#fic: where the lovelight gleams

[becausebuckley]

where the lovelight gleams | buddie | small town holiday | 25.2k | complete

my holiday fic is now complete! 6 chapters, for 6 @911countdowntochristmas prompts. most of them were delivered slightly late, whoops, but i've had so much fun writing these anyway, and i hope you like reading this fic just as much <3

“Even if you don’t believe in magic, or Christmas wishes, or anything, just think about it, okay? Think about what makes you happy. Even if I can’t gift wrap it for you. You deserve to have happy Christmas memories, too.” “Maybe.” Eddie turns away and sips his drink. “Alright,” Karen says. “I’ll take your maybe, Eddie. But I’m willing to bet that this place will turn it into an I do within the week, just you wait.” or: eddie takes christopher to winterberry glade to make some good holiday memories. buck runs the local bakery and is always happy to show visitors around, though he doesn't usually fall this hard for them. too bad eddie and chris have to leave at the end of the vacation, right?

read the full fic on ao3 here!

[suitsusboth]

where the love light gleams✨

chapter nine now available

[kandisheek]

FIC REC WEEK 52 – DAILY THEMES

MASTERPOST

Here are all the fics I recommended this week. If you want to see my actual review of these fics, the posts are all linked as well. Please enjoy, and remember to leave comments and kudos!

MON: HANAHAKI DISEASE

On The Exhale by FestiveFerret Nothing Pure Enough by Sineala heaving through corrupted lungs by Alysae You Got Flowers In Your Lungs by Starksus iron tipped petals by Areiton

TUE: CRACKFIC

Just the Tip by tonystarkssnipples youtube.com/ALLCAP by vulcan_slash_robot Ticket to the Bone Zone by peppypear brief even as bright by picturecat There's Something Aboot Steve by epicycles

WED: TENTACLES

Tentacular Spectacular by Sineala Where We Both Could Live by blue_jack The real reason why the Hulk hates cephalopods by salytierra Soft Robotics by isozyme Small Weird Love by haemodye

THU: EXES TO LOVERS

Finding A Way Back by Neverever How to Date a Superhero Without Even Trying by sabrecmc all I ever knew of love by mistymountainking sorry not sorry by earliebirb Rocky Road by sayah1112

FRI: SICKFIC

Better Days by sahiya Anti-Virus by marinarusalka Love you, Papa by chvotic Danger Mouse by isozyme Where the Lovelight Gleams by sahiya

SAT: WORKSKINS & FORMATTING

An Avengers Powerpoint Party by gogglor Sex v. Work Performance - A Self-Study by Tony Stark by FestiveFerret explosive by imaginestevetony see it with the lights out by astrhae Caught Up in Our Stories by gogglor

SUN: SHARING A BED

The Rest of Our Lives by Sineala In the Early Dawn by starspangledsprocket Sleep Protocol by 51stCenturyFox Pillow Talk by FestiveFerret Team Building Exercise #2 by Anonymous

[sonofatoasterwaffle]

surprise self-rec time! pick 5 of your favorite things you’ve written and share them here, then put this in the inbox (anonymously or not) of your fellow writers to spread the positivity and help celebrate already written fics :)

oooh fun!!

1. Always, Everytime 

They don’t do this all the time. Buck isn’t always in the mood to pick someone up and Eddie… well, for Eddie, sex is a sometimes thing. They’d spent hours talking about it, trying things out. It all worked, just to varying degrees. Everything works with Buck. But this. This is great. OR Eddie doesn’t necessarily care who Buck sleeps with as long as he comes home when he’s done

nobody really likes this one but the mutuals and the other aces, but the fact that other ace people saw themselves in this fic will sustain me probably for the rest of my life.

2. motel stay on a weeknight (it's a contrast love)

Buck really thought that this detail to Austin would be the perfect time for him and Eddie to stop dancing around this. To fall into bed together in a cheap motel room and use the excuse to wake up too close and let it happen. Of course, then he opens the door to two goddamn queens. Summer of Buddie 2024 Week 5: Break the Cliche: Too many beds

this fic has such a place in my heart cause i wrote a fair bit of it on a road trip in Turkiye and yet it still came so easily to me. it turned out cozy and reminds me of my SPN days when most fics took place in a motel room.

