#feel like a baby sitter checking the tags every day and being like “step away from the outlet” except its no an outlet its glass

[yippie-madness]

cant kill myself because someone needs to tell people that the shblr tags are not for kink and a lot of the people that use them are minors and someone needs to correct all the really awful first aid advice

[let-love-run-red]

The Adventures of a Single Father-3

Tag List: @sincereleygmg @0hour9am​ @siobhanlovesfilm​ @thefandomzoneisdangerous​

As the weeks went on, you and Adam had grown closer. Usually his job hunting schedule aligned with your work schedule, and he found himself leaving the apartment with Cody at the same time you would walk out the door, dressed in a pair of sensible heels  with a long coat obscuring the rest of your outfit as the seasons turned colder. He would wait for you to lock your door, before walking you down the steps of the building into the lobby. Then you would wait for him to unlock his bike and strap Cody into the small seat before saying your goodbyes and going your separate ways.

It was a routine Adam found endearing, and one you found you didn't mind either. After a few days, you offered to hold Cody while Adam unlocked his bike. You'd noticed he struggled with the key in one hand while holding Cody in the other. Adam hesitated at first, before handing Cody over to you. You cooed to the baby, smiling widely down at him before Adam turned to take him back with the bike leaned against his hip. You had only been holding Cody for a moment, but you could see how anxious Adam was at not having Cody with him.

But after that day, Adam had started asking you to hold Cody while he unlocked his bike or stowed his bag in the basket. It was nice knowing Adam was gaining trust in you, and you definitely didn't mind holding Cody. He was adorable, and getting bigger by the day. Adam seemed much more relaxed around you as well, enjoying your presence rather than seeming on edge.

"Where are you going today?" You asked him one morning. You'd exchanged your heels for a pair of winter boots as the temperature dropped. Rather than the sharp click of your heels on the floor you listened to the rhythm of your boots and Adam's shoes thunking on the hard stairs in the stairwell. Cody was bundled up in a small winter coat, with warm fuzzy socks and boots on his small feet. Adam was in a thicker ratty jacket, wearing his usual jeans and a T-shirt underneath.

"There's a club a few blocks over offering a job. They didn't specify which kind but, it's a job." Adam said as the two of you stepped out into the lobby. As you approached the interior bike rack, Adam handed Cody off to you. Cody babbled happily at you, softly touching the short faux rabbit fur that lined the hood of your winter coat. Adam worked on unlocking the bike, before leaning it against his body and turning to glance at you and Cody. You were softly humming to him as Cody reached for your finger. He felt warmth surge through his chest. You looked like Hayley had, the first time she held Cody.

Adam shook his head violently to clear the thought. You weren't Hayley. She had left Cody, she had left Adam, and she wasn't coming back. You didn't need to take over the role as Cody's mom, because Cody didn't need a mom. He had Adam, and that was good enough. He was good enough.

"That's good. Any idea what the hours are?" You asked, as Adam fussed with the fabric cover and sun shade he'd bought for Cody's bike seat, to keep the cold wind from getting to him.

"Here let me help, these can be tricky." You said, handing Cody back to Adam. Adam took his son, cradling him against his shoulder as he watched you. You laid the fabric cover over the plastic seat, pulling the straps through the pre-cut holes in the cover. You then reached for the sun shade, attaching it to the seat and popping it into place. Adam settled Cody in the seat on his bike. Adam buckled the small helmet over Cody's little hat and pulled out a small pair of mittens from his own jacket pocket.

"I'm not sure, about the hours. I'm hoping it'll be during the day, like setting up for the night rush. It's easier to find babysitters for the day." Adam slipped the mittens over Cody's hands, tightening the string at the bottom and tying them to the loop on Cody's coat sleeves so he couldn't pull them off or drop them during the ride. You nodded thoughtfully as you watched Adam buckle Cody into the seat. He stood straight, flipping his hair out of his eyes as he looked back at you. Cody burbled happily from his seat.

"That would be good. Well, I hope you get the job." You encouraged as you and Adam walked out the door. Adam paused before walking out, lowering the shade down to block Cody from the New York winter winds.

"I hope so too." Adam said. The two of you paused for a moment, unsure of what to say. You finally shuddered from the cold, flipping your hood up and shoving your hands in your pockets.

"Well, I'll see you later Adam." You said with a grin. Adam waved goodbye and you turned to wave at Cody through the tinted plastic window in the shade before walking the opposite direction to your job. Adam waited for a break in the traffic, before pushing off his bike and riding towards the club a few blocks away.

"Hey, I saw you guys posted a job opening?" Adam greeted the man at the empty bar top drying cups. The bartender glanced up, eyeing the baby carrier strapped to Adam's chest before looking back up to Adam's face and snorting.

"Yeah, we did. I'm not in charge of it though." The man said, stacking the cup he'd been drying only to pick up another and continue the process. He didn't say anything else, just continued drying his cups.

"Who would be in charge of it?" Adam asked. He could feel his patience wearing thin. It had been days since he'd found a lead this promising at a job. There was always the opening at Grumpy's, but that was way too close to Hannah for his comfort. He wanted nothing to do with her.

"That would by Viggo Hartvigsen." The bartender said, gesturing to a door at the back of the club. Adam glanced back to see the large black door with red designs on it. Adam sighed before approaching the door. There was a small paper taped to the door that said "Job inquiries, please knock." Adam raised his fist, knocking gently on the door. He heard a booming "come in" before he opened the door. The man sitting at the desk was massive. He had dark hair braided down his back, and a thick beard covering most of his features. When he lifted his head, Adam noticed the beard was braided as well.

"Are you Mr. Hartvigsen?" Adam asked. The man flashed him a smile before standing from his desk. He was a few inches taller than Adam, although the berth of his shoulders made him look much larger.

"Please call me Viggo. You are?" Viggo asked, offering his hand for Adam to shake. Adam gave a firm handshake before Viggo gestured for him to sit in the chair across the desk. Adam glanced around at the walls, seeing old Viking artifacts scattered throughout the room.

"I'm Adam Sackler. I heard you were offering a job?" He said. viggo's face fell as he pursed his lips.

"I'm sorry Mr. Sackler, we gave that position away earlier today. A little college boy came in lookin' for a job, said he needed the money for tuition." Viggo said. Adam sighed, resting his hands on the arms of the chair to stand. Cody let out a squeal and waved his arms around in an attempt to shake off the mittens from his hands. Viggo snapped his head up, finally spotting the baby carrier nestled under Adam's jacket.

"And who might this be?" Viggo asked with a grin. Adam gently took Cody's hands in one of his own, smoothing his other hand over Cody's dark hair.

"This is Cody, my son. I'm sorry I brought him I just couldn't find a sitter." Adam said. Viggo watched as Cody calmed down, resting his small head against Adam's chest.

"Do ya need this job for the wee one?" Viggo asked, his face falling grim. Adam nodded, looking down at Cody.

"Well I'll tell you what Mr. Sackler. I pride myself on being a good person. The Gods saw fit to give me enough to thrive with ownership of this club, and I choose to use it to help those who were handed a rotten fish." Viggo said. Adam blinked. He didn't know what that meant entirely, but he had hope.

"My night security man has has been asking me to hire another man for the evening shifts. He's in hot water with his wife for missing one too many dinners. What do you say to working, oh, every other night?" Viggo offered. Adam felt his heart jump into his throat. This was his first real offer.

"I, that would be amazing!" Adam said, a wide smile on his face. Viggo mirrored his grin and offered his hand.

"It's a deal then Mr. Sackler. How d'ya feel about starting tomorrow?" Viggo asked. Adam graciously accepted. Viggo offered a generous hourly wage for his first month, changing to a large salary after the one month mark. He even offered various benefits that Adam couldn't hope for anywhere else. Adam filled out the paperwork required, before nearly skipping out of the office. This was his chance at a better life for Cody, and he couldn't wait.

You walked through the rear entrance of the restaurant straight into the kitchen. You turned into the small coat closet, dropping your thick coat and hanging it on one of the pegs on the wall, pulling your small black heels from your bag and replacing your boots with the heels. You opened your locker, pulling out your fancy apron and dropping it over your neck, tying it behind your back before doing your hair the way it needed to be done to be considered acceptable for your dress code. Luckily, your manager was fairly relaxed when it came to hairstyles.

You walked through the kitchen, greeting the rest of the waitstaff and the cooks before clocking in and checking in with the hostess at the front to let her know you were there. Luckily your section hadn't needed to be opened yet, as the lunch rush hadn't arrived yet.

