#did you skip the meeting where we agreed we were all going to leave the sexist cisheteronormative bs of the 2000's in its grave?

[kainissoable]

Side-eyeing that person who seems to think that Vorador's character flaws are him being polyam and a whore, then implicitly accused him of being heterosexual. Sorry you're insecure, boring and straight, I guess 🙄

[lost-in-fiction-like-ur-mom]

Could you do one where the reader had been in a relationship with Hunter before being taken with Omega on Tantiss. Now that they're reunited, Hunter realizes that he wants to marry the reader?

With a little bit of Wrecker and Crosshair friendly teasing Hunter.

Marry Me?

Hunter x Reader

Summary- After an insufferable separation from you, Hunter realizes his true feelings. That he never wants to be apart from you- that he wants to spend the rest of his life with you.

Part Two right here! Part Three right here!

A/N- SPOILERS FOR SEASON 3 OF THE BAD BATCH!!!! You have been warned! Thank you so much for requesting babes! Hope you like it! <3 <3

Word Count- 1,755

Beautiful Screen Shot by @isthereanechoinhere96

"Omega... It's- It's been months. We don't even know if they're still aliv-"

You felt shame rise up in your chest when you agreed with Crosshair. He was right, time had gone by slowly and there was no way of knowing if Hunter and Wrecker were alive. Your sweet sweet Hunter. The man who only showed he heart for the people he deeply loved. You were lucky to be one of them.

"They'll be there." Omega stated. She was so sure... but all you could think about were the doubts. Omega was always able to be more trusting and optimistic than you. Constant fear of losing your family limited you severely.

You swallowed deeply and looked down to Omega, pushing your anxieties down. "They will be." Were you trying to convince Crosshair or yourself?

The next few minutes of hyper-space felt like days. You were so eager. Everything was either going to get a million times worse, or a million times better.

Omega guided the ship to a remote planet you had never heard of, a deep blue over taking you.

Picking at your nails nervously, you stood- ready to depart. Crosshair noticed this and eyed you. He was nervous as well, but for different reasons.

You almost sobbed when you saw the Marauder in the distance. Hope bubbled in your chest, all thoughts of doubt escaped you.

The second the door lowered with a steam, Omega ran out of the ship. You followed her quickly behind.

She stopped at the mid-point between the ships. Wrecker slowly exited the Marauder, "Now there's a sight!"

You laughed, the tension dissipated. Omega ran to him and Wrecker picked her up, spinning around. "Wrecker!" She responded.

The sight made tears of joy fall. To see Omega so happy was enough for you.

"And I wasn't even sure your message was real!" Wrecker half-joked, still holding Omega up.

"Wrecker, I knew you'd show up!" Her words made your ears ring, did Hunter show up? Well, of course he did! That would be dumb for him to leave Wrecker... Unless, unless he wasn't alive to leave.

Your brain ran wild, why hadn't Hunter come out yet? It was almost as if Wrecker read your mind, he rested a hand on your shoulder after lowering Omega.

Just then, another set of footsteps came out. Hunter skipped steps to get to you and Omega.

Your hands shot up to cover your gasp, tears falling fast now. Omega got to Hunter first- you knew she needed it more.

He crouched down and hugged Omega deeply, his words drowned out. What you did make out was him saying your name, an arm stretched out for you and an arm holding Omega tightly.

You met him as fast as your feet would let you. "Hunter..." You whispered, face immediately meeting his neck as he pulled you close.

His arm pulled you in, crushing you against him in a pleasant way.

He pulled back to pepper your face with kisses, then a deep one on the lips. A few of your tears dripped onto his face, mixing with his own.

Omega giggled and pulled on your arm, you pulled back to let her back in on the hug. All three of you were lifted when Wreckers arms grasped around the bunch of you.

Wrecker pulled everyone up, making the embrace tighter. It was like your perfect little family was back again.

That night, after abandoning the empire's ship, was filled with more hugs, catching up, tears, and awkward conversations with Crosshair. You couldn't have wished for anything better. Your family, all in one place. Save for Echo, but you learnt he was safe with Rex- that made you smile.

You helped Omega settle into her room. You noticed too many yawns and drifting off, she was worn out emotionally and physically.

You spoke with her softly, reminding her everyone would still be here in the morning. Picking up Lula, her doll, and tucking it under her arm gave out the last yawn.

"Can I talk to Hunter?" She questioned with big eyes.

"Of course, baby. I'll be right back" You pet her hair back and left to go retrieve him.

You stopped when you saw him, Crosshair, and Wrecker whispering in the cock-pit.

"Ahaha! Be a man, just ask!" Wrecker said as he patted Hunters back harshly. Ask who? What would he have to 'be a man' about?

"If you say it any louder he won't have to..." Crosshair remarked.

"Oh! Sooorry." Wrecker dragged out.

"Both of you hush, I'll do it when I feel the time is right." Hunter spoke, his husky voice immediately filling you with warmth.

"You got this!" Wrecker exclaimed again, this time he earned a "Shhh!" from both Hunter and Crosshair.

You slowly entered the cock-pit, this time making your appearance known.

"Oh! Hello!" Wrecker greeted loudly, signalling to Hunter you were in the room. Hunter just sighed and shook his head.

You were curious about the conversation, but thought it might not be any of your business.

Smiling, you started, "Omega wants you to finish putting her to bed, Hunter." The way his face lit up had you star-struck. Almost like he couldn't believe she wanted him. "Thank you."

He nodded and headed her way, a hand cupping and maneuvering around your waist as he passed you. His subtle but frequent small touches warmed your heart.

You took a seat in the co-pilot chair, swiveling to look at Crosshair and Wrecker. Both looked down at you with crossed arms and smug looks.

"What?" You wondered if there was something on your face, or if you just took someones spot.

"Nooothing, we will be heading off to sleep now. RIGHT Crosshair?" Wrecker spoke in a suspicious voice, elbowing him in the side. Crosshiar grunted but agreed, leaving you alone.

Weird.

But then again, nothing was normal on this ship.

You took this time to lean back and take a few minutes of rest alone. It was nice being able to relax by yourself, knowing everyone was safe.

After a handful of minutes, Hunter made his way back from Omega. He took the seat next to yours, turning to face you.

"How are you doing?" You asked, sparking conversation.

"Fine, I'm just happy you guys are here... I keep thinking i'm going to blink and you'll both be gone..." His words shook at the end. You sat up, understanding the seriousness of the conversation.

"Hunter, Omega and I are alive and safe. We are here and we are not going anywhere." You rose and stood between his legs, hands cupping his face.

He looked up at you, tears filling his eyes slowly.

"What if I can't protect you two again?" He brought up a hand to rest at your hip, the other on his leg.

You rested your forehead against his, "That was a freak accident, baby. No one could have stopped that. Now we have Crosshair, Batcher, and we are ready for anything. We will keep Omega from the Empire. I promise."

He took a deep breath in, like he had just decided something.

He started by saying your name, "You always know just what to say. I wish I had that ability..." He closed his eyes and breathed you in for a moment, then he spoke again. "When... When we were apart I was so lost."

"I kno-"

"No, I don't think you understand. I couldn't think of anything but you and Omega. I was so broken without you." He repeated your name.

"I-I never want you to be away from me again." His voice got huskier as he spoke, and your legs felt like jello. You just looked at him deeply, nodding.

He started for a second time with a shaky breath, "No one can take you from me again. I will claw my way back to you every damn time." He nods his head up, brushing his nose to the side of your cheek with closed eyes.

You let him speak, even when your mind was flowing with your own comments, "It- The distance, made me realize. There is no one that can compare to you. No other woman I would ever want to be with."

Ah, so that is what they were talking about. You smiled big, awaiting the special phrase.

Tears filled your eyes with his words, he was speaking as raw as he was capable of.

"I can't promise you money or luxury, but I will spend every waking hour fighting to make you happy. Fighting to keep you safe." He pulls back, steadying you with both hands on your hips.

You take in a teary breath to speak, but he cuts you off. "Don't say anything yet, just- Wait here, just a second." He stands, reaching to Crosshair's old storage compartment.

He rushes back with a small box. You raise your hands to cup your own face, bright red. He lowered onto one knee, right in the middle of the cock-pit

"Please, for my own sanity and happiness, will you marry me?" He asks.

"Yes. Yes Hunter, there are no other words than yes." You fall down onto him, arms grasping around his neck.

He lets out a sigh of relief like you'd ever say 'no.'

"Thank you, oh thank you." He whispers into your neck, holding you tight. He only pulls back slightly to kiss you. A kiss so deep and full of emotions your head spun. You just held him, never wanting to let go.

It felt like time stopped, just for you two. Just for a clone trooper and a small girl...

"I never planned on you..." He broke the silence, head placed on top of yours. "But I- you were so damn perfect. Too perfect." You gave a small laugh, looking up to see his handsome face.

You rested a hand on his tattoo, thumbing it. "Hunter, if anyone is perfect it's you. You have so much love for me and Omega... How do you do it?"

"I manage." He smirked, leaning down to smell your hair. Something he used to do frequently when you snuggled in the past.

"Am I now Mrs. Hunter? Or is it Mrs. Trooper?" You joked, pulling back to sit fully on the ship floor. Your hands still filled with his much larger ones.

He smiled at you, another reminder on why he loved you so much. "We can figure out all the fine details later... Just let me kiss you again..."

So, you did.

A/N- Thank you so much for reading! I loved writing this one, I hope it turned out as good as I thought! Sorry It took me longer to post than usual, I was pretty busy this past week. As always, i'm open to constructive criticism!

Tags- (lmk if you want to be tagged as well!) @thethreeeyed-raven @knight-of-flowerss

[btsficsandsuch]

It Worked, Didn’t It?

Jungkook’s family keeps referring to you as his girlfriend, but as far as you know you’re nothing more than friends.

You and your best friend Jungkook were on your way to Busan. It was his dad’s birthday and his mom was throwing him a small party. You were pretty nervous. This was the first time that you were meeting his family. The truth was you had a teeny tiny not so small crush on Jungkook. The thought of confessing to him crossed your mind multiple times, but every time you thought you had worked up the courage you would back out. You didn’t think he felt the same and you didn’t want to ruin the friendship.

You were shaken out of your thoughts when you felt a hand land on your thigh. “We’re here Y/N.”, Jungkook said with a smile. You nodded and opened the passenger side door and exited the car. Jungkook jogged around and grabbed your hand pulling you inside, your heart skipping a beat.

Once inside he introduced you to everyone as you made your rounds. He took you into the kitchen where his mom was putting the finishing touches on some appetizers. You watched him walk over to his mom and give her a kiss on the cheek. His mom noticed you standing in the doorway. She motioned for you to come over, “Y/N come in dear. Don’t be afraid.” You smiled as you entered the kitchen, “Thank you for allowing me to join in the party.” She smiled at you, “Of course. Jungkook’s girlfriend is always welcome here.” You felt like there was a knot in your stomach. Did she just say girlfriend? What did she mean by that? Trying to calm yourself down you told yourself it was probably just due to the language barrier. She just assumed you were a girl and a friend therefore a girlfriend. Right?

You were so caught up in your own thoughts you didn’t see the blush form on Jungkooks cheeks. The party was going great and you were having a good time. You just couldn’t ignore the fact that everyone kept referring to you as Jungkook’s girlfriend. You had been trying to ask him about it, but every time you tried he would walk away or make himself busy doing something else.

The party was starting to wind down and you were sitting on the couch next to Jungkook’s brother. To break the silence he cleared his throat, “So Y/N, how long have you and Jungkook been dating?” Your eyebrows furrowed, “dating?” He must’ve, noticed the confusion on your face, “Yeah we were all pretty surprised when Jungkook said he was bringing his girlfriend to the party. We’re happy for him though. He seems so happy with you.”

You were trying to take this all in. Why would he tell his family that you’re his girlfriend? He never even said anything to you. Suddenly Jungkook came out of nowhere, his face in a full on blush, “Y/N you ready to go? We have a long drive back home.” You left the couch and made your rounds saying goodbye to everyone before heading out the door.

Once in the car there was an awkward silence. You weren’t really sure how to approach the situation. Eventually you decided to bring it up needing to know what was going on. Clearing your throat, “Kookie did you tell your family that I was your girlfriend?” You could see him biting his bottom lip, something he did when he was nervous.

After a few moments he let out a breath, “Yeah Y/N I did. I’m sorry. I let it slip to my brother that I was going to ask you out and he told our mom and she called me really excited and begged me to bring you to the party so she could meet you and I didn’t want to back out so I just agreed. The truth is I had planned on asking you out a few nights ago when we were hanging out at my place, but I chickened out and couldn’t do it.” You thought back to that night. You remembered him being extra fidgety the whole evening before abruptly leaving to go to the restroom and coming back to announce he was really tired so you’d get the hint and leave. At the time you didn’t think much of it, thinking maybe he just didn’t feel well so you left.

He was beginning to ramble. Another sign he was nervous, “I was really hoping they’d forget about it, but I guess they were just too excited to meet you.”

You look up at him noticing that he looked like he was about to cry. He continued again, “I understand if you don’t want to be friends any more Y/N. I know I made it really awkward for you today because I didn’t have the courage to actually ask you out first like I should’ve.” You let out a small chuckle at how sad he looked. You just wanted to engulf him in a huge hug.

Right then then car pulled up in front of your apartment building. Jungkook sighed, “I can walk you up to your apartment if you’d like. I promise I won’t stay. I just want to make sure you make it in safe.” You nodded and the two of walked up to your door. You entered in the code and pushed it open walking inside.

You turned around expecting Jungkook to follow you, but he just stood at the entrance. “I’ll leave you be Y/N, sorry again that I put you through that.” You stopped him by grabbing his hand and pulling him in with you. “Do you really think I’m going to let my boyfriend leave without a goodbye kiss?”, you said before grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling him down to you, giving him a kiss. “I can’t believe you basically let your family ask me out for you”, you said with a laugh. “It worked didn’t it?”, he chuckled before going in for another kiss.

[purplefangirl42]

Relive the Memories

Summary: Two days at the Winter Solstice Festival, years apart.

Pairing: Silco/Reader (F)

A/N: This was written as part of a gift exchange for my friend @sirenofzaun. Love you Lauren!

Tags: Slight Angst, Established Relationship, Time Skip

AO3 Link Divider by saradika-graphics

The breeze that blew through the alley chilled you down to your bones, setting off a round of shivers that made your teeth chatter. You leaned against the wall behind you and wrapped your arms around your midsection in an attempt to trap some of the remaining body heat. You should have dressed warmer, but the thin sweater you wore was one of the only warm pieces of clothing that you had. 

Why, in Janna’s name, had you agreed to meet Silco up here?

It would have been much warmer down in the Undercity. The closeness of the walls, the hot air coming from the fissures in the ground, and even Jericho’s cooking would have been ten times better than this. Up here, everything was open and exposed. This alley was the closest thing to shelter you had been able to find while you waited for Silco to join you.

Just when you were about to give up and head back home before your fingers froze off, you heard footsteps from the other end of the alley. You turned to look and saw a lanky figure that you knew well heading in your direction. He seemed to be carrying something bulky in his arms, something you couldn’t identify from this distance.

“Kept me waiting long enough,” you accused, shaking your head at him.  “What do you have?”

“Something that I hope will help you forgive me for making you wait so long,” Silco said, lifting the large bundle. “I worked hard to get it for you, so please take that into consideration before you yell at me.”

You scowled slightly before closing the remaining distance between the two of you. Your gaze trailed up and down the thing Silco was holding, still not quite sure what it was. He lifted it higher and the bundle unfurled into its full size, nearly touching the ground.

It was a coat. A nice, long, fuzzy coat. Just looking at it made you feel a bit warmer. You reached out a hand to touch the sleeve and nearly gasped at how soft it felt. You had never gotten close to something this nice, let alone touched it. Your gaze shifted up to meet Silco’s and you tilted your head, raising your eyebrow in a questioning manner.

“Did you rob some poor Piltie lady in the street?”

Silco’s smile faltered slightly before he shook his head.

“First of all, I don’t think you can use ‘poor’ and ‘Piltie’ together in a sentence like that,” he said with a sniff. “And secondly, I acquired this for you as a gift. Worked hard to get it.”

“And by worked hard, you mean…” you started, leaving the rest of your question unspoken.

“I mean…I had Vander distract the shopkeeper while I took it off the rack and threw it out the delivery window while they weren’t looking.”

“Uh, huh,” you said, narrowing your eyes at him. “That’s what I thought.”

“If you don’t want it, I can give it to Felicia or Sevika. I’m sure they’d both appreciate a new coat.”

“I didn’t say that. Just wanted to know where it came from, that’s all,” you said, stepping forward. “I appreciate your ‘work’.”

You leaned in and placed a kiss on Silco’s cheek before taking the coat from him. You pulled it on and wrapped it around yourself, instantly feeling warmer as it closed around your body. Silco seemed pleased to see you wearing it, as his grin had returned in full force.

“Thank you, Silco. Not only for the coat, but for the thought that went into acquiring it for me. I really needed something like this.”

“I know,” Silco said, stepping forward to wrap his arms around your midsection beneath the coat. “I can hear your teeth chattering everytime we go scouting together. It’s not very covert if the people we’re spying on hear that.”

You laughed softly and returned his embrace, resting your head against his shoulder. 

“I’ll keep that in mind next time I’m trying not to freeze to death,” you said. “Now, could you please tell me why we needed to meet up here for you to give me this coat? Couldn’t we have met somewhere warmer?”

Silco stepped back from you a small amount and smiled, pulling on the lapels of the coat and closing it in front of you. He reached for your hand and started to pull you down the alley in the direction he had come from.

“It’s time to test out your new coat. We’re going to the Winter Solstice festival. I know you’ve always wanted to go and I was able to get us some tickets.”

“Did you work hard to get those too?” you asked.

“No comment.”

You laughed again as he pulled you along. Though you teased him about his methods, the thought behind the actions meant a great deal to you. He was always surprising you with gestures, both grand and small. This was just another thing on the list of surprises he had concocted for you in your time together.

When the pair of you reached the edge of the festival, you stopped short, bringing Silco to a halt as well. He turned to look at you with a questioning glance, his brows furrowed in slight concern. You stared at the sight before you in amazement, mouth hanging open slightly.

“Darling? Is everything alright?” Silco asked.

“Yes,” you said, your gaze switching from the festival to Silco, “everything is perfect.”

His concerned expression evaporated and a cheerful one took its place as you started moving again in the direction of the ticket gate. Silco gave the man at the entrance the tickets he had procured, and once you got the approval, pulled you through the gate. 

The sights inside the festival were even better than the glimpse you had gotten from the outside. Little twinkling lights on chains hung over the streets, swinging between poles covered in strands of gold and red tinsel. A mixture of savory and sweet smells drifted through the air, carried to your nostrils on the breeze that had previously sent a chill down your spine. You could even hear soft music playing from various places around you, its source unseen by you, which only seemed to add to the magic of the place.

“So, does it live up to your expectations?” Silco asked, diverting your attention away from the environment surrounding you.

“It’s even better than I thought it would be,” you said. “Thank you for bringing me here, Silco.”

“You’re welcome, darling.”

Silco leaned in and placed a soft kiss on your temple before the pair of you continued down the path to take in all the sights the festival had to offer.

The air felt just as cold as you remembered, possibly colder if you were truly being honest with yourself. You pulled the edges of your coat together to seal in the warmth and block out the cold wind. Over the years, your nice, warm coat had worn down and didn’t quite do the job it used to when it came to keeping you warm. You could never bear to part with it and acquire a new one though. Your heart wouldn’t let you.

The festival around you didn’t seem as magical as you thought it was in the past. Things didn’t sparkle like before, the music seemed out of sync, and even the smells were a bit off. It was almost as if something was missing. The key element that solidified the magic.

You hadn’t been to the festival since the day with Silco, and that had been many years ago. After he disappeared; or died as you had heard but didn’t believe; you didn’t feel it was right to experience any kind of happiness that you had attached to him without him there beside you. You felt it would taint the memories.

You couldn’t say what had brought you to the festival on this day. Something in your gut told you that you needed to go when you saw the poster on the bridge. Maybe it was a voice inside you telling you that you needed some closure. You needed to do something to end that chapter of your life and finally move on. Perhaps this was the way to do it.

As you walked between the various stalls, you thought over your memories of the last time you had been here. Of course, you hadn’t really had the money to buy anything, but it had still been fun to look at things. You had a little money this time, but no desire to make any purchases. You didn’t even truly look at the items on the tables you passed, your gaze just glancing over vague shapes and colors as you walked along.

With such an unfocused air about you, you weren’t watching where you were walking and ran into someone. You nearly lost your balance and reached out to grab the arm of the man you had collided with to steady yourself.

“My apologies, sir. I wasn’t watching where I was walking.”

Without looking at the man, face down to hide your embarrassment, you moved to walk past him when you heard a familiar voice speak your name. You halted in your tracks, your heart skipping a beat at the sound of the voice.

“When I said I worked hard to get you that coat, I didn’t mean you had to wear it forever.”

You slowly turned in place to look at the man you assumed was talking to you. What you saw made you believe that you had hit your head when you ran into him before. The man standing before you was none other than Silco. Alive and present, wrapped in a coat with a large collar. He was older and looked different, most noticeable things being a large scar across one side of his face and an eye that was black and orange.

But it was still Silco.

You were at a loss for words. You probably looked like a fish, standing there staring at him with your mouth wide open. He seemed to understand that you were unable to speak and stepped towards you, holding out a hand.

“I’ll explain later. Right now, we can just relive the memories.”

You took his offered hand and let him pull you closer. The sensation of his touch seemed to right all the things that had seemed off before about the festival. The music regained its melody, the food smelled delicious again, and the lights seemed to shine even brighter than they had the first time.

The magic had returned.

A/N: Give this a like, comment, and reblog and let me know what you think!

[sahrii]

sahri my love!!

can i please have a 9 flower posy bouquet of roses with oikawa 💞

congrats on 100 followers !!

stupid decisions!

oikawa tooru x gn!reader

warnings! hurt to comfort, fake dating, oikawa has an ex, confession.

word count! 851 give or take..

check out the other requests for my 100 followers events!

you always made stupid decisions. stupid decisions like submitting assignments a few minutes before it’s due. stupid decisions like agreeing to fake date oikawa tooru to help him get his ex back. stupid decisions like falling in love with the man you’re fake dating to help him get his ex back. stupid decisions like giving in to his requests (because you cannot say no to him) and attending this party with him.

you walk in with him, hand in hand. your hand wrapped around his soft one. his fingers felt good around your own, you thought. tangled and warm against yours.

but then he releases your hand. he pulls his hand away, and it’s like he pulled a piece of you with him as well. you felt weird; almost incomplete.

