#and i just realized i made plans for the day after which is my niece birthday but my brother will have to forgive me

[ishikawayukis]

missing young k hours D-21

[dolicekiss]

Heyyyy,

could you write a one-shot, where fem reader is James Bond‘s niece and has accidentaly met her uncle in the city, kept following him and this is how she ends up in the casino? Bond realizes this pretty quickly, but can‘t save her from an intrigued Le Chiffre, who kidnaps her. (With Smut?)

Casino & Cash

PAIRING: Le Chiffre x Bond's niece!Female reader

CONTENT WARNING: kidnapping, dubcon, drugging, threatening, unprotected sex, age gap (reader is twenty, Le Chiffre is thirty five), hair pulling, bratty reader, choking, sadistic behavior, mention of blood, praise kink, degrading kink, forced oral (female receiving), forced fucking, knife play.

SYNOPSIS: The last person you expected to crash into was your uncle, in Montenegro, on his own vacation. You were warned to stay away from Bond, as the man was on a dangerous mission but because of your young curiosity, you found yourself following your uncle's trail. It didn't end well because when you entered the Casino, you not only caught your uncle's attention but a specific banker’s too; Le Chiffre.

You hadn't expected to find your own uncle at a store in Montenegro, shoppin for a tuxedo, especially when your own mother had warned you to stay as far as you could from him and his line of work.

Never were your whys and whats answered, only subtle orders left for you to follow.

You were stubborn. Wanted to know more about him, about what he did, just what did he do that was beyond your understanding.

“Listen to me—”

You interrupted him. “I will not. You always ignore us and never even visit us anymore. Mom keeps saying to let you be but we're family, are we not?”

You didn't like just how easily your uncle had abandoned you. Just for the sake of his all secretive, dangerous occupation. It didn't sit right with you. Everyday, your mother would miss her brother and hope that someday he'd visit but James Bond had his own plans, to save the world and rid it of terrorist organizations.

Bond let out a grunt of frustration. As if preparing himself for a game of tough poker wasn't already energy draining, he now had to deal with your stubbornness. “You don't understand. You're only a child, I do not wish you to even have knowledge about all this."

“A child?!” You exclaimed, clearly offended that he'd even thought of you as one. “I am twenty, an adult. You wouldn't know though. Last time you visited, I was only eighteen.”

You recalled back to his short visit. Only entering through the doors of your apartment, discussing a few words with your mother and then leaving after dropping a bar of chocolate on the wooden desk in front of you which he'd claimed was a souvenir brought from Japan.

A bar of chocolate — for an eighteen year old.

It pissed you off just how avoidant your own uncle was.

“Just because I don't visit often doesn't mean I don't keep an eye on my family.” You shook your head at that, staring at him with a pout like some petulant child. Your father had abandoned you when you were only a little girl and when James stepped in to take care of you, your attachment to him grew.

So when he too took off under the name of his dangerous work, you made it your mission to confront the man.

But the last thing you expected was to see him here. Strolling through the mall, coursing through the tuxedos hanging from the metal rod in a luxurious store. Your mother missed him but her reaction was not as extreme as yours.

Before you could utter out another remark of disappointment, your uncle dismissed you by answering a phone call. Then he left, just like that. He once again didn't bother to look back and you suppressed the urge to stomp your foot on the marbled floor in the middle of the mall.

But you weren't gonna sit idle.

So you got to it.

Following him — like a snake slithering after its prey and tracking down its every moment. Subtle or not. Pursuing him lead you to Casino Royale. It took you days to land yourself a place at the Casino Royale, all the opulence and wealth you possessed came in help. Coming from the Bond family, you had access to all the ancestral wealth as well as the money James Bond earned through his work.

Casino Royal was beautiful and glimmering in pure opulence, the type of place you usually avoided as you were not fond of rich scums that looked down upon everyone else and considered the lives of middle class and lower nothing but futile.

Draped in black satin, you made your entrance inside the casino. Quick to grasp the attention of multiple gazes but you focused only on your uncle, capturing his blue eyes.

Found you.

You sent him a short smug grin. Like you'd win, you had found him. Tracked him down no matter how hard he tried to conceal his tracks and not be found but he had forgotten that at the end of the day, you too were his niece and carried his intelligence.

Without knowing what you were stepping into, you moved across the room. In your naivety, you'd laid yourself bare to the lion that possessed the front seat. Le Chiffre watched you move with such grace, your hips almost dislocating with how blissfully you walked over to the table.

To you, you'd won this game of cat and mouse. Unbeknownst to the real danger that your uncle so desperately tried to protect you against. He did everything in his power to keep you concealed but your foolishness and stubbornness had lead you to step right in the lion’s den.

As you stood behind your uncle, you wrapped your arm around his broad shoulders. Everyone watched, but Le Chiffre analyzed the scene unfold before him. Finger tapping against his temple, the sight of you nearly making him lose focus on the game. He was more curious though — a craving to unwrap the mystery that you were.

You were not an agent.

If you were, he would have known.

When your face came next to Bond’s, the gears in his head turned. He tilted his head, stare running over the both of you in scrutiny before his brain snapped.

You were no damn agent.

Nor were you an accomplice.

He registered the similarities between the two of you. You beared a striking resemblance to the man you stood next to, the lips and nose nearly giving away your relationship to him. You were a relative and Le Chiffre’s mind already was coming up with ideas and ways to use you as leverage against his nemesis.

“See, I told you. You can't always escape me, dear uncle.” You whispered in his ear, a small giggle escaping you.

Completely oblivious to the man with the scarred eye who stared at you with heightened curiosity in his one, dark eye. The other still holding some remnants of human emotions.

Le Chiffre also noticed the nervousness that decorated Bond’s face. It was obvious he was sweating at your presence in the Casino, not fond of it at all. Your naivety was going to get you in danger, as he saw how the men in the room eyed you like you were some new piece of meat.

Bond was an egoistic man.

He didn't care about risking a few lives if it meant saving millions others. Sacrificing a few people was a game of chess for him but you.

You were family.

He couldn't possibly risk you.

Especially knowing his sister would unleash hell about you.

The man was in a fucking dilemma. He didn't know what to do, but right now progressing with the game was his ultimate goal and aim so he did. Brushing your small hands off his shoulders.

“Just leave and don't come back here.” He whispered, and you looked at him. His blue eyes held no sarcasm or hesitance. He was serious and the look he gave you caused a chill to dance up your arms.

With a pout of reluctance, you made another grave mistake by ignoring his order and walking away to the bar. Le Chiffre’s gaze followed you and when you plopped down on the velvety chair, you accidentally made eye contact with him.

Appalled at how attractive he was, despite the minor flaw of a scarred eye. His gaze drank you up, every drop of you. From the revealed ankles of yours to the slit in your dress. He found it irritating it that he couldn't peek further into the recess of your inner thighs, the gap closed as you'd tossed your leg over the other.

You were quite young. He could see that too and something primal rose up in his throat which he drowned down with a glass of cognac.

Bond knew things were going to go haywire, especially with the way you'd captured Le Chiffre’s attention. It was good as he could win the game of poker with you distracting him but he couldn't possibly allow himself to include you in all this. Knowing that once you're in, there's no way out. No way to escape the clouds of danger looming above your head.

Everytime Le Chiffre went in with his money, he stole glances from you. Following how your stained lips met the rim of the glass of martini — his own throat beginning to become parched. You weren't oblivious to his gaze but the aura that levitated off the man like a dark cloud of death was a warning enough to not give him any attention.

You only focused on your uncle, Bond’s sparkling blues finding you. Continuing to play the game but also worrying about you and how he'd face his sister if she were to find out her daughter was involved in James’ life threatening games.

You had both the men all over the place.

One with your beauty, other with your blood.

Three glasses of martinis and a reapplied lipstick later, the game had come to an end. It was your uncle who emerged as the winner and you couldn't control your joy. Immediately embracing him in a hug and smiling at him. All the people in the Casino watching you, curious to what your relationship with James Bond was.

“Uncle, you won.”

Le Chiffre heard that.

Oh he did and a small subtle grin passed when he did.

You had to be his niece. You couldn't be his sister, nor wife nor daughter. The man was an agent for god’s sake, he couldn't risk to harbor his own relationships. You had to be someone else's. Le Chiffre’s anger subsided because he had found the right leverage against James Bond.

“Don't call me that.” He said through gritted teeth — shaking his head in disappointment. You blinked your eyes, dumbfounded.

Le Chiffre left the room, after stealing a glance from you. Already making plans to kidnap you and bring you to his knees, use you into James handing over all the money.

Bond had lead you outside to the parking lot, angry and frustrated. You couldn't understand the depth of the situation. You were only cheering for him but you weren't aware that by referring to him as your uncle, you'd stepped into the spotlight of danger and macabre. He pushed you inside the car and slammed the door shut, slipping inside the driver's seat.

“If you're told over and over again to stay the fuck away from me, why won't you listen?” You watched with a blurring vision as he slammed both his hands down on the posh steering wheel of the car. Your body flinched at such an aggressive reaction, succumbing to the leather of the seat you were.

You tried to excuse your behavior. “Uncle, I only wanted to spend time with you—”

“Fuck spending time with me. You're a target now, they'll do anything to get their hands on you.” James was a fucking mess. Perspired forehead and trembling hands, he started the car and began driving. There was only one single thing on his mind, to get you to the airport as fast as he could.

There wasn't even enough time to contact MI6 and call for emergency transportation for you. Le Chiffre had found out and you were not a human anymore — only blackmail material. A threat to both MI6 and James Bond.

The car drive was reckless, tears falling profusely down your cheeks. You couldn't understand what was happening but you were sure that something shady, something past your normal life was going on here. James drove like his life depended on it but then a blast roared through the darkness of the night.

Cutting the silence crisply in between, as the car came to a screeching halt. Its engine roaring out into the void the sky had become. You had no time to register the situation as the car door was slammed open, from both sides, and you two were pulled out. The strange faces moved aside and there emerged a familiar face, the man with the scarred eye.

He scared you.

Just by existing.

Your uncle was knocked over and pushed on his knees by one of the guards while another held you tightly against him. You couldn't give in, not that easily. Turning to the man who held you, you bared your teeth and bit down on his arm. His scream was cut short as he slapped you across the face, sending you straight into the grass by the road.

“She's resilient.” Le Chiffre commented, impressed by your act of rebellion. You were surrounded by guns, by dangerous people but you had the fucking nerve to harm one of his men.

That was attractive.

“Let her go.” Bond gasped out, the side of his head bleeding from the rough handling of Le Chiffre’s men. “Take me, but release her. She's of no use to you.”

Le Chiffre tilted his head. He walked over to where you were, kneeled down on the floor with a gun to your head. You accumulated the spit mixed with blood in your mouth and spat it to the side, glaring up at him through your thick lashes. The man fucking relished in how seemingly daring you were. He was going to enjoy you more than torturing James for his money.

He saw a challenge before him.

Le Chiffre reached for your chin, holding it tightly in his palm. Examining your face for any bruises and other than a busted lip, he found nothing of serious cause. “She's of no use? She's of all the use I need right now.”

Your uncle let out profanities of disagreement at the idea of you getting involved with the disgusting world of these men. He didn't like it — he hated it. He'd kept you seperate from him all these years because you were innocent. Innocent like the people he'd taken up this job to save.

“Fuck you, cunt.” You swore at Le Chiffre, glaring at him. That act of resilience only made you more attractive and he had to claim you.

He released your chin and smirked. “Drug them.”

That was all his guard dogs needed. Punctured with a syringe in your neck, you tried to hold onto your uncle before the void could consume you but you failed.

— ♡ —

You'd regained consciousness, expecting to be chained in some dark basement. But you were in a bedroom, as your hazy vision registered your surroundings. It was a serene room — sleek and modern. Too boring and dull for your taste.

After the cloud of fog dissipated from your brain, you finally scanned your surroundings in depth. You were on a bed, comfortable and soft and the room had a table in the corner then a balcony. You tried to get up but couldn't, feeling weak in the knees and thighs for some reason.

Your forehead was sweaty and your cunt throbbed. All while laying in an air conditioned room. It was quite weird to be feeling this hot and intense when the room was cold and the temperature was low.

You tried to writhe out of the restraints put on your wrist, but it didn't budge. The rope scraping against your skin and bruising it in the process. A soft whimper left you when you squeezed your thighs. Just what the fuck was happening to you? Brain fogging up and sweat oozing out of all your pores, you tried to scream out but couldn't due to a parched throat.

Then the door opened.

You were so occupied with your own messed up situation, you didn't even look up at who had entered the room.

Le Chiffre stared at you, as you squirmed like some worm on the bed. Back arching off once in awhile, lips letting out little huffs and brows furrowed in frustration. He knew what was happening to you, he was the cause of it afterall.

“Feel any indifferent?”

Your head shot up at his voice.

You hated the man already. He'd kidnapped you and your uncle, hurt you both yet — yet he appeared so fucking attractive. There was something terribly wrong with you because all your mind thought about inching closer to the man and getting fucked by him.

He was like an oasis and you were a thirsty woman.

“W-What did you do to me?” You managed to stutter out, squeezing your legs together in an attempt to satiate the hunger of your moist cunt.

You hated how needy you were acting, especially for such an evil man. This was completely against your own morals yet you couldn't help but crave his cock right inside you, to calm down the throbbing of your soaked cunt.

He smiled. “Just a little drug, to make you more pliant.”

Pliant? For what?

You blinked a little. Cheeks flushed and strands sticking fo your forehead. “You fucking asshole. Let me go now.”

Le Chiffre grinned and nodded his head, leaving you completely shocked. He came closer to you, reaching over to untie the knots on your wrist and releasing you. His actions left you puzzled, your blurred gaze looking at him.

“Go.” He said. “Try stepping out this door and you'll get yourself fucked by most of my men here.”

You flinched at his words, not even having enough energy to step out the bed. Le Chiffre ran his finger over your arm, sliding it up and you leaned more into his touch. Desperately trying to get more, to settle the ache in your body.

Le Chiffre chuckled, seeing how desperate you were.

“P-Please. I don't feel good.” You had tears streaming down your face as you reached for his chest, running your fingers all over the expanse of it. You knew deep in your heart that to ache for him like this was wrong, to want him like this was horrible but your body wanted to succumb to this need. This crave and desire.

To you, Le Chiffre appeared ten times more alluring than he did before.

He stood before you, one hand in his pocket as he stared at you. “Yeah? Do you feel hot, mon chéri?”

You nodded your head, getting on your knees on the bed as your hands yearned to touch more of him. Flying up to his nape, freshly done nails grazing over the skin hidden beneath his collar. You stared at him, unbridled need controlling each and every molecule and tissue in your body.

“Want me to fuck you, hm? Tell me, do you want to cum on the cock of the man who has your uncle captive?” You stalled for a moment, not wanting to answer that. Guilt and wanton warring inside you. Your own uncle was somewhere, probably getting tortured and here you were with a saturated cunt aching to be fucked.

By the same man who'd taken you and your uncle captive.

You didn't want to answer.

Fingernails digging into his skin out of complete hatred, your gaze darkened and Le Chiffre only scoffed. You were touching him but also hurting him — a sweet mix which he found delightful. He grabbed both your hands, pinning your wrists down leaving you in need.

“Tell me.”

You shook your head.

He snickered. “Then suffer.”

Before he could sit up and leave, you grabbed him by his face and pressed your lips against his. The kiss was haste and messy, your lips hungrily colliding with his, tongue trying to pry open his mouth. Le Chiffre’s hand went up to your hair as he grabbed it — bunching it in his fist and tugging on the locks.

He tried to push you off him but the way you were kissing him like a starved, mad woman, it made his wall crumble apart.

You whimpered, pushing your body up against his. Trying to feel him, to rub your body all over his. Le Chiffre knew the drug had taken its affect on you but he didn't know you'd be this desperate. Hungrily sucking on his tongue and slurping up his saliva, like you needed him.

He could feel his spit mixed with yours smearing all over his mouth.

When he pulled away, he found you looking back at him with the most vulnerable and submissive look ever. Pants tightening at the mere sight of you looking this messed up, Le Chiffre felt his restraint slip away as he tossed you on the bed.

“Please,” you moaned, parting your legs like some common whore. “use me—ruin me, please.”

Le Chiffre had enough. He didn't waste time, ripping the dress to shreds and tossing its littered pieces everywhere. Cold hands groping you everywhere, acting like numbing gel to your fiery skin. He rid you of your panties too, prying your thighs open and exposing your sweet cunt to him.

