#but apparently it's one of her favourites 🥹

[tinylilemrys]

I have no idea when I made this for my mom, but I couldn't have been older than like 8 or 9. I'm 31 now and just found out my mom still uses this bookmark 😭💛

[604to647]

Brandy by the Fireplace

7.8K / Frankie Morales x City Girl!reader

Summary: When your best friend's boyfriend invites her up to the cabin he owns with his Delta Force buddies, she asks you to come along.

Warnings: None! Fluff! Insecurity and anxiety on reader's part, but Frankie makes it better (anxiety/comfort. My anxious girlies (gn) who think everyone hates them when they definitely don't? This one's for you 🥹). Nicknames because it's me. Oh, and Tom's alive?

A/N 1: Written and very late for @auteurdelabre's Trope Off Challenge - the trope here is Fish out of water because, well you know🤭🤭 Can be considered a Triple Frontier AU, or set before the events of the movie. Though I'm not sure I'm 100% satisfied with this and the word count got away from me, I still think it's cute and very seasonal - I hope others do too!

A/N 2: As I understand it, the cottage v. cabin lexiconic difference is a Canadian thing. When people think of cottage country, it's primarily the luxury getaway experience in the Muskokas. Super fancy! Celebrities cottage there (the Beckhams, Cindy Crawford) and the properties are huge lakefront estates. While in Western Canada, people primarily have cabins - they're more rugged, remote. In no way am I saying that cottages are better than cabins! They are just different - both enjoyable and picturesque in their own way. But you gotta know what you're in for, cause of packing and stuff... 😅😅

Trailer / CABIN dividers by @saradika-graphics 😘😘

This was such an effing mistake.

You sniffle as you sit cross-legged on the simple threadbare sheets covering the thin mattress that you’ve called bed for the last two nights.  You’re holding your favourite fleece sweater in your hands, looking at the scorch marks where flareups from tonight’s bonfire had jumped from the pit and burned multiple holes - the black charred spots on the fabric blurring as your tears finally spill over.

I shouldn’t have come.

A ruined sweater in and of itself wasn’t the end of world.  But a ruined sweater here? Tonight? It’s just the freaking cherry on top of the already disastrous sundae that was this weeklong vacation so far.

And you don’t have anyone to blame but yourself.

When your best friend Jenny begged you to come with her to her boyfriend’s cabin for a week, you had readily agreed.  You love Benny and he and Jenny are so adorable, if not a bit too overly mushy and cheesy (“We’re the better Bennifer!  Woo - Benny and Jenny!!”).  He and his old army buddies had gone in together on a cabin on a lake about seven hours out of the city at the suggestion of their Veterans Affairs therapist – something about working the land and finding serenity in nature to help them overcome some of the harder things they’ve seen over their time in service.

It apparently did wonders for them.  Both Benny and his older brother, Will, who you had met a few times, were easy going and kind men - maybe a little rough and tumble with each other sometimes, but you didn’t see it as anything more than filial comradery and brotherly love.  Jenny assured you that Benny’s other friends, Santi, Tom and Frankie were all cut from the same cloth.

Benny had invited Jenny up to the cabin for the boys’ annual Autumn weeklong trip – taking advantage of any remaining mild weather from the end of summer to clean and close up the cabin for the Fall and Winter.  All the boys would be there and Tom’s sisters had been invited as well – Jenny begged you to come for support and of course you had said yes.

Sure, you’re a city girl through and through, but this wouldn’t be your first cottaging experience.  You fondly recall the summers and Thanksgivings you had been invited to your college roommate’s family cottage in the Muskokas: crystalline waters and lush greenery bordered the beautifully landscaped acreage upon which your still close friend’s family’s 9 bedroom-9 bath modern estate resided.  Summer days were wiled away on the built-in dock lounging and reading, and the cooler temperature evenings were spent inside by one of the several contemporary fireplaces, sipping on cocktails and nibbling on charcuterie.  It was always such a treat to go - you haven’t visited in ages, but a similar getaway right now sounds like heaven.

Your first clue that perhaps this might not be the Muskoka cottage country experience you imagined, is when the last leg of your seven-hour journey in Benny’s truck was over a 30-minute dirt road so twisty and uneven that you started to feel a little nauseous. 

When you got out of the truck, you realized the true folly of your assumptions about where you were going to be staying this week.  The property could best be described as rustic and very "nature forward", the only evidence of landscaping being the dirt worn paths that led to the different cabins.  Instead of one main house, there is a Main Cabin – consisting of a living room area, place to eat, kitchen and the compound’s one bathroom.  All guests stay in individual cabins, isolated and spaced out at various points on the large property. Each so far apart and separated by the lush, dense forest, you don't even know where they all are: Upper Cabin (Benny and Jenny), Delta Cabin (Santi), Bunk Cabin (Frankie), Screened-In Veranda Cabin (You), New Cabin (Tom’s Sisters), Outhouse Cabin (no one), Grizzly Cabin (Will and Tom).

You’re not opposed to roughing it a little, but by the error of your own expectations, you’ve come thoroughly unprepared for your week’s stay.  For one thing, your cabin (as the name would suggest), along with all the others, has no windows - only screens.  Perfect for the hot summers, but with Fall coming early this year, the clothes you packed aren’t warm enough to shield you against the chill that blows over your bed each night.  For another, you find yourself sharing space with more critters that you were expecting, and not the adorable furry types either.

The frog that came out of the one toilet made you almost consider using the outhouse up by the parking lot (almost). And when you were washing your face that first night, the realization that the running tap was the only thing that was keeping the cricket from jumping out of the sink, forced you to stifle a scream that left your throat hoarse. There are all together more bugs indoors than you had expected (since you had expected windows). 

It's definitely more rustic that you’re used to, but you really do try to make the best of it.  The last thing you want is to appear rude or snobbish about the decidedly non-luxurious state of your accommodations.  Sure, it isn’t the glamourous cottage experience you had expected, but it’s still incredibly beautiful and serene here.  Moreover, you know that every cabin and amenity on the property was built by Benny and his friends and has served incredible therapeutic purpose for each of them.  You would never want to diminish that by somehow implying that the cottage isn’t… cottaging; this place serves a much more important purpose than impressing the likes of city girls guests like you.

You also don’t forget that the entire reason you’re here is to support Jenny.  Make sure she and Benny have fun.  And they are! Inseparable, giddy, googly-eyed fun.  No way are you going to ruin her perfectly good time by letting her worry about you, not when this is the first healthy relationship she’s had in years.

And honestly, everyone is so, so nice.  Benny and Will’s Delta Force teammates are as good humoured and sweet as they are.  There’s Santiago (or Santi), the unofficial leader of the crew – his hooded brown eyes look like they could tell a hundred stories, but he keeps your group entertained with the loudest and most fantastic ones, always framing his stories so that they rib at least one of his buddies.  Tom, the eldest of the friends, is more serious – the type who might exude an intimidating gravitas if you were to meet him alone, but next to the verbose energy of Benny and Santi and under the watchful eye of his sisters, he seems to relax, smiling pleasantly and genuinely while in the comforting presence of his friends.  Will, who is just as boyishly handsome as his brother, you already know to be as easy going and funny - though maybe a little less goofy than Benny.  Despite what Jenny had slyly insinuated to you before you left, you don’t think Will has any interest in you – and with Tom’s gorgeous and outgoing sisters both vying for his attention, the circumstances aren't right to try and see if there’s anything to Jenny's (and possibly Benny’s?) matchmaking. 

The last member of the friend group is Frankie, who the guys sometimes inexplicably call ‘Catfish’ – he was noticeably reserved at first, though you soon realize that he’s just as funny and generous as the others.  Frankie's steely and calm countenance seems borne out of necessity, likely from the many years of service where his competence and levelheadedness were needed to keep the other four in check, alive.  You notice that he often sits a little further back from the group, most likely out of habit, literally watching their backs; he’s quieter and less rowdy, but never fails to join in his friends’ laughter – it’s obvious to you that he loves his brothers in arms.  Once or twice, you think you feel Franke's deep, soulful eyes pointed in your direction, but when you try to meet his gaze, those same eyes disappear beneath the brim of his worn Standard Oil cap that never seems to leave his head.  You think you probably imagine it. 

Everyone is so much fun to be around, super nice and completely welcoming of you.

They just… don’t really need you here.  Well, that seems presumptuous!  Rather, there doesn’t seem to be a place for you here the same way there is for everyone else.

It was evident from the first day when the boys pulled a small catamaran out of the boathouse and attempted to try (again, from what you’re told) to put it together and get it out on the water.  Every person was asked to help pull on the trampoline netting – when it was evident that your limited strength and poor (manicured) grip on the netting wasn’t actually doing anything except making you an extra body in the way, you were relegated to standing on the side, holding a spray can of lubricant and waiting to spray it on the track if someone needed.  No one ever did.  The trampoline never got installed, and you can’t help but think it was partially because you hadn’t been able to provide the additional muscle needed.

During the day, everyone seems to engage in some type of cabin maintenance work from an unseen to-do list: painting screens, sanding down the canoe, pulling up old raspberry bushes, fixing doors and hinges in various cabins, retiling the one shower and installing a new sliding glass door, replacing the hot water pump’s aging parts, reinforcing the mesh around the young fruit trees to deter deer, repairing the older slats on the dock, removing the beaver dam under the dock, and so on and so forth.

All things you have absolutely no qualifications to help with and would likely hinder someone who did if you tried.

Jenny wasn’t terribly handy either, but she tagged along with Benny on all his chores and he didn’t mind patiently explaining and helping her help him with his tasks - the two of them giggling and in love as they winterized the boat shed.

Everyone else seems to know their daily assignments and go about their hard and dirty labour, leaving you alone to… do nothing?  It felt rude to sit out on the lawn and relax while others did work around you.  And even inside there's not much you can do; Tom’s sisters had brought up food for the first few meals and when you asked them if you could help, they insisted that they had it in hand and told you to “go have fun”.  You chastise yourself for having not asked more questions about what you and Jenny could have brought and if you and her could have signed up to cook your share of meals.

You hide out in the Main Cabin or in your own for most of the day, reading and feeling guilty - coming down periodically to chat with people but feeling like you’re distracting them from their duties.

Even after dinner when you volunteered to help do the dishes and clean-up, you were cheerfully shooed away by Santi after you couldn’t find where to put back the cutlery, then the glasses, then the lids to the pots (which were inexplicably kept separate from the pots themselves) – you’re sure there’s a system, you just don’t know what it is.

Maybe it would be different if you knew everyone better, but this is the first time you’re meeting everyone except Benny and Will.  You don’t know any of the guys particularly well but you do know that this cabin is their special place – you don’t want be a bother or ruin anyone’s good time.

To you, it's clear that you’re not carrying your weight here - the last thing you want to be is a nuisance as well. You don’t fit in and you definitely don’t belong. 

Tonight has finally felt a little more comfortable.  After a full day of work for everyone (else) and a belly bursting dinner, the boys set up a bonfire and everyone got together to roast marshmallows and make s'mores.  In addition to looking forward to the melty treats, you were secretly glad for the warmth of the fire in the chilly evening air.  Beers were cracked, marshmallows burnt, and the stories the boys told had your sides aching from so much laughter you’re sure you’ll still feel it in the morning.  But as the fire was dying, the conversation turned to what everyone’s up to tomorrow, you once again have nothing to say that's comparable to the tasks and chores listed by the others.  When Tom comments that there are still so many things to do in order to properly winterize the cabins and that it’ll be a wonder if it all gets done, you look down at your feet - face burning from the guilt and shame of being unable to contribute when help is indeed needed.  You’re sure everyone is thinking that you’re just a freeloader from the city, or worse, lazy and unwilling to put in some work.  Suddenly the last few bites of the s'more in your hand don’t look as appetizing anymore.

You excuse yourself from the group and quickly get ready for bed before heading up to your cabin for the night.  Once settled in, that’s when you discover that your sweater is full of newly burnt holes and you lose it.

Luckily, the cabins are all fairly far apart so no one can hear your crying, but your gratitude for the isolation and quiet of the cabins is short-lived; as it's been every night, the silence of the woods in the dark is deafening.  So used to the ambient noise of the city, you find that every snap of a branch or hoot of an owl slices through the night and rings out as loud as a gunshot.  You lay in bed like each night before, unable to get comfortable or calm and falling asleep only when exhaustion overtakes you.

The next morning, you wake to the sound of chirping birds and the brightness of the morning sun punctuated by the shouts and loud chatter from down near the water where people are already starting their daily chores.  Another wave of guilt and anxiety sets in as you feel like you’ve had an undeserved lie-in - resting while everyone else got up early to do work.

On your way down to the Main Cabin, you see and wave good morning to Frankie who’s transporting relatively heavy chunks of wood tucked under his beefy arms.  You don’t ask if you can help – how could you? Each stump he carries looks like it could topple you over even if you managed to lift one. 

