#finley could be cute 🥺

[ssahotchnerr]

I’m back 📇

Fae Faith Fallon Fawn Fay Felicia Felicity Fern Finley Fleur Flora Florence Frances Francesca Freya

Gabriella Gabrielle Garnet Gemma Genesis Geneva Genevieve Georgia Giselle Gwen

Hadley Hannah Harley Harlow Harper Haven Hayden Hazel Heather Heidi Helena Hollie Hollis Holly Honey Honor Hope Hyacinth

Ida Imogen India Indigo Inez Iris Isabel Isabella Isla

Jade January Jasmine Jemima Jenna Jessica Joanna Joanne Jodie Jolie Jonquil Josephine Joy Julia Juliana Juliet Juniper

Kara Kate Katherine Kaya Kayla Keira Kerry Kinsey Kira

Lacey Laila Lana Lara Laura Layla Leighton Lena Lenore Lexie Libby Liberty Lilly Lily Livia Lorelai Lotus Louisa Louise Lucia Lucinda Lucy Lydia

you’re really coming through with all of these omg 😭🫶🏻

[thecaptainsgingersnap]

Okay now I have to ask, from that list I made or absolutely any other ideas, so you have any thoughts on crossovers between our ocs? 🥺

Omg! Hold onto your hat! This is gonna get weird!

Roni Tanner

Mia Queen- I feel like they could develop like kind of a sister-y relationship when the Gambit goes down since Oliver is kind of the brother Roni never had and she feels a duty to look out for his kid sisters.

Rose Smythe

Annika Webster- I see potential for superhero girl shenanigans! And also meddling and matchmaking attempts!

Kelsey Doyle- they seem to have similar vibes and I feel like they would be wonderfully chaotic together!

Kris Smythe

Sadie Maddox- I think these two could get along and maybe cause a little trouble together

Carli Tanner

Ophelia Wayne- she seems like exactly the kind of boss bitch Carli would love to have in her corner

Ruby Fitzherbert

Finley Rider- I feel like we could play up the angst with this. Sisters separated by circumstance and whatnot

Piper Pan

Finley Rider- I also see a lot of potential for mischief and shenanigans here

Winnie Pan- another possible awesome sister duo! I see a lot of adventure potential with these two

Regina Grimhilde

Violet Kingsleigh- I feel like these two could have similar paths of being sent to Auradon with ulterior motives then (presumably) realizing things aren't what they've always thought

Bobbi LaCosta

Jane Forester- I see a whole"best friend's brother" situation developing with them and Dean

Charlotte Howard-Danes- I'm seeing bonding over dancing and flighty absent moms!

Sam Gleason- with the way Miss Patty kind of mothers Kirk, I assume she does something similar with Sam. I see that leading to a sister/bestie bond

Lila Lupin

Gemini Black- I think these two could have a very interesting friendship. Their personalities seem like they would compliment each other will

Athena Prewett

Bobbie Fortescue- This could be an interesting pair. Both war orphans (well half orphan on Athena's side), both cousins of people directly In The Drama, both separated from their families by their sorting. I see kindred spirits here

Phoenix Dumbledore- I just wanna see what these two would get up to since the Beauxbatons stayed with the ravenclaws.

Venus Malfoy- Athena would be the friend supporting her to rebel against her parents.

Stella Knight

Atalanta Jackson- As the two girls closest to Jason I feel they're constantly tag teaming to keep him alive 🤣

Cassandra Aelius- People think Stella's kind of crazy for trying to tell the future using the stars so I feel like she would at least listen to her prophecies even if she doesn't always believe them

Alexa Cantwood

Crystal Solace- I feel like we've discussed these two before and I still want them to be besties

Elyana Chase- we're always here for half sister adventures!

Stella Beauregard- I think that these two would be friends. I also think Stella would see Alexa and Lucian and be like "Ugh you guys are disgusting" because that's how cute they are

Victoria Blofis- She seems so chill and I think that could have that kind of friendship you can only have with people you've known through all your awkward phases.

Gwen Macintosh

Brandy Hayes- I'm seeing these two being like parallel "one girl field agent" type of friends who can bond by laughing at/bitching about their teams together

Xenia Hart- I'm guessing she's Harry's daughter so I see them being best friends since babyhood and the ultimate agent team when their grown up. We'd either have to give one of them a new codename or we could play with the hilarity of two Guinevere's on top of the two galahads

Rikki Lane

Chloe Grace Routledge- I see these two acting as literally ALL of John B's impulse control.

Cody Maybank- These two and Kie would be terrifying together. I can already tell. I don't know why though.

Jo Clark- Rikki would totally be sympathetic to Jo running to the Cut to get away from her problems. They would bond over being kook defectors and Rikki would offer to let Jo stay with her or borrow clothes or anything

Sharon Henderson

Beth Munson (Thompson?)- I feel like Sharon would be like the Dustin to Nancy, Beth, and Barb's Mike Lucas and Will. The one who joined the squad late (sixth grade) but blended in flawlessly

Cara Henderson- can you say ultimate big sister duo? From what I can tell, Cara would be the athletic sister to Sharon's need sister and I love that!

Samantha Mayfield- They would totally team up to kick monster ass.

Sidney Hopper- These two and Jonathan would have totally been like the three musketeers growing up so I could see a besties turned worst enemies and back progression with them.

Stacy Byers- Similar to Sidney, I'm seeing a "sisters in all but blood" situation

Roxy Winchester

Ainsley Winchester- Roxy always wanted a sister so I think she would love Ainsley. I can see them trying to be the peacekeepers of the family and rolling their eyes at the boys constantly.

Deborah Winchester- these two would have either been best friends or constantly at each other's throats after John found Roxy. Either way, I think they would have loved each other. I could see them being a formidable hunting team to rival their brothers.

Elle Winchester- the adopted sisters with the secret pasts? I love it!!! Potential for lots of drama and shocking reveals!

Esther Cott- I'm not sure exactly what these two would do together but I feel like they would make interesting friends

Drea Jones

Ana Andrews- Total parallels for their brothers. They have the brain cells. Do not get paid enough for this shit.

Charlotte Jones- The female role model Drea needs in her life. Sister Bonding (TM). Will fuck you up.

Delaney Carlyle- Chaos. All the chaos. I like it!

Fallon Parris Jones- You know that part in The Parent Trap between Annie and Hallie realizing they're twins and the end of camp? I feel like that's these two when Fallon comes back to Riverdale

Harper Harrison- These two would be great friends. Drea is totally the kind of friend to learn sign language along with Harper so they can talk shit about people without anybody knowing. Also was Riverdale High Drama Department's designated choreographer, she would talk about musicals all day with her

Kris Keller- As Kevin's best friend, I could see Drea becoming a regular fixture in the Keller household to the point where Tom will walk into one of the twins' rooms to find Drea sprawled on the floor with her sketchbook and just be like "yeah sure why not?"

Lyra Lovell- Creative dancer girls!!! Will spill blood for Jughead Jones. Exhausted by Gladys Jones.

Tanya Conway- As someone who loves a good mystery and, thanks to Archie, never really believed Svenson was the Black Hood, dress would totally help Tanya prove her dad's innocence.

Roni Stark

Alessia Stark- We could do some interesting things here with both of them having the serum used on them. Plus I've never considered Roni having a big sister. Could be fun!

Adelaide Stark- Roni would absolutely ADORE Adi! She'd be the cool aunt who took her on trips aunt bought her whatever she wanted. She'd also be the one to bake cookies and make pillow courts for movie marathons.

