#but i forgot so shhhhhh

[raeathnos]

Okay but hear me out-

[trypano]

BLOOMING PANIC POSTING IN 2024? you know it!!

the characters!!! my goodness playing each route was like falling in love over and over again. I absolutely adore each aspect put into this visual novel, from the dedicated full voice acted "calls", the animated blinking, the discord style of the conversations, the hidden fanarts and not to mention the individual moving plots with each fantastic route! (can you tell i adore xyx?)

this game is a visual novel on itchio by the creator @.robobarbie, along with having a whole cast of people who have helped with writing, voice acting and the fantastic art!!

[its-aftg]

Seth and Riko...

OG post that inspired this

Imagine that Seth, you know, didn't get fucking murdered in book 1.

That first banquet where the Ravens have joined the Foxes district...just imagine that when Jean calls out to Neil and makes him come into the locker room to meet up with Riko that it's not just Matt that comes looking for him but also Seth. They're roommates and Seth will be damned if anyone intimidates the other striker on their lineup (other than him of course).

When Riko tells Neil he will speak to Kevin and have him explain, that he will not tolerate the disrespect, Seth sees red. Matt goes to push Neil out of the room and moves back in to have Seth's back. Seth turns to Riko, eyes angry. "You might not tolerate the disrespect but I don't fucking tolerate you pulling people away to have secret chats in locker rooms." Seth bodies up into Riko's face, quick to move like he does on the court, coiled and ready to throw hands.

"Shoo, Nathanial and I are talking." He motions to Jean to get Neil back in.

And well, that was the wrong thing to say. Seth smirks before pulling back a fist and connecting with Riko's jaw. He never cared if it was during Exy or if it was off the court, Seth was always hot tempered and ready to go, a blessing and a curse he thought. Riko didn't stand much chance against the other striker, while Seth's job was to be fast and score, he was a wall when it came to fighting. Plenty of practice on the Fox line for the everyday brawl. He towered over Riko and easily bodied him down to the ground in front of the locker, it only took a few strikes to take him down. He let out a small laugh at the shock Riko let show on his face - no Jean to protect him as Matt held him back near the door - "Leave my team alone or next time I won't go easy on you." Seth spit on him as he turned to the door to leave with Matt and Neil in tow, looking back as Jean went over to help Riko off the ground.

When they met eyes he just smiled and walked away.

--

The next time they met on the court. Since Seth and Riko played the same position they didn't get nearly enough time fighting as Seth would like. In the time between the banquet and the match both Kevin and Neil had come clean on what was really going on with the Moriyama's. Seth wasn't all too happy with them., and wasn't happy with them trying to make Neil and Kevin's life harder -that was his job.

Seth and Kevin were up when Riko was on, Matt and Nicky on as backliners. Matt was more than ready to follow along with whatever he needed to do to destroy Riko, already tasked with being the one to cover him. Seth watched the way Matt repeatedly made it harder and harder for Riko to get the upper hand, months of training with Kevin had made Matt so much better at being the Foxes biggest backliner. He smiled under his helmet as he watched Riko's repeated frustrating as Matt blocked his route, stole the ball, and passed to either himself or Kevin.

During the last half Riko darted down his side of the court, looking like he was running for his life and making Seth think of Neil when he first arrived at Palmetto. He knew it was his chance to confront him head on and and raced the 10 yards over to him. He checked him before Riko could pass the ball away and managed to scoop it up when Riko lost it. instead of trying to run with it he spotted Kevin with an opening and immediately bounced it out of his racquet towards him.

Riko hissed at him after the wall turned red with the alert of a goal scored. "Piece of shit," Riko spit at him.

"Not what your mom was saying last night!" He laughed as he flipped Riko off and went back into the next play as the Raven dealer chucked the ball down the court.

He watched with trained eyes, preparing to steal the ball where he could. Zane saw Riko mostly open and passed back to him from half court, both Seth and Matt descended on him faster than he expected, both aware that the team had to pass to Riko frequently to keep Riko happy as their king. Matt smashed into him from behind as Seth yanked at his racquet to flip the ball out. Riko didn't stand a chance against the two 6 foot plus men, both ready to use their size to their advantage. Seth popped the ball out of his net and in an unexpected move passed it behind him to Matt to deal with.

The game played on behind them as Seth stepped a few feet away from where Riko had fallen on the floor, racquet loose in his hands as he watched the ball soar to the Raven's side of the court.

"I should have killed you and your scaredy-cat when I had the chance," Riko sneered.

Seth raised an eyebrow in question at him, observing the way his gaze tracked to Neil bouncing his leg on the bench at the Foxes side.

"Oh, you think you coulda got the better of us?" Seth brought his racquet up over his shoulders, the look of a casual conversation as the ball was still in play around them. He shifted his weight to one leg as he watched Riko plant his feet in effort to stand back up.

"I don't think- I know."

Seth laughed as he threw his racquet to the ground. "Yeah, I don't think so mother fucker," he said as he threaded a hand through Riko's hair, pulled him up with only that as the grounding point to Riko's full height. Seth bent down to meet Riko eye to eye before his other hand wrapped around Riko's throat to lift him up completely off his feet. Attention was drawn to them as a whistle blew and red cards were thrown on the play. Seth didn't stop, lifting Riko well over his head, laughing more as his hands clawed at the one at his neck, mouth open trying to take a full breath into his lungs. He squeezed tighter, feeling tendons shift under his grip even through the guard. When he felt satisfied by Riko's fear he slammed him against the plexiglass wall to their left, let him slide down as he released his hold just as his other hand balled into a fist to start relentlessly pummeling into his side as the other came down to catch him on the side of the head.

The Foxes didn't move to stop him, except one. Kevin came up and roughly grabbed at his elbow.

"Gordon! Forget him, " Kevin met his eyes and held his racquet out to him. "Time to get them where it really hurts." A rare feral Kevin smile was on display and Seth was only able to take his racquet back, clack theirs together before running off with a shit-eating grin, ready to play Exy with his favorite striker in NCAA.

Riko wouldn't finish out that game, he'd have to have been hauled off with some moderately severe injuries for only being in an altercation with one other man.

The Foxes would win.

Seth wouldn't regret what he did, after all, he's just a Fox with an attitude problem.

