#and since my aunt and uncle are leaving early in the morning to head home to FL tomorrow my mom told me to stay and hang out

[cinematicnomad]

i’ve watched glass onion three times in the last 24 hours which is a little much, even for me 😂

[marymary-diva17]

The other sully (2)

The brother and friends you had thought you will never see again had, soon return back into your life after being part for years. It had been a wholesome and sorrowful reunion. Now the other half of your family is back in your life and it was going to a journey to see where everything will stand and stay in the future.

Y/n " Raeyi"

Raeyi " yes my love"

y/n " you will be helping my brother with his lesson today"

Raeyi " yes I will"

y/n " good"

Raeyi " how do you feel with him and all of them being here"

y/n " it seems a bit uncommon that the start but I have, found the bright side of this whole situation I get them back in my life with new additions as well ... this will be good for us all in the end I know it"

Raeyi " I understand but if you brother tries anything he will face me, I will not let bring any more harm to you ma y/n" raeyi soon kissed your forehead before he soon took his leave, as you were now standing alone. A couple minutes had passed with you being alone at the moment.

????? " aunt y/n"

y/n " hello reya what are you doing here"

Tsireya " I came to see if you will love to champion or help teach the sully kids and spider"

y/n " sure I will love to"

aonung " good morning aunt y/n we ran into uncle raeyi when he came by the home, he seems very serious about your brother being here"

y/n " yes we had a talk about that early this morning no need to worry"

rotxo " Mother didn't seem happy about it last night say it could be more trouble for the clan and you"

y/n " yes it might but all will be okay in the end my loves no need to worry" the kids and you had walked towards the sully family home, neteyam had stepped outside.

neteyam " good morning aunt y/n"

y/n " good morning neteyam"

neteyam " father aunt y/n is here with tsireya, aonung, and rotxo"

Jake " hello good morning everyone"

y/n " good morning brother I have come help the kids teach your children and spider"

neytiri " that is wonderful thank you for help us"

y/n " your welcome neytiri you and your mother will be with ronal, as she will be teaching you both"

mo'at " thank you for sharing that news with us"

y/n " Jake you will be with tonowari and his brother Raeyi along with tsutey and norm"

tsu'tey " Raeyi I have heard his an amazing warrior and hunter, along with being tonowari second in commanded"

aonung " yes our uncles has been out father second in commanded since they were very young"

Jake " that good to know we had seen him yesterday"

y/n " yes and no need to worry about the rest of the clan teachers had been assigned to them"

Jake " thank you sis"

y/n " anything for family and friends"

tsireya " we can get started now if you all feel up to it"

lo'ak " sure can we dad"

spider " yes we can get have some time in the water"

kiri " I can't wait to see what the ocean has to offer"

Jake " yes you call can but please the tsireya and her brothers along, with your aunt mostly as well"

sully kids and spider " yes sir"

aonung " our mother is by the healers hut and our father along with our uncle is by the beach"

Jake ' thank you kids for the help today"

rotxo " your welcome toruk makto"

Jake " you kids can call me Jake please" the three teens had nodded their heads.

tsireya " come along we will take you to the docks"

tuk " aunt y/n are you coming with us"

y/n " I will be there shortly kiddo .... kids safe within the view of the village no where else" tuk had nodded her head and soon ran off to join the other kids.

Jake " sister thank you for doing this all for us"

y/n " you are welcome Jake tonowari will seek a meeting with you about the rda, I have help him and the other clans learn how to defend themselves so far"

Jake " we can make that happen I will offer all my help" you had nodded your head, you had shown everyone where they will be going today.

Jake " so we are doing swimming lessons"

y/n " yes you all have lived your lives in the forest and have to learn, the way of living by water like the people here do"

norm " how long did it take you as we all remember you had been, living in the forest with us"

y/n " it had taken some time for me to adapted but it had soon found my way here"

tsutey " we had been saddened among hearing that you might of been lost"

Jake " yes none of us knew if you ere alive or dead the rda seem to tell us anything"

y/n " well that was the way of the rda I had end up here"

Jake " when it good for you mind sharing with us what has happened"

tonowari " welcome Jake, tsu'tey and norm"

Jake " hello my sister was helping us get here for the lesson"

Raeyi " yes that is y/n personality always looking our for others, which has given her many praies by others"

y/n " thank you raeyi I will leave you all to training as I shall go check on the children"

tonowari " thank you" you had nodded your head and soon started walking away, exchange a look with raeyi who had small smirk on his face. You had soon walked away looking for the kids and soon spotting them.

tuk " there is aunt y/n" you had wave at the kids before you dove into the water graceful and swam towards the kids.

y/n " I came to see how you kids are doing"

neteyam " we are doing well aunt y/n"

aonung " yes they are doing well but they still some work with their breathing, right now they are compared to babies"

lo'ak " well we are doing our best"

y/n " that good enough it will take you kids some time to get use, to this new environment but in time all will be well"

kiri " I already love the ocean they are so many beautiful scenery around here, and the creatures are amazing as well"

y/n " it good you kids have been able to find some beauty to this place"

aonung " lets try something new let trying learn to ride" the kids soon went off to do something else in the end, and you had followed after them.

Aonung " when you live here you need to know how to ride" aonung and his siblings started calling the IIu that soon came, by as the swam around the kids.

aonung " these are IIu you will learn to ride them after making a bond, with them and swimming with the creature"

spider " wow aunt y/n do you have one"

y/n " yes I do" you had soon called your IIu that soon arrived as saw around you.

rotxo " we will be here to help you but take it easy no need to rush" The kids had gotten onto some IIu and were swimming around. As you are with tuk.

tuk "they are so funny"

y/n " yes they are and once you become close with one you can, have so much fun sweetie"

tuk " yes"

lo'ak " okay"

tsireya " okay now grab the handle on the saddle with a good grip"

lo'ak " got it"

tsireya " you can go if you are ready on your own"

lo'ak " I got this no need to worry" lo'ak soon made a sound as the IIu soon took off in the water and soon under, as well everyone went under to watch. Lo'ak had been doing well until he had whipped out and lost control and his bond with the IIu. all the kids were laughing at him as you stood there, shaking your head he is like Jake.

lo'ak " I meant to do that" the IIu had splashed lo'ak before swimming away.

spider " sure you did bro sure"

tsireya " well I think you did good"

lo'ak " thank you"

y/n " yes you have done a amazing job are you okay nothing hurt"

lo'ak " no auntie I'm good thank you"

y/n " your welcome"

y/n " I wonder how your father is doing"

tsireya " dad said him and uncle Raeyi are going to help him with bonding with the IIu today, before they get him on a strimwing"

y/n " that a good idea"

lo'ak " what a strimwing"

tsireya " it a creature that our warrior snd hunters ride"

lo'ak " oh can I ...."

y/n " no not until you are older"

lo'ak " really"

aonung " she says the same to me as well"

y/n " I love and care about you all fairly and equally"

kiri " what do you mean about that aunt y/n"

y/n " well if you all most know aonung, tsireya, and rotxo are my niece and nephews as well like all of you kids"

spider " all of us even me"

y/n " yes I was once friends with your mom and she told me about you"

spider " thank you for thinking about me like that"

y/n " your welcome"

neteyam " so that means you are the aunt by a friendship with tonowari and ronal or you are mates with Raeyi"

y/n " Raeyi is my mate we have been mates for fifteen years now"

kids " wow"

y/n " yes so that makes aonung, tsireya, and rotxo my niece and nephews"

tsireya " thank you aunt y/n we love having you in our family, and maybe one day you and once Raeyi will have kids of your own as well"

y/n " that day will come in time nut for now we have the family we have right now"

kids " yes ma'am"

y/n " good now come on lets get on with the lesson and if we get done we can have some snacks" the kids had nodded their heads and soon went, back to their lessons with you and everyone else. The kids had been able to build relationships with each other, which had made you happy. It was easy to see that some of the kids seem to have a closer bond as well.

Elsewhere

Jake " so these skrimwings are not something I expected"

Tsu'tey " they are not like ikrans"

norm " yes I have to agree"

Raeyi " it will take time but you all will master the ways in time"

Jake " thank you"

Tonowari " my brother is right in time you all will get it, maybe y/n can help you all learn"

Jake " oh yes my sister"

tonowari " my brother help her learn the ways and she has done well"

Raeyi " she is a good teacher but at the moment she with the children, she will take time from her day to help anyone that what we all love about her"

Jake " yes my sister is good and I'm happy to have her back in my life"

Raeyi " good" Raeyi had soon nodded his head and as he left for a bit, leaving the tiro alone to stand there.

Jake " well it seems like we will have a hard time getting along with everyone"

Tsu'tey " yes I have to agree but it seems like the youth are having better luck then us"

Norm " yes but I hope in time we can build a good relationship in end"

Later on at sunset

y/n " time for all of you children to head off home your mother, might have dinner ready for you all"

kids " yes ma'am"

y/n " good and you all did super today you have made me proud" the kids had smiled brightly toward you making you very happy. They soon waved goodbye as you had made your way home, thinking abider dinner plans as well.

Jake " hey little sis"

y/n " hey Jake how was your day"

Jake " it was good training with tonowari and Raeyi had been good"

y/n " that is super you kids have done well your son lo'ak is so much like you and kiri is much like grace .... spider take after his mother"

Jake " those words make me happy"

y/n " yes but lo'ak is your mini version and there no lying there"

Jake " I have seen and been told"

y/n " good"

Jake " I have been hearing praise about you most of the day, good job my sister"

y/n " oh is that true"

Jake " yes very true the kids had headed off home"

y/n " yes they have and so have tonowari kids as well, they all seem to be getting close so that a good sign"

Jake " yes friendships will be good during these hard times"

????" y/n"

y/n " raeyi"

raeyi " Jake sully hello"

Jake " hello"

Raeyi " this day has been very successful for us all"

Jake " yes it has and my sister has told me the children have been getting along"

Raeyi " good my niece and nephews will be great friends to your group children"

Jake " I should be getting home if I'm late neytiri will be mad at me"

y/n " get home safe brother"

Jake " should I make sure you get home ...."

Raeyi " I can walk her home from her Jake as we have some thing to talk about this evening maybe over a meal"

y/n " I will love too"

Jake " then I leave my sister to you raeyi make sure she gets home safe, she my family or we might need to fight"

Raeyi " i and your sister have a great relationship I will make sure no harm comes to her"

Jake " thank you" Jake soon walked away leaving you and Raeyi together, you soon looked and your mate and smile a bit. As he was trying not to chuckle right now. The both of you soon headed home and had a good meal together, the day had been very beneficial in the end for everyone and start of many relationships as well.

[siren-tale]

one week

pairings: lawlu, corazon x oc

w.c: 5.2k (whoops??)

a/n: the adorable rocy belongs to @sen-ya and their lawlu family au, but i just couldn't get this idea out of my head <3 domestic family stuff just gets me :')

“Dad, do I have to stay with her?”

Law sighed. That was all he had heard from Rocy these last few days. It was all “Can’t I just go with you and Pops?” or “Why can’t I just stay here with my uncles?” or some other suggestion. He understood her hesitation, of course. He was dropping her off with someone she had only met a few times throughout her life, after all. 

“Yes, Rocy. It’s only for a week.” He replied, watching the small girl as she pouted on her bed, arms crossed in indignation. She looked far too much like Luffy when she got all moody, which always made it harder to say no to her. “C’mon, kid, don’t give me that look…”

“But Dad!” Rocy groaned, throwing herself backwards with a huff. The clothes Law had neatly folded for her fell to the ground from the force at which she hit the bed. She hadn’t had a stubborn fit like this in a while… and based on some of her other behaviours, it seemed like she was worried about something

Law sat down on the bed beside her, reaching over to brush the hair out of her face. “Rocy, talk to me. What’s going on?” He muttered softly, heart hurting at the little frown on his daughter’s face. She was usually such a smiley, happy kid, taking after her Pops in her ability to seemingly always find a way to have fun.

“...Why’re you and Pops sending me off to some stranger?” 

Law frowned as he gently combed his fingers through Rocy’s hair. It had been exactly as he suspected. She was scared. Scared to be left alone with someone she had never met- or, more accurately, someone she couldn’t remember meeting. “Harmonia isn’t a stranger, Rocy. She’s my mom, and your aunt.”

“That doesn’t make sense, Dad.”

“I know, baby-tang.”

*ೃ༄

Day One

“Pops! I don’t wanna go!” 

Luffy snickered as Rocy draped herself over his head. Her striking golden eyes met his, unruly strands of dark hair tickling his nose. He had a firm grip on her legs as he carried her around the Polar Two, as she clambered over his shoulders.

“It’s only a week, Rosie, you’ll be fine! You’re a big girl now- it’s like your first big girl adventure!” Luffy smiled at his daughter, ducking down so he could pass through the doorway without hitting Rocy’s head. The early morning sun washed over them as they stepped out onto the deck.

The Polar Two was docked off the coast of Dressrosa, a place that no longer filled the pirates with dread. Over the years since Doflamingo had been taken down, Dressrosa had returned to its former glory and had become a far more pleasant place to visit. It had also become Harmonia’s new home once she retired.

Rocy blew a raspberry in her Pop’s face, sitting back upright on his shoulders. “I don’t wanna go on an adventure without you and Dad…” She sighed, slumping sadly against Luffy’s head. “What if my aunt is super mean and boring and doesn’t like adventures? I don’t want a week of doing nothing.”

‘I don’t think you want a week of whatever me and Dad will be doing, either.’ Luffy thought. 

The whole reason they were dropping Rocy off with her aunt was because it was their anniversary, and despite having never made a massive deal out of it before, they had been convinced to go on a week-long vacation, just the two of them. In fact, it was Harmonia who had gifted them the all-expenses-paid trip, and offered to watch over Rocy for the week.

Law was already on the dock, carrying Rocy’s bag over his shoulder as he talked with his crew. They knew how to operate the Polar Two without him, but he still couldn’t leave without giving them his usual list of rules. As Luffy and Rocy joined them on the dock, the girl reached out to her uncles.

“Uncle Penguin, Uncle Bepo! Save me! Don’t make me go!” She whined, ignoring the insulted exclamation from Shachi as he wasn’t asked for help. Her uncles fought back the urge to laugh at the girl’s complaints- she whined the same way Luffy did when he had to go his separate ways with Law.

Much to Rocy’s disappointment, her uncles didn’t stop her dads from walking away from the dock, making their way into the main city of Dressrosa. The entire time, Rocy stayed on her Pop’s shoulders, whining and complaining about her dads ditching her. Law and Luffy shared a look of fond exasperation (or amusement, in Luffy’s case) as they listened to her.

“Law!”

The pair stopped their movements at the familiar voice, Law glancing around for the source of the voice. When he spotted the older woman, his expression softened, lips curving up into a smile. It had been too long since he’d seen her. He had missed her.

“Hi, Mom.”

*ೃ༄

Trafalgar R. Harmonia, once known as Donquixote Harmonia, was a kind and loving woman. Law adored her and was so grateful to be her son. His adoptive mom had been his safe place for years, his main source of comfort and safety, and the protector of his heart until he had entrusted it to Luffy.

It had been a few years since she had seen her son, son-in-law (a title that had always amused her, considering, well, you know-) and niece/grandaughter, and every time she saw them again, she was always taken aback by how big they had gotten. The last time she had seen Rocy, the girl had only been about four years old and it had only been a brief visit. Now, that little girl was eight years old and looked so much like her fathers.

“Hi, Rocy.” Harmonia knelt so she was closer in height to the kid, offering her a warm, comforting smile. Call it mother’s intuition, but she could sense the girl’s wariness and reluctance. “You probably don’t remember me, but I’m your Aunt Harmonia. I’m really happy that you’re going to be staying with me this week.”

When Rocy stayed silent, refusing to look at her aunt, Law sighed, reaching over to ruffle her hair. He gave his mom an apologetic look, but she just shook her head, dismissing the apology with her understanding. She knew how to deal with closed-off, nervous kids- she had raised him, after all.

“I know you haven’t been away from your dads or their crews before, but I promise, you’re going to be safe with me, okay?” Harmonia assured the young girl, hoping to assuage some of her fears. “And I’m sure your dads will call every night- they’re gonna miss you just as much.”

Rocy looked to her dads for confirmation of Harmonia’s words, hope shimmering in her wide eyes. Law and Luffy nodded, grinning at their daughter. Of course, they would call her! As if they’d leave their little girl for a week and not contact her. Law didn’t know if he’d even be able to survive a week without talking to his Rocy.

“See? You’re gonna be just fine, Rosie!” Luffy picked up his daughter, hugging her tightly, arms wrapped around her multiple times. She shrieked in delight at the tight hug, little legs wrapping around her Pop’s torso. “You’re gonna have so many adventures to tell us about every night!”

The two more energetic Trafalgars smiled and giggled between themselves as Harmonia stood beside Law, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. She could read him like the back of her hand and she knew he was terrified of being separated from his daughter, regardless of how much he trusted Harmonia to take care of her.

“Sprout, I know you’re worried, but you’ve got to relax. This week is for you and your husband. Rocy is gonna be okay.”

Law affectionately rolled his eyes at the nickname he just couldn’t shake off, no matter how old he got. He glanced at his mom, taking in everything that had changed about her since he’d last seen her. She had more wrinkles, especially around her eyes, and silver strands mixed in with her brown hair. She still had the same style of round glasses, her fashion sense hadn’t changed a bit, and she still wore her wedding ring, even if her husband had been dead for almost thirty years now. She was still his mom.

“Torao! C’mon, we gotta go!” 

Luffy snapped him out of his thoughts, blinking himself back to reality. He gave a firm nod, even if he wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to his mother and daughter just yet. As Luffy gave Rocy his goodbyes, Law held Harmonia in a gentle embrace. “Thanks again, Mom. Love you.”

“I love you too, sweetheart. You two have fun, okay?”

As Harmonia let her son go, Law was almost toppled over by Rocy as she ran to hug him. He picked up his daughter, holding her close to him. He had planned to remind Rocy of how she should behave for her aunt, to remember her manners and be kind to Harmonia, but all he could do was just hold her tightly, squeezing her softly. “Seven days, baby-tang. We’ll see you in seven days.”

*ೃ༄

Day Two

“Good morning, Rocy.” Harmonia greeted the little girl as she stumbled into the kitchen. Harmonia almost melted at the sight of her niece dressed in one of Law’s shirts for pyjamas, with messy bed hair, as she yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “Did you sleep well?”

“I guess…” Rocy mumbled, hopping up on a stool at the kitchen island. Various plates of food were laid out in front of her, all filled with delicious breakfast foods. Rocy looked over the spread, feeling her hunger growing, but frowned when she couldn’t find what she was looking for. “...There’s no toast.”

Harmonia paused, blinking in surprise. “O-oh, gosh, sorry- a bit of a habit from all the years with your dad.” She chuckled. Apparently, the distaste for bread had not carried through the Trafalgar genes. “I don’t have any bread currently. Perhaps we can go into town today and get some from the bakery?”

“Yeah, sure.” Rocy shrugged, filling her plate with the other foods available. She ate in silence, as did Harmonia when she realised she wouldn’t be getting a word from the younger girl. Harmonia was deep in thought- from everything Law had told her, Rocy was a wild, rowdy kid, with endless energy and quite the chatterbox. That was a far cry from the girl sat before her, but hopefully, Rocy would warm up to her over the week.

She figured if she could get a kid like Law to trust her, it shouldn’t be too hard.

After breakfast, Rocy went back to her room to get changed while Harmonia washed the dishes. Following her usual routine, she removed her wedding ring, placing it in the heart-shaped dish she kept on the shelf. If there was one thing Harmonia refused to do, it was risk losing or damaging her ring. It was so precious to her; her most treasured belonging.

After drying the last dish, she picked up the ring again, lifting it to her lips to press a soft kiss to the golden gem adorning the silver band. She was unaware of the little girl standing in the doorway, watching the tender exchange as she slid the ring back on her finger, a longing sigh leaving her lips.

*ೃ༄

“What’s caught your eye, Rocy?” Harmonia asked, glancing down at her niece as they walked through the streets of Dressrosa. Rocy had suddenly stopped in her tracks, eyes locked onto something she had seen in passing.

Following her line of sight, Harmonia spotted a toy store, painted with bright colours, dolls and blocks and wooden ships in the window. But right in the corner of the window display was a massive plush bear- a polar bear specifically. The older woman chuckled. “Ah, it’s like Bepo, isn’t it?”

Rocy’s eyes shot up to her aunt with surprise. “How do you know Uncle Bepo!?” The little girl exclaimed, gaping up at her in shock. She was still young, and Law hadn’t told her the long, detailed past of him and Harmonia and the Heart Pirates. As far as she was concerned, Aunt Harmonia existed in a different world from her uncles aboard the Polar Two.

“Your dad never told you?” Harmonia asked in curiosity, as she changed their course from the bakery to the toy store. Her niece deserved to be spoiled, and that’s just what she was going to do. “I used to be a Heart Pirate.”

Her words left Rocy in shock and awe, a shine in her eyes as she stared at her aunt- her aunt, who used to be a pirate, sailing alongside her dad and uncles. How had her dad never mentioned this before? She had thought her aunt was kinda lame and overly sweet, but this changed everything for the young girl.

The bell dinged as the two of them entered the store. Rocy looked around at all the toys with wide-eyed excitement. She had never seen so many of them in one place before! But, despite all the cool toys, her eyes were just drawn back to the massive polar bear plush.

“Do you want it, Rocy?”

A few eager nods and a toothy smile later, Rocy was walking through the streets carrying a bear bigger than herself.

*ೃ༄

Day Three

Rocy’s energy picked up the next day. She was all smiles during breakfast, happily chewing her toast as she told her aunt about all the dreams she had about going on adventures with her dads and their crews.

She let out her boundless energy by playing in the river outside Harmonia’s cottage as her aunt tended to the garden. After a few hours, Rocy grew tired and the air grew colder, the girl shivering as she bundled herself up in a towel. 

She walked over to her aunt, curious about what she was doing in the garden. Before she could ask, she stopped in her tracks, watching as a pale green glow came from Harmonia’s palm, and the droopy leaves in front of her sprung up, dull colours brightening.

“Woah!” Rocy exclaimed loudly, startling Harmonia. “You can do things! Like Dad and Pops!”

Harmonia smiled at the girl’s excitement, beckoning Rocy over to her side. “You wanna see?” She asked, immediately being met with frantic nods. “Alright, give me a flower. Anyone you want.”

“A sunflower! Dad says they remind him of Pops!”

Endeared by the sweet reason behind her choice, Harmonia held out her hand for Rocy to see, the pale green glow returning. From her palm, a small sprout grew, becoming taller, until it bloomed into a full sunflower. It was smaller than a typical sunflower, about the size of a daisy.

She plucked it from her hand, letting Rocy admire it before she tucked it into her niece’s hair, brushing some strands behind her ears. It was a sweet and gentle gesture, filling Rocy with a warmth she had never felt before.

“There we go! How pretty; it matches your eyes.”

Rocy had tackled Harmonia to the ground in a tight hug before she had even finished her sentence.

*ೃ༄

Day Four

“Hey, Aunt Harmonia?” Rocy asked, glancing up at her aunt as the older woman helped wash her hair in the tub. “Dad says you’re his mom, but also my aunt, but I still don’t get it… how does that even work?”

“Well…” Harmonia sighed softly. How did she approach this? She didn’t even know how much Rocy knew already. How much had Law been willing to share? “Has your dad told you about Corazon?”

“Uncle Cora? Mhm. Dad told me a little bit.”

“Well, your Uncle Cora i- was my husband.” Harmonia mentally scolded herself for the foolish slip-up. Almost thirty years since his passing, longer than they had even known each other, and she still struggled to talk about him in the past tense. “Which makes me your aunt.”

“Was?” Rocy asked innocently, golden eyes blinking up at Harmonia. “Is he not your husband anymore?”

“No, no, he still is. In my heart at least.” Harmonia’s eyes drifted over to the vanity, where another little tray sat, holding her wedding ring so it wouldn’t scratch Rocy while she was bathing. “Uncle Cora passed away, a long time ago. Long before you were born.”

Harmonia saw Rocy deflate a little, curious expression dropping into a small frown. Perhaps this was too heavy a topic for a child. She would be sure to apologise to Law when he came to pick her up in a few days…

“Oh… I’m sorry, Aunt Harmonia.” Rocy placed a little hand atop Harmonia’s, squeezing it slightly, the same way her dad would when she was sad. Smiling sadly, her aunt turned her hand over so she could hold Rocy’s properly, grateful for the young girl’s gesture of comfort. “But then why are you Dad’s mom but Uncle Cora isn’t his dad?”

“That’s because I only adopted your dad after Uncle Cora passed away.” She hummed, gently tipping a cup of water over the back of Rocy’s hair to wash out more of the shampoo. “Your dad has had years to get used to calling me mom, and seeing me as his mom, but he didn’t get that with Uncle Cora.”

“Do you think if Uncle Cora was alive, he’d be Dad’s dad?” Rocy asked, her young mind trying to comprehend her strange family tree. Every question answered just led to two more popping up in her head.

“I’m sure of it, Rocy.” She nodded, which left the girl satisfied, her smile returning. When she went home, she’d have to ask her dad more about Uncle Cora and Aunt Harmonia. Her attention was quickly returned to her aunt by her next words. “Say, did you know you’re named after Uncle Cora?”

“Huh? Really?”

“Mhm. Rocy is short for Rocinante, which was Uncle Cora’s name, too.”

Harmonia had grown fond of Rocy’s wide-eyed expression of curiosity over the last few days, finding her never-ending onslaught of questions endearing, and a sweet reminder of her early years with Law, when he bombarded her with questions about medical practices and the remedies she made with the herbs she grew.

The bath water had long since gone cold when Rocy finally decided she had asked enough questions and hopped out of the tub. Rocy sat wrapped in a towel as she waited for the Transponder Snail to ring, eager to have her nightly call with her dads. As curious as she was, however, she decided to save any questions about Uncle Cora for another day.

*ೃ༄

Day Five

In the early hours of the day, before the clock had even reached 2 am, Harmonia was awoken to soft sobs coming from down the hall. Any tiredness was immediately overwritten with concern as she made her way to Rocy’s room.

Pushing open the door, she saw the girl curled up against her large polar bear plush, sobbing into its white fur. Harmonia’s heart ached. The poor thing was probably homesick, desperate to see her family again.

“Rocy?” She called out quietly, taking a few steps towards the bed. The little girl looked up at her, eyes red and watery as she sniffled. “What’s wrong, petal?”

“Had a nightmare… I miss home… and Dad and Pops…”

Harmonia nodded in understanding, sitting down on the edge of the bed beside her. She gently stroked through Rocy’s hair, humming softly to her as her sobs settled down to sniffles. Rocy shuffled over, laying her head on her aunt’s lap, letting Harmonia wipe away her tears.

“Do you wanna go back to sleep, Rocy?” Harmonia was met with a desperate shake of Rocy’s head, giving a very clear answer. “Alright. Well, do you want me to show you something?”

That caught the girl’s interest, as she gave a small nod. Harmonia smiled, using the end of her sleeve to wipe Rocy’s nose. She could handle a bit of snot on her clothes- her niece was far more important.

“Okay. Grab a warm coat. It’s a bit chilly tonight.”

*ೃ༄

Using the thick vines clinging to the side of the cottage, Harmonia helped Rocy up onto the roof. She held her waist gently, helping keep the small girl on her feet. Once Harmonia was on the roof too, she took Rocy’s hands, gently leading her to a flatter section of the roof, coated in a thick moss. She sat down on the moss, Rocy in her lap, both of them cozy in their winter coats.

“Here, give me your hand.”

Rocy placed her hand in Harmonia’s, who folded her fingers over until she was making a pointing gesture. Harmonia directed Rocy’s finger towards a corner of the sky, pointing at a cluster of stars.