When you get down to the lawn, you catch Will and Tom’s sisters as they head up to one of the cabins with paint cans and brushes and Will cheerily calls to you, “Saved you some breakfast!”  His completely innocent and kind pronouncement sends your already tightly strung heart into another spiral and you try not to tear up as you call back your thanks.

You eat by yourself from the plates left out for you and feel a little better when you can at least wash them and leave them in the drying rack.  Pouring yourself the coffee that’s left in the cannister, you grimace at it’s lukewarmness, but you don’t know where the grounds are kept or even how to operate the ancient stovetop coffee maker to make more, so you make do and drink it sort of sadly as you return to the dining table and open your book.

It's here where Frankie finds you a few hours after you saw him last.

He asks kindly after your book before saying he’s going to make a fresh pot of coffee and offers to top you off; when you get up to help – he tells you he’s got it before disappearing into the kitchen.  Slightly discouraged, you sit back down; unless you spy on Frankie, there’s no way for you to learn how to make the coffee here - and you’re just debating if you should do just that when he pokes his head back in, “Do you want me to show you how to make the coffee?”

Eagerly, you nod and hurry to join him in the kitchen, making note of where the fresh coffee grounds are stored and listening attentively as Frankie patiently shows you how to work the vintage contraption that Santi rescued from a yard sale.  He smiles at your willing face, wondering why you’re so fascinated by something as mundane as their overly complicated coffee maker, but when you thank him, voice almost quivering with overly emotional gratitude, Frankie’s sure there’s more to it than he’s understanding.

He's been watching you, Benny’s girlfriend pretty friend, over the last two days and can't quite figure you out.  It’s clear that you’re not used to roughing it in these types of conditions, but you don’t complain or make fun – though there is a tinge of melancholy and anxiety to the gentleness of your expressions that he does understand all too well.  You seem sweet and friendly, and Benny certainly speaks warmly of you – but for some reason, you don’t seem entirely comfortable and Frankie wouldn’t be the Army strategist he is if he didn’t notice.  Or a very good host.

“Do you want to go for a row while the coffee drips?”

“A row?”  You look up, confused.

“Yeah, in the row boat.  Come on – this old thing takes forever. We could probably get a good way to the middle of the lake and head back before it’s done,” nods Frankie, encouragingly.

This is the first time since the disastrous catamaran trampoline that anyone has asked you to do anything with them during the day, and you’re surprised by how touched you are by the simple gesture.  Unable to find the words to express how appreciative you feel, you simply nod.

Frankie pushes the old tin boat that you saw him sealing and painting on the beach yesterday partway into the water, helping you in first before pushing the boat all the way in then jumping in himself, two big wooden oars under his arm.  He sits across from you, locks the oars into the oarlocks and starts rowing; his powerful arms rotating the paddles with ease, slicing them through the clear, calm water and gently gliding the boat across the lake.

The two of you sit in silence for a bit, and you look over the side of the boat in wonder as the sand bed below slowly disappears and the water gets darker and deeper.  Sighing, you contently breathe in the fresh, crisp Fall air and enjoy the picturesque view of the far off shores and mountains before settling your gaze on the handsome man in front of you.  The ripples and flex of Frankie’s bulging muscles under his shirt as he expertly rows are near mesmerizing, every hypnotic stroke powerful and purposeful.

“You’re not having fun, are you?”

You look up, ashamed.  You've been trying so hard to hide that you're not 100% comfortable being here, it's embarrassing to get confirmation that you've failed in this regard.  Even if the others could tell you weren’t having fun, you hope you haven’t come off as an ungrateful guest or made any of your hosts feel bad.  You’re about to say so and apologize, but something about the way Frankie’s looking at you, kind and soft and not at all judgmental or accusatory, gives you pause.  It’s like he’s genuinely extending an opportunity for you to let go of what you’ve been bottling up since you got here – maybe that’s why he brought you out to the middle of the lake?  Frankie's sincere eyes bore into your own and his gentle demeanor invites you to let down your guard; deflating, you burst into tears, “I’m not!! I’m so sorry, Frankie!!”

Hurriedly, you try to compensate, “Goodness, please don’t think I’m complaining – it’s so beautiful and peaceful here, and Benny told me how much effort you guys have put into this place!  Honestly, your care and hard work really shows – everything is so nice.  It’s just really, really different from the one other cottage experience I’ve had – so I didn’t even pack right.  And I thought there would be a lot more relaxing and lazing around – I really don't know what to do with myself here.”

“Where did you cottage before?”

“The Muskokas?”

Frankie lets out such a loud, belly-shaking laugh that shakes the whole boat; you actually hold onto the sides afraid you might tip over, but find yourself beaming at having drawn out this melodic sound from the normally stoic man.

“Well, City Girl, no wonder this place was a shock to you!  The Muskokas is a very particular cottaging experience – real pretty and real glamourous.  But the rest of us?  What we have aren’t even cottages.  They’re cabins.  This is cabin country,” he laughs good naturedly.

“Right - cabins!” you grin.

“Sorry to disappoint you, City Girl.”

“No, no! Please don’t think that - I’m not disappointed at all! I just came in with the wrong expectations, that’s all.  That’s all on me, Frankie.  Really, the cabin is lovely – I was just expecting a more… cashmere sweaters and brandy snifters around the fireplace kind of a vibe.”  You hope Frankie won’t take your joke the wrong way.

Luckily, Frankie gives you another easy smile, one that reveals an adorable dimple in his right cheek you haven’t had a chance to notice before, “Yeah, we’re more of a bats in the ceiling, on-going maintenance kind of vibe.”

At this, your face falls and your own shortcomings to contribute when everyone else is working so hard claws at your chest painfully.

Frankie immediately clocks the change in your demeanor, “Hey, pretty girl, it’s okay.”

You look up at him with tears in your eyes, too distressed to notice the new nickname, “No it’s not, Frankie.  You’re right – everyone is chipping in, helping out to keep this place beautiful and running smoothly, except me.  I’m not used to this kind work, so I don’t really know what needs to get done… and even if I did… I mean you saw with the catamaran?  I’m not strong or skilled enough to do any of it.  I thought I could help out with some of the indoor stuff, like cooking and cleaning up, but I don’t know where anything is and everyone is so busy, I feel like such a nuisance bothering them even more in order to show me.  So… I don’t know what I’m doing here – it doesn’t feel right to be sitting around and reading like I’m some kind of pampered houseguest while everyone around me is working, but I also don’t think I can add value anywhere.  I just don’t think I belong out here with you guys.  And I thought I was at least hiding it well, but it's obviously noticeable how much I don’t fit in because you rowed me out here to confront me about it.  I’m sorry to be so much trouble, Frankie.”

You take a deep breath after your long speech and look down at your lap, more embarrassed than ever.

Frankie leans over from his seat, causing the boat to rock slightly and tilts your face up to his with two of his thick fingers, “You’re no trouble at all, pretty girl.  It’s okay if this place is too rustic for ya.  It’s really rustic… and that’s by design.”  He smiles reassuringly, keen to comfort you, “I know Benny told you that this cabin is sort of therapy for us guys?  We saw some... less-than-ideal things on a lot of our missions.  All our missions, actually.  The VA counsellors suggested that we try and work through having seen so much that’s been broken, and maybe even having done some of the breaking ourselves, by getting a project where we come together as a team to focus on improving and building.  It’s meant to need constant ongoing maintenance and have a never-ending list of chores so we can put our energy into building up instead of what we used to do… tearing down.  For the most part, the cabin has been good for us – working with our hands, being responsible for something that isn’t life or death, working towards a common goal where we can be together and enjoy each other’s company in a setting that’s not… exploding.”

Frankie chuckles at his little joke so not to scare you off with the intensity of the topic.  He’s relieved to see that your expression is one of sympathy and understanding, your eyes warm and gentle.  He thinks your eyes are beautiful, deep, kind – he might easily get lost in them if he didn’t remember that he’s supposed to be comforting you, “It really is meant for the five of us to be putting in the work, but I know what you’re saying, it’s not a great feeling to be left out, even if you know no one’s doing it on purpose.  I’m sorry – we should be better hosts.  You’re our guest.”

You start to shake your head in protest at this, but Frankie stops you when he picks up the oars and dips them back in the water to start rowing again, “Tell you what, it’s my turn to make lunch today - why don’t you come and help me.  I’ll show you where we keep everything so you’ll know in case you ever want to… help out in the kitchen again.  I promise you can ask me any questions you want and it won’t bother me at all.”

Perking up at Frankie’s generous offer, you nod happily, “Okay! Thank you, Frankie – that’s really sweet of you.”  It’s probably the first truly joyful smile you’ve smiled since you got here and Frankie thinks you look radiant.

The two of you glide slowly across the still lake in comfortable silence, Frankie purposefully not putting too much power into his oar strokes.  Trying to discreetly wipe your cheeks, you feel their warmth as you spy on the handsome man across from you through your tear dotted lashes.  You feel so safe and cared for - your heart grateful that Frankie noticed you were out of sorts despite having only met you a few days ago and was considerate enough to ask after you.

His teasing voice cuts through your thoughts, “Is there anything else, City Girl?”

“Hmmmmm?”

“Is there anything else that's been bothering you while you’re out here?”

You bite your lip and shake your head; Frankie has been so kind, you don’t want to push it and appear to complain.

“Come on, I know there is.  Go on, pretty girl.”

Pretty girl – there’s that term of endearment again.  This time when you hear it, your heart swells and your face flushes – and maybe your thighs press together a little, too.  To try and cover up your reaction, you spill your last embarrassing grievance, “Ummmm… it’s kind of spooky at night.”

Frankie booms another side-splitting, deep rumble of a laugh and you instantly feel better, “It’s just sooooo quiet and everyone is so far from one another.  I guess I’m used to background city noises and the feeling of people being around.  It's been a bit unsettling laying in the dark in silence, hearing every little twig snap.” You cover your eyes, “Plus I packed so poorly for the trip because I thought it was going to be a… cottage.  I definitely didn’t bring warm enough clothes.  I brought a TON of self-care stuff though – maybe I should try layering some face masks.” It feels so good to be able to lightheartedly make fun of yourself again.

Frankie laughs with you, then looks thoughtful, “Ok, ok, the chilliness I think I can help you out with.  The spookiness… got to circle back to that.”

“Thanks, Frankie.”  You mean it sincerely.  Even having been able to talk to him about your unease makes you dread the upcoming night a lot less.

Back at the beach, Frankie hops out of the boat and reaches in to help you out - when your fingers touch his, a little spark lingers and your heartbeat picks up a bit.  Hand in hand, the two of you walk back to the Main Cabin together, not letting go until you enter the kitchen.

---

After Frankie patiently shows you the pantry, the freezers, and where all the kitchen items are, he makes sure you have a passing familiarity with everything before the two of you make wraps for everyone.  You find him to be endearingly funny, terribly sweet, and a wonderful conversationalist – Frankie tells you about his work and adventures as a charter pilot, and listens intently as you answer his questions about your work and life in the city.  You almost regret calling everyone in for lunch, but the feeling of being able to offer people something after their morning of hard work has brightened your spirits significantly - it feels like a tremendous weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

You don’t know that the obvious change in your countenance fills Frankie with pride and joy, nor do you see the way he gazes at you with fondness as you cheerfully hand out the wraps or when you jump up after lunch is over and hurry to clear the table.

The next day, you’re returning from a solo walk along the trail that runs behind the cabins on the bay, when you come upon an unfamiliar noise as you approach the boys’ property. 

It sounds like a loud and sharp sudden crack accompanied by a low manly grunt, then followed by a couple of softer thuds.  The echoing combination repeats it self at slightly varying intervals and gets progressively louder until you come upon its source.

From behind a large Spruce tree, you see that it’s Frankie chopping wood.

Frankie repeatedly brings his axe down on the log pieces he’s set up on the chopping block with precision and power.  His sweat soaked shirt is stretched taut across his broad back, the damp fabric doing nothing but accentuate the thick muscles that flex and contract with every burly movement.

Though Frankie’s breathing is heavy, you can tell he isn’t even close to being winded - his strength and rugged athleticism evident by the way he relentlessly labours on, splitting log after log.

Every subsequent swing of the axe captivates you further; a wetness pools in your mouth that you have to force yourself to swallow, lest it spill over and you get caught drooling.

"Wanna give me a hand, City Girl?"

Shit.

Emerging from behind what you now realize looks like a hiding spot, you give Frankie a sheepish smile, “Oh, ummm… you look like you have it pretty well handled.  Not sure if I could even make a dent in one of those logs.”

Frankie takes off his signature cap and uses the back of the same hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead - he chuckles and his eyes twinkle, “Could you help me gather and stack the wood I split onto that rack over there?  And bring me new logs to chop from that other pile there?”

You nod enthusiastically.  Frankie’s making work for you and you’re so thankful and excited to help.

