#dana winters pov

[lifewithdavefarts]

DaveFarts - Episode 27 “Spicy Gas” [Episode List] Dave and Dana try to spice things up in their sexual life.

POV: Dave

Spicy Gas

Fuck, I’m freezing in this car.

It’s worth it though: I’m picking my girlfriend up from work and we’re going back to my place together. Tim (my bro and roommate) is out of town because of some needy client so, yeah, you know where this is going: a sexy, hot, movie night until we fall asleep on the couch.

When you’re past 30, this is considered a massive win.

It’s about 7:00 PM and I parked right where Dana asked me, in the mostly desert underground car park below the office building she works at. She works (usually overtime…) in a law firm and she’s as badass as she sounds; it’s a demanding job, though she’s up for it, as she told me many times without me asking and not in a nervous way at all. 

Yes, she sounds stressed, but I know her, she’s got it, I’m here if she needs to vent. Sometimes that’s all you need and if it’s not, well, we’re just gonna talk abou- why is this car so cold?!

I hope Dana’s on her way ‘cause if she’s not she’s gonna find his boyfriend dead of hypothermia. Before picking her up, I made a quick stop to a fast food nearby to get some french fries on the fly, because my body may be a temple, but it’s a crumbling one. But not even junk food raised my body temperature. 

This is how it ends, Dana, with your handsome boyfriend being murdered by this harsh, cold Winter in his own car, a coffin made of plastic and steel.

Truth is, I was bored and tired, so I was basically falling asleep, until I heard someone tapping on the car window right next to me. That made me jump, that always startle me for some reason… and she knows it very well, given the idiotic, beautiful smile on her face.

“Hey babe.” I said from inside the car, but she could barely hear me.

She walked around the vehicle and got inside, sitting on the passenger seat, next to me. We exchanged a quick peck on the lips and I then went for the keys to start the car.

“Wait, I need a moment.” Dana said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

She wasn’t mad nor sad, she just wanted to smoke a cigarette before leaving, all while she (as I said) vented about some co-worker acting like a bitch.

“‘Do not let Bennet know about it’ I told him and guess what he did?!”

“He… he told B-“

“He told her!” she had a puff of her cigarette. “Can you believe it? Now everyone knows we’re behind schedule because that idiot had to lick my boss’ ass.”

“Wow” I replied. I swear I’m listening, I’m just a bit on auto-pilot.

And freezing.

“And my boss… oh my boss, she got so mad, and rightfully so. We could handle the schedule, we do it all the time, but no! He had to rat us out like the kiss ass he is.”

“Is that him?” I said, casually glancing at some guy walking in the empty parking lot. “I can run him over if you want to.” I joked… and I hope she knows I’m joking.

“Yes, but don’t do anything, don’t move, don’t make any sound. He’s such a kiss ass that if he notices us he’ll come here to cha- I told you not to make a sound!” she said, almost laughing, as my enormous fart cut her off. 

Yes, one of my usual farts, powered by those fries I got earlier (not that I need any particular fuel to rip a good one).

You all know what I’m capable of, my bro Tim definitely does.

I hate how warm it felt compared to the sheer cold of the car. My girl is very familiar with all of my talents, including this one. 7 seconds and I was done.

“Are you done shitting yourself?” she politely asked.

I leaned towards her and we exchanged another quick peck, but me moving meant that the gas trapped under my ass now was free to pollute the entire car.

“I’m your pig, remember?” I whispered.

“I literally never called you that.”

“Really? Must have been one of my other girlfriends then.” I joked.

She playfully slapped my shoulder and I sat back in front of the steering wheel, ready to start the car.

“Wait.”

“Oh please can we go home? I’m freezing.” I lamented.

“Just a minute…” she looked at me amused, but thoughtful. “There’s something I’d like to talk you about.” she put out her cigarette and put it in the ashtray.

“You okay?”

“Sure.” she replied, calmly.

A few seconds of silence followed. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, waiting for her to say something.

“I actually… do like when you’re a pig.” she smiled, but still being serious and calm about it.

I gave her and inquisitive, amused look.

“Don’t judge me.” she noticed my expression.

“I’m not judging you babe.” I said. “It’s our thing, we’re very open about what we like.”

“I know… you’re awesome.”

“Of course I am.” I confirmed, with a smug smirk, fully knowing how annoying I am.

“And I, too, am awesome, thank you very much.” she added, giving me a funny scolding glare.

We laughed it off.

“So what’s up, babe?” I genuinely asked. “You know my kinks...” I leaned closer to her. “What’s your dirty secret, Mrs. D?” I whispered, trying to act cool and sexy, but all I got was another playful slap on my shoulder.

“It’s not… what you did like a minute ago.” she said, gesturing towards me.

“Oh you mean this?” I pretended to push one more fart out, but this time I actually had nothing brewing (incredible, huh?). I was amused by her reaction though. “Just kidding.” I quickly said.

She actually laughed at that.

“You’re so nice and it’s not that I like you being disgusting but… dammit, I admit that… sometimes… when we do our thing… maybe I’d like you being a bit more… dirty.”

I let out a surprisingly nervous cackle.

“That’s it? You want to spice things up?” I asked, reaching for my phone. “Because I’m pretty sure Google can give us some tips.”

She calmly but firmly extended her arm towards me. She grabbed my phone and threw it in the backseat. She then put her left hand on my jeans-clad right leg.

“If you’re cold, Mr. D” it was Dana’s turn to whisper. “I know just the way to warm you up.” 

That got me instantly aroused.

My girlfriend’s hand moved closer to my crotch, touching the tent I pitched between my legs.

“Oh… are you nervous?” she asked, gently caressing my boner, still in-character, whatever the character was.

I nodded.

Why did I nod? Am I an idiot?

With a deft movement, she untied my belt and her hand slipped right into my jeans and underwear, going straight for my hard cock.

As that happened, I let out a very short high-pitched scream, not because I wasn’t used to this, but because Dana’s hand was way colder than I was expecting. She broke character to laugh a bit at my very manly scream, then quickly went back into this femme fatale persona she was impersonating.

I was sweating.

But then I realized...

“Wait… r-right here?” I stuttered.

“Are you scared, Mr. D?” she asked. “Are you… too much of a nice guy for this?”

The fuck I am. 

I grabbed her head and kissed her, her tongue going down my throat as she wrapped her cold fingers around my warm, throbbing cock. 

I don’t know what was going down there… I mean I do know obviously, but the way Dana was moving her hand and fingers this time almost made me cum on the spot. She did in fact spice things up, so I guess I could do was return the favour... in my own personal way.

I sat back normally and spread my legs wide, my cock still being massaged, and ripped a loud, vibrating fart, a loud blast that made the entire vehicle shake. A quick 5 seconds rip which, weirdly enough, made Dana moan as she listened to it.

“You’re such a pig.” she scolded me, now literally strangling my cock, so much so that that I actually felt a bit of pain.

And I was loving the fuck out of that.

I saw a car passing by but the thought of them noticing us only made me harder.

I then ripped another big fart, because I’m the master of this shit. I could feel the vibrations of this one even on Dana’s hand as she jerked me off, something that she seemed to enjoy.

All of this was disgusting and yet we found it hot as fuck.

My girlfriend was as thirsty I was and finally managed to pull my cock out of my jeans.

“Oh there it is.” she said, leaning down to give it a quick lick. "Let me have it."

Not the first time we do this stuff obviously, but dammit that one move was indeed a dirty one. Pre-cum dripped down from the tip of my penis as I ripped another monstrous fart, the warm gas fogging up the car's windows. I was hot-boxing that whole place and my girlfriend didn’t care; instead she once again slipped her tongue down my throat.

“Time to sleep, pig.” she then whispered right into my hear, right before biting it.

After that, she strongly tightened her grip on my cock and then twisted it. I clenched my teeth as that happened, but the arousal that it gave me was insane.

That final move made me cum, a white fountain appearing between my legs as Dana bit my ear again. 

That was quick… for my standards at least, but she didn’t seem to mind at all. Actually, she was a sweaty mess herself. She licked her lips and gave me a quick peck on my own.

“Try finding that on Google.” she said, as she sat back on her passenger seat.

As if the spirit of some femme fatale left her body, she turned to me and smiled, opening the car window by her side, now realizing how terrible my gas was.

“Yeah, fuck Google, ammirite?” literally the most unsexy thing I could have said.

She handed me some napkins to clean the mess. And a cigarette, which we shared.

“Still cold?” Dana asked me, once again giving me a certain look.

I started the car in response, then I turned to her, looking straight into her brown eyes. 

I let out a loud, muffled fart that shook the seat, narrowing my eyes as I pushed it out. It was warm, it was vibrating through my jeans-clad ass. I winked at my girlfriend as the thunder kept going, something that she, against all odds, seemed to appreciate.

12 seconds, then my ass went silent.

“Are you?” I asked back to her, with a smirk.

The End

[toastandjamie]

So an AU where Mat isn’t Ta’veren and becomes our POV in the Black Tower.

Now the first dilemma I faced was how much Mat should be integrated into the main plot, especially given that the Black Tower isn’t created until book five. So here’s what I got so far input for what this goofy little guy should get up to is welcome.

So after Winter Night, Perrin, Rand, and Egwene go with Morraine and Lan leaving our non-Ta’veren ordinary guy Mat behind. Now Mat, not knowing the details, is quite upset because as far as he knows his two best friends just ditched him to go on an adventure without him. When Nynaeve goes after them Mat tries to tag along but Nynaeve very firmly sends him back home. However, Ta’veren or not this is still Mat Cauthon we’re talking about so he goes after them himself. He spends the rest of Eye of The World having narrow misses with the plot, running into Thom at Whitebridge after the Myrdraal incident and drags that poor man all the way to Camlyn only to discover that he once again missed his friends and now has no idea where they’ve gone.

In The Great Hunt we find Mat traveling with Thom and Dana as an apprentice Gleeman, until they meet up with Rand in Cairihan. Rand tells him about the the horn but leaves out the whole, he’s the dragon reborn bit. Now this version of Mat doesn’t believe he’s a hero but he also has yet to discover Consequences so he really wants to be one, so he immediately insists on joining Rand to find the horn of Valere. Rand tries the tried and true method of being the worst to your loved ones to drive them away for their own good but while it DOES upset Mat, you aren’t shaking him that easily especially since he’s already invited to that party Rand and friends needs to break into. Things end up going relatively the same from their and they all go to Falme, Mat gets a late reveal there that Rand is the Dragon Reborn, we have Seanchen problems and Mat is still the one to blow the horn of Valere.

The Dragon Reborn baby, in order to try and keep Mat safely out of the plot Rand convinces him to escort the girls back to Tarvalon. Now no one but Rand and Perrin know he blew the horn of Valere and at their urging Mat decides to keep it that way, but he quickly finds that when your a man and not Ta’veren or the known sounder of the horn of Valere you very quickly get bored of the White Tower. After spending some time gambling at every tavern in Tarvalon and training a bit with the warders and Gawyn and Galad, the girls give him the letter for Morgause and send him on his way no Armylin permission slip required. Things go pretty similarly as they do in the book, Mat picks up a depressed Thom, discovers a plot to kill the girl’s, gets some fireworks and breaks into the Stone, though he is now slightly less effective without his supernatural luck.

The Shadow Rising finds our boy Mat feeling severely put out and a bit helpless. The girls as usual were less then grateful for the rescue and Rand and Perrin are too busy to talk to him. He still goes to Egwene for advice and hears about the Red Stone Door and still goes through it, though this time he actually gets to ask his three questions before getting kicked out since there’s now only One Ta’veren in there. Mat’s still contemplating what his confusing answers mean when Rand pops out, and things continue from there as planned. This time however Mat does not go to the Wastes and instead joins Thom and Julin as unwanted bodyguards for Nynaeve and Elayne. Hilarity ensues. More importantly however during the Tanchico arc Mat starts considering the possibility of learning to channel. After all, the girls aren’t wrong about him not being much help against the black ajah without channeling. So using the scraps of information he has he tries to teach himself how to channel. But it’s not going so well. However once they reach Salidar he finds a certain someone who might be able to help with that…

In Fires of Heaven and onwards we get more of Mat feeling helpless to protect his friends and using his most powerful weapon, his puppy dog eyes, he gets Logain to grudgingly agree to help teach him though one problem is that Logain is gentled but Mat won’t let that stop him. Egwene shows up, Logain is de-gentled and Mat get’s the bright idea to take the bow healed Logain and head to the Black Tower. Mat proceeds to get tangled up in both the Black Tower sub plot and Elayne’s Succession plot line. He also finds Olver at some point. That’s all I got so far

[virgo-mess]

The Birds and the Bees

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Chapter List

1.Alexithymia- The Inability to Express your Feelings Parts 1 and 2

2.The Woes of Adolescence/ What the heck Happened that Summer Parts 1 and 2

3.Caught in a Summer Storm/ What the heck Happened that Christmas.

4.Summer Bluffs? Part 1

5.Disco, Strippers, and Margaritassss Part 2

6.Sleepless in a Hotel Suite Part 3

7.Shades of Pink

8.The Things I’ve Dreamed Part 1

9.Renewal Part 2

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TW: None really just two angsty pretty people that can't communicate, flirting, with a little fluff ....ENJOY!

Alexithymia- The Inability to Express Your Feelings Part 1

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“For adults, summer was different- flatter, the way everything became flatter when you grew old, like the hills you once sledded and stood on your pedals to climb, like the Christmases and birthdays you once anticipated, even after you discovered they disappointed, again and again, until you became numb to their disappointment.”- Dana Cann

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Shay’s Pov

Shay hummed softly to the radio while she inhaled the salty scent of the New England coast, she watched the deep blue of Plymouth Harbor flit past her car windows for the first time in two years. The ocean and their pretty beaches were one of the things she missed the most about coming back to her hometown of Plymouth Massachusetts, at least when they weren’t hidden under a thick blanket of winter snow. Winter was usually the only time of year Shay could afford to slip away from her job as Vice President of an investment banking firm on Wall Steet and make the nearly four-hour drive back home. She had moved to New York what felt like a lifetime ago to attend school at NYU but in reality, it was only seven years. She had only intended on majoring in marketing, but the allure of upper-class New York City living was too strong. Shay ended up toughing college life out for one more year to earn an MBA and before she knew it, she was calling NYC home and worked her way up the investment banking chain. The hours of being a VP of investment banking were grueling, but the pay was good with extra perks like end of the year bonuses and paid time off, but Shay had come to find the life of a workaholic was also incredibly lonely. The only reason she was even able to swing this trip home was because her boss, Harold Weber, had suggested she take a sabbatical after having a mild mental breakdown in front of a few clients a couple of weeks ago. A breakdown that landed her in the back of an ambulance. Needless to say, Shay jumped at the opportunity to expand her horizons for a few months and oddly enough home seemed like the best place to do it.

