?"

" No, Malcolm, that's brilliant! So you can actually measure the wormhole. OK, I admit, that is genius!"

~ 0 ~

"The Doctor called me a genius," Malcolm excitedly looked at Erisa beside him.

"I know, I heard," Erisa nodded.

"Now, run a capacity scan. I need a full report. Call me back when you've done it. And Malcolm? You're my new best friend-well, no, my wife's my first best friend but you can be the second."

"Uh, you're mine too, sir," Malcolm said before the phone call ended. Confused, he looked over to Erisa, "The Doctor has a wife?"

"That can't be right..." Erisa thought for a moment on it, "...there was nothing in the files..." she mumbled as she started heading out, confused.

~ 0 ~

"Barclay, I'm holding on to this," the Doctor waved the man's phone as he and Minerva stood up.

"Then you'd better bring it back!" Barclay warned as the two went out, Christina once again hurrying to catch up.

~ 0 ~

"Send this back to Earth, see if Malcolm can analyse the storm," the Doctor held up the phone high up to take a picture.

"There's something in those clouds, something shining. Look..." Christina pointed.

"That looks like metal," Minerva tilted her head, the Doctor taking a picture with the phone.

"Why would there be metal in a storm?" Christina frowned.

"We never did say it was sand..." Minerva mumbled.

While the Doctor snapped more pictures, Christina heard the sound of chirruping. "Did you hear something?"

"Hold on. Busy..." the Doctor replied, turning.

"Well, Minerva? Did you hear it too?" Christina tried as she looked around.

"A bit, yeah," the brunette nodded.

Christina's eyes widened when she saw an insectoid creature watching them, "Doctor, Minerva..."

The creature approached the trio with a weapon in its hand and began to speak, more like click. The Doctor answered back in its language, "That's 'wait'. I shout 'wait', people usually wait."

"You speak the language?" Christina looked up at the man with wide eyes.

"Every language, actually," Minerva smiled in amusement as her Martian and the creature spoke.

"That's begging for mercy," he informed the women.

The creature motioned with its gun.

"And that means 'move'," Minerva pointed.

"Ooh! You're learning. Clever you are!"

Minerva chuckled, "Nope, it's just how it usually goes with us," he made a face and agreed.

The creature marched the trio off in front of it.

"These fly things, they must be responsible. They brought us here," Christina said as they arrived at the creature's crashed ship.

"No, no, no, no, no! Look at the ship, it's a wreck. They crashed, just like us," the Doctor pointed at the half-destroyed ship on the sand.

~ 0 ~

The interior of the alien ship was no better than the outside. It had the appearance of ongoing construction with wires and electronics left all over the place.

"But this place is freezing!" Christina shivered.

Minerva loudly sighed in relief of the lower temperature they were now in. She didn't want to admit it but the new climate change outside was more than she could handle at the moment.

"You okay?" the Doctor turned to her with concern.

"Now I am," she nodded with a dim smile.

"Why's it so cold?" Christina asked while rubbing her arms in an attempt to regain some of her heat.

"The hull's made of Photafine steel," the Doctor answered her, "Turns cold when it's hot. Boiling desert outside, freezing ship inside."

"Since we met you, Christina, we've been through all the extremes!" Minerva remarked playfully.

"That's how I like things. Extreme," the black-haired woman nodded firmly.

"Oh, this is beautiful! Intact, it must have been magnificent. A proper streamlined deep-spacer!" the Doctor looked arund with intrigue.

"I'll remember that as I'm being slowly tortured," Christina mock-glared, "At least I'm bleeding on the floor of a really well-designed spaceship!"

A second creature joined the group and touched its device attached to its clothes.

The Doctor noticed it and nodded, "Oh, right, good, yes, hello! That's a telepathic translator. He can understand us."

"Still sounds like gibberish to me," Christina remarked.

"It doesn't seem to work the other way around, though," Minerva observed, "What does he say, Doctor?" she looked at him.

"Um, "You will suffer for your crimes." Et cetera. "You have committed an act of violence against the Tritovore race," he translated then looked at both women, "Tritovores, they're called Tritovores. And they say "You came here in the 200 to destroy us." Sorry, what's the 200?"

"It's the bus. Number 200, they mean the bus," Christina reminded.

"Oh! No, look, I think you're making the same mistake Christina did," he gestured to himself, "I'm the Doctor, by the way, and this is my wife, Minerva and our friend Christina, the Honorable Lady Christina, at least we hope she's honorable! But we got pulled through that wormhole. The 200 doesn't look like that normally. It's broken, just the same as you."

The Tritivores spoke to each other and lowered their guns.

"What are they doing?" Christina asked at the motion.

"They believed him," Minerva guessed.

"What, as simple as that?"

"I've got a very honest face. And the translator says I'm telling the truth. Plus, the face," the Doctor flashed a cheeky grin, "Right! So, first things first, there's a very strange storm heading our way, can you send out a probe?" he made his way to a control panel with Minerva, followed by the Tritivore with the translator as it spoke to them, "Ah, they've lost power. Hmm, the crash knocked the mainline crystallography out of sync. But if I can jiggle it back..." the Doctor kicked the panel and the power came back, " I thank you!" the creature chittered, "Yes, I am! Frequently. Okie-dokie, let's launch that probe."

The trio watched the picture they garnered from the probe as a hologram projection in front of them.

"Oh! This is the Scorpion Nebula, right!?" Minerva exclaimed excitedly as she looked at the Doctor for confirmation.

He smiled softly and nodded, "You got it, dear."

She beamed, "Yes! My lessons are paying off," she looked at Christina who had been looking in amusement, "We're on the other side of the universe, Christina. Just what you wanted, so far away. This is the planet of San Helios."

"Correct, correct, correct," the Doctor kissed her head, happy she was beginning to gain more knowledge after her months of learning.

"And that's us? We're on another world," Christina looked at the projection with awe.

"We have been for quite a while," Minerva said.

"I know, but seeing it like that..."

"It's good, isn't it?" the Doctor asked, knowing the feeling the woman had to be feeling.

"Wonderful," Christina smiled.

The Tritivores started telling their story to the trio, only the Doctor understanding what was being said.

"The Tritovores were going to trade with San Helios. Population of one hundred billion. Plenty of waste matter for them to absorb," the Doctor explained.

"By waste matter, you mean?" Christina crinkled her nose, half-guessing what he was trying to say.

"They feed off what others leave behind. From their... behind," the Doctor clarified, "If you see what I mean. It's perfectly natural. They are flies."

"Charming. Just remind me never to kiss them," Christina mumbled.

Minerva was watching the projection show a thriving city with trees and green parks, "Well this is quite beautiful," she remarked, "San Helios City."

"That's amazing. But you've seen this sort of thing before, haven't you?" Christina looked at the pair.

"Thousands of times," the Doctor nodded.

"That Lordship of yours... The Lord of where, exactly?" Christina asked, suddenly intrigued, "And you said Princess," she looked at Minerva, "Princess of what?"

"Of Time. I come from a race of people called Time Lords," the Doctor answered first.

"Princess of the Silver Monsoon," Minerva offhandedly replied, "Water-based race - well, part of his," she jerked a thumb at the Doctor.

"So you're both...aliens?" Christina looked from one another, as if searching for anything that would back up their statements.

"Yeah. But you don't have to kiss us either," the Doctor mumbled, "Don't you dare," he subconsciously pulled Minerva closer to his side.

"But you both look human..."

"Well technically, you—" Minerva pointed at herself and Christina, "—look Time Lord. Our races came first."

"But anyways, back to the point," the Doctor reminded to the projection.

"So if that's San Helios, all we need to do is find that city. They can help us!" Christina exclaimed.

"But that's the problem," Minerva looked at the projection as it changed to the desert they were in now, "This is the city..."

"But it's sand! That first image, the temples and things, what's that, then? Ancient history?"

One of the Tritovores chirruped and so the Doctor translated, "The image was taken last year."

"It became a desert in one year?" Minerva frowned.

"I said there was something in the sand," he bent down and let the sand fall through his fingers.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Minerva asked.

He looked up with a bit of guilt, "It would've scared you."

"It would not have..." she shifted as she took notice of all the sand, "...a lot..."

He just sighed as if that proved his point, "It's the city, the oceans, the mountains, the wildlife and 100 billion people, turned to sand. All those voices in Carmen's head. She's hearing them die."

"But I've got sand in my hair. That's dead people! Oh, that's disgusting! Oh!" Christina shook her head and hair, now wishing she would've used that scrunchie Minerva had for herself.

"Doctor, even if it scares me I still want to know," Minerva adamantly said as he stood back up, facing her, "I'm actually trying not to be so fearful of things but you know after this regeneration everything's a bit more...fearful, after everything I had previously went through. But that doesn't mean I don't want to know the reality of situations we're in. So next time, please just tell me, alright?"

"Alright, that sounds fair," the Doctor nodded, though he still wasn't very convinced. He only wanted to protect her from scary things and whenever he could, he wold, "So something destroyed the whole of San Helios and we should probably know why."

"And who," Minerva pointed.

"It's in my hair!" Christina was still stuck on that detail.

Suddenly, Barclay's cellphone rang and the Doctor pulled it from his pocket, "Malcolm, tell me the bad news!"

~ 0 ~

Malcolm was sat on his chair with his phone on speaker and Erisa beside him, "Oh, you are clever! It is bad news! It's the wormhole, Doctor, it's getting bigger! We've gone way past 100 Bernards, I haven't invented a name for that."

"How can it get bigger by itself?" the Doctor asked.

"Well, that's why I'm phoning! You'll work it out, if I know you, sir."

"Doctor, we estimate the circumference of your invisible wormhole is now four miles, heading upwards. I've grounded all flights above London. We can't risk anyone else falling through," Erisa spoke up.

"Good work, both of you," the Doctor praised.

"But I have to know. Does that wormhole constitute a danger to this planet?" Erisa questioned.

~ 0 ~

The phone beeped and so the Doctor looked at it, "Oh, sorry, call waiting, gotta go," he switched it off for the other call.

~ 0 ~

"Call waiting!?" Erisa half-shouted.

"He's a devil, that one!" Malcolm laughed.

"I'll say he's got a lot of explaining, starting with that wife of his..." she shook her head, "...I found the file."

Malcolm raised an eyebrow, seeing the subject was more complicated apparently, he only wondered why.

~ 0 ~

"Yep?" the Doctor answered the other call.

"Doctor, it's Nathan. We got those duckboard things down, but..."

"It's my fault," the Doctor heard Angela in the background.

"No, it's not, don't say that," Nathan shushed her.

"Why, what's happened?" the Doctor asked.

"We kept on turning the engine, but...we're out of petrol. Used it all up. Even if we can get those wheels out...this bus is never going to move."

The Doctor lowered the phone and Minerva immediately saw the new expression her husband wore, "What's wrong?" she asked him quietly.

"You promised you'd get us home. Doctor? Are you still there?" Nathan asked.

"Doctor, tell me, what did they say?" Minerva asked, Christina joining them.

A beeping noise from the monitors interrupted them followed by the excited chirrups of the Tritovores.

"It's the probe. It's reached the storm," the Doctor moved to the monitors.

"And what's he saying?" Christina questioned.

"It's not a storm."

The probe was flying through a massive amount of creatures flying in the air, looking like manta-rays which the group could see through a video on the ship.

"Okay, scared now..." Minerva started breathing harder. "That's a swarm...millions and millions of them..."

"Billions," the Doctor's eyes widened.

One of the creatures flew straight for the probe with its mouth wide open and showing off its sharp teeth. The connection was soon lost after that.

"Ah! We've lost the probe. I think it got eaten..." Minerva trembled a bit and shook her head.

"Everything on this planet gets eaten," the Doctor realized with distaste.

"How far away is that swarm?" Christina asked.

"Hundred miles. But at that speed, it'll be here in twenty minutes," the Doctor replied and the Tritovores chirruped, "No, they're not just coming for us. They want the wormhole."

"But that means they're heading for Earth!" Minerva gasped.

"Show the analysis," the Doctor instructed the Tritovores. Quickly, a 3D image of the creatures appeared before them, "Incredible! They swarm out of a wormhole, strip the planet bare, then move on to the next world, start the life cycle all over again."

"So, they make the wormholes?" Minerva asked curiously.

"They must do..."

"But how? They don't exactly look like technicians," Christina observed, "And if the wormhole belongs to them, why are they 100 miles away?"

"Because they need to be?" he tried then shook his head, "No. That's bonkers. Hang on! Yes! Oh! Do you see? Billions of them, flying in formation, all around the planet, round and round and round, faster and faster and faster, till they generate a rupture in space! The speed of them, and the numbers, and the size, all of that rips the wormhole into existence!"

"And the wormhole's getting bigger," Minerva reminded, "Because they're getting closer?"

"Correct!"

"But how do they get through? Cos that wormhole's a killer, we've seen it!" Christina reminded.

"No, no, see the exo-skeleton?" the Doctor pointed to the projection.

"It's metal," Minerva blinked, "Wow..."

"They've got bones of metal! They eat metal, and extrude it into the exo-skeleton! So their velocity makes the wormhole, then their body makes it safe! Perfect design!"

"Those things are going to turn the entire Earth into a desert. So why exactly are you smiling?" Christina raised an eyebrow.

"Worse it gets, the more I love it!"

Minerva shook her head and sighed when Christina gave her a look, "Yes, I did voluntarily marry that."

And just like that, the grin on the Doctor's face dropped. "Hey."

"The thing is, Doctor, you're missing the obvious," Christina said before the man started another little moment with his wife, "We came here through the wormhole, yes? But our Tritovore friends didn't. They came here to trade with San Helios. Therefore, the question is, why did they crash?"

"Ah, good question! What a team! Like she said, why did you crash?" he asked the creatures.

One of the Tritovores lead the group into another room with a large open hole on the floor where apparently the answer laid.

