#but Lucis deserves the pampering

[the-acid-pear-art]

Saw my own tags mentioning Lucis never had their quinceañera (or as we call it here simply Cumpleaños De Quince) so I thought it'd be cute to draw them actually experiencing it even if a bit late. This is how they can still be saved ☝️💯☝️☝️

[mintchocolatechipisthebestflavor]

I would literally kill for a single grown man I can respect.

[barcaatthemoon]

guard dog || lucy bronze x reader ||

lucy cheers you up when the internet has it out for you.

"i think i'm gonna go lighter with my hair."

you had no idea the trouble those words were going to cause you. lucy had tried hard to keep you out of the spotlight, but it wasn't as easy as when you first started dating. you'd been with lucy since college, and over the years, fans had taken notice of you frequenting lucy's games. it wasn't until the euros, however, that lucy had finally confirmed your relationship.

it wasn't good for you to be on any social media when it felt like every other post was about you. you had dealt with a bit from fans before, but this was worse than you could have ever imagined. it was one thing to be accused of cheating by strangers, but it was the constant affirmations of things that you already thought about your relationship and yourself that got to you.

lucy was amazing, and you had never felt like you were right for her. she was always too smart or too ind for you. she was out of your league attractive. lucy bronze was too good for you, and it felt like millions of people agreed with that.

"hey, are you okay?" lucy's brows furrowed as she watched you lean forward. you were starting to hyperventilate as the world felt like it closed in on you. lucy rushed over to kneel beside you and tilt your head to look at her. "hey, what's going on?"

"i didn't cheat on you, i swear." it was something lucy already knew. you knew that she was well aware that you would never even think to do something like that, but it was all you could say. you needed to reassure her in case she saw the pictures and didn't recognize herself.

"i know that, i never said you did." lucy would have laughed if you weren't obviously so upset. "talk to me, what's going on?"

"the pictures after you got your hair done, when we met for lunch. i took your car, and they don't know what the other looked like. your hair was different, they think i'm cheating. they know that i don't deserve you," you rambled. lucy pulled you into her arms and held you against her chest. she ran her hands through your hair as she pressed gentle kisses to your temple.

"hey, it's okay. i will get this sorted out, i promise. can you go downstairs and pick out a takeout menu for us? i know that you were gonna cook, but not if you're upset. i want you to just relax for the night," lucy said. she gave you a squeeze before she let you go downstairs.

it wasn't easy, but you managed to take your mind off of everything after lucy hijacked your phone. lucy ordered your favorite takeout, even if she knew a few places that served the same thing that she liked better. you were truly pampered in a way that you hadn't been in a while. lucy was a busy woman at barcelona, not that she had ever been anything else. this was just different, and things often took up a lot more of her time than either of you expected.

"am i done with phone jail?" you asked lucy as the two of you laid out on the couch the next afternoon. lucy had helped you with breakfast in the morning, although you didn't let her lay a finger on your coffee. the two of you had spent most of the day catching up on the american sports that you had been missing out on.

"i don't know. do you promise not to make fun of me if you see anything too sappy?" lucy asked you. she looked a bit ashamed of herself, as if she had done something hastily last night. you knew that lucy could be fiercely protective over you. she had nearly beaten up one of her teammates when the two of you moved here and the girl had gotten too friendly with you for lucy's taste.

"that depends on what you did. lucy please tell me that you didn't say anything to get yourself in trouble." you stared at lucy, who just handed you back your phone. she tried to shift away from you, but you threw your weight down more securely on top of her. you opened up instagram to see that lucy had tagged you in a post. "aw baby."

you swiped through the pictures, each one from a different milestone in your relationship. they weren't necessarily your favorite pictures, but you knew that they were lucy's. there wasn't a single one where one of you didn't have a lovestruck look on your faces. most of them were lucy staring at you, but you definitely took note of the few thrown in where you looking at her like she was your everything.

"shut up," lucy grumbled. you looked at her with fresh tears in your eyes, and lucy just sighed to herself. "fuck, this wasn't supposed to make you cry."

"i love you so much," you said as you cupped her cheeks. lucy let you kiss her, but she tried to hide her face immediately once you were done. "you're so sweet. thank you for this."

"just stay off of twitter for a while," lucy told you. you nodded your head, but as soon as you went into one of your text chains with the few of her teammates you had befriended over the years, you saw what she wanted to hide from you. lucy was a woman of few words most of the time, but when she had something to say, she made sure to get her point across. you thought she was being a bit harsh, but lucy's message was sure to shut everybody up about getting at you.

[another-lost-mc]

Got any thots/ideas in wing kink for Luci, Simeon, or anyone with wings?

a/n: there's a few different types of wings among the cast, but I think they're all unique and worth talking about!

wing headcanons

featuring: lucifer, mammon, asmodeus, beelzebub, diavolo, simeon, raphael, michael (and any oc with wings)

0.7k words | nsfw | suggestive

cw: wing kink implied. sexual situations and predator/prey kink mentioned. the predator/prey kink section is after the divider if you prefer not to read that part.

One of the first signs of trust is the casual affection he shows you when his wings are revealed. He might not always reach for your hand in public, especially if he's a bit more reserved by nature. However, what you do feel is the soft sensation of his wing brushing against your side when you walk beside him. He doesn't even mean to do it at first. It's like his wing naturally extends itself to curl around your back or glide against your arm. It's an unconscious gesture motivated by his feelings for you.

He might ask you to help with his wing care next. If he has wings made of feathers, he sits patiently while you preen them. You're especially careful when you straighten the feathers that look stuck out of place. Your hands are coated with a special oil that keeps his wings soft and protected from harsh wind and cool rain. It's a ritual for both of you now, one that often leads to grateful kisses and quickly descends into passionate lovemaking. Preening his wings was something he didn't enjoy doing by himself, or he reluctantly asked others to help him. Now that he has you, he craves the intimacy of it.

Leathery wings don't require the same level of care, but your lover is still grateful when you try to make him feel pampered and cared for. Sometimes stroking the edge of his wings feels ticklish. Sometimes it sends little bolts of desire shooting through his body straight to his cock. You never know whether he's going to laugh and squirm away from your hands, or if he's going to spin around and pin you underneath him.

Beelzebub's wings are thin and extremely sensitive, and he doesn't like it when they're touched. You are a rare exception. He trusts that you won't hurt the delicate wings that sit against his back. It feels nice when you gently run your fingers along the very edges. He rewards your gentleness and understanding with hungry kisses and greedy hands that rid you of all your annoying clothes.

As the crown prince, Diavolo's wings are particularly impressive and adorned with precious gold ornaments. He secretly likes it when you tease him about keeping the gilded gold pieces clean while you polish them to a glimmering shine. For special occasions, he'll even change them to a different metal that suits your preferences better—he wants to look his best for you. Don't be surprised when he offers you gifts of jewelry made with the same precious metals and jewels that match his own. He would love to see you wear them—and only them—the next time he invites you to spend the night.

Most of the time, fucking someone in his true form can be clumsy or awkward. He doesn't just let anyone touch their wings so intimately either. When you're intimate, he might purposefully reveal his wings. His wings wrap around your body and draw you close while he shields you from the world, protecting you when you're naked and vulnerable. (It also hides you from unworthy eyes that don't deserve to see you that way.) Sometimes his wings randomly appear in the height of passion, unfurling at his back when pleasure drives away all thought and reason except the singular desire to touch you. When his mind isn't clouded with lust, he looks a bit bashful that he lost control like that to begin with—it only happens when he's with you.

Another possibility is a little bit of predator/prey roleplay. Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be hunted? Your winged lover is more than happy to indulge in this kink should you ask. The forests of the Devildom (or the human world) are perfect for this. He leads you there and urges you towards the tree line in front of you. He'll even give you a head start.

(You're going to need it.)

It begins when you finally run into the darkened woods with only glimpses of moonlight to illuminate your path. The smallest sounds are impossibly loud, echoing off the trees around you: a snapping twig, the crunch of fallen leaves under your feet, your own ragged, panted breaths. Sometimes you see movement from the corner of your eye and when you turn around, there's nothing there. What you do notice is the tree branch high above you shaking slightly, as if someone was just there and then launched himself back into the sky.

(He's toying with you.)

Adrenaline gives you one last burst of energy that propels your feet forward, and you keep running despite the burning in your lungs. The blood in your veins is laced with lust and fear in equal measure. It's not long before you finally hear it: the sound of wings slicing through the air and growing louder as he draws near. Do you hear the soft swish of feathers? The taut snap of leathery wings billowing against the wind? Or perhaps it's the bzzzt of wings fluttering rapidly at his back that quickens your pulse? Suddenly, his familiar silhouette looms above you and blocks the moon from view. You're pinned against his chest before you realize what's happening, and his arms (and sometimes wings) curl around your body. Greedy hands start to pull at your clothes as he crushes his lips against yours. The game is over, and you're finally his to claim.

read more: obey me masterlist

[poppy-metal]

not you wanting the details re:ball sucking 😳 ngl it was the tip of the iceberg bc now he puts his fingers in my mouth while he eats my cunt and wraps his hand around my throat when he fucks me 🙂‍↕️ in my pampered princess era ✨

but now i’m thinking about citygirl!reader’s return to the small town to care for her ailing grandma, the ranch, and her one year old blonde baby girl. her rich husband ofc has to stay in connecticut doing what rich men do and as much as he loves her, he cannot imagine giving up their estate for farmland, golfing with the bros for a hard’s day work with the ranch hands, and vintage italian reds for american brewed ales. so with a kiss to the top of your head and continued access to his bank to care for the farm and granny, he sends you off with his daughter—the second love of his life.

you, on the other hand, are about to burst into tears at the idea of your little girl being near her daddy for the first time. the daddy that wants nothing to do with you and nothing to do with her. but as granny taught you, grit your teeth and keep straight on.

art can’t even begin to describe the whirlwind of emotions plaguing his every being when he sees you on that front porch, white linen dress billowing in the wind, a pitcher of peach iced tea in one hand, and a baby that’s the spitting image of him on the other hip. the bright smile on your face as you pour the tea into every ranch hand’s cup. the laugh that travels straight into his ears whenever a ranch hand makes a fool of themselves trying to make his baby smile. when he makes his way up to you, glass in hand, he tries to avert your eyes, but that means he’s looking right down at his daughter. he can feel your gaze on him. “hi, little one,” he says quietly, using his pointer finger to softly rub her cheek. she coos and nuzzles into his touch. “just like mama,” he says softly, just loud enough for only you to hear.

“you’re the first one to make her smile all day,” you say. art can’t quite place the tone of your voice: outwardly genial, but there’s a touch of apprehension, sadness, and wonder. he can’t help but feel himself open that box he tucked away two years ago and taste that familiar bittersweetness of loving you all over again, and he sees the future he could’ve had.

there’s a certain shyness in your interactions over the course of this summer; with your husband back east and lucy off in cambodia on a mission, it’s so easy to pretend the two of you aren’t married to other people. it’s almost silly. this man has fucked you every way imaginable, broken your heart more times you can count, but the way he cares for you, granny, and your—and his—daughter makes it feel all more new, more intimate.

he doesn’t touch you until the middle of june. it’s an especially rough heatwave that ravages the town, and you give the entire ranch a break for the day. granny is getting better, stronger. the single window a/c unit was moved to her bedroom, so your daughter sleeps in a crib with her grandma. your room is sweltering, but that doesn’t stop you and art from being entangled with each other. it was innocent at first: you and him kissing for hours, hands roaming but never reaching for the places that could escalate it. his body is sticky against yours, but you like the feeling of knowing that you can’t distinguish where you end and where he begins. and when it does escalate?

he doesn’t even fuck you. he just licks at your cunt until the sun rises; his fingers are in you, in your mouth, wrapped around your neck. your pillowcase are wet from your tears. his chin and your sheets are wet from you. and not once this entire night did he let you touch him, let him touch himself.

(finished my first week of teacher training and began setting up my classroom and the chairs and tables are sooooo itty bitty for my three year olds 🥺 but dw ranchhand!art will be making appearances in your inbox even once i’m teaching full time bc citygirl!reader and him deserve it 🙂‍↕️)

- 🤠

cowboy anon whenever I am down you came to pick me up, I swear <///////33333 I love mutual cheating. sigh. so romantic. art eating your cunt like a starved man because he's missed this - it's the his pussy. Jim looking up at you from between your legs, not letting you cum until you tell him who your pussy belongs to - it's reminiscent of the time he fucked you in the haystack the day before you fled, when he made you admit you loved him and couldn't even say it back - you'd thought he was the cruelst man alive at the time, but now you can see how much he needs to hear it.

like he's drowning and your confessions are the air in his lungs. you grip his hair and tell him you've always been his, always will be - and despite how much he's hurt you, your body will always be his too. his to do with what he wants. you couldn't deny him if you tried.