Aris Stark-- Much like with Adi, Roni would be Aris's ultimate supporter growing up. When the boys go to space and the girls are left behind, Roni tries to guide Aris through developing unexpected superpowers. She's been there herself so she should be able to handle it, right?

Athena Stark- Ultimate Aunt Roni would help her ambitious niece get anything her little heart desired

Ava Potts- Ava describing Roni "my aunt who's not really my aunt bursts into flames. Sure why not?"

Cora (& Orion) Royce- Roni would totally love this little girl and her determination to help protect her family. She'd do everything she could to help her

Zora Wright- I could see these two being great friends

Cora Hargreeves

Alice Hargreeves- Cora likes to think she was the empathetic sibling growing up. She tried to include Viktor as much as possible and would have treated Alice no different. When they grow up and find themselves the most stable of their family, they're have to be the brain cells to help keep everyone focused to stop the apocalypse

Andromeda Hargreeves- Cora would try to help Andromeda develop her powers by levitating small objects around her for her to try to catch. She doesn't blame her for leaving and welcomes her home

Audrey- They would totally bond over music and being the "artsy" siblings

Cassie Hargreeves- Oh this could be fun! Cora's psychic but she has a lot of trouble with that part of her powers do when cause around he uses Cora more for her telekinesis. Then when caddies gone he would push her more to have visions.

Cleo Sullivan- Anyone who can work with Diego on a regular basis and not kill him is immediately a friend of Cora's. She'd be glad to have another girl around who knows how to fight

Kamaria Hargreeves- We love a long lost sister in this house! I see a lot of room for shenanigans here

Max Carmichael- Cora would either love Max or she would annoy the hell out of her. I'm not sure which. Maybe both

Mira Hargreeves- "My thirteen year old brother and his eighteen year old daughter just fell through a time portal to stop the apocalypse. Sounds about right." -Cora Hargreeves

Mireille Labonair- Cora would probably be wary of anyone who agreed to work with her father but once she got past that, she'd love that Luther had someone who made him happy

Odessa Hargreeves- Cora would hate having her sister resent their family but she wouldn't her.

Poppy- Cora would love Poppy! She adores Grace so having a sister like her would be awesome. When they grow up she would love getting to finally show her the world!

Sierra Nearing- Cora actually works at Griddy's after leaving the Academy. Sierra would probably be her first real friends and I love that! Cora would show her all the sculptures she works on when she's not at the diner. Curiously, her shifts never line up with her siblings' visits so she still doesn't know Sierra knows them beyond what's she's told her. Even Diego and Klaus who she actually sees regularly.

Vienna Montgomery- As Diego's designated favorite sibling, Cora would have met Vienna and immediately love her. They would be great friends and cora would only be mildly surprised but not unhappy when Vienna shows up to the funeral.

Virginia West- Cora would absolutely love Ginny! Books are some of her favorite things and watching Ginny literally bring stories to life would be like magic to her.

Wilhelmina Hargreeves- Cora might resent Willa a little bit for leaving, but she still loves her and understands why she did it. When she comes back for the funeral, Cora is glad to see Willa just like all the others.

Mickey Daniels (& Melissa van Aren, Emily Kirkpatrick, and Amy Turner)

Alyssa Solomon- If there's one thing Mickey Daniels loves, it's a challenge. Befriending Alyssa Solomon has proven to be one of the bigger challenges Mickey's encountered. The girl has secrets on top of secrets. Lucky for Mickey, secrets are her chosen trade.

Annalise Goode- Mickey's part of the welcome committee for new students so she'd be totally excited to meet Annalise! I could see them being like workout partners and training together

Leia Gallagher- Mickey would think it's so coul that Latoya is a direct descendant of Gilly! They'd probably spend a lot of time talking about places they've travelled and having parental figures who are always away.

Sami Upton

Abbie Hudson- These two would totally have been best friends growing up! They would have spent all their time practicing gymnastics moves and driving Finn and Noah crazy. They probably would have decided to join Glee together just to try it and both fell in love with it.

Christina Hummel- Sami doesn't agree with the way the football team treats the Hummel twins. She also doesn't do much to interfere for fear of losing her own social standing. As an original Glee member, she's been friends with Kurt and at least frenemies with Christina since freshman year.

Joy Schuester- Sami would totally be the friend Joy would look at when Will does something crazy/stupid/embarrassing like "Do you see what I have to deal with???" Only for Sami to sheriff and start laughing like "I'm sorry I can't help you, but this is hilarious."

Kendall Pierce- Sami would love Kendall because she too would see no reason to choose between cheer and Glee. I could see them being kind of a mirror for Quinn and Britt

Ok finally done!!! Wow that was a lot.

[tutuprincesse]

I wish Finley had won so her and Matthew could tour again together. But Skylar and Matthew will be fun, I’m sure

that would have been cute 🥺

[manyfandomocs]

Hi I love Brendan v much we’ve talked about some crossover concepts but any headcanons? 🥺

Yes yes yes have a few I couldn't decide but if you wanna hear anyone else just lmk

Sloane (and Anissa and Kyla)

Ben has Audrey and Chad but I think Brendan has the girls. Like for years the friend group is just The Girls (+ Brendan) which is beautiful

Sloane has the brain cells of the two of them, Brendan is not a dumb boy by any means but Sloane and her planning is just so out of his depth

Cosette

Honestly I need her to have still dated Ben because just her having been with Gaston and his brother is so wild but Brendan is still into her. Also let's just have it tragic and he was into her while she was with Ben but good brother and friend rules so he shoved it down

Brendan decides it's his job as the prince to help the new people but also it is an excuse to see Cosette

Fitz (and Fin)

Brendan also would not let Fitz have pushed him away post-Finley being sent to Auradon that's not allowed

Also I think Brendan has been into him forever tbh and he is so excited to see Fin again. Except that I think Fin would have already known he's into Fitz (cue a "So have you told Fitz you like him?" "Um NO"

Grier

Even if Brendan does know she's a little evil schemer still, I don't know if it's a negative. I think he could be into that tbh she can have some schemes against his dad it's chill

And if we did the idea of her saying to spell Brendan instead of Ben and then giving him the antidote I fully see him being like "well, she fixed it immediately so, that's nice of her I love her"

Hero

Hero could probably kick his ass and he'd say thank you tbh. How can he ever argue with his goddess of a girlfriend

But I just think they'd be so cute he'd adore her

Honey and Lawson

Brendan would love Lottie so much I feel like so he would also just love hanging out with Honey and then meeting Lawson would be so fun

I also think he'd vibe so hard with Lawson like they would be best bros

Melia

She also could probably kick his ass and he'd say thank you like he has no problems with her

I am sure it'd be so angsty when she found out about her parents but he would be by her side 100% and not waver at all

Noelle

Brendan finds it so boring that magic is basically done in Auradon so, I think he'd love Noelle and Elsa and the ice magic and everything

Also? I feel like Ben would be their biggest supporter tbh

[gretagerwigsmuse]

oh golly this one was so sweet and so cheeky!!! we’d talked about the date quite a bit, but the end was SUCH a lovely lil surprise 😉 lil sluts (affectionate) they totally match each others’ energy in so many different ways are such a cute invisible string couple!! more below 💕

Maybe you should try to complete your quest. But you weren't sure what it was. That was the tricky part. You had tried and done so much. - girl! it is to let yourself love and be loved in return! let yourself be happy!! let that boy love you

You should want to be immortal and powerful and worshipped, but—but it didn't sound as appealing as it did so long ago. - oh i’m sure bradley will worship at your altar 🤭

You could see a future with him. A life, a house on the beach, a marriage, kids, growing old together. It was a beautiful picture painted in your mind. - okay but would their children be invited to camp halfblood? i’m thinking yes

Eventually, you couldn't take the anticipation any longer, so at two o'clock, you went to your room and flung open your closet doors. You had texted Bradley asking what to wear, and he said something casual, but what did casual mean? This was a date, so you couldn't just show up in any old thing. - this - her getting ready - is one of my favorite parts of this chapter! it’s just honestly so cute and sweet and relatable? she’s just so endearing and real to me whenever she does stuff like this? like i love that she’s an amazing pilot and a total badass god, but she’s also just like a normal girl and does girlie things like this? like she shows that you can be both? and i love that about her (also the dress she picks is so cute!)