The Doctor observed the hole, "Oh, yes. Gravity Well, look. Goes all the way down to the engine. So what happened?" the creature chirruped, "He says the drive system stalled. Ten miles up, they fell out of the sky. But what caused that?"

The Tritovore shrugged.

"No idea," Minerva sighed.

"Yeah. But wait a minute, that's a crystal nucleus down there, yes?" he looked at the creature which chirruped, "And it looks like it survived the crash. If the crystal's intact... Oh, yes, that's better than diesel!"

"What, you can use the crystal to move the bus?" Christina asked.

"I think so. The spaceship's a write-off, but the 200's small enough."

"How does a Crystal drive a bus?"

"In a super-clever outer-spacey way, just trust me!" the Doctor pulled a feed on a monitor.

"What have I said about those words?" Minerva raised an eyebrow, "You got me doing them!"

"I'm a very good influence," he smirked then glanced at the Tritovore, "There's the crystal! It's fallen to the bottom of the well. Have you got access shafts?" it chirruped, "All frozen? Maybe I can open them! Internal comms, put that on," he gave Minerva a Bluetooth-like device and ran for the door, "You two stay here, keep an eye on the shaft. Tell me if anything happens," the Tritovore followed him.

"Where it's safer," Minerva sighed and gave Christina a tired, irritated look.

"Overprotective?"

Minerva rolled her eyes and nodded. She covered the part of the speaker before she talked, "I had um...an accident, months ago where I changed and needed a lot more protection. I sort of used be like a human, all fragile and stuff, so he took it upon himself to protect me. And that was nice and all - it still is," she admitted with a light shrug, "But I'm myself again. I've got my strength back and I'm getting my powers too, but he's taken this job of protection severely serious to the point where I don't think he'll ever let me try anything dangerous again no matter how many times he tells me he'll 'try'," she rolled her eyes.

"And it's highly annoying," Christina slowly moved to the hole, well, and peered down.

"Truly," Minerva sighed, "It's more irritating because he thinks the dangerous jobs are all his. He's the one that has to deal with the enemies and has to keep everyone safe. And yes, I like when he protects me but that doesn't mean I want him to do it all the time. We're a team, we're married, I want to help him too."

In all the meantime, Christina had moved back to the well and peered down, a small idea popping into her head.

"I understand he's only looking out for me but I want to prove to him that I'm no longer that meek woman he met years ago. I'm different, literally. I can handle more things but he just needs to give me the chance to prove it," Minerva continued.

"If I can use that sunlight to start the automatic maintenance. Minerva?" she heard the Doctor call through the bluetooth, "If you see a panel opening in that shaft, let me know."

"Got it," Minerva replied quietly as she turned to face Christina.

She blinked when the black-haired woman held out a harness, "Well my dear cousin...how'd you like to prove to your husband you're more than ready to get in the game?"

Minerva followed Christina's gaze to the well and immediately knew what the plan was. Christina raised an eyebrow and smirked, nodding to the well, daring the brunette woman to go ahead and do what she wanted, what she needed to do.

"Minerva, anything now?" she heard the Doctor ask again.

Minerva bit her lip and held her hands to Christina, "Gimme."

Christina quietly laughed and obeyed.

~ 0 ~

The Doctor was pulling and connecting cables in the other room, "Anything now?" he asked again.

~ 0 ~

Minerva now wore the harness which Christina was making sure was set correctly, "Nothing," Minerva said.

~ 0 ~

"Any sign of movement?" he sighed.

"Nope."

"How's that?"

~ 0 ~

Christina set up a wire cable and winch for Minerva, "Nothing," the brunette replied again.

"Any result?"

Christina attached the cable to the harness. "Martian, you need that crystal right?" Minerva asked, Christina took out a small torch from her bag and attached it by Velcro to the harness.

"Yup, that would be right," the Doctor cluelessly replied.

"Then consider it done," Minerva winked at Christina, "Thank you," she whispered to the black-haired woman.

"Off you go then you're highness," Christina backed away.

~ 0 ~

The Doctor's eyes widened at his Clever Girl's words. "Minerva? What are you doing?" He had stopped his work to get the answer. "Minerva!?"

~ 0 ~

"Proving myself," Minerva determinedly answered, "A good princess does whatever needs to be done for her people and a good wife always helps her husband." She swan dived into the gravity well.

"NO!" the Doctor hurriedly ran inside the room but too late as his wife was gone, "What have you done!?" he angrily faced Christina.

She was as calm as ever however, "How about instead of yelling you help her?"

Minerva tried her best not to give any shouts to show her massive fear of her choices as she fell through the well with her arms outstretched. It would just make it worse.

The Doctor used his sonic screwdriver on the pulley and made Minerva stop, "That's better — somewhat!" he nearly shouted again, still giving Christina dagger glares, "You let her do this!?"

"She wanted to!" Christina exclaimed, crossing her arms, "You're suffocating her with your over-protectiveness!"

"What!?"

"Martian, I was doing good," he heard Minerva's soft voice through their devices.

He sighed in irritation, "Minerva, you were about to hit the security grid, look."

Minerva looked down and saw a field of cracking energy below her, "Oh...okay, so what do I do?"

"Try the big red button," he said.

She pressed the button on the wall, "Yes!"

"Now come back up! I can do that! PLEASE!" He ran his hands through his hair in frustration, that hole reminding him far too much of the Titanic's engines where she nearly died...

"No."

"No?"

"No. I'm doing this so shut up and let me help you."

"You'd be helping me far more if you were here!"

"But it's not helping her," Christina quietly said, earning another round of glares.

"Oh and you are?" he snapped.

"Frankly, yes. She told me you wouldn't let her do anything even when she's her alien self again," Christine didn't understand exactly what that meant but if it would make the Doctor get the idea then she would use it, "How do you expect her to be better if you don't let her try to do stuff on her own?"

"I am her husband and I will protect her. I'm the one supposed to be doing this," he pointed down at the well, "She's innocent and she doesn't know what harm can come to her—"

"She's not innocent," Christina started with that, "And even if she was, it wouldn't be good for her. You can't be innocent in this world and survive. She needs to experience things and you're not letting her. God forbid this, but what if something happened to you and you died? You spent all this time protecting her from everything and never allowed her to do something, to protect her self...how would she move on by herself? She wouldn't know anything..."

The Doctor opened his mouth to make a comeback, but...there was nothing really to say. Christina looked at him with a 'I'm right' expression. But as right as she may be, the Doctor could not allow his wife to be doing anything dangerous when he could do it...he didn't need to do it, he was sure Minerva could actually protect herself quite well on her own if she needed to. But, he remembered all those centuries where he was married and she told him of all the dangers the Monsoon had to deal with, apart from her family problems. At those times he wished he could promise, swear, that he would protect her and comfort her...but the fact was he couldn't. He was married, he had his children, he had his wife. Minerva had her own life on the Monsoon and as such deserved a man who could stay at her side and give her the love she deserved.

But that had finally changed and she was his wife now, his wife. Now, he could finally protect her like he'd always wanted to. He could care for her, openly love her and show her he loved her. She didn't need to be worried over these problems because he could always be there now. He would always take care of her.

"I'm fine, Martian," Minerva informed the Doctor as she continued on her way down the hole. She didn't like the way she was probably making him feel and that wasn't her intention. But, this was the chance she wanted and finally had thanks to Christina. He would see that nothing bad would happen and that she could help much better than her previous incarnation had.

"Just...just please be careful," was the Doctor's plea, looking at Christina with a less angry face. It pained him that she was right.

"My cousin is doing just fine," Christina smiled.

"Cousins? Oh no, no, no," he shook his head, "You're a bad influence on her. The moment we finish up, we leave."

"Where to exactly?" she raised an eyebrow, curious, "And how? On a little rocket?"

"I'll have you know my TARDIS is much cooler than a rocket," he frowned, immediately softening when he heard Minerva's laughter.

"What's a TARDIS?" Christina moved around the place, a little bored having to wait for her 'cousin' to reach the destination.

"Well...a little blue box. Travels in more than space," he replied, "It can journey through time, Christina. Oh, the places we've been. World War One. Creation of the universe, end of the universe, the war between China and Japan..." the Doctor tilted his head as he saw something shiny from Christina's backpack. It seemed like his wife's curiosity had infected him because he found himself moving over to the backpack and opening it up, "Oh..." his eyes blinked rapidly, "And the Court of King Athelstan, in 924 AD.," he lifted a golden chalice up just Christina spun around, "But I don't remember you being there. So what are you doing with this?"

Christina stormed over, "Excuse me, a gentleman never goes through a lady's possessions!" she tried taking the chalice but the Doctor lifted it up to where she was unable to reach it.

"Doctor, what's going on?" he heard Minerva ask.

"It's the Cup of Athelstan. Given to the first King of Britain, as a coronation gift from Hywel, King of the Welsh. But it's been held in the International Gallery for 200 years, which makes you, Lady Christina, a thief. Your cousin is actually a thief, Clever Girl."

"I like to think I liberated it," Christina hopped for the chalice.

"Don't tell me you need the money."

"Daddy lost everything. Invested his fortune in the Icelandic banks."

"That's not right," the Doctor heard Minerva again, "If she was short of cash she would've robbed a bank or even a liquor store. That's her lifestyle."

"My wife is very clever and she says this is your lifestyle," the Doctor told Christina.

"I take it you both disapprove?" Christina raised an eyebrow.

"Absolutely," he nodded before thinking on it more, "Except, that little blue box. I stole it. From my own people."

"AH!" Minerva suddenly yelped.

"What is it!? What's wrong!?" the Doctor peered down the hole.

"We never did find out why the ship crashed..." Minerva breathed as she saw the end of the hole coming closer.

"Minerva, I think you should come back up," the Doctor swallowed.

"It's too late, I can see it..."

"Please, Minerva, please, be careful and do this slowly," he looked over to the Tritovore, "Have you got an open-vent system?" it chirruped, "I thought so."

"What does that mean?" Christina asked, stopping her hopping when she noticed it was serious again.

"It's like when birds fly into the engines of an aircraft..."

Minerva reached the bottom and saw one of the creatures, "Oh dear..." she breathed at the sight, "It's one of the creatures..."

"Got trapped in the vents. Caused the crash. Minerva, get out," the Doctor begged again.

"It's not moving, I think it's injured," Minerva offered to relieve his nerves a little. If it was injured, it wouldn't be able to cause much harm.

"No, it's dormant, because it's so cold down there. But your body heat is going to raise the temperature."

"But not that fast," she reminded, "I'm part Moontsay and that should give me just enough time," she tried to release the crystal as best and quickly as she could, "And you needed the entire thing, right?"

The Doctor sighed, "Yes..."

She lifted it from the ground, cautiously looking over at the creature, "I'm almost there, Martian. It's okay."

"Minerva, you're giving me heart attacks," he whined, actually rubbing his chest as he felt them constrict when thinking of the creature with her.

"Not so fun, is it?" she smirked when there was no reply, "Got it!" she looked over to the creature and saw it barely move, "And look at that, it's just waking up."

The Doctor used the screwdriver on the winch and pulled her up, "Come on, come on!"

Minerva saw the red button coming up again and pressed it as she moved past it, turning on the field, "And just for precaution."

"Oh she is very good," Christina remarked as the Doctor swung the brunette over to the side, "Well done, cousin."

"Thanks," Minerva breathed with adrenaline and handed her crystal and couplings.

Suddenly, she found her face turned to a very crossed Martian. "Don't ever do that to me again!" he brought her to his lips for a deep kiss, "Ever, ever, ever!" He pepper-kissed her face until she laughed.

"But it worked out fine, see?" she gestured to the place, "I can do these things now," she took his hands in hers, "I'm not a goddess or anything, or even you, but I'm capable now."

But the Doctor was just too relieved to see her in front of him, safe and alive. He took off all the contraptions on her and pulled her into his arms for a very tight hug, needing to bask in this small moment. He supposed now he understood completely what it meant to have a heart attack, or in his case hearts attack when the person you loved faced a danger.

"Doctor, we need to go," Minerva reminded, trying to wiggle out of his arms, "C'mon, Martian!"

"Right," he pulled back but kept her hand in his with a tight grip, "Commander! Mission complete! Now we've got to get back to the 200, all of us," but the commander Tritovore chittered, "Oh, don't be so daft! A captain can leave his ship if there's a bus standing by."

"We can take you to a nice planet," Minerva promised, "But we have to go now! That swarm can't be long now, c'mon!" she motioned to be followed as they started running.

~ 0 ~

The rest of the bus passengers could see the swarm reaching them only they still believed it was just a storm...except Carmen of course. She was the one who was freaking out the most.

"What sort of storm is that?" Angela had to ask.

"Run! Run, run, run, run, run!" Carmen mumbled, sensing the trio, along with two newcomers were running towards them.

As the group ran, the Doctor could hear that cellphone ringing again and when he answered he'd only let Malcolm say his name before he said, "Not now, Malcolm!" and hung up.

"Still rude!" Minerva exclaimed.

They reached the bus where Nathan and Barclay stood at the door, their eyes wide at the Tritovores behind the trio, "What the hell are those?" Nathan pointed.

"Don't point, it's rude," Christina scolded.

"Hey, now you're getting it," Minerva laughed, "And they're friends so be nice," she warned the two men.

"Get inside, get them sitting down," the Doctor ushered the two men away and held the crystal, "Now then, let's have a look."

"So what does that crystal do?" Christina questioned.

He tossed it over his shoulder, "Oh, nothing, don't need the crystal."

"She risked her life for that!" she pointed to Minerva.

"No, no, she...risked," he really didn't like remembering that detail. "Her life for these," he unhooked one of the clamps, "The clamps!" he ran to the driver's side front tire and attached a clamp, " One there. One there. One there. And one there!" he had made a trip all around the bus putting each clamp on the tires, "Now get in! All of you!" he ushered the women in and the Tritovores.

"But what are the clamps for? Do they turn the wheels?" Christina asked once inside the bus.