So, here Shay was back in her hometown about to meet up with some of her oldest childhood friends, her breakdown had conveniently lined up well with some major life events. Her best friends Daisy and Pete were getting married in a few weeks, and Shay was sweetly bestowed the title of Maid of Honor. Daisy had gone all out and had showed up at Shay’s New York loft to hand deliver the biggest bouquet of flowers and spa basket Shay had ever seen about three months ago. How could Shay say no after such a grand gesture? Truthfully, she would’ve accepted if Daisy had just shown up with a cupcake and a big hug it had been so long since she had gotten one of those. Shay turned her forest green Audi R8 into the 1620 Wine Bar parking lot at exactly 12 o’clock for her scheduled lunch date with Daisy Martin, soon to be Daisy Foster. They were meeting to not only catch up but to also put together some of the last-minute touches on the wedding Shay had promised she’d help her with as soon as she got the time. Luckily for them both, Shay seemingly had all the time in the world now after this sabbatical she wasn’t sure if she was going to stay in the world of investment banking or New York in general.

Shay sighed stepping out of her car and taking in the warm summer rays as she made her way up to the small wine bar at a leisurely pace. She only made one stop the entire four hour drive up and that was to put actual clothes on, so she didn’t show up to a fancy wine bar in a pair of skimpy pajamas with a set of hair rollers in her hair. Instead, she opted for a simple mint green floral mini sundress and a matching cardigan that matched her misty green eyes. She even took the time to apply some make up and the hair rollers helped her achieve her routine picture perfect 90s blowout in a sketchy gas station bathroom. Shay looked at her reflection in the glass for a moment before pushing the heavy door open and walking into the dim wine bar with an awed expression on her face. Soft jazz music lulled through the overhead speakers as Shay’s green eyes took in the antique furnishings, beautiful stone walls, and gilded ceilings.

“Welcome to Sips at 1620, do you have a reservation?” a girl’s voice came from behind the hostess stand pulling Shay out of her thoughts with a polite smile on her face. She couldn’t help but feel a bit underdressed and fidgeted with the hem of her sundress as she took the last few steps up to the hostess stand.

“Yeah, it should be under Daisy” Shay said feeling a bit out of place in such a pretty place despite how polite the hostess was being to her. She wondered why Daisy picked such a romantic looking establishment, it seemed more suited for a date night than to just be planning parts of your wedding with a childhood friend but perhaps they weren’t going to be alone, and Daisy was looking to make a good impression.

“Looks like you’re the first one here, do you have a seating preference we have our main room off to your left here or our patio overlooking the harbor is just through doors.” The hostess said with a knowing look in her eyes as she watched Shay fidget with the hem of her dress again.

“The patio sounds perfect” Shay admitted letting out a faint sigh of relief. She could push her suspicious train of thought to the back of her mind for a little while and worry about surprise guests later, for now all she really needed was a glass of wine.

“Good choice, I know it can be a little intimidating in here, but I promise we aren’t nearly that fancy you’re not underdressed. You can go out and have a seat wherever you want, I’ll send someone out to bring you refreshments while you wait.” She said with the same knowing look in her eyes and a soft smile. Shay let out a soft, embarrassed sounding giggle and wondered how some people were able to get a read on her so easily.

“Thanks, could you make the first refreshment a glass of sangria please” Shay asked with a sheepish smile on her face, the host chuckled nodding her head as she began to shuffle out from behind the desk.

“Sure, thing hon, I’ll be with you in just one second sir.” The hostess said giving her one last smile before disappearing through a back door. Shay took one last look around the bar to get a closer look at some of the pretty furnishings before heading towards the patio doors and stepping out into the warm late June sunshine. The patio was empty but had a much more relaxed feel to it than the main room. The tables were covered with black and white striped umbrellas and the chairs were a pleasing assortment of cushioned patio loveseats and cute wicker chairs with brightly colored pillows. Shay all but skipped to one of the tables closest to the rippling blue of Plymouth harbor, she sat her purse down and quickly discarded her cardigan before taking a seat on one of the comfortable loveseats. Her green eyes fixate on the crashing waves and a loved-up couple in the distance, the faint lull of soft music could still be heard floating through the balmy air. Only instead of smooth jazz, the soft notes of a dreamy sounding indie pop song graced Shay’s ears. She couldn’t help but get dewy-eyed as a small wistful type of smile made its way across her face because the music and the couple on the beach reminded her of the happy summers of her girlhood. Most of which were spent with the boy next door, her first crush, and also her best friend before she and Daisy got really close.

“Hey gorgeous, what are you doing over here by yourself?” a deep, flirtatious voice asked, Shay jumped slightly in surprise halting her daydreaming to focus on the tall man standing in front of her table with a flirty smile on his face. Shay blushed under his gaze as she let her eyes trail over the man’s tall, muscled body for a bit longer than socially acceptable. He’s dressed in a pair of dark fitted jeans, a white button down that gave her a very teasing display of his muscled chest, and a dark blue blazer. Cropped gray hair sits atop his head and a pair of dark sunglasses shield his eyes from Shay’s view but even with the sunglasses on she can tell he’s incredibly handsome in a mysterious, brooding type of way. Something about the man feels remarkably familiar to her but she can’t quite pinpoint what it is.

“I’m um, waiting for my friend and my glass of sangria” Shay said awkwardly letting her eyes sweep the patio to find it still completely empty save for her and the mysterious man wearing sunglasses in front of her that almost seemed to appear out of thin air. The man let out a soft chuckle under his breath that somehow had Shay’s stomach doing flips and her eyes giving him another quick once over because she swears, she’s heard that chuckle before.

“Sorry I startled you; would you mind if I keep you company while you wait pretty lady?” he asked in the same deep coquettish tone, Shay felt her cheeks flush a darker shade of pink as she gazed up at him for a long time. She couldn’t see his eyes but part of her knew he was gazing right back at her in a way that made her feel like he was undressing her and staring into her soul at the same time in a sensual, tantalizing sort of way.

“You’ve complimented me twice in under a minute that can’t be good, have a seat Casanova” Shay said coyly motioning to the two other chairs around the table. Mystery man let out another soft chuckle before plopping in the empty spot next to Shay on the patio chair close enough for his large thigh to ghost hers in the most teasing way. He flashed her another flirty smile as he propped an arm on the table and rested his chin in the palm of his hand. Shay rolled her eyes and let out a soft giggle of her own as she teasingly mirrored his action, placing her chin in the palm of her hand as she flashed him a coy smile before deciding to break the brief silence the pair of them had seemingly fallen into.

“Have we met before Mr…?” Shay trailed raising an eyebrow at him expectantly as her eyes continued to try and pinpoint why on earth, he felt so familiar yet oh so different at the same time. She watched him bite down on his lip like he was trying to bite back another chuckle. She concluded that the sunglasses were what was throwing off whatever picture she had of him in her head.

“Right or Perfect for you, whichever you prefer darling. You know I think we have met, in my dreams…” his tone had a playful edge to it this time and Shay could see one of his eyebrows peek up at her from behind his glasses, mirroring her expression with a teasing grin. Shay giggled, shaking her head as she felt the familiar fluttering of butterflies in her stomach.

“Yeah, okay Casanova. Let me guess, you’re in town for that big rodeo happening down at the fairgrounds and you need some ‘eye-candy’ in your cheering section…” Shay said with a coy smile on her face at her artfully subtle tack of asking the silver haired mystery what he’d be getting up to while he was in town. It’d been ages since Shay actually let loose and entertained a random guy that had the guts to brazenly flirt with her like this but part of her felt like the guy sitting next to her wasn’t just a random guy and that she’d known him her whole life. There was only one other guy Shay had felt such a thing for, someone she knew a lifetime ago back in those carefree days of her youth…

“I’m no cowboy, doll but you aren’t too far off about me wanting some eye candy and luckily I just happened to stumble upon the prettiest girl in Plymouth.” He all but purred, reaching out to brush his thumb against her flushed cheek affectionately, too affectionately for a supposed stranger… Shay eyed him suspiciously but couldn’t find it in her to pull away from him because everything about him had her utterly transfixed and once again feeling oddly homesick, homesick for a person rather than a place.

“Let me guess, you’re in town for that over-the-top Foster wedding, aren’t you blondie?” he crooned in a teasing tone. His long fingers left Shay’s flushed cheek to toy with a lock of her blonde hair and Shay found herself biting down on her lip to prevent a displeased whine from escaping her throat at the loss of contact. Familiar waves of conflicting feelings coursed through her veins as she gazed over at him with the same coy smile on her face.

“That obvious huh, seems a bit unfair that you know what I’m doing here when you still haven’t told me your name or what you’re doing here. To think I let you sit at my table with me and everything.” Shay said letting out an exaggerated sigh and ditching her coy smile for a playful, mock pout of sadness. He chuckled shaking his head to himself for a moment before settling his shield gaze back on her with a teasing smirk on his face.

“Oh, I’m just here looking for my soulmate maybe you’ve seen her. She’s wearing a cute little green dress that matches her eyes and has an adorable albeit, fake pout on her pretty face right now” he said in a teasing tone, still twirling a lock of her blonde hair on his long finger. Shay rolled her eyes playfully and found herself biting back a giggle.

“Do you use that line on everyone, Casanova?” Shay said nonchalantly, raising an eyebrow at him as she rested her chin back in the palm of her hand, she silently wished she could take his sunglasses off not just because she wanted to see who was behind them but more so to getting a better feel for what he was thinking. Interpreting his thoughts and expressions based on eyebrows alone was getting tedious.

“No, just a cute little blonde with pretty green eyes and an adorable button nose who also happens to be my soulmate. Haven’t you been listening?” he said in a low borderline seductive tone as he bit down on his lip and gave her a teasing bop on the tip of her nose with one of the long fingers that had just been toying with her hair. Shay didn’t resist the urge to giggle this time, finding the action mildly ridiculous but strangely adorable all the same. Her giggles took a second to die down but when they did, she found herself analyzing his face again.

“She’s got a cute laugh too…why are you staring at me like that ch…blondie?” he all but cooed, dragging a finger down her thigh delicately, staring at her in a way that implied he was searching her eyes for something. Shay tensed a bit at both the action and the intensity of his shielded gaze as she felt an unexpected wave of arousal creep up on her.

“You remind me of someone…” Shay breathed out tearing her eyes off the man for the first time since he had magically appeared in front of her table a mere twenty minutes ago because it finally dawned on her to dig through her purse for her cell phone. She doubted it was a coincidence he showed up at the exact time Daisy was supposed to be meeting her here. No, Daisy Martin was playing matchmaker again and she was in for an earful when she finally decided to grace her and mystery man with her presence.

“A good someone I hope, tall, handsome, pretty blue eyes, might be a cop, could’ve got suspended for beating up a dirtbag named Tyler in a hotel lobby in New York…” he trailed nonchalantly.

“Huh” Shay said though she wasn’t really listening to what he was saying as she unlocked her phone to see about ten text messages from Daisy.

“…Nothing, what’s your favorite flower?” he asked in the same nonchalant tone, pointedly running his fingers up Shay’s thigh again in a teasing matter to get her attention. Shay sighed, pausing her skim through Daisy’s messages to arch her brow at him again though this time it was in a snarkier manner than the previous ones she raised at him. He smiled over at her almost seeming sheepish under her gaze for the first time in the last twenty minutes or so.

“Why does that matter, you gonna buy me some Casanova?” Shay sighed, forcing a tight smile on her face before glancing back down at her phone to read the first few messages her meddlesome friend Daisy had sent her. Apparently, Pete had convinced Daisy to go up to Boston with him early this morning to take a look at some incredibly last-minute ideas for their reception décor, they hit a ton of unexpected traffic on their way back down but would be here at 12:40 by the latest.

“I don’t know maybe, women like that stuff you know, and I bet a favorite flower says a lot about a person. Looking at your phone when someone is trying to talk to you is rude blondie…” he said letting out an exasperated sigh before placing a long finger under her chin, urging her to look at him with a teasing grin plastered on his face. Shay scoffed, narrowing her misty green eyes at him.

“Well, if we’re really soulmates shouldn’t you be able to guess what my favorite flower is. Pretty sure I read that in the soulmate handbook, I can fact check that for you on my phone if you want…” Shay said coyly. Looking past him, she finally spotted a glimpse of Daisy’s black curls in the afternoon sun coming  out of the  patio doors with a disheveled looking Pete Foster in toe. “Sure… stuck in traffic…” Shay said sarcastically under her breath as she watched Daisy try to discreetly readjust her denim skirt.

“You don’t have to do that; I already know the answer is cherry blossoms Shay” he chuckled. Shay sharply settled her green eyes back on the not so mysterious man’s amused-looking smirk at the sound of her name and her childhood nickname coming out of his mouth in the same sentence. There was only one person that ever actually used that nickname for her on a regular basis, he had dark curls and a pair of carefree, captivating blue eyes.

“CASHTON MICHAEL EWING!” Shay all but snarled, reaching up to aggressively tear his obnoxious sunglasses off his face and carelessly tossed them down on the patio harder than necessary. Cash let out a deep annoyed sounding sigh as he watched the glasses clatter and skid against the stained wood with an audible smack.

“I just bought those, that was rude Cherry Blossom, bad girl” Cash chided her though his amused smirk and spread into a full grin as he teasingly bopped her on the tip of her nose with his finger again. Shay scowled at him through her lashes and swatted at his shoulder as hard as she could before finally scooting away from him. Shay crossed her arms over her chest and tried to process everything that happened between them in the last twenty minutes.

“You haven’t seen me in almost seven years, I was hoping to get a warmer greeting especially from you, Cherry Blossom. You’re not being very neighborly, you know.” Cash sighed with an unreadable emotion swirling in his eyes. Shay let out a sigh of her own but refused to meet his gaze even though he was in fact the person she’d been thinking of in the back of her mind this entire time. The someone she had known her whole life, the someone she was feeling homesick for. Cashton Michael “Cash” Ewing was Shay’s neighbor, the first friend she made when her parents moved into the Manomet neighborhood and her first crush though looking back on it now, it was more than just a crush. From the ages of four to fourteen Shay and Cash were basically inseparable, they did everything together back then and Shay had so many happy memories of those years. The innocent years, the ones before the dreads of awkward adolescence crept in on them both and set them down different paths to live separate lives that no longer involved the other.

“Well, we haven’t been neighbors in like eight years Cash… I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you with the hair…it’s looks great though really suits you, brings out your eyes” Shay tacked on awkwardly finally meeting his gaze with a timid look in her eyes. Cash gave her a half smile in response though there seemed to be a million thoughts running through his head as he gazed back at her with almost affectionate eyes. Shay was sure she was misreading the look in his eyes though; she felt the all too familiar bundle of conflicting emotions  Cashton Ewing often brought upon her were still coursing through every fiber of her being.

