#disclaimer: I have no idea how babies work. or two year olds. also I had a weird sense of deja vu two thirds of the way in to this

[t-lostinworlds]

Big, Hormonal Heart | Bucky Barnes

》 PAIRING: bucky barnes x pregnant!female!reader

》 TROPE/GENRE: established relationship (marriage), fluff fluff fluff

》 SUMMARY: It'd probably take more than one lifetime for Bucky to list reasons why he was so lucky to call you his wife. He was certain your big heart was one of them. One that grew even more with pregnancy hormones. It was sweet, how you to got so upset when they got his order wrong. Your meal was perfectly fine. But when his wasn't? Oh it was a crime.

》 WARNINGS: pregnancy, a dog named Snow and Alpine the cat, pet names (doll, baby, my love, sweetheart), emotional!r (she cries. like, most of the fic), husband!bucky being the sweetest, domesticity and just overall fluff (pretty tame fic ngl)

》 WORD COUNT: 2.5k+

A/N: this idea was super random. i saw an insta reel of a pregnant woman having mood swings over some food and then everyone was sharing their experiences in the comments and i got inspired so here ya go alksalkss. DISCLAIMER! I'm not pregnant nor have i ever been lol. I did as much research as i could but still, don't count on me to be 100% accurate.

++ ALSO this was written in just a few hours. this isn't my best work. just something i wanted to write as an exercise since i haven't written anything in months. anyways, i hope you enjoy!

📍 BLOG NAVIGATION ✩ B. BARNES MASTERLIST ✩ MAIN MASTERLIST ✩

⊱ ─────.⋅♚ *｡･ﾟ.★. *｡･ﾟ✫*.

Bucky Barnes was one lucky man.

If someone had told him years ago that he was going to live in a quaint home in the suburbs, a lovely backyard space for a dog and a cat to enjoy, and that he'd be married to the absolute love of life, an angel on earth who was now carrying his first child—

He honestly would've stared at them dead in the eye, wondering how someone could make such a cruel joke.

Yet here he was, actually living it, a life that seemed so much like a dream.

Though he was quickly reminded of how real this was as he stood in the nursery, glaring at the manual that came with the crib you two had bought from the furniture store.

It looked simple enough at first—putting together ready-made pieces should be easy, right?

Wrong.

Not when you have countless amounts of screws that more or less looked the same but were actually not because each served a different purpose. 

He was in the middle of figuring out how to install the legs to the main base when you walked into the room with your two bodyguards—Alpine the Cat and Snow the five-year-old Samoyed—in tow.

"How's it going, handsome?" you hummed as you reached his side, arms wrapping around his waist, your warmth immediately easing the frustration he had about this goddamn crib.

"It's…" he sighed, gesturing at the wooden pieces scattered around the floor. "Going."

You laughed at that, kissing his clothed shoulder before standing in front of him.

Bucky held your waist then, pulling you as close as he could given that your baby bump was in the middle of you both.

He honestly couldn't begin to express how much comfort and warmth covered his whole being every time he was met with the absolute love in your eyes.

And Bucky was sure his gaze shined the same.

So many people have pointed it out on numerous occasions, the twinkle in his eyes every time they land on you—his beautiful wife.

"I was thinking," you murmured, resting your hands on his chest, moving up his shoulder and down again in a sweet caress. "How about a quick break while we order some food?"

It was only about an hour after lunch, so Bucky wasn't particularly keen on filling his stomach some more.

But you, on the other hand, were nearing the end of your second trimester. It wasn't out of the norm for you to be hungry at this time, given you were eating for two. Plus, there was an added layer that your little peanut probably had some super soldier serum in their DNA—the baby's appetite could be enhanced for all he knew.

Other than that, the last thing Bucky wanted was an angry and hungry pregnant wife. So it wasn't really a hard decision to make.

"Okay, let's get you something to eat," he said.

Ever the observant person that you were, you quickly noticed his choice of words.

"For me?" you asked, brows furrowed. "You're not hungry?"

Bucky shook his head. "Not really."

Your bottom lip went.

He instantly knew he said the wrong thing.

"But I'm hungry," you murmured, eyes starting to glisten.

He could never explain it even if he tried, but whenever you got upset, your bodyguards always seemed to notice it. The two have always been protective of you and that only grew tenfold when you got pregnant.

Today wasn't an exception.

Snow barked at him, whining his complaints as he put his fifty-pound body between your legs, slightly pushing Bucky back. The furball was well trained though, so his protectiveness never went too far beyond being vocal about it. Alpine, on the other hand, was sitting a foot away, glaring at Bucky—quite the traitor given that she was supposed to be his cat, but he couldn't blame her for loving you, either—as if she knew it was his fault you were upset.

But still, Bucky wasn't quite sure what he'd done wrong.

"I know, sweetheart," he said slowly, a little confused, trying to navigate around Snow who was pawing at his leg as if trying to push him further away. "I'll order some food for you."

"But you're not hungry," you repeated, body slumping with sadness.

"I'm not," he agreed, quickly cupping your face when a tear slipped from your eyes. "But hey, hey, that doesn't mean we can't still order food for you, doll."

"No, I know," you sniffled.

"So, what's making you upset, hmm?"

You buried your face in his chest with a shaky breath as you said,

"I don't want to eat alone."

Bucky paused, pressing his lips and swallowing down a laugh because he couldn't have you thinking he was making fun of you. He wasn't. But you were so adorable it made his chest ache.

"Okay, okay," he hummed, kissing the side of your head as he rubbed your back in comfort. "I'll order something for me, too."

•••

A few minutes later, your little family migrated to the living room. You both were sitting on the couch together, the two furballs sprawled at your feet as a random show played on TV. Various take-out bags covered the coffee table, way too many for two people but hey, that's what fridges and microwaves are for.

Fondness filled Bucky's bones as he watched you settle your food on your lap, doing what he called your Cravings Satisfied Wiggle.

He couldn't contain his chuckle.

You looked at him with furrowed brows, words a little muffled with your mouth full. "What?"

"Happy?" he asked, reaching over to wipe the sauce on the corner of your mouth.

"Very much," you giggled, eyes wrinkling at the corners.

Even after all these years, the sight of your pure joy still made his heart stutter, chest growing warmer when you leaned closer with a pout.

Bucky met you halfway for a short yet sweet kiss.

"Thank you," you hummed, even though there was no need for you to thank him for ordering you food.

"You're welcome, sweetheart."

Reaching over the table, he took the one and only paper bag that was for him, because again, he wasn't that hungry.

"Oh."

"What's wrong?" You turned to him in concern.

"It's not a big deal," he reassured with a smile, shrugging because it really wasn't. "They got mine wrong."

You frowned. "You didn't get the nuggets?"

"No, they give me the burger meal," he said. "They must've misheard me.

Bucky immediately perked up when your lips started to tremble.

"Hey, hey, what's wrong?" he asked worriedly, cupping your face to wipe away your tears.

"You—" you sniffled. "You didn't get your nuggets."

Bucky pressed his lips to stop a smile.

God you were so fucking cute.

"It's okay, baby," he soothed. "I'm fine with a burger, too."

You cried even harder.

Snow and Alpine quickly stood, all alert and concerned as they nudged your leg.

"You wanted the nuggets, Bucky," you insisted, choking back a sob. "But you didn't get it."

He carefully pulled you closer, rubbing your back in comfort as you laid your head on his shoulder. "I know, but it's okay—"

"No, it's not!" you protested, all teary and frustrated, pulling away to glare at him. "You deserve to get what you want. Y-You deserve all the good things after e-everything."

Bucky might honestly start crying too with how sweet you were being.

"Oh doll, come here," he placated, pulling you in for a hug while trying to navigate the food on your lap.

He could take it away for safety, but he'd already learned his lesson the hard way. Taking food away from a pregnant woman was a death sentence.

"I want you to be happy," you sniffled, burying your face against his neck. "You wanted the nuggets and they disrespected that."

It took so much for him not to let out a chuckle. Because as much as Bucky hated to see you crying and upset, he couldn't deny how adorably funny this whole conversation was.

But you'd always had the biggest heart. Whether that was crying over those rescue animal videos, emotional scenes in movies, to feeling upset over something he was experiencing—your empathy was always high.

What more with the pregnancy hormones in the mix?

"How about I ask them to change it?"

Again, wrong thing to say.

He needed to get better at this.

"But they're probably so stressed and overworked already," you sobbed. "A-And it's about to rain. I don't want the delivery guy to get wet in the rain. T-They already don't get paid enough."

"Hey, hey, it's okay," he hummed, rubbing your back. "Will you look at me, my love?"

You lifted your head then, Bucky's heart aching at the absolute distress on your features—pout in full play, eyes a little bloodshot with tear stains on your skin.

He cupped your cheeks with a soft smile, placing gentle kisses all over your face, unrelenting until you let out a whine of protest. He stopped then, thankful to see that you'd calmed down now.

"I promise you, the burger meal is perfectly fine with me. I'm not mad or upset about it. I don't mind it at all," he said.

You took a calming deep breath and nodded. It only took a second for you to look at him sheepishly.

"Sorry I overreacted," you whispered, embarrassed.

"Hey, none of that," he lightly scolded. "All the emotions you're feeling will always be valid."

You smiled, small yet sweet, leaning in and kissing him with as much gratitude as you could muster.

"Besides, it makes me feel so honored to know that you're willing to fight for my chicken nugget rights."

"Shut up, Barnes."

•••

You and Bucky always had a nightly routine and it usually consisted of the two of you getting ready for bed in your own different ways. They were intertwined, but not exactly the same. Like you'd be doing some skin care in the bathroom while he would be brushing his teeth.

But ever since you got pregnant, your routine became more in sync.

It usually started with a bath that he'd run for you. Most of the time he'd end up joining you, the length of said bath varying since that usually depended on what mood you were in. Bucky was always at the service of meeting his wife's needs, after all.

Recently, now that your bump wasn't particularly easy to navigate, he'd helped you get ready for bed. From getting dressed to your skin care, including rubbing some moisturizer on your stomach. That part was one of his favorite things to do.

Then it was the typical things, getting dressed, brushing your teeth—this one you stopped him from doing it for you even though he was more than willing—and overall just getting ready for bed.

Once you’d settled on the pregnancy pillow that Bucky fluffed up for you, he'd sit near the foot of the bed to give your sore feet a massage while you read a book.

Tonight, right when he was in the middle of doing that, he heard you sniffle.

Bucky looked up in concern, catching you already staring at him with tears already in your eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked, looking you over. "Does something hurt?"

"No, I-I'm okay. I just—" You cut yourself off with a sob.

Bucky quickly moved beside you, pulling you onto his lap as he wrapped his arms around your form. You buried your face into the crook of his neck, body shaking as you cried.

"Hey, hey, talk to me," he murmured against your hair. "Tell me what's wrong."

"It's just—" You let out a shaky breath. "You're always taking care of me."

"Of course, sweetheart, you're my wife," he said. "And not only because it's my duty as your husband, but because I love you so much."

That made you cry even harder.

"I l-love you too, so much," you sobbed. "But I haven't been able to take care of you lately and that's not f-fair."

Bucky felt his heart grow as if it wasn't already bursting at the seams.

How could someone be so selfless and sweet?

"You're pregnant, my love," he stated the obvious reason as to why. "Besides, I'm capable of taking care of myself. It's alright."

"No, it's not," you argued, pulling away slightly to face him. "You deserve to be taken care of, too! You deserve to get pampered a-and a break but you're always fussing over me and taking care of me instead. I'm not helping with any of it. I'm just making it harder for you."

"No, absolutely not," he stated firmly, holding your face in his hands, wiping your tears away with his thumbs. "I love taking care of you. It honestly makes me feel so fulfilled and happy when I do."

"Really?" you sniffled.

"Yes. It's the least I could do with everything that you've been going through right now," he said truthfully, adding with a chuckle, "Hell, if I could carry our baby so you wouldn't have to go through all the pain I would."

That earned him a small laugh.

"But I want to take care of you, too," you admitted after a deep breath.

"You already are," he hummed, thumb stroking your cheek lovingly. "You're taking care of our baby and my heart, and those are very important to me."

You scrunched up your nose adorably.

"That was so cheesy."

"But it's true, though."

You smiled, cupping his face. Bucky turned his head to kiss your palm.

"Thank you," you sighed fondly. "For putting up with me and for everything."

"First off, I'm not putting up with anything," he reassured, kissing your other palm before adding, "Second, you never have to thank me for taking care of you. Never."

You nodded, leaning closer to press your lips against his, pouring all your love and gratitude into it. Bucky kissed you back with the same fervor, never needing words to express what you truly feel for each other.

He felt so content—feeling your lips, your fingers tangled in his hair, and your little peanut asking for attention too, kicking the second Bucky rested hand on your bump.

When you let out a soft, needy whine, he was ready to take the kiss even further.

That was until a wet tongue met his cheek.

Bucky groaned in annoyance, pulling away to see Snow giving you a kiss, too. He couldn't be angry at the dog for ruining the moment when your lovely laugh echoed in the air. Alpine jumped on the bed a second later, nudging her head against Bucky's chin before walking over to place a loving paw on your bump.

His smile was as bright as it could be as he watched the scene before him.

A wonderful home, a wholesome family that involved his beautiful, loving wife and two furballs, his family that was only getting bigger in a few months—

Yeah.

Bucky Barnes was one lucky man.

✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ♛ *.

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[purebarnes]

THIN ICE MISTER

bucky barnes x wife!reader

description: bucky and sam break your favorite lamp and candle when left alone with your guys 3 year old daughter, world of chaos

w/c: 3.1k

disclaimers: none… beside bucky and sam being left alone with a toddler, conversation about sex

You were this anxious and honestly not much made you nervous but that changed pretty quickly when you decided to leave your husband with your little girl. Not that Bucky was a bad father- that was far from it, he was a fantastic father to your sweet girl. He would coddle her when she would get upset, help her with any issues she would have with other toddlers not that he could do much but still.

The only issue that you found was that whenever he was Sam, that’s when it became catastrophic with those two. Now was a prime example of what was about to endure.. you currently had to leave to go do errands with Carol and Natasha while also meet Tony for a new mission that was months away but Tony insisted on getting on that.

You thought of taking Rebecca with you as the two men were probably going to make a mess in the house but Bucky kept telling you it would be fine.

You finally decided to trust your husband and his best friend and we’re hoping you made the right choice as he tried to push you out of your daughters bedroom.

“Wait. I need a goodbye kiss.” You reminded him to which he chuckled and went to lean in to you when you shoved his face away. He stumbled back while standing dumbfounded at you rejecting his kiss when you scrunched your eyes brows in confusion.

“Not you. From my sweet baby.” You hushed looking at the sweet little thing you and Bucky created to which she was letting out soft snores admiring her little curls resting on top of her forehead.

Leaning down to press a soft kiss leaving the excess of your chapstick, you looked up to a pouty Bucky to which you found hilarious. You faced him and took the chance to grab his face right in your hands as they were the perfect size to hold him.

You gave him a small grin, capturing his lip into yours and moving it in sync when he reached down the lower part of you ass and as he went to slightly squeeze it you gripped his hands that were were wrapped around his neck for support to stop him.

That meant you needed to stop before it became too much fun for him, you slapped his chest playfully but sternly as your daughter was still sleeping not even two feet away. He hissed in annoyance, “She is sleeping! Keep it in your pants.”

To that he scoffed because he looked back at his daughter sleeping and turned back to you. “Me? You obviously couldn’t keep it in, exhibit A.” Pointing directly at the brunette who was stirring around in her sleep before turning around to her side before falling back asleep.

Both of you leaving Rebecca’s room, heading downstairs to a familiar face opening the back door of your house. Sam shut the door softly not wanting to make any noise to disturb his favorite Barnes in her slumber.

Sam finally met your gaze and smirked calling your name, “Don’t ruin my house Samuel.” You playfully warned but actually not wanting to come back home with a mess or worse… actually nothing is worse then a mess (in your eyes).”

Reaching to grab your keys from the hooks on the wall you snatched them and grabbed your water while waving buy to the men and out the door.

Sam and Bucky were currently working on a gazebo. You distinctly remember looking at your iPad one night when Rebecca finally decided to sleep in her own room that night. Not that you would kick her out or anything, she just decided she didn’t need to sleep in her parents bed.

The idea of a gazebo came when you saw a beautiful gazebo when you went on a walk when you were half way through your pregnancy. Bucky saw how much you admired gazebos and it would be a great for when you all have guests from you avengers family.

You asked if Bucky could make a gazebo since it wouldn’t take long, maybe you shouldn’t be saying anything because you never built anything for that matter. 

“Alright Buck. I got all the wood… well almost all and all tools are in here.” He spoke tapping at his tool box when he walked over to show Bucky the idea of the gazebo hoping you would approve.

You had a fairly big backyard so the gazebo would look beautiful in the back with Rebecca’s playground next to it.

Sam pointed at all of the perimeters he needed to do before starting, stepping back inside he heard the voices of his daughter talking through the monitor from the kitchen that was connected to her bedroom.

Hear faint cries from the little toddler, “Dada.” She whimpered hoping someone would go in her room at any second. She wasn’t usually like that in the mornings but recently she started to get clingier and have more outbursts than usual.

Bucky pouted at his baby’s voice calling for him and went straight to the direction of her voice. Opening the brown wooden door, she stopped taking out loud when she saw her father in the flesh. “Oh, sweetheart.”

Rebecca stood up from her bed that had was gated (so she wouldn’t escape) and lifted her arms up signaling she wanted to be in his arms. He obeyed her and swooped her into his arms kissing her right cheek repeatedly leaving loud ‘mwahs’ making soft giggles escape her from his little hairs.

“Daddy stop it!” She gasped when he stopped to give her a second to breathe, smiling at her father she stopped laughing as Bucky put her down. “Alright. Let’s go downstairs because you need to eat breakfast and also someone is here. It’s a surprise though.” She widened her light light blue eyes. “Is it Mommy?” Excited to see her mother.

He frowned, “No, baby. Mama is working but she’ll be home soon.” He promised her but then kneeled down to her level, “it may be Uncle Sam.” He teased when she squealed while jumping up and down right in his ear. “Oh! Okay, Bec.” Covering his ear to where the damage was done.

Walking down the stairs with her dad- more like running down the stairs even though it was dangerous and she knew never to run down. But Rebecca was to excited, nearly knocking down her Götz dolls that she had in front of the stairs.

Bucky groaned when he saw the whole dolls that were given to Rebecca by Natasha when she was in a mission in Germany with Steve and Wanda. 5 minutes after they successfully finished it, a store was getting robbed that sold dolls so Natasha looked around carefully before snatching a doll that kinda resembled Rebecca.

Of course Steve had a problem with it but Natasha did not care at all because she technically did not think it was wrong because it was already on the outside of the store.

You were quite upset at first because you never wanted Rebecca to receive things that were stolen. That simple.

From that moment Rebecca loved those dolls because they all were designed to look like her aunts and the women she most admired. “Becca, I asked you yesterday to pick up those.” His daughter kept running until she crashed in a familiar body figure, she grunted softly.

Sam let out a heartily chuckle, grabbing her little waist and holding her up to hold her by his waist and wrapping his other arm to support her back so she didn’t fall. “Well good morning sunshine!” He yelped tickling her side when she gasped at the touch that she was enduring.

“Uncle Sam.” She grunted holding his hand to stop him from tickling her and he stopped seeing her not laughing- “Daddy already gave tickles.” She pouted, Sam solemnly nodded to show that he understood like she was only allowed a specific number of tickles per day.

She was quite dramatic like her dad, you’d definitely say that she got that from Bucky and not you because you could never admit you were dramatic. Bucky rolled his eyes at his toddler and grabbed her breakfast plate to which she denied swatting it away when it almost fell before bucky caught it.

“Oh, no. Rebecca that’s not what we do, it is time to eat.” Bucky sternly spoke not wanting to have a thing with his daughter while his best friend was watching. “No! Not hungry.” She yelled clutching onto Sam’s forearm to which he nervously laughed off.

“Hey, hey. It’s alright, I’ll sit with you.” She sulked down, running her back so she was reassured that he would leave her side. Rebecca got placed in a chair as Bucky placed her plate down locking eyes with her to which she looked down feeling guilty at getting upset with her father.

“Thank you Daddy.” She thanked grabbing her water cup from the table and took a big sip before devouring into her breakfast.

—

Leaving the meeting with some avengers that you were working on the mission with- you tried so hard to not look at your phone to call your husband. You were doing so good, until Carol mentioned on who was watching Rebecca. “Bucky. With Sam…” you whispered softly.

Carol gave you deadpanned look seeing if you were serious or if you were just messing with her, “Sam? Uh hope you’re house is there when you get back.” She laughed when Nat smacked her shoulder, you started to grow anxious.

You snatched you phone from your bag, Natasha stopped you while glaring back to Carol who didn’t understand at all. “Stop that. Carol tell her you were just joking.” She demanded.

“What, no. Ow!-” Carol rubbed the spot where Nat pinched her, “I’m joking. I’m sorry, they have got it. You trust your husband, right?” It wasn’t that you didn’t trust him or Sam but you did get paranoid.

“I do. Just them together is just you know.” The women nodded as Carol paused, “What trouble could they cause?”

Back home, Bucky and Sam got as much as they could so they decided to wait to do something until they got bored. Rebecca was playing with a ball until Sam perked up. “Bucky. 20 bucks you can’t know over those pins with one hit.”

Bucky looked over to see toy bowling pins stacked on the floor, Bucky scoffed grabbing the ball Rebecca was playing with right as she grunted. “Relax, Bec. Daddy will give it back once he wins that $20.”

He backed up from his position and narrowly examined his spot- he stepped back and brought the ball back and threw the ball. But the ball ended up not going anywhere near the pins because all that was heard was a loud breaking sound with flowers on your newly white carpet and your favorite candle completely broken.

Sam gaped as Bucky cursed, “Shit!” He yelled walking over to see the mess he made when Rebecca smiled widely- “Shit!” She giggled running towards her father who winced at his faulty mistake.

“Whoa, no! We don’t say that.” To that Rebecca kept saying shit, shit, shit! Sam ran to grab a garbage bag so he could throw away the glass and flowers when Bucky swatted his hand away. “Are you crazy? She loves those, I’m dead.”

“Uh, well at least it’s you and not me.”

“This is your fault.” Bucky yelled.

“Mine?” Sam spat back.

“Yeah, you just had to bet me to do it- You could backed out, she will kill me but not if I’m not here.” Sam shrieked getting up when Bucky grabbed him by his metal arm making sure he stayed in place. “No way.”

Sam grunted, twisting his grip away from Bucky’s hard grasp. He huffed dumping all the remains of the incident, a little while later Sam vacuumed up all the dirt as Bucky sat Rebecca down on the long sofa and turned the TV so she could watch a movie.

Hearing the bag getting thrown away in the trash can outside, Bucky really was hoping that you would have noticed it because although people thought of him as a very gruffly person., he was more scared of his wife then anything else.

When Sam came back pausing the movie that Rebecca was watching, the three of them looked at the door as it was getting opened to you, Natasha and Carol. Your daughter gasped seeing them three, “Mommy!” You stopped in your tracks, opening your arms widely for her to engulf you in a tight hug.

Rebecca giggled those sweet songs that came out of her mouth when her mother brought her up and gave her a mouth kiss, “Mwah!”

“I missed my sweet girl! How was today?” You asked more Bucky and Sam but of course she answered for them, “so fun, daddy-”

Bucky covered her mouth quickly before she could spill anything to you as you furrowed your eyebrows in confusion. Sam chuckled awkwardly looking at Nat and Carol who glanced at each other, “Yup, so much fun.”

“Well great, nothing looks—” you paused.

You had quite a keen eye for things in anything but you noticed the center table that was holding your favorite candle and lamp were missing. You hummed poking your tongue in the inside of your mouth.

Bucky and Sam stay quiet not saying anything as you were catching on, “Where’s my candle and vase of flowers?” You asked walking near the center table to no candle or Flowers.

Natasha cackled, “Ah, this is gonna be hilarious.” She spoke patting Bucky’s back as he glared ahead to her when she sat down on the couch with Rebecca as she latched onto her, missing her even though she saw her a couple days ago.

“What.. what vase?” He trailed along hoping you wouldn’t hear the nervousness in his tone to which you caught on- “Yeah, are you sure there was even a candle.. cause.” He gulped.

You sighed lowly “What did you do?” He carefully walked to you but keeping a safe space between, “I didn’t do anything.”

You rolled your eyes getting pretty annoyed at your husband when you asked Sam what he did but he also didn’t answer you- you looked at Rebecca who was was being cuddled by Nat and Carol. She perked up, “Daddy broke the lamp and candle!” She obviously didn’t know what she was doing or that she totally made a ditch for her fall into.

You turned muttering something low that only you could hear, you shook your head in disbelief at the two adult men. “Whatever. Let’s go eat.” To that Nat, Carol, Rebecca and you all walked into the kitchen with the takeout bags you guys ordered for dinner.

You weren’t mad or anything but you decided to milk it little bit longer so Bucky could sweat to try to gain your ‘trust’ again. He never lost it but it was funny to see him that that, you sitting on the opposite side of him to which bothered him a lot.

As dinner was over and you all chatted up about future missions and other rookie co workers, you pa led up the lest overs for Carol, Natasha and Sam who took the most boxes (which you insisted because the girls wouldn’t budge)

The girls kissing Rebecca goodbye and waving to Bucky while he was holding Rebecca because she asked to be held by her father squishing her check on his chest. Sam stood by Bucky’s side, “Good luck. Bye sweet girl.” Kissing her forehead goodbye and giving you a side hug.

Shutting the door when you walked back up to Bucky stretching out your arms for Rebecca as Bucky intervened, “I can- I got it.” He sighed watching bother girls leave the kitchen as he went to clean the kitchen from the mess you all made.

Reaching Rebecca’s room you turned on her lights and started on her night routine as she was in the middle of being potty trained you guys did nighttime pull ups for when she went to bed.

Taking out her pajamas- a pink sloth matching set that you bought one day when you two went on a target shopping day when Bucky was away on a mission. Pulling the pajamas over her head you took a brush and combed the hair in her front face.

Rebecca hummed.

You looked up at her direction, “Momma? Are you mad at daddy?” She frowned at that’s thought of her parents fighting and even worse them fighting because of her. “Bec honey no. I’m not mad at anyone.” You reassured kissing her forehead making sure she knew that nothing was going to happen.

She took that so reassuring that she ran to her bed and stood on her tippy toes to reach the bed. You swooped her up and placed her in the bed, grabbing her covers and covering her.

One last kiss was placed on her cheek and forehead, “Sweet dreams, my baby.” She hummed in satisfaction snuggling in her bed letting her go off into dream land.

Walking back to your shared bedroom with Bucky, you saw him already with his shirt off and boxers on and you avoided to look at his mesmerizing body. You went over to his side of the bed which was where the dresser was and grabbed a pair of pjs also.

When you got back from the bathroom, you plopped down on your side and let out a exaggerated whine. Bucky kept quiet not knowing you wanted him to say anything or not, “Really? You’re not gonna say anything?” You asked.

“I thought you were mad still.” He mentioned.

“I wasn’t even mad Buck. Just annoyed slightly.” Holding up your thumb and pointer finger showing the slightest gap when he finally let out a moment of relief that you weren’t even upset with him.

Being completely honest- you had some stress that you needed to relief and so that’s where your husband came into play. You wouldn’t tend to ask him to help you out but you were aching, you snatched his phone away and placed it on the desk next you.

It took him a few seconds to comprehend what you were asking until he waited for you to do something. “Is she asleep?” He sheepishly wondered.

“You’d think I would make you have sex with me if she wasn’t asleep.” Bucky shrugged leaning in before you heard a sound come from the monitor and it was your daughter who was in fact not sleeping. She was muttering something, you grabbed the monitor and heard her more clearly.

“Shit.” Rebecca Barnes spoke very clearly when you turned your head to the man that could only be responsible. Bucky chuckled softly when you turned on the speak button: “Rebecca Barnes. Do not say that word. Who said that word?”

“I’m going. You want me to suffer huh,” he grunted putting on his shorts that you took from the drawer and walked out the door to his daughter bedroom.

[my-little-delusions]

To the Ends of the Universe Pt. 1 - Dick Grayson x Reader

Pairings: Dick Grayson x Reader (Romantic), Bruce Wayne x Assistant!Pennyworth!Reader, Donna x Reader (Platonic)

Warnings: Death, cursing, violence, talk of self harm, talk of domestic abuse, talk of terminal illness and hospitals, experiments, smut (skippable)

(It's a long summary I know I'm sorry. Read it or don't.)

Summary: When you were 6 years old, you were diagnosed with a terminal illness. The doctors said there was nothing they could do, and your health would rapidly decline. You wouldn't live past 8 years old. Your parents refused to take that answer and decided to make their own cure for you. However, they couldn't stop there, they didn't just want to make you healthy, they wanted to make you super. Make sure nothing could put you in harms way ever again. After a faulty experiment when you were 10 years old, the lab they worked out of, killed your parents and left you a sole survivor.

When reports of a "super kid" loose on the streets reached Wayne Manor, Bruce picked you up. Alfred ended up adopting you legally, but when Bruce realized you had no control of your powers, he decided to train you. Teach you how to use your powers and keep them under control.

A year later Bruce adopted Dick. Growing up and Training side by side you and Dick were inseparable. Your crush on Dick, the cute guy you would with a year older than you, only got worse. As well as his protectiveness over you. Your relationship flourished and you two seemed unstoppable. But what happens when Dick convinces you to leave Gotham? Make a new life for yourselves all on your own.

Disclaimer: I am fully aware my timeline/numbers are screwy, don't think about it. This is based solely on the Titans show, it is definitely not comic accurate lol.

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

"I wish we could stay like this forever" Dick says, his hand brushing my hair gently behind my ears. The night breeze blowing wisps of it back into my face. He leans in ever so slightly, his eyes locked in with mine. Looking at me full of love and admiration. Causing my heart to swell.

He's never failed to make me feel the way he did when we were kids.

I smile at him softly, tilting my head to lean my face into his gloved hand. Slowly, my hand reaches up to grasp around his wrist, pulling his hand away from my face.

I can tell through his mask that his face falls slightly. I cup his hand between both of mine in my lap. His gaze falls down.

"Dick," I sigh, squeezing his hand, watching as he casts his eyes away to look at the city lights below us, "Look at me... please" His eyes dart up to look at mine, flickering away slightly, "Stop stalling. You have to tell me eventually,"

He takes a deep breath. Eyes hardening.

"I am going to quit Robin, quit Batman. The whole thing."

My grip on his hand loosens a bit, the shock settling in, "W-what?"

"I can't do it anymore Y/n, I-I mean you've seen what it's done to me," His voice wavers a bit but his tone is harsh.

"Are you sure?"

"I can't be here anymore. This... place. It's making me a person I never wanna be. I'm becoming just like Bruce. A violent, paranoid, detached person."

"But-"

"No buts! I need to do this." He says, sounding completely serious.

My breath hitches a bit before I go to speak, letting go of his hand and shifting to sit an inch further from him, "Dick. I love you. I will always love you. Bruce saved us. Both of us. We'd be dead without him. But he's also done us some damage. I will miss you, with every part of my being but I think it's a good idea for you to go. Y-you should get out of here. You're right, G-gotham is eating you alive and I-I can see it. I am so sorry I let it happen without saying anything. B-but you are going to do great things out in the world."

My lips wobble as tears prick my eyes but I try to contain myself. Not wanting to make Dick feel guilty.

"Woahwoahwoah. Y/n. Baby. No. I want you to come with me. I need you with me." He says, almost launching himself, this time grabbing both my hands in his, forcing me to look up at him and his hopeful eyes.

"What? Dick... I.. I don't know. I mean, I don't want to lose you but Bruce needs me. I can't just abandon him. After everything he has done for me. Now that Alfred is gone... Batman can be Batman without a Robin. Bruce can't be Bruce without a Pennyworth. I owe it to him. I'm sorry Dick."

It is silent for a moment. The wheels in Dick's head churning away.

"Then I won't go."

"But-"

"No."

"Dick-"

"Y/n I can't leave you! I won't!"

"Dick that's crazy!" I yell, standing up on the ledge we were sitting on, throwing my hands up,

"What do you mean it's crazy?!"

"We have known each other all our lives. It's always been just the two of us. When is the last time you got close with anyone remotely close to our age since Bruce took us in? I mean seriously Dick!" Exasperated, I pause to catch my breath, "... I love you. You mean everything to me, but I refuse to hold you back! You've only ever known me, what if your true soulmate, the person you're really supposed to be with is out there! I mean, hell, Donna? Dawn? Someone new? If you go out there I know you will find someone. I mean, you're a catch Dick," I say, trying to pass it off as a joke with a forced laugh, however the softness of my tone does little to hide quiver in my voice, "I can't let you ruin yourself. I can't let you stay in Gotham and fall apart right in front of my eyes just for me." I say solemnly, looking down at my feet.

Dick gets up as well, chasing after me to the spot I stormed over to in my rant, "Are you kidding me Y/n? I love you! I don't want anyone else! Donna was a crush I had for a month and you know damn well Dawn and I didn't work out because I couldn't forget about you! I've always wanted you! I will always want you! No one out there is meant for me but you! You are my end game. Don't you understand that?" He shouted, his voice growing hoarse and cracking, the veins in his neck protruding slightly as he strained, "I will just work harder. Get stronger. If that's what it takes to stay with you it's what I'm gonna do."

There Dick stood, right in front of me, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. The air in front of his face fogging up.

My eyes filled with water as I fiddled with my fingers, "I'm sorry Dick," I barely whisper.

Without missing a beat Dick wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug and burying my face in his chest.

"Don't be sorry, just let me do this," His says, kissing the top of my head, "I'm not leaving you, okay?"

"Okay."

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

"Thank you, Y/n." Bruce said, walking into the batcave.

"Always," I sigh, a smile on my face, spinning around in the chair at my console.

"I don't know what I would do without you," He says.

I pause, shocked that Bruce would say something so kind casually.

"I don't know either," I snicker. Standing up from my chair and pulling together all of my stuff, "Is there anything else you would like me to do before I tuck in for the night?"

"No thank you, you have done plenty tonight,"

"Okay," I sigh, "Please, Bruce... Get some sleep."

"No promises... but I'll try,"

With a smile I make my way out of the batcave and up the steps. My steps speeding up as I excitedly head up to Dick's room.

"Dick?" I call softly, poking my head around the doorframe.

Then I pause.

I hear something.

It sounds like... sniffling?

That can't be Dick.

Dick has cried in Wayne Manor since we were kids.

I hear a rushed shuffling followed by a hoarse, "Come in,"

Walking in wearily I see Dick, seated at the end of the bed, his cheeks stained with tears and his eyes painfully red.

"Oh.. babe," I say dropping, my stuff on the floor and finding myself at his side. Wrapping my arms around his broad shoulders the best I can. Rubbing his back and his shoulder gently.

He tries to shrug my arms off ever so slightly, "It's nothing, don't worry about it,"

Without saying anything I just continue to hold him, pulling him in a little tighter. Waiting patiently in silence.

After a little while, the sound of sniffling returns, his shoulders shaking. Dick leans over, resting his head on my chest, letting me wrap my arms around him fully. Only then does he release his tears fully. Allowing himself to sob in my arms.