“You see those stars there?”

Rocy nodded, curling closer to Harmonia as a gust of wind cooled the air even further. It was just a clump of stars to her… She didn’t understand what her aunt was trying to show her. 

“It just looks like a bunch of stars, right?” Harmonia asked, to which Rocy responded with another nod. After her nightmare earlier that night, she wasn’t in a talkative mood.

“But… if you just connect the stars up like this…” Harmonia gently moved Rocy’s hand, her pointer finger drawing imaginary lines between the stars. Rocy followed the movement of her finger, drawing out the lines in her head, gasping softly when she saw what Harmonia was making. 

“It… it makes a heart!”

Harmonia smiled softly at the girl, pleased to see her relaxing after her nightmare. She brushed through Rocy’s hair, using her powers to speckle some tiny sunflowers in her messy locks. “Exactly. Whenever I’m sad and missing your dad, or Uncle Cora, I come up here and look for the heart in the sky. It’s like a permanent reminder of them, one that’ll never go away.”

“Can we find one for Pops, too? Can we make a straw hat in the sky?” Rocy asked, beaming up at her aunt. “Please, Aunty Nia?”

“Of course, Ro.”

*ೃ༄

Day Six

“Aunty Nia!” Rocy came running into Harmonia’s study, a large folder in her hands. Her aunt bookmarked her page, looking up with a smile as Rocy ran up to her desk, dropping the folder in front of her.

Harmonia moved her jars of herbs and vials of medicine aside, her smile brightening as she realised what Rocy had brought in. “Where’d you find this, Ro?” She asked, as if the folder wasn’t always in an easily-accessible place.

“It was on the bookshelf, next to all the Sora comics!”

There was a row of her bookshelf dedicated to her family. When she had moved to the cottage and retired from piracy, Law had asked her to take his collection of Sora comics- or, at least, the ones he was less likely to re-read over and over- so they’d be kept safe. And besides all the comics, and the dark red hood with hearts on the end, was a folder, filled with photos she had taken over the years.

“Would you like to look through it with me, petal?”

“Heck yeah!”

Rocy practically tugged Harmonia to the living room, plopping down on her lap as soon as she had sat down. She opened the photo album, looking over the first pages of pictures, all of which were childhood photos of Harmonia herself. Rocy flipped to the next page, head tilting to the side in confusion. “Who’s that?”

She was pointing at a photo, clearly torn from some other piece of paper. It depicted a blonde boy, about fourteen years old. He was dressed in a Marine uniform, a stoic expression on his face. The photo had red hearts scribbled all over it, making Rocy snicker.

“That, Ro, is your Uncle Cora,” Harmonia explained, gently brushing her fingertips over the old photo, the edges having yellowed over time. God, she could remember it all like it was yesterday, back when she was fourteen, realising she had a crush on the cute Marine boy her uncle introduced her to.

“Aunty Nia, is this you and Uncle Cora getting married?” Rocy pointed to a photo of Harmonia and Corazon, smiling at each other with pure love in their eyes, under an archway of flowers and ivy, weaved together. There was a series of photos following that one, capturing the exact moments of Corazon tripping backwards, taking Harmonia down with him. The series ended with a photo of the two of them, laughing on the ground together.

“Mhm. That was thirty-four years ago…”

They continued flipping through the pages of the photo album, Rocy now and again stopping to ask questions about the backstory of the pictures. Her favourite was the one of her dad and uncles, much younger, standing proudly in front of a shining yellow submarine- the Polar Tang.

There were a few that must have been taken during Harmonia’s time as a Heart Pirate, of the whole crew partying or cuddling up with Bepo, or having fun on a day off. More pages down, photos with the Strawhat crew started appearing, with a lot of candid photos of Law and Luffy. Harmonia practically had their love story photographed.

Reaching the last few pages, Harmonia sighed lovingly as she saw the photo she had of Law and Luffy and a tiny, newborn Rocy. She treasured that photo. It captured the gentleness of the two men that few ever saw. Of Law, her son’s, soft and loving smile as he gazed down at their perfect little creation.

Rocy had liked that photo, but she found the one of her one-year-old self sleeping on her Uncle Bepo like he was a bed, blanket pulled over her and everything, with Uncle Penguin and Uncle Shachi sleeping against the mink too, even better. Seeing her love of the photo, Harmonia slid it out of its protective sleeve, offering to frame it for the girl.

Rocy had nodded, before asking if she could take some photos to add to her aunt’s album.

*ೃ༄

Day Seven

Her bags were packed, her room tidied up, and now she just had to wait for her dads to come pick her up. She was so excited to see them again, but she would miss her Aunt Harmonia. Despite her hesitance at first, she had grown to love her aunt so much. Now she understood why her dad had spoken so highly of the woman; she was wonderful.

The sun was setting outside as her seventh day with Harmonia came to an end. She was waiting on the couch, giant polar bear plush beside her, watching out the window for any sign of her dads.

Harmonia was cleaning up after their early dinner while baking some treats for Rocy to take back to the crew. She had connected herself to some of the flowers outside, so she could sense when her boys showed up.

Half an hour later, she felt two presences appear outside, a smile forming on her face. She looked over at the girl who was intently staring out the window, knowing how eager she was to see her favourite people in the world. 

“They’re here, petal.”

Rocy was out the door in an instant, sprinting down the dirt path to meet her dads halfway. They spotted her at the same time, faces brightening into smiles. Luffy went to bound over to his daughter, but Law had already replaced the rocks in front of Rocy with himself, wrapping his little girl in the tightest hug ever. Luffy wasn’t far behind, stretching his arms out to wrap around both of them.

“Hi, baby-tang.” Law greeted her with a happy sigh, as if a lifetime of worry and stress had faded away just from the feeling of holding his precious girl in his arms again.

Harmonia watched through the open door, heart warming at the beautiful scene. Law deserved this. He deserved this life full of love and family, and she was so grateful to be a part of it. Law glanced up, catching her eye, giving his mom a soft smile. She waved at him, before sliding her ring back on and heading outside to greet her family.

Rocy was already asking her Pops about what they had done on vacation, leaving Law and Harmonia to speak between themselves. She greeted Law with another warm embrace, able to physically feel the lack of tension in his shoulders. “So, did you two have fun?”

“Yeah, it was nice to just get away for a bit. How was Rocy?”

“Oh, Ro’s an angel, Law. Took a bit to warm up to me, but once she got comfortable, she was such a delight. Just as loud and wild as you said, but I swear, her energy is infectious. We had a lot of fun.” Harmonia assured Law, before reminding herself to inform her son of the tougher conversations that had come up. “We talked about Corazon. A few times. I hope that’s okay.”

“Of course it is, Mom. I figured it would come up, anyway.” Law muttered softly, knowing how delicate this topic could be. “Corazon was- is family. He’s Rocy’s family, too.”

Harmonia hugged Law even tighter this time.

*ೃ༄

“I cannot believe she let you get this.” Law deadpanned, as he carried Rocy’s giant polar bear back to the Polar Two. Deep down, he knew that he probably would’ve bought the damn bear too. He just couldn’t refuse when something reminded him of Bepo. “I should’ve known she would spoil you.”

Luffy laughed loudly at the grumbles of his husband, carrying Rocy on his shoulders again. Their daughter giggled, resting her head atop Luffy’s as her exhaustion caught up to her. Both men knew she’d be out like a light before they even made it on board.

“So, Rosie, did you have fun?”

“Mhm. Aunty Nia is the best.” Rocy sleepily nodded, yawning in the middle of her sentence. “Can I stay with her again soon? I really love her.” She mumbled, eyes drooping shut as she nuzzled into her Pops’ hair.

“Yeah! Maybe we can all stay with her next time?” Luffy suggested, glancing over at Law. He knew how badly Law missed his mom while out at sea, so maybe adding a more frequent trip to visit her would be a good idea. “What do you think, Torao?”

Law glanced between his husband and their little girl, expression softening at the sight of Rocy’s sleeping face, buried in Luffy’s unruly hair. To think, he once tried to push everyone away, so afraid of losing anyone else. He was forever grateful to his mom for showing him he wasn’t cursed, that he could let people into his heart, that he could love and be loved in return. He had rebuilt his family from nothing, and she had been the start of it all.

“I think more family vacations seem like a great idea.”

[fancyfeathers]

@zainiscompletelydone333 asked a question

ok so aside from the general "kids running away" story line i wanna make some extra headcanons if you don't mind author <3 Marguerite grows up loving outdoors. horseback riding, shooting, archery. mostly manly things. she has this weird FOMO and general desire to hate conformity that either comes from her aunt or father. she wears rather manly clothes and the people at gatherings are scandalised. albert doesn't care, he's proud his daughter can piss off the people he despises <3. although he draws the line at things that damage her health, like smoking. she was 7 when she tried to sneak in her father's room to try the open bottle of wine he left for a moment. Louis was more mortified than albert lol. tries to follow moran and james around, begs jack to teach her his ways, and occasionally meets herder to fix her guns. hyacinth used to have a crush on fred growing up, it largely had to do with the flowers he put in her hair. to hyacinth, everything in the world is too fast and quick and she feels like her fatigue makes her left behind. she grows to like fred becuase his nature is proof that being out of the loop or disconnected from society, or even people, isn't necessarily bad. it means you can appreicate little details and things. you can stop and ponder the intiricacies of things....leading her to take a liking to things like craftsmanship and fashion design. i think she has an artistic eye when it comes to her garbs, and believes her clothes and elegant get up will compensate for her rather, quieter nature. she wants to be flashy like her mother, but her personality doesn't allow it, so she constantly remains in this "i am better becuase i take time to appreicate little thins but i am not interesting enough like my mom or sister so i try on pretty dresses with an artistic expression so people will notice". despite her low energy, she has a temper and can shout, or resort to drastic measures easily like her father when overwhelmed due to keeping most of her feelings hidden. but she's very calm and witty, and knows how to make everyone laugh, even her 🩰 aunt and fred! even william or louis can't help but break out a chuckle when she makes fun of some rotten noble in a witty way though i don't know which of the twins will be more atached to their mother and which will be more to their father

Father Like Daughter (Yandere William James Moriarty and his darling having a genius daughter)

Oh my goodness yes!! Like I imagine that that the two are still insanely close despite their differences, like taking walks together, horseback riding, sneaking into their father’s study and stealing a bottle of wine (but only on evenings when Albert is not home and one of them will distract Louis while the other one snags it). I imagine that even in their teenage years that they share a room together and many nights Albert or someone else in the house would have to tell them to be quiet because it is nearing the early house of the morning and they need to sleep as well, and normally this is Marguerite keeping Hyacinth awake and her father is very cross by this because it is bad for Hyacinth’s health (then god forbid if their Uncle Louis is the one who caught them awake).

Then Marguerite, I imagine her being quite similar to her aunt, Albert’s darling’s sister who is married off to Mycroft Holmes, having a very brash personality and having opinions and doing this that put her on the outskirts of society. She is very similar Eloise from Bridgerton except her father very much approves of her personality and will probably teach her many things himself, though I imagine that he would leave shooting lessons for someone who is much more capable like Moran but will probably chaperone since it is Moran. I also have a very funny picture in my head of Jack teaching her self defense or something along those lines but she can never beat him in a fight, and one day when she lost she just hears clapping and in the doorway is her twin sister with the smallest of smirks on her face.

“Very gracefully done, sister.”

“Oh fuck you-“

“Marguerite Francesca Moriarty! Mind your language!”

“Oh he used your full name, you are in trouble.”

Her father was in the hallway, Albert cannot stand his children swearing.

Meanwhile I imagine Hyacinth and Andrei are rather close as well, imagining they both have an interest in the arts, taking her to go see plays and view galleries. She has horrible social anxiety and watches while her mother and sister can talk to people but when a stranger approaches her she gets horrible anxiety and runs off to hide behind someone like her father. She is extremely insecure about her condition and will often withdraw herself so it will never get in the way, she wants to be apart of things but can never push herself to do so. I imagine a lot of the time where the family goes out to attend social events that she forces herself to be awake and active for much of it as to keep up with her brother and sister, ignoring the pain in her joints and muscles, but eventually her father will notice…

“Louis, can take Hyacinth home? I think she is getting quite exhausted.

“Father, I am fine-“

“And you are a horrible liar, you get that from your mother.”

I think her enjoyment for fashion comes from the times she would stay home from events because of her lack of energy, I imagine her sitting in the garden while Fred is working and looking through old photographs from when her mother was in the marriage market before she married father and she would wear beautiful dresses that her grandmother, the twins’ great grandmother, who lived in Paris would make for her and send out to their granddaughter for her to wear. Then when her mother and father would return home from their outing she would ask her other about them and in that moment there was a light in her mother’s eyes before she took her daughter’s hand and les her up to her and Albert’s shared room and took out a trunk from the back of the closet and opened it and inside where all the dresses and jewelry she used to wear that her grandmother made her. So she finds a new hobby in repairing these dresses while her family is on outings she cannot go on, I imagine they end up looking like dresses from Bridgerton. So when she goes out to high society events she can handle, all eyes are on her, because while the dresses are dated for the time they are absolutely beautiful, intricate and detailed, catching the eye of many young men her age, after all it is considered quite attractive to have a wife with such an eye for detail. Though while Albert his daughter is finding herself through such expression, he is not so happy of the attention it brings.

(I made a Pinterest board for Hyacinth (link))

[melanieph321]

Ruben Dias x Reader - Set Me Free Part 6/15

Part 7 and 8 are already out on my Patreon for Free!

+18

Ruben and Carla have grown apart. With Rubens career taking off he leaves Portugal to live the life of his dreams, breaking Carla's heart doing so. Years later, upon his return home, Ruben learns that Carla has moved on, happily engaged to another man, but not any man, Ruben's childhood bully João Mendes.

Enjoy!

Christmas, three years ago,

It was still early in the morning. However, Carla's father entered the kitchen to see his daughter already up and about.

"Carla, what's this?"

His eyes widened at the state of the room. Wrapping paper lay tossed onto the kitchen floor, along with men's shoes and clothing.

"Pai, you're up! Good morning."

Carla barely threw her father a second glance, as she was too invested in the activity of wrapping more gifts.

"What has happened to my kitchen?" Her father exclaimed. All he wanted was to make a fresh cup of coffee. But how on earth would he even make it to the kitchen counter with all the unwrapped items on the floor?

"Oh, sorry." Carla said. "I'll clean it up once I'm done."

"But querida, why are you wrapping more gifts? I thought your mother already put everything under the tree last night?"

"Yes, but those gifts are for uncle Martin and aunt Carolina."

"But my dear, why do you feel the need to spoil your cousin this way? I thought we all agreed to cover your cousin's tuition fee for flight attendant school as a Christmas present this year?"

"Pai," Carla chuckled. "These gifts aren't for Maria."

He scratched his head. "No, who are they for then?"

"They're for Ruben."

"Dias?"

"Yes."

Carla had been so excited leading up to Christmas. She hadn't seen Ruben in months since her decision to move back home from England. Their talks over the phone just wouldn't do anymore, so when Ruben told her that he was coming home for Christmas, Carla was simply over the moon, rushing to buy him gifts.

"Carla?" Her father said, clearing his throat. He had fallen silent for a moment, regarding his daughter with a troubled expression. "Are you sure he is coming?"

"Of course." She chuckled. "Ruben is coming for Christmas, he said so himself."

"When?"

"What do you mean?"

Carla paused the gift wrapping, noticing the look on her father's face.

He cleared his throat once more.

"When did he tell you that he was coming, since neither your mother and I have been informed."

"Yeah, sorry about that. I was so wrapped up in buying him gifts that it must have slipped my mind to tell you."

"I see." Her father muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing." He waved.

"No, tell me dad. What's wrong?"

"It's nothing querida, I just don't want you to be disappointed again."

Carla's parents were accepting of her and Ruben's decision to try long distance, however, it wasn't the first time that Ruben promised to come visit for the holidays but ultimately failed to follow through. And each time left Carla heartbroken, leaving her family to pick up the pieces.

"Dad, don't worry. Ruben has been very busy lately, I told you how life was when I was living with him in Manchester. However, he is coming home for Christmas" She assured. "He is probably in the air on his way here as we speak."

Carla's father sighed but cleared a path as he made his way across the kitchen. He patted his daughter's head, planting a soft kiss on top of it. "Okay, querida. If you say so. Your mother and I just don't want to see you get hurt again."

"I won't be Pai, don't worry"

Worry.

Days passed and Ruben was nowhere to be seen. Carla was a nervous wreck, constantly checking her phone for any sign of him. She was starting to worry that he had changed his mind again. Christmas Eve was about to be Christmas day. After spending the day helping her family feed the less fortunate, Carla took it upon herself to drive to Ruben's to see if he for some reason had gone over there without notifying her. Perhaps he was jet lag, exhausted from his two hour flight from Manchester to Portugal.

"Senhora Dias?"

"Senhora Dias?"

It was all in vain. Ruben's parents' house was found empty, their car gone from the driveway. Carla was starting to feel a bit embarrassed, having once again fallen for Ruben's empty promises. Carla didn't know how much of it she could take anymore. Maintaining a long distance relationship was simply tearing her apart from the inside out.

"Carla? What's the matter?"

Carla returned after taking the long way home, her car radio on full blast to tune out her sobbing.

"H...he's not coming, is he?" She sniffled, terrifying her mother at the door.

"Minha querida."

Carla's lips tremble from holding back the  tears. Her mother was quick to pull her into the house and in for a hug. The rest of her family were poking their heads out from the living room to see what's the matter.

But then, the doorbell rang.

"It's him!"

Carla's heart skipped a beat as she rushed to the door, hoping against hope that it was Ruben. And when she opened the door, there he was, standing tall and handsome in his full grown beard, like her very own Santa Claus.

Ruben had a big smile on his face. "Merry Christmas, babe," he said, sweeping Carla into a hug. "I'm so sorry I'm late but you know how my mother is."

"Bernadette!" Carla's mother exclaimed. Ruben's mother appeared in the door.

"Gloria!"

The two women embraced each other as Ruben's mother entered the house followed by Ruben's father and brother, who looked miserable carrying big bags of...

"I hope you don't mind, but we brought gifts!"

"We were out shopping all day." Ruben smiled. "I got something for everyone."

Carla was over the moon. She had never been so happy to see anyone in her life. She had been dreaming of this moment for so long, and it was finally here. She forgot all about her family's skepticism and just enjoyed the moment, basking in Ruben's embrace. It was the best Christmas Eve in Carla's life, with all of her and Ruben's family members gathered.

"I missed you."

Ruben stayed with Carla for the night, holding her close, serenading her face with kisses.

"So much." She whispered.

They lay in the dark with Ruben on top. His breath was heavy against her skin, the panting increasing with the pressure of his cock against her pelvis.

"Ruben, tell me you'll never leave me."

"I'll never leave you." He kissed her neck, moving on to bury his face between her breasts. They were naked under the sheets. Skin against skin.

"Promise me." She gasped.

Ruben lifted his head, a smile on his lips. His hands searched for hers in the dark, pinning them above her head. "I've already made my promise." He said, fiddling with the ring on her left finger. "You're mine forever Carla."

"Forever?"

He bent down and kissed her. "Forever."

Carla wanted to be sure, sure that Ruben would always come back to her no matter what.

"Fuck." He groaned, his cock aching to be inside of her.

"Put it in." She nodded. "I'm ready."

"I didn't bring anything." He said, thankful that the sheets prevented the tip of him from slipping inside of her. He was leaking already.

"I don't care." Carla said. "I want you like this, now."

Ruben paused all movement, raising himself to his elbows to meet her eyes below him. "Are you sure?"

Her tongue swiped across her bottom lip. "I'm sure Ruben. I want you."

He hesitated, but the ache between his legs was unbearable. Carla didn't make it easy for him to resist her either as her legs spread, inviting him to place himself between her.

"Fuck, Carla." Ruben rolled his hips until his cock aligned with her entrance. Carla's thighs wrapped around his waist, locking him in.

"Please." She begged.

Ruben was conscious for the first few strokes, but quickly went under her spell as the demon inside of him took over. He fucked her raw that night. Perhaps not their most gentle encounter. Either way, Carla was determined....determined to have Ruben's child.

Part 7 and 8 are already out on my Patreon for Free!

[saiilorstars]

Ch. 36: Worldwide Mayhem

Fandom: Harry Potter (Hogwarts years 1-7) Pairing: Draco x OFC

taglist: @ocappreciationtag @arrthurpendragon @anotherunreadblog  @maaaaarveeeeel @stareyedplanet @foxesandmagic @kmc1989

​​​​Story Masterlist // Romina’s Masterlist

Fanfic • Ao3 • Wattpad

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

Romina wasn't ashamed to say that she liked the act of revenge...but she also hated karma. Because karma now made it so that instead of getting letters from Draco constantly begging her to change her mind about their bet, he was now sending her letters of him boasting about his triumph over her. She owed him a favor and he was making sure that she remembered. Romina hated his guts and wished she could see him again just to smack him. She didn't stay silent, no way. She responded to each of his letters with her own comebacks and promises that she would get him back for all this mess.

Arden saw some of those letters one afternoon in Romina's bedroom. Romina was going around packing a few things in a suitcase while Arden laid on the former's bed reading the letters like they were hers.

"You guys are so competitive, truly not well for your health," she remarked.

Romina scoffed. "Stop reading those, they're not yours."

"Au contraire, mon cheri," Arden said, raising her head for a moment to flash a smirk at Romina. "Like my French?" Romina rolled her eyes and returned to her closet.

Figured I should learn some since you're French now."

"Technically speaking, I've always been French, I just didn't know about it. Now would you please put those letters away? If aunt Sage or uncle Lyonel see them, they'll find out about everything."

Arden figured Romina was right and folded the letters again. "So what have you been telling them since these letters started showing up so often now?" She slid the envelopes underneath Romina's pillows.

"Nothing specific. Lots of people write to me so it's not like they suspect anything." Romina came back to the suitcase on the foot of her bed and slipped in another pair of jeans. "The only owl they recognize are my grandparents', Rolf's and the Weasley's."

"Ooh, better for us, I guess. We'd be dead if they figured out what we made Draco do. But I guess the punishment came with it, huh?" Arden let out a dramatic sigh. "We can never tell anyone about it. Harry would've loved it."

Romina nodded but, unlike Arden, she wasn't that sad they couldn't tell Harry about it. Harry would have had a field day with the idea of Draco being forced to spend an hour in the muggle world. It was just best to keep the animosity between him and Draco as low as possible.

"So, when are you leaving then?" Arden said as she peeked inside Romina's suitcase. "Are you and Harry going together to Ron's?"

"Er, no," Romina gave a shake of her head. She left her packing and walked over to her window that gave a view into the street. She couldn't of course get a good sight of Harry's house but she still tried. "Ron's dad is coming to pick him up at the Dursleys'."

"What?" Arden made a face, confused. "Why?"

"Well, the Dursleys are already on the fence about all the magic stuff so aunt Sage and aunt Lyonel want to stay out of it. Better for me to quietly make my way to the Weasleys'."

"Guess that makes sense," shrugged Arden.

"So I'll be leaving tomorrow morning instead, stay with them for a few days and then come back home. Harry'll stay at the Burrow until school starts again."

"Oh, good for him," Arden nodded. "Make sure to tell me how it goes then."

"Are you sure you don't want to come?"

"Nah! Just have fun and definitely stay away from Pansy Parkinson if you see her."

Romina laughed.

~ 0 ~

It was too early. Way too damn early.

Why'd I even say I was coming? The same thoughts ran through Romina's head while she mindlessly ate her breakfast at the crack of dawn. You don't even like Quidditch that much! Why'd you say you were coming? She barely registered aunt Sage telling her to be on her best behavior before she was shuffled into the fireplace. It was just so early.

Yawning and with her eyes half shut, she stepped into the Weasley's overwhelming living room and right into another mess of people being woken up and yelled at by Mrs. Weasley. Apparently, a lot of the others were thinking like her in that it was too early to be doing anything. It also sounded like the twins were already up to something.

When Mrs. Weasley saw Romina standing in front of the fireplace half asleep, she greeted the girl with a tight hug and guided her to the kitchen where the others were.

"When'd you get here!?" Harry said excitedly.

"Uuh, couple...minutes ago..." Romina yawned and languidly sat down in an empty chair. "Remind me again why we have to be awake so early? I hate you for making me come."

Across the table, the twins scoffed and reminded her that she'd chosen to come.

"Shut up," Romina then said and thanked Mr. Weasley, who sat at the head of the table, for inviting her over. "I just don't like mornings...or dawn..." She said after, making the adults chuckle.

Since she had already eaten breakfast, she got to lay her head on the table and take a short nap while the others finished. She was rudely awoken when Mrs. Weasley started yelling at the twins again about some things she pulled out of them with her wand.

"We spent six months developing those!" Fred shouted indignantly as the little things, which looked a lot like candy to Romina, went flying straight into the trash bin.

"Oh a fine way to spend six months!" Mrs. Weasley snapped. "No wonder you didn't get more O.W.L.s!"

"I'm confused, what were those?" Romina said, standing up as the others were doing the same around the table.

"We'll tell you later," Hermione said as she quickly pulled Romina with her.

They grabbed their rucksacks and headed out. Romina tugged her sweater closer around her because the air was still ever so cold. They had just made it over the crest of a hill when someone called for Mr. Weasley.

"Arthur! It's about time, son!"

"Amos!" Mr. Weasley greeted as he led the group towards another man waving at them. "This is Amos Diggory, everyone. He works for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. And I think you know his son, Cedric, right?"

"Hi," Cedric greeted them all with a kind smile. His eyes landed on Romina specifically, to which the girl smiled right back. She still remembered his kind words about her from the last time they'd spoken. Unlike the rest of the school, he didn't look at her name, just her.

"Long walk, Arthur?" Mr. Diggory asked as Mr. Weasley.

"Not too bad," said Mr. Weasley. "We live just on the other side of the village there. You?"

"Had to get up at two, didn't we, Ced? I tell you, I'll be glad when he's got his Apparition test. Still . . . not complaining . . . Quidditch World Cup, wouldn't miss it for a sackful of Galleons — and the tickets cost about that. Mind you, looks like I got off easy. . . ." Mr. Diggory took a look at the crowd of teenagers around Mr. Weasley. "All these yours, Arthur?"

"Oh no, only the redheads," said Mr. Weasley, pointing out his children. "This is Hermione and Romina, friends of Ron's — and Harry, another friend—"

"Merlin's beard," Mr. Diggory's eyes widened as they landed on the brunette in question. "Harry? Harry Potter?"

"Er — yeah," said Harry, shifting on his feet. Oh, how he adored being the center of everyone's attention...

"Ced's talked about you, of course. Told us all about playing against you last year. . . . I said to him, I said — Ced, that'll be something to tell your grandchildren, that will. ... You beat Harry Potter!"

"Harry fell off his broom, Dad," said Cedric, who looked slightly embarrassed. "I told you...it was an accident..."

"Yes, but you didn't fall off, did you? Always modest, our Ced, always the gentleman . . . but the best man won, I'm sure Harry'd say the same, wouldn't you, eh? One falls off his broom, one stays on, you don't need to be a genius to tell which one's the better flier!"

Cedric looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here right now.

"Think we should keep going or something," Romina cut into the conversation and tapped a finger against her non-existing watch on her wrist. It prompted the two grown men to keep leading them towards the portkey.

"Life saver," Cedric mumbled to her as he walked alongside her.

"You're welcome. You can pay me back later," she chuckled.

They eventually came to the spot of the portkey, which turned out to be an old boot.

"You just need to touch the Portkey, that's all, a finger will do—" Mr. Weasley started explaining to them as they gathered around it.

Even then, with all the focus in the world, their landings were less than graceful. A full cake of grass met most of their faces. But, at last, they were a massive field that stretched God knew how long. Tents by the thousands were already standing in place.