For the next hour, you run around gathering the firewood that Frankie splinters and set him up with fresh logs.  When you apologize that it takes you so long to carry the larger rounds to him, he tells you not to worry – it gives him a chance to catch his breath and take a much-needed rest.  You don’t tell Frankie that he doesn’t look like he needs any rest at all – your own quickened breaths have very little to do with physical exertion and more to do with ogling Frankie’s broad and brawny frame, and the way the entirety of his strapping body is thrown into each axe swing, every muscle engaged, tensed.  It’s similar to the way he looked when he effortlessly rowed the two of you in the tin boat across the lake, but like… a hundred times more burly.

You try to distract yourself from openly drooling at Frankie’s sweat soaked torso by expertly arranging the firewood on the rack so that it fits perfectly together like a Tetris puzzle.  When the last piece has been placed on top, Frankie marvels that the firewood storage has never looked more organized and with one hand still holding on to his axe, he takes your soft hand in his other and leads you down to lunch.

Over the next couple of days, you notice that Frankie goes out of his way to make sure you’re not alone or hiding out in any of the cabins.

He takes you out in Benny’s truck to run in-town errands like picking up additional groceries or getting gas for the boat.  These trips are always filled with fun and easy conversation and end with a treat at the ice cream shop on the main road.  Frankie teases you on how you always flit from freezer to freezer, determined to try a flavour you’ve never had, and you groan at how he sticks to his tried-and-true mint chocolate chip.

You’re getting bolder at offering to do the indoor, more domestic tasks and chores that you know you have the skills to handle like making meals and cleaning up; more often than not, without you asking, Frankie will join you in the kitchen.  Even though you tell him to relax and that he deserves rest after his physical exertions of the day, Frankie stays and hangs out - casually drying dishes, tasting your sauces, leaning his massive figure against the counter and discreetly pointing to various cabinets and drawers when you forget where things go.

Frankie makes you laugh with his quippy jokes and clever little observations, and he makes your cheeks warm with his subtle and sweet flirting.  But mostly, he makes you feel so included, relaxed and accepted – his kindness at having taken you under his wing and giving priority to your comfort and enjoyment at the cabin makes your heart positively sing. 

Since the day he took you out on the rowboat, Frankie has come to visit you in the Screened-In Veranda cabin every night.  The first night, it’s to bring you extra blankets and one of his thick hoodies – all of it you accept gratefully; he also brings a pack of playing cards and the two of you play Big Two until you can barely keep your eyes open. Making sure you're bundled up in his hoodie, Frankie leaves you to sleep under a comically thick stack of blankets and happily swathed in his manly musk.

The next night, he brings you an old worn box of Rummy-O, explaining that he and the boys try to buy old games from garage sales to bring up to the cabin, even ones they’ve never played before.  You’ve never played either, and for the next few nights, you and Frankie spread the tiles over your bedspread and become Rummy-O experts, stopping only when you’re too tired to keep playing - then and only then does Frankie leave you before traipsing back to his own cabin.

Embarrassingly, it takes you until tonight to figure out what he's up to.

“I know what you’re doing,” you grin in the dimly lit cabin as Frankie dons a Korean face mask and lets you give him a cuticle oil treatment.

“I’m getting pampered,” Frankie murmurs from where he lays, careful not to move his face lest the sheet mask slips.

“You’ve been keeping me company every night until I get sleepy so I don’t have to lie here in the dark and be scared,” you look at him warmly, in awe of this tender-hearted man’s goodness.

You see one eye open in the eye hole cut-out of the mask and the corners of the one for the mouth tug up a little, “Has it been working?”

“Yes and thank you.  And I think your hoodie and the blankets you brought really helped too – the nights feels way cozier now.”

“Good.  I’m glad.  Now do you have anything that’s going to help with these bags under my eyes?”

You cackle, sure that the sound of your and Frankie’s joint laughter must carry clear across the lake.

It’s the last night at the cabin and the whole group is out tonight for another bonfire.  You’re nice and snug in Frankie’s hoodie, giggling with Jenny, who you feel like you’ve barely seen this whole week – she fills you in on all eight hundred of the adorable things Benny has done for her this week and you’re over the moon seeing her so completely in love.  The entire group is in great spirits, toasting to another successful season at the cottage, all the shared memories, new and old stories to tell, and the delicious food eaten over this week.  Your dinners for the latter half of the week are praised, and when you bury your face in the oversized sleeves of Frankie's hoodie in embarrassment, you feel his strong arm curl proudly around your shoulders and you positively kvell. 

The drinks flow liberally tonight with no one needing to wake up early and the only chore on anyone’s list being packing.  About halfway through tonight’s bonfire, Frankie slips away from the group; everyone is too caught up in their own conversations to notice it, but you immediately miss having his comforting presence close by.  You’re just about to ask Jenny for the tea on why Tom’s sisters seemed to be giving Will the cold shoulder when you hear Frankie’s dulcet baritone low in your ear, “Hey, City Girl, can I show you something?”

Getting up, you leave the others at the bonfire and follow Frankie back into the Main Cabin.  He ushers you towards the main living room and when you enter, the sight that greets you stops you in your tracks with a gasp.  The darkened room is lit bright and warm from the fire that Frankie’s laid in the fireplace, the flames crackling slow and calm – he must have been stoking it for a while.  In front of the glowing fire is a little carpeted area with cushions arranged purposefully to create a makeshift sitting area.  In the middle sits two brandy snifters filled with an amber gold liquid.

“Frankie, what’s all this?” you exclaim, eyes bright as you turn to look at the handsome, affectionate man who brought you here.

Gesturing for you to sit down in front of the gently roaring fire and handing you one of the glasses as you settle in, Franke shyly explains, “Wasn’t able to swing any cashmere sweaters, but I wanted to give you your brandy by the fireplace cottage experience.”

Rendered speechless by how cute and thoughtful Frankie is - all you can do is give him a doe-eyed look of awe as you sip the liquor he managed to procure.  For you.

“Thank you, Frankie.  This is perfect.  But if I’m being honest, I’ve quite warmed up to the cabin experience,” you tease.

“Good,” the tenor of Frankie’s voice is warm with the undercurrent of what’s not yet been spoken out loud.

As you both enjoy your fireside libations, you joke and flirt, keeping the conversation light - somehow tip-toeing around what’s happening between the two of you.  Your bodies, though, pay your shyness no mind, inching closer and closer until you’re practically in Frankie’s lap.  The conversation grows quieter as words are replaced by looks of longing and want until all you seem to be doing is studying the dark and rough lines of Frankie’s face, the plushness of his lips, the adorable heart shaped patch in his facial scruff.

With one final sip of brandy, the soothing burn of the liquor down your throat gives you that final push of liquid courage and you drop your gaze from Frankie’s soft chocolate brown eyes down to his waiting mouth.  Not so innocently, you lick you lips at the sight.

Then Frankie is on you, crashing his lips to yours – the empty snifters rolling away on the carpet as you pour yourself into his mouth, open wide and inviting.  This first kiss is nothing short of sensual and desperate, the feelings that have been simmering over the past week boiling over until you’re both a mess of tongues, moans and clashing teeth.

“Oh Frankie,” your soft whimpers a welcomed song to his ears, Frankie returns your sentiments by licking behind your teeth, exploring and stroking into your receptive mouth with a fiery passion.  His hands maneuver you to straddle him so that he can better feel you, roaming your back until one hand comes to a rest at the nape of your neck, the other under one of the pert globes of your ass, using them as leverage to press you flush against his chest.

As your hands go to run through Frankie’s soft waves, you knock his favourite cap onto the ground and you giggle loudly when it lands near the now forgotten brandy snifters with a little thud.  Frankie feels himself harden at the melodic sound.

You make out like teenagers, tongues dancing and teeth nibbling until you both run out of air and have no choice to break apart, panting.

“Been wanting to do that since I saw you your first day here, City Girl,” admits Frankie, eyes tender and sincere as he rests his forehead against yours.

Leaning in to lightly peck his lips, you’re surprised but can’t help teasing, “What took you so long, Morales?”

Frankie chuckles, though his eyes flash with a bolt of insecurity, “Wasn’t sure you would want to.  Benny said something about how he wanted to try and set you up with Will.”

Your face scrunches up with astonishment - so Jenny wasn’t just being facetious!  But you quickly cup Frankie’s face and run your thumbs reassuringly through his adorable scruff, “I don’t know anything about that.  But what I do know is that I can’t resist a kind hearted, handsome man who goes out of his way to take care of me, never judges me and makes me feel comfortable without pushing me to be someone I’m not.  You, Frankie – I can’t imagine wanting anyone but you to kiss me.”

Taking this as the invitation it is, Frankie slots his mouth over yours once more.  This second kiss is slower, deeper, and full of promise.  You sigh as Frankie’s tongue slides over yours in a slow and intimate waltz and his lips find yours again and again and again.

“Querida,” he murmurs, “when we get back to the city, can I take you out to dinner?”

Grinning at having earned yourself another nickname, you tuck yourself into the nook under Frankie’s chin and press one, two, three soft kisses to his neck while nodding, “I’d love that, Frankie.”

The next morning you wake up well rested, with a strong arm banded over your body and Frankie’s hard chest pressed up against your back.  Slipping slowly back to consciousness, you can’t help but smile as the memories of the previous night come flooding back.  Frankie came back up to your cabin with you and stayed to keep you company as he had the previous nights, but instead of games or spa treatments, he kept you awake with the hard and soft kisses of his expert mouth and innocent touches that by the end of the night, didn’t feel quite so innocent anymore.  Lips swollen after hours of making out, Frankie had tucked in with you under the covers and held you close, lulling you to sleep with evenness of his breathing and the soothing rise and fall of his chest.  Rolling over, you find Frankie already slowly blinking awake, “Good morning, City Girl.  Did you sleep okay?”

You nod into his shoulder, “Slept perfect, Frankie.  Coziest night here with my own personal furnace.”

Frankie chuckles, “I like waking up with you like this, pretty girl.  Like seeing you wearing my clothes, too.”

Shyly, you gaze into Frankie’s eyes, heart beating faster at his look of adoration, “I like it too, Frankie.  Waking up with you, wearing your clothes.”

After some tender and sweet kisses under the covers, the two of you manage to get out of bed so you can pack and get ready for the trip home.

Right before he closes the door to the Screened-In Veranda Cabin, Frankie turns around, “Wanna ride with me on the way back, City Girl?”

“Sure!  What about Santi and Will?”  You can’t help but get excited about the prospect of a long road trip with Frankie.

“They can go with Benny.  Or Tom.  Well at least Santi can ride with Tom.  Don’t think Tom’s sisters will let Will into Tom’s truck,” Frankie looks genuinely amused and you once again spot that cute dimple make an appearance in his right cheek.

“Omigod!  I meant to ask Jenny about that – what happened??”

Frankie throws you a heart-stopping wink, one that nearly sends your knees buckling, “Tell you on the way home, querida.”

---

A few hours later, everyone’s packed bags are stowed in their respective cars, the cabins locked, boats put away for the winter, and sheets and laundry stripped to go back to the city to be cleaned.

“Ready to go, City Girl?” grins Frankie, “Bet you can’t wait to get home.”

Buckling your seatbelt and looking fondly at the sweet man who made sure you felt seen and cared for this week, you say, almost wistfully, “It’s not that bad here.”

Pressing a tender kiss to your lips, Frankie nuzzles your nose affectionately with his before putting the car in reverse.  Steering the wheel one-handedly with his other big paw cupping the back of your headrest, he winks, “Cottage country ain’t got nothing on cabin country, am I right, querida?”

You giggle as he straightens out the car and take the hand that Frankie’s holds out to you over the centre console, “Only the cashmere sweaters, but other than that, nothing.”

Frankie brings your hand up to his lips, placing a sweet kiss to your knuckles as he starts down the windy dirt road in the direction of the city, “An easy fix for next time, City Girl.” 

Biting your lip to keep from smiling too much, you nod happily in agreement.  Next time.

[pickingupmymercedes]

She's here and she won't be the only one - Lewis Hamilton

Series: She's here and she's ours / She's here and she's not only ours / She's here and she's just like you / She's not here, but she'll be / She's here and she won't be the only one / She's here and he won't let her give up / She's here and so is he / She's here and so are we - (they can all be read as one-shots)

request : "Bedtime stories would be the favourite part of his night routine with his babies especially after he comes back home from a long period and I can just imagine him getting them all ready for bed, tucking them in, sitting on his favourite chair in their colourful bedroom and reading them one of their favourite books 🥺🥹" - anon

pairing: dad!Lewis Hamilton x Reader!

wordcount: +2K

a/n: Anon, I don't know if that was a request or not, but I used as inspiration because yes to everything you said!!!! (if anyone hasn't seen Lewis's Cbeebies, go watch it ).

Anyway, it's dad! Lewis, he's got a hold on all of us apparently.

As always, I'm open for feedback, come say hi!

