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terrm9 · 4 years ago

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Destination (Ethan X MC)

Words count: 4 200

Warnings: mostly fluff, however there is scene including infertility issues and then one lightly NSFW scene (you can easily skip that one)

This takes place 18 months after Chiara finishes her residency.

Chiara and Ethan find themselves in Miami, four years after their first conference there. This time, Ethan needs to ask Chiara a certain question.

(this absolutely didn't go as I wanted it to but I got tired of rewriting it and never being satisfied, so here it is. It sounded much better in my head)

“Sooo, are you looking forward to your weekend with Dr. Dreamy?” Sienna smiled knowingly at Chiara as they stood next to a vending machine.

Chiara chuckled at Sienna’s excitement. “I am looking forward to hotel breakfast and weekend with Ethan and Miami sun, but it’s still work-related trip. Ethan hates conferences, he is going to be Dr. Grumpy the whole weekend.”

Before any of them could say anything else, Chiara spotted her very own Dr. Ramsey coming down the hall in their direction.

Damn, he really is Dr. Dreamy.

As he approached them, Ethan smiled at Sienna and then turned to Chiara with a clipboard in his hand.

“I need you to sign this. And you should eat other things than chocolate bars from a vending machine, Chiara.”

She rolled her eyes at him and signed the papers he handed her, pleased to see that they were actually discharging papers of a young boy they have been treating for past three weeks.

“Thank you, babe,” Ethan gifted her one quick smile before storming off.

For what could have been a solid minute, she stared at the spot he disappeared, her mouth agape. Slowly, she turned back to Sienna, who was smiling even wider at her, and asked: “Did you just hear that? Did that really happen? He never called me babe before. We are together for three years and he never called me babe.”

“You two should already get married,” Sienna replied, ignoring Chiara’s shock.

Chiara let out a short laugh at Sienna’s remark, turning back to the vending machine so that she could finally get her chocolate bar.

“That’s not happening,” she shrugged, trying to look like she couldn’t care less.

“What?!” Sienna shouted, attracting the attention of two nurses passing them. “You don’t want to?”

“Ethan doesn’t believe in marriage. It makes no sense to him and I kind of understand that. And I am fine with it. I have known about his opinion on marriages even before we got together.”

As she unwrapped the bar and took a bite, Sienna crossed her arms across her chest and looked at her with her brows furrowed.

“And you are telling me that you don’t care? That you don’t want to marry him? Who are you kidding, Chiara Ray? I know you want to get married one day, I have personally seen your Pinterest board named ‘wedding dress’” she raised her eyebrow now, not letting Chiara fool her with the light tone of her voice.

“Well, a girl can dream,” Chiara smiled at her best friend, knowing she needed to give Sienna an explanation so that she would let the topic go. “Of course I would love to marry one day, but the important point is that I would love to marry Ethan. And he doesn’t feel like marrying and I would never force him to do so. I would rather spend my not-married life with Ethan than the married one with anyone else.”

“Sweet,” Sienna murmured, her lips in a tight line. “Just so that you know, I already have my maid of honor speech written.”

Chiara burst out laughing and hugged the tiny doctor she adored so much. “You are the best,” she whispered, still laughing at the pained expression on Sienna’s face.

That evening, Chiara stepped into Ethan’s apartment, surprised by the fact that it was absolutely quiet. She knew that Ethan’s shift was ending sooner that hers today and on days like that, he would usually wait for her in a living room or cook dinner in a kitchen. She took her shoes off and walked into the kitchen, where the pasta was already cooked, however the man that cooked it was nowhere to be seen.

As she crossed the living room, she heard his voice coming from the bedroom. Ethan was standing by the window, his back turned to Chiara and he was oblivious to her arrival.

“…yes, of course. We will. Thank you again, it means more than you could imagine to me. And once again, I am deeply sorry for doing it on such a short notice. Yes-“

Chiara decided it was the time to make sure he knew she was home and so she cleared her throat, which made Ethan turn at his feet immediately, his eyes widening.

“Sure, yes. I will. Goodbye.” He hung up and shoved the phone into his pocket, raising his eyebrows on Chiara. “I see you are home.”

“Yes. Who were you talking to? You look a little bit… startled.”

“Me? Uh, no. Not at all,” Ethan shrugged, pretending to stare out of window. “I was talking to Zaid actually, he will be taking care of my patients while we are in Miami and I needed to check on something.”

“You could’ve just emailed him,” Chiara squinted her eyes on him.

“Well, I wanted to call him,” Ethan smiled all too brightly for Chiara to believe a word of his story, but she decided to let it go in hope of peaceful evening. “Are you hungry? The dinner is ready. And you should pack, we leave at the noon.”

“Yes, doctor,” she nodded and followed him to the kitchen because no matter Ethan’s mystery, she really was hungry.

As they made their way through the hotel’s atrium, Chiara – holding Ethan’s free hand – couldn’t believe how much has changed since her intern year. The hotel was the same, even the man at the reception desk was the same one, but the circumstances couldn’t have been any more different.

“Reservation for Ethan Ramsey,” Ethan said as they approached the reception desk.

“Yes, Mr. Ramsey. Here, the card to your room. Everything is ready.”

Ethan nodded, took the card and with his hand on the small of Chiara’s back made his way to the elevator.

Once they were alone, Chiara muttered: “That was so weird. I mean, their hotel is hosting a medical conference. It’s packed with doctors by now and he calls you Mr. Ramsey? Why not Dr. Ramsey? And ‘everything is ready’? Like, what everything is ready? You punching anyone? The pamphlets about plastic surgery? The mini bar? Weird.”

Ethan laughed at her outburst, noticing her flushed cheeks and fire in her eyes as she spoke about something as trivial as weird receptionist.

There were moments – like this one – when Ethan caught himself staring at her. When she got angry and her eyes burned with rage. When she was with a patient and the gentleness of her voice was filling the whole room. When she was asleep and looked as peaceful as a child, her mouth slightly parted, her arms always hugging something – when it couldn’t be Ethan, she hugged a pillow or a blanket.

She would tease him about it, about him staring. She would often grin and just tell him ‘you could always take a photo, you know’. He knew he could. But no photo could ever capture the brightness surrounding her every move, no photo could ever make him feel like she makes him feel, like the Sun could be swallowed by a Black hole and he wouldn’t give a damn because he would have his Chiara, shining so brightly it almost hurt him sometimes.

The world doesn’t deserve Chiara. But oh, Chiara does deserve the whole world.

“I might have lied about the conference,” Ethan admitted as they stepped out of an elevator to the corridor they both knew so well. “Only partly, though.”

“What do you mean?”

“This hotel is hosting a conference this weekend. Just not a medical one. An IT conference, I think?”

Chiara shot him a confused look as they stopped in front of the door leading to the suite. “What exactly are we doing here, then? Are you planning to change career?”

“Jesus, no,” he chuckled, opening the door and letting her in.

She knew the suite. Stepping further in, she noticed every single detail she could remember about this very suite and she knew that there were no coincidences this big in the world.

“You planned this?” she turned to Ethan, who was smiling softly back at her, closing the door with a soft thud.

“We are both working more than we should and I thought we could use a break. I wanted to surprise you.”

She smiled widely and jumped on him, kissing his cheeks and his nose and finally finding his mouth, all the tenderness of her previous moves now gone.

They stumbled through the room until they both fell on the bed, Chiara’s back hitting the mattress, Ethan hovering over her, now kissing her neck and the spot behind her ear, knowing that by the time they would get to the beach, the sun would be setting.

His calculations were right. The sun was setting and Ethan and Chiara walked through the warm sand, their feet bare, shoes hanging in their hands.

Ethan was wearing white linen button up, the long sleeves rolled up, exposing the forearms Chiara loved so much. She often joked that she could stare at Ethan’s forearms and those veins on them for hours and wouldn’t get bored. With beige shorts, he looked like he belonged to Mediterranean and Chiara didn’t hesitate to point the fact out.

They walked in silence, knowing each other too well to fill the comfortable calmness with plotless small talks.

Although, even if Ethan wanted to say anything, he was so nervous he became incapable of saying a single word.

Maybe this is all stupid. Maybe I shouldn’t do it today. There are too many people and..

“Looks like we found a place without crowds,” Chiara interrupted his thoughts and really, they were almost entirely alone on the beach now. “Can we sit down a bit?”

He nodded and sat down next to Chiara, considering his next move.

What do you do now, Ramsey? Why are there no schools for this? How do I know when is the right time?

“Is something bothering you, Ethan?” Chiara leaned to him, observing the wrinkles between his brows. “You can talk to me, you know.”

See? You can talk to her. So talk. Now. Do it before she gives up on you.

He turned towards her completely and smiled, shaking his head. “I am fine. Just thinking.”

“About what?”

He looked her in the eyes, praying that she could see how he felt in his eyes when looking back.

“Do you remember, in your intern year, when you told me that you wanted to work by my side? That it was your honor to work with Dr. Ramsey?”

“Yes. You told me that you find an idolatry among physicians absurd.”

He grinned at the fact that she remembered every detail about them and continued.

“Exactly. That was what I believed back then. But after four years of working with you, of knowing you, after three years of being with you, of loving you, I might feel… different. You accomplished something I have never thought possible – you turned me into a better person. Into actually decent human being. With your patience and your love, with your ability to come back into my life after I tried my hardest to push you away. With giving me time to repair all my broken pieces and with repairing some of them yourself. With challenging me like no one has ever done before, both in and outside of work. All those things turned me into someone I have never even dreamt of being and I hope, with all my heart, that you know how happy I am thanks to you, Chiara. I hope you know how much I care about you, how much I love you and how much I want to make you happy too.”

“You make me incredibly happy, Ethan,” she smiled back at him, touched by his words.

“Back then, in your intern year, I thought looking up to someone, the idolatry… it was stupid to me. Incomprehensible. But now, four years later, I know what you meant what you said that it was your honor to work with Dr. Ramsey. And I would like to ask you for a chance to experience the feeling too.”

“Would you allow me to experience the honor of working with Dr. Ramsey?”

Chiara’s initial confusion soon turned into realization and then straight into shock.

“Are you saying what I think you are saying?” she stuttered.

Ethan already on one knee answered her question even without speaking.

The tears were now streaming down her face, the tears of shock and happiness and finally, complete dread.

She wanted to say yes. She wanted to jump on him and hug him and scream that she did want to become his wife, that there was nothing more that she wanted than to become Dr. Ramsey.

“I can’t,” she whispered.

It was Ethan’s turn to be shocked, his mouth open and brows furrowed, pain and confusion written all over his face.

“You… you can’t?”

“I can’t and you know why, Ethan. You know I can’t have kids.” She was crying loudly by now. “I will never be able to give you that one thing a wife should be able to give. And don’t tell me that maybe I will get pregnant by some miracle. We’ve been having unprotected sex for almost three years now and I have never even gotten close to being pregnant.”

That was true. Ever since making their relationship official, they decided that there was no need to protect themselves. Chiara couldn’t get pregnant and if by some miracle, as she called it, she actually did get pregnant, there would be nothing but happiness for both of them.

“Chiara,” he breathed out, scooping her into his arms. “Shh, Chiara girl.”

“No, I know what you want to say, Ethan. I remember you telling me that kids were not in cards for you, that you can’t see yourself have them. But hell, you never believed in marriage and look at yourself, dropping down on one knee to ask me to marry you. You will change your mind about children too and what then? You will find out that I am useless and we will get divorced so that you could have them with someone else. So why going through divorce if we can just break up when the time comes?”

Chiara was right about one thing. He could imagine having kids now. He could imagine putting his career aside and be a family man.

All his life, he wanted to be a good doctor and his main motivation was to help people. But deep down, he knew – and he was disgusted with himself because of it – that he wanted to be a good doctor so that people would respect him, admire him even. He believed that even when people couldn’t love him for who he was, when people could leave Ethan Ramsey, that they wouldn’t leave The Dr. Ramsey. The famous one, the best one.

All his life, he needed to prove his worth to others and to himself and he decided to do it by putting everything into his work.

And then Chiara came. And she loved him when he was nothing but a wreck. When he resembled nothing of The Dr. Ramsey. She found his worth and with her, he found his own worth too and he knew it was not his awards nor his glory.

He could settle down. He wanted to settle down.

With Chiara.

“Chiara, I asked you to marry me because I want to spend my life with you. I am happy with you. And if I am to ever have kids, I want them with you. I can’t imagine, ever in my life, wanting to marry anyone else but you. For almost 40 years, the idea of marrying someone has not crossed my mind once. Until you changed that. If you think I would want to have a child with anyone else than with the woman I wish to marry, then you need to think again. And really hard.”

He took her chin between his fingers and made her look at him.

“I am honest and I am serious and I am sure, Chiara Ray. It’s important for me that you understand this: if I ever have a child, I want to have a child with you. That doesn’t mean that it has to be our biological child. If we ever both agree that we would like to become parents, we can go for an adoption. Okay?”

He cupped he cheeks and pressed long, soft kiss on her forehead.

She nodded slowly and looked at him with shameful expression on her face, biting her lower lip so hard she could feel the iron taste of her own blood.

“Okay, let me try one more time,” he chuckled, dropping down on one knee again, opening the navy blue velvet box, revealing the most beautiful ring Chiara has ever seen. Golden band sprigged with little diamonds and in the middle, stone as blue as Ethan’s eyes.

I can’t believe he remembered it.

It was maybe two years ago. Chiara got drunk with her friends on Friday night and Ethan decided to get her to his place, not believing her – equally drunk - friends to take care of her. As they laid down to the bed at his place, Chiara mumled “You have the most beautiful eyes in the whole galaxy. If we get married someday, I want my engagement ring to have a stone in your eyes’ color”

She was terribly embarrassed the next day and they swore to never talk about it again.

And Ethan remembered it.

“Chiara, will you marry me?”

“Yes,” she answered softly, stretching her hand so that he could slide the ring on.

He wrapped her into his arms and kissed her, starting softly, gently, until they kissed the way that was anything but appropriate for public. Looking at each other for a short moment, they nodded and took off back to the hotel, doing their best not to run.

Ethan came out to the balcony in nothing but his short, smiling at the sight in front of him. Chiara’s hair, damp from the shower, put in a messy bun, Ethan’s white shirt now framing her body. She was leaning on the railing, a glass of red wine in her hand, lost so deep in her thoughts that she didn’t notice him approaching.

He stopped by the doorframe and couldn’t help but let his mind wander back to their shared shower.

They barely made it into their suite.

The moment the door closed after them, Chiara worked on the wooden buttons of Ethan’s shirt, all while kissing him with a passion one could only find at a beach, and making their way to the bathroom.

Their clothes ending scattered on the floor, like a pesky obstacle they were, Ethan pressed Chiara on the shower wall, the cold tiles almost overpowering contrast to her feverish naked back.

That’s how Ethan found himself kneeling in front of her for the third time that evening. Only this time, no question needed to leave his mouth to gain an “yes” from her.

As he kissed his way up her inner tight, the salty sea flavor mixed with the typical taste of her skin, he heard her moan.

“Yes.”

He couldn’t help it – and he didn’t want to. Looking up at her flushed face, her eyes closed and her lower lip trembling of lust and thrill overtaking her, the picture blurred by the steam of hot water already surrounding them, he didn’t even try to suppress his urge to command.

“Say it again.”

“Yes,” she growled louder as his tongue gave up on tasting the peculiar mixture of salty and sweet on her tight and found its way to her center, to the one spot she longed him to have since they took off the beach.

Ethan only needed to hear one ‘yes’ from her tonight.

But how could he resist such temptation?

The “yes” she whimpered as he abruptly stopped working his tongue on her and moved up to slightly tease her nipple with his lower lip before taking it into his mouth.

The “yes” she hissed as he bit it while pinching the other one with his fingers, the most sizzling combo of pleasure and pain going through her body, through her rib bones and her spine.

The “yes” he silenced with an open mouthed kiss as he finally lifted her up, his hands roaming up and down her bottom and her tights with such purpose he wondered if he used them incorrectly his whole life.

The “yes” she whined as he thrusted into her, his moves steady and hard, promising her his whole life with every single one.

The “yes” she screamed as their hips met halfway on their race to the pleasure building in their bodies, in the parts that have been joined both physically and not. Ethan felt his pleasure begging to be released, he felt he was close and at the same time, as irrational as it sounded, he felt like his chest might explode the very moment he would come inside of her.

They “yes” she cried as her own pleasure overtook her, the one coming from the place where her mind no longer existed, where there were only waves of pure ecstasy and the raving beating of her heart.

Ethan didn’t need to hear any of these yes’s, but every single one of them was the sweetest reaffirmation of the one he needed her to say tonight.

Every single one a confirmed promise to let him hear all of her yes’s for the rest of his life.

He shook his head to get the picture out of his head and asked: “What are you thinking about?”

She turned around swiftly, waving her hand at him, gesturing for him to join her.

“About my parents. We have to call my mom tomorrow, she won’t believe you proposed.”

“Why wouldn’t she?” Ethan asked, half curious, half confused.

“I made sure to let her know that you were not a marriage type before we visited them in San Francisco for the first time. I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable because trust me, she would bring it up otherwise,” Chiara laughed, mostly for herself. “She will be surprised, but in a good way! Promise.”

Ethan took her hand into his and brought her knuckles up to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss on them.

“We will definitely call her, however I doubt she will be surprised,” he muttered into her hand. “Yesterday, when you caught me talking to ‘Zaid’ on the phone, I was talking to her. I called her to ask for her blessing.”

“You did what?” Chiara exclaimed, turning her whole body to Ethan now. “A blessing?”

“Of course. I want to marry her daughter, I need her blessing. That’s how it’s done.”

Chiara laughed, though not teasingly. “We live in a twenty-first century. You didn’t have to do it. Did you google the process of engaging?”

Ethan muttered something like ‘you are always going to be a pain in my ass, aren’t you’, though she couldn’t quite decipher it with his lips still pressed to her hand.

“I wanted the blessing from her, Chiara. We talked about your dad a lot too, if you must know. She told me I would get his permission too.”

“You would,” Chiara smiled sadly. “I was just thinking about how happy he would be. He would also tell you that he knows how to use a gun. He never knew how to use a gun, he just said so to every single boy that ever crossed our house.”

A single tear found its way out of Chiara’s eye as she talked about her father, pain and happiness and love mixed in the tone of her voice.

“He would be so proud, walking me down the aisle.”

“Your parents are both proud of you every day, Chiara,” Ethan whispered, stroking her cheek with his thumb. “And as you said, we live in a twenty-first century. You don’t have to be walked down the aisle if that would be too painful for you. We will find our way.”

“The thing is, I would love to. I actually thought about, you know.. maybe..” she started to play with the glass of wine, suddenly not knowing how to say it out loud. “It’s just that these past years, Naveen has become a second father to me. I can imagine him taking the place but it’s probably stupid, right? I thought about asking him when we come back but saying it out loud, I probably shouldn’t… or should I? What do you think?”

Ethan smiled at both, her nervous rambling and the picture of Naveen and Chiara walking side by side down the aisle.

“I personally think that we should bring a lot of tissues when we go to see Naveen and you ask him to do it. He will cry for hours, spending all his happy tears on us.”

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One more note: Sienna totally knew about Ethan's plan and she just needed to know if Chiara would want to marry him😀

#open heart #open heart choices #open heart fanfiction #ethan ramsey #ethan ramsey x mc #sienna trinh #miami #proposal

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unmaskedagain · 5 years ago

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Marinette Vs Santa: The Rematch

Seven people requested a continuation of the Part 1 and I just gave in. I hope you like. I’m not big on writing sequels. So please let me know if its good.

When the news broke that billionaire Bruce Wayne’s daughter Marinette was dating the Roy, the son of billionaire Oliver Queen, it was like the world paused.

It was bigger than Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Bigger than the royal wedding; both of them.

Bigger than the twilight love affair.

The Angel Marinette, the newfound princess of Gotham, dating the wayward Bad boy Roy, the prince of Star City.

Roy was handsome, really smart, funny, had a kickass attitude, played guitar and soccer, and loved animals; at least that’s what Jason told her Because Marinette had never met the guy.

People were betting on when they’d get married, have kids, what they’d name them…

And Marinette doesn’t even know the guy. I never had a single conversation with him.

Now Jason wanted her to… What?

“Come on!” Jason begged. “Just let him take you to the ball.”

Marinette sat at her desk, with arms cross, glaring furiously at her brother, as she contemplated murder. “No.”

Jason tossed his hands up in the air, “He’s really great. You’d like him.”

“I don’t care if reveals he’s actually Tom Holland ala Hannah Montana style,” Marinette growled. “No.”

“He’s in a bind,” Jason pleaded with his sister, giving her the biggest puppy dog eyes, he could muster. “His dad’s been giving him a lot of grief lately about him going to college and taking over the company one day and the bad press he’s been getting. Once Roy said he was taking Wayne’s princess to the ball, it stopped.”

“Why did he even say it?” Marinette yelled.

“He’s a moron!” Jason yelled back. “But he’s my best friend. He’s rich. He’s handsome. He comes from a great family. He’s strong. Gotta nice bad boy thing going on. A motorcycle. Sorta mysterious. How could you not want to date him?”

Marinette chuckled, “Maybe because I’m starting to think you might be.” She eyed him. “If this you two using me as a beard or whatever, cool. But Bruce Wayne and Oliver queen both been seen with Male lovers, I don’t think they’d mind…”

Jason glared at her, “I’m not dating Roy. Redheaded dudes are a little creepy.”

“Are they now?” Yeah, Marinette thought, really selling.

Jason pinched his nose, “Didn’t you ever wanna be Cinderella? Go to the ball with the Prince? Roy is that prince. The only one above him would be an actual prince. I thought all little girls did? Can you do it, please? For me?”

That’s when Marinette remembered the first time she saw Disney’s Cinderella. She had been six. It was Christmas. She had fallen instantly in love with the movie, the dress, the songs, the prince so much so that she talked about being Cinderella to her parents. Her dad just laughed and told her to write Santa. Ask him to make you Cinderella.

And so six-year-old Marinette did.

And now nearly ten years later, staring at her brother, she now knew… Santa had a hit list. It was the only explanation. Santa was gunning for her. Seeing what it took to break her. Finally, get her on the naughty list. Be careful what you wish for after all.

“I want to meet him,” Marinette said slowly with a defeated sigh.

“Yes!” Jason cheered. “I know the Cinderella thing would work.”

Marinette glared, “You know I know at actual prince right? Prince Ali.”

“No! Wait! We can talk about this!”

“Kidding.”

“Thank god,” Jason sighed in relief. “Oh, you can’t tell Bruce its fake.”

Marinette closed her, counted to ten, and stopped herself from screaming the only thing on her mind: FUCK SANTA.

The Tsurugi house had been tense since Kagami returned from school. Her grandparents had expressed their approval of her befriend Wayne’s youngest daughter. Kagami’s mother had been pleased that they would be receiving an invitation to the Wayne New Year’s ball.

They had been waiting all day for the invite to come. Both mother and daughter anxiously doing all they could to avoid waiting by the door.

When the doorbell rang, Kagami had to force herself not to run for it.

Discipline, she thought, control.

Her mother’s assistant announced, “Miss Wayne is here, Lady Kagami.”

Yes, she was. Marinette Dupain-Cheng-Wayne curtsied gracefully, “Mrs. Tsurugi. Kagami. I hope you are well this evening.”

Light, polite, took place after that. Her mother almost smiled in approval at Marinette.

When Marinette finally handed the invitation over, “I do hope you can attend,” She said. “I apologize for the short notice.”

Mrs. Tsurugi bowed. “It would be an honor to attend.”

“We look forward to it,” Kagami added.

“I… admit I have always wanted to go the Wayne’s Ball,” The older woman admitted the barest hint of a smile on her face. “One thing off my Christmas list, I suppose.”

At this, Marinette beamed, a vindictive pleasure coursed through. Yes, she wanted to his, Kiss my ass, Santa.

Going to Chloe’s was… interesting for Marinette. She hadn’ t even had the chance to knock on the penthouse door before Chloe had ripped it opened.

“Mama,” She called. “Marinette’s here.”

That was all the signal needed, for Audrey Bourguis to throw opened both doors of her office, “Ahh Marinette. How lovely to see you, darling.”

If Marinette had been a little meaner, she would have admitted that the scene was felt oddly similar to what it was like to see the stepsisters in Cinderella get the invitations to the ball. Chloe had been her bully, and she hadn’t changed all that much.

“Thank you for having me,” Marinette said easily. She presented the invitation. “I hope you can go,” She told Chloe and her mother honestly. “I could use more friends there.”

Chloe’s eyes softened despite the look of the annoyance on her face, “Of course we’re going.”

“Agreed,” Audrey said. “Everyone who is anyone is going. And we are most definitely anyone. The question is what are we wearing? Classic ball gown. Or a modern princess. What are you wearing? Everyone wants to know.”

“Roy Queen on her arm,” Chloe giggled.

Audrey smiled, her first real smile of the day, “Now that is quite the handsome accessory, bravo.”

They discussed fashion choices and who is supposed to be wearing who. All while Marinette dodged every attempt from Audrey to design her dress for the ball. And the older woman had been determined.

It was a harrowing experience. If Chloe hadn’t been her new best friend, Marinette would’ve given in to the desire to rip back the invite and tear it shreds.

As she was living, Audrey said, “I was always dreamed about it; the Wayne New Years’ ball,” It was said with a lovingness and dreamy voice that neither Chloe or Marinette had ever heard her use before. “When I was a little girl, I would watch every year and just dream about it. I envied and critiqued over dresses. When I was really little, I used to ask Santa to go every year. I’d even design my own dress; every year. Its why I got into fashion. I was a little girl who dreamed about her own ball gown.”

Marinette would leave the penthouse, walk outside where her driver waited, and before she got into the car, she stared at the Christmas decorations. At the robotic Santa waving, and whisper lowly, “We’ll call this a tie.”

But the fight wasn’t over.

Luka had no idea what to do with the invitation. Neither did his mother. Sure, they had heard about the Wayne ball but Juleka had Rose whispering in her ear so she made sure that her brother accepted.

“This is a favor to me,” Marinette pleaded. “Father will pay for the trip, for the expenses. Luka is my friend, and I would like him there. With you all of course.”

Juleka begged her mother, “Please! Rose said this a once in a lifetime experience.”

Luka eyed his sister but shrugged, “I’m in. What are friends for? He is your brother Tim single?”

What did you just say to me, punk? Marinette nearly snapped. She knew, of course, that Luka always had a celebrity crush on Tim Drake-Wayne. He even put jokingly put a kiss under the mistletoe with Tim Drake on his shopping list. But it was different now that Tim was her brother. Marinette needed her friends on her side; her family was insane. And she swore if Luka spent the entire Ball mooning over Tim, she was going to fly to the North Pole and shove her foot right up Santa’s…

“I won’t know anyone,” Anarka finally said interrupting Marinette’s thought. “It’ll be all boring people listening to classical music.”

“Oh!” Marinette straightened up. “Jagged Stone will be there,” She said brightly.

The glare she got from Luka’s mother could’ve been weaponized.

Marinette left their house feeling a bit shook.

“Ho! Ho! Ho!” She heard and saw Santa impersonator walking on the street.

Marinette’s eyes narrowed. A less person would’ve just taken him out, she knew. But Paparazzi was everywhere, and for once that was the only thing stopping her. Not being nice or polite.

No, Marinette raged inwardly, that time was over.

Instead, she shot him a glare, “Score one for you.”

The next day at school was even worse than the day before… Paparazzi wise.

“Marinette! Marinetti,” A lady from seventeen magazines yelled. “What was your first date like with Roy? Was it Romanic? Did you kiss him? Is he a good kisser?”

Marinette ignored them all as her father walked her into school again; this time with Tim and Cassandra.

“Bruce! What do you think of your daughter dating someone two years older than her?” Bruce stiffened.