"You alright?" Cedric, who had landed on the ground perfectly like his father and Mr. Weasley, held a hand out to Romina on the ground.

"Oh yeah, no way better to start the day than with a face full of dirt..." Romina grabbed Cedric's hand and was promptly pulled up to her feet. "Does wonders for my skin. Muggles pay for that, you know."

Cedric chuckled. "No they don't."

"Yes, they do. It's called a mud mask."

Their conversation was cut short as they were once again shuffled towards some way by the adults. As they reached some cottage, the Diggorys parted ways with them. It was then that Hermione and Ginny came to flank Romina.

"Uuh, when and how did you manage to pull that?" Ginny's voice was sharp with curiosity as they watched the Diggorys' figures disappear in the distance.

"Excuse you, he's like 4 years older than you," Romina snorted. "Down, Ginny." The redhead rolled her eyes. "And it's not like that. Cedric's very nice and he was still like that while almost everyone else was making fun of me for my name."

"Yeah, but I bet it's always a pleasure to spend time with a guy like that," Hermione smirked. "You were walking very close to each other, and the whole time too!"

Romina rolled her eyes. "You couldn't be more wrong. He's cute but that's about it."

"Oh please," they heard one of the twins scoff up ahead.

"Don't start," Ginny warned them, "You're just mad that Cedric beat Harry in that Quidditch game at school."

"It wasn't a clear win and everybody knows it!" George said with a huff.

"Well, as long as you're not bitter about it," Romina muttered.

After meeting with some poor obliviated Muggle by the name of Mr. Roberts, they were set to find their rented tent in the fields. Everyone who was already there was clearly in the party mood. Music played loudly in the air, people flew back and forth above them on brooms, and there was a strong scent of various foods being prepared.

The inside of their tent turned out to be far bigger than what it appeared on the outside. It was a splash of color everywhere, almost like the entire rainbow had thrown up inside. Mismatched furniture adorned the area but it all looked incredibly comfortable.

"Girls. Choose a bunk and unpack," Mr. Weasley instructed them. "Ron, get out of the kitchen we're all hungry!"

The twins had made themselves comfortable at the kitchen table, feet propped up and arms behind their heads. "Yeah get out of the kitchen Ron!" They chorused together.

Mr. Weasley walked past them, motioning to their feet. "Feet off the table!"

"Feet off the table!" They repeated, pulling their feet off until their father left.

"I love magic," Harry remarked with a light chuckle.

"Harry!" Ron called as he made his way to the other side of the tent. "You can sleep over here!"

Harry nodded and made his way to the bunk to unpack what he had brought. From their spot, he and Ron could hear the endless giggles of the girls not too far from them.

"Listen to them," Ron said, crinkling his nose, "Bet they're going on about Diggory."

"Sheesh, Ron, didn't know you could be that jealous..." Romina had come out of their side to smirk at the ginger.

"It's not jealousy, it's annoyance," said Ron in a mutter.

"Don't know about what since Cedric's literally never done anything to you. Is there any dinner yet? I'm starving!" And with that, Romina headed into the kitchen.

In the next half hour, the rest of them came to join for some makeshift dinner. It was there that they decided to nitpick the latest news they had discovered, which, unfortunately, meant Romina had to answer a lot more questions about her new family.

"So does this mean you're going to get snooty now that you have more class, Aline?" Fred asked and before Romina knew it,George was at her side, feigning a dramatic bow.

Romina sighed heavily. "Knock it off!" She shoved George away from her and ignored their collective laugh."Shut it, both of you," Ginny told the twins and ordered them to sit down already.

"In reality, we're very happy for you, Romina," Hermione smiled at the girl. "It must be wonderful to have more family. You even have cousins now!"

"Yeah, Rolf is really great," Romina nodded. "I'm excited for this year. We get to see each other all the time and we might even make plans to visit each other at our homes. Rolf wants to see the neighborhood."

"Just keep him away from our block," warned Harry. "Dudley's a menace."

"Yeah, well, I'm a bigger one," Romina said promptly and with a wide smirk. "Besides, maybe with a little help from two certain entrepreneurs, I might get my hands on some enlargement toffees or something...?"

The twins smirked on the spot and declared that it would be their pleasure to assist her in any future plans she had.

~ 0 ~

Many things had happened by the next day's morning. For one, they had all met Ludo Bagman, aka the man who had given Mr. Weasley the extra tickets that allowed them to come. He wasn't very impressive, at least not to the girls who thought it was a waste of time placing bets and all on the outcome of the game. Since the twins had placed almost, if not all, their winnings, they promptly told the girls to mind their business. Ron's older brothers had come to join them by lunchtime. Bill and Charlie were very much cool and fascinating to the teenagers, save for Percy of course. He was still a stickler as ever.

They had also met Barty Crouch, Percy's boss. Harry had quietly made the joke to the others that Mr. Crouch looked like his uncle Vernon in the suit he was in. Before Percy could get at any of them, Mr. Crouch had called him forward, albeit by the name of Weatherby, which then made all of them, but no one more than the twins, cackle.

Once it was finally time to go, the group got themselves ready and headed out. Every other wizard on site was heading in the same direction, making an absolute chaos. The closer they got to the stadium, the more excitement could be felt in the air. Wizards were laughing, joking, and cheering all around.

Romina was momentarily drawn to the pretty lights in the air that, if anyone asked her, resembled a lot like the twins' fireworks they had talked about earlier. She wondered if they had managed to sneak those in from home. In her distraction, she'd been bumped into by several of the other guests.

"Eughl, watch it!" she scowled at the rude group of teenage girls who, as pretty as they were, seemed like the biggest bunch of—

"Well, well, well, who do we have here?"

Romina recognized the voice before she turned around. She couldn't miss the bright blonde hair hair in the midst of the crowd. "Hey," she greeted Draco with a deadpanning look.

"Lost, Oswell?"

"I know exactly where I am, thank you very much. I'm at the World Cup, aren't I?"

Draco rolled his eyes but he still had a cocky little smile on his face. "I see we're still a little, uh, pressed about that thing that happened?"

"No, I'm totally fine. I was actually heading up with my friends—"

"What a coincidence, so was I," Draco said and a few seconds later, Romina heard someone else through the crowd.

"Malfoy, what the fuck? You left me behind and for what?" Theodore Nott was quite literally pushing his way through the crowd until he spotted Draco and Romina. "Oh, Oswell, what a surprise."

"Hi," Romina gave him a weak wave. She hadn't seen him at all through break but like the rest of the boys, he'd also grown several inches over the break. "Am I to expect Blaise and Angel too?"

"Nah, Angel's gone for Brazil and Blaise couldn't come," said Theodore. "Our families were invited by Cornelius Fudge," he gestured between himself and Draco.

"Congrats?" Romina said questioningly.

"Don't be sarcastic now, I'm not your enemy," Theodore said with a smug smirk.

Romina figured Draco must have already told everyone by know about their second bet.

"But trust me, I'm your biggest fan," Theodore said, bringing a hand over his chest. "Getting Malfoy over here to actually go to your muggle neighborhood was gold. Truly never letting that go."

And just like that, Romina liked Theodore again. "Well, it was one of my finest moments..."

Draco glared at them both. "Shut it," he ordered them. "Before my parents hear—"

But just like before, Romina couldn't not spot the same bright blondes in the crowd growing closer. "If you want things to stay quiet I suggest you stop talking," she told Draco quickly before his parents caught up with them. It wasn't just them, though. Romina spotted another man walking with them — tall and with a familiar complexion. It had to be Theodore's father.

"There you are," a woman whom Romina presumed was Draco's mother said to him and Theodore. "You got too far ahead."

"Sorry mother, we just saw a friend of ours," Draco said and motioned to Romina who, for some reason, was flushing. He gave her an odd look for it but didn't point it out.

"Hello," Romina greeted the woman, and the rest of the adults for that matter. "Romina Oswell, nice to meet you, ma'am." Her eyes flickered to Theodore's father and gave him an acknowledging nod.

"Yes, we've of course heard of you," Draco's mother smiled politely at the girl. "Narcissa Malfoy, my husband Lucius and our good friend Mr. Theodore Nott."

Romina's eyebrows raised at young Theodore and just as her lips quirked upwards, she felt the subtle nudge of Draco's elbow beside her. Better not make a comment, she reminded herself. At least not until we're alone. "It's very nice to meet you."

"Nice to see you again as well," said Mr. Malfoy, with a strange smile. "I heard you're associating yourself with a new family? We didn't know you were part of the Scamander family."

"Truthfully, neither did I," Romina said nervously. She wondered exactly how far this news was reaching.

"Well, a word of advice, I would be careful where you shop," Mr. Malfoy's strange smile grew wider. "The Scamander family is renowned for its heroic acts. Unfortunately, I don't believe they would be as understanding as we are."

"Definitely not," agreed Mr. Nott. "It's about agility, Miss Oswell. Something you have yet to master."

Romina couldn't help but gulp. She looked at Draco accusingly.

Mrs. Malfoy suggested they start heading up towards the stairs with the rest of the crowd. While the adults took the lead, the teenagers lingered a few feet behind them.

Romina could only wait so long before she threw her accusations out loud. "You git—you told?"

"Don't look at me Oswell," Draco was quick to say. "I didn't know you decided to make conversation with the actual owners of Borgin and Burkes! Who does that?"

Romina pursed her lips. That may have not been her best idea, she could see that now. "But you didn't have to tell!"

"I didn't!"

"Nobody had to," Theodore said, making Romina's head flip in his direction. "Our parents do trade with the owner. He's a chatty old man."

"So he's blabbing that I went in!?"

"Well, it's not like any of your crew ever go in there, right? Nobody's ever gonna know."

"Yeah, lighten up, Oswell," said Draco. "Everyone upheld their end of the deal. Enjoy the game already. Even from where you're probably gonna watch it. You know you could've just asked, right?"

Romina didn't care much for his smirk and picked up her pace. "I've actually got a great seat. And I should catch up; I've wasted enough of my time with the likes of you." With a huff and her nose in the air, she walked faster up ahead until she was lost in the crowd.

"Does she even know where she's going?" asked Theodore curiously. "I doubt she's ever been to something like this."

Draco shrugged. "Let her get lost."

"Oh, please," scoffed Theodore, "I'm sure there'll be somebody more than willing to help her find her way again." At Draco's questioning glance, Theodore just shrugged. "She looks different, don't you think?"

"I think she looks the bloody same," Draco said flatly. "Definitely the same type of annoying."

"Well, I think Angel would agree with me," Theodore said with a knowing laugh.

Draco did not laugh, nor did he say anything else on the matter.

~ 0 ~

When Romina caught up with the rest of her friends, they were already sitting down on the first row of the top box. Mr. Weasley expressed his concern for her lack of prescence when they had first arrived, and she apologized for getting distracted.

"Please just make sure to stick with one of us, alright?" he made her promise that she would for future moments.

She scooted towards the end where Harry, Hermione and Ron were. They were as concerned as Mr. Weasley had been, curious of where she'd gotten to. Romina glossed over it and soon noticed that there was another house elf sitting at the top of the box with her hands covering her face. It sure helped move things along because Hermione started raging again about how insensitive it was to force a house elf afraid of heights to sit on the highest box in the stadium. Winky, was the elf's name, and she was adamant that she was a good elf who followed orders, unlike one Dobby who, apparently, was demanding he be paid for his service. Romina thought it was funny but didn't dare say it out loud in front of Hermione.

The box was nearly filled, amongst them with the Minister of Magic himself Cornelius Fudge, and the Bulgarian minister as well (who didn't speak English). Romina soon saw problems when the Malfoys and Notts arrived at the same box. It seemed like Fudge was oblivious to the tension between Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy as he addressed them both in casual greetings.

It was a tense stand-off between them as Fudge showed them to their seats which, of course, happened to be behind theirs. Romina looked over her shoulder as both Draco and Theodore sat down behind her.

"This is going to be a long night," she murmured.

"I'll say, your big head's in the way," she heard Theodore remark behind her, followed by the distinctive sound of Draco snickering.

She shot them both a contemptuous look then flipped her head again to face the field. She felt Hermione's hand come over hers on her lap; she was offering Romina a kind smile. It definitely helped.

The game started promptly with Ludo Bagman's arrival. The whole stadium erupted at his introduction, making it a colorful array of flags throughout the whole place. ""And now, without further ado, allow me to introduce . . . the Bulgarian National Team Mascots!"

"I wonder what they've brought," Mr. Weasley wondered curiously and leaned forward in his seat. "Aaah!" He suddenly pulled off his glasses and gave them a good polish with his robes. "Veela!"

At his exclaim, the teenagers saw what seemed like a hundred of these "veela" glide out into the field. Most of them had never seen "veela" before but they turned out to be very pretty women with white-gold hair and shining skin. A sweet melody started playing with their entrance.

"Woah, what the fuck are you doing, Harry Potter?" Romina didn't hesitate to rip the brunette away from the wall of the box and right back into his seat. He seemed to be transfixed by the sight of the dancing veela.

"They're so pretty Rom..." He said much too eagerly.

Romina exchanged glances with Hermione and Ginny who seemed about the only ones out of their group not to be losing their minds. Ron looked ready to make a dive into the field as well. The twins had the same stupid dreamy grins on their faces. Romina looked back at Draco and Theodore and saw them leaned forward with similar dazed faces.

"Honestly!" Hermione shook her head at them all.

Romina decided to flip her hair over her shoulders in such a dramatic way that it slapped both Draco and Theodore in their faces. "Oops!"

"What was that for?" Theodore leaned back in his seat with the biggest scowl on his face.

"Oswell being dramatic, I'm sure," Draco said and matched Romina's glare with his own. "We were having a good time, you know."

"Oh, we know," she said with a roll of her eyes. "Idiots, all of you," she murmured and fixed herself in her seat. She was very glad when the veela left the field.

"And now, kindly put your wands in the air . . . for the Irish National Team Mascots!"

Fortunately, the Irish did not have any Veela as part of their introductions. They had lovely green and gold comets zooming around the stadium that hurtled towards the goal posts. A rainbow appared to connect them and soon disappeared, leaving a great shimmering shamrock in the sky.

"Excellent!" Ron cried as the shamrock rained gold coins down on them.

The closer the shamrock was to them, the more clearly they could see that it was actually comprised of leprechauns. Everyone around the stadium scrambled to pick up the golden coins being left behind, including Ron who gave Harry a fistful of them and cried about a christmas present or something.

"Here Oswell," Draco dropped some of the coins over Romina's shoulder. "Maybe you could buy yourself one of those little dried fruits you like so much. Or maybe you could buy one for your Weasley group. They might need it more."

Romina grabbed the coin and tossed it over her shoulder, hitting him in the face with it. She could hear Harry and Ron snickering beside her. "I think I only need one coin to make 'em laugh, so thanks. Theodore, you want one too?"

"I'm good, thanks," said Theodore with his hands in front of him.

"Smart." Romina then held up another coin for Draco to see and raised an eyebrow, silently asking if he wanted another one to his face.

His response was a deep glare.

Ludo started introducing the Bulgarian team now. Ron was very happy about his favorite player, Viktor Krum. He was over the moon really. After the Irish team was brought on, Ludo introduced the referee who then officially started the game.

Though Romina wasn't a huge fan of the sport, she knew a good game when she saw one. These players were clearly professionals as they literally zoomed by after the balls, dodging them and throwing them. They were fast.

The Irish made a goal first. The leprechauns happily rose into the air again and formed a glittering shamrock for their team.

Later, the Iris had made two more goals, leaving the Bulgarians to race to catch up. And soon, they scored their own goal too.

"Fingers in your ears!" Mr. Weasley warned the group as the veela started to dance in the air.

This time, most of the boys stayed bright as ever now that they knew the veelas' tricks. Romina laughed as Harry re-opened his eyes; she supposed it was a good way to ensure that he didn't fall under the veelas' charms.

The bulgarians stayed in control of the quaffle, but now it seemed like the teams' seekers had spotted the snitch. Krum and Lynch zoomed after it like they were diving. Hermione screamed that they were going to crash down on the field. Krum pulled out at the last second, but Lynch went straight down.

It's time-out!" yelled Bagman over the stadium, "as trained mediwizards hurry onto the field to examine Aidan Lynch!"

It was a lot of back and forth for a while, with many more fast-paced tricks from both teams. It got to the point where the referee intervened, which then caused more problems that brought on both sides' mascots. A battle enraged between them involving not so kind words from the leprechauns and more charming dances from the veela.

Romina and Hermione, and Ginny, were not impressed by the sight.

When the game was finally started again, the teams were more furious than ever with their attempts to score. Romina was sure there was a lot more foul play now than anything else. The mascots started again, with the leprechauns forming one giant hand that was very keen on showiing its middle finger.

This time, Romina couldn't help but laugh.

The veelas lost it and went straight for the attack, throwing fire at the leprechauns. Their beautiful figures morphed into very nonhuman features with cruel-beaked bird heads and scaly wings bursting from their shoulders.

While Ministry wizards tried breaking apart the mascot fight below, the game was still going on above. Back and forth went the quaffle, scores being made on both sides. However, with more foul play, one bludge slamming right into Krum's face and breaking his nose. Even then, the game still went on. At some point, the irish seeker Lynch had spotted the snitch and took a nose dive for it. Krum went after him and somehow, Lynch managed to crash into the field yet again only this time since the Veela were still around, they stampeded around him. Krum took possession of the Snitch, but the Irish had still won the game.

"KRUM GETS THE SNITCH — BUT IRELAND WINS — good lord, I don't think any of us were expecting that!" Bagman said what most of them were thinking.

"What did he catch the Snitch for?" Ron said in the midst of his excited bouncing with applause. "He ended it when Ireland were a hundred and sixty points ahead, the idiot!"

"He knew they were never going to catch up!" Harry had to shout to be heard amongst the applause of the stadium. "The Irish Chasers were too good...he wanted to end it on his terms, that's all!"

"He was very brave, wasn't he?" Hermione leaned forward and watched Krum land to be surrounded by mediwizards. "He looks a terrible mess. . . ."

"This was the most chaotic game I have ever seen," Romina remarked with all the tude of someone unimpressed.

"It's the only game you've seen," came Draco's remark from behind.

Romina spun around that time and swiped some golden coins off the ground to chuck at his face. With all the buzz and excitement of cheers, nobody really noticed her antics. It wasn't until Bagman started re-introducing the teams that Romina gave up and turned back with her friends to continue clapping.

And of course, once the game was truly over, and Bagman was no longer talking to the stadium, Fred and George Weasley were scrambling to his seat with wiggling fingers and wide grins.

~ 0 ~

Later on in the evening, celebrations were still going strong in almost every part of the tents. In the Weasley Tent, the twins were dancing ridiculously in the middle while Ron went on about Krum to the others.

"There's no one like Krum. He's like a bird the way he rides the wind. He's more than an athlete, he's an artist!"

"Think you're in love Ron?" Ginny snickered when Ron hopped onto a chair to make his words better heard.

The twins started mocking him with their version of a song. "Viktor I love you! Viktor!" Even Harry joined in.

"When we're apart my heart beats only for youuu!"

Hermione and Romina shook their heads disapprovingly but nobody could take away their laughter, not when Ron looked so heated.

"Sounds like the irish have got their pride on," Fred remarked after a particularly loud burst from outside.

Mr. Weasley suddenly came running into the tent looking quite frantic. "Stop! Stop it. It's not the irish. We've gotta get out of here. Now!"

The group all looked at each other in concern and with a bit of fright. What could be happening at a time like this? The more they listened, the clearer things got. It no longer sounded like cheering and singing outside. Romina heard distinct sounds of horrific screaming.

Mr. Weasley was quick to get everyone out as he threw out a handful of instructions. "Stick together. Fred, George...Ginny is your responsibility!"

"But what's happening!?" Each of them would ask until they were shoved outside and could see for themselves.

The air was filled with smoke from ongoing fires. People were running all over the place, screaming, as one identifiable group in pointed hoods and flaming torches wrecked the place.

"What are they doing?" Romina was horrified when she saw four bodies in the air being controlled by the same group. She recognized the man as the same muggle they encountered yesterday — Mr. Roberts. With him was a woman and two small children, all with the same terrified faces.

Mr. Weasley, Bill, Charlie and Percy emerged behind them from the tent, wands at the ready. "We're going to help the Ministry!" Mr. Weasley told the teenagers. "You lot — get into the woods, and stick together. I'll come and fetch you when we've sorted this out!"

"Romina, let's go!" Hermione called frantically, trying to tug Romina's arm.

"But—it's a family!" Romina bit on her bottom lip so hard she drew blood in a matter of seconds. The family were muggles, so the hooded group had to be…

"ROMINA!" Hermione finally screamed and yanked Romina with her in a hasty run.

Romina swallowed hard and focused on the rhythm of her running. She couldn't afford to fall and get trampled on. But with so many people doing the same thing, she was bumped and crashed into so many times it was a miracle she hadn't already fallen. She grew alarmed when she no longer saw bright red hair ahead of her anymore.

"Hermione, where are the others!?" she shrieked.

Hermione seemed to be making the same realizations as her face grew more and more pale. "I don't know!"

"What about Harry and Ron? Where are they!?"

"I don't know!"

"Great! So we don't know anything!"

"I know one thing—we need to get out of here!"

Romina would give her that point. They ran into the closest opening of the forest they could find. At least there they would have a chance of hiding and thinking of where to find the others. Though with the darkness around them, it would be hard finding anybody.

"Crazy to think that right now I would really rather be feeding my grandfather's graphorn right now," Romina said to Hermione. With the darkness, she couldn't see the odd look Hermione was sending her.

"Why? So you can complain about it later on like before?" drawled a familiar voice behind the pair.

Romina could laugh at the dumb luck they had. "Oh for God's sake—Lumos!" Her wand illuminated the immediate area and when she, and Hermione, turned around they saw Draco and Theodore leaning against a tree opposite of them. "Bit calm there, aren't we?"

They were pretty much relaxed when there was literal chaos in the area. Draco shrugged, leaning off the tree. "Not sure you're making the right choice again, Oswell. Out of everybody you've ran off with, you chose her." He made a nod in Hermione's direction.

The brunette, in return, glared. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Have you taken a look out there, Granger? Those are Muggles. What do you think I meant?"

Romina peered around the tree. She swallowed hard. The field was much too crowded to identify anyone but she could definitely see the figures in the air. She felt sick to her stomach. "They're...they're death eaters, aren't they?" Her voice shook a bit.

"Yes," Theodore answered her, making her look back at them. "So the smart choice would be to ditch your little friend before you get caught up in this mess."

"Bet you're a little happy you didn't bring King along, though," Draco said, knowing that despite her heavy annoyance she knew that he had a point. He smirked.

Romina air strangled him with her free hand. "Where the hell are your parents?"

"I got a feeling I know where," she heard Hermione mumble.

"Lost them in the run," Draco said quite calmly. "What about you? Weasleys leave you to your own luck?"

"No," Hermione snapped. "We got split up but don't worry, we'll be finding them." She grabbed hold of Romina's arm, dragging the dark haired girl a few steps away when a strong explosion rocked them all on their feet.

"Might be a little hard, Hermione," Romina admitted.

"You're better off splitting up, Oswell!" Draco called to them.

"Shut it!" Romina snapped. She racked her mind for some good options which, admittedly, weren't very many. "Draco," she called suddenly, "Where were you guys going to go?"

"What?" Both he and Hermione sent her the exact same horrific looks.

Theodore looked between with bemusement. "We're not bringing you anywhere."

"Oh, be quiet, Nott," Romina waved him off, "And get real. You two were definitely going to go somewhere—where?"

Even Hermione wasn't all for Romina's plan. She would much rather take her chances in the forest. "Romina, we don't need them!"

"Right now, we need to take anything we can get," Romina said sharply and faced the boys again, more precisely Draco. "C'mon," she sighed, putting her hands together as she walked up to Draco, "For once, just stop being a jerk and help us out. We could die out here. Would you really let that happen?"

"Not you," Draco said with all the ease in the world.

Romina glared incredulously at him. "Oh, how special I feel right now! You idiot!" Without warning, she punched his arm with all her might.

Hermione blinked in surprise while Draco stumbled back, arm clutching what was sure to be bruised later on. Theodore's eyes widened as well but he downright laughed.

"Shut the fuck up, Nott!" Draco said lividly before his eyes landed on Romina. "Who the hell do you think you are—?"

Romina had enough and shoved him away from her. "I can't believe I ever thought you had a shred of decency! Don't you ever talk to me again!" She yelled furiously at him then ran back to where Hermione was, grabbing her hand, and continuing their run together.

Neither girl wanted to admit that they had no idea where they were going but they did agree (silently) that it was going to be better than the field. They held onto each other's hands as tightly as possible because the last thing they were going to do was lose each other amongst the chaos. They bumped into all sorts of people running as well, among those Beauxbaton students who didn't speak a drop of English. They even caught Ludo Bagman who, up until that moment, had no idea what was going on out in the campsite.

Eventually, fate took pity on them and they found—crashed face first—with Harry and Ron.

"What happened to you two!?" Harry hugged Romina tightly. "We were going mad trying to find you!"

"Yeah, where'd you get into!?" Ron was about to hug Hermione but for some reason he decided not to in the end.

"Got lost, that's all," Romina said quickly, making it clear to Hermione that they were going to leave out the small moment they had with Draco. That was fine with Hermione.

"Where are the twins and Ginny?" Hermione asked, looking around the immediate area. There was no one else but them.

"Got the foggiest," Ron said. "We're hoping we can find them when this dies down."

"How is this ever going to die down?" Romina made a gesture towards the noise of the field. "The entire Ministry is probably out there trying to get this—"

They stopped when a particular noise was just too close to them. Uneven steps were definitely close to their area. It turned out to be Winky who, despite wanting to escape the chaos, seemed to be struggling greatly to do so. It got Hermione riled up again about house elves again. They kept running, although Harry was a little slower on account of him trying to find his missing wand. They came to a small clearing that for the time being seemed safe. It was very shortlived as they thought they heard more steps.

"Who's there?" Harry called, bringing both Romina and Hermione behind him and Ron.

Nobody answered him directly. Instead, they all heard a loud scream ring through the clearing. "MORSMORDRE!"

A streak of green energy beamed to the sky. It seemed to glitter in the sky when it exploded to create a shape. They were like dancing emerald stars forming a serpent protruding from its mouth.

"What the hell…?" Romina gulped, taking a step back as if the serpent would come down for them at that very moment.

New screams erupted from the forest. Wherever it was that people had been hiding themselves was gone now.

"What? What is it!? What's going on now?" Harry looked around to make sure his friends were still with him. They were. And they were just as frightened as the others.

"Harry, it's the Dark Mark!" Hermione exclaimed. "You Know Who's sign!"

"RUN! RUN!" was all Ron's head could think of so it was the first thing that came out of his mouth. 'It didn't help that wizards were apparating only a short distance from them, each one with their wand out and aimed right at them.

Harry cried 'duck!' seconds before the wizards yelled 'stupifey!'.

Lights flashed above them, ricocheting from every angle—how none of them had yet to be struck by the lights was beyond Harry.

"STOP! That's my son!"

At the voice of Mr. Weasley, the firing stopped. The man emerged from group of wizards, looking worse for wear as he came up to group to make sure they were alright.

"Out of the way, Arthur," Barty Crouch strode up to them, wand still clasped in his hand. "Which one of you did it?" He demanded from them. "Which one of you conjured the Dark Mark?"

"You're joking!" Romina snapped out of her fear-induced trance. "We were running for our lives and you think we did that!?" She raised a finger high above her head to point at the sky. "You're out of your mind!"

"Do not lie!" Crouch said, eyes blazing with anger for the lack of the response he was searching for and for being spoken to like that by a young girl. "You've been discovered at the scene of the crime!"

"Where did the Mark come from, you four?" Mr. Weasley asked much gentler, and of course without the intention of blaming them.

