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callsign-dexter · 11 months ago

Text

Pops is Hurt

Summary: Jake's jet gets shot down. Bradley goes after him and gets shot down as well but ejects unscathed. The temperature is not what they expected and it's snowing. How is their little girl going to deal with seeing her other father in the hospital?

Pairings: Jake Seresin x Daughter!Reader, Bradley Bradshaw x Daughter!Reader, Jake Seresin x Bradley Bradshaw

Warnings: angst, inaccurate medical talk, plane crashes, inaccurate military talk, fluff, swearing

Masterlist

Our Little Girl

Banner done by @callsigns-haze

Jake and Bradley along with Natasha and Bob had been chosen to go on a brief and very short mission. Short as in 1 month or 4 weeks. They just needed jets to get in and get out then come home. They found this out while they were at work before they had to go and pick up their little girl from daycare. Ice wouldn't be going with them instead it would be staying behind to watch the little girl, normally Carole and Goose would but they have and since Goose is going with Maverick, Ice was quick to volunteer to watch his spoiled granddaughter. Carole and Ice agreed to help each other out but Ice practically begged to keep her and she agreed. Bradley, Jake, Bob, and Natasha would be leaving the day after tomorrow, Sunday, to get a jump on things and maybe have them come home sooner. In the meantime, they were going to spend it with their little girl.

Both Jake's and Bradley's alarms blared right next to them. They were quick to turn them off that way they didn't disturb their little girl from her peaceful sleeping. They both got up simultaneously and started getting ready for the day. It was a Saturday and they left on Sunday. Both of them were early risers so it was normal for them to get up early even on the weekend but let their daughter sleep in until 9 AM it was only 6:30 AM. Both of them usually ran in the morning and they would do it together but since they had Y/N they took separate turns never leaving her alone by herself. "You wanna go run first?" Bradley asked Jake in a voice still laced with sleep that Jake loved so much.

"Yes and then you can go when I get back." He said and Bradley nodded. Bradley always took a little bit to wake up so he always offered to stay behind while Jake went. They kissed each other and Bradley started to head downstairs to start a pot of coffee while Jake got changed in his running gear. As he was heading downstairs he stopped by their daughter's room and checked in on her. He smiled when he saw her curled up with her stuffed chocolate and tan Bunny whom she had named Rolo sleeping soundly. He closed the door quietly and made his way to the kitchen. After a few minutes, he heard the door open and shut again and knew that his husband did the same thing as him. Jake then came down and kissed him and then headed outside to start his run.

While Jake was running Bradley started working around the kitchen and transferring clothes in the washer over to the dryer. 30 minutes later Jake came back in sweating he had his music in so he didn't say anything just walked upstairs to get ready for the day. While the shower was running Bradley went upstairs and checked on their daughter one more time before changing and going on his run. She had yet to move positions but had kicked the covers off and he walked in and pulled them up over her again and then kissed her head and headed out as he heard the water shut off and walked in as his husband came out of the bathroom in only a towel. "She still sound to sleep?" He asked and Bradley nodded.

"She kicked her covers off and I covered her back up." He said and Jake chuckled. "What's so funny?" Bradley asked smiling.

"Nothing really it's just that you do that same thing." Jake said and Bradley gaped at him.

"No I do not." He defended but Jake just chuckled and walked over and kissed him.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." He said and patted him on the cheek and got ready for the day as Bradley got ready to run. They both walked downstairs and Bradley was put the door with a kiss to Jake's lips.

Bradley had been gone 20 minutes while Jake started to get things ready for breakfast when a little voice called out to both of them. "Papa? Daddy?" Jake dropped everything and walked up to her room and opened the door to their daughter's room. Jake checked his watch it was only 7:30 AM.

"What's wrong, Sweets?" He asked walking into her room and she lifted her hands up and he picked her up.

"Me no feel good." She said and he touched her forehead, she was a little warm but nothing too concerning. She always tended to get clingy and a little sick before they left for a deployment. They told everyone Friday after work over dinner that they were deploying for a month and she had been glued to them both ever since.

"Oh, Sweets. You're a little warm. What hurts?" He asked beginning to walk to the kitchen.

"My tummy." She said and laid her head on his shoulder. He knew that she wasn't lying she was an honest child and would never lie.

"Do you wanna sit on the couch while I cook breakfast and drink some juice or stay in my arms while I cook and drink some juice?" He asked looking at his daughter that looked a little pale.

"You." She said and Jake nodded and repositioned her and began cooking. It's a good thing that Jake and Bradley were used to holding her and multitasking.

"Ok, Sweets." He said and got a bottle and put some apple juice in it and gave it to her she downed half of it and then handed it to him. She laid her head down on his shoulder and fell back to sleep just as soon as Bradley walked into the house. He immediately noticed Y/N in Jake's arms and grew concerned she usually slept until 9 AM and it was only 7:50 AM. He walked over to both of them as Jake turned hearing footsteps.

"Everything ok?" He asked rubbing his daughter's back and kissing Jake.

"She woke up and called out for us. I walked in and she wanted me to pick her up and I did. She said her stomach hurt when I asked what was wrong and she was and still is warm." Jake said and Bradley's heart broke a little he hated it when one of his loved ones was sick. He felt his forehead and it was warm.

"Oh, poor Baby. I'll go and take a shower and change and then take her from you or finish breakfast. Has she eaten or drank anything?" He asked and Jake nodded.

"Downed a half of a bottle of apple juice and then went back to sleep." He said and Bradley nodded.

"I'll be right back." He said and headed upstairs. Jake heard the shower turn on and turned back to the food and not even 10 minutes later Bradley was walking down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Want me to finish breakfast or hold her?" He asked.

"You finish breakfast. I don't want to wake her up." Jake said and Bradley nodded as Jake gave him the spatula and Jake shifted her weight to where it was distributed equally. She moved a little bit but did not wake. Jake leaned up against the counter backward while holding her.

"How's she feeling?" Bradley asked as he flipped the pancakes and bacon. Her forehead was resting on his neck so he could feel it easily but wanted to feel it with his hand instead and that's what he did.

"She's not as warm." He said and then looked at the clock and it was 9 AM "Should we wake her and get some food into her?" Jake asked and Bradley turned to them and nodded and that's what they did. Jake tasked himself with waking her up as Bradley plated the food. "Hey, Sweets. It's time to get up. Do you want some food?" He asked as he rubbed her back and that roused her she slowly woke up and nodded and they smiled. Then she noticed Bradley.

"Daddy?" She asked in a queit voice.

"Hey, Honey." He came over and kissed her forehead with two plates of food one in each hand and headed to the table. Jake and Y/N weren't too far behind. Jake sat her down at the table and went to grab plates and her drink as she stole some bacon. "How's your tummy?" He asked as she took a bite of bacon.

"Better, Daddy." She said as Jake came back with plates and drinks.

"Good, Sweets. We don't like it when you're sick." Jake said and she nodded her head agreeing. The rest of the breakfast was filled with talking and eating.

The rest of the day they spent it together doing anything they could as a family before they had to go away for a month. Y/N hated when her daddies left her, she had grown so attached to them that it wasn't even funny.

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Sunday had come a lot sooner than they would have liked. They would be leaving at 2 PM so they were going to spend the morning with their little girl and getting her packed and ready to stay at Ice and Mav's. Instead of having Y/N sleep in her own bed they had let her sleep with them so they went to sleep together and woke up together, on occasion they would let her do this especially if the mission was high risk.

The morning was spent with laughter and talking like nothing was going on and like they weren't about to leave and potentially not come back. When they time was to come Carole and Goose were going to drive the boys and Y/N and then Ice and Maverick were going in their own car. Since Maverick was going then that meant that Goose was going because he was his RIO, of course Maverick knew how to fly without one but nothing better than him being able to fly with Goose.

12 PM rolled around and everyone was meeting at the Bradshaw-Seresin household. First it was Goose and Carole and then Ice and Maverick arrived. Nobody really talked everyone preparing for what was to come. Of course Y/N being the exact copy of her parents was hyper and bouncing off the walls saying hi to everyone and that honestly brought a smile to everyone's faces. She knew what was coming but she was just a bright happy girl and made the room light up. "You ready, Sweets?" Jake asked her picking her up and she nodded and they took that cue to leave the house. Ice had picked up her suitcase and walked out before them so they had time to rearrange suitcases and duffle bags.

"Papa?" Y/N asked looking at Jake and he turned to look at her as he stopped by Carole and Goose's car about to put her in.

"Yes, Sweets?" Jake asked as he began to open the door.

"Will you be back soon?" She asked innocently and he swore his heart broke.

"Very soon, Sweets. You're gonna have a good time with Grandpa Ice and before you know it Daddy and I will be back in no time." Jake said and then followed it by a kiss and that made her giggle. Everyone acted like they weren't listening but secretly they were and they were smiling. He buckled her into her car seat and then got in as everyone got in their cars and respected places and started to drive towards the dock.

They arrived at the dock and Bradley was the one that got her out and then everyone followed suit. When they got to the aircraft carrier Jake came over to Bradley and her and they both hugged her and she did the best to hug them both while everyone else said their goodbyes. Carole was snapping pictures left and right of the boys and their little girl, one particular picture she got and was going to cherish was when she threw each of her arms around their shoulders and they kissed her cheek not looking at the camera but facing her and she had the biggest smile on her face and eyes closed enjoying the company of her fathers.

Once everyone said their goodbyes Jake handed Y/N off to Ice and she protested but got comfortable in Ice's arms and settled down. She watched Bradley, Jake, Maverick, and Goose head towards the aircraft carrier to greet the other Daggers and to get ready to board the aircraft carrier . Once they boarded and watched the aircraft carrier sail away and once it was out of sight Ice turned to Carole. "Do you want to come over for a little bit and have a late lunch?" Ice asked and Y/N looked at her Grandma with puppy dog eyes.

"How can I say no to that face? Of course, I will." Carole said and stroked her granddaughter's face that lit up like a Christmas tree. "I'll follow you." She said and Ice nodded and they headed back to the cars. Ice got Y/N in with no problems and then got in and started the truck he made sure Carole was in and ready to go before pulling out and heading towards his and Maverick's house. It wasn't a very far drive when they got there Ice pulled in first and then Carole. Carole was already getting out of the car as Ice turned the truck off and then was getting out and opening the back door that way he could get her out from the middle seat. The three of them walked into the house after Ice had grabbed her suitcase and then they started to have their late lunch in the backyard talking about their plans and watching the energetic young version of Bradley and Jake run around the backyard.

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Jake and Bradley and the rest of The Daggers weren't on the aircraft carrier long before they started missing their little girl, even if it was just for a month it still hurt to leave. "How's Y/N?" Bob asked coming up to the fathers while everyone was sitting in a little common room not far from the bunks. Their kids had been hanging out more and more and they had almost come inseparable.

"She's doing good, was a little sick yesterday morning but quickly got over it." Bradley said, "How's Mason?" He asked and Bob smiled.

"He's doing good. Asking when he can see Y/N again." He said and everyone chuckled.

"We'll have to get them together when we get back." Jake said

"I bet when they get older that they'll get together, get married, and have kids." Javy said and everyone nodded in agreement.

"Oh please, lets not talk about that yet. She's not allowed to date until she's 30." Bradley said and Goose laughed and they looked at him. "What's so funny?" Bradley asked smiling.

"We said the same thing about you." He said and everyone laughed.

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Going into the third week of her fathers being gone she was getting antsy. Ice, Slider, and Carole had done everything to keep her distracted from going to the beach to going to the zoo that she had been to multiple times and her going to school.

One morning Ice had just finished getting ready for the day and getting everything prepared for her to go to school when he heard crying and grew concerned. He walked up to Y/N's room and opened the door and found her tossing and turning. She was mumbling incoherent words. Ice walked over to her bed and knelt down and began talking to her calmly. "Sunshine, it's ok." He said and nothing happened and she was still going on about something. "Y/N, it's just a bad dream. You're safe." He said rubbing her back again nothing. So, he sat on her bed and took her in his arms and held her while she sobbed and he shushed her. "Sunshine." He said again and that seemed to do the trick this time and she slowly woke up. "Are you ok?" He asked and she shook her head.

"Papa is hurt." She said and he looked at her confused.

"What do you mean, Sunshine?" He asked

"Papa went down in snow and Daddy went after him and got shot down." She said and this concerned Ice.

"It was just a bad dream, Sunshine." Ice said trying to soothe the poor child "They'll be home in no time and back to you." He said pulling her into him "Let's get ready for school. Slider and I are gonna pick you up afterward and we'll go out. How does that sound?" He asked.

"That sounds good." She said and that is what they did and as he was helping her get ready he kept thinking back to what she had said. He hoped she was wrong but he'll soon find out that she wasn't and it was going to wreck them.

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This was it. This was the mission. It's supposed to be a simple one. Go in scope out the enemy base, get information, take out the runway, and get out for they realize that they anyone is there. One by one The Daggers took off with Maverick and Goose leading then Bradley and Jake and the last Natasha and Bob. The first half was easy and they got what they needed and then when Cyclone gave the orders for bombs away they sent them and they were getting out of there as soon as possible. Everything was going smoothly until enemy fighters popped up and a dogfight began. Everyone had taken hits but The Daggers were still up and flying until Jake started to have mechanical problems from a bullet hitting his plane and fuel tank. "Hangman to Maverick I'm leaking fuel." Jake said being calm as ever but freaking out on the inside.

"Maverick to Hangman can you make it back to the aircraft carrier?" Maverick asked starting to worry and so was Goose that was his son-in-law.

"Negative." Jake said and this struck fear into Bradley and well everyone else.