The Doctor took a seat in the driver's seat, "Something like that. I just need to fix this. Have you got a hammer in that bag?"

"Oh I bet she does," Minerva sighed as said hammer was pulled out of Christina's bag.

"Phone, phone...: the Doctor handed her the phone, 'Press redial, dear," Minerva dialed the phone while he hooked the plate to the steering wheel. Once someone answered, Minerva placed the phone to his ear, "Malcolm, it's me!"

~ 0 ~

"I'm ready!" Malcolm exclaimed, popping up from the floor with large goggles.

"Ready for what?" the Doctor asked.

"I don't know! You tell me!"

"I'll try to get back. There might be something following us. You need to find a way to close the wormhole."

"Would that be a compressed burst of feedback on a counter-oscillation, perchance?"

"Oh, Malcolm! You're brilliant!"

"Coming from you, sir, that means the world."

"Doctor, what sort of something?" Erisa spoke into the phone, "That wormhole is now measuring ten miles and growing, I need to know the exact nature of the threat."

~ 0 ~

"Sorry, gotta go," the Doctor nodded to Minerva who hung up the call. He worked on the steering well up until it sparked and made him lean away, "Ah, it's not compatible! Bus, spaceship, spaceship, bus. I need to weld the two systems together."

"And how do you do that?" Minerva asked.

"I need something non-corrosive, something malleable, something ductile, something..."

Both looked over to Christina, "Gold."

Horror flashed across her face knowing exactly what they wanted from her. "Oh, no you don't!" She hugged her backpack to her chest.

Minerva groaned. "Christina, seriously, what is it worth now if you're going to be a little too dead to cash it in!?"

Barclay came forwards to offer his watch, "Hey, hey, use this!"

"I said gold," the Doctor reminded.

"It is gold."

Minerva gave him an apologetic smile. "Let's not add one more bad thing to this," she patted the man's shoulder and sent him back to his seat.

"Christina!" the Doctor exclaimed in frustration.

She looked at her bag then the other passengers and finally took the chalice out, "It's over 1,000 years old. Worth £18 million. Promise me you'll be careful."

He took the cup from her gently, "I promise," he then turned the cup upside down and banged it with the hammer.

Christina's expression flattened as he banged it probably about ten times. "I seriously hate you."

"Exactly why I threw away the TARDIS hammer," Minerva smirked. She turned to face the passengers, "Ladies and gentlemen please stay seated we are about to leave this desert, hot planet. And yes, there are currently two new passengers, nice Tritovores, so please be nice to them," she flashed a smile to the said aliens who chirruped back.

"No, she stays with me, fellas," the Doctor called to them after their remarks about Minerva being so kind. Yes, she was kind, yes she was funny, and yes she would be staying only with him.

"What's he going to do, though?" Barclay asked.

"Just do as he says please," Minerva smiled and turned to the Doctor, her smile dropping as she leaned down beside him. "You do know what you're doing right?"

The Doctor flatout ignored her and continued with the steering wheel. "Come on, that's it... You can do it, you beauty! One last trip!" Suddenly the bus powered up and rattled. It rose from the sand, astonishing the passengers.

Barclay looked out the window, "Ah, you are so kidding me!"

"We're flying! It's flying!" Nathan laughed.

"He's flying the bus!" Lou breathed.

"It's a miracle!" Angela blinked, a bright smile on her face.

"Anti-gravity clamps. Didn't I say? Round we go," the Doctor cheered as he turned the bus and faced the the wormhole.

Carmen looked back the window to the swarm, "Doctor! They're coming!"

"Do you think this thing will survive the journey back?" Christina quietly asked the pair.

"Only one way to find out!" the Doctor shrugged, "Next stop..."

"Everywhere!" Minerva cheered, "Though it would be nice to stop by Earth first..."

Everyone held on tight as the Doctor propelled the bus through the wormhole, yelling as it did.

There was a flash of light before the wormhole became visible to the soldiers on the other side on Earth and suddenly the bus came through, flying over everyone.

"It's London!" Barclay looked out the window to see the dark night of London, England.

"We're back home!" Angela cheered.

"He did it! He did it!" Nathan exclaimed.

"Malcolm! Close that wormhole!" the Doctor ordered through the phone that Minerva held to his ear.

"Yes, sir! My pleasure, sir!"

The Doctor blinked, "He's hung up on me!"

Minerva smirked, "You had that one coming."

~ 0 ~

Malcolm pressed a button on his keyboard, "Yes!" but the electronics sparked and away went his excitement, "Oh, no, no! No!" a small fire sprouted which he quickly put out with a fire extinguisher.

He heard the phone ringing and so picked up only to say, "Not now, I'm busy!" he set the phone down.

~ 0 ~

"He's hung up again!" the Doctor cried and so Minerva went ahead and redialed, "Malcolm! Listen to me!" the Doctor exclaimed once Malcolm had picked up again.

"It's not working!" Malcolm said.

"I need that signal. We've got billions of those things about to fly through!"

"Well, what do I do?"

"Loop it back through the integrator, and keep the signal ramping up."

"But by how much?"

"500 Bernards! Do it now!"

Malcolm made the adjustments on the computer, excitement back on when he saw it working, "Yes!"

Outside, the wormhole sealed up and left only the three manta creatures on Earth. Unfortunately, for the first couple of minutes it would seem that the soldiers' bullets didn't harm the creatures.

"Doctor, it's coming for us!" Nathan pointed at an oncoming creature heading for the open window of the bus.

"Oh, no, you don't!" the Doctor swerved the bus and batted the creature away.

Finally, the creatures were taken down by the soldiers and everything was left to pure excitement and cheers inside the bus.

"Back home," Minerva sighed in content and looked down at the Doctor, "Knew you could do it."

"Technically we did it together," he took one of her hands and kissed the back of it, making her smile.

Once the bus landed, everyone gathered their belongings and as the Doctor sonicked the door open, they filed out with a soldier giving instructions for them.

"Welcome back. If you could step away from the bus to be safe. As fast as you can. It's standard procedure. We need to screen you, and then you'll all be taken to debriefing."

Minerva tensed as she remembered just what sort of institution was guarding the perimeters. The Doctor stood and took out his psychic paper, "We don't count," he flashed it to the soldier and stepped out with his wife.

Christina made to follow the pair, "No, but, Doctor..." but the soldier took her by the arm.

"With me, ma'am," he took her away.

"Doctor!" Malcolm exclaimed as he saw the pair heading towards Erisa.

"You must be Malcolm!" the Doctor stopped and surprisingly found himself in a hug.

"Oh! Oh, I love you,"Malcolm pulled away, "I love you, I love you."

Minerva had to chuckle, not so much afraid of this man, "Not as much as me though," she warned, "Cos that's my job."

"To your station, Doctor Taylor," Erisa joined them.

"Yes, ma'am," Malcolm headed back to the lab but turned and pointed to the Doctor, "I love you!" the Doctor simply pointed back with a smile and Malcolm went on.

"Doctor," Erisa saluted, "I salute you, whether you like it or not. Now, I take it we're safe from those things?"

"They'll start again. Generate a new doorway. It's not their fault, it's their natural life cycle. But I'll see if I can nudge the wormholes on to uninhabited planets," the Doctor said, feeling Minerva silently and discreetly move a bit more behind him, "Closer to home, Captain, those two lads," he nodded to Barclay and Nathan, " Very good in a crisis. Nathan needs a job, Barclay's good with engines. You could do a lot worse. Privates Nathan and Barclay, UNIT's finest."

"I'll see what I can do..." Erisa noticed the woman practically hidden behind the Doctor, "...I take it that's your wife? Also known as our formerly investigated case in San Diego, 2009."

Minerva, seeing no other point of hiding, moved back to the Doctor's side, gripping his hand like she was holding onto dear life, "...hello..." she greeted with a shaky voice.

"Ma'am," Erisa nodded.

"Captain I'm going to be frank here, my wife's terrified of UNIT because of the investigation on her last year. Can you please tell her that it's alright now? Because it is alright now, right?" the Doctor gave the woman a sharp look, practically daring her to say something else, "There are no current investigations of her and her human family...right?"

Erisa caught the question - warning - and nodded fervently. "Quite right, Doctor. Miss Souza there no investigations over you anymore," she informed the brunette, "Though we will need to create a new profile for you."

"Why?" Minerva breathed and stepped back.

"Just to have a record of you like the Doctor."

"But why? I haven't done anything bad, I swear. I'm good."

The Doctor chuckled, "It's just to have something to follow by for protocols," he took her hand in his up to his lips for a kiss.

"Protocols? What for?"

"Employees," Erisa explained but garnered confusion from Minerva.

"Employee?" she blinked, "But I don't...I don't work here..."

"Now you do," Erisa nodded.

"So...UNIT doesn't want to like...poke me or anything?"

Erisa had to laugh, "Not really."

"Oh, okay," Minerva breathed a sigh of relief then looked at the Doctor with a dim smile, "I'm working for UNIT..."

"Want to be my partner?" he raised an eyebrow, sharing a smirk with her.

"That sounds nice," she laughed.

"And as a peace gift, we've got something for you and your husband, ma'am," Erisa cut into the moment and gestured behind them where a tarp dropped to reveal the TARDIS.

"The box of wonders!" Minerva cheered, running over to the dear box, "Better than any sort of transportation!"

"Found in the gardens of Buckingham Palace," Erisa explained as she and the Doctor joined the brunette.

"Oh, she doesn't mind," the Doctor waved it off.

"Now, I've got three dead alien stingrays to clear up. I don't suppose you fancy helping with the paperwork?"

"Not really, but could you please send over the Tritovores to us? We're supposed to bring them to a nice planet for them."

"Of course," Erisa nodded, "Till we meet again, Doctor, ma'am," she called to Minerva.

Minerva turned around with a half-smile, "Minerva," she corrected for future references.

The Doctor walked up to Minerva and took her into a hug, "See? I told you everything would be fine with UNIT. You had nothing to be afraid of."

"I know it was stupid but it was a real fear for me," she sighed, resting her head on his chest, "I didn't want them questioning my family here, or even my friends."

Christina, who was being monitored with a Geiger counter saw the pair near that blue box of theirs and swatted the soldier, "That's quite enough of that!" she ran towards the pair

The detective, McMillan, spotted her and went after her. "She is not getting away this time."

"Little blue box! Just like you said!" Christina looked at the TARDIS with excitement, "Right then, off we go! Come on, Doctor, cousin," she eyed Minerva, "Show me the stars!"

"No," Minerva sadly smiled.

"What?"

"No," Minerva repeated, looking at the Doctor to see if he was thinking the same.

"But I helped you," Christina reminded, "I helped both of you."

"So?" the Doctor asked.

"We're surrounded by police. I'll go to prison."

"Yeah."

"But you were right, it's not about the money. I only steal things for the adventure, and today, with you...I want more days like this. I want every day to be like this. Why not take me with you?"

"People have traveled with us and we've lost them. Lost them all. Never again," the Doctor replied, "And my wife needs a lot of help right now. She is my main priority and I make no trips that interfere with her assistance."

McMillan arrived with policemen, "Lady Christina de Souza! Oh, I have waited a long time to say this. I am arresting you on suspicion of theft," Minerva watched with sadness as Christina was handcuffed. " You do not have to say anything, etcetera, etcetera. Dennison, take her away."

As Christina was taken away, Carmen and Lou walked over to the pair.

"Doctor? You take care, now," Carmen warned.

The Doctor smiled, missing the warning, "You too! Chops and gravy, lovely! What do you think we'll have for tonight, dear?" he looked at Minerva.

"No, but you be careful. Because your song is ending, sir," Carmen reiterated her warning with further explanation.

"What do you mean?" the Doctor asked, his smile gone.

"It is returning. It is returning through the dark. And then, Doctor... Oh, but then... He will knock four times."

As the humans parted, the Doctor and Minerva shared a concerned glance with each other. The last time they heard about a song, well...a certain human song ended (Minerva) and a certain hybrid song began...Minerva. But this time, this time the song was his...

Thankfully, the two Tritovores arrived as requested, distracting them from the dark moment.

"Oh, please come in," Minerva opened the TARDIS doors for them, "We'll be taking you home right now! Any requests?" she called as the two went inside.

The Tritovores chirruped from inside and the Doctor poked his head inside, frowning, "For the last time, she is staying with me!" he closed the doors and faced his wife who giggled, "What?"

"You're so ridiculous," she turned away to see Christina being led to a police car. Suddenly, she reached for the Doctor's screwdriver and pointed to her 'cousin''s handcuffs, unlocking them, "My cousin will not go to jail."

Christina noticed the unlocked handcuffs but remained silent as she was placed in the backseat of the car. As soon as the door was closed, she scooted to the other side and bolted out of the car, heading for the bus as the McMilan and another officer chased her.

"No! Stop that woman! Stop that woman! Stop her! Don't just stand there, stop her!"

Minerva handed the Doctor back his screwdriver and hurried up to the bus with him.

"Open the door! I'll add resisting arrest!" McMillan pounded on the bus doors.

"I'd step back, if I were you," the Doctor warned him.

"I'm charging you too! Aiding and abetting!" McMillan warned the two.

"Yes, we'll just step inside this police box and arrest our selves," Minerva sweetly smiled and took the Doctor's hand as the two returned to the TARDIS.

Christina waved to the detective and started the bus. McMillan watched helplessly as the bus lifted off the ground, "No! Come back!"

The rest of the passengers laughed at the getaway. The pair stopped in front of the TARDIS doors where Christina hovered and opened the doors to call out, "We could've been so good together, cousin," she smiled.

"Sorry cousin, but I've got a kingdom to build and a husband to deal with," Minerva playfully shrugged.

Christina laughed while the Doctor mock-glared at the two. She waved at them then flew and the bus flew into the sky, leaving behind a cheering group of their new friends.

"Time to go home," the Doctor whispered to Minerva while taking her hand.

