#anyways. i love it when they call me big poppa

[amongthezinnias]

Mental bad times + Big Poppa stuck in my head for the last several hours 🪩

[ricky-horrors-whore]

Vinny Mauro Headcanons

Because I love him

I am small please be kind

He will get you to film him doing stupid shit if Ricky's not around (like peeling off his callous then eating it...).

You start to get a little apprehensive when he gets excited and goes "Hey, hey, film me real quick, watch this-" but you do it anyway. Your camera is filled with little clips of him.

Will also take your phone and leave you surprise pics of either goofy ass faces, or little smooch faces and making little hearts with his hands.

Always signs off texts and ends calls saying "I love you" (he says this so much he's such a sweetie I can't guys)

Loves if you make him playlists, or help make him playlists.

He will randomly sending you a playlist he made for you, and it'll either be favorite songs, or sappy songs cause he's trying to be sweet, but then there's be something random as hell like Big 'n' Chunky or Carl Poppa thrown in just to smack you.

Do the same to him and he'll look at you so betrayed before laughing.

Big fan of nicknames, will come up with the goofiest, mushy ones when he's trying to get your attention. It gets worse if you try to ignore him. Pookie? Angel? Gummy Bear? My favorite tree frog? Dragon cookie? just anything until you HAVE to at least side eye him.

Normally just sticks to one though, 'Mama' (@foliosriot killing my sweetly here)

Actually loves when you call him 'Babygirl'.

He will answer to anything you call him, ridiculous anything, but he gets a little giddy smile with that one.

Gets sad when he doesn't get to see you for awhile and just wants you to join him on tour.

Doesn't matter if you have no way whatsoever to be helpful on a multi-month trip.

"Yeah but you make me happy, moral support." with a cheesy grin.

So many jokes. inside jokes. random jokes. He loves making you laugh so much and he's so good at it.

So much to the point he'll turn to you with a look and you can't help but giggle and it annoys everyone else what is this about.

His place is always well stocked with the best snacks, your favorites included.

Will share the best with you, including his ice cream, then try to say he's not playing favorites.

Loves if you feed him snacks while he streams. Like he is not paying attention to anything and you'll just feed him whatever.

He fully trusts you doing this too.

Not long after he said he doesn't like twizzlers "But you look like such a twizzler boy??" "What does that mean?? chat help", a few stream later, you look directly into the camera and start feeding him a twizzler to see the truth.

He munches away mumbling "thanks" and is very confused once he's done and you just say "Liar." while chat's going ballistic.

Loves when you join him on streams, whether you play anything or just hangout with him, he's happy you're there :)

He's pretty private besides his stream knowing you, but talks about you all the time.

His mom knows about you and thinks you sound wonderful, keeps asking about you too and he's happy to talk.

The guys know all about you before you meet any of them. Chris asks you about something that happened to you the other day before you're even introduced.

Vinny is a cuddle bug and your personal teddy bear. He will just come up and wrap his arms around you and snuggle up to you, not PDA shy, he wants cuddles.

If you're sitting or doing something he'll come up behind and press his chest to your back with his arms around you and just contently snuggle up and sigh with a smile resting against you.

Or flop onto your lap and try to demand attention (favorites being playing with his hair, and kisses.)

He runs especially warm! your personal heater coziest of hugs especially when you're cold.

Just walk up to him for a hug and soak in the warmth. He knows you're doing this and just grins and rocks you both back and forth.

For that reason cold temps while sleeping are a must.

Both for cuddling at night and nearly kicking you off the bed.

There is either a hand in your face and Vinny sprawled across the mattress or you're stuck wrapped in his strong arms and occasional snoring beside you for the foreseeable future.

Sleep talker, he just mumbled nonsense in your ear or whatever's happening in his dreams. He also gets talking like that when he's really sleepy especially when he's up far too late gaming and you'll ask what he just said and he tries to recall through brainfog and has no idea.

When he's sad or just feeling down he'll hug your stomach and you pet his hair softly and it's his favorite way to be comforted.

Very playful and goofy but loves tender moments like that.

Strikes me as a guy who would be SO impressed and in awe if you took your bra off without removing your shirt.

You're just chilling together and sick of wearing it and now he's staring at you, not even for tiddies, just WHAT.

Might steal a bra to try it himself when you're not home.

[randomvarious]

Today’s mix:

MTV Party to Go, Volume 8 by Chris Walsh 1995 Hip Hop / G-Funk / R&B

Before Tommy Boy Records went on to define a piece of the 90s by way of a partnership with ESPN to deliver us the stadium dance anthems of Jock Jams, they initially launched into a partnership with MTV in the early 90s to give us a different series called Party to Go. The conceit of it was that each CD or cassette had a ready-made mix that you could just pop in to your player to instantly get a party going. And this is its eighth installment, a DJ mix by an in-house guy at Tommy Boy named Chris Walsh who's also responsible for other mixes in the series.

I reviewed Volume 1 of this series a few months ago and that mix happened to represent what was then a totally confused hodgepodge of what a lot of mainstream American dance music was like back in 1991: hip-house, new jack swing, synthpop, party rap, dance-pop, and some R&B. This volume, though, from late 1995, appears to cast its scope much more narrowly. Besides its incredibly inexplicable inclusion of one of Sheryl Crow's weakest ever singles in the middle (I mean, seriously, what in the fuck?!) and an even more Italian remix of the classic Italo-dance banger, "Rhythm of the Night" by Corona, this album is more or less just a mid-90s top-40 hip hop-oriented mix.

But even though I said that the scope that was cast for this was narrow, it was also, in a way, kind of broad as well, because there's actually hip hop tunes here for different kinds of party atmospheres. Like, I'd say the universal party rap tunes on this mix are undoubtedly Skee-Lo's "I Wish" and Naughty by Nature's "Feel Me Flow." Things like sunshine, cookouts, and swimming pools just immediately come to mind when either of those two songs come on. But then there's songs on here that go with a much chiller type of vibe. Like, you could easily slow-grind on someone with The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Poppa," the Puff Daddy mix of Method Man and Mary J. Blige's "I'll Be There for You / You're All I Need to Get By," and the Sting International remix of Shaggy's "Boombastic." Bone Thugs' "1st of tha Month" fits this theme too, even though it's not lyrically sexy or romantic like those other three.

And then there's Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise," the biggest song in the world in 1995 that won so many accolades and also plaudits from critics across the board despite the, uh, lackluster quality of its rapping. It's still a great song that I also happen to love too, but it was funny to see Weird Al take it down a few pegs with "Amish Paradise" and then see Coolio get all huffy about it like some kind of proto-Kanye by saying his beautiful masterpiece had been 'desecrated.' It's a great, classic song, dude, but come on now. For what it's worth, though, Coolio eventually saw the light and cooled off, and his relationship with Weird Al appears to have been cordial for years now.

Anyway, that's more of a party song simply because everyone in the world knows it. It's a big production, but it doesn't really have much of a party vibe to it. It was intended to be a serious song, despite how corny it sounds today. Fool.

Two more things before I sign off here. There's an awesome R&B song on this mix by a female group called Brownstone that appears to have been relatively lost in the sands of time. It went to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was even nominated for a Grammy, but I feel like "If You Love Me" is a pretty big forgotten hit. Other thing is that the back cover of this release comes with a note that says, in kind of big lettering, "*includes exclusive mixes not available on any album." And that actually turns out to be a bit of a reach. What it really sounds like is that Chris Walsh couldn't figure out a way to mix this crop of songs together all that well, so he or someone else just simply constructed little passages of their own to make the transitions as seamless as possible. And those passages are sort of just, like, these little, feeble bridges that were hastily made in order to link each track together. And I definitely wouldn't then advertise this mix as having "exclusive mixes" because of those small, unique sections; I mean, that actually feels like a pretty big sleight of hand to me. But the change from that Brownstone song to the Method Man and Mary J. Blige one is actually *really* smooth.

Anyway, despite its faults, this is still a fun trip down memory lane. Can't really complain about a CD that has Biggie, Naughty by Nature, Skee-Lo, Method Man, Mary J., Coolio, Shaggy, and Bone Thugs on it. It's just not really the type of tunes I think of when I hear the words "party to go." However, if my music diet was restricted to just MTV videos that had been in rotation by 1995, then this might actually be what I'd expect the party to sound like too, since you couldn't really find much in the way of actual dance music on MTV back then, or really ever 🤷‍♂️.

This is a pretty good CD to reach for if you just wanna party with some mid-90s hip hop classics though. I mean, it's a bad DJ mix for sure, but the songs are good, and plenty of people love to get down to 90s hip hop tunes. So, this should do the trick, as long as you immediately hit next when that Sheryl Crow song comes on! 😅

Listen to the full mix here.

Highlights:

The Notorious B.I.G. - "Big Poppa" Naughty by Nature - "Feel Me Flow" Brownstone - "If You Love Me" Method Man and Mary J. Blige - "I'll Be There for You / You're All I Need to Get By (Puff Daddy mix)" Skee-Lo - "I Wish" Corona - "Rhythm of the Night (R.B.X. Euro mix)" Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - "1st of tha Month" Coolio feat. L.V. - "Gangsta's Paradise" Shaggy - "Boombastic (Sting remix)"

[ray-ray-writings]

Why is your writing so gooooooood. I just loved the tiny techno. He’s so smol and so cute, tiny pig, and while I don’t typically deviate from Techno requests I gotta put in more ideas for Y/N the tiny animal tamer.

Schlatt/Glatt will get too drunk or will spend a little too much time in a river and transform into his tiny goat form. You know the one. And you’ll just see him lying around either passed out from the alcohol or lying in the water face up and you just pick him up and take him home and let him sleep by the fire until he wakes up. He secretly loves when this happens, one of the few times he can be happy and sober because he doesn’t have an responsibilities on his shoulders as a tiny goat. Very gentle, will rest his head on your lap (or not so gentle snuggle into your boobs (be you dude or not) if he’s got the chance why not take it)

Tubbo transforms into a goat much more rarely. He’s not as often on low health but if he stays up too long with president duties or experimenting with redstone he’ll transform from tiredness. He’s much smaller than Schlatt and you just gently pet him. Typically he wakes up human again with his head in your lap and your fingers in his hair humming a song and he’ll just,,, close his eyes. Let himself sleep just a little longer.

Fundy turns into this tiny cute fox when he’s particularly upset, though he’s gotten better at handling the transformations through the years. He used to run to his dad, then to philza, but now he’s got no one left and he’ll just curl up in the forest. You find him and be it your senses or just a gut feeling you pick him up and take him home and give him some nice cuddles and love. He always leaves before he transforms human again to try and keep it a secret who he is from you, even though you are completely aware of who he is, but he always returns in his tiny Fox form to be held and just feel okay.

Dream turns into a blob and he really can’t control it, so every now and then you’ll see a steaming tiny little blob who just squeaks and is upset. You’ll pick him up and hold him in your hands and take him around and /very/ seriously deliver threats for him. You’ll mess up one of his threats and he’ll squeak at you indignantly until you lean closer, nod as if you understand and amend your threat. It always devolves into laughter though and you spend the rest of the time prancing people or goofing off. Being happy in general.

At some point you find the white little blob balancing on the walkway through prime and you just pick him up expecting him to be a silently pouting Dream only for you to look directly into XD Dreams face (the one with the crossed out eye on one side, sadists design I’d think but blob) and he just silently accompanied you everywhere spooking people.

Quackity of course turns into a tiny duck from time to time, you get a lot of quacking and a lot of rowdy little noises until your petting his fluffed up feathers. Once Philza even stopped by in his bird form and papa bird took over and just preened the tiny chick and Quackity has never been the same since. He will never admit he loved it.

Anyways this is meant to be less of an ask and more of an addition to my last idea I just love the idea of being the most liked person in the SMP because you give everyone a place to be small and soft and themselves. A way to kind of hideout from the SMP and just enjoy being friends and feeling loved. It’s just very soft and very sweet and it makes me very happy.

Might send in an actual ask later lolol.

With lots of love- 🌻

(Honorable mention, Charlie turns into a slime and bounces around all over the place, he only settles when you’ve carefully set him on your shoulder and he kinda just melts. It always stains your shirt but you never bother him about it.)

(SECOND HONORABLE MENTION FROM MY PERSONAL HEADCANONS: Tommy and Wilbur both have bird forms as well. Tommy is this tiny white falcon chick, can barely fly on his own and he sits on your head or shoulder and acts all regal until Dadza stops by snd preens his feathers and treats him like his tiny boy, his little son, until Tommy baps him away with his wings. He’s so loud and just constantly squeaks from your shoulder until he has you all to himself, and then he half falls half glides into your lap and requests pets.

(Wilbur is this pretty hawk, like a red tailed hawk maybe, and he nuzzled along your cheek while he sits on your shoulder or preens your hair as if it were feathers and is just an all around cuddle bug. If he’s not on your shoulder then he moves to Fundys and just affectionately nuzzles and preens his son until Fundy picks him up a nod drops him unceremoniously into your lap.)

Ummmmmm  🌻??????? This is SO GOOD!!!!! I love these so so so so much!!! Fundy, not wanting you know know who he is so he runs away before he shifts back as if he isn’t the only fox hybrid on the server??? Amazing!!!

Blob Dream being extremely upset about his predicament but you just vibe with him and deliver his threats for him???? Hilarious!

Tiny duck Quackity? Oh my heart! Especially after JSchlatt I feel he would have a hard time being that open and vulnerable around people in that tiny of a form. So the fact he trusts you to take care of him is so heart warming. And then big poppa Phil preening him and taking even more care of him???? I’m melting!!

Little slime Charlie who stains your shirt because the only way he’ll settle is on your shoulder? That’s so cute oh gosh, especially because I’ve revealed I love setting things on my shoulders haha I’m obsessed. 

And the thoughts that maybe Tommy and Wilbur can also turn into birds is so adorable and so gooooooooood!!! I would picture Tommy as thinking that he’s a total badass as a bird but then Phil comes in and ruins that vibe by trying to preen him and Tommy tries to smack him away but Phil glares at him and Tommy grumbles and settles down and allows it to happen. And you definitely would be going deaf in the ear because of how loud Tommy is when he’s a bird sitting on your shoulder. He screams and squawks at every little thing. You would think that because this was a form he had to take because he needed to heal up that he would be a lot more calm... Hell no. 

And WIlbur? Oh gosh! He def would be so cuddly and would not go anywhere without being on someone else’s body. I think he would absolutely love it when you called him “Pretty Bird” and would squawk and coo in affection, nuzzling your face and preening your hair when you give him that compliment. And Fundy having enough and dumping him on you would be so funny because it makes you laugh every time and sometimes bird Wilbur lets out a gasp of offense, but he is quickly settled by your hand running down his body and smoothing his feathers. 

This is amazing. Thank you so much for this!!!!

[nerdyfangirl67]

Forget About Me - NCIS Reader Insert

Pairing: McGee x fem!reader/mom!reader, Gibbs x reader (platonic/fatherly relationship)

Warnings: anxious reader, child lost and scared, fluff ending

Word count: 2k

Request: @gibbsandpridegirl​

“I was thinking that McGee and reader find out their expecting a baby, and Anastasia finds out and runs away, because she’s scared that Tim and reader won’t want her anymore, and Anastasia gets lost and is all alone, and Tim is in full panic mode, and Gibbs won’t rest until he finds Anastasia, and Gibbs finds her, but she refuses to go home, and clings to Gibbs”

A/N: I am so sorry this took so long @gibbsandpridegirl​ ! I changed it a bit, so I hope you don’t mind and I hope you love it! This is another part of my one-shots with Mcgee x reader with an OC child. 

Thanks so much for the request darling! (Also, I chose this picture because I thought it was cute, but you imagine Anastasia anyway you want to.)

You stare at the pregnancy test in your hands, shock rushing through you at the positive result. Despite your suspicions (your period had been late and you had put on a few pounds despite Tim dragging you to early morning defense classes), you hadn’t expected the pregnancy test to come back positive. You lean back against the bathroom countertop, a hundred different thoughts running through your head, the predominant one being that of how you would tell Tim and Anastasia. When you had married Tim, you hadn’t expected that you would have children anytime soon, at least not within the first few years of your marriage. And yet here you were, within the first two years, with one pre-teen and a baby on the way.

You stand up and hazily walk downstairs, the forgotten test still in your hand as you sit at the kitchen table. You stay that way, blankly staring at grain in the wood of the table until Anastasia walks through the door, followed shortly by Tim. Anastasia comes up and gives you a hug, which you distractedly return as your eyes meet Tim’s. He must have seen the bewildered look on your face because you see him catch Anastasia’s attention and quickly sign something to her. She responds just as rapidly before stomping her way upstairs.

“Ugh, one moody kid is enough.” You murmur as you rest your head against the kitchen table, a wave of nausea abruptly washing over you. You feel a hand come to rest on your upper back, the chair next to yours scraping against the ground as it is pulled away from the table. 

“Y/N?” Tim’s voice is gentle as he starts massaging the tension away in your muscles with the hand he has on your back. 

You wordlessly slide the pregnancy test out from under your arms and over to Tim’s other hand, which was resting lightly on the table. You don’t lift your head, fearing any look of disappointment or regret that might come across his face. Instead, a gentle finger lifts your chin until your eyes meet his soft green ones, which are sparkling with excitement.

“You’re pregnant?” His voice betrays his unbridled joy, barely restrained beneath the surface.

Seeing his reaction brings a smile to your face as you nod. His arms are suddenly sweeping you out of your chair and almost into his as he pulls you in for a tight hug. The hug only lasts a moment though before Tim is quickly standing up and, far more gently, letting you go. “Sorry Y/N. I didn’t hurt you, did I?” He asks in a frazzled manner as he closely looks you over. His hands float over you, lingering around your hips and abdomen, as if to assess the damage he may have caused by hugging you.

“Tim. I am not made of glass. You can still hug me.” You say, a firm undertone carrying your words. Tim gives you a sheepish smile before looping his arms back around you. You bring your arms around his neck, pressing a kiss to his collarbone as you rest your head on his chest. The two of you stay that way for a while, before Tim moves back enough to rest his forehead against yours.

“We’re going to have a baby. A little baby McGee.” He whispers, his excitement reflecting in his green eyes. 

You smile softly at his phrasing. “Maybe we should call him Tony, Tony McGee.” You joke lightly, a laugh bubbling up in your chest at Tim’s horrified expression. “I’m joking Tim.” You step back enough to press a soft kiss on his lips. 

“We should tell Anastasia. She’s going to be a big sister after all.” You say, taking his hand in yours as you move towards the steps. Tim is quick to place a balancing hand on your lower back as you walk up the stairs, making you wonder just how cautious and protective he would be when you were heavily pregnant.

You reach Anastasia’s room, the first door on the left at the top of the stairs, but find it empty. You look at Tim, a curious expression on your face before you walk to the bathroom. You find it empty, a feeling of fear seizing your heart as you do. You roughly push past Tim, rushing to check the spare bedroom, as well as the master bedroom.

“Anastasia!” You call, despite knowing that she can’t hear you. You barely wait to listen for her reply before you are calling her again. After not finding her in the master bedroom, you frantically start looking through the upstairs rooms again before scrambling down the stairs and to the rooms on the main floor. Each empty room leaves you feeling a little more hopeless. 

Tim finally stops you, with a firm set of hands on your shoulders, when you start to head outside to look for her. “Y/N,” he starts as you desperately try to get out of his grip to continue looking for her. “I need to find her Tim. I need to find her.” You say, tears distorting your vision as the fight leaves you. “I need-I need...” You taper off as it becomes harder to talk through the tears. 

Tim pulls you in close, wrapping his arms tightly around you. “I called Gibbs and he’ll be here soon with Tony.” You press your face into his chest, allowing his familiar scent to comfort you. The two of you hold onto each other for a while before Tim leads you to the kitchen table, helping you sit. You sit stiffly in the hard chair, staring at the wood grain of the table top as Tim putters around in the kitchen behind you. 

Tim slides a plate with your favorite snack in front of you on the table, snapping you out of your trance. “You need to eat Y/N.” He says quietly, sitting down next to you as you shake your head at him. “I can’t Tim, not when she’s out there, scared and alone.” You whisper, blinking away the tears as you look at him. He leans in close, wiping away a tear falling down your cheek as he leans his forehead against yours. He places a soft hand on your cheek, pulling you in closer to press his lips against yours. The kiss is comforting and reassuring, not meant to be seductive but to serve as a reminder that he was there for you.

Just as the two of you break away from each other, a loud knock sounds on the door. You scramble up from your chair, moving quickly to the door. Swinging it open, you find Gibbs and Tony standing on your doorstep. One look at Gibbs’ all knowing, ice blue eyes and you feel the tears coming back. As he steps inside, you impulsively hug him, needing to feel a kind of comfort you only ever felt around him. He squeezes you tightly as he whispers, “We’ll find her Y/N.”

After twenty minutes of going over the night’s events, in which you quietly admit that you had discovered you were pregnant only a few hours earlier (to which you are greeted with awkward congratulations, considering the circumstances), the four of you decide to split up and search for Anastasia. 

Gibbs POV:

Gibbs was tasked with searching your neighborhood’s park and the surrounding area. The park was less than ten blocks from your house, so he decided to walk. He kept a brisk pace, looking for her among the darkening features of the quiet suburban street and scanning for any possible signs of struggle on the way. By the time he reached the park, his outlook had diminished and his fear of a possible negative outlook had increased. His initial scan of the playground equipment and the outdoor pavilion does not uncover anything, which doesn’t help his current feelings. He still does a thorough search of the equipment, his hope waning by the time he reached the old wooden castle shaped play structure. A soft whimpering sound catches his attention and he follows it. 

Huddled in the small space at the top of the structure is Anastasia, her legs drawn in close as she rests her head on her knees, her arms wrapped protectively around herself. Gibbs knows she can’t see him, nor could she hear him, so he takes heavy steps, hoping she feels the vibrations of his footsteps, as he climbs the playground equipment. She lifts her head and he can barely make out the terrified expression on her face due to the growing darkness, which is only broken up by the low glow of the park’s floodlights. 

“Poppa!” Anastasia’s garbled cry comes as she stands up and runs to him, throwing her small arms around him in a hug. He returns the hug, a profound feeling of relief flooding over him as he did. He holds her for a few moments before pulling back. 

‘Your mom is worried sick Anastasia.’ He signs slowly, making sure she can see his hands properly as he does.

Anastasia shakes her head violently, backing away from him at the same time. ‘No, no. I’m not going back.’ Her signing is rapid and choppy, almost to the point where he misses what she was saying.

He gives her a quizzical look before asking her, ‘Why don’t you want to go home Anastasia?’ She starts to sign quickly again, her movements jagged as she wipes tears away from her face at the same time. He places a hand over both of hers, waiting for her to look at him before he signs ‘Slowly.’ 

She takes a deep breath before starting again, much slower this time. ‘Momma and Papa are going to have a baby. They won’t want me anymore.’

Gibbs pulls her in for another hug, holding her close for a moment before moving back. ‘Anastasia, they are worried about you because they love you and will always want you. You are their child just as this baby will be.’ He signs.

Still Anastasia shakes her head. ‘I want to be with you Poppa. Please?’ Her signing is slow, yet still shaky as new tears form in her eyes. Gibbs wipes away a stray tear before pressing a kiss to her forehead. 

‘Anastasia, you can always stay with me, but you belong with your mom and dad. They love you just as much as I do.’ He stops a moment, taking her in before continuing. ‘If you ever need me, I’m only a call away and I will always let you stay with me, okay?’ She nods, taking the hand he offers her. Gibbs shoots you and Tim a text, saying he had found Anastasia and that the two of you were on the way back to the house. The walk back to the house goes by quickly, Anastasia clinging to his hand the entire walk back.  

Your POV: 

You hear the door opening and you rush to the foyer, your eyes searching frantically for Anastasia until they land on her. You pull her in for a tight hug, warm tears of relief rolling down your face. You trace the words ‘I love you’ on her back as you hold her close. Anastasia is stiff in your grasp for a moment before she returns the hug, saying “Momma” as she does. 

You pull back, sniffling out “Anastasia?” as you look at her. It was the first time you had heard her say the words and a feeling of joy courses through you.

You quickly sign in response. ‘Thank you Anastasia. It means so much to hear you say that. I love you so much.’ Anastasia lets out a small smile just as Tim comes around the corner. You take his hand, pulling him and Anastasia in close for a group hug. Even after the scare with Anastasia, you couldn’t feel happier. You had everything you needed with your family safe in your arms. 

[wiypt-writes]

Riding On

Ch 10- When Three Became Four

Summary: Baby Bean makes his arrival and Frank and his mother reach a significant turning point in their relationship as a result. Well, they always say that births, deaths and marriages are the 3 things that can bring a family together, right?

Warnings: Bad Language words.

Pairing: Frank Adler x Fliss Gallagher

A/N:  Ok, so not gonna lie, I made myself cry with this one. It’s ridiculous, if anyone could have seen me I’d have been sectioned. Just a note, I’ve never had a kid before but been there when both my god children were born so I hope this is as realistic as it could be! Love to hear your thoughts and comments.

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar Fliss Gallagher and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

Riding On Masterlist // Main Masterlist

Chapter 9

Blue eyes laughing in the sun, laughing in the rain. Baby's got blue eyes, and I am home, and I am home again

Once Frank's initial mad 30 seconds had finished, the panic turned to excitement as he dressed and quietly carried Fliss' hospital bag down to the truck. When he came back Fliss was out of bed and dressed in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt

"You OK?" He asked, she looked at him and nodded. "Just a little uncomfortable." "Do you wanna stay up here or..." She shook her head "No, it’s supposed to help if I can move around." Frank nodded "Alright, let's head downstairs." Together they made their way slowly to the living area, Frank making sure Fliss was comfortable before he set about making them a drink, only to be cut short when he heart Fliss let out a little groan. He stopped what he was doing and headed straight over to the sofa, kneeling in front of her as she was doubled over, one hand gripping the arm of the chair tightly. He softly ran his hands up and down the outside of her thighs as she breathed through the latest contraction. "That one was the worst yet." She mumbled and Frank smiled sympathetically. They sat together, vigilantly timing the contractions, the world outside growing light as they did and when it got to half six, a few hours since they had woken up, Fliss decided she needed to pee. Frank watched her make her way to the bathroom, leaving her to it at her request until five minutes later she gave a yell. He jumped up, running down the hall to see her stood in the doorway. "My waters just went. Well, I think they did, I mean, I don't know, I was peeing and..." "Hey, calm down." He urged her gently "Do you need to change your clothes?" She shook her head. "Alright, let's get you sat down and then I'll go wake mother and we'll head in, ok?" "What's going on?" A sleepy voice said and they both looked up to see Mary padding down the stairs, rubbing her eyes. She stopped and looked at them both, understanding flooding her little face and she beamed.” Oh my God, is he on his way?" "Sure is." Frank nodded. "Can you keep Lissy company for a moment whilst I grab Evelyn?" Mary nodded eagerly and jumped down the last three steps, slipping her hand into Fliss' as they headed back into the living room. Frank jogged over to the garage, up the steps at the side and banged his fist against the door to the guest apartment. It took his mother a few moments but she appeared in a robe and looked at him, arching an eyebrow. "Lissy's waters have broken." He was unable to stop the grin which spread across his face as Evelyn smiled at him. "I told you that appointment wouldn't be needed. Give me five minutes to dress and I'll be over." He bounded down the stairs and hurried back inside. Fliss was now stood by the island in the kitchen, both hands flat on the surface, breathing through another contraction as Mary sat on the stool besides her. Frank gently moved towards her so he could rub her back and she turned to him, clutching at his blue and white plaid button down, pressing her head to his collar bone. "Fuck it hurts, Frank.” "I know, Honey." He gently soothed even though he didn’t know. In fact he had no fucking idea how much it hurt and he didn’t even want to insult her intelligence by pretending he did, but it was the only thing he could thing to say. “But we'll be on our way soon and when we get to the hospital they can get you more comfortable" A few minutes later Evelyn entered the kitchen and glanced at Fliss, giving her a soft smile. "I won't insult you by asking if you're okay." She said and Fliss gave a soft chuckle. "Can we go now?" Mary asked hopping down from the stool. "You're staying here." Frank informed her softly and Mary stopped, looking at him.

