#choices fic

[kinda-iconic]

Summer Nights

Author's note: Started off as a drabble (was in need of some fluff); turned into something more.

Words: 1800+

Pairing: Adrian Raines x Human!MC (Amy)

Tagging: @bloodboundismylife @choicesfannatalie22

Don't know who else to tag, nowadays.

Amid the summer months, Amy was not known to spend her nights confined inside the sanctity of her apartment. Instead, she often found solace at Adrian’s penthouse, the city’s skyline providing her with a newfound comfort that her own simply could not provide.

Last night was no exception.

A trickle of golden light illuminates her features, the radiant warmth of sunrise gracing her skin with an iridescent glow. A soft groan escapes her as she reaches up, her forearm sleepily draping over her face; she lays like that for a moment, basking in the tranquil embrace of morning before slowly sitting up, silken bedsheets falling to rest above her thighs. Amy smiles softly, placing her hand amidst the rays, tilting her head as she admires her fingers from afar. 

A strong arm wraps itself around her waist, drawing her further into their embrace. Amy shakes her head in amusement, tracing her fingertips across its surface. She inclines her head towards her companion, leaning down just enough to press a tender kiss to his temple, her voice soft and comforting.

“I need to get out of bed, Adrian.”

He shakes his head despondently, expressing his displeasure with a pout, brows creasing slightly as he slowly opens his eyes, smiling drowsily up at her.

She giggles softly, carefully caressing his face in between her palms.

“I need to go.”

He groans, shaking his head once more, his arm constricting around her midsection.

“No.”

“Adrian…”

He lazily pulls himself flush against her, burying his face in her side, his warm breath ghosting her skin.

“Call them and say that you’re sick,” he murmurs.

“And what would I say?”

“Tell them that you have the flu,” he mumbles groggily, his nose wrinkling as it encounters the hem of her pyjama top.

“They’ll never believe that.”

“They will if you cough a couple of times,” he turns over, resting his head on his forearm as he gazes up at her, his expression softening as his eyes befall hers; he reaches up, his knuckles grazing the nape of her neck as he speaks with conviction, his next utterance spoken with jest. “A little sniffle here and there…an occasional cough…”

“Are you encouraging me to pull a sickle?”

“If it means that I get to keep you in my arms a little bit longer…”

She playfully pats his chest; a mischievous laugh escaping him as his fingers enclose around her wrist, drawing her closer. They look at one another for a moment before he leans in, capturing her lips in a tender kiss, their bodies entwining as he carefully pushes her back down onto the bed, a soft gasp leaving her as her back connects with the mattress. He kisses her once more, his hands grasping onto her waist before moving down to her hips, his kisses growing more impatient as they trail along her jaw and neck. She closes her eyes, truly enjoying the moment…

“Is that Mr Harrison?”

Her eyes open, widening in disbelief as they fall upon Adrian, who remains in place, a triumphant smirk blossoming on his features…

…holding her mobile to his ear.

“Adrian!”

She reaches for her phone, but he manages to block her, lightly swatting at her hand every time she attempts to retrieve the phone.

“Unfortunately-“ she makes a second attempt for the device, but is swiftly deterred as he pins her wrists to her stomach; once she has ceased, he continues, “Amy is unable to come into the office today.”

“Adrian-”

“She woke up with a fever this morning. A slight cough, blocked nose…the usual…”

He looks down at her once more, just to be met with a feigned scowl. He chuckles quietly, his grin widening as he returns his attention back to the call, listening to the man on the other end of the line.

“Uhuh…uhuh…yes, I’ll…I’ll let her know. Thank you, Sir.”

Adrian ends the conversation, tossing the phone across the bed.

"Clyde hopes that you make a speedy recovery."

“You’re unbelievable.”

“But you love it.”

He nuzzles her shoulder, pulling back just enough so that he can see her face.

“Looks like you’re stuck with me for the rest of the day, after all.”

She shakes her head in disbelief, the corner of her mouth curving upward.

“You are full of surprises, Mr Raines.”

“That I am,” he kisses her forehead before wrapping her in his arms, his chin resting in the crook of her neck, “that’s why you love me.”

“I can think of a hundred reasons, but…sure. Let’s go with that.”

He lets out a contented sigh, holding her close to his chest as he begins to sing.

“Look at the stars…look how they shine for you-“

She turns abruptly, regarding him with a quirked brow.

“Serenading me with Coldplay, huh?”

“I’ll serenade you with anything you want,” he beams, sliding the strap of her pyjama top down her forearm, exposing her shoulder; he presses his lips against her skin, exhaling softly as he moves to repeat this action on her adjacent side, “Coldplay…Taylor Swift…you name it, I sing it.”

“What about the Beatles?”

He hums his approval, “especially the Beatles.”

She closes her eyes, leaning back as he begins to pepper kisses along her collarbone.

“Which one?”

“Which song did you have in mind?” He replies quickly, “I know them all.”

“I am happy with whichever song you choose.”

“Careful now,” he collects her hair into his fist, draping it over her right shoulder as he regards her inquisitively, “or I might bless you with your very own concert…” he pauses momentarily, grazing the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip, “live from the comfort of our bed.”

“Well, I am ill…” she smiles coyly; he returns the gesture, their shared happiness evident in the gentleness of his touch as he cups her chin with his palm, his gaze drifting down to her mouth.

“Maybe too ill to attend this performance.”

“I might need to see a doctor.”

He places his hand on her forehead just to briskly remove it, feigning a wince.

“You definitely have a temperature.”

“Oh?” She tilts her head, “and what do you intend to do about cooling me down?”

“Who said anything about cooling down?”

She tuts, swatting his chest.

“Smooth.”

“I thought that was more presumptuous than flirtatious, personally.”

“It can be whatever you want it to be,” she rests her head on his shoulder, “do we have any waffles left?”

“I brought a new pack yesterday.”

“Good,” she rubs her stomach, “because I am in need of sugary goodness.”

Amy begins to move towards the edge of the bed, but Adrian beats her to it, gently easing her back down onto the covers.

“You think I’m going to let my sick girlfriend get her own breakfast?” He walks over to the dresser, collecting a fresh pair of joggers; he starts to dress himself, only stopping to pass her a bottle of water from the side, “what kind of boyfriend would that make me?”

“A busy one?”

“I’m never too busy for you.”

He walks back towards her, pressing a loving kiss to the top of her head.

“I’ll be right back.”

He disappears into the kitchen, the door closing quietly behind him. As the silences settles in, Amy moves over to the window, opening the curtains slightly as she admires the city down below, a soft warmth enveloping her a mere moment later as Adrian embraces her from behind, waffle in hand. He passes it to her with a smile, kissing her temple.

“You can’t be in the sunshine,” she frowns, “you’ll burn.”

“A few seconds won’t hurt,” he whispers softly, following her gaze to the busy streets, “besides, if it means that I get to share in this moment with you, then I shall remain here until I am nothing more than a pile of ash.”

“Please don’t say that.”

“You’re right,” he sighs, “just think of the cleaning bill you’d have for this rug.”

“Adrian!”

He laughs heartily, “I’m only joking.”

She nudges him slightly, taking a small bite of her waffle, “you really should get in the shade, though.”

He shakes his head.

“Just a little bit longer.”

The pair remain like that for a minute more, neither one able to take their eyes off the beautiful sunrise before them. It is only when Adrian speaks that the silence is broken, replaced with a feeling of melancholy.

“I think that was the first sunrise that I have seen in a while.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Sometimes,” he pauses as if lost in thought, but it isn’t long before he returns his attention back to her, his once sad demeanour replaced with one of gratitude, “but why should I mourn my mortality when I have been blessed with something even more precious in return?”

“What’s that?”

“You,” he smiles lovingly down at her, “I love you, Amy.”

“And I you,” she replies, holding her breakfast up to his mouth; he takes a generous bite, eliciting a soft smile on his behalf, “more than you know.”

"And I will be eternally grateful for that."

He exhales, placing a comforting hand on the small of her back.

“I would like to spend more time with you.”

“You already do,” she beams up at him, “we’re pretty much inseparable now.”

“Do you think that it is too much?” He questions, a sudden vulnerability seeping into his tone, “I don’t want to stop you from living your life.”

“My life is a lot more exciting with you in it.”

“Do you mean that?”

She nods, her demeanour one of reassurance and compassion, “I wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true.”

“Even if it means that we can’t do anything during the daylight hours?”

“I’m more of a night owl, anyway.”

He grins sheepishly; she reaches upwards, the pad of her thumb tracing along the curve of his jaw.

“I work at nights, remember? Being your PA and all.”

“Unless a certain Mr Harrison requires your assistance,” he replies comically, “did he not need your guidance opening a document on his computer last week?”

She shakes her head; Adrian’s brows crease in befuddlement.

“Is that not the story?”

“He never got that far.”

“I…I’m afraid that I don’t - ”

“He didn’t know how to turn the computer on.”

He opens his mouth to speak, but his words fail him. His shock elicits a chuckle from Amy, her attention never straying from his face.

“Not what you expected, huh?”

“And he is…”

“One of your new IT guys.”

“Ah,” he grimaces, cupping the back of his neck, “maybe I should ensure that he receives adequate training, seeing as that is his job and all.”

“He’s a nice man.”

