#but then right after i got out of the hospital at the beginning of this year | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

acute-scary · 2 days

Text

Between the Ropes… a Jey Uso x Rhea Ripley fanfic.

Chapter 14: I’d Do Anything For You

The following day, Rhea and Jey finally received the all-clear for her discharge from the hospital. The morning light filtered through the hospital windows as Jey listened intently to the nurse’s final instructions.

“Mrs. Adams’ medications are ready for pickup at the CVS near Mr. and Mrs. Fatu’s house,” the nurse said, handing him a packet. “Ensure she follows the dosage precisely. Watch for any signs of pain, fever, or excessive bleeding. If anything seems off, return immediately.”

Jey nodded, gripping the instructions tightly. With the press still lurking outside, their attorney, Julian, led them out through the south entrance. A black SUV waited, and Julian wheeled Rhea to the vehicle, carefully scanning for any photographers.

“Stay by the doors,” Julian instructed Jey. “I’ll make sure Rhea gets out safely first.”

Jey’s heart pounded as he watched Julian and Rhea disappear through the exit. He waited anxiously, his gaze fixed on the chaos outside. When Julian signaled that it was safe, Jey rushed to the SUV, sliding into the back seat just as a few photographers spotted them.

The SUV sped away from the hospital, with Rhea and Jey keeping their heads low to avoid the cameras. However no shots were taken as they managed to evade a full-blown media frenzy. Relief washed over Jey as they made their way to Jonathan and Trinity’s home.

Upon arrival, Jonathan and Trinity greeted them at the door. Jonathan took Jey’s luggage, while Trinity helped Rhea out of the car. Seeing Rhea in her weakened state, struggling with every step, tugged at Jey’s heartstrings. Her face was pale, and her movements were slow and labored.

“Let’s get you inside,” Trinity said gently, guiding Rhea into the house. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Rhea’s eyes lit up as they entered the living room. Her three dogs and one cat rushed forward, their joyful barks and meows filling the space. Despite her exhaustion, Rhea knelt slowly, tears welling up as her pets crowded around her, their affectionate nuzzles bringing her a moment of peace.

Trinity watched with a tender smile. “Jon and I explained to the police that you didn’t have family here and needed your clothes and pets. We managed to get them for you.”

Rhea, overcome with gratitude and emotion, managed to whisper, “Thank you… so much.”

Trinity helped Rhea up the stairs, guiding her carefully to the guest room. “I’ll send Jon to get your medications,” she said. “Are you hungry?”

Rhea shook her head weakly. “No, I just… I just want to rest.”

Trinity nodded, understanding her need for rest, and helped Rhea into bed. “Get some sleep. I’ll take care of everything else.”

Jey peeked into the room shortly after, his heart heavy seeing Rhea so fragile. Trinity left them alone, and Jey climbed into bed beside her, his movements gentle and cautious. “I’m here,” he whispered, brushing a lock of hair from her face. “If you need anything, just let me know.”

Rhea looked at him with tired eyes. “I… I need some space right now.”

Jey’s heart ached as he heard her words. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and then reached over to turn off the light. With a final, lingering glance at Rhea, he slipped out of the bed and quietly made his way downstairs.

As he settled in the living room, the weight of the everything settled heavily on him. He watched the clock, reflecting on the challenges ahead and the uncertain path to healing. For now, he took comfort in having Rhea home, surrounded by familiar comforts and her beloved pets, hoping that time and care would begin to mend the emotional and physical wounds they both carried.

Jey and Jonathan sat in the living room, the soft hum of the house almost mocking the gravity of their situation. The weight of recent events pressed down on them, filling the space with an unbearable heaviness. Trinity had retreated to bed, promising to check on Rhea, leaving the two brothers alone in their shared sorrow.

The silence between them was thick and unspoken, each man grappling with their own turmoil. After a few agonizing minutes, Jey finally broke the silence, his voice cracking with raw emotion. “Did they arrest him?”

Jonathan met his brother’s gaze, his own eyes heavy with the weight of what he had to say. “Yes. They arrested him.

Jey’s eyes, already brimming with tears, flared with a mixture of fury and devastation. “Good,” he said, his voice trembling. “I hope they lock him away forever. I hope he suffers.”

But the anger quickly gave way to a deep, uncontainable sorrow. Jey’s face crumpled, and the tears he’d been fighting back streamed down his cheeks. He clutched his chest, gasping for air as the enormity of their loss sank in. The pain was so intense it felt physical, a deep, wrenching agony that twisted inside him.

Jey’s sobs grew louder, more desperate, as if his cries could somehow alter the reality of what had happened. His shoulders shook violently, and he sank into himself, the weight of his grief making him feel small and fragile. His wails filled the room, raw and haunting, each cry a piercing lament for the life they’d lost.

Jonathan’s heart ached as he watched his brother unravel. He moved quickly, wrapping his arms around Jey, pulling him into a fierce, protective embrace. The two men huddled together, their bodies pressed close as if trying to merge their pain and find comfort in their shared grief.

Jey’s cries grew louder, a guttural sound of anguish that seemed to come from the very depths of his soul. “Why, God? Why did You have to take my baby?” he screamed, his voice breaking with each word. “Why did You let this happen? Why did You take away the one thing that mattered most?”

Jonathan held him tightly, his own tears falling freely now, mingling with Jey’s as he whispered soothingly. “I don’t know, Jey. I don’t know why this happened. I wish I could take away the pain. I wish there was something I could do.”

Jey’s cries seemed endless, each one a testament to the unbearable grief of losing a child. His hands clung to Jonathan’s shirt, as if trying to hold on to something solid amidst the overwhelming despair. He felt as though a part of him had been ripped away, leaving an empty void that could never be filled.

The minutes stretched into hours, and the night grew darker around them. The room was filled with the sound of Jey’s heart-wrenching sobs and Jonathan’s quiet attempts to comfort him. Their shared grief was a heavy blanket, wrapping around them both in a suffocating embrace. The intensity of Jey’s loss was palpable, a raw, aching void that words could not begin to describe.

As the night wore on, the two brothers remained entwined in Jey’s grief, Jey’s cries gradually fading into quiet sobs. The weight of his sorrow was immense, but in his twin’s embrace, Jey found a small measure of comfort. For now, the only thing they could hold onto was each other, and the hope that, in time, Jey might find a way to heal from the profound loss he experienced.

Rhea lay in the king bed, her body heavy with exhaustion and grief. The sounds of Jey’s anguished cries from downstairs pierced through the quiet of her room, each wail a gut-wrenching reminder of their shared loss. She wanted desperately to go to him, to offer some words of comfort, but the crushing weight of her own sorrow made her feel helpless.

As she tried to gather the strength to move, her cat, a gentle presence in her turmoil, climbed onto the bed and nestled close to her. Rhea felt the warmth of the small, comforting body and the soft purring that accompanied it. But instead of providing peace, it only deepened her sense of despair. The cat’s presence was a reminder of the emptiness she now felt without their child.

Tears streamed down Rhea’s face as she stared blankly at the ceiling, her mind a chaotic swirl of thoughts and regrets. “Why am I here?” she whispered to the darkness around her. “Why did it have to be this hard?”

She couldn’t shake the memory of her confrontation with Matt, the sharp, painful reality of the choices that led to this point. All she had wanted was to tell him she didn’t love him anymore, to end their relationship and move on with Jey. But Matt’s violent reaction had shattered more than just her plans—it had shattered their future.

She sobbed quietly, her cries muffled by the pillow as she buried her face in it. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” she choked out between sobs. “It was just supposed to be a conversation. I never wanted this. I never wanted any of this.”

The room felt oppressive, closing in on her as she wrestled with her guilt and grief. She felt a deep sense of responsibility for the loss of their child, a burden that seemed almost too heavy to bear. The pain of knowing that her actions had contributed to the chain of events that led to their tragedy was overwhelming.

Rhea’s heart ached with the weight of her own regrets and the depth of her sorrow. She lay there, immobilized by her despair, feeling the crushing isolation of her grief. The world outside felt distant and unreachable, and the comfort she so desperately needed seemed just beyond her grasp.

She wished for a way to turn back time, to change the course of events and erase the pain. But all she could do was lie there, enveloped in her grief, while Jey’s cries continued to echo through the house, a haunting reminder of the life they had lost and the heartache that now defined their existence.

—

Thursday, September 19th.

Rhea stirred awake as tried to get comfortable. Glancing at her phone, she saw it was 6:21 a.m. The room was still and quiet, except for the rhythmic sound of Jey’s steady breathing. He lay beside her, seemingly at peace in his slumber, but she knew he was hurting just as much as she was.

She shifted slightly and felt a sharp cramp in her abdomen. The pain was a constant reminder of the trauma her body had endured. Trying to suppress a whimper, she glanced at the dresser where Jey had neatly labeled a few pill bottles—two for pain and one for infection. Her hands trembled as she reached for the bottle of pain pills that didn’t require food. Without hesitating, she dry swallowed the recommended dose, hoping for even a small reprieve from the discomfort.

Rhea walked carefully, careful not to wake Jey, and made her way to the door. Her steps were tentative as she navigated the unfamiliar room. She noticed three doors and, with some effort, discerned that one was slightly ajar. She approached it and realized it led to the bathroom. With a sigh of relief, she closed the door behind her and shuffled inside.

As she relieved herself, the pain intensified, and she noticed something alarming. When she wiped, there were blood clots on the tissue. Her heart sank at the sight, a painful reminder of the loss she was still struggling to accept. The doctor had mentioned the possibility of passing clots, but seeing them firsthand brought a new wave of anguish.

She opened the cabinet above the toilet and found pads. With trembling hands, she applied one, trying to manage the situation as best as she could. After washing her hands thoroughly and flushing away the evidence, she turned her attention back to her reflection.

Rhea placed a hand on her stomach, feeling a deep, aching emptiness. She lifted her shirt to inspect the bandage covering the incision. Gently, she pulled it back slightly and saw the small incision—about the size of her middle finger, but very slightly longer. It was a reminder of the surgical intervention she had undergone.

As she observed the incision, her emotions swirled. The physical pain and the sight of the bandage were a tangible representation of the emotional and physical toll she had endured. The incision was a silent witness to the immense loss and the challenge of recovering from such a profound tragedy. Rhea’s tears fell freely as she grappled with the reality of her situation. The pain, both physical and emotional, was overwhelming, and the quiet of the early morning offered no ease.

Rhea quietly returned to the bedroom, her body heavy with exhaustion and her mind swirling in the remnants of grief. As she opened the door, she noticed Jey lying there, his eyes half-open, watching her with quiet concern.

“You okay, babe?” he asked, his voice raw with tiredness, but laced with something deeper—worry.

She paused, surprised by the tenderness of the pet name. Closing the door softly behind her, she gave him a weak smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Didn’t know we hit the pet names already…”

Jey shifted in bed, sitting up slightly as she climbed in beside him. The moment she was close enough, he pulled her into his arms, holding her as though she might slip away if he didn’t. She felt his warmth surround her as her head found his chest, listening to the rhythmic beat of his heart. For a second, just that simple sound was enough to make her feel safe.

“I think it’s long overdue,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss against her hair, his lips lingering there.

Rhea didn’t respond. The words seemed to catch in her throat. She was so tired—emotionally, physically. It was as if everything around her was collapsing, and all she could do was lie still, hoping the weight of it all wouldn’t crush her.

She felt Jey’s chest rise and fall beneath her head, his heartbeat a steady reminder that he was here, with her. His hand ran gently up and down her back, offering silent comfort.

After a moment, his voice broke the quiet. “Maybe down the line… we can try again,” he said softly, almost as if afraid to say it out loud. “Maybe one day…”

The words stung. Rhea bit her lip, trying to hold back the wave of emotions crashing over her. She couldn’t think about trying again—not now, not with this gaping wound still fresh. The thought of another baby was too much to bear. She didn’t want to cry anymore, but tears welled up in her eyes before she could stop them.

She didn’t respond. She just lay there, silent, her heart aching. Her grief felt like an ocean, and she was drowning in it. Jey’s words were like tiny lifeboats, but she wasn’t sure she could reach for them yet.

Sensing her silence, Jey gently lifted her chin with his finger, tilting her face to meet his. His eyes, red from exhaustion and grief, were filled with something deep—something raw. “Rhea… I love you,” he said, his voice trembling, but filled with conviction. “I need you to know that. I love you so damn much. I’m not going anywhere. Not ever.”

His words cut through the haze of her grief, and she blinked up at him, tears spilling over despite her efforts to hold them back.

“I’ll never leave you,” Jey continued, his voice cracking with emotion. “Not now, not ever. I know in Portland… I pushed you. I was a coward. But I’ll never do that again. I swear to you, Rhea. I’m staying. No matter how hard it gets.”

He let out a shaky breath, his eyes pleading with her to understand. “We’ve lost so much… but I won’t lose you. I can’t.”

Rhea felt her heart shatter all over again. His words were breaking down the walls she had tried to build around her grief. She couldn’t hold it in anymore. A sob escaped her lips as she reached for him, clutching his shirt, her body shaking with the force of her emotions.

“I don’t know if I can do this, Jey,” she whispered through her tears, her voice trembling. “I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”

Jey pulled her tighter against him, his own tears mixing with hers. “You don’t have to do it alone,” he whispered back. “We’ll do it together. I promise you.”

She wanted to believe him—wanted so desperately to believe that somehow, together, they could survive this. But the pain was so overwhelming, the grief so unbearable, that all she could do was cry. Her body was weak, her soul even weaker. It wasn’t supposed to be this hard. She had imagined a future with their child, a life that was now gone, stolen from them before it even had a chance to begin.

Jey kissed her forehead, then her tear-streaked cheeks, and finally her lips. The kiss was soft, tender, filled with all the love he couldn’t put into words. “I’ll never leave you,” he whispered again, his voice barely audible.

Rhea clung to him, their tears mingling as they held onto each other, as if their love was the only thing keeping them afloat in this sea of grief. In the darkness, in the stillness of the room, they found a sliver of hope in each other’s arms.

It wasn’t enough to erase the pain, but in that moment, it was all they had.

---

9:41 AM Thursday.

As Trinity flipped the last of the turkey bacon onto a plate, she heard the familiar sound of footsteps walking through the living room and without turning around, she called out, “Breakfast is ready, babe.”

But when she glanced over her shoulder, it wasn’t Jon, it was Rhea. Her movements were slow, but the fact that she was out of bed brought a small sense of relief to Trinity.

“Good morning,” Trinity greeted her warmly, trying to keep things light.

Rhea gave a weak smile. “Morning.”

Trinity, not one to pry too much, asked gently, “How are you feeling? Physically, I mean.”

Rhea sat down at the table with a sigh, her exhaustion still evident. “One day at a time, hey where are my babies?” she murmured, her voice soft but steady, concerned for animals.

“Oh I let them roam the backyard but your cat is crazy. The dang thing don’t wanna keep off my plants..” Trinity joked.

“Sorry I had to bombard you with them..” Rhea replied.

“Think of it as a fair trade, I get to see different animals instead of Jon and mine.. plus I think Tank and Marley really enjoy the company..” Trinity joked as she looked out to see the storm of dogs roam her backyard.

“Fair enough,” Rhea responded and Trinity turning back to the stove for a moment. “Want a plate?”

Rhea hesitated for just a second before nodding. “Yeah, sure.”

Trinity quickly brought over a plate and placed it in front of her, taking a seat across the table. The kitchen felt quieter than usual, but the silence between them was comfortable—filled with understanding rather than awkwardness.

As they both ate, Trinity decided to break the quiet with a gentle suggestion. “Would you like to do anything today?” she asked, keeping her tone light and open.

Rhea paused mid-chew, then shrugged. “I don’t know… I still feel like I’m imposing here.”

Trinity’s face softened with a reassuring smile. “You’re not imposing, Rhea. I get it… yes it is weird how quickly things changed but I love my husband and I stand by whatever he does. Look Rhea… how about we get your mind of things and start this relationship off right. How about we do something easy—maybe a barbecue?”

At the mention of BBQ, Rhea’s face brightened slightly, and she managed a genuine smile. “I do love BBQ,” she admitted, her voice a little brighter.

Trinity grinned back, happy to see Rhea light up, even if it was just for a moment. “Perfect! I’ll head out and grab some meat, and maybe you can help with the sides? Something easy, nothing too stressful.”

Rhea nodded, looking relieved to have a small task, something to focus on. “I can do that.”

Just as they were finishing up their breakfast, the garage door creaked open, and Jey and Jimmy walked into the kitchen. Jey’s face lit up when he saw Rhea. He immediately made his way over to her, leaning down to give her a soft kiss on the forehead. “Morning, babe,” he whispered.

Jimmy, ever the mirror image of his brother, followed suit, leaning down to kiss Trinity. “Morning,” he echoed with a grin.

Trinity chuckled at the synchronization, playfully shaking her head at the twins. “Y’all are ridiculous,” she teased.

Turning back to the room, Trinity explained the plans. “We’re thinking of doing a BBQ today. It’ll be low-key, just to get Rhea out of her head a bit.”

Jimmy smirked at Jey, “Uce, it’s your turn to clean the grill.”

Jey scoffed and shook his head. “Nah, I did the cooking and the cleaning last time. It’s your turn to actually do some work around here.

Jimmy held up his hands in mock protest. “Bro, I was supervising last time. Totally different.”

Trinity rolled her eyes playfully. “Yeah, well, whoever cleans it better do it fast because I’m about to head out for the groceries.”

As Jey and Jimmy bantered, Rhea leaned back in her chair, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. For the first time in what felt like forever, the lightness of normalcy began to creep back into the house. It wasn’t much, but it was something. A start.

—

Rhea sat at the vanity, carefully applying her eyeliner, the soft hum of The Great Gatsby playing in the background. The movie had become her strange form of comfort, a familiar backdrop to the emotional chaos she was navigating. Wrapped in her towel, she stared at her reflection, trying to pull herself together. Just for today, she needed to forget everything—her grief, her exhaustion, the overwhelming weight of reality—and just pretend like things were okay, even if they weren’t.

She sighed, memories of that lonely breakfast in the Portland hotel suite creeping into her mind. It felt like a lifetime ago now, yet the isolation and uncertainty still gnawed at her. With a small shake of her head, she brushed the thoughts away and reached for her mascara, focusing on the present moment.

Jey walked in quietly, moving with a kind of reverence as he approached her. “Hey, beautiful,” he murmured, leaning down to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. Rhea looked up, meeting his gaze through the mirror, offering a small, grateful smile. She kissed him back briefly before he made his way to the duffle bag in the corner of the room.

As she rummaged through her makeup bag for lipstick, she heard him mention his plans. “I’m gonna get a haircut and go see my dad for a bit,” Jey said, pulling out some clothes. Rhea nodded in acknowledgment, still focused on her makeup, though the thought of him spending time with his dad made her heart feel a little warmer. She wasn’t a family destroyer …

Rhea found the soft pink lipstick she was searching for and began applying it when Jey’s voice interrupted her thoughts again. “Is that what you’re wearing?” he asked, eyeing her outfit laid out on the bed—a blue Polo shirt with a pink logo, black biker shorts, and pink platform Vans.

She arched an eyebrow at him. “What’s wrong with it?” she challenged, her voice light but curious.

Jey grinned, shaking his head. “Nothing. I’d love it if you wore my shirts all the time, though,” he said, crossing the room and giving her another kiss, this time on her temple.

Rhea rolled her eyes, but a smile played on her lips. “You’re such a dork,” she teased.

“Maybe,” he said with a shrug, heading toward the door. “One day I’ll take you to Foot Locker, get you some proper shoes to go with these Polos if you are going to be wearing them tho’. You’ll look even better.”

She couldn’t help but laugh softly, shaking her head at him. “You and your sneaker obsession.”

Jey chuckled, giving her one last glance before stepping out. As the door closed behind him, Rhea stared at her reflection again, her smile fading slightly. The playful banter had momentarily lightened her heart, but the heaviness never really left. Still, she was grateful for these moments, for Jey’s love and the normalcy he was trying to bring back into their lives.

Rhea felt the familiar sharp pain grip her stomach, a wave of discomfort that made her wince. She could tell it was another blood clot, and the reminder of everything her body had been through sent a shiver of frustration through her. Standing up slowly, she walked over to the dresser, her eyes landing on the pain pill bottle. The warning, "NOT TO EXCEED TWO EVERY 24 HOURS," glared at her in bold letters. She’d already taken two that morning, but in her current state, she couldn’t care less about the instructions. With a resigned roll of her eyes, she shook out two more pills and swallowed them dry.

Dressing herself in the outfit she’d set aside, Rhea felt a small semblance of happiness return as the fabric brushed against her skin. She sighed, heading downstairs to the now empty kitchen. Jey was off getting his haircut, and Jon and Trinity had mentioned something about going to the grocery store. The house, usually filled with noise and conversation, felt eerily quiet.

Rhea opened the fridge, scanning the shelves for something that could work for the barbecue later. Trinity had told her there were healthy sides in the fridge, and as she looked around, she found some leftover turkey bacon, asparagus, bell peppers, and a medley of other vegetables. A small smile tugged at her lips as she muttered, "They really love their turkey bacon around here."

Deciding on her menu, she thought to herself: turkey bacon-wrapped asparagus, vegetable skewers, and turkey bacon jalapeño cream cheese poppers. Simple but satisfying.

Before she started, Rhea glanced around and noticed the stereo remote sitting on the counter, labeled with all kinds of buttons. She picked it up, scrolling through the controls until she spotted the Bluetooth option. A smirk formed on her lips as the idea of playing some music popped into her mind. It might help her get through the day, or at least through the cooking.

She connected her phone to the stereo, scrolling through her playlists until one caught her eye: “The Yeetman’s Jams,” a collection of over 500 songs Jey had sent her over time. It was a little tribute she’d made to all the tracks he loved, and it always brought a smile to her face.

Rhea hit shuffle, and soon enough, Alicia Keys’ You Don’t Know My Name filled the kitchen, the soulful tune drifting through the air. It was an odd juxtaposition—Rhea Ripley, the fierce, tattooed wrestler, cooking in a quiet kitchen with R&B serenading her. It wasn’t what most people would expect from her, but here she was, letting the soothing melody take her mind off things for just a little while.

She smiled to herself, humming softly as she began prepping the vegetables, letting the music guide her hands and her thoughts, if only for a brief escape. For a moment, it felt like she could breathe again.

—

After Jey finished his haircut, he drove Jon’s car to his father’s vacation home forty six minutes away in Titusville, Florida. The house, nestled among palm trees with the distant sound of waves crashing, seemed both inviting and imposing. Solofa stood outside, his presence a mix of authority and reassurance.

Jey parked the car and approached, feeling the crunch of gravel underfoot. Solofa greeted him with a firm handshake, followed by a long, heartfelt embrace. “Good to see you, son,” Solofa said, his voice rich with unspoken emotion.

“Hey, Dad,” Jey replied, his voice wavering slightly as he stepped back. He moved to his mother, who was seated on the porch, and gently kissed her cheek. “Hi, Ma.”

She looked up, her eyes reflecting both concern and warmth. “Hi, Jey. How are you holding up?”

Jey managed a weak smile. “I’m managing,” he said, his voice betraying the fatigue and sorrow that lay beneath the surface.

