#and my husband wants to go furniture shopping today as we are moving next week…….. hahahahaahahaha

[hontour]

soooo uncomfy 😖

[woodsteingirl]

chapter two is out here! or read below the cut!

Dean turned the key to unlock the door. they all stepped inside, still in their moment of Revelation. the silence was eventually broken by jack saying, “why’s it empty?”

“It’s ‘cause our furniture isn’t here yet,” Cas explained. Dean tacked on that it would be arriving sometime today. In the meantime, before the stuff arrived, Dean took the time to explain what exactly this endeavor meant for everyone. He had applied online for a mechanic job the week prior, they had only gotten back to him to tell him he got the job the day before. Dean was still reeling from everything happening so fast. it’s like everything hed wanted for so many years was finally coming to fruition, and it was an adjustment.

Cas had signed both Jack and Claire up for school. Jack was going into first grade and Claire into her senior year of high school. Obviously, Claire was older than that, but she could pass as younger just for a little while, while everything was sorted out. Plus she could gather valuable intel that way. The hard part would be getting her to agree to this plan. Jack, on the other hand, was completely thrilled about starting school. He couldn’t wait to be able to have friends his own age. Cas didn’t have much to do throughout the day, but with the other stay-at-home parents in the neighborhood, he was sure he could find some way to help out.

Snapping out of his daydream, Dean took the time to explain how everything would go in the next month or so. “I got a job at the repair shop down the road, Cas will stay here and look after everything, Jack will go to school like we planned, and Claire, we sort of set you up in school again.”

“Wow, you guys are really on a kick of making life decisions without asking me arent you!”

“Claire, it was the best option at the time, we needed the intel from kids that age, and its not like Dean or I could just walk in and ask,” Cas explained.

There was no doubt about it, she reacted as expected. Even though shed only been out of school for a year or so, she’d never enjoyed it when she was involved, so the thought of going back made her sick to her stomach. Since there was really no where to stomp off too, as the entire house was empty, she settled for sitting on the floor behind the kitchen island to process. Some ten minutes later Dean came and sat down on the floor next to her.

“Look, I get it. Nothing can be perfect for us, but sometimes you just gotta tough it out and it’ll be better than you think.”

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆☾

(This is a flashback to the action point just so everyone knows whats happening)

It was a normal Tuesday evening. The couple was eating dinner just as normal. Quiet conversation, and unspoken glances were commonplace for them, so the feeling over eerie silence was nothing new, and neither thought anything of it. They didn’t even hear the sound of the door open. Did the door even open?

The husband reached across the table for the salt, his wife screamed in horror when she caught sight of the tall hooded figure above him. The town was small and she shouldve known who it was at first sight, but unfortunately, when youre about to be stabbed, those things dont come as easy. She reached across the table for her phone to call 911, but she didnt make it before the figure had stabbed her husband and was moving on to her. Those were the last thoughts she had before being found in a pool of her own blood the next morning.

The neighbor had heard them and called the cops. News spread like the blight, and everyone was taken in for questioning, so far, no motive or prime suspects had been declared. It had been a month since, and the police presence was now slim to none, even though almost no progress had been made into the actual investigation. That’s just how it is when you have to solve a murer case with nothing to go on but a dead couple and a town of suburbanites.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆☾

(this is bak in normal time just fyi)

After about half an hour of just trying to process what was happening, Claire was ready to go back to join the rest of her family in putting their furniture together. Cas was sitting on the floor in front of what looked like it could be a table, if you positioned it correctly.

“You need some help?” She asked.

“Yes, if it isnt too much to ask, I could use an extra hand,” he gestured to the manual, “it says you need two people here anyway.”

Claire sat down next to cas and took the manual from his hands, “what step are you even on? None of the pictures look like whatever you’ve managed to create.”

Upstairs, Dean was trying to show Jack how to use an impact driver, “look, I know youre only like what? Five? But its never too early to learn how to use a set of tools.” He handed the tool over to Jack, it looked wildly disproportionate in his hands but that’s not what mattered, what mattered was the fact that he was having a bonding moment with his son, a positive one too. He was bridging the gap of what he missed in his childhood, and giving Jack what he had wanted.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆☾

The next day was spent almost exclusively on introductions. First they went over and greeted their new neighbors on each side, Tracey and Paul Wayne on their right, and Peter and Vicky David on their left. It seemed to them that neither of them had much of a clue as to what was going on regarding the murder, seeing as that was not mentioned even in passing. However it could be basic politeness and not wanting to scare your new neighbors away. Both couples were in their mid-fiftes and greeted them kindly. The Waynes had a wooden statue of an eagle with some pro-America quote on it, and that was one of the most memorable things about them. The other memorable thing was their brigh red Volkswagon Beetle in the driveway. Dean silently noted a love of older cars as something to connect over in case he ever needed to get closer to them. The Davids had 6 small dogs, and that was their defining trait, they seemed like the people to have “I love my shitzu” stickers plastered all over their car, but they seemed like fine enough people.

The next thing on the agenda was when someone rang their doorbell. It was a woman about their age, who had come to their door both to introduce herself, and to inform them of a house party happening later that night. The woman introduced herself as Hester Stewart from two houses down. Both Dean and Cas were glad to see that there was someone their age who didn’t have a strange amount of pets, or questionable taste in outdoor decor. They made introductions of their own, Claire and Jack even briefly appeared to say hello. They asked her for more information about the party, and she explained that it was being put on by the HOA president to distract from all that was happening, “I guess she figured one shindig would make everyone forget about the murder that happened a few houses down from her house.” She gestured down the road and to the right, apparently in the direction of the woman’s house, “Also she did ask me to invite you, I’m not just asking you to show up without anyone’s permission,” she clarified.

After that they thanked her and went on with their day. “Do you think we should attend the party later today?” Cas asked. Not looking up from the loveseat he was putting together

“I think I was planning on it, it’d be a good way to get out and meet people, not to mention gather details on what’s happening around here without looking suspicious,” Dean replied, flipping the page in the manual.

Cas agreed. Usually events like this weren’t his thing, but he could suck it up for an hour or two if it meant gathering intel. He made a mental note to prepare for more events like this one, and pushed it to the back of his mind. He found himself having to do that more often since becoming human. His angel brain could process more information than any human by hundreds, but downsizing the amount of space in his brain was an adjustment, and he found himself having to push things of the back of his mind more often.

Claire had been eavesdropping from the top of the staircase for the past exchange. Truth be told, she was almost excited to ‘meet the new neighbors’ in such a domestic fashion. She had just gotten off the phone with Kaia, she was showing her the layout of the house, as well as updating her on the situation she had gotten herself into. “They really put you back in high school?” Kaia had asked, thinking about how if anyone had done that to her, she’d’ve put up a lot more of a fight.

“They really put me back in high school,” she had replied. Maybe deep down she did want to sort of have the closure she missed in her high school years.  She missed Kaia a large amount for only not seeing her face to face for a little less than a week, but she had learned from all she’d lost, that she just had to let herself feel her feelings.

They all gathered in the empty living room shortly after. Cas explained the whole plan to Jack and her. Jack was thrilled to be getting out of the house, and getting to see new people. He’d always been a social person, even before becoming a child, but that certainly amplified his social need. This was part of the reason Dean and Cas wanted to get out of the bunker in the first place. Now that they were actually in a position for him to make friends his age, they were certainly going to make that a priority. Dean had noticed that there were more than a few kids Jack’s age in his walk around the neighborhood earlier that day.

The hours before the gathering came faster than expected. Everyone was in a rush to change into nicer clothes and make themselves not look like they’d been putting together furniture all day. (they had, but it was the act of making themselves presentable that matters in this case.) After all, weren’t first impressions the most important? Dean hadn’t really taken account the need for nice clothes this early on in his endevour, so the nicest things he had were a button down and his spare pair of jeans. Not that anyone else was much better off. Claire was wearing a skirt with a jean jacket and combat boots, Jack didn’t change at all seeing as he didn’t see the need, and who were they to argue. Cas was probably the most normal looking of them all, with his blue suit jacket paired with some jeans.

[sugdenlovesdingle]

Baby ch 4/ epilogue (AO3)

(look! I finally finished something!)

italics = flashback

for @robertssvgden who was having a bit of a rough day today - i hope this makes it a little better.

---

“We should get up.” Aaron stretched and wrapped himself around his husband again, making no move to get out of bed.

“The kids can take care of themselves.” Robert decided. “They’ll just rope Oli into making them all breakfast. Again.”

Aaron smiled to himself.

“That kid is too good for this world.”

“Hmm…” Robert agreed. “Too gone on Seb more like.”

“That too.” Aaron chuckled. “He’s picked a good one though, our Seb. One that likes to cook.”

“Yeah, he takes after his father. Got himself a personal chef.”

“Yeah, good to know he does listen to me from time to time.” Aaron teased and pressed a kiss to Robert’s lips. “This is nice. Having a lie in. We haven’t done that in a long time.”

“We’ve been kind of busy, haven’t we? Ruby and the baby. Scott all but moving in. Oli actually moving in.”

Aaron nodded.

“I can’t believe the house is quieter with a two month old baby in it than before, though.”

“He keeps them all busy doesn’t he?”

“Just like his granddad. Likes to be the centre of attention.”

Robert rolled his eyes at the dig.

“And yet you’ve put up with me for all of these years.”

“I guess I kind of love you. And you’re useful sometimes. For decorating nurseries.”

“You and Ruby threw out almost all of my ideas!”

Aaron propped himself up on his elbow and raised an eyebrow at his husband.

“Because you wanted to make him a soft play area and what was it – an interactive wall display?”

“The one website said it was good for the baby’s development.”

“Sure. And their profits.”

“Well forgive me for wanting to spoil my first grandson a bit.”

“You did. He’s got more clothes than the rest of us combined.”

“I regret nothing.” Robert said and laughed, thinking back to the first shopping trip for baby supplies with Ruby.

“Look, Rubes, this is cute.” Robert held up a onesie with bunny ears. “Seb used to have something like that too when he was a baby. It was a teddy bear though, not a bunny. But he looked really cute.”

“It is cute…” Ruby agreed and looked at the price tag. “But it’s way too expensive.”

“We talked about this, we want to pay. We want to help out.” Aaron reminded her. “And you know what he’s like. If you say no now, he’ll come back on his own next week and buy it anyway.” He bumped his shoulder against Ruby’s.

“Fine… I suppose he would look cute in it.”

“That’s my girl.”

They walked around the store for a while until Ruby got tired and sat down in a rocking chair.

“This is a popular model.” A saleswoman walked up to them. “And we sell matching nursing pillows for extra comfort during those night feeds.” She gave Ruby a bright smile. “Are you going to be breastfeeding?”

“Oh… uh… I haven’t decided yet.”  

“Well the nursing pillows are popular with dads too, if you decide to bottle feed.”

Ruby nodded and looked around for her parents who had walked on to the furniture department.

“Right.”

“Do you want to try one? Get a feel for it?”

“Uh no thanks. I’m uh… just getting the basics for now.”

The woman smiled.

“How far along are you?”

“Almost 19 weeks.” Ruby rubbed her belly.

“Oh about halfway. Is it your first?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, enjoy it. And enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts.” She joked. “If you need any help, just come find me or one of my colleagues.”

“Thanks. I will.”

The woman walked away and left Ruby alone with her thoughts. She’d been so wrapped up in her drama with Scott that she hadn’t even thought of things like breastfeeding.

“Hey love, we found this pram and there was a cot that seemed nice over there. It had one of those mobile things with music with it.” Aaron walked up to her pushing a pram in her direction. “What do you think?”

“It’s nice.” Ruby said without really looking.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah… Yeah I’m fine. Just… girl stuff.” She plastered a smile onto her face and got up. “Tell me you didn’t leave dad alone with the expensive furniture.”

“I’m glad Vic and Gabby took her under their wing with the girl stuff.” Aaron said, lying back down next to Robert. “All that talk about pumping and pads and all that other stuff… We had no idea did we? Google only tells you so much.”

“Well in our defence, we never had to deal with those parts of having a baby.”

“And Vic never let us forget it. Like that time she basically kicked all of us out of the house to go paintballing with Harry and Ellis so she and Ruby and the twins could have some girl time.”

“And you kept checking your phone every 5 minutes to see if there was any news.”

“So did you.”

“Well… it wasn’t long after she’d had those bad cramps and we all thought there was something wrong with the baby. I was worried.”

“Yeah, me too. Scott really stepped up when she was in hospital didn’t he? I think that’s the first time Seb actually accepted that he might really care about Ruby.”

“How are you feeling?” Robert sat down on the edge of Ruby’s bed and stroked her hair out of her face. She looked so young to him, like she was still the 5 year old rushed into hospital with appendicitis.

“I’m tired.”

“Just close your eyes then. Get some sleep. Your dad and I will be right here when you wake up.”

“You don’t have to stay here all day for me.” Ruby protested.

“Sweetheart, if you think we’re leaving you on your own here, you don’t know us very well.” Aaron said, squeezing her hand. “We’re not leaving until we can take you home with us.”

Ruby gave him a tired smile.

“Just rest like the doctor told you, and before you know it, you’ll be back in your own bed at home.”

Suddenly the door opened and Seb walked in, closely followed by Scott.

He rushed over to her but awkwardly stopped at the foot of her bed.

“Hey, Seb told me you were in here, what happened?”

“Just a little over tired.” Ruby said downplaying the drama of the past few hours. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” Scott asked, looking Ruby up and down. “Seb said you were pretty scared.”

Ruby glared at her brother.

“Traitor.”

Seb shrugged.

“I don’t care.”

“Do you want to tell me what really happened?” Scott asked, not wanting to push Ruby.

“Not really…”

Robert got up from his spot on Ruby’s bed and gently pushed Scott towards it. He sat down and gently put a hand on Ruby’s belly.

“Fair enough. I think I already know most of it. But are you both ok?”

“Yeah. Yeah I think so.”

“Good.” He leaned forward and softly kissed her. “That’s all I need to know.”

“He’s a good guy after all, isn’t he? As much as I wanted to throttle him when we first found out.” Aaron said and Robert hummed in agreement.

“And then Seb actually did… and got arrested.” Robert groaned. “Keeping up with the family tradition.”

“Yeah… I’d hoped that tradition would have died out with us.”

“Well hopefully Oli will keep him out of trouble now… and Seb won’t drag him into trouble.”

“He’s our son… that means he’s a trouble magnet.”

“Yeah… probably.” Robert said and laughed.

They settled down under the covers again, relaxing and listening to the muffled sounds of their family waking up and moving around the house.

They’d both drifted off to sleep again at some point because when a knock on their bedroom door woke them up the sun was peeking through the curtains and it was a lot warmer in the room than before.

“Dads? Are you awake?” Ruby asked and knocked on the door again. “Dads?”

Robert disentangled himself from his husband and the sheets and opened the door.

“Where is the fire?”

“Can you please watch him for a little while?” Ruby asked, handing Robert his grandson. “Scott won’t be here for another four hours and Seb and Oli are too busy sucking face, and I just really need a bath and some me time.”

“Oh… uh… sure.” Robert rocked the little boy in his arms.

“I tried to give him his bottle but he’s only taken half and spit that out all over me.”

“Alright. I’ll get your dad to work his magic. You go have your bath, we’ll be fine.” Robert promised her and walked back to his and Aaron’s bed with the baby.

“Hey mister, are you giving your mummy a hard time this morning?” Aaron said, taking the boy from Robert as he got back into bed and putting him on the bed between them. “I thought we’d agreed you were going to be good for her?”

The boy just looked around the room and grabbed at Aaron’s beard.

“Your uncle Sebby used to do that too. Your mum was more into hair pulling.”

The two of them laid down on either side of the boy and just stared at him.

“I can’t believe he’s two months old already.” Robert said, tickling his belly.

“Yeah… it feels like only yesterday that we were rushing around town to get to the hospital on time.”

“I never knew Ruby knew that many swearwords.” Aaron laughed.

“Just floor it, Rob!” Aaron snapped at his husband. “Or pull over and let me drive!”

“And end up in the quarry again? No way, boy racer.”

“That wasn’t my fault!” Aaron argued. “It was an accident.”

“Yeah, well, I’d like us all to get to the hospital in one piece.”

“Can you two stop being so YOU and just drive?!” Ruby yelled from the backseat. “I’m about to have a baby and I don’t want to have it in the back of this fucking car!”

“I’m going as fast as I can. I’m over the speed limit as it is.”

“Since when do you care about that?” Aaron asked

“Since my family is in the car and I don’t want to wrap it around a tree.”

“I’m sure they’ll let you off with a warning if the police pull you over, dad. Especially when you let Ruby yell at them.” Seb reasoned.

Ruby screamed and tried to breathe through a contraction, squeezing Seb’s hand tightly.

“Come on Ruby, we’re almost there. Hold on a little longer. I texted Scott and he’ll be there too.” Seb told his sister. “But I kind of still need my hand after today.”

Aaron turned around and offered her his hand.

“Crush mine. I don’t care. Squeeze as hard as you need to.”

Ruby blindly reached for her father’s hand while Seb tried to get her to focus on her breathing exercises.

“I should have taken aunt Vic up on her offer to stay with her.” She whined. “I’m so sick of all these men in my life! I’m becoming a lesbian. Only girls from now on.”

“I don’t think it works like that, love.” Aaron said and got a glare in return.

“And you’ve seen the drama between aunt Liv and Gabby. Only dating girls is no easier.”

“I’ll take my fucking chances!”

They reached the hospital in record time and Robert parked right in front of the main entrance.

“Sir, you can’t park here.” A member of the hospital security staff told him as he got out of the car.

“I really don’t care right now, mate. My daughter is having a baby. Make yourself useful and go get a wheelchair.” Robert ordered as Aaron and Seb helped Ruby get out of the car.

The guy did as he was told and returned moments later with a wheelchair.

“You take her inside, we’ll go park the car and be right there.” Aaron told Seb.

Seb nodded and pushed Ruby towards the automatic doors and into the hospital where they were greeted by a nurse and before the doors closed, Aaron saw Scott running down the main hall.

“Sir, I’m afraid you really have to move the car.” The security guy said again.

“Yes, yes, we’re moving, we’re moving. Give me a break.” Robert muttered and got back into the car as Aaron did the same.

“There is a spot right there.” Aaron called out, pointing at an open spot near the entrance.

Robert glanced over.

“That’s a parking spot for the disabled.” He looked at Aaron and the two had a silent conversation through looks. “No. We can’t.” he decided and Aaron nodded and went back to scanning the car park.

In the end they found a spot not too far from the entrance and rushed inside.

“What floor is maternity?” Aaron asked the first person in hospital uniform he came across.

“Uh… three… I think.”

“You think? You work here don’t you?”

“Yes… as a cleaner.” The guy gave Aaron a helpless look. “And it’s only my third day.”

Aaron, this way.” Robert called out, pointing at a sign and grabbing his husband’s wrist and dragging him along when he didn’t react quickly enough.

“When they reached the maternity ward, Seb was waiting for them by the doors.

“They took her through to a room. Scott is with her and he’ll let us know when the baby is here.” He told them. “I’m not going in there until it’s all done.”

The three of them sat down and after what felt like an eternity, a beaming Scott came to find them.

“He’s here. And he’s perfect.”

“Are they both ok?” Aaron asked while Robert asked “Can we come see him?” at the same time.

Scott lead them back to the room where Ruby was half sitting, half lying down in bed smiling down at a little boy in her arms.

“Look who it is, it’s your granddaddies and uncle Seb.”

They took turns greeting both Ruby and the baby.

“Have you decided on a name?” Robert asked.

“Yeah… I… we decided on Bobby.” Ruby told them, waiting for Robert to realise what she’d just said. “Do you want to hold him?” she offered, ignoring the tears of joy in her father’s eyes.

Robert nodded and carefully took the little boy from her.

“Hello Bobby. I’m your granddad. And just so you know, me and your other granddad are going to spoil you rotten.”

“We did alright didn’t we? In the end. With this whole parenting thing.” Aaron said, staring at Bobby while letting him grab onto his finger.

“Yeah, we got there in the end.” Robert agreed. “And then our baby got us this wonderful little man.” He stroked Bobby’s head with one finger. “And you’re already the smartest and sweetest boy I’ve ever met.” He told the boy.

“Just like the man he’s named after.” Aaron said and leaned over to press a small kiss to Robert’s lips. “Love you, granddaddy.”

[pixie88]

Baby Shower

Chapter 7 - Together - Adam & Ellie.

A/N: This chapter is a fast forward. Rereading it seems like a filler but a fluffy filler! I’m loving my new collages!! SO PRETTY!!! I hope you like it!

Comments always welcome good or bad!

I am only tagging those who have asked to be tagged in this new series from now on as I don't want to annoying people with tags. So Let me know if you would like to be tagged and if I missed anyone sorry just let me know!

Find previous chapters HERE under Together - Adam & Ellie.

Word count: 1885

WARNINGS: ⚠️ Fluffy fluff, NSFW & adult language.

Pairings: Adam x Ellie.

Enjoy 😘

I've been home for 4 days now, I'm bored Adam is at work he wanted to stay home but I convince him that I am fine. But now? Now I'm bored! Daytime TV is awful, I decide to go for a walk. I pop into Bridezillas, Jess looks up at me as I walk into the shop "Hey Ellie! How are you feeling?" she has the most fake smile.

"Hi, I'm feeling OK, just bored!"

"I can imagine it must be just staring at 4 walls all day. Have you heard anything about what is happening to the girl that attacked you?"