“Who doesn’t know how to turn a computer on, apparently.”

“I think he was overwhelmed.”

“That’s a possibility,” he appears hesitant, as if unsure as to how he should continue, “I’ll get on that tomorrow.”

She greets him with a puzzled look, uncertain.

“Are you not at work tonight?”

“Oh no,” he playfully swats the back of her thigh, causing her to gasp in surprise, “I have a sick girlfriend to look after.”

[saibug1022]

Monster Made Of Memories

Word Count: 2k Characters/Relationship(s): Asterin Nightbloom (MC) x Mal Volari x Tyril Starfury, Asterin Nightbloom x Aerin Valleros Genre/Tags: Hurt/comfort, nightmare

Mal had felt Asterin moving around in his sleep, but that wasn’t uncommon. He always tended to wriggle through the night and Mal and Tyril just had to try and sleep through it. Mal sighed and rolled over as best he could with Tyril’s arm slung over the both of them and tried to fall back asleep but then he heard the worst sound he’d ever heard: a blood curdling shriek from Asterin.

“MAL!” Asterin screamed.

Mal was up in less than a heartbeat, checking Asterin over while Tyril cased the room, sword already out of the sheath that had been laying on the ground next to the bed. There wasn’t a threat but Asterin was covered in sweat and panting, thrashing like he was restrained to the bed. Oh shit.

“It’s okay, come on Rin, wake up,” Mal shook him a little but it didn’t work.

Mal shook him harder and the next thing he knew his back was against the mattress, Asterin looming over him and breathing heavily with the dagger from under Mal’s pillow against Mal’s throat, hard enough to draw the slightest amount of blood.

“Hi?” Mal tried, hands up in surrender.

Asterin blinked hard, like he wasn’t fully awake yet and when he did his eyes widened and he threw the knife like it burned him. He scrambled off Mal to the foot of the bed and would have fallen off if Tyril hadn’t caught him.

“Oh gods, gods I’m so sorry Mal, I’m so sorry,” Asterin was still breathing heavily and his eyes bounced around the room to every shadow.

Mal lit the lamps on the nightstands and Tyril lit the fire in the fireplace with a wave of his hand. Asterin relaxed just a little. Before Mal could say anything the door burst open and Aerin stormed in, knife of his own in hand.

“I’m okay,” Asterin assured him, apparently having figured out what the disgraced prince was there for much faster than Mal. Asterin held out his hand and Aerin crossed the room to take it. “Just a nightmare. I just, I need a minute with them, okay?”

Aerin hesitated, glancing at Mal like he was the one to hurt Asterin. The actual audacity of this guy. Mal was perfectly happy for Asterin don’t get him wrong, but he had no idea what Asterin saw in this guy.

“Are you sure?” Aerin asked.

“Aerin, I’ll be fine, I promise.”

Aerin hesitated again but he nodded, shooting both Mal and Tyril a glare before leaving the room, making sure to shut the door behind him at least.

Mal crawled down the bed and settled on his knees in front of Asterin while Tyril stood behind Asterin with his hand on Asterin’s back. There was still panic in his eyes, the gold shining with barely concealed tears. Mal offered his hands, not wanting to touch Asterin without permission. He didn’t know what the nightmare was about but Asterin had screamed his name in terror and then held a knife to his throat. Turned out he didn’t need to worry as Asterin grabbed for his hands desperately. His grip was worryingly tight but Mal could take it. He rubbed his thumbs on the back of Asterin’s hands.

“What happened kit?” Mal asked.

“The year,” Asterin whispered and Mal barely caught his wince. “There’s…there’s something I haven’t told you guys yet.”

“You never have to be afraid to tell us,” Tyril assured him.

“I, I wasn’t asleep,” Asterin confessed. “I just thought I was. While me and Valax were stuck in that storm she gave me back my memories. I-I almost went insane with the pain, I was desperate I…”

“Screamed for us,” Mal realized. He’d already felt guilty for not finding Asterin before the elf had to free himself, even more when he made that stupid comment about Asterin just sleeping through it. Now it wa really biting him in the ass. His guilt and shame increased tenfold just sitting there listening to Asterin’s admission.

“Yeah…” Asterin admitted. “I-I was hallucinating, I kept thinking I was seeing or hearing you but, but then i-it was gone. And I was alone again.”

“Gods, Asterin,” Mal muttered.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Tyril asked in a hushed voice.

“I didn’t want to hurt you,” Asterin answered, staring down at his hands in Mal’s instead of looking at either of them. “You already felt guilty enough, I didn’t want to make it worse.”

“I don’t give a damn how we feel,” Mal said. “That year was hell for you. If you need to talk about it you talk about it, no matter how it makes us feel. Be pissed, be sad, be scared, be anything you need to be. We’re staying right here no matter what. Right elf boy?”

“Of course we are,” Tyril swore. “I’m almost offended you even asked.”

Asterin’s breath was shaky again, the tears barely contained. The first one fell and Mal’s heart cracked, but he didn’t do anything yet. Asterin had to make the first move, had to choose to let them in. Then he sobbed and his head dropped.

“I was so alone,” Asterin sobbed, slumping so far forward his head fell into Mal’s lap. “I felt so alone. I was so scared, I thought I’d never see you again, I thought I was going to die there, in pain and alone and scared, I-I, I’m so scared, all the time, and I can’t make it go away.”

Mal let Asterin squeeze his hands tight enough he was losing feeling in his fingers. Tyril sat on the bed next to Asterin and started running his fingers through Asterin’s hair as Asterin’s shoulders shook with the weight of his sobs.

“You don’t need to make it go away,” Tyril said gently. “It’s alright to feel that fear, especially after what you went through. But you will never feel so alone again. We’re right here, we’ll always be right here.”

Asterin sat up just enough he could bury his face in Mal’s chest right over his heart. He let go of one of Mal’s hands and Mal immediately wrapped it around him. With his now free hand Asterin reached for Tyril who joined the embrace. Asterin clung to his hand too and Tyril scooted a little closer to Mal.

He couldn’t stop thinking about the way Asterin screamed his name in his nightmare. How many times had he screamed just like that? Mal remembered those cells where they’d found Kade, the very ones Asterin would have been locked in. When he wasn’t being tortured and experimented on that is. How many hours did he spend on that table so out of his mind with pain all he could do was scream for Mal to help him? How many nights did he spend in that cell just trying to reassure himself they were coming for him? How many nights did he plead and sob while Mal wasn’t there to hear him and comfort him like this?

He didn’t even realize his own tears had fallen until Tyril kissed his temple. He wiped the tears with his own shoulder. He could talk to Tyril about it later. Now was about Asterin. He knew if Asterin saw him upset he’d immediately drop his own feelings and try to focus on Mal which he would not allow.

“We’re right here,” Mal murmured. “We’ve got you, Rin. We’re not going anywhere. You’ll never be alone like that again.”

Mal murmured those reassurances over and over for what could have been hours, until his throat was dry. But he just kept going. He didn’t even think about stopping until Asterin slumped fully against him. His shirt was soaked from Asterin’s tears but Mal barely even noticed.

“Thank you,” Asterin muttered, still with his ear over Mal’s heart.

“Always kit,” Mal assured.

“I love you so much,” Asterin told them both. He even nudged Tyril and gave him a tired smile like he was trying to make sure Tyril was listening too. Tyril chuckled and kissed Asterin’s forehead. It was a common gesture for him but it always worked on Mal. Apparently it did the same to Asterin as his tired smile turned to something softer and he relaxed more against Mal.

“We love you too,” Tyril replied. “Until the stars fall out of the sky and all life is gone.”

“I love you too but poetry isn’t in my repertoire,” Mal said. It succeeded in making Asterin laugh, which was more important than anything else. “What do you say you try and get some actual sleep? We’ll both be right here. I can even get your stupid prince in here if you want. We’ve crammed him in the bed before, we can suck it up.”

“…you wouldn’t mind?” Asterin asked hesitantly.

“Tyril?” Mal prompted but Tyril was already getting off the bed. “Look at him go. So chivalrous.”

“Why do I bother with you?” Tyril sighed as he left the room, making Asterin giggle.

They heard a muffled conversation before Tyril returned with Aerin. Mal had to admit he looked truly concerned. Mal doubted Tyril really filled him in on what Asterin confessed but it was clear how much he hated seeing Asterin in pain. It was about the only thing they all had in common.

Asterin settled with his head on Mal’s chest, Aerin curled behind him and with an arm around his waist. Tyril was on the other side of Mal, holding Asterin’s hand on Mal’s chest. Asterin was asleep again within moments. The other three didn’t say a word, but there was no tension between them for once. Asterin was so relaxed with all three of them there that even with Aerin there it all felt so easy. Right. Whatever the feeling was, Asterin was happy. And that was all Mal needed.

