#and i didn't have that before i started drinking coffee and caffeine-containing tea

[juliamccartney]

i know it's technically self-medicating and that's not ideal but like. caffeine genuinely helps a lot

[sarcasticsciencefictionwriter]

Teslen and the cliché coffee shop au. :)

Nikola just wanted a blasted cup of coffee. That was all.

He didn't want to wait in lines that were too long for the quality of the coffee, he didn't want to have seasonal flavors shoved into his face. He just wanted a hot drink that contained plenty of caffeine.

He should have made it at home. He would have made it at home, if he hadn't ran out during the long night he had pulled before crashing for a few hours, getting ready, and rushing out.

Nikola turned his back on the bustling over-hyped chain coffee shop and found a smaller one, more...homely looking.

It had the air of a building that had been there for a long time, quietly continuing on despite the bustle around it. But the chalkboard outside stated that it had coffee, tea, and pastry selections.

Nikola pushed open the door and was greeted with the heady scent of coffee, teas, and baked goods, but not in an overwhelming way. Just strong enough to truly entice.

The shop itself was....charming came to mind, but that wasn't quite right.

Dark woods, plenty of cozy spots to sit and drink your beverage, artwork hung on goldish-cream walls, a shelf of books that said 'Take One, Leave One'.

Despite the number of people occupying the shop, it wasn't too loud or too crowded and there wasn't a long line as Nikola walked towards the counter.

Only two people were behind the counter, but the smells drifting from the door that presumably led to the kitchen indicated that there were more people at work there.

The woman was standing at the register when Nikola got there.

"Welcome to The Sanctuary." she greeted in a lilting British accent.

"Coffee, black, largest cup you have. To go." he said, digging in his pocket for money and not looking up.

He didn't care if it was plain and bitter, he just wanted the caffeine at this point.

The woman made a sound at his order and he looked up at her, meeting blue eyes that looked slightly amused, but it was hard to tell.

"What?" he asked.

"I was impressed with you until that order." she answered, picking up a large cup and pulling a marker out of her pocket.

"Because I want it plain?"

"Because you ordered coffee."

Nikola gave her a look.

"You run a coffee shop."

"I run a tea shop that serves coffee." she corrected, the distinction apparently incredibly important from her tone.

"Why do you care? I'm giving you money."

"We're not one of those big chain shops, Mister...?"

She let the question hang, marker poised on the cup, which Nikola noticed was some sort of paper and not plastic.

"Tesla."

She scribbled his name, told him the price, and walked over to the coffee maker that did, indeed, look like an afterthought to the shop and not the main focus of the business.

Nikola dropped his money on the counter and leaned against it to watch her as she pressed some buttons.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"We take a bigger interest in our customers than being given money in exchange for below-standard beverages."

"That means you judge their orders?"

"It means we want to give them something they will enjoy, something to brighten their day, not an over-priced shot of caffeine."

Had she read his mind? Nikola just had to stare as the machine kicked into gear and coffee started to fill the empty pot.

She poured it, snapped a lid on, and put a cardboard sleeve around the cup. Nikola wondered why she had written his name when she had been holding it the whole time and he was the only one standing at her end of the counter.

"Careful. It's hot." she said, handing it to him.

Nikola took it, his eyes falling to where a nametag should have been pinned to her apron, but there wasn't one. He stared at this, thinking it was odd, then looked back up to see her smirk and realize that it looked like he had been ogling her chest.

"Helen." she said, making change.

"Well, Helen. Why does a barista care what I drink?"

"Baristas are expresso 'artists' and you won't find them here, Mr. Tesla. And I believe the woman who owns the shop and has a certain intention may care about that intention being carried out."

Nikola just stared at her, the fact that he needed to get to work far in the back of his mind at this point.

She flashed him a smile that he automatically returned, because there was something about it that his brain immediately responded to.

"So, what would you recommend for my enjoyment?"

"One of our black tea blends. Though I'm not certain which one just yet. Perhaps one of the Earl Greys."

"Hmm."

Nikola did enjoy black tea. And he was finding himself intrigued by this woman.

Someone behind Nikola cleared their throat, making him realize that a few people had come in while they had been talking.

"Well." He straightened. "I suppose I'll have to come back later and try your black tea blend."

Helen smiled again, lowering her eyes for a moment as she closed the register and wiped her hands on a cloth.

"I'm looking forward to it, Mr. Tesla." she said, meeting his gaze as she raised her eyes again.

He had the pleasant feeling that she actually meant it.

Nikola gave her one last smile before he took his coffee and headed out of the shop.

On the sidewalk, he studied The Sanctuary for a moment before turning and walking away.

Yes, he would definitely come back and not just for the tea.

[barbiewritesstuff]

Church encounters : Chapter 6 (part1)

-- Guys, we are celebrating tonight because not only has our google doc containing this fic reached 40.000 words, it has also passed the 100 pages mark which makes this a novel! Y'all are reading literature now!! No I'm joking but barely.

This fic is written with @Igg5989 , she is posting this on her blog and on AO3 and she made the moodboard!

Also sorry for the Italian, it was done via Google Translate.

Previous part

Taglist: @acarboni21 @unsurebuttrying @dempy @peaches-1998 @bbooks-and-teas

"I think that's the last of the bags?" Jake asked, having heaved every single thing you had prepared into the back of his truck. You had both meant to travel light, but soon after Jake had reported your acceptance to their invitation, an email had come through your inbox. Jake's sister had apparently scoured the internet to find you and introduce herself. Clearly, shyness didn't run in the family, as Jake's sister sported the same boldness when she asked you to please, pretty please, bring back an item she had forgotten at Jake's months ago and never gotten back. Jake had warned you, and you hadn't listened but once one demand was accepted, a million other ones would follow.

Jake had decided to take the first leg of the staggering sixteen hour drive, allowing you to sleep a little longer before stopping at the most convenient coffee chain and getting you the largest drink he could order. You were not, and had never been, a morning person. Your ideal wakeup time lay somewhere in the mid afternoon but waking up for work had always been easy, it was any other time that was the problem. Once caffeine entered your system, you were good to go, taking over from Jake for the next 2 hour leg. Once you stopped for a quick lunch of homemade sandwiches, Jake took over again. 

You switched over every four hours until you got to the motel. The room you got was fairly spacious, counting two single beds, a medium sized bathroom with a bath and shower combo, two sinks and a practically see-through shower curtain. The only luxuries in the room were a broken kettle and a working coffee machine. All in all, the room left much to be desired, but it was clean and only for one night.

Jake offered to take the bed closest to the door, for protection purposes and you just laughed at his manliness. You placed your toiletries in the bathroom and put your suitcase on a chair, the top open and ready for you to rustle through all the things you had packed. 

It was approaching ten and the sun had long since set. The two of you decided to go to bed since Jake wanted to get an early start on the road in the morning. Your nightly routine didn’t usually include taking a shower, but since you would be leaving early you decided to follow your cardinal rule: whatever got you more sleep in the morning needed done the night before. With that in mind, you made your way into the bathroom, closing the door behind you and pressing the little button for the lock.

You turned the shower on and quickly stripped out of your travelling clothes, a pair of old leggings and one of Jake’s Navy sweatshirts, you always got cold in the car. As the bathroom filled with steam, you stepped under the water’s warm spray. You soaped up your hair, some bubbles landing on the shower curtain, and rinsed it out. You left your conditioner to soak in for a moment while you spread body wash on a washcloth. You thought that you heard a noise in the bathroom, but when you looked out the curtain, there was nothing there. 

Lathering up with body wash, you screamed when the door to the bathroom burst open, Jake walked in unbothered. He had on running shorts and his ripped up t-shirt was tucked into his waistband.  

