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sammy8d257 · 2 years ago

Text

In the Week that Follows - Chap. 1: Day 0 - The Night After

An AvM fanfic Written by Sammy8D257

Part of the Watered Down Hot Chocolate Series

Cover Art / Day 0 / Day 1: 1 - 2 - 3 / Day 2 / Day 3 / Day 4 / Day 5 / Day 6 / Day 7 / Day 8

Chapter Word Count: 4164 Characters: King (He/Him), Purple (They/Them), (Only mentioned but Gold uses They/Them) CW for this Chapter: Implied Minor Character Death (King’s Child), Implied Child Abuse (from Purple’s past), Unhealthy coping mechanisms, Poor Mental Health, Self-Hatred

Chapter Summary: After the events of AvM 30, King and Purple make their way back to King's house.

[AO3 Version]

= O = o =

Day 0 - The Night After

At some point during the walk back to the Bastion, Purple stumbled and on instinct, King reached an arm out to steady them. It was an involuntary action, one that some would say was due to King's history of taking care of a rambunctious child. And at some point, the adrenaline dulling the pain in King's back petered out and without having to ask, Purple snaked an arm around his midsection to help ease the strain. They did it with wordless precision and if one were to guess, they'd say they've done it before. But here in the boiling heat of the Nether, these gestures were only for the two of them.

So the arms stayed, wrapped around a shoulder and waist as they both leaned on each other for support. A secret shared between them. And through the crimson forest, through the Bastion, through the Nether portal, and through the tunnel within King's basement, they walked in silence. Both simply content with the other's presence.

It wasn't until they neared the ladder to the main floor hatch, was the blanket of quiet broken.

All at once, they could feel the weight of the comforting touch and they shuffled awkwardly out of each other's grasp. The anxiety of overstepping an unspoken boundary overrode any lingering desire of keeping close. Neither of them were willing to acknowledge the creeping cold that accompanied their sore muscles at the loss of touch.

King coughed and opened his mouth to speak, only to find his voice stuck with dust and exhaustion. He closed it sheepishly, an embarrassed look gracing his face as he gestured to the ladder, hoping his… companion? Acquaintance? Purple. Purple would understand what he was trying to say. The shorter stick figure stared at him for a moment before shaking their head in a wordless chuckle. King couldn't help the relieved sigh that escaped his mouth as Purple shifted their gaze forward.

The ladder stood tall against the cold brown of the carved out tunnel walls. The pale blue light cast down from the trapdoor above mixed with the warm tones of the torches. For a moment, King was surprised by the sight of them. These torches were burning for a lot longer than he expected.

Dimly, he remembered summoning them during Purple's first day of work. He added them to help illuminate the tunnels since even though he was used to navigating them in limited light, Purple had no such experience. The younger stick would have no doubt tripped and fallen if not for the light. He had even gotten rid of various obstacles that could have hindered them as they traveled through the tunnels.

The last thing I need is an injured helper. It would only hinder my plan. He reasoned not so long ago. King grimaced at his past self. Had he really gotten so callous that he only cared about others if they were useful? One glance at the bruised stick figure at his side told him his answer.

The sounds of shuffling feet across the dusty floor snapped King out of his musings. Purple was standing underneath the ladder, poised to start climbing. But they were glancing back at him. Though their eyes were slightly clouded with exhaustion, there was something sharp in their gaze. They were watching, examining him as if they were searching for something.

King blinked, unsure what to do. He felt pinned under the younger stick's stare. Did they want something from him? Were they waiting for him to say something? He swallowed thickly, hoping it would help clear his throat.

A second passed. Then two, then three, and then eventually, Purple averted their eyes, instead turning them upwards towards the exit. And then King watched as they hobbled up the rungs with all the grace of a broken winged bird.

From the few days King got to know Purple, he knew how prideful the stick figure could be. When doing something, anything, they always tried to prove they could do it on their own. So he refused to voice his concern when Purple misplaced a foot and hung slightly off the ladder. He bit back a remark as he heard Purple mumble a swear under their breath. And if asked, he would deny shifting his body closer to the ladder as Purple readjusted themself and continued upwards.

Only when Purple hoisted themself over the top of the ladder and onto the main floor did he let go of the breath he didn't know he was holding. He could hear them shuffle around up there, no doubt finding a place to rest their weary muscles. Where exactly, given the mess that was left behind, King didn't know. There wasn't much open space left on the floor that wasn't covered in books and scrapes of past failures. Eventually, the noises stopped and King was left staring up at the hole.

King didn't know how long he stood at the bottom of the ladder. He half expected Purple to poke their head down and ask what was taking so long. He could imagine a smile, fond and understanding, on the younger's face as he cracked a joke about "enjoying the dusty walls of the tunnel". But Purple never glanced down the hole and King was left staring at the empty opening.

He sucked in a breath. Cursors, he was so tired. How pathetic had he gotten that he was starting to imagine a friendship between him and a person he barely knew. King raked a hand across his face, wincing at the tender flesh of his left cheek. The light from the torches were starting to irritate his eyes. He had to leave this place. But… King glanced back up at the ladder.

Just the thought of climbing made his already sore muscles throb in agony. King would be lying if he didn't contemplate just sitting down on the floor and going to sleep. It wouldn't be the first time it happened. Memories of one too many sleepless nights spent down in this tunnel passed briefly through his mind. If not for the fact that Purple was still up on the first floor waiting for him, he might have given in to that urge. Instead, the weary stick sighed and placed his foot on the first rungs of the ladder.

Immediately, he regretted it. The pain in his back flared and he could feel his joints creak in protest. Everything about his body was telling him to stop, go back down the ladder and rest. In the morning he could try again, but the thought of Purple, beaten and bruised and up there all alone in his house, kept King going.

Step after step. Rung after rung. King hoisted himself upwards with all the vigor of a washed up rag. Why oh why, did he build a ladder and not a staircase? Did he really just climb this thing day after day without any care for his knees? For his back? Did he hate himself that much? King pointedly ignored the answer the voice in the back of his head gave.

About 3/4th the way up the ladder, the panting stick figure paused and rested his head against a rung. He swore under his breath that next time, he was going to rip this ladder out of the wall and replace it with stairs.

Wait, next time? King thought.

He frowned. Next time… next time he comes down here, he's destroying this place. Every single thing, the portal, the parkour course, the room and the tunnel, it was getting torn down. And then he was going to tear the trap door off its hinges and replace his flooring. No point in thinking about replacing the ladder with stairs if it's going to be covered in dirt. Months of relentless work, all to be destroyed in one afternoon, and King couldn't bring himself to care.

As soon as he could, he wanted to burn this entire event from memory. But to do that, he needed to reach the top first. So with a groan, he kept climbing.

King huffed as he finally heaved his body over the edge of the opening. Closing his eyes, he savored the feeling of the wooden floor against his back. If given the choice, he would have been content to just lie here and never get up. But after a minute of deep breathing, King could feel a pair of eyes staring at him.

Ah, that's right. Purple was still here. King cracked an eye open and squinted over to the younger stick. Purple was sitting on a pile of books at the end of his table. They were leaned snugly into the corner where the desk met the wall with their body facing towards the trap door.

Suddenly self-conscious under their gaze, King slowly picked himself up into a sitting position. Purple blinked, seemingly startled by King's movement and shifted their eyes to look at the wall to the right instead. The orange stick figure followed their gaze and cringed. The writing on the wall looked more like the scrawlings of a mad man than the research he originally intended it to be.

King turned away, choosing instead to focus on the stick figure currently in his house. A part of him was surprised. He half expected his house to be empty by the time he finished climbing, but Purple stayed. They had no reason to, especially after everything King put them through, and yet…

"Thank you for waiting for me," King said slowly, his voice still rough. "You didn't have to but… I appreciate it."

Purple hummed, gaze returning back to King. In response, King dropped his own gaze to look at the now closed, trap door hatch.

King cleared his throat. "I'll be alright now. I can handle it from here. So..."

He cringed. When did he get so awkward? Just last week he was bossing around this same stick figure without a second thought but now he's stumbling over his words like a fool. How pathetic could he get?

"I guess, this is goodbye?" He didn't mean for his words to come out as a question but the usual control over his voice was starting to slip from exhaustion. "Will you be safe getting home?"

Purple shook their head. "Oh, I'm not leaving."

"You're not, wha- What?" King's eyes snapped up to stare at Purple. "Why…?"

The purple stick shook their head again and gestured to the window above the desk. Moonlight filtered softly through glass panes.

"King, it's dark out. I got beat up and disintegrated into a beam of light. I'm tired." Purple dropped their hand back to their lap. "There's no way I'm making it back to my apartment like this."

"Ah… Right. Make yourself at… home?" King winced.

He didn't know what else to say. For some reason, Purple's tone had reminded him of a tired parent lecturing a child. It was a voice that King himself had often used back when Gold would stay up past their bedtime to read history books. However, with Purple, it sounded especially resigned and expressed with a practiced ease.

He didn't like it. He didn't like how Purple's voice made his throat close in guilt. As if he were the child being lectured by a parent who knew far, far more than him.

As if he were ignorant.

He grimaced, face sour and shoulders hunched. This isn't normal. This isn't how King would usually handle situations like this. Why is he floundering? Is it because he's delirious from pain and lack of sleep? He should say something, anything! Just whatever to stop the tension that was building up inside him. But just as he was about to open his mouth, Purple spoke again.

"... You know, I never said this earlier because you were my boss," Their voice had changed, adopting a more relaxed and casual tone. "But your place sucks. It's a mess."

The look of shock on King's face must have been funny because as soon as the comment registered, Purple started laughing. Their laugh was airy, somewhat strained with the smile not quite reaching their eyes but it made the tension drain out of King all the same.

"I- Are you seriously insulting my house right now?" He asked incredulously.

