#at the uni house christmas dinner

[immortalsins]

if someone could hit me round the head and make me unconscious from maybe 23rd december until the 27th or something that would be a huge help

[spookykoolkat]

eddie m. – you're just so sweet

MDNI!!!! 18+ only! read at ur own risk!

chapter 1: that damn bikini

part two here | main masterlist

dad's friend!eddie munson x daughter!plussize reader

na: first eddie munsons x reader smut, and i'm excited! more parts to this series of course, but pls let me know ur thoughts! suggestions for the next part or upcoming parts, i love feedback!!

warnings: age gap (18 years), reader is 25, eddie is 43, mentions of self image issues, foreplay (fingering), dirty talk, talks of oral sex (f receiving), talks of penetration (p in v), and more!

Wrong. It's just wrong, and you knew why. Eddie had been around for the longest time. Every family party, every dinner, every birthday. He watched you be sent off to college by your parents, he watched you turn eighteen, he watched you learn how to drive, and he watched you turn into a woman. The thing you hated was the fact that he never looked at you the way you wanted him to, and you tried since you turned 18.

It was so annoying. He saw you grow into a woman yet still paid no mind to the little girl in the house, focusing on his friendship with your parents, more specifically your father. Now, you're back from living in California for a week just in time for your mother's birthday. She was turning 47, your dad standing at 50, and Eddie standing at 43. And here you were, at the store at a whopping 25 years old, buying booze for the parents and the parents friends. You handed the cashier a crisp 100 dollar bill and took the brown paper bag after being handed your change and receipt.

Get your shit together.

It's been a long day, and it's going to be an even longer night, especially with Eddie being inevitably being there. It's been almost 5 years since Eddie last saw you, and now it's become clear you've grown into yourself. You were bigger—everywhere. Bigger breasts, bigger thighs, bigger stomach, bigger arms, bigger ass—anything that could've grown, grew times five. You embraced your weight, your lifestyle, your body, and you knew that no matter what you looked like, you felt like you. But the closer you approached your parents very large house, the closer you felt you were walking into a bear trap willingly. There was a part of you that appreciated the fact that your father's friend wasn't a creep. He wasn't counting down the days you turned 18, like you thought. You thought maybe you'd turn 18 and that he'd try dropping hints, or acknowledging you in the way you wanted. But nothing.

It was maddening. The last time you saw him was on Christmas break from college, and he gifted you a bracelet with your UNI colors. Innocent, small gift to show he cared about you, but also almost setting a boundary.

But now pulling into your family's neighborhood, you spot the house you grew up in and the four cars parked out in front. One black truck belonging to Eddie himself, the other three belonging to your mom and dad. You wondered if he was still the punk rock, shirtless auto-mechanic, guitar playing Eddie. Maybe he'd grown out of the black nail polish and long shag he had, maybe he'd become a business man rather than an occasional entertainer by night and a body shop owner by day. You knew Eddie had been a metalhead since his high school days, you overheard conversations about his bandmates who were also his high school friends, about his endless partying and drinking era, you heard everything. It made you wonder if you had been in high school when he was, would he have looked your way?

"It's fine, it's just a week. You can do this," you breathed, parking on the curb and grabbing your purse and the bag of booze, stepping out into the humid hot air of Texas.

The entire walk to the front door was like walking on pins and needles, it was agonizing because the entire time you were imagining just what Eddie would say seeing you. It wasn't that you had never met another man, you weren't a virgin and hadn't been for a long time. It was the fact that every man you fucked, you were bored. It was abrupt, painful and not good pain, dry, no effort, no foreplay, no love. You hated it, but still indulged for something to scratch the itch you had.

You knocked on the door and three seconds later, it opens to your mothers face.

"Oh, baby doll you're here!" She squeals, her short frame hugging you tight as you hug her back

"Happy birthday mama, I love you," You say and kiss her head. That's when you look up and see him. He was exactly the same. Sporting a wife beater with a very worn black flannel and black cargo pants, his hair curly and long still in his shapely shag, his eyes wide and puppy like as he stares you down as if he'd never seen you before. To be fair, he never saw you like this. Eddie Munson never looked at you as anything more than his friends daughter, his buddy's kid.

"Hey kid," He said, sporting a small smile as he soaks you up. Eddie was even a little confused, wondering why he himself was taking in your person more than usual. He was a single man in his early forties, still refusing to get with a woman if she doesn't at least know a single metal song. He had standards, they were low, but standards by any means.

Your mother lets go and grabs the bag of booze, releasing you to greet Eddie. You go to embrace him, your face hitting his silver chains sitting on his sternum.

"Hey Munson," You said, a small smile in your voice and he wraps his arms around you tight, lifting you off your feet like you were a kid and spun you.

"That really you kid? Didn't even recognize you with the new bling on your face," he joked, setting you to stand on your feet with his help of stabilizing you.

He poked the new metal through your face on both eyebrows and your septum. He flicks them with an intrigued gaze, and you swat his hand.

"Yeah, guess I'm just like someone I know," and you take your finger to flick at his single brow piercing he got over the years. You always admired his accessories, as you called them. His tattoos, his piercing, his scars, his rings. You remembered when you spent days looking out your window at the man who was your neighbor, mowing your and his lawn, plucking weeds, and even occasional gardening. You saw the way he sweat and how it made his tattoos glossy, wanting to trace over all of them with just your fingers.

"Mm, I'm flattered sweetheart. Taking after your old man huh?" He said as he finally took a small glance at your body. You noticed of course, but he thought he was slick as ice.

"Something like that. Just coming into my own." You smile, backing up a little as you remembered your bags.

"Yeah, that I can tell," he mumbles under his breath.

"Huh?" You asked, hearing a small grumble from him that he didn't expect you to hear.

"Oh, uh, you have your bags right? I'll get em for you. You just sit and look pretty," He grins, gliding past you fast enough for you to get a whiff of the smell of weed and cologne and smoke. You almost felt like a cartoon character smelling a pie from a window sill, how were you going to do this?

He wasn't sure the emotions he was feeling as of now were appropriate or not. As he opened the trunk of your small car, he pulled the pink suitcase out as well as a black backpack you had. Packing light, he noticed. How long were you staying? And how did you turn into a woman over night?

He was ashamed to admit to himself he thought about feeling every curve of your body when he had his arms around you. Fighting the urge, he resulted to the lift and spin. Eddie never looked at anyone at all. Let alone a woman almost twenty years younger than him. He was cursing at himself every step back into the house after shutting the trunk, telling himself to cool it, relax.

"I can take them up to my room, thank you." You said looking up at him, reaching for the handle of the suitcase.

"Nah, no can do, who would I be if I let you do this yourself?" He shunned, nudging your hand away with his elbow, his hand gripping the strap of the backpack.

Eddie decided to drag your suitcase up the stairs while humming to some song that didn't ring a bell for you, and you followed. You weren't as nervous anymore, not feeling any need to be. You knew nothing would happen between you two, and you were, not happy about it, but okay about it.

"Where to, madam?" He asked, stopping in the hall of where four doors are.

"Straight down, first door to the right." You announced, scooting past him to lead into the room. When you made your way past him, he felt the graze of your hips hitting his, and the whiff of a sweet smelling fragrance, something close to something citrusy. You were tempting him and you didn't even know.

He wasn't stupid. He noticed you didn't look how you did before. He noticed the weight gain but with the weight, came height, and with height came growth everywhere. It was true what they said about turning 25, the second growth spurt turned you into the person you'll be for a while. And he noticed yours. But Eddie—he didn't see it the way your mother did, or even your old friends.

"We should go to the gym together, maybe start our diets at the same time."

"You're not sad are you? You're getting big, baby."

"You ever asked your doctor about how to lose weight?"

"What happened, mami? You used to be so skinny!"

He finally saw you. You were a fucking woman. You acted like it too, he heard it in your voice, saw it in your face. He saw it in your clothes, in your curves, the thickness you had everywhere. He almost salivated at it until you started trying to snap him out of his daze.

"You can put them right there, I said," You repeated, and Eddie gave a small breathy chuckle as he nodded and walked into the pink room filled with stuffed animals, posters, knick knacks and figurines.

"Nice room, missy." He said, setting down your backpack on the vanity chair pushed into the large desk.

"Didn't know you were such a fan of pink, ya know. You screamed more," He stopped and paused to think, pointer finger tapping his chin.

"I'll say light blue. More oceanic, lochness monster type thing." He said, making his way to the door. He noticed the reality of being a grown man in her childhood bedroom, and decided this was enough boundary pushing. You didn't know how sexy his aesthetic would be clashing against your girly pink room, seeing him so out of place was almost enjoyable.

"Well, let me know if you need anything, I'll be helping your parents set up everything for this ragerrrr," He says, sticking his tongue out and putting his fingers up to form the rockstar pose, bored.

"Right. I'll help too I just-" You started but he shook his head dramatically.

"Uh uh, I'm the guest, I'll help. You just get dressed so your mom doesn't flip on you for being late to her birthday party," he pointed at you and shot a small finger gun, making you laugh softly.

"Yeah, okay. See you," you said and he nodded,

"Back at you."

❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥

The pool was already being used by your guests, your mothers friends, their spouses and two to three kids playing in the grass. You watched from the window on the second floor facing the large backyard with people much older than you, drinking, socializing, and your father on the barbecue pit with Eddie Munson himself beside him. His sleeves were rolled up with a rag hanging out of his back pocket just like a chain in his other.

You were done getting ready at this time, three in the afternoon, and really all you did was put on a red two piece, a knitted black halter dress over, and some black platform sandals. Your hair was kept in a high bun with a clip and your face only had a touch of blush and lip gloss. You figured a full face would be a bit ridiculous since you plan on getting in the water and laying by the pool. You grabbed a towel from your closet and started to head out to the backyard.

"You're here!!" One of your mothers friends shouted the minute you slid open the backdoor, a smiling woman heading your way to pinch your cheeks and ask you all about college.

While you were distracted, Eddie followed as his eyes led him to you. Your father was talking his ear off and the minute his eyes reached you, it all sounded like he was underwater. No music, no chit chat, no birds. He heard nothing but gargles and muted voices as he watched you greet the older women. For Eddie, it felt like everything was in slow motion.

Even slower when you finally broke free from the women and made your way to an empty side of the pool.

"Ed, turn the fucking burger," Your father nudged Eddie, forcing him to whip his head around to the burning meat on the grill to flip and let the other side cook. He couldn't be doing this, he couldn't be watching you the way he was but the minute your father leaves to get another beer, his eyes went searching for you again. And when he found you, he felt his heart sink.

You stood there at the edge of the pool, in a tied up two piece bikini that was fire red, your arms up as your hands dance in your hair to pull the clip from within. The groan he let out was almost something he couldn't tell actually happened or not, but it was a low guttural groan. A hungry groan. He almost looked around to see if anyone saw what he saw, but realized everyone here is pushing 50. Of course they wouldn't be looking. But he was, and he was angry.

How dare you walk out in something of that nature? Skimpy, small, two pieces of cloth practically hiding nothing. Eddie could not pull his eyes off of you, and he didn't want to. It truly felt like he didn't know you, he didn't know this woman. He only knew you as the kid who rode on her bike in the early 2000s.

But that wasn't you anymore. You had a degree, you had a job, you drank and did drugs, you've had sex—a lot. You weren't a kid anymore, and he saw it now. He took particular interest in the way the bikini top did you so much justice, the way the fabric was pressed into your skin made him itch to rub himself in the way you had. He was enamored with you, with every step you took, your skin jiggled and moved. He liked seeing you like this more than he'd like to admit, he was enjoying this little show you didn't even know you were putting on. Without realizing, Eddie started ferociously eating the bag of chips that sat next to him, watching your every move as you test the waters with your toes, adjusting your bathing suit so you wouldn't flash anyone. His eyes were drowned in lust and want, and he was thinking about everything but your body in his hands so his little Eddie wouldn't tell on himself.

"Alright, they're done. Put em in the pan and take them inside," Your father ordered just as you had turned to walk towards the stairs of the pool. Eddie found himself distracted, by his own daughter, and moved the bag of chips to face his friend.

"Right, er, let me get them set," Eddie spoke, placing all the meat in the pan and taking them to be put inside so your mother can dress them and set up the food table.

You on the other hand, watched as he took them inside. Your feet dipping into the pool as he finally entered the house, you decided to fully submerge yourself just for a bit so you could get the heat off of you for a second, you'd do anything to get out of this heat. It wasn't like Cali, the air was dry and hot but this, Texas heat ruined you. The humidity, the heat, and the quality of air just did not mix well. The minute you came up, he was right back out again, drinking his beer and talking with your father. Your hands go to clear your face and rub your hands to slick back your hair, deciding to swim about a little as people start to clear the pool area to go and eat or drink more.

You enjoyed the emptiness of the pool and the sound of music blasting in the background, you ended up getting a little too relaxed and started to float mindlessly, letting your body lift with no hesitation.

Eddie decided to go home to change out of his clothes, the ones before him smelling like barbecue and rust. As he walks past the pool to go home, his eyes rake over your loose body now. Your eyes were closed and your arms were spread out, floating and relaxing, and he loved it.