3. i'd shout it from the rooftops

Buck can’t even deny it. He’s freaking out. Hard. “Public record, Buck.” Eddie is hissing through both hands planted over his face. Under them, Buck’s sure, his cheeks are bright apple red. Because they really, really should have paid more attention. It’s just that everything is so new. And finally being allowed to touch Eddie is such a fucking headrush that Buck can’t seem to keep his damn hands to himself. Nor does he seem to be able to keep his filthy fuckin’ mouth shut. Not even on camera, evidently. OR Buck and Eddie dive head first into their honeymoon phase, take a page out of Buck 1.0's book, and remember their shiny new body cams- in that order.

I just really love this one. my first real dip into some degradation kink.

4. where the lovelight gleams

Buck winks when he catches Eddie watching him. “What?” he asks, amused. Eddie flushes, caught in the act. He contemplates tossing out a quick nothing, or a throwaway line about being tired, but Buck is here, in his teenage bedroom, and that feels important. Too important to obfuscate. “I’ve got a boy in my room.” he says, sounding almost as incredulous as he feels. It’s as ridiculous out loud and it was in his head, but Buck lights up anyway. “Eddie!” He exclaims. “You never had a boy in your room before?” Buck’s eyes go twinkly and mischievous. Eddie should be scared. Instead, he’s getting hard. “Oh we are so fixing this.” OR Buck and Eddie take Chris to El Paso for Christmas. Buck takes the opportunity to help Eddie make some better memories there.

okay, i know it's a lil Christmasy, but i loved how cozy this one turned out and also i just really love hating on Helena Diaz.

5. sweet like honey, tastes like home

“Eddie,” He says again, pulling back to look at Eddie’s eyes, trying to see if he’s there, if he’s doing this for real. “You’re–” Concussed. Bleeding. Scaring me. “Buck,” Eddie begs, fingernails digging into Buck’s shoulders, eyes wide and imploring. “Thought I wasn’t going to make it. Thought I was going to die before I got to, please–” Eddie doesn’t ask. He never asks. He’s asking now. OR Eddie has a close call at work that ends with both of them bleeding and desperate for each other in more ways than one.

AKA the blood kink fic. I am actually REALLY proud of how this one turned out. I feel like I accomplished the freak4freak I was going for. Also this one is SO CLOSE to 1000 kudos, I'm vibrating with excitement.

thanks for the ask, Charlie!!! <3

[jessbakescakes]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to five other writers! 💗

This one somehow got lost in my inbox?? SO SORRY.

Anyway!

everybody talks (it started with a whisper) | Rated T (In progress but this will end up literally being finished within the next week if I had to guess) | A present day/social media AU! It's got epistolary bits and a reimagining of the Bartlet admin family we know and love 20 years in the future.

i like shiny things (but i'd marry you with paper rings) | Rated T (Complete) | Donna and Josh get married post Dead Irish Writers for Donna to be able to have a green card, and Totally Not Because They're Actually In Love because they Aren't, Okay?

where the lovelight gleams | Rated E (Complete) | Josh and Donna visit Donna's family in Wisconsin at Christmas during Transition.

When They Know What We Know | Rated T (In Progress) | A "Josh and Donna have been secretly married from the start" AU. A series rewrite.

good friends in season (make you feel that life has just begun) | Rated G (Complete) | Josh and Abbey at Christmas through the years. This one is a brand new one, out of my comfort zone, but it's become one of my favorites! (I had trouble deciding between this and a different one with a similar vibe, so I went with the one I hadn't recced recently.)

Thank you for the ask!

[jdorian]

Wintery Fic Recs ❄️

I was tagged by the lovely @jesuisici33 thank you 💛

I don't actually reread fics to get into the Christmas spirit, so I thought I'd just give you some of the christmassy fics from my bookmarks. (Mind you, there might be some surprising ships in there lmao)

where the lovelight gleams by ohmyloki [mattfoggy, 1.8k, Teen + Up]

Matt wrinkles his nose.

“Is that—mistletoe?” He asks.

Foggy looks up, and then around.