[peepeepoopoomonster69420]

heh........ furry vi skin (JKJK HASHDKJASHDKH)

[scleracentipede]

Day one of our Dopamine Drawtober 2024

Every day we’re just drawing whatever makes us happy 💕

[dazaistabletop]

Things that make sense:

Things that do not make sense:

[kingofthecapybaras]

[carrieway]

KARMA'S GONNA COME FOR ALL OF US, I JUST HOPE SHE COMES FOR YOU FIRST!

quick sketch based on you first by paramore

[kismetmoon]

quick concept for ruth’s (and her loud roommate’s) cottage :

[Plain text ID: a digital monochrome drawing of a Flatland pentagon-shaped house with various rooms on a grey background. There are various pieces of geometric furniture inside the house, which include shapes like squares, rectangles, circles and flowers. There are four occupants of the house; two line-shaped creatures and two smaller star-shaped creatures. End ID.]

and with some room labels

[Plain text ID: the same drawing as above, but with labels added around the outside of the house. From the top centre going clockwise, the labels read as follows: "ruth's room", "liz's room", "storage / laundry / tiny library" "lounge", "main entrance" and "kitchen".

End ID.]

key under the cut

key :

✽ - houseplants

□ - closed boxes / storage structures (cabinets, etc.)

⊡ - liz’s locked box with a green colour sample

★ - cats (jinx (black cat) and socks (grey tabby))

◦ - glowpoints

▥ - ruth’s wardrobe (in ruth’s room) / liz’s wardrobe (in liz’s room) / small bookshelf (in storage / laundry / tiny library room)

E - sofa (large one) / cats’ side-by-side beds (smaller one)

▭ - television

┐and ╒╕ - open boxes / shelves

[toonagi]

everybody shut up and look at my creatures

[onopoeia]

..... I don't need them ...

[yeehaww-sims]

Happy pride month! I would like to request some sims flags of tenethesia and aurethesia if they haven't been requested already!

Happy pride month! They've not been requested, so here you are! You can find your flags in Requests [part 2]!

[SFS] | [MF]

[Original flags post]

Currently requested flags below!

[the-flaneur]

the enemy of my friend is my enemy, but he's also his own worst enemy? so he's my friend? (nr6) | pt1

pairing: nico rosberg x hamilton!reader [smau]

summary: in an attempt to plan a surprise birthday party for your brother's 39th birthday, you enlist the help of his ex-??? to get into his apartment

warnings: none (i think)

a/n: unfortunately, there are too many pics so pls await pt2 😙

[masterlist] [requests]

-> instagram

y/n.hamilton

liked by lewishamilton, nicorosberg, mavxverstappen1 and others

y/n.hamilton guess who's backkkkkk....IT'S BRITNEY B*TCH 👀✌️

view all comments

user1 omg omg omg omg GUYSSSSSS i have been waiting for this day the entire year... SHE'S FINALLY BACK IN MONACO!!!

user2 i'm also in monaco rn, istg the stars are alinging for me to meet her !!!! 🤩 user 3 BRUHHHHH i wish that was me 😃😃😃 user4 i wonder why she's back though? user5 idk yk maybe to go see HER BROTHER WHO LIVES IN MONACO MAYBE???? 🙄

user6 i hope she hangs out with all the other drivers 😍 she wasn't at any of the gps this year

user7 i mean they're not really her friends, besides she was really busy this year user8 DID YOU JUST SAY THEY'RE NOT HER FRIENDS??? user7 i mean she's not the one driving in f1 is she 😐 user9 brother was not here for the grid x y/n shenanigans back in the 2010's user10 her and mark absolutely roasting the crap out of fernando and jenson for the grid penalty is still comedy gold user11 she basically adopted the entire grid after 2016, they're her babies 🤨 LIKED by maxverstappen1

lewishamilton i was not made aware of this????

y/n.hamilton sorryyyyy late flight arrangements???? 🥺👉👈 lewishamilton ok but where are you staying. i'll cancel it, you can just stay in my apartment y/n.hamilton no it's ok, i'm already staying with a friend :D lewishamilton wait whO lewishamilton don't IGNORE ME I KNOW YOU'RE STILL ONLINE user12 y/nnnnn 😭😭😭 user13 your honour they're literally the cutest yet most sibling siblings ever like girlie pop 🥲

user14 anyone else like see the nico rosberg like...or was that just me?

user15 ??? user14 ok maybe it was just me... lewishamilton what....? user16 bro's going detective mode now

friend1 Y/NNIEEEEE PLS GET ME SOME MORE CHOCOLATE FOR THE CAKE

y/n.hamilton shhhhhh you're ruining it already bro friend1 oopsie oh yeah, i forgot he actually follows you lmfao y/n.hamilton 💀 girlie plsssssss get some brain cells friend1 you stole all of mine :P user17 🤨🤨

-> instagram

y/n.hamilton

liked by lewishamilton, nicorosberg, mavxverstappen1 and others

y/n.hamilton roscoe with his favourite auntieeee ❤️

view all comments

user18 GIRLIE AINT FOOLING ANYONE FOR A SECOND, WHO IS THAT MAN IN THE SECOND SLIDE

user19 wait what???? ur kidding, ur kidding - i am not seeing no man there? user20 roscoe's looking extra cute today ☺️ user21 him in that last slide looking at y/n is devious side eye user22 @/user18 BROTHER I GOT U, THERE IS NO WAY THAT'S Y/N'S LEG user23 also y/n would not be caught dead wearing chinos in bed, it's def a man 👀

user24 OK BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS WHO??? CAUSE LEWIS IS IN PARIS SO....

user25 nahhh it's for sure whoever y/n's seeing, no way would lewis let a random stranger near his child user26 i thought y/n's been single for a while??? she got a new boo? user27 idk maybe, i mean she's been pretty out of the spotlight this year, i wouldn't be surprised

user28 ARE WE JUST GOING TO IGNORE THE NICO ROSBERG LIKE???

user29 NO CAUSE LIKE HE ALSO LIKED HER LAST POST, ANDDDD THIS IS LIKE THE FIRST TIME POST-BROCEDES FALLOUT 😨 user30 guys i think lewis might just implode if he thinks that's nico rosberg sitting with roscoe user31 seeing by his silence, i think he already has...

maxverstappen1 can charles, lando i swing by after padel practice 😄 we wanna say hi

y/n.hamilton to me or the baby? 😔 maxverstappen1 im not abandoning my grid mum like this 🤨 only lando would, considering he's ruining the wdc narrative arc right now user32 y/n and max in 2016 was peak, especially after spain 😭 AHHHHHHH I MISS HER AT THE PADDOCK SO MUCH landonorris you snooze you lose verstappen, but i would also never abandon y/n :( y/n.hamilton lando.... landonorris i let him have the padel point mother 🥲

[next]

permanent f1 taglist (comment or msg me to join)

@charlesgirl16 @tallrock35 @sweate-r-weathe-r @unlikelystay

© the-flanuer || do not copy, rewrite or translate any of my work on any platform.