When he got home, he put on a simple black tee with his faded leather jacket, black straight let jeans and his regular boots he wore without a fail. It was fast, quick, he wanted to return as fast as possible after cleaning up a bit and see you again. The fact that no conversation has really been ignited between the two of you was kind of bothering him, so once he came back he looked to find you out of the pool, lounging on one of the long white chairs lined against the right side of the pool. How odd did he feel sitting in the chair next to you layered in clothes, while you were two tugs away at being naked and bare. He did it anyways.

"You gonna stare or say something?" You asked, your hands blocking the sun from your eyes as you opened them to turn to his face.

"You remembered to use sunscreen?" He asked awkwardly. You raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, yeah. Did you remember it's one hundred degrees in Texas and you're wearing all black. And a leather jacket?" You asked in a snarky tone, closing your eyes and letting your arm fall to your side.

"Mmm, I don't dress for the weather sweetness," The pet names were just pouring from his mouth at this point. He didn't want just to call you sweetheart and doll. He wanted to call you these things while you called out for him, against him.

"I see that."

"Don't think I've ever seen this set before," he said lowly, looking around almost to see if anyone heard him.

You did though. It made you curious. How couldn't it? He noticed your bathing suit, or lack thereof, and noticed your body. He'd been watching you.

"S' new, got it when I grew out of my other one. Didn't cover what I needed to hide so," You trailed off, eyes closed yet still feeling his wide eyes on you, and your body that carried rolls and cellulite, stretch marks and prominent tummy. You almost got a little self conscious being under his gaze, but still you trusted that he had no desire to you for any reason. He was just your fathers friend checking up on his friend's daughter, innocent, simple.

"Can't imagine what the other one looked like if it didn't cover anything up," the tone in his voice sounded different. More, protective? Possessive? Maybe you were deluding yourself of what you were hearing, maybe he just wanted to be an asshole and tell you to cover up more.

"What's that supposed to mean?" You asked, blocking the sun from your eyes again to glance at Eddie. He's sitting facing you, his elbows on his knees with a drink in his hand.

"Nothing doll, I'll let you get back to your... whatever it is you're doing," He stood up and motioned with his hand, then left like nothing. Except it wasn't nothing. Except he had your full body engrained in his mind, replaying the mental screenshot he took, drinking you in as he walked towards the back of the yard, watching everyone including you. You went back to tanning, laying in the sun to earn a small change in your skin tone, something you don't do often because you never have the chance.

Eddie on the other hand did everything in his power to avoid his gaze from landing on you. He found himself growing a little obsessed with the way your body moved in that sad excuse of a bikini, how your breasts threatened to push themselves out of your top, how the curve of your ass kept the bikini bottom in place with every movement. He made a mental note of the way your stomach looked, how a bit of your lower tummy showed past the designated area of the small bottom, how pretty his hands would look squeezing and touching it while his head was sitting between your thighs. He thought you were gorgeous, there was no way a girl like you existed right under his nose. But Eddie never failed to keep his eyes on you, studying you, admiring you, wanting you.

As the party went on, it seemed like it got even more heated. By 7PM, the friends with kids were gone, and the friends who had nothing else to do were still drinking and dancing. You saw your mom in the crowd with your father, dancing as they pleased. You pretty much stayed by the pool all day, making it harder for Eddie to focus on the women trying to get him to talk. But you avoided Eddie's gaze even though you knew it stayed on you the entire day. It kind of bugged you honestly, you truly wondered why he'd be staring at you for so long if there was no attraction there.

"Yeah, uh, work's fine," He mumbled to the woman who looked about like she was in her late 30s, someone age appropriate. She wasn't ugly of course, he actually found her pretty cute, but he knew you were right there. The light of the sun going down dimming and shining golden on you made you look like you were godsend. Lying out with a knee raised and an arm thrown over your face, you felt tired and almost drained by the sun, but he kept watch.

"So-"

"Listen, you're really cute and I think if things were different, I'd be waaaaay more into this. It's not you, it's me?" He said, kind of shimmying away from this lady and on his way to get another beer.

While he dug in the coolers for a cold bottle, he sees a hand reach down and grab a Corona, one that he traced back to your body. His eyes raked over your body up close as he was trying to meet your eyes, and as he looked up at you from his crouched position, he let out a small, shy chuckle.

"Hey," He said as he pulled out a Bud Light, opening it swiftly with his shirt as he rose to his normal stature.

"Hiya," You stated. You were standing in your halter dress again, platforms hanging off two of your fingers with a beer in the other hand. It was a bit cooler at night, less humid, and your feet touched the bare grass as you stood.

"You're not a pool person huh? I know you have a pool at your place, don't use it much do you?" You asked, a little bit of a buzz coursing through your body after your third beer.

Eddie takes the beer from you, setting his down and opening yours before handing it back to you. He picks his up again and takes a swig while looking at you through the bottle.

"You watchin' me, aren't you?" He smiled, the rings on his fingers squeezing the neck of the bottle. All you could really think about was the way that hand would look squeezing all over your body, feeling the metal against you, how large his hands were compared to yours. You couldn't tell if it was the Texas heat making you hot or the thought of him fucking into you with his ringed hand squeezing your throat.

"Probably not as much as you were today, but, ya know. Just a little," The confidence raked through you more than usual and he noticed. But Eddie loved it. The coolers were a little more in a solitary area, many of the people still here are in the opposite direction, drunk and dancing. The two of you stood across from each other, cooler length apart. Eddie took his time gazing at you up close before he answered.

"Sorry for that, I, uh, I didn't think you'd notice." Eddie said shamefully, tapping his ring against the bottle as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I actually didn't think you'd notice." You said, emphasizing a certain syllable.

He scrunched his eyebrows at you, tilting his head like a puppy,

"Notice what exactly?" He asked and you took a swig of your beer before answering.

"Me. You know, the fact that I'm not a kid anymore. But I think you did notice. You think I look ridiculous huh?" You laugh, shaking your head until he softly grabs your face, turning you to him. He wasn't laughing. Eddie 'the freak' Munson wasn't laughing at a self degrading joke, something he practically trademarked.

"Why would I think you look ridiculous?" He asked, searching your face for the answers if you decided to not reply.

"In this little bathing suit, when I'm like, two sizes too big to probably wear stuff like this," You said honestly, knowing it took you a bit to wear things like a two piece. You look down at yourself, seeing the top of your breasts and protruding stomach, all of the sudden feeling a little insecure to be around Eddie.

"At least that's what everyone says, but I don't really pay much attention to them. I like myself." You finished and looked up at him to be searching you like he was looking for something.

"You don't look ridiculous, princess," He took a breath and moved his hand to touch the crease of your waist briefly.

"You look, yeah I mean, you look real pretty like this. Grew into your own person. Nothin' more sexy than that," He earned a laugh from you, your hand touching him ever so slightly that he could feel a small jolt of electricity.

"So you think I'm sexy?" You remarked with a smile, eyeing him as he eyed you.

"You don't even wanna know, sweetheart." He said honestly. You really didn't, you really didn't want to know how much he wanted to fuck you in your pool so he could watch your tits bounce out of that top.

"Why not?" You asked, sipping again.

"Cus I'm an old man, my opinion doesn't matter. It's those younger men your age that matter." He said, trying to save himself from a situation he can't come back from.

"I guess so. You know, college guys are so... odd. Maybe just guys in general. Didn't realize how many chubby chasers there were until after the fact. But, I don't know, I haven't been focused on that really," you mentioned as you leaned against the brick wall to steady yourself. You took another drink out of your bottle, and he watched you.

"Why not, these guys not doing it for you or what?" He joked, pulling out a joint from his leather pocket and you smiled.

"They're just.. mmph, this is embarrassing but they're just not, skilled? I mean, can I be honest? Like you're a guy, older, and you know, I guess," You rambled, unsure how to phrase the question as he sparks up.

"Mm I love honesty, hit me," He pulled a long drag from the joint, inhaling and passing to you. Yes, he was getting high with a 25 year old, and he knew how it sounded. But this time was different, because he saw you as a woman and not just his friend's daughter.

"Well, okay. Well. Um. Fuck okay. The only way I'm able to cum or like, orgasm or whatever, is when I'm making myself do it. The guys I've fucked were kind of like— it didn't take longer than 15 minutes. Sometimes not even 10. I guess I'm tired of being like, their token fat girl to sleep with. Feels like I'll never know what enjoyable sex is like," You sort of mumbled the last part, taking the J and hitting it twice, passing it back to Eddie, only Eddie doesn't take it. He's kind of stuck actually.

Here you were, telling him you'd never been pleasured in the way you deserved because these new 'men' couldn't care less about you? That every sexual encounter you had was a mere loss, probably making you feel dirty and gross after.

"Eddie?" You asked and he shook out his thoughts, taking the joint and sitting on the cooler next to you as you stood on the other side of the cooler.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make it awkward or-" You started but he hummed.

"No, not at all. Just that—I mean really? They never made you cum?" His tone shifted, it was like he was becoming feral at the thought.

"I, no. Been living my life like this, yes I know. But. It's fine, kinda accepted I'll be the only one making myself cum." You noted, looking around to see if there was anyone and there wasn't. They were all towards the back of the yard, which was sort of hidden from this angle. You took back the joint from his hand, and once you put it between your lips, Eddie got up and basically pinned you against himself and the brick wall.

"I think, that maybe, just maybe all these guys you're fucking aren't what you need, doll." He breathed, his breath a mixture of weed and beer. He was too far gone to control himself, to not press against you, to not feel you. He needed you in that moment, and he needed to prove to you that you are not the token fat girl. That you are not a fetish, you are not a lifestyle choice. He needed to show you what it was like to feel pleasured, and to feel needed at the same time.

"You're right." You took a hit from the joint, blowing the smoke in his face looking to search his expression. He almost seemed angry, or bothered. It wasn't abnormal for him but, you couldn't tell if it was at you. This was your moment though, a moment of opportunity to really show him that you'd been chasing after him since you were 18. You pull the joint from your lips and place them between his.

"I think I need a man. Preferably someone in their forties, who smokes weed and listens to metal bands, maybe someone who even lived right next door to me." You mocked, suddenly getting a burst of confidence as his eyes go dark and he takes a drag from the joint, blowing it in another direction.

"How long have you needed this man, hm?" He asked keenly after putting the joint out on the wall behind you. His nose dipped down to the crease of where your neck and jaw meet, smelling you ever so slightly. His hands are placed on either side of you, his chest basically pressing against yours as you realize you're trapped in his grasp right now, with nothing but two pieces of fabric covering you up.

"A long time." You admitted and his lips go down, pressing into your collarbone as you sighed. Was this real? Was he really kissing the skin you dreamed of him kissing? Did he truly want you? You wished maybe it'd gone different, maybe you wouldn't have wanted him inside you at your mothers birthday party, but who are you to decide when things happen?

"Such a sweet girl. I've been, fighting myself this whole night. Been trying to avoid being near you before anyone noticed I was eye fucking you. You are the fucking definition of temptation. You fucking reek of sex. You're just," he paused and kissed more over the skin of your chest, stopping at the crook of your neck.

"You're so fucking beautiful too, so sexy, so fucking sexy. I wanna feel you baby, let me feel you, let me fill you." He whispered, his hands going from either side of you to your wide hips, squeezing softly as he caresses the skin behind your knitted dress.

"I'll be whatever you need me to be, princess, you ask and you will receive." He kept his hands steady on your waist, regardless of how much he wanted to feel all of you in his hands right fucking now against this wall. At this point, he moved his hands to rub the sides of your body, tracing every curve with his hands.

"I need, fuck Eddie I need you. I always have. Please," you nearly begged, the weed in your system making it easier to drown out your surroundings while his hand snaked down to the front of your bikini.

"Yeah? You'd let me take you right here against this wall? Keep you quiet with these little bottoms you got on," He growls, dipping down into your bikini to rub your mound as he goes lower and lower. Your mouth fixed into an 'O', moaning and humming as his fingers danced around your cunt.

"Didn't know my baby was so soft, or how much you craved me. Let me make you feel good princess, let me ruin you and show you just how good it can be." You couldn't speak, all you could do was whine and nod.

"Aw baby, that was cute. With words sweetheart, need to hear ya with words," He taunts, his finger teasing over your wet slit. His nose is pressed up against your neck, his tongue sliding over the skin below your ear as he uses his other hand to grab your ass.

"Please, Eds, I need you. Show me, show me everything please," you begged, your back sliding down the brick a bit before he stops you, holding you in place with his other hand.

"You want it right here, pretty girl? Right where anyone could see? Want me to finger fuck you in your own backyard?" He growled almost, sending a wave of pleasure through you when he finally rubs two digits all over your wet pussy.

"Yes, god yes I don't give a fuck, I need you inside me," You cried, your arms going up around his neck to steady yourself once you feel his fingers spread your lips and rub around your labia and your clit. You knew he knew what he was doing, he'd done this before and knew the way to drive women crazy. What you didn't know was that you were equally driving each other crazy. Your subconscious whines and pleads, the way you were almost grinding against his hand, you tugging and pulling his body closer as you feel the small butterfly feeling in your tummy. Everything you were doing was perfect, you were absolute perfection to him. He didn't know he craved you this bad until you were moaning his name, asking—no, begging him for more.