“Wow. That is indeed mistletoe… and it is pretty much everywhere.”

Of Blizzards, Coffee, and Jackets by chasing_the_sterek [spideypool, 1.9k, Teen + Up]

Peter didn't expect agreeing to borrow Deadpool's jacket would lead to his secret identity being found out. Although maybe he should've considered the repercussions before he wore it outside. In civilian clothes.

Mistletoe Hung by potatoes_tomatoes [baffy, 2.6k, Gen]

Every year, Bugs hangs up a bundle of mistletoe outside his burrow for kicks. He watches passerby couples, warmly greets his friends (and foes), and bids everyone a friendly kiss goodbye. As time goes on, the mistletoe on his tree becomes infamous, and everyone plays into the harmless tradition.

Everyone, except Daffy.

something slightly resembling gumption by harmonictechnicality [steddie + ronance, 48.2k, Mature]

Eddie Munson needs to get out of New York City for the holidays. Nancy Wheeler, LA online news reporter, desperately needs to be in New York City to experience her ultimate Manhattan bucket list adventure in time for the festive season. So they do the only logical thing (by romantic comedy standards) that two single people can do...

... They swap homes for one week.

❄️and absolute no pressure tagging to share their fave wintery fics: @malewifediaz @spagheddiediaz @daffi-990 @thewolvesof1998 @jamespearce9-1-1 @jeeyuns and anyone who wants to share, consider yourselves tagged by me 💛

[ink-through-her-veins]

Merthur Christmas fic for those needing some holiday cheer, and Hunith threatening Arthur with a rolling pin! 🎄🤣🎁

[streakyglasses]

I am itching for a fic of their first Christmas in their new apartment, just the two of them, stockings, breakfast etc.

I grew up in a toxic household similar to the way Streets character did (probs why he’s my comfort character) and my first Christmas with my now husband was super lowkey and really special 🥹 making the most of magic for our kids now.

hi, doll!

first, i'm sorry to hear that about your childhood, but yay for an amazing husband and being able to have wonderful christmas memories now, especially for/with your kids. that's so heartwarming 🥺❤️

so, i did misread this in that it's chris and street's first christmas, but not the first christmas after they've moved in together. but the majority takes place just the two of them at her apartment! i hope it captures all the cozy intimacy and fluffy holiday vibes that your first christmas with your husband had ❤️

where the lovelight gleams is on ao3 and ffn now!

[daintyduck99]

'tis the damn season (write this down)

For your consideration: some JatP Christmas fics

Summaries included below, check AO3 tags for more information

where the lovelight gleams by @bananakarenina

Julie Molina, one of the biggest popstars on the planet, is spending the month of December in New York City to promote her new Christmas album and a huge Christmas Eve concert at Madison Square Garden. Her team has hired her a personal driver for the whole month--Reggie Peters. Julie's struggling with losing her creativity and passion, while Reggie is struggling with just trying to make rent in the big city; he hasn't been really creative in years. Can the two of them find their way back to music before Christmas comes? What else will they find along the way? (Love. Obviously the answer is love.)

you could call me 'babe' for the weekend by @locketletters

“Look, there's no way my parents are going to buy the fact that you’re my boyfriend.” Luke crosses his arms, brows furrowing, “What’s that supposed to mean?” in which luke goes home with alex for he holidays as a pretend boyfriend, and leaves with him as a real one.

Not Found Under the Tree by @breakaway71

There's only one thing Julie wants for Christmas.

Haunted Holidays by @invisibleraven

JatP Advent ficlets 2023!

Our Luxury (A Love Like Stars) by @psyduckappears, @daintyduck99

“So, I bought a ring,” Luke says, casual in the way that usually Reggie would realize is nowhere near casual and much closer to freaking out, but he’s a little busy choking to death on his lunch.

not the last unknown by @bananakarenina

It's Christmas Eve, and the Molina family goes to church. This year they have a couple tagalongs.

Joy To The World by @wishfulstargazer

"Christmas in LA is free of snow, but not of spirit. In fact, between the lit up palm trees, the shop displays everywhere, Feliz Navidad playing on every radio station, and a host of Christmas music and decorations all over Los Feliz high school, Christmas is pretty much unavoidable. It all grates on her nerves. Christmas without Rose Molina is unthinkable. Almost as unthinkable as music without Rose Molina." Can a well meaning trio of ghost boys bring back Julie's Christmas spirit and help her reclaim her music?