"Erm, last I heard they were charging her. Adam is dealing with updates. Has it been busy?"

I don't know if it's real or fake but she gives me an apologetic look "Psycho, hopefully she'll get what's coming to her. Today has been pretty steady actually" the shop phone rings Jess smile and answers it.

I hear the shop door open and turn to greet what I thought would be a customer to be face with his 'Why aren't you resting, look' I feel like a kid being caught with her hand in the cookie jar "Ellie, what are you doing here? Why aren't you at home with your feet up?"

I give him my best pouty sad face "I was bored, so I thought I'd go for a walk and just popped in. How did you know I was here?"

He gives me that grin, "I was walking back from the shop, we needed more tea at work and I saw you in here"

Jess interrupts "Ellie, are you OK to keep an eye out here for a minute or two? Amy is on her break and I need to check out back if a customers dress has been altered?"

I look over my shoulder at her "Yeah, that's fine" She smiles before rushing out the back to the stock room.

"Busted then! I was just so bored I was going to go stir crazy just watching TV"

His arms come around me, his cheek bushes mine as he whispers against my ear "I could've kept you company, but you told me to go back to work!"

I laugh, "Adam!!" I playfully swat him.

"Back thanks Ellie!" Jess calls from behind.

"Right, come on I'm taking you to lunch"

"Oooo, can we go to The Grill? I'm really feeling a chicken burger! Oh, and ice! Baby wants ice!"

He laughs, entwines his fingers through mine and pulls me towards the door "Bye Jess!" I call over

"Bye!"

We get outside "I just need to pop these into the office" we walk over to his office, we get out the front then I freeze on the spot.

Adam turns to look at me, then it clicks and his face turns to concern "Ellie, beautiful! I'm sorry! You know what I'll leave these here and tell Rob there outside. Don't worry I won't let anyone hurt you or Charlie! I promise! Let's get you some lunch"

 ~*~*~*~

After lunch Adam drops me home, I'm looking round the spare bedroom we emptied a few weeks ago. We have the paint, furniture, and furnishings. Nina and Al decided to stay another week after my incident with Laura. I give Nina a text, half an hour later, Al and Nina arrive "Ellie, let's get start on this room" Nina rushes me upstairs. She paints not letting me help and Al puts together the furniture.

I hear my phone.

*1 New Message from Hubster*

[Hey yummy mummy, I hope you're at home resting! I will grab you a couple of bags of ice on the way home! x]

[Hi my gorgeous husband, I am! I've just grabbed one of your hoodies while the heating is heating up as I'm cold. I will send a photo as proof haha! You know how to make a girl happy, I just finished the bag we got at lunch :( xx]

I take a kissy-pouty face photo with his white hoodie in my hand to throw him off and hit send.

*1 New Message from Hubster*

[Beautiful! Probably all that ice you've eaten that's made you cold. OK, I'll get 4 bags might last until tomorrow at least. x]

[Haha, it probs is! I might get in bed until I warm up. Not a bad craving to have, can't put on weight eating ice! haha. We will see you later xx]

Later I'm just putting the vacuum round Charlie new bedroom, Nina and Al have, left as they have plans with Elaine.

"Ellie? Gorgeous? Are you here?"

I hear him call out as he comes in for work "I'm up here! Come up!" I call down, I rush out of the room and close the door.

He reaches the top of the stairs and turns to me "There you are!"

"I have a surprise for you!"

He narrow his eyes at me "Would it have anything to do with that paint on, your forehead?"

I touch my head (Crap!) "Ellie, what have you been up to?"

"Come here, cover your eyes and follow me!" I pull him with me as I open the door "You can't open your eyes until say!"

He grins, I pull him further into the room "Open them!"

He opens his eyes and looks round the room "Ellie, Wow! This is amazing!" he has the brightest smile, "Wait, you didn't lift that furniture did you?"

I laugh "No, of course not. I got your mum and dad to help. Your dad put everything together your mum painted the walls, I did offer to help but she would only let me make teas"

He wraps his arms around me "Ellie, it's perfect!" he claims my lips with his "Now, let me make you dinner!"

"No, Adam I'll make it! You've been at work all day"

He cups my face "And you're pregnant and came home only 4 days ago! I'm cooking no arguments" he kisses my lips softly. I know there's not point in protesting.

~*~*~*~

4 Weeks later.

He clutches my hips as I'm bouncing up and down him "Fuck baby! That's it ride me!" he pushes off the bed and sits up as pulls me to his lips.

I grasp his lip between my teeth, he groans and I let go before his lips kiss along my pulse line. He moves his hips up burying himself further into me "Yes! That's it! Oh!!" a wave of pleasure explodes between my legs and I hit my climax.

He drives into me a few more times before he hits his own.

I collapse onto him, he wraps me up into his arms "Do you have to go to work today?" I put on my pouty face.

He chuckles "Not had enough?"

I shook my head, "You will have so much more fun with me" I wink.

"I would but I'm busy at work" he kisses me gently before getting out of bed, he turns "But you can always join me in the shower!" he winks. I jump up, and he pulls me towards the bathroom with him.

After our shower we are in the bedroom getting dressed, I'm sat on the bed when I feel a flutter in my tummy (That's new) I rest a hand against my bump and I feel it "Adam!! He's kicking!" He spins round and rushes over to me, I take his hand and place it where I felt the kick.

*Kick!*

Adam felt it, his face lights up "He kicked!" then another and another. "Oh wow! This is amazing Ellie!" Adam's phone rings and rings and rings "Rob, what's up?...Yeah, of course. OK, I'll be right there!" he hangs up "I've got to go. I love you...the both of you" he kisses my cheek then my bump.

"We'll see you later!" I smile.

I have today off as Amy needed to swap days. Mum has invited me to lunch at the club, I take the train into the city centre.

[Hey husband! <<I don't think I'll ever get bored of calling you that! 5 weeks tomorrow you made me your proud wife! How's work? Not working to hard I hope?! You'll need your energy for later ;) Just on my way to mum's club for lunch. x]

*1 New Message from Hubster*

[Hello my beautiful wife < I won't get bored of calling you that either xx. Wow, feels like yesterday! Yeah, work is fine muddling through. Oh, will I now? Why would that be!? Have fun and think of me stuck here! xx]

[Good because that's my title until I'm 6 feet under! haha. Aww just think we could be in bed sweating, panting and screaming each others names...but you chose work. Because I plan you for you to fuck me all night! haha! x]

*1 New Message from Hubster*

[That won't be for a long time yet! Fuck picturing it now *boxers feeling tight!* I won't make that mistake again. I plan to keep you in bed until you're sore ;) I need to get back to work. I love you both xx]

[I could've helped with that....but I can't now. You better not!!!!!!!! Ooooh looking forward to it. We love you too x]

~*~*~*~

I get to the club and head inside.

*SURPRISE!*

I look around the room is decorated in blue balloons, it's a boy and baby shower banners! Everyone is here my mum, Tom, Amy, Justin, Elaine, Nina, Kerry and Adam. My emotions get the better of me and I burst into tears.

Mum rushes over to me "Oh, El's this was supposed to have the opposite effect"

I smell his aftershave then feel his arms wrap around me "Hey beautiful! No tears!"

I smile through the tears, he cups my face and wipes them away "Sorry, I just wasn't expecting this! It's such a lovely gesture!" I apologize.

I dry my tears and Adam leads me to a table "Was this your doing? I thought you were busy?"

"Hey Ellie, You can cry if your want to 1. it's your party and 2. you're pregnant, you can be emotional and no one can question it" Elaine calls over.

He gives me a smug smile, "I had to make you believe that because I needed to get here to help your mum. Do you really think I would have turned down a day in bed with you for work?"

I laugh, "I'll remember that next time! Your mum is here! She's racking up some air miles"

"When Mel mentioned it to me a few months ago I had a word with mum. I said she didn't need to come down, but she wanted to. I think she likes you more than me," he laughs, "But seriously she wants to be here in her words 'Adam don't be so silly this is my first grandchild I'm going to get on the first plane for everything, the birth, their first steps etc'"

I laugh, "Bless her!"

Later after gifts and food. I'm catching up with Tom "How are you feeling El's?"

"Like an emotional hippo!" He laughs, "So, it looks like you and Justin are over your little spat?"

"Yeah, El's there's something I need to tell you," he gives me a look I can't read.

"What? What is it?"

"El's, come on let's cut the cake!" Mum pulls me away before Tom can answer. (What does he want to tell me?)

Continue reading this story here - Chapter 8.

@lem-20 @khoicesbyk @aussieez @shewillreadyou @txemrn @irisofpurple

[dreamingabouttaron]

History Repeating - Part 7

Warning -Mentions of Teenage Pregnancy and Alcohol Consumption

All the books said that your baby was now the size of a pomegranate but by the look of your stomach, it was certainly more like a small melon. Over the last week your wardrobe had been reduced down to two pairs joggers and a handful of t-shirts, all of which had been originally ridiculously oversized. You knew it was officially time to delve into the world of maternity clothes. Something you had been avoiding for a while.

Considering you were now entering your 6th month of pregnancy, you were pleased you had lasted this long! You had been very lucky that the majority of your pregnancy so far had been easily disguised and you haven’t really suffered that badly. But now, things were started to change. Your body was growing and changing in ways it hadn’t before and it was feeling incredibly surreal.

Earlier in the week your mum had knocked on your bedroom door and entered with a cardboard box. You paused the film you were watching and sat yourself further up the bed. “What’s this?” You questioned, making your mum blush slightly.

“Uh… my old maternity clothes,” she said sheepishly before placing the box next to you on the bed. “I thought you might want them,” she added, her gaze falling on the belly visible between the hem of your t-shirt and the waistband of your sweatpants. “I always planned to keep them incase I had another baby. They might not be ‘your style’ but they’re better than what you’ve got at the moment.”

“Oh thanks, so you’re saying I look a mess?” You snapped, causing your mum to take a deep breath in an attempt to keep her patience.

“Grace, it’s not exactly a secret that you’re growing out of your clothes.” She said folding her arms and staring down at your growing bump. “You’re only going to get bigger.”

“Okay, fine,” Grace grumbled, opening the box and pulling out a few items. You pulled out the first thing you hand fell upon, a bright pink shirt. You carefully unfolded it and examined it with an ever growing frown appearing on your face. “Seriously? You actually wore this?” You grumbled before throwing the item back into the pile.

“Grace I’m trying to help.” Your mum warned. “Please just take a look and see if there is anything in there. If not I think we need to go maternity clothes shopping.” As soon as you had heard the words fall out of her mouth, you groaned.

“But, I don’t want too!” You moaned, sounding like a spoiled child. Everyone knew everybody here in Aberystwyth, as soon as people saw you maternity shopping the news would spread like a wild fire and you certainly weren’t in the mood for that.

“Oh Grace, get a grip! Just have a look for me and let me know.” You mum started to walk back towards the bedroom door, “We can go at some point this week before your father comes home from filming.” and with that she was gone.

You rolled your eyes and poured the rest of the contents onto your bed to examine. To be fair, some of the items were perfectly fine. You hadn’t been in the mood when she approached you about the subject.

***

You had waited as soon as you possibly could to go shopping but today certainly was the day. Your dad was finally coming home after spending the last 2 months filming in LA. You had tried to make an effort, well, when you say make an effort, it just meant washing your hair and putting on a new pair of tracksuit bottoms and jumper. Both of which were unbearably tight.

“Mum…” You called down as you approached the stairs, “Can we go shopping now?”

You watched as your mum appeared at the bottom of the stairs, she looked up and tried to contain her laughter. Your jumper was raised just above your belly-button and the waist band of your joggers was sit neatly around your thighs, unable to go any further.

“There should be a black body con dress in that box I gave you, put that on and we can get going.”

***

You spent hours trailing around the shops, who knew there were so many different types of maternity jeans!? You had resistantly allowed your mum to take the lead, if you were honest, you were glad she was there to help. You would have been completely lost and overwhelmed if she hadn’t of been there. You were both slowly leaving the last shop, bags in hand when you heard your name being called out from behind you. You turned quickly to see who it was.

Your face dropped. It was him. You couldn’t even remember his name but as soon as you saw his face everything came flashing back to you. That night. Your friends. The alcohol. The thumping music. The flirting. The dancing. The drunken not-so-consensual sex. You had been incredibly drunk, the room had swayed as you laid next to this guy. The ceiling swirled above you. You had no idea how you had got there or where you were. It wasn’t until the next morning when you woke up in his bed had you realised what had happened. You felt hot. Sweat started to drip your down back. Your heart was beating faster and faster in your chest as he approached. Your eyes darted taking in his features. You hadn’t realised how tall he had been. You thought he was much older but as you looked at him now, he looked so incredibly young. He couldn’t have been much older than you. He smiles, you don’t. You feel your body tense, your knuckles clutching onto the plastic handles in your hands.

“Gracie?” Your mum whispers, unsure of what was happening. You turn to look at her for a moment before walking closer to this guy.

“Grace, I thought it was you! How are you? I haven’t seen you since…” His words stop almost immediately as you get closer to him. His eyes drop down and examine you.

“Since… since that night?” You question him, now unafraid. His eyes move up to meet yours as he swallows and nods. You turn your head to look back at your mum before looking back at this guy. ‘Guy’, God, you didn’t even know your baby fathers name.

“Hello I’m Grace,” You say as you drop the bags in your hand and place it out for him to shake.

“What are you doing?” He asks flustered. You take a deep breath in and say, “I’m introducing myself to you, so that you hopefully do the same, so that I know your name. Because as of right now, I don’t know who you are.” You watch him frown and realise before shaking your hand, “Hello Grace, I’m Jake.” You smile slightly in return and whisper a “thank you”.

“Can I take your number? I think we should talk at some point,” both unconsciously looking down at the dreaded bump.

“Oh, um… Yeah…” He mumbles before taking your phone and entering his number. “Um, I-I have to go b-but t-text me t-tomorrow.” He replied before quickly running off.

You watched every step he took as he disappeared into the distance. You stood frozen watching him. Would you ever build the confidence to contact him, could this be the last moment you have of your babies father?

“Who was that?” Your mum asked as she rejoined you. “Are you okay?” She frowned as she saw your face. You nod with smile at her, “Just someone I met at a party once…” You announce before picking the abandoned bags up and following your mum back to the car.

The whole journey back home you couldn’t take your mind off ‘Jake’. You closed your eyes and tried to remember more of that night. A night that some would call ‘special'. Your first time. Had it been his first time? Question after question spun through your head making you feel dizzy. You were thankful when you reopened your eyes to see the gates of your house opening. As you pulled into the driveway you and your mum simultaneously noticed your dads car parked outside the front door. You smiled knowing he was home. You had missed him and his hugs, and you certainly needed one after today.

As soon as you entered the house, the familiar sense of home hit you making you feel warm and safe. It helped seeing you father approach the front door to greet you. Even though you had grown up with you dad being away a lot to film, it didn’t mean you didn’t miss him every time he went.

“Wow, look at you!” Taron exclaimed, holding you at arms length taking you in. You rolled your eyes and frowned. “I know” You reply, dragging it out to sound more like a whine.

“We’ve just been out shopping for new clothes,” Lily called out as she placed all of the bags down. Taron kissed you on the cheek before walking over to his wife and placing a loving peck on her lips. You watched and smiled to yourself, after all these years your parents still loved each other ridiculously amounts. They showed you what a loving relationship was, something you craved in the future.

***

Before you knew it, a week or so had passed. You kept hovering your finger on the call button on Jake’s number. A part of you wished you had given him your number, but then would he have contacted you if you had? You had told him you would contact him but you didn’t think you could build the confidence up to actually go and face him. Deep down you knew you needed to talk to him. He deserved to know the truth. You knew the whole thing had made you shut down. You had spent the last few days in bed, you hadn’t really left your room, only really to eat with your parents. Even that felt uncomfortable, your parents have been acting super secretive and it was being incredibly irritating. You had just finished your dinner when your mum wiped up breaking the piercing silence.

“Gracie, your dad and I have a surprise for you.” She grinned at her husband and took your hand, leading you up the stairs and down the hall. “Ready?” She asked making you feel uneasy.

“What’s going on?” You asked feeling tense. Lily held your hand tightly as Taron opened the door of what had been Taron’s office, revealing a finished nursery for the baby. You jaw drops as your eyes trail around the room. Everything had been beautifully put together, the walls had been given a fresh lick of paint and furniture had been built and placed around the room to create a warm and welcoming environment for you and the baby.

“Oh my.” It didn’t take long for tears to form in you eyes as you walked into the room, gently running your fingers along the white dresser. “It’s beautiful. Wait, what’s happening with your office?” You asked turning to Taron looking concerned.

Taron laughed slightly at your question, “That doesn’t matter. All the matters is that you like you. I just wanted to do something special for you. But, if you dont-”

“No! no! It’s amazing! Thank you. Both of you.” You walked towards your parents and brought them both into a hug getting squished in between them. “I love you guys so much.”

“We love you too, sweetheart. We’re so glad you like it.” You mum replied.

“I love it, daddy. I can’t believe you guys did all this for me.”

“You deserve it honey. Taron and I wanted to make sure you know that you’re not in this alone no matter what.” You mum smiled and rubbed your cheek with her thumb. You hugged your parent’s again, still crying, you were so thankful your parents had helped you so much during your pregnancy. You really couldn’t have done it without the love and support.

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@writingformany @hitmeonmytspot @sarahegerton96

[wordlessbabbling]

The Anya-Margaret (Thomas Shelby)- Chapter 1

“I’m thinking of killing off a few characters just to jazz up my autobiography.”

Masterlist

“Can’t catch me!” The young girl fled around the halls of her stately home.

A young maid, who was on nanny duty today, had the misfortune of chasing after the relentless girl.

She ran through halls with ceilings that she would never touch, no matter how much she grew.

The carpet was lusciously red and rich- it tickled her toes which only made the young girl giggle more as she toddled around the home.

The walls had a green design that was bright enough to make the house not seem boring, but dull enough to drive one insane, should they spend too much time looking for a cosmic purpose.

But young girls like her had no time to contemplate philosophy and the cosmos, as girls like her were too busy running with time.

Time ticks fast, but she ticks faster- never letting it overtake her for fear of the unknown.

——

“Oi Tom!” Arthur trudged into the betting shop, “new business in town. Well-not that new-but either way- they ain’t paying for protection, so I propose we go n’ ruff ‘em up.”

Thomas placed his pencil down on the document he was working on. He’d heard about this business, and he actually had plans for them.

“Aye, Arthur.” Thomas nodded, better now than never- it’s not like he wanted to sit at his desk all day- “I’ve got a proposal for ‘em.”

Arthur’s face shifted slightly with minor satisfaction as the thought of letting out some pent up nerves while smashing a blokes face in just made him feel a bit better.

“Who am I bringing then? John-boy? Scudboat? You’re coming too, Tom, ain’t ya?” Arthur was now pacing as his hands itched with anticipation.

Thomas only lit a cigarette with a blank look on his face, “actually, Arthur- it’s just going to be you, John and I visiting. I have a business proposal first.”

——

The streets of Small Heath were grimy and unpleasant, but not nearly as unpleasant as how thick the air became when they stepped closer and closer to the establishment.

“What they done, Tom?” John had his game face on. He was ready to kick ass and fuck up some poor blokes marriage. It’s going to be great.

“Ah, ah. Not yet, boys. I have a business deal to make first, should they refuse, then maybe you can sling their hook. But for now, I just need intimidation.” Thomas almost felt uneasy lighting a cigarette when the air smelt as though he’d had thousands already- but then again, he had to keep up appearances.

The door to the establishment was open, which contradicted the notice on the wall next to the frame that read;

“NO WALK-INS ACCEPTED.

MUST CONTACT VIA LETTER OR TELEPHONE AND PAY UPFRONT BEFORE SERVICE IS PROVIDED.”

“What the hell...” John muttered as he tried not to cough and splutter when entering the hazy room.

The shiny razors sewn into their caps almost seemed dull as the thick smoke clouded the room and clouded their eyes.

From what they could see, the work space was actually rather done up. The walls were a lush shade of rich red and the skirting board was lined with gold paint.

There was little furniture though and the place wasn’t nearly comforting despite its warm colours.

“What is this place?” Arthur grumbled, suddenly feeling a chill as he was overcome with the sense that he was in a waiting room, tapping his feet mindlessly as he waited for an appointment for a cause that did not sit well with him.

“It’s a morgue and cemetery, Arthur.” Thomas quipped quietly. He raised a finger to his lips as he stalked through the corridors that contradicted the atmosphere.

The three rather scary looking men heard giggling sounds coming from behind a door at the end of a long corridor.

Arthur and John glanced at each other, very confused.

The laughter though, was not one of sweet nature that you’d hear from a lady who made sweets, but rather a giggle or cackle that sounded sick and mocking and condescending.

Before Thomas could break down the door, he heard a low voice coming from within that had a thick accent over it.

“I heard this funeral is going to be grave affair, Mr Daniels.”

Thomas noted that the voice sounded a lot like a Russian merchant he’d met before the war.

He knew this business was doing well, but he didn’t expect doing-business-with-the-Russians-well.

Arthur had enough of waiting around and barged through the door.

There was silence for a moment and the clattering of utensils on a metal surface. “What the fuck is this?” He bellowed.

The other two brothers made haste with scrambling into the seemingly smoking room.

The four walls in the rather large room were a steely grey and Thomas wondered if it was actually iron and they were in a cage- it certainly felt like one.

“What-“ John cried, confusion fat, “the holy fucking shit is that?”