"Yes, please," she agreed and allowed him to take them back to the TARDIS to finish their last task before they could end their long day.

[pumpernickel-simswood]

I'm sorry for spamming the tag. I think I'll just put a few eps together going forward to make the tag less cluttered.

Episode 15:

-Now I want steak, thanks Steve lol.

-The impulse control on these gents. Aww, Steve. No, he's not your dad, he's your fucking friend and he cares about you, Nate >:( Steve deserves better. Oh man, that's some d&d pc behavior. That poor window did nothing wrong lol

Steve's Theme is pretty great.

Episode 16:

-Why is Jim's wedding photo in a kitchen drawer? That's very weird. Nate, you are certainly as arrogant as a Gryffindor. Why was there a woman's scream???

Episode 17:

-Steeeeeve, yes, Powerline is fantastic. Excellent taste in fictional bands. Good man lol. Fear reaction being singing is so valid. Steve's hate of Jim is incredibly weird and interesting. This man is having a Time.

Episode 18:

-If Steve is right about Jim, I'm gonna laugh so hard. A stack of lawn chairs is not weird, Nate. The door, on the other hand. Okay, the wall of clippings of missing and murdered people is definitely weird. It feels kinda like a wall of trophies tbh. Also, props for the soundscaping. Oh boi, a journal full of weird symbols? That's definitely a Leitner. Okay, full length mirror is- Uh, what was that? Ah, the entity who tried to kill Steve. Well then!

Episode 19:

-I really don't like mirror horror lol. The entity has Doppelganger/Stranger vibes. A knocking? The mirror maybe? Oh, a hidden hallway. . . The way the buildings change around them is really unsettling. Yeah, just enter the random hallway and doorway. Nothing can go wrong by doing that. I just want know what is helping the gents and why.

Episode 20:

-Yeah, um, this isn't good. The sound engineering is fantastic though! Hmmmm

Episode 21:

-So, did Steve just get thrown out the attic to the ground? Ah, fuck. Time loss again. Shit. Not a mention of Steve, huh Nate? And Jess has been wiped out of existence. More knocking. I wonder what's causing that. The entity is really trying to isolate Nate, that's fun. He really can't hear the knocking, that's interesting. And has no memory of Steve. Man. Man man man. That's weird, starts off as the first letter and then leads into a Lonely statement. Or a Lonely/Stranger combo. Which, valid. And that was probably Steve :(

Episode 22:

-That is so cruel, the situational irony. Good gracious. Nate! How dare you insult my childhood horror! Goosebumps and Courage are amazing! Just cuz you don't get it lol. It's weird that all these letters are from women. Every single one we've heard. Hmmm. Paul is a name that's been repeated for brothers twice at least. Which wouldn't be weird in real life, but given that it's a horror podcast... Bella is such a good dog. Oh shit, was that Paul? Nate's brother?

Episode 23:

-Sleep paralysis? Sleep paralysis. I wonder if whatever the entity is is what's controlling the weather too. Nate and Bella haven't been able to get far from the house. It's like the weather has a mind to keep Nate there. And finally, a knocking Nate hears. And the faceless being directed him to his phone. Interesting, interesting.

Episode 24:

-Give his memory baaaaaack. Correct, gender is unimportant to the gaining your memory back. Stop rambling, Nate, look at the phone. Oh thank goodness, there's some of the old stuff still on his phone. Good, good, good. Can not believe Nate has less agency than Jon Si- Puppy noises!!!! I'm sorry, *what* woods? Prentiss? Okay, that's pretty great. What a coincidence there lol. STEVE! NOOOO NATE! UGH! I'm dead on the floor. I miss Steve. Oh thank goodness you're gullible, Nate. Thank you for accepting the photo from our gent. Holy crow lol.

Episode 25:

-Alright, last one for now. Let's go. You have bad takes, Nate roflmao. Gamers rule. Nvm to the only lady letters apparently lol. There we go. He caught a lead. Finally. Hopefully he'll be able to make progress again. I feel like he was close to figuring something out before his memory got stolen again.

[heartsofminds]

made-up fic: I Want More

okay okay okay so for this one, i'm thinking of times where this is said just randomly throughout the duration of your relationship.

"i want more ice cream" - so the first date is a cute little aquarium date coupled with a walk on the beach and a stop at an ice cream shop he used to visit a lot when he was a kid. i have a feeling that bradley is a chocolate ice cream kind of guy and never sways far from that ever. you get your fave ice cream and he mentions how he's only really ever tried chocolate ice cream and that's all he's ever eaten and you're all like "no way you need to try some of mine" and he's reluctant but you're like "well you paid so technically this is your ice cream too" and he takes a bite and actually likes it and he says that he wants more before waltzing back up to the stand to ask for a second scoop of whatever you had gotten.

"i want you around more" - your one-year anniversary and he's asking you to move in. he's certainly awful at saying exactly what he means and not dancing around the subject so as he's introducing the idea of you moving in he's not being very forward about it which makes you think that he wants to break it off so you cut him off and are like "well i'll head out if that's what you really want" and then he's like "no no no no i was asking you to move in. you know i'm awful with all this vulnerability stuff, but i've realized how much i enjoy you. even if we spend all of our time together anyway, i always want you around more and i want you to move in." (granted, if i actually wrote this, i would be worlds more articulate but this is what we're working with).

"i want more moments like this." - your wedding day. twenty minutes after all the bridal party pictures and fifteen minutes before you're set to come barrelling into your reception as "Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Bradshaw". you both feel like you haven't been able to breathe all day despite it being the best day of your lives thus far. you're holed up in what used to be a storage closet turned "lounge" by the venue; him sat on the velvet chaise lounge and you perched on his lap. your arms wrapped around his neck while his head sinks into your chest. "i feel like this entire day is about us yet i've barely seen you. everything is moving too fast for me to keep up," you say and he scoffs. "not getting cold feet now, are you?" "we're already married, you twit. besides, i can't get my money back from the deposit now so i guess i'm stuck with you." there's a pause before he presses a soft kiss to the exposed skin of your neckline. nothing suggestive, but nothing soft about it either. he almost does it as if it's a second nature to him; as if it's as natural as breathing or blinking. "i want more moments like this. where it's just you and me," he says. you smile before your maid of honor knocks on the lounge. "you two better not be in here screwing because your mom will have my head if she finds out that's the reason you guys were late!" she yells before you both bust into a fit of giggles. if she would have given it three minutes, you would've been caught red-handed.

"I want more kids" - your son isn't older than a few hours and bradley is completely smitten. he's not put your son down since the nurses handed him off, but they're stuck in their own little world. he thinks about the cool things he'll get to teach him, the awesome places he'll get to show him, and the greatest people he'll get to introduce him to despite your son not even having a name yet. the room is silent despite the hustle and bustle of the labor and delivery unit around you, and bradley's voice shocks you when he speaks up. "i want more kids," he says. "let's name the one we have first and then we'll talk, numbnuts."

"I want more time" - so yeah like i imagine it kind of like an allie and noah situation where old age comes into play and it's just such a good love story and such a happy life and i tried to write this part out but started crying while thinking about it? i literally might start writing this as an actual piece in the future

[honorhearted]

Penelope's words made Benjamin frown. Catching her hand in his, he softly corrected, "I, for one, think you deserve the world. Unfortunately, the world isn't what I can offer..so I'm just grateful you're content with what I have." Pressing a kiss to her knuckles, her palm, her inner wrist, he lifted his head again with a shy smile. "If you didn't deserve me, then God wouldn't have drawn me across the world directly into your arms. Never forget that."

The talk of his father, albeit a teasing, off-hand remark, seemed to sober Penelope significantly. “I wouldn’t dare," she reassured. "I wouldn’t want him to know how much of a terrible influence I am.”

Benjamin snorted. "Well, if he does think that -- which he won't -- he'll have to realize that his own son isn't the greatest influence, either. I'll fall on that sword, if need be."

Penelope scrunched her nose at him, her hand splaying across his chest. “No, you chose options. I want you to pick a definitive one.” Before he could respond, she lifted enough to brush her lips over his while commanding, “That’s an order.”

Benjamin laughed, startled. "Using my own service against me, are you? I think I'm starting to find a devious side of you I never thought possible...and I rather like it." Nudging his forehead into hers, he stroked his fingers through her soft, auburn locks and smiled, content to lay in her arms for far longer than the rest of their lives. "I'll have to think on it," he murmured. "If nothing else, such thoughts will keep me warm when you cannot."

An impish look overcame Penelope's eyes. “I confess, it seemed much longer when I didn’t know what to expect,” she said.

Benjamin huffed, laughing softly. "Did you just insult my stamina? Goodness, you are a bit brutal, aren't you?" With a grin, he amended, "I assume you meant the wait for our wedding night, but just in case, I suppose I'll have to brush up my technique to keep the lady happy."

Penelope hummed. “Now that I think about it, I reckon we could try them all by the time the honeymoon is over. Unless I've completely tired you out before we reach the final chapter.”

"Again with the stamina remarks..." Rolling down onto his flank, Benjamin propped his head against his elbow and smiled, draping his other arm over her waist before fondly squeezing her against him. "Pen, if you don't at least try and tire me out, I'll consider it a personal offense. And that's my order to you."

Unable to meet his gaze, she lets her fingers comb through his hair again as her eyes take in the details of him. It had been hard for her to understand why he had been so apprehensive about engaging when she didn’t know exactly what it entailed, but now Pen can see why he was worried. It was such a delicate thing, such an intimate dance that was not something to be taken advantage of. And while neither of them had such ill intentions, she can understand why Ben would’ve been concerned about it. “I don’t deserve someone as thoughtful as you.”

Finally, she lets her eyes lock with his and she smiles, a blush taking over her cheeks again. His father. The wedding. In the flurry of their passion, she’d nearly forgotten about the fact that she would be meeting his family for the first time. Her first introduction to Caleb hadn’t been ideal, but Pen was confident that she could redeem herself with Ben’s help. His father, however, surely wouldn’t allow mistakes. Would he?

“I wouldn’t dare. I wouldn’t want him to know how much of a terrible influence I am.” If Pen fumbled their first meeting, was there a possibility that his father would oppose the marriage? Such an idea was terrifying and yet she didn’t feel afraid, not when she was nestled in her lover’s arms.

“No, you chose options. I want you to pick a definitive one.” Scrunching her nose playfully, she leaned forward again to whisper against his lips. “That’s an order.”

Pen leaned her forehead against his, closing her eyes to take in his warmth. She could die in this moment and be eternally happy. She felt safe, loved, happy. There was no better place to die than in the embrace of the person she loved the most. And yet Pen wasn't eager to die. For the first time in her life, she was excited about what the future might hold. About their wedding, their honeymoon, their lives together. Soon they would be married, and they'd be procuring children by the dozens if each time was anything like this.

“I confess, it seemed much longer when I didn’t know what to expect.” She smirked. “Now that I think about it, I reckon we could try them all by the time the honeymoon is over. Unless I've completely tired you out before we reach the final chapter.”

[rainbowtvz]

🩷 ❤️ 🌘 ~ rebeccaselfships

🩷sal -

sal's not really an abstract ideas kind of guy when it comes to art. he's more of a hands on crafty guy. it's why he's amazing at crafting himself masks (though it took him a while to get there) but not as great with painting them, or art in general. what little he's picked up with drawing and painting is definitely osmosis from larry and ash. give him some sculpting clay and he'll know exactly what he wants to do with it but a canvas and a brush? it's why what ash and larry can do with said canvas is so fucking amazing to him. and what (either s/i) can do with a pencil and paper is even more amazing.

🩷john

i like to think that since john is extremely sentimental in canon that it goes a step further and he carries something that reminds him of his partners, past and present, on him, to keep them a part of himself. with helen it was their wedding ring he swore to never take off (now worn on a chain around his neck) and with me it changes every so often as we're still finding our dynamic to settle into. (sometimes its a phone charm, other times it's a scarf i got him as a present.. what goes unsaid is what the final item would be if i were to leave his life prematurely.)

❤️sal

sal and i are just two silly lil goobers trying to make something with our lives, unaware that the evil cult is about to upend our lives. however we both have a sort of sixth sense that things are gonna get chaotic in the near future so we're more or less living like it's our honeymoon to get the most out of our relationship before one or both of us dies :(

so there's a lot of intimacy and a bit of co-dependency going on, and just living one day at a time, and just fully putting all our love into it like it's our last day on earth.

❤️john

john and i met because i just saw him get shot in the fucking street and stumble away and nobody batted an eye like it was somehow normal? i followed him to a hideout of his to see if he needed help only for him to put me at gunpoint because he thought i was an assassin there to finish the job. i almost ran and didn't look back but decided to see it through because i can't just.. ignore somebody getting severely hurt like that and not feel awful about it when i could've tried to help at least. we are still figuring things out between us so i don't have a lot of facts n stuff about us but things r going well so far!

🌘sal

sal loves my sense of humor, just point blank. its a good mix of silly and gallows. he can both relate to it and fall back on it to lighten the mood up anytime. and it usually makes his day when i come up with something particularly hilarious. sometimes i catch him staring off into space only to start giggling. i ask him why and he says it's because he remembered a joke i made.

🌘john

sometimes i'm not sure what's going on in john's head, but i get the feeling that just my presence is enough to keep him grounded. i think i'm sort of a break from the madness and i appreciate that i can be, because the kind of world he lives in sounds extreme, and scary. when he's with me in my corner of reality it's like he can slow down and enjoy life again. i think it makes him feel normal and like there's a light and the end of the tunnel. it's the least i can be for him. as for if he loves it about me? wel i hope it's not the only thing 😗

[rglsrctrsblck]

✨i would've made such a lovely bride (but he'll patch up the tapestry that i shred)✨

part ii : longing

The ceremony smoothly flowed down to a breathtaking reception, James running around and making sure Regulus was ushered upstairs for a touch up and the guests were sat in their respective places, pulling up an extra table and chairs for Walburga and Orion, close enough for Regulus to feel happy, but far enough to keep him from harm. Not that their parents would try anything, not with all these people around them. Besides, there was no reason for them to do anything in the first place when they willingly went to the wedding. Unless they were planning something. What were they planning?