Sure his house wasn't clean by any stretch of the imagination. And King could admit that it was a mess. But it could be worse. And it most certainly didn't suck. Whatever previous emotions King had were instantly replaced by the feeling of disbelief at the sheer audacity of Purple's statement. (Looking back on this moment, King wondered if that was the goal.)

He sat up a little straighter, his right arm gesturing for emphasis. "If you don't like it here so much, you could just leave!"

"I could, but," Purple sent, what he could only describe as a purposefully annoying grin his way. The moonlight shadowed their face, giving it an extra cheeky feel. "Once again, I'm tired and beat up and that's partially your fault…" King's eye twitched. "...so you kinda owe me at least one night's rest."

He sucked in a slow breath. King should be feeling guilty. He knows he should be. And to some extent he did feel bad but it was mostly overshadowed by the irritated feeling he got every time he looked at Purple's smug grin. They never acted like this when they were working under him. In fact, Purple never tried to be anything but perfectly obedient while working with him. How was it possible these two versions were the same stick?

King groaned and pushed himself up into a standing position.

"I liked it better when you didn't talk back."

He could feel another stress headache forming. Cursors he wanted to go to sleep.

Purple paused to stare up at him as he approached. An unknown emotion flitted across their face before it was quickly replaced by a look of amusement.

"Then you'll love it when I'm asleep." They joked, accepting King's outstretched arm as support. Carefully, Purple rose to their feet. "Speaking of, where do you want me to sleep?"

"... Huh?"

King's brain stuttered to a halt. All this time, they were talking about Purple staying over for the night. And yet, never once did the thought of "this is actually happening" sink in.

Until now.

Where was Purple going to sleep?

"Where do you want me to sleep?" Purple repeated. "Like, do you have an extra bed I could sleep in?"

King stared at them, eyes furrowed in thought. There were only two beds in this house. His bed and…

"What about a couch? A recliner? A mat?"

His couch was one of the first things that were sold in an effort to fund his research. The only other furniture were the wooden chairs stacked in the kitchen. And King never had any use for sleeping mats. There was an old sleeping bag at the back of the closet, though that might be too small for them to use since it's child-sized…

"C'mon, you've got to have something."

Something… something… something to sleep on… what else was there? He didn't have anything other than his bed and bed in Gold's room. And he wasn't about to offer that. But Purple needed a place to sleep. Therefore, the only solution was…

"I guess you can use-"

"I'm not taking your bed."

King blinked. The hard, almost venomous tone Purple used to cut him off had him snapping out of his thoughts in surprise. He had never heard them sound so angry before. Purple, themself, looked almost as shocked as he did. For a brief second a look of panic flashed across their eyes as the two stick figures stared at each other, before it was smoothed over with a flustered apologetic look.

"I'm sorry," Purple said, head bowed slightly. They let go of King's arm and took a few steps back, using the desk behind them instead for support. "It's just… I could never take your bed. Not when you obviously need it too. And if I took it, then where would you sleep? It would just be rude of me to make you give up your own bed and…"

They continued to ramble as King stared at them. The shadows cast from the window partially obscured their expression making it even harder to get a read on them. To be honest, he didn't know how to respond to this. This past hour alone had shown him numerous different sides of this younger stick figure that he didn't know they had. And he did not have the mental capacity at the moment to unpack it all.

Purple paused and sucked in a sharp breath. Releasing it slowly, they spoke again, their voice neutral. "Look, I'll just… sleep on the floor alright? I've done it before. Multiple times actually."

That last part, Purple mumbled under their breath. King frowned, not understanding why that statement made him upset but he still felt bothered all the same. "All I need are a couple of pillows and blankets. Do you have any extra?" They continued.

King observed them for a second, then two, then three. Although their posture was neutral, almost nonchalant against the desk, he could see a tension in them. Almost like they were seconds away from running if King so much as moved too fast around them. This wasn't right. Something was off but his exhausted mind refused to make any connections.

Maybe they're just as tired as he was. King rationalized.

"Yeah… I have some extra," King finally answered. "I'll go grab them."

And as he turned, he pretended not to see the way Purple physically relaxed into the desk as he made his way into the hallway.

= O = o =

"Here."

King handed the bundle of spare blankets and pillows into Purple's arms.

During the time King spent gathering the items, Purple had moved from the desk by the window to the dresser that stood along the wall opposite to his bed. The floor to the right of it had been cleared of any books or papers that usually sat there. The space was big enough for one stick figure to lie down. And by the time King returned, they also seemed to calm down. Whatever nervous energy they had was gone and in its place was an air of neutral gratitude.

At least they didn't look scared anymore. King mused.

With the bundle securely deposited, King turned towards his own bed. The toil of the past few hours had well and truly started hitting him. His trek towards the linen closet at the end of the moonlit hallway had drained him and more than anything, he just wanted to sleep.

"Medieval themed?" King heard Purple ask from behind him.

Medieval themed? King slowly turned around and sure enough, kneeling on the floor Purple had unfurled a comforter. In the moonlight, the image of a knight fighting a dragon with a castle in the background stretched across the fabric.

King sucked in a breath. He didn't mean to grab that. He didn't even know it was still in that closet. It should have been with the rest of the stuff behind the closed door down the hall. But in his hurry and in the darkness of the hallway, he didn't even notice what he grabbed. King was just on auto-pilot at that point, his only thought was grabbing two pillows and three blankets. He should have paid attention to what he took.

Purple chuckled, lowering the thick blanket back down to their lap. "Very on brand, huh?"

"They aren't mine."

Purple looked up at him in confusion. "What-"

"Purple," King cut them off. He was tired and upset. He tried to keep it out of his voice but if the way Purple flinched was anything to go by, he didn't do a good job. "Just… finish up what you're doing then go to sleep. I'm going to bed."

The two stick figures stared at each other. The light of the moon casting long shadows across the room. That searching look was back in Purple's eyes but the stress of the day had worn King down to the point where he simply didn't care what the younger stick wanted from him. The only thing he wanted was to close his eyes and let the world disappear for the next few hours.

One second passed, then two, then three, until Purple sighed and lowered their gaze.

"Okay."

And then they turned and continued organizing the blankets on the floor into a comfortable arrangement. King watched them for a little while longer, eventually moving to sit at the edge of his bed when the strain in his back got too painful. He made a mental note to take a painkiller when he woke up the next day.

Purple paused their shuffling at the movement but didn't turn around. After a moment, they continued creating their bed until a dark little pile of blankets and pillows was formed. And with that, Purple laid down and pulled the covers over their head.

At least it looks comfy. King thought. Or probably comfy. Who knows.

It was hard to see thanks to the shadows from the window and King's blurry exhausted vision. But he could still see the rise and fall of the blanket, indicating that Purple was heading to sleep soon. Just like King should be.

One second passed, then two, then three. King stared at Purple's slumbering form, feeling his own pulse slow and his eyelids grow heavy with each passing breath.

He was so tired.

With a groan, he lowered himself down on his mattress.

And finally, closed his eyes.

= o =

One… Two… One… Two…

Purple counted the seconds between each of King's breaths as they faced the wall.

One… Two… One… Two… One… Two… Three…

They didn't know how they felt about King yet.

One… Two…

King was like him. He was ruthless and driven and packed one hell of a punch. The week spent working under him felt almost nostalgic but the past few hours had shown them a different side. Despite everything that happened, he still came back for them. He was different from him.

One… Two… Three… One… Two…

King was like her. He was hurting. Not just physically but mentally. They knew the signs. The messy house, the awkward small talk, the secrets hidden behind anxious eyes. She was like that too, at the beginning.

One… Two… One… Two… Three… One… Two… Three…

King was like them. Grief was something they were all too familiar with. They didn't know what exactly happened but if they had to guess, it was related to the blankets currently around them and that framed photo on the nightstand.

One… Two… Three… Four… One… Two… Three…

So similar but so different. King was like him, and her, and them, but still his own. They just didn't know how to act around him yet. Everything they've tried so far has led to King being awkward, King getting annoyed, or King getting angry. Even so…

One… Two… Three…

They still wanted to help him.

One… Two… Three… Four… One… Two… Three… Four…

Purple counted the seconds between each breath. When the count evened, they quietly flipped over to face the sleeping figure. The orange stick's face was less tense and the muscles, no doubt still sore, were relaxed. They could see the beginnings of a dark bruise forming on his left cheek.

One… Two… Three… Four…

Purple was good at helping. They were good at taking care of others. They knew this about themself.

One… Two… Three… Four… Five…

And King would need their help dealing with the aftermath of everything. They're certain he would. They might be the only person in this world that could understand and help.

One… Two… Three… Four…

So, it would only make sense for them to be there for him.

One… Two… Three… Four…

With a newfound sense of purpose, Purple carefully rolled the covers back over their head. They glanced down at the cracked screen of their phone, pleasantly surprised it still worked after everything. They hoped the blankets blocked enough screen light. It had been a while since they had to pull a move like this.

One… Two… Three…

1:48 am. That left about 5 hours before the first bus arrived at its routine stop, 10 minutes down the road. Purple chewed at the side of their cheek. They've done more on less time.

One… Two… Three… One… Two… Three…

With a nod, they clicked their phone off, wanting to save what little battery was left of it. They glanced once more at King before turning to face the ceiling, their mind buzzing with things they needed for tomorrow.

One… Two… Three… Four...

There was a lot to prepare.

One… Two… Three… Four…

#Sammy8D writes #AvM In the Week that Follows #AvM fanfic #AvAM Watered Down Hot Chocolate #AvAM WDHC #alan becker #animation vs minecraft #avm shorts #avm #King stick figure #the King #AvM King #AvA King #purple stick figure #ava purple #avm purple #Sammy8D Stick Stuff

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samthecookielord · 2 years ago

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Making monster school fanart again after 2 whole years lol

#cookie lords art #willcraft monster school #minecraft #avm red #minecraft endie #minecraft ghist #minecraft blaise #minecraft creep #minecraft skellington

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doc-pickles · 3 years ago

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hoping, dreaming, dying to keep

And all at once, you are all I want, I'll never let you go

King of my heart, body and soul

“You know, I found your husband.”