[choicesficwriterscreations]

CFWC F/AotW - Mar 24 - 30, 2024

✒️ = Fanfic | 📱= Text Fics/Edits | 🎨 = Fanart Ⓜ️ = Mature Content 18+ | 🔥 = Explicit/NSFW 18+ 🏳️‍🌈 = LGBTQIA

AMERICAS MOST ELIGIBLE

Bianca Sandoval x MC Fanart 🎨by @lilyoffandoms

BLADES OF LIGHT AND SHADOW

Birth ✒️| Tyril Starfury x F!human!MC - @petalouda85

Blades MC Fanart 🎨🏳️‍🌈 by @oh-so-youre-a-nerd

I Trusted You 🎨| Aerin Valleros x F!human!MC - @erixadraws

Tyril Starfury x F!human!MC Fanart 🎨 by @lilyoffandoms for @petalouda85

BLOODBOUND

Be An Amazing Mother ✒️| Adrian Raines x MC - @stanathanxoox

Gaius Augustine Fanart 🎨by @gaiuskamilah

Kamilah Sayeed Fanart 🎨 by @gaiuskamilah

CRIMES OF PASSION

Gridlocked ✒️| m!Trystan Thorne x F!MC - @inlocusmads

Hidden Romance ✒️| m!Trystan Thorne x F!MC - @storyofmychoices

Home ✒️| m!Trystan Thorne x F!MC - @thosehallowedhalls

Lofi Beats To Supress Your Anxiety To ✒️| m!Trystan Thorne x F!MC - @inlocusmads

So Was it Honestly the Best? ✒️🏳️‍🌈| m!Trystan Thorne x MC - @choices-ceri

IMMORTAL DESIRES

Incident in the Ghostland (Chapter 8) ✒️Ⓜ️| Cassius Harlow x Gabe Adalhard - @dreamscapingsblog

IT LIVES ANTHOLOGY

Andy Kang Fanart 🎨 by @artbyalz

Noah Marshall Fanart 🎨by @payroo

Noah Marshall x MC Fanart 🎨🏳️‍🌈by @payroo

NIGHTBOUND

Peacock Princess ✒️| Nik Ryder x F!MC - @ladylamrian

OPEN HEART

Complete Open Heart F/AotW List

THE PRINCESS SWAP

Main Characters Fanart 🎨by @lilyoffandoms

RED CARPET DIARIES

Thomas Hunt x F!OC Fanart 🎨by @/artbyainna (IG) (C: @storyofmychoices)

THE ROYAL ROMANCE

The DeFacto Queen (Series) ✒️Ⓜ️| Liam Rys x MC, Drake Walker x MC - @angelasscribbles Chapter 5: Come Together

Capitulo 3: Adios New York ✒️| Liam Rys x F!MC - @belencha77

Capitulo 4: Bienvenidos a Cordonia ✒️| Liam Rys x F!MC - @belencha77

Capitulo 5: Noche Especial✒️| Liam Rys x F!MC - @belencha77

Once Upon a Time, Book 1. Ch. 1 (Part 7) ✒️| Liam Rys, Drake Walker, etc. - @fadingreveries

WAKE THE DEAD

Close Call ✒️| Troy Hassan x F!MC - @dutifullynuttywitch

CROSSOVER FICS

Bloodbound/Open Heart

Immortal Desires / Open Heart

The Meeting ✒️| Original Characters - @ezekielbhandarivalleros

Immortal Desires/Murder at Homecoming

Murder at Homecoming: Harlow Part 4 ✒️| Cassius Harlow x MaH F!MC - @korgbelmont

Murder at Homecoming: Harlow Part 5 ✒️| Cassius Harlow x MaH F!MC - @korgbelmont

Murder at Homecoming: Harlow Part 6 - Finale ✒️| Cassius Harlow x MaH F!MC - @korgbelmont

[oceanatydes]

MDNI (nsft content!)

hello if you are on the absolute cope train like me after ch. 13 of terror fest, i wrote a fic of tyson x mc. warning for obsessive, stalker behavior, tyson watching mc through the peep hole. check the tags for more info. he's generally creepy but i can't cope w my ty ty being evil </33333 he just needs a snickers. a hug and a kiss

NO SPOILERS (just finished ch. 13)

[jerzwriter]

Mamma Mia

Book: Open Heart

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Kaycee) Also featuring Kaycee's parents, David & Rose and a special celebrity guest appearance (not ABBA lol)

Rating: Teen+

Warnings: Suggested sexual activity, nothing explicit. Brief mention of alcohol.

Words: 2123 (plus texts)

Summary: Kaycee's parents are moving out of their home, and while she's there helping pack up, she makes an unsettling discovery.

A/N: My face claim for Kaycee's mother, Rose, is Dianne Lane. I decided to dig into her history to have a little fun with this fic. I hope you enjoy it! I'm participating in @choicesmonthlychallenge' s Prompts: Old Photographs. Also: Good Food and Love.

The door to Kaycee's parent's home was barely opened when she jumped into Ethan's arms, wrapping her legs tightly around his waist and nearly knocking the wind out of him in the process.

"Offh!" He exclaimed, holding her close in his arms. "If that's the greeting I get when we've been separated for a few days, I may need to start spending more time away from home."

"Don’t you dare!” She scolded as she stepped back onto the ground.

“Aww,” her father, David, teased as he and Rose entered the foyer, arm in arm. “Rose, honey, remember when you used to greet me like that?”

“I still would,” she chuckled. “But I’d probably end up hurting us both.”

“I think you’d manage just fine,” Ethan assured as he greeted Rose. 

“Her? Yes,” David said, extending his hand. “But me?”

“I know a great back surgeon in Boston,” Ethan grinned. 

David pat Ethan on the back. “It’s great to see you again. Thanks for coming to help us.”

“Of course! It’s the least I can do.”

“Well, come to the kitchen,” Rose insisted. “Most things are packed away, but I still have some refreshments for you after that long trip!

“She wouldn’t be a respectable Italian mother if she didn’t,” Kaycee smiled. “I, of course, took after my father’s side of the family in that regard.”

“That’s OK,” Ethan replied, kissing Kaycee atop her head. “That’s why you have me!”

The family sat around the kitchen table, enjoying Rose’s food and conversation, when David brought the gathering to a halt. “Oh, crap. I just remembered that I have to return the tools I rented to the hardware store by seven or get charged an extra day.”

Rose peeked at her watch. “You still have three hours; there’s plenty of time.”

“Yes, but then I wouldn’t have time to take my future son-in-law to the Berwyn Tavern for a few drinks.”  

“Daddy,” Kaycee grinned. “You don’t have to come up with excuses. If you want some guy time with my fiance, all you have to do is ask.”

“After the way, I saw you greet him? I was afraid you’d assault me if I suggested it!”

“Stop!” Kaycee laughed.  “You guys go and have fun.  Just bring him back to me in one piece, Dad!”

“You better believe it!” Dave insisted. “I need his help with the move tomorrow!”

Ethan leaned over to kiss Kaycee goodbye, whispering in her ear when he did. “This would be the perfect time to speak to your mother.”

“Gee,” she rolled her eyes. “You’re not the best diagnostician in the world for nothing.”