Solofa led Jey to the back patio, a tranquil spot where the sound of the ocean mixed with the rustling of palm leaves. They settled into comfortable chairs, the serenity of the setting contrasting sharply with the gravity of their conversation.

Solofa’s gaze was steady, his concern palpable. “So, how’s Rhea?” he asked, his tone imbued with deep empathy.

Jey took a deep breath, the weight of his father’s scrutiny heavy on him. “She’s struggling,” he admitted. “Her body is healing, but her heart is broken. Losing the baby has been devastating. It’s like we’re both trapped in this darkness, trying to find our way out. I’m doing everything I can to support her, but it feels like nothing I do can truly help.”

Solofa nodded slowly, his face reflecting the gravity of Jey’s words. “Losing a child is a pain that runs deep, cutting through the very core of our being. It’s a wound that doesn’t easily heal. No parent should have to endure such sorrow.”

Jey’s shoulders sagged under the weight of his father’s understanding. “Yeah, it’s been incredibly hard. But we’re trying to keep going, to find some semblance of normalcy.”

Solofa’s expression shifted to one of solemnity, a shadow of past judgments clouding his eyes. “When I first learned about what happened with Takecia, I said you were dead to me.”

Jey’s heart clenched at the harsh reality of his father’s words. The pain was immediate and raw, his eyes brimming with tears he fought to control. “I know, Dad. I made mistakes. I understand that.”

Solofa’s gaze softened, though it remained resolute. “No one deserves to be beaten for loving someone. Rhea didn’t deserve that. She doesn’t deserve the pain she’s been through. I’m not angry with Jonathan for stepping up as he did. He did what he felt was necessary, even though it was difficult.”

Jey’s voice cracked as he tried to express his feelings. “I love Rhea more than anything in this world. I know I’ve made mistakes, but I’m doing everything I can to make things right. The thought of losing her is unbearable. She’s everything to me.”

Solofa’s eyes held a mix of sternness and compassion, his understanding evident in his gaze. “Then you must honor her, Jey. You must be the man she needs, not just in words but through your actions. Don’t let your past define you. Learn from it, grow, and show her that love and strength can prevail even in the darkest times.”

Jey’s eyes filled with tears, his emotions spilling over. “I will, Dad. I promise I will.”

Solofa placed a firm, comforting hand on Jey’s shoulder, his touch both grounding and reassuring. “Good. You have an opportunity to make things right. Don’t squander it. Be the man who supports and loves her through this, and take care of yourself too. Strength comes not from never falling but from rising every time we fall.”

As they sat together, the rhythmic sound of the ocean served as a soothing backdrop to their conversation. Jey felt a flicker of hope amid the overwhelming sorrow, a small light suggesting that maybe, just maybe, they could navigate through this darkness and find their way back to a place of healing and hope.

—

Jon and Trinity pulled up to their house, unloading groceries from the trunk of the car. Jon furrowed his brows as he heard the unmistakable beats of a hip-hop track echoing from inside. “Is that Fabulous?” he asked, squinting toward the open garage.

Trinity shrugged, puzzled. “Sounds like it.”

As they entered through the garage, the source of the music became clear. There was Rhea, in the kitchen, swaying her hips and bobbing her head to “So Into You” by Fabulous. She was engrossed in wrapping jalapeño poppers, her mood visibly lifted despite everything. When she noticed Jon and Trinity, she quickly lowered the volume, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Sorry,” she said, a sheepish smile on her face.

Jon dropped the grocery bags onto the counter, his eyes widening in mock disbelief. “Now wait a damn minute, who in the hell showed you that song?” he asked with a grin.

Rhea chuckled. “I’ve got this playlist of music Jey has sent me. It’s a mix of everything he’s into.”

Jon’s eyes widened even further, his surprise palpable. “I need to see this playlist. This is our kind of music. You should be sticking to heavy metal or something.”

Rhea laughed, her spirits lifting as Jon teased her. “Hey, I’m just enjoying the variety. It’s kind of nice to step outside my usual genres.”

Just as the conversation wrapped up, the song changed to “Dilemma” by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland. Trinity’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Oh girl, this is my shit!” she exclaimed, breaking into song with a playful enthusiasm. She started singing along to Jon, who couldn’t help but smile at his wife’s impromptu performance.

As Trinity belted out the lyrics, Jon joined in with a grin, and Rhea watched them, a genuine smile on her face. The unexpected moment of joy and secureness spreading through her body.

—

Jey pulled up to Jon and Trinity’s house, still feeling the weight of the earlier conversation with his father. The music blared from inside the house, growing louder as he approached. Curious and somewhat amused, he pressed the garage door opener and drove in, following the sound of the beats that led him through the garage and into the kitchen.

The upbeat track continued to echo as Jey headed towards the backyard, where he was greeted by a scene that took him by surprise. The song “Promise” by Ciara was playing, its rhythm setting a mellow, yet hopeful tone. Jon was busy flipping meat on the grill, his concentration evident as he worked. Trinity, holding a glass of champagne, was singing along, her voice vibrant and carefree. She moved gracefully, dancing in sync with Rhea, who was attempting to follow along despite her discomfort.

Seeing Rhea, who had been through so much recently, engaged in such a moment of normalcy and joy struck Jey deeply. He noticed how carefully Trinity and Jon were moving, their actions mindful of Rhea’s condition. Trinity’s gentle sway and Jon’s focused grilling created a balance between maintaining the cheerfulness of the BBQ and respecting Rhea’s physical state.

Rhea, visibly enjoying the moment despite her pain, caught Jey’s eye. Her face lit up with a radiant smile as she began singing to him, her voice filled with a mix of vulnerability and warmth. “There’s nothing I won’t do, to spend my life with you…” she sang, her eyes locked onto his.

Jey’s heart swelled with a profound mix of emotions. The sight of Rhea, who had been struggling so much, finding relief in this small, joyful moment was deeply moving. He could see how much effort she was putting into staying present and making the best of their situation, and it made him feel a pang of both admiration and sadness. Her song, her smile, and her willingness to connect with him through the music brought him to the brink of tears..

With a tenderness that reflected his internal struggle, Jey walked over to Rhea, unable to keep the emotion from his voice. He pulled her close, their foreheads touching as he gently kissed her, their lips meeting in a kiss that spoke of both their shared grief and their enduring love. The kiss was soft, laden with unspoken promises and the shared pain of their loss, yet it also carried a glimmer of hope and a reaffirmation of their bond.

As they parted, Jey’s eyes were filled with a mix of gratitude and sorrow. The small, intimate moment with Rhea amidst the upbeat surroundings reminded him of their strength together and the deep love they shared, despite the trials they had faced. The music, the dancing, and the simple act of being together felt like a fragile but beautiful testament to their resilience.

Jon, noticing the tender moment between Rhea and Jey, couldn’t resist teasing them. “You know, you two could always get a room,” he said with a grin, playfully nudging them.

Jey rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the smile tugging at his lips. He glanced around the backyard, taking in the casual, comfortable scene. Jon had a cold beer in hand, and Trinity was sipping on a glass of champagne. Jey turned to Rhea and asked if she was joining in on the drinks. Rhea shook her head, a hint of a smile on her lips. “Can’t drink with the pills..” she said softly.

Rhea reached out and gently ruffled Jey’s hair, her fingers running through his curls. “The mullets always get me,” she said with a light laugh, a spark of her old self shining through despite the pain. Jey chuckled and leaned in to kiss her cheek, feeling a mix of relief and warmth at seeing her laugh.

Trinity, feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the activity, lowered the music and made her way to the patio furniture. “All this moving around is making me feel like I’m going to throw up,” she said, playfully lamenting her predicament. Rhea, noticing Trinity’s discomfort, offered to get Jey a beer, but he declined with a wave. “I’ll get it myself,” he said, giving her a reassuring smile.

Rhea joined Trinity at the patio furniture, and the two began chatting about lighter, random topics—everything from favorite movies to silly memories she had shared with Jonathan. Their conversation was a pleasant distraction, easing the tension in the air.

Jey returned from the kitchen with his beer in hand and approached Jon. He raised his beer for a toast. “To family and good times,” he said, his voice carrying a note of sincerity.

Jon clinked his bottle against Jey’s with a grin. “To family and good times,” he echoed. As they took their sips, Jon gave Jey a knowing look. “You know, I’m glad Dad was able to come through.”

Jey nodded, his eyes meeting Jon’s with a mixture of gratitude and relief. “Me too. Hey.. real quick Uce’?”

“Yessss..” Jimmy said playfully.

“Did you tell Matt?” The question got serious just for a moment there. Jimmy looked at Jey and he sighed, “I get it… despite all the shit I said in Portland I get it. Nah’ Uce, at the end of that day I just decided it wasn’t my place to say. On god.” Jimmy said pledging his loyalty. Jey smiled and gave him a quick hug.

As Jey and Jon continued to chat by the grill, the conversation flowing easily between them, Jey suddenly stopped mid-sentence. His ears picked up on a familiar tune, the beats unmistakably resonating with him. He glanced towards the patio where Rhea sat with Trinity, her laughter mingling with the sounds of the evening.

A smile spread across Jey’s face as he recognized the song. It was “Die With A Smile” by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga, a song that had become a poignant part of their shared journey. The lyrics began to play, and Jey felt a surge of emotion.

I, I just woke up from a dream

Where you and I had to say goodbye

And I don't know what it all means

But since I survived, I realized

Wherever you go, that's where I'll follow

He quickly chugged his beer, his heart racing with a mixture of anticipation and nostalgia. He made his way over to Rhea, who was chatting with Trinity. As he approached, he extended his hand to her with a warm smile. Rhea looked up, her eyes meeting his. She smiled softly, a flicker of recognition passing over her face as she took his hand.

If the world was ending

I'd wanna be next to you

If the party was over

And our time on Earth was through

I'd wanna hold you just for a while

And die with a smile

If the world was ending

I'd wanna be next to you

Without a word, Jey gently pulled her towards him, leading her to the center of the patio. The song’s lyrics began to fill the space around them as Jey whispered the lyrics softly in Rhea’s ear, the words carrying a deep, emotional weight. As they moved together, their bodies swaying in sync with the rhythm, Jey felt a profound connection with Rhea. This was the song that had come to symbolize their tumultuous affair, their deep love, and now, it marked the beginning of their new chapter.

Nobody's promised tomorrow

So I'ma love you every night like it's the last night

Like it's the last night

The music enveloped them, creating a cocoon of intimacy amid the surrounding activity. Jey’s hand rested on Rhea’s lower back, his touch gentle and reassuring. He gazed into her eyes, seeing the depth of her pain and the flicker of hope that had been rekindled.

Right next to you

Next to you

Right next to you

Oh-oh

As the Bruno Mars’ high note soared, Rhea leaned in closer, her head resting on Jey’s shoulder. The warmth of his body against hers was a balm to her aching heart. They moved together slowly, the world outside fading away as they found love in each other’s arms. The song’s message of enduring love and resilience resonated deeply with both of them.

If the world was ending

I'd wanna be next to you

If the party was over

The lyrics spoke to their shared struggles, their unbreakable bond, and their determination to face whatever came next. Each note, each word seemed to cement their commitment to each other, transforming their past pain into a hopeful promise for the future.

And our time on Earth was through

I'd wanna hold you just for a while

And die with a smile

Jey held Rhea close, his heart full of emotion. The song was a testament to their journey, a beautiful reminder of the love that had endured through trials and heartache. In that moment, as they danced together, Jey felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and hope. The song was more than just a melody; it was a reflection of their love.

He could still feel the way her fingers traced the edges of his shirt, her touch both gentle and electric. Every inch of him was attuned to her, the way her body pressed against his, the warmth of her skin, the softness of her breath. As he held her, he felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him—flashes of stolen kisses, secret looks, and nights where time didn’t exist.

As the song came to a finish, a new one played on, the connection between Jey and Rhea deepened with every sway. ‘Until the end of Time’ by Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé engulfed their ears and Jey's mind wandered back to the countless memories they shared, moments when the world seemed simpler, before the complications. The song wasn't just a melody to him-it was a promise, a vow that echoed everything he wished he could say out loud.

Jey’s eyes fell shut for a moment, as if capturing this second in time. He could feel his heart beating in rhythm with the song, but more so, it was in rhythm with hers. It was in these moments that he felt something he had rarely allowed himself to admit—this wasn’t just lust, or fleeting attraction. He was in love with Rhea, deeply and truly. She wasn’t just a passing chapter in his life. She was the one, the woman he couldn’t shake, the woman who made him feel more alive than anyone else ever could.

But as much as his heart soared, his mind was a whirlwind of conflict. He knew this wasn’t supposed to be. They weren’t supposed to be dancing like this, lost in each other, not after everything that had happened. Not after the betrayal, the chaos, the fallout with his family. And yet, here they were, drawn to each other like magnets, unable to stop.

Rhea shifted in his arms, her hand rising slowly to the side of his face, her fingertips brushing his jawline. Her eyes met his—there was something in them, a deep well of emotions she hadn’t spoken aloud. But Jey could feel it. The way she looked at him now wasn’t the way she looked at anyone else. In this moment, there was no hesitation, no holding back.

"Jey..." She didn’t need to finish her sentence, didn’t need to say anything more. He knew. He could hear everything she wasn’t saying. The unspoken feelings, the longing, the uncertainty. It was all there, hanging in the space between them.

His hands moved up, his fingers gently grazing her back, tracing familiar lines along her spine. He leaned down slightly, his lips hovering near her ear, his voice low and thick with emotion. “I love you, Rhea.."

Rhea’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes flickering with something he hadn’t seen in a while—pure and undeniable vulnerability. She wasn’t the strong, untouchable woman everyone saw her as in the ring. Not with him. Not here. With Jey, she let down her guard, and in this moment, she was as fragile as the love they both knew was now complete.

For a split second, she closed her eyes, leaning into his words, letting them wash over her. But when she opened them again, there was not one shadow of doubt. As she stayed there, in this moment, with Jey holding her like this, she no longer felt reality was creeping in. The world outside this dance was no longer complicated, messy, or unforgiving. It was now heading in the right direction..

“I love you Joshua..” Her words stung but a good kind of sting and Jey understood it. Right now, the pull between them was stronger than anything. He will never be ready to let her go. Not when it felt this right.

Slowly, she leaned forward, resting her forehead against his, their breath mingling as the song carried them along, binding them tighter. She didn’t say anything, didn’t need to. Her silence spoke volumes.

As the last notes of the song drifted into the air, Jey tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her impossibly closer. He wasn’t sure how long they had, how much time they could steal before the world came crashing back in. But for now, in this fleeting moment, it was just them.

Before either of them could say another word, the sound of footsteps broke through their moment. Trinity approached with a soft smile, her eyes full of understanding.

“Food’s ready,” she announced, though her tone was gentle. She could sense the heaviness between them, the emotions that still hung in the air from the dance.

Rhea stepped back from Jey, giving him a small, bittersweet smile before turning to Trinity. “Thanks, Trin. I’ll be there in a minute.”

As Trinity walked away, Jey’s hand slid down Rhea’s arm, lingering at her fingertips. He didn’t want to let go, but he knew they couldn’t stay like this forever. Reality was already creeping back in.

“You okay?” Jey asked quietly.

Rhea nodded, though her heart wasn’t fully convinced. “Yeah… just need a minute.”

Jey squeezed her hand one last time before stepping back, heading toward the grill where Jon was waiting. Rhea watched him go, her chest tightening as the weight of everything came crashing back in. The pain, the loss, the uncertainty—it all hit her at once, and she could feel the pull of the pills in still on the dresser, tempting her with the promise of another escape.

But not yet.

She straightened herself, taking a deep breath before walking inside.

—

“Pay me, bitches!” Rhea declared with a triumphant flourish, holding up a Monopoly card for everyone to see. The game had picked up pace after the BBQ, and now the living room was filled with the sounds of laughter and competitive banter. The music played softly in the background, setting a mellow tone to the evening.

Jon and Trinity were both visibly hammered, but they were still managing to keep their wits about them enough to stay in the game. Jon’s attempts to strategize were increasingly slurred, and Trinity kept giggling at every little thing, her hand occasionally bumping into Jon’s as they both reached for the same properties. They were clearly having a great time, oblivious to the more subtle shifts in Rhea’s demeanor.

Jey, on his fourth beer, was feeling the effects but was still sharp enough to notice the slight change in Rhea’s behavior. Her movements were a touch slower, and her laughter seemed a little forced. The carefree attitude she was trying to project didn’t quite align with the distant look in her eyes. He remembered her going to the bathroom earlier, but the way she had reappeared, a bit too cheerfully, set off a small alarm in his mind.

Earlier while everyone was getting set up in the game, Rhea had excused herself to the bathroom under the guise of needing a quick break. In reality, she had slipped away to take two more pain pills. The earlier dose had worn off, and the anxiety and discomfort from the evening were starting to creep back in. The pills provided a temporary escape, a way to numb the sharp edges of her emotions.

Now, sitting around the game board, she was trying to maintain her façade of being in control. Her speech was slightly slurred, and her movements a bit less precise, but she played it off with exaggerated enthusiasm. “Look at all this cash!” she said, waving her Monopoly money around. “You guys are going to be broke before you know it!”

Jon and Trinity laughed, their intoxicated state making the game even more entertaining. Jey watched Rhea closely, his concern growing. He had noticed her taking the pills before but hadn’t said anything. Now, seeing her attempt to mask her impairment with forced cheerfulness, he couldn’t help but worry.

“Rhea, are you okay?” Jey asked, his voice low enough that only she could hear. He leaned in slightly, trying to catch her eye.

Rhea turned to him, offering a bright smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m fine, Jey. Just having fun. Can’t you tell?”

Jey didn’t push further, but he wasn’t convinced. He could see the struggle in her eyes, the way she was trying to keep it together. He decided to keep an eye on her, knowing that whatever was going on, he needed to be there for her.

As the game continued, the atmosphere remained light and carefree, but the underlying tension between Rhea’s facade and her true feelings lingered. Jey’s mind raced with concern, but for now, he focused on the game, trying to stay present in the moment, even as his thoughts kept drifting back to Rhea’s well-being.

Trinity finished her final glass of champagne and announced her departure, she swayed slightly. “I’m heading to bed,” she said, her words a bit slurred. “Got an early flight tomorrow.” Jon, barely keeping his eyes open, mumbled an agreement and stumbled to his feet, following her toward the stairs.

With them gone, the living room fell into a quiet hush, only the low volume of the music providing any background noise. Jey and Rhea remained, trying to finish cleaning up after the game. Rhea’s movements were increasingly slow and uncoordinated. She struggled with the Monopoly pieces, her fingers fumbling and her eyes losing focus.

Jey, who had been sipping on his fourth beer, was becoming more concerned by the minute. It was clear that Rhea wasn’t her usual self. Her smile was forced, and her attempts to keep up with the game were becoming increasingly strained. Jey tried to rationalize it, attributing it to tiredness, but a gnawing worry lingered.

“Rhea, maybe we should head to bed,” Jey suggested gently, his concern seeping into his voice. “You look pretty wiped out.”

Rhea nodded, her head bobbing slightly. “Yeah, I guess that’s a good idea.” She gave him a sluggish smile, but it did little to reassure him.

Jey went upstairs, mentally preparing for the night, but he stopped in his tracks at the top of the stairs. Looking back, he saw Rhea still seated on the couch, her posture drooping and her movements lethargic. The sight didn’t sit right with him. He turned and headed back downstairs, his heart pounding.

“What’s up?” Jey asked softly as he approached Rhea, trying to keep his voice calm. “You okay?”

Rhea blinked slowly, as if trying to clear a fog from her mind. “Oh, I forgot you walked upstairs,” she said, her voice trailing off. She made an attempt to stand but wobbled on her feet, clearly struggling.

Jey’s concern spiked. He reached out, taking her hand, but it felt unnervingly limp and cold. His mind raced, trying to piece together what was happening. “Rhea, your hand is really cold. Are you feeling alright? This doesn’t seem like just fatigue.”

Rhea brushed off his concern with a wave. “Let’s just go upstairs,” she insisted, her voice carrying an air of forced nonchalance. “I’m ready for bed.”

Jey was torn between wanting to press the issue and respecting her apparent wish to avoid confrontation. He helped her up, noticing how unsteady she was. Her steps were uneven, and she leaned heavily on him as they made their way up the stairs. Every few steps, he glanced at her, his worry deepening.

Once they reached the bedroom, Jey guided her to the bed. Rhea sank down with a sigh, her earlier energy completely gone. She looked pale, and her eyes struggled to stay open. Jey sat on the edge of the bed, his concern grew.

“Rhea,” he said softly, trying to keep his tone gentle but firm, “we need to talk about what’s going on. This isn’t just about being tired. You’ve been acting really off tonight.”

Rhea tried to focus on him but her eyes kept drifting. She yawned widely, then looked at him with a half-hearted smile. “It’s nothing, Jey. I’m just—” She trailed off again, struggling to find the words. “Just tired. It’s no big deal.”

Jey wasn’t convinced. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his touch gentle but filled with concern. “Rhea, I care about you. I don’t want to ignore something if it’s serious. You’ve been acting like this for a while now. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

Rhea looked at him, her gaze heavy with fatigue. “It’s really nothing,” she insisted, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I promise. Just need some rest.”

Jey sat there, watching as Rhea’s eyelids grew heavy. He could see the exhaustion etched on her face and felt a profound sadness. He wanted to be there for her, to support her in whatever she was going through, but he felt helpless.

As Rhea finally closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, Jey remained awake, his thoughts consumed by worry. The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioner, and the weight of unspoken concerns hung heavily in the air. Jey’s mind raced with questions and fears, unable to shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong.

With Rhea asleep, Jey continued to sit beside her, his eyes searching her peaceful face for answers that were just out of reach. He knew that the coming days would bring more challenges, but for now, he resolved to be there for Rhea, to offer comfort and support in any way he could. The night stretched on, filled with uncertainty and a longing for answers.

Despite seeming fine, her sleeping soon turned into restlessness and then escalated into violent tossing and turning, her features contorting with fear. He watched her with mounting worry, his mind racing with concern. The serene face he had come to know was now twisted in a silent struggle against unseen demons.

Her whimpers grew more intense, her sleep fractured by intermittent cries. Jey’s hand gently touched her shoulder, hoping to rouse her from the nightmare that had gripped her so fiercely. “Rhea, wake up,” he said softly, his voice thick with worry. But his words seemed to pass through her dream world, barely making an impact.

Rhea’s mutterings became more desperate. “Matt don’t… stop… don’t hit me…” Her voice, laced with fear, was barely audible but unmistakably pained. Jey felt his heart break at the realization that the nightmare was a vivid echo of past traumas.

The situation worsened as Rhea’s movements became more frantic. Her breathing grew irregular, and her body tensed up, reacting to the terror in her dream. Jey felt a surge of panic, unsure of how to help her out of this nightmare. He continued to gently shake her shoulder, his voice firm yet soothing. “Rhea, it’s okay. You’re safe. Wake up.”

Without warning, Rhea’s eyes snapped open, wide and filled with raw fear. She let out a gut-wrenching scream, “STOP!” Her voice was filled with an anguish that pierced the quiet of the night. Her body jerked upright, her chest heaving with rapid, shallow breaths. Her eyes darted around the room as if trying to escape from invisible threats.