The voice in the doorway of the lounge made Jo look up in shock, brows furrowing as she comprehended what Alex had just said. “What?”

“I hired a guy. I found his name. I looked him up,” Alex paused, gauging Jo’s reaction as he relayed his actions. “And then I went and found him.”

“Oh, my God, Alex.”

“Look. You didn't ask me to do that, and you didn't give me permission to do that, and it was wrong, and I'm sorry. But Jo, I swear to God, I could never, ever hurt you,” Alex wore a pitiful expression as he looked at Jo, obviously hoping she would hear him out. “My dad, he was like your ex. I'm not like that, all right? I'm not like my dad. I mean, I do things that are wrong. I do things that are stupid. But I swear to you I would never hurt you.”

Jo let Alex’s words sink in, heart pounding as she realized that Alex had gone behind her back, “You saw Paul?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you serious? After I told you what I went through you just went behind my back and found Paul,” Jo ran a hand through her hair as she fought back tears. “I’ve spent so many years hiding from him and you just what? Found him on the internet? What if he figures out where I am? What then?” “Jo I-”

“No this… This is unforgivable. I’m sorry Alex but I don’t think I can trust you again after this,” Jo turned away from Alex, attempting to stem her tears long enough for her to get herself alone. “Can you just leave? Please?”

There’s a long pause and she almost thinks that he’s left her there before his voice pipes up, “I’m sorry Jo. Really I am.” Once she hears him leave the lounge and shut the door behind himself, Jo let’s a few quiet tears escape. She contemplates running, leaving everything behind once again and starting over. But she’s built a life here in Seattle, Alex be damned. She wasn’t going to let Paul or her fear keep her from living her life. If Paul became an issue again then she’d face the problem when it was standing in front of her. She wasn’t the same scared girl she used to be, she was a fighter and she could handle this.

“The Heparin should have helped by now. I think I made the wrong call.”

Jo’s heart drops as she approaches Alex and Amelia. She had run herself ragged around the hospital trying to find an answer only for her search to be useless.

“Wait. Heparin? No. I texted,” Alex turns at the sound of her voice, eyeing her warily. “They didn't reverse him.”

“Damn it. We can't access the reversal agent,” Alex looks at Amelia, who nods at him as she moves into the room. “Prep him to move.”

“What is it? What's wrong,” Frankie’s mom is frantic as Helm and Amelia begin to prep Frankie.

“Frankie's AVM might be bleeding. We've got to get him to the O.R. now.”

“But the medicine you gave him. It was supposed to help.”

“I'm sorry. We need to go.”

Amelia and Helm push Frankie out of the room, his mom hot on their heels. Jo watches them, her teeth gnawing on her bottom lip in worry. Finally she looks up to Alex who hasn’t moved from his spot next to her.

“Hey. I'm so sorry. I texted. It didn't go through. And then…”

“And then what,” Jo is expecting anger from Alex but instead his voice is laced with concern as he places a hand on her shoulder. “Jo, what’s wrong?”

She doesn’t know why the words slip out so easily for her but as Jo looks at Alex she can’t help herself, “Paul is here. I… I saw him downstairs.”

She doesn’t need to say anything else as Alex steps forward and wraps his arms around her, pulling her close as she takes a few shuddering breaths, “Why don’t you come sit in the gallery while Amelia and I operate? That way you aren’t totally alone.”

Jo nods, silently agreeing to Alex’s plan as they walked down the hall towards the OR. Jo stops a few feet away from the scrub room, gripping Alex’s arm tightly. In front of them sits Paul Stadler, fixing his shoe covers without a care in the world. Alex quickly turns to Jo, blocking her from Paul’s view.

“I’m in OR 3, go up to the gallery and don’t move until I come up later,” Alex watched as Jo let out a shaky breath and nodded, eyes still trained on Paul. “It’s gonna be alright Jo.”

Alex wants nothing more than to reach down and kiss Jo, to hold her tight as a comfort to both of them that things would be okay. Instead he watches her walk down the hallway, turning a corner and disappearing from his line of view, unknowingly carrying a large piece of his heart with her.

It’s late the next day when Alex walks Jo up to the door of the loft. After signing the divorce papers only for Paul to die a few hours later Jo had been through a lot. Alex had driven her home, making sure she got into the loft safely, “I’m gonna head out, do you need anything before I go?”

“Can you maybe just camp out on the couch tonight,” Jo sat on her bed, a ratty Princeton sweatshirt engulfing her a s she stared helplessly at Alex. “I just… I really don’t want to be alone tonight.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude or anything,” Alex rubs the back of his neck nervously, glancing up at Jo who has tears welling in her eyes. “Hey, don’t cry. I’ll stay okay?”

Jo sucks in a deep breath before a sob breaks from her, “I’m just really shaken up. I don’t want to be alone again. I know… I know that Paul is dead but I can’t stop my mind from playing worst case scenarios on an endless loop.

Alex closes the gap between them and pulls Jo into his arms as she continues to cry. He wanted nothing more than to hold her all night, comfort her the way she wanted. But he knew that wasn’t his place anymore so he started on the couch, the same one Jo had bought him. He leapt up when Jo was startled awake by a nightmare, comforting her until she drifted back to sleep. He feels selfish for loving the way her body so easily curls against his, but if this is the only way he can have Jo then so be it.

“You get ditched already too?” Jo jumps at the voice that sounds behind her, louder than the crowded room around her. She turns with a small grin as she meets Alex’s eyes, “Yeah I came down with Meredith but as soon as we got here she went off with Hayes. I’m pretty sure they already left.”

“Well if I was having the amount of sex they were having I wouldn’t want to stick around at some stuffy party either,” Alex takes a long gulp of his beer, Jo eyeing him for just a moment too long. His eyes glance over her and she can almost hear the gears in his brain turning. “What’s that look for?”

Jo gulps her own red wine, feeling a blush creep up from her neck to her cheeks, “Nothing, I just haven’t gotten laid in a pathetically long time. I don’t have time for casual sex.”

A deep laugh escapes Alex and the sound vibrates through Jo’s body, lighting her up with an electricity she hadn’t felt in far too long. Her eyes meet his, a grin forming on his cheeks, and before Alex could say anything else she was speaking, one hand pressing a finger into his chest, “Don’t say it!”

“I didn’t say anything!” “Yes but you have that cocky grin that you always used to wear when you thought you were going to get laid,” Jo narrows her eyes in Alex’s direction as his smirk widens. “Don’t even think about it, I am not going home with you.”

The moment isn’t as tense or awkward as Jo would’ve assumed, instead the same electricity fluttering around her chest was now buzzing around her and Alex. Even though they’d been broken up for over a year and a half now, their chemistry was still there burning just as strong as ever.

“You said it yourself, you haven’t gotten laid in awhile. We could help each other out,” Jo hates how her body reacts to him, melting at the mere suggestion of having sex. “It could be a no strings attached kind of thing, you know just scratching an itch.”

“And you think that you and I could be no strings attached? After all, we do have a history.”

The way their eyes meet then confirms for Jo that no matter what she says next her body is going to betray her and give into the primal urge building up rapidly within her. Alex’s eyes are dark and filled with a sense of longing as he stares at her, fingers reaching out to grab her hand, “There’s only one way to find out.”

They barely make it to Alex’s car before their hands are all over each other, clothing being ripped away as they fall into the backseat in a whirlwind of moans and gasps. It feels as if no time has passed between them as she and Alex fall over the edge together, heavy breaths echoing around them as Jo rests her cheek against his chest.

His heartbeat sounding in her ear comforts her in a way she’d forgotten about, never lingering like this with any of her one night stands or casual flings. She almost lets herself get caught up in the feeling before Alex’s voice rings in her ear.

“So… no strings attached?”

She knows she’s had a drink too many when she let’s Alex’s arms wrap around her waist, her body melting at his touch despite the fact that they were surrounded by their friends and coworkers. Meredith and Hayes had said their vows hours earlier, the couple happily dancing with all five of their combined children as everyone around them celebrated.

“Let’s get out of here,” Alex’s breath is burning hot against her neck, his presence overwhelming all of her senses. “I’ve got a room upstairs.” “Aren’t you supposed to stick around since you’re the man of honor,” Jo turns in his embrace and settles her hands on Alex’s chest as she fixes him with a stern look. “I don’t think Mer will be too happy to look around and find you missing.”

Alex rolls his eyes as his hands snake down to her waist, pulling her closer to him, “She’ll live. Now c'mon, I've been staring at you in that dress all night and all I’ve wanted is to take it off of you.”

The rest of the night is a blur, Jo and Alex falling into bed with each other multiple times before they finally succumb to sleep. It’s not until late the next afternoon when she wakes up in his embrace that Jo realizes that they hadn’t used any protection. Staring at Alex’s sleeping form she decides to keep that revelation to herself, dressing quietly and slipping out the hotel room before he can wake up.

+ The next few weeks are excruciating, Jo avoiding Alex at any and all costs. They’d usually meet up at least once a week, but she’d been ignoring his texts and avoiding the peds floor whenever possible. She knew Alex could tell something was wrong, even before they’d started their ‘no strings attached’ relationship they’d see each other around the hospital or at Joe’s. But since Meredith and Hayes’ wedding she’d given him the cold shoulder, her anxious mind spinning out as she played over what their future might look like.

It’s a month after the wedding when she finally gets hit with a bout of nausea in the middle of rounds. She barely makes it out of the patient room and to the trashcan in the hallway before her breakfast is reappearing in front of her, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach as she shoos her group of residents away. Once she’s confident that she won’t throw up again, Jo finds herself darting to the nearest supply closet and grabbing a pregnancy test.

She’s known in the back of her head for almost a week but she hadn’t dared to confirm the growing suspicion lingering there. Now however there would be no more denying as what she assumed was morning sickness and the accompanying nausea had plagued her since rolling out of bed that morning.