“You don’t have to apologize Cherry Blossom it’s not your fault, I figured Daisy didn’t tell you I was coming when you checked in with the hostess. I’m just surprised and only mildly offended it took you so long to piece it together” he said lightheartedly though his blue eyes were sincere as they stared back into her green ones for what felt like an eternity. Gazes like this always had Shay’s mind flooding with happy memories from those early years of their friendship but then she’d remember all the more dreadful, angst filled memories of her adolescence and somehow some way, Cash Ewing was at the center of them all. She could remember all the summers their families spent together down in Cape Cod and all the days she and Cash spent running up and down the beaches, the day trips up to Boston during Christmas, stargazing in her backyard, eating ice cream every Tuesday at the parlor downtown, and movie nights with pizza in Cash’s basement. The Cash in those memories was like the one sitting beside her, gazing at her with sincere blue eyes yet something about him still felt so foreign. In the early days they told each other everything and sought comfort in each other when one of them was upset or cried. Shay missed the way things used to be between them before she knew the depth of the feelings she had for her then best friend. Shay knew the distance between them was her fault, they say girls mature faster than boys and that was definitely the case for her and Cash. She still remembered the summer, everything changed though sometimes she really wished she could forget it.

“Shay… are you okay?” Cash asked, pulling Shay out of her moment of reminiscing by running his thumb along her still rosy cheek almost tenderly. Shay nodded her head in acknowledgement without even thinking about it, a habit she picked up that summer between middle school and high school. The summer she no longer felt comfortable letting Cash Ewing know every thought and feeling she ever had because the weight of her feelings and the heartbreak that came with having a crush on her best friend were too embarrassing to admit.

“I’m fine” Shay replied softly, not really knowing what else to say to him because she still felt mostly confused by his charade of choice. Shay knew she should be used to Cash giving her a hard time by now but given her still ever-present feelings for the doofus she can’t help but feel hurt by it. Cash and Pete had been routinely teasing her since they were Sophomores in high school. Shay always assumed it was just because she spent most of her time with Daisy after she pointedly distanced herself from Cash that sour summer, but she didn’t know why he bothered to keep it up after all this time.

“Good, I thought I lost you again” Cash said, flashing her an almost sheepish grin as his finger trailed the length of her thigh again. Shay gave him a weary look before gently pushing his hand off her leg and rising to her feet to greet Pete and Daisy, clad in their matching pastel pink polo shirts and denim bottoms like a couple out of a magazine spread.

“Hey guys, you’re a little late don’t you think” Shay said giving Daisy a pointed yet playful look as she pulled her into a hug. Daisy rolled her eyes but hugged her back, nonetheless before pulling away with an unmistakable impish glint in her brown eyes.

“Didn’t you get my text messages, Pete insisted on driving on up to Boston at the crack of dawn like a deranged rooster because we simply have to have this over-the-top archway at the end the isle. Long story short we’re already way over budget so this fanciful archway ain’t happenin’.” Daisy said giving Pete a pointed look of her own, Pete let out an exasperated sigh before pulling Cash into a brief half hug.

“Yeah, I did get your text messages and you failed to tell me Cash was gonna be joining us for lunch in all ten of them Daisy Martin. Also, don’t think I didn’t see you readjusting your skirt on your way out the door over there, stuck in traffic huh.” Shay said in a hushed tone, Daisy blushed giving Shay a sheepish smile.

“I could’ve sworn I told you that, what’s it matter anyway? You two sure looked nice and cozy together from what I saw. Love is definitely in the air” Daisy said wiggling her dark eyebrows suggestively. Shay let out a sad sounding sigh and gave Daisy a weary look.

“What you saw was Cash toying with me like always. Made a whole show of flirting with me because I didn’t recognize him right away. I’m sure it meant nothing…it never does” Shay said quietly, Daisy’s brown eyes softened a bit, and she reached over to place a comforting hand on Shay’s shoulder the same way she’d been doing since they were kids.

“Shay, you don’t know that alright. I think Cash just has a hard time flirting with you as himself, you can come off a little cold towards him sometimes you know. That doesn’t mean he isn’t being genuine, maybe you make him as nervous as he makes you. You two should really talk…” Daisy trailed; her tone implied that she knew something Shay didn’t, but Shay was already feeling too vulnerable for her comfort level.

“Cashton Micheal can’t have an honest conversation to save his life, Daisy even you know that. Let’s just eat alright, I’m starving, and the hostess forgot to bring me a glass of sangria” Shay said in a lighthearted tone, but sadness was swirling in her green eyes even as she glanced over at Cash and Pete who were having a hushed conversation of their own. Shay could still recall the last two serious conversations she and Cash Ewing had on the last Christmas Cash had come home for and the one on Thanskgiving seven years ago. A conversation that landed her in tears on a train to Cleveland, she was headed back to reassemble the shambles of her first traumatic break up with her ex-boyfriend, Tyler. The second break up happened a mere two years ago but Shay knew their relationship was over the first time around. She just didn't want to be alone...

“Okay, are these yours?” Daisy asked, grabbing Shay’s attention she held up Cash’s battered looking sunglasses with a raised eyebrow. Shay bit her lip to stifle a chuckle as Cash grumpily walked over and took the sunglasses out of Daisy’s hand. The annoyed look in his blue eyes as he looked over the scuffed lenses left Shay feeling oddly satisfied.

“No these are mine, Shaylee Rose thought she’d try her hand at being Walter Johnson before you got here. You owe me a new pair, Cherry Blossom, I know you can afford it, I saw you pull up in that fancy green Audi” Cash smirked with an all too familiar mischievous glint in his ocean blue eyes as he glanced at a surely grinning Pete behind her. Shay rolled her eyes and mentally prepared herself for Cash Ewing and Pete Fosters routine teasing session to begin.

“It was awful nice of you to take a break from your upper Manhattan circle and spend some time with us poor people, Shay. After you ditched us these last two Christmases, I was beginning to think you turned into Scrooge on us.” Pete chuckled, reaching over to pinch Shay’s cheek playfully. Shay scowled and let out an annoyed sounding sigh as she plopped down on one of the wicker patio chairs instead of the loveseat Cash weaponized to entice and torment her just for fun as it would seem.

“You didn’t come home for two whole years, and you couldn’t even come see me an hour car ride over in Jersey City, Cherry Blossom. I’m not too sure she hasn’t turned into a Scrooge after all Petey. That’s not your spot, Shaylee.” Cash said pointedly, sitting back down on the loveseat with a raised eyebrow. Shay stared back at Cash blankly watching his large hand patting the spot next to him almost…seductively. Shay felt her cheeks flush despite her growing annoyance towards him and his cocky attitude at the moment. She knew Cash moved a few years back, but she never realized he had only been a half hour drive from her on a good traffic day.

“Doors work both ways Cashy, I didn’t know you moved to Jersey City but if you wanted to visit me all you had to do was show up Daisy does it all the time.” Shay said flatly, pointedly ignoring his adamant ‘pleas’ for her to sit by him even though part of her wanted to more than anything. She was sure his insistence was just part of whatever this playful act of flirting with her was, she wouldn’t allow herself to fall for it this time.

“Well, I figured if you wanted anything to do with me you would’ve at least answered one of the letters I sent you. Now get out of Pete’s seat.” Cash said, matching her flat tone with a serious expression on his face. Shay furrowed her brows at his words, she hadn’t gotten a letter from Cash since her sophomore year at NYU. She’d received it shortly after that sad Thanksgiving at his mom’s house but at the time she’d been trying her hardest to forget about that day all together. So, she just never answered it with the vague after thought she’d just talk to Cash about it at Christmas if he ever brought it up. Of course, that was because Shay didn’t know Cash had no intention of ever coming back home for a holiday again…

“Pete can sit by you, what letters are talking about?” Shay asked in a gentle but serious tone as her green eyes searched his blue ones for an answer. Cash sighed and shifted uncomfortably under her gaze for the first-time since he walked up to her table which took Shay a bit by surprise. She could count the number of times Cashton Ewing had ever looked this vulnerable on one hand and most of those times were back when his abusive, alcoholic father, Huck Ewing was around. Seeing him like this had forgotten memories of a battered Cash crawling through her window with tears streaming down his face and Shay couldn’t help the twinge of guilt that came along with them. Shay wasn’t sure how her brain ever let her forget the way they used to cling and hold each other back then. Or why neither of their parents seemed to care Cash and her slept and cuddled in the same bed every night until they were fourteen, innocently of course, but Shay can’t recall them ever being supervised. Shay glanced over at Daisy and Pete who were looking between her and Cash like they were watching a daytime soap opera.

“Pete doesn’t want to sit by me, do you Pete?” Cash asked him sharply, taking a turn at ignoring part of Shay’s words this time. Shay sighed feeling some of her guilt subside to make way for her growing annoyance towards Cash once again.

“Nope, I’d very much like to sit by my future wife Shay, so, mosey on over there by your silver fox why don’t ya” Pete replied almost instantly, almost as if he and Cash had rehearsed it beforehand. Shay felt another blush sweep across her cheeks as she looked at the two feeling equal amounts annoyed, suspicious, and embarrassed that Cash had told him about her complimenting his hair.

“No can-do Pete, Daisy and I are planning for the wedding and the bachelor parties. I know Cashton is insufferable, annoying, and obnoxious but do you think you can manage sitting next to your best friend just for today?” Shay asked in an overly sweet tone. She stared up at Pete and batted her eyelashes while a trace of a smirk made its way onto her face at the annoyed look, she could see Cash making out of the corner of her eye. Pete looked like a deer in headlights, his brown eyes darted between Shay and Cash before settling on an amused looking Daisy.

“You didn’t find me that insufferable when you thought I was a total stranger Shaylee Rose. In fact, it looked like you were contemplating letting me get you out of that cute little dress before they got here, and all I had to do was touch your thigh.” Cash said with a coquettish smile plastered on his face. He barely even had to move from his planted spot on the loveseat to trail a pointedly teasing finger up Shay’s leg because his arms were just that long. Shay felt her whole face flush a bright shade of red as she swatted Cash’s hand away from her sharply despite the wave of arousal she felt radiate throughout her body.

“Don’t flatter yourself Cashton and mow I know better than to let someone sit at my table so, trust me it won’t happen again” Shay replied with a scowl on her face, Cash’s coquettish smile didn’t falter, and he opened his mouth to say something snarky back to her, but Daisy cut him off.

“Okay let’s pause the bickering like an old married couple just for a second here…” Daisy said clearing her throat awkwardly though her brown eyes looked very much amused as they looked between them. Shay narrowed her eyes at her comparison of choice but managed to not snap back at her even though she could feel Cash tugging on a few of her curls teasingly.

“Actually Shay, I think it would be easier to talk about things if you sat across from me so, you and Pete should switch. Cash will behave himself, won’t you Cash” Daisy said sharply, Shay heard Cash let out an annoyed sigh and his pestering pulls on hair stop immediately.

“Sure, I’ll behave myself but only if you do darling” Cash said, reaching over to bop Shay on the nose with the same coquettish smile on his face. Shay narrowed her eyes and looked between him and Daisy with an obvious pout on her face.

“Daisy, I don’t think that’s necessary…” Shay said through gritted teeth, Daisy batted her eyelashes innocently, but Shay didn’t miss the impish glint swirling in her eyes. Shay had a sinking suspicion her original train of thought had been correct; Daisy Martin was playing matchmaker and for whatever reason she’d decided Shay and Cash were going to be the new couple that emerged from her wedding party.

“Shay it’s just for lunch” Daisy said reassuringly but it did absolutely nothing to soothe the influx of conflicting thoughts and emotions running through Shay right now. Part of her wanted something to happen between her and Cash and yet part of her didn’t. Part of her wanted to believe Cash was being sincere and that his flirting wasn’t just him toying with her but part of her still felt like it was and ultimately, she’d be the one hurt in the end because she always was…

“Daisy…” Shay said looking at her with pathetic and pleading green eyes that seemed to be having Daisy rethinking something at least. Cash let out a dissatisfied sounding grunt and Shay felt him wrap his arm around her waist firmly enough that she couldn’t wiggle free.

“You heard her, Cherry Blossom, come on now, be a good girl and sit with me, please…I won’t bite you without your permission” Cash said, his tone was more playful than anything this time, but Shay couldn’t help but still feel annoyed with him and everyone really. She made sure to shoot every one of her friends with a menacing glare before she begrudgingly let Cash guide her into the spot next to him with one strong arm.

The minutes ticked by with a long-awaited waiter finally coming out to take their order. He returned sometime later with a pitcher full of sangria and a heartfelt apology for Shay never getting her glass. Shay was mildly aware the waiter was flirting with her at some point during said apology, but free wine is free wine, and she wasn’t about to let it go to waste. Cash had mostly stayed true to his promise to behave by the time the appetizers came out and Shay and Daisy had finally got around to discussing plans for the bachelor party. Shay noticed that Cash seemed to become increasingly grumpy every time, said waiter emerged from the wine bar but she chalked it up to him being annoyed he couldn’t pester her the way he really wanted to.

“Instead of doing separate parties for bachelor parties we could do one big, combined party and pick a fun theme” Shay said, trying her best to ignore the way Cash resumed twirling a lock of her hair. She could see him staring at her intently out of the corner of her eye but kept her gaze trained on Daisy. Daisy nodded her head and pondered the idea with a smile on her face.

“That could be fun everyone could dress up, what do you guys think?” Daisy said animatedly, looking over at Pete with hopeful eyes. Pete nodded his head in agreement because his mouth was full of spinach and artichoke dip at the moment.

“Depends what theme Shay thinks up in this pretty head of hers. I for one don’t fancy dressing up and I know a lot of the guys feel the same way” Cash shrugged nonchalantly. Shay rolled her eyes because you could always leave it up to Cashton Ewing to be a party pooper for the sake of being the cool tough guy. Shay hadn’t seen him dress up for anything other than a school dance since they were kids and of course he wasn’t dressing to impress her. Shay took a long swig of her glass of sangria as names of Cash’s past connections flashed in her head in big angry letters.

“Then I guess you won’t be coming to the party, how sad” Shay said dryly though her gaze was still fixated on a now uncomfortable looking Daisy. Cash didn’t reply but his finger halted twirling her strand of hair and his ocean blue eyes bore into the side of her face for a long moment.

“Well, I’m sure it’s okay if not everyone dresses up…it’ll still be fun” Daisy said, Shay shook her head just as their waiter reemerged from the bar with a tray full of their food.

“Nope, I’m putting it on the invite dressing up is required if people don’t want to dress up, they’re welcome not to but then they aren’t coming. They can stay in their suites and pout, I’m sure they’ll find someone to keep them company and warm their bed…” Shay shrugged, she felt Cash’s hand fall from her hair and another dissatisfied grunt escape his lips.

“Or we could just have separate parties like traditional people. The guys can do what they want to do, and you girls can play dress up and throw your party like you want to do. Then everyone wins because like I said a lot of the guys share my stance, right Pete?” Cash said, Pete once again looked like a deer in the headlights and didn’t seem to want to pick a side for once. His brown eyes grew wide as saucers and pleaded with Daisy to rescue him.

“Oh, please believe it or not, not everyone is a party pooper like you. Some people enjoy having fun and even if they don’t the party isn’t about them. I think you can afford to not be selfish for once and go to a party, smile pretty, and dress up for your best friend Cashton Michael. You can take Pete to the strip club on a different night, can’t you?” Shay said coolly, finally turning to meet his gaze with harsh green eyes. Cash’s face hardened into a glare and his blue eyes turned icy as they met hers in a way that oddly enough had her stomach doing flips again.

