#gideon voice. the only people to be kind to me may have died horribly. I may have been tortured to the brink of death.

[annabelle--cane]

gideon will be curled up in mental and physical shock in an active crisis situation on the third consecutive worst day of her life and let slip a single tear thinking "at least women are still hot"

[vaguely-concerned]

UNCHARTED 4 REACTIONS

- uuuh can I just… find out who the FUCK looked at tiny beautiful baby boy Nate and decided to leave him with a bunch of nuns who don’t get why other kids telling him his mom’s in hell because she committed suicide would upset him??????? Like I don’t know who his biological father is but I feel a strong need to divest him of his kneecaps. (C’mon Sully with your con man expertise and my vengeful nature we could figure this out between us)

- Sam reminds me a lot of one of my uncles. I’m not sure what to do with that except applaud Naughty Dog on their eye for people ha ha. I guess everyone has that slightly sleazy and self absorbed yet periodically charming and decent man in their lives. (Can I point out how amazing his costume design is, in a way you rarely see? He’s one of those dudes who look rumpled wearing pretty much anything, everything is so unflattering on him it’s a miracle. Contrast his and Sully’s outfits in the Scotland section — what they’re actually wearing isn’t that dissimilar and Sully is like twice Sam’s age but looks a) stylish, b) warm and c) Incredibly American somehow while Sam looks like a bum and it’s  h i l a r i o u s.)

- When bb Nate’s face already does the thing where he goes from genuinely upset to dissembling smile… no… ow…  

- “You only pull something like this when you’re trying to make up for something” lasjfdlsakjfslkdjfalskj my soul has left my body and I am crying hot saltwater tears

- a) Nadine is just so incredibly, vibrantly beautiful and I feel like sending a thank you note to the offices of Naughty Dog for putting her face and overarms on my screen, b) she’s already completely done with everything and we’re not even halfway through the game, c) she’s awfully uppity about Chloe’s methods for someone whose instinctual approach to archaeology is ‘dynamite’

- NATE PLAYING CRASH BANDICOOT

THE MOST PRECIOUS SHIT

I’VE EVER LAID MY EYES ON

“THIS IS TAKING VERY LONG” THIS BLESSED ADHD BOY

- OKAY NAUGHTY DOG YOU’VE GONE AND DONE IT I’M ROOTING FOR THE HETS

- the note from Chloe in the attic :( :( :( I feel bad for her even though she eventually upgraded big time on the spouse material, she does like him a lot even if they didn’t make each other very happy.

Can you imagine if Nate and Chloe had actually stayed together tho. They’d have the smartest, snarkiest, most-unprepared-to-deal-with-emotions children in history lol just as well things worked out like they did, probably

- did u guys know… that I would die for nathan drake… I mean you all probably do by now because I never shut up about it but it bears repeating… I would….  

- oh no… nate no… don’t lie to elena she not only tolerates you she loves you despite the warning signs don’t throw this away

- It’s very impressive that they’ve managed to show that Sam genuinely does love Nate a lot while also making it clear how easily he tips into being a toxic influence — it makes all the psychological sense in the world that he’s trying to emulate the relationship they had when they were at their closest and only had each other, but purposefully trying to drive Nate away from the other people who love him is just… so perfectly the worst possible thing to do to him, jeeeeesus christ. No wonder he and Sully don’t get along — Sully is wonderfully protective without being possessive

- When Sam asks Sully why he’s there and it’s like… because… he’s HIS FUCKN DAD SAM???! YOU NUMBSKULL???!!? YOU ABSOLUTE FOOL??!?!

- All my fanfic wants for these games are so lame and low-key… like ‘the first time a teenaged Nate comes back to the hotel drunk as a total emotional mess, and Sully being like ‘oh wow… oh god… help… he’s like a tiny puppy I need to protect him being a parent is terrifying’... ‘Nadine and Chloe have a nice night in and make sweet character developing love, maybe braid each other’s hair and get in a fist fight with some dude’... ‘the gang go to an amusement park, have a good time, Charlie gets cotton candy and makes fun of Nate’...