"Rooster to Hangman you're going to have to eject. You can't save the jet. I know you love it as much as you love me and our daughter but it can't be saved." Bradley was pleading with his husband but got no response back and this worried him. He looked over and Jake was losing altitude and fast.

"I think is communication has gone out." Bob said watching his squad member lose control of his jet.

"Hangman, you need to eject." Goose said trying to get through to his son-in-law but got nothing in return.

"Come on Hangman. Don't do this to us." Natasha said as she watched helplessly and after 5 minutes or so they watched him nose dive right to the ground and eject as much too close to the ground as everyone was silent as the plane burst into flames and hoping a parachute had opened up.

"I'm going after him." Bradley said after 15 minutes of just flying around trying to see anything.

"Negative. We head back to the ship and let search and rescue find him." Maverick said and it was silent but Bradley wasn't going to do that.

"I'm going after him." He said and turned his jet around just as soon as a stray missile shot off from a SAM and hit the backend of his jet and making him go down. Fear struck everyone's hearts especially Goose and Maverick's. Goose just watched his son's go down. Everyone was ordered to return back to the aircraft carrier and as much as they didn't want to they had to.

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Jake went down 20 minutes before Bradley did and he had landed in a puddle that had to freeze over and it was snowing. He was soaked and freezing. The ejection had rattled him so much and he had hit his shoulder and the pain from that just made him lie there. His parachute did open but he was too low to the ground to have a safe landing. "Damn it." Jake said after coming around to his senses and trying to sit up but his shoulder protested and had him crashing back down in the fairly large puddle of cold water. After a few minutes of blinding white-hot pain, he heard a SAM being shot off and then he watched it fly and then hit a jet. "Please don't let it be Bradley." Jake said as his teeth rattled.

When Bradley went down he was able to open his parachute in time and landed safely. Once on the ground, he took off in the direction of the jet wreckage "Jake please be alive and not in that wreckage." Bradley pleaded as he got closer to it. He then saw a body lying in the snow in a puddle and sighed a sigh of relief but then panic started building up and he ran towards him as best as he could. "JAKE!" Bradley yelled and he didn't get a response. The pain had become so bad for Jake that he had passed out and was just lying there in the cold water. "Fuck, Jake." Bradley said but mostly to himself and started pulling him out of the puddle and then realized that he was soaking wet. "Come on, Babe. We have to get you warm." Bradley said as he hoisted Jake up with each arm under his armpits. Jake stirred a little bit, he knew that voice so he forced his eyes open.

"Bradley?" Jake asked slurring his words and then the pain hit "Shoulder. Stop. Hurts." Jake said.

"Yeah, it's me. Let's get out of this water and then I'll put you down. I'm sorry." Bradley said and true to his word once he was out of the water he put him down.

"You're not supposed to be here." Jake said teeth chattering.

"I couldn't just leave my husband and the father of my child alone." Bradley said and began trying to get them something dry to sit on and figured the parachute would have to do.

"I'm sorry." Jake said and Bradley looked at him, he was soaked and his helmet was off and his hair was wet. He was shivering and that made Bradley's heart break.

"For what?" Bradley asked

"For going down and then you being down here with me.

"Baby, I would go to the end of the earth for you." Bradley said cuddling him close trying to give him some body heat.

"I love you." Jake said and Bradley smiled and dropped a kiss onto Jake's wet head.

"I love you too. Now keep fighting. We have a little girl waiting at home for us." Bradley said as Jake shivered and Bradley held him closer. He just prayed and hoped that they would find them soon.

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Ice had just picked Y/N up from school with Slider and they were heading to a little café that everyone had grown to love, they were meeting Carole there. As they were driving Y/N and Slider were talking nonstop about something they both had an interest in and Ice just smiled. They finally arrived at the café and he parked just as soon as his phone rang. It was from a restricted number and his heart sank. Slider saw it too. "Go and take her in to meet Carole. I'm gonna answer this." Ice said and Slider nodded as he made quick work of getting the little girl out as Ice answered the phone.

"Hello." Ice said in a professional voice.

"Hey, it's me." Maverick said Ice could tell something was wrong.

"What's wrong?" Ice asked

"Bradley and Jake went down. They have search and rescue looking for them now. It's been 3 hrs." Maverick said and Ice's heart dropped.

"Do I need to tell Carole?" Ice asked voice starting to shake.

"Yes but make sure Y/N/N isn't there." Maverick said "Just to be on the safe side and we find them soon. I know how she gets when she gets worried." Maverick said and Ice nodded.

"Bring them home." Ice said

"We will. I love you." Maverick said

"I love you too." Ice replied and then they hung up. Now he has to tell Carole and Slider.

Ice sat in his truck and then took a breath and got out and walked into the building and to where the others were. "Slider, why don't you take Sunshine to look at the menu." Ice said and when Slider looked up and saw the look on Ice's face he knew not to argue and did just that.

"Come on, Y/N/N. Let's go see what we want to eat." Slider said and picked the girl up and then Ice turned to Carole who was quiet.

"Who is it?" Carole asked knowing that look on his face.

"Jake and Bradley." Ice said and Carole let a few tears leak out.

"How bad?" She asked wiping them away.

"Maverick didn't tell me. They haven't found them and it's been 3 hrs." Ice said and then pulled her into a hug once he moved to sit next to her. "You know, Y/N said that she had a nightmare about this happening." Ice said.

"When?" She asked

"This morning." He said

"She knew. She always knows when something happens to her daddies." Carole said and then put her emotions back as Slider and Y/N came back. Ice looked at her.

"Tell me what you want and Slider and I'll go order the food." He said and she nodded and told her and they walked off leaving Carole and her granddaughter to their own devices while food was being ordered.

"Who?" Slider asker and Ice sighed.

"Jake and Bradley." He told him and Slider paled.

"Do they know anything?" He asked and Ice shook his head.

"They haven't found them and it's been 3 hrs." Ice said

"For everyone's sake, I hope they find them fast." Slider said and Ice nodded and ordered the food.

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In the 8th hour, the search and rescue helicopter finally found them and landed. They were quick to rush to them at some point Jake passed out and Bradley was so cold that he had fallen asleep but woke up when he heard shouting.

"Lt. Commander Bradshaw, are you ok?" One of the medics asked he nodded.

"Just a little cold. It's him you have to worry about." Bradley said nodded down to his husband and they nodded and he helped them get Jake up on the backboard and onto the helicopter. They wrapped a blanket around both.

"Sorry for making you both wait so long. We had trouble locating you and had to make sure the coast was clear." Someone said and Bradley nodded not caring about what was being said just worried about his husband and the father of their daughter. Jake was unconscious and his lips were turning a tinge of blue. They got them up and going and before they knew it they were back on the aircraft carrier and headed to the med wing.

"Bradley." Maverick said and he turned to look at him and noticed his father was there too. They hugged each other and the questions started. Once everything was sorted "I'm gonna see if I can call Ice." He said and they nodded leaving Bradley and Goose together waiting on their loved one.

When Maverick got to his office he closed the door and sighed in relief. They were safe but Jake was not out of the woods. Now it was time to call Ice and get Bradley and Jake back to their little girl. He dialed Ice's number and it rang twice before he picked up.

"Mav?" Ice's voice came through.

"They found them." Maverick said and he heard Ice sigh in relief.

"How are they?" Ice asked

"They haven't told me anything but it looks like Jake is going through a serious case of hypothermia and Bradley seems ok just a little shaken up but looks unscathed. Goose is with him waiting for news on Jake." Maverick explained to his husband who had gone quiet and that was understandable.

"Do I need to wait to tell Carole and Slider?" Ice asked

"You're the Admiral you can tell them if you want." Maverick smiled and chuckled and Ice chuckled.

"That is true. When will you guys be home?" Ice asked

"They're flying them out as soon as possible and the rest of us will be scheduled for the regular time. Goose will probably go with Jake and Bradley." Maverick said and Ice nodded even though Maverick couldn't see it.

"Get home safely and don't forget that I love you." Ice said and Maverick smiled.

"I love you too. See you soon." Maverick said and then they both hung up.

Goose came in after they ended the phone call and Maverick looked over to him. "They're flying Jake, Bradley, and I out in 10 minutes." He said and Maverick nodded.

"That's good. Go on and I'll meet you on land and meet you at the hospital." Maverick said and then Maverick pulled his RIO into a hug and they stayed like that for a few minutes until they parted and Goose headed out of the office getting ready to leave with the helicopter.

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Ice had just gotten off the phone with Maverick around 9 PM. Carole and Slider were over after having supper and then watched a movie that Y/N insisted on watching and not 20 minutes into the movie she was out like a light snoring on lightly on Slider. When Ice had gotten the call he had walked out of the room. He walked in and they looked at him. "They got them." Ice said loud enough to hear but quiet enough not to wake the sleeping child. Everyone side in relief.

"How are they?" Carole asked happy tears streaming down her face.

"Maverick hasn't heard much about Jake's condition but it looks like he is going through a serious case of hypothermia and Bradley seems ok just a little shaken up but looks unscathed. Maverick said that Goose was with Bradley waiting for news on Jake." Ice said "He also told me that they were flying Jake, Bradley, and Goose back as soon as possible." He added.

"What do we do now?" Slider asked

"We wait until they give us a call and tell us which hospital they're taking him too." He said and they nodded and he sat down and they finished watching the movie. Not even 15 minutes more into the movie Ice got the call and told them what hospital they were taking Jake too, they were also taking Bradley just to him get checked over since he too was out in the cold.

"What about Y/N?" Slider asked and Ice and Carole looked at each other.

"Do you mind staying here with her until everything gets settled and conditions are talked about?" Ice asked and Slider nodded.

"Of course, your guys are like family. I would do anything for you especially this little girl." He nodded down to the sleeping child who had yet to wake and had only moved to change positions. Ice and Carole thanked him and they were on their way after kissing their granddaughter goodbye.

They took separate cars to the hospital and luckily it wasn't too far away from the house. They got their in no time. They parked next to each other and walked into the building and were met by Goose who rushed to his wife and hugged her and then hugged Ice. "They just took Jake back and Bradley." He said once he released Ice and they nodded and went to sit in the waiting room. "Where's Chick?" Goose asked.

"She's with Slider. We figured she shouldn't be here until we knew of conditions and she was asleep." Carole said as she leaned further into her husband. 10 minutes later the doctor, who knew them very well.

"We really need to stop meeting under circumstances like this." Dr. Rachel Hayes said trying to lighten the mood and it worked a little bit. "Bradley is fine he'll be sore and that's it. Jake on the other hand is in critical condition. From what Bradley said and the medical team said he had laid in a puddle of cold water for awhile and was soaked head to toe and he had dislocated shoulder, which we put back into place. He also had some broken ribs and looks like a broken wrist but nothing to serious to end his career." She said and everyone nodded as they listened.

"You guy's can see him but just prepare yourselves." She said and led them the way to Jake. Bradley was already in there by his husband's side. Bradley looked up and got up and hugged his mother and Ice. "Let me know if he wakes up or something goes on." She said and everyone nodded.

"Where's Y/N?" Bradley asked going to sit back down by his husband's side while looking at them.

"Slider has her. Carole and I figured we would see you first and asses the situation before bringing her here. Plus she was as asleep." Ice said and he nodded.

"It was bad guys. The mission was successful but his fuel tank was hit and he was going down and then his communication went out. I followed after him and a stray SAM deployed and hit my backside and luckily I ejected high enough unlike Jake. I thought I was going to lose him and I thought Y/N was going to lose her dad." Bradley said as he looked at the now intubated Jake watching his chest rise and fall and listening to his heart monitor. Everyone's heart broke. "When do you think we should bring Y/N in?" Bradley asked looking up from his husband.

"Maybe not for a couple of days. Let Jake rest and let you rest." Carole said and he nodded.

"I'm gonna call Slider and let him know the plan." Ice said and they nodded and now it was just the Bradshaw and Bradshaw-Seresin family. A few minutes later Ice was coming back in and sitting with the family members.

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It had been a week and Dr. Rachel Hayes was in and out checking in on Jake and each day was better than before and they were grateful for that. One day while Bradley was the only one in there while the rest went home to grab some things and pick up Maverick, Dr. Hayes had walked in and checked on Jake and Bradley normally she would have a nurse come in but she insisted that she be the one to check up on him. "Dr. Hayes?" Bradley asked and she looked up and over at him.

"Yes?" She asked

"You remember our daughter, right?" He asked and she nodded with a smile. "When can she see him?" He asked.

"At this point. I would say anytime. Just understand that it may be little but traumatic for her. I just ask that she doesn't cuddle with him at this time nit until he's awake." She said with a smile and Bradley nodded.

"I understand. She had to deal with me while I was in the hospital due to a training accident 6 months back." Bradley said and she nodded she remembered that she wasn't on shift or call that time due to taking a vacation. She nodded and then left and Bradley looked over at Jake. "I don't know if you can hear me or not but I need to say this. You need to come back to us. I need you. Your baby girl needs you." He said and kissed his forehead. Goose, Carole, and Maverick had just walked into the room and everyone greeted each other and Bradley updated them on Jake's condition. "Dr. Hayes said that we could bring Y/N in anytime since his condition is better." Bradley said.

"When do you want to do that?" Maverick asked

"I was thinking now." He said and everyone nodded.

"I'll call Slider to bring her on in." Ice said and they nodded and he walked out of the room. Nobody talked and that was ok. 5 minutes later Ice was walking back in "He'll be here in 10. He also said that he would tell her what is going on." He said and they nodded.

10 minutes later Slider was walking in with Y/N and when she saw Bradley she practically leapt into his arms when he stood up and walked over to them "Daddy!" She yelled out and he hugged her like his life depended on it and tears fell from his eyes. "Why you cry, Daddy?" She asked looking at him and wiping his tears and that made everyone start to cry.