______________________________________________________________

A soft glow from the outdoor light made its way through the window of their daughter's princess-themed bedroom, casting long shadows across the toy cars strategically placed amongst the stuffed animals and fluffy pillows.

The Three-year-old, a restless ball of energy during the day, was now a picture of contentment snuggled under her favorite flower blanket.

Lewis starting the bedtime ritual as his voice dropped to a soothing murmur.

"Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…"

Y/d/n's eyes, a perfect copy to Lewis’s except for the glint of mischief, widened with anticipation. She loved their bedtime stories, especially the ones Lewis told with his best voices and interpretations.

Tonight, however, something was different. The story wasn't about a dragon, the fairies or the warriors she had grew accustomed to. It was about a princess who longed for someone to share her adventures.

"But why, daddy?" she piped up, interrupting the narrative. "Why did the princess want someone else?"

Lewis smiled, his heart overflowing with the love for his daughter and the excitement for the news he was about to share. "She wanted someone to play with, someone to tell stories to, to share secrets and adventures with."

Her small brow furrowed in concentration. "Like Olaf to Anna?"

"More like Elsa to Anna, sweetheart," Y/n chimed in, her voice laced with a hint of nervousness. "Someone who'll always be there for you, no matter what."

Y/d/n's eyes sparkled with confusion. "A sibling?"

“Like a little brother or sister" Lewis confirmed, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.

"A brother or sister? Like uncle Nic and you, or Kaiden and Willow?" Her little brain working overtime to grasp the idea of a permanent playmate, someone who would be with her all the time.

Lewis chuckled, stroking her cheeks gently. "Yes, darling, just like us. Someone to build pillow forts with, someone to have silly dance parties with in your pajamas, someone to plot with."

"Can I have a little brother or sister for Christmas, then?" She squealed with delight, the possibility sinking in as she emphasized the I.

Y/n's breath hitched. This wasn't quite how she envisioned revealing the news, but her daughter’s enthusiasm was contagious. She exchanged a nervous glance with Lewis, who gave her a reassuring nod.

Taking a deep breath, Y/n reached out and placed a gentle hand on her stomach, a slight curve that had only recently become noticeable. "Sweetheart," she began, her voice soft yet firm, "You're going to get your very own sibling already, but a bit earlier than Christmas."

Y/d/n’s eyes widened even further. She stared at Y/n's stomach, then back at her face, trying to process the information. "Like, next week?"

Lewis joined the conversation, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "No, not quite that soon, sweetheart. But in about five or six months, you'll have a little brother or sister to play with."

The three-year-old’s expression turned thoughtful. The idea of a sibling, someone who would be a constant companion, was exciting yes, but also a little bit scary. "Will it be a tiny baby like the ones in the picture books?" she inquired when she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, at first" Y/n explained, pulling out a book they had recently bought about pregnancy. "But then, the baby will grow bigger and bigger until it's finally ready to come out, just like you did."

She studied the book, her brow furrowed in concentration, pointing to a picture of a baby with tiny fingers and toes. "Will it be tiny like this?"

Y/n nodded, her heart swelling with love. "Even tinier, maybe the size of your daddy's hand."

Lewis held out his hand, his fingers spread wide. Y/d/n’s eyes opening up wide as she compared the size of her own hand to her father's. "That small? How will I play with it?"

Lewis wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. "It may be small at first, but babies grow quick. Soon, it will be big enough to hold toys and maybe even crawl around while you run with them."

The conversation continued for a while longer, filled with her endless questions about the baby's size, what it would look like, and what games they could play together.

With each answer, Lewis and Y/n watched their daughter’s apprehension gradually melt away, replaced by a something akin to excitement. The fear of the unknown faded as they painted a picture of a tiny companion who would grow into a lifelong friend.

"So, the baby is like a little friend who lives inside you, Mommy, until it's big enough to come out?" she summarized, her eyes wide with wonder.

Y/n beamed. "Exactly, sweetheart. How do you feel about being a big sister?"

She puffed out her little chest, a sense of pride evident in her eyes. " I'll teach them how to race cars like Daddy and how to sing all the princess songs with me."

Lewis chuckled, picturing his little girl teaching a newborn the finer points of car racing. "Sounds like a plan. But first, we’d like for you to pick out a special stuffed animal for your new sibling, their very first. How about that?"

Y/d/n's face lit up. The prospect of picking a gift overshadowed any remaining worries. She scrambled off the bed, her bare feet padding softly across the floor as she raced to the overflowing toy chest in the corner of the room.

The house settled into a comfortable silence as Lewis and Y/n watched their daughter disappear into the world of fluffy friends. A warmth bloomed in their hearts as they envisioned their family growing, the laughter of two children echoing through their home.

"She's going to be a fantastic big sister" Lewis said, his voice filled with pride. “I know I was a bit hesitant, but you were right love, this is right timing for us.”

Y/n leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder. "I hope so" she whispered, a hint of nervousness creeping back into her voice. Lewis squeezed her hand reassuringly. "We'll figure it out, love. Together. We always do."

He looked at the picture of Y/d/n picking out one of her own teddies, his heart brimming with love. The challenges ahead seemed insignificant compared to the joy of watching their family grow. This wasn't just about having another child.

As the little girl reappeared, clutching a stuffed Sally she had been gifted by a fan she climbed back onto her bed to give her dad the car “I guess they can have Sally, so my Guido has someone to play with too”

The gentle whoosh of the ar conditioning created a low drone as Y/n tiptoed into the bedroom. The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast long shadows across the room, illuminating the scene before her like a snapshot.

Lewis, his back to the door, sat cross-legged on the bed, a picture of focused concentration. In his lap, nestled between his arms, was their daughter, her dark hair cascading over his forearm like a waterfall. His voice, a soothing murmur, weaved a tale of a brave princess and a fire-breathing dragon.

Y/n's heart ached with an unfamiliar pang. It wasn't the story, nor the picture of domestic bliss before her. It was the future it represented, an addition to a future she desperately craved and Lewis seemed hesitant about.

As Lewis kept reading the story, the little girl giggled, her tiny hand clutching the collar of his t-shirt. Y/n watched, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips. The girl's boundless energy, her infectious laughter – they were the very things that made Y/n's desire for another child stronger.

The idea of filling their home with that same joyous spirit, of witnessing the bond blossom between siblings, had been a constant thought for a while.

But Lewis. Lewis, her rock, her partner in this whirlwind they called life, seemed to hesitate whenever the topic of expanding their family came up. They'd discussed it, of course, late-night whispers, celebrations and arguments had occurred. But every excited statement from Y/n was met with a string of concerns from Lewis.

They had always been a good team and when Y/d/n was born she had fitted right in. They had navigated the demanding world of Formula One with practiced ease, and Y/n's career was on an upswing, her meticulous planning and organization allowing them to be present for Lewis's races with the help of their families.

But another child would throw that intricate balance into chaos. They wouldn't be able to travel as much, the demands of a newborn and a toddler would stretch them to their limits.

Y/n understood and even shared some his apprehension, yet her heart rebelled.

A lump formed in her throat as the story ended, punctuated by her daughter's sleepy sigh. Lewis leaned down, planting a kiss on her forehead. "Night, night, princess," he whispered, his voice thick with love.

Y/n waited for him to rise before clearing her throat. Lewis looked up, his smile fading slightly at the sight of her downcast expression. "Hey. She fell asleep mid story, as usual" he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Lewis lowered Y/d/n into the bed, tucking the covers around her. He rose and met Y/n's gaze; his brow furrowed. The tension in the room was thick, a silent conversation brimming beneath the surface.

"Sounds just like her " she mumbled, forcing a smile. She walked away from the bedroom, stopping at the sofa on the tiny living room of their hotel room, Lewis followed stopping at a safe distance.

"It just hit me," Y/n began, her voice barely above a whisper. "Seeing her like that, with you…"

She trailed off, unable to voice the words churning within her. Lewis sighed, running a hand in his arms. "We talked about this, love. It's a big decision."

"I know," she whispered, her eyes gazing his. "But the way she is, wouldn't it be amazing to…"

Her voice broke, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. Lewis approached her, his hand reaching out to brush her cheek. The warmth of his touch soothing her mind even in the midst of her turmoil, a reminder of the love they shared.

"I see it, Y/n," he said, his voice low and full of empathy. "Every day. But we can’t look at it through rose-colored glasses. The sleepless nights, the constant demands, the impact on our careers, on Y/d/n…"

His words were a bucket of cold water on her simmering dreams. "Don’t you think it’d be worth it, Lewis? In the end?"

He looked at her, his eyes reflecting the same desired she felt, only with the concerns he couldn’t quite brush off. "I don't know, babe. Honestly, I don't know."

Their living room was electric with energy. Laughter and excited chatter filled the air as Lewis's family gathered for their usuals get-togethers. Y/d/n, the center of attention, clutched a small, brightly wrapped box in her hand, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Y/n watched from the sidelines, a nervous flutter in her stomach. Today was the day they planned to share the news of their new addition.

The past months had been a whirlwind of emotions, filled with late-night talks and cautious optimism. They had finally reached a decision, a fragile agreement that felt more like a question mark than a period. And the two lines on that test had cemented the changes, whether they were ready for it or not.

The three-year-old, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension, skipped towards her grandmother. "Grandma, I have a present for you!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with childish glee.

Carmen, Lewis's mom, beamed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "What's this, my sweet girl?" she asked, taking the box gently.

Inside the box lay a fluffy teddy bear sporting a tiny t-shirt with the words "I'm gonna be a big sister" on the front. Carmen gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she looked up at her granddaughter, astonishment etched on her face.

"Mom and Dad are giving me my very own sibling, Grandma!" she chimed in, her excitement palpable.

The room fell silent, all eyes turning towards Y/n and Lewis. A nervous smile stretched across Y/n's face as Lewis cleared his throat.

"Surprise?" Lewis confirmed, his voice holding a hint of trepidation. "We’re pregnant."

Everyone's surprise quickly melted into a warm smile. Tears welled up in his mother eyes as she embraced Y/n tightly. "Oh, this is wonderful news!" she exclaimed, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm so happy for you three."

Relief washed over Y/n. The acceptance in Carmen's eyes, the joy radiating from her voice, eased some of the anxiety that had been nagging her. The room erupted in congratulations as other family members chimed in, offering their best wishes.

Lewis and Y/n found themselves enveloped in a sea of good cheer. Hugs were exchanged, stories were reminisced, and plans for the future were excitedly discussed. Y/d/n, the star of the show, basked in the attention, proudly showing off her new "big sister" teddy bear.

As the afternoon wore on, however, a quiet moment emerged between Y/n and Lewis. They stood tucked away in a corner of the room, their hands intertwined.

"You seem nervous" Lewis said softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.

Y/n bit her lip, torn between her elation and the lingering doubts. "I am" she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "What if it's too much? What if we can't handle it?"

Lewis placed his other hand on her cheek, his thumb gently wiping away a stray tear that traced its way down her face. "We will" he said with quiet conviction. "We'll figure it out, together. Like we always do."

He looked at her, his eyes reflecting her own apprehension, but also excitement. "We may not have all the answers, but I’ll tell you one thing - we're a team."

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TAGLIST - @saturnssunflower @xoscar03 @chocolatediplomatdreamerzonk @happy-golden-hour @vicurious28

@0710khj @thecubanator2 @neilakk @bigratbitchsworld @adriswrld

@fearfam69691 @cmleitora @goldenroutledge @timmychalametsstuff @jpgnsf @priopp123

If you’d like to be added to my taglist you can leave a comment or send me a dm/ask.

[thelov3lybookworm]

I literally just sent a cassian request but this one popped in my head for Lucien. Lucien falling in love with a smokehound breeder from the autumn court. Introduced to each other by eris when he’s going to pick out yet another smokehound for his kennels. The litter that was just born has the smallest tiniest runt that lucien takes pity on and he keeps visiting the breeder to make sure it’s ok and he gets the dog AND the girl in the end bc OF COURSE he does. He deserves the world. 🥹

Better place-

Summary: Lucien wants to go out, Y/n knows a better place.

•○●⛦●○•

A/n: i thought this would be longer, but it turned out like a drabble 🫠im so sorry 😭

•○🌑○•

Y/n smiled softly, her heart doing weird little backflips in her chest when Eris's brother grinned, his mismatched stare fixed on the little puppy, Berald, jumping around, chasing its own tail.

The male laughed when the puppy ran headfirst into his legs, bending to scratch behind the hound's ears.

He seemed so genuinely happy, Y/n considered telling him to take the pup home.

Y/n had first met Lucien two months ago, who had tagged along with the high lord of autumn when he came to get the strongest pup in the recent litter.

Eris, now high lord, had started adopting the strongest hound that was born every month, wanting to add more and more hounds to his army of canines now that his father was dead.

Lucien had apparently started visiting autumn court more frequently, having begun to rebuild a relationship with his very misunderstood brother. Eris, taking up any excuse for spending time with, arguably, his favourite brother, had decided it best to show Lucien the smokehound breeder he got his hounds from.