"Why?"

"Darling, once he is born you won't be able to go in and see him for a while." Evelyn jumped in. "The doctors have all sorts of things to do, and Fliss might not feel ready for visitors for a few hours." "But I want to be in the waiting room." She looked at Evelyn then to Frank who was gently rubbing Fliss’ back. “Like we did that time, remember?"

Frank paused as he and Fliss exchanged a look How could they forget? "I wanna be there when you come out and tell everyone he's arrived.” Mary finished with a whisper, her eyes brimming with tears. "And you can be.” Fliss nodded as Frank crouched down in front of Mary.

“You don't need to be there just yet. It could take hours. You and Grandmother can have some breakfast and then Poppa Bill and Nanny V will pick you up a little later, okay? Then you can come and wait." "'Kay." She mumbled a little as Frank rose to his feet. "Go." Evelyn looked at him, her hand dropping to Mary's shoulder. "We'll be fine." He nodded, gave Mary one last hug and a kiss on her head before he looked at Fliss and the pair of them made their way outside.

Once he had helped Fliss to sit in the truck, and made sure her belt was fastened, he jogged to the driver’s side and jumped in. "Ready?" He looked at Fliss. She turned to him and shook her head. "No, not at all." "Me neither." He said aa he started the truck up with a grin. "I’m excited though." Fliss smiled softly "yeah, me too." **** They called Fliss' parents on the way, Verity's sleepy voice laced with excitement as soon as she answered the phone and realised what was going on. She promised Frank they would bring Mary and his mother up in a few hours and after he also promised to keep them updated on progress, Frank hit the button on the steering wheel and cut the call. Fliss had gone quiet again, and she bent forward slightly, breathing deeply. He moved his spare hand over to take hers and she gripped his fingers, as she let out a low groan through grit teeth, her head falling back against the head rest.

“Jesus.” She eventually mumbled once she could speak again. “I don’t like this labour bollocks.” Frank chuckled “I’m sorry, Baby.” “So you should be.” She glared at him “You did this to me.” “Yeah, and I would say I’m sorry but that would be a lie.” He grinned, raising her hand to his lips, brushing his mouth over his knuckles.

“Wanker.” she shot back, before she smiled a little and looked out of the window.

“Does it feel any different?”

“Does what feel different?”

“Just it, you know, everything in general, once you’re a parent I mean?”

Frank took a deep breath “I don’t-“

Fliss shot him a glare and he cut himself off from his protest, taking a deep breath. She was right, he did know. In a way anyway.

“When I took charge of Mary, everything changed. Suddenly it wasn’t just me to look after. I had this tiny, little person that needed me every single minute of the day. My entire outlook on life changed, what was important before paled into insignificance because that little person became my world. It’s hard work, but so worth it.”  Frank glanced at her and smiled “But you already know that too.”

“Well, not really…I mean, yeah, okay I love Mary like she is my own.”

“She is yours as much as she is mine.”

“…but she’s not a baby and…”

“She’s harder work now than when she was a baby, trust me.” Frank chuckled and Fliss smiled.

“It’s just kind of a big deal.” She spoke again after a little while.

“Huge deal.” Frank agreed, checking his mirror as he changed lanes to swing up onto the freeway.

“I mean I’ve known that this was gonna happen, that one day he would actually be here but I guess for the last seven months or so I’ve never really thought about what that means.”

“You’re already a great mom to Mary and you will be to Bean.” Frank assured her gently “Don’t worry about that, not one bit. We’re in this together okay. It’s gonna be fine.” Fliss shook her head, “I swear to God at times you can read my mind.” “No, I just know you inside out.” He replied, kissing her hand again.

***** Once they arrived at the hospital they were settled in the room quite quickly, Frank helping Fliss change into a gown. From then on it was an hour and a half or so of the contractions progressing, each one seemingly getting longer in duration and more painful. Fliss was managing reasonably well on the gas and air, at some point offering Frank some so he could "join the party" so to speak which he declined with a chuckle.

“Remind me again why we thought this was a good idea?” Fliss moaned after another contraction had finally subsided.

“I don’t remember there being much thinking about it at all.” Frank quipped and she looked at him, raising an eyebrow as she crunched down on some of the ice chips she had in the cup in front of her.

“OK, so that’s true.” She conceded. “He certainly wasn’t on the agenda, so to speak.”

“But I wouldn’t change it for the world.” Frank smiled, leaning over to kiss her forehead. “Hmmmm.” Fliss looked at him as he sat back down, letting out a chuckle.

“And neither would you.” He arched an eyebrow, squeezing her hand gently. Fliss smiled and shook her head.

“No. He’ll be worth it.”

“That said, next time we go to Boston, maybe you need to remember to take your pill.” Frank suggested and Fliss rolled her eyes.

“I’m getting an IUD fitted as soon as I can. That or we just don’t have sex again. Ever.”

Frank shook his head “Yeah, not gonna happen.”

“Silly me, of course, Frankie has needs…well I got news for you mate.” She pointed at him as he raised his eyebrows. “It’s gonna be a very long time before you get anywhere near me again.”

Frank snorted and shrugged. “Suppose I best get re-acquainted with my hand.”

Fliss let out a bark of a laugh “You’re disgusting”

He shrugged, “Hey, look, you nearly bust my balls when I came back from Vegas.”

“You deserved that.” She narrowed her eyes.

“I didn’t say otherwise, was jut pointing out a fact. I’m sure Blue Balls Syndrome is a medically recognised condition.” Fliss opened her mouth to shoot back a reply but instead her face contorted into pain once more and she took a huge inhale of the gas and air, gripping Frank’s hand as another contraction washed over her. Frank waited with her, as her grip became almost painful but he wouldn’t have dared comment on it. He’d rather let her break every finger of his hand than suggest she was hurting him because, at that moment in time, he was convinced she’d find something to beat him to death with if he did. At roughly ten am, round about six hours after she had woken Frank up, the contractions were coming roughly five minutes apart and Fliss finally gave in and asked for an epidural. The midwife examined her, and then with a smile and a reassurance she headed off to call the anaesthetist. He arrived some thirty minutes later and explained to Fliss what he was going to do. Once the formalities were over, Frank helped Fliss to sit up, and she shuffled to the edge of the bed ready for the epidural when all of a sudden she squeezed Frank's hand tightly and looked at him, her eyes wide. "Oh...God, Frankie I think…”

“What, what is it, Baby?” he asked, crouching a little so he could look her in the eyes.

“I think I need to push." She took a deep breath and Frank swallowed a little, but before he could say anything else, one of the junior midwives cut in. "That's impossible." Her voice was laced with an air of ridicule "You were only four centimetres half an hour ago. There's no way you could have gone so far so fast." Fliss let out another cry, this one panicked and Frank felt a surge of anger at the fact she was being dismissed. "Listen..." He glared at the woman straightening up as he kept hold of Fliss hand. "If she's saying she needs to push then she clearly does. She's hardly gonna be fucking making it up now is she?" Thankfully the more senior Midwife took over and looked at Fliss kindly. "Okay Miss Gallagher, let’s get you lay back down and we'll take a look, alright?”

Fliss gave a little nod through her tears and Frank helped her move back to the middle of the bed as she gave another cry out. Her hand still in his, he smiled at her softly as the midwife moved to examine her. After a moment the woman straightened up, nodding. "Yep, we're fully engaged." She turned to the anaesthetist. "It’s too late. She's gonna have to manage on the entonox" "What?" Fliss looked around as Frank gently shushed her, his hand running over her hair. "Over the last half hour things have progressed faster than we thought.” The midwife explained “So we can't give you the epidural." "Well you best give me something because I swear to fucking God..." her voice trailed off as she grabbed the mouthpiece to the gas and took a huge breath in, gripping Frank's hand as another contraction washed over her. "Ok, Fliss..." the midwife looked at her, completely unabashed at Fliss’ tone. “Next time you feel the urge to push I want you to go with it ok? Nice and gentle, do what your body is telling you. Can you do that?" Fliss nodded, swallowing slightly. Frank smiled at her, encouragingly. "You got this, Honey." He said, kissing her hand. "You got this."

***** Twenty minutes of pushing later, Fliss was convinced she had anything but got this. She was now on all fours as this was the comfiest position she could get into. Laying on her back was excruciating, so when this had been suggested to her as an alternative by the midwife she had gladly tried it. Frank was stood by her head, his hand softly rubbing her back, giving her all the encouragement he could as she gripped at his arm, her face pressed into his shoulder. She felt another wave, and the Midwife looked up at Frank with a smile. “He's crowning. Fliss, you're almost there." "Hear that?" Frank crouched down, looking at her, smiling. “Nearly done, Sweetheart." "You are never doing this to me again." Fliss seethed at him from between grit teeth. Frank smiled "Well we got two now so I'm okay with that. Least you didn't say I couldn't ever touch you again." "Don't tempt me." She groaned, before she grew silent and let out another loud scream, gripping Frank's bicep so hard he almost winced. After a monumental effort she sagged forward a little and the midwife called out. "Okay, his head is out. One more Fliss, good girl. Come on." At that Frank took his cue. "Hear that? One last time, Lissy." He beamed at her, still crouching down, her hand in his. "I’m so tired Frank." She shook her head, sobbing "I can't..." "Yes you can." He remained calm as he smoothed her hair back off her sweaty forehead. "One more and you're there. You've done so well, Sweetheart." Thirty seconds later, after digging as deep as she could, Fliss' screams were joined by a high pitch crying and her entire body succumbed to exhaustion and she slipped forward slightly, Frank jumping to his feet to catch her. "Lissy, you did it." Frank felt the tears stinging his eyes as he and the junior midwife helped her to lay back down. He could see from her face she was dazed and exhausted as she rest her head against the pillow, her breathing deep. "Is he okay?" She gasped, as her baby's piercing screams rang out round the room. "He's absolutely fine." The midwife beamed, as their baby was placed on Fliss chest and the new parents both got a first look at their little Boston Bean. "Hey, Baby!" Fliss gasped, through her tears as she held him close, his cries softening slightly. "Oh my God, look at him Frank." "I am." He swallowed, his voice cracking. "I can't take my eyes off him. Oh fuck, Lissy, I'm so proud of you." He stuttered, pressing a kiss to her head as he gently ran a finger over his baby son's cheek, perching on the side of the bed next to them both. A perfect little nose, round little cheeks, a spattering of light, downy hair, two tiny hands and tiny feet...he was the most beautiful baby boy Frank had ever laid eyes on and he felt his heart swelling so much he thought it might burst from his chest. "He looks like you." Fliss glanced at Frank who tore his eyes off his son to look at her. "You think?" He asked, glancing back down. "Yeah.” Fliss nodded. "Same nose, cheeks and eye shape. He's an Adler alright." As the various medical staff bustled around, neither of them paid any attention to them at all, both wrapped up in their previous little bundle, who, after a few minutes, opened his eyes, blinking a little against the light. Frank smiled as those sparkling little globes flickered around at his surroundings. The lump in his throat seemed to be growing by the second and he rest his head against Fliss' the pair of them mesmerised by those baby blues until she nudged him and told him to take a few photos. Standing up on wobbling legs, with a shaky hand he did as he was told, until a doctor apologetically said that then needed to take him for his scores and what not. "Take him?" Fliss asked, instinctively clutching him closer as she glanced a Frank. "He won't be gone long." Frank reassured her. "They told us about this, remember? Mary was gone ten minutes, tops." "Actually we can do it here." The doctor smiled. “We have the facilities in the room so he will literally be right over there. And we can get you cleaned up properly, Miss Gallagher" That placated Fliss a little, but she was still reluctant to hand him over and when she finally did she insisted that Frank go with him to watch what they were doing. Having been fully intending to do so anyway, Frank followed over to the far side of the room, hovering as his baby son was examined and given a vitamin shot before being tenderly cleaned up.

“Do you have a specific blanket for him?” The midwife looked at Frank and he nodded, turning to grab the little white blanket they had bought which was decorated in stars. He handed it over and the midwife took it with a smile. "Does he have a name yet?" The doctor who had been doing his scores looked up from where he had been making notes and Frank nodded as he swallowed thickly.

"Yeah, erm, Alexander William..." "No." Fliss suddenly cut in and Frank turned to her, wondering if she was still slightly out of it. "Honey?" He frowned, "What-" "His name." She sat up slightly. "Alexander Francis William." Frank blinked. “I don’t…we didn’t discuss that?”

And they hadn’t, but it had come to Fliss the moment she had held him in her arms. It just felt right.

"He's the most important boy in our lives, Frank." She smiled, sniffing a little "I want him named after the best man in mine." Frank felt the tears prick his eyes at her words and he hastily blinked them away, smiling and giving her a nod to say he understood.

“Is that agreed on?” The Doctor gave a little smile and Frank took a deep breath.

“Yeah, erm. Alexander Francis William Adler.” He spoke his baby’s name for the first time, more tears welling in his eyes which he blinked away as he watched the midwife attach a tiny tag to Alex's right wrist sporting his name and an identity number before he was wrapped up in his blanket.

"Ready for a hold, Dad?" The midwife looked at him and Frank nodded, swallowing. "Are you doing skin to skin or..." "Yeah." Frank nodded again, loosening the top four buttons of his pale blue shirt before Alex was handed to him, the midwife helping Frank to gently arrange the blanket so his son's chest was pressed to his.

“Oh, shit.” He whispered softly, his eyes misting over. "Hey son, how you doing?" Alex burrowed his face slightly into Frank’s chest, his eyes wide as his dad’s large hands tenderly held him close, one on his back, the other underneath him. He walked over towards the bed as the midwives finished cleaning Fliss up, and carefully sat down, looking at his girl as she watched them both, smiling softly. "I fuckin' love you." He blurted out, this time not bothering to even try and hold his tears back as a few fell down his cheeks. "Look what you gave me." Fliss gave a little splutter of a happy sob as Frank gently moved one hand to tighten around hers, his other keeping his son secure to his chest. "You curve balled me on the name." He smiled and Fliss shrugged, reached out to gently smooth over Alex's head. "I mean it." She looked up at Frank, her eyes swimming. "You are. You fixed me Frank, you took those last broken pieces and..." "Liss…” Frank struggled to keep his composure as his fingers tightened around hers. "…and you showed me, just what..." She stuttered a little, her breathing ragged through her sobs "...what a normal love with a kind and gentle man is, what it's like to be with someone who would do anything to prevent me from being hurt instead of..." She swallowed, her eyes looking deep into his which were now freely spilling tears down his handsome face. "I can't even begin to explain how much I love you." Frank took a huge, shuddering breath, conscious his son was still clutched to his chest as he leaned forward, pressing his head to Fliss', running his nose against hers before atching her lips softly with his. "You gave me everything I didn't know I needed." He sniffed, and she smiled, glancing down at their baby. "You fixed me too, when I didn't even know I was broken." Fliss reached up to cup his cheek, but their moment was interrupted as Alex began to fuss. "Think he might be hungry." Frank glanced down at him. Fliss sat up as Frank handed him over and with a little help from the midwife and a few missed attempts soon he was latched on to her breast and suckling happily, his little hand curling into a fist, resting by his cheek. Frank sat still on the bed, watching Fliss nurse him for a while before he leaned over and kissed her head. "Suppose I best go tell them all he is here." Flias grinned before her face stilled a little. "I err...I don't really want them in just yet. I’m tired and I wanna get cleaned up and changed and..." She trailed off. "But Mary could come I suppose if she starts to get upset." The fact she was still putting Mary's feelings before her own made Frank's chest warm and he shook his head, cutting her off. "She'll be fine" Frank assured her. "Leave her to me."

With a last glance down he kissed Fliss’ head, then Alex’s before he jumped off the bed and headed down the corridor. In the elevator down to the waiting room he caught a glimpse of his reflection. His eyes were red from all the tears and his hair was stuck up on end as well from the amount of times his hands had run through it. Hastily flattening it down, he turned back as the elevator doors opened on the ground floor and he strode out, heading down the corridor before he pushed open the door into the waiting room.

He instantly spotted Bill, Verity and Mary sat on the chairs, but not his mother. He’d text them an hour and a half ago to say that Fliss was getting towards the end of her labour and as such they’d obviously headed straight over. As he walked towards them, Bill spotted him, his face breaking into a huge smile and the man gently nudged Mary. She glanced up from her book and Bill nodded towards Frank. Mary’s head turned in his direction and she gave a yell, running across the floor to him, grinning ear to ear. He picked her up, hugging her tight as she kissed his cheek before he moved her onto his hip, grinning around as Bill and Verity reached him.

“Mom and baby doing fine. He arrived about Thirty minutes ago.” Frank beamed “7lb 4 and, shit guys, he's perfect!”

He dropped Mary down to the floor and pulled his phone out, scanning through to a photo. He handed it to Mary whilst Verity pulled him in for a hug and then Bill shook his hand furiously before yanking him towards him, slapping his back.

“Congratulations, lad. How's my little girl?”

“Fine, just tired.” Frank assured him. “He arrived a little too fast for an epidural but, man, she did so well. I’m so fahkin proud of her.” “You gone all Sweary-Boston again!” Mary teased, as Verity took the phone to have a look at her grandson, her hand flying to her mouth before she showed it to Bill whose own eyes started to water.

“Where's my mother?” Frank asked.

“She’s at home.” Verity looked at him. “She says she didn't want to crowd you.” Reading between the lines, Frank knew that to mean she wasn't sure she was wanted or welcome. She hadn't been at Mary's birth, in fact she hadn't laid eyes on Mary until she was seven, and he knew that would be playing on her mind, wondering if she had a right to be here after everything. But they were past that now, or so he had thought anyway. In his mind this certainly wasn’t the time for bad blood or raking over old ground. It was time for her to step up and make the amends like she claimed to be so keen to.

“I’ll drop her a message.” Frank nodded after a moment’s pause and Verity smiled. “When can we see him?” Mary demanded. “In a little while, Stack” Frank’s hand dropped to her head “Fliss is feeding him now and then she needs to clean up properly and get settled, maybe take a nap because she's exhausted.” “Why don’t we go for some lunch?” Bill suggested and Frank could have kissed him. “Then Frank can call when they’re ready for us to come back?”

Mary looked around for a moment, pondering the idea before she nodded “Okay, can we go to the Shack?” “We can go wherever you want.” Bill beamed.

"If Evelyn decides to come up once I’ve spoken to her, could you swing by and pick her up, if it’s not too much trouble?" Frank asked. "Course." Bill assured him with a wink and Frank nodded mouthing thank you. “Can I tell them his name yet?”  Mary demanded Frank hesitated. He hadn't asked Fliss that, but as he thought about it, he knew she would want to be there when they found out so he shook his head. "Not yet. We can do that together later, okay?"

“Okay.” Mary nodded.

He gave her another hug and then promised to call them as soon as Fliss was feeling up to it before he turned and headed back to his girl and his son.

His son.

Fuck.

When he reached the room, Alex had finished feeding and Fliss had him held up over her shoulder, gently rubbing at his back. She looked over to him, smiling as he crossed the room.

“How’s he doing?”

“Fine.” She smiled “He’s fed…seems a little sleepy now.”

“You should take advantage.” One of the midwives spoke. “Put him down for a nap, eat that sandwich and rest yourself.” “Sounds like a good idea.” Frank said, then he cheekily added “I’m whacked.”

“You’re whacked?” Fliss glared at him as she sifted Alex back so he was once more lay in her arms.

“Well you woke me up early!”

“God you’re a dickhead.” She shook her head, snorting as he laughed.

“Love you.” He grinned, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he looked down at Alex whose eyes were definitely growing heavy.

“Can we dress him now?” Fliss asked and the midwife smiled.

“You can do whatever you want now. I’m officially heading out of your hair, unless there’s anything you need?”

Frank looked at Fliss who shook her head “No, we can manage, thank you.”

“Well then, if you do need anything someone will be in the office. I’ll be back in a couple of hours to check on you and see if you want anything more to eat”

“Can I take a shower or…”

The midwife nodded “Absolutely, as long as Mr Adler is here.” “Yeah, I will be.” “In that case then I suggest a nice bath, change into your pyjamas and relax.” She smiled “Honestly, when I had both my kids, there was no better feeling.”

With that she gave them another small smile before she left the room.

“Can you pop him in the basinet?” Fliss looked up at Frank.

“Course.” He smiled, reaching out and gently picking his son up. He gave his head a soft kiss before he gently placed him down and then moved to help Fliss stand up. She was a little shaky at first but after a few steps she seemed to be fairly steady. With a grin Fliss selected the baby grow they had bought the day of their first scan and Frank chuckled as she gently popped the studs down the front. Frank watched as she tenderly dressed him, smiling to himself as she picked him up again, holding him to her front.

“I don’t want to put him down.” She whispered, her face concentrating on her now very sleepy baby.

“Then you don’t hafta.” Frank chuckled

“But what if I make him clingy…” “Lissy, he’s like an hour old.” Frank smiled “And I hate to break it to you, but babies are kinda fucking clingy. Why don’t you sit down and hold him for a bit whilst I draw you a bath?”

“Okay.” She nodded. Frank dropped a kiss to her head before he turned and walked into the bathroom.

Once her bath was ready he asked if she needed a hand getting in. She shook her head and with an almost wistful look handed Alex over to his dad and disappeared into the bathroom. Frank held his son close, looking down at him as he slept contentedly in his arms. He wandered over to the window, looking out over the bay, smiling to himself.

“I’ll take you out there as soon as I can.” He said, looking down at his baby “You’ll love it. Wind in your hair, spot a few dolphins…”

After a moment or two of gently rocking Alex as he stood watching the day outside, he turned and placed him down again, making sure he was covered by his blanket before he grabbed the bag and pulled out the pale blue lounge set Fliss had packed. It had been a gift from Roberta, pattered with tiny little stars and was a button down for ease. Mary had a matching pair as well, not one to miss out.

Checking Alex once more he pulled out his phone, snapped another quick photo before he fired it off to the Circle of Truth WhatsApp group along with the photos he had taken before. As the messages of congratulations began to flood in, he suddenly remembered that he had someone else he needed to speak to.

His mother answered after two rings “Frank?”

“Hey, so…er…he’s here!” He grinned as he spoke. “Safe and sound. Fliss is okay, she’s in the bath so…” “Oh, that’s…” His mother took a breath “That’s great, I’m really pleased.” “You weren’t in the waiting room before.” “I know, I didn’t want to crowd you.” “Well, Bill, Verity and Mary are coming back later to meet him. You should too.”

Evelyn paused before she spoke again, her voice cracking slightly “Are you sure?” “Mom, you’re his grandmother.” He sighed gently. “Look, I know what you’ll be thinking, all sorts of shit about Diane and Mary but, none of us can change the past.” He took a breath “This is your chance. Step up. Enjoy the moments you missed last time.” He heard her sniff a little, and he was surprised to feel himself becoming a little emotional. “You okay?”

“Yeah, fine. I err…just…” She took a deep breath “I’d love to come meet him. Let me know when and I’ll organise a car…” “No need. Just give Bill a call. He said he’d bring you.”

“Thanks.” She replied gently. “Did you take any photos yet?”

“Yeah…I’ll send you one.” “Please do. I’d like that.” She paused again. “And I’ll see you later I guess.” “Sure.”

“Give my love to Fliss, please.” “Will do.” With that Frank cut the call and, once he’d sent the photo to her, he put his phone back in his pocket and smoothed down the blanket to take a look at Alex again, his conversation with his mother rattling through his brain.

He’d been right, she was feeling guilty. Guilty at how she was here for Alex but hadn’t been there for Mary or Diane for that matter. But he had meant what he said, none of them could change the past, it was how they moved forward that counted, how she took the second chance she had been given.

Frank knew his relationship with his mother was as good as it was probably going to ever get. But he could live with what it was, dare he say, he actually kind of liked it if he was honest. She was still far enough away not to piss him off on a daily basis, or try and interfere, but she visited regularly enough and when she did it was easier than he had ever anticipated. She’d certainly upheld her side of the bargain with Mary and if she did the same thing with Alex, he’d be happy. She was his grandmother after all, just like he’d told her.

“Mom, you’re his grandmother.”

As he recalled his words he felt his breath catch and his eyes mist over once more when he realised he’d called her mom, and for the first time that he could remember, she hadn’t corrected him.

***** After her bath, Fliss had emerged to see find Frank still quite emotional. He explained to her about his conversation with his mother and she’d listened as they lay on the bed, her head on his chest. Eventually the pair of them had drifted off and managed a few hours sleep before Alex had woken them both crying. He fed again and then Fliss smiled at Frank and told him she wanted to see everyone. With a nod he headed off to find a midwife to see if everyone was allowed into the room at once, and she had suggested that instead of doing it that way they used it in the family room within the birthing centre.

“We can do that?” Frank questioned and she nodded. “Of course.” The woman smiled at him. “In fact we encourage everyone to use the room as soon as they feel up to it. It's designed to give new moms and dads a space away from the recovery suites, somewhere to walk to and just chill out in, a bit like you would do if you were at home.”

“And Fliss is okay to walk down there?”

“Sure, in fact her being a little active and walking around is the best thing. All helps with her recovery and psychologically she'll feel like she has done something other than sit or lay down if that makes sense?”

Frank smiled and headed back to the room telling Fliss what the nurse had said.

“You up to that?” he asked and Fiss nodded eagerly.