[leons-art-pit]

I luv the idea so much of a Jimmy curling in on himself, with like, his wings acting as a shield to the outside world for whatever reason, and Tango or whomever you ship with Jimmy the most rn, respecting that boundary Jimmy set for himself and just sitting next to him with treats waiting for Jim when he’s calmed down. I don’t care if it’s because he’s stressed, upset, or if it’s because he’s somehow not feeling good, I would just love to see this. Any other duo variation will also make me VERY happy. Much luv. 😁

Btw, much respect to you and other artists who take requests and make the drawings. So much respect as that takes a whole other level of determination.

i always love me some ranchers

tango forgot the treats (i totally didnt forget to draw them shhhhhh) but we will happily ramble while jimmy grounds himself

and a bonus of bad boys

drawing jimmy hiding in his wings is very nice <333

oh to have wings to hide yourself away in

[briefalpacashark]

~Hangover~

Synopsis: Titles pretty self explanatory.

================================================

================================================

The next morning you were happily cooking away, watching the minutes pass by on the clock. Usually the boys would have been up half an hour ago. You would have to wake them up soon, though. You all had a mission briefing soon. Now you are a good person. But last night they did have you running across town and dealing with police because of their antics. So you set up a speaker in the hall, turned it on full blast and played an obnoxiously loud ‘Can Can Dance’ song. Hearing the cacophony of groans, you smile, returning to the kitchen. You watched as Gaz, Jonny and Price all dragged themselves into the wreck room heads bowed and pinched nose bridges.

“Well good morning sunshine’s and daisies!” you made sure to hit your voice with a slightly higher and louder pitch, making most of them flinch and groan.

“Shhhhhh,” Price hushed in your general direction. Hearing the speaker suddenly die out, you peeked around the corner to see Ghost standing there with his eyes barely open and a now impaled speaker on the end of his knife.

“Good morning,” you smirked. He looked at your smile, giving a grunt before walking to the table, throwing his defeated opponent upon the table, the bang making them all wince.

“Well well well. What happened to you guys' last night?” you asked, placing two large plates on the table. Full of food they might or might not want to eat. 

“We, uh, we had a few drinks,” Price said.

“Of, a few?” you asked, piling up your plate and beginning to eat.

“Yeah, I think,” he murmured, grabbing a plate for himself.

“How's your chest Jonny?” you asked. Jonny looked up at you with an accusing look, wondering just how you knew about the bald patch on his chest.

“Don't know what you mean, doc,” he grumbled.

“Aha sure. How's the head Simon?” you asked.

“Fine,” he muttered. Everyone looked at his head and to the slight bulge on his temple that the mask failed to hide.

“Got to say didn't pin you as a booty shorts type of man Gaz,” you added turning to Gaz. His face paled as he recalled the pink bedazzled pants he had quickly thrown into the bin. Your smirk widened impossibly wider. You were having way too much fun.

“And sir,” everyone went silent as you turned to Price. He looked up at you with a slight warning.

“I'm sorry about the hat,” you said. Everyone was silent for a few moments as they took in your smug grin.

"I'm to fucken old for this shit," he grumbled reaching for his tea.

“Alright you know what happened last night don't you?” Jonny asked.

“Who me? How could I know? I wasn't there remember,” you said. They pondered. That's the thing. They couldn't remember a damn single thing other than starting a drinking competition with the airforce boys.

“Did. I um d anything embarrassing?” Gaz asked bashfully. You pretended to think.

“What do you define as embarrassing?” you asked. He groaned, and Jonny chuckled.

“What are you laughing about Jonny?” you asked, taking a bite of food. His smile fell as he quickly shut up.

“You came to get us?” Price asked. You nodded.

“So, what happened?” Gaz asked.

“You know I don't think you would believe me even if I did tell you,” you hummed.

“Try us,” Ghost said.

“Right, ok,” you cleared your throat pushing your plate away. 

“So I get a call at 2 am in the morning. You rang me from a random phone, at a phone booth, that you didn't use and you have my contacts up on Gaz phone that you also didn't use. You were all just sitting on the curb eating a shit ton of Macca’s. It was an event to get you all in the car. Then when I did get you all in we went to a bar to pay of your tab. A bar that takes away your left shoe to make sure you don't run out on a tab. Which you guys did. Oh, wait sorry. I forgot the part where you all took a dip in a fountain to save ducks from drawing. Well Simon saved the ducks, Jonny tried to help but somehow started to drown in knee high water. Gaz tried to save him but couldn't and then Price apparently saved you both. Anyway so across from this bar is a police station. And you brilliant genius’s tried to pick a fight with a whole police force. Because apparently one of them tried to arrest Gaz. And the only reason why was because Gaz stole a stun gun. Then when I threatened you with lazwell finding out you all legged it down the street. Ghost almost took out a low hanging beam and Jonny and Gaz took out each other. I then had to track you all down again. You all put up a fight thinking I was working with the police. I had to tie you three up and put you in the back. Captain you were in a fucking tree. Honestly don't know how you got up so high. And Simon was in the trunk the whole time. So half way back to base you somehow managed to convince yourselves that you were kidnaped and jumped out of said car. I looked for you again and you called me to inform me you all had been arrested. Lucky for you I'm a sweet talker and got you guys off with a warning. Then I got you back and had to lug all your asses back to your beds,” you finished of the story with a smile. The boys all stared at you, first processing your words and then flat out denying them.

“Bull shit,” Jonny said in denial.

“Well, have a look at this and say that again,” you pulled out your phone and showed them the photo. Their faces fell as they took it in.

“Delete it,” Ghost ordered.

“What? Fuck no. Do you know the shit I had to go through last night? I earned this,” you stated.

“Sargent, I order you to delete that photo,” Price commanded.

“Captain, can i just say you have the cutest sweetest little giggle I've ever heard in my life,” you cooed. Price's face snapped into a glare.

“Giggled?” Jonny smirked.

“Captain's a giggling drunk,” you nodded. 

“Delete it,” Ghost ordered again.

“Make me,” you challenged. A scream left your lips as they all pounced on you, successfully pulling the phone from your grip and deleting the photo. 

“You all assholes,” you grumbled, taking your phone back.

“Not a word about last night to anyone,” Price ordered, pointing at you.

“Yes sir,” You gave a mock salute, grinning ear to ear.