“How long have you been dating the Queen heir?”

“Have you had sex yet?”

“What is he wearing the ball?”

The questions went on and on.

Marinette got to class and all but collapsed in her seat with a huff. This was too much. Her papa had assured her it would calm down soon.

“It will get better,” Kagami assured.

Chloe patted her back comfortingly, “Paparazzi are so invasive.”

Alix snorted, “What do you know about it.”

“Her mother is Style Queen,” Marinette answered before Chloe could. “One of the leading faces in fashion today; she can make or break a designer; start trends and end them. Everyone knows her name. Her face. She is the Devil’s Wears Prada: Miranda Presley of our world. Chloe was born with paparazzi wanting to know if her diaper was designer.”

Her classmates were shocked at her defense of the blonde.

“And for the record,” Chloe said sounding pleased. “They were.”

“What’s it like dating Roy Queen,” Rose asked excitedly, ignoring the tenseness of the room like she was always doing. “He’s so dreamy. Did you know I have him on my bedroom wall?”

Yes, Marinette did know. She helped decorate.

“Like a dream come true,” Marinette said with a forced smile.

Because like the most dreams, some crazy person made it up, She thought. Jason. Jason made it up.

“Do you think you’ll get married,” Mylene asked giving heart eyes to Ivan who blushed.

Marinette was about to answer when she noticed Alya’s phone was out, and she looked way to interested what Marinette was saying.

“I didn’t give permission for an interview,” She said. “Or for permission to have my conversation recorded as is required by law.”

“You never minded before,” Alya pointed out. “This could be huge for my blog.”

Marinette rolled her eyes, “No one knew I was a Wayne before. I have to be careful now.”

“Someone who knows you should give an inside scoop,” The glasses-wearing girl said. “Let people know what you’re really like, what you’re really thinking. We can do an interview right now!”

“Class is about to start,” Chloe sneered.

Kagami glared, “Delete it or hear from our lawyers.”

Adrien stood up, “Don’t you think you’re being a bit harsh.” Some of the other students nodded. “She doesn’t mean it harm.”

“I don’t care what she meant,” Marinette snapped. “I will not have private conversations on display for the world to hear. It's an invasion.” She told him and looked back at her once best friend. “Delete the recording from your phone.”

Alya crossed her arms, a petulant look appeared on her face, “I already posted it on my blog,” She said smugly. “Too late now.”

“Delete it,” Kagami and Chloe chimed together.

Alya stood her ground and sent them a look similar to what Rena Rouge sent Akumas, “No! It’s my private property,” She snapped, and she sent a smirk at Marinette. “You can’t make me.”

“Are you sure about that?” Marinette asked. “It’s your last chance.”

“This is my blog,” Alya said.

“Then prepare to see it burn.”

All Marinette wanted for Christmas last year was for Chat Noir to leave her alone and for Alya to wake up, stop listening to Lila and reporting false news about Ladybug.

Before the bell rang for lunch, Alya’s screech could be heard for miles. The Ladyblog was gone. Her mom had deleted it. Well not deleted the website but deleted everything on it. It had been an accident. Alya’s mom had been desperate to delete the interview of Marinette as quickly as possible. After realized what she had done, she quickly went to school to talk with her daughter.

“Why?” Alya had demanded in tears.

“Why?” Her mother shouted back. “Do you even know what you’ve done? What could happen to you? To your family?”

Her parents were furious. They had gotten a cease and desist Bruce Wayne’s lawyers, a notice that the Ladyblog was being sued for invasion privacy. Officer Raincomprix had shown up to let the know Alya was being hit with criminal charges; it was illegal to record a private conversation without permission for public use; even more so if it involved a minor.

Four hours. It took four hours for the Ladyblog to go up in flames.

The akuma had not been pleasant to deal with. But surprisingly, it wasn’t Alya. It was her mother; scared to death that her daughter had pissed off one of the richest family’s in the world and might have destroyed her own.

Alya left school early that day, and wouldn’t come back for the rest of the week.

Marinette counted that a win in the “Fuck Santa” Category. She could get her own freaking Christmas presents.

Marinette had been sitting with Kagami and Chloe, enjoying lunch in the cafeteria when suddenly all the noise stopped. A needle dropping would be heard.

“Babe,” A voice shouted.

Every hair on Marinette’ s body froze. What were the chances that an overly loud voice that sounded so familiar, so like how Roy Queen sounded in every video she ever saw of him, wasn’t actually Roy Queen?

No. It couldn’t be, she thought, Not even Santa’s that cruel.

She glanced behind her and tried not to groan. It was Roy Queen alright. Red hair, handsome face, smug ‘kick me in the teeth’ smile. He was gorgeous. The exact type she’d been into. He had a bouquet of red roses and what looked to be expensive chocolates.

That was when suddenly she remembered how much she wished for the same scenario. For her boyfriend, imaginary at the time, to surprise during school just because. When she was eleven, it was a Christmas wish on a star. (all her friends had boyfriends at the time; even if they only last two weeks at most.)

Another point for Jolly Saint Nick, she thought glumly.

An arm went around her shoulder, “Miss Me,” Roy smirked as he pulled her into a hug.

Marinette hugged him back tightly, a pleasant grin on her face, masking her true feelings, “I’m going to kill you,” She whispered. She kissed him softly on the cheek. “And I’m not even going to make it look like an accident.”

She wasn’t entirely sure if she was talking to him or Santa Clause; maybe both.

The smile was on Roy’s face as he pulled away, “You are definitely Jason’s sister.” He looked her up and down. “So… want to ditch school?”

Marinette sighed, “Fuck Santa.”

She didn’t care who heard now.

Marinette did not skip school. Roy did pick her up from school, on a motorcycle. The pictures were being recycled on the news.

All three of her parents were furious. Marinette had barely managed to get out of being grounded.

Santa would not beat her. She would not end up on the fat guy’s naughty list. Unless the reason was that she was standing over his cold, dead corpse.

“Okay,” Marinette said as she paced her bedroom. “I’m losing it.”

“You’re fine,” Tikki promised. “This time year gets to everyone. It will get better.”

“He’s persecuting me,” The bluenette.

Tikki sighed at her chosen’s antics, “Santa is not after you.”

Suddenly, there was a loud crash. Her bedroom door swung open, Tim rushed in looking a mess and beyond frazzled, “Tell me you can sing?” He shouted. “Doesn’t matter. I told everyone that you’re singing at the ball. It’s gonna be great.” And then he ran from the room.

It went silent.

“Coward!” She yelled after him

Marinette recalled her desire, her wish to finally overcome her shyness, her stage fright. She recalled the time fainted during a choir rehearsal for the Christmas pageant. She had been eight-years-old and vowed to never sing publicly.

“…Maybe Santa is out to get you,” Tikki said bluntly who knew all about Marinette’s fear of singing.

Tim suddenly ran back in the room, “You’re having dinner with Roy and his parents tomorrow.” He said. “And Dad wants you to meet the Justice League. Have fun.” And he was gone.

“Fuck. Santa!” She screamed.

#ml salt #ml fic #alya salt #marinette dupen chang #Marinette deserves better #batfamily #Tim Drake #bruce wayne #roy harper #class salt

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mikauzoran · 4 years ago

Text

Lukadrien: Among the Wild Things: Chapter Eleven

Read it on AO3: Among the Wild Things: Chapter Eleven: Confrontation

The royal mausoleum was dim and a little dank; the solid stone walls and the flickering torches did little to keep out the dark chill of death.

Adrien led the way down into the crypt where the kings and queens of the past slept underneath the floor tiles and life-size statues in niches along the walls were the chief markers of which tenants rested where.

Luka found himself more than a little unsettled. He was just waiting for one of the statues to move, and he could swear he felt their eyes on him.

Adrien, however, made his way through the tomb seemingly unbothered by the images of his deceased forebearers. He also appeared to know exactly where he was going, quickly heading to the end of the row.

Luka guessed that Adrien had been to visit his mother many times over the years and was well accustomed to the place.

“Maman,” Adrien breathed, voice filled with emotion as he went up to the statue of a lovely young woman posed seated on a stone bench. She smiled tranquilly, her sightless eyes giving off a dreamy quality.

Adrien sank to his knees at her feet, placing his hand on top of her folded ones and resting his head in her lap.

“I missed you,” he whimpered. “It was so hard not even having a picture of you. I was afraid I was going to forget your face just like I’m forgetting your voice.”

Luka bit his lip, tempted to go kneel beside Adrien and wrap his arms around his mate to hold him together. At the same time, though, he didn’t want to interrupt the clearly personal moment.

Before Luka could decide, Adrien regained his composure and rose to his feet, turning his attention to the statue standing behind his mother’s with his hand possessively resting on her shoulder.

Luka had no trouble recognizing King Gabriel from the portrait Adrien had pulled out of the desk drawer in his mother’s room the night before. Surprisingly, Gabriel’s statue didn’t look new. It showed the same wear and weathering as his wife’s, indicating that the King had probably ordered the two made as a pair when the Queen had died.

“Father,” Adrien levelly addressed Gabriel’s imposing image as it scowled severely in judgment. “…I’m sorry that I didn’t say goodbye…. I’ve regretted that, but you made me feel trapped, so I didn’t think I had the option. I had to escape while I could without looking back. I hope you can at least appreciate the decisiveness of my actions.”

Predictably, Gabriel made no reply.

Adrien took a step back with a sigh, now addressing both parents as he continued, “I’m sorry that I was never really the son you’d hoped for. I’m sorry for all the disappointments.”

He then turned to look at Luka, holding out his hand for his husband to come take.

Luka swiftly answered the entreaty, coming to stand by his mate’s side, holding his hand as they presented a united front.

“I think you two always knew I wasn’t interested in women,” Adrien snorted softly. “Maybe you knew even before I did and that’s why you always said disparaging things about people who experience homosexual attraction. Maybe you thought it was some kind of choice I could un-make or an urge I could fight if I were strong enough…but it’s not.”

Luka inched in closer so that his shoulder pressed supportively against Adrien’s.

“I tried,” Adrien pleaded, his voice strained by building tears. “I tried really hard to be the son and heir you wanted. I just couldn’t make myself, quote-unquote, ‘normal’…and I’ve learned now in the past six months that that illusory ‘normal’ doesn’t exist. I don’t have to fix myself,” Adrien asserted, the tears leaving his voice to be replaced by strength and conviction.

“There’s nothing wrong with me that needs fixing. It’s okay to be gay. It’s actually something really beautiful and special…something that makes me me,” he tried to explain as a sad-but-daring-to-hope smile shyly tilted up the corners of his lips. “And I’ve found someone who loves and treasures me just the way I am.”

He nervously smiled at Luka before looking back to his parents’ statues. “Maman, Father…this is Luc…my husband.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesties,” Luka greeted, crossing his left arm over his chest and inclining forward into a slight bow, not really sure what the protocol was for meeting deceased royal in-laws.

“Maman, you would have loved him,” Adrien insisted excitedly, but then his expression sobered, and he amended, tempering his remark, “…at least…I’m sure you would have loved him if you could see past him being fae and married to your son.”

Luka squeezed Adrien’s hand, signaling that he was right there beside Adrien no matter what.

“I hope you would have eventually seen past all that,” Adrien added softly. “He takes good care of me, Maman. He’s a good person, and his love and support help me get a little closer to my full potential and being the person I want to be,” he testified, praying that his assurances would have been enough if she’d still been living.

“I have the kind of love you told me fairy stories about, Maman,” he informed her pleadingly. “Please don’t despise me just because I couldn’t find that kind of happiness with a mortal woman.”

Next, Adrien turned back to his father, a wry smile sliding into place on his lips as he chuckled, “Sometimes you did things that made me think, ‘See? He really does love me after all’. …I know you would never approve of this marriage,” he admitted with a melancholy shake of his head, “but there’s a part of me that hopes that my happiness with a fae man wouldn’t kill that little spark of affection you felt for me.”

With a tearful choke, Adrien retreated into Luka’s arms, burying his face in his mate’s chest. “I guess we’ll never know, though.”

Luka shook his head in disagreement, insisting, “They would have come around. Maybe they would have resented me for a while, and I’m sure they wouldn’t have approved of our union, but, after some time passed, they would see how happy we are together. They wouldn’t be able to begrudge a marriage that made their son happy.”

“I think you’re a bit too naïve, My Love,” Adrien sighed, but Luka’s assertions did make the tears stop. “My world can be cruel and uncaring.”

“Yes, but I refuse to believe that any parents who managed to produce a sweet, compassionate, loving person like you could reject their son because of who he loves,” Luka continued to fight Adrien’s assumptions.

“…Maybe.” Adrien finally allowed the possibility to germinated and take root in his mind. “Maybe they would come around after a while.”

“You’d win them over eventually,” Luka assured, squeezing his beloved tightly, happy to see Adrien through all the ups and downs that came with facing the demons of the life he’d left behind.

Once Adrien regained his composure and bade his goodbyes to his parents, they headed back to the Queen’s chambers where they found Alya and Nino waiting for them, making themselves comfortable in the sitting area of the room on the settee.

“Dri!” Alya trilled in delight when she saw him, scrambling to her feet and dashing across the room to envelope him in a hug that knocked the air out of his lungs.

“It’s good to see you, Alya,” Adrien chuckled as best as he could without the benefit of oxygen. “Thank you for coming.”

She pulled back so that she was at arms’ length, holding him by the biceps to study him better. “Sunshine, you never told me you were the crown prince of the Kingdom of Agreste!” she accused.

Adrien shrugged and gave a sheepish smile. “I mean…you knew I was a prince. I told you that.”

She rolled her hazel eyes and snorted impatiently. “Yeah, but you took Luc for your mate—no offence.”

Luka smiled wryly, lifting and lowering his eyebrows in a manner that clearly stated that he was used to this kind of abuse and didn’t take it to heart.

“I thought you were the prince of some backwater, no-name kingdom,” Alya explained, “but here it turns out that you’re, like, the prince!”

“Technically, he’s the king now,” Luka pointed out helpfully.

A blush of embarrassment sparked to life on Alya’s cheeks, and her lips rounded into an “O” as she remembered the whole reason Adrien had come to the palace in the first place.

“I’m really sorry about your father, by the way,” she offered sheepishly, suddenly feeling bad for the way she’d been gossiping just the day before about the news of King Gabriel’s death and what the kingdom was going to do what with their prince missing.

She remembered the way she’d caught wind of the Queen’s death six years prior and had spent a prodigious amount of time and energy feeding on the conspiracy theories surrounding it. All at once, she felt ill because she’d treated her dear friend’s tragedy as a form of entertainment.

“I’m really sorry, Dri,” she repeated it earnestly, knowing as she squeezed his arm in support that she could never make any of it up to him.

Adrien nodded, looking down at the floor as he whispered a tired, “Thank you.”

Luka and Nino were at his side at once, resting comforting hands on shoulders and giving his hair loving tussles.

A thin smile spread across Adrien’s lips, and he looked back up at Alya with a deep weariness in his eyes. “It’s been difficult, but I’m making it through somehow. Having Luc by my side has been a blessing.”

Alya nodded, feeling awkward and, for once, unsure of what to say.

“But let’s focus on happier things, shall we?” Adrien forced himself to smile wider, trying to inject an air of levity into the conversation. “Did you hear about the wedding and the coronation scheduled for this evening?”

Alya’s eyes lit up, and she latched onto the new topic with unfeigned enthusiasm. “Oh, yes! I was just pumping Nino for information when you came in. It sounds so exciting! The pomp and the ceremony and the big feast afterwards!” She gave a vulpine bark of delight. “I wish I could see it all for myself. I’ve always dreamed of human celebrations like this.”

“You can come,” Adrien informed with a shrug that suggested it was as nothing for him to make her wildest, most cherished dreams come true.

“Really?” She almost stopped breathing.

Adrien nodded and shrugged again. “I’m king. If I say you can come, you can come, and if anyone has a problem with that, they can get over it because my word is literally law,” he assured, taking a heady pleasure in his newfound control. “…I mean, until I can foist the leadership of this kingdom upon someone else, but…”

“I would literally die of happiness,” Alya whined, near tears as she squirmed in excitement.

“Nino will have to chaperon you,” Adrien laid out the conditions.

“I can do that,” Nino gladly volunteered, looking forward to having more time to chat with the interesting fae woman.

“Just for safety,” Adrien explained. “My subjects can be a little…backward…when it comes to issues of embracing diversity. Some of them might be a bit uncomfortable if they knew you were a fox spirit, so I think it’s best if you stay close to Nino so he can help you out and keep you safe.”

“No complaints here!” Alya assured chipperly.

“And we’ll have to see about getting you a suitable dress for the event so that you fit in,” Adrien continued, voicing items of concern as they came to mind. “Nino, could you take her to see Marinette about that?”

Nino gave a snort, shaking his head as he grinned. “Marinette is going to kill you.”

Adrien waved away Nino’s assertion. “Marinette won’t kill me. Marinette loves me. She’s got at least twenty dresses just sitting around that she could make some quick adjustments to for Alya.”

“Marinette is going to kill you,” Luka snickered, imagining the seamstress’s face when Nino arrived with the request from the young king, her eyes bloodshot from working through the night on the coronation/wedding outfits. “She’s going to be livid.”

“It’ll be fine,” Adrien insisted, unconcerned. “I have faith in the supernatural abilities of my Royal Court Seamstress. There’s a reason she’s the youngest person ever to hold the title.”

“There will be shrieking,” Nino chuckled. “She’s going to take me by the shoulders and throttle me in your place.”

“You’ll survive,” Adrien promised with a wink, going over to where the decadent breakfast Alya had brought was spread out on the coffee table. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m starving.”

“You’re going to be able to hear the shrieking all the way in town. People are going to think a demon has descended upon the land,” Nino muttered resignedly.

“They already think that about me,” Luka hummed as he followed Adrien over to the sitting area.

Alya arched an eyebrow in confusion. “How could they confuse you with an oni? Have they never seen one before? Don’t they have picture books? Didn’t you tell them you’re a kelpie?”

By the time Adrien and Luka returned from their morning out and sat down to breakfast, the rest of the castle inhabitants were starting to get up and move about, getting on with their day.

Nathalie soon appeared to give them their first briefing of the day, and then it was a flurry of servants and advisors coming in and out, checking about this, asking about that, all working together (or at odds with one another) to prepare for the day’s events.

It reminded Luka of watching his mother in action at a town hall where everyone gathered to make their concerns and desires known. It boggled Luka’s mind how many different decisions Adrien had to make, how many people’s concerns he had to deal with, all the orders there were to give.

Luka wondered if the daily life of a king was always like that or if it were just because of the last-minute nature of the wedding-slash-coronation.

Everyone seemed to be in a rush, and everyone was vying for Adrien’s time and attention.

“I hate you,” Marinette announced as she came in just after noon for a fitting.

“You love me,” Adrien corrected, encircling her in a warm hug.

“No, I really think I hate you,” Marinette snorted, even as she squeezed him back. “I love Alya, however, so I’m definitely keeping her. I’m not so sure about you.”

“Were you able to find a dress that could be modified for her?” Adrien inquired as they pulled apart and Marinette went to the rack she had brought in to get the garments for Luka and Adrien to try on.

“Yes, I actually have a gorgeous orange dress that’s going to look ravishing on her. I did the measurements and marked it up for alterations. Manon’s working on it now,” Marinette informed.

“Nino’s going to faint when he sees her,” Luka hummed happily. He had been pleased with the chemistry between them that he had witnessed during breakfast, and he had high expectations for Alya in formalwear.

“Are you shipping them now?” Adrien snickered as he accepted the garment bag from Marinette.

“Nino is a good man; he deserves happiness, and I think Alya could be a good fit,” Luka replied with an innocent shrug, as if he weren’t actively scheming to get them together.

“I’m in favor of this pairing,” Marinette reported. “Nino’s been a mopey mess since you’ve been gone, leaving him with no one to moon over. If you’re going to be going back home to the fair folk before long, it would be nice if he had someone to take a romantic interest in so that he didn’t feel so lonely.”

“Yeah,” Adrien sighed, feeling guilty. “It would be nice if he had someone. I don’t want him to feel left out, especially now that both of us are going to have partners.”

“He’ll find the right person in time,” Marinette tried to assure with an encouraging smile. “Nino is a great guy; he’s bound to find love…so go on and try your suit out, and don’t worry so much about Nino.”

Adrien nodded, going behind the screen to change.

Luka nearly overheated when Adrien came out wearing a three-piece suit. The jacket was a long, royal blue tailcoat with striking silver embroidery tastefully done down the front of the jacket and around the sleeves. White pants and an ascot completed the look, and, as much as Luka loved his husband in his everyday clothes, Luka found that expensive clothing really suited Adrien.

“I think he’s speechless,” Adrien chuckled, running a hand through his hair, mussing it up. “Excellent job, Marinette.”

“I don’t know if I can really take the credit,” Marinette snickered. “My suit wouldn’t be half as stunning if you weren’t smoking hot.”

“True,” Adrien laughed, giving a spin to make the coattails fan out.

Luka gulped.

“All right.” Marinette gave Luka a clap on the back as she pushed a second garment bag into Luka’s arms. “Your turn, if you think you can walk.”

“I’m fine, thank you.” Luka cleared his throat and held the garment bag in front of himself to preserve his modesty as he slunk uncomfortably across the room to the changing screen.

His own outfit was nearly identical to Adrien’s saving for the colour scheme which was inversed. Luka’s jacket and vest were white while his pants, ascot, and the embroidery on his jacket were a beautiful blue to match Adrien.

“If you need help putting anything on, just ask,” Marinette called out helpfully. “I’ve dressed plenty of people in my line of work, so you won’t scandalize me or anything. Most nobles have people who dress them, so it’s really not a big deal.”

“I’m good, but thank you very much,” Luka assured as he fought a little with the innumerable buttons.

When he was content that he looked presentable, he stepped out from behind the screen and was more than satisfied with the effect his appearance had on his mate.

Adrien’s eyes dilated, and his mouth dropped open slightly as a hearty blush spread across the bridge of his nose from one cheek to the other.

Luka zeroed in on Adrien’s throat as he swallowed hard.

“Marinette, if you don’t mind, I think I need half an hour alone with my husband to discuss important marriage stuff,” Adrien informed as he strode across the room, grabbed Luka, and dipped him into a hungry kiss.

“No, no, no, no, no!” Marinette protested with an exasperated huff, watching futilely as Adrien pulled Luka back up only to escort him over to the bed (stealing breathy kisses the whole way) and push Luka down onto it.

“Adrien, I swear, if you harm so much as a button on those outfits, I will assassinate you myself,” she growled, lamenting the fact that she had done too good of a job making both grooms look incredibly handsome.

“I love you, Marinette, but get out,” Adrien hummed happily. “That’s an order.”

Stewing and clenching her fists and jaw, Marinette stormed towards the exit, threatening over her shoulder, “Don’t you dare rip his clothes off with your teeth, Adrien! I will kill you. Take them off like civilized people and hang them up on the rack in their bags. Then copulate like bunnies. I don’t care, but don’t you dare—”

Marinette nearly got hit by the door as Nathalie entered the room.

“—Oh! Lady Sancoeur! I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you there.” Marinette hastened to curtsy.

Adrien rolled off of Luka with a startled yelp, looking very much like a chastened schoolboy caught by his mother.

“…Am I interrupting?” Nathalie inquired blandly, her eyebrow arching upwards.

“Marinette was just making sure our clothes fit for the ceremony,” Adrien explained sheepishly.

Luka—who had been inoculated to this brand of embarrassment by being walked in on by or walking in himself on his mother, Rose, and Juleka—tried to stifle his laughter and an amused grin with varying degrees of success.

Adrien was adorable as he blushed and fidgeted nervously.

Luka leaned in and pressed a comforting kiss to his temple. “Everything seems to fit wonderfully, so we were just about to change back into our regular clothes until it gets closer to time for the ceremony,” Luka added to lend Adrien’s story credibility. “Marinette is truly amazing to have completed such a daunting task so quickly and so well. I’m extremely impressed.”

“Oh, well,” Marinette laughed bashfully, breaking out into a wide grin of pleasure at his lavish praises. “I couldn’t have done it without the help of my team. I’m very lucky to work with many talented people I can trust implicitly.”

“And we’re very lucky to have you to lead them,” Nathalie added, nodding her approval (a rare commodity).

Then, Nathalie was back to business, getting to the point. “The rings have just arrived from the jeweler, and we need to make sure they fit and meet with your approval so that there’s enough time to make corrections, if there are issues.”

“Oh. Right,” Adrien responded as one coming out of a reverie. He furrowed his brow and pursed his lips as he got up and came over to inspect the rings which Nathalie had fished out of little satin bags.

“Sorry. I know we talked about getting rings for the ceremony this morning, but…” He nervously began to twist the ring Luka had made for him around his finger.

It didn’t feel right to replace it or even to take it off. His subjects might not consider the ceremony that Anarka had officiated at or the private rituals Luka and Adrien had exchanged in their room that first day they committed themselves to one another to be legitimate or legally binding, but Adrien did.

The makeshift ring Luka had placed on Adrien’s finger that day was a real wedding ring to him, and it felt wrong to renounce it like this.

Luka came up behind Adrien, wrapping his arms around him to give him a supportive squeeze. “It’s okay, My Love,” he assured, gingerly taking Adrien’s hand and slipping off the ring, moving it over to the ring finger of Adrien’s right hand. “It doesn’t really matter which finger it’s on, does it? Isn’t the important thing that I put it there?”

Adrien hummed thoughtfully, studying the effect of this new placement.

“…Yeah,” he finally sighed, nodding decisively. “I guess you’re right, but this is only for the ceremony. Tonight, we’re switching them back. My real wedding ring gets pride of place.”

“As you wish,” Luka easily agreed, letting Adrien switch Luka’s ring from his left hand to his right as well so that they could try on the new rings.

Luka reached out for the one that Nathalie indicated was Adrien’s but then stopped, looking uncertainly at the advisor. “I remembered to tell you about my iron allergy…right?”

Nathalie gave him the vaguest hint of a smile as she assured, “You did, and I triple checked with the jeweler, so there shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Thank you.” Luka smiled nervously as he hesitantly picked up the ring, poking it with the tip of one finger first to test it before taking hold of it with confidence.

Both of the rings fit comfortably, and the fitting ended without incident.

Marinette finished inspecting both outfits and identified small details that could be improved while Nathalie gave the boys what felt like their dozenth briefing of the day.

Even after Nathalie and Marinette were both satisfied and left, that didn’t end the whirlwind of people coming in and out of the Queen’s chambers, needing Adrien’s approval or input on this or that.

Luka felt like he barely had time to breathe as the day quickly slipped away and, suddenly, it was time for the ceremony.

#Lukadrien #Miraculous Ladybug #Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction #Adrien Agreste #Luka Couffaine #Nino Lahiffe #Alya Césaire #Gabriel Agreste #Émilie Agreste #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Hurt/Comfort #Found Family #Fluff #Mikau's Writings #Among the Wild Things

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amjustagirl · 3 years ago

Note

Okay so, Absence of Sound? Amazing. 😭 I'm feeling both terribly sad but also warm and fuzzy inside! I'm gonna start with the first part.