“i’m gonna go to the bathroom, sorry,” he steps away.

“why is your bladder so small? we barely even stepped in” you asked, deadpanning.

“hey! i won’t be long. just stay here, we can have some drinks when im back,” he turned his heels and scurried to where the nearest bathroom is, leaving you all alone.

you took the time to take a look at the place. the music was deafeningly loud, making your ear drums shake. neon lights shone everywhere, slightly hurting your eyes. there were alien faces everywhere. your eyes scanned these faces looking for one familiar face and then you cursed yourself.

there she was. the girl who was behind this whole fake dating thing. the girl who stole oikawa’s heart. the girl who you held his hand for, smiled for, cried over him for.

stupid decisions. stupid decisions chase you everywhere. you grabbed your phone and texted him, then headed towards where your friends were with your heart beating in your throat.

oikawa tooru ended up falling in love with you two months into fake dating you. he asked you out with the excuse of getting his ex back. it was an excuse because he didn’t really want her back. he’d realised that his heart stutters whenever his eyes land on your figure, not hers. he’d realised that he smiles a little more around you, not her. he’d realised that he fell in love with you, not her.

a wave of confusion hit him as his eyes landed on the spot he left you in. the empty spot. he patted his hands dry with the fabric of his pants and looked around, hoping to spot your figure, but to no avail.

his hand dug into his pocket to reach his phone. the pit in his stomach grew when he saw your messages. stupid is what oikawa was. he replied back to your texts.

a minute goes by. two minutes go by. no response. his chest tightened as he started picturing you with another guy, laughing at his jokes like you laughed at his. his heart fumbled in his chest and he opened his phone yet again to send another text, or five other texts.

after a few minutes of eyes aimlessly searching for your figure, he spotted grey hair instead.

“hey,” he rushed to the group, a little breathless. he thought he’d see you, but you were nowhere to be seen.

“oh hey oikawa?” greeted suga, but it came out more like a question.

“did you see y/n?” he asked.

“outside, taking a breather,” replied a noya with food stuffed cheeks.

oikawa’s body was already moving, threading through the crowd and heading toward the doors. the moment his foot stepped outside, cold breeze slapped his face and relief flooded his body. before he knew it, he was breathlessly standing in front of you.

“oikawa?” you turned your head to see him. “what are you—“

“i don’t like her,” he cut you off. his heart was beating. it was beating so loud in his ears, he thought might be deaf for a second.

“what?” you asked, heart skipping a beat.

“i don’t like her. i like you, okay?” he avoided meeting your eyes because he thought that his knees were going to give up on him.

“i’m so confused—what? you don’t like her—your ex—but you like me?” you tried to process what he just said. he liked you, and not her. he liked you.

“yes,” he simply replied. “it’s sudden, i know and—fuck i don’t know why i said that—i just realised you might not feel the same way,” he groaned and put his face in hands. he was stupid.

oikawa tooru was stupid, but it’s okay, you liked him even if he was a bit stupid. it was part of his charm. the charm that gave you a pat on the back and told you to move his hands away from his face. the charm that caused your lips to smack against his and your insides to be inverted. the charm that made you fall in love with him.

his lips tasted of blooming flowers in spring and igniting stars in the dark of the night. stupid decisions. they’re not that bad after all. stupid decisions maybe good decisions sometimes. and this time is ‘sometimes’.

[danikamariewrites]

I searched for Feysand x reader all over tumblr and you were one of the top creators so I looked around and fell into the rabbit hole of masterlists… I’ve been on your page for hours now and i’m not tired at all.

And I saw your request were open and i’m so happy bc I wanted to ask if i could request feysand x reader where feyre and reader are pregnant at the same time. Like we all know how protective rhys was in the books, now imagine two mates at the same time. Like his instincts wouldn’t let anyone too close to them bc his mates are in vulnerable situations. Maybe someone like Beron or Tamlin jokes around and Rhys doesn’t handle it well or smth plssss🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️

Double Trouble

Feysand x reader

A/n: omg thank you 😭😭 I get nervous that I write too much and that ppl will get sick of me lol. So thank you for reading my fics 💕

Warnings: Tamlin being a douche

Rhys has been more paranoid since you and Feyre both started showing. The revelation of both you being pregnant excited and frightened him at the same time. Causing his over protective mate instincts to kick in. The two of you had tried to get him to rest knowing he had a High Lords meeting coming. But the stubborn male insisted he was fine.

A few times when you got up to pee in the middle of the night - a new routine thanks to your pregnancy - you found Rhys wide awake. He would watch over you and Feyre like a hawk until he fell asleep sitting up.

Yesterday Rhys had insisted he could skip the meeting and just stay with the two of you. It was a day long battle for a compromise. “Rhysand. We will be fine here with Amren watching over us and Nyx.” Feyre said sternly as Rhys came to tell you he changed his mind about your plans, again.

He shook his head vehemently, “Nope. I need to be here.” You rubbed at the bridge of your nose, squeezing your eyes shut and willing your mate to go away. “What will it take to get you to go to this meeting?” You sighed out.

Feyre perked up, wiggling her fingers, “Oh, I have an idea! What if we come with you. Helion can have a room for us, Cass, Az, and Mor will be there, it’ll be so easy.”

You could tell Rhys was considering it from the pensive look on his face. And he didn’t immediately shut Feyre down.

He nodded, mumbling out ‘I’ll think about it’ before heading back to his office.

You shoot Feyre a knowing look, “You just want those bonbons Helion gets.” “Yes! I’ve been craving them for months. And I want them fresh, not in a box.”

Snuggling up next to your mate on the couch you place a hand on her bump. Feyre does the same to you, resting her forehead against yours. “I don’t blame you,” you giggle out, “I’m happy I get to experience this with you Fey. Even if Rhys is being a mother hen.” She lightly pecked your lips. “Me too y/n/n. I love you”

———

Thankfully Rhys had agreed to you two coming along to the Day Court and you’d spend the night. Winnowing took a lot of energy from you and Feyre, so Rhys was adamant about you two resting as much as possible.

Before leaving you all gave Nyx hugs and kisses. He would stay with Elain and Nesta while you were gone. He hated when you left but enjoyed his time with Aunty Lain.

Winnowing to the Day palace Helion was waiting to greet you. “You’re the first to arrive.” He said cheerfully. The two High Lords shook hands as Helion guided your little group inside. Cassian offered his arm to Feyre while Az offered you his.

“I set up a very comfortable room for you two to relax in. No meeting for you, I’m sure there’s enough stressful things around you these days.” He says, eyeing Rhys. “Thank you Helion.” You say sweetly. “And you got our snack requests?” Feyre asks.

Helion throws his head back, laughing at her blunt question. “Of course I did. You’ll find you are well stocked on any foods your hearts desire.” You and Feyre smile at each other knowing you’re about to have the best snack and relax sesh.

You walked Rhys to the meeting room, like you promised, before leaving him. He takes one of your hands in his, giving you both a loving look. “Do you need anything? What can I do for you before everyone gets here?” “Nothing my love.” Feyre says softly. You bring a hand up to caress his cheek, “We’re just fine baby. You focus, do your thing and help Prythian, yeah?”

He gives you and Feyre a quick kiss before Helion’s personal guard escorts you to your rooms.

Opening the door your senses are overwhelmed by the scent of the sweet treats spread out for you. You and Feyre look at each other licking your lips in excitement. You wasted no time sprawling out on the lounges, digging into whatever was in arms reach.

Hours later Rhys, Cass, Az, and Mor joined you. Rhys was overjoyed to see you two after being separated. “You should’ve seen him when Kal asked where you were. He snarled.” Cassian teases as Rhys nudges his way to sit between you and Feyre. “I did not.”

Mor rushed over to you, lightly placing a hand on each of your bellies. “How are both Mor juniors doing.” You giggle at the blonde, “They have been perfect little angels.”

“No discomfort, extreme fatigue, or -“ “Rhys, we were fine.” Feyre cuts him off. He seems to relax at that. The tension in his shoulders loosening as he bats Mor away so he can feel the babes kick. Rhys lets out a breathy laugh as little feet push against his palms. “Hi angels, did you miss daddy?” Two more kicks in response.

The babes love the sound of Rhys’s voice. Like with Nyx, he talks to them every night. It doesn’t matter if you and Feyre are awake or asleep, he will always make time for the babes.

“Don’t forget,” Azriel speaks up from his spot in an armchair. He’s picking at a bowl of chocolates you hadn’t gotten to yet. “We have dinner in about an hour with everyone.” Rhys wasn’t pleased by the reminder. Something tells you that he was never going to tell you and Feyre about dinner.

Feyre stands, pulling you with her. “We will go get ready then.” She says happily.

You exit the bedroom with a few minutes to spare. Feyre chose a glittering black dress that hung off her shoulders. She decided to leave her crown behind for the night, putting her hair half up with small braids meeting in the middle.

You had decided on a midnight blue dress specked with pearls. The flowing fabric on both your dresses not hiding the fact that you’re pregnant. Rhys eyed the two of with lust sparkling in those iridescent violet irises.

He offers you each an arm to walk down to dinner. Rhys walks at slow pace for the two of you. When Feyre noticed she rolled her eyes and you both pulled him along. When the six of you enter the grand dining room you feel eyes on you. Thankfully not autumn ones. Azriel told you Beron and his court left after the meeting was over. Very typical of Beron to come and complain then leave, making no effort to improve court relations.

Viviane and Thesan shriek in excitement at the sight of you. “Congratulations! How did I not know?” She said excitedly. “When are you due?” Thesan asks immediately after her. The pair continue their onslaught of questions as you answered before the next question came up.

Out of the corner of your eye you could see Tamlin tensing. Clearly unhappy about the topic of conversation. Feyre and Rhys caught on to his unhappiness as well. Feyre tried to change the topic, asking Thesan about how things were going with his lover.

Tamlin and Rhys made uncomfortable eye contact. The males looked like they were about to jump across the table at each other. Rhys pulled your chair closer to him so you’d be away from Tamlin. He was across the table diagonal from you. It’s not like you were that close him but if it made Rhys feel better.

“Do you have something you’d like to say, Tamlin?” Rhys snapped. The High Lord of Spring scoffs, a wicked smirk on his face. “Well I just think it quite odd they’re both pregnant. Why on earth would you want two more.”

Everyone stopped speaking, looking anywhere but at them. Even you and Feyre looked at the table. You could tell she was fuming about Tamlin’s joking tone. “Is that an insult about my son? Or perhaps you’re angry about your situation. If you need to talk about it I’m sure you can find someone who will listen.” Rhys gave him a fake smile and went back to his meal.

Conversation slowly started up again. Tamlin excused himself, only saying goodbye to Helion before stepping out into the hallway to winnow home.

Once back in your rooms for the evening Rhys had you and Feyre cuddled up on either side of him. “Thank you for standing up for our family.” Feyre whispered. “I always will darling. You’re the most important people in the whole world to me.”

You let out a yawn and snuggle close to Rhys. “Let’s get some sleep. This little angel is kicking me for some shut eye.” “This one too.” Feyre yawns out. “Awww, I’m sorry I’m keeping your mommy’s up.” Rhys whispers. He kisses both of your bumps as you drift off.

[maybankswhore]

𝐁𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍.

SUMMARY: after getting your heart broken by rafe cameron , you swore off dating altogether. you never wanted to experience that kind’ve pain again. but jj maybank was determined to get you to go out with him , and after multiple attempts to try and shut him down— you agree to one date , and realize that maybe you could love again . . .

walked in expecting you’d be late , but you got here early and you stand and wave — i walk to you.

There were some things that you could spare yourself from. You couldn’t control if people died around you , or if one day they’d leave you— stop loving you. Those things were out of your control. But your own actions were your doing , you were in control of your own decisions. You had made a decision to let Rafe Cameron take you to Midsummers , to let him kiss you , to promise you the moon and the stars— and eventually , you had let him leave you.

When he left , there was like this gaping hole in the center of your chest. It ached and begged for you to lick the wound clean and make the sting go away. Your heart was so broken , it shattered anything that you had left of you. You fell into yourself , into that sadness and regret. You lost all of your favorite things , your special interest. The relationship wasn’t the best— he wasn’t the best— but we all accept the love we think we are deserving of.

It had taken you almost a year to be able to show your face around the Outer Banks again. You had finally started hanging out with old friends , going surfing and bringing up your grades. Kiara offered you a job with her at the Wreck and you had happily agreed , happy to find something to occupy your time and get your mind off of things.

Kiara had introduced you to her friends and you immediately clicked with them. You knew them before but after you got together with Rafe , it wasn’t really something you’d be caught doing often.

And although they were all nice , one certain blonde headed Pogue just couldn’t get enough of you. Each time he’d shamelessly flirt with you , beg for you to let him take you out on a date— any date! He always complimented your outfit or how you looked that day. He’d bring you special golf balls he jacked at the Country Club because he knew you collected them. Anything and everything that could make your heart skip just a tiny , little beat.

But Rafe Cameron really did a number on you. You were now a woman scorned and you just weren’t sure who to trust and willingly allow yourself to be that vunerable again. Especially with JJ’s reputation , it was just too risky. You had to protect your heart.

Though JJ was determined to get you to say yes. He was a persistent little thing and even through all the eye rolls and playful shoves , you couldn’t deny feeling as though you could like him.

So on a whim , you agreed. You still giggled thinking about his reaction and how his face lit up. A quick kiss to your cheek that left the skin a burning , bright red before he took off to tell everyone.

Which is how you landed here , hands sweaty and nervous as you rubbed them on the back of your shorts. It had been a little earlier than what the two of you were scheduled to meet , and you wouldn’t have been surprised if JJ was running late.

Rafe always had been. Between the club , his father , and his friends— it was almost impossible to get him to be on time. You had grown used to it , to where you barely kept track of the time.

Walking in , your eye’s widened in surprise to find a familiar blonde sitting by the window. JJ had been early , the spot already been found. You could feel your heart in your ears , feeling yourself blushing as such a small action. But it made you feel good , knowing he was just as excited to see you.

His eyes lit up when he noticed you , a boyish grin on his face as he stood up from his seat. “Hey girl , you’re here early.” A playful smirk fell upon his face as he hugged you , blood rushing in his ears.

you pull out my chair and help me in , you don’t know how nice that is — but i do.

You opened your mouth to answer and tried to sit down , but JJ had already pulled the chair out and sat you inside of it. His attentive grin never leaving his face. A certain warmth huddled over you at the action , feeling the blood in your body become all mushy. You couldn’t help the smile you gave. “Of course. I couldn’t dare be late to the infamous first date.” You hummed.

JJ laughed and scratched the back of his neck nervously. “God I didn’t think I’d make it this far if I’m being honest.”

“Neither did I.” You snorted back , almost rolling your eyes at yourself when you thought back to the times you fought with Pope and Sarah about how you and JJ would end up dating and being a worse couple than her and John B.

The sound of your snort caused a couple people to glance over at you weirdly , to which you covered your face embarrassed. JJ only laughed , clapping softly while throwing his head back.

and you throw your head back laughing like a , little kid. i think it’s strange that you think i’m funny ’cause , he never did.

“So I ordered us like , everything.” JJ cleared his throat and pretended to sound business-like. “You can try a little bit of everything and tell me what you like so I can write it down for next time.”

“Next time?” You questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“Next time.” JJ confirmed , winking over at you.

You blushed at that , nervously tucking your hair behind your ear. You felt bad because you didn’t know what to say— you hadn’t dated in so long and it wasn’t like Rafe was much conversational practice. But JJ could sense your nerves , so he clapped his hands to catch your attention.

“So , Y/N , tell me about you.” He offered you the stand , and leaned back in his chair. “I wanna know all the basic stuff you’re supposed to learn about on a first date. Favorite color , favorite movie and song—”

Becoming flustered at the attention on you , your fingers fiddled with themselves. You desperately wanted to ease the awkwardness you felt. “I’d say like pink or something. If I wanted to be deep and mysterious then I’d say blue like the deepest parts of the ocean because I’m just so deep.”

JJ giggled at your joke and you smiled , feeling more confident with speaking.

“My favorite movie’s Little Women but I can’t watch it ever again because I cried for two weeks after I finished it.” You sighed remembering how that one particular scene made you feel and you almost teared up just thinking about it. “And my favorite song—”

Before you could answer what it was , JJ had answered it for you. You raised your eyebrows in surprise that he had known that. “You’re right. How did you—”

“You hum it when you’re working all the time.” He explained , grinning softly. “I forced Pope to get Kiara to ask you what it was.”

i’ve been spending the last eight months , thinking all love ever does is break and burn , and end. but on a wednesday in a cafe , i watched it begin again.

“You should smile more often.” You told him as the date wrapped itself up. The entire time a silly smile and girly blush dusted your cheeks. He kept you interested , feeling comfortable as he engaged in conversations with you. JJ listened intently , hanging on to your every word and you weren’t used to someone caring about what you had to say.

His aura seemed genuine. It settled in the air like an embrace that could soothe all the badness away. His smile glimmered , so wide and boyish.

“Why’s that?” JJ cocked his head to the side.

“Because you look pretty when you smile.” You answered him , feeling accomplished when he flushed at your words.

You weren’t so sure if things would go anywhere. You didn’t want to put expectations on something so early. But with JJ , there was a little bit of hope in your chest. Hopeful. Maybe love wasn’t all bad.

Maybe you could try again.

and we walked down the block to my car , and i almost brought him up. but you start talking about movies that your family watches every single christmas and i want to talk about that , and for the first time , what’s past is past.

JJ held your hand softly as he walked you back to your car. A comfortable silence hung over the two of you for a moment before he broke it when your car came into view. “You should come to the Boneyard sometime. I know Kiara would like you there , too.”

“Just Kiara?” You teased.

JJ nudged your shoulder. “Nah. But you’ll already be there with me.”

“Maybe , I’ll think about it. . .” You nodded. You wanted to tell him that you wouldn’t. You wanted to tell him that you were too afraid to go anywhere because you’d see him and he’d ruin everything. He still knawed at the back of your throat.

“This reminds me of this movie me and the Pogue’s watch on Christmas.” JJ couldn’t help but laugh , shaking his head. “50 first dates!”

You paused. “You plan on me losing my memory?”

“No! No— I mean like when Lucy keeps telling Henry she won’t go out with them and then she does and immediately falls madly in love with him.” He explained , smirking.

“Oh so I’ve immediately fallen in love with you?”

Reaching your car , you leaned against the driver side door. Your breathing hitched in your throat when JJ’s arm trapped you against it , his bicep brushing your cheek. His eyes locked on you , sweetly looking down at you. “Maybe not. But I think I’m gonna fall madly in love with you—” he winked. “If that’s okay with you , of course.”

You paused , a bit of your heart lurching in a way it hadn’t lurched in a long time. Rafe now long in the back of your mind as you looked at him— the past blurring in the background of sullen memories.

A future unknown.

You wrapped your arms around his neck , getting closer to him. “It’s okay with me.” You breathed , fluttering your eyes closed as he connected his lips to yours.

He kissed so softly , hands at your cheeks like you’d break if he was too rough.

It was only just the beginning.

[slowlydifferentbluebird]

Dreams come true - Aespa High School AU - Day three

Hello people, part three is finally out! I know this time it needed more time to come out, but I'm starting to bring more variety on the blog. Talking about this third day things are not going so smoothly anymore for our main character, time to introduce some angst in the story🤭 Also, this time I'm using a Winter Pic because I feel she plays a big role in today story, but don't worry, all the girls have their space to "shine"

"Are you still awake, loser?", the message from Minjeong read like this, making your face scrunch in confusion. It was midnight, why did she text you at that hour? "Yup, what are you up to?", you replied, laying on the bed of your room in the darkness, illuminated just by the light of the moon, coming through the window. "Wanna skip the first lesson tomorrow?", her question left you speechless for a moment. Like, she sure was a bit naughty, but this was such a bold move from someone you exchanged the phone numbers with just few hours before. "Why?", you countered with another question, trying to obtain more informations and get more time to think about it. "Because I want to bring you to a place", she explained, making your confusion even bigger. "Don't worry, we won't get in trouble, loser", she added quickly, teasing and reassuring you at the same time. You rolled your eyes, annoyed yet amused by her push and pull. "Fuck it, let's do it!", you thought, before accepting her proposal and agreeing on the plans for the tomorrow. She wished you goodnight, leaving you alone again with your thoughts, now even more agitated, before eventually falling asleep, relieving in your dreams all the events of that second day.

At 8am, the next morning, you were leaning against the wall of the back of the school. Luckily you were able to elude Mark that day: he was extra late again so you just went school alone. You were also lucky enough to not meet none of your classmates or teachers while reaching the place. You looked at your watch again: 8.05am. Where the hell was her? If this was a prank or similar... "Waiting for someone, stranger?", the soft yet active voice of Winter reached your ears, making all your doubts disappears. "Here you are, girl, you took you time. I was starting to think you played me", you admitted, being unable to show a relieved smile. "Aww, were you that eager to see me again? I'm glad, but your girlfriend is gonna be jealous about that", the bob-haired girl teased you, caressing your arm. "Are you gonna keep to tease me and Aeri forever?", you asked, sighing and shaking your head. "Just when you or her shows me proofs of the contrary", she shrugged, smiling like a satisfied fool. "Yeah sure...however why did you picked this place as meeting point and where are you bringing me?", you inquired her, looking around, almosto check the surroundings. "How many questions, I don't remember you being this curious during lessons", she smirked and you had really the strong temptation to curse at her neverending teasing. "Just follow me and you will discover, loser", she invited you, starting to walk, getting at every step more far from the school building.