“Jacob Thomas Seresin, get out!” you screeched at him, trying for the life of you to keep yourself covered. You could feel a blush spreading up your cheeks and down your neck. 

He made a show of keeping his eyes closed as he felt his way to the toilet, “Sorry babe, it was warmer than I thought, just need a towel.” 

You watched as he grabbed a hand towel from the rack mounted on the wall, now using it to cover his eyes as he felt his way back out of the bathroom. You let out a sigh, at least he had the decency to cover his eyes. As you turned back to the hot water, rinsing the body wash off, you had to admit to yourself that he did look damn good after a run. 

You stepped out of the shower and dried off with one of the towels, noting in dismay that the towel's aggressive green colour seemed to match the rest of the room's decor. You scrunched your hair dry and patted your face clean before slipping on your nightgown and starting on your skincare routine. Once that was done, you finally stepped into the bedroom to find a sheepish Jake flicking through the channels of the elderly block tv the motel managers had installed there some thirty years ago.

"I'm sorry, I should have waited," He said, looking at his feet, "I did knock…" He added quietly. 

"It's okay…" You replied, making your way to him, "It's a shame there are no sofas, I really wish I could snuggle into you." 

Jake lifted an arm up so you could squeeze into his side, "You can snuggle, I'll just have to 

hold on to you so you don't fall off the bed," He smiled.

You scrunched your nose up at him, “As nice as that sounds, you need a shower Lieutenant.” 

He sighed, “You’re probably right,” he said, rolling off his bed and walking towards the still steamy bathroom. Before he closed the door he stuck his upper body out, pointing a finger at you, “No peeking!” he said with a laugh. 

You laughed at his antics, “Very funny Jake, now go shower so you can go to bed. You’re the one driving early tomorrow.”

“Yes ma���am,” he said, closing the door. A minute later you heard the shower start running again. You weren’t sure how you felt about kneeling on the motel room floor, so you settled for kneeling in your bed, saying a quick prayer. 

“Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

God, please watch over Jake and I on this trip, and keep our families safe and happy in this holiday season. 

Amen.”

You heard the water turn off shortly after you had finished your prayer, and soon Jake was out of the bathroom. He was dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt and had a towel thrown over his head as he rubbed his hair dry. 

“All ready for bed?” he asked you. 

You gave him a smile, pulling the quilt up to your chin, “I think so!” 

“Alright, I just need to brush my teeth and I’ll be ready,” he said, walking back into the bathroom. 

When he was done, you watched as he prayed to himself quietly before climbing into bed. He rolled to face you as he turned out the light. You had shared a room with girls in college but never with a man. Your sisters would be beside themselves if they knew. But Jake had been a perfect gentleman, well besides the incident earlier. As you fell asleep you smiled, Jake was letting out soft snores. 

Jake woke you up at dawn. The sun had not yet risen in the sky. He gently shook you awake then left. A minute later, the coffee machine came alive and the aroma of coffee wafted through the room. Clearly Jake had been up for a while, he had even managed to find the only bakery in town open at this hour and scored two pastries with which he lured you out of bed. 

Too self-conscious to eat like that, you groggily stepped into the harsh light of the bathroom to brush your teeth before sitting by his side. You closed your eyes as you prayed, half hoping you could just go back to sleep, but you made it through. The influx of sugar in your system worked wonders on you.

You were startled when Jake touched your face, his thumb gently brushing against the corner of your mouth. 

Opening your eyes in surprise, he took in your expression, “Sorry, you had some glaze on the corner of your mouth.” 

You smiled at him, “S’alright, just got a little tired,” your voice was still rough from sleep. 

“That’s okay, you can sleep in the truck baby,” he said, smiling warmly at your sleepy face, “You ready to get on the road?” he asked. 

“I think so, let me just make sure I didn’t forget anything,” you said, rising to check the room one last time. Satisfied that you hadn’t left anything in the bathroom, you met Jake at the truck. He was holding the door open for you, ready to help you into the cab. Taking his hand, you climbed in, immediately buckling up and resting your head against the headrest, your eyes already closing. 

When you finally opened your eyes what felt like a few minutes later, you were surprised to discover that Jake had driven almost the whole way home. There were only six hours remaining in your trip and he had just kept driving, not wanting to wake you up for anything. 

“Jake, you should have woken me up,” you said, feeling a bit bad about sleeping through the rest of the drive. 

He let out a sigh, grabbing your hand, “It’s alright, I didn’t want to interrupt your sleep,” he smiled over at you as he continued to steer the truck down the highway. 

The GPS chose that moment to speak up, telling him that his exit was coming up. After he got off the highway, there was another hour of driving on country back roads to get to his family’s ranch. 

As you slowly woke up, you looked out the window at the scenery. Fields of cattle, wildflowers and produce spanned miles around the road. You offered to take over, but Jake refused citing the fact that the GPS would guide you only so far, and he’d need to take over anyway. You fiddled with the radio, he had turned it off to let you sleep but now you were awake, you were determined not to answer the call of sleep again. You hopped through channels until you landed on something you liked. The melody of an old Jonas Brothers’ song played through the car, much to the dismay of Jake, who groaned almost as soon as he heard the first note.

“I’m going to ban you from the aux, you know that?” he said with an attitude, looking over at you.

You gave him a grin before shooting back, “And yet, my darling, you recognised the song. So, you can’t hate it that much.”

Jake laughed, “Maria went through a Jonas Brothers’ phase. We were all glad when it stopped.”

You looked at him with an amused look on your phase, mouthing the chorus and dramatically moving your head to match the rhythm of the song.

“Oh, this is an SOS, don’t wanna second guess. This is the bottom line, it’s true. I gave my all for you, now my heart’s in two And I can’t find the other half, it’s like I’m walking on broken glass. Better believe I bled. It’s a call I’ll never get,” you sang out, your voice cracking on a few of the notes.  

Jake rolled his eyes at your antics, and yet when the next part started, he mouthed right along with you, matching your dramatic dancing with his own while keeping one hand on the wheel.

The two of you continued singing, “So this is where the story end, A conversation on IM, Well I’m done with texting, sorry for the miscommunication” 

He flicked his blinker to turn left and exited the road. The barren wasteland you had just been driving through became more populated by the minute as houses sprung up left and right. Soon, you were driving through a town and ten minutes after that, Jake turned into a dirt track and passed underneath a large metal gate adorned with a large ‘S’. Tall trees lined the way to the house, blocking your view of anything.

“Almost there,” he said with a smile, his voice sounding giddy. He sped up the track. Suddenly, the trees cleared and you arrived at Jake’s family home. You had never seen something quite like this before. 

The Seresin house was large and impressive, standing tall over trees and fields, you wondered how you hadn’t been able to see it from the road. The house’s walls were white, seemingly reflecting the gentle yellow light of the front porch’s lamps directly onto a wicker porch swing onto which a large white dog was sleeping. Its roof a dark colour, possibly blue or black, that matched both the window sills and the front door and tied the whole look of the house together. 

Jake started unloading your bags almost immediately, allowing you a few more minutes to gaze at the house and its grounds before wrapping an arm around your shoulders and dragging you behind the truck to steal a moment of privacy.

“I just remembered, I forgot something important”

You braced yourself. You had prepared almost all of the bags, making sure to pack everything you would need, there was no way he could have forgotten only one item.

“I forgot to kiss my pretty girlfriend this morning,” he smiled, bending down to capture your lips into a gentle kiss. You blushed at the compliment, eventually breaking the kiss to come up for air. 