“C’mon, just tell me already,” Jo mumbles the words to herself as she stares down at the two tests resting on the bathroom counter in the attendings lounge.

“Jo? You okay?” The question is met with a knock on the bathroom door but before Jo can answer the person on the other side the timer on her phone is blaring, startling her into knocking both tests and her still sounding phone onto the floor. She scrambles to pick everything up just as the door swings open, Alex standing before her with a worried expression on his face.

Great, just what I needed.

She’s about to speak when she follows his line of sight to the two plastic tests sitting right in front of his feet, both brandishing a bright pink plus sign. Jo picks the tests up quickly but she knows the damage has already been done. When she stands up and faces Alex her mind immediately flashes back to the night he proposed to her in the loft. His face has the same mix of heartache and hurt that it had that day two years ago and Jo’s own heart twists as she meets his eyes.

“Oh.” The word slips from Alex’s mouth easily and his eyes dart to Jo’s abdomen. Before he can say anything else Jo is speaking in a nervous tangent, “I was throwing up this morning and I’ve already suspected for a few weeks, well I assumed something might have happened since we weren’t exactly careful at the wedding and I was just waiting for this stupid stick to turn pink and then-”

“You knew?,” Alex’s voice stops her nervous tangent, blinking up at him in confusion. “You knew, or you thought you might know, and you didn’t say anything to me?”

“Well I wasn’t for sure about it-” “But you knew we didn’t use protection? And that you might be pregnant for weeks and you didn’t say anything. Instead you just avoided me the whole time,” Jo could feel Alex’s anger rising as his brain worked through the situation at hand. “Were you even going to tell me you were pregnant if I hadn’t shown up just now?”

“Of course I was! But I didn’t think I needed to keep you in the loop on every little thing in my life seeing as you’re not my boyfriend,” Jo crosses her arms as she stares down Alex, her own anger boiling under her skin. “You were the one that insisted on this being no strings attached, well that’s exactly what you’ve got! I’ll let you know when I book an appointment, other than that don’t expect to hear from me.” Jo brushes past Alex, ignoring his calls to her as she walks briskly out of the attendings lounge. She would deal with the repercussions later, for now all she wanted was to be left alone and to be as far away from Alex as possible.

Weeks pass by and true to her word Jo doesn't contact Alex except to tell him about her first ultrasound. He misses the appointment, an emergency surgery calling him away half an hour beforehand, and Jo feels a small twinge of sadness as she tucks the ultrasound into his wallet. While part of her is still upset with him, another part is sad that he wasn’t able to experience the appointment with her.

“Wilson I’ve got a patient in room 4 that needs a consult,” Hunt’s voice booms from behind her and Jo turns to meet his eye. “Car crash victim with minor injuries. Do you mind grabbing it? We’re filling up fast here.”

Jo nods, grabbing an iPad and bringing up the electronic chart. She feels like crap, even though she’s approaching the 12 week mark she’s still plagued with nausea and heartburn most days. Her stomach now has the slightest curve to it and Jo can’t help but run her hand over the small bump throughout the day.

“Hi Mr. Greene, my name is Doctor Wilson and I’m-“

“I don’t really care who you are, I’m not staying in this damn hospital,” the older man seems disgruntled, sitting on the edge of the gurney and fixing Jo with a glare. “I’m perfectly fine anyways.”

Despite what he says, the man has a large gash across his forehead and his right arm is clearly bothering him. Jo takes his reluctance in stride, taking another step towards the bed, “I just want to check out that cut on your forehead and make sure it doesn’t get infected. It looks like you might need stitches.” “I told you I’m fine! I don’t trust any of you doctors.”

“Well we’re going to have to keep you for obser-“

Before she can move out of the way, the man is springing up from the gurney and lunging towards her. His hands grab her arms roughly and slam her into the wall of the trauma room. Jo can feel her head smack against the plaster as she lets a scream out, eyes screwing shut as she tries not to let her racing mind overwhelm her.

Paul. Running away. Jason. Fighting back. DeLuca. Mistakes. Alex. Heartbreak. Her baby… Her baby. Her baby.

Suddenly the pressure against her arms releases and Jo opens her eyes in time to see Alex pulling the now screaming patient away from her. Instead of the angry and visceral reaction she’s expecting from him, Jo watches as Alex pulls the patient away just long enough to let Owen sedate him. As soon as he hands him off, Alex is in front of her, his hands now resting on her shoulders as he looks her over. She’s frozen in place, her body shaking involuntarily as she tries to stop the panic attack she can feel coming on.

“Are you okay? Jo?”

“Um yeah, I think so. I hit my head pretty hard but I’m okay,” she can hear the way her voice is trembling as she meets Alex’s eyes. “I’m fine, I’m okay. I’m fine, really I’m fine.” She keeps repeating the words as Alex pulls her into him, tears floating down her cheeks as her chest constricts tightly. Jo has been through her share of scary situations before, she’s been beaten within an inch of her life but she’s never been this scared. She’s never had to worry about someone else before but right now all she could think about was if her baby had somehow been hurt.

“Do you want me to page Carina to check you out?”

Any other day she would have brushed off concerns from anyone about her well-being but Jo’s anxiety is already peaking and she doesn’t want to leave anything to chance. She nods slowly, listening as Alex asks Owen to page Carina and then leads her out of the room.

Hours later Jo is crawling into bed, ready for the day to be over. Her head is pounding but she’d been instructed to stay awake for a few hours following her injury to make sure she truly was okay. After having both Amelia and Carina poke and prod her, she was more than ready to lay in bed until late tomorrow.

“Your meds are on the counter and I filled up a water bottle for you to keep on your side table,” Jo gazes up at Alex who's standing in front of her, a concerned yet genuine smile on his face as he looks at her. “You need anything else before I head out?” “Stay.” Alex pauses only for a second, his expression showing his shock and hope for only a second before he schools his emotions once again, “I don’t wanna intrude. But you can call me if you need anything.” “No I want you to stay Alex,” Jo sits up in bed, despite how tired her body is and fixes Alex with a sincere gaze. An alarming sense of deja vu comes over her as she remembers a similar conversation happening after Paul’s death. Jo had wanted Alex to stay with her and crawl into bed beside her, seeking his comfort after the traumatic events. But always the gentlemen Alex had stayed true to his word and stuck to the couch, except to comfort her in the middle of the night. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my suspicions, but I swear as soon as I knew I was going to tell you.” “You didn’t need to tell me anything Jo, I was overreacting. I panicked and I’m sorry.”

Jo shakes her head, eyes watering as she reaches for Alex’s hand, “I don’t care about any of that. You… When you pulled that patient off of me I was convinced that you were going to lunge at him or.... It doesn’t matter what I thought, what matters is that you kept your cool and you made sure I was okay. You showed me that you’ve changed.”

“Of course I did Jo, you mean a lot to me,” Alex moves his free hand up to cup Jo’s cheek and swipe at the few tears that had collected there.

“And you mean so much to me Alex, more than you know. I know we’ve been through alot but I still care about you. And I don’t want to continue this stupid ‘no strings attached’ thing we have going.” “Oh… Okay.” A grin spreads across Jo’s face as she leans up, pressing her forehead against Alex’s, “I mean I want more with you. I don’t want random hookups or meaningless sex, I want the whole thing. I want you here with me every night. And I want to raise our baby together. I love you Alex, so much. It might’ve taken me a while to realize it but I want it all with you.”

Alex doesn’t bother responding, instead he leans forward and kisses her sweetly. Relief floods Jo as she tangles her fingers in his hair, the stress and pain of the day melting away as she leans into Alex.

“I love you too. And I’m really glad you’re both okay,” Alex’s hand slides down to the small bump that had grown in just days beforehand, a smile taking over his face as he did so. “You have a bump!”

“Pretty sure it’s all bloat but there’s definitely a baby in there,” Jo let’s a small laugh out as she covers his hand with her own. “We’re sure doing everything out of order aren't we?”

“Have we ever done anything the easy way?”

#jo wilson #jo karev #alex karev #jo x alex #jolex #jolex fanfic #greys anatomy #greys anatomy fanfic #tsjolexweek21 #nina writes #jolex fanfiction

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fivestarmortgage · 3 years ago

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You might be able to skip the home appraisal — but should you?

Home appraisals aren’t Always Required

An appraisal is a crucial part of home buying. Appraisals ensure that buyers pay fair prices and protect the mortgage lender from potential losses.

Home appraisals can be a burden. They’re an added cost for the buyer and often a source of worry for sellers and brokers.

A few government agencies have recently adopted a rule that no longer requires home appraisals for homes sold for less than $400,000 to reduce this burden.

Don’t forget to check with major lenders before you call to cancel your appraisal. They will still likely require them for sales below $400,000 You can save money by comparing rates and choosing the most competitive lender.

But if you have the option to skip a home appraisal and save a few hundred dollars — should you do it?

Find a low rate mortgages with free closing costs

Home appraisals 101: What are the pros, cons and costs?

Before thinking about whether to opt in or out of a home appraisal, it’s important to understand what actually goes on at this stage of the home buying process.

In short, an appraisal verifies the seller hasn’t overpriced the home. A professional appraiser will inspect the property, compare the price tag to other “similar” homes in the area, and come up with a fair market value to compare to the sale price.

Appraisals are generally paid for by the buyer — and the cost is significant. According to a 2019 study by HomeAdvisor An appraisal typically costs between $311-$404.

However, appraisals can also be used to protect the buyer. An appraisal that reveals an unreasonably high sale price could help the buyer save more than $300-$400. Would it not be worthwhile to skip one?

A personalized rate is the first step to home buying. Get started today.

Who can miss the home appraisal?

According to the Fed, the OCC, FDIC and FDIC have now passed a new rule that allows home sales below $400,000 to be exempted from an appraisal.

The previous no-appraisal limit was set at $250,000 — which hadn’t changed since 1994. The higher limit was set to account for the increase in housing prices over the past 25 years.