(ALSO TO ANYONE WHO HASN'T READ THE SERIES YET, 1. GO DO IT AND 2. SPOILERS! 😄)

I think I simp for Akaashi more than I think, because I wasn't quite as furious with him as J was with Iwa-chan (whom I also love inexplicibly!). I think it's the nature of the break ups? Falling out of love and growing apart hurts less than being left for someone else, at least to me. However! Keiji was 100% being an ass 😠 Work is important and it's understandable to be busy, but constantly blowing off your girlfriend or even being a bit snappish to her because she wants to spend time with you? Unacceptable. And she brought up a good point - if all that spending time with her caused him to get passed up for a promotion, would he resent her for it in the long term? I think after a while he was just too used to her presence and began to take it for granted, and in that timeframe her heart was broken but she'd already made up her mind to leave - it wasn't salvageable at that point 😞 It sucks, because I absolutely understand the insecurities she started feeling, but ultimately it was for the best, I feel. Even if I was tempted to throw him a bone in the cafe 😭

AND YAKUUUUN! 😊 I love him so much! I feel like he was perfect for her, because like it was pointed out, not only were he and Keiji almost complete opposites (to hopefully lessen the comparisons her mind wanted to make between the two!) I feel like Yaukkun is absolutely the type of person to directly engage the problem and nip it in the bud! Especially coming from a break-up, it's easy to want to play it safe to avoid getting hurt, but that kind of mindset is self-sabotage more than anything. Also, when he gave her the roses, and the fact that they came from HIM and NOT Keiji was so perfect, my heart 💓 And little Kuroo was a plus?

(Oh, read your One-Shots too! Was Kuroo naming his pet after Yaku a call-back? 👀👀)

In the end, I'm SO happy Yaku and Reader got their happiness. And I bet Keiji would find his too, I just think it's not time for him yet.

...and Bokuto. You're doing such a good job, sweetie 🙃 Although I do appreciate that he was still there for his friend!

That was SO LONG I'M SORRY 😰 But I had to get that out because I enjoyed them both so much! Lovely work, as always 🤗💖🤗💖

omg so ive been holding on to this ask cos im just so happy you've given me such lovely comments ahhhh. yeah y'know i have such a soft spot for akaashi (you've read dream catcher so i think it's obvious) but absence of sound explores that workaholic, obsessive anxious part of him that is somewhat alluded to in canon, and the impact of the choices he makes. i slipped in a little bit of my own life in absence of sound because my then fiance was similarly so busy with work i was left to plan our wedding mostly by myself, and i won't lie that i was feeling neglected but the difference is that i knew my fiance was working to get himself out of that toxic job, unlike akaashi whose ambitions just left no space for the reader and that's sad. she deserved better.

oh definitely - like, if akaashi is the kind of romantic, dreamy eyed boy then yaku is worlds apart with his forthrightness and grounded nature. he's romantic in his own way and ahhh im so glad you love the roses being a motif throughout their relationship! hehe kuroo the cat (and not the middle blocker) and yes! kuroo defo got yaku back - this is mentioned twice - once in a domestic interluded where he helps the reader hunt down some cockroaches in love knows not its depth, another longfic i wrote (also v angsty, a diff take on love and marriage).

but nooo okay to be fair iwa was still going to marry the reader, she just recognised that he loved tooru more than he loved her so she made the decision to step away from him. i feel for iwa tho >< also also, she makes a small cameo in absence of sound as the peach blossom girl!

one day maybe, i'll give akaashi his happy ending. but in the meantime i think he shld just lean on his relationship with bokuto (ahhh he's such a cutiepie isn't he!!!)

pls don't apologise!!! i loved loved loved hearing what you think!

#Nikki chats!#Tyga-lily<3 #in the absence of sound #astrophile

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fallintomyhands · 4 years ago

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Blacked out card for @barisifandomevents !

Fake Relationship: Dreams – Asmodesgold (M)

· Barba gets the flu. Carisi gets more than he bargained for. A sweet, soft fic full of longing and loving care.

Wedding: In Vino Veritas – etothepii ( E )

· A bachelor party, a wedding, late nights in the office, and confusion. One of my favorite fics of Carisi figuring himself out, featuring a lot of unique but realistic situations, tenderness and heat, angst, and hopefulness. A fandom must read.

Alternate Universe: The Primitive and Sanctified – Konigsberg ( E )

· Demons exist, unbeknownst to SVU… except the members counted amongst their ranks. This is one of my favorite stories of all time, and please don’t let the supernatural elements (or the fact this is sadly still a WIP) “scare” you away! The “monstrous” elements are used to perfectly capture characterization, and this is the most tender fic I’ve ever read. Makes you want to crawl into the soft, dreamy feelings and live there forever. Please give this a shot if you haven’t already; perfection.

Crack Fic: Overstepping – rellkelltn87 (M)

· A raid on a real-life mad scientist goes horribly wrong, and ends with Carisi “in a family way.” I never thought I’d see an mpreg story in this fandom that could come off so believable, but this author works miracles (in a much kinder way than her characters!) Part casefic, part romance, all suspense, don’t pass this one up, you will not be disappointed!

Based on a Movie: Do Monsters Dream? – bourgeois ( E )

· Shape of Water AU in which Sonny works at an aquatic research facility and meets someone special. Takes place in a timeline where we see Carisi struggling after the Tom Cole incident, heart wrenchingly portrayed through his losses, personal and professional, and his meeting of another lonely, imprisoned soul. Beautifully written, absolutely captivating prose, wistful, heartfelt and magical.

Animals: Yuletide by the Fireside – Juniperhoot

· First Christmas with a new love, and unfortunately a new, smaller paycheck. Tenderness, cozy domesticity, and the most adorable dog ever singing along to bad TV music numbers; what more could you want? If your answer was ‘thoughtful characterization’ – that’s here too!

First Date: Everything Seems a Little Bit Sweeter – rafaelbaseball, burgeois

· Barba is obsessed with a YouTube chef, and enters a contest to meet him for dinner. One of the earliest fics I was obsessed with. The whole series is lovely, and the actual date is so tentative and lovely it makes my heart clench. Barba finding himself not in the age group of Sonny’s fans is painfully relatable and a stroke of genius.

Carisi Family: A Healing Year – Adrianna_m_scovill (M)

· A year in the life of Barba and Carisi, in which Barba faces his insecurities and begins to heal, and to love. A fantastic story from start to finish, with top notch characterization and intense emotions, steamy sex, and everything in between. I chose this for my family fic not just because there’s a lovely holiday spent with the Carisi family, but because the fic also embodies how Carisi manages to make everyone in his life his family. Utterly captivating story from an author that always makes an emotional impact.

Soulmates: Choose To Be With You – Robin Hood

· Sometimes the person who has your heart doesn’t have your soul. Great take on the soulmates trope, heartfelt, heartbreaking, mature. Insightful characterization of both characters, but especially Carisi, who faces an impossible situation, and reacts exactly how I believe the character would do.

Get Together: Noche Sin Estrella – Lambnoire

· Casefic in which Barba is injured, and Carisi figures something out about himself when his protective streak becomes something more. A pretty much perfect fic; perfect characterization, strong and realistic casefic, recurring canon characters that feel true to themselves, whump that expresses the right amounts of terror without delving outside the scope of the show, and a slow burn journey of romance and self-acceptance that is meticulously paced, utterly realistic and hits every emotional mark flawlessly. Now that it’s back, make sure you don’t miss out.

Break Up: Every Time We Touch – OblivionCastro

· Soulmate AU where the touch of your partner gives you pain. A 5+1 fic, a soulmate fic, but mostly, a lyrically written story of enduring pain and enduring its loss. A wonderful metaphor for the agony of love and loss that brings me to tears every time.

Secret Relationship: Pink (& Other Promises) – leslielol

· Barba and Carisi fall together, and decide to keep it under wraps for a while; results vary. A common premise with uncommonly good prose. Vivid, lyrical language wraps around a soft story about affection, subterfuge, and acceptance. A very different look at Barba and Carisi than the author’s main fic, but no less enduring and amazing.

WIP: Much Farther To Go – nukablastr (M)

· The threats on Barba’s life have been declared a cold case, but Carisi decides to do some investigating on his own to protect the man he loves. This is the third part of a long series detailing the “missing” events in S17, and exploring beyond into “what could have been” if this major plot hadn’t been dropped. I added part 3 for the WIP, but recommend reading from the beginning. This story is expertly paced and plotted, and feels absolutely like it could be a piece of canon. One of the seminal works of the barisi fic fandom; read it if you haven’t.

Shadowing: Mind if I Sit Down? – Larkin21 ( E )

· Another episode tag based story from S17, featuring Carisi and Barba entering into a casual relationship behind the scenes. There’s not really many (or any!) full stories of Carisi shadowing Barba, but I was glad to be able to include this series, which features a full chapter on the shadowing episode. Again, I recommend reading the entire series, as it’s full of fantastically written plot and characterization, seamlessly weaving deep insights on the characters and blisteringly hot sex into the best seasons of the show. Another not-to-be-missed series!

Get Together: I’m gonna leave it all out there to dry – littleblacksubmarine ( E )

· Carisi is barely keeping it together, and Barba is waiting to be allowed to help; a story of depression, self-loathing, comfort and devotion told through incredibly poignant intimate and sexual encounters. An unusual depiction of a very dark Sonny, and a protective, self-sacrificing Rafael who’s there for him every painful step of the way. Amazing story that captures perfectly some very different aspects of the characters than we typically see, and still feels 100% true. This story has broken and healed my heart so many times.

Holiday: Pass Here and Go On – abogadobarba

· After the events of Undiscovered Country, Barba and Carisi reconnect, by chance, on a train of all places. Full of atmosphere, literary references, and some of the best prose in the fandom. This story is pure poetry, creating a tone of loneliness and longing, the sense of expanse and yet confinement that only travel can bring, and ultimately peacefulness and hope.

Alternate Career Rafael: In This Light – Astronaut_Milky (M)

· Barba is a photographer, Carisi is a model, both men destined to keep finding… and losing, each other. Beautiful, sexy story about two men whose jobs keep bringing them together, and tearing them apart, full of light and heat and beautiful people and beautiful imagery.

Undercover: Have You Ever Wished For An Endless Night? – minnesotamemelord

· Carisi goes undercover at a high-powered legal event, and runs into someone familiar. A look at Sonny getting to go undercover at a nicer event than we normally see! Well written characterizations, and some interesting contemplations on unique issues, such as Carisi’s opinion on wealth and the wealthy that felt so spot on I immediately felt they were canon. Also, poor Rafael; he has such terrible friends!

5+1: We Had No Haste – alwaysbuddy

· Carisi and Barba meet over and over in the most coincidental of places, but succumb to their own insecurities. Breathtaking story about two should-be fated lovers who continue to meet and connect over a multitude of vacations, but can’t bring themselves to reach for what they want, until they fear it may be too late. Gorgeous, atmospheric, romantic and sad, in equal measure, with an ending that’s happy, but still exudes a sense of so much lost time. This fic haunts my thoughts in the best ways.

Cooking: Sustenance – AhumanFemale, tiberius (E )

· Barba’s friends buy him a live-in chef for a time, so he can stop living on pretzels and coffee. Sweeping piece of art that exudes sensuality and the feel of time slipping through your fingers.

First Meeting: Here and Now – wormghoul

· Barba and Carisi meet, and have a whirlwind romance, at LSAT camp before being parted until they meet again at SVU. The imagery and language used in this story has stuck with me for a long time. Shockingly, wrenchingly accurate descriptions of the feelings of holding memories dear, “as a talisman,” and the devastating feelings of having them torn away from you by reality… but also the hope that they can be made anew.

Crack Fic: It’s Not Too Late/Gag Order – cupidmarwani

· Carisi has a superpower, and has reached the end of his rope. Carisi has seen too much, and has the power to burn it all down. Barba wants to save him, but has to face stark reality. Short, intense story about the toll Carisi’s job takes on him, and how he becomes one of the monsters that he used to fight. Depressing, heartbreaking, terrifyingly relatable, this is an overlooked gem.

Confession: Him. – keraunoscopia

· Carisi struggles with his sexuality and internalized homophobia, and seeks aid from the Church. Quiet, powerful, painful, and so, so beautiful.

Domestic: Daylight – cypress_tree ( E )

· Carisi stays the night for the first time and Barba sees him in the sunlight. Short, sweet, hot. What’s more domestic than two people in love, unwilling to get out of bed and leave one another’s presence?

Fix It: Good Morning – Kaye_21 (M)

· A threat to Barba’s life does not end well – repeatedly! Another “supernatural” style fic that shouldn’t be overlooked, even if it’s not your genre. Barba, stuck in a room with Carisi and a man out to kill them both, needs to figure out what is required of him to prevent their deaths, before he loses his mind. Fantastic character study. Terrifying, sad, sexy and hopeful. I chose this one for “fix it,” since as barisi itself could be considered a canon “fix it” or missed opportunity, and this fic itself embodies Barba himself finding a way to be that fix.

#barisi fic rec bingo #barisi #fic recs

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jinmindeulle · 5 years ago

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crowned ∣ jwy (3)

not destined

pairing: jung wooyoung x reader ft. san

word count: 1.4 k

genre: royalty au, prince!wooyoung x dressmaker!reader ∣ angst, fluff

warnings: minor swearing

a/n: if you want to be in the tag list so that you don’t miss the updates, just comment down below and i’ll happily add you! ♥

bring your tissues :(

Me?

He has been planning on running away with me all this time? Three years of his life?

I freeze. The words are choked in my throat, but I really don’t know what to say. This situation is far away from what I expected, because after having started to feel those butterflies every time he merely looked at me, I had come to the conclusion that Wooyoung was never going to love me, and that I had to accept the fact that I had to find someone else. And now…

I am lost.

I mumble nonsensical words; my mind is clouded.

I finally got what I wanted. But why do I feel like this is not right?

‘Wooyoung does not want you, y/n.’ a soft whisper resounds in my head ‘He just wants the freedom that he can get if he runs away with you.’

I open my eyes and I just stare at him, disbelief in my features.

God, he’s so breathtakingly beautiful, kind and generous. He makes the world a better place, he is the light that this fucked up kingdom needs to survive.

I can’t take him away from them. They need him more than I do. Even if it hurts.

“Wooyoung, I…”

That’s all I manage to say before the tears I was holding back, go down my face. I shut my eyes tight, wishing this was just a bad dream. How ironically sad.

“I don’t love you that way.” I whisper, without moving an inch.

I turned out to be such a good liar, after all.

I never open my eyes because I don’t want to see his face. I know he’s heartbroken, and I know he didn’t expect this. Why would he buy a cottage and keep it habitable for three whole years if he thought that I was going to say no?

How am I supposed to look at him in the eye ever again?

“I…” shaking my head, I try to calm down in order to finish the sentence. “I’m so sorry, Wooyoung.” I choke out, finally breaking down.

I want to scream at him that I love him so much. That I have always dreamt of walking down the aisle and meet him at the end of it. That I have been dreaming every damned night about him and how his lips would feel on mine. That I have been imagining our first night together, me clinging onto him on the bed, because I am so selfish that I would never want to let him go.

But I also am selfless.

I love you, Jung Wooyoung. But I have to let you go this time.

We’re not meant to be together. You’re a prince. I am a dressmaker. This is not destined.

When I finally open my eyes, I know that I won’t ever forget his tear stained face, eyes lost and filled with despair.

No, please, don’t. Don’t look at me like I just ruined your whole life.

“Let’s get going” his voice is a broken whimper.

And that’s the last thing I hear from him.

Five days go by.

I haven’t seen Wooyoung ever since.

I was avoiding him, but I am certain that he is doing the same.

My days are now all about sewing costumes and gowns for the Queen. Three different models, for three different occasions. As I spend eighteen of the twenty-four hours of the day inside my sewing room, I wrap up the first one in three days.

Leaving it aside so that the Queen can come afterwards to check if everything is as she expected, I take out the two sketches that I have left on my desk. The first one is pretty simple yet gorgeous. But what makes me let out a sorrowed sigh is not the dress itself, but what says right above it.

‘Prince’s engagement party design’

Oh. He is getting married after all.

I stare at the sketch, my mind on airplane mode. Damn you, Jung Wooyoung, damn you and your perfect dreamy self.

There’s no need for me to look at the final sketch, because I know what’s coming. If a dress for an engagement party is needed, then a dress for th-

My own thoughts are interrupted by a steady bang on my door. Leaving those sketches where they once were, I stand up from the chair and open the wooden hatch.

Well, I was not expecting him to be right behind it.

“Hi there, cutie pie.”

“San?” A true, genuine smile appears on my face for the first time in days.

“Choi San at your service, madam” he grins while bowing. “How has my favorite girl been?”

I know he knows. That’s why I simply approach him, and wrap my arms around his waist, closing my eyes after making contact with the skin of his collarbone. He engulfs me with his slender yet strong arms, rocking both of us back a forth. He gently kisses my temple, whispering soothing words, and all I can do is let the tears go down my face for what feels like the hundredth time in a period of five days.

“Let’s go inside, shall we?”

I nod with no intentions of abandoning his grip, so he just walks inside the room with me clinging to his chest.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks, sitting on the couch where I usually have my naps on, tugging me with him into his lap and making me bury my face into the crook of his neck.

“Wooyoung, he…” I murmur, taking in his scent so that I can breathe like normal again. “He told you his part of the story, right?”

When I feel him nod, I know it’s my cue to let it all out. “I actually do love him with every fiber of my being. I have since day one.” I sob, tightening my grip around his waist. “But I just can’t do that to him. He can’t lose what he has because of me. He can’t leave his kingdom behind just because of me. I’m no one, San. He deserves way better than a dressmaker.”

His hands take me away from his chest, and urges me to look at him in the eye. His stern look tells me that he’s not happy with what I’ve just said. “Hey, don’t discredit yourself like that. You’re way too beautiful and clever. You spread light everywhere you go. You are brave, you fight for what you think it’s right. I believe that’s greatly valuable and just because you said no to him does not mean that you don’t deserve him.” He says slowly, without taking his eyes off of mine. I can hardly distinguish his face through the tears, but I know that his expression is trying to persuade me, just in case his words can’t. “Look, I get it. You love him and you want the best for Wooyoung. But he did wrong too. He can’t just expect you to run away and leave everything behind, your work, your friends and your family, for him. In his mind, he was thinking and planning for the both of you. But in reality, he just thought about what he wanted and forgot about you in the meantime.”

I let out a choppy sigh, washing away the tears that went down my cheeks with my fingers.

“He’s getting married.” I whisper, leaning back into San’s embrace. “He said he wanted to run away not just because of me, but also to get away from his royal duties.”

“He does want to run away, y/n. But he’ll stay here because you’re here. He’ll go wherever you go.”

I shake my head ‘no’, not wanting to face reality anymore. “I have to resign, Sanie. I can’t stay here. I need to start over again somewhere else, and forget about him.”

“Are you sure?” he caresses my arm, going up and down.

“I will never be happy if I just run away with him, knowing that he can and will be the King that his kingdom needs. I am sure that the excuse of not wanting to rule was a way of persuading me. I know him better than he knows himself.” I state, the cloud on my mind finally dissipating. “He’ll regret abandoning his people, and that’s not the life I want for him.” With that clear mindset, I slowly stand up from San’s lap and take the seat next to him. I let him see a soft, small smile, and take his hand for reassurance. He smiles back, kissing the back of my hand. “I’ll leave, San. After the wedding, I’ll send my resignation letter to the King and Queen, and I’ll just walk away.”

He nods, glancing around the room like he’s looking for something. He then turns his head in my direction and softly asks “Do you mind if I tag along?”

part four: anyone but you →

Here’s the third part of crowned ♥ I’m sorry if this hurt, it’s for the sake of the beautiful ending, I swear!

If you are reading this, thank you so much for being here, it means a lot to me ♥ Leave your comments, suggestions and ideas on the comments below!

Happy reading!

⇢ jinmindeulle

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twit-moonstar · 5 years ago

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Up for a long time - Brian May x Reader

A/N: This was for a hosted Valentine’s day secret santa but I couldn’t finished it in time bc life. I am really sorry I’m posting this so late

Please consider reblogging and commenting what do you think about the fic

Warnings: none (just a note: this is situated on 1977/1978)

Words: 2K+

Summary: Y/N was invited by Brian May to accompany him during the Sheer Heart Attack tour and as its ending gets closer, she expresses her sadness over having to say him goodbye soon, unless… maybe she doesn’t have to.

A blissful sigh left Brian’s lips as you cuddle against his side, his long fingers petting your hair lazily.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we could stay here forever, just the two of us? I’m gonna miss this,” you say with melancholy, as if you parting ways was a matter of fact—because, well, it was. What were the chances that he would want to keep seeing you? He was a guitarist in a rising band that was getting more and more famous. You were beginning to feel sad at the thought of missing him even if you were still by his side. It was strange to you how at ease he makes you feel even though you meet barely two months ago. It’s not an everyday occurrence that a cute musician invites you to come along on tour with his band to America but you weren’t stupid enough to miss on this chance. Besides, he had a certain charm that you couldn’t quite put your finger on, like he wasn’t even trying. Just like that, he could smile, and you would do anything he asked. A few minutes passed, in which he didn’t replied, and you started to think about what you had said. Did you cross a line there? Was that inappropriate? But being with him felt so right… and you were sure he felt the same way about you. Well, you were until now. Finally, he spoke. “What if you didn’t have to?” You smiled, feeling relief that he wasn’t weirded out by your comment. “What? What do you mean?” “What if - if we got married?” His words were shaky, his voice soft and quiet in the dim room. You look up at him. “Are you joking? Because, let me you tell you, it’s not funny,” you state. He shakes his head no. “I’m not.“ You get away from him, sitting up on the bed to look at him. It’s hard to describe the look on his eyes, it’s very serious but also a little dreamy, like he has his head on the clouds. And you might be the very reason why. “Really?” You say softly as if you were expecting him to laugh and declare it was indeed a joke but you know him well; he would never be so cruel. Your mother once told you that you must see a man getting happy, tired, sad and, above all, angry and stressed before you got married. She believed that if you saw him in such states, you would know if you were ready to handle sharing your life with him. Despite knowing him for so little time, you had already seen how he acted when he wasn’t feeling well and it never seemed like something that you couldn’t soothe. “Yeah,” he nodded. “Well, then,” you smiled, “ask me properly.” “Y/N Y/L/N, would to make me the honour of being my wife?” “Yes!” you exclaimed, throwing yourself to him and embracing him on a tight hug. He took your face between his hands and kissed you, smiling when you broke apart. “Well, then, we’re engaged now.”

“When– when do you want to do it, though?” You asked. You wouldn’t lie, you weren’t able to contain your excitement. You were going to get married! It felt like a dream, like you would wake up in any moment in an empty bed on the hotel. “Tomorrow maybe?” Brian suggested. “It’s my day off before we get going to the next city.” “Okay,” you accepted. “While you’re at rehearsal, I’ll make sure we have what we need to do it.” He kissed you again. “Alright but first, let’s get breakfast.”

Standing in front of a little mirror on the reception, you check your lipstick, even though Brian said he wouldn’t pay for any photographs here—both of you were afraid they would be leaked and all over the magazines. Despite all the paparazzi constantly following the band, Brian had done his best effort to protect your privacy as much as he could and you weren’t quite ready to give up your anonymity just yet. Besides, you were aware that a secret wedding with a woman Brian met just three months ago wouldn’t do wonders for his reputation. A pair of hands sneaked up on your waist, hugging you softly. “Are you ready?” He whispered on your ear. You turned around, your arms surrounding his neck. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” you assure him and his lips curve up into a smile. A blonde woman came up to you—her name was Marie, according to the tag on her blazer— and cleared her throat. “Excuse me, the venue is ready. Follow me, please,” she said and started walking you guide you. She opened the door and a wedding march started to sound as you entered the room and walked towards the altar, Brian holding your hand the entire time. The Victorian Venue was beautiful, so beautiful you almost regretted eloping—though both Roger and Freddie weren’t at the hotel and Deacy and Veronica were with their kids—. It was a large room, simply decorated with cascading silk drapes and a pair of pillars with candelabras as the wedding altar. It was all very white, and you were glad you had chosen to wear a light blue dress that contrasted with the room. The officiant, a middle aged men, looked as you stand in front of each other. Brian had a smile plastered across his face, reaching his hazel eyes and illuminating his beautiful features. “Brian May and Y/N Y/L/N, today you enter as individuals, but you will leave here as husband and wife, blending your lives, expanding your family ties, and embarking upon the grandest adventure of human interaction,” the officiant said. “Brian and Y/N, remember to treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Take responsibility for making the other feel safe and give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. Please, repeat after me–” “Actually, I’d like to have the word,” you interrupt him, shyly, and Brian looks at you with surprise. You hadn’t discussed having your own vows and he clearly didn’t expected it but you had been thinking about them since last night. “Of course.” “I - I know that for anyone outside us this will look rushed after only a few weeks but in that time you have made me the happiest I’ve ever been. I’ve seen you in the most intimate situations and I know I’m ready to spend my life with you. It might not be easy– but nothing every really is and I’m ready to whatever is coming at us.” Brian’s smile and eyes were warm, full of fondness. His hands squeezed yours briefly, a silent ‘I love you.’ “Y/N, meeting you wasn’t on my plans. I’d have never guessed that I’d fall so hard, so fast for you but your sweet ways, your genuine excitement for life and new experiences, your energy and the passion you put on everything you do made me feel like a fifteen years old boy falling in love for the first time. I am enchanted by you, and I’m so happy I get the chance to try to make you as happy as you make me.” You feel your smile getting bigger, so wide it almost hurted but you didn’t cared. It was a nice kind of pain, it meant you couldn’t contain the happiness you were feeling inside you and for a moment you thought about how you wanted to proclaim to the entire world that you were married to the lofe of your life. You squeezed his hands for a second. You both let go of your hands to get the rings. His was one he already had but rarely used and yours was one you had bought on a market on one of your solo adventures exploring the city while he was working. They weren’t permanent rings; “I promise I’ll get you a proper ring once we’re on London again,” he had said, and you assured him you were okay with these as of now. Despite the band’s success, you knew he wasn’t really getting much money and didn’t care he didn’t buy an expensive ring. “Brian May, please repeat after me as you place the ring on Y/N Y/L’s ring. With this ring, I thee wed and pledge you my love, now and forever.” “With this ring, I thee wed and pledge you my love, now and forever,” he recited softly as he put the ring on you finger. After you repeat it, you both sign the marriage certificate and the officiant finally says the words that linked your lives for the rest of it. “By the authority vested in my by the State of San Francisco, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride!” Brian did as told, reaching down to kiss you softly, taking his time to show you how much he loved you on his gentle movements. “I love you, Mrs. May,,” he said once you broke apart. You giggle. “I love you too, Mr May.”