Jey’s heart pounded in his chest, mirroring the frantic pace of Rhea’s. He moved quickly, pulling her into his arms with a sense of urgency. His embrace was firm but gentle, as though he hoped to shield her from whatever had gripped her so tightly. “Rhea, you’re okay. It’s just a nightmare. You’re with me,” he said, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination.

Rhea’s body shook violently in his arms, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. Her fingers clutched at Jey’s arms as if trying to anchor herself to reality. The terror in her eyes slowly began to soften as she focused on Jey’s face. “It’s just a dream. Nothing can hurt you now,” he repeated, his voice a steadying force in the midst of her chaos.

Gradually, Rhea’s breathing began to slow, her heartbeat calming as she clung to Jey. Her grip on him, once frantic, eased into a more desperate, yet comforting hold. “I’m here,” Jey whispered, his voice a constant thread of reassurance. “You’re safe. I’m not going anywhere.”

Rhea’s eyes, though still troubled, began to regain their focus. She looked up at Jey, the vulnerability and fear etched deeply in her expression. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean to…”

Jey shook his head gently, brushing a stray lock of hair from her damp forehead. “You don’t have to apologize,” he said softly. “You were scared. It’s okay.”

He continued to hold her close, his heart aching for her. He could feel the weight of her fear, the depth of her pain, and it was clear that the nightmare was only a glimpse into the larger struggles she faced. For now, all he could offer was his unwavering support and presence.

As the minutes ticked by, the room began to settle into a fragile calm. Jey remained by her side, his hand resting comfortingly on her back, his breaths steady and calm. The immediate danger had passed, but the emotional scars remained, a reminder of the battles Rhea was fighting internally.

Rhea’s breathing gradually returned to a more regular rhythm, though the tension in her body was still evident. Jey continued to murmur soothing words, his touch gentle and reassuring. He watched over her as she tried to drift back to sleep, his mind racing with thoughts of how to help her heal from the traumas that seemed to haunt her.

The night wore on, and Jey stayed vigilant, a silent guardian in the dark. He knew that the journey ahead would be challenging, but for now, he was determined to be the rock Rhea needed. The nightmare was a harsh reminder of the pain she carried, and Jey was committed to helping her through it, one step at a time.

—

Rhea stirred awake to the sound of Jey’s loud snoring, a deep, rhythmic noise that filled the room. Their comforter had been pushed off them slightly in the night, and as she glanced over at him, she couldn’t help but smile. He looked peaceful, his face relaxed in sleep, a nice view to the emotional whirlwind of the past few days.

Her smile faltered slightly when she glanced down, her eyes widening at what she saw—Jey was very much “awake” from the waist down. Careful not to disturb him, Rhea slowly slid off the bed, her movements cautious. She headed to the bathroom, clutching her bottle of pain pills.

Once inside, she took a deep breath and checked herself. She hadn’t passed any clots, a small comfort in the midst of everything she was dealing with. After freshening up, she dry swallowed two more pain pills, the familiar bitterness sliding down her throat. She grimaced slightly at the taste before setting the bottle back on the counter.

As Rhea walked back to the room, she noticed Jey was still snoring softly. She slid carefully into bed beside him, moving as gently as she could to avoid waking him. But Jey stirred, feeling her presence, and opened his eyes groggily. His expression softened as he smiled at her, planting a quick kiss on her lips.

He followed her gaze down and noticed his situation, his face flushing slightly in embarrassment. “Sorry about that,” he mumbled, clearly caught off guard.

Rhea shook her head with a small smile, “It’s fine.” There was a pause before she added, a little more hesitantly, “Do you need help with that?”

Jey blinked, taken aback by the offer. He stared at her, unsure if she was serious. The vulnerability in her voice and the way she looked at him told him she was. His breath caught in his throat as a mix of emotions surged through him—confusion, longing, and concern.

Rhea looked at him, her expression unreadable, though her eyes held a quiet intensity. “I want to,” she said softly, her voice carrying a mix of desire and something else—something deeper. It wasn’t just about the physical, it was about finding some kind of normalcy, some comfort in each other.

But Jey shook his head gently, his hand finding hers. “I… I don’t think we should,” he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. “Not right now.”

Rhea’s brow furrowed, her hand tightening around his as she searched his face. “Why not?”

Jey sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It just doesn’t feel right, not after everything that’s happened. After what you’ve been through…” His voice trailed off, but his meaning was clear. He wasn’t just thinking about her physical pain, but the emotional scars, the trauma she was still healing from.

Rhea’s lips parted as if she was going to argue, but she stopped herself. Instead, she nodded slowly, understanding but still feeling the weight of his rejection. “I get it,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jey pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her, wanting her to know that his denial wasn’t about pushing her away. “It’s not about not wanting you,” he whispered into her hair. “I do trust me. But… we need to heal first. Together.”

Rhea exhaled softly, burying her face into his chest, feeling his warmth envelop her. She knew he was right. It didn’t make it any easier to accept, but she trusted him. Trusted that he was thinking of what was best for both of them.

They lay there in silence, Jey holding her tightly, both of them feeling the unspoken weight of everything they had been through. The room was quiet except for their soft breathing, the silence speaking louder than any words could.

Jey finally decided to get up, stretching and glancing at Rhea, who was still scrolling through her phone. “I’m heading out now,” he said as he pulled on his shoes. “Gotta pick up my Footlocker order and meet the lawyer. I’ll bring us some lunch when I get back.”

Rhea looked up, the thought of being alone making her anxious. “Can I come with you? I could use some fresh air.”

Jey paused, his hesitation clear. “I don’t know, babe. You should probably just stay here and rest.”

Rhea sighed, not ready to give in so easily. “I’ll dress all in black, wear a mask. No one will even recognize me.”

He gave her a reluctant glance. “It’s not about that. I just… don’t want to complicate things today. I need to be quick.”

“But I’ll stay low-key. I promise.”

Feeling cornered, Jey scrambled for an excuse. “Look, I’m bringing Jon with me, and we’ve got stuff to handle. It’s just easier if you stay back.”

Rhea crossed her arms, giving him a skeptical look. “Jon, huh? You didn’t mention him earlier.”

“Yeah,” Jey lied, rubbing the back of his neck. “Jon’s gonna help me out with a few things.”

She gave him a knowing smirk, sensing his weak attempt to keep her at home. “Fine,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Go have your fun.”

Jey chuckled, grateful for the out. “You make it hard for me, you know that?” He flashed a playful grin before heading to the bathroom to fix his hair.

Rhea watched him disappear, her smile fading as she sat there, her mind wandering. Something about his reluctance bothered her, like there was more to it than just wanting to be quick. But instead of dwelling on it, she pulled out her phone and distracted herself with TikTok, though her mind wasn’t really in it. Each clip scrolled by in a blur, failing to provide the distraction she needed.

When Jey finally emerged from the bathroom, freshly groomed and ready to head out, Rhea was still glued to her phone. “I’ll be back soon,” he said, grabbing his keys. “Don’t cause any trouble while I’m gone.”

She glanced up with a teasing smirk. “I make no promises.”

Jey grinned and leaned down to kiss her and before heading out the door he let in her babies. “Be good,” he said with a wink, and then he was gone and soon Rhea both heard both twins leave the house.

The house felt much quieter without him. As the silence settled in, Rhea’s mind raced. She’d been trying so hard to maintain some sense of normalcy, but deep down, she felt everything slipping away. Her life, her body, her control—it was all unraveling, and she didn’t know how to stop it.

After a few minutes of scrolling, Rhea decided she might as well shower and get herself together. She stood up, stretching her sore muscles, and made her way to the bathroom. The hot water was soothing against her skin, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to forget everything—Jey, the pills, the loss, all of it. Just her and the warmth of the shower.

Once she was done, she threw on a black t-shirt and joggers, something casual and comfortable. Sitting at her vanity, she started applying her makeup, her hands working on autopilot as her mind drifted. As she finished her eyeliner, a thought struck her—Damian. She hadn’t talked to him in a couple of days, not since the hospital.

With a smile, she grabbed her phone and hit FaceTime. The phone rang twice before Damian’s familiar face appeared, grinning as always.

“Hey girl!” Damian greeted, his voice full of cheer. He was lounging somewhere, looking as relaxed as ever.

“Hello, Bisexual Undertaker,” Rhea teased with a smirk, leaning back in her chair.

Damian let out a dramatic sigh. “You’re never going to let that one go, huh?”

Rhea laughed, shaking her head. “Never. What are you up to?”

“Just chilling. What about you? Last I heard, you were in the hospital. What’s been going on?”

Rhea sighed, the weight of the last few days flooding back as she thought about it. “It’s been a lot,” she admitted. “Jey’s been here with me, which is nice, but it’s also… complicated.”

Damian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Complicated how?”

Rhea hesitated, not wanting to get into the darker parts of her mental state or the pills she had started taking. Instead, she focused on the relationship with Jey, how things felt both closer and further apart. “I mean, we’ve been having these moments, right? Like, really intimate ones. But then… he turns me down, Damian. Like, for real, what guy turns down head? Who does that?”

Damian burst out laughing, shaking his head in disbelief. “Girl, you’re too much. Maybe he’s just trying to be respectful, you know? It’s been a rough time for both of you.”

Rhea frowned, leaning in closer to the camera. “Yeah, but when I saw him this morning… you know, I was like, ‘let’s go.’” She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

Damian’s eyes widened in horror. “I really don’t need to know!”

“But for real,” Rhea continued, ignoring his discomfort, “our sex is like—”

“NO NO NO NO!” Damian interrupted, throwing his hands over his ears and dramatically shouting, “LALALALALALA!” He rocked back and forth, as if physically trying to block out her words.

Rhea burst out laughing, her spirits finally lifting. “You’re such a baby!”

Damian groaned, still holding his hands over his ears. “I do not need to hear about your bedroom life with Jey. That’s like, a sacred place, and I’m not going in there!”

Rhea rolled her eyes, shaking her head in amusement. “Okay, fine. I’ll spare you the details. But it’s not just that—it’s everything. It feels like he’s pulling away now, and I don’t know why.”

Damian lowered his hands, his expression softening. “Maybe he’s scared. After everything that’s happened, maybe he’s just trying to be careful. You’ve both been through a lot, and it’s probably weighing on him more than he’s letting on.”

Rhea sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Yeah… you’re probably right. It’s just hard to deal with sometimes. I don’t know what to do.”

Damian gave her a sympathetic look. “You’re stronger than you think, Rhea. You’ll figure it out, just like you always do.”

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Thanks, Damian. You always know what to say.”

“Anytime, Rhea. Anytime.”

#fanfic #jey uso #fanfiction #rhea ripley #rhea and jey #wwe smackdown #the judgement day #wwe #yeet #wwe raw #mami rhea #rhea ripley and jey uso #rhea x jey #jey x rhea #the judgment day wwe #wwe jey uso #wwe the bloodline #wwe the usos

15 notes · View notes

nexus-nebulae · 2 months

Text

my lucky golden frog got me a book today :)))) ive been looking for it for months now but it's always sold out but they just got a copy (the Exact copy i wanted!!) TODAY!!!! and i just Happened to go there and saw it literally two seconds after i said "would they have a copy of house of leaves- probably not"

#yayyyyy now i can read House of Leaves without having to worry about checking it out from the library for too long #so many people have it on hold that i can't renew it to check it out longer #and i didn't want to keep it very long if 7 other people want to read it too #i waited Several months just to get it when i put it on hold I'd rather expedite it for future readers #I'm way too slow of a reader now #the cashier mentioned that a lot of ppl ask about it and someone was just in two days ago asking #so i got pretty lucky there #i love my little golden frog :)#it's my lucky charm #i saw one last year at the gas station and instantly thought 'thats Absolutely a good luck charm' don't know Why #but i couldn't get it that day and the next time i went it was gone #but then right after i got out of the hospital at the beginning of this year #he was there on the shelf again :)#i take him with me out and about and i genuinely feel like I've had really good luck #like the fact that I've been visiting shoe stores for weeks and couldn't find Any new shoes while i didn't have the frog #but today i found the PERFECT pair of shoes while i had frog :) i am so fucking glad the insoles of my old shoes are FLAT now #i get those shoes with the giant thick memory foam insoles bc i need Support but then they go flat after a while

0 notes

nereidprinc3ss · 3 months

Text

be my angel

in which BAU fem!reader was injured on the job, but is refusing painkillers at the hospital. spencer thinks he knows why.

fluff (+a little angst) warnings/tags: established relationship, hospital stuff, reader got beat up by an unsub, discussions of spencer's past addiction, mentions of period cramps, reader ends up being administered some sort of painkiller a/n: another draft i found in my literal hundreds of pages of abandoned wips and fixed up cause it's cute, I hope you like!!!

Spencer is tearing through the hospital. They all keep saying you’re going to be okay, but what does that even mean? Why is nobody telling him anything? He’s not even sure he heard what the orderly at the front desk said, but his feet are carrying him with a strident purpose through the winding white halls, so he has to assume he at least subconsciously knows where he’s going.

Finally he spots Penelope, a beacon in her candy-colored clothing, speaking to a doctor in hushed tones. Penelope sees him approaching and turns away from the doctor, looking harried and exhausted.

“Is she okay? What happened?” Spencer demands, before either of the others can say a word.

“She’s okay,” the doctor assures. “She was beat up pretty bad—concussion, broken ribs, some bruising that looks worse than it is. There was a clean shot through her arm, but—”

His blood runs cold. Nobody told him you were shot. Why had nobody told him you were shot?

“I need to see her.”

The doctor frowns, glancing between the two agents.

“I’m sorry, are you her spouse?”

“Yes. No, not yet, I just—I need to see her, please. Now.”

“Sir, unless she—”

“Just let him see her!” Penelope practically yells. “She wants him here, believe me.”

The doctor clenches her jaw and scribbles something on her clipboard.

“Okay. Maybe you can try to convince her to accept some painkillers.”

Spencer’s frown deepens.

“She’s refusing pain management?”

“We gave her as much ibuprofen as we could, but she refused anything stronger than that. She has to be in a lot of pain right now, and there’s no background of addiction.”

“I’ll talk to her,” Spencer says, already twisting the silver door handle. He has a sneaking suspicion as to why you denied pain treatment, and it makes him feel incredibly guilty. More than he already did, after this entire debacle.

The sight of you, bloodied and bruised and obviously suffering has his heart splintering right down the middle. Whatever meager semblance of a smile he can scrounge up and offer is reflected back to him on you—which only makes him feel worse. As always, you’re putting on a brave face.

“Hey,” Spencer says quietly as he closes the door behind him.

“Hi,” you croak. “How do I look?”

He approaches, sitting on the edge of the bed and pushing your hair away from your face.

“How do you feel? The doctor told me you wouldn’t accept pain medication,” he murmurs.

You sniff.

“I feel okay. Did she tell you it’s not as bad as it looks?”

But your voice is so small, so wavery and weak, that he knows you’re lying.

“Sweetheart...”

You’ve been holding it together since the unsub beat you nearly unconscious. You held it together as he ran away, even got a couple shots in before he turned around and returned fire. You held it together while you sat against the dirty truck, bleeding out, not sure if your team was coming, and you held it together in the ambulance, and for the past thirty minutes in this hospital bed. But all it takes is one gentle word from Spencer, with that concerned, solicitous look in his eye, and the floodgates are opening. Tears spring up in your eyes and begin silently falling down your dirtied cheeks.

“It’s okay!” you attempt to reassure him, affecting cheeriness even through the tears. “It doesn’t hurt. I’m fine!”

He says your name soft and low and he tries his best to keep his tone even though he is liable to burst into tears or start yelling at someone (not you) at any minute.

“I know that’s not true. You have broken ribs and a gunshot wound. I know how badly it hurts to breathe and how it feels every time you move your arm. That is too much damage for over-the-counter anti-inflammatories. You need real analgesics.”

“I don’t,” you whisper. Your teary eyes make his whole body ache. He squeezes your hand—the one that’s not connected to the wounded arm.

“Because of me?” You stare at him blankly, as if you’re shocked he was able to put two and two together. “I promise you don’t need to worry about that.”

You sniffle.

“But what if—what if they give me the drugs and I get all weird and it’s, it’s like... triggering for you, or something?”

“It’s been a really long time since I’ve worried about that. I’d rather see you a little tired and out of it than in extreme pain and trying to pretend you’re not. You getting the pain relief you need in a medical emergency is not going to make me relapse.”

“But I really think I could go without,” you begin, voice already tightening around a cry. “I’ve—I’ve had period cramps that were worse than this.”

Despite himself, he chuckles. Goes back to stroking your hair.

The laughter fades quickly. All the pain you’re in is so evident in your eyes. The dissociative glassiness, the tension around them, the bloodshot quality—he's seen it many times before, and he hates it on you.

“Will you please tell them you’re ready to take something? They won’t give you Dilaudid. It’s too strong. They’ll give you something that I’d have no interest in anyway.”

“Not funny,” you whisper.

He ignores this.

“Will you let me call the doctor back in?”

You take a deep, shuddering breath—or at least, you try to, before you’re loosing a sharp squeak that deteriorates into a little sob. The ribs.

Spencer doesn’t bother asking again, just gets up and begins to walk away as efficiently as his legs will carry him. You need painkillers and he thinks it might be fastest to just fetch the doctor or a nurse from the hallway.

“Wait,” you plead.

He stops. Reminds himself that you need him right now—not his medical opinions. Spencer turns back around and approaches again, crouching by your bedside this time.

“What, honey?”

“I don’t...”

You trail off, overcome by something like fear in the width and shine and nervous dart of your eyes. Spencer knows, everybody at the BAU knows, that showing fear to a serial killer will get you killed that much quicker. During your time alone with the unsub, which is a can of worms Spencer literally cannot psychologically open right now, you had to put on your bravest face. Even while you were being beaten within an inch of your life. Even when you thought you were going to die, alone, and that your team—that Spencer—wasn't coming back for you. Because that’s the kind of thing you have to do to cope when you’re at rock bottom. But you were terrified. Petrified. That doesn’t just go away—and Spencer knows it’ll be bumping against the surface until it finds a way out.

He has to remember that just because you look unafraid and you act unafraid doesn’t mean you aren’t.

“You were so brave,” he manages after he’s sure he can say it without incident, swiping moisture from your cheek. “You did everything exactly right.”

“I know,” you whisper, chin trembling. Spencer knows you, and he knows this kind of trauma well enough to know that you’re thinking, I did everything exactly right, and it wasn’t enough. I did everything exactly right and this is what I have to show for it.

“But nobody needs you to act like it wasn’t hard, okay? You don’t need to pretend like it doesn’t hurt. You were so, so brave, angel. You don’t have to be brave anymore.”

Your eyes squeeze shut, sending a new wash of tears over your tacky cheeks. A few moments pass. You say nothing. He hopes you’re not going to hide away inside yourself like he did.

“Will you please, please, let me get the doctor?”

At least this time you don’t immediately say no.

“Will you come right back?”

“Of course.”

Finally, you nod your hesitant assent, and Spencer presses a careful kiss to your forehead.

A few minutes later, the doctor—who was shocked that Spencer was able to so quickly change your very made-up mind—is back, and so is Spencer. It only takes a moment for them to determine the best course of action for you and soon the fist around his heart is loosening its grip as he watches some of the agony melting from your eyes.

“Better?” he murmurs as the nurse who’d administered the drugs leaves, fanning his thumb over the underside of your wrist. You nod, already appearing sleepy.

“Can you lie down with me?”

He smiles at the way your words slip against each other, simply relieved that you’re able to relax and no longer in extreme pain.

“Hospital beds aren’t rated for two people.”

“Spencer.”

It’s enough for him to climb onto the bed—not that he was ever going to deny you what you wanted to begin with. The fit isn’t exactly perfect—he's a bit too long and combined the two of you are just slightly too wide—but with some finagling it’s comfortable enough. Spencer has slipped his arm underneath you and your head is on his shoulder and he’s so glad to have you in his arms and so grateful that you’re okay he does something almost like praying in his head as he kisses your hair.

“Hey. Ask me about my bruises.”

“Why? Do they still hurt?”

“You should see the other guy.”

It’s dumb and it doesn’t make sense because you didn’t bother waiting for him to actually set the joke up—but he smiles dryly nonetheless.

“Can you please give me... I don’t know, 36 hours before you start making jokes about almost dying?”

“Clock starts now.”

“Thank you.” He feels your lips curve into a half-conscious smile against his neck. It’s a wonderful feeling. “How are your ribs? Breathing feels okay?”

“Mhm. Love breathing.”

“Mhm. And your arm?”

“Like I got shot.”

“Well, that’s pretty much unavoidable. But not as bad as before, right?”

“Right. Spencer?”

“What, my love?”

A little pleased puff of air warms his shoulder. He carefully rubs your hip.

“Will you tell me how brave I was again?”

He takes a silent, very deep breath.

“You were incredibly brave. And smart, too. I’m really proud of you for how you handled that situation. I’m so sorry you had to go through that, but I don’t think anyone could have handled it better. Especially when you chose to stay put by the truck, instead of chase him. I know that wasn’t what you wanted to do, but it was the right choice.”

“I thought you guys maybe weren’t coming,” you murmur, no hint of sadness in your smushed, flat voice—like you’re barely awake. “I waited half an hour and I thought you weren’t gonna find me.”

“Angel, I will always find you. We didn’t stop looking even once, as soon as we noticed you were gone. I’m just sorry I wasn’t with Emily and Rossi when they got to you.”

“’Nelope told me... she told me you got really angry and scary.”

He stares at the ceiling and considers this.

“I could see... how what I was feeling would be interpreted that way. I was pretty angry. But not at Penelope or any of them. I was mostly just scared.”

“I’m sorry I scared you,” you whisper. “And I’m sorry if I made you mad.”

“You did not. I wasn’t mad at you. And it’s not your fault that I got scared. You were just trying to do your job. None of this is your fault.”

“She also said that you said fuck like... three times.”

“Mm... doesn’t sound like me,” he evades. You giggle, and the sound is more a relief than any drug he could take.

“No, seriously, I’m so mad I missed it. I love hearing you swear. Tell me what you said—and you have to cause I’m all messed up so I get whatever I want.”

He sighs in mock annoyance.

“Well, she’s wrong. I only said fuck once. I used fucking as an intensifier twice.”

You hum.

“Sexy.”

“Alright,” Spencer laughs, flushing as he moves his hand to your shoulder. “Go to sleep before I tell them to up your dosage, weirdo.”

#spencer reid #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid fic #spencer reid imagine #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x fem!reader #spencer reid x self insert #criminal minds #spencer reid fanfiction #spencer reid angst #spencer reid fluff #criminal minds x reader #criminal minds imagine #criminal minds fic

5K notes · View notes

lets-steal-an-archive · 2 months

Text

By Bernie Sanders | July 13, 2024

I will do all that I can to see that President Biden is re-elected. Why? Despite my disagreements with him on particular issues, he has been the most effective president in the modern history of our country and is the strongest candidate to defeat Donald Trump — a demagogue and pathological liar. It’s time to learn a lesson from the progressive and centrist forces in France who, despite profound political differences, came together this week to soundly defeat right-wing extremism.

I strongly disagree with Mr. Biden on the question of U.S. support for Israel’s horrific war against the Palestinian people. The United States should not provide Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing extremist government with another nickel as it continues to create one of the worst humanitarian disasters in modern history.