Finally, there was a group of four girls that were sat in your section. You rushed over to greet them with your usual cheery smile, asking for drink orders. The girls all gave their order. Some sort of alcoholic drink, except for one. The girl with short hair pulled back into a ponytail. You hated to be rude, but her teeth were also a little crooked. You took their order, giving them to the bartender. The only one you could bring out was the root beer the girl with crooked teeth had ordered.

As you walked back out, you heard the group chatting amongst themselves.

"So what's going on with that Adam fellow? After he dumped me I thought he went back to you." The British one said, addressing the toothy girl.

"No ew Jessa. As if I want anything to do with him." The toothy girl snapped.

"Hannah, you came to me crying after he hooked up with that one girl, I think her name was Hayley?" The blonde said. You couldn't help but listen in as you stood at the waiters station a few feet away after dropping off the root beer.

"Marnie, please. We don't say her name." Hannah said with a sigh as she took a sip of the root beer.

"Didn't he get her pregnant?" The quiet girl in the corner spoke up.

"Ah yes, that's right. He knocked her up didn't he, that's why you're upset. He wouldn't help you raise your baby then had one of his own. I can see why that would upset you." Jessa said. They paused their conversation to show ID's and pay for drinks as the bartender handed them their drinks.

"Well I heard she left him." Marnie said in an attempt to console toothy gi- Hannah. You meant Hannah.

"I heard. Honestly it serves him right, it's hard to raise a baby by yourself and he should have to see how it is." Hannah snapped. "His kid has a stupid name too, mines cuter. Honestly who names their kid Cody?"

Upon hearing that, you almost dropped the refill of root beer you had brought her. You recovered with a small huff, avoiding spilling the root beer in her lap, instead placing it in front of her with a pained smile. They were talking about Adam? Your Adam? It seemed hard to believe he was ever acquainted with that group, they were all varying degrees of messy.

You excused yourself quickly to the back, taking a moment to gather your thoughts. You wondered if Adam would be comfortable talking about this tonight?

On the way home Adam had stopped and bought himself a coffee. Not just a plain coffee, he could make those at home. No, one of the expensive ones from Starbucks. He hated the culture surrounding it, but if he had to be honest they had good coffee. He resisted the urge to buy himself a Christmas cookie as well, he couldn't be going wild just yet.

He couldn't wait to tell you about it. He considered you one of his closest friends, and you had only moved in a month ago. He skidded to a halt outside the apartment building, looking down the street and hoping to see you walking home. He knew in the back of his mind that it would be hours before you got home, he'd only been gone for two, but he couldn't stop himself from hoping.

"Hey Adam." He heard a voice. He looked next to him to see Laura pressing the buttons on the rooms until somebody buzzed her in. She stopped and held the door for Adam as he walked his bike into the building and started locking it on the rack.

"Hey Laura, how's Basil?" He asked. He was still curious about the snake.

"He's doing well, doesn't like the cold but who does." She said. Her voice seemed flatter than normal, Adam wondered if she was alright. He glanced up to see her bundled in a thick coat trimmed with long tan fur. Her black snow boots were laced tight and she was wearing a pair of thick leggings. She had a pair of furred earmuffs on and a cashmere scarf wrapped around her neck. She really didn't like the cold.

"Are you alright?" Adam asked her. Laura shivered and stomped the snow off her boots before walking with Adam up the stairs as Adam held Cody's hand.

"Fine. Chris's roommates are kicking him out so I've been helping him pack his shit- sorry, stuff, all day." She said. She flipped her hood down and pushed the earmuffs off her ears as she dug in her pocket for her apartment key as they reached their floor.

"Why are they kicking him out?" Adam asked. From what he'd seen of Chris, he was a calm quiet man. He couldn't imagine what he could have done to be kicked out.

"One of his roommates assho-jerk, sorry, girlfriend got into his Vyvanse and Chris flipped his shit." Laura said as she and Adam walked down the hall.

"Vyvanse?"

"It's ADHD medication, Chris is ADHD as shi- frick. Vyvanse is like an off brand Adderall, but it's expensive as all he-fuck-wait," Laura hissed to herself, glancing at Cody in Adam's arms. "Sorry I'm so used to swearing all the time." She said. Adam chuckled.

"It's alright, I swear a lot too. I'm working on it but nobody's perfect. Besides he doesn't say many coherent words yet. I'll start worrying more when he copies people." He said with a smile. Laura smiled back as they reached their apartment doors.

"Anyway, his roommates girlfriend took a ton of it. Almost overdosed, Chris flipped because now he's out nearly a week of doses, his roommate flipped out because he had to pay for an ambulance. It's a mess. So they're kicking him out and we're trying to find him a place to stay." She finished as she unlocked the apartment door.

"Damn, that sucks." Adam said as Laura opened the door.

"Yeah, so it's been a bit stressful lately. Sorry for bothering you you didn't need to hear all that." Laura said as she watched Adam unlock his own apartment.

"No worries, you gotta get shit out or you'll explode." Adam said as he opened his own door.

"I'll see you later Laura." Adam said, waving goodbye as he walked into his apartment. He thought about his job again, and did a little hop as he walked to his room. He couldn't stop a smile breaking out as he shucked his jacket off and dropped it on the couch as he walked. He pulled Cody from the carrier and sat on the bed with Cody in front of him as he pulled his son's winter clothing off. Cody babbled happily as Adam puffed his cheeks out and blew a raspberry at Cody. Adam leaned over the bed to unlace his shoes and listening to Cody continue his babbling.

"Dada!" Adam froze when he heard Cody speak. He turned to look at his son, seeing him with a wide smile on his face as he waved his arms towards Adam. Cody leaned forward and made "grabby hands" at Adam and squealing.

"Dada dada dada!" Cody said and leaned forward until he was flat on his stomach. He started scooting towards Adam. Adam felt tears streaming down his cheeks as he reached forward and picked up Cody. Cody leaned against Adam's chest and reached up to grab a handful of Adam's thick black hair.

"Dada." Cody said contentedly as he rested his head on Adam's shoulder and tugged gently at Adam's hair. Adam didn't even notice the sharp tugs as he rested one large hand on his son's back. His shoulders shook as he pressed his cheek against Cody's head. Cody continued quietly babbling to Adam, occasionally saying "dada" again before he drifted off to sleep.

Adam thought he'd never put Cody down again.

[dadzawa-adopt-dabi]

secret baby ch 10

(oof this is a long chapter! let me know if i forgot to tag anything!)

The first offer of business Dabi gets is for one of his neighbors, a nice elderly alpha woman who can't bend like she used to, she stays in the apartment with him the first few times as they build some trust between them. As Dabi cleans up for her and makes the trips down the block to the laundromat for her. At the end of the day she sends him home with leftovers, some cash and pretty decent leftovers.

Him and Kiyoko get invited back several times as she spreads the word to her friends. Eventually he strikes a deal with a young couple for a free house clean and meal made in exchange for a burner phone to get contact with his customers.

It takes a few weeks , Dabi is getting used to running his own business. He takes Kiyoko with him to almost all of his ‘appointments’, despite one of his customers offering to babysit for him. He places her in a room separate from the one he is cleaning in but close enough to hear him talking and singing to her and she doozes the day away while he works until he picks her up and they go to his next appointment. She has a special basket designed to let her wings poke through and Dabi carries her in a baby backpack to the appointments he can. Sometimes there’s mold and he has to leave her behind, sometimes he has another nurse Karen for a client, someone who judges him for bringing Kiyoko.  His first client eventually clues him into an omega in the building who watches the buildings kids for a small fee.He still brings Kiyoko when he can't bear to leave her with his babysitter, a consistent fear of something happening to her keeping him close. Sometimes when he brings her he gets paid less because Kiyoko's crying supposedly bothers his clients. It's only ever a couple dollars difference but every dollar counts when you're raising a kid by yourself.

Eventually he has keys to most of his clients places of residence as he cleans for busier and busier people. His networking slowly starts paying off as he starts making enough to squeak by on rent while keeping himself and Kiyoko fed. It’s close and it won't last but it's enough to get them through the month. It's stressful and he can feel the strain of it wearing on his health.