“Honey, I’m home!” Brian exclaimed, and you hear the closing door. You smile as he enters the room and leaves the box with Chinese food on the little table in front of the couch. You sit properly and take a look at what he brought. “My hero! I was starving,” you say and he smiles. After a week of living on Brian’s apartment using his clothes, you had finally gotten around to your old apartment and got your stuff. It was mostly books, clothes and some decorative ornaments; you didn’t have any furniture except for your bookshelf—and a mattress that you had already sold. Brian was helping you to put everything in place, but you were hungry and send him to get food—your treat. “They didn’t have fried rice, but I brought you Chow Mei,” he says, opening the box for you to see. The smell is delicious, and your stomach seems to rush you to eat when it growls. “That’s fine,” you say and take your noodles. “Do you need help?” Brian chuckles as you struggle with the chopsticks. You pout and nod. He takes his own stick. “The trick is to just move the top stick, the other has to stay still,” Brian shows you as he takes a piece of tofu with ease. You imitate him ans after a few tries, you finally succeed. “It’s way more difficult when you’re eating noodles,” you say before Brian’s amused gaze. “Do you want to try?” He asks, holding a piece of his tofu to you. You lean, doubtful, and take a bite. It tastes spicy and hot, so you swallow it and drink a little soda. “What does it have?” “Lots of pepper,” he replies. “It’s good, but I wouldn’t eat too much,” you say honestly and he smiles as he eats. “It’s an acquired taste, I guess.” “I want to go back to college,” you comment after a while and he smiles at you, interested. “To study Law again?” “No, that’s… that’s what my parents pushed me to do. I’ll like to study something related to Theatre, maybe. I don’t know, but I need to do something. I don’t like just being lying around,” you say softly. The week living with Brian, having no responsibilities was nice but you needed to do something. Besides, you wouldn’t let Brian pay for all the bills. You were a team now, and you needed (and wanted) to do your part. “I was also thinking maybe I could give some piano or bass lessons, to get some money,” “That’s a great idea,” he nods with a smile and you can’t help but smile too. “I can help you with some posters to promote your classes.” “That would be very nice,” you reply, leaning towards him and giving him a quick peck on the lips. “Hey, I have a surprise for you!” Brian suddenly says and gets up quickly, walking into the room and coming back after finding whatever he was looking for. He sits next to you and takes your hand, looking briefly at the ring you used to get married before looking at you. “Remember when we stayed at my parents’ house for the weekend?” You smile. “Of course I do. I was nervous as hell the whole drive. And during dinner. Basically all three days.” “Well, you had nothing to worry about because my mother loved you and actually gave me this for you.” He shows you a ring. It was made from gold and had one single tiny round diamond. Your mouth hangs open as Brian takes off your old ring and puts the golden on your finger. “Do you like it?” He sounds anxious as you simply stare at the ring and the way it shines beautifully with the natural light coming from the windows. “It’s beautiful,” you say, moving your hand so the light reflects off the ring. You finally look at him. “Did you say your mother gave you this?” He nods. “I can’t accept this,” you say, starting to take it off but he takes your hands to stop you. “Why not?” “Because it’s real, Bri! This diamond is real and probably worth good money, who knows how much your parents spent on it?” “It was my grandmother’s and she isn’t… she’s dead.” “Oh.” You look at the ring. “Still, why would your mother give me this? She barely knows me.” “Because she liked you and sees why I married you,” he said, cupping your cheek with his hand and caressing your skin with his thumb. “Besides, she saw you didn’t have a ring and said it was unacceptable. This is actually an engagement one but let’s ignore that.” You smile. “Alright, I’m going to keep it as long as you love me.” “Well, get used to it because you’re up for a long time,” Brian says and brings you to his lap to give you a soft kiss.

#brian may x reader #brian may x you #brian may x y/n #brian may x female reader #brian may fanfic #brian may fanfiction

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tomakeitbeautifultolive · 5 years ago

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2 questions (or so😬); 1) do you have headcanons of how will Jon and Danys love or romance story develop(if there is one)? Slow, over time? Or on the first sight, head over heels? One-sided, and later two-sider? Will both of them don't know(R+L=J) ? Or only Jon? How do you picture the angst between them? 2)when did Ben joined the NW and why? It's not like the NW went from a place or glory to a shit hole in a span of 15 years?! Like it's never mentioned what Ben did during the rebellion? Thx you

Wow! Thank you for all the asks! Sorry it took me so long to get to your beautiful questions. Oh you know I've got some Jon x Dany headcanons! *rubs hands together*

I believe it will be a slow burn that will resemble season seven in many ways (there's a reason season seven, for all its flaws, was still very highly rated as opposed to season eight - because while things like dialogue or timing suffered, the plot still felt like it was going in the right direction).

My prediction about Jon has always been that he'll be the *one* man who isn't impressed with Dany's beauty. Oh, he'll notice it all right, but he won't mention it or use it as a means to gain her favor with compliments. He's going to treat her as an equal right off the bat, and not as an object or a prize that he can win or woo. This is going to perplex Daenerys and probably intrigue her. They'll earn each other's respect based on merit, and I definitely predict some sort of innate bond between them because they're basically fated to meet.

Now, there's some speculation that because Jon died and is (most likely) coming back to life, we may never get another POV from him again. If that is the case (knock on wood) it will definitely appear very one-sided. I also have a headcanon that Jon absolutely resembles his true father in all but coloring, and that he's a total knockout - and we won't find that out until Daenerys sees him and we finally hear a proper description of his looks. (I also have a headcanon that Jon has his father's eyes - that everyone assumes they're grey but actually they're a dark indigo...) And in my dreams, Barristan Selmy is standing beside Daenerys on Dragonstone when Jon marches in and Ser Barristan sees something in Jon that strikes him as familiar... I would love it if, upon seeing Jon, it suddenly clicks for Barriston.

Angst between them, hmm. (f)Aegon is a bit of a curveball here. Either he's going to carry out his plan to try and wed his aunt and it could cause angst and make Jon realize he feels something more for Dany, or this will happen long before Jon is around - possibly as a ploy. Part of me suspects that if he took Tyrion's advice to heart about having a stronger claim than Dany, he might try to get rid of her or destroy her reputation somehow when she arrives to Westeros - and Jon might go to her once she's totally compromised and offer an alliance then.

I am more of a mystery theorist rather than someone who feels comfortable guessing at battle plans or strategies, I admit...

I do think that Jon's parentage will come out by some means or another, and that Daenerys will find out. I don't see this being a point of contention between them whatsoever, nor will the incest be a problem for Jon. In fact, I kind of see the pair of them teaming up to slay the mummer's dragon together. While the show really went hard with Targaryens being mad and evil, that is hardly the case for ASOIAF. This negative image of Targaryens comes mostly from, you betcha, the Lannisters (and Robert Baratheon). It was more or less a propaganda campaign that succeeded not only across Westeros, but apparently across the reader base who cannot read between the lines.

If it's true that Coldhands is not Benjen, then it could be Benjen or Howland who spill the beans, or perhaps confirm Ser Barristan's suspicion? (Assuming he doesn't die - but I really feel in my heart that he won't). I think Jon will have an identity crisis - not so much about being a Targaryen (I think he'll be proud of that honestly) but about not being Ned Stark's son as he was led to believe. I'd love for him, and the readers, to finally learn that his true father was a great man.

Now, speaking of Benjen... I believe he had a very heavy hand in what happened between Lyanna and Rhaegar. I believe he helped equip Lyanna with the mismatched armor needed for the tourney - and that he helped them, in some way, correspond in order to plan their elopement/abscondence.

During the rebellion, Benjen was the Stark in Winterfell - which I can only imagine how that empty castle haunted him during that period. Following news of his sister's death, I'd be willing to bet Benjen was utterly overcome with guilt. And for as close as Ned and Lyanna were, I believe Benjen was even closer to her. His joining the Night's Watch reads almost like a self-inflicted punishment/imprisonment, or... maybe... it wasn't that at all. His decision to join the ranks of a military order full of Targaryen supporters beyond the reach of Robert Baratheon might be a strategic one.

Benjen isn't stupid. He has to know who Jon is, right? I suspect he was even in on the prophecy that Rhaegar was into about TPTWP. So, Ned is keeping Jon safe, but Benjen might just be securing his future (or was, until his disappearance threw the plan into jeopardy).

Now... I have another little theory everyone is going to hate. But bear with me.

The Mormonts. They're a relatively small house sworn to Stark, in the middle of fucking nowhere. And by that I mean they're on small Bear Island surrounded by water - it's real out of the way from just about any and everything. They are described as poor.

So, how the hell does this small, obscure house manage to be one of the few with a Valyrian sword? Was it really written that way just so that Jon could inherit it? That seems a bit too convenient for GRRM's standards, doesn't it?

Presumably, sometime before Robert's Rebellion (though no one knows for sure), Jeor Mormont joined the Night's Watch and quickly moved through the ranks, securing Lord Commander status. Benjen Stark becomes First Ranger. Two of the most powerful positions. And Bear Island went to Jeor's son, Jorah Mormont, along with Longclaw.

What happens with Jorah, exactly? He's caught selling poachers to slavers. Poachers. On Bear Island...?

For this disgrace, Jorah Mormont fled to the Free Cities. In the books, it says during this time Jorah fights the Braavosi, but in the show, he admits to having been part of the Golden Company (this might be important considering GRRM was pretty involved in season one and writing it).

I know the story goes that the sword has been with the family for five-hundred years. But a theme in these books is that history doesn't quite add up, and I can't help but notice that while the Starks' sword Ice dates back four-hundred years, around the time of the Doom of Valyria/when the Targaryens landed in Westeros, the Mormont sword allegedly goes back a hundred years further? Curious.

The original pommel, according to Jeor, was worn and indistinguishable - which seems strange for a Valyrian steel sword. Either way, this is a hint that pommels can be swapped out.

Much like Jon, Longclaw might also have a secret Targaryen identity: Blackfyre.

I'd love to see Jon and Dany square off against (f)Aegon - Dany with her dragons and Jon wielding Blackfyre. It's absurd headcanon for me that Jon obtaining and wielding this sword will inspire the Golden Company in some way and get them to change allegiance. How? I think we're missing plenty of details but if anyone knows the fate of Blackfyre better than we do, it's the Golden Company, and if Jorah did work for them or fight against them, then his presence alongside Jon/Dany might prove the swords are one and the same.

How perfect would it be for Jon to wield the very same sword as his idol, the Young Dragon? *dreamy sigh*

Anyway. If you're following me this far, it's also curious that Jorah goes on to find and protect Daenerys, eh? Meanwhile, when Jon expresses interest in joining the Night's Watch, Benjen says this:

"Until you have known a woman, you cannot understand what you would be giving up."

"I don't care about that!" Jon said hotly.

"You might, if you knew what it meant," Benjen said. "If you knew what the oath would cost you, you might be less eager to pay the price, son."

It's just all very curious to me. And maybe we'll never get answers where Benjen is concerned, just like we'll never know exactly what Rhaegar's plan was, either. But imagining these grand schemes going on in the background make the story so much more interesting to me because I'm a dreamer, what can I say?

Thanks for the asks, they were a great way to get my mind off of paranoia for a while lol ♥

#answered #jonerys #headcanons

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let-it-raines · 5 years ago

Text

Catch Me If You Can (16/?)

298 days. That’s how long Killian Jones was away from a baseball field. It’s less than a year, only part of a season for him, but it might as well have lasted a decade as he alternated between physical therapy and spending an excessive amount of time sitting on his couch.

But then he came back and won the World Series.

It’s something no one saw coming, and it’s certainly not something anyone who knows about his arm would predict. Now it’s a new season with new possibilities, and anything could happen. On-field reporter Emma Swan will be there to cover it all even if she is not his biggest fan right now.

Asking her out live on-air will do that.

Rating: Mature

A/n: If you like, read, kudo, comment, tag flail, reblog, or anything else, I see you, and I appreciate you! Honestly, it’s the coolest thing how many of you are out there, and every time I find out someone else has been reading, my heart grows Grinch style ❤️

We’re off to London in this chapter and the next one! Fun fact: the Yankees and Red Sox really did play a series in London this year!

AO3: Beginning | Current

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-/-

“This is weird,” Will mutters as they walk the unfamiliar hallways of London Stadium on their way out to the field to practice. “I’m not used to being unfamiliar with a place where we’re about to play, and I swear that I’m still jet-lagged. Why did they think we were going to get used to the time change in one day?”

Instinctively, Killian wants to get onto Will about complaining since that’s become his thing as of late, but every point that he’s made is valid. It’s weird to be in a place that he doesn’t know. He’s familiar enough with half of the baseball stadiums in America to be able to give a tour like he made the blue prints for them, but they are decidedly not in America.

They’re in London.

To play the Red Sox.

So. Fucking. Cool.

His job awards him more opportunities than he ever could have dreamed about as a kid from Ohio, and while he’s had the opportunity to travel to Mexico and Canada, he’s never been overseas like this. He meant to go years ago, but then the accident happened and all of his plans went down the drain. He could have gone then too. He had all of the time in the world on his hands, and he squandered it by sitting on his ass and not traveling or doing all of the other things he’s always wanted to do.

He’ll have all the time in the world when he’s retired.

Woah, no. That’s not happening anytime soon, and he is not going down that road when things are going so well right now.

They’re going to kick some Red Sox ass even while in England.

His family didn’t fly all the way over here on vacation just for them to lose. Addy and Lucy would be very disappointed in him if they did because he knows for a fact that they only care about being here for the baseball and Addy’s birthday party tomorrow.

All of the cool kids turn six in London, obviously, and Addison Jones is the coolest of the kids.

It’s all she’s been talking about for weeks now, going on and on about how she was going to have an English birthday party and be English like Peppa Pig and Meghan Markle. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that Peppa Pig is animated and that Meghan Markle was technically American first, but some things kids just don’t have to know. All she knows is that a real-life prince and his wife are going to be at the game today, and she thinks that’s the coolest thing in the world.

It kind of is even if he had to study a protocol list for when he met them earlier in the locker room.

Killian’s life is so goddamn weird, but he loves it.

The fact that Emma got to travel here as well, even if she’s not doing on-camera coverage and is simply here as a print journalist for the team, makes it all the better. He may not get to see her on-field during the game, but he’ll see her afterwards.

Hopefully.

They haven’t been here long, but it’s already difficult to find time away from his family to see her, even if it’s only for a moment.

He’d give anything to have those little moments.

“I have no idea,” Killian yawns, finally responding to Will as they push the doors open and walk out to the field. He can tell that the set-up is going to throw him off, the way the stadium is equal on every side, and that the AstroTurf feels odd below his feet. But that’s why they practice. “We’ll suffer through it, and drink lots and lots of coffee.”

“I think they drink tea over here.”

“I believe that they drink coffee too. You want to start in the outfield and work our way back in?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

The two of them are quiet as they take it all in and try to get used to this new place. Music blares over the speakers, and the rest of the team filters in and out as they go through their warm-ups. He’s not sure if he really needs coffee for how hyped up he is to be here and to be playing their biggest rivals, and the crash of caffeine always seems so inevitable. The crash of adrenaline, not so much. Most of the time.

It’s a quick warm-up, one that doesn’t extend too much effort on his part, and his shoulder is feeling loose after the massage Archie gave it. They’ve won each of their series against the Sox so far this season, and he doesn’t plan on that changing now. When they finally travel to Boston next month, sure. But not today.

No part of him should be thinking this, especially with how unreliable his arm can be, but they’re playing so well this season that he can’t imagine them not making the playoffs and then being in the final two.

They could be back-to-back World Series Champions.

But that’s very much counting his chickens before they hatch, and that always leads to disappointment.

He simply can’t go there even if his brain keeps trying to.

“You guys make any wedding plans yet?” he asks Will as they walk back infield to practice a few pitches on the mound.

“We’ve been engaged for exactly a week, so no, we haven’t made any official plans. Belle has all of these ideas, though, and she’s been talking through them with her parents. Honestly, I think we may get married in December or January of this year since she doesn’t want to do it during the season.”

Killian nods his head in agreement as he tucks his chain back into his uniform from where it had fallen out. “That makes sense. It’s always hell trying to plan anything during the season. Even making dinner plans can be difficult.”

“Well,” Will says, clicking his tongue, “it’s not like you have anyone to be going out to dinner with. We don’t count. Neither does Liam.”

A protest is on the tip of his tongue, but he can’t say anything, not yet. He and Emma are going to talk about that after this trip, and even if they do, he’s not sure he’ll be able to tell Will. He should. Will and Robin. And Eric and Ariel. But no one else on the team. It’s just too risky.

That might put a damper in his plan to kiss her before every game.

But the time will come. It has to. And baby steps are fine with him when they mean that steps are happening. He completely and totally understands Emma and her reasons for not wanting their relationship out in the open, and he agrees. It’s better for her, for both of them, and they’ve only been together for two months. In the grand scheme of things, that’s not that long. It doesn’t matter that he fell hard and fast. That doesn’t escalate things.

It just…complicates his feelings.

This thing won’t be hidden away forever, not if they want any kind of future, and while he’d never presume to speak for Emma, he damn well intends to have that future.

“I could be dating,” Killian scoffs at Will who only rolls his eyes in response. “What? I could.”

“Nothing,” Will shrugs, taking position behind home plate. “I’m just saying, for a man who everyone thinks is going home with a new woman every night, you are particularly lacking in the women department.”

His jaw ticks, and he’s not even sure why. He’s never minded talking about his relationships in the past, not to Will, but it’s probably the lie. Of course it’s the lie.

“And what’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing,” Will grunts as he throws the ball back to him, a light thwacking sound hitting his glove. “Do whatever the hell you want. I’m not someone to tell you what to do with your life. I’m just saying, I’m much happier having Belle be a part of my life.”

“Look at you being all sweet.”

“I have my moments.”

“I’m totally giving a speech at your wedding about the night that I kept you from throwing up on her.”

“I would have expected nothing less from you. In fact, I’ve already warned Belle. It was in my proposal speech.”

“Shut up, you asshole.”

“Never. I know you love the sound of my voice.”

“It is rather dreamy.”

“You two are talking too much to be practicing,” Eric huffs as walks toward them with his bat in hand, fiddling with it the slightest bit. “What are we talking about?”

“Killian’s lack of a love life.”

Eric grunts at that, eyes scanning between the two of them. “That sounds like a conversation that I don’t want to be in because Ariel will somehow know and insist we talk about it later. She’ll have you set up on ten blind dates before midnight.”

“It’s in my contract that she can’t meddle in my dating life.”

“Really?” Eric and Will ask at once, their eyes going wide.

“No,” Killian chuckles as he stretches out his shoulder and bends his legs a bit, squatting down to stretch out some more, “but sometimes I wish that it was. Where has she been all day, by the way?”

“She’s helping set up Addison’s birthday party for tomorrow, apparently. She’s somehow gotten them a separate suite here, and they’re doing some sort of tea party during the game. You have even been given express permission to sit with your family instead of in the dugout with us.”

Of course. He could have done that anyways, but leave it to Ariel to make sure that there is no way in hell that he’s missing his niece’s sixth birthday party. She is pure magic, that woman.

“Your wife is something else,” he chuckles, deciding to step closer to them so that he doesn’t have to shout, “but you guys know that Addy is fully going to expect all of you to show up at some point.”

“Her present is in my suitcase.” Will smiles as he says it with a slight shake of his head. “I could never forget my biggest fan since Roland seems to betray me on who his favorite player is every week.”

Killian clicks his tongue. “Eh, just to be clear, I’m Addison’s favorite player. I’m not letting you steal that title from me.”

-/-

Killian spots Emma sitting nine rows up behind third base when they’re in the second inning.

She’s wearing a jersey…his jersey, and when he notices it, he nearly pegs Johnson with a ball.

Holy fuck.

It sends blood straight to his groin, and the only thing that stops it is him thinking about Emma making a joke about him having a boner on the mound. She’s so ridiculously funny in her bad jokes, and it brings a smile to his face that he has to control as he focuses on the game. He can’t be losing it when he’s in the middle of a game.

But damn. His girlfriend is wearing his jersey, his name and number printed on the back, and she’s got a baseball cap pulled low over her forehead with her blonde ponytail sticking out behind her. He wouldn’t have recognized her if he didn’t know every inch of her body.

He’ll play in London every day of the week if it means Emma can watch as a semi-spectator without anyone recognizing her.

A bloody siren. That’s what she is.

-/-

They win that night.

-/-

After the game when Emma walks into the locker room, her phone in hand for questions, she’s not wearing the jersey anymore. It’s been removed, and she’s wearing a black blouse that’s low cut enough that he can see the slightest bit of the cups of her bra. He’d bet that she didn’t think through having to remove his jersey when she got dressed, but he doesn’t mind how she looks.

He never does.

(She wore his fucking jersey.)

Except he can’t do anything about it but smile and answer her questions as well as everyone else’s. It’s a bit odd for her to not have Jeff following her around with the camera, but he knows that this means she’ll be writing an article instead. She’s always loved that.

Once all of the press members ask their questions, most of them British journalists, they filter out of the locker room, leaving everyone to strip out of their uniforms and move to take a shower. He’s taking off his belt when Arthur speaks, and his fingers still over the leather.

“I don’t know how any of us aren’t fucking Emma,” he grumbles, and the words make disgust drip down Killian’s spine. “Have you seen her body? I bet she’s fucking amazing in bed. I’d fuck her in a heartbeat. Damn am I glad women work in baseball now.”

The room goes silent, every man stopping what he’s doing, and Killian has words on the tip of his tongue but can’t say anything because Will is already talking.

“Fuck off, King,” Will curses, throwing his gear down on the ground. “I mean, seriously. What the bloody fuck? How shitty do you have to be to talk about someone like that? I knew you were an ass, but God, that’s next level. First of all, you’re fucking married, and even if you weren’t, that woman is a human being. You don’t get to talk about her like that.”

“Oh, come on, man. We’re all thinking it. Did you see her boobs just now? It’s nothing to get riled up about.”

“Yeah, yeah it is,” Will huffs as he crosses his arms over his chest. “The fact that you don’t realize that is just plain sad. She’s not coming in here to get ogled by you. She’s coming in here to do her job, and she’s damn good at it.”

Arthur rolls his eyes, and Killian’s blood boils even more. “Jones asked her out. How is that not the same thing?”

“Because he didn’t ask her out because he thinks of her as a sex object,” Will spits all the while Killian can barely hear any of this from the way his heart is thumping between his ears, a drum beat that’s louder than anything he’s ever heard.

Arthur darkly chuckles, and it’s that sound that has the drumline stopping so that his eyes snap over across the room. Killian didn’t even realize that he was clenching his fists, but when he looks down, he can see the red imprints of blood from where his nails were digging into his skin.

“Jones,” Arthur yells, “aren’t you going to back me up here? Isn’t she a fine piece of ass?”

“Shut the fuck up,” Killian yells before standing from the seat in his locker, quickly striding across the room until he and Arthur are eye-to-eye and completely lined up. Arthur’s got this disgusting cocky grin on his face, one that makes unpleasant chills run down his spine, and it’s taking everything in him not to punch the ever-loving shit out of the man. “Will is right. You’re an asshole, and you can’t be talking about her that way.”

“Why do you care so much? What, are you fucking her?”

And that’s when his first rises and slams into Arthur’s jaw, a sting spreading through his knuckles and up to his elbow. The drum starts beating in his head again, his heart pumping blood through him faster than normal, and everything is a blur as he moves his head to dodge Arthur’s punch and as someone grabs onto elbows and pulls him back and out of the room all the while a screaming match goes on in the locker room, every word muted to him except for the one name that keeps getting repeated.

Emma.

“Are you insane?” Robin gasps, and when Killian looks around, he can see that he’s been pulled off to the weight room that they’re using in this stadium. He didn’t even know Robin was in the locker room at the time. “You can’t punch Arthur no matter how big of an asshole he is. You’re going to fuck up your arm, and you can get suspended for weeks.”

“I don’t really care about either of those things right now.”

“Well you should,” Robin huffs, running his hands through his hair as he paces back and forth over the carpeted floor. “He’s an asshole. We all know that, and I wanted to punch him too…but you just can’t, mate. He’ll get his due, and it won’t come at the cost of your career.”

Robin is right. Robin is always right, but how is he supposed to sit there and let Arthur talk about his girlfriend like that? How is he supposed to let him talk about any woman like that? He simply can’t, and even though his knuckles hurt like hell right now and Archie is most definitely going to kill him, he doesn’t regret it. He can’t, and he’d bet that Will doesn’t either.

“Fuck,” Killian mutters, sitting down on a weight bench and burying his face in his hands as he tries to flex some of his fingers out. “Dammit. This isn’t how today was supposed to go. I’m not supposed to be punching our outfielder in a locker room in fucking London. I’m supposed to be enjoying my time and sipping tea at my niece’s birthday party because I’m this good guy that she looks up to when really everyone is a piece of shit.”

“Dramatic much?”

“Shut up.”

“Never,” Robin laughs as the door opens and Al stumbles inside, his long dark hair pushed back behind his ears and his tanned skin painted red in what Killian hopes is a sunburn and not anger.

“What the hell, Jones?” Al screeches, waling right up to him so that the tips of their shoes touch. “You punched King? With your right arm? What is going on in that head of yours?”

Killian groans, already ready to have his ego bruised and his career kicked by a man who is only four years older than him, and he straights his back so that Al isn’t look down at him as much as he should be.

“Are you in here to suspend me?”

Al’s brows furrow together. “What? No. Why would I suspend you?”

“Because I punched Arthur?”

Al waves him away, backing up the slightest bit. “No, I’m not going to suspend you for that. King can be a piece of shit sometimes, and I heard some of the stuff he was saying. He deserved that. My team are not going to be a bunch of sexist assholes who talk about our reporters that way. I can’t guarantee that there won’t be some kind of league suspension, but I doubt King takes it anywhere since then he’s had to explain the stuff he was saying.”

“Then why are you yelling at me?”

“Because you punched someone with your pitching arm, and I can’t have you messing up your arm again. Go see Archie right now, and get some damn ice on the thing.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” Killian mock salutes, his head still spinning with everything that’s happened in the past fifteen minutes.

He takes it back. His life isn’t weird. It’s batshit crazy.

-/-

Ariel has been yelling at him in his hotel room for the past fifteen minutes. This is after Liam and Elsa yelled at him for twenty minutes, each, and he’s so damn tired of having to listen to this. He’s aware of the fact that he could have messed up part of his season today, but he still doesn’t regret it. He could have made better choices, yes, but Arthur deserved it. And he’s fine. He’ll probably only have a slight bruise. The only significant damage is the fact that their already frayed relationship that only truly exists because they’re teammates and his wife is friends with Ariel is pretty much destroyed now. That’s fine with him. He doesn’t want anything to do with the asshole.

And he has no idea what he’s going to tell Emma about this. His knuckles have cuts and bruises on them already, his fingers aching when he stretches them out, and if she comes to his room tonight, there’s no way in hell she’s not going to notice.

Maybe he should cancel on her.

He doesn’t want to cancel on her.

He wants to spend time with her and simply be in her company, maybe even get to figure out the subway routes (or should he call them the underground here?) and find a secluded place to go out to dinner. But he’s got to explain his hand, and he’s really not sure how lying is going to go here.

Lying to Emma really isn’t his best idea, so he most likely shouldn’t do it.

“Are you even listening to me, KJ?” Ariel huffs, stopping her pacing and placing her hands on her hips. “You look like you’re not listening.”

“I’m not.” She reaches up to slap the back of his hand, but he grabs her wrist to stop her, putting it back by her side. “I’ve heard all of it before, okay? And I’m going to hear it again. I know, I know, I fucking know. It was dumb, but I couldn’t stand by and listen to that. Will couldn’t either, but he’s got enough brains to know better than to punch someone.”

“That is not a sentence I ever thought you would say.”

“Life is funny like that,” Killian chuckles before falling back against his hotel bed. Whoever is booking their hotel rooms this year obviously has no sense of a budget because he hasn’t had a roommate once. It’s glorious. “A, I have no idea why you care about me so much. I’m such a pain in your ass.”

“Yeah,” Ariel sighs, sitting down next to his shoulder on the bed so that she can look over at him, her red hair framing her face, “you are, but I love you, so I don’t mind too much. And you give me something to focus on other than my idiot husband.”

“Please, you and Eric have one fight a year, and it lasts about five minutes.”

“I’ll have you know that we fought just yesterday over what to have for dinner. It was a real battle. I nearly punched him, but I had enough sense to stop myself.”

His eyes roll, but he can feel the smile stretching across his lips as he twists his head to look at Ariel. “I love you too, by the way. You and Elsa and Anna are pretty much the three sisters I never had. And you’re much nicer to me than Liam ever was.”

“Please, Liam is your hero.”

“Yeah, but when I was eight and he was sixteen, I was not his favorite person in the world. I think you guys would have been much nicer to me.”

Ariel’s lips flatten as she nods her head, sarcasm practically penned across the lines on her forehead. “Sure, sweetie. That’s what would have happened. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” She simply arches her brow. “Oh, yeah, I’m fine. Just a shitty afternoon. As long as I don’t get yelled at anymore, I think I’ll be perfect and ready to go for Addy’s birthday party tomorrow. Thanks for setting that up, by the way. I think you may actually be magic for how you convince people to do your bidding.”

“I know,” she says, a grin plastered on her lips. “I’m pretty much the best. Do you want to come and get dinner with me and Eric?”