"I-I almost b-beat somebody to d-death. Y/n I-I almost k-killed him," He struggles put in between his shaky breathes, "I-I don't like who I'm becoming," He says quietly to himself.

After that, I let him cry in my arms for hours. Until finally he had exhausted himself of all his tears and passed out. Tucking him into our shared bed, I admire him, looking more peaceful than I realize he has in a long time.

Shedding a few silent tears of my own, I climb into bed next to him. Finding myself exhausted but unable to let myself sleep. Not after this.

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

"Hey" A voice whispers to me, disturbing me from my sleep, "Y/n"

Sitting up a bit, I rub my eyes, letting them adjust to the light. Turning my head, I see dick, already dressed and ready for the day.

Weird.

He usually wakes me up right away.

"Good morning baby," He says smiling and kissing my cheek, pretending like nothing happened the night before.

I just sit there, shocked, stunned, eyes wide.

"Did you sleep okay? I was thinking for breakfast I could-"

"Let's leave Gotham."

"-maybe make some..thing... wait, what did you say?"

"Let's quit. I'll go with you Dick,"

"But you said-"

"I changed my mind."

"But Bruce-"

"I care about you more."

He pauses for a minute, just starting at me, "Are you sure about this?"

"Dick...I want this, for you, and for me. I want to go with you."

My heart feels a bit heavy at just how much his face lights up when I say that. The guilt of ever making him stay here eating away at me.

"I love you," He says breathly and quickly before connecting our lips.

*Gets a little steamy here, skip if needed to the next red*

Gently, Dick pushes me down onto the bed, climbing on top of me.

He pulls away for a second, eyes filled with lust and love as he looks me over, "god I can't wait to start a new life with you,"

Without hesitating, he attaches his lips to my neck and slides his hand down the front of my pants, his fingers immediately find my clit.

"Fuck, Dick," I moan, throwing my head back.

"Your so fucking beautiful,"

His other free hand slips under the bottom of my shirt. Chills run down my spine at the feeling of his calloused hands grazing the skin of my waist.

Lifting his head from the crook of my neck, he begins to pepper kisses all over my face.

All of a sudden, the loud alarms of our phones go off. It's Bruce. Calling us down.

"Fuck." We both say.

I whine as Dick removes his hand from my pants.

Both of us panting slightly, looking each other before I finally say, "we have to actually go see what he needs, you know."

"I know," He says smirking, "I just need a minute to get rid of this hard-on you gave me,"

I roll my eyes, pushing him off me slightly, "You know... we have to tell him as well," I say, a little solemnly.

"Leave that me, don't worry," He says, reassuring me.

----------

*Time Skip*

"Here we go," I say, a wide smile plastered on my face that I can't contain.

Dick turns his head smiling back at me, one hand on the wheel of our truck and the other one rested on my thigh, "I'm so glad you came with me,"

"I'd follow you to the ends of the universe," I say to him, "I know you would too."

Pt. 2

[theycallmebecca]

Drabble: The Luckiest Little Boy

Last week I did a poll for who should star in Father's Day story idea I had and Chris won. So here is the story I wrote for it. I hope y'all enjoy.

In this story Chris is a dad, but also a stepdad. While I am not a child of divorce, my cousin is. He is who is his because he had an amazing step dad who made up for my uncle being a crappy dad. My cousin has since become a devoted stepdad himself and he loves his kids like they are his own.

Title: The Luckiest Little Boy

Pairing: Chris Evans x female reader

Rating: G

Warnings: n/a

Disclaimer: This work of fiction is not to be reposted, used or translated without my permission.

Usage Disclaimer: This work is for fans only. This author does not give permission for it to be shared, spoken of, referred to in any public manner (podcast, tv, online, etc.) that wants to either make a celebrity uncomfortable, mock fan fiction/fandom in any way, or the author themselves. Requests can be made, but it is unlikely the author will change their mind. If no response is given to a request then the answer is a solid no, not interested and the work cannot be shared, spoken of or even referred to, regardless of the manner or context. 

"There's someone here to see you," you said to Chris as you came into the nursery where he was putting your two month old down for a nap.

"Who is it?" he asked.

"I'll take over here," you said, purposely ignoring his question. It was Father's Day and you didn't want to ruin the surprise waiting for him.

"Thanks," Chris said, giving you a quick kiss before he left the room.

Curious as to who was waiting for him, he made his way down the stairs and froze as he turned into the living room.

"Papa!" your 8 year old son shouted and ran over to him. 

Chris raised his arms up just in time to catch the boy and gave him a hug.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his eyes going to the couch where your ex and his husband sat.

"It's Father's Day," the little boy stated after Chris set him back down.

"It is," Chris agreed, still confused. "You said dad and papi were taking you fishing today."

"It's Father's Day," the little boy repeated.

Chris glanced at his co-parents for help.

His step-son sighed and then explained, "Papi is married to daddy, so he's my dad, too. You're married to mommy, which makes you my dad, too."

"He didn't want you to be left out today," your ex added.

"You're supposed to spend Father's Day with your dad," the little boy stated then he puffed out his chest. "I'm lucky because I have three dads."

Chris felt tears stinging the corner of his eyes and he pulled the boy in for a hug. 

"I got all your fishing stuff out of the garage," you said from behind him.

"You knew?" Chris asked, glancing over his shoulder at you.

"They called about an hour ago," you said with a shrug. "But buddy wanted it to be a surprise."

"Can the baby come with us?" your son asked. "She should spend time with papa today, too."

"She's a little young for fishing this year," you said. "But how about when she gets up from her nap, she and I go get everything we need for a barbecue and when you guys get back from fishing we can all have dinner together."

Your son considered your idea for a moment and then nodded his head. "Ok, but we'll need a cake, too," he stated.

"I'll get the perfect cake," you promised.

——

Later that evening, while your son was playing a video game with his step dads, your ex helped you clean up dinner.

“Thanks for today,” you said to him. “I know it meant a lot to Chris.”

“We’re raising a good kid,” your ex shrugged. “When we were eating breakfast this morning, he asked if we were picking up Chris or if he was meeting us at the lake."

"You didn't have to agree to it, though," you said. "It's your weekend…"

"Chris is a good guy," your ex replied. "He loves our son and I know our son loves him. And when the kid said he wanted to spend the day with all three of his dads, how could I tell him no?"

"You're the best," you told him. "Why don't you go play with them. I'll finish up in here."

You watched him leave the kitchen and smiled. Seven-years-ago, you'd become a single mom after splitting with your ex. Then he had gotten married to his husband and the three of you had become co-parents. Then, two years ago, you'd met Chris and had fallen in love.

Initially, you'd worried about how your son would respond to having another man in his life, but it had all worked out better than you could have imagined. Within a month of you and Chris marrying, your son had started calling Chris "papa" and he now had three devoted dads who each brought something different to the table, giving him the best support a kid could need.

[chthonicgodling]

okay!

an Elysium Drama Update!

ahem that is, another textual Elysium drama update, in my hopes and dreams I want to draw things SO MANY THINGS but I have many things to draw first and i have zero energy lately so. TEXT POST disclaimer this did get very very long what a shockerrr but woo

recap: here. Crucial to read that first! (and its linked predecessor!) *our timeline is all fucky wucky right now: Elysium time has been like. a day. two days.

Tory and Maci divided and conquered through the palace to try to scope out if Loki was like, hiding in another room. he is not—oh my god he is not. he’s really gone. Elysium Loki-pregnancy number 3 officially 3 for 3 on cryptically panic vanishing.

cat was kind of let out of the bag as mentioned in my last informal update when Tory stumbled upon Vali, Nari, Eisa, and Einmyria and accidentally told them about the baby. (not who the other parent was!) AND NOW, here’s what’s happened since, ending with where we are right now which is a genuinely unexpected and pending hilarious twist of events! READ ON✨✨

So, aforementioned four Lokikids went off to convene another Sibling Meeting with Rane about newfound baby info and Loki’s REAL disappearance while Tory went off to find Maci. did we find him?!?! no, says Tory very quietly. Maci’s whole face falls she’s now in tears. (“…He really left…?”) okay.,, well. NOW what do they do?????

Tory mentions that some of the kids know what’s going on now and that they were calling a meeting together; maybe they could pop in and see if the kids had any ideas on how to find Loki so they could all work together. okay great plan! Only problem: this is a TOP SECRET meeting.

….Problem quickly solved by ambushing Libby (worst liar of the litter) in the hallway.

Unfortunately when Libby returns from asking Rane if they can join, Rane’s apparent answer was not even a no, it was an ABSOLUTELY NOT. too fucking bad though— Tory and Maci follow Libby and crash the meeting.

it is here that Maci and Tory — and we, the eagerly watching distressed audience — now discover some things about the LokiKid clan:

1: hilariously, Rane is in charge as self appointed leader. - she is 11 years old yes. ruling with an iron fist. No one questions this, not even much older and bigger brothers Fen & Jör, who are present through this meeting as looming figures OVER HER SHOULDER backing her up. Rane is holding court.

2: less hilariously and actually very upsettingly - this may be the worst possible moment to discover, in a crisis, how apparently most of Loki’s kids seem to FUCKING HATE TORY AND MACI. oops! uh-oh! Especially Rane and Vali, glaring the most predominantly.

After a tense stand off with Rane (finally with Tory desperately threatening to pull rank on her to let them attend this meeting; Rane’s response, dryly: “Don’t bother. Your titles carry no weight amongst the children of Loki. We only humor you to be polite.”) Eisa and Einmyria convince Rane to let THEIR parents stick around, also helped along by Tory finally telling them that the new baby on the way was sired by him.

…mass shock. Oh so MACI drove him out?!??! QUICK reassurance that no no no she’s on his side now she’s just as devastated that he’s gone— no one’s really even buying this and tensions grow.

Because well, the kids want him back but THEY know the drill. Loki leaves when he has babies. He’ll send for THEM eventually, privately, but he’s not to be disturbed - certainly not for Tory and Maci, eeeugh. Rane (and Vali) are the most coldly vicious about this but lmfao all of them are kindave in agreement, at least no one’s correcting them. They go back and forth, Tory trying to explain in increasing frustration - the baby is Too big and Loki is weakened. Loki’s a fucking idiot and running from his problems and is not in a good mental space. They love him they need him he has to come home. He just has to.

But Rane, and on behalf of her siblings in a United front, is having none of it- YOU KNOW WHAT some choice canon convo snippets and oh my god I desperately want to draw this REMEMBER RANE’S 11 AND WEARING A FUCKING TOP HAT - btwwww Rane’s ALWAYS been like this, in my brain. this is her very first opportunity to shine! ahem,

Rane: “How arrogant it is to presume he’s better off with you, of all people, than caring for himself.”

Tory:  “Is he better off without us?”

Rane: “Well. My father’s judgement of his own circumstances is absolute. Seeing as he’s no longer here, you tell me.”

[…]

Vali: “Well, here we are. He always has reasons for fleeing as well.”

Maci: “Your father’s an anxious self-destructive wreck, who we love and care about. His judgements and reasons historically suck, and he needs to come back home.”

Rane: “You especially have no business seeking his return. You’re an enemy of my family. And now you’ve driven him away.”

melting melting melting AHHHHHHH

this back and forth goes on and on until finally LIBBY interrupts, watching this whole thing timidly as newest Lokikid, adjusting to the dynamic;

what happens, says Libby, if we don’t find him and bring him home?

well, worst case scenario, says Tory, is injury to the child; to Loki himself; or both. Maci points out that he could end up losing his powers and stuck somewhere where no one can get him, as he had lost his powers during pregnancies before (Rane herself even.) suddenly the gravity of this all hits home when Nari points out that their pantheon can die - Loki could DIE. childbirth is an injurious death. Suddenly, it’s not a matter of what Loki would want (they know what Loki would want, to be left alone) but what’s BEST for his well-being (bringing him HOME). Reluctantly…,,, the tune changes. Vali is the last onboard, but Rane’s word is absolute (lmao).

…Fen also admits he was going to look for Loki anyway regardless of this meetings outcome.

So! How to find him? Finally, the kids share with Tory all of Loki’s usual hiding places. Across realms, though with a baby he’s probably too weak to do this. Often in the upper world, cloaking houses in disguise and blending into Midgard. And finally, in the POCKET VOIDS of the Underworld……..

IMPORTANT INTERLUDE! Now, the pocket voids are an Elysium canon thing. When Loki magically fused with the Underworld long ago, the aftershocks of the magical turnover created many little spaces and gaps “between” physical spaces of the Underworld. They’re almost impossible to find, shifting and infinite, private and discreet. …unsettling and empty. Kind of a collection of “backrooms” of the Underworld, liminal spaces that no one but Loki, as accidental creator, can get into. Only Loki knows how to thoroughly navigate them.

The existence of the pocket voids was discovered when Thanatos escaped back in 2013, I promise I’m going somewhere with that thought. as this was a series of areas that Thanatos was able to escape to. well how was Thanatos able to get into those himself?? I’ll get to that. :3

For now, back to the present — so, Rane assigns her siblings to look for Loki. Vali and Nari are adept at haunting the upper world and could potentially find him up there; Fenris and Jör can travel between realms; the other kids can spread across Elysium, the Underworld - finally as for those pocket voids- still hold that thought! Anyway!

The meeting disperses with Rane refusing to give Tory and Maci an assignment to look for Loki. oh you’ve done MORE than enough, she sneers. Just wait around for him, if you really must. ….ummmm Firstly never forget that Tory’s got JUST as much as a temper as Maci does - it’s just.,, downplayed due to how much time he spends next to Maci, who is worse fgkfkf. But here now, Tory, angry and upset, demands to know exactly what he’s even done?! This isn’t fair!

Rane responds,

“What have you done? You’ve driven our parent away from here - the harder you cling, the further he runs. Not with any of us - but we know him better than you do. And though he may come and go, as through the births of myself and many of my siblings, the child you’ve given him could properly kill him, and now he’ll have to be dragged back against his wishes. Furthermore, you’ve inserted yourself into a private gathering of which you’re not welcome.

We will handle this. Your involvement is no longer needed beyond what you’ve already begun.”

Tory snaps back,

“He consented to having the child. Everything I’ve done was performed with Loki’s permission, gathered beforehand to avoid this situation, but he ran anyway.”

and Rane, coldly,

“That’s your fault for believing him, then.”

so.

S… so.

Both of them fuming and… hurting and trembling,, Tory takes Maci’s hand and retreats with her. They make it as far as their bedroom before Maci bursts into tears (“Holy fuck, that was horrible”), oscillating between raging at how that had gone, the fact that Loki really fucking left; to devastation, over the helplessness they feel and the fact that Loki really left.

Tory makes it as far as Maci choking out that she doesn’t know what happened “he was happy! I thought he was happy.” before Tory is also quietly in tears (and blaming himself! probably because Rane told him this was his fault!)

and so Maci and Tory spent the evening clinging to each other, ANXIOUS about Loki’s wellbeing, furious that he’s gone, and above all, utterly, utterly, heartbroken.

so…. currently.

🥲

Let’s lighten the mood - Return to those pocket voids.

There is actually one other person besides Loki who can get into those - NOT Thanatos; in fact.,

the ONE other person who can access the voids is CHAL.

First discovered by Chal when she was on the run from Ker long long long ago, Chal has always been able to break into, reside in, and teleport through the pocket voids of the Underworld (and had brought her father there during his prison break Shh oops). It’s where Chal was finally discovered and “captured” when they brought her to the Elysium house. Though she hadn’t known it until very recently, it turns out that Chal’s realm of Reincarnation - a slipping of shades across the thin life and death veil - has granted her unprecedented access to slipping across the thin veils of the spaces of the Underworld itself. Though she can’t NAVIGATE them like Loki, she’s always been able to get into them, and is the only person besides Loki himself who can.

Now here we are back during that meeting where, all potential Loki hiding spots are covered except for this one; the biggest, and the one Loki is probably most likely to actually be in.

Libby volunteers Chal to look!

(chal, notably NOT present during this meeting)

here lmao actually, another canon snip:

Libby: “Chal knows how to get into Loki’s pocket voids, maybe I can look with her.”

Rane:  “Ugh, no. Your horrid rude sister isn’t going to do any favors in courting Father back.”

Einmyria:  “Hey, that’s our sister too! …Agreed, though.”

Tory:  “Maybe if she took Bel with her as a buffer?”

Libby:  “Sure, he’s slightly better.”

Slightly lmao 💀And so here in current canon!!! in a truly shocking turn of events!! of ALL FUCKING PEOPLE, Chal and Bel are currently looking for Loki through the voids!!

will they find him?!?! will they convince him to come back?!?! IS THIS THE MOST INSANE LEFTFIELD TWO MESSENGERS TO SEND AFTER LOKI??????? I can’t believe this but it is SO good! currently:

Chal: “…Loki used to— Loki was a fucking, supervillain. Isn’t Loki fucking dangerous? Is this dangerous? Is he going crazy in a fit of fucking rage? What if we have to fight him? I, I can’t win against him in a fight. I don’t even know if I know how to fight anymore and I can’t do magic.”

Bel: “He hasn’t been overtly malicious in a long while.”

Chal: “Maybe he turned overtly malicious while he was running away. Maybe he’s gonna be in a real overtly malicious fucking mood about me and you trying to talk to him.”

COOL! GOOD LUCK YOU TWO! YOU’RE VERY COMPETENT!! oh my gods!!

some very welcome brevity from Maci and Tory sobbing in each others arms around the gap in the bed where Loki was though. again I do want to draw any of this but!! IN NO TIME SOON SOOOOOO

HEY SORRY I DID SAY this was ALLLLL AN excuse for ANGST….. PHEW!!!!

and so if you made it to the end!!!! first of all jfc gbless ily. second of all: STAY TUNED!’ updates of course to follow!!! maybe art one fucking day too fgfkfkgkkgkgk

[jowrites]

Accidents can Happen - 22. Protect her peace (written)

Main Masterlist Here.

Prev. Next.

Disclaimer: Jake and Sunghoon are aged up, both 25. Reader is 24. Heeseung is 26.

TW: Cursing, sexual themes, sex in general? more to be added...

Since the run-in with YNs parents, the couple have been on high alert. Alexa has informed them that she’s been reached out too and their parents were seeking information on YN and the baby. Alexa of course ignored them and when she saw her parents show up at her apartment she was quick to threaten police action and they ran off. The sisters knew their parents and how they were, they weren’t the type to ever back down and they were extremely stubborn.

All throughout YNs life they have always pinned her up against Alexa and always verbally abused YN and manipulated her, making her feel never good enough. The only one who saw through their antics was Alexa, and she always stood up for her sister and the two were extremely close and bonded. YN never blamed Alexa for anything, it was all their parents, and when their parents disowned YN for dropping out of college Alexa was quick to disown them and come running to YNs side. 

Since that day 5 years ago, the girls have had no contact. Their dad still tries to reach out to Alexa, sending her letters and gifts each year but Alexa is quick to dismiss them. They have never once tried to reach out to YN. To say YN was mad at the situation was an understatement. She’s already healed from everything they’ve done and has moved on but the fact they think they can walk in and see her child? Parents don’t just redeem themselves and get a say just because they have a grandchild now. It doesn’t work that way.

Jake has been extremely supportive, and his family. His family easily took YN in and welcomed her into their family with open arms. YN understood where Jake gets his kindness from, he was raised to be a gentleman and raised to always do the right thing. How YN got so lucky with him, she had no idea. But she was never going to take him for granted.

“Baby?” Jake came over to YN as she was staring out the window in their bedroom. She was in the middle of doing some laundry as Delilah was down for her nap. Delilah was such an easy baby and more and more each day her personality came out. She was the sweetest and funniest little 6 month old and Jake and YN were on cloud 9 with every moment spent raising her.

“Hm?” She snapped and looked over at Jake who came into the room.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“Mhm,” she nodded, going back to folding some of Delilah’s clothes. “She’s grown out of a lot of stuff, Jake. We should go through her stuff and donate things.”

“We can do that, but can we keep some of it? I want to keep things to remember every little thing, and every milestone and growth she’s done,” Jake said, picking up one of her onesies and admiring it.

“Jake, you’re so cute you know?” She said, as she admired his sentiment. 

“Me? Oh, I think I’m adorable!” He agreed and she rolled her eyes.

“Yes, my adorable man. Our little girl is so lucky to have you,” She came and kissed his cheek.

“Of course she is, she has 2 parents who love and care for her. If she wants all of Disneyland I’ll buy her all of Disneyland,” He said.

“Okay, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, we have to make sure she knows what respect and earning is, and how hard work pays off. She can be spoiled but…not too spoiled,” She said.

“I make no promises, my love,” Jake kissed her lips. “Also, there’s something I have to tell you.”

“Hm?” Yn began folding more clothes, admiring ones that held certain memories to them.

“Sunghoon just called and he thought your parents were in the office today,” Jake said, helping her with the laundry and YN stopped in her tracks.

“What happened?” YN turned and looked at him, Jake sighed.

“He said they asked for you, he thinks they found your place of work because they recognized me on one of the marketing commercials and that’s how they found you, or so they thought,” Jake explained. “The boys didn’t tell them anything and quickly had security kick them out. But they know where you work now.”

“This is so fantastic, now I’m never going to be able to step foot there again,” YN groaned.

“No, don’t think like that, okay? We can deal with them and I have ways we can make them stay away if you truly want that,” Jake said.

“I just don’t see the point in it all, and I don’t get why they’re so set on seeing the baby when they don’t even like me,” YN said.

“Grandparents will do everything they can when they realize they have a grandchild, trust me, I’ve had some crazy cases. But don’t worry, Delilah will be protected always and so will you, okay? I won’t let them hurt you again,” Jake brought her into an embrace and she easily melted into his arms. Of course he was going to do everything for her, in the past year he’s done nothing but love and support her through everything. This man was everything to her and she knew he was her forever.

“You know, Delilah is asleep…” YN trailed off, playing with the buttons on his shirt. Suddenly she was thrown on the bed, looking up at him as he hovered over her with a smirk on his lips.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

[hoes4hoseok]

txt as taylor swift

disclaimer: i am referring to taylor swift's self-titled debut album! to see the other albums' versions, head over to my masterlist. also...oh my goodness! for once, the album order lined up with their age order! love it 🤧🫶🏽 && thanks to @lethekoo! i missed having you help me with these.

yeonjun as tim mcgraw

"i was right there beside him all summer long, & then the time we woke up to find that summer gone"

yeonjun would give you one hell of a summer if you had a fling (in a good way LOL)

i gave him the way i loved you in my fearless post but i think this is kind of a different healthier version of that

i can just picture him having such a pure relationship of fun & happiness with you for that summer

but it obviously had to end because that's not what real life is 🤧 but he'd always remember you when he heard your favorite artist on the radio 🤧 & all the good times you had together 🤧

oh man 🤧 i need to write a fic about this

soobin as a place in this world

"even though i'm not the only one who feels the way i do, i'm alone on my own, & that's all i know"

i see soobin as very gentle-hearted

obviously, he doesn't fit this song in every way (he probably knows his place in this world by now lmfao) but

"got the radio on, my old blue jeans, & i'm wearing my heart on my sleeve" that's so clearly soobin ✋

also he's not alone

but debut soobin give me debut taylor energy what can i say?

beomgyu as the outside

"so, how can i ever try to be better? nobody ever lets me in"

beomgyu is not on the outside (he's on the outside of the hyung line though LMFAO ✋🙄)

i just think he matches this song's enthusiasm really well! it's very silly & was kind of a reach 😞 let me know if you have a better idea!

taehyun as should’ve said no

"i can't resist, before you go tell me this...was it worth it? was she worth this?"

taehyun gives me a similar energy to the one this song emits: passion! in this case, in the form of anger 👊🙄

when i picture it, i don't think he'd cheat on you, i think you'd cheat on him (no offense)

so naturally if you cheated he'd be pissed as hell but what really gets me about this song is the bridge (i love it)

above all, it conveys that he wishes that you didn't. it's an earlier stage in moving on than picture to burn, for example, because he's still grieving the relationship

man this song is so good & it makes me miss my senior year of high school :) (i didn't get cheated on, i didn't even have a boyfriend, i just played this song on loop anyways)

hueningkai as mary’s song (oh my my my)

"take me home where we met so many years before, we'll rock our babies on that very front porch, after all this time, you & i"

the amount of sheer childhood friends to lovers energy this man holds is incredible (it might be me typecasting him at this point but i'm completely oblivious to it so let me know lmfao)

hueningkai would totally catch feelings for you while the two of you were growing up & it would just unfold so naturally because, obviously, you caught feelings too 🫶🏽

&& at a certain point, you would be certain that you'd spend your life with him. after hitting every roadblock in the past, after loving each other for so long, it would be easy. 🤧😭

also side note this one's for my 04's 🤌 "I'll be 87, you'll be 89" mhm mhm 😊 (or the 00's? that could technically also work)

enhypen version ☆ 1989 version ☆ masterlist

[echantedtoon]

A Champion Time For The Heart Ch31 Through Golden Eyes P1

(WARNING And Disclaimers: Character death implied and mentioned and Flashbacks to when Reader was knocked out by a roof along with the mentioning of Leon having been slightly hurt from his encounter with Eternatus! The backstory isn't cannon except for just the story. This chapter will be Leon's P.O.V during the duration of reader's time with them so far. Also how many people would be interested in a Gordie x Reader once this book is finished? Also give me some nickname ideas for Leon to call reader by.)

He could still remember it like it was yesterday to him. 

He was just eight years old when it happened. The day his father passed away. It was so clear yet so blurred at the same time. He was there one moment smiling at him and kissing his mother good bye before heading off to work, and assuring he'd be back in time for dinner and then the next thing he knew everyone including himself was crying once the news were broken too them. The bad news. The news about the tractor accident. No one could've seen that it would've tipped over when the wheels came loose and that his father would be standing so close by it-...No one could've known he would've-..No one could've known it would-...I-It would-..He-....

.....

He still cries to this day whenever it's brought up or he thinks about it.

But maybe what hurt the most to him was that Hop would never be able to know him. He was too young to remember when it did happen. Only two months old at the time. Everything after that happened so fast it was almost blurred together by a godly fast forward button, or maybe it was because he was so young at the time, but so much happened in so little time after that. His mother started working longer shifts at the local supermarket often leaving him and Hoppy with his 'Auntie' G and her husband or his grandparents to be babysat and not return until much later looking so tired and sad but she didn't let that stop her from smiling at them and loving them as much as she could. Around that same time other things started happening around him as well. Auntie G's husband left leaving her with the two crying newborns that weren't older than Hoppy was. His grandparents sold their home and moved in with them to help his mother with watching over them and the bills. Auntie G and his mother began to hang out more often than they previously did, most likely helping each other through the loss of both losing their spouses just in different ways. He always thought this was the reason he saw Gloria and Victor as other little siblings. Victor another brother and Gloria the little sister he always wanted, and G as a second mother and vise versa with them and his family. It helped him heal a little knowing he had another family just across the road from him but it still was a struggle. So he vowed to help his family in any way he could. He'd start to help look after the babies and try to do more chores around the house to get the strain off his grandparents and mother. And he'd try to put a smile on his Auntie's face whenever he saw her. ...His Auntie started having to work so much harder as well, his grandparents ended up babysitting both Hoppy and the twins which strengthened his idea of having to help. But what could a child do to help them? His answer came all thanks to Sonia. He remembered how excited she was mentioning that the next gym challenge would fall upon them in a couple years soon and that she was so excited because her grandmother was making her a dynamax band for the journey ahead she would take. And it hit him! THAT WAS IT!! The gym challenge was the PERFECT chance to get a place to help them! Although it wouldn't be that easy. Becoming the Champion wasn't really something he was likely to do but it was a chance, and if he did a good enough job he might catch the attention of a gym leader who could make him their apprentice! That would make tons of money and he'd be able to help everyone! But it wouldn't be that easy. It needed work. And boy did he work hard. Having Sonia help him study battles strategies and dynamax effects, getting up early every day to train, and taking notes of what worked best for him and what was most effective in which ways. He was even able to catch a charmander that wondered out from the Slumbering Weald. He put so much work into building that special bond with his team knowing they could trust him and he could trust them. It sure took him a while to convince his family it was a good idea and thanks to Ms. Magnolia he was able to get a sponsorship and dynamax band of his own and set off on his own gym challenge with Sonia when he was around nine and a half. It was scary at first but he trained harder, made friends, and after a long grueling fight he came out victorious against the old Champion. If you think that's where the hardships stopped you'd be wrong. So much responsibility...so much-..stress...At only ten. If someone would've asked him now if he regretted becoming Champion, he would be honest and say no. Because he loved being Champion and all the things that come with it, including the stress now that he was an adult but he wishes things weren't so forced and stressed at the beginning. He would forever thank his friends and family for being his rock during that time of his life and to Mustard for being his mentor throughout the entire experience. 

But it wasn't all bad. He was able to make sure his family weren't struggling and later his mother was even able to buy more land she was able to rent out to the local farmers to make enough to take care of herself and Hoppy and both his grandparents with no problem! He was also able to help his Auntie by referring her to a good local farmers market she could sell all her crops too to make enough to live comfortably with the twins! He was proud of himself, and vowed to do everything he could to make sure his family lived as best as they could. Which meant keeping his title as Champion in tack for so long and giving his little brothers and sister the best upbringing he could provide. So it wasn't too surprising to see the champion coming back to Postwick just to hang out with them all and giving the three children pointers to how to take down someone in battle and giving them advice. He didn't mind becoming a prominent male figure in their lives, and he had already been planning on sponsoring all three of them for the gym challenge anyways but made it clear he wanted them to wait until they were older than he was before they took on anything as challenging as a journey this big. So on the ripe old age of fourteen when the next Gym Challenge was approaching he finally decided they were ready. He couldn't put this off from them forever no matter how worried he was for them but it wouldn't be fair for them if he didn't let them go. So it was only a matter of time when he had Sonia send him some starter pokemon for the three of them and went off to go meet them. And that was also the first time he had ever met Y/n. He had just arrived on charizard to get to Wedgehurst Station and Postwick. Guess word must've gotten out he was visiting because a crowd was waiting for him.

"Hello, hello, Wedgehurst!!,'' He greeted the crowd with a smile and wave, "Your Champion, Leon, is back!! I promise I'll keep doing my best to deliver the greatest battles for you all to watch!!." 

"It's our unbeatable champion!" "Leon, you and charizard are the best!" "WE LOVE YOU LEON!!" "SIGN MY BOOK!!" "THAT'S THE MAN MY DAUGHTER WENT TO SCHOOL WITH!!" "LEON!! MR. LEON!! PLEASE LET ME GET A PHOTO OF YOU IN YOUR VICTORY POSE!!" "LEON!! LEON!! LEON!!" "WE'RE ON IT!! We've all been working on our battle skills just like you've taught us, Lee!!" "But that charizard of yours is to strong for the likes of us to take on!"

The poor champion hadn't even noticed the figure of his younger brother through the crowd as he smiled and tried to answer the crowd as best as he could. "Well thank you for that! I hope you all carry on training up your pokemon and never shy from battle!....Oh! Of course Ill sign it for you little buddy!...Then come challenge me for the Champion title!...Too true Charizard is blazingly strong. But other pokemon can be strong as well! That's why I want the strongest of challengers to fill the Gym Challenge and come battle me! My wish is for Galar's Trainers to work together to become the strongest in all the world!....OH! Yes! Of course! I'd love to have a picture with your daughter!"

He hadn't even noticed Hop and Gloria was there in the crowd until you had comically helped to lift Hop above the crowd high enough to wave his arms.

"LEE!!" Hop shouted at the top of his lungs and waved his arms around just as Leon turned back forward.

He blinked for a moment surprised to see his little brother so high up, before he smiled widely. "Hop!" He called back and made his way towards his little brother. Charizard in tow.

He'd gone through the crowd and right up to the three of you smiling and instantly hugged by his little bro.

"Leon!" Hop shouted into the hug. "I missed you!"

"So, my number one fan in all the world has come out of his way to pick me up!" They soon pulled away from each other with Hop absolutely beaming up at his older brother. "Look at you, Hop!" He hummed eyeing him a moment. "I reckon you've grown....exactly an inch and a quarter last time I saw you!"

"Bingo! That's the sort of sharp eye that's kept you undefeated for so long, eh, Leon?"

"Hm. Well it's funny because for a moment I could've sworn you got a growth spurt and grown taller than me," he teased back and Hop shook his head turning to you and Gloria.

"Nah. They helped me out in getting your attention."

Leon turned to the two of you and Gloria smiled widely when his smile landed on her with another hum. "And these bright eyes over here...I've got it! You must be Gloria! Am I right?" He asked in the same teasing voice which made Gloria playfully roll her eyes. "I've heard LOADS about you from my little brother."

"Oh knock it off, Lee! You know it's me." Her response from him was him ruffling her hat and hair playfully.

"Oh y'know I was just teasing! It's good to see you too, Glory! How's your Mom and Victor doing?"

Gloria giggled before shaking her head at the ruffling and reaching up to fix her hat. "Fine. Pretty sure Mum's helping with the barbecue dinner and Victor started his journey earlier this year."

"Wow. He did? I must've missed a lot since being back."

You were standing there too but you seemed to space out thinking about something until Gloria rose a brow and spoke making you blink back at them.

"There you go again." You blinked at Gloria again as she rolled her eyes. "You were staring off at nothing again, Y/n."

"Oh..Uh sorry. Just thinking about something....Again." Gloria rose a brow but you looked up past her when Leon stepped beside her.

" Oh. So you're the other one that helped Hop, yes?" He asked in a friendly tone and smile.

Before you could speak tho, Gloria chimed in proudly. "YEP! That's right! Not only did Y/n help but she agreed to be my traveling buddy for my upcoming journey!"

"Is that so? Good for you Glor! But I don't think we've properly been introduced." With a swish of his cape Leon proudly pointed at himself and smiled confidently. "I'm the Galar Region's Greatest ever Pokemon Champion!...And a massive charizard fan, too! People call me the Unbeatable Leon!"

And you had chuckled which made him smile more! That's good! He always loved making people smile! Everyone should get a chance to smile. But you didn't get to say anything else when Hop spoke again.

"Come on, Lee! And you two, Gloria! Y/n! Bet I can beat the both of you back home!"

"You're on! And this time I can finally catch up with you!"

Hop smirked with a challenge. "Oh yeah!" Gloria opened her mouth- Hope turned and bolted back up the dirt road. "LAST ONES THERE IS A SMELLY SKUNTANK!!"

"NO FAIR!! YOU NEVER SAID GO!!" Gloria shouted running right after him.

Leon laughed out loud watching the kids run off and shake his head. "That Hop...Always wanting to be the best, isn't he? With a proper rival of his own, I bet he'd push himself to become something truly special..."

"Oh he will. I know he is-..." You had froze up as he turned to you in surprise. You..thought Hop was special too?  "B-Because he has such a great role model! H-H-He r-r-really looks up to you y'know! You're a really kind person and good brother!" 

"Thank you!".....You blinked staring at his smile and made a 'Huh' sound and he chuckled again. "I said thank you. " He was happy you thought Hop was special! He thought so too and at the time happily returned that nice compliment. "That's honestly really nice of you to say so. I always try to be the best person and role model I can be for Hop and others like him. It's just one of the many duties as the best Galar Champion."