"Mm, my baby needs me stretching this hole out huh? Let's see how you take my fingers, baby, then we'll see if you'll let me fit inside this pretty pussy," He said moving his head from your neck to see his fingers working your clit in your bottoms. He moved his head again to look at you and the expression on your face, and he knew it was a mistake because he could've blown his load right there. Eddie hadn't even started finger fucking you yet you were already soaked, face red and hot, hair disheveled and your mouth agape. You honestly put him in a trance, he'd do absolutely anything for you.

Eddie teased a bit more until your eyes started to turn glossy, your breaths were getting heavier and the minute you inhaled again, he sunk his two digits into your hole and watched with an open mouthed smile as you threw your head back against the brick and squirmed.

"Ahhh, there she is. Look at you," He said proudly, beginning to slowly move his fingers in and out of you, giving you time to adjust. Eddie knows you're not a virgin, but it sure fucking feels like it.

"Such a big girl, doing so good for me taking my fingers like this. You look so pretty like this yaknow'? Can't believe nobody's made you cum the way you deserve, and that it's gonna be me showing you how enjoyable sex can truly be," He was so genuine, you could tell.

"Eddie, fuck, please please fuck me, I need your dick," You begged softly and he bit his lip, groaning with you.

You felt his hardened cock straining against his pants as he pulled himself closer to you, adding an edge to your pleasure because you got nervous. Your daddy's friend is standing pressed against you in hardly nothing with his fingers stretching you out, your wetness dripping down Eddie's hand the faster and deeper he goes.

"Yeah? You need my dick, baby? Gonna be a good girl for me and make a mess all over my dick?" He asked, moving his other hand to grope your chest. He got a little fed up with the knitted dress you wore and pulled it to the side to free your breast, snatching the bikini top to the side to let your tit fall out gracefully. He was fucking in love. The way your body jerked against his hand made your body move with it, jiggling and moving in a way he only imagined it would look when he fucks into you from below.

"Please, Eddie, I wan' it, you're gonna make me, ugh fuck, can I please cum?" You begged, your eyes meeting his. He was just watching you, listening to your moans being muffled by the music that seems to never stop playing. Until he dipped his head down and started to suck on the skin of your tit, fixing his lips and tongue to wrap around your hardened nipple. He tugged, bit, sucked all on your tit until he formed purple bruises on it. He didn't have the words to describe the feeling he had right now, he felt like he died and went to heaven watching you squirm and hearing your voice beg for him. Eddie had never felt this urge and eagerness to slip inside someone as bad as he wanted to right now, to sit you down on his lap and fuck into you like that, or to press you against this wall and take you from behind. He never had the desire to truly fuck someone the way he wanted to, never knew what buttons to push for someone to want him the way he wanted others. But you, you wanted him in a way that was sinful to anyone who heard or witnessed it.

You needed him to ruin you, to fill you up with his cum, to make you his.

"Fuck, my pretty girl wants to give me her cum? That it? You can do whatever you want baby, cum all on my fuckin' fingers right fucking now," He snarled as he took his mouth from your tit, to your ear, almost grinding his own hard on against the crevice of your hip. You felt him take his thumb and rub on your clit, leaving your holes empty until you started clenching on air.

"Eddie! Are you still here?" You both heard a voice from up top, your father on the balcony looking over to scan the yard. You looked up and saw him basically right on top of you, and you looked to Eddie with wide eyes as his fingers still worked on your clit.

"Don't let daddy hear you baby, cum on my fingers for me, be a good girl for me. Show me how much you want me to fuck you into my bed," He picked the pace up and held you tight as he noticed you were starting to come undone.

"Eddiee, fuck Eddie I'm-" You were kind of loud, so he pressed his lips against yours when he slid his fingers back in, feel you tighten around him as you gripped his waist, kissing him back but moaning into his mouth once you felt yourself let go.

But he didn't stop kissing you. He kept his lips on yours, almost locked in a trance as he pulled his fingers out of you. That's when he pulled away, but only to take his fingers in his mouth and lick up any of your juices that leaked onto him. You just watched, breathless, barely holding yourself up as he released his fingers with a pop. He fixed your bikini and dress for you, moving to fix your bottoms as well so that you weren't exposed for anyone else.

Eddie felt like he was in love the minute he tasted you on his tongue. He knew he couldn't just stop there, he couldn't just finger you and that's it. He needed all of you, and he needed you in every way he could have you. You held onto his waist and his hands snaked onto your waist, looking down at your flushed chubby face, looking for something.

"I, thank you. That was, um, really good," You shyed away from him saying that. Complimenting him on his ability to make you cum felt embarrassing, but he turned your head by your chin to face him, and he placed soft kisses by your lips and in your cheeks.

You couldn't believe Eddie Munson, just made you cum on his fingers. You didn't believe yourself really, it almost felt like you blacked out and when you woke up he was there. But you were awake, present and very much aware of his mouth and fingers and his cock straining to be released.

"Ya know, I think the next time I taste you I want it to be with you riding my face," He smiled, moving your hair back behind your ear.

"You were just so fucking sweet," he kissed your cheek and pulled away from you, causing a blush to rise on your cheeks and chest again.

"Wha-" You questioned but your father yelled out again.

"Eddie?" Eddie looked up and had an angry look on his face, kissing you one last time before releasing you and leaving. But he turns towards you, wanting to say something, anything. He just wanted to see you again, from afar this time. You look so exhausted, your back still against the brick wall, your legs pressed together, your hands in your hair. You looked fucking amazing and if it wasn't for your dad, he'd be face deep in your cunt right against that wall.

"I'll see you, sweetheart."

[heartstopperthoughts]

Any talented fanfiction writers in the Heartstopper fandom who want to write my Charlie Proposes First headcanon?

So, it takes place around the time that Charlie graduates uni (Nick graduated a year prior) and they’re moving into their first place together.

Tao has joined Charlie to help him do some moving-house shopping, and they pass by a jewelry store and Tao wants to stop to get Elle something for her birthday. Charlie sees a ring that it just so perfectly Nick. (At this point marriage is still kind of a far-off concept in Charlie’s mind. Like they’ve talked about getting married at some point but in a very abstract off-in-the-future kind of way.) He casually points out the ring to Tao who is like, “Haha, you guys have basically been married for years now, are you finally ready to tie the knot?” and Charlie kind of laughs it off, but then they go home, and Charlie cannot stop thinking about the ring. He doesn’t tell anyone, but he goes back to buy it and decides he’ll just save it for when he and Nick are both finally ready. But then just having the ring makes marriage feel more real, like he realizes he’s actually going to get married to Nick Nelson one day and he starts to kind of obsess over it and how he might propose. He wants it to be a grand gesture but he also wants to make it special and personal but not too cheesy and also not too public but not too boring either. In true Charlie Spring fashion, he gets himself all worked up over it, and to calm himself down, he starts to carry the ring around with him, just so he’s ready if the opportunity ever presents itself.

Anyways, flash forward a handful of months and Nick and Charlie are home for the holidays staying with Nick’s mom, and they’ve offered to do the Christmas dinner shopping. They’re walking through the store, just chatting, and Charlie can feel the ring in his pocket. He just stops and looks at Nick and all of the sudden realizes “I am so in love with this man, and I want to be married to him, like, yesterday.” And without even really thinking about it, Charlie blurts out “We should get married” and Nick thinks he means like someday eventually, so he just says “Yeah?” and turns around all smiley like nothing’s happening, and then he sees how nervous Charlie looks and he realizes Charlie is serious. Meanwhile alarms are going off in Charlie’s brain because he’s starting to realize like, “Oh shit, I think I’m proposing right now?!!!!” And he scrambles in his pocket for the ring and is like “Yeah!” and fumbles out this unplanned but incredibly heartfelt proposal. Nick is completely stunned and isn’t really saying anything, and Charlie’s brain starts to spiral like “Oh shit I’ve fucked it up! What am I doing proposing to him here?! Charlie Spring, you complete idiot! Of course you would pick the least romantic place in the entire world to ask the love of your life to marry you. As if he would say yes to you in a Tesco! You couldn’t have thought this through more?!” And then Nick starts to tear up and fishes around in his own pocket and pulls out… you guessed it, a ring! And they both start sobbing, and say yes to each other.

Turns out Nick had bought a ring back in the summer too and had wanted to propose but didn’t want to add stress to Charlie’s already full plate with graduation and starting a new job and moving into a new place, so he had decided to wait. He’d been trying to work up the nerve to take Charlie to the beach where they had their first date and propose there, but just wasn’t sure when it would be the right time, and he didn’t want to rush Charlie into anything if he wasn’t ready to be married just yet. And Charlie’s like, “Oh my God, I am so sorry I ruined your proposal! And I asked in a Tesco of all places. I’m an idiot!” And Nick hushes him and is like “You’re not. It was perfect. You’re perfect.”

And then they go to the beach anyways to celebrate their engagement.

[pensat-i-fet]

An unexpected guest (Pablo Gavi x Reader)

**Little request made by a friend (love you, V ❤️). I hope you all enjoy it ☺️**

Word count: 2225

Masterlist

Wattpad

The Christmas season was over but not really. At least not for your family. You always travelled to the Alps for a couple of days of skiing, where you reunited with the side of your family that didn't live in Spain. It was always one of the highlights of your year.

One of your favourite things about this time was getting to cook with your auntie Abby. She was a chef and had been asking you to help her since you were a curious kid who just wanted to know how the weird looking ingredients on the table could turn into a dish that looked nothing like them.

So there you both were, in the kitchen ready to cook for a lot of people. More than usual, since there were three guests invited to tonight's dinner.

"Who's coming tonight, then?", you asked your aunt while you kept on kneading the pizza base to make sure it was perfect.

"I don't know. Some people your brother met".

But there was something about her tone that made you feel she did know. What would be the point of hiding it, though?

"This is done. Should I start mixing the ingredients for the cake?"

"Yes, darling. Please do that. Go to the pantry for more sugar if there isn't enough. I used a lot of it yesterday".

So you busied yourself with that while sharing more anecdotes with your aunt about your uni classmates. They were a funny bunch. 

Then your aunt took over to build the cake on the oven mould and told you to put the pizzas and the fish pies in the ovens.

"A cloth isn't enough. You'll burn your fingers again. Get that oven glove".

You hated using the oven glove because of how big and stiff it was but she was right. You had burnt yourself too many times.

"Done".

"Perfect. Go grab some more butter for me, please".

The pantry was almost on the other side of the house. How that made sense, you didn't know.

You needed to walk past the living room and there you noticed your brother was chatting with three guys. You could only see one of them, since the others had their back to you but you didn't know him. So you probably didn't know the others. Were they the guests?

Your brother was your twin and you shared some classes in uni but not all. And always tried to have different friend groups so it only made sense to guess those other boys belonged to his group. You just hoped they wouldn't be as douchey as some other friends he had introduced you to.

Dinner was almost ready and you had nothing else to do anymore. This was usually when you left and your aunt gave the finishing touches to all the dishes.

"Your uncle will help me serve this. Go enjoy the evening and…go meet our guests".

"Ok?"

It wasn't odd for uncle Mark to help but your auntie's tone when mentioning the guests was a bit odd…again.

"Hi. Dinner will be served soon. Time to work, Marky".

"On it!"

You smiled looking at your goofy uncle's reaction but then your smile turned into a shocked face when you saw who the guests were.

The boy you saw before was still there and next to him was another guy you didn't know either. But the third one…was that Gavi? The Barça footballer? It couldn't be. Why would he be there?

But then it made sense. Of course, your aunt knew he was there and that you were going to freak out because he was your favourite player.

"Hey, sis! Come here. I'll introduce you to my friends".

He was friends with Gavi and never told you? Time to murder a brother.

Your brother introduced you to Roger and Miguel first. And you swore those were the names of the two guys he mentioned a lot when talking about his uni friends.

"And this is Gavi, but you knew that already".

"Yeah", you said looking down, already embarrassed by your sibling.

"I feel honoured that she knows me", said Gavi and kept getting closer to you. "Do I not get two kisses?"

What? Oh right, two kisses on the cheek like you did with the others. 

But he didn't move and let you be the one who motioned as if to kiss his left cheek first and then the right. His not moving meant you had to move back when going from left to right, so your noses wouldn't collide. That would be even more embarrassing.

"Nice to meet you", you said.

"Nice to meet you".

After the introductions, everyone went back to watching TV. You sat next to your dad, who was a huge Barça fan and gave you the perfect excuse to just stare at Gavi. If dad did the same, it didn't look so bad. 

Everyone was trying to make conversation with the football star they didn't expect to show up at their dinner. And whenever Gavi turned to look at whoever was speaking to him and his eyes locked with yours, you tried to signal to him that the seat next to yours on the sofa was empty. But either he didn't get it or didn't care. 

"Dinner is almost here", said your uncle while going into the big dining room, carrying plates and glasses.

"I'll be right back", you said to no one in particular.

"Where are you going?", asked your dad.

"It's too hot. I'll change into something more comfortable".

When you got to the room, you took off the thick jumper you had had on all day and put on a long-sleeved blouse. Looking in the mirror, you noticed your hair was a bit of a mess from being in a messy bun while cooking. So you brushed it quickly and let it down. 

The moment you closed the door to your room, the door to the bathroom that was next to it opened. 

"Hey", said Gavi.

"Hi. We should go eat before it gets cold".

"Wait".

"Do you need anything?"

"No. I just wanted to let you know your hair looks really good like that".

"Oh", you said, touching the ends of it without realising. "Thanks".

"So…you like football?"