"Over there!" Hermione pointed to their left. "There was someone behind the trees! They're the ones who shouted an-an incantation!"

Mr. Crouch still wasn't convinced. However, he was the only one because the group of wizards behind him didn't exactly believe four fourteen year old kids were responsible for the massive mark tainting their sky.

"You know who did it,' Romina spoke again, ignoring Mr. Weasley's look that practically begged her not to keep going. "We all do."

Crouch met her eye with nothing but disdain for her. "Oh, really?"

"I would know what that mark is—my parents had it. That's the mark of the Death Eaters. They're responsible for it, not some Hogwarts students." Romina folded her arms, mustering enough courage to keep staring at the man until he either agreed and let them go...

She would waver from a lot of things but not this. There were many pictures of Elora and Caplan around and in many of them they had the same mark tattooed on their arms. Whoever was behind all this was a Death Eater wearing the same damn mark.

The stand-off was interrupted by Cedric's father, Mr. Diggory, who in a matter of minutes managed to acquire a stunned "culprit" not too far from them. Of course when he returned with the culprit, things made even less sense. It was Winky, Mr. Crouch's house elf. And to top it off, she had a wand.

After being brought back, Mr. Diggory started questioning her.

"I — I — I is not doing it, sir!" Winky said. "I is not knowing how, sir!"

"You were found with a wand in your hand!" Mr. Diggory held the wand in question at her.

"Hey," frowned Harry as he recognized the wand, "That's mine!"

Everything stopped. All eyes turned on him.

"I dropped it!" Harry said.

"You dropped it?" Mr. Diggory said in disbelief. "Is this a confession? You threw it aside after you conjured the Mark?"

"Amos, think who you're talking to!" Mr. Weasley cut in angrily. "Is Harry Potter likely to conjure the Dark Mark?"

Thankfully, Mr. Diggory gathered his bearings and realized how unlikely that was. "Er — of course not. Sorry . . . carried away . . ."

"I didn't drop it there, anyway," Harry said, jerking his thumb behind them. "I missed it right after we got into the wood."

So," Mr. Diggory, turned to look at Winky again, "You found this wand, eh, elf ? And you picked it up and thought you'd have some fun with it, did you?"

"We're not really thinking the elf did it, are we?" Romina was not quiet at all with her scoff. "Look at her! She's scared out of her wits!"

"Winky's got a squeaky little voice, and the voice we heard doing the incantation was much deeper!" Hermione added for support. "It was a human voice."

"And a man too," Romina crossed her arms. "A grown man."

Mr. Diggory didn't look very impressed by the two girls. "Well, we'll soon see. There's a simple way of discovering the last spell a wand performed, elf, did you know that?"

"Oh, for the love of..." Romina shook her head, "Guess Cedric didn't get his smarts from his dad..." She mumbled under her breath.

Mr. Diggory performed the spell on Harry's wand and to everyone's shock, the same skull from the sky billowed out from Harry's wand like a ghost.

"I is not doing it!" Winky cried with absolute terror. "I is not, I is not, I is not knowing how! I is a good elf, I isn't using wands, I isn't knowing how!"

"You've been caught red-handed, elf !" Mr. Diggory roared. "Caught with the guilty wand in your hand!"

Winky cried about her innocence until Mr. Crouch stepped in and twisted the accusation. If Winky was the accused, then so was he and that could not be. Mr. Diggory had no choice but to let go of his accusation. Winky told the group where she had found Harry's wand which wasn't too far from them. They soon believed that whoever had used the wand had merely found it like Winky had and took advantage of it.

Mr. Crouch requested he be the one to punish Winky for her "crimes", which was not following his orders. "Winky has behaved tonight in a manner I would not have believed possible. I told her to remain in the tent. I told her to stay there while I went to sort out the trouble. And I find that she disobeyed me. This means clothes."

Winky started sobbing.

"But she was frightened!" Hermione said angrily at the same time Romina said, in a calmer manner, 'You're so delusional'.

While Mr. Crouch wasn't that bothered by Hermione's outburst, he threw a hard look in Romina's direction. "Watch your language, young lady."

"But she was literally stuck in the middle of an attack and you want to fire her?" Romina scowled. "If she had stayed back there, she would've been killed. So a dead house elf is better than this?"

"I have no use for a house-elf who disobeys me," he said coldly.

"Romina's right! You'd rather a dead house elf!" Hermione exclaimed. "Your elf 's scared of heights, and those wizards in masks were levitating people! You can't blame her for wanting to get out of their way!"

But Mr. Crouch was not swayed by either girl. In the end, Mr. Weasley stepped in to retrieve Harry's wand and get them all out of there. Though angry, Romina and Hermione followed them, leaving behind the sobbing elf and wizards. Romina gazed up at the dark sky and saw the remnants of the Dark Mark still present. She swallowed hard; she had done a great job not thinking about Elora and Caplan this summer. She should have known it would never last.

[darklydeliciousdesires]

The Dream - Chapter Twenty One.

Huge thanks to everyone for their continued support :)

Previous chapters - Prologue  One  Two  Three  Four  Five  Six  Seven  Eight  Nine  Ten  Eleven  Twelve  Thirteen  Fourteen  Fifteen  Sixteen  Seventeen  Eighteen  Nineteen  Twenty

Tag list - In the comments, please DM to be added/removed (note: those not engaging will be automatically removed from the tag list, FYI)

Words - 3,294 

Warnings - 18+ content throughout, minors DNI!

“Hello, Keri, my love! I am so sorry, a thousand apologies for calling you on a Saturday morning when I know you’ve likely been out last night getting very, very drunk!”

Those warm tones of a mostly Indian accent, punctuated every so often with little American twangs, were the last she expected to hear at 10am that morning, getting out of bed and heading into the bathroom so as not to wake Angel.  

“Uncle Sunni!” she gushed excitedly, softly clicking the door shut and closing the toilet lid to take a seat.

“The one and only!” he chirped, Keri grinning widely. She swore, for every year that she’d known him, his accent had gotten stronger for returning to his parent’s homeland. “How are you, darling?”

“I’m really good! How are you and aunt Bee? And my cousins?”  

“We are all very well, thank you for asking. Saanvi has decided she is a Miley Cyrus girl now, so this is all we have playing in the house, Sita is doing well with her dance classes, and Sanjay is awful. Please come and take him away!” His joke about their youngest had her in soft fits, Sunni continuing. “Listen, I was calling to get a hold of my brother-in-law, is he around? I cannot get through to his cell, your mother’s neither,” he spoke, hoping that all was okay with the family.  

“Well, mom is in at work today doing some overtime, and I think David might be working on his truck. I don’t know, I’m not at home right now,” she revealed, finger combing her messy hair.  

“Ahh, I shall keep trying him, then. He is probably listening to that bloody god-awful Rainbow music. Since you’ve been gone? Since I wish you would go, more like!” he exclaimed, snorting with laughter.  

“That’s a classic!” she exclaimed.

“Oh, classic nothing!” Sunni yelled, his volume making her laugh. He always got louder by about twenty decibels whenever excited or trying to make a point. “That and his Boomtown Rats! I don’t like Monday’s? Nobody does, Bob Geldof! Bloody sit down and be quiet!”

She sat there in hysterics at his usual comic observations. Sunni was one of very few people who could legitimately make her cry laugh, her sides hurting. Usually from the hilarious banter he and Bee got into together, or the berating of her stepdad’s taste in music.  

“So where are you, then? You say you’re not at home, are you in work? Did I disturb? I am sorry if I’m getting you into trouble,” he then asked, courteous as always.  

“No, I quit my job recently. I needed more time at the weekends, plus with leaving college approaching and not wanting to have anything to tie me down so I can travel a little, I needed to do it soon anyway,” she began in explanation. “I’m at a hotel right now, my boyfriend is up visiting from Southern Cali.”

The noise of interest Sunni made had her in fits once more. “Oh! There is a new boyfriend on the scene! Have you been with him for long? Would I approve? What is he like?” She sat and gave him a brief outline of Angel to pacify his multiple questions, Sunni making little ‘umhm’ noises as she spoke.

“It sounds like you are very happy with this man, early days or not! I would fetch your auntie for you to have your obligatory girl’s talk, but it is her turn currently trying to get Sanjay to bed, and he is being an absolute horror about it!” Her youngest cousin Sanjay had just turned two and was most definitely living up to the term terrible two’s. “Anyway, I might as well tell you why I was trying to call David, share with you our news. I have been accepted for a post at Utah Valley Speciality Hospital, so good news, darling. We are returning to America.”  

“Oh my god!” she screamed, suddenly clasping a hand over her mouth. “Oh my god, that’s amazing!” she then added much more quietly, drumming her feet softly against the tiled floor. “I can’t wait! When do you come back?”

“Not for another three months, just while we finish getting everything sorted at this end, selling the house, etcetera. We didn’t tell anybody, just in case it didn’t come through, but now that it has and there is also a chance that your aunt could have a job also opening up at the same hospital, now that Sanjay is of preschool age and she can return to work, we felt confident in sharing the news.” he explained, delighted at his niece’s reaction.  

They chatted for a short time longer before ending their call, Keri absolutely ecstatic to have some of her favourite family members returning. Tying her hair up, she brushed her teeth and took a quick shower, coming out to find Angel checking his phone.

“What was all the excitement for? I heard a squeal of ‘oh my god’,” he grumbled, still sounding half asleep as he placed his phone back down, a hand sliding into her towel to stroke her hip.  

“That was my uncle on the phone. He was trying to get a hold of my parents, but they’re not picking up. Anyway, he told me he and Bee are moving back over here, he’s got a job at a local hospital, so I’m over the moon that I’ll be able to see them regularly instead of once a year,” she shared.

“Yeah? That’s great, baby. I know you hated that they lived halfway around the world,” he replied brightly, just as his stomach began to growl. She raised an eyebrow, shaking her head as she leaned to kiss his abdomen. “I think I need feeding.”  

An hour later and they were sitting inside a small restaurant, hard wood surfaces, Edison light bulbs and plants strewn over the large shelves that flanked the black walls, Keri bouncing in her seat with excitement at one particular dish on the menu.

Angel looked over at her with a smile. “You just saw the peanut butter pancakes, didn’t you?”

“I did!” she squeaked. How well he knew her. Anything with peanut butter, and Keri was on it in an instant.  

Reaching for her hand, he squeezed it gently, thinking how adorable she was. “Y’all a hundred percent too cute, mamacita.” Her beamed smile made his heart skip a beat, sitting there feeling like he was the luckiest guy in the world. While the waited for their food, they sat and discussed her ever nearing departure from college, meaning that for the following three weeks they wouldn’t be able to meet with her workload going into overdrive in preparation to finish, but when she did, she had some plans.  

“I’m going to book going over to Galway, but not for as long as I originally wanted to. If you could come then that’d be great, I think Aaron and Rachel are down, Frankie too. Jaime won’t be because of work. So yeah, we’re planning on that to be for two weeks. Then I was thinking of driving down to Santo Padre, maybe basing myself there for a while, travelling around Cali. If you don’t mind, that is?”

He put on a thoughtful face, scratching his chin. “Hmm, do I mind having my beautiful, sexy, funny, amazing girlfriend around more often? Hmm, lemme think on that.” She began laughing softly through her nose, leaning over to kiss him. “Of course, I don’t mind.” Despite the joviality of his statement, he felt a pit in his stomach at hearing her plans to travel. He pushed it down, though, reasoning that she wanted to stay with him in her time between.

“Good, because you’re stuck with me now.” There was truly nobody he’d rather be stuck with. Their weekend went by in a blur, Keri holding him tightly before he departed, crying in his arms at how much she anticipated she was going to miss him. He hated leaving her behind whenever he had to go home again, but the buzz inside of knowing he’d get so much more time with her over the spring and summer alleviated the sadness of being separated from her.

While they were parted, he took his mind off it by putting in some serious time around the yard, taking on extra shifts, deciding to re-decorate his bedroom and make it look a little better than the mismatching bare essentials vibe, seeking some advice from a certain lady.

“You need a theme!” Sharise exclaimed, taking a cart from the front of the local homeware store, buzzing already. If Mrs Reyes thrived on anything, it was a decoration project.  

He viewed her with mild disgust, his nose crinkling. “A theme? Nope. I saw a picture online and I want that. Dark green walls, white ceiling. I got new furniture on the way, too. I just need things to make it look less empty.”

“Rug, lamps, artwork, candles,” Sharise began to list.

“No candles!”

“Yes, candles!” she stated emphatically. “Keri likes them, she told me which is her favourite. Black coconut by Yankee, and they sell them here.”  

He took a pause for a moment, his brow creasing. “Are you two making plans behind my back? Is this a little scheme you’ve cooked up to get some damned chick litter all up in my space?”

Sharise threw her head back, entertained at the chick litter term. “No! We were chatting the other night, she replied to one of my stories I put up with my candle collection all burning, and she mentioned she liked Yankee candles about as much as I do. Us girls talk about things like that, you know.”  

“Hmph.” His mutter was then followed by a speedy swerve around the cart, Sharise attempting to put some large cushions into it. ”No cushions! My couch is fine as it is!”

“These are for the bed,” she clarified, gently slapping his arms, grabbing two more that were slightly darker.  

“I got pillows, I don’t need ‘em!”

“They’ll finish the bed nicely, add a little depth of comfort.”

His face was a picture of confusion. “They add... what?”

“And when you’re having sex, you can pop a couple underneath your lady and they’ll tilt her hips in a way that means you get to hit a whole other host of different angles.”

He nodded, gesturing to the previously frowned upon items. “Alright, they can stay.” She grinned, tossing her braids over her shoulder as they continued, smug that she knew exactly what to say in order to get around his protests. He was, as she expected, still difficult, though.

“Sharise! Put it back,” he ordered, pointing as she wrestled with a giant, white sheepskin rug from the rolls gathered at the back of the store.

“You’re going for bare floorboards, right?”

He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I am.”

“Then you need a nice rug to tie the room together!”

Depth of comfort and tying the room together. Her chosen language was completely lost on him. “But then I gotta vacuum the damned thing!” His complaint was accompanied by a little show of drama, folding his arms over the cart handle, resting his head down and regretting his decision to involve his sister-in-law.

“No, because the fleece is too long, it’ll get caught in the rollers. You just go shake it outside, et voila! Done.” Into the cart it went, Angel muttering in mild despair. Fluffy rugs. Was this what his life had become?  

The rest of the store was browsed rapidly, Angel actually being able to make his own choices, loading up on photo frames he planned to put some of Keri’s photographs into after he’d had them blown up, a set of white plaster skulls that looked remarkably like the real thing, Sharise adding bits and pieces as she went for both him and herself. The large, black and grey vase with black birch twigs was not one of his choices, but he allowed it. Begrudgingly.  

“So, you seem to be very content with Keri, then, with this talk of her coming to stay for a while,” Sharise observed, finishing the large mouthful of Cuban sandwich she’d just taken at a bar she’d driven them to, telling Angel she’d at least buy him lunch in apology for terrorising him in the home décor stakes.

He smiled, thinking of her. “I really am, she’s cool. Can’t wait to have her come kinda live with me, even though I think it’ll only be temporary.”

She noticed he sounded a little dejected by that. “Because of her travelling? You two are so sillily in love with one another, I can see her making Santo Padre her base when she isn’t, you know. I know it’s still early days, but you two fit together so well.”

He scratched the back of his neck, his brow furrowing. “I sometimes wonder if I’m the one who’ll be temporary. She’s so ambitious, and young still, too. Makes me wonder if we’ll last.”  

“Well, just see how it goes, but don’t write off a future with her just because she has ambitions!” she gently suggested, reaching to squeeze his hand. “She doesn’t have to be around you all the time to be in a committed relationship with you.”

He snorted softly, looking uncomfortable, clamming up as she predicted he would. She would press, though. She’d heard of this before. “I did wonder, when you’d have your wobble.” His frown prompted her to continue. “Lucy told me, that back when you guys got together, you had a little bit of a freak out over whether she’d meet anyone else, and I suppose that’s rearing its ugly head again, with talk of Keri going off travelling around. You think she’s going to meet someone you assume to be better, don’t you?”  

He grunted.  

“Angel,” she spoke softly, reaching to stroke his face, tilting his head up. “You need to start putting to bed these feelings that you aren’t good enough. You are. Did Lucy find anyone else? Nope. So, there’s no saying Keri is going to. She’s crazy about you, for heaven’s sake! And I know what you’re gonna say, that other women in the past have only seen you as a short-term fling, but my love, that’s because it’s all you’ve offered to them, whether consciously or not.”  

“Yeah, yeah I guess you’re right," he finally admitted, realising that it was his self-sabotage coming back to haunt him. As soon as he fell in love, it was only a matter of time before it came bubbling up to the surface, his fears of loss, of not being good enough.  

He’d been pushing it down into his darkest depths for the last two weeks, ever since they’d confessed their love. It had been festering a little closer to the surface since her talk of travelling over breakfast the last time he’d seen her, though. The little pit in his stomach he’d felt? It had predictably taken root, no matter how much he didn’t want it to.  

Looking over at Sharise, he felt his little padlocked gate begin to strain. If there was one woman he always opened up to, it was her. “I don’t want to wreck it all, but I’m kinda scared I will. I can’t just be happy. My fucking brain has to freak out and cause drama. Which I usually then fuckin’ thrive on.”  

It suddenly clicked with Sharise, the sprucing up of his home. He wanted to hopefully make Keri feel as if it was hers, too. He wanted to find more ways to entice her return, hence doing away with the bachelor pad look, albeit with slight reluctance. Oh, he was too adorable, in such a beautifully, partially broken way. From what Keri had told her in exchanges messages, chatting online in order to get to know each other more, he had no reason to feel insecure. Of course, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t. People were rarely so simple.  

“Angel, the only way you’re going to wreck it is by listening to that toxic little voice in the back of your head instead of Keri. Have faith. She came into your life for a reason. There’s no way that dreaming of her before you even met her is anything less than destiny. Believe in it. You were doing great until you let the panic creep in.” Taking another bite of her sandwich, she winked, Angel determined to take her advice on board.  

It didn’t help that he was only a week into a three-week separation from her, but he did work hard to keep Sharise’s advice in mind. As if the universe had heard his doubts, he received a notification one night, painting well into the small hours after returning from dealing with club affairs, wiping his hand on a spare piece of cloth as he crawled over the painting sheets to grab his phone. Keri had tagged him in an Instagram post.  

‘I don’t even know how one man can be so amazing. He’s the sexiest, the funniest, the loveliest, the best. I miss you, gorgeous. Can’t wait until this is us again.’

He smiled at viewing the image, one Keri had taken in the hotel room on the bed as she’d sat astride him, her hand reached out cupping his cheek, Angel smiling up at her as the sun shone in through the window and bathed him in bright light. He remembered just how happy he’d felt, when she’d taken it, his heart fluttering at the memory, scrolling to his call list and tapping her name.  

“Hey, you free to talk?”

“I am, I have a few spare minutes,” she replied, waiting for her coffee to pour, prepared to work right on through until the morning and then sleep for a few hours before she started again. “How are you? I hate that tomorrow is Saturday and I won’t have you here. Sucks.”

He was surprised to hear she was still up doing her work, since she’d mentioned earlier when they’d messaged that she’d be spending the entire day doing such. “You got some serious dedication there, for it to be 1am and you’re still working. As for me, yeah, I’m alright. Missing you like fuck, though.”  

She made a soft noise in her throat, picking up her large mug of coffee (a two-pod creation) and turning the machine off. “I miss you too! Two weeks and I’ll be free, though, get to come and spend ten days with you before Galway. Did you ask Bish, if you can swing that kind of time away?”

“I did,” he sighed, “and I can’t. I could come for a week, but he can’t lose me for two.”

She was bright in her reply, all optimism. “Well, that’s better than nothing! Come out with us for the week, then head home. How about that? I’d rather at least have you there for a short time rather than not at all. These places I want to travel to, having you there by my side would mean so much. I know it’s corny, but the whole making memories thing is important, you know?”

Her words made him smile, the more rational side of him seeing clearly how stupid his self-doubt was. He knew he wouldn’t likely overcome it immediately, but what she told him had helped. “Yeah, querida, I know. I love you.”

“And I love you too. Listen, I have to hit the laptop again, but I’ll call you tomorrow, after I’ve had some sleep. Night, gorgeous.”

“Night baby.” Ending the call, he looked around at the half-painted walls. They weren’t the only work in progress.  

[imaginationofomi]

Come Together

Nine

"I'm a happy baby in my happy baby pose," Nayeli whispered and let the morning rays of sunlight warm her face and body. She felt good. Maybe great. Since she'd been up, she meditated and prayed, now close to completing her morning yoga. Her mind was still.

For a short time. A grocery list sat in her inbox, meaning she had to make a pit stop before going to her grandparents' two bedroom cottage near the rocky part of Luna Beach. No matter. She needed to pick some things up for her kitchen as well.

Rolling up her mat, she stored it, changed clothes, and swallowed a mandarin orange. Her shoes were by the door, leaving her keys and purse as the only missing objects she needed to grab before she headed out. She ran down her to do list in her head adding in a stop to the nail salon. She needed a fresh pedicure if she planned to wear open toed shoes that night.

Her shift at the confectionery went swiftly and seamlessly. She finished the day's baking in record time and bid everyone adieu to finish up the rest of her tasks.

The local market was quiet, and she moved through the aisles with ease. It was early enough in the day that most people were still in their homes, but the promise of overcast burning off for pretty weather would ensure the streets were crowded before long.

Nayeli thanked the cashier that rang her up and made light conversation with the bag boy that helped her get her things into her trunk, handing him a bit of cash to show her gratitude.

Luna Beach sat at the farthest edge of the city, minutes from the road that led out to a portion of the state that was largely unoccupied. There were a few homes here and there, but fields tended to stretch for miles without much sign of civilization once past the retirement community.

Driving under the stone archway and iron sign, she made all of the familiar turns to get to her grandparents cul-de-sac and parked in their driveway. The compulsive need to only make one trip into the house had her hands full, and she struggled to get her keys into the deadbolt and doorknob.

"Who's that at my door?" Her grandmother's voice traveled from the ugly green dining room to the living room.

"Baby Love, Big Momma," Nayeli called back, taking the groceries into the kitchen and setting them on the old tile counter. Francine Windham sat at her long oak dining table, a bowl of cream of wheat and a piece of buttered toast in front of her next to half a grapefruit and a small glass of orange juice.

"My precious angel." Francine stood tall at 5'9", the tallest woman on her side of the family, with thick hair she kept relaxed that was more salt than pepper. Her eyes were round and brown, surrounded by curly lashes and some wrinkles. She wrapped her arms around her youngest granddaughter and kissed her head.

"How you feeling?"

"I'm good, finally off those antibiotics the doctor gave me. I've been eating more and moving around, but I'm still slow."

"I'm glad to hear you're feeling better." With a naturally weak immune system, Francine went down for weeks for illnesses that would heal within days for a healthy person. A common cold required medicine that wasn't offered over the counter and more rest than the average stint, "Has Mom come by?" Nayeli asked.

"She was here on Wednesday. She cleaned up the bathrooms."

"I told her I would do that."

"Her doctor said it was okay to do what she normally does. She looked fine. She's not limping anymore."

The house Nayeli grew up in was two stories with a tricky staircase. If someone wasn't careful, they could easily slip and fall. That was how her mother ended up breaking her ankle, leaving Nayeli to pick up the responsibilities that were normally split between her, her mother, aunt, and uncles for a few months. Now that Bonnie was healed, more time would return to being her own.

"Where's PawPaw?" Nayeli walked back into the kitchen and made herself a small bowl of cream of wheat before she joined Francine at the table.

"In his den watching TV. Your mother never should've gotten him that apple box. Now he sits in there for hours watching his shows, and I gotta sit in there if I wanna spend any time with the man."

"Why don't you move it into the living room?"

"I don't want to turn into one of those couch potatoes with him. That room is for spending quality time with family."

"Then you tell him bring his tail outside or you'll never make him smothered chicken again. I bet he'll straighten up," Nayeli said.

"I wish it was that easy, Baby Love," Francine chuckled and patted her hand. Of all her grandchildren, Nayeli was the most innocent and unjaded. She tried hard to make her see the world for all that it was, but her baby refused to believe that most people were lost.

They talked about the bakery, about Nayeli's plans for the upcoming Harvest Festival, what she wanted to do for her birthday, about Francine's church friends. They talked so much that Nayeli was on the verge of forgetting the question that had been brewing in her brain for the last several days.

"I wanted to ask you about that car accident we were in. I think I was ten? I only remember bits and pieces. I remember both impacts. PawPaw passed out, but that's it. Do you remember what happened?" Nayeli gathered that her brain locked away the memory. After listening to Carmen, something in her gut told her to gain clarity.

"Like it was yesterday. That's the only accident I've been in."

"Where were we?"

"Hollywood at the Pantages Theatre. We took you to see The Lion King."

Her spoon was halfway to her mouth, but she couldn't follow through. She set it back in the pink bowl and sat back in her chair, "How did we get out of the car?"

"I made sure you got out before we did. There was a boy who came over to help. He tried your PawPaw's door first, but I told him to get you. All of the doors were jammed, and the back windshield was cracked." Francine paused, observing Nayeli's rigid posture and deer in the headlights expression, "He broke a hole big enough to pull you through, and when the fire department came for us, you were on the curb with him. He was rubbing blood out of your face and had his sweater pressed to your leg because the glass cut you. What made you ask about that?"

Nayeli sat silently, the pieces she never had before clicking together to complete the puzzle. She swallowed hard and slow blinked twice, heart fluttering in her chest.

"I met the man that pulled me out," she said. Her body alternated hot and cold flashes as she accepted the weight of all she owed him.

"Are you sure it's him?"

"Positive. His mother told me the same story. Same location, pulling me through the back window, all of it. I just wanted to know if there was a connection. Turns out there's a bigger one than I thought."

"Look at God. Did you thank him?"

"I have to again. Ironically, we met because he saved me from getting hit by a car. I'm in debt to him for the rest of my life it seems." Nayeli sighed and attempted to finish her breakfast, but her fingers trembled nervously. She gave up and rubbed the scar at her hairline.

"I wouldn't go that far, but the Heavenly Father is certainly at work," Francine said. She could see something stirring in her granddaughter, "How's that raggedy boyfriend of yours?"

"I don't know. I broke things off a week ago."

"Praise Him! I knew you'd come to your senses and get rid of that turkey. Don't you ever get with someone that don't like being around family again, hear me?"

"Yes ma'am." Nayeli gently pushed her grandmother's long finger away from her face. She was trying to focus on the present moment, but all she could think about was Ezra and the fact that he would be at her home the very next day.

What would she say to him? What would he say to her? Where did that place them in each other's lives? It felt like a conversation that needed to be private, and Tatiana would be with him.

Another thought that gave her pause. Because she would be a fool to ignore the developments between them all. Unintentionally, she was being integrated into their lives. Maybe she had been from the moment she called Tati Princess and gave her that free cupcake. It was a slippery slope to be on, and she was concerned about Tatiana's well-being.

"You look like something's bothering you," Francine said.

"Big Momma, I think I might've messed up," Nayeli replied, chewing the left corner of her bottom lip.

"We all mess up, baby. What happened?"

"Ezra. That's his name. I don't know.....there's something about him. I knew it that first day. He told me he felt like we'd met before, and I couldn't think of anything. I don't know if he's put it together yet, but that's beside the point. We've kind of hung out a couple times. He has a daughter, and she is the cutest thing on two feet, Big Momma. So full of energy and happy. Quick witted, too."

"Just like you were."

"And his family is beautiful. They remind me so much of us." For lack of another way to put it, she'd been accepted into the clan even though she wasn't there for their approval. They treated her like another member of their tribe, the same way her family treated newcomers.

"You haven't told me where you messed up at."