“OK, wiseass,” he replied with a smirk. “Text me and let me know how it goes.”

~~~~~

Kaycee and Rose went to the kitchen and began packing the few remaining items that were not boxed. As the hours passed, they discussed when they first moved to the house, Kaycee’s teenage years, and all the memories they had made there over time. The topics kept flowing, but Kaycee couldn’t work up the nerve to ask about the one she couldn’t get from her mind. But the clock eventually reminded her that her father and Ethan would be home soon. With a deep breath, she began to speak.

“Mom?” She spoke tentatively.

“Yes, dear,” Rose said, tossing a colander into a box. “What is it?”

“I… I hope you won’t be mad… because I assume you wanted to keep this private… but when I was packing up your….”

“Oh, my God!” Rose gasped. “Kaycee! Tell me you didn’t pack up the drawer next to your father’s side of the bed! Did you?”

“What? Wait… no! Iwww! Mom!”

“Mom, what? We’re both consenting adults, you know. There’s nothing wrong with it!”

“Great. So would you like me to give you all the details of my sex life with Ethan, then?”  

“Only if you have good pointers,” Rose winked, and the two women began to laugh. “But I interrupted you. What were you about to ask, dear?”

“When I was going through old boxes in the garage… I found….” Kaycee hesitated. 

Growing impatient, Rose widened her eyes and circled her wrist, encouraging her daughter to speak up. “You found?”

“I found pictures of you and… someone who wasn’t Dad.”

Her mother’s brow furrowed, knowing nothing untoward was to be found. Then a knowing look appeared.

“Ooooh.  Were these… older… pictures?”

“Yes! Ancient!”

“Hey, slow down there,” Rose scolded. “ There are no ancient pictures with me in them! Do you understand?”

“Of course not,” Kaycee blushed. “But there are pictures with you and… Jon Bon Jovi?”

Rose folded a dish towel and put it in the box, sealing it before she sat down and motioned for Kaycee to join her.

“Yes. There are pictures of Jon and me.”

“Oh. Jon? Jon! Wait, you’re on a first-name basis with Jon Bon Jovi?”

“Considering we dated for five months, yeah. He kind of insisted that I call him by his first name.”

Kaycee’s jaw fell open in astonishment. She attempted to speak, but all that came out were desperate little breaths with mere syllables clinging to them.

“You… you… you… date… you dated… you.”

“Relax,” Rose said, touching her daughter’s knee.  “Do you need me to get you a drink? I think I have some Amaretto that we haven’t packed yet….”

“No, I don’t need a drink, Mom.  What I need is… you dated Jon Bon Jovi? Like, one of the biggest rock stars of your time?”

“Don’t act so startled, young lady! Your Mom had it going on, you know!”

“I know,” Kaycee laughed, “You’ve still got it going on, but… but… how?”

“I was an Italian girl from Philly,” she shrugged. “My family summered at the Jersey Shore, and Jon’s from Jersey, Italian, too.”

“OK, there’s over a million Italians in New Jersey, Ma… you’re not explaining anything.”

“If you’d allow me to finish. Your Uncle Angelo and Aunt Irene were still dating; her family was distant cousins of the Bongiovis. They were supposed to attend a family wedding one weekend, but he got sick.  Since I was at the shore house, Irene asked me to tag along with her.  Jon was there, we met, and as they say, the rest is history.”

“Jesus, Ma! You bagged Jon Bon Jovi!”

Rose nudged her daughter with her elbow. “Impressive, right!”

“Holy shit! Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“Have you told me about all the superstars you’ve slept with?”

“Yeah, well, Ethan is as celebrity as I got,” Kaycee laughed.  “I haven’t slept with Chris Evans and withheld from you! Wait, how old were you?”

“I was twenty-one, just shy of twenty-two.”

“But wait! Didn’t you start dating Dad when you were twenty-one.”

“I did,” Rose nodded.  “We dated for three months, and then we broke up.”

“You! And Dad! You broke up?!?”

“For a bit, yes.  And that’s when I met Jon. It was one of the reasons Irene asked me to go to the wedding with her. She thought it would cheer me up.”

“And apparently it did….”

“Yeah,” Rose smiled. “It certainly did.”

“OK, Ma, can you not be so enthusiastic? Back to the story, so what happened next?”

“There’s not much to tell.  Jon and I dated for five months, and I even went on tour with him,” she said with pride.

“You? You did?”

“I did!”

“You’re telling me that Nonno, my grandfather, allowed you to go on tour with Bon Jovi?!”

“Allowed is a bit of a strong word.  I may have told him I was spending time at the shore with Irene’s family… and then he found a picture of me in a concert in Vegas.  He wasn’t too pleased.”            

“I’ll bet!”

“It was for the best,” Rose shrugged. “At least he didn’t find out a week later. We would have been in Sydney.  Then he really would have flipped.”

“Oh, my God! Ma, you were… you were….”

“I was badass, dear!”

“Yeah, I guess… I guess you were, but why did you break up? How did you end up with Dad again?”

“Once I was back in Philly, and Jon was on the road, it was hard to maintain a relationship.  He had a few shows in the area, so we spent time together again.  But, just before that, I ran into your father down by Love Park.  After seeing your Dad, I realized there was still something there.  So, I talked to Jon, and it turned out he and his high-school sweetheart had just started talking again and… we knew it was time to end things.”

“His high school sweetheart? Didn’t they…”

“Got married.  Yep.  Dorothea, lovely girl.”

“You met her too?”

“She’s a third cousin.  Honey, we’re Italian.  We’re always connected somehow.”

“Oh, my God.  This is just so much to take in.  Does Dad know?”

“Does Dad know what?” Kaycee was startled as she heard her father’s voice bellow from down the hall.

Rose stood up and met her husband, resting her hand on his shoulder. “David, Kaycee found the pictures of Jon and me.”

“Oh, those,” David rolled his eyes.

“I still can’t believe it,” Kaycee breathed.  “Dad, did it bother you that Mom was dating a freaking rock star?”

“At the time? Sure, but you seem to be forgetting something.”

“What’s that?”

“Your Mom left Jon Bon Jovi… for me,” David blew a puff of air on his nails, then rubbed them proudly against his sweater.

“That is impressive. I mean, I love you, Dad, but we’re talking Jon Bon Jovi… at his peak!”

Ethan moved next to Kaycee, draped his arm around her shoulder, and smiled. “Fortunately for me, he’s no longer at his peak, or maybe I’d have something to worry about.”

“I don’t know,” she replied.  “I know he’s like sixty now, but the man is still hot!”

“Settle down, Kaycee,” Ethan grumbled.

“Oh, relax you!” she smiled. “You should be happy I’m into older men.”

“Hey! I’m not that old!”

“Wow, my mom dated Jon Bon Jovi. Suddenly I feel like a failure.”

“Kaycee, I’m standing right here….” Ethan reminded.

She looked at him with a wide grin, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek.

“And that is exactly where you belong,” she beamed.

“You know, enough talking.  We should go eat.  All our things are packed, so, David, why don’t we take the kids to Savona’s.”

“An excellent choice, Rose. And, as we’ve learned tonight, you always make the best choices.”

Kaycee couldn’t help but laugh.  “I tend to agree, Dad.  And not just because I wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t dumped the rock star.  But I think you’re the biggest star of all.”

David looked over at Ethan as Kaycee hugged him.  “See, this is why we stopped at one child. There’s no way I could have brainwashed two this well.”

“That’s enough,” Rose laughed.  “Let’s go eat!”

“Now there’s my Mom!” Kaycee giggled. “Are we happy?  Let’s eat.  Sad! Let’s eat.  Awkward family history about Rock stars? EAT!”

“What did you say earlier, sweetheart,” Rose smiled. “I wouldn’t be a respectable Italian mother if I didn’t.  Now, let's go before Savona’s closes!”

As they made their way to the car, Ethan tugged at Kaycee’s hand, holding her back for just a moment. 

“Yes?” she asked.

“You’re not disappointed, are you?”

“About my Mom?”

“No.  About you.  You sure you didn’t need having a fling with a rock star off your bucket list?”

“Oh, but I did,” Kaycee stated, leaving Ethan’s eye bulging.

“You.. you did?” He sputtered.  “You don’t have to share, but uh… you certainly never mentioned that.”

“Well,” she purred, snuggling closer to him.  “I thought you knew? After all, you were my rockstar!”

A bright grin spread across Ethan’s face before he pulled her in for a kiss.  “You know, maybe I’m not as opposed to that roleplay idea you had as I organically thought.”

“Really!” she gushed.  “Can you play the guitar naked for me?”

“Maybe when we’re back in Boston.”

“Kids!” Rose hollered from outside. “Let’s go! If we miss Savona’s, we’ll be eating at Wawa’s.”

“Well, we can’t have that, Rose,” Ethan yelled from inside.  He started toward the door, but this time it was Kaycee who held him back.

“You know, I’m holding you to the rock star roleplay thing,” she teased.

“I’ll be sure to purchase a guitar.”

“Would you wear leather pants, too?”

“It’s negotiable,” he smiled, walking her to the door.

“And maybe a big, bushy wig?”

“Kaycee?”

“Yes.”

“You’re pushing it. Now, stop and get in the car before I tell your Dad about this.”

“Oh no!” she laughed, hopping inside. “Not until we’re officially married!”

Permatags: @a-crepusculo @animesuck3r @annoyingmillenialnewbie @crazy-loca-blog @doriopenheart @differenttyphoonwerewolf @fayeswiftie @genevievemd @gryffindordaughterofathena @jamespotterthefirst @jennieausten @kingliam2019 @liaromancewriter @lucy-268 @onikalover @openheartforeverinmyheart @potionsprefect @quixoticdreamer16 @rookiemartin @secretaryunpaid @socalwriterbee @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction @jerzwriter-reblogs-asks @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

More tags on reblog

[ladylamrian]

Hello there friend, it is I, @promptnonny

I have come bearing a gift for you 💗

Character A: “How was the meeting?”

Character B: “I wanted to stab everyone.”

Character A: “I’m glad you didn’t cause you would’ve gotten blood all over yourself and we have dinner reservations at 7.”

Character B: “I love you for supporting me.”

Character A: “I love you too.”

Please tag me so I can read your amazing writing 😘

Bound by Fate (Mini-Series)

- Chapter 1: Love & War

Female MainCharacter: Alexis Clarissa Fontaine

Pairing: F!MC×NikRyder

Summary: Nik has bad news for Alex.

Word Count: 1.7K words

Rating: Teen (Angst, Romance)

Warnings: Angst, Mention of War and Vampires

-> Masterlist of this Mini-Series <-

-> My full Nightbound Fanfic Masterlist here <-

Taglist: @infactnoimmasitinthemiddle ; @jdstar88 ; @blackcatkita ; @peonierose ; @lilyoffandoms ; @lawrencebarkley ; @tessa-liam ; @mxdanni ; @blackcatkita ; @mariemarieohcontrary ; @secretaryunpaid