(actually what I really, really want is a fic of Sully surreptitiously picking up the pieces of Nate after Sam ‘dies’, but, y’know. The heart wants what it wants and mine wants Nate to be taken care of)

- Sully’s face when he drops them off in Scotland… goddamn it he loves that boy so much ;___;

- The only illustration of Sam’s personality that matters is that he thinks  S u l l y  of all people might screw Nate over while thinking he can work with Rafe without it all going to hell

Just… the worst judge of character ever lol how’s that projection working out for you Sammy boy

- I played some multiplayer and Elena really has just the warmest, most reassuring presence, I absolutely see what Nate sees there ha ha

Also I love what they’ve done with her clothes, all her outfits are plausible and non-sexualized and look so chill and comfortable

- Nate’s high-pitched nervous laugh is everything to me, such a deeply endearing character tic

- Sam… you dumbass… when will you learn that the real treasure… is your little brother and his happiness…

- I have to applaud Troy Baker for his work here — he matches Nolan North’s speech patterns and timbre as Nate so well, you absolutely believe they’re brothers. (Also between them they’re like… 90% of all male characters in video games, it’s a wonder the fabric of reality isn’t fraying with two giants in such close proximity)

- Shoutout to my boy Charlie for getting one (1) whole reference in this entire game! Naughty Dog may have forgotten you but the face you pulled at Nathan in the scene with the torches will stay with me forever, you big British lug <3

- I LOVE that Nate and Sam still use ‘Father Duffy’ like you would ‘Goody Two-shoes’ or the ‘dad’ in a sarcastic ‘thanks, dad’, it’s an authentic-feeling kind of in-joke

- Nate’s journal entries are SO FUNNY in this one oh my god. I’m so happy they’re acknowledging that he’s actually an excellent artist, I hope he ends up with a sideline in making illustrated children’s books. (I have since learned they were drawn by Naughty Dog artist Alexandria Neonakis. From the bottom of my heart: thank you for everything, especially Lemur Sully)

- Gideon Emery is wasted — WASTED — in the role of ‘random goon #43’ yet again,  but whatever, at least I got to hear his voice

- Sam’s supremely shitty tattoos give me life

- I realized during the Madagascar opening that in all likelihood the person who taught Nate to drive was Sully and can I just say… this reinforces my theory that Sully is the real hero of the Uncharted games because can you imagine taking on that responsibility for Nathan ‘Adrenaline Junkie Whoops Everything I Touch Explodes and Collapses’ Drake? No, because you and I don’t have what it takes to live that life but Victor Sullivan does

- It feels like they went a bit more naturalistic with the dialogue and characterization in this one? (As naturalistic as you can go with great big undiscovered cathedrals/pirate recruiting hubs under Scotland, anyway. Scotland ain’t that big, yo, pretty sure someone would have spotted it lol) I actually enjoyed it — U3 is still pretty much an Indiana Jones-esque adventure story with some purposefully discordant notes when you get to know Nate’s real backstory and stuff like that, but this feels all round a bit more grounded in reality and characters and it works

- Sully ineffectually keeping a grip on Nate’s shirt while he’s scrabbling to get back into the driver’s seat after the car goes off the cliff ascended my soul to a higher dimension. Big mood.

Also genuinely laughed for five minutes at Sam, lapsed Catholic and born opportunist, getting in as many Hail Marys as he could just in case he was about to die. I’m an atheist from a half-halfheartedly Protestant country but even I am pretty sure that’s not how it works buddy

- Nate’s continual refusal to think ahead enough to carry his own matches (and being saved by surrounding himself with smokers) is one of the most satisfying running jokes in the series

- “Lemurs, Sully!” “Rabies, Nate” fsdajfkljdaskjhasjkhfasjdk

*cries helplessly like a little baby because I love everyone in this bar*

- I must say the clock tower felt like one of Nate’s most catastrophic onsets of… Nateness. That delicate complicated piece of machinery was still functioning perfectly after four hundred years and yet… Nate’s in there for five minutes and it crumbles like paper. I guess technically sinking the entirety of a city into the sand beats it, but… I keep coming back to the image of the cracked bell and then *high pitched giddy voice* “Hi Sully” JFC Nate ha ha

- *screams as Nate sends Sully and Elena away, literally turning to the adrenaline/treasure hunting madness he used to cope with trauma before he managed to work up to emotional intimacy with people who care about him because Sam is a jackass who knew exactly what buttons to press and is weirdly possessive of his little brother*

- You know… forgiving Sam is so hard when he repeatedly doubles down on his lies, making up further details unprovoked, because he knows it keeps Nate hooked and feeling guilty? Like Nate is far enough along in his character development at this point that just waving some treasure under his nose alone wouldn’t do it, you need that illusion that he’s saving someone he loves — the first person he ever relied on, who he thought he lost once because he failed him — to make him keep going, and Sam knows this and uses it and it’s so horribly, calculatedly cruel? I think there are a few times where he kind of wants to come clean (uh already too late because what the HELL he’s already fucked up all his relationships lol) only to be interrupted by Action but in the end it’s a deliberate, long con of assholery that it’s extremely difficult to look past. Ah well I guess he’s stuck as my ‘I will mercilessly yet affectionately mock you’ character, that’s something.

