#cece too if were counting ocs

[swans-chirping-in-the-distance]

Amy and Keefe having a siblings relationship will never happen in Canon and yet it means so much to me

[trickphotography2]

'tis the damn season | Chapter 10

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Julie/Cece (OC, no physical description)

Word count: 11.5K (sorry, she's a beast)

Synopsis: After six years away from home, Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin was finally going to make his parents happy and surprise his family by spending Christmas in Magnolia, Texas. Introducing his pregnant fiancee to his family is a culture clash, with rural Texas meeting California influencer. Though unhappy in his relationship, Jake knows he has to buckle down and do the right thing with a baby on the way.

The last person he expected to run into was his high school sweetheart and the one that got away, Julie.

The holidays are already going to be hard enough for Julie. Her home baking business, which had started as a fun side project, exploded after a few TikToks went viral. Just when she was getting the hang of juggling her job and business, tragedy struck. Facing her first Christmas as an orphan, the last thing Julie expected was to hear that once familiar nickname - Cece.

After almost a decade apart, Jake and Julie can't help but feel that old familiar spark. Even with the realities of their lives pressing in, they can't help but wonder what might have happened if just one of them had fought for their relationship all those years ago.

Chapter 9 | Master List | Ao3

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Chapter 10

Thunder rumbled, and the wind rustled the tall grass. The stems tickled his ear, and Jake absently moved it away before sighing and lifting his hat from his face to squint up at the sky. Grey clouds were rolling in from the west, and he’d seen the cows lying down in the field as he rode to his favorite spot on the property after finishing chores.

The twinge in his knee was right - an August storm was coming in. 

Sighing, Jake settled the hat back on his face, blocking the sun. Mama had dug his old Stetson from the closet the first day he’d returned with a sunburned face after working outside with Will to replace a section of fence that’d come down in a windstorm. When he’d looked for his Longhorns cap the next day, it was drip-drying in the shower. Mama’d claimed she just wanted to wash it for him, but who washed ball caps first thing in the morning? 

A second clap of thunder boomed, followed by a cow bellowing. Starlight, his favorite mare, tossed her head and snorted, foot stomping. Groaning, he slowly sat up, setting his hat on his head and grimacing at the twinge in his lower back. Even months after the ejection, he was still stiff and sore if he spent too much time sitting still. Lying on the ground certainly didn’t help. But he was tired after doing his chores, and it was easier to deal with the nightmares when he didn’t have to worry about his folks hearing him toss and turn. The flight surgeon assured him they’d go away with time, just like he needed to give his back and knee time to heal. The SEALs medic had stabilized his left knee, but trekking eight miles over rough terrain to the rendezvous point on a torn ACL hadn’t been fun. Neither had the surgery in Landstuhl, Germany after he’d been med-evaced from the carrier. But thankfully, he’d been able to get shipped back home shortly after, reaching the States just a few weeks after Rooster and the rest of the SEAL team did. The success of their mission was already making national headlines. Jake knew his next promotion was guaranteed, but it didn’t matter.

Because when he’d been lying in that bed in Germany, the one person he’d wanted to talk to hadn’t picked up her phone. 

He’d known there was a chance Cece wouldn’t answer when he’d called. In their last conversation before he shipped out - permission was granted for a last minute to contact his loved ones - he’d pleaded with her to distract him, and she told him her travel plans, voice brimming with excitement. Pops confirmed she was overseas when they talked after his surgery. He’d offered to call and let her know what was happening, but Jake told him not to bother. Despite his family’s disapproval, he held firm to it - the last thing he wanted was Cece to come back to him only because he was injured. But in his darker moments, he was mad and hurt. He hated being alone in his hospital room. Wanted to see her when he got off the plane. And as much as he appreciated Mama flying out to help him get around his apartment those first few weeks, Jake selfishly wanted Cece. 

But they’d agreed to take the time apart to think. The sight of her tear-stained face that night in January when they’d stayed up until 4:00 AM on a video call still haunted him. The exhaustion he’d felt when they finally hung up wasn’t just physical. The conversation had been a long time coming, but he still hadn’t been prepared. Cece’s voice had broken so many times on that call when she finally opened up to him. Jake was forced to reckon with the fact that, while he’d thought their relationship was perfect, the woman he loved had been miserable for a long time - and he’d been too blinded to see it. Like everyone else, he’d fallen for Cece’s bright smiles and claims that everything was alright. But those smiles were gone, replaced with hurt, anger, and exhaustion as she filled in her side of their love story. 

Going to college across the country was a temporary challenge that would pay off once he graduated and they were back together. But where he’d been on a straight and narrow path toward their dream, Cece struggled to reconcile the woman she was becoming with the girl who had agreed to something she didn’t quite understand. Their spring break trips to South Carolina were fun but another example of Jake’s unspoken expectation that she accommodate him and his career - that she would follow where he led. What he’d seen as a simple request for her to come to him, to remember that his college experience was different than hers, she’d taken as a glimpse into their future. 

Jake regretted his bitter, sarcastic apology for failing her tests when he was a stupid kid. His hissed accusations that she could have talked to him instead of her friends, who dripped poison into her ears that he didn’t care about her if he wouldn’t do something so simple as go on a vacation of her choosing. “I’m sorry I didn’t take you to Florida. We can go when I get back if you - ”

“It’s not about Florida!” Cece yelled, hands flying to cover her face as she sat on her bed. “It was about doing something I wanted for a change - somethin’ that would make me happy, even if it was inconvenient for you.”

“Are you sayin’ I didn’t make you happy?”

“I’m sayin’ you never tried. You never had to choose between what you wanted and what I wanted. And part of that’s my fault because I stopped pushing. But I did that because I knew what you would say - that you would tell me how tired you were between classes and training. You wouldn’t be home for long over the summer because you would be training on different things and traveling. And you wanted to spend as much time together as possible, and it’d be easier for me to come to you.”

“It was easier - you just had to work around your classes - ” 

“And my job and friends, coming home to see Daddy, and my plans. But those didn’t matter to you because you wanted to spend a week in a shitty hotel with your friends, getting drunk on the beach.”

“Which is what we probably would have done in Florida!” 

“Maybe! But we’ll never know, will we?”

They’d taken a break after that, and the whiskey still burned in Jake's throat when they got back on camera. It was clear that Cece had been crying, and the hand holding her water glass shook when they talked through her move to Virginia. It hurt to hear that she’d had doubts about their future when he’d proposed but thought this could be the fresh start they’d needed. “But it felt like y’all were laughing at me behind my back that day at the beach when I found out you were deploying.”

“I didn’t know until I got there, and you were already… I didn’t know.” 

“But you didn’t tell me when you found out. You kept it from me.” 

“Would you have come?” 

“I don’t know.” 

“And that’s why I didn’t tell you,” he’d said, letting out a frustrated huff. “We’d already been apart five years, and the deployment woulda been one more excuse to keep us apart. You wouldn’ta come there.” 

“I don’t know if I would or if I wouldn’t have because I wasn’t given that choice. You took that from me.” 

“What were you gonna do?” Jake demanded. “You’d already quit your job and packed up. Our future was in Virginia, whether I was there or not.” 

“I could have come back here,” Cece’d shot back, throwing her arms out and motioning to her house. “I coulda spent that time with Daddy. Or stayed in Austin.”

“I was only gonna be gone for seven months.” 

“And you spent almost six lying to me.” 

“We could have had six months together, but you left after two. You didn’t even give us a chance to figure it out before you left. You knew what we were going up against with me going into the Navy, and at the first sign of it being hard, you cut and ran.” 

Her laugh was full of disbelief, bordering on hysterics. She’d moved so fast that her computer turned over, and Jake glimpsed her pacing as the camera pointed at the ceiling. “The first sign?” she muttered to herself. He waited as she walked through her house, setting the laptop on the kitchen counter as she rummaged in a cabinet. 

“Cece.” But she ignored him, retrieving a bottle of whiskey and taking a swig. A grimace crossed her face as she swiped the back of her hand across her mouth. “Baby - ”

“The first sign of it being hard?” she chuckled. “Maybe it was the first sign for you, but I had five years of hard. I didn’t know what we were getting into when you said you wanted to join the Navy, Jake. You looked into it and told me what our life would be like, and I just blindly trusted you. And that’s my fault. I didn’t think about the fact that my whole life would revolve around you and your career, and there was nothing I could do to change that.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is,” she shot back. “My hopes and wants and dreams didn’t matter because the minute you decided what you wanted, that was it. That’s what we were doing.”

“You make it sound like I forced you. You had a choice every step of the way,” he snapped. 

“Between letting you steamroll me or losing you?” A sob broke her voice as she shook her head. “I’m sorry I was a stupid kid who thought loving you was enough.” 

I love you too. And I always will. But I don’t know if that’s enough.

Those words had echoed through his head for years after she left, and he was afraid of hearing them again at that moment. “You say I steamrolled you,” he sighed, “but you never talked to me. You just stay quiet and smile and make me think everything’s okay until you're already out the goddamn door. I’m not a mind reader! You have to tell me what’s goin’ on with you, or I’m gonna assume things are fine.” They stared at one another for a long moment before he cleared his throat. “Were you pregnant after we… after the bar?” 

“No.” Jake was relieved to hear her quick answer and nodded.

“Have you ever been pregnant with our…?”

“No, never.” Shoulders falling, he let his head hang while running a hand down his face. He hadn’t realized how much he needed to hear that - that the woman he loved hadn’t betrayed him to the level of his ex by keeping a kid from him. “No matter what was goin’ on with us, I would have told you if I was… if there’d been…” 

Jake replayed their fight over and over in his head during his deployment. And when sleep evaded, he recalled the sight of her falling asleep in his arms, eyelashes dusting the tops of her cheeks as she murmured, “I love you, Farm Boy.” It was her face that he focused on when he pulled the ejection handle, as he screamed when his leg caught under his seat and the ligament tore. The promise of getting home to see her and meet baby Tyler, hugging his parents and Will and Ally kept him going when all he wanted to do was give into the pain and stop. 

But he still hadn’t picked up the damn phone since getting back stateside. They’d promised each other time. Jake knew where he stood when it came to them. But she’d accused him of steamrolling her, and he was trying to be better. He wouldn’t let an injury manipulate her back into his arms.

Movement drew his eye. Will leaned out the driver’s side of the old beat-up farm truck, tapping the horn to get his attention. Jake pushed to his feet, fighting against his stiff, injured knee, and nearly fell on his ass as a result. For as much as he was making sure to keep up with his PT, there were still days when it felt like his body was going backward with its recovery. The docs told him to be patient - that he was on track to get back into his jet in a few months - but struggling down a flight of stairs without clinging to the railing for stability made him doubt that. Rather than sit at his desk and recover, he’d decided to burn the vacation hours nearing use or lose territory. A month in Magnolia was better than one watching his friends tiptoe around him. 

“Your ears as busted as your knee?” Will asked, pulling to a stop. Jake flipped him the bird, carefully putting weight on his leg. The last thing he wanted was for it to give out in front of his big brother. “Storm’s comin’ in, and Mama’s got an errand she wants you to run.” 

“Can’t you do it?” Jake sighed, hobbling toward Starlight and turning his back to the truck, hiding the wince of pain. He’d gone too long without taking his meds. 

“Nope. Need a hand there, old man?” Ignoring him, Jake retrieved the saddle he’d removed, wishing his brother would leave. Mounting would be painful enough without an audience. He’d overdone it that morning with chores. When his physical therapist told him moving would help his recovery, he probably didn’t mean getting a couple hundred cows into their milking bays. “Happy to ride her back if you wanna take the truck.”

“I’m fine.” 

“Suit yourself. Don’t get caught in the rain,” Will said, glancing back at the gathering clouds while pulling away. After checking the girth strap and saddle were secure, Jake grabbed the hackmore and stroked Star’s muzzle. She pressed into his hands, almost knocking him off his feet, and he chuckled. Once she was situated, he took a steeling breath while patting her neck and moving to her side. Taking the reins in his left hand, he grasped her mane and used his right to turn the stirrup toward him. Pressing his lips into a thin line, he lifted his left leg. His muscles shook with the effort, knee refusing to bend enough to slip his boot into the stirrup. Dropping his foot back to the ground, he cursed under his breath. For someone who’d ridden since before he could walk, it was embarrassing not to be able to mount a horse. 

For fuck’s sake, he’d ridden Broncos bareback for a year when he was 16 before taking a nasty fall and breaking his collarbone. Shortly after, Mama ended that particular hobby, offering to let him barrel race instead. Jake declined. 

Gritting his teeth, he tried again, the tip of his boot grazing Star’s side but not slipping into place. After failing for a third time, he lowered his head, the brim of his hat grazing the horse’s shoulder, and forced himself to take a deep breath. Another clap of thunder boomed, and Jake spotted a sheet of rain moving in from the west. Cursing again, he shifted to Star’s right side. Holding the reins in his right hand felt awkward, fingers twined in her mane when he carefully lifted his right leg, hesitantly putting his full weight on the left. When it buckled, he quickly dropped his foot and steadied himself. “I’m not fuckin’ walking back,” Jake grunted, looking around for something that would serve as a mounting block. He felt a slight twinge of regret for letting his pride get in the way of taking the truck. Frustration with his body not working the way he wanted it to quickly overrode it. 

If he couldn’t mount his damn horse, how the hell was he supposed to climb the ladder into his fucking jet?

Tightening his grip on her mane, Jake took a deep breath. His bum knee only needed to hold long enough to settle his foot in the stirrup. Starlight nickered, ears flicking as she shifted with another boom of thunder. “I know, girl,” he muttered. “Just hold still for me.” Forcing himself to take a few even breaths, he adjusted the stirrup. He’d need to move fast - the balancing exercises the PT gave him were still a struggle, and the last thing he wanted to do was fall on his ass. Mentally counting down, Jake gritted his teeth, gripping the handful of mane and horn tightly. Quickly, he lifted his right leg and jammed it onto the stirrup, feeling it hit the heel of his boot, and stood, swinging his left leg over her hindquarters. Star started as he dropped heavily into the saddle, settling when he gave the reins a quick tug. Grinning to himself, he managed to get his left foot situated and adjusted his seat before taking off his hat and rubbing his sleeve to his forehead. 

Loosening the reins, Jake pressed his heels into her side to get her moving. “Ready to beat the storm home?” he asked, chuckling when she tossed her head. Taking that as an affirmative, he gave Star her head and kicked her into a gallop. Leaning forward in the tack, he pushed onto his feet to give her more room, ignoring his throbbing knee. His hand flew up to keep his hat in place, and Jake couldn’t keep the whoop of joy from bursting out. 

As much as he loved that moment of anticipation before the catapult shot his jet off the carrier, nothing could compare to riding under the open Texas sky. 

When they neared the barn, Jake reluctantly reined her in. Star wasn’t happy as she was forced into a trot - at six years old, she was relatively new to working and still high-spirited. A few feet from the barn, he felt her muscles bunch and watched her ears flick back, tail swishing. She started dancing and hopped, and he quickly tugged the left rein, forcing Star to turn in a circle to keep her from bucking. Getting thrown in the field, where the grass would mostly cushion his fall, was one thing, but he sure as hell didn’t want to hit the hard-packed dirt and have to explain to the flight surgeon why his return to duty had to be pushed back. 

“You got her?” Mama asked, stepping out of one of the stalls. Jake didn’t take his eyes off Star and nodded. “Watch your uncle,” Mama said, and he shot a glance over to see five-month-old Tyler watching him from the pack-and-play everyone fondly called the baby jail. Since Ally had gone back to work - chomping at the bit to get back to taking care of her large animal vet practice after Will managed to talk her into taking four months off - Ty spent days being passed around the Seresins at home. Having been relegated to driving the truck so Will could pitch hay and Pops could check the machinery before the morning milking, Jake spent a lot of time with his nephew sleeping in his car seat beside him. 

Starlight settled with an annoyed stop of her foot, and he took the opportunity to dismount quickly. His left knee buckled when his foot hit the ground, but he stayed upright. Patting the mare’s neck, he flicked the reins over her head and led her to her stall. “Will said you needed me to run an errand?” he said, glancing at Mama. He caught her narrowed-eyed examination of his limp and forced himself to ignore it. Working quickly to remove the tack, he murmured an ‘excuse me’ while moving past her to put it away.

“Don’t worry about brushin’ her - I’ll get it. I need you to run to the grocery store for me.” Biting back a groan, he turned to face her. 

“Can’t Will do it?”

“No, I’m asking you.” The stern look she pinned him was so familiar that he felt like a kid again. For the two weeks he’d been home, Jake was reluctant to leave the farm. Will dragged him to Mickey’s one night for a late toast to him becoming a father, and he’d made a few runs to the feed store with Pops, but he hated how people watched him. The way they stopped him, asking why he was home, for how long, and why he was limping. Betty Roberts had quickly turned away when he glared at her, remembering her cruel words to Cece those few months ago. Hell, even the attention he got from the women in town was annoying. The last thing he wanted to do was flirt with someone who’d grown up seeing him in love with Cece and was taking advantage of the fact that she was away to try and get his attention.  

And if he got one more damn question about his ex.

The last thing he wanted to do was talk about Shayla. After posting his video, she started losing brand deals, and companies moved away from working with her. While he hadn’t set out intending to hurt her career, Jake wasn’t upset to see it happen. If he and Cece were facing backlash in their jobs, Shayla sure as hell deserved to go down as well. He wasn’t keeping tabs on her, but he’d overheard a loudly whispered conversation at the gas station about her seeing a minor league basketball player. Jake wished the man all the luck in the world - he’d need it to be with a conniving witch like her. 

“There’s a list on the fridge.”

“Can I take Ty with me?” he asked, grinning as he dusted his hands on his jeans and walked over to lift his nephew from the jail. The baby gave him a gummy smile as Jake kissed his chubby cheek and settled him in the crook of his arm. 

“Ally’s on her way to get him.” Sighing, he kissed Ty again and passed him into Mama’s outstretched arms. Even with two weeks left on leave, Jake dreaded going home and not seeing the little guy every day. He’d need to be better about coming home and seeing the family. 

“Call me if you think of anything else you need,” Jake said after a beat. Mama just nodded and bounced her grandson on her hip, tapping his nose. 

“Might check with Ally to see if she needs you to pick up some diapers.” Nodding, he turned and made his way back to the house, sipping a coffee while perusing the shopping list. His eyebrows knit together as he read the random list and walked to the pantry to double-check that the canister of coffee was still mostly full - he’d just opened it a few days ago. 

“What’re you still doin’ here?” a voice asked, and Jake glanced up to see his sister-in-law frowning at him. “Didn’t Mama tell you to go to the store?” 

“I’m on my way. You need anything?”

“Yeah, your ass outta here,” she scoffed, not meeting his gaze as she looked around the kitchen, setting her paper cup from the new coffee shop down on the counter. “Where’s my baby?”

“The barn with Mama.” Smiling, she walked past him, not pausing as her hand smacked his arm. “Hurry up, Uncle Jakey.” 

Rolling his eyes, he grabbed his boots from by the back door. The sooner he left, the sooner he could get home and relax.

The cart rattled annoyingly as Jake rounded the corner in the produce section. Mama wanted fresh corn for dinner, but the ears in the bin didn’t look good. The Adams farm stand was on the drive home, so he’d probably stop and grab some. After adding a package of strawberries to the cart, he moved into the dried goods section. Keeping his gaze on the list in hand, he ignored the whispers and side-eyed glances from the other patrons. Going down the coffee aisle, he scanned the shelves, reached for a can, and tossed it into the cart. Jake grabbed the handles and turned around, stopping in his tracks, breath catching in his throat. 

“Oh.” Cece’s eyebrows shot up, her lips parting in surprise. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Jake struggled to get the word out around the lump in his throat, which came out half-strangled. “I thought - ” 

“I didn’t - ” Their voices overlapped, and they fell silent, waiting for the other to speak. “You - ”

“When - ” It happened again. “You first.”

“I didn’t realize you were home,” Cece said after a moment, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. 

“Yeah. For a few weeks. When did you get back?”

“Last night. When - ”

“Where - ” He smiled at her nervous laugh, and she motioned for him to go. “Where were you?”

The corners of her eyes crinkled with her blinding smile. “New York. I stayed a few days in the city on my way back from Paris.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah. I think I ate my weight in macarons while I was there.”

“Well, you look great.” And she did. The dark circles under her eyes were gone, and she seemed more contented…. happier, and confident. A cute pink flush colored her cheeks, and he caught her appreciative look at his hat and how his t-shirt clung to his arms.  

“You too. Everything went okay with…?” Concern clouded Cece's face, and he forced himself to stand straight, ignoring the twinge in his knee.

“It was rough, but everyone got back in one piece.” 

“Good.” Something flickered in her eyes, and he watched her lift a coffee cup from the new shop to her lips, her gaze flicking to the shelves. Her tongue darted out to catch a stray drop, and his grip on the handles tightened. “Have you been home long?” 

“From the mission or in Magnolia?” 

“Both.” 

“I’ve been here about two weeks, but I got back stateside about a month and a half ago. Are you, uh… are you gonna be here for a while, or just passin’ through?” Movement over her shoulder caught his attention. A woman pushed her cart toward them, openly staring. Jake shifted his cart in front of Cece’s before moving back to her side. Cece’s eyes flitted toward the woman, and she waited until she was gone before shrugging.

“I’m gonna be here a while. Got some stuff I need to take care of before hitting the road again.” 

“Where are you heading to next?” A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she shrugged. 

“I’ve got a couple of places in mind.” The hint of mischief in her eyes had Jake shoving his hands into his pockets to keep from reaching for her. It felt like ages since he’d seen that look. 

“Have dinner with me.” The request was out of his mouth before his brain caught up. But Cece just smiled and shook her head.

“I already told Ally that I’ve got plans tonight.” His flicker of worry that she might be meeting up with the firefighter was quickly stifled when she added, “Lucy made me promise to come.” 

“Tomorrow?” 

“I’ll be there for breakfast.”

“Great - have dinner with me. I wanna hear about everywhere you’ve been.” While his palm itched to curve around her cheek and kiss away that indecisive look on her face, Jake contented himself with reaching for her hand. Catching her fingers, he squeezed lightly. “Please, Cupcake?” 

Her gaze focused over his shoulder, and he turned to see the woman from before standing at the end of the aisle, talking to someone else as they both stared. Cece watched them when he turned back, and her eyes only moved to him when he stroked his thumb along her finger. It took a moment for him to realize it was her empty ring finger, where his engagement ring had once sat. “Alright.” 

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah. I wanna hear how you’ve been, too.” Gently shaking off his hold, Cece reached up and flicked the brim of his hat. “It’s good to see you, Farm Boy.” It took all of Jake’s strength and discipline not to catch her wrist and pull her into his arms to kiss that smirk from her lips. “See you tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.”

Though he could feel the stares as he finished his shopping, Jake didn’t care. The only thing that mattered were those fleeting glimpses of Cece in the aisles. Whenever they caught sight of one another, she rolled her eyes and smiled. Unsure of where she was, he tried his best not to limp. Too soon, he finished and headed to the checkout lines. When he stepped outside, the rain was coming down. The storm finally caught up with them. Ducking his head, he hurried across the parking lot and tossed his bags into the truck backseat. His shirt was damp and sticking to his skin, and water dripped from his hat when he finally got in after returning his cart. But instead of pulling out, he waited. 

For ten minutes, he kept his eyes trained on the front doors and was finally rewarded with the sight of Cece stepping outside. His hand gripped the door handle when an older man walked up behind her and tapped her shoulder. Jake recognized him from the firehouse - one of her daddy’s friends. But just as his foot hit the ground, he watched Cece shake her head and reach into her purse, pulling out an umbrella. Smiling, she stepped out from under the store awning and made her way to her SUV while the man headed in the opposite direction. 