Kiyoko is 3 months old when his body snaps under the stress,just at the age where she can giggle at the funny faces and noises Dabi has been making for her lately. He’s canceled all his appointments for the next few days, head bent over a toilet when she giggles for the first time. Dabi feels like crying from all the stress, he’s sick and tired and is just barely going to squeak by on rent again unless he can reschedule all his appointments again. He’s cooking and cleaning his apartment and other peoples homes and is probably just sick from the anxiety and stress of being a single parent. Maybe actually sick from a bug he unknowingly caught and has now transferred to his daughter. He makes a note to make a doctor appointment for both of them as he heaves.

And his daughter is laughing, giggling at him as he makes funny noises to her. He kind of feels like crying, he wants someone to rub his back. He wants Hawks, he has no idea how Hawks would react to this. If he would be caring and sooth Dabi while he held their daughter, Or if he would tell him to clean up when he was done being dramatic. 

He’s doing everything by himself, trying to stay under Enji and Hawks radar. It's been months and they haven't come looking but that doesn't mean they wont. He honestly doesn't know if him and Kiyoko can make it. If he should call Hawks and come clean. Maybe he wouldn’t be as bad as enji had been, for a moment he wavers in indecision. The want to have Hawks close is something he thought would fade with time. Instead the want is only growing with every obstacle put in his path.

What steels his resolve is the chubby smile and giggle Kiyoko gives him as he turns his phone over in his hands. Maybe isn’t good enough for him, and it's not good enough to risk for Kiyoko. He reminds himself firmly. Dabi wipes his mouth and stands up. It’s not like he can call Hawks anyways when he left his old phone and Hawks number with it on his table. He can do this, for Kiyoko, he has to at least try.

“Something funny princess? You're the best thing to happen to me okay? No matter if I'm worrying my head off or you laughing at me as I lose my lunch. You're the best damn thing to ever happen to me.” Dabi scoops her up and steps into his tiny shower with her.

There’s not going to be any fear from her parents in Kiyoko’s life. No screaming and yelling. No being blamed for things she had no control over like being sick. Dabi isn’t going to be Enji and he’s not going to raise Kiyoko with someone like him either.

Dabi’s nest isn’t as big or well made as Kiyoko’s considering he’s had less practice doing it for himself and nothing ever feels quite right after they are both clean making faces at her. She giggles at nearly anything he does. It makes Dabi’s heart feel light again every time he hears the sound. He starts up a rumbling purr for her, the best one he can manage, still full of hiccups and uneven despite how happy she makes him. He’s going to do the best he can and it’s just going to have to be enough to get them through. No amount of how much easier life would be, how much less stigma he would face, status and comfort will ever be worth his daughters safety.

He purrs Kiyoko to sleep and follows moments after.

He gets up after their nap Dabi gets up after their nap feeling a lot better, maybe it has just been the poor sleep and eating habits. Whatever had made him sick, Kiyoko doesn't seem to have caught it. He's been checking both of there’s regularly to make sure she doesn't catch anything from traveling with her after a client brought it up with him. It's been something of a miracle that he hasn’t gotten sick. Kiyoko hasn’t shown any signs of getting sick as easily as he might have as an infant. He doesn't know if he got sick as often as an infant as he did as a child. He knows he was sick a lot as a child, remembers struggling through fatigue to get up and help fuyumi.  The constant exhaustion with the pain from bruises and then having to go ‘train’ with his father. Feeling nauseous and like his knees would go out from under him but he had to take care of the house before enji came home. Rei had been too much of a nervous wreck to take care of him and too busy ensuring the days of depression and neglect got taken care of. Her panic and screaming at them that enji’s anger was all their fault made things worse in those days. It was never anyone's fault other than enji’s that he hit his kids and wife, even as a kid Touya had known that, had repeated it to himself as he treated his and fuyumis burns and bruises. Had told Natsou as he grew older, asking Touya why neither of his parents cared for him and if it was really their fault. Just as he had known that his mother had not wanted to have him or his sister, born as part of a contract agreement for an arranged marriage.

Then Enji had decided that he couldn’t train Touya to be a hero. That Touya was weak,always had been, he would better serve enji’s legacy as a bride married off to an alpha with a strong quirk. Most likely a hero. Touya had been 17 and told that within the year enji would be looking for ‘appropriate’ suitors for someone born of enji. He’d started sneaking out and stashing away everything he could. Eventually he would meet Hawks and being as drawn to him as he was, eventually conceive Kiyoko and jumpstart his runaway plan.

“Hey no fever Kiyoko! Good job! You beat those germs!” Dabi coos at her shanking thoughts of the past from his head. Picking her up and scenting the top of her head as he searches for his phone, if he’s feeling better then he can start rescheduling his clients. He bounces her as she giggles and he talks on the phone, no amount of wishing for Keigo will do him any good. It’s not like he’s wishing for only keigo either, he’s wishing for anyone to help him more often than not despite knowing that he will never accept the help, he doesn't trust anyone enough for that. Keigo just happens to be the alpha he knows best outside of his family.

Most of his clients can’t reschedule and Dabi starts reworking his meal plans for the month, mentally stretching what money he will make to keep them with a roof over their head and the lights on. He’s going to have to ask for another extension on rent, the landlord has been getting increasingly frustrated with his problems but there’s not much more he can do.

It's a couple of weeks later when Dabi takes Kiyoko with him while he runs down to the laundromat for a last minute client that lives in his building. The man needed his clothes with his uniform done but was too busy that evening to do it himself and had offered Dabi cash. So despite the late hour meaning he couldn’t leave Kiyoko with the usual sitter he agreed. 

There’s a young couple fighting outside and Dabi tenses as he tries to ignore it while carrying Kiyoko and the bags of laundry through the dark nearly empty lot. Couple’s argue, they get mad at each other and fight, it's normal he reminds himself and he doesn't want to get involved.He leaves Kiyoko sitting in her carrier on top of a started washer and goes back outside for another bag of laundry outside the door. He couldn’t open the door with both bags and his baby so he had set one down and now had to go back for it. It’s not at all to keep watch on the fighting couple in case someone has to call the authorities.

Maybe they were breaking up and this had been their meeting point or maybe they had a fight here with no one around and whatever it was said was the last straw.

There’s another person hanging around outside,smoking, who raises an eyebrow at him but doesn't say much. Other than them and the arguing couple the place is empty.

“He has to learn at some point! I've got a say in how you raise him like it or not he’s my kid too.” The male of the pair points at a car in the parking lot. Ignoring the potential witnesses watching him.

“Get the fuck away from me, I said we were done and I meant it.” The woman who is getting yelled at by her partner in public growls at him. Dabi’s head refuses to turn away, he knows what comes next but can’t look away. 

He doesn't want to see it, see what comes next, but he’s frozen. His weight shifts, when the guy raises his hand to his girlfriend and the next thing Dabi knows he's let loose his quirk and the man is ash. The woman opens her eyes from where they've been pried shut and screams. She doesn't thank him, she runs to her car and drives off with her kid. Peeling out of the parking lot and almost running him over in her haste. As fast as she can while Dabi stares in shock at where a person used to be.

The other woman who had been smoking steps forward to kick at the small pile of ashes and dark spot left on the pavement.

“Well that's a neat trick.” she gives him a long look and then looks inside the mat at Kiyoko. “she‘s yours right? You on your own sugar?” she grabs his wrist without asking, ignoring his hard flinch, and drags him inside to sit down as she gets two bottles of water from the vending machine. Dabi snatches the cold bottle and tries not to curl into a ball, stares at Kiyoko’s giggling face to distract himself as he presses the water to the back of his neck. Cooling himself down and jolting him back to the present.

He takes a deep steadying breath and looks over at the women. She looks a lot calmer than he feels, she changes out her wash like nothing just happened and comes back to sit beside Dabi.

 “Yeah it's just us, please don- i didn-” he feels like he can't breathe much less beg her not to call the police. “You’ll never have to see me again.” 

This is the closest most convenient laundromat to his building, only a block away, but he would gladly go to one across the city if she doesn't call the police. Calling the police means Enji finding him, it means signing over his rights to Hawks. There's no way to hide Kiyoko from Hawks if Enji finds out. He’s been climbing rabidly in rankings, always on the news, on a magazine cover or giving an interview. Kiyoko with her red wings and gold eyes means you don’t have to be a genius to guess she’s his child.

“Actually I have a job offer for you, I know a guy who knows a guy. He can hook you up with some big cash and all you gotta do is take out the trash like you just did out there.” The mystery woman grabs Dabi’s phone from him. “I can tell that you're already running yourself ragged as is. Quick easy cash in hand, we call him the broker but he’s also known as giran. Has his hand in all kinds of things so if you're not up for ditching bodies ask for something smaller like delivery, he's good at working with you based on your needs and comfort level.”