- Aaagh the scene where Elena’s like ‘who are you’ is so good because it must be such a blow, knowing this man she loves and (bravely, because he is a disaster magnet) made the choice to try to make a life with for the second time still thinks he needs to lie to her, like he’s been lying to the world at large for most of his life — his name is a lie, so much of his outer identity is invented, but hey she wouldn’t have married him if she didn’t think they were past that this time and trusted each other with honesty… and then out of the blue a dead-yet-still-somehow-smoking-a-sketchy-cigarette brother???? Normally the ‘what else have you been lying about’ line makes me roll my eyes but she is ABSOLUTELY right to wonder about that and it breaks my heart

as does Nate going ‘I’m just me’ in that voice aaaaaaauuuuuugh he does try but he’s not completely at the point where he thinks he can be acceptable and loved as he is, no need to hide the broken things, still that kid learning that it’s better to not be seen or tell the truth because it just makes things worse

(I feel it’s a good balance between ‘protagonist making some DUMB SELF-DESTRUCTIVE CHOICES LIKE AN IDIOT’ and ‘makes perfect, tragic sense considering their history’, ending up at sympathetic but still in the wrong and in need of getting it the hell together in a hurry. At least he clearly realizes he’s fucked up pretty much immediately, which is something I GUESS)

TL;DR Nate, listen to Sully and go talk it out with your wife, I’m real upset now I’ll go make myself a cup of tea ;____;

- Sam was straight up going to shoot Nadine in the head, huh. I mean… wow. I wonder why she doesn’t like you very much, bro lol

- I’m a Black Sails fan so whenever Anne Bonny shows up I’m like *golden retriever face* HI FRIEND HI sorry about the... poison

- ...is it weird that I want to write fix it fic for Evelyn and Ken

All his letters are so  c u t e  and loving and I am devastated

Puzzling their story together like that was super effective too — it was so cool that if you know what to look for you could find the Tokugawa armor he mentions in the first letter before any other clues, I was going ‘Oh she totally married that beautiful nerd’ right there and then ha ha. Evelyn’s design was wonderful, you could tell the force of nature she must have been in her prime.

Bonus points for Nate looking up at her like a puppy who’s found someone really cool to aspire to. Also their father looks nominally less of a rampant unrepentant asshole if he sold Cassandra’s things specifically to her mentor. Microscopically. I’d still like to kick his ass tho.

- I guess Sam is three to five years older than Nate, then, if he remembers (vaguely) going to Windsor before Nate was even born? Bit hazy on the timeline here, because Nate’s memories of their parents — especially their mum — must be quite hazy if, like Marlowe states in U3, he was surrendered to the state at the age of five and they moved around with their dad a lot even before that.

- Nate was the most tired-looking twelve year old I have ever seen and it hurts me

The fact that Nate started off looking exhausted and a little snub-nosed and grew into a very handsome and charming young man (ssssh I’m in no way biased here just because he’s my son) while Sam was sweet and bright-eyed as a teenager and now looks like someone who is low-key dealing drugs around the local high school… this game is truly a tour de force of character design

- So apparently Shoreline was already off to a bad start when Nadine took over? That makes it doubly sad that she’s judging herself so harshly for losing it when her father had already left it to her as a mess :(

- THANK YOU ELENA AND SULLY FOR SAVING THIS WONDERFUL FOOLISH BOY YET AGAIN. “I left my life for you”  D: D: D:

Also slightly sad that Sam has… literally nothing except Nate and Avery’s treasure? On the other hand that’s entirely his own fault so. Less sad. (Makes me immensely thankful Sully and then Elena found Nate when they did)

- Nate… using his words… cautiously expressing how he actually felt… Elena mulling it over… realizing part of why she loves him is that weird restless brain of his doing its thing……. coming up with a solution where they can solve it as partners in the ending………... I am clinically ded, go on without me

- Realest GPOY moment: Sully’s flat immediate ‘no’ to Nate going off to save Sam on his own. He’s so scared!!!! And so was I!!!! My soul bond with an American con man three times my age continues to be unbreakable

- Relieved that my sister was in control for the fencing bit, because I don’t know if I could handle being responsible for Nate’s safety like that

