#anyone wanna talk about him kicking the knife in??

[smol-ruby]

sorry guys, he’s hot

[steddielations]

ao3 | hurt/comfort, friends to lovers, pre s4

"Hello? Ed, is that you? What's all that noise? What's goin' on?" 

"Wayne, can you come pick me up ... I’m at a party at the Harringtons’ house ... I don't wanna talk about it, man … Can you please just come get me? Please." 

Eddie hangs up the phone and swallows down the lump in his throat. 

He refuses to cry in Steve Harrington's kitchen.

Making his way through all the teenagers crowding this soulless house, he blinks the fog from his eyes. No tears are gonna take him back to half an hour ago, shooting the shit with his dad in the van, happily ignoring years worth of bloody hatchets and skeletons between them. 

While Eddie was desperate for it to be real this time, dear old dad hadn’t changed at all, taking off with Eddie’s van the second he came inside to scope out the party. Sorry to all the manicured girls of Loch Nora that pay pretty pennies for his shitty joints, but his stash is long gone, along with all the cash he made the last few days. 

It’s all in the wind with Al Munson like always.

The muggy air washes over Eddie when he steps outside, rubbing his eyes against the cool sting of wetness brimming in them. He’s not gonna cry in front of Steve Harrington’s pool either, even if he’s alone out here. 

It’s like a different dimension from the crowd inside, but everyone knows the pool is off limits, though no one seems to know why. Everyone just falls in line to the will of the king. Whatever, Eddie doesn’t give a shit he just needs a minute to breathe. He needs a damn cigarette, too, but of course, his smokes were in the van.

“Hey Munson, you sold out already or something?”

Eddie’s hands drop from his face, whipping around to where the voice came from. Caught off guard, embarrassment rises in his cheeks under the gaze of the man himself, Harrington. There’s an almost eerie blue glow casting off the water where he’s sitting poolside in a deck chair, strangely alone out here when he’s got a whole party inside.

Eddie clears his throat, trying to shield his vulnerability from a moment ago, “Nah man, all my shit was stolen.”

“That bites. Do you know who took it?” Harrington sounds oddly… concerned. “I bet it was that dickhead, Hargrove. I kicked him out like 10 minutes ago.”

“What’s it to you?” Eddie shoots back, instinctively distrustful, hackles raised like a cornered animal. He’s already taken a knife to the back tonight.

Harrington holds up a hand as if to ease him, like somehow in all his prim Polo-wearing properness, he’s used to handling wild things. “Just figured maybe I could help you get it back.”

“Why do you care?” Maybe Eddie’s being too defensive, it’s not like Harrington has ever given anyone hell like Hargrove or Hagan, but they’re all one in the same right? Or maybe Harrington really was ousted from the throne like the rumors in the hallways say. Eddie’s got more on his mind right now than the intricacies of Hawkins High pecking order. 

“Uh, because it’s my house and I don’t want some thief around? Jesus you’re prickly, dude.” With an eyeroll, Harrington waves him over to the empty chair next to him. “Here, just sit down and relax for a sec. We’ll see if we can figure it out.”

Eddie hesitates, feeling like it has to be some kind of trap, but there’s no one else around. Harrington’s never done more than stand by while his jock buddies do their damage to whoever or call Eddie a freak under his breath a couple times, but who hasn’t? Eddie encourages it, even. What would Harrington get out of pulling anything now when it’s not for show?

Honestly, Eddie’s just trying to rationalize it because he could really use the beer that’s also up for grabs, offered with an outstretched hand.

So Eddie stalks over to the empty chair, warily sitting down as if it might snap him inside like a snare. His nerves are all frazzled. Between his dad’s little stunt and now the king of the jocks (former king?) is handing Eddie an open beer that he’s taken a sip from himself, give him a break. Eddie mellows out a tad after a couple chugs.

“Do you have any clue who took it?” Harrington asks, way too much concern in the line between his brows than he should be able to fake for Eddie.

“No one here.”

Eddie sort of wishes it was that simple. A stranger would only hurt his pockets, instead of this bone-deep betrayal he should’ve seen coming. He doesn’t even care about the money, or his van, it’s deeper than that. It aches somewhere the booze can’t wash away. He squeezes the cool bottle in his grasp, blaming the contents for what he woefully admits next.

“It was my pops, man. He ran off with my van and everything in it.”

For some reason, it’s embarrassing to say. Either secondhand for his old man pulling something so low-down, or just his own pride for falling for it. He stares at the unnaturally still water in front of him, instead of meeting the gaze beside him.

He can feel Harrington taking in it, questioning it. Maybe he’s wondering how a father could screw over his own son like that, or maybe he’s thinking everyone knows that’s exactly what Al Munson would do, and Eddie— especially Eddie, should’ve known that.

Even Jeff warned him this time too, having been there since the days that Al would bring Eddie a new bike when he won big at the casino, then steal it back the next week to sell when he lost. Seems like Eddie was the only idiot willing to give his dad another chance, even blowing off band practice the last couple days to spend time with him.

“Your van, huh?” Is what Harrington finally says, soft for some reason. “I could give you a ride home. Forest Hills, right?”

That’s… not what Eddie was expecting at all. Just picturing that hotrod that’s all the rage in the school parking lot kicking up gravel in the trailer park rubs him wrong. It’s all off-beat, Eddie feels so far off his center that he’s normally so sure of. All he can do is push back to try and find it again.

“What, you’re gonna ditch your party to slum it on the wrong side of Hawkins with me? Don’t worry about it, I called my uncle.”

Looking over, he sees how Harrington almost looks disappointed by that.

“Yeah okay, but I don’t really care about this party,” he says, not even trying to pass it off in a ‘cool’ way, he just seems put off by it, “Graduation’s coming up, y’know, it was Tommy’s idea. I should’ve said no, I don’t give a shit about it. Or Tommy.”

Again, not what Eddie was expecting. He feels a thud in his stomach at the mention of graduation, yet another failure under his belt. “Well I’m not graduating, so does it count as that kinda party if you’re out here with the super senior freak?” 

“Guess we’re just having a shitty dads party then,” Harrington tries for what Eddie assumes is a reassuring smile, because for whatever reason in this twisted reality, Steve Harrington is trying to comfort him. 

Him, Eddie Munson.

But it ends up striking an already sensitive nerve.

“What do you even know about it?” Eddie scoffs.

Harrington’s smile drops, snapping back, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

A bitter laugh bubbles up in Eddie’s throat. He hates how it sounds as awful as he feels. Gesturing with the beer in his hand, he states the obvious, “Look around, dude.”

Maybe Harrington’s not as popular at school, but he’s still well off at home. A rich, two parent household that he’s never had to worry about scrounging to keep the lights on. The only business he’ll ever have to do is for his Daddy’s fucking letterhead. Eddie will accept his pity to the extent of a free beer, but he won’t sit there and listen to Harrington pretending to know what it’s like for him.

“Yeah, look around,” Harrington retorts, an even more bitter curl on his lip than Eddie’s. “Got everything except parents, don’t I? Like if they buy me enough shit, I won’t notice they’re hardly here.”

The look in his eyes is a little hurt but fierce, grating enough to cut through Eddie’s defenses. Wayne keeps telling him to stop jumping the gun and going off half-cocked. Yet here Eddie is again, assuming he’s got this guy all figured out.

When in reality, all he knows is that despite being the talk of the town, Harrington’s parents are rarely ever seen around. He lost his girl, doesn’t seem to have any real friends to show, and looks about as lonely at school as he does now— while he’s doing nothing but trying to help Eddie.

“I’m sorry, man,” Eddie relents, “You’re just going against everything I thought I knew about you right now. I’m trying to kick the habit of putting people in boxes with the whole anti-conformity thing. Been told I can be a real judgemental asshole.”

“Yeah I wonder why,” Harrington says lightly, his lips curling back into a smile that sort of makes Eddie want to hide his face. It doesn’t feel wrong somehow, like the rare times that a girl spared him a look, more like it shouldn’t be directed at him. Steve Harrington shouldn’t be smiling at him.

“And call me Steve, alright? If we’re gonna be in the shitty dads club together, we should be on a first name basis.”

That actually gets a laugh out of Eddie. Short and pained as it sounds, it’s real.

“Okay then, Steve,” he has to look away after he says it, feeling his chest cave under the weight of that smile for some reason. Must be the state he’s in. Steve made him forget for a second but he’s sinking again, staring out over the pool, trying and failing to see the bottom.

Read the rest on Ao3

for day one of @eddiemonth prompt “Parents”

[miley1442111]

Hi my love!

I'm sorry if this is a bother, but I saw you were taking requests and I really wanted to see this one written and you do such amazing writing.

Please don't feel pressured into writing this tho

So, we all know Derek is like, 6'2" is, right, so the girls he talks to are shorter than him, but I was wondering if you could write something with a female reader where she is almost as tall as him, and decided to wear heels to something, like a party or a gala or something, and she feels insecure about being so tall and he's just swooning over her because look at his tall woman, his amazing tall woman who works as an FBI profiler and can literally kick anyone's ass and just look how cool his girlfriend is.

Like, if you wanted to you could write about how some guy made a comment and Derek literally had to be held back because he was full on ready to throw hands for the reader.

Bonus points of she's like really fit, like she definitely hits the gym and you can see it

Again, you don't have to write it if you don't want to/don't feel comfortable, I just thought it would be cute

OMG I love this idea, it's so freaking cute! I had so much fun with this and istg I'm so sick of y/n always being some small fragile little thing in fics, it drives me crazy!!!!

Thank you for requesting my dear ! :)

my girl- d.morgan

a/n: intended for tall fem!reader but as per usual imagine what you like :)

summary: derek comforts you after something happens at the yearly award show

pairings: derek morgan x reader, (platonic) bau team x reader

warnings: insecurities, suggestive tones, crying, fluff :)

You loved your body, seriously you did. It was your vessel, your home. You nourished it and took care of yourself. 

But sometimes you wanted to feel shorter. Being tall has its advantages, and yes, you knew you were more than conventionally attractive, but it didn’t stop the nagging feeling in the back of your head, telling you it was weird that when you wore heels, your boyfriend was looking up at you, not down. Derek was 6’2. You were 6’2 ½ with these heels on. You were taller, which was fine, but it played in your mind more than you had wanted it to for the entire night. 

Derek on the other hand? When he saw you in that perfect dress he didn’t think he’d have the willpower to actually stop himself from fucking you before the event. He felt so lucky. His beautiful, ass-kicking girlfriend was wearing a dress that he’d bought her and she looked fucking delicious. He knew you were gorgeous, especially when he was regularly graced with the image of you naked, but this was another level. On your latest mission you’d taken the unSub down on your own and he swore he’d never been more turned on. The way you just overpowered him, getting his knife off him and cuffing him. You were the most beautiful person in his eyes, you always would be.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Walking into the gala, he couldn’t keep his hands to himself, gripping and pawing at you, kissing you constantly. Though, he could see something was wrong. Was this gala too much for you? Did you want to go home early? He wouldn’t have complained.  

“You alright baby?” He asked as another award was announced. 

“Fine,” you sighed, staring into your plate of food as you just moved the mashed potatoes around. 

“Baby,” He placed his hand on your thigh, grabbing your attention. “Talk to me.”

“It’s nothing.”

Derek frowned. You weren’t usually one for keeping things from him. “Baby-”

“I’m going to the bathroom,” you announced to the table, and stood up. You avoided Derek’s concerned eyes and he got up to follow you. 

“How’s the weather up there?” A drunk asshole asked you and he saw the way your face subtly contorted into upset, trying to hide tears. 

He saw red.  

His eyes darkened and his fists balled at his sides. “You wanna say that again?”

The drunk asshole sobered slightly after seeing the seriousness on Derek’s face. 

“Derek it’s fine-” you pleaded, wanting to sink into the floor. 

“No it’s fucking not. Say it again.”

David and Aaron got up from the table, stalking over before Derek swung at the guy. 

They were too late. 

“Derek!” You shouted as the other two pulled him off the man. Other tables were starting to stare and you felt perpetually worse. You should’ve just worn flats. 

“You can shut up next time, yeah?” Derek jeered at the bleeding man as Aaron and David held him back.

“Calm down,” Aaron ordered cooly, and Derek instantly pulled himself out of their arms,brushing them off. 

“I’m calm,” he said. He was not calm. No one got to insult his girl. 

“Can we just go home?” You whispered through shaky breaths. Derek’s attention was all on you.

“Of course we can.”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The drive home was silent, his hand on your thigh as you attempted to calm down. 

Derek was wracking his brain for why you’d been off all night but came up empty. 

What was wrong?

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

You kicked off your shoes, practically running to the bathroom and locking it behind you. Derek sighed to himself as he set down the keys, deciding to grab himself a beer. 

You took off your makeup, your dress, and showered, trying to wash your insecurities away. You knew you were pretty, you knew Derek loved you the way you were. 

Sometimes insecurities just get the better of you.  

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

You sheepishly walked into your bedroom and saw Derek on the bed, waiting for you. 

“Can we talk?” He asked and you nodded slowly. “What’s wrong?”