"Hey, you look like you could use a drink,"

"Thanks, Fab. Gideon around?"

"Probably found himself someone already, you know how he is in situations like these. I mean, you're still the worst of us three but yeah, he's probably mid-shag right about now." James snorted, still in his complete ensemble from earlier.

"And you?"

"I'm a bit busy watching over my baby."

"You've with child?" James spluttered, waving his hands about as he gestured. Fabian rolled his eyes and smacked the back of his head, pointing towards his sister.

"I meant baby sister, idiot. She's with that boyfriend of hers."

"The Weasley chap? He seems like a good one."

"Oh, he is, I have no doubt. But I told him this was a test. If he doesn't tire my baby sister out from dancing all night, I'm not giving him my blessing."

"I'm assuming he already has Gideon's?"

"Daft idiot likes the boy. I'm a bit of a surist myself."

"Good for you, mate."

"Hey, how are you?" It was a question he knew was coming. There was no reason for him to be surprised. That didn't stop him from tilting his head at an angle, seemingly confused and surprised at the question.

"I'm… okay. I'm okay."

"Not fine?"

"Not quite fine, no." Fabian nodded, finishing his drink and turning to him with an outstretched hand. "Do you want my credit card?"

"No, idiot. Dance with me."

"Fab…"

"It's one night, James. One night that we get you after months of missing you. Will you please dance with me?" James sighed and let himself be tugged into the dancefloor, held against Fabian's chest.

"I hate you for this, you know."

"So do I. Why didn't you tell me you were involved with the ceremony?"

"You would've stopped me. I wanted to keep my promises."

"James…"

"It's okay. I've kept them all. It's over."

"It doesn't have to be, James. We want you here, we want you in our lives."

"You're set to go home tomorrow. They're… they're flying off to their honeymoon right after and I'm.. well, I'm going to explore again."

"You don't have to. You can come with us, you can come with me. I'll teach you how to play the drums." James chuckled against him, shaking his head. Fabian's heartbeat was rapid and strong, making him wonder if he was the one responsible for it. He hoped that he wasn't. He didn't think he could deal with the hurt.

"I'm okay, Fabian. Really."

"But you're not fine. James, I –"

"I know. It's okay. I love you."

".... Fuck you, that's not fair. You can't say shit like that and expect me to not.. that's unfair, you dickwad." James laughed and managed a small bow as the song ended, hugging the taller one more time before finding himself in a new set of arms.

"I hate you. I can't believe you kept this from me."

"You'll get over it, Lily-bear. You always do."

"Especially when it comes to you," then she smacked his chest, glaring at him. "How are you still standing right now?"

"I have legs, dearest, in case you weren't aware," he joked, laughing at her response. "I'm okay, Lily."

"You're saying that word so much that it doesn't even sound like a word anymore. What the hell, James?"

"I'm okay, Lily. I promise."

"Where will you go?"

"I don't know yet… I'm thinking going somewhere along the lines of Nordic and Baltic. Maybe."

"Have you thought of Latin America?"

"Yes, actually. My boards are starting to get overwhelmed, I think."

"Just… just keep your heart safe, James. Wherever you may end up going."

"I promise… if you promise to do the same with Mary." She smiled, knowingly, that James caught on quicker than the speed of light. "Oh.."

"I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to get sad, James."

"Oh. Oh! I'm not mad or anything, no I – I'm happy for you. I'm glad you're finally with her."

"Well, we're still at the courting stage, but… thank you, James." She didn't tell him that he'll find someone of his own. She chose not to. And James didn't know if he'll ever get to thank her enough for that.

"Mary is the luckiest woman to ever walk the earth." The redhead's eyes welled with tears, dropping her head on his shoulder as they swayed.

"I hate you, you know that?"

He chuckled, rubbing his hand up and down her back. "I know."

"I love you, you dickwad."

"I love you more, Lily-bear." She sighed, squeezing him the best she could, heart heavy in her chest.

Both could feel eyes around them as they swayed to the music, but they paid them no mind, only stopping when Mary tapped James' shoulder, her eyes soft. He nodded at her and let Lily go, stepping back.

It was almost complete. Granted, dancing with Fabian hadn't been in his original plan, but he was glad it happened. The Prewett twins had a very special place in his heart.

Watching Regulus dance with Barty was the most beautiful sight to have ever graced his eyes. They really did make a beautiful couple. 

He wondered what it would've felt like if he had been the one in Barty's place. If he hadn't walked out that night. If he hadn't run off a year ago.

Would they have gotten married? Would Regulus have been as beautiful as he was right now? Would he look as happy as he did now?

Would James have been able to achieve what Barty did?

As he carefully studied the expression in Regulus' face, the emotion, the love in his eyes, he had gotten his bittersweet answer. Even if he'd known Regulus all his life, even if he spent their earliest years making efforts to make him happy, the answer was still the same. Even if he'd ended up proposing to Regulus that night instead of them fighting, the answer was still going to be the same. Even if he hadn't run off, the answer was still going to be the same.

No. James wouldn't have been able to achieve what Barty did. Even with all those years before him, he wouldn't be able to paint the happiest expressions in Regulus' face the way Barty did.

It was bittersweet. But it was a fact he had long ago accepted.

He wished it, they, didn't have to end. But like Atlantis, like every kingdom that had fallen apart, they simply just weren't meant to last together for long.

And that was okay.

He was okay.

"Congratulations, Leo…" he whispered, ignoring the tears rolling down his cheeks. He caught Sirius' eyes and gave him a soft smile and a nod, turning around and walking away just as the next song, an upbeat one they once danced to in the kitchen, many sleepless nights ago, began playing.

Oh, I love it and I hate it at the same time

You and I drink the poison from the same vine

He tried his best to keep his emotions inside his chest, quickly finding his way out of the built-cabin and onto the parking lot. Maybe he'd been hallucinating that there were several voices calling for his name, but the voices were ignored, getting into his car and driving off back to the direction of his house.

He had made his mind.

He was leaving tonight.

His phone was buzzing against his slacks but he ignored it, until the call came from the car.

"I'm leaving and that is final."

"Drive safe, James. I saw the forecast earlier, said there's a mid-chance of rain."

"Pandora?"

"Yeah, it's me. I told them you were just fetching something from your car. How fast can you get to the airport without getting into an accident?"

"As long as it's not raining, I'll be safe."

"Okay. I'm not gonna stop you."

"I know."

"I want you to be happy."

"I know."

"It hurts that you're leaving."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise. I'm not stopping you. I just… tell me first, okay? Before you decide to run off with someone." James chuckled, wiping his cheeks.

"I will. I love you, Panda."

"I love you more, Prongs. Stay safe." He hugged the phone to his chest before ending the call, parking his car and going back to his house to pack.

Here's the thing : he had no designated destinations in mind. Nor did he have a plan. All he's going to do was pack a single suitcase and a duffel bag, pack his essentials and a couple of pairs of clothes, extra shoes, cash, his electric gadgets, and book the first flight that caught his eyes. 

It didn't matter where he was going to end up, all that mattered was that he was leaving, and he was leaving now.

His phone was still buzzing with new messages and calls, all of which are ignored as he made his way out of the house. He secured the car into the indoor parking to ensure the safety of his vehicle and hailed for a cab.

This was it. He was leaving.

Oh god, he was leaving.

The thing is, it didn't sink in until he was on the plane, halfway through taking off, his heart crashing through the surface of the plane, falling to the ground much like how it felt when he'd left the first time.

But this time, there was finality. There was no hope that someone would take him back. There was no hope that there was still a minimal chance at true happiness with who he really loved.

This was all real.

That was the only thing that circled through his mind as the plane continued to ascend. And once they were on air, so was the reality James was faced with. He only breathed deeply, finally letting himself sleep for the first time since the wedding had been in his mind.

He was going to spend a week there, he decided. 

Norway was beautiful this time of the year. The known midnight sun was one of the things he had wanted to see when he first looked it up, though he didn't think he'd visit earlier. His original plan had been to visit it during the winter months – he loved the warm weather, don't get him wrong – but the wedding being in August set his plans in motion earlier than expected. But he wasn't complaining. The wedding was the last thing on his mind as he walked through the airport, looking around in wonder.

Now, he might get scolded for this, but he hadn't planned anything in advance. Literally, he was a guy who booked the latest flight on the spot in the airport right after leaving a wedding. Cut him some slack. But he seemed like a goddamn lost puppy that he almost booked a flight back home right away. Until his eyes landed on quite possibly the most beautifully Nordic person he had ever seen.

James had never felt so bisexual until then.

The person had almost brown-ish blonde curly hair with braids on the lower ends and several piercings – and iS THAT A STAR PIERCING – that left him breathless. They also wore a knitted jumper over a beige polo shirt and pants, completed with hazel brown loafers that looked so good on them, James might consider melting onto the airport floor.

He was so distracted that he didn't even notice the person starting to walk towards him. And his eyes. Oh, holy fUCK, his eyes. 

James was very, very much bisexual. There was no doubt. 

"Hei? Er du turist?" (Hi? Are you a tourist?)

James blinked once, twice, before he regained his senses, managing a small smile as he sheepishly scratched the back of his neck.

"Er du fra England?" (Are you from England?) The person's accent was thick, giving James the impression that he lived in Norway and was a local there, almost blushing as he nodded. Actually, fuck the almost, he could feel his cheeks heat up with slight embarrassment as the other seemed to lighten up.

"Ah.. I see."

"Oh. You can speak English?" 

James, you dumbfuck, of course he can speak English.

How the fuck was he supposed to know?!

The other seemed to notice his internal monologue and chuckled, nodding. "The name's Remus Lupin. You are?"

"James. James Potter."

"Nice to meet you. How long are you planning to stay here?"

"Erm.. a week, if I figure my way around the place."

".... You have no plans, do you?"

"I do!" He defended almost immediately, pouting when the other chuckled and poked his nose.

"Name one plan you have, then I'll stop."

"Well there's… um.. there's… hey, you're named wolf wolf, did you know that?" Remus actually laughed this time, the butterflies in James' stomach doing somersaults from the sound.

"Wait til you hear of my father's name. So, you're a tourist with no plans whatsoever. How daft could you possibly be?"

"Well, I won't argue with you there." Remus laughed again, taking his suitcase from him. When James gave him a look of confusion, he took his free hand and began leading him out of the airport.

"Before I give you the best week of your life, I need to know. Would you give me your permission to take you home and show you what it's like to be alive here in my homeland?" James' hazel eyes met his own amber ones and decided on the spot that, yes. Yes, he did.

"I do." Remus beamed, grinning at him and finally leading him out of the airport, the fresh air greeting them as soon as the doors opened.

They looked at each other and smiled and James thinks that, yeah. Maybe going to Norway might have been the best idea after all.

[brummiereader]

@mischievouslittlecreature jeez Polly 😬.

What is wrong with everyone in this family? I'm so pissed off with how they treat Lucy. I can't think of one thing she's done bad to them, yet they constantly belittle her ans Tommy's relationship. I was to confident they'd warm up to her after eveything that happened with Luca. But they still keep digging their noses into their relationship and planting seeds of doubt in poor Lucy.

“That was different. He’s a politician now. His every move has the potential to invite scrutiny. If it gets out that he’s having an affair with his assistant, it could put his very position here in jeopardy" the way I wanted to scream at this!! Have they all forgotten that technically, Tommy would be having an affair with Lizzie considering LUCY is his number one girl and was and still in a relationship with her 😤.

Why is it Lizzie seems to have everyone calling the shots on her behalf?? She has far too much power in that family, Tommy needs to put t her in her place. Because the agreement was drawn up, and Lizzie agreed to it. She can't go guilt tripping everyone 😠.

Are you sure that you’re alright with our…with our arrangement for after you're married?- ”Lizzie glanced at her, eyebrow raised. “Yes, I’m sure.” Ha. HA! Yeh why do I get the feeling she'll soon start finding problems with that arrangement 🙄.

I can't stand how she's so up and down with Lucy. She's constantly making these subtle passive aggressive little digs at her. And Lucy just takes it 😩.

“No, you’re not,” he argued back gently, lips finding the top of her head. “Worried about tomorrow?” no she's f'ing not Tommy!! I wish he would have continued to refuse this marriage, because I can only see heartbreak coming from it.

Most of them are sleeping with at least one other woman who’s not their wife. Hell, a lot of them have whole second families stashed away somewhere.” can he stop referring to Lizzie as a wife...it's making me feel queasy 🙄. This is a sham marriage, and Tommy best continue to act like it is!

By this time tomorrow, he would be married. Lucy wondered if moments like these with him would become a rare occurrence. Ones that she would have to hold dear and make the most of whenever she got the chance. Even amongst that sizzling smut, Lucy continues to have doubts that he'll want to spend more time with Lizzie 😭. But one thing that gave me comfort was when she said how being with him like that, seeing him crave her makes her feel silly for believing her insecurities ❤️. I found that so beautiful, because he is trying, it's just there's really not more he can say and so to settle her worries.

“Well, after I retire from politics, or after Ruby comes of age, or when society becomes more accepting about things like divorce–” now that's an idea! And I'm honestly glad he mentioned it because it just proves that his mind is elsewhere, away from the wedding excitement Lizzie feels. He's already planning ahead, and he hasn't even married her yet 😂! Plus it got a giggle from Lucy, which is a relief to see 🥰.

He shrugged. “That’s the price she pays for not wanting you to come.” see, these are the moments she needs to give him. He needs to say these things as cruel as they are to Lizzie, else Lucy is gonna start to think he's into the idea of marrying her!

I'm honestly dreading their wedding scene 😬. Lucy is absolutely gonna beat herself up throughout the entire thing.