That said, how destroyed was I that Nate didn’t really start fighting back before Rafe threatened his family? Completely, though it does force me to take the words ‘ludonarrative dissonance’ in my mouth for the first time in my life — no way does he kill as many people in the reality of the story as you do in gameplay if he’s still this hesitant to respond to someone openly trying to murder him lol. I realize this is a game and they need some kind of pretense to keep it from being a movie with the occasional QTE, but Naughty Dog you can’t just… repeatedly show that Nate has a hard time killing in cold blood and then have him take out an army in the next breath

(Naughty Dog: We did and you’re completely willing to go with it lawl. Me: Oooooh I hate that you’re right)

- Nadine stone cold leaving those bitches behind Worked for me, you do you you beautiful disaster, see you next game with your excellent character development. Another wonderful thread they continue into The Lost Legacy: Sam being forever relegated to the back seat. Yes good.  

- Sully promptly semi-adopting a second Drake brother, arguably the tougher case. A power move if ever I saw one.

- I deeply respect Naughty Dog’s decision to make an epilogue to let me know everyone is safe and happy and it all turned out okay, but I also wish they wouldn’t have ha ha. The last scene with Elena and Nate perfectly set that up for me already, specifically spelling out one happy ending among the many that could have happened actually somewhat cheapened it for me? The ‘flash forward, now they have children, get immediately invested!’ move is already suuuuch a hard one to pull off and I think it did it about as well as they possibly could, but somehow I also begrudge Cassie for her position in the narrative and that’s not how I want to feel about it, y’know? Actually it’s fine, I’ll accept it, because their dog is named Vicky and Nate writes in his journal that he’d call his pet lemur Victor and it made my entire week

- Having played three of the games I can still say that Uncharted 3 is definitely my fave, but then parts of that seem genuinely tailor made specifically for me, so that’s not really a surprise ha ha

- Thank you, Uncharted, for being the emotionally intelligent yet light hearted adventure story with lovable characters I needed in this dark cold winter and making me spill over with so many flaily happy words. 

[lilacmoon83]

All I Want For Christmas is You

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 1: The Christmas We Met

Since his mother's death, Christmas hadn't had much meaning for David Nolan. It was Christmas Eve and he was a single beat cop in Seattle, more specifically the troubled neighborhood of Hyperion Heights. For that reason, he offered to work that night to give a fellow officer with a family the night off.

This was David's first year on the force and so far, he had made quite a name for himself. He had stopped a couple robberies, a few muggings, and a potential sexual assault. He heard rumors that he had caught the interest of the notorious Captain Weaver and was on the short list to be fast tracked to Detective. But David didn't pay the rumors any mind. If a promotion happened, then it did, but he wasn't too concerned with it.

For now, he was just focused on getting through another Christmas alone. In many ways, since his mother died, he might as well have been an orphan.

His twin brother died a few years earlier. He had been involved in a seedy business deal that went very badly and was stabbed to death. David blamed their step-father, the powerful businessman, George Spencer, and owner of Spencer Industries. He was as dirty as they came, but like Teflon when it came to making any charges stick.

When David became a cop, George had officially disowned him, not that David cared. He had refused to have anything to do with the man since James died.

No, Christmas didn't have much meaning now that his mom was gone. Little did he know, that was all about to change on that night...

"Let go of me!" he heard a female voice demand and hurried into the alleyway, just in time to see a young woman stomp on the foot of her assailant and punch him in the face.

"You little...your father has ordered you home, Miss Blanchard and I'm not returning empty handed!" the man growled.

"You can tell my asshole of a father to go to hell...I'm not going back there!" she cried.

"HEY!" David called out, getting their attention.

"Good...Officer, maybe you can help me make this unruly girl go home to her father. Leopold Blanchard would be very grateful," he said. This earned him another whack from the fiery young woman.

"Woman…" she corrected in offense to being called a girl.

"She looks like an adult, or more importantly, as she said, a woman, which means you can't make her do anything. Now remove your hands or the only place you'll be going is jail," David warned.

"Maybe you didn't hear me, Officer. This is Leopold Blanchard's girl...the Leopold Blanchard that owns half this city," he reminded.

"I don't care who he thinks he is...if she doesn't want to go, then she doesn't have to," David refuted.

"My father may own this town...but he doesn't own me, despite everything he's done to try. If I could do what I'm about to do to him, I would, but since he's not here...you'll do," she said hotly, as she wound up to smack him with her bag. Unfortunately for David, the other man ducked and he was accidentally waylaid by her book filled bag. The man ran off and the young woman was horrified by what she had just done.

"Oh God...I'm so sorry!" she cried, as she helped him up.