And with that, the floodgates opened. You pushed your face into his chest, crying against him as he comforted you. “I just… I know I’m ‘pretty’ and all but… sometimes I just-”

“Hey, you are pretty, so goddamn pretty baby,” he smiled at you and it eased some of the hurt in you. “But I get that you don’t always feel like it, which is fine too, y’know why?”

“Why?” You snuffled out, looking up at him through running mascara.

“Because I can alway remind you, my pretty girl,” he smirked, and sealed his statement with a kiss. 

You felt better, knowing you had someone who loved you no matter what. 

It’s not like Derek minded, he was so head over heels for you you could’ve had two heads and he wouldn't have cared. You were his.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

criminal minds masterlist:)

[hutchersonsgurl]

You mean everything to me Daryl Dixon

paring Yn Horvath with Daryl Dixon ( you are Dale's Daughter)

Era: The OG camp outside Atlanta season 1

Warning 18+ MDNI.

Synopsis Daryl doesn't care about anyone but you and Merle with Merle gone you are all he has

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

"Look at it all gnawed on by this filthy diseased motherless proxy bastard," Daryl says kicking at the walker on the ground

"Calm down son, that's not helping, " Dale says

"what do you know about it old man?" Daryl says

"why don't you take that stupid hat and go back to the golden pond" Daryl shouts

"Daryl cut it out there's no reason to take it out on my dad" You shout

"Calm down sweetheart" Dale responds calmly

Well I got some squirrel that should last us a couple of days Daryl says walking toward camp

"Merle get your ugly ass out here" Daryl shouts

"Daryl just slow up a bit I need to talk you " Shane says

"About what?" Daryl asks

"There was a problem up in Atlanta," Shane says

"Is he dead?" Daryl ask

"We're not sure," Shane says

Rick explains what happened and then the next second you know Daryl is coming at Rick with a knife

Shane and Rick take down Daryl together Shane putting Daryl in a chokehold

"Chokeholds illegal!!" Daryl yells

"well you can file a complaint ' Shane says

You can't help but laugh to yourself Shane lets Daryl go you follow Daryl to his tent

"you know I'm sure he is okay Daryl," you say kneeling down

"Of course he is he's the toughest bastard I know, " Daryl says

"I wanna come with you guys to find him," you say

"the hell you ain't I gonna lose ya too princess" Daryl says

"woah did Daryl Dixon just admit he cares about me?" you say with a chuckle

"yeah you are the only person I care about like I said you ain't coming with," Daryl says as he gets up to wait for the others

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

part 2 coming Soon

No edits

[trans-luis-serra-navarro]

HI ERIC HELLO PLEASE HEAR ME OUT

i literally can't stop thinking about something

i loveee re6 AUs with luis, but

death island!luis !!!!

specifically, a scenario where he saves leon instead of/with rebecca. like imagine him working with rebecca on the vaccine and delivering it to the island to save leon and the rest 😭😭

and i actually see two scenarios here

either luis is obviously alive and all, and leon knows it, and it's just, hey! my husband's here to save the day!!

OR it's a big reveal lol. rebecca shows up there like, 'a friend helped me', and it's LUIS there with her. like, i know rebecca is super capable and she made the vaccine all alone in the movie , but just imagine if it was actually a bit more complicated, so she would have to reach out for help, and who would be better than luis

i NEED to see luis and rebecca team up, they'd work so well together 😭😭

and older serennedy!!!!! omg

i just need to see older luis 😭😭 and the parallel with him delivering the suppressant in re4, and now the vaccine

i don't know what i wanted to say with this and i really didn't think it through that well, and it's rushed, but i really need to share these thoughts 😭

@silverhexrt HI SO UM. THIS ASK WAS SENT IN JUST OVER A WEEK AGO and it gave me SUCH AGGRESSIVE brain worms that I was like Oh this would make for SUCH a cute little Drabble!!!!! But then I just. Kept going. So I accidentally made a whole entire fic for you!! I really truly hope you don’t mind!!!!!!!!! ;^^/

I know this blog is more of a character analysis blog so if you or anyone else still wants to talk to me about the LOGISTICS of what Luis in Death Island would look like I’d be MORE THAN HAPPY TO RAMBLE cuz I am SO FASCINATED by how that would work character and legalities wise,,, but uh for now!! I hope you don’t mind this little thingymadgig I made!!!

Fatigue was the overwhelming sensation dragging Leon’s body down. His breathing was labored and his skin burned against the Velcro of his protective gear- far from unfamiliar territory in terms of the worst symptoms he’d survived. But this somehow felt so, so much worse.

Leon felt like he was dying. Like actually dying. Which was downright terrifying.

He hated that he even knew what dying felt like. Leon could easily pick up on the little ways his body began to shut down; it felt like he couldn’t breath in far enough to fill his lungs, his limbs felt weighed down by an invisible force, his vision was blurry… except, this time, it was his own body killing him from the inside-out.

He was much more used to- even comfortable with- the close brush of death being from the hands of a Bioweapon or loose debris crushing his body. Leon at least had some level of control in those scenarios. He could kick and wriggle and spit and cuss out whatever was holding him down until a miracle freed him and he could load bullets into the face of whatever was hunting him.

But Leon couldn’t run from his own body, no. And oh, how badly did he wanna run until his legs burnt beneath him.

Leon had only ever felt that inherent, gut-wrenching urge one other time. One other time when he was on the brink of death and freedom alike; warm tan hands and cold needles in an isolated village so far from home. Leon could’ve taken the medicine and ran. He could’ve watched the world burn from behind his lovers back as they chased windmills without a care in the world.

He could’ve faced death in the eye. He could’ve taken the blade of the knife for him. He could’ve been just a fraction of a second too late for Ashley. Oh, the possibilities.

What a weird time to be thinking about Valdelobos. Maybe it was just his oxygen-deprived brain desperately trying to connect the dots for one last dream. Like falling asleep with the TV on and having a dream about the movie you’d just watched. Arias had his own ‘inspirations’ from Los Illuminados, after all. Maybe he was just trying to think of one last happy memory to drift off to.

Leon hoped dying would be a little bit like falling asleep. He was never religious, never superstitious- but deep down he hoped that he’d be reunited with the loved ones he’d lost. Finally, finally getting the chance to feel those warm palms against his cheek that he missed oh-so dearly.

Leon sighed and let the concrete below his hands wobble a little. He could just barely make out Chris and Claire’s labored breathing from behind him- the only other thing keeping him grounded.

But god was it getting hard. He couldn’t tell if it was just the pure exhaustion or the virus or what, but Leon’s head felt so heavy. Heavy enough that it almost felt as though somebody was holding it up for him. He let himself pretend, just for a moment, that it wasn’t just his imagination. That the warmth on his cheek wasn’t his flushed skin and were instead the hands of a lover, keeping him upright and rested against a beating heart that Leon was sure was just the blood roaring in his ears.

He let himself pretend that the stroke he felt against his cheek was his lovers thumb. A lover so considerate that they’d wipe the blood off of his skin and tuck the loose hair behind his ears. He pretended that the murmuring of his ears giving in was somebody talking to him, whispering comfort in his final moments.

Leon almost let himself give in completely to the imaginary man holding him- the distant scent of leather and cigarettes felt so real, after all- but a cold prick against his neck and the immedie, cold relief of fluids beneath his skin snapped him back to reality.

His breathing came back to him in time with his heartbeat, his fingertips pulsed with the sudden pumping of blood, and…

The feeling of somebody holding him hadn’t gone away.

His cheek was still warm with another man’s hand. His nose still stung with the smell of leather.

His heart was still beating in time with somebody else’s.

Leon hesitated. He didn’t want to open his eyes. He knew he was just dreaming- that he’d look up and the vision of the man he yearned for every night would disappear like a mirage. He wanted to keep them closed and pretend for as long as possible. Until-

“Leon? ¿Corazón? Mierda, Rebecca, he’s not responding-“

Leon’s eyes opened just slightly.

He was staring down at the concrete, somebody must’ve moved him to get access to his neck easier. But he wasn’t dreaming. He wasn’t dreaming of the arms clad in white wrapped around his shoulders and the ringlets of curls that fell around his vision, shielding him from the fluorescent Alcatraz prison lights.

Warm hands went back to stroking his cheek.

Leon wasn’t dreaming.

“Leon? Oh, please wake up,”

His voice sounded so broken, so quiet. Leon had never heard of it like that. It broke his heart.

“I can’t- I can’t leave you here, not like this, not again, please…”

Leon couldn’t take it anymore. He was terrified to roll over and face the man he’d chased in his dreams for so long but he had no other option. He’d rather he disappear and it all be his imagination than hear him this sad ever again.

Leon turned his head and blinked up at Luis like a newborn deer. His big, brown eyes were wet with tears but that stupidly charming smile was unmistakable.

“Hey there, Leon…”

Luis managed to croak out, the hand against his cheek trembling from the tears. Leon reached his own shaky hand up to brush Luis’ long, grayed locks out of his face just as he had done moments before for him.

“I must be dreaming,” Leon huffed out, and Luis chuckled, shaking his head and the tears from his reddened cheeks at the same time.

“If you’re dreaming, then so am I, I’m afraid”

“I’ll take my chances.”

Luis chuckled and Leon wasn’t far to follow suit. Even with the end of the world on his shoulders- even with Dylan fighting tooth-and-nail to break down his, Jill’s and everyone else’s spirits- Leon still found time to laugh with Luis like it was autumn of 2004 all over again.

“Just like old times, eh, Sancho?” Luis gave a little sniffle, and while Leon had more than too many questions to ask- how he was even alive was obviously the most pressing- he just couldn’t find it in himself to care.

“Yeah,”

He let himself rest his head against Luis’ chest. Heart beating strong, almost as if to mock Leon for ever doubting his lover's strength.

“Just like old times, Don Quixote…”

[kenlvry]

main four reacting to you coming home drunk and calling them pretty

reader calling the main 4 pretty while drunk

an, OKAY BOSS 🫡🫡

kenny

it is almost 2 am and you are still not home, he is so ready to put on his mysterion costume on and search the whole town for you. hearing a car pull up he jerks from the couch and look at the window, it was you barefoot holding your heels waving goodbye to your friends. he waits infront of the front door excited to greet you, the keys rattling to unlock the door followed with "shit whcih one is it" kenny sighs and open the door. "KENNYYYY" you hug him and kenny can tell that you have been partying hard, you reek of alcohol. "im not one to get mad at you for drinking but you need to control your parting habit, youre always dizzy in the morning and regret it" he lectures closing the door you still hugging him "boo buzzkil" he gives you the 😐 r u fr look and you laugh. "hmmm have i ever tell you how pretty you are, so pretty" you cup his face and observe it he blushes harddddddd. you have only called him handsome or sexy or hot so far never have anyone called him pretty, "oh yeah? im very pretty huh?" he smirks taking this chance to do smthn with you iykyk "i might be drunk but im still sober enough to know what you wanna do" with that you let go and walk to your bedroom with a smiling teasing kenny in suit. " 'm so pretty right?" the morning was hell and he wouldn't shut up about it "ugh kenny that's the third time this morning fuck yourself" you groan as you walk away from kenny with the hangover medicine with you "thats not how you talk to your pretty boyfriend" he laughs.

stan

you had texted him earlier that night saying your gonna be late "im goung tobe kate" "what" "latw" "okay". he sleeps before you come home knowing you didn't want him waiting on you and that your friends was there to take care of you. he was about to sleep but the door knob twisting and the keys desperately being pushed into the keyhole was too loud to not hear from the bedroom. he groans and gets out of bed heading towards the door. "hello stan 😊😊😊 thankyou 🥰���" you walk past him and wow tyou smell like alcohol, even he wasn't this bad. following you to the bedroom you lay down throwing your shoes and bag on the floor "geez y/n atleast take a shower first" he puts his hands on his waist. you lay on your side and tap the empty spot beside you signalling him to join you, despite the smell he lays down and looks at you. you stroke his hair staring at him "you're so pretty stan, maybe even prettier than me" his eyes widen at that like me??? pretty??? really??. he quickly realises you are very drunk and you probably don't mean it "okay y/n, get some sleep" he lightly push you by the shoulders to lay you down properly "no nooo im being honest, your face is so pretty, your hair black hair and your eyes fuck i could get lost in your eyes, especially your lip-" you sleep before you could say anything more and he just layed there with a blushed face. he gets up and walk over your vanity grabbing makeup remover and a cotton pad, sitting beside you removing your makeup. he stops to think what you said earlier and is so embarrassed, bro is kicking his feet squealing and covering his face rolling around. it gave him sm confident and remembers that compliment to this day.