"I'm just happy to see you, Honey." Bradley said truth was that she reminded him of Jake and that hurt.

"Papa?" She asked looking at him.

"He's ok just sleep." Bradley said and she tried to go to him but he stopped her "No, Honey you can't cuddle with him right now." He said and that made her cry.

"But, Daddy. Papa." She said and cried harder and tried harder to get to him but he stopped her everytime.

"Soon, Honey. I promise." Bradley said and she seemed ok with that answer because she settled down but pouted. Seconds, minutes, and hours went by with no update. Y/N had gone to sleep around 9 PM and was sleeping soundly in Bradley's arms. Most of everyone went home besides Carole and Goose. They had offered to take Y/N home but Bradley refused to give her up.

4 more days went by and it was during the night when Jake started to come around. Bradley and Y/N were asleep on the couch and Goose was up while Carole was asleep on the other couch. Goose watched Jake's eyes open and he smiled and was thankful when he didn't start to panic. Goose and he had a silent conversation and then Goose was up and heading to the nurse's station where they paged Dr. Hayes who was there in no time with some nurses. Carole had woken up and joined Goose but hadn't woken up the other father and daughter they had been the ones that were up the most. Dr. Hayes and her team quickly got him extubated and instructions were made and she was leaving. She had also given permission for Y/N to cuddle with Jake.

The commotion had woken Bradley up unfortunately and he was up in a instant without waking their daughter up. Goose and Carole stood back and cried as they reunited and kissed each other. "We're going to go and get some coffee and leave you three be." Goose said and Bradley and Jake nodded not being able to say anything with out breaking down but once they were gone they broke down and started talking.

"I thought I lost you, Babe." Bradley said and kissed Jake.

"I know, Baby. But I'm here. I heard what you said and kept fighting." Jake said "Now where is my Sweets?" He asked Bradley and he chuckled.

"Sleeping but I'll get her." He said and walked over to her and picked her up and walked her over.

"Dr. Hayes said that she was good to cuddle." Jake said and Bradley nodded.

"I heard." Bradley said and smiled and gently laid her down next to Jake. She snuggled into him recognizing the scent and warmth of her other father and that woke her up immediately.

"Papa?" She asked sleepily.

"Hey, Sweets. I missed you." He said and she hugged him like it was her lifeline. Carole and Goose had came back to the scene of her sitting in bed looking at Jake full of love and Bradley doing the same at both of them. They gave them a few more minutes before they walked in. When they did everyone greeted everyone and talking began catching up. Y/N tried to keep awake but the battle of sleep won and she had fallen back to sleep on Jake.

——————————————————————

Over the next few days everyone came and saw him and Jake was back to his cocky self that everyone loved. Maverick and Ice visited a lot since they were family. When Jake was released he was told to take it easy and he did and before he knew it he was back up in the air doing what he did best and taking care of his little girl.

As he was putting her to bed one night after insisting that he wanted to do it and told Bradley to go onto bed. He laid in bed with her on his chest as she snoozed away. He laid there awake thinking about if he didn't make it but he wasn't going to let that happen because he loved his family too much and he had to fight for his and Bradley's child. She was their whole world. "I love you, Sweets. I'm not leaving anytime soon." He told her and kissed the top of her head and then he drifted off to sleep. A few minutes later when Bradley rolled over and didn't feel Jake he grew confused and got up and to search for him. He couldn't find him anywhere until he remembered that he put their daughter to bed. So, he went there and opened the door and light from the hallway and her night light filled the room.

"That's where you are." Bradley said to himself and smiled when he saw Jake and Y/N cuddled up on her twin bed both laying the same way and snoring lightly, he shook his head she was defiantly a perfect mix of them. He thought about waking him but figured Jake needed all the cuddling from his little girl that he needed. He would get his cuddles later. He walked in and threw an extra blanket over Jake and then kissed both of their heads "I love you both so much." He said and then slipped out of her room and cracking the door and then walking back to his and Jake's room while turning off the hallway light. He got into bed and quickly fell back to sleep knowing his daughter and husband were safe and sound just two doors down.

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harriet13lovely · 1 year ago

Text

Lola- HS

Part 1- 6-7k words

Lola's whole purpose in life was to be the wife of the Don of the biggest Mafia in the world. Ever since she was a little girl she was told about Harry and how they would make the perfect couple when they got married later on life. Lola didn't know much about Harry himself, she had only heard story's about him and had had dinners with him and his family ever since she turned 15 four years ago. They were never allowed to talk outside of these dinners though, Lola was still too young and Harry was already too busy for anything apart from work.

Since she was to be Harry's wife, his family had always provided for her. They made sure she was placed in the best schools and had all the best pieces of clothing and makeup. Harry's mom would take her shopping once a month for anything she could want. Once she turned 16 she was given a credit card that was funded by Harry, it had no limit so she could spend as much money as she wanted. Lola rarely ever used it, her parents gave her money too so she found no interest in spending Harry's money.

Lola was as of three hours ago officially 19. She had been awoken by knock on the door at around 8:30. It was her mother and father, they had breakfast and a boquete of flowers with them. After congratulating her they talked for a while as she ate breakfast. At 9 her parents left her to begin getting ready, Lola took a shower and did her skincare. Once she was done she walked out of her room and took a look out her window. Her party was being set up outside in the garden of her house. She could see her mother talking with the party organizers and one of the contractors that had provide all the utilities.

"Come in." She said after hearing a knock on the door. She turned around as the door opened and found her little brother standing there. He was still in his pjs and looked like he had just woken.

"What's up?" Lola asks him but gets no response, instead he walks over to her and wraps his arms around her waist. He was only 8 and was incredibly affectionate. Still too innocent to the world they lived in.

"Happy Birthday." He says and looks up at her.

"Thank you." She bends down and picks him up. Even though he was getting bigger and taller by the day, to Lola he was still a baby. She was 11 when he was born and she very much saw him as her own kid. He wrapped his arms around her neck and legs around her waist.

"I heard that you're leaving." He whispers.

"Who told you that?"

"Dad was talking about it over the phone. I don't want you to leave." He hugs her tighter and it makes Lola want to cry, the last thing she wants to do is to leave him alone. But she truly has no choice, Harry would most likely propose to her at the party and she would have to say yes. After that she would have to move in with Harry and plan the wedding with him.

"I won't lie and say that I'm not leaving because I am. But I will be here every weekend with you, mom, and dad. You won't even notice I'm gone." She walks over to her bed and sits the both of them down.

"It won't be the same." James says and begins crying.

"James, I will always be your big sister and you will always be my baby brother. I'm always gonna be here for you Jamsie." Lola wipes the tears that where falling from James's eyes.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Lola played him a movie on her TV while she got ready for the day. She had changed right after her shower into cream shorts and a navy blue jumper. She let James "do" her makeup in hopes it would cheer him up. And it did, he became a giggling mess after smudging a lot of blush all over her nose.

"Lo, Emma is here." Her mom said as she opened the door to her bedroom. Emma was Harry's mom, she had been involved in Lola's life since she was a baby. She cleaned off the blush from her nose and put on her shoes.

Lola walked downstairs to the living room and found Emma sitting there talking with the organizer of her party who looked rather stressed. She felt bad for the man, the pressure he must feel from her mom and Emma must be getting to him.

"There's the birthday girl!" Emma stands up and wraps her arms around the girl. "Happy birthday, Lola."

"Thank you."

"We need to get some last minute confirmation on the music you would like to be played." The organizer said and pointed to her notebook. Lola took a seat next to him and begin to list off some songs she would for sure want to be played. They spent half an hour doing that, after that she was directed outside to personally inspect the decorations in the tables and the food that would be served later on.

"Harry is coming, right?" She asked Emma as they where watching people put the flower arrangements together.

"Of course, he wouldn't miss it for the world." Emma gives her an encouraging smile and wraps her arm around her shoulder.

Lola continues to supervise the whole set up with Emma until she is sent off for lunch at 12. She eats some pasta and chicken and watches some TV with James and her dad. At 1:30 the crew that was doing her makeup and hair arrived to begin to get her ready for the evening. She would be having two different outfit changes, a pale yellow minie dress and a baby pink long flowy dress. The shorter dress would be used during the cocktail/ day side of her party, the longer dress would be used during the night time of the party. Both of these dresses had been chosen in between Lola, Emma, and Lola's mother.

The party would officially start at 5 but they wanted Lola to be ready by 4 so she could take pictures with her family before the party. Her hair was curled into beach waves and her makeup was mostly glittery and with soft pastel tones in the corner of her eyes. Her heels are plain white and had some pearls on the straps.

"You look perfect." Emma says as he looks at her. Emma was now changed and ready to go for the party too. Her blonde hair was put into a half up half down style and her sage green dress looked absolutely stunning on her.

"Thank you, you look amazing too."

"There is someone for you downstairs."

Emma had a cheeky smile on her face so that could only mean one thing, Harry. Lola walks down the stairs and in fact finds Harry in the living room talking to her father. He was wearing a dark blue, almost black, suit with a loose white shirt underneath. He had his usual cross necklace dangling around his neck and a pair of black sunglasses pulling back his curls. He stands up from his seat and walks towards her.

"Happy Birthday." He says to her and gives her a quick hug. Even with heels she was still shorter than him so she had to look up at him a bit to meet his eyes.

"Thank you."

"You two look so cute together." Anna, one of Lola's younger cousin's, said. This earned her a slap on the arm by her mother but that didn't take the smile off of her face. Harry's and Lola's "love" was something that people in the mafia looked up to. They were meant to be the perfect match, this was at least what they showed to the others. In reality, Lola didn't even know Harry's favorite color or ice cream flavor.

"Can I take some pictures of you two outside?" A man with a camera asked them. Harry nods and leads Lola to the garden.

Lola stands beside Harry as they take pictures. His right arm wrapped around her waist. They had never been this close before, the most they ever got to was sitting next to each other during dinner. They take a couple more pictures before Harry leaves to take a business call. Lola took some solo pictures and with her family before heading back inside so she can welcome the guests as they come in.

Lola doesn't see Harry again until dinner is served at 7. Harry took a seat next to her in the head table where only close family was sitting at.

"I like this dress more." He whispers into her ear, she was now wearing her pink dress. The dress made her look like one of those fairytale princess and Harry really liked that. Lola smiles up at him, she was hoping he would like her dresses.

"I'm glad." Harry shifted on his seat and that's when she saw it. Inside his pocket was a small white box, he really was going to do it that night. Lola felt her heart stop for a minute, she had been expecting it but now that it was really happening it scared her quite a bit. Once they got engaged the wedding would be close to come and as soon as that happens they would begin to try for children. Her duty was to provide Harry and the mafia with an heir. Same way that Emma provided Harry as heir she would too. It was all dawning on her too quickly to the point she begin to feel like she was suffocating. Her heartbeat was the only thing she could hear and the room felt too warm for her comfort.

"I'm going to use the restroom." She stands up and walks towards the house quickly. She manages to get to her room before she fully starts to hyperventilate. She sits on the edge of her bed and holds onto her mattress. She hadn't even noticed she was crying until a knock on the door took her out of her trance.

"I'll be out in a sec." She says to whoever was outside.

"It's Harry." He doesn't wait for any sort of response before opening the door and walking into the room. He had never been in her room before so this was a completely new environment for him. She had a lot of posters and vinyls all over her walls. He also noticed that the dominating colors where white and pink.

"Oh, hey." Lola says as she wipes her tears.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I'm just being stupid."

"You're not, and I can tell that there is something wrong."

"I saw it, the... the box."

"Oh." Harry doesn't really know how to respond, he thought it was to be expected for him propose that day.

"Can I see it?" She asks, Harry hums and takes the box out of pocket. He opens it before passing it Lola. The stone on the ring was large and shiny, something that would definitely make Lola stand out.

"It's beautiful." Lola says to Harry.

"If you don't want to get engaged today I can switch the date." Harry tells her but Lola immediately shakes her head and gives him the ring back.

"No, it's okay. We should head back down." Lola tells him and stands up. Harry follows after her as they walk downstairs. Right as they are about to walk to the garden Harry grabs Lola by the arm and pulls her back.

"You sure you want to do this?" Harry asks her.

"Yeah."

They walk back into the party, Lola putting on a big smile and Harry going back to his usual stoic face. They eat dinner and chat with the people around them, Lola stands up and begins to walk around the tables making sure that everyone is having a good time. At around 8:30 everyone was finished with their dinners. Lola was talking with one of her cousins back at her original table when Harry stood up to make a toast and called her over to the dance floor. It was go time.

"I would like to make this toast to congratulate my girlfriend on her birthday. You deserve the world and more Lola. I hope we have many more birthdays like this together. Because of that I would like to ask you something." Harry got on one knee and pulled out the box from his jacket. "Would you like to marry me?"

"Yes!" Lola almost yelled before jumping up and down. She was told by her mother to overreact if she had to but to look as happy as possible. Harry stood up and put the ring on her finger before pulling her into a hug. The guests all clapped and cheered for them.

Lola and Harry walked around the party together and accepted all the good wishes they received from members of the Mafia. They decided on cutting the cake after that so they could really party for the rest of the night. Her cake was of multiple layers and pink with gold stars all over them. The candles where pink with gold swirls and there was a candle in the number 19 in the middle. They all sang happy birthday for her and Lola was told to make her wish. She wished for her future marriage to go well, if it did, by her next birthday she should be pregnant or with her baby already.

Once everyone ate their cake they all took to the dance floor. Harry of course refused Lola's attempts at pulling him to the dance floor, saying that he didn't know how to dance as the main excuse. Lola however knew that was a lie, she had seen him years ago at parties when he was in his late teens/early twenties and he was always dancing with someone. Harry watched Lola and the rest of the members dancing for the next couple hours. Enjoying a few drinks here and there as a form of distraction.