The theory is that raising the exemption threshold from $250,000 to $400,000 could have an enormous impact on home appraisals. Data for HMDA According to 2017 data, about 72 percent of mortgage transactions fell below this threshold.

However, the majority of home sales won’t go through without an appraisal.

Historical data shows that even when appraisals aren’t required, mortgage lenders still enforce them most of the time anyway.

Why? Mainstream mortgage lenders will almost always require an appraisal, whether or not it’s mandated by law, because it can protect them against loss in case the borrower defaults.

Actually, Review after five year sit was found that lenders were still able to obtain appraisals for 74% of properties that were technically exempt even though they were below the $250,000 threshold.

So even if you’re buying a home priced under $400,000 in the near future, don’t expect to have an automatic get-out-of-appraisal-free card.

If you’re refinancing instead of buying, the likelihood you’ll be able to skip the appraisal is much higher.

Related: (Internal Link)

If most buyers won’t be exempt from appraisal anyway, then what’s the point?

Agencies that lobbied for this rule change argue that the appraisal requirement, which hasn’t changed in more than 20 years, has placed an “increased burden on [lenders] and consumers in terms of transaction times and costs.”

Proponents believe that the new rule will speed up the process of buying a home and reduce closing costs.

There’s also an element of consumer choice and technology creeping into the mortgage industry here.

Mortgages exempt from an official appraisal still need to be “evaluated” for pricing fairness.

In certain cases, that evaluation can be done electronically with an “automated valuation model” (AVM) instead of a home appraisal — but only with the buyer’s consent.

Will you be able to get the correct value without someone actually going through the property? There are concerns that buyers who use the evaluation process could overpay.

However, all evaluations that replace appraisals are required to meet guidelines for “safe and sound banking practices.” Many argue that such evaluation models are a cheaper and more efficient way to determine home value.

What appraisals can do for your mortgage

Appraisals and mortgages are like salt and pepper. Appraisals are important in many ways.

First, while buyers and sellers may agree on a sale price, that’s not enough for lenders. Lenders want an independent professional to estimate the property’s value. This means that appraisers get paid for the act and not for determining a property’s value.

Lenders will approve loans based upon the lesser of the sale price or appraised value. This conservative approach is taken by lenders to ensure that buyers have sufficient funds for the loan program.

Lenders will lend based on the lower of the two values once they have a sale price or an appraised one.

Fannie Mae loans require a minimum of 3% down. Lenders are safer because the buyer will have a 3 percent down payment. However, a $97,000 property would be appraised at $100,000. The buyer would need to put zero down if the loan amount is based on that higher value. This increases the risk of the loan.

But appraisals can also cause problems in the closing process. Data taken from National Association of Realtors. About 16% of closing delays are caused by appraisal problems. These problems usually arise when a home’s value is lower than its selling price. Sellers and buyers must agree on an adjustment.

Are mortgage borrowers really entitled to appraisals?

Appraisals can be a boon or a curse for borrowers.

Appraisals are a way for borrowers to avoid overpaying for property. In effect, they’re an important form of consumer protection.

Standard appraisals can cost hundreds of dollars, which is a significant expense when there are many expenses for borrowers and money can be tight. Many home buyers might not find them appealing.

What does it mean for you?

So, if you’re given the chance, should you skip the home appraisal?

It could save you money if it is true. Lenders are required by law to obtain at least an evaluation. This provides a safety net in case you end up paying more than necessary.

If you’re not confident in the evaluation method offered, then go with the traditional appraisal.

The most important thing at the end of it all is to feel confident about the sale price and your closing costs.

Compare mortgage rates from all major lenders. Get started today.

Originally published here: https://reversemortgagesolutions.net/you-might-be-able-to-skip-the-home-appraisal-but-should-you/

#Heath Schneider | Five Star Mortgage

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subarudavao-tagumbranch2019 · 5 years ago

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All-New Subaru Forester e-BOXER Launched in Singapore

The self-charging, mild hybrid e-BOXER system combines battery-powered electric motor assistance with two of Subaru's core technologies: Boxer Engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. With e-BOXER, the Forester now offers smoother and more responsive acceleration, enhanced off-road capability and better efficiency.

The e-BOXER system is capable of automatically and effortlessly switching between three driving modes: EV (pure electric), Engine (petrol engine only), and Motor Assist (electric motor and petrol engine combined).

In EV mode, power is supplied only by the electric motor. EV mode activates in driving conditions where petrol engine power is not efficient, such as when the vehicle is accelerating from rest or in slow traffic. If more power is needed or the battery charge level is low, the engine turns on to switch to either Motor Assist or Engine mode.

Under low-load driving conditions, such as when cruising, the vehicle will run on Engine mode. In Engine mode, the petrol engine powers the car but also recharges the high-voltage lithium-ion battery. Battery regeneration happens when the vehicle decelerates from the accelerator being released or when the brake pedal is pressed.

When accelerating or under higher loads, the vehicle will run on Motor Assist mode – both the petrol engine and the electric motor automatically provide power together. The power-split ratio between the electric motor and petrol engine, depends on the driver’s throttle input. The system will adjust to optimise performance between the electric motor and petrol engine for a smoother, more efficient and environmentally-friendlier drive.

When the brake pedal is released, the electric motor enables the vehicle to continue creeping forwards in EV mode. The e-BOXER system offers a highly efficient combined fuel consumption of 6.7L/100km, in addition to 196Nm of torque from the petrol engine and 66Nm from the electric motor.

The instantaneous electric torque also enhances X-MODE’s off-road capabilities. In X-MODE, Motor Assist activates earlier at 0km/h (4km/h in normal driving and I and S Modes) to improve power and acceleration from a complete stop. X-MODE helps drivers tackle the trickiest of terrains – elevating driving confidence while ensuring greater convenience in managing different road conditions.

Drivers can get a clear visualisation of the electric motor and petrol engine energy flow via a high-resolution 6.3-inch Multi-Function Display (MFD), situated conveniently in the driver’s line of sight.

An all-round improved driving experience

The electric motor of the Forester e-BOXER is placed near the vehicle's centre of gravity, while the battery and other components are arranged above the rear axle, realising even lower centre of gravity and better-balanced front and rear vehicle weight distribution than the regular Forester. Even with the extra weight from the electric components, the strengthened vehicle undercarriage of the Forester e-BOXER helps maintain the uniquely satisfying driving feel of Subaru vehicles.

Placing the electric motor in the transmission case helped implement e-BOXER technology without having to change the basic structural layout of the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. Based on Lineartronic in Subaru’s petrol vehicles, a motor, a designated clutch and control valve were added. The transmission case was customised exclusively for e-BOXER Lineartronic, helping reduce vibrations, unwanted noise and extra weight.

The result of it all is even more peace of mind from its responsive handling characteristics, improved driving stability and the practicality of a 509-litre boot. The rear seats can also be folded down for a flat cargo floor, allowing storage of luggage and equipment for various activities. The Forester e-BOXER’s 8-inch infotainment system is also equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity for fewer distractions, better safety.

The Forester e-BOXER is built on the Subaru Global Platform and comes standard with Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. EyeSight assists in keeping you and your passengers out of harm's way. It looks ahead, measures distance from objects and alerts you at the first sign of danger. Under certain conditions, it even applies braking force to mitigate collision. The Forester e-BOXER continues to uphold passenger and driver safety as a top priority. The EyeSight package on the Forester e-BOXER features:

Pre-Collision Braking

Pre-Collision Throttle Management

Adaptive Cruise Control

Lead Vehicle Start Alert

Lane Departure Warning

Lane Sway Warning

The Forester e-BOXER is also equipped with Reverse Automatic Braking. If there is the risk of a rear collision when reversing the vehicle, the system alerts the driver. If the driver does not apply the brakes, the system applies the brakes to help avoid or reduce the severity of a rear collision.

A 360° Around View Monitor (AVM) system, comprising four cameras – each on the front, sides and back of the vehicle – offer 360° visibility. This enables drivers to park and manoeuvre in tight spaces more easily, thus also reducing the risk of rim damage due to kerb rash.

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gogh-bot-blog · 7 years ago

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Standing there among the skinny trees in the courtyard, she doesn’t look much different from anyone else, except she’s got an eyepatch now. A lit cigarette dangles from her lips. She told you once she hates talking about herself. (She’d get lost in the maze of her mind, she feared what she’d find there.) That’s why she’s a poet. She’s outside of herself; she notices everything. You ask her when she started smoking again. Last week, she said. And then I found out that the AVM stopped bleeding. The AVM, a winding mess of blood vessels in her brain, wiring malformed at birth into a thick tangle like the entwined undergrowth of a forest. These jumbled knots are tense, intricately fragile, prone to rupture, to seep out your life into your brain tissue like moss creeping over roots and rocks. Before all of that happened, you’d talk late into the night about life and love long gone under separate stars. You remember that hot day in August. You heard about the hemorrhage in a cryptic text from her mom. You stood alone in the courtyard. She woke from the coma a few days later. A neuroscientist, barely turned twenty-one years old, with a cataclysmic brain aneurysm, smoking a cigarette in the courtyard. (She called it your flower sanctuary after the way it bloomed in the late spring, and once you’d stood there together and marveled at the tiny white buds, and it seemed like there were millions of them, a sea of flowers.) Silently, you nod. A black haze escapes your lungs in violently sputtering spasms. How did it feel to know, without being told, that your brain is bleeding? To stand there smoking a cigarette under the shadow of the dark twisted branches overhead, and in your head? To still talk about the trials and tribulations of your heart? To smile as the slant of late afternoon sunlight touches your face and laugh?