The man brought his head down to your thighs, nuzzling it between them. His hands gripping each thigh tightly, fingers dipping into the flesh. “Look at your little hole clenching around nothing but air. How fucking embarrassing and disgusting.”

You responded with a whine, both hands dropping down to grab onto his neatly done hair.

He blowed air on your clit, watching it twitch and he chuckled. You were fucking pathetic and small and weak. All at his mercy and right now he could do whatever he wished to do with you. Humiliate you, hurt you, ruin you, fuck you. Just a doll for him to play with.

In a moment of regained control of your morals, you started to punch at his shoulders to move him away from you. Torn between the desperate chase for pleasure and the despair that awaited you at the end of this debauchery.

Le Chiffre didn't like how you still fought off the effects of the drug.

Releasing your thigh, he grasped both your wrists in a tight hold and pressed them over your stomach. “Enough. Don't fight it unless you want me to call in every guard outside so they can see you like this.”

Your act of defiance fell apart.

He ran his wet tongue over the slit of your cunt and your breath hitched, body twitching and back rising from the mattress. Striking you across your thigh, he pushed it up and bent your knee. Exposing more of your cunt to him. “Stay still.”

“C-Can’t. Feels too good.” You whimpered out, wrists struggling in his hold. You wished to be free, to kick and throw your hands everywhere. A pathetic mess of hopelessness and sin you were, sprawled across the bed for him to unfurl.

He chuckled against your cunt, before closing his lips around your clit. He sucked on it with vigor as you felt his sharp teeth nearly prickle the sensitive bud. Due to the drug, your body's sensitivity and senses had heightened, twitching in his hold everytime he touched you in the slightest.

You stared at him and in return he did the same, his scarred eye only fueling the ache in your abdomen. He was truly a beautiful man, the most attractive man you'd ever seen but his deeds were as ugly as his insides. There he laid before your very legs, using his skilled tongue to pull you into a deeper abyss.

Le Chiffre unwrapped his lips around your clit as his tongue made its way past your wet folds, plunging inside your hole. Tears rolled down your face as you attempted to free yourself from the restraint his hand was around your wrists.

“Wanna hold your hair, please. Just wanna hold it.” You were a sputtering mess and the man found you quite innocent in that very moment but he knew you were also a brat who'd given him a hard time. “You want to hold my hair, hm? You pathetic little whore. Want to hold my hair as I eat your little cunt while my men torture your uncle downstairs?”

Intaking a sharp breath, you didn't know what to do. As if his actions weren't already disgraceful, his words made you feel sick too. You whimpered for him, a simple plea to be freed and Le Chiffre grinned, slowly retracting his hands. The second he did, your fingers found themselves entangled between his dark silky locks. His intimidating eyes swallowing you whole as he continued his ministrations.

You could feel yourself near.

Stomach flipping and twisting into crazy knots, thighs suffering from convulsions. He only admired the view before him — a beauty with flushed, rosette cheeks and perspired forehead staring back at him. He ate you out like there was no tomorrow, a night that was his last. His saliva with a mix of your arousal falling down his chin.

“You taste so good, doll. Fucking delicious against my tongue.” He grunted, fucking you with his rigid tongue.

And you soon reached your own end, back arching off the bed and a high pitched scream tearing through your chest. Your throat parched and dry from all the sounds you'd made. Le Chiffre watched you as you became more of a mess underneath him, your arousal coating his tongue.

He licked you up like a dog, panting and melting in the taste your little body had to offer. Hands holding you down against the bed, he took in the sight of your eyes meeting the back of your skull and your body falling apart.

And when you'd came down from your blissful high, you found the ache in your pussy to only grow more intense. In need of something, something that only Le Chiffre could offer you.

In a few seconds, the man had hastily stripped himself naked. When your blitzed gaze fell lower and you grasped the sheer size of his cock — it dismayed you. In an attempt to run from him, you tried to slid off the soft mattress but Le Chiffre was quick to grasp your legs, tugging you closer to him. Until he was settled between your thighs, both hands holding your knees apart.

“Getting kidnapped and the idea of torture doesn't scare you but the size of my cock does? How fucking ironic.” Le Chiffre chuckled, firmly locking you in place.

He brought his hand upto your mouth. “Spit.”

You shook your head, stubborn. Torn between the ache of your cunt and the guilt about your uncle, you fought an inner battle inside you. Your body craved him but your mind reminded you just who he was, what he'd done to you and your uncle.

Just how evil he was.

He let out a groan of frustration, his fingers entangling in your dark locks as he gripped on the roots. “Fucking spit.”

You whimpered at the harsh tug and gathered saliva in your mouth, before spitting a glob out on his open palm. Le Chiffre hummed in satisfaction and ran the wet palm over his cock, lubricating it. You stared at him with hooded eyes as rubbed his fat cockhead against your clit — before entering you in one, harsh thrust.

A loud high pitched moan tore through you, the painful stretch surging your body forward.

He told hold of one thigh and hiked it up, bending your knee to angle his cock deeper inside you. The position gave him access to more depth of your gummy tight walls and the man growled, loving the feeling how you'd clamped down on him.

Walls clinging to him in desperate. Cunt trying to suck his cock, to consume him whole. Tears emerged on your waterline, tear ducts nearly expoding as Le Chiffre allowed you to grow used to his size. His delicious girth stretched you out like no other as your hips writhed underneath him.

He pushed until he had completely pressed his pelvis against yours. Becoming one with you.

“One might think you're a virgin from how fucking tight you are.” He grunted, staring down at you. Once neatly done hair now a mess, few strands slipping through the grasp of gel and hovering over his wet sweaty forehead.

Le Chiffre started to snap his hips against yours, holding you down as he took you against your will. Your perpetual cries and struggles loud and reverberating through the corners of the luxurious room. You tried to hit him — hands messily attempting to deliver a few smacks to his bare chest.

So he grabbed both your wrists and forcefully slammed them down, restraining you against the mattress. His one perfect eye holding all the anger and frustration that he soon was going to take out on you.

“Even the drug can't take the bratty behavior out of you.” Le Chiffre groaned, sliding in and out if you. “Your little pussy is soaked and throbbing for me but you still want to show off your morals.”

You sniffled at his words and he watched as a lone tear slid down. You looked so sinful and the man was not going to release you anytime sooner. He had big plans for you, especially now that he'd figured you were related to his nemesis.

Poor girl caught up in their evil games.

“I-I hate you.” You said, through broken moans and ragged breaths. Le Chiffre genuinely found it amusing when you'd expressed your hatred for him. It only added fuel to his desire, his thrusts going more vigorous as he stepped his foot up on the bed.

Both his hands flew to your throat — circling around to cut off your air supply. Your fists banged over his chest, at his arms and wrists but you were extremely pathetic against the man. Grip tightening with each second, he admired the way your face slowly turned almost a pale hue of blue. Back arching off the bed and body struggling.

Then he released you.

Just when your lungs had swelled up in dire need of oxygen, veins going numb.

“Wish I could kill you.” Le Chiffre moaned, hands still decorating your throat in bruises as the brute force of his strokes hit your sensitive spot. Feeling his thick cockhead repeatedly slam into your gspot and everytime he did, your body jerked. “But you're so much more useful like this. Killing you would be a waste of a good cunt.”

You loathed the way he spoke to you like you were some whore.

Face drenched in sweat and tears, your stomach heated up with a feeling that you deeply tried to suppress. Le Chiffre felt you grip his cock like a vice, realizing that you were hear. As was he.

His animalistic like thrusts continued delivering into you, and you sobbed whenever a vein of his cock throbbed inside you. It was all too vivid and raw. You could feel things that you were sure you wouldn't under a normal setting. The drug he'd used had heightened your senses and you hated just how good Le Chiffre was making you feel.

His hand unwrapped your throat, slipping between your legs to run over your swollen little bud. Your thighs twitched as he pounded into you, all while forcefully pulling an orgasm out of you.

Soon you came all over him — body twitching and trembling. He'd fucked your orgasm out of you, watching as you made a mess everywhere. Creaming all over his cock and the sight made him spill too, coating your walls with his thick seed. Your eyes rolled back and your lips shuddered, falling agape.

“Yeah there it is. Little cunt is so fucking tight, so very fucking tight.” He rode out his own release, with endless grunts and growls of pleasure. It only acted as an addition to your need for him.

He looked so attractive.

While he sinned inside you.

Le Chiffre grunted, fucking his cum back into you and by this point you were too far gone into oblivion. You allowed it to happen, frail body a victim of dehydration and the dehumanizing act done by Le Chiffre was too overwhelming so you didn't register it. Blocked it away and went numb.

He stared down at you, hand slowly reaching for your face. You flinched, expecting something rough or a hit even but instead came a gentle stroke from his thumb over your soaked cheek. “You're absolutely gorgeous, especially like this.” He licked the tear he collected on his thumb, before pulling out of you and dropping besides you.

Your breathing was torn, gradually becoming even with time. You turned away from him, not caring about anything anymore. You'd missed your uncle, and such a simple relationship lead to this. If you'd known, you would've always steered clear of James Bond and the people around him.

In a way, you deemed it to be your fault too.

“You didn't know, did you?”

Le Chiffre’s deep voice broke the silence, as a strong arm was tossed over you from behind.

You knew what he was referring to. Of course you didn't know your uncle was involved in some shady shit like this. If they had told you, if your mother had just been clear about all this, none of the monstrosities you faced tonight would've happened.

“Innocents often lose their lives amidst wars caused by others.” If you didn't know how cruel the man was, you would've assumed for a split second that these were words of reassurance but these were mere taunts — to remind you that he'd captured you.

You were leverage now.

For him.

[ficsinhistory]

I think the problem with S3 of The Bear was that ok the mess, the coldness and the distancing and the plots in general...if it seemed like it was intentional. If they had a long term plan and this was a bait to change course later like good stories do. But it wasn't, it was just poorly written (and a bit racist).

For example, we could see Sydcarmy being separated because of Carm's worsening mental health and him wanting to convince himself that Claire is better because he doesn't want to make mistakes with the kitchen family and Syd anymore, more as a legitimate plot point and less as Storer wanting to sink Sydcarmy at any cost (which was a stupid idea and I don't even need to say why) if it didn't completely sideline Syd and obliterate her and Carmy's character in the process. Because that man may be chaotic and stupid as he may be, but Carm always cared about Syd's well-being at the end of the day.

Even after doing something stupid, Carmy always had this worry about asking how she felt about it. And that's what made their relationship different and the heart of the show. He can be distant and cold, but ignoring Syd's wishes? Doesn't give her credit when he was the one who asked her to be her partner in the first place??? The same person who recognized in 3x01 that the credit for them getting through the family and friends' night was solely hers, because he knew he had screwed up everything and didn't deserve to be part of it? Not only that, him being an idiot to Natalie, yelling about money when she was pregnant? Even though she was his only living sister? And that he started going to therapy at her request even though he didn't want to after realizing that yes, she was right? And not going to see his niece because he was more worried about Claire?? The woman who, let's be honest, he didn't like. I mean, he a panic attack thinking on HER!!! And now she is his peace??? Using suspiciously the term that the Sydcarmy fandom baptized Syd, almost as an affront. (And let's remeber Claire was pretty happy talking how she almost kill a teenage. I was bawling my eyes if was me. Weirdo (derogatory))

And speaking of her, Sydney Adamu, my beloved and favorite character, what did they do to you? She was thrown into the corner so much that I couldn't believe it. She is a protagonist and ok, she and Carmy are on tense terms, but why not take advantage of the fact that they are more apart to delve deeper into her and her relationships, find out more about her. Her relationship with her mother and father? Any flashbacks, since there were so many, about Sheridan and how this still affects her? She and the rest of the members of The Bear, Nat, Richie. She should exist outside of Carmy in her own right, but they just threw her in there and gave screen time to Claire and the Faks and that sucks. Which leads to another point, why don't you talk more about the og members of The Bear. Okay, we had Napkins for Tina, fair enough. But what about Gary, Ebra, Many? Marcus, whose mother died barely had any weight? It left a bitter taste in the mouth. If they want to fix this, they're going to have a lot of work to do, because history has taken everything to an almost unsustainable level. It's okay to be a tragedy, but give us the rays of sunshine, so we can believe in the best. And we didn't have that. It was just going in circles and that could cost the entire story.

[llamamamareads]

An Illyrian Baby: Part II

Part I | Part III

I do have part III in the works. I wanted to make these a little more even rather than having this one extremely long in comparison to the first.

Azriel x Reader

After the conversation you had with Azriel, you felt better about the situation. It did not, however, change the situation in the least. It just made you realize you weren’t alone in what you wanted, which also made it harder. You went to bed every night feeling like you weren’t enough all because of a stupid piece of anatomy that you couldn’t change on your own. You sat every day watching the children you saw as your nieces and nephews learn and grow, all while knowing they were clones of people you loved when you’d never have the same experiences. Nesta had her baby, a glowing baby girl. She and Cassian were over the moon about it of course. You did your best every day not to rain on their parade.

Today is a particularly difficult day for you. You spent all morning with both Feyre and Rhysand’s smallest and Nesta and Cassian’s baby. You had played with them, fed them, watched when their parents came home from their missions, then sat with the family and watched Feyre and Rhysand’s baby girl take her first steps. Her little wings making her balance worse than a typical toddler which made her that much more adorable. You had put on a happy face as long as you could before claiming to call it a night. Azriel had kissed your cheek, knowing it was difficult for you, but unable to leave just yet.

You find yourself in the library, sniffling with slow tears rolling down your cheeks as you dig through centuries worth of information to try to find a solution. Azriel, as promised, had asked Madja as well as Illyrian healers, and Rhysand for as much information as possible. Everyone was doing their best. If they were, then it was only fair that you did too. You gather as big of a stack of books as you can carry and set it down at a table. You swipe the tears away as you sit down and dig in, hoping to find a bit of hope within the pages.

Azriel finds you several hours later asleep with your face nestled into your crossed arms atop an open book. He sighs softly, wishing more than anything to give you what you want. He winnows you to your bedroom and tucks you in, making sure you’re still asleep before he returns to the books you’d fallen asleep on. He continues searching where you left off.

You wake late the next day to the smell of coffee and bacon. You walk into the kitchen and smile a little, confused but happy to see Azriel in a good mood. He’s got pancakes, bacon, and eggs going on the stove, his hips swaying to whatever tune he has going I his head. It’s a beautiful sight. And you envy it.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he says with a grin as you sit down on one of the stools. “I –“ he kisses your cheek, “have amazing news.” He slides a plate in front of you, turning to turn the burners on the stove off before stepping in front of you, placing both hands on the counter. “Madja has a plan. Rhys invaded my brain earlier to let me know.”

Your eyebrows shoot up. “Seriously?” Your eyes go wide and you can’t help but grin back as his smile widens.

“Yeah, baby. Seriously. After you eat and get dressed we can go meet with the two of them.”

He chuckles as he watches you scarf down breakfast and zoom around the house. It was the first good mood you’d been in for a very long time.

When the two of you walk into Rhys’s office he’s sitting in his chair with a grave expression, Madja standing at his side with an equally serious expression, her hands clasped in front of her. You take a seat on the couch, your eyes bouncing back and forth between the two of them as the hope you felt previously hangs by a thread. Azriel takes your hand and looks to Rhys. “This doesn’t look like good news.”

Rhys takes a deep breath and shakes his head. “It’s good news, just… complicated.” He nods to Madja to allow her to explain.

“Complicated is a word for it,” she mutters. “We may have a solution; however, it isn’t guaranteed to work and I’m not entirely comfortable with it. As healers, we come across a variety of injuries, especially broken bones with these brutes,” she eyes Azriel and Rhys, clearly recalling a number of times she’s had to heal them. “It’s a longer process than some things, but it’s a fairly easy concept and something we’ve done often enough that that, in itself, is safe. Something we don’t tend to do a lot of is break bones. If something has healed wrong we have to rebreak bones in order to heal them properly.”

You feel Azriel stiffen next to you and look over to see him staring intently at Rhys. “Out loud, please,” you plead, knowing that Rhys is speaking mentally with him.

“What she’s suggesting is that we break your pelvis in order to reshape it in hopes to recreate the appropriate shape necessary…” Rhys explains.

“Absolutely not. We’ll find another way,” Azriel states firmly.