From the Heart by @breakaway71

Reggie gives Julie a gift, but she is not the only one to have some feelings about it.

Hallelujah, Everybody Say Cheese (Merry Christmas From The Family) by @a-tomb-with-a-view

Reggie sighs and turns in Luke’s arms to face him. Luke leans forward to kiss Reggie’s nose, his smile playful even if his eyes are huge and full of concern. God but Reggie loves him. “I’m not going home for Christmas,” he admits eventually. “I don’t know what I’m doing, but… but not that.” Luke frowns, and kisses Reggie’s forehead instead this time, having to lean up on tiptoes to do so. “Why don’t you come over to ours?”

Phantom Carols by @invisibleraven

Fills for the JatP Advent Event 2022!

Kiss Me Under the Missile Toad by @wr0temyway0ut

“Woah, little dude,” Willie says as he lowers Carlos to his feet. “You gotta be careful up there. What were you even doing?” Carlos gives Willie a proud grin and thrusts something into their hands. “I’m hanging the missile toads!”

why do i care how much it may storm (i’ve got my love to keep me warm) by @tillstarscollided

There is something special about nighttime snowfall, how it’s quiet and almost eerie with only the lights from the porch to show it, but how that also means you can watch it collect and sparkle in a controlled section of light instead of being blinded by the sun reflecting off the entire landscape of white. There had been snow on the ground already, slowly melting, but this new batch was evening it out, covering up the mud and sludge with a new blank canvas that Reggie really wanted to just go and mess up with snowmen and snow angels, as the ones he had already made disappeared, but it was 1 am and he should be cuddling in bed with his partners, and he has bad impulse control but not that bad of impulse control. or: Reggie’s partners bring him to New York to see the snow, and he hasn’t stopped staring since.

a lonely boy on christmas by @nuandia

Alex doesn’t really think twice. He takes the tangerines and a wrapped sandwich and a bottle of water out of his shopping bag and offers them to him. The boy looks up, startled. His face guarded, his posture tense before he blinks at Alex and then relaxes. He smiles a tentative smile and slowly reaches for the offered groceries. But his eyes are sparkling, making the breath in Alex’s throat catch.  Or, everybody's lonely on Christmas Eve. Or well, maybe not.

Of Hearts Borrowed And Blue by @daintyduck99

“Some vacation,” Julie mutters, shedding the duvet and reaching for the coffee maker.  She still doesn’t know why everyone was so convinced that a change of scenery would do her good—it’s not like Julie can outrun Christmas. Caleb apparently also forgot to mention that everyone in this town is obsessed with the holiday, which isn’t all that different from the current atmosphere at Molina Family Photography.  If anything, Julie’s even more of a grinch here that she would be back home, because she stuffed all of her grief into a battered suitcase, and she can’t just pull it out for every single stranger trying to get her into the Christmas spirit.

[kanthonyficrecs]

Featured Fic (Modern AU)

where the love light gleams by suitsusboth Rating: M Summary: Overwhelmed by her job and getting sick of the city life, Kate Sharma decides to make a impulsive trip upstate in the dead of night. Perhaps not her wisest plan considering it soon got to 1am, it had started to snow, and she had no place to stay…Luckily for her this cute guy emerges in her time of need and offers her a place to stay. Did she mention he lives on a Christmas Tree farm? lovelight farms au

[becausebuckley]

where the lovelight gleams chapter 1: i'll be home for christmas | 5.5k

in which eddie and christopher arrive in winterberry glade.

yay holiday fic time!! this is written for @911countdowntochristmas day 5, soup!