kyle

it was around 12 pm that night, kyle was jus chilling watching movies in the living room and eating popcorn. you told him you'd be home a little late and to not wait for you, so he took this chance to enjoy some time for himself. suddenly the door knob shake violently and bangs from the door can be heard, he was so scared who the hell was it he thought, burglar? murderer? thief?. he slowly approach the door looking through to the keyhole expecting a fucking clown or smthn with a knife but it was you. he sighs and opened the door "you had me scared to death! and i thought you were coming home at 2??" your stance was pretty obvious you had gotten too drunk "my friends said i drank too much and i need to go home 😊" , well it isn't the first time, "cmon wanna watch a movie tgt?" "kyle i smell like im stans dad i need to take a shower" "but i miss you ☹️" "then shower with me pretty boy" he makes a slightly disgusted face while laughing lightly but stop when he remembered your words "pretty?" "mhm!" you nod your head repeatly and make you way upstairs, his cheeks were a tint of pink smiling at the compliment, you stop midway and look back at him. he wasn't wearing his hat and he rarely takes them off that was what made him so pretty, his pretty curls. you walk back to him getting reallllyyyyy close staring at him, his cheeks turning a a darker shade of pink avoiding eyecontact "uhh" "you look so pretty, should take your hat off more often" you kiss his cheek and continue your way upstairs. he just stares at the stairs holding his cheek "pretty?" he mumbled and walk his way to the couch sitting on the couch "pretty .." he loves it sm when you call him pretty and you know it so you call him pretty more often.

cartman

2 am. you aren't home yet and cartman is worried for his life, i mean he is pacing around the living room wondering why you aren't home. then he heard the door open and immediately jump on the couch turning on the tv, "oh hey, ur late not, that i was waiting for you" he says glancing at you, by how you were wobbling around it was kinda obvious you were drunk. you look at him smiling and walking over to him with wide arms "CARTMANNN HELLOOOO" you hug him and he loves it smsmsmsmsm but ofc he hides it "ew what do you want" you hop on the couch right beside him laying your head on him, he doesn't push you off despite the disgusted face you made. "mm your so mean ☹️" you make pouty lips at him, you cup his face pulling it close to you "your are so pretty you know that? i love you so much" then you hug him so tight he swears he can't breath. boy just sat there with a 😯 face on. since you were drunk you weren't gonna remember this so he decides to play along "i think yr prettier though" "NO. YOU ARE 🤨" you argued "its definitely you" "YOU CLEAFLY ARE PRETTIER IN OUR RELATIONSHIP 😒😒" "WELL I SAY OTHERWISE" you two literally argue like kids on who is prettier. you both agree that you both are equally pretty. the next morning you remember vividly what happened "sooo im pretty huh?" "i never said that" "you said that last night" "no stop being delusional thats gay".

[forest-posts-and-reblogs]

Update

I've finally finished the first chapter for Loving You Is A Losing Game! Here is the link to AO3, and I've also posted the first chapter under the cut.

@fisticuffsatapplebees @im-totally-not-an-alien-2 @space-dreams-world @omnicrafts @butterflypeachgrove you guys get the credit!

Tag List:

@taniaundertaleau @whitecrowbane @xye-chan @my-perfect-storybook-love @meira-3919 @bubblemixer @wackyattack

Danny stared at the portal, his finger merely one inch away from the self-destruct button. His hands shook as he stared down the portal.

Am I really doing this?

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and releasing the tension from his body. It felt like this was the only way, but . . . It couldn’t be. There had to be something else he could do.

But he knew there wasn’t. Things had changed. He couldn’t stand being here, alone in Amity Park, where nobody cared about him unless it was to shove him into a locker and where his parents were planning to kill him. He was tired of waiting for someone to see him, tired of waiting for something to change.

Because nothing would.

He’d destroyed Vlad’s portal to the Ghost Zone and stolen his blueprints so he wouldn’t be able to make another one, and he’d planned on doing the same for his parents portal, too, but now . . .

He couldn’t do it.

Danny fled upstairs, away from the portal, away from the basement, away from the place he’d died three years ago and no one had noticed.

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

Danny could safely say that today was the worst day of his life.

His friends hadn’t spoken to him since they’d started hanging out with Gregor two months ago. Since they’d replaced him with Gregor two months ago. Danny didn’t hold out much hope that they’d talk to him today. He hadn’t had hope for the past week now.

He hadn’t been planning on going to school today, but he knew that if Principal Ishiyama sent another call to his parents he’d be grounded. And since ghost attacks had decreased after he’d destroyed Vlad’s portal three weeks ago, getting grounded meant incessant boredom. Or having to listen to his parents talking about the experiments they planned on doing to Phantom. The thought of that alone made him feel faint - actually having to experience it would be ten times worse. Which was why Danny snuck into class halfway through first period, using his invisibility and intangibility to pretend he’d been there the whole time. Not that he thought it would work on Lancer. He had a sneaking suspicion that Lancer was the only person besides Wes who knew he was Phantom.

Danny held in a bitter laugh. Somehow, his friend circle had gone from Sam, Tucker and Valerie to Wes. And Wes had spent the better part of two years attempting to reveal his identity.

The period ended, and Danny just walked straight through the wall next to his desk and into the corridor outside, not caring if anyone saw him. He knew no one would believe that he was Phantom. After all, Wes had tried to tell the town for years and had failed, at least until the GIW attack seven months ago when he’d realized exactly what was waiting for Danny if his identity was revealed. Wes had gotten a lot cooler since then, slowly entering his friend group.

Until Gregor. Until everything had happened and Sam and Tucker had decided to kick him to the curb. Valerie had already done so two years ago, when he’d first revealed to her that he was Phantom. She hadn’t taken it well.

Danny still had a scar from when she’d stabbed him with a knife made from ecto-ranium.

He reached his locker, not even bothering to act surprised when Wes was standing leaning on the wall right next to it. He knew Wes would have been watching him through the bugs he’d placed in Fentonworks. 

Wes was always watching Fentonworks.

Danny opened up his locker, pulling out a random textbook. “I couldn’t do it.”

“I saw,” Wes said, not unkindly. He paused for a moment, before asking, “Wanna talk about it?”

“No.”

Wes stared at him for a few seconds before nodding. “You planning on doing it tonight?”

“I was thinking I’d spend the night at yours, actually.” Danny slammed his locker shut and turned to face Wes. “My parents have an idea for a new invention.”

Wes clenched his fist. “All the more reason to do it tonight.”

Danny took a deep breath. “I can’t, Wes. Not tonight. I can’t go down there again. I died there, Wes, and no one noticed and I can’t go back to the basement and stand in front of the portal and push that button, I just can’t.”

Wes hesitated. "All right." He pushed Danny to the side and opened up his locker. Danny was about to protest when Wes took the books from his hand and gave him a different set of books.

“You have English now, idiot.” Wes shook his head. “Not Chemistry.”

Danny blinked, taking the books. “Thanks.”

Wes grinned at him, slinging an arm over his shoulder. “No problem, dumbass.”

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

Danny wasn’t entirely sure how it had happened, but somehow, his parents had captured a shade.

Humans couldn’t even see shades.

Danny would have to figure out a way to get his parents to spill the beans on how they’d caught the poor thing, but right now he needed to come up with a plan to sneak in and return the shade to the Ghost Zone, where it belonged.

It wouldn’t be particularly difficult. All he’d have to do would be to make sure that his parents were sufficiently distracted, and then he could open the portal and get the shade through to the other side. Which was why he was currently standing invisibly outside the basement door, waiting for the call Wes would make with one of his burner phones to Fentonworks, and when his family inevitably answered it, they’d be told that there was a ghost attack in progress at the park. The pair would immediately rush to the GAV, leaving Danny free to go down and save the shade.

Danny pressed himself further into the wall as the house phone rang and Mom walked out of the basement, muttering about bothersome people interrupting their work , a scowl on her face. The scowl, however, immediately vanished as she heard what was being said by the person on the other end. He watched as the call ended and she rushed downstairs, excitement evident on her face, and a few minutes later both she and Dad ran out of the basement and into the garage. Danny released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, and sank through the floor and into the basement. The sooner he got this over with the better.

It was easy enough to find the shade; after all, they were both ectoplasmic entities, and shades in particular were so common that Danny had no trouble finding them even in his human form. Which was good, since unlike blob ghosts, shades had such low levels of ectoplasm that his ghost sense couldn’t locate them at all. Danny opened the small ecto-resistant container his parents had trapped the shade inside, and held his hand out, waiting. The shade jumped into his palm after only a few seconds. He held back a grin as he walked over to the portal. Easy . Now all he had to do was get the shade to the Ghost Zone.

Danny held his hand over the button that would open the Ghost Portal.

It was shaking.

Danny closed his eyes and tried to relax. This wasn’t even the same button. It was in an entirely different location. He wasn’t going to die again - not unless he felt like it. Danny felt his lips twitch at the joke, and emboldened, he opened his eyes and quickly pressed the button, jumping back almost immediately.

The Fenton Ghost Portal came to life, a green glow that looked almost like a maw forming inside of it. Danny shot through and quickly found the shade in his palm a nice island with a bunch of other shades. He sent out a wave of safe-protect-happy so the shade would know it was safe to stay there, before returning to the realm of the living.

He wished he could stay in the Ghost Zone a bit longer.

[bella-rose29]

episode 8 commentary - Not the Eternal

final episode :(

swearing and spoilers for the books and show

also I wrote this months and months ago and no I will not be rereading so I'm just as surprised as you are for whatever is in this

not the way the light is buzzing while the camera spins around!!!

lockwood please go to therapy so you can start handling your emotions better

I love that he just gets changed into another suit and not comfy clothes

I WONT GIVE UP ON YOU LOCKWOOD

omg you're opening up about your feelings and admitting that you wanted to be at the bottom of the thames??? well done!!! (you still need to see a therapist though I'll do it for free if you can't afford it)

I want ruby to read CBeebies bedtime stories because the way that she narrates Mary Dulac's writings is amazing

omg idk if it means anything but the bone glass being a 'window' and George seeing Bickerstaff's face in the window and punching it??? am I stretching or is that a very sneaky link???

"where the hell is George" he's with the woman that's definitely in some sort of weird i-want-to-groom-you-relationship with him

yeah she needs you but not in the way you think

skull is such a snarky arse and I love it

"too busy playing the happy couple" yes they were although they were more like a married couple going through a rough patch

"it had to be here" because there's nobody to hear you scream then George

kipps omg no

Georgie yes slay that ghost

Joplin why do you just carry around the second knife that's very obvious of you

"I'd never be that nice to you" pfft

"let's kick in the doors, like we're really cool and know what we're doing" YES THANK YOU LOCKWOOD FOR VOICING WHAT ALL OF US WANT TO DO AND WHY

go on bobby

"what's the secret weapon?" "she is" power move from a husband supporting his wife

"and I'm Anthony bloody lockwood" YES YOU ARE

"this isn't a park, it's a graveyard" "then let's bury them" ICONIC LINE FROM HUSBAND

ned you got this

bobby you got this don't let the ginger woman beat you

is it bad I kinda wanna pin lockwood to a pillar

Kat come on you're a badass bitch don't let anyone tell you otherwise

skull why are you so cryptic and so literal at the same time

Georgie no

Georgie academics are not always nice like you are

he did want to see more but not unconsensually

yes you do know that knife Georgie is it all coming together now

DONT YOU HURT MY LOCKWOOD WINKMAN

YES KAT KICK HER IN THAT GRAVE

YES KAT KNOCK HIM OUT

"that bastard had a plan" "a suicidal one" "That tends to be a feature of all my best plans" lockwood honey-

"to save my friends. and kipps" pfft I love that he went to move away and had to turn back to make the distinction

omg Georgie no

you are an oddball but that's why we love you

omg Lucy called him Georgie

I love that Lucy has a go at lockwood for being all "do what you want with me but leave her alone" and then she does the same thing with George 💀

lockwood your arrogance is showing (but also you absolutely beat golden blade twice)

DONT TALK ABOUT HIS PARENTS

DONT FUCKING SHOOT HIM

omg the thump when lockwood lands on the bottom of the catafalque has me on the floor 💀

poor skully

omg dying at that shot of lockwood standing up after falling down the catafalque

Lucy no

Georgie yes

GEORGE IS NOT STUPID YOU BITCH

I am quite sad we didn't get the glasses wearer representation from George where he looks into the bone glass and doesn't see shit because he's not wearing his glasses bc honestly same (I can't see shit without mine either)

YES LOCKWOOD SLAY THAT BITCH

"oh, and I got shot" love it

not the way Lucy is cradling lockwood's face when they go back up on the catafalque and he's just lying there like some sick victorian lady in a painting while she strokes his cheek

omg and she moves his arm and coat so that all limbs are inside the vehicle at all times

"I thought George would have told you" George didn't tell because they secretly love you really kipps

"just reckless enough" both iconic and he looks like a wet cat

his smile is so precious I love him

"you're alright, lockwood" despite the fact you poked me in the bum after beating me in a duel when we were younger

"It's a medical necessity, George, it doesn't mean a thing" lol

"I thought I'd killed him" bitch nothing can kill him but his wife leaving

omg them being a family

"lockwood almost died a thousand times, but... I think he's decided he's better off alive" OH MY GOD

skully :(

"it's incredibly rare. both of you are" OK LOVER BOY

*shoves a doughnut in George's mouth to get him to stop talking*

HE'S WEARING THE PINK SOCKS iconic

his hand when he opens that door omg I need to stop I'm too obsessed

[konigsblog]

ghost x singer!f!reader

masterlist

requested by anonymous

warnings: kidnapping, possessiveness, reader doesn't like ghost, ghost makes reader uncomfortable, security

im not sure whether ill make this a mutli-parter, im not sure this is good. but please tell me if you want more.

simon was assigned as a security guard for a famous singer, known online as [stage name] and offline as [name], both men and women fell head over heels for her beauty. which led you to have security guards beside you everywhere you went. one of these guards was simon, who never failed to be there.

he was a bit off though, his kindness for you showed because you could tell how rough and cold he was with everyone else. but with you? he was soft and charming, yet a bit of a creep.

the comments he made, about taking you in as his own. "i always have to guard you everywhere, you'd be safer if you just lived with me." he chuckled, you tensed up but laughed back, awkwardly though. it wasn't uncommon for him to make these comments, whether it be; "i should just chain you to me." or "you don't need anyone but me." it creeped you out.

you never said anything about it, not realizing the true intentions he had, not realising that you'd be chained up against a wall, and a weight chained to your ankle.

the light burned your eyes as you woke up, your fight or flight instincts kicked in as you realized that you didn't know where you were. you began panting as fear took over your body, you froze in fear as the door creamed open and heavy boots came down the stairs.

a familiar voice came from the tall, broad man wearing a skull balaclava. "i told you that you'd be better with me. i warned you." the soft and calm voice was replaced with a gruff, low and spine-chilling tone. "s-simon?! what the fuck?! let me go." pleading and begging with him, screaming for him to let you go. "no, no, no love. please understand, i'm not gonna hurt you, can you not tell? i love you." his voice was back to hushed and gentle. the way you would talk to a baby that's going to fall asleep. his massive hands grabbed the back of your neck and pulled his mask up, pulling you in for a kiss, you whined, a choked sob muffled as his lips pressed against yours.

disgust washed over you, never would you imagine being chained to a wall in your body guards basement, this man was supposed to protect you. it seemed you both had different ideas of protection though. "please, simon, p-please ..." you begged, mewled and weeped. your head felt dizzy and your muslces felt week. you noticed that your throat felt strained, and sore.