“Now hold on,” you sigh. “Why not? Madja, you said you heal broken bones all the time. Reshaping the bone can’t be that much different, right? Otherwise you wouldn’t be suggesting it.”

“Technically speaking no. However, as a healer it is my job to heal, not cause pain and suffering. If this is the route you choose there will be a great deal of pain. The process, by any means, won’t be simple. Rhys has expressed he can keep the pain at by while I work, we would give you something to sleep of course, though once you wake? It will, quite possibly, be the worst pain you’ve felt in your life.”

“It’s also going to cause more stress on your body than is necessary. There’s too many risks.”

“Az, that’s a little extreme,” you sigh.

“It’s not though. It could spike your heartrate and kill you. It could paralyze you. Right? I mean, I’m not a healer, but I know what makes the body tick.” He shakes away the thoughts of people he’s tortured for the Night Court over the centuries. “No. I don’t like it.”

“We can’t just not try. This may be our only hope.”

He looks over at you and can see the hope shining in your eyes. He couldn’t stand the thought of the hopelessness settling back in if he were to truly deny you this opportunity. He looks to Rhys and sighs heavily. “You’re willing to do this?” he asks him.

Rhys gives a small nod and shifts in his seat. “We’re not seeing many other options. It’s not even guaranteed to work. We don’t know if it would be a one and done situation or if it’s something that would need to be done multiple times to get the right shaping. It’s never been done before.”

“Are you sure this is what you want?” Azriel asks and cups your face in his hands.

“I’d like to try… Anything at this point other than sitting and waiting for answers that never come.”

He searches your expression for any sign that you could be unsure of the decision and nods when he doesn’t find it. “When do we start?” He asks, looking to Rhys then Madja.

“We can start today if you’d like. I can get set up.”

“Thank you, Madja,” Rhys nods, dismissing her from the room. You and Azriel both thank her as well. He has another silent conversation with Azriel before speaking. “I’ll see you both in a few hours. If you need anything…” he nods silently and winnows out of the office.

“Is there more to this I’m not grasping?”

“No, baby, it’s just a lot of pain and stress for a maybe.”

“I’ll do anything for a maybe.”

[nkotbblockparty]

I don't post my own photo on here often, but this is one of those times I can make an exception.

August 16th, 2024, was the day I FINALLY realized a lifelong dream --- I FINALLY met New Kids On The Block. Where do I even find the words? I never thought I'd be face-to-face with them, much less hug and talk to each guy. I guess I can start by going through the meet and greet, step by step….

Danny: He greeted me and asked how I was doing, and I think I said I was fine lol. I gave him his "Block Party" bracelet (which 4/5 of the guys received, in their mic colors, and I have a multicolored matching bracelet. All five bracelets were made by my amazing niece). He said something along the lines of "Block Party!" and was happy about it lol. I told him it was my favorite song. (Is it any secret, considering I named my fan page after it AND had one a shirt & hat with "Block Party" on them).

Donnie: We greeted one another (hugs included, which goes without saying for all five guys), and I told him the bracelet was for him and the letter was for the group, and I wished him a happy early birthday, in which he thanked me. :)

Jordan: He said hi and hugged me, so I was relieved he broke the ice considering we're both shy and riddled with anxiety lol. I gave him his bracelet and he thanked me and put it on. :) We took the picture and I can't remember if anything else was said lol.

Joey: He greeted me, and then got distracted lol. But it's okay because he turned his attention back to me and I gave him his bracelet. He said "Aww for me!" D'awwww. :')

Jonathan: I didn't have a bracelet for Jon because he requested to not receive them, so I respected his wishes. I told him he was my Mom's favorite and she passed away in 2021, and he was so sweet about it and told me he was sorry. I wasn't sure what I was gonna say, but considering the three-year anniversary of her passing was the day before, and she was supposed to be the first one I talked to after meeting the guys (that was decided many years ago), I wanted to mention her; make her a part of this experience.

So, the interactions were kind of laid back, and with how nervous I was, I think that was for the best. :)

After meet and greet, I needed to kind of get myself together, so I went to get merchandise and food. Eventually, I found my seat and the show began. DJ Jazzy Jeff and Paula Abdul were so much fun. :)

When the lights went out for the boys, shy, nervous, anxious little me didn't exist for a little over two hours. I sang, danced, cheered, played in the confetti, captured memories, and waved to Donnie (and he waved back)…. I had the time of my life. I didn't care who saw me dancing like a dork or what anyone thought, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I'm planning to do it again next tour. There's something about their shows; my favorite Boston boys, my favorite songs, the confetti, the energy… you can just forget about everything for a few hours and dance the night away.

If there's anything I've learned in the last 11 years, it's that life is short and can change in the blink of an eye. Go to the concert. Sing your heart out. Dance like no one is watching (because I promise you, they're watching the guys anyway lol). If you cannot attend, blare that song in your room, grab a hairbrush, and have the time of your life. You only get one life, so live it, live it, live it up! ;)

Providing the boys continue touring for several more years, my long-term goal is Individual VIP for 2028. As for 2026, I'm hoping to get regular seats for my sisters and I, and just relax and enjoy the show! :D

Danny, Donnie, Joey, Jonathan, and Jordan, thank you for making my first meet and greet an easy one, and thank you for the AMAZING show you put on that night. You keep showing up, and I'll keep showing up. I love you guys to pieces. :)

[lightlycareless]

happy new year y'all and belated xmas I guess due to the theme of this oneshot lmao. I never get inspiration for these things unless on the actual day; can you believe that?

anyways, I hope you will still be able to enjoy this little thing i wrote :> I call it "Naomi's first xmas" (a.k.a your daughter with Naoya).

Warnings: none. fluff. your dad being a goofball.

Enjoy!

“I don’t think many people are going to come.”

“Who did you invite?”

“You know, the usual, but I doubt he’s going to show up, as always.”

“Then I won’t make more.”

“… well, do a bit more, a tiny bit, just in case.” 

Coming from the kitchen, you heard your siblings, Hinata and Ren, discuss the last preparations for Christmas Eve dinner.

Every year, planning around these holidays would go down the same way: Ren was designated to be the leader of sorts, making the decisions that ranged from what kind of decoration would be used around the house to what they’d have for dinner. 

Back in the day it would be your parents, (and then just Eiichi, of course), the one in charge of all that; but as of recent years Ren decided to take on that responsibility simply for the sense of comfort this familiarity brought him; and because he genuinely enjoyed doing so—also, because he’d spent last Christmas’ with his wife, Kanon, and felt like he needed to something to make up for those holidays he spent apart from his family.

From there, Hinata. She… Well, she’d try her best to be around the holidays to begin with, since work was always hectic for an accomplished sorceress around this time. Now add to that that she’s also an heiress of a somewhat important clan! And that’s just all year round.

Yet, she’d always manage, either through overworking herself days prior, or because she has excellent time management skills—thus, when she does find herself back home, she’d be the one to send out invitations and general holiday greetings.

And lastly, you. Alongside your father, you’d be the one to set up the decorations and buy gifts. It was your favorite activity to do during the holiday season, after spending time with your family of course. Something about seeing what new seasonal merchandise stores had always filled you with excitement, as well as an urge to get everything before it sold out!

But this year, you’d impose a limit on yourself; and not because you came to the realization that this might’ve been getting a bit out of control, but rather, because your attention now dwelled on something more important.

It’s what made this year’s holidays all too special compared to the rest: it was your daughter’s first Christmas.

It was safe to say that everyone held the same excitement as you and Naoya had when it came to seeing her reaction to everything Christmas. 

She already had her first Halloween, which had been a total success as seen by her toothy grin while wearing that adorable costume you got her—something you’ll forever remember thanks to the endless pictures you took, the same  ones your father and siblings demanded you’d share, quickly becoming everyone’s phone wallpaper.

In other words, the anticipation to see what Naomi will be wearing/doing for the holidays was much greater than that of the actual presents—although for you and Naoya, getting to spend time together as a family was more than enough.

“Do you need help with anything?” you’d ask, looking over Hinata’s shoulder; Ren had been earnestly debating whether to prepare more food, or not, for those yet-to-confirm guests. He didn’t mind having to do more, he just didn’t like the notion that it might go to waste.

But even then, he knew that between Hinata, you, and him, that wouldn’t be an issue.

“Yes—bring Naomi-chan!” Hinata says, swiftly turning around while grinning.

“I meant, with dinner.” You chuckle.

“Aw, then why you’d ask?” your sister frowns.

“She’s asleep right now, Hinata. Why would you even ask something so selfish?” Ren teases.

“I just want to see my adorable niece.” Hinata whines. “It’s all I want for Christmas!”

“Get in line, then.” Ren smirks, moving from one side of the counter to the other before placing a tray into the oven. “Do you plan to dress her up this time?”

“Not in a costume per say, but yes! Got everything set up already; but I’ll change her after Naoya and dad are back.” You respond.

“Oh, can we at least get a sneak peek?!” Hinata begs, you shake your head.

“It’s a surprise.” You smile, Hinata groans.

“Aghhhhh, then they better hurry up!”

Normally, everyone would’ve remained at the house by that point, with the occasional exception of going to the store to buy some last-minute things, but even then, it was still very rare since Ren diligently accounted for everything the moment he set his mind to it.

However, this Christmas would continue to prove itself different by a landslide, starting with the absence of your father and Naoya.

Circling back to the fact that this was to be Naomi’s first Christmas, Naoya promised himself to do everything in his power to make it extra special. 

Such as by getting her all the presents in the world: toys, dolls, plushies, or anything that pertained to her favorite character—and even though some of them weren’t really suitable for her young age, Naoya brushed off any doubts by  saying:

“What if it’s a limited-edition item and by the time she’s older it’s no longer available? Yeah, no, I’m not risking my little princess being upset because of my insolence. I’m buying it.”

The same excuse he’d when also getting her things that simply caught her interest; just to be sure she had them whenever she eventually began to like them.

But as happy as you were to see Naoya happily indulging your baby, there were moments where the thought of him perhaps going a bit overboard with the presents crossed your mind… 

Yet, as always, he’d reassure you with the following:

“This is only the bare minimum for Naomi—and even then, it is not enough!” 

And with that, you’d only chuckle, understanding that even if you asked him to control himself a bit, he would just proceed to spoil her again.

Looks like there’s no definite way to beat a father’s determination when it comes to making his daughter happy…

And talking about fathers…

Because Naomi was Eiichi’s first grandchild + her first Christmas, it was only natural that just like Naoya, he’d want to make this celebration as special as it could be—just as he always did year round.

However, one thing would still manage to surprise you out of all this, and it wasn’t their unconditional adoration towards Naomi, (which you were eternally grateful for) but rather… the unspoken competition that sparked between your husband and father to show said affection.

For example, whatever Naoya bought for Naomi, your father would get two, even in different colors, in case one of them broke down or got lost, or something between the two

“Just in case” Eiichi would say when confronted if this was really necessary.

It definitely irked your husband much more than he would like to admit, a consequence of his highly competitive and overprotective nature…

Yet, Naoya knew very well that there was no true maliciousness behind his actions, for your father was only being affectionate and caring—if anything, he was glad that she had a loving family to endlessly dote on her; a contrasting difference to how the Zen’in normally behaved. 

But going back to the reason for their absence, in their excessive purchase of presents they had failed to realize that shipped items may face a delay due to the high amount of work the postal service is put under throughout this season. 

The shock on their faces when finding out that Naomi might not be able to open all her presents on Christmas day is one that you’ll never forget—although it amused you more than anything else.

This issue would just remind you how resourceful they were, because by some strange, unknown efforts, they were able to get her presents just in time—like, on the very day of Christmas eve, which is why they were out, scampering to the postal office to pick up her things, subsequently wrapping them and placing them underneath the Christmas tree; and all before Naomi could notice they weren’t even there to begin with.

“Realistically, I don’t think she’s going to notice.”  You say upon noticing their stress, an attempt to alleviate some of their burdens.

“But still—we can’t have her believe Santa likes others better!” Eiichi countered, and Naoya silently agreed. “Y/N, do you think—"

“Already ahead of you.”  You smile, willing to go along. “She’ll probably be taking a nap either way, so don’t worry. Naomi won’t see a thing!”

… But will they be back soon?

[Naoya: We’re almost there, just finished wrapping the presents.]

[Y/N: Oh, that’s good. I was beginning to worry that something happened! Anyways, the food is almost done, all that’s missing is you and dad. Please come back quickly, baby ☹ Naomi and I miss you.]

[Naoya: I’m almost there, my love. However… there’s something I need to tell you first.]

[Y/N: What is it? Is everything ok?]

[Naoya: Yes, but it's about your dad.]

[Y/N: … What about him?]

[Naoya: Your dad is coming back later.]

[Y/N: Huh? What do you mean he's coming back later? What happened to my dad?]

[Naoya: Nothing bad, I swear, I know how this sounds but don’t worry about it. Just… well, you'll know what I mean.]

And a few minutes later, Naoya finally arrives, bringing along a huge bag filled with what you imagined to be (largely) Naomi’s presents, colorfully wrapped boxes of all sizes which he scurried to organize underneath the tree before anything else—He didn’t mean to walk past you without even acknowledging you, of course not, but he had to make haste of the fact that Naomi was still asleep.

But once that was set, he was finally able to greet you as his heart desired, swiftly walking over to your side as he took you into his arms, leaning down to sweetly peck your lips.

“Welcome back, dear.” You smile, placing your hands on the sides of his face and pulling him closer to you before helping him out his coat. “How was the trip? Chaotic?”

“Yes, last minute-shoppers.” He sighs, resting his face against the crook of your neck once free of his coat before groaning. “Don’t know why people tend to leave everything to the end, it’s—annoying. And to think they almost cost my daughter her first Christmas!”

You chuckle, kissing the top of his head while rubbing his back.

“Well, you won’t have to deal with them anymore—Or anyone else but us for the next few days.” you say, reminding him of his small break from work. Truly, a Christmas miracle.

From that day forward, until he has to go back of course, it’s just him, Naomi, and you.

“That sounds like a dream.” He admits, leaning back to get a good look at you and smiling. “Naomi is still asleep, right?”

“Yes, she is—napping in the bedroom.” You grab his hand, intertwining your fingers with his. Then, you look over his shoulder, noticing a peculiar absence. “By the way… I’m assuming dad is not here because of the thing you told me?”

Naoya nods.

“What happened?”

He presses his lips together.

“… he told me he needed to do something else before returning.” Naoya begins, in such a suspicious way that obviously makes your anxiety rise even higher. 

Your husband is quick to catch your reaction, but he's even quicker to reassure you.

“I wish I could tell you more, mochi, but he told me to keep it a secret. It’s nothing bad, just… play along, ok?” Naoya says, kissing your cheek.

Well, you know it could never be anything bad if it came from either your father or husband.

But if so, why such secrecy? It really unnerved you, especially for the time this was taking place in…

“Will I get to know eventually?” is all that you ask, he nods.

“Very soon.”

But if it was of utmost importance they keep this a secret, then you’ll trust them. And soon, you leave it at that.

“Do you think they’ll like our little surprise?” Naoya asks, changing the subject.

“Of course.” You grin, excitement beaming through your words. “Kept it a secret until now so no one suspects a thing!”

“I still can’t believe.” Naoya smiles, kissing your lips once more. “It's really happening.”

“I just hope my dad will be here to see it…”

“Why is dad still not back home?” Hinata asks upon noticing the elephant in the room: Ren had just taken out the last tray from the oven, began to prepare the food to be served, yet Eiichi was nowhere to be found. 

Certainly uncommon from someone who treasures family above anything else. 

“I thought he was only going to pick up some things.” she adds.

“Right, Naoya?” Ren says, with an accusatory tone that immediately makes your husband nervous.

“Ye—yeah…” he murmurs, eyes darting around the room for your support, only to panic when realizing you also have yet to come back from Naomi, away readying her for the evening now that she woke up. “He said he’ll be back soon.”

“Heard anything from him yet?” Hinata asks for the nth time at that moment. He shakes his head.

“Just that he’s almost done.” Naoya responds, trying his best to not feel intimidated by them. Even after years of being married to you, and now father of your child, your siblings always found ways to tease him; all in a playful nature, of course. “Anyways, Naomi should be ready soon…”

“Oh, that’s true! Y/N’s getting baby Naomi ready, isn’t she?” Hinata gushes, completely discarding the dilemma with her father out the window and focusing on what she considers the highlight of the day, no, year! “I wonder what adorable outfit she’ll wear today! Can you give us a hint at least, Naoya??”