Wonderful chapter filled with so much emotion ❤️.

Part 22: This Misery We've Made

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x OC

Summary: As Tommy and Lizzie's wedding day draws near, Lucy battles doubts and insecurities about their arrangement.

Word Count: 6,221

Notes: Warnings for depictions of smut, insecurity, and references to past torture and injuries.

Previous Chapter • Series • Fic • Next Chapter

Chapter 2: Say We'll Be Okay

When Polly walked unexpectedly through the door, Lucy briefly panicked, thinking that she’d forgotten about a meeting Tommy was supposed to have with his aunt and accidentally double booked him. But one quick glance at the diary on her desk proved that not to be the case. She frowned a little, a pulse of trepidation finding its way into her throat. Polly looked every bit like royalty, dressed in a lavish, deep purple coat embellished by a fur collar over an equally expensive blouse and skirt, a wide brimmed hat atop her head. She was growing her hair out from the short style she’d worn it in during the vendetta, the dark curls styled neatly around her chin. 

“Polly,” Lucy greeted, sitting up straight. “Tommy’s in a meeting right now–” 

“Actually, I’m here to see you.”

Lucy blinked, the uneasiness within her growing even more pronounced. She always got nervous when talking with Polly without Tommy present to serve as a buffer between them. 

Polly’s dark eyes darted to where Adam was seated at the second desk in the office near the back.

“Adam,” Lucy said, getting the kid’s attention, “why don’t you take your lunch break a little early, today?”

He looked up from the speech he’d been editing, noticed Polly and the clear tension between them, and hastily put down his pen. “Are you sure, Lucy?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Go on.”

He got up and collected his hat and coat from the hooks by the wall, offering Polly a respectful nod and a soft “Mrs. Gray,” when he walked past her. 

“He seems to be settling in well,” Polly remarked, sliding off her gloves.

“Yeah. He’s a good kid. What do you need?” Capping her pen, Lucy folded her hands in front of her on top of the papers she’d been looking over before Polly came in. 

Removing her hat, Polly slid into one of the leather chairs across from her, meticulously crossing one leg over the other and laying her hat in her lap.

“Lizzie told me about the conditions you and Tommy put forth to her about the marriage.”

Lucy started to unconsciously fumble at the plain gold bands encircling her fingers. The wedding was in only a few short weeks, and to say that she was dreading it would be an understatement. Things had happened very quickly after the proposal.

“And?”

Polly lit one of her black cigarettes with the snap of a lighter, puffing on it greedily and eyeing Lucy with an obvious challenge in her dark eyes. “You really think that it’s a good idea for you and Tommy to keep up this…whatever it is that goes on between the two of you after he’s married?”

“We were still together after he married Grace–”

“That was different. He’s a politician now. His every move has the potential to invite scrutiny. If it gets out that he’s having an affair with his assistant, it could put his very position here in jeopardy.”  

I know that. You think that I don’t fucking know that? Lucy swallowed hard, reaching for the cigarette case on her desk, pulling one out and lighting it, stalling to give herself time to think of a response, hoping that Polly wouldn't notice the slight way that her hands trembled.

“We know the risks. We’ll be careful.”

“You two have never been nearly as good at being subtle as you think you are.” She shook her head. “I thought that it was a bad idea, him choosing to bring you along with him here in the first place. Too many people in Birmingham already know you two are caught up in some sort of…entanglement. Rumors are already starting to circulate. You really think that they’ll stop just because he marries someone else?”

Lucy crossed one arm around herself, her elbow moving to rest on her wrist. Holding her cigarette close to her face, she used her thumb to brush a few stray red curls out of her eyes. She could barely meet Polly’s harsh gaze. 

“Lucy,” placing her still smoking cigarette into the ashtray on the desk, Polly stood, planting both hands on the fine wood between them and leaning towards her, looming over her. For a moment fully encompassing the identity of the Shelby matriarch exerting her whole force of influence. “Being with you is not worth Tommy potentially losing everything he has worked so hard for.”

Hearing the words that had been circling over and over in her own head actually spoken aloud hit as hard as a slap would have. Lucy jerked sharply, cringing away in spite of herself. She stared at Polly destitutely.

“What would you have me do, Polly?” 

Polly’s dark eyes softened a fraction when she recognized the sorrow on Lucy’s face. “I think you already know.” 

“You really think that he would be unaffected if I just…left?” 

“He’d get over it. In time. Especially with a new, beautiful wife and two perfect children at his side.”

A small sound emitted from Lucy’s throat. It would have hurt less if Polly had walked in, dumped a bucket of gasoline over her head, and set her on fire.

Sometimes, the only thing that kept her from packing a bag in the middle of the night and going to the train station was knowing how heartbroken Tommy would be if she left. The mental images of him with tears in his eyes, chasing after her train, screaming for her to come back, was more than enough to convince her to stay. Despite everything, she still could not bring herself to leave his side. 

Who would take care of him, if she was gone? She certainly did not trust Polly to–at least not in the way that he really needed. Arthur, while his heart was in the right place, was too messed up to be of much help. Ada and Uncle Charlie could maybe both be of use, but they each had their own shit to deal with. They could not devote themselves entirely to Tommy in the way that Lucy did. 

But maybe Lizzie could…

Lucy shuddered, fingers clenching hard around her cigarette in an attempt to ground herself. She loved Tommy. She wanted nothing but good things for him. She could not leave him if she thought that her departure would cause him unhappiness. But if she could be sure that he could find happiness with Lizzie, if she knew that she could trust Lizzie to take care of him the way that he needed…

Polly reached across the table, and touched her shoulder. It was only then that Lucy realized that a single tear had slid down her cheek, with more gleaming unshed within her eyes.  

“I’m not trying to be cruel, dear. We’ve had our differences in the past, I know. I really am just looking out for the good of everyone.”

Lucy looked up at her, lips parted to speak, when the double doors leading into Tommy’s office opened. She hastily looked down and away, trying subtly to brush away the lone tear she had shed before Tommy stepped out with his colleague. He quirked a puzzled eyebrow at Polly’s presence, shaking the man’s hand and bidding him goodbye before turning to his aunt. 

“Hello, Polly. What are you doing here?”

“I was in the city running some errands, so thought that I’d come by and say hello,” Polly smiled, chipper as a chipmunk that had just found a whole bushel of nuts to keep it happy and well fed the entire winter.

Tommy’s eyes went to Lucy’s, not entirely buying Polly’s story. 

What happened? his expression asked, noticing something in her face. She just gave a miniscule shake of her head. 

It’s fine.

He didn’t look wholly convinced, but caught on that now wasn’t a good time to pry further.

“Well, since you’re here, we can talk about the latest developments. Have you spoken with Michael lately?”

“Yes, actually,” Polly started to launch into a recount of her latest phone call with Michael while Tommy shepherded her into his office. He didn’t look to be entirely listening to her, instead shooting Lucy a concerned glance from over his shoulder. She offered him a weak smile that only made him look more worried, and before following Polly into his office he leaned forward, and pressed a firm kiss between her brows. 

Whatever she said, don’t listen to it, his eyes told her. Lucy gave a tiny nod.

“Tommy?” Polly’s voice called from the office. 

“Coming,” he sighed, but didn’t actually move until after he’d brushed the back of his hand affectionately down Lucy’s cheek with a small, comforting smile. Despite herself, she leaned into the touch desperately, closing her eyes while his thumb stroked her skin. 

“I love you,” he mouthed to her when she finally met his gaze.

“Love you too,” she whispered hoarsely back, so quietly it was a wonder that he even heard her. With another gentle smile, he kissed the top of her head, ducking back into his office before Polly could shout for him again. He left the doors open, as if to let her know that she was more than welcome to join them at any time.   

Lucy raised a fist to rest against her lips as she stared after him, heart aching, and Polly’s words swirling around inside her head. 

∗ ∗ ∗

“Thank you again for the teddy bear. I swear that she hasn’t let it out of her grasp since I first gave it to her.”

Lucy smiled softly, leaning forward to watch Ruby play on the blanket Lizzie had set up for her in the sitting room. The aforementioned teddy bear was clutched in the baby’s arms, one of her chubby cheeks squished against it. Lucy was always buying her gifts. Tommy kept joking that she was going to spoil her, as if he were any better about not buying her anything and everything that he thought she might want. 

That sweet girl deserved to be spoiled as much as possible. 

 “I’m glad.”

“Thanks for coming by and watching her. I swear, with Tilly on holiday I haven’t gotten even a second to myself.” Lizzie finally swooped in from the kitchen with two teacups for them. With all the wedding planning and then her nanny taking a week long holiday, she looked more than a little frazzled.

“It’s no problem. I’m always happy to spend time with her.”

Lizzie’s gaze softened, passing Lucy her teacup and sitting down beside her on the couch, putting her own cup down on the table so she could reach over to stroke her daughter’s cheek. 

“Aren’t you excited, Ruby? We’ll be going to live with Daddy soon. You’ll get to see him allllll the time,” Lizzie cooed. The baby babbled excitedly and she giggled, leaning back. “God, she’s getting so big.”

Lucy nodded, remembering how fast Charlie had seemed to grow. “It always happens so fast.”

They both watched little Ruby play for a while, sipping on their tea in silence. Lucy knew that she needed to get going, but there was something that she needed to ask, before she did. 

Mustering up her courage, she took a deep breath, setting her teacup back down into its saucer. “Lizzie?”

“Mhm?” her gaze did not leave Ruby.

“Are you sure that you’re alright with our…with our arrangement for after you're married?”

Lizzie glanced at her, eyebrow raised. “Yes, I’m sure.”

“Once it’s done, it won’t exactly be easy to back out of.”

“Yes, I know.” Lizzie splayed out her left hand, looking down at the glittering engagement ring on her finger. Lucy could only look at it for a moment before she had to glance away. “It’s all going to work itself out.”

Lucy examined her face closely. Something about the way that she said that last part had the fine hairs on the back of her arms standing on end. 

“Lizzie…” she spoke as gently as she could, terrified of accidentally setting her off. “You can’t force someone to love you. I don’t want you to go into this expecting that once the marriage license is signed he’ll just–”

“I know,” Lizzie cut her off, but Lucy did not really think that she did. There was a distant look on her face, a dreaminess as if she were lost in a faraway fantasy. One in which Lucy was certain that she did not exist and Tommy was falling over himself to kiss Lizzie’s feet. 

How many times had she attempted to get it through Lizzie’s head that she could not brute force Tommy into loving her the way that she wanted him to? Too many to count, at this point. There was not much more she could do but hope that Lizzie managed to figure it out for herself, and trust that she–like Tommy–could make her own decisions. 

“Okay,” she murmured, even though she felt anything but. 

∗ ∗ ∗

On the night before the wedding, it took nearly every ounce of willpower that Lucy had not to pack a bag and run far, far away. 

She felt sick with anxiety and guilt. Like a huge stone had been lodged in her gut. Polly’s words played on a loop inside her head, and the look of quiet hopefulness in Lizzie’s eyes flashed before her every time she shut her eyes. 

She had not mentioned the conversation she’d had with Polly to Tommy.

She knew that she probably should have, but she always hated it when he argued with any of his family because of her. So she kept her mouth shut, despite Polly’s words circling and festering in her mind. 

Would it not be better for everyone if she left? Tommy would not have to juggle prioritizing her along with Lizzie and everyone else, Ruby and Charlie would have a stable, normal household to grow up in, and Lizzie could finally have a shot at actually living out the fantasy she’d been dreaming of for years and years. No one in the family outside of Tommy would even miss her, and he could easily find a new assistant to replace her. There were plenty of qualified people, even amongst just the Blinders.  

“Lucy?”

She roused from her internal downward spiral at the sound of Tommy’s voice. He was standing in the middle of the bedroom, having already removed all his clothes save for his trousers, white button down shirt, and suspenders. He had his hands in his pockets, staring at her worriedly. When she looked up at him and he saw her face, he quickly came to sit beside her on the bed. 

“Are you okay?” he asked, carefully draping an arm around her. She let him pull her into his side, head coming to rest against his shoulder. 

“Mhm.”

“No, you’re not,” he argued back gently, lips finding the top of her head. “Worried about tomorrow?”

“Do you really think that this is a good idea?”

He frowned, confusion entering his eyes. “What? The wedding?”

She shook her head. “Us staying together.” 

The confusion morphed into panic. “What do you mean?”

Lucy swiped at her nose with the back of her hand, aware that she was about two seconds away from starting to cry. It felt like ever since the vendetta ended, most of what she did was either cry or mope around feeling sorry for herself. He must be so tired of having to comfort her all the damn time. 

Yet another thing to add to the list of improvements that her absence would bring: Tommy no longer would be burdened with having to take care of her. 

“Having an affair after you get married is a huge risk, Tommy. If someone finds out about it…it could ruin everything.”

Tommy drew back slightly to stare at her. His brows were pulled in, lips turning downwards, his gaze apprehensive and hurt. 

“Do you…” he swallowed hard, throat convulsing, and she realized that the question he was about to ask her was almost enough to bring him to tears. “Do you want to split up?”

“No. No; of course I don’t want to split up. I love you. But I don’t think that I could live with the guilt if I were the reason you lose everything you’ve worked so hard for.” She touched his face. “I don’t want to become a problem for you.”

His hand covered hers, squeezing against her knuckles. “You could never,” he said softly, leaning closer to bring their foreheads together. “It’ll be alright. We’ll be careful. Besides,” he angled his head to kiss her nose. “You think I’ll be the only MP having an affair? Most of them are sleeping with at least one other woman who’s not their wife. Hell, a lot of them have whole second families stashed away somewhere.”

He’d had her gather up dirt on a good many of his fellow MPs after he was elected. Just in case they ever needed to twist someone’s arm on something or ensure their silence on certain topics. She knew better than most the kinds of dirty secrets those men in their pompous, expensive suits and positions of power held close.  