After confirming you were happy with your hair, you grabbed the bottle of your favorite Jo Malone, "Scarlett Poppy" perfume and spritzed your neck and wrists. - i ride or die for jo malone perfume ☺️ and this is such a pretty scent and so her! the poppies!!!! ahhh

Bradley was wearing a sky blue polo with a subtle floral print. He'd also traded his light washed jeans for a darker, nicer pair - stop he’s so cute i love this look for him! and he’s got flowers and is nervous and thinks she looks gorgeous ahhhhh

"Those were birthday flowers. These are date flowers." - 404’ing over here jesusfuckingchrist i’d melt on the spot

"I know being in water isn't your thing, but I hope this is fine." Bradley said as you sat down to look over the menu. - BRADLEY PLSSSSS

His eyes light up when you say that Oceana is your favorite. “I'm from Virginia. I grew up right near the base and graduated from UVA!" - the invisible string of it all, my word!!!

Bradley wiped his palms on his jeans before tentatively slipping his hand into yours. You paused for a moment, caught off guard. He tried to pull away, but you grinned at him before lacing your fingers together tighter, laughing at the way his cheeks turned pink when he asked you if it was okay for him to hold your hand. - shut the fuck up!!! they’re such teenagers here!!!! his sweaty palms!!!! him pulling away but her tightening her grip!! ahhhh i wanna be there

“You want the shark. I'll get you the shark." - HAAHHAAHHA his conviction! and finley is born (i still love her rationale for naming him and then bradley not knowing how to respond is so funny)

Dating wasn't something you did often because it ended in heartbreak for you. You could never fully give yourself to that person, or they only wanted one thing from you, and that's not who you were. - oh sweet girl 🥺 you deserve a thousand more dates like this one!!

He breathed out as he placed one of his large palms on the door above you. - byeeeeee (he said he wouldn’t come in not that he wouldn’t have his way with her against the door 👀🤭)

You pulled your lips away from his and kissed along his jaw and nipped at his earlobe before he brought your mouth back to his. - 🫠🫠

Bradley bit his knuckle before deciding that two could play at this game. - idk man biting the knuckle is hot

You had a navy blue vibrator resting on your thigh over your tattoos and one hand over your panties. - oh i cannot wait until he gets [redacted] all over the thigh tattoos

Then, before his brain could catch up with him, he wrapped your panties around himself and fisted his cock tightly. - i let out a shriek the first time i read this oh my lordddddd sir?? 🫡

false god

Series Warnings: Mythology!AU. Language, alcohol, drinking. Military inaccuracies. Mutual pining, unrequited love. Allusions to and eventual smut. Minors DNI. 18+. Individual chapter warnings will come as needed. Banner Credit @thedroneranger

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Chapter 8: Daydreams

You were giddy when you went to bed that night. Bradley had given you the best birthday you had ever had, and he told you that he has feelings for you and he wanted to take you on a date. An actual date!

You couldn't believe it. If this was a dream, you didn't want to wake up from it. Bradley had changed your life so much in seven months, and it got you thinking about what Minthe had said to you. Maybe you should try to complete your quest. But you weren't sure what it was. That was the tricky part. You had tried and done so much.

You had battled with it for so long that you accepted that you would live on Earth for eternity, but now, even that wasn't true.

Now, you weren't even sure you wanted to be a fully powerful Goddess again. You should want that— right? You should want to be immortal and powerful and worshipped, but—but it didn't sound as appealing as it did so long ago.

If your powers were restored, you'd have to go back to Olympus. You'd have to go back to the people who didn't want you there.

You would have to leave Earth.

You would have to leave Bradley

You didn't know if you could do that now. Before Bradley, you had no reason to stay on Earth, but now, could you live an eternity without him?

You could see a future with him. A life, a house on the beach, a marriage, kids, growing old together. It was a beautiful picture painted in your mind.

But that was the tricky thing about being a God. You couldn't love a mortal, not for long anyway. And you certainly couldn't marry one. If you wanted Bradley to be your forever, you'd have to give up your powers. You'd no longer be able to protect him from certain death, but you would be free of the burdens that you carried for so long.

You shook your head. You were getting ahead of yourself. Bradley had asked you on a date, not proposed.

You went to bed with your thoughts swimming.

The next morning, you were excited when you woke up. Bradley said he would pick you up at six, which meant he'd be at your door no later than five forty-five because he was notoriously early to everything.

That still gave you several hours to get ready.

You did a few chores around your house to kill some time. You watch some TV with Cerby and Hydra and read a chapter in your book.

Eventually, you couldn't take the anticipation any longer, so at two o'clock, you went to your room and flung open your closet doors. You had texted Bradley asking what to wear, and he said something casual, but what did casual mean? This was a date, so you couldn't just show up in any old thing. You riffled through your hangers, looking at garment after garment, trying on outfit after outfit before settling on a powder blue sundress with a square neckline and ruffled straps.

It was casual but cute enough for a date. You figured it would pair nicely with whatever Hawiian shirt Bradley inevitably showed up in.

You decided on some white sandals and a woven bag to go with your dress. After a shower where you shaved, exfoliated, and scrubbed everything, you sat down at your vanity to apply some simple makeup. Bradley had seen you at both extremes when it came to what you were wearing on your face.

He'd seen your punk rock glam, your everyday makeup, and your bare face. You decided that today called for a winged eye liner, a neutral eyeshadow, a dash of mascara, and of course, a pop of red on your lips. You chose a bright red with blue undertones that popped with your dress.

After setting your face, you dried your hair and went over it with your curling iron to add a few beachy waves throughout it before pulling it into a high ponytail.

After confirming you were happy with your hair, you grabbed the bottle of your favorite Jo Malone, "Scarlett Poppy" perfume and spritzed your neck and wrists. You packed your purse and pulled your phone off the charger. It was half past five. Bradley would be here any minute.

You took a seat on your couch and nervously tapped your foot. Why were you so nervous? This was Bradley.

A few moments later, you jumped off your couch when you heard the familiar rap of his knuckles on your door. You sprinted across your living room to open it but paused and took a deep breath before turning the knob.

"Hi, Bradley." You smiled as you opened the door to greet him. You sucked in a breath because you almost didn't recognize him.

He was standing before you with a dozen sunflowers in his hand. But what shocked you the most was his attire. Instead of his usual unbuttoned Hawiian shirt and white t-shirt combo, Bradley was wearing a sky blue polo with a subtle floral print. He'd also traded his light washed jeans for a darker, nicer pair.

"Hey, Angel, you look amazing." He complimented you as you stepped out of the doorway to let him in. The scent of bourbon, tobacco, and sandalwood from his colonge filled your nose as he walked by you.

"You don't look so bad yourself." You told him. "Bradley, you brought me flowers yesterday. Why did you bring more today?" You asked him as you too the bouquet from his hands.