Jake hesitated before shutting his door, watching Cece quickly load her car and return her cart. He couldn’t help but grin when she took her umbrella down and strolled back to her car, heedless of the pounding rain. 

His girl always enjoyed a good storm.

With the chores done and dinner finished, the Seresins went their separate ways. Will, Ally, and Ty were back at the foreman’s house, and Mama and Pops had decided to go into town for an ice cream. Jake declined their invitation, knowing he was getting a bit soft around the middle already with all the homecooked meals and strict orders to stay away from the gym until he was medically cleared. Instead, he saddled up one of the new geldings and went for a ride since the rain had blown through. 

Back under his tree, Jake gritted his teeth as he lay down, left knee bent and heel pressing into the dirt. It ached as he held the position for six seconds before relaxing for thirty and repeating. His physical therapist told him to do the exercises three times a day, and he hated doing them in front of his parents. He could see the worry in Mama’s eyes anytime she saw a flicker of pain in his face. Pops was kind enough to ignore it but would make sure that he took it easy on chores. 

If he was ever going to get back in his damn jet, he needed to push through the pain. He refused to be med-boarded out because of an ejection gone wrong. 

After twelve reps, he stretched his leg out, a moan escaping as his knee straightened. Letting gravity press it straight, he closed his eyes and knitted his fingers over his stomach. He could feel his heartbeat throbbing in his knee and sweat beading on his forehead. Blowing a breath through pursed lips, he let his knee bend slightly and banged his head back on the grass. “Fuck,” he huffed, knowing he needed to hold the position for at least twenty minutes. 

One of the worst parts about the exercise was that it made Jake stop. While he was moving, pushing away the memories of the mission and his nightmares was easy. But being forced to lie still allowed his mind to wander. To distract himself, he started running through the NATOPs for his jet, making him think about his friends. They were probably getting together at the Hard Deck for a drink and cursing him for not replying to their texts. Coyote had called him two days ago just to make sure he was still alive.

While he appreciated them checking in, Jake couldn’t help but feel jealous that they could still fly while he was grounded indefinitely. As happy as he was to take the SAM to ensure Rooster didn’t get shot down in hostile territory for the second time in as many years, it was still hard to contemplate that he might never feel the thrill of pulling G’s again. The roar of the engine and his seat rattling underneath him. The wind in his hair while standing on the deck of a carrier.

So as much as the exercises hurt, he’d do them every goddamn day to make sure he could get back up in the air. Gritting his teeth, he forced his knee straight again. 

Grunting, he stared at the darkening sky. The crickets were loud, and the fireflies started flickering in the fields. A smile tugged at his mouth as he remembered running through them with Will and Cece, scooping up the bugs in jars Mama put aside for them, and wondered if Ty would do the same when he was a bit older.

If he’d have siblings or cousins to help him with the hunt. 

A stab of regret hit him, and Jake couldn’t help but think about the baby that never was. If she hadn’t lied, he would have been getting ready for his little one to be born. The phantom weight of a baby on his chest was painful, and he cleared his throat. Whenever he thought of them, he’d always figured on having a son - after all, there hadn’t been a Seresin girl in a couple of generations. By now, the nursery would be finished, and he’d be so ready for the little man to arrive. But when he imagined the mother of his child, it wasn’t Shayla that he saw. He could picture Cece big with their child, teasing him as he catered to her every whim. She wouldn’t lift a finger while he was around to do it for her. 

Of all the things that bitch had done to him, going after Cece and giving him the hope of being a father was the worst.

The sound of a car broke the quiet, and he lifted his head to see the farm truck getting closer. The gelding pulled at his rope, and Jake quickly glanced over to make sure he wouldn’t bolt. Will would probably die laughing if his horse ran and make him walk back. But when the truck pulled to a stop, it wasn’t his brother who got out and slammed the door.  

Cece circled the truck and stared down at him, arms crossed over her chest. Jake lurched to his feet, hissing in pain when his bad knee protested the quick movement. “Hey.” His smile dropped when he saw tears shining in her eyes. “Honey?” he said softly. “Everything okay?” Her shoulders rose and fell as she tried to control her breathing, nostrils flaring as she stared at him. The tall grass licked her calves as she stormed toward him, fists clenched at her sides. “Hey, talk to me, Cece,” Jake pleaded while reaching for her.

Wordlessly, she shoved him. Surprised, he stumbled backward but managed to keep his feet. But then she shoved again, moving with him and pushing every time he stepped back. “Hey!” Jake snapped, catching her wrists. She quickly ripped her hands away and pushed harder, a grunt forcing itself out between her clenched teeth. His boot caught on a rock, forcing him off balance, and her next shove sent him sprawling. “What the fuck?” he demanded, pushing up onto his elbows. His back ached and his ass hurt from the fall. A burning sensation had him lifting his right arm to see a line of blood making a trail from his elbow toward his wrist. But Cece just glared down at him, hands planted on her hips. “Jesus Christ, Julie - what the hell was that about?”  

“‘It was rough’?” she hissed. “It was ROUGH?”

“What’re you talking about?” Jake snapped, matching her glare with one of his own. 

“How bad was it?” Cece demanded.

“How bad was what?” The noise she made was a mix of a groan and a scream. Spinning on her heel, she tugged at her hair and stomped away from him. Carefully, Jake got to his feet, trying not to bend his left knee. Cece turned to watch him, and he eyed her wearily. “You shove me again, and you’re comin’ down with me,” he cautioned. The look she gave him was so far removed from the teasing ones she’d give when they were kids and later teens, wrestling out in the field. He was pretty sure dragging her down with him wouldn’t end with a laughing kiss as he pinned her. More than likely, it’d end with an ‘accidental’ graze of her knee to his balls. “Baby, talk to me.” 

“Why? So you can lie to me again?”

“What did I lie to you about?”

“Everyone got home in one piece?” It took a moment for her words to register, and he shook his head when he realized she was talking about the mission.

“That’s not a lie. We all got home.”

“What happened to you?” A cold sweat broke out on his brow as he remembered how it felt when the SAM hit his tail, splitting the jet and sending him into a spin. How disorienting it was, unable to tell the difference between the stars and the ground. Bitchin’ Betty yelling at him to eject as sensors blared. Rooster screaming at him to get out. 

“I’m fine.” Even to his ears, the words sounded hollow. He’d said them so often since getting home they’d almost lost their meaning. Angrily brushing the tears from her face, Cece stalked toward him. Her hands lifted to shove him again, and Jake reacted. His arms wrapped around her waist, tugging so their chests collided. Momentum threw them off balance, and he sat heavily, grunting while taking the brunt of the fall. Cece’s knee brushed his inner thigh, and he clenched automatically, bracing for the pain of a knee to the balls. 

“Let go of me!” she demanded, pushing against his chest. But he ignored her, rolling so she lay under him, her thighs cradling his hips. Catching the hands pushing against him, Jake drew them over her head, wrapping his fingers around her forearms and pinning her to the ground.

“Told ya you’d be goin’ down with me if you pushed me again,” he teased, his laugh turning into a bitten-back moan when Cece planted her feet and lifted her hips to try and throw him off. 

“Get off me, Seresin!” 

“Not until you tell me what’s wrong, Julie Louise Ryan.” The use of her full name had her glaring at him again, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. 

“Fuck you, Jacob Thomas.” 

“I’d love nothin’ more, baby, but only after you tell me what’s wrong.” She struggled against him but, even injured, he had more weight and strength on his side. With one final buck against him, she sagged into the grass, breathing heavily. 

“You lied to me. Again.” The accusation came out a half sob, and Jake’s heart broke to see her chin wobble. 

“I didn’t lie to you, honey. I’m right here. I’m okay.” 

“You got hurt.” 

“I did.” 

“You didn’t tell me.” The pain in Cece’s eyes was unbearable, especially knowing he caused it. Clearing his throat against the tight feeling, he nodded. 

“I didn’t want you to worry.” Letting go of one of her arms, he wiped away her tears. His palm curved around her jaw, thumb gently tugging her lower lip free of the teeth digging into it. “I’m alright and gettin’ better every day.” 

“What happened?” Her breath was hot against his face. And, while the mission was classified, it was hard to keep the truth from the woman he loved.

“Bad ejection,” he said simply and felt her breath catch. Watched her pulse flutter in her throat. “Tore my ACL and had to have surgery.” Her free hand curled around the back of his sweaty neck, fingers sliding into his hair. Nails lightly scraped his scalp, and his eyes drooped. Shifting, he let go of her other arm, bracing his hand by her head. 

“You didn’t tell me.” 

“‘M sorry, Cupcake,” he murmured. Dipping his head, he brushed the tips of their noses. Cece’s eyes closed as she turned away from him. Denied her lips, he kissed the hinge of her jaw and throat, switching to the other side when she rolled her head. The unmistakable feeling of her hips grinding against him and knees bracketing his side had him chuckling against her skin. “I love you, baby.” The fingers in his hair tightened, tugging cruelly as Cece took advantage of his distraction to flip them. Yelping, he covered her hand with his, trying to disentangle it as she straddled his hips. 

Leaning down, she kissed Jake’s forehead before letting go of his hair and bracing her hands on his chest, scrambling to her feet before he could catch her. Towering over him, she glared and shook her head, swiping at the tears coating her cheeks. Her voice cracked when she said, “You don’t get to die on me, too, Farm Boy.” 

“Julie - ”

“Save it,” she snapped, turning on her heel and walking away. He tried to catch her ankle but missed. But rather than returning to the truck, she was going toward the gelding. 

“Hey,” he called, struggling to his feet. She was faster, quickly undoing the simple knot he’d secured the lead rope with. “What’re you doin’?” Jake demanded as she gathered the reins in one hand and hoisted herself into the saddle he hadn’t removed. His jeans, already tight, felt a bit more snug after that display. 

Jake had forgotten just how gorgeous Cece was when she rode. 

“Stop over doing it before you put yourself back in the damn hospital,” she scowled. 

“Fine. Get down, and I’ll ride back.” But instead, she ignored him and wheeled the horse around, kicking it into a run. 

“Keys are in the ignition!” Cece called over her shoulder while standing up in the stirrups. Jake was treated to the beautiful view of her ass as they started to run across the field back to the barn, hair streaming behind her. 

“God damn,” he muttered to himself, finally tearing his gaze away. Scrubbing a hand through his hair, he retrieved his hat before limping his way to the truck. Just like she’d promised, the keys swayed from the ignition when he got in. But the envelope with his name on it sitting in the passenger seat caught his attention. Frowning, he opened it and saw a stack of postcards.

With the last few rays of sunlight, Jake picked up the first one and saw it was a picture of the Grand Canyon. Smirking, he flipped it over and read Cece’s loopy handwriting.

Farm Boy,

I’m going on the adventure we always talked about. It’s scary to think about doing it alone, but it’s a good scary. I feel like I’ve been waiting around for my life to start, and I’m just tired of waiting for it. I think… I know that I need this. I hate that we’re fighting and that I won’t get to talk to you soon, so I figured this might be a way to talk to you without actually talking. 

It’s probably stupid, and I might forget to do this halfway through. But for now, hello from the Grand Canyon! 

I love you even when I’m mad at you. And isn’t that what matters?

Cece

Will was in the barn brushing down the gelding when Jake reached the house, a teasing smirk on his mouth. “Good ride?” he asked and laughed when he got the finger in response. Mama and Pops were back, sharing their nightly cup of tea. Cece’s car was long gone. After saying goodnight to his parents, he went upstairs and forced himself to shower instead of retreating to his room. 

Hair still damp, he crawled into bed with the stack of postcards and started reading. 

Gripping the railing, Jake slowly made his way downstairs the following morning. He was tired after staying up late and waking up with a nightmare around two. It always sucked to dream about the mission, and usually took him a couple hours to calm back down enough to sleep. Normally, he dozed for a few more minutes before his alarm went off for chores. But last night, he’d gotten through a few more postcards and woken with them on his chest, having fallen back asleep reading. 

The smell of something sweet mixed with coffee and laughter in the kitchen. Following his nose, he paused in the doorway at a sight that made his heart skip a beat. Cece leaned against the counter, Tyler sleeping on her chest as she chatted with Ally. Her hand spanned the little guy’s back, her chin resting on his head as his fingers curled around her t-shirt neck. “Look who finally decided to join us,” Will said, startling Jake. He hadn’t heard his brother come up behind him and wasn’t prepared for the shove to the middle of his back, forcing him into the room. This time, he kept his balance and spun to face his brother. With decades of experience, Will dodged Jake’s attempt to get him into a headlock, quickly batting away his arms. 

“Boys!” Pops snapped. “Knock it off.” 

“Yes, sir,” the Seresin boys chorused. The minute Pops turned back to his conversation with Mama at the kitchen table, Jake smacked the back of Will’s head and moved toward the coffee pot. Glancing at Cece, he fought to smile when she rolled her eyes at him. Her lips pressed to Ty’s head, attempting to hide her smirk, and he barely avoided overfilling his mug. 

Using his nephew as an excuse to get closer, Jake’s hand covered Cece’s on Ty’s back, and he leaned down to kiss the baby’s head. Cece’s shoulder pressed against his chest, and it took all of his willpower not to turn and kiss her, too. “Mornin’ buddy. Ready to go out with Uncle Jake?”

“You’ve had your turn. He’s hanging out with Aunt Julie this morning,” she said, digging her elbow into his stomach. Without thinking, he pinched her side playfully. Mock glaring, Cece hip-checked him and used her free hand to flick his cheek. “Go away. I’m soaking up baby cuddles.”

“Stop being gross around my son,” Ally huffed, thrusting a hand between them and pushing Jake away. 

“You’re supposed to take my side since you’re my sister,” he grumbled, sipping his black coffee. 

“Yeah, well, I like her more,” Ally smirked. “She brings me cinnamon rolls. You just annoy me.” 

“Cinnamon rolls?” 

“They’ll be out of the oven in a few minutes,” Cece said, glancing over at the stove timer before sipping her coffee. She quickly dropped it back onto the counter when Ty squirmed, his little face scrunching as he rubbed against her collarbone. Bouncing him gently, her eyes shot to Ally, who sighed and glanced at her watch.

“Yup, about that time.” Reluctantly, Cece handed Ty over as he started to cry, a pitiful sound that had every adult in the kitchen stopping. Will was quickly at their side, his arm around Ally’s shoulders as he stared down at his son.

“Mornin’, kiddo,” he sighed, cupping his hand to the baby’s head as he looked at his wife. “Want me to take him while you get settled?” She shook her head.

“Mind grabbing the bag? He’ll need a change after.” Nodding, Will pecked Ally’s cheek and walked toward the front door, where the baby bag was stashed. “Save me a roll?” she asked, turning to Cece. 

“Extra frosting.” 

“And that’s why I love you more.” Throwing a wink at Jake, Ally made her way upstairs, smiling when Will walked behind her with his hand steady on her back. Jake felt a wave of envy and tried to tamp it down. His gaze drifted to Cece, who didn’t seem to realize - or mind - that she was leaning against him. Just a little shift, and she’d be tucked under his arm. Setting his coffee mug on the counter behind her, his thumb grazed her back and stroked lightly. Her eyes swung to him, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Morning,” she said softly.  

“Mornin’.” His eyes dropped to her mouth as his hand slid along her back to curl around her hip. It’d only take a slight tug and a dip of his head for him to taste the sweetened coffee on her lips. “You sleep well?” Her shoulder lifted, hip pressing further into his grip as she shifted. 

“It’s good to be home.”

“You’ve been gone a lot. Already got through a couple of your postcards.” Pink dusted her cheeks as Cece bit her lower lip.

“I know it was stupid but - ”

“Not stupid. I’m glad you wrote me.” 

“I didn’t think I’d have to face you while you read them,” she admitted. “Was gonna mail them all at once, but when I saw you were back home…”

“You decided to give them to me after stealing my horse?” Mischief shone in her eyes, and she opened her mouth to reply when a beeping interrupted them. 

“It smells good, Julie,” Pops called from the kitchen table, his eyes darting over to where they stood too close. A smile tugged at his mouth, and Jake saw Mama lightly kick him under the table. Cece quickly pulled away from Jake and walked toward the oven, grabbing a pair of mitts from the counter and putting them on. When she opened the oven, the kitchen was flooded with the smell of cinnamon and sugar. 

“Looks like they're done,” she announced, setting the large pan on the stovetop. “Just gonna let them cool a minute before frosting.” It was on the tip of Jake’s tongue to ask if she needed a hand, but instead, he stayed where he was, sipping his coffee and watching the love of his life move around the kitchen with a familiar comfort. There was no hesitation as she reached into the fridge to retrieve a container, and she located the drawers with spoons and the kitchen sheers immediately. A piping bag and jar were pulled from a sack on the counter, and Cece quickly spooned frosting into the bag. 

“Need anything?” Mama asked, looking up from her coffee. 

“Nope,” Cece replied, walking back to the stove and piping cream cheese frosting onto the rolls. Abandoning his coffee, Jake retrieved a stack of plates from the cabinet before standing beside her. Cece glanced at him, flicking her wrist with each swirl as she made quick work of the task. “Hand me the caramel sauce?” she asked after covering two rolls with extra frosting, presumably for Ally. Nodding, Jake retrieved the mason jar and twisted the top off. Swiping his thumb over the lid, he tasted the salted caramel and let out an appreciative hum. Try as she might to hide her smile, he caught her pressing her lips together. “Good?”

“I’d eat the whole damn jar.”

“You’ll have to fight Will for that one, but maybe I’ll make you your own if you don’t overdo it today.” 

“Promise?” Rather than answer, she took the jar from him and shoved the piping bag into his hand. He squeeze a bit of the remaining frosting onto his finger, watching her drizzle the caramel over the cinnamon rolls before sticking his finger under the stream. “Hey!”

“Damn, honey, that’s good,” he chuckled, licking his finger clean of the sweet combination as she smacked his chest. 

“Out of my kitchen, Farm Boy.” 

“Pretty sure it’s Mama’s kitchen.” 

“Keep it up, and you’ll be goin’ without.” 

“You’d deprive a workin’ man of his breakfast?”

“Absolutely.” His loud laugh drew his parents' attention. “Make yourself useful and get me another cup of coffee, please.” 

Over breakfast, Pops laid out the plan for the day. After milking, they needed to inspect one of the old buildings in the field the cows used for shade, and the truck needed an oil change. The horse stalls needed cleaning, and a yearling was getting picked up today to head to their new home. Ally and Will joined, Mama taking Tyler while they ate. One of the mares had come in from the corral favoring her leg, so Ally was going to do an x-ray to ensure nothing was wrong since she’d been lame for a few days.

Jake half listened, more concerned with the feeling of Cece’s leg pressed against his under the table. 

Too soon, they were up and moving, clearing the table in preparation for going their separate ways. The dregs of coffee were poured into thermoses before Mama started another pot, and Jake watched as Ally helped Cece wrap a long strip of fabric around her chest before sliding Ty into it. “Guess you’re really stealing my WSO,” he said, coming up behind her to look over her shoulder at Tyler. 

“Told ya,” she shrugged, tickling the baby’s cheeks as he shrieked and kicked his legs. “Gonna go to the hen house and get the eggs before Auntie’s gotta go.” Looking over her shoulder, she seemed surprised at how close he was. “What’s a WSO?” she asked, her voice just a bit breathless. 

“Weapons System Officer,” he replied. “The backseater for a pilot that does all the tech stuff so they can focus on flying.”

“Ah. The backseater you never wanted,” she nodded, remembering those long ago nights when he’d just started flight school. 

“I’d have one if they were like this kid.” Reaching around her, he smoothed a hand over Tyler’s head. It was cover for him to get even closer and say softly, “‘M sorry about yesterday. We still on for dinner tonight?” 

“Want me to make something?” 

“No, let’s go out. I heard there’s a new Italian place. Unless you don’t want people…” Jake trailed off, feeling a spike of anxiety at the thought of Cece not wanting to be seen with him. But after two weeks of being the subject of town gossip, he was also weary of offering up more.

“Italian sounds good. Want me to come get you, or are you gonna borrow the truck?”

“I’ll take the truck. Seven good?” She smiled and nodded, eyes darting behind him. The collar of his shirt got tighter against his throat as Will dragged him backward.

“Let’s go, lover boy. Stop usin’ my son to flirt.” Cece’s laugh rang in his ears as he allowed himself to be towed backward. When he winked, she rolled her eyes and leaned down to kiss Tyler’s head. 

True to her word, Cece was gone by the time Jake returned to the house for lunch. He helped himself to another cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll while Pops sliced tomatoes from Mama’s garden for their sandwiches. He’d kept his promise to take it easy on his knee, and spent some time on the couch icing it after eating, waiting for Ally to get back. Pops and Will were heading to the lumber store to get some boards for the new project while he was supposed to help with the horses. 

It took some time to separate Dorrie from her foal, and angry whinnies and stomps filled the barn as the young horse made his displeasure known. Ty babbled from the baby jail, adding to the overall noise in the barn. Dorrie was a sweet mare and stood well when he held the halter so Ally could test the flex of her right foreleg. She’d arrived at the same time as the man picking up the yearling, so Mama took care of the sale while Jake was stuck being Ally’s tech. It was a bit painful to jog back and forth so Ally could study her gait, but it was good to push himself. 

Jake felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket. He held the horse still and tried to keep the panel steady while Ally took an X-ray. Ideally, it was a three-person job, but she had another appointment to get to, and they couldn’t wait for Mama. After taking some images, she stood and held her hand out for the panel. “Alright, let’s get her back in the stall while I look at this. I think it’s just inflammation, but we’ll make sure.” Nodding, he loosened the lead rope tie and led Dorrie back into her stall. The foal was bucking in the corner, little hooves hitting the walls, but quickly settled down once Jake unclipped the rope. He’d be a fun one to work with, he mused - just a few months old and already about 12 hands tall, almost ready for weaning. He’d make a pretty show horse with a bit of training. 

Coiling the rope around his hand, Jake stepped out of the stall and adjusted his hat. After checking that Ally didn’t need anything, he pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen, eyebrows shooting up to see it was a notification from TikTok. 

Cece had posted. 

It had been months since he’d opened the app. In a moment of weakness, he’d checked to see if she posted anything while he was deployed and ignored the thousands of likes and comments on his video. Unable to stomach it, he’d subscribed to her account and decided he wouldn’t open it again. His thumb itched to hit the notification and watch the first video she’d posted since all the shit went down. “You need me for anything right now?” he asked, glancing at Ally. She balanced Ty on her hip as she peered down at the screen, examining Dorrie’s leg.

“Nope.” He nodded, walking out of the barn to lean against the corral. Wiping his mouth, Jake hesitated before tapping his screen. It took a minute for the app to load, and he caught a glimpse of another video before Cece’s opened. 

“Hey guys, it’s been a while.” And there she was, pouring water into a bowl and mixing it with something. She wore the shirt he’d seen her in yesterday. “I decided to take some time off after everything that happened in December and focus on myself. I’m not sure if I ever told y’all this, but I haven’t traveled much. So that’s what I did.” Clips of her at different places flashed on the screen, a soft song playing in the background. There were forests and coasts, plains and mountains. City skyscrapers and little towns. He recognized the sights from her postcards and wasn’t surprised to see Lucy pop up in a couple of the clips. “I also finished my pastry degree. Before I left Austin, I did one of the two externships I needed, and only had one more six-week externship to graduate. So I worked in a hotel pastry department for a little while and did some exploring.” 

Pictures of her in a white chef coat spun by, mixed in with ones of her hanging out. His eyebrows knit together in confusion - there hadn’t been anything in her postcards about that. And a few of the places she showed looked familiar. Those were gone in a flash, replaced by shots of her on a plane. “But mostly, I just had fun, which has been something I’ve been missing over the last couple of years. I went on my first international flight and spent a couple of weeks in Europe, and can’t wait to get back.” A clip of her eating a macaron in front of the Eifel Tower made him smile. “I really needed to figure out what I wanted to do. For a while, I’ve been thinking about leaving my hometown. I only came home because Daddy was sick” - videos of Brian helping Cece bake played - “and as much as I appreciated getting that extra time with him, Daddy didn’t want me to stay here after he passed. So I used this trip to test out possible places I might like to live.”