Eddie leans back, tilts his head towards the sky, and closes his eyes. Was this a mistake? Was it stupid to think that they could do this, that they could have this, without any issues? Should he have known better? He just wanted a nice vacation for his son. That’s all. All he’s ever wanted was the best for Christopher. Suddenly, he hears something. The sound of a car, moving closer. Eddie opens his eyes and sees a bright red car coming towards them. It’s a pickup truck, one of those bulky ones with the big empty bed in the back. It’s gleaming red, clearly well-taken care of, and even has a green garland draped over the front. Eddie only has a second to wonder how safe that is before the car is pulling over just ahead of them.  A man gets out and walks towards Eddie, shrugging on a thick blue jacket as he moves. Eddie’s first thought is that he’s big. His second thought is that he’s beautiful. The man looks to be about Eddie’s age.  He’s all tall legs and broad shoulders, chest stretching out his jacket. His hair is short and curly and looks like it’s just begging for some snowflakes to get caught in it. He has a red mark on his eyebrow, probably a birthmark of some sort, kind blue eyes, and the nicest smile Eddie has ever seen. Yeah, he’s beautiful. He’s also talking, so maybe Eddie should stop thirsting and start listening.

read the full fic on ao3 here!

[suitsusboth]

where the love light gleams✨

chapter ten now available

[kandisheek]

FIC REC WEEK 52 – DAILY THEMES

SICKFIC

Better Days by sahiya

Pairing: Steve/Bucky/Tony Rating: G Words: 6,132 Tags: Post-Ultron, Bathing/Washing, Hurt Tony

Summary: Since Ultron, Tony has isolated himself from the team. But when Bucky's recovery necessitates a trip into the city, Steve decides to swing by the mansion and see him. Luckily for Tony.

Reasons why I love it: Can this be canon now? Cause I want it to be canon now. All of this is so sweet and domestic, and oh my god, Steve washing Tony's hair?? My new favorite thing now. And the thought of Bucky and Tony snarking at each other while watching the British Bake Off will definitely keep me warm at night. I adore this fic, and I bet you will too, so I hope you check it out for yourself!

Anti-Virus by marinarusalka

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: G Words: 4,112 Tags: Pre-Slash, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff

Summary: Steve didn't think he could get sick any more. He was wrong. Tony didn't think of himself as the caretaking type. He was wrong too.

Reasons why I love it: Tony is SO Tony in this fic, one of the best characterizations I've seen recently. He's funny in a really natural way, and the banter between him and the other Avengers made me laugh more than once. And grumpy Steve is kind of adorable – he also reads incredibly true to his character. I love this fic to bits, and I bet you will too, so I hope you check it out!

Love you, Papa by chvotic

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: G Words: 5,120 Tags: Kidfic, Separation Anxiety, Parenting

Summary: He went to sit on one of the armchairs, but Peter stopped him. “You want me to sit with you?” Peter nodded again, and Steve was having a hard time not bursting into tears himself because the kid wanted to be near him. Or, in which, Peter and Steve share their first ever father-son moments.

Reasons why I love it: This fic made me tear up more than once. The way that Peter opens up to Steve is so beautiful, despite the growing pains in their relationship, and I love how protective Steve is of Peter. Plus, the ending is incredibly sweet. Definitely check this one out, I love it to bits!

Danger Mouse by isozyme

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 7,931 Tags: Savage Lands, Hurt Tony, Mutual Pining

Summary: First step: get both Tony and the pieces of Tony’s suit into some kind of shelter. It’s not raining now, but it’s only a matter of time. The passenger bay of the jet is sitting at a thirty degree angle and pretty banged up, but the doors are accessible and, hey, it’s got a roof. Step two after shelter: make a fire. That’s wilderness 101. Steve pats around his belt pouches for his matches. He comes up with a pack of tissues (wet), a couple of business cards (wet), his guilty pack of cigarettes (also wet), and finally a book of matches. It’s wet.

Reasons why I love it: Aaaah, all the repressed feelings are so delicious! I love how much Steve is struggling to hold himself back with Tony in his arms, and the revelation that Tony is going through the exact same thing is super sweet. This fic is wonderful, and you should definitely read it!

Where the Lovelight Gleams by sahiya

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: G Words: 4,727 Tags: Christmas Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Cuddling

Summary: “Hi,” Peter said weakly, looking up at Steve from where he was curled on his side in the bed––more or less the same position he’d been in since he’d arrived home from MIT, three days earlier, and quarantined himself because he didn’t want to expose Tony’s weak lungs and lousy immune system to his “finals week hell-flu.” Steve appreciated the gesture, but at this point it was clearly doing more harm than good.