"Those were birthday flowers. These are date flowers." He told you. You shook your head as you pulled out a vase for them.

"They are beautiful. Thank you." You told him. "You're welcome." He replied. "Ready to go?"

You shook your head enthusiastically before both of you stepped out and you locked the door behind you.

Just like he had from the beginning, Bradley opened the door to his Bronco for you and helped you in. But this time, he pulled the setbelt across your lap and buckled you in. "Date privileges." He said when you gave him a questioning look.

You had asked him where you were going, but he didn't tell you. Instead, he threw on a new playlist for the drive.

Twenty minutes later, he was pulling into Shell and Sun, a waterfront bistro that you had seen in passing but never been to.

After parking, Bradley jogged around the front of the car and opened your door, and helped you out. Bradley hesitantly placed his hand on the small of your back as the two of you walked towards the entrance. He was afraid that you would think he was being too forward, but you didn't shy away from him.

He quickly gave his name to the hostess at the entrance, and she led the two of you to a table near some picture windows.

"I know being in water isn't your thing, but I hope this is fine." Bradley said as you sat down to look over the menu.

"This is perfect." You assure him.

He smiles at you over the top of his menu before encouraging you to order whatever you want.

The waiter comes to take your drink order as you look over the menu. Everything sounds delicious, but you settle on some braised short ribs with fingerling potatoes and broccoli. Bradley orders a steak with roasted vegetables and and baked potato.

Throughout dinner, he asks you more about your life, your family, your career.

You tell him the well practiced lie of growing up in the piedmont of North Carolina and how your father was a lawyer and your mother a teacher. You tell him that they took a trip to visit family in Greece during your first year at the Naval Academy and never made it back home.

You also tell him about some of your favorite places that you've been stationed. His eyes light up when you say that Oceana is your favorite.

"I'm from Virginia. I grew up right near the base and graduated from UVA!" Bradley tells you excitedly.

"You didn't go to the Academy?" You ask him.

"No, there was this thing with Maverick—its a long story." Bradley shakes his head. "What about Captain Mitchell?" You continue. "Mav flew with my Dad. He was the pilot when my Dad had his accident. After that, my mom never wanted me to fly. She made Maverick promise that he would do everything he could to keep it from happening. So, he pulled my papers for the Academy. We had a falling out after that. He was my godfather and the last family I had left, and I pushed him away. We are better now, though." Bradley tells you.

"Well, I'm glad you are." You tell him.

The two of you fill in more gaps for each other, and you can't believe how easy it is for you to talk to Bradley. He gushes about his mom, and it makes your heart ache. You'd met her, and if you had your full powers and life was different, you'd be able to take Bradley to see her and his father, but you couldn't.

You were too busy thinking about that to hear what Bradley had just asked you.

"What?" You ask him. He chuckles. "I said, 'Angel, don't take this the wrong way, but it never occurred to me, I don't know how old you are.' It doesn't matter, but I'm curious." Bradley says.

"Oh." You say a bit startled.

You can't tell him your real age

"I'm thirty-one now." You tell him. That seems believable. "How old are you?" You ask him.

"I'm thirty-five." He tells you. "Not too much of a difference in age." He says.

If only he knew

At the end of dinner, Bradley swipes the bill before you even have a chance to look at it. You glare at him and arge that you were more than capable of paying for your meal. He fires back that this is a date, he is a gentleman, and his mother raised him better than that.

After dinner, you expect to go back home. You were surprised when Bradley pulled into the parking lot for the boardwalk amusement park.

"What are we doing here?" You asked him.

"We are going ride some rides, eat some junk food, and I am going to absolutely destroy you at skiball and air hockey in the arcade." Bradley said.

You threw your head back, laughing. "You're on." You said to him as you hopped out of the vehicle.

Bradley convinced you to rider a roller coaster and the drop tower with him before you dragged him to the bumper cars and had way too much fun terrorizing him. After a lap on the spinning cups, he got both of you some lemonade before pulling you into the arcade. He was quickly humbled when you beat his score at skiball and air hockey, and the other arcade games the two of you played. He did, however, narrowly beat you at Dance, Dance Revolution.

The two of you were laughing so hard when you exited the arcade and walked along the old wooden path.

Bradley wiped his palms on his jeans before tentatively slipping his hand into yours. You paused for a moment, caught off guard. He tried to pull away, but you grinned at him before lacing your fingers together tighter, laughing at the way his cheeks turned pink when he asked you if it was okay for him to hold your hand.

You walked along the midway and watched some people play games. You stopped dead in your tracks when you saw the cutest stuffed shark with little aviator sunglasses at a ball toss game.

"See something you want?" Bradley asked you as he followed your gaze. "Sharks are my favorite animal." You told him as you nodded to the prize.

"But these games are impossible to win." You say as you gesture to the stand.

"I played baseball in college. You want the shark. I'll get you the shark." Bradley said as he walked both of you up to it.

He quickly paid the attendant who told him the rules of the game. Three balls in the bucket won a prize. He then set five baseballs in front of Bradley. He tossed the first one in with ease.

The second one followed behind, and you got your hopes up. Unfortunately, the third and fourth balls bounced out.

Bradley took a deep breath before tossing the final one and it dropped into the bucket perfectly.

"We have a winner!" The attendant announced as Bradley told them what prize you wanted. He quickly handed over the stuffed shark, and you jumped up on your tiptoes to hug him and peck his cheek.

"I'm going to call him Fin-ley," you declared as the two of you walked hand in hand to the ferris wheel. "Why Fin-ley?" He asked you.

"Fin, because sharks have fins, and Ley, like Bradley." You tell him as if it is the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh." Bradley says, not sure how to respond.

He smiled and squeezed your hand and pulled you closer to him. You curled up against his side and buried your face in the soft material of his shirt. While you thought it was sweet that he'd worn something nicer for your date, you missed his usual attire.

Soon, the two of you were seated close together as the ferris wheel climbed higher and higher. It stopped when the two of you reached the very top. You had the most breathtaking view of the city and the ocean.

By the time you were back on land, the sun was setting.

You and Bradley made your way down the pier to the beach and kicked off your shoes before trekking along the sand. Both of you paused at the edge of the water and enjoyed the feeling of the waves washing over your toes.

The sunset was especially beautiful today, painting the sky in hues of orange, yellow, red, and pink. It's a view that you would never get tired of seeing.

"It's so beautiful." You told Bradley. "Yeah, it sure is." He replied. Only Bradley was watching the sunset. He was watching you and the way you were captivated with the sinking sun with childlike wonder. He was watching the way the last few rays cast a golden halo around you and how the salt air caught the wisps of your hair and ruffled the hem of your dress.

He loved how the warm of it turned your cheeks the perfect rosy shade to match your lipstick. Bradley couldn't help himself, so he took out his phone and snapped a picture of you, with your back to him, staring at the sunset like it was the most magical thing in the world. And maybe it was.

Bradley had always wondered what his place in the world was supposed to be. He thought that it was up in the sky, but maybe, just maybe, it was supposed to be right here, with you, the sea, and the sand.

As the rays faded, you gladly took Bradley's hand and let him lead you back to the Bronco to go home.

..............

Tonight had truly felt like something out of a movie or one of your wildest dreams. Dating wasn't something you did often because it ended in heartbreak for you. You could never fully give yourself to that person, or they only wanted one thing from you, and that's not who you were.

But Bradley—oh sweet Bradley was different. He had treated you with so much respect tonight. He never made you feel uncomfortable or pressured. He was so patient with you.