“Thank you,I'll think about it but no promises.” Dabi carefully takes his phone back. She’s not going to call the cops and is instead giving him a way out. He wants to doubt her and some part of him still thinks this is a trap. The cops never show up even after she leaves and he doesn't delete the number.

@ruelukas22 : im unsure if you still want to be tagged in updates or not! please let me know

[kunoichi-ume]

Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad

Characters: Torian Cadera, Noara Starspark, Balic Cormac and Elara Dorne-Cormac (I have no idea if she will ever take his name, but they are totally married so that’s how I am writing it haha) Story: Jedi Sitters Word Count: 3458

Note: This fic was inspired by this piece of art by @jemichiart, and the name for the little Rishii baby totally taken from @outcastcommander’s suggestion. This also ended up much longer than I expected, but I enjoyed writing this so I am not sorry. EDIT: I am however sorry I forgot to add the tags and link to the picture. Oops.

The sharp tang of blood filled the air as Torian made his way through the Rishi jungle, rifle held ready in case he needed it. He had set off that morning to go hunting but, apparently, he wasn’t the only being on the prowl for a challenge. Whatever had spilled the blood tainting the air had apparently already found it’s prey. He followed the scent, giving in to his curiosity that soon turned into alarm when he identified where the smell of blood came from. Not further into the forest, where wild beasts were known to roam, but into a small clearing he was familiar with. A clearing that housed several huts belonging to a small tribe of locals.

Blood spilled there couldn’t bode well at all.

They were a peaceful sort, the Rishii, despite being natural born predators. Despite their sharp claws and beaks, and ever sharper eyes, Torian ahd always found them to be a kind and welcoming bunch every time he visited their home world. Now that he called the tropical world home as well, Torian had hopes of befriending one or two of them. While he had never heard of a Rishii Mandalorian, the idea of one excited him and he’d welcome any of their number into his hunting party.

Stopped at the edge of the clearing, Torian observed the carnage with a keen eye. Several structures were only partially standing, walls and roofs caved in. Not a single dwelling was left as adequate shelter from the elements. Bodies, all belonging to the feathered locals, laid out across the ground. Claws, far larger than any he had ever seen a Rishii possess, had carved up the bodies the same way they had destroyed the buildings, gouging the ground to leave long, deep grooves in the packed dirt.

Torian sighed heavily, he was no stranger to death but there was always something tragic about the loss of innocent lives. These people were not warriors, not soldiers. They were families, with elderly and young among them. Now he was grateful Noara had not joined him this morning, she was not a hunter but enjoyed exploring the wilds at his side. Death, especially senseless deaths like these, always weighed heavily on her. Where Torian observed the carnage with a sense of sadness at the loss of life she would feel the full weight of grief bearing down on her chest. He loved the former Jedi with all his heart, but her upbringing in the Order still influenced her to behave in ways he didn’t always understand. It kept life interesting.

The sound of something hitting the ground pulled Torian's attention away from the bodies laid out across the clearing. Keeping very still, he strained to hear any other signs of life. Perhaps something in the damaged huts had shifted he wondered. But then a second, clearer sound filled the air. Cracking.

Moving quietly, careful to step around the bodies and blood, Torian entered the clearing and looked for the source of the sound. Nothing was out of place in the first partially standing hut he investigated, nor the second.

At the threshold of the third Torian froze in place, shocked still by what he found as his heart pounded loudly in his ears.

Sprawled out on the dusty floor was a small creature and, though he had never seen one before, it was obvious to Torian it was a newborn Rishii ik'aad. A baby. Something thick and shiny soaked the ik'aad's feathers, pieces of shell caught in the viscous liquid and littering the area almost like shrapnel from an explosion. It looked as though the egg that little thing once resided in had been stashed into the cabinet above where it sat, the door hanging open on a crooked hinge.

It wasn't hard to make the assumption that someone, possibly one of the child's parents, had stashed the egg away in hopes of safety. Luckily the door had held after the damage to the walls had displaced it until the danger had passed. And, equally lucky, was that the ik'aad had been ready to hatch.

Stepping into the destroyed hut, eyes far too large for the small ik'aad's face, lit up in delight when he came into view. Slinging his rifle over his shoulder, Torian couldn't resist carefully scooping the ik'aad up into his arms. The little thing barely weighed anything at all and his chest tightened at the idea that it was made an orphan the same day it was born. Torian was still a baby when he lost his parents, but at least it hadn’t been the exact same day. A foundling before even getting a name. Brushing some of the shell pieces off soggy feathers, he did his best to check if the child was healthy but truthfully didn't know what he was looking for.

The question of what to do never entered Torian’s mind, there was no debate to be had. Until he could find the ik’aad’s family, if any lived, the foundling was his responsibility. First thing first, he needed to make sure the newborn was healthy. Glancing around the hut, Torian grabbed a large red cloth and shook the dust off before wrapping it around the child. It was a warm day, as was the usual on Rishi, but he didn't want to chance the child catching a chill from it's soaked feathers. Once satisfied that the makeshift birikad would hold the ik'aad securely against his chest, he was quick to leave the destroyed village behind and head back into the forest.

Head turning all around so much Torian was concerned the ik'aad would injure it, the infant cooed excitedly while taking in the world for the first time. It was all Torian could do to keep from laughing, the pure joy of seeing the world with new eyes was infectious. When he reached the rough path he had taken into the jungle, no longer having to duck under branches, Torian switched from a quick pace to a jog. He wanted to get the ik'aad home as soon as possible, not only did the newborn need to be examined by a trained medic but he also had no idea what kind of food to provide. Luckily, when he had left, Noara had said she expected her brother and his wife to come by soon.

Balic Cormac, a giant of a man, wasn't Noara’s sibling by blood, but by choice which meant more to Torian in the long run. He had grown up without his blood around and Noara's had given her away. Better to rely on the family that chose to love you when you needed someone. As luck would have it, Balic's wife Elara was one of the most widely versed medics Torian had ever met. She should be more than capable of giving the little Rishii a proper checkup.

The ik'aad made an odd huffy noise, one that sounded almost put out and made Torian grin widely. "Don't worry ad'ika, you'll get a better look later," he said, smoothing his hand over the ruffled feathers slowly drying on the child's head. He'd make sure the kid got an eyeful before they decided what to do with him.

Walking into the Clan Compound Torian was struck with the still unfamiliar feeling of being home, a warm sense of contentment and belonging that he savored. It wasn't something he had experienced often in his life, having an actual home instead of just a temporary accommodation. When Noara had started talking about wanting to settle down, leaving the saving of the galaxy to others while they moved on with their lives, he hadn't been too particular about where they ended up. As long as he could hunt, house his clan and be with his wife he was happy.

Settling on a tropical world, one with plenty of beaches and ocean to keep Noara happy and thick forests and plentiful fauna for hunting had turned out perfect. Even the base they found was exactly what they needed, large enough to house everyone and any new members the clan might welcome in the years to come and all the animals Noara had taken to rescuing, while being secure enough to defend if they ever needed to.

They even had enough space to put in their own little medical center, which was where Torian headed first. With the Cormac's visiting, it was fairly likely they would either be checking the set up of the new infirmary equipment as Elara had been their main consultant on what they needed, or up in the cliff-side apartment he shared with Noara. Elara was a very driven, serious woman and he would be surprised if she didn’t want to get straight to work. Also the infirmary was closer to where he exited the jungle.

Barely inside the door Torian knew he had made the right choice. The murmur of voices drifted down the corridor toward him and he smiled. He had no idea how Noara would react to him coming home with an ik'aad strapped to his chest and, honestly, he was looking forward to finding out. She found far too much amusement in surprising him with the newest beastie she had decided to take into their home, it was only fair to turn the tables on her.

Several people were gathered inside the infirmary. Balic was leaning against the wall, not far from where his wife worked and even slumped down slightly he was still head and shoulders over everyone else. Several of the younger clan members, all in varying colors of armor, watched the blonde woman with rapt attention as she gave them a rundown of how to use a new scanning device. Noara was lying on the hospital table, obviously playing the lab wamp rat, and doing a good impression of an injured patient until she looked toward the door.