"Come, we're so close right now", Minjeong whispered. Her action make you puzzled, you walked a lot and you were pretty sure about being out of the school territory, so why was she so worried? Was is it a dangerous zone? "Alright, we're basically arrived, now do like me: squat and walk slowly, no sudden movements", she explained, keeping to whisper. Once again you followed her instructions, but all that mystery left you an uneasy feeling in the chest. The area was clearly abandoned and unkempt. The anxiety was starting to have the best on you when..."Meow!", an easily recognizable sound got your attention, making your head snap in Winter direction. "Hi babies, I'm back", Minjeong announced in a kind tone. You carefully moved next to her just to discover a whole bunch of baby kitties, meowing and looking at you two. "Are they...the reason for your request?", you asked, impressed by this side of her. "Of course, what did you expect? A date? Well...for that maybe in the future", she said with nonchalance, while opening her satchel and pulling out some milk and a couple of bowls. Without the need of saying anything more, even because her smooth answer just messed up your brain, you helped her organizing the bowls and getting sure every kitty had its meal. "How did you know about them?", you demanded, while letting one of the babies play with your fingers. "Yesterday, after school, I heard a cry and I found one of them, so I just followed him till here: they are very friendly but sadly their mother is not with them", she revealed, pouting sadly, showing you for the first time a more sensitive side. "But why me? You could have asked to any of the girls and yet you picked me", your question was sudden, lefting Winter speechless this time. You were right: she didn't even think about it till that moment. However she found the response quickly enough, she just needed a look of how much fun you were having playing with the kitties, you were so lovely and happy. "I already told you: you are different from the others...in a very positive way", her answer made your gazes met. You had not noticed before how cute she was and how much her eyes were the perfect match for her smile; at the same time Winter thought it was a lot of time she didn't feel so in tune with someone else, especially a person she had meet so recently. "Ehm...and then I can always blackmail you about the rooftop", she added at last second, as if she was trying to hide again behind her mischievous nature.

When both of you finally got in class, everyone eyes was directed to you. It was not like they were trying to make a story, but the the way you and Winter just came in laughing and teasing each other left few space to the fantasy. You coughed in embarassment and even the usual bold Winter immediately adjusted her behaviour, returning to act cold. You silently went your desk, avoding the gazes of your friends: Karina was staring blankly in your direction, Mark seemed confused af, Ning had an annoyed smirk on her face, and Giselle...you could feel her eyes burning into the back of your head and you had no the gut to turn back. Your emergency plan was to stay quiet and act like you were not there until the rest of the day. But, of course, you couldn't seriously hope about getting away with that. You barely managed to survive the next lesson just because miss Sunny arrived earlier than usual, but you were not lucky enough to go through the lunch break unscathed.

You saw Minjeong flee away the moment the bell rang, immediately followed by Karina, that seemed intentioned to tackle her or something. You didn't have time to worry about her tho. "So...what did I miss?", Mark asked, sitting on your desk, trying to convince you to spill the tea. "Not much", you vaguely answered, putting your things in the backpack in a hurry. "Why so eager to get away? Are you that hungry? Or do you just want to meet up with Winter again?", Ning, from the chair next to you inquired, going straight to the point; her body language was very accusatory, she tiny but she was leaning towards you enough to put pressure. "Nothing of all this, I just need a breath of fresh air", you justified, trying to get up, but the moment you moved, a couple of strong hands put you in your place again. "Stay seated", Giselle voice was stern, cold, irritated. "Now you're gonna tell me where the fuck you have been", Giselle ordered through her teeth, grabbing your chin and oblying you to look at her. "Oh my god, why are people making such a fuss for nothing?", you groaned in annoyance; this whole situation was getting ridicolous. Why were you even being questioned for such a silly reason. "For nothing? Are you fucking kidding me?", Gigi shouted angrily at you and that really made you snap. "What's your problem? What do you care if I skip lessons to spend time with Minjeong?", you shouted back, getting up to confront her face to face. "Calling her Minjeong...are you two already that close?", Ning instigated, an hint of bother in her tone; luckily both you and Aeri was too focused on each other to hear her. "Ning, I won't add fuel to this fire...actually guys, why don't we all chill and relax?", Mark tried to bring some peace to the discussion but it was kinda late to that; he was just glad that at that point it was just the four of you in class, everyone else was gone away. "What do I care? Did you already forget that I'm your bestfriend? Of course I got worried if you start skipping lessons since the third day, idiot", Giselle retorted, her eyes were starting to get watery because of the screams and her anger. "It happened just once, drop it...you know what? I'm done", you sighed in frustration, finally moving away from your spot and rushing out of the room, leaving behind you just the sound of someone sobbing.

You were so pissed off at your friends, why did they have to ruin a nice moment like the one of your morning? Did you need to inform them about anything in your life? Did they have the exclusivity on your persona? You were already starting to regret on moving there. You were actually so nervous after that fight that you were not even hungry. You were spiraling in your doubts and angry thoughts when..."Hey...can I join you?", you looked up to meet the kind smile of Karina, her eyes full of concern. You simply nodded, moving a little to leave some space on the bench you were sitting on. "Are you okay?", she softly asked, putting her hand over yours. "Kinda...yeah", you barely replied, conflicted on how to act: you were still angry with the world but it was not Karina fault. "Are you sure? I heard you had a big fight with Giselle", she exposed her worry, caressing the back of your hand with her thumb. It was not the first time she did that, it happened even the first day, it was oddly relaxing and you felt like your heart was being in peace again. "Yeah, it was a rough moment...actually it was the first time we have ever fought in so many years of friendship", you told her, looking at her pretty face with a ladle smile. "You know, sometimes it happens in these cases: human relationships are different online and in real life; probably you two just need to find...the right balance", Jimin suggested, offering you a comforting smile. She was not a genius in relationships and stuff like that, but she saw you in a moment of difficulty and she felt she had to comfort you somehow. "Maybe you're right...but I guess we need to resolve this mess first. What about you and Winter? Is everything alright?", you asked back, checking the situation you glimpsed before, but at that question Karina looked totally lost. "Did you two not fight? I saw you running behind her at the end of the lesson", you explained, pointing out what you have seen. "Ohhh, that! No, we simply ran to the cafeteria because today there was tiramisù on the menu", just at her reference of food, your stomach growled; furthermore you felt like a fool: of course they didn't fight, you were the only one attacked for that event.

After chatting a bit more, you and Karina parted away, she really helped you to calm down. Now you were not mad anymore, just sad, disappointed and very hungry. Despite that you decided to walk around again to clarify your thoughts. You were not feeling really good, but you thought that maybe walking would have helped you feeling better. The truth was that at every step, you felt even worse. With difficulty you went back in the building, trudging on the stairs to reach the floor where your class was. What was wrong with your body? Did the fight really disconcert you that much? "Here you are, hurry up, lessons are abou to star...wait, are you good? You are so pale", Ning walked into you at the corner of the hallway and, even if at the start she was intentioned to act in the usual irritating way, she immediately changed attituted, seeing your conditions. "Yeah...perfectly...fine...", you tried to act tough, but you were out of breath and you were sweating. "No really, is something wrong? Do you need to go to the infirmary?", the worry in her voice was obvious, probably your appearance was realy giving your hard time away; she placed an hand on your chest to stop you in your track, she did it kindly but you it feel like a strong push. "Maybe...just water...", you gave up on your facade, feeling your strenghts vanishing. "Let's go to the vending machine, I'll buy you something and...OH MY GOD!", she grabbed your arm to guide you, but right in that moment the world around you started to spin, you felt the lack of oxygen in your lungs until...everything went black. The last thing you remember was the faint voice of Ning asking for help and a cold surface hitting your cheek.

[machetegirl109]

Synopsis: After spending the whole Bible study daydreaming of Abby, she finally makes your fantasies come true. *inspiration: vacation bible school by ayesha erotica*

Warnings: 18+, MDNI, F/F, modern!AU, suggestive and offensive language, religion, abby&reader are 18, smut, angst, switch!abby&reader, dom!abby, sub!reader, thigh riding, fingering(r&a!receiving), oral(a!receiving), no aftercare, mean!abby x reader

important info about my stories here

©machetegirl109 (credits to VBS by ayesha erotica that inspired me to write this) DO NOT copy/steal my work OR post it on any platforms

Word Count: 2.6k+

Oneshot: Vacation Bible School

❝︎and like every other shitty love story

you came and went❞︎

Church camp happens every year during the summer. It lasts for a week; during this time, you live together in cabins, explore the outdoors, and dine in community, all while learning about religion.

You’ve been taking part in attending ever since you were a little kid. The campgrounds are filled with kids, teens, and young adults. The VBS director would be supervising the assisting staff that consisted of other members of the Christian church, where they were divided into group leaders, an audio/video coordinator, music director, Bible story tellers, game leaders, craft supervisors, and kitchen staff.

This year would be the last summer camp trip for you and the other 18 year-olds before you all start college.

Every year you’d be eager for the summertime, wanting nothing more than to arrive at the huge campsite with lots of green space, bushes and trees, picnic tables and a bonfire. Paths that led to the big main cabin where indoor activities and supper were held, another that led to multiple smaller cabins scattered around a secluded area with some portable wooden toilets by the end of the trail and finally a path that led to the forest where a beautiful river was at as well as a hiking trail.

Although you did enjoy being surrounded by the calming nature and your fellow church peers, what made you anxiously wait for the one week vacation every year was her. Abby Anderson. You two met years ago when you were kids, having to spend the days around each other as you two learned about Jesus and his rules. You and the blonde girl quickly became friends; however you never spoke to each other outside the camping grounds. In day-to-day life, you would only admire her from a distance. Whether it was on the Sunday evening services, or at the school; you paid attention to Abby’s movement as she kneeled to pray, or when she talked to those around her.

Something about her made your hands shake with nervousness, your heart skipped beats just by the thought of her so, so pretty eyes and her strong arms—

“What do you say, miss Y/N?” The pastor interrupts your thoughts and you move your eyes from Abby who’s sitting in front of you to his direction.

“I’m sorry, pastor. What was the question again?”

“What is the message in Ephesians 5:3?” He asks again and your peers, who are seated in a chair circle as the pastor stands in the middle, turn their heads towards you as they all wait for an answer.

“Uh, I… I don’t know…I’m sorry.” You shamefully look at your hands down on lap.

“That is okay, Y/N. We are all here to learn, isn't that right kids?” They all move their heads up and down, agreeing with the pastor. “Can anyone tell me what is the message in Ephesians 5:3?”

“I can.” One of the students complied.

“Yes, Abigail. Go ahead.” As soon as he calls out her name, your head shots up and you’re looking at the girl in front of you again. She clears her throat and before she begins to speak, her eyes meet yours.

“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be onced named among you, as becometh saints;” Abby concludes, her blue eyes never leaving yours. Soon, the priest thanks her for the answer, proceeding with his class and the blonde gives you a small smile. She manspreads on her chair and you feel the blood pump faster into your veins as your body grows hot.

Abby is wearing a white tank top that exposes her strong muscles, black skinny jeans with a heavy-looking belt as well as a pair of black chuck taylor’s. You can’t help but wonder how she would look on top of you, with her blonde hair forming a curtain around your head and her big hands roaming through your body.

After spending the rest of the Bible study distracted staring at the pretty blonde across from you, the class comes to an end. “Alright,kids, that will be all for today. Go ahead and enjoy your last day here and make sure to be ready to attend the bonfire tonight!” The priest leaves the open room located inside the main cabin and soon the students follow behind. Each leaving at their own pace as they conversate with their friends. You look around you and notice Abby is still seated in her chair, like you. She smirks before standing up, making her way to you.

“You seemed a bit distracted. Anything interesting in your mind?” Abby reaches her hand out for you to hold as you leave your chair.

“Oh, nothing, it’s stupid. “ You smile shyly and hold onto her, who soon drops your hand after helping you up. She hums in response as she licks her lips and points her head towards the door, hinting you to follow her as she begins to walk.

“Well, now I need to know what stupid thing you were possibly thinking about while you stared at me the whole study.” You hide your face in your palms, cringing at how you shamelessly looked at her during the class.

“Sorry…” You muffle through your hands before dropping them to your sides again. “I didn’t mean to stare.” Abby lets out a small laugh at your reaction, loving the way you get so shy around her. You two keep walking until you reach the path that led to the area where many small cabins were scattered around.

“It’s fine, I don’t mind.” She quickly scans the area around, checking to see if anyone can see or hear the two of you. “I think I already know what you were thinking about, though.” Her eyes drop to your plump lips and your throat goes dry.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You play dumb and Abby chuckles.

“Hm. I think we were both thinking about the same stupid things.” She raises her hand to your cheek, lightly massaging the pad of her thumb onto your soft skin and then pushing it down to your bottom lip. You feel as if your heart dropped to your core as heat and pulse grows inside your panties. Her hand teasingly grips your neck before she drops it and takes one of your hands into hers, guiding two walk towards the portable wood toilets by the end of the trail.

She looks around once again, checking for people and opens the door as she rushly gets in, pulling you with her and shutting the door closed. Your back presses into the wood as one of her hands pushes you against the wall by the neck. Abby’s blue eyes turned a shade darker, desired in them as she placed her knee between your legs, earning a small moan from you.

“You’ve been watching me the whole week,” She says as her free hand creeps under the hem of your shirt, fingers lightly tingling the skin of your stomach. “But I’ve been watching you too.” She palms your left breast harshly, flicking her calloused finger on your nipple and you feel yourself getting wetter by the second. “You know the expression you make when you stare at me?”

You stay silent and her grip around your neck tightens.

“When I ask something, you answer.” Abby says softly and removes her hand from your chest, sliding it down to the side of your hips, carving her short nails into your skin as she moves you to grind against her hard thigh; making you bite your lips as you feel your clothed cunt rub deliciously against the material of her jeans. “Answer me, Y/N.”

“I-I don’t know, Abby…”

“You stare at me with this really pathetic expression on your face,” The lights inside the small compartment die down suddenly before turning back on – And as you look at Abby again, a shit-eating grin appear on her pretty lips.

“The expression of someone who just really wants me to fuck them stupid.” You snake your arms around her neck and she lets go of yours, now hugging your waist as she guides your movements. “Do you want me to fuck you stupid?” Abby whispers in your ear with a rough voice.

“Yes-Yes, Abby. Ple-please.” You ask as you hide your face onto her neck, her pinewood scent filling your nostrils and you moan into her skin. Your hot breath hits against her neck and Abby feels your arousal mark a spot on her pants. A soft blush runs over her soft freckled face and her boxers start to feel heavy by her own wetness.

“Please what, angel?”

“Ple-please fuck me, Abby.” You remove your head from its previous position and forcefully grabs the back of her hair, pulling her face towards yours as your lips smack together. Abby bites and pulls onto your bottom lip and soon her tongue sneaks into your mouth, making the kiss become more heated and sloppy. She hugs your waist tighter. “I want you,” You say in between the kisses. “Jus-just fuck me already, ple-please.”

Abby lets out a moan by hearing your pleas and holds your hips still as she lower her lips to your neck. She nibbles and licks at your skin and you let out heavy breaths and pleasure filled moans. She moves one of her hands to your exposed thigh due your skirt riding up, and she slowly slides it closer and closer to your heat as she caresses your hot skin. Soon enough she cups your pussy through your dripping wet panties, the feeling of her warm hand sends a wave of electricity through your body and you moan her name out.

“I've been wanting to do this all week,” Abby confesses. She slowly drags your panties to the side and runs two fingers up your slick, collecting the liquid of your excitement. “Fuck… You’re so fucking wet for me. So ready for me, baby.” She gives you a quick and soft peck on the lips and suddenly thrusts her ring and middle finger inside your weeping cunt.

“Ah ah ah Abby!” You moan as you feel her fingers filling you. Abby begins to move her fingers in-and-out of you, starting off slow and soon she picks up the pace, pumping them fast and with precision inside you. You rock your hips, following her fingers' pace, causing your clit to deliciously and harshly rub against the palm of her hand. “Fuck Abby,,, you're–ahh fucking me so good…”

Abby lets out a quiet laugh and leans in for another messy kiss, saliva dripping off of both your chins as you make out. She soon fingers into you deeper than before, the tip of her fingers meeting that spongy spot inside you. She presses onto it and you rub your clit harder into her palm. You break the kiss, lips swollen for the biting and sucking.

“I'm gon-gonna cum,”

“I'm here, angel. Cum for me, baby.” Soon something inside you snaps and you feel your body shake as a pleasure washes over you.

“Such a good fucking girl, making a mess all over my hand.” Abby helps you ride out your high, her hand and leg drenched from you as she carefully removes her fingers from your sensitive cunt, letting out a hiccup once you feel empty again. You attempt to catch your breath, chest rising up and down rapidly as you both look at eachother. You hold her hand towards your mouth, cleaning her sticky fingers from your orgasm and she opens a small smile.

“You're so hot,” Abby says giving you one more kiss before removing her leg from in between yours.”So fuckin’ dirty for me.” You kiss her back, pulling at her bottom lip and asking for tongue passage which she happily obliged to. Pushing Abby against the wall, your hands fall to her hips, undoing her white studded belt and letting it fall to the ground. “You're gonna make me feel good, Angel?” She smirks upon seeing a naughty look on your face and you nod.

“Yeah, Abby, I'll make you feel so good…” You kiss her lips and neck one last time before you move towards her breasts and stomach. When you reach her crotch, you shamelessly rub your face against it, causing her to gasp and moan as she forces you onto the floor by your shoulders.

Abby helps you unbutton her pants and you bring them down along with her boxers as you kneel in front of her, the smell of her pussy makes your mouth water. She frees one of her ankles from the clothes, propping her leg over your shoulder and you snake your arm around her tight to keep her secure. She looks down at you, looking like a pretty and desperate little slut just for her. One of her hands goes to the back of your neck, pulling you closer to her glistening lips. You lay your tongue out and you slowly lick her slick bottom to top, reaching her throbbing bud and giving it a harsh suck.

“Uhmm, fuck,” She moans upon the contact, pushing her hips closer to you mouth. “Yeah, just like that, baby.” You finally bury your tongue into her cunt, exploring her as she lets out a string of breathless moans. Abby begins to grind against your face, your soft muscle lapping on her mouthwatering pussy and your nose softly and deliciously brushing against her clit. “Look at me,” She pats your head and you bring your eyes up to her but never stopping fucking your tongue into her. “Lookin’ so beautiful on your knees for me, ahh– s-so so fucking perfect,”

Abby soon feels the tension that sits on the bottom of her stomach is about to explode. Her moves become more messy and rapid as she chases your face. The leg that is up your shoulder starts to shake, the trembling of her body making her to hold onto your free shoulder for support. You notice Abby will soon break and change the focus of your thrust to her needy button, lick and circling your tongue on it and adding two fingers into her.

“D-don't stop, fuckfuckfuc–” Her hips stutter as you scissor your fingers into her, never stopping giving attention to her clit. You feel her pussy gushing around you and she soon releases her juices, making a mess on your hand and face. Abby breaks eye contact as she presses the back of her head onto the wooden wall. She closes her eyes and furrows her brows while coming down from her orgasm. You distance your mouth from her now sensitive clit and gently remove your fingers from her. She drops her leg off of your shoulder and you, still on your knees, move to help her fix her pants and belt.

“No, it’s okay,” Abby moves away from your touch, making you slowly stand back on your feet. “I can do it.” She pushes her black jeans back up and grabs her belt off the floor, quickly wrapping them around the waistband of her jeans. You quietly observe her, hopeful thoughts run around your head, thoughts about you and Abby becoming closer after today – The last day of camp. “So, uhh,” She nervously runs her hand through her blonde strands as her face displays a shameful and regretful expression.

“We should get going, th-the last bonfire will start soon…” You feel as if the ground disappeared, your heart squeezes inside your chest and tears form in your eyes. “Uhm… I'll see you around, yeah?” She quickly exits, leaving you alone in the compartment. You look down at your knees, red and swollen from all the kneeling, and then you look around the small porta wooden potty, your hand palms your face as you take in what just happened. Regret fills you for what you and Abby just did – In a damn porta potty, at church camp nonetheless – and at how easy you gave yourself to her, only to be tossed away just as easily.

ೃ⁀➷ thank you for reading! feel free to comment your thoughts, reblog, leave a heart and follow me˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚

x-18 banner by @fic-dumpster

[u6is]

"feed the flame 'cause we can't let it go."

part 2 of <3

— aurélien tchouaméni x reader: angst

The smell of freshly cut grass wafted through the open window of the cluttered office. Above the desk, a solitary light bulb flickered rhythmically, casting a dim, yellow hue over the piles of newspapers and empty coffee cups.

Amid of chaos, a sports journalist sat steady, fingers dancing across the keyboard as your eyes locked onto the screen, absorbing each moment with a quiet, unshakable focus.

You were deep in thought, trying to piece together a puzzle of words that would capture the essence of the game you had just watched.

Your phone buzzed on the desk, the screen illuminating with Aurélien's name. Your heart skipped a beat. You knew that call was coming. It always did after a big game, especially when Aurélien had played exceptionally well. You picked it up, swiping your thumb across the screen, and brought the phone to your ear.

"You watched?" Aurélien's smooth voice echoed through the speaker.

You nodded before realizing he couldn't see that.

"Of course," you replied, trying to keep the excitement out of your tone.

"You were unstoppable tonight."

Aurélien chuckled, the sound as rich and warm as the victory he had just secured for his team. "Good."

There was a pause, filled with the unspoken tension that always lingered between the two of you. It was a dance you had performed countless times before – a dance of desire and denial, of power and submission.

After that last time, beneath the cold light of day in the parking lot, where the car windows fogged with the heat of your stolen passion after his monumental triumph, he told you this could never happen again.

Yet here you are, the two of you, running in circles that always end the same. Night after night, you collide like stars burning out, fucking as if it’s the only language you both know. Days stretch into a haze, and you wait, like a loyal dog at the door, ears pricked for his return.

Every match ends the same. You stand there, not as his lover but as a journalist, all smiles and carefully chosen words, your applause echoing louder than the crowd’s. You welcome him like a soldier coming home, his victories written across your face.

You know your love deserves the roar of stadiums and the fire of cameras, but it’s tucked away in the shadows, surviving only in stolen nights and unspoken truth.

This time, the stadium’s echoes distant, drowned beneath the demands of your unrelenting schedule. Leaving only your voice through his phone, a distant embrace of congratulations.

You wonder how long this can last—this love he refuses to name, can this even be called love?

"I want to see you," Aurélien said finally, his voice dropping to a low murmur. Your pulse quickened. It was the same script, but the thrill was never old.

Despite the towering weight of obligations, you carved out an exception, racing toward him with all the urgency your heart could muster.

You agreed to meet at his hotel. Aurélien had a knack for keeping their encounters private, a luxury that came with being a star football player.

You arrived, heart pounding like a restless drum, your hand trembling as it knocked. The door swung open, and there he stood—Aurélien, dressed casually in sweatpants and a white tank top, his muscles rippling in the soft light. He was leaning against the wall, one hand in his pocket. His eyes were cold, assessing, as if you was just another challenge to be conquered.

He didn't say a word as you entered the room, his gaze traveling up and down your body. You felt both exposed and desired under his scrutiny, a heady mix that sent shivers down your spine. You knew the drill.

He didn't do small talk.

He didn't do relationships.

But he did do passion, and that was enough to keep you coming back for more.