Now, as the night was coming to a close, his fingers were threaded with yours as you walked down the hall. You chuckled to yourself, as you thought back to earlier in the evening, and how pink his cheeks had been when he asked you if he could hold your hand on the boardwalk. He was so tentative when he took your smaller hand in his, but now he had a firm grip. His silent way of saying he was never going to let you go.

And you didn't want him to

You came to a stop in front of your door. You turned to face him, and he had the biggest smile. "Do you—do you want to come in?" You asked him sheepishly. Bradley wanted to come in. He wanted to sit on our couch and pull you in his lap and kiss you until you were begging him for more. But he couldn't do that. Not tonight.

"I do, but I can't. Not tonight. Not yet." He told you. As tucked a stray piece of your hair behind your ear. You slumped down against your door, but you understood what he was saying. You had both agreed to take this slow.

"Okay." You replied with a small smile. "Okay." He breathed out as he placed one of his large palms on the door above you. He looked down the hall to make sure no one else was around. It was late. Everyone else was probably in bed.

"It's just us out here." Bradley stated. "No prying eyes or loud crowds to interrupt us. No Jake to remind us about cake." He said. "Yeah. You're right." You said. You hoped this conversation was going where you thought it was going.

"So— I was hoping that maybe—I could—we could—" Bradley hesitated as his eyes flicked from yours down to your lips and back up again.

"Angel, can I kiss you?" He asked in the most polite tone ever.

"Yes." You breathed out just as he brought his lips down to meet yours. His free hand grabbed your waist and pulled you closer to him while you brought yours to his neck to hold him there.

Bradley brought his other hand off the door and tangled it in your hair as his tongue swept over your bottom lip, silently asking for permission to deepen the kiss. You gladly granted him it as you slotted your mouth against his.

This kiss was everything that you had hoped it would be. Bradley's lips were soft and firm and fit perfectly against yours. He tasted faintly of the lemonade and cotton candy the two of you had shared earlier that evening

You gasped as he squeezed your hip and pulled you closer to him. You were flush against his chest now, and his presence overwhelmed your senses. All you could think, smell, and feel was Bradley. He clouded your mind in the best way.

You were vaugly aware of his hardness pressing into you, and you wonder if he knew how turned on you were from this too.

You didn't want to stop kissing him. You wanted to make out with him in the hallway all night like a lovesick teenager because it was that good.

He pushed one of his thick thighs between your legs. You moaned into his mouth as the denim of his jeans caught the flimsy lace of the panties you were wearing and dragged them over your sensitive clit.

You ground yourself down on him as you continue to kiss him. You pulled your lips away from his and kissed along his jaw and nipped at his earlobe before he brought your mouth back to his.

You were sure that there was going to be a wet spot on his jeans from how turned on you were, and if he kept this up, you were going to cum right here in the hallway.

But you didn't care

His kiss sent a spark through you. The kind that almost made you want to believe in soulmates.

Almost

But sooner than you would have liked, Bradley pulled away from you.

He pressed his forehead against yours as the two of you panted in an attempt to catch your breath. Both of you were wearing goofy grins as you took in each other's swollen lips and ruddy cheeks.

Bradley smiled at you and kissed you one more time. "Goodnight, Angel." He said as he pulled himself away from you. "Goodnight, Bradley." You smiled at him.

You ran into your bedroom and squealed as you jumped onto your bed.

You couldn't believe that you had kissed Bradley. You also couldn't believe how incredibly turned on you were.

Your mind wandered to the bottom right drawer of your nightstand and how to relieve the sche between your thighs. But before you did, a wicked thought crossed your mind. You slipped into your bathroom and pulled your dress off, tossing it into the hamper.

You then grabbed your phone and posed in front of your full-length mirror and snapped a picture of the baby blue lingerie set that you had worn just in case.

You quickly found Bradley's contact and sent him the pictures along with the caption of "You should have come in." You locked your phone and headed back into your bedroom.

Bradley wasn't sure what he was expecting when he heard his phone chime and saw that it was a notification from you.

He had just come out of an extremely cold shower after your heated session in the hallway. He kept replaying the sounds you made for him over and over in his mind, and he was as hard as a rock under the white towel he had tied around his waist.

When he unlocked his phone, he thought that it was probably a good night text from you. He certainly wasn't expecting a picture of you, clad only in a lacy blue bra and panties with a red lipstick smirk on your face as your free hand cupped your breast.

He quickly read the caption, and now he regrets his decision of not accepting your invitation to come in. Bradley bit his knuckle before deciding that two could play at this game.

He stepped in front of his mirror and wrapped his hand around the band of his towel, and snapped a picture. He quickly sent it to you.

When you opened the phone, you audibly gasped at the sight of Bradley, still damp from the shower in nothing but his dog tags and a white towel. He had captioned the photo with "Next time I will."

You grabbed your vibrator from the drawer and laid back on your pillows. You carefully positioned it over your thigh tattoos before taking a picture and sending it back to Bradley.

When your next text notification came in, Bradley hastily opened his phone.

A low groan sounded from his chest when he saw what you had sent him.

It was a picture of you on your bed, legs spread. You had a navy blue vibrator resting on your thigh over your tattoos and one hand over your panties. You sent it with the caption. "Take off the towel. Coward."

Bradley chuckled to himself before before doing just that. He slipped off the towel and gathered it to where it was just covering his erection. He cupped himself and the white fabric in his hands before taking another photo and sending it to you along with the message, "I'll take off mine if you take off yours."

Several minutes passed after Bradley sent that last message, and you hadn't replied. He was worried that he had taken it too far. He was just about to call you when another text from you came through.

"Go check your front door."

Bradley was a little taken a back, but he slipped on some grey sweat pants that hung low on his hips before going to see what was waiting for him.

He opened the door, half expecting you to be there, but you weren't. He looked down the hallway and didn't see you or anything, but when he looked down, there was a surprise on his doorknob.

There, dangling from the smooth silver handle, was a pair of baby blue lace panties. And not just any panties, the exact ones you had been wearing in the photos you sent him.

Bradley quickly checked to make sure no one was in the hall before he snatched them off and slammed the door.

He darted back into his bedroom and ran his fingers over the delicate lace. They were soaked in your sweetness. Bradley brought them to his nose and inhaled your intoxicating aroma. He grew impossibly harder at the fact that he was the one who got you this worked up.

He wondered if you knew just how much you affected him.

Bradley brought his free hand down to his crotch and stroked himself a few times. Then, before his brain could catch up with him, he wrapped your panties around himself and fisted his cock tightly.

A while later, as you were coming down from hour high and tucking your vibrator away, your phone chimed with a message from Bradley.

You couldn't wait to open it. You were hoping he had enjoyed the little surprise you had left for him. And when you saw the picture, you realized just how much he had.

There, on your screen was a picture of Bradley fisting his cock with your panties wrapped around it, covered in his cum. You moaned at the image and found yourself getting flushed all over again.