“Who said anything about a strip club, I just don’t want to dress up in a stupid costume for a party you just started planning five minutes ago and Pete already knows I don’t like dressing up. And why do you keep saying ‘your best friend’ like that when you’re the one who decided you didn’t want that title anymore, I didn’t take it from you. So, I’m really failing to see how you think I’m the one being selfish here Shaylee Rose, what about you” Cash said sharply, Shay stared at him blankly for a minute before rolling her eyes.

“What about me Cashton when have you ever done anything for me or anyone for that matter just to make them happy, huh? Because last I checked I was always the one bending over backwards to make you happy in our friendship and I just couldn’t do it anymore, sorry. I bet if Opal May, Winnifred, or any number of your girlfriends from Boston wanted you to dress up for their party you’d do it in a heartbeat, wouldn’t you” Shay said dryly, gulping the rest of her wine before angrily pouring herself another heaping glass. Cash stared at her with disbelief swirling in his blue eyes, he opened and closed his mouth several times appearing to finally be at a loss for words. “Yeah, that’s what I thought” Shay muttered taking another long swig of her fruity beverage.

“I don’t know what Opal May has to do with any of this…Is that why you planned a whole trip to Cancun for spring break and didn’t invite me because you think I’m selfish and prioritize other people over you…Are you talking about what happened at Thanksgiving with Winnifred because…” Cash asked her in a soft, careful tone with an unreadable expression swirling in his eyes. Shay pursed her lips and took another small sip of wine as she focused her seething gaze on the waves crashing on the shore in the distance.

“I didn’t invite you because I didn’t think you’d detach yourself from dear old Winnie long enough to get on a plane. Besides she shot down the idea about sunny vacation after she whisked you away to help your mom in the kitchen said something about redheads and the sun being mortal enemies or something… Where is Winnie anyway, not enough glory being the plus one to a small-town wedding?” Shay grumbled; she heard Cash let out a frustrated sounding sigh behind her, but she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze as unwanted flashbacks from that Thanksgiving trampled her brain. A thick layer of silence fell over their table with a level of awkwardness that matched the one that loomed over them the last holiday the four of them had spent together. That Thanksgiving was the first holiday and last, to Shay’s knowledge, that Cash had brought one of his girlfriends home only he seemed to fail to tell everyone about her including his mother. Everyone was shocked when a redheaded Winnifred Howards popped up out of seemingly nowhere, at least that’s what Daisy told Shay after she’d already gone back to Tyler and New York. Shay wasn’t stupid, she knew when nothing came of her seemingly unrequited crush on him in high school the day would eventually come that Cash showed up with someone better than her in every way on his arm. She had just hoped it would happen at the point in time when she was finally able to put her feelings for Cashton Ewing to rest. All her efforts to do so over the years had failed and Thanksgiving had been Shay’s biggest failure to date.

“Well gee, I guess I see where I fall on your friend roster Shay. You didn’t know I moved less than an hour from you and you apparently didn’t know Winnie and I haven’t seen each other since that Thanksgiving seven years ago either. You can say we broke up I guess but I’d hardly even call her my girlfriend, I just…” Cash trailed, his tone was low and serious but somehow had Shay’s annoyance and anger flaring tenfold. In her eyes Cash put her at the bottom of his friend pool long before she ever put him at hers, sure she distanced herself emotionally that sour summer but after that they still saw each other every day. They still talked regularly, which can only be expected when both of their other friends were dating each other. The emotional distance was more a necessity to protect what was left of her pride because she’d been stupid enough to fall for her best friend, the most desirable boy at their school. She’d also had been stupid enough to let herself believe that there might be something between them on far too many occasions for her liking. The last of which was that heavy conversation on Thanksgiving they had in his bedroom, which seemed more like a confessional more than anything to Shay now. Whatever hope of requited love she had during that conversation walked right out the door when an overtly perky redhead came in and insisted Cash help her and his mom in the kitchen. No amount of Cash pleading with Winnie to give them a few more minutes could ever make that level of heartbreak go away. It was a level that surpassed the angsty melodramatic one she felt most of that lonely summer with her aunt in LA but still it wasn’t quite as gut wrenching as walking into Tyler’s hotel suite in Cleveland later that evening.

Shay felt her green eyes well up with bitter, vulnerable tears before she finally turned her gaze back to Cash. Cash gazed back at her with intense, melancholy looking blue eyes that seemed to be searching hers for something. You could cut through the growing tension between the two with a knife as another awkward type of silence overtook their table.

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“Daisy, she really looks like she might kill him right now maybe this wasn’t a good idea…” Pete said in a hushed voiced, his brown eyes were fixated on the two friends he’d known since his grade school years with a fearful type of fascination. Daisy sighed, still looking at the pair like she was very much watching a soap opera.

“I know, I don’t even know what happened. They looked so cute when we got here, maybe we should just let them have lunch alone. Cash seems to perform better that way, I know he’s nervous but this… this is just sad” Daisy muttered, Pete stifled a chuckle as he finally let his eyes fall on the love his life adoringly.

“We still can you know, lovely. Honestly, they probably won’t even notice at this point. We could go to the beach and sip cocktails, we could even…” Pete trailed, Daisy furrowed her dark brows at him although she was smiling at him as brightly as ever.

“We could even what?” Daisy asked.

“Leave the rest of the planning for the wedding and the parties up to them. The two of them working together might implore them to finally unpack allll of this” Pete said in the same hushed tone as he motioned between their two glowering best friends. Daisy bit her lip, pondering his proposal for a moment. Honestly, nothing could be worse than whatever was going on between the two now.

“I love it when you encourage me to play matchmaker, my lovely but what if Shay actually kills him?” Daisy said in a joking tone as she started jotting a quick letter for their unsuspecting best friends on a piece of paper. Pete stifled another chuckle.

“She loves him too much besides you and Shay weren’t going to get any real planning done with Cash doing… what his doing now?” Pete said letting out an almost disappointed sounding sigh as he took in the sight of Cash gripping Shay’s face in one of his large palms and gently squeezing her cheeks with a serious look in his eyes.

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Shay glowered at Cash for what felt like forever partly because she couldn’t decide if she just wanted to argue with him some more or just cry her eyes out. Those always seemed to be the only options she ever had with him since she was fourteen and she hated it.

“I don’t know how that’s my fault Cash, you bring him flings home and treat them like regular girlfriends and somehow it’s my job to be able to spot the difference?” Shay said in a low bitter tone, Cash sighed and with it his blue eyes softened up a bit.

“No, I’m saying you could’ve just asked me, Cherry Blossom, you used to ask me things you know and now you just shut me out…” Cash said in a careful tone, Shay opened her mouth to argue with him but part of her knew she couldn’t because he was right. She had shut him out and she wished she could tell him why, but her words always seemed to fail her when it came to him, and she could never figure out why. Talking to him used to be so easy and now it just felt like an up-hill battle, an endless trek that seemed to lead her nowhere.

“I don’t know what to ask you anymore, Cash, okay. Everything between us is weird and different and awkward, and I just don’t know how to talk to you anymore, I guess. So…” Shay’s rambling was cut short by Cash reaching over to grip her cheeks in the palm of his hand, gently squeezing them between his thumb and fingers with amusement swirling in his blue eyes though his expression was serious.

“So don’t talk, Cherry Blossom” Cash chuckled softly, Shay felt her cheeks flush at both the action and his words as familiar nervous, smitten butterflies swirled in her stomach. His squeeze loosened the slightest bit as the two of them stared deeply into each other’s eyes for what felt like an eternity. Unlike the previous silence they had fallen into over the twenty or so minute emotional rollercoaster they went on, this one was more comforting, more wholesome, and dare Shay allow herself to think it almost loving in an odd way because she for once felt like Cash heard her loud and clear.

“Your foods getting cold, Cherry Blossom…” Cash said just above a whisper though he made no move to let go of Shay’s face for some time even after the words left his mouth and hung in the air. The faint lull of another dreamy indie pop songs floated between them in a way that seemed oddly fitting for the odd little moment they were sharing.

“Well, I can’t really eat until you give me my face back, Cashy. Unless you want to feed me” Shay said almost timidly, she watched Cash’s lips curl into a genuine smile that reminded her of the ones he used to give her when they were silly kids running up and down the sandy beaches. And she swore she felt her heart flutter when his blue eyes lit up at her before looking over at Pete and Daisy.

“I’ll feed you if you want me to darling and I’ll even drive you home, preferably in that fancy new Audi of yours if you’ll let me but you’re definitely going to need a designated driver after lunch…” Cash chuckled,  turning Shay’s head to face their table full of food and cocktails with an amused smirk on his face.

“They ditched us” Shay gasped in disbelief taking in Pete and Daisy’s now vacant chairs with wide, mildly offended eyes. Surely the last twenty minutes of her and Cash’s bickering couldn’t have been that bad, no this was all part of meddlesome Daisy’s plan.

“Oh look, they left us a cute little note, how sweet of them” Cash said finally letting go of Shay’s face to grab the piece of paper neatly tucked under one of the cocktail glasses.

“It says and I quote, Dear Shay and Cash, if you're reading this it means you’ve finally noticed Pete and I ditched you bickering old bats to go to the beach or Cash is dead and the detectives assigned to solve his case are reading this…in which case it definitely was not Shaylee Harris. Cash is pretty and all but he ain’t that smart and I’m sure he just pissed off another blonde and got himself shot in the shoulder nothing to worry about…. Any who, during your insistent bickering Pete and I decided your problems would best be solved by you two spending some quality alone time together 😉. From here on out you two will be tasked with working out our wedding details and planning those parties TOGETHER. We know you can do it just put those pretty heads of yours together and figure it out, talk it out, kiss it out…. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES, just get on with it already. Lunch and cocktails are on us. Have fun, lots of fun, Love Pete and Daisy” Cash finished reading out loud.

“Ugh, they planned this you know” Shay said glancing over at Cash with the fainted pout on her face and rosy cheeks. Cash flashed her yet another uncharacteristically sheepish smile that had Shay narrowing her eyes at him in suspicion because she swore, he was blushing.

“Were you in on this too…Casanova?” Shay asked him pointedly, Cash shook his head and busied himself by twirling her pasta on a fork.

“No, Cherry Blossom, I can honestly say this…was all them but I’d be lying if I said having an excuse to be attached at your hip for the foreseeable future wasn’t making me giddy. Now be a good girl and eat some of this for me, I’d hate to see you hurl all over those nice leather seats of yours, beautiful” Cash said raising the fork to her mouth with a teasing smile on his face.

“This is going to be the longest few weeks of my entire life…” Shay muttered, picking up her wine glass with a soft, defeated sounding sigh despite how many flips her stomach was doing….

🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝🐦🐝

[di-daynamic]

formerly diana-bookfairchild

Hi! You can call me Di (or Diana or Dana). I'm in multiple fandoms, and I write fanfics sometimes. Feel free to send asks or messages!

FIC LIST

⁍ mujō (FirstPrince oneshot | 7.7k words | alternate universe | rated G)

Happiness for Alex and Henry comes in waves. As they drift from one world to another, they find it where they can.

⁍ Rounding Mishaps (Jily oneshot | 2.6k words | canon compliant | rated G)

In Millie’s opinion, it should be the Heads who stumble upon wayward amorous couples. Not the other way around. For Jilytober 2024's 31prompts.

Multi-Chapters

⁍ come morning light (Hinny | ongoing | 11/12 chapters | 29k words | canon divergent | rated T)

A Jily lives Hogwarts era fic, set in Harry's sixth year. Entering her fifth year, Ginny Weasley just wants to play quidditch, get decent OWL scores, have fun and perhaps most importantly, get over her far too long-standing crush on her brother's best friend. The Potter family, as lovely and annoying and trouble-finding as they are, clearly have other plans for her. Year of the OTP 2023 April and May Prompts

⁍ by your side (completed | 13.6k words | canon compliant | rated T)

Gen (with Jily). A Marauders era Lily and Sirius friendship fic. Five times Lily Evans and Sirius Black had one another as whatever they wanted and needed: rival, ally, friend, advisor, godfather, family + 1 time they didn't. For the BlackEvans BFF Week.

⁍ until someday (completed | 10.2k words | canon compliant | rated G)

Gen (with canon ships). A Weasley Family heirloom tracked over the years and four generations.

⁍ runs in the family (ongoing | 1/? chapters | 896 words | Rigel Black Chronicles fanfic | rated G)

In which 'Harriet Potter' becomes a hero and the cousins' Ruse becomes that much trickier.

⁍ extraordinary life (of an ordinary girl) (ongoing | 1/7 chapters | 3.3k words | canon compliant | rated T)

Luna/OC, canon ships. POV Outsider. Mackenzie Stirling finds her place with herself and in a whole new world, getting caught up in sexuality crises, crushes, studies, friendships, bullies, rebellions and war along the way.

⁍ pauses between (two drabbles | 1.5k words | canon compliant | rated T)

Gen Harry POCter Winter Sun Drabble Fest Week 3: Lee Jordan Week 4: Cho Chang

Series

⁍ not a star in heaven that we can't reach (four fics | 7k words | canon divergence | rated G)

A series of vignettes in which Sirius Black is freed when Harry Potter is seven-years-old and raises him.

Microfics Series

⁍ be the one destroyed (3k words)

Jily. My submissions for @jilymicrofics prompts.

⁍ love me like you do (10k words)

Hinny. Unrelated oneshots using prompts from @hinnymicrofic.

⁍ better in stereo (3.5k words)

Prongsfoot. Unrelated oneshots using prompts from @prongsfoot-microfic

Oneshots

⁍ size is no guarantee of power (852 words | canon compliant | rated G)

A Ginny Weasley character study, for ladies of HP fest prompts Sisters Before Misters, Daughters and Female Friendship.

⁍ fainting for you (2.4k words | Muggle AU | rated T | Jily)

Jily Challenge, July 2023. James runs away from paparazzi and falls (faints) all over again in love with Lily Evans.

⁍ whose waters of deep woe (793 words | canon compliant | rated T | Hinny)

Harry and Ginny's first talk after the war.

⁍ falling (for you) through the snow (7.3k words | Muggle AU | rated G | Jily)

Lily Evans is head-over-heels for her pen-pal and loathes James Potter, her ex-best friend's high-school bully. When the two are revealed to be the same person, she has to reconcile her feelings for Eff with James Potter which seems hard but is ultimately. . . . surprisingly easy.

⁍ fought against the demons (2k words | canon compliant | rated G)

Post canon, Hinny and Percy/Oliver/Audrey. Ginny and Percy have a talk about family and children. For The Three Broomsticks Pride Fest 2023.

⁍ thin lines (2.7k words | canon compliant | rated T | Gen)

Hinted Pansy/Padma. Padma Patil grapples with jealousy, romance, friendship and way too much Yule Ball fuss. For the Three Broomsticks Pride Fest '23.

⁍ woven into the lives (6.9k words | canon compliant | rated T | Gen)

Post canon. Canon relationships. Fred Weasley II character study. The problem was this: how in Merlin’s name was Fred supposed to tell his dad he didn’t want to inherit the shop the man had opened with the dead twin brother he’d named him for?