"I don't know if like is the right word. People call it an obsession".

That made him laugh. "It’s the same for me. And do you get to go to the matches?"

"Yes, the entire family has season tickets".

"Huh. Well that's annoying".

You going to the matches was annoying? "Why?"

"I was planning on giving you some tickets to impress you but now I'll have to think of something else".

"Why would you want to impress…".

Your question was interrupted by him getting close, too close, to you. "Sit next to me at dinner. Please".

You could only nod. And then you both went back to join everyone for dinner.

                                      **

Dinner was as great as always. And even with some new people there you were all still getting used to, the mood didn't suffer at all. 

"So, should we call you Gavi or Pablo? It's a bit confusing", asked your mum, who had been staring at all your interactions with Gavi ever since you sat next to each other.

"I'll answer to both, so whichever is your favourite".

Did that apply to you too? But you didn't have to wonder for too long, since he leaned slightly towards you to whisper. "Call me Pablo, please".

You nodded, lifting your head to look at him. Then you went back to finish the last bites of food on your plate and put your hands on your legs, so you could lean back a bit and rest. It had been a long day.

Gavi finished his dinner just a couple of minutes after you did and while he kept his left arm on the table, he moved the right so he could find one of your hands and hold it.

You didn't really know how to react but also knew your body already had on your behalf. How red was your face exactly? The tomatoes on the table probably looked pale next to you.

"I'll go grab the cakes!!", sang auntie Abby, rising from her seat now that everyone was done eating.

"Tell them you don't want dessert, please", told you Gavi, whispering again so no one would hear him.

"Why?"

"So I can take you somewhere else to have some".

Between his offer and the way his thumb was caressing your wrist, you didn't even know how to form words. So you just nodded. And his answer was also nonverbal. He just smiled and squeezed your hand.

You two really thought whispers and hands under the tablecloth were fooling everyone around you. But they could all see what was happening and were highly entertained by it.

                                          **

Before you left to go find a place to eat, you went back to your room to change again. It was freezing cold outside, so you changed the blouse for a hoodie and put some boots on and a little beanie to warm up your head.

"Where are you going?", asked your cousin when she got inside the room.

"Out for a little walk".

"Now? It's really dark outside. I'm not sure it's safe".

She was so cute worrying about you. "I won't be going out alone. See you later!"

You loved your cousin but she was bound to ask too many questions and you were too nervous already.

When you got out, you found Gavi waiting for you. He was also wearing a beanie and he looked adorable. 

"Ready?"

"Ready".

You took the hand he offered and started to walk towards the area where all the restaurants were.

"Anything you fancy eating?"

"Something warm", you laughed, pretending to shiver.

"Are you cold?"

"No, it's fine. I'm well protected by all these clothes. But my face is half frozen, probably".

Gavi stopped and made you turn to look at him. He let go of your hand but only to lift both hands to your face.

"I can't tell if it's cold because of the gloves".

Funny, you didn't feel cold at all anymore.

"But there are ways to check".

After saying that, he kept leaning down until his lips brushed yours. He looked up to see your reaction. To see if you were going to run away or not.

"Cold?", you asked, not knowing what else to say.

"A bit. Do you want me to fix it?"

And when you nodded, he continued what he had started, also encouraged by how your hands went beneath his coat so you could hold onto his waist. 

After a couple of minutes, you finally separated and stared at each other with silly grins on your faces.

"Let's go find some food".

Warm waffles sounded like the best plan for both of you, so that's where you went. You didn't know how you could still be so hungry after the feast you had had for dinner, but as always, you devoured your waffle quickly.

"Sorry. I really like waffles".

"Don't be", he said, laughing. 

"Where are the napkins? I probably have chocolate syrup all over my face. I swear I'm not always this messy".

"You got a bit over here", he said, pointing at the side of his mouth.

"I might have some tissues in my bag…".

"No need for them", he said, stopping you from grabbing the bag and moving you closer to him.

He kissed one side of your mouth softly, before moving to the other. And it was you who grabbed the back of his head this time to kiss him properly. He could save his teasing for another time.

A cough from a man sitting on the table next to yours made you stop. And while you tried to hide your blush, Gavi just laughed.

"Just so you know, there was no need for napkins but I couldn't waste that opportunity to steal another kiss".

You shook your head, smiling. He could steal as many as he wanted.

                                    **

The way back to the house was slow. Very slow. Because you two couldn't stop talking and stopping to kiss again. It really was the best way to fight the minus degrees temperature.

But sadly, you eventually made it to your family's house.

"They invited us to stay the night here".

"That's nice. Do you want to be a gentleman and walk me to my room?"

"Lead the way".

You reached your room and turned to see if anyone was around. But it was quite late so they were all probably sleeping.

"Do I have to go to the guest room? You're better company than my friends".

That made you laugh. "I'm sharing the room with my cousin so yes, you do".

"A shame".

Still, you didn't separate because even though you were incredibly tired, kissing him was a lot better than sleeping.

"I'm leaving tomorrow. Tell me I can see you again when you're back in Barcelona".

"You aren't getting rid of me so easily, Pablito".

"Good. Maybe we can have breakfast together tomorrow before I leave too?"

"It's a date".

A couple of kisses later, you finally got inside your room with a huge grin on your face.

"Tell me everything, little cousin".

[waywardxrhea]

Part of Your World - George Weasley

Chapter 11

pairing: George Weasley x fem!Muggle!reader

installment list / previous chapter / next chapter

word count: 2,266

content: homesickness, budding friendship

“Dinner’s ready!” your mum called through the halls of the rental house the three of you were residing in, in upstate New York. 

“Coming!” you called back through your closed door, continuing to write furiously in your journal before the idea you had gotten for a scene in your play slipped your mind. Tonight was one of the rare nights that you were home for dinner with your parents. Most other nights you were either at a friend’s flat in the city working on your play for school, or else working at the job you had gotten in Hell's Kitchen after a few months of school at the New York branch of your university. 

Ever since your family moved from London to Poughkeepsie, every member of the family had kept busy with their own respective jobs and hobbies. Your dad was working at a top orthodontist office in the new town; your mum got a job giving voice lessons at the local youth club; and you were juggling university, a waitressing job, and occasionally playing your guitar at one of the local pubs where your parents performed as a duo since they had to leave their band behind back home. All in all, things were going great for the family!

“You’re really stuck on that one scene huh?” suddenly came your mother's voice behind you. You jumped in your seat, the lead of your mechanical pencil breaking as you applied too much pressure on it in your fright due to her quiet appearance behind you.

Letting out a heavy sigh, you slumped against the back of your chair and nodded, telling her, “Yeah… I just can’t seem to find the right words I want these characters to say. We have to have this finished before Christmas break so we can present it when we come back and then hope that it’s good enough to be performed in the black box for the spring play… We’re counting on it to do well…”

“But then even if it doesn’t, you still wrote a play! That’s definitely something to write home about!” your mum told you with a smile, massaging the tension out of your shoulders. “And I think you should. I haven’t heard you talking with Abbie and Jaz in a while, is everything with them okay?”

“I just miss them a lot and it’s hard seeing their faces on video chats and not being able to be there with them…” you admitted quietly, your voice thick with emotion. “They both got lead roles in the musical this winter and I know they’re excited about that, but I just wish I could be there… The plays and musicals we’re rehearsing for are fun and all, but it just doesn’t feel the same without them…”

“Oh I know, sweetheart, but sometimes you have to do things that you aren’t comfortable with in order to grow as a performer,” your mum assured you gently. “Now, you didn’t get the role you wanted in the musical this semester, but I think we can put that up to nerves and being at a new school with all new classmates and directors. You don’t know what they want out of you and you don’t know what they want out of an audition, but maybe this move will be a lesson in getting outside of your comfort zone and learning to adapt to situations you aren’t sure of. I know you’ll only get better from here and soon enough I know you’ll be getting the lead roles you want!”

“Thanks Mum, I really needed that…” you whispered, tears finally falling from your eyes as you leaned into your mother’s embrace. 

“Anytime,” she said. “Now go get cleaned up and meet me in the dining area, your dad should be home any minute. He’ll be pleased to see you home to eat with us.”

“Yes ma’am,” you told her before heading off to your bathroom to wash your hands before the meal. 

“What’ve you got an airplane diagram on your desk for? I didn’t know you were into airplanes,” said Claire, your friend from uni whom you were writing your spring play with. 

By the end of last semester, the play you two wrote had been approved by the directors to be one of the spring black box plays! So you were nearly constantly working on finalising details that included staging, costumes, casting, lighting - the works. Despite the massive task, the two of you had still auditioned to be in the spring musical and landed larger roles in the program that required some time and effort, but not as much as if you were the leads. Because of all the craziness of that combined with the hustle and bustle of New York City, you two had travelled together from the city to Poughkeepsie for the weekend so you would have a more relaxed environment to focus on the finer details of the play. 

With a small smile on your lips, you smoothed out the diagram and told your friend, “It’s just something I was working on back home. There’s something so fascinating about how aeroplanes stay in the air and I wanted to try and figure it out. I still don’t really get it, but I can’t bring myself to get rid of it…”

“Well there’s a reason we’re majoring in performance and not engineering,” Claire joked as she turned her attention to the hamster cage right beside the diagram, reaching in to pet the little fuzz balls and handing them a couple of the baby carrots that you had brought up with you.

After a long while of ironing out details, a substantial amount of crumpled up notebook paper, and a couple bouts of chasing the cats when they ran off with one of the papers you actually needed, you and Claire decided to take a break for a bit. While the two of you walked around the town's streets to get some fresh air, Claire said, “You know, I’ve never heard you talk much about life back in London. Ever since we were paired up to write the play it’s been nearly all talk about that and not much of our personal lives…”

“Oh, wow, I never even realised. We’ve been working so hard on everything I didn’t realise that I don’t really know you as a person,” you said with a quiet laugh as you shoved your gloved hands into the pockets of your coat. “How about a game of twenty-questions?”

“Let’s,” Claire replied before you two took off into the game, venturing vastly further than the intended twenty questions, but neither of you seemed to mind how much time you were spending away from the play. 

By the end of the game, you had figured out that Claire was actually from Texas and was at the university so she could try and get the proper connections so she would be one step closer to a spot on Broadway. You also found out that she used to date one of the girls in your class who had auditioned for the play and got a swing position as recommended by the main directors. Not that Claire had anything to do with that decision… It turned out that she played the same role in Mary Poppins that Jaz had which resulted in an impromptu park performance of Brimstone and Treacle that ended in both of you holding your sides during fits of laughter when a group of children walking past got scared by Claire. 

Claire learned about Evan and why you were afraid of getting into another relationship after that, but that you also felt like ever since you left London, there was a piece of you missing, which had led to many conflicting emotions on the subject. She learned about your grandmother’s passing and how you always sang Sweet Caroline at your performances at pubs to honour her. There was relentless teasing in your direction when the girl figured out your most embarrassing audition moment when you were younger, but it was all in good fun in the end. 

As the two were nearing your family’s  rental home, Claire mused, “You know, I think it’s crazy how you managed to get this weekend off. Aren’t the weekends the busiest times at Broadway Rose?”

“They are,” you said as you opened the door for the pair of you and walked into the warm home that smelled like fresh baked cookies. “But when I explained to Loretta that I needed the weekend to finalise the play we were writing she let me have the time off. She said writing a play like this at the university level is just the thing I’ll need to get my foot in the door once I’m done with school, so she was all for the idea.”

“Not to mention that you regularly get scouted by big names every time you work!” Claire said, the slightest bit of envy in her voice before the two of you greeted your mum in the kitchen. 

“How’s everything going girls?” your mum asked as she handed you a warm cookie each.

“Great!” you both replied in unison, giggling when you realised what you accidentally did. 

“I think we’ve finally got staging down and have a plan for lighting to run by Josh. All we really need is to start rehearsing soon!” Claire detailed after finishing her cookie. 

“Well I’m very proud of the both of you!” your mum said with a warm smile. “May will be here before you know it and that school will get to witness one of the best black box performances ever put on!” 

“Thanks Mum,” you told her with a smile and a sparkle in your eye. Even though all of this was exhausting, you were glad that you decided to lose yourself in something you were passionate about. 

“How are things going back home?” you asked into your laptop’s camera one day when you were finally on summer break from school. You of course were on a video call with Abbie and Jasmine, something that unfortunately had been a rarity in the near year you had been gone due to how busy you kept yourself. 

“Good!” Jasmine told you with a smile on her face. She took a teasing jab at you as she said, “Now that little miss perfect isn’t here, we’ve both been getting more lead roles in school and the local troupe!”

“Ha ha, very funny,” you replied with a playful roll of your eyes. 

“What’s this I heard about you writing a play?” Abbie asked curiously. “I saw on your Instagram that you were tagged in this Claire girl’s post and the caption said you two wrote a play together?”

“Oh yeah! Claire and I wrote a one act romantic comedy for the school’s spring black box performance series!” you said with a wide smile. The smile faltered a bit as you added, “I-I’m sorry I didn’t say anything to you two, I just didn’t want to get my hopes up in case it fell through and then when it did get approved it was crazy trying to get it all pulled together.”

“Girl don’t apologise, you did the dang thing!” Jaz told you enthusiastically. “I’ve also seen videos of you singing at work and I must say your mum must be working overtime on those pipes because damn!” 