Taglist: @roosterscock @shanimallina87 @teacupsandtopgun @mayhemmanaged @wkndwlff @roosterforme @daggerspare-standingby @dakotakazansky @startrekfangirl2233 @hecate-steps-on-me @cassiemitchell @na-ta-sh-aa @katieshook02 @desert-fern @je-suis-prest-rachel @soulmates8 @diorrfairy @eli2447 @xoxabs88xox @djs8891 @roosters-girl @sebsxphia @rosiahills22 @dempy @callsign-magnolia @alchemxx @gretagerwigsmuse @withahappyrefrain @lt-spork @multifandomlover4life @beccaanne814 @bradshawsbaby @seitmai @kmc1989 @bcarolinablr @roosterisdaddy36 @itsdesiree86 @waywardhunter95 @hisredheadedgoddess28 @whatislovevavy @asshlyyyy @inkandarsenic @lillyrosenight @tomanybandstolove @jiminie-08 @dingochef @laracrofted @skipchat

[theshelbyslimited]

THE WAY I RAN TO READ THIS NEW CHAPTER! I didn't expect my commentary to end up this long but I hope it's not too burdensome 🙈

"Martha struggled to get Will dressed. The toddler was particularly rambunctious that morning, half crawling and half walking around the cabin while Martha chased after him. She swore to herself as Will crawled under the table, and John held back a laugh. Will was his son, that was for sure." WILL! YOU LITTLE TERROR 🤣 definitely takes after his papa 🤣🙈

"Your brother is a little terror, Kitty Kat. Hopefully you'll be a bit easier to handle." highly unlikely 🤣

"You have to get dressed now, mate, we can't have you meeting someone with no clothes on. Especially a lady." 'especially a lady' I mean John boy ain't wrong 🤣

"I'm not sure I've ever seen a more lovely couple, Bridget was right. We're going to have a grand time, you two, and your parents are going to have a nice day together." YES Mrs. Finley, BLESS YOU MA'AM 🥺

"It would really be a crime if we didn't take advantage, you know, without little ears listening. That's our life now, Johnny, finding the moments between." YESSS AKSHDLSJ

"Through her haze, Martha realized that he was still protecting her, making sure she wouldn’t be hurt by the rough tree bark." THE MAN JOHN IS THOUGH 😭 MY EXPECTATIONS 📈📈📈

"You've exceeded my expectations, Corporal." NO BUT RLY. HE MAKES MY EXPECTATIONS FOR REAL MEN SO DAMN HIGH, NO ONE COULD EVER MEASURE UP 🤣😭

“It’ll be you and me, and the kids, and we’ll be together every day. As long as we have that, everything will be ok.” OUCHHHH 😭

“I can see four or five. We’ll know what the right number is when we get there.” you'll have a whole army of them I tell you 🤣

“He takes after me, so he’s surely charmed her. You know I have a touch with the ladies.” he ain't wrong 😏🙈

"Dada! Horseys!" I AM SO SOFT FOR THESE LITTLE SHELBYS 🥺

"Ow?" "Close, mate. Cow. Cow." TOO DAMN CUTE ASKHDHLSJ 🥺

"The mundane didn't feel so mundane, with the peace she felt of her children sleeping with their father in the next room. That they were all together, safe and sound." I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. IT RLY IS THE LITTLE THINGS 🥺😭

"She walked back into the living area to find all three Shelbys asleep, John holding Katie to his chest, Will curled up against his other side." MY HEART BURSTS AS I IMAGINE THIS IMAGE 🥺😭

"He placed a new letter at the top of Martha's bundle, tied with one of her hair ribbons, closing his eyes as he held the bundle to his heart." MY HEART JUST CANNOT DEAL W ALL OF THIS 😭

"I'm coming back to you, my Kit Kat. I love you." "I have to go now, Will. Like before. But I'll come back and we'll go see the horses and the cows again, alright? Love you, mate." I KNOW I KEEP SAYING IT BUT MY HEART CANNOT COPE W ALL OF THIS 😭 MY HEART FOR THIS FAMILY.

"I'll always come back for you. Be good for your Mummy, ok? Finn promised he'll play with you every day." I adore the relationship that Finn + Will have w each other 🥺

"As the train left the station, he could see Martha's white skirt and blonde hair in the middle of the crowd of crying women, screaming children, somber men. He focused on that image, her blonde hair cascading down as she'd kissed him that morning in bed, laying on top of him. The white skirt he'd watched her put on after, remembering how her bare thighs felt under his hands. The parts of her he had only ever seen. The images looped over and over in his mind, all the way back to France." THE BEAUTY OF THIS PARAGRAPH 😭

I find I get more and more anxious as this story goes on bc although I love reading the love story of John + Martha, I can't help but worry when M's inevitable death will come. I know it's irrational (at least I feel like it is) but I just love these two so much and I can't bear to imagine the heartbreak that will come eventually. this was such an amazing chapter though and my heart truly beats for this little family 😭

The Heart Underneath: Chapter 25

***This fic is being posted simultaneously on FanFiction.net and Ao3. I originally began it in 2016, and then life was life, and now I’m bringing it back because it deserves to be finished! Rating M as of Chapter 10 ***

Chapter 24: J&M Letters 5 THU Masterlist

The Heart Underneath

Chapter 25: September 1916 (20 and 21)

By the time his September leave came around, John was ready to take a train to anywhere that was cold. Siberia? The North Pole?

He'd give anything for a Birmingham winter after the heat they'd endured that summer, as the Battle of the Somme began. Stop by to pick up Martha and the kids, take a train to quiet and cold. That's what he wanted.

In lieu of that, he was happy to find himself back at the cottage, all arranged by his family and Mrs. Averill once again, her sister in law even offering to watch the children one day. John felt torn, he wanted to spend every second with them, but he knew it was important for him and Martha to spend time alone together as well.

"We'll see the babies in the morning and then we'll be back for supper. It'll be a good thing, love, you can relax a little more, just me and you for the day." Martha had said quietly as they lay in bed together the first night of his leave.

The war was a full weight upon John now, Martha could see it in how he carried himself, the way he scanned his surroundings, the way he held her close at night. She touched his cheek gently, his face still so young even with the jagged scar on his chin, and the strain of the past months was clear in his eyes. They were sad and scared, tired and lost.

"I could use a day with just you." John replied, smiling at her at last, reaching out to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

They both knew that every leave could be his last, with how things were continuing on. Neither could bear to speak of the possibility, but it was one they acknowledged to each other silently. John needed every happy memory he could get, because it was what he lived on in the hours between battles, the minutes between shouting orders to his troops, the seconds between the bullets flying past his head, the machine gun fire deafening.

And so John found himself sitting in the kitchen of the cottage, the second morning they were there, holding a sleeping Katie while Martha struggled to get Will dressed. The toddler was particularly rambunctious that morning, half crawling and half walking around the cabin while Martha chased after him. She swore to herself as Will crawled under the table, and John held back a laugh. Will was his son, that was for sure.

Katie opened her eyes and looked up at John, smiling at him as he kissed the top of her head.

"Your brother is a little terror, Kitty Kat. Hopefully you'll be a bit easier to handle." John commented as he watched Martha finally wrangle Will.

"This child hates wearing clothes, and listening to his Mummy. Come on, Will, we've got a visitor coming. You have to wear something." Martha said.

"Here, take Kate, and I'll grab him." John replied.

Martha smiled gratefully as she took Katie from John and he reached down with one arm to grab Will, who wasn't expecting the parent switch. He giggled as John swung him up into the air and then placed him on the table.

"You have to get dressed now, mate, we can't have you meeting someone with no clothes on. Especially a lady."

Will pouted at being caught and John laughed to himself as he pulled Will's clothing on. He was having flashbacks to trying to dress a toddler Finn in the morning, which was often a nightmare. Martha watched John and their son fondly, her own memories of taking care of Finn when he was a baby coming back to her as well. Her and John would tag team in the morning to take care of him, before school or work. Looking back now, it was even more clear how they'd already been married, in some form, for many years.

"There you go, ready to meet your new friend!" John said cheerily as he pulled Will into his lap.