And now, Lucien had been visiting more recently, having taken a liking to the smallest pup in the litter. Also because he worried so much about the tiny thing.

Y/n had only had seen and cared for such weak pup maybe once or twice before, so when Berald was born, it was a surprise.

"He looks healthier than he did last week." Lucien mumbled, glancing up at Y/n with glittering eyes.

She smiled at him, wondering what the weird feeling that spread through her chest was, goosebumps rising under the sleeves of her dress under his intense stare. "Yes, he's been getting better."

Lucien grabbed the little pup from the ground, holding his wiggling body close to his chest as he stroked the top of Berald's head.

"Um... hey Y/n, can I have a word with you?"

Y/n blinked at the sudden seriousness in his voice. "Uh- yeah sure. What is it?"

His chest expanded with a deep breath, and Y/n could see the resolve hardening in his eyes.

"Have you tried the new restaurant that opened up a week ago down the street?"

Y/n stared at him for a moment. "Yes. I tried it the day after it opened."

Lucien visibly deflated, his eyes falling to Berald, who stared up at the redhead. Suddenly, his head jerked up, and with a lazy grin, he leaned close.

"Will you come with me to that restaurant? I've been wanting to go, but I don't want to go alone."

Y/n was dumbfounded, both at the invitation and his proximity and she was sure he could see her burning up.

"Yeah... yeah sure. But I know a better place-" Y/n smacked a hand over her lips, her eyes widening at her own boldness.

His grin widened. "Great. I will pick you up after sunset."

"Okay..."

Y/n could do nothing but watch and blush as he reached out, grabbing her hand gently and placing his lips on her knuckles, a mischievous gleam in his eye.

Then he straightened, turning to drop Berald back to the ground before walking away.

Y/n stared at his retreating back, then turned to stare at Berald, as if the pup could give her the answers she sought.

The only answer she got was that she was not going alone on the date tonight. Berald needed to come too.

•○🌑○•

General Taglist: @bubybubsters @eos-princess @nightless @harrystylesfan2686 @cassie6392 @kennedy-brooke @tele86 @miluiel1 @hnyclover @minnieoo @sidrapotter @piceous21 @mybestfriendmademe @saltedcoffeescotch

Lucien Vanserra Taglist: @mirandasidefics @fell-in-luvs

[ssa-atlas-alvez]

What would happen if the team finally squeezed cowboy!reader’s birthday out of him. He tried and tried to keep it under wraps but obviously Garcia won’t stand by and let him not be celebrated.

Maybe his first surprise party? idk really I just want him to look around and realise how loved and at home he is within the team. 🥹

- 🦕

Warnings: implications of claustrophobia, it's his first birthday party so he's a bit overwhelmed bless him (I say over a fully grown man)

Taglist: @xweirdo101x @xdark-acadamiax @ara-a-bird @heidss @chubbyboyinflannel @pendragon-writes @migwayne @bigolgay @technikerin23 @supercriminalbean @honestlycasualarcade @caffeine-mess @1s3v3n1 @oddmiles @kevyeen @stealing-kneecaps @criminalskies @woodandwaxwings @wizardmon3 @aphroditeslovr @ducks118

"Mornin'!" You chime as you walk into Garcia's office, "How is my favourite lady?"

"I thought JJ was your favourite lady," Garcia smirked, she gave a chuckle when you turned bright red.

"I regret sayin' that to you," You huffed.

"No you don't," She grinned, "But that is not what I need to talk to you about."

"Is somethin' wrong?" You asked, furrowing your eyebrows, "Do I need to hur' someone?"

"No, no, nothing like that." She's quick to reassure you, "I just need to ask you a question."

You give her a smile, "Course, anythin',"

"When's your birthday?" You gave a small chuckle, shaking your head.

"I don' celebrate my birthday," You said with a shrug. "I gotta go, JJ said we had a case."

Garcia groaned, following you into the bullpen. "When's your birthday?"

"I ain't sayin',"

"Why?"

"Because it's not a big deal,"

"That's it. I'm bringing out the big guns. Just remember, I tried to do this peacefully." Garcia warned, you furrowed your eyebrows and gave a shrug as she walked off.

A few hours had passed when JJ approached you, you closed the filed as you turned to look at her, giving her your undivided attention. "Hey (Y/N),"

You beamed at her, "Hey JJ," You said, "You a'right?"

"I was wondering..." She began, "When's your birthday?"

"Garcia put you up to this, didn't she?" JJ gives you a sheepish grin and you sigh slightly, "May 12th,"

The months passed and you had forgotten all about this encounter, purely focused on the cases you had worked, on volunteering, your usual daily and weekly routines. That morning, you sighed, noticing the date and switched you alarm off. Pulling the charger out of your phone you check the notifications, a happy birthday from your Mama and Pops and your brother Jason, and a video from your brother Aden.

Curious, you clicked on it. The image of your brother popped up, wearing a party hat.

"What's up old man? I know you don't like a fuss being made but you're y'know, gettin' on in age so I though I'd send you this!" Aden gives a grin before pulling out a party horn and blowing into it. "Happy birthday!"

And then the screen goes blank. You give a small chuckle, responding with a 'thanks, you idiot x' before clicking send.

When you got to work, you pulled your truck to a stop, shutting the door and locking it, before walking into the building. You greeted the receptionist as usual, held the door open for the cleaner as he rushed past (apparently one of the sinks had broken and he needed to mop it up ASAP).

You paused at the elevator, a level of anxiety sitting in the bottom of your stomach at the thought of being trapped in a tiny box for even the smallest amount of time. You withdrew your hand from near the button and decided on taking the stairs. The exercise would do you good anyway.

You took a moment to pause when you got to the top of the stairs and gather yourself (turns out, six flight of stairs tires a man out). And then you walk through the door - ready to give your usual greetings (a nod at Reid with a small chat about some facts, asking Morgan how his date went, asking Emily how Sergio was, ask JJ a string of questions about butterflies and how she was doing), but no one was there. Usually everyone was there...

You scanned the room before your eyes settled on the briefing room, where they all stood, which only meant one thing. You have a case. You give a small huff before making your way to the room.

"Good morni-"

"Surprise!" The team all stood in slight worry, your face unreadable.

"What?" Is all you manage.

Penelope rolls her eyes as she walks towards you, "It's a birthday party!"

You blink, you didn't understand. Obviously you knew what they were, what they were for, you weren't an idiot. But this didn't make any sense...

"Hang on," You turn to Penelope, "You found out my birthday n what? Just did all this?"

"Yeah!" She grinned, "It's a surprise birthday party... Surprise!"

You swallow slightly, looking around at your colleagues, giving you small smiles. "I-" You flushed slightly, rubbing the back of your neck, voice now hushed, "I never had a party before..."

"Never? Not even when you were a kid?"

You shook your head, "Nah, by the time Mama and Pops took me in I was fifteen n then I didn't see the point in them," You gave a small shrug and Penelope gasped.

"Well, we're just going to have to make it the best surprise birthday party then, aren't we?" She said, "Wait 'til you see the cake!"

Penelope took your hand, leading you to the table where a cake the shape of a cowboy hat is sat. You huff out a small laugh, still processing everything. "We also have twister! Boss Man said we can play one game if we promise not to break anything."

"Bones or things?"

"Both. Apparently either way it's a lot of paperwork." Prentiss shrugged.

Penelope turned to Hotch, "What about two games?"

"Garcia-"

"But Hotch, it's his first birthday party! It needs to be a good one!"

Hotch looked at her for a moment before nodding, "Fine, two," Hotch said, "But then after we play Musical Statues,"

Two games of twister and three of musical statues, you all sat down (now slightly out of breath) to enjoy some 'cowboy cake' as Garcia had insisted on calling it.

"You know... JJ did a lot of the planning," Garcia whispered, sending you a wink, giggling as you blushed heavily. "You should ask her out,"

"'M not gonna do that," You chuckled, shaking your head.

"Why not?"

"'M not getting rejected on my birthday,"

Penelope rolled her eyes as she stood up, "Chicken." And with that, she walked over to Morgan.

With a sigh, you stood, joining JJ at the table of food.

"I have been told by the Tech Genius that a lot of this is thanks to you," You said, bumping her shoulder lightly as you grabbed a chip from your plate.

"I helped out a bit." JJ said with a shrug. At your raised eyebrow she sighed slightly, "Okay so I made the cake, but honestly, it was all a team effort-"

You gave her a small smile, placing your plate on the table before doing the same to hers. You gazed at her for a moment before gently wrapping your arms around her, you bury your head into her shoulder. You couldn't help but smile as she did the same, it only widening when you felt her heart rate pick up during the embrace.

"Thank you." You whisper, furrowing your eyebrows slightly. "So much."

Morgan gave a low whistle, "Morgan, I will stab you with a fork." You warned, both you and JJ gave a small laugh as you broke the embrace - both bright red. "I- er, I'm gonna go say hi to Garcia," You mumbled, giving her a small smile.

"Yes?" Garcia asked as you approached.

"I think you're right, I think she likes me back,"

"It's only taken you how many months to realise this?" She scoffed, "Your birthday or not, you're an idiot."

"Hey! 'M tryin' my best!"

"Try harder." She huffs with a smile.

[vanmarkus]

Fuck It Friday 🧇

Aalrighty. First of all; BI BUCK IS CANON, WHAT A DAY TO BE ALIVE?! Second of all; check out my new header, isn't he ever so pretty?? 🥹

Anyway, I have been sitting on this for ages and I thought since 1) this is literally the beginning of the fic and 2) it is more than likely getting scrapped at this point (or just majorly reworked, we'll see what will the finale bring), why not share one of my favourite bits from it?

(And for the people keep asking me why I wanna scrap them just because they aren't canon compliant: because I don't care to write something that doesn't line up with canon unless it's an actual AU where I can tweak things, this is just my personal neurosis but I'd appreciate if everyone just left it at that, thank you. 💛)

Buck had always thought that the term ‘love of one’s life’ was too broad. For starters, how do you even go about defining it? How would you even know?

When he was with Abby, he thought that she was the love of his life — and probably that was the truth at the time — it was an affection that burned with the uncareful fire of first love, destroying much of everything in its wake when pushed off balance by the winds of eagerness and fear of loss.

With Ali, it was more casual and Buck liked her a lot, truly, but in the end, they barely had the time to settle into anything more serious, before a ladder truck crushed Buck’s leg and put an unexpected strain on their relationship.

How can you really tell when you love someone so much that it’s actually not possible to love anyone else more, ever again?

He learned the answer to his question just before he started dating Taylor.

Apparently, the love of your life doesn’t always come into your life with loud fanfares and bright neon lights reading “HERE I AM”. No.

Instead, you meet them, you learn to like them and somewhere down the line you fall; you fall so deep and so gradually that you don’t even realize that you stepped into a bottomless pit until you’re too far from the mouth of the tunnel to crawl back up.

It came in stages and yet the realization hit Buck like a punch to the gut, sucking all the air out of his lungs and leaving him numb in his fingers.

✨I've been tagged by and am totally no pressure tagging the marvelous @sunshinediaz @spagheddiediaz @goforkinard @exhuastedpigeon @nmcggg @bidisasterbuckdiaz @daffi-990 @diazsdimples @honestlydarkprincess @watchyourbuck @actualalligator mwuahhh 💛

[lttl3babybug]

OMG I LUV UR HEADCANNONS THEYRE SO CUTEE 🩷🩷💕💕 u are a godsent 🥹🥹 woth like the headcannon of ramona watching scott maybe like a fic or hcs abt ramona babysitting scott??

Course I can sweetie!!

Regressor!Scott & Babysitter!Ramona

🎸Wallace dropped Scott off at Roamona’s house after he’d been crying for her

🛼Ramona was happy to watch him, of course she was! She loved that little guy!

🛼🎸Ramona babysitting Scott mainly involved a lot of watching tv and babbling

🛼🎸Scott would bring a few of his favourite toys with him and a blankie so he could snuggle up with his mama and watch cars or sonic boom

🛼🎸He’d toddle in through the door and immediately wrap himself in her embrace while Wallace handed Ramona a few things like his coat and a stuffed animal he’d left in the car

“Alright little guy, you gotta be good for Ramona okay?” Wallace reminded the younger man who just nodded rapidly mumbling a soft, “always good for mama” from behind his paci

🛼🎸Scott loves snacks. Apple slices and peanut butter (which I’m yet to try, is that even any good??) is his favourite snack. But only when Ramona makes it. Apparently it just doesn’t taste as good when Wallace does it

🛼🎸Ramona is very happy to make him these, she’ll also give him a plastic cup of milk and let him babble on while he eats, reminding him of his manners

“Don’t speak with food in your mouth scotty”, “Chew with your mouth closed sweetie”, “you don’t have to eat so fast, no one is taking it away from you, silly goose”

🛼🎸Ramona is a very loving babysitter/cg, takes care of fussy Scott and wipes his face of any excess milk or food from the sides of his mouth

🛼🎸One of Scott’s favourite parts of Ramona’s house is her cat. He loves her cat. They’re best friends

🛼🎸If Scott is getting fussy or having a tantrum immediately there’s a cat in his lap and his paci back in his moth and he’s calm.