The ball is on his court this time, and Naoya plans to take advantage of that.

“No can do.” He says, a smile on his face. Revenge is served when Hinata groans. “Not even I know what she’s planning.”

“How… mysterious” Ren murmurs. “First dad, and now Y/N… if I didn’t know any better, it seems like they’re plotting something together.”

“No, that can’t be.” Naoya immediately says, and as if his behavior wasn’t suspicious already, Ren and Hinata are now completely convinced that your husband is hiding something. “I mean, Y/N doesn’t know what’s going on either so….”

“Well, I’m sure we’ll figure it out soon enough.” You suddenly say, having arrived just a few seconds ago as you stand by the entrance; with a big grin on your face and the perception of hiding something behind you. “Is the food ready?”

“Y/N.” Naoya breathes; hopeful at the sight of his salvation. At least he’ll be away from being further interrogated by your siblings and jeopardizing the mission. 

He wishes to walk over to you, but knowing the intention behind your approach, as well as noticing the eager look on your face, he stays still.

“It is… but only for those that bring Naomi-chan!” Hinata exclaims as she tries to look over your shoulder, you moving along her eyes. “Where is she? Still asleep?”

“Not quite.” You say, giving your husband one last glance, a tight smile that tells him just how excited you were, a sentiment he also shared, which he responds with a reassuring nod.

So, gathering all your courage, you clear your throat, take a deep breath, and then, address your siblings.

“Naoya and I wanted to keep this a surprise for today, since we thought it was quite fitting.” You begin. “I was hoping for everyone to be here, but if I don't do it now, I fear it might spoil itself.” 

“What surprise?” Ren asks, and with that, you move to the side, letting your small surprise step into the picture.

Dressed in a green and red linen romper over a long sleeved white collared shirt, with a bow of the same fabric decorating her dark hair, your daughter Naomi tightly held onto your leg as she walked beside you.

Her legs were a bit wobbly, with one of her arms occasionally stretching out as to keep balance, while the other tightly held onto your hand for safety—Yet her determination to continue forward remained unwavering, as well as the excitement of your family when seeing their beloved niece finally taking her first steps!

Kind of. 

“She can—she can walk already?!” Hinata is the first to exclaim, crying at the adorable way Naomi tried to follow your lead. “When—when did this happen???”

“She can.” You say, trying your best to not pick her up, hug her, and kiss her all over her soft cheeks! After all, Naomi was very determined to keep walking once she discovered she could, a fact that made her advancement impossible to hide from the rest of the world since she wanted to do nothing but explore her new skill! 

There's no doubt in your mind that if she keeps up like this, she'll be able to run in no time! And from there…

Oh, can't she stay a baby forever?

“Naomi only started walking a few weeks ago.” Naoya says as he walks over to the two, solely intending to accompany both and be there if Naomi were to fall, but he ends up leaning down to grab her hand instead, for as soon as he was near, she reached out for him.

A sight that almost made everyone's heart burst out of their chest at the sheer adorableness of it. 

“Ho—how?” Hinata asks, still not believing her eyes.

“She just… pulled herself up one day, kept trying until she was able to do it, and the rest is history!” You happily recount her efforts, as well as the adorable pout she’d make when trying. “Whenever we tried to help her though, she always rejected us, guess she wanted to do it herself— she takes after her papa in that matter.”

Naoya chuckles; he won’t deny his stubbornness.

“Owww, I can’t help it, I need to hug her!!” Hinata cries, swiftly running over to Naomi and unwittingly startling Naomi, who cowered behind her dad soon after. A sight that effectively snaps Hinata out of trance, kneeling to her level to softly hug her and utter endless endless apologies. “I’m so sorry, Naomi-chan, I didn’t mean to scare you, please forgive me!” 

She begs while kissing her cheeks, which at first confuses Naomi, enough to attempt to push Hinata away… until her gestures begin to tickle her, making her stop and giggle in turn, seemingly leaving all misunderstandings behind.

“I can’t believe she’s growing so fast…” Ren says, walking over to the rest and carefully pinching Naomi’s cheeks once Hinata frees her; this makes her giggle too. “It seems like only yesterday we were getting you ready to go to the hospital.”

“And now, she’s almost a year old.” Naoya concurrs, looking at you. 

He too can’t believe that almost a year has passed since she arrived in this world, since she made their life happier—better. Truly, it almost seemed like a dream, however, the truth would prove much, much better this time around.

This wasn’t a figment of his imagination: this was his life. And he wouldn’t want it any other way.

“We need to prepare everything for her birthday!” Hinata declared. “I can already think of a few places we can do her party! How about it, Y/N? Picture this—”

“Let’s do a celebration at a time, Hinata.” Ren chuckles, you doing the same soon after, finding her enthusiasm amusing. “We’re still not even done with Christmas, let alone New year… Which makes me ask, where’s dad? Are we to eat without him? This is the first time he’s ever been this late…”

The look of concern you and your siblings direct at Naoya is what finally pushes him to disclose what he and Eiichi agreed to keep a secret.

“I wasn’t supposed to tell, but the reason why Eiichi-san is late is because he—”

“Ho, ho, ho!!”

A loud voice, followed by heavy footsteps making their way through the entrance are heard, followed by a soft thud and another cheer. 

“Merry Christmas!!”

Everyone’s head swirls into its direction, expectantly hoping to see the one behind these unanticipated actions.

Yet, it’s only you who manages to recognize who it was, as well as the nature of their actions.

And boy, was it a surprise when the truth finally settled in.

“Oh my god…” it’s all you could muster in reaction as the guest continues on with their rally.

“I heard that here lived an adorable baby girl that behaved very well this year!” Santa Claus would continue to say, grinning as he took some presents out of the large bag he carried along and placed them underneath the tree, before turning around towards the intrigued, if not slightly embarrassed, family staring at him, searching for said girl. “And because she was such a good girl, I wanted to personally come here and give her her pres—”

But when his eyes finally fall onto Naomi, Santa Claus immediately goes silent, intently staring at her for a few seconds before coming to the same conclusion that had everyone in shock, eyes widening as he shrieks.

“SHE CAN WALK!???”

Any suspicions that the man dressed up as Santa Claus was in fact, your father, are quickly verified by his reaction, further cemented when he rushes over to her, swiftly picking her up in a hug to coo at Naomi’s advancements.

“Oh, Naomi-chan!! When did you begin to walk?!” He’d ask, feeling a combination of happiness, nostalgia, and even heartache—for he was both glad and sad that his grandbaby was growing up. “Had I known, I would’ve gotten you more presents!!”

Everyone knew that the man behind this amusing spectacle was none other than your dad, per usual goofy Eiichi nature, by this point. However, there was still one person that remained in doubt, and that would be none other than Naomi herself.

Even if she was an impressionable young child, there were still a handful of things that didn’t necessarily catch her attention; unless it pertained to those of her favorite characters, of course.

But returning to her distaste, the most noticeable icon of this festive season fell into that list; she just… didn’t like him. Ignored him whenever possible; yet, there was still a catch: if her favorite mascot was dressed as Santa Claus, then Naomi couldn’t have enough of him!

Neither you nor Naoya knew why she did so, but it just happened, and the two grew to accept that fact, just as everything else.

Unfortunately, it seems that both had forgotten to tell your father about this small detail, and what Eiichi hoped to be a heartwarming experience for his beloved granddaughter, soon turned sour, specially when her big round golden eyes began to water after noticing that no matter how much she tugs, this stranger was not letting her go.

“Oh, little pumpkin, no!” Eiichi gasps, feeling like absolute garbage when Naomi continues attempting to push him away. “It’s me! It’s grandpa!”

“There’s no way for her to know that—take the beard off!” Ren exclaims, and in one swift movement, Eiichi strips the white beard off his face, discarding it to the side and revealing his face for Naomi to see.

“See, little pumpkin? It’s me!” he repeats whilst frantically hoping that he hadn’t irrevocably messed up. “It’s me! Granpa!”

And as if she understood what he meant, Naomi finally glances back at him, staring at him for a few moments in what many considered both curiosity and fear… which slowly shifted into adoration once finally recognizing her beloved grandpa, and subsequently hugging him.

“Yes! I knew you’d recognize me!” Eiichi softly cries as he leans down to kiss the top of her head, making her giggle in response. Your heart melts at the sight of Naomi warming up to your father, while Naoya sighs, relieved that this didn’t escalate any further.

“Without the beard, it would be almost impossible not to.” Hinata teases, and your dad frowns, trying to understand what your sister meant—she and Ren only laugh. 

“Ah, but my sweet adorable little pumpkin, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” Eiichi would continue to say, feeling very, very regretful for his actions. However, it seemed that Naomi no longer paid mind to that, giving the understanding that she knew it wasn’t intentional, or cared more to be with her favorite grandpa.

And while that went down, you look over to Naoya, moving closer to his ear to whisper:

“Is this what you were referring to?”

Naoya hums, nodding. You chuckle.

“I should’ve told him.” He says, and you give him a soft smile, squeezing his hand.

There was no way he could’ve known, but after this happened, alongside Naoya’s growing guilt, he began to believe that maybe he should’ve…

But truth to be told, Naoya didn’t have the heart to ruin Eiichi’s enthusiasm, after all, no one from the Zen’in clan bothered to care about anything but the bare minimum when it came to Naomi, while your father consistently went above and beyond for his family. 

So because of that, when Eiichi told him of the little surprise he was preparing for his daughter, with such excitement that told your husband how much he wanted to do this … Naoya allowed him to go through with it.

Because at the end of the day, anyone that has your and Naomi’s happiness and safety in mind, he’ll always welcome—and he’s long come to see that your family wants nothing but that for the three.

“Does she not like Santa?” Ren asks now that the situation has calmed down.

“It seems so—it’s why we haven’t been able to get a picture of the two.” You explain, reminiscing how you’d have to cancel a photo appointment because Naomi didn’t want to be near Santa Claus, not even when you and Naoya were there.

“Ah, well, Santa is overrated anyways!” Eiichi says, more than ready to discard this silly costume if it meant baby Naomi would no longer be afraid of him.

“How… ironic of you to say that.” Ren adds with a chuckle.

“Unless you’re dressed as—“ you begin.

“Hello kitty.” You and Naoya speak in unison. 

“Naomi really likes Hello Kitty.” Naoya finishes.

At the revelation, Hinata grins.

“You like cats too?” Your sister asks, lightly tickling Naomi, she giggles in response. “When you’re old enough, I’ll give you a cat—how about that, hm?”

“Ehh, I’ll hold that thought for now.” You intervene before Hinata could continue on with her promises. While you would’ve loved for your sister to spoil your daughter, two particular reasons pushed you to stop: first, this was a decision that should be previously consulted with the parents, and secondly, Naoya already planned to gift Naomi a kitty himself—one that would resemble the character as closely as possible—when she was old enough to take care of it.

“You’re getting ahead of yourself again, Hinata. There’s still gifts to open.” Ren says, gesturing over to the boxes underneath the tree, and those still inside Eiichi’s bag. 

“Yes! I want my adorable granddaughter to open all of them first!” Eiichi would say, handing Naomi over to her father once she began to gesture her desire to be carried by him. The way she rests her head over his shoulder makes Naoya smile.

“But first, let’s eat dinner—I didn’t spend all this time preparing food for no one to take a bite!” Ren says, the group agrees, and soon, preparations for dinner begin.

Hinata would help you set up Naomi’s chair, placing it just between Naoya and you, while you went ahead to get your daughter’s food—the slow transition of feeding her with a cup instead of a bottle had just begun a few weeks ago, and with great feedback, you just hope it continued on steadily.

Eiichi, on the other hand, rushed to his bedroom to quickly change out of his costume and adequately help Ren serve dinner. 

Once everyone was seated and with their respective plates, dinner finally began.

The evening would go on wonderfully, with everyone relishing on the delicious delicacy Ren had prepared, as expected, while sharing anecdotes that made you both laugh or fluster, depending on who was the one telling them: how your dad always managed to make everyone embarrassed is something that you’ll never figure out—certainly, a talent of his own—before moving onto comparing the similarities between Naomi and her parents once she does a particular gesture that Eiichi had to point out.

“Well, I didn’t want to say anything, but I think Naomi is starting to take more after you in that aspect.” Naoya would tease.

“No, she does not!” you gasp, referring to the habit Naomi had of pouting when things didn’t go her way. Sure, you might’ve done it once or twice when you were younger, but…

No, surely not.

Unless…?

“Or does she…?”

“A bit. She has to take after you. I was never that cute when I was a kid.” He reiterated; you smile, trying to hide your blush.

“Really? I always thought she looked more like you.” You confess. Always hoped that she would… 

“She looks just like the two, actually.” Eiichi added. “But I do have to say, that out of the two, Naomi looks a bit more like—”

“Naoya” an unaccounted voice coming from the entrance was heard, making those at the table quickly turn around to see who it was, even little Naomi, as if she knew that no one was expecting anyone else to show up —especially the one that after years and years of being invited, never attended.

“Satoru!” Hinata gasps, perhaps the most perplexed one out of the group; at one point she even felt as if had hallucinated seeing him there. “I didn’t think you—what are you doing here?”

“I’m visiting my other family! I know we’re not together anymore, but I still hold everyone dear, you know?” He jests and Hinata sighs. Seems that not even during Christmas time would the god’s honor your sister’s request of making Satoru a bit less annoying. Not that much, just… a little.

Truly, she was better off asking for literally anything else but a miracle.

“We weren’t even married…” Hinata murmurs, not that it mattered at that point anyways, less when Satoru moved on to greet Eiichi and Ren (who were rather amicable to say the least, still speechless for seeing him show up after years of absence) before stopping by you, Naoya, and Naomi—lips parting onto a grin when seeing the new family.

“And who is this? Chibi Y/N?? Wow, look at how much she’s grown! I still remember her when she was nothing but a little baby! How old is she now?”

“You’d know if you’d respond to my messages.” You respond, a smirk on your face as Satoru pouts. “Or come to the party I threw for her 6th month birthday…”

“Hey, I got her a gift! That’s bound to mean something, right?” Satoru pinches Naomi’s left cheek, causing her to frown and whine. “Ah, you’re just as moody as Naoya; Thank God she looks more like you, Y/N. Imagine if we’ve gotten two Naoya instead of you? The Zen’in would go insane!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Naoya frowns.

“Didn’t you just say she looked more like him?” you raise an eyebrow, Satoru shrugs.

“Huh, did I?” He feigns ignorance, you roll your eyes. “Must’ve slipped my mind… anyways, I got everyone presents!”

You now notice the bag he was carrying; didn’t seem that big, but it did look like it was full. 

“Especially for chibi Y/N” Satoru hands you over the bag, which Naoya takes soon after standing up—your theories of the bag being full are proved right when your husband notices how heavy it was.

You sigh.

Even if Satoru is what many considered imprudent, he was still goodhearted. And so, you motion Naoya to take the presents to the tree.

“Thank you, Satoru. I’m sure Naomi will appreciate your gift.” You say, a smile on your face.

“If you didn’t get her anything weird, of course.” Ren adds. At the noise of his voice, Satoru can’t help but unintentionally tense up—your brother always had an effect on him that made him feel like a cornered kid. In that sense, everyone was relieved that there was one person that could ground Satoru to reality. “Unless…”

“No, of course not.” Satoru quickly says, laughing nervously. “Who do you think I am??”

Everyone remains quiet as they silently judge him—even little Naomi, who couldn’t possibly know what he was referring to, joined in on the bewildering scrutinizing crusade against him; there’s no doubt in his mind now that she is a L/N.

“Have you eaten anything?” You’d move on. “The food is still warm if you want some.”

“Sit down, I’ll serve you some.” Ren would say before Satoru could even answer, which prompted the Gojo heir to finally accept his offer and take the last available seat, the one besides your father.

Once getting his food, dinner would go as it went before, prompting more stories now that Satoru joined in, with the slight difference that Hinata was now the center of attention.

You undoubtedly knew that your sister was much more than she was letting on, but these anecdotes from when she was a student at jujutsu high were far better than you ever imagined; she sure had everyone fooled with the responsible and dedicated image she made for herself!