“Raincheck on that one?”

“I’m holding you to that this time,” Ariel sighs, patting his shoulder before she rises from the mattress. “Keep putting ice on your hand, and doing your stretches. We’ve got a long season ahead of us, and you are not allowed to mess it up.”

“Understood, love. Have fun at dinner. Feel free not to yell at me tomorrow even though I know that you will.”

Ariel waves him away before picking up her purse and walking out the door while he stays stretched out on his mattress, wondering if he can convince whoever owns this hotel to send this mattress and these sheets to his apartment because it’s glorious. Maybe it’s not really and it’s simply the fact that he’s still jetlagged and has had an extremely long day, but he doubts it.

This is the best comforter in the world.

And he’s never going to move from it.

So, of course, there’s a knock on his hotel door. Of course.

Groaning, he pulls himself up to rise from the bed, the muscles in his backing aching the slightest bit, and steps over to the door, checking the peephole and finding Emma on the other side. He should have known, and honestly, of all of the people seeking him out tonight, she is his favorite.

Until he opens the door, lets her inside, and the first thing that she does is hit him in the chest.

What the hell?

“What the hell?” Emma fumes, echoing his thoughts. “You punched Arthur King today?”

Bloody hell.

Bloody hell? Is he British now? How long has he been using that phrase and hasn’t even realized it? This is what he gets for hanging out with Robin so much.

“Aye,” he sighs as his unbruised hand immediately goes up to scratch behind his ear. She doesn’t look angry, the same soft smile that’s usually painted on her face still there, but there’s fire behind the green of her eyes. “How do you know about that?”

“Belle told me.”

He arches a brow. “Belle?”

“Yeah, I ran into her when I was leaving the stadium, and we got to talking and she starts telling me all about you and Will getting into a fight with Arthur over me. I mean, seriously, Killian. How could you be so dumb to punch him? You’re lucky you didn’t fuck up your arm and that you aren’t getting sanctions against you.”

He should really start putting money on how many times he can be told that in one night. He’s betting at least once more tonight and then seven times tomorrow.

“Swan, I know, okay? I promise you I’ve already had my head chewed off about this enough times. I get it, but he was being an asshole and deserved it. Will confronted him first going on and on about how he was a sexist pig, and then Arthur brought me into it by asking how him talking about wanting to fuck you was any different than me asking you out on a date. Then I told him to stop, which only escalated into him asking you if I’m defending you because I’m fucking you. And obviously, I am, but that’s not why I was defending you. He doesn’t get to say shit like that about anyone, but especially not you.”

He releases a breath when he finishes his ramble, which is really only an abbreviated version of the events, but he’s going to lose his mind if he has to go through it one more time. Seriously. But the way Emma’s mouth keeps opening and closing, the right words obviously not coming to her, has him rethinking this and starting from the beginning. It’s not pretty, but she deserves to know.

“You, Killian Jones,” she laments, stepping closer to him and wrapping her arms around his waist in an unexpected move so that he can smell the vanilla of her perfume, “are an idiot asshole who I’m still very much mad at for messing with your hand like that, but I’m also thankful that you and Will didn’t let someone talk about me like that. I’ve been through so much like that already, and I’m glad I have you guys on my side.”

“You have everyone else in that locker room on your side, love,” he says as her rubs his hands up and down her back and rests his chin against her temple, twisting his head to the side so that he can press his lips into her hair. “Me most of all. Then Will, I’ve discovered today, and everyone else is somewhere in there, rankings improving as long as I’m always at the top.”

“You’re so stupid,” she laughs into his chest, the vibrations of it running through him.

“I’ve gotten that a lot today, but you obviously like me a little bit since I saw you wearing my jersey.”

Emma pulls back from the hug to look up at him, a bit of red painting her cheeks. “So, you saw that, did you?”

“I did. I have an eagle eye for my biggest fan.”

“I like you a lot, but I don’t think that I’m your biggest fan. Your nieces have me beat. I didn’t know tomorrow was Addy’s birthday.”

“Aye,” he smiles, fingers inching up her back and tugging her closer to him, “she is turning six, and Ariel has arranged for her to have a tea party in one of the suites separate from the team suites. You should come with me.”

“Killian.” The way she says his name has all of his hope deflating, and he immediately dips his head down to run his lips across the apple of her cheek while his thumbs rub circles into her lower back. “I can’t. You know that.”

“You can. You don’t have to come as my girlfriend. You can simply come as part of the team. I’ll say I ran into you in the hallway or something and insisted that you come along. Come on,” he begs, finally kissing her lips, lingering a moment too long for it to be chaste, “come with me. It’ll be a fun time, and you can meet my family without any of the pressure of meeting them as my girlfriend.”

“But I will be meeting them as your girlfriend.”

“They don’t know that.”

“I’m not sure how that makes me feel. I know I want to meet your family and for you to meet mine. It was my idea and all, but now that the reality is in front of me, I think I might need some more time.” She pulls back from him, releasing his waist and trailing her fingers along his arms until Emma’s holding his hands, soft thumb tracing over the rough parts of his knuckles as her brows furrow together. She’s inspecting to him, and nerves rile in his stomach until she looks up at him with a sympathetic smile. “Can I think on it tonight at least? I don’t have a present for Addy.”

Killian shrugs. “We can sneak out and go buy her something, or,” he twines their fingers together and tugs her toward the bed, “we can spend a little time in here with you on your back because it really wouldn’t make sense for you to have a present if you weren’t technically planning on coming to the party.” “Watching TV?”

“Sure. We can keep it on while I fuck you with the image of you wearing nothing but my jersey playing in my mind.”

Emma laughs, something loud and boisterous, and he’s never been quite so thankful for the way that she enjoys his flirting. “I mean, that is the most typical athlete thing I’ve ever heard in my life, but we could always make it a reality.”

“Really now?”

“Mhm,” she hums, backing up into the mattress and sitting down, “but only because I liked the way you looked today when you realized I was wearing it. Plus, you defended me and all like a good human being, and I like good human beings.”

And I love you, he wants to say, but doesn’t, biting his tongue while he leans over her, hovering just above her face so that she blinks several times while looking up at him, her bottom lip tugged between her teeth.

“Well, only if you insist.”

#catch me if you can #cs ff #cs fic #captain swan fic #captain swan

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everlarkficexchange · 6 years ago

Text

Better Tomorrow

Part Two

Written by: @mega-aulover

Prompt 78: forced to share a bed and building a pillow barrier but still waking up tangled together. [submitted by anonymous]

Continuation of March 28th Birthday Prompt for @thestuckinbed Read Part 1 Here . Special thanks to my friend and Beta @norbertsmom for editing this monster and inspiring me. Also thanks to the ladies of EverlarkFicExchange for hosting this event and for extending it a week.

RATED M, (Mature Subjects, Violence & Sexy Everlark Times)

“What’s going on?” Gale said from behind.

“I’m getting married to Peeta,” Katniss said softly not removing her eyes from Peeta’s face. She liked the way his face filled with color. He looked cute.

“What?” Gale sputtered.

“Tomorrow, I’ll meet you at the Justice Building.”

“Tomorrow it is,” Katniss agreed. Tomorrow she was getting married to her boy with the bread.

“No,” Gale sputtered. “No you’re supposed to marry ME!”

“Gale, it’s over, I’ve made my choice,” Katniss tried to diffuse the situation, but it was no use. Gale threw down the contents he carried and lunged at Peeta.

“PEETA WATCH OUT!” Katniss shouted.

Peeta was skilled at defending himself. He was a champion wrestler in school and had two older brothers that picked on him as a kid. He easily deflected Gale’s attempts to tackle him. “Gale I don’t want to fight!”

“You stole my woman!” Gale lunged at Peeta once more.

“Gale, Katniss is her own woman.” Peeta gave her a brief glance, right before he avoided Gale rushing at him. “She makes her own decisions and she doesn’t belong to anyone.”

“Screw you, you ugly moron,” Gale shouted, “You bastard!”

“Gale stop, this is useless,” Katniss pleaded. Gale was a hothead and shouting profanities at Peeta didn’t help his cause with Katniss. He was acting like an idiot. “Peeta and I are getting married in the morning.” Katniss tried to get in the way but Gale pushed her to the ground.

“Katniss,” Peeta ran to her. “Are you okay?” He cupped her cheek, his eyes searched her face.

“I’m okay.”

“You’ve got a scrape on your face.” Peeta gently helped her get up.

As she stood Katniss saw Gale was heading for Peeta. “Peeta, behind you…”

The warmth left Peeta’s eyes when he turned to face Gale. His jaw tensed, his amiability was replaced by a cold menacing look. Katniss was sure seeing the way Gale carelessly shoved her, caused Peeta to snap. It was then the fight began in earnest.

Peeta tackled Gale to the ground, they rolled around punching the other. Both ended up in the street. Gale was a tall brute and often used his anger to win fights. Peeta wasn’t as tall but he had more mass and experience. By now half the district surrounded them. Mrs. Mellark watched from the bakery. Her face pressed up against the window.

Peeta had Gale in a headlock when Darius turned up. By then half the town was outside, each with the knowledge the fight started over the upcoming marriage.

“Okay you break it up,” Darius said, pulling Peeta off Gale.

“It’s not fair, that Merchant stole MY girl,” Gale cried as he was pulled away.

Gale’s declaration made Katniss mad, she’d never been his girl.

“This is over a girl,” Darius said incredulously.

“Katniss and I are getting married in the morning. Gale overheard our conversation. Instead of being happy for his friend he attacked me. I tried not to fight but Gale pushed Katniss on the ground,” Peeta said wiping his mouth.

All eyes turned to Katniss who touched her cheek to try to cover up the scar and bruising that was no doubt coloring her face.

“Hot stuff,” Darius glanced at her face, “You want to press charges?”

“No, let him go home to his mother.” Katniss sighed.

“Peeta stay out of trouble,” Darius said. Turning to Gale, he added, “You let’s go, your mother is going to bust a gasket when she learns you got into another fight.” Darius led Gale away and Katniss was relieved.

“YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED!” Peeta’s father’s smile was wider than the man on the moon.

“Yes dad, Katniss and I are going to get married at the Justice Building in the morning.”

“Eileen, did you hear Peeta’s getting hitched in the morning!” Mr. Mellark shouted to his wife, who looked like she’d eaten something sour. His exuberance caused a few in the gathered crowd to chuckle.

Mr. Mellark boasted, “EVERYONE GET YOUR BREAD TODAY. IN HONOR OF MY SON’S WEDDING, THE BAKERY WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW!!”

Peeta pulled Katniss to the side, “You okay with this, everyone knowing.”

Katniss glanced at the ground, lost for words. What should have been a private affair turned into a public spectacle, and all because of Gale. The only thing she could think of saying was, “I’m okay with it if you’re okay with it.”

“Okay, I’ll have to go down to the Justice Building now and make the appointment, I’ll try for 9 or 10 am is that okay? Will that give you enough time to get ready?”

“I guess so.” Katniss thought for a second about what she would wear. Renting a dress was unnecessary since they weren’t going to have a Toasting. Maybe she’ll take a bath and wear the light blue dress she was supposed to wear at the 74th Hunger Games Reaping. It was so nice to know she would never have to dress up for another Reaping again.

“Okay, I’ll send word, so that you know the time.”

Katniss nodded and began to walk away.

“Oh, Katniss,” Peeta called.

She turned around.

“Thank you.”

Katniss smiled, glad that she had helped her boy with the bread. The news had spread across the Seam by the time she arrived home. Prim and her mother were waiting for her. They were both excited, whispering and giggling into the night. They became even more secretive when Mr. Mellark stopped by with bread to inform them Katniss was to be at the Justice Building by 10A.M.

When it was time for bed, her mother was called for an emergency. Katniss was with her sister in their bedroom.

“I can’t believe you’re getting married,” Primrose said. Her sister was laying on her belly on the other bed, she had her chin propped up by her hands, and her feet were slowly waving back and forth like Buttercup’s tail. Her baby sister looked like their mother, blonde blue eyed. At fourteen she was already taller than Katniss. Without the Games, her sister no longer lived in fear. The only thing her sister had to do was eat and dream of a better tomorrow.

Katniss brushed her hair calmly. By now the entire district knew of her pending nuptials in the morning. Gale had caused such a ruckus because of her deal with Peeta.

“I can’t believe Gale tried to punch your future husband,” Prim said with a far off dreamy look. “It’s so romantic being fought over.”

“Prim,” Katniss said. She put the brush down. She wanted to dispel those archaic notions from her baby sister’s head. “Gale and Peeta’s fight today was not romantic. It was dangerous and foolish, either one of them could have gotten hurt or could have been thrown in jail for disturbing the peace. Fighting is never the answer.”

“But Gale had it coming to him! For years I’ve seen him hound you mercilessly about getting married. I know you, you don’t have an inkling of romance toward him because if you did you’d be like the other simpering females in the district. They always sigh and get googly eyed whenever Gale walks by.” Prim made a face like she’d eaten something foul. “I don’t get why all of my friends dream about kissing him.”

Katniss grimaced as she conjured up Gale’s image in her head. She was repulsed by the idea of being anything more to Gale then his hunting partner. She would rather have a skunk spray her than kiss Gale.

“So,” Prim said moving from one bed to the other. “I want to know how is it that you and Peeta agreed to get married? And how did Gale find out about it? I need details.”

Katniss gave her sister a look to drop the subject.

“Katniss, we don’t have secrets, spill!”

Honestly Katniss didn’t know how to tell her sister that the marriage was arranged and there was nothing romantic or passionate about the proposal. It was a simple agreement made between two consenting adults. As far as Katniss was concerned Peeta was now able to keep the bakery and she would get Gale off her back. It was a win-win for both parties. Katniss would never again listen to Gale nag her about getting hitched. Prim was another problem altogether. Her sister was just as stubborn and persistent as Katniss.

Her sister pounced on top of her, stopping Katniss from moving. Prim was surprisingly heavy. “Come on Katniss, you have to tell me how it happend, how did you agree to get married? You’ve always claimed you never wanted marriage or children, so for you to want to get married to a merchant of all people, the son of the worst person in all of District Twelve is pretty mind blowing!”

“Prim, Peeta and I came to an arrangement,” Katniss hesitantly said. She wasn’t sure how she was going to put it into words what happened since she was bad at talking. Taking a steady breath she said, “I wanted to repay a debt. So I asked him to marry me with the understanding there would be no Toasting.”

“Wait,” Prim said sitting on the bed. She scrunched her nose as she puzzled over what Katniss said to her. “You asked him to marry you because of a debt?”

Katniss nodded suddenly feeling less sure about her decision today.

Her sister, gave her the legendary Everdeen intimidation scowl. “You made the suggestion?”

Katniss had never been able to keep a secret or tell a lie. She blurted out, “I overheard about his predicament from Darius and Greasy Sae. His mother wouldn’t agree to let Peeta have the bakery unless he married. Honestly I don’t even know if it’s true now that I think about it. It could have just been Darius and Greasy Sae gossiping about nonsense.”

“It’s not hearsay Katniss. I heard his mother tried to get Peeta to marry several girls, but he refused,” Prim interjected.

“You knew about this?” Katniss couldn’t believe her ears. How did her sister know about Peeta’s predicament? She sat back, now it was her turn to scowl.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Prim crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s been happening for months. Peeta’s problems began the moment he graduated and his father announced he wanted to pass the bakery off to Peeta. Mr. Mellark didn’t want to to give the bakery to River because of his drinking problem and the oldest, Carlton is happily married and likes working with his wife’s family. He didn’t want the bakery.”

“Really?” Katniss was taken aback by the news, she was in awe that her sister knew all of this information, while she was oblivious. “How do you know all of this?”

“Vick Hawthorne is Phill Cartwright’s best friend. Phill and Vick are mentors in the Young Engineers of Tomorrow Scholastic Program.” Prim shrugged. “Phill said they were celebrating both Peeta’s and Delly’s graduation when it all happened. Mrs. Mellark invited Tilia Cordata and her parents with the expressed purpose of arranging a marriage. When Peeta found out he became upset and told his mother he didn’t want to marry. He asserted he was the best baker and that if need be he would name Colton’s first born his heir.”

Until she had overheard the conversation at the Hob Katniss had no idea this was going on. She felt bad for Peeta, being forced to get married was barbaric. She identified with him and his struggle. “I’m sure that didn’t go well.”

“Mrs. Mellark got into a terrible fight with Peeta over his refusal. The argument could be heard from the street. During that row Mrs. Mellark declared that if Peeta didn’t marry then he wouldn’t inherit the bakery when they retired at the end of the year. It would be handed to River. And since Mr. Mellark has never stood up against his wife, he agreed Peeta needed to get married.”

“Huh,” Katniss mouthed. “What else do you know?”

“There’s been a succession of girls that his mother has tried to unsuccessfully pair him up with, Flori Crabapple, Myrtle Carpe, Amy Yellowwood, Honey Locust to name a few. His mother even got Mabel Meadows to come to dinner at the bakery one evening. Peeta said no to all of them. Until he said yes to you the entire district thought Peeta would never marry.”

Katniss scratched her head going over the conversation. Why would Peeta say no to Mabel Meadows, she had a very nice dowry. Her father owned the town grocers where all of the Peacekeepers purchased their goods. She was well off and she was one of the most beautiful girls in the entire district.

“Why would Peeta not want to marry any of those girls?” Katniss pondered out loud. Why would he agree to marry her. She wasn’t the prettiest girl, nor was she rich. Beyond her hunting skills she a wasn’t good candidate for marriage to anyone. Maybe Katniss thought it was because she didn’t want to have a Toasting with him. In District Twelve a couple wasn’t really married until they had a Toasting ceremony, no matter what the documents given at the Justice Building said. The exchange of toasted bread between a couple was the traditional binding legal way in Twelve, one recognized by the new government, and Katniss figured that’s why Peeta agreed.

Katniss picked up her brush after braiding her hair, getting ready to go to sleep. She got up and put the brush on the dresser.

Prim climbed into the other bed, and turned to face Katniss. “I have one question though, if you’re marriage is arranged and you’re not doing a Toasting what are you going to do about sex?”

At the word sex, Katniss stubbed her toe on the bed, “Ouch!”

“You okay,” Prim was out of bed and was trying to grab her toe to examine it.

“Yeah,” Katniss said jumping around.

“Stop jumping around and let me take a look,” Prim grabbed Katniss foot and Katniss fell onto the bed. “It doesn’t look bruised, but you should put some of mom’s healing balm on it,” Prim said reaching into her draw for it. “So what are you going to do about sex?”

“Prim!” Katniss hissed not at the balm but at that word again.

“What,” Prim said looking up. Her stare reminded Katniss of Buttercup’s superior look whenever the stinker knew he was being pampered. “Are you embarrassed by the word or the act?”

Katniss was sure she was bright red. Her jaw stung from the rush of warmth to her cheeks.

“Seriously Katniss, you have to be realistic. Sex is a natural part of life. Mother and I counsel every newly wed girl that crosses our door about intimate marital relations. It’s important for women to know of their options.”

Katniss didn’t want to have ‘this’ conversation with her sister. Nor did she want to hear those words coming out of Prim’s mouth. Her sister kept on talking and there was nowhere Katniss could run off to.

“Legally you’ll be married, but because you’re opting out of a Toasting you have to face the fact that Peeta is a man, and he’s going to want sex. Now before you get all I’m not having children, there a hundred ways to not get pregnant when the time comes. However, if he doesn’t have sex with you then he’s going to engage with someone else. Are you prepared to share him with another partner?” Prim finished applying the balm.

Everything her sister said was like the cold slap of a wintry breeze upon her face. With frightened eyes Katniss watched her sister put the bottle back in the dresser and climb back into bed without considering the state she left her. Her sister turned down the oil lamp in the room and Katniss was plunged into darkness. Within seconds her sister was fast asleep.

The conversation kept Katniss awake. She lay in bed thinking about sex. Katniss understood the function of it, but she’d never gave mind to the act. Up until she was fifteen she’d been preoccupied with surviving the Reaping. After the President died, Katniss sole responsibility was to feed her family and graduating school. Boys and relationships didn’t enter her frame of existence until a few moments ago when her fourteen year old sister brought it up. In fact the only guy in her inner circle was Gale and Katniss could not imagine him touching her.

She wasn’t the type of girl for public displays of affection. She just didn’t like to be touched. Katniss didn’t even like hugs from her mother.

Her thoughts turned to Peeta. Asking Peeta to marry her was a rash decision. She really didn’t think about the other stuff Prim brought up. She never thought about marital relations between herself and Peeta. The idea itself wasn’t repulsive. She didn’t mind the way he smelled. From her observations throughout the years she found Peeta’s kind ways appealing, plus she favored the way he looked. Katniss enjoyed looking at him, watching him speak, even his voice was pleasant, it was mellow but masculine.

She pictured what it would be like to hold his hand and she felt a rush of warmth to her cheeks. She was tingly all over, much the way she felt that one time she shot a buck all by herself.

Would Peeta mind holding her hand? Katniss sat up in her bed and crept to the basin of water. It was a warm night, she splashed her cheeks with water. Her mind churned with thoughts and questions. What if what Prim said was right? Katniss asked herself. What if Peeta didn’t favor her, what if he wanted relations with others?

Katniss turned around in her bed, punching the pillow. The idea of Peeta sharing another person’s bed did not sit well with her. There were things that needed to be discussed and as much as Katniss hated to talk, she was going to have an honest conversation with Peeta. She decided to sneak out early.

In the morning her plan to go see and speak to Peeta was thwarted by the rush of getting ready for the wedding. Her mother pulled out a white dress from her Merchant days. It had ruffled cap sleeves, scoop neckline, was gathered at the waist and trumpeted outward at the hem. It’s hemline was shorter in the front reaching past Katniss knees but the back was longer falling to her mid-calf. Her mother even had crinoline to put underneath her dress. Katniss’ hair was braided and pinned up in a crown around her head. Prim went to the herb garden and picked small flowers and wove them into her hair. Katniss didn’t even recognize herself in the mirror once her mother and sister were finished with her.

“This was the dress my family had made for me when I was supposed to get married to Peeta’s father, Lionel.” Her mother smiled over her shoulder in the mirror.

“You were engaged to Mr. Mellark?”

“Yes and I chose your father. It was a shock to the entire district that I chose to be with a miner, from the Seam.” Her mother chuckled, then her face became serious, “I did what was best for me, and you Katniss have to do what is best for you. Especially when dealing with Eileen.”

Katniss nodded.

“My advice to you is always keep Peeta in the loop about what’s going on in your head, especially when Eileen does something spiteful. Communication is the cornerstone of any relationship.” Her mother squeezed her shoulders.

Katniss didn’t have time to process the information as it was time to leave. When they opened the door there was Gale, Gale was standing there.

“I’m asking you once more,” Gale ran his hands through his hair, “to reconsider. He’s a Merchant Katniss, one of them!”

“Gale my mother is a Merchant,” Katniss pointed out. She was angered that Gale wouldn’t take the hint. Why couldn’t he accept the fact that she didn’t want him, they were too alike.

Gale glanced over her shoulder to her mother who stood just feet away. “I…”

“Which makes me a half-breed.” Biting back her anger she said, “Goodbye Gale.”

Katniss walked by him with her mother and sister right behind.

“Good for you,” her mother whispered.

“Gah,” Prim said, “Why does he smell so funny?”

Katniss began to laugh. She’d always thought the same thing. They passed a few people on the road who greeted them and wished her well. Others simply stared at her, because she never wore a dress or looked so clean. Katniss always looked like she’d rolled around in dirt for fun. Climbing trees to make a shot had its perils and one of them was getting dirty.

When they arrived at the Justice Building the Mellarks were waiting for them outside.

“Maggie,” Mr. Mellark greeted, “Primrose, and my dear Katniss.” His mood was jovial.

Mrs. Mellark rolled her eyes and gave them a curt nod.

River Mellark was dressed smartly and oddly did not appeared to be drunk, he and Haymitch Abernathy the old Victor were known as the town drunks. “Ladies.”

“Lionel, how are you?” her mother greeted.

“Peeta is inside no doubt wearing a hole in the floor.” Mr. Mellark clapped his hands.

They walked up the stairs and made their way into the building. All around Katniss everyone was speaking in excited tones except for Peeta’s mother. She mutely walked behind everyone. Katniss didn’t want to think about Prim’s conversation or the fact that Peeta’s mother was probably shooting daggers at her back. The woman was probably upset to have lost the control of the bakery. Her demand was that Peeta had to get married. She never stipulated that he had to marry a merchant girl. Katniss tried not to pay attention to the old witch, as long as Peeta’s mother kept her mouth shut everything would be fine. Her concentration was on signing the papers so that Peeta could become the new owner of the bakery. Once that happened Gale would surely disappear from her life.

She came around the corner and there was Peeta dressed in his best suit. He looked nervous. The moment their eyes met he smiled and it caused her to smile back. He looked wonderful, like one of those posters they used to use for the Hunger Games where they depicted a good looking strong young man filled with youth and vigor. Peeta walked toward her and her heart skipped a beat.

“Shall we?” Peeta held his hand out to her.

For some reason her knees shook and Katniss reminded herself this was all her idea. She forced her shaky hand to reach for his and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze to reassure her. Taking a deep breath she took her first step toward him and allowed herself to follow him into the room where the officiant was performing weddings. There were five couples ahead of them. Each ceremony took twenty minutes.

When it was their turn, Katniss’ nerves got the better of her and her mind went blank. The only thing that kept her anchored to the room was the man standing beside her. His voice was the only voice that she heard. He gave her hand another gentle squeezed when she needed to speak and put his arms around her to comfort her when they were signing the papers.

“You’re doing great,” Peeta whispered in her ear as she signed the last document.

Katniss glanced up at him and he gave her a reassuring smile. Peeta signed right next to her. And with that they were married according to the laws of Panem. But until the toasting took place the marriage wasn’t considered legal before the eyes of the district. This thought caused Katniss to have more anxiety.

“Congratulations!” Primrose tackled her from behind, and Katniss jumped. Prim was the only person who had the ability to surprise her. She behaved so much like her darned cat Katniss was surprised her sister didn’t purr at times.

“Thanks Prim.”

“Just remember to speak to Peeta about you know what.” Prim smiled like the cat who stole the cream as she turned to Peeta.

Katniss was sure everyone could see how flushed she looked because she could feel the warmth rushing to her cheeks.

“Please call me Lionel, now that we’re family!” Mr. Mellark said enveloping her in a big bear hug.

“Okay, dad let go of Katniss before you suffocate her,” Peeta came to her rescue.

Katniss gave her father-in-law a nervous smile, she wasn’t sure she could ever call him anything but Mr. Mellark.

“We should get going, there is a feast to be had!” Mr. Mellark said.

The entire party left the Justice building and walked toward the bakery where Peeta’s older brother Carlton waited with his wife. The Cartwrights waited for them as well as Madge. At the bequest of her mother the Hawthornes were present. Gale was sulking in the background, like a sullen black rain cloud.

With all of their family and friends gathered in the backyard of the bakery Katniss didn’t know how they were going to get through the rest of the day without a Toasting. The stress of it all was the equivalent to her hauling a stag all by herself, an adult male deer could weigh between 120 pounds to 330 pounds.

There was a feast with squirrel stew, roasted rabbitts, medlies of garden vegetables, honied roasted carrots, potatoes made three ways, mashed, baked, and boiled, fresh bread, and a beautiful cake decorated like a meadow. Each family brought something to eat. Everyone began serving heaps of food onto their plates.

Katniss couldn’t eat, she wanted to find time to speak to Peeta alone. She never got the opportunity because she was constantly whisked away, because the Mellark’s neighbors came by to bid Peeta and her well wishes. Peeta marrying a girl from the Seam wasn’t why they came to the wedding reception. Many were familiar with her as they bought or traded for her fresh game. It was the curiosity of seeing Peeta married that made them come.