“What's that?” he asked, pointing to the smile.

“What's what sir?” you asked innocently.

“That smile. What have you done?” he asked.

“Nothing sir,” you smiled, batting your eyelashes before walking away. 

Across the base, Laswell had just entered her office, tea in hand. Sitting down at her computer, she opened her emails going through the more important once before finding one from you. Reading the topic of blackmail, she moved closer, taking a sip of her tea.

As she opened it her eyes went wide at the picture she saw spitting the tea out in a mist.

Later that day you found Ghost sitting on the couch rubbing his temple. 

“Here,” you said, holding out some tablets to him with a drink of water.

“What's this?” he asked.

“Does it matter?” you asked with a smirk. He shrugged, hiking his mask up to his nose and taking the tablets. You were slightly taken aback seeing the half of his face. And from the half you could see he was handsome. What you loved more was the stumble he wore. Yep he was definitely blond. 

“Huh,” you hummed.

“What?” he asked, pulling his mask back down.

“Knew you had a stubble. Jonny owes me a tenner,” you smiled. Again, the Dajuvu washed over you. Ghost thought back to the time you were in the hospital. To the time you held his face so tenderly and looked at him so softly. He wished you would do it again. 

“Hey, wanna hear something worth its weight in gold?” you asked, your cheeky grin taking over. He nodded, and you slotted yourself next to him, your arms pressed against each other. You opened up your phone going into your recorder. Shuffling impossibly closer you held the phone up between your ears. 

“What?”

“Shhhhh,” you hushed him, your hand unknowingly dropping to his biceps to pull him closer. He leaned down, his head gently knocking on the top of yours. It was comedic really. His whole upper body was bent over while you were just sitting there. 

Softly a giggle sounded from your phone.

“What the hell is that?” Ghost asked as he continued to listen.

“That is our dear captain giggling,” you chuckled. Simon couldn't help the laugh that burst from his mouth. And not one of his half chuckles. No it was a real laugh. I mean, who wouldn't be amused by it. Your smirk turned into a warm smile as you looked up at him. 

“Fuck, That’s hilarious. That's really Price?” he asked. You loved it, the way his smile reached his eyes.

“Yeah, but not as amusing as you tighty whities,” You grinned, patting his leg and getting up. He froze. Sure, he wore tighty whities when he was in civics. They were comfortable. 

“So you took advantage of me when I was drunk and unconscious?” he asked teasingly.

“Oh yeah definitely,” you grinned back with a wink. You went to leave but paused, stepping back to face him. “I didn't see your face if that's what you mean. I kept my eyes closed when I took your mask off,” you added. 

“I know,” he muttered. You frowned and were about to ask about it when Price called the two of you for the briefing. 

“Come on,” he said, walking up to you and putting you in a headlock. Which wasn't hard. He practically dragged you out.

“Don't go telling anyone about my tighty whities. Copy?” he asked.

“Sure thing, Sir,” you grinned tapping out. He smiled, releasing you. You walked side by side. Something you hoped one day you would always do.

“You owe me a speaker by the way,”

================================================

=COD Master List Here=

================================================

[ladylooch]

Bones - Part 7 - [Mack x David]

A/N: In the spirt of American Thanksgiving... and family... I give you David Carlson in Switzerland. I'm giggling. You'll know why when you get through this one 😁

Word Count: 6.0k

“Okay, so David, anyone who is anyone is going to be at this dinner. AND there is a quiz after.” Sophie Hischier teases her sister’s boyfriend. Tonight is their first family dinner since they arrived in Switzerland a couple days ago. The Meiers and Hischiers rented out a private room to celebrate everyone returning to their homeland. 

“Shit, I didn’t bring my flashcards.” 

Sophie giggles like its the funniest thing in the entire world, then looks over at her sister.

“He is so funny.” She hums in Swiss German. “I love him. We’re keeping him.”

“Soph, English.” Mack chuckles, rolling her eyes. Sophie looks back at David. 

“I said, you’re funny. I love you and we keep you.” She reiterates. She squeezes his waist in a quick hug, then floats up to where her parents are walking towards the restaurant. Sophie laces her arm through her dad’s and the three of them take the stairs together. Behind them, Lucie and Connor walk with their daughter. Stella skips with her mom to a beat only the two of them know. 

“Twirl!” Lucie exclaims, cheering when Stella’s gorgeous rainbow skirt flares out in a circle. “So beautiful, baby!” 

“Woo!!!” Mack hears a cheer from behind her. She turns around, seeing her aunt and uncle strutting across the parking lot looking as posh as ever. 

“Expensive.” David gapes at the fancy sports car Timo clicks the remote to lock.

“Oh you don’t even know.” Mack chuckles. “Actually, he probably didn’t even have to pay for that. He’s all sorts of famous in this country.”

“Your dad?”

“Uh huh. Him too. My first car was a Mercedes. Mom tried to talk him out of it. Dad said I was the only one responsible enough to get one. Lucie had to have a BMW.”

“Say that sentence back.” David teases.

“They’re not the same.” Mack holds her hands up. “Like Chevy and Ford.” David snorts.

“Also not the same. Your family is like.. royalty in one of the world’s most expensive countries.” Mack looks at him, contemplating. Then turns away without acknowledging that. What is she supposed to say? He isn’t wrong, but it’s weird to admit to.

Instead, she smiles at her aunt and uncle’s approach.

“This is my Auntie Em.” Mack introduces David to her aunt. 

“Oh! Hi! It’s so nice finally meeting Mackie’s boyfriend. You look better like this. You know, when you’re not hurting my kid.” David pauses, mouth dropped open preparing to greet her. He laughs sheepishly.

“It was an accident. I…” He laughs again nervously, looking over at Mack.

“Honey, I’m kidding.” Emma teases. Her lips tilt up in a sly smile, then she pats his chest. 

“Oh good.” David sighs in relief as she continues striding past him to greet Lucie and Connor. Timo continues on with his wife after giving David a firm handshake.

“Isn’t she something?” Mack smirks. Behind her parents, Liv Meier hustles forward with Luca Fiala on her arm.

“Yeah. We all want to be her when we grow up.” Liv chuckles as she comes up to the two of them, wrapping her arms around Mack. 

“Oh, Hi, Livia.” Mack drawls. “Look at you. You’re stunning. And sooooo blonde!? I love it!” 

“Thank you! I just got a touch up from Auntie.” She shakes the long, blonde waves that are cascading down her back. “I feel like we got the exact blonde I wanted.”

“It looks great. You look so much like Auntie Em. Wow.”