🛼🎸Stroking the cats soft fur while Ramona strokes Scott’s hair and kissed his forehead while trying to keep him calm

🛼🎸Overall she’s s top tier babysitter! 10/10 would recommend…unless you’ve got a cat allergy

[sylvies-chen]

TED LASSO 3.07 THOUGHTS

this was by far one of my FAVOURITE episodes of the season… and maybe ever????

something about it man oh my god… the perfect balance of comedy and heartfeltness, it truly felt like the show found its heart again and things don’t look so bleak for the team’s future

roy being thrilled and impassioned by the idea of tying the team’s dicks together is actually so maniacal and hilarious

SAM MOTHERFUCKIN OBISANYA Y’ALL OH MY GOD first of all he’s just so adorable with that big heart and big smile like major boyfriend material there but apart from that he’s just such a class act??? he’s so generous and caring and seeing him break for a second, being torn down by bigoted xenophobic trolls who trashed his restaurant, was so heartbreaking. whoever did that is gonna catch these fucking hands

THE TEAM CAME TOGETHER TO FIX UP HIS RESTAURANT AND EAT TOGETHER FUCKKK I LOVE THIS FOUND FAMILY SO MUCH and you could really see the big personalities of ALL the players shining through this episode

nate!!! oh my sweet misunderstood nate!! he’s finally gaining some courage and growing as a person, and WE GOT TO SEE HIS FAMILYYYYY oh my gosh his sister and mum seem so sweet

I was worried when his box thing got crushed for a moment but then it all worked out so yay, it’s nice to see he’s going on this journey

the jack love bombing conundrum was very easily resolved and it felt like just a temporary blip but also keeley apparently has something leaked about her in the press next episode or something???? and I’m… very concerned for my best girl, to say the least. I don’t know what the vision is for their relationship and I selfishly miss roykeeley but I don’t want her to be put through some traumatizing nonsense just to split her and jack up. we’ll have to wait and see though idk

kitman will cosplaying as beard was ICONIC

underrated comedic line was roy making puns like ted and immediately hating himself like ASSQUATCH TELL ME THAT’S NOT THE FUNNIEST THING YOU’VE HEARD

the team flipping off jamie to give him permission to be a prick is something that can actually be soooo personal 🥹🥰

[sohcah--toa]

bullet train/マリアビートル details ~

Hello!! I recently dug up the Bullet Train script (if you search it up, you should be able to find it relatively easily!! I'm not sure if it's completely reliable but it seems to be the first version) and listened to the soundtrack. (It's awesome, you should listen if you haven't already!!)

There's a lot of stuff here about マリアビートル, I hope you enjoy reading 🥳 (It's really ridiculous)

-- 1 ) LEMON'S CHILDHOOD // BACKGROUND(??)

I attached a photo for reference in the book!! :D (there's highlighter marks, I'm sorry) His backstory is tragic and aahh noo 🥹... I won't say much on it because we're all thinking the same thing. In the script, this is carried over when Lemon passes out because of the water. But apparently, in the final movie, this isn't shown a lot. In the book and movie, they aren't brothers and have a considerably colder relationship, so I can understand why the childhood scene in the cut is so much more wholesome. (Still supersuper cool though!!)

-- 2) "I'm forever blowing bubbles"

The original reason why this song was chosen for Bullet Train was because of Tangerine's West Ham United sticker (turns out, that's a football club). Hey!! But wait a minute!! There's a funny coincidence because Ladybug in the book was trying to become a football star. He has a quote that's like "my friend told me that someone like me could either become a footballer or a criminal, so I did both" and he says that his first crime was stealing a football.

The song delves into themes surrounding fortune as well!! I love their music selection 🙇‍♂️😤

-- 3) THREE ASSASSINS/グラスホッパー REFERENCES

Okay this part (in a way...) contains spoilers for Three Assassins, which is the first book of the "series"! ! The story revolves around a guy named Suzuki, who appears again in Bullet Train!! He kinda-sorta becomes friends with Ladybug and it's like 😊 they are so happy. To be completely honest, Suzuki's a bit traumatised but so is Ladybug, right?? Lovely friendship!!

It's also so interesting that he's reading a hotel buffet menu because his wife used to love eating at buffets and he adopted the habit of hoarding all the food as well. He's on the train to meet with his dead wife's family (which was extremely difficult for him after her passing).

-- 4) BULLET TRAIN REFERENCES IN THE MANTIS/AX

There's this other book in the series called The Mantis or AX for the Japanese version. This one isn't talked about a lot but if you like family stories, this book is so so soo good. It really pulled at my heartstrings when I first read it but I can't say too much without spoiling everything. Anyway, it makes a few references to Bullet Train and literally starts with the main character, Kabuto (an assassin), having a flashback to talking to Tangerine and Lemon during one of his missions, where they had the same target so they worked together. The Twins really respect him, actually, but find it funny that he's so careful around his wife (YES KABUTO, AN ASSASSIN, HAS A WIFE). Some characters reappear so.. :")) yay!!

-- 5) 777

Ladybug comes back!! He comes back in the latest book in the series; 777. So far, the Japanese reviews have been pretty positive and I think there's an English translation coming in November!! 🥳 I like how the title is 777; 7 like 7 tails in Nanao (七尾), car 7, his favourite number is 7 (if I recall correctly), 7 the "lucky number".

-- 6) THIS GUY

No one asked but I heavily dislike the Prince in the book. (to be honest, who doesn't...) He's just mean for no reason and likes ruining people's lives, makes fun of poor Ladybug (this really isn't that bad compared to the other stuff he does) and yeah, the list goes on. Also apparently he (heavily) tortures other schoolmates and it's not like he gets paid for it like the Twins or the other guys. He just does it for fun?? OK!! The premise of his character is amazing and it's great to see a villain that's actually just straight evil but since he's designed that way, we are validated when hating him ww. He talks about politics as well for some reason... keeps referencing historical tragedies.... man.

-- 7) ASAGAO/THE PUSHER

The Pusher is back too!! Weee~ (not really)

In the movie, it seems as though this entire part got cut out which, like, is reasonable. I attached a photo from the Grasshopper (2015) movie for reference hahaha. The guy in the black suit is the Pusher!! Yeah, he pushes people!! (not in the fun way!!)

He is in charge of protecting Wataru from the Prince's guy, although he's reluctant at first. He's obsessed with bugs and stuff. Whenever he opens his mouth, it's probably going to be about bugs. The Pusher's also strangely poetic. Maybe it's because he likes old bands like the Rolling stones? Oh!! And he gets mentioned in The Mantis.

And speaking of the Kimura family, Yuichi Kimura says something very true and it's:

"who do they gotta make the train toilets so nasty"

-- 8) LADYBUG IS COOL

This is very much a fact. In Mariabeetle, he gets kidnapped when he's 8 years old because he gets mistaken for a rich kid (after he lost a bet with his wealthy friend and had to wear his "rich person backpack"), then in the place he's being held captive, he escapes by HIMSELF since his dad isn't able to give the guys money for his son back (since they took the wrong person!!). But heyy he's resourceful and smart.

AND guess what?? He gets traumatised because there was this other boy being held but Ladybug didn't save him and it's haunted him ever since. This is also one of the reasons why he ends up helping the Prince even though he knows it won't do him any good.

Obviously, it gets worse from there. He makes it back to his family and they're pretty happy. Unfortunately, they're far from rich and Ladybug has to study extremely hard to get into a college. Spoiler alert, he doesn't. THE THING IS!! He studied so hard!! It's just that during his exam, some kid sneezed on his paper and he wiped it, smudging all his work and even his name!! Nanao! No!!

-- 9) TANGERINE BOOK RECS

To the Lighthouse - Virginia Woolf

"We perished, each alone."

-> He really loves that quote. A lot. Also he's a Virginia Woolf fan!!

2. Forbidden Colours - Yukio Mishima

-> He's also a Yukio Mishima fan... I wonder if he's ever read "The Sound of Waves". What would he think about it? Hahaha this will keep me up at night 😅 (<- SLANTED EMOJI!!)

3. The Sailor who Fell from Grace with the Sea - Yukio Mishima

-> To talk about Article 41 of the Penal Code of Japan. (Mr Kotaro Isaka, the author, studied law, by the way!! It's interesting!!) However, here, Tangerine quotes Mishima on Article 41 ;)

4. Hemingway and Faulkner

-> Actually it's a collection so it's not really a book recommendation but these two people are real - Ernst Hemingway (the Old Man and the Sea guy) and William Faulkner. They didn't really get along, by the way, and even though they respected the other's work, they criticised more than praised. Sounds like the Twins.

5. Demons - Fyodor Dostoevsky

-> "Crime is no longer insanity, but simply common sense, almost a duty; anyway, a gallant protest."

I think the author is a heavy Fyodor Dostoevsky fan, just because he also referenced his works in Three Assassins.

6. Crime and Punishment ;D

-> "Science now tells us, love yourself before all men, for everything in the world relies on self-interest."

(CONT'D) yeahh this book was referenced in Three Assassins and one of the characters is obsessed with it. Glad to see that Tangerine is a fan too hahahaha.

-- 10) LEMON IS AWESOME

Opinionated text here but Lemon is plain awesome.

"Between the principal's name and Doraemon's gadgets, it was blindingly obvious which one was more important."

To each their own and I know he's a criminal but he seems like he has no enemies. Sounds very wholesome.

-- 11) HORNET THE MVP

She's in Three Assassins AND the Mantis!! Hypercool. In both books, the Hornet is a team of a male and a female. The female is eliminated (this word choice ww) by Ladybug but the male is still up and kicking, though Ladybug feels bad about it. They use poison needles, like the movie, but they trigger anaphylaxis, which is a really dangerous allergic reaction that causes body shocks.

-- 12) SUZUKI: PHILOSOPHER AND ECONOMIST

"If people knew that they might be killed by someone tomorrow, economic activity would grind to a halt."

... well 😅 take from that what you will.

(that's Suzuki!!)

Cela dit... that's all.... so long, I'm sorry. But thank you so much if you read until the end!! I hope you at least found it a bit entertaining!! :"))

[theheartnexttophan]

Ok so I’m the kind of person who generally can’t shut up about things I love, so this means that most of the people I’m close to are aware of some amount of DnP stuff, which often leads to funny situations, so here is a bunch of Stories of Random People in my Life Perceiving DnP.

I have a bunch here, but I’ll probably reblog this post in future and add to it when I inevitably have more stories! If you have any similar stories add them in tags or reblog, I want to hear them!!!

Ok, starting off with how my grandma once called DnP “Phil and Bob” and how my grandpa once called them “Dave and Phil” 😂

My other grandmother is better at remembering stuff I tell her, and once I was telling her about some exciting dnp thing happening that day (I can’t remember which thing it was) and she later texted me and said she hoped I was having fun with all the “phexcitement” 🥹 It is actually the most precious thing to me that she remembered about ph-ification, and it made me so happy

I have the cats calendar hung up in my living room, and in March (the catboys picture), my 7 year old cousin was over and he noticed the calendar. I explained that they’re my favourite YouTubers, and he said “oh I thought they were kings and queens or something” He apparently got this impression cause of the sphinx cat in the pic, but I literally just burst out laughing

So sometimes last year when we picked my sibling up from high school, we’d also pick up a friend of theirs and she would come hang out at our house for a bit. Usually we didn’t watch new dnp videos til after the friend had left (she’s not very online and for her dnp vids would be… something). But one time, Dan had posted one of the wadverts on his channel and since it was only 1 min and an ad (therefore he couldn’t say anything too inappropriate), we figured it was fine to watch it with her there. After the friend watched it, she was very confused and asked if Dan was some sort of doomsday truther or something. 😂 We tried to explain that no, it was a bit based on the theme of the tour, but I don’t think she really got it and may still think Dan is some crazy conspiracy theorist 😂

Finally, last spring, one of my friends wore the back from the dead jumper to class at our (very christian and conservative 😬🙄) university. We had a brief conversation about the jumper, but were interrupted when our teacher came over and asked my friend about their shirt. The teacher asked what it said and upon being told it said ‘back from the dead,’ asked if it was Frankenstein on the shirt. My friend just kind of looked at me for help, but I was trying my hardest not to break out laughing, so they just answered “yeah, sure, Frankenstein.” The teacher seemed to accept this and moved on, and me and my friend immediately started cracking up.

That’s all the stories I can think of for now, but if I ever have any more I’ll reblog and add them!

[damelucyjo]

Right. Let’s grab a cup of tea and crack on, shall we babes!! It’s a long one!