"Uh...Your w-welcome."

He smiled and turned back to the watching crowd with another cape swish. "Well, everyone! I bid you farewell for today! But don't you fret..." In a sudden blur he struck a pose with his arm pointed towards the sky and the crowd cheered loudly for it! Giving the same hand signal back. "I'll always be around to make sure everyone in Galar can have a Champion time!" You couldn't help but smile as he did so. Yep. At least this Lean was pretty spot on from the vaugue memories you have of when you played the game. He turned back to you with a smile. "Hey. Since the kids already ran ahead why don't you race me there? It'll be fun!"

He wasn't expecting for Gloria to get a traveling partner but you seemed nice and that sobble he gave- Oh. Silver Veil. He forgot you named him Silver later. Silver seemed to love you a lot. Although he couldn't believe you never had a pokemon before and how you met his family certainly was one of the strangest stories he'd ever heard. He decided to ask you when his curiosity peeked during dinner.

"You're Y/n right?," Lean asked and you blinked back up at his smile. He chuckled and pointed a hand up. "I don't think we had the chance to talk since you all met me at the station. You helped my little brother stand a little taller-"

"And give Lee an ego boost," Gloria teased.

"Hey! C'mon Glory. She just gave me a compliment." He chuckled and looked back to you. "I also heard you agreed to be Glory here's traveling buddy. Are you two friends?"

You opened your mouth to speak but Gloria cut you off as she pointed her fork at you two. "Actually we just met this morning. She was camping in the Slumbering Weald and was chased out by a flock of wild Corviknight." She shoved the food into her mouth and you wanted to sink into your seat as Lean blinked in surprise before looking at you.

"You went camping in the Slumbering Weald? Even I wouldn't get lost there, and corviknight are big pokemon. How'd you manage to get into that mess?"

"Uh-...It's actually a f-funny story. You see I'm n-new to Galar! I've been uh-...T-T-Traveling around and I guess I didn't know what I'd be getting myself into."

"Oh. Well at least you were able to get out of there alright by the looks of it. So...You're new to the Galar Region?" You nodded yes. "I see. So where are you from?"

"Uh...I-I'm from the K-Kalos Region actually..B-But I've been..Traveling around for a l-long time so...y'know I've been here and t-there."

He blinked. "Kalos Region huh? Wow. That's a long ways from here, across the ocean even. You must really enjoy traveling."

You smiled. "YEP! It's the best!" 

Lean smiled at you. "I admire a free heart and spirit! So what brought you to the Galar Region? Was it just to see me?"

"She's here to see the Champion's Cup! And since she's going to be sticking around until everyone can finally battle you, I offered her to come along and BOOM! Instant traveling buddy," Gloria chimed in.

"Y-Yeah! That's right! It's not every day there's a big event like this! And who knows? I might just be eating with the next champion right now, or if you manage to stay champion that is."

"Oh. Well then you're in for a real treat! I have a feeling that this year is going to be full of excitement and powerful trainers like these two here," he gestured to the two teens who seemed to be proud-

"Lee." Leon froze as his mother pointed her own fork at him with a scowl. "I didn't slave away all day making your favorite lunch just so you would be too busy talking to eat it. Champion or not you're still my son in this house and what I say goes! Now hush and eat up!"

"Yes, Ma!"

He thought you seemed nice enough but you sure gave him a good impression later when you went to visit Sonia..and when you alerted him to the dangers that he failed to overlook-

"So, how do you know Sonia?,'' you asked to keep up conversation as you two walked over the bridge leading to the train station.

He was happy to answer. "Oh me and her go way back. Actually she was my rival when I first started my journey to become the Champion I am today. I think you'll like her actually. She's really smart and a great cook to boot! Not to shame my mom's cooking, but if I had to chose between hers and Sonia's dishes, I think I'd have to go with Sonia's." He chuckled smiling widely and reaching a hand up to rub the back of his neck.

You chuckled along as you both turned right at the train station and kept walking towards the research lab. Walking past you heard and noticed a lot of people stopping to stare at Leon as he passed with you pointing, and he just smiled and waved to them. A few women swooning and giggling like fangirls as he walked past with you.

"Heh. You must be pretty popular with the ladies," you teased and you were surprised when he got a bashful look over his face.

"Yeah..Well I don't really have much time for really thinking about dating or anything. Being the Champion means more responsibility for me to handle. I'm lucky the Chairman gave me a few days off to sponsor the kids. Now a days you need a sponsorship by one of the main benefactors to compete in the Gym Challenge, and I wanted to help those two when I had the chance." He felt a bit bashful at that but thankfully you both arrived at the lab at that time. "AH! Here we go! Looks like I remembered the right way after all!" You blinked and looked up to the building in front of you. A pokeball was painted above the doorway and it looked like a fancy old cottage home with a purple roof, and a few leafy plants hanging off of it. Leon grabbed the door without hesitation and smiled. "Let's head on in then."

Before you could protest, he had already walked into the home and left the door wide open for you to follow. You looked at your sobble for a brief moment and it made an unsure face. Ultimately you decided to follow him in since after all you had been there before in game, so it couldn't have been much different in person right? On instinct, you closed the door behind you with your foot and ended up finding Leon standing a few feet away looking around at the place. So you looked around too and slowly got a sense of the area. Next to the door was a small kitchen like area with a sink, table with chairs, coffee pot, and a tea set sitting on said table. The walls and floors was a simple white, with a few table and desks covered in books, equipment, and what you guessed was whatever 'research' they were doing here with all the books on the shelves. Literally. There was a LOT of books with a staircase leading up to even more, and of course a few houseplants here and there. A lot more like a library than a lab to you really. You looked back to Leon as he whistled.

"I've got to give it to Professor Magnolia. Everything in here looks fascinating."

 You went to walk to stand beside Leon until you jumped back with a yelp as Sonia's yamper showed up.

"Hey there lil buddy!," Leon exclaimed kneeling down and reaching out to pet the small pokemon who gladly accepted his affection with a couple yips. "It's Sonia's Yapper. Which means she's in here somewhere."

And close she was. "What is it today, Leon?" You both looked up at the voice and the small Yapper turned around and barked happily seeing it's master.  Hands on her hips looking down at you two. "Looking for info on another never-before-seen, super strong pokemon? I wish you'd stop with these outlandish requests."

He opened his mouth to say something- "ACK!!" He turned his head away as the yamper jumped up and licked his cheek like a dog, causing Leon to laugh and stand back up shaking his head. "Good to see you, too, Yamper!" He turned his head as the orange haired lady came walking down the steps. "Yamper here is a real champ when it comes to helping you find your way around." He pointed to the pokemon who barked. "He came to my rescue plenty of times back in the day, when I got lost on the road. Oh yeah, and that's his trainer, Sonia!" He pointed to the lady who by now was at the bottom of the stairs and walking towards you two. The small pokemon barking and running over to her feet. "What can I say about Sonia? Well I like the way she cooks. She makes food you can gobble down in a flash."

"Tsk." He turned back to the woman with a smile as she suddenly stood before him arms crossed. "What kind of an introduction is that? Did you forget we were rivals during our Gym Challenge? It wasn't just Yamper helping you out. I did, too! "

He chuckled and reached a hand up to sheepishly rub his neck. "Yeah. Can't forget how many times you had to drag me to the right gyms for my battles?"

She rolled her eyes. "I still for the life of me how you end up in the most random of places. Seriously. The only place you never get lost to is the kitchen for a snack."

"Oh come on, Sonia. You don't have to be so mean." he pointed to you. "I even brought a friend to wait while we get the pokedexes."

Sonia looked over at you and the Sobble on your shoulder peeking out from it's last spook. "Are you one of the trainers Leon's sponsoring?"

"Wha- Oh no! This is Y/n. She's actually going to be traveling with one of the trainers I'm sponsoring. She just tagged along to wait for them...aaand to make sure I didn't get lost on the way here. Ahehe."

"Oh I see." ...A smile came back onto her face. "Anyway, nice to meet you!" She pointed a hand at herself. "Name's Sonia. I'm the professor's assistant. It's very nice to meet you."

You smiled and waved a hand. "Hello. It's nice to meet you too." Your head did another look around the place ultimately landing on the glassed off area with plants. "This is an interesting lab you've got here.." You pointed at the area. "What's that?"

"Oh that?" She glanced to it quick before looking back to you. "That's the terrarium my grandmother and I sometimes conduct small environmental study tests with although it's not being used for anything at the moment." She pointed back to your Sobble. "Oh what a little cutie. It reminds me of the starter Sobble Leon was given by my grandmother for the trainers he's sponsoring."

The sobble chirped and Leon gave her a nervous chuckle. "Actually that IS the same Sobble Professor Magnolia gave me."

Sonia blinked to him faster than lightning and he gave an even nervous smile holding up his hands. "WHAT?! Lee! What's it doing back here then? Grandmother made sure you had the starter pokemon for three trainers!"

"Take it easy, Sonia. I'm not returning it." He held up a finger. "I-It's actually a pretty funny story."

She hummed. "Uh huh. I'm going to LOVE hearing about this." She started walking and you stepped aside as she passed one hand reaching up to rub her temples as the other one motioned for you to follow her Yamper at her heels. "Come on. I'll make you two some tea." You watched her go before looking to Leon who shrugged with that nervous grin and turned to begin walking towards where Sonia went, you following. "So. Mind telling me why the sobble we gave you is back here?" She asked grabbing the coffee pot and placing it on the small oven by the sink and reaching over to click it on as Leon and you came over.

"Well you see." He gave that nervous smile as she turned around to him brow raised. "Those three kids I told you about was reduced to two when one decided to go on a separate journey instead of doing the Gym Challenge with the others. So Sobble was kind of an extra." He took a seat across from her as she went to sit down, and pointed to you and the sobble. "But luckily Y/n here was in need of one too so it kinda worked out for the best."

The sobble chirped happily as you took a seat opposite of both of them and shrugged. "I mean...It's better to have one now just in case right? Still kinda getting used to it."

"Oh that's right. Hop mentioned you never had a pokemon before like Gloria."

Sonia rose a brow to you. "You've seriously never had a pokemon before?"

You quickly shrugged "I had more interest in traveling really. New to the region."

Sonia hummed but nodded. "Well I think you'll find the pokemon here very interesting. Especially the dynamaxing battles?"

"......Dynamaxing?," you asked confused. "What's that?"

"You DON'T know what dynamaxing is?," Sonia asked eyes wide.

"Oh boy. Here comes the professional speech," Leon smiled good naturedly and leaned back in his seat. Arms and legs crossed. You looked to him and was about to ask what he meant...only to get interrupted by a speech of intel by Sonia.

"It's known as the Dynamax Phenomenon. This phenomenon, in which pokemon take on gigantic forms, has only been observed in the Galar Region. Moreover, it only seems to occur in specific locations and under set conditions." You opened your mouth- "On the gigantification of pokemon, while the general principal holds that pokemon grow stronger and larger by evolving, it is also true that simply making oneself appear larger is another survival strategy with merit." You raised a hand- "But regarding the changes pokemon can undergo. Pokemon do not only change in appearance when they level up. They can also do so through the use of certain items or under the influence of the area they live in, in some cases. It is hypothesized that some factor within the pokemon itself is what allows for these changes to their form and biology, but thus far, conclusive evidence of such a factor has not been found by researchers."

She finished with a smile content with her eyes closed and arms crossed, her Yamper not understanding but barking in total agreement anyways as you just....stared. Leon seemed to be the only one to make a noise as he chuckled in amusement at himself for Sonia seeming to break you for a long moment of silence.

".....So basically dynamax-whatchamacallit stuff is just pokemon Super evolving for a hot minute?..Cool," you finally replied seeming to make some kind of sense of what she just spewed out to you. Sonia stopped and stared at you. Leon however snorted and quickly covered his mouth, turning away to shake as snickers escaped his body as you blinked. "Was it something I said?"

Sonia gave her laughing friend an annoyed frown before clearing her throat professionally and looking back calmly to you. "Oh no. But trust me when I say that Dynamaxing in the Galar Region is more than just pokemon with super evolving. We're the only region in the world who's pokemon is able to do so. We still don't know why, but it's one reason why our pokemon battles are so popular around the world."

"So you guys like to brag about your region of super hero pokemon evolving into bigger super hero pokemon to gain viewers??"

"PFFFT!! AHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Leon couldn't contain himself anymore. Arms coming to hug his middle as he half leaned over the table laughing his lungs out. Sonia back to glaring at him annoyed and you raising a brow. What was so funny? Isn't this basically what is was?...Well from you're point of view yes, but now that you're seeing these two, maybe it's just that serious to Sonia. "I-I-..." He wheezed. "I-I-I'm so-o-orry! Ahahaha! I've just never heard anyone say something like that especially to Sonia! M-Most d-d-don't even question what she says. Hahaha!" He coughed a few times covering his mouth as he started to come down from his laughing high Sonia still scowling.

"OH!" You held up your hands catching Sonia's attention. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to make you feel bad I swear."

Sonia huffed but shook her head. " Nevermind. It's fine. Some people." She side eyed Leon with the stink eye as he wiped his eyes coming back from laughing. "Just don't get how scientific research is."

"So what is it exactly that you two do here?," you asked trying to lighten the tension. Luckily it seemed to work as Sonia smiled back towards you.

"Oh. Leon's a right amazing Champion, and I'm basically just an assistant. I'm not even Gran's official assistant, either." She looked down to the table with an almost sad look, "I've just been calling myself one. Somehow, it makes me feel a little restless. ...But to really answer your question." She pointed back towards the desks and tables covered in books, papers, etc. "We do research on ancient history of the pokemon and dynamaxing phemnonenon. We also supply starting trainers in this town with their first starter pokemon, although this is the first time Lee's delivering them personally. I just hope that whoever he decided to give them too aren't reckless. No offense."

"None taken," you replied, "But don't worry. I think they'll be in good hands with the new trainers." You smiled.

"Speaking of those two, where are they?" Leon hummed and gave the door a curious look as if Hop and Gloria would burst through it any moment, before looking behind him at the clock on the wall. ".....It's been almost a whole hour. Telling Mum can't take that long, and surely they couldn't have gotten lost. That's my thing."

He couldn't remember when the last time he laughed that hard was, and although he did feel kinda bad, the bewildered looks you made Sonia have was just too funny to NOT laugh at. You had a blunt but funny sense of humor about you. But it was after he said that last sentence did you stop being funny. Instead gaining a far away stare about you before you turned paler than a abomisnow. He would've asked if you were alright if you hadn't literally jumped out of your seat and slammed your hands onto the table-

Your hands slammed on the table and you desperately looked at Leon. "WE HAVE TO GO! THE KIDS ARE IN THE SLUMBERING WEILD!!"

"WHAT!?" Leon asked eyes wider than dinner plates as if you were far away and he didn't hear you.

You nodded. "They went there after this wooloo knocked over the fence leading to it by Gloria's house! We have to leave right now or else they could get seriously hurt!"

He wasn't sure what possessed him to do that but too many panicked feelings were running through him and he only heard that Hop and Gloria were in danger and in the SLUMBERING WEILD of all places!! That place was so dangerous even an experienced Pokemon Ranger would think twice before going in there. So imagine his horror when he saw what you had said was indeed right and they had gone after this wooloo.

"No.." It came out so quietly you weren't sure if Leon even spoke but you looked to him regardless. A look of horror, panic, and absolute FEAR on his face. "No...NONONONO!!" He suddenly darted forward again and stopped right at the fence entrance darting his hands up to cup his mouth. "HOP!! GLORIA!!"

His only answer back was the echoes of his own voice which eerily and spookily echoed back to him slowly fading out into the woods before them and even tho breathing heavily for breath you forced yourself to walk up next to him and in an urgent voice said. "We HAVE to go after them! They could be hurt!"

"NO!" He turned to you a determined scowl on his face. "I'm going after them! I need you to stay here in case they come back before I get out or in case I get lost and can't find them! I can't risk you coming with me and getting lost too! And if they come back and notice Im gone they might just come right back in looking for me!"

"WHAT?!," you blurted out, "But won't two of us searching make it easier to find them!?"

"I CANT RISK THEIR LIVES OR YOURS, Y/N! Don't worry about me! I'll get charizard to fly me out if I need to! If none of us are back within an hour I NEED you to run back to Sonia and tell her what happened! She knows where to get the proper help!"

THANK ARCEUS THEY WERE ALRIGHT!! By some miracle he was able to find the two and got them back out ok but he still dreads to think about what might've happened if you hadn't figured out where they went. He was also curious to how you figured out so he asked.

"How was Sonia after you explained what happened?"

He groaned leaning his head back and crossing his arms, giving a closed eyed grimace as you two walked. "Not too good. She yelled at me about how rude it was to just run out like that without giving her a heads up, and then she got even more annoyed she's going to have to fix that fence. Hopefully no other wooloos get the idea to enter Slumbering Wield...." His eyes popped open for a moment before he turned to you with a look. "Speaking of which, how'd you know they went in there?"

"Um...Well like you said. I saw the wooloo earlier with the other two when it was trying to bust down the fence yesterday, and your little brother must really love wooloos by how much he talks about them....So it was just a lucky guess based off..wooloos??" 

"I see..." He smiled. "Well that was a pretty good guess. I can't say how grateful to you I am for helping Hop and his friend."

He had to admit it. He would've never thought of something like that or put the two pieces together so quickly in the way you did. It's true Hop absolutely adored wooloos, especially his own...and going into Slumbering Weald to rescue a single wooloo sounded exactly like something Hop would do and Gloria going in right by him was something she'd definitely do too. He'd be forever grateful you were able to connect the dots quickly. From there it was just a matter of just getting Victor who arrived late set up with a back up starter and repaying you. He had felt you had done him a great favor helping to keep two people he cared about safe and he decided to repay that kindness in full by getting you all set up with a pack worthy of traveling. He was buying supplies for the other three as well and being Champion he could certainly afford it all, so helping you the same way he was helping them seemed like the least he could do to repay your kindness. He was absolutely NOT about to let those three go out there unprepared and with nothing like he first did. Better to be safe than sorry. He repaid his debt to you and he left and...well that was it for a while. He didn't see Y/n again for a long, long time after that. He saw the trio at the Entrance Ceremony but considering you were in the stands he didn't get a chance to say hi. He did see the trio throughout their journey on the league's official website. Watching them battle against his gym leader friends and through Vic's online photo blog with all the pictures he took. He saw you in the background of a few of them but he really didn't see you in person until much later when he agreed to meet up with the Chairman-..Well now Ex-Chairman Rose about a plan to put up some more wind mills to generate more power to the powerplant. So he went, got lost, had Raihan pick him up on his flygon, and arrived in Hammerlocke. Imagine his surprise when he saw both Y/n and Gloria there. He surprised you enough into giving a funny squeal sound and Gloria practically knocked him over from her hug. He heard from his earlier enounter with Victor and Hop (who felt down at the time-) that you had been helping to keep them safe-....You...Were? He wasn't sure what to think about that, but none the less he was just happy someone was looking after these three on their journey around Galar, especially when Victor told him about you defending someone from a couple of goons dressed as rockstars...Hmm. Sounded familiar. He made a mental note to give Piers a call later when he had the time. But he was grateful still all the same and made sure to thank you for it that same day he saw you..Until he was chased to the powerplant by a group of fans. Sigh. And then there was even more time before he saw you again too before he saw you at Hammerlocke yet again when he came around to visit Raihan. It was short, brief, and simple before he went with Sonia to see what that shaking in the powerplant was all about. Turns out it was just an 'accident with one of their machines exploding' but considering what actually happened with battling Eternatus he highly doubted that now, but when he parted ways with Sonia and caught up to Raihan he was...Well he was sure something. He found his friend sitting in the gym hands clasped in front of his face and staring off.

"Raihan!," he greeted with a giant smile and wave to his rival, "It's been a while! I came to see how the challenge was faring for you!" ...When Raihan didn't respond, the champion blinked and rose a brow at him. "Rai?" He questioned with a poke to the gym leader's shoulder. "Hey. Are you alright there? You look like you're thinking real hard on something."

And then Raihan inhaled. "You know that Y/n girl?"

His brow rose higher. "....Yyyeesss. We're friends." He considered you as a somewhat friend at this point. "Why do you ask?"

Silently Raihan patted the space next to him. "Sit down. You're gonna want to hear this."

He wasn't sure what he was expecting when Raihan said that but he was nervous since his friend was acting so serious, but when Raihan did tell him about yours and his first meeting-....He laughed. Not just laughed. But hugged his sides because they hurt so much laughing because he had never heard anyone doing that to him before. The poor fella seemed so flabbergasted when you so suddenly, but nicely turned him down on the spot before he even made any moves. First Sonia and now his Rival. Gosh. Already you shocked two people who were really hard to shock were shocked by you with expressions he'd never seen before and he wasn't the only one who laughed. Apparently Piers had done the same when Rai told him. Gosh you were really amusing. He again wouldn't see you again until much later again after the trio had defeated Piers, he had gotten called out to take care of a rampaging dynamaxed pokemon on Route Nine when he ran into all of you. Of course it was too dangerous to go to Hammerlocke that way so he had the four of you take the back roads back to Hammerlocke with the promise he'd meet you all there. He'd rather not see the four of you hurt if he could help it. He did end up keeping his promise to the four of you at Hammerlocke to talk to the now Ex-Chairman Rose about the strange dynamax pokemon he took down, but he unfortunately couldn't keep his promise of eating with the four of you. But he was able to give you all some money which surprised you-

"Hmhmhm. You're doing a great job capturing those shots on your blog! I know Hop looked so great in those pictures you took of him Battling against Opal! I'm so happy the camera I got you is working so well! I'm sure both our Mums are so happy you three are doing so well for yourselves." Victor groaned even after Leon stopped ruffling his head but didn't complain like he did with the snow in Circhester. You blinked when he finally turned to you. And your eyes bulged out of your head like those funny googly eye stickers when he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small stack of money!! And it was small. Only being around sixty dollars as you stared silently as he held it out to you. "Now I believe I promised you all lunch. I'm afraid I can't join you as the Chairman has called me as well, but this should be enough to tide you over."

".............Huh?,'' you asked.

"Wha- But Lee. We didn't get here before you remember?," Victor pointed out.

And you finally snapped out of it nodding and pointing to him. "Y-Y-Yeah! What he said. ...And why are you giving this to me?"

He smiled before placing the money in your hand using his other hand to close your fingers around it, and you looked between him and the money into your hands as he waved you off. "Take it as a thank you for looking after my little bro and his friend on their journey." You opened your mouth but he held up a hand to stop you. "No. Please. I don't give hand outs, but I also know it's a bit rough for you out there not having any money like the others. I can't give a whole lot but I hope this helps you. Go ahead and get everyone some lunch and the rest is yours."

It was the least he could do since you had your hands full helping to take care of everyone, and he was technically right. You probably didn't have a whole lot to spend compared to the money they earnt from the challenge and himself. So that made you both even now! He didn't like owing people much anyways. From there it would certainly be a long time since he saw you again. He laughed when Raihan told him the tale of you pulling the hood over him again but that was the extent of how much he heard from you until around September when he got a phonecall from his mother letting him know you four had safely returned home until the finals that years after defeating Raihan. Oh good. So at least he didn't have to worry about you all and he was sure they wouldn't just wonder into the Slumbering Weald again so for now he'd focus on his own duties until those finals came. Speaking of which, he needed to get his Christmas shopping done. He wasn't sure how much time he might be able to spend with them this year so he might as well send the yearly package to his family. He had gotten most of his friends and Family in Postwick something. Extra notepads for Sonia and Ms. Magnolia. Calling in a favor from said Ms. Magnolia to get Hop a special book he knew he wanted. Some cookies he knew his grandmother adored. A cozy sweater for his grandfather. Self pampering kit for his mother because she deserved it. A gardening tool set for his Auntie. A waterproof camera for Victor (it'd be helpful for underwater shoots or if he got caught in the rain-). And a whole bunch of curry and pokemon pictures for Gloria (since she was working on those dexes-). ...But...that also left one other person. Y/n. What would Y/n like? It'd be rude for him to not get you something especially since he considered you a friend by this point. He was having a hard time deciding what to get you when he saw it in a store window. A small matching pair of a blue hat and scarf with a small sobble face on the front. You liked sobbles right? It was getting cold anyways so that'd be a good gift! He ended up sending that along with a cookie tin over to you. There! That outta be a good gift. He was sure happy when he saw you nearly a month later wearing the set when the two of you met during the start of the semifinals. Mr. Rose and Olena were 'busy' so he was in charge of putting together the entire thing together and he finally got to thank you for all your hard work.

"I'd better go find a s-s-spot in the stadium," You added a little shaken because of the cold as Gloria grabbed her pale brother hand and started carting him off behind Hop,"So I c-can get a good view o-of their battles."

You blinked when Leon patted Your shoulder. "Don't worry about that." Leon smiled widely. "You're being treated to the V.I.P lounge and watching the semifinals with me this year!"

F/c eyes widened as you smiled. Ah. That's the Leon you know. "No way! You're serious!?"

Leon chuckled and nodded. "Yep! I've already promised myself to make sure you would experience a Champion Time and nothing can be more so than joining me to watch the matches. Besides, I couldn't let you sit out in the stadium knowing your stuttering worse than Victor with a cold."

"A-Alright! That sounds amazing!"

"Is this that Sobble I gave you?" With a giant smile he gestured his hand out to Silver in your arms. "Wow! I see you've been taking care of that pokemon real well! He looks like a real healthy drizzle!"

....You smiled and nodded back. "Thanks. But he has a name now. Silver Veil."

Leon blinked at Silver who chirped out an answer when you spoke his name. "Silver huh?...Hmm. I think that name suits him real well." he complimented you.

"Thanks. How have you been by the way?" Your eyes scanned back over the crowd. "Seems you really stirred up quite the crowd."

He chuckled and waved a hand. "Well I do try to make everyone as happy as I can as Champion. OH! But while I have the chance, I also wanted to thank you for all the help you gave Mum. It can be a chore for her trying to do everything herself since Gran and Gramps aren't always in the best shape to help."

Your face gave a look of surprise for a moment. "Wha- How'd you know about that?"

"Hop and I talk to each other on the phone all the time. Same with Mum and I. They've all said some really good things about you and how helpful you were!"

You stood there for a moment before chuckling bashfully. "Well it wasn't a big deal. It was the least I could do for how much she helped me out." You then pointed one hand towards the stadium. "Besides are you sure its ok if I join you? I couldn't ask that of you, you know that. It wouldn't be fair to everyone else around here." As if to get your point across you gestured to the crowd and Leon looked to where you were pointing. You didn't want to just take him up on his offer no matter how nice it was. It wasn't fair to everyone else who couldn't have this chance. "It's much appreciated though. It's fine really."

"But I insist." you paused as he turned back to you with a giant smile. You opened your mouth to protest but he held up a hand. "You've helped my mother a lot. You've helped to keep my little brother and his friends safe. And from what I've been told from the incidents in Stow-on-Side and Spikemuth, you've also risked your safety a few times as well to do so." You still stared at him as he returned his hand to his side. "Part of being a Champion is being able to know people. You've done a lot and haven't asked for anything in return or taken advantage of the fact you've been around my friends and family. That's the signs of a good person. And the least I can do to repay that kindness is making sure you have a Champion Time like the rest of us." He smiled friendly to you but there was something..Different about his face. It could've just been the snow and cold air adding a rosey pink to his cheeks but he almost seemed more affectionate as he smiled at you. "And... I-I can promise that none of the others would mind either."

It was really considerate of you to not want special treatment but he was glad when you took him up on his offer! But then when the matches started on more and he watched along with you...it was then that he started to understand a bit more when you both spoke.

"Y/n?" You yelped with a jump and whirled your head around to stare at the man who walked up behind you, only to find Leon smiling and holding up a hand. "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you." He then gestured to the window. "Going to watch the matches."

"Um..Oh! Y-Yeah. Thought I'd better get a good view y'know," you answered back voice a bit more shaky.

He nodded humming Gold eyes looking you over for a second. "...The snow's beautiful isn't it? It may be cold but it makes the perfect atmosphere for Christmas. I can't remember the last time I got to properly celebrate the holidays with Hoppy...What about you? What's your favorite thing about the holidays?"

....Your head shook before you returned your now crestfallen eyes downwards to the glass, not even able to look at your own reflection. The fabric of your coat felt rough as you ran your hands over your sleeves. Leon rose a bold brow, clearly taking note of the sudden change in mood so fast.

".....I don't remember. My mom never celebrated Christmas since I was just twelve." The champion blinked at you, fully turning his face to you now. "I never had any gifts or christmas tree or stockings...Yeah. I GET that's not what Christmas is about. It's about spending time together and stuff. " You scowled down at the glass your fists digging into your sleeves' fabric. "But would it have hurt her to at least get me a candy cane? A sweater? A small card?! I GOT!!...." Your body deflated along with your face.  "....I never got anything from her." Leon stared as your arms flopped to your sides. ".....She n-never did want to celebrate holidays. T-There was a-always some k-kind of money problem..."

"She never wanted too...Or did she not just ever let you?," Leon asked softly and you froze, your reflection's face mirroring the giant bomb that was just suddenly dropped onto you by Lee as he watched you. But his head immediately lifted up high as he saw the telltale signs of your eyes becoming shiny, and not in the sparkly kind. More like the 'Im about to cry' signs showing. AW RAPIDASH CRAP!! Great going Leon! You just goofed up again as always. Some Champion you were for making a girl cry. He wanted to smack himself and groaned. What was he thinking!? Instead he...reached up a hand, hesitated for a moment when you didn't respond from the movements, and then gently grabbed your shoulder. Of course you jumped at the touch and snapped to him wide eyed to him. "Hey. You shouldn't cry. Look at this. Your mum's not here is she?" No..Of course she wasn't. "You can celebrate Christmas now however you please right?"

.....Sniffling you shook your head no and reached a hand up to wipe at your eyes. "I-I'd l-love to...But I can't?''

"Why not?," Leon asked genuinely confused blinking.

"B-Because you're spending Christmas with the guys," your gaze turned back down sadly. "As much as I'd like to spend the holidays with them, I can't just invite myself with them all the time. Besides they deserve a chance to just hang out without me being tagged along with them, especially with their own family. I can't invite myself onto something that I wasn't even invited too."

"What about your dad? Dontcha have any other friends to hang out with?"

"No!," you shot back at him but somehow no one noticed again. "I don't! Because of my mom all my friendships sort of just...faded when when I didn't hang out with them and then they went off after highschool to who knows where! My dad's gone and my mom is...a-also...gone. ...I don't know where they are. Heck! I didn't even have Silver until you gave him to me this year! I-....I haven't had anyone for a l-long t-time ok?" You let out in a shaky voice and looked back away staring back out the glass. "I'll be fine! I was fine then and I'll be fine now, Leon. Thank you b-but I'll be fine by myself for a bit."

You might've not meant to sound so harsh towards Leon but to his credit the man didn't even flinch when you had snapped at him. Another silence resumed where you two slacked and he went back to looking out the window himself. All of it clicked so fast in his head as he stared silently out the window as the current battle ensued. So...Your mom was controlling? Is-...I-Is THAT why you started traveling around and so far from Kalos? Well that would explain why you were currently crying. What mother did that? And your father left you too huh? Yeah. He could relate to that. Not having a father around was certainly tough. He should know all too well he was afraid. He felt a pang of guilt for having pushed the topic the bit, but he was glad he found out more about you although he did feel bad about you crying. SO he was gonna do what he did best, and that was making sure everyone had a Champion Time. Especially someone like you.

".....Hey. Y/n?" You hummed but didn't look away from the glass as Leon spoke your name. "You said you weren't invited right? Well how about I invite you anyways?"

You stared at him mouth agape suddenly and eyes blown wide at the sudden offer. "Wait...You want to invite me on your Christmas trip? But you already planned it."

Without looking at you still he nodded again. "Yeah. It'd be a nice change of pace to have someone like you around, and don't worry about it." He smiled wider at you making your face light up just a wee bit. "It's my job to make sure everyone has a Champion Time around the holidays. Especially my friends."

That Christmas had been one of the best ones he had ever had. Not only was he able to spend it with his siblings, but he also got to spend it with you too! It was full of fun and surprises. He managed to get you a pokeball through that game, Hoppy and the others had a good time, and he even got a small gift from you. A small metal Charizard key chain he still has attached to his regular keys. He...He couldn't remember the last time he was able to get a gift from someone too. He was usually too busy so-...S-So it really meant a lot when you did give it to him. But it was that one incident. The accident...that really made him question how he really felt towards you. You both were just standing there at the park exit waiting for the trio to finish making up their minds about a purchase when it happened. You squealed which startled him into looking at you and jumping when you slipped on some ice on the sidewalk and he dove to catch you on instinct, not wanting you to hurt yourself. Then IT happened- 

You gasped as your foot slipped on the slippery surface with a loud gasp enough to catch someone's attention. Your arms reached out for nothing but balance which even escaped you. No balance and nothing to grab onto to stop you from slipping on the ice and falling and hurting yourself on the hard concrete-

But..

No hard concrete hurt you.

You had squeezed your eyes shut hard expecting to feel the cold hard concrete but instead you felt a soft but firm ..something around your shoulder and lower back, and on instinct your hands reached to clutch at the thing stopping you from falling. And your body froze.....Well you weren't fallen on the ground but then how were you suspended in ...air-...You body all but froze up as soon as you opened your eyes and stared wide eyed into just as equally wide eyed gold ones. Silently you both stared at one another registering why yours and Leon's faces were so close. Until it finally dawned on your buffering brain. GOOD GRIEF!! Leon must've tried to catch you when you fell but instead managed to catch you and held you in a perfect dip (ironically under that blasted mistletoe as if mocking you and your situation-) and his arms holding you. On instinct your hands had clutched onto his front jacket and the quick jarring had pulled Leon's 'disguise' (his scarf covering the lower half of his face-) down so his full face was looking at you as if equally surprised he caught you like this. The cold wind blowing over you was countered by Leon's warmer breath..before he opened his mouth to say something. Something like 'Are you ok' or something like that, but that wasn't about to happen. Leon moved but not by his own accord. Leon's foot, which was STILL standing on the same ice you were, squeaked as it slipped against the slick ice and sent him lurching forward until his face collided with something soft and warm...

And that something just so happened to be you.

His face from collided with yours. Both frozen as something soft collided with your own lips. Everything in time froze for the both of you that moment.

There you stood frozen as Leon stood above lips against yours but not on purpose. After all he did just slip on ice. But your body was frozen, numb as you stood there looking up at him like your eyes turned into those funny googily eye stickers. He did in the same. Seeming in shock, frozen in time as his gold eyes stared back in the same state at you. Both mind blanks and bodies not being able to feel anything but neither could tell if that was due to the cold or the fact you two were in more shock than if a pikachu had zapped you. Eventually someone did move. You did. Your brain finally processing what was happening enough for common sense to finally return to your thought process and you moved your head back. Freeing your lips from his that was thrown forward from the trip, his soft purple bangs that hung off him tickled your forehead as it brushed against it from the moment you pulled back. The action seemed to make himself overcome the shock as well, after a moment righting his weight and yours up and slowly retracting his hands from the you to rest at the front of his body.