“The best compliment!” Liv giggles. “Hi David, it’s so good to finally see you!” She goes to hug him.

“Oh my god, I forgot you two haven’t actually met in person.” Mack and Liv have done plenty of FaceTimes that David has participated in. But the schedules of Liv being in New York and David or Mack too have not lined up at all.

“I feel like we have though.” David smiles, hugging Liv as Mack greets Luca.

“Hey, good to see you, man.” Luca extends his hand to David. “For the record, loved the hit.” 

“Shhhhhh.” David shushes Luca. “I do not wanna upset Mama Meier.”

“Lio should be thanking you for that hit. Fixed his whole damn life after that.” Mack insists. David places a hand on Mack’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. He loves when she stands up for him. 

“Shall we?” Luca asks, extending his hand forward. The four of them walk up into the restaurant, finding their large family chatting in a private room. Stella is in Nico’s arms, pointing at all the pictures on the wall, making up names for the Swiss Alps peaks together. Lexi and Emma are catching up. Lio and Timo drink whiskeys together, listening to Savannah tell an animated story. Lucie and Connor are whispering to each other, lost in their own word as per usual. The twins are out on the balcony with glasses of wine, checking out their options for the night, Mack is sure.

Liv and Luca head towards the bar with Mack and David. The boys grab beers while Liv and Mack decide on martinis. 

“So how are you doing?” Mack asks Liv as they wait for their drinks. Luca and David dove immediately into shop talk about the latest trade rumors and free agency rumblings. 

“Good. Ready to be done with Grad school and this book.”

“Our little overachiever.”

“You should talk. Ms. youngest ever to be nominated for Travel Writer of the Year.”

“I didn’t win.” Mack shrugs.

“Yeah, but you were in the conversation. That’s huge, Mackie.”

“Yuck, I don’t want to talk about me. What about your new book? When can I read it?”

“Oh! Speaking of, I was going to ask, will you be one of my reviewers?!” 

“Yes! Oh my god, yes!” Mack grabs Liv’s forearm, squeezing and grinning excitedly. 

“Okay, perfect! I thought, since I get to do whatever I want without a dumb team telling me what to do… it would be so fun to have you on the back cover with a review.”

“I am so excited. Yes. Absolutely.” 

“Okay but it is a romance. You have to like.. try to like it.”

“Stop.” Mack snorts. “I have a man now. I’m not jaded.” Mack strokes her hand down David’s chest. He looks at her, then smiles, running his hand along her lower back to hold her while him and Luca continue discussing.

“Careful… You look too happy.” Liv winks at her cousin. “I’m thrilled for you.” She whispers quietly. “Love looks good on you.” Mack sighs happily, dragging her cousin into a big hug.

“Learning from the best.” Mack bats her lashes dramatically. “Your parents.” Mack finishes, when she sees her aunt and uncle smooching like teenagers outside. “Look at them.”

“No, they are disgustingly in love. Just be like.. demure instead.”

“Big word!” Mack exclaims. “Okay, I am going to grab this drink and my man and take him outside so he can see the view while the sun is still kind of out.”

“Yes, go.” Liv grabs her drink too.

“Come with me?” Mack asks David, sliding her hand into his free one. They both step outside onto the terrace. Mack sighs immediately at how gorgeous the view is. The sunsets here are so unique and breathtaking. It’s like nothing else has been able to compare and she has seen sunsets all over the world. But this is still her favorite one. 

“Wow.” David whispers. He grabs her hips, pinning her between him and the railing so they can hold each other while taking it all in. The cold glass of David’s beer rests on her forearm. Mack’s eyes scan along the horizon, drinking in the jagged peaks of the Alps. Sometimes, its hard for her to believe this is real, that she got to live and grow up in such a magical place. “How did you leave this place?” He asks her. 

“Sometimes you have to leave to appreciate where you come from. I was at that point.” Mack murmurs back to him. She takes another sip of her drink. “As you’ve probably noticed, everyone in this town knows me.”

“Mhm.”

“I wanted to be anonymous for once in my life. What better place to do that than in New York.”

“Would you move back here?”

“I might. When I’m older and feel like I want a slower life. Would you come with me?”

“Hell yeah. I’d sell the farm and we could buy some land here. Figure out how to make stuff grow…” He trails off dreamily. 

“Always a farmer.”

“Yeah, honey. It’s how I grew up. How I made the farm work too. I knew enough to get by, but when my dad died, that responsibility pushed me to figure out how to make it all successful, not just get by.”

“You’ve done a great job.”

“I’m not fishing for compliments. Just saying.” He shrugs. He takes a long sip of his beer, then rests it back against her arm. “Figuring out alpine farming would be fun. Good retirement plan.” He smirks against her temple, then kisses her there.

Mack has no plans to move back to Switzerland, but knowing David would live here after only a two day taste has her feeling content.

When the lighting of the sunset dims, Mack and David walk back into the restaurant with linked fingers. The warm summer breeze swirls Mack’s hair around as she takes in her family. She loves them. They’re a loud, crazy, hilarious bunch, but they are hers. She loves how David already fits in like a missing piece of them that found it’s way back home. Dinner is served, wine is poured, and laughs are shared all around. The usual suspects are made fun of- Lio and the twins. Everyone swoons when Sophie talks and then grows quiet when Nico speaks.

The dynamics are there, even with Lucie and Connor who disappear during dinner for awhile. Lucie comes back looking way too put together, almost purposefully. Mack catches her eye and shakes her head. David squeezes her thigh under the table. Dessert is decadent chocolate mousse that has David’s eyes rolling back into his head.

“The best.” Mack tells him. He nods.

“Yeah. American chocolate sucks.”

The Swiss at the table cheer proudly. “Okay, he can stay in the family!” Sophie yells.

“Thanks, Soph.” David smiles at Mack when he says it. Mack threads her fingers over his hair then pulls him in for a kiss while everyone watches. David cups her cheek, moving his lips against hers as everyone cheers. 

“To family.” Nico raises his glass. “Proscht!”

The room fills with clinking glasses. Mack and David clinks theirs together too. 

Proscht, indeed.

- - - & - - -

Two weeks into being home with David and Mack is more relaxed than she has ever been in recent memory. There is nowhere to go, nowhere to run off to. Everyone she wants to see is here and everything else can wait. 

Beneath the mountain sun, she lays out in a chaise, quietly reading a book while the boys are bopping around in the lake. Stella is learning how to swim with her dad while Lio and David cheer her on from beside him.