“Peeta.” Katniss was finally sitting next to him, a plate of food before her. She couldn’t find enjoyment in the meal. She was pushing the food around on her plate.

“What’s wrong?” Peeta said.

“They’re all expecting a Toasting,” she whispered.

“It’s okay I’ve got this covered.”

“You do?” Katniss eyes searched the gathered crowd. The only one who wasn’t participating was Gale. He was sitting next to Delly Cartwright who was chirping away.

Peeta put his hand over her’s and once more for the hundredth time he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

“We’re a team, allies, right?”

Katniss breathed easier. He was right, they were a team. Although she proposed this crazy scheme, he agreed to it and was making it happen. She relaxed and began to eat and enjoy herself.

As the meal was finishing Peeta stood up and addressed everyone, “I know it’s a custom for the bride and groom to have a Toasting on their wedding day. However among the Merchants its a custom to wait a month for the Toasting to allow the couple to get acquainted and to test if the marriage is a good match. Katniss and I have made this agreement.”

Katniss saw Gale perk up. He was staring straight at her. Katniss instead looked at her sister. Prim’s face wasn’t all too happy, she was scowling. Katniss glanced at her mother who looked stoic. In fact as she glanced around the only other person who looked okay with Peeta’s announcement was his mother.

Katniss stood up knowing she had to do something to distract the crowd. Standing on tiptoes she braced her hands against his chest and place the kiss on his lips. It was her first kiss and she didn’t know what to expect. She’d heard rumors about how wondrous kisses were. Katniss didn’t expect for currents of electricity to run throughout her body and make her feel as if she was on fire. She was dazed and her knees gave out at the simple peck on the lips. Peeta’s arms were there to catch her.

The simple kiss had the desired effect, everybody was standing and cheering. She looked at Peeta whose face was bright red and Katniss was sure hers was in the same condition. Her cheeks stung from heat that raced to her face.

That night after the meal, the dancing, and the subsequent cleanup, Prim pulled Katniss aside. “You’ve got to talk to him, you have to ask him questions.”

“Prim we’re going to be okay.” Katniss thought about how she and Peeta were a team. It reassured her they could overcome any obstacles.

“Look, you’re my sister and the same way you’ve been looking out for me all of my life, I have to look out for you too.” Prim’s face was serious.

“What’s wrong Prim?”

“Tonight I heard a few rumors.” Prim took a big breath then said, “The only reason he said yes to you , a girl from the Seam, was to get back at his mother. Everyone knows Mrs. Mellark doesn’t like Seam Folk. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

It was true Peeta’s mother did not like people from the Seam, she treated them poorly, and made them come to the back of the bakery to trade.

“Even if this is an agreement between you two, if you want this to work out, you need to have a serious conversation with him and it has to happen before the 30 days are over.” Prim sighed heavily. “And just be careful of Gale. Peeta’s announcement made him perk up like Buttercup when he sees a mouse.”

Katniss was back to feeling all out if sorts as she watched her sister leave.

“Hey, stop frowning, it’s your wedding day,” Peeta said, coming to stand beside her.

Katniss took a deep breath and inhaled his scent. The smell of fresh bread, dill, and cinnamon calmed her down.

“Okay son,” Mr. Mellark said interrupting them. “The place is all yours. Your mother and I applied for housing when you graduated. We picked up our keys this morning, and while you came down here to finish the paperwork Carlton helped us move into the new house. We have a nice little cottage near the edge of town. Your brother River elected to convert a small shed at the back of the house into his living quarters. I’ve told your mother she is not to set foot in the bakery. I would like to continue to work in the bakery on a part time basis, if that is okay with you?”

Peeta took the keys, his eyes watered. “I think that could work.”

“Thank you, I just need to be able to get out of the house.” Mr. Mellark cleared his throat. “River decided he wants to continue to work there until he find something else for himself.”

Katniss stood to the side half listening to the conversation between Peeta and his father.

“That’s great you guys can show Katniss the ropes when I do not have time,” Peeta said.

“I’m proud of you son, for holding out for what you want. It’s not easy standing up for yourself, not willing to become a part in her game. Your mother is a force to be reckoned with. You’ve set a precedence for Mellark men, son.” Mr. Mellark dragged Peeta into a bear hug.

While Peeta and his father hugged Mrs. Mellark slithered next to her. “My son is not like other men, he’s never had a girlfriend, never batted an eye at another girl. He rejected every single one of the girls that I chose for him and yet you come around and he wants to get married in less than a day. And now he wants to wait thirty days to have is Toasting.” She cackled. “Good luck having children, though by the looks of you I doubt you could carry a Mellark full term…if he ever desires to touch you.”

His mother’s words shocked her and gave her doubts about Peeta’s reason for accepting her proposal. She wondered if he did it out of spite for his mother. If that were true then he would tire of the partnership that they formed earlier. These thoughts plagued her for the rest of the afternoon. And that night as she stood in the bathroom, Katniss hoped everything her sister said and his mother said was wrong. She’d unpacked her meager belongings and stored them in the closet that was inside of the bathroom.

Her mind went over the kiss once again. Hours later and she was still affected by it. It brought up the idea of the marital bed and the things that happened in it and other possibilities. Even though she was sure she didn’t want children now, she admitted to herself further down the line she would like to have one small boy or girl with blond hair and Peeta’s eyes. Her hand flutters down to her stomach.

The idea of motherhood wasn’t something she often wanted or thought about but she wouldn’t mind with Peeta. The question remained would he want her to carry his children. For that to happen they would need to do stuff to the other. Maybe she was wrong maybe she should have agreed to marry Gale. At least he would want to talk to her. He would want her and desire to have kids.

However, as soon as a thought came to her mind about Gale she was repulsed and rejected that idea. “Ugh, that’s so gross.”

Taking a deep breath she exited the bathroom and found Peeta had made a pillow barrier, separating the two sides of the bed. Both had individual blankets and sheets. “Oh.”

Peeta rushed across the room, “I thought this would be more comfortable for both of us.”

Katniss straightened her shoulders. The truth was evident by the amount of pillows on the bed. This was going to be her life, the one she chose, until death do they part. Glancing at him, it occurred to her maybe they could be friends, companions of sorts. Katniss told herself that wouldn’t be that bad and she didn’t want children anyways so at least she would never have to worry about avoiding unwanted pregnancies. However before she resigned herself to a platonic marriage, they did need to have an open and honest discourse about their expectations for the marriage. Tonight was not the night to have it she was exhausted and oddly disappointed.

Putting on a brave face she asked, “Which side do you prefer sleeping on?”

“The window side, if you don’t mind, because I get hot at night.”

“Works for me.” Katniss said climbing into the bed, while Peeta opened the window and got into bed.

She thought she would never go to sleep, but the moment her head hit the pillows she was a goner.

It was the morning light that woke her. She was still half-asleep but she found she couldn’t move as if there was a barrier in her way, much like when Prim climbed into bed with her after a nightmare. She was comfortable and felt like she was at home.

Her only problem was that eventually she had to go to the bathroom.

“Prim,” she murmured her mind was holding her into thinking she was at home. It was the smell of fresh bread, cinnamon and dill that made her eyes pop open. She was being spooned by Peeta. With her hunter like reflexes she rolled out of bed. Sometime during the night the pillows that separated them were tossed onto the floor and and they met in the middle holding each other throughout the night.

Katniss touched her cheeks and her fingers smelled like his. Her lashes flutters closed with delight. This was an a side effect she could get used to. On the bed Peeta groaned, Katniss panicked and flew into the bathroom.

Once in the safety of the bathroom she took a good look at herself in the mirror. Her face was flushed with a glow she’d never seen. Her gray eyes looked luminous and she she felt achy all over as if her body wanted to be back in Peeta’s arms.

Sleeping with him was not a hardship. Smiling, she thought this would be hers. This small space of time when she didn’t have to worry about his preferences. This was her niche and she could find happiness here. But as she got ready for the day she knew they still needed to talk. She quietly crept into the room and found him asleep on his side. Katniss gathered the pillows from the floor and created the barrier that he had made last night before leaving the room.

She went downstairs to the bakery and smiled when she saw Peeta’s father and River working. One glance at her and his father grinned. “My son put that glow upon your pretty cheeks.”

Katniss didn’t know where to look, she was so embarrassed. Demurely she asked, “Is it okay if I go hunting?”

“By all means go hunting. My son likes the squirrel meat you catch with your arrow. He’s always fascinated by the way you manage to shoot them through the eyes.”

Katniss thanked him and made her way out of the bakery. She headed for the woods. Finding her bow, she set off to hunt. Sometime later she had fishes, rabbits, birds, and a few squirrels.

Satisfied with her hunt she went first to her home and dropped off a rabbit for her sister and mother, even though no one was home. Next she went trading, first to the hob, then to the merchants. Everyone seemed so happy for her and congratulated her on her wedding.

It was around 3 in the afternoon when she arrived back at the bakery. Her father-in-law was happy when she handed him a nice fat goose.

“She’s a keeper,” he sang.

She smelled Peeta before she saw him.

“I’ve never seen my father so happy before.” Peeta’s arms were dusty from flour and Katniss had a sudden urge to run her hands up and down her arms. She jammed her hands in her pockets. “My dad really likes you.”

“I’m glad.” Katniss hoped the warm sting of her flush could be attributed it to the heat found in the bakery.

“So would you like for me to make dinner?”

Peeta washed his arms and Katniss noticed the he turned the hot water and the cold water handles. She became fascinated with the way he washed his hands and arms. She shook her head, by now Peeta was at a counter preparing to make something.

“Nope, I can make dinner.” Katniss stopped moving remembering the hot and cold tap. Shyly she asked, “Is it true you have hot water?”

“The water is always hot. The ovens heats the pipes.”

“Even in the dead of winter?” This was surreal for her.

“Even in the dead of winter.”

At home they had water but it was cold and it needed to be heated up to take a warm bath. Many buckets have to be heated on the pot belly stove and poured into the tin bathtub. She glanced at Peeta, asking for permission.

Peeta chuckled, “Go enjoy.”

She didn’t even blink she ran up the stairs. This was another thing that she could fully enjoy. Hot water was a luxury.

She turned the tap of the bathtub and felt the warm water gushing into the bath. Within seconds she was sighing into the hot water. Normally she didn’t do this. She was efficient, she scrubbed herself down quickly because often her sister and she shared a bath. This was decadent, she took a little longer scrubbing her limbs.

This wasn’t something Katniss did always but she promised herself she would do this at least once a week if not once a month. Getting dressed in clean clothes she began to cook. Soon the meal was done and Peeta came upstairs he was tired but he ate quietly and yawned a few times.

Katniss anticipated once more going to bed. In the morning the same thing happened again. In fact for the next few days it happened over and over again. Each morning Katniss enjoyed waking up wrapped up in Peeta’s arms. She loved smelling like him. She loved the way his breath felt on her neck. She loved staring at his long, nearly translucent eyelashes and she wondered how they never tangled. On Saturday she found her sister at home.

“Katniss,” Prim squealed giving Katniss a bear hug.

“Hey little duck,” Katniss greeted even though Prim was taller than her, and acted like a know-it-all-like her cat. “I haven’t seen you since Tuesday.”

“I’ve been busy helping mom, and I’ve been helping out Vick at the school.”

“Gale’s baby brother?” Katniss turned up and eyebrow.

“Oh my goodness you are glowing?” Prim turned the tables on Katniss she came close to her and inspected her face. “I’ve never seen you like this before.”

Katniss couldn’t help the happiness she felt. She felt tingly all over. Waking up in Peeta’s arms each morning was as great as eating a hearty bowl of stew on a chilly day.

“I’m assuming you spoke to Peeta and you guys are on the same page?”

Katniss busied herself with taking out the fish and goose she’d caught for her mother and sister. She took elaborate lengths to put them down on the table, as she tried to find the words to explain to her sister what was happening to her and the status of her relationship with Peeta. She opened and closed her mouth several times but nothing came out. This was a situation where she needed Peeta to speak for her. He was so much better at words and expressing himself.

“Katniss are you trying to tell me you haven’t spoken to him yet?” Her sister stood arms akimbo.

Katniss said in a high-pitched wimpy voice, “No.”

Katniss had never seen her baby sister get mad. It was a sight to see, but she became red and her eyes narrowed. She gave her that legendary Everdeen scowl.

“Oh for crying in the mud,” Prim said stomping over to the medicine cabinet, much the way her cat would thump it’s paws when it angrily walked away. Prim took a couple packets of her tea mixtures. “Here boil a third of each package, and drink the tea each morning without stopping.”

Katniss sniffed the package and by its smell she knew what they were used for. “I’m not having relations with Peeta.”

“You may not be having ‘relations,’ as you call it right now with Peeta, but by the look of you it won’t be long.” Prim held her hand up as she walked Katniss to the door. “Don’t try to argue with me. I would rather you be safe than sorry since you’re both not ready for kids. But you really should have a conversation with him in regards to your expectations of the relationship, and if after this trial period you want to separate, stay together in name only, or have a Toasting and make a go out of a real marriage.”

Katniss stood outside looking at her front door wondering what just happened. She’d come here to drop off food but she got scolded, medically diagnosed, and advised in the space of minutes. Looking at her hands she slipped the small packets in her pocket before heading back to the bakery. As she walked through the meadow her sisters words had a deep impact, what if Peeta wanted to separate at the end of the 30 days. His mother wanted him to get married and he did so that the bakery was his now.

Katniss asked herself what she would do, if that happened? She couldn’t find an answer. She did know however then if Peeta didn’t want to do a Tosting with her she could remain in the way that they were right now. The more she thought about it, it became apparent she was happy.

As for the other possibility of them having a Toasting right now that was as far away as the Moon. As she arrived at the bakery after selling her goods she noted how busy they all were. She washed up, went downstairs and helped with little things like cleaning the dishes and making sure the surfaces were clean so that they didn’t have to do that.

That night right before she fell asleep Peeta spoke to her. “Thank you for pitching in today. We were able to end the day earlier because of your help.”

“You’re welcome.” Her smile was so wide her hands clutched the pillow. Katniss was happy she could help him in some small way. Back home with her mother and sister she was always in the way and she didn’t have the tolerance to deal with the sick.

The next day was Sunday. Katniss woke up extra early. She wanted to catch something special for her boy with the bread. Also she didn’t want to run into Gale after what she observed at the reception.

Normally Mr. Mellark would be downstairs to greet her. Today the bakery was silent. After four days of marriage she discovered the bakery was always busy and noisy. The Mellarks never took a break. Lunch was a quick piece of bread with a cup of water. If the miners were allowed a 30 minute lunch then Peeta and his family deserved the same. Katniss had in mind to speak to Peeta about giving each one of them a break or even closing down for lunch. It would help them in the long run.

It was still dark when she stepped outside. It was beginning to get chillier. Fall will soon be upon them and Katniss’ mind turn to saving up for the winter. She could make jerky to help them during the long months. She could also ask her mother to help her can vegetables.

As she slipped underneath the fence, she thought about asking Peeta if she could share the food that she preserved with her family. Peeta was generous and by extension so was his father. River, however, was still a mystery to her. While he did like to drink, she’d seen him frequenting Rippers white liquor booth at the Hob, when he was at the bakery he didn’t even smell of alcohol. He worked just as hard as his father and Peeta.

Grabbing her bow she made her way into the woods. By now the sun was rising and the forest became alive with the sounds of birds chirping. She went to the lake and after setting her nets she set out to hunt. As the sunlight became stronger, she shot a few geese, then she shot a couple of rabbits and squirrels. Her biggest catch was a turkey. They were easy prey as long as they weren’t running. They were as fast Mr. Henderson’s old jalopy, a car left over from the dark days.

With her turkey in hand she sat down to check her nets. Greasy loved the fresh fish. Her customers liked the summer delicacy fried. Satisfied with the amount of fish, she decided to go back to the bakery. Normally she would head to her mother’s, but it was still early. Her sister and mother would still be sleeping.

She was headed toward the tree where she hid her bow and arrows.

“I see you went hunting without me, Catnip.”

Gale’s voice made her flinch. She turned around looking for him. She couldn’t spot him. A leaf drop from the sky, most likely he was hiding in a tree.

“What do you want Gale?” Katniss took a step back, his smell made her stomach turn.

“I wanted to have a talk with you.” He squinted up at the sun. “Why didn’t you want a Toasting with Mellark?”

“That’s my private business with my husband.” Katniss said watching Gale carefully.

Gale chuckled, took a step forward, and waved his finger in her face. “That’s a lie and you know it. Let’s be honest Katniss, before the eyes of the district, Mellark isn’t really considered your husband. Everyone knows you’re not married, not until you have a Toasting.”

Katniss hated the grin on his face, he made her mad. “In the eyes of the laws of Panem I am married.”

“This is District Twelve Katniss. Around these parts folks consider what you and Peeta are doing a sin. They believe you’re shacking up with the baker’s son and that once he tires of you he’s going to toss you out into the streets. Katniss can’t you see he’s using you. If he wanted you he would have Toasted with you the day you signed the paperwork at the Justice Building.”

“I asked him not to Toast with me Gale and he agreed because he’s a gentleman.” Katniss said through clenched teeth. She couldn’t believe Gale was questioning her life with Peeta. It was none of his business!

Gale mercilessly laughed. “You’re so freaking naive. He knows you don’t want a real marriage, Katniss. He knows you don’t want kids that’s why he agreed to only sign the papers. He doesn’t care for you the way I do. He doesn’t know you the way I do. Hell he doesn’t want you the way I do.”

Gale reached out to touch her and she took several steps backwards. She was angered by his dogged persistence. She’d been telling him ‘no’ in various ways for the better part of three years. She’d hoped by going through the ceremony at the Justice Building with Peeta, signing the paperwork, and having the reception, Gale would understand that she was off limits. Yet here she was, once again, having the same tired conversation.

“We could be so good together, me and you we are the same, don’t you see Katniss can’t you see…how much I want you.”

“Anytime you talk to me all you say is how much you want me as if I’m something to be had.” She yelled, “A possession for you to put in your house like a trophy.”

“Is that what he’s told you? That you’d be a trophy!” Gale grabbed her by the forearm and growled at her.

His eyes looked feral and his grip hurt her arms, yet, Katniss stood her ground. “Let me go Gale!”

“Mellark won’t ever give you kid, or a chance at a real marriage. I can give you that.” Gale moved in to kiss her. He murmured as he leaned down, “He’s soft, using you to get back at his mother.”

Katniss kicked him in the shins. He fell like a tree being cut down by an expert lumberjack from District Seven. She quickly notched an arrow, aiming her bow at his chest.

“Peeta is a wonderful man. He’s gentle and kind and he loves his family. And if you touch me or do anything to me I can go to Darius and he can have you locked up.”

Gale put his hands up.

She walked backwards until she was near the fence wanting to get away from Gale she went underneath the fence and ran toward the bakery.

Luckily it was still early enough, none of her neighbors saw her slip into the backyard. River was outside when he spotted her running. Her nerves were still strung high and she aimed her loaded bow at River.

“Hey Katniss…don’t worry, I’m not spying. It’s my turn to clean the ovens with Peeta.” He greeted, but his look turned to concern.

Katniss was shaking with anger, shock, and a myriad of other emotions she couldn’t identify. Uncharacteristically of her she burst into tears. Her knees gave way and she dropped to the ground.

River sat by her but didn’t touch her. His silence was comforting. As she calmed down he gave her a handkerchief. “You want to tell me what happened out there in the woods?”

“How did you know I was in the woods?” Katniss blew her nose.

“Well besides all the dead carcasses you have in your game bag, and the turkey you dropped as you ran into the back yard, not to mention the twigs and leaves adorning your head, you’re still carrying your bow and arrows.” River was examining her weapon. “You’re so tiny, how the heck do you pull that string back far enough to catch birds in mid flight? And how in hell do you get them right through the eye…”

River’s comments made her chuckle. Although he was curious he was also very serious. “I had an altercation with Gale in the woods.”

“Did he hurt you?” Although his voice was calm his eyes we’re not, they raging with fire.

“Don’t tell Peeta he tried to kiss me.”

“I don’t think my brother needs to know about Gale. The last time Gale put his hands on you, Peeta put Gale in the type of headlock that can cause you to lose consciousness. I shudder to think what my baby brother would do if he found out Gale tried to kiss you.”

“He did grab and squeeze my shoulders, but I kicked him in the shins. He let go when he fell backwards.” Katniss admitted, “I kind of, notched an arrow and pointed my bow at him.” When she lifted her arm to show him how easily she could notch her bow she grimaced in pain, her shoulders hurt. Gale had hurt her.

“Good for you.” River got up and pulled a small glass jar with a Capitol label on it from his pocket. Go inside get washed up and put some of this medication on the bruises. It should clear up by tomorrow.” He took her bow and began walking toward the the cellar.

“Where are you going?”

“I going to hide your weapon in the cellar. Then I am going to get Carlton. It’s time we had a chat with Gale. He has to understand even if you and Peeta don’t have a Toasting, you’re still my baby brother’s wife. And no one should ever put a hand on you. Oh and Katniss, not everything you hear is true.”

Katniss nodded. She went inside, luckily Peeta was still asleep. Katniss felt disgusting, Gale’s scent was all over her and she hated it. She scrubbed her body from head to toe. Her shoulders were tender and the bruises on her arm looked violent a mixture of red and purple shades. The white gel like content of the glass jar River gave her immediately took away her pain. By the time she dried her hair and dressed, the bruising was fading. Peeta was awake and was making breakfast.

The moment she saw him she bit her bottom lip to keep from telling him what had happened.

Peeta gave her a brilliant smile and opened his arms up to her. Katniss did not waste any time and when he wrapped his arms around her she felt safe like when she was a kid with her father. She sniffled.

“Hey you okay?” His voice was tender.

“I feel like I’m home.” It was important for her to tell him how she felt.

Peeta gently rubbed her back, and embraced her tighter.

Monday morning it rained and Katniss was glad she didn’t have to go into the woods. Both Carlton and River showed up at the bakery. They had busted lips but had goofy grins on their faces.

“WHERE IS THE LITTLE SEAM BRAT!” Mrs. Mellark blew into the bakery as if she’d flew in with the easterly wind guiding her broom.

“Now dear,” Mr. Mellark began.

Mrs. Mellark marched right up to Katniss. Mr. Mellark stood in her path. “You stupid man get out of my way,” she screeched.

Carlton, River, and Peeta came out from the back, all three stood behind their father. One Mellark was taller than the next. Katniss wasn’t sure what to make of the situation.

Mr. Mellark cleared his throat once more before he began speaking. “I thought you said you wouldn’t step a foot in the bakery, it’s not our property any more. Now take a deep breath and tell me what has brought you here on this lovely morning.”

“My Carlton stayed out all night and I am sure that little -”

“Watch what you say about Katniss, mom,” Carlton warned cutting off his mother.

“She’s a Mellark,” River supplied.

Katniss peeked her head around the Peeta’s side. She could see the woman’s eyes narrow, her lips puckered disapprovingly, as if she got a fly caught in her teeth while flying over here. Katniss had enough of hiding, she wasn’t one to cower behind men.

“If you have something to say, say it to my face,” Katniss said moving in front of the men.

“You’re a bad influence,” Mrs. Mellark spat.

“No she’s not,” Peeta countered.

“I think Katniss is the best thing that happened to our family.” River raised an eyebrow.

“Dad’s happier, River comes to work on time. Heck, he was here yesterday early to clean the ovens. The business is making money with Peeta in charge, its up a good 12 percent,” Carlton said. “The books don’t lie. I came by to balance them today.”

“Have you all lost your mind?” Mrs. Mellark’s voice sounded strangled.

“Mom, Katniss is my wife, and I can assure you we spent the entire day and night together,” Peeta said.

“She did go out hunting yesterday,” Carlton said.

“But she didn’t trade with anyone. She brought all of the game home to share with us. I can’t wait to eat that turkey!” River rubbed his belly.

“She caught a turkey?” Peeta’s mother eyed her, though something in the woman’s eyes was different there was no malice behind the her harsh words, almost as if she was impressed. The woman was known as a witch. She wasn’t friendly and she was known to hurt her kids. Katniss puzzled over her behavior.

“Shot it right through the eye,” River boasted.

“She’s quite the marksmith,” Peeta said.

“Are all of you telling me you like that dirty…”

“Mother, please refrain from saying anything that later on you will regret,” Carlton warned. “Katniss is a-”

“Mellark,” all three said at the same time. Katniss watched a myriad of emotions flash through Mrs. Mellark’s face from anger, to disbelief, to astonishment.

“She’s a good, hard-working girl who will pitch in the bakery, even after spending all morning hunting. She even cooked food for our lunch today.” River winked at Katniss.

“Plus still helps out her mom and sister,” Peeta said.

“Dear, you see Katniss is blameless of whatever imagined crime you were going to accuse her of.” He placed a kiss on Mrs. Mellark’s forehead. “Now I don’t know what these two knuckleheads were doing, but look at them, dear, when was the last time we saw our boys seem united. River and Carlton haven’t threatened each other.”

“Yeah, and River had one drink mom. He restrained himself last night, took care of me.” Carlton shrugs, “We settled our differences.”

“It’s true dear; after Katniss agreed to marry Peeta you and I both know River has come home with me after work. He wants to help with the orphaned children. He and I have been making plans to help the kids transition out, find them jobs, help feed them.”

“It’s true mom,” River said. “I’ve been sober for the past two months. After Peeta made his decision to not marry I started to ask myself if I wanted to be like Abernathy. I didn’t and if Peeta could get what he wanted so could I. It wasn’t easy, but last night was the first time I touched a drink in two months, and I didn’t even drink it. I asked the bartender to give me sarsaparilla.”

Mrs. Mellark inspected each one of the men before she crackled a laugh.

Katniss was confused by her mother-in-law’s quick turn around.

“I’ve been trying to make this lot act like men for years and suddenly because of you they are,” she grinned wickedly. “I would like some tea, preferably chamomile.”

Katniss turned to Peeta and his brothers, whose mouths hung ajar.

“I told you your mother liked Katniss,” Mr. Mellark whistled.

Katniss made Mrs. Mellark some tea and joined her as she told Katniss how she had to toughen up her boys because their cousins used to beat them. She wanted her boys to be tough, and was surprised when all of them stood up to her. She stayed for lunch and behaved civilly. Mrs. Mellark, turns out, was taking full advantage of her retirement. She loved her bridge club, her gardening, her knitting club, and her future travelers club. She was planning on taking a trip to each of the districts. She even hinted at grandchildren which made all three of her children extremely uncomfortable.

Katniss was amazed when she left with Carlton in tow. River said he’d never seen his mother act so human, and asked Katniss what sedative she’d put in her tea. Before he left he took Katniss to the side.

“Don’t worry about any guy being rude or mean to you, we’ve got you. I know you’re capable of shooting them through the eye, but I don’t want you to be imprisoned. I like what you’ve done to my family.” River grinned patted her head and left.

With her secret safe, Katniss continue her path with Peeta. After her admission on Sunday they began talking, about their likes dislikes, favorite colors. It happened at night when they had the house to themselves.

They were in bed lying on their respective sides of the bed, the pillow barrier between them.

“So you want us to take a break after the midday rush?” Peeta sat up and peered over the pillow barrier.

“You’re so tired when you drag yourself upstairs, you yawn during dinner. If you had a half-hour so that you could rest, you’d feel better at the end of the day.” Katniss could see Peeta weighing her case. “Especially your father. He’s not the young man he used to be.”

“Dad does take longer to do things.”

“I would do the cooking, I can make something fresh or reheat leftovers for all three of you.”

“My mom never let us have a break. It’s why we work the way we do, but my mom is not the boss anymore. She hasn’t set foot here since the day we married.” He scratched his chin. “Alright, we’ll start tomorrow? So what’s on the menu?”