Jake finished unloading the truck, taking care of all the heavy bags and leaving you to hold the small things. He was on his last back and forth when the door swung open, scaring the dog awake, when a stampede of children flew out of the house. Jake dropped the bags just in time to be tackled to the ground. They lay there giggling as the adults began streaming out of the house. A tall man sporting a dark cowboy hat made his way to you.

“And you must be Y/n, lovely to meet ya. My name is Giovanni Junior, John for friends and family,” he says.

You take his outstretched hand expecting to shake it, but John kisses it instead. 

Jake comes up behind you, his voice holding a bit of brotherly teasing, “You stay away from my girl, Gio.”

John winked at you before looking at Jake, “You stop calling me that.”

“Alright boys, no need to argue. He’s only just gotten here. John, stop picking on him,” an older woman said, gently separating the two men with a hand on their shoulder, “My name is Isabella, I’m Jake’s mother. It is lovely to meet you after all this time. He hasn’t stopped talking about you since he ran into you in church,” She spoke, a heavy accent in her voice

She embraced you in a warm hug. Isabella Seresin was, like the rest of the Seresin family, beautiful. Her blonde hair, green eyes and flawless golden skin matched that of her children, the only hint that Jake’s father had been at all involved in the making of her sons and daughter was that all of them were at least a foot taller than their mother. 

“Come inside, darling,” she guided you away, holding your arm. You looked back at Jake, who smiled encouragingly, “Don’t worry, he is strong, he will carry the bags. Let me introduce you to the rest of the family.”

She stopped by a man bearing uncanny resemblance to John, but taller and slightly thinner, “This is Antonio.” 

“Tony,” He corrected, rolling his eyes playfully at his mom. 

Isabella moved you away again to meet two women huddled in a corner. One of the two was heavily pregnant and the other held a toddler.

“Alessandra is married to Gio,” She pointed towards the pregnant woman. She gave you a warm smile which you returned and a small wave. Isabella then pointed towards the other woman, “This is Sofia. And this little lady is Catalina. They are Tony’s little family,” she explained. 

Then she turned towards John and Tony and fired off something in rapid Italian which you did not understand. When she received no answer, Isabella turned back to you, “My husband and daughter are around somewhere. They are probably inside. We should see if we can find them.”

The inside of the house was as impressive as the outside. The floor was wooden and freshly polished, the walls an attractive cream colour and the furniture an elegant mix of creams, greys and navy blue. It looked like something out of a catalogue. 

Isabella led you through the hallway and into the living room, searching for the missing Seresin family members. You were as nervous as could be, under Jake’s mother’s grip you felt yourself shake a little. She was quick to put you at ease however, asking you questions about yourself in a way that almost made you forget that this felt strangely like an interrogation. 

Finally, you walked into the kitchen where a man, a woman about your age, and an elderly lady were huddled around cups of coffee. You felt a warm hand on your arm, and when you looked you saw that Jake had caught up with you. He quickly kissed the back of your head before waving at the people. 

“Beh, non hai intenzione di baciare tua nonna?” The elderly woman asked Jake, he smiled a little sheepishly before crossing the kitchen in two strides and loudly kissing his grandmother on the cheek. She swatted him away with a laugh.

“Good to see you, Boy,” Said the man. He lifted the cowboy hat an inch. Jake stared back at his own, older face. His father engulfed him in a side hug with a chuckle.

The woman looked you up and down with an air of recognition. Although you had never met her, you could guess who she would be. She looked almost identical to her mother but when she spoke, you found her voice to be harsher and deeper, Jake had warned you she was a smoker, “È questo Y/n, allora?”

“Yes, Maria, this is Y/n,” Jake replied, knocking her hat off of her head and making his way back to you with a smirk. 

“Lei parla italiano?” Nonna asked, looking right at you.

Jake replied, “No,” right as you replied “Sì, un po. Mia zia vive a Roma”, your accent was by no means perfect, but you had picked up enough Italian to at least be able to answer this question with some confidence during the summer vacations you had spent annoying your aunt during your childhood. Nonna nodded, as though you had passed a test. 

----

“You could have warned me about the Italian,” Jake said as soon as he found a minute to spend alone with you. He had climbed up to the second floor with you to his bedroom. You had expected a typical boy’s room but teenage Jake had apparently been quite sparse in his decorating. The only discernible sign of this room belonging to a young man being the football jersey framed onto the wall. 

You turned to face him, with an amused smile,“Says the man who failed to mention his family didn’t speak English.”

“They do, they just… choose not to,” He laughed, “I’m impressed though, that accent wasn’t bad.” 

You laughed back, “Don’t get excited, I know three sentences to very specific questions, nothing else.”

“Oh yeah?” He asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.

You nodded, raising an eyebrow in turn before answering, “Yeah. I know how to say ‘Sì, un po. Mia zia vive a Roma’, ‘No grazie, mi piace solo il formaggio francese’ and ‘Preferisco ballare il balletto russo’ and that’s it.” 

“I would LOVE to know the context of you learning that,” Jake said, laughing. 

“Well, my aunt lived in Rome and she would take us to visit in the summer. Her neighbour made his own cheese and wouldn’t stop trying to get me to eat some, and I used to do ballet. I did a few auditions in Italy over the summers and it’s a frequently asked question,” you said, smiling. 

Someone knocked on Jake’s bedroom door. It opened a second later, John looked at the both of you for a moment, “There’s an open door policy for all unmarried couples. Also, La mamma dice che sta dormendo nella stanza di Maria,” He added, his eyes flicking to you for a moment, then he shot you both a wink and left. 

“Apparently you’re bunking with Maria for our stay,” Jake said, pouting a little, “Shame, you were so cute this morning when you slept. So peaceful and adorable.”

“How long were you staring at me for?” You asked, smiling slightly.

“I was not staring. I was lovingly gazing at my beautiful girlfriend…” He replied, “For ten minutes straight, unblinkingly,” He added as he caught you in his arms and gently tickled your sides before peppering kisses all over your face.

“Apparently you’re my roomie,” Said a voice by the door. Jake let go of you with an embarrassed cough, but still winked at you before Maria continued, “Come with me I’ll show you where you’re sleeping.” 

Maria led you to her room. Like the rest of the house, it was impeccably decorated, but with a more feminine colour scheme. Pink, purple and pastel colours as far as the eyes could see. Maria saw you looking with a smile, 

“Much better than Jacob’s room, isn’t it? I’m sleeping on the pink bed. You can sleep on the purple one,” She pointed towards the bed closest to the door, “The bathroom is right there,” She added, showing you a door on the other side of the bedroom, “There are towels and everything on your bed.” 

You moved towards the bed, suddenly strangely nervous and a little distressed. You had known you wouldn’t be sharing a room with Jake, but meeting Jake’s family was feeling more and more overwhelming. Just as you wished Jake could appear, you heard him by the door, 

“No. No boys,” Maria said, as she blocked her brother’s way into the room.

“It’s for the bags,” Jake replied, sounding a little exasperated. You turned around, hoping your face wouldn’t betray your emotions. Unfortunately, Jake caught your eye and frowned.

“She’s a big girl, she can carry them herself,” Maria argued back, still blocking Jake’s path. 

“Yeah and you’re a pain in the ass,” Jake said as he pushed her to the side. He dropped off the bags and made himself comfortable on the bed. He stared at Maria, daring her to say anything. She huffed and walked out of the room, making sure to leave the door wide open. 

You sat down next to Jake and curled into his chest. The arm that rested behind you came up to rub circles into your arm as he held you tightly. He leaned against you and kissed your forehead

“You okay?” He asked, his voice muffled against your skin. You nodded lightly and nuzzled further into his chest.