Episode 6 - Sunflowers 🌻

Oh poor boys. Ted is still so clueless 😂

That’s a fancy ass owners section!!

She thinks the songs depressing 👀 okay!

I love that she can’t drink alcohol normally 😂 chug it, girly!!

You tell him Roy 🫡

Bless Higgins. He’s so excited

They’re so cute. I love that Rebecca knows her so well now that she recognises her vocal changes 🥰

But bailing on a night out with your bestie for your boss?? Come on Keels! 😔

“Somewhere that believes they deserve her” 👀 say it louder, Becca, please!!

Methinks he may be angry… but I can’t tell 🤔

Beard’s eyes 😳 😂

“Not as bad as you do” Are you listening, Ted?? They’re on to you…

Poor Jamie. But Ted’s eyebrow impression of Roy makes me snort 😂

I love that they’re all like excited kids on a school trip

Sweet baby Will, going to the red light district with papa Higgins 🥹 this pairing is cute. And Charlie’s reaction is brilliant 😂

YYEEEAAHHH!!!

Jamie giving a lesson on Amsterdam to Roy. Beautiful

So apparently they’re close enough that she feels warm in her belly when something is wrong so must ring her, but not close enough to know where she is?? Make it make sense please

And down she goes! 😂 we’ve been waiting a year for this!! 😂

“Stupid fucking place” Hannah is so funny

You know, if I wasn’t such a Tedbecca girly I would be into these two in a heartbeat 😍

Omg he’s in another colour. What do I do?! 🥴

(He’s changed her picture. Again.)

Not focusing on your conversation with your bestie cause you’re trying to plan a date with blonde?? We see you, Ted 👀

Beards little eye patches. He’s so cute 🥰

So has he never been punched in the face? Or drink yelled at his mum?? Interesting

Beard’s time has come 🫡 (also we have the same toothbrush 😂)

This really shows how vastly different all these boys are, yet they work very well together. I love it.

Also a single tulip cause a field would be overwhelming. Protect Dani at all costs, yet again 🥰

Oh hey, uncle Trent!

Higgin’s line about Will becoming a man foreshadowing a conversation later - very clever. I also love that ‘nah’ after everyone hears Leslie is going to the red light district 😂

Yo, Van Damme. You’re a little too into the sex show. What’s that about??

not pickled herring! Poor Colin 👀 I see you, Trent.

Yes, captain Isaac! A team! But I know so we’ll the struggle of picking something with a group of people 😂

Jesus, that boat is huge! Every house boat I’ve been on has been tiny!!

Her face at seeing his little girls room 🥹

‘It’s not drugged. I promise’ He promises so it must be true! You’re very trusting, babes 😂

Roy & Jamie are quickly becoming my other favourite pairing on this silly little show. Brett & Phil are brilliant together

These two are another surprising great match!

“Is everything alright at home?” Aww, love a concerned Will

My favourite character thing about Leslie is how much he loves his music. Him sharing his love with Will is beautiful to see. And Will being excited to learn is gorgeous

How many times has Beard tried to get Ted to partake? And he must just be fucking with him doing it with tea 😂

His struggle 😂😂

LET DANI SEE HIS TULIP!!

None of them noticing there’s a vase of them right there 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

Still arguing over what to do. So real

Isaac has had it 😂

Okay, Trent, LOVE those shoes!!

Alright, yeah. They’re cute. I said what I said.

On my first watch I thought she said she was more of a webcam girl 😂😂 omg

“Force of habit” BECAUSE HE HAS A DAUGHTER 🥹

Rebecca! On another reluctant date because she’s hungry 🫣 you need to eat more, girly 😂

The box of clothes and the comment on them being trophies are nice callbacks to Beard After Hours 👍🏼

I’ll keep saying it, but they are cute. They have easy banter like she had with a certain someone else…🤔

Okay, that whole thing is a little questionable?? But she could have stuck to her guns about the alcohol. I really don’t think he would have cared either way.

I love you, Jamie. Please never change 🥰 (love that tiny glimpse that the little arsehole is still in there 😂)

Thunderdong!! Nice one 😂😂

Oh poor Colin 😔

The most unbelievable thing about Trent is that he dresses and acts the way he does and everyone just doesn’t assume he’s gay. This is how I can tell it’s primarily written by Americans 😂 Brits always assume every guy who is a little ‘different’ is gay 🤷🏻‍♀️

Ted being an avid gif sender 😍 he’s just like me

So out of it he doesn’t notice all his messages are now being sent as texts, not iMessage?? Oh Ted 🥺

Oh, hey Keeley! Weird that they’d have that playing on TV in Amsterdam with info about the museum but… whatever

HE DRANK THE TEA!! NOBODY MOVE!!! 😳

She looks pretty!! Me and boat guy had the same reaction

Rebecca, he’s telling you to let your anger go. Please listen to him!! 📢📢📢

Since when has Rebecca been a fan enough of The Gambler himself to recognise one of his songs in Dutch?? 👀 Is that Teddy’s influence?? 👀

Love that they’ll get Hannah to sing any way they can. Thank you, boys! 🫡😂

He really is just Dutch Ted, isn’t he. Is she noticing it too??

Oh I really love that she’s just so relaxed 🥰 I need more casual Becca. She’s fun

How maybe fuck has Roy been running around Amsterdam all evening with his dodgy knee?? Im fucked just walking around for a short while 😂

Oh poor Roy 🥺

For grandad 🥹 yes I do have tear in my eyes. What of it 🥹

You just know these two had the time of their lives filming this 😂😂

Beautifully showcasing how nurturing Jamie is, absolutely nothing like his dad 🫡 good lad

“LET’S GO FIND A FUCKING WINDMILL!” “FOR GRANDAD!” They’re so fucking cute 🥰😂

Baby Will & Papa Higgins are adorable. I’d happily watch a full episode about just them

Proud ‘dad’, successfully sharing his passion and introducing another to jazz. Love to see it 🥰

Full on tears through this scene too!! James & Billy did an amazing job with this. Feels incredibly real & true 🥰 nice one, lads

Heartbreaking that he just wants to live his truth and for it to not be a ‘thing’. Hand on, I need tissues

“When you know you’re doing what you’re meant to do, you have to try” Wow.

Jason is so hot and cute. Sometimes I don’t know what to do.

Still arguing 😂 Isaac had had it!! Angry Isaac is hot though 🥵😂

These two are so good for one another. I’m glad they’re getting closer

Not that we needed another reminder of how shitty James is as a father 🥺 poor Jamie. But at least he has happy memories of the place with his mum. Loved that trip so much that he still remembers everything he learnt 🥹 Jamie, my boy 🥹

The casual Keeley mention o why he’s angry. 😔

She’s so soft 🥰 more soft Rebecca moving forward, please

FLIRT FLIRT FLIRT FLIRT!!

I know she was making a point, but she could have just stayed 😂

Another dad reminder - cue sound effect

Nathan jump scare!! 😂😂

Arthur Bryant’s must be doing so well off the back of Ted Lasso 👍🏼

He’s just like me! Shout out to al the visual learners!!

So true that Hannah is the voice of God 🫡

Also leave me be that I want to believe this voice is his dads…

Aww Higgins, this is why he wanted to hide, bless him

PILLOW FIGHT!!! Shame Ted isn’t there for it though. But I’m sure there’ll be many more

The dancing is very cute

God speed to whoever had to pick up all those feathers 🫡😂

Trent & Colin besties era starts here. I love it

They all had perfect evenings 🥹🥰

“I won’t forget you” is a beautiful line, because that night was when her whole attitude towards her life changed. She can finally let go and be happy like she wants to. All thanks to this nameless man that she’ll never forget 🥰

“Did we? Oh yes, we did” have a perfect evening, have a great connection… THEY DIDN’T SLEEP WITH EACH OTHER GUYS, STOP WORRYING!

Of course Beard had the craziest night of all! And speaks Dutch 😂 well done, Brendan

Will on the phone to him mum telling her about being invited to a threesome 😂😂 amazing

Huh. Dud batch. So you came up with that all by yourself, Ted, because you just let it all go… interesting 👀

Ted coming up with something that already existed 😂 total football 👍🏼

The boys cheering Rebecca getting on the bus is so cute 🥰

12 UNANSWERED TEXTS AND 3 UN-HAHA’ED GIFS!! Boy, you are in love with your boss. Who does that 😂 also love knowing Rebecca haha’s his gifs

She’s so chill still. How longs this gonna last?? I hope it does 🤞🏼

“We saw a windmill!” It’s adorable how enthusiastic everyone is about everything!

The fucking sex show 😂

They will use any excuse to get Hannah to sing. And I am all for it! But Beard joining in makes me laugh every time 😂😂😂

THE SONG IS NO LONGER DEPRESSING FOR HER BECAUSE SHES NOT A SAD ANGRY GIRLY NO MORE!!! It’s also just a great message

There’d better be a comment on the fact she went home on the bus in the next episode 👀👀

Well that episode was just wonderful! For so many of the characters!! Definitely one I will be going back to again and again. It set everyone up beautifully moving forward and I for one and excited to see what happens next 😁

[neondiamond]

✨ 2022 Writing Self-Evaluation ✨

I was tagged by @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed @hellolovers13 and @onlythebravest

1. Number of stories posted to AO3 this year: 26 (How did that even happen? 🤯)

2. Word count posted for the year: 132,344

3. Fandoms I wrote for: One Direction

4. Pairings: Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson, Louis Tomlinson/Liam Payne, Liam Payne/Zayn Malik (as a side pairing)

5. Story with the most:

Kudos: I’d Walk Through Fire For You (Just Let Me Adore You) (I don’t often look at the amount of kudos my fics have so the fact that this has gotten just over 600 kudos in half a year is insane to me!)

Bookmarks: I’d Walk Through Fire For You (Just Let Me Adore You)

Comments: One for the Books

More under the cut!

6. Work I’m most proud of (and why): 

I think I have to say Here You Come Again. This is the second longest fic I’ve ever written (after my advent-ish fic from December) and I think the one I spent the most time working on this year. As someone that’s usually all about the fluff, it’s definitely a bit of a different one for me. It’s got a bit of angst, lots and lots of feelings, and I’m so proud of the way it turned out. It takes you a on bit of an emotional rollercoaster reading it, but I absolutely love it.

7. Work I’m least proud of (and why):

I’m going to take the easy way out here and say none. I can honestly say I’m proud of every single fic I have put out into the world this year. <3

8. Share or describe a favourite review you received:

I love every single comment I get on every single one of my fics. I guarantee you I smile every time I get one! But there is one ‘review’ in particular this year that just touched me so much. It’s something @lululawrence said in her podcast about my fic Baby, Don’t Apologize. This fic is so close to my heart, and hearing the way she described how it made her feel seen just made my heart so so full. This was exactly the intent I had with this fic and hearing her words definitely made me cry a little bit. 🥹

9. A time when writing was really, really hard:

The last few months have been pretty busy and a lot has happened in my personal life that has made it a little more difficult for me to find the time and inspiration to write as much as I would like to. So I’d say from like mid-September to now-ish.

10. A scene or character you wrote that surprised you:

The smut scenes in On Thin Ice were a big surprise to me (which make up about half of the fic if I were to guess; which is another surprise in itself lol). Writing smut is something I struggle with a bit, and when I do write it, it usually ends up being pretty… vanilla, I guess? Nothing spectacular and I don’t usually play with kink… except for this fic, apparently. I knew I wanted to have smut in this fic, but I wasn’t really planning anything different than I usually do. And then I started writing the first scene, and Harry suddenly had a praise kink. It came as quite the surprise to me haha! But I do like the way it worked out!

11. A favourite excerpt of your writing:

It’s so hard to pick just one!! I’ll go with this tiny exchange between Louis and Harry from one of my Wordplay fics, Waiting by the Tire Swing. It’s short, but I feel like it really conveys what this fic is all about:

“We can take it with us to the new house if you want,” Harry says softly, pulling Louis from his thoughts. “There are trees in the back garden. I’m sure one of them will be sturdy enough to hold it.”

Louis appreciates how patient and considerate Harry has been through this whole moving ordeal, and he actually considers his suggestion for a few seconds before shaking his head.

“No,” he says, giving the swing a gentle nudge and watching as it sways slightly. “This is where it belongs.”

12. How did you grow as a writer this year:

I think this year I really sort of let go of the idea of writing things to please other people. A LOT of my fics this year were really self-indulgent, and I didn’t really care much if other people read them or not, because at the end of the day, I write for myself first. I also wrote a lot of short drabbles and ficlets this year that I would bang out and post within a day or two, which isn’t really something I ever used to do because I used to think my shorter fics weren’t as good or worth my time as my long ones… but I fell in love with writing little fic babies whenever I want and that’s definitely something I want to keep doing next year!

13. How do you hope to grow next year:

Going into next year, I’d love to continue writing whatever I want, try my hand at slightly longer fics, and expand into writing new pairings, perhaps.