Those words still linger on you...

"It's just... I can't do this again. I'm sorry."

Haunting like a whisper that refuses to fade.

Yet there you were, both lost in each other's arms once more, sprawled across his bed, wrapped in the quiet warmth that spoke louder than any words ever could.

Oh, the lengths you’d go, the battles you'd face, just to keep his lingering presence a moment longer.

Once more, you find yourself in his arms—the man who speeds through, leaving traces of himself woven into your bones.

—

The next day, Aurélien didn't call.

this was just how it was with him.

You had hoped he would, maybe bask in the afterglow of last night's victory, but your phone remained silent. You tried to focus on your work, the words on the screen blurring as you wondered if he was okay, if he was busy, or if he was with someone else.

You told yourself it didn't matter;

this was just how it was with him.

But deep down, you felt the sting of rejection, the cold emptiness that always followed your secret rendezvous with the football legend.

You went about your day, conducting interviews with other players, watching their training sessions, and sipping coffee that had gone cold.

Your mind kept wandering back to the hotel room, the way Aurélien's eyes had burned into yours before he had kissed you, the way his hands had felt on your skin. You tried to push the thoughts away, but they clung to you like a stubborn fog. You knew better than to expect more from him, but hope was a stubborn weed that grew in the cracks of your heart.

By the time the evening rolled around, you found yourself checking your phone every few minutes. You had convinced yourself that Aurélien was just busy with his training schedule, that he would call when he had a chance to catch his breath. But as the night grew darker, and the stars began to peek out from behind the clouds, your hope dwindled. You had been through this before, the endless cycle of wanting and not having. It was a dance you had grown all too familiar with.

The clock on your office wall ticked away the final moments of the workday, the hands moving with a maddening slowness that mirrored your thoughts.

You had been waiting for Aurélien's call all week, but it never came. Your mind was a fog of half-written articles and forgotten deadlines, the thrill of the football season lost in the haze of his absence. You sighed, pushing aside the empty coffee cups and notes scribbled with potential leads, none of which seemed to matter anymore.

Then, just as you were about to shut down your laptop and call it a night, your phone buzzed to life in your pocket. You pulled it out, heart racing, and saw Aurélien's name on the screen. He had invited you to a party at a club, an exclusive gathering of the football elite.

It wasn't a surprise that he had only remembered you when it suited him, but the prospect of seeing him again sent a jolt of adrenaline through your veins. You knew it was a bad idea to get tangled up in his world again, but the allure of his charm was too strong to resist. Plus, he had a point - it could be a goldmine for your journalist career.

You took a deep breath and texted back,

"I'll be there."

The anticipation of the evening ahead filled you with a strange mix of excitement and dread. As you dressed for the night, you couldn't help but wonder what he was up to. Was this a genuine attempt to include you in his life, or just another ploy to use you for his own ends? The tight dress you chose clung to your body, a silent promise of the thrills you knew lay in wait. You applied your makeup with careful precision, each stroke a declaration that you would not be a mere pawn in Aurélien's game.

The club was a cacophony of lights and sound, a throbbing heart in the city's nightlife. You pushed through the crowded entrance, flashing your invite to the bouncers with a confidence that was only slightly feigned. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and the electricity of competition. The football players and their entourages mingled like sharks in a glittering sea, eyes scanning the room for their next conquest. You spotted Aurélien immediately, his tall frame and brooding presence impossible to miss. He was holding court in the VIP section, surrounded by adoring fans and hopeful groupies, but when he saw you, his gaze sharpened, and he beckoned you over with a crooked smile.

As you approached, the music grew louder, a bass-heavy anthem that vibrated in your chest. Aurélien's teammates greeted you with a mix of curiosity and hostility, sizing you up with the same calculating look they reserved for their opponents on the field. You felt a flash of irritation at being treated like a trophy to be claimed, but you kept your smile in place, nodding and making small talk as Aurélien slipped an arm around your waist, claiming you as his own.

He leaned in close, his breath warm in your ear, and whispered, "You look amazing." It was the first kind thing he'd said to you in weeks, and it sent a shiver down your spine.

The party was a blur of flashing cameras and plastic smiles, the air thick with the scent of ambition and desperation. You found yourself playing the role of the supportive girlfriend, nodding along to conversations about upcoming games and tactics, all the while keeping one eye on Aurélien. His charisma a gravitational pull that drew people in and spit them out as quickly as he grew bored. You couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride at being the one he'd chosen to bring tonight, even if it was only for show.

As the night wore on, the drinks flowed freely, and the tension between you grew palpable. Aurélien's hand would rest on the small of your back, his fingers tracing lazy circles that sent shivers through your body. You knew the game he was playing, the dance of power and seduction that had become your twisted routine. You tried to ignore it, to focus on the potential scoops and insider gossip that floated around like confetti, but the pull was too strong.

Aurélien leaned in, his eyes gleaming with something other than alcohol.

"I've missed you, you know," he murmured, his voice low and seductive.

You searched his face for any hint of sincerity, but all you found was the same cold detachment that had come to define your relationship.

"Don't start," you said, trying to keep the tremor out of your voice.

"Not here, not now."

Aurélien's smile grew wider, "But why not? We both know what we're here for."

You felt a knot form in your stomach. "This isn't just about us," you protested, glancing around at the sea of faces watching you two. "What about your reputation?"

He chuckled, the sound low and intimate. "You think I care about that?" He tipped your chin up with his forefinger, his gaze holding yours captive.

"You're the journalist, aren't you? Spin it however you like. Just remember, I'm the story everyone wants to read."

The music grew louder, the lights more disorienting, and the whispers more insistent. You knew you had to get away before the night spun completely out of control. Aurélien was playing his game, and you were the prize he had no intention of letting slip away.

You excused yourself to the sanctuary of the bathroom, escaping the weight of his yearning stare. In the lavish restroom, you kindled your cigarette, savouring its transient solace.

Yet he trailed behind, his gaze aflame with something deeper than the wine's intoxication.

"Why didn’t you call?" your voice, a sharp blade, cut through the haze.

He smirked, pride shielding him like armor.

"You know I’m too drunk for words right now," he murmured, stepping closer, his breath warm with whiskey's ghost.

An arm found your waist, pulling you into his gravity. He took the cigarette from your hand, snuffing out its ember with a careless flick into the sink.

"Take that dirty thing away from your beautiful face." he murmured, his fingers brushing lightly across your cheek.

"So beautiful..." his words heavy with a drunken tone.

But he dodged the question, ignored the ache of your abandonment, weeks of silence left unanswered, buried beneath his drunken need.

"You know what I should get rid of?"

"You, you jerk."

you snapped, turning your face away, not wanting to face him.

Yet his hands still lingered on your waist.

He chuckled softly, gently guiding your face back to meet his gaze.

"I'm busy. And you were too. I didn’t want to disturb you," he murmured.

You searched his eyes for a trace of honesty, and though you found it, doubt still lingered like a shadow.

You crave the disturbance, and if he is the cause, you would welcome it willingly, surrendering to the chaos with open arms.

The bathroom was a welcome reprieve from the crushing weight of the party, the walls muffling the music to a dull throb.

You remove his arms from your waist. "Yeah, I know," you said, bitterness creeping into your voice.

"That's what you say every time," you retorted, your heels clicking against the tiles as you paced.

"I've been busy, you know that." his tone now edged with something darker.

You couldn’t bear it anymore, the desperation for him aching deep within you.

"What do you want?" you asked, your voice trembling with a quiet plea.

"What do you want from me, Aurélien?" You’re losing yourself, spiraling over his senseless game, the one that once caught your attention, ignited your curiosity. But now, that spark has long faded. The thrill is gone, replaced by a tired indifference.

He leaned against the sink, his expression unreadable. A heavy silence falls between you, the kind that clings to the air, suffocating in its weight.

The weight of his silence was too much to bear.

"You want to know what I want from you?" you whispered, breaking the silence that felt like it was drowning you.

Your eyes locking onto his. "I want you to actually care," you said, your voice shaking with the weight of your own words. "To stop using me when it's convenient for you."

Aurélien's expression grew stormy.

"Using you?" he echoed. "I don't use you, I give you access." He took a step closer, invading your personal space. "You're the one who keeps coming back for more."

You swallowed hard, his proximity doing strange things to your insides.

"Don't pretend like you're not familiar with this—with us," he snapped, his words sharp with anger.

"Tell me, what are we even doing? We’re both chasing pleasure, hiding behind our excuses, so don’t pretend I’m the only one. I crave this shit, and so do you."

His words hit hard, uncaring of the hurt they left behind. You bit your bottom lip, swallowing back the tears, your heart aching.

You once believed it was something special, but now you saw it for what it truly was—a mere game of fleeting passion, nothing more than a hollow illusion.

"Is that all I am to you?" you asked, trying to keep the tremor from your voice. "A means to an end?"

Aurélien's eyes narrowed. "You're more than that," he said, his voice low and intense. "But don't fool yourself into thinking we're something we're not."

The air between you crackled with tension, his words a slap in the face that brought reality crashing down around you.

You stepped back, needing the space to think, to breathe. The bathroom become too small, too suffocating, and his presence too overwhelming.

"I know you don't do feelings. But I'm not a toy to be picked up and played with whenever it suits you!" You said, your voice stronger now.

His gaze darkened, his handsome features twisting into something almost cruel.

"You want more than this?" he challenged.

"You want hearts and flowers from the man who breaks records, not hearts?"

You finally understood how consumed he was by his achievements and how little room there was for anything beyond his success.

The sarcasm in his voice cut deeper than you expected, as he made it clear that expecting anything remotely romantic from him was utterly foolish.

You took a deep breath, feeling the walls of the bathroom closing in.

"I want respect." You replied firmly.

With that, you pushed past him, the door swinging open to the chaos of the party. The music and lights assaulted your senses as you stumbled out, the stilettos you wore digging into the soft flesh of your feet. You wove through the crowd, bothering to hide the tears, a silent reminder that you were the latest chapter in Aurélien's story, easily forgotten when the next plot twist came along.

"Don't fool yourself into thinking we're something we're not."

The words echo over and over in your mind.

He had that said as if it was an undeniable truth.

And in that moment, it hits you—he wasn’t capable of offering what you longed for.

While you dream of connection, of tenderness, he was bound to a world where those things didn’t matter, and you were just another fleeting desire amid his relentless pursuit.

Outside, the cool night air hit you like a slap, clearing the fog of the club from your head. You hailed a cab, the city lights blurring together as you gave the driver your address, your mind racing with a cocktail of anger, sadness, and confusion. The silence in the backseat was deafening, the only sound the muffled bass of the club fading into the distance.

When you arrived at your apartment, you collapsed onto the bed, the weight of your emotions pressing you into the mattress.

The darkness of your room felt like a sanctuary, a stark contrast to the garish lights of the party. You stared at the ceiling, the patterns of the paint swimming before your eyes as you tried to piece together the shards of your dignity.

You wanted to hate Aurélien for reducing you to this, but the truth was, you had let him. For the height of his attention, you had become a willing participant in your degradation.

But now, in the silence of what remains, you realize that some things are never meant to stay. The flame has died, and all that’s left is the echo of what could have been.

Aurélien Tchouaméni, once the force that dominated your mind and body, a champion who never lost a match to your soul, still reigns as the best midfielder in the football world. His presence lingers, powerful and unwavering, yet you—you—were never his to claim.

You had a career to focus on, a life to live that didn't revolve around his whims. You were more than just a notch on Aurélien Tchouaméni's bedpost, more than a pawn in his game of public relations.

You were a journalist, with a voice rich with truth, a story that flowed with the rhythm of your own heart, untouched by the weight of being anyone’s conquest.

i leaned into the angst this time because i felt we started too intense with the smut in part 1.

now im torn between leaving it as is or diving into part 3 😵‍💫

[harlowsbby]

Love Sick

- It’s a good thing the two of you broke up. - Annie.

- I agree with Annie, now you can focus on yourself! - Maddie

- he was an asshole anyways! he didn’t even try to fight for you! - Megan

You rolled your eyes as you finished reading a few messages you had gotten from your friends. Tossing your phone somewhere on your bed you rolled yourself up in your covers and sighed.

You missed Jack and you missed him dearly, even though you knew deep down that this breakup with him might’ve been the best move you couldn’t help but to feel as if it wasn’t.

You haven’t seen him since you left Louisville that night, but you figured he left you with no choice right? He didn’t bother coming back home that night so you took that as his answer.

You knew all the two of you needed was a single conversation and maybe just a little motivation but as of right now you were going on your first week without him, and truthfully you missed him.

Just as you were about to close your eyes and try and sleep away the heartache your phone started buzzing again.

“Fuck what do they want now.” You groaned and unraveled yourself from your blankets and went to get your phone to place it on dnd till you saw who the message was from.

Urban

- you down to fly out to Louisville?

————— —— time skip———————-

“Jack, dude get up! You look like someone who just got their heartbroken or some shit.” Ace told Jack which caused Urban to elbow him into the side.

“Ouch, what the hell was that for?” Ace groaned and held his side.

“He did get his heartbroken you dummy he just needs to go through all the different types of emotions I guess.” Urban said.

Jack hasn’t been doing all that well ever since the two of you broke up, he knew just leaving you that night was wrong on his end but he didn’t know what to do, he was tired of the fussing and fighting.

“Can you two just let me be? Let me be heartbroken in peace.” He groaned and pulled the blanket back over himself.

“Sorry but we can’t do that, tonight is the last show for No Place Like Home Tour so I need you to get up and go get ready for rehearsals dude.” Urban sternly stated.

Urban hated seeing Jack like this and he hated that Jack had to push his feelings to the side, but he had one last show to put on.

“What if I just cancel tonight? And give all the fans their money back yeah I think that’s a good idea.” Ace rolled his eyes. “The Jack I know wouldn’t do that, you hate letting your fans down so get up and let’s go.”

Jack knew they were right the last thing he wanted to do was disappoint his fans that traveled long and far to see him.

“Fine, but after tonight just let me listen to my Drake and be heartbroken in peace?” Ace laughed. “Whatever you say boss.” Ace and Jack walked outside to the sprinter, Urban had told them that he’d be out there in a second.

Urban did a double look around making sure everyone was gone before taking out his phone and texting you.

Y/N

- you down to fly out to Louisville?

Not even a few seconds after he sent the message you had texted him back.

Y/N

- call me…

He looked around once more and once he saw the coast was clear he called you. “Urban? Why do you want me to fly out to Louisville?”

“Jack misses you okay and I know you miss him.”

“But we broke up Urban I don’t think I should fly out there, nothing is going to change.” He huffed.

“You don’t know unless you try I want the two of you to talk and figure things out, please I need my friends back together.”

You bit your lip and thought about it, maybe if the two of you did talk it out maybe just maybe someone good could benefit from tonight.

“Alright fine just let me know where to meet you at.”

“At his show tonight I’ll let security know you’re coming in.” You nodded your head even though he wouldn’t be able to see you. “I’ll see you soon?”

“I’ll see you soon Urban.” You hung up the phone and flopped back into your bed.

“What am I getting myself into.” You mumbled to yourself.

———————time skip———————

The entire plane ride you were on ten, your nerves we’re all over the place and your anxiety was on hundred.

You tried distracting yourself by playing games on your phone or taking a little nap here and there but your mind kept drifting off to the last time you spoke to Jack.

Flashback.

“Talk to me Y/N.” You continued to ignore him causing Jack to sigh.

“Can we act like adults here and talk? This whole ignoring me game is childish as hell Y/N.”

“What do you want to talk about? Because every time I wanted to talk you just brushed me off and acted like you couldn’t be bothered.” You spat.

“Please let’s just talk I wanna resolve this.” You chuckled bitterly. “Okay so who is she? Because what from I’m hearing you’re everywhere with her.”

Lately Jack has been going out super later and coming home super later and of course it was starting to worry you. You’ve been cheated on before and you’d be dammed if you stuck around and allowed yourself to be cheated on again.

Instead of waiting around the house all day you decided to follow Jack to see where he’d be, just to find him having some sort of dinner or lunch with his supposedly ‘long time friend’

“She’s a friend I knew from high school and we’re just catching up on lost time.” You rolled your eyes.

“If that’s the case why couldn’t you tell me about her? Why do you have to sneak around.” He shrugged his shoulders. “It wasn’t that big of a deal.” You chuckled dryly.

“Not that big of a deal? You know what I’ve been through before and I’m your girlfriend so what makes you think this isn’t a big deal.” You yelled out.

“See this is why I have to sneak around behind your back because you make everything into a big deal, maybe if you weren’t so insecure within yourself I wouldn’t have to keep shit private.” He spat.

“What did you say?” You spoke your voice barley above a whisper. “I said maybe if you weren’t so insecure I wouldn’t have to keep shit from you.” He repeated again without hesitation.

“Maybe if I’m so damn insecure you should just leave then, I wouldn’t want you to be with someone who was insecure.”

You expected for Jack to come over to you and to apologize and make things right but he didn’t, he did the complete opposite.

“Maybe you’re right I think that is for the best.” And that was the last time you saw him.

Flashback over.

“Miss, we’ve arrived.” The flight attendant smiled at you and brought you out of your daze.

“Oh right I’m sorry.” You quickly apologized and got up and grabbed your bags. You sent Urban a text letting him know you just landed.

He sent you a text back letting you know to just have the driver take you to the arena and he’ll have security waiting in the back to take your bags to the hotel.

“Here goes nothing.” You sighed and leaned back into the seat of the car, the entire car ride there you couldn’t help but to think about what was going to happen or what was going to be said.

“Jack let’s go it’s time!” Nemo told him and Jack made his way to the back of the stage.

Jack was trying to focus on tonight being a good night but he missed you and wanted you here with him, he felt guilty the way things ended with the two of you.

“You ready?” Urban told him and Jack gave him a half smile. “Not really but shows gotta go on right?”

Urban so baldy wanted to tell Jack that you were here and that tonight was going to end well but he had to keep it a secret.

“By tonight I’m sure you’ll be in a better mood.” Jack rolled his eyes. “I highly doubt it but come on let’s get tonight over with.”

After the show Jack made his way backstage to where everyone cheered and congratulated him on a great tour.

He was thankful for everyone in the room but all he wanted to do was get back to the hotel.

“Where are you going so fast?” He stopped walking when he heard that familiar voice. Turning around he was met by you.

“Y/N?” He whispered as if he was dreaming. You smiled and nodded your head. “Hi Jack.” Before you were able to say anything else he was making his way towards you and pulling you into his embrace.

“I fucking missed you so much you have no idea.” He spoke, a few tears forming in his eyes.

“I missed you too Jack, I’m sorry for ever doubting you, Maggie told me that your friend well let’s just say she doesn’t exactly like guys.” Jack laughed and pulled back from you.

“I’m sorry for what I said it was wrong of me, forgive me?”

“I’ll forgive you under one condition?” He grinned. “What condition is that?” You smirked which caused Jack to have a look of worry.

————————————————————————

“And your total will be $300 dollar and 34 cents.” The cashier smiled up at Jack who had a frown displayed on his face.

“Are you sure it’s that much? I mean what the hell did you even buy babe.” Jack asked and looked down at your small Sephora bag.

“I only got the necessities babe.” You told him even though you knew full on well you were lying through your teeth.

“Fine, here you go.” Jack handed the lady the card and she swiped it without any hesitation. Once she handed Jack his card back the two of you were out the store.

“So where are we going now?” You asked him as you looked around all the different shops at the mall, you looked like a kid in a candy store.

“What? I thought we were done baby?” He panicky asked. “Done?” You huffed. “You broke my heart remember? You owe me a shopping spree.”

Jack groaned as you dragged him along he knew by the end of the day that his feet along with his bank account was going to be hurting.

(Idk about this 😭 I rewrote this about three times but I hope you all enjoy it!)

(Also idk how to make gifs so I just added a piece from the music video 🧍🏽‍♀️😭)

[charlieisannoying]

A perfect case for my certain skillset

Part 1 | Next Chapter >

Platonic CF 99 X Jedi!GNReader Summary: Clone Force 99 is getting a Jedi, as if that could ever work out for the band of misfits. The worst thing? They're not even getting a General. First meetings will always go a little sideways, but the Force will right things in the end (Or so Hunter is told.) Word Count: 2,215

Hunter was tired.

He could feel a headache slowly blossoming under his skull, burrowing itself deeper and deeper, setting alight every nerve–

This was not the right moment for this. He had a mission to do.

It was simple, really.

They haven't been on the field that long anyways and they were a special case anyways. Their assignments, although they wrecked absolute havoc on the world around them were successes. They were still tasting the small bits of freedom between each missions, still overwhelmed with the fact that this was their life – the four of them against the world. While their... fondness over the regs was tested each and every time they came in contact with them, Commander Cody was a special case.

Even Crosshair was silent around that man, his snark nowhere to be found.

So when Commander Cody had commed him, letting him know that his pack, his own Clone Force 99, was supposed to get a handler... Well, Hunter was glad he wasn't alone when he received the news. He did not want to be the one to break the news to his brothers.

Still.

Getting a Jedi General was something even he was supposed to get used to.

It's not that he didn't want a superior officer or that he didn't like Jedi (although, truth to be told his experiences with other Jedi that Master Ti were rather... closer to 0 than any other number), but...

... he wanted to keep his brothers safe, close to himself and only himself. He heard through the ever evolving vod grape-vine that the Jedi were kind and understanding and they were all normal beings, not gods. His mind told him he was exaggerating, that it was in his very nature to protect his brothers...

But would his Jedi not only understand, but also listen to Tech's need to always fix something and explain and research? Will they leave Crosshair be and just exist in the presence of his brothers after a particular rough mission? Will they see how smart Wrecker is or will they just see his bulk and write him off.

Well. Clones were nothing if not adaptable.

'You don't have to be nervous about it.'

Cody's eyes were kind when he said it. They also seemed sad, but that couldn't possibly be true. Commanders knew how and when to say things. Commanders gave orders that no other clone could. Commanders swallowed their grief.

'I am not in the position to reveal anything but...' the Commander's nose flared and he bit on the inside of his cheek, as if searching for the right words. '...this assignment of the Jedi to your batch is more for the well being of themselves than a punishment to you boys.'

As if.

Look, Hunter could agree that their plans were wild, reckless and often enough sputtered into nothingness as soon as a mission started. But they accomplished their missions. They always were successful.

But siccing a Jedi on them?

This would never solve their... creative solutions for their already dangerous missions.