[libby-for-life]

Maybe a fic where Adam makes Lucifer his wife, a slight yandere Adam and dark Lucifer?👉🏻👈🏻👀

My creative juices have been FLOWING today, so yes!

From the minute Lilith was created, he hated her very being. She was rude and opinionated, and she did the most unforgivable thing in Adam's eyes: taking up Lucifer's time that was meant for Adam.

She latched onto him like some leech, eager to sink her claws into his angel-like wings and ground him forever. Lucifer, poor sweet Luci, humored her but even he grew weary of her constant complaining about Eden not being good enough for her. About how Adam wasn't good enough for her.

That seemed to make Lucifer angry, much to Adam's delight when he was spying on them, and said, "Adam has been nothing but kind to you, Lilith. Do not speak ill of him!" Lilith rolled her eyes but nodded, but the dark look in Lucifer's eyes didn't leave.

It was obvious she needed to go. Adam didn't know where, but she didn't deserve to be anywhere near Lucifer. Luci was the type of angel that deserved to be pampered and loved. To be given the world. Lilith expected Lucifer to do everything for her.

While he was skipping rocks across the lake, it came to him. Of course! It was so simple! He could just hit her with a rock. He smiled to himself, grabbed a rock the size of his palm, and went to find Lilith. She, of course, was sunbathing on a rock and he easily approached her.

"Ugh, what are you doing here? Didn't I already tell you I'm not interested?" She sneered up at him. Adam wrinkled his nose. Him wanting her? It was enough to almost make him laugh. How egotistical of her to think that.

"So I'm guessing you want Lucifer." He said, already knowing the answer but needing the confirmation for the peace of mind.

"Yes. What of it?" She said. "He's better than you."

Adam smiled as she closed her eyes. "I couldn't agree more." He slammed the rock onto her temple and she immediately passed out. Blood poured out of the gash he gave her but Adam frowned when she looked to be breathing still. He simply chucked the rock into the river before picking Lilith up and tossing her in. She sank like a stone and Adam hoped she drowned just like he had seen a duckling accidentally do to itself.

He hummed as he walked off to find Lucifer, his angel. They were going to meet up. Just like he promised, the angel sat underneath their special tree and Adam couldn't help but coo at how cute his wife looked.

Lilith was never supposed to be his wife. Lucifer was always meant to be his. He gently picked him up and Lucifer smiled sleepily at him. "Hello, my Adam." He slurred and Adam smirked. "My angel. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"

Luci giggled and nodded tiredly. "I would love to be your wife." Adam's smile brightened. Lucifer was his wife! His! "Thank you for accepting, my angel."

"But, what if Lilith?"

"What about her?" Adam tilted his head. Why was he bringing her up? "Won't she say something about us?" Oh. His poor wife! Of course, he would frightened of what the angels would do! Well, Adam would protect him. "Don't you worry. She won't say a word."

Lucifer nodded, smirking up at him. "I'm glad. I didn't like her anyway." That was good. It would be terribly awkward if Lucifer did like her. Lilith was dead. You couldn't very marry a corpse.

[newwritergirl]

The mistakes we make

Masterlist

|One Shot- Tim Bradford x OC|

Summary: Tim and Grace has been neighbors and best friends nearly since the day she moved to LA. But one mistake drives them apart. When Grace is attacked in her own house will Tim be able to help her?

Trigger Warnings: Tim x OC, mentions of past bad relationship and cheating, mentions of miscarriage, woman attacked at home, violent assailant, moody Tim, unfair Tim, tears and sadness, fluff?, no Chenford!, no Lucy Chen!

Word Count: 13k+

A/N: Okay, that escalated quickly. I just wanted to get this idea out of my head and write a one shot, but it got longer than I wanted but I got carried away. Well here it is, enjoy (if you like). Reblogs are, as always, the reader-writer-love-language <3

With a sigh Grace lets herself fall back into the soft cushions of Tim's spacious sofa. Countless nights she has spent in the cozy house of her friend Timothy and today is no exception. When she first literally stumbled into the grumpy cop's life she would've laughed if someone told her that day that Tim is going to become her best friend, her rock or just her helpful neighbor. Grace was just about to carry another heavy box into her new home when the sweaty tornado of this attractive man took off for his regular morning run with his adorable dog Kojo. Deep in thought with a big box crushed into her ribcage she didn't pay attention to the upcoming runner on the pavement. Not only the heavy carton full of all her collected magazines dropped with a heavy thud on her front yard, no, the blue eyed stranger also found himself laying in a tangled mess of limps on the soft meadow of the woman's new home.

Instead of checking up if his master is alright Kojo happily greeted the new addition to his neighborhood. Laughing at the tail wiggling dog she asked the stranger if he's alright, but she got nothing more than a grumped mumble and some curse words. Just as Grace wanted to introduce herself the unfriendly stranger grabbed the leash of his dog and took off. Great first impression.

Some days later she was more than surprised to see the same unfriendly grump opening the door to the house right beside her. With a huge batch of homemade baked goods the woman wanted to introduce herself to her next door neighbor, not expecting to see the attractive but moody man she knocked down on her moving day. Fortunately his dog was still on her side.

Nowadays she can't imagine her life without Tim. Over the last three years she helped him through a lot of rough patches of life, he dried her tears and the two, no the three of them were inseparable. Of course Tim and Grace are only good friends and neighbors, but deep down she harbors feelings for the cop since the first day he was somewhat friendly to her.

Tim on the other side asks himself everyday why he deserves such a good and supportive and attractive woman in his life. After the whole disaster with his ex-wife he swore to himself to never fall in love with someone ever again. But here he is, in love with his best friend.

"Come here, baby." Grace pats the unoccupied place beside her, "Good boy, aren't you?". With a content huff Kojo lays his fury head on the woman's thighs, fully aware that Grace is going to scratch his head until he is fast asleep on the usually prohibited sofa.

Patting the soft fur is always some kind of therapy for Grace, she loves to pamper the dog.

"Why is it always Kojo who gets the most loving attention from you?" Tim says in his usual sassy tone. Grace feels her cheeks redden. She would love to give Tim the same loving attention as she gives his dog, but she knows that he is just her friend and neighbor so she bottles up her feelings one more time and even deeper into her already broken heart.

It's one of their cozy nights they spend together with Kojo in Tim's home and she loves every second of it.

---

 "All I'm saying is that I'm not sure if she is the right one, Tim." Grace tells her friend while shrugging her shoulders.

"You told me to get into the dating game and now I found some decent woman I want to be romantically involved with and now she is not good enough for me?"

Yes of course Grace encouraged her friend to get back on the horse so to speak, to have some proper dates and not meaningless one night stands. She knows that Tim is the relationship type he just wants to play the hard emotionless guy who doesn't need love and affection in his life. But Lisa, she's not the type of woman Grace would call relationship material. Weeks ago they were out to celebrate Angela's birthday. It was a nice evening in their favorite bar and later that evening this girl Lisa started to flirt with Tim. She was more than drunk and very unfriendly to all of them but Tim must've seen something in her that Grace and their friends didn't see and still don't see now weeks ago.

"I'm just worried, Timmy. I don't want you to get hurt. I don't know…she doesn't seem like the woman who… I don't know…" Grace tries to explain her concerns but before she gets any further the blue eyed LAPD cop interrupts her harshly.

"You tell me she's not good enough to be my girlfriend but you don't know why?" Tim huffs. Of course she knows why Lisa is far away from being good enough for Tim. Lisa is a good-time girl, always on the search for the next party. Every weekend she's out with her girls, drinking, partying and who knows what else. Tim on the other hand, well he is Tim. A disciplined man with a stressful job. How many times he told Grace in the last years how grateful he is for the quiet and cozy evenings they had together. He needs a shoulder a to lean on, a solid home to come to after a stressful shift on the LA streets. Not another woman who is intoxicating herself in the countless bars around the city.

"I just mean, she is always out partying with her friends, drinking and…" but Grace doesn't get any further with her attempt to explain herself. She feels that Tim's mood is getting worse and the situation out of hand.

"Ooooh, now I know," his voice growing louder which leads Kojo to let out a whine and burying his fury head further into Grace's shins, "you think I'm going to make the same mistake I did with Isabel. Got a thing for addicts. You think I'm stupid enough to let myself being dragged into another bad relationship?"

"Tim," Grace takes step towards her upset friend, "that's not what I mean. I just want you to be happy and yes, I'm worried that Lisa can't give you what you need…"

The taller man lets out another huff and takes a step back as if he can't stand to be near the smaller woman in front of him.

"And you think you know what I really need?" he lets out a sarcastic laugh which seems to stab right into  Grace's heart, "YOU are the one with relationship issues, not me. You're the last person who can give hints and tricks for healthy relationships." Seconds after Tim spits out his last sentence he immediately regrets his words. Since the day Grace told him he should've take part in the dating game once again he was pissed off. He doesn't want to date, well except for his best friend. But now the only woman he has real feelings for is telling him he needs to start dating again, why is the universe so cruel to him?

He looks deep into his best friend's eyes, he sees the emotional turmoil he triggered with just two sentences.

Grace feels like she is stabbed with a hot iron directly into her heart. How dare he brings up her failed relationship, the reason why she started all over three years ago in a new city all alone. How dare her best friend opens up her old wounds one more time. Of course he is right, since she left her life behind her and started over in LA she didn't even flirt with a guy even if there were countless occasions. She is an attractive and kind woman, men turn around when she walks along the streets, they would line up if she would give them the chance. But after her last relationship, the betrayal, the physical and mental pain she endured she is still not ready to open her heart for another man. And of course there are these deep feelings she buried deep down inside her broken heart for her best friend Tim. 

Without another word she gathers her mobile, her keys and her purse and runs out of Tim's house.

"Gracy…" he whispers into the now silent room. Kojo lets out a growl and trots away, even the dog can't stand him anymore. He fucked up royally. Angela is going to kill him and justifiably so.

---

The weather fits just perfectly to Grace mood. Big cold raindrops are falling on her head like pebbles when she exits her car and steps out into the parking lot of Mid-Wilshire. She feels her heart picking up its pace, she doesn't want to be here, the danger of stepping right in front of Tim Bradford is too big and intimidating. But there is no way that she is going to knock on his door, ever again, after what he said to her last night. So there's no other way than to deliver him his wallet to the precinct. The moment she found his wallet in her bag sent a painful jolt through her system. They ate dinner at their favorite restaurant yesterday and Grace some kind of stole his wallet because she wanted to pay for their meals and otherwise he would have found a way to pay the bill so she just hid his wallet in her bag. But unfortunately their evening took a turn she never would've prospected. So here she is, stepping out of the cold into the Mid-Wilshire in great hope to just drop his wallet at the front desk without seeing Tim.

"Hey, our famous best-selling author. To what do we owe the honor of this visit?" a familiar voice rings trough the entrance hall of the district. Grace feels like a thief surrounded by a whole bunch of cops. Well she is surrounded by a bunch of cops but she is far away from being a thief. Either way she turns around and is greeted by a cheerful looking Angela. Out of all people she knows from the Mid-Wilshire it has to be Angela who catches her. Before she knows what is happening Angela envelopes her into a bone crushing hug.

"What are you doing here? Come on I take you to Tim, he is in a very bad mood this morning and I guess you're the only one who can cheer him up…as always." The female officer makes her way further into the station but soon notices that her friend doesn't seem to catch up.

"Ehm, no…I- I just wanted to drop off Tim's wallet. Can you give it to him, please?" Grace tries to sound as normal as possible but her voice breaks at the end of the sentence.

Angela immediately notices that something has to be very wrong especially when she sees Grace's tired face. Her normally bright and shiny eyes are now dull and held unshed tears, circled by dark rings.

"You look horrible, Gracy. What's wrong? Is there a connection between Tim's extraordinary bad mood and you looking like death warmed over?"

The young takes a deep breath when Tim's hurtful words are playing in her head once again.

"Just tired." Grace answers in a steady tone even if she knows she can't fool her way out of the situation, "He just forgot his wallet and I'm in a hurry." She pushes the deep brown leather item into Angela's hands.

"Yeah, sure. I tell him you said 'hi'." The female officer says with a smile.

"Probably not a good idea." Grace mumbles and turns around quickly before Angela can see the tears spilling over.

---

The door to the breakroom opens with a loud thud which leads Tim to spill half of his coffee. The rookie who waits to get his chance with the coffee pot looks into a very stern looking face of Angela Lopez. The poor young man exits the break room as soon as possible afraid to get into the bad book of Lopez.