Sneaking up on Noara was almost impossible for Torian, she claimed to be able to feel him with the Force. He believed her, but it was still a hard sell. She claimed it wasn’t the same as how she felt another Force user, but something special because of their connection. She could feel him when he was near, even sense a bit of his moods if she tried.

Of course that didn’t mean he wasn’t determined to try, and someday he was going to manage it.

Instead of pretending to be hurt, Noara smiled brightly when he stepped into view and he could see the moment she noticed the ik'aad. Her eyes widened in surprise and she jolted up off the medical bed, head almost colliding with Elara's who had leaned over during her lecture. Only Balic's large hand yanking his wife backward saved them both from having their bells rung.

"Cyare," Noara said, pushing off the bed and hurrying toward him. "Meg vaar gar ganar?"

Muffled laughter broke out among the younger vod in the room. Noara had been working on learning Mando'a for a few years now, but like now still managed to get some words mixed up much to the younger generation's amusement. Instead of asking what he had, she instead spoke a gibberish phrase about what he had undeveloped. Or half grown, vaar, could mean either.

Cheeks flushing, Noara knew what the laughter meant but instead of reacting further she peered curiously at the ik'aad. "Who is this?"

Torian leaned his head down to brush his lips against her forehead, eyes fixed on the vod still smiling about her slip up. It was of course a message, to remind them she was their alor's riduur. Noara was more Mando than he could have ever imagined a Jedi turning, but part of him still worried about her being accepted by his peers. He knew first hand that it was possible to be Mando and still be treated like an aruetii. He'd be damned if he would let anyone make Noara feel like she wasn't enough.

Turning their head, the ik'aad looked up at Noara with wide yellow eyes. Noara returned the interested stare, reaching out to run her fingers through the matted feathers. "Poor little guy needs a bath," she said, raising her eyes to frown at him. "Are you babysitting or something?"

"Or something," Torian laughed before giving a quick explanation of his day. His story had the attention of everyone in the room and Elara was at his side before he had even finished.

"You should have said it was a newborn sooner," Elara chided him, holding her hands out. "Let me take a look."

Nodding, Torian braced one hand on the ik'aad's bottom before untying the birikad. Once it was loose Elara had the little one in her arms and was making her way back to the exam table.

There was perhaps a split second between her stepping away from him and the loudest shrieking he had ever heard come from a sentient being's lungs. Noara gasped as Torian darted around her, beelining for the table.

"What did you do?" he demanded, leaning over the table to see the small Rishii ik'aad lying on the bed and looking completely fine. Even the squalling had stopped, the moment he leaned over the table. Confused, he looked at the former Havoc Squad medic.

Humming thoughtfully, Elara shifted to block Torian from view. Again the ik'aad started crying loudly. Moving back, the cries stopped the moment golden eyes met Torian's. "Stay right there, where the child can see you."

Noara stepped up beside Torian, pulling a stool over for him to sit on and stayed by his side as Elara examined her new patient. This time the instruction she gave the watching vod was more hands on than the lecture she had given over Noara's 'pretend' ailment. Torian didn't pay much attention to the words she was saying, explaining everything she did, instead he was drawn to the small Rishii's eyes that seemed glued to his face.

Finally Elara set her instruments away, lifting the ik'aad and passing him over for Torian to hold. She delivered her prognosis with a bright smile. "That is one perfectly healthy Rishii baby boy you have there Torian."

"He is such a cutie," Noara said, perched on the edge of the table behind him and leaning over his shoulder to run her fingers through the boy's feathers again. "If his parents are dead, what do we do with him?"

Torian frowned, he hadn't thought that far and now that he was holding the small boy in his arms it just felt... right. Like he was meant to take in this foundling as his own, as his son. They had talked a little about children, though nothing in certain terms and had never discussed adoption. It was as much a part of Mandalorian culture as armor and fighting, they even had a set phrase for it.

How was he going to tell his wife he wanted to make them parents without even discussing it? Watching her smile as the boy gurgled happily at her touch, he had a feeling it wouldn't be too hard to convince her.

Before he could work up an idea of how to start that conversation, Elara cleared her throat to get their attention. "Actually, you should know that Rishii infants are known to imprint on the first person they see."

"Imprint?" Noara asked, frowning in confusion and the words sunk in for Torian. He knew what it meant, but never imagined a sentient species did it. By being the one to find the boy he had all but sealed the question of their future.

"It's a long lasting attachment to the first individual or object a creature sees after hatching. It's common in avian species," Elara explained in her serious manner before smiling. "Based on the child's reaction to being separated I can only assume he has imprinted on Torian."

"So that means..." Noara's voice trailed off as she looked between the boy and her husband. "Are you a dad now?"

Torian pulled his son closer at the hitch in her voice, "I guess, I mean I want to know how you feel about it before deciding anything."

Noara watched him carefully for a long moment before looking up at the crowded room. "Could we have some privacy please?"

"Of course Noara-doll," Balic said before pushing off the wall where he was leaning. He started herding the training medics out of the room before dropping a kiss on the top of Noara's head and leaving with his wife tucked tight against his side. On the way out the door Elara called back that she would arrange for some proper food to be up in their apartment for the boy.

Once they were finally alone Noara shifted closer on the bed to wrap her arms around Torian's shoulders, her chest pressed up against his back. She laid her hands on top of his, helping cradle the child against his chest. When she spoke her voice was steady, though little more than a whisper in his ear. "Are you ready to be a father Torian? I know we've talked a bit about it, but this would be starting now. No time to come to terms with it or get cold feet you know?"

"As sudden as it may feel, I think I am." Torian turned on his stool, dislodging her arms so he could watch her face carefully, "what about you? Are you ready to be a mother?"

"To be honest, no. I don't feel ready at all," Noara said, sighing sadly. "I still don't really know what a mother is? How to do it, you know?"

Holding the child with one hand, Torian cupped her cheek with his other one. "I don't know what being a father is like either but together I have no doubts we will figure it out."

"He'd need a name," she said after a tense moment, leaning her face into his cheek with a smile, "if we can't even manage that what kind of parents would we be?"

Torian laughed, the anxious worry he hadn’t really noticed in his chest relaxing at her smile. "Fair enough. Any ideas?"

“Not sure, never named anyone before.” Noara looked down at the boy tucked against his chest. "His eyes look like little suns don’t they? So bright and full of life."

"What about Tranyc?"

She frowned, "that's Mando'a right? Star... something?"

Torian nodded, impressed that she caught the unfamiliar word. "Star-burned, but that's the literal translation. 'Sunny' is a more true meaning."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah, I love you Torian," Noara said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders again and kissing him. "And loving this little guy will be no burden I’m sure."

“No I don’t imagine it will be,” Torian said, standing and taking one of Noara’s hands to draw her off the table to stand in front of him. Adjusting his hold on Tranyc, he situated them so Noara was helping hold his son between them. “We should make it official, well as official as Mandalorians ever are.”

“I take it there is a set way to do this?” Noara’s eyes had a teasing gleam in them as she smiled up at him, “so tell me, how do we make Tranyc our son?”

Torian’s heart felt like it could burst, gratitude and admiration for Noara’s easy acceptance of their son almost overwhelming him. He had to clear his throat before being able to speak the adoption vow. “Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad.”

“What does that mean?” she didn’t look up as she asked, her eyes fixed on Tranyc’s bright smile.

“I know your name as my child.”

“Very Mandalorian, direct and to the point. I like it.” Noara placed her hand on Tranyc;s head and repeated the vow. Like when they had spoken their marriage vows months before, it took her a few times so get the pronunciation exactly right. When she finished, she gathered their son in her arms and pressed a kiss to his cheek before laughing. “We really need to bathe our son,” she said, “and Elara should have an idea of what to feed him by now.”

Torian wrapped an arm around her shoulders, guiding Noara out of the infirmary. “Let’s take our son home,” he said, the words making him feel like he could fly. His entire life Torian had wanted a family, one that he could do right by. The way his father hadn’t. The way Noara’s parents hadn’t. They had both grown up without a family but together they had made one all their own. And, other than perhaps the day Noara agreed to marry him, Torian had never been happier than this moment.

Translations

Ik'aad - baby; child under 3 Birikad - baby carrying harness Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad - adoption vow - lit. I know your name as my child.

[hqhaleyluhoo-archive]

i hear your heartbeat.

TAGGING: AJ @hqmichalkas, Haley.

LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA.

TIMEFRAME: September 11th, 2019.

NOTES: AJ joins Haley for her routine prenatal checkup while Brett is busy on set.