A few minutes later, Mrs. Averill's sister in law, Mrs. Finley, arrived at the door.

"It's a pleasure to meet you two at last, Bridget just adores you all. And who is this cutie pie?" Mrs. Finley exclaimed as John motioned her inside.

"Nice to meet you as well, Mrs. Finley. This is Will. Can you say hi, buddy?"

Will looked at Mrs. Finley, unsure at first, and then greeted her with a wide smile.

"Mrs. Finley, so nice to meet you. Thank you for letting us stay here. This is Katie." Martha said, walking over to the entryway.

"Well aren't you beautiful, little one? We're so happy to share this place with you, you are always welcome. Now, why don't you two get ready to go out, and I'll watch these two." Mrs. Finley replied, as Martha gently placed Katie into her arms.

Martha gathered the last of the lunch she was packing, while John picked up a folded picnic blanket. They were planning to make the most of the weather, walking down to a private swimming hole they'd visited after their wedding. John felt nervous to leave his children behind, but took Martha's cue to remain light and upbeat. He knew she was a little nervous as well, but it wouldn't help for the kids to feel that.

"Alright, my darlings, we'll be back in a bit. Be good for Mrs. Finley." Martha said with a smile as she kissed both Will and Katie on the cheek.

"Be a good boy, Will, have fun. Kitty Kat, I'll see you soon." John followed Martha and touched each child lightly on the head, Will beaming back at him.

Mrs. Finley waited until the door was closed and the couple walked down to the lane before commenting to her charges.

"I'm not sure I've ever seen a more lovely couple, Bridget was right. We're going to have a grand time, you two, and your parents are going to have a nice day together."

************************************************************************

John held Martha's hand as they cut through the brush into the forest, following a loosely marked path to the swimming hole. He had flung the blanket over his shoulder and carried the basket, leaving Martha to stroll dreamily through the woods, swinging his hand back and forth. He couldn't help but smile as he looked down at her. She was lost in her thoughts, reaching out to touch a flower here or a branch there.

"What are you thinking about in that pretty head?" John asked casually.

"Hmmm? Oh, I was just thinking about how wonderful it is to be here with you. Alone." Martha replied, an eyebrow arching suggestively, squeezing his hand.

"I do so enjoy when you have naughty thoughts, Mar." John replied back with a grin.

"It would really be a crime if we didn't take advantage, you know, without little ears listening. That's our life now, Johnny, finding the moments between."

John pulled Martha to a stop and put down the basket and blanket. Martha laughed as he pushed her gently against a large tree trunk, resting his hand next to her head. The laugh died down into shallow breathing, as his eyes locked with hers, hand on her waist, desire pumping through his veins. 

He kissed her hard, pressing his body up against hers. She could feel him seep into her, his mind letting go, no longer worried about scanning their surroundings. Back to himself, if even only in this moment.

Martha wrapped her leg around him and he pulled it up higher around his waist, closing the remaining space between them. He managed to unbutton his pants while picking her up, as Martha hiked up her skirts and wrapped her other leg around him.

John propped her up between the tree and his body, leaning forward until there was no space between them at all. Through her haze, Martha realized that he was still protecting her, making sure she wouldn’t be hurt by the rough tree bark.

He sank deeply into her, the sound of Martha sighing his name cutting through him like always. This was something neither of them had ever experienced anyone else. But from the whispers amongst Martha’s friends and tales John had heard from fellow soldiers, they both knew their connection wasn’t common, it was rare and unknown to most.

While John never spoke of him and Martha’s sexual relationship, despite being pestered almost daily by his fellow soldiers, he knew from what he’d heard that he was lucky. That they were the luckiest. His wife was beautiful inside and out, but more than that, his girl wanted him just as much as he wanted her, which often was not the case.

The deepest, darkest part of him knew that no other man could make her feel this way. He could barely admit it to himself, but there was a satisfaction in that, if something happened to him and he didn't come back from the war, that no other man could do this.

As John's breath became ragged, his movements faster, Martha had a similar thought. Not that she would ever truly expect John to stray from their relationship, but she knew that she had him. That he didn't need to go anywhere else to satisfy himself, because she more than satisfied him. There were stories about British soldiers visiting French whorehouses, and it pleased her immensely that John wouldn't even think of it. Besides the fact that he found the profession demeaning, he had all he needed, all he wanted.

"I only want you." John whispered, as if he'd read her mind.

Martha nodded and held his gaze, John forcing his eyes to stay open as they came together, her legs shaking around him. He felt like he could drop to his knees at any moment, but held her steady, leaning forward to keep her up against the tree.

"Was that what you had in mind, darlin'?" John asked with a chuckle, touching Martha's flushed cheek.

"You've exceeded my expectations, Corporal." Martha replied with a grin.

John laughed and stepped back, holding Martha against him as she reached between them to button up his pants. He carefully set her down, watching as her skirts fell back into place, covering up her bare legs that he'd gripped just minutes before.

“Let’s get there so I can see you undress again.” John said cheekily, Martha lightly smacking him as she laughed.

Fifteen minutes later they reached the swimming hole, sun glinting off the water and several large trees providing some shade and privacy. They had spent a few memorable afternoons there on their honeymoon, and they smiled at each other remembering it.

John spread out the blanket under one of the trees and set the basket down on top of it. He turned to find Martha watching him, her eyes locked on his as she reached out to unbutton his shirt.

Birds chirped above as Martha slowly undressed him, stopping to run her fingers over a few newly acquired scars. She stood on tiptoes to gently kiss the scar on his chin, John’s eyes watering at how she always spoke to him most clearly through her touch. He took a deep breath and let himself give into her completely.

Martha removed her own clothes, never breaking eye contact with John as she dropped the last garment onto the blanket. She took his hand and led him to the water, her hair swinging down against her back. John reached out to touch a blonde wave, the scene permanently engraved in his heart.

They walked into the water until it was deep enough to lay back and float, Martha shrieking at the temperature. John dove into the deeper part, his body finally cold the way he wanted.

He popped up and pulled Martha into him, holding her as her feet could no longer touch the ground. She wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head against his shoulder, taking in every second they were alone.

“I love you.” He whispered, rocking her slowly side to side.

“I love you.” She whispered back.

After an hour of splashing and swimming around, John carried Martha out of the water on his back, setting her down the blanket. They laid down to dry off, John on his side.

“What do you think it will be like? When the war is over and we go back to our regular lives?” John asked, tracing her hip bone.

“It’ll be you and me, and the kids, and we’ll be together every day. As long as we have that, everything will be ok.” Martha replied.

“I still want to buy us a house out here somewhere.”

“I would love that, and the kids too.”

“How many do you think we’ll have?”

John watched Martha’s face as she thought, his hand moving to rest on her lower stomach. She placed her hand over his, smiling softly at him.

“I can see four or five. We’ll know what the right number is when we get there.” Martha replied.

John leaned down to kiss her and was surprised by Martha pulling him down on top of her. Her hands ran down his sides and he was pretty sure he would never be able to get enough of that feeling, how his skin reacted to her touch.

“I want you every hour of every day, John. I think about having you like this every night, alone in our bed.” Martha murmured in his ear.

Her words traveled down at the same time as her hand, stroking him. He moaned quietly into her collarbone as she pulled his head in against her chest, rubbing the back of his neck as he took her breast into his mouth, sucking gently.  

She was still nursing Katie several times a day, but once Martha had gotten over the initial odd feelings about it, she’d found that John touching her like that was such a turn on she craved it constantly. Much to John’s own delight. 