I strongly disagree with the president’s belief that the Affordable Care Act, as useful as it has been, will ever address America’s health care crisis. Our health care system is broken, dysfunctional and wildly expensive and needs to be replaced with a “Medicare for all” single-payer system. Health care is a human right.

And those are not my only disagreements with Mr. Biden.

But for over two weeks now, the corporate media has obsessively focused on the June presidential debate and the cognitive capabilities of a man who has, perhaps, the most difficult and stressful job in the world. The media has frantically searched for every living human being who no longer supports the president or any neurologist who wants to appear on TV. Unfortunately, too many Democrats have joined that circular firing squad.

Yes. I know: Mr. Biden is old, is prone to gaffes, walks stiffly and had a disastrous debate with Mr. Trump. But this I also know: A presidential election is not an entertainment contest. It does not begin or end with a 90-minute debate.

Enough! Mr. Biden may not be the ideal candidate, but he will be the candidate and should be the candidate. And with an effective campaign taht speaks to the needs of working families, he will not only defeat Mr. Trump but beat him badly. It’s time for Democrats to stop the bickering and nit-picking.

I understand that some Democrats get nervous about having to explain the president’s gaffes and misspeaking names. But unlike the Republicans, they do not have to explain away a candidate who now has 34 felony convictions and faces charges that could lead to dozens of additional convictions, who has been hit with a $5 million judgment after he was found liable in a sexual abuse case, who has been involved in more than 4,000 lawsuits, who has repeatedly gone bankrupt and who has told thousands of documented lies and falsehoods.

Supporters of Mr. Biden can speak proudly about a good and decent Democratic president with a record of real accomplishment. The Biden administration, as a result of the American Rescue Plan, helped rebuild the economy during the pandemic far faster than economists thought possible. At a time when people were terrified about the future, the president and those of us who supported him in Congress put Americans back to work, provided cash benefits to desperate parents and protected small businesses, hospitals, schools and child care centers.

After decades of talk about our crumbling roads, bridges and water systems, we put more money into rebuilding America’s infrastructure than ever before — which is projected to create millions of well-paying jobs. And we did not stop there. We made the largest-ever investment in climate action to save the planet. We canceled student debt for nearly five million financially strapped Americans. We cut prices for insulin and asthma inhalers, capped out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs and got free vaccines to the American people. We battled to defend women’s rights in the face of moves by Trump-appointed jurists to roll back reproductive freedom and deny women the right to control their own bodies.

So, yes, Mr. Biden has a record to run on. A strong record. But he and his supporters should never suggest that what’s been accomplished is sufficient. To win the election, the president must do more than just defend his excellent record. He needs to propose and fight for a bold agenda that speaks to the needs of the vast majority of our people — the working families of this country, the people who have been left behind for far too long.

At a time when the billionaires have never had it so good and when the United States is experiencing virtually unprecedented income and wealth inequality, over 60 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, real weekly wages for the average worker have not risen in over 50 years, 25 percent of seniors live each year on $15,000 or less, we have a higher rate of childhood poverty than almost any other major country, and housing is becoming more and more unaffordable — among other crises.

This is the wealthiest country in the history of the world. We can do better. We must do better. Joe Biden knows that. Donald Trump does not. Joe Biden wants to tax the rich so that we can fund the needs of working families, the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor. Donald Trump wants to cut taxes for the billionaire class. Joe Biden wants to expand Social Security benefits. Donald Trump and his friends want to weaken Social Security. Joe Biden wants to make it easier for workers to form unions and collectively bargain for better wages and benefits. Donald Trump wants to let multinational corporations get away with exploiting workers and ripping off consumers. Joe Biden respects democracy. Donald Trump attacks it.

This election offers a stark choice on issue after issue. If Mr. Biden and his supporters focus on these issues — and refuse to be divided and distracted — the president will rally working families to his side in the industrial Midwest swing states and elsewhere and win the November election. And let me say this as emphatically as I can: For the sake of our kids and future generations, he must win.

Bernie Sanders is the senior senator from Vermont.

#us politics #bernie sanders #op ed #yes good

3K notes · View notes

sturniolohouse · 3 months

Text

That's Life - M.S

A.N: After the stream where Matt said he liked the name June– which has been a name on my baby list for YEARS now – I couldn't stop thinking about this scenario, so I decided to write it. Sorry if it's bad. (I'd also say they are still very young in this, maybe 23/24. But imagine any age you want, I don't really specify.) Hope you enjoy!

summary: dad!matt - a cute snippet of Matt and y/n becoming brand new parents and Chris and Nick meeting their niece for the first time. mainly fluff :')

warnings: none, really. maybe swearing and mentions of blood? (also use of y/n because apparently that is hated? idk)

word count: 2.4k

"Kid, hold her fucking neck." Matt panics as Chris readjusts in his seat on the couch.

"Matt shut the fuck up, I think I know how to hold my own niece." he retorts.

"No, you clearly don't you idiot."

I peer to my left, he holds her with one hand under her head and one hand under her butt, propping her in front of him on his lap. She's perfectly fine, Matt just worries.

"Look she's fine. She's with uncle Chris." Chris looks at her adoringly but Matt cautiously watches, biting his nails.

"How are you feeling?" Nick asks beside me, rubbing my shoulder as I eat my burger. I was starving and the first thing I wanted after giving birth was In and Out, so Matt made sure Nick and Chris brought it for me.

"I'm so tired but just relieved everything went okay."

It was a long labor, almost 20 hours and about an hour of pushing. I waited to the very last minute to get an epidural and Matt almost passed out once he saw what it actually was.

"That goes in your fucking spine?" He squeaks, his face turning pale as he nearly keels over.

I'm sat up with the anesthesiologist behind me prepping the needle. I grab Matt's forearms and bring him to stand between my legs so he's hunching in front of me before I collapse my head into his chest and groan.

"Don't fucking look at it, hold my hands." I seethe through the pain as I wait for the contraction to pass.

"I'm so sorry," He says into my ear as they stick the catheter into my spine and I stay as still as possible.

"I want In and Out after this is all over," I breath out, beginning to feel my lower half go numb.

"I'm getting you whatever you fucking want, sweetheart." He looks me dead in the eyes.

"It's kinda fucking nuts that she was just inside you, how the fuck did you like..." Chris speaks up looking between the baby and me. "Push her out..." He hesitates and I burst out laughing as Matt throws his arms up and shakes his head at him, stopping himself from knocking Chris' shoulder.

"Well, it wasn't easy." I wipe my tears from my eyes due to my laughter and Nick gives me my water so I don't choke on my dry ass fries.

"Women are the strongest people on the planet." Nick chimes and Matt smiles proudly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"That's fucking right. So much respect after all I witnessed." Matt rubs his eyes, seeming to be mentally reflecting the past 36 hours.

"She's so fucking cute, looks nothing like Matt." Chris comments, a small smirk growing on his face at the playful jab.

"Okay, give her back you're pissing me off." Matt quickly but gently takes her back even as Chris protests and pouts, sulking back into his chair.

"Lost your baby holding privileges," Nick points at him as Chris makes a face and sticks his tongue out, a throaty bellow echoing in the hospital room.

Nick immediately hushes him. "Can you not act like a barbarian? Fucking idiot." He scolds him.

Matt cradles her softly and my heart still melts at the sight of him holding her. It makes everything I went through so worth it. The both of them do.

I lay there in shock with a wailing baby placed on my chest. I look up at Matt on my left and he's got his hand over his mouth and tears brimming his eyes, staring at our baby with so much love.

My chest blooms with warmth and I look down at our daughter. Anyone else would look at her and think she was gross, being purple, covered in goop and blood, but she was quite literally breathtaking. Matt blubbers and bends down so he's more level to me.

"Oh my fucking god," he laughs through his emotion, wiping his eyes quickly and placing a hand on her blanketed back, her cries dying down.

"How the fuck did you do that? You're amazing oh my god." He rambles, kissing my sweaty hairline and I shake my head not really knowing how I did this either.

They let Matt cut the umbilical cord before taking her off me to bathe her quickly.

Matt grabs my face checking in on me. He scans all over my face,"You okay? You did so good, oh my fucking god." I nod quickly, feeling my adrenaline still rushing. It's a weird feeling to describe, but I am so happy.

"She was so tiny, did you see her?" I ask him, my voice a little shaky and he nods laughing, tears still shining in his eyes.

"I did, I did. She's perfect. Thank you." He kisses my lips this time and then looks over to the nurses bringing her over to him.

"You want to hold her, dad?" The nurse smiles and he visibly pales but nods nonetheless and takes her into his arms.

He looks at her and begins to tear up again, having to compose himself by looking up shaking his head. When he looks back at me, I'm sent me over the edge into my own fit of tears.

I would relive this day over and over again to just see that look on his face.

He walks over to Nick who's still beside me, bouncing her slightly.

"Nick, cmon. You've yet to hold her." Matt nods toward Nick to take her from his arms. Nick immediately shakes his head and steps back.

"No she's too fresh and tiny. I don't want to break her." He declines.

"Chris get him the pillow. Nick, hold her. You won't break her I promise you." I give him a reassuring rub on the arm and his eyes widen.

"I'm scared," He squeals quietly as he sits down in the chair and Chris sets up the pillow in his lap. Nick covers his mouth as he watches Matt walk over to him.

Chris puts a hand on his shoulder, "Nick it's gonna be fine." He giggles at his antics and I stifle my own laughter.

"Dude c'mon, I'm telling you to hold my kid not a bomb." Matt rolls his eyes and Nick flips him off.

Matt places her carefully so she's snug in Nick's arms and he freezes immediately.

"What do I do?" He looks up at me in fear.

"Just that. You're doing fine. See, she's perfectly content in your arms." I tell him softly and grab Matt's arm so he stands next to me.

I kiss his forearm and he looks back at me with a warm smile, wrapping his arm around me and sitting beside me on the bed. He pulls me in gently before kissing the top of my head.

"I'm trying to see any real defining features in her but she quite literally just looks like a baby," he studies her face as Chris takes photos of them.

"She definitely looks more like y/n," Matt says, rubbing my arm lightly before stealing one of my fries from my tray.

"I think she has my nose for sure. She hasn't really opened her eyes yet, maybe you can try and wake her up. The nurse should be coming soon to help me feed her."

"I just realized, what's her name?" Nick asks, lightly rubbing her cheek with the back of his finger to try and wake her.

"Yeah, have you guys finally decided?" Chris sits down next to Nick on the couch.

Matt and I look at each other. We had been debating her name since we first saw her face. Of course we had a list prepared but we didn't want to settle on a name until we could match it to her face.

It was hard agreeing on names at first as we had very different tastes but there was one that kept coming back up in conversation and once we saw her it was a no brainer.

I nudge Matt, "Go ahead, tell them." I lean my head against his shoulder.

"Her name is June," They 'aw' in unison.

"June Iris Sturniolo." Matt tells them her full name and he can't help the smile that spreads across his face.

"I love that, such a sweet name.” Nick smiles down at her.

"Does it have a meaning? Or did you guys just like the name?" Chris pulls back her hat.

"Holy shit, she has a lot of hair." he comments.

"Explains all of my heartburn." I huff and Matt giggles beside me.

"We liked the name and we were looking at lot of nature names, month names, classic names. We landed on June a few times when going over names but didn't want to make it official until we saw her." I start and Matt nods before speaking up.

"Well, we had some music playing during the whole labor and everything but after Y/N started pushing, our playlist ended and started playing whatever. And right before June came out, the song That's Life by Frank Sinatra played. And in the song, there's a line that goes: You're riding high in April, shot down in May but I know I'm gonna change that tune when I'm back on top, back on top in June. Right when we heard that and then we saw her face, we knew that was her name." Matt concluded and I tear up.

"That's so fucking cool,"

"Stop I have chills, oh my god."

"And Iris was my grandmothers name, but we also liked how it sounded with June. It was proven really hard to find a middle name that sounded good with June and Sturniolo." I laugh.

“I love that her name has a cool story behind it that you can tell her one day.” Nick says and I get emotional thinking about telling my daughter the day of her birth.

"Hi June, you gonna wake up for us?" Chris speaks softly to her. She stays put as Nick and Chris look at her expectantly.

"I wouldn't want to open my eyes either if I were just in a a warm dark place for almost nine months and all of sudden I'm in a bright ass hospital room with a loud idiot." Matt speaks looking directly at Chris.

"She must take that after you," I say playfully and rub his chest. He rolls his eyes.

"Aw, a little Mattitude." Chris uses a baby voice, tickling her belly playfully. “Look she even makes Matt’s stank face he does when he’s mad.” He points.

“Oh my god she does,” Nick exclaims.

"Not to be weird, but you are all basically her father since you have identical DNA. Also if you guys have children one day, they'll be genetically June's half-siblings." I state my fun fact and all their faces drop.

Nick gasps, "Wait, that's actually crazy because I was just going to joke around and say 'aw she has my eye-bags'." His eyes widen and I shrug at him proving my point.

"That's so fucking weird." Matt shakes his head in realization.

Chris acts repulsed, putting a hand up. "Yeah, I don't like thinking about that. I'm no one's father, thank God." He does the sign of the cross.

"Yes. Thank God for that." Matt says shortly.

"I don't know, I think Chris will be a good dad one day." I defend him and Matt gives the side eye.

"Thank you y/n," He says with a hand over his heart.

He walks over to me and gives me a side hug. I kiss his cheek, offering him a fry and he takes it appreciatively.

"I'm definitely staying the fun uncle." Nick states, turning his attention back to June. "One day, you'll be big enough to stay at Uncle Nick's and I'll get you anything you want without your parents knowing," he says quietly to her but we can all still hear him.

She begins to stir in his arms and he freezes again.

"Oh no, she's waking up. Is she gonna cry?" he panics. "Matt quick, take her."

"She might want the boob," he says taking June out of Nick's hold.

She begins to fuss and squirm but Matt calmly shushes her and begins to bounce lightly.

"It's her feeding time in 15 minutes, should I try without the nurse?" I look up at Matt and he shrugs.

"I don't see why not. She's clearly hungry now."

"Uh, should we leave?" Chris says awkwardly and I wave him off.

"I'm gonna cover myself don't worry. Unless you want to leave," I say nonchalantly, not having a care in the world after just about everyone in this hospital has seen me naked. But of course I won't be flashing anyone.

"Junie don't cry, here's mama. She's got the food." Matt tells her quietly, bringing her to me as Chris clears my lap for me and goes to sit down next to Nick again.

"My baby," I pout as I grab her and her little cries die down once she's in my arms. "You already know the deal sister, let's see if we can do this." I talk to her confidently hoping I can do this on my own.

Matt stands beside helping me cover up and get June in the right position.

"There you go, all better." Matt speaks to her softly as she latches on and I exhale in relief. "Good job, mama." He runs his fingers through my hair and rubs my neck.

The nurse walks in mid-feed and praises me. "Looks like you've got it under control here." She smiles and checks my vitals quickly before stepping back out of the room.

Once June finishes eating I burp her upright on my lap, facing her towards everyone. At this point she's wide awake and everyone is staring at her.

"Oh my gosh, her eyes are like, gray," Nick says.

"Can she see me?" Chris waves at her, shaking his head and sticking his tongue out.

"Her eyes will most likely change color, they can change up until she's a year." I tell them. "And she can probably see you as a blob, Chris. Stop dancing." I tell him and he stops mid griddy.

"Oh..." He looks defeated and she burps loudly in that moment, making him laugh. "Why does she burp louder than me, she's like 12 hours old." he jokes.

I feel Matt's hand on my shoulder again and he gives me another squeeze. I look up at him and smile tiredly, he leans down to give me a kiss. Something we rarely do in front of others because we hate PDA. But we can't help it this time.

I hear a snap of a camera and we both look to see Nick with his film camera.

"I couldn't resist. First family portrait." he smiles softly. "I can't believe you're a father, Matthew."

"Believe it, kid."

"Nick, will you actually take our family photos when we get home." I ask rubbing Junie's back.

"The fact that you even asked that," he says looking offended and everyone laughs. "Of course I will, though."

#sturniolo fanfic #sturniolo triplets #dad!matt #matthew sturniolo #matt sturniolo #chris sturniolo #christopher sturniolo #nicolas sturniolo #nick sturniolo #matthew sturniolo x reader #sturniolo x reader #the sturniolo triplets #sturniolohouse

3K notes · View notes

strwberri-milk · 3 months

Note

Hi, good morning/ afternoon/ evening. I've probably read all of your work on LnD, and I love them all. If it's not too much, can I request like the boys getting a call/update from MC after a disastrous wanderer attack on the city after not being able to contact them?? If possible, established relationship😅 ... thank you for your time!

im glad you like all my writing for them!! im so aefjaweofaw please give me the next main story update - also theres lots of references/imagery of death so if youre not chill w that i will see you tomorrow [salute] - theres also some very very slight references to their myths!! it feels a little ooc to me but thats bc. i think theyd be a little ooc when faced w a tragedy like this!! i hope you like it anyway <3

Zayne holds his breath every time a new patient is admitted. The hospital is busy with all of the patients that are coming in with the disaster, a mixture of those hanging on and people running up to him because he's the closest doctor in the vicinity to confirm death.

He volunteered himself to do triage because he was convinced that he'd be able to stop you from dying, that if you came in through those doors he'd be able to separate his love for you from the mind that studied all those nights but that's impossible - he only got here because of you.

His mind runs circles around himself, almost separated from his body as he tries to figure out why you weren't there. Hopefully it's because you're fine - you don't need medical attention or the medics on site were enough for you. However, he knows there's an equal chance that it's just because a doctor onsite was able to confirm your death and now you were in some bag, stored away with the others waiting for him to come identify you.

When he finally gets a moment to himself he obsessively checks his phone, praying to something that might take enough pity on him to listen at the very least that you'll call him. Minutes turn to hours as he's called back to work. Silence is a commodity now as he's stuck in the theatre, only able to go home after he's exceeded the legal amount of hours he's allowed to work in one night.

The long turned cold water hits his muscles as his mind wanders in the quiet of his home. You still haven't called - nobody's called. He understands that surely, all of you are busy but he's been there when the calls have had to be made. To hear the sobs on the other side of the phone as a squad captain confirms the death of another hunter as they softly ask if they'd like to see the body. He's also seen the calls when the bodies are far too mangled, a sight that no loved one should have to bear. He's waiting for it, almost falling in his haste to grab his phone once it finally rings.

Your number pops up, the letters of your name taunting him as he tries to answer it. He's about ready to throw his phone on the ground from the water on his hand refusing to make picking up the call an easy feat.

"Hello?" Zayne asks, an uncharacteristic shake in his voice.

"Zayne! I'm okay!" you say, voice sounding a little weak but definitely better than he could have ever anticipated.

"Zayne? Honey? Hello?" you ask when you're met with only silence, now beginning to grow anxious yourself. You knew he must have been busy - you were too - and you thought he was safe. He should have been, you'd heard no reports of the hospital being attacked.

"You're alive," he chokes out, falling to his knees.

"Of course I am! Things have just been chaotic so I haven't had enough time to call you until now," you explain, continuing to talk to him.

You hear rustling on the other side of the phone, trying to get his attention again before he cuts you off.

"Where are you right now? Home?"

"Oh - yeah I'm on leave now. Most of us who were in active duty are to let his recuperate. How come?"

"I'll be there soon."

He hangs up immediately, leaving you a little stunned. You decide to clean up a little, having nothing else to do really until he comes over. Zayne never acts this impulsively so you assume that the day with no contact really wore on him.

Once he arrives you open the door for him, planning to apologise for the lack of contact when he almost throws himself at you. You hold him back just as tightly, a little shaken yourself as you close the door after him. You realise that for whatever reason he's soaking, unsure if you should confront that but you decide to ignore it.

He leads you right to your couch, too exhausted to even find your bedroom as he buries himself against your chest. It's not the normal way he lays with you - typically he likes to hold you - but you know not to bother him now. You can't deny you were worried about him too, knowing he probably put in a bunch of overtime at the hospital.

He holds onto you tightly, measuring out the beat of your heart. It's the only way he can remind himself that you're still alive, that the two of you have one more day together.

Xavier has never felt like he wanted to die more than in this moment. One minute you were running with him, trying to stop the Wanderer from attacking the group of civilians the next you're totally gone. Logically, he knows you're most likely fighting a Wanderer by yourself and you can handle it but somewhere he's convinced you'll die without him at your side. You've proved yourself more than capable but he worries about you all the time - he knows how to fight these things, he's been fighting them for far longer than you have - and if you died here he'd have no more reason for living.

He practically goes beserk, tearing into each and every creature with the hopes that one of them can take him to you. With each failure he starts to spiral, standing atop a pile of rubble as he watches the recovery teams start to spread into the city. It practically took an entire squadron to force him to go home, promising him that he'd be the firs t to hear once they found you.

You were diligently following Xavier when you noticed another Wanderer going after a child. You knew that he'd panic once he couldn't find you but you couldn't just abandon them. You tried to tell him you'd be splitting off but over all the screams and screeches he couldn't hear you and you couldn't waste any more time trying to get his attention.

You were able to defeat the Wanderer but not before sustaining an injury that made it too difficult for you to continue active duty, taking the child to a safe spot and staying with them until help arrived. You ended up passing out from the pain shortly thereafter, waking up a day later to Tara in your face heaving a sigh of relief as she called for a doctor to come check on you.

Your body was simply fatigued and after an extra day of monitoring and ensuring you were receiving everything you needed to make sure you wouldn't collapse again when you get home. You nod, knowing what procedure is at this point. You reach out for your phone once the doctor leaves, knowing that Xavier must be worried out of his mind.

You're right, of course. He's laying in bed, staring up at the ceiling as he waits for someone to call him. He saw the scale of disaster this attack was, knows that everything is absolutely awful and he's not the only one waiting for news but every minute that passes is another minute you could be trapped, praying that he's coming there to save you.

He decides to ignore the strict orders he's gotten, suiting up to go help the recovery efforts. He was going bad staying in bed all day, unable to get a wink of sleep as pictures of your suffering flash across his tortured mind. Working on pulling valuables and any remnants of life is depressing on a good day but right now it's downright torturous. He can't help but think that the next thing he pulls out is going to be your hand, severed far from your body.

When his phone rings everything disappears. He quickly picks up, steeling his expression to avoid making things worse should someone look over at him. He doesn't even notice who called him, just hoping that it was someone with news.

"Oh! You picked up fast. Are you just sitting at home then?" you ask casually, so casually he thinks it's almost cruel. How could you act so nonchalant about the fact that you held his life in your hands, that you are the only thing in this world he can bear to wake up for?

"No, I'm helping the recovery efforts despite orders. I...it was too quiet at home," he offers as an explanation and you hum. He can imagine you nodding, tapping your chin as you think to yourself.

"If you missed me you could have just said so," you tease, hoping that the ease in your voice will make him relax.

"Of course I did. Is that even a question? Are you able to take visitors?' You know what, doesn't matter. I'll just wait there until you are. I'll see you soon love."

He hangs up quickly and you know that he'll appear in the hospital within the next two seconds with that uncanny ability of his. You straighten yourself out a little, knowing that you were injured but not wanting to look like a total mess.

You can hear his footsteps running up to your door, slamming it open as he catches his breath. You've never seen him out of breath before - maybe he's much more tired than you initially thought.

"You made it," you laugh, making a slight sound from the impact of him practically jumping at you, holding you tightly as he buries his face into your neck.

"I was worried about you," he says softly, looking up at you. "I thought you'd been hurt, badly. And I wasn't there to protect you."

You sigh, helping him sit down into the chair at your bedside. You offer him your hand which he holds gratefully, never taking his eyes off of you.

"I know. I'm sorry. But look, I'm okay now, aren't I?"

He ignores the pain in his chest, trying not to imagine how heavy your hand would feel in his if you really had drawn your last breath. That weight is far too familiar to him, haunting his every thought in the hours that passed between then and now.

"You are. And I'm going to make sure you stay that way," he promises.

Rafayel didn't even know there was an attack until far after it. He knew you were working and that sometimes, you'd accidentally go MIA. You'd already texted him before your mission anyway and then he got drawn into another project of his and completely lost track of time. It's not until the next day that he finally sees his phone and the message from Thomas telling him not to come into the city for supplies for a day or so.

He immediately starts looking through articles, scouring pages that are constantly updating the death toll in search of your face. He curses himself for not paying attention earlier - every minute he wasted on some stupid was another minute you could have spent at Death's door, all because he allowed himself to forget that nothing matters if it's not you.

It's obsessive the way he looks through all of them, calling your phone non stop all the while. Every time he gets sent to voicemail he feels his breath get knocked out of his lungs, resorting to blowing up your phone with texts. When it's clear you aren't replying he grabs his keys to drive into Linkon despite Thomas' suggestion, knuckles white on the steering wheel as he heads to the hospital.

Even in all the chaos people can't help but stare a little as Rafayel makes his way to the counter, demanding someone tell him where you were. He's really trying not to be a brat, promising you that he'd be nicer to people but when it's your life on the line everything is up for debate. He goes through any and every possibility, figuring out what he can do to guarantee your survival.

Unfortunately for him, he gets escorted out. Jenna tries to calm him down, telling him that he'd be the first to know if they had any updates on you. Right now everything was just far too messy to know anything about anyone and there was a good chance that you were just being treated at a different hospital than usual due to the high causality count. He doesn't take no for an answer and manages to strong arm the name of the other hospitals you could have been sent to, starting up his car again right as his phone lights up with your name.

"What do you think you're doing not answering your phone?!" he yells, making you flinch.

Rafayel's never been mad at you, certainly not to this extent but you know that it's because he's anxious. He immediately catches himself too and you hear it, catching the sound of his hands against his steering wheel as he takes a deep breath.

"I'm sorry. Just - where are you?" he asks, sounding so exhausted that you feel like crying.

"I'm okay Rafayel," you say instead, adding the name of your hospital. He's immediately driving over as you talk to him, keeping your voice even.

"I was split up from the group is all, then triaged at a different hospital. I'm fine though - I managed to just sprain my wrist from overexertion so I'll have a sling for a bit-"

"You're staying with me then. I'm not having you stay alone with a broken wrist. Knowing you you'd do something dumb and make it worse," he scoffs, trying his best to drive safely to see you again. You don't bother to correct him, knowing that's the least of your worries.

You fall quiet, not sure how to respond. Rafayel has always been good at masking how he feels, rarely showing you what he's hiding behind his mask. Now he's an open book, making it clear that nothing will be okay until he sees you again.

"Okay," you agree, leaning further back into the pillows of your hospital bed. "They wanted me to be released into the care of someone if I could anyway. That's why I was calling you - that, and trying to return all your missed calls."

"Thank you," he says so quietly you barely hear him over the sound of his car.

"Of course my love," you say just as softly. "I knew you'd worry as soon as you saw the news."

Another moment passes between the two of you. Rafayel thinks his heart fell out of his chest - or it would have if it was still his to hold. Instead, it's beating firmly in your palm, only able to do so under your affections.

"Rafayel, I'm really fine, I promise. I'm just hungry. Let's get something for dinner, yeah?" you offer, hoping to redirect his energy.

"Yeah," he replies, exhaling deeply.

"Anything you want my beloved. Just name it and it's yours."

1K notes · View notes

lqvesoph · 5 months

Text

She’s WHOSE daughter??? || LN4

lando norris x webber!reader

summary: It’s race day in Australia…

warnings: smut, m receiving, swear words

This is the final part of this story, thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy it!!

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4

masterlist | taglist

Part 5

Walking into the paddock the next day felt weird. You arrived with your father but quickly made your way to the Red Bull facility, not having spoken to your dad for the whole ride.

Mark looked after you, hesitant whether he should talk to you or leave you be for the moment. He quickly decided on the latter when he spotted Lando hurrying into the paddock, moving quickly towards Mclaren and only fake smiling at a few fans.

"Lando? Can I talk to you for a second?", he called, making the driver stop in his tracks. "Yeah?", Lando muttered. "Let’s go inside, yes?", Mark gestured to the door and away from all the prying eyes of the paddock.

"I want to talk to you about Y/n because she- well, she didn’t seem that happy yesterday and I figured that because you and her have some sort of relationship and the way you two looked yesterday, it must have something to do with you", he explained, watching how Lando crossed his arms.

"Mark, I‘m sorry but-", he started. "You don’t have to apologize, Lando. I think I know what’s happening here", Mark spoke. Lando looked down and stepped from one foot on the other.

"I figured this was on her not on you. I like you, Lando, you’re a nice guy and I can see you treating Y/n very well. If you want, I can talk to her", Mark offered, making Lando shake his head tho.

"Thank you for the offer but I think I should do this myself", he smiled, Mark giving a small smile in return.

"She‘s at Red Bull at the moment", your father told Lando, smiling and squeezing his shoulder.

Lando was about to text Max to let him know he was coming over but was whisked away by his engineering team to talk about the upcoming race.

When he was finally let go, it was almost time for the drivers parade.

"Lando come on!", Oscar called before the Brit wanted to hush out of the garage. He squeezed his eyes shut in annoyance but followed his teammates out on the track.

*~**~*

Even after the parade, he didn’t have time to come and find you as he was swept away immediately after to go over some final strategy discussions, put on his race suits and drive a few laps before the race would begin.

Lando internally cursed every single person who talked to him but tried his best to not let it show on the outside.

After having pulled up on P3, he got out of the car and searched for Zak. "I‘ll be back shortly", he let him known, receiving a nodded and a hard pat on the back. "The National Anthem starts soon."

Lando nodded and walked back through the garage and to the hospitality. He spotted you in front of Red Bull, talking to Kelly and Penelope.

He took a deep breath and walked over to the three of you. "Lando!!", P called, being the first to spot him and run over to him. He smiled and the little girl and leaned down to give her a hug.

"I saw you and Maxie on the track!", she told him overexcited. "You did? Was it good?", he chuckled and the girl nodded.

Then Lando looked up, seeing how Kelly and you watched the two of them. He got up, finding your eyes with his. "Can I talk to you for a second?", he asked, fiddling with the race suit, hanging low on his hips.

You looked over at Kelly, who gave you an encouraging nod and then back to Lando.

"Yeah, let‘s go", you agreed, following him up to his driver room.

"About yesterday-"

"What happened yesterday-"

"Sorry, you go first", you mumbled, fiddling with your sweaty hands. Lando cleared his throat. "I‘m sorry for the way I reacted yesterday", he said, pausing for a second which you used to speak up.

"You don’t have to apologize, I am at fault here", you admitted. "I should’ve told you the truth. You were right, I had countless of opportunities to tell you but I panicked every single time and I‘m truly sorry for this and I hope you can forgive me."

You didn’t notice Lando having stepped closer until he lifted your chin up. "I get it", he whispered, having gone over the words Oscar told him the day before almost the whole night. Your eyes found his, not quite believing the words coming out of his mouth.

"You‘re not supposed to get it, I don’t even get it", you replied humorless. Lando chuckled, putting his hand on your cheek and pulling you closer.

"Can I kiss you?"

You nodded slightly, looking down at his lips and back into his eyes before he pulled you in. The kiss was innocent and soft. Lando put his forehead against yours and smiled.

"Oscar came to my hotel yesterday and explained your motives", he admitted. You pulled back to look at him. "He did?", you asked surprised. Lando nodded. "Convinced me to talk to you", he said. "Oh Osc", you muttered.

Lando grinned and pulled you back in for another kiss. This one turning quickly into more than the shy one from before.

His hands started to roam over your body, one of them pulling you closer while walking backwards until your legs hit the edge of the physio bed.

Your hands gently pulled at the strands of his hair before one traveled lower to tug the zipper of his suit down, letting one hand find its way into his pants. You gently stroke over his hardening dick, making him groan into your mouth.

Lando placed kisses along your jaw and collarbone, just as you cupped his covered cock he softly bit down on your skin. A moan escaped your lips.

Revengefully you decided to palm his dick harder, making his breath hitch in return.

"Love, I-", he was interrupted by a moan. "I really want to continue but-", Lando’s head fell forward to your shoulder but not for long because you turned the two of you around and slowly sank down to your knees.

A loud moan escaped his lips at the sight of you kneeling before him. His fingers gripped the edge of the bed while his right hand gathered your hair in a pony tail-like hold.

His suit was already down to his knees but you quickly tugged down the black fireproofs and underwear, making his hard cock spring free and slap against his abdomen.

His tip leaking some precum already which you collected with your fingertip and took an early taste. "Please- just-", he breathed heavily, making you smirk at Lando’s light begging.

You wrapped your hand around the base of his cock before taking the tip in your mouth, slowly letting more and more of his length disappear into your mouth.

Lando groaned at the feeling of your warm wet mouth around him, trying his hardest not to slam in your mouth. You slowly started bobbing your head, taking more and more of his length each time.

Tears brimmed in the corner of your eyes when his dick hit the back of your throat. "Taking me so well, love", he muttered, having closed his eyes. His hand holding your hair guided you up and down his length but never forcing you to take more than you could.

He could feel himself getting close, the sensation of your mouth and your breath hutting his lower stomach each time you breathed out, piling up.

"I’m close, baby. You wanna swallow it?", he asked and was given an agreeing hum as a reply.

His breath was quickening, the fingers in your hair loosened its grip while his moans and praises became an incoherent mix. He let out a deep groan before burying himself deep into the back of your throat, ropes of cum shooting down your throat. You continued your movements up and down his length a few more times before releasing his softening cock and glancing up at Lando.

An exhausted but wicked smile graced his smile as he dragged his thumb along your mouth to wipe off your salvia and his cum.

Lando then pulled you up and placed a soft kiss to your lips.

"When do you have to be on the grid?", you whispered. "Uhm… about 5 minutes ago", he chuckled but didn’t let go of you.

"Well then hurry!!", you called, slapping the back of his head and started to dress him up again.

Lando chuckled and pressed one last peck to your lips before disappearing out of the door.

With a bright smile you let your fingers trail along your lips and followed Lando out of the hospitality.

Going back to the paddock, you decided to watch the race from Lando‘s garage, being met with your father at the entrance.

"Where‘ve you been?", he asked, a smug smile on his lips. "Uhm, why?", you tried to get out of answering. "Because Lando turned up late for the national anthem and I know he‘s been wanting to talk to you", you dad replied.

Your eyes widened but you tried to keep cool. "Uh- yeahhh, we… uh talked", you lied and turned around to walk over to Lando‘s side.

But you father didn’t let you go just yet. "Y/n?"

You turned around again, waiting for him to keep going. "If you‘re happy with him, I am happy", he smiled. Your heart softened. "I really am, dad", you answered.

He nodded and then reached forward for your cap. "Take this off before you go over there", he laughed, taking it off your head.

You let out a laugh before walking over to sit on an empty chair.

Max, Lando‘s best friend looked at you with a frown but didn’t say anything.

*~**~*

You gasped along with the rest of the garage when Max‘s car started to catch fire, sneaking your phone out from your bag to quickly text Kelly, asking her if Max and Little P are okay. She assured you that Max was fine and P didn’t quite understand what was going on and was simply sad that 'her Maxie' wasn’t racing anymore.

Towards the end of the race, your heart started beating faster. You watched as the mechanics ran over to the fence to cheer on Lando and stood up to clap along with the rest of the team inside the garage.

You quickly made you way out of the garage to reach the podium area as soon as possible and to not be squashed by the mass of people heading down there now.

You reached the fence just before Lando pulled up in front of the board. He jumped out of the car and walked over to his team, hugging various papaya dressed members.

Max and Pietra stood a few people down the fence, both hugging Lando when he came to them. Lando took off his neon helmet. Max leaned in to shot some words at Lando, who then snapped his head over to you. A big smile creeping on his face and he pressed his helmet in Max‘s hands to walk over to you.

Your grin grew the closer he came and you wrapped your arms around his neck as soon as he was close enough. "I‘m so proud of you", you muttered, feeling his hands squeezing your waist. He pulled back to look at you, his eyes finding yours and silently asking for permission. You nodded, giving him the go ahead.

The curly headed boy smiled before placing a soft kiss to your lips.

You giggled as you pressed your forehead against his. "Go and do your interviews and stuff so you can come back here as soon as possible", you whispered and placed another kiss to his lips before shooing him away to the Crofty who was already waiting for him.

"Congratulations on P3, another podium! How was it?", the British commentator asked. "It was a very good day for us. I‘m very happy, very proud of the team. A P3 and P4 is a lot of points in the championship so that‘s a first thing. I think our pace was strong enough for a P2 today but Charles undercut us. But anyway Ferrari and Carlos did a very good job, so hats off to them, they’ve been fast all weekend. To be completely honest I didn’t expect to be on the podium but it’s a nice surprise so I‘m very happy", Lando answered.

"I expect you on the podium! You looked incredibly fast out there", he replied which Lando answered with a smiling thank you. "Do you feel confident going into the next races, maybe scoring a few more podiums?" "Yes, of course, I mean this circuit suits us a little bit more so I could just really push but it‘s still another step to Ferrari and Red Bull, at the minute they are a step ahead for sure but it’s clear we are getting closer and a day like today proves exactly that. So, a big thanks to everyone at McLaren", Lando said, waving at his team.

"We‘ve also noticed a certain Australian lady by your side", Crofty smiled, making a grin sneak on Lando’s face. "Yeah?", Lando sneakily replied, turning to face the screen behind him as a replay of your hug and kiss was shown.

"Next time get her to show up in your color though", the british commentator joked. "Hey, it‘s quite the success to not see her in anything Red Bull related", Lando laughed, making you shake your head with a smile.

"I‘ll let you go now, congrats on the podium, Lando", he laughed making Lando laugh as well. He quickly thanked him and handed the microphone to a sky worker before walking over to you.

"You‘re not wearing anything to represent papaya", Lando called over, taking his cap off, pushing it down on your head and pulling you in for another kiss. You grinned into it, placing your hand on his on the steel fence.

"Just know, Oscar, Max and Daniel are going to hate you for this", you muttered. "Osc never got me to wear that horrendous colour."

"Hushh!!", Lando protested, shutting you up with a quick kiss. "I‘ll see you later."

You squeezed his hand before letting him go.

Lando chuckled and made his way over to the FIA official who showed him the way to the cool down room.

You couldn’t contain your smile when Lando walked out onto the podium, throwing your hands in the air and cheering and clapping as loud as you could. When he spotted you, his smile grew a little and he gave you a little wave.

Your dad presented Carlos‘ trophy but stopped in front of Lando for a second.

"Take care of her, alright?", Mark said as he shook Lando‘s hand. A smile crept on the face of the Brit. "I promise, I will", he grinned, his eyes finding yours the second you father stepped to the side.

You cheered and lifted both of your arms to wave at your boyfriend on the podium.

Lando could help but laugh, almost missing when the person with the trophy came to him.

He took the trophy in his right hand and raised it in the air, pointing a finger at you with the other hand.

"I love you", he mouthed, making your heart skip a few beats.

📍Albert Park, Australia

tagged: landonorris, oscarpiastri, mclaren, ausgp

yn.adams: Weekend well spent

comments:

landonorris: My lucky charm🍀🧡

> yn.adams: 🧡🧡🧡

oscarpiastri: Hey at least I’m there once…

> fan: Oscar went from “Why am I only shown once??” to “at least I’m shown” CRYING LMAOOO

aussiegrit: Have I lost you to the UK now as well?

> yn.adams: Well…

> yn.adams: Maybe even Monaco as well🤭

maxverstappen: Do you want to make my day worse than it already is?

> yn.adams: I’M SORRY MAX

redbullracing: The betrayal…

fan: HARD LAUNCH

fan: Guys we lost her…

> yn.adams: Nooo, I promise you didn’t. Once a rbr girly always a rbr girly

load more comments

Thank you for the unbelievable support you all have shown me on this fic!! I hope you like the final part (even though it took my ass ages to finish) Stay tuned for more fics, you can always sent requests or just chat with me if you want/need to <3

taglist

Please tell me if you want to be added to the taglist or text be if you want to be taken off x

@cmleitora @jule239 @telengraph @christianpulisic10 @carey86 @dannyriccsupremacy @sie17136 @tillyt04 @laneyspaulding19 @val-writesstuff @dreamsarebig @loloekie @sticksdoesart @colmathgames2 @alilstressyandlotdepressy @berrnuu @leclercdream @babyvinnie @t2sh0 @hiireadstuff @chezmardybum @amandadesantasworld @poppyflower-22 @formulaal @shineforever19 @morenofilm @pand-de-pandora-blog @cc13723things @kateclarls @cometsrodrigo @cmleitora @cherry-piee @jule239 @marauders30-blog @likedbygasly @larastark3107 @coffeewhore18 @esserenorris @penandinkandloveforpink @ilovethispookie @ssprayberrythings @inthestars-underthesun @chaoticbouquetangel @spilled-coffee-cup @2bormaybenot @foreverateengirl @illicitverstappen @its-avalon-08 @tallrock35

#lando norris #f1 #mclaren #lando norris fluff #lando norris imagine #lando norris smut #lando norris x reader #lando norris x you #lando norris x y/n #ln4 #quadrant #mclaren formula 1 #formula 1 imagine #f1 x reader #f1 x you

1K notes · View notes

laiiaaa · 2 months

Note

Your writing is stunning! Can I request injured!reader and Carmy rushing to be by her side? god the idea of that man dropping everything to be with you....

this has been in my drafts for probably a year now. i forget why i was hesitant to post it. so here’s something for you all :)

“Hey, Cousin—”

“I’m in the middle ‘f something, not now, Richie—”

“Hey.” He raises his brows, gives that serious look that has Carmen’s head peeking over his shoulder because it’s so sharp he can feel it. “It’s your girl. You wanna take this.”

He gets nervous, then, heart beginning to race. Where’s his fuckin’ phone?

“Give it here,” he says, arm extended. Richie hands it over and slips out the door, shutting it to leave Carmen by himself in the office; it only makes hurt stomach lurch harder.

He lifts the phone to his ear. “Hello?”

“. . . Carm?” Your voice is broken and wobbly, wrought with tears.

“Baby?” He doesn’t even think before he’s jumping out of his chair, tucking the phone between his jaw and shoulder while he scrambles to find his keys. “Baby, you there? Where are you?”

“I-I’m at the hospital, I tried calling you—”

“The hospital—?” His mind goes back to New York, back to that morning. “What—” He takes a deep breath. His jacket. Where the fuck is it? “Okay, you’re okay, I’m comin’ now, alright?” He storms out of the office toward the lockers, finds everything right where he put it, including his phone. Dead. Fuck. “I gotta hang up, okay? I’m sorry, I know, I can’t take the phone with me. I’ll be there soon, I promise.”

“O-Okay.” A shuddered breath rings through the line, and it kills him. “I’m okay, Carmy—”

“I know,” he says, shimmying into his jacket and feeling for his keys. “I know, baby, but I’m comin’ anyway, you hear me? Gonna be there in ten.”

“Okay.”

“Okay. I love you.”

He doesn’t put the phone back properly, just slides it across the counter and hopes it doesn’t break again, shouting out orders over his shoulder on his way out the door.

The ride there is the longest ten minutes of his life. He doesn’t know what to expect. He doesn’t know anything at all, really. Are you hurt? How bad is it? What happened? Is it a burn, a broken bone, just a flu that got out of hand? Will you need surgery? Did you get in an accident? Did someone try to hurt you? He doesn’t want you to be alone right now. He needs to be there with you. You were fine this morning. You were fine this morning, all beautiful and groggy when he kissed you awake, still cozied up in bed when he left early as the sky turned blue after sunrise. You were fine. You were fine, and then he left, and suddenly you weren’t.

The fluorescent lights make him nauseous. They’re too bright, and a disgusting color, and too different from all the gentle lighting you insisted upon at home. Made the place homey, you said, and he agreed. The nurses at the station must think he’s out of his mind, all wide-eyed and asking for you.

“What’s your name?” the one asks him.

“Carmen, I’m her fiancé, I was—I was just on the phone with her—”

“Okay,” she nods, softening. “She’s doin’ alright now, she was askin’ for you, though. Still gotta get her wrapped up, but you’ll be outta here soon.”

He’s too busy wondering What the fuck does that mean? to properly answer.

When he’s finally brought to your room, his nerves subside—only a little. There’s no blood, no bland hospital gown to say you’re headed off to the operating room. Just a pillow over your tummy, with your arm—your swollen, bruised arm—resting on top of it.

“Hey, hon,” he says, coming to your bedside and smoothing a hand over your forehead to press his lips to your temple. “You alright? What happened?”

“They—” you sniffle when you look up at him, lip quivering— “They had to take my ring off, Carmy—” he nods along to your rambling with a concerned brow— “I-I told them not to, but they said my hand was too swollen—that-that it was gonna mess up my finger—. . .”

“What’s that, baby?” He smiles into your hair and exhales through his nose. So typical of you to get upset about something cute like that, he knows you’ll be okay. “Your arm’s all black ‘n blue, and you’re worried about your ring—?”

“But it’s special—”

“Shhhhh . . . I know, I know . . . ‘m just askin’ you to ease up.” Another kiss lands on your forehead before he asks, “Where’s it at, baby? I’ll fix it for you.”

You pout and look somewhere behind him. “On the table, but you’re not gonna be able to—”

“Just take a breath ‘n relax f’me, yeah? I got it.”

He stands upright again, turning to check that the ring is there—that beautiful, beautiful big diamond for his precious girl, before reaching toward the nape of his neck to unclasp his chain. Carefully, he threads it through the ring, silently urges you to sit up so he can hook it around your neck, icy-cool on your smooth skin, admiring the way it sparkles like your eyes.

You’re still pouting when he’s done, and he kisses your soft lips anyway while he wipes away stray tears. “Better?”

“. . . yeah,” you admit through a murmur.

“Good,” he huffs, pulling the visitor’s chair right next to your bed. With your good arm, you reach for him, just any part of him, and he holds your hand as he kisses your dry knuckles. “You gonna tell me what happened now? What’s got you all banged up?”

And you groan and roll your eyes, insisting that it’s too embarrassing to tell, and he lets you drag it out just because he thinks it’s cute when you’re stubborn. The doctor comes in with the x-rays to confirm that, yes, indeed, you’ve got yourself a broken arm, and after you’re splinted and discharged and given a sling and the next day’s protocol, Carmen holds your good hand on the way out the door.

“Oh,” you start, pausing before he opens the car door for you, “I forgot to tell you.”

“Hm?”

“I drove here.”

“You what?”

“I told you, I was embarrassed, Carm—”

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ, baby,” he grunts, laughing and shaking his head with fingers running through his hair as he helps you into the passenger’s seat. “You’re killin’ me today, y’know that?”

And it’s not the last time. When he unlocks the front door and sees the laundry spilled all the way down the stairs, with a basket flipped upside down at the bottom, he can put the pieces together. He kisses you softly, doesn’t say a word about it, takes you to the bedroom, and tucks you into bed to let you rest now that your adrenaline is wearing off and the pain meds are making you sleepy.

He fixes up the mess without a second thought, and once he’s done he slips right under the covers next to you, thanking whatever God there is that you’re okay, and that he’s got you back in his arms.

(And tomorrow, when he takes you into the doctor’s office for a proper cast, he has Natalie and Pete pick up your car. He still hounds on you about it weeks later, how you drove yourself to the hospital with a broken arm. You insist it makes for a good story, and to that he can’t deny.)

#carmen berzatto #carmy berzatto #jeremy allen white #carmy the bear #carmen berzatto x reader #carmy berzatto x reader #carmen berzatto fluff #carmy berzatto fluff #carmen berzatto imagine #carmy berzatto fic #the bear #the bear fx #the bear hulu

1K notes · View notes

toppersjeep · 6 months

Text

I’m Alright- Lando Norris X Reader

Summary: You are Landos wife and you went to watch the Vegas GP. Yours and Landos daughter is also with you. But you didn’t expect the crash to happen it leaves you to worry about everything.

___

y/n norris posted on instagram!

y/nnorris✔️: as you can see lily is very excited to watch her daddy race today. and ofc it’s just lan being lan in the second picture- tagged landonorris

Liked by 2.4 million

danielricciardo✔️: Little Norris is in the paddock everyone !!

alexalbon✔️: she’s gotten so big what heck

mclaren✔️: little lily norris our personal favorite of the family 🧡

charlesleclerc✔️: LILY I MISS U

landonorris✔️: got my lucky charms today :) my favorite girls

netflix✔️: mamma norris is back everyone

maxverstappen1✔️: she’s adorable

ln4✔️: Miss Lily 🥰🫶🏻

lewishamilton✔️: what a cutie

landonorris✔️: my baby girl 🥺

____

Your POV

“Daddy are you gonna win” Lily said. “I don’t know baby” Lando said picking lily up. “If you win can we get ice cream” she said I smiled. “With extra sprinkles” Lando said. “Yes.. because sprinkles are for winners” Lily said I laughed.

“We can get ice cream baby” I said. “Mommy with waffles” Lily said. “Waffles.. Lily” I asked. “Yeah like daddy’s favorite ones” Lily said. “I think I have some” Lando said looking around for his waffles. He then found his little bag of stroop waffles.

“Can I have one” she said. “Of course love” he said she took one out of the bag. He then set her down. “Mama here” she said giving me one. “Oh thank you baby” I said taking one. “Alright lily daddy’s gotta get in his race car” Lando said bending down to her. “Okay daddy good luck” she said he hugged her.

“I love you so very much” he said she kissed his cheek. “I love you too daddy” she said. “Alright baby let’s get our headsets” I said. “Excuse me Mommy you forgot about me” Lando said. I hugged him and kissed him. “I love you so much” I said.

“I love you more Y/N .. I’ll see you after the race” Lando said. We took our seats and looked at the monitors. Lily sat in my lap as we got ready to watch the race. Lily waved to Lando as he drove out of the garage. This was her second race she watched in person.

“You ready” I said. She pointed at the screen. “Daddy’s gonna win” she said I smiled. “I think so too” I said. “Lily are you excited” Zak asked. “Yes I like that car” she said pointing to the red Ferrari. “That’s uncle Charles” I said. “Cha” she said smiling. “Yes cha” I said.

We watched the race begin. Lando was moving up positions a little bit. He then came over the radio at one point.

“Hi lily baby I love you” Lando said over the radio. She smiled. “I love you” she said back. he laughed. We kept watching. But I saw Lando hit something and spin off. So I quickly covered Lily’s eyes. Zak tried to stand in front so she wouldn’t see.

“Lando are you okay” Dave said over the radio and he said nothing. I teared up. Please be okay. We need you. “Lando are you okay” Dave repeated. “.. ahh.. Yeah I’m .. okay” Lando said.

“Mommy what’s going on” Lily said. “Daddy spun off it’s okay” I said. “Daddy are you okay” Lily said. “I’m okay baby it’s alright” Lando said. We then waited for Lando to come back to the garage.

They wanted to get him checked out just to be safe. So he got up in the ambulance.

“Mommy is daddy okay” Lily said. “Yeah come on Lily” Lando said. We got into the ambulance and went to the hospital. Lando held her hand the whole way there. She was a little bit nervous.

Later on..

Lando got checked out and everything was okay. We waited in the room at the hospital. Lily had fallen asleep with her head on my lap.

“She didn’t see that right” Lando said. “No.. I covered her eyes” I said. “I was just worried about her and you” he said. “I was so worried too” I said. “It was scary even more so knowing she was watching” Lando said. “Yeah” I said softly as Lily snored. Lando chuckled.

“She snores like you” Lando said. “Oh I know she had a busy day” I said. “She’s so precious how’d we make such a cutie” Lando said. “I know I came believe she’ll be five soon” I said. “I kinda miss the baby phase” Lando said.

“Oh you do” I said. “Yeah I do now she’s a little independent” Lando said. “Well good news is we’ll have another baby in like nine months so” I said. “Really” Lando said smiling. “Mmmh” I said. “Come here” Lando said.

Lily then woke up.

“Daddy” Lily said waking up and going over to Lando. “Hi lovey” Lando said holding her. “Lily guess what” I said sitting on the bed with them. “What” Lily said. “You are gonna be a big sister” Lando said. “Really I am” she said smiling. “Yes you might get a sister or a brother” I said.

“Yay… I want a baby brother” Lily said. “You do” I said. “Yeah or sister” she said smiling. “Are you excited then” I asked. “Yes but where do babies come from” Lily said. Lando and I looked at each other. “Uhhh well mommy carries the baby in here” Lando said pointing to my stomach.

“Did she eat it” Lily said I laughed. “No no honey” I said. “Oh so it’s magic” Lily asked. “Yes it’s magic lily” Lando said. “That’s cool” Lily said hugging me. “Yes it is” I said. “I can’t wait” Lily said super excited. “Do you think mommy will have a boy or girl” Lando said.

“Ummmm.. I don’t know I hope a boy or a girl” Lily said. “We can decorate a room too what do you think” I said. “I wanna help” Lily said. “Of course you can mommy and daddy will need help” Lando said. “Okay” Lily said.

~~~~~

890 notes · View notes

chloe-skywalker · 3 months

Text

Nothing Can Happen - Jacaerys Velaryon/Targaryen

Jacaerys x Fem!Stark!Reader

Warnings: GOT

Word count: 988

Summary: Jace fall’s in love with Cregon Stark’s twin sister.

Authors Note: Hope you enjoy ! I wrote this before season 2 even had a release date. Reader is supposed to be Cregon Stark's twin sister.

Masterlist

House Of The Dragon Masterlist

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“Welcome to Winterfell Jacaerys Targaryen.” Y/n greeted as she watched the prince land his dragon and dismount before he approached her.

“Wish it was under different circumstances.” Jacaerys said as he approached who he could only believe was Y/n Stark. Rumors didn’t do her beauty justice he thought.

“Don’t we all?” She agreed but Y/n sadly believed the seven kingdoms may never be at peace. “We know why you are here.”

“My Mother-” he started but Y/n held her hand up to stop his prepared speech.

“Is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. We stand behind your mother. We will fight with your family.” Y/n smiled having already known what kind of speech he was going to give and just save him the time.

“Thank you. It’s appreciated.” Jace felt relieved that he wouldn’t have to convince them or make any deals. If only it was that easy every time.

“Our father swore to Rhaenyra. We will honor that. Honor means something to us here. And she was named heir. Viserys never changed his mind or made a formal change. We won’t stand with the greens.” Y/n stated to him confidently.

“Again. Appreciated.” he nodded at her.

Jace kept glancing at the direwolf at her side and it made her let out an amused laugh as she noticed. “You can pet her. She won’t hurt you.”

“I-I’m good.” He answered nervously.

“You can ride a dragon but not pet a wolf?” Y/n teased him amused at his reactions.

“I grew up with dragons.” Jace points out.

“I grew up with wolves. But I’d go up and touch your dragon.” Y/n shrugged teasing him more. She had decided it was fun to poke at him, in a friendly respectful way of course.

“Then you are braver than me.” Jace state’s smiling at her. He believed her and he could see in her eyes that she was confident when it came to what she was saying. Jacaerys had also realized in these few short minutes he enjoyed seeing her smile.

“Would you like a tour of Winterfell? My brother would’ve been here but he’s stuck doing some preparation.” Y/n offered with a more relaxed tone with the prince.

“I would love to see Winterfell.” Jace smiled, enjoying how she treated him as if war wasn’t looming.

^ ^ ^

“I’ve noticed you getting all friendly with the Targaryen Boy.” Cregon say’s breaking the silence between him and his sister as they took their direwolves to the creek nearby.

“Just being friendly with an alley.” Y/n tells him not even looking up from the creek as she answered her brother. She didn’t want to see the look she knew would be on his face.

“You like him.” Cregon stated his thoughts on their closeness, after all he knew his sister better than anyone else.

“Cre-”

“It’s fine with me. I like him, he’s a good man.” he interrupted her.

“Nothing will ever happen.” She shook her head glancing at him. She expected a different reaction from him but she shouldn't be surprised he was always supportive of her and wanted her to be happy in life.

“Why won’t you let yourself be happy?” It broke his heart to watch his sister do this to herself.

“He’s betrothed.” Y/n turned to look at him & before she could get any more emotional she looked away and shook her head. “Nothing will ever happen.”

“Fuck.” Cregon sighed, something always stood in Y/n’s way and it really angered him sometimes.

“It can’t go anywhere but friendship.” Y/n stated effectively ending the conversation. Turning back to look at her reflection in the creek's water. She did not want to let this affect her, it was never a possibility to begin with so why did she let herself get so attached to begin with.

^ ^ ^

“It has been a pleasure staying here. Thank you for your hospitality.” Jacaerys thanked as he got ready to leave back to Dragonstone.

“It was our pleasure. We’ll be ready when the time comes.” Cregon held his arm out.

“The crown appreciates your loyalty.” Jace shook forearms with Cregon sending their deal. Their loyalty.

“Always.” Cregon smiled before walking far enough away to give the prince and his sister some privacy.

“I’ll miss you.” Jacaerys broke the silence between them first.

“I’ll miss you too, you’ve become a great friend. Prince Jacaerys.” Y/n gives him her best smile she could given the circumstances.

“Y/n-” He tries to speak out, not liking the fact that she called him only a friend.

“Jace. This, us. It can’t go anywhere. You're betrothed, and that’s all there is to it.” Y/n tell’s him what they both know to be true. Even if they wished differently. But they couldn’t stand in the way of their duties.

“I will talk to my mother. I promise.” Jacaerys wanted to keep what they had going, he didn’t mean to fall in love with her on his visit but he did. He admired that she was trying to keep thing’s respectable. Let him go even if it hurts her.

“Don’t promise that. Don’t give out false hope.” Y/n shook her head with tears filling her eyes, but she would not let them fall. At least not till she was alone.

“I promise. I really do.” he did not want her to give up on them, on what they felt growing between the two of them. But even he knew there was a slim chance.

“It was nice meeting you Prince Jacaerys.” Y/n gave the best smile she could muster at him. It was obvious she was trying to distance herself emotionally.

It was clear to Jace that she wouldn’t change her mind without proof they could be together. Jacaerys was determined to talk to his mother about this once he got back. He had to try.

Taglist:

@padawancat97 @maryvibess @misspendragonsworld @gruffle1

@starkleila

756 notes · View notes

fastandcarlos · 2 months

Text

Never An Interruption : ̗̀➛ Max Verstappen

summary: you’re all ready to celebrate max’s win with him, only when you find someone already there to celebrate, you begin to question the role you truly play in max’s life

Your smile was wide as you watched Max climb up to the top of the podium again, thousands of fans cheering all around you. It still felt surreal as you watched him climb to the top, proudly taking the trophy that was handed to him.

His eyes scanned the crowd in front of him, giggling to himself once Max’s eyes met yours, noticing the excitable look that was on your face. You were stood just beside Christian, right at the front, exactly where Max always asked for you to be whenever you were there supporting him at a race so that you got to see everything.

Once the celebrations were over, Max was rushed off to do interviews and gush about his win whilst you returned to the paddock, knowing you’d be able to catch up with Max later.

It was as chaotic as ever as you watched the engineers begin to sort everything out, packing up ready to head to the next race. You usually didn’t mind waiting around, but today particularly you were on the edge of your seat with excitement about being able to see Max again.

The race had been a lot closer than usual, leaving you on tenterhooks. Max had fought much more closely with Charles, swapping the lead between the pair until Max just edged him on the last straight. You were proud at the best of times, but today especially, you were thrilled that he managed to get the win.

After checking your watch to see how late it was again, you decided to take matters into your own hands. You excused yourself from the paddock, heading down to the team’s motorhome, walking straight through to where Max’s driver’s room was, darting between the crowd of hospitality guests.

It had almost become a bit of a second home for you too, having spent years travelling around the world to support your best friend. You knew the paddock like the back of your hand, and most of the people that were walking around in blue too.

And despite the fact he had hundreds of people working around the paddock for him, the only person that really meant the most to Max was you. His best friend.

As you approached the door, you weren’t surprised to hear some noise from inside. You listened for a moment before knocking gently, walking in before Max answered, exactly like he’d told you to do years ago when you first started visiting him.

You barely managed to step foot into the room before it felt like you were being ushered back out. A nervous looking Max looked at you, hair messy as he ran his hand through it.

“You alright?” Max smiled, unable to stand still.

“Y-yeah,” you stuttered, trying your best to figure out what was going on as Max’s nervous eyes stuck on you.

“I was just about to come and find you.”

“It’s lucky I came and found you then,” you laughed, turning to take a seat on his bed, only to stop yourself just as fast. A figure stared back at you, one that you didn’t recognise but left you feeling incredibly embarrassed. “Sorry, I didn’t realise that you...yeah...I’ll just...go,” you stuttered, rushing back out of the room.

Your body jolted as you were met by the crowd of guests yet again, rushing out before any of them caught sight of you. Your feet couldn’t move quick enough, heading back out into the fresh air and in any direction that took you as far away from Red Bull as possible.

Once you were sat down, your head fell into your hands, letting go of several shaky breaths. Whilst you and Max were the best of friends, your heart wasn’t prepared to see someone else there with him. You knew you shouldn’t be mad, upset, hurt, he was free to do whatever, but for some reason, it still stung.

It didn’t take long before a figure appeared beside you, almost as soon as you left the room, Max ran out to follow, sprinting all around the paddock in search of you.

You remained frozen as Max dropped down to sit beside you, letting go of a deep sigh at how hostile you were towards him.

“Please don’t shut me out,” Max frowned, noticing how tense your body was.

“Haven’t you got somewhere else to be?” You coldly asked.

“Not when I know your upset, of course I haven’t,” Max reasoned, nudging gently against your side, silently asking for you to look at him again.

“If I knew you had company then I never would have burst in like that,” you tried your best to explain, feeling your cheeks begin to darken again, “I’ll stop doing that now.”

“I love having you burst in,” Max tried his best to assure you, “you’re my best friend and never an interruption.”

“I know,” you murmured, unable to hide the disappointment in your voice as Max reminded you.

“What is it?” Max quizzed, knowing you too well, knowing exactly when you were hiding something from him.

“Nothing...you just go back and be with your girlfriend, you should be celebrating,” you tried to tell him.

“No way,” he stated, shrugging as your eyes pleaded with him.

Max’s bluntness took you by surprise, your body almost jumped at how firm he was with his response to you.

He sensed that too, muttering a quick apology as he realised how taken aback you suddenly were by him.

“You can’t leave your girlfriend all by herself,” you repeated, reminding Max as to where his priorities should be. Not with you anymore. But with her.

A small smile crept onto his face, “is that what you think that was?”

Your shoulders shrugged, truthfully you couldn’t make sense of anything right now. You were sure that if Max had a girlfriend, then he would’ve told you, but maybe he didn’t trust in you quite as much as you thought he did.

“She works for Red Bull, just came in to help me with something,” Max tried his best to explain with you, “there’s no one more important to me than you are, you know that’s never going to change.”

Your eyes met Max’s, quickly noticing how sincere he was. His smile widened as he noticed the reality of what he was saying sinking in, reminding you just where his priorities were.

“I thought you were with her,” you admitted.

Max nodded back at you, “there’s only one person that I want to be with, and that’s the person I’m with right now.”

Your heart raced as you listened, watching as Max’s smile grew wider, proud of himself for finally telling you the truth.

“You mean that?” You nervously asked him.

Max reached across and rested his hand over the top of yours, “I can’t believe you ever thought I would want to be someone more than I do you. You’re perfect.”

You turned your hand so that it was palm to palm with Max, allowing your fingers to intertwine in with his. Max’s free arm held around your waist, keeping you as close into his side as he could have you.

A nervous smile appeared on your face, resting your head on Max’s shoulder so that he could no longer see you.

“Please don’t tell me these things just because you want to cheer me up,” you asked of him, wondering if what was happening really was true.

“I mean every single word,” Max assured, “it only ever really has been you.”

Max moved his hand so that it was under your chin, tilting your head back so your eyes met again. “Where do we go from here?” You whispered, feeling yourself losing control at an alarming rate.

“I’m not sure,” Max whispered, “but I know that wherever we go from here, it’s going to make me an incredibly happy man.”

Before you had the chance to respond, Max leant down, pressing the gentlest of kisses against your lips, finally getting to live out the dream that had troubled him for so many years.

˗ˏˋ 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 ! ´ˎ˗

1K notes · View notes

yourmomsawh0r3 · 2 months

Text

new beginnings

pairing: Tyler Owen’s x f! reader

Tyler pushed his grocery cart down the cereal aisle, his mind wandering to the endless list of storm reports and data he needed to compile. Living in Tornado Alley kept him busy, but today was his day off, and he intended to make the most of it. His mom had called earlier, asking if he could pick up a few things for her, so here he was, navigating the grocery store with a list in hand.

Y/N walked into the store, her mind preoccupied with the upcoming shift at the hospital al. Being an ER doctor was demanding, but she loved it. As she moved through the aisles, her thoughts drifted back to her childhood in Topeka. She had left so much behind, including her best friend turned rival, Tyler Owens.

Tyler and Y/N had grown up together, inseparable until their teenage years when a series of misunderstandings and hurt feelings had driven them apart. Now, years later, they both lived in the same town, yet their paths rarely crossed.

Lost in their thoughts, they both reached for the same box of cereal at the exact moment. Their hands brushed, and they turned to look at each other.

“Tyler?” Y/N’s voice was filled with surprise.

“Y/N?” Tyler’s eyes widened, taking in the sight of her. She looked effortlessly beautiful in the grocery store lighting, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, freckles scattered across her nose, and those familiar dimples appearing as she smiled.

They stood there for a moment, frozen, before Tyler recovered and stepped back. “Ladies first,” he said, gesturing to the cereal box.

“Wow, chivalry isn’t dead after all,” Y/N replied with a raised eyebrow as she picked up the box and placed it in her cart. “Didn’t think you’d still be in town.”

“Ditto,” Tyler shot back, crossing his arms. “Guess we both had the same idea to stick around.”

“Guess so,” Y/N said, a smirk playing on her lips. “Still chasing storms, I see. Figured you’d have grown out of that by now.”

“Still saving lives, I see,” Tyler retorted. “Figured you’d have moved on to something less dramatic.”

“Some things never change,” Y/N muttered, shaking her head. “You still think you know everything.”

“And you still think you’re always right,” Tyler countered.

An awkward silence stretched between them, filled with the unspoken tension of their past. Finally, Tyler broke it. “Want to grab a coffee? Catch up?”

Y/N hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Sure, why not?”

They finished their shopping and met at the small café inside the store. As they sat down with their drinks, the conversation flowed more easily than either had expected. They reminisced about their childhood adventures, laughed about old pranks, and shared stories about their current lives.

“Remember that time we tried to build a treehouse in my backyard?” Y/N asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

“How could I forget?” Tyler chuckled. “We got halfway up the tree before your dad caught us and grounded us for a week.”

“I think that was the last time I tried to build anything,” Y/N admitted, shaking her head.

Tyler smirked. “Yeah, you always were better at bossing people around than actually doing the work.”

Y/N rolled her eyes dramatically. “And you always thought you could do everything better than everyone else.”

“Maybe because I usually can,” Tyler shot back, a playful glint in his eyes.

“Oh, please,” Y/N laughed. “Your ego is still as big as ever.”

“And your sarcasm is still as sharp,” Tyler retorted, grinning.

As Y/N rolled her eyes again, Tyler felt a surprising surge of attraction. He’d forgotten how feisty and sassy she could be. He found himself admiring her spirit, the fire that had always made her stand out.

“You know,” he said, his voice softening, “I never really understood why we drifted apart.”

Y/N sighed, her expression turning serious. “We were young and stubborn. I guess we both thought the other had changed, and neither of us wanted to admit we missed our friendship.”

Tyler nodded, reaching across the table to take her hand. “I’m sorry for my part in it.”

“Me too,” Y/N squeezed his hand, her smile returning. “But maybe it’s not too late to start over.”

Tyler’s heart skipped a beat as he looked into her eyes. “I’d like that.”

They finished their coffee and left the store together, walking side by side. The tension of their past was gone, replaced by a sense of hope for the future.

As they reached their cars, Tyler turned to Y/N. “How about dinner sometime? We can catch up properly.”

“I’d love that,” Y/N agreed, her dimples deepening as she smiled. “It’s a date.”

Tyler stood on Y/N’s doorstep, holding a bouquet of tulips, his heart pounding in his chest. The door swung open, revealing Y/N in a sundress that hugged her curves perfectly. Her cleavage sat enticingly on her chest, and Tyler felt his breath hitch.

“Wow,” Tyler managed, handing her the flowers. “You look amazing.”

“Thank you,” Y/N replied, a blush coloring her cheeks as she took the bouquet. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”

Their dinner date was filled with snarky banter and playful sassiness. Tyler couldn’t help but be drawn to Y/N’s sharp wit and fiery spirit. Every eye roll, every sarcastic comment only made him more captivated.

“You still think you can outsmart me?” Tyler teased as they finished their meal.

“I know I can,” Y/N shot back, a challenging glint in her eyes.

Tyler watched intently as Y/N lifted her glass of wine to her lips. The way the deep red liquid touched her lips, glistening as she took a sip, made his heart race. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, her cleavage mesmerizing in the soft lighting of the restaurant. The scent of her perfume, a delicate mix of floral and something uniquely her, filled the air around him, making his senses swim.

“Enjoying the view?” Y/N asked, a teasing smile playing on her lips as she caught him staring.

Tyler smirked, leaning in closer. “Absolutely. And not just the view.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, but Tyler saw the blush spreading across her cheeks. “You’re incorrigible.”

“And you love it,” Tyler shot back, his voice low and filled with promise.

As the night drew to a close, the tension between them became palpable. They walked to Tyler’s truck, the air thick with unspoken desire. Once they were parked in her driveway, neither could resist any longer. Tyler leaned in, capturing Y/N’s lips in a heated kiss. She responded eagerly, her hands tangling in his hair as their mouths moved together with a desperate intensity.

Tyler’s hands roamed over her body, feeling the soft fabric of her dress and the warmth of her skin beneath. Y/N’s fingers worked at his belt buckle, her eyes locking with his, filled with a mix of determination and vulnerability.

“May I?” she whispered, her doe eyes searching his face.

Tyler could only nod, unable to form words as his heart raced. Y/N undid his pants, her fingers brushing against his growing arousal. She looked up at him one last time before lowering her head, her lips closing around him.

Tyler’s head fell back against the seat, a low groan escaping his lips as Y/N’s mouth worked its magic. She moved with practiced ease, her tongue swirling around him, her lips creating a perfect seal. The sensation was overwhelming, and Tyler’s hands gripped the edge of the seat, trying to anchor himself.

Y/N teased him, her mouth moving slowly, her eyes flicking up to watch his reactions. She let her lips travel along his length, peppering kisses on his V-line, causing Tyler to shiver with anticipation. She licked the pre-cum off the tip, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she took her time savoring him.

“Y/N,” he groaned, his hand moving to tangle in her hair, urging her on. She responded eagerly, her mouth and hand working in perfect harmony.

Tyler felt himself nearing the edge, the tension coiling tighter within him. “I’m close,” he warned, his voice strained.

Y/N didn’t slow down, her determination clear in the way she continued to pleasure him. With a final, shuddering gasp, Tyler came, his release flooding Y/N’s mouth. She swallowed, her eyes never leaving his, a satisfied smile playing on her lips as she pulled away.

Tyler was left breathless, his heart pounding as he looked down at Y/N. “That was… incredible,” he managed, his voice hoarse.

Y/N grinned, her dimples deepening. “You’ve been driving me wild since we were kids. .”

Tyler reached out, pulling her into his lap, capturing her lips in another searing kiss. “I can’t wait any longer,” he whispered against her lips.

Without breaking the kiss, Tyler carried Y/N into the house, his hands sliding up her thighs, feeling the smooth skin beneath her dress. They barely made it through the door before Tyler’s desire overcame him. He set Y/N on the kitchen counter, his hands moving to pull her dress over her head.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited to see you like this,” Tyler murmured, his voice rough with desire. “Since we were teens, I’ve imagined this moment.”

Y/N’s breath hitched as Tyler’s hands roamed over her body, his touch sending shivers down her spine. “Then don’t make me wait any longer,” she whispered, her eyes dark with desire.

Tyler didn’t need any more encouragement. He pulled her dress over her head, revealing her in all her beauty. His eyes roamed over her curves, taking in the sight of her bare skin, her breasts exposed and enticing. “You’re perfect,” he breathed, his hands cupping her breasts, thumbs brushing over her nipples, causing her to arch into his touch.

Y/N’s hands moved to his shirt, unbuttoning it with trembling fingers. She pushed it off his shoulders, letting her hands explore the muscles of his chest and back. Tyler’s mouth found her neck, kissing and nibbling along her skin, eliciting soft moans from her.

“Tyler,” she gasped as his mouth moved lower, trailing kisses down her chest. His hands slid down to her waist, lifting her slightly to pull off her panties, leaving her completely exposed on the counter.

Tyler took a moment to appreciate the sight before him, his breath hitching with anticipation. “I’ve wanted this for so long,” he murmured, his voice filled with awe and desire.

He kissed her again, his mouth demanding and hungry. Y/N responded eagerly, her legs wrapping around his waist, pulling him closer. Tyler’s fingers found her wetness, teasing her entrance, making her gasp and cling to him.

“Please,” she whispered, her voice desperate.

Tyler didn’t make her wait any longer. He positioned himself at her entrance, pausing for a moment to look into her eyes. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice tender.

“Yes,” Y/N replied, her eyes filled with trust and desire.

With a groan, Tyler entered her, the sensation overwhelming them both. He moved slowly at first, savoring the feel of her around him, but soon their need took over, and he began to thrust harder, their bodies moving together in perfect rhythm.

The kitchen filled with the sounds of their lovemaking, the slap of skin against skin, the mingled moans and gasps. Tyler’s hands gripped her hips, holding her steady as he drove into her, each thrust bringing them closer to the edge.

Y/N’s nails raked down his back, her head falling back as she gave herself over to the pleasure. “Tyler,” she moaned, her voice breaking.

He could feel her tightening around him, her body trembling as she reached her climax. Tyler followed soon after, his release crashing over him with a force that left him breathless.

They stayed like that for a moment, clinging to each other, their breaths mingling as they came down from their high. Tyler gently lifted her off the counter, carrying her to the couch, where they collapsed in a tangle of limbs.

“That was…” Y/N began, her voice trailing off as she struggled to find the words.

“Amazing,” Tyler finished for her, a satisfied smile on his lips.

Y/N chuckled, resting her head on his chest. “Yeah, amazing.”

They lay there in comfortable silence, the past forgotten, the future filled with promise. Tyler knew that this was only the beginning of their story, and he couldn’t wait to see where it would lead.

As he held Y/N in his arms, he whispered softly, “I’ve missed you.”

Y/N looked up at him, her eyes filled with emotion. “I’ve missed you too, Tyler. More than you know.”

He kissed her gently, his heart full. “I’m not letting you go this time,” he promised.

“And I’m not letting you go either,” Y/N replied, her smile radiant.

They fell asleep like that, wrapped in each other’s arms, the past finally put to rest, and a new future stretching out before them, filled with love and endless possibilities.

#tyler owen #tyler owen’s #tyler owen x fem reader #tyler owen x f! reader #tyler owens x you #tyler owens x reader #tyler owens x y/n #tyler owens fanfiction #tyler owens #glen powell x reader #glen powell

434 notes · View notes

novemberheart · 2 months

Text

{overview} Its agreed. The 141 needs an omega. But how will you react after already being rejected by them?

{warnings} Fem reader, a/b/o dynamics, light pricexsoap

Chapter 1 <- Chapter 2 -> Chapter 3

“Visitor!” Ms. Helen knocked on your door, causing it to open.

“What did you do now?” Miriam smirked from her bed next to you.

“Nothing.” You replied, baring your teeth playfully. She laughed, throwing a pillow at you on your way out. “Do I get to know?” you hummed, trying to keep up with Ms. Helen.

“No,” she responded harshly. She was all bark no bite. You rolled your eyes, running your fingers across the wall as you followed her to the visitation room. It was cozy, and designed to make omegas comfortable. Soft lighting, lots of windows and things to hide behind. When the door opened you caught sight of a familiar blonde.

“Kate.” You cheered, as Ms. Helen shut the door to give you two privacy.

“Hey, Honey.” she greeted warmly, giving you a tight squeeze.

“How's Robin?” You asked, plopping down with her on the couch.

“She's good, busy with the dogs and garden. She says ‘hi’.” Kate smiled, taking a quiet deep breath of your scent. Peaches and Vanilla. It wasn't nearly as fulfilling as her wife's scent, but it was enough to take her slight edge off.

“Please tell me you're breaking me out of here for lunch.” You pleaded to the alpha next to you.

“We can do that after.” She smiled at you. “There is something we need to discuss first.” The smell of nervous alpha drifted towards your nose, giving you goosebumps.

“Alright.” You said slowly. You projected your scent, trying to cover hers. It seemed to work.

“I have a placement for you.” She finally admitted. The first reaction you had was to wince, your head beginning to feel light as your lungs dropped to your stomach along with your heart.

“Really?” You said slowly. “Did they pick me?” was your second question. Her smile faltered a bit.

“No. But I'm picking you.”

You guess that'll have to do.

You and Kate had known each other for a little over a year now. She had met you when she was interviewing omegas to be paired with military packs. You quickly became her favorite, (and almost everyone else’s who interviewed you) and she knew exactly where to put you. Unfortunately, the rest of your ‘soon to be’ pack wasn't as willing. Kate put a hold on you though. Leaving you effectively stuck in an omega-holding house.

“They've already rejected me before, Kate.” It came out as a whine, you couldn't help it. “Is it the same pack? What's going to make this any different?”

She winced at the noise, her brows furrowing.

“Yes, it’s the same pack. And they didn't reject you, they just rejected the idea of an omega.” she corrected. “It's different this time because they've wised up. They asked me to find them an omega.”

“And here I am,” you said glumly.

“None of that.” she scolded, her hand smacking against your knee. “You still have their files?” She asked. You nodded your head. Of course, you still had their files. They practically haunted you.

Plus it was just about the only eye candy you could get in a place like this.

“You remember Simon right?” she continued. You nodded your head. The only man in your file without a picture. He was a fan favorite amongst your friends, along with Kyle. Something about the mystery just had everyone's wheels turning. “He got hurt. Hospitalized.”

“That's terrible.” You gasped. “He’s going to be alright?”

She quickly nodded her head. “Yes, but on the bright side, it made them realize how much they need you,” she said softly. You begin to have a gnawing feeling in your stomach and you are one more fact away from getting the shakes. “Calm down.” she groaned, waving a hand in front of her face. When nervous your scent turned from sweet to sour. Not in a moldy fruit way, but in a strong lemon way. Kate could feel her mouth pucker.

“I can't help it.” you groaned back. “I thought I was going to die in this place. Now you're telling me I have to leave and go out into the world. Not only that but I get to join a pack that has no interest in me other than a healer. You know what it's my turn to refuse.” You snapped. “If that Captain ‘Cost’ or whatever his name is wants me then he can come down here and ask me.” You snapped.

“Captain Price.” Kate corrected, working her hardest to stifle a laugh. “How about we go to lunch, then you can think about it. I can tell you a bit more about them. Maybe that’ll change your mind? Hhhm?” She soothed, patting you on the back.

Who were you to turn down lunch?

Simon had yet to fully wake up. The doctor was right, waking up was a nightmare. John had decided to spend the night outside Simon’s door- just in case. The sound of a thundering growl quickly jolted him awake. John had to tranquilize Simon himself, through a hole in the door. First and hopefully last time he'd ever have to use a blow dart.

It went on like this every few hours, until finally the nurses just decided to keep him under. Simon had cracked a few of his ribs in the fight with himself, along with obtaining more bumps and scrapes.

“Poor lad.” John huffed, after telling the rest of the pack.

“Didn't happen to record any of it did you?” Johnny questioned. “What?!” he spat after Kyle and John glared him down. “Simon drugged up trying to fight nonexistent enemies. Don't sit here and tell me it wasn't entertaining.” Johnny smirked. Kyle pressed his lips together, his imagination slowly taking control.

“Was a sight.” John admitted finally. John suddenly leaned forward his finger tapping against the Scots left shoulder, where Simon’s mark was.“That's one of your alphas you're talking about.” John corrected. Johnny shivered, instinctually leaning into John's warm touch.

“Technically he's the second alpha. You're the pack alpha.” Johnny continued, wanting to soak up as much affection as he could. It worked.

“Good boy.” John praised, his hand drifting over to Johnnys' right shoulder, where his mark was. Johnny purred, his eyes drifting over to Kyle who was watching the whole ordeal with slowly lowering eyelids. Kyle snapped himself out of it.

“Not in public.” Kyle reprimanded.

“You're just jealous.” Johnny nearly panted.

“You get worked up so fast,” John murmured.

“Still got any tranquilizers?” Kyle growled.

After talking with Kate and about three margaritas later you had softened. She had dropped you back off at the omega house holding house, with a tight hug, promising you that everything would work out.

John twitched in surprise when his phone began buzzing in his pocket.

“Kate?”

“When do you need her?”

Yay, you're here for chapter two! Chapter three will be uploaded in two days! See you there 🧡🤎

#captain john price #ghost x reader #soap x reader #captain john price x reader #price x reader #poly141 #Gaz x reader #simon ghost riley #johnny soap mactavish #kyle gaz garrick #x female reader #poly 141 #omegaverse #Novemberheart

469 notes · View notes

ghostofskywalker · 2 months

Text

More Than The Persona

Tyler Owens/Fem!Reader

Words: 2,248

Summary: Tyler Owens is the poster child for storm chasing, his videos often leading to viewers glamourising these drastic weather events. As a first responder, you're no stranger to the death and destruction that tornadoes leave in their wake, so the two of you don't exactly click the first time you meet.

Note: i saw twisters yesterday and i was pleasantly surprised with how much i enjoyed it, since i also love the original 1996 one. as far as why this was written, i’m procrastinating writing zine fics right now and that's the only explanation I can offer lol. i'd love to write more twisters fic in the future though, i did have fun with it

As you stepped out of the ambulance, you could see destruction wherever you turned. Countless houses were razed where they stood, their contents strewn all across the street. Even the structures that had been lucky enough to only get clipped by the tornado were still damaged beyond repair, in some cases with their entire facades ripped off, now laying somewhere smashed on the ground. No matter how many times you had seen scenes like this, the gravity of the situation never got lighter. For almost all of these people, recovering would take months, if not years.

Crowds were just beginning to collect on the streets as some emerged from storm shelters, but you knew there were some who hadn’t been afforded that luxury. You shared a knowing look with the other members of your team as they began to step over the debris in search of those that might be trapped under rubble.

By the time more pickup trucks pulled up to the scene, you had set up outside one of the ambulances, hard at work treating the wounds of those who could make it over to you. The crates of water bottles next to you were quickly diminishing, but the line of people in need of medical care never seemed to, which was a sitaution you were unfortunately used to finding yourself in.

As the newcomers fanned out through the area, you weren’t the only one who stared. Although not a fan yourself of the self-appointed “Tornado Wrangler,” you unfortunately recognized the man who led a small group down the street. Resisting the urge to roll your eyes, you turned your attention back to the person in front of you. There was nothing you could do about the fact that some wannabe celebrities were trying to profit off of the disaster by getting in the public’s good graces, so you would just have to suck it up and hope they eventually get bored enough to leave.

Hours later, you were still in that same spot, and there was still so much to do. Some of the ambulances had left temporarily the scene, taking those whose injuries were more intense off to the closest hospital. Right now, your priority was getting immediate medical aid to those who needed it, even if you could feel your eyes drooping with fatigue. As you gently bandaged up the arm of a young girl, someone tapped on your your shoulder. “Take a break,” and you could hear the sound of your best friend’s voice even if you were looking at him. “I can tell that you need it.”

You shook your head as the little girl walked off in the direction her mother was standing. “Don’t worry about me Isaac, ‘m fine here.”

“I don’t believe that,” he responded. “At least get some water and take a few moments to eat something.”

After a few more passes back and forth, Isaac practically shoved you from your post. With a water bottle in your hand, you wandered around the area, mind racing as you tried to find a way you could help once you had taken a few minutes to yourself. But of course, you were not granted solitude for long. Right as you had raised the bottle to your lips, a voice interrupted your thoughts. “Need anything?”

Tyler Owens was standing a few paces away, a small box in his hands. The cowboy hat on his head looked pristine, a stark contrast to the way that your work clothes were already too grimy for your taste. “I’m okay,” you said, sending a tight-lipped smile his way and hoping that he would get the message that you weren’t interested in conversing right now. “Thank you.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, clearly not having picked up on the signs. “You’ve been out here for hours and this is the first time you’ve stopped for any kind of break.”