#writing #my writing #prose poetry #prose poem #creative nonfiction

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nightmareonfilmstreet · 7 years ago

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Top 10 Found Footage Movies You Can Stream

New Post has been published on https://nofspodcast.com/top-10-found-footage-movies-can-stream/

Top 10 Found Footage Movies You Can Stream

October is here and it’s time to stock up on those extra batteries! What better way to start off your horror binging than with some chills and thrills from behind a camera lens? Since the The Blair Witch Project took the box office by storm in 1999, we’ve had no shortage of Found Footage Flicks to feast on; good and bad. We’re here to help you sort through the good. Here are the ten best found footage films that you can check out right now to jumpstart your horror-filled binge!

DOCUMENTING YOUR FEARS

For those new to found footage; These films bring the audiences closer to the horror by putting them in the perspective of the camera. All or most of the fiction is presented to viewers as if being discovered or documented footage of the events. Usually this is shown from the point of view of one or more characters’ camera(s) and given their real-time commentary. Popularized by films such as The Blair Witch Project and the Paranormal Activity series, found footage has kept itself relevant to audiences and a horror staple for fans of the genre. They found a way to keep us interested in the events the characters show as they unfold.

CREEP (2014)

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Synopsis – The film follows videographer, Aaron, as he answers a Craigslist ad to spend the day documenting the life of it’s poster, Josef. Josef requests that Aaron spends the day recording his life as he is doomed to perish from a terminal cancer in his brain. All this so he will have something to leave behind for his unborn child. As Aaron documents more and more of Josef’s life, he begins to wonder who exactly he agreed to work for.

Why You Should Watch – This movie has gained quite the following with fans and with a sequel on the way, this one is a must watch. Mark Duplass as Josef steals the show. His sincere demeanor followed by the duality of his sheer, well, creepiness is what will keep you wondering what else could happen? This one will get under your skin and keep you uncomfortable while we join Aaron on his discovery of what kind of person Josef really is.

Where You Can Watch – Netflix

Afflicted (2013)

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Synopsis – Best friends Clif and Derek decide to document their travels overseas and upload their adventures online for everyone to see. This comes as a sort of “last wish” for Derek because he has AVM, an abnormality in the brain which could kill him at any time. Briefly into their journey, Derek is injured mysteriously. Through the remainder of their travels, Derek begins to exhibit strange changes and behaviors while Clif documents these in escalating scenarios.

Why You Should Watch – Frankly the film can be broken down into two parts; the first being Derek’s transformation and the latter half being Derek’s search for answers. Both have very different elements and the switch in tone between the two are fascinating. Derek’s transformation is the highlight of the film. Seeing how he changes and what changes with every moment, along with his and Clif’s reactions, keeps us interested.

Where You Can Watch – Amazon Prime Video

Grave Encounters (2011)

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Synopsis – A paranormal investigation team and their crew decide to explore the halls of an abandoned mental institution, deemed to be the most haunted place on earth. The footage that is discovered of their investigation is named as the final episode to their television series: Grave Encounters. With intentions of the venture to be just any “normal show”, the team thinks to fake any sort of ghostly experiences to boost their ratings. As the night carries out and unexplained events begin, the team starts to wonder ‘could the stories of the institution be real?’

Why You Should Watch – For anyone who loves those ghost hunting shows, this is the pinnacle of an investigation going entirely into chaos. Everything you’d like to see happen when people go searching for spirits happens. The setting is the other thing that really makes the film worth watching. Nothing would be scarier than trapped in an abandoned mental asylum all night. With winding halls and rooms galore to explore, there could be anything lurking in the dark corners of these walls.

Where You Can Watch – Shudder

The Den (2013)

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Synopsis – Elizabeth is conducting a social experiment for her graduate thesis revolving around the people and the world of the web. She hopes to document how we can connect via social mediums on the internet and the people who dwell online through a chat site called The Den. At first she gets to experience what most come to find in random online chat sites. The world of the friendly, perverse, scam artists, and those looking to get a reaction out of strangers through pranks. One day she comes across a user who shows her such a horrific sight, that it has to be real.

Why You Should Watch – Let’s face it, the internet is a scary place. Period. You could be interacting with anyone, anywhere and there is no certainty to who you’re talking to. This film captures that fear in the back of your mind that maybe in this world of technology, someone is watching you even with the computer in sleep mode.

Where You Can Watch – Netflix

Atrocious (2010)

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Synopsis – Siblings and amateur paranormal investigators Cristian and July are being forced to spend their vacation at their family’s country side home. Along with parents and younger brother Jose, hopes of a fun get away are saved by an old legend of an ominous ghost woman. This woman is rumored to be in the labyrinth like forest beside their family vacation home. Against the wishes of both parents, Cristian and July explore the diverting paths of the labyrinth in hopes of capturing signs of this ghostly apparition.

Why You Should Watch – Remember the good old days, fiends? When you wanted to go exploring graveyards and old houses hoping to see a ghost? No? Yeah neither did I. These teens are like most with a taste for the creepy. They want to see something supernatural but also don’t want to. This film captures that young, adolescent desire to see more of the unknown, with youthful arrogance. All the different paths and hidden areas that the teens stumble upon in their investigation is interesting, along with a twist you really wouldn’t see coming.

Where You Can Watch – Shudder

Heidi (2014)

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Synopsis – Two teenage pranksters, Ryan and Jack, are trying to just enjoy their summer and create new content for their prank video channel. Sadly family and responsibilities are making it difficult to spend time making videos. As a part time summer job, Ryan begins caring for and cleaning up an elderly woman’s home while she’s away. On the job, Ryan and Jack discover a passage to the attic of the house to find an eerie doll. The doll named Heidi is found amongst a collection of valuable and old items. After finding this doll, it seems to appear in places it shouldn’t and mysterious murders seem to follow. Could Heidi be linked to these horrific events or is it just coincidence?

Why You Should Watch – Any fans of the Annabelle films will enjoy this. The creepy doll theme has been a host of fears for many fans of horror. What makes Heidi different is that she is just a doll for the film. She is subtle, unlike her major Hollywood counterpart. The fears build up and by the third act, things go straight into slasher territory with gruesome deaths and gore galore.

Where You Can Watch – Amazon Prime Video

HellHouse LLC (2016)

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Synopsis – Documentarian Diane Graves looks to interview the sole survivor of a haunted house attraction that experienced a tragedy on it’s opening night five years ago, killing fifteen people. The remaining member of the group, Sara, provides tapes to Diane showing the events before and during the tragedy. Tapes from when the location was purchased, creating the attraction, and strange events that lead to that terrible night might reveal what actually happened.

Why You Should Watch – For fans of The Houses October Built this is a must see. This film gives audiences more of what they love about October. An in depth look at a group of scare junkies and horror fiends building a haunted attraction for patrons to experience. All the while spooky events begin to creep out the owners. The attraction they build is something that excites you and makes you actually want to attend it. While the ghostly story keeps you glued to story as it plays out.

Where You Can Watch – Amazon Prime Video

The Presence (Die Presanz 2014)

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Synopsis – Couple Markus and Rebecca retreat with friend Lukas to an old, abandoned castle rumored to be haunted. Rebecca under the impression that she and Markus were vacationing to spend time together is thwarted. Disappointed to find that she has been roped into another attempt to document spirits with her boyfriend and his friend. What seems to be a well kept old castle turns into nights of strange events and built up tension between the three during their increasingly terrifying nights.

Why You Should Watch – This German film is one that is more along the lines of the Paranormal Activity formula. The film is structured around the nights spent at the castle and the events get creepier with each night. For fans of this structure, seeing it played out in a more remote, exotic area is a breath of fresh air for the genre.

Where You Can Watch – Netflix

21 Days (2014)

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Synopsis – Three filmmakers set out to challenge the paranormal by barricading themselves in a home where no family has been able to stay in the home for more than 21 days. The families that have lived there have vacated and left their belongings, never returning to the home. Some have even been affected to dark outcomes. As the three try to document and make it through the ensuing days, they become more certain that something evil lurks in the home.

Why You Should Watch – The film has a very Amityville Horror sort of backstory. What makes you want to keep watching is the perspective of being in a home rumored to be haunted and not being able to leave. The tension between the three as things get crazier keeps the momentum going and wonder how they will be able to escape the house.

Where You Can Watch – Amazon Prime Video

WNUF Halloween Special (2013)

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Synopsis – Local broadcasting station WNUF aired a special on October 31, 1987 where tv personality Frank Stewart leads paranormal investigators into a supposedly haunted house. The Webber House known for it’s grizzly murders and strange occurrences through the years has become quite the urban legend. With special commercials to keep your Halloween extra creepy, tune in as Frank and company’s investigation unfolds.

Why You Should Watch – If you are nostalgic for anything 80’s, this is the film for you. The camera work and quality if typical of time, giving you a throwback to the days you use to sit by the TV for any sort of specials for Halloween. The film goes as far as to even include actual commercial breaks! Yes, really, there are numerous breaks throughout the film for everyday products and those special to the holiday. They can get a bit tiring (just like when we were kids) but definitely keep up the atmosphere of the film.

Where You Can Watch – Shudder

Happy Haunting!

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doc-pickles · 4 years ago

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things just happened (and so did you)

I told you guys I was finishing this up! Even though it took me foreeeever, I really enjoyed writing this piece! I used to kinda hate writing pieces that follow canon episodes, but this was a fun project to work on. Hope you guys enjoy!

xoxo Nina

Her breath caught in her throat as time seemed to freeze around her, Jo forgetting about Alex and Frankie, her baby, everything that had happened today as the world around her shrunk down to her and the man in front of her.

Paul. Paul had found her.

Jo barely registered Arizona and Paul speaking, her blood pumping loudly in her ear as she tried in vain to process what was happening. Her day had been so normal, well as normal as any day at Grey Sloan, and now… Now her ex husband was standing in front of her and her boyfriend was waiting for her down the hall and she was pregnant and she had a patient that might be dead by the time she got to his room.

“I’m sorry, I have to go,” Jo made her leave from the tense environment she’d found herself in while Arizona was still there, but that didn’t stop Paul from grabbing her arm and staring her down.