Jake's heart raced as he stared at the screen, watching as the travel clips shifted to her kneading dough and rolling it out. Mixing sugar. And he realized she was making the cinnamon rolls they’d had that morning. “I love where I grew up, but it hasn’t been home for a while. So, as much as I appreciate my customers, I’m sad to say that I’ll be officially closing my business in its current location as I’ll be branching out.” The phone shook in his hand, and Jake felt sweat beading on his forehead. “There’s no exact timeline, but I’m headed out west.” 

And there it was. A picture of Cece standing in front of a mural, grinning as she gestured to the giant letters spelling out GREETINGS FROM SAN DIEGO. 

Jake laughed, clapping a hand to his mouth to stifle it as tears clouded his vision. Blinking them away, he turned up the volume to hear Cece as she cut the cinnamon rolls and placed them in the baking dish. “I’m so excited for this next chapter, and I hope you’ll tag along as this country girl tries out city living. As soon as I’m ready to take orders, you’ll be the first to know.” Her eyes lifted from the dish, and she stared directly into the camera, a slow smile gracing her lips. When the video started to loop, Jake sat down hard, dropping his head into his hands as he clicked the comments already in the thousands.

OH MY GOD YOU’RE BACK!

California! I’m so excited I’ll get to try your stuff now!

Okay, but what about Jake??? Isn’t that where he lives?????!!!!!!

The last one had over a hundred comments under it and two thousand likes. Shutting the app, Jake pulled up his contacts, thumb hovering over Cece’s name. But instead of tapping it, he locked his phone and got to his feet. Hurrying into the barn, he spotted Mama and Ally standing outside Dorrie’s stall. Both women looked up at him as he jogged toward them, their looks of concern at the tears on his cheek fading when they saw his broad grin. “I gotta go.” 

“You know where the truck keys are,” Mama said. 

“Tell Julie it’s about time,” Ally added. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask how long they’d known, but he resisted. 

Dust kicked up under the tires as he tore down the driveway and skidded onto the road. Thankfully, no sheriffs were around as he sped through Magnolia, fighting against hitting the horn at anyone who slowed him down. Soon - but not soon enough - he was turning onto Cece’s road. Her SUV was parked under the carport. 

His boots were loud on the concrete as he slammed the truck shut and flew up the few steps to her porch to pound on the door. The curtain twitched. A heartbeat later, the door flew open, and Cece stood before him. “Were you tryin’ to - ” Jake cut her off, cupping her face and tilting it up. His kiss was frantic, lips crushing against hers as he smiled and laughed. Her fingers gripped his shirt, and Jake was sure she could feel his racing heart. His hands moved to her hips, gently drawing her out of the house and into his arms. “Break it down?” Cece panted against his mouth when they finally broke apart to breathe. Her eyes slowly opened, lifting to meet his. Their second kiss was more gentle, and she sighed when his tongue traced the seam of her lips, opening to allow him to taste her tongue. When his hands dropped to her ass, hauling her closer, Cece laughed against his mouth and gently pushed him away. “We’re not giving my neighbors a show.” 

Were he not injured, Jake would have picked her up and carried her into the house at that moment. But he satisfied himself by peppering her face with kisses until she giggled. “You’re comin’ to California?” Some of the joy in her eyes dimmed, and she gave him a hesitant look. Her hands trailed down his arms to tangle their fingers, pulling him into the house and kicking the door closed. As soon as it shut, one hand went into her hair, the other crossing her chest as though to protect herself. When Jake reached for her, she stopped him.

“I am. I… I did my externship in San Diego and really liked it there.”

“You did? You were there for six weeks? When?”

“While you were gone. I wanted to see if I liked it without you…” her tongue darted out to wet her lips as she tried to find the words. “Clouding my judgment.”  

It hurt to hear that, but Jake knew it was a smart move. “You coulda stayed at my place.” A wry smile graced her lips when she shook her head. 

“I needed a Farm Boy free trip to make my decision.” Teeth dug into her lower lip as Cece reached for his hands, squeezing gently. “Jake, I need you to…” She paused and took a deep breath, forehead dropping to his chest momentarily before her head lifted. Her eyes were guarded when she said, “I’m not moving there for you.” Hurt and fear that she was ending this before it began slammed into him. Jake stumbled back a step, but Cece’s grip on him was firm. “I needed to make that decision for myself, without you. I can’t move somewhere - start my life over again - for someone else. Again. It needs to be for me. I’m going out there because it’s what I want to do. Being with you isn’t the draw. But it’s certainly a perk.” Jake nodded, unable to get a sound out around the lump in his throat. Her brows drew together in concern, and she cupped his face, her thumb rasping on his stubbled cheek as she brushed away a tear. “I love you, Farm Boy.” 

“I love you too, Cupcake,” he forced out after clearing his throat. 

Time seemed to slow as they kissed, and Jake laughed when Cece lifted his Stetson from his head, tossing it toward the couch. Her hands tugged his shirt from his jeans before hooking in his belt buckle and pulling him toward her bedroom. A trail of clothes littered the floor, but neither seemed in a hurry as they took time to explore one another. Jake swallowed hard when Cece kissed the surgical scar on his left knee and ran her hands along his body in search of any other hurts. She trembled with anticipation as he kissed from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes, the featherlight brushes of his lips contrasting with the coarse feeling of his beard. On his way back up, his shoulders forced her thighs wide as he took her apart with deliberate care, reveling in the feeling of her hands tangled in his hair and the soft gasps and moans she let out.  

Cece could see her arousal coating his mouth when she opened her eyes to see him smiling down at her and tasted herself on his tongue. Jake’s cock was hot and hard on the crease of her hip, and he shuddered when she lightly ran her nails down his spine. The tips of her fingers dug into the tense muscles of his lower back, forcing him to bite back a groan. Her touch felt so fucking good. Especially her leg lifting and curling around his hip. “Baby, I don’t have a condom,” he sighed, swallowing hard as his cock slid through her wet folds. 

“In the drawer,” she replied, nipping his lip playfully. Jealousy shot through him at the idea of her having those, using them with someone else. It must have shown on his face because Cece laughed, raising an eyebrow. “Some farm boy fighter pilot came through Magnolia over Christmas and left before we could use them.” 

“What an idiot,” Jake chuckled, rubbing the tip of his nose against hers. 

Cece’s laugh was music to his ears as he reached into the drawer, her fingers following the trail of hair on his stomach as he rolled the condom on. The sweet sound was only a second to the gasping moan she let out when he pressed into her.

And, for the first time in a decade, Jake Seresin felt like he was home. 

---------------------------------------

Author's Note: Oh man, this chapter was so fun and sad to write. Watching Twisters definitely helped to develop Cowboy Jake more, and I was so excited to write him getting back to his roots, and figuring out how to mix Hangman with Farm Boy. And to see how Cece grew. She has needed to leave her home for a long time, and needed to make her own decisions regarding her life.

And, while I said that this was the last chapter, I decided to break the epilogue off into a separate part since this chapter is already massive. Apologies for that 😅 I debating cutting parts but May yelled at me to leave it.

Read the Epilogue

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[greedystevie]

SECRET

not as it seems part one

college!steve x college!fem oc

summary: you and steve are in a "secret" relationship and your best friend/roommate doesn't know

cw: MDNI (18+) smut (p in v) oral (fem receiving) fingering

word count: 1.9k

18+ MINORS DO NOT INTERACT 18+

authors note: okay this is actually a little bit of a novel i've been working on but i named one of the main character's steve so now i just keep thinking about steve harrington whenever i write for it (probably why i've written 2k words in like 3 days when i've been in a drought) so this is not a y/n insert but i don't describe the fem!main character in any specific way so go and imagine yourself :) but also don't be surprised if this disappears in the future

“Beatrice! Hurry up, we're going to be late!” Thomasina called down the hallway to a distracted Beatrice. A Beatrice who was too busy fantasizing about her crush Steven.

While Beatrice was busy trying on pretty dresses and making herself up to try and ask out the guy of her dreams at this party he was showing up to  their shared New York apartment for Thomasina. Beatrice comes out of her room to see who came in to see Steve- she almost falls to the floor. “Oh uh, hi Steven I didn’t know you were coming over. Did Cece let you in?” Beatrice tucked her hair behind her ear. Posing herself as she tried to come across desirable.

Steve cocked his eyebrow up as he wondered what the fuck she was doing, “yeah she did.” He ended up responding.

Thomasina came out with a couple of drinks, handing one of them to Steve. “Finally she emerges from her cave,” she giggled, stepping towards her friend.

“I uh, heard the door open and shut so I came to see what was going on. Also,” Beatrice grabbed a random garment off the back of a chair. “I’ve been looking for this everywhere.” Huffing out back towards her bedroom.

“I always forget how much she flirts with me,” Steve chuckles softly.

“Probably because she has a-“ Thomasina stopped before she told her best friend's secret. Even if it was about her boyfriend, to her boyfriend. She could never do that.

“What?” Steve asked.

“Oh nothing,” Thomasina stepped close enough to touch his chest. “It doesn’t really matter anyway.”

Steve tenderly placed his hands on her hips, bringing her body closer to him. Locking lips with hers in a heated makeout session. Gripping the edges of her thin t-shirt Steve slipped his hands onto her smooth skin. Fingertips feeling every bone, every twitch of her muscle as he climbed up further towards her breast.

Just as their shirts were coming off and things started to steam up between them Beatrice could be heard coming back into the living area. Thomasina jumped off of Steve. Frantically searching for the articles of clothing while Steve stood still trying to hide his ever growing erection with his hands. She tossed him his shirt and he quickly put it on. Thomasina scurried behind the long sofa to put hers on, pretending to look for something she dropped. Popping up over the couch after Beatrice had been standing frozen at the edge of the room for who knows how long.

Thomasina sauntered over towards Steve, a jacket that had been on the floor for days gripped in one hand, the other grazing his erection. Steve flinched, screwing his eyes shut as he calmed the rising reaction inside himself. Thomasina smirked to the ground before turning towards Beatrice, “hello again Bea.” Thomasina smiled. Slipping past her towards the hall closet to finally put the jacket away. No thought in her head about possibly cleaning it.

Beatrice didn’t budge from her spot, continuing to stare longingly at Steve as if he might vanish at any moment. He was visibly becoming uncomfortable by her gaze by the time Thomasina came back to lean on the couch near him. Side-eyeing his muscular profile as discreetly as she could, stifling a giggle as she saw him still trying to hide his bulge. Sighing and heaving herself off the sofa Thomasina started, “Bea- are you-“ she was interrupted.

“What is he doing here? I don’t remember inviting him?” Beatrice let out a high pitched half giggle near the end. Her nerves finally subsided.

“Sally sent him over to drive us to the party,” the lie came out so smoothly.

“Why couldn’t she make it?”

“Last minute errand I think,” Thomasina scratched her head trying to remember specifics. Specifics that didn’t exist.

“Hm,” Beatrice touched her pointer finger and thumb to her chin in thought. “How ‘bout you Steven? Did she tell you anything specific?”

“No,” he shook his head.

Beatrice nodded in response. Backing away towards the front door, “okay. I guess I’ll head downstairs then. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

“Are you sure you’re ready to go?” Thomasina asked.

“Oh yeah,” she sniffed. Closing the door behind her.

Steve relaxed as she turned away. The tension in his shoulders instantly lifting, “finally.” He breathed out. Cracking his knuckles which sent shivers down Thomasina’s spine. Her breath hitched in her throat as she took a moment to remember how to move her chest up and down to let air in. Thomasina spun back around to face Steve, the last thing on her mind was to go meet Beatrice down in the lobby.

After a few moments of silent tension between them Steve took a couple long strides, closing the gap between them. Removing his black cotton t-shirt and tossing it to the brick wall, revealing the few tattoos he had hidden on his chest and back. Thomasina delicately reached out to touch her lanky secret boyfriend. Feeling his rough skin underneath her fingertips as he gripped her hips to bring her closer to him. Snaking her arms around his neck at a snails pace, slowly bringing his head closer to her lips. Tenderly pecking his mouth, tugging at his hair. Bodies in sync as their knees move to the floor. Steve’s fingers tug at the edges of Thomasina’s shirt. Sliding his hand up underneath it to feel the heat of her stomach on the way down to unbutton her jeans. Taking off her acid wash pants for her, lifting her feet one at a time out of the stiff fabric. Leaving her in generic cotton panties that match her cotton shirt. She started to lift the shirt over her head when Steve stood up and quickly gripped her hands to stop her. Lowly growly, “no. keep it on.”

Thomasina smirked at the request. Now she didn’t have to reveal that she wasn’t wearing a bra, although she was pretty sure he could tell. Lowering her arms back down to her sides Steve began leaving kisses on the palms of her hands, pulling her down to the floor. Before continuing he grabbed a couple of pillows off the leather couch without looking, always keeping eye contact with Thomasina. Laying her down on the rough pillows one under her head and one at the small of her back. “How's that?” he queried.

“Perfect,” Thomasina breathed out.

Steve lowered his head to her thighs, leaving soft kisses along the line of her underwear. Thomasina’s leg kicked up as a reflex when he brushed up against the one ticklish section on her body where her torso and leg meet. A quick series of giggles burst from her lungs. Steve continued to kiss down her leg and over to the other one as his motions calmed her back down. Thomasina moved her arms towards his head, letting her fingers grip chunks of his freshly washed hair. Gently tugging them towards where she wanted him, but he resisted. She huffed in frustration. His cold nose biting her flesh as he moved his face wherever he pleased.

Finally, as her consistent grip in his hair felt him move back to the middle. Steve’s eyes darted up to see Thomasina’s eyes screwed shut. Waiting for something spectacular. He smirked, snaking his fingers into the fabric of the elastic waistband of her underwear pulling it down slowly. Thomasina’s thighs constricted slightly by the excitement of him moving closer to the most needy part of her. Nuzzling the tip of his nose deep inside of her, Steve took in her intoxicating scent. Pulling it away from her and replacing it with the stroke of his fingers. “Is this okay? Does it feel good?”

All Thomasina could manage in response was a hefty moan. Steve smirked, a little bit proud of the effect he had on her. “I just want to make you happy Tom cat,” he stroked her thigh with his free hand. Taking it all the way up her torso to her breast.

“Stevie,” she groaned out in pleasure. “Faster.”

Obedient Steve pumped his fingers faster, eyes just peeking over her waist as he started to lick her pearl. Never taking his eyes off of her face. Coming up for air Steve pulled his fingers out completely, leaving Thomasina yearning for more. Licking his fingers clean of her insides before unbuttoning his pants and pushing them down part of the way. Boxer shorts following suit, covering his cock with his big hand and started to rub it back and forth a few times.

“Don’t forget the condom dumbass,” Thomasina panted.

“I thought you were on the pill?” Steve questioned. Eyebrow popping up as he pulled his pants back up for the wallet that he didn’t realize had fallen behind him.

“Doesn’t mean I want you’re dirty-“ she gagged before finishing. “Penis inside of me without a jacket on.”

Leaning back to pick up his wallet and take out one of the many fresh condoms he had tucked in it since they had started having sex. Sighing heavily as he knew she wasn’t serious. Rolling the rubber up, watching her bite her bottom lip as she watched the act. “I literally took a shower today,” Steve sighed as he settled into her with a grunt.

“I know boo,” Thomasina moaned. “Your hair is so luscious. Have you been using that shampoo I recommended?”

Steve nodded, unable to say words as light, breathy moans escaped his throat. Thomasina mimicked his actions, trying to keep the sound to a minimum. But it was hard. Wrapping her arm around his neck entwining her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck once more. “It’s done wonders for you honey bunches.” She gasped so loudly as her body shook with release.

Riding it out right with her until they were both a sweaty mess on top of each other. Heaving and giggling until the front door slammed open. Their faces covered with shock, at least until they realized it was Sally.

“You two are so lucky I slipped past Bea!” She screeched, not caring about their half naked, tangled bodies. “You are not as slick as you think you are. You are going to hurt that poor girl if you aren’t careful,” Sally stomped back out. Making sure to also slam the door shut the same way she opened it.

“What does that mean?” Steve asked, confused. Removing himself from Thomasina. Exhastedly huffing as he lays next to her on the rough floor.

“I promised I wouldn't tell,” Thomasina bit her lip. Turning to face him.

“Well if I know what’s going on maybe I can help,” he smiled sweetly at her.

Sighing Thomasina weighed the options in her mind. Ultimately deciding to tell him, “Beatrice has a crush on you.”

“Oh that,” he chuckled.

“You knew?” Thomasina sat up like a shot, “Who told you?”

“No one told me,” he grunted as his elbow slid against the floor when he struggled to sit and meet her gaze. “I figured it out.” He sighed as he gave up on trying to sit up.

Thomasina silently got up, picking up and dressing herself in the discarded cotton underwear. Going back over to her turtle of a boyfriend she bent down to grab his arm and heave him off the floor.

“Guess we better get going then,” Steve sighed as he pulled his clothing back on.

Thomasina quietly nodded in response. Not very happy about the wake up call her friend had given her, very much planning on getting wasted at this party.

[aliypop]

No Baby You Can't Lick it

Word Count: 2,522

Writers Note: Alright I'm tackling writing 70's E as a smut so don't judge me on this one

Warning: SMUT MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

Pairing: OC x Elvis

Plot: With Elvis now in Vegas and Cecelia back from her world tour, she finds herself at The International Hotel being reminded of the powerhouse of love that is her husband Elvis Presley

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@sissylittlefeather

@dkayfixates

@rjmartin11

The International Hotel January 7th, 1972

The cameras flashed through the lobby as a dark brunette-haired, sunglasses-wearing, fur coat-toating, tawny-skinned woman was at the front desk. That woman was,

 "Mrs.Presley, We uh weren't excepting you!" The concierge looked in shock.

"Call me Cecelia, sweetheart." she laughed, taking off her shades as she looked at the young woman who was about to faint. Usually, her husband had this effect on women. 

"W-Well... Can we do anything for you, get you a room..."

"I know Mr. Presley is on stage currently... but, uh, if you could relay a message to Jerry, tell 'em the Eagle has landed." taking the key from her, Cecelia winked as she continued to walk down towards the Elevator. 

           "Mrs. Presley!"

                                 "Happy Birthday, Mrs. Presley!"

          "Welcome back, Mrs. Presley!

"Geez, Midge. I didn't know people even remembered my birthday." she laughed as they walked through the casino. She was all smiles and waves like a pageant girl when really all she wanted to do was see her loving husband, who she hadn't been around for almost a year,

"Well, I don't even think you remembered your own birthday, let alone celebrated in how many years?" 

"Not true! Last year Elvis. Bought me a rhinestone studded Gibson Guitar." 

"And what did you send him."

"The key to a custom-made roadster... With EP on the seats."

"Well, when's the last time you two Celebrated your birthdays together..."

Cecelia took in a deep sigh as she thought about it. They'd been so busy with tours and conflicting schedules and even the kids who were now teenagers that the two hadn't even had time to their actual selves. The Elevator began to ding as they reached the 32nd floor of the hotel. Midge walked out first as Cecelia took out the hotel key. In a sense, the room felt like a home away from home.

The outside of the crowded concert hall was where the Memphis Mafia was trying their best to transport,

 "Elvis, I love you!

"Love you too, honey." he winked,

Back to his hotel room, that was if he could stop kissing all the women who'd approached him, but then again, when you're the big star that is Elvis Presley, what's one more woman? Running down towards them was the concierge who had run to Jerry to tell him,

"The Eagle has landed." 

Jerry looked at the young girl as he gave her a nod and a tap on Elvis's shoulder,

 "We gotta go, E."

"Somethin wrong..." He looked up at Jerry, his hand searching for one of his many peacemakers. 

"Nah, we just gotta go..."

The view of Vegas was beautiful from the window as Cecelia stood in front of it dressed in her long boudoir pink velvet robe. Champagne in her hand as she slowly breathed in and laughed, her eyes catching a pair of red panties that definitely didn't belong to her, just another chip in their marriage she'd manage to find. But it was no different than when she witnessed him date over 25 girls while his heart set on her. Lost in thought, Cecelia didn't even hear the key in the door turn, 

"Be careful, E..."Jerry said,

"Why the hell do I have to be careful?" Elvis laughed a lit cigarillo in his mouth, "What's in there cept for what's usually in there." opening the door to his hotel room, he could smell the sweet scent of a familiar perfume. And the shift of a calming wind coming through. 

"Elvis, is that you?"

"Cece..." his tired blue eyes now magnified back with energy,

"El..." she ran to him as she engulfed him with a tender kiss on his lips,

"I'll leave you two alone," Jerry smirked, closing the door behind him. 

Cecelia had pulled away from him, taking the Cigarillo out of his mouth and setting it out. On the ashtray, "Seems somebody missed me." He whistled, looking at her frame in the robe, 

"Seems someone couldn't wait for me..." her eyes gesturing to those panties again,

"Honey, no matter how many fans may have come in trying to steal away my appetite, you'll always be my main course," he whispered in her ear. Biting at the lobe as she shivered, 

"You're lucky it's your birthday in half an hour..." she laughed,

"And you're lucky it's still yours." his lips were now on her neck, kissing and sucking all the way down to her shoulder, where her robe was now slithering down off her skin,

"Tell me, doll... you wearin anythin under that robe."

"Why don't you see for yourself." she laughed, running towards the bed as she untied her robe and ran, 

"Damnit, Cece!" He laughed, chasing after his playful wife. Oh, the things he'd do for the woman before him. Cecelia was by the piano, now draped over it, as her eyes seduced him into coming over, 

"Lord ol mighty..." 

"Like what you see?" velvet curtains as her backdrop, she looked like something a man would only dream of finding in a bordello landscape. 

"Mhmm..."

"You know... Pres, I'm liking a whole lot of what I'm seein..." Gesturing to him and his oh-so-tight blue owl jumpsuit. She wanted to pull him by the belt and get to working on him right now, but she wanted to make him work for it.

"You want me don'tcha honey,"

"I thought I was makin' my intentions clear," she smirked, beckoning him to come closer. Elvis began to walk closer towards her like a sailor drawn to a siren, 

"Not clear enough, baby..." 

"Do you want me to tell you what I want tonight..."

"Tell me, honey..."

"Well... I want you to make love to me like the beast I know you can be..." her arms around his waist as she heard the clinking of his belt hit the floor. His hands were already caressing her plump breasts.

"Easy... Mmm, tiger." her hand was now on his chest as she unzipped him slowly from the jumpsuit,

"Tell me, Mr. Presley... Did you think of me when you were fuckin those girls..."

"Every time..." he growled in her ear. As he pressed her against him, she could feel his cock against her ass. Biting her lip, "You know I love you... And only you," he whispered, biting her shoulder, "And I miss you and only you..." his fingers rubbed circles on her waist. 

"Why don't you prove it..." 

"Spread your legs, baby. And I'll show you," he commanded her. Cecelia felt her body pressed against the glass window, as his fingers were already working magic down from her heated skin to her oh-so-wet cavern. He could hear every little gasp and sharp mewl of a moan whenever his fingers would brush across the spot that made her say, 

                       "Elvis..."

Or

                                       "Right there..."

Or his favorite.

                           " Don't stop..."

"I wasn't planning on it." he laughed, "You're wet, sweetheart, and it's all for your Elvis, huh." she could hear his devilish smile through his thick southern accent, "Elvis..." she sighed, her eyelids fluttering at his finger-work, though to be fair she did love a man who was a God at the guitar. "Tell me what you want, baby..." his voice was husky and raspy and sending her on edge,

 "I ...I need you..."