Martha kept her hand on his hard shaft, guiding him into her as she shifted her legs further out. She thought of how she would give anything to keep him there for eternity, safe and in her arms.

John wanted to stay forever, in this forest, by the water. Naked on a blanket with the love of his life, being young and free, listening to her saying his name in ecstasy, bodies melded together.

Remember this. 

************************************************************************

The pair ate their packed lunch in the mid afternoon breeze, only putting on the most essential clothes. As always, Martha had put great thought into the food she made for John, and he ate to his fill.

“I wonder how the kids are doing.” John commented.

He leaned back against the tree and pulled Martha into him, arm around her. She settled in against his side and thought about how lucky she was that John cared so much for their children.

“Either Will’s been a nightmare or he’s completely charmed Mrs. Finley.”

“He takes after me, so he’s surely charmed her. You know I have a touch with the ladies.” John joked.

“We’re in trouble if that’s the case, ‘cause you know exactly how to charm your lady, Corporal Shelby.” Martha said with a smirk.

“Ah, so you find me charming, love?”

“I do have the most handsome and the most charming husband, that’s no secret, Johnny. I know there are a lot of jealous girls at home.”

John laughed at the irritated look on Martha’s face.

“You know I only see you. I only want you. We belong to each other and no one else.” John said, his tone becoming serious.

“I know, love. I will never want to be with anyone else, either.” Martha replied, kissing his cheek.

************************************************************************

They arrived back at the cottage in the early evening, and John stopped Martha before they walked down the front pathway.

"Thank you for today, Mar. I really needed that. In several ways." John said suggestively before smiling at her.

"You're welcome. It's nice, having time alone. I love us being together as a family, but I don't want you and me to be forgotten." Martha replied.

"We won't let that happen. You're too important to me for that."

Martha nodded as John pulled her into him for a quick hug, before taking her hand and walking to the cabin. They opened the door quietly, correctly assuming that Katie was asleep. Will was sitting with Mrs. Finley at the table, looking through a picture book they'd brought from home.

"You both look rested, did you have a nice time?" Mrs. Finley asked.

"We certainly did." Martha replied, biting her lip as she looked at John, who was trying not to laugh.

"Dada! Horseys!" Will exclaimed, pointing at the book in front of him.

John relieved Mrs. Finley of Will and sat down at the table, flipping through the book and pointing out other animals. Mrs. Finley and Martha watched for a moment, each in their own thoughts about the scene in front of them.

"Thank you again, Mrs. Finley. We appreciate it so much."

"Of course, dear. Any time. You have lovely children, who love their father very much. That's very special." Mrs. Finley commented, giving Martha a knowing look.

Martha smiled and nodded back, seeing Mrs. Finley out the door as John and Will said goodbye from the kitchen. Martha checked on Katie, who was still sleeping, and then went into the kitchen to start putting together supper.

"Do you know what animal this is?" John asked Will as he pointed to a picture.

Will shook his head and stared up at John, waiting for an explanation.

"That's a cow. I think Mrs. Finley has some at her farm, we'll take a walk tomorrow and find them, yeah?" John replied as Will stared at the page.

"Ow?" Will repeated.

"Close, mate. Cow. Cow. Let's help Mummy with supper, ok?"

John placed the book on a small side table and set Will on the floor. He watched Martha standing in front of the oven, stirring something in a pan on the stove top. Truth was, as much as he'd needed their day together, he'd needed this just as much. Sitting with his family before supper, watching Martha cook, the small movements she made as she stirred and reached for something on the counter. The way her hair swung to the side with every move, the fact that she'd never pinned it up again after their swim. The small moments between the big ones meant just as much.

Later, John sat in an armchair with Will falling asleep against him. Martha sat in the chair across, rocking Katie to sleep after she'd nursed. She caught John's eye and he nodded with a small smile, shifting Will in his lap so that he could hold Katie in a free arm.

Martha went into the kitchen to clean up and prepare a few things for the next day. The mundane didn't feel so mundane, with the peace she felt of her children sleeping with their father in the next room. That they were all together, safe and sound.

She walked back into the living area to find all three Shelbys asleep, John holding Katie to his chest, Will curled up against his other side. She watched from the doorway for a long time, hoping that John would always come back. That their children would always know how much he loved them, and how they adored him right back. Will was enamored with John, and Katie was already a daddy's girl, Martha could tell. She always relaxed instantly around John, smiling when he called her pet names, falling asleep easily when he held her.

Martha had greatly enjoyed her day with John, she would always enjoy time spent alone with her favorite person in the world. But she loved this part just as much, because Will and Katie were a part of her and a part of John together, forever.

Remember this.

************************************************************************

On his final day of leave, John carefully opened a tin box that was in the top drawer of their dresser at home. In it were the "what ifs." The letters, instructions, and money, if something happened to him and he didn't make it back. He'd been updating his letters as the war went on, a small stack now for Martha, a few each for Will and Katie, his siblings, and Aunt Polly. It was important to him that if these were to ever be read, they would be written in his final hours at home, that Martha and the kids would know he was thinking of them in those minutes.

He placed a new letter at the top of Martha's bundle, tied with one of her hair ribbons, closing his eyes as he held the bundle to his heart. He knew what the letters said, what they all said. That he loved her more than anything in the world, that he was sorry he didn't come back, that he wanted her to be happy. It pained him to write that last part in every letter, because he didn't know what he would do if the reverse happened. How would he be able to go on? Still, it was encouragement he had to write.

In next went a new letter each for Katie and Will, along with another envelope containing a small stack of bills. He would not leave his family scrambling to survive if he died, that he could not bear.

That afternoon, the train platform was a sea of people, the desperation more palpable every time John left Small Heath. Who among these men would not come back? Who among the families left behind would suffer devastating grief? These were questions John tried to push out of his mind and only focus on the present.

In the present was Martha, gripping his arm so tightly that in a different scenario he would've joked that she was cutting off his circulation. Perched in the same arm was Will, his terror of the crowd seeping into John's skin, as he whispered soothingly to the toddler. In his other arm, Katie looked up at him with the green eyes that matched Martha's, breaking his heart as her little hand reached out to his face.

"I'm coming back to you, my Kit Kat. I love you." John whispered to Katie, kissing her cheek.

"I have to go now, Will. Like before. But I'll come back and we'll go see the horses and the cows again, alright? Love you, mate." John said to Will.

Will started crying, hands locked tight around John's neck. Ada reached for Katie, letting John rub Will's back as he whispered to him again.

"I'll always come back for you. Be good for your Mummy, ok? Finn promised he'll play with you every day."  John said, trying to remain upbeat as his throat tightened.

John looked up to see men starting to board the train. Damn this war. He leaned down and kissed Martha, and then held her tightly to him.

"Love you, Mar. Forever."  John said as she looked up.

"I love you, too. It's me and you always." Martha replied with a shaky smile.

She reached for Will, as John pried his small hands off his shirt, kissing Will's cheek one more time. He looked back at his family, Finn and Ada, Aunt Polly now holding Katie, Martha struggling to contain a shrieking Will.

"I'll see you soon." He said, squeezing Martha's hand, holding on as long as he could, their fingers touching to the very end.

As the train left the station, he could see Martha's white skirt and blonde hair in the middle of the crowd of crying women, screaming children, somber men. He focused on that image, her blonde hair cascading down as she'd kissed him that morning in bed, laying on top of him. The white skirt he'd watched her put on after, remembering how her bare thighs felt under his hands. The parts of her he had only ever seen. The images looped over and over in his mind, all the way back to France.

Once more unto the breach.