'When should we expect to report under our Jedi then, sir?' Tech's voice was crisp and perfectly measured, skilfully hiding how he felt in that moment from everybody. Well, everybody except Hunter. He could hear Tech's heartbeat skip in a pretty concerning way every so often and could start smelling his anxieties over the matter.

At that question, Cody allowed himself once grimace.

'That's your first job. Your Jedi Commander has... left our ship without telling us where they were going and we were called to aid the 501st.' What? Hunter's impending headache must have messed up his hearing, because why would a Jedi just... leave? Cody continued on, bringing Hunter back to the briefing. 'Their comm was last online in one of the lower levels of the city. It would be wise to check first some of the bars without attracting any unwanted attention.'

Lower levels? Bars? It seemed that all of his brothers were having the same reaction because they all had the what in Prime's tits is doing their Jedi in a bar face.

Something must have taken the Commanders attention away from them and their bewildered faces, because he didn't comment on their lack of response. Before he closed, he did wish them good luck, and that must have meant something, right?

By the sound of Tech's tapping on his data pad, Hunter was sure that every tidbit of information over their Jedi would be soon in their hands. He could always count on his brother's

'Wait, what did he mean by Jedi Commander?'

—

His headache was definetly getting worse.

This was the fifth? Or was it the sixth bar they searched? The vibrations of the bass and drums sent painful spikes from his skull down to his finger tips. This was promising some very painful next few days. And if they wouldn't find thei Jedi, his headache will become even worse and then Crosshair will see it, because of course the little shit was just as observant as his eyesight was perfect and–

'I just say we leave this damn Jedi find us instead. We're soldiers, not babysitters.'

Ah, kark it.

This was absolutely perfect. Now he also got Crosshairs snark to add of the things that were annoying him in that moment.

The lights were blinding him.

The music was getting louder and louder and he couldn't think, his brother's arm on his shoulder was like sand paper on his skin, although he had both his blacks and his armour on and why was the music so karking loud–

'You okay there buddy?'

If Hunter was at his peak he would notice that you were holding a fuzzy, colorful drink in your hands, the type that would come with small umbrellas and would wreck anyone in two gulps. Except he couldn't smell the alcohol. At all.

Your clothes seemingly resembled Jedi robes, the teal outer robes mixing with a tan tunic and brown pants. Small dots littered your sleeves, as if they were painstakingly embroidered, slowly combating the simpleness of normal Jedi apparel. Your hair was stuck to your forehead as if you'd been jumping the whole night and your eyes–

Maker, your eyes.

He could say that they were pretty because they were surrounded by blue glitter, and lined with black as if you were trying to capture everyone around you. You didn't break contact with him, as if trying to scan and read and see right through him, a small glint in your eyes indicating nothing but trouble.

But no.

Your eyes were sad. As if you knew something he didn't, as if you've lost and lost and lost, and you couldn't quite believe that you won't lose again. Hunter just wanted to bundle you up and take you far away from the war that just takes from beings.

Where were these thoughts coming from?

There was something else.

All he could focus was that the sounds were...gone. All those terrible sounds that were scratching the inside of his brain did not make him want to keel over and cover his ears.

He could still hear his brother's heartbeats, Tech's tapping, Crosshair grinding his teeth over another toothpick (where was he getting them??) and Wreckers fiddling with bits of an explosive.

Even those accursed lights seemed dimmed.

'You with me, Sarge?' Your brows were furrowed, as if you were trying to read him. And in the end, who even were you, why would you care–

Oh.

You were his Jedi. Were you the reason this place was more bearable now? Could the force even do that?

Wrecker snorted. Wait, why was Wrecker laughing?

That weird glint returned to your face, a small smile pulling over your lips. 'It's a Force Bubble. Helps me with my own migraines, and I though it would help you too.' You continued, the frown making an appearance once again. 'You were projecting your pain quite...hm...strongly across the lower levels. And anyways, what is Clone Force 99 doing here? We were supposed to meet tomorrow.'

Did he say that out loud?

That admittedly subdued headache was going to be the end of him.

'Technically, it is tomorrow.' Tech's voice was a bit harsh, not like his usual calm and calculated cadence. Were his brothers also starting to feel the simmering anger rising? They were out there, trying to find them, and... what? Their Jedi thought that giving Hunter a small respite would fix everything?

Before his thoughts could spiral even further, you had the decency to look... not ashamed, but guilty.

'Ah, my apologies then. I just wanted to...' You mulled over your words, trying to find the perfect one. You seemed to do that a lot, as if being able to choose your own words was something new, something not yet experienced. '...well, just be a Jedi for one more night and not a Commander.' You're eyes crinkled slightly as you smiled, as if laughing at a joke.

Hunter wasn't aware Jedi's sense of humour was so subtle. In fact, he heard quite the opposite from various other Commanders. Returning his attention back to you, you seemed to be already thinking about something else. Your face was already angled towards the back of the bar, where a small raised platform was created. A guitar was nestled against a box pretending to be a stool. A microphone completed the set, as if beaconing courageous drunks to sing something.

It seemed not only Hunter noticed your divided attention.

'Something else you've got to do, Jedi?' Kark Crosshair and his big mouth. Hunter was not in the mood to fight a decommission report to save his dear, dear brother. His headache was threatening to become a migraine once again.

This seemed to catch your attention once again. Shoulders pulled back, the blue robes did not seem to swallow you anymore. A small quirk of your eyebrow betrayed your amusement.

'You've crashed my set, actually. You guys are not exactly low profile.' Set? Did you sing? Is that your drink was all for show? All sadness was gone for a moment from your eyes, a fierce glint taking its place. 'I'm sorry you're tired and cranky... Crosshair, is it? So why don't you get a nice little drink from the bar and enjoy the show, yes?' Paired with a sweet little smile, you took your leave towards the makeshift stage, blue robes trailing like a blaze behind you.

This did not feel like getting a handler anymore.

This was going to get much, much worse.

—

Despite his worse fears, no decommission request landed in Hunter's pile of folders or in his inbox. After the incident at the bar, Crosshair finally fell silent, which meant that Hunter was free to fall into blissful sleep in their barracks. They did not stay to see you perform, much to Wrecker's dismay, but he was sure Tech already sliced through the bars shoddy footage, only to satisfy his curiosity, if nothing else.

You took the closed quarters of the Marauder in stride, your face betraying nothing. Your heartbeat though...? Well, that told Hunter everything he needed.

It seemed that not only Clone Force 99 was anxious about this change.

'Anything I should steer clear off?' You're eyes were still darting around, as if you were taking it all in. Your question though, it warmed Hunter somehow. He knew viewed clones as people, but other nat-borns had other ideas, that were not nicely viewed in the GAR.

'Our lives?'

Even with his back turned around the momentarily least favourite brother, he could feel Crosshairs sneer.

Before even taking a breath to reprimand Crosshair again in less that 24 hours, Wreckers boisterous voice bounced against the ship's walls.

'HA, as if you could beat a Jedi, Cross.' Wrecker's huge form seemed to eclipse you for just a moment, before draping an arm around your shoulders. You seemed to dip a bit, before finding your footing and righting yourself again, without shrugging Wrecker off. This seemed to encourage Wrecker, as he quickly continued, a sharp grin forming on his face.

'Technically, don't touch anything of Crosshair's. Don't mess up my workspace.' Tech's eyes were glued to his data pad, but his finger was pointing to various parts of the ship.

Thank you, Tech and your perfect interruptions.

You're impassive face was slowly breaking apart, your cheeks twitching slightly. Even your heartbeat seemed to slow down, and you even seemed to lean more and more into Wrecker, as if you were leeching his body heat. You risked a glance towards Hunter, but quickly looked away when you noticed him analysing you.

He wondered if you were going to burst from trying to keep in your laugh.

'You can always take Lula!' Reaching towards his bunk, Wrecker dragged you along a bit, without realising that you were still somewhat trapped underneath his arm. He offered you the tooka doll, and Hunter really hoped this was not the moment Wrecker will get heartbroken from your response.

A genuine smile lighted up your face instead.

'Thank you.'

If it weren't for the proximity alarm going off in the cockpit, Hunter was sure of there was more to be said.

For now, they all had one job.

Complete the mission.

Next Chapter >

[razzmatash]

Only One Day 9 - Christmas Market Love and Deepspace Sylus x f!OC 1580 words Read on Ao3 banner by firefly-graphics

Exhaling slowly, Sylus looked over the crowd filling the area. This was...not his idea of a nice afternoon. His hand unconsciously tightened on Calliope’s as he tried to figure out the best way to get through this.

“We can come back another time,” she murmured, picking up on his mood immediately.

“And have your sister bitch about me more?” He honestly didn’t care what Carrow thought, they’d been at odds for far longer than the Hunter could even imagine, but he didn’t like the thought of Calliope having to suffer because of it. He knew she didn’t tell him half of the shit her twin complained about and he wasn’t going to willingly add to it.

“She doesn’t do it as often anymore,” Calliope said quietly, leading him off to the side so they weren’t blocking the flow of foot traffic.

She still did it. He wondered if she was still trying to convince Calliope to leave him. She’d been less than enthused when the news had broken that they were doing more than just resonating and he still had the flurry of texts the Hunter had sent him in response. He hadn’t taken any of them seriously because he knew that no matter how much Carrow wanted to hurt him, she wasn’t going to willingly hurt her sister.

Calliope popped up on her toes and he obligingly leaned down to meet her. The kiss was quick and sweet with a hint of the sugar cookie she’d had earlier. “Tell me if you want to leave,” she said honestly, holding his gaze as she dropped back down. “I know this is a lot for you and I appreciate that you agreed to come with. But I want to know if it’s too much.”

Smiling, Sylus stroked the back of his fingers over her rosy cheek. “I’ll be fine.”

“I’m serious.”

He knew that. But he wasn’t going to be the reason they called this off early. He would endure the market and her sister because he was still spending time with her. Lifting their entwined hands, he kissed the back of hers and smiled again. “Let’s find her before she gets mad.”

Calliope huffed out a laugh. “I know where they are,” she said dryly. “Zayne found the macaron booth.”

It was a wonder the man still had any teeth with the amount of sweets he consumed. Sylus kept his mouth shut as she kept a firm grip on his hand and led him into the market. Even though they were in Linkon City and no one was likely to recognize him, his body tensed at how many people were around them. It would be so easy for someone to hide in the crowd. What’s more, he stood out so easily that it wouldn’t be hard to make a move against him. While he knew how it would end, he didn’t like the thought of putting Calliope in harm’s way if he didn’t have to.

He pushed out a breath as her thumb stroked against his hand, trying to soothe him as best she could. The effort was appreciated but it would take a lot more than that to really help him. Maybe he could convince her to tuck into a quiet place with him afterwards, just the pair of them. Have an early dinner before he had to leave town again.

Although, it was highly likely that her sister would also want to do something with her.

“There they are,” Calliope said. “Right where I said they’d be.”

His gaze skipped over the booths, seeing her twin and the good doctor standing in front of a colourful display with boxes already in their hands. “How many do you think they’ve bought?”

“He’d get them all if Carrow wouldn’t bitch about it,” she muttered.

He smirked as her sister turned to them, almost like she’d heard her name. Her face lit up for a moment before a faint scowl marred her expression as she locked on him. “Hunter,” he said as they came up to the booth. He looked it over before going back to keeping his attention on the people.

“Skye. I didn’t think you’d make it.”

His brow twitched at the name but he didn’t react beyond that.

“Can you not antagonize him the moment we get here?” Calliope growled. “We can leave if you don’t want us here.”

“I want you here.”

“Well, he comes with me so stop it.”

Sylus smiled to himself and gently squeezed her hand. She didn’t have to fight his battles but it amused him that she immediately leapt to his defence, no matter who was on the other side. He didn’t need to look to know that Carrow was trying not to seethe and rein in her own dislike. His disinterest probably wasn’t helping matters either.

“Carrow, did you want anything else?”

Calliope leaned into him a little as Carrow was distracted by Zayne and he looked down at her. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m fine.” It would take a lot more than some barbed words to get him to leave and if he did, he was taking her with him.

She gave him a little smile before looking around. “Do you see anything you want to look at?”

Here? The market was full of small businesses and artisans. Which didn’t mean he wouldn’t find something interesting but it wasn’t his usual scene. “Do you?” he countered.

“There are a few cider booths that Carrow wanted to look at.”

Sylus flicked a look at Zayne at the comment. How long had they been here that they’d already scoped out the place? And cider? They all knew that Calliope didn’t drink so would it really be that interesting for her?

“Lead on.”

Carrow watched both of them for a moment before she followed Zayne as he started into the crowd.

Leaning down, he murmured, “Only one.”

Dark blue eyes looked at him and he didn’t miss the huffy pout on her face. “It’s just cider.”

“One.”

“They’re small samples.”

“Do you want me to have to carry you out of here? Because I will.”

Her nose wrinkled. “One,” she mumbled in agreement.

He smiled and didn’t let go of her as she started off after the other pair. While he enjoyed how giggly and flirty she got while she drank, he knew she didn’t like that it only took one glass to get her there. He might be comfortable with her having one while they were in the comfort of one of their homes, but he knew it happening here was not going to go over well.

But he still looked over the booth with interest, curious to see if there was anything worthwhile.

“This is our featured cider for the month,” one of the vendors said, showing a bottle to the other couple. “It’s a rose cider with a blend of apples and berries. It pairs well with most meals.”

Leaning past Calliope, he picked up a little cup of the cider they were talking about. Her eyes followed him, waiting for him to try it first, and he couldn’t help his smile. Was he to be her measuring stick for which one she’d pick? Taking a sip, he let it wash over his tongue and slowly inhaled as well. He could definitely smell the rose aspect of it but he wasn’t sure if she’d appreciate the dryness of it. “Not bad,” he admitted, tossing the little cup aside. “But you deserve something better.”

Her eyes narrowed at him but not before he saw the way they were dancing.

He tipped his head slightly, smiling at her, and he looked at the vendor. “Do you have something with more sweetness?” he asked, drawing their attention away from the other couple. “Not overwhelming though.”

The woman blinked at him for a moment before smiling and nodding. “This one has notes of caramel and vanilla,” she said, picking up another bottle to show them. “It’s medium bodied as well, if you want something a little milder.”

Reading the name, he plucked up another sample and tried it. He considered it and hummed quietly. “Better.”

“Good enough for my one?”

“I haven’t tried all of them, have I?” he tossed back at her and picked up the bottle to read it.

“Or I could have more than one.”

“You shouldn’t do that, Calli.”

Sylus flicked a look at Zayne. So the good doctor was aware of Calliope’s non-existent tolerance.

“Not you too!” she protested. “It’s just cider!”

“Did you eat something? You shouldn’t have more than one on an empty stomach.”

Sylus hid his smile by turning to Calliope and lifting his brows at her. “Doctor’s orders,” he teased.

“Oh, now you play nice,” she growled.

“I always play nice, kitten.”

She snorted and carefully picked up one of the cups.

He watched as she sipped at it, her nose wrinkling a little bit but he recognized this look.

Turning back to the vendor, he smiled. “We’ll take a bottle,” he told her, “and you’re still only allowed one.”

He heard Carrow snort and quickly try to cover it up but he was more focused on the flush that was already settling on Calliope’s cheeks. Well. Maybe she was only allowed one over all if she was already going to react to it. He’d been willing to let her try at least one more but his kitten was just too much of a lightweight.

[edna-the-traveler]

Im craving for more custard cookie iii content so I decide to make my own:

Custard cookie iii being Pure vanilla cookie and White Lilly cookie !!!

Remember when White lily cookie and pure vanilla cookie tried to make cookies in episode 7 well after pure vanilla cookie come to the conclusion that the experiment was never going to work he tried to discourage White lily from trying but she was determined so she begged  to try one last thing and if it failed white lily cookie promised to stop, and that was to use some of their own magic and combine it with the dough (Since we really don’t know how cookie I wont write how they).

Pure vanilla cookie agreed but really didn’t expect to work and just agreed to get white lily to stop trying so imagine his and white Lily surprise that it actually worked and inside the cookie cutter there lied, sleeping peaceful was a baby cookie 

Both Pure vanilla and White lily cookie were shocked that it actually worked after the shock after the shock wore off they were in awe at this adorable baby cookie they created 

Time skip to right before the white lily cookie fell in the ultimate dough, I would like to mention that  almost no one knew that pure vanilla and white lily had a child only the ancient five knew and primer custard cookie their intentions was to keep custard hidden until he was at least 1 year old he was living mostly in the vanilla kingdom

Then the flour war happened :) 

Pure vanilla having no idea where pure Lilly cookie disappeared kept custard close and then dark enchantress cookie shows up in the vanilla kingdom to steal the soul gems 

Pure vanilla desperate to keep custard save puts him in his crib and place a shield around him that protect from all that harm him and also acts like a time capsule where time doesn’t move inside the shield 

And then BAM the ancient heroes disappeared and the kingdom fell 

But thankfully custard remains safe thanks to the shield but is stuck in time capsule for nearly 50 years

How did custard get out of the shield ?

As time went the shield grew weaker and weaker and around the time it was at it weakest custard cookie ii and custard “dad” were investigating the fallen kingdom why you may ask?  IDK they just were

Both of them were shocked to find a baby in the fallen city custard “dad” breaks the Shield to the baby out and take him back to their kingdom 

When they get back custard cookie ii looks at their father old records to see if the baby was related to anyone alive while this happens custard “dad” grows attached to the baby , and then custard cookie ii finds the records relating custard to pure vanilla cookie he immediately becomes power hungry because he thinks this tiny baby has great power was related to a great hero 

Custard “dad” not liking his brother way of thinking especially with the way he treats his adopted son, custard “dad” flees the republic with baby custard and raises him as his own never telling of custard his true origins  

Now where getting close to the actual timeline custard “dad” wrote a letter to a now 9 old custard that he told him to open either when he was much older or if he would ever to disappear 

Then one day custard “dad” went into the forest near their home and disappeared , and custard cookie iii not any better tries to find him and gets lost in said woods

He wanders around for months before he meets the rest of the gang

Now here the plot moves the same till the part where the gang splits, after ginger brave, wizard , and strawberry cookie leave and custard and chili remain in the kingdom 

Chili has always been somewhat curios about custard past because why was a kid just wandering  alone for months so she ask custard what his life like he meet them

Custard trust chili the most so he tells her everything including the part that he gave up trying to find his “dad” and doesn’t know how to return to his home.(Angst you know for flavor :D)

Chili becomes even more protective after that.

Custard later mentioned that he has the letter but hasn’t even opened it yet but wants to now chili Offers to be there with him but not read the letter he takes her up on the offer

y’all can guess what the letter contained :)

Custard was essentially having a break down by the time he finished reading the letter and chili was freaking the fuck out because she saw custard reaction and read the letter very quickly she had no idea what to do and eventually just decided to hug him and comfort till custard cried himself to sleep 

Chili then decide that she simply couldn’t tell the others what they found out until they come back or until custard himself is ready

Also custard looks a bit different in this au Ill post what I Thought he would look like 

[boldlyvoid]

Bigger than the whole sky | Part Three: Electric Hearts

Aaron Hotchner x Reader

Summary: As it turns out, getting pregnant was the easiest part... The hard part is making sure Jack is okay with it and the team understands what it's going to look like when Hotch goes on paternity leave... and Peter's moms reaction to a grandbaby that isn't hers.

Warnings: pregnancy, canon rewrite season 10/11 - no scratch plotline, spencers mom's dementia mentioned, JJ's pregnant too, lots of Jack content, doctors appointments and ultrasounds, nondescript case in LA -- hotel quickies, showering together, lots of fluff over all

Word Count: 13.5k

Masterlist

Derek is so used to being called into Hotch’s office now that he’s the second in command, that he no longer feels anxious when Aaron asks him to close the door behind himself. He always knows that Aaron just wants to talk about a new case or some bullshit higher up… today he comes right in, closes the door and sits down like he owns the place.

“What’s up?” 

“That place you’re letting Y/N stay in, how much were you going to sell it for?” Aaron asks.

“Why?” Derek smiles, sitting up straighter. 

“It’s the perfect size for us and the kids,” Aaron answers, smiling right back, letting Derek in on their little secret. 

“No way?” Derek can’t believe it, he’s so proud, he’s practically oozing happiness. “You didn’t even skip a beat, she said she wanted kids and you just went and did it?” 

“We did it…”

Derek gets up from his seat and meets Aaron halfway for a hug, he pats him on the back and just laughs, “Wow… you’re going to be a dad again.” 

“And that’s another thing I need to talk to you about,” Aaron says, making him sit back down. “Not only do I want to buy that house from you, I would like you to step up and take over when I go on paternity leave.” 

“Obviously,” Derek shrugs like it’s nothing to take over as Unit Chief. “I don’t mind, I’m just starting to get used to the paperwork again.” 

“I’m going to ask JJ to step up into your spot during that time and we’re working on 2 new hires so you’ll have almost a full team in our absence,” Aaron explains further. “And I’ll be 1 call away at all times.” 

“And I’ll know where you live,” Derek teases. “Speaking of the house, it was foreclosed when I got it so it was only 153k and I put about 100k into it, so I can settle on 255, even though I know the market value now is close to 800.”

“I don’t mind paying the full—

“No, no. Put the rest of the money into the kids' college funds, please? You know I don’t need it.” Derek stares at him with his immaculate brows arched. 

“I can do that,” he agrees easily. “Can you just keep it a secret for me? I want the house to be a present for her and she doesn’t want anyone but you to know about the baby yet… she really wants to make it to 12 weeks before she starts to tell anyone in case it doesn’t work out.” 

“Of course, man… but I’m sure the others will figure it out, I mean, she’s not really going after unsubs as hard as before and she’s sticking to your side at the precincts instead of going out to interview suspects, she’s been having a snack at 3-hour intervals… she ever stayed back with penny cause she wasn’t feeling good. I had a feeling this was coming. ” 

“She doesn’t want to transfer, she’s going to switch on desk duty around 20 weeks… she’s actually been doing the interviews for me so we can fill up the team again,” Aaron explains. “Have you heard anything about a Luke Alvez?” 

He nods, “Yeah, he’s on the fugitive task force, right? He’s gone after some of the unsubs we’ve profiled but couldn’t capture, right?” 

“Yeah, he did.” Aaron nods, “he and Dr. Tara Lewis, a forensic psychologist from San Fransisco, are our top two. She’s been interviewing convicted serial killers for the last 4 years, she has the most updated insight into why they do what they do.” 

“Our team would be absolutely stacked with them,” Derek all but cheers, he’s so excited.

“So, should I make some calls?” Aaron asks with a smile. 

“You better, or I will.” 