"Need me to what, baby girl..."

"Fuck me..." Her voice had an innocent tone to it, and it was driving him crazy.

"Is that how we ask for things, Cece..." he asked her as he gently grabbed her face, lust-blown eyes looking into one another. Cecelia shook her head no.

"Oh, come on, little darlin, you can use your words for your Elvis, can't."

"Please..." she whined and whimpered.

"Anything for my princess." Tilting her head up from her chin, and he kissed her. Elvis could taste the faint hint of champagne and her lipstick on his tongue. Cecelia could taste the punchy scent of his Cigarillo and his beer. But it only made the kiss more intense for her. After all, she still did miss him. Gripping onto his broad shoulders, her legs wrapped around his waist as she scrunched up her nose, readjusting to his size. 

"You okay, baby?" Elvis asked with concern.

"Mhmm... it's just been..." her body shivered as her face fell into his shoulder blade, "Awhile..." 

"You've missed me, haven't you, doll..."

"Why doya ask Pres..." 

"Legs shakin worse than mine, and I ain't even start yet." he laughed. 

"Maybe cause. I'm all shook up, OH EL YES!" she moaned at the first thrust he gave her. Cecelia had her fingers caressing his sideburns. She then heard a thud as she felt the sensation of glass on her back. Elvis's thrusts were in rhythm with every whine and moan she gave him, like a que written in sheet music, 

"Fuck! Atta boy!" Cecelia growled as her eyes rolled from the jolt of his hips, 

"You like that baby girl... Heh..." holding her closer to him as if she'd slip away.

"YES... YES... YES... ELVIS YES!!!" she could hear him moaning in her ear, 

"It's nothing but sweet lovin for you, doll..." he whispered in her ear along with other sweet nothings. He could feel her nearing her end as she pulsated around his cock, but he knew she didn't want the fun to end. carrying her to the bed as he was still stuffed deeply inside her, Elvis laid down with Cecelia on top of him, 

"Can I ride you, baby..."

"Cece, we've been married fourteen years. You really gotta ask." he kissed her collarbone, as he then kissed down to the peak of her breast, 

"Tryin to keep the spark alive."

"With a body like that, it ain't never died, Cece." he groaned as his mouth latched onto her nipple. She knew there'd be a hickey. But Cecelia didn't care. After all, it was still her birthday. Grinding down on him and moving her hips, she could feel every ounce of stress leaving her body, just from feeling the tip of him touching the spot that made her go wild like a bull seeing red, 

"You like that baby, you like how I ride you..."

"Mhmm...I like the view, too." he moaned, his blue eyes rolling back as his dark lashes fluttered like butterfly wings. Elvis had one hand on her waist and the other gripping her ass. His hips followed her pace and rhythm.

          "Faster baby..."

"FuCk Cece!"

Elvis watched as he felt her tongue lick all the way down his chest. Oh, how did he get so lucky? His heart was racing, and he felt even more feverish. He needed to feel her tongue wrapped around his,

"Fuck Fuck Fuck!!" her back was arched as if she were about to do the bridge, lost in her own pleasure. He could hear the moans and feel Cecelia's quivering lips squeeze him tighter. Rolling over, Cecelia was now at the bottom, looking up at blue, lust-filled eyes. 

"Well, hello, handsome..."

"Hello, beautiful." he smirked as she laughed, "What's so funny..."

"Your jumpsuits still on..."

"Shit, you're right... mind helpin' me remove it," he asked as he felt her kissing down from his chest and towards the zipper as she unzipped the rest with her teeth, his bottom lip between his teeth. This was another reason why she was Mrs. Presley. She could put on a good show. Kissing back up the leg, she stopped at the main event, then back at Elvis as he took his index finger under her chin and traced Cecelia's plump lips with his thumb. Her mouth opened wide as he slipped his fingers in one by one, sucking on each and every one of them as they all left with a little pop, 

"Think you can take all of me now..."

"Yes, Daddy Elvis..." she was in a daze as she blushed, "Did I just..."

"Don't pay it no mind, darlin... Just show your big daddy Elvis how much that little ol mouth of yours misses me so much." Her red lips wrapped around the base of his cock. As her eyes focused on him, she could hear him moan and grunt and groan as she worked every nerve and vein with the grazing of her teeth and tongue.

 Elvis was in pure bliss as he pulled at her hair,

 "Don't stop, doll..."

"Oh shit... shit... shit..."

His hips began to thrust into her mouth as she pulled away, 

"You fucking tease..."

"Me! a..." She played innocent as he pulled her back to his level and moved between her legs, "Tease!" she yelped as she felt him lap up all her slick wet juices. "Elvis...Elvis... Elvis..." her fingers in her own hair as she felt him nibble at her clit and lightly pull on with his teeth. sliding in his long finger, He could feel her coil about to snap at any minute, but he couldn't let her finish like this. Not after how she just left him. Cecelia's breath was hitching as she felt his finger curl into her with a beckoning motion, 

"Oh! O-O- Oh Fuck fuck fuck fuck!!!" if he hadn't known she was a singer he could, sure enough, tell by the E6 note she was hitting, he was taking her there and he could tell from the way her breathing was staggering. 

"EL I'M GONNA!"

He stopped as he smirked looking up at her,

"You fucking tease!"

"Me... A tease oh darlin..." Lining himself with Cecelia, he entered back in as a shudder escaped both of their bodies, the two were both stimulated enough to pick back up from where they left off. His hips were rutting against her like a dog in heat, the two were in pure bliss as his hand wrapped around her neck and squeezed gently as she felt the cool metal of his rings, 

"Oh God... ELVIS FUCK ME!"

"Mmmm! BABY OH SHIT!"

Cecelia collapsed on top of him as her breathing was heavy, 

"Did you uh..."

"Mhmm..." she nods.

"Did you..."

"Mhmm..." Pulling out, he got a warm towel and cleaned her up as she kissed his cheek,

 "Want anything to drink," Elvis asked,

"I could drink you..." she smirked watching him stand up as she smacked his ass, 

"Watch it there honey." he laughed as she smirked,

"How can I when I've got grade-A beef in my face."

As the night went on the pair was snuggled up together, under the sheets. Elvis had his arms around Cecelia playfully kissing her neck as she giggled, There was a knock on the door and the two groaned putting on their robes, it was now 11:56 pm, and outside the hotel room were Jerry and Midge rolling in two guitar shaped birthday cakes.

 "Happy birthday E and C..."

"What's wrong?" Elvis looked at the two as they then looked at each other, tussled hair and bite marks, both of their hearts beating faster with just one look, 

"Should we leave them..."

"Yep..."

From afar the only thing they could hear was,

 "Come here, big boy..."

                    "Yes, baby girl..."

"Should we even wake em up tomorrow ?"

"Nah."

[raichana-artblog]

OC Questions tag

First, Yes i'm counting this for OCtober, My stamina isn't the best with the weather getting colder and I'de rather not hurt myself in the middle of a commission.

Second thank you @card-queen for the tag!

I don't think i've done this before but I'm going to do Ciella for now

5 words to physically describe your OC

Tall, flowery, blond, ears, scars

Who inspired your OC?

This question can be answered two ways....

Ciella finds inspiration in her adoptive dad Aloe, he helps her learn her limits with her new situation as well as teaches her about anything her curious little brain can think of. She is also inspired by one of the first people she meets after Aloe. Cece may be nearing the end but she never gives up the fight and that determination helps push her forward. Finally Adelle who is brought in to help her change her appearance and mannerism to hide from her Father inspires her more creative and rebellious side.

but like i said.. .two ways... so if the question is what inpired the creation of my OC... it's essentially taking my edgelord baby Arianna and being like... Ok what if after getting away from her father instead of being found by her assassin uncle who gives her the life skills the only way he knows how... focusing on her ability to travel through shadows.... what if a kinder man, in this case a travelling healer, found her and helped give her life skills the only way he knows how focusing on her plant magic. I also like the idea that while Arianna can use plant magic and Ciella can travel through shadows if either were to try that it would probably go VERY badly.

Give me a song to define your OC

I honestly had never thought of it but when i saw the question the first song that popped into mind was Naraku no hana, It's from the (second?) season of Higurashi and I remmeber the chorus-y bit translates to Escape, escape, from this sorrowful fate. You are not a flower of Hell. In that kind of place Don't bloom there, don't bloom there Don't let them ensnare you.

And yeah that fits her origin really well

plus the song is like... really good (imo) but I've already given myself away to be a not so secret edge lord. also the vid some fun things to make the intro fit the whole song so that's fun

If I met your OC on the street how would they greet me?

She would probably be very kind, maybe a little worried if they noticed to seem to have any discomfort. She would also do her best to keep up a wall until she got to know you and even then she would be cautious.

Can your OC be your best friend? Why?

It takes a lot time for her to trust someone enough to be friends but she would always be kind to those around her if possible....

plus i've given her a better fate (in the AU....) so like she wouldn't hate me.... entierly we just... don't talk about how i plan to fir Ciella into my canon cause yeah... she would HATE me. Hell i'm a little shocked at how cruel i've made her story... like nothing too bad but being immortal does have some pretty massive drawbacks.

1 adjective and 1 noun to describe your OC

Helpful Kindness

at least thast what she hopes... it doesn't always work out.

OK tagging!!

uh...... I always end up taggign the same folks! sorry! anyone who wants to of course and @greywaysart and @prilaja-artblog

[bisexualbumblebee-writes]

Boggart- Regulus Black x OC

Regulus Black x Cecelia Potter

Description: Cecelia is missing from classes one day and after a small search party finds her in the Forbidden Forest, Regulus intends to find out what made her so terrified.

Word Count: 3.2k

Regulus was the first to be worried. Cecelia usually met him at the Slytherin table for breakfast, but she hadn’t shown up. In fact, he doesn’t remember seeing her the previous night either.

“James,” he called, walking over to the boy and his friends after breakfast. The four marauders stopped and turned to face him.

“Yes?” James answered, sounding and looking confused as to why the younger Black was talking to him.

“Is Cecelia feeling well? She wasn’t at breakfast,” Regulus questioned. James hummed thoughtfully.

“She’s probably just tired. It’s been a long couple of days,” he brushed off. He didn’t give Regulus time to answer before he walked off. Regulus didn’t buy it, but he couldn’t say anything. He’d just have to find her later.

Violetta and Gaia were the next to worry. They had Charms with her and usually she was the first one there. Charms was her favorite class, so they couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t there for the life of them.

Sirius and Remus became worried next.

“Pads have you seen Cece today?” Gaia questioned as they reached 2/4 of the marauders.

“Yeah, it’s not like her to miss class, especially Charms,” Violetta continued worriedly. Sirius and Remus gave each other a nervous glance. First Regulus and now the girls?

James was the last to become worried. Sirius, Gaia, Remus and Violetta came to him near the end of the day saying they hadn’t seen Cecelia at all.

“Guys relax, she probably wasn’t feeling well today. More than likely she stayed in bed or went to Madame Pomfrey,” he shrugged it off.

“Still, I’d feel a lot better if we double checked,” Violetta responded softly. Remus nodded and took his girlfriend’s hand.

“Me too,” he added. After Sirius and Gaia agreed, James sighed and decided to go with them to check the younger girl’s dorm and the infirmary. She wasn’t in the Hufflepuff common room or her dorm, so they checked with Madame Pomfrey.

“No I haven’t seen her in weeks,” the nurse spoke as she made an empty bed. “Why? Is she okay?” She stopped her actions to look at the four students. The five of them said nothing as they walked back to the Gryffindor common room. They didn’t need words to know that James was now concerned about his sister.

“Okay, where else would Cecelia go?” James questioned rhetorically as they stepped through the portrait. They stopped in unison when they recognized Regulus standing by a table where Madeline sat.

“What are you doing here Reg?” Sirius inquired as the group walked over to him. Regulus and Madeline stopped mid conversation and faced them.

“I got worried when I didn’t see Cecelia in Charms, so I went to Madeline to see if she knew anything,” he explained. James looked at the older twin.

“Do you?” The girl shrugged and closed her book.

“Last I saw her was last night. After dinner she said she was going to help Hagrid look for Fang. Apparently he had run off yesterday and Hagrid couldn’t find him anywhere,” she stated.

“So we need to go to Hagrid’s hut,” Remus decided.

“I’m coming with you,” Regulus said, not leaving room for question as they made their way outside. They arrived at the hut just a few minutes later and Sirius was the one to knock on the door. Fang’s bark rang throughout the hut, which gave them hope, but Hagrid’s answer came from behind them.

“What’re you lot doin’ ‘ere?” He questioned, sounding nervous. The six of them whipped around to face the half giant.

“Hagrid, have you seen Cecelia? Madeline told us that she came to help you last night but no one has seen her since,” James asked. Hagrid looked hesitant to answer, but after seeing their worry, he sighed .

He went on to explain that after Cecelia agreed to help him, she followed him into the Forbidden Forest. That’s where Hagrid saw him run into; apparently he heard something he felt the need to investigate. They had gotten separated when Hagrid stopped to ask Aragog if he’d seen the dog, but Cecelia had a massive fear of spiders so she continued on. He hadn’t seen her since.

“I was actually jus’ goin’ ter search fer her,” he finished. That caused a panic among the students, which he attempted to calm, but to no avail.

“We have to go look for her,” Sirius stated. “Merlin knows what else is in the forest waiting for her.”

“Violetta, you and Gaia go back to the castle. The forest is no place for you,” Remus instructed firmly. Gaia began to disagree but Violetta spoke up before her.

“We’ll wait in Hagrid’s hut,” she said with finality, leading the other girl inside. Hagrid wasn’t far behind them.

“You boys come grab a lantern. An’ make sure you lot stay together, we don’ wan’ anyone else ter get lost,” he instructed. The boys walked inside and did so. After making sure they were ready, Gaia and Violetta watched the five boys make their way into the forest. It was nearing dark by now so they were glad they had the lanterns.

Regulus was thankful that Hagrid suggested bringing lanterns. If he didn’t have it, he wouldn’t have been able to see three feet in front of him once it had become pitch black outside. Any stars that were aglow in the sky were blocked from their view by the tall trees. He had no idea how they were supposed to find Cecelia in there, but he wasn’t about to give up. After an hour, his feet felt like they were on fire and he was exhausted. Just as he was about to give up for the night, Sirius called out to them.

“I found her! She’s over here by the Yew Tree!” He screamed loud enough for everyone to hear. No one gave it a second thought as they ran to the tree Sirius stood by. James was the first one there since he had been closest, then Hagrid and Remus, and finally Regulus made it. It took all he had to not gasp at the sight. Cecelia laid in a fetal position on the ground, her face covered and her body racked with shakes. He couldn’t tell if it was because of the chilly air or fear, but it didn’t matter.

“Oh Merlin,” James breathed out fearfully.

“Alrigh’ everyone stand back, I’ll get ‘er an’ take ‘er ter Madame Pomfrey,” Hagrid instructed. Sirius had to physically pull Regulus away from the shaking girl. Cecelia put up a small fight when Hagrid first tried to pick her up, attempting to wriggle away from him and cry, though no words came out. When she realized who it was, she let him pick her up bridal style and begin walking back to the castle. The boys followed at his heels all the way up to the infirmary, James frantically attempting to ask her what happened, but Hagrid could tell that she was starting to become skittish again so he stopped and faced him just as they reached the doors to the infirmary.

“Maybe you lot should head ter bed, it’s really late and I don’ think Madame Pomfrey’d like ya bein’ there askin’ all them questions,” he said, trying to be as delicate as he could manage. James did not like that, and he began throwing a fit saying that she was his sister and he has a right to be there with her. He was cut off when the doors opened behind Hagrid.

“What is going on out here?” Madame Pomfrey asked firmly, “I have patients-“ she gasped, “What's happened to her?” She didn’t wait for an answer before beginning to usher Hagrid inside. When the boys started to follow, she stopped them.

“Boys I don’t want you in there while I try to figure out what happened to Cecelia,” she stated, continuing when she saw them begin to protest. “You’re of no use to her tonight. Tomorrow’s Saturday, go back to your dorms and get some sleep then I’ll tell you anything I find tomorrow.” It was a fair compromise, even James understood. So, although with great hesitation, the marauders and Regulus began walking back to their dorms. Just before they parted ways, James pulled the younger boy off to the side.

“Hey, are you okay?” He asked low enough so the others wouldn’t hear. Regulus didn’t let his surprise show as he nodded.

“Yeah, yeah I’m good. Just worried about Cecelia, as I’m sure you are too,” he responded, sounding rather tired from the night’s events. James understood completely; he felt like he was about to fall over unless he got to bed soon, but he wanted to make sure Regulus was okay. He knew Cecelia would be pleased with that.

“Alright then,” he said with a small nod. “G’night Regulus.” He waited for the boy to return the gesture before heading up the staircase to join Sirius and Remus. Regulus watched them for a moment before heading to the dungeon to get some much needed sleep.

He didn’t sleep as much as he thought he would. His mind had been running through all the possibilities of what could have happened to Cecelia, none of which was pleasant to think about. He awoke when the sun was still rising and was dressed before any of his roommates could greet him. With only a small goodbye to them, he practically sprinted out of the Slytherin common room and up the stairs. He wanted to see his girlfriend as soon as possible. Apparently the marauders had the same idea because he almost physically ran into them on the way to the infirmary.

“Have you eaten today Reg?” Sirius questioned, giving his brother a pointed look when the boy shook his head. Remus rolled his eyes.

“Neither have we Padfoot,” he pointed out as the five of them began walking together. While James listened to Remus and Sirius talk, Regulus listened carefully to the chatter around them.

“What is it?” James asked curiously. The boy gazed at him.

“I haven’t heard Cecelia’s name. That means either word hasn’t gotten around yet or no one is awake enough to spread the word, which gives us some time,” he explained. The boys gave his opinion some thought, but brushed it off when they reached the infirmary. When they walked in, the first thing they saw was Madame Pomfrey talking to Dumbledore beside Cecelia’s bed. That confused the group significantly and they made their way over to the two adults.

“Professor Dumbledore? What are you doing here?” James questioned as they reached them. The adults turned to face the group and Dumbledore offered them a small smile.

“Boys, I assume you’re here for Miss Potter?” He inquired kindly. The five nodded in unison.

“So do you know what happened?” Regulus asked hopefully. Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey shared a look, seemingly having a telepathic conversation with each other. Seconds later the nurse walked away to tend to another student.

“Come here,” the headmaster gestured them off to the side. They followed him obediently and watched him look around silently.

“There is no easy way to say this,” he started carefully, glancing around at them. “But Ceelia was attacked by a Boggart.” The news felt like a blow to each of their guts. No one knew how to react, they could only share shocked glances with each other.

“We still haven’t figured out how it got onto the grounds, but we’re still searching for that as well as any others,” Dumbledore continued. “We’ve corroborated with Hagrid, and that was the thing that Fang ran after the day before yesterday. Cecelia ran into it after finding him and she suffered some emotional and psychological damages, though we aren’t sure what she saw. She refuses to talk about it,” he explained. “She’s resting right now, but Madame Pomfrey is about to wake her up for breakfast.” The boys still couldn’t find words, but James and Regulus more than anyone.

“Okay, thank you professor,” Remus spoke for all of them. The man nodded with a sympathetic smile.

“I would suggest not crowding her when she wakes up,” was all he said before walking out.

The five boys only had to wait another hour before Madame Pomfrey brought all the students in the infirmary some breakfast. Though they hadn’t meant to, they disobeyed Dumbledore’s orders. They couldn’t help but bombard her with questions as to how she was feeling, what happened from her point of view, etc. Regulus finally stopped when he realized Cecelia looked like she was on the verge of tears when James asked what she saw when the boggart appeared.

“Guys wait,” he stated, catching the other’s attention. “Let her breathe for a minute and eat, she just woke up.” The marauders seemed to realize what they were doing because they backed off, causing the girl to shoot Regulus a grateful smile. He grinned in response then watched as she picked up a piece of toast and nibbled on it. No one felt much like talking while she ate.

Time went on and the news of Cecelia’s attack came and went. The girl had a hard time getting back into her classes, and she was thankful the professors were a bit more lenient with her. Things seemed to have gone back to normal, but the guys seemed to notice a small pattern in Cecelia’s day to day life.

It was small at first, but the others seemed to pick up on it quickly. Anytime Cecelia was with one of the marauders and co, especially James, Regulus, Sirius and Remus, she constantly had to be touching one of them.

Usually it was something small; arms linked, head on shoulder (chin on top of the person’s head if they were sitting but she was standing), hands held (platonically for everyone but Regulus), and much more. James assumed it was because she was still tense after the attack, and he couldn’t fault her for that.

In fact, the whole group thought nothing of it, but as the days went on, they noticed Cecelia seemed to hesitate before letting the person she was touching go. Well, Remus was actually the one to notice it, but after he told the others they seemed to recognize that as well. Still, no one bothered her about it.

It wasn’t until they were on the Hogwarts Express going home at the end of the year that all her physical contact made sense. Of course the four marauders sat in their usual compartment, this time with Regulus and Cecelia. Everyone talked about the fun school year they’d had, well, everyone except Cecelia. She just sat by the window staring out into the trees as they passed. Remus, who had been sitting across from her, leaned forward and tapped her knee.

“You okay Cecelia?” He questioned softly. Though he meant for only her to hear it, the others all turned to the girl in question. But she didn’t say anything at first, and continued to stare out the window.

“I think I’m ready to talk,” she muttered so quietly that if the others hadn’t been completely silent, it wouldn’t have been heard. They didn’t need to ask what she wanted to talk about, they already knew. So, Regulus took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“Are you sure?” She nodded her head, finally meeting all the eyes on her one by one. Everyone watched her, still silent as a mouse, as she took a deep breath.

“At first it looked like nothing, just a giant dark shapeless being. It was dark out so I didn’t see it at first until I held my lantern up to get a better look. That’s when it noticed me behind it, and it transformed,” she inhaled sharply as she recalled the events that took place, “first it turned into James lying on the ground. At first I thought he was asleep because he was so still, then I realized he was dead in a puddle of his own blood,” James’ mouth dropped open in a silent gasp, “then it turned into Sirius, who looked like he had been beaten to death.” Sirius was the one to let out an audible gasp while James covered his mouth. “Next came Remus. I believe he had been shot with a silver bullet,” Remus’ already pale face became whiter at the thought, “then Peter, who died of fright based on the look on his face,” Peter squeaked anxiously.

“Finally, it turned into Regulus. He was the worst of all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named stood above him, wand pointed directly at his heart. He only gave me a sinister smile then-“ she cut herself off with a small gasp then a sob escaped her lips. “He used the Killing Curse on him, I watched Regulus die,” she sobbed out. No one had any idea what to say. Regulus was quick to offer comfort to his distressed girlfriend as the others watched on. When she finally settled down enough to continue, she wiped her nose then cast her gaze to the ground.

“I couldn’t think quick enough to cast a patronus and I had dropped my wand anyways, so I couldn’t do anything about it. They just kept playing over and over until I fell to the ground. Even then it wouldn’t stop, I could hear all of your voices yelling horrible things at me. So, I covered my head to try and drown them out, it didn’t work well,” she paused to take a deep breath. No one moved as she did so.

“Finally you guys came looking for me and the boggart disappeared, I guess because it knew there was a group of you and it couldn’t scare all of you at once. But I thought it was just a trick to get me to look, so I didn’t move. That’s why I freaked out when Hagrid touched me. Next thing I knew, I woke up and you lot were standing around my bed looking worried. It had felt so real, and I wanted to make sure of that by touching you. I’m sorry if I made any of you uncomfortable because of that,” she finished. At first no one said anything and she looked between them anxiously. She had to stop herself from jumping when Regulus placed a kiss on the crown of her head.