"I've allowed myself to get really close to them already, and I don't think I should have. I'm fresh off a break up, Tati's mother is a big pill. I shouldn't be anywhere near them, but it feels good to be near them. It feels like I belong there."

"You cheated on Jalen with this man?" Francine sat up a little straighter and gave Nayeli a hard look. She didn't care for the young man, but she took relationships seriously. All that hopping around made her stomach hot.

"No ma'am. Nothing has happened between us. It's just that it feels like I'm bonded to Tati already. She's innocent, and I don't want to disrupt her life in any way. Ezra's sister told me that he likes me, but she didn't need to. I can tell, and from what I know and have seen, I kind of like him, too. It's happening too fast."

"That's how it goes sometimes, but you always lacked boundaries. Your heart makes you open to people. I'm not surprised you bonded with his daughter. I am curious about how that happened."

"Most of our dealings involved her. I catered the desserts for her birthday party, and that day was a show all on it's own. I gave her a baking lesson, and now she wants to see my garden." Nayeli looked to her grandmother for guidance. Having never been involved with someone that already had children, she was unsure of ground rules. How far was too far? How soon was too soon?

Francine exhaled lightly and rubbed the back of Nayeli's hand. Only her soft-hearted Baby Love could get herself into such a predicament, "I don't think you messed up. Where you are now, nothing has to change. It's okay to not want to disrupt his daughter's life. In fact, it's better that way. People don't always think about how the kids will be affected, but if they want you around, there's not much you can do but say no. And that might disrupt her life if she's bonded to you like you say. My advice is to be their friend until you feel like you're ready to be more. You have to draw the line."

The question was where?

☼☼☼

Nayeli started to regret making plans about halfway through getting ready for the night. Not for any particular reason. She just wanted to be in her bed. Her new mattress and headboard we're free from old energies, and it was much more comfortable. With the TV gone, her bedroom became a beacon for rest, and she wanted to be in the middle of it with a cup of hot tea and her tablet searching up books to order.

Leticia was dying for an evening out, begging her sisters several times over the course of three days to indulge her need to be social. They gathered at least once a month anyway, so Nayeli agreed, though she wished she'd hesitated more like Maxine. They might've been able to reschedule.

"Itty bit, where are your shot glasses?!" Max yelled from the kitchen.

"The cabinet next to the microwave!"

"Come on! We're toasting to you being single!"

"One second!" Nayeli finished the thin wing of eyeliner and coated her lashes in a lengthening mascara, rubbing vaseline on her lips to soften them so her gloss bomb went on smoothly.

Her cropped two piece set was bronze satin, healthy c-cups sitting in her halter top and thigh peeking out of the high split up the left side. The bottom half of her scar was showing. She ran her fingers across it, thoughts drifting to Ezra once again. He was the reason she had it and the reason she was alive. She had to find another way to thank him because cookies would never be enough.

Fluffing her hair one last time, she adjusted the bobby pin that kept her curly fringe hanging at her eyebrows and flipped the light off. Maxine had four shots of patron lined up on the kitchen counter despite it only being the two of them there.

"I have double shot glasses," Nayeli said and picked one up.

"I'm not convinced you can get two shots worth of alcohol in there. Somebody lied. Cheers to knowing our worth, adding tax, and not letting fuck shit slide!"

"Cheers!" Swallowing the clear tequila, she flinched as the liquid went down her throat and grabbed the second shot glass, "I forgot how nasty this stuff was."

"It gets the job done. Has Jalen tried to make his comeback yet?"

"He had one day where he blew up my phone and left a bunch of drunk voicemails. I blocked him after that, but I have been getting some calls from unsaved numbers. I don't know if it's him or a scammer. Either way, I'm not answering."

"Good. Fuck that lying ass nigga and all he stands for."

"Period. Leti tell you how far away she is?"

"I think she just pulled up," Maxine said, leaning forward to look through the blinds at the headlights moving along the asphalt. The bottom of her red mini dress slid up, exposing the cuff of her butt cheeks.

"Does Stella know you're over here ass out? I can't imagine she let you walk out in that dress," Nayeli commented as she grabbed the edges and pulled it down, tucking a loose curl back into Maxine's low bun.

"She tried to make me change, and I'm not having it. I wear what I want. Being married doesn't mean I gotta start dressing homely."

"Covering up doesn't make you homely."

"You know what I mean. She'd make me wear a parka everywhere if she could."

"Not a parka," Nayeli cackled, but she understood why. Maxine had extremely wide hips, a round butt, and she was soft all over. She made a lot of people crazy.

"Yes, bitch. A parka. If my pants are too tight, she's looking at me funny. You'd think I was pulling bitches left and right the way she acts. I get it. I'm fine as hell, but damn." All the women in their family were. Big, small, short, tall, it didn't matter.

"She's pregnant. It's probably just her hormones. You weren't exactly a peach when you were carrying Diesel."

"Diesel had me allergic to my favorite foods and still came out damn near ten pounds. I had a right to act a fool over that big ass baby." Maxine poured out two more shots just as Leticia rang the doorbell to let them know she was there and walked inside in a sheer, strapless corset and leather trousers.

"You started pregaming without me?" she complained.

"We took shots two minutes ago. Relax," Max said, "Yours are already poured. Bottoms up!"

"Where's the rest of your dress?"

"Hush, damn it! Y'all get to be hoochies, I wanna be one, too!"

"I am not a hoochie, thank you," Nayeli interjected, going back to her room to grab her shoes and her distressed, cropped denim jacket. She slid her feet into the stilettos and wound the straps around her ankles and calves, tying them in a neat bow, "Who's getting the uber?"

"I'll pay for the one there. Somebody else can get us back." Maxine pulled her phone out of her purse and cussed, nails clicking against the screen angrily as she typed out a message, "Eight minutes out."

"Awesome."

"It looks so different in here," Leticia said, staring at the spots on the walls that were previously occupied and now bare.

"I haven't had the chance to really go shopping yet. I'm going to the flea market next week. Hopefully I can find some good things to fill the space with."

"Does it feel weird?"

"What, the house being empty?"

"All of it. The house, Jalen. How are you doing with it all?"

"She's doing fucking amazing! Changed the locks on that ass and everything," Max cheered and hugged her baby sister's waist. Leticia gave Nayeli a look only they understood.

"I'm doing better than I thought I would be."

"Are you ready to be outside?"

"Honestly? Yeah. I just want to have a good time." Nayeli hadn't been out out in months. Life in general kept her busy, but Jalen didn't always like being social. He had to be in the mood. As a result, most of their time together was spent in the house. Now, she was as free as a lioness in the wild, ready to sink her claws into the earth while she chased her happiness.

Buster's Brewery hummed with good energy, low lights and flowing alcohol keeping the patrons boozed enough to chill without getting rowdy. Modeled after a speakeasy, everything was sleek and upscale, black and gold, from the chairs upholstered in leather and velvet down to the stone the bar counter was made of.

The lot was about 75 percent full, but it was still relatively early in the evening. More people would arrive the closer it got to 8, so their timing was perfect. They'd be able to find a seat with ease, although it wouldn't be an issue if they didn't. Nayeli was cool with the owner and the chef.

"I cannot wait to drink," Leticia said as they climbed into their booth and picked up the specialty beverage menu, "This week was so stressful."

"What happened?"

"A stupid pipe burst at the studio downtown. Everything flooded, so now I have to wait for the wood to dry out, hope there's no rot, and I'm more than likely gonna have to get the floors redone. That cuts back my classes unless I want to do them outside, and it's too cold for that some days. Not to mention insurance might not cover all of the damage."

"Shit, I'd want a drink, too," Maxine said.

"How'd the pipe burst?" Nayeli asked.

"It was old. Apparently the whole building has plumbing issues. I had no idea it needed to be replaced otherwise I would've said something about it sooner. The landlord knew. I should sue his ass."

"If you do, I hope you win. There's nowhere for you to move your classes in the meantime?"

"Not without paying."

"Stop paying rent downtown until they get that mess fixed," Max told her.

"Oscar will find a way to put me out on my ass before I can even finish the sentence. He's an asshole."

"Why'd you sign the lease then?"

"Prime locale. Between the foot traffic from the beach and the posse of Stepford wives from the hills, the money is awesome. Having Oscar as a landlord is a small price that comes with a big pay off. You know, when life goes the way it's supposed to."

"How long do they think the repairs are going to take?"

"A couple of months at the least. My accounts are going to take a huge hit." Leticia groaned and started to rub her forehead until she remembered that she had on a face full of makeup.

"Chace can't cover you for a couple months?"

"I'm not asking him to do that, Max."

"Why not? Please explain the point of dating a wealthy man if he doesn't bail you out when you're in trouble."

"He has bailed me out before. That's exactly why I won't ask him to do it again. He's taking care of everything when I move. I don't want to press my luck."

"Baby, the man is a multimillionaire. His dad probably has a hand in every business in the city, and that's just here. That doesn't include the rest of the country. Your bills are chump change to him. If you don't use that to your advantage, you're dumb."

"Or she values hard work and doesn't want a handout."

"Thank you, Nayeli."

"Fuck all that! A man that wants to will do it. Mommy and Daddy been divorced for how many years? That nigga got a new wife and still pays all her bills. Take the handout. The way cost of living is going up, we could all use one right about now," Max said and exhaled roughly.

"Are you stressing about money for the new baby?" Leticia asked, assuming that was why Maxine was making such a big deal about accepting help she wasn't even sure she needed yet.

"Money itself isn't the problem. I'm stressing about Stella's spending before the baby gets here. Every time we go to a store, she sees something extra she just has to buy like we don't have enough shit in our house already. I love her, I really do but when it comes to finances, she has no sense whatsoever. Her logic is money comes and goes, but it's like we already have a son we have to buy new clothes and shoes for every few months because he grows out of shit so fast. Infants are even more expensive, and inflation got everything sky high. We can't afford her damn spending habits with a newborn."

"Take a budgeting class or something as a date. Nudge her in the right direction," Nayeli suggested.

"Do you know what that woman would do to me?"

"Complain until your ears fell off," Leticia said and snickered.

"Exactly. I'm not trying to hear all that."

"It's better than losing your home because your wife spent the mortgage on bullshit." Leti had a point, but being the oldest, that was usually the case. She had more life experience, not much, but more nonetheless.

Vera, a waitress Nayeli was familiar with, stopped at their table to take their drink and appetizer orders, asking if any of them wanted to submit their names and perform after the band that was there Thursday through Saturday left. They all declined, just there to enjoy the moment with some good food and good music.

A few people were on the dance floor, swaying in each others' arms or whispering in their lovers' ear. Nayeli looked down into one of the lower levels of the speakeasy. Most of those booths were unoccupied, but there was a couple clearly getting freaky under the table at one of them. She laughed to herself and thanked Vera when she came back with her Bahama Mama and cheese fries.

"You like having the bubble guts, huh?" Maxine turned her nose up at Nayeli's basket.

"I'm not lactose intolerant. That's your faulty stomach."

"Nayeli!" She turned at the sound of her name and tried to find the owner, "To your right! Over here!" Following the instructions, she caught a glimpse of the two women waving to get her attention from the other side of the bar and waved back.

"Who's that?" Max asked.

"Ezra's sister, Brandy, and her wife, Trinity. I'll be right back," Nayeli said and exited the booth, walking nervously to them. "Hey! I didn't know you guys were still in town."

"This is our last night before we head back. Look at you, hot momma! You were hiding that shape the last time we saw you." Brandy eyed her appreciatively and smiled.

"You picked a great place to end your trip. The band is here until 8 when the open mic night starts."

"You've been here before?"

"A few times. I've worked with the owner. If you're hungry, get the hot wings with the house ranch and the loaded potato skins. They'll change your life. The deviled eggs are really good, too They come with caviar and pancetta. If it's your thing, they have a deep fried option as well."

"My stomach would thank me, but my ass would not."

"Brandy! I'm sorry for her mouth. I love me a good tater skin, though," Trinity said and wiggled in her seat.

"It's extra, but you can get them with shrimp or lobster."

"Say less. EJ can afford a few extra bucks."

"Ezra's here?" Nayeli assumed as much, but the confirmation put her on edge. She realized she wasn't ready to see him, but she inevitably would.

"He's at the bar getting our drinks. Who are you here with?" Brandy asked.

"My sisters. We haven't been out together for a while."

"They live here, too?"

"Yeah, but Leticia's moving at the beginning of next year."

"Why's she leaving? I'm trying to move here. It's better than LA."

"Her boyfriend."

"Oh no, not for a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Ring me or bounce."

"I feel that. It's not my choice to make. He wants to marry her. It's a matter of when, I guess, but I should get back to them. I just felt like waving from across the room was impersonal." Nayeli was trying to escape. She needed at least one more sip of alcohol before they came face to face, but she could never be so lucky.

"It is, and EJ will cuss me out if I let you leave before he makes it over here. Speaking of. E, look who I found."

She could smell him before she saw him; Armani Code. The hairs on her neck stood up and tangled with her curls when she felt his warmth on her exposed skin. She hoped she didn't look like she was ready to throw up.

"Hey." Ezra set three different glasses on the table, pausing as green eyes shot lasers through his soul.

Nayeli lost her breath and apparently her ability to speak. He looked clean in his white undershirt and open mesh button down, black pants covering his long legs. She'd never seen him in something that outlined his whole body.

Her four inch heels gave her a bit of a height advantage. She was closer to his face, closer to the diamond chain around his neck and the studs in his ears, close enough to feel that they were milliseconds away from touching.

"Hi," she finally said back, staring up at him with wonder in her eyes. So far, in the game of life, she was highly favored. The man in front of her, not once but twice, rescued her from harm. A knight in designer clothing with an expensive watch on his wrist.

"Babe, let's go find another table and let the kiddies talk," Brandy said, grabbing two of the three drinks before abandoning Nayeli and Ezra at the table. For a few minutes, they stood and continued staring at each other.

Nayeli sat first, leaning against the cool leather as he sat to her left, "So much for subtlety," she muttered.

"You look amazing. How'd your day go?" Ezra asked, fighting to keep his hands off of her. He knew it was his lucky night when he left the bar and spotted red hair at the table with his sisters. He loved looking at her behind, but her face was much better.

"Thank you. Relaxed for the most part. I'm happy to be out. What about you?"

"It was a little crazy. Some shit went down between a couple of my fighters at the gym."

"Blood drawn?"

"And an ambulance was called."

"Heavy stuff. Everybody okay?"

"As far as I know. Where are your sisters?" He remembered that she told him they were all going out, so how did she end up alone with Brandy and Trinity?

Nayeli rested her forearms on the table, unknowingly pushing her breasts together as she leaned around him to look for Maxine and Leticia. He tried to be respectful, but he was only a man and snuck a glance at the supple flesh, plump, moisturized, and somehow glowing in the low light. He cleared his throat when she sat back.

"With yours," she said, sensing mischief in the introduction of their siblings. The four of them sat in Nayeli's booth, chopping it up like they linked before. Their families were meddlers through and through, "Who's watching Tati?"

"My parents. She's excited for tomorrow."

"I hope she's ready to get her hands dirty."

"She was ready yesterday." Ezra could tell that Nayeli was holding something back. They were never nervous around each other, but she kept tapping the table with her index finger. He put his hand over hers, and the tapping stopped.

Both the upper and lower dance floors were beginning to fill with bodies as the musicians switched from slow jams to more upbeat R&B. Nayeli rocked from side to side and made an effort to find something useful to say. Her brain wasn't functioning beyond wanting to smother the man next to her with a kiss of thanks. She couldn't do that.

"The band's pretty good," he said.

"I think they're new. It's live in here on Fridays. Saturdays are a little calmer unless there's a special event or something going on."

"I know. I'm friends with the MC."

"You know Angelo?" Nayeli's eyebrows lifted beneath her hair.

"Yeah, he trains at my gym. How you know him?"

"His wife, Morgan, is one of my close friends."

"Oh yeah, Morgan's cool. I've been around her a couple times."

More small talk passed between them. It was uncomfortable compared to the ease with which they usually conversed. Things flowed between them naturally, but Nayeli was obviously peeved about something, and his attempts to pull whatever it was out of her failed. The band transitioned into U Know What's Up by Donnell Jones, and he figured out to get her to loosen up. At least he hoped it would work.

"You wanna get out there and cut a rug?" he asked and offered her his hand.

Placing her fingers in his palm, she scooted closer, "Lead the way." Allowing him to tug her onto the dance floor, Nayeli prayed she wouldn't trip over her feet and embarrass herself because she couldn't focus.

The first couple of songs were fun. They found their rhythm and playfully battled each other, arms and hands brushing against each other as they danced. She felt more relaxed once she didn't have to talk. She still hadn't figured out how she wanted to thank him, nor did she want to do it in a public place once she did.

While the wheels in her mind turned, Ezra struggled to keep his composure. Seeing Nayeli's hips move made Ezra want to try some things. She kept it age appropriate around the kids, but being in a room full of adults brought out the true nature of her sensuality. She dipped and winded with the beat, freezing when she felt him get behind her, though she recovered quickly.

Friendly dancing turned into something deeper, raw. Nayeli let herself get lost in everything that wasn't her thoughts. They moved in sync, pressed together like they were one entity, and her eyes fluttered shut when he held her hip with one hand and flattened the other against her bare stomach, holding her tighter to him.

He was far gone, only concerned with the little vixen turning him to stone in his pants. Her skin smelled sweet, like warm sugar and vanilla with a hint of something he couldn't place. Possibly cinnamon. He wanted a taste of whatever it was.

Soft to the touch, his fingers traveled up her side and lifted her hair. Before he knew what he was doing or could stop himself from doing it, he kissed the top of her shoulder, shifting to her trapezius. Her head tilted further out of his way, exposing more skin for him to get his lips on, and he took advantage.

Nayeli reached up, her hand delicately landing on the back of his neck. He heard her sigh as he made it to her jaw, and then she went stiff, abruptly pulling away from him and flipping around. Her eyes were wide and panicked. She stumbled back a few steps.

"It's uhm......it's hot in here. I'll be back," she said to him just before she ran to the door the led to outside seating and the beach.

She couldn't comprehend what almost occurred on the dance floor, why she didn't stop him when she first felt him kiss her. She wasn't that lost in the sauce, was she?

Ezra stood in the same spot, trying to figure out what happened and why. Nayeli's scent lingered between the layers of smoke, telling him to go after her. It took him a second to realize that he'd gone too far, and he had to apologize. Discreetly adjusting himself in his pants, he followed the path she took and walked outside to find her.

She was on a bench by herself, staring up at the stars with her hands folded in her lap. It looked like her lips were faintly moving. He approached cautiously and sat down next to her. When she looked at him, he felt like shit for making her uncomfortable. His desire for her overpowered his common sense, and she looked terrified as a result.

"I'm so sorry, Nayeli," he said swiftly and stopped himself from grabbing her hand. He wasn't sure if she wanted him touching her.

"It just kind of caught me off guard. It's fine," she replied.

"It's not. I didn't have your permission, and you got a man. I shouldn't have done that."

His statement shocked her. Most men didn't care if they had a woman's permission. They felt entitled after a pleasant conversation or paying for a meal. Ezra respected her enough to realize that he didn't make the wisest choice, although she wasn't upset at him for it. Before her brain turned itself back on and fired a warning shot, she was perfectly content.

"Thank you for apologizing, but really it's okay. I'm not mad." Just a little unnerved because she was going through more than she felt equipped to handle. What she allowed was the exact opposite of the advice her grandmother gave her. Letting Ezra kiss her and hold her as close as he did was not keeping things friendly. They'd hopped right off the diving board into the deep end of the swimming pool.

"You're not?"

"No, and I don't have a man. I dumped Jalen last week."

Ezra tried not to grin. It was wrong of him to pray on the downfall of a longterm relationship, but he couldn't sit idly knowing the woman from his dreams dealt with a beta male that didn't know or care to learn how to treat her. Now she was free for him to scoop up. He would show her what real love looked like in comparison to the half-ass attempt she was used to.

"Are you okay?" he asked. He might've been dancing on the inside because he had a chance, but he didn't want her to be hurt.

"Yeah. The first few days were the worst. I guess, in a way, I knew it was coming, but I kept hoping everything would work itself out. It's the optimist in me," she sighed and shrugged, taking one last look at the stars before she focused on Ezra's face, "I don't want to talk about him, though. That chapter of my life is finished." No need to be continued or rewritten.

"Onto bigger and better."

"Precisely."

Deciding to sit outside for a while longer, they alternated between conversing and being silent, their normal comfortability returning when Nayeli realized that she needed to stop thinking so much. If she'd been on her P's and Q's, things probably wouldn't have went as far as they did.

The fresh air kept her alert, but eventually, the breeze blowing off the ocean made goosebumps erupt on her arms and she caught a chill.

"We should go back inside. My sisters are probably pissed at me," she said.

"I don't think I'm the favorite right now, either."

Both parties were incorrect as Brandy took it upon herself to explain what she knew of the situation to Maxine and Leticia.

Max was happy to hear the other side of the story. She knew Nayeli left some things out. A lot of which Max was going to bust her chops for later. The four ladies got along splendidly, eating and keeping each other company until their two connections returned to them.

"Y'all finally decided to rejoin the party?" Brandy smirked and scooted in to make room for them in the booth.

"What are you talking about? I never left," Nayeli joked, gulping down some of her Bahama Mama in spite of it being watery thanks to her melted ice. She picked up a few of her cold cheese fries and popped them into her mouth.

"I'll be right back, she said TWO HOURS AGO!" Max was buzzed and feeling bold, giggling at herself by herself.

"It has not been two hours."

"You're right. It's been.....two hours, twenty-three minutes, aaaaaaaaand fifty-five seconds," Leti said, looking back and forth between her baby sister and what appeared to be her new beau before she held out her hand, "I'm Leticia."

"EJ, nice to meet you."

"I know who you are. I went on a date to your last fight. Good shit."

"Thank you."

"The drunk one is Maxine," Nayeli said.

"I'm not drunk. I feel good. Now look here, Mr. EJ sir. My sister is a fluffy lil bunny, mkay? You gotta be real careful with her. She don't like to tussle, but I do, and i'on give a damn how many championship belts you got. If I gotta bring a brick wall down on your head, I will do that. No disrespect to you, Brandy. I like you, but we protect Baby Love at all costs. Her ass is too pure for this world."

"Like I said, she's drunk. Ignore her."

"I'm speaking facts! You know she was a virgin until she was 26?"

"MAX, SHUT UP!" Nayeli's face burned at her sister's concession. She wasn't ashamed of her choice, but it didn't need to be broadcasted. Her sexual history was her business.

"That's enough for you." Leticia snatched the half empty glass of tequila sunrise that was in front of Maxine and pushed it to the other side of the table.

"I wasn't finished with that!"

"You need to be cut off. Drink some water."

"Don't be embarrassed, Nayeli. That's not a bad thing," Trinity said, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, I know. Can we talk about something else now?" All the attention on Nayeli made her squirmy. She just wanted to have a good time, and up until several minutes prior, she was.

As the conversation moved away from her genitals, she eased up and leaned back, picking at the last few hot wings in the center of the table and ordering fried pickles with a second Bahama Mama.

Ezra hardly talked, choosing to let the women have the floor so he could learn more of Nayeli's secrets. Truth be told, Brandy was the reason he wasn't in the house. She claimed she couldn't leave Briton Beach without him taking her out at least once. He wanted her off of his back, but that ended up working in his favor because he got to see his angel.

The angel that had only been with one man in her life. It was easy to deduct that truth from what he knew. She was a virgin until she was 26 and had been with Jalen for six years. She couldn't be much older than 26, which didn't leave too much room for someone else to have made an appearance.

He wanted to know why she made that decision, if she ever planned to save herself for marriage or if she felt that no man before Jalen was worthy. Really, he just wanted her alone. He was tired of sharing her. For once, he wanted time without being interrupted.

Leticia excused herself to use the restroom, Maxine going with her before Trinity left the booth behind them. A few minutes later, Nayeli asked to be let out, teasingly promising Ezra that she was coming back for him through hazy eyes. Her buzz was starting to hit. She scampered off, curls and booty bouncing. One day soon, that would be his daily view.

"What the hell are you cheesing about?" Brandy asked.

"Nayeli broke up with her dude."

"I know."

"You know?"

"Yeah, she told me at the party."

A whole seven days ago. Ezra glared at his sister and pinched her wrist like she used to do to him when he got on her nerves as kids, "You couldn't say something sooner?"

"Ow, nigga, no! She said she wasn't thinking about hopping into another relationship anytime soon. Why would I give you the green light to watch you fail? But after what I saw tonight, you might already be in there." The entirety of the brewery saw their dry humping and her brother kissing Nayeli's neck like he was seconds away from pulling her to bathrooms. However, Brandy knew firsthand how much breakups could hurt and all one would go through to mask that pain, "Give her time to heal, E. She's a sweetheart, and six years is a lot to get over."

"How much time do you think she needs?"

"At least three months."

"Shit." He had no desire to wait that long, but he would if he had to, "Did she tell you what he did?"

"No, and I wasn't about to ask. What is wrong with you?"

He trusted Brandy. They shared almost everything with each other, but he didn't know if he wanted to open up about what was going on in his head. It didn't fully make sense to him, but he was confident that he was right.

"You're going to think I'm crazy." Most people would if he walked around telling them that Nayeli was his wife.

"I'm your sister. I already think you're off your rocker," Brandy said, staring at him until she realized that he had no plans of saying anything else, "Well?"

"Nevermind. Don't worry about it." If they were back at his house, he might've spoken freely, but the missing women were coming back, and he didn't want Brandy to sneak the information to Nayeli. He was already aware that she spilled the beans about his feelings not being platonic, "Do y'all mind catching an uber back to the house?"

"Uh, why?"

"I'm gonna see if Nayeli wants to stick around later."

"E, I just said give her time."

"Chill out. I'm not trying to take her to a hotel. I just want to get her alone for a minute."

"Do what you do. You gon end up hurting your own feelings trying to rush her."

"Shut up." He didn't agree, but he'd keep the thought tucked in his back pocket.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the table, he covered the tabs for both groups, causing a bit of an uproar before the Windham siblings thanked him. They were all walking out together when he held Nayeli back.

"Do you need to be home?" he asked her.

"Nuh uh. Aside from church, my only plans tomorrow are with you and Tati."

"You up for staying out a little longer?" By partier's standards, it was still early. For the rest of the adults, it was time for bed, but Nayeli nodded anyway.

"Yeah, we can stick around. There's a really good ice cream place down the street called Scoop of Heaven. Have you been?"

"I think I've driven past it once or twice."

"It's like an old school ice cream parlor and soda shop. They're open until 11."

"Let's go."

"Go where?" Leticia asked.

"We're going to get ice cream. You guys know where the towels and stuff are if you wanna crash at my place."

"Sooooo basically, you ain't coming home with us," Maxine said.

"Right. Don't throw up on any of my stuff, please. And leave the rest of that 7-Up cake alone. It's for Danielle."

"She swears she's the oldest."

"I'm definitely the most mature."

"God, please don't strike her for that lie," Leti added as she hopped away from Nayeli. Brandy and Trinity laughed at Nayeli swatting at her sisters. Their cars pulled up separately, everyone saying goodbye before the siblings were gone and two people remained.

Leaving the parking lot, they walked the three blocks to Scoop of Heaven, ordering small cups of rocky road and cookie dough ice cream and crossing the street to beach.

Shoes in one hand, ice cream in the other, they strolled a little ways through the sand and found a good rock to sit on. The moon shone on them, keeping their faces visible. Helpful, because they couldn't stop looking at each other.

Nayeli's buzz came and went, keeping her loose enough to not be awkward but aware enough to know that they were finally all alone and she had no excuse not to bring up the origin of their connection. Still, she found one.

"I feel like you know more about me than I do about you," she said, drawing a swirl in the sand with her foot.