—

At the same time Derek disappears into Aaron's office, JJ pulls Y/N aside. “Hey, can we talk?” She asks, tugging her all the way down to Derek's old office for some privacy. 

Y/n has a feeling she knows what’s coming, either JJ is pregnant or she’d figured out that she is. No matter what, it’s going to be interesting if she’s pulling her this far out of ear range from the team. “What’s going on?” 

“You’re doing the rehiring with Hotch, right?” 

She nods, “Yeah, why?” 

“You might want to consider a second person…”

“Third,” Y/N can’t help but correct her with a smirk. 

“No way?” JJ’s eyes light right up. “You too?” 

“Yeah, I’m 7 weeks tomorrow.” 

“I just hit 10 weeks,” she says and then her jaw drops, she can’t believe it. “Holy shit?” 

“Oh man… this is going to ruin Aaron’s plan…”

“What is?” 

“He was going to ask Derek to step up as chief and have you move into Derek's spot,” Y/N shares. “I guess we have to ask Spencer now.” 

“He’ll do it,” JJ all but answers for him. “Him and Derek running shit will be interesting but… I think they can do it.” 

“And Penelope will be there to keep them in check,” Y/N teases. “But anyway, how are you feeling? Are you okay?” 

JJ nods, “I’m good, it’s surprisingly a lot similar to Henry’s pregnancy so I’m just nauseous all day and sore when I come home and I could honestly fall asleep anywhere… but I’m good.” 

“I haven’t been sick yet,” Y/N shares with her fingers crossed. “I really don’t want to throw up but I know it’ll hit me out of nowhere soon. I remember when Peter's cousin had their first she was only sick in the second trimester and I have a feeling I might get that too.” 

“Spencer would say that’s because in the first semester, your body sometimes heals everything in you in order to make the most habitable home for the baby and then you’re so worn down in the second trimester that you get sick easily,” she explains, having heard it all before. “He said the same thing to Callahan last year when she had her baby.” 

“What’s in the water here getting us all knocked up?” Y/N teases. “I mean, who’s next?” 

“Derek,” JJ jokes. “With the rate he and Savannah are having weekends alone… it’ll happen.” 

“I just hope he waits until Aaron is done with his paternity leave.” 

—

Finding a doctor that could do appointments on weekends was hard. They couldn’t find a way to sneak out of the office during the week to go to an appointment without the team figuring out what was going on and most of their cases took them out of D.C. for 2-4 days so they’d have to reschedule anyway. 

It’s actually Derek who’s able to hook that up for them. He simply asks his Doctor girlfriend and she asks one of her OBGYN friends at the hospital — who are more than willing to help out a couple of FBI agents on a weekend. 

Y/N and Aaron come in that next Saturday at 10am and finally get to see their tiny little baby in her ever-growing stomach… she was already having a hard time fitting into her work pants and she was only 2 months along. Aaron loved it, which she knew he would, she just didn’t expect him to have his hands on her all the time. At work, he’d rest his hand on her side with his fingers slowly inching towards her tummy and at home, he was all over her. The doctor's office was no different. 

He helps her out of her pants and into a gown for the ultrasound and then onto the exam table. He takes a seat beside her and quickly his hand comes up to rest on her stomach. She covers his hand with her own and caresses him with her thumb, “you’re so cute,” she compliments. 

“Why?” He laughs, “cause I can’t keep my hands off you?” 

“I don’t know if it’s your fatherly instincts or what, but you basically guard my belly now,” she teases. “It’s cute.” 

“I love you two, sue me,” he teases right back. 

The two of them laugh together more than anything else. He makes her so happy that her cheeks always end up hurting from smiling too much. They’re so in love it makes her feel a little crazy because there’s no way this is how love is always supposed to be. She can’t believe she missed out on these feelings for so long and she also can’t believe she gets to be this happy with him for the rest of her life. 

“Knock knock,” their doctor says as she opens up the door just a few inches. “Are you ready to start the appointment?” 

“Absolutely!” Y/N cheers, she sits up ever so slightly and squeezes Aaron's hand. “Thank you so much for taking us on a Saturday.” 

“Oh, no problem, Dr. Hayes told me all about what you guys do for our country, I wouldn’t dare turn you away,” she raves as she approaches them. She takes a seat on the little rolling stool and moves in closer to them. “Thanks for catching bad guys, you guys are like heroes.” 

“He’s the hero, he’s been doing it for 13 years,” Y/N pushes the compliment onto Aaron cause she doesn’t take them well. 

“It’s nothing,” Aaron waves it off. 

“Not nothing, it’s amazing… I’m Dr. Samantha Connors, by the way,” she says as she reaches out to shake Aaron's hand. “Is this your first baby?” 

“Mine, yeah,” Y/N smiles. “Aaron has a 10-year-old son named Jack, he’s the sweetest.”

“Okay good, so you’re familiar with these appointments, aren’t you Dad?” 

Aaron nods, “I wasn’t at all of them with my ex-wife, but from what I remember this appointment is just for the heartbeat and making sure the baby is growing properly, right?” 

Dr. Connors smiles, “Yeah, that’s exactly right. So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to get started with your ultrasound, okay?”

“Okay,” Y/N agrees, she gets comfortable in her seat, her feet in the stirrups, and she takes a deep breath knowing what was about to happen wasn’t comfortable. 

Aaron holds her hand the whole time that the doctor looks around without showing them the screen. They share little smiles and stare down the doctor together, both of them being experts at studying body language… they know everything is fine even before she turns the screen to them and says, “Are you ready to meet your baby?” 

They both beam, nodding as words escape them… their baby is so tiny and real and right there on the screen. “She looks like a cashew,” Y/N can’t help but say as her eyes well with tears. “Oh my gosh.” 

“I always forget how small they start out,” Aaron swoons just the same. 

“they’re measuring perfectly for 8 weeks and on my monitor here I see the heart beating but let’s hear it,” Doctor Connors says as she turns on the Doppler effect and the woosh of her heartbeat comes through. 

Y/N starts crying almost immediately, she tries so hard to hold it in but the tears run down her face, anyway.  Aaron is quick to cup her face in his hands and wipe her tears away, he presses a kiss to her cheek, “you’re okay,” he reminds her. “You’re doing so good, she’s so healthy.” 

“Very healthy,” Doctor Connors affirms. “We’re just waiting on the blood work you did in the other room to confirm, but just from the looks of things I think this is going to be a very successful pregnancy.”

“It’s my first time ever being pregnant,” Y/N shares. “I was trying for years with my ex-husband but he had a vasectomy and never told me so I always thought I couldn’t but it was him that was the issue. I’ve always wanted to see this, that’s why I’m crying.” 

“I’m so sorry,” she places her free hand on her chest. “That’s awful, I can’t believe that happened to you.” 

“It was awful… but I’m much happier on every front now,” She says as she smiles at Aaron. 

“You and me both, honey.” 

—

Aaron keeps looking in the rear-view mirror, he’s staring at Jack in the back seat. He still hasn’t told him where they’re going… Jack spent the night with Jess last night, he’s expecting to go right home but Aaron’s taking him to Y/N’s house for the first time. Y/N still doesn’t know that Aaron is working on buying the house, Jack has no idea either, so really it’s just Aaron trying to get them both used to being in that house together before he announces or proposes anything. 

At the end of the day, Jack's happiness and comfort are very important and if he isn't happy with this, Aaron will just have to find a way to make living in 2 places work for them. 

“Dad?” Jack asks from the back seat. 

“Yeah?” 

“You missed the road we take to go home…” 

“Oh… uh, I thought we could go see Y/N for dinner tonight? Is that okay?” Aaron asks, “She’s making pasta, you like pasta, right?” 

“Yeah, that’s cool,” Jack says with a smile. “I like her, she’s a good cook.” 

“She is,” Aaron smiles back. “You’re going to like her house, too, she has a big yard and a nice new couch for movies and she has Netflix, too.” 

“Oh! Yes, can we watch a movie before we leave tonight?” 

“I think that could be possible,” Aaron agrees. “But you’ll have to ask her, she worked all day and we didn’t sleep on the plane and now she’s making dinner, she’s probably going to be tired.” 

“I’ll be extra nice when I ask, I promise,” Jack says with a giddy look on his face. His shoulders rise as he clenches his fist and shimmies in his seat, overjoyed to get to spend more time with her. 

It’s everything Aaron could ever hope for and more, his two (almost 3) favourite people love to hang out together. That’s all he wanted. 

Y/N meets them outside on the front step when they arrive, she’s changed into her comfy clothes and she opens her arms wide when Jack runs towards her for a hug. “Hi buddy,” she coos, she pets his hair and gives his head a gentle kiss. “How are you?” 

“I’m good, Dad said you might be tired tonight but if you’re not can we watch another movie together?” He asks right away. 

“Oh, yeah, yeah we totally can, buddy. I’m a little tired but staying up with you is worth it,” she gives him a smile as she leads him inside. “What movie were you thinking?” 

Aaron just lets them go. He watches them talk to each other and share little smiles and laughs and he can’t believe this is his life.

When Haley died, the last thing he could imagine was feeling this in love again and the second last thing he could imagine was Jack having a motherly figure as he grew up. He was so scared to do it alone and fuck him up and then he blinked and his life fell into place once again. His son is happy, his girlfriend is happy, and their baby is healthy. There’s nothing more he could wish for. 

“You know, I actually have a surprise for both of you,” Y/N announces midway through dinner.” 

“Really?” Jack perks up. 

“Really?” Aaron is surprised, she hasn’t told him anything and normally they’re like open books with each other. 

“I saw that one of the neighbours was moving a bunk bed into the bed of her husband's truck and she said they were just going to take it to the dump because no one would answer their Craigslist add for a free bunk bed… so I took a look at it and it was in great condition and I gave her husband 50 bucks to help me put it together in one of the spare bedrooms,” she explains, smiling with all her teeth the whole time. “And then I messaged Derek and he had 2 single mattresses in the storage unit and he dropped them off for me so now Jack, you have a place to sleep here if you want to stay.” 

“I’ve never had a bunk bed before!” Jack says as he gets up from his seat at the table to run over and give her another hug. “Thank you, Y/N.” 

“You’re welcome,” she says just loud enough for him to hear. Her shoulders drop and she holds him close, resting her cheek on top of his head. “Next time we have a day off we can go pick out some stuff to decorate your room, okay?” 

She peers over to Aaron, he’s smiling at her with his heart in his eyes, “I love you,” he mouths, not yet ready for Jack to hear that but it’s true. He sometimes can’t believe the amount of love he feels for her, it’s overwhelming in the best way possible. 

After dinner, Aaron sends them both out to the living room to pick a movie and start watching it while he cleans up the kitchen for Y/N. He doesn’t know what they’re watching, but hearing them laugh together makes him smile as he fills the dishwasher and hand-washes the pots and pans she used to make the pasta. When he comes out of the kitchen, Jack is snuggled back into Y/N’s side with his hand on her belly, watching the movie without a clue that she’s carrying his little sibling in there. Aaron takes a sneaky picture of them on his cellphone, he wants to remember this moment forever. The moment both his families became one unit.

He takes a seat on her other side and she’s quick to take his hand in hers. She gives his hand a squeeze and he caresses her with his thumb, she leans over and rests her head on his shoulder, giving him the chance to press a kiss to her temple.

—

When it's time for Jack to go to bed, he sits in the bottom bunk of his new bed and he looks around the room like something is missing. “What’s wrong?” Y/N asks.

He shrugs, “Nothing.” 

Aaron isn’t in the room, he’s stepped out to the car to get Jack's overnight bag with his pjs and toothbrush, so he can’t read Jack and tell her what’s going on. She has to pry. So she takes a seat beside him, making sure she doesn’t hit her head on the top bunk and she smiles softly, “You know you can tell me anything, right?” 

He nods and bites his lip, avoiding eye contact with her. “I need a night light.” 

“Oh,” she should’ve known. “Um… I don’t have a normal night light but I have some string lights for Christmas I could put up, would that work?” 

“Yeah, I don’t like the dark,” he shares. 

“I don’t either,” she shares right back. “I think the lights are in a box under the stairs, do you want to come look with me? You can hold the flashlight?” 

“Okay!” Jack agrees pretty easily, they run down the stairs together and to the kitchen where her flashlight sits in a drawer and she gives it to him. He flicks it on and off a few times with a smile, “thank you, Y/N.” 

“You’re welcome, buddy,” she waves it off as no big deal and leads him to the cubby under the stairs. 

He stands to the side, behind her, with the light on for her so she can see into all the boxes of things she hasn’t unpacked yet. She digs for a while, both of them don’t notice that Aaron has come back in or that he’s standing in the doorway, once again listening to them. “Here they are,” she announces as she pulls out the bundle of lights. 

She holds them up to show Jack and he smiles, big and wide, “You’re the best… I really liked Beth and I was scared my dad wouldn’t find another nice lady to love like he did before with my mom but you’re even nicer. I’m really happy he loves you and you love him. He’s a lot happier now that you love him.” 

“Jack,” she swoons and wraps her arms around him, trying not to cry. “That’s the sweetest thing you could’ve ever said to me!”

“It’s just the truth,” he laughs awkwardly while hugging her back. 

When they come out of the little cubby under the stairs, they’re both shocked to see Aaron there, smiling. “Oh, hi,” Y/N smiles at him, still all teary-eyed. 

“Dad, we’re going to hang these in my room!” Jack cheers, he’s so excited. 

“Alright… with what?” Aaron asks, ready to help. 

“I have some push pins in the kitchen we can just put them in the wall and drape the lights over it,” Y/N suggests. “And then when we go out to the store for decorations we’ll get you a real night light, okay?” 

“Okay!” Jack shouts, overexcited, “You get the pins and I’ll put these upstairs!” And then he runs up the stairs to his new room. 

“You’re so good with him,” Aaron coos, wrapping his arm around her and bringing her in for a hug. He kisses the top of her head and then she looks up at him with tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong?” 

“Nothing. Nothing is wrong. I’m just so happy,” she admits. She leans in for a quick kiss, pressing her lips to his, they breathe each other in for a quick moment before pulling apart. “Are we going to tell him tomorrow?” She whispers. 

He nods, “I was thinking we could take him to the restaurant where I introduced you to him, for breakfast tomorrow, and we could tell him there?” 

“That sounds perfect,” she agrees, “you can go help him get dressed and I’ll be up in a minute, okay?” 

“Sounds good,” Aaron gives her a smile, his hand grazes her tummy as he pulls away fully and heads towards the stairs. 

She watches him go with a soft smile on her face, she just shakes her head… she can’t believe this is her life now. She has a wonderful husband, the sweetest stepson and she’s pregnant with another perfect Hotchner. What more could she ever wish for?

When she gets upstairs, Jack is in his pjs, his teeth are brushed and he’s sitting happily in his bed, waiting for Y/N to return with the lights already plugged into the wall and turned on, ready to be hung up. She hands Aaron a few pins and they each stick them in the walls, an equal distance from each other so they hang nicely. “I really hope Derek won’t mind…” 

“He won’t, it’s not going to be his house for long,” Aaron says with a sneaky smile on his face like he’s been planning something. 

She doesn’t say anything, it’s not something they need to discuss in front of Jack but if he was going to buy this house to make it their shared home, she would not be mad about that. In fact, she’d be overjoyed to have her whole family under 1 roof. 

Once the lights are up, Jack lies down in his bed against the pillows and smiles. “This is perfect.” 

“You really like it?” Y/N asks, seeking his approval. 

Jack just nods with a hum. “I’m really tired now.” 

“okay buddy, we’ll get out of your hair,” Aaron announces, moving towards the door. “Sweet dreams.” 

Y/N brushes her hand over Jack's hair and makes sure it’s out of his face and she leans down to kiss his forehead. “Thank you for a wonderful night, buddy. We’ll see you tomorrow.” 

“Is Dad going to be in your room?” 

“No, why?” Y/N shakes her head, wondering why he’d ask that. 

“If I have a bad dream, I need to know where he is… don’t most grown-ups in love sleep in the same bed?” 

“Yeah, but we didn’t think you were ready to see us sleeping together in the mornings,” Aaron answers. “Would you be okay with it?” 

Jack nods, eyelids getting heavier. “Yeah, it’s okay.” 

“Okay then, that’s where you’ll find me if you need me. I love you, buddy,” Aaron says as he flicks out the light. 

“Love you. Dad Love you, Y/N.” 

She tries so hard not to cry again, “I love you too, Jack,” she whispers and heads out with Aaron. 

They shut the door to his room once they’re out and she places her hand over his heart, “You have the sweetest son in the world.” She whispers. 

“He was never this cute with Beth, I mean, he was nice to her and he invited her to have sleepovers in the tent we made in the living room but he never told her he loved her…” 

“He’s the son of a profiler, I think he’s just good at reading people because I do love you, Aaron Hotchner, I love you so much,” she drapes her arms over his shoulders and smiles up at him. 

He wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her in close so their tummies touch, “I love you, too… Y/N Hotchner.” 

Her brows raise at that, surprised, “really? I didn’t think you wanted to get married again?” 

“I didn’t either,” he admits. “Come on, let’s go hang out before bed.” 

“Once I go down the stairs I don’t know if I’ll have the energy to come back up,” she admits. “Can we hang out in my room?” 

“Yeah, of course,” Aaron doesn’t mind as she pulls away, he simply runs his hands over her upper arms and smiles. “Anything you want from downstairs? I’m going to go lock up and make sure everything’s secure, maybe grab a water for myself.” 

“Um, maybe a water and a ginger ale for if I get nauseous in the night and some crackers?” 

“You got it, go get in bed and I’ll be right back up.” 

She goes right to her room after that, she changes for bed and does her night routine in the bathroom. She’s midway through putting lotion on her belly and hips when she hears the alarm system turn on with its signature charm and then the sound of feet on the staircase. He puts everything on her night table and then peeks into the bathroom, standing in the doorway with a smile when he sees her shirt up, exposing her belly, as she rubs lotion over it. 

“What?” She asks, “Never seen a pregnant lady try to avoid stretch marks before?” 

“You’re just so beautiful,” he muses. 

“Well, then, look all you want,” she teases. 

He steps into the bathroom and makes his way to her, he places both his hands on her belly and he shakes his head in disbelief. He knees to the ground and places a kiss on her belly, “You know they can hear around 18 weeks? So I’ll get to talk to them in a few weeks.” 

“I did know that,” she smiles down at him. “I’ve read all the books, you know? I had 8 years to prepare for this.” 

He kisses her belly again and again, his hands wrap around to her lower back and one drops down to cup her ass, bringing her in closer to him. He hugs her that way, resting his cheek against her belly. “I can’t wait to talk to you, sweetheart.” 

“You really think it’s a girl?” 

He nods, “Yeah, I do. But even if I’m wrong, I’m just so excited to get to bond with them. When Haley was pregnant, I wasn’t home very often, I felt like I missed almost everything and then when Jack was born I did miss all the big moments. I wasn’t a good dad until she died and I had to be. I don’t want to do that this time.” 

“I don’t think you were a bad dad, there are mothers who work and don’t see their kids often, too, you know? Do you consider JJ a bad mom because she missed Henry's first word and she wasn’t there when he walked for the first time? No. You don’t,” she points out. “You were working, and so was she. Working didn’t stop you from loving him with your whole heart, that right there, loving him, all of him, is the most important part of being a good parent.” 

“God, I love you,” Aaron sighs, his shoulders drop and he looks up at her with the softest expression. “Thank you.” 

“Come here,” she says, placing her hands under his armpits she helps pull him back up to his feet and then she wraps her arms around his middle and leans in for a kiss. She whispers against his lips, “Come to bed with me?”

“Always.” 

—

When Jack wakes up in the morning he unplugs the Christmas lights and carefully opens his door so he doesn’t wake anyone up. He knows he has a tendency to wake up extra early, and he doesn’t have a clock in his new room so he has no way of knowing if it’s a good time to wake up or not. He simply goes to the bathroom, brushes his teeth and heads downstairs to look at the time. 

It’s almost 7, his normal wake-up time for school, and his Dads normal wake-up time for work, so he doesn’t feel bad going back up the stairs and knocking on Y/N’s door. 

“Come in,” Y/N answers from inside, so Jack opens it slowly. 

“Hi,” he smiles once he’s inside.

“Good morning, buddy,” she smiles back, blinking into the morning light, slowly waking up. She’s on her side, cuddled into a pillow with Aaron cuddled up behind her, his arm slung around her and cupping her stomach. “Did you sleep okay?” 

He nods as he makes his way over to the bed. “Yeah, did you?” 

She nods and Aaron groans behind her, “What time is it?” 

“Seven,” Jack answers. “I can go back to my room if—

“No, no, it’s fine,” Y/N stops him. “Do you want to climb in with us for a bit? We’re going to go out for breakfast later.” 

She moves the pillow she was cuddling to the floor and lets Jack take its place. He snuggles right in and sighs as he relaxes. “Where?”

“At McGillicuddy’s,” Aaron answers. “You like the pancakes there, right?” 

“Yeah, but it’s not a special day? We only go on special days?” 

“Every day with you is special,” Y/N teases, she snuggles him in closer and kisses his cheek.

“Okay,” Jack laughs, a sweet pink blush on his cheeks. 

Y/N lays on her side still, cuddled into Jack, as Hotch sits up and rests his hand on Y/Ns shoulder and then rests his chin on his hand. He tilts his head to the side and smiles, he hasn’t had a morning lay-in with his family in a long time. Jack hasn’t either. He smiles back at his dad, “Did you sleep okay?”

“We did,” Aaron answers for them both. “How were the lights?” 

“Good, I didn’t get scared when I woke up to roll over,” Jack shares. “I really liked my new bed, too.” 

“I’m glad,” Aaron says with a sigh, he’s still tired and Jack can tell. “Do you want to go get ready? There are some extra clothes in your overnight bag.” 

“Not yet,” Jack snuggles in even closer to Y/N and holds onto the arm she has slung over his chest. “I want a few more minutes before everything changes.” 

“What do you mean?” Y/N doesn’t understand. “Nothing's changing? We’re just going to get breakfast.” 

“Okay,” Jack whispers. “It’s just… Dad took me to Disney World when him and Beth broke up, I know he takes me places when he has big news.” 

“You took him to Disney world for that?” Y/N turns to him, she can’t believe she didn’t know that. 

“Yeah, I thought he’d take the news better if he was having fun,” Aaron explains, he rubs his hand over his eyes and shakes his head, “I’m sorry, Jack, I don’t want you to equate bad news with your favourite places, I didn’t mean to do that.” 

“So it really is just a trip to get pancakes?” Jack sits up and looks at them both. “You’re not breaking up?” 