"Are you out of your mind?" Tim asks while shaking the hot coffee from his hand, clearly annoyed that he spilled the hot beverage over his hand.

"Why didn't Grace wanted to give this to you personally? What did you do?" Angela shoves Tim wallet into his still wet hand.

He takes a deep breath. His wallet, Grace brought his wallet to the precinct. Shit, and seemingly got caught by none other than Lopez.

"Maybe she's busy. I'm not her secretary." Tim rolls his eyes, he doesn't want to have another argument with one of his friends and he knows that his reaction is leading him straight into exact that but he can't help himself and be the asshole he is supposed to be.

"Busy? Mhh, sure. That's why she looked like hell and was on the verge of tears when I mentioned your name. Don't fuck with me Bradford." Angela pokes her forefinger into her friends chest.

Tim feels a migraine settling down into his skull and Angela is not helping with it. He pinches the bridge of his nose before answering his female friend.

"Yeah. Maybe we had a tiny argument yesterday?!" The taller man answers uncertain because he knows that 'a tiny argument' is the understatement of the year. Out of wounded pride he brought up Grace's latest failed relationship and opened old and still not healed wounds. How could he have been such an asshole? Why did he brought back his best friend's saddest memories, memories she trusted him with. He is well aware that there are only two persons who know the real extent of pain she stored away in her heart.

Over three years ago Grace thought her life couldn't have been worse. Emotionally caught in a bad relationship she found out that she is pregnant from the man who she recently learned cheated on her. It all started with him getting more secretive about phone calls or text messages he got on his mobile. Until Grace accidently read an obvious message on his phone. He pleaded her to stay with him and promised her that this was a one-time thing, stress got the better of him he needed to blow off some steam. But it wasn't a one-off.

The day she wanted to finally break free from her emotional abuser also was the day she found out about her pregnancy. She just came back from the OBGYN who confirmed her suspicion when she found him and her best friend red-handed. But the two made her responsible for that situation and when she packed her bag and shouted in panic, pain and rage that he will never see his child the whole world stopped. She has never ever seen her ex in such a rage. He screamed at her to have an abortion immediately. He got physical, dragged Grace by her hair out of their bedroom where she was packing her bag to leave this hellhole. The young woman ended up at the foot of the stairs, shoved by the man she once loved. Her unborn child didn't survive the fall. Neighbors called the cops when they heard the commotion. Oliver was dragged away screaming and kicking, spitting insults all the while Grace was miscarrying their unborn child.

And Tim? He held against her that she has relationship and trust issues but coaxed him into the dating life. He was pissed from the moment Grace coaxed him into dating again. He never really wanted to start dating women. Deep down he always has wanted to show his best friend that she deserves a good man. Show her how he loves her. But his insecurities always get in the way. Why didn't he ask Grace out for a date? Why is he always fucking up?

Angela sees the turmoil in her friends eyes. She knows that Grace is the last person you can have an argument with. She is kind, collected, lovely and not the hot tampered soul you can argue with passionately.

"What did you say to her?"

---

There she is, alone in her home, alone with her thoughts and again alone with her pain. She trusted Tim, he was her best friend after all. From the grumpy stranger he became her nice neighbor with an adorable dog and finally he became her friend, her best friend in her new life. Now she is once again alone. The betrayal weights so heavy that Grace can feel it deep in her bones. Everything feels so heavy. But life has to go on. After crying for what feels like the whole day after returning from Mid-Wilshire she finally finds the strength to sit in front of her laptop and starts working on her latest article. Even if Angela always calls her 'best-selling author' Grace calls herself a journalist. She writes articles for several magazines and has some columns she has to keep alive regularly. Oliver always held her small even if she has a huge knowledge in a lot of fields, which makes her a rather popular journalist for umpteen magazines.

Grace loves her job and due to the fact she can work from home it was easier for her to move states and start a new life in LA without hunting for a new job. She finally feels like she has found a new home with people she can trust, friends. But now Tim told her what he really thought all the time.

Is she really that broken? Probably he is right, she is broken and destroyed from her trust and relationship issues. And even if she often regrets that she hides her feelings she has for Tim, today she is more glad than ever.

---

Tim was relieved when he finally could leave the district. The day was the longest he's ever had. His thoughts going wild and there wasn't a minute he didn't think of Grace. Angela nearly killed him when he confess what he said to Grace last night. He is definitely in her bad book now. And now Kojo. Usually Tim's furry friend greets the male cop when he comes home. A wet tongue and a wiggling tale is always the first thing Tim is greeted with when coming home. But today he's greeted with silence. No clicking paws on the hard wood floor. No wet nose that is poking his hand to claim some much needed cuddling. "Kojo?" Tim calls in the silent living room while getting rid of his boots. No answer, no movement nothing. His heart picks up its pace. Where is his hoggish roommate?

"Kojo? Come here." He tries again but immediately sees the dog laying in his basket. Just an unfriendly grunt can be heard from the chubby bulldog.

"You too, huh? Yeah give me the cold shoulder, I know I'm an idiot." Tim talks to Kojo while letting himself fall on his spacious sofa.

---

The last days were filled with the same routine: Grace stumbles out of her bed after another nightmare filled night or she didn't slept at all. Wrote some of her articles or columns, but most of the time is filled with being in her own head. The conversation with Tim, rather his harsh words are playing in her head over and over again. This morning is no exception. After taking a much needed shower to refresh herself after a night of tossing and turning she puts on a whole pot of coffee she looks out of her window to see that Tim's car is already missing in his driveway. So it was safe for her to get her mail without seeing the man she secretly loves but hurt her so bad with his words. The crisp air makes her shudder when she steps out of her front door, dark clouds are hiding the sun and the first drops of yet another rainstorm are falling on the pavement.

With a stack of mailing Grace hurries back into her warm home. "Bill, junk, junk…what the hell, do I look like I need a nurse at home?" Grace mumbles to herself while sorting out the mail, but stops dead in her tracks when she sees an envelope with her name and address written in a scrawly handwriting.

"No…" the young woman whispers.

Some weeks ago she found nearly every day one of those mysterious envelopes. Some didn't even have content. But last week she got the first letter with an actual message, followed by one letter a day. The messages developed fast from strange to threats. Grace started to get concerned and made the decision to tell Tim, he is a cop after all. But then they had this nasty argument and she stormed out of his house without getting the chance to ask him for help with the threats.

Grace's hands start to shake when she reads today's message:

You would look so much better 6 feet under.

Stop writing your lies!

Whoever sends her these letters knows where she lives, they have her address and now they escalate quickly. She knows she needs to tell someone but Tim is the last person she wants to see or talk to right now.

---

The days went by without any more disturbing mail and Grace is finally able to distract herself with work. Writing has always been a safe haven for the talented woman, so she was able to finish some articles over last days. Unlike her work she feels like the rest of her life is once again in shards. She can't stop thinking about Tim and his words. The situation is slowly starting to affect her health. She is running on caffeine and water. Nearly every try to get some decent meal into her body ended with her feeling sick. So after the fourth day of feeling sick after eating a small handful of something she found in her home she resigned to get down a full meal. Dizzy spells and a headache are now her constant companion. In stressful situations it has always been difficult for Grace to look after herself and especially feed herself properly but the current emotional pain is a whole new level of escalation.

After finishing her latest column the young woman decides to take a much needed break and get some fresh air as long as the sun is warming the crisp LA air.

Clothed in her favorite jumper, which now already hangs loosely on her malnourished body she exits her house to clear her head.

It is a nice day but in the distance dark clouds are already forecasting another rainstorm. Grace looks at the sky at the clouds piling up like dark cotton candy, the fresh air streaming into her lungs.

Distracted by the twirling thoughts in her head she doesn't notice the tall man sprinting on the pavement making his way directly over to her.

---

Running should clear his head but the exact opposite is currently happening. Tim notices today more than ever that he can't run away from his problems. He needs to apologize, he knows that this is the only way to get his friend back. Heck to get back the woman he secretly loves. But just a cheap apology is not going to fix the situation. He had hurt Grace deeply, his own heart hurts when he replays his words in his mind. In what amount of pain is Gracy now when he feels he is suffocating?

At least it's not raining when he decided to take a run with Kojo this afternoon after he ended his shift. Kojo is not the biggest fan of running and he often trots some meters behind Tim when his master forces him to go on a jog.

The soft and rhythmic taps of Tim's running shoes and the steady bouncing finally occupies his brain and he feels light for the first time in days. Concentrating on the ground he doesn't pay attention to the woman slowly walking in his direction until it is too late and he crashes into the smaller body.

---

Grace doesn't know what hit her when she lands on the cold pavement with a painful thud, at least it's not wet from the rain anymore but this is the only good thing. She lets out a surprised yelp and she immediately feels her heart picking up. Has the stranger who sent her the threads finally made a move? Did he shove her to the ground to deliver his next message? She tries to keep her panic at bay until she feels a familiar wet nose poking into her right hand. She opens her eyes and looks directly into the warm eyes of her favorite dog.

"Fuck, Gracy. I didn't….I'm sorry. I didn't pay attention. Are you hurt?" Tim stumbles over his words when he finally realizes wo he hit while running along the pavement of his neighborhood. In front of him is Grace laying on the cold ground just as shocked as him. The only one who is able to react seems to be Kojo who is on the woman's right side licking and poking her hand to get attention.

Grace lifts her head further and is greeted with the blue eyes she fell in love with a long time ago. The same eyes who looked at her with disgust and rage days ago.

It takes her some seconds to answer Tim's question but it feels like she is mute for hours until she can form the right words.

"I'm okay." Her answer is short and not honest. She landed hard on the ground and she can already feel a bruise building on the shoulder she landed on. But being vulnerable in front of Tim Bradford is not an option. So she tries to bring her body into a sitting position but Tim is faster and kneels on her left side pushing her torso up. She swallows the wince when Tim touches her bruised shoulder blade.

"I help you up, Gracy." Tim says in a soft tone.

"I don't need help." The young woman says in not more than a whisper. She turns around and focuses on Kojo instead of Tim.

"Good boy…" She says while petting the excited dog. He lets out a whine and nearly pushes her back into a laying position out of loving excitement.

"He misses you…" Tim tries but stops himself to go any further. Is this the right time to apologize for being an asshole out of Hell? As if Kojo wants to emphasize his master's words he lets out a short bark.

"Good boy, Kojo. I miss you, too." Grace can't hold back her emotions for any longer when she feels her eyes watering up. A huge lump is forming in her throat, unshed tears wanting to spill over. She hastily kisses the adorable dog on his furry head and stands up as fast as she can. She has to go, she can't sit there any longer, in front of the man she loves and who hurt her just days ago.

A dizzyspell attacks her the moment she is back on her feet. The ground beneath her feet feeling like a wobbling floe. The last days without a decent meal is now giving her a hard time. She feels Tim's hands grabbing her elbows steadying her waving form. When her vision clears she takes a step back, shaking her arms free out of Tim's firm yet soft grip.

The very short moment Tim is finally close to Grace he takes the chance to study her features. Dark circles are surrounding her usually bright and friendly eyes. Now her expression is empty. Her face is sunken in, she clearly lost some weight. Tim wants to kick himself for bringing her into this situation in the first place. But before he can scan her any further she takes a step back.

"I should bring you home, you don't look so good." Tim says in an attempt to help the woman who he had hurt now two times in barely a week.

"Always the charmer, Bradford." Grace scoffs, she knows she looks like death warmed over with the little she ate the last days and the poor attempt to have a decent sleep, but she can't hold back the witty comment.

"That's not what I meant…Gracy. Let me help you." The blonde cop tries to rescue the bad situation but fails miserably when he sees his former best friend, the woman he loves, turning around. Her last words ringing in his ears: "I don't need your help."

Turning around to make her way back to her house the tears finally spill over, wetting her pale face. Not because of the pain in her bruised shoulder but the pain in her broken heart.

---

Grace is on the edge. Every stranger passing by her house could be the psycho that sent her the letters and the threats. When it started she thought it has to be a joke. Just some strange fan mail, someone who likes her work, well now she knows they obviously dislike her work, but either way she didn't think that these letters would escalate to the point that she is afraid to stay home alone. Now, with the sun slowly setting down, darkness is around the corner. She was never a fan of lonely nights, so she was thankful for the countless nights she spent with her best friend Tim. But now alone at home tiptoeing in her house listening to every noise, watching every shadow on the streets.

---

Tim is restlessly laying in his bed, Kojo at the end of the bed still mad at him, but who could blame him? He loves Grace just as much as Tim and with her gone for over a week and just the short encounter he had when he ran her over while jogging, the faithful dog seems to miss her more and more every day.

When Tim finally closes his eyes, exhausted from the day and the emotional turmoil the last days, the deep growl from the fur friend brings him back from his taking over slumber.