Katniss smiled shyly. “Is there anything you would like to eat?”

“I personally love your squirrel stew. Or a fried rabbit sandwich.” Peeta laid down and his stomach rumbled.

“Sounds like you could use a snack now.” Katniss got up.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to make you a sandwich; you’re still hungry.”

Peeta grinned and sprang from the bed. Katniss laughed at his antics. He wiggled his eyebrow. “What, I plan on growing nice and fat.” After this Peeta stopped making the pillow barrier, and they would ease their way closer to each other as they talked and fell asleep in each other’s arms.

The third week when she couldn’t go hunting, because it was thundering outside she cleaned the bakery and often found herself watching as Peeta made bread. His hands were fascinating tools.

Her heart fluttered every time he walked into the room. Her cheeks became heated when he touched her hand or brushed her hair away from her face. There were times her insides would grow warm and mushy when he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

They were preparing to go to bed and talking about the bakery. “I got word today and that the Capitol wants to get rid of the flour that was given in Tesserae. I was thinking of buying some and seeing what bread I can make from it and maybe making it as an economy bread for the people who can’t afford a higher priced bread. I thought possibly to enrich it with raisin or nuts to make the loaf heartier.”

Katniss was slowly starting to realize just how much money went into making the baked goods they sold. “As long as you can keep the cost down, make the price affordable for the people who can’t buy the more expensive bread. It will be a great idea.”

“You really think so?”

“Tesserae flour is not as refined as the flour you get here for the bakery.” Katniss recalled those days. At the 74th games she would have had 20 slips in the bowl. When the president died and the games discontinued the government decided to give all of its workers a pay raise. The miners’ raise what’s so significant their weekly salary lasted longer. The quality of life changed and Tesserae was no longer needed.

“What does the flour look like?”

They were both in the bed by now, his window was opened, and the lights were turned off.

She thought about the flour that came in those packs. “It was grainy and harder to mix into bread. Most people made flat-breads or they use it as a thickener for soups and stews. They also made dumplings with it.”

“Thank you, that was very insightful.” He reached out and lightly touched her hand.

Katniss felt electrical currents running up and down her arm. Heat poured into her cheeks and she was glad the room was dark. He rolled to her and she didn’t waste time in settling her head on his chest. Listening to his heartbeat was as soothing as listening to a cool breeze filter through the trees in the woods.

A few nights later Peeta came out of the bathroom. “Green, your favorite color is green?”

“Why do you sound so surprised?”

“It does make sense; you do love the woods.”

“Thank you for letting Prim stay last night she enjoyed her hot bath.”

“Katniss, your sister is family, and as long as your mother is okay with it, she can stay over any time she wants.”

“Thank you.” Katniss gave him a shy smile. “Maybe tomorrow night you can show me the shade of orange you like?”

Peeta got into the bed but didn’t lie down as was his custom. “What else do you like?”

Katniss was puzzled by his question. It must have shown on her face because he said, “I know you’re deadly with a bow, but squeamish when it comes to injuries. I thought you were going to faint when you saw the blister on River’s hand as you tended to him.”

Katniss was embarrassed she nearly threw up several times.

“I know you prefer honey over sugar in your tea. I know you hate getting up early but do it anyways because the game you catch helps out everyone. By the way, Carlton would like for you to catch an extra squirrel he wants to make a three meat stew.”

“Consider it done.”

“But besides your favorite color and tea I don’t know what else you like.”

“I like cheese buns.” Katniss mouth watered as she recalled the taste of the savory cheesy roll.

“Cheese buns?”

“Anything with cheese really. Prim makes the best goat cheese and in the Spring and Summer she adds different herbs that make it taste unique.”

“Okay what else?”

“I like to read. I didn’t have much access to books in the Seam. After Snow died and the government sent all of the those books to the school I used to pour over the books in the library during lunch. One time I snuck one out and took it with me to the woods to read.” Katniss said fondly. “To this day the Diary of Anne Frank is my favorite.”

Peeta reached over to her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Thank you for sharing.”

Katniss went to sleep and the next day when she came home from hunting her spirits were low. Gale ruined all of the traps he made for her. It began to down pour and she wasn’t able to catch much. She didn’t want to say anything to River because she knew they would want to have a ‘word’ with Gale. Katniss wanted to cut out the middleman and go directly to the power behind Gale. Her old hunting buddy was as stubborn as a mule but there was one person in the entire district he never dared cross, his mother.

She took a shower, despite wanting a bath. It was busy downstairs and they needed her help. After she was dressed and feeling a little better Katniss walked out of the bathroom, and frowned when she saw the box on the bed. It hadn’t been there when she walked in earlier. Curious, she walked up to it and saw a note.

“Please enjoy - Peeta.”

Opening the box she squealed when she saw the books. “She read out loud the titles as she picked up each book, “Catcher in the Rye, Pride and Prejudice, Of Mice and Men, Romeo and Juliet, Jane Eyre, A Christmas Carol, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Hobbit, The Fault in Our Stars, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Jurassic Park, Night.” She dug around some more and then her hands stopped and tears clouded her vision momentarily. In a shaky voice she said, “Diary of Anne Frank.”

Within seconds she was down the stairs. Like one of her arrows seeking it’s prey she sought out Peeta. Finding him she hugged him and placed small kisses over his face. “Thank you for the book!” Katniss said before hugging him and burying her face in his neck. His scent wound itself around her.

Peeta wrapped his arms around her, holding her. Both forgot he was in the front of the store helping out patrons with their purchases.

“Oh young love,” one of the women sighed. She turned to her husband, “Why don’t you do nice things for me?”

The husband replied, “Start kissing me like that and I’ll give you the moon.”

A few days later she was with her sister. They were putting the books away on the shelf the boys made. It took them three days to put three shelves up; shelves that fell to the floor by themselves. Katniss chuckled. All four of the Mellark men were experts with pastries and bread, but between them they could not figure out how to properly saw a piece of wood. Katniss and her sister ended up finishing the project.

“Where do you think Peeta found all of these books?”

“I don’t know Prim, but they magically appeared from one day to the next.”

“They must have cost him a lot of money.” Prim carefully touched one of the books with a paper cover.

“Prim,” Katniss sat down on the bed. “Do you think he likes me?”

Her sister spun around. “You haven’t had the talk with him yet?”

“No,” Katniss said embarrassed. They talked every night but not about the one subject they needed to talk about. She really did care about him in a way that was different than the love that she felt for her sister.

“Katniss, you can’t avoid this talk forever. Your 30 days are almost over and if you don’t have this talk with him he might not want to have a Toasting with you. Then you’ll never know unless you ask him what he wants.”

“I know, I know I should have the talk with him and ask him what he wants and how he feels about sex. But sometimes I just like being kept wrapped up, talking about other stuff with him.”

“Like what?”

“Everything,” Katniss shrugged. “We talked about everything, the weather, the bakery…you.”

Prim rubbed her face. “Vick said you weren’t going to chicken out.”

“Gale’s baby brother?” Lately her sister mentioned Vick increasingly in her conversations.”

“By the way Vick, said his mom pulled Gale’s ear and sent him to bed without his dinner. She was so mad to hear about what he was doin to you in the woods she prohibited him from hanging out with his mining buddies. She doesn’t like that they drink and he spends way too much of his salary at the slag heap. To ensure his buddies don’t get out of hand, she convinced his mining buddies’ wives and mothers to pick them up at the end of their shifts.”

Katniss grinned. She knew Hazzelle was a no-nonsense kind of mom, who appreciated honesty. Katniss was brutally honest when she had a talk with Hazzelle, including why Carlton and River fought Gale. Hazzelle was madder than a hornet’s nest. “So you’re spending a lot of time with a boy who is two years younger.”

Her sister turned red. She had a guilty look on her face, much like her Buttercup did that one time he drank the goat milk Prim needed to make cheese.

“What’s going on between you and Vick?”

“Nothing, I know he’s so young, but he’s so different from his brothers…he’s just a friend.” Prim trailed off.

“You know what they say, when there’s smoke there’s fire,” Katniss said enjoying how the shoe was finally on the other foot.

“The same could be said of you and Peeta. I mean, look at all these books he got you. Something is there.”

Katniss wasn’t sure. They were growing closer but she didn’t know what it was between them. It could be friendship or a type of camaraderie; they were allies. Though lately she wanted to be kissed and touched. She wanted to know what ‘it’, was like. Did she simply lie there while he stuck his appendage inside? Was it supposed to feel good? Would she feel those electrical currents like when he placed kisses on her forehead or when he touched her hand. Katniss wasn’t sure, but she did not want to discuss these things with her baby sister.

Katniss picked up the Diary of Anne Frank and clenched it tightly against her chest.

Prim sat by her. “You need to talk to him and you need to do it as soon as possible because at the end of the 30 days there is only three possible outcomes. You have a Toasting with him. He lets you go and you seperate. And the last option, stay in the same position. Yuu know there are those who have the same mindset as Gale who will try to take advantage of you or Peeta, and those who will shun you.”

Katniss knew what Primrose said was true. She needed to put her fears aside and talk to Peeta about them, and her desires and whether or not he wanted to be with her, a girl from the Seam.

The Sunday before the 30 days were up, she felt ‘it’, his manhood pressing up against her bottom. Her body became damp down there, and her breasts ached for his touch. The bubble had burst as Katniss realized she wanted more out of the marriage. It was time to have the dreaded talk.

This time she did not get up from the bed as she had been doing for days. She waited for him to wake up. He moved closer to her and she held onto him knowing this would possibly be the last moment she would ever be this close with him.

As he awoke his breathing changed and his arm tightened around her momentarily before he became stiff and pushed away from her. The rejection hurt.

“Katniss…,” he stammered pushing his blond hair away from his face.

Katniss sadly sat up in bed. She held a pillow in her arms as a sort of fortification for her body, her heart, her mind, and spirit. “I’m not good with words, but I know we have to talk.”

He ran his hands through his hair in an agitated way. “Yeah, I know.”

Katniss closed her eyes and blurted, “Do you find me attractive, like in the way a man wants a female?”

“What?”

Katniss cracked open one eye to find Peeta staring at her slack jawed.

“I warned you I’m not good with words, and frankly I wouldn’t even know how it works between men and women in a situation like this, but if you don’t or can not want me because I’m from the Seam, then we’ve got to be honest to make this situation work for both of us.” She was so embarrassed she buried her face into the pillow. “I want sex with you!”

Peeta was a talker; she knew it from watching him at school. He always said the prettiest things. So she expected him to talk and say something brilliant. What she didn’t expect was the silence after her declaration. She waited with her face buried in the pillow for him to speak, hell for him to walk away. Nothing happened.

Just when she thought she was going crazy he began to laugh. Curiously, she looked up to see he was laughing so hard he fell over on the bed clutching his side with tears running down his face.

Angered by his reaction to her gut-wrenching declaration she took the pillow and hit him with it several times.

“Hey,” he exclaimed.

One moment she had a pillow in the hand the next moment she was pinned underneath him, his hands on either side of her face, and her legs trapped by his. This poked at the embers of the fire she felt stirring when she kissed him on their wedding day.

Peeta lazily smiled at her. “You’re so pure and perfect for me.”

Katniss wasn’t sure what he meant by that but she was sure there was an insult in there. “ I’m not pure…I…I…want…”

“Go ahead say it. I dare you to but you can’t because you’re not built that way, and it drives me insane with lust for you. Always has, always will.”

Katniss was confused.

“I asked my brother River to start the rumor that I didn’t want to get married. He did it because he knew I was in love with a girl I thought I could never have. I thought she was in a committed relationship. I didn’t want to end up like my father in a loveless marriage. I would rather be alone for the rest of my life. But my mother made it harder for me. She wouldn’t give me the bakery unless I married.”

It occurred to Katniss she was missing out on a great big joke.

She wanted him and he wanted some unattainable girl. Unwanted tears gathered in her eyes. This was the other scenario her sister warned her about. “What’s her name? You know we haven’t Toasted yet. You can still have her in your life. Anything, as long as you’re happy.” Katniss figured someone should be happy in this relationship, and if not her, she wanted it to be him.

“This is why you’re so pure because you are willing to give up your own happiness for mine.” His eyes became soft, his voice tender, “I love you Katniss. I’ve I’ve loved you for so long, since I was a boy.”

“A boy,” Katniss whispered with awe and disbelief. “You’ve loved me for that long?” The interior of her being burst into flames by those words.

“I heard you sing the valley song when we were kids and I was a goner. River used to make fun of me because I was so committed to you and you were with Gale.”

Katniss wrinkled her nose at hearing Gale’s name.

“The day you came to see me I thought I was going to lose the bakery. My mother was fed up with me and threatened she was going to hand the bakery to River.” He loosened his grip cupping her face.

He began placing small kisses on her face. Katniss wound her arms around his neck. Each kiss caused the embers to become brighter, the fire spread from her heart to her belly and to the tips of her toes. She glowed from a combination of his words and his kisses. Sweet kisses that made her hungry for more.

“When you proposed, I grabbed onto that and I wasn’t going to let you slip from my fingers. Had there been enough time I would have married you that same day. When Gale showed up I thought it was over for me but then I saw the way you had my back during the fight and I knew I had a real chance.”

“You don’t have competition anywhere Peeta.” She arched into him when he nuzzled her neck.

“I know that now.”

He kissed the her forehead, when her eyelashes fluttered closed he placed a kiss on each one. Katniss anticipated a kiss on her lips, but he traced the tip on her nose and her lips with his finger tip. Katniss’ breathing was erratic as if she had run a mile. Her body was hot, the nightgown she wore was suddenly itchy and cumbersome. Her lashes opened and she hoped he could see the heat.

He groaned at her fierce look. “You’re so beautiful. It’s been hell keeping my hands off of you.”

He gently kissed her bottom lip before slipping his tongue inside her mouth. She mewled at the contact of his mouth and the fire spread to the juncture of her thighs. She squirmed beneath him, until she could wrap her legs around his middle. He was hard and the friction felt good; the fire was beginning to get out of control.

Peeta sat back and she growled at the loss of contact, until she watched him tear his pajama top off exposing his muscled chest. For Katniss it was like Christmas. A little happy cry escaped her mouth when it dawned on her he wanted her to touch him. Her fingers eagerly reached out and touched his flesh. He was soft and warm, yet she could feel the hard muscle beneath her fingertips. She was drawn to the sprinkling of hair that ran down the middle of his chest. Without thought or preamble she began trailing little kisses on his chest following the line down.

Hearing him gasp and moan at her touches fueled the fire within her and the need to touch and be touched.

Peeta hands trailed down to the hemline of her nightgown. He paused as if asking her permission. By Nature she was shy, but she felt bold around Peeta and she took the hem and pulled her nightgown off over head and threw it into a corner.

He drew in a sharp breath and his blue widened and became dark at the sight of her near naked form. “You are beautiful.”

Embarrassed by his compliment she turned her face away. This was the moment she decided how to live the rest of her life. She could move forward with Peeta letting him have her body or she could cover herself up and deny what she desired.

Taking a big breath she laid back down and opened her arms to him. Her whole body was a flame, hot and bothered. The juncture between her thighs was wet and achy, with need. Her underwear was soaked.

He laid on top of her. “Are you sure? We don’t have to do anything until you’re ready.”

Katniss reached up and kissed him; it was all he needed. They touched and discovered and tasted the other and when it came time for her to receive him she didn’t feel the pain that she heard whispered about. His movements were at first cautious, but as he noted her enjoyment he became confident; each stroke meant to bring her to an unknown volcanic summit.

Katniss was burning, her skin and soul were as hot and radiant as the sun. As her entire existence seemed to burst into a pure beam of light, from her lips she shouted Peeta’s name. Her soul had found its home. She was loved, cherished, and desired by her boy with the bread.

As they came down Peeta asked her, “You love me real or not real?”

With all of the love that she felt in her being, she whispered, “Real.”

***

Two days later, at midday their family gathered around the fireplace. It wasn’t a lavish affair, a private toasting which suited both Katniss and Peeta. Everyone gathered around them was happy as love filled the room. Katniss stood before Peeta smiling, her sister and mother stood by crying silent tears as Peeta finished toasting the bread. They each ripped off a piece and fed it to the other. They didn’t need the bread because they were already committed to the other, ready to have their better tomorrow.

#Springtime Edition 2019 #submission #mega aulover #prompt 78

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maksylmyheart · 5 years ago

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t's a balmy evening in June, the air rich with the smell of fresh flowers, the breeze rustling the trees and wafting the distant lilt of music on strings. The magical is meeting with the practical here: the idyllic beauty of a Provencal wedding reconciled with the aching realities of spending an afternoon walking gardens and gravel paths in a pair of heels. Instead of slipping away to gaze lovingly into one another's eyes, the bride and groom excuse themselves for a quick wardrobe change so that she can be more comfortable at the reception—not a fairytale romance, but the real world kind.

But just as it seems that the evening might be coming back down to earth, wonder reasserts itself. As they make their way back to their guests, the blue kiss of twilight turns buttery yellow under strings of lights woven between a lane of stretching plane trees, their friends and family seated for a feast beneath the glow of the lights.

"We just kept taking deep breaths and trying to take it in because I think that was one of the most impactful moments," says the bride, Meryl Davis. "We'd been dating for a long time and we've loved one another for a long time, and yet the experience of sharing that moment with each other was so beautiful. It's probably my favorite memory ever up to this point."

And that's some stiff competition: after all, for an Olympic medalist and Dancing With the Stars champion, there are plenty of spectacular memories to choose from.

How Meryl and Fedor Got Together

Hailing from the suburbs of Detroit, an international hub for professional and competitive skating, Meryl Davis spent much of her young life training to achieve the heights of Olympics greatness that she reached with partner Charlie White at the 2014 winter Olympics, when the duo took gold in ice dancing.

"I didn't have to move away from my family or across the country or to a different country in order to pursue skating, which is pretty rare," she explains.

Meanwhile her now-husband Fedor Andreev, himself a professional skater, was in some ways the opposite—born in Russia, he moved to Canada as a child with his mother, Marina Zoueva, who would later go on to be Meryl's longtime coach. From there, he lived in a number of cities, including several years living and training in Detroit.

"We certainly got to know each other within the context of sport and within the figure skating community," said Meryl. "Fedor was five years older than me, and when you're young, that that feels like a big difference. So we are friends who've sort of blossomed over time."

With such busy lives, the couple didn't begin to date until 2010, around the same time Fedor was preparing to retire from competitive skating. Not that retirement slowed their pace down much; in the years since they got together, Fedor graduated from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business (Meryl is getting her anthropology there as well), Meryl earned first a silver and later a gold medal at the Olympics before retiring from the competition, and both have continued managing active careers on and off the ice.

Starting Their Adventure Together

"Adventure and travel has always been a part of our lives," explains Meryl. "I've always traveled to with figure skating for competition and I think I just gained an early appreciation of how much a sense of place can impact your experience. And then with Fedor being from Russia and moving to Canada, New York, Hong Kong, Detroit, he's a worldly person, so that's really been a part of our lives as a couple; traveling and experiencing different places."

They brought that love of travel home with them, too. "When we were renovating our home in Detroit, I wanted to incorporate sort of a French countryside element. I stumbled upon this Instagram account where this woman was sharing the renovation of an 18th century farmhouse in Provence."

The property in question was Le Mas des Poiriers, a 65-acre farm outside of Avignon with a seven bedroom farmhouse and cottage owned by Connecticut couple Shauna Varvel and her husband, who spent three years renovating the property after purchasing it in 2015.

"I was just completely fascinated by her eye for design and authenticity of the renovation, making sure to maintain the integrity of the home and the property," says Meryl.

When Meryl and Fedor got engaged in the summer of 2017, the property felt like a natural fit for their ceremony.

"Fedor and I visited the property and we both just were completely in awe of this magical place," says Meryl. "There's something about that part of the world that inspires you to embrace a slower pace; just sitting down and enjoying a meal and a glass of wine with your family and friends. That's really what we envisioned for our wedding, just really trying to be present and be in the moment."

Planning a Wedding Overseas

Despite their love of travel and the dreamy locale, a wedding in Provence did require some careful consideration, though.

"We spent a lot of time going back and forth trying to decide whether or not a destination wedding made sense because obviously it's an investment for not just us and our families, but for our guests as well," says Meryl. "Ultimately we felt, especially after talking to a lot of our friends and family who were like, 'oh, we'd love to come,' that adventure is just such a part of our lives and we were excited to utilize this opportunity to do that, not just together, but with our friends and family."

However, the couple were mindful of the fact that the style of their wedding meant foregoing some of the now-standard wedding extras. "Once we made that decision that it was going to be the destination, we wanted to keep everything else as simple as possible," Meryl explains. "I didn't want to ask people to do anything or plan any other trips, so I decided not to do a bachelorette party or a bridal shower. We just wanted everyone to have a good time and enjoy it and not feel obligated to do anything other than show up and have a great time."

As for the technical aspects of the planning, the couple relied on event planners Matthew Robbins and Luis Otoya of Matthew Robbins Design for all of the details.

"Matthew is the preferred event planner of the homeowner, so she introduced us to him and Luis. They were the first wedding planners we really spoke to and we were sold right away," says Meryl. "It feels like planning a destination wedding in Europe for just under a hundred people should be really stressful and complicated, but our planners made it such a pleasure and so easy."

Breaking With Tradition

For two people who have spent much of their young lives globetrotting and competing on the world stage, it's hardly a surprise that Meryl and Fedor aren't exactly your typical couple, nor could theirs be your typical wedding.

"We really want the weekend to be a reflection of us and who we are as opposed to just sticking to tradition for the sake of sticking to tradition," explains Meryl. "We stayed together throughout the week in France instead of having separate rooms or not seeing each other the day of the wedding. We wanted to enjoy the day of the wedding together and, and enjoy what an exciting time it was in our lives."

The couple chose to read personal letters to one another in place of classic wedding vows. Meryl's uncle, Cam Davis, served as the officiant for the ceremony.

Instead of a large bridal party, they chose to get their families involved in other ways. Meryl's uncle, Cam Davis, served as the officiant for the ceremony, and her brother Clayton was the man of honor. Fedor's cousin, Danielle Vincent, owner of beauty brand Kimiko, served double-duty as both his best lady and as Meryl's makeup artist.

"It was nice to have that personal touch, to have family doing my makeup," Meryl says. She adds, "I actually had the hairstylist that I worked with during Dancing With the Stars in 2014 come with us and she did my hair throughout the weekend, so that was really fun as well."

Both of Meryl's parents walked her down the aisle to her favorite song, "The Swan" by Camille Saint-Saëns.

"For me it was all really pragmatic, tactical things that I cared about," says Fedor. "That probably tells you something about our personalities too, but I wanted to not draw the ceremony out too long because the summer gets pretty hot and people are wearing suits. So we wanted to keep it as intimate as possible—maybe 10 to 12 minutes total."

At the reception, the couple opted for a parent dance instead of the typical father-daughter dance. "My dad and I danced while Fedor and his mom were also dancing." Meryl laughs, adding, "That was more because my dad doesn't like being the center of attention."

The Proposal

Of course, their wedding wasn't the start of their less-than-traditional streak. "I think Meryl would not have loved a super traditional proposal," says Fedor, "So it was a bit of a challenge kind of planning it."

In July 2017, as the couple were planning a trip to Napa with Meryl's parents in conjunction with a business engagement in San Francisco, Fedor decided to use their shared love of the outdoors and hiking to create a unique memory.

"I decided that it was a good idea to pop the question on a hike that we had never done before," he laughs. "I had no clue how challenging it would be. Because I had never been on the trail, I didn't know where the perfect place to do it would be, so several times I started taking the ring box out of my backpack and then was like, 'Whoa, no, abort, abort.' It ended up working out on the back of the loop, right as we were going over a crest overlooking the ocean, I was like, 'Well, it's now or never cause there's only a quarter of a mile left.'"

"I always like taking pictures of the ocean and then when I turned around and put my phone down, Fedor was on one knee," Meryl explains. "That was a really beautiful emotional moment, just the two of us in the woods overlooking the ocean."

The Ring

"The year prior [to our engagement] we had been on vacation in Santorini and Fedor was admiring some watches in a jewelry store," says Meryl. "I stumbled upon a ring I just loved, and apparently Fedor took note. When we got home from our vacation, he began designing and seeking out the perfect yellow diamonds."

Fedor jokes, "Apparently I was the only person to ever come to jeweler with a full PowerPoint presentation on what I wanted. I did a lot of research and I just wanted to make sure that it really captured everything that was important to Meryl."

Their Something Blue

While her engagement ring features yellow diamonds, the colors for the wedding went a different direction, inspired by Meryl's family.

The five-tiered wedding blue and white cake by Catherine Pierard from Provence-based Made In Cake.

"When I began telling [our wedding planners] Matthew and the Luis what I envisioned, it was sort of an elevated backyard dinner in the summer, with flowers that felt like they could be taken out of the garden," says Meryl. "Just very warm and welcoming. And for me, when I think of like warm and welcoming, I think of sitting down to family dinner around a table of blue and white Chinoiserie. That has sort of been our family tradition; my grandmother has collected those pieces for as long as I can remember."

Meryl's grandmother's collection served as the inspiration for the five-tiered wedding blue and white cake by Catherine Pierard from Provence-based Made In Cake, as well as the table settings in vintage china from Le Bazar de rêve by Veronique for the Brunet Frères Traiteur meal, with table linens from Linen Way and Juliska napkins.

The food for the reception was catered by Brunet Frères Traiteur.

For the flowers, they kept to the blue theme with an equally familial inspiration.

"My parents still live in the same house in Michigan that I was born in, and Michigan summers are truly spectacular," says Meryl. "We always had these gigantic blue booming hydrangeas that just for me are the epitome of, you know, running barefoot through the grass and just being in the garden in the summer. It just felt like home, and it was also elegant."

The Dress

In keeping with her style, Meryl and her stylist Cynthia Cook Smith chose a Monique Lhuillier dress in a subtle neutral instead of the classic white.

"It was an interesting experience picking the wedding dress, just because ice dance tends to be very theatrical and ornate and, and costume design has been a really enjoyable part of our sport for me; I've always designed costumes with my mom."

Meryl's mother Cheryl Davis helped her get ready.

"Coming in, I thought, 'Do I really want something that looks like a skating dress or to purposefully gravitate away from what I would wear on the ice and make it very simple?' Ultimately, I just decided, I know what I feel comfortable in. We went shopping at a lot of really wonderful boutiques in Los Angeles, and actually the dress that I ended up picking was the very first wedding dress I ever tried on. It just felt like exactly what I had envisioned for the wedding. It was whimsical and it felt as though it would fit into the backyard garden setting."

Meryl and Fedor, right before he saw her in her dress for the first time.

Oliver Fly Photography

"The one thing that was actually traditional [about the wedding]," Fedor adds, "was that I didn't get to see the dress or Meryl wearing the dress prior to the wedding day. It was absolutely breathtaking getting to see Meryl walking out of the house. It was just extremely, extremely elegant."

The Reception

"One of the things that we were most struck by was just how surreal it was to have so many of the people that we love most from different parts of our lives together in one setting," says Meryl.

Along with their families, the happy couple were joined for the celebration by friends from school as well as colleagues from the skating world including Brian Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi, Madison Chock, Evan Bates, and Meryl's partner on the ice, Charlie White and his wife, Tanith Belbin White.

"We were really emotional and overwhelmed by just what a once in a lifetime experience that was;, that collection of people who meant so much to us," says Meryl.

To maximize their time with their guests, the couple chose to extend the festivities with a pool party at the venue on the day after the wedding as well as an extended wedding week with their nearest and dearest.

Meryl changed into comfortable dancing shoes for the reception.