“God, yes.” She grinned “I know it’s only been a few hours but I’m getting twitchy just laying here.”

Frank smiled, he should have known. She wasn’t the best at sitting still and had been active right up until going into labour.

“Okay, well I’ll call everyone, get them in.”

“I think we should let Mary in here to see him first.” Fliss looked at him and Frank beamed at her, dropping a kiss to her cheek.

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

Half an hour later Bill called to say they had arrived and Frank gave him the directions up to the room having already booked them in. Fliss stood up and he held out her robe so she could shrug it on over her lounge set, before she shoved her feet into her flip flops.

“Ready?” Frank asked and she nodded. With a quick kiss he headed off to the lounge, opening the door. He smiled round at his family before he held his hand out. “Come on Stack.”

Mary jumped up and slipped her hand into his and, after promising everyone else he’d be back shortly, he led her down the corridor.

“Now you need to be quiet.” He instructed as he paused outside the room. Mary nodded and Frank smiled at her as he pushed open the door.

“Hi!” Fliss grinned from where she sat on the edge of her bed, Alex in her arms. Mary stopped dead, simply staring at the baby. You ok?”

“Yeah…” Mary breathed, her eyes focussed on Alex as she walked towards him. She peered down at his face and then grinned up at Frank.

“He has your nose.” “So I’m told.” Frank smiled “You wanna hold him?” “Can I?” “Course you can.” Fliss nodded.

Mary hopped up onto the bed, Frank settling besides her and he showed her how to position her arms as Fliss placed Alex down into them. Frank moved so his left arm was curled round Mary, his hand gently supporting her left elbow as she peered down at Alex. He heard her give a soft sniff and he looked at Fliss before he turned to Mary.

“You okay, Mary?”

“Yeah, I’m just so happy.” She said, her voice wobbling slightly and Frank felt his own eyes watering for what felt like the thousandth time that day. No one said anything else, just let Mary have her little moment before Fliss softly suggested it was time they went to introduce him properly to everyone.

“You helped do the gender reveal.” She looked at Mary “You wanna tell everyone his name?”

She thought about it for a moment before she shook her head “I think that should be yours and Frank’s job.”

Fliss leaned down to give Mary’s head a kiss before she gently stood up and took Alex from her, Frank also standing as Mary jumped down from the bed and slipped her hand into his. He curled his other arm around Fliss waist and the three of them made their way down the corridor. Mary opened the door to the large lounge area and they were met with everyone turning to face them.

“Hey guys!” Fliss smiled as her mum hurried towards her.

“Oh my baby girl!” Verity cupped her face “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay mum.”  She smiled, before she glanced down at Alex in her arms and then back up at her mother. “Say hello to your newest grandson.”

Verity gently reached out to trail a finger down his cheek.

“Oh Bill…look at him.” She breathed out as Bill moved towards them, placing an arm round Verity’s shoulders as she gave a loud sniff.

“He looks like you Frank.” Bill said, his eyes not moving from the baby as he smiled down at him, Alex peering up with bright blue eyes.

“Here nanna.” Fliss smiled, passing Alex over to Verity who took him, letting out another soft gasp before she began to coo over him.

“Steve said he’ll pop to see you tomorrow with the gang.” Bill looked at Fliss “He thought this would be enough to cope with today. Says if its okay he’ll come here or to yours, wherever you are, on his way to the airport before he drops Sian and the kids off.”

Fliss nodded and then watched as Verity offered Alex to Evelyn who took him gently, peering down at his face.

“He does look like you.” Evelyn smiled gently, looking up at Frank. “And I’ve got the photos to prove it.”

“Sure you do.” Franks looked at her as she glanced back down at the baby and he didn’t miss the tears that were pooling in her eyes.

“I’m glad you came.” Frank looked at her and Evelyn raised her face to meet his eyes, swallowed and nodded.

“Me too.”

“Did you call Roberta?” Mary asked.

“No, but I sent her a photo.” Frank assured her. “She sent me back a load of heart eye emojis and a photo of a mojito, said she was toasting the new arrival over at her sister’s place.”

“Now THAT sounds like a great idea.” Verity mused, looking at Evelyn “What do you say we all go back to ours later?” “That’s so not fair!” Fliss folded her arms.

“We can have another party when you’re home.” Verity waved her away as Evelyn chuckled slightly.

“Sounds great.” She agreed, before she turned to Bill. “I believe it’s your turn to hold the baby so to speak…” “Yeah, come on.” Bill nodded, gently taking Alex from Evelyn, a huge smile crossing his face. “So what’s his name? We can’t keep calling him Bean.” Fliss looked at Frank who smiled at her and she turned to her dad. “It’s Alexander Francis William. Alex for short.” "What?" Bill breathed out softly, glancing down at the baby in his arms. "You named him after..." "Your dad, my dad, and his." Fliss looked at Bill, as his eyes filled with tears. “The best men I’ve ever known”

As the room began to chatter about what a nice name it was, along with a few more tears being shed at the pure love and emotion shared across the family, Frank looked down as Mary pulled on the bottom of his shirt.

He picked her up, perching her on his hip.

"You added Francis?" she asked and he looked at her, smiling. "Fliss did." Mary blinked before she shook her head, snorting. "Poor kid."

**** Chapter 11

[lunarliza]

Fake Boyfriend | Chapter 4: Kook Conventions

JJ x Kook!reader

series masterlist | prev. chapter| chapter one

my masterlist

You’re a Kook Princess who has everything you ever wanted... until your handsome Kook Prince dumps you for a hot new fling. To save your reputation, you bribe the one person he hates the most, JJ Maybank, to pretend to be your boyfriend for the summer. All’s fair in love and war. But where do you draw that line when you’re suddenly wishing your fake boyfriend is your real one?

note: slight mention of panic attack

If there was anything you learned about JJ that Friday, it was that he was the absolute worse at sticking to the plan.

For one, he spent so much time looking for the tennis courts, instead of following your clearly written out instructions, that he ended up being late altogether to pick you up. What was supposed to be a grand gesture turned into you sitting on the front steps, while the sun was near done setting, waiting for stupid JJ while everyone else had already left.

“What the hell took you so long?!” you scolded, slamming the truck door shut in annoyance once he finally showed up.

“This place is confusing as hell! I kept having to make loops. It is called Figure Eight for a reason,” he tried to justify, pulling out of the lot.

“JJ I texted you specific instructions on how to get here!” you groused, rubbing your temple, “Anyways, it’s fine, whatever. Let’s just hurry home so I can get ready. My house is just a little bit up that way.”

“Yeah, uh, about that,” JJ mentioned sheepishly, keeping his eyes on the road, “I kinda have to help Pope and Poppa Heyward with something right now. It will only take an hour tops! I’ll just meet you at the party after I’m done.”

You groaned loudly, face-palming yourself. “JJ what the hell! I told you specifically to cancel your plans tonight. It was supposed to be our debut!”

“I did! I just,” he scratched the back of his neck, “kinda broke one of their carts this afternoon, so I have to help them fix it for tomorrow. I think they’re catering your little brunch thingy.”

“How did you even break the cart to begin with?!”

He hid his face from your dagger-eyes and admitted in a low voice, “I, uh, tried to surf on it down a hill when they weren’t looking.”

You had to fight the urge to smack him upside the head, but you didn’t want to risk him veering off the road. Lucky bastard.

“Fine,” you grumbled, “Just make sure you’re on time to the party.” You then eyed his outfit up and down. Even in the little sunlight that emitted from outside, you could tell it was all dirty from his day activities. “And please change into something a little nicer,” you added, “These Kooks would run you to the ground with that on.”

JJ dropped you off at your house and sped away as you unlocked the door into a near empty house. Looks like it would just be you and Alfred for dinner.

Your parents were headed off to the mainland for some business convention. Thankfully, your presence was not needed which saved you an entire day of pretending to be a perfect obedient daughter. It was an exhausting act.

Most teens your age would kill for a night alone, but after countless nights sleeping isolated in a big empty house, it got old and depressing. Most of the time, you’d sleep over at Sarah’s for some kind of company. You were always welcomed at the Camerons’.

Greeting Alfred your usual hello at the foyer, you darted upstairs to wash off and get ready with the little time you had left. The aroma of filet mignon and freshly seasoned veggies filled the house air.

“Oh and Alfred,” you called out over the intricate metal banister, “It’ll just be me eating tonight, so just set the table for one please.”

“Miss Y/n, your friend is not coming?” he asked with hints of concern. You just shook your head with a sad smile. “No, he had to run last minute.”

Alfred gave you a curt nod, making way back into the kitchen while you dashed into the bathroom.

—————————————————

Instead of throwing JJ straight into the shark’s tank (even though, given his already poor track record, you strongly contemplated throwing him to literal sharks), you decided it was best to ease him into the whole boyfriend role.

You figured he’d be more in touch with his aura if you invited him to a Kook party first— which was exactly where you were, furiously texting him where on earth he was.

It was already ten o’clock. The party started hours ago, and he was nowhere to be found. An hour with Pope your ass!

Flopping onto the giant living room couch in Billy Irvine’s mansion, you frowned amongst the throng of drunk privileged kids. Around you, the Glossy Posse was gossiping with other Kooks about some of the summer newcomers while sleazy guys from out of town tried to grab their attention. It never worked.

“So y/n,” Chloe asked next to you on the couch, “I have some great news! It’s no secret that you need a date to the all the fundraiser events, and I might just have one for you! My cousin, Gerald, is coming into town next week, so I can totally set you guys up!”

She proceeded to show you pictures on her phone of a lanky tall guy with discolored hair and a creepy smile. You resorted to taking a gulp of your drink to hide your horrified expression. “Thanks, but, uh, no thanks. I actually have a date already,” you informed, typing away heatedly at your phone for JJ to arrive that instant or so help you.

“Ooh, who is it?” Ivy nosily chimed in at the mention of you finally having a date. From the couch over, you also saw Anne-Marie and Warren lean their heads closer to get the scoop.

Jeez, were people really that interested in your love life?

“It’s-”

Before you could reveal the name, a loud ‘ding’ went off from your phone followed by a text from JJ to alert you that he was out front. “Oh! He’s actually here right now,” you announced, hopping up from your seat to collect your very problematic date.

“You’re late, again!” you scolded to the blond standing all gloomy at the front of the stone curved driveway. He changed into a nicer grey long-sleeve with khaki shorts and his signature red snapback, much to your relief. It didn’t quite match with your intricate white romper, but it would do for the time being.

“The guard wouldn’t let me in the gate! I ended up having to sneak through one of the fences,” JJ explained. You rolled your eyes at his ridiculous excuse. “Then why didn’t you just call me to let you in?” you pointed out.

“It was more fun this way,” he peskily grinned, earning himself a smack on the arm. The guy was impossible. “Ow!” he whined, rubbing the spot. Ignoring his complaints, you seized his hand and led him inside. It was about time!

The foyer flashed with various-colored LED lights while thundering rap music echoed from basically every corner of the house. All around, eyes gawked at you stepping through the Victorian-style entryway with a Pogue of all people. It was like walking into a cave of bats.

“Anyways,” you began, disregarding all the probing eyes, “This is Billy Irvine’s place. It’s the nicest house on the Eight. His parents are out of town right now, so we’re celebrating the Glossy Posse’s birthdays.”

It alway was a coincidence to you how all three of them had birthdays on back-to-back days. Witchcraft, honestly.

“Those bitches?” JJ grimaced at the mention of his sworn female enemies, “Ew why? They hate the Pogues.”

“Just shut up and suck it up. Here,” you grabbed a glass from the champagne tower in the middle of the spacious room, “Have a drink to get your mind off it.”

“Champagne? What the hell is this, England?” he yelped, taking a swig. Rolling your eyes, you hoped the alcohol would alleviate his irritability for the night. Fortunately, the blaring music was enough to drown out his constant bickering.

“Now put your arm around me! It’s time to make our rounds,” you demanded. He obliged and you turned on your best lovestruck game-face, giving him the grand tour of the mansion.

Billy’s mom was also one of the important people of the Island Club, so you had been going over there ever since you were nine being that your moms were friends. Still, you were always amazed by the extravagance of their house. You could tell JJ was also in shock of it all too.

It looked like a castle with two grand marble staircases circling the front with a tall vintage Tiffany chandelier hanging over everything. The floors were the shiniest white marble even with hundreds of teenagers recklessly dancing and slipping all over it.

“Damn, so this is how the other side lives,” JJ commented, marveling at how the LED lights reflected off the diamonds on the chandelier.

He slid his hand down to your waist as you stood closer to his side, taking a whiff of his teakwood cologne. Deep down, it was nice to have someone to attend parties with you, even if it was fake and with JJ.

You took him up the right staircase where plastered kids— some you recognized from school, some just in town for the summer— stumbled up and down the stairs or sloppily made out while pinned to the side walls. Realistically, it didn’t seem that off-brand to JJ’s party scene.

“We’re only staying an hour right?” JJ reminded in your ear as you approached the open bar upstairs. Yes, the Irvine’s had a literal bar in their second level.

“Yes, grumpy!”  

“Do you know if Sarah and John B are coming?” JJ continued to question. You settled on top of a retro bar stool as he leaned against the Irvine’s prized rustic bar.

“No,” you answered, “Sarah doesn’t come to these because Topper’s here. And she hates Kooks.”

“She’s the smarter one of you two!” JJ shouted among the loud music. You shook your head and whacked him again, but lightly this time. Seemed that would be you guy’s thing— hitting.

Even in their inebriated states, Kooks were still staring at you like you had grown a third arm. Which, honestly, was what being with JJ felt like half the time. From the corner of your eye, you caught a glimpse of the Glossy Posse and Warren making their way to you with either wide or curious eyes.

Oh boy.

“Y/n!” they exclaimed, shoving through the crowd. You matched their seemingly gleeful expressions, though you knew deep down they were judging you hard.

“You must be y/n’s date,” Ivy stated without much of a formal introduction.

“Aren’t you that Pogue from the Boneyard that always tries to hit on us?” Chloe brought up once she got a better look at JJ’s face. You snorted, but no one heard you.

You were slightly worried JJ would take their snarky comments the wrong way and lash back, but his cocky grin still laid proudly on his face as he held his hand out to your girl friends. “Name’s JJ. And yeah, I’m y/n’s new man.”

New man. Well, that was certainly a title. All of the Glossy Posse’s threaded eyebrows shot up at the word.

“Y/n,” Anne-Marie said in amazement, “You didn’t tell us you were dating again.”

“Yeah, well, I wanted to keep it kinda lowkey,” you lied, signaling JJ to put his arm around you again.

Expecting your friends to stick up their nose at him or give you guys condemnatory looks, you were surprised to find they were more stunned than snobby. Intrigued, you caught them eyeing JJ up and down as if he possessed some kind of magical charm.

From behind the group, you saw Warren trying to stick his hand out at JJ to introduce himself as the girls did kinda take center stage earlier, shielding him out. “Don’t believe we’ve met yet. I’m Warren, Warren Van Doren.”

JJ had to hold back a laugh at the sound of his rhyming name. So immature.

“Hey man, I’m JJ. Nice to meet you,” he greeted, shaking his hand, “Wait a sec, aren’t you that quarterback that got in that fight at regionals last year?”

Warren smiled sheepishly and looked away. “Yeah, that was me.”

You remembered that fight. The video of it actually went viral for like a week. Warren was a very nice guy, but pissed of, he was an animal. He pummeled the shit out of some of other players during that game. The topic of fighting seemed to bond the two boys as they unknowingly drifted away in their own conversation. Thank God, you were glad that at least one of the boys there would be friendly towards JJ.

“Wow, look what the cat dragged in,” Chloe announced, gesturing towards the stairway. All four of your heads turned to see Max and Anya parade up to the top step linked to one another.

That was the cue.

Furtively, you nudged at JJ’s side, interrupting his football conversation. You gave him an alerting look that said ‘look like you’re in love with me ASAP’ and he quickly enveloped his arm around you to pull you close.

Given the fact that you and JJ hardly knew each other, much less touched, it was a very ungraceful and awkward gesture. Even Warren shot you both a weird look. Either way, you figured it would be perfected after going at it a few times.

Just as the Hollywood couple sauntered in to the packed bar area, JJ dipped his face closer to yours. It was a nice touch to the act. He started whispering some stupid joke in your ear that you could hardly make out among the music and chatter, but you went along with it anyway, playfully slapping at his chest. He even placed his snapback on your head backwards. You almost yelled at him for ruining your hair, but for the sake of the show you were putting on, you pretended it was the cutest thing.

You tried not to look at Max as he passed, as you didn’t want to make things so obvious. But in the split second you did glance his way, his mouth flew agape. In that moment, you knew you had him right in the palm of your hand from twenty feet away. The evil laugh cackled inside your head while you raked your hands through JJ’s hair. It was surprisingly soft.

For the next few minutes, you could feel Max’s stare bore into you back as you leaned closer to JJ, kissing up his jawline and cheek. 

“Damn, y/n, didn’t know you felt like this about me,” JJ teased.

“Shut up. I’m giving them a show,” you hissed with an infatuated smile to mask your threats.

“They’re gone now,” JJ noted lowly in your ear. You both detached like repelling magnets.

Fortunately, the posse and Warren dispersed among the crowd while you and JJ acted out your little PDA scene— it was probably from discomfort, if you were being honest. You did make sure not to hold anything back while you were draped all over JJ.

“Is that it?” JJ droned, back to his normal whiny self, “Am I done? Can we leave?”

Clicking your tongue, you shook your head, but with a grin this time. “Yes, you idiot, we can leave now.”

“Finally!”

JJ’s hand crept to your lower back as you both weaved through the mass of people to the exit. Before you could make it halfway down the staircase, however, you heard a rumbling behind you that stopped both your tracks. Warren’s six-four gigantic self was rummaging down the stairs, leaving booms in his wake.

“JJ! JJ!” he called out, grabbing hold of your fake boyfriend’s arm, “JJ dude, you gotta check out this new game system Billy has upstairs in the game room. You can play live Madden!”

“What?!” JJ’s eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas as Warren tugged you both back up the stairs with his giant football-player muscles.

“Dude it’s fucking sick! You gotta try it out,” Warren kept insisting. You knew JJ wouldn’t be able to resist. His eyes were practically glowing with excitement when he turned back to you as if to ask for some kind of approval.

“Okay, I’m just going to stay for one game,” he swore but you were a hundred-and-ten percent sure he’d be hooked and you could stay for much longer.

“Knock yourself out, Maybank,” you responded with a knowing smile, shooing him off to some depth of the Irvine’s enormous home. When he disappeared, you took the liberty to go search for your friends and finally enjoy the party for yourself.

As you predicted, one game turned into thirty real quick. It was well past midnight and JJ was still buried away somewhere doing who knows what. You didn’t mind. Warren was very responsible and you trusted him to take care of your date.

Plus, it gave you enough time to take rounds of various colored jello shots with Billy, dance on Mrs. Irvine’s countertops with the birthday girls, and devour the four-tiered tiramisu cake with fake-puking Barbie doll toppers that you helped pick out at the bakery.

When it got around one thirty, you grew a little concerned about JJ’s whereabouts so you sent him a quick text just to make sure he was okay and not shoving his head down a toilet. Your phone chimed back instantly—

Im jus fine y/n!!! One mor game! I almos beat War Ins Ass! Fuckin kwarter back!

Oh yeah, he was definitely gone. You texted your family’s driver to come by in about thirty minutes to make sure he’d get home safely. Then, you proceeded to dig in to your third slice of cake. Unlike the rest of your friends, you embraced the joy that was carbs— especially when you were drunk and there was chocolate involved.

JJ came downstairs a few minutes later and found where you were sitting on the couch surrounded by your circle of friends. Even amid the dark yet colorful beaming lights, his hair was still its usual sweaty mess with eyes a tad droopy, indicating just how drunk he was.

“Y/n! There’s my baby!”

He walked up and collapsed right onto your lap, tossing a dangly arm around you. You kept his snapback on for the entire night, assuming your hair was probably a bird’s nest underneath it. Everyone around seemed amused at the sight, and a few girls from school even began asking how you two started dating.

Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.

Well, that was until your thigh circulation began ceasing due to JJ’s bony ass on it. You immediately demanded that you switch places with him, and he sloppily obliged. The throng around you giggled, intrigued by the new lovey-dovey couple. Secretly, you ate up the attention and knew JJ did too.

He was in the middle of telling everyone a dumb Boneyard party story when Max and Anya entered the living room premises. They looked like they were fixing to leave. Your date felt you tense a little in his lap and caught on to your sudden judder.

Boldly, JJ made direct eye contact with Max and threw him one of those ‘what’s up’ nods. Then, out of nowhere, in his completely trashed state, JJ cupped both of your cheeks and planted a very brazen kiss on your lips for everyone to see. Shutting your eyes, you heard a few whistles from the crowd around you, especially when he, very obviously, added his tongue to the mix.

JJ was a good kisser, you had to admit. It quite literally, took your breath away when he pulled back. Biting your lip, you mimicked his shit-eating grin while he pressed his perspiration-filled forehead on yours. It was a huge acne-hazard just waiting to happen. But, like the snapback, you didn’t care. It was the most thrilling thing you had done in months.

“Don’t look now, but Vega and his girl have their jaws dropped to the floor behind you,” he muttered in your ear. You giggled and held onto him closer, leaning your head on his chest.

It was probably be best fifteen hundred bucks you had ever spent.

—————————————————

The next morning was your mom’s weekly Saturday brunch. By default, you showed up an hour early to help greet the guests, frequently checking your watch and phone to see when JJ would arrive.

You had a tennis tournament earlier that morning, however, you didn’t even bother making your fake boyfriend go. After the events of last night, you knew he’d be too hungover in the morning and wouldn’t wake up in time for it. He was getting to be very predictable.

At t-minus five minutes until the brunch started, everyone had already made their way into the ballroom. That left just you waiting in the lobby area for your date. The look on your face was just about ready to kill JJ whenever he walked through the door. You also didn’t see Sarah and John B arrive either, so you assumed they would be a no-show yet again.

About a minute past noon, the blond sauntered past the doors wearing a black suit that looked two sizes to big for him with hideous shoulder pads. You presumed it was his dad’s old one. He also had on jet black sunglasses to mask the grogginess from the party, but it was pretty evident he looked and felt like shit.

“You’re late again!” you hissed through gritted teeth, snatching his hand like he was an uncontrollable child. Maybe you should invest in a leash and collar for him since he could never get his attendance right.

“What do you mean? You said noon,” he yawned, unfazed at your irritation.

“The brunch starts at noon!” you jeered, “That means you have to show up early!”

“Well you failed to mention those rules,” he tried to bicker back, but you flashed him one of your bitch-looks before he could go any further. That had him shriveling at the sight.

“Whatever, just hurry up and let’s get seated,” you ordered, leading him through the majestic looking double doors, “And take off those sunglasses!”

Much to your dismay, the doors made a very loud creaking noise when they opened. Just about everyone did a double-take to see you arrive late and with a woozy-looking boy shoving sunglasses in his suit pocket.

Eyes were glued on you while judgmental whispers filled the already tense air. There was a small churn in your stomach as you weaved through the round tables. Something was also gnawing at your brain, telling you that it was a terrible, terrible idea. You attempted to brush it aside, though, as you and JJ took your seats.

For some odd reason, the Glossy Posse didn’t show the same enthusiasm towards JJ like the did at the party. They were back to their pretentious ways— you figured it was probably just their hangover attitude.

On the other hand, Warren happily greeted JJ when he sat down, exchanging one of those typical ‘bro’ handshakes. They started chatting on about the previous night while you tried to make small talk with the girls. Unfortunately, they were still being short with you and were, very obviously, throwing looks at JJ, along with their dates.

Glancing to your parents’ table, they didn’t look like they cared too much about your situation, having just flown in from their trip. They were too engrossed in entertaining their friends to really pay you any mind. Sometimes you were grateful that they were oblivious to some things. When you look over at the Vegas, however, Mr. and Mrs. Vega both sent you a disapproving look. The other families followed.

You couldn’t help but feel like you were in over your head at that point. Was it a mistake bringing JJ to this event?

The servers came out and made their rounds at the tables, setting bowls of water in front of everyone.

“Thank God, I’m starving,” JJ piped, taking his dessert spoon to sip water from the finger bowl.

“JJ,” you yelled-whispered as guests continued to stare.

“What?” he chided back with an attitude, completely unaware of his surroundings.

“The water is for your fingers.”

His face shot up from the bowl and scanned the room at people dipping their fingers into their respective bowls. “Oh shit,” he sputtered as your entire table tried to hide their snorts.

When the food finally came out, it didn’t really get any better. Baked chicken was on the menu and, well, JJ was the only one in the room who didn’t use a fork and knife. Everyone stared at him incredulously as he used his hands to gobble up his plate. Though, the boy didn’t seem to notice any of the baffled eyes.

Attempting to shield your red face, you continued to take tiny bites from your food, hoping the next hour would go by fast.

You hoped too soon.

As soon as JJ was done eating, he let out a loud belt to where the tables around you could hear. Warren high-fived him. At least someone got a kick out of it. You, along with the rest of the guests, had nothing but revolt on your faces.

Once the plates were cleared, the servers brought out creme brûlée for dessert. You were grateful it was something semi-clean to eat. JJ seemed to get a knack out of all the food. He even leaned over to you with his mouth full and muttered, “This food is fantastic! My compliments to the chef.”

You half-smiled back in embarrassment and took a spoon-full of your dessert. Thankfully, your mom waltzed over when you were half-way through to ask for your help carrying in the posters and stands from the lobby that displayed all the charity and donation information.

Immediately, you rose and scattered out, away from all the the dense room.

At the front, you began picking up the easel stands to bring inside until you spotted the jet-black locks of the last person you wanted to run into that afternoon. You almost dropped the large items in your hands when he came up to you.

“So, I see you brought Maybank here. Looks like he’s really enjoying himself in there,” Max commented dryly beside you. Mrs. Vega must have asked him for a hand as well.

You winced at the oozing criticism in his voice. It was the first time you had spoken to him one-on-one since the breakup.

”Yeah, we’re, uh, kind of together now,” you mentioned, lugging a display. He grabbed the two remaining and rushed to keep up with you, following you back in.

Out of nowhere, he let out disbelieving laugh, “You can’t be serious, y/n, you and Maybank?”

Taken aback by his brashness, you stopped right before the ballroom doors, frowning. “Yeah,” you shot back sternly, “Why not? I get along with him fine.”

“Doesn’t look like it to me. The guy’s a total tool. I’ve told you that from the beginning. Trust me, I know.”

“Know what? What’s good for me?” you pressed, growing more and more exasperated at the sound of his deep and raspy voice.

It was sexy, no doubt, but just the things that were coming out of his mouth made you want to slap him silly. How dare he prance up to you in his gorgeous light blue Armani suit and tell you what’s good for you!