“That’s it Stell!” Connor cheers as she rushes towards him. Mack glances up, seeing the flailing arms and legs of her niece. It looks less like swimming and more like drowning to her. But Connor’s arms wrap around the little girl’s body, pulling her up and out. Stella’s hair is slicked across her face, held over her cheeks by the pink, sparkly goggles she has on.

“Good job!” Lucie cheers from next to Mack. “I’m trying to let go of all my anxiousness, but it’s a little hard.” Lucie sighs to Mack. She scratches at her cheeks then takes another sip of the mocktail she made earlier in the day. 

“Connor has her.”

“I know. It’s just…” Lucie shakes her head. “Hard with my pre-birth anxiety.” 

“I can see that.” Mack acknowledges. Although she isn’t pregnant and doesn’t plan to be, she can certainly see how life-changing moments like pregnancy and birth can alter your brain chemistry and world outlook. Lucie waves at Connor and Stella in the lake.

“Mom! Did you see!?”

“I did, baby! Good job!” She yells down again. “Where is Soph?” Lucie asks Mack. “I thought she was supposed to be back by now?”

“I think they were boating to town for lunch, then she would be back.”

“Oh. She better not be on a boat with someone who is drinking and driving.”

“Really?” Mack purses her lips. “Like you never got into a boat with Lio after he had been drinking.”

“I was dumb. She is smarter than me.” Lucie insists.

“I don’t think anyone is smart at 19.” Mack reminds her. Lucie sighs. 

“I’m going inside. I need a break from life.”

“Okay.” Mack waves to her, then settles back into her book. 

Mack gets through several more chapters of her book before the group in the lake gets tired from swimming lessons. David comes to sit in Lucie’s vacated chair while Connor heads inside to grab Stella a well-earned snack. Lio and Savannah disappear down to the dock to join Liv and Luca there.

“That was super fun.” David sighs. “She really got the hang of it at the end.”

“She has the best coaches and hype boys down there.” Mack smiles, putting a book mark in her book then closing it. 

“Stella is such a firecracker. I love it. At one point, she sucked up some water and we were like ‘take a break!’. She refused. Just said ‘again’ and cruised right through that water to try again.” 

“She worked up an appetite too.” 

“Oh yeah. Needed a jelly sandwich.” David grabs one of Mack’s ankles, bringing her foot into his lap so he can massage it for her. “How is your book?”

“Good.” She smiles.

“Let me guess you’ve read it like 20 times?”

“Yeah and it get better every time.” She grins at him.

“My girl hates surprises.” He chuckles. 

“Yep.” She strokes her big toe down the center of his abs. She then lets it skirt over the ties of his board shorts before resting it back on his thigh. David licks his lips, slowly looking over at her. His green eyes sparkle, a slight smirk lifting a corner of his mouth up. It’s a warning. Mack purses her lips and looks away.

“I’m going to head inside.”

“Will you be back?” He asks. 

“Yeah I feel like I need a snack and a bathroom break.”

“Okay.” David releases her foot. Mack slides it from his lap then stands. She stretched her arms high into the sky, shaking her head at the way her boyfriends eyes are clearly on her boobs.

“Obvious.”

“Not trying to hide it, honey.” He says, leaning back in his chair.

Mack walks in through the sliding glass door, smiling as Stella has jelly smeared all over her face.

“Grape!” She exclaims, holding a half eaten portion out to her.

“Ooo, looks good.” Mack tickles here wet, ruffle covered belly then goes the the fridge to grab a sparkling water. She cracks the bottle open then glugs down a few sips.

“Okay, are we ready to go back out?” Connor asks his daughter. “Maybe do some back flutters this time?”

“I’ll come with babe!” Lucie calls from the living room.

Mack smiles, watching the Woods gather one another then head back out into the lake. The house is quiet, everyone out enjoying the hot summer sun. Mack leaves her water bottle on the counter, then heads upstairs to the guest bathroom. She quickly does her business, then washes her hands. After, she fixes her pony tail and double checks her sunscreen coverage still looks good on her face. She should probably grab a hat while she is inside.

The thought barely gets across her mind as she opens the door. Outside the bathroom, her boyfriend sits, bare-chested, board shorts swelling with a glint in his green eyes. Oh.

“What are you doing?” Mack asks as he steps forward. His hands on her hips push her back into the bathroom. He shuts the door, flipping the lock.

“I don’t trust Stella.” He explains. Mack closes her eyes, laughing and nodding her head. True.

“Bend over that counter.” He points to her. Mack scans his face, beginning to drip into her bikini bottoms with how damn possessed he looks. 

“That one?” She asks, jerking her hand over her shoulder. David turns her shoulders, then forces her to bend over the counter. Mack exhales in surprise. “Okay…” She laughs, then pulls her hair over one shoulder. She looks up in the mirror at him. “Now what?” David smirks at her.

“Your dad followed me into the house.” He tells her as he grabs the edges of her bottoms. Mack stills. She glances towards the door as the cloth falls to her ankles. “He thinks you’re the tamest daughter. The non-chaotic one who would never do something like beg her boyfriend to fuck her in the bathroom while he’s downstairs.”

His fingers glide over her puffy lips, gliding to her entrance to gather up her wetness then spread it across her sex. Mack swallows her moan, keeping her face neutral.

“I don’t know if I want it right now?” She tilts her head, challenging. David raises his eyebrows at her. He begins to undo the ties on his swim trunks, making Mack’s eyes lower with pleasure. 

“You don’t want this?” He asks, gathering his hard erection in his hand. He strokes her core with his swollen head. Mack sways from pleasure but shakes her head no. She breaks eye contact when she does this. David grabs her face, squeezing her cheeks for her to open her eyes. Her lashes flutter as she does, looking almost innocent in the mirror. “Say it again.” He eases just the tip of his cock into her. Mack tries to close her eyes and David squeezes her cheeks harder. “Baby. I asked you to do something for me.”

Mack sags into his body, causing her to swallow more of his shaft. David pulls out of her, letting the hardness slap against her outer lips as he waits for her answer. 

“I want it.” She moans as his fingers twirl her clit. 

“Yeah. Beg.”

“Please, I want your cock.” She whispers. She turns away from their reflection in the mirror to look at him. He leans down, kissing her lips, devouring her mouth like she is his lunch. 

Then he grips his shaft, rolling himself through her slit once, before plunging in. 

In her haze, Mack completely forgot about David’s statement.

Her dad came in with him. 

It isn’t until she is two minutes into getting fucked on the bathroom counter that it hits her. The handles of the cabinets bite into her thighs and knees. David brings her up on her tip toes to get better leverage. Then footsteps hit the stairs.