You felt him sigh, “What’s wrong?” he tried asking again. 

“Just feeling a little overwhelmed, your family is big, and you all have big personalities. Also, everyone seems so perfect. What if they don’t like me?” you say quietly, face still buried in his chest. 

He laughed a little at that, “They are going to love you. We can be a little overwhelming. I’m sorry that you are feeling that way, what can I do?” he asked, his mouth pressing into the top of your head in a kiss. 

“Just hold me for a minute,” you said, burrowing closer to him. 

Jake wrapped his arms around you, squeezing you to his chest, he seemed content to sit there as long as you needed. As his breathing started to lull you into falling asleep, there was a sound by the doorway. Moving your head to glance at the door, you saw Catalina standing there looking at you. 

Jake spoke to her, the timber of his voice calming your fraying nerves further, “Hey sweetie, who are you looking for?” he asked. 

“Uncle ‘akey!” she said, giving him a big smile. 

You felt Jake laugh at her name for him, the little thing probably couldn’t say her Js yet. Moving you a little in his arms, Jake made room for her, beckoning her into the room, “I think I can fit two of my favourite girls in for snuggles,” he said, a smile on his face. 

Catalina ran into the room, when she got to Jake he scooped her up like she weighed nothing with one hand. He pulled her little frame into his other side, setting her on his thigh, “How’s that munchkin?” he asked, looking down at her. 

She just smiled shyly, burrowing her face into Jake’s neck. You smiled at them, Jake really was good with kids. He would make a great father, and the thought of your own baby made you blush. Maybe next year you would come back here with a ‘munchkin’ of your own to share with the family. 

At that moment, Jake looked at you, “Feeling better?” he asked. 

“Yeah, I’m feeling a bit better,” you said, before adding in an exasperated tone, “Hopefully I’ll stay that way, we haven’t even made it to Thanksgiving dinner yet.” 

He moved his arm to lift your chin up a little, then bent down to kiss your lips. 

"EWWWWWWW," Jake's niece exclaimed, wriggling free of her uncle's arms and running out of the room.

You laughed at her reaction, the tension and nerves you were feeling from before almost forgotten, Jake turned to you and asked, “Are you ready to go back out there?”

“I think so,” you said, standing up from the bed and taking his hand. He led you back to the kitchen where the whole family was gathered. You watched as they all helped to prepare dinner, even the little ones had jobs setting the table. 

"Can I help with anything?" You asked, feeling a little out of your element. You were used to lending a hand whenever you were in the kitchen and standing by without a job was not something you had ever done. 

After you asked, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at you. Suddenly your nerves were back in full force and you felt like you wanted to melt into the wall behind you. Isabella tutted at you, "Absolutely not. You are a guest. Jake has never brought a girl home before, I do not want to spoil the occasion."

You could feel everyone’s eyes on you as you stood there, like they were waiting for your reaction to Isabella's statement, like it was a test. 

Jake broke the silence, "Take a picture, it'll last longer, guys." 

You gave him a look that said you had it, and turned to Isabella, “That’s really not necessary. You have been so kind as to invite me to your home, at least let me help with the cooking, or baking. Jake can attest that I am a great baker.”

At that moment, you felt every eye in the whole kitchen leave your body. It felt like maybe you had passed one of their tests. Isabella turned back to you and smiled, “Alright dear, I think we have everything covered for tonight, but Jake has told us so much about your delicious cinnamon rolls. Perhaps you can prepare those for the morning?” 

Smiling, you nodded at her, “I would be happy to do that.” 

You stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do with yourself. If you couldn’t help in the kitchen, was it appropriate for you to stay? Would they talk about you if you left? Jake was no help as he just stood next to you unmoving. 

At that moment, you felt a little hand tap your leg, looking down you found a little boy. Crouching down to his level you asked, “What’s your name?” 

He blushed before whispering out, “Agostino.” 

“Agostino?” you said, your voice soft, and low, comforting, “I think that's a lovely name.” 

Agostino smiled at you, “Would you like to play? Mom said we needed an adult to go outside,” he finished bashfully, like he was nervous you would say no. 

“Of course I would love to go outside!” you said enthusiastically. 

With that, you felt all eyes on you again as you allowed him to pull you through the kitchen and out the back door. As soon as you stepped outside, you heard all of them start talking at once in rapid Italian. Deciding not to let it get to you, you closed the door gently behind you and followed Agostino to a play set that was in the yard. 

He took a seat on one of the swings and asked you to push him. You walked around behind him and gave him a few gentle pushes to start, not wanting to send him too high into the air.  From this spot you were facing the house, and you could see into the kitchen through a few large windows. Jake was standing on one side of the huge kitchen island and you could tell that he didn’t look happy. 

You looked away, not wanting to intrude on whatever was happening. Jake would tell you later, he seemed embarrassed by what had gone on in the house. A door slamming caught your attention. Jake was walking towards you, Catalina in his arms and another little boy was following behind him, trying to keep up with his large steps. 

“Uncle Jake slow down, I can’t keep up with you,” he said, calling after Jake. 

“I’m sorry buddy,” Jake said, stopping and turning to wait for him to catch up. 

“It’s okay,” he said as he caught up, taking Jake’s free hand, “Why are you mad?” 

You laughed as Jake let out a loud sigh, “I’m not mad, sometimes our family is just a little too much at times.”

“What do you mean?” he asked again, this one was quite inquisitive. 

Jake laughed, “Sometimes they judge people before they really know them is all,” he said, looking at you. 

As they got to the swingset, Jake introduced the boy to you, “Luca this is Y/N, she is my girlfriend.” 

“Hi!” he said, waving at you, “Can you push me on the swing too?” 

“Of course!” you said, setting a hand on his back and giving him a gentle push at the same time as his brother. 

Jake tossed Catalina in the air, her sharp squeal piercing the quiet plains around you. He set her down and watched as she ran towards the monkey bars, hanging from the short ones that she could reach. He turned to you, his expression softening, “I’m sorry about them, apparently they haven’t met anyone new in their entire lives.” 

You laughed at him, he really wasn’t good with emotional conversations, “It’s okay. I’ll just have to win them over with my cinnamon rolls tomorrow morning.” 

Jake took over pushing Luca’s swing, keeping a close eye on Catalina, “I’m sure you will honey,” he said, pressing a quick kiss to your head before Luca jumped off the swing in front of him. 

“Did you see that uncle Jake? I went almost as high as you do in your plane!” he said, turning around looking so proud of himself. 

Jake laughed, “You went so high Luca! Do you know who else flies planes?” 

“Who?” he asked, eyes wide.

“Y/N, she sits in the back and tells her pilot what to look for,” Jake said proudly. 

“Really??” Luca asked, looking at you. 

You nodded, “Yes, I do! I am a Weapons Systems Officer or a WSO.” 

“That’s so cool!” he yelled, “One day I am going to be a pilot like uncle Jake!” 

“I’m sure you will be buddy,” Jake said, rubbing the top of his nephew’s head, “Who’s up for a game of tag?” he asked, a devious smile on his face. 

“Me! Me! Me!” three little voices sang out. With that an epic game of tag started, with all of you running around the grass. Catalina had a hard time keeping up, so you scooped her up into your arms and kept running, laughing as she squealed as Jake got closer to the two of you. 

You jumped when the game was interrupted, John was standing at the door, his voice carrying to all of you in the yard, “Dinner’s done!” 

The kids all ran inside, you and Jake following behind them, Catalina still in your arms. As you made it inside Isabella took the little girl from you, taking her over to her high chair. The only two seats left at the table were between Tony and the woman you assumed was Jake’s grandmother. 