And you both stared at one another.

And then your brains finally processed what really happened.

The snowflakes and cold air colliding with his face couldn't extinguish the fire that froze in his cheeks as they instantly lit up the brightest shade of pink you've ever seen. But it wasn't just his face. His ears and whole face was now a pretty primrose pink instead of the usual complexion they were every other time you've seen him. And he suddenly reacted. You jumped when a gloved hand of his slapped over his mouth and his face gained a flustered expression as you just stood there. And your face also heated up-

YOU TWO HAD BLOODY KISSED!!....NO! No. Stay calm. It obviously COULDN'T have been a kiss! Not really. After all he had no intention of ki-ki-kissing you and you probably absolutely had no intention of kissing him of all people really when both of you were clearly just friends! And one could hardly call accidently slamming his face into yours a kiss! It was just because he slipped on the ice too and lost his footing! YEAH! Definitely! So it absolutely was NOT a kiss! Nope!....R-Right? Well he didn't have time to think on that because the Eternatus incident happened. It was such a blur. Such a wreck. Such a painful experience. Quite literally. He just remembered racing to Hammerlocke on Charizard once he got the situation in Wyndon checked and came face to face with pure CHAOS!! The skeletal red and black creature-...This was Eternatus. A creature that lived to destroy until it was sent to the grave by the ancient heroes and then brought back to life by Mr. Rose's evil deeds. The battle was the most painful he'd ever been through. His team one after another was defeated, exhausted, and not able to dynamax until all that was left was himself and his trusty charizard whom was the strongest of all his team. The purple air around them was just full of wind blowing around and pieces of Hammerlocke stadium's roof floating around. It was like a tornado from the underworld! Some of that things moves even hit him, covering him in painful bruises and scratches and even a black eye.  Then the worse possibly thing had happened while he had wore the thing down, or so he thought, they showed up. He just remembered hearing footsteps running behind him and snapping his head when a voice rang out. 

"LEON!!"

He froze..before snapping his head around him in horror at what he saw. It was Hop. But not just him. Victor and Glora!! No...NO NONONO!! THIS COULDN'T BE HAPPENING!! THEY COULDN'T BE HERE!! IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS!! HE COULDN'T RISK THEM GETTING HURT FOLLOWING HIM!! THEY WERE STRONG BUT NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE THIS MONSTER ON!!

"You came to help me in spite of the danger?! Thanks, Hop. And you two too. You three have really grown tremendously." he gaze turned back at the monster. "But no need for you kids to worry. It seems like some power of Eternatus's was keeping my team from dynamaxing but we've had a champion time all the same. Charizard and the rest of my team have really worn it down. Now if I can simply catch it in a pokeball." He slowly reached for the most powerful pokeball he kept on him. Could he even catch a legendary!? Unlikely, but it was his only chance they had!! "We should be able to get this madness under control. Then everything should be back to normal. Watch! It's gonna be a real champion catch!"

It..didn't go that way at all. The pokeball didn't work. It completely backfired! It broke out of the pokeball and thrown him backwards landing with a giant thud to the ground. Thank goodness Charizard protected the trio on instinct so he knew they were protected from the blast. He was dazed. Head spinning and body numb until his body slowly regained feeling and focus as someone roughly shook him furiously. 

"LEON!! *Hic* LEON!! P-Please wake up! P-Please be alright!," a younger male voice called out to him desperately and choking up, begging him to wake up. He was expecting Hop at first but instead was met with Victor crying with tears down his face scared and worried. 

He wasn't sure how long he was down but by the time he was able to wake up, Hop and Gloria were in a furious battle with Eternatus along with two other legendaries. Victor had to help him wobble onto his feet and on instinct he had put himself between Victor and the battle going on, Charizard knocked out a few yards away from him. He could only watch in horror as the battle insued. They-...They looked like they were winning! Although no one could've seen what happened next. He was unaware of the danger he and Victor were it. 

"LEON LOOK OUT!!"

He had barely turned an inch when something smaller but hard rammed into his chest and again sent him flying back, and in a domino effect he had knocked Victor over as well making the two hit the ground and there was a loud thud behind them as well. Like something fell just beside them.

"VICTOR!!," he cried out in a panic, despite the pain in his body he scrambled up and  over to the boy who sat up with a groan rubbing his head, but yelped when Leon's two hands grabbed the side of his head in worry. A panicked look in his gold eyes. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT!? YOU AREN'T HURT ARE YOU!?"

Victor shakily shook his head no lip quivering and body trembling under his hold..Until light brown eyes looked behind him, and Victor froze in his grasp. Leon looked behind him following his gaze. And all at once his world shattered like glass. Tiny pieces falling around them all. There. Yards away from him. Was Y/n. Her body laid there limp as a ragdoll's. Eyes closed clearly indicating you were unconscious. And just a little bit away from you where he and Victor had currently been standing, was a decent sized piece of roof that could have hit them...If Y/n hadn't pushed them both out of the way. 

"Y/N!!!" 

His voice was loud enough to have been heard over the battle and make both Hop and Gloria look over their shoulders, the howling wind making the agonied voice echo out above even the winds. Gloria SHRIEKED! Hop's jaw dropped and Victor remained frozen where he was sitting on the ground shocked as the Champion scrambled on hands and knees towards her. She couldn't feel the shaking hands that gently turned her face towards him and she definitely couldn't feel the tears form on his face and land on her soft skin one after another. 

Leon was crying, shaking. Begging you to silently wake up as he patted your face to no avail.

The battle was won when Eternatus EXPLODED to death in a ball of light and the other two legendaries disappeared. GOOD!! BACK TO THE GRAVE WITH IT FOR ALL HE CARED!! They all must've looked such a sight to Raihan and Mr. Rose. The Hammerlocke gym leader had stayed back to detain Rose so imagine it. Three young children were crying over someone's unconscious body, Leon all scraped and bruised up came hobbling out cradling someone's limp body in his arms. He was crying his eyes out making sure to carefully cradle your head as he wrapped you in his cake. His stomach did summersaults like he never imagined before. He never expected to see you of all people hanging limp in his arms wrapped up in his cape as the hurt champion struggled to take you to safety. Raihan had froze seeing his friend and the children crying and clinging to their big brother as he limped to them, even Mr. Rose standing next to him seemed absolutely speechless at the sight of you. Leon, looking more panicked than Raihan had ever seen him before, looked desperately at Raihan eyes widened and full of fear. Yelled three words at Raihan.

"GET AN AMBULANCE!!"

Raihan didn't hesitate. Leon all but sobbed when his friend took her limp form from his arms, no doubt to take you to help and the look he gave Rose was VERY clear. 'MOVE OR YOU DIE!!' Rose didn't argue or say a word when Raihan carted both him and you off back down the corridors. Leaving his friend to turn around and address another issue at hand. 

Gloria's hands were wrapped around one of his as she cried, completely sobbing by this point. Victor was just silent. Not even making a peep, but he still stared off where you disappeared, fat tears rolling down his face. And Hop looked about ready to start sobbing as hard as Gloria was currently doing. 

"...it's ok." It was BARELY above a whisper as his hoarse voice was forced out, arms shakily reaching towards them. "...it's g-gonna be alright-" Gloria didn't hesitate to throw herself at him in a hug Hop following suit. Victor had to be gently pulled into him but he didn't fight against it as the three all but sobbed into his arms. And he couldn't help but sob along with them. Rubbing their shoulders, and backs, and arms. They were alive. They were alright. They would be ok. "I-It's ok. B-Big b-brother's here. *sniff* B-Big brother's g-gonna make sure e-everything's o-ok. I'll p-protect you f-from all the monsters. N-Nothing's g-gonna happen t-to any of you." He choked on another sob as he slowly rocked them. "I promise. I promise."

Golden eyes glanced over to where you had disappeared and in that moment he made another vow. One where you would be ok. Wouldn't be hurt either. Where they would all be ok. No one would hurt his mother! No one would hurt his grandparents! No one would hurt his friends! No one would hurt his Auntie! No one would hurt his little brother and sisters! No one would hurt his pokemon!

And no one would ever hurt you again. 

"I promise."

[meirimerens]

please tell me more headcanons you have about peter, I'm enamoured by him 😳

ok. disclaimer i have no idea how many of those I have already posted so you deal with it with me

this one's new bc i just posted it on twitter: I think he loves to lie down on the floor so someone he trusts (either brother or friends or lover [his mom doesn't do that anymore bc he's too heavy now but she used to until he was like 15]) can grab him by the wrists or ankles and drag him around like a corpse i think he loves it. i think it's like a sensory stim for him.

i think he (both the twins actually) has a congenitally missing lateral incisor in his top row, and he has a little cuspid instead of it (like that on our right side [link is an image of the singer from Heilung singing for a poster]). for him that quirk is on his right side, and for andrey on his left. since all teeth are one-forward on that side, it's the one side he has a wisdom tooth in.

he had waaay longer hair at some point, like waist-length, that he ended up cutting in a paranoid haze (<- pretty sure I've mentioned that one)

since he's full of alcohol always he can't handle a lot of foods. if you put paprika in his dish he will explode. there is a very specific list of bland harmless foods he can eat and the only ones to know it are his mom and his brother (the list will be passed on to his lover when the Council has decided him fit to care for peter) (the foods are like. boiled potatoes drizzle of olive oil. eggs.)

he and andrey made up a cryptophasic language (cryptophasia is phenomenon of a language developed by twins that only the two children can understand) when they were babies. they're still using it at almost 30 years if age. year after year it has developed and expanded with new words and new languages they've learned, and in its current state it's a mix of polish (their mom's side of the family's language), Italian (their dad's side of the family's), greek, hebrew, bits of latin, german, and New Church Slavonic (where the fuck they learned that last one no one knows. they're not Christian)

he has a wide and fucked up taste in music. i think he would love 2 Hours Of Squid To Relax/Study/Work To | Lofi Hip Hop | Monterey Bay Aquarium Krill Waves Radio and William Basinski's works especially Disintegration Loops and Water Music (hence why that last one is on his playlist I made)

he accepts affection (whether platonic, familial/filial, or romantic) through hair-brushing. he always had long(-ish) hair so it was a love language at home and kept being one as he grew up. when he becomes a dad (through adopting grace. it's important to me when he adopts grace) he also brushes her hair as a familial love language. she never had that in her life so it's special.

guy who paces. like in general

had nightmares for the first like 3 years of his life of something unbelievably heavy falling on him and crushing him and years later he learned that's because andrey would scale the bars of the crib to throw himself in his and fell on him everytime because. well it's kinda hard to gauge these things when you are 12 months old.

guy who lives with depersonalization/derealization from The Illnesses but also with how he Twinning it was kinda bound to happen

ok... that's it for neow...

[bendingwind]

For the writing meme! :)

8. What project(s) are you currently working on?

16. At what point in the process do you come up with titles?

19. Give us a small teaser from one of your WIPs.

:D

This got long so I'm putting it under a cut.

8. What project(s) are you currently working on?

I have just like an insane number of Bleach plotbunnies running around freely in my brain these days, but right now I'm mostly focused on three four stories; One is a pre-relationship Renji/Rukia story I've been talking about, The Most Eligible Bachelor in the Seireitei, in which Renji becomes very popular among minor noble houses as a prospective match. It's not really about that so much as it is about Renji and Rukia beginning to mend and rebuild their friendship in the wake of the Soul Society arc, though, under the shadow of the upcoming war. With a little jealousy in the mix. I think I'm going to finish this one today or tomorrow, edit Sunday, and post sometime next week hopefully.

The second is an Ichigo/Orihime story from Ichigo's POV that I'm still hashing out. I had an outline all prepared and then you actually reblogged something that made me rethink the whole thing, so that one's back in the drawing board stages lol.

I'm gonna preface this next one with the disclaimer that there is no combination of Rukia, Renji, Orihime and Ichigo that I don't ship.

The third is one I may not ever post, because I kill Renji off in it (not a spoiler, the entire topic of the finished prequel is Rukia mourning) and it makes me very very sad. In it Ichigo dies unexpectedly in his 40s and a proactive local Shinigami sends him to Soul Society via konsō, causing him to lose his memory, and Soul Society being what they are, nobody can seem to find him despite his massive spiritual energy. Everyone mourns and eventually moves on, and the story starts after Orihime dies of old age and joins Squad 11 (this is hilarious to me and makes absolute sense in context of the story and is one of my favorite parts) and she and Rukia rekindle their friendship. It starts out Rukia & Orihime, becomes Rukia/Orihime and eventually becomes Rukia/Orihime/Ichigo. There's a possible Byakuya/reincarnated!OC!Renji story sequel in the mix as well I think? There's also a much!older!Karin/Toushiro story that I vaguely want to write in that universe, which is a ship that I don't generally like unless you give Karin like forty years at a minimum to marinate.

I'm also planning to work soon on a Rukia & Orihime story in which Rukia asks Orihime about her feelings for Ichigo and why she's never acted upon them. It focuses a lot on how Ichigo protects everyone and Orihime wanting to be the one to protect him.

(I'm also vaguely trying to figure out my headcanons for Byakuya/Hisana and Ikkaku/Yumichika because I really want to write some stuff for them, but I don't have anything really concrete there at the moment)

(ALSO I can't remember if it was you or polyna who headcanon that Renji had a gruesome crush on Ikkaku back in the day but if nobody else is going to write it I WILL)

----

16. At what point in the process do you come up with titles?

Sometimes I have a title going into a story, and sometimes I write a line in the story that I immediately know is going to be/inspire the title, but more often than not I finish a story up, slap a Hozier lyric on it, and call it a day 😅

----

19. Give us a small teaser from one of your WIPs.

I don't think I'm likely to ever finish this little series of micro-vignettes about Isshin and Ichigo so I'm just gonna use this as an excuse to post what I do have written!

****

It’s a bad idea for a hundred thousand reasons, Isshin thinks.

Their child will be an abomination in the eyes of some, an unholy amalgamation of shinigami and quincy and hollow. He knows the stories from history as well as anyone, and even they do not describe this thing that the two of them have created.

But Masaki places his hand on her belly and he feels the baby kick, and he sets his apprehension aside for the sake of the smile that graces her lips.

****

Ichigo is an entirely normal little boy, Isshin tells himself. So what if he turns his head when ghosts pass by? Children are sensitive to that kind of thing regardless, aren’t they? 

Masaki thinks he can see them, and frowns every time it happens. It was inevitable, she says quietly-- even if he were just quincy, it would be expected.

Isshin hopes she’s wrong. He wants their little boy with Masaki’s clouds of orange hair and his eyes to grow up safe and sound and normal.

He knows better, but he’s always been good and lying to himself.

****

He catches his son talking to the ghosts sometimes, as he grows a little older. He’s a happy child, as prone to laughter as he is to tears, all skinned knees and sticking weird shit in his mouth if they take their eyes off of him for a moment.

He resigns himself to this one quirk of his son, who is sweet and perfect and otherwise remarkably normal. He shows no signs of quincy powers, and Isshin learns to count his blessings.

“Dada,” Ichigo calls, and he stands.

“What is it, my son?” he booms, and Ichigo giggles and toddles towards him.

[pokeexehasstoppedworking]

A Champion Time For The Heart Ch31 Through Golden Eyes P1

(WARNING And Disclaimers: Character death implied and mentioned and Flashbacks to when Reader was knocked out by a roof along with the mentioning of Leon having been slightly hurt from his encounter with Eternatus! The backstory isn't cannon except for just the story. This chapter will be Leon's P.O.V during the duration of reader's time with them so far. Also how many people would be interested in a Gordie x Reader once this book is finished? Also give me some nickname ideas for Leon to call reader by.)

He could still remember it like it was yesterday to him.

He was just eight years old when it happened. The day his father passed away. It was so clear yet so blurred at the same time. He was there one moment smiling at him and kissing his mother good bye before heading off to work, and assuring he'd be back in time for dinner and then the next thing he knew everyone including himself was crying once the news were broken too them. The bad news. The news about the tractor accident. No one could've seen that it would've tipped over when the wheels came loose and that his father would be standing so close by it-...No one could've known he would've-..No one could've known it would-...I-It would-..He-....

.....

He still cries to this day whenever it's brought up or he thinks about it.

But maybe what hurt the most to him was that Hop would never be able to know him. He was too young to remember when it did happen. Only two months old at the time. Everything after that happened so fast it was almost blurred together by a godly fast forward button, or maybe it was because he was so young at the time, but so much happened in so little time after that. His mother started working longer shifts at the local supermarket often leaving him and Hoppy with his 'Auntie' G and her husband or his grandparents to be babysat and not return until much later looking so tired and sad but she didn't let that stop her from smiling at them and loving them as much as she could. Around that same time other things started happening around him as well. Auntie G's husband left leaving her with the two crying newborns that weren't older than Hoppy was. His grandparents sold their home and moved in with them to help his mother with watching over them and the bills. Auntie G and his mother began to hang out more often than they previously did, most likely helping each other through the loss of both losing their spouses just in different ways. He always thought this was the reason he saw Gloria and Victor as other little siblings. Victor another brother and Gloria the little sister he always wanted, and G as a second mother and vise versa with them and his family. It helped him heal a little knowing he had another family just across the road from him but it still was a struggle. So he vowed to help his family in any way he could. He'd start to help look after the babies and try to do more chores around the house to get the strain off his grandparents and mother. And he'd try to put a smile on his Auntie's face whenever he saw her. ...His Auntie started having to work so much harder as well, his grandparents ended up babysitting both Hoppy and the twins which strengthened his idea of having to help. But what could a child do to help them? His answer came all thanks to Sonia. He remembered how excited she was mentioning that the next gym challenge would fall upon them in a couple years soon and that she was so excited because her grandmother was making her a dynamax band for the journey ahead she would take. And it hit him! THAT WAS IT!! The gym challenge was the PERFECT chance to get a place to help them! Although it wouldn't be that easy. Becoming the Champion wasn't really something he was likely to do but it was a chance, and if he did a good enough job he might catch the attention of a gym leader who could make him their apprentice! That would make tons of money and he'd be able to help everyone! But it wouldn't be that easy. It needed work. And boy did he work hard. Having Sonia help him study battles strategies and dynamax effects, getting up early every day to train, and taking notes of what worked best for him and what was most effective in which ways. He was even able to catch a charmander that wondered out from the Slumbering Weald. He put so much work into building that special bond with his team knowing they could trust him and he could trust them. It sure took him a while to convince his family it was a good idea and thanks to Ms. Magnolia he was able to get a sponsorship and dynamax band of his own and set off on his own gym challenge with Sonia when he was around nine and a half. It was scary at first but he trained harder, made friends, and after a long grueling fight he came out victorious against the old Champion. If you think that's where the hardships stopped you'd be wrong. So much responsibility...so much-..stress...At only ten. If someone would've asked him now if he regretted becoming Champion, he would be honest and say no. Because he loved being Champion and all the things that come with it, including the stress now that he was an adult but he wishes things weren't so forced and stressed at the beginning. He would forever thank his friends and family for being his rock during that time of his life and to Mustard for being his mentor throughout the entire experience.

But it wasn't all bad. He was able to make sure his family weren't struggling and later his mother was even able to buy more land she was able to rent out to the local farmers to make enough to take care of herself and Hoppy and both his grandparents with no problem! He was also able to help his Auntie by referring her to a good local farmers market she could sell all her crops too to make enough to live comfortably with the twins! He was proud of himself, and vowed to do everything he could to make sure his family lived as best as they could. Which meant keeping his title as Champion in tack for so long and giving his little brothers and sister the best upbringing he could provide. So it wasn't too surprising to see the champion coming back to Postwick just to hang out with them all and giving the three children pointers to how to take down someone in battle and giving them advice. He didn't mind becoming a prominent male figure in their lives, and he had already been planning on sponsoring all three of them for the gym challenge anyways but made it clear he wanted them to wait until they were older than he was before they took on anything as challenging as a journey this big. So on the ripe old age of fourteen when the next Gym Challenge was approaching he finally decided they were ready. He couldn't put this off from them forever no matter how worried he was for them but it wouldn't be fair for them if he didn't let them go. So it was only a matter of time when he had Sonia send him some starter pokemon for the three of them and went off to go meet them. And that was also the first time he had ever met Y/n. He had just arrived on charizard to get to Wedgehurst Station and Postwick. Guess word must've gotten out he was visiting because a crowd was waiting for him.

"Hello, hello, Wedgehurst!!,'' He greeted the crowd with a smile and wave, "Your Champion, Leon, is back!! I promise I'll keep doing my best to deliver the greatest battles for you all to watch!!."

"It's our unbeatable champion!" "Leon, you and charizard are the best!" "WE LOVE YOU LEON!!" "SIGN MY BOOK!!" "THAT'S THE MAN MY DAUGHTER WENT TO SCHOOL WITH!!" "LEON!! MR. LEON!! PLEASE LET ME GET A PHOTO OF YOU IN YOUR VICTORY POSE!!" "LEON!! LEON!! LEON!!" "WE'RE ON IT!! We've all been working on our battle skills just like you've taught us, Lee!!" "But that charizard of yours is to strong for the likes of us to take on!"

The poor champion hadn't even noticed the figure of his younger brother through the crowd as he smiled and tried to answer the crowd as best as he could. "Well thank you for that! I hope you all carry on training up your pokemon and never shy from battle!....Oh! Of course Ill sign it for you little buddy!...Then come challenge me for the Champion title!...Too true Charizard is blazingly strong. But other pokemon can be strong as well! That's why I want the strongest of challengers to fill the Gym Challenge and come battle me! My wish is for Galar's Trainers to work together to become the strongest in all the world!....OH! Yes! Of course! I'd love to have a picture with your daughter!"

He hadn't even noticed Hop and Gloria was there in the crowd until you had comically helped to lift Hop above the crowd high enough to wave his arms.

"LEE!!" Hop shouted at the top of his lungs and waved his arms around just as Leon turned back forward.

He blinked for a moment surprised to see his little brother so high up, before he smiled widely. "Hop!" He called back and made his way towards his little brother. Charizard in tow.

He'd gone through the crowd and right up to the three of you smiling and instantly hugged by his little bro.

"Leon!" Hop shouted into the hug. "I missed you!"

"So, my number one fan in all the world has come out of his way to pick me up!" They soon pulled away from each other with Hop absolutely beaming up at his older brother. "Look at you, Hop!" He hummed eyeing him a moment. "I reckon you've grown....exactly an inch and a quarter last time I saw you!"

"Bingo! That's the sort of sharp eye that's kept you undefeated for so long, eh, Leon?"

"Hm. Well it's funny because for a moment I could've sworn you got a growth spurt and grown taller than me," he teased back and Hop shook his head turning to you and Gloria.

"Nah. They helped me out in getting your attention."

Leon turned to the two of you and Gloria smiled widely when his smile landed on her with another hum. "And these bright eyes over here...I've got it! You must be Gloria! Am I right?" He asked in the same teasing voice which made Gloria playfully roll her eyes. "I've heard LOADS about you from my little brother."

"Oh knock it off, Lee! You know it's me." Her response from him was him ruffling her hat and hair playfully.

"Oh y'know I was just teasing! It's good to see you too, Glory! How's your Mom and Victor doing?"

Gloria giggled before shaking her head at the ruffling and reaching up to fix her hat. "Fine. Pretty sure Mum's helping with the barbecue dinner and Victor started his journey earlier this year."

"Wow. He did? I must've missed a lot since being back."

You were standing there too but you seemed to space out thinking about something until Gloria rose a brow and spoke making you blink back at them.

"There you go again." You blinked at Gloria again as she rolled her eyes. "You were staring off at nothing again, Y/n."

"Oh..Uh sorry. Just thinking about something....Again." Gloria rose a brow but you looked up past her when Leon stepped beside her.

" Oh. So you're the other one that helped Hop, yes?" He asked in a friendly tone and smile.

Before you could speak tho, Gloria chimed in proudly. "YEP! That's right! Not only did Y/n help but she agreed to be my traveling buddy for my upcoming journey!"

"Is that so? Good for you Glor! But I don't think we've properly been introduced." With a swish of his cape Leon proudly pointed at himself and smiled confidently. "I'm the Galar Region's Greatest ever Pokemon Champion!...And a massive charizard fan, too! People call me the Unbeatable Leon!"

And you had chuckled which made him smile more! That's good! He always loved making people smile! Everyone should get a chance to smile. But you didn't get to say anything else when Hop spoke again.

"Come on, Lee! And you two, Gloria! Y/n! Bet I can beat the both of you back home!"

"You're on! And this time I can finally catch up with you!"

Hop smirked with a challenge. "Oh yeah!" Gloria opened her mouth- Hope turned and bolted back up the dirt road. "LAST ONES THERE IS A SMELLY SKUNTANK!!"

"NO FAIR!! YOU NEVER SAID GO!!" Gloria shouted running right after him.

Leon laughed out loud watching the kids run off and shake his head. "That Hop...Always wanting to be the best, isn't he? With a proper rival of his own, I bet he'd push himself to become something truly special..."

"Oh he will. I know he is-..." You had froze up as he turned to you in surprise. You..thought Hop was special too? "B-Because he has such a great role model! H-H-He r-r-really looks up to you y'know! You're a really kind person and good brother!"

"Thank you!".....You blinked staring at his smile and made a 'Huh' sound and he chuckled again. "I said thank you. " He was happy you thought Hop was special! He thought so too and at the time happily returned that nice compliment. "That's honestly really nice of you to say so. I always try to be the best person and role model I can be for Hop and others like him. It's just one of the many duties as the best Galar Champion."

"Uh...Your w-welcome."

He smiled and turned back to the watching crowd with another cape swish. "Well, everyone! I bid you farewell for today! But don't you fret..." In a sudden blur he struck a pose with his arm pointed towards the sky and the crowd cheered loudly for it! Giving the same hand signal back. "I'll always be around to make sure everyone in Galar can have a Champion time!" You couldn't help but smile as he did so. Yep. At least this Lean was pretty spot on from the vaugue memories you have of when you played the game. He turned back to you with a smile. "Hey. Since the kids already ran ahead why don't you race me there? It'll be fun!"

He wasn't expecting for Gloria to get a traveling partner but you seemed nice and that sobble he gave- Oh. Silver Veil. He forgot you named him Silver later. Silver seemed to love you a lot. Although he couldn't believe you never had a pokemon before and how you met his family certainly was one of the strangest stories he'd ever heard. He decided to ask you when his curiosity peeked during dinner.

"You're Y/n right?," Lean asked and you blinked back up at his smile. He chuckled and pointed a hand up. "I don't think we had the chance to talk since you all met me at the station. You helped my little brother stand a little taller-"

"And give Lee an ego boost," Gloria teased.

"Hey! C'mon Glory. She just gave me a compliment." He chuckled and looked back to you. "I also heard you agreed to be Glory here's traveling buddy. Are you two friends?"

You opened your mouth to speak but Gloria cut you off as she pointed her fork at you two. "Actually we just met this morning. She was camping in the Slumbering Weald and was chased out by a flock of wild Corviknight." She shoved the food into her mouth and you wanted to sink into your seat as Lean blinked in surprise before looking at you.

"You went camping in the Slumbering Weald? Even I wouldn't get lost there, and corviknight are big pokemon. How'd you manage to get into that mess?"

"Uh-...It's actually a f-funny story. You see I'm n-new to Galar! I've been uh-...T-T-Traveling around and I guess I didn't know what I'd be getting myself into."

"Oh. Well at least you were able to get out of there alright by the looks of it. So...You're new to the Galar Region?" You nodded yes. "I see. So where are you from?"

"Uh...I-I'm from the K-Kalos Region actually..B-But I've been..Traveling around for a l-long time so...y'know I've been here and t-there."

He blinked. "Kalos Region huh? Wow. That's a long ways from here, across the ocean even. You must really enjoy traveling."

You smiled. "YEP! It's the best!"

Lean smiled at you. "I admire a free heart and spirit! So what brought you to the Galar Region? Was it just to see me?"

"She's here to see the Champion's Cup! And since she's going to be sticking around until everyone can finally battle you, I offered her to come along and BOOM! Instant traveling buddy," Gloria chimed in.

"Y-Yeah! That's right! It's not every day there's a big event like this! And who knows? I might just be eating with the next champion right now, or if you manage to stay champion that is."

"Oh. Well then you're in for a real treat! I have a feeling that this year is going to be full of excitement and powerful trainers like these two here," he gestured to the two teens who seemed to be proud-

"Lee." Leon froze as his mother pointed her own fork at him with a scowl. "I didn't slave away all day making your favorite lunch just so you would be too busy talking to eat it. Champion or not you're still my son in this house and what I say goes! Now hush and eat up!"

"Yes, Ma!"

He thought you seemed nice enough but you sure gave him a good impression later when you went to visit Sonia..and when you alerted him to the dangers that he failed to overlook-

"So, how do you know Sonia?,'' you asked to keep up conversation as you two walked over the bridge leading to the train station.

He was happy to answer. "Oh me and her go way back. Actually she was my rival when I first started my journey to become the Champion I am today. I think you'll like her actually. She's really smart and a great cook to boot! Not to shame my mom's cooking, but if I had to chose between hers and Sonia's dishes, I think I'd have to go with Sonia's." He chuckled smiling widely and reaching a hand up to rub the back of his neck.

You chuckled along as you both turned right at the train station and kept walking towards the research lab. Walking past you heard and noticed a lot of people stopping to stare at Leon as he passed with you pointing, and he just smiled and waved to them. A few women swooning and giggling like fangirls as he walked past with you.

"Heh. You must be pretty popular with the ladies," you teased and you were surprised when he got a bashful look over his face.

"Yeah..Well I don't really have much time for really thinking about dating or anything. Being the Champion means more responsibility for me to handle. I'm lucky the Chairman gave me a few days off to sponsor the kids. Now a days you need a sponsorship by one of the main benefactors to compete in the Gym Challenge, and I wanted to help those two when I had the chance." He felt a bit bashful at that but thankfully you both arrived at the lab at that time. "AH! Here we go! Looks like I remembered the right way after all!" You blinked and looked up to the building in front of you. A pokeball was painted above the doorway and it looked like a fancy old cottage home with a purple roof, and a few leafy plants hanging off of it. Leon grabbed the door without hesitation and smiled. "Let's head on in then."

Before you could protest, he had already walked into the home and left the door wide open for you to follow. You looked at your sobble for a brief moment and it made an unsure face. Ultimately you decided to follow him in since after all you had been there before in game, so it couldn't have been much different in person right? On instinct, you closed the door behind you with your foot and ended up finding Leon standing a few feet away looking around at the place. So you looked around too and slowly got a sense of the area. Next to the door was a small kitchen like area with a sink, table with chairs, coffee pot, and a tea set sitting on said table. The walls and floors was a simple white, with a few table and desks covered in books, equipment, and what you guessed was whatever 'research' they were doing here with all the books on the shelves. Literally. There was a LOT of books with a staircase leading up to even more, and of course a few houseplants here and there. A lot more like a library than a lab to you really. You looked back to Leon as he whistled.

"I've got to give it to Professor Magnolia. Everything in here looks fascinating."

You went to walk to stand beside Leon until you jumped back with a yelp as Sonia's yamper showed up.

"Hey there lil buddy!," Leon exclaimed kneeling down and reaching out to pet the small pokemon who gladly accepted his affection with a couple yips. "It's Sonia's Yapper. Which means she's in here somewhere."

And close she was. "What is it today, Leon?" You both looked up at the voice and the small Yapper turned around and barked happily seeing it's master. Hands on her hips looking down at you two. "Looking for info on another never-before-seen, super strong pokemon? I wish you'd stop with these outlandish requests."

He opened his mouth to say something- "ACK!!" He turned his head away as the yamper jumped up and licked his cheek like a dog, causing Leon to laugh and stand back up shaking his head. "Good to see you, too, Yamper!" He turned his head as the orange haired lady came walking down the steps. "Yamper here is a real champ when it comes to helping you find your way around." He pointed to the pokemon who barked. "He came to my rescue plenty of times back in the day, when I got lost on the road. Oh yeah, and that's his trainer, Sonia!" He pointed to the lady who by now was at the bottom of the stairs and walking towards you two. The small pokemon barking and running over to her feet. "What can I say about Sonia? Well I like the way she cooks. She makes food you can gobble down in a flash."

"Tsk." He turned back to the woman with a smile as she suddenly stood before him arms crossed. "What kind of an introduction is that? Did you forget we were rivals during our Gym Challenge? It wasn't just Yamper helping you out. I did, too! "

He chuckled and reached a hand up to sheepishly rub his neck. "Yeah. Can't forget how many times you had to drag me to the right gyms for my battles?"

She rolled her eyes. "I still for the life of me how you end up in the most random of places. Seriously. The only place you never get lost to is the kitchen for a snack."

"Oh come on, Sonia. You don't have to be so mean." he pointed to you. "I even brought a friend to wait while we get the pokedexes."

Sonia looked over at you and the Sobble on your shoulder peeking out from it's last spook. "Are you one of the trainers Leon's sponsoring?"

"Wha- Oh no! This is Y/n. She's actually going to be traveling with one of the trainers I'm sponsoring. She just tagged along to wait for them...aaand to make sure I didn't get lost on the way here. Ahehe."

"Oh I see." ...A smile came back onto her face. "Anyway, nice to meet you!" She pointed a hand at herself. "Name's Sonia. I'm the professor's assistant. It's very nice to meet you."

You smiled and waved a hand. "Hello. It's nice to meet you too." Your head did another look around the place ultimately landing on the glassed off area with plants. "This is an interesting lab you've got here.." You pointed at the area. "What's that?"

"Oh that?" She glanced to it quick before looking back to you. "That's the terrarium my grandmother and I sometimes conduct small environmental study tests with although it's not being used for anything at the moment." She pointed back to your Sobble. "Oh what a little cutie. It reminds me of the starter Sobble Leon was given by my grandmother for the trainers he's sponsoring."

The sobble chirped and Leon gave her a nervous chuckle. "Actually that IS the same Sobble Professor Magnolia gave me."

Sonia blinked to him faster than lightning and he gave an even nervous smile holding up his hands. "WHAT?! Lee! What's it doing back here then? Grandmother made sure you had the starter pokemon for three trainers!"

"Take it easy, Sonia. I'm not returning it." He held up a finger. "I-It's actually a pretty funny story."

She hummed. "Uh huh. I'm going to LOVE hearing about this." She started walking and you stepped aside as she passed one hand reaching up to rub her temples as the other one motioned for you to follow her Yamper at her heels. "Come on. I'll make you two some tea." You watched her go before looking to Leon who shrugged with that nervous grin and turned to begin walking towards where Sonia went, you following. "So. Mind telling me why the sobble we gave you is back here?" She asked grabbing the coffee pot and placing it on the small oven by the sink and reaching over to click it on as Leon and you came over.

"Well you see." He gave that nervous smile as she turned around to him brow raised. "Those three kids I told you about was reduced to two when one decided to go on a separate journey instead of doing the Gym Challenge with the others. So Sobble was kind of an extra." He took a seat across from her as she went to sit down, and pointed to you and the sobble. "But luckily Y/n here was in need of one too so it kinda worked out for the best."

The sobble chirped happily as you took a seat opposite of both of them and shrugged. "I mean...It's better to have one now just in case right? Still kinda getting used to it."

"Oh that's right. Hop mentioned you never had a pokemon before like Gloria."