"i wanna go back, i- fuck please, simon..." nothing could budge this man, he cupped your face, you spat at him. "fuck you." his face contorted into a saddened one, then angry. "lovie, i'm not here to hu-" you cut him off. "i'll never fucking like you?! get that through your fucking thick skull." you choked out, as your head fell, tears falling down your cheeks and you avoided his hands.

even if he got on one knee, you wouldn't like him. this wasn't what you wanted, you wanted to sing, sing to your fans and be on stage. not in some dirty basement.

before your knew it, his hand twisted into a fist as he knocked you out. whines that filled the room fell and gave the room a deafening silence and a deathly aroma.

*****

your eyes flickered open, feeling yourself in a different position, you were surrounded by pillows and blankets, a body laid beside you and your wrists tied to the bed. another wave of nausea came back, as you felt a panic attack coming on, he was asleep. a knife in his hand grazed across your thigh. why did he have a knife? he was gonna hurt you.

as your breath started to speed up, it alerted simon. he scanned his surroundings, before his eyes laid on yours, making a fierce eye contact, his other hand reached across to turn the lamp on. your tear stained-bloodied face was wet with a mixture of blood, sweat and tears.

you knew there would be no escaping from him by asking, so you had to plan an escape. he doted over you, his hands roaming your body, hushing your demands and pleas. tehh fell to deafs ears as he held you. "let me love you, please."

you would never love him, no matter what.

idk if this is good or not, i haven't slept still but i can't sleep, give me criticism and if you want more please request more.

[oddballwriter]

Hi, if you don’t mind, could I request Jake Lockley x a chubby fem! Reader? I rarely see in fics with him girls over a size 2.

Maybe the two are hanging out but get mugged, and the reader kicks ass. It’s up to you, you’re the writer.

Good day/night

Parking Lot

꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦

Summary: The request actually summarizes it

Warnings: mentions of mugging, a knife, and reader knocking someone out. There's a not so subtle implication that Jake wants to get intimate with the reader but nothing actually happens with that and there's nothing actually explicit. 

Author's snip: I don't know if I wrote the implications that reader is chubby/plus sized good enough. I was trying to have subtle details that she's chubby.

I’ll shut up now. Enjoy! And don’t be afraid to request.

꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦

Jake liked to spoil you, to say the least. He, more like the system, had money "to burn" according to him. And he liked to burn his portion on you if he could, which is all the time with how much he takes you out.

This time, Jake took you out on a shopping spree. His excuse was that you were going off to a bachelorette party for one of your old friends and didn't have anything to wear considering the fact that the party would have you vacationing in Las Vegas for an entire weekend.

Now, did he have to take you to a high end mall to get you your outfits? No. Did he secretly like playing sugar daddy? Yes.

It was the evening when you two went to the mall, and took your time looking around, so it was already dark out as you left. You were making your way back to the car, which Jake had to park farther away from everything else since the parking lot was packed for some reason.

Jake held onto your waist as you walked, a habit he had always had. "I really liked what you picked out, beba." he says, "You'll be a real heartbreaker for any guy who tries to hit on you, only to find out that you're taken already." he adds. "Well of course you liked it." you respond. "You were practically eating with your eyes when I came out of the dressing room to see it better in a mirror." you mention. Jake chuckles. "I like seeing you in tight dresses. What can I say? Your body fills them out just right." he comments as he glides his hand lower to grab the extra plush skin on your hip and a little bit of your ass. You gave him a sly look and playfully warned "Watch yourself, Lockley. I don't want to get caught by mall security in the back of the car with yo-" but you were cut off my the sudden feeling of getting pushed away from him.

You didn't really process what was happening for a moment, but when you did, you saw a man in a ski mask pointing a knife at Jake as he had him pushed up against a car, demanding his wallet and anything he had on him.

Now, you knew Jake could handle himself. He was MoonKnight for crying out loud. But you got hit with this massive wave of adrenaline and just acted on whatever came to your mind first. And that just so happened to be doing the finger to the neck knock out that Jake taught you after he and the boys had run ins with an increase in attacks against women, and they wanted you do be able to defend yourself just in case you were alone. If you were entirely honest, it was the first time you used it on anyone, so you were amazed when it actually took the guy out.

Jake looked between you and the guy on the ground for a brief moment before smiling. "Wow, beba. That was quick. You managed to get that before I could even say anything to the guy." he praised, walking over the mugger. Jake then gently grabbed a hold of your wrist and walked in a different direction. "Let's get those mall securities you were talking about over here and get this guy." he said as he continued walking and then said in a half joking manner, "I just wanna head home and see you in that dress one more time.".

[wordywarriorwrites]

Calendar Girl: January

Series Masterlist: Calendar Girl Joel Miller Masterlist Author: @wordywarriorwritesrwrites​ Summary: The story of how Joel Miller falls in love again, told over a series of months. Series Warnings: NSFW. Smut. Language. Violence. Discussions of rape and consent. Alcohol consumption. Age-gap.

January

“Don’t pull,” Joel instructed. “Just squeeze.”

Still unused to the kick and noise, you hesitated on the follow-through, and the first shot only winged the target. After he reminded you of your stance and hand placement, you aimed and fired again. The second bullet had been much closer to the mark, and the third better still.

After you popped off the remaining rounds, Joel complimented your progress, and gave you some additional tips on your handling and timing. You were a fast learner; he knew you’d only improve with time and practice, and after he’d reloaded and returned the gun to you, you went again, and hit the target five out of seven rounds.

“Ready to move onto something with a bit more firepower?” Joel asked as he dumped the shells.

“Go big or go home,” you laughed.

Ellie smiled and nudged your shoulder, “You going to be patrolling regularly?”

You shook your head, “I don’t think so. But I want to be ready to fill in - just in case.”

As you and Ellie chatted, Joel prepped his Mossberg 500. While he loaded, he wondered if you’d ever had to shoot your way out of a bad situation, if you’d ever needed to defend yourself in the ways Ellie had, or if you’d been forced to do other things - like some of the things he’d done - in order to survive.

He’d never bothered to ask if you’d taken out a clicker or killed a human being before - not that it would’ve mattered, or changed the way he felt about you. After all, he’d done more than his fair share of killing and had no right to judge anyone. Since the threat of violence always simmered just beneath the surface, knowing how to shoot was not only smart, it was a valuable, life-saving skill Joel thought everyone should learn.

Especially you.

“I like my knife,” Ellie stated as she showed it off. “Saved my ass many times, but after I learned how to shoot - well, I just feel safer now, you know?”

You made a noise of agreement, “I get it.”

He handed the shotgun over to Ellie, and after he advised you to cover your ears, she fired off a few. There was a significant difference between the Taurus Model 66 (his preferred weapon of choice) and a pump action. By having Ellie demonstrate, he hoped you’d feel more confident trying it, and be prepared to practice with and use a rifle in future. After Ellie emptied it, he took the shotgun apart, explained the innerworkings, and guided you through cleaning, reassembly, and loading.

By the time you finished putting it back together, it had gotten too dark to continue on with target practice, so, he called an end to the lesson for the day. After the weapons had been checked back in and secured in the town’s armory, the three of you left the makeshift shooting range, and walked to the mess hall for dinner. Ellie had been quick to ditch you both in favor of her friends, and after Joel followed you through the chow line for his serving of spaghetti and salad, he took a seat on the bench across from you at the table.

“So, you gonna tell me the real reason why you wanna learn how to shoot?” he asked.

You picked up your fork and knife, “I told you why.”

“I offered to teach you last year,” Joel replied as he rested his forearms on the table. “You refused - said you weren’t comfortable with it. What’s changed?”

While you looked down at your plate and stabbed at your leafy greens, he stared at you and willed you to speak. You’d been weird and standoffish since Christmas. In fact, Joel would go so far as to say you’d done a spectacular job of avoiding him almost entirely, and he’d grown tired of it.

“You gonna talk to me?” he prodded. “Or am I only your friend when you need somethin’?”

You jerked your head up. Slammed your fork down. Mirrored his posture. Gaze now completely direct and full of fire, you asked him when he learned and who’d taught him.

“I grew up in Texas. Was practically born with a rifle in my hand,” he shrugged. “Dad taught me when I turned seven, maybe eight. What does that have to do with anything?”

“Well, I used to be a trust fund brat, remember? And the only thing my parents ever taught me was how to be seen and not heard,” you snapped back lowly. “So, when the world went to shit, what do you think happened to me and girls like me? Huh?”

Joel knew some things about your past, about your life from before. Over a few too many at the bar one night, you’d compared battle scars. Swapped some of the grittier war stories. Neither of you had gone too deep into the weeds, though, because the pain had been too raw, and you’d both wanted to think about other things. You told him you’d lost your entire family the first night, that you’d seen unimaginable horrors since then, but he’d hoped such horrors hadn’t been inflicted on you.

After a stretch of silence, you cleared your throat, and kicked up your chin, “I don’t want pity, alright? I just… It’s well past time I learned how to protect myself.”  

He nodded, “Whatever you need.”

You sat up straighter and reached for your fork, “And I’m sorry for avoiding you. With everything that’s happened… Well, I’m an absolute shitshow and not really the best company right now.”  

Joel tentatively reached out and placed a hand on your forearm, “Hey, there’s nothin’ to be sorry for. And I’d rather see the shitshow than have you lower the curtain on me.”

“You want to see the drama unfold?” you snorted.

He smirked. Squeezed gently. You sighed and placed your hand over his. Joel looked at you and you looked at him, and without saying a word, you understood each other. It just flowed between you, effortless and uncomplicated. Many things had been left unsaid, but it was as if you both knew those things didn’t need to be said all at once. Time was not guaranteed and life was even shorter and more precious, but there wasn’t any rush to rake up the past just yet.

Especially not when there was a present and a future to be considered.

“You got time tomorrow for another lesson?” Joel wondered.

You took a bite of salad and thought for a moment before you spoke, “Morning’s free.”

He twirled some spaghetti and brought it toward his mouth, “I’ll meet you at your place.”

Having aired it out, conversation flowed freer and supper went down easier. A half hour later, he checked in with Ellie, who was still in the thick of it with her friends. With a promise that she’d be home in an hour, Joel offered to walk you to your place, and you accepted.

“Listen, uh, do you have anything at home?” he wondered, eyes on the icy ground and hands shoved in deep in his pockets. “Something to protect yourself with?”

“Broken baseball bat,” you said as you yanked on your hat and sidestepped a snow mound. “And dull kitchen knives. Those count?”

Joel didn’t have it in him to tell you that they didn’t count for much. That when it came down to it, you’d probably only have one chance to hit or stab someone - especially if that someone was faster and bigger than you. And if you were taken by surprise, overpowered, or knocked out cold, those weapons could be taken from you and used against you. At least with a gun and decent aim, you’d stand a chance of either scaring a would-be attacker off or wounding them bad enough to get away.

“Why do you ask?” you prompted.  

Joel glanced over his shoulder to make sure you were alone before he spoke again.

“I know it’s against town policy to keep firearms in our homes,” he voiced quietly. “But I have two hidden away. One is a nine-millimeter. You could handle it. And it’s yours - if you want it.”

You nodded, “I’ll take it.”

It wasn’t until your house came into view that you gently grabbed his elbow and pulled him to a stop. Snowflakes drifted, landed on the hood of your coat, and you practically vibrated with shivers. The icy wind aggravated his nose, and his fingers felt as if they’d gone numb, but he didn’t dare move - not with you so close, and especially not when you placed your mitten-covered hands on his shoulders, stood on tiptoe, and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“Thank you,” you murmured.  “Night, Joel.”