“I just know who you are, y/n,” he went on calmly, with not an ounce of anger present in his tone, “And JJ’s just not a good guy for you.”

You were seeping with outrage at that point. Hiking in a breath, you spoke with the speckles of tranquility you had left in you. “Well I appreciate your concern, though I hardly understand why you have any for me. But we broke up, Max. You completely lost the right to tell me any of that.”

With that, you furiously stomped into the brunch and set the displays at the front for your mom. Max looked dumbstruck as he trailed behind. But you didn’t care.

“Everything okay? Did something happen with Vega?” JJ asked when you got back to your seat. You remained silent. It was the only way to keep yourself from screaming.

It was all too much— the piercing stares, the messy eating, Max.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” you informed to JJ as he listened to another one of Warren’s football stories, “And then we’re leaving.”

Before he could respond, you were already racing to the bathroom as fast as your Jimmy Choo wedges could take you.

You needed air. And fast.

Bursting through the bathroom door, you heaved yourself into the biggest stall and flopped down on the toilet seat, taking in deep breaths to calm yourself. It didn’t help much. The room was still twirling like you were on the Graviton at a carnival. Too nauseous from it all, you didn’t even care that you were ruining your new white Valentino dress.

You just wanted to hurl inside the antique-decorated bathroom but couldn’t. It was miserable. But at least the bathroom was empty.

All the seeming success of last night crumbled away with every disapproving look or whisper of the guests. And then Max— that fucking asshole. Your head was thumping endlessly as you felt the stress knots crawl up your spine.

What were you thinking? Maybe you were in over your head. No one was believing it. Not for a second.

Even JJ was terrible at playing along. You should’ve known it was just wishful thinking. You knew you had to throw in the towel and told yourself you would call it off once you found some way to stop the hot tears that were streaming down your made-up cheeks.

As you felt your breathing start to normalize, you slowly lifted from the toilet seat and smoothened out your dress. When the bathroom door slammed open against the wall, you immediately fell back down, wanting to avoid any form of human interaction for the rest of your life.

Titters and snickers echoed the air as two girls stumbled in, mid-conversation. They didn’t seem to notice you in the stall at all. Thank God.

“Would you believe y/n? Bringing that dirty Pogue here? She’s gone insane!” A nasally voice spoke by the sinks.

You scrunched your nose, trying to catch a glimpse of their shoes from the opening underneath the stall. You nearly puked. Nameless brand heels? Unacceptable.

“I know! He’s so disgusting and that suit is just repulsive! Does she not have an ounce of embarrassment?” the other one added.

You didn’t recognize their voices, but assumed they probably went to your school by the way they knew you and JJ. A part of you wanted to charge out of the stall and drag their pitiful selves to the ground. But seeing as you were just recovering from a near panic attack, you didn’t have the energy. And they didn’t deserve your breath.

Nevertheless, they still went on. 

“Ever since Vega dumped her for California girl, she’s completely gone off the rails. First the hair change and now she’s dating a Pogue like Sarah Cameron is. It’s so pathetic!”

“Seriously, train wreck of the year if you ask me.”

Train wreck? Pathetic? You’ll show them what pathetic is! Especially with those god-awful shoes. Do they have an ounce of embarrassment showing up here with that kind of atrocity?

You were seconds away from emerging from your ashes to put them in their place. But, lucky for them, they escaped before you could come out of confinement.

Huffing, you stormed out of the stall and towards the mirrors to fix yourself. God forbid you’d ever let anyone see you with smeared mascara!

Dabbing a wet cloth on your cheeks to soothe out the redness, you heard the creak of the door opening behind you and immediately tossed it into a bin. You pretended to fix your hair. Fortunately, the redness faded to a soft pink to look like blush.

Anya strolled in the bathroom behind you. Ugh, the cherry on top of the cake.

You faked a tight smile at her. She threw a cheery one at you, walking up the sink next to yours to toss up her bouncy, voluminous hair. “So, I thought you said that guy out there wasn’t you boyfriend,” she pointed out, not taking her eyes off her own reflection.

“Oh, psh, well you know,” you sputtered, not expecting the sudden inquisition, “One thing led to another that night at the Boneyard and it just kinda… happened.”

It was the first real conversation you had with her, and you wanted to hold your breath at the awkwardness. Anya nodded at your answer, puckering her lips slyly. “I just think it’s cute that you’re trying to make Max jealous.”

You almost did a double take. It was so subtle and smooth, her comment almost flew right over your head. “Excuse me?” you shot back, turning to the blonde-haired home-wrecker.

She didn’t even flinch a muscle at your snub expression, just continued to ogle at herself. It was menacing. Evil really did take form in Anya Carmichael.

“Oh, did I need to spell it out for you?” she blinked, “Y/n, you’ve been out of the picture. If you think showing up with that god-awful guy in his dad’s raggedy suit is gonna change Max’s mind about you, I assure you it won’t work.”

She crinkled her eyes in a hateful smile.

What was with people and their audacity that afternoon? Whatever was in their water, you were not about to have any of it. No one spoke to you like that.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” you said blandly, wanting to get under her skin.  

“Yes you do,” she snarled back, placing both hands on the sink in a threatening manner, “Look. Max and I are together now. You need to get that in your tiny pea-brain head. Do not play dumb with me. I see you looking over at him every five minutes. Get. Over. It.”

“Like I said,” you responded back in a fake-innocent tone just to push her buttons some more, “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Anya. I think all the hairspray is really getting to your head.”

Two can play that game.

She narrowed her almond eyes at you and straightened up proudly. Even though she was way taller than you in her six-inch heels, you still stood your ground, blinking up at her tauntingly. At least your swanky parents taught you that much.

She scoffed. “Give it up, seriously. Using that guy to try to get back at your ex is just pathetic. Max was right about you. You’re just a shallow virgin with a handbag.”

With that, she tossed her hair behind her shoulder and strutted out the door. Your blood was boiling, having half a mind to go out there and rip the bottled-blonde right off her head. You should’ve known it was all an act!

Fuming, you treaded back to the brunch table, your face doing a complete one-eighty once you stepped through the doors. A lady never showed her seething anger underneath.

JJ spotted you and promptly stood up, snatching your purse, and getting ready to leave.

“Sit,” you demanded, pushing him down by the shoulder so his ass plopped back firmly on the chair. The look of utter shock flashed on his face, but he just took it.

“I’m feeling better now. We’re staying,” you informed as if you were a commander at war. You glanced over at the Vegas’ table where Anya hung her arm proudly on Max’s bicep as he made some joke to his table. She threw over a glare at you. No one but you noticed.

You draped an arm on one of JJ’s ridiculously large shoulder pads, nuzzling your nose to his neck. He was still as confused as ever though, but still went along with it, digging his fork into your half-eaten dessert which he later finished.

If Anya wanted a war, you’ll give her one. May the best bitch win.

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

note: YES SHE WENT THERE! you kno i had to stir in anya- y/n drama!!! 

pls message me to be tagged! 

next chapter

tags: @2kayla64​​ @jewel25​​ @rudyypankow​​ @rafecameron​​ @ultranikilove​​ @wicked-laugh​​​ @outerbankslut​​ @agirlwholovescoffee​​ @tovvaf @obxlife​​ @ilovejjmaybank​​ @celestialmaybank @erraaxh​​ @poguecollins​​ @jolomez​​ @x-lulu​​ @danicarosaline​​ @teamnick​​ @outerbankslut​​​ @sweetlysilent​​​ @5am-cigarette @n1ghtsh4d3-67 ​​@duskangxl @hollandary​​ @rudths​​ @meaganjm​​ @bluesiderudy​​ @http-cherries​​ @allycat449-blog​​ @pink-meringues @mendesmaybank @lunaposey @natsiboo​ @primroswx​ @wtfkie​ @heyitsmeimdead @ilymarkchan​ @drewwbabyy-blog @kookkyra​ @mayybankz​ @ifilwtmfc​ @annedub

[ssvgawara]

Haikyuu boys and some oddly specific crime they’d commit

a/n: I come back and the first thing I write is a shitpost!! enjoy </3 tw for drugs, murder, alcohol and general crime committing xoxo

Karasuno

Daichi- he’s a cop sorry that’s all there is to it man

Suga- Suga has multiple charges of 1st-degree murder against him but they can’t seem to find his identity so he continues committing murder and will continue until he gets caught or ends up murdering enough people to be put in a position of power

Asahi- everyone is probably like “Oh Asahi is innocent” NO. He has learned that his slightly scary face will let him get away with a lot, he is buying alcohol illegally because he looks old enough to, and he’s buying so much other shit and just getting away with it

Nishinoya- This man gives fucking pimp vibes I can just see him in the big leopard print fur coat with a pretty girl in his lap and he calls himself big poppa but no one else will

Tanaka- Drug dealer vibes, probably runs an entire fucking drug ring with his sister and not just a Lil weed these mfkas have the hard shit too like you could probably buy meth from them, he’s not using it but it’s good business

Ennoshita, Kinoshita, and Narita- They literally rob a bank they have an entire scheme and get away with multiple bank robberies and this goes on for MONTHS

Kageyama- We know he’s volleyball smart but otherwise he’s so mfing stupid and I love him for it but he is a chronic shoplifter. Just picks something up and takes it, has walked out of a store without paying for an entire bed set once and got away with it somehow so idk props to him

Hinata- He is the little guy in any heist situation, he fits anywhere so he can sneak in and out the best, he gave himself the stupid ass code name tiny giant but everyone goes with it because somehow he is the best

Tsukishima- armed robbery, but he doesn’t have a gun just a knife like he’s tall and as an attitude, a knife will get him whatever he needs he doesn’t need the gun

Yamaguchi- He runs a catfishing scheme where he pretends to be a naive girl, scams old men out of their money, and then ghosts them and I think it’s what he deserves let him carry on especially because no one would believe it’s him. Also not really like a crime crime but still a crime in a way

Kiyoko- She kills men and I know it, Queen Kiyoko ending the patriarchy one shitty man at a time like she only kills men who deserve it bc some have rights.

Yachi- She’s too anxious to commit an in-person crime so she does a lot of cybercrime, hacking government databases and releasing info to the people, truly the anonymous we deserve

Saeko- She’s running that drug ring with Tanaka, and she loves it because there’s a thrill to it even though yknow she’s dealing literal meth but like its fine plus she loves rocking people’s shit when they get too handsy, which bring me to my next point underground MMA Saeko, like the illegal one with no rules yeah <3

Ukai- this man probably sells all kinda shit to minors that he shouldn’t he is so unbothered a 7-year-old could probably walk in ask for a pack of camels and get them and leave before he noticed what was going on.

Takeda- Did y’all see how scared Hinata was when Takeda gave him that lecture? This dude could kidnap someone and scare them into giving all the information he needed, a legend truly

Aoba Johsai

Oikawa- took steroids one time. And of course in sports, that’s not allowed. But he only did it once and regretted it for months afterward. Never told anyone and was just relieved he didn’t have to piss in a cup and have someone find out.

Matsukawa- Without hesitation, I know this man takes dead people’s bones and sells them on the internet. Has dubbed himself the bone man and he feels so much power when someone buys a femur or sumn. It’s kinda funny honestly he has a hoard of bones to sell, his fave is the pelvis.

Hanamaki- He’s in between jobs because he stole money from his last job, like he said he was sorry he just needed a little extra for gas but was sad to find out that’s a literal crime and he was laundering money.

Iwaizumi- he’s a street racer, like the fast and furious style and it’s so sexy of him like late-night races ugh to be in an expensive fast car with him where he has one hand on my thigh okay that’s enough of that.

Kunimi- Look me in the eye and tell me he does not do drugs. He does and if you don’t believe me you are wrong and I will fight you on this one. 

Kyotani- If there is a crime he will commit it for fun. Like he will do it with no hesitation. He has a record longer than twilight and I’m not sure how he is not in prison actually nvm he escaped and is  a wanted criminal lol

Shiritorizawa

Ushijima- Assault, he just reeks of getting into bar fights when he’s absolutely wasted. Like he most likely didn’t start it but he will be finishing it

Tendou- grave robbing, he just goes into the cemetery picked the oldest plots, and gets to digging. Has made thousands on dead people jewelry and probably won’t get caught, like besides the groundskeeper there’s no security he will never stop.

Semi- he breaks copyright laws on the daily. He’s sampling music in his all the time but he’s doing it so sneakily it’s fine its what deserves stream his band on Spotify right now,

Shirabu- His bangs are criminal enough. No, but he has stolen drugs from the hospital before he just wanted to try the Xanax, and yeah he could just write himself a prescription for it nut like it’s so easy to just go get some and no report it so that’s what he did.

Goshiki- y’all want me to say arson don’t you?? Fine. He commits arson multiple times and kills 7 people with fire before getting arrested and he doesn’t even feel bad so in prison he probably fucking runs a gang he is crazy.

Nekoma

Kuroo- he is a capitalist and class traitor and that’s crime enough I don’t care is he’s attractive or rich, He commits crimes daily by just existing but I still love him anyway.

Kai- Could not commit a crime he just wants to garden and live his life. Jk there’s at minimum one body in that garden let him kill a man he deserves it just let him have one dead body

Yaku- he keyed someone’s car once just because they pissed him off. Was it kuroo? Yes. But that’s fine because he also keyed Lev’s car but blamed lev for keying kuroo’s and Kuroo for keying Lev’s. He just wants to watch the world burn.

Kenma- cyberbullying but man he is mean. Like no bars held we will dig into every insecurity he can and that shit hurts and he doesn’t even feel bad about it he will just be as mean as he can if you’re not careful

Lev- his crime is being tall and dumb also doesn’t understand the economy and prints counterfeit money because why can’t we print more money? The government should get on that.

Inuoka- He released all the animals from a zoo, like snuck in one night and just let them all free, I’m surprised the tiger didn’t eat him but hey the animals are free, there’s still some missing uh oh he’s very proud of himself for it. After the rush, he starts sneaking into shelters and freeing all the dogs and cats

Yamamoto and Fukunaga- Have egged a house before, it was Kuroo’s he deserves all this bullying and you can’t stop me.

Date Tech

Aone- Criminal Conspiracy, sure he had an entire foolproof plan to get away with the perfect crime but someone found out, and now his plans are ruined, damn </3 and no one ever suspects the quiet guy either.

Futakuchi- Having a prostitute, he just wanted some company like mans is lonely so he paid a girl to just spend a Lil time with him it’s all good.

Fukurodani

Bokuto- I know we all haha funny laugh at tax evader bokuto and sure maybe he evades his taxes but he’s also committed vehicular manslaughter, he cannot drive and has killed someone with his car maybe even multiple someones but he always drives off in a panic because he doesn’t know what else to do.

Akaashi- Hasn’t actively committed a crime but has been an accomplice in every vehicular manslaughter Bokuto has committed why the fuck does he keep letting bokuto drive? He really needs to stop that.

Konoha- A master scammer he is so convincing everyone gives him money even if they’re a little sus because he’s just that good each scheme is so convincing.

Inarizaki

Kita- He grows weed, you can’t tell me those rice fields are just for rice he’s got all this space he is growing marijuana and selling it, let him do it I want him to be my plug.

Atsumu- "What is my perfect crime? I break into Tiffany's at midnight. Do I go for the vault? No, I go for the chandelier. It's priceless. As I'm taking it down, a woman catches me. She tells me to stop. It's her father's business. She's Tiffany. I say no. We make love all night. In the morning, the cops come and I escape in one of their uniforms. I tell her to meet me in Mexico, but I go to Canada. I don't trust her. Besides, I like the cold. Thirty years later, I get a postcard. I have a son and he's the chief of police. This is where the story gets interesting. I tell Tiffany to meet me in Paris by the Trocadero. She's been waiting for me all these years. She's never taken another lover. I don't care. I don't show up. I go to Berlin. That's where I stashed the chandelier."

Osamu- resisting arrest. He just said no and ran. Granted he shouldn’t have punched the cop in the first place to have to be arrested but like that’s not the point here.

Aran- accidental child abandonment, like he just forgot he was babysitting and left the kid alone for like a day. He felt terrible but he still forgot the kid and now is fearful of parenthood

Suna- owns an illegal weapon, like he just never registered it and keeps it around and would use it if needed Suna please just point the weapon at me maybe

Others

Terushima- Graffiti, he loves painting on the walls of buildings and tagging them, has so much spraypaint and his day isn’t complete if he doesn’t tag at least one building or train car.

Daishou- Public intoxication- he got a little too fucked up and stripped on the street he will forever have to live with everyone knowing he has an ass tattoo like damn bruh

Sakusa- Perjury he simply wanted to get out of court so he said some shit so he could leave granted he lied under oath but whatever, did they ever find out? No, so he’s fine and he’d do it again if it meant he could leave faster. Like sure he was a witness to a murder but bruh he pretends he does not see.

Hoshihumi- driving without a license he simply thought you didn’t need one because why do you need a piece of plastic to say you can drive a car like??? Just know how to drive it.

[calypsoff2]

Six. Part 3

Chris is annoying as fuck, smiling at me like an asshole he is “nigga fuck you” I really have the urge to get the fuck outta here and sleep in a bed; I am sleeping on the chair “I am sleeping on this for you and you keep smiling at me!? Don’t make me angry Maurice” Chris laughed out “don’t you’re going to make me be in pain, you know. Ever since being with you, like including everything we been through. No matter what; I’ve always just been happy in life, I do wake up thanking god for you. You make me laugh always, you made me cry, that’s happened a few times. But you really do make me the happiest” he’s so soppy sometimes “are you done?” Chris’ face fell, he fully expected me to be all mushy with him too “what do you want?” I asked, “some nipple in my mouth please?” I scoffed “I am joking Chris; it means a lot. I’ve always said I admired how much your mom and dad were perfect, I’ve always wanted that, and I have found that in you” Chris grinned “I wouldn’t say my parents are perfect, my parents do be on some shit. The thing is I don’t know what they really be like; they kept their arguments behind closed doors, so do we. Sometimes” Chris cringed “oh god, when we had a disagreement and Rylee said can I live with mom, that was so cheeky” Chris pulled a face “she is your daughter through and through, I can’t even deal half of the time. That girl is going to give me an early death, I know it. She is you all over and I feel Tianna is not far behind either” smirking at Chris “what can I say, my mini me’s” I shrugged “shuffle the chair over, rest your legs on my lap and just try and sleep” that is a good point actually, getting up from the chair “you want my shoes off? Well my sneakers” he nodded his head smiling, he honestly loves my feet. I still find that fetish creepy and weird to have, shuffling the chair forward. Sitting back down, I am close enough to him “give me a kiss” leaning over to him, pecking his lips taking my sneakers off as I did “man, I love you. I am actually so lucky to have you, wild” he is full of compliments today “I am not sucking your dick” lifting my legs up and placing them over his legs “you sure?” What if he is in pain “more than sure” resting my legs “socks off now, come on” rolling my eyes, of course his nasty ass wants my socks off “I will still not be over the fact you like feet, years later too” Chris of course took my socks off “I don’t, and correction just your feet” years later and he’s in denial still, he flung my socks off.

Chris is so funny to me; this nigga really fell asleep with my foot in his hand. But we slept, well tried too but I got woken up by my phone ringing, my daughters have complaints. I mean I barely left them a full twenty four hours and they have complaints, they haven’t even ate breakfast and they are complaining “are you done? Give Rajad the phone” I swear my brother makes it worse “you’re in trouble, momo, grandma!!” Tianna shouted, that place seems busy “you wanted me” Rajad said down the phone “a grown ass man annoying kids? Really, boy. I will beat yo ass up, leave my daughters alone. I promised they could go and shop” Rajad laughed down the phone “I was teasing! We are actually taking them out for breakfast, they are just mad because I woke them. You can’t be taking up for them?” Kids “not exactly but I like peace, they woke up to tell me you’re annoying them. Just be nice to them; what is mother doing? She isn’t angry at them?” I hope not “she’s getting Imani dressed, Imani looks dressed. She’s getting her hair braided” oh god “right, just put the phone down. I need peace” Rajad laughed “see you soon” he put the phone down, Chris is awake too “you done?” Moving my phone back from my ear grinning “mhmm never, man. I feel like shit now” he said groggily “thank you for staying with me, I know it was uncomfortable for you, but you did it for me. I love you” he is so cute, my poppa “I got you, you know that” I need to use the bathroom “you been thinking about that boy? I want to name him Jim” moving my legs back, shaking my head laughing “be quiet” talking out of his ass now, stretching my body out “I think my lung is better” so he says “stop talking shit maybe it will then” getting up from the chair “I’m just going to use the bathroom” I am so damn tired.

It’s kind of nasty and weird how they have a line in my husband’s chest, it’s just so cleanly done too. Maybe I should stop staring but it’s just weird to see like that: I hope the tube is taken out today, but the way Chris is feeling, he’s not well now and I don’t like that “getting you a bodyguard now” Chris looked up from his lap “why?” He questioned like he doesn’t need one “don’t say why when you know this happened” he can be so stupid at times “but that’s a babysitter, I’m good with that” is he serious “don’t give me that shit Chris, I really don’t want to hear that at all. I am going to get you a bodyguard and I don’t give a shit what you say” he is getting me mad now “family!” TJ spat as he walked in, oh he would be here “aye, Camron. You bought uncle some good food?” Chris’ eyes lit up but mine on the other hand didn’t, like why is he even here when I didn’t ask for him “I got you the favourites” he held up gummy bears, I huffed out looking away from them and at Chris “give me a hug then” Chris said “Camron was so upset when he heard about you” forgot Camron my kids were upset, crossing my arms across my chest “thank you! The new basketball player” Chris hugged him with such happiness, but I am just pissed to be honest “look at this uncle” Camron took his jacket off and turned around “Lakers top too! You know how to make me smile” I want to gag; he has my husband’s surname on that top like give it a rest. I am in a bad mood now. Just giving me all over nasty vibes from TJ, I am angered that he managed to take his SUV, forget that it’s not even the point, it’s how my husband is giving, like he’s giving so much to him. Helped him move to LA literally gave him the Black Pyramid business but went for a joyride in a car that wasn’t his, I’m pissed. Chris is staring at Camron like a son, even got him into the same private school as my girls, oh TJ doesn’t need to put his hand in his pocket, it’s on my husband dime now. I need to relax “hi auntie” staring at Camron “hi, Chris I’m going to get some air” getting up from the seat “ok” side eyeing him, now it’s ok that I go but when his family was here it was don’t go. Let me just go and get some air.

Sighing out, closing the door behind me “stay here Frank; I don’t need the protection. I’m just gonna be close” walking off, on top of that Chris is denying a bodyguard, I will go crazy on him if he doesn’t proceed to fucking listen to me “oh” I said seeing Mel, she smiled at me “all better now?” I asked “uh what, I just come now. What is it, you’re angered by me” I like that she sees it, because I am “you lied, you said to Chris you were unwell? But you were fine, you went for some food? With fucking TJ of all people, you know what how could you. You fucking knew! You knew how shit goes Melissa. You know that my husband needed that, you ain’t dumb. You been in this game with me, and then you lied to me!?” I am barking now “well he fucking gave it Robyn, he’s an adult. He wanted his friend and nephew to have the car, the fuck? And what is wrong with TJ?” She questioned “what is right with him, he lives in Chris’ ass crack that is what, Chris took him from pillar to post, he still till this day doesn’t know how to run a business. Chris did it all, you know what, Chris gives and gives and gives and not once has TJ, as a man said Chris, let me pay for my son school. Oh no, and on top of that his basketball academy? It’s a free ride and honestly, I am just sick. Leave me be” walking off “but didn’t I ride you?” Mel said behind me “no you were there for me when I needed a friend, I didn’t pay for that Mel, when have I ever paid you? He’s there when it’s convenient, let’s not forget the same person that had sex with his ex. So unstable” I just can’t be bothered, if Mel wants to call herself a free ride then she can but I don’t have the time to care for what she got to say.

Mel slowly came into the waiting room, I think she has been waiting out there for a while now, but I am calm somewhat anyways, I am just annoyed that she lied, why lie “are you done?” she asked, rolling my eyes “you are being very temperamental about TJ you know” I am glad she pointed out the obvious “that is because if I lost my husband you think I would want any of you near me? I am sick of Chris being hurt or led astray, it’s just unbearable to think I could have lost him, it’s not his fault but things are just annoying me now” Mel sat down “I can tell you are annoyed, look I didn’t think ok” waving her off “but if that was me you wouldn’t have taken that SUV, you never would! Forget that you wouldn’t have gone for a meal! With that dumbass anyways, so why do it to Chris and just lie to him, don’t be lying in my husband either” Mel kissed her teeth “You’re really in a shit mood” my phone started ringing, picking my phone out of my sweatpants pocket, seeing my mother is calling. Answering the phone “hi mommy” I hope my girls are being good “I just thought I would let you know we are coming to see you soon, is it ok?” I cooed out “yes of course, bring my babies. How long?” Just so I can tell Chris “I would say twenty minutes Robbie” I know my girls are so excited to see their daddy.

I thought I would come back into the room and just wait on the girls to come, I mean I know I am being so fucking awkward right now and I know Chris feels it because he keeps asking I am ok, I feel like saying no I am not ok but I won’t, I don’t want to upset Chris “you know you got to be a big brother to my girls, so I mean like you don’t let any nigga near them at all” Camron nodded his head “Tianna and Rylee run the school, because their mom is Rihanna everyone always says how is your mom. There is this boy that likes Rylee a lot, he follows her around and she is always telling him go away, I told him to not go near her” Chris has already started “see, this is why I needed a son first” Chris looked at me “well he has two dads” I added which I am right “Chris is a good guy, I appreciate him” TJ said “I wish people would give him the same treatment” it’s funny that, let me just stop “come on girls” oh my babies are here, I can hear my mom. The door opened “awww Christopher” my mother said, she pushed the door open wider “come on now” my smile grew, like I know they are excited to see Chris “where are they?” Chris said, oh they are being so shy “right, what did we say? Now you either come in together or I will have to come there” my mother said, Rylee popped her head around “come on now” I said to her, she went back again “momo one minute” Rylee said, I sweat these girls need to hurry up “ready!” Rylee spat, they walked in one by one holding hands “oh my god, what?” Rylee grinned so wide with flowers in hand, it’s Imani at the end stomping for me, she just makes me smile “they wanted to get flowers for you and chocolates, and what Imani is dragging on the floor” my daughters buying their dad gifts “dad what is that” oh yeah they need to be careful they will end up pulling something out “be careful now girls” Chris is so choked up “y’all making me cry now” he said wiping his tears.