Also tagging: @choicesficwriterscreations ; @promptnonny (hope you like this and angst)

Comments via Reblog wholeheartly welcome

Alex was standing in front of a mirror, putting the finishing touches on her make-up before getting ready for her date with Nik. She stopped as she heard someone with keys, so she followed the sound and entered the hallway. There, Nik just entered his apartment.

"Hey, Nik, you're back! How do I look?", she asked and welcomed him with a gentle hug.

Nik, on the other hand was in deep thoughts, looked away and didn't even return the hug which made Alex worry as she realized. It's been a year now since the two of them were living together as a couple. They know each other very well. Something is disturbing him, she's definitely sure. Carefully Alex released him from the hug and took a few steps backwards to analyze him. Clenched jaw, staring at the floor, knitted eyebrows, a balled fist,... Yes, his body language revealed it all.

"Hey, Nik, everything alright?"

"Hmm, yeah.", he answered without meeting her chocolate-brown eyes.

"You sure, Nik?"

"Hmm?", he finally looked at her.

"How was the meeting?"

"I'm glad you didn't cause you would've gotten blood all over yourself and we have dinner reservations at 7."

"Oh that... Believe me, I wanted to stab everyone. I wanted to stab them all!!", he angrily replied.

"I love you for supporting me."

"I love you too, Nik.", she giggled which made Nik smile a little. He took a closer look at her.

"Hey, you look beautiful tonight."

"Thanks, Nik. You should get ready too, you know? I can't have a dinner date without my main course which is you, Nik.", she winked at him.

"Someone's in a good mood here."

Raising her eyebrow, Alex moved closer to him and rested her arms on his chest while Nik pulled her even closer. Both looking deeply at eachother's eyes.

"Well, someone has to keep the good mood up when the other one had a bad day.", she answered in a seducive tone and smiled.

"And I like that, rookie. Hey, how about we cancel our dinner reservations and hang out tonight in the bedroom?"

Alex playfully pushed herself away from Nik and turned disappointedly away from him which made Nik wonder.

"Definitely not, Nik. We're going out tonight. I mean when was the last time we went out together on a date? Hmm?", she argued.

"Okay, okay, sorry. I was just enjoying this little moment here."

"Whatever, now hurry and get ready for our date. I'll give you five minutes to get ready. Don't take long.", she commanded which made him chuckle because she's definitly the one who takes longer to get ready than he.

Like she said, Nik entered the bedroom to change clothes without closing the door, hoping Alex would change her mind and spend the night with him in their bedroom. But it didn't happened. After a few minutes, the man entered the hallway where she was waiting for him. But Nik noticed that she was drown in deep thoughts.

"Hey, what's up? Penny for your thoughts?"

"Nothing, actually. It's just you looked so stressed before you entered the apartment, so I hope the date will let you unwind a little. I don't like when you're stressed. Or should we cancel...?"

"No, I'm fine. It's okay. Don't cancel the date, you already dressed up and were so excited for it. I don't want our night to be ruined because of that stupid meeting I had."

"And aren't you excited for our date as much as I am?"

"Of course I am. Spending some time with my beloved rookie is exactly what I need. I need you. Forever. I need you forever. Only you, Alex. I love you. You're my everything.", he leaned closer and both drifted into a passionate kiss. A few seconds later, they parted to look into eachother's eyes.

"And you should know that I love you too Nik. By the way you look great in this black suit." She smiles shyly. Which made his heart beat stronger. For him Alex is such a beautiful person, from the outside and on the inside.

"Hey, Nik, before we enjoy tonight... Care to share what happened before?", she asked him, but he was silent. No answer came out of his mouth. The sadness in his gray eyes told her everything, so she decided to ask him again. Alex wanted to know what bothered her boyfriend.

"Nik, how was the meeting? Is everything alright? You don't have to tell me, you know? It's just..."

"It's okay, I don't mind sharing with you. But you wouldn't like it. It's just... the vampires from New York. I went to Ivy's, so she could connect me with their clan leaders via video call. I'm worried cuz things don't look good there. Soon, the vampires might have a war and... and... Katherine and I might have to join the war too."

"What?!! Why??!! What do nighthunters have to do with vampires? And New York,... that's where Kristin lives too!!! Why didn't you told me before?!! Nik, tell me everything now!", Alex panicked, took a few steps backwards as tears welled up. Gently, Nik cupped her face and leaned into a soft hug to calm her down.

"Hey, hey, relax, calm down! We don't even know for sure if the vampires will have war, okay. Relax, everything will be fine. It's just a theory. Wanna head out now?", he tried to make her feel better and to skip the topic, but Alex noticed.

Even Nik couldn't hide his true feelings, he felt uncomfortable, stressed and scared of what would happen next. Yes, Nik Ryder and scared, because joining a supernatural war is a huge thing where everyone would be concerned. In an unknown place surrounded by unknown dangers and dangerous creatures, away from home, family and friends. For Nik, away from his true love, his rookie, his Alex.

"Nik, we're not going anywhere tonight until you don't tell me everything.", she lightly pushed him away and glared at him.

"Alex, no need to..."

"Nik!!!"

"Well, I... Okay, fine. As a nighthunter, my job is to protect the human world and supernatural world, bring them both into order and serve justice, so that's why Katherine and I have to be there when the vampires will have war, to protect the humans and the innocent ones. And about the video call I just had, I actually called that damn clan leader to complain about their system cuz the NOLA vampires are drivin' me nuts. It's been a few days now and they're committing crimes and murder in our city. The numbers are increasing every week and someone has to do something. But guess what, the vamps from NY are too busy to care of what happens here, because they have their own problems to deal with.", he disappointedly explained to her.

"Wait...Wait, let me get this straight. Soooooo, when you entered the apartment you had an online meeting via video call at Ivy's place and were talking about stabbing a vampire? Huh, mentioning to stab someone during a video call who's not even here in New Orleans?", she asked. He scratched the back of his head and nodded.

Without getting ready for it, Alex crashed into Nik for a hug. He wrapped his arms around her, rested his head lightly on hers and pulled her closer. Her body shaking while silently crying.

"I'm sorry, rook. I'm sorry for ruining our date tonight."

"Nik... Oh, Nik! Why? Can't you decline? We're talking about war, not even any war, a supernatural war. Please, don't... Don't leave me."

"Hey, it's not even decided about if I as a nighthunter have to go. Okay, relax. Maybe I don't have to.", he gave her and himself hope. Everyone knows that he's one of the best nighthunters, so it could be more likely that the best ones will be chosen for this big event, but he doesn't want to think about it or sadden Alex even more.

"Can't... can't you... can't you reject?"

"I have sworn an oath to protect anyone who needs help. The humans will need safety if the vampires try to harm them. Look, the good thing is that most of the vampire clan leaders are on our side and are against war. Everything will be fine. Alex, please, stop crying. It won't change anything if you spill your tears for me."

"Of course, I will spill every tear for you because I love you and I can't live without you. Try to understand, I just can't!!!!", she screamed at the top of her lungs and felt the salty taste of her tears streaming in her mouth as they were endless waterfalls. When she pulled herself away from him, Nik was longing for her.

"No, no, stop... Please stop, I... I don't want this either, but I have no choice. I don't want to think about this right now, please. Please, let us unwind. Only you and me, together. I...", he quickly pulled her closer and his crashed his lips on hers. They kissed each other with pleasure, passion and full of desire. Not wanting anything to come in between. They were afraid to part ways, to lose each other. They were always one. Always.

While kissing both tiptoe around to the other side into the bedroom. Completly lost into the sensation, Nik's hands on her body, his lips now on throat while she lays her hands on his chest which slowly moving lower and lower.

"Are you sure, Alex? Don't let your sadness control you."

"Oh Nik, I love you and all I need is you. Only you. I need you now, Nik."

"Damn, I love you too. You're my queen, my life, my everything and there's no life without you... I can't live without you, I will die.", he confessed and crystalline tears finally filled his eyes too.

"Don't you dare to die, understood? If you die, I will die with you. So promise me, that you won't die, my soldier."

"I promise, I swear on... The hell with that. I swear on us, rook."

"What? On us? Why swear on us?"

"Yeah, I swear on us. Because there isn't anything I believe in more than us and our true love. You and me, forever. Nothing will seperate us, my love."

To be continued...

Comments with reblogs very more appreciated

[ezekielbhandarivalleros]

A Birthday to Remember

Paring: Gaius Augustine, Ade Augsttine (BB MC) and Jake Tweneboah (OH MC)

Summary: Ade spends her birthday with her favourite people - birthday Gift for @aesthetic-aag

Taglist - @aesthetic-aag @princess-geek @secretaryunpaid

Ade's birthday was approaching, and this year, she wanted it to be special. She had spent the last few weeks planning every detail, from the venue to the guest list. Her boyfriend, Gaius, and her best friend, Jake, were both excited to celebrate with her.

As the day drew nearer, Ade couldn't contain her excitement. She had always loved birthdays, not just for the gifts and attention, but for the opportunity to gather her loved ones and create lasting memories.

On the morning of her birthday, Ade woke up to a room filled with balloons and streamers, courtesy of Gaius. He had snuck out early to decorate while she was still asleep. Ade's heart swelled with love as she took in the sight, feeling grateful to have such a thoughtful partner.