Thomas darted his attention to two figures in the corner of the room, one laying down on a high wooden table and another hunched over it like a lion over a deer carcass with an open light bulb hanging over head.

But it was only when Thomas looked closer, did he see the purple fingers of the figure on the table and the top of its nose- so pale and blue.

His inspection of the body was interrupted by the sound of Arthur’s gun clicking as he raised it up pointing at the hunched figure.

“Oi!” He grumbled, “step back from the body! By order of the Peaky Blinders!”

The hunched figure sighed and put down the metal instruments they clutched haphazardly in their fingers.

Thomas stepped forward and put a hand on the top of Arthur’s gun, motioning for him to put it away.

“Miss Florence Kent, I presume?”

The woman in front of them was of average height and had this unruly red hair that looked like it hadn’t seen comb in weeks. Her shoulders were hunched forward and it appeared that she constantly just swayed from side to side on the spot.

She wore trousers that protruded out from her legs, but were tied back together at her ankles brown paper bag style. She also wore a dirty creme coloured top that had long flowing sleeves that, like the trousers, bunched around her wrists. She honestly just looked like she only got half dressed- not in a whorish way, but it clearly needed something.

“Yup. Youse are Shelby’s, correct?” She gestured up and down with her arm to three rather unimpressed men who didn’t like being addressed with such casualty. Arthur was all but ready to put the fear of God into her heart.

Thomas ignored her comment and stubbed out a cigarette; “I’ve been lookin’ through the books, Miss Kent. I’ve noticed that you, a rather successful business, does not pay the protection of the Peaky Blinders.”

The red-haired woman smiled although it seemed more like a grimace, “and why do I need protection? Eh? Is someone going to steal my precious bodies” she put her palms to her cheeks, “oh no! Gah!”

Thomas was nearly at his wits end and John had already grabbed the back of his cap, waiting for Thomas to make a move.

“It’s not just outside enemies you’ll need to watch out for, maybe ones in your own establishment.” He blinked slowly and stood stock still “speaking of other enemies, where is your friend who you were talking to before we walked in? Husband? Business associate?”

The woman’s eyes widened as she gasped at the three men, “you believed that!” She bent over forwards as she cackled into her hand, “oh that’s so perfect! I’m nailing that accent. Woo!” She threw her arms up in the air mockingly.

“Okay, Tom. I’ve had enough of this.” Arthur snarled, but Thomas once again put his arm up to silence him.

“That’s not nice, let you’re brother talk, Tom.” The lady pouted teasingly. Thomas wondered, for the briefest of moments if this woman was clinically insane, but despite that, he’d met worse. He clenched his jaw “Miss Kent I have a proposal for your business.”

The woman with hunched shoulders rolled her eyes at all the formalities, but she never passed down the opportunity for a few dramatics, “alright, and what if I reject your business proposal?”

“Well you might find yourself in a room much like this, except you’d be the one with your guts in a jar?” Thomas tilted his head to the side, matching her teasing tone. If it was a game to her, then he’d play the game just ten times harder.

The woman scoffed and shifted her weight so she was leaning against the table “orright. Go on then- I love a bit of chit chat.”

She lit another cigarette and waited for Thomas’ long dramatic pause to end.

“You know what we do. You probably read the papers-“

“Kindling.”

Thomas sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. In any other circumstance, he would have shot her where she stood, but he really needed this business deal to go through- God, he hated being dependant on people. Especially the insane ones.

“So you know bodies are being found, and are being traced back to us when they get picked up from the cut?”

The woman stood up straight again and took the bud of her cigarette and mashed it into the side of the dead mans face who was still on the table. Thomas internally cringed and could have sworn that he heard John gag.

“And you want me to ‘sort out’ all the bodies the coppers ‘find’?” She used air quotes as she strolled around the other side of the table. “Also, can you tell your brother, yeah, to put down that feeble gun. It’s not very polite, y’know? Besides, it would be like shooting a gravestone if went for me.”

“What the fuck’s she on about, Tom? What are you on about, lady? You pulling some smimey witchcraft on us? I don’t like her Tommy, we can’t trust her. We don’t need her, we can deal with them bodies ourselves.” John was getting violently panicked, “we’re the Peaky fucking Blinders— she can’t do shit.”

“You’re right, John. I can’t do shit, but there will be no satisfaction in killing me. Go on, Johnny-” She spread her arms wide and tilted her head back. She shook her hands like she was dancing to jazz music, expecting an encore for her performance, “-lay one on me!”

“Fucks sake!” Thomas, who was clearly antsy and agitated, slammed his fist down on the table “we want you to be our body burner, right. Can you do that?”

“Jesus Christ, Sir.” She pottered around the room, moving jars and opening up cabinets that lined the wall vertically and horizontally.

The silence hung in the room for a while until Florence shifted on her heels, “so uh... what do I get for all this hassle?”

Thomas lit another cigarette. Something about this room and it’s pungent smell just put him on edge and made him uneasy.

“You get protection by the Peaky Blinders.” He stated plainly.

The woman shot him an unimpressed look, “if I wanted protection, I would have paid for it. Besides, why the hell would I care for your protection? Eh? The monsters gonna come get me, Shelby? Are you the monster? Why are you a monster, Thomas?” She tilted her head and squinted.

“Definitely insane” Thomas decided.

“Sure. The monsters. That’s not the point though. With this deal, you’ll be affiliated with the Peaky Blinders, therefore making you a target.”

“I still don’t want your protection. I’ll take the deal, but I don’t want youse lot just fuckin’ breaking and entering. Anyway, you weren’t too good at it either. I heard you all the moment you stepped through that door.” She opened different mason jars and took all sorts of herbs out and laid them out on a cloth.

After examining the stalks of which, she put them in a cement bowl and started grinding them down, “you’re lucky that I was curious to see who would have the balls to come here so I didn’t waste ya as soon as you stepped through.”

John scoffed, “sure you did, love.”

Florence continued to smash and squish the herbs into a dry green powder that looked not at all appetising.

The three men just stood and watched—not for any reason probably, maybe just intimidation and curiosity.

Thomas watched as she strode around the table with a heavy sway which made him wonder if the woman was shit-faced drunk.

When she walked in front of him, instead of alcohol like he was suspecting, he smelled something acute to salt and flowers, a strange combination. She walked with her toes turned outwards, almost like she had a limp in both feet and it was clear she genuinely had no regard for appearances to the three dangerous men.

She dumped the heavy cement bowl onto the table next to the pale blue and white body that made everyone but her in the room feel queasy.

“Are you boys gonna stick around to watch me slice this man open or do ya want to get the fuck out of my working space?” She picked up an instrument, not too dissimilar from a knife you’d see on your kitchen table, just this one had a bent head.

Thomas stood stock still but the other two men looked at each other with confused and pleading expressions. They could take ripping people a part limb from limb, but this... this was insufferable.

With the others gone, all that was left was Thomas and Florence, and the body.

“If you’re gonna stay, you can at least help me?” She said with a snarky tone. Thomas didn’t do shit for anyone so instead he just lit another cigarette and watched.

The woman took her bent knife—that was probably genuine medical equipment, but if Thomas was bored enough, he could most likely fashion his own—and dragged the knife across the corpses abdomen, just under his diaphragm.

“Lucky for you, I’ve already bled this one, so hopefully you don’t feel like disembarking your dinner.” She took the bag of ground up powder and put it into the top of a funnel with a tube attached to the end.

If Thomas was being honest, he felt sick to his stomach, he’d rather quit drinking for the rest of his life rather than sit and watch this—hell, he didn’t think he’d be able to consume anything for a week after this—but he had to keep up an appearance.

To be fair to him, it worked alright- Florence was slightly impressed by his devout need to prove himself to everyone.

He did falter though slightly when she jammed the end of the tube of the funnel into the line of the mans abdomen. He inhaled sharply when she took a jug of water and poured it into the funnel so it mixed with the powder, creating a thick gooey clear substance.

She held the top of the funnel in front of her face and shifted her weight so the front of her hips were resting against the tall table.

Thomas wondered if this woman could stand up straight.

She cast her gaze to the side to Thomas who had his eyes locked onto the slice in the mans abdomen as the goo passed through achingly slowly.

He moved his head up so they met eyes now from across the room. Maybe if it was a different setting, the scene would have been romantic, had they not been in a morgue and she not pouring goo into a dead mans carcass.

The room was supposed to be tense, it usually is when Thomas decides to enter with his dramatic bitch face. But for some reason, this woman wouldn’t let him affect her. At first Thomas thought it was fear; next he thought it was insanity; then he considered that maybe this woman just didn’t give a flying fuck about who he was and what he was doing there.

He hated that, just as much as he admired it.

“I’ll return another time to discuss business agreements.”

As the rather threatening man walked out of the door, Florence wondered if he too, was only just pretending to be human like herself most of the time.

——

“I hear you’re in partnership with the Shelby’s.” The Irish accent that seemingly appeared out of nowhere startled the red haired girl.

Not because she didn’t hear him, just that you didn’t hear other dialects in this shit-hole of a city.

Florence didn’t look up from where she sat, examining the pages of a book. She took her index finger and held it up to the mans face as a silencing motion. “What’s you on about, Mister?” The woman answered finally.

She was curled up in a very uncomfortable looking dining room chair (even though there was no dining room) with a book in her knees and hunched shoulders.

“You we’re visited by the Peaky Blinders today, and you made an agreement with them, Miss Kent.” The man with the thick grey moustache snarled.

“Yes I did. You’re sounding a bit resentful there, Chester.” She didn’t move her head, but her large eyes shifted to where the man stood stiff with two officers behind him. Coward.

“I see they’ve told you about me.” He nodded smugly.

“No, actually. I just find these things out for myself.” She focused back on to the page and tuned out whatever the man who looked like he had a stick up his arse was saying.

“Why did they decide to initiate contact with you?” He asked plainly.

“Business.” She states in the same manor.

“Why didn’t they discuss business with your husband or superior?” He leaned in slightly.

“Because I don’t have either of those. This is my business and you clearly didn’t read the sign outside.” She yawned and sniffed quietly. She reached for her cigarette tin and lit one up.

“We are royal officials. Your sign does not bypass the need for law and order. Besides, your reports will not be acknowledged, so there’s no need- I have friends in high places.” He stated condescendingly.

“Yeah? Well I’ve got friends in low places.”

Campbell slammed his fist onto the wall next to him, which probably would have been more intimidating, had he not hissed in pain and the wall not had been made out of brick. “Why did you agree to business with those scum of the Earth rats!” He bellowed.

Florence didn’t flinch. She only sighed and put down her book, cigarette still resting in her mouth, “because I do business with people who offer money. Good money. Don’t take it personally, but take it all the same.” She folded her hands on her stomach and interlocked them with a dull look on her face.

“And what if I offered you your life for information on the Peaky Blinders?”

“Okay, lets get this straight. I don’t want shit from you. My death will not and does not burden me. I won’t give you information on the Peaky Blinders, because I can’t be arsed to listen to them. So go on, have at it!” She abruptly stood up and stalked to the door on the other side of the room, but not before turning round with a grin on her face, “oh, and by the way, Chester. Please do take this very personally... Man up soldier- oh wait.” She cackled and didn’t miss the inspectors fists clenching as his brow tensed.

Without another word, Inspector Campbell left the premise. He knew that he’d see to it that this arrogant, harlot woman would see consequences of her blind confidence.

——

Okay. A lot of things are really slowing down here and I have no idea when the next chapter will be up.

So sorry for the lack of continuity, but hopefully you can understand that everything’s a bit intense atm 😅

Thanks for the love.

Feedback and comments are wanted.

See ya next time!

[hadestownmodern]

First Date (Orphydice)

You all asked for Orphydice, so here’s something I wrote astonishingly fast the other day bc I had so many soft feelings that needed to come out. 

-Danielle

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

              “Hey,” Eurydice slides onto the barstool with a smile, tossing her canvas backpack to the ground and propping an elbow on the counter. Orpheus turns at the sound of her voice, fumbles with the glass he’s cleaning. His eyes light at the sight of her, half her hair pinned back from her face, comfortable in a thrifted brown men’s pullover tucked into skinny jeans with a thick belt. He hadn’t seen her since last night, when she’d left the bar and gone to work a late-night shift at the diner. She’d gone home afterward; he’d only known that from a phone call he’d received while half-asleep, waiting up for her shift to be over.

              “Call me when you get out,” He’d held her waist, kissed her at the door of the bar.

              “This is my late shift, I don’t want to wake you up.”

              “It’s your late shift, I know you can make it alone but just…let me know when you get home safe, okay?” Orpheus keeps his hands on her waist, settles his gaze on Eurydice with such sincerity that her instinct is to look away, attempt to cast his worry in some sort of other motive. But even that’s impossible, with Orpheus’s forehead on hers and the softness in his voice. “Are you sure you don’t want to come back tonight?”

              “I’ll be alright-need to spend at least some time at my own place. Besides,” She teases, fixing the loop of his bandana around her own neck and gesturing to a favorite of his shirts she’s thrown on. “I should probably start wearing my own clothes at some point. Which means I have to go back.”

              She stands on her toes and brushes her lips gently against his cheek, then his lips.

              “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

              “Call me when you get home.”

              She had; they’d talked for two hours afterward, Eurydice relaying the night’s events as she kicked off her work shoes, shuffling through the strikingly unfamiliar territory of her apartment. She’d spent most nights since Thanksgiving with Orpheus. Eurydice isn’t sure when the choice became habit but laying in her own bed, she’d realized just how out of place she’d felt. They’d talked until Orpheus had fallen asleep, until Eurydice had thanked him and sat in the silence accompanied only by the frightening soundtrack of her less than comforting neighborhood.

              When she sits herself on the barstool the next day, when Orpheus greets her with his all-encompassing smile, Eurydice is thankful to be back.

              “Hey,” He nods to a regular a few seats down, pours another glass of water before returning to her. “Busy day?”

              “Just one more class left today, then I’m free.”

              Orpheus hums in appreciation, nodding before turning his back to reach for another clean glass. Eurydice watches him for a while, looking down at the sparkling clean and moving his towel around it. He stops only to sip from the water bottle he keeps on the counter, and even then he can barely meet her eyes. His face has been brushed with soft, rosy shades of pink, and he shifts a bit on his feet as he works. When he puts the glass down he clears his throat, clasping his hands together.

              “Would you want to go on a date tonight?”

              “A date?”

              “I just-I was thinking that I haven’t even taken you on a date, and that’s not what you deserve, and as much as I love hanging out with you at home I just. I want to take you on a date; a real date.”

              “A real date,” it’s teasing, endearing, the way Eurydice dangles her legs from the barstool, leans back and folds her arms over her chest. She pauses slightly too long in her response, she can tell by the way Orpheus begins to fidget in place again, open his mouth to form an explanation. “I think I can manage that.”

              Eurydice swipes a swig from his water bottle, leaning over the bar to cup his cheek and kiss him quickly before gathering her things again. She puts on her coat, glances back at him with a wink before making her way out the door.

              “I’ll be here at seven-you can pick me up at your front door!”

              Seven comes painstakingly slow for Orpheus, the bar slower than normal even through the normal rush of the early dinner crowd. Hermes watches, amused, as the gangly boy maneuvers through crowds of people with clumsy feet and eyes on the clock. Hermes attempts to make him leave more than once, but he refuses.

              “She’s not coming until seven-I can’t wait that long without something to do!”

              So he buses tables, talks to the customers; most of whom ask about the new girl that hangs around with him, ‘the small one with the pretty eyes you’re always kissing.’ This helps pass the time, but not to quell the bubbling nerves that begin at his toes, float through his body until they manifest in his passing thoughts. Being with Eurydice is easy; her outwardly assertive demeanor is complimented by his gentle nature. She makes him laugh, her very pointed, sarcastic sense of humor and innate ability to take a generic story and make it into something wild. He’s consumed with the thought of her; her name is Eurydice-we met at Persephone’s Thanksgiving party. But the thoughts soon have him back in the realm of doubt.

              They hadn’t been on an actual date before, although their time together could be seen as such; coffee and studying, movies and fries and sex, but none of which Orpheus could consider a proper date. He hadn’t forgotten, rather the thought hadn’t crossed his mind as having a sense of urgency. In his mind, it felt as though they’d been dating so much longer than they had already. But once the thought had entered it wouldn’t leave; things had been great, but he longed to do more.

              At seven, Orpheus is past a state of panic. He’d put on a nice pair of khakis, thrown a bowtie on for good measure. When he could hear knocking on the other side, his breathing had all been forgotten; Eurydice grinned at him when he opened the door, shook her head as he stood staring at her.

              She hadn’t thought much of herself before leaving her place; she’d found a casual black dress in her closet, printed with gold details that dated far before the current era but suited her well. She’d put in matching tassel earrings, done her makeup with a smokier eye. She’d been tempted to stay in the most casual route, keep her jeans and men’s sweater on and ask to just stay in. But Orpheus had been so excited, seemed so sure of his word, that diving into the territory of an actual date had been a choice she’d been excited to make.

              However, it hadn’t made her any less anxious.

              By the time she gets to the bar it’s still early-half an hour early, almost exactly. Eurydice considers just knocking on the door and asking Orpheus if he’s ready, but decides against it. He had said seven, and he’d been adamant on doing things “right” by his own frame of thinking. The only thing she’d refused was meeting at her apartment. She’d pushed-there was no need for Orpheus to come all the way to her side of town, not when she knew she wouldn’t return to that own personal level of hell until she absolutely needed to. There wasn’t shame in the way that she lived; no, Eurydice found herself damn prideful in the door that wouldn’t lock without something propped against it, the mattress on the floor and the hot water’s inability to flow to her bathroom sink. She’d rented the apartment fresh out of foster care, had said a joyous goodbye to the last set of people who’d pretended to take care of her and rejoiced at the opportunity to finally, finally speak fully for herself. The rundown neighborhood, the repairs needed, and the lack of actual furniture held all of her accomplishment thus far.

              Still, it didn’t mean that Orpheus-panicked about her typical late shift-had to pick her up at a door that barely shut.

              She lingers around the bar for a bit, waving at Hermes and finding a seat at the counter. He gives her water right away, nods at her with a warm smile and eyes that seem to communicate a host of things all at once without saying anything at all. It’s a stark contrast to the pat on the back from Persephone, who gasps lightly and holds her at arm’s length.

              “Well, look at you, gorgeous!” She slides onto the stool next to her, Hermes delivering her a glass of red wine with a slower pace and a warning glance. “Relax, brother, my daughter’s in bed and my husband’s at home. I just came to see the kids off before their big date, maybe take some pictures.” She pulls her big camera out of her purse-the one she’d had at Thanksgiving as she’d arranged their gathering in family photos she’d insisted Eurydice be part of.

              Eurydice reddens, rolls her eyes and shoves the camera back near Persephone’s bag.

              “You know we’ve been seeing each other for two weeks now, right?”

              “Yeah, seeing each other.” The older woman’s eyebrow turns up and she tilts her head, teasing. “You’ve been doing a whole lot of seeing each other, but this is your first date and I’m just here to help you remember it.”

              “Yeah, okay, I believe that for about a second. That’s my cue to go.” Eurydice finishes her water and makes her way to the back of the bar, where a narrow wooden staircase leads to Orpheus’s door. She pauses for a moment, suddenly nervous as she brushes her fingers across her bangs and flattens the fabric of her dress. Then, she knocks.

              The door is open faster than Eurydice can blink; Orpheus stands on the other side, mouth agape, hand still on the doorknob. It takes a while for Orpheus to collect himself, and then he’s a flurry of activity. He leaves her at the door, runs to the kitchen counter and comes back with a neatly wrapped arrangement of bright red carnations.

              “They’re from a shop down the street from Amma’s-Mister Hermes let me leave so I could take the trip down there today.” He’s fully red-cheeked at this point, and Eurydice takes them from him thankfully before venturing into the apartment and rifling through the cabinets for a vase. He watches her intently-she knows her way around, finds a hefty mason jar with ease and fills it with water. Orpheus follows behind her, sprinkling sugar in the water after she’s done.

              “It helps them stay alive longer,” he explains, shrugging. “Amma taught me that, too. You look beautiful, by the way.” The compliment comes out almost breathlessly; Orpheus leans on the counter, between Eurydice and the flowers, and fully takes her in. Eurydice warms at his smile, the way he takes her hand in his, holds it there for a while before kissing her cheek. It’s all very simple, very chaste. Before Orpheus, she’d been used to looks of hunger; of predatory eyes wondering which way is the fastest to get her undressed. He’s content with her hand in his and the bag of her things she’d left by the door. He shuts the lights off and locks the apartment door behind them, leading them down the stairs through the bar.

              Persephone sits eagerly waiting for them, spying Orpheus first. He’s dressed himself in a lighter pair of khakis, still accessorized with brown leather suspenders and a big jacket. He wears a pair of nice brown oxfords, one he’d saved for and worn with pride to special occasions. Persephone notes these small details-the nicer shoes, the way he’d very clearly freshly shaven from when she’d seen him that morning. She watches her son hold Eurydice’s hand, lean down to tell her something and smile as her own face lights with amusement. As they pass the bar Persephone hops down from her stool, intercepting them.

              “Okay, kids, now here’s the deal.” Orpheus’s pseudo-mother crosses her arms over her chest, putting on a look of false intimidation. “I would like my son home no later than midnight. You can kiss him at the door, on the cheek, and then you may go your separate ways.” She’s laughing to herself over the joke, even ruffling the hair on Orpheus’s head, until Eurydice counters,

              “Oh, so it’s not red wine and ‘here, sit together and talk’ and a couple of hours this time?”