"Kojo! Stop it!" Tim groans, but his dog has other plan when he jumps up from his cuddly position at the end of the bed and runs out of the bedroom barking loudly.

"KOJO!" Tim jumps out of his bed to stop the outraged dog. His barking only got louder when Tim finally catches Kojo scratching at the front door. The tall man is out of breath when he finally can get a hold of the bulldog. "What's wrong with you?"

But Kojo only gets more agitated and starts to whine when Tim tries to pull him away from the front door. Something has to be in the front yard and definitely more than a rabbit or a cat. Cautiously and ready to fight a possible intruder Tim opens the front door.

"Oh my God, Gracy…" He gasps when he sees the real reason for Kojo's reaction.

---

A loud shattering noise wakes the young woman who just fell asleep on her sofa. She wanted to proofread one of her latest articles when finally sleep took over only one hour ago. Now she is wide awake her heart hammering painfully at her chest. Disorientated she jumps up from the sofa. Where did the noise came from? But before she can investigate any further something surprises her from behind, covering up her mouth and holding her body in place in a bruising iron grip. She shrieks and tries to wiggle herself out of the arms of the taller stranger who just broke into her house.

"You should've been more cautious. YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO ME AND STOP YOUR LIES!" A deep male voice shouts into her right ear. He is here. The man who sent her the letters broke into her house. She feels panic bubbling up inside her chest, blood rushing in her ears and her heart once again increasing its pace in a fight or flight modus. Without thinking she bites down hard on the hand that is currently covering up her mouth.

"You bitch…" The man screams in pain. Grace can free herself the second the stranger is disturbed with his hurting hand. She stumbles two steps forward but her right knee catches the corner of her coffee table with a painful thud. Too surprised she can't catch herself or brake the fall and her head collides merciless with the small table in front of her sofa. White hot pain is radiating from her temple into her skull, blinding her. She knows she has to stand up again but the sudden impact leaves her dizzy and dazed on the hardwood floor. A strong hand encloses her left ankle and pulls her whole body over the floor. Away from the coffee table and the sofa. She tries to fight the violent pull on her ankle, but her hands are scratching effortlessly over the floor until the stranger stops his action just to turn her body over. Grace tries to catch her breath when she feels a sudden pain in her thigh and then in her stomach. The pitiless stranger kicked her over and over again, producing big bruises on her thighs, stomach and ribcage. Grace's soft skin is slowly transforming into a painful landscape of bruises and bumps. She needs to act now, otherwise the brutal assault would soon lead to unconsciousness or even her death. The stranger suddenly stops and kneels beside the wounded woman.

"You finally able to cooperate?" He whispers directly into her face. Grace can feel his foul breath on her face. She smells cigarettes and alcohol, he is clearly intoxicated. Despite her spinning head and the excruciating pain in her limps and torso she knows it's now or never. She pinches her eyes shut, ready for the next pain when she headbutts the disgusting face in front her own. Even in her weak state she can be proud of herself when she hears the sickening crack of broken bones. The man falls right on his butt cradling his broken nose. Grace immediately turns on her side ready to bring her aching body into a standing position. The dimly lit living room is spinning and she needs the backrest of her sofa to pull her heavy body up. The backdoor is her only way out without running into the offender again, who is still sitting dazed mere meters away. Without looking back Grace stumbles in the direction of the backdoor which appeals further away than usual. But before she can reach the saving exit the weak woman once again tumbles to the floor directly into the thousand glistering glass shards of the broken window which the man probably uses as an entrance. Ignoring the pain from slicing open her right arm from breaking the fall Grace stands up and runs into her backyard. Barefoot and clothed in nothing but some skimpy silk sleep shorts and a top Grace runs straight over the still wet meadow to the dark house of her nearest neighbor.

---

The last thing Tim expected when he opened the door seconds ago is the sight of the woman he secretly loves bloody and beaten kneeling breathlessly on his doormat.

"Gracy!"

Her eyes are staring unfocused, her blood-smeared hands falling from their position on the door onto the floor. Her head now hanging low like she is about to pass out. The shocked man doesn't waste another second and kneels down in front of the wounded woman.

"What the…hey come here, I got ya…" Tim catches the woman's body before she can sink further down on the cold floor. Her bloody face now pressed into Tim's bare chest. He immediately feels the warm sticky liquid on his chest.

He needs to bring her inside and that fast. Before he scoops her up into his arms he takes a look behind her. His cop instincts kicked in immediately when he opened the door. The picture of her injuries, her being in nothing but her sleep clothes, barefoot out in the cold, she must've been attacked in her house. Did the assailant follow her? Does he need to defend himself and Grace because he was right behind her? But Tim can't make out a single soul in the dark neighborhood.

A scream of pain tumbles out of Grace's mouth when Tim tries to scoop her up. Her arms, legs, her chest, hell her whole body is in agony. Tears are wetting her checks and are mixing up with the blood which is smeared over her face.

"I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry…" Tim hushes her. His heart is breaking for the woman in his arms he doesn't want to hurt her any further but he has to take her inside as fast as possible. Not only because he is afraid that someone might lurk in the shadows of the dimly lit neighborhood but also because he needs to get her cold body inside and get an overview of her injuries.

"T-Timothy…" he hears her soft voice moaning into his chest when he has her finally secure in his arms, taking her straight to bathroom due the blood she has all over her body.

"Yeah, it's me. You're safe, Gracy." Tim presses a soft kiss into her hair while he carries her into his warm  master bathroom, cautious of his dog wiggling nervously around his legs.

With a skilled handgrip he pulls the big towel from the towel radiator and lets it hit the floor before he crouches down and lowers the trembling woman down onto the warm and fluffy fabric.

Finally safe and in the warmth he starts to take stock of Grace's injuries. Angry red and blue bruises are already littering her whole body and he's certain that there will appear more in the next hours. While he cradles her head in his chest he has a good view of the bloody cut on her temple, even with the huge looking amount of blood on her face it seems like the cut is not as deep as to need stitches. Good. His eyes travel further down from her tear soaked face to her chest where she cradles her right arm. The sticky red liquid has also soaked her silk sleep shirt. He has to find the source of the blood.

"Gracy, let me see your arm." Tim tries to coax the still trembling and crying woman in his arms to show him her obvious lacerated right arm. Even if he wants nothing more than to kill the person who did this to her he first of all has to make sure if his friend needs a trip to the hospital or even an ambulance.

"H-hurts…" Grace chokes out between painful breaths. Her ribcage feels like someone pokes it with hot iron such as her arms and legs. She wants to curl further into herself to safe her body from more pain. When the attacker comes back she needs to make herself as small as possible, give him as little surface for his attack as possible.

"I'm sorry, Gracy. I'm sorry. But I need to take a look at your arm…" Tim breathes out cautiously untangling her injured arm searching for the source of the amount of blood on her shirt and her shorts. He makes out some cuts under the layer of blood, most of them not deep enough to require stitches. He slowly turns her right arm and finds two deeper cuts with shards of glass still embedded into the wounds.

Apparently the woman is not in danger to bleed to death any minute. Tim knows he has to call the District, Grey and he should probably inform Angela about the situation which just unfolded in their friend's house.

Tim tries to bring Grace into a more stable position on the bathroom floor. Shifting both their weight in the direction of the bathtub he leans the trembling woman against it. He needs to get his mobile from his bedroom table in the adjoining room.

When Grace feels Tim untangling himself from her shaking body she feels immediately panic resurfacing. Tim's leaving her. She will be alone, the attacker could come back and finish what he started. She whimpers and grabs one of Tim's hands squeezing his wrist like her life depends on it. Her unfocused eyes looking directly into the male cop's eyes. He's never seen his friend in such a state of panic, fear and pain.

"D-don't leave…he's c-coming back…" Grace breathing picks up with the thought of Tim leaving her to her fate.

Tim cautiously puts both his hands on her shoulders to bring her in more upright position while leaning her body against the bathtub. "Grace, look at me. I just need to get my mobile. Kojo is here, he will look out for you, but you're safe here. We'll keep you safe…" He looks into her tear filled glazed over eyes.

"Just one second. I'm right back."

---

Actually Tim wanted to make the call without Grace listening but just as he promised her he was back in mere seconds making three short calls while sitting back onto the cold tiles of his bathroom to be near his friend.

Tim's phone calls were a blur for Grace. Her head pounding painfully feeling like a jackhammer was planted right behind her eyes. Her cut open arm throbbing in the rhythm of her still racing heart. With her uninjured left hand she strokes over Kojo's velvet fur. The faithful dog laying still beside the injured woman with his head on her thighs.

When Tim finally ends his last call in which he informed a very sleepy Angela about the things going on in his house he is glad he can apply his whole attention back to the blood-smeared woman in his bathroom.

"Grey send several patrol cars to search the neighborhood for possible suspects and they search your house. We gonna get you cleaned up now, sweetheart."

With a wet washcloth he starts to clean up the now dried blood on his friend's face. Focusing on the warm fury body beside her rather than the panic still bubbling in her chest helped Grace to get more coherent by the minute.

When Tim strokes the warm and wet cloth over her forehead a painful hiss tumbles out of her plump lips.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. You have a huge bump on your forehead and a cut on your temple. I don't want to hurt you but we need to clean up the blood. Okay?" Tim cringes when he hears Grace whimper in pain. The last thing he wants is to hurt her further but he needs to clean up the remaining blood from her head and her body.

"I-I hit my head…" her explanation is once more interrupted by a painful whimper when Tim starts to clean up the cut on her temple. "…on my coffee table. A-a-and I.." Grace shudders when she thinks about how the attacker caged her body on the floor, his breath on her face, "I gave him a headbutt, b-broke his nose…"

Tim stops for a moment and looks into his friend's eyes, definitely proud of Grace. "That's my girl. Do you remember anything else?" He doesn't want to elevate her stress level once again now that she is somewhat calm but he needs some more information about what happened in general and now she seems to be willing to share her memories.

---

"TIM!" a familiar voice calls through his house. A very agitated Angela gains entry into Tim's house with the spare key he gave her years ago in case of an emergency.

"Oh my God, Gracy. Are you okay?" Angela breathes out when she finally finds her two friends still sitting on the bathroom floor. Tim just finished cleaning up Grace who is still in a state of shock.

"Tim, are you both hurt? I thought…" The female cop panics when she sees the blood on Tim's bare chest.

"Hey, calm down. It's hers. It's Grace's blood. I cleaned her up. She had some cuts on her arm and a laceration on her temple. I sealed the deeper ones with steri-strips." Tim explains while he still cradles Grace in his arms. He wants to clean up the itching blood from his bare chest and wants to give his friend some clean clothes but his first priority was to keep her calm and safe. Now with Angela in his house and the neighborhood full of cops he can finally breathe again a bit lighter.

---

"She is resting in my bed now." Tim breathes out when he enters his living room area where he sees Grey and Lopez talking silently with two other cops from their Division.

"Good. Let her rest some more. We will be back for her statement tomorrow. Did she tell you what happened?" Grey pats Tim on the shoulder to give him some comfort. He knows how hard it is when family or friends are involved. And Grace is definitely more than just a friend for Bradford. She saved him from his demons Isabel left him with, she somehow made a new person out of the grumpy cop. Seeing her injured because she was attacked in her own home just mere meters away from him must've been more than difficult for Tim and Grey knows that now the whole situation slowly sinks in. Tim is blaming himself for allowing his friend getting hurt on such a brutal way.

"Not much. She was still in a state of shock when I finished patching her up. She just told me some bits and pieces. How she thinks that she broke this bastard's nose, that was the moment she took the chance to flee." he pinches the bridge of his nose, pictures of her bloody and beaten laying on his doormat are making a cruel reappearance in front of his eyes. He is sure that he will never forget the picture of Grace bleeding in his arms on his bathroom floor, whimpering an crying from pain.

"Fuck…" how he wants to lay his hands on the bastard that broke into Grace's house.

Angela takes a step towards her friend and squeezes his arm. "Hey, it's not your fault."

---

Fortunately Grey and Angela left him shortly after their short talk. He needs his peace and quiet and when he is honest he more than anything he wants the peace and quiet for the sleeping woman in his bedroom. Before Grey left, Tim announced that he will take the next days off to take care of Grace, heck he would take the entire year off to take care of the woman. He thinks about their argument which is now more than a week old. No, it wasn't an argument. Grace looked out for him, told him she's worried for his well-being and what did he do? Betrayed her trust with reopening her old wounds. With his head in his hands he knows that sleep is not going to get him the rest of the night so he makes his way over to the kitchen to get himself a water. When he passes by the closed bedroom door he hears whimpering and rustling of his sheets.