Haley Now that Haley had entered the third trimester, her appointments were every two weeks until she entered week 36 and then they would be weekly. Time was really flying by for her in this pregnancy. She couldn’t believe that in just a few short weeks their baby girl would be here. Today’s appointment was just another routine prenatal check, nothing too crazy. They would check Haley’s weight, her blood pressure, baby’s heart rate and measure her abdomen to make sure the baby was growing as expected. Brett was filming all day so they had asked AJ to join Haley for this one since it was scheduled at a time when AJ had a break from filming. Haley was excited for their friend to be able to hear her goddaughter’s heartbeat and for her to know that everything was going as expected. Haley had gone into work with Brett that morning to meet up with AJ. She had slowly made her rounds to say hi to some of the crew members and then when it was time to go she gave Brett a kiss goodbye and wished him luck on his scenes, turning to AJ who had just finished for the morning. “You ready to go?” Haley asked, one hand resting on her ever-growing bump, the other reaching out to her friend for some support. She could walk just fine, it had just become exhausting in the last few weeks and she felt better with some help.

AJ privately wondered if it were possible to be more nervous for a pregnant woman's doctor's appointment than the pregnant woman beside her. Since Haley had told her about the baby—which now felt like ages ago—creeping nerves had been crawling their way through AJ's body, and they were now all culminating on this very day. She knew she had no right to be nervous. If anything, she should be the relaxed one, being there for her best friend and holding her hand while a doctor checked her and the baby over. But this baby was so special, made by two of the most important people in her life. She would rather die before something happened to the new family, and that feeling was more present than ever as AJ abandoned her script notes and handing them off to a passing PA, thanking them as they offered to take the bundle of papers back to her trailer. Though she wasn't on set today, she still had to be present and working. "Are you ready? Do you want me to have someone bring a car around?"

Haley nodded her head, "Yeah, I'm ready... and that would be great actually," she replied with a smile, pulling her hair up into a messy bun. The lingering Los Angeles heat and humidity had been an added obstacle in her pregnancy. Being pregnant during the summer months was no joke. "Are you excited to hear alien baby's heartbeat?" she asked her best friend as they waited for the car. It seemed like just yesterday Haley had been sitting in a hotel room in France telling the blonde she was pregnant and asking her to be the babies godmother. So much time had passed since that day, they now knew alien baby's gender and before they knew it she would be making her grand entrance into the world. It meant a lot to Haley that her friend wanted to be so involved in the babies life. Having her there in the delivery room when the time came was going to be so special, which is why she was most thankful to have her friend joining her for this routine checkup today.

AJ nodded, already looking for another passing production assistant to stop. "Okay, one sec," she said, darting away from Haley to stop someone and ask if the car were possible. They nodded, and AJ made her way back to Haley as the person whisked away to fulfill the request. The crew on the set of Schooled were among the best, and AJ was grateful for them. "The car will be around by the time we get to the front of the studio," she said, already holding tight to Haley's hand and walking them off set. "I think so," she replied. She wasn't sure how she felt. Excited, sure. Excited and scared and like at any moment she would throw up, though from which emotion that was coming from she wasn't sure. Either way, it was sure to be an exciting afternoon. As promised, by the time they exited the studio the set was on and stepped onto the lot, the car AJ requested was sitting in the street. Immediately, AJ opened the back door and ushered Haley inside, assuring that she was comfortable before she made her way to the opposite side of the car, sliding in beside her. "You okay?"

Haley smiled, "Sounds good," she replied, holding onto AJ's hand as they walked to the front of the studio. "You think so? Are you nervous?" she asked sweetly, looking at her friend as they walked. Haley was used to all of this by now, nothing was really surprising to her at this point. Once they had arrived at the front of the lot, the car was waiting for them and Haley had never been so thankful for air conditioning as she hoisted herself into the car with AJ's help. Her friend was being extra protective of her, much like Brett had been in the last few months and usually, Haley would insist she was okay, but at this point, she was too exhausted to not want the help. The actress put her seatbelt on, hand resting on her bump as her friend climbed in next to her. Haley took a deep breath and rested her head against the window. "Yeah, I'm all good," she insisted with a grin.

AJ looked at Haley. "Are you?" It was best to turn it on the other because she wasn't sure if she was nervous. And she knew Haley would give her a perfectly reassuring speech, one that would no doubt ease her nerves, but she didn't want to share her thoughts just yet. She was hopeful that as soon as they got to the appointment her mind would be put at ease. As for now, though, her top priority was Haley and her comfort and making sure that she was happy and comfortable as they drove to the appointment. "Okay, I'm just making sure. Your husband would never forgive me if something happened to you, you know," she said.

Haley shook her head, "Not about the appointment, it's just a routine checkup, I had one two weeks ago," she responded. "There are plenty of other things I'm nervous about, but right now I just want to focus on the fact that we're going to get to see her on the ultrasound and hear her heartbeat today," the brunette continued, reaching over to grab her friend's hand, giggling to herself at AJ's remark about Brett never forgiving the blonde if something happened to her. "I know you're just making sure and I really appreciate it, but nothing bad is going to happen to me, but I'm sure Brett will appreciate the precautionaries," she smiled. Haley was still holding AJ's hand when she felt the baby kicking, she was much stronger now so they hurt a little bit more these days. "She's kicking... Do you want to feel it?" she asked, pulling AJ's hand over to her stomach, waiting for another round of kicks.

AJ nodded. She had encouraged Haley to start talking about her shortcomings and fears about her upcoming birth because it was far better than keeping it in. But she wasn't about to push the issue, not when they were on their way to a doctor's appointment. That was something she would save for another time. "It's more defined now, yeah? Because she's almost ready to come out? AJ knew very little about baby delivery, save for what was seen on television or the handful of friends she had that already had babies. Haley would know far more now than AJ could, at least until she had a baby of her own. Which wouldn't be for a while. AJ turned towards Haley when she pulled at her hand, and she eagerly splayed her fingers across the fabric of her friend's t-shirt, beaming as she felt pressure against the palm of her hand. "Shit, I seriously can't believe you're growing a human inside you."

Haley nodded, "Yes, much more defined," she answered her friend. Haley grinned when AJ splayed her fingers across the fabric of her shirt, the smile that spread across her friends face when she felt the baby kicking brought tears to her eyes. "Sometimes I can't believe it either," she chuckled. The car was pulling up to the doctor's office as Haley looked out the window again. Once the car had parked, she slowly but surely got herself out of the car and waited for AJ to join her. "My doctor is really nice, you'll love her," Haley spoke up as they made their way into the office. Haley greeted the ladies at the front desk as she checked herself in and then proceeded to find a seat in the waiting area.

AJ was eager to learn about the way that the baby was growing. Mostly to assure that both she and Haley were safe and healthy, but at the same time she wanted to know exactly what to expect should something go wrong. And she would eventually be the best aunt and baby sitter of all time. She needed to understand the baby inside and out. "I mean it's only a matter of weeks before she arrives, you better get used to it sooner rather than later." As soon as the car pulled up to the doctor's office, AJ made the jump to help Haley out of the car, but her pregnant friend climbed out herself before she had a chance to. Frowning, AJ held out her finger, waving it in her face as they walked inside. "Let me help you next time, okay? I'm sure your doctor is lovely and would likely tell you that I'm right and you can't be exerting yourself like that."

Haley giggled, "I'm plenty used to it, but it definitely still blows my mind just a bit," Haley assured her friend. The brunette playfully swatted her friend's finger out of her face. "Getting out of a car is not overexerting myself and it's much easier than getting into the car, I'm happy to depend on people right now, but I've got to keep a tiny bit of my own independence," she added. They hadn't been waiting in the waiting area long before a nurse came out calling Haley's name. She stood up slowly and linked her arm in AJ's as they followed the nurse into the hallway. They stopped outside of the room they were going to go into so the nurse could weigh Haley. She slipped off her shoes and stepped onto the scale as the nurse weighed her. "You're going to have to help me get my shoes back on when we're done here," she whispered to AJ with a chuckle. When she had first woken up one day, unable to see her feet she had cried, but now she found it to be a little funny and comforting. Knowing that her and Brett's baby was growing exactly as she should be meant only good things in Haley's mind.