You couldn’t help the giggle that tumbled out of you at the compliment, telling your friend, “It’s still weird to see myself online…” 

After a few more minutes of performance talk, you asked, “So how are things going with Thomas, Abbie?” You wiggled your eyebrows teasingly as you added, “If I remember correctly you two were getting quite cosy together in the months before I moved.”

A furious blush radiated onto Abbie’s cheeks that she attempted to hide by taking a drink of tea from a cup while deciding what to say. When she finally composed herself, Abbie replied, “We’re doing well actually! We made it official a few weeks after you left and have been going strong ever since. He’s a great scene partner and we bring out the best in each other.”

“It’s painful how single I am in comparison to her and it actually disgusts me,” Jasmine said with a laugh as she playfully shoved Abbie off the screen for a moment. “Still haven’t found anyone since Evan?” she asked once their play-fight ended. 

You sighed and shook your head, telling Jasmine, “Dating really isn’t something I’m looking for right now, I just want to focus on my studies. You only get so many chances to get yourself connected in our industry and I need to focus on that.”

“You’re so brave,” Jasmine said, a smirk teasing her lips which earned an eye roll from you. 

“Maybe if the right person came around I would consider it, but until then I think I’m leaving the idea alone. I need to be sure this time. I need someone who is going to take care of me and protect me, but who also isn’t afraid to have some fun. That would be my ideal partner.”

Little did you know that your perfect partner was doing just those first two things halfway across the world which was why you ended up in New York in the first place. And while the danger of You-Know-Who was gone, defeated by Harry Potter, George Weasley hadn’t come back for you because he was struggling with demons that presented themselves after losing his twin brother to the war. 

Reader still having foggy memories of the people she loves and feeling like a piece of her is missing kills me 😭😭

on a lighter note, as a Daredevil girly, i would like to believe that Reader has run into Daredevil at least once when she's gotten off of work in the later hours of the night. it's my headcanon and i'm sticking with it!

this one was short n sweet, and in the next one we'll see how George has been dealing with things, not only on the front of his relationship with Reader, but also with dealing with Fred's death (and no, now you now know this isn't going to be an everyone lives fic, sorry! 😅)

dividers by: @firefly-graphics

taglist: @reidmarieprentiss @v1ckycheesue @superduckmilkshake

[mar3ggiata]

professional help, c24. Christmas.

simon riley x original character.

trigger warnings: violence, sexual assault, mentions of rape, trauma, sexual themes, swearing, use of alcohol and drugs.

song to listen to when reading this: La sera dei miracoli, Lucio Dalla.

abstract: It's Christmas. it's Alba, I'm better now. I know you weren't expecting all that sweetness last chapter hu? brace yourselves, this one is even worse (literally nothing happens). anyway, I'm a fucking chef.

It was December 24th. She spent all day cooking and cleaning. It was surreal, she had come to life again to be the perfect housewife. She woke up at seven, took Jinx out, who was very happy to see her run with him and play fetch in the park. She cleaned her apartment, she did the laundry, swept the floors. She turned on the humidifier, put in lavender essential oil inside (yes, she really liked lavender). She proceeded to start cooking after lunch, she did dessert first. She made a simple chocolate cake that didn't require an extensive preparation and didn't need to rest. It was meant to have a fragrant external crust and be softer inside. She put on some music, she was singing along, she had her whole fridge restocked with fresh ingredients for Christmas dinner. She was a whole different person. It was probably too much food for two people. Two people as in her and Simon. He did, unbelievable I know, agree to Christmas dinner at her house in the end. 'Sure, okay', he had said, probably too embarrassed to say no in that moment. He had nowhere to go anyways… She asked him if he was allergic to anything, she was gonna make sure to add it to her shopping list. He said strawberries. She told him to bring wine, white wine. Goes with fish, cause yes, she was gonna cook fish. In Italy they don't eat meat the day before Christmas, a religious deal. She was going to have a fish based menu, it sounded fancy and she wanted to impress him. It was the first time she had ever had anyone over at her apartment. Salvo didn't count cause he was practically her brother and they usually had instant ramen together. She wanted to make a good impression, she hosted quite a few big dinners when she was in uni, hundreds with Salvo, and when she visited his family in San Francisco she always helped setting the table all pretty and cooking with his mom. She prepped two large cod fillets by marinating them with a few herbs and lemon. She checked on the cake, trying not to have Jinx jump inside the oven to eat it. She was almost anxious to have Simon over, not because of the fact he was who he was, but mainly for the cooking, and the menu and her apartment which was small and not too great…

He showed up exactly at eight, the time they had agreed upon. He had a bottle of wine in one hand, a box of chocolates in the other. Cause what the fuck are you supposed to bring for a Christmas dinner? Let alone, Christmas dinner at her house, them two together. He couldn't show up empty handed… Or maybe he could, he wasn't sure, he wasn't used to this. He debated on cancelling on her, he thought about it all week. He didn't have her phone number and he didn't want to ask Price, it would have sounded suspicious. He had to stop showing up at her workplace, so that was a no. Showing up at her house just to tell her that he wasn't going to that stupid Christmas dinner was gonna be even weirder. She had asked him in the worst timing possible, she had been crying and nearly got killed, he didn't feel like upsetting her further. And he had to come up with an excuse as well, one that wasn't that he hated Christmas for reasons he couldn't tell her. Last time he celebrated was so long ago he didn't even remember, he usually spent it at base, or drinking alone until he fell asleep. He sometimes went back to Manchester, though he stopped for a while. It was a time of sadness, a time of sorrow and deep anger. He didn't want to talk, he didn't want to eat, he wanted to be alone in his grief. He got the stupid chocolates cause he wanted to be polite, and he used to bring chocolates to his nephew back in the day when he went to see him… The only thing that kept him from cancelling was the fact that she was alone as well, for Christmas. He felt like he could endure an awkward dinner, so she wouldn't be alone. He felt out of place, he walked away from base like he was sneaking out. And he kinda hated himself for it, he was sure many men would have been be thrilled to be invited to dinner by someone like Alba. He didn't look the part. He wasn't made for that, and he wasn't going to change.

When she opened the door he knew he was doomed. The house smelled heavenly, there was music playing, the lamps were giving the living room a fait and tender orange aura. She was standing there, smiling. She had her hair up tied with a hair clip, she was wearing a black t-shirt and sweats. She was dressed to spend a night in, but still looked extremely put together. She looked gorgeous, that is. At her feet, Jinx was trying to get out the door and whining for attention. She said hi and let him step in. She was thanking him for the wine and telling him to put the jacket on the sofa. When he noticed the table he understood how much of a mistake going there was. She was fucking too much, she was unbelievable. What the actual fuck did I get myself into…

There were two tablecloths on the kitchen isle, a cotton one and a paper one, the ones you can throw away after use. She had drawn on the white paper with a black sharpie. She had drawn two plate shapes, two round shapes where the wine glasses stood and wrote 'Simon' on the side. He stood petrified looking at his name in that beautiful cursive handwriting, the letters majestically floating just above the plate shape. 'Alba' was written in the same handwriting on the other side of the isle. Simon and Alba. He didn't belong there… 'I saw it on Instagram', she said, circling him and getting to the fridge. 'The drawings', she added once she noticed he was still standing in the middle of the living room. He managed to swallow the lump in his throat and put down the wine and chocolate. 'Oh, thanks, these look nice.' She took the box and inspected the flavours list. She would tell him later that dessert was covered… She gave him a bottle opener while she got the appetisers from the fridge. 'So this is hummus I made, and this is a ricotta cheese spread with basil and honey', she set two plates on the counter in front of him. She had two types of tortilla chips in a little bowl, and in another plate, cucumber and carrots to dip in the whatever she had made. She set everything in front of him and finally stopped to properly look at him for a second. He looked incredibly lost. He looked small, he clearly was out of his comfort zone. He looked out of place, behind him was her small home library and her paintings on the wall, he looked like a fish out of water. She let her sight linger on the features that weren't covered by the black mask. His messy hair, his forehead, his cheekbones. His nose looked more crooked than usual, his eyes a mixture of frightened and surprised. For a second she thought the drawing was too much, or maybe the food was too fancy for him. She quickly changed her mind, the hummus was fucking amazing and homemade, what more did he want uh? Plus, she had pasta and fish to serve, it's not like he would starve…

'Sit down.' It was an order, but her voice was too soft to sound intimidating. Jinx had immediately started bothering him, trying to get him to give him some food. 'You can take off your mask, I'll turn around.' He looked at her turn to the stove, getting a pan and removing something from it, then he heard the sizzling of onion or garlic or something like that? She was moving like a professional, chopping stuff and stirring what looked like spaghetti… He didn't know how to feel, it was like he stepped into another reality. The smell of fish and rosemary, the faint music, her. She had turned around so he could eat. It was considerate of her, no? He tried the hummus, which was very nice and spicy. The other dip was fresh and aromatic, a good balance of sweet and sour, he was impressed. 'You're not gonna eat?' She didn't turn around. 'Yeah later, this is just appetisers.' He nodded even though she couldn't see him. She took the lead of the conversation. 'What wine did you get?' He quickly grabbed the bottle and started opening it, so he could keep himself busy. 'Hum… chardonnay?' he said. 'Good choice.' He wanted to tell her it was probably a cheap bottle. He realised he should have gotten a better one. He should have gotten more chocolates and maybe something else, he wasn't at her level. She strained the pasta. He asked her if Jinx could have a chip, she said only a small piece. 'Can I turn around?'

Now, he really didn't expect she would ask. He didn't really eat around people, when he drank in public settings like a pub, he kept his mask on his nose or made sure to have it on most of the time. She already saw half of his face when they ate that burger together. He thought about it for what felt like hours, deep down he wanted to be normal, he wanted to feel at ease and just relax for a second, she had even asked him permission... He put his mask back on and told her to turn around. When she did, she placed a pan on the table. 'Calabrese', she said. 'It's from a region in the south of Italy, I had a roommate that was from there.' She served him a good portion of spaghetti, topping them with the sauce that was at the bottom of the pan. 'Melted anchovies, chilli pepper, tomatoes…', she grabbed a small bowl, '…toasted breadcrumbs and basil, which are optional but recommended.' She raised her eyes to look at him, in sitting quietly on the small stool with is shoulders curved foreword. 'I can go eat on the sofa if you want, it's not a problem.' She wanted him to trust her really bad. The fact that he had that fame of unbreakable soldier with a hard past intrigued her, she wanted to know him and she felt like she had the power to do so. She was polite, she was respectful of his boundaries, she was understanding and would not push him. She wanted him to feel alright in her presence.

He felt that from the way she was talking to him. He felt dizzy and uncomfortable, she was putting him in a position of complete control over the situation, she was giving him a choice and offering to keep his face concealed, his identity protected. Protected from what, he wasn't at war, fucking hell. He was with the girl he had thought about at night, truth be told. He was with Alba who he had talked to before, in situations in which he went to see her because he craved her presence. He was with her right that second. She had cooked all that just for him, she let him into her house, him specifically and only him, her fucking dog was licking his shoe right that second.

'No you can stay', he slowly peeled off his mask and put it aside.

'There's your name written on the table.'

notes: nice… pasta recipe soon?? also December 24 and it's chapter 24, guys I'm a witch.

notes: i hope you liked the' first hug' moment in the last chapter and this kinda first moment alone together. a reminder, these two have a enemies to colleagues to major enemies to lovers kinda trope sooooo... I don't know, we'll see what happens I guess, I have a few more chapters written down and then it's season two. we'll just have to wait and see eheheheh. love y'all.

taglist:

@ghostlythots @sweetfemmefatal @natxpat @chavarriakeren647 @ravenmoore14 @farther-than-pleiades @internallyscreamings @hwromi @atoxicrat @cuti3maddi3 @deafeningkittenblaze @its-celeste @serene-hills @lexidoll12 @poohkie90 @lunatiquess

@warmedbythebody @katzykat @iristhemuse @azkza @keiraslayz @abbyandermine @jennyjencakes @dest-nai @corset-briefs @nutze-kekse @ilytsukiw @b3anspr0ut

@pondsblog @missyouzoe @fallenkitten @bigauthorrascalturkey @bethtay @angelynn-nicole @starluv @stargirlisworld @giyuuslittleslut @impossiblecupcakelight

@rkrivees-blog @ghosts-hoe @kam1snotverysmart @gauky76 @freyjaaasstuff @spicyspicyliving @scottpilgrimvsmyfists @courtney0-0 @shinchanboi @darling006 @my-therapist-hates-me

[bloodyknucklesforme]

First Course | Guest Check

Nina Irons lost her entire family in a car crash over a year ago. She's twenty five and struggling to find her place among the grief and anxiety. She hates her job as a server at 141, one of London's up and coming restaurants. Her only motivation is keeping up appearances for the two people who've always care for her, John Price, a family friend and owner/head chef of 141, and Kyle Garrick, her childhood best friend and occasional boyfriend.

(the official beginning of a serialized restaurant AU 💙)

“You don’t have to do this if you’re not ready,” Price assured, rubbing the back of her neck. The house seemed larger sitting at the top of the hill. It looked like she remembered it. Brown brick with a black roof, Edwardian. She didn’t know why it wouldn’t, Price had been taking care of it.

“We’ll support you no matter what.” Kyle said, reaching from the back seat to rub her arm. 