---

He is back. The stranger back and whatever he wants he came to take it. Six feet under, she would look better six feet under. He's back to finish her off. Big hands are closing around her delicate neck. Squeezing all the air out of her heavy lungs. She wants to fight back but her head feels fuzzy and her feet seem to be glued to the spot. She squeezes her eyes shut, she doesn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear, pain and panic in her eyes when he strangles her to death with his bare hands.

With a gasp Grace wakes up from the haunting nightmare which felt so real that even now that she is awake she can feel the stranger's hands around her neck. She tries to kick the tangled sheets away from her hurting legs but in her still panicked state the fabric seems to wriggle around her legs further like a big python does with its pray. She shrieks when she feels the mattress dip beside her. But instead of another threat she feels a warm and wet nose poking into her left arm and a bulky furry head softly plopping down her thighs. Kojo. She is safe. She is at Tim's. Slowly the memories of the night come back to her. She stumbled rather than running over to Tim's house. Thank God her cop friend was home and opened the door. He cleaned her up, patched up her injuries and helped her changing in one of his Academy shirts and a various numbers too big sweat pants which he rolls at the waistband to create a little bit of support on her slim waist.

Despite the knowledge that she is safe and the support she feels of the dog laying beside her, her chest feels tight, too tight to take a proper breath. She knows the upcoming feeling. Panic settles deep into her lungs, into her bones and into her soul. Grace feels a tear rolling down her cheek. She hates that feeling, the feeling of helplessness. Her body is betraying her, suffocating itself. No strong hands are choking her, its her own body which produces so much fear that the panic in her chest is palpable. Desperately she claw at the collar of Tim's T-shirt. But every attempt to loosen up her tight chest is not successful and slowly her vision is filled with white spots.

Another silent scream dries up in her throat when the bedroom door slowly opens, creating a halo of light around the person who's intruding her.

"It's me. You're safe. I heard you…ehm… I just wanted to check on you." Tim sees Grace sitting in his bed Kojo's head in her lap when the light coming from the living room illuminates his dark bedroom.

"Can I come in?" The worried cop asks cautiously. It takes some seconds for him to realize that Grace is Having a full blown panic attack. Kojo nervously poking his wet nose into the woman's side.  He sees his friend in all desperation just to get some oxygen in her already weak body. Tim is now in a rush to close distance between him and Grace. Kneeling beside her as near as possible he takes both her hands into his warm ones placing hers on his broad chest.

"Sssh, I got you. I'll keep you safe. Feel my heartbeat? Feel my breathing?" He whispers into the bedroom which is filled with the noise of Grace's ragged breathing.

"C-c-can't…" Grace chokes out, her vision slowly turning black.

"Gracy, look at me. You can do this. I got you…" Tim tries to get her back to focus on him and not on the upcoming unconsciousness.

She is safe here. Tim always meant safety for her. His heartbeat under the tips of her fingers creating a steady rhythm.

"You're doing good, honey. Some more deep breathes." Tim praises her when he notices her breathing slowly improving. 

I takes her nearly ten minutes to calm down from her breakdown. Her head now hurting like never before and her vision still fuzzy, dizziness slowly creeping back into her vision. She slowly lifts her head from Tim's shoulder, "Thank you." she whispers while looking Tim directly into his eyes which seem to held some unshed tears.

He tucks her back into his chest, cradling her head into his warmth. He has never regretted something in his life this much than the day he hurt Grace. The day he couldn't control his rage, the rage he had against himself for not being brave enough to tell the woman he loves, his best friend, how he feels about her. He could've lost her today. Lost her while the last words he said to her were disgusting and hurtful.

Tim notices Grace's body growing slack and her breathing deep and calm. She fell asleep in his arms. How he wishes this was his new normal, Grace sleeping in his arms. Sleeping peacefully without pain and fear. Just her and him sleeping in each other arms. But the reality was different. She fell asleep in his arms out of exhaustion and pain and the fear of being alone in the dark once again, threatening shadows lurking in every corner about to her hurt again.

Tim softly brings them both in a comfier position, laying her head on his chest while he envelopes her in his arms, keeping her safe from the outside world, giving her shivering body his warmth.

---

The pain of bruised skin, bones and soul is always worse after the shock of the events slowly faded away. Grace feels every bruise the stranger inflicted on her more than 12 hours ago. Just walking or sitting back down is a debilitating task but giving her statement was worse than every physical pain she currently feels. Seeing Tim face during her run-down of the events changed from rage, pity, sadness to what she would interpret as pure disappointment. She came to the point where she had to tell Angela, Grey and Tim from the threat letters she received weeks ago and how they escalated quickly to the point of no return. When Grace explained that she wanted to tell Tim the evening he lost it in front her, the cop couldn't take it anymore and stormed out of his house. Grace knew when she shares this information her (former?) best friend would be pissed at her but his reaction scared her none the less.

---

"Hey, he will calm down, Grace." Angela stayed after Grey went back to the District after he got all information from Grace.

With trembling fingers the young woman tries to dry her tear soaked face. "I-I…I wanted to tell him. Wanted to get help because the last letters really scared me…But then he was so mad at me that evening…" Grace shakes her head, breathing deeply to calm herself down. Another embarrassing panic attack is the last thing she needs right now.

"He's not mad at you. He is mad at himself. He blames himself for what happened to you." Angela envelopes the other woman in a hug, "You're going to be okay."

The stress from giving her statement, the memories which brought it back and Tim running out on her is making her dizzy and she knows she is due to another round of painkillers and at least some rest.

---

With a pounding headache Grace lets herself plop down on Tim's cozy sofa. Fortunately Angela had to drive back to the District. They all working hard to get the man who broke into their friend's apartment.

Even after taking the much needed painkillers Grace's head is still throbbing painfully and her whirling thoughts are not helping. With her head in her hands she feels a furry head and a warm nose poking into her shin. At least Kojo is here and keeping her company.

---

Four long hours. Four torturing long hours ticked away since Tim left his house without further explanations. Only five minutes ticked away since Grace made the decision to pack her few belongings Angela brought her over from her house since it's still a crime scene. Some toiletries, clothes she would need for the next days and her mobile. Fuck, her car keys are still in her house, so she would have to call an Uber to get to the next hotel in town. She feels fear and dread pooling in her stomach at the thought of being completely alone in a hotel room at night but staying at Tim's is no longer an option even if she feels safe here. Grace doesn't want to stress the cop any further with her presence. She grabs her back hissing from the pain of her various big bruises the maniac inflicted on her body and stumbles in direction of the front door. Kojo never left her side since they were alone in Tim's home and now that she has packed her bag and is seemingly about to leave the dog lets out deep growls. Not threatening noises but clearly noises of disagreement.

"I'm sorry buddy, but your daddy is not happy with me here anymore." Grace crouches down to the growling dog but lets herself down on her knees due to severe dizziness.

"Okay, just one minute…" Whether she convinces herself or the dog, she doesn't know. White noise is filling her ears and she feels her heartrate picking up from the stress and painful position on the floor.

---

Yepp, Tim fucked up once again. Angela gave him an earful when he makes an appearance at the District later that day. Why did he leave Grace home alone? Why did he storm out of his home while his friend reliving her memories of the night she was attacked in her own home? Why is he always a fucking moron? He had no answers but of course Angela had.

"YOU HAVE TO FIX THIS, TIM! Jesus Christ help me…" Tim still hears her words on his way home. "You know, I know, EVERYBODY knows that you two idiots like each other…more than friends. Why are you destroying not only your friendship with Gracy but also destroying the tiny chance that this wonderful woman will hear you out when you are finally going to confess her your feelings?!"

Confess his feeling. Should he confess his feelings after he hurt her that bad over a week ago and after he just hurt her one more time today when she needed him the most. He remembers how content he felt last night when he was finally able to hold her in his arms. "Man up Bradford!" He mumbles when he parks his truck in his driveway. When he nears his front door with his keys in hand the first thing he hears is Kojo's agitated barking. Is the scumbag back ? Did he find Grace at his home? Immediately his cops instincts are on high alter when he enters his house. Clearing the hallway Tim is surprised when he doesn't see any signs of a fight or even any evidence of invasion. He steps further into his house nearing the noise of his barking dog.

"Oh no…" The cop breathes out when he sees his friend kneeling awkwardly on the living room floor. Immediately Tim falls down on his knees beside Grace and lays his hands on her shoulders.

Startled by the sudden touch her head shoots up and a shriek leaves her plump lips.

"Easy, it's me." Tim tries to catch her when Grace falls backwards not able to catch herself because of her swimming head.

While holding the young woman up and preventing her from falling further Tim examines her environment. Why is she on the floor? Did she hurt herself? His eyes fall on her duffle bag and her mobile directly beside her on the floor.

"Let's get you up, Gracy. Come on…" Before he interrogates her what her plan was with her packed bag and her mobile in hand he picks her up bridal style and carries her to the sofa. The young woman buries her head into his shoulder clearly seeking comfort.

Cautiously he lets the trembling woman down, sitting beside her to hold her up.

"Did you hurt yourself, honey?" Tim tries to bite his tongue. Honey? She is not your 'honey' you moron. But Grace doesn't seem to notice him calling her pet names.

"D-dizzy…Wanted to go…" Grace stuttered when she slowly lifts her head to take a look at the man who holds her in his warm embrace.

Tim is dumfounded by his friends words. She wanted to go, leave the safety of his home and go?

He shifts his body to get more distance between him and Grace but soon lifts his hands to cup both her cheeks, cradling her head in his soft yet big hands.

"You wanted to go? But…Grace, you're hurt, this scum is still out there. Why…?" Tim whispers with more emotion in his words as ever.

His hands on her cheeks with his thumbs softly stroking her cheeks feels so calming yet they are going to have a serious conversation right now. Grace wants just to stop the clicking clock at the far end of the living room wall to just preserve that intimate moment with Tim Bradford. But she knows he is waiting for her to talk. She closes her eyes, his deep blue eyes too distracting to form a coherent sentence.

"I wanted to be out of your hair. You were so mad at me…I'm sorry for not telling you sooner…" her voice breaking at the end of the sentence and it takes Grace some seconds to get her voice back.

"And I'm sorry for…for giving relationship advices."

Is he dreaming? Grace just apologized to him. TO HIM. To the moron who is responsible for the mess his friend now finds herself in. He looks into Grace's face. He sees her pinching her eyes close the crease on her forehead a clear indication that she feels unwell. He notices her trying to calm down her breathing and ground herself but her trembling body is giving her away.

"Grace, please look at me." He talks in a calming voice but instead of opening her eyes the young woman in front of him tries to shy away from him. "Please, Gracy. Open your eyes, look at me." He tries again and with soft but firm touch he tilts her head up. Her big eyes are full of fear and unshed tears when she finally manages to open them and looking deep into Tim's ocean blue eyes.

"I was- I am an idiot. It's me who has to apologize. For everything…" he takes a deep breath while stroking his hand softly over Grace's pale cheeks, "I was not mad at you for not telling me, I stormed out, because I couldn't take it anymore. I am to blame for this whole mess. For you being hurt, for every nightmare, for the pain you're in. I should've protected you, instead I hurt you. I AM SORRY. Gracy!"

A big tear is making its way down Grace's face. Tim said sorry. Those words she needed to hear so badly for over a week, instead she blamed herself because this is what she always does, how her ex taught her. She has never heard an apology which she believed so easily. She knows Tim is not a man who shows his emotions that easily. But his eyes spoke for him while his mouth formed the words.

"Please, say something. Please forgive me. I can't lose you, Gracy." Tim starts to get worried. No he gets fucking nervous. The woman in front of him stays silent. His heart is hammering. It feels like a jackhammer is trying to open his ribcage to free all his built-up emotions he feels for his best friend. Grace's head is swimming, the room is spinning and she tries to build up the courage to say something to the blue eyed cop in front of her. Of course she forgives him, he is her best friend after all and she loves him with every fiber of her body but that fact is going to stay inside her head.

Tim feels his friend swaying in the sitting position on his couch. His hands wander from her head to her shoulders to steady her further.

"Are you still staying with me, Gracy?" Tim asks. He knows she needs to rest. Her body is slowly shutting down and the emotional stress is just adding up on her plate right now.

Grace slowly nods her head but she has to shut her eyes because the room is just spinning faster with the motion of her head. But she gathers all her strength to give Tim the long-awaited answer.

"I want to stay. I've never felt safer than with you." With that minimum of confirmation Tim closes the distance between the two and finally envelopes the trembling woman into a hug, cradling her body into his.

---

After some minutes of them hugging each other Tim felt her body growing weaker so he didn't waste any more time and carried his friend back into his bedroom.

Feeling the warm comfort of Tim's bed and her exhausted body is giving the chance to rest Grace let's out a small sigh. While opening her eyes she feels the mattress beside her dip.