Sonia rose a brow to you. "You've seriously never had a pokemon before?"

You quickly shrugged "I had more interest in traveling really. New to the region."

Sonia hummed but nodded. "Well I think you'll find the pokemon here very interesting. Especially the dynamaxing battles?"

"......Dynamaxing?," you asked confused. "What's that?"

"You DON'T know what dynamaxing is?," Sonia asked eyes wide.

"Oh boy. Here comes the professional speech," Leon smiled good naturedly and leaned back in his seat. Arms and legs crossed. You looked to him and was about to ask what he meant...only to get interrupted by a speech of intel by Sonia.

"It's known as the Dynamax Phenomenon. This phenomenon, in which pokemon take on gigantic forms, has only been observed in the Galar Region. Moreover, it only seems to occur in specific locations and under set conditions." You opened your mouth- "On the gigantification of pokemon, while the general principal holds that pokemon grow stronger and larger by evolving, it is also true that simply making oneself appear larger is another survival strategy with merit." You raised a hand- "But regarding the changes pokemon can undergo. Pokemon do not only change in appearance when they level up. They can also do so through the use of certain items or under the influence of the area they live in, in some cases. It is hypothesized that some factor within the pokemon itself is what allows for these changes to their form and biology, but thus far, conclusive evidence of such a factor has not been found by researchers."

She finished with a smile content with her eyes closed and arms crossed, her Yamper not understanding but barking in total agreement anyways as you just....stared. Leon seemed to be the only one to make a noise as he chuckled in amusement at himself for Sonia seeming to break you for a long moment of silence.

".....So basically dynamax-whatchamacallit stuff is just pokemon Super evolving for a hot minute?..Cool," you finally replied seeming to make some kind of sense of what she just spewed out to you. Sonia stopped and stared at you. Leon however snorted and quickly covered his mouth, turning away to shake as snickers escaped his body as you blinked. "Was it something I said?"

Sonia gave her laughing friend an annoyed frown before clearing her throat professionally and looking back calmly to you. "Oh no. But trust me when I say that Dynamaxing in the Galar Region is more than just pokemon with super evolving. We're the only region in the world who's pokemon is able to do so. We still don't know why, but it's one reason why our pokemon battles are so popular around the world."

"So you guys like to brag about your region of super hero pokemon evolving into bigger super hero pokemon to gain viewers??"

"PFFFT!! AHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Leon couldn't contain himself anymore. Arms coming to hug his middle as he half leaned over the table laughing his lungs out. Sonia back to glaring at him annoyed and you raising a brow. What was so funny? Isn't this basically what is was?...Well from you're point of view yes, but now that you're seeing these two, maybe it's just that serious to Sonia. "I-I-..." He wheezed. "I-I-I'm so-o-orry! Ahahaha! I've just never heard anyone say something like that especially to Sonia! M-Most d-d-don't even question what she says. Hahaha!" He coughed a few times covering his mouth as he started to come down from his laughing high Sonia still scowling.

"OH!" You held up your hands catching Sonia's attention. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to make you feel bad I swear."

Sonia huffed but shook her head. " Nevermind. It's fine. Some people." She side eyed Leon with the stink eye as he wiped his eyes coming back from laughing. "Just don't get how scientific research is."

"So what is it exactly that you two do here?," you asked trying to lighten the tension. Luckily it seemed to work as Sonia smiled back towards you.

"Oh. Leon's a right amazing Champion, and I'm basically just an assistant. I'm not even Gran's official assistant, either." She looked down to the table with an almost sad look, "I've just been calling myself one. Somehow, it makes me feel a little restless. ...But to really answer your question." She pointed back towards the desks and tables covered in books, papers, etc. "We do research on ancient history of the pokemon and dynamaxing phemnonenon. We also supply starting trainers in this town with their first starter pokemon, although this is the first time Lee's delivering them personally. I just hope that whoever he decided to give them too aren't reckless. No offense."

"None taken," you replied, "But don't worry. I think they'll be in good hands with the new trainers." You smiled.

"Speaking of those two, where are they?" Leon hummed and gave the door a curious look as if Hop and Gloria would burst through it any moment, before looking behind him at the clock on the wall. ".....It's been almost a whole hour. Telling Mum can't take that long, and surely they couldn't have gotten lost. That's my thing."

He couldn't remember when the last time he laughed that hard was, and although he did feel kinda bad, the bewildered looks you made Sonia have was just too funny to NOT laugh at. You had a blunt but funny sense of humor about you. But it was after he said that last sentence did you stop being funny. Instead gaining a far away stare about you before you turned paler than a abomisnow. He would've asked if you were alright if you hadn't literally jumped out of your seat and slammed your hands onto the table-

Your hands slammed on the table and you desperately looked at Leon. "WE HAVE TO GO! THE KIDS ARE IN THE SLUMBERING WEILD!!"

"WHAT!?" Leon asked eyes wider than dinner plates as if you were far away and he didn't hear you.

You nodded. "They went there after this wooloo knocked over the fence leading to it by Gloria's house! We have to leave right now or else they could get seriously hurt!"

He wasn't sure what possessed him to do that but too many panicked feelings were running through him and he only heard that Hop and Gloria were in danger and in the SLUMBERING WEILD of all places!! That place was so dangerous even an experienced Pokemon Ranger would think twice before going in there. So imagine his horror when he saw what you had said was indeed right and they had gone after this wooloo.

"No.." It came out so quietly you weren't sure if Leon even spoke but you looked to him regardless. A look of horror, panic, and absolute FEAR on his face. "No...NONONONO!!" He suddenly darted forward again and stopped right at the fence entrance darting his hands up to cup his mouth. "HOP!! GLORIA!!"

His only answer back was the echoes of his own voice which eerily and spookily echoed back to him slowly fading out into the woods before them and even tho breathing heavily for breath you forced yourself to walk up next to him and in an urgent voice said. "We HAVE to go after them! They could be hurt!"

"NO!" He turned to you a determined scowl on his face. "I'm going after them! I need you to stay here in case they come back before I get out or in case I get lost and can't find them! I can't risk you coming with me and getting lost too! And if they come back and notice Im gone they might just come right back in looking for me!"

"WHAT?!," you blurted out, "But won't two of us searching make it easier to find them!?"

"I CANT RISK THEIR LIVES OR YOURS, Y/N! Don't worry about me! I'll get charizard to fly me out if I need to! If none of us are back within an hour I NEED you to run back to Sonia and tell her what happened! She knows where to get the proper help!"

THANK ARCEUS THEY WERE ALRIGHT!! By some miracle he was able to find the two and got them back out ok but he still dreads to think about what might've happened if you hadn't figured out where they went. He was also curious to how you figured out so he asked.

"How was Sonia after you explained what happened?"

He groaned leaning his head back and crossing his arms, giving a closed eyed grimace as you two walked. "Not too good. She yelled at me about how rude it was to just run out like that without giving her a heads up, and then she got even more annoyed she's going to have to fix that fence. Hopefully no other wooloos get the idea to enter Slumbering Wield...." His eyes popped open for a moment before he turned to you with a look. "Speaking of which, how'd you know they went in there?"

"Um...Well like you said. I saw the wooloo earlier with the other two when it was trying to bust down the fence yesterday, and your little brother must really love wooloos by how much he talks about them....So it was just a lucky guess based off..wooloos??"

"I see..." He smiled. "Well that was a pretty good guess. I can't say how grateful to you I am for helping Hop and his friend."

He had to admit it. He would've never thought of something like that or put the two pieces together so quickly in the way you did. It's true Hop absolutely adored wooloos, especially his own...and going into Slumbering Weald to rescue a single wooloo sounded exactly like something Hop would do and Gloria going in right by him was something she'd definitely do too. He'd be forever grateful you were able to connect the dots quickly. From there it was just a matter of just getting Victor who arrived late set up with a back up starter and repaying you. He had felt you had done him a great favor helping to keep two people he cared about safe and he decided to repay that kindness in full by getting you all set up with a pack worthy of traveling. He was buying supplies for the other three as well and being Champion he could certainly afford it all, so helping you the same way he was helping them seemed like the least he could do to repay your kindness. He was absolutely NOT about to let those three go out there unprepared and with nothing like he first did. Better to be safe than sorry. He repaid his debt to you and he left and...well that was it for a while. He didn't see Y/n again for a long, long time after that. He saw the trio at the Entrance Ceremony but considering you were in the stands he didn't get a chance to say hi. He did see the trio throughout their journey on the league's official website. Watching them battle against his gym leader friends and through Vic's online photo blog with all the pictures he took. He saw you in the background of a few of them but he really didn't see you in person until much later when he agreed to meet up with the Chairman-..Well now Ex-Chairman Rose about a plan to put up some more wind mills to generate more power to the powerplant. So he went, got lost, had Raihan pick him up on his flygon, and arrived in Hammerlocke. Imagine his surprise when he saw both Y/n and Gloria there. He surprised you enough into giving a funny squeal sound and Gloria practically knocked him over from her hug. He heard from his earlier enounter with Victor and Hop (who felt down at the time-) that you had been helping to keep them safe-....You...Were? He wasn't sure what to think about that, but none the less he was just happy someone was looking after these three on their journey around Galar, especially when Victor told him about you defending someone from a couple of goons dressed as rockstars...Hmm. Sounded familiar. He made a mental note to give Piers a call later when he had the time. But he was grateful still all the same and made sure to thank you for it that same day he saw you..Until he was chased to the powerplant by a group of fans. Sigh. And then there was even more time before he saw you again too before he saw you at Hammerlocke yet again when he came around to visit Raihan. It was short, brief, and simple before he went with Sonia to see what that shaking in the powerplant was all about. Turns out it was just an 'accident with one of their machines exploding' but considering what actually happened with battling Eternatus he highly doubted that now, but when he parted ways with Sonia and caught up to Raihan he was...Well he was sure something. He found his friend sitting in the gym hands clasped in front of his face and staring off.

"Raihan!," he greeted with a giant smile and wave to his rival, "It's been a while! I came to see how the challenge was faring for you!" ...When Raihan didn't respond, the champion blinked and rose a brow at him. "Rai?" He questioned with a poke to the gym leader's shoulder. "Hey. Are you alright there? You look like you're thinking real hard on something."

And then Raihan inhaled. "You know that Y/n girl?"

His brow rose higher. "....Yyyeesss. We're friends." He considered you as a somewhat friend at this point. "Why do you ask?"

Silently Raihan patted the space next to him. "Sit down. You're gonna want to hear this."

He wasn't sure what he was expecting when Raihan said that but he was nervous since his friend was acting so serious, but when Raihan did tell him about yours and his first meeting-....He laughed. Not just laughed. But hugged his sides because they hurt so much laughing because he had never heard anyone doing that to him before. The poor fella seemed so flabbergasted when you so suddenly, but nicely turned him down on the spot before he even made any moves. First Sonia and now his Rival. Gosh. Already you shocked two people who were really hard to shock were shocked by you with expressions he'd never seen before and he wasn't the only one who laughed. Apparently Piers had done the same when Rai told him. Gosh you were really amusing. He again wouldn't see you again until much later again after the trio had defeated Piers, he had gotten called out to take care of a rampaging dynamaxed pokemon on Route Nine when he ran into all of you. Of course it was too dangerous to go to Hammerlocke that way so he had the four of you take the back roads back to Hammerlocke with the promise he'd meet you all there. He'd rather not see the four of you hurt if he could help it. He did end up keeping his promise to the four of you at Hammerlocke to talk to the now Ex-Chairman Rose about the strange dynamax pokemon he took down, but he unfortunately couldn't keep his promise of eating with the four of you. But he was able to give you all some money which surprised you-

"Hmhmhm. You're doing a great job capturing those shots on your blog! I know Hop looked so great in those pictures you took of him Battling against Opal! I'm so happy the camera I got you is working so well! I'm sure both our Mums are so happy you three are doing so well for yourselves." Victor groaned even after Leon stopped ruffling his head but didn't complain like he did with the snow in Circhester. You blinked when he finally turned to you. And your eyes bulged out of your head like those funny googly eye stickers when he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small stack of money!! And it was small. Only being around sixty dollars as you stared silently as he held it out to you. "Now I believe I promised you all lunch. I'm afraid I can't join you as the Chairman has called me as well, but this should be enough to tide you over."

".............Huh?,'' you asked.

"Wha- But Lee. We didn't get here before you remember?," Victor pointed out.

And you finally snapped out of it nodding and pointing to him. "Y-Y-Yeah! What he said. ...And why are you giving this to me?"

He smiled before placing the money in your hand using his other hand to close your fingers around it, and you looked between him and the money into your hands as he waved you off. "Take it as a thank you for looking after my little bro and his friend on their journey." You opened your mouth but he held up a hand to stop you. "No. Please. I don't give hand outs, but I also know it's a bit rough for you out there not having any money like the others. I can't give a whole lot but I hope this helps you. Go ahead and get everyone some lunch and the rest is yours."

It was the least he could do since you had your hands full helping to take care of everyone, and he was technically right. You probably didn't have a whole lot to spend compared to the money they earnt from the challenge and himself. So that made you both even now! He didn't like owing people much anyways. From there it would certainly be a long time since he saw you again. He laughed when Raihan told him the tale of you pulling the hood over him again but that was the extent of how much he heard from you until around September when he got a phonecall from his mother letting him know you four had safely returned home until the finals that years after defeating Raihan. Oh good. So at least he didn't have to worry about you all and he was sure they wouldn't just wonder into the Slumbering Weald again so for now he'd focus on his own duties until those finals came. Speaking of which, he needed to get his Christmas shopping done. He wasn't sure how much time he might be able to spend with them this year so he might as well send the yearly package to his family. He had gotten most of his friends and Family in Postwick something. Extra notepads for Sonia and Ms. Magnolia. Calling in a favor from said Ms. Magnolia to get Hop a special book he knew he wanted. Some cookies he knew his grandmother adored. A cozy sweater for his grandfather. Self pampering kit for his mother because she deserved it. A gardening tool set for his Auntie. A waterproof camera for Victor (it'd be helpful for underwater shoots or if he got caught in the rain-). And a whole bunch of curry and pokemon pictures for Gloria (since she was working on those dexes-). ...But...that also left one other person. Y/n. What would Y/n like? It'd be rude for him to not get you something especially since he considered you a friend by this point. He was having a hard time deciding what to get you when he saw it in a store window. A small matching pair of a blue hat and scarf with a small sobble face on the front. You liked sobbles right? It was getting cold anyways so that'd be a good gift! He ended up sending that along with a cookie tin over to you. There! That outta be a good gift. He was sure happy when he saw you nearly a month later wearing the set when the two of you met during the start of the semifinals. Mr. Rose and Olena were 'busy' so he was in charge of putting together the entire thing together and he finally got to thank you for all your hard work.

"I'd better go find a s-s-spot in the stadium," You added a little shaken because of the cold as Gloria grabbed her pale brother hand and started carting him off behind Hop,"So I c-can get a good view o-of their battles."

You blinked when Leon patted Your shoulder. "Don't worry about that." Leon smiled widely. "You're being treated to the V.I.P lounge and watching the semifinals with me this year!"

F/c eyes widened as you smiled. Ah. That's the Leon you know. "No way! You're serious!?"

Leon chuckled and nodded. "Yep! I've already promised myself to make sure you would experience a Champion Time and nothing can be more so than joining me to watch the matches. Besides, I couldn't let you sit out in the stadium knowing your stuttering worse than Victor with a cold."

"A-Alright! That sounds amazing!"

"Is this that Sobble I gave you?" With a giant smile he gestured his hand out to Silver in your arms. "Wow! I see you've been taking care of that pokemon real well! He looks like a real healthy drizzle!"

....You smiled and nodded back. "Thanks. But he has a name now. Silver Veil."

Leon blinked at Silver who chirped out an answer when you spoke his name. "Silver huh?...Hmm. I think that name suits him real well." he complimented you.

"Thanks. How have you been by the way?" Your eyes scanned back over the crowd. "Seems you really stirred up quite the crowd."

He chuckled and waved a hand. "Well I do try to make everyone as happy as I can as Champion. OH! But while I have the chance, I also wanted to thank you for all the help you gave Mum. It can be a chore for her trying to do everything herself since Gran and Gramps aren't always in the best shape to help."

Your face gave a look of surprise for a moment. "Wha- How'd you know about that?"

"Hop and I talk to each other on the phone all the time. Same with Mum and I. They've all said some really good things about you and how helpful you were!"

You stood there for a moment before chuckling bashfully. "Well it wasn't a big deal. It was the least I could do for how much she helped me out." You then pointed one hand towards the stadium. "Besides are you sure its ok if I join you? I couldn't ask that of you, you know that. It wouldn't be fair to everyone else around here." As if to get your point across you gestured to the crowd and Leon looked to where you were pointing. You didn't want to just take him up on his offer no matter how nice it was. It wasn't fair to everyone else who couldn't have this chance. "It's much appreciated though. It's fine really."

"But I insist." you paused as he turned back to you with a giant smile. You opened your mouth to protest but he held up a hand. "You've helped my mother a lot. You've helped to keep my little brother and his friends safe. And from what I've been told from the incidents in Stow-on-Side and Spikemuth, you've also risked your safety a few times as well to do so." You still stared at him as he returned his hand to his side. "Part of being a Champion is being able to know people. You've done a lot and haven't asked for anything in return or taken advantage of the fact you've been around my friends and family. That's the signs of a good person. And the least I can do to repay that kindness is making sure you have a Champion Time like the rest of us." He smiled friendly to you but there was something..Different about his face. It could've just been the snow and cold air adding a rosey pink to his cheeks but he almost seemed more affectionate as he smiled at you. "And... I-I can promise that none of the others would mind either."

It was really considerate of you to not want special treatment but he was glad when you took him up on his offer! But then when the matches started on more and he watched along with you...it was then that he started to understand a bit more when you both spoke.

"Y/n?" You yelped with a jump and whirled your head around to stare at the man who walked up behind you, only to find Leon smiling and holding up a hand. "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you." He then gestured to the window. "Going to watch the matches."

"Um..Oh! Y-Yeah. Thought I'd better get a good view y'know," you answered back voice a bit more shaky.

He nodded humming Gold eyes looking you over for a second. "...The snow's beautiful isn't it? It may be cold but it makes the perfect atmosphere for Christmas. I can't remember the last time I got to properly celebrate the holidays with Hoppy...What about you? What's your favorite thing about the holidays?"

....Your head shook before you returned your now crestfallen eyes downwards to the glass, not even able to look at your own reflection. The fabric of your coat felt rough as you ran your hands over your sleeves. Leon rose a bold brow, clearly taking note of the sudden change in mood so fast.

".....I don't remember. My mom never celebrated Christmas since I was just twelve." The champion blinked at you, fully turning his face to you now. "I never had any gifts or christmas tree or stockings...Yeah. I GET that's not what Christmas is about. It's about spending time together and stuff. " You scowled down at the glass your fists digging into your sleeves' fabric. "But would it have hurt her to at least get me a candy cane? A sweater? A small card?! I GOT!!...." Your body deflated along with your face. "....I never got anything from her." Leon stared as your arms flopped to your sides. ".....She n-never did want to celebrate holidays. T-There was a-always some k-kind of money problem..."

"She never wanted too...Or did she not just ever let you?," Leon asked softly and you froze, your reflection's face mirroring the giant bomb that was just suddenly dropped onto you by Lee as he watched you. But his head immediately lifted up high as he saw the telltale signs of your eyes becoming shiny, and not in the sparkly kind. More like the 'Im about to cry' signs showing. AW RAPIDASH CRAP!! Great going Leon! You just goofed up again as always. Some Champion you were for making a girl cry. He wanted to smack himself and groaned. What was he thinking!? Instead he...reached up a hand, hesitated for a moment when you didn't respond from the movements, and then gently grabbed your shoulder. Of course you jumped at the touch and snapped to him wide eyed to him. "Hey. You shouldn't cry. Look at this. Your mum's not here is she?" No..Of course she wasn't. "You can celebrate Christmas now however you please right?"

.....Sniffling you shook your head no and reached a hand up to wipe at your eyes. "I-I'd l-love to...But I can't?''

"Why not?," Leon asked genuinely confused blinking.

"B-Because you're spending Christmas with the guys," your gaze turned back down sadly. "As much as I'd like to spend the holidays with them, I can't just invite myself with them all the time. Besides they deserve a chance to just hang out without me being tagged along with them, especially with their own family. I can't invite myself onto something that I wasn't even invited too."

"What about your dad? Dontcha have any other friends to hang out with?"

"No!," you shot back at him but somehow no one noticed again. "I don't! Because of my mom all my friendships sort of just...faded when when I didn't hang out with them and then they went off after highschool to who knows where! My dad's gone and my mom is...a-also...gone. ...I don't know where they are. Heck! I didn't even have Silver until you gave him to me this year! I-....I haven't had anyone for a l-long t-time ok?" You let out in a shaky voice and looked back away staring back out the glass. "I'll be fine! I was fine then and I'll be fine now, Leon. Thank you b-but I'll be fine by myself for a bit."

You might've not meant to sound so harsh towards Leon but to his credit the man didn't even flinch when you had snapped at him. Another silence resumed where you two slacked and he went back to looking out the window himself. All of it clicked so fast in his head as he stared silently out the window as the current battle ensued. So...Your mom was controlling? Is-...I-Is THAT why you started traveling around and so far from Kalos? Well that would explain why you were currently crying. What mother did that? And your father left you too huh? Yeah. He could relate to that. Not having a father around was certainly tough. He should know all too well he was afraid. He felt a pang of guilt for having pushed the topic the bit, but he was glad he found out more about you although he did feel bad about you crying. SO he was gonna do what he did best, and that was making sure everyone had a Champion Time. Especially someone like you.

".....Hey. Y/n?" You hummed but didn't look away from the glass as Leon spoke your name. "You said you weren't invited right? Well how about I invite you anyways?"

You stared at him mouth agape suddenly and eyes blown wide at the sudden offer. "Wait...You want to invite me on your Christmas trip? But you already planned it."

Without looking at you still he nodded again. "Yeah. It'd be a nice change of pace to have someone like you around, and don't worry about it." He smiled wider at you making your face light up just a wee bit. "It's my job to make sure everyone has a Champion Time around the holidays. Especially my friends."

That Christmas had been one of the best ones he had ever had. Not only was he able to spend it with his siblings, but he also got to spend it with you too! It was full of fun and surprises. He managed to get you a pokeball through that game, Hoppy and the others had a good time, and he even got a small gift from you. A small metal Charizard key chain he still has attached to his regular keys. He...He couldn't remember the last time he was able to get a gift from someone too. He was usually too busy so-...S-So it really meant a lot when you did give it to him. But it was that one incident. The accident...that really made him question how he really felt towards you. You both were just standing there at the park exit waiting for the trio to finish making up their minds about a purchase when it happened. You squealed which startled him into looking at you and jumping when you slipped on some ice on the sidewalk and he dove to catch you on instinct, not wanting you to hurt yourself. Then IT happened-

You gasped as your foot slipped on the slippery surface with a loud gasp enough to catch someone's attention. Your arms reached out for nothing but balance which even escaped you. No balance and nothing to grab onto to stop you from slipping on the ice and falling and hurting yourself on the hard concrete-

But..

No hard concrete hurt you.

You had squeezed your eyes shut hard expecting to feel the cold hard concrete but instead you felt a soft but firm ..something around your shoulder and lower back, and on instinct your hands reached to clutch at the thing stopping you from falling. And your body froze.....Well you weren't fallen on the ground but then how were you suspended in ...air-...You body all but froze up as soon as you opened your eyes and stared wide eyed into just as equally wide eyed gold ones. Silently you both stared at one another registering why yours and Leon's faces were so close. Until it finally dawned on your buffering brain. GOOD GRIEF!! Leon must've tried to catch you when you fell but instead managed to catch you and held you in a perfect dip (ironically under that blasted mistletoe as if mocking you and your situation-) and his arms holding you. On instinct your hands had clutched onto his front jacket and the quick jarring had pulled Leon's 'disguise' (his scarf covering the lower half of his face-) down so his full face was looking at you as if equally surprised he caught you like this. The cold wind blowing over you was countered by Leon's warmer breath..before he opened his mouth to say something. Something like 'Are you ok' or something like that, but that wasn't about to happen. Leon moved but not by his own accord. Leon's foot, which was STILL standing on the same ice you were, squeaked as it slipped against the slick ice and sent him lurching forward until his face collided with something soft and warm...

And that something just so happened to be you.

His face from collided with yours. Both frozen as something soft collided with your own lips. Everything in time froze for the both of you that moment.

There you stood frozen as Leon stood above lips against yours but not on purpose. After all he did just slip on ice. But your body was frozen, numb as you stood there looking up at him like your eyes turned into those funny googily eye stickers. He did in the same. Seeming in shock, frozen in time as his gold eyes stared back in the same state at you. Both mind blanks and bodies not being able to feel anything but neither could tell if that was due to the cold or the fact you two were in more shock than if a pikachu had zapped you. Eventually someone did move. You did. Your brain finally processing what was happening enough for common sense to finally return to your thought process and you moved your head back. Freeing your lips from his that was thrown forward from the trip, his soft purple bangs that hung off him tickled your forehead as it brushed against it from the moment you pulled back. The action seemed to make himself overcome the shock as well, after a moment righting his weight and yours up and slowly retracting his hands from the you to rest at the front of his body.

And you both stared at one another.

And then your brains finally processed what really happened.

The snowflakes and cold air colliding with his face couldn't extinguish the fire that froze in his cheeks as they instantly lit up the brightest shade of pink you've ever seen. But it wasn't just his face. His ears and whole face was now a pretty primrose pink instead of the usual complexion they were every other time you've seen him. And he suddenly reacted. You jumped when a gloved hand of his slapped over his mouth and his face gained a flustered expression as you just stood there. And your face also heated up-

YOU TWO HAD BLOODY KISSED!!....NO! No. Stay calm. It obviously COULDN'T have been a kiss! Not really. After all he had no intention of ki-ki-kissing you and you probably absolutely had no intention of kissing him of all people really when both of you were clearly just friends! And one could hardly call accidently slamming his face into yours a kiss! It was just because he slipped on the ice too and lost his footing! YEAH! Definitely! So it absolutely was NOT a kiss! Nope!....R-Right? Well he didn't have time to think on that because the Eternatus incident happened. It was such a blur. Such a wreck. Such a painful experience. Quite literally. He just remembered racing to Hammerlocke on Charizard once he got the situation in Wyndon checked and came face to face with pure CHAOS!! The skeletal red and black creature-...This was Eternatus. A creature that lived to destroy until it was sent to the grave by the ancient heroes and then brought back to life by Mr. Rose's evil deeds. The battle was the most painful he'd ever been through. His team one after another was defeated, exhausted, and not able to dynamax until all that was left was himself and his trusty charizard whom was the strongest of all his team. The purple air around them was just full of wind blowing around and pieces of Hammerlocke stadium's roof floating around. It was like a tornado from the underworld! Some of that things moves even hit him, covering him in painful bruises and scratches and even a black eye. Then the worse possibly thing had happened while he had wore the thing down, or so he thought, they showed up. He just remembered hearing footsteps running behind him and snapping his head when a voice rang out.

"LEON!!"

He froze..before snapping his head around him in horror at what he saw. It was Hop. But not just him. Victor and Glora!! No...NO NONONO!! THIS COULDN'T BE HAPPENING!! THEY COULDN'T BE HERE!! IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS!! HE COULDN'T RISK THEM GETTING HURT FOLLOWING HIM!! THEY WERE STRONG BUT NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE THIS MONSTER ON!!

"You came to help me in spite of the danger?! Thanks, Hop. And you two too. You three have really grown tremendously." he gaze turned back at the monster. "But no need for you kids to worry. It seems like some power of Eternatus's was keeping my team from dynamaxing but we've had a champion time all the same. Charizard and the rest of my team have really worn it down. Now if I can simply catch it in a pokeball." He slowly reached for the most powerful pokeball he kept on him. Could he even catch a legendary!? Unlikely, but it was his only chance they had!! "We should be able to get this madness under control. Then everything should be back to normal. Watch! It's gonna be a real champion catch!"

It..didn't go that way at all. The pokeball didn't work. It completely backfired! It broke out of the pokeball and thrown him backwards landing with a giant thud to the ground. Thank goodness Charizard protected the trio on instinct so he knew they were protected from the blast. He was dazed. Head spinning and body numb until his body slowly regained feeling and focus as someone roughly shook him furiously.

"LEON!! *Hic* LEON!! P-Please wake up! P-Please be alright!," a younger male voice called out to him desperately and choking up, begging him to wake up. He was expecting Hop at first but instead was met with Victor crying with tears down his face scared and worried.

He wasn't sure how long he was down but by the time he was able to wake up, Hop and Gloria were in a furious battle with Eternatus along with two other legendaries. Victor had to help him wobble onto his feet and on instinct he had put himself between Victor and the battle going on, Charizard knocked out a few yards away from him. He could only watch in horror as the battle insued. They-...They looked like they were winning! Although no one could've seen what happened next. He was unaware of the danger he and Victor were it.

"LEON LOOK OUT!!"

He had barely turned an inch when something smaller but hard rammed into his chest and again sent him flying back, and in a domino effect he had knocked Victor over as well making the two hit the ground and there was a loud thud behind them as well. Like something fell just beside them.

"VICTOR!!," he cried out in a panic, despite the pain in his body he scrambled up and over to the boy who sat up with a groan rubbing his head, but yelped when Leon's two hands grabbed the side of his head in worry. A panicked look in his gold eyes. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT!? YOU AREN'T HURT ARE YOU!?"

Victor shakily shook his head no lip quivering and body trembling under his hold..Until light brown eyes looked behind him, and Victor froze in his grasp. Leon looked behind him following his gaze. And all at once his world shattered like glass. Tiny pieces falling around them all. There. Yards away from him. Was Y/n. Her body laid there limp as a ragdoll's. Eyes closed clearly indicating you were unconscious. And just a little bit away from you where he and Victor had currently been standing, was a decent sized piece of roof that could have hit them...If Y/n hadn't pushed them both out of the way.

"Y/N!!!"

His voice was loud enough to have been heard over the battle and make both Hop and Gloria look over their shoulders, the howling wind making the agonied voice echo out above even the winds. Gloria SHRIEKED! Hop's jaw dropped and Victor remained frozen where he was sitting on the ground shocked as the Champion scrambled on hands and knees towards her. She couldn't feel the shaking hands that gently turned her face towards him and she definitely couldn't feel the tears form on his face and land on her soft skin one after another.

Leon was crying, shaking. Begging you to silently wake up as he patted your face to no avail.

The battle was won when Eternatus EXPLODED to death in a ball of light and the other two legendaries disappeared. GOOD!! BACK TO THE GRAVE WITH IT FOR ALL HE CARED!! They all must've looked such a sight to Raihan and Mr. Rose. The Hammerlocke gym leader had stayed back to detain Rose so imagine it. Three young children were crying over someone's unconscious body, Leon all scraped and bruised up came hobbling out cradling someone's limp body in his arms. He was crying his eyes out making sure to carefully cradle your head as he wrapped you in his cake. His stomach did summersaults like he never imagined before. He never expected to see you of all people hanging limp in his arms wrapped up in his cape as the hurt champion struggled to take you to safety. Raihan had froze seeing his friend and the children crying and clinging to their big brother as he limped to them, even Mr. Rose standing next to him seemed absolutely speechless at the sight of you. Leon, looking more panicked than Raihan had ever seen him before, looked desperately at Raihan eyes widened and full of fear. Yelled three words at Raihan.

"GET AN AMBULANCE!!"

Raihan didn't hesitate. Leon all but sobbed when his friend took her limp form from his arms, no doubt to take you to help and the look he gave Rose was VERY clear. 'MOVE OR YOU DIE!!' Rose didn't argue or say a word when Raihan carted both him and you off back down the corridors. Leaving his friend to turn around and address another issue at hand.

Gloria's hands were wrapped around one of his as she cried, completely sobbing by this point. Victor was just silent. Not even making a peep, but he still stared off where you disappeared, fat tears rolling down his face. And Hop looked about ready to start sobbing as hard as Gloria was currently doing.

"...it's ok." It was BARELY above a whisper as his hoarse voice was forced out, arms shakily reaching towards them. "...it's g-gonna be alright-" Gloria didn't hesitate to throw herself at him in a hug Hop following suit. Victor had to be gently pulled into him but he didn't fight against it as the three all but sobbed into his arms. And he couldn't help but sob along with them. Rubbing their shoulders, and backs, and arms. They were alive. They were alright. They would be ok. "I-It's ok. B-Big b-brother's here. *sniff* B-Big brother's g-gonna make sure e-everything's o-ok. I'll p-protect you f-from all the monsters. N-Nothing's g-gonna happen t-to any of you." He choked on another sob as he slowly rocked them. "I promise. I promise."

Golden eyes glanced over to where you had disappeared and in that moment he made another vow. One where you would be ok. Wouldn't be hurt either. Where they would all be ok. No one would hurt his mother! No one would hurt his grandparents! No one would hurt his friends! No one would hurt his Auntie! No one would hurt his little brother and sisters! No one would hurt his pokemon!

And no one would ever hurt you again.

"I promise."

[1shot-wonder]

5 Times Colin Bridgerton Fell In Love and One Time He Did Something About it (Colin Bridgerton x Fem!OC

(GIF Credit to bridgertonland)

Okay, disclaimer: This is not an x reader. I’m sorry! I just really liked this 5 +1 idea but I couldn’t figure out how to make it work and I really really really just have baby boy on the brain. I will be adding the main three Bridgerton boys to the request list as well, but only for the show. Below the cut will be the summary and more info! Thank you so much for reading!

Masterlist

This fic takes place in the show timeline, not the books, since I am only two books in and also wanted to use the Marina plot. However this is an AU where Penelope is not in love with Colin. Takes place basically when S3 will be, during the marriage season following Kate and Anthony’s wedding.  This will actually be 14 parts. I cranked out a prologue and all six moments for Colin and intend to write the OC POV but it will take a while since I only got this out today bc it’s the holiday and therefore I did not have class.

Summary: After his heartbreak over Marina Thompson and a wonderful trip abroad, Colin Bridgerton is finally starting to get his feet back under him. And when a new lady debuts on the marriage market, he may be ready to give love another chance.

Warnings: One mention of parental death. Spoilers for Bridgerton on Netflix. But other than that, none. Fluffy fluff and just softness all around. I am a Benedict girly at heart (maybe. I say that, but I may be converted) but I do want to offer some love for this sweet boy.

Prologue:

Colin POV: Word Count 288

“Have you all heard the news?”

“Oh no.” Benedict groaned when Riley took his seat with the brothers at White’s. “I do not care about whatever gossip you have heard about the debutantes.”

“Not even that there is a new one?” Riley joked. “Present by one of your acquaintances from what I’ve heard. Sir Henry Granville and his wife’s new ward.” Benedict raised his eyebrow. 

“Alright. I’m listening.”

“Apparently her father was Sir Granville’s cousin, passed away last year. Bad heart.” Riley explained. “And her mother died of consumption when she was young. So they took her in. Her parents had been rearing her for the marriage mart. And now that the grieving period has ended…”

“The girl’s father passed away last year and now she’s being pushed into the marriage mart?” Benedict asked. “That doesn’t sound like the Granville’s.”