AJ glared playfully in response. "It's definitely overexerting yourself, especially since you're in the backseat which is generally lower than the front seat. I'm not about to let you go through that when I'm perfectly capable of helping you. I'm not the pregnant one here." AJ sat beside Haley as they waited, scrolling through her phone, though she kept it partially shielded from Haley's gaze. She was looking for presents for her future godchild, after all. She didn't want Haley to see her scrolling through amazon and various baby websites. When the nurse called for Haley, AJ stood with her, walking beside her to the room and sitting in a chair beside the door while Haley got settled. "I will carry you and your shoes out of here if I have to. Never fear."

Haley “Okay, mom. Do you want to wait on me hand and foot?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at her friend. Haley noticed AJ shielding her phone screen from her, “What are you doing? Talking to a boy?” she teased as she pulled out her own phone to text Brett. The brunette giggled at AJ’s offer to carry her out if she had to. “You’re not carrying me out of here,” she said with a groan, laughing at her friend. The nurse left and told her the doctor would be right in. Haley got situated on the examination table, pushing her shirt up in preparation for the ultrasound.

AJ nodded. "If that's what it takes for you to take it easy, sure." She rolled her eyes, shifting once more slightly away from Haley. "No, I'm not talking to a boy, I'm scrolling through the internet. Who's the mom now, huh," she questioned, teasing. Once they had approached the room AJ tucked her phone away, deciding to be present for the event rather than look for things that wouldn't be useful until after the baby was born. "I could if you wanted me to. Even if you didn't want me to I might, if you weren't able to walk for yourself." She stood from her chair once the doctor arrived, lingering next to the examination table that Haley sat on. "Should I be photographing or videoing this for Brett? Does he want me to?"

Haley rolled her eyes in a teasing manner. “I’m okay, I promise,” she tried to assure her friend. “You’re just being secretive...” she whispered, sticking her tongue out at the mom comment. “I’m just preparing my mother’s intuition for when baby girl comes,” she added. “If I wasn’t able to walk they’d get me a wheelchair, you’re not going to carry me,” she laughed. “Well, we’ll get a couple copies of the ultrasound but you can take a video of her heartbeat, he always likes to hear that,” Haley answered. “This is my best friend AJ, she’s who we’ve asked to be baby girls godmother,” Haley explained to the doctor as she began to set up the ultrasound. The brunette reached out her hand to AJ in anticipation of the cold gel that was about to come in contact with her stomach as the ultrasound began.

AJ "If you're sure," she said, pouting. "Secretive? Me? Well, I never," she teased. "What if I was looking for something for you, huh? If you saw it it would ruin the surprise." There were quite a few things that had transpired recently that she was keeping secret, but if Haley had the supposed mother's intuition that she was preparing for, they wouldn't be kept secret for long. If she hadn't already guessed by now. AJ took her phone back out, swiping to her camera to start a video. She waved at the doctor, taking a brief moment to shake her hand before she returned to the task at hand. "Maybe these videos are also for me, who knows."

Haley "I'm sure, I promise. Don't pout," Haley replied, a pout forming on her own lips. "Hmph. You're definitely hiding something... and it's not just something for alien baby," the brunette said, giving her friend a look. Haley had noticed a certain something on her neck that was peeking out from the blonde's shirt. She knew her friend was probably trying to cover it up which is why she hadn't said anything yet. They could talk about that after the appointment. "The videos can be for you too, silly," Haley smiled as the doctor moved the ultrasound wand around her stomach as the picture started to appear on the screen. "There she is..." she said, looking at AJ with tears in her eyes.

AJ pouted once more, just for spite, before snorting. "Since when would I hide something from you? Unless it was alien baby related. Which, by the way, I know you're just referring to her as alien baby in front of me because you don't want to tell me her name. It's okay, you can slip up accidentally. I won't tell Brett." She kept the camera poised on the monitor, hitting record as the doctor started the process. She stepped closer, in awe of what she was looking at. Television didn't do the moment justice. Just from one little mechanical wand that the doctor was waving over Haley, she could see a whole person. She bit back a swear, instead choosing to aim her camera at the screen, zooming in on the image. "You could probably show her this as well, maybe when she's at the age where she's asking where babies come from," she teased.

Haley "We'll talk about it later," she said with a raised eyebrow. "I am not just calling her alien baby so I don't tell you her name. She /is/ alien baby and that's final," she added. Haley smiled at her friend as she watched her reaction to the ultrasound. "Yeah, we'll save that for when she's much older," Haley responded with a laugh, wiping at her tears. The doctor told her they'd print some copies of the ultrasound and then handed Haley a rag to wipe off her stomach. Once her stomach was wiped clean she got the doppler out to listen to her heartbeat. "Wait until you hear this, you're going to freak," Haley said to AJ as the room went quiet just before the sounds of a tiny heartbeat filled the entire room. This was Haley's favorite part. It was cool to see her baby on the screen, but hearing the heartbeat just seemed much more special.

AJ shook her head. "There's nothing to talk about. I swear, Haley." It's not like she would be keeping her tryst a secret, necessarily, but this didn't seem like the time or place to talk about such things. And she wasn't about to let Haley worm it out of her, either. She was far more stubborn than that. "It'll be like that episode of Friends where they film a video for Emma's eighteenth birthday." She continued to film the screen until it blinked off, though she kept the video running as she directed her phone towards the machine that would let them hear the baby's heartbeat. This time, AJ didn't refrain from swearing softly, wincing as she realized that if they were to show this to the baby, she would be learning some colorful language from aunt AJ. Still, she couldn't help herself. There was a whole person in her friend's body, and now she could hear the little girl's strong, beating heart. She swallowed, making sure her hand wasn't covering the mic on her phone as she stepped closer, trying to get the sound on her video.

Haley "We'll talk... later," Haley added again. "That would be hilarious and very sweet," she smiled. "She definitely won't be hearing this until she's 18 with that language," she teased. Once they were done listening to the baby's heartbeat, Haley's doctor measured her abdomen and checked her blood pressure. "Everything looks good," her doctor confirmed with a smile. "We'll see you back here in two weeks unless you have any other questions," she continued. Haley figured that in two weeks they'd go over her birth plan when Brett was there so she didn't have any pressing questions. "AJ?" she asked, looking at her friend, knowing she might've had a question or two.

AJ rolled her eyes. "There's nothing to talk about, but whatever," she said. "I think we should do something like that, though. Try to film progress and stuff like that. Have you been doing that so far? Because I can try to pick up the slack if you haven't. Or you can start now since you're in your final weeks and I guess that she would be more excited about seeing herself as a baby than in your stomach." AJ continued to film the audio, glancing up as she was addressed. "No, I'm okay. I just wanted to make sure that everything's all okay with you. That you're safe and healthy and happy and whatnot."

Haley rolled her eyes right back at her friend, giving her an "if you say so" look. She nodded her head, "That's a great idea. We've filmed a few things like the first time we heard her heartbeat and the first ultrasound, plus the first time she kicked, but the rest of it is fairly boring," Haley said. The actress sat up, pulled her shirt over her stomach and thanked her doctor. Haley reached for AJ's hand and gave it a squeeze, "I'm safe, healthy and happy, I promise," she reassured her with a smile, letting her friend help her off the examination table as her doctor left the room. "Now... about that hickey on your neck," she spoke as soon as the door was shut, a smirk appearing on her lips almost instantly. She'd been holding that one in since she'd noticed it in the car.

AJ smiled. "Good. I'll try to shop something together with what I have here, and if you need me to I can take what footage you guys have. Put some cute music behind it, maybe a couple of title cards?" She dabbled a bit with video editing as a teenager, right when she and Aly were starting out. She had been curious about how their videos were made, so she had been allowed to sit in on a few editing sessions to watch it all come together. "If you're sure," she said, squeezing back as she helped Haley down. When Haley spoke, AJ turned to look at her, brows furrowed, before a switch went off in her brain. Shit. She had almost forgotten about her take away prize from her day at Michael's. It had been a few days, certainly, but she had been covering it with makeup before heading off to set for the day. No one had even noticed it. But she hadn't bothered today since she wouldn't be on set for most of the day. She screwed her face up. "The fuck are you talking about?" Playing along, AJ stepped in front of the mirror that stood in the room, inspecting herself. "Oh, that? I had an early morning call and was sleeping while I was in the hair and makeup chair. June told me that I shifted in my sleep and on accident she caught my neck on a hair curler," she said, speaking of her stylist. "It didn't hurt or anything."