"So you wanted to take it on the lam and steal one of my sweater on your way?" Tim chuckles softly when he sees Grace still wearing one of his LAPD sweaters with his Name embroidered on it. He could get used to seeing Grace in his in his clothes.

"It's comfy and warm…smells like you. I like your smell. Love…love your clothes." Grace says in a slight slur clearly deteriorating by the second. 'And I love you' was on the tip of Tim's tongue. His heart still beating rapidly. A blush creeps up from his neck all the way up to his cheeks warming his face further.

"Get some rest, Gracy." Tim says after clearing his throat awkwardly. But before he can stand up he feels a small and clammy hand gripping his. He looks back down on the woman who is laying in his bed, even on his side of the bed where he normally sleeps, but he couldn't care less. He would sleep on the floor for the rest of his life just to ensure that Grace is safe.

"Can- can you stay? Lay with me…afraid." Grace opens her eyes once again getting lost in the blue ones which are watching her intently. Her voice is nothing more than a whisper, her last word nearly not audible.

---

After discarding his clothes hastily on the chair beside his wardrobe Tim crawls into the empty space beside Grace but keeps a safety distance. He lays on his back staring at the ceiling of his bedroom until he feels the woman on the other side of the bed turning around.

"Tim?" He hears a small voice whispering into the dark. "You asleep?"

He chuckles lightly at her question. Even if he would've been asleep by now her question would have woken him up as the light sleeper he is. "No, Gracy. No I'm not." He also turns on his side to look at his friend.

"Can- can I come closer to you?" She asks shyly, almost embarrassed. But her hazy mind is craving comfort. Whenever she closes her eyes she sees images of her being attacked at her home mixing up with the horrible night she had years ago when her ex shoved her down the stairs .

Grace closes her eyes afraid to look at Tim when he turns her down. But despite her fear of his rejection she feels him coming closer and finally pulling her into his broad chest. Her head instantly settles over his heart, hearing his thrumming heart she wonders why it's beating so fast. But rather sooner than later the exhaustion makes her eyes falling shut, in the arms of the man she is so deeply in love with.

---

Her smaller body fits perfectly into his arms. With her head resting on his chest he smells the intoxicating odor of her hair. It always smells fresh but sweet. And now so close to her he takes a deep breath as if he wants to breathe in every shade of this smell to remember it later.

He always felt a dangerous pull, like some invisible power makes it impossible for him to stay away from his friend.

He places a feather light kiss on Grace head and now he can't hold his tongue and whispers a small 'I love you' into her silky hair. He feels her hand fisting his shirt tighter after he mumbled his confession. She couldn't have heard it, could she? She is asleep, isn't she?

---

"She is still asleep." Tim explains to his cop friend while pointing in the direction of his bedroom. When he woke up in the early morning hours still feeling the smaller body of Grace pressed into his side he felt the great urge to lay there and just enjoy the feeling of her warm body beside him. But the buzzing of his phone indicating that he has a text message.

So now here he is, with Angela in his kitchen preparing coffee himself and her.

"So, she is asleep…in your bad? You have a guestroom haven't you?" The young woman teases her friend, knowing exactly which buttons she has to press to make Tim squirm.

The male cop takes a long breath turning around to face his female friend.

"Angela…" he breathes out,"we had a small incident yesterday?"

"Is this a question, Timothy?" Angela laughs, totally happy with Tim' creeping blush.

"When I got home I found her in a bad shape, kneeling on the floor. On her way out. With a packed bag and all." Tim massages his temples to get rid of the tight feeling in his head.

"Oh my God. Is she okay?" Angela gasps, not aware that Grace is feeling that bad actually.

"Yeah, I had the chance to apologize. I just wanted her to be safe and the best shot was my own bed and not just dumping her in my guestroom."

---

With a painful groan Grace slowly opens her eyes immediately blinded by the soft glow of daylight which filters through the closed curtains. The young woman closes her eyes in a second taking a deep breath now greeted with more pain spreading from her sensitive ribcage in every fiber of her body, a clear reminder of the brutality of her attacker. But there's also something which she notices the second she inhales deeply. The strong yet familiar odor of fine wood and masculine musk and some sweet fruits, a hint of citrus. Grace slowly turns on her side away from the windows and the harsh light which would hurt her pounding head only further. Burrowing her head into a soft pillow she gives it another try and opens her eyes. She is in Tim's bed. She immediately notices that this is not his guestroom. So last night wasn't a dream. She was really carried into Tim's bed and asked him pathetically if she can snuggle up.

---

It took her more than ten minutes to get her aching body out of the bed and even more time to fresh herself up in the bathroom. On wobbly legs Grace makes her way out of Tim's bedroom, using the wall or turned up furniture to steady herself. The kitchen and the adorning living are quiet. No sign of Tim and no sign of Kojo. Grace freezes in the middle of the living room. He went away again. Snuggling up to him last night must've been too much for him. Why was she so stupid and let her emotions get the better of her? For God's sake he has a girlfriend, or so Grace thinks. Last week he made it clear what he sees in her and what did she do? harassing him her sleeping in his bed and snuggling up.

Grace hugs her arms around her trembling body like she wants to shield herself from what is to come. She feels the blood draining from her pounding head, making her dizzy. But she doesn't know what she to do. Is Tim coming back? Is he waiting for her to move out? Is he telling her when back that he wants her so leave? To let him have his happily ever after.

When the front opens and a tail wiggling Kojo leads Tim into the house Grace is completely zoned out. She doesn't hear Kojos paws clicking on the hardwood floor, she doesn't hear his soft bark and his nose softly poking into her shin.

"Hey, you're up." Tim greets her in a light tone. There's no answer from the woman standing in the middle of his living room.

"Gracy?" He takes a step further into room after discarding his shoes and Kojo's leash.

When Tim is standing directly in front of his friend he immediately notices her ghostly pale face, her trembling arms hugging her torso and the empty look in her eyes. The cop softly touches Grace's shoulder afraid she would collaps any second.

"Gracy? You with me?" He asks now louder.

Finally the woman in front of him comes out of her trance-like stupor but before she can react in any way her kneels buckle.

Tim is fast to catch the still trembling woman, thank God for his cop instincts.

He leads her slowly to the couch and tucking her into his chest but still having a close eye on her face.

"Hey, Grace. Look at me." Tim tilts her chin to emphasize her to look at him properly.

"Timothy, I'm…I need to apologize…" her heart starts to beat painfully fast in her ribcage.

"Grace.." Tim tries to interrupt her. Why would she apologize. She did nothing wrong.

"No please let me finish. I'm sorry for yesterday. I shouldn't have force you to… I shouldn't  have ask you to hold me. I'm sorry, I didn't want to make uncomfortable and with Lisa…"

Tim can't believe his ears. She really thinks she made him uncomfortable with her wanting to be close to him? With Grace in his arms, safe and warm, it was the best night he had in a long, he's ever had maybe.

He softly starts to caress Grace pale cheek. His thumb tracing a line under her eye. The contact makes her shiver even if she doesn't want to show a physical reaction to the touch she craves for so long.

"Gracy, you didn't make me uncomfortable…" Tim starts. Man up Bradfort, he hears Angela shouting in his head at him.

"I wanted to hold you. I…I want you close to me, like I want you even closer to me." He looks her deep into her eyes. A sweet crease is building between her eyebrows in confusion.

"What…what do you mean?" Grace feels her heart running away and her lungs to cramp up like someone holds it in a vice grip.

Tim's sight wanders from Grace's eyes to her plump lips back to her eyes.

"The only thing I've ever wanted is to hold you close since the day I landed on your front yard. It sounds cheesy, fuck. I can only be a grump or a cheesy idiot." He chuckles while his eyes wander one more time to Grace now slightly open lips.

"I like a grumpy cheesy idiot…" Grace whispers, still not sure if this is a dream. The man she is secretly in love with just told her that he only ever wanted to hold her close. What does this mean? He likes her? But before she can spin further into an insecure mess she feels soft lips touching hers. He is kissing her. Tim is kissing her. Tim Bradford is kissing her and the only she can mumble is: "Lisa?" and with a gasp the kiss ended sooner than one of them wanted.

"I never really dated her, because you was right all the time. She is not the right one for me." And with this twenty words Tim once again closes the distance and places a kiss on Grace's lips.

"Go on a date with me and I show you how sorry I am for what I said to you." The blonde cop says slightly afraid to hear the woman's answer.

"Just to show how sorry you are?" Grace answers in a trembling voice.

"No, to show you how deeply I fell for you and what an idiot I was for not telling you sooner."

He sees a small smile forming on Grace's kissable lips.

"Okay…" She whispers still afraid she would wake any moment.

"But first of all, we're nursing you back to health."

---

After feeding her some breakfast and painkillers he finally told her the good news Angela had for him during her visit this morning.

They were able to get some handprints from the attacker and fortunately he was already in the system.

"He threatened two other journalists in the last year but there wasn't enough to charge him with something. But now he's in custody." Tim explained to Grace wo was now laying on his comfy couch, with Kojo resting happily by her feet. Even the dog has the huge urge to protect his female neighbor.

"So a poor lunatic living in some weird tinfoil head theory didn't like my articles and thought it would a good idea to break into my house?" Grace says clearly irritated by the new won discovery but she is also glad that the man is in custody. "That means I can go back into my house… I mean it's safe out there again."

Tim takes in a sharp breath, he doesn't think that far. Of course she can go back, there's no thread anymore. But she is still injured, yes she NEEDS to stay at his.

"It never safe out there, sweetheart." Sweetheart? Is he allowed to call her that, when he just confessed his feelings to her. Well, she doesn't protest so Tim continues, "And you're injured. I…please stay here, Gracy. Just until you're back on your feet. And then I'm going to pick you up at your front door for a proper date." He grins mischievous.

"That sounds like a good plan, nurse Bradford." Grace softly replies in between a small yawn, despite the pain and tiredness that has settled deep into her bones she feels happy and safe and when Tim cautiously lays her head in his lap and starts to stroke her hair she falls asleep, a conent sigh is the last thing Tim hears.

[cu1tsmark]

"Feline Felicity"

Y/N couldn't help but grumble as they followed Jaemin into the pet store, already carrying a bag full of cat goodies. "Jaemin, seriously, we have enough stuff at home for Luna, Lucy, and Luke. They're pampered enough as it is."

Jaemin, a wide grin on his face, was busy perusing the aisles, tossing treats and toys into their cart. "But, babe, they deserve the best. Look at this scratching post, it's perfect for Luna's claws."

Y/N crossed their arms, unimpressed. "We have three scratching posts at home already, Jaemin."

Jaemin chuckled, not the least bit deterred. "Well, they can never have too many, right?"

Jaemin continued to fill their cart with various cat goodies, ignoring Y/N's protests. "And look at these feather toys! Lucy loves these."

Y/N crossed their arms, not amused. "We have a drawer full of those at home."

As Jaemin reached for a bag of gourmet cat food, he suddenly froze, eyes widening. "Y/N, look! Over there!"

Y/N followed his gaze and saw a cute kitten in the adopt aisle, batting at a feather toy with wide, innocent eyes. Jaemin's face lit up. They couldn't help but coo at it.

Jaemin, sensing an opportunity, sidled up beside them. "Isn't that kitten the cutest thing you've ever seen?"

Y/N sighed, torn between their love for animals and practicality. "Jaemin, we can't just keep adopting cats every time we come here. We already have three to take care of!"

Jaemin pouted, eyes pleading. "But just look at its little face, Y/N! It needs a loving home."

Y/N gently touched the kitten's paw through the cage bars, smiling. "I know, but we need to take care of the ones we have first. Maybe in a few months, we can think about it."

Jaemin reluctantly nodded, placing the kitten back in its cage. "Fine, but I'm going to visit it every day until we can bring it home."

Y/N chuckled, giving Jaemin a playful nudge. "Of course, Jaemin. I wouldn't expect anything less from you, cat dad." Jaemin chuckled at the nickname

And so, with their cart full of cat supplies and one new addition to their household on their minds, Jaemin and Y/N headed home to pamper their beloved feline family.

A few weeks had passed since Jaemin and Y/N's trip to the pet store. True to his word, Jaemin visited the cute kitten in the adoption aisle every day, forming a special bond with it. Luna, Lucy, and Luke, on the other hand, were enjoying the newfound attention they received with all the new toys and treats in the house.

One evening, as Jaemin was petting the kitten through the cage bars, a familiar face appeared beside him. It was the store's adoption counselor, Ms. Park.

"Jaemin, I've seen you here quite a lot lately," she said with a warm smile.

Jaemin blushed, scratching his head. "Yeah, I can't help it. This little one here stole my heart."