They already giving Christmas gift now “girls, I thought you waiting to give that?” grabbing Imani’ arm before she attacked Chris “we think daddy deserves it now” nodding my head, I guess they want to give it now “Imani, let me pick you up. You got to be careful with your dad” picking up my pumpkin “oh wow, mamacita. Look at you mami” Chris said, Imani wants to climb on Chris, but I won’t allow it “I love you baby, yes I know” she is so happy to see him “love you dad, I miss you. I sit here please” she is not sitting anywhere near him “Imani you can’t, give daddy a kiss” leaning her closer to Chris, Imani kissed Chris’ cheek “I love daddy” moving Imani back and taking her with me, sitting next to my girls “I go there mommy” sitting Imani on my lap “no, you sit here and be good” Chris looks so taken a back “are you coming home dad? Are you in pain?” Tianna asked “just a little pain but I am ok, and I am going to come home of course, I have missed you all so much. I am so shocked with the flowers, you did better then your mom. She has been boring me” Chris rolled his eyes “mom has been so sad though, she cried” rolling my eyes “not anymore” I mumbled “but honestly, you have spoilt me so much. Got me crying, look at you all” Rylee pointed at Chris’ chest “what is that?” she pointed at the tube “this is because I am unwell, this is to make me better” the door opened “Chris Brown?” this nurse walked in “we are here to take you for a scan” oh yeah I forgot that was happening “where you taking my dad?” Rylee asked “oh no, baby I will be back then I can open my present, don’t worry about it” the girls are overprotective.

[papermoonloveslucy]

REMINISCING

August 14, 1977

By Frank Swertlow, Chicago Daily News 

BEVERLY HILLS - During the first years of television, Ed Wynn, the radio and stage comic, was trying to break into television with a half-hour comedy on CBS. (1)

One night, he invited a couple of second echelon performers to make an appearance: a comedienne, known as "Technicolor Tessie" for her blazing red hair, and a song-and-dance man, best remembered for hollering "babalu."

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were the couple, and they, like Wynn, were sampling the waters of the new medium. CBS had asked Miss Ball and her conga-drum pounding husband to develop a comedy show for television. Later, after months of thought and testing their ideas on the vaudeville circuit, the couple came up with "I Love Lucy," the misadventures of Lucy and Ricky Riccardo. (2)

It made its debut on CBS in October 1951. More than a quarter of a century afterwards, "I Love Lucy" easily can vie for the honor of television's most successful show. It was the archtype [sp] domestic comedy, the bumbling husband and his daffy wife. It gave birth to two other Lucy shows, a host of specials and a giant production company, Desilu. 

"We spent months thinking about what we should do," Miss Ball recalled. "We didn't want to be the average Hollywood couple. Nobody would think you had any problems if you had a car and swimming pool and a nice house. 

"Ultimately, we wanted a show in which people could identify with us. Everybody could understand what it was like to struggle for a buck. I was an ordinary, everyday, middle class housewife. I wore the same dress often. My husband worked and tolerated my mistakes. It was something that everyone could identify with." 

With the debut of the TV series, Lucille Ball, the former Goldwyn girl who started her film career in the 1930s, had a new career. 

"I never expected the show to go more than a year," said Miss Ball. "I wanted to do the show on film so I could use them as home movies. Who knew about television then? It was a no-no to do TV work. The movie studios were against it." 

To Miss Ball, who was not a new face to the public, the impact of her show was incredible. "We went to New York on a trip once and we were unprepared for what happened. People rushed up and wanted to touch you. They knew you, and called you by your first name. I had been in pictures for years, and most of the time I was never identified." 

If the movers and shakers of the film industry who gave Miss Ball her start during the 1930s were alive, they would have been shocked. To them, simply and kindly, Lucille Ball was a B-movie queen, one of the many second-line actresses who never attained star billing, but who was an important ingredient to the motion picture industry. 

Unlike many performers who labored under the cruel studio system, Miss Ball fondly remembered her early years in Hollywood. "It was nice to be under the umbrella of a studio. You always had a poppa. I loved it. I loved being part of the business. I would have swept floors just to be in it." 

Miss Ball, however, did not forget the tactics of the brutal and disgusting lords of movieland. Harry "King" Cohn, the ruler of Columbia Pictures, stood out. "He made the biggest dent in everybody. He was ruthless. He always had to take a devious route." (3)

Miss Ball, who is not exactly a pushover, laughingly recalled the time she outwitted the sly Cohn. 

Miss Ball had received an offer to work in a Cecil B. DeMille film, but Cohn refused to loan her to the producer. He was being mean. Then, Cohn decided to drop her contract. To do it, he sent the actress a horrible script something that the trade called a lease breaker. "Oh, everybody was dying to play opposite John Agar and Raymond Burr," she recalled jokingly. "I was going to be a harum [sp] girl." Naturally, Cohn expected her to refuse and it would be the end of her contract. (4)

The savvy Miss Ball decided to do the film and collect her check. When she made this announcement there was an uproar. She coyly told her bosses: "Oh, I want to do the film. It's a wonderful film." 

Meanwhile, Miss Ball, who had been trying to get pregnant for years, found out she was going to have a baby. Now, she was in trouble. If Cohn found out, he would break her contract. "I only told my mother and my husband I was pregnant." 

Keeping her lips sealed, she went ahead with Cohn's film. "The wardrobe girl kept looking at me in my harum [sp] girl costume and saying, 'What's wrong with you, you are getting so big.' "So, I told her, 'Don't worry, I ate a big meal last night. Just put a little more taffeta on my dress.' Well, I finished the film and I collected my $85,000." 

"Then I had to go to Mr. DeMille and tell him I couldn't do his film. I was pregnant. 'What,' he said. And I replied. 'I'm going to have a baby. 'Get rid of it,' he said. And he was serious.' She declined. (5)

While Miss Ball's career as a TV star is secure (she still has a contract with CBS) (6) she is not so certain about the state of the industry. Today, unlike when she started on the air, shows are yanked off the screen within a couple of weeks. This, she said, destroys performers. 

"If a show is canceled, the actor takes the blame. He or she suffers for it. They suffer inside. The rejection - they failed. (7)

"I would fail. You can't protect yourself. It's out of your hands. It's always Lucy failed or Rhoda failed or Farrah Sauset Fawcett Sauset, whatever her name is, failed. It's rough." (8)

Even so, Lucille Ball, the red-haired girl from Jamestown, N.Y., would still be on top.

#   #   #

FOOTNOTES FROM THE FUTURE

(1) Ed Wynn (1886-1966) was a vaudevillian who hosted “The Ed Wynn Show” on television from 1949 to 1950.  Lucy and Desi guest-starred on the show.  

(2) ‘Riccardo’ is probably a misspelling of ‘Ricardo’, but it was also the way their surname was spelled on “I Love Lucy” in early episodes!  

(3) Harry Cohn (1891-1958) was a much-despised executive at Columbia Studios.  Lucille Ball once facetiously told Louella Parsons that she liked Harry Cohn too much to ever sign a contract with him. What Lucille meant is that  Cohn had a reputation for being difficult.  Despite that fact, a casting draught forced her to sign with Columbia in 1949. 

(4) Lucille Ball had often complained to Cohn about the quality of the pictures she had been doing at Columbia. At the time The Magic Carpet was made, Ball was only obligated to Columbia for one more film, and Cohn had producer Sam Katzman, who turned out most of Columbia's low-budget "B" pictures, concoct a cheap Arabian Nights fantasy as a punishment to Ball for her constantly challenging him. More salacious writers insist that Cohn’s frustration with Ball was due to the fact that she would not submit to him sexually. 

(5) The DeMille film in question was The Greatest Show on Earth, a movie set at the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey circus. Lucille was set to play the elephant trainer, a role that went to Gloria Graham. It was a film Lucille really wanted to do - but she wanted a baby more.  Later in life, Desilu created a TV version of the film.  Lucille also guest-starred as the ringmaster on “Circus of the Stars II” in which Lucie Arnaz was featured as.... the elephant trainer!  

(6) Lucille Ball had started working at CBS on radio and was considered their premiere star. In 1980, after her television shows had ended, she signed with NBC, a partnership that yielded very little except that Ball was obliged to appear on Bob Hope’s many specials, something she frequently did anyway.  Both CBS and NBC declined her final series “Life With Lucy” which producer Aaron Spelling finally convinced ABC to air. 

(7) Although this article was written ten years before “Life With Lucy”, Lucille could very well be describing her own devastation when the series was cancelled even before all the initial episodes aired. She was widely criticized and the series often turned up on “worst show” lists.  

(8) Rhoda refers to a character on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” that was played by Valerie Harper, a performer that appeared on Broadway with Lucille. In 1974, the character was spun off into its own eponymous sitcom which aired for four seasons. 

Farrah Fawcett-Majors was a beautiful blonde actress and poster girl that burst onto the TV scene in the mid-1970s. A year after this interview, she was in the hit series “Charlie’s Angels” entering American iconography for her feathered hair and curvaceous figure the same way Betty Grable had in the 1940s.  

[calypsoff]

Ninety. Part 4

The word poppa, something I haven’t heard in a while from Robyn “you know when you say jail Chris, in what way? Like the difference, what was I like before? To me I am the same person but you’re seeing different, and I just don’t see it, you know?” Propping my head up with my hand, Robyn really stole my tee like that, she looked in my duffle bag, that is so cheeky of her “so like, when I came from Barbados Chris. You were actually the first guy I met, besides the family I lived with. You were with me forcefully because you had to be and I was really self-conscious and then there was you, I got teased in that school Chris. Without you I would have had it even worse, but you were there, what I am trying to say you had a kind nature to you, even if you disliked that I was clinging to you, but you cared. You spoke to me with so much respect and love and admiration that I came from another country, you were very kind to everyone. But we all grow, you were still growing but you had to do it in jail, and I feel like you resented me because you were falling for me and I left you without a reason, I left you and didn’t say a word until you saw me on TV. Now if that was me and I was stuck in a place that damning to me, I would be hateful, you chose fame, that’s what it looked like. I can’t imagine how you felt when you saw that, I don’t know if you did love me then but it was on those lines but to see me there and I left you like that I can imagine you did hate me for it, I feel like you felt I ditched you and then your life became what it came, when you been locked up for that long at a young age you become spiteful, hate too. That can be a lot to hold, I think it took you by surprise I remembered you or you would have been mean to if I didn’t” I put my head down laughing “something like that, I didn’t think you would. It was hard Robyn, like you don’t understand, it was so hard. I did have a crush on you, I really fucking liked you and you went, like you didn’t exist and when you went it was like I dreamt the whole thing and then I see you there just different, being Rihanna. I dislike Rihanna anyways because it’s just a girl that I feel you have been moulded to be. I never had the chance to have a girl; not like that anyways, that was going to be you. And when you’re locked up, you think about shit, and I did dislike you for it. I don’t hate you, never will but it hurt. I am that kind of nigga, I just hold onto shit” I shrugged “I can tell you do but the Chris now, you’re very different. I feel like you had to hide that loving, cute Chris away while in jail that you find it hard to let go of that temperamental, egotistical asshole you can be. You are so nasty Chris, you aren’t aware, and you don’t realise but the words and how you act is so mean, and it hurts because I love you but then I think are you punishing me for leaving you like that” putting my head down.

Clearing my throat “being with you back then it felt like very day counted, every moment counted. Constantly I just felt I had a purpose; I just wish I had that back. I wish I didn’t see what I did and do what I did. If you didn’t go back and remained and I asked you back then to stay, would have you? Like because I was going to ask you, I was going to ask you to be my girlfriend, I was” I really was “I would have had to go back, I didn’t have money to stay like that. But if I left you then you would have known I wanted you, and I wouldn’t have allowed you to make those mistakes, over my dead body. You weren’t that guy Chris, never was. I just feel we finished off where we started but we aren’t those kids anymore and we never explored us, you know?” Nodding my head “then you were dating industry niggas, I was pretty hurt by it. It’s crazy because we weren’t together for long but we was? I just don’t hate you for making it but I just felt you never came back to me which you verified you did. I am not punishing you for doing what you needed to do but it scares me to think, I could have got life and I wouldn’t have ever seen you. You didn’t make the biggest effort to find me either” Robyn sighed out “you right, I didn’t. And if I did Chris, I wish I did because I would have taken you away from that, you were so much better. You are so talented” feeling teary eyed now “I’m supposed to be the man of the house and doing all this. I just fucking hate it, I do. And hearing you speak like this, you right. I think maybe we did; I have that fear of losing you but yet I do that shit, I married you because I don’t want that, I’m not that guy Robyn. The one you met in school” staring into her eyes “what do you mean?” She questioned “I’m not the caring nigga like that, I care because I love you but me as a person I have changed a lot” Robyn frowned “but it doesn’t give you the right to talk to me that way Chris, it’s not nice. I’m not beneath you” shaking my head “you never will be, trust me. You are not that, I am working on it. I am being deadass Robyn if you leave me I’m gonna kill myself, you left me before and my life went to shit and you can’t do it again” Robyn frowned even more “don’t speak those words Chris, I am serious. But I am not staying to be treated like shit, understand me here. Listen to what I say, you keep doing it then I will go. You got to stop thinking I would do you like that again, unless you don’t change. Your options are you change, or I go and we come up with a plan on how you take care of Rylee on some days” staring at Robyn as my eyes welled up “Chris” she said, she placed her hands at the side of my face “you need to change, you’re not that man in jail you’re not that. You haven’t changed from that boy I met, you really haven’t. You have it in you, I know because I love you Chris I know you. You say you not that person but you are and I see it, before you say it I love both sides of you but not when you’re like that to me ok” Robyn kissed my forehead as I put my head down and she still kept her hands at the side of my head “we spoke about therapy did we not” wiping the tears with my hand, feeling Robyn press kisses to my head “yeah” I mumbled “I will come with you” feeling Robyn resting the side of her face against my head.

“Come on now, things will be ok, eventually anyways but I just think you need to be mindful, think before you speak thing. Because I ain’t going to leave you, and besides I love you” Robyn moved back from me, lifting my head up. Robyn pecked my lips “I don’t like this pillow talk shit” Robyn sat back laughing “you started it, it’s nice to talk to you. It’s nice to express ourselves and how I feel or even how you feel, we need that. We need to do it more often, but I think you hold onto stuff a lot, you need to just let go” nodding my head, rolling off of the bed “so we good now?” Getting up from the bed, Robyn dragged her eyes to my dick “your little semi is cute” pulling a face “I think your perfume turned me on, not going to lie” she is cheeky “erm, I feel like I want some frozen yoghurt, something cold?” Staring at her dumbfounded “being real?” She’s joking, but she shrugged “would be nice?” She’s annoying “I said it would be nice, I am not saying if you have to go. I am just saying, pillow talk and some nice snacks?” How can I even say no to her, she is real about this “fine” I groaned out “I love you; also can you get me some coconut water. Thanks” she is odd “anything else” I asked, “do I get to kiss you or something?” I have to ask, “what would you like to do?” My smile grew instantly “nothing, I am enjoying talking with you actually, please don’t go to sleep on me. I will be back” let me quickly get the things she wants.

Shaking my head laughing “what’s funny? See I am awake, it’s too early actually. I am not tired” rolling my eyes at her, she got me running around like a dog for nothing “yeah but here I am jumping around for you, but I got ice cream, you don’t mind that?” Robyn shrugged “I do not mind anything, give me!” she spat “I mean what is in the box though” holding it out to her for her to take “thank you” watching her open the cake box “as if” she looked up at me “you bought a whole cake!?” she spat “yeah, read what it says though” she opened the box again “sorry rabbit” she giggled shaking her head “what are you like, baby that is a big cake” she called me baby, getting there “but I want the ice cream please, my family are going to love the cake. I don’t think I will be able to eat that tonight” taking the cake from Robyn “that is fine, here is the bag. You can pick, I bought icecream sundae for us both, I am not sure what flavour you want but you can choose” walking off with the cake “I am going to give it to the nurses” I laughed “take the rabbit part off Chris!” I am leaving the rabbit thing on, I just bought it to put that on and it worked. She called me baby, but I will give this cake to them, they can eat it.

If Robyn starts asking for something else I am going to be so angry, well not really but still “where do you see yourself ten years from now Chris?” Robyn asked, poking my spoon in the ice cream “divorced” Robyn and I both laughed out “nigga!” she spat “joking” shaking my head laughing “erm, I see myself being a great husband, father and friend really. I see myself taking care of my kids, watching Rylee grow, she will be ten, and I don’t know our other two kids or three whatever. Just be happy, but I see us moving” Robyn’ eyes bulged out “really?” she said all shocked “yeah, I see us moving from California. I think it’s a good place but not where I want my daughter to be forever, I see us moving. I do” Robyn didn’t think that “damn” she said in whisper “I think you’re going to be huge; I think this is just the beginning for you and I am willing to be there. But I think it’s why I know we will move because we need to be in a place where you can work and I think it’s New York for you, I rather we be closer to you, you know?” Robyn smiled to herself nodding her head “you’re really planning this out, I like it. Not only will it change for me there is also you. I don’t know why you think you’re going to be just my house husband” what is she on about “what you mean?” Robyn dug her spoon in my ice cream, of course she does that.

Robyn pulled a face after eating my ice cream that shit was rude of her “so you wasted some of mine for nothing” she chuckled so yeah, you know while you were being a whore I was busy making moves” furrowing my eyebrows “making money moves huh? See what I mean about New York for you, what you been up too now?” she has been up to something “I am creating my team, my Fenty team. Before any of this goes on my album will come out but I still need to create my team, this team is what I need to make sure my stuff is running right, I wanted to have people I can trust. This is my empire, the Fenty empire that is going to have her hands in everything, and I mean everything. I want Fenty to be a household name, so big. This is big for me so before I left New York I needed to put forward my team; we need the base. You just be thinking so much shit and assume I think less of you, but I don’t, if I didn’t then I wouldn’t of” Robyn dragged out “have what?” Robyn is making me smile, she is smiling at me and it’s making me smile “I don’t know Chris, I am not sure how you will feel about it but like I said I needed a team I trust, that will help me rise and we do this together. So I am looking at the senior vice president of Fenty Corp” licking my top lip staring at Robyn “what?” I said confused “I made you senior vice president alongside Jenn because then she can help you” moving back from Robyn “deadass?” she can’t be real “I am being deadass; you will also be busy being my bitch” getting off of the bed “no way?” as if she did that “yes way, even if I didn’t know what was happening with us” I am in shock “wow, omg. That is crazy but I have Black Pyramid?” this is crazy “it’s women though?” she nodded her head “this is why I got Jenn with you; you both will work that together Chris but this will make you busy but less busy. I wanted you to be in this with me, now I don’t know how you feel but also I don’t want you to let me down, I can’t have that” I get that she has her doubt “oh wow, thank you. I am just in shock, me? So I will be Chris Brown Senior vice president of Fenty Corp?” Robyn giggled “senior bitch yes, but yeah. It’s funny you said about moving but surprise?” placing my ice cream down and climbing onto the bed and shuffling over to her, hugging Robyn “you’re amazing” she cooed out wrapping her arm around my neck “senior bitch means I will come to you when you fucked up” I said in his ear “oh I think there will be plenty of those” I can imagine.

I am very invested in this, Robyn’ dream “you know like you have Black Pyramid, I am telling you now you’re going to be too busy for that. While I am bringing this album out, I am needing both you and Jenn to start scoping things out for me, we are building a business Chris. Now personally what I recommend you do, you can either sell it or, now this is my best option for you. Give TJ a better role if he wants it, have him take it on. You can still have your hand in it still. More like a silent partner, because Chris when I am speaking on branding, I speaking on Paris fashion shows, I am speaking on you going to Paris, London, New York. I need to know that companies we work with comply, alongside that I want to do make up, you don’t wear it but doesn’t mean you don’t know how a man thinks when they buy make up for women, I can use you. Lingerie, these business are going to align, when I am done touring these are going to happen, fast too. Something I have been working on in the background, you are going to be delving into luxury and this is you evolving. But yeah, we going to do this together, if that is what you want? I don’t mind if you turn to me and say no, because that is your option bit I left that position for you. I don’t want you to turn around and act like I made you” shaking my head “I am so appreciative, wow. Thank you so much” Robyn got me speechless as fuck, I didn’t think she would be thinking of me.

Stifling out a yawn “we haven’t spoken like this in so long, you’re right” she is right, we haven’t done this and just spoke to each other “when have I ever been wrong?” turning to Robyn, she just grinned all in my face “you have a few times but anyways” Robyn mushed my face with her hand “our daughter going to be fucking amazed by you, like I know she’s going to be looking at you like that is my mother, she is Fenty. I know it, you can think not but it’s true. You know you had idols or better yet your mother, you thought highly of her. Our daughter going to think the same and it’s only right, you’re an inspiration that you can be anything you want” Robyn cooed out, placing her hand in my shoulder “that is so cute, by the way I am not done teasing you. This is just the start; I really can’t wait for Rylee to be better. You know what maybe Rylee got the evil eye, everyone adored her so much. From her outfit to everything, we would go to meetings matching every time. Dennis had the pictures, I need to show you” I know they both looked good “I know you both looked beautiful, thank you though for thinking about me even though I wasn’t being the best with you” she didn’t need too, but she did.

[bunnysdoodles]

I wanna make a Jojo Comic

• • •

This all started as a joke with my partner while slightly drunk playing Stardew Valley. But I want to make a Jojo Comic. Like...a whole as part of Jojo where everything is based on 90's/2000's hip hop & Rnb and I literally started writing basic stuff out.

It started with a joke about a stand being called Kiss Me Thru the Phone...and then escalated. Just...just look.

• • •

•Kiss Me Thru the Phone (Soulja Boy) Powers: electronic disruption and sound wave control stand does the superman pose while the stand user pose is the stanky leg

•Jump (Kris Kross) stand battle background music

•Villain: Gangstas paradise (Coolio) can blend in and travel through shadows and has shadow control/ can make whatever with it

•Takes place in California

•When someone dies instrumental I'll be missing you (Diddy, Faith Evans, 112)

•Female stand user. Stand: Mo money Mo problems (Notorious B.I.G, Mase & Puff Daddy, Diddy)

•Powers: Heals, Disorienting and horribly nausea inducing depending on stand users will

•Gettin' Jiggy Wit It (Will Smith) outro

•I Got 5 On It (Luniz, Michael Marshall) plays when something sketchy is happening/foreboding

•Villain: What's luv? (Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Ashanti) Powers: emotional manipulation if the stand can touch your heart your emotions are at it's disposable

•Stand User is a pimp Stand: Magic Stick (Lil Kim)

•Powers: TBD the main casts goes to them for info

•Move bitch (Disturbing the Peace, Ludacris) Their personality is serious. Powers: Fast accurate puncher with knochback

•What the main casts sings in cars n shit during the journey, Baby got back (Sir Mix-A-Lot)

•The Jojo is one of dios spawns their stand: Poison (Bel Biv DeVoe) Powers: Poison obviously, one bit or slice from the stand injects poison. The potency depends on the stand users intention and how big of a cut/ bite

•The Jobro's Stand: Fergalicious (Fergie) Powers: Disorienting flashes as well as a kick ass fighter so watch out. (yes he's a man and that's his stand)

•Female stand user. Stand: Rump Shaker (Wreckx-N-Effect) Powers: Earthquakes,seismic waves and activity. Can be big or localized to a person

•I Wish (Skee-Lo) Not the intro but like the morioh radio that plays at the open of each episode

•U Can't Touch This (Mc Hammer) Powers: Supers speed when moving, and what's inflicted on the stand is reflected back. The stand user wears hammer pants and hammer dances with stand cuz I say so

•Blame it (Jamie Foxx) intro?? Outro? Idk something though

•Villain [maybe the main?? TBD] Stand: Ms. Jackson (OutKast) Powers: Can duplicate itself, fucks with your perception of reality if it makes contact

•Big poppa (Notorious B.I.G) outro maybe??

•Feel so good opening?

•Jump on it (Sir Mix-A-Lot) Travel song, they possibly get lost in Arizona maybe???

•Bye bye bye when someone dies (just a joke?) ((maybe?))

•Pump it (Black Eyed Peas) When they meet the Jobro and have to start running from gun fire

•Group song that they go out to fuck shit up to: Walk It Out (OutKast) Possibly???

•Stand: Peaches and Cream (112) Powers: TBD

Stand user is non binary and bad ass

•California Love (2Pac, Dr. Dre) Thrown in during the journey at some point

I really wanna go forward with this even though it started as a big ass joke. And I was thinking if anyone wanted to be apart of it they could be just Dm me😁

Anyway that's the post🌟

[what-is-your-plan-today]

Riding On Ch10: When 3 Became 4

Summary: Baby Bean makes his arrival and Frank and his mother reach a significant turning point in their relationship as a result. Well, they always say that births, deaths and marriages are the 3 things that can bring a family together, right?

Warnings: Bad Language words.

Pairing: Frank Adler x Fliss Gallagher

A/N:  Ok, so not gonna lie, I made myself cry with this one. It’s ridiculous, if anyone could have seen me I’d have been sectioned. Just a note, I’ve never had a kid before but been there when both my god children were born so I hope this is as realistic as it could be! Love to hear your thoughts an comments. Chapter Song: Blue Eyes by Elton John 

Series Masterlist //  WIYPT Masterlist

Blue eyes laughing in the sun, laughing in the rain. Baby's got blue eyes, and I am home, and I am home again

Once Frank's initial mad 30 seconds had finished, the panic turned to excitement as he dressed and quietly carried Fliss' hospital bag down to the truck. When he came back Fliss was out of bed and dressed in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt

"You OK?" He asked, she looked at him and nodded. "Just a little uncomfortable." "Do you wanna stay up here or..." She shook her head "No, it’s supposed to help if I can move around." Frank nodded "Alright, let's head downstairs." Together they made their way slowly to the living area, Frank making sure Fliss was comfortable before he set about making them a drink, only to be cut short when he heart Fliss let out a little groan. He stopped what he was doing and headed straight over to the sofa, kneeling in front of her as she was bent over. He softly ran his hands up and down the outside of her thighs as she breathed through the latest contraction. "Ok that one was the worst yet." she mumbled and Frank smiled sympathetically. They sat together, vigilantly timing the contractions, the world outside growing light as they did and when it got to half 6 some 3 hours after they had woken up, Fliss decided she needed to pee. Frank watched her make her way to the bathroom, leaving her to it at her request until 5 minutes later she gave a yell. He jumped up, running down the hall to see her stood in the doorway. "My waters just went. Well, I think. I don't know, I was peeing and..." "Hey...calm down." He said gently "Do you need to change?" She shook her head. "Alright, let's get you sat down and then I'll go wake mother and we'll head in, ok?" "What's going on?" A sleepy voice said and they both looked up to see Mary padding down the stairs, rubbing her eyes. She stopped and looked at them both, understanding flooding her little face and she beamed "is he on his way?" "Sure is." Frank nodded. "Can you keep Lissy company for a moment whilst I just grab Evelyn?" Mary nodded eagerly and jumped down the last 3 steps, slipping her hand into Fliss' as they headed back into the living room. Frank jogged over to the garage, up the steps at the side and banged his fist against the door to the guest apartment. It took his mother a few moments but she appeared in a robe and looked at him, arching an eyebrow. "Lissy's waters have broke." He said, unable to stop the grin spreading on his face. She smiled at him. "I told you that appointment wouldn't be needed. Give me 5 minutes to dress and I'll be over." He bounded down the stairs and hurried back inside. Fliss was stood by the island in the kitchen, both hands flat on the surface, breathing through another contraction as Mary sat on the stool besides her. Frank gently moved towards her so he could rub her back and she turned to him, clutching at his blue and white plaid button down, pressing her head to his collar bone. "Fuck it hurts..." "I know honey." He gently soothed "but we'll be on our way in soon and when we get to the hospital they can get you more comfortable" A few minutes later Evelyn entered the kitchen and glanced at Fliss, giving her a soft smile. "I won't insult you by asking if you're OK." She said and Fliss gave a soft chuckle. "Ok, can we go now?" Mary asked hopping down from the stool. "You're staying here." Frank said softly and Mary stopped, looking at him. "Why?" "Mary, once he is born you won't be able to go in and see him for a while." Evelyn jumped in "the doctors have all sorts of things to do, and Fliss might not feel ready for visitors for a few hours." "But I want to be in the waiting room." She looked at Evelyn then to Frank then to Fliss "like we did that time, remember?"