“It’s been over a year. I have to do it at some point.” She sighed. A year since her family died. She should have gone back home sooner. She’d kept them waiting in that house. Ghosts or something worse. 

Price pulled up into the driveway. She was the first out of the car. The gardenia bush out front was starting to bloom. Her mum always loved having flowers around the house. It made sense with her name being Poppy. Price slipped the key into hand.

“We’ll follow your lead, love.”

It was dusty but not as bad as she would have thought. Price had done a good job of taking care of everything. He always had. He and her father were good friends at one point though her mum never seemed to like him. 

“It’s weird being back, isn’t it.” Kyle said, coming up behind her to rest his chin on her shoulder. Growing up they rarely played here, preferring his house or the woods. Her house was reserved for special events; Christmas Eve, New Year’s, Easter and celebratory dinners. Kyle’s dad was in the same regiment as Price and her father. Her father was their Captain and had them address him as such even when they both retired before him. 

The house was always very white. White walls, white table cloths, white carpet in the bedrooms. Her father was a self proclaimed traditionalist and didn’t let anyone paint. Despite photographic evidence that the house was colourful when he was young. He had to have control over everything.

“C’mon.” She tugged Kyle’s hand and pulled him upstairs. The stairs creaked the same. A shiver ran down her spine when she stepped onto the rug in the upstairs hallway. “Oh, fuck we didn’t take off our shoes.”

She plopped down to take them off but it didn’t matter. Her father wasn’t here to yell at her or her mother to sigh at her. Her laces hung loosely in her fingers.

“Do you want help?” Kyle asked, crouching in front of her. He was the one that taught her how to tie her shoes when they were little. He always afforded her more patience than anyone else except maybe Price. Where was he?

“No, I’m fine.” She stood up, shoes still on. 

She stopped by her brother’s room. All her bravery left when she touched the door knob. They didn’t get along well but he was her baby brother. Baby Sebastian. He was only sixteen when he died. He deserved better. All his football posters would still be up. His books for his A levels would still be on his desk. His bed unmade, clothes strewn over the floor. She left the door unopened.

Her room had been a time capsule longer than the rest of the house. When she left for Uni she never planned on coming back. It still looked like the bedroom of a little girl. White furniture with pink curtains and linens. The rug was floral and pastel. The closet had long been emptied, the bookshelf too. The windows were still secured with extra locks.

“Remember when you snuck me in one night and your dad came home early. Seb told us and I had to climb out the window.” Kyle chuckled. 

It was back when they were dating as teens. They weren’t doing anything except laying on her bed and talking. Her mum had a “if I didn’t see it didn’t happen” policy. Seb always liked Kyle so he came rushing in. He was sweeter when he was nine. 

“Piss off.” Nina threw a pillow at him. 

“Dad’s home.” He said, dodging the pillow. “We have to hide Kyle.”

Her father would never hurt Kyle, just yell at him until his father arrived to pick him up. Her on the other hand. He never got over the rumours about her that floated around school. No matter how much she told him that it wasn’t true, he always looked like he was one infraction away from calling her a slut. 

“Go distract him.” Kyle said. “This is now a special ops mission. You, Seb, are integral to this mission’s success. Nina will give you a signal once I’m away. Okay?”

“Understood.” Seb grinned, giving him a salute before running downstairs. It was lucky her room was on the corner. They waited till they heard the front door open before opening the window. 

“Stay safe,” Kyle gave her a kiss before climbing out. It had seemingly worked until her father came upstairs to remind her that her room was above the dining room and he’d seen Kyle run across the side of the garden to grab his bike. The locks were on the window the next day. She’d just been glad Kyle hadn’t gotten in trouble with his parents. They’d always been more understanding.

“Thought you were going to break your ankle.”

“Almost did.” He chuckled. He kissed her cheek before sighing “Things you do for love.”

She only grabbed her old rabbit plush off the bed. He’d need a good wash but after that he could resume his usual position of guarding her bed. She tucked it lovingly into her bag. 

She’d never really been in her parent’s bedroom while they were alive. It was always off limits unless her mum asked her to grab something.

The bed was made. The laundry all put away. It felt like it had been laid out for a magazine or an open house. 

She dug around in her mum’s jewellery box. It was mostly dainty little pieces with the standouts being gaudy large gems for military balls and alike. Nina dug around in the dresser, pulling out jumpers that she wanted to keep. 

There was a book in the back of the drawer. An old journal. Her mother was a religious diarist but this one wasn’t with the others by her desk. Nina flipped it open. January 1998. It would have been from before she was born. She’d never had much interest in her mum’s diaries. They all seemed uninteresting. She blamed her father for that. 

Poppy could have had an interesting life. She could have been a starving artist, fluttering about Europe instead she got married too young to a too old man. Had a baby with him - a baby that he didn’t seem to want. It didn’t make sense to her to give all that up. Nina was the same age she was when she had her. 

She didn’t feel ready to be married or have a baby. If she found out tomorrow Kyle knocked her up she’d probably get rid of it. He was a better man than her father but she didn’t know if she would be a better mother.

She slipped the journal in her bag as well. The air in the house was starting to feel stiff and heavy. Too much for today. 

“Let’s find Price.” She said, bumping Kyle’s shoulder with her head. 

He was in the conservatory. A little glass room off the back of the house. It was the one addition her father had made the entire time he owned it. A gift to her mum after Sebastian’s birth. A place for her to do watercolours. She was so excited and had Nina help her pick out the tile for the floor. All Nina could think of was that her mum didn’t get a gift when she was born. 

He was sitting on the little stool in the centre of the room. All the easels were empty, all her paints and brushes put away.

“I had it all put in storage. Didn’t want them to sit in the sun.” Price said, noticing her concerned look. “We can get them whenever you want.” 

She wasn’t sure what she’d do with them. Her mum was talented but had only focused on the same back garden landscape for several years. Years of skill and talent wasted in this little glass box. 

“Maybe…”

She didn’t like grief. It was a weight tied to her feet in the open ocean. It filled her lungs with regret that she never told Sebastian how much she loved him, anger at how she never stood up to her father and sadness for her mother who died the way she lived - by choices made by her father. 

“I think I’m ready to go now.” She sniffled. Kyle reached over and wiped her cheek before pulling her into a hug. 

“You did well, love. I know this wasn’t easy.” Price patted her back. 

The ride back to London felt longer than the way there. Kyle fell asleep and was snoring softly in the back.

“How do you feel?” Price asked.

“Exhausted.” 

“Reasonable.”

“I never really felt like I belonged there so it's weird to go back.”

“I know you and your Dad didn’t get on but Poppy loved you. William was always just intense.”

“I wish it’d just been him. I know that’s a fucked thing to say but it honestly feels like a joke that as his last act he took my whole family from me. Driving too fast. So fucking stupid.” He reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “I just wish I could have talked to her more without his presence.”

Price nodded.

“I think I might read some of her journals. Would that be rude? She’s dead so it's not like it matters but it's still her thoughts.” Price sighed, chewing on his upper lip. 

“I won’t stop you but I want you to think about what you might find. She wasn’t always a happy woman.”

“I don’t know if she was ever happy.”

He looked like he might say something but instead just squeezed her shoulder again. 

Price dropped her and Kyle off at her flat. It was dark by then. Kyle still yawning as they trudged up the stairs. 

“Next time Price buys you a flat, can you ask for one with a lift?”

“He didn’t buy it for me. He already owned it. I’m just… living rent free.”

“Whatever you say.” He leaned against her back as she opened the door. 

They had leftover pad thai and polished off the bottle of white wine in her fridge before finding themselves in her bed. Kyle’s mouth on her neck and her legs around his waist. 

He’d always been good in bed even when they were awkward teens. He was attentive and loving, eager to draw anything from a laugh, smile or orgasm out of her. 

It only worsened the pit in her stomach, one that had been growing since her family died. A voice came out of it telling her she’d lose him too. He might not die but she’d lose him some other way. She’d wake up one morning and he wouldn’t love her anymore. He’d grow tired or disgusted by her. Her nails dug into his back not out of pleasure but as a way to hold on. When he’d kiss away her tears, ones she blamed on over stimulation not fear, she wanted to break into sobs. 

She let him fall asleep quickly, not bothering with pillow talk. Kyle could sleep through anything, giving her permission to turn on her bedside lamp. She flipped through the journal absent mindedly. She sighed.

It felt like an intrusion to read it. Her mother could never give her permission and it felt like another violation of her life. Her father controlled so much of it why should Nina dig her fingers into something so private. 

She would have been pregnant when she wrote most of this. Nina was born in February of 1999. Did her mother want her? Was she excited to be pregnant? Was she scared? 

The house had lit up when she was pregnant with Sebastian. She remembered that much. Had there been any of that same joy for her? 

She thumbed through the pages, letting them glide like playing cards.

John Price ♡

The name stuck out to her. The heart stuck out more. It felt like a sickly reminder how young her mother was, that she still had crushes. John had always been handsome, still was. He was closer in age to her mother too. Two years younger compared to the ten years senior her father was. She read on.

He keeps coming up to me at the pub, always a little drunk, with boyish attempts at flirting. It’s working much to my dismay. He’s kind too. Ran a whole kilometre to get my book back to me the other night when I left it in the booth. 

“Always the gentleman,” She smiled. Price was the one with the crush then. 

She tabbed on. 

August 1998

Her smile fell, the pit in her stomach opening up more and more.

I’m pregnant. I think it might be John’s. 

Tag List: @queen-ilmaree@macravishedbymactavish@gogh-with-the-flow@water-bearz

If I'm missing anyone or if you want to be tagged in the next part lmk

[megumi-fm]

this week on megumi.fm ▸ the ankle incident

🏥 guess who twisted their ankle and ended up with a partial ligament tear and restrictions on mobility T-T I went to the doc and he gave me my meds and told me to sit my ass down for the whole month. so all I've been doing lately is throwing tantrums and zooming around the house in my trusty computer chair. it's gotten better oveer the days though, I can't wait until it fully recovers ahhhh :"

📋 Tasks

💻 Internship ↳ read papers on alphafold and it's coverage [3/3]✅ ↳ update tracker and alphafold notes ✅ ↳ complete ppt for lab presentation ✅ ↳ code to determine seq coverage depth of an AF.pdb file ✅ ↳ code to plot a per residue confidence of an AF.pdb file ✅ 🩺Radiomics Project ↳ call with PI to discuss about annotation limitations and radiomic feature selection✅ 📧 Application-related ↳ collected referee report from my profs ✅ ↳ submitted masters application for 1/1 Uni ✅

📅 Daily-s

🛌 consistent sleep [?/7] (i've been going to bed early enough but been in too much pain to actually sleep well) 💧 good water intake [7/7] 👟 exercise [/7] ankle recovery brrr

Fun Stuff this week

💗 my aunt and grandad came to visit! my cousin also showed up a couple days after, we spent a lot of time bickering with each other it was fun 💗 a completely different aunt and their family also came home this week for lunch! 📞 I've been on constant calls with a lot of my friends and talking to them. my besties and I also designed a cute little pinterest board for this story idea we have been discussing together [previous antics with said besties include painting mugs for christmas and getting hazelnut lattes for dinner] 📺 ongoing: Marry my Husband, Cherry Magic Th, Love for Love's Sake 📺 binged: My Man is Cupid, Our Dating Sim, Jun & Jun 📺 rewatch: Semantic Error 📊 on this note I also made a tier ranked list of all the asian tv (excluding anime/ghibli) I have consumed. it was fun xD 📹 This Serotonin Boost>> the leads from Love For Love's Sake being cute and clingy and affectionate with each other

📻 This week's soundtrack

Siren by Kailee Morgue All I really want is you, by the Marías

---

[Jan 29 to Feb 4 ; week 5/52 || not the most productive version of myself but given that I'm stuck cooped up in my room all day I've been doing the best I can. one of my uni applications is submitted! few more to go.

also. on a completely different note, Love for Love's Sake is such a good show?? i'm obsessed with the mechanics of the story universe and the cinematography and the narrative structure combined with the characters personalities and the parallels and that there's so much open to interpretation and. yea. it has changed me ]

[saintwyfe]

࿐ ˚ . ✦ I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. jude bellingham

summary. visiting your childhood best friend for the first time after a while

cw. fluff, maybe just a little angst

word count. 1554

it was the first day back home from school in a while. 

you've been settling back into your childhood home, taking in the familiar surroundings while unpacking clothing, doing laundry, and spending time with your siblings—whom you haven't seen in what feels like an eternity.

and while studying in a different country was well worth the foreign experience, there were some things you missed about your hometown, specifically your childhood best friend, jude. every now and again, you’d begin to think about him,  pondering how he’s been since graduating high school. yeah, you two follow each other on social media, occasionally DMing each other every once in a while to ‘check up,’ and such, but it just doesn’t compare to the warm soul you’ve known since toddler days.

every time you come back home, your parents are quick to ask about you and jude, frequently asking things such as, “have you been talking to jude since you landed?” which of course segues into his football career and how you’ve ‘missed the opportunity to become a football wife,’ which never fails to earn a scoff from you.

whenever the question gets brought up again, it really makes you think: how is jude? it’s been a while since i’ve talked to him in person. it made you kind of sad to think about how he must be a completely different person now that he’s used to the money and all of the public figures that surround him. 

for some reason, you were determined to talk to him just once before flying back to school, just to genuinely see how he’s been doing over a cup of coffee. 