Ms. Park chuckled. "I can see that. Well, I have some good news for you. Someone's interested in adopting this kitten."

Jaemin's heart sank. He had grown so attached to the kitten, but he understood that giving it a loving home was the most important thing. "Oh, I see. I hope they'll take good care of it."

Just as Jaemin was about to walk away, Ms. Park stopped him. "Actually, they mentioned they were looking for someone who had experience with cats, and they wanted to adopt from a home with other cats. Do you think you'd be interested?"

Jaemin's eyes lit up with hope. "Really? You mean we can adopt the kitten?"

Ms. Park nodded. "Yes, it seems like a perfect match. They're coming by tomorrow to meet you and the kitten."

Overjoyed, Jaemin rushed home to share the news with Y/N. "Guess what, Y/N? We can adopt the kitten!"

Y/N grinned, happy to see Jaemin's excitement. "That's great news, Jaemin. Luna, Lucy, and Luke will have a new friend."

The next day, the prospective adopter arrived at their home, and it was clear that they were cat lovers too. Luna, Lucy, Luke, and the new kitten all seemed to get along instantly. It was a perfect fit.

As they signed the adoption papers, Jaemin couldn't help but feel grateful. Sometimes, fate had a way of bringing the right people and cats together. With four happy feline friends now, their home was even more filled with love and purrs.

[maternity-morningstar]

Oooooooooohhhh

💜Surprises?😻

(What are you planing for him..?💚)

Angel: Well, for starters, after breakfast and opening presents, we’re planning a relaxing day for him. A bit of pampering, you might say. Since it’s Sinsmas and no one should be working, I’m going to give Luci a much deserved full body massage

Husk: Yeah, and after that, we’ve got some of his favorite classic movies lined up for a little home theater experience. Thought he could use some downtime.

Alastor: And I’ve set up a little something in the lounge. Let’s just say, it’s a surprise that involves music and a bit of nostalgia. He’ll love it, trust me. Not to mention we’ve also got a special dinner planned tonight. All of his favorite dishes, cooked to perfection.

Husk: We just want him to relax and enjoy the day. No stress, no worries. Just good food, good company, and a bit of pampering.

[tokkias]

Okay I just saw your juvia reading Lucy’s articles and how they’re best friends and wanted to know if you had any friendship head cannons? I personally think that juvia and lucy have sleepovers sometimes and do their full on spa pampering and gossip together. Juvia totally showed lucy some conditioner that helps with keeping your hair soft because juvia is often in the water and that can dry your hair out. Other than levy juvia also knows of Lucy’s crush and is soooo supportive because she knows how hard it was for gray so juvia is more just there to listen and give advice rather than push lucy. They did a unison raid like they love each other and I’m always here for girls supporting girls! Anyways hope you’re doing well!

yes!!! sigh sigh mashima has really shafted these two for the whole. love rival thing when they literally!! have such good friendship potential <3

juvia and lucy are girl talk buddies fr

both of them grew up pretty isolated so they never had anyone to just gossip and talk about "girl stuff", so to speak

juvia has tried to talk about girl stuff with gajeel but when they joined fairy tail he was like. "look at all these women who im sure are friendly and actually want to talk to you about this stuff. now leave me alone"

(she still tells him all the gossip she knows tho and he won't admit it but he wants to know everything)

she's drawn to lucy because of their experience during tower of heaven but also because lucy is one of the less intimidating women in the guild

even though lucy already has a lot of friends by the time juvia joins the guild, the two of them have a unique relationship where they quickly feel comfortable confiding in each other about their childhood's because they understand what it's like to be alone

lucy feels guilty about complaining about her childhood because she knows she had it really easy, especially compared to some of their guildmates but juvia always makes it a point to never make her feel bad about it

even though lucy is really fond of juvia she gets sick of the love rival stuff immediately

she puts up with it under the assumption that juvia will get over it quickly but she doesn't

juvia finds out that lucy has a crush on natsu when she finally snaps on her one day, telling her that no, she's not her love rival for gray, she has no interest in gray, because she likes natsu

juvia's immediate reaction is. "oh. are you sure you can't do better?"

she supports lucy 100% because she loves her and she thinks natsu is great and wonderful too, but she also thinks he's a bit of an idiot and lucy deserves to know that

she teases her about it a lot but lucy vastly prefers this to the love rival stuff because she is also aware that natsu is an idiot, she doesn't need juvia to tell her that

juvia's not as avid a reader as lucy but when she does want to read, lucy is always her first stop for book recs

they both really like romance and if she finds a good one, lucy will always reccomend it to juvia

any time lucy reccomends a book with an aloof male love interest, juvia will gush over how he's just like gray and then spend the next hour talking about him

and lucy listens because even though she can be annoying about it sometimes, juvia is still her friend and it is a little endearing when she's not being super crazy jealous over him

stolen from @nalunalu is that juvia teaches her how to knit/crochet

lucy expresses how she'd like to learn one day and juvia says that she knows how and would be happy to teach her

the first finished project lucy makes she gifts to juvia as thanks for teaching her

sometimes they'll just spend hours together knitting or crocheting in silence, just enjoying each other's company <333

[fandomworld9728]

Only Love Can Hurt Like This - Chapter 2:

Lucifer could barely contain his excitement as he put the finishing touches on his outfit. Tonight, he was going to surprise Angel with a trip to Ozzie's in the Lust Ring. The spider demon always has the roughest time at work and deserved to be pampered whenever the opportunity presented itself.

He also deserved to know who Lucifer truly was… They had been seeing each other for a year today and Angel hadn't once been concerned about his identity. Just that he was nice and liked him as is. It was… the happiest Lucifer had felt in a long time.

Hopefully Angel wouldn't treat him differently when he found out. Maybe then he'd let the king help him get out of that horrible deal. He hated how the sinner's boss would treat him but respected his wishes of not interfering. For now.

Lucifer was all about free will and owning up to your actions. However, when it came to someone that he cared about… he could be a bit overbearing. Besides, no one deserved to be treated like that. Ever. It didn't help that Angel Dust was a stubborn guy.

Which was perfectly fine with the fallen angel. Even in this shitty situation he had gotten himself into, no matter how broken he became, Angel Dust still held on. Still shine and was a picture of beauty. Tragic beauty, but beauty none the less. 

Fuck. Lucifer was in love, wasn't he?

His phone ringing snapped him from his thoughts. Quickly answering when he saw Angel's name, he didn't get a chance to greet the sinner before his heart threatened to break.

"I'm sorry Luci. I can't see you anymore."

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𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕿𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖊

Books contain everlasting ink of words that nobody else has thought of writing. That is why each book, each golden page, each black word means more to society than wealth ever possibly could. Literature is the child of hopeless romantics, the dreaming poets, the heroic warriors. Each flick of a page tells us how deep the story can go, how the plot can thicken until it eventually unravels at the dreaded end. Only then, do we have to return to society as if we didn't live in our world that wasn't ours, but oh, how we wish it was.

If Eurydice was not seen with her beloved friends, or not with her wonderful plants, she would be caught with a book in her hand. Most of the time, it was a muggle book, a classic piece of literature that rarely anyone hardly ever knew or heard of.

Like her plants, she loved her books. Her dream was to swim in a library bigger than any castle, full to the absolute brim of books. However, it was a challenge to read her books without someone or something distracting her, whether it be her friends or a cat which had sneaked its way inside the castle.

Eurydice was reading one of her favourite books Little Women, just about to begin the final chapter when Sirius Black decided to lay across her lap, like a puppy craving attention.

"Hello." Sirius grinned, flashing his pearly white teeth to the girl who huffed and placed her book down by her side on the couch.

"Sirius, what are you doing?" Eurydice grinned slightly, finding the boy's natural puppy eyes to be humorous.

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Well to me, it looks like you've morphed into a dog. Perhaps a golden retriever or maybe a chihuahua."

"Hey! I'm no bitchy chihuahua. And I'm no dog either."

The girl laughed, Sirius' childlike pout making her irritation towards the boy dissipate.

"What are you, then?"

"I'm just a guy, lying on a girl, asking her to run her fingers through my hair 'cause it feels nice and I deserve to be pampered." Sirius smiled when Eurydice laughed even louder, putting songbirds to shame.

"You're right, Siri, you do deserve to be pampered." Giving in to his moronic, albeit charming tactics, she began to run her fingers through his soft black strands, which always seemed to shine with the light of candles or the Moon.

Sirius sighed, closing his eyes and sinking further into the girl, trapping her with him forever. If he didn't have that forever, didn't have her forever, he would repel the meaning of the word 'forever'. She was the meaning of the word.

"I wish I wasn't here." Remus muttered, witnessing the scene in front of him with disgust in his eyes. Disgust for Sirius' dog-like behaviour.

"Then leave, Moony." Sirius murmured, feeling himself fall into the lake of sleep.

"Where the bloody else can I go? Everywhere I go, there's a couple snogging. I swear there was a couple shagging in Professor McGonagall's classroom."

"No way, in Minnie's room? I mean that's just fucking low." Sirius opened his eyes and turned his head towards Remus, frowning with furrowed eyebrows as if he was outraged.

"Coming from the guy who shagged Lucy Moore in Slughorn's office."

Eurydice gasped. "That was you?"

Sirius grimaced, remembering how the air turned stiff where he and the aforementioned girl strolled out the office with clothes hanging off, makeup all over their faces and hickeys decorating their necks, to come to face with Slughorn himself.

"Listen, I am deeply ashamed of it."

"Not more ashamed of the time you were snogging Alissa Croft and you fell on Professor's Sprout cat?"

"Sirius! Not Daisy!" Eurydice stared at Sirius as if she was horrified about his shameful (yet outrageous) secrets.

"Okay, I am sorry, but why in the bloody hell does she have that cat in the first place? It just eats all her fucking plants!"

"That's not an excuse to kill it, Sirius."

The boy groaned, rolling his eyes before glaring at Remus, who was grinning smugly whilst reading the newspaper.

"I didn't kill the stupid thing. And even if I did, it would've been its own fault. I mean, it might've done it on purpose. Do you really think that a woman who sends what, 30 odd kids into the hospital wing each week, takes good care of a cat?"

"I can't believe you nearly killed Daisy." Eurydice frowned, stopping her motions of essentially petting Sirius' hair.

"I didn't nearly kill the cat, take no notice of Remmy and his stupidity." Sirius placed her hand back on his hair again, trying to get the lovely, relaxing sensation of her fingers dragging through his hair once more.

"Yeah, just ignore me. Like how Sirius ignored the cat when it hopped around with a broken leg."

"You broke Daisy's leg?" Eurydice's hand shot back from his hair, gaping at Sirius with shock behind her eyes.

Sirius covered his face with his hands, clearly frustrated with Remus' antics of, what it seemed like, ruining a perfectly peaceful moment between the boy and his love.

"Moony, I'm going to kill you." Sirius' bold statement came out muffled due to the block of his hands, yet Remus still heard.

"Yeah, you will." He murmured, grinning to himself whilst directing his attention to the newspaper in his hands.

─── ⋆⋅⋅⋆ ───

Throughout the rest of the day, Eurydice never had another opportunity to finish her book, distraction after chaos after scandal. She wasn't particularly annoyed with her friends; however, she craved serenity and silence to read one more chapter of her beloved book, one that she had read a thousand times, one that she would read a thousand more.

She decided to sneak into the library after curfew, a rule that she had broken many times, to read her book. No one would be in there, especially at half 10 at night.

Being inconspicuous, she had borrowed James' invisibility cloak and walked slowly to the library, cautious of any teachers or prefects patrolling the castle. She was fortunate, no one was patrolling where she walked. The girl had finally reached the library, where she shrugged off the cloak and folded it into a neat square before opening the library door.

Regulus Black.

Regulus Black was sitting there.

Regulus Black was sitting there, reading what it seemed to be a potions book.

Regulus Black was a prefect.

Eurydice stopped breathing, her eyes widening whilst she remained frozen by the door, as if being charmed into a statue.

Cold, blue eyes landed on hers, his frown cracking its way into her brain where it remained and created a sense of trouble, of danger. You should not be here, it said.

"You are not allowed in here." A voice, monotone yet with a variety of emotions, rung in her ears, willing her to step further into the library.

"I-I know, I just.. I just wanted to read." She gazed at the wooden floor beneath her feet, silently panicking whilst Regulus turned back to his book, caring more about potion ingredients and tips than the girl in front of him.

"Read in your common room, then." He murmured.

"Yes, well it is a bit... rowdy at the moment." She nervously chuckled, thinking back to how the boys were singing Queen whilst the girls were screaming for them to be silent.

"It is still not an excuse to be roaming around the castle past curfew." Regulus turned a page, his eyes following black ink.