Joel dipped his chin. Bid you goodnight as well. Watched you climb the stairs and go inside before he turned around and headed in the opposite direction.  

He was warm all the way home.

Next Chapter: February

[deadbydangit]

@vicketch I'm sorry you aren't feeling well, maybe this will help.

Cheering up a depressed Reader

Legion (Julie), Dwight, Kate

Legion (Julie)

Feeling down?

Not for long!

This girl has been there, done that.

When she first entered the realm, she had a period of depression.

But she pulled herself out of it.

And she's going to pull you out of that pit too.

First, she'll want to talk about it.

What's bothering you?

Is someone bothering you?

"If it is I'll go kick their ass right now."

She won't outright force you to talk, but she'll strongly encourage it.

Want some snacks?

She has lots of snacks.

Cookies were always her go to snack when she was upset.

Just no beer.

Or drugs

Julie knows better than anyone how drinking doesn't help solve the problem.

She and the other Legion have tried to drink and smoke their troubles away.

It does not work.

It makes things worse.

Wanna play a game?

Maybe do a make over?

Prank Frank?

Go for a walk?

Tell stories?

You sure you don't want to prank Frank.

"Trust me. It's really funny. I once replaced his knife with a rubber one and he came back from trials pissed."

And laughing is a good way to feel better.

Sitting around just makes things worse.

She's the type who wants to keep you focused on anything but your depression.

She'll even swallow her pride and tell you about her own experience with it and how she dealt with it.

"I was with the others, we all worked through it together. And you? I'll work through it with you. You won't suffer alone."

Dwight Fairfield

You don't even have to say anything, Dwight can tell.

He's great at reading emotions and detecting small changes in someone's personality.

So, when you don't seem like yourself, he knows.

He's been through depression before.

He knows how much it sucks.

But he won't outright say he knows you're depressed.

He'll lay beside you one day, and just start chatting with you.

"I've been where you are. I felt so useless, I thought everything was just pointless."

He'll pull your head into his lap.

"But then I realized, there are so many more reasons to be happy than there are to be sad. Even here."

And he'll list some.

"Sunshine, flowers, you..."

And he'll look down at you with tears in his eyes.

But he's still smiling.

He hates seeing you so upset.

But him frowning isn't going to make you feel better.

He's no therapist, but he'll listen and give the best advice he can.

Sometimes he'll do something silly or tell a really dumb joke.

But you're laughing and smiling.

He's also very good about keeping track of your health.

Did you drink enough water? Have you eaten? Was it healthy? Too much junk food can make you depressed.

It may seem overbearing, but he really wants you to get better.

You being so sad isn't on his list of things that make him happy.

Kate Denson

"What's got you all blue sugar?"

She'll make sure to ask in private.

She understands if you don't want your troubles going public.

She had enough of that in the real world.

Kate is also very good at sensing emotions.

This girl is almost always rainbows and sunshine.

So it's surprising that even she dealt with depression at a time

"I wasn't doing what I loved to make me happy. So my music wasn't happy. Then no one is happy."

If you want to talk about it, she's all ears.

If not, she's not going to force you.

Instead, she'll change the subject.

Something funny like a story or a joke.

"...And that's how I accidentally made Hannah Montana hate my guts."

And she'll laugh.

And her laughter will make you laugh.

She had written some music when she was in her depressive moments, and she'll offer to sing it to you.

Then she'll sing you her most upbeat happy ones.

It's to show you how strong she bounced back from her sadness.

"Come 'er Darlin'."

She's putting your fingers on her guitar and guiding you to a few strings.

It's her way of saying that you can get over it too.

"And I'll be right 'er with ya' the whole time."

[starlightshadowsworld]

Keep seeing the Hc of Steve Harrington being a triplet.

With his brothers being Joe Kerry's other characters.

Kurt Knuckle from Spree and Walter "Keys" Mckeys from Free guy.

My take on the idea is that the boys are orphans.

Their parents were involved in a car accident and the boys were taken to and raised in an orphanage.

The Harringtons adopted Steve, they could've taken the other 2 boys but refused.

Keys managed to track down Steve and they've all kept in contact in secret.

Because the Harringtons did not approve of Steve talking about his brothers. As they didn't want anyone to know Steve wasn't biologically theirs.

Steve tried to send as much money as he could to his siblings, allowing them to run off from the orphanage and rent out a place.

He got caught by his father, didn't end well for him but he never told them where the money went.

Keys is a freelance coder and developer and Kurt is a taxi driver/stand up comedian.

They meet up as much as they can but with the upside down shit going down they stop seeing Steve so much.

They both miss him dearly.

And know something is up.

Because when they do see Steve he's always covered in injuries. Steve brushes them off, blaming it on sports but they worry about him.

Steve is the middle child.

Keys is the oldest and Kurt is the youngest.

Deep down they share Steve's protectiveness for those he cares about.

They find out about everything after Starcourt, as Keys had changed Steve's emergency contact to him.

Once Steve let it slip his parents never show up.

Both Keys and Kurt have been threatened against coming anywhere near Hawkins by the Harringtons.

But as soon as Keys is called the hospital that Steve was bought in critical condition, both speed their.

Literally, Kurt drove like a madman. And for once Keys didn't complain.

Both burst into Hawkins General and we're immediately on guard seeing the people in Steve's room.

"... Are you guys seeing this?" Asked Dustin, looking at the duo in confusion.

Kurt ignored him, pushing past everyone and making a beeline for Steve and holding onto his hand.

"He's alive..."

Keys let out a breathe he didn't realise he was holding. Running a hand through his hair.

"Get away from hi- what the hell?!"

Kurt, not fond of anyone trying to make him leave Steve's side had pulled a large butchers knife.

.. From somewhere.

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME OR MY BROTHER AGAIN!"

Everyone began freaking out.

Minus Steve and Keys.

Keys just sighed, tiredly. He needed some coffee, and stat. "Kurt, put the knife away. You don't wanna get us kicked out do you?"

Suprisingly to everyone else it worked. Kurt put the knife away, pouting like a kid but didn't move to attack anyone.

"....Wait, brother? Steve has brothers?" Asked Robin.

"No we just happen to look exactly like him... yes we're his brothers. Im Keys, this is Kurt." Said Keys, sitting down on Steve's other side and running a hand through his hair.

"How come we didn't know about you?" Asked Dustin, curious.

"Pfft, we're a secret. No ones supposed to know we exist." Said Kurt "but Stevie bee got hurt so..." his smile fell instantly.

"So we're here" finished Keys.

It was that moment Steve began whimpering, pleading for help and that he worked for Scoops Ahoy.

Kurt whimpered, poking Steve's cheek "Stevie, steeevie wake up. Your having a bad dream."

"... Kurt?"

Kurt grinned, he changed moods so quickly it gave everyone else whiplash "the one and only. Mr Partypooper is here too."

He eeped as Keys shot him a deadpan look and swatted his head.

"Keys...kurt...what you.." Steve cut himself off by coughing, hiding his side in pain.

Both immediately stopped their antics, nothing but worry on their faces.

Steve was always the toughest of them all, the strongest and it hurt seeing their big little brother like this.

"It's okay" hummed Robin, managing to soothe Steve back to sleep.

Any distrust the brothers had of her vanished instantly at that.

Keys turned to them all, thoughtfully. "I heard this was from a fire... So do you mind telling me what really happened. Steve seems to like you all, so I'd hate to hurt you."

"But if your lying..." Said Kurt, in a sing song voice twirling his knife.

"It all started in 83"

[faofinn]

No. 28 "We might not make it to the morning, so go on and tell me now."

Bloody Knife | Sacrifice | "You'll have to go through me."  

The meeting with the principal and safeguarding went as well as Sheila had expected. The teacher who had caused so much of Finn’s low moods and outbursts had continued his war on the kid, and it just wasn't fair.  

While the adults saw the meeting as the necessary evil it was, Finn couldn't see past the hurt it was causing him. They cut it short in the end, to try and prevent a full meltdown, though they were already halfway into one. 

Finn screamed and shouted the whole way home, kicking off at anything and everything. As soon as he was helped out of his seat, he was off again, shouting that he hated them and never wanted to see them again as he slammed the doors up to his room.

Fao flinched, looking up from his book. He’d thought things had settled, but it seemed like they’d gotten worse. He swallowed thickly, the nausea and fear rising just from Finn’s outburst. He pushed it down, suddenly fiercely protective over Finn. 

He set down his stuff and headed out into the hallway, in search of someone coming after Finn. He wouldn’t let them touch him, he couldn’t.

Nobody came, the pair too used to his outbursts and aware he'd need space to decompress. That left Finn alone, curled in a tight ball under his duvet as he sobbed. His skin tingled, his wolf threatening to break through the suppression. 

After a moment of indecision, Fao knocked gently on Finn’s door. “Finn?”

"Go away, go away, go away!"

“I jus’ wanted to see if you were okay. It’s only me, only Fao.”

"I don't want to do it any more."

“You wanna just sit?”

"I don't want them."

“It’s only me, nobody else is around.”

He paused. "Jus' you?"

“Yeah.”

"Okay."

Fao cautiously pushed the door open. “Are you okay?”

He sniffed. "No."

“What happened?”

"They wouldn't stop."

“Who wouldn’t?”

"Everybody!" He cried, burying himself again.

“Hey, it’s okay.”

"You're doing the same!"

“Okay, we won’t talk about it.” Fao said softly.

Finn hesitated. "Promise?"

“Promise. We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t wanna. Wanna talk about something else?”

He nodded, slowly emerging to look at Fao.

“Can I sit on your bed with you?” 

"Yeah." His voice was small as he peeked at Fao, watching him carefully. 

Fao sat down on the end of his bed, crossing his legs. “Thanks. You cosy under the duvet?”

"It's safe under here."

“Yeah? Sounds good to me.” Fao said softly. 

Finn didn’t move, watching Fao with wide eyes. The older boy hadn't done anything to hurt him or force him to talk, which Finn appreciated. He seemed to be okay.

"Fao?"

“Yeah?”

"I've got a lion under here." He said with a grin, moving to show him. 

“Oh my god.” Fao exclaimed with a laugh. 

Finn grinned. "He's mine."

“What’s his name?”

"Lion." He said, his confidence returning. 

“That’s a pretty good name. I have Eeyore in my room.”

"You do?"

“Yeah. He was with me in hospital and everything.”

"I haven't seen him. My lion has been mine since dad was my Dad."

“Since you were born?”

He shook his head, his eyes suddenly widening as he cowered back. His grip on lion grew tighter, his small hands turning white. 

"Finn? You still up here?"

Fao frowned. “He’s fine!”

"You in Finn’s room, kid?" He asked, knocking on the door. 

“He’s fine, leave him alone!”

Fred frowned, taken aback by Fao's responses. He pushed the door open slightly, hanging round the side. "What's going on?"

“He was upset, I came to sit with him. He’s terrified, leave him alone.” Fao’s voice was stronger than he felt, but he was suddenly consumed by the desire to protect the younger boy. 

"Terrified? What's going on?"

“You know what’s going on. You were with him.”

"Still on that? You know it's over, kid. You can't keep going on at it, it's not going to help anyone. You've said what you wanted, why don't we leave it?"

Fao narrowed his eyes. “Look at him, he’s scared shitless. Leave him alone.” 

"He's had his time, Fao. He's gotta come out and do some other stuff."

Fao stood up. “Hey, no. Don’t tell him what to do. You’re the reason he’s scared.”

Fred raised his hands between them. "I think you've got something mixed up here. Why don't we take a breath and head downstairs, clear our heads?"

“I won’t let you touch him. He’s so scared.” Fao snapped. 

"I'm not gonna touch him."

“Yeah, sure. I heard him come in. And I know what he’s said to me.”

Fred frowned, confused. "Maybe we should have this conversation away from Finn."

“I thought you were better than the shit I had to deal with, Fred.”

"I think you've got the wrong end of the stick, kid."

Fao’s hands clenched into fists. “Sure.”

"Why don't we take five minutes and then have a chat like adults downstairs?"

Fao hesitated, the fear flaring. “Fine.”

"Right. Good. Why don't you go to your room so I can see Finn?"

“I’m not leaving him alone with you.”

"He's fine."

Fao turned to Finn. “Finn, do you want to be alone with him?”

He didn’t answer, looking between the two with wide, scared eyes.

“I won’t let him if you don’t want him to.”

Finn whined, everything just too much. He pulled the blanket over his head as he shifted, hands changing into paws.

“Oh.” Fao breathed. “Shit.”

"Oh, Finn." Fred shook his head. So much for avoiding that.  

Fao backed away from Fred, suddenly very afraid of him. 

"You gonna let me get him?"

“And do what to him?”

"Take him downstairs."

“You’re not going to hurt him?”

"Of course not." He said softly. "We'd never do that. He's got all his wolf stuff downstairs."

“Oh.”

[sunnyie-eve]

Original Final Act(pt.3)

Series: Fondness | Scream

Paring: (Chad Meeks-Martin x OFC Hicks! Ethan Landry x OFC Hicks!)