Deciding between the lesser of two evils, you sat down next to Tony. Hopefully if nothing else, his wife would keep him in check. You all joined hands, waiting as Giovanni blessed the food. Everyone said Amen and you dug into the spread, all of the dishes were being passed around and the house was loud with all of the conversation. Jake pressed his leg against yours under the table, a silent reminder that he was next to you and it would be alright. 

Jake leaned towards you, "Do you want my peas?" He asked, whispering into your ear. You nodded but before you could switch the plates Luca screamed.

"UNCLE JAKE'S NOT HAVING PEAS," He shouted, pointing straight at Jake's plate where the tiny green vegetables were corralled into a corner.

Nonna and Isabella looked straight at him. They both narrowed their eyes suspiciously, Jake stood tall again, "No, Luca. Uncle Jake is having his peas. Look." 

Jake looked into his mothers eyes for a brief second with a look of such disdain it would have shocked you if you hadn't known about his hatred of peas. He scooped some onto his fork and raised them up to his mouth. You tried hard to hold in your laughter when Jake forced them into his mouth and stifled a gag.

"See, Luca. He eats his peas. Now you do too," Isabella said. You would have managed to stay composed for the rest of the dinner if you hadn't crossed John's eyes. Both of you snorted, desperately trying to hide it into your food but without success.

Miraculously, it felt as though the mood had been lifted over the table. You had expected Jake to be a little crabby, but when you looked over at him you saw him already looking, a genuinely happy smile etched over his features. He winked.

----

You were up early. Well, earlier than anyone else in the house. After dinner the night before you had helped to clear the table and wash the dishes, even with Isabella’s protests that you were a guest. However, you had forgotten about their request for cinnamon rolls until you were laying in bed. Not wanting to bother anyone, you set an alarm for your military wake up time, 0400. 

You had forced yourself out of bed and into the bathroom, running through your usual routine before pulling on a house dress. You made your way down the stairs quietly, your socks helping to dampen your steps on the wood floor. When you got to the kitchen, you were surprised to find Jake’s grandma, Nonna as he told you they called her, was sitting at the counter, a bible laid out in front of her. You hesitated, wondering if she would be happy to have you interrupting her time with God. 

Deciding that keeping your promise of cinnamon rolls was more important, you silently made your way into the kitchen, hoping not to startle her. As you walked into her line of sight, her eyes shifted up to you. 

“Good morning,” you said quietly, “I’m just going to make those cinnamon rolls now, don’t let me disturb you.” 

She gave you a nod before going back to her scripture. You found the coffee machine ready to go and hit brew. You found a cup in the cabinet above it, and waited for the pot to fill. Pouring yourself a cup, you took a sip. Even black, it was some of the best coffee you had ever had. You were going to have to figure out where Isabella had gotten it from, if Jake insisted on eating toast and coffee for breakfast, he could at least have something that tasted good. 

You made your way to the pantry, finding all of the ingredients that you needed for the cinnamon rolls. You made the dough by hand, mixing the ingredients together in a bowl with a wooden spoon. You could feel Jake’s grandma watching you from time to time, but for the most part, the woman seemed devoted to her readings. 

While you waited for the dough to proof, you got your own bible as well as your rosary out from your purse. Nonna briefly looked up from her own page, shooting you an appreciative look. She took your cup and twirled the contents at the bottom, it wasn't much so she stood from her chair with both of your mugs and made enough coffee for you both. Then, she sat back down and you both returned to your reading. You gratefully thanked her before taking a sip of your coffee. How did it taste better when she made it?

As the sun started to shine through the windows, the timer you set on your phone went off. Closing your bible, you stood from the barstool. Turning the dough out on the counter, you kneaded it a few times before rolling it out, you spread the cinnamon sugar filling on the dough before rolling it up. You picked a knife out of the block on the counter and cut it into twelve rolls. Placing them on the baking sheet you prepared, you covered them once more allowing them to rise. 

You cleaned up the counter and washed the dishes you had made, putting them back in their rightful spots. By the time you had finished, the rolls were ready to bake. You popped them in the oven and drained the last of your coffee. You picked up Nonna’s cup, pouring both of you another. 

Placing it back in front of her, she looked up at you as she closed her bible, “So, you are religious?” she asked. 

You nodded, “Yes ma’am, raised Catholic.” 

Gesturing to your rosary pouch, she asked, “How often do you pray the rosary?” 

"Every day, ma'am, and whenever is needed," you said quietly. 

"Do you pray for my Jacob?" She asked, looking you in the eyes.

"Every morning and evening, ma'am, and whenever he does something stupid," You say with a smile. She laughed and you took that as a good sign.

"Poor girl, you never stop!" She roars, pulling you into a hug.

"I heard him pray for you last night. Saying 'Our Father' and asking for your protection and acceptance in the family. He didn't pray for anyone else, just you," She said into your ear before patting your back and leaving the kitchen altogether. 

You stood there for a minute, entirely uncertain of what to do with yourself. You prayed for Jake and hoped he did the same, but having it confirmed filled you with so much love that you didn't really know what to do. Unable to decide, you opted to get on with the job, smiling widely to yourself and mentally picking the best looking cinnamon roll to later give to Jake.

As the rolls baked, their sweet smell filled the house. You were whisking the icing for them when the sound of little feet reached your ears. Looking up, you saw Luca standing in the doorway of the kitchen. 

“What are you making?” he asked, walking towards you. 

You gave him a smile, “Cinnamon rolls! They are your uncle Jake’s favourite.” 

“Then they are my favourite too,” he said, climbing up on one of the barstools. 

Chuckling, your conversation was interrupted when your timer went off. You placed the bowl down on the counter before turning to pull the cinnamon rolls out of the oven. You placed them on top of the cutting board you had set out earlier. Looking up, you caught Luca sticking his finger in the icing. Laughing, you pretended to smack his little hand, only barely tapping him, “If you eat it all now, there won’t be any left for the rolls!” you exclaimed. 

He gave you a smile, “But it tastes so good! I don’t know if I can wait.”

Searching the cabinets for a plate, you pulled one out, “Okay, let's get you a roll then,” you said, using a fork to pull one from the centre of the pan.  

He gave you a toothy grin as you held the plate for him while he spread an unholy amount of icing on top of the roll. You were interrupted by a cough from the doorway, looking up, you found Jake staring at you wide eyed. 

“Good morning,” you said to him, a smile on your face. 

“Mornin’,” he said back, his eyes fixed on you helping Luca with his cinnamon roll. Suddenly Jake stumbled forwards as Alessandra pushed her way into the kitchen. 

“Pregnant lady,” she said pointing to herself, “Sweet food,” she said now pointing to the rolls. She shot Jake a wink as she laughed at his shocked face. Dropping a kiss to Luca’s head she turned to you, “Thank you for helping him, he is like me. Nothing sweet ever gets by him.”

Feeling like the family was finally accepting you, you smiled at her, “It’s no problem, I love kids,” you said.

As you plated her and Jake both cinnamon rolls, Jake was pouring himself a cup of coffee. 

Alessandra laughed, “You’ll love them even more when they are your own, trust me.” 

With that comment, you heard Jake splutter, he was suddenly coughing, choking on the sip of coffee he had just taken a moment before. 

You patted him on the back, “You good babe?” you asked. 

“I’m good,” he coughed out, “Wrong pipe.” 

Alessandra sent him a knowing look, taking her cinnamon roll and sitting down next to Luca at the counter. You gave Jake his plate, planting a kiss on his cheek. He pulled you into a hug, “What time did you get up this morning darlin’?” he asked, his voice still rough with sleep. 