“Cecelia, you have no reason to apologize. We don’t mind,” he answered for all of them, causing the others to nod.

“Yeah, we completely understand,” James added from beside Remus, taking his sister’s hand. The girl smiled the first genuine smile since her attack, and that lightened the mood. It got even lighter when Gaia opened the compartment door with Violetta behind her.

“It’s been quiet for more than five minutes, we thought you guys died,” she joked. That caused a huge bout of laughter to filter through the air as the two girls stepped inside. Cecelia couldn’t help but smile at her friends as normal conversation continued. It felt as if a large weight had been lifted from her chest after finally getting it all out, now she was ready to face anything as long as she had them.

[knngseulgi]

Seven minutes in heaven

pairing: Eddie Munson x oc (Cecilia Henderson)

note: sorry if this isn’t perfect (it’s literally the first time i post) - also excuse any typos english is not my first language. I just don’t actually like using reader/ y/n so i made an oc for this one. Hope you have fun reading!

second note: this sh1tty tumblr editor probably ate some paragraphs so it’s possible i’ll edit this but yeah - also idk why the spacing in this sucks so bad but anyways. Maybe I’ll post other prompts for the same oc when i write.

word count: 1.7k

warnings: none (it’s basically just fluff and some making out yeah so :)

“Why this face, dolly?” Eddie said, closing the door behind him and looking at his bestfriend’s surprised face.

“It’s just that you’re definitely not who I was expecting to be playing 7 minutes in heaven with”

“Sorry to break your heart” Eddie leaned into the wall and made a pouty face.

“Nah, it’s okay. Better be you than some idiot trying to get in my pants. Sorry to ruin some hookup for you, though”

“You really think something would happen if some girl entered here?”

“Why not?”

“Cece, you’re my only female friend. Maybe you should wonder why”

“What? So you don’t think you can pull a cheerleader or something?”

“Definitely not.”

“Yeah, I just thought about what I said right now, never mind” She giggled a little and leaned against the door, crossing her arms. And looked at his glassy eyes smiling softly at her. What kind of idiotic girl wouldn’t kiss his pretty mouth, she dared to think. But since Hawkins are basically 98% made of idiots, and his beautiful smile was usually hidden beneath leather and metal, it would be of expectancy that no one actually cared. In fact, it was better they didn’t care. Because then his smile would be hers and hers truly - that’s what she thought. Even though she didn’t want to show. Even though Eddie was her bestfriend. Even though she sometimes wished he was something else.

“You know it’s every hawkins teenage boy’s dream to be in here, right? Even Jason and Andy from the team. The smart shy girl in cheerleading that just happens to be so stunning it’s bewitching.” Eddie leaned in to get close to her face to see her better. “And yet here you are huh, locked with your bestfriend that already spends too much time alone with you”. Her eyes wandered his details, searching for any weaknesses that she could grab to tease him. That’s how it worked between them, she thought. Lots of tease, no actual doing. Maybe he should do something this time - she thought.

“Though you could’ve easily refused to come. That must mean something, hm, sweetie? Or you thought you were going to meet Narnia when you opened the door?” She grabbed Eddie by the belt and pulled him closer, putting her hands ever so slightly on his shoulders.

“Sometimes this pretty mouth of yours just needs to know when to shut up”

“Oh, so you think I have a pretty mouth, huh?” She leaned in so close to his face she could feel his breath.

“I’d say it’s kissable even.”

“Well then maybe you should make a move. You probably have - what now - 4 minutes, maybe? Doesn’t leave much for a good kiss, I suspect.” She looked at an imaginary watch in her wrist and giggled. She always giggled.

“Cece, I’m not kidding.” He looked through her eyes and made that face that looked like he dissected her brain and found out about all of her dirty thoughts behind it. She didn’t even realize she frowned her face at him. And for a moment they just stood there in silence.

Eddie thought that was already heaven. To see her so close and yet so distant. Seemed like a prize from the gods. Like his own little taste of sugar syrup, before the medicine hits and she makes an incite to say she’s kidding again. And then he falls from heaven - hitting the ground one more time. But just for one flimsy moment - one tiny little moment - he actually thought about it. About how things would be if closets and cheerleading and Hawkins and popularity were so so distant she would actually accept being a part of his heaven - he didn’t even care if it was just for seven minutes. His childhood bestfriend, that just so happened to be the girl of his dreams, right there, two inches from him. And still just so far he could try forever and not even once meet what he thought she deserved. That’s how it was for him. But then she laughed again - and made that pretty face she always had on - a way to tell him to come back to reality. He didn’t know what to say this time.

“…”

“What now?” She pouted at him.

“Don’t look at me like that - Jesus Christ woman - am I that bad?” Eddie turned his head in a childish way and touched his heart with his right hand. She laughed at his statement.

“We are conspicuously close for me to even lie and say I wouldn’t kiss you right now”

“I don’t even know what conspicuously means”

“It’s like when something is like very visible- y’know? Like it attracts attention?” He got closer, trying to meet her unattentive eyes that wandered everywhere but his face. “My shy girl” - Eddie thought - his own very personal poison.

“So you are conspicuous, I get it”

“I guess that’s sorta correct?” She giggled and smiled. Like a dart in his heart.

“Good. How many minutes, pretty girl?”

“Maybe three. But you can just lock the door, y’know.” She finally had the guts to look at him. Jesus Christ those godamn three inches between their faces never looked so fucking far.

“I don’t think closets lock from inside”

“The one at my house does.“ She touched his cheek gently.

“That’s ‘cause your mom thinks the world is gonna end three times a week” Eddie brought the hand that was deposited in his cheek to his lips and kissed it affectionately.

“Or maybe she’s in favour of best friends making out inside them.”

“…”

“Are you in favour of best friends making out inside very tiny closets that smell like naphthalene?”

“In some situations it may seem fair enough” She shrugged and grinned at him “Like if they were to play seven minutes in heaven, I suppose”.

“Why d’ya always act like a menace and then shrug if off - I can never know if it’s serious or not”

“I’m not a menace.” She frowned at him again using those doe eyes that he endeared so much “You’ll never know if you don’t try”.

“Please, please, please don’t hate me” He got so very close to her lips and looked into her eyes. Those pretty fucking eyes that sunk inside his head and took his soul out.

“I’d never hate you, silly.” She gave Eddie a quick pluck in the lips and wandered through his eyes.

And then he kissed her. The seared lips vibrating together in a way that felt like butterflies hammering his stomach and made his body tingle. And she sighed like it was the first time she was breathing pure air. His gentle hands on both sides of her face, killing softly any type of insecurity that aired inside her. Her fingers ever so slightly touching his curls - god she loved those curls so much. These tiny strands of hair that looked so random and yet so very carefully placed. She loved them. She loved him.

Eddie’s lips quickly turned into a grin - deepening the kiss until his tongue grazed over her plush bottom lip - a soft plea for more. Then the hand that rested on her face eased down to her waist so he could pull himself closer. She just wanted to sink into him. Eddie darted his tongue and flickered it on hers - “God could kill me right now so I’d die happy” he thought.

Her hands that rested on his shoulders brushed over his chest to rest on the button of his jeans vest and play with it and they both opened their eyes - making the air feel so solid you could cut it with a knife. She gazed over her own hands - playing with the hem of his vest. Eddie looked over her again - smiling so softly she felt a rush of blood to every single cell of her body.

“What? Don’t tell me you’re shy now - i can see the redness in ur cheeks from here”

“The light is too dim for you to see it - stop lying, Munson”

“I’m Munson now, huh? No Eddie, no sweetie?” He looks tall from over her and grins - “so fucking cocky”, she thinks. He pecks her lips repeatedly, like if he’s trying to stop her from talking.

“Like if you don’t call me Henderson” She says when he moves to her jaw and brushes his lips there so fucking taunting.

“I’ll change your name then” He grazed his lips downwards, pressing them towards her neck, and kissed her- “maybe i’ll call you a witch - cause you threw a spell on me” and kissed her again “or a siren - because you lured me” and again “or maybe even Arwen - though I would be the one to leave any type of paradise if you weren’t with me” and kissed her neck on that sweet spot just near her ear so that he could whisper for only her to hear:

“I love you Cece. I love you, I love you, I love you. I love you so much my heart feels like it’s sinking. And my hands sweat and my body tingles. I don’t care - I don’t care if you don’t love me back - because loving you is already the closest i’ve ever been to heaven.” Eddie breathed out. And then there it was - the mortifying silence between them as they looked right into each other. Just two stupid kids doing stupid kids stuff inside an unbearably tiny closet.

“I think we’re in here for way over seven minutes”

“Jesus fucking Christ after everything I said that’s the first think you think off I-“

“I love you too, Munson.” She gave him a peck on the lips back, like if returning a favor. She touched her forehead on his shoulder and grazed her hand on his arm. “I love you too”.

“Cece I-“

And then the infamous knock on the door. “Hey you love birds it’s been a long time is everything okay in there?” A familiar voice asked. Eddie held her head with his hand gently so that he could whisper on a raspy tone that made her feel like the only one in the world - “Never been better”.

[poison-shark]

Gotham Bound

Description: Cece Waldron is moving in with her supervillain aunts after being granted a scholarship to a private high school. Slice of Life kinda stuff ensues. But then she receives more than a couple of surprises. Watch out, Gotham City. (Gods, I suck at descriptions)

Characters: Cece Waldron (OC), Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Delia and Lucy Quinzel (Mentioned), The Quinzel Brothers (Mentioned), Nick and Phyllis Quinzel (Mentioned), Special Guest OC

CW: ADHD/Autistic Character gets mildly overestimated, Needles (On like a flu shot level), Blood (a few drops), Shady Adults are still kinda shady, Two people disagree for like a second, New Jersey, Brooklyn (Mentioned), Florida (Also Mentioned I think)

Word Count: 4299

(A/N: Dunno whether or not to make this a full fix. Comment and lemme know pls and thx <3)

Minors DNI -> Nothing is Explicit I'm just covering my bases for the future

Cece’s head was spinning as she peeled her forehead off of the seat in front of her. She had known it was a bad idea to read on the train, but she just couldn't help herself. The trip was excruciatingly dull when the only thing to do was stare out the window at New Jersey’s landfill-ridden countryside for four hours. She had updated herself on all of her favorite YouTube channels while waiting for the train to arrive, so the way Cece saw it she had no choice but to indulge in some Agatha Christie. The motion sickness must have gotten the better of her and put her to sleep judging by the dribble on her chin.

Affixing her glasses that had fallen into her open palm, she lifted her head to check her trip status on the Amtrak app. The plastic of her phone charm clacked against her charm bracelet as she unplugged it from the charger. Only ten minutes left. Had she really spent two hours taking a nap? As she shook her head back into reality once more, blue eyes glanced down at something nudging her feet. The novel she had been reading had not been as fortunate as her eyewear and landed pages down on her cherry-shaped duffle bag, the paperclip she'd been using as a bookmark had been cast to the floor. She cursed to herself and let out a sigh as she leaned down to grab her things and pop them back in her backpack on the seat next to her.

The remainder of the ride into the city was spent gazing out nervously at the Gotham skyline. Gloom and fog hung thick in the air as the rain beat against the windows of the car. What little light there was seemed to be emanating from the city itself despite the fact that it was nearing six o'clock. Cece didn't know if the AC was cranked up or if it was just the fact that they were above the bay, but the compartment was far too cold for early September. She slipped on her red hoodie and shook off the unnatural chill, hoping it wasn't some infamous ice villain deciding to wreak havoc on the train. Somehow, she figured her aunties wouldn't be too pleased knowing some hooligan with superpowers caused her trouble. As the bright lights and neo-gothic architecture loomed ever nearer in the distance, she hoped her future in Gotham City was more exhilarating than the journey there.

Once her feet hit the platform of Gotham Train Station she immediately stumbled back a little. The smells got to her first; pretzels, sandwiches, cigarettes, and human waste. The fluorescent lights cast everything in an eerie green glow that did nothing but worsen Cece's headache. Not to mention the noise of hundreds of people and the screeching of trains. Eager to exit the platform she beelined it up the concrete stairs, bolted through the main dais (completely ignoring the massive, gorgeous, marble hub), and busted out of the revolving door and onto the granite steps outside the station with her luggage in tow.

Hastily, she threw her hood over her head, hiding her low strawberry-blonde pigtail braids, in an attempt to shield herself from the downpour. She pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose and scanned the crowd for one of her aunts, eventually coming up empty, so she shot one of them a text.

Within seconds her aunt replied with a, ‘Be there in a sec,’ and sure enough, a fluorescent, pink helmeted blonde came barreling over the hill on roller skates. In front of her was a shopping cart with a soaked sheet of paper plastered to the front, but as she got closer Cece could begin to read the letters that bled through the disintegrating paper. ‘Welcome Home, Nugget!” it read in bright blue, undoubtedly once scented, marker. Smiley-face stickers flew off in a trail behind her as she dodged pedestrians, hurtling toward her niece at an uncontrollable pace.

The grin on Cece’s face as her aunt pulled over at the bottom of the steps practically split her face in half. The tall woman gazed up the stairs with an equally deranged smile and outstretched her arms toward the child, making a quick flexing motion with her fingers. Excitement buzzed through the small girl’s body, now faced with the reality of being reunited with her aunt. From the top of the steps, she launched her luggage into the cart before backing up and taking a running start, leaping off of the wet stone. Her aunt caught her effortlessly, spinning her around with glee as the two embraced.

“Auntie Harley!”

“Welcome home, Nugget! How was the trip?” her voice cut through the rain like a stray sunbeam, warm and mildly disruptive. She placed her niece back on the ground and nodded to the cart’s main basket. Getting the hint, Cece climbed in.

“It was okay, mostly boring. My head hurts.” the girl complained, adjusting herself against the metal. Her aunt unhooked a neon orange helmet from inside the shopping cart and tossed it to her with a knowing smirk.

“Which book was it?”

“Murder On the Orient Express,”

“Classic! Got to love good old Aggie!” her aunt leaned down and ruffled her hair, “Alright, Nugget, helmet on! This thing doesn't have breaks!”

The pair rocketed uptown to a red-bricked apartment building across the street from the reservoir. Cece knew it was theirs instantly. It looked nearly identical to every other building on the block save for the fact that climbing plants had completely overtaken the sides and roof. They had even surrounded the door, blooming as the Quinzel women approached. The staircases were lined with potted plants that tilted their foliage upwards as the blondes made their way up to the apartment. It almost seemed like they were whispering. The apartment door opened with a slam and out popped her Aunt Ivy. Her red hair was braided to the side draping over an apron that read “What the Fucculent”.

“Hurry up and get inside, you two. Your steaks are gonna get cold.”

The air inside the apartment was a drastic change from the pea soup of the city. It was still humid, but warm, clean, and breathable. The kitchen was especially hot even with the vent fan blasting. On the counter, surrounded by overflowing planters of herbs, was a large plate piled high with steaks. Halfway climbing onto the counter were two massive hyenas, frozen in place as they were caught very obviously trying to snatch up the savory meal. All Auntie Harley did was raise her arms and the giant beasts launched over the counter, scrambled over the tile (knocking into each other rather comically), and tackled the tall blonde woman to the floor. The licking and sniffing didn't let up until Cece shifted the duffel on her shoulder. She was immediately given the same treatment. Bud and Lou hadn't seen her since she was ten so her mother wasn't sure if they would recognize her, but the way the carnivores knocked off her glasses to lick her face more effectively proved otherwise. Soon all four of them were a squirming, giggling mess. Aunt Ivy managed to steal away their attention however by placing the steaks in two dog bowls next to the front door.

Auntie Harley jumped to her feet and hauled the teen up with her and dragged her to the couch. Her aunt patted her head and tossed her the remote before rolling over to the cabinets and producing two plates. The blonde wheeled her way over toward her niece, spinning the plates on her fingertips and humming circus music as she glided. Ivy chuckled in amusement as she set the meat on the coffee table. The redhead removed the apron from her person and hung it on a nearby vine while another root fetched the silverware. Both women plopped down beside the fourteen-year-old and began eating.

“Peanut, skates.” Ivy reminded.

“Oh, right! Thanks, Buttercup!” She started to unlace her roller skates.

“You too, Peaches.”

“Yeah, Nugget! Take a load off!” the blonde demanded. Immediately, the teen kicked off her sneakers. Another root quickly snatched them away down the hall. Whilst her aunts distributed the food, she took it upon herself to flip through the channels on the tv.

“So, Peaches, are you excited about high school?” Aunt Ivy asked, taking a rather late bite of her steak.

“Yeah, it's pretty daunting though. I'm just glad mom thought it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

“You should come with us to orientation, Ives! Go on, Trouble, tell her about your class!” Cece put down the bite of steak she was about to take.

“It’s called ‘Art, Science, and Nature’. It's like environmental science mixed with art class. It looked cool so I thought I’d take it next semester to give myself a break from playwriting class.” Ivy’s expression barely shifted, but the room filled with a subtle floral scent, and spindly blue flowers sprouted from her hair.

“That sounds wonderful, Peaches. Let me know if you’ll be needing any help.” Her earnestness took physical form as more flora bloomed throughout the apartment. Cece smiled as she flipped the channel over to the news in her search.

“Will do, Aunt I-”

“- The old Nestler Textile plant is set to be demolished tomorrow morning to make way for the new Wayne Pet Rescue Shelter,” informed the news anchor, “This is immediately following the buyout of Nestler Textiles by Wayne Enterprises after the former’s pollution fiasco last week. We were unable to get a quote from former C.E.O. Richard Nestl-” Cece flipped the channel once more and settled on the classic cartoon reruns. The green woman simply crossed her arms and leaned back with a sneer.

“Of course, that nasty meat suit has nothing to say for himself. Pumping all those pollutants into the bay, poisoning the water, destroying The Green. He’s just lucky the bat was there to keep me from strangling him with my babies.”

“Would you believe it, Munchkin? He poisoned nearly half the city and they're gonna let him off with a slap on the wrist!” Harley exclaimed, “That reminds me, Nugget, don't drink the tap water. At least not until the city filters all that crud out.” She wagged a finger at her niece. “Or until you're up to date on your shots.” The teen cocked her head to the side.

“My shots? I'm up to date. Went to the clinic last week for physicals.” The blonde doctor glanced at the chipped varnish on the floorboards.

“Well, Kiddo, as you know Gotham’s a pretty dangerous place,” her tone was laced with a cautiousness that her aunt hadn't used in years, “and sometimes your Aunt Ivy and I can instigate danger, so while you're staying with us we wanted to make sure you're prepared.”

“We asked your mother and she permitted us to give you an immunity vaccine.” Doctor Pamela Isley was never one to beat around the bush.

“Basically, it'll just keep you from croaking if you bump into Ivy while living here.”

“You'll be insusceptible to most toxins, but it comes with side effects.”

“Like what?” Cece questioned, popping more steak in her mouth.

“Heightened strength and speed, but only slightly. You'll still be mostly normal.”

“Well, as normal as a Quinzel gets, y’know? But we're not gonna force you to take the shot if you don't want t-”

“-If you say it's safe and you think it'll help then I'm sold.”

“Really?” Both of her aunts eyed her with varying degrees of skepticism.

“Of course!” the bespectacled girl reassured them, “If you two think it's necessary and Mom said it was fine then sure. Have at my arteries!” She shrugged and finished off her steak. Swiftly, she snatched up her and Aunt Ivy’s plates and slid on her socks over to the sink, and started washing.

“Remember-” Ivy barely had to remind her.

“Turn the water off while soaping them up. I got it.” Harley grinned at her niece, brimming with pride.

After the clown queenpin finished dinner, Ivy retreated to the bathroom to grab her equipment. Minutes later she emerged with a syringe, some gloves, ethanol, a cotton pad, and a glass medicine vial containing a swirling purple liquid. She handed the materials off to her wife who quickly slapped on the gloves before she grabbed the pad and placed it at the mouth of the alcohol bottle. She tipped it over, sure to saturate cotton enough, and took the pad to her niece's arm, rubbing small circular motions into the flesh. The psychiatrist then removed the plastic cap on the needle and stabbed it into the metal cap of the vial, measuring slightly over the amount. She squeezed the syringe a bit to remove any air and adjust the amount, which caused some of the liquid to squirt out. When the purple liquid was exposed to the air it transmuted into a green vapor.

“Cool,” Cece remarked, eyebrows raised and clearly fascinated. Ivy chuckled at the girl’s wonder. Meanwhile, her other aunt had jabbed her arm with the needle already and was pushing the stopper down evenly. The teen twinged in pain as the solution settled into her bloodstream. “That does not feel great.”

“Tastes worse, trust me,” warned Harley.

“Wait, you mean I could have just drunk it?”

“Believe me, Nugget, this was the least painful option.” Her aunt discarded the used materials in the trash can by the door.

“Bullshit! You just wanted to play doctor,” she smirked. The taller blonde turned dramatically and scoffed.

“Honey,” she mockingly flipped her hair, “I don't gotta play doctor. I am a doctor!” With each word her Brooklyn accent thickened.

“Of course, you are, Peanut.” chimed Ivy, earning a laugh from their younger relative.

“Red!” Harley whined.

The green woman placed a quick peck on her wife’s cheek as she moved back to the couch. She snatched up a book from under the coffee table, flitted through it, identified where she left off and tuned out the world. Harley sauntered over to her niece, swinging an arm around the girl’s shoulders and hugging her close, she walked them both past the breakfast bar. “Wanna see your room?”

“Duh!” the teen responded fervently.

The former supervillain led her niece to a dark wood door beside the kitchen. Moss and lichen sprawled across the paneled surface, coating the door in a glittering green carpet while the orange of the lichens spelled out her name. As the teenager reached for the shoddy doorknob to reveal her home for the next four years, her aunt paused her.

“Before we go in there, I wanna make sure you know that if you don't like it we can always change it. Y’know, move some stuff, repaint, and such? So don't feel like you have to like it just because we set it up and you don't want to hurt our feelings.” Cece’s arms wrapped around her aunt in an instant and Harley patted her hair comfortingly as she squeezed back. “Alrighty! You ready?” Cece nodded her head vigorously. “Okay, okay, okay! Close your eyes, Nugget! Pammy, get the camera!”

Hands quickly shrouded the fourteen-year-old’s vision as she stumbled for the knob. Pushing inwards, she released her grip as she was coaxed forward a few paces into the room. “Okay, Trouble! Open those peepers!”

The first thing Cece noticed was that the quilting on the bed matched the patchwork curtains framing the window it was pushed against. As her fuzzy socks padded across the beige carpet, she took in the wallpaper, obviously new, on her way to the bed. It was cream and bright, unlike the rest of the apartment’s faded and stained yellow, and printed on it were strands of lovely orange flowers. The fresh coat of sage green was smooth atop the frame that encased the mattress. When she drifted her fingers over the iron there was no trace of her great-grandmother's old headboard, save for the shape of the welded metal.

“Is this actually Gee-Bee’s bed?”

“Well, it's a new mattress, but yeah. Your Uncle Barry and Uncle Frankie fixed it up for you before they brought everything up.”

“Everything?” Her aunt motioned to the end table directly beside the girl’s new bed. Cece could hear the roaring of her blood and the beating of her heart.

“This was Zayde’s,” She placed a hand gingerly on the nightstand, the walnut cold against her skin.

“Yep! Now, it's yours!”

“And Buh-Beeps just let you have it?”

“Nope!” popped Harley, “Hell no! She let you have it. Ma doesn't even remotely trust me with this stuff, but, and I quote, ‘Gotham’s a scary place, Harleen! She needs to feel as comfortable as possible! Better just give her the full set.’” The teen’s eyes morphed into dinner plates as she scanned the room for more of her grandfather’s things.