But even then, they’d have nothing on your father when he began to tell his own stories: who would’ve known that the goofy, lovable man that your father was had actually lived through his fair share of mischief? Seems that even after years of knowing him, there were still many things to discover about him!

It made you and Naoya wonder what kind of reaction Naomi would have once she learned of your own adventures; the thought that either of you (Or maybe even the two) could become the uncool parent makes you chuckle. 

Maybe your dad was right, maybe this was some kind of rite of passage one must go through when becoming a parent.

After sharing enough anecdotes, now began the most exciting part of the night—opening the presents.

Tensions were already high when it came to the silent competition going on between your father and your husband, but with the unexpected addition of Satoru, this just raised the stakes: they all wanted Naomi to open their presents first.

Luckily, they were still able to listen to reason when you suggested that the best way to solve this was to let Naomi choose by herself, nothing of persuading her to choose theirs or anything of the sorts—simply letting her walk towards the box she found most interesting and let everything else fall into place. 

It was endearing to see how happily she reacted to the fact that (mostly) all the presents underneath the tree were there for her, as well as the cheerful way she began to open them, alongside the help of her papa, of course, for she still wasn’t strong enough to do it herself.

You once considered your dad and mom to be a bit… well, exaggerated whenever they’d take endless pictures of you and your siblings when doing anything—but now that you and Naoya had Naomi in your life… their actions no longer seemed overstated as they once did. If anything, you grew to understand why they’d done so and if anything, it inspired you to  do the same!

To see her chubby face beam whenever seeing her new toys and plushies was one you’d never replace for anything, more so when she got to see all of the presents her daddy got her. 

No one knew Naomi better than her own father, thus every single thing Naoya got for her was to be Hello Kitty themed: from socks, to shirts, plushies and even accessories—anything that his baby wanted, he’d get. In all the possible variations of her favorite Sanrio character. 

Which made Ren, Hinata, and your dad a bit nervous, for it seemed that Naoya had the gift department well covered, making it almost impossible to compete…

But you’d reassure them that Naomi, alongside you and Naoya, were wholeheartedly grateful for their attention and gestures, and that she’d love them all the same.

But outside of that, the thing that perhaps intrigued everyone the most was Satoru’s present. As previously stated, he had a tendency of gifting… Well, odd things, and that was the easy way to put it. 

From objects that you have yet to find a use to, to things that you would rather die than to be seen in public with them, Satoru was unpredictable as unpredictable as he could be.

Thus, everyone understood why Naoya took it upon himself to open Satoru’s present, even if it made Naomi whine in response.

“I just gotta make sure there’s nothing wrong with it, little princess.” Naoya explains, hoping that this would ease Naomi’s rising irritation—it kind of did, but she’d only calm down when Satoru’s gift was eventually revealed:

A Digimon plushie, from the character known as koromon, to be precise.

“Huh, I guess you are capable of doing normal things.” Hinata would say, Satoru scoffs.

“Don’t you mean better things, Hinata?” He teases back, Hinata rolls her eyes.

“Thank you, Satoru.” You say, looking at him. “But you know that in this household we only like Pokémon.”

“Not if I influence her early on!” Satoru grins—but really, he was just happy to see Naomi wholeheartedly enjoying his gift, which she latched onto as soon as Naoya handed it to her.

“As if I’d let you do that.” Naoya says. “Maybe if you had good taste in anime…”

Ren laughs. “Can’t argue with that.”

“Ah, stop it all of you… it was a nice gift.” Eiichi would intervene, making Satoru pout and cry, before rushing over to hug him.

“Oh, thank you so much!” he’d dramatically gasp, tightly holding onto your father. “I knew someone would appreciate my efforts!”

Eiichi presses his lips together before sighing. He’s long come to understand that it was better to not fight it than to do so, because whenever your dad managed to push Satoru away, he’d always come back, and stronger too.

But even with this, Eiichi was happy to have his family back together, reunited and having a good time: the one thing he always wanted for Christmas.

Everyone would continue on opening the rest of the presents, that is, until Naomi began to feel tired as seen by the way her eyes slowly blinked, yawning every so often, before leaning her head onto Naoya’s chest, breathing softly until she finally fell asleep. 

At the sight everyone couldn’t help themselves from cooing, (albeit not too loud in fear of waking her up) as well as take it as a sign to call it a day; everyone had been up since early to get everything done, so it was only normal that they’d begin to feel a bit tired too, Naomi’s yawns were only there to make it more obvious.

“We can continue tomorrow.” Your father would say, referring to the left-over presents still underneath the tree. “It is kind of late.”

“And I still have to call Kanon.” Ren said, looking over to his clock—still a bit of time before she heads to sleep. “Think you can help me pick up, Hinata?”

“Yeah.” she nods, standing up.

“Let me help too.” You offer, standing up as well, he shakes his head.

“No, I’d rather not keep you away from Naomi.” He says. You frown, feeling as if you’ve barely done anything this year… “You can repay me tomorrow.”

“Alright, then.” you smile before sighing, looking over to Naoya carrying a deeply asleep Naomi. “Guess we’re off to bed.” 

“Goodnight Naomi-chan!” Hinata whispers with a grin.

“Goodnight, Y/N, Naoya.” Ren adds.

“Goodnight!” Satoru waves, you way back before making your way over to your dad.

“Goodnight, dad. See you tomorrow.” you say, hugging him. “Thank you for what you did for Naomi, even though she got a bit upset. I’m sure when she’s a bit older she’ll come to appreciate it better.”

“Thank you, pumpkin. And I didn’t mean to scare her.”

“I know, and she knows that too.”

Naoya and you would then head back to the living quarters and into Naomi’s room, the one your father had prepared as soon as your pregnancy was announced, just in case it was ever needed—it didn’t take long for you to decorate it either— to get her changed into her pajamas and into her crib, underneath the warm blankets alongside her favorite plushies, before leaning down to kiss her head and wishing her a goodnight.

Naomi doesn’t respond, outside of a deep sigh and those soft snores that always make your and Naoya’s heart squeeze with adoration whenever hearing them; evidence that she had a tiring, yet fun day.

And as both continue to admire her, a feeling comparable to nostalgia begins to settle in both your hearts, with you being the first one to acknowledge it. 

“Can you believe it?” you whisper, still looking at Naomi.

“What?” Naoya asks, leaning closer to you.

“That she's almost a year old.” You go on. “It’s been almost a year since she arrived in our lives… and now…”

“She can walk.” Naoya finishes. “... it almost feels… surreal, doesn’t it? I can still remember the day she was born like it was yesterday.”

As if it was only yesterday he was that lonely, sorrowful man seemingly destined to live out the same way the rest of his life… and now, he has a family.

“When did time go by so fast?” you ask.

“I don’t know.” He admits, taking your hands and intertwining it with his fingers. “I stopped caring after I met you.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” you chuckle, looking at him.

“What reason do I have to count days, when I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you?”

“Naoya…” you murmur, blushing. “I… I guess to keep important dates…. Or something.”

Naoya was glad that the moonlight coming through the window wasn’t strong enough to show how flustered he truly was.

Taking a deep breath, he now looks at you.

“I still can’t believe I got to meet you, fall in love with you, marry you and now… have a family with you.” he starts. “I got to experience something I never thought I would; and in a way, I still can’t wrap my head around it. There are still moments where I want to pinch myself to see if this is all a dream, if you can believe that; But when I see you and our daughter and I know it’s not my imagination; because you and Naomi are far more beautiful than anything I could’ve ever imagined.

And today… just reminded me of how lucky and grateful I am to have both of you in my life and to have spent another holiday with you.”

It wasn’t your or Naoya’s first Christmas together—not the first one you’ve spent with your dad, or the Zen’in for that matter.

But it was certainly the first one both had spent as a family, enough reason to make it as special as possible.

However, that wasn’t the only reason why you allowed Naoya to do whatever he wanted this year, or why you asked him to spend Christmas with your family. 

More than making this celebration special for Naomi… you intended to do it for him.

Even now, you could still hear it in Naoya’s words—the slightest hesitation that reveals he didn’t believe he’s received all these blessings; and not because he thought them incapable of occurring, but rather because…

He didn’t think himself deserving of them.

Naoya always foresaw that his life would continue on rather… uneventfully, going through the same vicious cycle of people that couldn’t really care less for him, or anything pertaining to him, and him believing the same of himself.

Until you’d come along—to show him that he too was deserving of love, and not only that, but that he was also capable of loving.

And creating something out of love.

A daughter, a baby girl: the biggest blessing he never thought he’d receive. One that while it saddened him to realize she’s growing up, he still couldn’t wait to see the kind of person she’d become, guide her to the greatness he just knows she’s destined to be, as well as be there in the moment she ever finds herself falling and catching her.

One that slowly began to teach him just how much love he was capable of harboring for others, as well as the limits he’ll go beyond just to ensure their happiness.

All the things he’s done, and will do for her, are nothing but the bare minimum; nothing but his way of protecting her, giving her a life vastly different from his so that she’d never have to suffer the same way he did.

But he knows that she will never go through the same things, because she has you as her mother.

And that is something he’ll never, ever be able to thank you enough for.

“I love you, Y/N.” Naoya would say. “And… Thank you for loving me. Enough to have a family with me.”

“Naoya… you never, ever have to doubt yourself deserving of this.” You say, gently placing your hands on each side of his face and resting your forehead against his. “You deserve all this, and more. You are a loving husband and the greatest father any child could ask for, and today you proved it—Even if you went a bit overboard with the presents.”

Naoya chuckles.

“Do you think we’re spoiling our daughter too much?” he asks.

“Undoubtedly. What are we even going to get her on her birthday?” you wonder.

“I can start with the moon.”

“Then I’ll see if I can get the stars.”

The two laugh together for a few moments before quieting down.

And in the silence of the night, their hearts reveal their deep feelings for one another.

“I love you, Naoya.” You begin, gently kissing his lips. “All that I want is the opportunity to spend this Christmas, and those to come, with you and our baby.”

“I love you too, Y/N.” He pecks your lips once more. “You two are the best thing that has ever happened in my life, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

“I know. Thank you for everything, Naoya…” you say, hugging him before gasping. “Oh! And merry Christmas! Can’t forget about that one, can I?”

Naoya chuckles as he pulls you into a tight hug, giving the top of your head a kiss before leaning down to rest the crook of your neck and melting against your warm embrace and scent.

It was his way to silently vow to never let you go; no matter what happens, no matter what is to come… He’ll never, ever let you, or his daughter, go.

Never.

A promise that would continue for the rest of his life underneath the wish of a prosperous holiday.

“Merry Christmas.” 

the two got emotional at the end 🥺 nnghhhhh Naoya just can't believe he's spending an actual christmas with his family, happily you know?? aaaaaaaaaaaa man, i really got it bad for him.

anyways, I originally intended to end this with Naoya gifting Y/N a house because he felt like Y/N and Naomi would be better away from the Zen'in clan... but then Y/N would just go on saying that it would be too much of a hassle because of his duties as the heir, and because she'll miss her friends there (we're going with the notion that the Zen'in aren't as big a*holes as they are, maybe because Naoya managed to scare control them)

Outside of that, for their fellow presents Y/N got Naoya an Asuka figure to fuel his anime tendencies; while he got her some things he saw her ponder about days prior, alongside some special edition gengar they both had to keep hidden from Naomi lol.

🥺 I hope you all enjoyed this little thing I wrote. I shall continue writing more things, request to be precise, before heading back to my main fic :>

Thank you so much for your support ❤️❤️❤️

[stiltonbasket]

anything to share from flowers in the palace verse? :3

(take a short preview of one of the upcoming oneshots!)

“I want to send Wei Ying to the Cloud Recesses with A-Cheng.”

Jiang Fengmian glances up from the kite he was painting. 

“Why?” he asks, perplexed. “Her education has been more than satisfactory. If she went to the Cloud Recesses, she would find the lessons terribly dull: and you know how A-Ying hates to be bored with her lessons. Lan Qiren would be half out of his wits by the time she left.”

“Of that I have no doubt,” Ziyuan says drily. “But I have more practical intentions for this venture, if you will hear me out.”

He nods and lays down his brush. “What are they?”

“Wei Ying is nearly seventeen, and we have not yet found a bridegroom for her,” his wife explains, seating herself on the chair across from his. “A-Li’s future is assured, and A-Cheng will not take kindly to our meddling in his prospects—and he’ll make a more attractive husband after he passes the imperial exams, so we needn’t think of him now. But finding a suitable groom for A-Ying will be difficult, so why not send her to Lan Qiren’s academy and let her look for a bridegroom there?”

“It is a good idea,” muses Jiang Fengmian. “But A-Ying is still young. If the choice were left to me, I would not have her wed within these next five years at least; and I do not think she would agree to look for a bridegroom so soon, even if we asked her to.”

“I’m not going to ask her,” Ziyuan scoffs. “I already have a family in mind, and Wei Ying already has friends among the clan. She need not do anything more than secure one or two banquet invitations before the end of the lecture course, or drag a few of the boys into whatever mishap she will surely have planned for Lan Qiren.”

“Which family do you mean, my lady?”

“The Nie family. You know A-Ying cannot live in just any household, Fengmian: and now that I think on it, she will fare best in a military clan like the Nie. She has studied military history, and she can manage an estate upon a fraction of the budget it ought to have—and most importantly, no relation of Nie Huangyin’s would dare interfere with her schooling if she chose to stay on at Pan Gaolin’s academy after her wedding.”

“Neither would a Lan,” Jiang Fengmian points out. “Why not ask A-Ying to consider one of them?”

His wife scowls at him. “I want to inconvenience Lan Qiren, not kill him.”

“Very well,” he says, laughing. “Let it be as you say, then.”

“Good. Now, write to Qiren and tell him to prepare an extra place in the girls’ dormitory. Most likely, he will ask one of his nieces to look after her until she settles in; and if we're lucky, it will be the one betrothed to Nie Mingjue.”

So A-Ying goes off to the Cloud Recesses two weeks later, taking a box of A-Li’s baked sweets and a very apprehensive A-Cheng with her. To Ziyuan’s disappointment, Lan Xichen is too busy with her own duties to spend much time with Wei Ying; but three days after A-Ying’s departure, she sends Jiang Fengmian an exhilarated letter that appears to be almost entirely about Qiren’s younger niece, Lan Wangji. 

“Well, that’s something,” Yu Ziyuan says slowly, when Jiang Fengmian reports to her office with the letter. “If Wei Ying has made friends with Lan Wangji, then she is sure to be welcome at the Unclean Realm after Lan-guniang and Nie Mingjue are married.”

Jiang Fengmian nods. The words of A-Ying’s letter are already fading from his mind, for he had received so many over the course of his travels throughout the country, but in later years—after his first daughter lost her betrothed, and after both she and her sister were shut away behind the high walls of the palace hougong where one of his mother’s distant cousins had taken her own life to escape her emperor husband—he would return to his study and open the old desk drawer devoted to his children’s keepsakes, and realize that the seeds of A-Ying’s true marriage had been planted beneath his very nose. 

He and Ziyuan sent her off to find a husband, and in her dear, wild-hearted way—she found a wife instead.

[kickthecan-revolution]

Peach is the best. He loves my sister so much. She was sick today and he crawled right up on her chest and purred until she fell asleep. I miss him. I’m so glad he’s so happy and that I still get to know him.

Walking to my room this afternoon, I realized I couldn’t remember what I’d done all day which is when I realized I’d gotten up at 7am to drive to Cupertino and then back two hours later to check my “I was in the office” box. This work is some of the hardest I’ve ever done - either that, or my brain was in a deep freeze and I’m experiencing the quick thaw that comes from a quick dunk in boiling water. I’m about halfway up the wave before it crests, just about a week and a half more and then I’ll be up on top, beginning to slide down. I can do it. The really big complex set of plans are done and now just have to be reviewed by all of the executives. After that, I have to design all of it and get it translated into a lot of different languages which is going to be intense but I have people to help me with all of that.

I’m thankful I get to have this intensive and experience, before I leave next year, I’m someone who is at my best when I’m this busy trying to solve things that are complicated.

There’s so much to say about the world, about politics, but my brain just freezes up. I’m burnt out and tired by all of it, there seems to be absolutely no good choice anywhere. Gavin Newsom has done some good things for California, and when I look at him, I see a glittery, progressive vampire who is manipulating his way into something bigger. I just don’t trust any of them, not even Bernie, which hurts a little. Most of all, I’m devastated at what these corrupt people have done to all of us, how much they’ve caused us to hate the other how many enemies we have now that we didn’t used to have, and how the collective body of us has allowed that to happen. I do believe there’s a deeper waking up, a deeper consciousness emerging from unconsciousness that sometimes can only happen when rage and war and hatred are the catalyst. Despite that, every single corner of social media feels performative, even me journaling about it, so I’m stopping.