⁍ in step with you (every step of the way) (2k words | canon compliant | rated G | Hinny)

Post canon. Potter family fluff. Fluffbruary 2023 day 9. Harry comes home from a mission.

⁍ not from everything (4.7k words | canon compliant | rated T | Gen)

Minor Pansy/Padma. Harry POCter Winter Sun Drabble Fest Week 4: Padma Patil 5 times Padma stopped Parvati from doing something + 1 time she didn't

⁍ during the darkest of nights (shine the brightest of lights) (4.2k words | canon compliant | rated G | Jily)

Jily are in QPR with Sirius. The Three Broomsticks Yule Fic Fest '22 In which Sirius Black, Lily Evans Potter and James Potter see a small piece of the light which they're struggling for the night before Christmas.

⁍ these battle scars (don't look like they're fading) (Gen | 2.7k words | canon compliant | rated G)

Flufftober 2022: Day 23 Prompt: POV Outsider 5+1 Times Someone Thought Harry Potter’s Family Situation Was Suspect

⁍ legends never die (Gen, canon pairings | 2.4k words | canon compliant | rated G)

Post canon Golden Trio friendship fic. For Flufftober 2022.

⁍ no one else's eyes that could see into me (Hinny | 2k words | canon compliant | rated T)

Harry takes some surprise guests to see Ginny before her match. For Flufftober 2022.

⁍ Blood of the Covenant (Gen | 1.6k words | canon compliant | rated G)

The Weasleys worry about Harry when they hear he ran away.

Oneshots

⁍ world you brought to life (Mergwenthur | 1.8k words | rated T)

TW Pregnancy. Merlin, Gwen and Arthur spending way too long getting distracted from their very important work of decorating their child's nursery and ruling a kingdom. For Fluffbruary 2023.

⁍ stand by you (have your back always) (Gen | 2.6k words | could be canon compliant | rated G)

Merlin hurries Arthur along in bringing down a corrupt knight by being his usual reckless self. For Fluffbruary 2023.

⁍ love you still (Gen | 947 words | rated G)

Merlin and Arthur's final conversation after he decides to leave Camelot.

⁍ died everyday (waiting for you) (QPR | 4.5k words | rated G)

Merlin and Arthur reunite on the shores of Avalon, 1500 years later. Much has changed, but one thing remains the same. For Flufftober 2022.

⁍ freed from strings (I didn't know were controlling me) (Gen | 1.7k words | rated G)

Merlin can't let that helpless druid child die. He just can't. But he can't let Arthur die either. He needs advice. What on earth is destiny anyway? How likely is it to happen?

⁍ willing to die (to be true of heart) (Gen/Pre-Slash | 819 words | rated G)

Arthur waking up post the poison scene in Labyrinth of Gedref.

Multi-Chaptered Fics

⁍ plausible enough tomorrow (wait until tonight) (Gen | Ongoing | 1/5 chapters | 2.8k words | rated T)

Arthur Pendragon's life has never been particularly known for normalcy, but even with years of magical attacks under his belt, a Merlin from a future - one that Arthur can't dare hope for, a future that seems impossible - will reveal secrets that shake him to the core and change his life forever. If he even remembers this incident.

⁍ tell me one more beautiful lie (Gen | Complete | 5k words | rated G)

When Arthur and Gwen's daughter discovers Merlin's best kept and most desperately hidden secret of magic, the clock for how long the lie can last begins ticking faster than ever.

Oneshots

⁍ The Limit of Pain (Gen | 595 words | rated T)

Percy's in depth thoughts when he controlled Akhlys' tears and poison.

⁍ Friendship, Chances and Forgiveness (Gen | 1.2k words | rated T)

The Arai scene from Bob's PoV

⁍ The Last Olympian: Contemplating Friendships and Prophecies (Gen | 2k words | rated G)

The scene where Percy and Grover reunite in front of Orpheus' Entrance to the Underworld + a missing scene thrown in from the perspective of Nico di Angelo.

⁍ as long as you are here with me (Percabeth | 1.7k words | rated G)

Camp Half-Blood is still home, even after the war.

⁍ longing for itself (Posally | 1.4k words | rated G)

A strange man gives Percy a discount and Sally bad news.

⁍ every breath, every hour (Percalypso | 2.2k words | rated T)

In which Calypso and Percy never give up on one another. For Polympians Event 2024.

⁍ amoral vs immoral (Percy/Amphitrite | 3.5k words | rated T)

Spite turns into intrigue which turns into something Amphitrite couldn't have imagined feeling towards her step-son in millennia. For Polympians Event 2024.

⁍ afterlife delights (Percy/Thanatos | 3k words | rated T)

Thanatos didn't know what to expect when he was made to accept a dead hero as his assistant, but godly gifts apparently turn out better than either of them thought. For Polympians Event 2024.

⁍ aging and bottling (Percy/Dionysus | 2.9k words | rated T)

Being stuck at Camp Half-Blood with the newly turned god isn't good for Dionysus - he's clearly lost his mind, falling in love with Percy Jackson.

Multi-Chaptered Fics

⁍ between love and hate (there's me and you) (Completed | Jercy | 9.8k words | rated G)

For Seafam Mermay 2023. In which Percy Jackson angsts about being royal and falls in love at a masquerade ball with the person he loathes most - and no, he was not being overdramatic. At all. Jason Grace is pining and not happy about it, when he has to rescue Prince Perseus - the one being pined for - after a kidnapping.

Oneshots

⁍ in the middle before it began (2.4k words | rated T)

Henry and Alex's first date goes absolutely terribly, and Henry worries that Alex will think they are incompatible. Love confessions are made to refute the fact. For FirstPrince Week and Flufftober 2023

⁍ shout into the void (5k words | rated T)

In which Alex and Henry engage in secret relationship shenanigans out of sheer pettiness and the need to always be right. Yeah, it's mostly Alex's fault. For FirstPrince Week 2023

⁍ whenever, wherever, always (1.2k words | rated G)

As Alex's mother's second term comes to an end, he can't seem to think about moving on and life after, feeling insecure in his own identity and his relationship. Henry comforts him. For FirstPrince Week 2023

Multi-Chaptered Fics

⁍ inscribed on a heart (and there it shall remain forever) (Completed | 5k words | canon adjacent | rated G)

In a world where you get a red tally mark on your arm every time you fall in love, Alex and Henry's love story remains the same, with perhaps a few more issues and resolutions thrown in.

⁍ Veni, Vici, Didici (Ongoing | 1/? Chapters | 1.5k words | rated G)

American scholarship student Alex Claremont-Diaz is content with glaring at and competing with Prince Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor (Wales is so much more succinct and yellable) and the latter is content with loving the former from a distance until desperation (his chronically ill sister, his father's Senator Campaign, his dire financial straits, take your pick) drives Alex to seek help from his sworn enemy and discover that there may be more to him and their relationship than he'd imagined.

Oneshots

⁍ where your treasure is (Clace | 1.2k words | rated G)

Jace and Clary babysit the Lightwood-Banes, and Jace reflects. For Fluffbruary 2023.

⁍ making memories (having fun) (Gen | 1.1k words | rated G)

A day in the life of the Lightwood siblings, pre-canon. For Fluffbruary 2023.

⁍ (un)happiness spilling over (Herongraystairs and Gabrily | 2.2k words | rated G)

Tessa meets Brother Zachariah on Blackfriars Bridge, reminisces, and comes to a few realizations. For Fluffbruary 2023.

⁍ golden-hearted rose (slipping from its green sheath) (Climonace | 5k words | rated T)

Clary, Jace and Simon come to terms with their new feelings for one another. For Flufftober 2022.

Oneshots

⁍ where the heart can bloom (Everlark | 2.3k words | rated G)

Instead of focusing on them and making love rather than rebellion the reason for the Mockingjay’s actions, President Snow decides separating them, showing their relationship as insignificant and slowly fading them into obscurity is the way to go. Meanwhile, Katniss can’t figure out why being districts apart from Peeta hurts so much when they hadn’t spoken in months before this anyway. For TWHHA challenge summer '24.

⁍ too strong for fantasy (Gen | 1.2k words | rated G)

Finnick's son reflects about his family.

Oneshots

⁍ ain't ever getting older (3.8k words | Rated T | Modern AU)

Achilles and Patroclus run a marathon, and work out their feelings for one another. For Fluffbruary 2023

⁍ wishing upon a shooting star (1.7k words | rated T)

Achilles and Patroclus watch a shooting star on Mount Pelion. For Flufftober 2022.

Oneshots

⁍ rather (regret) the things done than those not (1.5k words | rated G)

The Pevensies watch the coming of the winter back in England.

Oneshots

⁍ the bridal rose of the heart (Holmesbury | 1.5k words | rated G)

Enola and Tewkesbury dance and flirt during her investigation. For Fluffbruary 2023.

⁍ make it alone (Holmesbury | 1.5k words | rated G)

Enola comes home from a long day of work. For Fluffbruary 2023.

Oneshots

⁍ and you are the dance (Gen | 1.8k words | rated G)

A look into some time Peter and Morgan spent together, and their relationship.

⁍ those who have never sought it (Gen | 4.4k words | rated G)

In which Peter Parker decides to take things - the Infinity Stones, in particular - in his own hands and get his happy ending. For Bad Things Happen Bingo and Whumpcember.  

Oneshots

⁍ await another voice (QPR Joanlock | 5k words | rated G)

Joan reminisces and socializes with her family at her son's birthday party.

Oneshots

⁍ Split at the Seams (But I'm Doing My Best) (Gen | 7.5k words | rated T)

A character study of Beth Harmon over the years.

Oneshots

⁍ life is but a dream (Gen | 1.6k words | rated G)

Team Red celebrates completing a heist.

Oneshots

⁍ every moment with you is a blessing (even ones otherwise nightmarish) (Lizzie/Darcy | 1.3k words | rated G)

For Flufftober 2022. Lizzie gives Darcy some alarming news.

Feel free to request a pairing or fandom you want with prompts from these two or the Flufftober prompts:

[wrongpublishing]

BOOK REVIEW: Salt Heart Press's Space Horror Anthology, The Darkness Beyond the Stars

by Elizabeth Broadbent, Staff Writer.

The Darkness Beyond the Stars (ed. P.L. McMillan, Salt Heart Press) has a simple but compelling premise: space horror. Space horror makes for a good sci-fi/terror mash-up, and this anthology dishes out stories that scream into the void. I expected aliens, and I got some aliens, but modern indie horror is too good for tired tropes to fly. So is this anthology, which takes high strangeness into the unknowable reaches of space. 

There’s far worse up there than little green men; in the hands of writers like Dana Vickerson, Rachel Searcey, and Patrick Barb, those aliens become weird, their terror twisted into heartbreak (if you’ve read more of Barb’s stories, especially Haunting Lessons, printed in a limited edition by Shortwave Publishing in a limited edition and available online from The Arcanist, you’re not shocked). In “The Weight of Faith,” Carson Winter, author of Soft Targets and Posthaste Manor (Tenebrous Press) delivers an emotionally devastating story about belief as tense and visceral as his longer works. You need this collection because you need this story, full stop.

But space holds more terrors than exobiology, and Darkness Beyond doesn’t stop at aliens. Bob Warlock serves up an itchy little tale about something in a space suit; several stories, including Jessica Peter’s “The Wreckage of Hestia” and Lindsey Ragsdale’s “A Voice from the Dark” play with emptiness and solitude—is it more frightening to be alone in the universe, or to find we have company? I can’t articulate a proper trigger warning for the horrors of Bryan Young’s “Son of Demeter” other than “I have children,” but it left me a weeping puddle of goo (a warning for “excessively heroic parenting,” maybe?). Bridget D. Braves yokes second person POV to amnesia in “Last Transmission from the FedComm Sargasso,” which gives this already great tale a kind of haunting sorrow. 

Packed with plenty of feeling, this tight anthology’s transmissions reach across worlds to find the same human feelings we left behind: the terror of the unknown, the fear of solitude, the heartbreak of loss. These authors use the void of space as a blankness on which to impose our darkest fears. What’s up there? Nothing is—and that’s the scariest part. Unless something is, and maybe that’s even scarier. 

Buy The Darkness Beyond the Stars:

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Family Crisis

by librarylexicon At the close of the gang war, Batman uncovers an attempted deception concerning the life of his former protégé Stephanie Brown, and suddenly nothing is as important as his family. While Dick seeks absolution, Tim struggles with grief, Cassandra searches for belonging and Steph rebuilds her sense of self, Bruce faces the return of ghosts from his own past and psyche. (War Games AU) Words: 6508, Chapters: 2/23, Language: English Fandoms: Batman (Comics) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/M, Gen Characters: Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Barbara Gordon, Alfred Pennyworth, Selina Kyle, Leslie Thompkins, Jack Drake, Dana Winters, Catalina Flores, Amy Rohrbach Relationships: Dick Grayson & Bruce Wayne, Tim Drake & Bruce Wayne, Cassandra Cain & Bruce Wayne, Stephanie Brown & Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne, Leslie Thompkins & Bruce Wayne Additional Tags: Post-Crisis, Post-War Games (DCU), Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Fix-It, Family, Hurt/Comfort, Drama, Angst, Illness, Injury, Trauma, Recovery, Canon-Typical Violence, Introspection, Grief/Mourning, Canon Relationships, No Slash, Batfamily (DCU), Bruce Wayne-centric, Batfamily-centric (DCU), POV Bruce Wayne, POV Third Person Limited, POV Alternating, Bruce Wayne is Batman, Selina Kyle is Catwoman, Dick Grayson is Nightwing, Tim Drake is Robin, Barbara Gordon is Oracle, Stephanie Brown is Spoiler, Cassandra Cain is Batgirl, Novel, Wordcount: 50.000-100.000, Cross-Posted on FanFiction.Net via https://ift.tt/N7mHfIT

[allthebooksandcrannies]

Dana Has Enough- Chapter 2

Read on AO3

Read Ch 1 

Every once in a while, even the people you know best manage to surprise you. What Dana really ought to have remembered, however, was that no one ever said those surprises were always pleasant.  And it wasn’t just that Jack had forgotten his son’s birthday that really was so upsetting to Dana. No, the worst part was when Tim came down that morning and was obviously so unsurprised that his dad didn’t remember.

 Dana had worked so hard to give Jack the benefit of the doubt when he and Tim fought. She knew that Jack had been ashamed of not spending enough time with Tim when he was little. He had talked about it all the time during his physical therapy appointments after he woke up from the coma. Back thenm he had been so excited about all his plans to be a better father, and she had believed him. But at some point, they had grown complacent and fallen back into old patterns.

 Dana had been concerned about Tim and Jack for a while now but had stayed out of it because she wasn’t Tim’s mom. She wasn’t his parent, and it didn’t feel like her place to interfere in how Jack raised his son. But she would be damned if she let a child feel forgotten on his birthday.