Gaius had also prepared breakfast in bed for Ade, complete with her favorite pancakes and freshly squeezed orange juice. They spent the morning lounging in bed, savoring each other's company and sharing stories from their past birthdays.

Later that afternoon, Ade and Gaius met up with Jake at their favorite café for lunch. Jake had brought a homemade birthday cake, decorated with Ade's favorite flowers. They laughed and reminisced about old times, enjoying each other's company over delicious food and drinks.

Ade was still disappointed that Kamilah and Adrian couldn't be with her on her special day. She know that their work was really important to them. They had not forgotten that it was her special day as they had sent birthday texts earlier that day.

After lunch, Ade suggested they take a stroll through the nearby park. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for a leisurely walk. They wandered along the winding paths, chatting and admiring the scenery.

As they reached a secluded spot by the lake, Gaius pulled Ade aside and handed her a small gift-wrapped box. Inside was a delicate necklace with a pendant shaped like a heart. Ade's eyes filled with tears as she hugged Gaius tightly, overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness.

Jake, ever the jokester, pretended to be offended by the display of affection. "Hey, what about me?" he teased, holding out a gift bag of his own. Ade eagerly opened it to find a collection of her favorite books, each one carefully chosen by Jake.

"You know me so well," Ade said, giving Jake a grateful hug. "Thank you for always being there for me."

The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging by the lake, soaking up the sun and enjoying each other's company. As the day turned into evening, they made their way to a fancy restaurant for dinner.

The restaurant was adorned with twinkling lights and candles, creating a romantic ambiance. Ade felt like she was in a fairy tale as they were seated at a private table overlooking the city skyline.

Over a delicious meal, they toasted to Ade's birthday and the beautiful friendship they shared. Ade couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude for the two most important people in her life.

After dinner, they headed back to Ade and Gaius's apartment for dessert. Gaius had prepared Ade's favorite chocolate cake, and Jake had brought along a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

They sat around the table, laughing and sharing stories late into the night. Ade felt surrounded by love and happiness, grateful for the wonderful people in her life who had made her birthday so special.

As the clock struck midnight, Ade made a wish and blew out the candles on her cake. She wished for many more years of love, laughter, and friendship with Gaius and Jake by her side.

As they hugged each other tightly, Ade couldn't help but feel like the luckiest person in the world. This birthday would be one she would never forget, thanks to the love and kindness of her boyfriend and best friend

[asilverose16]

see i love jily but tbh i'm going to go with how choices by messermoon on ao3 goes. yes it's painful. jily is healthy and so good, jegulus is messy and also so good. so for me they just exist in the same universe.

[raynewolferune]

DC x DP Prompt: Bruce is bad at emoting but at least ghosts are empathic (too bad bat kids are not)

Was reading Twincognito on AO3 when I stumbled across this gem again:

~

" “Danny, Tim. I was just…checking in. Is everything alright?” Curse his inability to make meaningful conversation when it wasn’t a life or death situation.

They glanced at each other and shrugged.

Then Danny hauled himself out of the bed and walked over to Bruce.

Bruce tried not to let too much excitement show on his face. "

~

Now I really want to read a story where Bruce adopts Danny post Meta trafficking and is being his usual emotionally constipated self. His kids keep getting mad at him because he's treating their new meta brother who was trafficked poorly (generally being stilted in conversation with him, walking away hurriedly mid-conversation, avoiding Danny when he's feeling really awkward, etc). They think Bruce is discriminating against Danny for being a civilian, meta, dealer's pick, but really it's just Bruce being horribly socially awkward. Danny knows this because of ghost empathy and find the whole thing hilarious. The whole thing comes to a head with the Bat Kids staging an intervention in the Bat Cave.

[keferon]

Did you think I was done? Ahahahaha no, I have more.

Because chapter 70 of MOMU gave me the very dynamic between them that I missed so much, I just blacked out and started drawing uncontrollably lmao

Also. ALSO. I noticed a while ago that Prowl has the habit of..like…constantly frowning. So. I did a bit of research and made this graph.

In 70 chapters, Prowl frowns rougly 104 times. And the intensity of this gesture is very clearly correlated with the development of his relationship with Jazz, as you can see ahahahahah It might be wrong tho don’t take me seriously I’m not good with graphs

[stars-obsession-pit]

Tim has found his soulmate (not a soulmate AU, just in the like “i think we’re totally meant to be together” way). Well, okay, it’s entirely one-sided so far, but he’s sure SpecterNova will reciprocate once they’re in proper contact.

He’s already found everything he publicly can on the youtuber, but he’s still digging deeper. It’s weirdly difficult—his love must like his privacy!—but he’s making headway.

On the other end, Danny is getting nervous about the dedication of his new internet stalker. Even with Tucker’s help in setting up his online security and the scrambling effects of ectoplasm, they can tell that the person is still making progress. They don’t seem like they’re a part of the GIW, but that doesn’t mean their search can’t harm him in some other way.

He really hopes he doesn’t have to change identities again. Having to do it the first time to flee the GIW was bad enough, and he’s been liking his current life.

[kinda-iconic]

Memory Lane

Author's Note: This one was rather emotional to write, but I think that's more on a personal level. I apologise for how late this is - it's been an incredibly busy few days.

Pairing: Adrian x Human!MC (Amelia - Amy, for short)

Word count: Over 4'400

Tagging: @bloodboundismylife @velvet1753 @choicesfannatalie22

TW: Deals with bereavement and grief; mentions of death

Buzz…

Buzz…

BUZZ.

The sound of vibrations causes Amy to stir, her arm falling to rest across her face as the brightness of her phone temporarily blinds her, dark blobs appearing in her vision.  Once her eyesight is restored, she grabs her phone from the nightstand, a look of befuddlement crossing her face as she notices the time.

3am.

She reaches upwards, tucking a loose curl behind her ear, the other hand fixed firmly on her phone as she presses a button on the screen, holding it against her temple.

“Hey mom,” she whispers, a drowsy yawn escaping her, “is everything okay?”

There is a slight shuffle on the other end, followed by what sounds like a pot being moved across the countertop.

“Did I wake you?”

“…Yeah,” a sleepy smile appears, “but it’s okay.”

“Is anyone with you?”

Amy turns her head to the left, her expression softening as her gaze befalls Adrian, sleeping peacefully beside her, his arm draped protectively across her middle.

“Adrian’s here,” she lifts the covers, pulling them up to cover his bare back; he groans, but remains fast asleep, “he’s still sleeping.”

“Can you talk?”

Amy frowns, “a-are you and dad okay?”

Her mother doesn’t answer, at least not at first…

…but then Amy hears a sniffle…

…and her chest begins to tighten.

“M-mom?”

Her mother exhales, her voice shaky.

“Y-you need to come home.”

“Why?” She sits upright, the movement causing Adrian to stir beside her, his eyelids slowly fluttering as he begins to wake, “Mom?”

“I-it’s your Grandmother,” her mother pauses, “the hospital called. She...she had a heart attack.”

“What?”

At the rise in her pitch, Adrian awakens, his brows furrowing as he looks up, noting the defeated expression on Amy’s face. He rubs at his eyes, as if trying to rid himself of sleep.

“Amelia?” His voice is quiet; he places his hand on the small of her back, the pad of his thumb slightly inching underneath the hem of her top, drawing comforting circles on her skin, “are you okay?”

She shakes her head, returning her attention to the call.

“Is Grandma okay?” When she receives no immediate response, her face falls, her breath quickening slightly, “M-mom?”

At first, she is met with silence.

But then her mother speaks…

…and Amy’s whole world is ripped out from underneath her.

“I’m so sorry, Amelia. She…she didn’t make it.”

She passed away.

As soon as those words leave her mother’s lips, Amy’s eyes begin to glisten, the colour draining from her complexion. She shakes her head rapidly, fresh tears falling onto her cheeks.

“N-no, she…” she sniffles, “she was fine! She…she was okay…”

Adrian’s frown intensifies; he lifts himself into a seated position, reaching up to caress her face between his hands.

“What is it?” he whispers, his words spoken softly; he leans forward, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead, “What happened?”

Amy closes her eyes, her free arm wrapping itself around her midsection as she begins to sob; Adrian folds her into his embrace, placing a soft kiss to her temple.

“Come here, sweetheart.”

She cries, leaning into his touch as he begins to rock her back and forth; she buries her face into his chest, her hand resting on her own, as if trying to clutch at her heart. Without a word, he carefully removes her phone from her hand, lifting it up to his ear.

“Hi Mrs Henderson.”

Adrian spends the next couple of minutes listening intently, the occasional sentence uttered in response to something that has been said. After a while, he speaks once more.

“We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

The call ends shortly after; Adrian sighs, placing the phone down on the mattress before pulling Amy closer, kissing the top of her head.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

“S-she was fine yesterday,” she sniffles, wiping at her eyes, her tears staining her cheeks, “I-I should h-have kn-known…”

“You weren’t to know…” he rests chin on the top of her head, a soft exhale escaping him, “nobody could have known…”

“I-I should have b-been there. I…What if she was a-alone?” She trembles with a wimper, her gaze remaining downcast, “s-she c-can’t be gone…it-it’s not right.”

“It never is, my love,” he speaks quietly, “it never is.”

He holds her whilst she cries, the pair remaining silent as they remain in their own world, neither one breaking the tranquillity of the moment. It is only when faint tendrils of sunlight start to seep across the windowpane that Adrian speaks, his voice gentle and comforting.