I talked to my brother for a long time today the first time in months, I have really missed him. Things are really good, my niece is having her third baby and we’re all excited. He found himself in our old neighborhood and stopped by our old house – somehow he got invited in and apparently it’s so different. They talked for a really long time, they’re an older couple with a daughter who’s had some real mental health struggles, and tried to commit suicide. I guess she walked into the house, saw the chapel with the Holy Spirit dove on the door and said “dad, this is our house.” That made me tear up to hear I’m going to drive by when I’m there in a couple of weeks and I hope I get to go inside.

[nani-nonny]

So okay, idk and i forgot how long it's been since i read the last chapter but god this is good! It's like that one funny sound effect "God it's so good! It's so good and tasty!" This chapter is like this!!

It's so good that my cheek hurts from smiling and i can't stop smiling and i blame you for it/lh/hj

Seeing how F!Leo knock on the door and try to mimic his move is bringing me to nostalgia of the past i remember doing something like this with my parents and i end up getting laughed at (because it is!!)

Baby Lou punching the door with her baby hand made me laugh and melt immediately xD when they entered and April was nervous? God i felt so bad for her and i wasn't the one who destroyed drax.

Then she explodes - rightfully - after Leo asked her and even call out how rude it is to cut people off which i find satisfied?! Because people cut me off and see it normal and am like "Excuse me, am not done talking" and she explains how despite how cruel it was and how fucked up it was, it was still draxum from the PAST!! You can't take your anger out on him!!!

And bro took it like a G, he took it like a champ!! Eve tho Leo feel 80% guilty - am about to end that 20% off - draxum deserves an apology.

About the trip thing? When April mentioned it i was like "Why didn't f!Leo remember it if it was planned out??" And it's turned out last minute planned!! Tho part of me see it fair i have multiple questions like: Why take CJ?! Shouldn't he see his baby sister and spend peaceful time with his dad? Are they gonna leave F!Leo half injured and dip?! Will they take draxum or throw him back in his apartment or just leave him in medbey?! God!! Justice for the alchemist!!

And then Donnie finally acknowledging Leo and baby Lou's existence is making me happy and laughing like bro really didn't hear the door open or them talking or even April snapping?! Bruh.

AND HE MADE A CRIB for baby lou!! I was like, didn't future draxum knew this would happen?! And since the crib happened, will the mini fridge happen too??👀👀 imagine a smoll fridge connected to her crib!!

AND TGEN THE STAR OF THE SHOW APPEAR!! RAPHAEL!!! MY BABY!! Who rightfully a tiny, bit traumatized. And when he held baby lou in his palm?! AWWWW I WAS FEELING GIDDINES IN MY STOMACH!! THE GOOD TYPE!! LORD I CAN IMAGINE HOW SMOLL SHE IS!! AND HOW BIG RAPH'S PALM IS! 😭✨✨✨✨

And then little Leo appear and demand future Leo's ass back in the bed!

Seeing how big Leo is just trying to shield baby lou as he goes to sleep.. And that realization she's his baby? God it's perfect.. So perfect

*twirls hair* I’m glad you like it, I wrote it thinking of you and hoping you’d enjoy the soft moments! :D

April is such a great character I love her so much :) I liked her portion so much

Oh! About the trip! It was in the last chapter, but Splinter explained that it’s for Leonardo to get to know the baby, especially since CJ already had some time with her while he was unconscious! And it was also explained that CJ would return to the lair after the third day on the trip! Yeah, I probably should have made a heads up to check the previous chapter for a little reminder of where we are hehe

We’ll find out about Draxum and the trip in the next chapter hehe

Donnie is just like me hehe hyper focused and unaware of his surroundings while working on something :) but isn’t it so thoughtful and so “Donnie” to be building something for the new family member? <3

Raphy almost like F!Raphael, so cautious with the baby but years of experience separates the two! While F!Raph is comfortable and confident in holding his niece, Raphy is so afraid hahaha!

Lil Leo is such a mood killer /j (he’s just very concerned about his patient hahaha!)

But the ending was my favorite part hehe baby and papa are so cute :))))

Thanks for reading and leaving your fun comment/review like always sniper! I wrote this one for you so I’m glad you like it! I made sure to make it super soft :) <3

[stiles-banshees]

Good Things Come in Threes: Chapter Three

Summary: Growing up on the East Coast her whole life, Summer Hastings always longed for more. The niece of Penny Benjamin would often fly out to the West Coast every summer to visit her aunt and cousin. Summer didn't realize how much her life would change that night she called her aunt to book her plane ticket when she was 18 years old when a certain Jake Seresin answered the phone.

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Warnings: 18+, swearing

Word Count: 2.6k

Sharing a room with Jake Seresin only a week after knowing him wasn’t something Summer was planning to do. Sure, she could’ve gone home last night, but she and Jake finally started to get tired four hours after midnight. Which was unfortunate for the blond because he had to be ready for training at seven on the dot the following day. So, when Summer woke up at nine forty-five when her usual alarm when off, she had been left alone in Jake’s bed.

The girl stretched before reaching over to her (charging?) phone to shut off the annoying alarm. The alarm cleared from her screen, and she noticed a thread of text messages. There’s a text from Bradley asking where she was; he wanted to check on her before today’s training, a text from Penny asking for her to drop by the bar later, and two from Jake, one making sure she had his number and the other telling her where to find the spare toothbrush he was able to grab. Summer sent a quick message to Nat, telling her they needed to debrief at the bar after today’s training.

Summer quietly made her way around the small room, changing her clothes into the shirt and sweatpants Jake left out for her and brushing her fingers through her hair before deciding to go to the communal bathroom to brush her teeth with the spare toothbrush. Just when she put the toothbrush in her mouth, someone cleared their throat behind her. The girl turned and jumped when she saw Bradley behind her.

“There she is,” He laughed at her face. “Where were you this morning? I stopped in Phoenix’s room, and you weren’t there.”

“Oh, I was around,” She said with a mouthful of toothpaste.

“I was around,” He mocked her. “You with Hangman last night?”

“Not by choice,” She answered honestly.

Bradley nodded as she spat the toothpaste out and then rinsed.

“Did Nat lock you out or something?” He asked.

“Something like that.” Summer nodded. “Aren’t you supposed to be in the sky right now?”

“They only have two of us up there at a time. I’m scheduled in a little bit. I’m waiting with Payback and Fanboy right now.” He explained. “Wanna come sit in? We’re just in the lounge listening to the radio.”

Summer thought about it for a moment. She technically doesn’t have to be at the bar until five, so she gives in.

“Do you think he’ll care if I leave my stuff in his room?” She asked, not directly naming Hangman.

“Leave it in there. I have a theory I wanna test.” Bradley said, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

The two quickly walked back to Jake’s room to drop off Summer’s toiletries and went to the lounge. Payback and Fanboy sat at the small table in the corner, listening to the radio. 

“Did I miss anything good?” Bradley asked as he pulled up two chairs for them.

“Just Phoenix and Hangman arguing.” Payback sighed.

“Is that normal?” Summer asked the three men.

“It’s more frequent now than last week,” Fanboy answered.

Summer nodded in response, hoping she wasn’t the reason for her friend's bickering.

“Chill out, Phoenix. I got this.” Hangman’s voice came through the radio.

“The last time you said that we died.” Summer heard Nat deadpan.

“Well, I have something to lose if I don’t bring you back,” Hangman said.

“That would be cute if this wasn’t a life or death situation,” Bob said.

“Bob gets it,” Phoenix huffed. “Hangman, if you cared to look for Maverick as much as you care to look at Summer’s legs, we could beat this exercise.”

Summer’s eyes practically bulged out of her head.

“Summer’s friends with Natasha, not Phoenix,” Hangman replied cooly.

“Look at him separating work and his home life,” Bradley said, impressed.

“Are you two done gossiping yet?” Maverick’s voice came through the radio.

Two minutes later, Maverick takes down Hangman. Three minutes after that, he gets Phoenix and Bob. The group mumbled about doing pushups over the comms while the three men sat with Summer and started to suit up.

“Where’s Coyote?” Summer asked.

“He’s going up with us but wanted to hang out in the hangar for some reason.” Bradley shrugged while he grabbed his helmet.

Summer hummed to herself.

“Wanna walk me out? Or do you wanna wait here for Nat?” He asked as Payback and Fanboy walked out the door.

“I’ll walk out with you, and then I’ll walk back with her after her pushups.” Summer decided.

It took them three minutes to walk to the hangar. Summer convinced Rooster to let her wear his helmet for those three minutes. Natasha had been climbing out of her seat when she noticed her friend wearing Rooster’s helmet.

“The new recruit you found is adorable, Rooster.” Phoenix teased.

“I think it’s too big for my head.” Summer laughed as the helmet kept falling past her eyes.

Rooster took the helmet back, and Summer pouted.

“I’ll get you one for your birthday. I’ll even come up with a callsign for you.” He promised as he stalked off.

The two girls turned to each other, both buzzing with excitement.

“I have to tell you about last night.” They said at the same time.

“I gotta do my pushups first, but I’m telling you right after. Like, you’re coming with me when I shower. That’s how important it is.” Nat grinned.

“That good?” Summer gasped.

“Good to the point that I feel bad you’ll never experience it.” Nat shook her head as she grabbed Summer’s arm to tug her over to where Bob and Hangman had already started working on their pushups.

Nat silently dropped down next to Bob to work on her set, and Summer sat across her next to a standing Hondo.

“Miss Hastings,” Hondo smiled fondly at the young woman on the ground.

“Hondo,” She smiled back.

Hangman looked over, his brain short-circuiting, when he saw Summer in his clothes. They looked so huge compared to her small stature. He had lost count of how many pushups he did and decided he’d stop a little after Bob.

“The last time I saw you, you wanted to be a princess when you grew up. How’s your dad?” The man laughed.

Nat snickered from her spot, and Summer nudged her with her foot.

“He’s good. Still disappointed that I’m not in the Navy, though.” Summer laughed awkwardly.

“I say this lovingly, but you belong in a classroom.” Hondo laughed again.

Summer nodded, agreeing with him.

“Your dad wanted you to join the Navy?” Bob asked her as he let out a huff of air.

“It’s a generational thing in my family. My parents only had me, so I don’t know what they were thinking.” Summer shrugged.

“Ooh, tell them about the no Navy boys rule.” Phoenix laughed, finally starting to break a sweat.

Bob laid down on his stomach once he finished his pushups. Jake finished shortly after, sitting cross-legged in his spot, focusing on Summer.

“Are you serious?” Hondo asked the girl sitting next to him.

“No Navy boys allowed.” She nodded.

“Your mother married your father. He was in the Navy.” Hondo said, confused.

“I don’t get it either,” Summer sighed. “They also hate that I’m constantly at the Hard Deck too.”

“That’s where they met, right?” He asked.

Summer hummed in response.

“They must hate that Penny owns it now, huh?” Hangman chimed in.

Summer nodded, “Especially since she freaked my parents out by saying all the Benjamin women are fated to meet the love of their lives there.”

Nat paused her pushups, cackling at that.

“Phoenix, it’s not that funny,” Bob said before realizing she was laughing about Hangman. “Oh.”

An awkward silence is shared amongst the four adults, and Phoenix resumes her pushups.

“Hangman, can I talk to you for a second?” Summer asked, standing up and walking out of earshot of the others.

“Good time to hit the showers, Bob,” Hangman suggested before following the young woman.

“What’s up?” He asked her.

“I just wanted to thank you for last night. It was nice of you to let me crash in your room.” She said quietly, even though they were out of earshot.

“Any time.” He nodded, awkwardly punching her shoulder softly.

The aviator cringed once he processed the action. “Sorry,”

Summer laughed at him, amused by knowing that she made the blond nervous.

“I know you probably ate already, but do you wanna get breakfast? Or brunch? Whatever it is.” She asked.

“Right now?” Jake asked.

“Unless you have other stuff to do.” Summer backtracked.

“No, no. I mean, I do, but not for about three more hours. They give us breaks in between so we don’t get overwhelmed.” He said, reaching for his phone to check the time.

“Cool,” Summer said. “I just have to change. And probably shower first; I feel gross.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna take one too. Are you going back home or?” He asked.

“It might be easier to shower here, don’t you think?” Summer suggested.

“Right,” Jake was struggling to hold back a grin.

“I just need Nat’s key.” She reminded him.

“Phoenix, you almost done?” Hangman called over to her.

“You in a rush to get somewhere, Hangman?” Nat called back.

“Just figured Hastings would like to change.” He shrugged.

Nat’s eyes shot over to her friend, noticing that she was wearing Hangman’s clothes. She quickly finished her pushups and then rushed over to the brunette.

“Oh my god, I spaced and forgot you’re a civilian for a second. And I made you wear Hangman’s clothes. I’m the worst friend ever. I’m sorry.” She winced as she pulled her friend back to base, Hangman trailing behind them, smirking.

“Nat, it’s okay. They’re just clothes.” Summer laughed.

“But you smell like him now.” Nat wrinkled her nose.

“And that’s why you’re teaching me how to use the showers here.” Summer said.

“Unless you want her to smell like me all day. I’m sure you’d love that, Trace.” Jake said as he popped up on the other side of Summer, putting his arm around her shoulder.

“Please tell me you didn’t have sex with Hangman,” Nat begged.

“All we did was sleep. What makes you think I did?” Summer asked, completely ignoring the man next to her.

“He’s been more annoying than usual today.” Nat rolled her eyes and glared at Jake, causing him to drop his arm from Summer’s shoulder.

“What have you been doing?” Summer asked Jake.

“I don’t know what she’s talking about. I’ve been my charming self, as usual.” He smiled.

“Hangman charming or Jake charming?” Summer turned her attention back to Phoenix.

“Please, we barely know who Jake Seresin is.” Nat laughed.

It was true. The other aviators knew Hangman. The only people that knew Jake were his family and now, Summer. Hangman had stuffed his hands in the pockets of the flight suit, and Summer took advantage of Phoenix’s rambling about how annoying the blond had been earlier that morning. Summer discretely moved her hand to grasp Jake’s forearm, urging him to take it out of the pocket. She subtly grinned when he obliged, and she successfully intertwined their fingers, keeping their hands out of Phoenix’s sight.

However, Jake was freaking out. He knew that if Phoenix caught them holding hands, he would take the blame for it. Jake would end up covering for Summer because Phoenix wouldn’t believe Summer initiated it. He liked the adrenaline it gave him, so he ran his thumb across her knuckle, grinning when she squeezed his hand. Their handholding got interrupted when they reached Phoenix’s room.

“I’ll grab our stuff,” Phoenix said. “Don’t worry, I’ll take some time so you can say goodbye however you see fit. If she looks kissed, you’re fucked, Seresin.”

“I think this is the most I’ve ever felt threatened by her,” Jake said as soon as the door closed behind her.

“She’s protective,” Summer said.

“She loves you. She’s your big sister.” He said.

“Oh, yeah. I’m Summer Hastings-Trace.” She laughed.

“Don’t forget to tack on Bradshaw,” He laughed along.

“I’ll see you in thirty minutes?” Summer asked as she tugged on the bottom of his shirt.

“Can you make it fifteen?” Jake asked, tucking messy strands of hair behind her ears and then cupping her face.

“How about we make it twenty-five?” Summer negotiated.

“Deal,” He agreed. “Only if you promise to keep those warm for me at night.”

He had gestured to the clothes she was wearing. His clothes. Summer’s cheeks burned pink; it started happening more frequently as she spent time with the thirty-two-year-old.

“Jake?” She asked, still blushing while he stared at her. “What are you looking at?”

“Hastings, do you realize how hot you are?” He whispered.

“What?” She whispered back.

Jake slowly inched closer, tilting his head to be at eye level with her. Summer wrapped her arms around his sides and pulled him a little closer. Whatever trance they were in broke as soon as they heard Nat’s doorknob turn. Summer practically threw herself against the wall when she jumped back.

“Come on, Sum, let’s go,” Nat said as she shoved Summer’s overnight bag in her hands.

“See you in a bit, then?” Jake asked.