“The girl has already pushed her debut back quite a bit. I believe she is twenty.” Riley waved their shock away. “She can’t wait forever.”

“Kate was twenty-two.” Benedict pointed out. 

“Do not patronize me, Bridgerton, I know your brother did not exactly propose.”

“Anthony loves Kate. As do we, so watch your tongue.” Colin snapped. 

“Alright. Alright. The point still stands that twenty is older than average for a debut. Just as twenty-nine is a tad old for a proposal.” Benedict rolled his eyes. That was a no. He was grateful to Granville, but he did not think he could be a member of his family and not let something slip. Colin was the one who actually mustered up a response. 

“Thank you for the information, Riley. If our mother ever runs out of gossip with which to entertain us, we will know just where to go.

Cassidy (OC) POV: Word Count 382

“So.” Lucy smiled at Cassidy as they settled into the parlor. “It is time to discuss your desires before we go to tonight’s ball.”

“What do you mean?”

“I must know what men to steer you towards and away from.” Lucy explained. “So, I suppose my first question is this- do you desire a love match, or would you be content with a marriage of convenience, of friendship.”

“I- I would like to marry for love. If I can.” She admitted. “But why does that matter?”

“There are men who have no interest in such a match, and therefore they are not worth our time. And, of course, some men who can not give you that.” Cassidy nodded in understanding. They had revealed the nature of their marriage to her, not wanting any secrets between them. She had offered more acceptance and grace than they had expected. She was a sweet girl. “So, what sort of man do you wish to marry?” Cassidy tilted her head in thought. 

“That’s a complicated question.”

“I suppose it is.” Lucy laughed. “Then what do you wish to avoid? What is an absolute requirement?”

“Well…he has to love music. Or at the very least like it.” Cassidy stated. “I’ve always imagined myself playing the piano for my husband on quiet nights.” Lucy smiled softly. “And I want him to enjoy being outside. And travel.” She sat up. “I must marry a man who enjoys travel and will take me with him.” Lucy laughed. 

“You seem to know what you want more than you thought.” She observed. “What about his humor?” She asked lightly. “Do you want him to be impertinent and joke like you? Or would you prefer a serious man to balance you out?” 

“Maybe not quite as impertinent.” Cassidy admitted. “But he must be willing to indulge me.” Lucy nodded sagely. 

“It is very important for a husband to indulge his wife.” She agreed. “How else would I have gotten you that beautiful gown for the night?” She giggled. “So. A traveler, who likes music, and nature. And who has a sense of humor that may occasionally offend some of the more stately members of the ‘ton.” Already, a list was forming in her mind. “I believe we can find a man like that.”

I will start posting Colin’s POV’s tomorrow!

[themalhambird]

@the-golden-ghost

Edward has spent the last eternity pacing, clenching the hilt of his sword so hard it’s bruised his hand as he paced, useless, listening to his wife’s pained cries from the chamber above him-- 

The physician appears in the doorway. Edward doesn’t give him a chance to speak- he pushes past him. Runs. Takes the stairs four at a time and crashes through his wife’s bedroom door, skidding to a halt and breathing heavily as he drank in every detail of his beautiful, beautiful wife- pale, exhausted, but otherwise looking well-happy-

She didn’t look up at him. She was too busy crooning softly at the bundle in her arms to take much notice of anything else in the world right now, but her ladies were a little more observant and one of them said softly ‘Madame’ as they curtsied, and Joan looked up at him at last.

Her face split in to a wild, brilliant smile. Edward stepped hesitantly forward. “Can I--?” he said; Joan grinned and looked back down at their child. 

“You’d better,” she said, “I didn’t spend the last nine months in ever increasing discomfort for you to be disinterested,”

“Well it’s just, these last few weeks you’ve been snarling about how this is all my fault and you’re going to stab me in the eye with a hair pin if I don’t--”

“Ned, stop babbling and get your gorgeous butt over here.” Joan said with a fond eyeroll, before stroking a finger down the child’s cheek. “Gorgeous,” she murmured softly, as Edward climbed up on to the bed and sat next to her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and leaned in to take a look at the tiny person they had made together. Perfect-wholly perfect-tiny, perfect features- a perfect fuzz of gold-red hair-

“Boy or girl?” he asked softly; Joan twisted round to glance at him with a faint quirk of her eyebrows. 

“Did you, perchance, run straight up here the moment the doctor appeared in the doorway and forget to wait around for any information whatsoever.”

“I was worried!”

Joan smiled, and reached up a hand to cup his cheek. “This is Richard” she said, as they turned their gazes back to their baby boy. “This is our son”

“He’s perfect,” Edward said softly. They sat together in blissfully contented silence for a while, then Edward said: “Richard? I mean... I thought we decided on Henry?”

“Oh, we did.” Joan said, laughter colouring her words. “But our other son sneaked in to come and see me a few days ago and seemed to think that if he had a baby brother it ought to be called Richard, and the more I thought about it...and then he was here, and-”

“And Richard just felt right. ” Edward smiled and rested his cheek against her hair. “I’m not complaining. It took me a few minutes to even register, but I was curious. We’ll leave Henry for Joh-Edward snuck in to see you? He’s two, how the he-eck,” he amended hastily, “did he sneak in to- oh, I’m going to kill him,” he leant over and took Richard’s tiny hand in his fingers and shook it. “Your Uncle Simon is a very bad man. He brought your big brother in to disturb mummy’s confinement and I’m going to throw him out the window, yes I am- oh. Oh! Joan, look, he’ s awake-- I didn’t disturb him did I-?” For Richard had opened his eyes and was peering up inquisitively, as if trying to figure out whether or not he wanted to scream. 

He didn’t. He continued to look up, and gurgled happily. “Hello,” Edward cooed, “Hello. I’m your Dad. I’m going to take such good care of you. When I’m done throwing Uncle Simon out the window.” Richard gurgled again, and Edward laughed, then sniffed and dashed at his eyes with his palm. 

“Are you crying?” Joan asked. 

“Yes,” said Edward, wiping his nose on the back of his hand. “Yes, I’m crying. I am the single greatest warrior England has ever had and I am crying at the sight of my tiny new born child.” There was a pause, and then they both giggled. 

“I love you.” Joan said, looking up at him; “I love you too,” Edward said. He kissed the top of her head. “I should write to my father,” he said. “And -my brothers. And Simon, of course-”

“So you can throw him out the window?”

“Sure. Also because he’s with Ed and Ed’ll need to meet his baby brother.” Edward smiled at his son again, then moved to get off the bed. In the process, he let go of Richard’s hand, and Richard immediately squawked in indignation. “No no no no no, hush, it’s okay, it’s okay!” Edward said, taking Richard’s hand again. His son settled, and his wife burst in to laughter.

“Oh, you’re screwed,” she said, “Ned, you’re so screwed, he’s got you wrapped around his tiny little fingers already.”

“Yeah,” Edward grinned goofily. “You know- I really don’t think I mind.”

[greensleeves888]

Widow's Pique - Chapter 31

Overview: Penny is a 41 year old mother of one, existing day to day in the normal world until a chance encounter changes everything, for everyone.

Author’s Notes: Hey Tumblrs! So this is my first ever story (not counting the shit I created at school). So be easy on me! I apologise for any typos, and for my misunderstanding of basic punctuation. This story has a little bit of Yours Truly woven into it. It’s a slow burn, full of angst, inner monologues, and insecurities but promises a happy ending of sorts! Using just my imagination and countless hours “researching” Mr. Cavill, I hope I can portray a different side to this fascinating man. Please indulge me …

Pairing: Henry Cavill x Plus Size/Curvy OFC (Penny) Chapter: 31 of ?

Word Count: 10.5k!

Warnings: Angst. Pregnancy. Alcohol. Weight issues. Foreplay.

Disclaimers: This is all fiction baby!

Over 18’s only. No permission is given for reposting my work, copying it or parts of the source material, and claiming it as your own.

MASTERLIST

Big kisses in advance for your Re-blogs, Comments, and Likes - they mean SO much to me xxx There is a Spotify playlist that accompanies this story - to listen click here

Widow’s Pique

"White or Pink Pen?"

"White, always white" Penny shouted from her office over the sounds of Dusty Springfield.

She was dancing on the spot as she worked on an intricate collage piece at her idea bench. Moments later a large, warm pair of hands crept onto her hips as Henry joined her.

"I'm sorry to interrupt the artist at work honey, but I just couldn't resist those wiggling hips".

Penny spun around and laced her hands behind Henry's neck, continuing her swaying. Henry took the opportunity to steal a kiss from her smiling lips and a squeeze of her ample backside in the process.

She rested the side of her head against his chest as they continued to move to the music. Henry peppered her hair with more kisses as he squeezed her close.

"You ok mama?" he asked as the song finished.

"I'm good thanks." she spoke dreamily.

"What can I do for you, get for you?"

"Nothing Honey, I have everything I need." she rested her head back against his chest as she rubbed her hands over his strong, smooth back, tucking her hands up under his t-shirt to feel his soft, warm flesh.

"Was that Fernando on the phone?"

"It was indeed."

"All ok?"

"All is ok. Going swimmingly in fact"

Henry had kept his word and had made the wedding planning as stress-free as possible. In the space of two weeks the date had been set, invites sent, catering and entertainment sorted and even the flowers. By using the professionals (and throwing undisclosed amounts of money in their direction), most of the hassle was out of their hands, leaving Henry and Penny just to make the fun decisions. The venue was easy; Penny's back garden was perfect for an informal late summer wedding. The field behind would house a marquee for the meal and evening entertainment. All that was needed to finalise was Henry's suit and Penny's dress.

"So are you excited to sort out your dress tomorrow, Pen?" he asked, knowing she was apprehensive.

"I am, I just hope they can make me something comfortable and pretty. God knows how much bigger I'll be in another two weeks time!"

Henry rumbled a small laugh, placing his hand on the side of Penny's stomach, rubbing it gently.

"You're going to look stunning Pen, I have no doubt."

He was careful with his choice of words, knowing how uncomfortable she had become lately. He was also worried the baby might arrive before they had the chance to get married. Penny certainly looked ready to go. She hardly complained though, in fear of him becoming even more over protective of her.

Henry insisted on driving Penny to the dressmakers, parking up in a secluded alleyway to access the discreet entrance for high-profile clients. Marianne and Helen were already inside, sipping champagne despite it only being 11am. He wore a tracksuit and baseball cap as his 'disguise' as he graciously helped Penny out of the beast. He made sure Penny was happy and comfortable inside the boutique before being shooed away by his mother.

"I'll meet you all back at yours later ok?"

"Yes dear, now clear off darling, you're not supposed to be here." Marianne quipped as she waved her hand dismissing Henry from the lavish room. Henry grumbled and kissed Penny gently on the lips.

"Any issues, call me ok honey?"

Penny nodded and crossed her heart as she helped move him towards the door.

A tall elegant lady and two young assistants wafted into the room to greet Penny.

"Ms Green? I'm Lily. It's a pleasure to meet you, thank you for choosing us to make this special piece for you."

Penny blushed, not sure she was up for all the fussing. "Thank you, Lily. And thank you for seeing me so quickly, as you can see, time is of the essence." she laughed as she patted her bump.

Although Penny had been trepidatious, the experience was unfolding to be much more relaxed and enjoyable than she'd expected. Despite spending most of the time in just her wedding underwear she enjoyed being swathed in different fabrics, Lily draping and folding the most stunning lace and silk around Penny to find the look that worked best. There were even a couple of pre-made maternity wedding dresses that Penny could try on. Unsurprisingly these were too small still for Penny, making her feel huge again. Lily was so serene and patient, listening intently to everything Penny liked and disliked. The idea of the dress slowly came together from shape ideas and inspiration from the other dresses she was shown. All of Penny's concerns were met, and Marianne and Helen even managed to keep their stronger opinions to themselves.

Once Penny was back in her own dress she hugged Lily and popped to the loo whilst Helen brought her car around to the side entrance.

Helen's drove a Tesla Model 3, which seemed like it was on the ground when Penny tried to sit elegantly in the passenger seat. She regretted wearing such a figure hugging outfit, adding to her inflexibility.

"I hope you're hungry ladies as I've booked a table for lunch at Bertrand's."

"Oh, I thought we were going back to yours Marianne? Won't Henry be waiting?"

"He'll be fine with Colin, It'll do you both good to have some time apart."

Penny wasn't sure what she meant by that but her stomach growled happily in the anticipation of food.

The beautiful Art Nouveau facade of the swanky restaurant opened up into a vast maze of eclectic but lavishly furnished booths, perfect for discreet dining. On their way to their table they hardly saw any of the other diners, but the hubbub of conversation proved that the place was full. Penny was glad of this, really not wanting to get recognised in her current state.

After a delicious array of crudités Helen and Marianne revealed their motivation behind the lunch.

"Penny, we wanted to talk to you about the wedding." Hells began, glancing nervously at Marianne.

"We, well a few of us are a little worried that this might be a bit too much for you at the moment. If you wanted to change your mind no-one at all would think bad of you."

Penny finished crunching a radish as she took in what was being said. Marianne took this as a bad sign.

"Penny, dearest. You know I adore you both, and I know Henry better than he knows himself. Once he puts his mind to something he's a force to be reckoned with. We just want to make sure that you're not feeling too pressured. We just worry, that's all."

Silence fell on the table as Penny slowly sipped her water.

"Honestly, you have nothing to worry about. I'm ridiculously calm about the wedding. It's as much my idea as it's Henry's, he's not pressurising me into anything. I swear. If anything it's been taking my mind off birthing this huge-ass baby."

Helen snorted, and instantly covered her mouth in embarrassment.

At that moment Marianne's phone rang, it was Henry.

"We're just grabbing a bite to eat darling. Penny was famished." Marianne winked at Penny as she continued to 'uh-huh' and 'ok' to Henry's call.

"She's fine Henry, we are taking good care of her, it's all very private here too so please don't stress. See if you can help your Dad move the treadmill upstairs while you're waiting." All three ladies chuckled at the thought of Henry wrestling the machine up the staircases.

After the call, lunch progressed as normal. Talking of their outfits and the guest list.

"Henry's requested no phones at the wedding too, that'll be interesting. He's also hired security! I've never heard of security at a wedding, I think it's a bit OTT really."

"It's all quite standard for this kind of do Penny. Let's just hope the press don't get a whiff of it beforehand, you don't want helicopters buzzing over the house." Helen joked, but Penny suddenly sat up a bit straighter, looking concerned.

Marianne held her wrist "Are you ok my dear?"

"Could that really happen? I not a big fan of paparazzi or helicopters." Penny shuddered thinking back to the time Henry was whisked away from her.

"There's always a small chance of it being leaked, but Henry is more than on top of the privacy for everyone, especially you my darling." Marianne squeezed her wrist again before finishing her fish.

Penny sat back, feeling a small braxton hick threatening. Her appetite for her fancy sandwich suddenly lost.

Four days before the big day the house and grounds were already buzzing with people. The marquee was set up. the walkways being laid, the car parking mats covered the field next door, and swathes of festoon lights were being hung in every space. A small barn-style building was being constructed at the end of the garden. This was the covered area for the wedding, where Penny and Henry would stand. It was beautiful, even before it was decorated. Penny wondered if they could keep it.

Today Lily was visiting with the final fitting of the dress, Penny couldn't wait to see it. Henry's tailor was already downstairs, making final adjustments to Henry and Ben's suits.

"Jesus George, the waist is cutting into me, is that right?" Henry complained, feeling a bit hot and bothered.

"Well, Henry that will be because you are a little bit fatter than the last time I measured you. I'm going to have to let this out, quite a lot too by the looks of it."

Henry breathed in and looked in the mirror. Ben sniggered at him.

"Hey, short stuff, the same will happen to you when you get to my age." Henry joked as he breathed out again and patted his pooch. He'd not paid that much attention to his own physique of late. Especially as he'd cleared his schedule and had cut down on the training. What he'd forgotten to cut down on was his calorie intake. He looked again in the mirror as George fussed around his waistband, getting impatient with Henry's movement.

"It's not too bad is it George?" Henry rubbed his stomach, purposefully pushing it out even more for comedic effect.

"Hmm, nothing that a girdle wouldn't fix, now keep still."

Henry looked at Ben and pulled a face like a naughty school boy.

"No competition for Mummy's though Ben, right?" he joked "Don't tell her I said that please!" he added, suddenly becoming serious.

Ben motioned locking his mouth and putting the key in his t-shirt pocket.

The gate buzzer seemed to be going off every 10 minutes with one delivery or another. This time Colin was sent to answer the door as Lily and her two assistants arrived carrying a huge garment bag between them. He smiled, nodded and again wordlessly ushered them towards the stairs.

Penny was in her bedroom with Kate helping her tie her hair back. She was already suffering in the heat, a large fan blasted warm air at her in an attempt to cool her down. She fiddled with the back of her white bra as Kate swotted her hand away and sorted it for her. She'd resorted to bearing a belly band to support her bump. Henry helped her with it every morning now, it gave her some relief on her aching back and hips. He'd also cradle her bump for her as he stood behind her. It was such a relief until he gave up complaining it was uncomfortable and pulling his back.

A light knock on Penny's bedroom door signalled the arrival of Lily and The Dress. At this point Penny just wanted something white that fitted. Lily greeted Penny like an old friend, Penny loved how elegant and serene she was. She hoped some of that would rub off on her right now.

"Are you ready for this Penny? Any adjustments we can make today, we have our kits with us, so don't worry at all ok?"

The garment bag was hooked onto the top of the door frame as the two young assistants Eloise and Suni slowly unzipped and lifted it out to present to Penny.

"Oh, my, god Lily! It's absolutely stunning, you're a freakin' wizard! The detail, the fabric, it's, it's, just beautiful - so beautiful." Penny covered her face as she shuddered a huge cry into her hands. Kate rubbed her back as she too hitched her breath with tears in her eyes.

"Right, enough of the hormones Mrs Bump. Let's wrangle you into this and see how it looks." Kate barked, knowing that they needed to get a move on.

Another knock at the door signalled mild panic thinking Henry was trying to come in until Marianne spoke from the other side.

"Is it here? Can I see it Penny?"

Carefully, the several pairs of hands helped Penny step into the silk slip under-dress. Lily skilfully began lacing the back as the cool, soft fabric began to mould around Penny's curves. The bias cut of the fabric clung to Penny's shape without restricting her movement.

Next was the sheer lace part. Suni and Eloise laid this out on the floor in front of Penny. She carefully stepped into the centre as the delicate fabric was lifted up carefully. Marianne stood with her hands over her mouth. Tears in her eyes, unable to speak. Kate was also uncharacteristically quiet as she swallowed her emotions, not wanting to set Penny off again.

Slowly Penny threaded her arms into the long sleeves, thankful that the fabric had some give to it. Nothing felt tight, everything fitted so well. Lilly and Suni began to fasten the tiny buttons at the back as Eloise adjusted the fabric to the right position. Penny smoothed her hand over the beautiful open mesh cotton lace, tracing the large swirls and leaves.

"Now Penny, the good news is that we just have half a dozen buttons to reposition, tell me, how does it feel? How do you feel in it?

At this point Eloise angled Penny's floor mirror towards her. She stared at her reflection, unable to find the right words, amazed at what she was seeing. Her large bump looked perfectly at home within the dress, something Penny never expected. Her hips were smooth, her arms looked slender, and even her boobs were flattered but tamed within the stunning outfit.

Realising that everyone was waiting for her to speak, Penny cleared her throat.

"I - I bloody love it!!" as she jumped up and down on the spot squealing.

Everyone else followed suit as downstairs in the kitchen Henry, Colin and Ben stared up at the ceiling.

"Either the dress looks good, or there's a huge spider in the bedroom", Henry joked as he picked up Ben for a hug. "Let's go check on the progress outside, short stuff." and they went to track down Fernando, the wedding planner.

After lunch more pampering arrived for Penny, a fresh hair colour and spray tan whilst Marianne and Colin readied the spare rooms for more guests.

Even Callum was helping by re-gravelling the track and tidying up the entrance through the farm.

Penny had needed another nap so Kate left her to rest whilst she surveyed the back garden, marvelling at how pretty it already looked. She found Henry in the marquee looking frazzled.

"Hey, hot stuff - how's it all going?"

Henry blew a sweaty curl from his forehead as his face cracked into a tired smile.

"It's ok, there are a few delays with some bits and bobs, but on the whole, ok. There's just so much last minute stuff. Is Penny ok?"

"Yeah, she's having a cat nap. I thought you had a guy for all this running around?"

"I do, I just want it to be perfect."

"Well it won't be perfect if your blood pressure is through the roof and you feel like shit will it? Now come inside and have a drink and a sit down - no buts."

"Yes Mrs Roberts" he saluted as he followed Kate back through the garden, his beady eye checking off other things he still needed to ask Fernando about. Kal bounded up to him, knowing he need a bear hug.

"Leave the dog Son and come and get a cold one, you've done enough for today." Colin instructed.

Henry laughed at everyone's concern, he felt truly grateful of how helpful everyone had been. He grunted in discomfort as he sat down at the dining table, grabbing for some buttered bread.

"Why don't you get an early night after you've eaten poppet?" Marianne suggested.

"You all trying to get rid of me or something?" he muttered with his mouth full.

"Not at all, you just need to save some energy for the big day son, and of course tomorrow evening."

Henry had refused a stag do, convincing himself he would jinx everything and send Penny into early labour if he were to go somewhere, so instead his brothers were coming to the farm to give him some kind of a traditional send off.

Kate had organised a similar evening for Penny despite her reluctance too. Henry had pleaded with Kate not to do anything too rowdy.

"It's not a stag do Pops, just a few of us having a couple drinks and playing some poker ok?"

"Of course, of course." Colin winked at Ben, who had been clinging to his new grandad like a limpet since he arrived.

Henry decided an early night was very appealing if it meant escaping the fussing, and the chance to spend some alone time with his Penny.

"Hey sleepyhead." Henry whispered as he kissed Penny's forehead.

"Oh, shit. It's dark already, you should have woken me up." Penny groaned, as she shuffled and shifted to sit up. Henry went to help her but she clamped her arms down in defiance "I'm fine Henry, I can sit up myself!"

Henry stood back, hands in the air. Too tired to laugh or get annoyed at her snapping. Instead he began undressing on the way to the bathroom to clean his teeth.

Moments later Penny appeared to use the toilet.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't wait." she apologised for her unladylike gesture.

"You can poop in front of me my dear, I really don't mind."

"I'm not pooping, just having a wee. Your daughter is using my bladder as a yoga mat."

Henry chuckled, she was always 'his' daughter when she was causing trouble. He had a feeling this would still be the case once she arrived. He was more than ok with that, already knowing she would have him around her little finger from day one.

Back in bed, Penny remained sitting up as Henry plonked himself down face first and wrestled with his pillow for a comfortable position.

"You're exhausted Hen." Henry murmured into his pillow. Penny reached over and began rubbing his shoulder muscles, Henry groaned again. After a couple of minutes he shifted to lay on his side, taking Penny's hand and kissing it.

"You shouldn't be fussing over me, I should be fussing over you, my love"

Penny smiled softly "You've not stopped for days, you're going to be exhausted by Saturday."

"I'll be fine. I'm strong, like ox" he joked as he flexed his bicep half heartedly.

"I'm sorry for snapping earlier, I know I've been a prize bitch lately."

Henry smirked and blinked slowly. "You've not been a bitch, you wouldn't know how. So you've been a bit testy. So would I carrying around our not so little beany baby 24/7. You're doing so well honey, I'm so very proud of you."

Penny's skin shivered with his praise. Henry schooched up to sit closer, his large warm hand atop Penny's round stomach. Henry dipped his head towards her belly and kissed it. Penny rested her hand over his.

"Mummy and I can't wait to meet you our darling girl. Just keep on baking nicely, ok?" he kissed her again as Penny wrapped her arms around her beautiful, sweet man. Overwhelmed with happiness and emotion. She began to cry, a regular occurrence lately, as Henry shushed her, peppering her hair with kisses as they both drifted off to sleep together.

The next day seemed just as hectic as the last few. Not helped by the arrival of more Cavill's.

Kate's sole purpose seemed to be in following Penny everywhere she went, making her sit down and drink and eat enough. Whilst Kate had to visit the loo Penny escaped into the back garden to check on things. She found Henry and Callum helping roll barrels of beer towards the marquee. It was only 10am but the sun was already scorching hot. Both men were red faced and very sweaty.

"You know there are dozens of guys here that are hired to help with this kind of stuff!"

Henry straightened up, his back obviously hurting him.

"Why are you out here Penelope?" he scowled at her, ignoring her comment.

"Because I'm sick of being under house arrest, I want to help."

"Somehow I don't think you're going to be much help at the moment Penny." Callum joked.

Henry shot a worried glance at Callum.

"I'm pregnant, not useless Callum." Callum looked at the ground, knowing he should have kept his mouth shut.

"Pen, most of the stuff is lifting and shifting stuff. You really think that's a good idea?"

She pursed her lips, knowing she had a weak argument.

Surprisingly Henry added "Find Fernando, he's in the marquee, he might have a job for you."

Penny perked up and turned on her heel as she tried her best not to waddle away towards the marquee.

Callum gave a surprised look in Henry's direction.

"Don't worry, Fernando will send her away. He's terrified she's going to have the baby any second now." Henry laughed.

"Aren't we all?" Callum added as they shared a concerned look at each other.

The plan that evening for the 'non' Hen and Stag do's was for Helen's girls to host a fun games and pizza night for the children upstairs, whilst the men tested out a section of the marquee and the bar outside. This left the ladies with the downstairs of the house. Whilst Penny was upstairs trying to find something to wear the other ladies were setting up balloons and decorations as a surprise. Henry poked his head in through the back door only to be shooed away by everyone.

Out in the marquee, Colin was mixing up cocktails as Charlie and Simon cooked up a meat-fest on the barbeque. Tom was in the DJ Booth, reliving his youth whilst Callum helped Piers and Nik set up the poker table. Henry purposely didn't want any celebrity friends there tonight, despite feeling guilty for not inviting them. Some he'd invited to the wedding though but he didn't want it to feel like a showbiz event, it was about him and Penny.

Callum was surprised to get an invite tonight. He wasn't sure if it was the best idea considering his feelings towards Penny. Over the past few months, he'd tried to keep his distance, but Penny and Henry both tried to keep him in their lives.

Henry arrived back from the house "So let's get this fucking party started then boys!" Much to the amusement of the other Cavill brothers. Despite strict orders from Marianne, they were going to make their brother's 'stag do', an evening to remember.

Kate found Penny rifling through her wardrobe, piles of clothes already discarded on the bed. Penny was red faced and swearing under her breath as she fanned her face with her spare hand.

"Oi, Green, what the hell are you up to?"

"What does it look like? Trying to find something to fucking wear! Nothing fucking fits!"

"Woah, alright Gordon Ramsay, chill. Let me chose. Where's the first thing you tried on?"

"On the bed." Penny gestured, with a petulant look on her face.

Kate could help but smirk at her attitude, but was careful not to rile her up too much. She flipped the pile of clothes over and found a simple round neck bodycon dress made from a beautiful dusky pink stretchy fabric.

"What was wrong with this one Pen?" Kate asked.

"Too clingy, looked like Kim K on a very bad day." Penny tried to joke, knowing she was being difficult.

"But does it fit?"

"Yes.."

"And is it comfy?"

"Hmm, I guess so…"

"Great, that's what you're wearing. Put it on and stop your whinging woman."

Penny sighed and stomped over to grab the dress from Kate.

"Henry bought me this, I look like a fucking sausage in it Katie."

"I don't care, no-one cares. They just want to see you and celebrate with you ok. Stop being so difficult woman." Kate knew she was pushing her luck being so bolshy with her, but she figured it was the only way to get the night started.

Penny readjusted her boobs once she pulled the dress down. Kate grabbed some hairspray and fluffed up Penny's hair. A quick flick of mascara and lipstick and Penny was finally ready.

"Fucking Kim K would wanna look like you Pen, you look hot honey!"

Penny daren't even look in the mirror, knowing Kate was just trying to make her feel better.

After copious amounts of barbequed protein, the men readied their bravado for the poker game. The Cavill brothers, in particular Charlie, seemed supremely confident that he would fleece everyone before the night was over. Colin quietly smirked, knowing from experience that the opposite would be more likely.

"Deal me in, I'm just going to check on Pen." Henry slurred, already several beers in.

"Woah, woah, woah!" came the combined protest "Leave the woman alone, if there was a problem, you would hear about it Hank - so sit the fuck down." Piers barked.

Henry sat down with a pout.

Kate led an anxious Penny past Ben's room after goodnight kisses, and loudly announced her arrival to the gaggle of girls downstairs.

"Surprise!!!! Happy Hen, Engagement, Baby Shower Penny!!!" the well practiced chorus sang out.

Penny clutched her chest and held back more tears as she saw the beautiful balloons and banners that the girls had put up whilst she was getting ready.

"We thought we'd roll them all into one Pen, as you don't like to waste any time!" Kate whispered as she patted Penny's backside.

Julia walked up to Penny, giving her a huge double cheek kiss and then tying a pretty flowery belt around her waist as Charlotte placed an equally tasteful floral crown atop Penny's head.

Several photos were taken with the custom balloon backdrop as Marianne poured the Prosecco.

Penny reluctantly agreed to a couple sips before complaining it was giving her heartburn.

Her dress was a big hit, with everyone admiring Penny's impressive bump.

"When I was pregnant with Hughie I swelled up like a balloon, do you remember Pen? It was fucking awful, you're just all belly Pen Pen, like you were with Ben. So not fair how you can look so good when you're so pregnant!"

"Did Henry pay you all to make me feel less huge ladies?" Penny asked, half seriously as she was feeling super self-conscious in her figure hugging outfit.

"I see Hank is trying to compete with you Pen in the belly department." Heather joked, nudging Penny with her pointy elbow.

"Heather, now that's enough. You know better than to comment on Henry's weight, he can get very sensitive about it." Marianne chastised.

"He's always the first to take the piss out of my Charlie if he's starting to look a little chubby, it's nice to see the tables turned." Heather continued, as Vicky and Charlotte nodded in agreement.

"Well I love his new tummy, it suits him too." Penny added, feeling bad that Henry's weight was being discussed.

"That man can make anything look good, even a gut!" Kate chuckled.

"Well that's enough fat-shaming our lovely Henry, let's all grab some food and then we can get the games underway." Helen instructed.

"Games?" Penny asked reluctantly.

"Read 'em and weep." Piers gloated as he laid down his winning hand amidst groans and obscenities from the rest of the table.

"Fuck this, I need a piss." Tom threw his cards down and headed off into the dark field outside, tripping over two guy ropes on the way.

"So bloody lucky Piers, next year we're going to Vegas son." Colin added

"You're on Pops, as long as we can take Hank to pay for everything."

Henry sat up from resting his head on the table, struggling to keep his eyes open after the constant flow of whiskey.

"Shall I run in and get coffees?" David suggested, being the most sober of the group.

"I'll come with you." Henry lurched out of his seat.

Callum stood to support him, "Maybe let Dave go for now Henry, you might want to sober up a bit before you go back inside."

"Hmm, kay." he agreed, feeling lightheaded from standing up so quickly.

"Let's finish up this meat and get the after party started boys." Charlie added with a chicken drumstick already in hand.

"Report back on the situation inside will you Dave?" Nik asked as David wove his way back to the garden.

The Hen party was well underway as David tried to sneak in the back, it took 5 seconds for Helen to spot him.

"David, what are you doing here?"

"Coffee." was his deliberately short response.

Helen was too tipsy to question him, "How civilised!" she chuckled before heading back to the makeshift dance floor.

Penny was trying her best to keep up with everyone despite being the only fully sober adult in the building. 'My humps' came on the sound system and one by one the ladies grabbed cushions, bowls and spare clothing to shove up their dresses to mirror Penny's impressive humps of her own.

Penny was screaming with laughter at the ridiculous sight before her. Glad that Kiri and Marianne were taking lots of photos to document it. Penny joined in as best as she could rubbing her bump against the others.

David looked up from the kitchen, shaking his head in amusement.

"There we're doing what?" Colin asked, confused by David's explanation.

"They'd all wedged cushions up their dresses to give them big bellies, like Penny's." he repeated as he set the heavy tray of coffee and cups on the bar.

"What the fuck? That's hilarious." Tom piped up.

"What was Pen doing?" Henry asked, now leaning against the bar, messily making himself a coffee.

"Dancing and laughing."

"Jesus Christ, if those women put her into labour there'll be hell to pay." Henry grumbled, trying to squint through the opening in the marquee towards the house.

"Chill bruv, she's in safe hands." Simon added, trying to stop Henry worrying.

"Maybe we should go back in the house with cushions up our tops and join them." Piers joked.

"Dad and Henry won't need the cushions though P" Charlie quickly quipped.

Henry broke the laughter with his angry rebuttal "Fuck off Chuck, I knew you couldn't help but take the fucking piss."

"Ah come on Hank, I'm only joking, so what, you're carrying a little extra timber these days."

"Don't they call it a sympathy belly?" Nik retorted with a snigger.

"Both you and Simon did the same when your girls were expecting." Nik pointed to Charlie.

"I can still take you all down brothers, just remember that."

"Let's fucking have it then!" Charlie shouted with excitement as he practically ripped off his shirt and ran towards Henry, attempting to wrestle him to the ground.

Several minutes later a bemused Tom, David & Callum leaned against the bar as they watched the five large men act like kids again, shirts off, clumsily trying to pin each other down onto the floor. Henry was bearing the brunt of most of this after his challenge.

"Are they always like this Col?" Tom inquired, as Colin sighed and nodded.

"Fucking hell Piers, mind my face." Henry grunted as he tried to get away from his brothers. They helped him to his feet as he grumpily wiggled his nose, checking for damage.

"Let's try something a little more civilised shall we chaps?" Tom began, as the Cavill boys wiped their faces with their tops. "A little arm wrestling competition will sift the boys from the men I think…"

Callum looked up at the ceiling and chose to Irish up his coffee…

After an enforced break to let Penny rest, the classic baby shower games began. Labour or orgasm faces, famous baby photos, nappy snacks, and guessing the weight of the baby.

Ben sneaked down to check on Penny and see if he was missing out on any fun. He made sure to give Penny the biggest hug, with a kiss for his baby sister too before he scampered back to his own party.

Penny was helped up to go and cut the stunning three tiered buttercream cake. It had edible flowers pressed into the icing and a beautiful gold crepe paper flower on the very top. The ladies had all worked up an appetite, so before long they all were tucking into the deliciously moist masterpiece.

Penny stood looking out into the back garden, the festoon lights making everything look romantic. She could see some movement inside the marquee, but it was too far to make out what was what. She could guarantee that Henry was already three sheets to the wind, but she was glad he was letting his hair down after how hard he'd been working lately.

"Right-ho, everyone pair up and get comfy. Remember the rules gents, and may the best man win." Tom announced as he sat down to square up to Charlie. David was against Simon, Callum against Piers, and Henry against Nik.

They took turns so they could watch each match. The aim was to all arm wrestle each other, and the two with the most wins face-off at the end.

Callum was reluctant to join in, not sure if he was up for the testosterone-fuelled challenge, but he was also a little curious to see if he could beat Henry.