“No, we’re not, sweetheart, I promise,” Y/N assures him as she takes his hands in her own. “I love your dad, I’m never leaving him… we did want to tell you something though.” 

“Y/N,” Aaron warns, he didn’t want to do it this way. 

“Aaron, he’s scared, we have o tell him the truth,” she says as she sits up as well. She rests against the headboard and lets the blankets pool around her waist. She runs her hands over her shirt-covered tummy, “I’m pregnant, Jack.” 

His eyes light right up, “really?” He goes to touch her belly but he doesn’t, he holds himself back. He doesn’t know if it would be weird or not. 

She nods, “Yeah, I’m far enough along now that I know the baby is safe and healthy and hopefully, nothing bad can happen to it now, which is why I wanted to tell you. I didn’t want to get your hopes up if I lost it, but you’re going to have a sibling.” 

“Are you okay with this, buddy?” Aaron asks, overanalyzing his facial expressions. 

Jack starts to cry a bit as he nods, “I’m going to be a brother?” 

“Yeah…” Y/N wants to cry too, so she rubs his arm. “It’s okay, Jack, you can be emotional.” 

He covers his face as he cries, “I’m so happy, I promise!” 

Y/N pulls him into a hug, crying now as well, “I’m so happy you’re happy, Jack, I’ve wanted to tell you for so long now. It was so hard keeping it a secret.” 

He hugs her so tight, he rests his cheek on her shoulder and reaches out for his dad to pull him into the hug as well. So Aaron wraps his arm around them and presses his cheek to Jack's head. When he pulls back, so does Jack, he wipes his tears and smiles with all his teeth, “Do you know what it is?” 

Y/N shakes her head, “Not yet, we find out next weekend. You can come with us if you want?” 

“I want to,” he agrees. “Are we still going to get pancakes?”

Y/N and Aaron laugh, “Yeah buddy, we can,” Aaron agrees. “Do you want to go get ready now?” 

He nods and bounces on the bed a bit before moving to hop off. As soon as his feet hit the floor he runs out the door and down the hall to his own room. He’s quick to change and then he has to wait. Y/N takes a bit longer than he and his dad to get ready, she wants to look pretty and he understands that, but he already thinks she’s the prettiest girl in the world. 

He even tells his dad that. 

“I know, I tell her all the time,” Aaron says with a blushy smile.  “I’m really proud of you, you know that, right? You’ve been so kind and accepting of our relationship and Y/N’s always wanted a baby, so you being happy with her dream coming true means a lot to her.” 

“Really? I didn’t know that.” 

Aaron just nods, “she was married before too, but her ex-husband wasn’t a nice guy and made her feel bad for wanting a baby so bad—

“Did he not want kids?” 

“No, and he lied to her. You know how babies are made, you said so yourself… well, he had a surgery done to stop him from being able to get anyone pregnant and never told her so she thought she didn’t have any good eggs, he made her feel really sad all the time. All I want is to make her happy, and that means making sure you have a good relationship with her too because we’re going to be one big family in 6 months,” Aaron explains it all to the best of his ability. 

“Oh,” Jack sits back, sad for her. “That was mean of him.” 

“He was really mean.” 

“That makes me sad… Y/N is so nice, she didn’t deserve that,” Jack says. It’s really mature of him, he feels really bad for her. 

“I know, but she’s really happy now with us,” Aaron assures. He places his hand on Jacks shoulder and smiles. “I promised to always make her happy, I’m glad you want to, too.” 

And he does. He wants to make her the happiest and he thinks he knows how. 

At the restaurant, they all order pancakes and a few sides, and as soon as the waitress walks away, Jack stands up. “I have to pee.” 

“you know where the bathroom is?” Aaron asks, making sure he’s okay to go alone.

He nods, “I’ll be back.” 

He walks towards the bathroom, which is right beside the kitchen, and out of view from their table. He stands in the doorway and waves his waitress over. “Excuse me?” 

“Did you forget to order something?” 

He shakes his head, “My stepmom is having a baby, can you write ‘congratulations mom’ on her pancakes with chocolate syrup like they wrote happy birthday for my birthday last year?” 

She swoons, “of course, we can! That’s so sweet of you to ask, she’s going to love it.” 

Jack thanks her and does head to the bathroom after, just to make sure they believed where he went. When he comes back, they carry on a conversation like normal, they ask Jack about school and he asks about work and when he’ll get to see Derek and Spencer again, he loves his uncles a lot. He has a playdate with Henry this week, so they’ll get to bond over being big brothers together and Jacks is so overjoyed with the news. He thought he’d have to just watch Henry get a brother and not get to know what it’s like, but now he will. Secretly, he hopes it's a boy, but if he got a sister he’d be okay with that too. He’d love her just as much. 

“Okay, I have pancakes and bacon for Dad,” the waitress says as she places a plate in front of Aaron. “Pancakes with extra syrup on the side for the little guy… and I’ll be back with yours.” 

“Okay,” Y/N smiles at her, she doesn’t mind waiting. 

It takes all of 2 minutes for her to return, the waitress smiles so big the whole room shines. “Here you go, Mom,” she says as she places the plate in front of her.

Y/N’s jaw drops, “how did— Jack?” She knew it was him by the way he giggles and rubs his hands together. “Did you ask them to do this?”

He nods, “it’s a special breakfast, you said so yourself.” 

Aaron looks over at her plate and reads the “congrats mom” written on the top pancake. Even he swoons. 

“Jack, thank you,” Y/N says, she gets up and hugs him in the middle of the restaurant. 

“You’re welcome,” he says with his face pressed to her tummy from their height difference. “I’m really happy for you and my dad, I always wanted a brother or sister… and secretly,” he whispers to her and she moves down so he can speak just to her. He cups his hand over her ear, “I wanted a step mom after my mom died.” 

She hugs him again, even tighter. “I love you, Jack, I really mean it.” 

“I love you, too.” 

—

 She brings a box of donuts into the office on Monday morning, the team watches with wide eyes as she sets the pink box down on the conference table, ready to attack like Vultures. “I know you guys already guessed and probably have a bet going, but, I wanted to tell you all… I’m pregnant too!” 

“Ah!” They all shout as they stand up to congratulate her, they surround her with hugs and questions and happiness. 

“Two BAU babies in one year, what am I going to do?” Penelope teases. “Should we do a combined shower?” 

“Y/N gets the shower,” JJ insists. “This is my second baby, I already have everything I need from the last time, we should celebrate her.” 

“Okay, so a shower and a sprinkle,” Penelope compromises. 

“I’d love that, thank you, Penny,” Y/N smiles at her and then turns to look out the window to see her boyfriend talking to Anderson in the bullpen. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but Aaron will be up in a minute, he’s got some news for you too.” 

“Here,” Spencer rushes over to help Y/N get into a seat. “You don’t need to be standing anymore.” 

“Thanks,” she loves being pampered like this. “I’m still going to come out with you guys for a few more weeks, I’ll be moving to official desk duty at 20, maybe 25 weeks.” 

“I’m not sitting out till my water breaks,” JJ teases. “And if this is anything like the first time, it’ll probably happen around 37 weeks.” 

“He’s your second boy though, he might be a bit lazier,” Y/N says, she’s read all the books, and she’s talked to all the moms. Second boys typically stay in longer than usual.

“Do you know what you’re having yet?” Derek asks, he’s known the longest so this isn’t really a shock to him. 

She shakes her head. “We find out on Saturday, but we think she’s a girl,” she runs her hand over her belly with a smile. “Jack wants a brother to be like Henry but he said he’ll still be happy with a sister, too.” 

“How's that going to work? You and Aaron making a family while he has Jack and their own apartment?” Spencer asks, always wondering about the logistics. 

She shrugs, “I think he’s planning to move Jack and himself in with me but we haven’t talked about it… I’d be fine with it, I’m just worried we’re moving too fast and Jack's going to have a hard time with it all. I mean, I’m not his mom, I can’t replace her and I don’t want to, but the kid is so darn cute and I love him to bits. Playing happy family with him would be easy.”

“Have you talked to him?” Derek asks. 

She nods, “We wanted to take him out for pancakes yesterday and he thought because Aaron only takes him there for big news, that we were breaking up. So we had to tell him before we left and he’s happy, so, so happy he cried… and then he got the waitress to put ‘congrats mom’ on my pancakes. He has a room at my place now, too, and we’re going to go shopping after the ultrasound this weekend. He’s really happy with all this, I’m just scared it won’t last.” 

“He is a sweet kid,” JJ agrees. “I can have Will talk to him when he comes over this week? See how he really feels about all this?” 

“Yeah, that would be good,” Y/N nods. 

“Can I say something?” Spencer interjects. He waits for a nod and then continues. “If someone loved my mom the way you love Aaron and they entered my life when I was 10, right after my dad left, and loved me and cared for me and made a conscious effort to make sure I felt safe and included… it would’ve made a world of difference for me. Having just 1 parent who isn’t around very much is difficult, but you’re making that hurt a bit less for him. When he says he loves you, he means it. Believe me.” 

“Oh spence,” her heart breaks for him. “I had no idea?” 

He shrugs, “newer members wouldn’t… but it’s okay, I have my family here, my childhood just pushed me to get here.” 

Derek reaches over and rubs Spencer's arm, “and we love ya, kid.” 

Spencer just nods, he bites his lip as if there’s more and he doesn’t know what to do and then it all pours out of him. “I uh… I don’t want to make this about me, please don’t—

“It’s okay, Spence,” Y/N sits up a bit straighter and stares at him with a comforting look, “We’re here for you, whatever it is.” 

“My mom's doctor called me and he thinks she might be exhibiting signs of Alzheimer's and they don’t know what to do for her because they’re not a nursing home, they’re a sanatarium,” he explains with teary eyes. “I really don’t know what to do, either.” 

“Bring her out here, we can get her into a facility closer to you and Will and I can help out,” JJ offers. “The boys can call her grandma, we can visit when I’m on maternity leave and you’re on a case, we can take care of her.” 

“And we’ll bring Jack and the baby around too,” Y/N adds. “I’ll be off for the whole year after, maybe longer. I would love to go check on her for you.” 

“We could even reach out to Dave and see if we can borrow his plane cause she doesn’t like to fly,” Penelope is already in planning mode. “We can make it as easy as possible for her.” 

“You guys would really do that for her?” Spencer asks, so close to really crying. 

“Of course, we would,” Derek says, still rubbing his arm to comfort him.

Aaron walks into the room then, “What’s happening?” 

Spencer panics, suddenly feeling bad for sharing his personal life on company time like this is a bad thing. Y/N can see it on her face so she jumps in, “We’re just sharing some personal stuff… I can catch you up later, honey.”

“Okay…” Aaron takes a seat at the table, hesitantly. “But everything’s fine?” 

They all nod, “congrats by the way,” Derek throws in. 

“Oh, thanks,” Aaron starts to smile, overjoyed that everyone knew now. “As you all know, I didn’t really take time off with Jack, so I will be taking 6 months of paternity leave starting mid-September, and my replacement will be Derek. We still need to figure out who will bump up into Derek's space for the time I’m away, but we have lots of time for that.” 

“I would do it, but,” JJ points down at her bump and shrugs. 

“I have reached out to Emily,” Aaron adds. “She’s thinking about it, but if she says no, Spencer I would love—

“I can’t,” Spencer immediately cuts him off. “I have too much on my plate right now, I wouldn’t be the best choice.” 

“Okay, well, maybe one of our new members would be willing to step up,” Hotch slides that in. The rest of them don’t even know who’s joining the team yet.

“Do we know them?” JJ asks. 

He nods, “Dr. Tara Lewis is going to start next month. She’s a forensic psychologist who’s spent the last 4 years interviewing psychopathic criminals to ensure they’re fit for trial, she has a lot of insight on the criminals we’ve caught and she’ll be very handy going forward. However, the reason I’m so late is because I was telling the new guy where to put his things.”

“He’s starting today?” Y/N lights up. “Oh, you guys are going to love him. His name is Luke Alvez, he’s from the fugitive task force and he has a cute German Shepard he got when he came home from Iraq and he’s just amazing.” 

“Wow, that’s high praise coming for you,” Derek teases. 

“Oh hush,” she pushes back. “Aarons the first real man I’ve ever been into, I’m not normally one for the manly, in charge, leader types—

“Okay,” Aaron reaches over to hold her hand and make her stop, he’s getting a bit blushy. “Before we all get written up, the new guy is coming up in a second and we do have a case to get to.”

“That we do,” Penelope stands up with the remote in her hands. “The wheel has been spun and your destination is sunny southern California.”

—

This case is a slow one. 3 bodies over 6 months caused the case to pass by his desk and be on his radar, however, the 4th body was found only 2 weeks after the 3rd and now they’re officially on the case… but they still don’t have enough information. Knowing the timeline, a 5th body should drop within the week with a slue of new evidence for them to look over live and in person. Until then, they all head back to their hotel rooms for some much-needed rest and alone time. 

Aaron leads her from the elevator to their room, he’s carrying both bags while she opens the door and lets them inside. He places the bags on the floor by the dresser with a sigh. “I am exhausted.” 

“Me too,” she agrees with a matching sigh. She places her hands on her hips and sticks her belly out, trying to stretch her back which hurts more and more as their baby grows. 

“Do you want to hop in the shower with me and then we can go to bed?” Aaron asks. 

She nods and makes her way to the bathroom, she turns on the shower and immediately starts to undress. Aaron watches her with a delicate yes, unbuttoning each button on his dress shirt as slowly as possible so he can appreciate her as she gets naked. 

“You coming?” She asks as she steps into the shower, wondering why he’s taking so long to strip.

“Mhm,” he nods, “am I not allowed to admire you?” 

She gives him a knowing look, dipping her head and looking at him through her lashes, “I thought you were tired?” 

“Last time I was tired after a shower, I got you pregnant,” he reminds her. 

She just laughs, “We haven’t had much time to fuck since I got pregnant, have we?” 

He strips out of his shirt and pushes his pants to the ground, “not really, but I don’t mind.”

“I do,” she whines. “There’s nothing I want more than to spend all my time with you in our bed, making up for lost time and appreciating what little we have left before we have a baby… but I feel weird doing it with Jack in the house.” 

“He’s a heavy sleeper and he knocks before entering,” Aaron assures her. 

“Still feels weird.”

Aaron doesn’t fight her, he just gets into the shower with her and watches her relax under the water. They wash off the day with complimentary body wash and share little conversations about their co-workers and even the case. They share sweet glances and soft touches and they don’t want to get out even though they know they should. She just wraps her arms around him and rests her cheek on his chest as the water cascades down her body and his strong hands hold her close. 

Out of the shower, Aaron brings her all of her lotions and creams and he sets her pjs down on the bed to wait for her. He changes into fresh boxers, he checks his phone and hops into their single queen size bed all alone and awaiting her return to his side. When she does return, she smells good and she’s soft and she doesn’t change into her pjs… she stands at the foot of the bed and drops her towel, naked and on show just for him. 

“I think that shower just woke me up, if anything.” 

He smirks, throwing the blankets back, he beckons her closer. “Come on then,” he says, sitting up a bit so he can push his boxers off his hips and slip them down his legs. 

She climbs onto the bed, crawling on her knees towards him, she helps him remove his boxers and toss them to the floor before she takes a seat in his lap. His hands soothe over her thighs, up to her hips and then her pretty little bump. He smirks, keeping his dirty comments to himself. 

The head of his cock brushed her clit as she ground down on him, his hands found her hips once more as he instinctively helped her find a rhythm. He could feel how wet she was, helping her glide over him so easily, her breath hitched every time her hips bucked, she was enjoying herself just like this. It made him even more excited. She leaned in then, kissing his neck as she continued to grind down on him.

“I need you,” he gasped.

She smiled against his skin, lifting her hips enough for him to line up with her before she started to sink down on him. “Fuck,” she gasped as she sat down fully, her hands resting on Aaron's shoulders as she tried to get used to it all. Lifting herself up and grinding down little by little to get the rhythm going again.

Aaron held close as he scoots down the bed a bit, he lays back against the pillows while she stays sitting up. She rests her hands on his chest now, using him for leverage to ride him. He grips her ass, helping her rut against him but it’s hard. She really is tired and riding him takes a lot of effort with a basketball-sized bump between them. She leans in to kiss him on the lips, holding his face with one of her hands. Aaron's hands encapsulate her back, his big strong hands hold her closer

“Fuck,” he groaned, bending his knees, he pile drives up into her over and over. 

She’s been a lot more sensitive since getting pregnant, the simplest, lightest touch to her clit could get her off. Each and every time their bodies connect, his groin slams against her swollen clit, exciting her more and more. 

“I’m so close,” she whispered in his ear, kissing his cheek and resting her open mouth against his. They weren’t kissing, they were panting over each other with their foreheads resting together. “Aaron,” she whines, a bit louder than she expected to be. 

Euphoria fills the empty spaces between them as she came, gasping and shaking over him. He’s right there behind her, sucked in deeper than before, she tightens around him and his hips sputter as he finishes deep inside her. She collapses against him only moments before she lifts her hips and rolls off of him and onto her side of the bed. Still breathing heavily, she covers her face with her arm and melts into the bed. “Holy fuck…” 

Aaron laughs as he turns to his side and cuddles into her, his head on her shoulder and hand on her stomach. “Feel better?” He teases. 

She nods, breathing steadying out. “Too tired to change now.” 

“You gotta pee, too,” he reminds her and sits up. “Come on, the quicker we do this, the quicker we can go to bed.” 

She sighs as she sits up, but she knows he’s right. He helps her back to her feet and he changes while she goes to the bathroom. When she comes back, he hands her her underwear to put on and helps her into a shirt, they fluff their pillows and get under the covers together and go right back to cuddling. 

Aaron has an alarm set for tomorrow morning and the lights turn off. It’s quiet as they lay there, holding one another. “I love you,” Aaron reminds her.

“I love you, too,” she replies, smiling to herself. 

He can sense she wants to keep talking until they fall asleep, she usually does. It’s something he loves about falling asleep beside her, she tells him anything and everything on her mind and it’s always sweet. 

“What are you thinking about?” He asks. 

“Baby names… after Saturday we’ll know who they are and we’ll have to start to really think about a name that suits them,” she explains. “You remember back when the divorce went through and we were talking about names you liked when you thought Jack was going to be a girl?” 

He hums, “like it was yesterday.” 

“I keep thinking about Juliet and how you said you like it… but I like it with e-t-t-e on the end, Juliette Hotchner.” 

“Oh,” Aaron's heart flutters. It sounds perfect for his little girl… if he ever gets his dream of having one. A tear bubbles in his eyes, “yeah. Yeah, it sounds perfect.” 

She places his hand over his, cupping her belly, and she grips it tight. He snuggles in even closer, he kisses her shoulder and lets the tears fall down. “I love you and our family.” 

“We love you even more.” 

—

The case ends mid-day on Friday, but by the time the plane is ready and they’re taking off, Jack is already going to bed back in D.C. with Haley’s sister, Jessica, watching over him. They land around 9pm EST and go right to Y/N’s house to sleep. Aaron texted Jess around 10, telling her that he’d be over in the morning. 

When they show up Saturday morning, Jess is standing in the doorway of Aaron's apartment with a smile. “I have a proposition for you…” 

“Okay?” Aaron is a bit hesitant. 

“My girlfriend is getting into photography again and she’s trying to set up her portfolio, would you guys like some free maternity photos?” 

Y/N's eyes light up, she doesn’t know if Jess means girlfriend like a Girlfriend or like how some women call all their friends girl-friends… either way, she’s excited. “I’d love that!” 

“She’s really nice, you’ll like her,” Jack adds, apparently he’s already met her. 

“Oh,” Aarons just as shocked about it. “When did you meet her?”

“On Tuesday,” Jess admits. “We already had dinner plans so she brought some takeout over and we all ate here, I hope that’s okay?” 

“Oh, yeah, that’s fine. I’m happy you have someone, Jess,” Aaron admits, he’d never say it but he had his suspicions the longer she went without ever having a boyfriend. 

She smiles even more, “Thanks, Aaron… uh, her name is Mel, by the way, she heard Jack talking about you being pregnant and she really wanted to do a shoot for you whenever you’re free.”

“I mean if tomorrow is too soon—

“Tomorrow could work, I can ask her?” Jess jumps in before Y/N even finishes her suggestion. 

Y/N reaches out for Jess’ hand and pulls her close, she hugs her, “I’m so glad you’re okay with all of this.” 

Jess holds her close, resting her chin on her shoulder. “Haley would’ve liked you, you know,” she whispers. 

“Don’t make me cry,” Y/N tries to laugh it off, it’s weird to think how much different all this would be if she was still alive. “I’m going to do enough crying this afternoon.” 

“You find out the gender today, right?” Jess asks as she pulls back. 

Y/N nods, “I’m so excited to know, then we can move on to naming them.” 

“Them?” 

“Oh, no, it’s just one, I just find calling them ‘it’ is weird and calling them she when we don’t even know is making me feel bad cause what if I get attached to them being a girl and then they’re not? You know?” 

“Oh, okay I thought you were having twins I was like… how are you going to do that with Aaron being gone all the time?” 

“I’m taking 6 months paternity leave,” Aaron says and he doesn’t look too happy about the way Jess said that. “I’m still sorry I wasn’t always there for Jack, but they don’t need me as much as they did back then. I had 4 new members, and we were getting the team off the ground again. I can leave easier this time.” 

“What do you mean, Dad?” Jack asks, not ever thinking anything was wrong about his childhood. 

“I’m sorry,” Jess slips in first. “I didn’t mean it like that.” 

Aaron sighs and he ruffles Jack's hair, “I worked a lot when you were a baby.” 

“But you saved people, that’s worth it,” Jack understands.

“He did,” Jess agrees too, even though he couldn’t save the one person that meant the most to all of them. 

“Okay,” Y/N cuts into the tension with a knife. “Jack, are you ready to go? I was thinking we could go shopping before the appointment instead, okay?” 

He nods, “I have to grab my backpack.” 

“Where are you guys going to go?” Jess asks as she grabs her purse, she’s going to leave now too. 

“Ikea,” Y/N enthuses. “We’re going to get a lot of stuff, so hopefully it all fits in the SUV.”

“If not, their delivery options aren’t too bad,” Jess eases her mind. “And I’m free most of the time so if it delivers while you’re gone I can be there for you.” 

“Thank you,” Y/N really appreciates it. 

“Okay, I’m ready!” Jack cheers as he comes running back.