"What do you want to know?"

"Whatever you want to tell me."

"I hate the song Return of the Mack."

Her mouth dropped open, and she scooted away from him, "How dare you! That's a serious character flaw." Ezra threw his head back and laughed. That little tidbit sparked many debates.

"You don't even want to ask me why?"

"I'm not sure it really matters, but go ahead and tell me."

"The year that song came out, my parents were separated and still pissed at each other. They played it out worse than the radio. If I never hear it again, I might die a happy man."

"I understand, and now I feel bad for what I said." Bad memory association could ruin even the best of songs.

"Don't. It was funny."

"In that case, I'll give you a pass." Thankful that the vibe was still lighthearted, she scooted back to her original spot and bumped him with her arm, "I can't believe your parents separated. I got the feeling they were very much in love."

"They are. People go through shit, but being apart ended up working for them. They needed to grow up....and they realized nobody else wanted their crazy asses. What about your parents?"

"They were together until I was fourteen. My mom didn't want anymore kids after me. My dad wanted to try for a boy, and my mom said no. So they divorced, and he found someone that would give him more children."

"You have younger siblings?"

"Mhmm. Twin boys. I don't know them. I saw them once when they were first born. His wife doesn't acknowledge me or my sisters. Their family is their family. He's still around all the time. The only thing that really changed was where he slept at night. He just has another family that acts like we don't exist." And that was completely fine with Nayeli. She couldn't stand Cheryl, and it had everything to do with her being a raging bitch that refused to accept her husband had a life before her. She weaponized the twins against her dad, too. It was worse than anyone let on, and she was convinced that Maxwell would be filing for divorce the day after the boys turned eighteen.

"That's fucked up."

"What can I do? The twins are still minors, and I can't force a relationship. If they don't want to know me, that's their problem. I'm a beautiful person, and they're missing out," she shrugged and scraped the last of her ice cream from the bottom of her paper cup.

"They are," Ezra said, making sure that she was looking at him when he did. She smiled at him and bashfully lowered her head.

"We're talking about me again."

"I want to know everything there is to know about you."

"If we're going there, I'd like the same in return."

"Deal."

"Good. Now I'm asking the questions. When did you start boxing?" Nayeli felt weird that everyone around her was familiar with that side of him. It wasn't all he was, but it was still a significant portion of his life. If she wanted to know him, she had to ask.

"My dad had me in gloves from the time I could throw a punch. He started taking me to the gym when I was eleven."

"He pushed you into it?"

"Yeah and no. He's a big fan of Muhammad Ali, and he was an amateur boxer for a minute, but my mom got pregnant with Brandy and shut it all down. Me being the first born son, he introduced me to a lot of the stuff he wanted to do as a kid. I played football and boxed. Love them both, but I hate hitting the ground. It's unavoidable in football. Not when I boxed, though. My dad loves the technical side of it. I like knocking niggas in the dirt." He made her laugh and grinned at the sound. It was beautiful, bordering on musical. He wished he could hear it all the time, "Is it my turn to ask a question?"

"Nope. I still have to play catch up. What position did you play?"

"QB and safety."

"Duality, I like it."

"Are you a football fan?"

"It's still not your turn to ask questions, but yes I am. Why did you stop boxing?"

"Tatiana. I'm not good at multitasking. When I would train to fight, that's all I would focus on. My schedule was tight, and I didn't allow distractions. This would go on for months at a time. Once Tati was born, I needed to focus on her," he answered simply. It was that easy when he made the decision, too, and there was nothing he would change about it.

"Great parenting."

"I had great examples. Thank God for that because Savannah ain't worth shit."

"Ooookay. I'm going to stop you there," Nayeli said and held her hand up, "I know first hand that she is not a great person. I know you guys have your issues, but I would appreciate it if you didn't speak badly about her to me. I'm not asking you to not feel how you feel, but I don't want this to become a thing where you bash her and I cosign. At the end of the day, she's still Tati's mother." Whether they liked it or not.

"Giving birth don't make somebody a mother, but I hear you." Maxine had it right. Nayeli was too pure for the world, "She said you threatened her."

"Oh, I did. She tried to put her hands on me. I know I'm small, but I don't play that."

He started to get angry because that wasn't the way Savannah told the story. He knew she wasn't entirely forthcoming, but had he known what she attempted, their last conversation would've went worse than it already did, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I threatened her. I'm not afraid of her, and now she knows not to try me," Nayeli explained, "Is she the reason you asked me about cutting off an inconsistent parent?"

"Yeah. We have court ordered joint custody, but she only comes around once every blue moon."

"I'm sorry."

"What for? You're better with Tati than she ever was or will be." Which was sad since he could count on one hand how many times they'd been around each other.

"I wish you were in a better situation."

"If I were, I might not've met you."

"Somehow, I still think we would've ended up near each other. With or without you living in the same city." That was it, the perfect moment for her to come clean. She'd been putting it off for long enough. Setting her empty cup the the sand, she turned so that her whole body faced him, "I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Remember when you said you felt like we'd met before."

"Yeah."

"You were right. The story your mom told at Tati's birthday party, the one about you saving the little girl from the wreck. It was me. You saved me." Looking down at her legs, she moved part of her skirt, showing him the long, jagged scar on her thigh, "This is where you held your jacket because the glass cut me," Lifting a section of her curls, she exposed the one in her hairline, "This is why you were wiping blood out of my face. I don't remember much from the accident, but I had a feeling, so I asked my grandmother what happened. Everything she remembers matches what your mom said. It feels weird to say because we haven't even known each other a month yet, but I don't know where I'd be without you. Thank you, Ezra." Standing at her regular height, she was able to get her arms around his neck while he was still seated, but not before she left a lingering kiss on his cheek.

[bunnhop]

Mintrei’s Journal – Episode 4: Road to Whiterun

April 4, 2024

(Reposted from bunnhop.com)

20 Last Seed, Middas

I had only intended to lay my head down for perhaps an hour or two before heading back to the inn in Riverwood, but oddly enough, it was already morning when I awoke. Perhaps it was mere exhaustion that allowed me to sleep soundly, having been exposed to violence for three full days ever since I left Cyrodiil. Or was there magic at play here? Did the witch offer her enchanted bed to weary travelers? And once they were sound asleep, who knows what horrors she inflicted unto them!

It was cold, foggy, and gloomy when I looked out the window. And although I have had early mornings like this back home whenever Cassia, Claudius, and I would camp outside the City, for reasons unbeknownst to me, this kind of morning looks much dreamier in this Province. Maybe it’s the constant snow, or maybe it’s my solitude?

Before leaving the witch’s hut, I went down the basement to brew some potions using her laboratory. And while I was doing so, thoughts of Aunt Faraniel naturally came to mind, as brewing both potions and liquor is her favorite pastime. She was the one who taught me all I know now about recipes and mixtures when I was just a wee Mer. I have got to send them all letters as soon as I get to the capital city.

Although both Aunt Faraniel and Uncle Elthras have never been worrywarts–and have always been carefree in raising me–I can imagine that traveling this far alone from them would start turning them into one.

——————————————

My journey to Whiterun was a leisurely stroll, despite the urgency of the situation. I assume my mind was still unsure whether I should concern myself with the dragon attack and do my duty to alert the Jarl or set my affairs in order in Solitude first. I know better than to insert myself into the affairs of any land, as politics will always be involved. My parents had only wanted to provide aid to the victims of Thalmor cruelty back in Valenwood and were killed for it. Perhaps apples don’t fall far from the tree–and their fate will be mine as well–but something is tugging at me, telling me that I should do it. It also makes more sense to head to the closest city to send back letters and whatnot, and perhaps arrange my transport to Solitude.

On the way to Whiterun, I followed the White River and came across an old Orc standing beside the road. I had thought him lost or perhaps needing a break, so I stopped by and asked him how he was doing. He told me about his people’s concept of a “good death”–of how it was better to die honorably in battle while you are still able to hold a sword than grow old and “useless.”

I can never imagine my aunt or uncle yearning for the same thing. They would want to die of natural causes, after having lived their life to the fullest. The aged, after all, have the duty to teach the young and care for them. Although I respect his wish, I am unable to grant it., and for that, he shooed me away.

Down the plateau, the sweet smell of honey stopped me dead in my tracks and I just had to follow it! It led me to a meadery, “Honningbrew” is what it’s called, and I decided to take a break there and then. I, of course, sampled their product and was pleased with it. As the owner was too preoccupied doing nothing and did not offer a tour of the facilities, I let myself in and got to meet his staff. I even (secretly) found out that one of them is a fan of Crassius Curio, an Imperial playwright of an Era ago, who is still infamous for his books and plays.

Near the city, I happened upon a commotion–fierce warriors battling a giant! It was a sight to behold, seeing as it was my first-ever sighting of these magnificent manbeasts, and I was eager to join. Once the giant was defeated, one of them approached me and introduced themselves as the “Companions.” She also invited me to join their group, but would need the approval of one Kodlak Whitemane, their leader. Perhaps I should, one day.

In front of the city gates, I was accosted by a guard, telling me that the city itself is closed because of talk of dragons. I had to tell him that I needed to speak with the Jarl as someone who had survived the attack in Helgen. Thankfully, this was enough to persuade him and he did let me in. I feel very uneasy being stopped by anyone in uniform, as this is not something I am used to. No gate nor door was closed to me back home.

Inside the city, I decided to walk around and peruse some of the shops. I met some interesting people and even learned about some sort of rivalry between two clans: the Gray-Manes and the Battle-Borns. Family rivalries are common in the Imperial City and I have no interest in being involved. Although I heard that an elderly woman’s son is missing and that’s something that piqued my interest.

One Redguard in particular I found pesky. He kept talking about what he refers to as the “Cloud District”–which I presume is where the wealthy, including the Jarl and his advisors, live–and how I probably have never been there. Of course I haven’t, it’s my first day here! If he’d only been to the Imperial City and met me there, he’d probably be begging me to marry one of his sons or daughters.

When Masser and Secunda arose, I knew it was time to head to the inn. When I got there, I found it lively with all sorts of people–young and old–mingling around the fireplace, listening to the bard, Mikael, who’s another graduate of the famed Bards College. One of the Battle-Borns, Jon, doesn’t seem to like him. He told me of the significance of warrior poets in Nordic culture, and I do remember having read about a Nord Skald-King who ruled two Eras ago.

I had a great time meeting all sorts of people in the inn. Hulda, the innkeeper, is a good sort and is a good source of information. Ysolda, who’s around my age, told me about the Khajiit traders from Elsweyr, and I am looking forward to coming across them in my travels. And I met this poor little girl who had just lost her mother, Lucia was her name. Perhaps I can take her in one day.

And when the chatter grew quiet, I knew it was time to head up to my room.

-M.

[kalembasinpoland]

Day 8: Spie, Cisów-Las, Rzeszów

Writing from our hotel room in Rzeszów. We are both tired. We spent most of the day with family. As they did last time, they welcome us to their home. This morning we drove to Rzeszów to pick up our translator (and long-time genealogy researcher) Maciej Orzechowski from the train station. From there it was a 40 minute drive to the parish church in Spie. There we were going to meet my 3rd cousin Maria Puzio Furtak. The Puzio family is from Dad’s maternal grandmother’s family. We arrived a bit early and so as a promise to many of the Spie parish descendants in the USA-especially the various Facebook pages, I started taking lots of photographs of the graves in cemetery. Spie served many villages in the 19th century.

Maria arrived as well as her brother Stanisław. Stanisław ‘found’ me on the internet many years ago when searching for Puzio information. He saw a picture of his grandfather that I acquired from grandmother. We went to the ‘hometown’ village of Cisów-Las. First stopping in the same cemetery where Maria and Stanisław’s father and uncle are buried, then on to Maria’s house.

Maria’s home-updated since I saw it 10 years ago-is located where my great-grandma grew up. As I said 10 years ago, being on the family property is the true pilgrimage and high point of the trip. This land has been in the Puzio family for at least 6 generations.

In addition to Maria and her kids, Stanisław and his family, aunts and cousins soon arrived. Some came for a while to meet us and have a bite to eat before they had to leave. Some others came later and joined us. There was a lot of showing of pictures on my iPad. I often pulled up the genealogy website to explain how we are all related. And then there was all the food and drink.

Cheeses, cold cuts, kielbasa, bread, salads. Coffee, cake, homemade alcohol, Sopilca vodka, some other alcohol I didn’t taste. You get the point.

We were there for about 6 hours. Lots of photos were taken. I took some video of the family explain who was who in each picture. It was something to see how we have all aged in 10 years. Cousin Olga is like I remembered her-a loud and fast talker. Her aunt Irena is warm and give lots of hugs. She said to make sure I call her daughter in Canada and arrange to meet. Aneta, now married with three kids, was attempting to keep the children entertained and help in the kitchen. Maria and her mother were busy serving. All the chaos of several people speaking Polish fast and loud. I’m sure Maciej was doing his best to translate. I could grab a few words now again and reply in bits and pieces of bad Polish without all the declension of the nouns. Some of the family new more Polish than others. Another cousin spent 22 years in the States before returning to Poland. She took the opportunity to use as much English as she could. She would do the literal translation of ‘przepraszam, prosze’ to interrupt and ask questions-‘excuse me, please’.

Group photos were taken. A few of us went for a short walk so Stanisław, who was carrying both of his granddaughter, could explain the original size and property the Puzios owned. We returned to house and talked more and more food was brought out. Eventually people left and few of us remained and continued to talk out in the yard.

We left and went back to Spie to photo some more graves. Then on to Krzatka, the birthplace of my great grandfather Jozef Nowak. I took a picture of the land where his father lived.

Then it was a short drive to the original parish church in Majdan Krolweski. This was the Nowak family worshipped in the 19th century before the church in Krzatka was built in the 20th century. Maciej and I went into the church, where prayers were being said before the evening Mass. Maciej has done much research with the records of this parish over the years, but never had the chance to visit the church. We then went into the cemetery and did some photographing before we headed back to Rzeszow.

After dropping Maciej off at the train stations, we made our way to the hotel. We walked out to the Rynek, which is less than 100m from the hotel. There are many restaurants. I was slightly hungry, Rose had no interest in food after eating most of the day at Maria’s. The Rynek was jumping with people and I said I need some quiet time after all that family. We came back to the room for me to write the blog and decided if we get hungry we can snack in our room and get something later.

So for now from Rzeszow, I’ll wrap up.

Do zo.

[multifandomwriter56]

600 Follower Celebration Gif Drabble 3

A/N: This is the third gif for my celebration. Also a square filled for @anyfandomfluffbingo 

Square Filled: Flower Crowns

Request by: anon (I hope you like this love and that I included John’s kids enough for you. Thanks again!)

Characters: John Shelby, Katie Shelby, Tommy Shelby, I named John’s other kids George, Henry, and Robert

Summary: Y/n is John’s eldest kid and her birthday is coming up. Will her father remember or will she go without celebrating it? This is set in season 1

Warnings: language

Word Count: 2,102 (Yeah, this isn’t a drabble but we’re just keeping it that way so it can match the rest)

*gif is not mine*

To be a queen would be a dream come true for Y/n Shelby. 

“Y/n, Robert pooped again!” A young girl’s voice shouts.

Or maybe just to be treated as one would satisfy the eldest John Shelby child. 

To be anything but a nanny for a day, would make the thirteen year old happy. Just one day of not being the only person in charge of her four younger siblings. That’s all she wants. 

If her father remembers her birthday, that’s what she wants to ask for. She loves her father but he is not the most involved father. Not since he came back from the war and her mother died. Usually he leaves after breakfast and she doesn’t see him until all the kids are in bed and she’s reading a book on the sofa. Most nights, he carries her to bed since she falls asleep while waiting for him to come home. 

And tonight is no different. Once her siblings are asleep, she grabs the newest book her Aunt Polly bought for her before snuggling up in the corner of the sofa. Two hours later, she jumps awake when she hears the door swing open. Her father is never home this early.

“John!”

Y/n’s eyes widened in surprise. He never comes here. 

“Joh- Oi, what are you doing awake?”

Y/n stares up at her uncle, her eyes narrowing as she asks a question of her own. “Where’s my dad?”

Tommy raises his eyebrows at his niece but answers her question. “If I knew I wouldn’t be shouting his name in his own house.”

Y/n couldn’t argue with that. “If you don’t mind, Uncle Tom, I would appreciate it if you didn’t shout again. I don’t want to deal with a crabby two year old.”

The teenager is surprised when she sees a small grin on her uncle’s face. Just like her father, her uncle changed after the war. He’s not the same man who used to take her on walks and buy her sweets; or tell her stories using the different voices he could make. She tries to stay away, knowing the man has better things to do than to waste his time with his niece. She may not dislike her uncle, but she definitely is not a fan of him either. 

“Why is a thirteen year old still awake at this hour, eh?” He asks as he lights a cigarette.

“I’ll be fourteen in two days.” She mumbles.

“Fourteen, eh?” Y/n nods. “And what are you doing for your special day?”

Y/n looks down at the book in her lap, guilt rising as the anger starts to boil. “I have to take care of my siblings, Uncle Tom; so Dad can do whatever it is that you need of him that day.”

Tommy studies his niece, seeing the battle of selfish and selfless fighting each other in the young girl. No child should feel guilty for wanting to have a special day on their birthday. 

Before the older man can continue their conversation, the door opens to reveal one John Shelby.

Not wanting to chance her temper to burst through, Y/n hugs her father and tells the two men goodnight before heading upstairs. 

The next day starts out normal but as the morning turns into the afternoon, Y/n notices her siblings acting strange. They’re whispering to themselves and will completely stop talking when Y/n gets too close. Katie was gone early this morning but returned by the time breakfast was on table and is now following her older sister around everywhere. Usually Katie is playing in the lane with her brothers or Finn. 

“Okay, out with it. What are you and your brothers up to, eh? You know if you do something under my watch, Aunt Polly will box my ears and tell Dad. So tell me now so I can make sure you lot don’t get caught.”

Katie smiles up at sister, trying her best to look as innocent as possible. “It’s nothing to worry about. We won’t get caught. Promise.”

Y/n wants to trust her, but the last time Katie said that, they ended up caught at the cut by Arthur and Y/n was lectured by him and her father. She definitely does not want to see disappointment on her father’s face ever again. 

That night as she kisses Robert’s forehead she hears the door open. With a concerned frown, Y/n slowly makes her way down the stairs. Even though her body relaxes, her frown remains. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean, what am I doing here? I live here.”

Y/n rolls her eyes at her father. “Dad, it’s only been dark for an hour. You’re never home this early.”

“What are you? Me mother? I decided to stay in tonight. Now, what are you reading?”

Y/n shows him the title, still confused. 

John sits on the sofa in the spot Y/n usually occupies. He pats the seat next to him, a silent order to sit. 

Y/n does.

The older man leans back as he pulls a cigar out of his pocket. “Read it to me.” 

Y/n stares at her father as he lights the cigar but when he teasingly elbows her side, she opens the book.

Soon the fourteen year old is leaning against her father, her words slurring and her eyes fighting to stay open. 

John gently pulls the book from her grasp before lifting her into his arms. He settles the teenager on her bed, tucking her in and kissing her forehead. “Goodnight, Y/n.”

“Night, Dad.”

“Happy Birthday.” 

Y/n frowns, her eyes remain closed. It’s not her birthday. That’s tomorrow. She grabs John’s old pocket watch from off her night stand. She brings it close to her face so she can see the time. “Huh. It is my birthday.” She whispers to herself.

She sets the watch back on the table, her eyes closing as sleep starts to take over. Y/n couldn’t remember the last time she fell asleep with a smile on her face. Maybe her birthday won’t be so bad after all.

She was wrong. So very wrong.

Robert woke up early, throwing up. Her father and Katie were already gone for the day. So that means she has the youngest Shelby to herself. She sends George and Henry out to the lane to play when she hears Finn and Isiah running by; ordering the two older boys to watch them.

“I hate birthdays.” She mutters as she puts her sleeping brother in his crib. She hopes that was the last of the throw up. She doesn’t know how he could have anything left in his stomach. 

“Y/n Shelby, come here!” John’s voice booms through the house.

“Fuck.” She mutters when Robert wakes up crying. She picks the two year old and heads downstairs; the famous Shelby glare set on her tired face.

“Dad, was that fucking neceassary? I just got Rob- What’s going on?” Y/n stops mid rant as her eyes land on her whole family in the kitchen. 

“Err, sorry for waking Robert, but we have something for you.” John says, showing no remorse whatsoever.

“What is it? Another pregnant woman?”

“Y/n Shelby!” Polly scolds. 

The now fourteen year old blushes, shame rising to her heated cheeks. “Sorry, Dad. I’m just tired.”

John waves away her apology, feeling like he deserves worse than a few harsh words for all the responsibility he’s put on his eldest. 

Deciding it would be a good idea to move things along before it gets too awkward, Tommy gets his youngest niece's attention. Once he has Katie’s attention, he gestures for her to go to Y/n.

Katie smiles, nodding to her uncle before heading in Y/n’s direction.

Y/n watches her little sister, wondering why she has her hands behind her back. “That better not be flour.” She warns, ignoring the chuckles coming from her family.

Katie shakes her head. Slowly, she pulls out the project she was working on yesterday morning. “This is for you. It’s your crown.”

Y/n stares at the crown made from flowers. “H-How?”

“I stole the flowers from that crazy lady by Garrison who sells them.”

“Katie!” Polly admonishes, but turns her glare to her nephews. John and Arthur ignore the glare as they bent over with laughter while their leader just smiles at his nieces. 

Polly rolls her eyes, knowing there’s no point in saying anything else on the matter.

Y/n doesn’t hear her father and uncle’s laughter as she stares at the crown of flowers with tears in her eyes. At some point, Robert wiggled out of her arms and went to Ada who picked him up.

“Put it on, eh?” Tommy encourages.

She slowly reaches for the crown and gently takes it from her sister. A single tear slides down her cheek as she sets the crown on the top of her head. 

“From this point on, you are Queen Y/n, ruler of Small Heath.” Katie announces. “But tomorrow, you are back to Y/n, my big sister.”

“Thank you.”  

“Oh, we’re not done yet.” John informs his eldest. “We still have presents and cake. Everyone to the living room!”

Y/n waits for everyone to leave the kitchen before turning to the man now standing next to her. “I’m assuming this was your idea?”

Tommy shakes his head before lighting the cigarette in his mouth. “You can thank your sister.” He takes a puff before answering her silent question. “She heard us the other night. She came to me the next day, saying I should order everyone to come to the house on your birthday. I told her to do it herself.”

Y/n snorts. “And how did that go?”

“She ordered me to be at the house by noon before doing the same with everyone else.” He tells her, not able to hide the mirth flickering in his eyes. 

Y/n laughs. She should’ve known better than to doubt her baby sister. “She’s going to rule the world one of these days.”

“Aye.” Tommy agrees. “But not today. Today, Queen Y/n is our ruler.”

Y/n smiles, glancing in the direction of the living room. “Well, I better join my subjects before Henry and George open all my presents.”

Tommy dips his head, his left arm stretched out. “After you, milady.”

* * *

Y/n sighs as she lets her body go limp. Today was a good day; a day she will never forget. 

“Good day?”

She opens her eyes, smiling when she sees her father leaning against the entryway to the living room. “Yes. Very good day.”

John smiles, happy with her answer. He makes his way to his daughter, sitting next to her. His smile widens when she leans against him and he wraps his arm around her, pulling her close.

“Thank you, Dad.”

He drops a kiss on the top of her head. “I would do anything for you. Anything.” 

Y/n’s smile falls at hearing the guilt in her father’s voice. “Dad, it’s okay. I’m okay. I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I shouldn’t have said it.”

“I don’t want you to be sorry. You’re fourteen. You shouldn’t be playing mother to your siblings.”

Y/n opens her mouth to argue, but a finger under chin stops her. The finger turns her head to face her father.

“I promise you. I will find someone to be a mother to your siblings… to you.”

Y/n knocks his hand away. “I don’t need a mother. I can take care of myself; and I can take care of my siblings.”

This time, John grabs her chin. Once he has her attention, he speaks. “I know you can. I have no doubt you can. But that doesn’t mean you should. You’re fourteen. You’re still a child, and I want you to be able to act like one.” He gently releases her chin, his mirth coming back. “Besides, you can’t get married until your thirty, so you don’t need to worry about being a mother for a long time.”

Y/n rolls her eyes, but she can’t stop the smile from tugging at her lips. “Very funny, Dad.” 

“It’s true.” John insists. His little girl may not be so little anymore; but he will still cut any boy who even thinks about touching his daughter.

“Thank you. I needed that promise.”

John lands another kiss before whispering, “It’s a promise I plan on keeping.”

Forevers: @desiredposion @theseakrakence @simonsbluee

Peaky Blinders: @psychkunox @theshelbyclan @supermouse @lilymurphy03 @findinghisredrighthand​

[spideyyboii]

Wrapping Presents

pairings: dad!steve rogers x female reader

summary: steve and yourself had barely found the time to wrap your children’s presents. Especially when they’re constantly trying to sneak a peak.

warnings: none

word count: 1.2k

||main masterlist||steve rogers masterlist||christmas masterlist||

You and your partner Steve rarely found time to yourself. Your children were always around and running you both ragged so when December hit you were worried you wouldn’t be able to pull off everything and make it the perfect Christmas for your family. When the children were younger it was easier to delegate time for buying and wrapping presents as they would nap during the day but now at five and seven it was nearly impossible to get them to leave you alone all they wanted was their parents.

“Sweetheart, what is our plan for Christmas? How are we going to get the little ones presents?” Steve asked, hoping you’d have some kind of master plan as you were usually the one with the ideas, “Well we can buy their presents whilst they’re at school but we won’t have time to wrap them as we still need to decorate the house, buy the food and get the team their presents. So the only way we’re going to be able to wrap our boys presents is if we wait until they're asleep. But the two of them are sneaky and will most likely attempt to sneak a peek.” You told the super soldier what you’d come up with so far, “So we’ve got six hours to buy all our presents and food, we can wrap the teams stuff whilst our children are home as it’s not theirs they won’t care and will just have to wait until the early hours of the mornings to do the rest.” Steve recapped your plan with a smile, “Night my love we need to rest if we plan on getting everything done tomorrow.” Steve placed a gentle kiss upon your lips before pulling you in for a hug as he began to sleep.

You were the first one awake in your house and were quick to get dressed and start breakfast wanting the morning to go smoothly, “Morning my love, I’ll get the boys up you just keep cooking it smells amazing.” Your husband praised before heading upstairs again. Around five minutes later you heard the sounds of little feet running down the stairs, “Mummy I don’t wanna go to school today, can we please spend the day in bed.” Your youngest son James pleaded he’d hated school since his first day, “Sweetie I know you don’t enjoy school but it’s extremely important that you go your education is so important.” You said picking the youngster up, “Now why don’t you sit down and eat some pancakes and then we can talk about why you're not enjoying school.” Your son quickly cheered up at the idea of food and forgot his problems with school. “Come on guys, we need to get going!” Steve exclaimed whilst ushering everyone into the car. When you’d finally gotten the boys to school Steve was quick to drive to the malls wanting to get everything finished quickly. “Okay so do we split up and one of us gets our stuff for the kids and the other works on the team's presents or do we wanna do it all together?” Steve asked going into Captain America mode and making a plan. “Split up and meet back here in an hour, you take the list for the team and I’ll sort out the kids. Love you.” You said before leaving your husband and heading into the toy shop. You were quick to get through your list and were ready to head back home.

“So my loves, how was school?” Steve asked with a nervous smile he was worried that you wouldn’t have had time to hide the presents. “It was good we just made loads of crafts and I made mum a card.” James rambled making his father smile, “How about you Parker did you have a good day?” The man asked with a smile, “It was good we just watched movies and spoke about what we wanted for Christmas, how was your day dad?” Parker asked interested in what his parents get up to whilst he’s away. “Mine and mummas day was good. We just got the house decorated and got your aunts and uncles some presents that your mum should be wrapping.” Steve told the boys.