Nik, Tom, Henry, and Callum all faired well unsurprisingly. Tom gloated knowing they'd underestimated his natural strength. All that rock climbing was finally paying off. Charlie pouted every time he lost, only managing to beat David. Henry was being pretty cocky, sure that no one would be a match for him. He knew Nik was his biggest opponent, so braced himself for a challenge. But his flippant attitude to Callum led to a quick surprise defeat. Henry's pride was dented. His brothers found this beyond hilarious. Tom and Callum were deadlocked in their match for so long that the others started to get bored. They were both evenly matched. But Callum's larger frame eventually won for him. Finally once the scores were totted up the last match to decide the winner was on. Henry vs Callum.

Both men shook their arms and stretched. Trying to revive their overworked muscles after so many matches. Both tried pretending that they weren't too fussed about winning, but once they sat down, face to face again the atmosphere changed. This time Henry wasn't going to underestimate the farmer, he knew Callum would love to have bragging rights from this, but Henry wasn't going to allow it. He was fucking Superman for crying out loud, his inebriated brain kept reminding him.

After the first minute, both held up their sides. Each huffing and puffing with exertion. Sweat dripped off the end of Henry's nose, whilst Callum's neck and face were bright red.

"Ready to quit yet Supes?" Callum goaded.

"Just about to ask you the same thing Giles." Henry spat, with gritted teeth.

The other men shouted out their support and tried to put them off at the same time. Charlie was filming on his phone, adding to Henry's annoyance.

After another few minutes of stalemate, Colin piped up.

"Boys, you're going to cause yourselves some mischief like this, let's just call it a tie now."

Both ignored Colin and looked into each other's eyes. Neither wanted to give up, but neither felt they could keep this up much longer. Henry's bicep and forearm were on fire, his fingers threatening to cramp. The tendons in Callum's neck looked painful as he breathed heavily through his flared nostrils.

"Decorative muscles don't always equate to real world strength Cavill." Callum muttered, using what felt like his last attempt to put Henry off.

"And shoving your arm up a cow's arse does too then?" Henry added with a cocky smile.

From nowhere Callum found some extra energy as he managed to push Henry's arm to the side. Henry dug deep and used every ounce of strength, but at this compromised angle, he just didn't have the power to come back. He grunted loudly and suddenly the back of his hand hit the table, he'd lost.

"What the fuck Hank?" Charlie shouted at him.

Henry stood up, knocking his chair over in the process as he angrily walked back to the bar to reclaim his drink before heading out into the field.

Callum was amazed he'd properly beaten him, after accepting that their first match was a lucky punt. Disappointingly he didn't feel as elated as he'd expected either. He stood up, rubbing his arm as he received several pats on the back in congratulations.

Penny leaned against the kitchen island nibbling on some red peppers, one of her main pregnancy cravings, as she shifted her weight to her other foot. Marianne walked up behind her giving her a small back rub as she passed.

"Do you want me to check on them Penny?" she asked.

"Who?" Penny replied, knowing exactly who she meant as the kids had only just been checked on by Helen.

"The boys outside my dear, I can see that you're fretting a little."

"Am I that obvious?!" Penny chuckled, holding her bump as it moved. "I guess I'm feeling a little needy, I just hate being apart from him at the moment. I feel safe when he's around."

Marianne wrapped her arm behind Penny, giving her a tight squeeze.

"That's very sweet my dear, not needy at all. And perfectly natural in your condition too."

"I'm sure they're having a good time, and don't need us checking up on them," Penny admitted, making herself drag her focus away from the garden.

When Henry didn't return to the tent Callum poured a couple of whiskeys and went in search outside.

He found Henry sitting on the wooden ceremony platform at the back of the garden. He'd watched as Penny looked wistfully out into the garden and her sweet interaction with his mum. Tears had tumbled down his cheeks.

"Hey" Callum announced.

"Hey", Henry added, sniffing and wiping his face as he gladly accepted the scotch.

Callum plonked himself down beside Henry, almost losing his balance in the process.

They sat in silence for a few moments, just watching the ladies inside, smiling at their happy faces and bursts of laughter.

"Looks like they're having a good time?" Callum interjected.

"It does."

"You ok Henry?"

"Yeah, just needed some air."

Callum swigged the last of his whiskey down with a grimace. He was feeling bad thinking he'd upset Henry.

They both looked up again as a loud cheer was heard from the house. They could see Penny hugging Kate and creasing up in laughter.

"You're a fucking lucky man, Cavill."

Henry turned to look at Callum, wondering where this praise was coming from.

"I know - I know it's no secret how I feel about Penny, but above all I'm just glad she's happy again. You make her happy. Despite your noodle arms."

Henry chuckled and nudged Callum sideways, grabbing him before he toppled over.

"Thanks mate. I never thought I'd find her, I thought I'd never find this kind of happiness. We just need to find this for you too buddy." Henry put his arm around Callum.

"I'm working on it. I'm working on it."

"Don't fanny about this time though, Life is too fucking short."

Callum nodded, sucking in his emotions as they threatened to escape.

"Come on, let's go back to the lads." As he hauled himself up and held a hand out for Henry.

Karaoke was the next segment of Penny's Hen do. Heather and Charlotte started off the proceedings with their duet of "Islands in the Stream" and Helen continued the theme with her very warbly version of "Nine to Five". Penny was quite enjoying being the sober one amidst the gaggle of loud, sozzled women. Kate decided to attempt her favourite Van Morrison tune, dedicating it to Penny, even though she had blue eyes. A few of the kids sneaked downstairs to see what all the noise was about before deciding that they preferred their video games to their mothers vocal talents.

Heather was desperate for Penny to join in, but she felt far too comfortable in her chair, and sober to be tempted. So Heather roped Marianne and Julia into a murdering of 'It's Raining Men'.

Back in the marquee Tom was back on the decks to his one loyal fan, Charlie. Reliving their Ibiza days. Henry walked straight past, spying the last sausage and grabbing for the scotch. Piers beat him too it as he flung his arm around his little brother and poured them both another drink.

"Can't believe you're finally tying the knot little brother." he shouted.

Henry nodded, and grinned. "About bloody time eh?" Henry raised his glass, "To my beautiful bride to be." he shouted as he staggered back slightly. All the men raised their drinks.

"To Penny!" they all cheered.

Tom returned to the main table where the conversation had turned to ex-girlfriends.

"Si, remember that girl you used to date with the lazy eye?" Charlie began, getting far too excited by his recollection. "whatever happened to her?"

Simon gave Charlie the death stare and raised his middle finger to his annoying younger brother.

"She broke my heart Charles, you know that you little runt."

The rest of the brothers and Colin all found this hilarious.

"What about that Spanish girl Charlie?" Simon retorted. "the one you bought a car for and she left you the week after?"

"She was Portuguese actually, and it was only a Fiat 500, not a fucking Porsche, no biggie." as he returned the middle finger gesture enthusiastically.

"What about that nice young girl that you used to court Henry? The one with the dubious family background." Colin asked, with a knowing grin already on his face.

"She was lovely, but unfortunately her brothers were the next Krays and frightened the absolute life out of me." he turned to Tom "They threatened me with castration if I dishonoured their sister!"

"Castration eh? Who would threaten such a thing?!" he winked back at Henry.

A quite lull in the conversation allowed the baseline of one of the karaoke songs to drift through the night air.

"They fucking singing in there?" Nik shouted, standing up to look outside. "Right boys, I think it's time we merge these parties, who's coming?"

"Finally!" Henry shouted, feeling glad to see his Penny again.

Helen was just starting 'Copacabana' As Charlie, Tom and Piers noisily flung open the back doors to announce their arrival.

"Someone ordered the Dreamboys Ladies?" Charlie shouted as he made a beeline for Heather with his sexiest walk.

Penny craned her neck to see the newcomers as she spotted Henry and Callum stumbling through the door together. Henry's shirt was partially unbuttoned. And what buttons were fastened were in the wrong holes. Callum was still topless as was Nik after the arm wrestling tournament.

Callum suddenly felt a little conspicuous now with several females eyes upon him.

"What the hell have you lot been up to? You all look like you've been pulled through a hedge backwards." Kate laughed as she tried to fix the mess that was her husband's hair.

Henry reached the back of the sofa and kissed Penny's forehead as she leaned back to smile at him. He then dramatically rolled over the back of the chair, narrowly missing Julia's drink.

"Woah, steady on honey." Penny added, chuckling at her lumbering man.

Henry composed himself and with a soppy smile manouvered himself to sit close up to her.

"My beautiful Pen Pen. I missed you." he smooched, lips searching for hers.

"Missed you too Yogi, did you have fun?"

"I did, I may have had a lickle too much to drink though, sorry." he pouted, looking up at Penny with puppy dog eyes.

"That's ok Hen, I don't mind. Just don't throw up on the carpet later."

"Right!!" Tom spoke loudly into the mike, making Penny jump. "All you lovely ladies have been making the sweetest of sounds, but now it's time for the men to show you all how it's done. Big man, come here and serenade your betrothed." He gestured to a reluctant Henry as Penny smiled and pushed him a little to gee him up. Everyone shouted encouragement and before long he relented and hauled himself off the sofa, slightly swaying as he finally straightened up. Tom walked over to him and ushered him back to the karaoke machine.

"So, what will it be cherub? Pick something that'll make her cry." Tom whispered into his ear.

After a bit of deliberating Henry pushed his hair out of his eyes, rotated his shoulders, and took a deep breath as the first chords began. All eyes were upon him as Penny cringed in embarrassment.

She grabbed a cushion to hide behind when she realised what he'd chosen, knowing she'd be in tears before too long.

Henry's deep baritone attempted the American screech of "Oh Lord, won't you buy me, a Mercedes Benz.." Only Penny knew the significance of this and laughed as the others looked at each other and her in mild confusion. Henry kept his gaze fixed on Penny during the whole song, enjoying her reaction. They both thought back to that bitterly cold, grey Saturday in January. Such a chance meeting. A real turning point for them both. It truly felt like fate had intervened in their lives to make their paths cross. As Henry finished the last note Penny shuffled to stand up, Henry's strong arms ready to help her as she stood and they embraced. Their tears weren't the only ones after witnessing their dedication to each other.

"Oh honey, that was beautiful." she managed to say, as Henry's broad shoulder muffled her face. Henry kept hold of her for the longest time until Charlie grabbed the mike…

----

Penny had just finished what felt like her thousandth toilet visit of the day to find Henry waiting for her outside in the corridor. A naughty look in his eyes.

"Henry."

"Penelope." he replied as he stepped towards her and swept his hands around her curves. "This dress is un-fucking-believable Pen. I've been trying so hard not to ravish you in front of our friends and family. I'm literally struggling right now." He took her hand and led it over the impressive bulge in his dress shorts.

"You're kidding right? I look like an over-stuffed sausage Hen." Penny blushed, enjoying Henry's continuous exploration of her stomach, boobs and bottom. She tilted her head back as he gently pushed her back against the door.

Henry ignored her comment, leaning forward to press his forehead against hers.

"Can we have lots of babies honey, I want to keep you like this forever." Henry breathed heavily his eyes dark with arousal.

Penny raised her eyebrows at him "Christ almighty Cavill, you're practically feral tonight. Let's just get this little Princess sorted first before we talk about any more. And then we'll see how frisky you are when there's a newborn in the house."

Again, Penny's words washed over his inebriated brain and he continued to paw at her and kiss down her neck, pulling at the neckline of her dress attempting to find her nipple.

Tom walked around the corner nonchalantly and smacked Henry on his backside.

"That's what got you into this situation you horny fuckers, move aside, I need to drain the lizard."

Penny chuckled, relieved it wasn't either of Henry's parents that caught them.

"Come on honey, let's get you some water to cool you down." Penny suggested as she ushered her big bear back towards the party and Heathers singing.

Henry was stolen away by Simon, Charlie and Colin to sing Bohemian Rhapsody whilst Penny stood stretching her back against the kitchen island, wondering whose hangover would be worse tomorrow morning.

Callum sidled up to her.

"You ok Penny?" he asked, trying his best to sound more sober than he was.

"A little achey, but enjoying the entertainment." she chuckled.

"You look amazing by the way." he mumbled, instantly regretting his compliment. His cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Penny looked up at him, trying to judge his emotion after his unexpected praise. He looked over at the others with an unconvincing passive expression on his face.

"Thanks Callum, everyones been so sweet trying to make me feel less like a bloody whale."

"No!" he stated, louder than they both expected. "It really suits you - being - being, pregnant. You're - glowing Penny." Penny looked back up at him, to see him looking back down at her. A strange expression on his face. Penny smiled, hooking her hand around his arm and giving him a small side hug.

"I'm genuinely happy for you, you know that right?" he continued, Penny looked over to see Henry's eyes on them briefly.

"Thanks Callum. You ok?" she asked, squeezing his arm and resting one hand on his shoulder.

He nodded and smiled. His eyes glassy with tears as he drank from his beer bottle.

Penny opened her mouth again to say something, anything. But an increasingly loud squeal broke the moment as Julia and Kate (who were getting on like a house on fire) barrelled up to Penny to grab her away.

"Pen-Pen, you can't say no. They've fucking got it!" as she pulled Penny away reluctantly. She looked back as Callum smiled and shooed her away. Julia unsubtly stayed behind to seize her opportunity with the farmer.

"No, No, No. It's been too long." Penny protested, seeing what she was being dragged towards.

"Come on Pen, let's have it!" Tom encouraged as Nik and Charlie joined in.

Henry stood watching this with a befuddled expression as Marianne adorably re-buttoned his shirt for him.

"Can't chicken out now Pen, unless you're too old to be cool babes." Kate goaded.

"Fuck off Roberts, give me that mike." Penny narrowed her eyes at her bestie as she abandoned her awkwardness for the challenge.

Penny launched into her memorised and well-practised rendition of 'Alphabet Aerobics', not dropping a beat or missing a word. Most of the Cavills were agog at Penny's unexpectedly skilled rap, Charlie was bouncing around like a puppy with excitement.

"Shit the bed Penny! You were fucking amazing!" Charlie shouted, draping one arm heavily over Penny's shoulders. Henry appeared to rescue her as Charlie switched to Henry's shoulder. "Did you know about your woman's hidden talents Hank?!"

"She's a woman of many hidden talents young Chuck." Henry purred with a dramatic arched brow.

"Rap Battle it is then Penelope Green." Tom announced as Penny shook her head.

"I'm too pregnant for all of this Thomas!" she protested.

"Come on! You don't hear Dre making that fucking excuse do you?" He began to giggle, finding his own joke hilarious.

Penny relented easily and performed several more hip hop classics alongside Heather, Kate, Tom, Charlie, and even Henry.

The lyrics to 'It's Tricky' coming out of Henry's mouth were hilarious for all involved. Henry hammed it up as only actors can do and gave it his best shot. Penny genuinely thought she was going to wet herself at one point with laughter.

Eventually, the singing turned into a more chilled end to the evening of chatting, drinking, and more eating. Penny was back in her comfy spot with Henry and Kate sat on either side of her, both having their own conversations with her unborn child.

Kate leaned forward, hands cupped on the globe of Penny's stomach. "Listen up short stuff, Auntie Katie will be making such a fuss of you when you finally get here. You might have been a surprise.."

"Kate!" Penny exclaimed as Kate dismissed her with an annoyed wave of her hand

She continued "You might have been a surprise, but you will be so loved and will bring us all so much bloody happiness. Now stay in until the 10th as I have money riding on that date."

"Katie, you're incorrigible, and so bloody soppy. Love you." she reached as well as she could and pulled Kates head towards her lips.

It was Henry's turn to offer his wisdom. "Mummy's done a fabulous job of baking you, my little cupcake. Can't wait to see your pretty little face and kiss your tiny toesies. Now just keep chilling for a few more days, my little girl." He instantly held his hand over his mouth. Realising his slip up.

"A girl?!" Kate asked "A Girl!!" she then shouted as everyone's attention was caught.

Penny shot pretend daggers at a cringing Henry as their news was out. She didn't really mind, and seeing the joy it brought everyone who now knew she couldn't be angry at him.

Kisses, handshakes, and hugs came from all directions as Marianne burst into tears. "Just perfect darlings, we needed more girls. Wonderful news." she sobbed as Colin patted her back.

Penny stifled another yawn just as Henry looked around.

"Right Mama, you need to sleep, let's hit the hay."

Penny protested politely, but was more than ready for her bed after such a full on evening.

Henry grasped her hands and slowly helped her stand, he could tell she was in a reasonable amount of pain despite her smiles.

"Thank you everyone for making this such an amazing evening, I'm sorry to be such a lightweight but feel free to keep the party going!" Penny spoke as Henry held her tight.

"Thanks guys, love you all!" Henry added as he ushered Penny past several more kisses and hugs.

If Henry had been sober he would have carried Penny up the stairs seeing how uncomfortable she was. Instead, he tried his best to guide her hips forward to take some of her weight. He also couldn't resist grabbing her arse in the process too.

They poked their heads into Ben's room to see them all fast asleep and the room filled with bodies. Penny had never known so many people to be in her house overnight.

Despite his lack of coordination Henry tried to help Penny to clear away the pile of clothes on the bed, left from Penny's earlier stress. After removing her floral decorations she began to wriggle out of the dress. Unsurprisingly Henry appeared to help. Kissing her shoulders in the process.

"Hmm, Pen, you're gonna get me all worked up again honey," as they stared at each other in the floor length mirror. Both watching Penny disrobe. Henry abandoned his clothes by his feet as he stood behind Penny and watched his reflection massaging her heavy breasts and taut stomach.

"Hold that thought, Cavill. I need to pee." as she made a dash for the bathroom. After cleaning her teeth and removing her makeup she returned to the bedroom to find Henry asleep on the bed.

"Gah!" she complained, as she haughtily pushed his knee over to his side of the bed so she could enter her cave of cushions. After finally finding a reasonably comfy position Henry snorted himself awake.

"Ung, fell 'sleep" he mumbled "Sorry baby," he said, his voice muffled by his pillow. He reached his arm up and plonked it heavily onto Penny's bump.

"I noticed." Penny said with subtle annoyance, hoping to get some time alone with her bear.

Henry sat up, with one eye open. Penny chuckled at his comical expression.

"I'm awake now!" he stated with a cheeky grin. He sidled up to Penny, mirroring her pose.

"Did you have a good night honey?"

"I did indeed, although I missed you lots." he admitted coyly.

"Missed you too Yogi, even though you were only in the field."

After a moments silence Henry piped up.

"Pen. Do I….. do I look fat?" he asked sheepishly, staring down at his stomach. "I'm sorry I've let myself go lately, I'll work extra hard to get back into shape."

It took everything Penny had not to laugh at his endearing comments, but she knew how much of a sensitive subject this was.

"Henry, honey." she took his hand and squeezed it. "First off, you don't look fat, you're not fat. You can be whatever shape you want to be, whatever makes you happy. Not me, not your family, not your fans, you honey. You're so used to trying to maintain an unrealistic physique, exhausting yourself, depriving yourself, and for what? A few photos, a few moments in a movie. It's crazy. And actually unhealthy in lots of ways. This is normal honey." she rubbed his softened stomach.

"You still think I'm sexy Pen?" he asked in all seriousness.

"You're fucking kidding me right? I'm sat here like this and you're the one thinking you're fat and unsexy?!"

Penny stared at him, seeing that he was still full of doubts and insecurities.

She pulled his head towards her chest as his arm cradled her belly.

"Baby, you're such a doofus at times. Do I really need to tell you that you are the sexiest freakin' man alive?!! That all I want to do every time I see you is run my nails down your back and lick your chest."

Penny flung aside her largest pillow and with all her strength swung her leg over Henry and straddled him.

"Fuck, Pen. Steady on honey." he gasped, as his hands automatically grasped her waist. "Christ almighty" he continued as his hands roamed up and down her. She was wearing a soft cotton sleep bra and matching knickers. She rested on her side and slipped off her bottoms before sitting back over Henry again.

"Pen, oh god. This is so fucking hot. But Pen, Pen." he threw his head back onto the pillow as she grasped his cock, tugging it and then rubbing herself over it. He rutted upwards as he grasped her thick thighs, Penny supported her back as she moaned loudly in pleasure.

"Pen, stop, we can't."

Penny took Henry's hard dick and lined him with her entrance. Henry was torn, reaching out to massage her breasts. She began to slide down onto him slowly as he grasped her arms.

"No! Pen, we can't risk it." again she ignored him, lost in her passion.

"Stop!" he shouted, finally able to make her listen.

Penny looked at him in confusion and hurt. "Why?" she asked.

"The baby, Pen. What if you go into labour?"

Penny continued to sit down further onto Henry, feeling the delicious stretch. She clenched, making him throw his head back in pleasure again.

"I'm fine honey, I've got weeks until she's due."

"I just don't want to risk it before the wedding Pen Pen." He held his large paw against the side of her pouting face. "Lay back down and I will help ease your frustrations, my love."

Penny relented, pouting, feeling tired and uncomfortable now the moment was lost. But she soon perked up on feeling Henry's strong digits delving between her legs. Penny ground against his touch, needing more friction. Henry's tongue swirled noisily around Penny's nipples as he readjusted his position, kissing her as he moved. He knelt on the bed, between her legs. Smoothing his hands up along Penny's legs, hips, waist, and breasts. A greedy grin on his face. Penny clenched at his electrifying gaze. His desire and lust felt ready to explode. Unexpectedly he froze and scrunched up his face. He raised a finger.

"Hold that thought, Pen" as he leaped off the bed, hopping as one foot was wrapped in the sheets, heading for the bathroom. At first, Penny thought he was going to throw up, which would have made her feel absolutely devastated, considering where he'd just been, but the familiar sound of him peeing like a racehorse echoed from the ensuite, and a loud "Ahhh…" on top.

Penny chuckled as she waited for him to return. After some noisy hand washing and fumbling in the dark, Henry plodded back over to her, locating her feet first and climbing between her legs again.

"Right. Where were we..?"

"Actually, Hen. I'm feeling super tired again, sorry…"

"Oh.." he said, surprised by her sudden switch. "Ok, my sweetness. I'm sorry for ruining the moment."

Penny didn't disagree with him. "Just make sure our wedding night is more romantic honey," she said, sleepily. Tucking her pillows around her as she made herself comfortable.

Henry leaned over and kissed her shoulder, helping tuck another pillow behind her at the same time.

"Just you wait Penelope, Daddy's going to pull all his tricks out of the bag."

They both giggled at his bravado as Henry snuggled up behind her, smoothing his hand up and down the contours of her hip and thigh as she quickly succumbed to her sleep.

Authors Comments I hope you enjoyed the run-up to the big day. The interactions with their friends and family. I really enjoyed writing this chapter, I hope you liked reading it!! Thank you all for your continued support with this epic saga that is slowly coming to its natural end xxx

Chapter 32 coming soon...

[theteasetwrites]

The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning

Chapter 61: Slice of Life

❧ Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Reader ❧ Era: Season 9 ❧ Pronouns: she/her ❧ Warnings: swearing, slightly steamy, childbirth (!!) ❧ Word Count: 7.7k

❧ In This Chapter: You experience nine months of pregnancy, with vignettes of different events throughout.

❧ A/N: This was such a fun chapter! It comes with a big disclaimer, though—I've never been pregnant before, so I have absolutely no idea what it feels like, but I did ask my mom a lot of questions (lol) so I did get a primary source! I also did some research on pregnancy and the different phases. Other than that, I just had fun with cute little mommy and daddy scenes for Daryl and Reader. There's a really sweet moment at the end between Daryl and the baby, and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to start writing for this new character!

Three months pregnant

The children in your class were fascinated by this concept called “pregnancy.”

You explained to them that you would be going away soon, in about three more months, because you were growing a baby inside of you, but beyond that, you weren’t entirely sure how to explain that to five and six year olds.

“Mrs. Dixon,” one child, Jose, asked, “is the baby going to be a boy or a girl?”

You smiled, setting down the chalk you were using to write today’s lesson plan on the board. “Well, it’s a little too early to tell, and I think I’d like it to be a surprise. It’s more fun that way.”

Alexandria had recently found an ultrasound machine, and it was in working order, but you decided it’d be nice to have the baby’s sex be a surprise, and to get ultrasounds without having Siddiq determine the gender.

“Mrs. Dixon?” Gretchen asked. “How did you get a baby in your belly, anyway?”

Great, you thought to yourself. Of course this day would come.

It was beyond your pay grade (which was nonexistent), since kindergarten curriculum didn’t entail the science of sexual reproduction, so you tried answering as simply as possible.

“That’s something you should all ask your parents,” you said, throwing your fellow adults under the bus. After all, you didn’t want to hear the complaints you’d no doubt receive if you gave your students a biologically accurate lesson on the subject, no matter how much you wanted to. The American education system, in your opinion, had always been much too conservative in regards to sex education, but you weren’t going to worry too much about reforming the system now, since you had other problems.

Specifically, heartburn, breast tenderness (the worst you’d had yet), and general fatigue had been doing a number on you these past three months, and Siddiq informed you that it would only get worse, and you’d develop even more discomforts.

Still, you were happy, as happy as you could be while still grappling with the sudden death of Rick Grimes.

Daryl was trying his best, bless his heart. Besides Michonne, Rick’s death hit him the hardest. He used his weekly two-day hunting trips as time to also search the woods for Rick’s body, and to return it to Alexandria for closure. In some hopeful part of his mind, he thought he might even find him alive.

In any case, he still looked, but he kept his promise to you—he stayed.

“How’s the wife?” a fellow Alexandrian, Syd, asked Daryl, aiming his dart at the target on the wall of his “man cave,” where the men of Alexandria seemed to socialize every Saturday night.

It was the same club Daryl had been invited to on his wedding day, and the one he was often reluctant to go to when he was in town and all the guys asked where he was. Finally, after two years of not attending, you and Aaron managed to convince him to go to one gathering.

Daryl watched Syd miss terribly, landing the dart on the outermost ring. “Damnit!” he yelled.

“She’s fine,” Daryl said, taking a big sip of his beer, something homemade one of the other guys, Perry, or something like that, had made.

Louis took his turn next, throwing the dart a bit closer to the target, much to Syd’s dismay. “When my wife was pregnant,” he began, “she started taking epsom salt baths every night because the pain was so bad. And guess who had to lift her out, me!”

The other men laughed at the very bland joke, and Daryl tried to muster a smile.

“Well, you knocked her up,” Tim replied, hitting the white cue ball on the pool table. “That’s the trade off. Woman carries baby, man takes care of woman.”

“And baby,” Manny said. “My wife died three years ago, still got my little boy. (Y/N)’s his teacher, actually. The other day, he came up to me, said Mrs. Dixon wouldn’t tell him how babies are made. She said ‘talk to your parents.’ Well, you can imagine the awkward conversation.”

Daryl nodded, but his mind wandered off, as it usually did when he was around the other men. He liked them enough, but they weren’t his closest friends. Aaron was there, and he was close, practically a brother, but it wasn’t like talking to Glenn or Rick or Abraham…

“You excited to be a dad, Daryl?” Perry asked, patting him on the shoulder, to which Daryl stiffened up. He never liked anyone other than you and a few others touching him.

He swallowed hard and nodded. “Uh, yeah, yeah. Real excited.”

“Daryl’s already building the crib,” Aaron said as he watched the other men play pool.

Syd’s eyes widened. “Wow, handyman. I couldn’t do it, just went out and dragged one home from the store. Assembled it myself, though. That was a bitch. Good idea, building one.”

Daryl shot Aaron an irritated look. He was sure the men would make fun of him for his overeagerness. “Well, could go on a run and get one, but had some extra wood layin’ ‘round from the repairs. Too small to use on the house and too nice to burn.”

The truth was, he just didn’t trust any of the cribs he saw in the stores. He wanted to make one extra sturdy, and ever since he read about sudden infant death syndrome in his book about pregnancy and infancy, he knew he had to make the safest crib known to man.

“He’s being modest,” Aaron said. “Daryl’s got everything figured out for this baby, except the gender.”

The other men laughed heartily, and Daryl’s cheeks reddened at the attention.

“Well, you’re gonna be a great dad,” Perry said, raising his beer to Daryl. “To Alexandria’s newest dad. Welcome to fatherhood, Daryl!”

“Here, here,” the others said, raising their beers.

Daryl just stood there awkwardly, and Aaron nudged him to try to rescue him.

“Hey, Daryl,” he said, then pointed to the dart in Daryl’s hand that wasn’t holding his beer. “Show these assholes what a real archer can do.”

The men all shouted joyfully and encouraged Daryl to shoot. That was one thing they’d all been wanting to see—just how good Daryl Dixon was at darts.

He huffed, and obliged their request by raising his dart and narrowing his eyes, holding the dart there for a few moments before shooting it straight into the bullseye.

The men burst out into celebratory yelps and hollers, while Aaron jumped up and down and let out a triumphant, “Woohoo!” as he hit Daryl playfully on the shoulder. “That’s my brother-in-law!” He was, to put it mildly, very drunk.

Daryl walked Aaron to his home, where you were babysitting Gracie.

“Hey, fellas” you said, sitting on the couch reading your book on pregnancy (you’d read a few by now, just to make sure you were doing everything right for the baby). “How was boys’ night or whatever you call it?”

Aaron flopped himself down beside you and huffed. “It was amazing. Daryl got the craziest bullseye in darts I’ve ever seen. He did like seven of ‘em! Never missed. The guys lost their shit.”

Daryl scratched the back of his neck as you looked up at him with a wide grin. “Good for you,” you said before turning to Aaron, who was already beginning to fall asleep. “And you need to go to bed, lightweight.”

Upon returning home and making sure you were comfortable, Daryl almost immediately took off all of his clothes and tucked himself under the covers next to you.

“Tired?” you asked him.

He allowed his head to sink into his soft pillow. “Yeah. I’m all… drained.”

You hummed and snuggled into his chest. “Sorry, sweetie. It’s good for you to go out, though. I know it tired you out, it tires me out, too, but I was hoping it would help you get your mind off things.”

He grunted in acknowledgment, and let his arm drape over you. “It’s all right. Wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”

“Well, it sounds like those guys were pretty impressed,” you said with a smile. “You know, with your skills.” You absentmindedly traced little circular shapes over his bare chest. “It’s like I always say—you’re a bonafide Robin Hood.”

Daryl hummed, almost drifting off to sleep at the tingling feeling of your gentle fingertips grazing over him, when his eyes shot open, and his brain was firing on all cylinders again.

You flinched a little at his sudden jolt. “That’d be a good name,” he said.

You searched back into your tired mind to understand what he meant. “What, Robin Hood?”

“Nah,” he said. “Jus’ Robin.”

“Oh,” you said, a delirious smile creeping on your face. “Robin… Like, for the baby?”

He nodded his head. “Yeah, Robin. You don’t like it?”

You shook your head. “No, no. I love it, I just… I never thought about it. Robin… For a girl or a boy?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Both,” he said. “Ain’t like we’re gonna know till it comes, and Robin can be both, right?”

“Yes,” you laughed. “That’s perfect.” The more you thought about it, the more you couldn’t believe you hadn’t thought of it first. “Robin Dixon. It sounds nice.”

“It does,” he agreed, turning to his side and pressing his chest against yours. “So that’s our baby, then?” He lowered his hand to rub your belly, the satin of your nightgown creasing with each pass over your increasingly large belly.

“Yes,” you said. “It’s a beautiful name.”

Six months pregnant

Your arms were outstretched on the edges of the clawfoot tub, and the rest of your body sank comfortably into the warm water, except the top of your bump and your breasts, both of which seemed to be growing bigger and bigger by the day.

“Honey?” you called out to Daryl, who was still getting your pajamas ready. He knew how particular you were about which nightgown you wore after baths, but he still struggled to search through every silken slip and cotton frock.

“Yeah?”

“You almost done? Water’s going to get cold.”

He pushed open the door to the bathroom, and approached the bath, kneeling down to check the temperature on the floating baby bath thermometer (in the shape of a rubber ducky, no less).

“Ninety-eight degrees,” he said. “That’s good, right? Siddiq said that’s good?”

You shook your head with a laugh. “It’s perfect. Nothing warmer than a hundred.” Daryl was perpetually terrified of anything happening to you and the baby, and when he mentioned drawing baths for you when your muscle aches got too bad, Siddiq casually informed him that the bath water couldn’t be too hot, lest it “overbake the bun in the oven.”

Daryl took this lighthearted suggestion very, very seriously.

“Get in here, baby,” you said with your doe eyes. “I’m lonely.”

He scoffed as he stood up and began pulling off his clothes. “How in the hell are ya lonely, woman?”

You weren’t lonely, just needy. You couldn’t be lonely, not with all the attention you were getting from not only Daryl, but Aaron, Carol, Siddiq, Maggie, Michonne, Gabriel, Rosita, Bev… Everyone was coming over to check on you, and to bring you things.

Mostly, baked goods and baby gifts (that’s how you got the thermometer).

“I can get all the attention in the world from everybody else,” you said, watching him dip his toes into the water, “but the only attention I need is from my sweet, sensitive husband.”

He grumbled at the intentionally cheesy comment, and kicked his foot a little to splash your face with the water. “Oh, Daryl!” you cried with laughter. “How could you? I’m just a poor, defenseless pregnant woman, carrying your baby, no less.”

He maneuvered himself behind you and scooted you forward so he could wrap his legs on either side of you, then allowed you to slot yourself in front of him, your back snug against his chest.

“You’re milkin’ it now, princess,” he said, leaving tiny kisses all along your shoulder and resting his hands on your tummy.

“Mmm,” you hummed. “Speaking of which, Siddiq said the milk thing is normal.”

Daryl’s eyes widened. “You told him about that?”

He’d been worried sick ever since he saw tiny droplets of yellowish-white appearing to leak from your nipples the other day. From what he read in his pregnancy books (of which he’d read several by now, too), that was usually a sign that the baby was coming soon, and he still had so much to do.

“Relax,” you said, feeling his body tense up behind you. “He said it can start happening around this time. They’re just getting ready.” You grabbed his hands from your belly and moved them up to your tender, swollen breasts, where you encouraged him to massage them.

“Gettin’ ready?” he asked.

“To feed the baby,” you said. “They’re sore… Everything’s sore.” You let go of his hands and sank further into him as he rubbed the sensitive, swollen tissue in circular motions.

He let out a huff, utterly heartbroken that your body was in so much discomfort. As much as he knew about pregnancy now, he still couldn’t comprehend there was a baby inside of you, growing and changing more and more everyday, and putting a lot of pressure on your body, which he was perpetually amazed by.

“Sorry,” he said. “Anythin’ I can do?”

You sighed and closed your eyes, and left a kiss underneath Daryl’s chin. “No, just keep spoiling us,” you said, in reference to you and the baby.

Just then, you felt a sudden pang against the inside of your torso. “Ah!” you yelped, jerking up a bit and causing Daryl to be sent into a panic.

“What’s wrong?!” he asked frantically, bobbing his head from side to side, peering over your shoulders to see what was going on. “Baby ain’t comin’ yet, right?”

You let out a laugh, then turned your head to look at Daryl with the most exuberant expression. “It’s kicking!” you cried, and trailed your hands all over your abdomen to feel where the baby’s feet were. You felt it near your navel, and then felt it against your hand.