              “Hey, if you want to give me credit then I’ll take it. You’re still standing, aren’t you?”

              “Just one picture.” She implores. Eurydice hadn’t thought she’d been serious; it takes a moment to register the request, a moment of Persephone gently pushing them into better lighting and mumbling to herself as she fiddles with her camera. Eurydice obliges, wraps both her arms tight around Orpheus’s waist, rests her head on his chest and smiles. Persephone takes a few shots, adjusting her camera, and then waves them both off.

              “We can’t see it?”

              “Nope-you can wait!” She smirks before putting her camera away, ruffling Orpheus’s hair. “Home by midnight, you two.” She jokes. Eurydice raises her hands, shrugs her shoulders with a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.

              “What, no parting gift this time?” As they turn to leave, Eurydice feels the foil packet hit the back of her head, turns and picks it up. “Don’t wait up!”

              “Midnight, no later!” Persephone watches them go, Eurydice wrapping both her arms around Orpheus’s and staying close to his side. When they’re out the door she turns back to the bar, where Hermes is waiting with his arms crossed over his chest.

              “That’s our son, Persephone.”

              “So….another glass of wine

_____________

              The restaurant is one unknown to both Orpheus and Eurydice, other than its proximity to the bar. They walk by it every day, looking at its slightly elevated atmosphere and heated walkway as nothing more than a societal disconnect from their deeply favored fries and milkshakes. He’d planned this, however, had read articles about first dates and fished for advice throughout the day that he stored away neatly, facts that popped up at random.

              It all seemed rather silly, and yet it filled his head with bits of information that practically shouted at him as he attempted to navigate his own nerves. The restaurant had a greeter who opened the door with a smile, taking his first advance away from him. He blinks away the anxiety of it all and lets her walk in before him, the host bringing them to a small table next to a wide expanse of floor to ceiling windows. Orpheus sits across from her, a small arrangement of candles a source of warm, glowing light that pulls his breath away for a moment. It illuminates her, soft shadows dancing gently against her skin and the serenity of her lifted cheeks.

              She tilts her head slightly when she listens to him, intent and purposeful and absolutely radiant. He trips over his words and asks questions, unsure of why the articles he’d read online had insinuated that conversation would be difficult. They hop from topic to topic, the path from one thing to another abundantly unclear to anyone else but themselves. He orders red wine and she follows suit; they clink glasses over the candles, laughing as little droplets spill over the side and onto the tablecloth.

              “Nothing happened, everything’s fine,” Eurydice craftily rearranges the understated yet still too gaudy centerpiece until the splatters are hidden, shrugging and laughing and taking another sip of wine.

              They order a host of appetizers, much to the chagrin of the waiter in black slacks and a white pressed button up, who rolls their eyes at the very young couple when she thinks they can’t see her. Eurydice rolls her eyes right back, shakes her head and holds Orpheus’s hand over the table. It’s especially triumphant when the waitress comes back, another waitress in tow, with plates of bite-sized foods they arrange in the space between them. They’ve chosen tiny flatbreads, spreads over bruschetta, stuffed mushrooms and an array of fancier foods neither had even heard of before.

              It’s Orpheus’s idea, this game they play; they start at the plate closest to him, an unrecognizable salsa-like filling within a soft pastry shell. Counting to three, they try the food together (Eurydice doesn’t like this one; Orpheus has his whole shell before declaring it “good, but not my favorite.”). Eurydice comes up with a definitive ranking, a scale from one to ten that they follow religiously through each set of appetizers. They sip wine between each taste, laughing as both Orpheus and Eurydice struggle to eat just one bite of a particularly strange seafood dish.

              “Ok, this one deserves no more than a one-a zero.”

              “It wasn’t the best,”

              “It’s awful, Orpheus. You can’t even get it down!” He isn’t able to argue at that one, going back to the flatbread pizza they’d declared a ten to get the taste of the horrid seafood cup from his mouth. He relents, however;

              “I bet someone really loves this…uh…choice arrangement of seafood. And it’s all local!”

              “Always the optimist,” Eurydice shakes her head, a soft smile reaching lips that have her reaching delicately over the table to kiss him. “I like that about you.”

              He feels the heat of a blush rise to his cheeks, sitting in the compliment in an attempt at hiding the rush of his own disbelief.  Eurydice still maintains her hold on his hand, gesturing to their last plate of food. They’re wedges of potato with yet again another assortment of chopped things-produce, they deduce-gathered on top. After one bite Eurydice’s tipping her head from side to side, holding the wedge of potato on her fork and watching Orpheus’s reaction. His is much of the same; not dissatisfaction, or disappointment, but a stark sort of contrast between a genuine reaction of love and indulgence. It’s Orpheus that speaks first, leaning in close and keeping his voice to a hushed sort of tone.

              “I really like it, I think it’s so good, but…” He puts the forked potato wedge down, suddenly bright eyed and nearly mischievous in his boyish smile. “I like fries better.”

              Eurydice sighs in relief, dramatizing the whole affair by putting her own fork down, squeezing his hand and nodding exuberantly.

              “I thought I lost you there for a minute, what a relief.”

              “Come home with me?” He asks, politely flagging down a waiter for their check. Eurydice nods, laughing to herself at the same words he’d uttered to her two weeks ago, when she’d said yes and surprised herself with staying. Two weeks had gone by quickly-much quicker than anything she’d expected. But with Orpheus, who helps her with her coat and wraps his arm around her waist, who helps her continue to attempt their definitive ranking of fancy appetizers while stopping to order copious amounts of fries from McDonalds, letting herself stay is a choice she’s more than thankful for.

              They find their way into a typical night easily; Eurydice curled into Orpheus, a documentary on the television that they talk over with their own ideas. They share a bag of fries and two more glasses of wine, drowsy and unrelentingly happy. There’s a lull in it all when Orpheus turns to a sleepy Eurydice with one hand mindlessly grazing up and down her arm. He takes a breath, steadies his own mind and in a soft yet nerve-shaken voice, speaks quietly.

              “’Rydice?”

              “mm?”

              “Will you be my girlfriend?”

              What Orpheus didn’t expect was Eurydice’s laughter, like a melody, hitting his heart like a train. He feels himself pull away from her slowly, doesn’t look into her eyes until she realizes what’s happening. Then her hands are on his cheeks, turning his head to look at her biting her lip.

              “Orpheus,” His name comes out through another soft giggle, her thumb brushing his cheek before she leans in, kissing him soft and staying there for a moment, against his lips, sighing. “It’s been two weeks and I’ve been here every day. I’ve never felt as happy with anyone-I’ve never had anyone treat me like this. I’m only laughing because honestly? You told me you loved me that first night and I’m still here. I don’t plan on going anywhere-okay?”

              “Okay.” Orpheus feels a sense of relief, a wave of comfort wash over him as Eurydice tucks herself back into his arms, eliminates the space between them once more.

[dailyaudiobible]

03/03/2021 DAB Transcript

Leviticus 27:14- Numbers 1:54, Mark 11:1-26, Psalms 46:1-11, Proverbs 10:23

Today is the 3rd day of March welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian it is wonderful to be here with you today as we continue the journey that we began what feels like a long time ago but was…wasn't although we are a couple of months into the journey. So, we are indeed well on our way. So, let's dive in today's reading today. And today is a bit of a special day. We are going to conclude the book of Leviticus and move forward into the next book, which was…which is called numbers and we will talk about that when we get there. But first, the last words of Leviticus, which is chapter 27 verse 14 through verse 34.

Introduction to the book of Numbers:

Okay. So, that concludes the book of Leviticus which brings us to be shiny brand-new first page and first chapter of a brand-new book called Numbers. And as we get into numbers it's going to sound like similar territory, maybe even territory that we've already covered, like this is redundant in some ways, but it's important to understand what’s happened because we’re turning the page here. We just finished Leviticus but we’re zooming forward in time a bit. And now we are at a time when the first generation is passing to the second generation of people who have left Egypt. So, this happened under Moses leadership. They've…they’ve seen God show up and miraculously provide for them, they’ve seen His mighty power and they’ve…they’ve received the law, but now that they've received it they have to actually live it, because God is giving the order to move out. It’s actually time. The time has come. They’ve been around Mount Sinai. They have the law and now it's time for them to go into the Promised Land. And we’ll see that spies get sent into the land to scope it out and we’ll see what their report is and it's an unfortunate situation because it disqualifies an entire generation and keeps them in the desert when it was time. Like we are literally opening the book of Numbers and it's time to go into the promised land. We’re just not gonna make it there. Not yet. So, the first nine chapters of numbers are going to provide review and structure because God is…is preparing the people to move out and move into the promised land and then we’ll see censuses being taken, additional laws being given, review of all the laws, we’ll see things like purification's and celebrations and then we’ll move into the story of the spies going across the Jordan into the promised land to spy it out. And we’ll take it from there until the end, as the first generation of slaves out of Egypt that were being formed in the deserts die off. And, so, let’s begin, numbers chapter 1.

Commentary:

Okay. So, we have transitioned into the book of Numbers and we’re just getting going there and we kind of flew over that to understand some context, just some of the lay of the land that’s out in front of us and what we’ll be covering. And, so, we did. We counted…we counted all of the people today, all of the people, all of the men prepared for battle that could go to war. It’s over 600,000 of them. This is all in preparation to move out and toward the promised land. Like that's the plan. We need to remember that. That's the plan. What’s supposed to happen now that they have received the law is that they're supposed to get information and march into the promised land and establish this culture while learning to live into the law. There are some unfortunate turns of events that prevent that happening straightaway. And as we watch what happens here, we need to be looking at our own lives as well because everybody has the wilderness, everybody has the wilderness in their lives. But maybe we spend a lot more time in the wilderness then we ever needed too.

And then in the gospel of Mark we are entering Jerusalem again. And, so, we’re very near to experiencing Jesus arrest and His Last Supper and His trial and execution again. And we are in a season now where we really are focusing on this, this season of Lent and we talked about that a couple of weeks ago when Lent began. And…and actually it's a month from today that Lent ends because a month from tomorrow will be Easter Sunday. So, we’re in the thick of it and this is that season when we really, really try to take to heart what’s going on in the Scriptures. It…it can't just be that Sunday school story, the Jesus died on the cross and then He rose then practically the next day. Like we need to embrace the story, the larger story, that separation between man and God is being eliminated, that restoration is becoming possible, that the final sacrifice is being given once and for all according to the Scriptures. We also need to deeply lament and contemplate that sin leads to destruction. And all we need to do is look at our lives, like a look at the story that our lives have been telling and we can see those times where we’ve gone off the rails and it has led to very destructive things and it always will. We sit with that. We open our hands and hearts and invite God to move things around, move things out, take people out move things in, bring in people, and rearrange the furniture. Whatever it needs, whatever our lives need, however they need to be rearranged so that as we approach Easter Sunday we really approach it with fantastic rejoicing that all things have been made new, that we didn’t just kind of move through it really quick and dress up pretty on Sunday and just hunt for Easter eggs and then move through, that we actually took the time in the season before Easter to lament and hold in our hands and hearts the weight and cost of sin, so that when we…when we celebrate the resurrection we celebrate it with this brand-new awareness that we are free from the curse of sin and death unless we willingly participate.

Prayer:

Jesus as we move into this territory in the gospel of Mark and as we continue to move through this season where we’re really contemplating this, come Holy Spirit, come Holy Spirit and show us the areas that still need work, things that need to be rearranged, things that need to be let go of. We can't do this without You. We can do this with You, and You are not withholding Yourself. We are just not paying attention but we’re paying attention now. Come Holy Spirit we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

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And that's it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hey Daily Audio Bible family this is Stephanie in Bangalore and I am calling partly because Daniel Johnson Junior you nailed some of exactly how I'm feeling about asking for help. And it's not anything that I can ask for help…physical help with, but family I do need your prayers. Those who have been listening since last year may remember that my husband and I are both a little older and we did…we were pregnant at this point last year and we last the baby on March 9th. We’re actually going to have a little prayer memorial service with our families that day this year Lord willing, but the grief is still there, and I know many of you understand that grief. And the grief that God has not yet chosen to give us a child…another child is there as well. So, please just pray for us as we, you know, seek to do a God wants us to do and also walk through this time of grief and uncertainty and…and everything. It also would be really great if I could go see my family this year. I haven't seen them in over a year and I’m very close with them. And yeah. Anyway, thanks for being there. Hopefully I'll call back soon with some encouragement for others. Bye.

Good afternoon Daily Audio Bible family this is Adrian from Washington DC. Today is February 27th and I have been meaning to call in for a while, but I've been putting it off. You know, I…I just wanted to openly the thank God for what happened last year, not necessarily the pandemic. But the shortened version was in July of last year I got sick and I wasn't feeling well and the last thing I remember was climbing into my sister’s bed and turning on the air conditioner because I was hot. And the next thing I know when I wake up and I'm in a hospital and I have been in a hospital from July 19th until…well the 23rd, that's when I woke up. And even after all that I still had a lot…a long way to go. I was transferred to multiple hospitals and dealing with multiple issues but I finally came home September 1st and March 1st will be six months since I've been home and I've made amazing progress to…progress because of a lot of amazing people and I thank them for that but I really just need to thank God because He had His hand on me the entire time, He had His hand on my family the entire time until I came home and I could not have possibly have made it without Him. So, I, like I said, I'm finally…I'm saying it out loud, saying it to my other family , thank You Lord for everything that You have done for me, everything that You have done to get me to this point where I can now walk a mile and I’m back…I've been…I've been back at work since last September, but I'm doing some of the things that I did before I got sick. Thank you, family. I love you.

Good morning my name is Vicki from Southern Oregon. And, you know, I think I came up with the name too, it's Soul Shine, not because it does but because that is what I'm hoping God is doing for me. I called in a few months ago and I'm calling for a praise report. I want to thank you, everybody that prayed for me and my son. My son has been taken to the state hospital. He’s severely mentally ill, schizophrenic and also has an addiction problem. And, you know, there's a window of opportunity for him to get help which is, you know, I know it's funny to call it a praise report when your son is in the state mental hospital but help…help is hard to find and hard fought. So, thank you for everyone that prayed for him and I pray that God will continue to work in his life and give him the freedom from his addiction and from his mental illness and that he will understand that the medications are helping him not harming him. Again, I thank everybody that prayed. Thank you, Brian for be here…being here.

Hello DAB family this is Rob still Worship Dude in Nashville. It's been a while since I've called in. I don't really have anything dramatic that I'm asking for. I just wanted to touch base. I've been listening to…for this…for gosh over 10 years. And I just want to say thank God, thank you for the DAB. Thank you for the community, thank you for the people who call in to pray, for those who engage with the prayers, for those who intercede for the prayer requests that have come in. We thank you Lord that you are omniscient, you are omnipotent, you are an omnipresent God, you are all knowing, you are all powerful, you are everywhere God. There is nothing that is too hard for you. And Lord as this great cacophony of prayers of intercession Lord arises around the world Lord, I thank you for this tool, this resource of the DAB Lord to just join the body of Christ together Lord. Would you release…would you release the spirit of unity amongst us as we bear one another's burdens Lord. We just recognize that you are doing a new thing. You are always doing a new thing Lord and Lord we stand together, and we ask that your Kingdom would come, your will would be done, that you would fill the earth with the glory of your presence. Father I thank you so much for the DAB, for Brian Hardin, for the amazing insightful and inspiring commentaries that you continue to share with us through him. Bless his team, bless all who support the DAB. Father I thank you that you are working on our behalf. We trust you. We love you and we bless you in Jesus’ name. God bless you guys.

Hello from beautiful Cincinnati OH this is Daniel Johnson Junior. One second while I throw another log on the Global Campfire here. So, it is the evening of February 28th 2021…2021. It's really been amazing because I've been journaling since the end of April, you know, journaling consistently and I was thinking back to like…like I like…for the shortest month of the entire year, February seems like it’s the longest. And I think that it's probably because we're far enough removed from the holiday season and the beginning of the year but not yet, you know, ready for the next season change that we really look forward to. And it just has been kind of wearisome, you know, to be present in this…in this month and kind of also just wondering if I had actually gotten anything done. Well, because of my journaling and I…one of my process that I have set up here is a monthly review. And, so, I went back and I looked through and I was just thinking, I just…you know what, I didn't get some of the goals that I wanted to, like, you know, getting a job. I'm still unemployed. So, I didn't get a job but I was looking at all the other stuff that I did, all of the habits that I’ve been tracking and all of the progress that I had made and it was also actually very inspiring. So, I just wanted to encourage you guys, you know, as you've been thinking about journaling, to do that journaling because you're going to be able to see how much different you are many months down the road, many weeks down the road. And that's all that I have for you right now. God bless you all from beautiful Cincinnati OH Daniel Johnson Junior saying make it a great day.

[singing starts] you do not lie you do not fail what is hard for you to do it doesn't exist. It can never ever never exist. My Jesus you do not lie you do not fail what is hard for you to do doesn't exist. It can never ever exist though. I call into your knowledge and your will from me what you say you will do. I just need to align with because you are not a man that changes his mind. Those that know you will trust in you not in horses and chariot body and soul flesh no man can prevail no man no man no man. My confidence is you what is hard, what is hard for you it can never exist [singing stops]. My name is Helen I'm calling from Nigeria. I just want to use this song to encourage somebody out there that what God cannot do does not exist. It can never exist. So, whatever you're passing through today just have it in mind that you have a God that can do the impossible, that can do everything and what He cannot do it does not exist. I want to thank everyone here. I know I just joined the…the Daily Audio not quite long, recently. I've been listening to everyone. I want to say God bless you all. God bless you. Bless you all.

[etraytin]

Quarantine, Day 186-187

September 13-14 It's been a couple of difficult days and I'm pretty tired, so who knows how long I will type tonight. It's funny, sometimes I start to journal and really get on a cathartic roll that makes me feel better, while other times I just pound out enough to let me feel I have done my job in chronicling my life for another day. And it's really hard to tell ahead of time which is going to be which.

Sunday was supposed to be the day when we finished the kiddo's room, but he got very little done even with my help. He melted down a couple of times throughout the day while I was trying to get him to do even a little work on his room, and then again at bedtime when he decided that he hated everything about the new bed and it was terrible. He wound up sleeping on the couch, which made my life more complicated because he did not want any noise or lights when he was sleeping on the couch. At least he did eventually go to sleep, I guess. I ended up snapping at him once when he didn't deserve it and had to apologize, and had to word my apology very carefully inside my head so it didn't come out sounding like "I'm sorry I'm at the end of my rope because you drove me crazy today" because that would be a pretty shitty apology. I think I said something about it being a long day and I was tired but I should not have snapped at him. We were okay then but I was frustrated at myself and the world in general. 

Husband has been having some health issues lately as well, old problems acting up in new ways, worrying both of us and making it hard for him to get peaceful rest. He's seen a couple of doctors but they haven't been particularly responsive so far. My biggest line item for tomorrow is going to be goosing the doctor's office for the referral he needs, just so he can stop worrying! We could all use a few less worries. 

Today we had the kiddo's annual checkup with the doctor, which we started prepping for on Friday. Last year's checkup was a DISASTER because I did not know there was going to be a blood test involved and the kiddo is not on board with needles any time for any reason. Today was better because he got over being upset on Friday and we spent the weekend building up the idea that it was going to be okay. Yesterday we spent some time finding funny Avatar: the Last Airbender meme compilations on YouTube so he would have something distracting to watch on my phone, and discussing how when it comes down to it, kitten claws are probably more painful than a flu shot, which he was also due for today. 

Anyway, the needles today went all right, he did a very good job considering his level of needle anxiety. Anxiety was sort of the theme of the day actually; talking with the doctor about how he's been feeling and what's been going on, and how sometimes it seems so hard just to keep the kiddo on an even keel. The doctor, who is an excellent doctor and takes a lot of time during the annual checkup especially, said that he's heard a whole lot of this going around, and the pandemic has been incredibly hard on kids this year. We talked about everything we're already doing and some new things to try, and we're going to go back in a month. The visit was exhausting, but good I think. We celebrated with a trip to McDonalds, the kiddo's favorite treat. 

Since by the time the appointment was over it was too late for class anyway, we headed straight down to the IKEA in Norfolk to do some room stuff shopping. Kiddo was in a much more rational mood about the new bed today when he wasn't so tired, and I sweetened the deal by helping him pick out some stuff for it. He got sheets for the bed, along with an incredibly fluffy faux-fur pillow that he adores and a string of little lights for the bedrail. We also talked about how we can make the ladder rungs more padded and less ouchy, as well as the possibility of doing what I always did with my loft bed and use other pieces of furniture (chair, dresser) as a step up ladder. Unfortunately, IKEA currently seems to be sold out of basically every kind of large dresser. We were hoping for a six-drawer MALM, but they were out of every color. Five drawer MALMs were gone too, as well as the similarly sized HEMES. They said they've been having a lot of problems with their supplier, and that they hoped to get some in at the end of next week. The tags we looked at on the floor said they were planning on being restocked September 13, which is yesterday, so I'm not super optimistic. Still, if we don't find something this week, I'll probably go back down there. 

Despite this frustration, we were able to successfully get the office chair we badly needed, as well as a large assortment of odds and ends including Lilleplutt III. Lilleplutt is the name of Ikea's small-medium stuffed cat, an ideal fake mama for lonely kittens. Lilleplutt I did yeoman's work with Latte, one of my singleton fosters last year, while Lilleplutt II went into service with a tiny fuzzy feral baby we picked up in the street a couple months ago. Lilleplutt III will likely end up in a similar occupation, though in the meantime she will keep the kiddo company as part of his stuffed toy coterie. The IKEA restaurant was closed, bummer, but I at least took home some lingonberry jam. 