“O’four hundred, lieutenant,” you said into his chest. 

He hummed, “So you will be taking a nap later then?” 

“Perhaps,” you said, “We will have to see.” 

Just then, the rest of the Seresin clan seemed to make their way into the kitchen. At only 7 AM you hadn’t expected them all to be up. 

Isabella practically floated into the kitchen, already dressed in a beautiful t-shirt and a flowy pair of white pants, “What is the delicious smell?” she asked the room. 

Luca turned to her, “Nonnina, Y/N made cinnamon rolls,” he said, his mouth covered in icing. 

She laughed at him, “It appears she did Lu. Did you help?"

Winking at Luca, you said, "He supervised." 

Isabella laughed again, “I’m sure they are going to be as good as Jake said then.” 

Tony stuck his head into the kitchen, he had been one of the first to grab a roll earlier, “Hey, we have all finally gotten up in time to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade,” he called out. 

Everyone grabbed some breakfast before making their way into the living room. You found Jake saving you a seat on the leather couch beside him. Dropping down onto the couch, he covered you up in the blanket he had thrown across his lap. He wrapped his arm around your shoulders, pulling you to lean against his shoulder. 

Whispering into your hair, “Thank you for being you,” he said. 

You felt yourself blush, “That’s the only me I know how to be,” you said back. He kissed your head before turning to face the TV. The parade had just started and the celebrities that they had announcing each massive balloon were talking about different Thanksgiving dishes that were their favourites. 

The lull of the TV and the goings on of the room around you made your eyes feel heavy and soon, you found yourself falling asleep on Jake’s shoulder. Jake looked at your dozing form with a smile. He briefly looked over at the tv before finding himself growing more and more tired. His eyes closed and his head dropped to rest on yours. 

"Look, look, Nonnina, '' Agostino whispered, pulling on his grandmother's arm and directing her attention to her youngest son. A smile formed on her lips as she took in the sweet scene before her. 

"Should we wake them up?" John asked, earning himself a sharp slap on the arm courtesy of his sister.

She looked at him reproachfully, as if asking him where his manners had gone, "She makes you breakfast and you want to wake her up? Ungrateful man, I hope you treat Alessa better than that."

Eventually you stirred. When Jake and you fully awoke you found that you had both moved so that you were laying down on the sofa, your legs entangled and Jake holding you tight. 

"Mamma, sono svegli," You hear a woman whisper from the kitchen. 

Jake groans in answer, "Sei una bugiarda, Maria." 

Despite having heard his entire family speak Italian before and knowing he could too, this was the first time you had heard him speak it. It was strange how much more wonderful the language sounded falling from his lips. When he spoke, you understood why it was called a Romance Language.

[twstinginthewind]

☕️ It's time for Sparky to introduce Joker to real coffee.

I am proud to promote the SparkyJo agenda once again.

The Ignihyde dorm kitchen was a marvel of stainless steel and enamel. There were several state-of-the-art small appliances lined up on the sleek countertops, and the room itself felt large enough to prepare a feast. The effect was only slightly marred by the stacks of instant noodles in the cupboards, and the pile of unwashed coffee mugs in the wide double sink. Joker walked through the room, impressed. "You guys have a Samurai Smoothie maker?? I thought those were impossible to get. And a Kitchen-Art stand mixer with all the attachments?! And oh my seven is that a Walpresso machine?"

Sparky nodded smugly through most of her impressed gushing, but grew stonefaced at the mention of the last one. "Walpresso. Pah. That isn't real coffee. Nothing to be impressed by."

"Looks like it gets a lot of use, though." Joker smirked, indicating his dormmates' dirty dishes. "Not like I get a chance to drink a lot of coffee these days. Did you know Heartslabyul is a tea-only dorm? The Queen didn't believe in the bean, apparently."

"That's barbaric." Sparky put his hand over his heart. "I don't see how you survive there, you poor thing."

"Lots of strongly-brewed black tea most days," she sighed, sinking onto a stool. Sparky rubbed her shoulders sympathetically. "And I have a jar of instant Dizstelo hidden in my room if things get really desperate."

"Only barely acceptable. At least it's the only halfway palatable instant," he sniffed. Joker put her head down onto the counter, relaxing as Sparky absentmindedly rubbed at her back. "You know, this is solvable," he said, pausing his movements.

She groaned in protest. "You didn't have to stoooooop."

"Yes I did. I need these hands back. Your jacket's all rumpled up anyway." He walked over to a cabinet abruptly, and swung it open. "Let me show you how real coffee's made."

Joker made a face as she sat up straight, tugging the back of her jacket back down to smooth it out. "Realer than the Walpresso?"

"Infinitely." He emerged with a small device, and placed it onto the counter. "You need to start with a fresh grind. Lucky for you, I had my mother send me a new supply this week." He popped the top of a small canister, and a warm roasted smell filled the air.

"Are those roasted coffee beans?" Joker perked up. "They smell soooo good."

"They are. It's my favorite blend. You're very lucky; not many people get to try this." He measured a few spoonfuls of beans into the device, and resealed the canister. "I must be feeling awfully generous today." And he closed the top, starting a whirring sound. After a few seconds, he opened it again. "There we go. Not too coarse, not too fine."

"Am I even trying this before my brother, your dear little freshman buddy?" Joker hopped off the stool. "I'm honored, I truly am."

"Your brother's been drinking those infernal energy drinks that Idia stocks the house fridge with. Nasty junk. I don't know how they consume that garbage. They taste like someone doesn't understand what flavors are."

"No wonder he's been talking so quickly lately." Joker giggled, approaching the counter where Sparky was transferring the ground beans to a tall glass container.

Sparky rolled his eyes. "It's amazing his heart hasn't exploded. You gotta take your caffeine in a reasonable format."

"Weirdly enough, I agree. Must be all the tea rubbing off on me."

"You won't like your tea anymore after this," Sparky chuckled. "All right. Let me get some water boiling for this..." He measured out some water from a cooler near the fridge, then poured it into an electric kettle. "We'll get this to a boil, then I'll show you the next step."

"Is there creamer here?" Joker walked to the refrigerator, opening it up. Rows of the aforementioned energy drink gleamed in the low light. "... dear Queen you were right about how much was here, wow."

Sparky came up behind her and covered her hand with his, closing the fridge. "You won't be ruining this with creamer, Miss Carder. I'm this close to taking my offer back."

She froze. "You wouldn't be so cruel."

"Don't test me," he whispered into her ear.

"Shock and horror, Sparky." She took a half step back, leaning into him.

He continued whispering. "We're drinking this black, Joker. I think you'll find it'll be better than your instant could hope to be. Especially since you're not hiding the complexities with, ugh. Creamer."

She turned her head slightly. "But I like it light and sweet."

His lips brushed her cheek. "You'll like this. Trust me."

She shivered. "Nnnnng."

The kettle clicked off behind them. Sparky took a deep breath and tore himself away. "Right."

He poured the boiling water over the grounds, then placed a strange device over the top of the glass container. It had mesh covering a wheel, and a long handle, and a little conical lid that sat over the container's upper lip.

"What is that?" Joker asked, once she regained the ability to speak coherently. She stared curiously at the glass-and-metal device.

"A coffee press. I find it makes better coffee than most other methods." He looked at his watch and nodded. "We'll have to wait again. Let me see if there are any clean cups in this kitchen, hm?"

Joker nodded and retreated to the stool. She rested her cheek in her hand, where he had whispered against her skin. It still tingled a bit. It wasn't fair, she thought, that he could get that kind of a rise outta her, when she was convinced she'd never be able to do the same to him. She watched as he put two plain black mugs onto the counter.