Word Count: 1519

Warnings: language, knife, gun, attacks, mention of death, death,

Last | Next

As Lexi leaves with Tara and Sam, Tara can't find her inhaler and said there was an extra one at Ambers so they had to make a pit stop there.

"Yes, a killer on the loose and Amber throws a house party at Stu's house where the original final attacks happen." Lexi helps Tara out of the car looking at Amber's house.

Amber ends up kicking everyone out and Lexi finds Mindy who hugs her, "I'm so sorry." She tells her.

"Thanks." She said and Liv joins sitting down pissed off.

"Liv, where's my brother?" Mindy asks.

"What? I don't know, Mindy. Probably off accusing everyone of being the killer except Lexi. Because apparently, you are the only person he's 100% cleared. Not even his own girlfriend." Liv huffs.

"Well, I wouldn't kill my mom and brother. So fuck you." Lexi gets up going off alone hoping the killer will find her and kill her. She just wanted to be with her family again.

As she walks alone she hears a slight quiet groan and sees a body in the distance, "Oh my god, Chad!" She runs over seeing he was stabbed a lot. "Fuck. You're going to be okay. I'll call for help." She reaches for her phone but it wasn't in her pocket. "I have to go get help. Don't leave me too please." She gets up running inside and sees Ghostface going to attack Mindy.

"Hey!" She throws a lamp at him and he goes after her and gets a stab in but then Sam rushes in making him run off. "I'll be okay. Mindy! I found Chad outside. He's hurt bad." She tells Sam as they bend down to Mindy.

"What did you guys do to her?" Amber screams coming in with Tara.

"Ghostface attacked her and stabbed me. Sam didn't do shit."

"What the fuck?" Richie shows up saying he went to the basement to get beer before Liv comes rushing in.

"I was with Tara so one of you is the fucking killer!" Amber shouts.

"Why is there blood on your hands?" Sam asks Liv.

"I found Chad." She cries.

"You're fucking lying." Amber tells her.

"No, I found him and ran inside to see Mindy getting attacked. She's not lying, Amber." Lexi tells her holding where she was stabbed.

"Maybe you're both the killer." Richie says.

"Fuck you, Amber. I'm not the fucking killer!" Liv says through her teeth.

"I know." Amber shoots her in the head. Making Richie grab Sam to run and Lexi runs off hiding.

"Anyone hiding killer or not you have five seconds to show yourself!" Sidney shouts out making Lexi grab something to protect herself leaving the closet.

"Sidney." She quietly calls out.

"Lexi."

"I kinda don't wanna get shot too." She says putting pressure on her stab wound.

"Get something to protect yourself." She heads off getting the call from Ghostface while Lexi rushes to the kitchen finding a knife then goes over to check if Mindy still had a pulse.

"Mindy, come on. You have to push through too. I can't lose you or Chad too." Lexi begs her and takes her phone calling for help before ending the call for her safety as she hears commotion going on.

She gets up to go help but she hears Richie was the second killer so she stays out of sight. There was no way she could rush in to help when one of them had a gun. She would get shot right away like Liv did. She watches Amber go outside to get Gale so she moves to hide somewhere else while she listens to Richie talking about his motive since Stab movies suck since the first one.

"Where's Lexi?" Amber asks Richie before she goes to get Tara out of the closet.

"You didn't find her?" Richie asks.

"No, I took care of Tara and you ran off with Sam. So where did she go?" Amber gets pissed.

"Fuck."

"Yeah, she could be long gone by now and called the police." Sydney says through the pain after being stabbed.

"Fuck!" Amber goes to get Tara who was no longer in the closet tied up.

Tara and Lexi bump into each carefully moving around to his and hide together as Amber looks for the both of them. When Amber gets close Tara beats Amber with one of her crutches so Lexi helps do the same with the other.

Amber was able to get up by kicking so while she fights Tara throwing her around Lexi stabs Amber in the back making her scream out.

"You fucking bitch!" She turns to her fighting for the knife.

"Fuck you!" Lexi stabs her in the left hand as Amber reaches for her.

"Got a lot more fight than your bitch mother. Richie said Wes was weak too." Amber laughs making Lexi really mad.

"FUCKING BITCH!" Lexi tackles her and gets a few more stabs in hitting Amber in the side, arm, and back again.

Amber knocks the knife out of her and crawls for it then stabs Lexi where she was already stabbed by Richie. She wanted to stab her more times but hears Richie in trouble so she leaves like she wasn't stabbed four times.

Lexi groans on the ground bleeding a little more out but she gets up and goes to see Richie's dead body and watches Sam shoot him twice with Sydney and Gale next to her. Amber then comes charging screaming with a knife before Tara shoots her in the head.

"Good shot." Lexi nods her head as Sam and Tara hug making her start to tear up because she had no family. Amber killed her mother and Richie killed her brother. She had no father and there were no close family members that kept in contact.

"Lex." Tara hobbles over to her hugging her knowing why she was tearing up.

"You know I called Richie because he wore plaid." Lexi laughs, "Most killers wore plaid."

When help finally arrived Mindy, Chad, Lexi, and Tara had an ambulance ride to the hospital. They all go to the same one and Chad and Mindy shared a room while Tara and Lexi shared one.

"Lexi, you know you can still stay with us right?" Sam says looking over at her in her hospital bed.

"I don't want to intrude."

"You won't be. You're Tara's best friend and we want you to. I wanna help look after you too. You were like another sister when I babysat you because you never left Tara's side." Sam explains to her.

"Lexi, please stay with us." Tara looks at her as well.

"Thank you."

-

After everything Tara, Lexi, Mindy, and Chad went back to school getting closer to graduation. The plan for after high was for them all to try to get into the same college together out of state. To get away from Woodsboro.

"Did you get your letter yet?" Chad rushes over to Lexi sitting at the picnic table.

She shows him the letter, "I'm scared to open it."

"Let's open them together." He takes a seat next to her, "Count down"

"One,"

"Two,"

"Three,"

They both open and read their own letter seeing they got in, "You in?" Chad looks at her smiling.

"Yep." She smiles so they hug each other.

"I know your mom is proud of you, Lex. You're strong."

"Not really. Every night at 3 o'clock in the morning I cry because I won't be seen by anyone. It's unfair how everyone still has their sibling but me and I lost my mom as well. I'm living with Sam and Tara because I have no family. It's hell seeing you and Mindy together and then Tara and Sam. I'm always reminded they're gone." Lexi cries to him so he pulls her into his side comforting her.

"I know it's not fair. Life isn't fair sadly. I always notice when you think about them no matter how hard you try not to show it. Every time that happens I wish I could replace myself with one of them." He rubs her arm.

"No, don't wish that for me because I don't wanna lose you too." She leans back to look at him, "I mean just because we slightly drifted apart and had our little moments doesn't mean I would be less sad if you were killed."

Chad just stares at her before kissing the top of her head. The damn reason he started acting different in the past was because his feelings for her changed and it scared him. She was supposed to be his best friend and not see her as anything different. So he pushed her away some flirting with other girls and then got with Liv hoping the feeling would go away but they never did.

"Did y'all open your letters!" Mindy walks over with Tara.

"Yeah!" They both shout out.

"We were all supposed to do it together you assholes." Mindy glares at them.

"Sorry."

The other two open theirs and they made it in too so they all celebrate together.

[callsign-magnolia]

I Hope You Dance // Ch. 44

MATURE CONTENT (18+)

A/N: This is cross posted to my Wattpad, so if this seems familiar that is why!

TW: Mental abuse, emotional abuse, slight physical abuse, death and loss. VIOLENCE this chapter is especially violent so please be cautious when reading!

Description: When Caila meets Rooster, sparks fly. But, she's already married, to a man who she thought loved her, and won't let her go. Rooster will fight for her, he just has to convince Caila to fight for herself.

Word Count: 6.7k

Chapter 43 | Masterlist

A noise woke me with a start, I had become a light sleeper since the break-in and my blood froze in my veins as I heard the creaking of the stairs. I slowly rolled Rooster off me, standing and rushing to the closet. I had hoped that it was Dahlia going downstairs, but fear overtook my body as I saw her and Sadie, unmoving on the closet floor. My rifle was still in evidence at the police station, but a small sliver of relief filled me as I saw Bradley’s high school baseball bat leaning against the wall. I grabbed it, rushing back to the bed and shaking Bradley. “Bradley. Wake up.” He didn’t budge. “Get up, Rooster!” He still didn’t move, a loud snore escaping his mouth. My breath caught in my throat as I saw a figure slip into the doorway. I looked up, the moonlight illuminating his green eyes and gray hair. “You can leave, or I can make sure you can never hurt anyone else ever again.” I said as I lifted the bat, moving around to Rooster’s side of the bed, which was closest to the door. “Listen sweetie, my job is to at least kill you and I never fail at my jobs.” Says the man who didn’t finish me off last time. I didn’t give him a chance, I stepped forward, swinging the bat up, connecting with him under his chin and throwing him back. “I’m sober this time motherfucker.”

I walked into the hallway, expecting to find him on the floor, but he wasn’t there. Where the hell was he? I was yanked back into the bedroom by my hair before being slammed into the wall. He was pressing on my wind pipe, suspending me above the floor as I attempted to kick him, but my legs wouldn’t reach. “I’m tired of this back and forth.” “Get your fucking hands off of her!” I watched as Bradley rushed Daniel. When did he wake up? It seemed like forever for Bradley to cross the room, but when he got close, Daniel threw his free arm out. The knife swiped across Bradley’s throat, blood seeping down his chest and onto the floor. “NO!” My scream echoed throughout the house, high pitched and horror movie worthy. He grabbed at his throat before sinking to his knees, collapsing face down in the floor. I was sobbing as I attempted to pry his hand from my throat. He turned to me, knife still in hand as he brought it down on my chest.

“MAGS!” I threw myself up in bed, gasping for breath. “Mags.” Rooster took my face in his hands, turning me to face him. “Look at me. Breathe.” He held my gaze, his thumb gently wiping the tears falling from  my eyes. “You’re alive.” I muttered as I crawled into his lap, practically wrapping myself around him. He wrapped his arms around my waist, rubbing my back. “Do you wanna talk about it?” He asked, placing a kiss to my cheek as I kept my face buried in his neck, trying to calm down. “Daniel broke in again.” Immediately his arms tightened around me, squeezing me to his bare chest. “He had me pinned to the wall, and he… slit your throat before stabbing me in the chest.” More tears sprung to my eyes thinking back on the nightmare. I sunk my nails into the back of his shoulders as he rubbed my back some more. “Look at me.” I lifted my head as he gently gripped my chin between his thumb and pointer finger. “As long as I am here, no one is going to hurt you, or me. I told you a few months ago, that between you and anyone who wants to hurt you is exactly where I want to be standing. And I meant it.” I nodded as he cradled my cheek. “I’m here, Mags. I’m not going anywhere.”

His words alone made me feel better, just having him home made me feel better. I watched as his eyes glanced to my bruising, his face softening. “Why aren’t you angrier?” Ever since he’s come home it’s been all soft kisses and gentle touches which I love, but it was out of character. I expected him to blow through the door like a hurricane, demanding answers from the police, talking to Jake to see what he knew. “What do you mean?” He asked with furrowed brows. “I just expected you to be angrier when you got home.” He chuckled, brushing my hair back. “I’m enraged, livid, pissed. None of those words accurately describe how angry I am. But what good was it gonna do for either of us if I came in red faced and screaming?” I nodded, knowing he was right. “We’re gonna find who did this, and he better hope the police get to him before I do. I have no problem smiling in my mugshot.” I giggled as he brushed his nose against mine. “I love you, and we’ll get through this, pretty girl.” I smiled, my hands gently grasping the sides of his neck as I rested my forehead on his. “I love you too, Roo.” He leaned up, kissing me softly as I played with the hair at the nape of his neck. He laid back on the bed, pulling me with him, wrapping his arms around me tightly so I couldn’t move. He nuzzled his nose in my neck, his mustache tickling me and making me laugh.

“God I love that sound.” I giggled, sitting up, resting my hands on his chest. I couldn’t help but admire him, one hand resting on my naked hip as he tossed the other behind his head. His curls were messy, his muscles were more defined from all the working out he did on deployment. I ran my finger from his peck down the lines on his stomach. “What are you thinking about?” He asked, grinning at me. “How much I love you, how sexy you are and how I can’t wait to be Mrs. Bradshaw.” He smirked, lifting his hips to throw me forward so I was hovering over him. He took both of my hands, intertwining his fingers with mine. “I can’t wait either. I say,” He quickly rolled us over, pinning my back to the mattress with a grin. “We go to the venue on Monday, try their food, maybe see about a cake and do a whole lot of wedding planning.” I grinned up at him, smiling. “I would love that.” He leaned down, his lips slotting against mine as he pulled my leg up to rest on his hip. My hands wandered into his hair as he started grinding his hips, his cock slotting between my folds. A gasp escaped me as he took my bottom lip between his teeth, tugging on it. “One more round couldn’t hurt, could it?” He chuckled, reaching into my nightstand for a condom. “Not at all, pretty girl.”