The evening flew by and you had the house decorated as well as all the teams presents wrapped and all that was left was for you and Steve to wrap the kids presents. It was Steve who chose to put the kids to bed tonight as they behaved better when he was the one running the show.

“Finally our little gremlins are asleep, let's start wrapping, what do you want to start with bub?” The man asked excitedly to see what you’d gotten the kids, “Here take this James really wanted it and I thought it was too cute.” You handed Steve a Captain America pajama set that James insisted on having so he could match with his dad, “He’s so cute, I think he’s going to end up being just like me.” Steve said which made you panic, “No we don’t want that I feel like you forget just how reckless you can be. Now wrap quickly. I don't trust our children staying in bed all evening.” You threw the wrapping paper at your husband. The two of you were able to get through half the presents before Steve heard hushed whispers on the stairs “Well since our children have been so good I think they would love for us to give their presents away.” Your husband's words confused you as they came out of nowhere. It wasn't until he signed upstairs that you realised what was going on. “Oh yeah our generous children would love for us to give them to Tony for his charity event.” The two of you were holding back giggles as you knew their faces would be priceless. Steve stayed in character until he heard the boys get back into bed.

The next morning your sons stumbled down the stairs scared that they would have no presents under the tree, their fears were only confirmed when there was nothing sitting under the tree for them. “Mum, dad, why is there nothing under the tree?” Parker asked nervously “Well we thought since you guys wanted to see your presents early you wouldn’t mind if we gave them away as you wouldn’t be excited when you opened them.” Steve was stern with his response, “But we want to celebrate Christmas!” James stomped his foot becoming very distraught with his parents, “Oh darling we haven’t actually given your gifts away we just wanted to teach you a lesson on snooping.” You pulled your youngest in for a hug wanting to calm him down. “We’re sorry guys, we just wanted to see what you got  us, we were excited.” Parker rambled wanting you to forgive them.

Once the kids had opened all their presents you all gathered on the sofa to watch a movie whilst you waited for dinner to be done, loving the way your family celebrated Christmas. “I love you, thank you for giving me all our beautiful children.” You gave the man a kiss wanting him to know you appreciate everything he does for you and your family.

[iliveiloveiwrite]

Family Ties // Benedict Bridgerton

Request: hey lovie!! i wanna start by saying i adore your writing for bridgerton and harry potter and i always find myself coming back to it,, if you’re up for it, would you mind writing a benedict imagine? i was thinking something sweet and domestic?? like maybe him and the reader have kids and they’re going to visit the rest of the family? take it however you want!! <3 - @ddaeng-danvers​

A/N: Thank you so much!! I truly hope you like this. This is the first thing I've written in close to a month now and I love how happy it is. There’s love, and family, and fluff. I am so happy with it. This features characters seen in the prequel books ‘The Rokesby’s’ - I finished reading book 2 today and I think I'm going to own all of Quinn’s books by the time we reach summer.

Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x Fem!Reader

Warnings: children, marriage, fluff, female reader, she/her pronouns, bridgertons being bridgertons, family fluff, love, romance, kissing, cute, mentions of pregnancy. SPOILERS FOR THE PREQUEL SERIES BUT I CANT BE SORRY, I LOVE GEORGE TOO MUCH.

Word count: 3.3k

Giggles and gasps lighten the morning air as you take those first steps outside. The grass is still wet with morning dew and it dampens the hem of your dress, but you cannot bring yourself to care as the laughter of your children surrounds you.

“You can’t catch me!” Your daughter declares, laughing loudly as her steps quicken on the slick grass.

A quiet smile crosses your face as you watch the scene unfold in front of you.

Your daughter, Violet, continues to laugh wildly as Benedict grabs her from behind, lifting her onto his shoulders. She settles there quickly; having spent a lot of time on Benedict’s shoulders when her little legs wore themselves out from running and exploring.

“My love,” Benedict greets, smiling widely at you, “Did you sleep well?”

“I did until I realised I was alone.”

Benedict casts his eyes upwards, gesturing to the four year old currently busying herself with trying to tidy the permanently messy locks of her father. “Someone,” Benedict emphasises with another glance upwards, “Woke up too early and I didn’t want to wake you.”

Your body warms at the obvious love in Benedict’s voice – for you, for his daughter. Close to a decade being married and he has every capacity to reduce you to a lovestruck fool. It’s perfect, really.

Chuckling, you gaze lovingly at your daughter. “Did you wake your father up?”

She nods; not an ounce of apology on her small face as she continues to mess up Benedict’s hair. “I couldn’t sleep anymore,” she defends, “I’m excited to see Grandma Violet.”

“I’m sure she’s excited to see you too,” Benedict comments, reaching for his pocket watch to check the time. “We’ll have to be setting off soon. Are we all packed?”

You nod, meeting the loving eyes of your husband. “The footmen have everything covered. Where is John?”

Benedict gestures to the overgrowth behind him. “He joined us when Violet wouldn’t keep quiet. He shouldn’t be too far behind.”

“I’ll go in search. Get Violet ready for me?”

Benedict nods, smiling down at you before dropping the first kiss of many to your lips. You watch the pair leave; Violet chattering away about the birds singing in the trees before heading off in search for your eldest child.

“John Edmund Bridgerton,” you call out, voice loud in the quiet garden, “Where have you gotten to?”

“I’m over here,” John calls; his dark brown curls popping up between the rose bushes.

“Shall we head inside? We need to get ready to make the journey to London.”

John smiles, making his way to your side. “You look more like your father every day,” You comment absentmindedly, running a hand through your son’s hair.

John flushes at the compliment; his father was an exceptionally strong man as well as incredibly talented in whatever he pursues. “Thank you,” John replies, reaching for your hand to begin the walk back to your home.

---------

Bridgerton House had always grown violet hyacinths; they perfumed the air, making every inhale sweeter than the last. The door to the Bridgerton London home is opened before you get chance to place your feet on the ground after stepping down from the carriage.

Benedict steadies you as you straighten your skirts whilst trying to keep an eye on your children, making sure they hadn’t fallen out of the carriage. The laughter of your children floating on air has the tightness in your chest relaxing.

You take a moment to stand beside your husband, enjoying the feel of his hands on your waist. It had been so long since a moment alone had been found between the two of you; one of you running after Violet before she scared off another governess. Her stubbornness was to be admired, but it made it hard to teach her the basics in terms of literacy.

“Are you alright?” Benedict asks, noticing your hesitancy.

You smile widely at the love of your life. “I’m fine, my love. I just wanted to be close to you.”

Benedict’s face softens at your confession; he would be the first to admit that he found himself missing you even when he was sat next to you. There were no problems in your marriage but being so busy meant that there was little time for the two of you.

Benedict takes your hand; dropping a kiss to the back of it before turning it over and placing a lingering kiss to your wrist, over your pulse point. You gasp at the intimacy of it, your toes curling at the promise in his eyes.

“Mama!” Violet cries, taking your hand and dragging you through the house in the direction of the portrait gallery with all her might.

You chuckle, turning to Benedict with a helpless look on your face. He holds his hands up, letting you take the lead with your headstrong daughter. “I shall announce our arrival,” Benedict laughs, blue eyes focused on the way his daughter’s slippers slip and slide on the marble tiles of the entrance hall. “John,” He calls, “Would you like to join me?”

Imperceptibly, John takes a step in your direction. An incredibly smart but shy boy from birth, you sometimes worried over his place in the loud, boisterous family of the Bridgertons. “If it’s okay, I want to see where mother and Violet are going.”

“Of course,” Benedict smiles, ruffling John’s hair, knowing how he needed to get used to a new environment before feeling comfortable.

Benedict presses a kiss to your mouth and then to your cheek before taking the steps two at a time to hurry to the drawing room where he can greet his mother and siblings before answering their questions about your whereabouts.

Letting yourself be led through the ornate home of Violet Bridgerton, you can’t help but smile at the determinedness of your daughter. Her little feet stomping away on the marble tiles as she pulls you to the portrait gallery – her favourite place in the whole house bar her grandmother’s knee.

The gallery hasn’t had a new addition to its walls in years; the last painting being of Anthony and Kate on their fifth anniversary. Violet saw it as fitting that their London home had an up to date portrait of Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton. Anthony had argued, but one look from his mother had him falling silent – knowing a losing battle when he sees one.

Generations of Bridgertons line the walls; their famous blue eyes watching the latest generation walk the halls of their once home. John remains silent by your side as he meets the gaze of the men of which his name is descended; if he feels their pressure at such a young age, he doesn’t say.

One painting catches your eye. A young woman and her husband; his hand is resting on her shoulder as she remains seated. They both stare out of the painting; their eyes filled with the stories of generations passed but utterly silent on the matter.

“Who is this?” Violet asks, effectively distracted by the bright colours of the painting.

“That’s your Great Aunt Billie and her husband,” You comment absently, mind occupied with Billie Bridgerton’s eyes.

“Have we met her?” John asks, hand reaching for yours.

“You have, John. She and the Rokesby clan came to your christening. I doubt you remember, you were so young, my darling.”

John flushes at your use of his childhood pet name. Not even ten years old and he was already growing too old for such things, but you didn’t care – he would always be your darling, your first born, the very boy that made you a mother.

“Where are they now?”

“I suppose they are still at Crake House in Kent. We should have to pay them a visit the next time we visit your Uncle Anthony.”

“Can we?” Violet asks, her Bridgerton blue eyes wide with promise and excitement.

“If your father allows it, I see no problem with it.”

The children seem placated at that. With their hands in yours, you make your way to the drawing room where the rest of the family have gathered. Benedict spies you immediately despite being deep in conversation with Colin and Hyacinth; his body and soul finetuned to your presence – feeling uplifted when you’re beside him, feeling as if he was missing a vital part of himself in your absence.

“Grandma Violet!” Your youngest child cries, launching herself for the skirts of the Bridgerton matriarch. Her small arms barely make their way around the legs of the elderly woman who cannot contain her amused giggle at the exploits of her granddaughter. Instead, she gathers young Violet in her arms, placing her on her knee to get a better look at her.

“You have grown,” The matriarch murmurs, brushing back the dark brown hair of her granddaughter.

“John!” Anthony calls, drawing the attention of his nephew. Releasing your hand, John crosses the room to talk to his beloved uncle; the topic of conversation, you know not but they both look incredibly animated and devoted to the matter.

“Where were you?” A low voice sounds in your ears, making you jump. The voice turns amused as a low chortle escapes your husband’s mouth. “I’m sorry, my love,” he offers in apology as an arm wraps itself around your waist, tugging you closer to him.

“If you must know, we were in the portrait gallery.”

“What drew you there?”

“Your daughter,” You comment, tone amused.

Benedict moves to inquire further but is cut off but the gong signalling that dinner has been served. At once, the family moves as one – all ravenous and desperate to begin their meal.

“(Y/N)!” Colin calls out, catching up to you on the way to the dining room.

“Colin,” You greet fondly, “How is married life?”

“Wonderful,” Colin sighs, “Penelope is… Penelope is wonderful.”

You laugh, elbowing the third eldest Bridgerton. “Surely, you remember the early days of your marriage,” Colin states, “The honeymoon period.”

“It doesn’t leave you,” You reply, catching sight of the love of your life just ahead of you. His head is bent as he reaches for the hand of your daughter; her whole hand wrapped around one of his fingers. It sends your heart into a tizzy as you inhale sharply; the love you feel for Benedict Bridgerton could rival the love of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, of the sonnets written by William Shakespeare himself.

“No,” Colin comments, glancing between you and Benedict, “I don’t suppose it does.”

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

Dinner with a large Bridgerton crowd was never a quiet feat; conversations flowed in every direction. Societal propriety non-existent as everyone spoke over each other; happy to have the company of their siblings, nieces and nephews, sons and daughters.

“Anthony,” You begin, reaching for your glass as you draw the attention of the head of the family, “When would you next be at Aubrey Hall?”

“Kate, the children, and I travel back in two days. Why?”

“We were in the portrait gallery earlier. Violet was rather taken with a portrait of Billie Bridgerton and her husband, George. If Benedict has no qualms, could we travel with you? I think Violet would like to meet them.”

Anthony beams; rather liking the idea of bringing the Rokesby’s back into their lives once more. “I must admit that I haven’t travelled to Crake House in a long time. What a terrible nephew I must seem.”

Violet frowns, picking at the food on her plate. “What a terrible sister-in-law, I must be. It must be close to a year, probably longer since I’ve seen Billie and George. Longer since I’ve seen Edward and Cecilia.”

“That does it,” Anthony declares, “We shall all travel to Aubrey Hall before dropping in on Crake House.”

Meeting Benedict’s eyes across the table you smile at the clear affection written on his face. “You have no objections do you, my love?”

He shakes his head. “Never, my love.”

Turning your attention to Anthony, you nod your affirmation. “Should we write in advance of leaving here?”

Anthony wipes his mouth with his napkin. “I’ll send a missive with the morning messenger; if I tip generously then there shouldn’t be an issue.”

“I’m sure they won’t mind,” Violet adds absently, “I just can’t believe I’ve left it this long. I’m so rarely in Kent and they never journey to London.”

Colin reaches to his right, placing his hand on top of his mother’s. “They will more than understand. Aunt Billie was father’s sister after all. I think even Aunt Billie finds it hard to return to Aubrey Hall.”

“Then it’s decided,” Benedict smiles, “We shall journey to Aubrey Hall and get settled there before descending on Crake House.”

“Do you think Gregory would like to join us?” You ask, thinking of your youngest brother-in-law.

“He’s in his final term at Oxford,” Colin replies, “He’s sitting all number of exams right now, I don’t think he’ll have the time.”

“A shame,” Anthony comments, thinking of his youngest brother and the stress he must be under, “But I’m sure he can complete the journey in the summer.”

“He always was Aunt Billie’s favourite,” Benedict states darkly. You raise your eyebrows at your husband in question. “Gregory struggled with the pronunciation of some plants when he was a child; Aunt Billie thought it was adorable,” He explains, sounding far off as if trapped in a memory of his youth.

Smiling widely at your husband’s tone, you coo, “I’m sure Violet will be her new favourite when we explain what inspired our visit.”

Dismissing all social expectations, Benedict rounds the table, reaching for your hand, pressing a long kiss to the back of it before stating loudly. “You, my love, are a genius.”

“It has been said before,” You laugh, watching your husband return to his seat with promises of the night alight in his eyes. His eyes remain bright as he gazes at you over the rim of his wine glass, no longer paying attention to the conversation pertaining to the history of the Bridgertons and Rokesbys. Instead, his gaze remains fixed on you as he thinks of all the good you have brought to his life – loving him, marrying him, bearing his children. His love for you is endless, and he’ll spend the rest of his life proving that to you.

--------

Crake House was just as grand as Aubrey Hall. The Rokesby’s gaining the favour of the monarch in the seventeenth century leading to an earldom and a rather large estate that bordered on the Bridgerton’s at Aubrey Hall. From then, the two families had been intertwined – as close as two families could get.

“It’s very big,” John comments quietly to Benedict as they leave the carriage.

“Don’t let that intimidate you, John,” Benedict says, “There’s nothing to be worried about.”

As Benedict finishes his sentence, the door to Crake House is pulled open by a strong hand. Deep blue skirts are the first thing you see, and you know that Billie Rokesby nee Bridgerton has arrived.

“Bridgertons!” A feminine voice cries, “I have Bridgertons on my doorstep once more!”

“Billie,” Violet sighs, a fond smile on her face as if the sound of her sister-in-law’s voice has transported her back to times long thought of as memories.

“Anthony Bridgerton,” Billie admonishes as she hurries down the stairs, her elderly frame not a hindrance to her speed whatsoever. “How long have you taken residence in Aubrey Hall? How long has it been since you came to see me?”

“Aunt Billie,” Anthony murmurs, “I don’t suppose you could ever forgive me.”

Billie Rokesby nee Bridgerton eyes her nephew; looking him up and down before taking his face in her strong hands. “Are you well, my boy?”

For a moment, tears shine in Anthony’s eyes as he is reminded of his departed father. He nods wordlessly; trying to get a grip on the feelings rushing through him at the love that emanates from Billie. “I’m well, Aunt Billie.”

Billie nods, stepping back, clearly happy at the information offered by Anthony. She casts her shrewd gaze over her brother’s family; happiness alight in her eyes as she takes sight of your daughter, hiding behind your skirts.

“Who do we have here?” She asks, stepping closer to Benedict and yourself.

“You met John when he was just a babe in arms, but Violet is our youngest,” Benedict introduces, an arm wrapped loosely around your waist.

“Violet?” Billie gasps, dipping at the waist, “Violet Bridgerton, it is an honour to meet you.”

Violet giggles from where she has her face hidden in your legs. You reach down, tapping her on the shoulder. “Come now, sweetheart. Let’s say hello.”

Violet peeks her face out of your skirts, her blue eyes meeting the kind, aged ones of Billie. Violet curtsies, remembering her manners despite her age. “I saw your painting at Grandma’s house.”

“Which one?” Billie asks gently, eyes flickering to the Bridgerton matriarch. “Please tell me it wasn’t the one that Edmund commissioned as an anniversary gift for George and myself.”

Violet Bridgerton covers her mouth to stem the laughter that threatens to bubble over. “The very same.”

Billie huffs, turning to you, “I was six months pregnant, and Edmund thought I would want nothing more than to sit for a whole day with nothing to keep me company.”

“I think you look wonderful,” Your daughter compliments, tripping up on her pronunciation of ‘wonderful’.

Billie’s eyes shine with happiness, “Thank you, my dear.”

“I think our guests might like some tea,” An exasperated but fond voice calls from the doorway. Billie’s face softens at the sound of it; she turns to her husband, finding him watching her with a loving smile on his face.

“They aren’t guests, George. They are my family, and by marriage, your family.”

“All the same, I’m sure they would like something to drink and to rest a little.”

Billie pouts, knowing a losing fight when she saw one. You take in the sight of the pair; their hair had greyed over time, their face becoming wrinkled but their love – it was so palpable, it could be felt in every aspect of their conversation and every expression they sent each other.

Billie and George manage to wrangle the whole Bridgerton clan into their drawing room with promises of food, tea and stories of their mother’s youth. Violet pales at such a promise but Billie’s hand on her arm steadies her.

Your children, John and Violet, join their many cousins on the carpet. They all sit cross legged, eyes intently focused on the elderly couple sitting on the pale green couch. Billie gestures animatedly as she begins one of her many adventurous stories. George leans further back into the cushions, happy to let his wife regale his extended family with the very story of how they had fallen in love. A story told many times, but a story he would never tire of hearing, especially not from his beloved wife’s lips.

You watch all of this from where you sit, perched on the window seat. You smile at the sight of Anthony, Colin and Hyacinth watching Billie with nothing short of wonder written on their faces as they are reminded of the aunt that had explained the way of the land before they had truly understood what it meant to be part of a family with such a large responsibility.

Benedict joins you on the window seat, crossing his legs at the ankles as his heart sings at the sound of his children’s laughter. Silently, he reaches over to take your hand in his. He rests your tangled hands on his thigh; needing you close for a reason he cannot seem to find the words to explain.

“I love you,” You whisper, needing him to hear the words that have begged to be released since you had rolled up to Crake House.

“I love you too,” Benedict responds, his hand tightening around yours.

*********

Bridgerton taglist: @heloisedaphnebrightmore @dreaming-about-fanfictions @now-its-time-for-a-breakdown @janelongxox @aspiringsloth20 @wallwriterstuff @magicalxdaydream @darkestbeforethedawn16 @gryffindors-weasley​

[allkordelia]

Left Out in the Cold

Tsk...tsk..tsk..secrets...secrets...secrets

After a few weeks has past, it felt like everything was getting back to normal. I was lucky to have the wedding pushed back a bit longer since what happened, and having my uncle and aunt pestered me about the night of the party and what happened. I lied to them telling them I didn't remember, and played obscure when they told me how I was ranting nonsense about the devil and whatnot.

They seem to buy it somewhat Vi still had her suspension, but Elijah was happy to put it all behind us and move on with our lives...shows how much he cares. Not long after being cleared, Elijah threw a party to celebrate my recovery (aka my hell) where everyone stared and walked around me as if I was made of pocelian glass.

I would usually be by Elodie or Peter to hide me from those fools, but I been dodging them for days. Everytime I saw one of them I would hide, but after a well I just left to my studies because I couldn't be bothered to keep hiding in my own home. I felt like a child all over again all alone with nobody to be there when you need them, I have Sébastien but he travles since his first book came out and when his not traveling his hosting parties with his new friends he made through Europe. Then Luther is still away traveling across the seven seas leaving her to deal with his father, but on the upside I still had Vi and baby sammy to keep me sane.

The sound of knocking on my door woke me from my sleep, I looked over to my clock to see it was 5 o'clock in the morning. I groaned getting out of bed before walking to my door, my brain was too tired to register who walked passed me and into my room.

"Hello to you, too." I yawned going to my bed, I got in and pulled the coveres over me and notice Sébastien pacing around my room.

"What got you riled up?"

"I need to tell you something and its really bad...very very bad." He said stopping before walking to sit at the edge of the bed, I looked at him with raised eyebrow.

"Go on." He sighed before running his hand through his locks anxious.

"Well, you know how I throw parties for my special friends...." he says lowly making me nod.

"I don't know how but your little friend Gray got in invited to my party by one of my guest." My eyes widen sitting up.

"What?" I asked shocked.

"Yes, he came in with a fellow I met in Switzerland and apparently him and Gray go back." He spouted shaking his head.

"So? Dorian traveled around I mean he bound to meet people along the way." I shrugged, Sébastien looked me the eyes.

"The man said he meet Dorian in 1893." I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Just like Elodie's mother and grandmother."

"Wait...he meet Elodie's family in 1893?" He questioned.

"No, he meet them in 1886 same time he met my uncle and Harry. I saw a photo of them in my uncle's office once and it was dated that same year." Sébastien looked shocked as he leaned back thinking.

"That doesn't make any sense that was nearly 25 years ago, but he looks like he could still be in his early 20s. Who the hell is this man." Sébastien mumbles freaking out.

"It didn't make sense to me either when he brung it up, I think I heard someone ask him about it and he said something about some cream he use." I rolled my eyes at the possibility of face cream that could make you look younger.

"What you mean he brung it up?"

"I told you he knew Elodie's mother and grandmother very well which I now realize means they fucked." We both grimace at the thought of it, I shook my head trying to get back on topic.

"Peter and I thought he was joking, but when we told him it was Elodie's party he was confused and thought Elodie was Cecilia." I remember his face brighten when he realized that Elodie wasn't the only child and brought up a bet.

"....Amelia." I looked up at him, "I left out a small  detail from the party." He said nervously.

"What?"

"After, our mutual friend left...uhhh...Dorian wanted to have a look around since it belong to an old friend of his..." he looked at me fidgeting.

"We went into a room that I use to store my old paintings, and he looked around telling me about being painted in there..." he shook his head stopping.

"Mind you I was still very freaked out about what happened a couple days ago, and we started talking and...." he looked at me with a gulity look.

"We ended up on the floor of the studio...having sex." He rushed out covering his face with his hands.

"WHAT!?!?!" I exclaimed loudly, he moved forward covering my mouth.

"Ssshhhh please be quiet." I looked at him bewildered, I slapped him across the cheek making him remove his hand and covered his cheek in shock. I pushed him making him land flat on his back by my side, I  sit up on my knees looking down at him.

"What is wrong with you?" I looked down at him angry, he looked away  hurt as I yelled at him.

"How can you be so stupid? We don't know nothing about this man and only the lord knows what he may got and you sleep with him." He looked up at me confused.

"What?" He said shock, I glared at him before tapping his forehead with the palm of my hand making hissed in pain.

"Do. I. Need. To. Say. It. Slowly. To. You–"  I stopped as Sébastien flung his arms around me making me slap his back.

"Get off me." I hissed, he squeezed me tight making me roll my eyes.

"You have no idea how happy I am right now." He pulled away as I glared at him.

"Your really trying to piss me off, aren't you?"

"No, that's not my intention." I raised my eyebrow, he sighed before sitting down.

"I'm just happy your not mad about me being..." he didn't finished, but I knew what he was trying to say.

"Being what? Exceptional? " He smiled.

"I always knew you were...anomalous, I never mind it. All that matter is you are happy." I smiled back at him.

"Thank you, Amelia." He grinned blushing.

"But..." I said making him furrowed his eyebrows, "I'm not too keen on what went on between you and Dorian." He sighed rubbing the back of his neck.

"I couldn't help it his voice was sweet like honey when talking about his travels and those innocent beautiful brown doe eyes..." he said breathly before stopping noticing I was looking at him in dismay.

"He was enchanting, okay. He kissed me first and his lips felt so soft and I couldn't help but kiss back. One thing lead to another we were on the floor...naked." He said awkwardly, I shook my head I couldn't blame Sébastien for being smitten with him.

"I would be lying if I say I didn't get smitten when we first meet." Sébastien looked surprised at me.

"Really?" He chuckled.

"Yeah, than he opened his mouth and everything just went down hill from there..." We giggled.

"You know his having a party today, maybe we should snoop around and see what's his hiding." I laughed at Sébastien suggestion.

"Yeah, sure well you distract him with your cute butt. I can go snooping around." I giggled, he looked at me with a look making me shake my head.

"No. Nope, not happening."

"Why not? Aren't you curious what he got hidden in that house and i always knew you been checking out my butt. " He grinned making me roll my eyes.

"Gulity as charge, but back to what i was saying why the sudden courage to snoop around his estate."

"Because after our..." he turned red, "sex act I saw a key he had on a chain around his neck and I got to thinking what if his hiding something in his house that he don't want anyone to see." I grew intrigued with this new peice of information.

"Interesting." I looked at Sébastien as he waited for me to give him an answer, "Fine, but you be on look out and if you have to seducing him I think your the man for the job." He grabbed one of my pillows and threw it in my face making me laugh.

Sébastien and I talked about how we were going to snoop without getting caught by Dorian or by the guests, since it was still early in the morning Sébastien slept over and we went to sleep until the sun came up.

[rumblelibrary]

Okay this may sound like an oddly detailed request but can you do a Laszlo x reader where Laszlo has been courting the reader for a while and has never met her father, because her father is dead or abandoned her at a young age or something like that and she never told Laszlo, but Laszlo is instant on meeting him for some reason or something like that?

Sorry if thats a weird request

Unofficial Meeting [Dr Laszlo Kreizler x Fem!Reader]

Word count: 1.8k

Warnings: a bit angsty, mention of old fashioned ideas

Author’s note: I hope you will like it and I respected your wishes <3

"Miss?"

The voice of your chamber maid called you distracting you from answering some correspondence.

"Yes?"

She smiled so widely as a bouquet of white roses and peonies was presented in front of you. She giggled as she was just so happy for you. You have been courted by Dr Laszlo Kreizler for some time now, but he never missed to send you flowers on a Saturday morning, it was his ritual since you two became serious.

"Those are so beautiful, miss"

She said excitedly before leaving you to read the note, she was probably living the romance through you which was quite weird but cute to witness.

You opened the card, Laszlo usually was a brief but intense poet, but this time the message was clear. Can I tempt you with a lunch at Delmonico's?

You frowned lightly before looking out of your window, his dark clothing making him strikingly visible in the greenery of the park in front of your house, he raised his hat for you and smiled.

Damn him and his top level courting.

You put your letters away and got ready spraying some perfume on you before going out, your maid helping you with your coat and hat.

When you stepped out of the front Door Laszlo was waiting in front of your gate.

"You could have called"

He smirked at you "it wouldn't have been a surprise" he concluded simply.