"It's almost time. Want to help me do the honors?" Sparky beckoned her back over.

"The honors? What do you mean?" She was on her feet almost instantly.

"I'll show you. Give me your hand... no. Palm down, you goofball." He rolled his eyes at her again, but with a gentler expression. "Let me guide you."

Joker swallowed hard as he guided her hand to the top of the handle coming from the top of the lid. His other hand took hold of a handle on the side of the press, which meant he was up against her back again. "Sparky?" she asked, hushed.

"Yeah?"

"Whhhat do I do now?"

He somehow managed to get even closer, and he put a light pressure onto the top of her hand. The mesh-covered wheel started to descend into the dark brown brew. "We press, of course."

"Oh," she squeaked.

The device bottomed out, and he released her hand. He shooed her away with an impatient movement, and she pouted her way back to her seat. "Shoosh, Miss Carder," he said as he poured out two cups. "The best is yet to come." He sat across from her at the island, and slid a steaming mug over to her. "Now. Tell me what you think of this."

She lifted it delicately, blowing the swirling steam from the surface. Sparky watched her expectantly as she raised it to her lips.

Her eyebrows raised.

"That good, eh?" Sparky asked, smugly.

"I hate it when you're right."

"Do you, really?"

"No. That's the worst bit."

"Ha." He took a sip of his own, and sighed contentedly. "Now THAT's a cup of coffee. I might have to ask my mother to perhaps send a slightly larger pack next time."

"The beans won't go stale?" She took another sip, letting the flavors mingle in her mouth before swallowing.

"Not if I'm brewing for two of us."

... it was a darned shame that she wound up spraying him with it. It really was good coffee.

[thekyoshiweekly]

8 Best Teas for Anxiety & Stress Relief

( Image from Pinterest )

Are you a coffee addict? I know I used to be one. For me, it was 3 cups of coffee a day and it definitely didn't keep the doctor away. I slowly realised that it didn't really help with my health, mood and appearance. I would wake up every morning feeling groggy. I wouldn’t be able to start a proper conversation without coffee and it didn't help with my anxiety either. Took me a while but I finally found a better beverage to indulge. 

Hi, my name is Anamida and I am now a tea addict. 

Nothing like a warm cup of tea to slow you down and brighten up your day. So here are some of my favourite teas that has helped me with my daily life. 

Chamomile Tea

One of the most well-known fragrant teas that has an apple like aroma. It is a flowering herb (which has zero caffeine) that looks like a tiny daisy and is widely used as a natural medicine due to its health benefits. 

Helps relieve anxiety disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stress

Many rely on chamomile as a muscle relaxant. It acts like a natural sedative and helps reduce muscle spasm because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Great for people who suffer form indigestion, gastrointestinal disorder, insomnia, chronic cramps, and seizures. It is the perfect drink to help you unwind at night and is beautiful paired with honey and cinnamon. If you still have a hard time dozing off, try pairing it with lavender.

May have side effects such as drowsiness so don’t drink and drive. Not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Please consult with your doctor.

Rose Tea

Just like chamomile tea, rose tea has its own unique health benefits. If you enjoy spending your free time at the spa, they would usually provide a flower bath filled with rose petals. Why is that? 

High in Vitamin C and helps reduce stress

Great to put in your skin care routine because it is antioxidant. Helps lighten visible scars, speeds up healing and boost immune system. Rose tea works the same once it is in your system. It may also help women with menstrual discomfort and heavy flows. If phlegm starts to build up, rose tea is a natural phlegm breaker, especially when paired with rosemary. 

Green Tea 

It lives up to its name because its green and leafy. Unlike chamomile, green tea has caffeine. But it doesn't make you jittery as to drinking coffee.

Packed with nutritions

Green tea is an anti-aging beverage and just like rose tea, it is antioxidant. But not a lot of people know that it is antibacterial too. So if you decide to have Japanese food for dinner, green tea helps with getting rid of the fishy aftertaste and smell in your mouth because it helps fight bad breath. 

It also helps people with high blood pressure or anxiety because green tea lowers your blood pressure. But if you suffer from anaemia, it may have side effects so please consult with your doctor. I find green tea a great drink for daytime especially during meditation. Overall, green tea is great for the body and mind.

Peppermint Tea

The safest tea to consume for all ages. Just like green tea, it looks green and leafy but it is caffeine-free. So kids can enjoy it as well. 

Anti-Inflammatory 

When I think of peppermint, I think of candy canes and Christmas. Because of its cooling sensation, peppermint tea helps with stress, headaches, colds, and tummy aches. I find it very useful after eating a heavy meal because it gives a boost of energy when feeling fatigue. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it eases tension, migraine, stomach bloating and gas. You can also use peppermint as a mouthwash. Good for gargle especially after a wisdom tooth extraction.

If you are on diet, I come bearing good news. It has ZERO calories so not to worry. If you are allergic, consult your doctor.

Lavender Tea

Best known for healing pain and anxiety. It is one of the most top fragrance, from teas to soaps and oils. It is loved by many because of it’s calm and soothing aroma.

Natural sedative, antidepressant and reduces inflammation 

Can be taken pure or paired with chamomile if you find yourself tossing and turning in the middle of the night. It consists of zinc, magnesium and potassium which may help if you’re in need of a better and longer sleep.

Lavender tea contains high amounts of antibacterial, antioxidants and anti-fungal. Just like rose tea, it boosts immune system and makes it easier for the human body to fight viral infections.

It is also reported to heal wounds, burns and eases mild eczema. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, lavender tea also supports digestive health. It can help stomach pain, gastric, nausea and diarrhea.

If you find yourself having an allergic reaction, consult with your doctor right away.

Valerian Root Tea

Another best known flower plant used to treat insomnia, headaches and anxiety. If you’re a herbal tea addict, then valerian root tea might be the tea for you. It has a strong earthy smell which is great to consume before or after meditation.

Reduces OCD symptoms and digestive problems

Valerian root tea is a natural pain killer and muscle relaxant. It calms the nerves and is good for those who suffer from seizures and heart palpitations. 

May have side effects such as drowsiness. Do not take with medication or alcohol. Please consult with your doctor.

Lemon Balm Tea

It is traditionally used to treat heart palpitations which is best for those who suffer from anxiety and severe panic attacks.

Improves mood and focus

Lemon balm tea is a leafy herb which has antibacterial properties. Because of its refreshing lemon scent, it is reported to lighten up your mood and helps you focus better. When mixed with peppermint, it helps reduce inflammation, bloating and soothes constipation. Also reportedly to reduce PMS and weight gain.

Please consult with your doctor before consuming because lemon balm tea lowers blood sugar level. Avoid if you have hypothyroid because it clashes with thyroid medications.

Passionflower Tea

Passionflower is an exotic vine flower with purple and blue petals. It is traditionally used to soothe the nervous system which helps with stress, anxiety and depression.

Regulates blood pressure and mild hypertension

The same as most of the teas I’ve listed down, passionflower tea is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. May help with mild cuts and bruises. Stress and anxiety may lead to hair loss. The chemicals in passionflower have soothing and sleep-inducing effects which also helps treat dry hair, irritated scalp and insomnia.  

Avoid when pregnant or breastfeeding. Avoid if you have heart problems because it interferes with blood thinning and other medications. Consult your doctor before consuming.

Thank you for reading The Kyoshi Weekly.

Let’s heal together,

Anamida

[locoluis]

Pam's visit to the doctor

DISCLAIMER: This is a fictional story. I have no medical knowledge, so the following is all artistic licence and stuff taken from the web. Please consult a proper medical professional if you experience any of the symptoms described below. Oh, and sorry for the sloppy writing.