"hey, dad, you still talk to jude’s parents, right? where do they live now?" you inquired at random while biting into the chicken you had prepared for lunch. his eyebrows furrowed, and he seemed confused—which makes sense as it was a blindsided question, "ah, yeah, i do. are you trying to talk to them or something?" he replied.

"something like that," you muttered, looking down at your plate to fish out another bite. "i’ll text you their address," he said, picking up his phone. your heart started to pace, and you had to ponder the decision of whether or not to visit the boy you were once inseparable with.

-

it eventually became dark outside. you finished dinner with your family, catching up on random things that have happened since you’ve been gone. you were laying in bed, aimlessly scrolling through your phone, when he randomly popped up in your mind again. this time, you finally decided to take matters into your own hands, grabbing a coat from your closet and ordering an uber to take you to his house. 

throughout the car ride, you could hear your heartbeat in your ears out of nervousness, thinking about all of the possible reactions and what could go wrong. maybe it was the lack of traffic or the pacing thoughts, but the 15-minute drive flew before your eyes before the driver parked into the driveway of his home—which was beautiful and more updated compared to the neighborhood you two grew up in. you quickly thanked the driver before stepping out of the car, taking in the heavy air. you looked around at the decorations of the homes throughout the neighborhood, slowly pacing toward his front door, where your heart beat faster than ever.

you attempted to take deep breaths as you stood in front of his home before you knocked on the door. you were greeted by his mom, denise. you watched as her eyes widened and a smile spread on her face, engulfing you in a hug. it’s been a while since you’ve seen her, but you remember all the times she’s treated you like her own. it was a sincere moment, to say the least. she invited you in before engaging in small talk about uni, before a tall, familiar figure strut down the stairs. he had a shocked look on his face, big eyes, and a slightly agape mouth.

“jude, i was just about to call you down. come say hi to y/n.” she prompted, waving her arm to signal toward you two.

you chuckled while he quickly jogged over with a cheeky smile, pulling you in for a hug. you took in his scent as he wiggled into the hug. he smelt of a musky cologne, which smelt so mature and masculine, it made you weak in the knees. in terms of appearance, you could still recognize his smile and slightly concealed eyes whenever he appeared. he simply matured a little bit.

"jude, you’re squishing me," you mumbled, giggling under your breath. "sorry, it’s a habit." he implied before pulling away. you let out a big exhale as you scanned over his figure, his biceps slightly catching you off guard, and a short silence took over. "it’s been a while, hasn’t it?" you affirmed as he nodded. "y/n, we should take a walk, yeah?" he asserted, heading to open the door. you didn’t really have a choice, so you scurried toward the cement outside as he followed.

you two strolled together down the sidewalk, taking in the snowy atmosphere, which made you both nostalgic for all of the snow fights and sledding adventures you'd always do together as kids.

eventually, the silence was broken by a low mutter beside you. “so, how’s school overseas?”

"ah, it’s been super fun. i’ve been meeting lots of interesting people. you should visit the area one day, it’s great." you jabber, observing the environment around you. "how’s dortmund?"

“work’s work, you know? but it’s been good. training’s been kicking my ass this winter” he replied. you watched as he looked down at his feet, hands stuffed in the pockets of his jacket.

“you’re not too cold, are you?” he inquired, shuffling to take off the puffer coat he had on. you shook your head, insisting that your coat was already enough, but of course, he’d already wrapped it around you. you chuckled at the gesture, knowing fully well that you’d take the jacket back with you.

"jude, honestly, i’ve missed you a lot recently," you paused. "it feels like it was just yesterday when we graduated together, and it sucks that we grew apart when we started doing our own thing," you stated, fixing your gaze at him.

“you have? i lowkey thought that you were occupied with school already, i’m not going to lie,” he chuckled, making eye contact with you. “but honestly, yeah, i agree with you.”

"i’m glad you came tonight, though. "i missed my best friend a lot too," he admitted, making you feel a lot better about your impulsiveness.

you two stopped at a bench positioned near the sidewalk, and you signaled for him to sit alongside you. 

-

you sighed before resting your head on his shoulder and swaying into a conversation that lasted all night about a variety of topics that had been on your mind for months, but you didn't have the courage to speak to anyone.

"no, you should’ve seen the look on her face. i never told her that i did it though, cause that would’ve caused so much commotion and i definitely would’ve gotten kicked out of my dorm." you rambled as he cackled at your story. His laughter came to a halt as he scanned over you, seemingly watching the sky as snow pellets fell. you didn’t realize he was staring, but you slightly flinched when he’d pulled a strand of hair behind your ear, prompting you to look over in his direction.

"you know, y/n, you’ve gotten a lot prettier ever since you lost the braces and the chunky glasses you used to wear," he teased you with a smug look on his face, causing you to send a stare back. "what?" he chuckled, "i was just kidding, you've always been pretty; i just didn't tell you because you'd run away as if I'd done something wrong."

your cheeks began to flush a tint of red, looking in the other direction as he kept his gaze on you. he scoffed before pulling your cheek, “y/n, no way you’re ignoring me right now.” you hissed at his sudden movement, turning toward the boy with a smirk on his face as he teased you. “you’re not getting a response from me jude, move along” you taunted. “if anything, you’ll have to earn a response.”

he shook his head before tickling your stomach, immediately making you coil and giggle. "yeah? i have to earn it?" he grinned, continuing to tickle you while you were trapped in his arms. "jude, stop, or i’m gonna beat your ass, literally" you stammered, struggling to produce a response between your giggles. he finally halted his teasing but kept his arms around you.

"it’s getting a little late, but i really missed this, jude," you whispered as your head occupied his shoulder. "yeah, we should probably head back in." he replied, nodding. "do you need a ride back home? we can probably do some carpool karaoke on the way" he suggested, prompting you to turn your head in agreeance.

"i’ll beat you to the car, bellingham," you spat, bolting off to his house. he of course won the race, but that's beside the point.

[soulfullives]

Romanian marauders!!! Where would they come from????

bat i am giving you a great ol’ hug for this question because i am dying to talk about romanian marauders:

sirius: cluj. lots of things to do, big city. i feel like he would particularly enjoy central park simion bărnuțiu, with the little lake/pond and everything. regularly visits steampunk transylvania

james: bucurești. i feel like it’s obvious; he’s a big city boy. the museum of senses makes him dizzy, but he brings his friends there when the visit. has a lot of pictures of the triumph arc in his phone

peter: timișoara, solely based on vibes (and what my sister thinks). would like to be a tour guide for the tourists one day, he’s very attached to his city and knows all of its history

remus: i’m not exactly sure, but a small town in ardeal. loves the traditional cuisine and having sirius over from his big, university city. does long-distance uni courses and has sheep, too.

lily: brașov. likes being from the “chillier” part of the country and adores the gothic architecture of the city. goes to the “haunted” house near the bran castle for halloween every year

marlene: i’m thinking either constanța or mamaia, but honestly any option that is close to the beach. specifically wakes up early every morning to go swim or surf; there are algae in the water, too

mary: iași. goes to the to the copou park and the anastasie fătu botanical garden regularly, she likes seeing the colourful flowers. the palace of culture is a must-see in her opinion

dorcas: sibiu. passes by the palace and bridge of lies every day just to see them. adores the christmas fair and makes her friends come with her. they have dinner in the old town afterwards

[lady-of-imladris]

We were talking about US holidays the other day, but what are some cool traditions/celebrations that Austria has? I love learning about other cultures! Also, do you speak fluent German?

Hii! What a cool question!

I have provided a "the year in traditions" for you below :)

In January/February we have "Fasching" which is a bit like Halloween except it's not spooky? And it's several weeks of parades and stuff. I really don't like it, idk why it's just too weird for me

May 1st we put up huge trees decorated with ribbons. Neighbouring villages will try to cut down/steal each other's trees sometimes haha. Oh and in the night before May 1st young people basically write things on the street with white paint, in the beginning it was supposed to be a line from your house to the house of your girlfriend, but nowadays it's not really done anymore (people keep calling the police for vandalism) and it's usually just a stupid sentence or something

On Halloween (which doesn't really exist here) the tradition is to play a game to win a "Striezel" (I think it's the same thing as "Challa"?? Not entirely sure though) but that's done more among older people.

December is THE time for baking. If you don't bake (or eat what your grandma bakes) you are failing at being Austrian and you are failing at Christmas

New Year's Eve: you HAVE TO watch "Dinner for One" and probably also "Ein echter Wiener geht nicht unter" ("a real Viennese does not go down") which is really stupid comedy stuff. Basically you spend the evening partying and drinking alcohol (the bubbly stuff) then it's time for fireworks and after midnight THE Austrian waltz "an der schönen blauen Donau" is played and everyone partners up and waltzes. This may seem like something only old people do but as someone who spent last NYE with a bunch of twentysonething guys, they WILL dance with each other too <3

Winter in Austria is also Ball season. There's AT LEAST one ball every week and you can buy tickets for literally every single one of them (the opera ball is VERY famous and VERY expensive) and most high school proms are also during that time and it's very common to go to the prom of your old school and schools in the area. It's VERY fun :)

I do indeed speak fluent German because that's literally just what we speak in Austria :) at home we speak the Austrian dialect and unless I am speaking publicly at uni or talking to someone who is learning German or having problems with the dialect, I speak standard German, but it just sounds weird to my ears hahaha

[lexithwrites]

One shot / headcannon idea to maybe help get you writing for: Prongsfoot cause I love them :))

Okay I’m thinking about Sirius coming out to Effie and Flea over Christmas break in like sixth or seventh year. He’s so so so anxious about it and he gets them alone when James is off doing things that James does. They’re in the loungeroom maybe and Sirius wont even look at them he’s so nervous he feels like he’s gonna be sick.

And then he says it. He just comes out and tells them he’s queer and that he hopes they don’t kick him out because he really can’t change who he is.

And then they’re just kinda sitting there like (1) we would never kick you out what the fuck (2) we don’t want you to change who you are you beautiful boy you are our son oh my Merlin (3) we already know

And then Sirius is like what the fuck and he turns to look at them to also see that James has somehow ended standing in the doorway silently staring at Sirius because he didn’t know Sirius was gay either and Sirius is about to start freaking out.

He’s like you knew?

And effie and flea are just like yeah obviously I mean you and James aren’t subbtle. Who do you think put the condoms in your bedside table draws?

And then James and sirius both immediately start freaking out spluttering out shit and Effie and Monty can’t understand any of it and they’re just like “it’s fine we love you both and obviously have supported your relationship for years. Why would we have a problem. Of course we are happy for the both of you you’re just so in love it’s adorable”

And that’s how James and Sirius work out they like eachother back. :) <3

Eeee prongsfoot okay

• They’re definitely childhood best friends that always said they’re going to marry each other and have a lil fake wedding together with Effie and Monty and their stuffed toys in the back garden

• Sirius and James were probably each others first kisses too like,,,Sirius asked if James has ever kissed a girl and he acts like he has but he hasn’t and Sirius says he HAS kissed a girl but he wants to kiss a boy and James goes bright red

• They kiss at a house party during spin the bottle and they both think about it for weeks

• They both low-key get jealous of the others girlfriends and they don’t know why they’re so protective of each other

• Getting each other super thoughtful gifts for their birthdays and Christmas

• They spent a Valentine’s Day together in Uni when they were both single at the same time and they went to dinner but it totally wasn’t a date

• their first actual kiss was when they got drunk together and it turned into a loooong make out session

• it was awkward for a few days but then James admitted to freaking out over liking guys and Sirius is like it’s fine dude I like them it’s normal

• then they just kinda,,,kiss every so often?

• it’s normal

[nobodylikety]

I accidentally deleted the request, but here's this little fic! I hope it's something fluffy enough for the Christmas season, I've had a bit of writer's block (now I can basically only write archaeological research projects, thanks Uni)

chaeyoung x reader!

tags: christmas holidays, college au!, fluff.

summary: The Christmas season has always been your favorite. During childhood it was about helping decorate the tree, gifts, animated movies—especially Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)—and going looking for Santa Claus. Now it's because Chaeyoung is here, even if you're too shy about it to say it directly.

I. Dinner.

Chaeyoung's college house is basically empty, except for Mina—one of her roommates—who is almost certainly locked in her room doing god-knows-what, so it's just you and her in front of the house chimney.

“Mina would rather die than cook anything other than instant noodles, so we're in charge of dinner, buddy,” Chaeyoung announces, patting you on the shoulder as she stands up. You roll your eyes with a snort of mock annoyance, and go after your girlfriend. Let's do it!

And it actually turns out pretty well, considering that college students don't eat real food very often and therefore don't cook anything more complex than microwave reheating. So with the help of a YouTube video, as well as the desire for this to turn out well and the kitchen not to fly into pieces in the process, you and Chaeyoung cook a very appetizing-looking braised salmon, caramelized onions, boiled potatoes, broccoli. steam and samphire, with a creamy white sauce.

Although it is not turkey, the traditional Christmas food that was present during every Christmas dinner in your childhood, braised salmon is still delicious. Not only because it is salmon, a fish that is quite popular among those most knowledgeable about gastronomy, but because you and Chaeyoung prepared it. And they say that the most important ingredient is love, right? and even if you guys are very shy to say those three words (I love you), there is a lot of this one. Even without saying it verbally. Because it is evident in each of your gestures. Even in this Christmas salmon.