"You sure you don't want to dance?" Lola asks Harry as she takes a seat next to him. Harry looked bored and she was just trying to make him feel more welcomed into the party.

"No, I think I'm gonna head out. Have a couple meetings early tomorrow." He says and stands up.

"Already? It's barely midnight." Lola tells him, was he really that bored?

"Work's my priority and like I said I have early meetings tomorrow."

"By meetings you mean drug deals or gun trafficking? I'm glad to know my birthday means that little to you." Lola says with a scoff.

"I would have expected you to have better manners considering how much money I have spent on your education." He says and begins to walk away. Lola is now feeling the bravery of the alcohol and decides to go after him.

"I would have expected you to care more about me since I'm your future wife after all."

"I do care." They where farther out in the garden and right outside her house.

"Whatever makes you sleep better at night."

"Lola I'm not going to argue with you right now."

"I wish you would."

"Why would you? Do you want to be on my bad side, is that it? Or are you just that much of an attention seeking whore that any sort of attention makes you feel good?" Harry says and gets up close to Lola's face. Lola however stands her ground, keeping eye contact the whole time.

"I just want to get to know you."

"We can do that some other time, I really gotta go now." He walks away once again, this time Lola doesn't follow him.

….

Lola and Harry had managed to avoid each other for a week before they where forced back together. Emma had suggested they visited Harry after having lunch together so they could begin talking about some details of the wedding. Lola had tried to convince Emma of not going but after some insisting on Emma's part, Lola gave in.

"Good evening." Collin, Harry's assistant, said as the elevator opened. Harry had a whole floor to himself and his close people. The building had over 50 floors, each directing a different branch of Harry's "business".

"Mr Styles will be with you in a second. Is there anything I could get you to drink?"

"Can I get some tea?" Emma asks him politely.

"I'll just do some water." Lola tells him and he nods before walking inside a different room. Lola watches him leave and come back with the two drinks. She grabs her water and thanks him. Collin walks back to his desk but stands back up after a beeping sound is heard.

"Mr Styles is ready to see you." He opens the big black door that leads to Harry's office. Emma walks ahead of her and sets her drink down before hugging Harry.

"Good evening, darling." Emma tells her son softly.

"Good evening, mum." Harry hugs her back slightly. Harry looks up and finds Lola standing just a couple feet from where he was. She was wearing a black turtleneck, white miniskirt and black platform boots. A black leather purse hanging from her right arm. Her hair was down and mostly straight. She looked stunning even in a simple outfit. The ring was however the most noticeable thing in the outfit, it was shiny and large.

"Lola." He said with a nod of his head.

"Hey." She takes a seat on the couch area in Harry's office. Emma walks over, pulling Harry along, and sits down in front of her.

"We are here to talk about the wedding." Emma says excitedly, Harry looks at Lola and they make eye contact. They keep it for a couple seconds before Lola looks away.

"You guys can choose the stuff, my only request would be that it's held in my house." Harry tells them.

"That's it?" Lola asks him.

"Yeah, it can all be to your choosing. It's supposed to be your day after all."

"It's not just mine, it's our day. Our wedding day at that." Lola was questioning if he even wanted to slightly get married at all.

"I know that, but the decorations can be of your choosing. If there is any input to be given from my side my mother or sister can choose it."

"So you really don't care about anything?"

"I'm gonna leave you two for a minute." Emma stands up and walks out the office.

"It's not that I don't care, I just think it's better if you take care of it." Harry says as soon as his mom closes the door to his office. Lola rolls her eyes and looks as far away from him as she could.

"No, you just don't care." She stares blankly.

"Okay, Lola. You can think whatever you would like. If that's all you were here for you may leave."

"Why do you have to be such an asshole all the time?!" Lola yelled.

"I'm not, this is just the way our marriage will work. I'm sorry if this is not what you wanted, trust me it's not what I wanted either." At that Lola felt tears brim her eyes, she never really thought he would outright state his dismay against the arrangement.

"Then choose another wife." She tells him and walks out of the room. Purposefully slamming his door in the process. Lola feels Emma following after her to the elevator. Once they got in and the door close Emma spoke up,

"I'm so sorry, darling." Emma hugged her side. "Know that I will be talking to him very seriously later tonight."

"Please don't, If he wants to move on with our marriage he can talk to me on his own. I don't want you to have to be a mediator between us."

"It's truly no bother but I respect your wishes. Just know that I will always have your back no matter what, I was once in your position after all."

"Thank you, it truly means a lot." Lola told the woman and hugged her tight. She doesn't know what she would do without Emma.

"Of course, darling. Let's get you home now, I think you've had enough for today."

Emma dropped Lola off at her house and they said their goodbyes.

"I'm home!" She yelled as she walked through the door and dropped her bag in the couch.

"Lo!" James yelled and ran towards her. Lola bend down and picked him up spinning him around the air.

"I missed you."

"I missed you more, Jamesie. How was football?" Lola asked him and placed him back down on the ground.

"Good! My coach said I am improving so much. I might be getting moved up with the older boys." James explained as they walked towards the kitchen together.

"That's amazing, I'm so proud of you. Do you want a snack?" Lola asked him and he hummed.

"Strawberries and Nutella?" He asked with puppy eyes.

"Sure, but don't tell mom."

"My lips are sealed." He 'zipped' his mouth and threw away the 'key'.

Once she made him his snack she guided him through a bit of his homework before going upstairs to get changed. Her outfit was getting quite uncomfortable and there was not point in wearing it anymore since she wasn't going out. She changed into a pajama bodysuit with long sleeves. It was one of her personal favorites, mainly because the patter was of little pink flowers. She washed of her makeup and brushed her hair. Once she was done she put on her Ugg boots and walked down to the living room.

"Almost done?" She asked James who hummed.

"Just have math left, it's what I'm working on."

"Confused or doing good?"

"I'm good."

Once James was done with his homework they went upstairs to the family room and watched some movies together as they played UNO. At around 7 their parents came back home and they all ate dinner together. Lola helped the maids wash some of the dishes and clean up the table after being dismissed from dinner. It was a bit of a normal occurrence for her to do so. She enjoyed talking to the girls who worked at her house, they where all quite a bit older than her but they where still pretty close. She was talking with Brooke, who was 25 and the youngest of the maids, when another one of the maids interrupted them.

"Mrs Lola, there is someone here for you."

"Who is it?" She asked as she dried her hands off and took off the apron she had been wearing.

"Mr Styles, he was quite persistent on seeing you." The maid responded her in a dreamy voice, it seemed that everyone was in love with Harry.

"Wish me luck." Lola told Brooke who gave her a thumbs up. She walked out to the living room and was shocked at what she was seeing. He was wearing dark blue jeans, a large orange sweater, and off white tennis shoes. She had never seen him look so normal in all the time she had known him. If she saw him on the street she would have never guessed he was the don of a mafia. To add more to the strangeness he had a bouquet of pink roses with white baby breath and a couple other kinds of pink flowers.

"Harry?"

"Hey." He felt his breath be knocked out when he looked up at her. She looked adorable and comfortable in her pjs.

"These are for you." He walked over to her and handed her the flowers.

"Thank you. Sophia?" The maid came out of the kitchen and waited for what she was going to be asked to do. "Could you do me the favor of putting this in water, please?"

"Of course, Mrs Lola." Lola handed her the flowers.

"Thank you." Lola waited until Sophia was back in the kitchen before turning back to Harry.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was hoping we could talk, in private." Harry told her and motioned towards the kitchen. He was sure the maids where overhearing the whole conversation.

"I trust them, but we can go to the library if you'd like."

"I was hoping we could go to your bedroom, it's a more familiar environment to you." Harry explained and Lola gave him a strange look.

"Uhm, sure. It's this way." She led him upstairs and to her room. She walked in, Harry behind her, and took a seat on her bed.

"I'm gonna close the door if that's okay."

"Sure." She begin to fiddle with one of her pillows as she watched Harry close the door and take a seat in-front of her.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"About what you said earlier, about me getting another wife." He explained and Lola felt even more confused then she was before.

"I'm not doing an open marriage if that's what you want." Lola said sternly causing Harry to immediately shake his head.

"No, it's just- if you weren't to be my wife, what would you want to do? Like a career or something."

"I'm not sure, perhaps study fashion design. In Milan or Paris, it was my childhood dream." She continued to pick on her pillow and avoid as much eye contact with Harry as she could.

"I can make that happen for you." Harry stated simply.

"How? I'm supposed to marry you in a few months and give you a kid."

"I would call off the engagement." Lola looked at him like he was a ghost.

"As great as that sounds, we can't do that. I can't do that to my family."

"I can, I am the don. I can change the rules if I want to, and don't worry about your family. They will still be under my protection for as long as they live. Including you too of course."

"But-"

"I can and will find a way around anything. But I will only break it off if you want to. I won't ruin your life like that, Lo."

"I- I don't know. I guess Paris sounds nice but I'm not sure I want that."

"I know it's hard but I don't want you to be miserable with me. And from what I can tell we aren't very compatible. Perhaps it would be for the best, you deserve a husband that lives up to your dreams, that will treat you like the princess you are." Harry places a hand on her leg and pats it. Lola felt a couple tears fall from her eyes.

"Okay." She simply says.

"Okay what?"

"We can break off the engagement." She wipes her tears and looks outside through her windows.

"Are you sure?" He asks her and Lola hums before removing his hand from her leg and standing up.

"Lola, don't leave please." He said as he watched her walk towards her bathroom.

"I just need a minute." Harry stands up and follows behind her. He watched her rest her hands on the sink and look at her face in the mirror. More tears where falling from her eyes every passing second. Harry couldn't just stand there and watch so he did the next best thing. He walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her. This just cause Lola to cry more, in all honesty she didn't know why she was crying. She didn't love him but a part of her wanted for him to love her. She had this image in her head where once they where married they would both fall in love with each other, and just like that their fairytale would begin.

"Shhh, it's okay." He held her up and rubbed his arm up and down softly.

"I just- I- I don't know what I'm supposed to say or do."

"Sit down." He sat her down on the toilet and bended down in front of her.

"It's okay, just breath. In and out, in and out. You're doing so good." He held her hand until she started to breath more normally.

"Why don't you want to marry me?" She asked with a little sob at the end.

"It's for the best, Lola. Like I said, we are not compatible."

"So it's my personality?"

"It's not just you, it's me too. We clash all the time, you won't be happy with me darling." He ran his fingers through her hair softly.

"And you won't be happy with me either."

"I won't." It breaks Harry's heart to say it and Lola's heart to hear it.

"I'm sorry." She said and looked at him in the eyes for the first time.

"You have nothing to be sorry for."

"I do, my duty was to be everything you would want and I failed. I failed you and everyone else."

"You didn't fail me or anyone. You are a lovely girl, Lola. And I'm sure you will be a lovely bride one day but it just can't happen with me." He explained to her in the softest voice he could muster. He hadn't realized how fucked up this whole thing must be for her. He was taking away her whole birth purpose without any warning.

"Can I ask you something?" Lola asked him.

"Anything."

"Is there someone else that you are interested in? I totally understand if you are, I would rather know now."

"There's no one Lola, you've been the closest I've gotten to any sort of formal relationship."

"That's a bit weird, don't you think? I mean we barely know each other, I don't even know your favorite color."

"Orange and blue, those are my favorites. Thats why I'm wearing them right now."

"Pink and gold are mine."

"I sort of guessed that one by looking at your room." Harry laughed and Lola rolled her eyes playfully at him.

"It is kind of obvious." She admitted and Harry nodded. They didn't say anything for a couple seconds, the atmosphere felt warm and comfortable to the both of them.

"I should go now." Harry stood up and extended his hand for Lola to take.

"Okay."

"Come on, I'm not leaving you in the toilet." Lola took his hand and stood up. Harry lead her to her bed and lifted up the comforter so she could get underneath the covers.

"Thank you."

"It's my pleasure, go to bed soon."

"I will."

"And I will let my parents and your parents know that we are not getting married anymore."

"No, can we tell them together? Your parents have been in my life for so long, I love them so much too. I want to be able to tell them too."

"Okay, I'll organize a dinner for Friday. Invite our families and a couple close friends."

"Yeah, that works."

"I'll call you tomorrow for some other details. Take care of yourself, Lola. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Harry walked out of her room and closed the door behind him. As soon as he made it to the stairs he felt his legs give out on him a little. He took a seat on the top step and rests his head on his hands. He felt so oddly empty, even though he didn't feel much for Lola, apart of a small attachment, letting her go stung his heart. She had been a comfort to him his whole life even though they had never had talked at all. When life got bad he always knew he would have her at the end, they where meant for one another. Now that was done and over with. No more Harry and Lola, the best match the mafia had ever seen, everything had been perfect. Until now.

"Are you a robber?" He heard the voice of a little boy behind him.

"No, do I look like one?" He asked the young boy.

"No, you look more like a pumpkin." The boy giggled and Harry chuckled

"You are James, right? Lola's little brother?"

"Yeah." He took a seat on the stairs next to Harry.

"Are you her boyfriend?"

"Yeah." He decided it would be better to not confuse the little boy on all the small details.

"Can I have a room in your house once you get married?"

"Sure, but why do you want a room?"

"So I can stay there all the time, have sleepovers like I do all the time with Lola now." James explained to Harry.

"I will make sure you have a room all for yourself then."

"Thank you, that works as great bribery to me so I officially like you now. I hate you for taking Lola away but I like you for getting me a room. I will like you even more if you get me a new LEGO."

"New LEGO, got it. Have a good night James."

"Good night, Lola's boyfriend." James stood up and went back to his room.

Once walking down the stairs he made his way outside. His car was waiting for him in the front of the house. His car was red Ferrari and one of his personal favorites of his collection. The drive back to his house was of about 20 minutes, he used to be closer when he lived in his parent's house. His mom had advices him he bought a house close to Lola in case of an emergency but he had refused. At the time he was still incredibly against the idea of marrying Lola. He was only 24 and felt disgusted by the idea of marrying someone. Now that he was older he hoped he had listened to his mom, it would have been easier to keep and eye on Lola and his family. They where under his protection after all, he would rather die than have any of them be hurt because of him.

He drove up the long driveway, saying hi to his guards in the process. He walked inside the house and headed to his room right away. He wasn't in the mood to eat dinner or do any work. He took off his shoes and pants before laying down on his bed. He rolled around a bit before finding a comfortable position. Somehow he ended up with a pillow hugged to his chest. Harry buried his head deep into the pillow and closed his eyes. He would never admit it to anyone but he thought of Lola, the way she would feel as they cuddled during the night. She would play with his hair and he would hold her so close to him he would be able to feel every inch of her on him. If she was pregnant he would be rubbing at her tummy all night making sure that their baby was safe. That thought on its own sent him down a spiral. But now that can't happen, he had pushed her away too far this time. Their future was simply nonexistent.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#older!harry #harry styles imagine #harry styles angsty #harry styles #harry styles angst #harry styles x oc #harry styles fanfic rec #harry styles fanfiction #mafia harry styles #mafia au #soft harry #harry styles smut #harry styles au #harry styles blurb #harry styles story #harry styles fluff #harry styles husband #husbandrry #boyfriendrry

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sunghoonmyprince · 9 months ago

Text

Fangirl part 2 ~ OT7

As seen in poll this fic won, so here it is <3

2 months 3 days it have been....since you are stuck with Them

They are caring, kind but aren't ready to give you your freedom, how are they supposed to let their prettiest butterfly fly away from them?

Sunoo, Jungwon and Niki were the ones who never made you uncomfortable as they were younger then you

Jake, Sunghoon, Jay and Eldest one...Heeseung they were the ones who punished you if you did something wrong or broke their 'so great' rules.

The affection but punishments, kindness but harshness too..got into your head you weren't being stable right now..so you gave up

___________________________________________

"Princess, I bought you plushies!"

It was Jay..you quickly hugged him as he came to your room and opened your tied together hands

You gasped when you looked at the plushie, it was your favorite Sanrio's Kuromi

"Thank you so much, Jeongseong-ie!"

Yes.

you gained the Stockholm syndrome..but it isn't even that bad

After you pulled away from the hug, Heeseung came inside

"Let's go babygirl, let's get you to eat something first"

He kissed your cheek and cupped your face

"Okay~" you giggled as Heeseung picked you up in his arms and after reaching downstais, soon enough started blushing from the way everyone looked at you with admiration in their eyes..

"Y/n-ie is here guyz!"

Sunoo said out of happiness

Heeseung made you sit on the chair as everyone looked at you.

"Baby~ we got (your favorite food) for lunch today."

Sunghoon said in a happy tone yet with his deep voice

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You ate your dinner and were now at Living room, cuddling when Heeseung asked

"Babygirl, were trying to get your hand free from the ties?"

You blinked multiple times innocently and Nodded your head as a 'No', Fear started take over your relaxed place your Hands were slightly shaking

Even tho you didn't do it but Heeseung ain't gonna spare you without punishment if there's a single chance of you doing that.

"Ahh..it was me hyung, her wrists were being red so I tried adjust them"

Jake said that and yeah this is true, he was trying to loosen them

"You should tell us bout this before doing so"

Heeseung said on which Jake Nervously laughed and looked away

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was night time, you woke up after a Nightmare and it was way creepier when you noticed that you are alone, in the dark

"Heeseung, Sunghoon, Jay! Someone please come here I need you guyz!"

You exclaimed out of fear and crying, you started shaking from the flashbacks of that nightmare, those screams, That view-

Even tho they abducted you and made you love them...but you still...started to be used to their behaviors and this situation and even tho you weren't really wanting to admit the fact that you loved this..

You were screaming continuously for half an hour and then-

"We are here baby"

Jake said and they all came to you and hugged you while some of them were cupping your face and the rest just looked at you..

"Shh..it's okay we are here, don't cry~"

Sunghoon cooed in your ear and pecked your cheeks

Maybe this wasn't that bad maybe you are meant to be with them..as they say, maybe this is where you belong to..and you started loving them too...so in your p.o.v 'it should be as it is now', afterall they love you, care about you which no one ever did as they do..

Thank you for reading this, babies and istg ik this is boring but I tried T_T and I hope you liked this and the next fic of Sadist Jay is gonna release soon, stay tuned~

I love you all~<3💋

#enhypen yandere #enhypen #yandere!enhypen #yandere enhypen #yandere jay #enhypen sunghoon #enhypen jay #yandere #yandere heeseung #heeseung yandere

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raina-at · 2 years ago

Text

Sherlock is startled awake by the doorbell.

He blinks himself awake as he checks the time on his phone. It's only a quarter past ten in the evening, but he apparently fell asleep on the sofa in front of the telly. He gets up and shuffles to the door, still a bit groggy. This is why he hates sleeping at odd hours, it always takes him ages to wake up again. But it's been an exhausting day - an exhausting week, to be honest. Winning Bake-Off, starting his own business and getting seriously involved in a romantic relationship at the same time would wear anyone out, he supposes, but that doesn't make falling asleep to EastEnders any less embarrassing.

He slowly makes his way downstais, still trying to get his brain online, and opens the door without thinking about anything in particular.

Unsurprisingly, it's John. He looks vaguely embarrassed as he looks Sherlock up and down, taking in Sherlock's dressing gown and his dishevelled state.

"Oh my god, you were asleep. I should have known. It's late, I should have phoned ahead, rude of me just to show up," John mutters, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck, a classic nervous tell.

"It's fine-" Sherlock starts, but John interrupts him.

"No, it's not, you were already asleep, I woke you up, I'm sorry, I shouldn't assume, but I was in the area, meeting Harry for dinner, you know, and I thought about you, and- god this is really bad, just showing up here, isn't it, I'm sorry-"

Sherlock rolls his eyes and decides this has gone on long enough. As endearing as John's embarrassed stuttering is, it's also a complete waste of time and breath. So he decides John has entirely too much breath to waste and needs to do something else with his mouth.

He pulls John into the house, closes the door and pushes John up against it, then kisses him into shutting up. John resists for about a millisecond, then kisses back, winding his hands into Sherlock's hair. Sherlock gets his hands under John's jumper and pulls him closer, letting himself sink into the heady, addictive feel of John's body against his, John's taste and smell and presence. He sighs and feels the stress of the day melt out of him as they kiss and kiss, as he forgets everything except this moment and this feeling and John. I missed you, he thinks, which is ridiculous, because he saw John this morning, but still it's true. And from the way John kisses him back, hungry and wanting, he thinks it's true for John as well.

He finally pulls back and smiles at John, who looks dazed and well-snogged. "Hello," Sherlock says, uncaring that he sounds completely besotted, because that's what he is.

John smiles back, so full of open, helpless affection that it makes Sherlock's heart stutter. "Hello."

"Would you like to come up and have some tea?" Sherlock asks, still smiling like an idiot and still not caring even a little bit.

"Just tea?" John asks, teasing now, fingers playing gently with Sherlock's shirt collar.

"Let's start with tea, and see where we end up, shall we?"

John grins, happy and playful. "Sounds like a plan."

A snippet of happy Bakers for your reading pleasure this evening. Thank you for the tag and the prompt, @notjustamumj, thanks for the tag @calaisreno

I tag @helloliriels @khorazir @jrow @the-reading-lemon

#my fic #microfic #bakers with benefits #johnlock fic #prompt fic #unbeta-ed obviously #tea challenge

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sopejinsunflower · 1 year ago

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2023.001.0019: Jamais Vu

When Jin got up this morning, the first thing he noticed was the way your bedroom door stood ajar, the sun spilling straight into the hallway, pooling on the carpet where Karma, the cat, is lounging.

“I could’ve stepped on you, you know,” Jin mumbles, stepping around the cat who only gazes lazily back at him.

Jin sticks his head into your room, peeking only to check if you’re still sleeping. The sight that greets him makes his eyebrows jump up and almost disappear into his hairline. He retreats back and glances back down at Karma as if the cat has some sort of explanation. He turns back around, tentatively pushes the door wider, and steps in, quietly padding across the room to your desk. He pulls out the chair and sits down, looking at the three entangled bodies sleeping in your bed, albeit over the blanket.

Sitting back in the chair, Jin watches the slow rise and fall of the three chests; you all curl up in between Yoongi and Hoseok, one hand loosely in Hoseok’s hold, head turned towards Yoongi who has one arm lightly over your waist. Jin smirks softly to himself, thinking about how numb Hoseok’s arm would be with your head on it, or how Yoongi will complain about his back since he’s sleeping in a slightly twisted position.

Jin can’t help the smile on his face. It doesn’t surprise him that it’ll be Hoseok and Yoongi first; he kind of expected it, even. This was how it happened that first time and if it follows the same patterns, then Jin thinks he’ll feel less insecure. Despite this, he also can’t quite get rid of that tiny voice in the back of his mind to keep vigilant, to wait for the other shoe to drop because it always does. He wants to keep positive but centuries of hurt and pain doesn’t get fixed just because he feels confident in this cycle. That confidence could be the fall of him.

So Jin resorts to not saying anything to anybody. He’ll keep both his suspicions and hope to himself if it minimises the damage, but for now, he’ll sit back and enjoy the view. He’s curious about what had happened last night for the two to end up here but he’s more focused on the way your eyelids flutter as you dream. He scoots the chair silently closer to the bed. Watching you sleep could be a hobby of his by how much fascination he has right now, wondering about if you’re dreaming of good things.

Yoongi stirs and his eyes slowly blink open. He takes a moment to place himself, looking around the room but more at you in between him and Hoseok. Jin watches as Yoongi places a soft whisper of a kiss on your forehead before proceeding to untangle himself, stopping short when he finally turns around and sees Jin sitting there staring at him.

Jin stretches his philtrum, pressing his lips together, trying to stifle the laugh bubbling out of him. He presses the crook of his elbow to his mouth, leaning sideways as his shoulders shake. Yoongi tries to maintain the annoyed look but the shy smile creeping up on his lips is harder to conceal. He gets up off the bed, lightly pushes at Jin’s chair so he swivels around the opposite direction and leaves the room.

Recovered from his silent cackling, Jin finally stands up and leaves, too, before you or Hoseok wakes up, heading to join Jimin and Taehyung as he hears them go down for breakfast. He’ll let the others know to leave something at breakfast for the two.

Before he walked out the door, Jin made sure to pull the curtains tighter, eliminating the slit of sunshine that was previously on your back.

~~~

It’s warm. Warm and soft.

I open my eyes and the first thing I see is another pair of eyes staring straight back at me. Instantly, I could recognise them as Hoseok, warm and so full of…

I sit up, pushing up on my hand and looking around groggily. The first thing that pops out of my mouth is, “Where’s Yoongi?”

~~~

Hoseok can’t help the smile slowly forming on his lips at the confused look on your face, eyes wide, mouth upturned in a slight pout, hair messy from sleep.

“Downstairs, probably,” he replies softly, smoothing your hair with one hand. “Do you want me to call for him?”

You shake your head but still look at him in an odd way. Hoseok waits patiently for you to say what’s on your mind, unaware that he’s still holding on to your hands, tracing back and forth with his thumb over yours. When a minute passes by and you still haven’t said anything, Hoseok decides to speak first.

~~~

“You had a panic attack last night.”

I look at Hoseok, processing his words, trying to remember back to last night. At first, nothing comes to mind, the memories murky and black, indistinguishable. All I can recall is sitting on the side of the bed, gasping for air until a shadow fell over me and held me close.

Yoongi’s eyes.

Yoongi’s voice.

You can have us both.

~~~

Hoseok watches you jump as if something had suddenly stung you. You’re blinking rapidly, clearly panicking over something he can’t quite see nor understand.

He grabs ahold of your hand more firmly, squeezing it gently to get your attention. “Hey, it’s okay. It’s okay,” he soothes, sitting up as well to better get on your eye-level. “Shh, you’re okay.”

He catches your cheeks in both palms, making you look at him and to his surprise, you lean into his touch, eyes closed. Your breathing evens out and you visibly relaxed, shoulders sagging. Without opening your eyes, you whisper out something so breathy Hoseok didn’t catch it the first time. He leans in and asks you to repeat yourself. This time, you blink your eyes open and repeat, “Is it true?”

Hoseok tilts his head, uncomprehending.

Hoseok watches you take a deep breath and for a split second he thinks he knows what you wanted to say before the words even left your lips.

~~~

“I can have you both.”

The sentence comes out as more of a statement than a question and we both sit there in complete silence; me regretting the words immediately and him, staring at me like I’d just grown a second head. I can’t backtrack now and even if I could, what do I even say? I sounded crazy because what does that even mean, if I can have them both?

Hoseok is giving me a stern look now. He readjust his position and move his hands from my face and my stomach drops. But he takes my hands instead and instantly, the butterflies start up again.

Hoseok squares his shoulders and takes a breath. He exhales. “I’m going to ask you some questions. I’m going to be direct about them and you can be honest with me. If you think they are absurd, you can tell me. I just want you to be honest. Okay?”

I lick my lips and nod.

Hoseok nods, too. “Okay. My first question is,” he pauses, visibly hesitating before plunging in, “how do you feel right now, in this moment?”

I take my time to think about it before answering, as honestly as I can, “Safe. I feel…” I look down at my hands in his, “safe.”

Hoseok squeezes my hands, whether it was voluntary or not, I’m not sure. “Safe, okay.” He sounds almost disappointed when he asks, “Only safe?”

I purse my lips, holding back on the actual word, worried that if I do say it, Hoseok will never look at me the same way he’s looking now. But the word bubbled up from the depth of my heart and spilled out in a squeak before I could stop myself anymore: “Loved.”

I was right; Hoseok does change the way he looked at me, but in the complete opposite of what I had thought. His eyes glistened, he smiled from ear to ear, his lips quiver ever so slightly. He chuckles wetly, shoving his face into his arm to wipe at his eyes. “Okay, next question.”

~~~

“How do you feel when you’re with us?”

Hoseok remains vigilant of your body language, keeping an eye on your eyes, on your face, and the way your fingers are wrapped around his. He pays attention to any subtle changes because the second question may feel a little too soon. Maybe he should rephrase it, ask about Yoongi instead but the question is already out and he can’t take it back.

“The same,” you answer quietly. “It’s odd and makes no sense but…I told this to Jin before. That it didn’t make sense to feel so at ease with seven men who are supposed to be strangers. But I do. It’s weird, isn’t it?”

Something catches Hoseok’s attention at the bedroom door and he looks up.

~~~

Hoseok looks up over my head at something and I turn around to find Yoongi standing in the doorway. He has a tray of food in his hands.

He must have seen the look on my face because he comes right in, places the tray on the desk and sits on the edge of the bed. There’s genuine worry on his face as he leans over and places the back of his hand against my forehead.

I let out a giggle.

~~~

Hoseok watches you giggle as Yoongi takes your temperature with the back of his hand. You do look red in the face and with the wetness in your eyes, it’s easy to see it as you coming down with something.

“I’m fine,” you tell him, your voice soft.

Yoongi glances over at Hoseok, a flitting question exchanging between them in that one look and Yoongi situates himself more firmly on the bed. “Darling, you had a panic attack last night,” he says carefully, “Do you remember what triggered it?”

Hoseok thought that the question was a risky one, something that could make you shut down again when he had already managed to get a half-confession from you. But he held his tongue because the fact that he himself didn’t think to ask first felt like he had put his wants above your needs and there has never been anything more further from the truth.

Yoongi returns your gaze, eyes never wavering from the intense look you’re giving him which only peaks his curiosity. What had thrown you so off the edge last night for him to find you almost catatonic, barely breathing right? If he knows what it is, maybe he can help alleviate it. He’s done it countless times before, fighting your demons for you because that’s what he’s good at.

“You,” you simply say.

Yoongi arches his eyebrows. “Me?”

You only nod your head in affirmation.

Well, now Yoongi has to think about how to fight himself.

~~~

At the pained look on Yoongi’s face, I hurry to add an explanation.

“I had a dream,” I start, hesitant because I don’t know how to explain the dream to make it make sense. “About you. And me.”

“I see. Did something bad happen in the dream?” Yoongi asks.

I bite on my lower lip. “No, nothing bad. But…”

“But what, honey?”

My heart does a little flutter at the pet name. I feel a little more confident now to continue. “But it just didn’t feel like a dream. It felt…real.”

“Real how?”

It’s Hoseok this time and I turn my head around to look at him. “It’s hard to explain. It felt like…like I was there, physically, in the dream. I could feel Yoongi’s hands on me. I could feel…” I hesitate, hearing how crazy the words sound. “I could even feel his breath on me, the emotions I was feeling in the moment. It was almost like a-”

~~~

“Memory,” Yoongi and Hoseok finish for you, simultaneously.

You stare at Hoseok, confused, before starting to chuckle. “How can it be a memory when it hasn’t ever happened yet? Or did I get amnesia or something and we’ve actually known each other longer than I thought? Did I forget you?”

You laugh harder, shaking your head. “That’s a soap opera, guys. It was weird but this is not a telenovela.” But you’re staring off out the window, your forehead creasing.

Hoseok’s heart, once again, dropped to the bottom of his feet. One step forward, two steps back; and he really thought you were making progress. He guesses he had been too impatient, too greedy. He looks briefly at Yoongi who easily takes charge.

“And that triggered you into a panic attack?” he asks gently.

You shrug your shoulders. “I guess. That’s all I remember, honestly. Before you came.”

Yoongi nods solemnly as if he understands it all and Hoseok gives up on the rest of the questions he has for you. You’re not ready and he wouldn’t push you.

There’s a moment of silence and Hoseok is sure the conversation is finished. He’s actually getting hungry and maybe you both need food and he’ll revisit the topic another time.

“You said I can have you both,” you suddenly whisper. “You said I didn’t have to choose between you and Hoseok, that you were madly in love with me and so was Hoseok. That I was madly in love with you, too.” You turn to look back at Hoseok, eyes wide and scared. “Madly in love with the both of you.”

You turn back to Yoongi. “It’s crazy because it felt so real.” You pause, frowning at a spot on the bed sheet. “So real. Like a memory. Who has that kind of dream?”

Yoongi takes a deep breath and scoots closer on the bed. “Have you been feeling a lot like that lately?”

You nod. “That night with Jungkook was the strongest. The night he last told me the story.” You turn to Hoseok. “I asked him to, to distract me. I was feeling so overwhelmed.”

A tinge of guilt flicks at Hoseok’s heart. He had been so angry at Jungkook that night but the lad had broken down at the end of the night, convinced that something was happening with you and happening too fast. Now, he regrets not listening to the youngest because as much as they’re scared of scaring you away, they can’t stop the natural phenomenon of you figuring things out yourself, no matter the pace. The only thing Hoseok hopes to do is soften the blow but he’s starting to realise that softening the blow could mean that they’d have to come clean first.

“Hoseok,” you call.

~~~

Hoseok lifts his head, the scowl still on his face.

“Hoseok,” I say, “why is it so bad for Jungkook to tell me that story? Why do you always get so angry at him when he does?”

“I don’t get angry at him,” says Hoseok, defensively. At the withering look I give him, he concedes, sighing. “I’m not angry. I don’t get angry at him, I just…It’s just that the story is…Well, the story is just difficult. Complicated.”

I frown. “You think I can’t handle a story?”

Yoongi taps my knee to get my attention. “Do you like that story that much? Jungkook has tons of other stories he can tell you. Just ask him.”

Irritated, I snap back. “I don’t want other stories. Seriously, what’s wrong with that one? Why are you so-”

Something hit me then, a realisation that halts my speech, dawning on me like a bucket of ice someone dumped over my head. I freeze, my mind focused on that idea and that idea alone. I look back at Hoseok. “The story’s real, isn’t it? It’s not just a story, is it?”

Yoongi and Hoseok exchange looks and that’s as close to an affirmation as I can get. “Whose story is it?” I look from Hoseok to Yoongi then back again. “Tell me.” My voice grows harder, louder.

“Maybe now’s not the time to get into it,” Hoseok starts to say but I shake my head and pull my hands out of his constant hold.

“No. Tell me, please. Whose story is it?” I repeat, backing away on the mattress.

Hoseok only looks at me pleadingly. “I will but-”

“No buts!” I lash out. “Please, just tell me what is going on. What are you hiding from me?”

~~~

There it is, the unravelling. You’ve finally seen the thread of lies and are now pulling at it, slowly.

Hoseok tries again. “We’re not hiding anything from you. You’ll find out in time. I-” He’s reaching out to you, wanting to hold your hand again but you’re moving away. He’s desperate now.

“What is it you don’t want me to know?” you push, struggling to climb down from the bed. “What is it about the story you’re trying to keep from me?”

Hoseok opens his mouth but the words are lost on him. He doesn’t actually know what to say, fumbling to find the best way to calm you down. You’re standing now at the edge of the bed, just a few feet away from him yet it feels like you might as well be on the other side of the planet. You’re too far away. He just wants you back in his arms. Just moments ago he managed to make you acknowledge your true feelings for them, for him, and yet here you are now, distrustful, irritated, and looking at him accusatorily.

“We’re not keeping anything from you.” Yoongi’s voice reaches Hoseok’s ears, much more stable and stronger than his own. “There are things you just need time to learn for yourself. We’re just trying to protect you.”

“Protect me from what?”

~~~

Yoongi’s jaw ticks but he doesn’t answer me.

“Protect me from what?” I repeat through gritted teeth.

It’s honestly getting so annoying. The way they’re treating me is as if I’m a child that needs to be shielded from the world. Do they think so little of me? Have they been taking me for a fool all this time, tiptoeing around me like I’m some kind of fragile glass? I can handle the truth. I’ve dealt with worse. I wanted to scream these things to them but a part of me just can’t get that angry at them.

There’s a voice deep inside telling me to just listen, to just trust but how do I do that now when it’s clear they haven’t been fully transparent either. Trust has to work both ways.

“Y/n.”

I whip my head around towards the bedroom door and see Jungkook standing there, a dark look on his face. I’ve never seen him so serious before and the look in his eyes demands that I listen. He’s younger than me, has always felt more like a younger brother to me, too, but right now, he commands such a strong aura I forget all about the tiny details. When did he become so big and tall?

“I will finish the story by the end of this week. Sunday night, when the moon is full.” The playful Jungkook isn’t there right now. He has a very deep, solemn voice, eyes never leaving mine. I can see the broiling emotions in them, such intensity it feels like I’m growing smaller in his gaze, towering over me with such authority. “We will answer all the questions that you have after that. Any and all questions, we will explain it all. But,” he pauses, flicking his gaze over to Hoseok and Yoongi.

“But?” I ask hesitantly, my voice coming out dry.

Jungkook looks back at me. “But,” he says, stepping closer, “on one condition.”

I don’t prod, waiting because I know he will say it.

“You have to spend the days leading up to Sunday with us,” he finishes.

I let out a wry chuckle, rolling my eyes. “I already am. We live together.”

Jungkook shakes his head. “No, not like that.”

He takes another step closer and then another until he’s standing right in front of me, until I have to tilt my head to look up at him. With one finger, he traces the side of my face and along my jaw; my skin tingling with electricity, my heart thumping. “You have to be open to every feeling, every emotion, everything your heart tells you. You have to be open to that little voice in your head. You have to be open to us.”

I swallow tightly. “Meaning?”

Jungkook drops his hand. “You’ll understand it soon enough.”

I search his eyes, looking for any hint that he was just messing with me, that he’s going to step back and laugh and tease about the look on my face. But he doesn’t. And deep down, I already know this. Deep down, I know what he’s telling me, know what he meant exactly but I just can’t bring myself to admit it. It. Just. Doesn’t. Make. Sense.

“It won’t make sense now,” I hear Hoseok say from behind me and I turn around so fast to face him, surprised that he had read my mind. “But it will later. I promise.”

Yoongi gets off the bed, standing there and rubbing the back of his neck. “Just trust us.”

“Trust us,” Jungkook echoes more firmly.

I look from Jungkook to Yoongi and to Hoseok still on the bed.

Chalk it up to Jungkook sounding convincing, or that I just wanted them out of the room, or that I do actually have a soft spot for them. Chalk it up to me just withering under Jungkook’s gaze, or that I just want the conversation to end, or that I actually do believe them. I’ll tell myself that I just didn’t want to argue, or that I just want to leave the room, or that, in fact, that little voice Jungkook mentioned was actually telling me that trusting them will be the first step, the first jigsaw piece to fall in place and the rest will follow.

Chalk it up to just, for a brief second, I want for it all to be as easy as Jungkook said it could be, so I nod my head slowly. “Okay,” I breathe out. “But.”

Jungkook’s eyebrow lifts, waiting.

“But you have to trust me, too,” I say, my voice coming out softer, lighter than usual. “You have to trust that I can handle whatever it is you think I can’t.”

Jungkook looks up at Hoseok who flits his worried gaze to Yoongi. The three of them nod.

---

“The real thing is finally beginning.”

The figure in the white robe moves around the basin as if the view of whatever it’s looking at would change with the angle. It doesn’t. The second figure tilts its head.

“Something feels oddly familiar, no?”

A Cheshire grin spreads over the first figure’s face.

---

The next day, early in the morning, I wake up before everyone else. The house is quiet; no sound, no movement, no smell of breakfast when the sun is barely up.

I get dressed and softly padded downstairs and out of the house through the back door. The sky is alight but the sun still hasn’t fully risen over the trees; the kind of mornings when it’s just silent and misty, morning dews still sticking to the grass and leaves, transferring to my jeans as I walk down to the stream.

I don’t know why I came here. I just needed to get out of the house, out of the four walls that feels more like an enclosure rather than the place I was excited to come live in just a few months ago, back when everything feels like a fresh start. I twist around to look back at the house, noting that all of the windows on the second floor, minus my own, have the curtains drawn shut. Good. That’ll just give me a few moments to myself, to sort out my own thoughts.

I sit on the rock I usually perch on and pull up my legs to hug my knees. The sound of the water trickling down the stream is calming and every breath of the crisp morning air is refreshing. I take in a deep breath. I’m not a morning person but I absolutely love mornings like this, when everything is still slumbering away, when even the birds haven’t woken up yet.

I think about the conversation I had with Jungkook, Yoongi and Hoseok yesterday, about the promise Jungkook made and the condition that came with it. It’s a simple request, nothing extraordinary, yet I couldn’t shake the looming dread that seems to sit heavily in the hollow of my chest. It’s like that feeling of going to the beach on a fine day and having this notion that a storm might just roll in out of the blue even when the sky is perfectly clear. It’s unlikely because the weather reports say it’s a fine day, the day itself is perfect, not a cloud in sight and yet, deep down, you just know it’s going to take a turn for the worst.

Why, I don’t know and that’s the aspect I’ve been trying to deal with. Why is it that after the story is finished, I would feel like the world would just end? It’s just a story, a story that I had, before yesterday, been dying to hear the end of. A story that gave me a sense of calmness and familiarity but there was nothing that connected me to it. Hoseok said the story is complicated but I’ve yet to hear anything that puts it as anything but a typical love story, albeit the polyamorous aspect of it, assuming from the title itself. Not to forget that it’s actually a real story, real encounters.

And Yoongi mentioned about protecting me. It sounded ominous, like something about the story will hurt me, destroy me. Like the story will reveal a truth that will absolutely flip my world upside down. I scoff at that last thought. My world has been flipped upside down, multiple times over. Whatever he thinks might be destroyed after has already been wrecked. You can’t make worse of a broken mirror.

I press my forehead against my knees. Jungkook’s condition is simple; to spend the days leading up to the storytime as openly as I can with them. I tell him I don’t know what it means but at the bottom of my heart, I know exactly what he meant. Had he known, too, all this time? Had they all? When they call me by the pet names and I don’t oppose, did they know? When they hold my hand and I never pull away, did they know? In every smile, every laugh, every word exchange between us, had they always known that I was and am-

No, I’m not. I can’t be. I’m just comfortable with them, enjoy their presence. They are sweet and kind, warm and caring. Nothing like the people I left behind.

A rustling in the grass brings up my head from my knees, turning around but not seeing anybody approaching. It’s not when I look down to see the double tails of Karma languidly swishing from side to side that my heart slows down.

“Seriously,” I chastise him, “you should really be louder.” I pat the spot next to me and he jumps up. I stroke his head a few times, making sure to scratch him behind the ears, his favourite spots. “How do you always manage to find me?”

Karma looks up at me, eyes imploring something I wish I could understand. The sky is looking more golden now as the sun slowly rises and the birds all around are starting to chirp, softly as if they had just woken up. Karma purrs, attention stolen by a sudden chirp from a nearby tree, eyes focused on something in the leaves. He jumps down and stalks off in the direction.

“Leave the bird alone, Karma!” I called after him but he had disappeared in the grass. I roll my eyes. Petulant child.

My eyes are drawn back to the house, looking up at the row of windows on the second floor. All of them are just as they were earlier, except for one; Namjoon stands in front of his window looking down in my direction. Our eyes meet (or it feels like they did at this distance) and he raises a hand in a wave. He then disappears back into his room and I have a strong feeling I’d see him coming down the yard soon.

Sure enough, not five minutes later, Namjoon is jogging down towards me, still in what he wore to bed, hands shoved deep into the pocket of his grey sweatpants. His dark hair is tousled and I chuckle to myself at the thought that he didn’t even bother to brush out his hair first.

“Good morning,” he croaks out in that morning voice, deep and gravelly.

“Morning,” I greet back. “You’re up early.”

He nods, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He squats down next to the stream and dips his hand into the water. “Fuck, it’s cold,” he hisses and I laugh. He does again, this time cupping water to wash his face.

“You could’ve done that upstairs in the bathroom,” I laugh.

“Forgot,” he grunts back, finishing and coming back over to me. He doesn’t even wait for me to move before plopping down next to me and sighing heavily. He stares off into the distance.

“Why are you here?” I ask, genuinely curious since it’s taking him such great effort to wake up. I have this strong urge to run my hand through his hair, gently combing it out. I grip my own arms tighter.

“‘Cause you’re here.”

I give him an incredulous look but he’s looking at a spot in the stream, eyes unfocused. “That doesn’t matter. You didn’t have to come.”

He shakes his head. “I wanted to.”

“It’s early, Joonie. You can go back to bed.”

He finally looks at me. “Only if you come with me.”

I stare at him.

He stares back before his brain finally reboots properly and backpedals, “As in back to your room. Not- you don’t look like you had much sleep, either.”

Still smirking, I heave a sigh. “Yeah, I didn’t.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No, not really.”

We remain in silence for the rest of the time, listening to the babbling of the stream and the birds finally getting noisy around us. We remain unspeaking even when we see Karma climb down from a tree, licking his lips and struts back to the house. We remain quiet even when our backs are finally warm from the sun and Mrs Oliviera has to holler from the back door to announce breakfast is ready.

Is this what Jungkook meant to be open? If it is, then I guess it’s not so bad after all, I think, as my head rests against Namjoon’s strong shoulder, something that naturally happens somehow in between the silent hours that passed.

***

I stare at the piece of paper Jungkook handed to me.

“What is this?”

“It’s a schedule,” he answers, pointing to the title in big, bold letters on the top. “See?”

I frown, holding out the paper to him. “It’s just days and your names on it. What kind of schedule is that?”

Taehyung laughs, coming over to see. “I got the first day! Monday!”

“Yes,” says Jungkook, replying to you. “I told you, you’ll have to spend the days with us leading up to Sunday when I tell you the full story of the Eight Lovers. The schedule is to give us equal time with you.”

I roll my eyes. “Seriously? Why can’t it just be more natural? This is so weird.” I wave the paper over my head before Jin plucks it out of my hand.

Chuckling, Jin passes the schedule back to Jungkook. “I have to agree, kid. It’ll feel forced.”

Jungkook exaggerated a pout. “Fine. I put a lot of effort into it though.” He takes the paper and carefully folds it into a small square, stuffing it into his pocket. He sits down but his bottom lip still juts out.

I pat him on the knee. “Nice handwriting though, Kookie. But no schedule, thanks.” I look around the room, suddenly feeling awkward. “So, um, what do you suggest we do first?”

“As a team or as a couple?” Taehyung asks nonchalantly.

~~~

Jin watches your eyes widen at the question and he wants to tease you so bad for it but Jimin beats him to the punch.

“I want it as a couple,” Jimin says cheekily, leaning into your face as he grabs a handful of nuts in the bowl next to you before moving away. You blush, looking away to hide it from Jimin but Jin sees it clear as day. He catches your eye and smiles knowingly, laughing at the defeated pout on your lips.

To be honest, Jin’s stomach is unsettled right from the moment he was told of the week’s plan. It’s not that he’s not happy about it, he is, very much so. But this nagging feeling is worming through his nervous system and he just can’t shake it off. The picture of a thunderstorm cloud in the distance is stuck in his head and no matter how much he tries to tell himself it’ll be okay, the more dread fills his heart.

“Let’s just do what we always do,” Namjoon says from the corner of the room where he’s sitting with a book. “Just don’t think about any of this.”

You grimace. “The more you tell me not to, the more I will.”

Yoongi enters the room with two mugs of steaming tea. He casually passes over one to you and he takes a seat across from you. He blows over his mug, eyes on you, watching the way you nervously chew on your lips and wondering if you even notice what you’re doing as you fidget with a loose thread of the sofa, your legs under you. It takes him back to a time when he would have been sitting next to you instead, one arm around your shoulders.

Yoongi remembers that time well, back when the wonders of medicine hadn’t really reached their part of the world yet. The winter cold had seeped into the room through a crack in the window he had been meaning to fix for a long time now, your legs huddled under you for warmth. He had pulled you close against his front, sharing body warmth as Jimin had gone upstairs to retrieve a blanket.

You had been chewing on your lip as you are doing now, your hair covering your face as you looked down. Yoongi had squeezed your shoulder, earning a turn of your head and a weak smile. He kissed your temple, his other hand wrapping around your extended belly.

That time, centuries ago, he had assured you that everything will be okay, pretending that his heart wasn’t weighing heavily on his stomach, just like right now as he watches you across from him. Your eyes meet his and he smiles reassuringly as he always does, hoping that you get his message, telling you it’ll all be alright, something he hopes wouldn’t count as a lie. But that memory in time hadn’t ended so well and he dreads that it would be the same this time, too.

The seven of them watch you take a deep breath, sitting up straight and looking around the room. You exhale slowly and with that, a slow smile carves on your face. There’s a sort of acceptance in your eyes, a clarity none of them has seen before. You nod your head a little and Namjoon wonders what you are telling yourself.

And just like that, without a word, you just naturally inserted yourself into Jimin and Jungkook’s conversation, sliding down onto the floor to get on the same level with the boys, bumping knees with Jimin but not minding that they’re touching.

For a moment, Hoseok feels slightly at ease, relaxing in his seat, ignoring the banter between Jimin and Jungkook, focusing on you, on how you laugh and the way your eyes squeezed shut. For now, he’ll pretend he didn’t see the look on Jin’s and Yoongi’s faces, that he didn’t notice the flicker of fear in their eyes nor the foreboding feeling creeping up his back.

For now, he’ll just be happy and entertain the idea that they are on the road to normal, if normal even applies. All he knows is that he won’t have to hold back any longer, that he doesn’t have to hide how much it hurts not having you in close proximity. You’re here, with them, and that’s all that matters.

a/n: Wow, I haven't updated in so long. I...seriously have no excuse except that I haven't had the same amount of time to write as I use to. When I do have free time, I just want to rest without doing anything T_T please I need motivation to write T_T i have a kookie one halfway written when Seven came out and now Layover is here i just- drfrfncsdjcbegb *slaps self*

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possibilistfanfiction · 1 year ago

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anyway if ppl are interested in charli’s silly herding progress, we’ve been practicing spaced downstays + the ‘that’ll do’ command for only 6 days (with some rest days & an agility class too!) & she is. so smart & so good 🥺🥺🥺🥺 my best girl

#charli

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stilespeters · 2 years ago

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SALVATION (series)

(part 1) (part 2) (part 3) (part 4) (part 5) (part 6)

pairing: colin zabel x reader

words: 3843

A/N: i'm gonna stop saying i'm gonna make chapters shorter because they are getting longer and longer

summary: after comforting your sister, you go to Cordelia’s bar and serve a certain detective

warnings: Tate Langdon

part 3: cocktails and solving a murder

It was 5pm and you were zapping through netflix. You had nothing to watch, and after what felt like hours, you just gave up, so you sank back further into the couch and groaned. In about thirty minutes you had to go to the Supreme Dominion, the bar Cordelia owned. You wanted to keep your mind busy like Vincent advised.

Then there was a knock on the door. You groaned again and after five whole seconds of contemplation, you stood up from your seat and walked to the door.

You were ready to send away any salesman or journalist. If it was Lana Winters again, you’d seriously file a restraining order. She had been bugging you back in the day after Kai’s death, and she just couldn't seem to take no for an answer. Luckily it had been quiet for a few years after she realized you weren't gonna talk, but a few weeks ago she appeared again outside of Cordelia’s bar. She wanted to know what you felt about the recent killings, and you had to hide behind a dumpster to get rid of her.

You hated reporters.

When you opened the door however you came face to face with a blonde boy with a rose in his hands. The one thing that stood out was that the rose was black.

“Hi?” You greeted and you tilted your head a bit to take in his full form. You had never seen this boy before in your whole life. He must be the boy Zoe was talking about. He didn't look like a reporter or a salesman. He looked like a lost puppy.

He looked a bit young. It was definitely not something you expected from what Zoe told you.

“Hey, you must be Y/n.” he gave you a shy smile.

“Yeah, uhm Zoe isn’t her right now.”

“I’m here for Violet actually.” You suddenly began to get more interested and you crossed your arms over each other as you yelled back inside the house. “Violet!”

A groan was heard from upstairs and you immediately knew the girl rolled her eyes without even seeing her. “There is a boy at the front door for you!”

“Tell it to crawl back from whatever hole it came from.” she yelled back.

You sighed and gave an apologetic look at the blonde. He closed his eyes for a few seconds before biting his lip.

“What was your name?”

“Tate.”

“His name is Tate!” You yelled and after a few seconds you saw Violet scrambled at the top of the staircase. This Tate guy must be someone important, otherwise Violet wouldn't of have rushed so quickly. You looked amused at the sight.

“Tate?”

You raised your eyebrows while glancing at the boy in front of you and the girl at the stairs, and you gestured for Tate to come in.

The boy went upstairs and you couldn't help but worry. Sure, he seemed sweet and the fact he brought Violet a black rose was absolutely adorable. But something within you said to check it out, and so you tip-toed up the stairs and stood there for a while. You never went further, and as you focussed on the voices inside of the room, it sounded muffled. The door was closed and you couldn't exactly hear what they were saying. All you heard was one sentence.

“I would never let anybody, or anything hurt you.”

You softened in your spot and bit your lip. Teenage love was something you never really got to experience, and you envied them. You chose to not get into relationships. At the time, you were mainly focused on dealing with your grief. It was a hard road, but you managed to give some of your trauma space. Now it was only a matter of moving on. You may not get the chance to experience teenage love, but you still have a chance at love.

You felt like you were intruding, and so you stepped back. You trusted Violet, she was a smart girl and you knew that she could handle herself.

You turned around to walk downstairs to the kitchen, but you stopped when you suddenly heard screaming.

“No, don’t do this!”

“Go away Tate.”

“You’re all I want, you’re all I have!”

You came into action and rushed upstairs to the door, something had to have gone wrong. You could hear it in her trembling voice. Whatever it was, you wanted the boy out of the house.

“Go away!”

“AAAA!”

You barged into the room and immediately scanned everything. Violet was standing next to the bed, and Tate was standing in front of her. When they heard the door open, they both turned to look at you, and you saw that Tate and Violet were both crying.

“What is going on?!”

Violet crossed her arms and she looked at her feet, Tate just kept staring at you with wide eyes, and you raised your eyebrow.

“Tate, I think it’s time to leave.” He clenched his jaw and looked at Violet one more time before he walked past you and walked out of the room. You sighed one last time before walking after him, and you opened the front door for him while eyeing him up and down. He didn't say a word and avoided eye contact as he walked out.

You stood there for a minute before walking upstairs to Violet, and you could faintly hear her sniffle through the door she had closed after you. Maybe it was best to just leave her for a moment, but you knew who Violet was. It didn't matter how tough she acted, she was still vulnerable. You knew that she didn't want to be alone right now.

And so you opened the door and saw Violet on her bed with her knees to her chest. Her eyes were red and she didn't make eye contact with you when you walked towards her.

“Were you skipping school to see a certain blonde boy?” you asked her and you puzzled the pieces together. Violet was too young to buy cigarettes, and so you figured Tate must have bought them for her. She never mentioned any friends, so Violet was probably with Tate. You weren't dumb.

Violet stayed silent and you scooted her over so you could sit on the bed with her.

“I don’t know what is going on between you and him, but know that if you ever feel like you want to talk about it, I’ll be here. I’ll always be here,” she didn't answer still, and you grabbed her hands that were in her lap. She blinked away her tears and kept looking down.

“I know I may have asked a lot from you these past couple of weeks. But I am still your sister, and that’s not gonna change. I will protect you no matter what because I care about you, even if I’m annoying sometimes. I know you can handle yourself, like I said, you’re a smart girl. But know that if anyone tries to hurt you in any shape or form, I will unleash hellfire upon them.”

She tried to hold in a sob, but it failed and she bit her lip while you tried to break down the wall he built in front of you. “We're not biologically related, but I still love you as much as a blood related family member would.”

Even though she was still quiet, you knew your words had affected her. You could see it in her eyes. Hell, it even affected you. Her head looked up a bit as her shoulders were slumped down, and her bottom lip trembled.

“Come here,” you opened your arms for her, and even though she seemed hesitant, she scooted closer to you and rested her head against your chest. You wrapped your arms around her body in a comforting hug and your fingers ran through her scalp. She closed her eyes as she sank into the warm feeling.

“I hate it here, I hate everyone with their bullshit.” She whispered and you shushed her.

“I know love, I know.”

Moments like these made you appreciate the fact that you were welcomed into the Goode family with open arms. Violet was 8 at the time and Zoe was 10 when you moved in, and even though they were very young at the time, they immediately accepted you as their older sister. It was scary for you to attach yourself to a new family, especially at the age of 17, but you quickly adapted, and you were grateful for them.

You held her close, and after a few minutes she sighed. “What I told you this afternoon… About you not being my real sister-”

“It’s fine,” you interjected and you gave her a comforting smile. You knew she didn't mean it and even though it hurt you, you were happy that he acknowledged it.

The two of you stayed like that for a while and Violet closed her eyes. “I… I think I like him, even though he is kind of an asshole,” she whispered and you chuckled. “I saw that, the way you looked at him after you practically ran as fast as the flash when I mentioned his name.”

She turned a bit red and you were happy that she talked to you about it. You knew that she didn't have any girl friends to talk to, and even her and Zoe didn't talk about stuff like this. Zoe was 17 and Violet was 15, there wasn't that big of an age gap yet it still felt like Zoe was in an entirely different world. It didn’t mean that Zoe didn’t try. She had tried to pry Violet open, just like you had. Violet was just one tough cookie to crack.

“Do me a favor.” Violet looked up at you and you closed your eyes. “Don’t get pregnant.”

You chuckled while saying it but you were serious. Violet rolled her eyes and she turned red again.

“You don't have to worry about that.”

“Have a life before you create a life,” Violet groaned and you started laughing. “No, I’m serious, I don’t want little demons running around this soon. You and Tate would probably make the antichrist.” she slapped your shoulder and scoffed. “You’re mean,”

“I’m right.”

“Still mean.”

After you left Violet alone because you had to go to the Supreme Dominion, you were standing behind the bar with Chris, the barman. When Cordelia adopted you, she showed you several tricks. You had a knack for making cocktails and you enjoyed it and so you stood behind the bar several times.

It was getting late in the evening and you and Chris were making drinks. Luckily, it wasn't that busy so everything was relaxed. You were pouring down drinks occasionally, and when there were no customers, you were chatting with Chris.

“An Aunt Roberta please,” Someone said. It was a boy and you recognized the blonde girl next to him who was impatiently tapping her heel on the ground. It was one of Zoe’s friends. You saw her once or twice when she and Zoe would watch a movie downstairs. “And an alcohol free drink for the lady.” She huffed and the boy looked back at you. “A virgin on the beach.”

You nodded and started making the drinks. The girl was a year older than Zoe, but she was still not able to drink legally. You had slipped a drink for Zoe and her a few times at home, but in the bar you couldn’t do that. You didn’t want the police to walk in and find out you had been serving alcohol illegally.

“It’s too hot, my freaking vagina is sweating.”

You snorted lightly when you had your back turned towards the pair, and you placed their orders on the table. The boy handed you money.

You saw it in the blink of an eye, but it was something that could go unnoticed if you hadn't paid attention to him. He dropped a white pill in the drink of the girl, and your mind immediately went to alert. This was not good news.

As he grabbed the drink to offer it to the blonde, you stepped forward and pushed his shoulders, making him yelp and bump forward. He spilled everything onto the girl and she gasped as the liquid stained her dress. She breathed heavily as she glared at the boy but he tried to blame it on you, that you had pushed him but the girl simply stormed away.

The boy looked back at you with irritation and anger. You however shrugged, “I never pushed anyone.”

“You’re a bitch, I want my money back.” You leaned forward until your elbows met the wooden bar, and smiled.

“If I see you here again I will kick you so hard in the crotch that whatever you have in your pants won’t ever work again. And if I hear that you try that shit again anywhere else, I won’t hesitate to do that same thing. Words spread faster than your legs, pal.”

“You’re crazy.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“You fucking bitch.” He barked before he walked away.

Chris had his eyebrows raised at you while he looked amused and he shook his head while chuckling. You grabbed a glass on the counter and started to dry it.

“Well, he deserved that,” someone spoke from the other side and you noticed the voice. It was the detective. He sat near the corner of the bar, and he had watched the encounter you had with the boy who stormed away. You walked towards him, and leaned against the bar that was in between.

“Well hello there, Detective Zabel,” you began and he smiled. “What brings you here on a lovely Thursday night.”

“Just trying to get my mind off of… things, I really needed a drink.”

You could see that his eyes stood tired. He radiated exhaustion. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just… the case,” he pinched his nose bridge. “I reviewed CCTV footage, and know what I found? Nothing. Somehow there is nothing about the night Marie and Bernard got killed. All I got is a description of a clown and the sighting of an ice cream truck,” he buried his face in his hands. “I then tried to search for a different lead, and finally I had it in my grasp. But the Chief said it's too weak to build a case. I know for 99% that it has something to do with the murders. I just need to get it together and find a solution.”

“That sounds rough,” you hissed and gave him a comforting smile. “A drink will cheer you up, what drink did you want?”

“The strongest you have, please.”

You nodded, grabbed all the ingredients you needed put it in a shaker and as you shook it, he looked at you. You tried to hide a smirk, but the way you shook your hands up and down on the shaker while he watched, was way too funny to you. You just couldn’t help it. The man turned pink and he kissed the back of his teeth while raising his eyebrows. He chuckled with an amusing expression on his face, and when you were done, you poured it into a glass. You knew what he was thinking, and the corners of your lips curled upwards in a knowing smirk.

“It's on the house.”

“Won't your manager, like, get mad at you or something?”

“I am the manager,” you dried your hands and crossed your arms. “Consider this a thank you for saving my life this afternoon, Hero detective.” You winked at him and he bit his lip.

Colin thought you looked really beautiful. You wore a black turtleneck and your hair was in a ponytail. Your loop earrings were not too big, but it fit your outfit perfectly. The way you smiled at him made him stop breathing for a moment. The pink and blue lighting from the lights behind you made your features even stand out more, and he tried not to stare too obvious at you. “Thank you.”

“So, how long have you been the manager here?” He started with small talk.

“Oh it’s Cordelia’s bar. I come here and sometimes make cocktails. She’s In France now, she opened a school and pursued her dreams; Miss Robichaux Academy of Exceptional Young Ladies.” Colin frowned and took a sip of his drink. “That’s a mouthful, it sounds prestigious.”

“Yeah, she came up with the name. While she is there, me and my sisters are in charge. I often like to keep my mind busy making cocktails.”

He took another sip of his drink. “You do make great cocktails.”

“Hey that’s an insult, I make the best cocktails in Brookfield Heights.” You joked and he chuckled - You weren’t actually joking though. “Yeah, that’s why I came here. Out of all the other bars, they told me that this one had the best drinks.”

“Who advised this place to you?”

“A police officer at the station, name’s Peter.”

“Maximoff?” You questioned and Colin nodded. You knew Peter because he was a regular here. He once helped you when you were robbed, and you and he became friends after that. He literally chased the guy for 5 blocks, and his speed didn’t falter for a second. The man who robbed your purse had given up once he reached a dead end, and Peter ran back to you to give you your purse back.

“I should come here more often. It’s so heavenly,” he took another sip. “It’s literally an orgasm in my mouth.”

Colin immediately regretted saying it, but luckily you snorted and chuckled.

“An orgasm in your mouth? That’s an interesting way to say you enjoy my drinks. It could be a really good name for a new cocktail though,” you looked up and closed your eyes. “A mouthorgasm, it actually has a nice ring to it.”

He looked down and laughed, and you scanned his face. You really thought he looked handsome like this. His hair was short, but it stood playful and his eyes were like diamonds in the sunlight. He wore a plain black shirt, yet it stood mysterious on him. He had charisma even though he acted awkward at times.

The two of you were talking for the next couple of hours. Chris took all the orders when he saw that you were talking to Colin, and he often glanced at you and gave you a knowing smirk. You simply rolled your eyes playfully while trying to ignore him, and you continued the conversation with Colin. He was a genuinely nice person.

“So, what is that you want,” you leaned against the bar again, and made straight eye contact. Colin felt like he was drowning in your irises. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’re here for the case right?" he nodded. “But what is it that you actually want?”

He bit the inside of his cheek and squinted his eyes. No one has ever asked him that question before, no one had really shown interest like that, and so he had to think long and hard.

“I honestly don’t know,” he played with the straw that was in his now empty drink. It was his second refill and he sighed. “It’s a great question, but at the moment I don’t have an answer for it.” he bit his lip and leaned in. “Ask me again after a week?”

It was a subtle way in letting you know that he wanted to talk to you more. Colin was usually very clumsy and very awkward, but somehow talking to you came naturally to him. Ever since he saved you this afternoon, his mind often wandered towards you whilst he was in his office at the station.

“What about you?” you bit the inside of your cheek.

“I guess I just want peace. I want to sleep, knowing that I put everything behind me. I want to be able to forget everything that happened when Kai Anderson destroyed my life,” you sighed and leaned against the pillar next to you.

“Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel the world?” Colin nodded and he looked at your eyes while you were lost in your thoughts. “To just let go of everything and see the beauty of the world. No murder, no violence, no sadness, no reminders of your past,” you thought back to your hallucinations of Kai and your smile faded. “I’ve worried way too much about death to know what living feels like. I guess I just want to see the world and just… live.”

“That sounds lovely,” he said in amazement. “What’s holding you back?”

“I don't know,” you hadn't realized that Colin leaned on his elbows on the bar, and his face was close to yours. You could smell his cologne. “It’s just… I might go on a trip later, but I don’t want to go alone. Violet and Zoe are still in school so I have no one to go with.”

He nodded and played with his glass. “Where would you wanna go?”

“Europe. When Cordelia moved to France I was contemplating whether or not to go with her. But I chose to stay for Violet and Zoe. I guess I just want to go to places like Spain. I want to wake up hearing the sounds of the waves crashing against the shore. I want to learn how to ski in Austria or Switzerland, I want to see the northern lights in Norway, visit cute little villages in Italy,” you paused. “And smoke weed in Amsterdam.”

Colin laughed for what it felt like the hundredth time tonight. He was happy that he listened to Peter for a drink.

“It’s not that money is a problem. My parents owned a hotel, it was named the Hotel Nixon. They had a household name here in Brookfield Heights. After they… died, I got ownership. With pain in my heart, I sold the Hotel to a business magnate, James March. Once we made the deal and the papers were signed, I got the money and he got the hotel. He started renovating everything somewhere in 2019. This afternoon I got an invitation to the opening of the hotel, but I don’t think I’m going, I don't want to sit there with rich elites. Besides, I haven't stepped foot inside of the hotel in years.”

You saw Colin squint his eyes as he looked at you and it seemed like he was thinking long and hard about something. “I’m sorry, you probably don't care-”

“-Do you mean the Hotel Cortez? Your parents owned the Hotel Cortez previously called the Hotel Nixon?” you nodded and his eyes went wide.

“That’s the lead.”

“What?”

“The solution… You are the solution.”

“I’m not following.”

It looked like a lightbulb appeared above his head. “I have a suspicion that the murders of Marie, Bernard and the others are linked to the Hotel Cortez, but I don’t have enough evidence for a warrant. It’s an elite exclusive opening, there is no way to be there at the opening without an invitation. I need to be there to find evidence that links him to the crime scene." He gave you a hopeful look and everything clicked in your head

“Wait, are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“Well that depends on what you think I’m saying.”

You sucked the back of your teeth and thought about it. You did want to see what the hotel turned out like, but you didn't want to go alone. “Are you free on Saturday evening?” You asked and he nodded. “Yeah, why?”

“Great, then it’s settled.” He raised his eyebrows and you continued. “I'm going to the opening of the Hotel Cortez.”

"And you will be tagging along as my date."

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