“Shit.” Mack whispers, reaching back to stop David’s thrusts into her. David looks at her in the mirror, then shakes his head. He leans more forward over her back and fucks deeper into her. The sounds fills the echoing bathroom and Mack shakes her head at him in the mirror. David stops, seeing her clear panic and discomfort.

“Trust me?” He asks her, slowly puling out then pushing back in. The elicit allure of pleasure blurs rational thought from her brain. Mack can only describe what happens next as pure insanity. She nods that he can continue. Then David puts his foot up on the toilet lid before pushes her down onto the counter again. He brings her hand to his balls to keep them from thrashing against her skin. Now his long, deep strokes hit into her without any crude clapping. Her ass nudges against his inner thigh and abdomen instead, allowing deep thrusts but eliminating the risk of being heard.

Mack clenches around him, shoving her mouth into her forearm. She bites down hard as her breasts sway into the cool marble from David’s hard fucks into her. He brings a hand to her neck, close to her shoulder, pulling her back onto his thick cock.

“Shhhh.” He mouths to her in the mirror when she looks up at him.

The closet door by the bathroom opens, they can hear rummaging around. Mack bites her lip, eyebrows squiggling together as she holds back a deep, primal moan.

“Good girl.” He mouths to her, barely audible.

The closet door shuts and the footsteps lead back towards the stairs, clomping down them. 

Once the coast is clear, David begins to fuck harder into her, long, strokes while his hands move to cup her breasts. He massages them, tweaking her nipples as he connects his chest with her back.

“Baby watch me make you cum in that mirror.” He demands. He grips her chin, forcing her gaze back in front of her.

Mack raises her brown eyes to him and watches. There, she sees every dip and curve of his hips as he fucks her pussy. She sighs, collapsing into his thrusts, letting his hands maneuver her body to get them both to their high. When she is close, he keeps that demanding pace, licking his lips, hips dipping down to get her at a better angle. His head rubs at her walls in a delicious tease that has Mack coming around him. He fucks her through her orgasm, keeping a tight grip on her hips as he takes what he needs.

He slams into her three more times, hard, unforgiving, then spills into her core. His hips smoosh her ass, forcing her stomach into the counter uncomfortably. The view of his face as he comes has Mack’s muscles fluttering around him again. She exhales a groan, holding his ass so he stays deeply buried inside of her. When he opens his soft green eyes to take her in, she clenches her walls around him again. David grins at her, then cups her ass, giving it a demanding squeeze. David presses his hips into her harder, then rolls her hips against him. Mack squeezes again, David bites his lip then hisses at the overstimulation.

“Fuck.”

David pulls out of Mack, bringing with him a glob of his cum. He grabs toilet paper, wiping it off, then goes to her used, puffy lips. He cleans her off as best he can, before pulling her bikini bottoms back into place. He tucks himself back into his shorts, then grabs Mack’s hips, holding on to her as he sighs.

“Better and better every time. I swear.”

“Yeah, cause you’re a freak in this house.” She chuckles. Her and David have had a great sex life since the beginning, but he has been almost insatiable since they’ve arrived in Switzerland. He shrugs.

“Something about you here has me hooked even more than usual.” Mack stands back up to her full height. David’s hands move to wrap around her stomach, holding her close. His big hands completely cover her abdomen, making Mack’s insides fill with butterflies. He stares at her in the mirror then turns to kiss her head. 

“I love you.” Mack tells him. “I don’t want to share you anymore. Let’s go take a nap.” Mack flips her hair back over her shoulder. “You can hold me and kiss me and love on me again when we wake up later.” David smiles.

“Sounds like Heaven.” 

Mack goes to the door, unflipping the lock then glancing both ways. When it’s clear, she pushes David out into the hallway. He laughs at how guilty she looks tiptoeing back to her room. She leans against the door, sighing in relief at not being caught.

“Now that I’m not dizzy from your dick, I will literally die if he heard us.”

“He didn’t hear anything.” David assures her. He has no idea, clearly, but Mack finds it adorable that he wants to ease her worries. “If he did, I’ll take the blame. Let him hate me so you can stay perfect in his eyes.”

“My dad definitely doesn’t think I’m perfect.” Mack crawls into bed next to him after changing into a pair of athletic shorts. David collects her to his chest immediately. 

“You’re perfect to me, honey.”

David rubs her hair.

Mack rubs his stomach.

Then they do the best thing you can on a summer vacation, fall asleep in a warm cocoon of love.

- - - & - - -

(David)

Exhausted from swimming in the lake all day, Mackenzie Hischier lays curled up into a perfect ball in her boyfriend’s lap. David strokes his hand along her back, careful to keep an even rhythm so she doesn’t wake up. She’s been fighting a nap all day after he kept her up most of the night. It wouldn’t be fair for him to wake up her again when she’s finally getting some good sleep. So slow, continuous strokes over her sweatshirt are what he does.

David has loved everything about Switzerland, but there is something sinfully sexy about fucking Mack in her childhood bedroom. He can’t get enough of it. He’s never been one to wake her up multiple nights in a row, for multiple rounds, but here he is, doing it for almost an entire month. He loves her soft moans, loves the way she bites onto the meat of his palm to stay quiet, loves knowing no one else has ever had her in that room before. Not even her dipshit college “boyfriend” who couldn’t find her clit.

What a fucking idiot. David finds himself quietly scoffing and shaking his head. He blinks away his thoughts, then adjusts Mack a bit on his thigh where her hip bone is digging into him. He tilts his head down to look at her face. Her lips are split apart and the left side of her nose squishes slightly up on his chest. He smiles down at her, loving how comfortable she is here with him. When he raises his gaze back to the room, he catches Nico Hischier studying them. David double checks his hands are in appropriate places on Nico’s daughter then gives him a nod. Nico nods back, a sign of acceptance, then turns back to the TV where a movie plays out.

David hopes to catch Nico and Lexi tonight without Mack hovering around the corner. He thinks she might finally be tired enough to go to bed first. David’s chest starts to pound a little harder in his chest at the thought of the conversation he needs to have with his girlfriend’s parents. He knows they like him, but hopes the last four weeks they’ve spent here has them completely comfortable with giving him permission to marry their daughter.

He can’t imagine life without Mack. She stormed into his life all hot and bothered, overstimulated and under appreciated. He’s gathered her up in the midst of all that and soothed those out of control parts of her by loving her so well. He knows her parents can see that, hell Nico is looking over at them again seeing it in real time. Mack finds David safe and comfortable. No one has ever been able to hold her free and kept at the same time. 