Now, listening to Tim gush over some of the better photography exhibits he had seen at the museum before, but how he hadn’t had found time to see this one yet, Dana was really glad she had taken the time last night to do some last minute research into potential activities to do today.  It had been harder than she expected to find something she was confident Tim would like. She had realized she had almost no idea what Tim was interested in, what he did with his free time. It had been an embarrassing realization to come to about someone she lived with.  She had been almost ready to give up when she remembered the museum exhibit one of her college friends had posted about on Facebook the week before. She hadn’t even known that Tim had a camera like that when she decided to invite him, just remembering how obviously interested he was every time the news had anything to say about the Justice league or Gotham’s rotating roster of vigilantes.

 She needed to do better. This kid deserved it.

 She was almost disappointed when she finally pulled the car into the museum parking lot because she had never seen Tim this animated before.  He had moved on from past exhibits to some of his favorite photographers to explaining just why it was so hard to get good superhero photos, particularly of nocturnal vigilantes and why this exhibit was such a big deal, but he pulled himself up short when the car came to a stop. Dana was honestly surprised his teeth didn’t make an audible clicking sound, he shut his mouth so quickly. She turned to Tim in the passenger seat.

 “You okay, Tim?”

 He looked startled by the question, and a little sheepish too. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to talk your ear off like that.” Tim didn’t meet her eyes. That wasn’t going to work.

 “Don’t worry about it, kiddo.  I thought it was really interesting. I had no idea that so much work went into trying to photograph superheroes, especially as art.”

 “Oh, okay.” Dana didn’t think she was imagining the little smile on Tim’s face.

 “C’mon, let’s go inside.”

 ---

 Once inside the exhibit, it was like Tim forgot Dana was there, he was so focused on each piece. To Dana, they were just photos of superheroes. Really cool photos of superheroes, of course, but she was sure she was missing some deeper layers of meaning that were obvious to the more art savvy patrons around her.  She started wandering around the exhibit.

 She stopped in front of a large photo blown up in front on a massive canvas. It was obviously taken in Gotham, with a camera that probably had a great zoom feature if the subject matter was any indication.  Standing in the light of a burning building was a little girl, no more than five years old. But what really made this one standout was the man in a domino mask crouched down in front of her, a red helmet at his side and one hand offering a lollipop to the kid.

 Dana wasn’t sure what made her stand there so long.  Maybe it was how calm the child looked in front of a man that scared the majority of Gotham adults. Maybe it was the realization that the Red Hood didn’t look all that much older than Tim. Practically a child himself. Dana stood there, just staring at those two children until she heard a quiet click beside her.

 Startled, she looked to the side at the child next to her. Tim was focused on the camera screen, probably reviewing the photo he snuck, until he met her gaze with a crooked grin. “Sorry.” Something told Dana he wasn’t really that sorry. “I just really wanted to capture the look on your face.”

 Dana rolled her eyes playfully. “Well, on that not-at-all creepy note I’m going to go look at some other photos.” Tim acquiesced. And she left him focused on the Red Hood with a strange expression of his own on his face.

 Thinking she ought to let Tim enjoy the exhibit for a minute, she decided to swing by the giftshop. After all, at this point she could practically guarantee Jack hadn’t gotten the kid anything. Maybe they’d have something he’d like.  

 ---

 About five minutes later, Dana was incredibly frustrated. Why was everything so gimmicky? Almost everything in here was so obviously touristy, which, honestly, was patently ridiculous. What tourists were coming to Gotham. That’s what Metropolis was for.

 Then she saw it. Yes, that would be perfect.

 ---

 If Tim had questions about what was in the plastic bag with the GMA’s logo on it when Dana rejoined him, he didn’t ask them. Honestly, that was probably a symptom of a bigger problem, but Dana was going to leave that for another day.  

 Instead she just stood next to Tim as he examined the info tag next to a photo of Nightwing mid-backflip from one roof to another while Robin jumped after him with significantly less fanfare.

 ---

 We really should do this more often, Dana thought as she watched Tim wave his hands around, sweeping gestures helping him tell some story about his friend Cassie trying to walk him and two other boys through her mother’s brownie recipe and it going terribly, terribly wrong.  

 Tim was actually a pretty good story teller once you got him going, and he seemed to relish the opportunity to talk about his friends to someone who didn’t know them. She had already gotten a thirty minute lecture on what made each of them so great and so exasperating, and Dana had had to hide her smile in her burger when he spent more time than he had on both Bart and Cassie combined on describing this Connor. The obliviousness here was probably the universe’s way of balancing out Tim’s genius because wow was Dana realizing just how brilliant this kid was.  She had always known he was smart but it broke her heart to think that she had been missing so much of who this kid was for so long.

 She wondered whether playboy Bruce Wayne realized just how wonderful Tim was. If the Waynes had always known Tim better than his actual family. If the way Tim talked about them was any indication, they probably did.  She wondered if Tim would rather still be living with them. If he had ever let himself ask that question.

 But if he didn’t want to go there, Dana wasn’t going to make him.

 “So, were you able to get the mix off the ceiling?”

 Dana was quickly learning not to trust Tim’s “innocent” expression.

 “Of course we did,” he grinned, “just not before it dripped all in Dick’s hair.”  If Dick Grayson ever asked, Dana most certainly did not laugh so hard she choked on a french fry.

 ---

 When Tim tentatively asked if Dana would like to come to dinner at Wayne Manor with him as she dropped him off to meet up with his friends, she was far more hesitant to accept than she would have been even a day before.  On the one hand, it was Wayne Manor. No one got a private invitation to Wayne Manor, and she had been curious about these people that had taken Tim in for so long. But, she couldn’t help but feel like she’d be an intruder. Against her better judgment, she said yes.

 ---

 It was strange to go to dinner somewhere without Jack. She really needed to get out more, regardless of how Jack felt.  She tried to suppress the feeling of not belonging as she fiddled with the hem of her two-year-old blouse as she waited in front of the ornate wooden door. As she squeezed the painstakingly wrapped package in her arms, she tried to bring in a deep breath. This was fine. Everything was fine. Tim had asked her here, hadn’t he? Of course, he may have only been trying to be polite…

 She wasn’t able to go any farther down that path, however, before the door was unceremoniously yanked open to reveal Tim grinning straight at her. When did he get so tall?

 “Dana! You made it!” He didn’t ask where Jack was, which was good because Dana didn’t want to tell Tim his dad was sulking because Dana refused to try to comfort him in his guilt over forgetting his sons birthday again. Shaking unpleasant thoughts out of her head Dana grinned straight back, handing Tim the gift she had bought that afternoon.

 “Of course, I did! You didn’t think I’d miss Mr. Pennyworth’s cooking after hearing you talk it up all day?” Mentioning Alfred Pennyworth was apparently the right call because it clearly reminded Tim that he was supposed to step away from the door if he wanted her to be able to come in and he quickly backed up, present in hand.

 Dana followed him into the house, and then towards what could only be described as a cacophony of noise.  Several voices were busy talking over each other even though she couldn’t make out any of the words. Tim seemed quite amused by her trepidation to actually walk through the door to the dining room. Rude.

 ---

 The introductions hadn’t been nearly as awkward as she’d feared. Granted, she’d gotten appraising looks from just about everyone in the room and it had gotten a little tense, but everyone had been polite. Dana had been guided to a spot to the left of Mr. Wayne’s seat at the head of the table and directly across from Mr. Pennyworth, and she had to admit that neither of them had really been what she expected.  

 Pennyworth had waited to join them until after he had brought out the meal, and it was some of the best food she had ever tasted by far.  He was also hilarious, which was the unexpected bit. Dana had been prepared for a formal British gentleman, and he was that. But Dana had not been ready to watch him sass the richest man in Gotham twice in the first ten minutes of the meal. She now understood why Tim said Alfred was really the one in charge.

 Meanwhile, Mr. “Call me Bruce, Dana, I insist!” Wayne was unerringly polite, but there was a quiet sort of intensity about him that was not apparent in the stories told in the society pages. If there wasn’t so much blatant fondness on his face when he glanced at the playfully arguing kids at the other end of the table, she might’ve called him intimidating.

 The kids, on the other hand, were everything Tim had said they were, and Dana couldn’t be happier. Dick Grayson had been mercilessly teasing Tim and the other chattering kids, perfectly playing the embarrassing older brother while making sure that no one was left out or overly picked on. As for the other children, she had also been introduced to the infamous Cassie, Bart and Connor she’d heard so much about at lunch followed by a purple-clad blonde. Tim’s cheeks had been bright pink when he’d introduced Stephanie as his girlfriend. Interesting…

 Dana didn’t really know where she fit into the clearly well-established dynamic of the group, but that was okay. She was here to make sure that Tim had people in his life who understood just how special he was, and these people seemed to understand that even better than Dana. Again, today was one humbling experience after another.

 ---

 Dana was embarrassingly nervous when Tim picked up her gift last.  Everyone else’s gifts had seemed so meaningful, and there had been a plethora of inside jokes involved. Plus, she had the uncomfortable feeling that everyone was treating this as a sort of test, to see if she really deserved to be here, to be around someone like Tim, and were waiting to find her wanting. Maybe she was being ridiculous, but damn if her heart wasn’t pounding anyway.

 Tim opened the present slowly, to the consternation of the red-headed kid, Bart her mind supplied, who let out a comically loud groan of impatience.  Finally, Tim pealed the last of the tape back and unfolded the last of the paper, pulling out the book within.

 Dana felt the room go still as he opened it up to the middle, allowing the rest of the room to see the cover.  It seemed like everyone turned to look at her in perfect unison, and she was hit with the impression that she had made a serious mistake.

 “I just- You were talking about how hard it was to find good photos of the Gotham vigilantes, so…”

 When Dana had seen the book claiming to be a compilation of the best photos of all of the Bats, she had figured he might appreciate it. She’d seen the batman and robin pins on his backpack after all. But the way everyone was looking at her, she was beginning to wonder if she had made a mistake, that is until… 

“Well,” drawled Dick Grayson. “Timmy does love his Batman pictures.” And the room dissolved into laughter at a joke Dana didn’t understand. All of a sudden, everyone was talking over each other, telling various Tim stories, as the boy in question carefully paged through the book in silence. He paused for a long time on a recent image of Robin and Spoiler flying overhead.  

No, Dana thought with a smile, she might not understand all of the inside jokes, but she understood the silent thank you Tim sent over everyone else’s heads just fine, and that was enough for her.

[aliteralchicken]

There’s an issue of Robin 1993 that has a couple of sections in Dana’s POV and I’m starting to think spending time in proximity to Tim gives you the desire to use detective skills

[just-a-donut-who-reads]

Fandom: The X-files | Pairing: Mulder/Scully | Fluff | Christmas | POV Scully | Canon Divergent | Read on AO3

Dear Mulder,

I'll get right to it - I wish you were here. 

For one thing, everyone's paired up: Bill and Tara, Missy and Yvonne, even Mom's got her friend Christine over with her son Thomas (who is lovely by the way - he gets along great with Adam) - the point is, I could use company. I know you're working on a case, but can't it wait until after Christmas? Plus, everyone's asking after my "handsome partner" - don't let that get to your head though. 

We were telling ghost stories last night, and I think I scared everyone quite a bit with the story of how I found you on the Queen Anne… I don't expect you'd remember much from it, seeing as you were passed out in the middle of the Atlantic, but the wind roared, the skies shook and the waves raged oh so furiously that night - it was a fun story to tell! I was tempted to talk about the time we were trapped in that haunted house, especially since it was Christmas and all that, but I wanted to save it for when you were there. One, because I haven't the slightest idea what was happening to you while we were separated; two because I do feel like that one is our story to tell, you know what I mean?

Anyway, I've got to go now - Mom needs help in the kitchen and Bill is busy with the baby, so it's up to me to chop the vegetables...

Good luck with your case, Mulder

Dana Scully

P.S: if you need help, or advice with it (your case), just ask. I can't guarantee I'll have access to a lab or medical equipment, but I'll do what I can, okay?

+-+-+-+-+-+

 

Dear Fox,

You did say in your letter that I should call you that outside work, so I'm trying it out. It's definitely odd, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. Fox Fox Fox Fox Fox Fox Fox. See, I'm practicing. 

I don't know if I ever told you, but I've always liked foxes, even when I was a child. We used to have plenty in the woods near the house. Missy and Bill were always scared of them, but I loved to watch them from a tree or from behind a bush (only because mom and dad wouldn't let me get any closer) - watch the way their fur shined under the sun; the way they prowled around, weaving expertly around the trees; the way their ears would perk up, bodies go still, and the way the world around them would fade away when they sensed their prey. In a way, I guess they're like you with the paranormal - the whole world and everyone in it fades away when there's strange lights in the sky, doesn't it? 

Thank you for the photos you sent back, by the way. I showed Adam the goofy one with you and the massive teddy bear - now he wants to meet you too.

As for the one from your window, you're right, the city does look wonderful this time of year. All the snow, and the lights…

Speaking of lights, have you got a Christmas tree, Fox? I know you don't believe in God and Christmas but you do believe in Yuletide cheer, don't you? If you won't come over here, you should at least meet up with Frohike, Byers and Langly; have fun, laugh, drink. In fact, I'm having some Chardonnay right now, and I know you don't usually go in for white wines, but this one is delicious and I have it to blame for my sloppy handwriting that seems to be getting sloppier as I progress down the page. If you were here, I'd let you have a sip from my glass, even though the last time I let you have some of my pinot noir, you drained it...!

I looked over the files you sent me, and as far as I can tell, there's nothing wrong with the vegetation. It is quite verdant for winter, I'll give you that, but some species of plants shed constantly all year round instead of at one go in winter - evergreens for example. They're not uncommon. You might just be reading into it too much if you think it has anything to do with the case. This is the point where I usually tell you you're off your rocker, you say I'm too closed-minded, and we have our little back and forth dance… too bad I'm not there for it. How are you coping without me? No one to shoot down your fantastical ideas, no one to stop you from chasing after a suspect in the woods at night, no one to keep you trapped within the "confines of science"... you must be having a ball. Don't get too used to it though - I'll be back before you know it to fill our basement with plenty of (gasp) logic and reason. And some tinsel. Our office could really use some tinsel, don't you think?

I actually do know about the time you dressed up as Spock. We were down at your place, and I saw a picture collecting dust, of you in a blue shirt and pointed ears. Fox Mulder was adorable back then, what happened to him? And was that gray box you were pointing at the camera supposed to be a phaser? Point is, the Spock you were was no realer than the Spock Mr. Jenson saw on the alien ship, and I know you don’t take Scott Jenson seriously either, but I’m just saying.

Okay, I think I've had too much wine. Nothing too bad, but I've come over all giggly and I don't think I can write for much longer without saying ridiculous things - probably wisest to stop now. Don't forget to keep me updated on your case.

Stay warm, and take care.

Dana

P.S: I've sent you some taffy in the envelope - Yvonne (Missy's new girlfriend, I don't know if I clarified in my last letter) made it, and she said she'd like some feedback.

P.P.S: Since I'm calling you Fox, it only seems fair that you call me Dana.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Dear Fox,

Are you really coming here? God, I didn’t expect you to take me up on my offer! Everyone’s delighted of course, this’ll be the first time you’re properly joining us for Christmas… but yes, that means you will have to hold hands around the table, say grace and play nice. It’s a shame that your lead didn’t pan out, but I for one am glad Skinner’s forcing you to get out of the building unless you have a case. Knowing you, you searched every nook and cranny for anything you could find, but since you’re coming here, I’m assuming you came up empty. 