After IKEA we ran across town and did the mystery shop that subsidized the gas for the trip to Norfolk. The kiddo is an old pro at mystery shopping now and is a little bit hilarious when he tries extra hard to be Friendly Local Child. He ended up getting most of our shared milkshake and was happy. There was surprisingly little traffic on the trip home, but after such a long day and a bunch of driving and shopping, I was very stressed out. Especially when Husband called and I realized that 24 cups of water had not been enough for the beans I was trying to slow simmer all day and they were ruined. Ugh, very disappointing! 

But he had Taco Bell for dinner and the kiddo and I were full from shopping, so it was generally not terrible. We put the kiddo's new mattress up on the bed (it arrived in the mail yesterday but needed 24 hours to recover from its travels) and made it up with the new sheets. I put his fan on the old dresser to put it high enough to reach the bed, and we discovered that with the low-slung purpose-bought mattress, not only was there more room to move around, but he can sit on the bed with a couple inches of clearance to the ceiling and has basically no risk of rolling over the bedframe and off the bed. He actually went to sleep in his bed tonight, hurrah! 

I guess this is one of the nights where talking things through was helpful. There's a lot going on and it makes sense to be stressed out, no matter what my brain tries to tell me about being lazy and not doing enough stuff. I'm going to try and take the advice I keep giving the kiddo and get some sleep. Tomorrow is another busy day and I think we'll all need it. 

[jlalafics]

“Rent Control”-an Everlark AU

So I wrote an story based on this picture...

Enjoy!

Summary: Katniss Everdeen has found the perfect home in San Francisco—great neighborhood, an easy commute and, best of all, it’s rent controlled. There’s only one problem; the landlord will only rent to a married couple.

Enter Peeta Mellark.

 Rent Control

“No…” Katniss scrolled down the ad on Craigslist, checking out the pictures of the apartment. The place was…small. She could live with that. However, the dimly lit bathroom and the questionable safety of the building’s laundry room were enough for her to click away from the ad. “Okay, onto the next one—”

“Katniss! Your break is over!” Johanna, her boss, called out from the front. “We need you!”

Locking her phone, she slipped it into the pocket of her jeans and stepped out of the backroom. Johanna was waiting for her at the cash register, an impatient smile on her red-stained lips.

“Johanna, there’s no one here…” The clothing boutique was empty except for the two women whose feet she could see behind their fitting room doors.

“Yeah, but I need to go!” Johanna bounced to emphasize her desperation. Katniss chuckled before waving her away. “Check on them, won’t you?”

Nodding, Katniss went to the dressing room area. “How is it going, ladies? Do you need any different sizes? Anything you want to get rid of?”

“Oh, yes!” A light voice called out as a pretty, light-haired woman peeked her head out and smiled at Katniss. “I don’t think I’m really into this.” She handed Katniss the simple black shift dress. “I’m just not into such basic colors!”

“No problem,” Katniss replied. “Are you looking for anything in particular?”

“My husband has a work event,” the woman explained. “It’s kind of high-brow and techie as all of San Francisco seems to be. Black seemed like the obvious choice.”

“It’s formal, right?” The voice in the room to Katniss’ right responded. “I thought black would work on you.”

“I know, Alma,” the woman in front of her said. “It’s just not me though.”

“It doesn’t look great with your coloring, to be honest,” Katniss told her. “You would do well with a jewel tone.” She walked over to one of the racks close by and pulled out the dress that she had been admiring since it was delivered to the boutique. “Would you consider this?”

Katniss held out the fuchsia dress for the woman to examine. It was floor-length with flutter sleeves and a flowing skirt. The top has a modest V-neck with a gold band underneath the ribcage.

The woman clapped excitedly. “Yes! It’s perfect! Thank you…”

“Katniss,” she told the woman. “Give that a go and I’ll check back in a few minutes.”

The dress turned out to be perfect and Katniss was thrilled as she rung the woman up. The Michael Kors dress would add a little more to her commission—she needed it.

As soon as the two women left, Johanna walked over and gives Katniss a congratulatory clap on the back.

“Want to grab us some coffee?” her boss asked. “I know you want to see your friend.” Johanna waggled her perfectly penciled brows at Katniss.

“You’re too much.” Katniss grabbed the credit card from Johanna’s hand. “But I can’t afford coffee so I’ll take you up on a freebie!”

++++++

“My favorite shop girl!”

“God Peeta, you make my job sound as pathetic as it actually is,” Katniss growled. “And, that’s coming from a guy who just stands around and makes coffee.”

“But, I do it with a smile,” her friend replied with a charming grin. “Chin up. How’s the apartment hunt going?”

“It’s not. Either I’m looking at an apartment where I’m sure someone’s been murdered or it’s in a decent neighborhood but I’m practically sleeping sitting up. Fucking techies!”

“Hey, they pay for this overpriced coffee!” Peeta argued.

“But they’ve jacked up the rent…” she whined. “I’m going to have to move back home if I don’t find a place soon.” Her parents lived in her childhood home in a neighborhood south of nowhere.

“I’m right there with you,” her friend told her. “My landlord is upping the rent in three months.” Peeta handed her usuals, a vanilla latte for her and a triple espresso for Johanna. “Hopefully, this will get you through the end of your shift—on me.”

“Thank you, my friend,” Katniss said gratefully and without a thought, she leaned over the counter to press a kiss to the man’s cheek.

Before she ends up embarrassing herself even further, Katniss rushed out of the coffee shop.

Thank God, Johanna didn’t see that.

She would never hear the end of it.

++++++

It was too good to be true.

Katniss read over the ad once more: $2800—1 bedroom, 1 bathroom in gorgeous Noe Valley. Spacious living room with fireplace, in-building washer/dryer. Must agree to one-year lease for rent-controlled price as well as meet landlord’s tenant requirements.

Below the ad was the address for the building as well as the date for the open house which happened to be today of all days—which happened to be her day off! This was more than generous for rent; it was practically median rent on Treasure Island.

The doors of the MUNI lightrail opened and she stepped down quickly to get to the sidewalk. The building was a block from her stop and Katniss hurriedly rushed in the appropriate direction. Hopefully, no one had taken the unit yet, though she could imagine that this ad would bring many desperate renters to the building.

Her gaze reached the brick building and Katniss stopped abruptly to stare up. The building was beautiful; it had ivy covering one side…there were bay windows…a stained-glass front door…

“Shop girl!”

Whipping around, Katniss was surprised to see her favorite barista slowing down to meet her.

“Coffee boy…” She groaned and nodded at the building. “Don’t tell me that you’re looking at the same place!”

“It really is too good to be true,” Peeta replied good-naturedly. “It’s probably already taken.”

“The door is still open,” Katniss informed him. “…but I really need this place!”

“So do I!” His sweet cornflower-blue eyes suddenly went somber. “My roommate is moving out in two weeks. Kind of left me in a lurch.”

“Damn it.” Katniss bit her lip, her eyes again going to her hopefully soon-to-be place of residence. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt for both of us to look.”

Peeta nodded, a small smile brightening his handsome face. “Come on.” Putting an arm around her shoulders, they walked through the open door of the building. “It’s probably going to be a shithole, anyway.”

But it wasn’t.

As soon as they stepped into the foyer of the building with its marble floor and walked up to the mahogany staircase, Katniss knew that this was no ordinary building. The available apartment was on the second floor and together they ascended the stairs, reaching a white-washed hallway with a lone window at the end.

“Shit—we’re both going to like this place, aren’t we?” Peeta said, a grimace on his face.

“I guess it’s a fight to the death for it,” Katniss quipped as they walked into the open apartment.

Hardwood floors…bay windows overlooking Church Street…a gorgeous fireplace—she swept her hand over the mantle and found her fingers surprisingly dust-free. The landlord was a cleanly one; most of the places she had seen had been grimy. An open archway led into a nook where Katniss could imagine her humble IKEA table being set for Sunday breakfasts and the kitchen—neat with fairly-new appliances—had an island.

“Imagine how many loaves of bread I could bake in this oven,” Peeta murmured to himself.

“We are torturing ourselves,” she groaned.

“We’re not done yet.” Peeta took her hand and they went into the hallway adjacent to the entrance. The walls were painted white as well and they took a peek into the pristine bathroom with its clawfoot tub. “Seriously?”

“I can’t even look in the bedroom after this,” Katniss protested as her friend pulls her along.

The bedroom was immaculate; the afternoon light shone in through the wide windows and the opposite wall was a closet obviously made for someone of Carrie Bradshaw’s standards. Katniss could picture herself just lounging on her bed and catching up on her Netflix shows.

She looked to Peeta. “So, what do you think is the catch?”

He shrugged. “We might as well find out. The landlord is across the hallway.”

After a final wave to the dream apartment, they walked out just as the adjacent door opened and a disgruntled woman walked out.

The woman, impeccably dressed in her pantsuit, glared at them. “Good luck with them.”

“Ah, there’s the rub,” Katniss said to Peeta as he knocked on the door. “The landlord is a nightmare.”

“Now that’s a little harsh—” They turned to the dark-haired man before them, dressed casually in a flannel and worn jeans. “At least get to know me before hating my guts.” He widened the door for them. “Come in, come in…”

They stepped into the apartment; the sage-green walls and plush furniture immediately calmed Katniss’ senses. A record player crooned Creedence Clearwater Revival to the succulents that lined the windows.

“I’m Haymitch Abernathy,” the man said to them. “Owner of this humble abode. The wife is just grabbing more treats for potential couples.”

“Peeta Mellark.” Her friend held out his hand and Haymitch shook it firmly.

Katniss also reached out, shaking the man’s hand. “Katniss…you said couples?”

“The tenant requirement is that anyone living there must be married,” Haymitch stated. He settled down on the beige couch and reached for the glass on the apothecary coffee table. “How long have you two been hitched?”

Married?

And without thought or reason, Katniss found herself replying, “A year.”

She could practically feel Peeta’s stabbing stare.

“Hello, hello!” A familiar voice called out and they both turned to see a woman rushing over to them with a tray. The woman stopped and met her eyes. “Katniss?”

It was the Michael Kors dress…Katniss quickly pulled the memory of her holding the credit card of the woman in front of her.

“Effie…how did the dress go?” she asked congenially.

Effie beamed as she placed the tray of drinks on the coffee table, before sitting on the arm of the sofa next to Haymitch.

“It was a hit!” The woman looked between them. “I didn’t realize you were married.”

“Oh yeah…” Katniss nodded at the gob smacked man next to her. “This is my husband, Peeta…Mellark.”

She should really remember his last name.

“You two are adorable!” Effie gushed. “So young…but so were we—” She looked affectionately at her husband. “And here we are still tolerating each other.”

Haymitch smiled tenderly at his wife. “Well, you put up with me and that’s saying something.”

“Excuse me,” Peeta abruptly called out. “Out of curiosity, why just married couples?”

“We found that single renters tend to break their lease agreement within six months because they can’t afford the rent,” Effie explained. “And roommates often leave after awhile while non-married couples sometimes end up splitting up—it just becomes a mess. At least with a married couple, it’s two people who are bound by law and we can count on them being in the apartment for some time.”

“Longevity and loyalty are important to us,” Haymitch added, seriousness in his steel-eyed stare. “The people in this building are like our family. So, we’re very protective about who we let in.”

“That is definitely important,” Katniss replied. She looked to a stone-faced Peeta before beginning her appeal for the dream apartment. “We would love to be considered. Obviously, you know that I work at Johanna’s and Peeta works in the coffee house next door. We’ve been at our jobs for more than a year. We can get paystubs as proof of income—”

“I have a feeling about you two,” Effie said. She looked to her husband who nodded in agreement. “Pending the deposit and if you two agree, we would love for you to make your home here.”

++++++

“Are you insane?” As soon as they stepped out of the building, Peeta turned to her. “Why would you say we’re married?”

“I don’t know!” Katniss exclaimed. “It just happened.” She peered at him. “You’re not married already, are you?”

“No!” He burst out. “But still—you didn’t need to lie.”

“Tell me where you’re going find a place and price like that,” Katniss pointed out. “Might as well move to Treasure Island.”

They walked away from their future home. “So, what are we supposed to do now?”

“We pretend,” she told him bluntly. “And after a year when we’ve saved a little bit more money, we move out or just say we’re splitting up.”

“And, you think this is going to work?”

“It does or we’re homeless,” Katniss replied.

They walked in silence towards the lightrail island. When they reach her stop, Peeta turned to her.

“Fine. We do this,” he agreed. “One year.”

Katniss let out the sigh of relief. “Deal.” She took his hand. “You now have yourself a wife.”

Peeta chuckled quietly. “Just one thing.”

“Yes?”

“What’s your last name?”

++++++

One week later…

 “I seriously cannot believe you’re doing this,” Johanna muttered as they walk up the stairs leading up to San Francisco City Hall. “I know that you’ve had a thing for Peeta—but pretending to be married to get an apartment? That’s just wrong.”

“It’s not like that. All of us aren’t like you,” Katniss replied as she held her bag open for security before walking through the metal detector. “We didn’t get a house from a divorce.”

“I earned that house!” Johanna followed suit through the metal detector. “Do you know how many blowies I gave him before he decided that it was my fault that he couldn’t get it up? I can stick the hard end of a banana in the back of my throat and feel nothing.” The security guard chuckled as he handed Johanna her purse back. “Tell me that’s not devotion.”

“That is a little more than I needed to know about my boss.” Katniss reached into her purse and pulled out the fragile hairpiece. It had been lying in her drawer since she moved to California. “Can you help me?”

“Give it.” Johanna takes the hairpiece, clipping it on each side of Katniss’ raven waves. She arranged the lace so that it subtly brushed her cheekbones. “This is gorgeous.”

“It was my grandmother’s,” she said quietly. “Her and Gramps married during the war. It’s the one thing she left me after she died…I hate to think that it’s being used for something not real.”

Johanna placed her hands on Katniss’ shoulders, her eyes affectionately concerned.

“So, for now, pretend that this is real. Most marriages turn out to be shams, anyway—and you get a smoking-hot husband out of it.”

Katniss snorted. “Thanks for the pep talk.”

A wolf-whistle cut across the air, echoing throughout the main floor, and she turned to find Peeta in a grey suit approaching her. A tall, dark-skinned man followed behind him dressed in a navy suit.

“Mrs. Mellark…” Peeta slowed in front of her, looking over her fitted lace dress before meeting her veil-eyed gaze. “You clean up nice.”

“That’s what happens when you work in the best clothing boutique in San Francisco,” Katniss replied, her hands reaching to adjust his red tie. “You clean up nice, too.”

“That’s so cute,” the man behind Peeta said with an amused smile. “Y’all are already taking care of each other.”

“This is Cinna, my soon-to-be ex-roommate,” Peeta informed Katniss. “He’s ditching me for New York, but I don’t blame him since his cushy executive job is paying for his flat.”

“Nice to meet you,” Katniss said and shook the man’s hand. “I guess it worked out in my favor that you were leaving.”

“No problem, sweetheart,” Cinna replied. “Peeta showed me the apartment. What a sweet deal for San Francisco! I wouldn’t mind pretending to be married to this guy for such a place.”

Johanna coughed and Katniss pulled her forward. “This is Johanna, my boss and pretend MOH.”

“Nice to meet you both,” Johanna said. “And, thanks for the coffees, Peeta.”

“No problem,” Peeta replied. He looked around at the crowded floor. “Should we get on with this?”

Katniss nodded. “Right.”

Together, they walked to the wide staircase that led to the mayoral offices. It was a popular spot for ceremonies and pictures. There were already several couples taking their post-ceremony photos.

Cinna reached into his pocket, taking out a small digital camera. “Let’s get you two together.”

Awkwardly, Peeta took her hand as Katniss pressed herself against him.

“Is this alright?” she asked Cinna.

“No. You look like you’re having an edema,” Johanna said bluntly as Cinna chuckled in agreement. “Come on, make me believe that you’ve seen each other naked!”

Several couples stopped to stare at them.

“Alright!” Katniss wove her arms around Peeta’s neck as he pulled her close, his strong arms encircling her waist. Through the lace of her dress, she could feel his heart pounding and she met his sweet blues. “You okay, Mr. Mellark?”

Peeta grinned and the breath suddenly left her body. He really was a good-looking man.

She could never get someone like him in real life.

He leaned forward, their lips a breath apart. “I’m perfect…Mrs. Mellark.”

“We got it!” Cinna called out.

Johanna looked over Cinna’s shoulder at the picture on the camera’s screen, nodding in approval.

“Not bad…not bad at all.”

Together, she and Peeta sighed in relief.

They could do this…this was after all for the perfect apartment.

“We’re not done yet,” Cinna told them. “We still have a year’s worth of your marriage to document.” He smirked, looking at the photos—some good, some awkward. “These are going to look good. You better name your first fake baby after me.”

++++++

Effie had been there to meet them at their front door a week later. Haymitch couldn’t take the time off to join them as Effie informed the couple that he was stuck in meetings for the startup he was managing.

“I have no idea about those sorts of things,” she said as she held out their key. “Why don’t you give it a try? If there’s an issue, we can just hop down the block to the hardware store on the corner.”

Peeta took the key, inserting it into the bolt and turning it easily. “Looks like we’re good to go.” He opened the door and turned to Katniss. “Before we go in—”

He quickly scooped her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck, mostly out of fear of faceplanting on their new floors.

“What are you doing?”

“This is our home now,” Peeta said, giving her a winning smile. Behind them, Effie cooed. “I have to carry you over the threshold.” He leaned closer to her ear. “We’re supposed to be in love, aren’t we? Just go with it.”

Katniss nods before placing a light kiss on his lips. He started at the motion and something inside her bellowed in triumph at the thought of making him come undone.

“Well then, carry me over, Mr. Mellark. We have a lot of unpacking to do.”

Together, Peeta entered their place before placing Katniss gently back on her feet.

He winked. “I’ll start bringing in the boxes.”

Nodding, she went to open some of the bags that they were able to store in the apartment before their official move. Effie and Haymitch were generous for allowing them to do this.

“Is that your wedding photo?”

Katniss turned to see Effie behind her, her gaze on the black-and-white photo that she had just placed on the mantle.

“Yes. It was a small wedding,” she explained. “My family is all the way in Connecticut and Peeta’s family is in D.C. so they weren’t able to make it. The whole idea of getting married was very spur-of-the-moment.”

“Really?” Effie was an obvious romantic, though Katniss found it an endearing. “Oh, to be young and so spontaneous. So, how did the proposal happen?”

“Well…uh…”

Shit. They never really came up with a story.

“Katniss was staying over at my place.” Peeta placed a box on the floor in front of them. “We were having breakfast and discussing what we should do that day. She suggested that we get to the mountain of laundry in my room—and I suggested that we get married.”

A snort escaped Katniss’ lips before she could stop it.

Effie’s bright eyes went wide and she looked to Katniss. “And, what did you say?”

“I kind of just said…sure,” she answered.

“It was more of a—” Peeta gave them a half-hearted shrug that looked believably like something she would do. “—followed by a less-than-enthusiastic ‘Sure.’” He put an arm around Katniss’ shoulders. “As if it were the most natural thing in the world for her to marry me.”

“You do love me.” Her head went to his shoulder. “Surly traits and all.”

In response, Peeta placed a kiss on her temple.  “I wouldn’t have you any other way.”

“You two are just too good to be real!” Effie exclaimed. “I’ll leave you to finish unpacking. Also, tomorrow we’ll be having a little get-together in the backyard so you can meet the neighbors. I think you’re going to fit in here perfectly.”

She smiled at them dreamily.

I’m just going to leave you to…christen your new place. Let me know if you need anything.”

With that, Effie closed the apartment door behind her.

“Did she give us permission to bone all over the apartment?”

Peeta smirked. “I’m game if you are.”

Katniss reached into an open box, throwing a cushion in his direction.

He chuckled, catching the cushion easily.

“I’ll take that as a no.” Going to her, Peeta pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Welcome home, Mrs. Mellark.”

 End of Part One…

 This, I hope, will only be a three-parter.

This was inspired by a meme about dating in the Bay Area. Also, I’ve been watching Tales of the City on Netflix.

The current average rate for an one-bedroom apartment rental in San Francisco is $3,609, while rent in the neighborhood of Noe Valley runs at about $3,206. The lowest rental rate is in Treasure Island, which is the halfway point across the Bay Bridge, and is $2,616.

Just some food for thought on how ridiculous it is to live in the Bay Area…but damn do I love living here.

Next: Meeting the neighbors

Till then, JLaLa

[alindakb]

How Love Hurts - chapter 5.1 - by Alinda

Draco hates that he can’t be in the courtroom with Harry right now. Harry had looked so hunted this morning when Hermione came to pick him up. Draco kissed him goodbye and told him everything would be okay. He told him that just as much as to calm his own nerves as Harry’s. Draco has no idea what to do if Harry loses his children because of him. It will break them, maybe not right away, but one day Harry will start to resent him for being the cause that he lost the right to be a father of his own children, Draco is sure of that.