“Not if I see you first,” Summer laughed awkwardly.

Jake went for a hug but decided not to at the last second. Instead, he walked past the two women in the direction of his room.

“I’m not even gonna lie to you. I was eavesdropping, so I know you’re going on a date after you shower. Why are you guys acting weird?” Nat nudged her friend in the direction of the bathroom.

“We’re not acting weird.” Summer said lamely.

“And my hair isn’t black.” Nat rolled her eyes.

Twenty-five minutes later, the two women emerge from their showers. Summer slipped on a pink sundress with sandals while Natasha settled for shorts and a tee paired with sneakers. Their hair was still wet, but Nat had time to blowdry hers since she had nowhere to be.

“My hair’s gonna frizz,” Summer whined as they walked back to Nat’s room.

“Maybe you should’ve thought about that before making your date.” Nat laughed.

“My brain turns into mush when he’s around. It’s not my fault.” Summer said.

“And he turns into a golden retriever. I know.” Nat nodded.

“Still hate him?” Summer asked.

“Give me a few months,” Nat answered simply.

“Natasha Trace! I might only have two weeks with him, and you want me to wait months?” Summer glared at her friend.

Nat’s in the middle of laughing when Javy runs in, seemingly out of breath.

“What’s going on, Coyote?” Nat quickly switched into work mode.

“They need us in the debriefing room. You know where Hangman is?” His question was directed at Summer.

Summer shook her head no and pulled out her phone, dialing Jake’s number. She paced the hallway as it was ringing and hung up when he called out to her from the opposite end of it.

“What’s wrong?” Jake asked as he walked up to the other three.

“Debriefing room. Now,” Coyote said seriously.

Phoenix and Coyote walked in the direction of the conference room quickly. Jake followed immediately, dragging Summer along but stopping short when they got to the door.

“Stay right here, baby. I’m hoping this isn’t too long,” Jake muttered before pressing a quick kiss to the crown of Summer’s forehead and then disappearing into the meeting room.

Forty-five minutes later, Summer sat frozen from shock. Natasha had told her the mission got bumped up a week, which meant Summer and Jake would have less time than they thought.

-

Here is a link to my masterlist if you'd like to read any of my other writings or if you would like to send requests :)

[criticallyobs]

HI GUYS JUST FINISHED THE EPISODE 10 PODCAST

i was literally so excited to hear it you have no idea i checked spotify like three billion times today 🤣🤣🤣🤣

and it was so worth it!!!! im so glad M is an avid Day-Mom defender that part made me laugh so much. Z was all like "yeah shes dead to me" and M going "ah well you know the circumstances and emotions" and then in the end with the EyE DonATioN Z was (mostly) calm and M was just losing it ah good times good times

needless to say im vibrating with anxiety for next week. i'm with you guys that i would LOVE it if the surgery fails. like M says that amount of pain would be DELICIOUS. like if Morks realization that Day was now fully blind on the last twilight mountain was a 1 then that realization will be a full 10 on the Mork-Pain-Scale and i just grrrrrr i need to see him cry so bad so. hahahaha yeah im so normal. normal about this.

im a solid 90% sure that the surgery wont work. i had my doubts right after the episode but the more im thinking about it the more im sure it wont. or like you guys said maybe hes only going to be back to the one palm distance visuals.

(and fun fact we actually checked our organ donation cards after this episode and my friend actually wrote under organs she wouldn't want to donate "eyes" we are now debating whether to change that into just corneas but i dont want them to)

and now after you mentioned that we'll probably gonna get to see mee being born i cant stop thinking about mork and day holding their little niece hahahahahahahahahahah okay oaky now im leaving you alone I JUST NEEDED TO SCREAM AT SOMEONE.

have a wonderful week i'll see you at the next one

Thank you again for the lovely message, we are living for these.

We also can't wait to find out what they have planned for us. Will it be torture-light or hard-core pull out your spine through your breast kind of pain?

To help bide the time we have created a telegram group chat where we can interact with our listeners, we'd love for you to join if you want. Here is the link.

We thought it might be another great way for us to not only interact with our listeners but for you guys to be able to interact with each other too.

The great thing with telegram is you can send voice messages as well as text, this could be a place where your theories are discussed, where you could have live episode discussions and reactions, ask questions and follow-ups after podcast episodes, basically whatever our listeners might find most enjoyable.

We have our final Last Twilight podcast episode coming up fast, too fast. With only two more episodes left, we are planning to continue on from our Dangerous Romance podcast tradition and end this series with an extra Special episode 'Let's Talk Last Twilight'.

If you have any questions you'd like us to answer or topics you'd like us to talk about during the Special episode, they can be added to the telegram group chat under the Last Twilight topic. Just tag #Letstalklasttwilight so we can be sure to find them.

We also have topics for Dangerous Romance and Cooking Crush, which people can join.

❤️ Z & M

[hotforharrison]

I was journaling to get my feelings out when I realized that a lot of the things that have been making me chronically unhappy in my relationship with my husband over the past year or so have all been because of polyamory.

I'm constantly comparing myself to his girlfriend, feeling like I don't measure up and that I'm not good enough. I can't seem to stop.

It's bled heavily into what was our already not the greatest sex life because of hearing her (an issue that comes up again and again) and her...enthusiasm, and also his enthusiasm.

He says we're different and that it isn't a matter of preference over how she is, or any of his partners have been in the past, and how I am. It doesn't feel that way, though.

He wants to have an egalitarian polyamorous relationship with his girlfriend and me, other than in the legal aspects that he and I have shared since well before our relationship became polyamorous (like owning a home together, being married, that sort of stuff).

The egalitarian polyamorous relationship doesn't translate into reality very well, though. She's very clingy and needy, and he won't tell her to back off.

She gets Tuesday and Friday nights with him, after he gets off work. They spend the evening and then night together. I don't bother them, period, and wouldn't unless it was an actual emergency.

He's set aside Wednesday after he gets off work and night for me, which is one day a week compared to her two. I've been willing to accept that, even though it does feel unfair.

She knows it's my night, but she still calls during what's supposed to be our time together. Not because of an emergency or something coming up -- just to chat.

It happens every Wednesday without fail.

What also happens every Wednesday night, without fail, is that he doesn't just tell her he's spending time with me and that he'll talk to her later. They'll chat. Sometimes they'll chat for over half an hour, which he doesn't see a problem with.

Really, he dismisses all of the things she does or downplays them because he's still blinded by what I've heard referred to as "new relationship energy" (NRE) -- that phase where things with someone are new or relatively new, and you see everything relating to them and your relationship through rose colored glasses.

I've heard it usually wears off after about 3 years, and they've been together for 2.

He and I have been together for almost 17.

My "martyr complex" has also been an ongoing problem.

I've spent the past 2 years now sacrificing my own happiness because I want my husband and his girlfriend to be happy, and sometimes those things are mutually exclusive, especially when it comes to his girlfriend.

I did tell my husband, though, in very clear terms that I no longer consider her a friend and have no positive feelings toward her. My civility is fully and entirely for his benefit and because I love him.

My last straw was an unprovoked hateful Facebook comment she made on one of my posts about a month ago. The post was absolutely unrelated to her in any way, and it couldn't be construed as such, so she literally just made the comment to be mean.

I was forced to apologize for something in January that she was partially to blame for as well, but she was not forced to apologize for her comment that was entirely her fault.

The rose colored glasses strike again.

She's the one who's on his mind, too -- the person he tells good morning and good night every single day without fail. He drives a lot for work, and she's the one he talks to on his long drives now.

His high school reunion is later this year. It's in the state next to where my family lives, and we've talked for years now about me attending it with him and him meeting my nieces for the first time. My eldest niece is 13, and he hasn't met her yet.

He brought his reunion up the other night, only his plans have changed. He now wants to go with his girlfriend and for them to attend the reunion together and to meet some of her friends and family in another neighboring state.

I asked about our previous plans, and he acted like that was a conversation we'd never had, even though we'd repeatedly had it.

It was honestly rather heartbreaking to be replaced like that.

None of these problems would exist in a monogamous relationship.

I did discuss my feelings with him as calmly as I could, just to let him know where I was in my head, and we agreed that I'd talk about it with my counselor, figure out how I want to proceed.

He said he'd support me either way, that I do deserve to be happy, too, and shouldn't stay in a relationship that is just going to make me unhappy.

He would like for us to work things out ideally, but he understands that might not be possible, and he wants us to stay on good terms instead of either one of us developing animosity and resentment toward the other.

I'm grateful for that at least.

[flockofdoves]

obviously there is no time that is Good or Convenient to have covid and i guess technically its good that this isn't happening to me in the middle of a time where i have more active work or school responsibilities

but also it just feels like Such bad timing in a lot of other ways

i literally Just was recovering after unrelated health problems over the past couple weeks that were making me so so fucking stir crazy i had plans to go out and really start planning my days for the rest of the summer doing things like going to rhode island again and going birding more and going to museums and stuff because i was at my fucking limit with being cooped up in my apartment recovering. but now i just gotta do that all over again for at least another 9 days from today

kinda sad about ending my summer this way. and also i'm gonna have to miss my niece's christening party when i really would like to see her again i've only seen her once since she was born :(

also there are just so so many issues surrounding my lease and roommate situation. my symptoms started on tuesday the 16th which means i should isolate til the 26th (i do not trust the new recommendations saying you can even go to work if you have covid after 5 days i think thats fucking insane and would be irresponsible of me with how extremely symptomatic i am right now)

my current lease ends on the 26th. so so lucky i don't have to move but every single thing about my roommate situation and how shes supposed to move out on the 26th is made so fucking complicated by this

because my roomate is still here the whole time i have to isolate i have to stay entirely in my bedroom outside of wearing a mask to go to the bathroom (and shutting the door and taking it off to shower or brush teeth) or quickly get food to bring to my room

and my girlfriend didnt test positive yesterday but it feels kind of inevitable considering that we sleep in the same room (and cpaps even aerosolize viruses further apparently) so its not like she can even stay in the other room for the time being while periodically checking to see if she's gotten infected

and also i put in repair requests earlier this week for issues with the apartment that preexisted me and my gf moving in but that over the past year i'd been too nervous about having maintenance come in and see how bad things were bc of my roommate until me and my gf deep cleaned last week

but the repair requests were not fulfilled within a few days and then i had to cancel them obviously once i tested positive. and so now that means i cant have maintenance fix anything til after the new lease starts... which means that we're gonna have to pay back my roommate the her entire portion of the security deposit and then pay for the repairs during our new lease for things that happened when she lived here before us...

it also kinda puts a wrench into any hopes i still kinda had of trying to reach out to anyone she knows to try to help her cat

and im sad bc i realized cats can get covid so i shouldnt even really be playing with or petting her cat over the next 10 days :(

also its gonna be so so weird bc ive already doubted that shes actually gonna move out at all and now its even more ambiguous bc like. if she ever communicated with me at all i'd find it very reasonable for her to ask to move out a little later so she doesnt have to deal with that or expose anyone shes potentially bringing to help her move or anything. but like i know shes not actually gonna communicate anything so if the 26th comes and goes and shes still here its gonna feel even weirder than it was gonna originally because i'll feel more unconfident about asserting like. you need to get out of here. when i can find a reason to understand why she'd unexpectedly need to stay a little longer

[bayisdying]

A Very Miami Christmas

There were very few things that Fanboy hated, but most of all he hated the snow and the cold.

So of course, naturally he would fall in love with someone from the Midwest who didn't mind either of those things. It meant spending winters visiting snowed in cabins, and going to her hometown for a white Christmas.

What he didn't know was that his sneaky girlfriend wasn't planning a white Christmas this year. In fact she was planning the exact opposite.

It was the annual Pre-Christmas Party at the Hard Deck for the Daggers and friends. It was held the first weekend of December before everyone scattered across the country for Christmas.

"You look lost there Fanboy." Whiskey teased.

"Thanks Momma." He replies with a laugh. "I'm just mentally preparing for how cold Illinois is."

Whiskey chuckled, she knew he wouldn't be freezing his ass off this year. Before she could cheekily respond however Penny was ringing the bell signaling that the gift exchange was about to start.

Once Santa, aka Cyclone, had passed out all the gifts the group started to open things one by one.

"Aww I love it!"

"What the fuck is this?"

"I knew you were getting me this!"

"Seriously who gave me coal?"

"Bagman, you suck."

But everyone turned as they saw Mickey pull out a very sexy looking bikini from one of his boxes.

Rueben wolf whistled "damn Garcia, didn't know you were a bikini man!"

Mickey flipped off his friend, then turned to Lucky who had a very shit eaten grin on her face.

"There's more in the box." Lucky said with a shrug, ignoring the obvious question on her man's mind.

He knew better than to question it further and continued to sift through the tissue paper. Next was a Santa hat, then swimming trunks with snowflakes all over it, then a palm tree ornament, and a framed picture from the first time he took her to Miami.

"You trying to make me feel warm before I go freeze?" He asked out loud which caused laughter to ring out from the group.

Lucky grumbled, and motioned for him to keep digging.

Finally at the bottom of the box was a piece of paper folded neatly. When he opened it he realized they were plane tickets. Plane tickets to...Miami.

"No snow?" Is all he could say.

"No snow." Lucky nodded.

He jumped up and twirled his girl around before putting her down and pulling her in to a kiss.

Ice cleared his throat, reminding the two that they had an audience.

-----

When they finally landed, Lucky wanted to kiss the ground. She hated flying if she wasn't the pilot.

"There is my baby!" They heard Dulce's voice over the rest of the din.

There were many hugs given, and finally they reached the Garcia household. Fanboy and Lucky went straight to his childhood bedroom for a nap, and maybe some shenanigans.

They spent most days on the beach, soaking in the sun and most nights were spent with the extended Garcia family playing board games and looking at Christmas lights around their neighborhood.

When they woke up Christmas morning it was a gorgeous 80 degree day with not a cloud in the sky.

"Isn't this so much better than snow?" Fanboy asked.

"Nah." Lucky teased. "Plus snow means cuddle weather."

"That has not stopped us."

Lucky hit his chest to shut him up.

They joined the rest of the family in the living room and watched as the little ones ripped open their presents. The pure joy in their little faces making waking up early so worth it.

Alexandra, their little three year old niece, was glued to Lucky's side. Mickey was enjoying the view of his girl with a toddler a little too much. He started envisioning a future where they were spending Christmas morning in their little cottage on the beach. Surrounded by their own children and watching them as they opened all the presents Santa had brought them. What he didn't know was that Lucky liked the sound of that future too.

The family made their way to the beach after presents and they wore out the kids by chasing them around. Once the kiddos left, and it was just the two of them left they cuddled on their beach towel.

"I love you Mickey."

"I love you more."

Once they had enough of the beach they walked hand in hand through the streets of Miami taking in the sights. It was gorgeous all year round but it was magical during Christmas time.

And despite it being a balmy 58 degrees, Baylie found a street vendor selling hot cocoa and got them some.

"Hot cocoa seriously?"

"It's Christmas dipshit." She replied as she happily sipped hers.

"This was a pretty amazing Christmas."

"I'm just glad I could give you a very Miami Christmas."

He laughed at her awful attempt at a joke, "and I'm just glad there was no snow."

"Wimpy Miami boy."

-----

A/N: I feel like this kinda is rushed and I'm sorry. But this bitter cold and winter storm I'm getting is making me wish I was in Miami 😂😭

Tagging my babes: @mrsjaderogers @mtnofgrace @cycbaby @callsign-dragonbaron @kloofspeaks @notyoursbutlewis @roosterscockpit @breadsquash @askmarinaandothers

[ejsandfarkleslovebot]

CHAPTER NINE, girl meets bear

"Hiya, Matthews!" Sienna greets, closing the door to the Matthews apartment after she walks in. "Maya told me there would be tacos." Sienna's eyes grew wide at how much of a mess the place is, and she grimaces. "Did a tornado happen here?"

"No. Riley's bear is missing so, of course, we're all looking for it." Maya answered her with a pout.

Sienna looks at her with a frown. "So, no tacos?" She questioned.

Shaking her head, Maya frowns. "No tacos."

"Dang it." Sienna muttered, a sad expression replacing her excited expression. 

"While you're here, you might as well help." Maya grabs Sienna's arm, stopping her from leaving. "If we have to suffer, so do you."

Sienna sighs. "Alright, I'll help you find that stupid bear." She grumbled. She had been looking forward to getting some tacos, but it seemed that fate had other plans for her.