Reasons why I love it: Aw, poor Peter, having the flu is the worst, especially during the holidays. I love the protectiveness going on at all ends, Peter wanting to protect Tony, Tony wanting to protect Peter, Steve wanting to protect them both – they're all nerds, and I love them. This fic is wonderful, and if you haven't yet, you should definitely read it!

[ao3feed-kathony]

last christmas (i gave you my heart)

read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/52254235 by suitsusboth Anthony never believed in love at first sight. It was a myth, he thought, despite his parents being the undeniable proof that it did happen and it did exist. He always thought they were just one of the lucky ones though. He never thought it would happen to him, and on the unlikeliest of days too. OR Anthony's POV of the events in 'where the love light gleams' Words: 9456, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Series: Part 2 of lovelights Fandoms: Bridgerton (TV), Bridgerton Series - Julia Quinn Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/M Characters: Anthony Bridgerton, Kate Sheffield | Kate Sharma Relationships: Anthony Bridgerton/Kate Sheffield | Kate Sharma Additional Tags: a little sad a little sweet, Anthony needs a hug, there's a dog named eggnog, Christmas fic, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Anthony's pov, small town read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/52254235

[devilrosola]

7, 16, 26 for the fic writers ask thing :)

7) A fic of yours you think is underrated?

Where the Lovelight Gleams a Hallmark Christmas fic with a wholesome crack pairing of Hinahoho and Razol of the Fanalis since Hina's boys have been trying to get their dad remarried so they can have more siblings :3

16) What are you favorite characters to write?

🤔 It's hard to narrow it down. I started out primarily with Sinbad with a few side favs, but now Ja'far and Kouen esp together give me more brainrot. But really, the characters together is the best, like putting in quips from Muu or Masrur's inner dialogue.

26) What fic are you proudest of?

I have to say Princess of Balbadd for a completed novel-length fic that has character growth for the reader in three arcs and I love how things came together for it!

[icecubelotr44]

“No, stop!” (Whumptober 2018 Day 4)

For @la-vie-en-whump‘s Whumptober 2018 prompts.

All prompts from last and this year: HERE Previous Days: Stabbed | Bloody Hands | Insomnia |

“You’re sitting at our house, in our home, watching Alice.  She’s sick so she won’t do much more than sleep; what do you think is going to happen?”  Killian laughed under his breath as Liam leveled him with a baleful look before checking the safety on his weapon once more.

“I’ll not have anything happen under my watch, little brother,” Liam explained anyway, tucking the gun behind a papier-mâché heart that Alice had made for them in kindergarten.  “You two go, enjoy your anniversary.  Alice will be in safe hands with me.”

Killian smiled easily, wrapping an arm around Emma’s shoulders before dropping a kiss to the crown of her head.  “We know, Liam.  We’ll be back early.”

“Go!” he ordered, shaking his head vehemently.  “Stay out late.  Like you said, she’ll probably sleep most of the evening and your other little monster is running amok at the Nolans’.  How often do you two get an entire night to yourselves?  I’ll sleep upstairs if it gets too late.”

“Go, Papa!” Alice’s voice croaked from the doorway behind them. “I wanna stay with Uncle Liam.  He lets me stay up late!”

Killian turned with a mock scowl as Liam sputtered good-naturedly. “He does, does he, Starfish?”

Alice nodded unabashedly, her cheeks pink with fever and her bright eyes already drooping with fatigue.  “And we made s’mores last time!”

“Alice Jones!” Liam chided with more than a hint of laughter in his words.  “You promised that was a secret!”

Alice giggled, her hands clapping over her mouth comically. Killian swooped in, picking her up and settling her on his hip.  She was getting far too big for him to do this still, but he was loathe to give it up.

He would always think of her as his baby girl, even after she was long grown and her brother was, too.

“All right, little luv,” Killian mumbled into her untamed hair – it smelled like strawberries.  “You be good for Uncle Liam, all right?”

“Yes, Papa,” she intoned dutifully, her eyes serious as she stared into his.  She then spoiled it by leaning in to give him a kiss and blowing a raspberry into his cheek instead.