The phone in Draco’s hands beeps. It’s another message from the Weasel informing Draco that Harry is on the stand right now. Draco closes his eyes and hopes Harry knows that Draco’s heart and mind are with him even though he can’t be there in person. Harry had begged Draco to come along, but Draco had refused. The public and judges won’t understand, not with Harry keeping the main reason he left Ginevra out of all this. He can’t say it, can’t talk about what Ginevra did to him. And even if Harry could, he wouldn’t, knowing it might get Ginevra in trouble. Somehow he still cares about her. Or at least cares enough to make sure his children don’t have to go visit their mom in Azkaban.

Rhys Davis, Harry’s lawyer had agreed, just like Hermione. All of them thought that it was better for Draco to stay away from the Ministry’s court during this case. It won’t help Harry’s case when people see how close he’s with Draco. Hermione being the one to get Harry in the morning was the only reason why Draco didn’t come along anyway. Harry had cried, holding Draco close and told him he was terrified. Draco didn’t want to let Harry go by himself and it broke his heart to watch him take the floo to the Ministry without Draco.

‘They are drilling him about quitting his job’ the next text from Weasley says. Fuck, Draco knew it was a mistake the moment Harry told him had handed in his resignation. Why had Draco encouraged him to go do what would make him happy? Draco should have told him to wait till after the trial. Now it just looks like Harry’s having one big midlife crisis. Leaving his wife, coming out as gay and quitting his job. Next they will write that he’s spending all his money on expansive furniture and the latest professional brooms.

Draco gets up from his chair and starts to walk up and down the kitchen. Mila looks at him while she stocks the new kitchen cabinets with food, tableware and pots and pans. Draco is happy she and Toby agreed to move with Draco and Scorpius into Grimmauld Place. They have the attic floor to themselves, their own little home. It even pleased Hermione, which is saying something when the topic is house-elves. Mila brought some furniture from the Manor that she really loved with her. It’s more than Draco moved over. He didn’t want to keep anything. Only some personal stuff, like pictures, keepsakes that remind him of Astoria and his parents. Everything else wasn’t important. So he and Harry have been shopping furniture for weeks. The kitchen is one of the few rooms that is finished at the moment, but it’s fine. Harry and Draco managed to move into Grimmauld Place before the trail, and that is what matters. This way Harry at least doesn’t have to explain why he lives at a place best known for the years that Voldemort used it as his base of operations.

“Sir, do you want a cup of tea. It will calm the nerves,” Mila says.

Draco looks at her and nods. A cup of tea would be nice. Maybe it will stop him from feeling utterly useless.

“I should be there with him,” Draco uppers.

“You should, but you can’t. You know it will only make his changes worse than they already are.”

“I know,” Draco snaps at Mila. “Doesn’t make it any easier. He does better when I’m close. I’m scared he won’t find the strength to say what he needs to. If they side with Ginevra, fall for her sob story, he doesn’t stand a chance.”

“Master Draco, we all worry. It will break Master Harry’s heart if he loses. It will be a loss for all of us.”

Draco nods and sits back down when Mila places a cup of tea on the table for him. He takes a sip and lets out a deep breath. “Davis said he would do his best, even tho all the facts are against Harry. I should have told him. Nobody will fight Harry if they know what Ginevra did to him the last couple of years. Do you think I should have told Davis?”

Mila sits down on her own chair and puts a hand on Draco’s arm. “Master Harry doesn’t want anyone to know. He will hate you if you tell anyone. You remember your mother, she defended Master Malfoy’s actions till her grave.” Mila shakes her head and stares back to the boxes with new tableware. “She always thought it was her own fault whenever Master Malfoy would hurt her. Toby once tried to tell another witch. Misses Narcissa almost made him leave after that.”

“I remember,” Draco says. He was only six when it happened, but ever since then, Toby had to stay away from mother. She didn’t tolerate him near her, it was like he had betrayed her more than her own husband did on a daily basis. Draco lets out another deep breath and lays his arm around Mila’s shoulders. “I’m glad she didn’t make him leave, that you and he could stay together.”

“So am I, Master Draco, so am I.”

Mila takes a sip of her own tea and leans against Draco a little. “And I’m glad we can be here now to help you and Master Harry. You both deserve to be happy, together, with all your children.”

The phone beeps again. Mila picks it up from the table and reads the message. “Master Harry is done on the stand. It didn’t go well, Mister Weasley says.”

Draco rests his head on the table and tries not to think what it means that it didn’t go well. Davis said there won’t be any decisions made today by the judges, that they will take some time to investigate all the evidence that has been brought before them. Maybe a couple of days, but more likely a week or two with a case this high profile. They don’t want to make any mistakes. Draco doesn’t think he will be able to stay away on the day of the verdict. Not now the hearing hasn’t gone smoothly at all.

“I’ll make Master Harry’s favourite for supper, maybe he’ll eat some,” Mila mutters next to Draco. Draco can’t help but smile. It didn’t take Mila long to figure out that Harry skips meals when he’s nervous, so she always makes sure there is something on the table he loves when he’s having a bad day.

“Thank you, Mila,” Draco says when Mila gets up and finishes unpacking the boxes and starts on the preparations for supper. “For everything you do for me and Harry.”

“You are my boys, sir. I’ve known you since you were a little baby. And Master Harry is the person you love. I will make sure he’s okay for as long as you want me to.”

Draco smiles at Mila and thanks her again. Maybe it will work out, somehow, someway. Draco has no idea how, but he can’t lose the life he has now. Not now he’s finally happy.

[sissytobitch10seconds]

For Superlove 2/2 Mpreg! Steve is also excited for Belly casts and maternity clothes, to build the nursery, buys stuff for the baby, has Pinterest boards, baby books and what not.But sometimes he also gets really hormonal and moody and clings to Tony like a koala and wants constant attention and cries when he doesn't get it. Tony is always concerned and sees to his every need , even buys grocery himself for Steve and has constant heart eyes for Steve and his baby bump. Continued...

(PART TWO)So, I’m splitting this one into three parts on my Tumblr, since the ask in is three parts. You’ll be able to find the entire thing on Archive!

This part was a bit harder to complete because I wasn’t sure what the scenes should be specifically. They kind of ended up being background mentions with greater scenes, but I made sure to include them all!

They had just finished with the normal part of the prenatal check up. Tony had the prescription for vitamins tucked somewhere in his suit. Steve had fully checked out and was apparently progressing just fine from the outside.

The blond was sitting on the examination table in one of those flimsy hospital gowns that they used for check ups. Every now and again he would squirm uncomfortably as he had an entirely full bladder. He almost breathed a sigh of relief as the sonographer opened the door and entered.

“Nice to meet the two of you,” she grinned widely after introducing herself. “I take it that this is your first baby and first ultrasound?”

After they had nodded she went on to explain how everything worked and what they should expect. She had Steve lay back on the examination table and then inserted the small machine that would allow them to see and hear their baby.

Steve grasped his husband’s hand as he stared nervously at the screen, waiting for anything to happen. He took in a shaky breath when she placed the doppler on his stomach, allowing them to hear the rhythmic swell of noise that was their infant’s heartbeat. “Is that really…?” he whispered, in a state of disbelief.

“That's the heartbeat, and this is the baby,” she pointed to the screen where she had finally managed to get the hazy black and white to level out a bit. There was a large shape with the static inside of it and then a small, pea sized object almost in the middle of that.

“Holy shit, that’s our baby,” Tony gasped, his eyes wide with shock and realization.

“Tony, that’s our baby,” Steve whispered and nodded. He placed a hand over his mouth as he took in a shaky breath and turned to stare at the screen. He took in every ounce of the shape that he could while also straining his ears for the heartbeat.

“Everything seems to be progressing right,” the sonographer chirped as she printed them out some pictures.

The blond ex-superhero almost felt like sobbing when they had to turn the lights on because their session had ended. He was allowed to go change and pee in the bathroom just down the hall. When he returned, she talked to them a little bit about the baby and assured them that everything sounded right.

They left the appointment with the pictures of their tiny baby, more excited than they had ever expected to be. When they got home, they discussed how they were going to tell the team and decided to wait until they had reached the second trimester just in case something happened.

---

Tony grabbed another piece of the cloth from the glue-y white solution, placing it on top of Steve’s stomach. He was still without a baby bump, which left the only sign that he really was pregnant as the disappearance of his abs.

“Jesus, that’s cold!” Steve exclaimed, almost shying away from the strip.

“Language,” Tony teased.

“Are you ever going to let me live that down?” he asked, leaning his head back against the chair behind him.

“Are you ever going to stop reacting to it? Because until then I don’t think I’m going to drop it,” he replied easily.

“You’re ridiculous,” he complained.

“You married me,” Tony reminded him gently. He got up and washed his hands off so that the plaster was only under his fingernails. “You wanna watch a movie while we wait for it to dry?” he asked.

Steve nodded eagerly. Tony helped him up carefully so that they didn’t disturb the plaster and brought him to the living room. They sat together on the couch while watching whatever movie they could agree on that night.

The timer went off about halfway through, signifying that the plaster had dried and they could take it off. Tony kneeled in front of Steve, peeling it off of him. “What’s the point of this, again?” he asked.

“I want to be able to see the progression of the baby bump. We’re going to do this every ten weeks because it’ll seem like nothing is really changing to us, but we’ll be able to see how big I get with these,” Steve grinned as he watched the rest of the plaster fleck off onto the hardwood below them.

“This another thing you found on those Pinterest boards you make every night before bed?” Tony asked with a teasing smirk.

“The belly casts were, but the every ten weeks thing was my idea,” he replied proudly.

Tony put the cast down on the floor and then got up next to his lover, kissing him sweetly. When they pulled back, he placed his forehead on Steve’s, “You’re so cute.”

---

“Are you sure that this is how you want to tell the team?” Steve asked as he watched his lover work. Tony had the two newest pictures of the ultrasound on the table in front of him, and was trying to get the best picture of them with the older ones and a pregnancy test they had kept.

“Yes. I don’t want to have them all over because who knows what their reactions might be. This way they’ll be destroying their own furniture,” Tony nodded. When he finally got the picture he plopped himself down next to his lover.

“It just feels a little impersonal,” Steve sighed, placing his head on Tony’s shoulder. He wrapped his arms lazily around his husband’s waist and let himself enjoy the feeling of closeness.

“It’s not impersonal,” Tony defended. “Okay, maybe it is a little impersonal, but the baby is kind of a personal thing, and I want to just keep it between us. This is a good middle ground where we tell people but we keep them at a distance.”

“You have a problem sharing,” the blond looked up at his husband slightly.

“Well, a lot of the things that I tried sharing got forcibly taken from me so you can’t really blame me for being a little hesitant about the baby,” he replied quickly.

“I know, Tony,” he lifted his face up and kissed the other man’s cheek just as Tony sent the announcement to the group chat. They both settled in to watch the chaos unfold with their friends.

Tony and Steve did another belly cast when Steve reached twenty weeks, where he was already growing a firm bump. Neither of them could keep their hands away from it, just happy to feel the baby in any way possible.

---

While they hadn’t had any symptoms like morning sickness or cramping, they found out that even a super soldier wasn’t immune to mood swings. Luckily, he avoided anger almost always and focused on being overly clingy and sad to happy. Currently, he was stuck in the former of the two.

“Hey Tony?” Steve called. He was camped out in the living room at the moment, putting his feet up. His ankles were a bit swollen and sore from his morning run with Sam, where he now had to jog along with the other former soldier due to the size his baby bump was getting to be.

“Yeah?” Tony hummed in reply, happy to get an excuse to finish with the paperwork early. He had been taking full advantage of the pregnancy as an excuse to get out of his work a bit early.

“Could you mix some of that cherry ice cream we got last time we went shopping with the hot sauce Rhodey brought over?” he yawned.

“Hot and cold? Kinda predictable there with the cravings,” Tony chuckled. He pushed his chair back and got up to go get the requested items.

“It’s not for me, it’s for the baby,” his husband replied quickly.

Tony just chuckled as he opened the freezer to get the icecream out. He winced when he saw that the place where the carton was now occupied by cold, empty air. “Uh, babe, I’m going to have to go to the store and get some more,” he shut the freezer and walked to the entryway where they kept their coats.

“I don’t want you to leave,” he whimpered, tears forming in his eyes and threatening to fall.

“Baby, you just asked me to go and get you hot sauce and ice cream,” Tony chuckled as he shrugged on his coat.

“But I want you to stay and cuddle with me and the baby,” Steve whimpered. Tears began to roll down his face at a terrifying rate. Tony quickly removed his coat and rushed over to his lover, cuddling up next to him.

“I’m here, it’s okay. I’m not going anywhere,” Tony murmured, pressing his lips to the blond’s forehead.

Steve tucked his head under Tony’s chin and wrapped his arms around the other man. His bump laid on top of his husband’s stomach. Tony placed a hand on the bump while the other one gently held Seve’s shoulder. The billionaire had no idea how he had fallen so far from where he used to be. He used to sleep with one person a night and never look back, but now he was bending to the every whim and need of a single person. He wouldn’t change it for the world, he smiled to himself.

---

When they got to thirty weeks they held a baby shower with the rest of the team. Natasha had come over early and decorated the living room. The rest of the team, including Sam, Pepper, and Rhodey, with a special appearance from Maria Hill, filtered in when the clock finally hit two.

Maria was helping Clint and Pepper with Steve’s newest belly cast while Rhodey, Sam, and Bruce were helping move furniture out of the spare room and into a storage room next door. They were going to paint the room today and then let it dry before they went and put together the baby furniture. Steve had allowed them to do that much while getting them to promise that he would be able to decorate it to his tastes later.

“I’ve had a couple of my friends get pregnant, but I never really realized how big they got,” Maria hummed as she smeared more of the sticky plaster over the bump.

“I’m amazed that my skin even stretches this much,” he replied, his cheeks turning a bit pink. He felt as though he had let his figure slip since he had gained a lot more weight. He was nowhere close to unhealthy, but his face, ass, hips, thighs, and almost everything else about him had definitely gotten fuller.

“I think that pregnancy suits you. Way more than it would me,” Clint chuckled.

“Do you know what you’re having yet?” Pepper asked, steering the conversation away from bodies, just in case it would result in a pregnancy mood swing breakdown.

“No, we’re going to find out here with the cake,” he replied with an excited grin.

Some of the people in the nursery finished their part in painting and came back to enjoy the snacks and chatting. Several of them had brought small gifts, mostly just stuffed animals like the ones that they had as kids or onesies themed like Ironman and Captain America.

Eventually, time ticked later and later, leading them to when they were going to cut the cake. Tony brought it out of the kitchen where he had been storing it, placing it carefully down on the table. He stood proudly next to his lover with a hand on his hip, watching as Steve cut into it.

He removed the slice of cake and placed it onto the plate in Tony’s hand. Both expectant parents stared down at the bright, baby blue coloring of the vanilla cake.

“We’re going to have a boy? That’s amazing,” Tony beamed, throwing his arms around his lover to kiss his lips.

“We’re having a boy!” Steve cheered as he wrapped his arms around his lover and kissed him back.

They got cheers from their chosen family and friends. They eventually separated and answered a few questions about names before they gave out cake. They opened presents and talked until around seven, when they all went out to eat at their favorite restaurant.

When they got back to the house, Tony and Steve were both exhausted. The blond fell asleep almost immediately, leaving Tony to do the cleanup and finished putting the nursery furniture together for his pregnant lover.

[atinytokki]

The Windy Road

i. The Ghost Home 

At eleven years old, Mingi had grown accustomed to the hectic nature of his daily life. The other children in the local schoolhouse had probably been there since they had started learning their letters, but the Song family always bounced around from place to place, and Mingi was leaps and bounds ahead of others his age academically, thanks to a top tier education last year with the prestigious Academy.

He always thought this was a fact that would benefit him someday, bring him and his family a measure of honour or pride, but every success was dry and pointless. The next day he might be moving away again. The reason for this was the Song family enterprise; trade. Mingi’s father wasn’t the type to set up shop and run a long lasting business, but instead relocate his travelling circus every time his suppliers moved with the seasons. Some villages were better than others, but as Mingi looked at the quaint and lovingly decorated cottage before them, he had to admit this might be the best so far.

His parents were wrapped up in the unpacking the moment they arrived, aided begrudgingly by Mingi’s older brother Minseok. Minseok was always upset every time the Song family moved, complaining that his friends would miss him once he left. But everyone knew it was impossible to make real friends when you only live somewhere for three months. 

“Aren’t you going to come in, Mingi?” His mother was looking expectantly between her youngest and the two trunks in her hands. “Right, of course,” the lanky boy tripped up the steps and scooped up the baggage before lugging it inside and dropping it in the hallway. “Come look at the garden!”  Mingi’s father called out from the back. “There’s plenty of room for you lads to play out here!”

It was indeed a very nice and well kept garden, with a sizeable field for playing and a lovely tree to climb. Mingi was halfway up when a voice came to him from nearby. “Careful with that branch, it’s wiggly.” Mingi almost fell out of the tree then and there in surprise. He tilted his head back to look up into the branches and, seeing nothing, scanned the surrounding bushes for the elusive owner of the voice. 

“I’m over here.”

There he was. A boy who looked around Mingi’s age, but a good deal smaller, sitting casually in the bush to his right. Again, Mingi almost fell out of the tree in shock. “Who are you? And what are you doing in our garden?” He tried to sound stern, but his voice shook from the scare he had received.

“Forgive me, I didn’t know you were moving in today.” Mingi squinted at him in suspicion. Never before had a mysterious boy hidden in the bushes outside a new home in his experience. He supposed he’d have to ask Minseok if that had ever happened to him. 

“Well, who are you? Do you live in that bush?” 

The boy opened his mouth to answer after a moment of hesitation, but was cut off by a holler from the main house. “Mingi, come in here and bring your trunk up to your bedroom!” It was his mother. When Mingi recovered from almost falling out of the tree in surprise a third time, he turned to see the mysterious boy’s reaction. He was gone.

Mingi jumped down from the branches and ran over to the bushes, checking quickly to see if anything had been left behind. There was certainly a dip in the soil where someone had been sitting, so he hadn’t imagined it. But where the boy had gotten to so fast puzzled him, and he scratched his head before hurrying inside.

He dragged his trunk up a flight of stairs and down a creaky hallway before stopping at a door. It was a perfectly average, nondescript room, but it had a nice view of the ocean from a window, which Mingi appreciated. There were two beds on either side, and Minseok had already claimed one of them, so Mingi set up shop on the other. The window split the two of them, and he found himself glancing out of it frequently.

“Anything good in the garden?” His older brother remarked casually from where he was setting up a bookshelf. “There’s a great tree,” Mingi recounted. “Everything was a bit soggy. I suppose it is typhoon season. I wonder what’s planted out there.” 

“It’ll be a surprise come spring,” Minseok’s words were detached, like he wasn’t really invested in the conversation. Mingi sighed and went back to his own things. Minseok was older, and apparently that meant he knew everything now. “I did find a surprise out there,” Mingi screamed at himself mentally to stop talking. Minseok would only make fun of him, best case. “What’s that?” His hyung turned around, curious. 

“There was a boy in the bushes.”

“There was a what?” “A boy in the bu—“ “I heard you. What on earth was he doing there?” Mingi blushed as he was suddenly put on the spot. “Well, I didn’t exactly get the chance to ask him...” “Did he say anything at all?” Minseok looked unexpectedly serious, and Mingi couldn’t think of another time Minseok had looked anything but bored recently. 

“Just that he didn’t know we were moving in today. I’ve no idea how long he’s been there, I only located him when he told me not to grab the wobbly tree branch.” Minseok stood from the shelf. “Is he still there now?” Mingi stood to match him, not exactly sure what his hyung was going to do about it but anxious nonetheless. “No, he disappeared when Mother distracted me. I don’t know where he went.”

Minseok turned to look out the window, face unreadable. “If he comes round again,” his voice was quiet but commanding, even as he returned to the bookshelf. “Tell him to get off our property.” Mingi couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Minseok was always so territorial and to no end. They’d move south by winter anyway. He realised the older was staring at him and mumbled, “Fine.” Both went back to their work. Minseok was right, the boy was probably a thief or a scoundrel of some kind to be trespassing around other people’s houses. Mingi would have to assert his dominance better. 

The sun went down on their labours and the family of four gathered around the kitchen fire for their meal. Mother had packed food on their journey so they could focus on unpacking and preparing their new home once they arrived. As she and Father talked through the list of things they’d have to do in the week to come, Mingi took a good look around.

It wasn’t the grandest house they had lived in, but the attention to detail in the craftsmanship of the place was mesmerising. The ceiling was high with exposed beams, soft material covered all the furniture, and the floor had an attractive shine but was worn in a few places where it looked like dancing had taken place. “Are we going to replace anything?” Mingi looked expectantly at his parents. It would be a shame to do away with the treasures already established, but they did have things of their own to bring in. 

“Perhaps some of it,” his mother answered. “I wasn’t aware it was already furnished, were you?” She turned to her husband, who lifted his head from his meal and hesitated for a moment. “I was,” he finally admitted. Now there were three pairs of eyes on him, and he had to explain. 

“This house belonged to someone only a few days ago. The town officials said it was the only available place for us unless we wanted to be put up in the inn for the rest of summer. I took the offer despite his warning.” The tension was thick and silence prevailed until Mingi finally whispered, “Warning?”

“The previous owners died at sea last week. A husband and wife. The funeral was yesterday.” The crickets outside and the crackling fire were the only sounds while the rest of the family processed the news. “Oh my...” Mingi’s mother looked down, expression soft and regretful. “Is the sea quite unsafe here?” 

Father went on to make some excuse about the seasonal typhoons to ease Mother’s mind, but Mingi was still paralysed as it struck him that the ghosts of the previous owners were probably among them. Stories filled his head of angry spirits harassing living families that take their possessions, and as he lay in bed that night, the cozy home was suddenly a haunted cottage. 