I know you wouldn’t, but Mom asked me to tell you not to bring too many bags. The house is jam-packed, what with babies and kids and pets on top of everyone’s Christmas presents… we’re going to have to share a room, too, because every guest room is taken up. Mom would probably make you share with Bill normally (which I’m sure both of you would have been very happy with) but he’s got to be with Tara because of the baby - so I guess we’re roomies, partner. Just make sure you don’t kick, because I swear to you I will kick back, no mercy.

You really didn’t have to buy presents, you know that?  It’s my mom’s house, not Buckingham Palace; you don’t have to “say thank you.” Anyhow, the gesture is appreciated, and I’m looking forward to seeing what you got me this year. You’ll be pleased to know that I have your present with me - I brought it along just in case you did come, and I guess it was worth it. 

I mentioned the bags, I mentioned the rooms, am I forgetting anything? Wait. Right. Bring some nice clothes please Fox, none of those holey jumpers with chocolate stains on them - you know about my family's Christmas dance tradition, decorate the hall, dance by the tree, take about four dozen pictures - you know the drill, I've complained to you about it a hundred times, at least. Point is, you do not want to be photographed with holes in your clothes, because those photos will go into Mom's album, and they'll stay there forever like an FBI evidence file of how Fox Mulder danced to White Christmas wearing swiss cheese instead of a jumper, and this particular evidence file will be viewed repeatedly, every single year. So again - bring some nice clothes. Oh, and if you bring that ratty blue hoodie of yours, you're not getting within 10 feet of me, forget about a dance.

Anyway, I won't waffle - I'll tell you everything once you get here. Prepare your best ghost stories… this is going to be fun!

Dana

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Dear Fox,

I started writing this, and then realized that by the time this gets to you, you'll already be here - so this one is just for me, to keep in my journal. 

God I miss you, even more now that I know you're only a few hours away. I've missed you this whole time. Being with my family is nice, but I miss our banter; our jokes; the way you drive me crazy with your theories but always manage to make me laugh in the end. I miss your smile and your green eyes and your sunflower seeds, I miss your warmth and your comfort and your pine cologne that always makes me feel safe. 

I miss you, Fox.

The house looks lovely right now - I've always thought it looks dreary and miserable except at Christmastime - when there's candles and holly wreaths and pinecones and baubles absolutely everywhere… that's when it really comes alive. But the place has really changed for good this time - you'll see it when you're here. I'll be on the porch, waiting for you, but I'm all you'll be able to recognize. Mom ended up painting the place, adding lights, replanting the garden, the whole nine yards. It could be a different house!

Can I confess something? I want you here for the company, but I do have ulterior motives. You see, I'm hoping to catch you under the mistletoe.

Love,

Dana

P.S: In one of the letters I sent you, I said I don't know what I want. That wasn't entirely true. 

I want you.

[nolanhollogay]

❛ i guess it runs in the family, huh? ❜

[loudly] MY FRIEND HAS PROBLEMS WITH WINTER AND AUTUMN, THEY GIVE HIM PRESCRIPTIONS, THEY SHINE BRIGHT LIGHTS ON HIM

fuck it! time to unpack ant's daddy issues at 2:54 in the morning

also this is just the prologue/ant pov to this (which i should rewrite at some point)

cw: implied homophobia, descriptions of child abuse, descriptions of violence, ant being mean to himself

-

Ant hated how destructive his hands could be.

He was always breaking things. Ripping pages in his book, dropping cups, snapping guitar strings.

But it was always little things. Things that could be repaired or didn't matter in the long run.

He didn't think he'd ever get violent.

He hadn't meant to get violent. It just happened, like his rage was piloting his body instead of his brain.

All he remembers is those guys yelling at them, at him and Reggie as they walked down the street. They weren't even doing anything. They weren't holding hands even though they were alone. They weren't walking super close. For all intents and purposes, they were just two friends walking together, talking about nothing. But the guys who didn't know them started yelling at them, calling them these nasty words.

"Ignore them," Ant instructed, refusing to even look in their direction. "I mean it, Reg."

Instead of doing that, Reggie — who apparently had no sense of self preservation — started yelling back, calling them morons and things that were pretty tame in comparison to the actual slurs the other guys were using. But assholes obviously didn't think logically about those kinds of things, so the guys crossed the street.

He can't remember what anyone said after that, just Reggie getting punched. Everything else is a blur of red in his vision and gut twisting rage in his entire body.

He doesn't remember knocking anyone's teeth out, but apparently that was something he did. Once, when he was fourteen, his father smashed his head into the kitchen counter. He couldn't remember why, but he remembered the way blood seemed to leak from his teeth for days because they were knocked loose from the impact.

It wasn't the same but it felt like it was. It wasn't the same because what Ant did was worse. His father, for all of his horrible behavior, had never knocked two of his teeth out.

He felt like he was going to throw up on the pavement as he watched the guys run away, leaving a tiny pool of blood in their wake.

-

After doing the very little he could to patch Reggie up — if shoving tissues up someone's nose could be referred to in that way — he left the studio and walked to the Diet Soda apartment.

He couldn't be there and look at Reggie with his bruised cheek and his bloody nose without being reminded of what he did, so he had to leave.

Moe was the one to open the door and Ant didn't know what he looked like but whatever face he was wearing was enough to have him let in without comment.

"Ant!" Paul cheered as he walked into the living room, Moe right behind him. "What are you doing here, bud?"

Monty's head snapped up, and he'd looked at Ant for half a second before asking, "What's wrong?"

Ant held up his right hand with his now mangled knuckles. They were bloody, the skin split from the guy's teeth, and bruised, presumably from the rest of his face. He was trembling.

"I'll get the first aid kit," Moe said.

-

Hydrogen peroxide still stung no matter how many times Ant used it.

"Stay still, Bambi," Moe instructed. They were sitting on the floor, Moe bandaging him up. Apparently he'd wanted to be a nurse before the whole band thing so he knew a bunch of medical shit.

"Sorry."

Dana came to sit beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. "What happened?"

"Punched a guy. Knocked two of his teeth out," he said simply.

Paul whistled, obviously impressed, and Moe's hand stilled from where he was wiping away the blood.

Lifting her head to meet his eyes, Dana asked, "What would you do that for?" at the same time Monty exclaimed, "You're insane."

Ant turned to look at him. He was standing by the doorway, which was too far away. Ant needed him next to him. Needed him to tell him he was fine.

He shrugged, a beat too late. "I guess it runs in the family, huh?"

Monty's body locked up. "Don't you fucking say that."

"If it's true, it's true," Ant replied, turning back to Moe and his steady hands. "You woulda been a really good nurse, dude."

Moe smiled, reaching out to squish his face. "Thanks Bambi."

"No! Hey! We're not just moving on from that, Ant," Monty said. "You're nothing like him."

Paul grunted. "Stop having a completely separate conversation like we're not here."

"Ant just basically said he's the same as his shitty abusive dad," Monty explained, rage making his voice shake. "When that couldn't be further from the truth."

"You're just saying that because you're my friend. You weren't there. I knocked someone's teeth out," Ant's eyes filled with tears and he took a deep breath. He shouldn't be crying if he was the bad guy in this situation.

Dana gently touched his knee, grabbing his attention. "Okay, but why? I can't imagine you going around punching people for fun."

Ant huffed, annoyed at himself as a tear slipped down his cheek. "The guy and his friend were saying stuff to me and Reggie. Horrible things. And it would've been whatever, I wouldn't let some dickhead bother me, but Reggie started yelling at them. And they didn't like that, so one of them punched him. And I couldn't— I wasn't going to let them hurt him, so I punched back."

"Bambi, that's literally just you defending your boyfriend. I would've done worse," Monty said, sounding exasperated.

Ant wasn't sure how to explain what he was feeling. It didn't feel like he was just defending Reggie. It felt like overkill, like violence for the sake of violence. Like he was just like his father with his hair trigger temper and refusal to talk things through.

Dana snorted. "I have done worse." She laughed when everyone looked at her in confusion. "Years ago, when I was, like, nineteen, I stabbed a guy for harassing me and my ex."

"Why have you never mentioned this before?" Moe asked. He had just finished covering Ant's knuckles in Hello Kitty bandaids.

"I'm not exactly proud of it," Dana said, shrugging. "But it's something that happened. It was self defense because if I didn't step in with my stupid little pocket knife, my girlfriend very much could've died." She met Ant's eyes again, and held his chin. "You don't have to be happy with yourself or what you did, but you did a good thing. You're not a bad person for defending Reggie or yourself. You're nothing like your father. Hitting a homophobe is not the same thing as wailing on your defenseless child. Understand?"

He nodded. Tears were fully streaming down his cheeks now, making him feel like a little kid.

"Okay," Dana said. "And you're more than welcome to stay here whenever you need to get out of the house. I want you to be safe."

"Do you want me and Moe to kick your dad's ass?" Paul asked.

The visual made him laugh, which was a step in the right direction. He still felt terrible but at least he had his friends.

[lotzzoforangezoutside]

92 X-Files fanfic, w/ summaries

Quick overall for Winter Quarter (Nov 21-Jan 22):

In The Original Series, the fics happen within the same universe, but they’re completely fine to read as standalone stories.

The timeline is happening, slowly, and too messy to be posted now....

Emily Universe is where Emily lives, is adopted by Scully, who later marries Mulder and have a son named Wiley.

There’s also Jacksons Universe, where Jackson VDK travels back in time and delivers his 7-year-old self to Mulder and Scully. Jackson ends up staying with his birth parents. As a result, Mulder and Scully have two sons who are 11 years apart: William and Fox Jr.

And of course, there’s Cricket Universe, set after the revival, it’s about the lives of Mulder, Scully, William, Kuiper aka Cricket, and William’s best friend/girlfriend Michiko “Millie” Leixia.

So, here we go & thanks so much for reading :)

Original Series

Delayed:  Mulder and Scully go to a costume party.  

Rest:  Post-Unruhe

Surprises:  Post-Detour    

The Mexican Coca-Cola is Much Sweeter:  Post-El Mundo Gira

Have You Met A Stranger:  “Intimacy Compatibility between Pisces and Libra“    

The Unnecessity of Physical Distances: “She sleeps better when he is near.”    

Silence:  Mulder ditches Scully again. Set in season 2.

Things We Say When We’re 700 Miles Apart:  “Once, on the phone, with him in the basement office and her 700 miles away, he asked her to marry him.”    

Cheeks on Desk: Fluff, Sleepy Scully + Jealous Mulder.  

Lunch with You: Lunch with his new partner.  

Sunday:  Sundays, past and future.

2e-10: A riddle

The Secret of the Sky is Not to be Revealed: Palm reading session.  

A Fly on the Wall: Typical day in the basement.  

Pink Piglet and His Baby Mama:  Mulder goes to the dentist.  

With A Cherry on Top:  Fluff.

The Turkey Special: Thanksgiving 1997.

Together We’ll Mend Your Heart:  How traditions are established.

When the Sundog Did Not Come:   Post-dod kalm    

Eight: Set during Chinga. How Mulder keeps busy while Scully’s away.

Man on a Mission:   Can be read as a sequel to Sunday.  

Childish Games:  Cootie catcher and pig Latin.

No Other Fish: How Mulder got his fish.  

The Ancient Secrets of the Bee Pollen: Lunch time.    

The Goddess and the Scholar: Dana Scully, Goddess of the Scholars.  

Breakfast on the Weekends: Breakfast time.  

Particular: What Mulder dreams about.

Pink, Dancing, and Bubbly:  Trick-or-treat memories.

Rent Day Blues:  Mulder muses about his living quarters.  

Salt and Sugar: Post series. The Ultimate road trip.  

Cigarettes Will Kill You: Post-Brand X

Headlong: What falling in love feels like.    

Seven Pound and Six Ounces: Post- Emily.  

Second Christmas: Celebrating Christmas twice.                      

The Next Christmas:  sequel to Second Christmas.

Occam’s Razor: post-How the Ghosts Stole Christmas    

The Answering Machine: Mulder listens to messages on his answering machine

Heads and Tails:  Post-Home

A Month Shy of A Year:  Post-Young at Heart

A Call with Chuck: Dana chats with her little brother Charlie.  

Forgetfulness and Presbyopia:  Post- Nothing Lasts Forever

The Other Dream: Mulder and his strange dreams.  

The Cincinnati Chili is a Sin to Pass Up:  Post-Revelations.  

Pups:  Post-Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster  

Barnes Corners:  Post- Max

True Love Happens Every Day:  Mulder and Scully go to the Farmer’s Market.    

The Meanings of Thermos:  “The first thing she realized was that thermos meant differently to her now.”    

Tuesdays With Mulder:  Past and future lovers.    

Old Friend in Oxford:  Set during All Things. Mulder visits a friend in Oxford.  

Mulder’s Chickadee: Post- One Son

The Broken Pinky Loneliness:  Post- the Pine Bluff Variant

The Markings of a Man:  If Mulder can wear Scully’s shirt, he would.  

The Master Of:  3-person POV,  a scene at a restaurant.

Universes: Fox Mulder and his experiences.    

The Cygnet and Dumbo: How the ugly ducklings marries the elephant that can fly.

Marks and Scars: Number of the scars.  

Waiting for the Ship to Come:   Post Demons    

The Origin of the Walkie-Talkie: First cell phones  

The Excepted One: Mulder’s exception.

AU

A Full House Thanksgiving: A Thanksgiving special.

The Tentative Trouble with Time Traveling: Scully time travels back to the 90′s and meets a very young Fox Mulder...

Emily AU

And They Were All Yellow: Mommy and Daddy are dressing up for Halloween!  

The Spookys: Take your daughter and son to work day, FBI style.

Skinny Noodles: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Yucky Boys and Fickle Girls:  Mulder’s biggest worry.  

Priceless:  Fox Mulder’s spending habits.  

It: Getting a puppy!  

Spelling Bees and Sing-A-Longs: A fun car-ride.  

Letter to Santa: Emily’s letter to Santa.  

Christmas at Grandma’s: Spending Christmas at Grandma Maggie’s!  

Minime: Mulder and his Mimi Me.  

Faithful One-Hundred Percent: Emily’s favorite book.  

Deep Space Sparkle: Emily gets a teddy bear.  

Sympathy Pox: Emily gets the Chicken Pox.  

Belong:  Emily reads a book for Mulder.  

The Year of the Fox: Emily makes a deal.  

Jacksons AU:

The Boy from the Future:  Life with two boys.  

The Things Said by the Hands: Mulder learns something from his son.

Cricket Universe

Ten Rules of Dating:  Mulder’s dating rules for his girls.

Daddy’s Girl:  Mulder and his girls enjoying the tail of summer.

First Day: Cricket’s going back to school.

How to Dad:  Dad is a verb.

Brought to You by The LGM:  A show. A gift. A trip down memory lane.

For the Life of Pie:  Pie appreciation runs in the family.