It has been from bad to worse during the last weeks. I don't like summer, I get way too sweaty and dehydrated. I get sunburned easily. I am self conscious about my body and will need to wear less than the normal amount of clothing I usually enjoy wearing, which attracts the stares of people who look like they haven't seen a girl with more than a B cup in their entire lives.

Like they never get out of this town.

I like going to the city, even though the climate is warmer there than up here in the hills, because nobody bats an eye about my appearance there, or at least not that much. The city centre is a couple hours away by bus. Only a few, elderly people are joining me in this trip I absolutely need to carry out.

The local paediatricians are as useless as the painkillers they prescribe. One of them said: “ At this point, you should consider going to an adult's doctor. ” Madam, I'm only twelve, and you're supposed to be able to take care of people through their late teens. Don't come at me with such rubbish.

Then my PE teacher recommended me this children's hospital in the city, and I got an appointment. I got so stressed during the bus trip that the box of chocolates that I brought with me didn't last long enough. I hope this isn't as bad as it feels.

Even though this is the second time I've seen this particular lady, I immediately recognised her. Shorter than me, dangerously skinny, with a childish face despite being in her mid-thirties, and a brunette ponytail of ridiculous length.

— Pamela Evans. I remember you.

— Dr. Eliana Martínez. You were the lady who awarded me the gold medal at the swimming competition a few months ago.

— Indeed. That was… a random, unusual philanthropic gesture from me. I must confess that your victory caught me by surprise, as you looked like you didn't even want to participate.

— Well, Mum taught me to swim at an early age, and she really wanted me to participate. But I hate PE with a passion, and it was really embarrassing for me to be in a swimsuit with all those people around. You can guess why.

— Yeah, I can relate, having been pregnant once. Never again.

I couldn't quite hide my amazement. How does such a twiggy lady manage to have a child growing inside such a tiny belly?

— Indeed, I have a daughter. Her name is Violeta, and she will soon be bigger than me. I carried my baby through full term, with no complications, shattering all expectations. I guess I'm a woman after all, ha ha ha. But enough about me; please tell me what brings you here.

I took a long breath.

— Doctor, during the last few weeks it's been difficult for me to concentrate in class, to get asleep, to get enough rest. I sweat way too much. I feel a lot of anxiety, even to the point of paranoia. Sometimes I feel my heart beating too hard and too fast. Sometimes I feel a burning sensation in my chest. And I've been putting on quite some weight, though I'm not sure how much of that is just going through puberty.

— Well, body changes are normal through puberty, and girls grow and develop at different rates.

— I'm aware of that. All my classmates still look like children. I'm the only one with the shape of a grown-up woman at twelve.

— About that. When I was twelve, it was the exact opposite. The other girls were all grown up, while I still look like a ten years old.

— Well, you sure are tiny, even compared to my classmates.

— Yeah, yeah. Now that I think about it, you look a lot like one of mine. Blue eyes, a different hairstyle and nose shape, a slimmer waist, but otherwise she was a dead ringer for you.

— Even her breast size?

— Indeed. She was curvy and gorgeous, and all the boys were crazy for her, but she only had eyes for one boy… who just wasn't ready for a relationship. And it made me cringe that she didn't seem to feel pretty enough, that she wore more make-up than was necessary, plus her dangerously short, tight-fit school pinafore dress… she looked ridiculous.

— Oh, I have some classmates who are like that. Not me, though; I already get way too much attention without doing anything with my looks.

— Well, you seem more like the forbidden snack type, which ironically is more attractive for some men than the overly sexy type.

— … Ach-y-fi.

— … Excuse me? I'm not a native English speaker, and that's a word I haven't heard before.

— Oh, that's a local expression of disgust. Like, it seems like I can't avoid the male gaze.

— That's their problem, Miss Evans, not yours. Don't make it your problem. I've got nothing here, yet men still stare.

— Well, your body type is even more unusual…

— I know. But you have to excuse me, this is getting way off-topic. I don't usually talk to my patients about my own childhood, and I'm talking to you like we knew each other from long ago.

— Well, I don't mind. Yours seems to have been an interesting childhood.

— Indeed, but that's not why you're here. So let me get through this. Most of the issues that you describe are not necessarily associated with puberty, and no sign of pain or discomfort is worth getting glossed over. First of all, please stand on the scale to get your height and weight measured.

I do. To no surprise, I'm overweight. She also checked my heart rate and blood pressure.

— Now, tell me. Tea, coffee, carbonated drinks. How much do you drink each day?

— Not much, actually. I drink a couple cups of tea each day. Unlike the rest of my family, who just can't get enough of it. And they drink green tea, which tastes horrible to me.

— Hmm. What about chocolate?

She stopped talking when she noticed the sheer expression of horror in my face.

— What? Did I hit a nerve, Miss Evans? Please tell me how much do you eat everyday. Answer truthfully.

I started crying uncontrollably. She patiently bears with me through this.

— … Doctor. I have a lot of admirers. Every day I get several boxes of chocolate in the mail. And I can't control myself.

— Well, chocolates have a high calorie count due to their sugar and fat content. And the symptoms you've been experiences are consistent with an excessive chocolate intake.

— And now you're telling me that I have to eat less chocolates. As if my life wasn't horrible enough.

— Well, at least you don't have acne… yet.

— ACNE!? Oh my God! I need to stop eating chocolates right now!

— Well, acne is more of an issue with eating lots of carbohydrates and dairy products, and there's no consensus about the link between acne and chocolate consumption. But I still advise you to reduce the amount of chocolate you eat everyday.

— I understand.

— To prevent acne, you should eat more fruits, vegetables and fish. Drinking green tea is also good against acne, and it has many more health benefits. It contains caffeine, so it too must be consumed in moderation.

— Green tea. As I said, I don't like it.

— Add lemon juice and stevia to it. There are many types of green tea, you just have to find which one is better tasting for you. And brewing it correctly is quite important in order to get it just right, not too bitter or watery.

— Well, thank you.

— I'll prescribe you some medication in order to treat the symptoms you've mentioned. But you should follow my instructions in order to attack their root cause. Stop eating so many chocolates, and come back in a month or so, in order to check your progress. I most likely won't be around, as I travel a lot and I'm currently on a temporary contract, but Dr. Spencer is an experienced paediatrician who will be able to take your case.

— I'll do. Oh, and I have a last question. Do you think I should get a breast reduction? And how do I get it on the NHS?

— Well, first of all, I don't think it's advisable to get one while you're still developing, except in extreme cases of breast hypertrophy. Second, you should get down to a stable weight, and get an assessment with a psychiatrist or psychologist. Third, as there are many women seeking to get breast reduction surgery on the NHS, the waiting list can be up to several years, and a lot of women are being turned down as not meeting their criteria. Also, private treatment is quite expensive. And… would you like me to measure you?

— Yeah, sure.

Her procedure for measuring my breast size is a bit more complicated than what I knew. She then puts the measurements on a spreadsheet, which gets her a bunch of numbers.

— Wearing a good-fitting bra can alleviate many of the issues associated with large breasts. Also, I'm recommending you some exercises that can strengthen your core muscles, and some tips to improve your posture. But I wouldn't advise a breast reduction surgery on someone like you, as its risks and consequences certainly outweigh the possible benefits. They're not that big, actually; you just have a delicate body frame. Your ideal weight is lower than that of other girls of your age and height.

— I understand.

I need to make a lot of sacrifices in order to stop feeling like this. Mum is going to stare me down and tell me: “ I told you, Pam ”. And then I'm asking her what we should do with so all those chocolates.