Every creak of the wind on the walls, and every rustling sound from his hyung’s blankets as he shifted in bed renewed the pounding of Mingi’s heart. Perhaps this would actually be the worst home he had ever lived in.

___

A/N: I finished my schoolwork for this week!! So here is this, and it’s even a lil spooky in time for halloween.  Of course, more will come as well as more for Yunho and more of the main series if you’re keeping up.  Please send lots of love and let me know if you’d like to be tagged in anything.  Freetalk is open and I’m active again so, hmu!

Summary | Masterlist | Next  →

[trashcanreddiefan]

The 4th Annual Losers’ Club Christmakkah Celebration 2/2

Summary: The Losers gather for their fourth annual Christmakkah celebration, and this time Richie and Eddie get a Christmakkah surprise.

Word Count: 3240-ish for part 2. (LOL each story got progressively longer)

Warnings: Usual Trashmouth swearing.

Author’s Note: Post-Chapter 2. All of the Losers are alive in this fic, including Stan, because canon can suck it. Final part in the series, unless I get some other ideas. Part 1 here, part 2 here, part 3 here, beginning of 4th part here.

CROSS-POSTED AT AO3.

The next three weeks flew by and before Richie knew it, the day before Christmakkah had arrived.

Earlier that day he and Eddie had finished setting up the baby's room, hung the stockings they had monogrammed with each of the Losers & Jr. Losers' names on the fireplace, and pre-made a broccoli-rice casserole and 4 different kinds of pie.

He, Bill, Stan, Patty, Bev, Ben, and Mike were all sitting in the living room, watching Olivia and Burke play with some toy cars when the doorbell rang.

"That must be Bill & Audra," Richie said. "I'll get it."

He walked over to the door and opened it. "Hey guys," he greeted Bill and Audra before scooping Max up in a hug. "Max-a-million, how are you, little dude?" 

Max squished Richie's cheeks together with his tiny hands. "Fishy!"

Richie immediately sucked his cheeks in to make fish faces at Max, who giggled.

"Come on in," Richie said before calling out towards the kitchen, "babe, Bill and Audra are here!"

"Coming!" Eddie replied. "Just gotta get these pies out of the oven!"

"Eds insisted on making the pies himself," Richie explained. "No store-bought pies for him."

"You don't know what kind of artificial crap they put in the fillings," Eddie said with a huff as he joined them in the foyer. "Homemade just tastes better."

"My own little Betty Crocker," Richie joked.

"Unca Ed!" Max screeched happily, reaching his little hands out to Eddie.

"Hey guys," Eddie greeted Bill & Audra before taking Max from Richie. "And hey there, Max! How are you, buddy?"

Richie grinned. It always warmed his heart to see how great Eddie was with kids. He wasn't even jealous that Eddie was Max's favorite uncle -- especially since Richie was Olivia's, much to Stan's consternation.

"Burke and Olivia are here, you want to go play with them?"

"Yeah!" Max clapped his hands.

"Sorry we're late," Audra said. "Max took a longer nap than anticipated today."

"It's fine," Richie replied. "We're all just sitting around and are just gonna order something in for dinner tonight anyway."

"We went ahead and brought the gifts over tonight so we wouldn't have as much to bring tomorrow," Bill said. "Richie, you wanna help me bring them in?"

"Yeah, sure man."

Richie and Bill walked out to Bill's car, each grabbing a box full of gifts and bringing them in.

"Hey, everyone," Bill greeted.

"So, Richie, Eddie was telling us you guys finished the baby's room," Audra said as Richie set his box of gifts down next to the tree.

"Yeah, we finished painting last week and got most of his decorations up, and the furniture was delivered yesterday," Eddie replied. "Which is good, because we wanted to finish the room before the holidays since we're going to be busy until after the new year."

"You guys went with a sea life motif, right?" Patty asked. 

"Yeah, Richie actually found this cute crib set with a bunch of turtles on it, so we centered the theme around that."

"Have you decided on a name?" Bev chimed in. "I want to get something monogrammed for him."

Richie huffed out a laugh as Eddie narrowed his eyes at him. "We're still discussing it."

Eddie scoffed. "Only because someone keeps insisting that we name him Edison!"

"Well excuse me if I want to name my son after the love of my life--"

"OHHHHKAY!" Stan interrupted. "So still working on that, gotcha. Well, now that Bill and Audra are here, how about we order some dinner? It was a long flight and I'm starving."

********************************************************************

After dinner, Richie put on A Muppet Christmas Carol for the kids to watch while the adults sat and talked.

He got up from where he had been snuggled against Eddie. "I'll be right back."

"Okay," Eddie replied.

Richie walked into the kitchen when Eddie's phone, which had been sitting on the counter, suddenly started to ring.

Without even looking at the caller ID Richie answered. "Y'ello?"

"Yes, is this Mr. Edward Kaspbrak-Tozier?" the voice on the other end replied.

"This is his husband, can I help you?"

"Oh yes…" She paused as if checking something. "Richard?"

"Yep, what can I do you for?"

"My name is Monica, I'm from the Los Angeles Center for Women. You're listed as the contacts for a Sarah Peters?" 

"Yeah, she's our surrogate."

"Mr. Kaspbrak-Tozier, I'm calling to inform you that she's been admitted to the hospital in labor--"

"We'll be right there," Richie said then immediately hung up. 

"EDDIE!" he yelled as he ran into the living room. "Sarah's in labor. Hospital. Now. Gotta go." 

Eddie looked up at Richie in surprise then jumped up. "Ok, ok, you get the hospital bag, I'll go start the car."

Richie ran upstairs and grabbed the bag they had packed for the hospital, silently praising his husband's tendency to prepare weeks in advance.

He ran downstairs to find all the Losers gathering Eddie in a hug.  

Ben pulled him into the group embrace. "Go welcome your son, guys."

"Let us know when he arrives, no matter what time it is," Stan added.

"We've got things handled here," chimed in Bev.

Richie sniffled. "Thanks, guys."

He and Eddie made their way to Eddie's Acura RDX. Not only had Richie insisted that they take his vehicle over Richie's Mustang because of course Eddie had bought the SUV with the highest safety rating, but Eddie also had a built-in knack for being able to avoid traffic on the freeway by taking back roads, so it made the most sense for him to drive. 

Plus Richie was too nervous to drive, but he wouldn't admit that. 

He ran a hand through his hair. "Sarah's not due for another two weeks, how the hell can she be in labor now?"

Eddie glanced over at Richie as he pulled out of their neighborhood. "Pregnancy isn't an exact science, Rich. It's all about estimated dates and whatnot."

"Holy shit, holy shit, we're about to have a kid, Eddie." He huffed out a breath. "A living, breathing human that we'll have to take care of and raise."

Eddie reached over and grabbed Richie's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You'll be a great dad, Richie."

They made it to the hospital in record time, Eddie throwing the car into park and grabbing the bag before he and Richie ran into the hospital.

The nurse at the reception desk looked up at them. "Yes, may I help you?"

"Yes, we're here for Sarah Peters, she was admitted a while ago? She's our surrogate," Eddie explained. "We're Edward and Richard Kaspbrak-Tozier."

The nurse typed a few keys on her keyboard. "Ahh, yes, she's in room 226. Go around to this left side and take the elevator to the 2nd floor, you'll find Labor & Delivery. Someone will check you in."

Richie and Eddie made their way to the second floor, getting passes at the Labor & Delivery reception desk.

Eddie gently knocked on the door to Sarah's room, hearing a 'come in' before opening the door. 

Richie followed behind.

Sarah sat in a hospital bed, IV in her arm and heart monitor wrapped around her stomach. She smiled when she saw them. "Hey guys, you made it."

"Hey, Sarah, how are you feeling?" Eddie asked, moving to look at the monitors. "Richie hung up on the nurse before he asked any questions."

Richie listened as Sarah explained what had happened -- she was at her sister's house when her water broke, so her sister had driven her to the hospital and would be with her while she gave birth. "Apparently it's going to be a while, so she went downstairs to get something to eat and will be back in a bit." 

A few minutes into their visit, a nurse came into the room. She stopped when she saw Eddie. "Eddie? Oh my gosh, it's so good to see you! What are you doing here?" she said with surprise and glee.

"This is my baby-- Well, my husband's and my baby," Eddie explained. "Sarah's our surrogate."

He turned to Richie. "Rich, this is Nikki, remember I told you about her? We were in nursing school together."

"Oh yeah, I remember you mentioning her. Hi," Richie said.

"Oh my gosh, you must be Eddie's husband! He's told me so much about you. Congratulations!"

"Thanks. We're very excited."

"I bet!"

Richie sort of tuned out while Nikki explained more in detail about Sarah's progression. "Ok, I'll be back in a bit to check on you, ok? Congrats again, Eddie. Richie, nice to finally meet you!"

"You too."

Shortly after Nikki left Sarah's sister, Beth, came back. "Hi, you must be Richie and Eddie. It's so nice to finally meet you two. Sarah's talked about you guys a lot."

"Thanks," Richie replied. "Nice to meet you too."

They stayed with Sarah for a few hours, stepping out of the room around 11 PM when the doctor decided to let Sarah get some rest since she hadn't progressed much.

They walked to the labor & delivery waiting area and found a couple of seats in a quiet corner.

"Um, so I guess we need to actually decide on a name," Richie said once they got settled. "I was looking online this morning and I think I found one we can both agree on."

Richie told Eddie his name choice and nervously chewed his lip while Eddie mulled it over.

Finally, Eddie nodded. "Ok. But I choose his middle name, no arguments."

Richie smiled. "Okay."

*********************************

Shortly after 6 AM, Richie was abruptly shaken awake from a doze. "Whazzat?" he mumbled.

Eddie was kneeling in front of Richie, holding 2 cups of coffee. "Rich, honey, it's time. Sarah's about to start pushing."

Richie sat straight up. "She is?"

Eddie grinned. "Yep." He handed Richie one of the cups. "Here, I went downstairs to the coffee shop."

Richie gratefully took the cup. "Oh, bless you. You're an angel, Eds."

Eddie stood up and took his seat next to Richie, linking the fingers of his free hand with Richie's. "Just think, we'll get to meet our son soon."

Richie beamed at the thought. "Still okay with the name we chose?"

Eddie nodded. "It's perfect."

About 10 minutes later, Nikki came into the waiting room and walked straight towards them. Richie and Eddie both stood when they saw her. "Is he here?" Eddie asked.

Nikki broke into a grin. "Yep, he's here!"

"Can we see him yet? How's Sarah doing?"

"Give it about 20 minutes while we finish cleaning the baby up and getting his vitals, but both he and Sarah are fine."

Eddie nodded. "Okay, just please let us know when we're able to go see him."

"Sure will. Congrats again on your baby boy, guys!"

Once Nikki had left, Eddie pulled their bag out from under his chair. "I'm gonna go clean up a bit and brush my teeth before we go see the baby. I'll be right back."

"Ok," Richie replied. "I'll let everyone know that the baby is here."

With shaking hands, he sent out a text to the Losers group chat. Guys, he's here. Eddie and I have a son!

Stan, who was usually up early even when he wasn't 2 time zones away from his norm, was the first to reply. Congratulations, guys. We'll all swing by once everyone's awake.

Ok, sounds good, Richie replied.

Eddie came back pretty quickly, so Richie grabbed his toothbrush and went to clean up as well. Not long after he came back, Nikki came back into the waiting room. "Ok, Dads, you guys ready?"

Richie grabbed Eddie's hand and gave it a squeeze. They followed Nikki back to the room Sarah and the baby had been moved to, where Sarah was holding a tiny bundle.

Sarah gave them an exhausted, but soft, smile. "Hey guys, come meet your son."

The second Richie laid eyes on him he burst into tears. 

Eddie, whose eyes were also glistening, wrapped an arm around Richie as they peered at their child. 

Sarah held the baby out. "Want to hold him?"

"Rich? You want to hold him first?" Eddie asked.

"No, you go ahead," Richie sniffled. "I'm so shaky right now that I'm afraid I'd drop him."

Eddie gently took the baby, who made a displeased noise at being disturbed.

Richie gave a watery laugh and looked over Eddie's shoulder. "Aww Eds, he's just like you -- small and angry."

Eddie gave him a fond glare as he gently rocked the baby. 

"So did you guys pick a name?" Sarah asked.

Richie and Eddie looked at each other before Eddie smiled and nodded. "Yeah, we did."

Sarah grinned at the name. "Aww, that's perfect."

Eddie turned back to Richie. "Rich? You ready to hold him?"

Richie, who had calmed down somewhat, nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready."

Eddie passed the baby to him. "Here you go, sweetheart."

Richie held back a gasp as the baby's eyes blinked open and he gave a tiny yawn. "Look, he's looking at me! Well hello there," he cooed. "Oh my God, I love you already."

He sat down next to Eddie on the couch. "Here, let me take your picture with him," Beth, who had been sitting in the chair next to Sarah's bed, offered.

Eddie handed her his phone and scooted closer to Richie, wrapping one arm around Richie's shoulder and placing the other on Richie's leg. 

Richie moved his arms so the baby's face would be in the picture and tilted his head next to Eddie's. "Our first family photo," he murmured.

Beth took several pictures -- one of Richie and Eddie looking at the camera, one of them looking at each other over the baby, and another of them both looking at the baby.

She had just handed Eddie his phone back when Richie felt his vibrate in his pocket.

"Everyone's awake," Eddie reported. "Bill wants to know if they can come meet the baby."

Richie chuckled. "Sarah? You up for our crazy family to come by?"

Sarah nodded. "Yeah, actually I'm feeling pretty good right now. I got a good bit of sleep before the baby came."

Richie watched as Eddie texted back an affirmative and the room number.

"Ok, they'll be here in about an hour. Just gotta finish getting the kids dressed and wait for Bill and Audra to pick them up."

"In that case, I'm going to run home for a bit, shower and change," Beth said. "I'll be back."

While they were waiting for the Losers to arrive, the hospital administrator came by to have the necessary paperwork regarding the baby's birth filled out. All of the paperwork regarding the surrogacy and parental rights had already been completed, so Eddie filled out the form for the baby's birth certificate, listing himself and Richie as the baby's parents. "There, now you're officially a Kaspbrak-Tozier, aren't you?" Richie cooed to his son. 

He had just handed the baby back to Eddie when there was a knock on the door.  Mike's head poked in. "Hi, can we come in?"

"Mike, hey, yeah," Eddie replied. "Come on in."

One by one, the Losers and their offspring filed in. 

Olivia ran over to Richie and plopped a small blue giraffe in his lap. "Unca Ichie, we 'bought a 'raffe!" she said.

"You did?" Richie said with faux surprise. "Is that for the baby?"

Olivia nodded.

"Aww well thank you, I'm sure he's going to love it."

"This is Sarah, our surrogate," Eddie gestured toward Sarah with an elbow. "Sarah, this is our rather unconventional family."

"Hi," Sarah said. "It's nice to meet you all."

The Losers all greeted Sarah, inquiring about her well-being before turning their attention to the baby.

"Everyone," Eddie said with a smile, "meet Edwin Richard Kaspbrak-Tozier."

Richie grinned at the collective 'aww' sounds all the adults were making.

"I absolutely love his name, guys," Beverly added then grinned. "Now gimmie my nephew."

Eddie laughed and handed him over, letting Beverly sit.

"Oh my goodness, he's adorable." Beverly looked over at Sarah. "I just want to tell you thank you. You have no idea how much we all appreciate what you've done for Richie and Eddie."

Sarah nodded. "My parents had me via a surrogate, so this is my way of paying it forward."

After everyone had a brief turn to hold Edwin, they gave Richie and Eddie hugs and filed back out silently, careful not to wake Sarah, who had fallen asleep not long before.

"By the way, happy anniversary, you two," Audra whispered as she handed Edwin back to Richie. "Looks like you guys got the ultimate anniversary gift."

She gave Richie and Eddie each a kiss on the cheek, gave Edwin one last touch on his hand, and bade them goodbye before leaving.

Richie adjusted Edwin in order to cradle him in his other arm. "Shit, Eds, in all the excitement about the baby arriving I forgot to tell you you happy anniversary. I was gonna surprise you with breakfast in bed this morning."

Eddie shrugged. "I don't know about you, but to be honest this is way better than anything I had planned in order to celebrate our first anniversary."

Richie couldn't help but smile as he looked down at his and Eddie's child. "Yeah, it really is, isn't it? Audra was right. We really did receive the ultimate anniversary gift today."

Eddie leaned in and gave Richie a sweet kiss. "Happy anniversary, Rich."

"Happy anniversary, Eds."

****************

Richie and Eddie both had cried when they arrived home with Edwin the day after Christmas and saw that everyone's gifts were still under the tree and a freshly-prepared Christmakkah dinner was on the table.

"You guys waited for us?" Eddie sniffled.

"Well, yeah," Ben had replied. "It's not Christmakkah without you guys -- and now Edwin too, of course."

They had eaten, Bill and Mike insisting on taking care of cleanup since the other, 'culinarily capable' adults had taken care of the cooking. "Nope," Bill had said when Eddie protested their refusal for help. "You guys were such a huge help when Audra and I came home from the hospital with Max. The least we can do is repay the favor."

Afterward, when everyone had gathered in the living room to open gifts, Richie had been surprised to see an extra pile of presents next to his and Eddie's.

"You guys all got Edwin something?" he said in awe.

"Of course," Stan had replied as if it were obvious. "Can't let our nephew celebrate his first Christmakkah without gifts."

Now one week later, all the Losers had gone back to their respective lives until the next family gathering in March for Max's birthday.

Richie and Eddie sat quietly on the sofa together, Richie's arm around Eddie's shoulder and Edwin fast asleep in Eddie's arms after his early-evening bottle.

As Eddie snuggled against Richie's side and they both watched Edwin sleep peacefully, Richie reflected on just how complete his life was with his husband and their son. "I love you so much, Eddie," he murmured, turning his head to press a kiss to Eddie's temple. "I'm so lucky that I get to live this life with you."

"I love you too, Richie," Eddie replied. "There's no one else I'd rather spend my life with."

If Richie sent up a prayer of thanks to a magical turtle later that night while his husband and son slumbered near him, well, that would be his secret.

[slapmeagain-blog]

COVID-19 LIFE

18 May 2020

How can it be 12 days since I last posted?  It must be the distraction of improving weather, the amount of time I am spending on the garden, and getting ready to enjoy the outdoor season: bringing all the outdoor furniture up from the basement, cleaning the porch, patio and deck, putting covers back on all the cushions, moving all the plants that have been hibernating in the sun room out of doors; ferns for the urns on the front steps, and hanging from hooks above the balustrades on the porch, potted palms next to the wooden furniture facing Pearl street.  There are the big self-watering planters filled with semi-tropicals on the deck off the sun room and the giant urns on the blue-stone patio.  New plantings in the bare spots in the flowers beds, potting a new lime tree, an on-going losing battle with crabgrass and other unworthy competitors to my lawn.  I could have a booth selling dandelion leaves for salad at the Wall Street farmer’s market on Saturday morning if I had the time.  Re-seeding bare patches under the copper beech tree and the corner near the vegetable patch, seeding herbs and greens in tiny compostable pots that have to be misted twice a day.  Cutting away dead leaves and growth from everything and moving the potted plants from beneath the living room windows to their appointed positions out of doors.  Ahh....

The weather had been so cool, damp and dreary, that I had to take matters into my own hands and say enough is enough, that it was about time we moved from bare hints of spring to full on spring mode on May 14th, mainly to keep Marco from packing his bags and moving back to Tuscany, where temperatures are already well into the high seventies and eighties.  Temperatures here rose as ordered.  We hit 80 a couple of days ago which has delayed Marco’s imminent migration.  I even enjoyed a pitcher of iced tea!

Meanwhile, in the wider world, 90,000 Americans are dead, and there have been 1,400,000 confirmed cases of the virus. 36,000,000 Americans have filed unemployment claims (Marco and I are not eligible) and armed civilian militia have overrun the Michigan state  legislature and shut down Oregon’s demanding that the governments re-open the economies. Who are these people?  They are clearly a small but vocal minority of the disparate groups of supremacists, right wing Christians, and hard line second amendment defenders who are being encouraged by the man in the white house (note to my great-grandchildren: many people in these times refuse to even speak the name of the current resident of the White House.  Something we borrowed as a form of protest from the Harry Potter novel series where people were afraid to even mention the name of the antagonist -- Voldemort.)  We’re not ‘afraid’ to mention his name, we just feel that he shouldn’t be given any form of legitimacy, not as a man, and certainly not at as a president.