Semi-Grown:  William’s act of rebellion.

A Reunion:  Mulder and Scully reunite with two old friends.

The Trekkie Professor:  William meets Gibbs.

Premonition: A typical day set in the future.

An Experiment: William tries something silly with his girlfriend.

A Late Summer:  Haven’t you heard? 30 is the new 20.

Conversation in the Very Very Late at Night….

thirteen: talk about pick up lines

fourteen:  talk about summer camps

100 word drabbles…. tau |  upsilon | phi | chi | psi |

[batfamily-recs]

Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Category: Gen

Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types, Batman (Comics)

Relationships: Jack Drake & Tim Drake, Jack Drake/Dana Winters, Tim Drake & Dana Winters

Characters: Jack Drake, Dana Winters, Tim Drake

Additional Tags:Bad Parent Jack Drake, Jack Drake doesn't know how to parent, Sad Tim Drake, Good parent Dana Winters, Dana steps up to the plate, Tim Drake Deserves Better, Tim Drake is Robin, that's not really relevant for anything other than timing, Tim Drake's Birthday, Implied/Referenced Child Neglect, Child Neglect, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Tim Drake Needs a Hug, Dana's going to give him one, POV Jack Drake, Tim Drake-centric, Minor Stephanie Brown/Tim Drake, Tim Drake & Cassie Sandsmark - Freeform, Tim Drake & Bart Allen - Freeform, Minor Tim Drake/Kon-El | Conner Kent, Tim Drake & Connor Kent - Freeform, why is so hard to tag Connor Kent, I'm Bad At Titles, no beta we die like robins

Language: English

Dana Has Enough

ArthurianScribe

Summary:

Jack Drake forgets Tim's birthday again.

Thank god the kid has Dana.

[bluberry-muffin]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Batman - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Tim Drake & Dana Winters, Jack Drake/Dana Winters, Jack Drake/Janet Drake, Janet Drake & Tim Drake Characters: Tim Drake, Dana Winters, Janet Drake, Jack Drake Additional Tags: POV Outsider, Gotham City - Freeform, Shadows - Freeform, Supernatural Elements, Addams Family -esque Waynes Series: Part 2 of curse!verse Summary:

Dana doesn’t know how to feel about her stepson, Tim. There’s just something...off about him.

[pomegranates-and-blood]

hello! congratulations on 500 followers, nobody could deserve it more!! if you want, i have a nostalgia winter question id love to hear your thoughts on! in Hríð, ivar notices gets emo that the priestess has started braiding flowers into her hair. i think this is the first time she wears braids without it being apart of their game—knowing that she’s been resistant to wearing them since she was young, i loved that the flowers were like her little way of making them her own (very bend to the fates but don’t let them break you of her). if you’d considered it, i was wondering if this was apart of a wider effort to adapt to Viking culture while still keeping her own culture with her and if there were other ways she “caved”?

Hello lovely! Thank you so much! We're actually at 750+, I'm just getting to the 500 Celebration entries because I hit a very bad writing slump around four months ago when I got to the previous milestone and I couldn't get much done lol

And of course, I always welcome these, they are so fun!

Yes, it is one of the first times she actually braids her hair out of her own volition, and it is exactly what you said, her own way of making a thing of their culture (her husband's and Sieghild's too) blend with her own. It is something she only starts to do once she makes her choice to stay with Ivar, because only after making her choice she can, like she says in Στέργηθρον, stop thinking of the world that made her and the world she now belongs to as apart from one another. Even in her time as a healer in the Silk Roads with Sieghild, she still felt she had to keep that part of her identity pristine in a way. She had to be Danae’s daughter, a child of Eleusis; and she carries that up till Nostalgia (for example, she calls Sieghild her mother much more often through Nostalgia, especially in later chapters); but since she will be Ivar’s wife as much as she is anything else, she no longer needs to (or can) keep those parts of her identity apart from one another. I hope that makes sense.

Other things that have changed, for example, is the aspect of her role as a healer (incorporating Scandinavian techniques and ingredients to her repertoire, and learning new things), and her relationship with her patients. You can read more about that in this ask right here and right here.

On the topic of braids however, she learns to braid for aesthetic purposes, which is something Sieghild never cared about, and since she learned to braid how VIkings do from her mother, in her own words: “No, I’m only familiar with war braids. I could never make them look so pretty.” (This is from Kenna, the Ivar PoV of the first time he sees her drunk)

I’ll offer some minor things that have changed as well since her choice/during the winter: she has Thora embroider more and more flower patterns into her dresses (she didn’t even like buying dresses before bc a) she isn’t staying and b) she refused to be dressed like a Norse woman, but that changes ofc); she tries (and fails, she was entirely too spoiled by Sieghild to learn how to cook with enough skill to manage with new ingredients) to replicate Greek dishes; and after Μαντεία (not that Ivar would ever know btw) she starts spending more time with the Völva she talked with in Chapter 9, because she has learned how her Gods communicate to her, but she doesn’t know how his do.

Hope this answer was to your liking! If there’s anything else you wanna know, feel free to ask, I love answering these! I’m sorry it took me a little longer than usual to answer btw, I’ve been crazy busy.

Thank you so much sweetheart! Sending you my love! 😘

[f107group1]

Let’s KRILL this love!

Did you know that Antarctic Krill can glow in the dark (like a lightstick *0*)?

They are bioluminescent! That means krill swarms look like a KPOP ocean!

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

     Subkingdom: Bilateria

            Infrakingdom: Protostomia

                 Superphylum: Ecdysozoa

                       Phylum: Arthropoda

                            Class: Malacostraca

                                  Subclass: Eumalacostraca

                                        Order: Euphausiacea

                                              Family: Euphausiidae

                                                    Genus: Euphausia

                                                           Species: Euphausia superba

(ITIS, n.d.)

Distribution and habitat

Figure 1. Geographical Distribution of Antarctic krill (fao.org, n,d,)

E. superba inhabits a wide circumpolar belt between the Antarctic Continental Shelf break and the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone. Antarctic krill live in open marine waters (fao.org, n.d.). The larvae of the krill begin near the seafloor and gradually ascend towards the surface as it develops. Adult krills are found at depths ranging from surface waters to depths of 350 m and have occasionally been found as deep as 600 m. They usually dwell in deeper waters during the winter season (Gierak, n.d.).

Anatomy

Figure 2. External Anatomy of Antarctic Krill

E. superba known as Antarctic krills are shrimp-like in appearance though they can easily be distinguished from shrimp by their visible gills. Just like any other decapods they have exoskeleton which are made of chitin and have three body parts which is the cephalothorax, pleon and the telson. The cephalothorax bears the antennae, compound eye, 6 filter legs which are also called thoracopods and the gills. Krills have compound eyes which aid them in seeing while their antennae serve as another sensory organ as they live in the deep. The thoracopods or the filter legs on the other hand, assists the krill in straining its food from the water. Although the gills, guts and gastric mill are not part of its external anatomy, the three are visible from the outside. The middle part of its body is the pleon where the pleopods and the photophores are located. There are 5 pairs of pleopods or swimming legs that allow them to swim in the water column while the photophores or light organs act as a defense mechanism or a signal for their mates. Lastly, is the telson  which is used by decapods as a paddle in caridoid escape reactions through backward propulsion (Grzimek's Student Animal Life Resource, n.d.).

Life Cycle

Figure 3. Life Cycle of an Antarctic Krills Krills reproduce sexually and it usually happens when food is abundant. The male krill produces sperm packets and uses its first pair of pleopods called petasma to transfer the sperm into the thelycum of the female. They store the sperm until they are ready to lay their eggs. These eggs are fertilized once they are released by the female. These eggs settle at the seafloor and gastrulation happens. Eventually, the eggs will hatch and become a nauplius. In this the nauplius has only one eye and is not segmented yet. Then, the nauplius will molt and become a metanauplius wherein limb development begins and it will start to migrate to the surface which is known as developmental ascent. As it molts and grows, it becomes a calyptopis and eventually a furcilia wherein the movable compound eyes start to project at the edge of its carapace. The furcilia develops into a juvenile which can grow from 4 to 10 mm long (Gierak, 2013).

Ecology

Figure 4.  Thoracic endopodite of krill (wikipedia.org, n.d.)

Antarctic krill are filter-feeders that feed mainly on phytoplankton. They exhibit diurnal vertical migration, which means that they rise to the surface at night to feed by using their small, hair-like legs specifically thoracic endopodites as a suspension feeding basket. Apart from phytoplankton, they also eat copepods, zooplankton, and other krill or molted exoskeletons. In the winter, they eat algae under the surface of sea ice. They are considered the dominant herbivore of the Southern Ocean. Its biomass in the Antarctic Ocean is estimated to be between 125 mmt and 750 mmt, the largest biomass of any species on earth (Hardy, 2008). Antarctic krill is the keystone species of the entire Antarctic food chain. They provide a vital food source for whales, seals, squids, penguins, fishes, albatrosses, and many other species of birds. To avoid predation, they exhibit schooling behavior or swarming. Moreover, krill may be parasitized by organisms like protozoans, particularly the genus Ephelota. This suctorian ciliates interacting with E. superba cause hydrodynamic drag on krill swimming and make the host more vulnerable to visual predators (Gómez-Gutiérrez & Morales-Ávila, 2016). Other parasitic species include Cephaloidophora pacifica and Apostoma sp. 

UNLI-KRILL @ 199!

Krill’s POV 

Relationship with humans

Figure 5.  Sports Research’s Antarctic Krill Oil with SUPERBA 2 (ph.iherb.com, n.d.)

Figure 6.  Krill/shrimp chili paste and dipping assortments in Thailand (quora.com, 2016)

Although krill is mainly used as aquaculture feed and bait for fishing, it is also processed into a variety of products for human consumption such as paste, frozen tails, sticks, etc. Krill products have been known to pharmaceutical and industrial industries since it is found that the krill's lipid content can be used as a nutritional source of fatty acids that is potential in lowering cholesterol levels. Studies found that the lipids of Antarctic krill are more stable than those of some fishes consumed by humans. Krill digestive proteases can also be injected into humans to reduce pressure on nerve roots between vertebral discs (Gierak, n.d.). Tou et al. describe Antarctic krill as a “rich source of high-quality protein” with low fat and high levels of Omega-3s and antioxidants and the main source of the renowned krill oil.

5 health benefits of Krill oil you shouldn’t miss!

Little did you know that..

They are age-defying! 

*jaw-dropping moment because olay age-defying serum just cant--*

➔ They have the ability to shrink in size when starve to conserve energy during the winter. Thus, scientists can’t tell the age of a krill solely from its size. 

Phytoplankton is just a summer fling! 

➔ They can survive more than 200 days without food.

Krillions of krills!

➔ Krill swarm together in massive numbers, with as many as 30,000 in one cubic meter of a krill swarm.

A Little Giant! 

➔ It’s estimated that the total weight of Antarctic krill is more than the weight of all humans on Earth (Usoceangov, 2015). 

Food is life but swimming is lifer! 

➔ They are heavier than seawater and must swim constantly to stay afloat.

Climate heroes!

➔ Tarling and Thorpe (2017) have discovered that krill play a crucial role in sequestering carbon. 

References:

Clark, D. (2012, September 17). The anatomy of the Arctic krill [Digital image]. Retrieved November 12, 2020, from http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7NY88MHBVpc/UFfn-sAknuI/AAAAAAAAAW4/nkt1_Ba8G8k/s1600/Antarctic_krill_anatomy.jpg

Euphausia superba. (n.d.). ITIS. Retrieved November 8, 2020, from https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=95514#null

Euphausia superba (Dana, 1852). (n.d.). FAO. Retrieved November 10, 2020, from http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/3393/en

Exuvia of Antarctic krill [Online image]. (2005). English Wikipedia. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Exuviakrillkils.jpg

Gierak, R. (2013).  Euphausia superba (Antarctic krill). Retrieved November 12, 2020, from https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Euphausia_superba/

Gómez-Gutiérrez, J., & Morales-Ávila, J. R. (2016). Parasites and Diseases. Biology and Ecology of Antarctic Krill, 351–386. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29279-3_10

Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. (2020). Krill: Euphausiacea. Retrieved November 12, 2020, from https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/krill-euphausiacea

Hardy, R. W. (2008). Alternative marine sources of fish feed and farmed fish quality. Improving Farmed Fish Quality and Safety, 328–342. https://doi.org/10.1533/9781845694920.2.328

Naruturd_505. (n.d.). Hoshiumi Korai A Little Giant GIF [Online GIF]. https://tenor.com/view/hoshiumi-korai-alittle-giant-smile-haikyuu-anime-gif-17909731

Oh, yeah- what?! GIF. (2013). Gfycat. https://gfycat.com/detailedfaintalbertosaurus

SuperSmiles17. (2013). Definitely one in a Krillion! [Online GIF]. https://imgur.com/gallery/YtN30/comment/16282449

Tarling, G.A., and Thorpe, S.E. (2017). Oceanic swarms of Antarctic krill perform satiation sinking. Proc. R. Soc. B., 28420172015. http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2015

The Ozone Hole. (n.d.). [Life Cycle of Antarctic Krill]. Retrieved November 12, 2020, from http://www.theozonehole.org/images/v43n2-wiebe3en_10243.jpg

[Untitled image of a tardigrade]. (2017). BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40752669

Usoceangov. (2015). Animals of the Ice - Antarctic Krill. Youtube. Retrieved November 10, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFqhocQqbgM

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Family Crisis

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/N7mHfIT by librarylexicon At the close of the gang war, Batman uncovers an attempted deception concerning the life of his former protégé Stephanie Brown, and suddenly nothing is as important as his family. While Dick seeks absolution, Tim struggles with grief, Cassandra searches for belonging and Steph rebuilds her sense of self, Bruce faces the return of ghosts from his own past and psyche. (War Games AU) Words: 6508, Chapters: 2/23, Language: English Fandoms: Batman (Comics) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/M, Gen Characters: Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Barbara Gordon, Alfred Pennyworth, Selina Kyle, Leslie Thompkins, Jack Drake, Dana Winters, Catalina Flores, Amy Rohrbach Relationships: Dick Grayson & Bruce Wayne, Tim Drake & Bruce Wayne, Cassandra Cain & Bruce Wayne, Stephanie Brown & Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne, Leslie Thompkins & Bruce Wayne Additional Tags: Post-Crisis, Post-War Games (DCU), Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Fix-It, Family, Hurt/Comfort, Drama, Angst, Illness, Injury, Trauma, Recovery, Canon-Typical Violence, Introspection, Grief/Mourning, Canon Relationships, No Slash, Batfamily (DCU), Bruce Wayne-centric, Batfamily-centric (DCU), POV Bruce Wayne, POV Third Person Limited, POV Alternating, Bruce Wayne is Batman, Selina Kyle is Catwoman, Dick Grayson is Nightwing, Tim Drake is Robin, Barbara Gordon is Oracle, Stephanie Brown is Spoiler, Cassandra Cain is Batgirl, Novel, Wordcount: 50.000-100.000, Cross-Posted on FanFiction.Net read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/N7mHfIT