“Oh,” you whimpered, your voice shaky and your eyes becoming wet with tears. “Oh, I feel it. Here.”

You took Daryl’s shaky hands in yours again and placed them where you felt the kick. He was quiet for a while, trying to concentrate on his hands against your belly, until he felt the quick burst of pressure.

His eyes widened and he nearly gasped, to which you let out a tearful giggle. “You feel it?”

He nodded. “Yeah,” he said. “That’s our baby?”

“Mhm,” you said. “Robin’s first kick.”

He shook his head. “Thought you were goin’ into labor. Nearly shit myself.”

“Well, I’m glad you didn’t. It would have ruined our bath.”

Eight months pregnant

You insisted, you pleaded with Bev not to throw you a baby shower.

You already felt spoiled enough, but that woman was intent on doing everything in her power to spoil you even more.

As it happened, Michonne was about seven months pregnant now, with Rick’s baby. You were over the moon when you found out, everyone was, and it was the perfect opportunity for Bev to feel completely justified in a dual baby shower for the simultaneous pregnancies.

Luckily, she took the entire event into her own hands, coming over to your house early that morning and decorating the place from top to bottom, with the help of Eugene, who she dragged along with her.

“This seems a little excessive,” you said, folding your arms as you watched Bev and Eugene hang a banner on either side of the entryway into the living room. Congratulations, Michonne and (Y/N)! it read in Bev’s immaculate cursive writing.

You smiled as you absentmindedly caressed your now very large tummy. “I just hope you didn’t invite everyone in town. You know how Daryl gets. He hates parties.”

Eugene looked at you with his usual serious expression. “Myself and Beverly used great discretion in compiling a list of attendees for today’s festivities,” he said. “I took the liberty of calculating the maximum room capacity for this area by assessing square footage, and I can safely say that we’ve reached an appropriate headcount.”

“In other words,” Bev said, resting a hand on Eugene’s shoulder, “we only invited friends.”

Going by Bev’s statement, you and Daryl must’ve been friends with everyone in Alexandria, and then some.

The whole thing turned out to be a community-wide event, with everyone gathered at your house, seeming to be the most joyful since before the incident at the bridge.

Even friends from the Kingdom, Carol, Ezekiel, Diane, Jerry, and Nabila, came to Alexandria. Things were a little tense with Hilltop after Maggie tried to kill Negan, but that was set aside for the day so she could give her gifts to both you and Michonne.

By the end of the afternoon, you were exhausted, but Bev and Carol stuck around to help you clean up, while Daryl was busy sending home the last of the well-wishers on the porch.

“I couldn’t believe Maggie showed up,” you said as you put away the dishes. “I didn’t think she would, with things between her and Michonne.”

“Well,” Carol said, crossing over to you and bending over to speak to your belly, “I guess this little one is already bringing people together.”

“It took a lot to get her here,” said Bev. “You know, she’s been thinking about joining Georgie’s community, with Hershel.” You’d heard about Georgie—she was an intelligent leader of a community nearby. She helped the Hilltop, giving them food only in exchange for vinyl records.

“Who’d lead Hilltop, then?” asked Carol.

You shrugged. “Maybe Jesus. Aaron’s been talking to him a lot lately, says he’s a valued member of the community there. Has been for a long time.”

“Or maybe Tara,” Bev suggested. “She’s doing a lot there now.”

“All I know is,” you said, “things are changing. Nothing’s as simple as it used to be, but it’s going to work out, whatever happens.”

Carol smiled. “Your optimism has always been… annoyingly optimistic, but I love it more than anything.” She took your hand in hers. “You’re going to be such a good mom.”

You blushed and brushed back your hair. “Thanks,” you said. “Not nearly as good as you, though.”

Carol and Ezekiel had recently taken in Henry, the orphaned boy at the Kingdom, and she couldn’t seem to stop talking about how proud she was of him.

“Oh, please,” Carol replied, nudging your shoulder as she walked past you to put away the wine glasses. “I’m just winging it these days.”

When everyone left, it was just you and Daryl, much to his relief. The sun was beginning to go down and he hadn’t even done any patrols today thanks to the little party Bev decided to throw, and he felt utterly useless. Still, he was happy with the bounty of baby supplies you received, as it eased his nerves about preparing for the baby just a little bit.

He plopped himself down in the rocking chair that evening, watching you fold the miniature baby clothes and delicately organize them into the dresser in the nursery, its walls covered in a lovely wallpaper Daryl had found, with dainty painted robins taking flight. The whole place was decked out at this point, with a myriad of stuffed animals, an assortment of neatly organized storage containers (mostly for diapers), and, of course, a large bookshelf, with painted-on ivy detailing trailing up the sides and an already impressive collection of children’s literature, curated by you, and collected by Daryl, who went on a rather dangerous run to the nearest chain bookstore to find everything on your list, but of course he did find everything.

“You’re exhausted, aren’t you?” you asked, examining the intricate detail on the lace of the baby pink colored miniature dress in your hands, given to you in case the baby was a girl (though you were almost determined to put the baby in it regardless of gender because it was just so gosh darn cute).

He covered his eyes with his forearm. “It that obvious?”

“Mmm,” you hummed. “At least it’s over.” You crossed over to Daryl and tried to gently sit yourself on his lap, but you ended up almost crushing his privates.

“Jesus, woman!” he yelped, flinching a bit and causing you to wrap your arms around his neck in case you lost your balance. “Watch my junk.”

You laughed as he reached his hands down under you to adjust himself, and to make sure your body weight didn’t render his “junk” useless.

“Sorry, sweetie,” you cooed, brushing his soft, brown hair out of his face and placing a kiss on his forehead, to which he closed his eyes and almost let out an audible purr. “Sometimes I forget how heavy I am now.” You looked down at your belly, and he rested his hand there to rub it over your summer maternity dress.

The thin, frilly fabric crinkled under his hand, and he smiled when he felt another little kick. “Damn kid’s a menace in there,” he said. “Kickin’ ya all day.” He lowered his head a bit to speak directly to your bump. He had a habit of doing that, but you didn’t mind, since you talked to it, too. You both read that the baby could hear their parents’ voices, and it seemed like a good way to comfort the child in your womb. “Ya havin’ fun in there, karate kid?” he asked, raising up your dress and tickling your skin.

“Daryl!” you cried, laughing at the feeling of his nimble fingers dancing across your distended abdomen. In appreciation, you massaged his scalp, with the long tendrils of warm, dark hair lacing through your hands.

He rubbed his nose against your belly, then planted a little kiss there, right next to your navel as he held you on his lap. “Yeah, you’re almost ready to come out, huh? You’re gonna love it here.” He looked around the room, and set his sights on the handmade crib he’d just finished a few weeks ago, with a built-in mobile above, complete with tiny stars and stuffed animals hanging from twine strings, and a custom engraving of Robin’s name in the sturdy pine wood. “Everything’s ready.”

“Mhm,” you hummed, looking down at your belly and speaking to Robin. “Daddy did such a good job, putting up the wallpaper in your room and bringing in the furniture.” Daryl scoffed at the flattery. “He’s so excited for you, sweet pea. And I can already tell he’s going to be your favorite.”

He tilted his head at you. “Stop,” he said, but looked at you lovingly.

You giggled and shook your head before cupping his cheeks with your hands and pulling his lips to yours, sharing a passionate kiss and sighing into his mouth. “You better make love to me right now,” you said.

You didn’t have to tell him twice, because before you knew it he was picking you up in his arms and going as fast as he could across the hall into the bedroom, where he pulled off your dress and bra with impressive speed.

He tore off his own shirt and pants before laying himself down and gesturing for you to straddle him (after all, your belly was much too big to have sex any other way now).

You giggled as you maneuvered your awkwardly proportioned pregnant body over Daryl, who guided you with his hands and made sure you were steady above him.

He rested his hands on your stomach, admiring the roundness of it, the faint stretch marks across the base of your belly, the lightly pigmented line forming above and below your navel… It was truly a marvel of nature. Oh, and of course, the breasts. They were bigger. Much bigger, and Daryl couldn’t keep his hands off of them more often than not.

He reached his hands up to cup the engorged tissue, to which you let out a hearty laugh. “Will you ever leave them alone?” you asked.

He hummed and shook his head. “Never. Too perfect to leave alone. Come here.”

Nine months pregnant

You felt a few strong jolts from your belly that warm May morning, each quite far apart and relatively mild, but nothing out of the ordinary, considering you were two days past your due date.

May twenty-third. The date was marked on your calendar in the kitchen, Daryl’s calendar in the garage, and in whatever organizational system your brain used to keep everything in order, except today was May twenty-fifth.

Siddiq informed you that it was nothing to worry about, and that it would only become an issue if you were about two weeks delayed, but overall the baby was healthy according to the ultrasounds.

Still, Daryl insisted upon you staying in bed all day, so you did just that in order to ease his nerves, but you weren’t happy about it.

At least Aaron came to visit you, and brought you a smattering of cheese and crackers, your latest craving.

Your home soon became a revolving door of guests, with Michonne being the latest. The two of you had grown a lot closer since you were the only two current pregnant women in Alexandria, and your babies were only going to be a month apart.

“Here,” she said as she carefully handed you a cup of tea she just made downstairs in the kitchen. “Careful, it’s hot.”

You blew on the steaming beverage, a plume of sweet vanilla and pomegranate scent tickled your nose. “Mmm, thanks. Is Daryl still down there?”

Michonne shook her head as she took a sip of her tea and sat herself on the edge of the bed where you were laying. “He said he’d be right back, he’s getting something from the pantry. I think he said something about paprika.”

You rolled your eyes. Daryl had been trying to perfect his macaroni and cheese recipe for months now, since it was your favorite dish, and he had been experimenting with various spices and different types of cheeses to get the perfect “Dixon family recipe.” The man was born to be a dad.

“I swear, he’s been feeding me so much macaroni that I think I might actually get sick of it.”

Michonne smiled. “Well, he loves you. Besides, I think pampering you keeps his mind off things.”

You nodded sadly, remembering how much Rick’s death affected him, and still affected him. Michonne was right, you’d seen it everyday since then. Daryl needed to keep himself busy, and he loved taking care of you, so it seemed like a perfect balance, but when he went out to hunt, he became entrenched in finding Rick’s body, almost like an obsession. Only you and the baby kept him from retreating into the woods for an indefinite period of time.

“I worry about him sometimes,” you admitted. “I want him to grieve but I just hope he can come back from this.”

“He will,” Michonne said. “I will, too. Just… It takes time, that’s all. But he’s got you, and little Robin…” She lightly patted your tummy. “He’s going to have a lot to keep him busy.”

You giggled a little, then felt a sudden twinge in your stomach, that didn’t end abruptly like the others you’d been experiencing that day. You spilled a little of your tea as you tried to put the cup on the nightstand, and you sat up to grab your belly.

Michonne rose to her feet in a panic. “(Y/N)?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”

You grimaced in pain at the sharpness that was so much more intense than what you’d felt yet, like getting the wind knocked out of you but multiplied by a thousand, and the worst menstrual cramps imaginable thrown in for good measure.

“Nothing,” you said with a shake of your head. “Probably just more Braxton-Hicks contractions or whatever. I’ve been having them all day. I’m fine.”

Suddenly, you let out a pained yelp of surprise at the more intensified contraction, a piercing, searing pain in your abdomen.

“Oh, shit,” you muttered. Michonne moved quickly to throw the several layers of blankets Daryl had tucked you in with to the side.

She moved you over a bit to see if you were leaking, and sure enough, your water had begun to break, with a small puddle forming on the sheet below you.

Michonne looked up at you seriously, as you grimaced in abject pain. If this was just the very beginning of your labor contractions, you had a big storm coming.

“We’ve got to get you to the infirmary,” she said. “I think you might be going into labor.”

You nodded frantically, and began to swing your legs over the side of the bed, though they felt twenty pounds heavier.

“Oh, Jesus,” you murmured, holding your belly in place as if you were going to lose it somehow. “Michonne…” you said with a terrified quiver in your voice.

She cupped your face in her hands and pushed your messy hair back. “It’s going to be fine,” she said. “Come on, I’ll help you get there.”

She wrapped her arm around your back and hoisted you up with her, to which you let out another pained groan from the feeling of your body straightening as you rose.

Michonne led you out of the bedroom and down the stairs, a triumph in itself as you could hardly even walk with the pain of each step. Luckily, Daryl had prepared a little tote bag full of baby supplies and things to make you comfortable by the door for this exact situation, and Michonne grabbed it by the handles on the way out and slung it over her other shoulder.

Opening the door, the two of you stumbled rather inelegantly towards the infirmary across the street. It was immediately obvious to the people who saw you that you were going into labor, and several Alexandrians looked at you in secondhand panic, including Aaron, who immediately ran to your other side and helped Michonne shoulder the burden of guiding you (with his good arm, of course).

“Where’s Daryl?” he asked, looking between you and Michonne.

You only groaned in agony, unable to speak as you concentrated on keeping your cool until you got to the infirmary.

“He went to the pantry a few minutes ago,” she said. “He hasn’t come back yet.”

Aaron nodded. “Can you let him know? I got this from here. Tell him we’ll be at the infirmary.”

Michonne lifted herself from your arm and gave you a knowing look. “You got this,” she simply said before beginning to fast walk in the direction of the pantry.

Aaron wrapped his arm around your waist and continued guiding you, until Siddiq appeared in the doorway of the infirmary and quickly wheeled out a wheelchair.

“Thanks,” Aaron panted, helping you in the wheelchair all the while.

“This just happen?” Siddiq asked, opening the door for Aaron to push you inside.

“Yeah,” he replied. “I think so. Is she giving birth?”

You let out the loudest groan yet, accompanied by a hiss of pain through your clenched teeth as you threw your head back with tightly closed eyes.

Siddiq looked up at Aaron. “Yep.”

Daryl dropped three containers of paprika on the floor of the pantry, causing a reddish-orange dust to accumulate there, surely leaving a stain.

“Where is she?” he asked. “The infirmary?”

Michonne nodded, and Daryl moved past her before realizing Michonne was heavily pregnant, too. “You okay?” he asked with a huff.

Michonne shook her head in slight amusement. “Go.”

Daryl nodded and bolted down the street, with several Alexandrians immediately moving out of the way of the famously irritable bowman.

He burst through the doors of the infirmary, causing Siddiq and Aaron to flinch at the sound, while you puffed and grimaced at the pain. He looked around frantically for you. “(Y/N)?” he called out, to which Aaron responded.

“In here!”

Daryl moved quickly down the hall of the suburban home turned doctor’s office until he reached the room he had heard Aaron’s voice from, as well as a series of moans and groans he knew all too well.

“(Y/N),” he panted when he saw you on the bed, already dressed in a hospital gown and with your legs spread apart, and Aaron sitting by your side holding your hand.

Daryl rushed over to you, immediately taking your other hand in his and looking up at Siddiq for answers.

“She’s been in labor for a while now, about twelve hours.” Daryl’s eyes widened. He knew early labor could go unnoticed, and it made sense that you might’ve even been asleep while your first contractions started, but it still blew his mind that you hadn’t told him just how bad the contractions were.

“Is that bad?” he asked nervously.

“No,” Siddiq replied. “It’s actually quite normal. She’s just transitioning into active labor now, so she’s dilated to six centimeters. Once she gets to ten, she can start pushing.”

You blew a raspberry and threw your head back. “I hate this,” you said.

“You’re doing great, (Y/N),” said Aaron.

Daryl squeezed your hand tightly and sat down on the provided chair. “How ya feelin’?”

You looked at him with a tired face, but smiled a little, delirious from the pain of your increasingly intense and close together contractions.

“Never better,” you said. “Our baby’s coming.”

Daryl smiled. “I know.” He raised your hand and kissed your palm. “You’re a superwoman.”

You rolled your eyes. “Hardly. These contractions are getting bad. Now I know what my mother was complaining about.”

“Yeah, and she had an epidural,” Aaron said. “You’re going all natural.” Not by choice, of course. If you had access to an epidural, you would’ve gladly taken it, but alas, the apocalypse made for less than state-of-the-art medical treatment, but it was enough to get you through the labor.

“Yeah, well—uh!” You bent your head down a bit as you struggled through the next contraction. You were starting to get better at handling them, but they were also getting worse and worse. “Oh, Christ!” You cried through clenched teeth.

Daryl leaned forward a little and held your hand tighter. He exchanged a terrified look with Aaron, who was keeping his cool a little better than Daryl, but equally as frightened of complications in the labor.

Still, Siddiq seemed confident everything would go smoothly. “Breathe,” he told you. “Blow, in and out.”

You nodded with your eyes shut tightly, then focused on breathing and blowing out your breaths steadily.

The next four hours passed with similar bouts of long, closely spaced contractions, with brief periods of rest in which you became less and less talkative as the energy began to drain from you.

Daryl was by your side the entire time, only leaving you to pace around the room in a worried panic, but always within a close distance. He and Aaron were the only ones allowed in the room, though Bev and Michonne were waiting outside, with four year old Judith on the latter’s lap all the while.

When Siddiq gave the go-ahead to start pushing, you felt a cocktail of emotions—excitement, terror, bewilderment, agony, and a hint of relief that the pain would be over soon, and you’d be able to hold your precious baby.

“Push!” cried Siddiq, situated at the end of the hospital bed, looking between your legs and watching for the first signs of the baby’s head.

You let out the loudest scream you thought you’d ever had, pushing hard and feeling an agonizing stretch as the contractions came in succession now. You felt the sweat from the warm early summer air beading on your forehead and dripping down your face, reddened and contorted from the straining.

“Shiiittt!” you screamed. “Get this thing out of me!”

Aaron wiped your brow with a cool washcloth, but you couldn’t even feel anything as you concentrated on pushing, not even the immense pressure you were putting on Daryl’s hand, which he was sure had fractured a bit, though he couldn’t focus too much on that either.

“Almost there!” Siddiq yelled over your deep, guttural groans. “I can see the head. Keep pushing, (Y/N). You’re doing great.”

You nodded with your eyes squeezed shut, and pushed again until you heard the unmistakable sound of a baby coughing as it gasped for air.

Daryl’s eyes widened and he squeezed your hand tighter. “Keep goin’, sweetheart,” he said to you, surprising even himself by using such a pet name in public. “Almost there.”

Aaron grabbed your other hand for the last push, as Siddiq informed you that you only needed one more to get the baby out. That last push came with a hearty grunt and a short, but very loud, scream as you delivered your baby, and it practically popped out of you and into Siddiq’s hands.

You threw your head back in exhaustion from the strain of pushing yourself so hard, but soon your senses returned to you as you heard Siddiq’s proclamation.

“It’s a girl!” he said.

You raised your head and smiled deliriously, tears of joy and pain streaming down your red face. “A girl!” you cried, watching in awe as Siddiq held up your baby, who was crying profusely and wiggling her little limbs, her entire body covered in liquids from the womb and her umbilical cord still attached to you.

“Oh, she’s beautiful!” you exclaimed.

Daryl couldn’t even think, but was relegated to staring in fascination at the crying infant, who was quickly handed over to you after a brief cleanup, umbilical cord still intact as Siddiq wanted to wait a few minutes before separation.

The baby squirmed and cried in your arms, and felt so light and warm against your chest. You couldn’t see much of her features since her crying face was so contorted, but she was so beautiful, just because she was your baby, yours and Daryl’s.

Daryl hovered over your shoulder, watching the baby’s miniature fingers curl around your index finger as she began to calm down slightly. He moved his hand to her head where he delicately caressed her face.

“Hi,” you said through happy tears to the oblivious infant. “I’m your mommy… This is Daddy. We’ve been waiting for you.”

Aaron cleared his throat as he hovered over your other shoulder, looking down at his niece and trying to hold back his own tears. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

You laughed and angled the baby so she could see Aaron as she began to open her cloudy little eyes. “This is your uncle, Aaron. He’s a dork.”

Aaron scoffed with a grin. “Speak for yourself.”

Daryl couldn’t hold back his tears any longer as he continued looking down at the baby. He felt so overwhelmed, so beyond belief with the life he found himself living. If you had asked him five years ago where he thought he’d be today, his answer would be whatever the polar opposite of this moment was. Certainly, he never thought he’d be looking at his baby, a baby he made with the love of his life, but that’s where he was now, and the tears rolling over his cheeks reflected that.

“Say hi,” you said to him with a sniffle, nudging his shoulder with yours.

He cleared his throat and wiped away his tears. “H-hi, Robin,” he said softly, as if not to spook the new human. “It’s me, your dad.” He brushed over the baby’s cheek with his index finger, as gentle as one would caress a flower’s delicate petals. “It’s good to meet ya.”

Shortly after introductions, Siddiq invited Daryl to clamp and cut the cord, as he assessed now was an appropriate time. He was nervous to cut it, but he knew from his readings that it didn’t hurt the baby at all since it had no nerve endings, so it went quite smoothly, with Siddiq patting him on the back in congratulations shortly after.

You delivered the placenta about thirty minutes later, which was a much easier delivery, though still rife with contractions. It didn’t really matter, though, since you held your baby close, now wrapped up in her pale green plush blanket and staring up at you with sleepy, blinking eyes that already seemed too curious for her own good.

With everything cleaned up and your bleeding under control, Siddiq allowed the others to trickle in, and before you knew it, you were surrounded by friends and family—Michonne, Bev, Eugene, Gabriel, and Rosita. The only person you were missing, aside from the myriad of other people who had passed away you wished could be there, including your own father, and even your mother, was Rick. Still, it felt like home.

“She looks… exactly like Daryl,” said Rosita, looking down at Robin for the first time as you held her.

Daryl looked up at her with furrowed brows. “What? No.”

Rosita crossed her arms over her chest and grinned mischievously. “Yeah, she totally does. Right?” she asked the others.

Michonne shook her head and laughed, as you looked up to her, waiting for her verdict. “I’ve got to say,” she began, “Robin Dixon is definitely a Dixon.”

“She has your eyes,” Gabriel said to Daryl. “And your nose.”

Everyone laughed, except Daryl, who was once again entranced by the newborn as he studied her features.

Surely, it was too early to tell, but she did resemble him in many ways already, and she certainly had Daryl’s eyes—deep-set and cerulean blue. Still, she had your lips, plump and sweet, and the fascination and curiosity in her eyes certainly didn’t come from her father.

“She’s beautiful,” he said. “Just like her mother.”

The others let out a teasing “aw,” to which Daryl cleared his throat and tried to maintain his “masculinity,” despite feeling like he could break into a million pieces with how emotional he was.

“So what’s her middle name?” asked Aaron.

You exchanged a look with Daryl. “Well, we haven’t really talked about it much. We thought we’d decide when we knew the sex.” You cradled her tightly in your arms, unwilling to let her go if your life depended on it. “I was thinking… maybe naming her after someone.”

Daryl nodded. “Who’d you have in mind?”

You shrugged, looking down at Robin as she kicked her little legs beneath the blanket, and danced her hand around languidly in the air. She seemed so full of wonderment and enthusiasm, the likes of which reminded you of one young girl you once knew, whom you met on a little farm in Georgia.

“Maybe Elizabeth,” you said. “After Beth, you know.”

Michonne smiled sweetly, remembering the girl with a nostalgia for times gone by. She was the only other one among you who knew her well, Rosita and Eugene had only seen her limp dead body. Michonne knew her exuberance, her brightness. So did Daryl, and so did you.

“Robin Elizabeth Dixon,” said Bev. “That has a nice ring to it.”

The rest of your day was spent in the infirmary, sleeping. You hated to give up the baby after you breastfed her for the first time, but you couldn’t hold her while you were asleep, so you gave her to Daryl for the first time, and he held her so delicately for fear of breaking her, but he could already tell just how strong she was.

Siddiq informed you after her checkup that she was exceptionally healthy, at seven pounds and three ounces, and twenty-one inches in length. She was already quite active, too, kicking and showing interest in moving objects.

You chalked it up to Daryl’s incessant doting on you throughout your pregnancy, making sure you got the right nutrition for you and the baby, but Daryl just thought she was naturally the perfect child.

As he rocked her back and forth in his arms, wrapped up tightly in her floral patterned swaddling blanket and wearing a homemade knit beanie on her head (gifted by Bev), she seemed to look up at him curiously, with her blue eyes becoming clearer and clearer by the minute. He brought his hand up to gently poke the tip of her nose, which did, upon further inspection, seem to resemble his.

When he began to slowly pull his hand away, Robin clasped his index finger in her hand, and looked nearly cross-eyes as she examined it, her much tinier fingers wrapped around it.

He grinned widely and chuckled a little, though quietly as he tried not to wake you. You were already mumbling a lot in your sleep, though, which indicated to him that you were in deep sleep, and that he could speak to the baby a little.

“I’m gonna make a promise to ya right now,” he said quietly, looking down at her as his vision became clouded with tears. She stirred a little, cooing in her high-pitched little voice as he spoke, almost as if she recognized his voice, gruff and scratchy, but somehow soft and comforting at the same time. “I’m never gonna let anything bad happen to you or your momma. You’re gonna have a better life than I ever did, and I’m gonna make damn sure that no one ever hurts you. I’ll never hurt ya. I’ll keep you safe like a dad’s supposed to, make sure you never go hungry, that you always have a roof over your head. You’re my baby, and I love you.”

He held that little girl all night long as you slept soundly, and soon she fell asleep, too, occasionally kicking in her sleep and making little noises that seemed to mirror yours. She already had so many little idiosyncrasies that only could have come from you, the strangest person Daryl had ever met.

You weren’t strange because of anything you did or said, rather, you were strange to Daryl because of how much you loved him. It seemed beyond the realm of possibility for anyone to love him the way you did, and for a long time, he didn’t think that kind of thing was meant for him. You were strange to Daryl simply because he couldn’t figure out what you saw in him, but now, looking down at his child, he seemed to come to terms with the fact that he was meant to be here, that he deserved this life, a happy life, just as much as the next person, that life itself, not unlike you, was quite strange, and very, very beautiful.

~

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My Deep Blue Love (Tom Hiddleston x Fem!Reader) -- Soulmate AU one shot

This was 100% born out of boredom and loneliness and those damn Soulmate AU POV Tiktoks that I have seen practically 24/7 for the past WEEK on my fyp

(I’m not sure if I’ll do a part 2, rn I have no plans for it)

quick note on the technicality of this one: you lose all ability to see colors when you turn 12 and you don’t regain the ability until you meet your soulmate. but! you have to meet them in person and it has to be a mutual eye contact. pictures/videos of them don’t work, and if you just saw the back of their head or something in person, that doesn’t work either. it’s all about the shared eye contact babeyyy

small disclaimer: Brie Larson is mentioned in here and she has a wife, but that is very much only in this fic, and as far as i know Brie doesn’t have a wife irl lol (i also don’t know if she’s spoken about her sexuality at all so what i’m saying is take it with a grain of salt ok)

Summary: Everyone around you is meeting their soulmate, but you still see in black and white. You’re ready to give up, and basically have, when you lock eyes with your soulmate.

Warnings: None! Just a bit of angst, lots of fluff toward the end 

You knock on your mom’s bedroom door at 4:58am. She’s already awake, sitting up in bed, ushering you over.

With tears in your eyes, you crawl onto her bed, snuggling close to her chest.

“I don’t want to lose my colors,” you whimper.

“I know, baby,” she whispers, kissing the top of your head. “It’s okay.”

You were born 12 years ago on this day at 5:08am, so in a few short minutes, when you officially turn 12 years old, all color will drain from your life.

Or the colors could stay, but that’s only if you’ve somehow already met your soulmate. And that’s rare, nearly impossible.

You squeeze your eyes shut at 5:07 and you don’t open them again until 5:10.

The colors are gone.

+++

twenty years later

You sigh heavily as you receive yet another wedding invite. You are invited to witness the official beginning of Olivia and Jeffrey’s lives together as husband and wife, soulmates for all of time.

The glitter sticks to your fingertips, tiny black dots against your skin. Your friend told you it’s gold. You barely remember what that looks like.

Lately it seems like everyone has been meeting their soulmate. Just yesterday, you were having coffee with a friend when she looked up at the girl sitting behind you, and boom.

“It’s like the world just exploded,” she had said. Colors were everywhere. She immediately left you to go talk to the girl.

You don’t blame her for that. If you had met your soulmate, you probably would’ve done the same thing. But you can’t say for sure because you don’t know.

You wouldn’t be so cynical of it all if your boyfriend of five years didn’t meet his soulmate while the two of you were out at dinner. You wish you could say that he was faking it. But it was clear from his face (and the girl’s) that he wasn’t kidding. It was real. He had met his soulmate, and it wasn’t you.

It’s never you.

You’ve had guys cut off dates before they even start, all because they didn’t see colors when they laid their eyes on you. They refuse to even be friends with you.

All anyone is doing anymore is searching for a soulmate and it’s exhausting when none of them are yours. When all of your friends see color now. When everyone assures you that it’ll happen soon. What does soon even mean?

You grab your ice cream from the freezer and fall onto the couch, flicking to whatever channel has late night shows that aren’t complete garbage.

As usual, you find yourself watching a talk show, and tonight Tom Hiddleston is one of the guests.

You’re sort of familiar with him from a few movies, but other than that, you hardly know anything about him.

“So, Tom, we’ve all been wondering what’s going on with you and Brie Larson?”

“Brie?” Tom asks, clearly shocked to hear this question. “We’re just good friends, that’s all.”

“Oh, she doesn’t make you see any colors?”

“Ah, no, actually, she does not,” Tom chuckles, but doesn’t sound sad at all, surprisingly. “Her wife does that for her, not me, I’m afraid.”

“Oh really?” The host brushes past the mention of Brie’s wife and keeps the focus on Tom, of course. “So is that true, you still don’t see color?”

Your ears perk up at the mention of someone else not seeing in color. It’s rare for anyone to talk about this on television. Most celebrities don’t talk about whether or not they’ve found their soulmate, but more often than not, those that have are quite loud about it.

“Yes, that’s true,” Tom answers. “I still see the world in a lovely black and white.”

You snort, harshly jabbing your spoon into your ice cream. Lovely. Yeah, right.

“Do you really think it’s nice? Do you not miss the colors?” The host asks.

“No, no, I do. I do,” Tom admits. “But I like to think I’ll see them when the time is right.”

You groan, going to Google to look up his age. And when you see he’s 40, you groan even louder. He’s older than you and he still hasn’t met his soulmate. That’s just depressing. How can he sound so optimistic?

“Alright, well, if there’s one thing you wish you could tell your soulmate, what would it be? Maybe they’re watching right now, you never know.”

Tom smiles wide. “Maybe, maybe, um… Oh, so many things,” Tom exhales deeply. “I guess I could be cliché and say I can’t wait to meet them and wait for me, but I think I want to say… I think I want to say I understand. It is frustrating, still seeing in black and white, but our paths will cross soon, I’m sure of it. Until then, my eyes are blue.”

Blue. Blue.

You roll your eyes. You don’t even remember what the color looks like.

+++

seven months later

“I am not going to a movie premiere. You’re insane!”

“Please!” Your friend, Catherine, cries. “You’ll love it, I swear.”

You glare at her over your coffee. “That just makes it sound like you have a trick up your sleeve.”

“I don’t,” she says. “I just want you to take advantage of this and come with us! When will you ever have the chance to go to a movie premiere again?”

She has a point. Dammit. “Touché. How did you get tickets, anyway? Please tell me you didn’t spend thousands for this.” You wouldn’t put it past her, even though you tell her not to every time before she does something like this.

“God, no, Joe surprised me with them earlier. He said he went to school with the lead.”

“Oh. Cool. Who?”

“Tom Hiddleston, I think. Have you heard of him? He’s British, but that’s about all I know. Joe just said they ran into each other the other day and reconnected.”

You stop halfway through a sip of coffee, careful to not choke on it. Slowly, you nod. “Yeah. I...I’ve seen him in a couple things.”

“Apparently, he hasn’t met his soulmate either…” Catherine trails away, raising her eyebrows at you.

You roll your eyes. “I heard,” you set your cup down. “He’s probably met them by now though since he blasted it on television like that.”

“Or he’s still searching and you’re still being too cynical.”

“You’re probably right,” you chuckle.

“Sooo, you’ll come?”

You sigh heavily. “As long as you help me pick something to wear.”

+++

“I’m regretting letting you talk me into this already,” you mutter when you nearly trip in your heels.

“Oh, hush,” Catherine swats your arm. “It’s an excuse to get dressed up and look hot for no reason. Take it.”

“Fine.”

Catherine’s soulmate, Joe, was whisked away almost as soon as the three of you stepped inside the venue by some director (you think), but he promised to return in a few minutes. Catherine told him not to worry. She’s used to him being dragged away for conversation. You can see from her face that she’s more proud of him than anything, and not at all annoyed.

Currently, you and Catherine are standing near the small bar, waiting for them to announce that it’s time to take your seats. You desperately want a drink, but part of you knows it would be a bad idea.

One glass of wine can’t hurt, though. Maybe it’ll take your mind off the pain in your feet.

You peel away from Catherine when you see Joe coming back, and you flag the bartender down quickly.

After ordering a glass of white wine, you wait patiently, wishing you had chosen a dress with sleeves. It’s fucking cold in here.

“Darling, you’re shivering, are you alright?”

Your head turns toward the smooth voice, face set and mind trying to decipher whether or not it was a sincere or creepy comment when the world quite literally explodes.

There, standing beside you, concern written all over his face, is Tom Hiddleston. Only now the concern has washed away into awe when your eyes lock with his.

“Oh my god,” he whispers, stumbling even though he’s standing in place.

“Blue,” you murmur. “Your eyes are blue.” Without even thinking or asking, your hand lifts to cup his cheek, and then you pull back, “Shit, sorry—”

But he grabs your wrist gently, placing your palm on his cheek. “It’s alright.” His thumb strokes the back of your hand. “I have been looking everywhere for you.”

“I thought you didn’t exist,” you whisper in reply. But here he is. His eyes are blue, his lips are pink, he has tiny brown freckles all over his rosy cheeks. You look back to his eyes, narrowing your own. “You liar. Your eyes have green in them, too.”

“Do they really?” Tom chuckles. “I never would’ve known.”

“That’s why you have me,” you tease, and you don’t know where any of this is coming from, yet it doesn’t feel like you’re pretending. It feels like you’re finally yourself.

His other hand tangles with yours as he nods. “That’s why I have you, indeed.”

At this time, the lights in the theatre begin lightly flashing, signaling that it’s time for everyone to begin making their way to their seats.

But neither you or Tom move one inch.

The only issue is people are beginning to stare.

You notice it first, so you slowly pull your hand from his cheek. This movement shocks him back to reality, too, and he blinks a few times, yet he doesn’t let go of your hand.

“I, um, I have to make a speech,” he says. “But then I can come back to you. Will you save me a seat?”

“Don’t you have to sit up front?”

He nods. “I do, but—”

“Then I’ll come with you.” You aren’t sure if it’s the fact that he hasn’t let go of your hand yet, or if it’s because you’ve been waiting so long that now you don’t want him to be further than an arms length away from you, but you mean what you say.

“Are you sure?” He asks, but you both need to make a decision quickly because you can see someone waving from the wings, most likely trying to get Tom’s attention.

“I’m sure.”

He doesn’t question it, in fact, he grins, and brings your hand up to his lips, kissing your knuckles. “Let’s go, then.”