“You go, we’ll meet up later,” Paul met Jo’s eyes and that twinkle that she’d always feared was lingering there. “It’s okay, I’ll find you.”

Her legs were the only thing keeping Jo afloat right now, her body seemingly knowing exactly where to go as she navigated the hallways of the pediatric ward. Her heart was beating out of time and her breathing was staggered, the all too familiar signs of an anxiety attack creeping up and through her body. She needed to get to Alex before she let her emotions overtake her, she needed to make sure that Frankie was okay.

“The Heparin should have helped by now,” Alex’s voice rang through the hallway as Jo approached Frankie’s room, making her heart drop. “I think I made the wrong call.”

“Wait. Heparin? No. I texted,” Amelia and Alex both turned to look at Jo, eyes wide with frantic expressions painted on their faces. “They didn't reverse him.”

A brief silence fell over the three doctors as they watched Frankie lying helplessly in his mom's arms. Jo could feel the bile rising again, begging her body to cooperate for just another minute as she settled her hand onto her stomach again, pressing a bit harder than she had before. She’d failed at the one thing that she’d tried so hard to accomplish, the thing that had driven her to run around the hospital like a chicken with it’s head cut off in search of solid answers.

“Damn it. We can't access the reversal agent,” Alex looked to Amelia, who nodded at him as they moved into the room. “Prep him to move.”

“What is it? What's wrong,” Frankie’s mom sounded desperate, Jo’s heart aching as she listened to the pleading mother.

“Frankie's AVM might be bleeding. We've got to get him to the O.R. now.”

“But the medicine you gave him,” her hands were brushing Frankie’s curls back now, staring forlornly at her son who laid pale and weak on the bed. “It was supposed to help.”

“I'm sorry. We need to go,” Alex ushered Frankie’s mom, Helm and Amelia out of the room, eyes drifting to Jo who stood in the doorway, face blanched as she stared helplessly at the scene before her.

“Hey. I'm so sorry,” Jo’s eyes flitted from Alex to her feet, the overwhelming feeling of guilt and anxiety climbing to new heights as she felt his glare. “I texted. It didn't go through. And then…”

There was a pause and Jo could feel the tension between her and Alex. It didn’t seem real that they’d just been hugging and kissing only hours ago, elated over the new journey they were about to embark on.

“And then what,” Alex’s voice was dripping with venom as he stared Jo down, waiting for an answer from her.

“Nothing. It can wait,” Jo finally looked up from her feet, teary eyes meeting Alex’s angry ones as she sucked in a deep breath. “Just go help him.”

Staring at her only a second more, Alex turned and left the room. Once he was out of sight, Jo let the sob she’d been holding back take over her body as she rushed into the bathroom and emptied her stomach into the toilet. She was almost certain she wasn’t going to make it through today.

Alex felt bad, but only a little bit. He knew that he had pushed Jo to the side as they’d rushed to get Frankie to an OR, but the combination of the rising heat and the cyber attack had begun to drive him insane. He’d apologize later, his guilt would eat him alive in the meantime. And he really did need to focus on helping Frankie right now.

Pulling his scrub cap and shoe covers on, Alex sighed as he thought about the day he’d had so far. All he wanted was to curl up in bed with Jo and hold her close, forgetting about the day they’d had and enjoying the excitement of their new future. As he let his mind wander, Alex’s gaze hovered to his right, visions of Jo vanishing from his head as his blood ran cold at the man he saw sitting next to him.

“What are you doing here?”

“Hi. Paul Stadler,” the man’s cheery tone didn’t distract Alex from the fact that he was sitting next to a complete monster. “Orlando Medical.”

“Yeah, I know who you are,” Alex spit the words out, watching carefully as Paul’s jaw tensed. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I’m sorry,” Paul’s tone had an air of amusement to it and Alex had to clench his fists to hold back from punching the man. “Have we met before? You know, your face looks kind of familiar.”

Everything fell into place now, Jo’s late arrival to Frankie’s room, her skittish behavior, the sorrowful look on her face. The feeling of guilt settled heavily in his stomach now, realizing that Jo had run into Paul and he had treated her like absolute shit right after.

“You… you absolute fucking piece of garbage,” the words are out of Alex’s mouth before he can reign them in, his eyes ablaze as he stares down a confused looking Paul. “I know what you did, I know why she’s the way she is. And if I were you, I’d be halfway out the door right now because if I didn’t have Jo to think about then you’d be in a pile on the floor already.”

“Doctor Karev,” both Alex and Paul looked up as Helm’s voice interrupted their heated conversation. “Doctor Shepherd said Frankie's angio shows a bleed.”

“Yikes,” Paul smirked at Alex, his eyes alight with a devilish expression. “Don't let me keep you, Doctor Karev.”

Alex stared down Paul, not moving until Helm beckoned him again. He made his way to the scrub room, hands under the water and scrubbing harshly before he could verbalize how angry he was.

“Intern, what's your name,” Alex knew his tone was harsh, but he couldn’t hold back.

“Helm. Like ‘Hellmouth’ without the ‘outh’,” the blonde girl was tying her scrub cap and mask into place, watching Alex cautiously.

“Don't scrub,” Alex ignored the confused looks of both Amelia and Helm, continuing on. “I need you to find Dr. Wilson and bring her here.”

“You want me to call her?”

“No, I want you to find her and bring her here,” Alex stopped scrubbing to stare pointedly at Helm, eyes meeting her with a serious expression. “And don't leave her side.”

“Why?”

“Just do it. Now!”

Helm ran off then, leaving Alex and Amelia alone and in the middle of an awkward silence.

“What's going on,” Alex wanted so badly to answer Amelia’s question, to let everything that had happened that day out and into the open, but he couldn’t. He knew that once he started talking that the words would never stop. He needed to focus. Focus on Frankie, on Jo, on their child. All of them were innocent in this and all of them were now at risk if he blew his lid like he so desperately wanted to.

“Nothing, let’s get in there.”

Jo couldn’t breathe, she was gasping for air and clutching her chest by the time she made it outside. How had this happened? How had such a happy day turned into a living nightmare for her? She’d pissed off Alex, possibly killed a little boy, and her abusive ex husband was running around Grey Sloan right now.

Trying to contain her emotions Jo took a steadying breath before heading back inside. She needed to focus on something, anything else, before she drove herself to insanity.

“Heat getting to you?”

Jo hadn’t made it more than 30 feet inside the hospital before running into Doctor Webber. She probably looked like death, she’d been crying and throwing up for the past half hour.

“Yeah.”

“How is it I never knew you studied under Paul Stadler,” just the sound of his name sent Jo’s mind spiralling again, one hand coming up to wipe the sweat collecting on her forehead.

“Uh, it's a... long story,” Jo’s head was swimming now, her vision spotty as she reached out for the counter of the nurses station.

“Wilson,” Webber’s hand was on her arm then, the feeling of another person bringing Jo back down to earth and calming her slightly. “You feeling okay?”

If only you knew the half of it. Jo had to restrain her word vomit explaining her pregnancy and her past with Paul and the horror and fear climbing up her throat at an alarming rate.

“Yeah I just need to sit down,” her voice was weak, her body was weak, and all Jo wanted was Alex, who was angry with her and in a complicated surgery, to come and hold her. She’d never had another person to turn to when she’d been with Paul before, but now that she did Jo found herself craving his presence.

“Let me help you, come on,” Doctor Webber led Jo to a chair, watching carefully as she settled her head between her legs. “You want me to page Karev?”

“No! No, he’s in surgery,” Jo was quick to push off the suggestion of Alex, not wanting to bother him while he was working on Frankie no matter how much she wanted him there with her. “I’ll be okay, I swear.”

“Doctor Wilson.”

Jo’s head popped up nervously at the sound of Helm‘s voice. She’d been with Alex and Frankie, what the hell was she doing here?

“What is it?”

“Dr. Karev said I had to find you and bring you to him,” Helm wrung her hands awkwardly as she looked between Jo and Webber “And I'm not allowed to leave you alone.”

Helm’s words made Jo’s stomach sink as the realization that Alex had seen Paul floated into her mind. Alex knew he was here and he hadn’t killed Paul and all he wanted was for her to be with him. An odd combination of fear and relief flooded Jo’s chest then, her breaths coming out quietly as she met Helm’s gaze.

“Oh shit…,” Jo nodded and stood, Webber’s hand coming to help her. “Okay let’s go Helm. Thank you Doctor Webber.”

Jo walked behind Helm, hand cupping her stomach gently as she felt a small wave of relief rush over her. She would be fine facing Paul now because she knew that she had Alex by her side.

Alex was radiating nervous energy as he and Amelia worked on Frankie. They’d gotten him into the OR fast enough that there was no major damage, calming Alex only slightly. He’d sent Helm out over 45 minutes ago and she still hadn’t returned.

“Shunt's in,” Amelia's voice brought Alex out of his reverie, their eyes meeting momentarily. “Nice work, Karev.”

Alex’s eyes flitted behind Amelia, finding Helm in the scrub room as she motioned towards the door. She’d found Jo.

“Can you finish this up,” Amelia fixed Alex with a pointed look, her blue eyes begging him to explain what was going on with him today.

“Alex, what’s happening?”

“Nothing, family emergency,” Alex looked to Helm again, her nervous energy doing nothing to calm his frayed nerves. “I’ll explain later. It’s just… I have to go.”

“Then go. Frankie is in very capable hands here.”

Alex thanked Amelia once more, knowing he’d have to explain to her later exactly what was happening. Ripping off his mask, Alex began to scrub out, eyes flitting to Helm.

“Where is she?”

“The on call room down the hall,” Helm watched Alex as he scrubbed, waiting for him to say more. “Anything else sir?”

“No no, you’ve been great,” Alex eyed Helm then turned back to his hands. “Scrub in and see what Shepherd needs for the rest of the day.”