You smirked as it was true and you have also learned to admire the extent of Laszlo'd courtship. He was attentive and respectful, he knew when to trace a line to forbid any kind of bad talks. He was already famous for being a maverick and he didn't want to put that stigma on you too.

You obliged him as you walked your way together to the restaurant, he never failed to ask you about your day and your plans. he was very attentive and you reserved him the same tenderness asking him about his patients or latest articles.

Once you arrived at the restaurant you were brought to one of the best tables, Laszlo taking upon himself the honour to move your chair back behind you and then back toward you for you to sit comfortably.

"Thank you Laszlo"

He smiled proudly taking it as a compliment, but he looked rather stiff and tense for his usual mannerism toward you.

Once you ordered your meal he toyed with his glass of wine a bit attracting inevitably your attention.

"What is wrong?"

He looked at you surprised by your question, but he smiled because you sort of alleviated him from the weight of beginning what he wanted to ask.

"I was just wondering when I will be able to meet your father" he said just as directly as your question was "I met your grandmother and your uncles and aunts, I am missing somebody"

He said it quite easily as your mother had left this earth early for the standard and you regret she won't be able to see what an amazing man you met.

"You don't need to meet him"

He stared at you puzzled, what really concerned him wasn't your refusal, but more the hardness you showed into expressing it.

"I think I do"

You glared at him, your conversation briefly interrupted by the waiters landing the plates in front of the two of you.

He thanked them before looking back at you, your stern look still there.

You had discussions before but never of this size and also as much as he tried before to hint the theme of your father he wasn't acknowledged at all.

He also noticed how the rest of your family followed that same guideline, acting like they found you under a tree.

"I think it is something I have to do sooner or later"

You glared at him again.

"Stop it"

It was hard for him to stop. He was already launched on the theme and he was worse than a wild animal when he got fixated over a theme in particular.

You pushed some common ground theme while you ate. Like John or Sara's agency or other mundane things, but you hated to see the intensity in his look.

That question over and over into his mind.

You never hated to be with him as much as you did now.

You declined the offer of a dessert pretty quickly just wanting to go away.

Laszlo obliged and lead you back outside escorting you to your place.

"I don't mean to be invasive.."

"But you're" you confirmed to him "thank you for the lunch, I can walk myself home on my own”

You left him there moving after your house's gate.

He stood there biting the inside of his cheek nervously.

You didn't contact him any further on that day or the ones that followed, to be honest you avoided him and his flowers and attentions. You even stayed at home instead of attending places you were supposed to be, but where he also might find you.

Until your grandmother called you and you furiously ordered your maid to call the doctor and make him come at your place.

He arrived quicker than you expected. He was worried something happened, maybe you were ill and nobody told him.

When your maid showed him the way to your study and closed the door behind him he tried immediately to politely ask you about your state but your eyes burned holes like bullets in him.

“How dare you?” You growled at him. He stood still in front of you, his back straight even if you didn’t fail to notice the frown on his forehead.

“How dare you to call my grandmother? To ask her something I specifically told you I don’t want to share or talk or even mention? What is s hard about it? What makes you rightful to come bashing into my life asking for answers? “Y/N”

“No, no Y/N, you doctor, should learn to put a line between when you’re an alienist and when you’re a decent human being” you were being extra hard on him, but just earring your grandmother worried voice was enough to make you snap his neck.

He took your rage like a champion, even if he clearly was suffering it.

“Why is so important Laszlo? Why to see your mind at ease? It is just a man, somebody that doesn’t belong to my life, why you have to push it? Why you always have to push it?” “I just hoped..” “Hoped what? Hoped that a man that abandoned a pregnant woman while courting her was worth my time and thoughts? That I need to share my own life with somebody that wasn’t there? That never asked to meet me, or even see the woman he swore to every wind that he loved? That put my mother in the position of being considered a whore? How my grandma had to pretend I was hers to try give my mother a good shot at life?”

All those truths hit Laszlo like a bag of bricks, he was overwhelmed and saddened. Those situations were the ugliest in those times. Women always paying off the debts of the lust of men. The simple promise of a marriage just to gain something that could be tasted forever with a little more of wait. Just the human need to break a rule, just one, that revolutionary feeling that only losers at heart have. Because nobody makes a revolution over the expenses of a loved one.

“I had no idea” he concluded

“I hope you are satisfied now, your scientific mind has now all the puzzle pieces, now leave and let my family alone”

You could see his shoulders fall as you said that to him, his face paling in fear and sadness. He pressed his lips tight against each other, his jaw hurting as he didn’t know if at this point was really worth it to explain why he insisted so much. He ruined it, he tried to treat you with the white gloves and instead he hurt you even more.

“I apologise” he said staring at you, you letting him speak for the first time “I never meant to put you in such a position, I really just meant to be close to your family and I couldn’t see the fault in my own desires”

He admitted it but you didn’t wince, he crossed the line, he went too far and he needed to learn to respect the limits of others, not everyone needed to be under his care.

“I said you may leave”

He looked out of your window searching for words. Your anger was waving down as he looked so upset, and he should be.

“I am also a victim of our society in my own means, even if my behaviour is not excusable in any way, I stupidly fixated on the idea of doing things right with you and some things… Well, they teach us boys some things have to be asked to a father first”

You looked at him with a frown, you shook lightly your head as you didn’t understand his point and you were five seconds away from throwing him the vase with the latest flowers he sent you when you looked at him pul out a little velvet box from his inner pocket.

“The times are modern now, it was silly of me to try move past you like that” he leaned the box on your desk. He nodded at you respectfully leaving. You were left alone with that little box, you stared at it for a moment before moving closer to it.

You looked out of the window as you heard the gates closing and you watched Laszlo’s figure walk away.

Your eyes darted from his back to the box in front of you slowly opening it to find the ring of the dreams of any girl.

Tagged @cazzyimagines @lieutenantn @handmaiden-of-mischief@thesunflowersutra @zemomybeloved @fictionlandslanddreams @charistory @greeneyedblondie44 @apparrio @hb8301 @whatawildone @rhymerhymerhyme  @thehuiabird @lilith-blackrose @unbeatablecurlgirl @obsidianlaszlo @alindeluce @zemosimp05 @baronesszemo-blackwood @nocapesdahling

Let me know if you want to get tagged to my publications too <3

[englishstrawbie]

Serendipity (23/?)

Fandom: Station 19, Grey’s Anatomy

Characters: Maya Bishop & Carina DeLuca

Summary: A chance meeting at a bar leads to these two idiots falling in love. Follows canon and fills in the gaps of their relationship that we didn’t get to see on screen.

Also @ AO3.

* * * * * * * * * *

Worth Fighting For

You don't have to have it all figured out to move forward. Just take the next step. - Unknown

Maya arrives at Carina’s home just after one o’clock. She pulls up on the road outside and looks up at the townhouse, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. Her body is tense with a nervous anticipation at seeing Carina again. They would usually exchange a few texts during Maya’s twenty-four hour shifts, but there has been nothing since their Friday night dinner except for a brief message from Carina this morning to say that she hoped Maya’s shift had been safe and calm, and she was looking forward to seeing her for lunch.

It feels too familiar, too normal to engage in flirty text messages, and okay they both want to get their relationship back on track and Maya feels optimistic that they can and will – but these early days of trying to move past her indiscretion feel hard and doubt keeps creeping in. She tries to push it away, but as she stares up at the brick building in front of her, it ties her stomach into knots.

Yet she is as determined as she was when she turned up at the hospital to beg for forgiveness that she will prove to Carina that she is sorry and will do whatever it takes to convince her that their relationship is worth saving.

Maya steps out of the car and crosses the sidewalk, walking up the steps to the front door. She rings the bell and waits, her left knee jiggling impatiently. There is no answer and Maya frowns. She checks her phone in case Carina sent her another message to cancel their plans, but her inbox is empty. She bites her bottom lip, unsure what to do. Maybe Carina is in the bathroom and didn’t hear the doorbell? The knots in her stomach twist a little tighter as she tries again. After just a few seconds this time, she hears the lock click and the door drifts open. Maya pushes it slowly, poking her head inside.

She hears Carina before she sees her, speaking rapidly into her cellphone. She must be talking to family, Maya guesses, because she speaks in Italian and Maya has no chance of deciphering what she is saying. She takes a tentative step inside. Carina turns slightly and beckons her in, but doesn’t hang up. Maya can tell from the way she holds her body, her shoulders hunched and a concerned frown on her face, that something is wrong. She wonders if it is something to do with Andrew. He has been doing so well at his residential facility and is supposed to be coming home next week, and Maya feels her heart sink at the thought that maybe he has taken a step backwards.

“Si. Si, lo farò,” she hears Carina say as she ends the call.

She turns to Maya. “I’m sorry.”

Maya shakes her head, dismissing her apology. “What’s going on?”

Carina’s face crumples in response to her question and Maya immediately steps forwards, her hands taking Carina’s hips and twisting them gently until Carina is facing her.

“Hey,” she says softly. “Tell me what happened.”

“My Zio… my uncle, Eduardo. He’s sick. He, uh, he got admitted to the hospital last night.” She gulps. “It’s bad. The doctors want to put him on a ventilator.” Her chest shudders as she inhales. “And now my aunt and uncle both have a cough, and they’ve been taking groceries to my Nonna because she won’t leave the house.”

“Oh, Carina, I’m sorry,” Maya says. “Come here.”

She pulls Carina in to in a tight embrace, wrapping her arms around her body and holding her close. “The hospital will take care of him. The doctors will know what to do,” Maya tries to reassure, except Carina is a doctor and she knows the reality better than Maya does. Still, she feels Carina nod, her hands gripping her jacket tightly.

Maya holds her until Carina pulls away, smiling weakly as she tries to brush off her vulnerability.

“Mi dispiace… I’m sorry,” she says. “I didn’t invite you to lunch just to cry on your shoulder.”

Maya shoots her an admonishing glance. “Don’t be sorry. This virus, it’s scary for everyone.” She looks up at Carina with wide eyes. “It’s coming, isn’t it? The lockdowns, the overcrowded hospitals.”

‘The deaths,’ she thinks, but can’t bring herself to say. She doesn’t need to, she knows it is on Carina’s mind too.

Carina nods. “Soon.”

Maya doesn’t know what prompts it – maybe Carina wants to distract herself from worrying about her family or the threatening pandemic – but before she knows it, Carina dips her head and draws her into a kiss, hard and messy. It catches Maya off-guard but quickly her hands are raking through Carina’s hair. They stumble together until Maya’s back hits the doorframe and she feels Carina’s body press up against hers. A whimper escapes from her mouth as Carina’s lips start their assault on her neck.

Her face buried into Maya’s neck, Carina suddenly becomes still, her body slumping into Maya’s. Recognising the grief that ripples through her, Maya pulls Carina into another tight hug as she quivers in Maya’s arms.

“It’s okay,” Maya murmurs. “You’re okay. I’m here.” She runs her hand over Carina’s hair. “I love you.”

The words that once felt impossible to say now fall from her mouth easily. She feels Carina squeeze her tightly in return and Maya feels guilty about how good it feels to have Carina in her arms and to be able to comfort her when she needs her the most.

Rubbing her back, Maya pulls out of their embrace and looks up at Carina questioningly. Carina nods, silently telling her she is okay.

“What do you need?” Maya asks, resolving to do whatever she asks for.

“Just you, here, is good,” Carina says with a small smile. “Come, let’s go have lunch.”

She takes Maya’s hand, guiding her into the open plan living area. The table is already set for two, a candle burning in the centre. It feels romantic and it surprises Maya, but she is touched by the gesture and feels the knots inside of her unravelling.

“Oh, I stopped by Little Roma on the way and picked up some cannoli,” Maya says, reaching into her bag and retrieving a small box.

It is a nod to the first night they met and it brings out a smile on Carina’s face. “Grazie,” she says, taking the box from Maya’s hand. She nods at one of the chairs. “Sit.”

Carina busies herself in the kitchen. The smell of lemon and garlic wafts through the air towards Maya, who feels her stomach rumble in excitement of being fed. There is a bottle of white wine chilling on the table and Maya pours two glasses as she waits. Within minutes, Carina places a seafood salad on the table between them, a colourful mix of green salad leaves, red and yellow tomatoes and sweet peppers, and topped with shrimp and calamari.

“This looks amazing,” Maya says.

Carina seasons it with salt and pepper, before dishing it out on to their plates.

“Better than tacos, no?” Carina teases.

Maya rolls her eyes and sticks out her tongue playfully, before tucking in. She can’t help but let out a small moan of delight at the flavours that fill her mouth, causing Carina to smile smugly.

“Have you heard from Andrew lately?” Maya asks, hoping to hear some good news that will distract Carina from worrying about her family in Italy.

“Si, I spoke to him yesterday,” Carina answers, her face lighting up. “He’s doing good. The doctors are happy that he can still come home next week.”

“That’s great,” Maya says. “I’m really pleased. You must be happy?”

Carina nods. “But I still have to convince him to come and stay with me, instead of going home to his apartment.”

Maya remembers that the last time Andrew stayed with Carina had only lasted a few days before he had become too irritated by what he called his sister’s “meddling” and had moved home. Perhaps now that he was getting treatment and taking medication, he would be more receptive to it – although Carina does not look so convinced.

“Well, if anyone can persuade him, you can,” Maya says encouragingly.

Carina smiles. “Thank you, bella.”

They keep the conversation light over lunch and it starts to feel like it used to, fun and easy. Maya regales Carina with the story of their recent rescue of a twelve-year-old girl who had tried to climb out onto the tree that stands outside of her bedroom window, only to get stuck between the glass and the guard rails.

“She was running away from home?” Carina questions.

Maya shakes her head. “She was trying to steal her neighbours’ WiFi. Theirs was broken.”

Carina laughs and the sound makes Maya’s heart flutter, because she has missed it so much.

“Oh, and then there was Tom.”

“Tom?” Carina asks.

“Tom is a superhero fanatic who dressed up as Spiderman and put superglue onto his costume so that he could climb the walls. It was industrial strength glue, too.”

“Oh no…” Carina says, guessing what was coming next.

Maya laughs and nods. “When we found him, he was upside down, his knees and arms were stuck to the ceiling. The only way we could get him down was to cut him out of his costume – which he wasn’t happy about and he spent at least thirty minutes arguing with us about why we needed to come up with a different idea.”

Carina shakes her head incredulously. “Lo stupido!”

“Very stupid,” Maya agrees. “He kept telling us that the costume cost him half a month’s wage and he was going to sue us for destroying his property, then he wriggled the whole time we were trying to get him down. Travis ended up with a black eye and Jack got a foot in his chest.”

She doesn’t realise what she is saying until it is too late. Carina’s body instinctively turns rigid at the mention of Jack’s name and Maya kicks herself for being so stupid.

“Carina, I’m sorry, I…”

Carina shakes her head. “It’s fine,” she says, except her tone tells Maya that it is not fine at all.

“Carina…”

“Maya, don’t,” Carina says, her tone clipped. She starts to clear away their lunch plates, a sign that she doesn’t want this conversation to continue.

Maya watches as she takes the plates into the kitchen, annoyed that the good mood between them has been ruined so easily.

“I told you that I’d transfer to another station if me working with Jack was going to be a problem.”

“It’s not a problem,” Carina says.

“Carina…”

“Maya!”

She drops the plates into the sink and they crash together loudly, causing Maya to jump.

Carina’s shoulders sag. “It’s not a problem,” she says. “I just… I’m still trying to get my head around the idea that you see him every day at work.” She looks across the room to Maya. “That’s not easy for me.”

“I know,” Maya says. “But other than transferring, I don’t know what else I can do to change that. And I don’t know what that means for us.”

The fear in her voice is palpable. Carina pauses, before walking back over to the table and sitting down, reaching out to take Maya’s hands in hers. “It means we’re trying,” she says. “I told you, I need time.”

Maya feels her chest tighten and she drops her gaze, looking down at their hands entwined together. What if they don’t have time? She has been following the news, she knows that a potential lockdown means they might not see each other for weeks, maybe months.

“Okay,” is all she says, willing herself to be patient.

Carina lifts one hand and curls her fingers under Maya’s chin, encouraging her to look up at her. Her newly shortened hair sticks to her cheek and Carina tucks it behind her ear, leaning forwards and capturing her in a kiss. It is needy and intimate, and almost territorial, as if she is reclaiming Maya’s lips for her own after they had strayed. The kiss deepens and Maya’s hands slide up Carina’s thighs, wandering further than Carina wants them to. She doesn’t push her away, but her hands fall on top of Maya’s and she stops them from travelling any further. She doesn’t break the kiss and Maya is left wondering what it all means.

“I love you too,” Carina assures her when they part. She keeps her hands linked with Maya’s. “It’s mild outside, no? Why don’t we walk down to the park and take the cannoli with us?”

There was a time not that long ago that they would have spent the afternoon in bed but the message behind Carina’s actions is clear. Maya knows not to push her too quickly, so she nods her agreement.

The walk to the park is familiar, it is a trip they have done many times on the lazy days they have spent together at Carina’s townhouse. It is a large park, made up of picnic, play and sports areas, a skate park and a spray park for the children. It is Maya’s favourite place to run, she has lost count of the number of hours she has spent following the various paths as her feet hit the gravel. They walk the park trail, hand in hand. There are families scattered about – some with soccer balls, some playing baseball. One father and son duo are flying a kite, the child shrieking with delight every time a gust of wind blows and the kite gets scooped up into the air.

The trail loops the park, weaving in and out of the trees, past an array of flower beds, some trampled by overzealous children who have ignored the signs. Maya’s pace slows down as they come around one bend and reach the bridge where she had last seen Mason. The homeless camp that was once situated there has been moved on, the rubbish disposed of. A row of prickly bushes have been planted along the wall, the kind that don’t need a lot of sunlight, the City Council’s way of preventing the camp from returning.

Her eyes are immediately drawn to the mural that Mason left behind. It is a little faded now, what was once blue now a dusky grey and the reds and oranges dulled into a burnt yellow. Someone has spray-painted graffiti on the wall, the thick black paint catching the edge of the mural.

“Wow, look at that,” Carina observes. “It’s beautiful.”

“Yeah, it is,” Maya says softly.

Carina doesn’t pick up on her tone; instead she pulls out her cell phone and snaps a few photos of the painting. The words are on the tip of Maya’s tongue, but she holds them back. She has never told Carina the story about Mason – not the whole story. It is another thing she has held back from her and she knows that this is a moment when she could put it all out there, but something stops her.

Carina is reeling from her family being sick, Maya reminds herself. And Andrew is still getting better.

Maya tugs at Carina’s hand, guiding her away from the wall, and they walk under the bridge towards the picnic area. They find a free bench and sit side-by-side. Maya opens the box and they both tuck into the cannoli.

“You know, my aunt and uncle make the best cannoli in Catania,” Carina says, licking the ricotta filling from lips.

“The best, huh?” Maya says with a wry smile.

“Award-winning!” Carina insists. “When my Mama and Andrea left, and Papa was working all the time, I used to go to their restaurant after school to do my homework. It didn’t matter what time of day it was, there were always people eating there – locals and tourists. Everyone loves it there. It’s always such a happy place.” Her face falls. “I hate to think of it empty like it is now.”

With Italy under a strict lockdown, her aunt and uncle’s business is in danger of going bust and Carina can’t imagine the city she grew up in without the Rossi family restaurant in it.

“You miss your family a lot,” Maya notes.

Carina shrugs. “They were there for me when Mama and Andrea were gone. My Zia Alice took me shopping for a new dress for the school dance and my Zio Roberto taught me to make his famous grissini. My Zio Eduardo – the one who is in hospital – he taught me how to drive. When this boy in my class was being mean to me about Papa, my cousin, Matteo, punched him – even though he was two years younger than me, he was there to stick up for me.”

She smiles at the memories. “I missed them before Italy went into lockdown but I knew that I could just jump on a plane and visit if I wanted to. And now I can’t and that makes the distance between us seem even bigger.”

Maya reaches out and places her hand on Carina’s arm, squeezing it gently.

“Well maybe when the worst of this coronavirus is over, we can go visit them?” Maya suggests. “After all, you’re the one who finally got me to take a vacation. And I’d love to see where you grew up.”

“Maya, I think it’s going to be a while before the worst of it is over,” Carina says with a sad smile.

“I know.” Maya isn’t naïve, she has been reading the news and talking to Ben, and pouring over the city’s plans for a lockdown.

Her mind goes to Mason again. He is still living on the streets for all she knows and she worries about him all the time, not knowing if he is safe. Now there is the threat of a pandemic and she feels helpless knowing that she cannot protect him from it.

Picking up on her anxiety, Carina turns her hand over and links her fingers through Maya’s.

“Hey. I would love to take you to Italy to meet my family one day.”

Maya brightens. “Really?”

Carina smiles. “Really.”

Their heads move at the same time, leaning in to one another, their lips meeting in a soft kiss. When they part, Carina rests her head on Maya’s shoulder.

“I’m glad we did this today,” she says. “I needed to see you.”

“Me too,” Maya says. She plants a kiss on Carina’s hair, leaning her cheek against the top of her head. They sit in silence, Carina’s thumb caressing her skin, and the moment in Carina’s townhouse is forgotten.

Maya’s phone starts to buzz with an incoming call and she extracts it from her pocket, tipping the screen towards her where Andy’s named flashes at her. She hits the red button and resolves to call her back later.

Except her phone rings again.

“Maybe you should get that,” Carina says, noting Andy’s persistence.

Maya hits decline again. “I’ll call her back later.”

It is on the third call that Maya finally answers. “Andy, I can’t talk right now. Can I call you…”

Andy starts to talk over her and Maya has no choice but to let her speak, listening intently as she talks fast. Maya catches the important part.

“She’s what?”

Carina hears the shock in Maya’s voice and lifts her head from her shoulder, curious about what has caused such a reaction.

“Are you sure?” Maya asks. “Okay, okay. Uh, do you still have a spare key to my place? Okay, I’ll meet you there as soon as I can.”

She hangs up and shoots Carina an apologetic look. “I have to go, I’m sorry.”

“Is everything okay?” Carina asks.

“It’s Andy… she says her mom’s alive.”

Carina’s brow furrows and she shakes her head, confused.

“Her mom died when Andy was nine years old,” Maya explains. “At least, that’s what Pruitt told her. He said her mom was sick and she died. It’s why she was practically raised at Station 19. Since Pruitt died, she’s been spiralling. We…” She stops herself from talking about their fight, doesn’t want to bring up that day at the station again. “She’s been convinced that he was keeping something from her. I guess she was right.”

Carina’s eyes widen at the story. “You should go and make sure she’s okay.”

“I know, but I don’t want to leave you alone,” Maya says, feeling torn.

“It’s okay, I’ll be fine,” Carina says. “I think Andy needs you more than I do right now.”

“Can I see you again this week? Dinner. Maybe… maybe you could stay over?”

She notices Carina’s non-committed smile and tries not to get her hopes up.

“Maybe,” Carina says. “Send me your work schedule and we’ll figure it out.”

They make their way back to Carina’s townhouse and say goodbye on the sidewalk with a lingering hug.

“Call me if you need me,” Maya says, glad when she feels Carina nod against her shoulder.

Her mind is on Carina the whole journey home and she licks her lips as she remembers the taste of her kiss and the warmth of her mouth pressed against hers. She holds on to that feeling and pushes away any doubt that she will not be able to do enough to get them back to where they were before she slept with Jack.

Andy is waiting for her when she gets home, two bottles of beer sat on the table where Andy sits quietly.

“Hey,” Maya says as she steps inside, dropping her keys on the table and shrugging off her jacket.

Andy looks up, her face ashen like she hasn’t slept. Maya sits down at the table as Andy slides one of the beer bottles towards her. She doesn’t bother with pleasantries.

“What happened?”

“I went to the motel where my Tia Sandra is staying. I wanted to know the truth about my mom. I thought…” She shakes her head. “I thought the secret that my dad had been keeping from me was that my mom had killed herself. And it turns out she wasn’t dead at all.”

Andy takes a large gulp of beer as Maya tries to process what Andy is saying.

“I… why?” is all Maya can think of to say.

“Because of me,” Andy says. “Because she hated being a mom. Because she resented me for taking her away from the job she loved. Because having me made her angry and depressed.”

“She blamed you?” Maya says incredulously.

“Not exactly,” Andy says. “She says she loves me. But she never said she was sorry. And I don’t think she is, I don’t think she would change what she did if she had the choice. Because I wasn’t enough for her.”

“Andy, this isn’t on you,” Maya says. “Whatever her reasons, you were a child.”

She can see Andy’s mind working overtime as she processes everything that has happened over the last few days.

“Did she say where she’s been or why she stayed away for so long?”

“New York,” Andy answers. “She never planned on coming back, even when my dad got on his knees and begged her. But with him dying and me asking questions, I guess she thought that her secret wouldn’t stay a secret for much longer.”

Maya takes a swig of her beer. “What was it like, seeing her after all this time?”

Andy shrugs. “Am I supposed to be happy to see her? Because I’m not. I’m angry. I’m so angry, Maya. And I have all these questions that I wanna ask my dad, and I can’t, because he’s dead. My dad is dead and my mom’s alive, and those are two things that shouldn’t be true, but they are.”

She necks her beer.

“That is one hell of a mind fuck,” Maya says. “Are you okay?”

Andy lets out a short laugh. “I don’t know. No?” She leans back in her chair and looks at Maya. “Are you?” She gestures at Maya’s hair. “I heard about what happened with your dad.”

The mention of her father makes Maya’s skin prickle and she starts to pick at the label on the beer bottle in her hands as a distraction.

“I don’t think I’ll be invited round for family lunch any time soon,” she says bitterly.

“And your mom?”

“I haven’t talked to her yet,” Maya says guiltily. “I will, I just… I’ve been trying to fix things with Carina.”

“Carina will understand. So you snapped at her, when she knows what you put up with when you were a kid, she’ll get it,” Andy tries to reassure her.

Maya’s eyes drop. “It’s more complicated than that.”

“Complicated how?” Andy questions.

“I cheated on her,” Maya admits.

“Cheated as in…?”

“I slept with Jack.” She lifts her eyes to see Andy’s face full of disbelief.

Andy purses her lips and whistles through them. “Damn Maya. When?”

“That day at the station when you and I got into that argument,” Maya says. The story spills out and she tells Andy about her fight with Carina, and how she ended up in bed with Jack and then threw it in Carina’s face, and how she has regretted it ever since.

“…and somehow she’s found it in her heart to forgive me. And still…”

“Still?”

Maya sighs. “We were walking in the park earlier and we passed Mason’s mural. The one under the bridge,” she says. “I didn’t tell her it was his. I’ve never told her what happened.”

“Why not?” Andy asks.

“I can’t,” Maya says. “You know, we talked on Friday, I told her everything about my dad. I was more honest with her than I’ve ever been with anyone. But how can I tell her this? Her brother is sick and she has done everything she can to help him. My brother was sick and I…”

“Maya, what happened to Mason wasn’t your fault,” Andy says. “Talk to her. Knowing what she does about your dad and what it was like growing up in that house, she’s gonna understand.”

“Will she?”

“Maya, she loves you. And you love her. And not being honest with her just ends with things getting messy.”

“I know that now,” Maya says.

“Look, I’ve never seen you as happy as you’ve been these last few months since you met Carina. That’s something worth fighting for, trust me. So you’ve had a hiccup – she’s forgiven you. You need to forgive yourself and focus on what you’ve got, which is an insanely hot woman who is crazy about you. Things might not be perfect now, but hang in there – I think she’s worth it.”

As if she knows she is being talked about, Maya’s phone lights up with a message from Carina. Andy waves her hand at the phone, encouraging her to read it, and stands up to retrieve another beer from the fridge as Maya opens the message.

Thank you for being there today, I’m glad you were. Dinner this week would be great, let me know when you’re free. I hope Andy is ok. I love you. C xx

Maya smiles as she realises that Andy is right.  

“I think she’s worth it too.”