****

Everyone has been looking for Barry-the-bear-bear for at least an hour and there was still no luck in finding him. Sienna sat on the arm of the couch, deciding to take a short break. She was tired and frustrated, and her stomach was grumbling, reminding her that she forgot to eat breakfast that morning. She was starting to regret agreeing to help look for the bear. She had a feeling that he would turn up eventually, but until then, she would have to put up with the search.

She looks over at Maya who sat on the floor, leaning against the door behind her.

"Life, we need to talk." Maya speaks up, staring at nothing in particular, and Sienna could tell she was really upset about not being able to get a taco. "Here I am, on taco day, no taco whatsoever. Would you care to explain yourself in your mysterious ways?"

Maya was then pushed out of the way when the door opened by Josh, who came to visit to give his brother and sister-in-law laundry. "Hey, family."A bright smile tugs on Josh's lips when he notices Sienna. "And girlfriend." He winks at her which made her giggle and her face turn red. Josh smiles upon hearing that beautiful giggle of hers and then looks back at his brother and sister-in-law with a small smile. "Don't pressure me into staying for dinner. I'm just here to do my laundry." He gasps dramatically. "That's right. That's a thing now. I do my laundry here. Did you know? 'Cause now you know."

Sienna giggles again and smiles fondly at him with a hint of amusement in her eyes. Cory smiles. "My brother!"

"My laundry!" Josh smiled, handing him a bag of his clothes.

"His laundry!" Cory went to hand the bag to Topanga, but it dropped to the floor since Topanga didn't take it. Sienna chuckled, watching as Topanga looked at Cory with an angry expression that made Cory scream.

"I'm sorry." Cory immediately apologizes. "I lost my mind." Topanga nods in agreement while Cory picks up the bag. "I will just take these to the creak, and I will wash them myself." Cory explained, walking backwards to the hallway. Sienna chuckled, watching the couple with amusement. They could be quite entertaining when they wanted to be.

"What's everybody doing? Who's here?" Josh questioned, glancing back Sienna when she answers his question.

Walking over to help Maya up, Sienna replies. "Riley lost her bear and we're all helping her look for it."

Josh looks at her with raised eyebrows. "Barry-the Bear Bear?"

Sienna turns to face him with a small smile as Maya closes the door. "That's the one." The red-haired girl responded.

"She had that thing for forever." Josh realizes. He looks at his niece with surprise when she and Lucas walk into the room. "You lost it?"

"Yeah, but I think I'm ready to call Barry official lost and head out for tacos." Riley replied, sitting down on the bench beside Lucas.

"I vote yes for tacos." Sienna grinned, her stomach rumbling at the mention of food.

"No, it's important we find it." Josh argues, earning a pout from Sienna. He glances over at his girlfriend and chuckles softly, finding the pout she gave him cute. He sends her a sympathetic smile. "We'll get something to eat later, sweetheart." He reassured her.

"Why is it important we find it?" Riley questioned, looking confused as she looked at her uncle.

"Uncle Josh!" Auggie exclaimed, running into the room over to Josh.

"Mr. Auggie." Josh grinned at seeing his nephew and hugged him.

"How college?" Auggie asked him.

"Aug," Sienna pouts. "You could've asked me that."

"Yeah," Auggie shrugs, sheepishly smiling. "But I didn't know you were here."

Sienna chuckles and shakes her head. "It's alright, buddy."

"Oh, dude, you kidding? You kidding?" Josh smiles, but that smile fell as he tried to explain how college really was. "Dude, the people, the parties, you kidding, dude?"

"It sucks." Sienna answered Auggie's question for Josh in a blunt way which caused Josh to look at her, his mouth open in shock. "What?" Sienna questions him, tilting her head. "You know it's true." She stated, raising an eyebrow. Josh couldn't argue with that because she was right. Sienna sent him a cheeky grin, causing him to roll his eyes playfully and shake his head at her.

"She's right though. It sucks." Josh sighed.

"You want to stay here tonight?" Topanga asked Josh, looking at him and Sienna with sympathy.

Josh looks at her with almost pleading eyes and he sits down on the couch. "Just tonight? How about forever?"

"Has it been a rough adjustment?" Farkle asked Josh and Sienna, giving them a look of sympathy.

Sienna takes a seat beside Josh as he sighs. "It was a rough adjustment for us in high school."

"What about college?" Zay questioned while Maya sat beside Sienna.

"Rough isn't the word to describe it, try awful." Sienna answers him, her face turning grim. "College isn't what I thought it would be."

Josh nods. "You think you're ready."

"In reality, you aren't." Sienna muttered.

Maya looks at her with concern. "What's the matter, Sisi?"

"It's hard!" Sienna pouts, resting her head on Maya's shoulder. "Can I go back to high school with you?"

"Sure, honey." Maya replied, patting Sienna's head causing the red-headed girl to smile slightly. She appreciated Maya's effort in trying to cheer her up.

"My roommate and I don't get along at all," Josh speaks up, smiling at Sienna's and Maya's interaction. He became more upset, though, the more he explained. "I don't think it's my fault. I think it's his fault." Sienna lifts her head off of Maya's shoulder, looking at Josh. Josh looks at the others as he continues. "He says 'schnoop-aloop' at the end of everything. Who does that? Now ask me a question."

Zay is the one to ask him a question. "What time is it?"

"11:14, schnoop-aloop." Josh stands up, wiggling his hips a bit. A small giggle escaped Sienna's at that. He then crosses his arms. "Ask me who I am."

"Who are you?" Farkle asked him the next question.

"I'm Schnoop-aloop's roommate." Josh replies, obviously upset about this whole thing. "You know what people say when they see me? They say 'Hey, that's Schnoop-aloop's roommate'. My name is Josh. And guess what?" Josh points at Sienna. "When they see Sienna, they say 'Hey, that's Schnoop-aloop's roommate's girlfriend'."

Sienna nodded to confirm what he said about her is true when everyone looks at her. She had to admit it was annoying. She wished that people would refer to her by her actual name, but it's been going on for a few weeks now and it still hadn't gotten old to them. "I know. It's so weird. I wish people would stop."

"How did this happen to me? I'll tell you how it happened. I grew up. You know what I know? High school is the last stop before you grow up." Josh looks at Riley with a serious expression on his face. "So, don't you give up that teddy bear. You hang on tight. You find that bear." Sienna pat Maya's shoulder to comfort her when she saw Maya frown.

"You understand what's important, Riley?" Josh questioned the brunette-haired girl.

Riley nods. "Yeah, I think I do." She looks at Lucas. "Lucas?"

Lucas looks back at her with a smile, gesturing to the hallway. "After you." Everyone stood up and continued looking for Riley's bear.

****

Even though everyone has been looking for Riley's bear they still haven't found him. Sienna looks over from looking in a basket of blankets in living room when she heard Paco announce from Maya's phone that Tacapalooza is officially over. Sienna understood Maya's disappointment and sadness. She was looking forward to tacos as well, but it seems like that wasn't going to happen.

The group has then come to the conclusion that the bear is really gone. "How are we going to tell Riley?" Farkle inquired.

Sienna looks at Cory with furrowed eyebrows when he asks, "Hey, where is Riley?"

"She and Lucas were looking together." Topanga replied.

"Riley!" Cory exclaimed nervously.

A few seconds later, her and Lucas walk into the room. Riley glances at her dad with confusion. "Yes?"

"Where were you guys?" Sienna questioned, looking at the two with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah, we haven't seen you in half an hour." Zay noticed.

Maya looks at him with furrowed eyebrows. "An hour."

"Half an hour." Zay told her.

"I don't get it!" Maya exclaimed. Sienna chuckled and sent her a sympathetic smile.

Lucas smiles. "Riley found what we needed to find."

"And what's that?" Sienna tilted her head to the side, looking at Riley with confusion.

"Lucas and I found out that we were looking in the wrong place, so we looked in the right place." Riley responded.

Farkle looks at her with a smile. "You found the bear?"

Lucas shakes his head. "No."

Riley looks at Farkle with a hopeful expression. "You found the bear?"

"No. Sorry." Farkle apologized, sending her a sympathetic smile.

"Remember when Auggie wanted to give up Mr. Googly and wanted to grow up?" Maya asked, sitting on the couch beside where Auggie sat on the arm of the couch.

Auggie looks at her and nods. "But then I didn't. I wasn't ready."

"Yeah. Good for you." Maya smiles. She looks at everyone. "But at some point, I think we are ready."

"How do we know when that is, Maya?" Auggie asked her.

"I think something inside us tells us." Maya replies. "I think it actually comes to tell us." She gets up and goes to stand in front of Riley with an apologetic expression. "Riles...I don't want to let you down, but I...I think your bear is gone."

Riley smiles, taking Maya hands in hers. "Yeah, I don't want to let you down either."

Sienna furrowed her eyebrows, wondering where Lucas was going when she saw him go back into the hallway. An excited gasp left her mouth when he came back a few seconds later two bags of tacos.

"We got you this." Riley said to Maya as Lucas mimicked the sound of a festive Mexican horn with a grin on his face.

"Tacos!" Maya and Cory shouted with excitement.

Everyone then meets in the kitchen and gets their own taco. Sienna moans in delight after she takes a bite of the taco. She was so glad that she stayed to help look for the bear. She looks at Josh when she hears him chuckle. He looks at her with amusement. "Good?"

"So good." Sienna mumbled, smiling at the taco she held. Josh let out a small laugh and her smile widened when he kissed the side of her head. Sienna was so relieved they managed to get tacos, she had been getting really hungry and a taco was just what she needed.

. She looked at the living room, smiling a bit when she saw that Riley had got Maya a bobblehead.

"So, Riley, we're not gonna keep looking for the bear?" Auggie asked his sister.

Riley shakes her head with a small smile gracing her lips. "He knew it was time to go."

"He knew that you didn't need him anymore." Lucas speaks up, standing up to walk over to the couch Maya and Riley sat on, taking a seat on the arm of the couch.

"So, he waited 'till you were asleep and kissed your eyelashes goodbye." Maya smiled and Riley smiled back at her.

Zay and Farkle get up and walk over to them. "Grabbed his tiny travel hat and his little suitcase and he thanked you for your years together." Zay adds. "And he told me to tell you he forgave you for eating one of his cookies."

Riley giggled at hearing that and looks at Farlke when he speaks. "Then he hopped out the bay window and got on the G train to Beartown."

Maya nods. "I think that's exactly what happened."

Riley smiles at everyone. "Thank you, everybody."

Lucas shrugs his shoulders, looking at her with a smile. "That's what we're here for."

Riley walks over to Auggie. "Hey, Auggie?"

"Yeah?" Auggie asked.

"It's a great story that you chewed his face off because you wanted to hang out with me and Maya." Riley smiles a bit. "Never lose that, okay?"

Auggie smiles. "Okay."

Maya and Farkle sits down on the chairs at the table as Maya puts Auggie on her lap. Auggie looks at Maya. "Can we hang out?"

Maya shakes her head while Riley sits beside Lucas on the bench. "No."

"You know what? I think it's time I get out of here." Josh speaks up, setting his empty taco wrapping on the counter behind him. Topanga looks at him, tilting her head to the side. "What about forever?" Josh smiles at her in response. Topanga smiles a bit and nods. "I'll get your laundry."

"Josh, you can stay here as long as you like." Cory told his younger brother.

Josh kisses Sienna on the cheek, earning a smile from her. He smiles back at her before he walks over to his brother, patting him on the shoulder. "Yeah, I know. Thank you, but looking at you guys, I get this feeling that there's some good friends to be made back at my dorm."

Auggie grins. "With Schnoop-aloop?"

Riley chuckles. "Maybe Josh just needs to get to know him better."

"Maybe I just need to let him to get to know me better." Josh corrected his niece.

Zay nods. "Yeah. You know, you're not that bad of a guy at all."

"Oh yeah?" Josh raises his eyebrows at him. Zay dramatically gestures to the messed up bay window in the living room and goes to stand in front of it. Josh did the same dramatic gesture and stood beside him. "Thank you, Zay."

Zay nods. "You're welcome. And I'm glad that you and Sienna are still together."

"Still together?" Sienna raises her eyebrows, curious at what he was talking about. She walks over to the living room, now standing in front of the couch, looking at her boyfriend and Zay. "What do you mean?"

"I honestly thought you two wouldn't last this long." Zay admits. He smiles. "Good job for proving me wrong. You two are good together."

Josh and Sienna smile at each other when he said that. "Yeah, we are."

[runningmiller]

As Seen On TV

Summary:

Two villain accidentally run into each other on the job and try their hardest to act cool about meeting their soulmate.

As a D tier villain, most of Morgan's shenanigans were classic high level crimes, stuff the guys in the mid leagues couldn’t ignore, but the big leagues didn’t notice, which is good cause why would anyone want S level heroes to notice them, even if the whole point of becoming a villain was to get some of the respect Morgan always deserved? Besides, being a villain is fun, there is real joy in putting together a team for a high security heist he'd been tipped off about.

Yeah Nightcrawler planned to do it himself, but his nieces first gold fish died and insisted he be there for the funeral.

Everything was going great, exactly as planned. Every code dug up the days before worked, distractions were going without a hitch, the whole operation was going smooth. Which is exactly why he wasn’t at all surprised when the wall in front of him blew out completely.

What’s a good heist without the plan being messed up entirely in chaos?

Morgan chokes slightly on the dust clouded air, thankfully the mask filters the worst of it, but it does nothing to help with blindness. Morgan can only wait for the dust to settle before hearing another person coughing. Ah makes sense, if a wall went down, something probably went through it, or in this case someone.

If someone is thrown through a brick wall and survives, it’s a hero or villain, and this is a bigger fight than he came prepared to deal with. He crouches, edging down what’s probably the half way point of where the wall was and where it sounded like that person is. If this is an unrelated fight, they’re probably not after the same goal, so he might as well make a dash for it. No reason yet to leave empty handed.

“Ha, you really thought you could just fling yourself at me? Dude, it was like batting away at cotton ball. Well, except you went way further.” The laughing made him falter, looking up there's a figure walking through the brand new doorway, it was the same yellow glowing eyes piercing the dust cloud that he’d seen on TV a hundred times. The cities, the countries, maybe the continents only S tier villain.

Villains have a chill camaraderie in general and it’d be pretty cool to just watch this guy do his work if Morgan wasn’t in damage proximity and the villain wasn’t know to be able to make reality it’s plaything. Most theorize the only reason they haven’t done anything world ending is it would simply be too boring for him.

All the dust instantly falls to the floor, revealing the man himself, Alex, with one arm pointed straight down, hand flat, palm facing the floor, the look on his face of a mildly amused cat playing with a bird. And also Morgan crouching directly in front of the injured hero.

Alex double takes to Morgan, a surprising look of recognition in his eyes, and realizes they’re in a casino “Oh hey, I’ve seen you on TV a few times, are you doing a job here?”

Morgan stutters a bit before rising to his feet, “Actually yeah man, you mind if I go get the cash while you’re busy here?”

Alex’s eyes widen slightly, looking over to where the vault is, eyes shooting between this villain before them, and the vault they were trying to break into “Oh, no, go ahead, sorry for interrupting you.”

“Oh no, really it’s not a heist worth doing if something doesn’t go drastically wrong.”

“Oh okay, well hey, want me to keep the cameras off ya?”

“Actually if you could have them notice me and my crew just as we’re leaving, that’d be great publicity.”

“Yeah, sure, no problem.”

Morgan makes his way to the vault, walking casually backwards, “Hey you know Timebomb right?”

Alex replies fondly, “I do, they added some of the coolest atmosphere to my best work.” like he's remembering some of his best photo ops. Technically, live footage of horrific crimes, same difference.

“Nice, they know how to contact me if you wanna hang out sometime.”

“Sounds good man, see you around,” Alex returns their focus on the hero who's trying desperately to sneak away with a few broken ribs, “Come on man, now you think you can just leave? We haven’t even done the whole ‘you’ll never succeed bit’! you know there’s a process to these things?”

As Morgan piles into their get away car, he can’t help the smug look he gives his wrist, his soulmates first words.

”Oh hey, I've seen you on TV a few times, are you doing a job here?”

His parents always insisted that surely a hero soulmate will set them back on the proper path, just like the rest of the family. That they’d need to temper that independence and stubbornness so he could be their sidekick.

Why be a sidekick when you could be literal partners in crime?