Heart pounding, Alex left the scrub room and let his feet pound loudly down the hallway as he raced toward Jo. He burst into the first on call room he found, finding Jo pacing nervously across the small room. He didn’t miss the involuntary flinch of her body as her eyes darted up to look at him.

For a long moment, Alex and Jo stood across from each other saying nothing. Jo’s features were clouded with fear, her brows furrowed as she wrung her hands. Alex could feel the tension radiating off of his own body as he finally broke their brief silence.

“Hey.”

“I ran into Paul, before Frankie’s surgery,” Alex watched as Jo’s face remained unchanged. Instead her eyes focused on him and his demeanor.

“Yeah I figured.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m… I’m fine, I’m okay,” Jo stumbled over her words as her eyes met Alex’s for the first time. That seemed to break Jo’s trance, her tears finally beginning to fall down her face as she shook her head. Her fingers clutched at her scrub top, her hand resting uneasily on her abdomen as she began to sob in earnest.

“Come here babe,” Alex moved forward and pulled Jo into his arms, her body falling weakly into him. “It’s okay, you’re okay. I’ve got you, you’re safe. I’m not gonna let anything happen to either of you.”

“He’s here and he’s going to ruin me again and I-I… I can’t do it again. I have this baby and this life and and you. ” Jo’s desperate cries grew louder as Alex tightened his grip on her shoulders, pressing her closer to his chest. “I can’t fight him again. I have too much to lose.”

Alex pressed his lips into Jo’s hair, working to calm her cries as his hands rub her back slowly. He’d seen her cry before, hell he’d made her cry before, but the distraught sobs coming from her now were different from any of that. Jo had never told him exactly what had happened with Paul, only sparse details here and there. But he’d held her when her nightmares got to be too much, he’d seen the way she reacted to the domestic abuse victims they handled, he knew that today was her worst case scenario.

“You’re not alone, I’m not letting you do this alone Jo,” Alex kept his voice low and calm, Jo’s face still pressed against his chest. “We can do this however you want, but I’m not leaving you no matter what. You’ve got me and Mer and dozens of other people in your corner, okay? Nothing is going to happen to you or our baby.”

Alex’s hand slid from Jo’s back to her stomach, a mirror of his actions earlier when he’d looked at the pregnancy tests she’d handed him. Just hours ago, things had been so good for them and now… well now Alex could only pray that the day ended well.

They stay in each other’s arms for a while longer, not exchanging any words but just taking time to rest in each other’s embrace. When they finally leave the on call room, Alex and Jo bump into Meredith, who drags them into an empty patient room and gives them some unfortunate news.

“I just operated with Paul Stadler,” her eyes instantly flit to Jo, who’s face blanches as she turns to lean over the waste bin in the corner to vomit. “Well I’m assuming you already knew he was here.”

Alex’s hand is on Jo’s back in an instant, fingers gently rubbing circles as she continues to vomit. Meredith eyes the two for a second, taking in Alex’s unfazed expression before gasping in shock.

“Oh my god! You- oh god,” Alex looks up at Meredith, whose eyes are wide as she takes in the sight before her. “Oh we’ve gotta get rid of him, this is not good.”

“Yeah no shit Mer,” Alex turns back to Jo, who’s standing upright now and leaning into his embrace. “How do you want to handle this? We’re playing by your rules.”

“I want to be divorced,” Jo settles her head on Alex’s shoulder. “I want to never see his face ever again.”

“Well then, I'm coming with you for that,” Alex insists.

“No, you are not going anywhere near him,” Meredith interrupts, both Jo and Alex looking at her. “Alex, you nearly killed a man you thought was hurting Jo. I don’t think you should be near Paul again.”

Jo’s eyes move from Meredith up to Alex, a silent conversation happening between the two as Meredith stared on. Finally Alex spoke up, looking pointedly at his friend, “I’m not leaving Jo’s side until that bastard is out of this hospital. And that’s final.”

“Okay fine, but I’m coming too,” Meredith glances between the two before letting out a sigh. “Someone has to make sure you both make it out of this ordeal.”

Alex hesitantly leaves Jo to round on Frankie, leaving Jo and Meredith to keep themselves busy while trying to avoid running into Paul. The last thing either of them want is an awkward confrontation, especially one that might set Alex off.

“Today was so good and then everything just… crumbled,” Jo groans as she lays back on the couch in the resident’s lounge, eyes closing as she settles a hand onto her still flat stomach. “The last thing I imagined was him showing up and now it’s my reality and I just don’t think I have it in me to fight back this time.”

Meredith stares at Jo for a moment, eyeing the young resident as she takes slow steadying breaths. She lays her hand on Jo’s shoulder, speaking in a steady tone, “You are amazing, you’re brave and resilient and you haven’t come this far to just come this far. You are Jo Wilson, I know exactly who you are.”

Jo peaks her eyes open to look up at Meredith, tears glistening in them as she stares at the woman who used to kick her out of bed. Her heart warms a bit at the thought of Meredith thinking so highly of her, but she pushes it down and offers up a thank you instead.

“Hey, he’s down the hall,” both Jo and Meredith look up to see Alex standing in the doorway, eyebrows furrowed as he stares at Jo. “I uh, saw him when I was leaving Frankie’s room and Arizona’s with him… He’s got the divorce papers and everything, just waiting for you.”

A sudden wave of fear washes over Jo, the certainty she’d felt regarding her impending divorce now leaving her as she looks up at Alex. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she wanted to be done with Paul and that chapter of her life, but facing him, even with Alex and Meredith by her side, still scared her shitless.

“Come on, I’ll be right next to you the whole time,” Alex steps forward and extends his hand towards Jo, waiting for her to grasp it before pulling her up and into his arms. “In just a few minutes, this will all be over and you’ll never have to see him again.”

Jo nods, knowing Alex was right and that once she signed her name on the papers that she would finally be free of Paul Stadler once and for all. She would be able to move on, to finally accept Alex’s marriage proposal and take his last name like she’d wanted to since the first time he’d asked her to. Jo would finally have control over her own life, that thought alone pushing her out of the room and down the hall towards the room that Alex led her too.

“Ready?,” Alex asks, squeezing Jo’s hand once more.

“As I’ll ever be.” Jo and Alex walk into the room, Meredith standing outside the door to keep watch. Arizona smiles at the duo, walking out of the room and shutting the door behind her. Jo takes a breath and settles herself into the chair across from Paul, eyes meeting his in an act of unexpected bravery as she spoke, “You have the divorce papers?”

Paul’s eyes move from Jo to Alex, his throat clearing as he looks up at him, “Uh, if you wouldn't mind, Dr. Karev, I'd like to have a moment alone with-”

“Actually, I do mind,” Alex’s voice came out harsh and cold, taking on a tone that Jo hadn’t heard since she was an intern. “I'm gonna stay right here.”

“Okay then,” Paul sighs, turning back to Jo and gesturing towards the papers between them. “Let's get this done, shall we?” Jo reaches for the stack of papers, grabbing a pen and signing the pre flagged pages before passing it across the table. Her eyes flit up to Alex, who met her with a small smile. She could feel the relief already coursing through her as she watched Paul signing the same pages she had. When he finishes and folds the pages back, Alex reaches forward and grabs the stack of papers.

“We've got it. It's faster this way.”

“I'm really happy for you, Jo,” Paul meets Jo’s eyes as he stands, fingers drumming along the table in a way that makes her heart clench. “I hope this brings you... some real peace. You deserve it. We both do.”

She almost leaves it at that, almost lets him walk away with no words said, but she couldn’t. Jo stands, eyes blazing as she speaks to Paul, “You don't deserve anything good. You're a monster.”

“Glad to see nothing has changed,” Paul spit, turning around with an all too familiar glint of anger in his eyes. He twists towards Alex, voice still dripping with venom. “You better watch out, she can be a real piece of work.”

“I know her well enough without your twisted view clouding my judgment,” Alex spat back, taking a step towards Paul as he clenched and unclenched his fists at his side.

“Okay, walk away, Dr. Stadler,” Meredith walks into the room then, standing right inside the doorway as she watches Alex and Paul stare each other down.

“No, no. She is a liar. She is pathological. I mean, what kind of woman changes her name and disappears on her husband without a word,” Paul’s bitter tone carries through the room, echoing the nightmares that haunted Jo as she stares at him in horror. “Do you know what that did to me? What that did to my reputation, to my career?

“You are... torture. You are hell. You walk around and you ruin lives, and no one ever stops you. They... they just believe you. 'Cause why? 'Cause you're pretty? 'Cause you're sweet,” Paul slams his hands onto the table, Jo involuntarily jumping as he leans towards her. “Your looks will fade one day, Brooke. Your looks will fade, and you'll be left with the truth. And you point fingers at everyone else around you, but you're the monster.”

“Okay that’s enough you need to leave,” Meredith’s stern tone finally gets through to Paul, the man leaving the conference room without another word. As soon as he ‘s out of sight, Jo collapses into a fit of tears, Alex wrapping his arms around her shaking body as she sinks to the ground.

“You did great, it's over now,” Alex whispers, eyes watching Meredith exit the room again. “You did good babe, you never have to see him again.”

Jo nods, but can’t stop the trail of tears flooding her cheeks. She thinks that maybe she’s crying in relief, her body finally coming to terms with the fact that this is well and truly over.

It’s over.

Almost ten years on, Jo finally feels the relief and comfort of writing Paul out of her life. Her mind flashes briefly to the night she’d finally left, the fear that still gripped her heart as she made the decision to walk away and never look back. She wishes desperately that she could tell that girl, scared and alone and bruised Brooke, that things would be okay. That she’d find a man who loved her, who cared about her and gave her the stability she’d been deprived of for so long.

She knows she’ll never be able to turn back time and console herself, but Jo takes a small amount of comfort in the fact that the little life resting in her womb will never have to worry or fear like she had for so long.

#alex karev #jo wilson #jo karev #jolex #jolex fic #jolex fanfic #jo x alex #greys fanfic #greys anatomy #nina writes

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