"It was a really nice way to connect with everybody in a very informal way," says Meryl. "Weddings go by so quickly, especially when it's just the wedding itself. We stayed in the house for a little under a week. Getting to experience the wedding weekend and then continue this celebration and spend time with our closest family was really special. We didn't want it to fly by, we really wanted to try to purposefully be present and take in as much as we could."

Photographs by Oliver Fly Photography; Event Planning by Matthew Robbins Design; Venue: Le Mas des Poiriers; Cake by Made In Cake; Catering by Brunet Frères Traiteur; Styling by Cynthia Cook Smith; Makeup by Danielle Vincent

Lauren Hubbard

Writer Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.

#Meryl Davis #Fedor Andreev #Meryl and Fedor's wedding

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stevieang · 6 years ago

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May I Have This Dance?

Pairing: Tom Hiddleston RPF x Plus-Size Reader Insert

Word Count: 2100

Warnings: If too much sweet fluffiness isn’t your thing, then keep on going. This is full-on no-holds-barred fluff.

Tags: @3dsaunt @andiyholly @averyrogers83 @babybluesunsets @bettercallsabs @brittyevans @brookebarnes @captain-rogers-beard @cecygee @csrfavs @docharleythegeekqueen @dorito-distractions @everythingisoverrated @fabicchi @favhearts @flawless-disaster @gifsbysimplysonia @hazeleyedgirl7 @hennessy0274-blog @inumorph @jaguars2007 @jaamesbbarnes @jamesbarnesappreciationsociety @janeyboo @jouhainak @learisa @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked @lilylovescomics @lojo83 @lookwhatyoumademequeue @lostinspace33 @madicardi @magellan-88 @mamapeterson @me-a-hopeless-romantic @meyoko10 @mindingmyownbusiness @mizzzpink @neverleturheartshow2 @nomadicpixel @part-time-patronus @patzammit @pinkieandthebrain1 @redqueen1221 @rosiethebaker @sebbytrash @sgtjbuccky @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan @stark-spangled-banner-man @st-eve-barnes @stillherebiandabitch @sunriserose1023 @suz-123 @the-real-kellymonster @tutis24 @winterismyfavoriteseason1945 @winters-beauty @yaykitty3

Summary: Two of your best friends are getting married and you have the honor of singing at their wedding. At the reception you’re approached by a famous friend of the groom, Tom Hiddleston. Much polite flirting ensues. Will there be more to come? (That’s not a rhetorical question, I’m honestly asking for your input about whether I should write more.)

A/N: This is my first RPF. I missed writing WAY more than I thought I would, but life had me completely inundated and unable to do anything but get through what I needed to everyday. I missed my Tumblr family, I missed creative thinking, and I hope this lives up to what you’ve come to expect and like from me. Thank you in advance for your time and kindness. Constructive, kind feedback is ALWAYS welcome.

Oh, and endless thanks to @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan for just being there whenever I call. She’s too good for words. Well, my words, anyway.

“Excuse me, but would you care to dance?”

You were fully engrossed in the game you were playing with the ring bearer, flower girl, and other assorted guests’ children and hadn’t bothered to turn at the sound of the voice. By the time you felt the gentle but noticeable tap on your shoulder, you had long-stopped wondering who had asked.

“Excuse me? I’m sorry to bother you, but - “

“5-4-3-2-1 Ready or not here I come!” You slowly and dramatically turned towards the giggles and titters of little voices, slid your hands down over your closed eyes, and widened your stance to catch the little buggers. As you opened your eyes to scan the room and made unconvincing assertions of how quickly you’d win, you barely caught yourself from plowing into the tall, lanky man who did not try in the least to conceal a smirk.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Did I bump into you?” Your momentary distress quickly morphed into nervous laughter as you realized with whom the gods had chosen for you to cross paths with.

“Nope, not even a little. I’m the one who should apologize to you, as I’ve clearly interrupted a highly competitive game of hide-and-seek.” You snickered and shrugged your shoulders as the back of your dress and each of your hands were unceremoniously yanked by little people who had yet to learn that patience is a virtue. Maybe that’s why you enjoyed being around children so much - you hadn’t learned that particular lesson yet, either.

You mouthed “sorry” as you turned your head away, and saw him shake his head, appearing to chuckle as he took off his glasses to clean them. As he turned towards the other guests, you fell back into the seedy underworld of high-stakes hide-and-seek, but you weren’t likely to forget that moment any time soon.

Tom Hiddleston had just asked you to dance.

As the night wore on, you lost the company of your young compatriots as their parents collected their offspring, thanked you profusely, and carried them off. You were grateful to return to the grown-up world and quickly sought out the bar. As you sipped on the best gin-and-tonic you’d ever had, the newlyweds and some members of the bridal party found their way over and a chorus of memories, laughter, and challenges rose up.

“C’mon, please?!??! You can’t say no to us tonight, we’re protected under the “we just got married” statute. Please????” The drunk pleading by the newly Marrieds almost made you snort Bombay Sapphire out of your nose.

“You’d better be grateful that I’m in such a good mood. Give me a minute to go over and introduce myself then I guess I’ll make sure I’m not held in custody on the ‘You Said No To The Marrieds’ statute.”

After a few minutes of getting redirected at each attempt to get away, you took the microphone and cleared your throat.

“Excuse me, folks. I know you may have had your fill of my singing voice after the wedding today, but I’ve been asked by the newlyweds to close out the night by singing one of their favorite songs, which to be honest, is also one of mine. I’m told that I cannot deny this request, as it is part of the canon of newly-married law, and since both of them are lawyers, I guess I have to comply.” As the pianist started the intro, you closed your eyes and swayed. This one earned you lots of applause (and much-needed gigs) in college, and the words poured out without thought.

The very thought of you and I forget to do

The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do

I'm living in a kind of daydream, I'm happy as a king

And foolish though it may seem to me that's everything

The mere idea of you, the longing here for you

You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you

I see your face in every flower, your eyes in stars above

It's just the thought of you, the very thought of you, my love

When the last notes faded along with your voice, the remaining guests whistled and cheered. Your blush quickly faded as your best friends, including the bride and groom, tackle-hugged you and walked you off the stage in a laughing huddle. You thanked every person that was kind enough to compliment you, and smiled dreamily as you saw the unmistakable frame of the famous actor in the room talking with your best friends.

As he saw you approach, his smile widened and The Marrieds followed his gaze to you. He excused himself, gesturing “one minute” while he visited the bar, and quickly returned on his trajectory to you, now with a bottle of water in his hands. It seemed to roll off his impossibly-long fingers while his other hand gently encircled your wrist. You were feeling the effects of the performance high, your drinks, and the long happy day at the same time, which loosened your tongue.

“Thank you very much. I know etiquette requires me to sip daintily, so you'll need to forgive me while I down this in a less-than-ladylike way. Please don’t tell my mother.” His laugh was a rolling baritone, easy and well-practiced, accompanied by eye contact that would usually make you turn away from its intensity.

You checked him out as you tried not to gulp. Thankfully you didn’t choke or need the Heimlich because drinking bought you a minute to wonder what in the hell Tom Hiddleston wanted with you. Was he trying to return something you dropped? Was he going to compliment your singing? You weren’t quite drunk enough to ask outright, so you capped the plastic bottle and smiled.

“Thank you, that hit the spot. It was nice meeting you, but I think I’m going to head back….” His smile dimmed a bit as he recognized your attempt to leave. Reaching out, he quickly spoke over you so you wouldn’t end the sentence.

“Ummmm, no.”

Awkward silence. Crickets.

“Excuse me?” Tentacles of weirdness raced up your spine. Sweat formed on the back of your neck as you formulated your escape plan.

His nervous laughter caught your attention. “I mean, yes, it’s nice to meet you, too and you’re welcome, but….”

Your eyes followed his as they cast downward and then popped back up with a shyer, smaller smile. “I’d hoped you’d have a dance with me.”

Cue full-on tipsy giggles. “I’d love to, but it seems the band is packing up.”

He let your wrists gently drop and practically leapt over to the bandstand. After a few minutes of bowed heads, covert pointing, and close talking, he returned with the smile you’d seen projected on a 50-foot screen. With a short bow, he held out his hand.

“Problem solved. Now, if you would be so kind as to dance with me?”

You put your hand in his as he led you to the nearby dance floor. You remained completely clueless as to what alternate universe you had fallen into. Maybe you were dreaming. You’d have to pinch yourself to find out, but Tom didn’t give you the time.

He pulled you closer, placed one hand respectfully on your thicker-than-average waist, and, taking your right hand in his left, placed it on his chest. You looked up and could not hold back soft laughter. He quietly asked what you were thinking.

The band was doing a sweet rendition of “Wonderful Tonight,” and you hummed along. As he turned you slowly, the distance between you lessened.

“Nothing, just having a wonderfully unexpected dance with a world-renowned actor. It’s how I normally spend my Saturday nights.” He leaned back to make eye contact, smiled, and returned to twirling. His hand had worked its way further around your waist and your hand that was not on his chest had moved to cup the back of his neck. As the last twangy notes played, you tried to pull away, to quickly gloss over any awkward goodbyes, but he held fast.

“I sound like a broken record, but thank you.” His face quickly changed from dreamy to serious, which was disconcerting.

“What?” Your face belied your urgency to cut to the chase and say goodnight.

He stepped back and moved his hands to your wrists, his light touch giving you goosebumps.

“I’m curious - why do you keep trying to leave? Have I offended you somehow?” His eyes locked on yours, a sincerely curious look on his face.

“No, of course not, but I figured you needed to go and I didn’t want to make anything awkward. I avoid awkward at all costs.”

“If anything, leaving would be bittersweet. I was hoping you’d have a drink with me so we wouldn’t have to broach that subject yet.”

Your neutral expression masked your shock. It was a practiced response after years of suppressing laughter when your students did something hilariously inappropriate. He didn’t press, didn’t ask again, didn’t change his mind. He simply waited and looked, bringing front and center how uncomfortable it made you to be seen.

“Let me freshen up, and I’ll meet you in the bar downstairs in 20 minutes or so?” You giggled, again, as he bowed and kissed your hand, taking your leave and saying goodnight to other guests.

You started to sober up as you took the elevator to your room, took a shower and threw on the outfit you wore to the bachelorette party 3 nights earlier, thanking God you had sent it out to be cleaned. By the time you made your way downstairs, you felt more like yourself, more in control, less starstruck.

You smiled tiredly as he stood to greet you, offering you the outside seat on the banquette. It was late enough that you didn’t need to shout, and you had just the right amount of attention from the waiter and bartender, without attracting fans. You shared your plan to stay in the area for two more weeks, visiting friends and seeing the sights, while he mentioned he was going to be in town for a few days, as well.

You sipped on a delicious champagne Tom suggested and asked him something that had run in and out of your mind since the days of your high school obsession with Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables.

“Tell me how you split yourself between the real you and the part you’re playing. I’d guess that every part you play contains some small piece of you, but how do you reconcile that with being “just you,” being the person that your family and dearest friends know? Is it difficult to become someone else and then return to everyday life?”

He listened, smiled softly, and sighed. “You’ve just asked the same question that was posed to the very first people to pretend in front of others.” He went on to explain about the psychological work he has done and still does to prepare for roles, the time it takes to transition back and forth between roles and real life, and some funny stories about times when he’s mixed up the two with memorable results.

The familiar chuckle snapped you out of your reverie. You saw his loose curls move side to side and wondered why he had stopped talking, then realized you’d yawned several times in a row. “I’m sorry, I heard what you said, but I think your voice lulled me into another state of consciousness. It’s very soothing.”

His smile was bright, but tired. “Are you saying I put you to sleep? Guess I’m not as captivating as I’ve been led to believe.” He cut off your attempt to explain. “I’m sorry. I know I’ve been going on but you’ve struck the mother lode - asking an actor about how they prepare psychologically for their life’s work is a question worthy of a monologue. Didn’t mean to hypnotize you.”

He silently covered your hands with his as you brought out your wallet to pay for your drinks. “Please, let me. I invited you, remember?” Your nod was followed by evidence of your stubbornness. “Thank you, I’ll just leave a tip, then.” He stood as you did, steadying you while you took your leave.

“Thank you for the dance, and the drink, and the conversation, Tom. It made this gorgeous day even better.” You kissed his cheek, noticing he closed his eyes while you did.

“Thank you, as well. Tonight was an unexpected delight. Would it be alright if I asked to see you again?”

You smiled and sighed. “You have my number.”

Chapter 2

#may i have this dance #tom hiddleston #tom hiddleston imagine #rpf #plusisze #plus-size reader #reader insert #stevieang

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mfackenthal · 6 years ago

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MFackenthal Reviews - #7

Hello loves!

Another week or so has gone by since my last review post. Okay, more like 3 weeks. Dang, where does the time go?

Truly, if you’re reading this, I don’t deserve you. But I can only thank all of you who are reading this, all of you who chat with me, who put up with my requests for more work, who post your amazing art and then are like “why the f didn’t she read it ASAP after she whined for me to post it yesterday?!?”, who understand that I want to use .gifs but I just don’t have the patience to find them, who accept me for who I am, who share their love of music with me, and those of you who don’t talk to me at all but who read what I write. Thank you!

I found organizing by book was efficient – so I’m going to go that route again. I’m also linking to masterlists whenever I can – and especially if I binged a bunch of a series.

I’m fairly sure I read an unhealthy amount of fiction again … anyone want to take a guess at how many?

A few quick reminders:

(1) If you want to find out what I specifically thought about each chapter, that can be found on my blog. To more easily search my blog, search the phrase “mfackenthal reviews ________” and fill in the blank with the blog name. IE “mfackenthal reviews maxattack-powell” to find the work I reblogged specifically by @maxattack-powell.

(2) In case it’s not obvious: I recommend ALL of these fics and ALL of these authors. I cannot say enough about the fabulousness that is these authors

Endless Summer

Girl Crush https://ooo-barff-ooo.tumblr.com/post/180025286162/masterlist-endless-summer-girl-crush-miniseries by @ooo-barff-ooo

Honestly, I could go on and on about how fantastic this mini-series is. The author has such a command of the craft. The storyline is fuckin’ beautiful. I cried. I laughed. I cheered when things went well. It’s a six part series. I read it from start to finish because I couldn’t put it down.

A Year and a Day https://endlessflame.tumblr.com/post/183182368860/a-year-and-a-day-jake-x-mc by @endlessflame

Flowers play a central role in this short but sweet one shot where Jake gets his happily-ever-after.

TRR

Godsend Parts 1 and 2 https://elles-choices.tumblr.com/post/180201737699/masterlist-tag-list by @elles-choices

I was almost late to work twice this week because I was binging this series. Liam is just so dreamy and romantic as written by @elles-choices. So respectful, so in love. Even Constantine is supportive of Liam and his true love. Awwww. Plus, Drake is with a woman named Meg! I’m still so incredulous that no one pointed this out to me. Drake + Megs = dream!!!

The Broken Bits https://likethetailofacomet.tumblr.com/post/183293222860/the-broken-bits-chapter-one – by @likethetailofacomet

In @likethetailofacomet’s other work, she hinted at a back story for Bastien. This is that story and more. Life is changing in Cordonia and this means that Bastien is free of the responsibilities that defined who he is and created a wedge in the relationship with the love of his life. Will he make his way back to this love? “He’d better!” Is all I can say … and I’m sure @likethetailofacomet will not let me down! ;)

Riley’s Coronation https://whenyourheartskipsabeat.tumblr.com/post/183339310983/rileys-coronation by @whenyourheartskipsabeat

This is a delightful one shot that is full of heart, love, and laughter. Riley and Liam have made it through and now they’re happy and Riley will be crowned today. What does the morning of the coronation look like? Check it out in this fic.

A Royal Red Carpet Desire https://pixieferry.tumblr.com/post/183284776607/a-royal-red-carpet-desire by @pixieferry

If the title doesn’t tip you off, I have put this delightful crossover under TRR only because that was the first one listed. In this delightful fluff, royalty meets Hollywood and lots of fan girling and a little jealousy is produced. Read this and enjoy!

Side by Side https://ownworldresident.tumblr.com/post/183186049814/side-by-side-masterlist by @ownworldresident

In this series, Riley and Liam are together, they have children, but Riley is not the Queen. Find out why and then fan girl all over @ownworldresident’s work with me as Claire and the Cordonia gang help Riley and Liam strengthen their relationship and help Riley own the fact that with or without the title, she is Queen.

In the Garden https://lizeboredom.tumblr.com/post/183279440875/in-the-garden by @lizeboredom

It’s the day before Liam gets to finally marry Sammi. He’s in the Garden and thinking about his mom. This one-shot fic will put a smile on your face through sweetness and humor.

All is Fair, A Twist in the Tale, No Regrets – I’m sorry, Secrets Unwind, and Can you Mend a Broken Heart https://whenyourheartskipsabeat.tumblr.com/post/182550912733/my-masterlist-the-royal-romance-summary by @whenyourheartskipsabeat

So … I found an author that I liked and I binged a bunch of her masterlist. Everything here is fun to read. The creativity is astounding. Which series is your favorite?

Last-Minute Changes https://endlessflame.tumblr.com/post/183257353705/last-minute-changes-bastien-x-mc by @endlessflame

This author never ceases to surprise me with a clever idea. In this short but sweet fic, Riley has to make some changes to the wedding … starting with the groom …

Something Unexpected https://hopefulmoonobjectmasterlist.tumblr.com/post/182868864620/something-unexpected-master-list by @hopefulmoonobject and @ownworldresident

The boys are falling deeper and deeper in love with Alex and Nesha … but Liam and Leo still haven’t told these two beautiful ladies who they really are. These ladies are equally as smitten with the boys and are each holding a little something back themselves. Will “lies by omission” interrupt the bliss these two couples have found? Come find out with me!

The Road Less Traveled – What I never knew I always wanted https://ao719.tumblr.com/post/183227431521/the-road-less-traveled-what-i-never-knew-i by @ao719 Noelle and Liam have been through a lot. In the conclusion of this delightful series, all the walls have been torn down, Liam and Noelle are married, more kids are on the way and we get to see Liam enjoying the family he truly deserves.

The Mark https://ownworldresident.tumblr.com/post/183200373794/the-mark-chapter-2-the-mark by @ownworldresident

Liam has finally met a woman who captivates his mind … and she’s back and trying to kill him. Anna surprises herself, realizing how often her mind keeps going back to this one man … but back to work she must go. Come see what happens when these two go head to head.

Learning to Love Again https://likethetailofacomet.tumblr.com/post/178641518985/master-list by @likethetailofacomet

Are you a Drake fan? If so, YOU MUST READ THIS SERIES!!!! Are you a Liam fan? YOU MUST READ THIS SERIES! Liam is a saint in this series. Drake is passionate and emotional and, of course, a bit of his signature grumpy-pants. Congratulations in finishing this series @likethetailofacomet!

One Handsome Devil Chapter 41 https://onehandsomedevil-trr.tumblr.com/post/183207825619/one-handsome-devil-trr-chapter-41-wine-and-dine by @onehandsomedevil-trr 41 chapters and still going strong! This novel may not be short but it is delightful. Catch up! In this latest chapter, Nicholas (Liam) sets his sights on another woman.

Finding the One: A Royal Mate https://hopefulmoonobjectmasterlist.tumblr.com/post/181412878280/finding-the-one-a-royal-mate by @hopefulmoonobject

Words cannot express how much I loved this whole series! This author will have you fanning yourself because of the mouth on Liam, she will have you scared that main characters aren’t going to make it, she will have you screaming at the bad guys and cheering for the good. Read it.

You, the Lion https://ownworldresident.tumblr.com/post/183185718759/you-the-lion-masterlist by @ownworldresident

In this amazing series, the twists will surprise you, the romance is heightened, and the writing is superb. I found this late – but if you haven’t found it yet – now’s the time. Enjoy! I think I binged the whole series in 4 or 5 days. If it weren’t for work, it would have taken much less time.

Southern Charm https://traeumerinwitzhelden.tumblr.com/post/177525366533/masterlist by @traeumerinwitzhelden

In this freakin AMAZING crossover with Sawyer, Drake and MC – you will fall in love with both Drake and Sawyer. Your heart will break for each of these characters. You’ll laugh with each of them. *Spoiler alert* Drake gets the girl and Sawyer meets a doctor named Meg. Happy Ending for all!

Southern Charm Deleted Scene https://traeumerinwitzhelden.tumblr.com/post/183051748528/southern-charm-a-deleted-scene by @traeumerinwitzhelden

Drake gets a dog. Enough said. If this doesn’t make you want to read this, nothing will.

An Heir – Part 48 https://sawyeroakleyscowboyhat.tumblr.com/post/183008676284/an-heir-part-48 by @sawyeroakleyscowboyhat

Liam and Viktoria have been through a lot. The happy couple is having a child. Max is trying to convince the couple to name the baby after him. Can’t blame him ;)

The Way to Love Me http://the-everlasting-dream.tumblr.com/post/181772641780/an-after-careful-consultation-with-captain-of and http://the-everlasting-dream.tumblr.com/post/182890138825/the-way-to-love-me-part-22-drake by @the-everlasting-dream

Have you heard of the book, “The Five Love Languages”? If not, you should go read it. It won’t take long. In this 2 part-er @the-everlasting-dream connects the love languages to Drake x Elizabeth. My heart melted with cuteness.

Their First Valentine’s – Part 2 https://drakewalkerwhipped.tumblr.com/post/182882058871/their-first-valentines-part-2-drake-x-mc-x by @drakewalkerwhipped

100% fluff and smut from my favorite thrupple. Their love is #relationship goals.

Break https://kennaxval.tumblr.com/post/182835619883/break-maxwell-x-oc by @kennaxval

In this cutest of fics, Maxwell’s cavalier use of words causes a deep wound. This story will remind you to check in with the day-to-day even while you strive towards a bigger goal.

America’s Most Eligible

In the Cards http://choicesfanfic.com/content/the-devil-inside/ – series by @lizeboredom

Honestly, in game of choices AME is not my fav. However, what @lizeboredom has done with this series is amazing! In this series, our MC has a lot of character, a very difficult past, and an even more difficult love for a villain. Who is playing who? Can love shine through when everyone’s intent is to win a game? I honestly don’t know, but I cannot wait to find out. Oh, and don’t worry, there’s like a virus or something in @lizeboredom’s computer, which is why Minah’s name keeps coming out Myrah. The virus isn’t catching though.

Desire and Decorum

Diagnonses and Dalliances https://hellospunkiebrewster.tumblr.com/post/183298192012/diagnoses-and-dalliances-part-8 – by @hellospunkiebrewster

I am living for this slow burn! We’re 8 chapters in and Ernest and Alex haven’t even met in person yet! Ugh! But they are in love and chat every day. Sometimes they even talk through this amazing device called a telephone ;) Our two love birds should be meeting soon – catch up and let’s cheer them on together! Oh, and I cannot wait to see how Dr. Richard’s is going to get his comeuppance. And please, please, please do not kill the father @hellospunkiebrewster!

Flowers https://hellospunkiebrewster.tumblr.com/post/183189487767/2-flowers-sinclaire-x-mc-march-challenge by @hellospunkiebrewster

Ernest arrives in Bath and finds Emmeline at an inopportune time. Their reactions and their conversation gave me all the feels! You should read this beautiful one shot that had me holding my breath!

A Garden You Never Get to See http://indescribablechoices.tumblr.com/post/183010819870/a-garden-you-never-get-to-see by @indescribablechoices

This series duo brought tears to my eyes. The story is heartwarming and heart breaking. Plus, anything that is inspired by the music of Hamilton is AWESOME in my book!

A Courtesan of Rome

The Other Woman https://wughhumans.tumblr.com/post/183323687328/via-the-other-woman-part-vii-warnings-swearing by @wughhumans

Holy crap this author makes me cheer for all the wrong things! Anthony has never been hotter – or sweeter … but he’s married and cheating and the cheating is HOT and sexy and insatiable. I’m not even sure what a happy ending would look like, but I am so on board to find out what comes next!

Open Heart

Friendly Distance https://tmarie82.tumblr.com/post/183266836133/pairing-dr-bryce-lahela-x-mc-dr-blake by @tmarie82

Dr. Bryce Lahela is more than just a pretty face and a tease. He has some real depth. If you’re like T and I and you’re not immediately sold on Dr. Lahela – it’s time to start to fall in love through this work.

Admit http://mariamulroney.tumblr.com/post/183239718550/admit by @mariamulroney

When Dr. Bryce Lahela starts pulling away from Dr. Park – Dr. Park throws herself into her work and then into some drinks. Will it be Dr. Ramsey or Dr. Lahela who helps Dr. Park make it home okay? Find the answer to this question and to why Dr. Lahela is pulling away in this delightful fic.

Friends with Benefits http://angstymarshmallow.tumblr.com/post/183178965439/friends-with-benefits-bryce-x-mc by @angstymarshmallow

What are we going to do with Dr. Maci and Dr. Bryce? They’re both on the same page and unable (unwilling?) to voice their feelings aloud. After reading this, please help me beg @angstymarshmallow for more!

Perfect Match

Realization https://tmarie82.tumblr.com/post/183178196593/pairing-damien-x-mc-camille-park-book-perfect by @tmarie82

Take a trip down memory lane as Damien recounts the moment he realized he was in love with Camille. See the moment when Damien becomes hopeful for a better future.

Real Memories https://kennaxval.tumblr.com/post/182903615473/real-memories-hayden-x-mc-nsfw by @kennaxval

Hayden is grappling with the knowledge that her memories aren’t real life experiences of her past. Kai helps her understand the importance of new memories.

Red Carpet Diaries

Simply Between Us http://angstymarshmallow.tumblr.com/post/183135543979/simply-between-us-part-8-thomas-hunt-x-mc-nsw by @angstymarshmallow

I love Hunt. I love how @angstymarshmallow writes Hunt. I love real and flawed characters who can find love. If you like characters with depth and strong writing – read this series! I’m not sure which was longer – the story itself or my comments. Haha, the story is longer but boy did I write a lot in response!

Ride or Die

Defensive Driving https://walkerismychoice.tumblr.com/post/183134105193/defensive-driving-colt-x-mc by @walkerismychoice

When Logan is acting like an ass, Colt steps in and gives MC driving lessons. If you love a slow burn and some sexual tension – this is the fic for you!

The Freshman

Battles https://littlegreenmoo.tumblr.com/post/182680772730/chris-x-mc-one-more-drink-shes-mine-the by @littlegreenmoo

Chris and Rhea are going through a divorce and no one is actually handling that really well. Their poor daughter is very stuck in the middle. The drama is high in this series – but I trust that @littlegreenmoo will help these two find their way back together … right @littlegreenmoo???

The Freshman: Book 2-11d https://maxattack-powell.tumblr.com/post/183016527541/the-freshman-book-2-11d-nsfw by @maxattack-powell

I didn’t originally love Chris when I read The Freshman. However, after reading this series I can’t imagine loving anyone else. Learn the hidden depths of Chris, watch Chris and MC fall in love and then become #relationship goals, and learn why I LOVE ETHAN!! I am the President of the Ethan Fan Club and not even the creator of Ethan can take that away from me! Luv ya @maxattack-powell!

The Quarterback https://elles-choices.tumblr.com/post/180201737699/masterlist-tag-list by @elles-choices

Our favorite quaterback is getting out of a very long but very toxic relationship with Becca, but Becca is having a very hard time letting go. Laura and Chris have found each other, but will Becca’s schemes interfere?

The Heist

Golden https://tmarie82.tumblr.com/post/182860112388/pairing-barrett-carlisle-x-book-the-heist by @tmarie82

Barrett Carlisle likes to be in control at work and in the bedroom. Find out who he likes to control in this delicious fic!

If you’ve gotten to the end of this review – you are an amazing human being.

This post represents over 220 fics.

The talent in this fandom is beyond impressive and I am so thankful for all of you.

Have a great night all!

#mfackenthal reviews #mfackenthal reviews 7 #7 #220 fics

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