Haley grinned, "Seriously? That would be great. We don't deserve you," Haley replied with a laugh. She was so thankful for all the ways her friends had stepped up during these last few months. There was no doubt in her mind that this baby wasn't going to be loved by plenty of people all over the place. "I'm sure," she said, smiling sweetly. Haley burst into a fit of giggles as her friend tried to form a cover story about falling asleep in hair and makeup. "You are such a liar!" she exclaimed, looking directly into her best friends eyes. "My brain might be mush these days, but I know a hickey when I see one Amanda Joy," she continued with a look. "Listen, you don't have to tell me who gave that to you if you're not ready, but please just admit that it's a hickey."

AJ "I mean it's the least I could do. You guys are my best friends and I'm godmother to your little girl. I want to be able to help in any way I can." AJ was determined to make sure that Haley didn't know about what happened between her and Michael, at least not until she was ready to tell her. She knew her lie was bullshit, a common fib that teens would tell parents or friends to try to avoid telling the truth. But she was still gonna try her best. "No, I'm serious, look." She said, gesturing her closer as she tugged down the collar of her t-shirt, showing another mark from an actual burn she had received from a hair straightener. Her own doing, rather than June's, but it might still work. "I have one right here, too."

Haley "I know, but still, I really appreciate, you've been so helpful these last few months." Haley crossed her arms as AJ gave her a closer look to another burn, this one looking much more like a burn than the other mark on her neck. "If you think those look the same, you're crazy," Haley replied. She had to give her friend credit for trying her best to make something up and draw the attention away from the slightly bruised looking skin on her neck. "I'm not going to push it, you'll tell me when you're ready, but those are two very different looking marks," she said smugly, making her way towards the door so she could make her next appointment before they left the office.

AJ "Well it's what I'm here for. You need to have as many people on your side as possible, and I could for like ten of those people." She frowned, gesturing to each one again. "Of course they look different, no two burns look the same." She turned towards Haley, her own arms now folded. "I swear to God, you're just hoping that it's a hickey so that you can find something to tease me about. We're not seventeen, you know." She followed Haley out of the room. "Besides, someone at work would have already figured it out by now if it was a hickey. I see the same people every day, and no one has suggested that it's anything other than a burn mark."

Haley "I'm glad you count as ten people," she said, wrapping her arms around her friend in the best hug she could give at 31 weeks pregnant. "They're not both burns!" she exclaimed. "That is not true! I wouldn't tease you. I just want to know if my best friend is getting some so I can celebrate that," Haley explained herself. "I've never felt less sexy in my life than I do right now, just give me this..." she pouted. Haley rolled her eyes, "Brett wouldn't notice a hickey if it hit him in the face," she teased, quieting down as they approached the front desk. She booked her next appointment, thanked the ladies and said her goodbyes before leading AJ out of the building.

AJ "I could count as fifty people, but you know I do have work and obligations sometimes." She laughed, trying to be gentle as she returned the hug, laughing. "Oh, come on! Do I ask you if you're getting some? That's the kind of thing girls in romcoms and sitcoms do. I never pegged you for the kind of person that would want to live in a world where you're a twenty-something stuck in a dead-end job while trying to achieve your true dreams and meet true love under circumstance." It certainly wasn't a world she would want to live in. "So you think that me telling you about my sex life or lack thereof would fix it? Haley come on, be reasonable here." She laughed at her statement about Brett. "A lie, considering I'm sure you've had your fair share of them over the years, but okay." She walked side by side with her friend as they exited the building, finding a bench for them to sit down on while she ordered another car. "Anywhere else you want to or need to go to today?"

Haley "I know, you're helping plenty, I promise," she smiled. "No, because I'm clearly not getting some right now and also because Brett is also one of your best friends and I know you don't want to hear about that," she shot back. "I'm not that kind of person, I'm just trying to see if there's anything new with you in the romance department," she continued. "No, I was just looking for your pity," she giggled. "Well, obviously Brett notices them on me because he put them there, but I can promise you he's not scoping out your neck for hickeys." Haley got comfortable on the bench while AJ ordered another car. "There's nowhere else I need to go, but do you want to go get lunch?" she asked, pulling out her phone to let Brett know the appointment went well and that AJ would send the videos his way soon. She pulled out one of the ultrasound photos from her purse and looked at it in awe. "Can you believe this tiny human is growing inside of me?"

AJ "You know, not to like, be that person or anything, but sex during pregnancy is perfectly safe and healthy. I know Brett's busy, but being pregnant with his child shouldn't be stopping you." She shrugged. "There's nothing new. Brett might not be scoping them out but you are, so what does that say about you?" AJ laughed, tapping the address of their location into her phone. "We can do lunch, yeah. We'll go to that one place that has the crepes if that's okay. I'm in the mood for dessert." She leaned over once the car was confirmed, looking at the photos Haley was holding. "I think even when you give birth I won't believe it."

Haley “I know, we had plenty in the second trimester when I felt better,” she explained, with a smirk. “Well, there’s something new because there’s a hickey on your neck!” she exclaimed. “Mhm, crepes,” Haley replied, licking her lips and smiling to herself. “Baby girl is excited, she just kicked when you said crepes. It’s like she knows,” she giggled. “Well, I hope you’d believe it then when there’s a living breathing human in my arms.”

AJ "Then I don't know why you're complaining." AJ argued. She rolled her eyes. "For Christ's sake, Haley Lu, it's not a hickey. And if you keep bringing it up I'm going to keep denying it. Even if it was a hickey." Hoping to leave the conversation behind, AJ was glad that the baby was now brought into the fray. "Yeah? Well if she's lucky I'll bring her to the crepe place as much as she wants. Especially dessert crepes, because there's nothing better than glorified thin pancakes, ice cream, and some chocolate sauce." She laughed. "I'm not sure I'll even believe it then. It's still so crazy that you're going to have a baby. And that it's like, imminent."

Haley “I’m just teasing,” she said, rolling her eyes. “It is, but it’s fine. You can tell me all about it when you’re ready,” she smiled. “You’re going to win the award for best godparent, Cole’s got nothing on you,” Haley teased with a smirk. “I know, it’s completely insane, but it’s definitely going to kick in when I’m pushing her out of my body,” she laughed. “It’s crazy though and it’s happening so soon,” she added a brief look of panic crossing her face. “But it’s all going to be okay,” she said taking a deep breath.

AJ snorted. "You're probably just hoping it's a hickey because you're jealous you never gave me one," she teased. "I know, right? I'm already far too attached to this baby, and, I've been to an appointment, which is far more than he can say. So haha in his face." Cole was a good friend, or at least an old coworker that she kept on decent terms with, but she wasn't afraid to compete for something that wouldn't be tangible in the long run. "Of course it will be okay," AJ assured, picking up the minute shift in Haley's expression. "You're going to be a great mom and you're going to have the most beautiful baby."

Haley rolled her eyes. “I’m not jealous,” she said sticking out her tongue. “Jesus,” she replied, rolling her eyes again. “There’s not much he can do from Vancouver, give him a break,” she added. Haley knew AJ was just kidding, of course. She was completely confident in the choices she had made with Brett in choosing godfathers and a godmother. “You just be thankful you don’t have to share the godmother role like Cole and Keegan have to share the godfather role,” she continued with a smile. Haley rested her head on AJ’s shoulder, “I appreciate you for saying that. I’m going to try to be the best mom I can be, but she’s for sure going to be the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen.”

AJ laughed, nudging her friend. "Don't deny it, we both know you've thought about it." She shrugged, indifferent. "I mean if he wanted to be favorite godparent he could have made the effort. Guess he just doesn't want it as badly as I do." AJ let out a sigh, in an 'oh well' sort of fashion. "I am very thankful. Personally, I get the thrill of bragging to my sister that I was a godmother before she was, but you know. Having the blessing of being your daughter's godmother is more than enough." She lifted her hand, running it over the top of Haley's head. "It'll be perfect, I know it." At that moment, the car that she ordered had pulled up. Immediately, AJ stood, helping Haley to her feet and into the car before getting in herself to head off to lunch.

Haley smirked, "You wish." She nudged her friend right back at her next comment. "You're ridiculous, baby girl won't have favorites. She'll love you all equally," she said with a satisfied look on her face. "She's going to be just as blessed to be your goddaughter." Haley smiled as her friend began to reassure her. When the car pulled up she allowed AJ to help her up and into the car without a fuss. The appointment had been a success and it had especially been nice to have her friend there. Haley texted Brett to let him know her plans for the rest of the day and then looked out the window as they were driven to their lunch spot.