“Listen,” Tommy wetted his lips, sitting up and taking a hold of both her shoulders. “If you really don’t want me to marry Lizzie, I won’t.”

“No, it’s fine…”

“If me marrying her means that I can’t be with you, then I won’t do it. You’re too important. I can’t lose you.”

She leaned closer, until their foreheads were touching, her fingertips laying upon his cheeks. “You have me. This marriage is what’s for the best. For you and Ruby.”

“Your happiness matters too.” 

She looked down with a sad smile. Sweet and gentle as his words were, they were hard to believe. Not when she’d put what was best for him over her being content every time.  

“Hey, look at me,” he coaxed her chin back up with his hand. “It does. It does. Ey?” He cradled the side of her face, thumb stroking her cheekbone. “We’re going to be just fine. I’ll make sure of it.”

She nodded shakily, breaths stuttering with the emotion inside her chest. 

“Come here,” he drew her closer, and she let her hands rest on his chest when he slanted his mouth over hers, kissing her in a way that was soft but impossibly deep, tongue stroking slowly into her mouth. 

She kissed him back, eager for him to drive away the storm inside her and silence the cruel voices in her own head. With a soft sound of desperation, Tommy’s hands went to her shirt, fumbling with the buttons. Lucy’s fingers found their way into his hair while he abandoned her lips to instead pepper kisses down her neck. His large hands were warm even through the material of her clothes. With a soft whine, Lucy pressed herself closer, chasing the heat of his touch. 

Soon as her shirt was fully open, he pushed it eagerly off of her shoulders, hands smoothing across her ribs. While he explored the newly exposed skin, she set to work getting him out of his own shirt, tossing the button down to join hers on the floor, then coaxing him to raise his arms enough so she could pull off the undershirt layered beneath. Tommy loosened the ties on her bra, pulling it away and almost immediately cupping both breasts in his hands, squeezing and massaging the globes of flesh, running his thumbs across her nipples until she trembled.

His mouth returned to hers, and as they kissed he got her out of her trousers and knickers and promptly manhandled her into his lap, an arm around her waist to help keep her balance. Their foreheads knocked clumsily against each other at their eagerness to steal more kisses, but neither seemed to care. 

By this time tomorrow, he would be married. Lucy wondered if moments like these with him would become a rare occurrence. Ones that she would have to hold dear and make the most of whenever she got the chance. 

As if reading her mind, Tommy pulled back just enough for their eyes to meet, thumb stroking her freckled cheek. 

“I’m always going to be yours. No matter what,” he said resolutely. 

Lucy felt a lump swell in her throat. “Don’t make me cry right now.”

His lips quirked up. “Sorry,” he kissed her again. “But I mean it.”

“I know. I know you do, love.” She found his lips once more, and he promptly banished any other thoughts of his impending nuptials with the opening of his mouth against hers, and the tender stroke of his hands down her back. 

After what happened to her during the vendetta, her back was covered in a mass of crisscrossed scars. Tommy’s hands traced the shape of them, as he had dozens of times before with both his hands and lips. The skin was more sensitive since the injuries that left it so mangled, and he kept his touch light and careful. 

Pressing down deeper into his lap, Lucy ground against the growing bulge in his trousers, earning herself a deep hiss. He tried to chase her when she drew back from their kisses, the small whine he released making her smile. 

Giving him a small, teasing smirk, she slid her hands down his body to fumble with his belt, Tommy lifting his hips dutifully to allow her to easily pull his trousers and briefs down his legs. 

His half hard cock sprang up, bobbing before her, and a low groan sounded from Tommy’s throat when she wrapped her hand around it, stroking him slowly to full hardness. As he swelled in her hand, she leaned forward to press kisses to his stomach, making her way lazily up his chest. Between her legs, her clit ached, her walls squeezing around nothing at the way his cock throbbed against her palm. 

The arm Tommy had around her waist gave her a small squeeze, readjusting her in his lap so that she could straddle one of his thighs. She moaned softly into his chest when she pressed down, grinding eagerly. Tommy hissed through his teeth at how wet she already was, her slick soaking his leg whilst she humped him. Peering up and seeing a sudden opportunity in their current position, Lucy settled her unoccupied hand on his ribs, dipping her head to suck one of his nipples into her mouth. He let out a startled grunt at the action, hips bucking into her hand of their volition. Lucy giggled, circling her tongue around him and enjoying the way he shivered as she bit lightly at the hardened peak. 

Letting him go with a small pop, she peered up at him innocently, probably looking far too pleased with herself at having caught him unawares. Tommy touched her cheek lightly, brows knitted in mock sternness that was greatly undercut by the sparkle in his eyes. 

“What was that for, eh?”

She shrugged, trying–and failing–to contain her grin as she gazed up at him. Tommy’s eyes narrowed playfully.

“You trying to get me to punish you, hm?” his hand stroked her face, and when his thumb passed across her lips, she nipped at it, snickering when he snatched it away.

“Always.”

His cock twitched in her hand, and she raised an amused eyebrow at him, taking note of the reaction.

“Get over here then,” he grunted, both hands landing on her hips. She bit her lip around her smile, letting him pull her into position over his cock. “Ready?”

She nodded, and he kissed her cheek, slowly guiding her down onto him. They both moaned at the stretch as she slowly took him into her inch by thick inch. 

“God, you’re always so tight,” burying his face in her neck, Tommy wrapped his arms around her. Lucy hummed, walls aching slightly at his considerable girth, giving herself a moment to adjust before she started to move. 

Tommy’s moans were low, his eyes lidded heavily whilst he watched her begin to bounce on him, hands situating to help guide her movements, their pace starting out slow. 

It was amazing how easily it was for her to realize just how silly she was being once his hands were on her. The way that he looked at her, with so much love and adoration brimming in his big blue eyes, was proof enough that he was just as unlikely as she was to be able to survive them being parted from each other. 

When he was there to help ground her, it was easier to quiet her insecurities and trust that he would ensure everything turned out alright. He cherished their relationship as much as she did; surely he would do everything within his power to keep it safe. 

It was when she was on her own, left with only her own thoughts to keep her company, without Tommy around to help balance out and quiet them, that she started to get into trouble. No matter how unreasonable and absurd she knew she was being, once she started to spiral, it was almost impossible for her to manage to stop it on her own. 

They’d learned that the hard way, during the holiday they took right after the vendetta was over, when they both nearly lost themselves to their ravaged minds. 

“Oh fuck, fuck. That feels good. Don’t stop. Don’t fucking stop, Lucy,” Tommy groaned, eyes rolling in his head when she started to pick up the pace and swiveled her hips on him. His grip on her tightened, cheek resting against hers while his head tipped back.

“Close,” she warned, as if he couldn’t already tell from the way she was moaning into his neck, walls fluttering around him.  

With a growl, his hips rolled up more vigorously into her, hand sneaking between their bodies to find her clit.

“Oh…” her eyes screwed shut, orgasm so close she could almost taste it. “Please, please…”

“Hm? Please, what, pretty girl?”

She sobbed at the low octave his voice had dipped into, hands scrambling at his powerful shoulders. Tommy chuckled.

“Can’t give you what you want if you won’t tell me, sweetheart.”

“H-harder…”

“Harder, eh? You mean like this?” Hand splaying out firmly at the small of her back to keep her from falling off, he started to snap his hips up with more force, adding more pressure to her clit as he did. 

She could only answer with a moan, drawing scratch marks down his back. Tommy chuckled, the vibrations reverberating throughout his chest and rumbling pleasantly against her. 

It took only a handful more thrusts, and a kiss to her temple, and she came hard. It sent explosive bursts of color flashing across her eyes, entire body tensing and relaxing simultaneously with the force of her orgasm. She held onto Tommy for dear life, and without even really thinking, so overcome with pleasure and affection for him, she bit into his shoulder. 

Tommy let out a massive moan, eyes rolling at the sting of her teeth against his skin. And suddenly he was seizing her in his arms and rolling them. Her back hit the mattress, one of his strong palms cradling the back of her head and neck to protect them.     

He practically loomed over her, something wild and animalistic awakened in his eyes. Lucy couldn’t quite stop the gasp that left her lips at how the sudden position change emphasized just how much bigger he was than her. 

But it didn’t feel threatening. Not in the slightest. To her, Tommy would never truly seem scary or intimidating. When it came to her, he only ever offered protection and love. 

Biting her lip, she stared at the center of his chest. She probably wouldn’t have been able to even recall her own name had someone asked. She was too encompassed by the feelings of being both incredibly protected and aroused. 

With a growl that seemed to echo throughout the entire room, Tommy started thrusting into her wildly. Lucy gasped, wrapping her legs around his waist, pulling him in tighter against her. 

“Fuck,” her eyes closed, head falling back as her hands moved from where they’d settled on his waist to instead smooth across his strong back, feeling the way his muscles clenched and shifted under his skin. Tommy chuckled when she reached down to briefly squeeze a handful of his ass, vibrations rumbling against her neck where his lips were pressing soft kisses and gentle nips. 

She could feel that he was drawing nearer to his release, his breaths stuttering in his chest, hips driving into hers desperately. He was entering her at an angle that had his pubic bone grinding against her clit with each thrust, and it did not take long for her to be teetering on the edge as well, walls starting to spasm around his twitching cock. 

“Shit,” Tommy grunted, hands fisting in the bedsheets on either side of her head. “Lucy.” He said her name like it was the most precious thing in the entire world, and she felt tears burn at the edges of her eyes. 

“Fill me up,” she half begged, head tipping back and eyes closing. Her second orgasm ripped through her with such ferocity that her legs twitched around Tommy’s waist, walls clamping down on him in a vice grip. 

Tommy cried out, one hand scrambling to seize hold of hers, lacing their fingers together and squeezing as he spilled his seed inside her. His forehead landed to rest on her temple, breaths heaving in his chest, hips thrusting lazily to prolong their pleasures until both were utterly spent.     

Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, Lucy stared up at the canopy covering the bed, Tommy’s weight comforting and heavy on top of her. He curled both arms underneath and around her, head turning to settle on her clavicle while his breathing returned to normal. She ran her fingers delicately through his soft dark hair, sighing when he pressed a delicate kiss to the hollow of her throat. 

When he finally did decide to move, it was to merely pull his softening cock out of her and maneuver them to lay on their sides facing each other. He always did worry about squishing her when she was under him. 

Lucy swallowed harshly when she looked into his eyes, his hand returning to its favorite pastime of stroking her face. 

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, tracing the shape of her lips. “I know that this whole thing is so fucking shitty for you, love.” The arm around her tightened, and he drew in a little closer to her. “Whatever you need from me to make it easier for you, please, just tell me. Don’t ever feel bad about it. You won’t be causing problems, or being selfish, I promise. I need to make sure that you’re okay.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, laying a hand on his waist, feeling his side expand with his breaths. 

“I mean it, if you really don’t want me to do this…”

“So long as Lizzie continues to be alright with our arrangement, I think it’ll be fine. It’s just going to take some getting used to at first.” 

“More for her than for you or me. Once the honeymoon is over, things will go mostly back to the way that they were before.”

“It still doesn’t seem fair to her.”

Tommy shrugged. “She agreed to it. And we’ve asked multiple times now if she’s still sure that she’s alright with the arrangement. She’s said yes every time.”

“She could still always change her mind.” The thought chilled Lucy to her core. What would they do if that happened? Tommy would be bound to her, unable to get away without creating an absolute shitshow. “Once the ink dries on that marriage license and the rings go on, she has you forever.” 

“No, she doesn’t.” Tommy propped himself up slightly, brows pulling together. His hand reached out for her face, taking firm hold of her cheek, thumb drawing across her cheekbone. “She doesn’t own me. I can make my own choices. We have made it as clear as we can what she is getting herself into. If she does change her mind, as far as I’m concerned, that’s her problem. Not ours. She’ll have to decide if she can live with what she agreed to or not. Rings can be taken off, love. If they have to be.”

“We both know that it’s not that simple.”

“Hey,” his grip tightened, forcing her to meet his worried eyes. “It doesn’t have to be forever.” 

Face creasing in confusion, she searched his eyes. “What do you mean?”

Tongue darting out to wet his lips, Tommy swallowed. “Well, after I retire from politics, or after Ruby comes of age, or when society becomes more accepting about things like divorce–”

She gaped at him. “You can’t possibly be serious.”

“Why not?”

“So, what? You just divorce her when the time is right?”

“Yes.”

“And then what?”

He shrugged. “And then…you and I could get married, if that’s what you wanted,” her heart did a little swoop. “Or we could carry on as we have before. Whatever you want.” 

“If you wait until Ruby is of age, that’s almost twenty years,” she frowned, suddenly deeply aware of her own thirty-three years. “You aren’t gonna want me anymore when I’m all old and wrinkly.”

“I’ll always want you.” 

“You make it really hard to argue with you when you’re being so bloody charming.”

He grinned, thumb running along her cheekbone. “Sorry,” he said, though he very obviously was not. He took hold of her face with both hands. “I know how bloody selfish it is to ask you to wait for me–”

“I’ll wait,” she said, without hesitation. His gaze softened, leaning down to kiss her deeply in gratitude.

“Thank you,” he dropped his face to peck her bare shoulder. “It isn’t forever. Remember that. And if we need to end it prematurely–if you need me to end it prematurely–even if the timing isn’t ideal, I’ll do it. Just say that word.” Leaning back, he cocked his head, suddenly very serious. “She doesn’t have me. You have me. Always.”

She started to sniffle. “I told you not to make me cry.”

He stroked away her tears and then engulfed her in a tight hug, her cheek squishing into his chest. “Sorry,” he said again, this time much more genuine. She shook her head against his apology, burrowing closer. 

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Lucy.” His cheek adjusted against her head. “Promise you will tell me if you’re having trouble in here,” he tapped the crown of her head and stroked her curls, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I don’t like the thought of you suffering in silence when I could help.”