“Your mother has asked for us to go and stay with them,” he looks down at her, brushing her hair back, “it would be good for everyone to be together.”

“D-do you think I…” she trails off, swallowing harshly, “d-do you think I could g-go and see her?”

Adrian frowns, gently removing himself from their embrace; instead, his hands fall to rest on her forearms, his expression conflicted.

“I don’t think that is wise, Amelia.”

She sniffles, raising her gaze to meet his own.

“Why not?”

“Seeing someone after they have passed, it…it sticks with you,” his brows knit together, “I don’t want your last memory of her to be in a mortuary.”

“I-it might help me…knowing that she is…that she’s really gone.”

“That memory will stay with you forever, Amelia,” he exhales, his words spoken with sincerity, “it won’t go away, no matter how hard you try to forget it.”

She doesn’t reply with words, but nods in acceptance.

“O-okay.”

He smiles sadly, kissing her forehead.

“Try and get some more sleep if you can. I’ll go and pack our bags.”

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

A few days later, Adrian raps softly on Amy’s bedroom door.

“Amelia?” He waits patiently, listening out for a response; he receives nothing, “Ames?”

He turns the handle, entering the room with barely a sound. His chest tightens at the sight before him, as if someone had run a dagger through his heart, leaving him incapable of feeling nothing but pain; all is quiet, the only sound emanating from his surroundings being an occasional sniffle from underneath the bedcovers. Amy lies still amidst it all, only shifting when a shuddery exhale escapes her lungs, having turned away from the chaos going on around her.

He walks over to the bed, placing a gentle hand on the small of her back before crouching down beside her, his once joyful smile fading into one of melancholy.

“I’ve made you some soup,” he reaches upward, slowly removing the duvet from atop her head; she does not respond to the motion, locks of golden hair clinging to her tear-stained cheeks. He sighs, his fingertips ghosting her skin as they begin to trail a path along her forearm. “I even managed to save you one of those crusty bread rolls that you like.”

He is met with silence; he frowns, moving to sit at the foot of the bed, his gaze never wavering from her form.

“You need to eat something, sweetheart,” he hesitates, his words etched with worry, “it’s been three days.”

She shakes her head.

“Amelia, please,” he pleads, “at least have a little bit of something. Even if it isn’t a full meal.”

“N-no.”

“When was the last time you drank anything?” He looks over at the dresser, where a collection of glasses remain undisturbed, “you will make yourself ill, Amelia. I-I can’t allow that.”

“I’m n-not hungry.”

“You will have past the point of hunger,” his brows crease, his concern evident, “I’m asking your mother to call the doctor.”

“I’m fine,” she mumbles, her voice barely audible to the ear as she buries her face into her pillowcase, “h-honest.”

“You haven’t eaten in three days. You haven’t had any water,” he speaks with conviction, his voice trailing as he takes in the paleness in her complexion, the only colour being that of the blotchiness of her cheeks, “you have only left that bed to visit the bathroom.”

She shrugs.

“Amelia,” he inches closer, carefully enclosing her hand in his own, turning it over before exposing her palm; he lifts her hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to her wrist. “I am really worried about you, as is your mother.”

“I-is dad o-okay?” She sniffles.

“Your father has tried to keep himself busy,” he admits, “he has busied himself with work.”

“Th-that sounds like h-him.”

“But he has been eating,” he smiles sadly, “little bits, but…it is still enough to sustain him.”

She nods in acknowledgement; he takes this as his invitation, collecting the discarded tray of glassware.

“I’m going to get your soup.”

“I don’t want anything.”

“You need to eat, darling.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Amelia…”

She reaches up, dabbing at her eyes as fresh tears begin to make their descent, leaving a dash of red in their wake. She shakes her head rapidly.

For a moment, the pair engage in a comfortable silence before Adrian walks back over to her; he bends down, gently kissing her temple.

“I shall run you a bath.”

He strokes her hair, twirling a strand around his index finger.

"I won't be long."

He makes his way into the bathroom, setting about pouring her water, adding an infusion of jasmine and cherry blossom. As the bath starts to fill, he re-enters Amy’s bedroom, making a beeline for the wardrobe. He collects a pair of leggings and an oversized sweatshirt, followed by fresh underwear; he looks around with a somewhat befuddled expression.

“Where is your hairbrush?”

She clumsily rises to a sitting position, her gaze drifting from corner to corner, her dreariness evident from the dark circles that have begun to envelop her brown doe-like eyes. She points towards the vanity.

He follows her direction, collecting the brush before offering her his outstretched hand. She looks at him in confusion.

“Come.”

“But I said that I-“

“I will not force you to eat,” he walks over to her, cupping her face in between his hands, the pad of his thumb tracing a featherlight line across her bottom lip, “but there is a nice, warm bath waiting for you in the other room.” He smiles sadly, his knuckles grazing her shoulders, “and I for one would not turn this one down. It has a lot of bubbles and the bathroom smalls divine.”

A faint smile tugs at the corner of her lips; Adrian takes her hands in his own, slowly backing up as he leads them both into the bathroom.

“I have some rose petals left over from our date on Saturday. Would you like them putting in the bath water?”

She shakes her head faintly; he nods, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

“Alright, sweetheart,” he releases her from his grasp, leaning over to turn the taps off, “let’s get you sorted.”

She begins to undress, placing each item of clothing in the washing basket before carefully climbing into the bath.

“Do we have a jug in here?”

She nods, “i-in the cupboard.”

He retrieves the object in question and places it at the edge of the bath, clearing a space on the side of the tub. He takes a seat, filling the jug with warm water.

“Wh-what are you doing?” She sniffles, rubbing at her eyes, “I-I don’t want to c-cause any fuss.”

“Don’t be silly,” he carefully begins to pour the contents of the jug over her hair, pressing the side of his hand to her forehead in an attempt to stop the water from getting into her eyes, “I want to fuss over you. You’re my girlfriend.”

“I-I’m sorry for worrying you.”

He smiles sadly, shaking his head.

“It’s alright, sweetheart. I understand.”

“D-do you think my m-mom does?”

“Most definitely,” his voice is soft, laden with compassion and sincerity, “your mother and I may not have much in common, but both of us have experienced grief. We know how much your grandmother meant to you.”

She nods hastily, a new bout of sorrow making its presence known on her cheeks. He leans forward, kissing the top of her head before collecting the bottle of shampoo from the countertop. He squeezes some onto his palm, rubbing it into a lather, applying it to her hair in a gentle clockwise motion. She hums in content, leaning into his touch.

“Is that nice?”

“Y-eah,” she utters quietly, “did I…did I smell?”

“Not at all,” he replies swiftly, “I understand how you are feeling, sweetheart. We all do.”

“I miss her.”

“I know,” he acknowledges, clasping her de-tangler with a soapy fist; he carefully runs it through her hair, “when we lose people that we love, it seems as though the world around us ceases to exist. People go on living their lives whilst ours come to a standstill. They continue to laugh and share in excitement whilst we struggle to do even the simplest of things. We forget how to function; people start suffocating you with feigned sympathies; they pretend to share in your grief when, in reality, half of them will disappear as soon as your loved one is put to rest simply because they believe that they no longer need to pretend to care.”

She looks up at him, her vulnerability evident by the glaze of her eyes, as if the light has left them completely.

“Do you m-mean that?”

"Unfortunately, yes," he re-fills the jug, emptying its contents over her head; she closes her eyes in preparation for a possible sting, but nothing comes of it, “when I lost my grandfather, I spent many a night in the forest. I didn’t want to talk to anyone.”

“Not even your parents?”

“I didn't want my mother to see me upset, and for a while I was taught that men did not, or rather were not allowed to openly express how they were feeling.”

“That isn’t right.”

“I know that now,” he smiles sadly, spending the next few moments in silence as he focuses on washing her hair; once he has finished, he grabs a towel for her hair, clipping the ends together. “My father was not known to ‘wear his heart on his sleeve’ as one would say.”

“So you would cry alone?” He nods, “I’m s-so sorry, Adrian.”

“Please don’t apologise,” he replies in turn, placing his hands on her shoulders, “it was a different time. Centuries before you were born.”

“How old were you?”

“I was eleven.”

“W-was he old?”

“He was in his late sixties, so I guess he would have been considered to be in the later stages of his life.”

“H-how did he die?”

“Smallpox,” he replies without hesitation, "there were a few cases in our town, most occurring on the west side.”

He falls quiet, as if his words have escaped him; noticing the change in atmosphere, Amy reaches up, placing her hand atop his own. Their eyes meet, the pair sharing a sad smile.

“You should have been able to grieve openly,” she whispers, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

“It was years ago, Amelia. I have had time to process it.”

“That doesn’t mean that it hurts any less.”

“…I suppose not.”

“My dad once told me that grief comes in waves," she adds, "h-he said that you could go for days or even months without feeling any pain and then it can hit you so suddenly.”

“As if you are reliving the events of that day all over again,” he nods faintly before shaking his head, forcing a small smile, “but today isn’t about me.” He kisses her jaw, caressing her other cheek with his palm, “this is about making you feel better.”

“Can it not be for us both?” She asks, looking back at him, “you knew my grandmother too.”

“Not as well as you,” his counters, “though she did welcome me into your family incredibly fast. It was definitely surprising to be accepted that quickly."

“She was wonderful.”