Your gaze hardened slightly as you regarded him. “And how would you know?” He was correct of course, but you had no plans to admit that, especially not when he acted as though he knew everything about you.

“It was just a guess, but I can see that I’m right,” he said, a smile crossing his face that you hated to say that you found attractive. Why did the best looking people have to act as dumb as they did?

By the grace of the universe, a colleague called you over to them right as you opened your mouth to respond, and Tyler didn’t follow as you headed over to help once more. The whole time, you found yourself thinking about him and his team. What were they even doing here, besides getting in the way of those actually trying to help?

***

After that time, it felt like you ran into Tyler Owens at least three times a week. He and his team showed up to the sites of destruction with their video cameras out as they surveyed the damage. Multiple times, you had to shoo them away from you as you worked, tirelessly bandaging cuts, scrapes, and other lacerations that people had suffered from the winds of the storm. Despite the fact that your initial conversation with Tyler had lasted less than a minute, he apparently felt that it was enough to bother you again, and to act as though you were much closer than you were.

This time, you were bandaging up an older woman when you heard his voice interrupt your focus. “Hey medic!”

Resisting the urge to sigh, you turned to look at him. “What are you doing here?”

Unfortunately, the smile on his face didn’t shift at your tone. “Helping, of course.”

“And how exactly is annoying me while I’m just trying to do my job considered helpful?”

“I’m convincing you to take a break,” he said. “I’ve seen how hard you work, and the way you put others first so many times. Sometimes you need to take care of yourself to take care of others.”

Sighing, you finished gently wrapping gauze around the woman’s leg before speaking. “Nice try, making it seem like you have any concern,” you said. “But I don’t have any interest being on in your YouTube videos, and I can take care of myself perfectly fine.”

His smile dropped slightly as he registered your words, the first time it’s happened since you met. Every other time, your words seem to pass right over him, no matter how annoyed you sounded as you spoke, but not this one. He mumbled something you didn’t quite catch before stepping away, and you felt your heart sink slightly in a way you didn’t expect.

“He’s right you know,” the woman you had just bandaged said as she got up from the chair in front of you.

“What?” you asked, still trying to wrap your head around the conversation with Tyler.

“You need to take a break at some point. If you’ve been out helping like this after all these recent storms, it’s going to take a toll on you.”

You nodded, knows that both her and Tyler were right. “I will, I promise.”

“Good,” said. The woman left after giving you another knowing smile, and you flagged down Isaac to take your place for a few minutes.

It always felt strange, to sit down on the ground and look at the tornado’s destruction. Children’s toys, blankets, and even the skeletal remains of furniture were on the street now, no telling which homes they had once belonged to. You stared out as the wind picked up a photo and pushed it away from you, before it was eventually grabbed by someone.

As you took a sip of the water bottle in your hands, Tyler appeared from the crowds once more, his hands up in mock surrender as he approached you. “I see you took my advice.”

“I see you’re still dead set on bothering me wherever I go,” you said, but the tone was halfhearted.

“It’s not my only goal in life, but it’s one I get to work on often,” he said, sitting down next to you.

“Why?” you asked, finally gathering up the courage to voice the question that had been swirling around your mind since you first met him. “I don’t know you. No offense, of course.”

A small snort of laughter left his mouth. “I don’t know, I think at this point we could be longtime friends.” You raised your eyebrows at him, and the smile on face grew as he realized that this was once again lighthearted teasing. “I keep bothering you because I can tell you need someone to tell you when to stop.”

Immediately, you got a little defensive. “No I don’t.”

“Come on, I think the only time I’ve ever seen you take a break is when someone else said something, and I doubt it’s ever done without some kind of denial.” You looked down at the ground, slightly embarrassed that he had hit the nail on the head. “People all across the community are going to be incredibly grateful for the hours you put in to help them, but it wouldn’t matter as much if you’re neglecting your own care.”

You stopped, staring once more at the destruction in front of you. “Just because I’m not smiling and laughing for the camera doesn’t mean I’m not taking care of myself.”

“Going hours without even a sip of water doesn’t exactly back that statement up you know.”

“Fine,” you admitted. “Maybe you’re right, but it certainly doesn’t help when people like you show up to these scenes to sightsee all the destruction and try to get some clicks out of it.”

His face changed in an instant, growing more somber than you’ve ever seen before. “Is that all you think we’ve been doing?”

You nodded slowly, not sure what to expect from his change of attitude.

“I suppose the way you’ve treated me makes sense now.”

You stopped. “So you’re not just here for fun?”

“Half of what we do can usually be considered stupid, I’ll admit that,” he said, looking over at you. “But it’s not all fun and games, I promise. See over there?” He gestured to where a group of people were standing around a table outside his team’s camper van, the reason for their presence obscured by the growing crowd gathering there. “A portion of our our t-shirt sales is put towards disaster kits, and my team over there is handing them out. Free of charge of course.”

As your eyes focused on the scene, you could see he was right. There was no exchange of money as the team of people handed out boxes of food and bottles of water. You could see a stack of T-shirts sitting to the side, but even those were being handed out to the those that asked whenever requested.

Immediately, you were overwhelmed with embarrassment at the way you had always perceived him, when all this time he had been doing so much to aid those who just had their lives disrupted. Maybe if you had taken the time to look past the thrill-seeking attitude you could have seen that, but instead you had been so wrapped up in your own life and work. “I’m so sorry for the way I saw you,” you said, turning towards Tyler with a sincere look on your face. “You want to help just as much as I do, and I let my opinion the ‘Tornado Wrangler’ persona get in the way of understanding that.”

He smiled in a way that was more genuine than any of the others you had seen on him. “Thanks,” he said sincerely. “But don’t worry about it, you’re not the first person to make the assumption, and you probably won’t be the last. I willingly drive into tornados for fun, it’s not exactly something you do if you’re not a little bit crazy.”

You laughed. “Yeah, as a medical professional I really can’t condone that.”

“Most people would probably agree with you.”

The two of you sat there for a few minutes more, a comfortable silence enveloping the air before you had to get back to work. There was still so much more to be done, and the daylight hours were slipping away.

But as the two of you got up and you began to walk away, Tyler’s voice stopped you. “Hey.”

Turning around to face him, a quizzical look overtook your face. “Hmm?”

“I’ll see you around, alright?”

You smiled, the cautious fluttering of tiny butterflies taking hold of your stomach. It was only a matter of time before this happened, you supposed, but you tried not to let anything show on your face. “Yeah,” you said, a genuine smile breaking through any attempt you made to remain nonchalant. “See you around.”

***

That night, as you laid on the couch watching TV, you saw a text pop up on your phone from a number you didn’t recognize.

It’s Tyler. Before you get mad at me, Isaac gave me your contact info.

You playfully rolled your eyes, making a mental note to confront your friend later, that perceptive bastard.

Do you wanna go out for drinks sometime? I don’t wanna have to wait for another tornado to see you.

Sure, was the response you typed out and sent off, but on the inside, you were a lot more excited.

Okay, maybe you didn’t have to be that hard on Isaac.

- the end -

i no longer have a taglist! if you're interested in being notified when i post, you can follow my library blog @ghostofskywalker-library and turn on notifications!

#tyler owens #tyler owens x reader #tyler owens x female reader #tyler owens x you #twisters fanfic #tyler owens fanfiction #glenn powell x reader #twisters x reader

433 notes · View notes

justabigassnerd · 2 months

Text

A Different Man

Pairing - Tim Bradford x reader

Word count - 5,241

Warnings - inaccurate hospital scenes, mentions of needles, drugs, medicines, angst, fluff

Summary - after an incident with Lucy, Tim wonders if it's time to be honest about his marital status

A/N - hey y'all I'm back with another anon request which I hope I did justice! we all know I love writing for my pookie Tim so I had a blast writing this. I won't ramble but as per y'all please send in requests, feedback, and enjoy!!!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

If it was up to Tim, he wouldn’t be at work right now. But the Vice President chose to visit Los Angeles meaning he had to go to work when he would rather be relaxing at home. Now, Tim was patrolling LA with his rookie Lucy Chen, keeping a careful eye on their surroundings as they drove around. Eventually, the duo are directed to a homeless encampment where Tim makes an announcement that all the people living there have to pack up and move so that the stretch of road they were living on was going to be used for the visit. As they all packed up their belongings, a fight broke out between two women and Lucy was quick to step in yet her best efforts still got her caught up in the tussle, when the women dragged each other, and Lucy, to the ground, Tim was quick to step in, handcuffing one woman while Lucy got up and handcuffed the other. As Lucy got to her feet, Tim glanced over at her, stopping when he noticed something.

“Chen. Stop. Don’t move.” He instructs, watching as she looks at him confused before following his gaze down to the used needle sticking out of her thigh. At that moment, it was like Lucy could focus on nothing but the needle and all the diseases it could bring if it had actually embedded in her leg. Noticing Lucy’s distant gaze, Tim instructs other officers to take both women away so he can focus on making sure Lucy is okay and gets taken to the hospital.

“I didn’t see it,” Lucy mutters, looking up at Tim with a terrified expression.

“I have to pull the needle out. Stay still.” Tim says, feeling bad upon seeing the expression on his rookie’s face but he knew he couldn’t show any signs of worry because that would only panic her further. Tim pulls on a pair of gloves and grabs a box to put the needle in and he crouches down alongside Lucy, carefully extracting the needle from her leg and trying not to react when he sees the small traces of blood on the tip of the needle from where it had clearly made contact with her leg.

“What’s the protocol for when an officer is exposed on duty?” Tim then asks, straightening up after putting the needle away. He already had a good idea of how worried and panicked Lucy was and he needed to keep her focused on her job to stop her from spiralling. When he clocked that Lucy wasn’t focused he calmly gained her attention and got her to tell him what it was they needed to take as next steps. Lucy wasn’t used to Tim being so calm and gentle towards her but she appreciated it nonetheless.

“Where’s the nearest hospital?” Tim asks after Lucy tells him what protocol is for an incident like this.

“Shaw Memorial,” Lucy replies, getting a nod in return from Tim before he turns to another officer, making sure they know to keep an officer posted in the area while he takes Lucy to the hospital. Tim drives Lucy to the hospital and when he’s parked the shop, he escorts her to the first nurse desk he can find, letting her approach the desk herself.

“I need to get my blood tested. I got stuck with a used hypodermic needle.” Lucy says, trying to keep her voice steady as the nurse begins to look around, apologising before he grabs a clipboard, holding out to her.

“Just fill this out for us and take a seat in the waiting room. A doctor will be with you shortly.” Gino says with a friendly smile.

“You must be new. She’s got a weapon, so what if someone tried to grab her weapon? The hospital protocol dictates that an armed officer be seen immediately. So set her up in a room right now and find a doctor.” Tim says, an authoritative tone to his voice as Gino straightens up, nodding nervously before leading Lucy and Tim to a private room so she can safely fill out her information and wait for a doctor while he goes to grab one. Gino heads straight to your office, knocking on the door and entering with permission.

“Gino, what can I do for you?” You ask with a sweet smile, removing your gaze from your computer to Gino.

“Doctor Bradford, there’s a police officer who’s been stabbed with a used needle and needs bloodwork done,” Gino explains, watching as you nod, shutting off your computer and getting up from your seat.

“I’ll go and get acquainted with my patient if you could get the equipment I need. And Gino? Please call me y/n, Doctor Bradford is too formal.” You say with a slight chuckle as you follow Gino to the door of your office.

“Sorry.” Gino apologises as you both step into the hallway.

“No harm done.” You say dismissively, waving your hand loosely, turning in the direction of the room Gino tells you your patient is in.

“Oh just a heads up, the police officer's partner is a really grumpy guy,” Gino warns, and at the warning, you had a feeling you knew who was going to be in that room.

“Hi, I’m Doctor Bradford.” You introduce yourself as you walk into the room, smiling sweetly at the woman sitting on the end of a bed, not missing how her eyes flicked between you and your husband who was standing across the room, his arms across his chest.

“B-Bradford?” Lucy asks, eyes widening slightly as Tim scoffs, rolling his eyes at Lucy’s miraculous mood switch.

“Yes. Tim’s my husband.” You say with a soft laugh as you pick up the completed form from alongside Lucy, eyes scanning it and inputting the information into a file for Lucy.

“Sorry, that was so rude of me. I’m Lucy Chen. I’m Officer Bradford’s rookie and I just didn’t know he was-”

“Chen,” Tim said simply, making Lucy stop talking, apologising as she relaxed slightly.

“Don’t apologise Lucy. In fact, excuse me one second.” You say, walking over to Tim, taking his hand, leading him to the corner and glaring at him.

“What?” Tim asks, looking at you, confused.

“Do you seriously talk to everyone like that? Even the rookie’s you’re teaching?” You scold, watching as Tim sighs lightly.

“I gotta be tough. That’s my way of teaching. It’s how I learnt in the Army and how I learnt when I joined the force.” Tim says, explaining himself.

“I get that Tim but in the hospital? The poor girl is probably terrified and thinking of all the worst-case scenarios possible. Just tone it down a little.” You ask, eyes flicking over to Lucy who was wringing her hands nervously, eyes flicking all over the room as she takes deep breaths. At your words, Tim lets out a soft sigh, nodding lightly.

“Okay. I’ll tone it down for now.” He agrees quietly, getting a nod in response from you and a soft squeeze of the hand before you drop it focusing back on Lucy just as Gino enters the room with all the stuff you need to draw blood.

“Thank you, Gino.” You chirp happily, taking the tray from him and beginning to prep yourself.

“You can go back out to the desk, I’ll page you when I need you to run this down to the labs.” You then say, glancing over your shoulder to smile at Gino who nods and exits the room.

“He’s new, isn’t he? He didn’t know the rules about what to do when an armed officer needs to see a doctor.” Tim says, sidling up alongside you as you pull on gloves, sitting on a stool in front of Lucy and rolling your eyes.

“Yes, he’s new. I take it you were the one who made sure he knew the protocol?” You say glancing over your shoulder at Tim before focusing back on the needle as you prep it.

“I think he would’ve found a room for me if Gino hadn’t corrected himself,” Lucy says with a soft laugh.

“That doesn’t surprise me. Tim’s always been one to find his own solutions to things.” You say, smiling fondly at the many memories you have of Tim fixing situations himself when he wasn’t satisfied with the options he had.

“You must have some great stories about Tim,” Lucy asks, making your eyebrow rise as you catch on to what she was hinting at.

“What kind of story would you like? I’ve got some good ones from when we first started dating.” You say, making sure the needle is in Lucy’s arm and drawing blood.

“Hey, no.” Tim attempts to cut in and you just hold a hand up, silencing him quickly which makes Lucy giggle at how quickly her training officer was silenced. At first, Tim pulled a slight face behind your back when you held your hand up, but when you looked over your shoulder and blew him a little kiss, Lucy saw how quickly Tim melted at the gesture. Even if he was trying to be his normal, tough self, she could see how he had a huge soft spot for you.

“Tim, could you go and get Gino for me? I’m almost done. Ooh and could you grab me a snack from the vending machine?” You say sweetly, smiling over your shoulder at Tim before you pop one of the last vials of blood into the holder.

“You better not start gossiping the moment I leave.” He says lightly in response, a small smile on his face as he crosses over to you to give you a quick kiss on the top of your head before exiting the room.

“I’ve never seen him act like that before,” Lucy says as you finish putting things away before focusing on cleaning Lucy’s arm and giving her a cotton ball to put on the puncture wound to stop any extra bleeding.

“Seen him act like what? A big softie?” You ask jokingly, smiling at Lucy.

“Well I mean he was nicer than he usually is when the needle first pricked me but he’s like a whole different person with you. He actually listens to you for starters.” Lucy says, explaining herself while she thinks of the man who had put her through so many Tim Tests.

“This conversation doesn’t leave this room, okay? He’s a tough nut to crack but he’s strict because he knows you can handle yourself. He wants you to be the best police officer you can be. I’m not involved in the work aspect of Tim’s life. He likes to keep it that way and I just guess he feels he doesn’t have to put up a front when he’s with me.” You explain with a small shrug. You remembered what Tim had been like when you first met. He was closed off and it took you a while to even talk to him enough to form a friendship, and then it took another year and a half before you both had the courage to act on your romantic feelings for each other. Before Lucy could reply, Gino entered the room again to take the bloodwork to the labs to be run through tests to see if the needle infected Lucy with anything. After Gino left and there was still no sign of Tim, you continued to chat with Lucy.

“It’s nice to see him so relaxed with you. It’s like he’s a whole different person with you.” Lucy says, smiling softly.

“That’s the Tim I’m used to. I’m sure with time he’ll learn to be a little less military towards you.” You say softly, smiling at Lucy who nods lightly.

“I hope so. There’s only so many Tim Tests I can handle.” Lucy says with a gentle laugh.

“Oh, he’s told me all about them. I don’t think I would be able to handle them.” You say with a chuckle, and before either of you can say something else, the door opens and Tim enters the room.

“You took your time.” You tease lightly, swivelling around on the stool to face him.

“The nearest vending machine didn’t have your favourite so I just kept looking until I found one that did,” Tim explains, holding your favourite snack out towards you while you smile softly, taking it and standing.

“You didn’t need to do that. I would’ve been fine with anything.” You say softly, smiling up at Tim who smiles back.

“I wanted to,” Tim says, his voice matching yours in softness as he pulls you closer for a kiss.

“Aw, you two are so cute!” Lucy gushes as you pull away from the kiss, giggling lightly as Tim looks over at Lucy.

“Chen, this doesn’t leave this room,” Tim warns, pointing a finger at her as she frowns, caught out in her plans to tell Jackson and Nolan.

“Okay fine. But I need to go to the restroom.” Lucy says, standing and crossing to the door. You bid her a quiet goodbye before turning to Tim.

“I should probably go back on my rounds. You and Lucy are welcome to keep using this room until I get her results from the lab. I’ll come back when I have the results, promise.” You say to Tim, taking his hand and squeezing it softly while your other hand tucks the snack Tim had bought you into your pocket.

“Take care of yourself, won’t you?” Tim asks softly, trying to hide his worry. He knew some patients could get rough with doctors and he always worried about whether someone was going to hurt you.

“I’ll be okay. We have security and if I really need help, I do have my handsome, strong, police officer husband around.” You say softly, your smile widening slightly as Tim raises an eyebrow, hands drifting down to your waist.

“Handsome, huh?” Tim teases, moving to kiss you again as your hands move to his shoulders, one hand resting on his shoulder while your other moves around to the back of his neck, cupping it as you deepen the kiss before your brain kicks in and reminds you of what you’re supposed to be doing.

“As much as I’d love to stay here with you. I have to go. I love you.” You say after pulling away from the kiss. You wished you could stay with your husband but you knew you had a job to do.

“I love you too,” Tim says, giving you one last quick kiss before letting you leave the room so you could go on your rounds.

You visit the various patients that you need to check in on, checking their progress and giving out advice that they need to aid their recovery. You loved checking in with your patients. Sure, there were some who were permanently grumpy and barely acknowledged you or the work you and the nurses were doing for them, but the majority of your patients were sweet and made the job worth it. As you finish up with a patient who was in recovery from a surgery they had the day before, you exit into the hallway and see a few nurses gathered by a door as they cart a woman out on a gurney. You head towards the gathered group and just as you approach the room, Tim and Lucy step out of it.

“What happened? Are you both okay?” You ask worriedly, reaching to grab Tim’s shoulders, eyes scanning him worriedly, checking him over for any injuries.

“y/n, I’m fine. We’re both fine.” Tim says softly, reaching up to his shoulders to gently lift your hands off, holding them in his hands and squeezing softly.

“What happened?” You ask, eyes flicking between both Lucy and Tim waiting for an answer.

“I bumped into this woman in the restroom, she told me about her brother who had been involved in a car accident and after she left I noticed a bottle of bleach on the floor. She was going to inject her brother with it to kill him. She claimed he wouldn’t want to live like how he is now but I just couldn’t let her go through with it so I had no choice but to tase her.” Lucy explains, her voice was shaky as she recounts the events.

“Is everyone okay?” You ask, glancing behind Tim at the room.

“The patient is being checked over now but thanks to Officer Chen’s swift actions, the sister never pushed the plunger,” Tim says, smiling over at Lucy who smiles back weakly.

“I was just doing what needed to be done,” Lucy says with a shrug.

“Look, Grey’s called me back to the station,” Tim says, looking between you and Lucy.

“Do you need me to come with you?” Lucy asks, looking up at Tim who shakes his head.

“No, you stay here and wait for your results. I’ll come back when I’m done. If you need anything I’m sure y/n will help you.” Tim says as you nod.

“Of course. Lucy if you need anything at all while you’re waiting, just shoot me a text.” You say pulling your notebook out of your pocket and scribbling down your phone number to hand to Lucy who takes it with a nod.

“Thank you,” Lucy says gratefully, tucking the paper away in her pocket before you both look over at Tim.

“I’ve got to go. I love you.” Tim says, giving you a quick kiss and hug before turning to Lucy.

“Chen, take care of yourself.” He then says, patting her shoulder before excusing himself, heading down the hallway and disappearing around a corner.

“I said it to Tim earlier but you’re welcome to keep using the room Gino put you in until I have your results.” You say softly, reaching to rest a hand on Lucy’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze before quietly excusing yourself so you could continue your rounds until the lab results came back.

As it pushes into the afternoon, you finish your rounds and take care of some appointments you had booked for the day and eventually you get paged by the lab and you head down, picking up Lucy’s blood test results and reading them over before heading back to the room Lucy had been using. However, when you entered the room it was empty, so you walked to the waiting room to see if she was there and you soon found her sitting alongside another police officer.

“Officer Chen.” You say softly, getting Lucy’s attention as she shoots out of the seat, the other officer following suit, resting a supportive hand on her shoulder.

“Yes?” Lucy says watching you as you smile softly.

“I have your results. Would you like to follow me to my-”

“No, sorry, can you just tell me now please?” Lucy asks, cutting in and watching carefully as you nod, eyes moving down to your clipboard to flip through the paperwork.

“So your initial tests came back negative for any viral infections like HIV or hepatitis. But your bloodwork indicated the presence of a staph infection.” You explain, seeing how Lucy relaxed at your first sentence before she grew worried again.

“What does that mean?” Lucy asks, her eyebrows furrowed as she worries about what it could mean for her future.

“It just means we need to get you started on some intravenous antibiotics right away. Some strains of staph infection are drug-resistant so we’ll monitor the wound for any abscesses or cellulitis.” You explain to Lucy, watching as she releases a big breath before turning to the police officer standing behind her.

“Go. I’ll call Tim. He’ll be here for you by the time you’re out.” He says softly before Lucy pulls him into a hug, thanking him quietly before she releases him and turns to you with a small smile and nod.

“If you just follow me.” You say, gesturing with your head for Lucy to follow you to your office which she does and while you settle in your office chair, Lucy eases herself down on the chair opposite your desk. You copy the bloodwork data onto Lucy’s file and print out a prescription, informing her of how to best care for her wound, when to take her medication and where she can pick it up from. After talking her through everything and checking Lucy’s wound over just to be sure it was okay for now, you stood in front of her with a small smile.

“I’ll walk you out, I’m sure Tim’s here now.” You say softly, leading Lucy back to the waiting room where Tim was waiting, rising from the seat he was sitting in when he noticed the two of you approaching.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Tim asks, looking down at Lucy who nods, finally able to relax for the first time since the incident.

“Everything’s good,” Lucy replies, smiling at Tim who nods lightly, a small smile of his own on his face.

“If you have any concerns about anything Lucy, you’re free to give me a call whenever.” You say, making sure Lucy knew that you’d help her no matter the time.

“Thank you for everything, Doctor Bradford.” Lucy thanks you gratefully.

“Please, call me y/n.” You say with a small laugh, not missing how the police officer stood behind Tim gasped lightly with widened eyes as he realised what Lucy said.

“Sorry, did you say-?”

“Yes, she said Bradford. Tim is my husband.” You say, moving to stand next to Tim, taking his hand in yours as you smile up at your husband.

“If I find out you and Officer Chen have been spreading this around later Officer West, I will put you both through the most intense Tim Tests I can think of and it’ll have you questioning whether you want to even continue in the LAPD,” Tim warns lowly.

“Jackson and I would never do that,” Lucy says quickly, standing up for her friend as you sigh lightly.

“Tim, surely you’re tired of dancing around everyone. I don’t mind if people know about me. In fact, I’d like to get to know your colleagues. They’re part of your life too.” You say softly, turning to face Tim as he mirrors your actions.

“Are you sure?” Tim asks quietly, watching you nod.

“I’m sure, Tim. I’d love to get to know the people you work with. I’m your wife and I would like to be more than just a secret.” You admit, watching as Tim’s eyes drop to the floor briefly before looking back up at you. You understood why he had been so hesitant to tell people about you, he was worried that he’d somehow get involved in a case involving a dangerous person which could put you at risk. But you were capable of making your own choices, and you knew that even if you were at risk, knowing Tim’s work friends would make you feel safer.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to keep you safe.” Tim mutters softly, taking your hands in his.

“Don’t apologise. I know you wanted to keep me safe and I appreciate that. But you can’t hide me forever.” You say, squeezing hands softly and reaching up to press a kiss on his lips.

“Okay, I’ll stop trying to hide you,” Tim replies after you pull away from the kiss, his smile soft as you glance over to Jackson and Lucy.

“I think you two are safe.” You say with a laugh watching as they exchange a quick fist bump.

“I won’t give you any Tim Tests yet,” Tim says, releasing your hands and turning to face the two.

“You won’t give them any unless it’s part of training.” You say, nudging Tim in his side as he lets out a small grunt of pain at the jab.

“Does that mean we can tell Nolan?” Lucy asks, testing the waters and watching Tim’s reaction carefully. When you hear Tim let out a small huff of a sigh, you speak up.

“You can tell Nolan but only Nolan. Let Tim do the rest.” You say. You didn’t know who Nolan was but you could only guess he was the third rookie that had joined the LAPD alongside Jackson and Lucy.

“What she said. Anyone else knows before I tell them, you know what the punishment will be.” Tim says, raising an eyebrow as both Jackson and Lucy nod hurriedly, aware of what Tim Tests he could potentially put them through.

“I should probably get back to work.” You mutter, noticing the time on the clock behind the nurse’s desk.

“Yeah, I’ve got to take Lucy back to the station,” Tim says with a nod, pressing a quick kiss to the top of your head.

“I’ll see you when I get home.” You whisper softly smiling up at your husband before watching him leave with Lucy following close behind while Jackson stays put.

“I know you have to get back to work but it’s honestly incredible how different Tim is with you,” Jackson speaks up quickly, catching your attention as you laugh softly.

“Funnily enough Lucy said a similar thing.” You say with a soft laugh as you shrug, making Jackson let out a gentle laugh of his own.

“I won’t keep you. I should probably find my TO.” Jackson says, nodding with a soft smile as you smile back.

“If your TO is Angela, tell her I say ‘hi’ will you?” You say, beginning to back away and shooting Jackson a quick wink when his jaw drops before turning around and making your way back to your office to continue with the rest of your shift.

By the time your shift came to an end, you were just about ready to drop. It had been a long day and when you got home you were greeted by Tim who pulled you into his arms almost the moment you walked through the door.

“Tim. I love you but I need a shower.” You giggle as you feel Tim press a kiss to the top of your head.

“I’ll get dinner sorted then.” He replies softly, releasing you from the embrace and letting you go off and shower and change into something comfier. By the time you had finished showering and changing, you could smell the dinner Tim was preparing.

“It smells good.” You say as you enter the kitchen, sidling up alongside Tim and winding your arms around his middle as he turns the stove off.

“I could’ve had a career as a chef.” Tim jokes lightly, welcoming your embrace. When you release Tim from your embrace so he can finish up the food, you begin to grab some plates and cutlery for when Tim is ready to plate up the food. Once the food is plated up, you sit at the table and eat your dinner, conversing the whole time. When you finish your meal, you both tidy away everything before retiring to the sofa, cuddling into each other while Tim finds a tv show to put on in the background.

“Are you really okay with telling people about us? I feel like I put you on the spot.” You mumble, resting your head on Tim’s chest and looking up at him.

“I’m more than okay with telling people about us. You’re right. You deserve to know my colleagues, and I don’t know how much longer I can go hiding you. You deserve to be shown off.” Tim replies, squeezing you tighter as a smile crosses your face.

A week later, you pulled up outside the Mid-Wilshire police station, parked your car, and stepped out. You headed into the building with a smile as you met Tim in the reception area.

“Hey.” He greets you with a smile, capturing your lips in his for a soft kiss as he pulls you into his arms.

“That’s a nice welcome.” You say with a smile as you pull away from the kiss.

“Only the best for you,” Tim mutters softly.

“You big softie.” You say with a laugh as Tim rolls his eyes.

“y/n!” You hear Lucy’s excited voice say as she rushes over to you, hugging you close as you reciprocate the embrace, smiling widely.

“Hey, Lucy. How have you been?” You ask. Since Tim had started telling people about you, you’d met various people from Mid-Wilshire station as you swung by the station every so often but Lucy had been the one you’d formed the closest friendship with.

“I’ve been doing well! But between you and me I think you need to stop by more. Tim’s always happier after you visit.” Lucy says, muttering her words lowly so Tim doesn’t hear her as you laugh lightly.

“Well, hopefully, these make everyone a little happier.” You say with a smile, holding up the bag of various cakes you had gotten from a bakery you and Tim frequented.

“Oh yes! I knew there was a reason you were my favourite Bradford!” You hear Jackson exclaim as he approaches you, making you laugh as you hand the bag to Nolan who also joins the group as you glance over at Tim who rolls his eyes and shrugs at Jackson’s comment.

“Everyone’s going to love that you’ve done this. You and Tim have been talking this bakery up for a week now.” Nolan says, opening the bag enough to peek in at the goodies inside.

“I just got things I thought everyone would like.” You say, watching as the three rookies take it in turns peeking inside the bag and trying to figure out what each thing is. As you watch them discussing their theories quietly, Tim walks up alongside you, wrapping an arm around your middle and tugging you into his side.

“I can’t believe I have to share you with all these guys now,” Tim mutters, and this time it is your turn to jokingly roll your eyes.

“Well, just remember, I married you. So you don’t need to worry about someone ‘stealing’ me away.” You joke, leaning into Tim’s side.

“It’s relieving to hear that.” Tim jokes in return, chuckling lightly.

“I hate to do this so soon after arriving but I need to head back to the hospital. I don’t want to see any of you guys in there as patients. Got it?” You say, pointing at Tim and the three rookies who all nod hurriedly before you turn to face Tim.

“Stay safe out there.” You whisper before giving him a soft kiss.

“Always,” Tim replies after you pull away, letting you say your goodbyes to the rookies before walking you out to your car and giving you one last kiss before watching as you get in your car and drive away to head back to work.

Since you had made friends with the people he worked with, Tim found himself more willing to be friendly with those around him at work. Most of the time he was still the tough training officer that everyone was used to, but you had taught him not to burn all his bridges too soon, and that it was okay to have friends at work.

And with you making the effort to know those he worked with, Tim was sure he fell in love with you all over again.

#justabigassnerd #justabigassnerd writes #the rookie #the rookie abc #the rookie fic #the rookie fanfic #the rookie imagine #tim bradford #tim bradford the rookie #tim bradford fic #tim bradford x reader #tim bradford x you #tim bradford x y/n #tim bradford imagine #tim bradford x fem!reader

447 notes · View notes