He rolled the condom on, grabbing my other leg and putting it up to my shoulder. He lined himself up, gently pushing in. I threw my head back, moaning as his lips attached to my neck. “So fucking beautiful.” He muttered as he bottomed out. I wrapped my arms under his shoulders, nails digging into his skin as he slowly thrust into me. “I fucking missed you, Never wanna leave you again, Mags.” I gasped as the swollen head of his cock dragged along the spongy spot inside me. “Fuck. Do that again.” He smirked, slowly pulling out some more before just as slowly thrusting back in. “Bradley, please.” He had a devious look on his face, continuing to tease me as I begged. “Roo! God, please just fuck me.” I whined and he chuckled, leaning down and placing a kiss to my lips. “I love when you beg for me pretty girl, do it some more.” He said, nose nudging my cheek as he teased me with a slow thrust. “Need it, Roo. Please, honey. I just want you to fuck me.” He kissed my cheek, nodding. “I’ll give you whatever you want, honey.” He sped up his thrusts, his cock rapidly dragging along my g-spot, making me cry out. “Fuck!” I cried. “Don’t stop, Bradley! Please!” I was a gasping moaning mess, which soon turned to babbling once my head became hazy. “So full.” He chuckled, placing opened mouth kisses on my neck as he railed me into the mattress. “I know, but you love it don’t you.” I gasped as he leaned down, taking one of my nipples between his teeth. “You gonna answer me, pretty girl?” I nodded, as his thrust somehow became deeper. “Yes!” He smirked, placing a kiss to my calf that was bent up by our heads. I never felt it building, just suddenly my orgasm hit me, my head thrown back as a high-pitched moan echoed around us.

“Oh fuck! Squeezing me honey. So fucking tight.” He kept thrusting into me as he dragged out my orgasm, causing tears to stream down my cheeks from the overstimulation. He gasped before leaning down, and wrapping his arms around me. He hugged me close to his body as his deep moans echoed in my ear. I wrapped my arms around him again, nails dragging across his back once more as his release filled the condom, hips resting against mine as they stilled. We caught our breaths for a minute before he pulled out, sliding off the bed. He went into the bathroom to dispose of the condom, and came back with a wet wash rag. “Here.” He said as he sat next to me, lifting one of my legs so he had access to my core. He carefully cleaned up the both of us before coming back and laying on top of me, his head on my chest. My fingers wound into his curls as he squeezed me to him, placing a kiss to the top of my breast. “We’re getting married in nine months.” I grinned, a small giggle escaping me. “I love you, Bradley.” He propped his chin on my chest, looking up at me with a big dopey grin. “I love you too, Caila.” He leaned up to kiss me, but I turned my head away. “Oh, come on, don’t be like that. Why are you turning away from me?” I pouted as he looked at me. “That’s not my name.” He laughed loudly. “I’m sorry pretty girl.” He kissed my cheek. “But what am I supposed to say during our vows?” I jokingly rolled my eyes, huffing as I looked at him. “That’s the one exception.” He grinned at me, kissing me sweetly before his head returned to my chest. Having him laying on me was comforting, the pressure and the smell of his body wash was soothing. I felt his breathing even out, telling me he was asleep. I glanced over to the bedroom door, feeling a little better after our conversation and soon I dozed off, sleeping soundly in Bradley’s arms.

We did just like Bradley told me when I left for deployment, we stayed wrapped in each other’s arms all of Sunday. I woke up with Bradley’s tongue buried inside me, we fucked in the dining room chair, he fucked me when I was folding laundry, causing me to stop as he had me bent over the island. I gave him two sloppy blowjobs, one in the bedroom and one on the couch. I was kneeling on the floor between his legs, my nose buried against his pelvis when his phone rang. “Fuck, it’s Mav.” I pulled him from my mouth, licking his swollen head. “Answer it.” I threw him a wink and he groaned as my lips wrapped around his cock again. “Hey Mav.” I could hear the strain in his voice as he answered Mav. “I’m… good.” I looked up as he squeezed his eyes shut, pausing his sentence. “Dinner tonight?” He glanced down at me as I ran my tongue along the underside of his cock. I nodded as I buried my nose along the trimmed hair at the base of his cock. “Yeah, we-we’ll be there.” I smirked as I bobbed my head along the length of his cock, and reached my hand up, fondling his balls. “What? No,” He propped his phone on his shoulder as he gathered my hair into a ponytail. “I’m fine, Mav. We’ll see you in a few hours.” With that he hung up, his grip in my hair guiding me along his length. “That’s it pretty girl. You suck my cock so well, don’t you?” I nodded as he gently pushed my head down. “Want me to cum down your throat? Huh?” The ache between my legs was growing at his words. “Look at me. Want me to cum down your throat?” I glanced up, nodding slightly as he smirked at me.

He guided my head a little more, before I sped up, his balls tightening in my hand being the key sign he was almost there. He moaned as he leaned over me, keeping my head down on his cock as he came, cum leaking down the back of my throat. “That’s it Mags.” He leaned back and I sat up, sticking my tongue out, showing him what little of his release was left. “That’s my pretty girl.” He gently held my chin, pushing my mouth closed. I swallowed the release on my tongue, sticking it out to show him it was gone. “Good girl.” He leaned down, kissing me softly. “We’re doing dinner at Mav and Penny’s at seven.” He whispered before kissing me again. “Wear something pretty for me?” He asked as he pulled away and I nodded. “Whatever you want, Lieutenant.” He yanked me into his arms, holding me under my thighs as he stood. “Now you’re getting it.” I couldn’t help but giggle as he dragged me upstairs to our room. After another thorough fucking, we got up, changed the bedding, took a nice hot shower and got ready for dinner with Mav and Penny. I straightened my hair, the first time I’ve done anything with it since the break in, and attempted to do my makeup, but sighed in defeat when I couldn’t get it even. “You look beautiful.” Rooster said as he leaned on the bathroom door frame. I gave him a small smile as I cleaned the makeup from my face. “I look like shit with or without makeup right now. Plus the doctor had to put more stitches up by my hairline, so I probably need to avoid makeup anyway.” I huffed.

“Well,” He came over, wrapping his arms around me, resting his chin on my shoulder. “I think you look beautiful either way. I didn’t even know you had stitches in still.” I nodded, brushing some of my hair back. “Right here.” The small gash above my right eye in my hair line. “He took them out with the rest, but he didn’t think it was closed enough for his liking, so he put in a few more.” He pursed his lips, running his thumb under the gash. “God, honey I was pulling on your hair.” I shook my head. “I don’t feel it. It’s okay.” He shook his head. “It’s not, and I wish you told me.” I sighed. “We have a few things to discuss but we have time to discuss them.” He seemed uneasy but nodded. “Now come on, we don’t wanna be late.” I grabbed my purse, pushing past Bradley and making my way downstairs. My sage green, off the shoulder sundress swishing around my thighs. Once I reached the bottom of the stairs, I realized Bradley didn’t follow. “You okay?” I asked as he looked down at me from the landing. “Goddamn. I have missed these sundresses.” I smiled as he rushed downstairs, and I threw the front door open. “Be good girls!” Rooster called before shutting and locking the front door. I was already standing by the passenger door of the Bronco when he turned around. He smiled walking over, stopping only when I reached for the door. “Don’t you dare.” I rested my fingers on it and he rushed over. “No!” He yelled, wrapping an arm around my waist and swung me around. He opened the door, setting me on my feet so I could crawl into the bench seat. “I told you, you don’t touch door handles when I’m around.” He said as he stepped up into the Bronco, latching my seatbelt. “Mm, what a gentleman.” I said as I nipped his bottom lip.

“Careful, or else I’ll take you back inside.” I giggled, sitting back in my seat. “As enticing as that is, I’m getting hungry.” He chuckled, kissing my cheek. “Well, we can’t have that. Can we?” I shook my head before he got out, going around to his side, getting in. Once we arrived at Mav and Penny’s, we could see them in the backyard. “We’re here!” Rooster said as he waltzed through the front door. I giggled, following behind as he held my hand. Amelia rushed down the stairs, rolling her eyes at Rooster. “My mom would like the front door to stay on it’s hinges.” She said as she walked towards the kitchen. “I didn’t slam the door.” He said with furrowed brows. “Sure you didn’t.” She kept walking and he huffed. “I didn’t!” I giggled, patting his chest. “Honey, welcome to life with a little sibling.” He sighed, looking down at me. “You’re the younger sibling.” I nodded. “I’m Amelia. You’re Jameson.” It clicked in his head before he pulled out his phone. “Oh my god. I gotta text Jameson and tell him I understand his pain.” I smacked his chest laughing before walking out back to see Mav setting the table and Penny on the grill. “Hi!” I sang making both their heads snap in my direction. “Hey.” Penny came over, pulling me into a hug. “How’ve you been?” I smiled at her. “Much better since Bradley got home.” Speak of the devil, he walked out the back door. “Hey, Penny.” She smiled, pulling him into a hug. “We’re so glad you’re home.” He nodded as she pulled away, Mav rushing over to hug him. “Guess I’m chopped liver.” I yelped as Mav grabbed my sleeve, yanking me into the hug. “Watch her face.” Bradley remarked, an arm snaking around my waist.

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” Mav turned to me. “How you feelin’ kid?” I shrugged, leaning into Bradley. “A little better. I didn’t have to take a pain pill last night.” He nodded, smiling. “That’s good. You guys hungry? Penny cooked steaks.” I nodded. “Starved!” We all gathered at the table, Mav at one and Rooster at the other. I sat next to Amelia while Penny sat across from Amelia and next to Maverick. Dinner was fun, we laughed a lot, made jokes, and talked about wedding details. “When are you going dress shopping?” Amelia asked. “Well, Mom is going to arrive in San Diego the Tuesday before the engagement party. Rebecca, and Laura are coming in on that Wednesday and they’re going to go with us for dress shopping. Mom has her San Diego concert on Thursday, if I don’t find a dress on Wednesday then we’re going to go back out on Friday to look. Then we have the engagement party Saturday.” Bradley just grinned at me with a dopey smile. I knew what he was thinking. “Penny?” She looked over to me. “Mind if I keep the dress here? I don’t want this one being nosey.” Rooster’s face fell as everyone laughed. “Yes, you can keep your dress here.” I stuck my tongue out at Rooster who attempted to grab my tongue. “Oh! You weirdo!” I cried as he chuckled, shoveling another bite of steak into his mouth.

“I did talk to your mom by the way. We’re using a few of your plants for decorations?” I nodded. Rooster and I agreed on a simple tropical theme for the engagement party. Nothing crazy just palm leaves, a lot of plants and greenery. It was simple yet fun. “Yeah, I have a few spider plants that we can hang on those hooks by the pool table and a few larger plants as well.” She nodded. “So you’re mom will bring those?” I nodded. “She’ll get them from my house before we leave that way Bradley, and I don’t have to worry about it.” We finished dinner and as Penny and Amelia took stuff inside, Mav asked us to stay at the table. “I wanted to talk to you guys.” His hands were folded on the table, his eyes locked on his intertwined fingers. Bradley’s hand shot out to grab mine, squeezing tightly and I noticed his entire body go rigid. “Hey, it’s okay.” He didn’t even look at me, Mav’s words seem to have spooked him. So, I wrapped my free hand around our joined ones, bringing it up to my lips for a soft kiss. “I was wondering, if it’s okay with you, if I could also contribute to the wedding.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Bradley shot up out of his chair. It flipped backwards, crashing onto the patio, causing me to jump in my own seat as he walked through the gate separating the back yard from the front. “Is he really pissed about me wanting to contribute to the wedding?” I was just as confused as Mav, but the fear on Bradley’s face told me it wasn’t that. “I think you scared him.” I said as I stood. “I’ll go talk to him.”

“No, I’ll do it.” Mav stood and as soon as he did Bradley stormed back through the gate, face red as if he’d been crying. He marched over to Mav, and he looked so angry I thought he would hit him. He grabbed the front of Maverick’s shirt, pulling him close as I rushed over. “You scared… the shit out of me.” A few tears slipped from his eyes as Mav pulled him into a tight hug. I took that as my sign to back away a little. I gave them their moment before they pulled away, Bradley coming over, gently taking my hand and kissing my temple. “Alright, let’s sit back down.” We sat and I turned to him. “You wanna talk about it?” He nodded. “Later.” I nodded, leaning up and kissing his cheek. “So, I also want to contribute to the wedding.” Rooster and I raised our eyebrows in surprise.  “Um, why?” Rooster asked and Mav sighed. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but your parents would be so excited to see you getting married Rooster and they’d be dying to help. So, I wanted to pitch in on their behalf.” Bradley pursed his lips, squeezing my hand. “Well, I don’t really know where you could help. We’ve got a big enough budget.” Rooster looked to me before we both looked to Mav. “I know I can’t do any major helping, but I was thinking I could host the rehearsal dinner. And Penny gets a huge discount on liquor and beer from her distributor, so maybe I could do that?” Bradley and I looked to each other for a minute. “I think that would be great.” I said and Bradley just nodded in agreement. “We’d love to have you involved if that’s what you want.” He nodded quickly. “I really do. I watched you both grow up, even though I wasn’t always there.” His eyes flashed to Bradley. “Well I was also thinking that maybe we could get some home movies together of us growing up and string those together to make a montage to show at the reception.” Rooster smiled down at my, playing with the ends of my hair. “I really like that idea.” I smiled at Mav. “Mom is bringing some videos when they come into town and Bradley has a whole collection at the house. Would you put that together for us?” A few tears gathered in his eyes as he nodded. “I’d love too.”