“What was she like? When you were little.”

“She was kind and witty,” Amy smiles wistfully, her mind lost in thought, “I used to go to stay with my grandparents in the summer for a couple of weeks. We would pass the time playing games, planting fruits and vegetables in the garden and baking a lot of sugary treats.” She sniffles quietly, “before going to bed at night I would sit in their room and my grandma would tell me stories of her childhood. She once told me that, when she was about seven or eight, she had really long plaits. She hated them.”

“Did she take them out?”

“She chopped them off.”

His eyes widen in disbelief.

“…no…”

She nods, “her mother was not impressed.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

She falls quiet; Adrian frowns, his fingertips ghosting the hollow of her neck.

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. We can sit in silence,” he wraps his arms around her shoulders, eliciting a quiet exhale, “whatever you need.”

“I…” she appears hesitant, as if unsure, “I told her I would see her tomorrow. T-Tomorrow, it…it never came…”

“Tomorrow is promised to no one,” he kisses her cheek, “all we can do is make the most of the days that we have.”

“I n-never,” she takes a shuddering breath, her words quiet and shaky as she begins to weep, her cry reverberating across the room, “I-I didn’t get to s-say g-goodbye.”

“Oh, Amelia…”

He pulls her closer to his chest, drawing soothing circles on her exposed forearms with his thumbs as she sobs, his chin resting against the top of her head.

“I’m here,” he whispers quietly, “it’s alright. I’m here…I’m not going anywhere.”

“I-I…”

“Sssshhhh…” he hushes calmly, “just let it out, sweetheart. Let it out.”

She continues to sob for a few minutes, Adrian remaining quiet beside her, the only words escaping him being a gentle reminder of his never-wavering presence. After a moment or two, Amy’s tears cease to shed, her sobs becoming few and far between. He retrieves his handkerchief from his breast pocket, running it lightly across her cheeks in an attempt to dry her tears.

“Alright,” he wraps a fluffy towel around her, being sure that the material does not drag in the bathwater as he starts to empty the tub, “let’s get you dressed.”

“I-I can…I can do it,” she sniffles, her voice less shaky than before, “p-promise.”

“Are you certain?”

She nods; he offers her a sad smile, threading his arms beneath her knees and across her back. In one fluid motion, he lifts her out of the bathtub, placing her down on the bathmat.

“Can I get you anything? A hot water bottle? A warm blanket.”

“I-I’m okay,” she replies with a sad smile, “b-but thank you.”

“A big hug?”

“When I’m dressed,” she smiles softly, “I won’t be long.”

“Take your time,” he presses a loving kiss to her forehead, “I shall be downstairs if you should need me.”

“O-okay.”

Adrian exits the bathroom, pulling the door to behind him before making his way down the stairs, only pausing his descent when he reaches the bottom. He walks through the corridor, stopping outside the doors to the study. 

“He won’t come out.”

Adrian turns in the direction of the voice; a short, middle-aged woman appears from around the corner, wiping her floury hands on the material of her apron.

Amy’s mother.

“I took some biscuits in a few minutes ago; he was rather preoccupied with work, so I left them on the mantleplace.”

“I do hope that he is not overworking himself.”

“Oh, he definitely is.”

The woman takes a step forward, folding her arms across her midsection.

“How is she?”

“She has had a bath,” he replies, “she is still refusing to eat or drink, but hopefully the warmth of the bathwater will make her feel drowsy.”

“Amelia needs a good sleep,” she leans back against the radiator, “I left the soup simmering on a low boil. I didn’t want it to go cold in the case that she changes her mind.”

“I am hoping that will be before the evening is out,” he glances down at his watch, “it is 6pm.”

“Maybe we should start with a hot chocolate,” her mother suggests, “she told me once that they make her feel sleepy. We’d be keeping her hydrated and ensuring that she was getting as much rest as she possibly can. I could make some on the stove.”

“If that isn’t too much to ask.”

She waves her hand in dismissal, “she’s my daughter, Adrian. There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for that girl.”

Adrian nods in acknowledgement, “would it be alright if we were to stay here until after the funeral? I feel like being surrounded by family would help Amelia through the next few weeks.”

“I was going to suggest that myself,” she collects a mug from the shelf, helping herself to some iced coffee from the fridge, “would you like anything to drink?”

“I was thinking about going to the store and getting some bits for Amelia,” he looks over at the stove, “she usually won’t say no to certain snacks, so maybe if I got some of those then she’d try to eat. It won’t exactly be nutritional... but it’s something.”

“She told me a couple of months ago that she liked Biscoff.”

“Specifically melted on waffles,” he smiles sadly, shaking his head as a memory starts to play out in his head, “with banana and whipped cream. Almost like a banoffee pie.”

“You could always try that…”

A floorboard creaks in the entryway, causing the pair to turn in the direction of the sound. Adrian’s face softens as Amy walks into the room, her arms wrapped around her torso.

“Hey, sweetie,” her mother pulls out the stool beside Adrian, offering a sympathetic smile; Amy takes her up on her offer, sliding onto the stool, her slender legs dangling slightly, just a little too short to reach the bar below, “can I get you some water?”

“I-is there still some soup?”

“Of course,” her mother heads back over to the stove, removing the lid from the pot, “would you like a bowl?”

“C-could I have some in a cup?” She asks, Adrian’s arm now encircling her waist, his hand resting just above her hip, “I don’t think I could finish a whole bowl.”

“They’re only small bowls,” her mother frowns.

“One step at a time,” Adrian replies softly, his utterance acting as a subtle reassurance for Amy’s mother; she nods in acceptance, returning to the task at hand. Adrian swivels his chair around to face her, placing his opposite hand on her thigh, “would you like one of the rolls too?”

“Do you have a tiny one?” She tries to imitate the shape of a circle with her fingers, “one around that size.”

“I’m afraid not, but I do have one that’s a little bigger. Like the size of a baked potato. I could cut it open, add some butter and warm it up for you.”

“Melted butter?”

“Would you like that?”

She nods faintly, “is…is that okay?”

“Sweetheart, it’s more than okay,” he slides off his seat, heading around to stand behind her; he kisses her cheek, “thank you for trying.”

“Here you go.”

A mug and spoon appear in front of her, almost full, the green liquid eliciting a pleasant aroma; Adrian notices Amy’s brow furrow as she investigates the contents.

“It has broccoli and cauliflower,” he adds, “peas and asparagus, also.”

“It smells nice,” she mumbles.

“I’m glad you think so,” he begins to prepare the roll, adding a cube of butter before placing it in the microwave; as he waits for it to ping, he turns around to face her, unable to contain the smile that begins to grace his lips as he watches her take a spoonful. “What do you think?”

“It’s good,” she returns his smile, “very green.”

“I used green vegetables,” after the ping, he retrieves the roll, placing it on a plate before heading back over to his chair, putting it down beside her. He sits, watching in anticipation as she lifts the mug, cradling it under her chin.

“Is it okay?”

She nods, “I’m just taking it slowly.”

“Forcing food down your throat when you haven’t eaten in so long will only make you feel worse,” her mother chimes, “try dipping some of the bread in the soup. You won’t regret it.”

Amy follows her mother’s advice and begins to tuck into her meal; Adrian remains beside her, watching closely.

“I was going to head to the grocery store and get you some things,” he looks back down at Amy’s mug, “it’s my turn to make dinner this evening, also. I was thinking about making a pie.”

“You are?”

“If I am able to work out how much of each ingredient to use,” he smiles brightly, “I have a particular recipe that I would like to try out.”

“Did you get it from a book?” Her mother asks inquisitively, “like one of those written by a fancy chef.”

“It’s actually my mother’s.”

Amy looks up at him, “c-can I come? To the store.”

“Would you like to?”

“I-I think fresh air might help,” she smiles sadly, “and it might wake me up a l-little bit.”

“Are you sure you’re feeling up to it?” Her mother calls back, “y-you’ve only just got some food in you.”

“I think it might distract me from my brain,” she sighs, “and I can get something nice for dad.”

“That’s a wonderful idea, sweetheart.”

She places the mug down, having drunk half of its contents, three quarters of the bread roll untouched on the plate. Adrian frowns.

“Could you try to eat a little bit more?”

She shakes her head, “I feel full.”

“That’s not enough to fill you,” her mother interjects, “why don’t I put the soup in a takeaway cup that you can take in the car.”

“Is that okay?” She looks over at Adrian, “you just had your car cleaned.”

“Amy, you could spill an entire jar of pickles in my car and I wouldn’t care.”

“Pickle juice smells."

"But it would provide us with another funny story to tell people.”

"So is that a yes?"

Adrian nods rather enthusiastically, "that's an absolutely."

She smiles softly; he beams at her reaction, reaching up to cup her chin between his thumb and index finger.

“Come on then, you,” he leans in, capturing her lips with his own, “let’s go and get your coat.”

[shadowbends]

Looking through your Ao3 bookmarks and seeing that little “This has been deleted, sorry!” is like finding a gravestone, but the writing’s too worn down to read what it was standing for anymore.

What were you, Bookmark #336... What stories did you tell? Which words were it that once left a mark on my soul?  *touches my laptop screen like it’s text from an ancient ruin*

Cowabummer. 

[calamitoustide]

thinking about how people who refuse to read WIPS have never experienced the joy of that ao3 email for an update you weren't expecting and not being able to think of anything else until you get to read it

[arrowheadedbitch]

You know what? I lowkey wanna see a fic where no one ever finds out that Tim's uncle isn't real.

[infinitelystrangemachinex]

Excellent choice, Councilor Medarda. A supreme challenge.

This one.

@mandaloreyan this gave me a HEART ATTACK when I saw your tags my god it was RIGHT THERE she could've just as easily chosen Viktor and what then. WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN