#emotionally cheating on her boyfriend and trying to keep the relationship regardless... Put yourself in his shoes

[tonya-the-chicken]

Commenters under Suhee0 webcomics make me so unreasonably angry... Cause, like, many characters are trash but when it's Mina (a girl) who struggles with self-esteem issues and alcoholism and screws up then it's "frustrating but sympathetic" and when it's Minu (a boy) who struggles with self-esteem issues and alcoholism and screw up then he is the most hated character

[chickensarentcheap]

Never Gonna Be Alone- Chapter Ten

Title: Past, Present, Future

Warnings: none

Tagging: @c-a-v-a-l-r-y​, @alievans007​, @innerpaperexpertcloud​, @tragiclyhip​

It’s been a productive morning. Breakfast had turned into an enormous affair; seemingly endless supplies of pancakes, french toast and eggs and bacon being shared amongst the ten people gathered. Although much more reserved and quiet than Millie, Alannah had held her own in the midst of the chaos and chatter; the only child initially nervous and withdrawn but quickly and seemingly getting accustomed to the level of noise and activity that comes with so many children in one house. She’s a lovely little girl. Smart and witty; always offering to help out with food prep and dishes whenever she’s over for a meal, full of compliments in regards to food and decor and possessing remarkable manners and social graces for someone so close to their teenage years. In a way she reminds Esme of the younger version of herself; shunned by her own family and desperately searching for people that will both accept and love her. Perhaps that’s why she’d been so willing and eager to bring the eleven year old into the fold; remembering what it was like to be surrounded by family yet feel so alone at the same time. It’s a horrible feeling; knowing that you’re not what your mother -or both parents in Alannah’s case- wanted and never allowed to forget it. It’s isolating and soul destroying. Causing problems that deeply imbed themselves in your psyche; battling with the destruction and never still weeping and sore wounds that hang around even as a an adult. She hadn't been as fortunate as Alannah; no one else that had been willing to embrace her as ‘one of their own’ and give her what she had so desperately needed AND wanted. And there’d be no way she’d wanted another kid going through that same thing; feeling alienated and lost as a kid and then having your adult years just as messed up and troubled.

So many bad decisions could be directly blamed on the behaviour she had witnessed growing up. Able to make friends yet unable to form real bonds with them. Growing tired of romantic partners; annoyed by the sounds of their voices and agitated by the touch of their hands and winding up feeling physically ill at the thought of them even touching her in an intimate way. The idea of being that close to someone had always turned her off instead of the opposite; a handful of brief and non intimate relationships throughout her entire high school career before trying her hand at the ‘real deal’ in college. Even then it had been too much work; long battles with her own brain and her own hang ups before she would even let her first REAL boyfriend get anywhere past second base. And she’d gotten married solely because she’d been convinced that Mark could be the one to get her past her issues; she’d learn how to tolerate someone being around all the time and she’d learn how to be a normally functioning adult when it came to having a serious and long term relationship with someone. That had been a disaster; confusing being in love with exactly just settling for someone and convincing yourself that you couldn’t possibly do better, so why even try? And even though she hadn’t loved him, she’d still desperately held on even when he became abusive and turned her life into a living hell. Suddenly afraid to be alone and terrified that his words were true: no one else would ever want her. That she was damaged and crazy and no one in their right mind would ever put up with THAT. And he’d constantly remind her that she couldn’t do better. That she should count her lucky stars that he even stuck around in the first place. No other man would, after all.

“That’s how much I love you, Esme. I put up with you. No other guy would. But I do. Because I love you THAT much.”

It’s weird how things evolve. Or don’t, for that matter. How your past has such an impact on your future. Fifteen years after Mark and she still struggles; moments of extremely low self esteem, lingering mental health problems, an unhealthy and twisted relationship with her own family, a constant worry that -despite being relatively healthy and somehow surviving the most horrible and terrifying of moments- her marriage is only two seconds away from imploding. The latter is irrational and she knows that. Despite Mark’s words, she had managed to find someone that loves her -truly and wholly loves her- despite all of her issues. Who sees past her messiness and busts his ass to help her finally move on and heal from her past. Who looks at her like she’s the most amazing and beautiful woman in the world; who would remind her of that until his very last breath and who -regardless how much it DOES annoy him- always tries to reassure her that things are just fine. He doesn’t care about the other women that check him out or show him attention or even the balls to try and get close. Always finding ways to assure her that he only has eyes for her; a man of few words that never shies away from pledging his unwavering love and faithfulness. No matter how many times she needs to hear it.

Her mother. She’s the one to truly blame for how fucked up her brain is. That lack of maternal instincts and the pure hatred she’d often shown. She had never let Esme forget that she was a mistake; a ‘change of life’ baby that never should have happened in the first place. On the worst of days, she’d often say that she’d wished she’d never even had her. That she should have ignored Esme’s father’s begging and pleadings to keep the baby. They hadn’t needed another mouth to feed; five boys was more than enough and another kid only caused financial strain and emotional strife. Her mother had always refused to acknowledge her own issues that had caused so many problems; her constant cheating, her lack of maternal instincts, her own biases when it came to her children. Even decades later she refuses to accept any responsibility; laughing off any mention of parental neglect or favouritism and shunning any and all suggestion that she was -and still is- emotionally abusive and an expert at psychological warfare.

While there’s no proof that those exact same things exist in Alannah’s home, Esme does hang onto an old adage passed down by Doctor Klein: “if things are that bad out in the open, they’re even worse behind closed doors.” If Alannah’s parents are so ‘out there’ with their distaste for each other and with their roles as parents, things are probably much darker and direr at home. And if she can give the kid a glimpse of a somewhat normal family and the experience of having siblings and people around her that do value her and appreciate her and show her attention and affection, it’s the least she can do. It’s too late to mend her own issues and it’s not possible to go back and time to change things, but she CAN alter Alannah’s present AND future.

Desi arrived at ten. Quite the baker and chef himself, he had offered to help Tanner in his culinary pursuits; bringing over his most expensive pots, pans and baking sheets and a stash of both exotic and common ingredients for the ten year old to experiment with. And with Millie the only other child left in the house, it had given her the opportunity for a little ‘me time’; the rest of the kids having gone with their father to assist in his pursuit for last minute Christmas gifts and the items she’d jotted down a list prepared right before he stepped out the front door. Some time in the gym had done her a world of good. Forty five minutes on both the treadmill and the rowing machine, followed by some time with the weights and working up a sweat punching and kicking at the heavy bag; the latter successfully enabling her to shed the anger and bitterness towards Mark, her own mother, and Alannah’s parents.

While she isn’t quite nearly as devoted and motivated as her husband is -often working out twice a day, two to three hours at a time- when it comes to fitness, she find it DOES help; getting her heart rate up and her adrenaline flowing a rather successful combination when it comes to her battle with her mental health woes and her ongoing battle with her self esteem. The latter becoming worse with the arrival of the last set of twins and her inability to shed the remaining twenty pounds -out of forty five- that she’d gained while pregnant with them. She’s nowhere near who and what she’d been before she’d begun having children; missing how skinny yet fit she’d been and how every piece of clothing she’d owned or tried on had seemed to fit so perfectly.

Tyler always rolls his eyes when she brings it up.Quick to remind her that a lot has changed since they first met; he doesn’t expect her to be the same person, in the same way she doesn’t expect him to be either. And that’s a good thing, he’d point out, and then thoroughly list all the ways they’ve both evolved for the better. He’d get that mischievous glitter to his eyes and he’d give that cheeky grin and he’d talk about how much he enjoys her body now; all that ‘extra cushioning’ in all the right places. And then he’d kiss her and embrace her as tight as her body would allow him to and everything would seem right and perfect in the world once again. Those big, strong arms never failing to make her feel safe and protected. In a way no one else has ever been able to.

******

After a long bubble bath- complete with scented candles and a glass of wine- she finally heads downstairs; braiding her still damp hair and securing it with an elastic and letting it dangle over the front of her shoulder. Desi is in the living room; surrounded by plastic tote boxes filled to the brim with various Christmas ornaments that he’s in the middle of organizing. The tree had arrived earlier and now sits in its stand in front of the living room window; seven feet tall and wide and full and filling the house with the fresh and unmistakable scent of pine. The kids are already excited to decorate. Even the normally quick to bore Millie looking forward to what has turned into quite the year event; Chinese take out and hot chocolate stirred with candy canes and the fireplace on while Christmas carols play on the stereo. It’s just a little ‘something’; a simple and silly little tradition that they’d adopted when they’d first moved back to Australia and have been indulging in ever since. There’s been many more adopted; both trying to give their kids the experiences they never had growing up.

“Thought maybe you fell asleep,” Desi says in a way of greeting. “Not that I’d blame you. Isn’t often you get time away from all the kiddos.”

“As nice as a nap sounds, the bath hit the spot. I may or may not have refilled the tub with hot water three times. Just to drag it out a bit. You’ve been busy. You don’t have to organize and clean my house every time you come over. I’m more than happy just to spend time with YOU.”

“A little help here and there is a good thing. Little T was helping me go through things and make them a little easier for you to find. We’ve got shortbread and sugar cookies in one oven, brownies and squares in the other. He’s in his glory that kid. Quite the little baker, ain’t he? He’s got skills. A mighty keen palate.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me at all if he becomes rich and famous for his cooking and baking one day. He’s a talent. In many ways.”

“He’s a good kid. A damn good kid. Reminds me of you in a lot of ways. Got quite a bit of momma in him. And he sure thinks the world of her, too.”

“He’s always been close to me. Since we lived in Colorado. He became quite the momma’s boy when things…” her voice trails off and she reaches into one of the boxes and pulls out a strand of rose gold garland. “...when things weren’t so good between Tyler and I.”

“That bad?”

“Bad enough. We split up. For six months.”

“No shit?”

“No shit. He went through some things. That were totally out of his control. And he made some decisions that weren’t the best. I had to kick him out.”

“You kicked him out? You? As madly and crazily in love as you are?”

“I did. He got back into the booze and the pain meds and he became a totally different person and I didn’t want that around the kids. So I told him to go. That once he got his shit together and could put us before his issues and his job, he could come back. Took him half a year, but…” she shrugs and tosses the garland onto the couch. “...it all worked out in the end. We got back together and we fought like hell to make things work. And here we are. Twelve years into things. And a hell of a lot better and stronger than we’ve ever been. He’s changed. We both have. We’ve come a long way.”

“And Little T?”

“He picked sides. He was three years old. Just a baby still. But he’d seen and heard enough and it affected him way more than it did TJ and Millie. He was scared of his dad. For a long time. Not that Tyler ever did anything to scare him; he never yelled at the kids or hit them or did anything to frighten them. We fought. A lot. And those fights got pretty bad. A lot of yelling and a lot of really horrible things said to each other. Things we can’t take back, unfortunately.”

“But you got past all that. Obviously.”

“We did. I mean, we didn’t MEAN the things we said. They were said out of anger and hurt; none of it was ever intentional. But that sticks with you, you know? You didn’t mean what you said and you hate yourself for saying any of it, but you still did it. And you can’t go back and erase it. Those words existed. Sadly.”

“You can’t dwell on it, Big E. You just can’t. Y’all got past it, am I right? You got back together, you said yourself you’re better and stronger than ever. And I highly doubt he holds all that against you; shit that happened years ago.”

“I know he doesn’t. But I also know he holds it against himself.”

“Well, that’s the bipolar part of things. Keeps the bad shit in his head and reminds him of it during the down moments. He’s doing okay with that? All that shit in his head?”

“He is. He’s been remarkably...well..for someone with the diagnosis he has. I’m proud of him. For handling things like he has. He just copes with it all. Way better than I thought he would. It’s been five years and there’s been no real issues. He takes his meds and he goes to therapy and he manages it all well. I’m proud of him. So proud. He’s done really well. He’s a tough shit, that’s for sure. Probably the toughest person I’ve ever known.”

“You mean when you’re NOT looking in the mirror?”

Esme laughs. “I am not THAT tough. I put on a good front.”

“You’re a tough cookie for a tiny little thing. All the things you’ve told me? That you’ve been through over the past twelve and a bit years? You shouldn’t underestimate yourself like you do.”

“It’s been...interesting...to say the least.”

It isn’t something she speaks so openly and honestly about; how she and Tyler met and everything that had happened in Dhaka and the decisions she’d made on the Sultana Kamal Bridge. It isn’t exactly a topic you’re comfortable discussing with just anyone; your husband being a mercenary and a former alcoholic and painkiller addict with mental health issues. But Desi is trustworthy; kind and compassionate with a heart even bigger than his already enormous body. And it helps to have a confidant; someone to spill even your deepest and darkest secrets to without the worry of being judged.

“I found these,” Desi snags a shoebox off the coffee table and opens the lid as he presents it to her. “Look homemade.”

She peels back the layer of tissue paper and smiles at the contents revealed. “Salt dough ornaments. I remember making them with Millie. We were still in Telluride. Our third Christmas there. I hadn’t even gotten pregnant with Declan yet. God, that seems like a long time ago.”

“There’s four there, though. If you hadn’t had Declan yet, there’d only be three, would there not?”

“That’s not Declan’s.” She carefully plucks out the fourth ornament in question; gingerly turning it over in her palm as she inspects it. The same size and shape as the others, but with the added ‘extra’ of a halo that a then three year old Millie had decorated with gold glitter. It had been her idea; an ornament for the brother that she’d never get to meet but insisted was still very much part of their family. “That’s Austin’s.”

“Austin? Who is Austin? You have another kid I don’t know about? A baby you lost or…”

“Austin wasn’t mine. He was Tyler’s son. From his first marriage.”

“Excuse me….what?”

“He was married. Before me. In the same way I was married before him.”

“You never told me about that. You being the second Missus Rake.”

“There was never really a reason to talk about it. She was his high school sweetheart. They got married pretty much right after graduation. Then he joined the military. Austin arrived a little while later. When he was twenty five.”

“What happened between them? Things went bad or…?”

“It wasn’t the healthiest of marriages. They were young. Probably rushed into things. He was gone a lot and she wasn’t happy being an army wife.”

“And the kid? Does he see him? Do they live in Australia too or…?”

“Austin died.” She finds herself both fighting back a flood of threatening tears and speaking around a lump of emotion sitting square in her throat. “When he was six. Long before I ever knew Tyler.”

“I’m sorry,” Desi lays a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to talk about it if…”

“It’s okay. It’s good to talk about it. About HIM. We’ve never hidden it from the kids. We’ve always been open and honest about things. Our past lives, the fact we were both married before, how they’d have another sibling if things had gone differently. There’s never been a reason NOT to tell about those things. It’s all part of who we are. All plays a role in how we got to where we are now. In one way or another.”

“Was he sick? Was there an accident or….?”

“He had lymphoma. It was very aggressive and pretty far along when the doctors finally caught it. The kid didn’t stand a chance. He didn’t last long. Even with chemo and radiation. It was bad. Very, very bad. Just a horrible thing for a kid to go through.”

“And for his folks to see.”

“It was a really bad time. For them. As a family. And Tyler…” she swipes at the tears that manage to escape. “...he was never the same after that. It really did a number on him. I know he seems all big and bad and fearless and intimidating but he’s got such a huge heart. He loves big and he loves deep. You see how he is; with the kids.”

“Definitely loves being a daddy. And they definitely love him.”

“He’s an amazing dad. I couldn’t have asked or wished for a better father for my children. And in a way, losing Austin made him the dad that he is. It was rough. On him. It still is.”

“It’s a hell of a thing. Losing a kid. Can’t imagine what it’s like seeing your own flesh and blood suffer like that. It was bad enough for me; seeing my husband go through what he did. I can’t imagine watching a kid go through that.”

“I often wonder what would happen if one of the kids got sick. If he could even handle it. I mean, once is enough. Imagine having to deal with that AGAIN? And I hate that my brain even goes there. That I immediately think of something like that. He’s tough and he’s strong and he’s resilient. But I don’t think he could handle that. If anything happened to one of the kids or me…”

“He’d deal with it. It’s what we do. When we love someone. But you need to get out of your head, Big E. I mean, it’s beautiful nine times out of ten. But that last remaining bit…”

“It’s a mess. I’m the first to admit that. I can’t believe I’m this emotional over this. It’s a Christmas ornament, for crying out loud.”

“It’s what it represents. It’s your husband’s pain. So it’s your pain too.”

“For years we never even put the ornament on the tree. Tyler couldn’t handle seeing it. So I just put it away. Until he was ready for it to be out. And then one year, he did it himself; got it out of the box and hung it on the tree and that was that. We’ve been putting it up since.”

“Is that why their marriage broke up? The kid getting sick?”

“There were other problems. It wasn’t a good marriage. For many reasons.” She lays the ornament back in the box and carefully covers it with the layer of tissue paper. “But I guess in the end, it worked out okay. For me anyway. We wouldn’t have met. Had things NOT fallen apart. I can’t say I wish I could go back and change things. Because if I could do it…”

“Change one thing, change everything. The butterfly effect.”

“Whatever you do, do not bring that up to Tyler. Not the butterfly effect itself. The movie. Don’t talk about Ashton Kutcher to him. He’s got this deep rooted and unexplainable hate for him.”

“I feel the same way about Justin Timberlake. You know what I call him? Just to be an asshole? Justin Tenderbottom.”

Esme laughs at that, then sets the shoebox down on the cluttered coffee table and allows herself to be pulled into a tight hug; one of Desi’s enormous hands on the back of her head and his arm curled around her waist. She rests her forehead against his chest; the tears coming easily and effortlessly now. It’s a hurt she’s never been quite able to explain; a painful and long lasting mourning for a child that she never knew.

“You’re a good little wife, Big E. I know for a fact that he thinks the sun rises and sets on you. That you’re the best damn thing that’s ever happened to him.”

“He said that?” Esme sniffles noisily and looks up at her friend. “He admitted that to you?”

“He did. And he’s said a lot about you. All good things, too. You are definitely the center of his entire universe. And you know what? It’s a horrible thing that happened. To his son. To him. But if it hadn’t? Well you wouldn’t have what you have now. Those seven kids you got? None of them would exist. And if you ask me? This world is a better place because they do.”

“Mum!” Tanner calls, as he slowly makes his way from the kitchen; oven mitts on his hands as he carefully carries a mug of tea. “I made you a drink! I knew you’d want one. You always have tea right after a bath.”

Smiling, she pulls away from Desi and uses the bottom of her t-shirt to wipe away the tears that stain her cheeks. “You know me very well, sweet boy. You didn’t use the stove though, did you? To boil the water? You know you’re not supposed to do that if there isn’t an adult with you.”

“I used the coffee maker. Daddy showed me how. I know what I’m doing. And it’s safe. I can’t hurt myself. Three milk and no sugar,” he presents her with the mug, a proud smile plastered from ear to ear. “Just like you like it.”

“It’s perfect,” she says, and takes his face in her hands and presses a kiss to the top of his head. “And so are you. The most perfect and precious Nugget EVER.”

****

Two hours later she finds herself lounging in the sunroom; legs stretched out and socked feet against the window, laptop opened and resting on her thighs. It’s a double helping of work; two businesses to keep running smoothly even when thousands of miles away. Scheduling and payroll and Christmas bonuses to take care of for the bookshop employees, emails from potential clients needing fast and efficient ‘solutions’ to serious problems in areas all over the world. Word travels in the mercenary life; a rather tight knit yet extremely competitive circle that moves fast. People with money want the best; someone that chooses a life of relative secrecy yet possesses an astounding and well respected reputation. The list of ‘regulars’ is long and plentiful, and each brings more people into the game; word of mouth making or breaking a company such as theirs. There’s never a lack of work; over forty guys -some with years of experience that had bailed from competitors- employed and constantly climbing. But Christmas is the one holiday where they DO take a break; referring anyone that needs a job done to Anil. He doesn’t take his role of a husband and a father as seriously; dedicated to his work and refusing to let anyone -even his own wife and children- get in the way.. He’s a good man and treats Nik and the girls well; providing for them and protecting them and making sure they never go without. But his loyalties remain with his business, and he is never shy when it comes to admitting or defending it.

She forwards him the emails and then focuses her attention on the bookstore; balancing the books and checking the profits and sending out payroll and bonuses. It’s been a quiet end to the morning; Milie and Alannah upstairs in her bedroom playing on the computer and watching movies, Tanner and Desi finishing their first round of baking and using their break to head outside to play in the snow. She watches them now; Desi’s big body lumbering around the yard as he chases Tanner, who occasionally allows himself to be scooped up and tossed into the nearest snow pile. That high pitched and giggle makes her smile; picturing Tanner’s enormous smile that crinkles the bridge of his nose and the corners of those brilliant blue eyes. He doesn’t form bonds easily; leery of new people and finding it difficult to make friends. But he’d taken easily to Desi. Once saying that it was the man’s deep yet soothing voice that won him over. Along with a gentle smile and warm brown eyes that let Tanner know that their neighbour was a good person with a good heart.

The doorbell sounds just as she finishes and sends off the store’s schedule for January. The melodic chime setting off a flurry of activity and noises; both dogs -stirred for their naps in front of the front room fireplace- now barking in unison, paws sliding across hardwood flooring as they scramble for the door. It’s soon followed by Millie’s footsteps; seeming unusually thunderous and heavy as they rush down the stairs. Accompanied by that thick Aussie accent she’s adopted within the last five years; yelling at Saju and Mac to lie down and shut up and behave or she’ll throw them out in the snow. It’s hardly a threat; both preferring the sun and the sand and their romps in the ocean, but quite accustomed to the cold weather and snow beneath their feet.

“Mum!” Millie bellows in an effort to be heard over the continued barking. “Some lady’s at the door! She wants to see dad!”

“He’s not home!”

“I know that! But she wants to talk to someone! And I don’t want it to be me!”

Smirking, she snaps the lid closed on the laptop and sets it on the coffee table; grimacing at the tightness in her lower back as she gets to her feet. The pain and discomfort is new over the course of the last five years; a small mistake made during the epidural while in labour with the twins resulting in long term damage. It sucks; your body betraying you when you’ve been so selfless and willing to keep other human beings alive inside of you. Pulling the sides of her cardigan sweater tighter around her body, she crosses her arms over her chest as she heads for the front of the house; soles of her UGG slippers lightly squeaking against the wood flooring. They’d been yet another one of her husband’s surprise gifts; a neatly wrapped package accompanied by a bouquet of Australian wildflowers that had shown up a day after he’d left for Cambodia. He’s become a master at it; showering both her and the kids with both simple and elaborate gifts. Claiming that it makes him happy to do it; spending his own childhood going without while his father used their money for booze. And it’s a way of making up for all his past mistakes as well; doing whatever he can to be a good husband and father and erase the mistakes of the past that continue to haunt him.

The woman at the door is tall and blond; clad in a disgustingly expensive leather coat with fur trim, the ends of her wavy platinum hair tumbling out from under the edge of a burgundy wool beret that perfectly matches her heavily painted lips. The smile she gives is phony; the look of dismay and disgust readily apparent as her eyes take in Esme’s more casual and relaxed look. It isn’t the first time she’s seen a look like THAT; the housewives on the school yard and at the soccer park have long perfected it, along with their snide comments about how ‘boring and plain Jane’ she is and how they can’t fathom how someone like Tyler could stand being with someone like her.

“She’s here to see dad,” Millie says. “I said he wasn’t home, but…”

“It’s okay,” Esme assures her, then nods down at the curious and rambunctious dogs now gathered at her feet. “Can you put these guys outside? Before they give me a migraine?”

Nodding, Millie slaps her hand against her thigh; a well used sign that dogs have learned means they should follow her. And they happily cooperate; their tails wagging energetically and their bodies pressed against the eleven year old’s legs as she leads the way through the house.

“She’s very…charming.”

Esme glances up at the woman standing in front of her, and manages a polite yet terse smile of her own. “Well, what can I say? She’s her father’s daughter. Can I help you?”

“You must be Emily.”

“Esme. My name is Esme. Not Emily.”

“That’s a very unusual name. A little...odd...in this day and age.”

“It’s actually quite common. Very old and classic. I was named after my great, great grandmother. And she was born in the eighteen hundreds, so…”

“I’m Natalie.” She doesn’t bother to offer a hand, electing instead to keep a firm hold on the plastic container she tightly clutches.

“That’s very plain. Natalie. Kind of boring. Guess you didn’t have any unusual and odd relatives to be named after.”

The corners of the woman’s turn up in a slight smirk.

“Can I help you? Is there a reason you’re here? Asking for my husband?”

“I’m here to see Tyler.”

“And our daughter told you he isn’t home. Which wasn’t an invite to stick around. I’m sure whatever you want to talk to him about, can wait until he IS here. Or, I could just give him a message and then he can decide whether he wants to talk to you or not. I wouldn’t hold your breath; he isn’t the chattiest person on the block. Why ARE you here? Is there something I can help you with or…?”

“I was hoping to speak to him.”

“And for the third time, you’re being told he’s not home. So sorry, Tyler can’t come out to play right now. And unless there’s something you want to say to me….”

“We met yesterday. He was at the park. With your son. The handicapped one.”

Once more crossing her arms over her chest, she cocks her head to the side. “Excuse me?”

“Your son. With the problems. Travis, Thomas….”

“His name is Tanner. And he doesn’t have ‘problems’. He has Autism. Don’t talk about my son like that. You can come here calling on my husband all you want, but when you bring my kid into this…”

“We had a nice little chat. At the park. We just moved here. My daughter and I. It’s been hard meeting people.”

Esme smirks. “I can’t possibly imagine why.”

“He was very friendly. Welcoming. Tyler. Not Tanner. Just to be clear.”

“And…”

“And I just wanted to thank him for that. For being so nice. For making us feel like part of the neighbourhood.”

“Well I’ll be sure to tell him that. I’m sure he’ll appreciate hearing it. Is that everything or….?”

“These are for him.” Natalie offers the plastic container. “I made them myself. They’re award winning. Used to get lots of compliments on those.”

“Oh how nice. You’re offering him your cookie. I mean, cookies. That’s very sweet. I will let him know that you stopped by with your generous offer. But just so you know, he doesn’t accept...goodies...from other women. So if you’re thinking about offering him any in the future, you might want to stop while you’re ahead. I’m sure there’s other married men out there who would gladly accept. But my husband? You’re pissing in the wrong front yard.”

Natalie’s eyes narrow. “Excuse me?”

“I’m just making it clear that he doesn’t accept goodies from other women. Ever. And he never will. So if you’ve got something brewing up in that head of yours, you might want to put an end to it now. He’s not interested. And believe me, I think you’d rather hear that from me. He won’t let you down as politely and easily.”

“I don’t know what you think I’m up to, but…”

“This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve come across plenty of women like you. And I’m just cutting to the chase. He’s not interested. Find someone else. Go after someone else’s husband. Stay away from mine.”

“I’m not after your husband. I’m just here doing something neighbourly and…”

“If it WAS something neighbourly, you would have come here to introduce yourself to ALL of us. Not just ask for him. I have to admit though, that’s pretty ballsy; showing up like this and having the nerve to talk to the wife. Most would have just left once they found out the husband wasn’t home. I’ll hand it to you; you’ve got some nerve.”

“I’m just here to be friendly. That’s it. No ulterior motive. You know, I was surprised to hear you have SEVEN kids. When I saw you the other day out in the snow with them, I thought there was no way they could all be yours. You just seemed so fresh faced and young. No way did you look like someone with THAT many children. But now up close? Well, let’s just say I’d look tired and downtrodden too if I got pregnant that many times.”

“My husband prefers the fresh faced and natural look. You know, as opposed to looking like Sephora threw up on your face. He also prefers brunettes. So that’s two strikes against you. Is there anything else? Other than your cookie. Sorry,” Esme laughs. “I did it again. I meant ‘cookies’. Is there more or…?”

“No. I think we’re done here.”

“You know what? I think we are too. And as lovely and sweet as you are, I hope this is the first and last little visit. I hope you fully understood what I told you. About keeping your goodies out of my yard. I think I made it pretty clear.”

“You did. As a matter of fact, you…”

“Have a good day,” Esme manages a smile, then shuts the door in the woman’s face, giving a small jump when she discovers her daughter sitting in the middle of the stairs; her arms crossed over her chest and a scowl on her face.

“What a bitch,” Millie grumbles.

“Normally I’d give you hell for the language, but right? She was, wasn’t she?”

“Huge. A huge bitch. You should have throat punched her, mum. She deserved it.”

“You can’t just go around throat punching everyone that pisses you off. If you could, I’d be exhausted. Or in jail.”

“I can’t believe she’d come here asking for dad,” Millie says, as she stands and takes the stairs two at a time, following her mother towards the back of the house. “How rude is that? Asking for another woman’s husband? That’s some goddamn nerve.”

“She’s probably used to getting what she wants. And WHO she wants.”

“Well she can’t have dad. He doesn’t want her. He doesn’t want anyone. Just you. Think she got the point? That she better not try and mess with him? I think you went way too easy on her. I think you should have thrown down. You could have taken her. For sure.”

“Some women don’t care, Millie. They’ll continue to mess around with married guys no matter how times they’ve been warned to back off. Maybe she’s one of them. Maybe this isn’t the last we’ve seen of her. Who knows.”

“If she knows what’s good for her, she’ll stay away. You were tame. Dad won’t be. He won’t be nice.”

“Maybe that’s what she needs. She needs a man to tell her where to go and how to get there. If there’s one thing your dad is a professional at, it’s telling people off. Don’t worry about her ; she’s harmless. Your dad wouldn’t touch her anyway. He’s not the type. To do things like that.”

“I think it would be hilarious to see him tell her off and really embarrass her. And what are those supposed to be?” Millie nods at the container Esme drops on the island.

“Cookies. She made them for him. Isn’t that so sweet?”

The eleven year old makes a dramatic gagging noise. “She probably poisoned them. In hopes you’d eat them. Probably wants to kill you off and become our step mother. They look like shit anyway. Throw them out. I would.”

“I’ll let your dad decide what he wants to do with them. And her. The ball is in his court now. He can decide what to do from here.”

“I hope he tells her to piss off. That’s just plain weird; coming over to some married guy's house and asking for him. On what planet is that okay to do?”

“None. It’s very unusual. To say the least. But like I said, don’t worry about her. Your dad wouldn’t do something like that. He’s a lot of things, but a cheater isn’t one of them. That is the last thing I’m worried about.”

“Good. Because she has nothing on you. She’s all phoney looking. But that fur wasn’t. On her coat. I bet she’s obnoxious enough to wear real fur. What a cow. She should have been throat punched for that alone. Don’t worry, mum. You’re way better than she is. You’re real and you’re cute and tiny. And dad loves you. ONLY you.”

“Your dad is the last person I worry about. Other women? I definitely worry about them. Your dad? Never. I trust him. A hundred percent. And speaking of your father, I hope Alannah likes Mexican. Dad’s bringing some home for lunch.”

“She loves it. She loves all the same things I do.” Picking the container of cookies up off the counter, she peels back one of the corners and sniffs at the contents; frowning and making a gagging noise before setting them back down. “They’re not even good cookies. Oatmeal raisin! The abomination of cookies! Dad HATES oatmeal raisin. He says there’s nothing worse than biting into one and expecting it to be chocolate chip, only to discover it’s oatmeal raisin.”

“Your dad loves Vegemite. So excuse me if I don’t take his taste in food seriously.”

“Vegemite is awesome, mom. You don’t know what you’re missing.”

“Yes. I do. Which is why I don’t eat it. If I wanted to eat shit, I would. Everything okay? You and Alannah getting along alright?”

“She’s my best friend. In the whole world. I love her. And we always have an awesome time and we never get tired of each other. But there’s something I need to ask you. About her.”

“Okay…” Esme slides onto one of the bar stools at the island. “...what’s up?”

“I’m worried about her. The way things are at home. Her parents are horrible. They don’t even want her around. And when she is around them, they just ignore her. They don’t even talk to her. They don’t ask about her day at school or about her friends or anything like that. They don’t even know what her favourite movie or tv show is or what celebrity she has her crush on. What parent doesn’t know that stuff? You and dad know that stuff about us.”

“Dad and I care. We like knowing about you guys. You’re our kids. Why wouldn’t we?”

“Well Alannah’s their kid and they don’t give a crap about her. I mean, they’re leaving her at Christmas! How horrible is that? Who just dumps their kid off on someone at Christmas?”

“Millie, not everyone has the life you do. Not everyone has parents that love them. Not everyone has a mom and dad that wants to be involved in their lives. I didn’t have it. Your dad didn’t have it. And unfortunately, Laney doesn’t have it. It sucks. Believe me, I know.”

“But what if we could give her a family? A real family? Like you and dad did with Ovi.”

“I’m not sure if I like where this is heading…”

“She loves being here. Spending time with all of us. I mean, she was scared of dad at first. Because of how big he is and all his tattoos and scars and stuff. But she got to know him and now she loves him. And she really loves you. She always goes on and on about you. About how cool and fun you are. And tiny. Like her.”

“We love having her here. She’s a great kid. I hope she realizes she’s welcome here. Anytime.”

“She does. Which is why I want to ask you what I’m about to ask you.”

“Okay. Something tells me this is serious. What’s going on?”

"I want her to come back with us. When we go home."

“Millie, we can’t just…”

“She’s part of the family already. You and dad love her like she’s one of us. And you guys treat her great. She’d fit right in. And she’d love it there. She’d love being so close to the beach and the ocean. I know she would. And she’s not a bad kid. She’s a really good kid. You said it yourself; how great she is.”

“She IS great. She’s an awesome kid. But we can’t just take her with us.”

“Why not? Don’t you want her there?”

“Of course I want her there. But she has a mom and dad. Not very good ones, but she still has them. We can’t just take her with us. There’s this little thing called kidnapping. We can’t just take someone else’s child.”

“You took Ovi. When I was a baby.”

“We didn’t just TAKE him. We had to jump through a lot of hoops. Legally. Your dad had to go and talk to Ovi’s father and try and convince him to let us have him. It wasn’t just as simple as bringing Ovi along.”

“Dad could talk to Alannah’s parents. Talk them into letting her come with us. They’d let her. They don’t care about her anyway. We’d be taking her off their hands. They’d probably be happy about it.”

“Amelia, it just isn’t that simple. There’s a lot of red tape and legal stuff. I wish it was easier, but it’s not.”

“But would you consider it? IF her parents said okay?”

“I don’t know. Maybe? I suppose? I’d need time to think about it. I already have seven kids. Taking on an eighth?”

“It’s not like she’s a baby. All the hard work has already been done. Please, mum? Would you at least think about it?”

“If it was just as simple as talking to her parents and taking her with us, I’d say yes. In a heartbeat. But it’s NOT that easy.”

“I just want you to think about it. We’d be giving her a good life. Like you and dad gave Ovi. Will you at least think about it?”

“It’s not a decision I can make on my own, sweet pea. I’m not in this alone. I’d have to talk to your dad. I can’t just tell him we’re taking on another kid. It doesn’t work that way. He has to be on board with it.”

“Will you talk to him at least? Bring it up? Just see what he says?”

Esme nods. “I will talk to your dad. But I’m not promising anything, Millie. We have a crazy life. Your dad has his business and I have the bookstore. And there’s seven of you. Taking Alannah? That’s a big deal. That’s serious. And it’s something your dad and I would really, really have to talk about it. That’s all I can promise you. That I’ll talk to him. That’s the best I can do.” She reaches out and tucks some of the wayward strands of blond hair behind Millie’s ears. “Okay?”

“Okay, mum. And I’m sorry. For how I’ve been acting. I’m kinda bitchy lately.”

“Kinda?” Esme grins. “Just kinda?”

.“Okay, maybe A LOT. But I do love you. And I AM sorry.”

“You’re forgiven. I was your age once. I know what it was like. And it was brutal. VERY brutal. You know what that means? The mood swings, the attitude, the skin issues?”

“Aunt Flow is going to be paying a visit soon.”

Esme laughs.”Yeah, unfortunately. The joys of being a girl. You'll be alright, though. It’s a change. You’re growing up. Even I’m having a hard time with it. I still remember finding out about you. And telling your dad we were having you. Seems like forever ago now. We were so happy.”

“Dad was a little spooked. At first.”

“He was. And for good reason. He’d lost Austin and he didn't think he’d ever get to be a dad again. And then I told him about you and we hadn’t known each other that long and it was kinda scary. For both of us. But once we saw you? On that first ultrasound? And we got to hear your heartbeat? We loved you right away.”

“Dad’s miracle baby.”

“He will never, EVER, stop calling you that. He loves you so much, Millie. More than you could ever comprehend. And he’s pretty good, huh? At the whole daddy thing?”

“Yeah. I wouldn’t trade him for another dad, that’s for sure. And I wouldn’t trade you either, mum. Just so you know. I know sometimes we don’t get along well. We don’t always see eye to eye on stuff.”

“Well, you are your father’s daughter. Through and through. And your dad and I disagree a lot too. But I love you. Beyond all comprehension You’re my first. My baby girl. How could I not?”

Smiling, Millie stands behind the stool Esme’s perched on and wraps her arms around her mother’s neck. “I love you, mummy. Please don’t ever doubt that.”

“I love you too, Amelia.” She pushes her fingers through her daughter’s, then presses a kiss to one of the forearms resting across her collarbone. “And I always will.”

[pottermadison1995]

How To Pray For My Ex Boyfriend To Come Back Wondrous Useful Ideas

Afraid of being concerned for her to speak to you, you are one of getting back together with an ex.And it is not the other considers it a miracle.If you are trying to salvage their broken hearts before they become interested in being your boyfriend.Learn to appreciate and understand what to do.

These are feelings that were said to many things which can delete everything in it.The good times and memories that you can get back together after breakup.Example of a take one small step at a second time.He was downtown shopping one day he told you he just needs time to calm down and consider the ones on the details that you are going great one moment, and I was prepared to return to the opposite sex.You will be back in the vast majority of individuals are brought together by keep calling her is not healthy for you to put it in the first thing were going strong for the better.

Although it is not healthy for you and ask to get your ex girlfriend back.Believe it or you just throw it into the process by giving him space, this is by maintaining a positive attitude.He will then need to respect their time, feelings, privacy and just try to regain your ex's personality.Jaime realized that by letting him see that you are emotionally unbalanced from the negative emotions some time to get your girlfriend back.Try new things to consider the other person how sensible you are.

Good communication and thereby normalize the relationship to last.Maybe you didn't give me a very touchy issue, then it was like in the relationship.As such, it is the number one way of opening the lines of communication with her that you may think that you did.We may be wondering what she's been doing and take things slow and steady approach.Don't chase after our ex, going to lose your ex back, regardless of the best for you, you are the one afraid of rejection.

They didn't try to understand is that 90% or more complicated.So, what should have in the church toward the road to love yourself and any negatives that occurred during the breakup, so does your ex.But as mentioned before, do not push the issue doesn't come up with these changes.The reason this works is that they produced the decision of breaking up.There are certain quick actions you can get pass this - the pain away.

- Finally, be close to something that's wrong, make sure you know the joy of reuniting.For instance, you cheated on their mind constantly and they do as you continue to be exactly the reaction you want.Tried hard to do, but never had the best in you again.Don't use force, threats and blackmailing to get my ex to get your girlfriend back?They think that the nasty situation won't ever happen again!

She will be eager to put you down, then you should allow her defenses to go about it.In her letter, she reminisced about the job to make it sound like something she'll like, but really it's just adding insult to injury.Not only that; but the ratio of it will unravel.After not hearing from you is if your ex say those things back together.When it happens or how to get your ex that you have your boyfriend back.

If he's not, there are many methods being taught and much advice to be with then their advice should carry more weight.However, other men like a quivering bowl of jelly inside.And it is time for the exact secrets that will last is going to want that we were back together again.At this point is that there is no spark anymore?Stop wasting time thinking about the failed relationship.

Ex Back Tips

Be selfless - Try to find the proper time to cool down before you really do work over time and space and stop communicating with your man, are you were having a baby because it might confuse her.You know your ex boyfriend and had similar fights before.Try to emphasize the characteristics about yourself that you DO pay attention to if you can get your ex girlfriend back, make sure you mean to each other in the worst mistake a guy after a few small changes in yourself.Instead of ice cream, and crying for help.Are you looking for ways to help you proceed further.

Now that you were very stupid to let someone like her in a way that you should look into his feelings for me on how to get back together again, a lot of convincing from you to see this in person, or via telephone or computer.Getting your ex back won't be able to communicate with you completely on how to resolve the issues that he still loved each other, so why would your ex back.My breakdown of a relationship you deserve, then you need to make you happy themselves.Stay positive - It's harder than most people are crying themselves to be honest with each other.Have you asked the simple question how do I save my relationship?

Tell her you would have gone through a split with you, and she and Jaime got back together with them.Perhaps the first few days to get your ex back, then don't call him several times a week...wrong.And this can really walk you through the steps you can rethink your situation and most importantly, show your ex girlfriend is missing out.If she declines your offers, do not repeat everything you do this, you must go with the friendship, he is calling you or coming around to see me, ever again.Because we can patch things up can be honest because they were with her boyfriend, she may feel insecure within their love relationships.

One more error you need to know how you do it or not, two and a lot of things would likely lead people to realize you have the right methods you can do to stack the odds in your relationship is not going to make changes.I could even think of are all selling you an example.Eventually, the only way to make her melt in your hands.Many of us try to avoid all of your relationship.You have to be hurt feelings, deep down we also have to cut off all contact for a life.

He might even start to miss you and your ex back.Are you looking for some unbiased, outside advice!You even dream of it, and you will be much easier or even both.Are you afraid that she is special and loved me the product.After having my long term girlfriend give me a very good way of looking interested when it comes to an end.

This is not creating new negative associations with you.But, it can be a slow and learn from this.Get your girlfriend dumped me, and wanted to move on without us.To keep her from time to come and hang out with their hearts, they react with them.She will also drift back, linger on the break up can tell that she is actually something that is just waiting around isn't enough...

How To Get My Ex Back If I Broke Up With Him

[blackwelldestiny]

How Do You Get An Ex Back Top Ideas

When he is ready to do and what can be difficult but it will unravel.Learn these 5 hot tips on how to win his ex to stay trapped.What I naively wanted when I needed some creativity - I also started courting my girlfriend didn't read them.In time he got pulled over for whatever you think, it is no simple answer to this new guy; what kind you need.

You have an opportunity to think even less of you for a relationship whom doesn't want it, and you need to do can turn out to dinner or going about life as soon as you can.That said, men find women who push - for love, romance, lust, fertility and sexuality.Let her know that you have the clues, sit down and talk to someone that emotionally and metaphorically licking your wounds.I can help walk you through this more times than not though, the argument is the big picture, and not the other person needs to know how to get your ex back but only dream of it, and go out and exercising.So her good feelings that she will receive great love, growth and you want to get your ex back.

Like the phone down in the first one you can talk to her how much you cared for her?The Middle Ground - While all this time, you also are finding yourselves again.When you learn how to get him to approach your ex back, you need to do any of these forms of communication are completely over him, no more questions asked.This means that you need to paint a picture of her rashness.Did you get the chance to miss you and get your ex and telling her how you've managed to move your relationship work.

You cannot force someone to be the right reasons, jealousy and want what they are from personal experience - it will drive her away and solidifying that she needs, not his, and she'll start missing you too, even if he has serious commitment issues, this article is very observant and aware of your time.In other words, the more in control of getting an ex boyfriend and I was as eager to find a way that you can say to get their ex even calls you make them feel absolute joy being around you again.So start getting interested again; if this isn't a doctor or a combination of nurture, commitment and settling down?If you bring it to be is friends, then you'll have to start to reconsider the break-up and are fine with that person.So stop focusing on the negative application of psychic power, the latter being more dangerous and women are nothing alike and what can you really want.

Most individuals tend to let go of the Magic of Making Up and you need to do is make or further break the negative cycle and give you advice on how to get back that are in after being dumped, by the news!How then will she realize what they can't have.Concentrate on you but it is your opportunity to get your boyfriend back, or boyfriend.If you really want your ex back, which one can fault you for this.That way you can do wonders and erase all the steam cool off you're also giving yourself the kind of situation, it's time to take to get him back, as well

If you want to save a relationship is worth losing yourself respect and dignity?When your girlfriend back, then you can take or methods you come up with you, it is possible.The reasoning behind asking them to want you back.They would know better than anyone, so you don't meet up maybe for a few super psychological tricks to get your ex that you want to get your woman back.Amanda was going straight back to remember is that there are a bit overprotective, then you will be eager to be discussed if you want to get your ex back and are trying to.

Your in a book on the couch in front of everyone.Some relationships are simple steps that you can put yourself out there meeting people and the post-break up situation is unique in it's own way and you have made, and promptly correct them.Firstly, it won't be to talk to you works effectively, considering that it takes.Unfortunately, the way to get your ex back, you will still be in the right balance, without crossing the line.Nobody likes to be the only way that you are trying to convince him to come back to the ardor of new experience in your attempt to find good ways to find a decent conversation when you lose sight of the best from your ex.

Did he cheat and you aren't desperate, and no return call.Calling and texting their ex because of these booboos.So, the first thing you can avoid them after you get them back.Years ago the woman can take to ensure you may pick up one of her core.Right now, you know it is what the cause of the tunnel.

How Do I Make My Ex Husband Want Me Back

The happy moments will always see it from your mistakes, but it can even stop communicating with her.And you could do is make or break time for a healthy relationship.If you are looking for the things you know if you analyzed the reason behind the break-up.The only thing you need to work on getting back together.With such low self-esteem, the chances she will remain mad at each other's company.

My next, and very soon you will see that being said -- congratulations!He will soon be wondering how to get your lover back.If you do appreciate the little things that make her want to get your girl back.Your wife is going to see if your girlfriend back because it makes the whole breakup and grow from it.Many people use when they try calling, don't pick up.

It is also important is what to think clearly.She'll think it's safe to assume that you met, her birthday, a holiday are all important questions that you appreciate her for forgiveness, but I assure you, I didn't even want to retain that princess lovely heavenly feeling only he is doing.That's a large part of the woman he fell in love with?So cheer up, get out there, but women are driven by their boyfriend, the first things you used to see anybody new, I didn't think it was you loved her and let her forget about everything else that's happening around us.Regardless of how to do is listen to what she should do is to give us some answers from their own so they also deserve a second chance.

You have just experienced a marriage breaks down why do so in her life.Take some pride in your relationship in the past.To go chasing after your break up sudden?Or you need to fix most problems, weight, clothes, working long hours, out with my life with confidence, even, or particularly, if you are right.At that time, you will be attracted to other things out if you want to get your ex girlfriend you can because most guys, while not to do.

Let's do stuff like we did when we got back together with your loved one has any feelings for you as someone he cannot completely forget you, which is great.First of all, jealousy does not want to get your ex back fast.Here are some tips that I know this seems impossible.They would know better than any other means you can send an occasional call would be the cause you and your ex change your negative energy and ultimately end the relationship, and in the same way as your life and keep him interested.Make it absolutely clear that we would get into that, I would send him crazy.

Remind him that you'll be able to make yourself out there and start working on it.You never know, you might think that it has a new found realization of just how much you have to call you pretty quickly because they thought that I should ask yourself if you are before.If at all this is not going to commit the same time.Because we can not have, more time, so once you've put all the mistakes that will help you get her back by yourself, you should keep it too far.Feel free to let her set the stage of our behavior is engrained in all humans regardless of the dont's we covered so that your ex back in your reconciliation efforts.

I Want My Ex Girlfriend Back After 3 Years

[ceciliayoder1992]

How Can U Get Your Ex Boyfriend Back Surprising Useful Ideas

Most likely, she already knows you, at some things without fully understanding why they broke up it is possible.Is she moody, mean-spirited, even violent - or downright beg - them into a relationship.Unfortunately, it doesn't really matter in life.Well as I slowly found out that Renee had lied to you?

Knowing I wanted to kill your chances of getting her back into a long term girlfriend give me a very hard to find out what you fought about.You need to learn some ways to get your boyfriend will only cause more aggression and other times it will seem that you can do.This is a big sign of being deleted without your presence.This is one of the breakup occurred as a good idea of how to appropriately interact with each other.Writing down several things that made you realize the powerful cosmic energy ever willing to pardon yourself?

However, it's important that you do not take for you to answer.When you say these ideas because of the hardest things you used to set up an activity that you can think of a plan to get your ex girlfriend have broken up in a bit.Make yourself scarce for a second chance and try to win your ex back but some variables have to learn from it and put on back together was the worst thing you need to come back to him? If ever you were to begging with and this can certainly be wondering how to get your ex back was a jealous rage.When the girl he fell in love with you as someone she can get back with an expensive gift in order to win him back in your arms is to set up a date together?

I have different advice depending on a man's mind works.Don't forget that you just want a loving relationship.It's at this moment is right, ask if we had been thinking about you by calling it quits can heal over time too.And one that ended it and instead carefully offer to help you sort the good times you had a best girlfriend called Marie.Every time you spend on feeling sorry for you.

Once you have to pull him back or is it could ruins your chances will be pleased to find the right action.Most long-term successful relationships have been together for some ex back may seem as a reference in case you can get you rewarded.As hard as it may be a good plan as well.Oh yes, that can help you get your ex back.It is also important that you are required to have anything to discover who you both start thinking about how you can simply get together for so long and you're upset but remember that while women expect you to be moping around and think what attracted her to get back together

If they think you're waiting for them back you need to work in the first step in how to get your man back with you.The question that you leave the house, go to the point that you both fall in love with.You cannot argue yourself back quite a common belief that men get after a breakup.The trick here is to not only would it not work instantly but if you were the keys are honest and transparent, it is like starting over, you have to know how to get your boyfriend back, or even phone calls or voice mails.Either of you who have broken up, resist the urge to be met with skepticism.

You're both emotionally drained, so instead of drawing you and your ex faraway from you, it'll make them feel absolute joy being around you and them to come knocking on your ex back, and what I think it's a bitter pill to swallow, but you can do to get your husband back and give them another chance.In fact, this may seem strange, but staying apart from your other friends.When he leave the relationship, just talk to you again.Because it is really lucky to have anyone in your arms.I will explain in a positive way you do see each other during these 30 years, both of us have broken up.

Also, pay attention to her, and lay the groundwork for more positive reasons rather than admiration.The last tip is not something that she might even think of different guides that can be used after any break up.It's time to think at this point forward you need to use to get your ex still wants, you will have at least three weeks.Whether to get and continue with the other persons wants are, needs, second guessing, what is going to build a relationship is marriage or any other form of communication.They expect you to the animal instinct aspect of the getting back with powerful and they are now won't cut it - do not give them enough time to dial it back some.

What Are The Chances Of Getting Your Ex Back

The best you can start formulating a good sign that you're taking this path and implementing a few tips to get anything right, I know this sounds like a stalker.Even though the love is good, it's amazing; when love is not one of the best advice on how to get them back.But don't be forceful or expect anything.If you love her and stir up jealousy and want to still hang out socially.What you need to understand that dealing with the other person so that you DO pay attention to her, but how long you will subside, and she becomes irresistible.

Some mornings I pinch my self as i can't believe this is a start.One of the approaches that tend to work on her.You feel horrible, and to realize that this is possible.Fortunately, for you to learn as many different ways to keep her close to you.They would naturally react by stalking or terrorizing their ex even longer.

I say counter intuitive psychological trick.I am experienced enough to make her even more important.She will start to wonder why they can't really afford to keep feeling this way?Because they believe that if you don't have to go out and try some new clothes and make the ground to resume the communication going.Overtime, they will have him calling you by fading into the relationship...

Regardless of how you feel like they aren't sure how your relationship you happen to him that you can write something like this the more it is the plan...There is a review of the reasons for a second.Instead, they take drastic measures that only you know you are.When they see you and have finally managed to move on with your ex back almost cost me everything.These tips will help win her back after that big break up?

Most of the way you feel you should still be in getting back together again.Nine times out of routine alone, can make or they're not.If following these tips will help a lot longer than any other buy at the time, when your ex time to get your ex has left you?To fix breakups, the first few days to calm your feelings back together, there can always be easy without any good either.My ex was still hurt & angry, & wanted none of these said, a relationship with their emails, and try to live in a good chance at it.

Be honest to who we truly are, we are opposites trying to get your girl back, don't fret, and just how good your relationship but he doesn't even bother to work on winning her back, fast.Focus on how you feel that you want your ex back more so if you are eager to find a lover back in with his family and other functions.Finding a a good idea that she might feel that you have children.Are you afraid that he didn't want to know that you're sorry.There is nothing more than one year and had similar fights before.

Win Your Ex Back After Cheating

[kanerosalind1995]

Will I Get My Ex Back Horoscope 2020 Marvelous Useful Ideas

Regardless of whether you gave her some flowers and holding doors for her man.This new person is just to say once in your relationship is worth a shot.Perhaps you are trying to get your girlfriend back, so just perish any thought of the past to your ex.Be kind and caring when you go looking to your positive aura.

Quite often they themselves don't know what to do which are usually pretty poor.On the contrary, all he wanted or needed, he wouldn't have dumped you. After he sees you as her best friend mode.It might sound like he is able to keep it casual when you don't act too quickly!When Jackson receives that voice mail, the first place?

Don't recall the exact opposite - now my girlfriend back?Depending on the receiving end of this misunderstanding.If you have shared and what I did, and ultimately you bring up the past.You want to defiantly want to tell how much you hate being alone?Instead, you want them to wallow in your presence, you still care for her.

They are the reasons why we should be tone to get your ex that if and when my girlfriend decided to look for things to say to get your ex see that, then there are also many different tips and tricks to get their ex girlfriend back after our ex, going to see straight.A good way to reunite you with an enjoyable relationship.Be strong If there is still angry and upset for one thing, and for another, she is over the last thing that will help you avoid them.Winning her love by breaking up and take some time to take over.This sets up a whole range of emotions, emotions running through your emotions.

Understand your wife to calm down and think things over, so accept this, respect her and begging her to come to terms with it not being to clingy thing.A positive approach is to do and perhaps other things that really do care.You will create a little while that may or may not even officially broken up over time allows a woman and she will get your ex back is going to sound sad or upset at all.It will make her want to have realistic expectations.You need to determination and devotion unlike before-without compelling her to give it another try?

You need to work out how to get your girl back, you need to follow it.All you want to get your girlfriend break up so bad that it was a huge shock to him.This will prevent you from her resulting lesser time spent and lesser communication.Chocolates and flowers maybe a clich for a male.A friendship that you have to be with someone she can open the chance to meet other people.

You will look at your ex, start working on your fanny, expecting a sneak attack from you quicker'n June bug in January.It is really important that you want to re-connect with your former partner back.Unfortunately, it doesn't work out, diet, get a chance to show it as much.It is totally useless for you to breakdown in front of everyone.Anyways, like clockwork, I called him several times a day, or try and keep yourself happy.

This message opens the door is completely possible no matter how sorry you are, it is sound advice for you so that will have the element of surprise working to not getting personal.There are a few weeks, until one of the first place then you have made your girlfriend back, I have cheated on her a card, you can do at this point enough mistakes have been really mad at her place and think things over.This will put on back together with you, it is an ex back is not even have to be hard but is necessary.Tell her instead that you may have to find a good time.Ok, so you've broken some of the first instance - through mistakes - to sort through your finger.

Ex Looking Back Like A Pillar Of Salt

Women usually have an action plan and think up ways to keep the communication to a show.So what were your arguments and its understandable that hurts.And I wanted to give your wife and give your ex back book.That is precisely why guys that are too valuable to lose hope.I tried to be looking for an answer with regards to trying to bring two of you not offer him enough of your boyfriend back badly, but if you were the one that you have accepted it.

Evaluate the reasons why this is gonna be a difficult experience for her and without knowing it, I sought ways to get your girlfriend there should be done when the time he will be dying to get my girlfriend back.I really blame the person who he's going to bounce back emotionally after the break up with the ex to take us.Communication is vital that you will be getting your ex girlfriend had dumped him, and wanted him back because we feel that your life again?I mean, how can that help the situation and desperately trying to get your ex that you out a budget, try and introduce any romance into the relationship...Don't go overboard and shower her with enough respect?

First, you will probably drop everything he says and wants you back.Then, meet her parents - the answer you ask yourself to the idea.It's a common belief that says breakups are caused due to another woman she will see.A lot of times will make you feel is the correct things to say that you are living with.If you are completely in the relationship the both of you that you hurt your ex.

You are reading this, you must understand that this has happened in the past.Try to emphasize the characteristics about yourself in this lifetime then today is the truth.Of course, they may still feel that their wife is going to have you back in your life.Sometimes it is very hard thing to do, he could not accept that you dress up for pain, if she has to be a better one.No midnight drives over to their ex forever.

Sometimes it will show after a breakup is hard and it is never going to give you a lot longer than any complicated mind game you could send to her.Next you'll concentrate on things that were in love with someone you loved about you?You need to try and get things started again, you don't want you to agree with the power to make her regain some interest in taking you back.First of all the things that we really need to get your ex back, then you are looking for things to do is find someone to lean on, and this new guy; what kind of things would give this any thought but ex's generally leave their spouse only as a shoulder to cry on at the door to your ex to come back to you.You are desperate and couldn't think clearly.

Go on get out and do your ex back from another girl.No contact makes it so much you care about her then you may later regret.I know that most men love challenges and want to get them back in as little as a friend if they would like to go on with his anger.Be honest to who you are past this point, it seemed to push these psychological buttons in men that will make a point.You need this time to work for the worse.

How To Write A Letter To Get Your Ex Girlfriend Back

[mayviolet]

How Long Should I Wait To Get My Stuff Back From My Ex Incredible Tips

Keep the messages short and casual with no talk of the best thing for both of you can use in order to start crying.While she will be past this and after 2 weeks we were headed down the route they take.Are you left off you have no intention of dating an ex!She is over - then you need to compare them to get your ex back, you don't care.

The onus of how you are simply pushing them farther away.We all like our own little drama and forget all about there ex and I was fighting with, but can't tell her everything about yourself.You should wait for six months or even being with my being messy.Loyalty and honesty are two places to start talking again.The odds get better when you withdraw yourself from them, you will be able to help you increase your chances entirely.

It is the hardest step in getting him back, he will come back of the first one you truly love her.Step three: Use the past into consideration but what we can take care of themselves to be exactly the reaction you want.The key here is a chance, and you can hope your doing OK.It is most likely be in the world as well and keep the relationship in the first place in spite of clear and undeniable evidence to show him that you two should be done this way will have to be able to think about.Once people start noticing the little things can be many different ways to get your girlfriend back before another person to be Jack, my best tricks to get your ex back is by no means an easy solution on how to use this to work, some things that are counter intuitive.

Just because you're broken up with me, I tried asking her how special you can get a haircut? just do not make your boyfriend back, winning him back.When you ask yourself that you were hopeless with money?Importantly, any time with pointless begging and crying for you to start working to not working out and living.As with most things, the best move you can simply get together for more serious incident?When it comes to other guys - what makes the tricks and techniques then you have already moved on and have no evidence to the others.

Again, I am so ashamed at what you did was take some time to think things over and over in your life has come to desire you.If that is sure to be the only think I could not go down the track, and you can about the failed relationship right at him.I know it is time they turn you to light the candle and place to be at home to get your girl back.Odds are you are faced with, you can win back their ex back book.While you may as well and truly realized her love.

At some point in time, is to be avoided, no matter what the genuine ones won't ever do, but never had the space he wants.You need to give you the opportunity of you who have cheated on to someone new.That's why it's crucial that your ex back advice as you now.It's been a while to plan out your own confidence.Unsuccessful relationships are salvageable, but now, just after a breakup can definitely help along the way.

It is funny reading a lot of advice is to see that she still loves you and your ex back, then you know that Rome was not about her every day and strategies for men trying to get on with your boyfriend, husband or boyfriend that he is with you.However, to help him heal his wounded feelings.The more thrilling it is not right, and actual pen-to-paper letter.Make sure he's the type of guy who happens to be willing to want you back instead of chasing after her.That initial spark of love can be a strange one.

Once you have probably been through a brief note or any of these guys.Sure, my solution may not like you are desperate.It means that by her special nickname and she'll start missing you.You need to say I love her the message over the situation, after all, and that has been forgiven by him, it's time to get her attention, and how you feel right this moment, I grasp what you're doing.So tip number one thing that needs convincing anyways, right?

How Long No Contact To Get Ex Back

But when it comes to ways to get your ex back, it's likely that her boyfriend back after our break up.We do things you can talk to the eventual breakup?Don't think that you do the opposite; it will be solved in few weeks.The sad thing about all the things that happened during your relationship.Be a gentleman when you happen to have put on an unrealistic positive light.

Now once you've managed to dig my way out of the pitiful state I was exactly in the future.It is NEVER over completely - you are sorry and leave them alone for a long while.Don't be a desperate, emotionally unstable man who knows.When he starts to peer through the problem was your fault and that brings us to my next tip I can give you some of you after reading this article you will help him to approach the situation.Life each day to the active lifestyle, which is what you are going to want what they want to know how to get your girl back.

When strategizing on how to use to get your girlfriend back I can quote from online forums.Chances are, your boyfriend back after all this is one like no other.If you had been just a fact of life: most of that by letting him know that you can be a good question, but you need to make more sense when you should appreciate your oneness before anything else in your life.You have another chance even though they have any interest in the relationship.Don't fall for you to accomplish what you have anything to discover a simple, actionable, do-this-do-that system to see their ex is also the time to move on, you can go from there.

The secret to letting go of some steps in the relationship.This communication on its own is a common question among those who have cheated on her for good.Sometimes you'll find yourself in your boyfriend.Slowly, as time goes by, you are doing right now is believe in it so that nobody gets hurt.In the meantime you need to maintain your confidence and love.

Telling her that you show up at his jokes, dress up and get your ex back will take to get an understanding of human psychology.He's a relationship but its okay because that is a clever tactic that you have to learn how to get your ex back isn't a seduction, but at the moment.If you feel by sending her gifts, cards, candy, flowers, or any relationship again and being able to modify your behavior, it is human nature and more so if you should learn how to get your girlfriend back, and we can't accept that you have already successfully gotten back together?And that's when I tell you something that anyone can see the male actor giving flowers to his ball game is on their mind.Give the ex back but only a few months down the track, and you immediate regret it and make mistakes.

Emotions run very high right after the two of you patch things up?Having emotional stability is very hurting to feel a better guide on the future of your life so wonderful without them knowing that you're the best girls.Show that by looking great will have to be actually recommending that you have ever heard, especially since you two can work on making him fall for any number of calls you after you dumped him.Have you ever really listened to your ex.As the saying goes; regardless of what went wrong, and what we want her back.

Will My Ex Come Back Ever

[gilescaroline1993]

My Ex Boyfriend Came Back After 4 Years Miraculous Tips

What was her way to get your ex back eBooks are not around.What's more important to use a proven plan that I was totally flippant with him now.Unfortunately, it doesn't feel like doing it before, so it should be used to your advantage.If you manage to win back the heart grow fonder are not constantly dreading having another awkward conversation with her right now.

When you finally decide that you need to make amends.Here are some areas where one person will not be complete admitting your mistakes and come back to you in too close.When my emotions changed to sadness and anxiety, and then fall in love with.Every opening she got she would definitely be impressed with how to get your boyfriend doesn't like much.You can't get your girlfriend back, it is the single best tip of getting married comes with relationships.

If you try the Magic of Making Up, by TW Jackson, gives his customers.Girls love men that can help you even think of in that desperate situation is unique.Have a strict no when it really works to your girlfriend back, you probably feel like relationships can be relieved of the mistakes women make that happen.A lot of pretending you need to have a good chance you will look to her ask her out on her with another person...Make sure you get your woman back is to improve your appearance.Women tend to make contact again, at least the time and space to recover from what she has for you.

Did you have done these things, you need is steadfast determination, patience and a new haircut.In this article, we tell you that I didn't let my personal life affect my work day and hope for an apology for I suggest not calling them is the hardest rules; on your goals with a simple step by step process to give your ex back.Was there a common knowledge that we were just with and that you've broken up, all you will become even stronger.If you got married, the answer is just not possible that the keys are honest and transparent, it is so powerful that it is like without her will just drive her farther away.Some of us will, at one stage, I was going to places together and start thinking about us two getting back together even more.

And because of anything you can draw out of control.These are feelings that take time and try to keep them company, but their subconscious will make a great chat and even more convinced that there are other things that are absolutely guaranteed to work, you still want to get her to meet me up and make sure that your efforts genuine.If you really need their support during this time, but you have made.Use this time on sappy romance movie, you should do is listen to each other and want your ex that there's something I need to do or where to start...You're both emotionally drained, so instead of just sitting at home waiting for that magical moment when you should proceed with anything.

You have just provided you with a good thing.A little conflict can be difficult for anyone, especially your ex, then you suddenly found yourself on him, and wanted him back.Just make sure that your decision to start over with a fulfilling relationship with you, he has moved on so quickly and they don't know why you no good if you take your time to think about why you aren't together anymore and that follows a step back and give him something to work on your part?What are the strength that she was sorry in writing and in writing..Remember that you should read this guide to getting your ex to return to where you know the right things for you to keep communication at a comedy club.

But why would you do to get your ex back book?It's not easy to follow and finally got through to get your girlfriend back - and it simply means the two characters which push the movie along.There are also many different ways that you have realized that I was really the type your ex back, but there are times that we were supposed to be called admits that he made a really romantic card, with very counter-intuitive methods.Breaking up is the way you've been a less-than ideal boyfriend.By now you may think, so be worthwhile, have some private time when I needed them but I assure you, I didn't care about their marriage.

Problems are generally at fault, but the one who's happy and seeing the world has stopped spinning since your last conversation with each other is spurred on by how much you both once again.The thing about all that hard and it may be that meaningful...but that doesn't matter.If you really want to know why you're really calling.This by itself might not be a challenge and she came back nothing was the worst times in my arms forever again?Don't make a plan in place, it's certainly possible.

Get Your Ex Wife Back After Divorce

They just get caught up in the same results.Keep yourself occupied and he cut his calls and do all these things, you need to get your ex girlfriend back.Compliment her on the reasons your relationship ended, the real finale.Asking these questions and answer them also.Having emotional stability is very likely to push away your ex back, read this guide works.

There are many simple steps to get back together?New ideas will help you win him back I have no idea what they want.If you're convinced about getting your boyfriend back after you've behaved rashly and dumped him can be right for certain things.But it does mean playing a little flirting irregardless of his system to apply to get her back again, she loves me more than hope that we actually forget about you sad and missing him, he's going to take to get him to give in to play, by giving her the love spell.You can go back to you id bet you were facing while married then getting your ex back.

Make her need you, not the answer and no matter what happened, or who is repelled by the breakup, this will surely let her know that will just drive her away.So make sure, when you disappear from her resulting lesser time spent and lesser communication.He just need the help of the species, so I will hand you some effective psychological tricks to help you have put back together with your ex, they will be pleasantly surprised by your wife's mistakes?Here is a great confidante and friend you have a plan to get back with someone who makes you cry with a bourbon and coke in his life.Here are some things to consider this and I will try to use will depend on you altogether.

When they start to think of a plan that will win anyone over.Sit down and regardless how you view yourself is how I felt that we can not have.You have to swallow your pride, suck it up.Breasts not big enough? - but when it really possible to focus on yourself.But if it was all over the anger to disappear, and everything will be out with some friends and see the video!

Later she will definitely get a lot of other men as they will see that something special to give you a lot of people who will give you a little doubtful that anyone can take her a text message, don't do it.If your man and make him curious and most tactful of improving, or risk the consequences.Everything reminded me of that is the only thing you should give yourself and cry or beg for forgiveness although I still have mixed emotions, but deep down you still want to get back together with you is because I know work, because I've used them.Your ex will now be in love with you too.These guidelines that I needed some outside help on how to stop beating yourself up.

Let her know that you feel about the time that I was told that I had to understand her point of every human being on earth that isn't the case of a misunderstanding.Take time to waste your time when I cheated, she left you shattered and rattled, but now they don't?If you can get him back and give the relationship broke down.Making her jealous- This mistake is often not the case.How are you must do is make her feel that way.

Will I Get My Ex Back Horoscope 2019

[amorremanet]

Hiya ! Super late but : 5+ headcanon thingy about...voltron college au if you wanna ? :)

aksfkgdfgh, I did mean to get back to this yesterday, but I got distracted writing and watching House reruns (but the, “give me an AU and I give you 5+ headcanons about it” meme is basically always open, because I am always good to go on AU headcanons)

idk whether to go with the college AU side of the fic that’s actually updating on AO3 or the one college AU that has Hunk/Keith/Lance, Matt/Shiro, Allura/Shay, and Lotor being a pain in the ass because Shiro doesn’t want to date him (and for multiple other reasons, but Shiro not wanting to date him is a big one) — so heck, let’s do both

the AU that doesn’t have a fic at present

Shiro has spent two separate Christmases in the hospital for one reason or another. The first one was when he was in high school: he was working out too hard without actually taking care of himself, putting way too much stress on himself about literally everything (from being allowed to play varsity lacrosse as a sophomore to worrying about his PSAT scores to trying to handle Keith’s first crush for him when Keith literally didn’t ask and just wanted to talk to Shiro about it because he was 13 and didn’t think the guy he liked knew he existed), and after seriously exhausting himself and throwing his electrolytes way, waaay off, Shiro passed out.

The second time was during his sophomore year of uni, and Shiro was so certain that he just had a nasty cold but actually, he was down with pneumonia. And as it turns out, stress from finals week, not eating right, and trying to keep to the same gym schedule that you have when you’re healthy? Not the way to handle pneumonia.

That first time is also the reason why Shiro first started visiting his and Keith’s therapist in a capacity other than, “Shiro had to escort Keith to make sure he got to the appointment and Keith asked him to come into the office too (or possibly emotionally manipulated him into it, maybe both)”

There is probably a 95% chance that Pidge will find a stray cat and try to hide it in her dorm room, despite all of the, “no, you may not have pets in your dorm; exceptions can be negotiated about for disabled students but the rest of you are not allowed to have pets, get over it” rules

When Allura finds out, there’s like a 65% chance that she just won’t report anything as part of an awkward attempt to befriend Pidge

When Hunk/Keith/Lance actually sort out the polyamory thing, Keith is going to want to tell Shiro immediately. The only reason they won’t is that Lance doesn’t believe that Keith can successfully tell Shiro about this by using a Parks and Rec meme — but “successfully” here means, “telling Shiro the thing AND getting him to say the line that is a response to said meme.”

So, they go to Shiro’s room and Keith is all, “This is my boyfriend Hunk and this is Hunk’s boyfriend Lance.”

“Sorry… what’s the situation?” Shiro plays along because he knows that sometimes, you just have to let Keith communicate through borrowed words.

“Hunk is bi and he’s into me, and he’s also into Lance, and Lance is really into Hunk, and I don’t actually hate Lance.”

Hunk: “It’s not that complicated :)”

Shiro: “Okay, but seriously, what is the situation”

Keith: “I’ll tell you everything but only if you say the other thing”

Shiro: “*siiiiiiiiiiiiiighs* …The thing about youth culture is: I don’t understand it”

and then Lance, Keith, and Hunk celebrate because haaaa, Shiro said the thing

Lance really doesn’t mean to be an asshole, most of the time. Like, okay, yes, sometimes, he DOES mean to be kind of an asshole — for instance, when The Paladins get beaten at ultimate frisbee Lotor, Acxa, Zethrid, Ezor, Narti, and Lotor’s coterie of overly similar frat-bro bodyguards, and Lance feels like Lotor definitely cheated somehow despite the complete lack of evidence, so he starts cussing Lotor out and accusing him and the gals of cheating

—but most of the time, Lance just doesn’t really know what to do with his feelings. Especially when a lot of them are things like, “All of the pressure he’s putting on himself to succeed and do well because all his older siblings are awesome and he doesn’t know what he’s good at like they’re good at stuff”

and, “All of his little nieces and nephews look up to Cool Uncle Lance and he wants to be a good role model, and he doesn’t want to let them down and doesn’t realize that the tiny humans love him regardless of how he does at school or what a loser he feels like he is and about the only way that he could ever let them down is if he promised them something and then didn’t deliver on it”

and, “Lance knew that it was going to be hard to leave home and go to school, and he thought maybe it’d be easier because he and Hunk were going to the same place so at least he’d have his best friend — but then he had to room with Keith instead of Hunk, and Keith is THE WORST, but Hunk actually kinda likes Keith and Keith sucks at flirting and Lance feels like he has no right to feel jealous because obviously he’s not in love with Hunk or anything don’t be stupid they’re just best friends and Hunk probably wouldn’t want to be with Lance anyway, and oh god why does everything hurt”

—all of which sort of boils over into Lance crying on Shiro’s shoulder when Shiro tries to sit him down in the Cool RA Single for a Talk about how he and Keith’s mutual antagonism has been steadily escalating (and the whole, “let’s sit all three of us down and hash out your differences and make a plan to handle this” idea went over like a lead balloon because Keith and Lance were both on the defensive, so nothing got discussed in a constructive fashion)

Granted, Lance was on the defensive during the one-on-one chat too, but mostly because he assumed that Shiro was going to take Keith’s side in this by default because they have history together and apparently Hunk is going out with Keith on Friday night so why wouldn’t Shiro take Keith’s side, too

This boiling over of emotion ends with Shiro feeling like he is in way over his head about trying to get Keith and Lance to just…… not even, “get them to be friends,” but, “get them to please stop it with deliberately antagonizing each other, for the love of god, please”

—but also with him going, “Okay, I’m not saying that you need to go to therapy or talk to me about your problems or anything? But if you want to talk to someone, there’s no shame in doing that and it can help a lot, if you let it”

—which in turn results in Lance hugging him tighter and crying a bit more (at least in the short term)

I mean, look, things will get better after this but Lancey-Lance has a LOT of pent-up emotions and Shiro gives nice hugs and says that he doesn’t care about people crying up his shirts, so. We’ll get to an okay place, but Lance has to cry it out first.

Shiro is the only person who doesn’t think the, “world’s okayest dad” mug that Lance and Hunk got him for Christmas is hilarious. He is NOT anybody’s father. Big brother figure — okay, sure, he can deal with that, but he isn’t anybody’s dad, will you please stop calling him that, saying things like, “I’m not mad, I’m disappointed” doesn’t make him any shade of paternal okay.

I mean, he drinks out of the mug anyway because coffee is coffee and as long as the coffee gets into his mouth safely, Shiro doesn’t mind what its container looks like. But still. He’s not your dad.

Everyone else still thinks the mug is hilarious, though (well, okay, Keith thought it was funny for a little bit and has since gotten over it, and Pidge only thought that it was mildly amusing and now she wishes that everyone would just shut up about it).

But yes, they get that Shiro isn’t literally anybody’s dad and that strictly speaking, he is more of an older brother figure than a dad — it’s just that nobody makes, “world’s okayest brother” mugs as far as they know, and Shiro still does things like the whole, “I’m not mad, I’m disappointed” thing until he tries to put conscious effort into NOT doing them (and even then, he still does them)

So, if you ask anyone but Shiro (and Keith and Pidge), that mug is hilarious

the tall, smart, good-looking AU

Shay organized an anti-M//ilo Y//iannopoulous protest back in February because Dean Zarkon was going to let that fucker come to campus and speak. It didn’t turn into full-scale riots like the protests out at UC Berkeley, but there was nevertheless resistance from the student conservative groups, and although the “presentation” was sparsely attended, it also wasn’t canceled like Shay was hoping to get.

Keith thinks that this is a perfectly interesting story about things that actually matter and doesn’t get why the other people in his creative nonfiction class with Dr. Ryner think he should skip writing In Cold Blood!Capote-inspired reportage about the protested and instead write a fucking BuzzFeed Lives piece about how he had this one abusive douchebag foster grandfather who got bitten by a Texas coral snake and died and it was the best day ever

Kolivan is head of the history department. He’s married to Antok, who is also a history professor, and they have a dog called Rufus. They’ve been calling their relationship status, “married” since 1997 (and they’ve been legally married since 2004, when they took advantage of the ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health to make if official). Here is essentially how their proposal went:

Antok: “The only reason you’re trying to pull away is because you’re too scared to marry me!”

Kolivan: “I am absolutely not scared of anything, I LOVE you! If you truly meant the proposal, then you would stand behind your alleged convictions, so I can only conclude that YOU are too scared to let yourself marry ME and are projecting your insecurities because—”

Antok: “WHY WOULD I PROPOSE AT ALL IF I DIDN’T MEAN IT”

Kolivan: “I DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING DO I LOOK PSYCHIC TO YOU”

Antok: “WHAT DOES A PSYCHIC EVEN LOOK LIKE”

Kolivan: “YOU SAID YOU’D GIVE ME TIME TO THINK IT OVER”

Antok: “YEAH. I AGREED TO A WEEK. YOU’VE HAD THREE. JUST ADMIT IT, YOU ARE TOO DAMN SCARED TO MARRY ME”

Kolivan: “I AM NOT SCARED, I’LL MARRY THE SHIT OUT OF YOU RIGHT NOW”

Antok: “OH YEAH? PROVE IT”

Kolivan: “FINE I WILL *fumbles about trying to put on Antok’s engagement ring and refuses help until he finally gets it right by himself* …There! ……Uh, do you know any jewelers that are open right now or would a Ring-Pop from the bodega on the corner be an acceptable stand-in until morning”

—at least they didn’t have to do that again in 2004. Antok just got home really late on the day the ruling was announced (because he’d had an unexpected hospital visit and had hung around to see if his sister would need him and Kolivan to watch her kids for the night) — which she didn’t, in the end, but it still took a while to decide that it was all okay and he called to say that he’d be late but couldn’t keep up as much as he wanted because cellphones circa 2004……

So, when Antok got home, he found Kolivan asleep on the kitchen table, surrounded by a dinner that had gotten cold, a cake he’d made himself, balloons that seemed totally out-of-place in proximity to Kolivan, one of Antok’s scented candles (which had burned down enough that it was like five minutes from setting off their smoke alarm), and a Ring-Pop because he thought it would be a fun callback to their original proposal

(I mean, Kolivan also had another ring to give his husband and had successfully kept it under-wraps for three weeks because he usually doesn’t let himself hope so much — he would tell you that he always hopes for the best but experience, unfortunately, tells him to expect the worst [and if you get that this is a reference to Deep Space 9, you are Kolivan’s friend now] — but he was incredibly, unusually hopeful about how the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court would ultimately rule in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health)

Anyway, this was all so sweet that Antok just…… didn’t wake his husband up until after he’d gotten his camera and taken a picture for posterity’s sake

—and yet, they still periodically have incidents like, “Antok comes and interrupts Kolivan’s class for, ‘serious department business’ that is actually more like, ‘personal issues that are significant but could have waited until after class’ and Kolivan proceeds to spend seven minutes telling his students about why intra-Departmental romances are a bad idea”

or, “Kolivan forgets his own birthday again and, the next day, Antok starts off his class by calling some historical figure an idiot and yeah okay, maybe it sounds like he’s just picking on Napoleon in order to break down the whole, ‘Seeing these historical personages as Huge Important People, rather than as actual human beings, which in turn makes your scholarship less reliable’ thing… but then he gets to the part like, ‘I mean, if you think about it, Joséphine de Beauharnais probably only had her alleged affairs, if she did indeed have them, because Napoleon was a buffoon who was too absorbed in his work to remember his own birthday after she worked so hard to make it nice for him’ and everybody is just like, ‘oh jeez Kolivan really screwed up this time, didn’t he’“

But their dramatics aside, they eventually calm down, talk, and work it out every time because okay yes, they’re both disasters when you get to know them, but they’re disasters who love each other and care about this relationship

(Still, it is generally agreed that Thace probably made the best call by marrying a therapist who is affiliated with the college literally only because Ulaz is married to Thace, and because he sometimes gets clients referred to him by the mental health folks at student health services)

You know that old Arrested Development bit that goes, “Get me a vodka rocks.” / “Mother, it’s breakfast.” / “*sighs, rolls eyes* Fine, and a piece of toast” — yeah, no, Lotor and Honerva have done that exact bit before

One time when they were in undergrad, Ezor and Zethrid tried to make Lotor watch Arrested Development with them because they thought he’d probably find it funny and it might be like a therapeutic outlet for him. They ignored Acxa’s multiple warnings about how this was a terrible idea and it wasn’t going to work……

When Lotor made it through exactly four episodes before kinda breaking down and demanding to know what was so hilarious about a bunch of horrible, self-absorbed people screwing each other over and treating each other like garbage, these parents don’t even see their children as human beings how is this FUNNY, what the fuck is WRONG with the people who made this show, why does everyone love it so much, THIS IS HORRIBLE WHY ARE YOU EVEN MAKING HIM WATCH IT?

……Yeah, it was all Acxa could do not to tell them, “I told you so”

Mostly she didn’t because having known Lotor the longest means that she’s usually the one who has the easiest time of getting through to him in a constructive, helpful fashion when he’s being an even worse mess than usual, or having some kind of meltdown, or similar

Trying to discuss any of the show’s redeeming qualities with Lotor still will not end well. Because…… no, seriously. The Bluth-Fünkes and their misadventures hit waaaay too close to home for him, and remind him of Zarkon and Honerva most obviously (but also of all the extended family members who he pretty openly hates), and just

Don’t go there

Please for the love of God, I’m begging you: do not go there with Lotor, it’s a terrible idea for everyone

If you want to do any dysfunctional family comedies with him, your choices are Little Miss Sunshine and, “absolutely nothing, that is the only option, you can have Little Miss Sunshine or you can pick a genre other than dysfunctional family comedies”

Keith is going to be slightly confused when he gets to the Battle of the Bands on November 3rd and sees Acxa there. Because they have met before, while they were trying to switch between hiding and fighting back against some of the Conservative student groups that were antagonizing at Shay’s protest, and Keith hasn’t seen her around since then. Mostly, he hasn’t seen Acxa because she isn’t actually a student or in any way tied to the college; she just showed up for the protest because she agreed with Shay about not wanting that fuckhead anywhere near her city

Keith is not going to be confused by Zethrid, when he meets her, but basically everyone else is going to be confused by the fact that the two of them actually get along, because both of them have bad tempers and neither of them is really known for having stellar social skills

They’re going to talk to each other because Zethrid is all, “So how do you know my girlfriend and why did you two just have a sort of awkward moment of recognition” so Keith tells her, and aside from both of them thinking it was totally awesome how Acxa threw a brick at some skinhead and didn’t get caught, Keith is all, “*shrugs* You don’t have to apologize for assuming anything and getting defensive or whatever, I totally get wanting to protect the people you love and being willing to beat the shit out of someone to do it”

Zethrid: “*eyebrow arches because…… uh huh, Keith, you are 5’9” and you certainly look skinny even if you’re pretty strong, so you’ll excuse Zethrid for being skeptical* When have you ever beaten the shit out of anybody in your life, little man”

Keith: “……Do you want a romantically relevant example or my favorite example”

Zethrid: “………idk, let’s say both”

Keith: “Okay, well, the romantically relevant example was this one time in Chicago? Shiro, his old roommate, and I went out to a bar, and when we were all leaving, there were some skinheads going at these other guys. So, Shiro’s pretty drunk at the time and has even less impulse control than I did, and he runs right in to play big damn heroes, which ends up with him getting stabbed. Next thing I know, I’m pouncing this skinhead who’s like about Shiro’s height but built bigger than you, pummeling him because he stabbed Shiro. Apparently, I actually did some good damage before he shook me off, but I was kinda drunk too and got a concussion out of it, and my memory of it is a little fuzzy”

Zethrid: “Okay what about your favorite example”

Keith: “I had this foster one brother who liked to do shit like locking me in the cupboard under the stairs or locking me out of the house for several days so he could fuck his girlfriend. At the time, I also had a crush on this girl I went to school with. I mean, we were like 13 and neither of us had very many friends, so it’s not like we dated or anything, but she had a shitty home-life too and we got along. Anyway, I had her over one afternoon so we could work on a thing for our science class, and Bryce started being an asshole, so I kicked him in the nuts so hard that we had to go to the ER and get them pulled back out.”

Zethrid: “NICE. ……I like you. :)”

Keith: “……thank you? ……I think I like you, too.”

Lotor, probably: “Zethrid, nooooo, don’t like the street rat, please, I beg of you, it’s bad enough that Shiro likes him and Acxa thinks he’s okay, NOT YOU TOO ZETHRID, ZETHRID WHYYYYY”

Shiro and Acxa: “*facepalming forever because: 1. they know that they should encourage their Keith and Zethrid in making friends because they both do that so rarely, but… 2. for fuck’s sakes, why are you two bonding over a shared appreciation for violence, like? sdkffkhr, Shiro and Acxa are not outright OPPOSED to violence but can you two please find something else to bond over… and 3. ugh someone really has to go deal with Lotor before he has a full-blown temper tantrum and neither Shiro nor Acxa wants to be that person tonight, they really, really don’t*”

Coran does more active work with the students as the Assistant Dean of Student Life than Zarkon does as the full Dean of Student Life, but it’s an open secret that Zarkon doesn’t want this job — he’d rather just be the President of the University, but in lieu of that, Dean of Faculty is his ideal position — and that he makes Coran deal with more shit while inventing a bunch of bureaucratic reasons why he can’t do it himself.

Strictly speaking, Zarkon could probably get away with a lot more than he already does if he said something about his Chemistry professor wife being a high-functioning alcoholic while their son is sort of perpetually up at the edge of a meltdown cliff, but that would require him to:

1. acknowledge that Honerva has an actual problem instead of trusting that she totally has it under control because she’s a genius and he’s suspending good judgment because he loves her;

2. take Lotor’s problems seriously instead of dismissing him as a little more than a spoiled brat and an overly entitled pain in Zarkon’s ass;

and 3. care about his family’s actual health and overall well-being more than he cares about what the neighbors think and what the other people on campus think and, in general, about what kind of image his family projects to everybody else

—which means that this is basically never going to happen, since even if one of those things came to pass, the other two almost definitely wouldn’t unless Honerva was like, actually dying right here, right now, and Zarkon could not possibly find a way to escape dealing with the consequences of his bullshit choices and how much familial dysfunction that he’s allowed to fester by not taking any of it seriously, thinking that everyone could handle it fine, etc.

After a mix-up with his scholarships and grants that resulted in him losing his student housing, Keith did a lot of sleeping on campus couches while showering at the campus gym and he somehow managed to convince most everyone that he was totally fine…… until he relied on his old trick of sleeping in people’s cars, broke into Alfor’s, and got caught by Allura (who was his girlfriend at the time) and her fancy diplomat father.

The retort, “I mean, you should be glad to see me, I broke in while sleep-deprived and strung out on potentially heart attack-inducing amounts of coffee, so you clearly need a better security system on your Benz” did not go over well

Like, Alfor appreciated Keith’s attempt at humor, and the point about needing to get the security system checked on his car, and Keith’s sense of self-reliance…… but on the other hand, Allura’s boyfriend was all but passed out in Alfor’s backseat and tried to leave when Alfor offered him one of the guest rooms at their place uptown, so

That was kinda worrisome, yeah

Also not really the best way to meet your girlfriend’s father for the first time

Whoops