Frank and Fliss exchanged a look How could they forget? "I wanna be there when you come out and tell everyone he's arrived" she whispered, her eyes brimming with tears. "And you can be honey.” Fliss nodded as Frank crouched down in front of her.

“You don't need to be there just yet. It could take hours. You and Grandmother can have some breakfast and then Poppa Bill and Nanny V will pick you up a little later ok? Then you can come and wait." "'Kay..." she mumbled a little as Frank rose to his feet. "Go." Evelyn looked at him, her hand dropping to Mary's shoulder "We'll be fine." He nodded, gave Mary one last hug and a kiss on her head before he looked at Fliss and the pair of them made their way outside.

Once he had helped Fliss in and made sure her belt was fastened he jogged to the driver’s side and jumped in. "Ready?" He looked at Fliss. She turned to him and shook her head. "No, not at all." "Me neither." He said aa he started the truck up with a grin. "I’m excited though." Fliss smiled softly "yeah, me too." **** They called Fliss' parents on the way, Verity's sleepy voice laced with excitement as soon as she answered the phone. She promised Frank they would bring Mary and his mother up in a few hours and after he also promised to keep them updated on progress, Frank hit the button on the steering wheel and cut the call. Fliss had gone quiet again, and she bent forward slightly, breathing deeply. He moved his spare hand over to take hers and she gripped his fingers, as she let out a low groan through grit teeth, her head falling back against the head rest.

“Jesus…” she eventually mumbled once she could speak again “I don’t like this labour bollocks.” Frank chuckled “Ok, I’m sorry honey.” “So you should be.” She glared at him “You did this to me.” “Yeah, and I would say I’m sorry but that would be a lie.” He grinned, raising her hand to his lips, brushing his mouth over his knuckles.

“Ass hole.” she said, before she smiled a little and looked out of the window.

“Does it feel any different?”

“Does what feel different?”

“Just it, you know, everything in general, once you’re a parent I mean?”

Frank took a deep breath “I don’t-“

Fliss shot him a glare and he cut himself off from his protest, taking a deep breath. She was right, he did know. In a way anyway.

“Well, yeah, ok when I took charge of Mary, everything changed. Suddenly it wasn’t just me to look after. I had this tiny, little person that needed me every single minute of the day. My entire outlook on life changed, what was important paled into insignificance because that little person became my world. It’s hard work, but so worth it.”  Frank glanced at her and smiled “But you already know that too.”

“Well, not really…I mean, yeah, ok I love Mary like she is my own..”

“She is yours as much as she is mine.”

“…but she’s not a baby and…”

“She’s harder work now than when she was a baby, trust me.” Frank chuckled and Fliss smiled.

“It’s kind of a big deal.” She said after a little while.

“Huge deal.” Frank agreed.

“I mean I’ve known that this was gonna happen, that one day he would actually be here but I guess for the last 6 months or so I’ve never really thought about what that means.”

“You’re already a great mom to Mary and you will be to Bean.” He said gently “Don’t worry about that, not one bit.” Fliss shook her head, “I swear to God at times you can read my mind.” “No, I just know you inside out.” He replied, kissing her hand again. After 20 minutes or so they arrived at the hospital and were settled in the room quite quickly where Frank helped Fliss change into a gown. From then on it was an hour and a half or so of the contractions progressing, each one seemingly getting longer in duration and more painful. Fliss was managing reasonably well on the gas and air, and some point offering Frank some so he could "join the party" so to speak which he declined with a chuckle.

“Remind me again why we thought this was a good idea?” Fliss moaned after another contraction had finally subsided.

“I don’t remember there being much thinking at the time he was made.” Frank quipped and she looked at him, raising an eyebrow as she crunched down on some of the ice chips she had in the cup in front of her.

“OK, so that’s true…” she grinned.

“And I also don’t remember us actually planning it either.” He said. “But I wouldn’t change it for the world.” “Hmmmm.” Fliss looked at him. He let out a chuckle and shook his head.

“And neither would you.”

She smiled and shook her head “No. He’ll be worth it.”

“That said, next time we go to Boston, maybe you need to remember to take your pill.”

Fliss rolled her eyes “I’m getting an IUD fitted as soon as he’s out. Or maybe we just don’t have sex again. Ever.”

Frank shook his head “Yeah, not gonna happen.”

“Silly me, of course, Frankie has needs…well I got news for you mate.” she pointed at him as he raised his eyebrows “It’s gonna be a very long time before you get anywhere near me again.”

Frank snorted and shrugged “Suppose I best get re-acquainted with my hand.”

Fliss let out a bark of a laugh “You’re rank.”

He shrugged, “Hey, look, you nearly bust my balls when I came back from Vegas…”

“You deserved that.” She narrowed her eyes.

“I didn’t say otherwise, was jut pointing out a fact.” She opened her mouth to shoot back a reply but instead her face contorted with pain once more and she took a huge inhale of the gas and air, gripping Frank’s hand as another contraction washed over her. Frank waited with her, as her grip became almost painful but he wouldn’t have dared comment on it. Frankly he’d rather let her break every finger of his hand than suggest she was hurting him because at that moment in time he was convinced she’d find something to beat him to death with if he did. At roughly 10 am, 6 hours after she had woken Frank up, the contractions were coming roughly 5 minutes apart and Fliss finally gave in and asked for an epidural. The midwife examined her, recording her at 4cm dilated and then headed off to call the anaesthetist. He arrived some 30 minutes later and explained to Fliss what he was going to do. Once the formalities were over, Frank helped Fliss to sit up, and she shuffled to the edge of the bed ready for the epidural when all of a sudden she squeezed Frank's hand tightly and looked at him, her eyes wide. "Oh...God, Frankie I need to push." "That's impossible." A junior midwife cut in with an air of ridicule "You were only 4cm half an hour ago. There's no way you could have gone so far so fast..." Fliss let out another cry, this one panicked and Frank felt a surge of anger at the fact she was being dismissed. "Listen..." he glared at the woman straightening up as he kept hold of Fliss hand. "If she's saying she needs to push then she clearly does. She's hardly gonna be fucking making it up now is she?" Thankfully the more senior Midwife took over and looked at Fliss kindly. "Ok Miss Gallagher, lay back and we'll take a look." Frank helped her move back to the middle of the bed as she gave another cry out and the midwife moved to examine her. After a moment she straightened up, nodding. "Yep, we're fully engaged." She turned to the anaesthetist "It’s too late. She's gonna have to manage on the entonox" "What?" Fliss looked around as Frank gently shushed her, his hand running over her hair. "It’s OK." He said softly "it's just over the last half hour things have progressed faster than they thought so they can't give you the epidural." "Well they best give me something because I swear to fucking God..." her voice trailed off as she grabbed the mouthpiece to the gas and took a huge breath in, gripping Frank's hand as another contraction washed over her. "Ok, Fliss..." the midwife looked at her "next time you feel the urge to push I want you to go with it ok? Nice and gentle, do what your body is telling you. Can you do that?" Fliss nodded, swallowing slightly. Frank smiled at her, encouragingly. "You got this baby." He said, kissing her hand. "You got this." After 20 minutes of pushing, Fliss was convinced she had anything but got this. She was on all fours as this was the comfiest position she could get into. Laying on her back was excruciating, so when this had been suggested to her as an alternative by the midwife she had gladly tried it. Frank was stood by her head, his hand softly rubbing her back, giving her all the encouragement he could as she gripped at his arm, her face pressed into his shoulder. She felt another wave, and the Midwife looked up at Frank with a smile "he's crowning. Fliss, you're almost there..." "Hear that?" He crouched down, looking at her, smiling "nearly done sweetheart." "You are never doing this to me again..." she said from between grit teeth. He smiled "Well we got 2 now so I'm OK with that. Least you didn't say I couldn't ever touch you again." "Don't tempt me..." she said, before she grew silent and let out another loud groan, gripping Frank's bicep so hard he almost winced. After a monumental effort she sagged forward a little and the midwife called out. "Ok, his head is out. One more Fliss, good girl." At that Frank took his cue. "Hear that? One last time honey." He said, still crouching, her hand in his. "I’m so tired Frank." She looked at him, sobbing "I can't..." "Yes you can." He said calmly, smoothing her hair back. "One more and you're there. You've done so well sweetheart." 30 seconds later, after digging as deep as she could, Fliss' screams were joined by a high pitch crying and her entire body succumbed to exhaustion and she slipped forward slightly. "Lissy, you did it..." Frank felt the tears stinging his eyes as he and the junior midwife helped Fliss to lay back down. He could see from her face she was dazed and exhausted as she lay her head against the pillow, her breathing deep. "Is he OK?" She gasped, as her baby's piercing screams rang out round the room. "He's absolutely fine..." the midwife said, as their baby was placed on her chest and they both got a first look at their little Boston Bean. "Hey baby..." Fliss gasped, through her tears as she held him close, his cries softening slightly. "Look at him Frank." "I am." He swallowed, his voice cracking "I can't take my eyes off him. Oh God, Lissy, I'm so proud of you." He stuttered, pressing a kiss to her head as he gently ran a finger over his baby son's cheek. A perfect little nose, round little cheeks, a spattering of dark hair, two tiny hands and tiny feet...he was the most beautiful baby boy Frank had ever laid eyes on and he felt his heart swelling so much he thought it might burst from his chest. "He looks like you." Fliss glanced at Frank who tore his eyes off his son to look at her. "You think?" He asked, looking back down. "Yeah..." she said "same nose, cheeks, eye shape...he's an Adler alright." As the various medical staff bustled around, neither of them paid any attention to them at all, both wrapped up in their previous little bundle, who, after a few minutes, opened his eyes, blinking a little. Frank smiled as those sparkling little globes flickered around at his surroundings. The lump in his throat seemed to be growing by the second and he rest his head against Fliss' the pair of them mesmerised by those baby blues until she nudged him and told him to take a few photos. With a shaky hand he did as he was told, until a doctor apologetically said that then needed to take him for his scores and what not. "Take him?" Fliss asked, instinctively clutching him closer. "He won't be gone long." Frank looked at her. "They told us about this, remember? And Mary was gone 10 minutes, tops." "Actually we can do it here Mr Adler" the doctor smiled "we have the facilities in the room so he will literally be right over there. And we can get you cleaned up properly Miss Gallagher" That placated Fliss a little, but she was still reluctant to hand him over. Frank followed his son a little, hovering as he was examined and given a vitamin shot before he was tenderly cleaned a little. "Does he have a name yet?" The doctor looked up. Frank swallowed thickly. "Alexander William..." "No..." Fliss spoke and Frank turned to her, wondering if she was still slightly out of it. "Honey?" He frowned, "What-" "His name." She said sitting up slightly "Alexander Francis William." Frank blinked “I don’t…we didn’t discuss that?”

And they hadn’t, but it had come to Fliss the moment she had held him in her arms. It just felt right.

"He's the most important boy in our lives Frank." She smiled, sniffing a little "I want him named after the best man in mine." Frank felt the tears prick his eyes at her words and he hastily blinked them away, smiling and giving her a nod to say he understood. He turned back to watch as a tiny tag was attached to Alex's right wrist sporting his name and an identity number before he was wrapped in the little white blanket they had bought which was decorated in stars. "Ready for a hold dad?" The doctor looked at him and Frank nodded, swallowing. "Ok, are you doing skin to skin or..." "Yeah..." Frank nodded again, loosening the top 4 buttons of his pale blue shirt before Alex was handed to him, the doctor helping Frank to gently arrange the blanket so his son's chest was pressed to his. "Hey Bean…” he whispered softly, his eyes misting over. "How you doing?" Alex burrowed his face slightly into his chest, his eyes wide as Frank's hands tenderly held him close, one on his back, the other underneath him. He walked over towards the bed as the midwives finished cleaning her up, and carefully sat down, looking at his girl as she watched them both, smiling softly. "I fuckin' love you." He blurted out, this time not bothering to even try and hold his tears back as a few fell down his cheeks "Look what you gave me." Fliss gave a little splutter of a happy sob as Frank gently moved one hand to tighten around hers, his other keeping his son secure to his chest. "You curve balled me on the name." He said, smiling. Fliss shrugged and reached out to gently smooth over Alex's head. "I mean it." She looked up at him, her eyes swimming "You are. You fixed me Frank, you took those last broken pieces and..." "Liss…” Frank struggled to keep his composure as his fingers tightened around hers. "…and you showed me, just what..." she stuttered a little, her breathing ragged through her sobs "...what a normal love with a kind and gentle man is, what it's like to be with someone who would do anything to prevent me from being hurt instead of..." she swallowed, her eyes looking deep into his which were now spilling tears " I can't even begin to explain how much I love you." Frank took a huge, shuddering breath, conscious his son was still clutched to his chest as he leaned forward, tears pouring down his face as he pressed his head to Fliss', running his nose against hers, catching her lips softly with his. "You gave me everything I didn't know I needed." He sniffed, and she smiled, glancing down at their baby "You fixed me too, when I didn't even know I was broken." Fliss smiled, gently reaching up to cup his cheek, but their moment was interrupted as Alex began to fuss. "Think he might be hungry." Frank smiled down at him. Fliss sat up as Frank handed him over and with a little help from the midwife and a few missed attempts soon he was latched on and suckling happily, his little hand curling into a fist, resting by his cheek. Frank sat still on the bed, watching Fliss nurse him for a while before he leaned over and kissed her head. "Suppose I best go tell them all he is here." He smiled. Flias grinned before her face stilled a little. "I err...I don't really want them in just yet. I’m tired and I wanna get cleaned up and changed and..." she trailed off "But Mary could come I suppose if she is starts to get upset." The fact she was still putting Mary's feelings before her own made Frank's chest warm and he shook his head, cutting her off. "She'll be fine" Frank assured her. "Leave her to me."

With a last glance down he kissed Fliss’ head, then Alex’s before he jumped off the bed and headed down the corridor. In the elevator down to the waiting room he caught a glimpse of his reflection. His eyes were red from all the tears and his hair was stuck up on end as well from the amount of times his hand had run through it. Hastily flattening it down he turned and then strode a bit further down before he pushed open the door into the room.

He instantly spotted Bill, Verity and Mary waiting, but not his mother. Mary glanced up and gave a yell, running across the floor to him, grinning ear to ear. He picked her up, hugging her tight as she kissed his cheek before he moved her onto his hip, grinning around as Bill and Verity reached him.

“He’s here!” Frank spluttered, “ He arrived about 30 minutes ago. 7lb 4 and, shit guys, he's perfect!”

He dropped Mary down to the floor and pulled his phone out, scanning through to a photo. He handed it to Mary whilst Verity pulled him in for a hug, before Bill shook his hand furiously before yanking him towards him, slapping his back.

“Congratulations, lad. How's my little girl?”

“She’s great, just tired.” Frank said “He arrived a little too fast for an epidural but, man, she did so well. I’m so fahkin proud of her.” “You gone all Boston again!” Mary teased, as Verity took the phone to have a look at her grandson, her hand flying to her mouth before she showed it to Bill whose own eyes started to water.

“Where's my mother?” Frank asked.

“She’s at home.” Verity looked at him “She says she didn't want to crowd you” Reading between the lines Frank knew that to mean she wasn't sure she was wanted or welcome. She hadn't been at Mary's birth, in fact she hadn't laid eyes on Mary until she was 7, and he knew that would be playing on her mind, wondering if she had a right to be here after everything. But they were past that now, or so he had thought anyway. In his mind this certainly wasn’t the time for bad blood or raking over old ground. It was time for her to step up and make the amends like she claimed to be so keen to.

“I’ll drop her a message.” Frank said after a moment’s pause. Verity smiled. “When can we see him?” Mary demanded. “In a little while Stack” Frank’s hand dropped to her head “Fliss is feeding him now and then she needs to clean up properly and get settled, maybe take a nap because she's exhausted.” “Why don’t we go for some lunch?” Bill suggested and Frank could have kissed him “Then Frank can call when they’re ready for us to come back?”

Mary looked around for a moment, pondering the idea before she nodded “Ok, can we go to the Shack?” “We can go wherever you want.” Bill beamed.

"If she decides to come up once I’ve spoken to her, could you swing by and grab Evelyn too if it’s not too much trouble?" Frank asked. "Course." Bill assured him with a wink and Frank nodded mouthing thank you. “Can I tell them his name yet?”  Mary demanded Frank hesitated. He hadn't asked Fliss that, but as he thought about it he knew she would want to be there when they found out so he shook his head. "Not yet. We can do that together later, ok?"

“Ok.” She nodded.

He gave her another hug and then promised to call them as soon as Fliss was feeling up to it before he turned and headed back to his girl and his son.

His son...

When he reached the room, Alex had finished feeding and Fliss had him held up over her shoulder, gently rubbing at his back. She looked over to him, smiling as he crossed the room.

“How’s he doing?”

“Fine.” She smiled “He’s fed…seems a little sleepy now.”

“You should take advantage.” One of the midwives spoke. “Put him down for a nap, eat that sandwich and rest yourself.” “Sounds like a good idea.” Frank said, then he cheekily added “I’m whacked.”

“You’re whacked?” Fliss glared at him.

“Well you woke me up early!”

“God you’re an ass hole.” She shook her head, snorting as he laughed.

“Love you.” He grinned, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he looked down at Alex whose eyes were definitely growing heavy.

“Can we dress him now?” Fliss asked and the midwife smiled.

“Absolutely” she said, “You can do whatever you want now. I’m officially heading out of your hair, unless there’s anything you need?”

Frank looked at Fliss who shook her head “No, we can manage, thank you.”

“Well then, if you do need anything someone will be in the office. I’ll be back in a couple of hours to check on you both.”

“Oh, err, can I take a shower or…”

The midwife nodded “Absolutely, as long as Mr Adler is here.” “Yeah, I will be.” “In that case then I suggest a nice hot bath, then a change into your pyjamas and relax.” She smiled “Honestly, when I had both my kids, there was no better feeling.I’ll have a drink and a sandwich sent down for you Miss Gallagher, otherwise I’ll see you a little later on.”

With that she gave them another small smile before she left the room.

“Can you pop him in the basinet?” Fliss looked up at Frank.

“Course.” He smiled, reaching out and gently picking his son up. He gave his head a soft kiss before he gently placed him down and then moved to help Fliss stand up. She was a little shaky at first but after a few steps she seemed to be fairly steady. With a grin Fliss selected the baby grow they had bought the day of their first scan and Frank chuckled as she gently popped the studs down the front. Frank watched as she tenderly dressed him, smiling to himself as she picked him up again, holding him to her front.

“I don’t want to put him down.” She said, smiling.

“Then you don’t hafta.” He chuckled

“But what if I make him clingy…” “Lissy, he’s like an hour old.” Franks smiled “And I hate to break it to you, babies are fucking clingy. Why don’t you sit down and hold him for a bit whilst I draw you a bath?”

“Ok.” She nodded. Frank dropped a kiss to her head before he turned and walked into the bathroom.

Once her bath was ready he asked if she needed a hand getting in. She shook her head and with an almost wistful look handed Alex over to his dad and disappeared into the bathroom. Frank held his son close, looking down at him as he slept contentedly in his arms. He wandered over to the window, looking out over the bay, smiling to himself.

“I’ll take you out there as soon as I can.” He said, looking down at his baby “You’ll love it. Wind in your hair, spot a few dolphins…”

After a moment or two of gently rocking him as he stood watching the day outside, he turned and gently placed him down again, making sure he was covered by his blanket before he grabbed the bag and pulled out the pale blue lounge set Fliss had packed. It had been a gift from Roberta, pattered with tiny little stars and was a button down for ease. Mary had a matching pair as well, not one to miss out.

Checking Alex once more he pulled out his phone, snapped another quick photo before he fired it off to the Circle of Truth WhatsApp group along with the photos he had taken before. As the messages of congratulations began to flood in, he suddenly remembered that he had someone else he needed to speak to.

His mother answered after 2 rings “Frank?”

“Hey, so…er…he’s here!” he grinned “Safe and sound. Fliss is ok, she’s in the bath so…” “Oh, that’s…” his mother took a breath “That’s great, I’m really pleased.” “You weren’t in the waiting room before.” “I know, I didn’t want to crowd you.” “Well, they’re coming back later to meet him.” He said gently “You should too.”

Evelyn paused before she spoke again, her voice cracking slightly “Are you sure?” “Mom, you’re his grandmother.” He said gently “Look, I know what you’ll be thinking, all sorts of shit about Diane and Mary but, none of us can change the past.” He took a breath “This is your chance. Step up. Enjoy the moments you missed last time.” He heard her sniff a little, and he was surprised to feel himself becoming a little emotional. “You ok?”

“Yeah, fine. I err…just…” she took a deep breath “I’d love to come meet him. Let me know when and I’ll organise a car…” “No need.” He said gently “Just give Bill a call. He said he’d bring you.”

“Thanks.” She said gently. “Did you take any photos yet?”

“Yeah…I’ll send you one.” “Thanks, I’ll see you later I guess.” “Sure.”

“Give my love to Fliss.” “Will do.”

He cut the call and once he’d sent the photo to her he put his phone back in his pocket and smoothed down the blanket to take a look at Alex again, his conversation with his mother rattling through his brain as his son gently curled his tine fist around his finger. He’d been right, she was feeling guilty. Guilty at how she was here for Alex but hadn’t been there for Mary or Diane for that matter. But he had meant what he said, none of them could change the past, it was how they moved forward that counted, how she took the second chance she had been given.

Frank knew his relationship with his mother was as good as it was probably going to ever get. After Boston last year they’d both made the effort to put all the anger and hurt behind them. It wasn’t a close relationship by any standards, but it was more than it had been and more to the point, he could live with what it was, dare he say, he actually kind of liked it if he was honest. She was still far way enough not to piss him off on a daily basis, or try and interfere, but she visited regularly enough and when she did it was easier than he had ever anticipated. She’d certainly upheld her side of the bargain with Mary and if she did the same thing with Alex, he’d be happy. She was his grandmother after all, just like he’d told her.

“Mom, you’re his grandmother.”

As he recalled his words he felt his breath catch and his eyes mist over once more when he realised he’d called her mom, and for the first time in his entire life she hadn’t corrected him.

***** After her bath Fliss had emerged to see find Frank still quite emotional. He had explained to her about his conversation with his mother and she’d listened as they lay on the bed, her head lay on his chest. Eventually the pair of them had drifted off and managed a few hours sleep before Alex had woken them both crying. He fed again and then Fliss smiled at Frank and told him she wanted to see everyone. With a nod he headed off to find a midwife to see if everyone was allowed into the room at once, and she had suggested that instead of doing it that way they did it in the family room and took Alex to see them.

“We can do that?” “Of course.” The woman smiled at him. “In fact we encourage everyone to use the room as soon as they feel up to it. It's designed to give new moms a space away from the recovery room, like they would have at home.”

“And Fliss is ok to walk down there?”

“Sure, in fact her being a little active and walking around is the best thing. All helps with her recovery and psychologically she'll feel like she has done something other than sit or lay down if that makes sense?”

Frank smiled and headed back to the room telling Fliss what the nurse had said.

“You up to that?” he asked and Fiss nodded eagerly.

“God, yes.” She grinned “I know it’s only been a few hours but I’m getting twitchy.”

Frank smiled, he should have known. She wasn’t the best at sitting still and had been active right up until going into labour.

“Ok, well I’ll call everyone, get them in.”

“I think we should let Mary in here to see him first.”

Frank beamed at her, dropping a kiss to her cheek “Yeah, I’d like that.”

30 minutes or so later Bill called to say they had arrived and Frank gave them directions up to the room having already booked them in. Fliss stood up and he held out her robe so she could shrug it on over her lounge set, before she shoved her feet into her flip flops.

“Ready?” he asked and she nodded, picking Alex up.

Frank headed off to the lounge, opening the door. He smiled round at his family before he held his hand out. “Come on Stack.”

She jumped up and slipped her hand into his and after promising everyone else he’d be back shortly he led her down the corridor.

“Now you need to be quiet ok?” he said and Mary nodded as he pushed the door open to the room.

“Hi!” Fliss grinned as Mary stopped dead, looking at the baby in her arms as she perched on the side of the bed “You ok?”

“Yeah…” Mary breathed, her eyes focussed on Alex as she walked towards him. She peered down at his face and then grinned up at Frank.

“He has your nose.” “So I’m told.” He smiled “You wanna hold him?” “Can I?” “Course you can.” Fliss nodded.

She hopped up onto the bed, Frank settling besides her and he showed her how to position her arms as Fliss placed Alex down into them. Frank moved so his left arm was curled round Mary, his hand gently supporting her left elbow as she peered down at Alex. He heard her give a soft sniff and he looked at Fliss before he turned to Mary.

“You ok?”

“Yeah, I’m just so happy” she said, her voice wobbling slightly and Frank felt his own eyes watering for what felt like the 300th time that day. No one said anything else, just let Mary have her little moment before Fliss softly suggested it was time they went to introduce him properly to everyone.

“You helped do the gender reveal.” She looked at Mary “You wanna tell everyone his name?”

She thought about it for a moment before she shook her head “I think that should be yours and Frank’s job.”

Fliss leaned down to give Mary’s head a kiss before she gently stood up and took Alex from her, Frank also standing as Mary jumped down from the bed and slipped her hand into his. He curled his other arm around Fliss waist and the three of them made their way down the corridor. Mary opened the door to the large lounge area and they were met with everyone turning to face them.