Emma laughed, leaning in to brush a kiss over Alice’s forehead before Killian transferred her to Liam’s arms.  She snuggled in automatically.

“We’ll see you in the morning, all right?” Emma asked their daughter, settling a shawl around her shoulders and checking her clutch for her phone.

“Okay, Mama!”

If Killian had known what they were going to come home to, he never would have left that moment.

True to prediction, Alice hadn’t lasted much more than an hour after her parents left for their evening out.  Liam had put her to bed with her beloved – if a bit ratty now – stuffed rabbit, standing at her door to watch her sleep long after she’d drifted off. He marveled at it sometimes – the ease with which Killian had fallen into father and he into uncle.  Their world was a dangerous one, there had been far too many close calls in the not so distant past, but they could make it safer so that Alice wouldn’t know the same fear they had growing up.

Eventually, he’d made his way to the living room, checking the locks on every window and double checking that the alarm was set on his way. Alice wasn’t the only one who was tired. He had been working overtime the last couple weeks to make sure that JR Solutions’ books were in order to keep them in the black for the next quarter.  That many numbers almost made him wish he was still in the field with Killian.

Almost.

He wasn’t sure when he’d fallen asleep, thoughts of making his way up to ‘his’ bedroom across from Alice’s the last thing he remembered. But one loud crash upstairs had him up and sprinting for the stairs in an instant.  He’d thought that maybe Alice had fallen out of bed or tripped over one of her toys on the way to the bathroom.  But that thought flew out the window when more crashes and Alice’s muffled shouting reached his ears.

Something was terribly wrong.

Liam didn’t have time to think, he only reacted, throwing himself at the first man he set eyes on.  They both crashed to the floor amidst a pile of pillows, blankets, and stuffed toys.  Alice’s bunny stared Liam in the face accusingly, but he didn’t have a moment to think about it before rolling and trying to incapacitate the bastard in his niece’s room.

There were four more of them.

“Alice!” he cried out, slamming the man’s head into the floor and stepping over his unconscious body as he propelled himself forward into the next man.  He could hear his niece struggling, yelling through what might have been someone’s hand, but he couldn’t see her.  Couldn’t get to her.  Couldn’t-

Someone behind him shouted, a guttural yell of pain that he hadn’t caused and he whirled around to see one of the bastards shaking his hand and Alice’s pajama-clad backside scampering down the hall.

Good girl.

With Alice running free from the room, Liam could concentrate solely on keeping the rest of the men away from her.  His little love was smart; she’d call her parents, Uncle Will, and then the police if she had time.  Liam just had to keep these assholes away long enough to give her time.

That started with following the bastard who’d chased her out of the room.  Liam flew down the hall, following in his footsteps and tackling him into a wall amidst a cascade of falling picture frames.  Alice and her brother’s school photos littered the floor around him as he fell, landing punches and trying to get his hands around the man’s neck so he could snap it.  There were still two more men; he didn’t have time to-

BANG!

The sound came out of nowhere, startling Liam into a full stop just as he’d knelt to full height, intent on wrapping a discarded scarf – Emma’s, he was sure – around his assailant’s neck.  The sound was as foreign as it was familiar, not belonging in this house.  Never in this house.  Here where it was supposed to be safe; where Alice was allowed to grow and play and learn without worrying about exit strategies and contingency plans.

Someone had shot off a weapon.

Liam looked around wildly, cold seeping into his very being as he searched frantically to make sure that Alice was still safe.

She was nowhere to be seen.

There was, however, another of Liam’s targets standing at the top of the stairs with a satisfied grin on his face and a – literally – smoking gun in his hand.

What?

It hit him all at once, time speeding up as the man beneath his knees shoved Liam aside easily and kicked him as he fell bonelessly to the hardwood floor.  Fire blossomed hot and agonizingly in his chest, sending stabbing pains outward like they were searching for better targets.  He could imagine heated tendrils racing along his veins and encompassing him fully even as he struggled back to his hands and knees.  Alice still needed him; he couldn’t give in now.