“We deserve applause for not burning the kitchen down.” Chaeyoung pours two glasses of white wine and hands you your glass, while she holds hers in her other hand. With proud little smiles, you two make a toast and under the clink of the crystalline clinking of glasses, Chaeyoung's gaze locks with yours.

“I really thought we were going to burn down the kitchen. We’re, like, criminally bad at cooking,” You say as you laugh, taking a sip of your wine. Chaeyoung comically wrinkles her nose as he smiles.

“Tutorials on YouTube do wonders. Oh, and me too” The cocky little smile on Chaeyoung’s lips makes both you and her crack up. During the Christmases of your childhood, there were also moments of laughter like this, many times between your parents or uncles, or an older cousin, silly and light jokes have always been part of your Christmas dynamic.

And this Christmas dinner has never been better. The atmosphere is full of teasing and laughter that goes from you to Chaeyoung and vice versa—because it seems like you share the love language of teasing each other—and with every smile or sweet glance you drop, you both know very well what's here. Love.

II. Opening gifts

On Christmas night you have always liked to wear a Santa hat, specifically for the time of gift giving. When you were little, it was too big and probably slid halfway down your face and you couldn't see anything, so you had to be fixing it or asking mom to help you.

But now it looks perfect on you! Time works great miracles.

And now you're waiting for one, because you're going to give Chaeyoung her gift. Even though you've been dating for a couple of months, your stomach still flutters full of butterflies at certain times, like now. It is your first Christmas together and the idea makes you excited, but also nervous, knowing her eaction when she see the gift.

"So you like it?" You ask, fiddling restlessly with the pom-pom at the end of Santa's hat.

Even though you don't know how to knit, you tried to crochet a tiger plush for Chaeyoung, because it's her favorite animal. You were watching the same tutorial on YouTube over and over again and knitting for weeks, even between exam season, because you wanted to finish the stuffed animal just for Christmas. Even if it ended up being a disaster, you put all your love and effort into trying.

“I love it” The hug Chaeyoung pulls you into is as warm as the fireplace, and as sweet as hot chocolate with marshmallows. You sink into that hug, into the feeling of security and home that only she makes you feel. “Now you have to see my gift, come on.”

She pulls away from the hug and excitedly extends you something square-shaped, wrapped in gift paper. When you carefully tear off the paper, you discover what it is. It's a painting. Chaeyoung made it for you. They are doodles of everything that represents you, she even included all your favorite colors to paint it.

Giving you a painting is as if she gave you a part of her soul, an extension of herself, something that she will always let you know that she thought (thinks) of you.

So smiling like a fool, you take the Santa hat off your head and put it on Chaeyoung, pulling it down over her ears. Chaeyoung frowns (the hat is too big for her, like it did when you were little), but you simply kiss her on the nose and laughter flows sweetly from her lips.

"I love it. It’s the best Christmas gift in the world” You smile, leaning in to give her a kiss.

III. Love on snow

Post-gift opening you're dozing on the couch, because the warmth of the fireplace is so cozy, while you're snuggled up with Chaeyoung.

Sometimes you don't need to say anything, just be together in silence.

“It's snowing,” Chaeyoung suddlenly says, and rushes to the window. With a yawn you get up from the couch, kinda awake, and walk towards her as she cleans the window glass, which is fogged up because it's too cold.

This way, both can see how the snow falls outside, accumulating between large piles that embellish the Christmas atmosphere. You hug her from behind, snuggling in like you're cold, but you just want to be close to her. I love you, I love you, I love you, you say in that hug without having to resort to words. She presses herself against you, returning the gesture.

“The city is so beautiful when it snows” You comment, looking out the window. There are thousands of Christmas lights of different colors displayed all over the houses, at least the ones you can see, which is why it is such a beautiful visual panorama. You smile, holding Chaeyoung close to you.

“And my Christmas is so beautiful with you here” And her voice is so sweet, so peaceful.

[mossnstudy]

100 Days of Productivity - Day 5/100

To say that uni kicked everyliving ass today is saying the absolute least. I am EXHAUSTED but I think that that is primarily because of how busy this week has been in general. This productivity challenge has helped a TON so far :) SO lets commence with day 5

Day 5

Again another early wake up - 8am with a 9am start to class

I had two Homer lectures and two Athenian law lectures today and was in uni from 9-3pm ;-; I technically had two hours of break but i used one of the hours further studying the iliad just to get some reading out of the way

Cooked dinner for me and my partner :) as well as lunch for myself

Studied my personal studies in witchcraft! Todays the beaver moon so I decided to do some research on that :) Also started a painting on it.

Started buying christmas presents !!!

Overall thats all I've done today but university wiped me out and i dont have the energy at all to do it. Tomorrow I'm taking my university work to my partners mums house whilst we look after her dog!! So I can do more catch up work whilst im there :)

Overall that was day 5 really!! I cant wait to finally go to sleep tonight !

[goldeneyedgirl]

day 125 asking for home again please i'm begging u i don't mind if you have a new chapter an idea or just rambling randomly about this fic i'm only asking for crumbs i hope it will touch your heart

Anon, you moved me. I'm so sorry I forgot your request. I have a memory like swiss cheese.

The rewrite has temporarily stalled, only because I have four chapter fics going, three one-shots needing to be finished, and I'm plotting out Whumptober, Nanowrimo, and Ficmas. Plus I have uni work which involves planning and writing a manuscript in 2025. Soo rewrites have escaped me for the time being.

But I do have plans to add a couple of fics to that series. The next fic I was going to publish was second chronologically - Cynthia's wedding. So this takes place maybe eight weeks after Home Again, so everything is kind of new and Jasper gets to experience Alice's family nonsense and how the insanely rich live.

Other fics I was messing with in this universe (the file for these has disappeared, so I have to do a deep dive on my harddrive to see where it was filed but it's totally gone at the moment) includes Alice's father showing up in Mexico for a surprise visit at a very inopportune time; the Brandons deciding to have a pre-Christmas gathering at Alice's house so that Alice's mom can get a bunch of photos for social media; Alice and Jasper in Seattle (I mean, we need to have Maria show up at some point - I love writing Maria); plus drama around the rest of the family - Edward and Bella having a baby, Peter and Charlotte getting married, and just other wholesome nonsense.

I might also drag the OG drafts for celebrity Alice out of the archives for Ficmas because, listen, the original Vision was very different. I think there were three different versions in 24 hours, lol.

Anyway, here is some of the draft of Cynthia's Wedding/the Spectacle.

jasper.

Flowers.

That was Jasper’s first thought.

He’d never seen so many flowers in one place before.

Or ribbons.

Or people.

“Breathe.” Alice was standing beside him, looking much more at ease than he felt. She looked beautiful but almost foreign on his arm; she’d had hair and make-up people in their suite early, and had emerged with an artfully messy updo and an almost porcelain-doll appearance.

She didn’t seem entirely real, honestly.

None of this did.

They’d arrived in New York City the afternoon before and this had been the most eye-opening twenty-four hours of his life.

First of all, the chauffeur that had picked them up from the airport had swept them to one of the most expensive hotels in the city - he knew Alice had vetoed the Plaza, where Cynthia was getting married, citing a complete lack of privacy - and they had been quickly and efficiently swept up to a suite that was, frankly, nicer than his Seattle apartment. A perfectly tailored suit and Alice’s dress for the wedding had been waiting for them, along with a handwritten schedule and half a dozen floral arrangements - as well as a bottle of champagne and a ‘good luck’ note from Carmen, which made Alice snort.

There had been a dinner reservation made at the hotel restaurant with Alice’s godmother - a pinched woman who downed three martinis and left citing a need for a cigarette before they’d even received their entrees. Alice had laughed at his total bewilderment - “I’ve known her my whole life, Jas, and I’ve never seen her eat anything more substantial than a martini olive - or stay at an event longer than thirty minutes.”

The next morning, Alice had disappeared to spa treatments, hair, and makeup after breakfast, and returned to the room looking rather blank and popped two pain pills on a relatively empty stomach but had reassured him that she was fine. He’d even gone out to get her something to eat, but she’d only picked at it and blamed nerves about being in front of the camera.

And now they were at the wedding.

Alice’s dress was beautiful - dark plum lace tailored close to her body with a high neck and buttons running down her spine. The hem brushed the floor, concealing the fact that she had insisted on nearly four inch heels despite the pain they caused her. A small fortune of diamonds hung from her ears and around her wrist that Alice claimed belonged to the family trust, from a long-dead family member. The suit Carmen had arranged for him was tailored so perfectly that it was one of the most comfortable things he’d ever worn - and one of the nicest, far and away nicer than what he'd worn at his own wedding.

That made him a little nervous - first class flights to New York, the hotel room, the suit… Alice had convinced him that as her date, she was going to cover everything. He was doing her a favour, after all - Cynthia wouldn’t have allowed her to attend without a plus-one. But this whole weekend was costing more than his entire life, and that made him somewhat uncomfortable.

“This is…”

“A lot, I know.” Alice’s smile is pasted on her face, and doesn’t look quite right. “Just look like you’re happy to be here and no one will notice.”

“I’m happy to be here with you, this is just terrifying,” he murmured in her ear and for a moment, Alice’s mask dropped and she gave him a genuine, albeit bashful, smile.

The entrance had an actual red - well, gold - carpet at the entrance, against a wall of white roses. Various photographers were lined up, snapping away. It took him several moments to place a few of the other guests dotted along the carpet - models, celebrities, singers… It was surreal.

Ignoring people calling out to her, Alice carefully guided him inside the hotel.

—

The ceremony room was all gold and white, adored in hundreds of white candles, and masses of flowers in whites, pinks, and lemons. It was dizzying and oddly hypnotic, like standing in a secret garden but knowing that something wasn't quite right about it.

Gold chairs draped in silky fabric were arranged for the guests - rows and rows of them, negating Alice’s assumption that this was planned to be an intimate wedding. A white and gold bar was set up at the back of the room, where numerous people were clustered around - people Jasper had only ever seen on TV.

“You’ll be seated in the front row,” the perky attendant said, escorting them down the aisle, gesturing to two seats.

//

Securing a glass of champagne for Alice and a gin-and-tonic for himself, Jasper immediately returned to where Alice was seated - where a man was looming over her. He wearing a well-worn, rumpled suit, clutching a drink like it was a lifeline, and looked like he needed a shave and a good night's sleep. He wasn't anyone that Jasper recognised, but the way he was scrutinizing Alice made Jasper feel oddly protective of her.

"Mary, Mary," the man said in a rough voice that sounded almost mocking to Jasper's ears as he handed Alice her champagne.

“Alistair,” the fake smile is back but Alice doesn’t rise, merely nods at him. “How are you?”

Alistair, the former fiancé - a long-time associate of Alice’s father and not someone Alice has spoken of fondly. He didn’t know the details of the break up - or even the engagement - and he couldn’t bring himself to google search his own ... what? Girlfriend? Either way, it felt very disloyal to google things Alice didn't really want to talk about.

“You look better than I expected,” Alistair is frank, and is inspecting Alice like a piece of meat. “The way your family has carried on, I expected...”

"To be at death's door?" Alice offers sweetly.

"You not to be here," Alistair chuckles, before looking Jasper up and down.

//

Mr Platt is exactly what Jasper expected; an imposing man with salt and pepper hair and generic movie star looks. He doesn’t acknowledge anyone around him, firmly focused on his phone. There’s a haughty looking woman next to him in a shimmering dark blue dress and smooth red hair that Jasper suspects is his wife, even if she isn’t old enough to be Alice’s mother.

“Fourth wife, former assistant,” Alice murmurs to him from behind her champagne glass. “Mother of two daughters, and she’s very upset that neither of them were boys.”

[nicistrying]

Thursday 30th November

Another productive day at Nic's house! Took Maggie to play with her friends - I've barely walked this week, just been meeting the two ladies who have the other dogs on the field and we all just throw balls for all the dogs and they have a lovely time. I don't even care that she's not going far, I'd far rather she got some social time to build her confidence and she gets a really good run chasing the others so she's certainly not missing out on exercise. I keep trying to get a good photo of the old girl Poppy for her owner - I wanted to frame it for her for Christmas if I can get a good enough one in time. She's a gorgeous girl and she just potters around with us while the young ones are zooming after each other.

Speaking of, her owner got me a little card and chocolates and a little Christmas ornament to say good luck at the new job which was so sweet of her. We got so lucky moving here and having such beautiful countryside all around, huge fields to walk Maggie, loads of friendly dogs that Maggie plays with, and lovely people around - I stand and chat to these two older ladies for an hour most mornings and we have such a good laugh playing with the dogs and I count myself so lucky to have that!

Anyway so that was really sweet of her. Went grocery shopping after, then braved the loft - I usually get Matt to go up but he's so busy with uni that I'm learning to do all these house things by myself lol. Put a load of stuff up there that's been taking up space we don't really have, and got the Christmas decs down! Feeling ever so slightly festive ready for December tomorrow 🥰 oh and we got our first snow today! The ground is wet so not much is lying but we've had some good flurries! ❄️❄️

Then made a really good tomato risotto for dinner, if I may say so myself! I'll defo be making it again in a much bigger batch 😂

My food pics always look awful but I swear it was delicious 😂