“I don’t want to be all clingy and cause you more problems—“

“You and your needs are never a problem,” he leaned back, a smile twitching at the corners of his lips. “And maybe I like you clingy.”

She snorted quietly at that. “It’s going to be hard to be away from you for so long.” The honeymoon was only planned to last a week, but it was easily the longest they’d ever been away from each other. 

Tommy let out a pained sound. “I really don’t want to go.”

She touched his jaw, trying to soothe him. “You might have fun…”

“She’s making us go to fucking Paris, Lucy.”

“I know,” she said softly. Her eyebrows had nearly risen all the way up to her hairline when Lizzie had announced Paris as the location she wanted them to honeymoon in. It made her wonder how Lizzie could claim that she knew Tommy at all, when she couldn’t even seem to understand why he might not be particularly thrilled to go anywhere located in France. “It’s just for a week,” she tried to convince herself as much as him. 

“We can talk on the phone.”

“Oh, she’ll love that.”

He shrugged. “That’s the price she pays for not wanting you to come.”

“Mm,” Lucy hummed, touching his face affectionately. Silence fell over them, just staring into each other’s eyes, caressing the other’s cheeks and jaws tenderly. 

“You still have my soul, you know?” she remarked, voice seeming very quiet in the otherwise dark stillness of the room. The first gift she ever gave him, presented at their first official meeting, during the deal that began the merging of their two beings into one. Please, don’t throw it away.  

Tommy’s hand took hold of one of hers, guiding it to press against his chest above his heart. “And you still have my heart.” Please, don’t break it, his eyes begged. Lucy swallowed at the memory of the night he offered it to her, as an equal trade for the soul she’d already relinquished to him. 

He urged her face up to look at him, her wide green eyes meeting his icy blue ones. He kissed her softly, so much raw emotion packed into the brush of their lips that she nearly broke down into hysterical sobs right there in his arms. 

“We’re going to be okay.”

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[thomacrumbs]

how fortunate it is, to have you.

thoma is inazuma's most eligle bachelor, i mean, he's got everything down- from looks to smarts to housework, there seems to be nothing that phases him. well, there isn't, unless that something is his classmate (and crush of, like, seven years), in which he then finds himself less of a put together barista and a schoolboy in sixth grade again.

thoma x gn! reader. coffee shop! au. thoma's a mess but we love him. ♡s & ↻s appreciated! a/n at the end but this is for @kkayn! happy hols!

“hi! welcome to komo-” when he whirls around, bright, customer-service smile ready to dazzle someone with his wit & charm, he wasn't expecting you to be standing there, basked in the light of a winter afternoon, staring thoughtfully at the menu above his head.

calm down, thoma, it's just y/n- my god, it's y/n! wait- put down the cup before you fucking drop it & make a fool of yourself.

his suddenly shaking and sweaty hands set down the mug he was cleaning on the counter with a clink, opting to set his hands against the familiar grooves & dips of the cashier screen instead.

“hi, um, welcome to komore teahouse! how can i help you?”

he flashed you his best grin, although he doesn't really have to try, as he realised his jaw is starting to hurt from how hard he was smiling once he spotted you.

“wow, thoma, i didn't know you worked here. do you run this place by yourself?” you smiled back at him, and he swears the room suddenly got brighter, you can't do this to him- he'll go blind!

so that's why ayaka gasped and suddenly dipped into the backroom, she must've spotted you from outside the window... she's never going to let this one go, thoma.

“i'm the only one out here right now. usually there's other people too.”

he replies, face heating up as you lean forward to get a better look at the menu. when you draw back you watch him fumble with those really gorgeous eyes he could get lost in... focus!

“anyways, i can, uh,” he stammers, attempting to find something to do with his hands. is it too awkward to pick up the mug again? or should i just keep it like this? am i gripping this too hard?

“can i get your coffee? i mean do you want drink? want cup? i-... thirsty?”

you laugh, and he hears wedding bells & angel choirs (even if you are laughing at his expense).

“calm down, thoma, i'm not going to eat you.”

you puff out your cheeks as your eyes scan the menu again, and his heart almost jumps out of his chest, and he's pretty sure you can hear the comical BA-DUMP, BA-DUMP of his heart wailing & screaming and doing cartwheels.

“how about that one?” you point at the far right display board, and he can already see the curly script of ayaka's handwriting in his mind.

how does our barista see you? get them to choose a drink based on how much they like you (or not)!

“the one where i have to choose something?”

you laugh at his horrified expression, “yes, thoma, the one where you have to choose something.”

you lean on the table, hand steepled as you place your chin neatly upon them, eyes fluttering in pretend innocence as you stare up at him.

“how do you see me?”

THINK CAREFULLY, DUMBASS. THIS CAN RUIN YOUR RELATIONSHIP FOREVER.

“maybe... the chocolate mocha latte?”

ARE YOU STUPID?

he sees your eyes flicker over the board, no doubt trying to figure out what a chocolate mocha latte means. he watches as your face stretches from confusion into a cat-got-the-canary grin.

“maybe?”

“uh, no, you are.”

he flashes you his signature smile- the one grandma coos over and everyone in a five mile radius swoons over. might as well die on this hill.

CHOCOLATE MOCHA LATTE - I WANT YOUR SMILE TO LAST FOREVER.

“well, thoma,” you muse, seemingly unperturbed by his basically-a-love-confession answer, “i'll give you... a caramel expresso.”

a caramel expresso? but that's... he whips his head around to make sure he's not imagining it. but as he suspected, in pristine white chalk looped across the board accompanied with a crude drawing of a coffee cup-

“i love you?” he splutters, surely, you must mean something else-

“i love you too, thoma.”

you laugh as he turns as red his apron, eyes widen as he gapes at you, “how did you know?”

“about your pretty obvious crush? ayaka had enough, so she told me. but i guess i hid my end pretty well,” you cheekily smile at him, and lean forward to press your lips against his cheek, and he splutters, the normally all-competent & head-screwed-on-straight thoma reduced to a simple tomato, and even more adorable, it seems.

“so?” you question, but all you get in return as a series of frantic incoherent noises.

ah, you might've broke him.

hi @kkayn! i was your secret santa for this year. i hope you have a wonderful time with all the gifts you want <33 happy holidays!!! i hope this was to your liking mwah mwah.

[skiyoosmi]

post-break up heartaches

verse 1. in the car that used to drive us to our home

⤷ kuroo tetsurou, oikawa tooru — more characters coming soon

⤷ verse 2 | verse 3

⤷ play. never let me go by ghostly kisses, forget about us by clinton kane

commissions: open

⇢ KUROO sighs for the umpteenth time of the day. he was so fucking exhausted and his body's about to give in to sleep any moment now. work has been beating his ass; there was this newbie who kept on messing up the documents needed by the board and for the whole day, he had to be the one to fix said issues. it's not like he wasn't paid enough for that; if anything, his paycheck was one of the most beautiful things he laid his eyes on— but god, even his body has its own limits and yet...

"ya.... yer not supposed to do this anymore. y-ya left me, remember?" you slurred, index finger pointing right at his chest as he circled his arms around your waist, huffing as you practically dropped all your weight on him. here he was, suddenly given the task of having to take you home after your supposed-to-be designated driver, miya fucking atsumu, also drank his brains out with you.

"be patient. still heartbroken because of you, y'know?" kenma softly tells him despite the tipsy feeling lurking in the back of his mind, shaking his head as he looked at you, whose system finally shut down and were now dozing off in the black haired man's arms.

"..... still?" he mumbles, looking down at your figure and he feels his heart contract with pain all over again.

"you can't expect her to be fine immediately, kuroo. it was your wedding day, supposed to be the greatest day of her life and yet it became the worst one... you left her at the altar alone."

he didn't reply anything— or rather, he was unable to. because what can he say to refute the truth? nothing. instead, he proceeded to his car with you still in his hold. he places you on the passenger seat, locking the seatbelts before jogging to the driver's side.

the car ride was calm as you slept soundly with your head occasionally hitting the window lightly as it swayed from side to side. he was sure as hell that if you were sober right now, you wouldn't even have the thought of seeing him cross your mind. he just knows for sure that you despise him with your whole being... at least, that's what he thought until...

"i'm sorry, tetsu. please come back," you whimper in your seat, voice quiet but he heard it nonetheless, "tell me what i did wrong so i can fix it."

the pitiful sounds and mumbles you made struck kuroo right in the heart and which makes him pull over an empty but safe road, just a block away from your (previously shared) apartment. looking over your form, he finds himself reaching out to touch your face, caressing your cheeks as drops of tears fell down slowly on them, "you didn't do anything wrong. you were fine. you were so perfect."

you squint your eyes at him, probably wondering if this was real or just a part of your drunken imagination. nonetheless, you hiccuped, "y-you... you left me and i... i still can't even bring myself to hate you... i just wanna ask you why? i just want to understand."

he thought he also knew the reason why but every single time he thinks about it, he's only led to one conclusion: because he was a coward. no way was this any of your fault— it's definitely not your fault that right at that moment, as he stared at the mirror, wearing the black suit you chose for him, the sudden fear of commitment loomed over him. it's not like it was your fault he suddenly got scared of losing you the way his parents lost each other. but now he thinks it's ironic, because he lost you anyway.

maybe... just maybe, if he had just met you where you stood at the altar, instead of leaving you alone in it, maybe he would've been happier. maybe his days would've started more with a smile from you as you helped him fix his necktie before going to work. maybe, the working hours he spends in the shitty corporate world would've been more worth it if it meant he can come home to you at the end of the day. maybe... maybe he wouldn't have to be stuck with this lump in his throat as he wonders what could've been happening if he just chose to show up and vowed his life to you.

but he didn't.

"i realized i wasn't just ready to tie my life with anyone yet. that's all there is to it, yn."

so with a heavy feeling stuck in his chest and a quiet promise to never see you again for the sake of not hurting you further, he starts the car's engine again, ignoring the words you replied but he was sure they will haunt him for a very long time... again.

i can wait for you no matter how long it takes, tetsu, you know that.

⇢ OIKAWA gives you what seems like a guilty smile as he stands in front of you, opening his arms and gesturing you to come closer. but the stoic expression on your face takes him back to the reality that the last thing you wanted to do today was to actually fetch him from the airport. it just so happens that his three best friends were caught up with work that they had no choice but to send you, the main ex-bestfriend slash ex-girlfriend, to him.

why did you agree when you practically loathe him with your whole being? well, it was probably because you weren't the devil who would reject your friends when they were literally on their knees as they begged you and for some reason, you thought he'll look pitiful going back to his home country after five years with no one to welcome him. yeah, that's it. it's not like you're still in love with him or anything.

"my car's just around the corner," you begrudgingly walk towards the car park with him quietly following. at the moment, he knew better than to get on your nerves or else there would be war. he hates that this happened to the both of you but he can't blame anyone else but himself. because who wouldn't hate their ex-boyfriend if they suddenly broke up with them over a phone call?

tension filled the car as you both sat beside each other. perhaps, this was what other people were talking about when they say that it's impossible for exes to be friends again, to not feel any awkwardness because you were sure as hell that the word "awkward" was an understatement of your situation right now. nevertheless, your eyes couldn't help but wander to his figure as he adjusted his body, opting for a more comfortable position in the passenger's seat.

he looked more youthful and you felt bittersweet— proud that his whole aura screams of "success" which meant that gone were the days where he longed to get that winter cup trophy, nor the times when he overworked himself and put a strain on his knee which led to countless arguments with you. if anything, he looked happier and it sucks because you're not even close to feeling that way... not without him.

"i heard you've finally gotten yourself your own condominium? that's great, yn!" he exclaimed as soon as you began driving to your destination, a hope lit within him that maybe you might just respond to him. just one smile, that's all i need, he thinks.

but you remain focused on your driving, choosing to reply with a single nod and a soft "yeah..."

disappointment fills his heart as he faces the truth that your relationship has really been ruined, along with your friendship. all because he was foolish to think that he couldn't handle the physical distance between you two. realization dawns upon him that he just made that same distance worse as you pull your heart further away from him.

"... i actually bought it for the two of us, you know?" he whips his head to your direction in surprise, heart clenching as he watch you let out a sad chuckle, "i just... i thought it would be nice if we had a place to permanently stay at and for you to have a home to go to when you're at japan. but yeah... i guess things doesn't go our way sometimes, does it?"

"i'm sor—"

"it's okay. i'm fine now," you quickly reply, shaking your head but keeping your eyes on the road. he tries to ignore the tears that start to form in them because he has no right to stop them, knowing full well that he was the one who caused them in the first place.

as if on cue, you halt your vehicle in front of a familiar apartment and much to your dismay, you find yourself looking back in the past when you used to live in that same place, making wonderful memories with the chocolate haired lad with you. you clear your throat to stop the sob that desperately attempts to escape your throat, "uhm... we're here."

"oh, yeah. we're here," he numbly states, already missing you despite the mere inches of space separating the two of you. you just felt so far away and he hates it. but this was the path he chose so he gets out of your car along with his things, turning to you once more, "uhh... thanks for the ride, yn. i know you probably hate me but yeah... it's very nice of you to put that past us and i guess i just want to say sorry for hurting you... i just..."

"i don't hate you, tooru," you softly tell him, "i just don't want anything to do with you anymore. to see you this happy, without me, is like a slap in the face because i'm not. it still hurts and i'm not fine. i just hope this will be the last time we'll see each other. be safe on your trip back to argentina. welcome home."

and with that, you start the car's engine again, no longer having the energy nor the strength to hear his reply. but he wishes you did because as he watches your car drive further away from him, he can't help but wish that he can take back time so that you don't have to go to that condominium and instead, go inside the home you once shared with him.

but i'm not happy, yn. because how could i call this place my home when you're not here with me?

at that moment, unbeknownst to the two hearts that long for each other break at the same time, you finally let out the tears and cries that you've been keeping since you saw him, knowing that no matter how much you try, you'll never be as happy as you were with him— simply because he left you with a hole in your heart that no one else can fill.

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