“Hey guys!” Fliss smiled as her mum hurried towards her.

“Oh honey…” Verity cupped her face “You look great…” “Not sure I’d go that far.” She smiled, before she glanced down at Alex in her arms as Verity gently reached out to trail a finger down his cheek.

“Oh Bill…look at him.” She breathed out as Bill moved to take the first glance at his grandson.

“He looks like you Frank.” He said, his eyes not moving from the baby as he smiled down at him, Alex peering up with bright blue eyes.

“Here nanna…” Fliss smiled, passing Alex over to Verity who took him, letting out another soft gasp before she began to coo over him.

“Steve said he’ll pop up tomorrow.” Bill looked at Fliss “He thought this would be enough to cope with today. Says if its ok he can swing by on his way to the airport before he drops Sian and the kids off.2

Fliss nodded and then watched as Verity offered Alex to Evelyn who took him gently, peering down at his face.

“He does look like you.” Evelyn said gently, looking up at Frank. “And I’ve got the photos to prove it.”

“I’m sure you do.” Frank looked at her as she smiled, glancing down at the baby and he didn’t miss the tears that were pooling in her eyes.

“I’m glad you came.” Frank looked at her and she raised her face to meet his eyes, swallowed and nodded.

“Me too.”

“Did you call Roberta?” Mary asked.

“No, but I sent her a photo.” Frank assured her. “She sent me back a load of heart eye emojis and a photo of a mojito, said she was toasting the new arrival over at her sister’s place.”

“Now THAT sounds like a great idea.” Verity said, looking at Evelyn “What do you say we all go back to ours later for a party?” “No fair!” Fliss folded her arms.

“We can have another one later…” Verity waved her away as Evelyn chuckled slightly.

“Sounds great.” She agreed, before she turned to Bill. “I believe it’s your turn to hold the baby so to speak…” “Yeah, come on…” Bill said, gently taking him, a huge smile crossing his face “So what is his name? We can’t keep calling him bean…” Fliss looked at Frank who smiled at her and she turned to her dad.

“It’s Alexander Francis William. Alex for short.” "What?" Bill breathed out softly, glancing down at the baby in his arms. "You named him after..." "Your dad, my dad, and his." Fliss looked at Bill, as his eyes filled with tears. “The best men I’ve ever known”

As the room began to chatter about what a nice name it was, along with a few more tears being shed as the pure love and emotion shared between the family, Frank looked down as Mary pulled on the bottom of his shirt.

He picked her up, perching her on his hip.

"You added Francis?" she asked and he looked at her, smiling. "Fliss did." Mary blinked before she shook her head, snorting. "Poor kid."

[deansmom]

(ao3) dean/omc, character study, dean with tattoos, etc etc. expanded part of this.

Sonny was always more forgiving than John, about a lot of things. One thing that Dean was always grateful for, was that he felt that it was important for them to be able to be, y’know… kids.

So, Dean’s sixteen standing in the basement of some kid’s house from school, with a red solo cup in his hands. Robin’s here, somewhere, but he doesn’t know where she went. It doesn’t matter, they’re not together or anything, but he just – he thinks he likes her.

Maybe loves her?

Dean takes a sip of his beer and looks around the basement, feeling woefully out of place and also, absurdly excited to be here. He’s never been able to go to a party before.

Kyle – Kevin, maybe? – the kid who’s throwing the party, is yammering on in Dean’s ear and he tuned him out a while ago.

He feels his head bobbing along to the music without his permission and if Dean really focuses, he recognizes the voice singing. He’s heard her on the radio before in the Impala, but John never left it on for long.

Dean smiles to himself as the song changes, and this time it’s one he recognizes.

John would probably disown him and have a few choice words if he knew, but damn, he’s a teenager in the 90’s, of course he likes hip hop.

I love it when you call me Big Poppa.

“…Anyways, my brother comes home and he’s got this tattoo gun –“

Dean’s brain catches that last part of whatever this kid is saying (he’s really gotta remember his name) and it makes a lightbulb go off in his head. Huh.

“Hey,” Dean turns completely, so he’s facing the kid. “Does your brother actually tattoo?”

Kevin (Kyle? Ken?) grins, cross-faded beyond comprehension, “Hell yeah bro, he’s pretty good too.”

Some kid on the other side of the room yells before dive bombing off of the bar and the whole room erupts into loud, celebratory screams. It’s like, the perfect cliché high school party moment and Dean doesn’t even care that he’s missing it.

“Sick,” Dean remarks, feeling his own grin spread across his face. “Can he do one for me?”

Kyle (it’s a K name, he’s sure of it) claps a hand on his shoulder, shrugging, “I don’t see why not, man. Le’s go ask.”

He takes Dean’s hand abruptly and turns, pulling the two of them out of the main room in the basement and down a side hall. Dean tries to pretend that the heat spreading up his back to his face is just because it’s hot with all these kids crammed down here, and not because a cute boy is holding his hand. Especially since they’re having to shove past couples making out all up and down this narrow hallway and wow, it’s getting hard to focus.

It’s fine, right? Anybody would be blushing like this in Dean’s position. It’s not weird.

Kenny (fuck, he really should just ask him or something) drops his hand to knock on a door at the end of the hallway, “Jake!” He’s practically yelling and Dean chugs the rest of his beer when he feels the judgmental eyes of the couples turning to look at them. It’s fine, everything’s fine.

It takes a moment but then the door opens up and Dean’s brain fritzes out for a second.

Wow. Jake has gotta be the hottest guy he’s ever seen in real life.

Wait, what?

Jake glares at them, clearly amused that his little brother is fucking toasted, “What do you want Cam? You can’t make out with your boytoy in my room.”

Fuck, Dean swears internally. Not a K name then.

Cameron (allegedly) shoves Dean forward when he doesn’t say anything, “Not a boytoy. He wants a tat.”

It’s only at this point that Dean realizes he actually hasn’t said anything yet.

“Uh,” he tries, offering a hand to Jake. “Name’s Dean.”

He examines the offered hand for a moment and just when Dean’s certain the door is going to get slammed in his face, he looks up at Dean and says, “You got money?”

Dean nods, pulling his wallet out and handing over the $20 he got for doing a bunch of yardwork last weekend with some of the other boys from Sonny’s place.

Jake seems to think about it for another moment before sighing and opening the door wider, “Yeah, okay, why the hell not.” Dean nods, passing the $20 into his hand as he walks through the doorway.

Cameron makes a move to follow them but Jake stops him with a hand on his chest.

“No fucking way bro, I don’t want you anywhere near this with your drunk and germy ass.”

Absurdly, Dean feels a little lightheaded at the idea of being alone with this guy (or is it that he appreciates the consideration for his safety – he doesn’t want to think about it). He offers Cam a smile, “I’m good man, thanks.”

Cameron offers them both a salute with the same hand that his cup is in, and ends up spilling it on himself with a delighted cackle. “Aye-aye, Captain!”

Dean has to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing.

Jake however, just slams the door in his brother’s face with an amused snort, “How drunk is he anyways?”

Dean hums, looking around the room with interested eyes, “I dunno… he’s been talkin’ to me for the last thirty minutes with that same cup, but I wasn’t really listening.”

The music is much quieter in here, and he can’t make out any of the words anymore. But the room is clean with really only some clothes near the dresser, and the desk in the corner is a little cluttered, but it’s – it’s nice. It feels… cozy.

Jake makes a noise of affirmation, walking over to start clearing off at least part of his desk, “How drunk are you?”

Dean snorts, his eyes flying over all the books stacked under a record player in the corner.

“I had one beer…” He drops down onto the floor and pulls a book off the shelf, turning to grin at Jake, “You got good taste.”

It’s a well-worn, well-loved copy of Cat’s Cradle. It looks almost as beat to shit as Dean’s is.

Jake doesn’t quite smile at him, but he does look thoroughly amused at Dean’s excitement, “Yeah, I do alright.”

Dean sets it back on the bookshelf and sighs contently, relaxing back against the bed, “You don’t really look old enough to be, y’know…” He watches him move around the room easily, cleaning off the desk and pulling a big case out from the foot of the bed, “Doing this.”

There’s a muffled yell from somewhere out in the basement, and then the sound of another crash, and Dean can’t even bring himself to wonder what he’s missing.

“Eh,” Jake shrugs, going through the motions that he’s clearly done many times before. “Dropped out the same week I got an under the table apprenticeship. Been doin’ it for almost two years now.”

Dean squints, mentally doing the math, “So, you’re… what? 17? 18?”

Jake glances over his shoulder at him, smirking, “Why?”

Even Dean’s slightly impaired brain catches the implied question, and he squirms a little bit on the carpet, shrugging. “Can’t a guy ask questions?”

They both go quiet after that for a couple minutes, Dean too embarrassed to say anything else, and Jake too focused to try and carry a conversation with a kid he doesn’t know.

Maybe ten minutes later, Jake claps his hands together and it makes Dean jump out of his skin. He tries to glare at him, but judging by the way Jake’s barely containing his laughter, it probably doesn’t come across as very threatening.

“Okay,” Jake turns so he’s facing Dean in his chair. “What do you want?”

Dean nods, leaning forward and grabbing another book off the shelf, “You know the portrait?”

Finally, Dean seems to be the one with the upper hand, because Jake is staring at him like he’s grown a second head.

“Uh…” He squints at Dean, a small bit of amusement threatening to break into a grin, “No?”

Because he’s kind of a brat, Dean scoffs and flips to the title page where the autograph and self-portrait are staring back at him, “You don’t know and it’s your book?!” He leans forward, stretching as far as he can to hand the book over to Jake.

He looks at it for a moment, barely containing his smile, “You want this?”

Dean nods, scooting around so he’s facing Jake’s desk. “Yeah.”

Jake looks back up at him, feeling a little bit bewildered by the request, “You’re sure?”

It takes a lot of Dean’s self-control not to groan, so he just nods and says, “Definitely.”

They just stare at each other for what feels like an eternity, but is probably thirty seconds, before Jake laughs outright and shrugs, “Yeah, okay.”

Dean squawks, indignant, and moves so he’s sitting at the foot of the bed instead of on the floor, “What? You think it’s dumb or somethin’?”

Jake seems to consider him for a moment before his smile softens, “Nah, it’s just…” He points his pencil at Dean, “You’re kind of a weird kid.”

Dean huffs, rolling his eyes, “I’m not a kid. I’m gonna be 17 in January.”

He doesn’t say that he’s never really been a kid. He doesn’t say that this isn’t his first beer, but this is the first time he’s been able to go to a party and stay for longer than ten minutes. He doesn’t say that this is the first time he’s ever felt like a kid, but that he’s not really good at being 16. He doesn’t know how to talk to kids his own age because they’re only thinking about the SAT’s and prom and the sports team they’re on, and Dean can’t stop thinking about his little brother being alone with John.

“I just,” he says instead. “I just really like his stuff.”

And he knows that Mary supposedly liked it too.

Jake shrugs, still smiling at Dean, “Hey man, I’m not complaining. Just, y’know…” He turns around and starts pulling things out of his desk, “Cam probably doesn’t even know who Vonnegut is.”

Dean snorts, pulling his legs up onto the bed to sit with them crossed, “No offense, but your brother is kinda dumb.”

At that Jake barks a laugh, his shoulders relaxing minutely, “You’re not wrong.”

They talk while he works, about what kind of music they’re into and the other authors they’ve read and Dean even talks about Star Trek, and Jake just listens to him talk for as long as he wants. There’s no calling him a nerd or interrupting him, he just… listens. Eventually he asks Dean after a couple minutes if he’d be okay with it being freehand. He agrees because all the practice drawings Jake’s been doing look damn near perfect (and, well, he’s sixteen and doesn’t know how tattoos work).

Dean goes over to the record player and puts something on when Jake’s ready to start.

Ramble On starts thrumming through the speakers, and they can just barely hear it over the music from the party. It’s kinda nice.

He helps Jake pull the desk closer to the bed and the whole time they’re talking like it’s normal and they’ve known each other forever.

“Okay,” Jake interrupts him before Dean goes off on another tangent. “Drop your pants.”

For a second, Dean thinks that the record player is actually the source of the record scratch he just heard but nope, that was his head. Somehow, all the color drains from his face at the same time the rest of him starts to feel too hot and his skin feels too tight.

Dean makes a choking noise that was supposed to be a ‘What?!’

Jake sets a hand on his arm, biting his lip to stop from laughing at Dean’s panic, “You said you want it on your thigh, right?” He doesn’t wait for Dean to respond, he just squeezes his shoulder and says, “I need to shave it.”

Some part of Dean’s brain powers back on and he swallows, not sure why he’s so panicked, “Yeah, uh –“ He forces a laugh, “Yeah, duh, I – I knew that.”

Mercifully, Jake turns around for a moment so that Dean can pull his jeans down. He hops up onto the bed, feeling a little exposed, and ends up pulling a pillow onto his lap for, uh… reasons.

“Okay,” Dean squeaks out. He clears his throat, trying to get it back down to its normal pitch, “I mean, uh…” He gestures at his leg, “Go ahead.”

That time Jake does laugh at him and that’s fine, that’s fair, Dean likes his laugh. It’s nice.

Jake makes quick work of shaving the spot, a consummate professional – or at least, Dean assumes he is. He’s never actually gotten a tattoo before.

The alcohol that gets poured over the spot and then wiped off makes him hiss through his teeth, mostly from the temperature than anything else. Jake squeeze’s his other knee, meeting Dean’s eyes again with a smile. “Sorry, almost ready to start.”

And jesus, what a picture he makes.

Dean’s not gay, totally not gay, but wow, Jake is… beautiful. If he was a girl, Dean wouldn’t be able to stop talking about how gorgeous and full his lips are. Ever since he turned 13, Dean’s gotten shit for his lips and he never really got the appeal before, but he thinks he might get it now. Because yeah, if Jake was a girl, Dean would totally want to kiss those lips.

And you know, from a totally Not Gay perspective, the guy’s got a really nice face – a strong jaw with as much five-o’clock shadow that an eighteen-year-old can grow, dark skin that makes the color in his lips pop and the slight bit of green in his eyes glow.

And that smile? Jesus, Dean’s man enough to admit it makes his heart do the same thing it does when Robin smiles at him. It’s a really, really nice smile.

And the fact that Dean suddenly can’t not imagine Jake on his knees, sucking Dean’s –

He shakes himself out of it and he can feel the blush spreading across… well, probably across his whole face really.

“Okay,” Dean chokes out, trying desperately to pretend he isn’t getting hard under the pillow.

Jake smirks make him feel like he knows what Dean is thinking about, but he’s kind enough not to say anything. Not that there’s anything to say, clearly, because Dean’s definitely Not Into Dudes, he’s just – he’s just… hot. Like a girl, or –

The song changes as Jake finally (finally) turns the machine on. He makes eye contact with Dean, giving him another out if he wants it, “You ready?”

No.

Dean swallows and offers him his cockiest grin, pretending he isn’t freaking out, “I was born ready.” There’s a moment where it feels like Jake’s going to back out, going to call Dean on his shit, but then he leans forward and draws the first line.

He brings a hand up to bite at his fist and has to choke back a yelp.

Jake looks up at him again, not even bothering to hide his amusement, “You good?”

Dean nods, “Yeah, I, uh –“ He smiles, embarrassed, “I’m good. Go ahead.”

Thankfully, Jake just goes back to work without any further comment. It doesn’t hurt really, it just feels… weird. Dean grimaces at one pass and oh, okay, yeah, maybe it hurts a little bit, but it’s not like getting hurt on a hunt bad.

He closes his eyes and lets his mind zone out while Jake works.

Because his brain is terrible and can never be trusted, the first thing that pops into his head is that if he popped a chubby thinking about Jake, a dude, on his knees in front of him, he might actually be gay.

And well, that’s just – that’s a can of worms he’s never going to touch, at least not until John is dead. He winces at the thought, imagining that his dad dying would be a good thing, and Dean feels guilty. This is why John left him here.

If Dean doesn’t get off this train of thought, he’s going to have a panic attack in front of this really hot nice guy and he’d rather not embarrass himself. He tries to focus on the music and that isn’t even working because Dean can feel his muscles fighting to move.

Jake must notice because he takes that time to start talking while he works.

He tells Dean about high school, and the shop that he’ll legally work at when he turns 18, and about how bad his parents freaked when he dropped out. He tells Dean about his brother, about this girl that he went on a date with last week that was in love with her roommate, about the concert he went to last month – about everything and nothing, and Dean forgets… everything.

He forgets to panic and he forgets that his leg has gone numb from the vibrations of the gun. He laughs more than he has in a while, and they’re real laughs, the ones that make his whole face light up.

In return, he tells Jake about Sam, about Robin, about how he’s never stayed in one place so long, about high school and how much he really likes physics. Jake calls him a nerd again and Dean just shrugs, trying to play it cool. Really, he’s just excited to feel like he understands something in school.

It takes a total of 30 minutes for Jake to finish. He cleans it off carefully, explaining to Dean the whole time how to properly take care of a tattoo and what the healing process is like.

Some part of his brain wonders if he should be taking notes, because Dean’s a little too lightheaded to be sure he’s going to remember all of this in the morning.

He must have said something to that effect out loud because Jake laughs, “Don’t worry man, I’ve got a pamphlet in my backpack from the shop that you can have.”

He looks at Dean again with that beautiful smile that makes Dean feel like he’s floating. He opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out.

The record player comes to a stop with a quiet click.

Before he chickens out, Dean surges forward and tries to pull Jake into a kiss – he misses, and ends up kissing just to the left of his mouth.

They both freeze for a moment and Dean should probably open his eyes to gauge the situation, but he’s terrified that he’s about to get thrown through a wall or something.

Fuck, he’s really stupid.

Instead, Jake huffs a laugh and brings his hand up to rest on the back of Dean’s head. “Hey, Dean?”

Dean squeezes his eyes tighter and has to lick his lips, his tongue ghosting over the corner of Jake’s mouth for a moment, before answering. “Yeah?” His voice breaks, but Dean can barely hear it over the hammering in his chest.

Jake smiles against his mouth, just breathing for a moment. “You ever kissed anybody before?”

He jerks his head to the side just a tiny bit, just enough to answer the question without having to move away. He’s still too scared to open his eyes.

Jake’s hand is big, big enough that his thumb ghosts over Dean’s jaw and it makes him shiver.

“Can I kiss you?”

Dean swallows, finally cracking one eye open.

Their foreheads are pressed together and Dean has never felt so… nervous before. Excited. Terrified. Hopeful. He licks his lips again and he shivers a little at the look Jake is giving him now, “Yeah… yeah, okay.”

This time, their lips actually make contact and – oh.

Dean makes a soft noise into it, one of his hands grabbing onto Jake’s forearm. He lets Jake take the lead here and just… tries to listen to his body. It’s better than he thought it would be. Jake’s lips are soft, and gentle, and plush and his brain flashes a mental image from before behind his eyes and Dean groans into it.

The groan makes it easier for someone, Dean’s not really sure who, to deepen the kiss. Jake stands up just a little bit, crowding closer to Dean on the bed, and Dean takes the opportunity to wrap an arm around his neck.

He nibbles at Jake’s bottom lip experimentally and it earns him a moan that makes Dean feel like he’s on fire. The hand that was on his head drops down to his lower back and some part of Dean’s brain chimes in with, I bet he could pick me up.

Dean whines at the thought, actually whines, and it would be mortifying if it didn’t make Jake make a truly beautiful sound in response.

He tries to lean up more into it the kiss but Jake pulls away, his lips a little swollen and a lot pinker. He closes his eyes for a moment while they both catch their breath and Dean licks his lips, unable to stop thinking about that noise.

“Dean,” Jake starts and he sounds like he’s really trying to argue with himself here. “Dean, look, we can’t –“

That seems to snap Dean out of it because suddenly it feels like everything’s crashing down around him and now, he can’t breathe for a totally un-fun reason.

The panic is clearly written across his face because Jake moves both of his hands to Dean’s cheeks. “Hey, Dean, look at me,” he sounds a little frantic with it. “Dean, buddy, just, look at me – please?”

“I’m sorry,” Dean blurts out. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what I did wrong, I’m sorry, of course you don’t want to kiss me! Of course you don’t want to kiss me, you’re so cool and I’m just a kid and –“

He’s pulled up into another kiss and Dean’s brain totally fuzzes out with it.

God, he really likes kissing.

Long before he’s ready to stop, Jake pulls away again with a laugh and presses a kiss to Dean’s cheek this time. “Dean, I really like kissing you.” Dean thinks he probably looks really dopey right now, grinning up at him, and he feels like he’s maybe floating. “Yeah,” he giggles a little. “Me too.”

Jake presses a kiss to his forehead, so gentle and Dean feels like his heart is going to explode in his chest. “If you want to continue this…” He takes a step back so he’s no longer touching Dean and he laughs when Dean whines at him.

“Hey, no,” Jake’s grinning at him, and it’s a new grin than any of the other ones he’s seen tonight, and Dean feels like he can take on the world.

“If you, uh…” He brings a hand up to rub at his neck, looking away from Dean for a moment, “If you wanted to, y’know… continue this…” Jake gestures between the two of them and for the first time, Dean’s able to see that he’s not the only one who’s hard. That’s exciting.

“We should wait,” Jake finally says. “Until you’re, y’know… totally sober.”

Dean pouts, getting up onto his knees so they’re almost eye-to-eye.

(Has he mentioned how tall Jake is? Now that the floodgates are opened, all Dean can think about his climbing this kid like a god damn tree and wow, where the hell did that come from -)

“I’m totally sober.” He slurs the ‘s’ in sober, just a little bit.

Jake laughs, his hands coming up to rest on Dean’s hips to steady him, “Yeah okay, whatever you say.”

Dean tries to channel his little brother’s puppydog eyes, his arms coming up to wrap around Jake’s neck again, “Oh come on, pleeeease?”

A look flashes over his eyes, something a little dangerous peeking into that expression for a moment, and it’s gone as soon as it showed up. Jake smiles and kisses his forehead again, “Sorry buddy. Talk to me tomorrow morning.”

Dean sighs and pulls his arms away, crossing them over his chest. He looks adorable, not that Jake would ever tell him that.

He finally takes a full step backwards, this time completely out of reach, “So… do you like it?”

Because he’s still a little lust drunk Dean leers at him, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, “Yeah, dude.”

Jake rolls his eyes, wondering how he ended up in this situation, “The tattoo, idiot.”

Dean blinks owlishly at him for a moment, something finally clicking in his brain, “Oh, shit.”

He really did only have one beer, but he also got high with a couple of Robin’s friends before they got to the party, so Dean just tries to crawl off the bed like that on his knees, with his jeans around his ankles. Of course, Jake catches him before he slams face first into the desk. He’s a gentleman.

Dean yelps, his hands scrambling to grab onto Jake’s jacket. “Oh, shit, sorry.” His fingers dig into the muscles there and Dean makes a noise, “Oh wow, you’re strong.”

Jake doesn’t say anything, just deposits Dean safely onto the floor and takes a full two steps back. He’s a good guy, but he’s not a saint, and Dean seems intent on having all of his firsts in one night (which Jake wouldn’t recommend).

Dean pulls his jeans up enough to hop over to the full-length mirror by the door and his whole face lights up at the tattoo.

“Dude…” He doesn’t know how to communicate how this makes him feel. “It’s perfect.”

Jake covers it for him and helps Dean pull his pants on without disturbing the covering. He keeps a professional distance, and it’s driving Dean insane, but he’s getting close to missing his curfew anyways.

Neither one of them says anything until they’re at the door and Jake’s hand is on the knob. And then because he’s Dean, and he’s terrified and he doesn’t think he’ll do this again, he pulls Jake down into another kiss.

“Thanks,” he says against his lips.

Jake smiles, “My pleasure.”

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

The next time Dean sees Jake, it’s at a diner after school one day. They make out behind the dumpsters and Dean comes in his pants when Jake holds him up against the wall. It would be embarrassing if it wasn’t so hot.

A couple days after that Dean’s got another $20 from raking Sonny’s neighbors’ leaves, and he asks Sonny to drop him off at Cam’s house to work on a school project.

Sonny agrees and because he’s Sonny, and he can read Dean like a book for some reason, he spends the whole ride over there talking about the birds and the bees. The first half of it Dean’s terrified that he somehow knows about Jake, but then he realizes that Sonny saw Robin kiss him the other day.

Turns out, Dean’s kind of a hot commodity in his age group.

“Look, Sonny, I appreciate it,” Dean interrupts before he gets to a clinical explanation of how sex with a girl works. “But that’s like…” He huffs, making a vague gesture with his hands, “A while away.”

Sonny ‘harrumphs’ a pleased, gruff noise, and nods as they pull up to Cameron’s house, “Well that’s good to hear, kiddo. But you let me know when it gets there.”

Dean squirms in his seat, “Yeah yeah, sure, I’ll let you know.” He looks over at the house, “Can I get out now?” Sonny rolls his eyes and mumbles something about ‘damn kids.’

“Thanks Sonny, I’ll be home by 10!” He yells as he gets out of the car and runs up to the door. Sonny yells at his back, “9!” Dean turns to glare at him when he gets to the door but sighs and gives him a thumbs up.

That should be plenty of time anyways.

Jake opens the front door and both of the boys wave to Sonny before he actually pulls away from the curb.

Dean pushes him into the house once the truck is out of view and grins, “I want another tattoo.” He considers the situation for a moment before adding, “Please.”

Jake rolls his eyes, “I thought you just wanted to see me.”

A moment of panic flashes over Dean’s face and Jake sighs, remembering himself, “Sorry. Nobody’s home, it’s just me.”

He pulls Dean down the hall into the living room where the TV’s playing, “See? No parents, Cam’s at practice, Ali’s at a friend’s house.”

Dean looks around the room, taking Jake’s hand in his, “Oh… okay.”

They both watch whatever’s on MTV for a few minutes, just standing there in the middle of the room. Janet Jackson’s dancing with an animated cat, and it’s really weird, and then suddenly Dean hears himself say, “Hey, after, can I suck your dick?”

Jake sounds like he’s choking on something before it turns into a slightly hysterical laugh, because he’s now spent a total of at least two hours with Dean and he’s still floored by him.

But now, Dean’s the one staring at him like he’s lost his mind (also, like he wants to eat him) and Jake audibly swallows. “Uh… maybe.”

Sure, he’s got more experience than Dean does, but this is… a big responsibility.

For God knows what reason, Jake really likes Dean.

He barely knows this kid, but it feels like he’s known him forever. Dean is smart and he’s funny and he has great taste in everything, and he doesn’t think Jake is throwing his life away or whatever for not going to college. He thinks that Jake is talented and back behind the diner, Dean had told him that he thinks Jake’s going to be really famous one day.

It was kinda nice.