There, adjacent to the door, blocked by the comfiest-looking orange leather armchair, drowning in cardboard boxes, was the matching writing desk. The one she'd adored as a child, sitting in Zayde’s lap as he taught her how to play poker or watch him write his memoirs. On said desk, now in her new room, was her most recent Quinzel family photo, framed in a novelty Harley Quinn picture frame, illuminated by her grandfather's stained glass desk lamp.

Across from the window, on the opposite side of the room, stood the holy grail of Zayde’s possessions. The bookcase. She strode the width of the small room and at once skimmed her fingers along the side, between the wood and the plaster that made up her closet. Her fingers finally brushed a clear piece of tape and began intently pressing her digits into the same area of walnut. Soon she felt it; the divet where two different seams of lumber met. Cece made quick work of the tape and pushed up at the fissure, revealing a small velvet compartment that housed the tiny brass key. Removing the key from its cubby, the teen unlocked the glass-paneled doors of the antique shelving. It was as if the cabinet had let forth a fierce gust of wind, knocking the air out of her lungs. “We wanted you to put the books in yourself. Lucy thinks you're particular and your mom said you didn't like it when people touch your stuff without permission.”

“They're both right,” she confirmed, still gaping at the impressive piece of furniture.

“Same goes for your clothes. They're all in those boxes on the desk. Your hamper and Gee-Bee’s dresser are in the closet too, just to give you some extra storage.”

The teen paused as she went to slide open the closet door, noting the odd texture of the charcoal-colored paint. “Do you like it? It's chalkboard paint! It was your Uncle Ezzie’s idea! He thought that if you're gonna go to fancy art high school, you should have somewhere fancy to put all the big creative brainstorms you're gonna have! Pretty cool, right?” At that, the young blonde started tearing up, grateful to her hood for hiding her expression from her aunt.

“Yeah,” she agreed, sliding the door open, “it's way cool.” Once the wooden panel landed flush behind the other, Cece spotted them. A squeal left her throat before she could stop it.

“Oh, did you finally notice the-”

“The knobs!” Aunt Ivy’s laughter could be heard from the living room. Set into the fragrant chest of drawers were new handles. Green and orange glass flowers had been fitted into the cedar drawers, replacing the outdated cloth-coated wooden ones. “Wait, what do you mean ‘finally’?” She scoped the room once more, this time actively attempting to focus, and realized everything openable had the new glass daisies. “My life is complete!” Her fists pumped into the sky.

“You can thank your baby sister for those. She sent them to Red on Instagram and you know how your aunt is.”

“Lucy can have anything she wants for the rest of forever! These are so sweet!”

“Careful, Peaches, she'll take you up on that.” Ivy cautioned, now standing beside her wife, “and now that we're on the topic of sweetness there's one more surprise.”

“There is?” Harley raised her brow at her spouse. The vines and leaves that covered the ceilings throughout the entire apartment (and had been recording her reaction with Ivy’s phone), began to shutter and shift something they had entangled in their tendrils. Slowly, they extended the rather large item downward, depositing whatever it was in the corner of her room. The foliage soon retreated and revealed… more foliage. Now, enclosed between her bed and desk, there was a sapling in a terracotta pot.

“A tree… thanks.” Ivy simply rolled her green eyes at the teen’s sass, the vibrancy of which increased tenfold as the plant wedged in the corner started to shimmy. A creaking noise emitted from its bark as its branches stretched upwards and outwards, curling around the windows and swallowing the ceiling in twigs and leaves. Rapidly, flowers sprouted and blossomed with reckless abandon, and as quickly as they arrived, they were replaced with plump, fuzzy peaches. “Whoa… Sick!”

Ivy sidled up to her niece with an outstretched palm. Without a second thought, Cece held her aunt’s hand like she'd done a million times before. Snappier than the girl could register, a thorn jutted out of the May Queen’s palm, pricking the blonde. The minuscule droplets of blood beaded along the seam of the nick once the teenager withdrew her palm.

“What the hell, Pammy?” contested Harley, rushing to dress the child’s wound. She was stopped, however, by her spouse. Seeing her aunts about to have a domestic dispute, Cece speedily intervened.

“Auntie Harley, it's ok. Aunt Ivy never does anything without a reason.” At the soothing tone of the fourteen-year-old's voice, the older Quinzel’s shoulders unclenched. Ivy smiled sweetly at her niece, gratitude dripping with every crimson pearl.

“Put your palm to the roots.” Unlike her usual commanding tone, this seemed to be something of a request. Cece obeyed as Harley pouted apprehensively, muttering something about infections. She soon ate her words, however, when the rough bark vibrated and Green ripped through the tree. Suddenly, the peaches ripened, the bark strengthened, and the leaves were more vibrant. “It will respond to you now. Protect you if need be.”

“Cool…” claimed the Quinzels in unison. The younger one plucked a stone fruit from a branch. Sweet juice dribbled out her mouth as she chomped down, the fuzzy skin tickling her nose. She hummed in delight and thanked her aunt once more, this time genuinely.

All it took was one yawn from the child and Harley was ushering herself and Ivy out to let her rest after her long day. Despite that, Cece ignored her drowsiness and decided to organize her clothes. She only brought a few boxes a couple of months prior, and she knew her aunts were taking her back-to-school shopping later in the week, so she decided to put away what she could to avoid the hassle.

Halfway through folding her sweaters something hit her window with a thunk. She paused for a moment before she decided to return to her closet and placed her knitwear in a dresser drawer. Her braids smacked her in the face when she whipped her head around at the second thunk. She waited again. Silence.

‘It was probably a pigeon,’ she justified. The teen then continued to arrange her clothing. Five minutes later, the clanging of metal on the other side of the glass startled her out of flattening the cardboard. Grateful for the cover the thick, patchwork curtains provided, she tiptoed back over to her desk. Sifting through the package heap, she slid out a faded blue duffel with her name on it. From her softball bag, the blonde produced her trusty bat, rubber grip familiar in her grasp. She ducked behind the metal footboard and raised her weapon. Seconds passed as she sat crouching with her bat primed.

Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!

She waited with bated breath. For what? She didn’t know. For someone to break into her room. A random Scarecrow gas attack. A very dedicated Jehovah's Witness. A fiber optic salesman gunning for a promotion. Whatever it was, she was ready. What she hadn’t considered was that the mystery thunker would just leave. Surely enough, the clanging of metal returned, decreasing in volume as the perpetrator climbed down the fire escape. Ten more minutes passed before she hopped to her feet, bat in hand, and quickly whipped the curtain away.

At least it wasn’t a ruse. The metal landing was bare, but as she hopped on her bed to look closer she spotted someone retreating from the pulled down ladder. She couldn’t maneuver herself into a better position to see the thunker, but out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a canary yellow sewing pin sticking a small piece of cream fabric to her window sill. In shiny, navy blue embroidery were the words, ‘Nestler Textiles Plant #9 451 Smelter Place’ in a gorgeous almost handwritten cursive. However, sewn haphazardly over the lovely script was a fraying carmine thread that taunted in sloppy print, ‘COME AND PLAY’.

Never one to turn down an invitation, she laced up her limited-edition Poison Ivy sneakers, slid up her window, and leaped onto the fire escape. As she cautiously closed her window, she snapped up the tag and pin. Then the blonde climbed onto the metal railing and front-flipped, landing gracefully on the asphalt below. Smirking, Cece Waldron strolled out of the alley, head low, red hood up.

Tags: @a-god-in-crime-alley @saturniidz @gegeru @oathofoaks @insideoflit

Message me if you wanna be tagged. I don't really check my inbox.

[homeformyheart]

Oh Jen! The #35 with Adam and Regina please 😂💕

thanks soso! this is such a hilarious prompt xD

author’s note: this is such a funny scenario, thank you for the request. hope you all enjoy! copyright: all characters, except the oc detective and kids, are owned by mishka jenkins @seraphinitegames. series/pairing: the wayhaven chronicles – adam du mortain x f!detective (regina bishop) rating/warnings: 13+; swearing based on/prompt: little ones // 35. Little one sticking pretzel sticks up their nose. word count: ~600 summary: regina finds that her babysitters aren’t quite doing what they’re supposed to.

regina paused in the kitchen doorway, holding her two-year-old daughter against her hip and watching farah rummage around the cupboards on her tiptoes.

“what are you looking for?”

“snacks.”

she raised an eyebrow at the vampire who grabbed several packages of pretzels and waltzed past her toward the bedrooms.

“aunt farah is probably up to something since she doesn’t need to eat snacks, don’t you think, cece?” she asked her daughter, who was too busy trying to chew on regina’s hair to notice.

she gently pulled her hair out of the toddler’s mouth. “i am probably going to regret this, but better me than adam i guess,” she sighed as she headed to her old room in the warehouse that had since been converted to the children’s bedroom.

“let’s go, jackie. one more.”

regina was surprised to hear morgan’s voice join farah’s in egging on her son as she nudged the door open. her jaw dropped to find that five-year-old jacques was sitting between his aunts on the floor with half-empty bags of pretzel sticks and crumbs scattered about.

“what the fuck?”

jacques looked up at his mother’s voice with a fistful of pretzel sticks, five currently shoved up his nose, and his other hand in the process of adding a sixth.

“shit—i mean, crap,” regina stamped her foot in frustration at the fact that she couldn’t seem to stop cursing in front of her children. “never mind. jacques baby, can you put down the pretzels?”

five-year-old jacques sneezed and most of the pretzels came flying out. morgan recoiled from the sound and sight of jacques’ dripping nose and regina sighed.

“i expected this from farah, but morgan? you both better clean this up and clean him up before adam gets home,” she warned, shifting cecilia to her other hip and reaching into her pocket for some wipes.

“do i even want to ask?”

they all collectively jumped at the sound of adam’s voice behind regina. even morgan had the decency to look somewhat abashed, although the smirk on her face said she was enjoying this.

“papa!”

jacques stood up, the pretzels in his hands falling to the floor, forgotten, and walked towards the door. regina smiled and moved into the room so adam could pick up his son.

she handed cecilia to farah so she could help clean jacques’ face with a wipe before giving her son a kiss on the cheek and her husband a kiss on the lips.

“can you put him down for his nap?”

adam lifted his chin in the direction of the room behind her. “of course, but perhaps we could leave pretzels off the grocery list in the future?”

she chuckled and patted his back as he walked down the hallway before turning back to the room. morgan had handed cecilia a pretzel stick and the two-year-old was about to put it in her mouth.

regina let out an exasperated sigh. “those were on the floor. and she’ll choke. i can’t leave you alone for two minutes, can i?”

“probably not a good idea, sweetheart,” morgan smirked.

cecilia let out a whine as regina picked her up and grabbed the pretzel from her. “clean this up,” she ordered, glaring pointedly at farah and morgan.

“yes, ma’am,” farah teased with a mock salute.

regina just shook her head and followed adam down the hallway.

farah looked between morgan and the pretzels on the floor. “i won! i told you regina would be more likely to be upset than adam.”

morgan rolled her eyes. “fine, but i’m still not cleaning this up.”

* * * * * taglist: @kelseaaa; @kat-tia801; @anotherbeingsworld; @crackerdumortain; @gloynporslen; @writer-ish; @sosolenoo; @alyssalauren; @fhauvilles; @wayhavenots; @gingerbreton; @takemyopenheart; @pearlsandsteel;

[incandescent-eden]

Claire [Part 3]

Desc: Claire reminisces with Cecil ( @sinnabon-cosplay ‘s OC) and meets up with Anthony, who has romantic notions of the 1700s.

Word Count: 1281

TW/CW:��N/A

“I was with Friedrich there,” Claire reminisced, pointing at the point on the bridge where Anthony was excitedly snapping pictures. She waved halfheartedly as Anthony waved his arm at them excitedly. “We were just walking. But then Maman came to get me. And I met you.”

“Do you miss Friedrich?” Cecil asked, almost like he was afraid to know the answer.

“Oh god no,” Claire smiled slightly. “It was over two hundred years ago. I honestly haven’t thought about him in a while. Just… being back here. Reminds me that he’s gone. And Maman and Thomas and Papa… it’s weird to think about, to be honest.”

“Did you regret meeting me?”

Claire did not look at Cecil. “My life ended that day,” she finally replied, deliberately ignoring his question. “Not literally. That took a few more months. But you diagnosed me with consumption. That… that was like a death sentence.”

“It was a death sentence.” Cecil clasped his hands together, staring at his slender, interlocked fingers. “I -”

“Don’t!” Claire interjected quickly. “It was the 1700s. There was no vaccine, no medicine. Nothing you could do.”

Cecil opened his mouth to protest but quickly shut it again.

Claire giggled, feeling the tense moment pass. “Even you can’t argue with that, Cecil.”

Cecil harrumphed, crossing his arms over his chest, but the smirk that tugged at the corners of his mouth betrayed his amusement.

Sighing deeply, Claire looked back at the bridge, fondly this time.

Suddenly, Anthony popped up in front of them, prompting Claire to scream in surprise. “Don’t! Do that!” she angrily hissed at Anthony, still trying to catch her breath and regain her composure.

Anthony stuck out his tongue. “Sorry, I didn’t think you were off in Claire-land,” he grinned, waving his hand in circles near his temple. He looked over and noticed the somber expression that had not quite faded from Cecil’s face. “Whoa, what are you two so mopey about?” he asked, interest clear on his face. There was concern in his voice, though, in his defense.

“It’s nothing, Anthony,” Claire reassured him in the same soothing tone she had often used with her mother and younger brother. “If you’re done, why don’t we go back inside? We can escape the heat a bit,” she fanned herself with one hand as she purposefully lead Anthony away from the topic of her conversation with Cecil. It really was hot, the kind of heat where even a light cotton shirt was plastered to one’s back, and the sun was so blindingly bright that the world seemed to shimmer and wave in front of one’s sight.

Well meaning but easily distracted Anthony delightedly agreed. “Yeah! I wanna see the ballroom!” He did not wait for his companions, but rather grabbed Cecil’s and Claire’s hands and tugged until they got up. “Last one there has to buy the others ice cream!” he challenged.

Claire and Cecil exchanged a glance.

Claire dashed off. “Sorry, Cece!” she called out behind her. Cecil cursed as he ran to catch up.

Anthony was waiting for both Claire and Cecil, his hands on his hips, at the entrance of the ballroom. Behind him, other tourists were milling about, examining the plaques on the walls that told the history of the ballroom. Some bought souvenirs from the little kiosks set up in the corners of the ballroom while others marveled at the crystal chandelier, or the intricate wallpaper. A little blond girl with lopsided pigtails chased an even smaller boy with a red toy truck - presumably her brother - around the room, the two having broken free from their mother’s grip as the young woman watched them in exasperation.

“Can’t you just imagine it?” Anthony asked, doing a slow turn with his arms out in a mock waltz. “The music! And the ballgowns!”

“And the stench,” Claire muttered, her eyes fixed on the center of the ballroom where the little boy she had previously seen was now struggling to reclaim his truck from his older sister’s hands. She thought she could vaguely smell the heavy perfume and powders the ladies would use to cover up the smell of all the rarely washed bodies of even the nobles mingling with the wine that they served, and the harsh scent of charred meat.

“I can,” Cecil replied, smiling at Anthony. “Although, your form is… horribly wrong,” he teased.

Anthony rolled his eyes. “Not all of us have lived through the eighteenth century and can remember a ball from three hundred years ago, right, Claire?” he joked.

But Claire shook her head sadly and whispered, “I can, too.”

Realizing his blunder, Anthony rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. “Gee, Claire, I forgot, I’m sorry, I - ”

Claire shook her head again. “It’s okay,” she reassured him. “It was a long time ago.”

It seemed even to herself that she was lying. In truth, it was a long time ago - over two centuries, in fact. Yet something about being here, back at the manor, made her ache with longing, not knowing quite for what she was longing. She paused at every door they opened; she swore she could feel her family on the other side - perhaps Maman would be dressing, or Thomas would be reciting verses as Papa quizzed him.

Perhaps if she waited long enough before entering, if she closed her eyes and waited, then when she opened them again, when she finally entered, it would be 1753 and she would run into the room in her gown with its heavy petticoats and her hair freshly curled and her hands perfumed, and Maman would scold her for running, her stern brow furrowed, because running in with her skirts and limbs flapping about did not befit a lady of Claire’s station, and Papa would be going over his accounts, squinting as his sight had slowly been leaving him in the past few years, but would look up and smile as she gave him a kiss on the cheek, and Thomas would crinkle his nose and puff out his pink cheeks as she ruffled his long blond hair and teased him about the way he smelled although he really did not smell at all, and she would think to herself oh how sad it was that Matthieu and Henriette were not still alive to enjoy this moment on such a lovely day with her, but they would be a mere passing thought in her head because they had passed away over five years ago, and it was a long time ago, and it truly would have been a long time ago in her heart.

But each time, when Claire opened her eyes, there, in the beloved rooms she had known since her birth, were strangers walking around, dressed in modern clothes from the twenty first century and examining everything like it was new and foreign and not just part of their usual lives because for them, unlike for Claire, this place was a vacation, a tourist stop to check off the list and from which to remember a few facts and take a few pictures and then return home and gush about it to their friends before promptly forgetting the Pontrose Manor as they returned to their daily lives.

Claire had no such luxury of forgetting. Every room she passed, she could not help but remember. She was a ghost, trapped on the wrong side of death, haunting the dead instead of the living.

The little boy had reclaimed his truck. The girl had undone one of her braids and was now placidly walking alongside her mother who tethered one child on each hand.

Can you imagine it? Anthony had asked.

Claire could.

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[aliypop]

It Feels So Right

Word Count: 2,471

Writers Note: Since you voted for this one here you go!

Warning: SMUT

Pairing: POC OC x Elvis

Plot: 1955 The Garnets and The Blue Moon boys are all on tour alongside Elvis and Cecelia, with Hank Snow and the rest, but when a rainy night happens Elvis and Cecelia learn that the developing feelings they have for each other feel so... Right.

Taglist

@darkmoviesquotespizza

@sissylittlefeather

@richardslady121

@thegettingbyp2

@presleyenterprise

@dkayfixates

@rjmartin11

@thetaoofzoe

@your-nanas-house

@zayurir

@60svintage

@sillybookmarks

@leapresley

@everythingelvispresley

@dreamondina94

@elvismylove04

@pocketfulofpresley

May 1955 

"So the chord progression is...." Cecelia trailed off as she looked over and saw Elvis, his fingers on the fret of his guitar, her cheeks rosy as she caught him looking back at her. Elvis and Cecelia had been friends now for a year. Yet their bandmates knew there was chemistry between them, "The chord progression is what?" Rosa asked, her guitar in hand as Cecelia was still stuck, 

"D, G, C, Then D." Daphane said as she laughed, "But there's another D on Cecelia's mind." Cecelia snapped back when she heard Carlotta and Rosa laughing, 

"I am not thinking of Elvis at all..." Cecelia huffed,

"No one mentioned him," Daphane smirked as Cecelia rolled her eyes. Sun had partnered up with Paradise Records to crossover some of their audience to a broader black audience, thus the reason Cecelia and her gobsmacking Garnets were on a tour bus with Elvis and many other artists on a tour. Hosted by Hank Snow, an acquaintance of Cecelia's mother, who wasn't accompanying her on the tour. However, her mother's assistant. Midge would be their babysitter, as Carlotta would put it. 

They had made a quick lunch stop as Cecelia stayed on the bus to rework the arrangements of songs for the tour. She never meant to separate herself,

"Cece catch!" Elvis threw a burger at her, and she caught it as she laughed, 

"Did you get bacon on it?"

"Oh shoot, I forgot..." He said in a sarcastic tone. He noticed her nose scrunch up as he smirked, "Of course I did!" He laughed as she sat next to him, 

"So how's the arrangin goin'," Elvis asked, biting into his burger,

"Not good..." She blushed. Looking away as she bit into her burger, Elvis touched her hand. and her insides tingled,

 "What's going on with it..." He asked. Taking a glance at her, Cecelia sighed, "Rosa's an alto, Daphane is a tenor and Carlotta's pitchy," 

"Bit bitchy too..." Elvis mumbled, 

"What was that?"

"A bit pitchy too, I-I agree." He laughed as she leaned closer to him. "I know what you said, Pres." She playfully punched him as he pulled her into his lap, her legs flying up in her pink pants, 

"ELVIS!!!!" She squeaked as he kept laughing, his tongue pressed against her face as he licked her cheek like a happy dog, "You had mustard on yer face." He winked as she chuckled, 

"How's things with you and Dixie..." Changing the subject so she could ground herself,

 "Oh... uh..."

"Uh oh, I know that face..." Cecelia looked into his eyes, her heart pounding as she wanted to grab him and kiss him, 

"We uh didn't make it..." 

"You took her to prom and..." 

"She said the fame was gettin too much for her to handle." 

"Geez, Pres, I'm sorry..." Her eyes had a compassionate feel to them."I know you loved her," She hugged him as he blushed hard. He loved Dixie, but when he was in Cecelia's arms, he couldn't help but feel like he was home. 

"I've gotten over it." He shrugged,

"Well, I uh broke up lately too," Elvis looked shocked. He didn't know she was seeing anyone, and suddenly. There was a pit of butterflies in his stomach taking over where jealousy was about to form. 

"Well, not exactly a breakup, more like we went out, and it just wasn't uh..."

"Right." He responded as their eyes met, "Yeah..." She looked down at his lips as she began to imagine how they'd feel on hers, 

"Scotty!" Rosa giggled, 

"Tonight... would be perfect, rain and love maki-" The two stopped as they saw Elvis and Cecelia, the two clearing their throats as they blushed,

 "Uh..."

"Don't care..." Carlotta sighed. As the rest of the artists got back on the bus. The night then began to fall as Cecelia and Elvis were now in the back clowning around and reading, 

"Will you two knock it off!" DJ shouted playfully as the pair laughed, balancing coins on his head, "Sorry, DJ!" Hank shook his head. It was like herding cats, except the cats were America's brightest stars. Cecelia then pulled out a book. 

"The Return of The King?" Elvis questioned as Cecelia looked up.

"Yes..." 

"Oh great, she's reading her nerd book..." Rosa groaned, 

"You like J.R.R. Tolkien!" he grinned as she nodded, "Mind if I read with ya..." He asked as Cecelia smiled, 

"I don't mind." She pulled out her blanket and pulled him close to her, 

"You can get under it if you'd like."

"I wanna get under you..." He mumbled as Cecelia turned red and ignored his comment, but Elvis knew she heard him. Getting under, he took the book from her as he read. His voice was soothing and relaxing as she lay in his lap, "Elvis..."

"Hmm..."

"N-nothing." She took a deep breath as Elvis winked, "You sure, darlin?"

"Yeah." 

The bus had stopped at the motel as the ground rules were set to who was staying where and who would be sharing what rooms. 

"I'm staying with Scotty tonight..." Rosa smirked as Cecelia nodded. She was still stuck at what happened, the feeling she felt in his lap, the feeling she got looking at him, "Hey, Cece, you okay?" Rosa asked, changing into her sexy negligee, "Yeah... I uh," she wrapped her arms around herself, "Uh oh... You're in love." Rosa smiled,

 "Or lust..." 

"L-Lust...I've never..."

"C, you're a woman, not a little girl anymore, no matter how your mama treats you,"

"But... I promised my mother I'd-"

"She's not here, and Midge is at a Casino with her wife. Let loose a little," Rosa said as she chuckled, "Besides if you don't stew Elvis's cabbage, someone else will..." Rosa said as Cecelia rolled her eyes, but she was right, 

"It's not sex, Rosa, I... Love him." She sat by the window as she swooned,

"Okay, and so do many others..." She turned to face her friend as she was applying her makeup, "Oh... You're in love, love..." Rosa giggled, "Awe, finally!" She cheered as Cecelia blushed hard," I knew you liked him since that night in the diner, but you came to your feelings." She kept awing at her, "Does Elvis know..." Rosa asked, 

"No..." Rosa face-palmed at Cecelia, 

"So you're saying you got a thing for Val?" DJ smirked, "We knew that." Scotty added as Elvis rolled his eyes, "I don't know if she's into me..." He sighed as his bandmates stared at him, "Elvis... She adores ya." Bill laughed, "No girl would share her book with you less she likes you," DJ added as Elvis nodded, "You got a point," Elvis smiled, he had loved Cecelia since he met her, but what he was feeling tonight was a bit different, with the pitter-patter of the rain of the window he could imagine holding her close and kissing her lips and trailing sweet kisses down her,

 "So, Elvis, you know when Rehearsals are?"