They all take the elevator down to the parking lot, they say goodbye to Jess and Aaron helps Jack into the back of the SUV. “Have you been thinking about your new room, bud?” Aaron asks. 

He nods, “Can we do a superhero theme?” 

“Absolutely,” Y/N’s actually excited about that. “Are we thinking Batman and Superman or Iron Man and Captain America?”

“The X-men…” 

“Oh,” she’s surprised by that. “That sounds cool, we can get some Wolverine sheets and some artwork of the beast and Professor X? Maybe even something for Mystique, she’s my favourite.” 

Jack’s smile lights up his whole face, he can’t believe she knows this much about the X-Men, it’s impressive. So much so, that he feels comfortable completely geeking out with her on the drive to Ikea. He talks nonstop about his favourite comics, the characters and their plots, explaining to her just how cool he thinks Jean Grey is and how he can’t wait to see them make a movie about her one day. What Jack doesn’t know is that while they’re talking, Y/N is searching the internet on her phone for some cool posters about the characters he says he loves so his room can be fully decorated to reflect his passions. 

When they arrive, Jack is so full of energy he takes Y/N’s hand and he drags her into the store, raving on about what colours he wants his sheets to be and how happy he is to have a room he can decorate again. 

“I even asked Derek if we can paint the walls and do wallpaper and he said we can do what ever we want in there,” Y/N explains, “we can fully redecorate it together.”

“That’s because it’s not Dereks house anymore,” Aaron throws in, making them both turn to him with shocked expressions. 

“What?” Y/N asks, not knowing anything about this. 

“I bought it… I wanted our family to have a place to grow and be happy altogether and it’s perfect for us, there’s room for Jack to have his own room, the baby has a room and there’s a 4th room for if we ever have more, it’s perfect for us so now it’s ours. The papers are all ready, we just have to sign them on Monday.”

“Oh my god!” Y/N cheers a bit too loudly for being in the store. “Aaron?” 

“When do we move in?” Jack asks, getting right to the important stuff. 

Aaron laughs as he wraps his arm around Y/N and pulls them both into a hug. “You two get along so famously I couldn’t keep us separate anymore.” 

“I love you,” she rushes out. She can’t find any other words that fit the situation, she just loves him and how much he thinks about their family. 

—

With 40 minutes to get to their appointment, they finally check out with more things than they expected to buy. They got night lights, bed sheets, burp cloths, swaddle blankets, stuffed toys, a crib and baby mattress, mattress protectors, room decor and trinkets, shelves, a changing table and even ordered a rocking chair to be delivered sometime next week… they not only found everything for Jack but the baby’s room as well. 

The baby they’re about to know a little bit more about in a few minutes. 

They say hi to Savannah in the ER and then make their way up to the Obstetrics floor. They have a short sit in the waiting room and then they’re ushered into a little room with ultrasound equipment. Jack and Aaron sit side by side in two chairs while Y/N’s on the exam table, her shirt up over her belly and pants unbuckled with a piece of absorbent towel tucked into them to catch the excess jelly. And they wait. 

“Have you ever seen an ultrasound before, Jack?” Y/N asks. 

He shakes his head, “No… does it hurt?” 

She laughs lightly, “No, buddy, it doesn’t hurt. They use sound waves to see through skin and tissue and observe the baby inside the amniotic fluid.”

“Cool!” Jack nods, sitting up in his seat and wiggling excitedly. 

“Knock knock,” Dr. Connors says as she opens the door. “Oh my, we have a full house today.” 

“Jack, this is our doctor, Sam Connors,” Aaron introduces her. “Sam, this is my son, Jack.” 

“Hi,” he waves to her.

“Welcome, welcome,” she smiles at him. “Are you guys ready to know the gender or are we keeping it a secret?” 

“We’re ready,” Y/N’s quick to answer. She’s giddy with excitement. “You can tell us when you know, we’re not doing a party or anything so you don’t have to write it down like some couples ask you to.” 

“Oh, good that makes this easier for me,” Dr. Conners lets out a sigh of relief. “Its so hard not to slip up and say the right pronoun after I see what’s goin’ on.” 

“We’re ready,” Y/N says with an unbreakable smile. “So, so ready.” 

“And I have to remind you that because this is the 12 weeks can the gender can be hard to tell, we can do blood testing to double check but if they’re in the right position I can probably tell,” she adds. 

“That’s okay, I know sometimes people wait 'till 20 weeks but if you can tell now, I want to know now,” Y/N adds. 

Dr. Connors is quick to squeeze some warmed jelly onto her belly, she grabs the wand and starts to search for their ever-growing little one. She mumbles to herself, “There you are,” as the baby pops up on the screen. “I’m just going to go through and take some measurements and mark the important things and then I’ll turn to you, okay?” 

“Yeah, that’s fine,” Y/N nods. 

Holding Aaron's hand as he sits beside her, she squeezes him for reassurance. And he squeezes back 3 times. A silent “I love you” just for them to know about. 

Time tends to stand still in moments like these. The week of waiting blew by, she can’t believe that this time last week she was putting a bunk bed in jacks room, nervous as hell to tell him about the baby and now they’re all in a room waiting to see said baby. Jack's giddy, she’s overjoyed and Aaron… Aaron glows. His eyes gleam, and his smile is small but it packs a punch with all the emotions he’s trying so hard to conceal. he’s the strong stoic type on the outside, but inside he is a proud father, a loving life partner and the most gentle, beautiful, wonderful man she’s ever known in her whole life. 

There was a time when she only looked at him like her boss. Her hot boss, but her superior nonetheless. Somewhere between realizing the team was her new family and getting to know him as a lifeline and not a leader, she fell in love with him. It was seamless, too. The way she fell out of love with Peter and into love with Aaron, her heart ebbed and flowed with the emotions and the hurt wasn’t too bad because she had him… she doesn’t know pain because Aaron hasn’t left her, and my god, she hopes he never does. 

“Okay,” Sam announces, ripping Y/N from her thoughts. She turns the screen to them and flicks through the screenshots she has taken with labels on everything. “Everything looks good, we’re measuring at 3.6 millimetres, which is just point 1 more than the average ‘normal’ length. Their heart and brain are looking good. On your last blood test, all the screenings came back negative and I’m not seeing any abnormalities or defects, either.” 

Jack's now standing beside her on the table, he wants to be as close as possible to see the baby. “It doesn’t look like a baby,” he exclaims. 

“It’s hard to see but here,” Sam flicks back to the live screen and moves the wand so the baby is in a better position. “This is the head, this is their spine, you can see their little arms and legs here… it’s super tiny, about the size of a plum, or a crab apple. You could hold it in just one hand, that’s how tiny a baby is at 12 weeks.” 

“Oh,” Jacks a bit taken aback by that. “how many more weeks are left?” 

“28,” Y/N is quick to reply, she’s been counting down since week 1. 

“Wow,” he breathes out, his shoulders dropping and all the tension leaves his body. “Do you know if it's a girl or a boy yet?” 

Sam nods, “I do… do you want to come over and read the screen for me?” 

He nods and walks over to her on the other side of the table, Sam turns the screen to him and flicks back to one of the screenshots with the gender labelled. “You see right there, what does it say?” 

Jack gasps and tears bubble in his eyes, and for a split second, Y/N’s heart drops. She’s sure he’s about to read that it’s a boy. He wanted a brother. She had it wrong in her mind this whole time… and then he says it. 

“Female… I’m having a sister.” 

Y/N cries out a happy sob, she clutches her eyes shut and covers her face with her free hand. She can’t believe it. She’s going to have a little girl, a tiny mini-me… or maybe a headstrong, confident little girl who mirrors her dad. Either way, she’s beyond happy. 

Aaron rubs her arm, also crying, “Happy tears?” 

At first, all she can do is nod as she calms down. “I can’t believe we were right,” she says through the tears. “Oh my god!” 

“Congrats, guys,” Sam swoons. She’s overjoyed by this reaction, “I’m going to print out a bunch of pictures for you—

“Can I have one?” Jack asks, cutting her off. 

“Of course,” Sam doesn’t mind. She prints out a long strand of photos from every angle, some with descriptions and some without. And she prints out another single sheet of the best photo just for Jack. 

Dr. Connors cleans up her belly, goes over a few more things and they schedule another appointment for 20 weeks. She has Sam’s number if they need to contact her before then, but after that, they’re good to go home. 

Aaron texts Jess the good news while Y/N is readjusting her pants and giving her belly an extra wipe down before she lowers her shirt, the jelly is so sticky after it dries she still doesn’t feel totally clean but it’s the best she can do right now. 

Jess has talked to Mel and she is free tomorrow so they’re going to be able to take lots of early maternity photos and they have enough ultrasound pics to include in the shoot. Y/N's mind is racing the whole way back to the car about what she wants to do, what she’ll wear, where they’ll take them… she’s never gotten this far before. She never thought she would. 

“Hey, Aaron,” she asks quietly in the car. 

“Hm?” He hums, keeping his eyes on the road but one hand comes off the steering wheel to hold hers over the centre console. 

“Would you be okay with me posting some of the photos on my Facebook? I haven’t even told my parents yet and I kinda want to just announce to everyone at the same time…” 

“Yeah, that would be okay with me,” He doesn’t mind at all. 

“Okay good, I know you don’t have an account and Jess and JJ aren’t allowed to post Jack but, I just want to post something about this,” she explains. 

It's actually something she admires about him, the way he keeps Jack safe from the creeps of the world. It's so easy for people to see his name on the news when he does press conferences and google him that he worries someone could find out about Jack and snatch him up as revenge or just because they could… they’ve seen way too much at work to not be helicopter parents. 

“I won’t post her face or anything when she’s born and Penelope helped me with my safety features when I first joined the team, so we’ll be safe… I just always dreamed about posting a bump photo and telling everyone about my baby one day.”

“I trust your judgement, sweetheart,” he says, caressing her hand with his thumb. “She’s not just my baby, you can set boundaries for her too.” 

“I know… sometimes I forget you’re not like him,” she whispers. 

“Like who?” Jack asks, cause of course he was listening in.

“Uh…” she looks to Aaron for some support, she has no idea what’s appropriate to tell him and what isn’t. 

“Remember I told you she had a mean ex-husband?” Aaron asks, looking at Jack through the rearview. 

He nods. “Yeah…”

“His name was Peter and he was a bit of a control freak, he’s like one of those mean kids at school who make you follow all the rules to a game and will stop the game to tell you where you went wrong or kick you out of the group,” she simplifies it for him. 

“The worst,” Jack says and rolls his eyes. “I’m happy you picked my dad instead.” 

“I didn’t really pick him,” she admits, turning back to look at him with a smile. “Falling in love isn’t that simple, it kinda just happens.” 

Jack smiles back. “like fate?” 

She nods, trying not to cry because that’s the most sweetest and perfect way to put it. “Exactly.” 

This is where she was always meant to be. 

—

One thing she forgot to do in the midst of the divorce and moving on, was delete Peter's family from her Facebook friends. She barely uses the site, so of course it slipped her mind until it was too late. 

She posts 1 picture from their maternity shoot, her belly under lace with the sun setting in the background. It’s beautiful. She adores the photo so it’s the one she picked to share, alongside some ultrasound photos, a single pink rose and the caption “baby girl Hotchner coming this September” 

She couldn’t believe she got to this point, sharing that she’s pregnant with her family and friends, having a big belly or this tremendous burst of love that courses through her veins as she reads all the comments of congratulations.  

And then she see’s it. 

Peter's mother commented. 

“I always knew you’d be beautiful pregnant. So happy to hear your dreams are coming true, dear. Congratulations to you and your new family.” 

It’s nicer than she expected. She knew that Peter’s mom was a sweetheart, but she also knew that he was her only baby and she sometimes took that a little too far… she was the type of boy mom that Y/N never wanted to become.

She simply replies, “Thank you so much, Jane<;3”

She doesn’t get a comment back, instead she gets a private message. “I was sad to know you broke up but after hearing why, I’m so, so sorry for what Peter did to you. He never even told me he had the vasectomy. 

I would love to send you some things I made during the first few years of your marriage to my son, I always wanted a grandchild, but now that I know I’ll never have one I’d still love for your baby to have a homemade blanket from me. You’re going to be a wonderful mom.” 

Her heart breaks for Jane. She would’ve been a good grandma, Mimi is actually what she wanted to be called. There were so many conversations they had about names and birth plans and nurseries… and Peter kept his mouth shut during all of them. He broke both of their hearts. 

So she types back, “My friends at work are throwing me a baby shower in August, you’re more than welcome to come.” 

It takes a few hours but Jane finally responds a little after 11. Y/N and Aaron are just about to go to sleep. He’s in the bathroom, she’s in bed on her phone about to set an alarm and turn it off. But she opens the message anyway. 

“You know where to send the invitation. I’ll see what I can do. And don’t worry, I won’t bring Pete. We’re not really speaking at the moment. I’ll always love you as a daughter, Y/N. I’m so glad we’re still able to talk.” 

She never would’ve thought an olive branch would grow out of the hostile ground of her divorce, yet here she is. Reaching out to a woman she was once related to, with things they can now relate to. 

Horrible ex-husbands.

“What are you smiling at over there?” Aaron asks as he comes back into the room, in nothing but his boxers. 

She looks up from her phone and sighs, smile only widening. “Life is so weird sometimes.” 

Aaron makes his way to the bed, he kneels on the end and crawls up to her only to lay on his stomach between her legs and rest his head lightly on her belly. “Weird but beautiful.” 

“Peter’s mom has been messaging me… she’s really happy for us and not talking to her son,” she shares. 

He perks back up, “Really?” 

She nods, “I’m not sure if she knows about the abuse but she knows about the vasectomy and she’s furious. She wants to send me all the blankets and things that she made when we started trying… so I invited her to the baby shower.” 

“Luckily we’ll have a bunch of agents there to escort her if things get dicey…” 

“I don’t think they will,” she says, locking her phone, she places it on her night table and runs her fingers through Aaron's hair. “But if it gives our baby 1 more grandma, I’m willing to hear her out.” 

“You’re a good person,” Aaron compliments. 

“You’re just rubbing off on me.” 

His brows arch. “I mean, I’m not currently.” 

She lightly swats his cheek, “you pig!” 

He just laughs and snuggles back into her belly. “You love it.” 

She just sighs and lays back, still running her fingers through his hair. “I love you.” 

“I love you too… and you three, Jules,” he whispers to her belly and then kisses her bump gently. 

“So we’re set on Juliette, like firmly? It’s happening?” 

He just nods. “Yep, my baby Juliette. Jules, Julie, juju… I will be calling her all of those nicknames.”

She lets out a little giggle. Smiling to herself, he mind wanders to middle names. “I want to ask Jack for help with her middle name, do you think he’d like that?” 

“He’d love to,” Aaron knows that. “Just look at all his other reactions, the boy is obsessed with getting to have a sister.” 

“He’s going to be the best big brother.” 

“You’re going to love him, Julie,” Aaron whispers to her bump. “You’re going to love everyone we know, you’re going to be so loved baby girl. So, so loved.” 

@mrs-ssa-hotch @14buddy22 @spottedzebrasinpartyhats  

General Taglist 

@ncsls0515 @stevesmunsons @reidsbookclub @sweetyyhippyy @manuosorioh @mrs-dr-reid @k-k0129 @squishyturtle @katsukis1wife @babybisexual @marsmunson86 @ssamorganhotchner

[gghostwriter]

Entangled Strings of Fate

Chapter 3. My torch stays burning

Spencer Reid x FOC

Summary: Caltech, Pasadena - Cleo considers herself a woman of logic. With an IQ of 158 and an eidetic memory, how could she not. But meeting Spencer, the boy genius to hers, had her believing in intangible theories like the invisible string and the fates. Now, if only he would notice the depth of her feelings. Set in Caltech, pre-season 1 and will progress from there.

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"Growing apart doesn't change the fact that we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for that" - Allie Condie

Cleo considered each invite from Spencer an oath—a vow meant to be delivered through each time. Never mind that she had past cases to study or how she initially promised her sister that she’ll attend the family dinner—skipping that was a plus, honestly, she’d rather spend her time in his precious company. She thought about the multiverse all of a sudden and wondered if in those different shards of her, is she still enjoying his presence or is this they only universe where they crossed paths and stayed together? She hoped not. She’d like to believe they were meant to find each other’s company no matter the circumstance. 

Sneaking a peek at him, she knew she had digressed from her present. A present where she found herself with a warm glass of tea on hand and on his rooftop apartment, admiring the night sky. Earlier, he explained he was on an extended leave from the FBI, not that he needed to take a leave really but in his own words, he didn’t feel right about being on the field while his mentor, Gideon, was pulled from the field after Boston, and had called her up to fill his nights with conversations and company. 

“Did you know that comets smell like rotten eggs?” He mentioned one night while admiring the night sky. “To be exact, they smell like rotten eggs, urine, burning matches, and almonds. Traces of hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, sulphur dioxide, and hydrogen cyanide were all found in the makeup of the comet 67P—better known as Churyumove-Gerasimenko.”

Cleo laughed. “Usually comets and meteors are often romanticized but finding out that they smell like rotten eggs definitely ruins the poetry behind it.”

“Actually the idea behind wishing upon a shooting star started thousands of years ago. During the 2nd century, astronomer Ptolemy believed that stars were gods or, at least, signs from the gods,” he rambled on. “Another version comes from the Mi’kmaw nation living in Nova Scotia. They believe that two stars took two sister to heaven. One of the stars represented an Eagle while the other a Hawk. Soon the sisters found themselves bored and strived to return to their people. Hoping to return to Earth, they requested the first human named Kluskap for their return. Kluskap agreed but with the condition that both sisters won’t ever look back. Later on, when they were both sent back to Earth, the younger sister broke the promise and was turned into a shooting star.” 

“That kind of reminds me of the Greek tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice,” she commented on, going off tangent. 

He nodded, having understood the connection her mind was going for. “Most people considered Orpheus’s actions a noble, romantic deed in the name of love but Plato viewed it as cowardice for not dying to meet Eurydice right away.”

“But isn’t it because Plato had a negative stance on art? In a woman’s perspective, the whole notion of the man doing everything to get back the woman he ardently adored is the ultimate act of love,” she defended with a slight scrunch of nose from the cold biting air. 

A ring interrupted their comfortable silence. 

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, looking at the caller ID and letting it go to voicemail. 

His interest was piqued. “Who is it?” 

“Remember that guy who I met in the bookstore—Robbie—and went out with for a maximum of three dates? That’s him,” she took a sip of her tea before continuing on. “The dates were fine, just fine, and I even met some of his friends on accident—”

“But?”

“—but, it felt wrong. Like he was showing me off as this genius that he bagged rather than as a woman he’s interested in.”

She sighed and looked at the city night lights. She knew she was a genius, graduating from Caltech with a degree in Political Science at the age of 16 and entering law school right after can attest to that. But that accomplishment was sometimes a detriment in making genuine social connections.

“I’d love to find someone who can appreciate me for who I am and not with what I can offer. God knows I have enough of that from my parents.” 

He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. “And you deserve that. If there’s anyone who deserves that, it’s you.” 

“You also deserve someone like that, Spence.” She softly smiled. “Someone who sees how much of a great guy you really are.”

“Morgan says I can’t get a date since I come off as awkward and tend to spew random facts when nervous,” Spencer said. 

Knowing Derek, she knew he stated that in a jest but she couldn’t help but hear the slight hurt in Spencer’s voice. “Well, I for one think you’re amazing. The right girl would think the same way too, Spence. She’ll find your ramblings interesting and cute, just like I do.” 

She glanced down at her watch. Time always seemed to move too fast when their orbits circled around each other. “I should go.”

“Garcia, Morgan, and I are meeting up for coffee and pastries at the usual corner coffee shop tomorrow. Would you like to come?” He asked as he was guiding her to a cab. “Garcia’s been hounding me to bring you around and I quote ‘I miss my ma chou.’”

“Count me in,” she laughs as she gets into the cab. “See you tomorrow, Dr. Spencer Reid!” 

———

Based on scientific studies, consuming sugar increases serotonin levels—the happiness chemical. The brain then keeps craving this “happy” chemical again and again. Maybe that was why Cleo knew she made the right decision in accepting his invitation for breakfast. There was nothing like a cup of good coffee and a freshly baked pastry on a Saturday morning. Add a mix of Penelope’s bubbly self and Derek’s fun persona, the weekend was already starting on a bright note.

“Oh my goodness, I think you got much more beautiful since the last time I saw you, ma chou,” Penelope greeted as she went in for a hug.

“And you’ve gotten more radiant since then, Pen,” she gushed back. 

“How are the two of you this lively early in the morning,” Derek quips. “Hey pretty girl, how’s law school treating you?” 

She sat down beside Penelope and subtly looked around for any sign of Spencer. “Good, can’t really complain specially with the bar exam coming up.” 

“If you’re looking for pretty boy, he’s over there buying your coffee and pastry,” Derek took notice of her searching eyes. There was no hiding from a profiler, after all. “ So tell me, did he make a move yet?” 

Her jaw slightly dropped while Penelope squealed in her set, no doubt also wanting to know. “Derek, you know its not like that,” she rushed out to clarify. “We’re friends, best of friends!” 

Derek and Penelope shared a look. A look that she has been very familiar with ever since their first meeting . It was a look of disbelief and teasing. She knew the whole BAU team had a vested interest in the progress of their platonic relationship. It wouldn’t even surprise her if there was a wager going on who would crack first. 

“Oh doll, you know it’s more than that right? I mean look at you both together, a match made in heaven, Penelope stated as she took a sip of her drink. “What could be more perfect that an prosecutor and an FBI agent together? The power couple if you ask me.” 

“I’m not a prosecutor yet,” she huffed out.

“You didn’t deny it though?” Penelope teased back. “So you agree, you both are a match made in heaven?”

“More like a match made in genius,” Morgan added. “C’mon Murphy, Reid may be as dense as those law books you read but I’m not, you can’t fool my profiler eyes. You’re in love with him, ever since I’ve met you.” 

“I swear its really not like that. Now, can we change the subject please before he comes?” She pleadingly asked as Spencer was approaching with her coffee and pastry in hand.

“Here you go,” he handed the goodies to her. “I got you a freshly baked slice of banana bread, a hot cappuccino, and a Palmier for when you get hungry later.” 

She smiled, cheeks turning vibrant red, and thanked him. With his care and her reaction, no doubt Derek and Penelope were staring at them in disbelief.

“Unbelievable,” Derek muttered as Spencer took his seat beside him.

“What was that?” He asked, having not heard his mumble.

Derek appraised Spencer with an eyebrow arched up. “Nothing pretty boy, nothing at all.”