David vows to be the only one to do that. Ever.

After her parents give their blessing.

The movie ends and Sophie’s loud yawning makes Mack startle awake. She sighs, gripping David’s sweatshirt tighter. He kisses her head, then begins to work his grip around her back and under her knees.

“Ready?” He asks her. She nods. David stands with her in his arms, carrying her up the stairs to her room. He lays her on the queen sized bed, filled with a deep purple comforter adorned with ruffles. It’s so moody but girly, just like her. He can imagine her laying on this bed as a teenager, head phones in, book in front of her face as she ignored her dad’s second call for dinner.

“I’m gonna grab some water for us. I’ll be back.” He murmurs to her. Mack doesn’t even hear him. She’s already fallen back to sleep tucked into her sheets. 

David won’t wake her up tonight. It’s clear she needs the sleep.

Quietly, he tip toes out of the room. Lucie and Connor are saying their goodbyes with a sleeping Stella in her father’s arms. Nico smoothes the little girls curls down, then kisses her cheek gently.

“Goodbye, sweets. We will see you back home okay?” Nico assures the little girl. She nods sleepily in response, then yawns.

“Bye. See you for Fall break.” Sophie hugs the two adults, then skirts around everyone to go up to her room. David nods to Lucie and Connor.

“See you tomorrow at the airport.” He acknowledges them. They’re all heading back to New York on the same flight. Then Connor and Lucie will be heading to Massachusetts while Mack and David jet to Iowa.

Nico and Lexi walk the family out of the house to the car. David waits leaning against the wall in the entry way. He glances over his shoulder, listening for sounds of Mack, but hearing none. Even Sophie has gotten quiet upstairs. The two parents walk back into the big house holding hands. 

“Hey, I’m sorry to ah, pounce on you right at the end of the night, but I was hoping we could talk?”

“Sure.” Lexi nods, motioning with her hand back to the living room. David leads the way, sitting back in the chair him and Mack had been in earlier while her parents take the couch. He leans forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped together. 

“What’s up?” Nico asks, a slight smile on his face. David smiles back, breathing out heavily as he glances at the pictures on the wall. There are several of Mack when she was younger with varying faces. One in particular he loves because she’s sticking her tongue out while crossing her eyes. She’s carefree like children are and he brings that same looseness out in her as an adult.

“To start, I want to say thank you for letting me stay here with your family. I have really enjoyed my time here. You two have welcomed me here, and into the family, without any reservations. You knew me before as Connor’s teammate but my on-ice personality is a little different than who I am off the ice. I know with your career, you understand that.” Nico chuckles and nods. 

“Um, every time I try to get the words together to describe what Mack means to me, I fail miserably, but I’m gonna try to get this right for you two. Simply put, I love her. Unconditionally. With every fiber of who I am, I love your daughter. Every single thing about her, even the parts of herself that she desperately tries to change because she thinks they aren’t good enough for the world. She’s moody, inconsistent, always wanting to run around the world and be anywhere but home. And I love it.”

“Mack can certainly be a little complex.” Lexi acknowledges as the three of them chuckle at David’s description of her.

“I hear you, but not to me. I see her. I know her. I hear her. I heard her when she ran in January. And I heard her when she came back to me too. That doesn’t scare me. I know she needs to go sometimes. She needs to be free to feel and grow and come to terms with what she probably already knows.  I’m never gonna cage her in. She will always know freedom and space while also having a home with me.” Lexi rolls her lips together, pursing them as her eyes fill with tears.

Nico brings his clasped hands to his lips, pressing into them until they turn white from the pressure. David swallows hard. How is this going? Is it going good? He can’t fucking read them. 

“I hope that what you’ve seen of me in this last four weeks has you believing my words and intentions with her. I want Mack to be my wife. I want to come home, take care of her, love her and support her. I want to have dreams and goals with her that we make come true in our own way- a mix of my grit and her creativity. So…” He trials off, reaching into the inner pocket of his sweatpants where he zipped the ring earlier. He pulls it out between his thumb and pointer finger. “With your blessing, I would really like to marry your daughter.” 

“Wow.” Lexi practically hiccups. She looks over at Nico who nods with his eyes closed. “Yeah.” Lexi brings her hands up to her eyes. She wipes her fingers under them then reaches for the ring. “Can I?” 

“Of course.” David hands it over to her. Lexi holds it delicately in her fingers, turning it every which way as the light collects in the diamonds.

“I don’t think… we ever really saw this for Mack.” Lexi acknowledges. 

“Yeah.” Nico clears his throat. “Mack just… never wanted to be in love. I think she was that way when you first met her too.” David nods. 

“Spicy when she doesn’t like how things make her feel.”

“Mhm.” Nico nods. He scratches at his forehead, then continues. “As a parent, all you want is for your kids to be happy. We were happy if Mack was happy. When Mack came home this winter, she was not happy. She was miserable. And even in those tough moments in the cabin with her, she loved you. She loved you enough to try to decide for you that you deserved better.” David shakes his head, smiling as he does it.

“Crazy.” 

“Yeah, well you’re the one signing up for a lifetime left of that.” 

“Can’t wait.” David beams. Nico chuckles.

“I believe that. Lex and I were talking the other night how good you are at loving her. It’s been a long time since we have seen Mack so comfortable in who she is and her roller coaster. She fights it a lot. She doesn’t like the parts of her that are out of control. But those parts aren’t so scary for her when she’s with you. She embraces them, lets them show and then pass because she’s safe with you. We can’t thank you enough for that. For loving her so completely that she doesn’t want to run anymore.” Lexi hands the ring over to Nico. He looks it over for a moment, then holds it in the air towards David. “She’s going to love that.”

“Yeah, she is.” David agrees.

“I know we don’t know your parents and truthfully, Lexi and I are sad about that as I’m sure you are too. But they would be very proud of the man you have become.” David stills, feeling tightness grip his throat. “They raised a strong, caring, empathetic person who works his ass off for the people he loves. Mack is lucky to be one of those people.” 

“Thanks.” David clears his throat. “That means a lot coming from you.” 

“You’re our kid now.” Lexi nods her head along with Nico. “And we love you.” 

“Big time.” Nico acknowledges. 

The three of them stand. Hugs are shared all around, then David dismisses himself to join Mack for bed. They have an early morning tomorrow. As David climbs back up the stairs, he sneaks a look over his shoulder at Nico and Lexi hugging each other. He grins as he walks down the hall.

David is finally going to get his family after all.

Read more Mack and David here.