Alice!  Where was Alice?  Was she safe? Had she gotten a call out?  Was she-

No.  No, they wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble if she was-

And then he saw her, half hidden under a tablecloth at the end of the hallway, shaking and rocking, her wide eyes locked on his. She’d seen him get-

He needed to move.  Liam needed to get up and get between her and the bastards intent on taking her.  He needed to protect her until he no longer had breath to do so.

But his needs and his body’s demands didn’t – couldn’t – agree, and Liam found himself collapsed in a heap in his brother’s hallway once more, the fire being erased alarmingly quickly by full body shivers and pervasive cold.  His limbs refused to listen to his commands to push, to lever him up, to give himself over to instinct and just keep going.

BANG!

Liam’s eyes shot open, unsure of when they’d closed, but he was no more able to get up than he had been a moment ago and now the scene in front of him had-

God, he hoped he’d drifted into a nightmare.

Alice, his brave little niece, was standing in the hallway now, her feet set apart and square, a look of pure determination that was definitely a Jones family trait in her eyes.  And her arms raised, one of Killian’s guns steady in her little hands, pointed at the man lying dead on the floor next to Liam.

“Alice,” he croaked, his voice painfully weak. “Run!”

Alice shook her head ‘no’, determination fueling her as she pointed the weapon behind him.

A second too late.

Liam felt the barrel of the gun pushed against his temple and begged her again to put the gun down and flee.

“Now, now, now, girlie,” the bastard admonished.  “Put that down before you hurt someone else.”

“I’ll shoot you!” she cried, shuffling her feet to adjust her aim.  “My Papa taught me how.”

The man laughed and Liam’s heart sunk.  He could feel the beats slowing, the warmth of the blood pooling under his chest increasing even as he felt the chill taking over.  He didn’t have long.

“If you shoot me, I’ll shoot your uncle first.  Do you want to kill your Uncle Liam, Alice?”

You bastard! Liam thought furiously, trying to muster the strength to move.

Alice shook her head, the point of the gun faltering slightly. “Don’t hurt him,” she begged.

Oh, honey, I’m already gone, Liam thought sadly, wanting to do anything to erase that tone of voice from his memory.

“Give me a reason not to,” the man taunted, cocking the pistol in Liam’s ear and making Alice take a step forward.

“No, stop!” she shouted, one hand falling away from the gun and raising in supplication.  “What if… what if I come with you?”

“Alice, no!” Liam whispered, too far gone now to shout. She couldn’t… not for him. Not when it wouldn’t matter in a few minutes anyway.

But Alice ignored him, still speaking to the man who would be her kidnapper.  “What if you leave him alone and I come with you?  I heard you; you were looking for me.  I’ll come with you and you leave him alone.”

Tears coursed down Liam’s cheeks and he didn’t have the strength to stop them.  He wasn’t worth this.

“I’ll leave him alone. You just put down the gun, Alice, and we’ll go-”

“No!” Alice shouted, both hands back on the gun now.  “If I put it down, you’ll just kill him now.  I’ll give you the gun when we’re outside.”

God, no!  Alice, please… please.

“Smart girl,” the man crooned.  “All right. We’ll go, before your daddy gets here and ruins the fun.  But if you try anything, we’ll come back and we’ll take your uncle apart piece by piece. Deal?”

Alice glared at the man, but then let her gaze flit down to Liam where he lay on his belly on the floor. He shook his head ‘no’, begging her to run, to shoot, to do anything but go with these men.

“Deal.”

Liam couldn’t do anything but watch as she marched past the men, gun trained on each of them as she passed. She knelt down next to him and patted him gently on the head before leaning down and kissing his forehead much like he’d done earlier that night when he’d put her to bed.  “I love you, Unca Liam,” she whispered, falling back on the old utterance of his name that she’d grown out of.

He wanted to tell her he loved her, too.  He wanted to tell her he was sorry.  He wanted to protect her.

He’d give up his life to protect her.

But he couldn’t even do that, left bleeding out on the hallway floor, his face pressed against a picture of Alice, Killian, and Liam all with gaudy Christmas bows stuck to their foreheads.  Liam had attached his brother’s with superglue.

It was the last thing he saw before the darkness claimed him, cold and alone in an empty house – his family’s home.

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