Closer to home, here in Kingston, NY, a barber in a hipster-retro shop on John Street, has been cutting hair on the sly, in defiance of the shutdown, and has been diagnosed with the virus.  Officials are searching for anyone who might have had their haircut by him (eye roll). On the brighter side, Liberato (Marco’s niece's fiance was finally able to legally open his brand spanking new barber shop in San Querico (Tuscany) this week and is booked solid for two weeks -- 97 appointments.  It’s curious that the Kingston barber made international headlines.  We heard about it from as far afield as Siena (IT) and Geneva (CH, not NY!)  Most people are taking the shutdown seriously, but many are not, and it’s a very divisive topic.  One security guard was shot, in Michigan, for telling a customer to put on a mask or leave the store.  Another liquor store owner in Flint (Michigan clearly has anger management issues) was shot in the ankle for the same reason.  Many people feel that the lock down is a useless exercise, that we should just open up and get it over with.  It’s not killing as many as we thought it might, and cases have started to fall off in the worst hit places.  But the whole point was to ‘flatten the curve’ to prevent the health care system from getting overwhelmed and to protect the vulnerable.  That part has worked.  So where do you begin, and how much is enough, to get the economy started again without creating new spikes and hot-spots of the disease and risk overwhelming the hospitals?  The scientists argue that it can’t be done safely until we have tested most of the population to get a handle on how many people have already had it.  Supposedly, 60% is a magic number for ‘herd immunity,’ above which the virus will slowly die out because it can’t sustain itself in a smaller pool, but that assumes that once you’ve had it, you are immune.  The jury is still out on that.  So much information, so little reliability.  Example: Marco read in the Italian press today that the US had come up with a vaccine and was testing it.  Here, however, the medical professionals are saying we are at least a year, maybe two, away from a vaccine.  It’s no wonder people are acting crazy.  Anyone can  pretty much find someone out there who is saying exactly the thing that appeals to their fears and some of us act on those fears, with the encouragement of the 12-year old in chief, who says he is now taking hydroychloroquine, the efficacy of which is questionable and is said to have potentially harmful side effects.  A couple of months ago, a couple in Arizona took it after he touted it.  The husband died and the wife was hospitalized in serious condition.  Well, let’s hope he manages to kill or incapacitate himself soon.

That’s plenty on that topic.  I don’t know if it is because we are safely ensconced in Kingston in a big house surrounded by lawns and stone walls and flowers that I don’t feel particularly under threat by the virus.  But at the same time, I don’t feel the loss of human contact (other than with Cole, Ashe and Carter and the hugs). My time is my own, and I’m enjoying finding ways to fill it -- cooking, reading, planning for reopening my hospitality locations, gardening, studying, watching movies....  My biggest fears, really, are economic.  When this is over, what will my investments be worth, what will the townhouse in Brooklyn be worth, how will I support myself, help Marco, and leave something to my son and grand kids when I go?  Up until now those were not serious issues for me. 

 I do miss eating out in places where I know people or places where the food is particularly transcendent, but cooking at home and really investing in keeping food interesting, has been a pleasant challenge.  And as I settle in to lock down -- it’s been two months now -- I find I am seeking less amusement in martinis, mushrooms, and space cookies, and more in reading, writing, studying and cooking and actually having a schedule for those activities.  I also love the efficiency of online visual visits, both personal and for study and business.  I’m staying in closer contact with so many of my friends than I did before lockdown.  We have a call tonight at 7 p.m. with Joe and Vicki in LA which I am looking forward to, and we are doing a weekly family call on Sundays with the kids, Roy and CT in Hawaii, Maud in Brooklyn, Hedy and Firth and M and me here in Kingston.  

Hawaii, by the way, is pretty safe.  And here, in Ulster County, we’ve had fewer than 40 deaths and 1500 cases.  And considering how many people like me have fled from the city to Kingston, I’m surprised it’s not higher.  East Hampton, for example, was a hot spot because of all the rich NYC types that have homes there and left the city.  Sorry, sorry.  I promised to stop.  Times article says that wealthier neighborhoods in NYC have lost 40% of their population!  I’m so glad the kids are at our place to keep an eye on things.  And Marco’s finding a rhythm, too.  Check it out.

I finally plodded though to the end of Thomas Campanella’s book, “Brooklyn: The Once and Future City”.  It was very, very informative, even if many parts of it would be far more interesting to civic planners and architects than to casual readers, but it really did put a lot in perspective on Brooklyn’s economic and social trajectory through nearly 300 years with some interesting segues into geological formations that impact the place still today.  Sadly, as interesting and appealing a place as Brooklyn is, very little scholarly work has been done on it’s history.  Until very recently, the focus has always been on Manhattan.  It did correct a number of my own misconceptions.  Importantly, despite the fact that Robert Moses was not thrilled at the design for the proposed Dodger Stadium at the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues, it doesn’t appear that he, on his own, could have stopped it.  Research suggests that it was the disappearing fan base (fleeing the crime-ridden city in the 50s and 60s) that made the move to LA more an economic decision than has otherwise been speculated.  And I’m no fan of Robert Moses. The study group, in the end, actually wanted to put the stadium complex in Park Slope, bordered by Sterling, Bergen, Vanderbilt and Boerum Place.  What a disaster that would have been on so many levels!!  Not the least of which would have been the United Jet that crashed in that spot in 1960. And the Weisberg’s wouldn’t have been my neighbors for 34 years because their house would have been razed.

Other non-essential slightly amusing details. Deer ‘resistant’ plants are not deer ‘proof’.  And our herd doesn’t seem to be made up of fussy eaters. So, we are frustrated by the number of our plants that are being ravaged.  Apparently, based on an internet search, Marco has discovered that piss and cayenne pepper are good home garden deer deterrents!  Well...  I am putting it to the test with a mixture of BOTH.  I’ll keep you posted on results.  (I won’t go into detail on how the mixture is obtained/prepared, interesting as it may be.)  Hungry?  Peanut butter, honey and banana -- not since I was 10 years old.  Think I’ll write a kids’ Covid cookbook!

[pain-somnia]

Covenant [3/?]

Pairing: SasuSaku, ShiItaIzu (just not this chapter) Rating: M (for eventual mature content) Disclaimer Day’s Notes: hello everyone! It’s @naruto-magic-week and for Day 6 “Fantastic Beasts and Familiars” I’ve decided to updated my witch/tengu familiar AU. You guys win, this story will be a multichap. It has an actual plot now. Small trigger warning for this chapter for a small mention of CSA. Nothing graphic, just a line drop in regards to the trial mentioned in an earlier chapter. AO3 | FF | Wordpress ✴✴✴✴✴

Chapter Three: Dinner Should Be Charming

Mornings were always loud. And early.

Grumbling, Sasuke pulled his duvet over his head and turned so that he was curled inward and facing the wall. He was never a fan of mornings but the Haruno household was always lively before the sun rose into the sky.

He had barely settled again when he heard his door creak open. A few seconds later there was a pressure on his mattress near his back.

“Sasuke?” Sakura whispered. She shook his shoulder gently. “Sasuke?”

“Can I just stay here today?” He groaned. Sakura giggled and shook his arm again. Sighing, he sat up and stretched, rolling his shoulders. “No one makes Kakashi wake up this early.”

“He’s a cat, Sasuke,” Sakura deadpanned. “We’re lucky he shows up at all.”

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her and yanked on his duvet. The force flipped her off of the bed but before he could lie back down and pull the blanket over his head it vanished into thin air. A moment later the bed was gone and he dropped on the floor, his backside slamming on the hardwood floor.

“You can have your bed back later. Lady Tsunade is arriving today so we have to make sure everything is prepared at the manor.”

“She’s finally coming back?” Sasuke scratched his head, ruffling his hair.

Sasuke had not seen the High Priestess of their coven since the day he was summoned. Sakura had told them there was an emergency and he had accepted that but after weeks had gone by and she had not returned he asked for the details of the emergency. At the time he was desperate to get back home and it was getting delayed due to the fact the most powerful witch couldn’t help him because she was absent.

Lady Tsunade had been summoned by her husband, the High Priest of the Elder Coven, to take part of a council. The newly named Akatsuki coven was under investigation due to the death of their High Priest, Jiraiya.

“What was the verdict?” Sasuke had been curious about witch laws and attempted to read up on it but grew bored going through the thick, dusty tomes.

“They still have their mana sealed at the moment, but the council was forced to find them not guilty of murder. They were punished for the execution because they didn’t call for the Elder Coven which they needed to do due to Jiraiya’s status. It’s within a coven’s right to hold a trial within their own house without interference, but usually it’s not a High Priest or Priestess that’s on trial. Akatsuki had run their own investigation and trial and found Jiraiya guilty of crimes against his own coven so they burned him at the stake.”

“What did he do?”

“He was molesting underage witches in the coven.”

“Disgusting.”

“Exactly.”

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Preparations for Tsunade’s arrival mostly involved cleaning the manor and preparing her favorite dishes. Shizune went into a frenzy making sure every nook and cranny was free of dust. Kakashi had gone into hiding and had only been lured out by threat of castration which had Sasuke scurrying off to polish the floors before Shizune decided to carry out the threat to the others.

“The house is already clean, why are we doing all of this?” He was keeping an eye on Sakura as she levitated above him and dusted the chandelier in the foyer. If there was a chance of her falling Sasuke wanted to be ready to catch her.

“The Hebi Coven is coming for a visit.” Sakura cut off her concentration and plummeted into Sasuke’s waiting arms. She giggled as he scowled at her. “And High Priest Dan as well. It’s been a while since he’s been home.”

“I’ll let you fall next time,” he warned, setting her down. Sakura rolled her eyes and collected the cleaning supplies from the floor. He said that every time she decided to free fall and yet he always kept an eye on her whenever she began floating.

“There’s going to be members that are our age so that should be cool, right?”

“I don’t like strangers,” he grumbled, packing up his own cleaning supplies as well.

“They won’t be strangers after you meet them,” Sakura replied in a singsong, swinging her bucket around as she walked away.

“Don’t be a smartass.”

They were just finishing storing away all of the cleaning supplies and ready to call it a day when Kakashi rubbed his feline body against Sakura’s ankles for attention. Sasuke snatched him by the scruff of his neck and threatened to toss him out one of the windows for the second time that week for being inappropriate.

“I was sent by Shizune!”

“What does Shizune-san want?” Sasuke held onto him but didn’t pull him back inside. If Kakashi was lying he was ready to drop him.

“She needs you two to drop by the store and the bakery.” Kakashi remained calm, knowing one wrong move and Sasuke would let go. He would survive the fall but it took more energy out of him than he liked.

“But that’s so far away!” Sakura whined. “And then we would have to bring it all back?”

“She’ll compensate you for the metro fare.”

Sakura groaned but shuffled down the stairs. They could hear her grumbling all the way down.

“Are you going to let me back in?”

Sasuke looked back at him and cocked his head to the side. Sakura was really upset and she was right, it was a lot of traveling going back and forth.

“No.”

Kakashi yowled as he dropped to the ground and Sasuke locked up the window.

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“We should just, teleport all of this junk to the manor.”

Sakura pulled the foldable shopping trolley behind her. Sasuke held the door open for her and followed her into the bakery.

“Papa!” Sakura called out to her father as she passed by the rows of shelves loaded with different types of breads. “I need to place an order for a cake. And dango.”

“Mundane or magical?” Kizashi asked from behind the counter.

“Mundane, please. I would rather not have to deal with a bunch of drunk witches and warlocks again.”

As Sakura gave her father Shizune’s order, Sasuke wandered around the shop. He knew the Haruno family owned a bakery, but with all of the time he spent at Senju Manor, he had never actually stepped foot inside.

Put a pep in your step! Try a ginger cookie today, Sasuke read one of the free sample cards in front of brown smiley face cookies. He walked slowly reading all of the descriptions. There was a cookie shaped like an o-mikuji with shō-kichi written on them. Need a little luck? Try one of our tasty small blessing cookies!

“I’m guessing something actually happens if these are eaten?” Sasuke asked Mebuki who was taking inventory.

“Yep! They’re quite popular among both mundane and otherworldly customers.” Mebuki grabbed the tray of smiley face cookie samples and urged him to try one.

“I don’t like sweets,” Sasuke reminded her. It was the downside of living with a family of bakers. There was always breads and sweets available to snack on but it wasn’t something he enjoyed and he felt ungrateful whenever he declined their offers.

“Oh, good.” Sakura appeared by his elbow and grabbed a sample. “I need one of these.”

She popped it in her mouth and chewed, humming delightfully after she swallowed it. She rolled her shoulders and popped her joints.

“Oh, that feels a lot better.” Sakura grabbed another cookie and handed it to him. “Trust me, you should have one.”

What was the influence that she had over him that her mother didn’t have only seconds before her? It was the same green eyes looking up at him, but Mebuki didn’t have the cheeky grin or the giggle that punctuated her words.

Maybe it was the fact he was her familiar, but as soon as she was offering him the cookie he took it and gingerly took a bite from it.

“Too sweet.” Sasuke wanted to gag but it would have been rude. It wasn’t a bad tasting cookie, it was just too much sugar in his opinion. As soon as he swallowed, all of his previous fatigue vanished. It was as if he hadn’t spent the entire day scrubbing floors and rearranging furniture.

“But it’s working, huh?” Sakura had her hands clasped behind her back and she looked up at him expectantly.

“Yeah, yeah.” Sasuke avoided answering and grabbed a basket. He filled it with treats that Shizune had requested and read all of the descriptions along the way. “Do humans really eat these? And they don’t question the effects?”

“A lot of them think it’s only because they believe in it enough,” Sakura explained, dumping more lavender “calming” cookies into the basket than had been requested. “Trust me, we’re going to need a lot of these this week.”

“I’m going to have to develop a sweet tooth in order to deal with all of you witches. aren’t I?” Sasuke looked down at the list Kakashi had handed them from Shizune and his brows furrowed in confusion. “What do maca cookies do and why is Kakashi asking us to get two dozen of them for Kato-san?”

Sakura snatched the list from his hand and crumpled it up, face flushing a vivid crimson. She grabbed the basket of cookies and had her mother ring her up.

“What do they━?”

“You don’t need to know!”

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Sasuke pulled his arm through his haori and smoothed the front, his fingers lingering over the uchiwa kamon that decorated the black fabric and then settled on the round himo knot. It felt ridiculous packing his kimono when he had no reason to wear them but just as always, his mother had proven that she knew best.

There was a soft knock on his door that could have only belonged to one member of the Haruno family.

“Come in.”

Sakura opened the door a crack and slid in, exposing a pale leg with her movements. She was dressed in a black qipao dress with red and white feathers. Her hair was pulled into a low bun with a feather and rhinestone hairpin. The pattern paying homage to his winged form had him humming in appreciation.

“You look nice.” Sakura beamed up at him, patting down the front of his haori. “Very formal.”

“Do most events require formal attire?”

“No, we have meetings that require ceremonial robes but this is just a dinner party.”

Sakura used her cell phone to call for a lift━”We should get you a phone and put you on our plan, Sasuke.”━and they made their way to the manor. Kizashi gave them a package to deliver to High Priest Dan as an offering. Sasuke was going to have to learn about the politics of word weavers so he could properly understand the importance of Dan Kato.

“Strongest? No, it was kind of an elected position,” Sakura had explained before when she told him about the trial. “The strongest would be the Lady Tsunade, Lord Orochimaru, and the late Lord Jiraiya. Because they are all equal in strength neither one of them could lead the Elder Coven, so the position was appointed to a warlock they believed would be best for the job.”

“So how are they getting here? A portal?” Sasuke asked Kakashi as they waited in the foyer for their guests.

“No. Uber.” Kakashi yawned and yanked at his collar. Shizune had him dressed in regular fit navy blue suit with a silver tie. It matched her high collar evening tea dress in the same shade of blue with silver buttons down the bust.

The two made a nice pair but Sasuke preferred the attention to detail that Sakura had in her attire. Even if it was only symbolic to those that knew his true nature, it pleased him a bit that she had represented him and an important trait of his instead of simply stuffing him in something similar to what she owned.

The doorbell rang at seven on the dot and Shizune welcomed their coven leader who entered on the arm of a man with long silver hair.

“Welcome home, Uncle Dan.” Shizune embraced the man and stepped aside that the people following them could enter as well.

The Hebi Coven was greater in numbers than their own little coven, Sasuke noticed immediately. A person with snake like features entered the foyer with an entourage of twelve. It was no wonder Shizune had been stressed the past few days.

“Karin!” Sakura squealed when a petite girl with vivid red hair in a lavender short sleeved chiffon dress walked through the doorway.

“Please remember that my upper body strength is non existent!” The red haired girl shrieked as Sakura practically pounced on her, wrapping her arms around her neck.

“She’s going to end up breaking you, Karin.” A white haired boy in a matching button down shirt snickered, brushing past the two girls. Sasuke caught his eye and the boy’s lips stretched out into a wide toothy smile. “Thank fuck, another guy.”

“You’re wearing my present.” Karin daintily sniffed the air around Sakura, ignoring the adults that were heading to the dining room. “I wish I was here on your birthday but Kabuto dragged me out for a job.”

Before Sasuke could ask, Karin whipped out a business card from thin air and handed it to him. In a curly font her name, Karin Uzumaki, was listed and underneath it read “Founder Of All Things Lost” along with an email address and alternate instructions to drop lavender essential oil on the card for emergencies.

“Karin is an extremely gifted scryer,” Sakura explained. Karin tossed her hair over her shoulder and beamed at the praise. “Most witches need a medium like crystals or a mirror, but Karin can use the back of her eyelids. And she doesn’t just get flashes but detailed images.”

“I’m better than most oracles,” Karin bragged, adjusting her glasses on the bridge of her nose. The white haired boy stood at her elbow and coughed into his fist. “Oh, and this is Suigetsu. He’s talented at leaving puddles everywhere he sits.”

“We just met the guy and you’re already insulting me in front of him?”

“He’s my familiar.” Karin sighed and rolled her eyes. “We’ve been together almost a year now.”

“But not actually together, Sakura.” Suigetsu flashed her a flirty grin and waggled his eyebrows. The sight of his pointed teeth had Sasuke pulling Sakura back in case the teen decided he wanted to take a bite of her.

At least that’s what he told himself was the reason.

“And ‘cause he’s a male selkie he’s an incorrigible flirt.”

“Children,” a silky voice called out to them. “The adults are waiting.”

The owner of the voice was none other than the person with the slits for pupils and long black hair that matched the silkiness of their voice. The smile they gave Sasuke made the hairs on the back of his neck stand.

“Ah, a tengu. You don’t really see them in this realm anymore.” They looked Sasuke up and down before turning their attention to Sakura, their smile even more alarming than a second ago. “Very impressive, Miss Haruno. Who knew you had it in you to summon such a creature into your possession.”

“He’s not a thing, Lord Orochimaru,” Sakura muttered, averting her gaze. She tugged on Sasuke’s hand and lead him to a pair of seats as far away as possible from where Orochimaru’s place card sat.

It wasn’t until Karin gave him a strange probing look from his face to their joined hands that he reminded Sakura that he needed both hands for dinner.

“Sorry,” Sakura whispered as he gave thanks for the meal. He peered at her from the corner of his eye and noticed her gaze was directed at the head of the table where the elders sat.

The apology had nothing to do with the hand holding. There was no doubt that she was thinking about the weeks after she had summoned him and his feelings about the whole event.

“Don’t worry about it,” he muttered back, leaning over to whisper it in her ear so none of the guests could hear him.

Dinner was an odd affair. Sasuke was used to large gatherings—even larger ones with his clan—but these were strangers. There was no one he could talk with and he already made an enemy out of one of the Hebi witches by securing a stick of dango for Sakura before the witch absconded with the whole tray.

If it weren’t a formal dinner setting he was sure she would have hexed him. Unsettling smiles seemed to be a trademark of the Hebi coven.

“I’m glad we’re going back home and don’t have to deal with all of these people,” Sakura grumbled as she helped clear the dining room. She moved slowly without magic to stall having to meet everyone in the den for a nightcap. “I definitely don’t wanna be around when Anko gets a few drinks in her. Last time she holed up in Shizune‘s room the whole week and she and Kakashi butted heads for her attention.”

“I wouldn’t mind joining them. I’m eighteen now.” Suigetsu chuckled before Karin hit him with a closed fist to the back of his head. His head burst into a splash of water upon contact.

“No, orgies aren’t a witch thing,” Sakura answered Sasuke’s unasked question. She rolled her eyes at the look of disgust he had. “Anko and Kakashi are just like that.”

“How did you know what I was thinking?”

“Hm?” Sakura lifted her arms and waved her hands through some motions and the dishes started cleaning themselves. “Oh. I don’t know. I just thought that might be what you would ask.”

Sasuke crossed his arms and watched as she pointed at the dishes and they loaded themselves into the dishwasher and she grabbed glass containers to store what remained of dinner.

“I’m not reading your mind, Sasuke.” Sakura glared at him and placed the containers in the refrigerator. She flinched when she shut the door a little harder than she should have.

“Well that doesn’t help your case.”

“No, you’re just predictable.”

With a final wave of her hand the tea cups arranged themselves on two trays and she grabbed the teapot. Placing her hand on the pot, the spot she touched glowed red and the pot whistled.

“Help me with this, please? After we give them their tea we can go home. I don’t like how Lord Orochimaru was looking at you. They’re usually creepy but tonight’s definitely been the creepiest they’ve been.”

Sasuke was glad he wasn’t the only one that thought the High Priest had behaved strangely. It was already strange that they knew immediately what Sasuke was, even in his wingless form.

“You’re probably too young to know, but has Orochimaru ever had a tengu familiar?”

“Hmm? Oh, no. Their familiar has always been a basilisk named Manda. It’s why they call the coven he leads Hebi.” Sakura shivered and hugged herself. “I’ve only seen him once and just, never again.”

If what Sasuke had heard about basilisks was true, Sakura was very lucky she was still alive after an encounter with one. He could only assume that Orochimaru was a very powerful warlock to be able to contain a great snake and keep it from eating every human it came across.

That is if Orochimaru even bothered to keep his familiar from eating.

There was a chance the tengu Orochimaru had mentioned seeing in the mundane realm was Itachi. And if that was whom Orochimaru was referring to, it meant they knew who Itachi’s former warlock was.

And Sasuke was going to find out exactly who that warlock was.