"I understand that but... I just really want to finish my book. I haven't had a chance to finish it all day and I... I just have one more chapter left. Please let me stay." She begged, holding her book close to her chest whilst she bit her lip anxiously.

Regulus turned his glance towards her, analysing her as if she was the words on the page in front of him. Did he find her as interesting as the piece of literature, or duller and more lifeless?

"...Will you promise not to bother me?"

"Yes! Yes, I won't bother you at all." She enthusiastically nodded to accentuate her point, pursing her lips whilst widening her eyes in hopes that he would let her stay instead of pushing her into more trouble.

He sighed. "Fine, then you may stay."

She smiled at him, grateful for his unexpected generosity, though it was ignored as his ocean eyes turned back to his book.

Eurydice sat two tables away from him, as to give him space and truly not bother him at all. She sat, facing him whilst she read her book, finally satisfied to be finishing her book. Her eyes scanned the words, yet the words were not understood. Her brain was yet still occupied, occupied with thoughts that should not have been the centre of her mind, not when she had an amazing piece of literature in front of her.

Regulus Black.

Regulus Black was Sirius' little brother, though only with a nine-month difference. The Black family was a family of immense wealth, status, and power. They were the bourgeoisie of the wizarding world, with their luxurious mansions and their gold and silver platters that merely became common. House-elves were the floors they walked on, with their shoulders raised and their noses high. Yet all the wealth meant nothing compared to their pureblood mania. They were what the wizarding world should've been. They were perfection. They were pure. Most of all, they were Tom Riddle's most devoted followers, and most of the Black family were Death-Eaters, disciples of Tom Riddle that committed horrendous crimes to gain just a glimpse of praise from their master. The ones who refused to become such dark monstrosities had to learn to live without a family.

From the way Sirius had discussed him, had evaluated his flaws, and spat at the way he seemed to be, Eurydice thought he would be just like the rest of his family, perhaps worse. Regulus was... quiet. Regulus was orphic.

Eurydice cursed herself; if Sirius knew she was in the same room as Regulus, alone, he would've done something that nobody could have ever predict. That was the most frightening part of Sirius Black; he was unpredictable.

However, Regulus didn't seem dangerous. He seemed normal. He looked like a student, just like everyone else. If he truly hated muggle-borns, he would've cursed the girl, would've screamed at her to leave. But no. He had let her stay. Quite peacefully.

Serenity. That was all she wanted, the entire day. He provided her that.

Truly, how atrocious could he be?

She stuck to her promise, never once bothered him, not even to cough or clear her throat or turn her page too loudly. She eventually finished her book and stood up from her chair, quietly, to leave.

When she stood up, their eyes connected. His eyes contained waves in them, navy blue waves that crashed into hers, but she didn't drown. It was a comfort, like a thunderstorm outside whilst you stay inside.

His eyes softened from their harsh gaze, just for a split second, before remembering their supposedly cruelty, and he returned to his book, gripping it tighter as if to improve his concentration.

It killed her not to say goodbye or even wave, like she was raised to do, but she knew better than to disturb the perfect silence that she had created for him, and instead she left, making sure to close the library door.

Regulus Black.

The boy reminded her of the Moon.

─── ⋆⋅⋅⋆ ───

[isca-tide]

6x04 Aaron experiencing the trauma of his assault. Me experiencing the trauma of getting closer to *that* episode. Help. Blair. No. You're a bad person and you should feel bad. Oh god I forgot it was this episode. More people letting Lucy down. Her hiding her hands in her cardi. My poor baby. God I love Aaron and Tim's relationship. Why are you doing this to uuuuusssss. Celina, your favourite TO will be Lucy, you just haven't experienced her wonderful guidance properly yet. God Aaron has the most expressive face. He's a really wonderful actor. I hope he goes far in his career outside of The Rookie. I know he does a lot of voice acting, but he's a brilliant live actor as well. Nolan, yes, that is 100% on you. Harper, Lopez. Really? Really?! I'm disappointed and mad. Yes, it's Lucy's job but be a little nicer about it. She's meant to be your friend. You know she's hurting. Come on. Hanging up on her as well? Harper, I expected better of you, honestly. Surely that'd be a suitable 'punishment' for Celina and Nolan to guard the vomit? I can't even enjoy Tim and Aaron being adorable. I'm just mad and disappointed in Harper and Lopez. Okay, I can enjoy it a little bit. Tim really is a great TO. I loved him in Metro and I'm not 100% sure he's going back to being a TO in S7, he might just be back to being a LAPD sergeant, but he's a good teacher. Look, I love Celina getting recognition but I don't know why they're getting such big attention for stumbling onto this. Grey, go recognise Lucy's work right now. Yes, I'm bitter. Anyway, are there any fics with Tim pampering Lucy after they leave the station? Just a nice cute fluff fic of them going for dinner, having little cuddles and some sexytimes, just relaxing and being cute and him making her feel better? I've seen some good comfort fics for after the shooting, but I'm not sure I've seen any for mid-episode. Aaron, my poor angel. Blair, you back the fuck off. I know you're a good therapist but seriously fuck off. I am full of anger today and I want to protect my babies. God Lucy is so badass. I know she took risks here she shouldn't have, I know she wanted to prove herself, but she was fucking badass. She tried to protect the patient and she protected Bailey and the other paramedic. She didn't let a suspect escape. Lucy fucking Chen, fist of justice. Nyla and Angela are senior officers here, they could have said no. Yes, she is a smart girl. She better get that recognition in S7 I swear to god. Oh my love. My poor poor Lucy. Poor Opal as well, honestly. Yes, Bailey. You give Lucy the respect she deserves. The only fucking one. You're up like 20 places on my good list now, girl. God it hurts that no-one could ever give her a glance. A sympathetic look. Nolan didn't even offer to go see her as her union rep? Oh but Tim. Tim speeding to be with her. Didn't even get changed out of uniform. Also Wesley?! Come on. And Grey, I know you gave him a look and told her she could go home and did the tiniest of sympathetic smiles, but not even a pat on the shoulder. Or a 'are you okay?' after she's been cleared? Gah. It just. Compared to whenever anyone else goes through this, they all just seem so happy to leave her alone. Anyone else they'd have snuck in or given them a sympathetic look or sad smile. Something comforting. Nyla and Angela were involved so they can't until she's been cleared, but why aren't they at the hospital too waiting to hear what happens? To give her support? Show her some respect? At least Aaron asks after her but still. Thank god for Tim. They haven't even let her clean the blood off her face! I was so mad I forgot to talk about the comfort Chenford scene. Which was gorgeous. The music and angles were really lovely. The concern in his face when he races in, when he gets to her, touches her hair. Her voice is so small and broken. She's shaking and anxious and can't stop fidgeting. "We'll deal with it". "Let's go home". And the hug. The forehead kiss. Cradling her. Rocking her. Her hand against his heart and his against her head. I can't.

Lucy is not okay, and it's not just about the shooting, and no-one outside of Tim can see that and it bothers me.

[carrotcakecrumble]

Charioteer characters and whether or not they’re a cat or dog person:

Laurie: DOG (all caps because no surprise and cannot emphasis enough)

Ralph: Cat (maybe controversial but I’m sorry I’m right - he’d name it something pretentious as well. ‘Is Socrates all done with his wittle dindins?🥺🥺🥺🤏🤏🤏’)

Andrew: all creatures great and small (but secretly dogs)

Nurse Adrian: she’s a cat lady 100%

Reg: cat (hear me out, he’s a gentle soul deep down. He’d love a little lap cat.)

Madge: a dog’s gal if I ever seen one

Dave: big senior dog energy (a little Scottie or one of those scraggly white ones with chunks stuck in it’s moustache)

Sandy: dog (only because he couldn’t take the rejection from a cat)

Alec: cat (in the villain-sitting-in-a-swivel-chair kind of way)

Bim: going off script and don’t ask me to elaborate but - budgie

Bunny: CAT big time (and going against canon- I don’t think he’d leave it to starve I think he’d pamper it like a queen with every bed, bowl and toy known to man - it would eat tins of tuna every night off of a little breakfast tray decorate with a flower vase)

Lucy: she doesn’t deserve anything after Gyp I’m still angry

Straike: ^^^ same situation

[outrunningthedark]

It's the "Eldest child phenomena" with this fandom, which to be fair happens all the time to products with spinoffs. What Tim is doing is equivalent to sending his eldest child to a drunk aunt who listens to the child on a good day at best while pampering his second child with all the attention he can give. Of course the eldest child is going to get mad and the hatred is twisted to into seeing the younger sibling in negative light every time. Of course the younger sibling is happy because they're given attention and care, and that's the crux of the problem with this situation; OG isn't given the attention it deserves its fanbase develop hatred over LS fandom because the show gets the original showrunner's time and idea. Every complaint/idea OG has for the show is instead used to better LS, whoever on OG fandom's position will get mad from that.

While some attitude from OG fandom is awful, isn't it understandable when the "parents" are at fault for seemingly giving preferential treatment?

This is a detailed (yet comprehensible) way of putting it, nonnie. I applaud you. I don't have a problem with anyone not liking/caring for LS, but the problem definitely lies in what you've pointed out - they're mad at what's happened to OG since LS got off the ground and instead of being direct about it (because criticizing the show one too many times will get you ostracized by this group of sycophants), they take their feelings out on the fans of the other show and the actors. (I mean, we should realize by now that saying "nothing" is good about LS implies every actor sucks at their job and is not worth watching, but okay!) And tbh...it does feel like the "hate" took off after the crossover year (because people were liking Eddie and Marjan's friendship and headcanoning future story lines for Tarlos and Buddie and wanting Grace to link up with them the next time, etc. etc...) which was s3 for LS and (surprise, surprise) s5 for OG. Once it became clear that Tim had jumped ship to look after the ones who needed more supervision...and once OG fandom saw that they were getting the better rescues and the canon m/m ship was still in love and getting engaged while we went through a full season of Ana, TayKay, and whatever the hell Kristen tried to do with Lucy...that bitterness was hard to hold in. One thing that makes me laugh is how OG fandom will say "Why can't my faves be happy? :(" But then scoff at the gay couple getting engaged in the third season (Bathena's courtship was much quicker, btw) because...they're happy? What? Three seasons is pretty good for a pair that has one actor who does not need to be part of every episode. They rushed into a relationship, not the altar ffs.

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

Modern family has a lot of ideas. How did Estinien handle Esme's running phase. The phase wherein kids would like to bolt the first chance they get or basically running for their life phase

“Es, please stop wiggling so much. You can run around when we get to the park, okay?” Estinien murmured, trying to hold onto a very energetic toddler. He was spending the rest of the day with Esme, while Agnes was with H’nadia and Purple. They’re taking Agi to get pampered at a spa, so she feels wonderful when the boys come...any day now. Then they’re meeting Luci for dinner. She deserves this. My sweet Agi...

“Bapapapapapapa!” Esme babbled, tugging a strand of his hair. FUCK! OW! NO! Can’t...say...that...

“Esme, don’t pull Bapa’s hair.”

“Sworry Bapa.” She smiled sweetly and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

She’s the sweetest little girl in the world, and somehow I helped make her. Estinien chuckled and adjusted his hold on Esme. “Apology accepted, my little one. And here we--ES!” The second the pair reached the park, Esme whined and darted away from Estinien when he put her down.

“AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Esme screamed happily and running all over the enclosed children’s playground. If you think I brought her to run around WITHOUT A BLOODY FENCE, you’re out of your mind. “BAPA! BAPA! BAPAAAAAAAAAAAAA! PLAAAAAAAAAAY!” Esme yelled at Estinien, who just sat on a bench.

Rising, Estinien sighed and joined his daughter at some sort of playscape? Kids climb it? She’s too little to climb. No, no, no. “You want me to put you on the top of this?”

She shook her head. “No Bapa! Cwimb! Help cwimb!” She jumped up and down and clapped her little hands. Just like Agi...

CLIMB??!?!?! “Es, no wiggling while I help you, okay? Bapa can’t let you get hurt.” Or your grandmother will murder me in my sleep. The toddler nodded, and Estinien, taking both her hands in his, watched carefully as she climbed the first step. “Good job, Esme. Good job.”

“Tank you!”

SHE. IS. SO. CUTE. OUR DAUGHTER IS SO CUTE! “Heh, you’re welcome, little one. Next step!” With her father’s help, Esme made it to the top of the playscape and clapped. “Good job!” He held up his hand, and one of her little hands hit it. Had to teach her a high-five! And she loves it! “Want to come down, Es?”

She nodded and held out her arms. “Bapa bwing me down?”

Always. Estinien easily lifted the toddler and put her back on solid ground.

She then took off.

Again.