They go downstairs to Jake’s room after a couple minutes and Dean pulls a piece of notebook paper out of his backpack, “Here go.” He pulls the twenty out of his back pocket and offers it to Jake with a sheepish smile, “If it’s not enough, I can make more, it’ll just take me a couple days.”

Jake hesitates for a moment, looking back down at the sketch on the paper and then up at Dean, “Don’t… don’t worry about it.”

It’s the opening chords for Hey Jude.

He doesn’t have to know Dean very well to know that a sixteen-year-old boy who wants to get Hey Jude tattooed on him probably has some sentimental value tied to it.

Dean frowns, looking nervous for the first time since the other night, “Are you sure? I mean –“

Jake kisses him briefly, damn near chastely, to head off a bickering argument.

“I’m sure.”

It’s worth it for the smile Dean gives him anyways.

It’s easier this time, now that Dean knows what to do, and that they’re more comfortable with each other. Dean tells him about the wrestling team, about this project he really is working on with Cam, about how Robin kissed him the other day.

Jake smiles without looking up from what he’s cleaning, “Oh?”

Dean sighs, flopping back down on the bed, “It was a good kiss…” He knows that Jake can’t see him like this, but suddenly he feels a little too vulnerable so he covers it up like he always does.

“Didn’t make me come in my pants though.”

Jake’s laugh is loud and beautiful, and Dean watches him from an awkward angle on the bed.

They keep talking while Jake gets everything set up, goes through the motions of preparing Dean’s other thigh, and it isn’t up until the gun’s buzzing in his hand that Dean stops talking.

Jake squeezes the knee under the Vonnegut tattoo he did last week (that’s healing beautifully), “Hey.” He smiles at Dean, “You ready?”

Dean nods, but he doesn’t really say anything.

He’s wanted this one ever since he was twelve and he met a hunter who had the EKG of her dead daughter’s heartbeat tattooed on her arm. He doesn’t have anything like that from mom, nothing that is tangibly her, but he does have this song.

And yeah, maybe Dean’s a sap or a pussy, whatever. He loves his mom.

He watches the top of Jake’s head without sitting up and sighs tiredly, “You know…” Dean licks his lips, his voice a little too quiet, “I think my mom would like you.”

Jake pauses for half a second, not sure if he heard that right, but continues tracing over the lines on Dean’s thigh.

If Dean noticed the lack of response, he doesn’t seem to care.

“I don’t know what she’d think about you being a dude,” Dean sighs, his eyes looking back up at the ceiling. “But I think she’d like you.”

Jake smiles to himself, “Tell me about her?”

This time, Dean’s sigh sounds more dreamy than sad, “I don’t really remember much… I was four when she died.” He pauses for a moment, definitely not collecting himself or anything, “But she was my best friend.”

He feels tears welling up in his eyes but he ignores them.

“She made me chicken and rice soup when I was sick… I’m not sure if they’re memories or dreams, but I think we used to play dress up when I was like 3. She’d let me try on her dresses… oh, and she let me play with her makeup.” Dean laughs, blinking away the tears, “When my dad would come home hammered and screaming at us, she’d always come and find me wherever I hid. She’d hold me until I felt safe again… even when she was pregnant with Sammy.”

Jake doesn’t say anything, but he does squeeze Dean’s knee again.

“She was so brave… I’m sure she’d hate that I remember it, but oh man,” he laughs. “I remember when I was like three and a half, mom came home from a trip and I had this big bruise on my face. She went and got dad’s shotgun from the closet and chased him out of the house.”

It’s not a good memory, but it’s the last time anybody ever tried to protect Dean from John.

They’re quiet for a few minutes and right before he starts on the second pass, Jake finally asks, “How’s… how’s your dad?”

Dean laughs again, but it’s a bitter, angry laugh.

“John’s fine. John’s great.” Dean snorts and brings a hand up to wipe his face dry, “John told the cops to let me fucking rot in juvie.” He leans up just enough to make eye contact with Jake, “Oh yeah, I don’t know if you knew that, I’m living at Sonny’s.”

Because Dean seems to need to get some stuff off of his chest, Jake just goes back to work.

Dean flops back on the bed again, “Wanna know why I got arrested?” He waits for a minute before actually saying anything. Dramatic effect and all that.

“I stole food.” He laughs and steadfastly ignores how much he’s crying now, “My fucking dad left us for so long, I ran out of food and there’s no god damn truck stops around here –“

Oops, he hadn’t meant to say that.

For his part, Jake doesn’t really react to that. Dean won’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

“…I had to get something for Sam to eat.” He sniffles, bringing an arm up to cover his eyes, “That was my big crime worthy of rotting in juvie for. Stealing some fucking bread and peanut butter from a store because my dad can’t do his only fucking job.”

Dean laughs again, “And now I’m here for fuck knows how long, and Sam’s with dad and –“ The laugh turns into a sob, “I’m not there to protect him.”

Jake lets out a breath as he finishes the last line and turns his gun off. He does a quick, cursory wipe of the tattoo and pulls his gloves off before climbing onto the bed and on top of Dean.

He’s fully, fully crying now, and Jake doesn’t like that.

So, he pulls Dean into his arms, slots a leg in between his, and uses that leverage to flip them so that Dean is laying on his chest. Dean wraps his arms tighter around Jake and hides his face in his neck, because this has to be the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to him. Worse than walking home with sticky jeans.

Jake rubs his back while he cries and he, blessedly, doesn’t try to say anything. There’s no pity, not placating, no platitudes, just a firm physical reminder that Dean’s not alone in his grief. He does occasionally press kisses to the top and sides of Dean’s head and Dean feels so wonderfully, devastatingly cherished.

If he was a better man, it would make him cry even more.

It takes him a little while to calm down, until his breathing no longer sounds like hyper ventilating. There’s definitely a snot stain on Jake’s shirt and Dean snorts when he’s aware enough to notice it.

“What?” Jake hums, running a hand through Dean’s hair, “What’s so funny?” Dean tucks his head further into his chest and sighs, “I left a snot stain on your shirt.”

After a beat Jake just shrugs, “Easier to get out than a come stain.”

The answer takes Dean by surprise and he has to pull back so that he can laugh sufficiently.

It gives them both a new angle to look at each other, and Dean can’t even find it in himself to be embarrassed anymore. He’s sure that he looks gross, his face is definitely all snotty and red and swollen, but Jake’s still looking at him the same way he has every time. Like Dean is something weird and wonderful and exciting, and Dean’s never felt like anything but a burden before.

So, yeah. He doesn’t mind so much that he cried in front of this hot boy that Dean kinda likes.

Jake brings a hand up to Dean’s cheek and wipes a stray tear away. Because he’s secretly desperate for affection, Dean can’t help but lean into it, turning his head just a little to kiss the hand.

“Dean…” Jake sighs and looks away for a moment, clearly debating whether he should say what he’s thinking or not.

No, he decides. Dean doesn’t need a lecture.

“You’re a really good guy.”

It seems to be the right thing to say, because Dean flops down on top of him again and pulls him into a new hug. Jake makes an ‘oof’ noise at the impact before he laughs, “And you’re apparently a cuddle whore.”

Dean snorts, snuffling even closer to him, “Shut up.”

Jake presses a kiss to the top of his head, trying to ignore the tightness in his chest.

“It’s okay. I like cuddling.”

Jake doesn’t see Dean for a couple weeks.

Finally, he’s home at the same time as his brother long enough to ask if Dean’s doing okay. Cam informs him that Dean hasn’t been at school for the last week and a half. There’s a rumor going around that he got expelled, but he doesn’t actually know what happened.

So the next day, on his way home from work, Jake pulls up to Sonny’s and parks his bike in front of the sign. Sonny’s Home For Boys.  

Right.

He hesitates for a moment, not sure if this is going to fuck things up for Dean, before he finally talks himself into just… asking. What’s the harm in asking?

The kids playing in the front yard don’t even look up at him, even as he hops up the front steps. Jake stops at the front door and hesitates just long enough that the door opens in his face before he even gets a chance.

He vaguely knows Sonny, has seen him around, but they’ve never actually met.

As it stands, Sonny’s just glaring at him like Jake’s existence is a deep imposition to him.

“Can I help you, son?”

Jake smiles awkwardly, “Uh, yeah, I –“ Shit. He didn’t think this far ahead.

Sonny crosses his arms over his chest, “Are you looking for someone?”

“Yes!” Jake laughs a little bit, “Yeah, I uh…” He winces, “I was looking for Dean? My brother goes to school with him and he hasn’t seen him in a little bit…”

Sonny’s face is infuriatingly understanding for a moment. “Ah.”

His posture relaxes and he offers Jake a small smile, “He’s gone, kid. His daddy came and picked him up a couplea’ weeks ago.”

Jake figured as much, but it still takes him by surprise how much it hurts to hear it out loud.

He returns the smile, “Oh, well…” He laughs, “My brother’s gonna be bummed. Him and Dean were, y’know, pretty…” Jake swallows, “Pretty close.”

Sonny’s looking at him like he knows a little too much.

“I should, uh,” Jake points back at the road, “I should probably go, then.”

He takes a couple of steps backwards, offering a hand up in lieu of a wave, “I’ll just get out of your hair. Thank you, thanks.”

Jake makes it to the end of the driveway before he hears Sonny yell at him from the front porch, “Hey, kid!”

He turns around, feeling a little bit absurd all of a sudden, “Yes sir?”

“He liked you too, you know.”

[deans-baby-momma]

Seeking Mercy-Chapter 9

A/N: This is the next to last chapter of Seeking Mercy. The epilogue to the Falling saga, Resolutions, will be posted on Monday, August 10. So in 7 days this story will be over. Just in time for my new one, Mommy’s (Not So) Good Girl to start on August 12. If you want tagged for the new story or any of my others, just send an ask HERE

A/N2: One warning, two words. Micheal!Dean.

“Y/N!” Sam’s voice frenzy as he screams through the phone. “Get the kids and get out! NOW!”

“What, why?” The panic and terror of her brother-in-law’s voice rushing through her.

“He said yes. The asshole said yes and let Micheal take over. Now we don’t know where he is or what he is up to. So take the kids and go to Bobby’s cabin in Whitefish.”

Y/N feels like ice water is pumping through her veins as she listens to Sam. Dean promised! He promised he wouldn’t do something stupid. But now here she is running around trying to pack up enough stuff for two babies and get away. Get out of town before Micheal finds her. God only knows what he would do to her or the kids, just to hurt the Winchesters.

Strapping Mavelin into her carseat and then placing the infant carrier into its base is difficult with the shaking Y/N is doing. She’s got to get her family to safety. The cabin is almost a whole day’s drive away and she knows she isn’t going to be able to do it, not with kids in tow.

As she finishes putting the last of the bags in the trunk of her Charger, she opens up the internet app on her phone and looks for hotels on the way. She slides in behind the wheel and inputs the coordinates for a hotel in Casper WY into the GPS. 

The Budget Inn is almost 9 hours away but she hopes it’s far enough for an overnight stop, praying Micheal doesn’t somehow track her and the kids down. 

Pulling out of the garage, Y/N watches as the Bunker gets smaller and smaller and then disappears in her rearview. ‘Life on the run with two kids under the age of 2,’ she thinks to herself. ‘Fun times ahead.’

A week. One whole week since she left the Bunker in a desperation to keep their children and herself safe. Seven days since Sam called and told her that her husband had welcomed in the archangel Micheal to try and save the world.

Damn him! Damn him to hell! He promised he wouldn’t do something rash. He swore to her he would stay cautious and not bow down to anything. He lied. He fucking lied! And now here she is, over a thousand miles away without any idea of what is going on back at home.

Thankfully Micheal has yet to try to seek her out. Y/N bought a prepaid cellphone as soon as she arrived and had destroyed her old one.  She texted Mary from the new number but has not heard hide nor hair from anyone. She wonders if they even got the text.

Maddox has just went down for the night; Mavelin has been out for hours when there is a knock on the cabin’s door. Grabbing her Glock from its hiding spot, she tiptoes to the front and looks out the window.

Standing at the door is her husband. Well, it’s her husband’s vessel anyway. This body is too rigid, standing too straight. Dean would never stand with his shoulders that stiff, what with the weight of the world on them for so long. 

And the outfit! Although her husband looks mighty fine in the stylish ensemble, it is an outdated look. A fashion popular back in the 1920s in England maybe, but in 2018 it is just antiquated.

“Y/N,” her husband’s voice calls out. “I know you are in there. Open up.”

Hearing his voice makes her heart ache. She hasn’t heard his voice for almost 2 weeks, with the last thing he said to her was that he loved her. Tears emerge out of nowhere and she steels herself. She isn’t going to cry. She isn’t going to let him see just how affected she is.

“What do you want, Micheal?” She asks as she props her back against the door frame, out of his view.

“Don’t worry darling. I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to talk to you.”

“Why? I have nothing to do with anything. I have no dog in this fight.”

“Oh but you do,” Micheal says. “You hold the key to everything. Just let me in and we can discuss it.”

Hoping and praying that she is making the right decision and that Dean has enough of a hold on his conscience to keep their family safe, Y/N reaches out and unlocks the door. The tick of each tumbler clicking open seems amplified in the room.

Micheal sits in the chair and watches as Y/N paces back and forth. It’s unnerving to her how he is commandeering the room. Sitting there with his legs crossed at the knees, his arms bent and flat against the cushions on the chair, palms flat and unmoving. 

But the look on his face….the look he gives her everytime she chances a glance at him is daunting. He is complaisant and placating; a menacing smile gracing his lips. 

“What do you mean, I hold the key to everything? I haven’t hunted in over 2 years. I know almost nothing when it comes to what is going on. I’ve been busy raising mine and Dean’s children.”

“Ah-ah-ah,” Micheal tsked. “Don’t you mean Dean’s daughter and his nephew?” 

Y/N feels like she is going to puke! This fucking angel just confirmed her greatest fear. But instead of caving, she denies his claim.

“No, Dean is the father to both my kids.”

“Ah, yes. He plays the proud poppa card well. But we both, you and I, know that that little boy sleeping just in the next room-” Micheal nods his head toward where Maddox is sleeping. “-belongs to Adam, the son John hid.”

“No,” Y/N whispers as the tears she had for so long held in begin to make their way down her face. 

“Yes,” Micheal says. “The boy belongs to Adam. And now Dean knows it too. He’s awake in here you know. Yes, he is inside here-” he points to his head. “-listening, hearing our discussion. He now knows you lied all those months ago. And he also knows that it wasn’t just while he was injured.”

Y/N’s eyes snap to Micheal. “Ye-yes it was,” she defends herself but knows deep down it is no use. The angel knows already.

“Now Y/N why must you continue this charade. I have been watching you for a while now. I have seen it all. And now Dean has too. He has seen you and Adam going at it behind his back for months-MONTHS- before the accident. He has heard all the filthy words said between the two of you and how you wanted Adam to impregnate you. How you begged for his seed to load you up, to fill your womb.

“I have almost successfully broken Dean with that, but I do need your help to complete my mission,” Micheal says as he stands and approaches Y/N. “I need you to leave him. He already knows you’ve cheated, he already knows the youngest Winchester is not his son. So, leave him. Do not let anyone know where you are, where you end up. 

“Not Sam. Not Mary. Not Adam. Pick a place and go there, change your identity, your kids’ identities. I promise not to bother you. I need Dean broken and crushed to fulfill my destiny,” Micheal pauses and stares down at Y/N. “So what do you say, Y/N. Ready to become someone else?”

Two days later Y/N finds herself laying in bed at the cabin with Mavelin and Maddox by her side. She has cried all she can cry at this point. The proposition Micheal gave her tumbling through her mind. 

Leave Dean and become someone new, go someplace none of the Winchesters will be able to find or Dean dies. Micheal described in vivid detail how he would gradually and leisurely kill Dean and it almost broke her. 

The alternative was to wait out Sam and the rest of the family in hopes that they could figure out how to overtake Micheal and get him out of Dean and bring Dean back home in one piece.

Micheal’s taunts kept haunting her though. Did Dean know now? Did he know she lied? That Maddox wasn’t his son, although at the time she told him the baby was his, she hadn’t been  sure. Thanks to Micheal though, she now knows that Adam Milligan-Winchester did in fact impregnate her. 

But that was something that could be worked out, right? People raise other people’s kids all the time, right? So it isn’t that big of a deal that Adam fathered the boy Dean has been raising. 

Although, that aspect was resolvable, the fact that Dean also now knows that she and Adam had been going at it for longer than she portrayed was something she didn’t know could be fixed. That right there was a big FUCK YOU. Not only had she slept with his brother but she lied and let him assume that it was only while he was injured.

Dean, knowing that Y/N and Adam had been going at it behind his back, was going to be a hurdle she wasn’t sure she could clear.

It was just easier to disappear, right? Just fall off the face of the planet and let Dean move on. He’d find love again, she’s sure. Although it took a lot of hard work on her part to get him to open up, Y/N is confident Dean could find another woman to be loyal and true to him; possibly even give him more children. Kids that were truly his.

The idea of Dean with someone else, though, breaks her heart and Y/N starts sobbing into the pillow once again.

Another month passes before Y/N finally hears a ping from her cellphone. It’s a message from Mary.

Mary: We did it Y/N. We saved Dean. It is safe to come home.

That night, Y/N and the kids are on the road heading toward the Bunker when her formerly silent phone rings.

“Hello?”

“How far out are you?” It’s Dean’s voice and she can tell it is her husband, not the man who once enraptured his body. The tone and cadence of it is what she is used to.

“I’m in Bridgeport, so about 5 hours. Give or take,” she answers. “How are you?”

Instead of answering, Dean sighs through the phone. “I’ve arranged a place for you and the kids to live comfortably. It’s across town but we all worked together and have warded it against everything possible. You’ll be safe. I’ll send you the address. All I ask is that you allow me to see Mavelin.”

Y/N’s heart breaks in her chest as she hears his words. He doesn’t want her to come to the Bunker. He doesn’t want her anymore. The tears she thought she had all cried out came back with a vengeance; enough that Y/N had to pull over to compose herself.

“Dean, no. Please? Can we talk when I get back to the Bunker?”

There is silence on the other end and she takes the mobile device away to see that the call has  ended. He had hung up on her. While staring at the screen a text comes through.

 “134 Chestnut Street.”

@lostinaseaoffictionalbliss​​ @squirrelnotsam​​ @sandlee44​​  @internationalmusicteacher​​ @kricketc29​ @natura1phenomenon​​ @blacktithe7​​ @spnbaby-67​​ @travelingriversideblues-x​​  @keymology​​ @tftumblin​​ @markofdean79​​ @thevelvetseries​​ @deanwanddamons​​ @winchester-fantasies​ @akshi8278​ @michellethetvaddict​ @larajadeschmidt13​ @leatherwhiskeycoffeeplaid​ @hoboal87​ @atc74​ @maddiepants​ @delightfullykrispypeach​

[when-they-write-stuff]

Domestic, parental Sterek years into the future with “Welcome home.”

“We miss you, Stiles.”

Stiles pressed the phone against his ear, eyes roving unseeingly over the papers spread across his desk. He’d been called to DC a few weeks ago and had been kept busy ever since then. So much so, he’d almost missed his calls home every night, sometimes forgetting to check the clock until long after Emma had gone to bed.

We miss you.

“I know,” he said quietly, pen between his teeth. “I’ll talk to my boss and see how much longer he wants me out here. It can’t be much longer than a few more days.”

“So there’s been no new break in the case?”

“Nothing I can talk about over the phone,” Stiles said with a sigh. “But… no, not really. Nothing good at least. I could really use your werewolf sniffer skills, you know.”

He thought he heard Derek huff. “I’m sure you could.”

“Is Em in bed yet?”

“She refused to be tucked in until she talked to her dad.”

Stiles’s heart broke a little. When he’d taken his internship under the FBI to the next level, he’d never really seen it taking him out of the house so often. Derek understood, Stiles knew he did, but it still hurt more and more every time he had to say goodbye to his husband and daughter for longer than a week.

“She just wants an extended bedtime, Sourwolf,” Stiles said, putting as much humor into his voice as he could manage. “You just too gullible. Can you put her on?”

Stiles caught the sound of Derek laughing and moving around. Then there was a faint gentle voice, the sound of soft breaths against the receiver, and Stiles covered his mouth as he smiled.

“Hey, Em. You staying out of trouble?”

“Dad?”

“I’m here, kiddo,” Stiles said softly, swallowing hard. On the other side of the phone, he could hear Derek saying something else before Emma’s voice came through again. 

“Are you coming home soon?”

“Soon,” Stiles said, eyes flitting over the case files spread out across his hotel room desk again. “I promise, squirt. Soon.”

“Daddy misses you.”

Stiles closed his eyes, taking a shaky breath. “I know.”

“I miss you too.”

“But you’re being good for daddy, right?”

He thought he heard a faint chuckle and then Emma was laughing too. “I’m being good.”

“Going to bed on time?”

“Dad gives me a cookie if I do.”

“That’s blackmail and your father is spoiling you.”

Stiles definitely heard the sound of Derek’s laughter abruptly cut off this time. Then Emma’s voice came through the phone again, far too smug to be fair for a child her age. “Auntie Erica taught me.”

“Of course, she did, the heathen. You’re not allowed to be alone with her anymore.”

“She said you’d say that.”

Stiles rolled his eyes, a smile still tugging at the corners of his lips, and then he heard Derek saying something soft again. Stiles’s smile melted once more as Emma’s voice came through again; muted this time.

“Daddy says it’s time for bed.”

“It is, squirt. You know how crabby you get when you don’t sleep enough.”

“I’m big enough to stay up late.”

“We’ll have that conversation when I get home.”

“Soon?”

Stiles’s heart broke again. “Soon, kiddo. I promise.”

He really should have known better to make promises that he had no control over, but Stiles couldn’t stop himself when it came to his kid. He scrubbed a hand over his face, blinking hard, and when Derek’s voice came back through the receiver, it was soft enough that Stiles knew Derek realized exactly what he needed.

“She’s alright, Stiles. And you are too.”

“I miss you both.”

“I know,” the man said gently. “But you keep saving the world, babe. She’s already taken your badge to show-and-tell twice this week and I’m pretty sure the only day they had it was on Monday.”

Stiles huffed. “I was wondering where that had gone.”

“I have it in safe-keeping.”

“No,” Stiles said, swallowing hard. “It’s, uh, okay. Let her carry it around. My boss is used to me losing things anyway. I can totally-probably-hopefully get a new one.”

“You’re a mess, Stiles.”

“I know,” Stiles whispered. “But I’m your mess. Remember?”

“Mine.”

“I miss you, Sourwolf.”

“I know,” the man said quietly. “But we’ll be here waiting for when you get back. Just don’t do anything stupid until then, okay?”

“Me? Doing something stupid? Never.”

“Stay safe, Stiles.”

“Of course,” Stiles said. He rubbed a hand over his shoulder where there was a triskelion tattoo inked beneath his t-shirt. Swallowing hard, his fingers curled into the thin material and he closed his eyes, resting his chin on the back of his other hand. “I’ll come back to you guys.”

“Soon?”

“Soon.”

The silence stretched for a little longer, but Stiles was okay with that. He set down the phone, continued to work, and just relaxed to the sound of Derek’s breaths. The faint typing of a computer on the other side of the phone.

And like usual, the call stretched on until one of them eventually fell asleep.

-

Derek was pretty sure Emma was going to be the death of him. And out of all the things he’d survived, dying like this really wouldn’t be fair. But if he had to talk her out of wearing her underwear on her head and running around the house screaming obscenities one more time (which she had so learned from Stiles) he was going to die.

Literally die.

Derek just needed a nap.

It didn’t help that there wasn’t a corner of the house that was clean, the rest of the betas were dealing with their own problems, and Derek had to remind himself sometimes that he wasn’t just babysitting. This was his actual kid. He couldn’t just hand her off when he needed sleep— especially when Stiles wasn’t around.

The house suddenly quieted and Derek was pretty sure Emma was hiding somewhere with her underwear hat. But he had officially given up.

When the doorbell rang, the distraction was almost a relief.

But then he caught that scent.

The scent of cinnamon and vanilla, with faint hints of electricity. 

Derek was at the door in a second, opening it up to reveal a grinning Stiles. For a moment, all he could do was stare. Then he was moving forward, catching the young man’s lips with his own and Stiles rumbled a laugh against his mouth, hand carding through his hair.

“Hey there, Sourwolf.”

“Welcome home.”

Stiles pulled back an inch. “Is the little squirt around or—”

“Dad!’

Stiles’s face cracked into a grin and he dropped down into a crouch, blonde-hair covered by an underwear hat crashing into his arms. Derek’s chest warmed at the sound of barked laughter and Stiles pulled their daughter in close. He swore this happened every time; every time Stiles came home. Every time he saw them wrapped in each other’s arms, Derek felt like his heart could explode.

As if reading his thoughts, Stiles peered upward, opening an arm. And Derek crouched down too, eyes fluttering closed as he was overwhelmed by the scent of home.

“Hi, Sourwolf,” Stiles said, softly, pressing a kiss against his forehead. Derek almost whined and Emma’s head popped up between their arms

“You’re back, dad!”

“I am, kiddo.”

“That was soon.”

“Of course, it was,” Stiles said, eyes shining. “I hopped on a plane to come back to you as soon as I could. Had to make sure all the cookies weren’t gone before I got home.”

Emma’s expression turned bashful. Stiles’s eyes rounded.

“They’re already gone?”

“It wasn’t me! Daddy ate the last one!”

Stiles fixed Derek with a wide-eyed look of mock betrayal and Derek rolled his eyes; until Emma gave him an imploring look, that is. Then Derek sighed, dropping his chin onto the top of her head. “Yeah, it was me.”

“Bad wolf.”

“Bad wolf!”

Derek growled threateningly and he didn’t even have a chance to pull the underwear off of Emma’s head before she was shoving herself up, nearly knocking against Derek’s chin as she took off back down the hallway. He rolled his eyes again, looking at Stiles tiredly.

“I’m so glad you’re home.”

“Every time this house isn’t burned down, I have a little bit more respect for you.”

“You should.”

“But then again, that is your job as the big bad poppa wolf—”

Derek growled again, red eyes flashing as he caught Stiles by his fancy FBI tie and pulled him into another kiss, nothing but heat behind it this time. Stiles laughed around his lips, melting into the embrace, and Derek found his chest growing even warmer as distant laughter rang through the air.

That probably didn’t mean anything good. But he figured that was a later problem. One with Stiles at his side again.

“Welcome home, Stiles.”

- -

I don’t write kid-fics often but when I do, their kids are utterly little shits. And I love it! I had so much fun with this prompt, my friend, thank you for sending it!

(if you enjoy my writing, consider supporting your struggling student writer? You can also request a prompt if you’d like!). https://ko-fi.com/rh27writer