"Hell, if I know Scotty..." 

KNOCK

     KNOCK

KNOCK

The door opened, and there stood Rosa in her robe as she looked at Scotty, "Goodnight gentlemen..." Rosa said, practically kicking them out of the room as Elvis, DJ, And Bill stood laughing, "Well, we're gonna hit the hay, but you have a good night, E." 

Cecelia tried to go to sleep, but she couldn't. She kept thinking of Elvis and how she wanted him close to her, but nothing would do, "Guess I'll call..." Taking the phone into the room, she called her mother,

 "Denise Valmos speaking, who's this?"

"It's just me calling to say we made it to the motel. We have rehearsals tomorrow at 10 am." She smiled, 

"Mhmm and you're staying clear of that Elvis boy?" Cecelia felt her heart flutter at the mention of his name, "Y-Yeah..."

"Good, you know they say he could be a sexual deviant." Denise sighed, 

 "Mother..."

"Yes..."

"Nothing, I'll call you tomorrow." Cecelia smiled and hung up. Putting on her heeled slippers, she put on her dramatic robe and walked to the tour bus, opening the door. She sat in the back and leaned against the cool metal wall of the bus as the rain dropped. It reminded her of the tin roof she grew up under as a kid. Her mind began to wander, and Elvis was in all her thoughts as she blushed. Maybe it was time to tell him that she liked him, 

"This... Uh, bus taken?" 

"Not at all..." His hair was a bit wet from the rain. She bit her lip, not knowing what her body was going through, but she wouldn't say she wasn't enjoying it, 

"Couldn't sleep either, huh?"

"Not really..." She sighed, "A lot on my mind..."

"Like what? " 

"Well... There's this someone I like a lot..." Elvis felt a punch in his gut as he tried to smile,

 "Oh... What's this, fella like..." 

"Well, he's... Charmin, smart, kind, funny, country..." She got closer to him, 

"Sounds good... What's he look like?"

"Tall, dark handsome..." That could be anyone, was what Elvis thought, "Beautiful blue eyes and the most pouty kissable lips." Elvis smirked as he turned to her, his signature curl stuck to his forehead as she bit her lip. Elvis leaned in closer, 

"Would I know him..." Cecelia got closer, 

"Depends..."

"Who is it..."

"You..." She smirked as she felt his lips on hers. They were as soft as a dream cloud, and suddenly, her brain was flaming, her eyes were closed, and the rain was falling harder. Elvis licked her bottom lip as she opened her mouth, heat radiating off of them as his heart was beating faster. Her thighs were by both sides of his legs, and she was on top of him, 

"Didn't think you'd be this kind of girl..." He smirked,

"Neither did I..." She giggled, and the two continued to make out as Elvis was now on top of her, her leg wrapped around his waist as he was now kissing down her neck, 

"May I have you..."

"Yes..." She moaned as she blushed. She was shocked at herself. One-half of her wished she'd said no, but the rest of her wanted this new forbidden feeling. 

"You sure..."

"More than anything..." She smiled at him. Elvis pulled himself out from his pajama pants as she gasped,

 "Mind putting me in, honey." He asked as she blushed. Cecelia had no clue what she was doing, but neither did Elvis, but still, it felt so right. Although Elvis was big, he was girthy and gentle. Cecelia held onto him. She was adjusting to his size as she hid her face in his shoulder, 

"What's wrong..."

"Embarrassed," She sighed,

"It's just us and the rain," He kissed her neck as he smiled, his hands touching the silk of her nightgown, "Just us..." His hips sputtered into her as she moaned again,

 "You okay?"

"Mhmm..." Cecelia blushed, "Could you do that again..." His hips moved again as she let out another breathy moan, 

"You like that..." His voice was husky,

"Yes..." The rain continued to beat harder against the window that was fogging up. His hands were on her hips as her eyes closed from the pleasure.

"Look at me, princess..." Her eyes opened as she fell in love even more,

 "Oh..."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing... I liked that too." She felt him picking up the pace with his thrust as she began to grind into him. It was like a dance. He'd lead, and she'd follow, 

"Fuck.. Cece!"

"Yes!" She gasped, her hands pressed against the glass of the back window,

 "Faster!"

"Like that?"

"A little more..." She moaned, her back arching at the sight, 

"Like that?"

"A bit more..." Elvis gripped her hips as he began to roll his hips into her, 

"Fuck fuck fuck yes! YES!" Cecelia nearly growled, 

"Oh God! Cece, you feel so good." Elvis trembled, feeling her tighten around him. He was hitting her G-spot, and she was loving it. Her body fell into what some would call pleasure, "More!" She began to beg as Elvis closed his eyes. He was nearing his end as he moaned in her ear, "Fuck..." He shuttered as Cecelia felt warm inside, her breathing heavy as Elvis felt drowsy.

 "Elvis..."Her eyes were wide.

"Hmm..."

 "Did we just have..." 

"Mhmm..." 

"Do you think she knows..."

"Who?"

"My mama... What if she knows!" Cecelia asked, "What if I failed her, and she can feel it..." She said as Elvis laughed and kissed her. "What Mrs. Valmos won't know won't hurt her," He pulled her close, "As long as I didn't get you pregnant..." Elvis said as Cecelia panicked, "ELVIS!"

"You kept sayin more, and You looked like an angel... and, well, It slipped out." Elvis sighed as Cecelia blushed, 

"It was kinda sexy..."She grinned. Elvis pulled out of her, and she felt his warm seed drip down her leg, 

"Very hot..." She kissed him. The two then got reoriented as Cecelia walked back into the motel. She bumped into Midge, who was smirking. Oh crap, she knew, and she'd tell Denise.

"So you and Elvis, huh..."

"I-I didn't do anything. How do you know? Are my hips wide or somethin!"

"No, you're just really loud,"

"What do you mean loud,"

"Oh, Elvis, yes!" Daphane and Carlotta teased,

"Not to mention the bus was shaking." Midge winked, 

"Don't tell my mama..."

"That you became a woman, of course not," Midge smirked, 

"We're gonna order champagne and celebrate!" Daphane smirked,

"Celebrate what," Rosa smirked, her lipstick smeared around her lips as she saw the look in her eyes, 

"Oh... Wait, no..." Rosa began to question as she then saw Elvis walk by, 

"Will I see you in my dreams tonight..." 

"No, but you'll see me in your room tonight..." Cecelia winked. Cecelia smirked, "Excuse me, ladies..." She walked by them and took him by the arm.

"She used to look at me like that..." Carlotta sighed, 

*Bonus* 

The morning birds chirped as Cecelia woke up, "Mornin sleepy head..." Elvis grinned, combing his hair. 

"Mornin... Why're you all dressed up?"

"We got rehearsals today," Elvis mentioned,

"At, 10," Cecelia mentioned,

"Cece, it's 9:59." 

"FUCK!"

"We did all night long." He joked as Cecelia got up and began to get ready, sometimes Elvis was a pain in the ass, but the life she was leading felt so right, 

"ELVIS, MOVE!" she laughed, his arms around her waist as she was brushing her teeth,

"Make me." He laughed as she rolled her eyes, 

"I gotta spit this out!"

"I know something else you can spit out." He smirked,

"ELVIS!"

"CECE!" 

"You two knock it off!" Hank shuddered, "I better not come in there and see you two-"

"Two what?" Cecelia smiled, dressed and in her makeup, "See you on the bus, Mr. Snow." Elvis smiled, 

[existentialburden]

Who are your OC’s closest relatives?Who is/are your OC’s closest friend(s)?Who are the people your OC surrounds him/herself with?Who are the people your OC dislikes/hates?If your OC has a soulmate, who is it?Why does your OC and his/her soulmate work so well together?What are some things your OC admires about his/her soulmate?How did your OC and his/her soulmate meet?What is your OC’s level of education?Did your OC participate in extracurricular activities, and if so, what were they?

who are your OC’s closest relatives?

Enny and Kods are closest with each other, Aila and Kodi are closest with each other by default bcause everyone else is dead, Hope WAS closest with her mom, Deux would have technically been closest with her mom but... only by default so I choose to believe Wynn counts as a family member more, Fantra and Dukkel only had their lusii, West was closest with their grandpa, Fern was closest with her sister, Haze was closest with Haze’s dad, June was closest with xir mom, Alex was closest with their uncle, Theo and Fate consider themselves siblings and so they’re closest with each other, Orca’s closest with their dad Mike(!!!), Luca was closest with his cousin, and Enzo was closest with his brother.

who is/are your OC’s closest friend(s)?

I feel like Kods still counts as Enny’s closest friend, though officially Juli was her best friend. she ended up bonding with Cece, then Tate, and Nuad is definitely an important friend. Aila was super close with Kori, but now her best friends are Lyla and Kodi. and her horrorterror pals (specifically Thysnpall). Hope’s closest friend was Kodi, but things got a little weird with everything going on and Hope’s fights with Aila, so Kori’s his best friend now. she stole her fair and square. Deux’s best friends are Echo and Wynn :) and [REDACTED 2] Yüur’s a close pal too, eventually. Fantra’s closest pal is Pandra. Dukkel mostly keeps out of social interaction, but considers Aila a friend and that’s really the closest she has. West was closest with Fern, and then Ulfort and Hazel, but Fern snuck her way back in there. Fern’s closest with West and Haze, and then Ulfort jumped in there too. kind of. they’re dating. Haze is closest with Fern, and June comes in second. June’s closest with Alex and Orca, but Haze is a pal. Alex is closest with June, and likes to hang with West too. Theo and Fate have each other and that’s all they need. fight them. Orca’s closest with June but sort of fell into the Alpha Friendgroup with Mell and Dott being bad influences. Luca’s closest with Elli and Julius because there’s nobody else around but they’re also all dating so :). Enzo’s closest with Ryze. and only Ryze. he has no other friends.

who are the people your OC surrounds themself with?

Enny has. bad taste. look for the edgiest fuckers in the room and she’s with them smh. but also the relentlessly friendly ones. peer pressured into friendships. Aila takes who she can get ngl. Hope also takes whoever puts up with her but she likes people who make sense, usually. people who will explain things. Deux finds the tired squad and whoops that’s her group now. everyone in her group is exhausted and Gets It. Fantra finds the people who take jokes well and who will give her attention. people she doesn’t really have to restrain herself around. Dukkel ends up around people who are slightly naive because everyone else goes :/. West is just desperate for human contact so whoever vibes with that is in the group. but their original squad? all gamers. Fern... just has people sort of be introduced to her. she really meets people through mutual friends and trusts her friends’ judgement. Haze ends up hanging around people who can see the bigger picture and are willing to look at the details through that lens. it’s just what happens. June hangs around people with some sort of influence. xe can’t help it. it’s just really nice to be in those circles sometimes. Alex ends up around impulsive people. nobody knows how this keeps happening but it checks out. Theo and Fate ONLY HAVE EACH OTHER buuuut they tend to vibe with outcasts. mostly because people find them a little weird. Orca hangs with people who make an effort to hang with them which makes them a key target for the extroverts. enthusiasm is key in this household. Luca doesn’t really have much of an option for who to hang with but it’s generally people who Get how he thinks. also people who don’t take a lot of shit. Enzo... Enzo is just here man. he vibes. ends up gravitating to the weirdos and people who won’t make fun of him. which means Ryze.

who are the people your OC dislikes/hates?

Enny hates Hill. so much. she also hates Aila. and her dad. and maybe herself. Aila hates Hope and Hates Hurlii, maybe? <3<???? and DEFINITELY herself. Hope hates Aila and has mixed feelings on Lyla. also hates Enny. harbors a little bit of self-hatred too. Deux hates herself lmao but also does NOT vibe with Nuad. fuck that dude. she’s just SCARED of Cece. Fantra Hates Dukkel and Dukkel Hates Fantra. West and Haze hate each other. Fern wouldn’t say she HATES anyone but she is not a fan of June. June doesn’t LIKE Fern but doesn’t entirely dislike her either. hates Ennuad though. Alex is side-eying Haze every day. Theo doesn’t hate anyone specific and neither does Fate, but Fate has a deep hatred for certain aspects of SBURB. Orca HATES Ennuad SO MUCH. and fuck Orie, too. Luca hates himself and that’s about it. Enzo also hates himself but lowkey. and he hates his old sessionmates. fuck them.

if your OC has a soulmate, who is it?

no soulmates here!

what is your OC’s level of education?

all of them except Fantra, Dukkel, Orca, Theo, and Fate have around a middle school education. SBURB and all. Orca has never gone to school, ever, and neither have Fantra or Dukkel. Theo and Fate cut off around 6th grade, probably. look. I don’t have all the details. take it up with them-

did your OC participate in extracurricular activities, and if so, what were they?

Aila did book club for about a week. that’s... really it. Enny pretty much did anything she could that didn’t require a fee. which was not much. she joined theater with Kell and did that mock trial thing. Hope did gymnastics out of school, and would have done robotics if it had been available :(. Deux did jack shit. West did debate club. Fern did tennis. Haze also did debate club. that was a fucking disaster for everyone who had to watch West and Haze argue. this is why they aren’t friends. June did jack shit. Alex did jack shit. Theo did jack shit and Fate did basketball for like, a year before deciding it wasn’t her thing. Orca didn’t go to school. Luca has never done anything in his life. Enzo did a LOT of things that he then decided weren’t his deal- softball, soccer, volleyball, book club, theater... he’s bad at commitment.

[rileym00]

“Marry me.” ... “You aren’t allowed to marry...” - Pt. 1

Jaime x OC

Prompt: Jamie and OC have a long standing relationship - from childhood to adulthood. OC knows about Cersei, but doesn’t mind - Cersei doesn’t know about OC... or does she?

Word count: 1492

“Jaime!” Cecily Kade called out across the orchard, hoping for a reply. “Jaime, you come out this instant!”

“And what are you going to do if I don’t?” Cecily spun around and came into contact with a hard chest. A pair of arms wrapped themselves around her, and Cecily looked at the white linen. She grinned slyly.

“Well, we will just have to wait and see, won’t we, Jaime?” She spun away from the young teen and skipped out of his grasp. “Come and get me Jaime.” Cecily beckoned seductively, her long brown hair tumbling in loose curls, her heterochromatic eyes twinkled . She turned away and ran between the trees of the apple orchard, her hand grabbing hold of the trunks to swing herself around them in a quick manner. She hears footsteps behind her and the air is filled with her laughter when Cecily is lifted into the air.

“Jaime!” She giggled.

“Cece.” Jaime spun her around to face him and he looked down at her. Cecily smiled up at the golden-haired 15-year-old and giggled once more.

“Well hello there, handsome.” Jaime smirked and ducked his head down, capturing her lips with his own. Humming, the two teen lovers pulled apart, happily standing in each other’s embrace. Cecily drew small unintelligible things on Jaime’s chest, plucking the courage to tell her best friend and lover what she had been meaning to say for a while.

“Jaime?”

“Yes, little mockingbird?” She smacked his chest lightly at the nickname that he had given her when she told him of her admiration of the small birds.

“I… well, I love you, Jaime.” She felt his body tense and then relax.

“You do know that I always thought that I would be the one to say that first, but… oh well. I can’t be the first at everything. I love you too, Cece.” she smiles up at her handsome lion and grabbed his cheeks, squishing them together. “Thee-thee… juu juthst ruuind te mood.” Cecily giggled.

“What was that? I couldn’t understand you. Could you repeat that, please?”  Jaime grabs her hands and holds her down. He nears his face to hers, his lips just barely hovering over Cecily’s lips.

“I said, you ruined the mood. But don’t worry. I can get it going again.” breathing heavy, Cecily responds breathily.

“Oh? And how are you going to manage tha-?” Her final word is abruptly cut off as Jaime slams his lips onto Cecily’s, his hold loosening, allowing her to wrap her arms around his neck, holding him to herself. When they pulled apart, only to catch their breaths, they smiled at one another and laughed like the lovesick teens they were.

“Jaime! Jaime, where are you?” A quite shrill voice called out, breaking the two’s slight trance of obliviousness of the outside world. The voice belonged to Jaime’s twin, Cersei - with which whom Cecily knew that Jaime also harbored feelings for. In her heart, Cecily knew that it was wrong, but she could not bring herself to care much. After all, people did not get to choose the ones they love. She stepped away, leaving a lingering hand on her beloved’s arm as a reminder.

“You know where to find me.” And with a breath, Cecily had left the company of her inamorato to his twin.

Now, 20 years later, Cecily stood on a balcony, looking over the grounds of the Red Keep. As a highly trusted member of Cersei’s handmaidens and friends, Cecily had grown up in a high fashion and manner, the queen only wanting the best for her childhood and current best friend. Cersei did not know of the relationship between Cecily and the queen’s own twin, and Cecily hoped that it would stay that way. The woman herself had grown from a lovesick teen to an adult who knew the ways of the world, and was not afraid of any hardship. As her house was a loyal bannerman to house Lannister, Cecily served as a ward to prove her family’s loyalty. She became fast friends with all of Lord Tywin’s children, Tyrion included. She found the dwarf amusing, insightful, and as a relief from the world of the idiotic. Cersei did not quite approve, despite Jaime’s encouragement on the friendship. The young Kade had made herself a name, befriending all of the Lannister children, and even gaining somewhat of a soft spot in the heart of her Lord. In the 15 years that Cecily had lived and grown up at Casterly Rock, neither Lord Tywin nor her father had ever proposed a marriage deal as she had many sisters and brothers - more than enough collateral to fall back upon with every marriage made. When she was 20, Cecily moved with Cersei to the capitol when her female friend was married to the new king, Robert Baratheon. Staying loyal to her liege house and lord, Cecily had always and always will serve House Lannister first - as her beloved just so happened to also belong to the house.

Now, she had been looking down and watching Jaime and Ser Ilyn spar, strengthening her knight’s left hand. Sighing, she turned from the open, albeit smelly, air and left the room, planning to head down to the yard where the two men were training. Apparently, only she knew about the sessions, and so she decided to take the servant’s passages. As she walked out into the fading light, the sound of blunt training swords could faintly be heard - a sound Cecily was quite familiar with. She lifted the light material of her dress and continued on, walking in the shadows to the courtyard she wished to be at. In the back of her mind, there was a batting going on. One part of her was telling Cecily to leave Jaime alone - he had Cersei. The other was saying that she should go on and continue to comfort her long-time lover and help him with his struggles. As she quietly, but purposefully walked among the shadows, her mind was made up. The latter of the two sides of her mind had won the battle tonight.

Coming upon the two men fighting, her shoulders slumped slightly in sadness at the sight of Jaime, tired, weak, and losing in a sword fight. He was disarmed and the tainted lion doubled over, heaving for breath.

Stepping out of the shadows, she caught the eye of the mute king’s justice. He stepped back and she nodded at him.

“Jaimie.” She called softly. His head snapped up at the sound of her voice as she gave Ser Ilyn a nod of dismissal. Holding his torso with one arm, Jaime walked over to Cecily still panting.

“Oh, my love. How are you tonight?” He sighed heavily and gently grabbed her hand. He led her over to a sitting bench and plopped down, pulling her with him.

“I do not feel as if I am getting any better - nor any worse.” He tells her desolately. “I am losing hope of ever wielding a sword even close to what I used to.” Cecily looks at his worn face, marks of stress and age slowly showing each day. Despite what others may think, Cecily believed that these age lines and stress marks made him even more handsome. She saw him not for his disability, but for his time as a warrior and all of the things he had seen and done were giving him a way of saying, ‘You may rest soon.’

Cecily gently placed her palms on either side of his face and turned it to look at her.

“Do you feel as if you must prove something to someone, my lion? Because, to me, you do not. You have proven yourself worthy many times over, and you do not have to continue to do so. If it is anyone who has to prove themselves worthy, it is the ones whom you believe you must approve.” Jaime’s eyes seem to become more tired by the second as she told him this, his resolve and courage to do these things slowly fading to nothing. Cecily takes her thumb, smoothing out the crease between her beloved’s eyebrows. Jaime’s jaw sets and he sniffs before he places his head on her shoulder, and she holds him as he starts cry quietly. She runs her fingers through his shortened hair and coos softly to the man she loves. Rocking back and forth slowly and smoothly, Cecily manages to make Jaime lift his head.

“My dear, sweet, strong, brave knight. What has the world done to you? You have been beaten and broken, but do not despair. I will stay by your side - no matter what happens.” She kisses his brow and rubs the pad of her thumb along his cheekbone. “I love you and I always will, Jaime. Do not forget that one simple fact. I love you for you, and nothing can ever change that, my love. Nothing.”

[outerhexe]

filled out an oc meme for Stella instead of doing homework. I’m sticking it here to try and be more open about character stuff.

1) What’s your character’s name? Stella Umbra Colman

2) How old are they? 20

3) What gender is your OC? Cis Female (she/her)

4) What’s their species/race/nationality? Human, biracial (half-black/half-white), American.

APPEARANCE: 1) If this character were to suddenly become part of the real world, and ended up in a heavily-populated area, how many stares would they get? Probably not many if we’re dismissing the sudden teleportation thing. She’s pretty normal looking and favors clothes that aren’t ostentatious. 

2) Is your character considered normal in their own world? Probably. But my general canon already includes witches and magic... so she really wouldn’t stick out in comparison to some of my other ocs.

3) What would be their most recognizable feature(s)? Her hair. It’s long, dense, and curly, and she often piles it up on top of her head using a headscarf. It’s also dyed blue and white (in an ombre).

4) Would you consider your OC attractive? I’d say so 0: She’s not particularly aware of her looks on a daily basis and doesn’t really do things to “enhance” her features (heavy makeup, dressing in a way that’d be considered flattering or stylish, etc). It does surprise her when people go out of their way to compliment her though.

PERSONALITY: 1) What kind of temper do they have? She’s pretty even-tempered and tries not to sweat the small stuff. When she gets mad, she tries to channel it into a positive activity rather than causing a fight or stewing over negative emotions.

2) Does your character ever get depressed? Sometimes. She does go through periods of apathy where she feels very numb/disconnected from what’s happening. Those times are usually when she struggles to accomplish basic tasks. It might take her a bit to recognize those moments for what they are, but when she does, she attempts to break the cycle. At her worst times, she’ll vidchat her oldest brother to try and sort things out.

3) Leader or follower? Something of a follower, because it can be easier to just go along with something rather than push to be assertive. That doesn’t mean she’s weak-willed, since she’ll break from a group if she seriously disagrees with an activity or thought.

4) What is the main aspect of their personality? In a family full of strong and odd personalities, Stella’s something of a straight man. She tends to take weird things in stride and is pretty flexible, not really questioning others’ quirks. She plays things cool when possible and has a very casual air about her.

HISTORY: 1) Does your OC have a family of any sort? Stella has a mother and father, though the two are not married. She also has three, older half-siblings from her mother’s previous marriage --the Waite triplets. Stella gets along with her father the most between her parents because they share the same blunt outlook on life. But her mother confuses her because of her transient ways and fey personality.

Her relationship varies between the triplets. She has the best relationship with Vela, though she likes Hyde just fine. But in the latter case, she gets annoyed with how overprotective Hyde can be. Stella doesn’t understand Cece at all and is of the opinion that they hate her. It doesn’t really help that they avoid her and are the only sibling to never call or text.