We stood, pulling Mav into a hug as he cried on our shoulders. “I’m so proud of you guys.” I sniffled, trying to keep from crying myself. “Okay, we gotta stop.” I said as I pulled away, fanning my face as they laughed at me. We spent a little more time with them before heading home. As we got into the bronco, I noticed how quiet Bradley was, his hand softly holding mine as his thumb brushed the back of my hand. “Roo.” He glanced at me quickly before turning his eyes back to the road. “Are you okay?” He sighed, staying quiet for a moment. I looked up at him, seeing his bottom lip wobbling. “Oh, honey. Pull over.” He pulled into a vacant parking lot, leaning his head back as he tossed the Bronco in park. Tears streaked his cheeks as he gasped, attempting to hold back his tears. I unbuckled, sliding closer to him in hopes he would talk. “When my mom sat me down to tell me she had cancer, she started it the same way. ‘I wanted to talk to you’. It scared the shit out of me, and I was scared Mav had bad news.” I wiped a few tears from his cheeks as he took a deep breath. “He’s the only living person I have attaching me to my parents. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost him.” He leaned his head on the steering wheel, sobbing. I kissed his hand before making him look at me. “Even if he did have bad news, we’d be okay. So would he. I promise you, from now on I will do my best to make everything okay.” He chuckled, his hand coming up to cradle the right side of my face, his thumb gently grazing my bruises.

“Shouldn’t I be telling you that?” I smiled at him. “You don’t have to. I already know it.” He smiled, leaning down and kissing me gently. “I love you, pretty girl.” I grinned, kissing him again. “I love you too, Roo. Now let’s get home, I have something that will make you feel better.” He sniffled and nodded, putting the bronco back in drive, taking us home. Once we got home, I went into the kitchen reaching up into the corner cabinet when I was lifted and turned to sit on the counter. I screamed, startled by Rooster’s actions. Before I could say anything, his lips were on mine, fire burning through them as his hands slid up my dress, grabbing onto the waistband of the thong I had on. I leaned my head back, his lips attaching to the spot just below my ear, making me moan. I reached into the cabinet now behind me, gripping the box I was looking for and slamming it on the counter. Rooster pulled away, looking at the box with furrowed brows. “Brownies?” I nodded. “This was what I had in mind to make you feel better, but if you want something else…” I smirked at him, and he looked between me and the box. “Not gonna lie, brownies do sound awesome. Can I have both?” I giggled, taking his face in my hands, my nose brushing his. “Oh, honey. You’re precious. Yes, let me just mix these and toss them into the oven.” He kissed me quickly before allowing me to get off the counter.

After brownies and sex, we were curled up with each other in bed. Bradley was playing with my fingers, kissing each of them. “Do we have plans for tomorrow?” He asked. “Hm. I talked to Margaret earlier and we’re doing lunch at the venue. That way you can see it, and we can taste their food and they’re even doing a cake tasting after for dessert.” He hummed. “Why?” I asked as I looked up at him. “I was thinking we could go look at that florist over on Pinewood.” I raised my brows. “That expensive one?” He nodded. “Yep.” He popped the ‘p’ grinning at me. “I don’t know, honey. Do we really wanna spend that much on flowers?” He nodded. “I do.” I scoffed. “You won’t have anything to do with them on the day of the wedding.” He scoffed, looking offended. “Maybe I want my own bouquet.” I giggled, rolling over till my chin was resting on his chest. “You want your own bouquet honey?” He nodded. “I was also thinking, what if we had the dogs there for the ceremony? Put a few flowers in their collars.” I grinned at him, biting my lower lip. “You want the dogs there?” He nodded. “They’re a big part of our lives, I don’t think it’d be right to get married without them there.” I leaned up and kissed him softly. “God, I love you.”

The next day we excitedly rushed to the Bronco, ready to see the venue. Rooster was practically bouncing in his seat as he drove, his grin never leaving his face as we walked up to the large Victorian style house. He opened the door, his jaw dropping as we walked inside. “Oh my god.” He was amazed at the large entrance hall, it was open and bright, the tall windows allowing plenty of sunlight in. He looked to the right seeing a parlor room. “That room would be perfect for groomsmen photos.” We turned to see Margaret behind us, smiling until she caught a glimpse of my face. “My goodness! What happened?” I sighed, knowing something like this would happen. Her eyes flashed to Bradley before back to me. “Home invasion a few weeks ago. Doctor says I’ll make a full recovery.” She nodded hesitantly. “Margaret. I’m the manager for the estate. You must be Mr. Bradshaw.” She held out her hand to shake his. He smiled as he shook her hand. “Yes, so nice to meet you.” She smiled at him, nodding. “Well, I figured we could start upstairs and work our way outside.” We nodded, following her upstairs. Bradley was so happy to find there was a pool table in the groom’s suite as well as a wet bar. “Please don’t let anyone get hammered before the ceremony.” He chuckled, kissing my head. “I promise, I won’t.” We skipped the bridal suite since I already saw it and went into the ball room. “Like I told Miss Motley we have many ways to decorate the room. Warm yellow lighting, LED’s, a disco ball.” Bradley looked at me and I shook my head. “No disco ball!” He grabbed my hand, spinning me around on the wooden floor. “Come on! You don’t want to share our first dance under a disco ball?”

“We’ll talk about it.” He smiled, wrapping his arms around my thighs and lifting me above his head, spinning me around. I squealed as I grabbed his shoulders for leverage. “I can’t wait to make you Mrs. Bradshaw.” I giggled like a little girl as he lowered me down to the floor. “I love you, Rooster.” He grinned at me, his nose brushing mine. “I love you too, Magnolia.” After that, she led us outside. Rooster held my hand in his, my free hand wrapped around his bicep. “Wow…” Rooster trailed off, looking at the view. Over the hill was a clear view of the ocean, the waves crashing against the shore as we stood on the grass. “We’re getting married, standing right here.” He said as he looked out at the ocean. I nodded, standing on my toes to kiss his cheek. “We are.” He smiled down at me, placing a kiss to my lips. “Would you like to see the gardens, Mr. Bradshaw?” Margaret asks and he nodded. We slowly walked through rows of rose bushes and groups of other flowers. “I was thinking,” He hummed, looking down at me as I stayed attached to his arm. “After the ceremony, we come here and take five minutes or so to ourselves. Just to take it all in.” He grinned, grabbing my waist and pulling me close. “Oh my god, I’d love that.” He leaned down, kissing me sweetly as a warm spring breeze blew by us. As we pulled away, he brushed some hair behind my ear. “I hate to interrupt, but lunch is ready if you two would like to sit down.”

We were sat on a patio outside that overlooked the garden. We were served small portions of the different foods they offered. Chicken, steak, salmon, shrimp, all kinds of sides from steamed veggies to sweet potato fries. “I really like the steak and shrimp.” Bradley said and I nodded. “Ooh, surf and turf!” He chuckled, smiling at me. “Last course, the chef combined them. Lobster tail and crab cakes.” My eyes widened looking down at the food before me. “I’m in fucking heaven.” I muttered before digging in. The food was divine, and so was the cake. “So, we agree, steak and shrimp, can we do the crab cakes too?” Rooster chuckled, patting my knee. “Whatever your heart desires.” He whispered, leaning over and kissing me. Margaret chuckled as he pulled away. “I won’t lie, I haven’t seen a couple this in love in a long time.” We smiled at her as she wrote down our choices. “So cake flavors?” That was a hard one, we both had very different tastes. We looked at each other for a long while before Margaret interrupted. “I tell you what, if you want a teared cake, do a different flavor each tear. If you want more flavors than that, we can always do a grooms cake.” Bradley raised his eyebrows. “A grooms cake?” She nodded. “Our chefs are highly skilled and they can make it into anything you want!” Rooster grinned, looking to me with a mischievous look in his eye.

We quickly decided that the venue would do the food and cake, saving us money in the long run. We also settled on a florist as well and decided my bouquet would be overflowing with white roses with small navy and champagne accents in it. Now we needed to find a photographer, a videographer, and I needed to find a dress. But I would worry about that when mom came into town, I also decided that’s when I would ask the girls to be my bridesmaids. I had gotten them silk robes with their names embroidered on them. I picked them up the following Friday, just before Rooster and I went to the Hard Deck. “They’re not gonna see them, honey.” Rooster said as I laid a blanket over the boxes. “But Phoenix and Halo are nosy! I don’t wanna risk them seeing them if they come out here!” He chuckled as I closed the door, raising a brow at him. “Okay, they are but unless they think you have something they’re not gonna come looking.” I smiled at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I know. So don’t get drunk and tell them. You tend to be a blabbering mouth when your drunk.”

He feigned hurt. “I do not.” I smiled, running my fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. “You do." I pulled him into a kiss, his lips slotting against mine gently. He originally wanted to protest, but gave in quickly, resting his arms around my waist as he smiled into the kiss. “There are kids here guys!” We pulled away to see Rita and Payback, & Payback had his hand over Fanboys eyes. We laughed as Fanboy peeked over Payback hand. “Oh, so y'all have a kid now?” I sassed and Rita nodded begrudgingly. “Basically.” It was all in good fun, Rita admitted she loved having Fanboy around. We all went in, Bradley grabbing a beer as I took a water. I told him I would drive so he could drink, seeing as I still can’t drink with my medications. “Hey, Caila!” I turned to see Mav rushing over to Bradley and I. “I need a favor.” I nodded, telling him to continue. “Penny’s birthday is the same day as your mom’s concert. Regina invited us to the show but Penny isn’t a big fan of country music, but her and your mom are both huge Guns & Roses fans. She’s already invited us and I don’t wanna overstep by asking her to do a specific song.” I grinned at him. “Welcome To The Jungle?” He nodded. “I’ll run it by her.” He pulled me into a hug. “I originally wanted to do a party but that weekend is hectic already.”

“Why don’t we do a barbecue at the house then? Everyone will still be in town and we’ll do it that evening that way everyone has time to recoup and you guys can do what you want during the day.” Mav smiled at Bradley, nodding. “You guys are amazing!” He pulled us both into a hug before looking at Bradley. “Penny also said if you still wanted to use the boat you could.” I looked at Rooster who stared at Mav, who just grinned and walked away. “What was that about?” He shrugged. “Beats me.” He said as he turned, leading us over to the pool table where Bob and Coyote were. “Ah, the love birds decided to grace us with their presence.” Coyote said as he propped his arm on the pool cue. “Yeah yeah, I’m not apologizing for keeping my girl in bed.” Rooster said as he sat on a bar stool, pulling me close. “Keep that information to yourself.” Coyote said with a groan. “Hey, Magnolia.” Bob came over, hands in his pockets. “I have a question. Do you know this girl?” He asked pulling out his phone. “She follows us both, but she’s been liking everything I post, and she messaged me a few hours ago.” He showed me the profile and I grinned. “Ooh!” I chuckled. “That’s Rebecca. She’s my cousin.” It looked like relief flooded his system, his shoulders dropping. “Good, I thought she might be some crazy chick.” Rooster laughed loudly behind us. “Oh trust me, she’s crazy.” I reached behind me, smacking his head. “In a good way! She’s just adventurous and fun to be around.” He laughed looking down at his phone. “Good to know.” He smiled at me before Coyote called him over to finish their game.

“Sooo, how’d it go at the venue?” Phoenix asked as her and Hangman finally arrived. “Good, they’re catering the food and making both cakes.” She raised a brow. “Two cakes?” I nodded. “We’re racking up a pretty extensive guest list so we have a three tiered cake and a grooms cake.” Rooster nodded. “My cake is bourbon vanilla.” He grinned. “And the big cake is chocolate on the bottom tier, caramel pecan on the middle tier, and the top tier, which is only mine and Bradley’s, is chocolate hazelnut truffle.” She raised her brows. “Ooh, fancy!” I nodded, sipping my water. “Have you figured out your bridal party yet?” I noticed the look in her eyes, she was dying to know who everyone was. “Yeah, but I haven’t figured out how to ask them yet.” She pursed her lips, nodding. I just needed her to wait another week and a half and then I’ll ask. Jake came over, tossing his arm around her shoulders. “Hey, can I talk to you?” He asked, pointing at me. I nodded, stepping away from Rooster who kept a grip on my waist. “I’ll be right back.” I said as I leaned in, kissing him softly. I pulled away, following Jake to the bar. Once there he leaned on it as I took the seat next to him. “I’m just gonna cut to the chase. Have you told Rooster about Buck?” I shook my head. “No. He just got home, and we’ve just been enjoying our time with each other.” He huffed, looking over at Bradley before looking back to me. “You need to tell him, soon.” I groaned, leaning my head back. “Jake. Seriously, I’ll tell him when I’m ready.” He set his bottle on the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. “Well, you better be ready soon.” I was getting mad. “Why?”

“Because he’s in the next top gun class.”

I stared at him for a minute, a little shocked by the news. “Son of a bitch!” I cursed, dropping my head onto the bar.

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@mak-32 @rosiahills22 @dhwanishah09