14. Who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer or beta or cheerleader or muse etc etc):

If you’ve read, left kudos, commented, bookmarked, reblogged, or rec’ed any of my fics this year: this one goes out to you! I feel like there’s always a lot of love for writers, betas, etc. (and it’s very much well deserved, don’t get me wrong) but I feel like giving readers a little appreciation today. You all rock! 💕

15. Anything from your real life show up in your writing this year:

Whether I like it or not, there are always little parts of me that slip into my fics, often in the form of a habit or personality trait I give a character. The one that stands out the most though is for sure Baby, Don’t Apologize, in which I made Harry ace just like me. 💜

16. Any new wisdom you can share with other writers:

I’m pretty sure this is what I said last year but: Just write what YOU want to write. Have fun with it, and the rest will work itself out!

17. Any projects you’re looking forward to starting (or finishing) in the new year: 

I’m surprisingly not bringing a whole lot of wips with me in the new year. I have one nesting fic I’ve just started writing for the Omega Harry fest, an outline for a potential Narry fic I’d like to write, and a few smaller ideas/prompts for shorter fics. I do also have my eye on a few upcoming fic fests I’d maybe like to sign up for, but apart from that, I’m keeping things fairly open to fresh new ideas in 2023.

18. Tag some writers whose answers you’d like to read.

@disgruntledkittenface @wabadabadaba @larrieblr @littleroverlouis @alwaysxlarrie @lunarheslwt @brightgolden @thinlinez and whoever else feels like doing this! ❤️

[invisiblestringmm]

Ok, so since when you started posting I was "scared" of sending feedbacks with the anon option off, I'll send you the official feedback now🤭

Watching her was one of your favourite things to do; the way the soft dark brown curls bounced as she swayed around the living room, the way her cheerful laugh echoed every corner of the house and those big, brown eyes sparkled with pure innocent bliss - Lily was your everything, she was your whole life and though, at first, being a young single mum terrified your entire being, she became the reason of your existence. HI LILY I MISSED YOU

“Oh hello,” you whispered, poking your tummy with your index finger. “I don’t think you can even listen to me yet, but… can you bear with me, peanut? Hm?” Brushing your thumb against your skin, your eyes burned with tears. You wanted things to work out, you wanted that kid to be born into a healthy environment even if it included just you — of course, your parents would be there, but in the end, you’d be a single mum. The idea of it terrified you but, deep down, you could feel some courage sparkling. THAT PART MADE ME EMOTIONAL 🥹

“I’m still new to this mummy thing, and I hope you’ll like me once you’re here with us, running around… but I promise you that I'll do my best.” SHE IS GOING TO LOVE YOU

Watching the scene in front of you became harder when he was on your dad’s big flat screen, and though your daughter was mimicking her grandad, she was the spitting image of him. Her dad. THE FACT THAT LILY IS A MINI FEMALE VERSION OF MASON 🥹

I HATE THAT SHE HASN'T OPENED UP WITH HER MUM, CAUSE SHE NEEDS HER SUPPORT ON THAT

You would’ve let him know the day she screamed her first word - a loud, cheerful “goal” when Arsenal scored, making your dad the proudest grandad in the world. BABY LILY😭

“Mummy,” Lily woke you up from your thoughts, softly pulling your sweater while curiously staring at you with her big hazel eyes. She giggled when you took her in your arms, sitting her on the kitchen counter with her little legs around your waist. “Are you sad it’s not coming home?” THAT'S THE SWEETEST LITTLE GIRL EVER

On Monday, you quietly walked into the usual warmth of your office, only nodding at a few colleagues who cheerfully welcomed you back after a disappointing weekend for football fans. You spotted Willow, your childhood friend, walking towards you with two mugs of the steamy coffee you always shared in the morning in each hand, and a smile splattered on her face - to which you frowned, because Willow had never been the one in a good mood in the morning. OHHH WILLOW MISSED YOU TOO

“I was feeling a bit bored on Saturday morning and decided to go to Paris.” I JUST LOVE HER MOOD

“Mummy,” she called you, squeezing your hand as you walked to the studio with Willow on your side. Looking down, you smiled so she’d continue. “Ice cream after ballet?” I'M UP FOR ICE-CREAM HONESTLY

That gentle hand squeeze was there again, Lily looking at you with her big, brown eyes that softened your entire being. “Mummy,” she called. “Can Summer come too if we go get ice cream?” OPSSS🤭🤭

“I played footy at school today, auntie.” Lily covered her mouth with her small hand, letting out a loud yawn. Your heart skipped a beat for a second, sharing a look full of meaning with your best friend as Lily laid her head on Willow’s shoulder and closed her eyes. “Mr. Martin said I’m good.” She mumbled. YEAH, SHE IS A LITTLE MASON

A soft poke on your shoulder woke you up from your thoughts and you turned around to face a heavily pregnant woman accompanied by, apparently, her mum, considering they looked a lot like each other. They were both smiling at you, and the youngest pointed at your daughter, who was now clutching a little girl. HERE THAY AREEE

It was easy being around them, your mum arrived at the studio shortly before class started, and quickly bonded with Debbie about the wonders of being a grandmother; how they both spoiled the girls and were spoiled by them. THE TWO GRANNY'S BOUNDINGGG

“I know, my little monster. I didn’t forget your ice cream.” LITTLE MONSTER

After exchanging phone numbers and Instagram accounts, you went in different directions of the street - you wanted to squeeze both Lily’s and Summer’s cheeks when they blew each other a kiss after a long hug. Happiness washed over you seeing that it wasn’t hard for your daughter to make friends, and bond, even if not having her father around clearly affected her behaviour sometimes, often noticing that she, sometimes, was a bit needy and clingy - but also extremely kind and sweet.THESE TWO LITTLE GIRLS ALREADY LOVE EACH OTHER

But you wish you had never met Jasmine, or that your daughter had never met Summer at all when you found a picture of her entire family at a stadium, all of them dressed in England jerseys and a familiar face in the middle was on your screen when you decided to zoom in on the photo. You dropped your phone on your stomach, feeling your mouth instantly drying and your eyesight blurring - if you weren’t already in bed, the weakness you felt spreading from your legs through your body would bring you to the floor. AND THERE'S THE REVEAL

I CANT WAIT FOR YOU TO CONTINUE THAT

I NEVER CAME BACK TO RETEAD CAUSE YOU SAID THAT YOU PROBABLY WOULDN’T POST THE OTHER CHAPTERS, AND I KINDA WANTED TO FORGET ABOUT IT SO I WAS SUFFERING LESS FOR NOT HAVING A END, BUT I'M SO HAPPY THST YOU FEEL READY TO START THAT JOURNEY AGAIN

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THST WITH US🩷

This is absolutely the sweetest feedback ever, not enough words to thank you for still being here. 🤍

[monzabee]

Really wow that’s faster !! Also omgg you’ve seen criminal minds!? It’s one of my favourite crime type shows💜 and being part of the bau would be super interesting !!! I had googled it though and apparently the irl bau is more of desk work and stuff and they rarely actually go to crime scenes and stuff but the shows portrayal >>> also do you have a fave from the show ?

I think I just got done with that part where he comes and gives her the book and all ? Unless they meet again ! But I’m really happy that he was able to make her go back to Yale and that her and lorelai were normal again because I couldn’t believe for how long they let the fight go on between them ! And yess Logan does have a good character arc 💖!

Lmaoo is that so 😂😭 thanks a lot bestie, I hope so too💖🤞 and yeah I agree like there are quite a lot of kids in my class who only do things so that it looks good on their resume and I mean that is valid to an extent but if you’re not interested in doing those things it is kind of pointless, because you aren’t really gaining value from it¿? And yess it was fun, I really enjoyed myself💖

Ooh both those emojis are super cute and wait your name means snowflake that’s so pretty 💜✨!! My name means happiness

Alsooo SEB and DANNY are going to do the show run and drive the rb7&8 !!!! This makes me so so happy 😭❤️

-💖

i did!! it's one of my favourite shows as well, look at us go!!🤭 i think you're right, and as far as i know you need to be an american citizen to work in the fbi?? this might be false, but it's not that surprising that the tv show exaggerated what they do in the bau👀

yeah i think it was that part where he kind of loses it (it's so hilarious), but i loved the book scene so much!! and seeing jess do something he was passionate about made me real happy🥹🥹 and rory going back to yale and getting her mojo back is just a relief to watch, because the character she turns into when she drops out was not my favourite🙃🙃

i think i was one of those kids in high school but as you get older it's hard to do everything all at once, so you start picking and choosing things you're actually interested in and things that might be beneficial for you, but i'm so glad you enjoyed working in the library, it does sound very fun🩷🩷🩷

I LOVE THE MEANING OF YOUR NAME😭 IT'S SO POSITIVE😭 and yes!! i'm so glad we get both danny and seb driving, red bull really knew what they were doing with that decision👀

[eviltiddyproductions]

Crash Course in Romance : Episode 7

Oh no Chiyeol survived which means my boy Sunjae is toast

why does Sua care more about Haee than herself lmaooo she was disappointed that her teacher was just a customer.

I thought that he had a sophisticated palate and all this time they’re talking about normal daily Korean food like girl daily food is still sophisticated. Sua’s mom’s so !??😭✋ like sister you yelled at a table and scratched someone.

bring out the champagne!!!! Nam Haee is a topper <3333

I need to bottle her best friend and keep her with me she’s cheering so loud. 💗💗💗

and her student ice hockey man is dozing 🤣

also they’re in 11th grade so I once again beg Sua, is it THAT SERIOUS

she’s hospitalised which means Sunjae and Haee are about to be toast… sua and her mom will ruin people’s lives before a little REQUIRED introspection

see ? see ? lying pale with an IV drip next to you and you’re saying it’s because one girl got more marks than you 💀 what is her fixation. but how is her mom that OLD and not getting it. like you’re about to bulldoze someone’s life for this

I hate them so much. I actually do not care and hope she fails idk a girl can dream 🤩

I would say Sunjae’s mom get your act together but a literal stomach pumping trip to the doctor didn’t give her a wake up call so idk what will

everybody in this family forgets the cover story of her being married and you can see it in the interactions. like even I forgot it before he asked about her dad 🤣

oh they’re playing handball and Mr Ji is just there 😭😭😭

I’m not even mad at this one of my favourite tropes, one person bandages/takes care of someone as the other one steals glances

wow for the first time Sua didn’t blame Hanee for her problems but her mom brought it up again. like your daughter is clearly panicking and going through something but go off dragging my girls through the mud again 🤩

oh my god WHEN WILL IT END if the Sua’s were not enough or Sunjae’s mom now it’s the jealous tuition teacher let it gooooooo

why does he get to access my baby’s records omg FREE US

damn I feel bad for lawyer lady now why was he so aggressive 😟

they’re both dressed for a date to go to the doctor 🤣

the daughter setting them up for a date as Jaewoo tries to join in lmao

he looks horrified at the thought of acupuncture lmaoooo look at him

she’s just smiling 🥹🥰

they held hands

he remembered her name !!!

ohhh it’s a full location change, that’s why he missed the similarities

just realised the mother and the younger version of Haengseon look so similar!!! great casting.

apparently Sua connects the dots in the next episode and taking a page from her book I’m going to throw the biggest tantrum 😍 I hate it here

[justellie-b]

Ok thoughts on the finale , because I misread and shared my thoughts on the whole season 8 on the previous post lol (I blame it on my empty tummy, can't read properly with one apparently 😂)

Obviously would have loved more than just a few seconds of the "7 years later", but I'm just happy we have that instead of ending it with them both on the floor 😭

I love how the writers remember the part about them having three children and showed that at the end. Would have loooveeeee more scenes of Kate Beckett as a mom but yeah..

But aren't all the baby Caskett the cutest! And how adorable that Lily looks like a young Kate Beckett in S1 🥰

Castle telling the bad guy the reasons why he loves Kate and also Kate telling Mason "I'm crazy for him, he's the love of her life" 🥹🥹 - one of my favourite lines/scenes. He went from someone who drives her crazy in the first season to someone she's crazy for.. ughhh..

And one of my favourite photos of them from the series finale.. especially during the scene itself when the sun shines brightly at the back and it's just a silhouette of them both.

I haven't watch the finale in a while since I'm on my S6 rewatch but that's what I remember from the top of my head lol

May 16th. An ordinary day for most people.

Considering it is the anniversary of the Castle series finale, I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts about it. Sure it wasn’t the greatest, and sure it was rushed, but thank goodness for that 7 years later. Which is now 8 years later! When I first started watching Castle, I had no idea that I was about to join a very special fandom. What other fandom out there bands together in outrage and asks, no, demands for a show to be canceled because of the directions it is taking? Pretty cool if you ask me.

Anyways, would love to hear and thoughts or comments about it, and if that’s too rough, I would love to hear your favorite post series fics if you have any!