2) Is your character out on their own? She lives with her dad (and mother, when the latter is in town), but wants to move out once she has the funds. Ideally, she’d like to split an apartment with someone but hasn’t located any potential roommates yet.

3) Have they encountered any traumatizing events? As of this stage of oc development, no.

4) What was probably the best time in their life so far? She’s more the type to measure good times in small moments, rather than label one event or period as ‘the best time in her life.’ That said, Stella had a fairly okay childhood and high school was filled with general teenage woes. Now that she’s graduated, she’s starting to feel that the problems she had in high school were pretty inconsequential and quaint (to a degree).

ROMANCE: 1) Single? By default, since I haven’t really inserted her into anything. She doesn’t think too hard about her single status and doesn’t get lonely over it that often.

2) Has your OC developed any romantic relationships? Not any active ones, but she has dated before.

3) Virgin? Nah... Not gonna speak too much on it but she doesn’t have any regrets about it aside from how awkward it was.

4) Does your character like flirting? She has mixed feelings on it. Stella doesn’t mind flirting if it’s with someone she’s interested in. But she finds the attention annoying if it’s heavy-handed or pops up while she’s in the middle of something.

Symbolism:

Associated Animal: Wolf

Musical Instrument: Bass Guitar

Element: Water

Celestial Body: The Moon

HOBBIES, ETC 1) What does your character like to do in their free time? Stella’s got a few hobbies. She’s an amateur photographer (her preference is DSLR cameras) and she occasionally dabbles in book altering. She enjoys word puzzles, as well as working on coloring books. 

2) Are they a fan of any sports? She doesn’t pay much attention to professional-level sports, but she likes bowling and swimming. Not sure if air hockey counts but she’s a fan of that as well.

3) What’s your character’s favorite food? Snack foods like popcorn... something you can pop in your mouth in handfuls that has a salty or sweet taste.

4) What sort of music do they enjoy? Lo-fi hip hop. Stuff she can easily study to that isn’t distracting.

SHOWING THE LOVE: 1) Do you draw your character? Ah well it’s been a while since I first drew her and she’s changed visually since then (mostly bc the universe is vastly different). But I’ve been drawing her lately anyway.

2) Do you write about them? I’m writing about her now I guess.

3) Do you use them in any RPs? I’m open to it! Though I’m not sure what’s going on with groups these days. May just be I rp her with friends if I don’t join anything public.

4) What other ways have you appreciated your OC? Haven’t spent much time developing her yet to do something extra.

[aliypop]

Anyday Now: Chapter 1

Word Count: 2,448

Writers Note: Lost steam on the Tupelo fic, so here's a new series

Warning: Angst

Pairing: POC OC x Elvis

Chapter 2

Taglist

@darkmoviesquotespizza

@sissylittlefeather

@richardslady121

@thegettingbyp2

@presleyenterprise

@sissylittlefeather

@dkayfixates

@rjmartin11

@thetaoofzoe

@your-nanas-house

@zayurir

@60svintage

@sillybookmarks

 Graceland 1967

"YOU'RE REARLY HERE!" Cecelia shouted, "You don't even know how things work anymore with the kids!" Elvis was shocked by her sudden shift in mood. An hour ago, he was reuniting with his wife and kids, and now it was World War Three. "Aw hell, Cece, I give the kids gifts, and suddenly I'm a bad father!" Elvis sighed as if he knew he added more fuel to the fire. Cecelia only laughed as she got closer to him. "They don't need a gift giving money totting daddy. They need their father!" Cecelia sighed. She had gone on too many stressful nights without Elvis now that he was doing more movies and The Colonel was working him like a musical mule, "But what would you know, you're probably in California with some young little thing, forgettin' you have responsibilities here in Memphis!"

"You keep it up, and you'll lose me like your mama lost your pa-" The bedroom door slammed in his face as he shook his head. He wondered when did things get so bad that they started arguing like this. He could hear her crying, and it broke his heart that she was in this much pain emotionally. He had to fix it.

"What would your mama say if she heard us fightin' like this, huh!" Cecelia said, her back against the bedroom door.

Elvis cleared his throat as he did one of his funny voices, "She'd say Booby! That's the one good woman you got. Either get yourself together, or you'll lose her." Elvis chuckled, as did Cecelia, leaning against the door as he fell into her lap. Blue eyes looking at cloudy hazel eyes, "You know I love you, right..." Cecelia asked,

"If you didn't, you wouldn't pitch such a fight to keep me in check." his hand on her cheek as he leaned in to kiss her, "I'm sorry if I made you feel all alone,"  

"I'm sorry if I made you feel like I nag you." Taking his hand, Cecelia pressed a soft kiss into his palm. Elvis then got up and carried her to the bed, 

"We haven't had any mama and papa time. Since I've been back. I think we're long over,"

CRASH!

"JESSIE BROKE IT!"

"DID NOT!"

"Duty calls Mr. Presley..." Cecelia sighed, getting up as Elvis kissed her lips, "You stay right here. I'll handle this." he winked at his wife as she bit her lip. Something about him taking charge did it for her. As Elvis went downstairs, his twins Jessie and Elaine greeted him.

"Who broke what..."

"Elaine broke a bowl," Jessie said, a smirk on his face. Jessie was the trickster and troublemaker, but Elvis loved him dearly, even if he did get punished a lot. 

"Jessie broke it! Cause you said no snacks out of the pretty plates!" Elaine stated. Elaine was a daddy's girl. But she was also independent at times and almost always slept between her parents in their bed. 

"What pretty plate was broken..." Elvis could feel a headache coming, especially if it was the plates from,

"The cabinet with the matching cups in it," Jessie said as Elvis had a face that read oh shit. Walking towards The China cabinet, he had hoped it wasn't the wedding china, but when he opened the door, he noticed the missing plate, which matched the shattered one on the ground. 

"And you were going to leave it on the floor..." Elvis asked, rubbing his temples.

"Yeah, 'cause mama won't notice!" Jessie said, telling on himself, 

"Mhmm, so you broke a plate and a bowl?"

"Mhmm!" Jessie nodded,

"And you lied, saying your sister did it?"

"Yep!" Jessie said, a smile on his face as Elvis chuckled. If parenting is this easy, he'd try being a bad cop even more. "So Jessie, you know you're grounded, right," Elvis said as Jessie pouted, 

"But...But..."

"No comic books and TV time for two days, and you're helping with the horses," Jessie grumbled as he tried to muster out tears. Elaine stuck her tongue out at him as Elvis cleared his throat, "You can be next too little Biscuit." he smirked as Elaine straightened up. 

"Sorry, Daddy..."Elaine sighed. Elvis ruffled up her curly, dirty blonde hair. 

"Now, you two clean this mess up." 

"But it's got pointy parts!" Jessie said,

"Should've thought about that when you broke it." Walking back upstairs to the bedroom, Elvis noticed Cecelia was asleep. She looked like an angel, and he was still proud to say that she was his wife. Kissing her on the temple, Cecelia began to wake up, 

"Hmmm..."

"Did I wake you, baby?" Elvis asked as Cecelia pulled him closer to her body like he was a teddy bear. Lying next to her. He wrapped his arms around her, taking in her scent, "No, you didn't wake me," her voice was raspy, "I just was resting my eyes a bit..." she sighed. Cecelia sounded exhausted, and he could see why raising twins was a handful, and she was doing this alone when he was shooting movies. God, he needed to make it up to her, "Say, uh, Cece,"

"Hmm..."

"How can I make it up to ya?" Elvis asked as she laughed, "Well, I'd like some husband and wife time," Elvis laughed with her as he kissed her forehead, 

"So, a date night?" 

"Mhmm..."

"Say 7 pm tonight. Meet me downstairs?"

"Who's going to watch the twins..."She mumbled,

"The boys could."

"Elvis, remember what happened the last time the mob watched the twins." Elvis laughed, rubbing the back of his head, 

"Alright, fine. What about Jerry or, even better, Midge?"

"Midge is out of town with her wife Cheryl, but I trust Jerry," Cecelia agreed as Elvis laughed, 

"Why only Jerry?"

"Cause he doesn't let the twins chase each other with sparklers." 

"You got a point." Elvis laughed, kissing her forehead as he walked to their shared bathroom, "Say...Wanna make up for lost time?" Elvis asked as Cecelia looked up at him, "In the shower?" his eyebrow quirked up, and his smirk plastered on his face as she blushed, "Oh... The shower, " Cecelia blushed as Elvis took her by the hand, "Or would you prefer the tub?"

"Which gives you the better angles..." 

"Tub it is."

It was now a quarter to seven, and Cecelia was putting the finishing touches on her makeup. She wanted to wow Elvis. Here she was wearing pink hot pants, a white blouse, and gogo boots. 

"You look pretty mama." Elaine smiled as Cecelia kissed her on the cheek, 

"Thank you, pumpkin."

"Where'ya going mommy..." Jessie asked, a pout on his face, 

"Well, I'm going out with your daddy," She giggled at the phrase,

"What about us?"

"Well, you'll be here with uncle-" The downstairs door creaked open as a voice boomed from downstairs, 

"WHERE'S MY GOD NIECE AND NEPHEW!"

"UNCLE JERRY!!!" Cecelia laughed as she got her purse and sprayed her perfume on. She was finally ready to head out for her date. 

"Lainie, Jess!" Jerry picked them both up as he smiled, "My favorite twins!" 

"We're the only twins, you know, Uncle Jerry!" The two laughed as Elvis shook his head. They were his pride and joy given to him by the most wonderful wife. 

"Hey. E don't look now, but there's an angel in your house." Jerry whispered as he saw the love-drunk look in his blue eyes, 

"How do I look?" Cecelia asked as Elvis was speechless,

"I-I- uh, Gorgeous." Elvis took her by the hand and kissed it, "Love the pants..."

"Love the scarf..." Cecelia pulled at it a little as she kissed him,

"EW!" The kids giggled as Jerry joined in, "Will you two love birds go!" 

"Okay, but remember Jessie gets hyper on sugar, and Elaine is only allowed one scoop of -"

"Ice cream before bed, I know, C," 

"And if you need us..."

"Cece, Jerry'll be fine." Elvis kissed her cheek. The two walk outside. It was still a little light outside. Fans gathered at the gates, and Cecelia already had her arms wrapped around Elvis, 

"I know he'll be fine. It's just mama's worry, you know." She shrugged as he laughed, "Papa's worry too. " he kissed her nose, walking toward the garage. Elvis scanned the room for what car? He wanted to take until he saw one of his motorcycles. There was a summer breeze, and he wanted to impress Cecelia. After all, they did start off on the wrong foot this morning. 

"Your uh carriage." He gestured as she got on with him,

"Groovy, as the kids say." Cecelia chuckled,

"Hold on tight, okay, darlin,"

"Of course," Starting up the motorcycle, they zoomed out the garage, down the gates waving at fans, and onto the Memphis streets. 

"Anywhere you wanna go?" Elvis asked,

"Wherever the wind takes us." She held onto him tighter, taking in his brutish scent and shampoo. Cecelia felt young again. 

"Mmm... What about memory lane?" 

"Memory lane?" 

"Yeah," Elvis smiled, the two racing like a speeding bullet. Their first stop was Audobon, and Cecelia could feel her heart pounding as if she were twenty again, holding pies, cakes, and potato casserole. 

"You know I haven't been back..."

"Since you moved, I know. It pained you when they kicked you all out, which was cruel." Cecelia held his hand, 

"But I remember when I met your parents." 

"You were so nervous, but my mama loved you," He chuckled, "I'm still envious of your bedroom..." she joked as Elvis laughed, 

"I don't think we paid much attention to it." He laughed,

"Between Bible scriptures and making out, I remember it well." she smiled as he helped her back on the bike. The stars were now out, and Memphis felt like a dream. They had passed Sun Records, and now they were at Russwood Park. 

"Still wished you'd seen the whole show." Elvis laughed, 

"I did, aside from climbing the fence and breaking my heel." Cecelia laughed as Elvis joined her, "Might I say, black is your color, 'cause..." She bit her lip as Elvis nudged her,

"Cause what, honey," 

"You look sexy and mysterious." She kissed his cheek.

"I'll keep that in mind," He blushed as Cecelia kissed the corners of his lips. They stayed in each other's arms for a little while until their stomachs started to grumble, 

"You hungry?" 

"I could eat." 

Sitting in a booth in a diner on Beale were Cecelia and Elvis. On their table were fries, a burger, two sodas, and a strawberry milkshake. It was almost like it was 1956 again. Sipping her orange Fanta, her eyes wouldn't leave Elvis's. Cecelia was still mesmerized by her husband, scooting her hand closer, her engagement ring bumping into one of the rings on his finger, interlocking their hands together as she giggled like a schoolgirl, 

"I love you, you know that, right?"

"I know you do, Elvis," She kissed his knuckles.

"Today really scared me." He sighed, taking a deep breath, "I don't want us to fight like that again. I don't ever think we should go to bed mad at each other either," looking deep into her eyes as she agreed, "We're a team El, we just gotta remember that, I don't want to be your enemy," 

"Then how can I make things better?" 

"When you're away, check in on us..." 

"No, I'll do you one better." He squeezed her hand, "I want y'all with me," He smiled, "I don't want to miss anything in their lives. I don't want to miss you either." He smiled. Cecelia gasped, leaning in to kiss him as she felt something cold spill into her lap, 

"Shit not again..."

"Elvis!" She chuckled,

"Seems it's tradition." He shrugged,

"Alright, did everyone take baths!" Jerry asked as Elaine and Jessie nodded, "Pj's are on," he smiled, "Teeth are brushed?" Elaine nodded as Jessie shook his head. Jerry playfully sighed, "Then, no ice cream for you." Jessie ran upstairs to brush his teeth as Jerry smiled. He didn't have kids of his own, but he and Rosa had thought about it some tune. Of course, it would be a bit hard on her. Considering she still wanted to sing and act, they'd cross that bridge when they got there. 

"Uncle Jerry..."

"Yes, Memphis," sitting at her level. 

"I don't think Mommy and Daddy are in love anymore." Elaine sighed,

"Whys that."

"Well, today they were arguing, and they both said mean things, and mommy was crying," 

"Adults do that sometimes, but they love each other, I promise." Jerry smiled, ruffling up her hair, 

"How do you know!" Jerry could hear the engine outside revving up as he took her to the window and showed her parents laughing and carrying on with each other. 

"So, wait, wait, The Colonel then said you should just do movies for the rest of your life?" Cecelia laughed, "Every day, that man proves why you should've signed under my mother." She huffed, 

"I know, I know, but now he's thinkin a Christmas Special for next year, and..." Cecelia looked at him, 

"You don't sound sure about it, baby..."

"Cause I'm not. I mean, I'll be performin again, but..."

"You feel like you're being told how to."

"Yeah..." He sighed, the two walking into the house, little arms wrapped around his leg, "What're you doing up, little biscuit?"

"Didn't wanna sleep without you saying good night..." her hand wrapped around his pinkie as his heart melted, "Alright baby, up on Daddy's back!" He laughed as Jessie tackled him from up the stairs, 

"How're things with you and Rosa," Cecelia asked as Jerry laughed,

"Well, she's droppin' hints about marriage, but..."

"You don't think she's ready," Cecelia asked,

"Not really. I mean, she's got wanderin' eyes and-" 

"Who's got wanderin' eyes?" Elvis interrupted

"Rosa."

"Thought she was engaged to Scotty..."

"They broke it off 'cause he was broke," Cecelia mentioned," Rosa is a good girl, she just, she's well..."

"A lot," Elvis smirked, 

"Just take your time with her," Cecelia added as Jerry nodded, "Well, goodnight, y'all two. And no more arguing." He winked at Elaine, who was at the steps.

"How'd you know." They both said. As they turned around and saw Elaine giggling, 

"Little biscuit!"

"Hmmm!" 

"Mama!" Jessie called as Cecelia sighed, running toward his voice, "You tuck Elaine in, and I'll handle Jessie." After their parenting duties were done, the two met in their shared bedroom, exhausted and cuddling each other, until the phone rang. 

"Hello... Who's this..."

"Oh yes, you..." 

"Elvis, it's the pain in my ass on the phone." Cecelia chuckled as Elvis nearly spit out his water laughing, 

[aliypop]

Trying to Get To You

Word Count: 1,328

Writers Note: A one-shot Idea that I got from reading the book Destined to Die Young, forgive me if it's choppy recovering from a mental breakdown. And I also came back from Graceland for my birthday so expect more fics!

Warning: Fluffy

Pairing: POC OC x Elvis

Plot: It's 1955 the year of the Iconic Sun Records tour, When Elvis becomes restless there's only person he can pour his heart into.

Taglist

@darkmoviesquotespizza

@sissylittlefeather

@richardslady121

@thegettingbyp2

@presleyenterprise

@sissylittlefeather

@dkayfixates

@rjmartin11

@thetaoofzoe

@your-nanas-house

@zayurir

@60svintage

@sillybookmarks

October 9th 1955

"That's the fourth time today you brought up cannibalizing me!"

"Should I be worried?" 

These were just some of the odd conversations that Cecelia Valmos, lead singer of The Garnets, had to hear on the merger tour with the greats of Sun Records. The tour would only be a week long in Texas, which didn't sound bad. After all, there was Daphane and Rosa, Scotty and Billy, Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson, June Carter and. 

"ELVIS!" 

"Aw hell, Wha-What now!"

"You're talking my ear off, and we haven't even left outta Tennessee!" Rosa sighed. She was supposed to sit next to Cecelia, but Rosa found her way next to Scotty, 

"Can't you talk to Cece?" Rosa asked as Elvis had turned bright red. He had wanted to, but she seemed all tied up in Johnny Cash. Her batting eyelashes and her laughter made him sick with envy. 

"I gotta admit, isn't he cute?" Cecelia beamed,

"Who?"

"Elvis." Cecelia giggled,

"I'm worried about you, kid. Real worried." Johnny laughed, ruffling up her curls. Johnny and Cecelia had been close friends, nothing too scandalous, unlike Elvis and June, who had a few resting sessions, at least from what Rosa told her. "Says the man, too chicken to talk to June." She nudged him.

"I am not. It's just, Fella's don't cross lines."

"Mhmm... You're just afraid she'll like you." 

"And you're afraid Elvis likes you too." Cecelia had fallen silent when he said that. 

"He's wrapped up in other affairs." She sighed, watching him sit next to June, the two laughing, and his hand on her thigh as both Johnny and Cecelia groaned, 

"So you don't think I'm crazy?"

"Elvis, I trust that everything you do has a reason," June said, giggling at Elvis. 

"So..."

"Talk to her. Besides, you two would make a cute little couple." June watched as he was jittery. His leg was shaking, and he was tapping his fingers on the side of the bus in a rhythm.

"You wouldn't get mad."

"Got my eye on someone myself." Her eyes landed on Johnny Cash as Elvis smiled, 

"Think you two would do nicely together."

"Hey, we're stopping for gas, so if y'all wanna stretch, here's the chance." Sitting by herself on a bench was Cecelia. She had a notepad full of songs as she was writing away. Cecelia would draw, but everything she'd draw was, "So you talk to Elvis yet?" Scotty asked as Cecelia looked up at him, 

"Why does everyone want me to talk to him so bad?"

"Well... Cause-"

"Scotty, they want us back on the bus!" Rosa shouted. Scotty had left, and there stood Cecelia walking towards the bus, "Please talk to him." He whispered. When they got back on, everyone else had begun to go back to minding their business, from practicing songs. Or even listening to music on the radio. But Cecelia had her sights on Elvis, who was strumming his guitar and singing with his band. Even when he wasn't close to her, she was enchanted,

"So I was thinkin maybe we speed it up a bit?" Cecelia looked at Daphane and Rosa, 

"We're not doing a new song." Ross rolled her eyes,

"Why not?"

"They wanna hear hits, not new stuff," Daphane said as she agreed with Rosa. Maybe she was right, stick to the plans, and the rest would soon follow.

"Hey, Cece, you got a minute!" 

Cecelia turned to hear Elvis call her name, but Daphane turned her attention to tuning her guitar. When the evening had turned to nightfall; everyone had dinner. Cecelia sat watching everyone fall asleep one by one, all except for one particular and peculiar man.

"Something wrong, Pres.." she asked, looking from her Jay Garrick comic book. 

"No, just uh... is this seat taken?" He asked as Cecelia looked up at him.

 "Not at all." Cecelia smiled, patting the seat next to her. Elvis had sat down as he tried to look out the window, then back at her, then back to the starry landscape. 

"Excited for the tour?" He was trying to make small talk, but he didn't want to bore her like he did everyone else. 

"Nervous, really. If it weren't for the paint on my nails, I'd have bit them clean off!" She laughed,

"I already bit mine off." He chuckled. His leg was shaking again, and his hands were tapping as Cecelia grinned, 

"I see you got music in you." 

"Huh?"

"Either that or I make you nervous?" she leaned in jokingly as his heart began to pound out of his chest.

"Cece, you don't make me nervous, not one bit." Her hand was holding his as she laid her head on his shoulder. His face was red, but he felt like he could share his whole world with her, 

"Do you believe in love?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I? I mean, I sing about it." Cecelia said,

"We all do, but one day, do you think you'll fall in love with someone," Elvis asked as Cecelia was now looking at him. 

"I would hope I do," she smiled, "This world is crazy, and I don't want to go through it alone."

"Even if it's not me..." He mumbled,

"What makes you say that, Pres..." Her eyes looked deep into those blue diamond eyes. They were big and mesmerizing.

"I-I-I saw you talkin to Johnny and..." 

"You got jealous?" She asked as Elvis turned from her. Cecelia was now lying in his lap. He hadn't noticed until her hand brushed his face to look at her. 

"A little..." 

"I did, too." She giggled, "I mean June, Is beautiful. If I were a guy, I'd rest with her." Cecelia laughed as Elvis blushed, 

"You knew about that?!"

"Rosa..."

"That little..."

"Hey!" Cecelia playfully shoved him as he laughed. Elvis had traced her features. He'd always loved her nose. For once, he was distracted, and it was the good kind. Taking in the look in her eyes, he felt at ease. 

"Anyone ever tells you. You're beautiful?" Elvis asked. Cecelia's face got warm, and her body felt tingly. 

"Do you say that to all the girls?" She giggled as Elvis blushed. He didn't mean to say that, or maybe he did.

"Nah, I call them pretty." He laughed back, 

"Say, can I ask you something?" Cecelia asked. Elvis felt the wind knock right out of him. He was nervous, but he gave her a nod and listened to what she had to ask.

"How would one know if they have a crush on someone?"

"Oh, easy." Elvis smiled, his fingers in her hair, watching her eyes flutter, "You can't stop thinkin' about 'em. When you're near 'em, you feel all shook up inside, and sometimes you just want to-" he stopped talking as Cecelia looked at him, his eyes focused on her lips and then her eyes again, 

"You want to what." The air from her lungs was gone, as her eyes were closed shut from the passion. Her fingers were in his dark hair, messing up his trademark style. There was a whimper of want from Cecelia as he pulled away slowly. 

"Kiss you.." catching his breath as she sat up and was sitting in his lap. 

"Then kiss me." she licked his lip, "Please." 

As the night continued, the two embracing each other, Elvis and Cecelia were in a haze of love. Though neither had said anything, their smiles told it all,

 "So... Do you think Jay Garrick could beat Captain Marvel Jr. "

"Hell no!" Elvis smirked, "He's got more powers!"

"Captain Marvel Jr. has three powers. Jay has fourteen, which automatically makes him better!" Cecelia smirked back as Elvis laughed hard, 

"It does not make him better." his laughter ruptured through the bus. 

"But it does!"

" PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SLEEP!" Rosa shouted, throwing her shoe at them as the two dodged it. 

"Then go to sleep then!" Cecelia and Elvis both shouted.