"I'm under arrest, aren't I?" she asked. He chuckled.

"No...you didn't mean to," he said, as he got to his feet.

"Oh God...you're bleeding," she lamented, as she fished a tissue out of her bag and dabbed his chin.

"Who was that guy?" David asked.

"Just one of my father's hired thugs. He's mad that I refuse to make an appearance at another one of his horrible parties," she replied.

"It is Christmas Eve though and he's your family, right?" David asked curiously.

"Not anymore...I refuse to be a part of his evil. He and my step-mother Cora are involved in things I want no part of. My step-sister Regina is my real family," she replied.

"I guess I know a bit about that," he admitted.

"Oh?" she inquired curiously.

"My name is David Nolan, but I grew up David Spencer. I took my mother's maiden name when I was old enough," he explained. Her eyes widened.

"Spencer? As in George Spencer?" she questioned. He nodded.

"The one and only. He's my step-father or was. He disowned me when I joined the police force," he replied.

"Be grateful. I wish my father would disown me," she said.

"Yeah...Leopold Blanchard. The Captain of my precinct would love to get a conviction on him," he replied.

"My father never gets his hands dirty. Justice is kind of a joke in this town...no offense," she said.

"None taken," he replied, as they stopped outside a bar.

"Um...my shift is about over. Can I buy you a drink?" he asked.

"How about we get one on the house? This is my step-sister's place," she replied, as they went inside. He was positively captivated by her and not just because she was beautiful. She wore a simple fluffy white sweater with dark wash jeans. Her short hair was pulled back in a messy baby ponytail and he was positive he had never seen a more beautiful person, especially when he watched her smile at the woman behind the bar. He found himself wanting to make her smile, just so he could see her light up and glow the way she was now.

"Hey you...I was about ready to get my bat. Was it another one of those thugs?" Roni asked. Mary nodded and approached the bar.

"Sykes again...but I got a little help from a new friend," she said, turning to him.

"Uh...hi, I'm David," he stammered, as he approached the bar. Roni smirked and did a shot, before grabbing two more glasses.

"Roni...nice to meet you, Officer," she said.

"Oh...it's just David. I'm off duty now," he replied, as Roni poured three shots.

"Well, that's good...because you're just in time to join us for Christmas Eve," she said.

"I wouldn't want to impose," he replied.

"You're not...let me guess, you're an orphan like us. Your mother is gone...and your father is probably a dick, who doesn't approve of your profession in law enforcement. And instead of being alone on Christmas, you volunteered to work," Roni said. David's mouth hung ajar, as he tried to figure out how she could know all that. Mary giggled.

"Don't ask how she does it...that's just Roni. She takes in strays...or girls that need to escape bad situations," Mary said, as David looked curious about that.

"When my father married Roni's mother, she was already grown, but I wasn't. I was sixteen and she took me in when I ran away. She helped me get emancipated from my father and change my last name from Blanchard to Snow. I wanted to be free of him and Cora," she explained.

"My mother is ninety percent of why I drink...I wasn't about to let another person go through that. Plus Leopold Blanchard is a creep and a criminal," Roni added.

"Believe me...I'm a cop, I know," David agreed, as the bar door opened, despite the closed sign and a man that David vaguely recognized walked in.

"Speaking of more strays...here comes two more," she called, as the man put the little girl in his arms down and she ran to Roni and Snow.

"My favorite strays," Roni said, as she hugged the little girl and then kissed the man, whom David now recognized as Detective Killian Rogers.

"Merry Christmas, love," Rogers told her, as he noticed they had a newcomer.

"Officer Nolan, right?" he asked.

"Uh...yeah, Detective Rogers?" David questioned.

"Just Rogers is fine...you know, Weaver's had his eye on you," he mentioned.

"He just helped Mary out with another one of Leopold's lap dogs," Roni informed.

"Good man," Rogers said, as he clapped him on the shoulder and eyed the bottle of rum behind the counter.

"Papa...can I have cocoa?" Alice asked.

"Of course, starfish," he answered. Roni smiled.

"One cocoa coming right up," Roni said.

"Make that two more," Mary said, as she looked at David and he smiled.

"I'd love one," he agreed, as Roni went about making cocoa, while turning up the radio with Christmas music playing. Three more people joined them, as Captain Weaver himself showed up with his wife Lacey, and their son Gideon. It was the warmest Christmas David had experienced in a very long time.

"So...how does it feel to be adopted?" she teased. He smiled.

"Pretty good actually...a hell of a lot better than going home to my empty apartment," he said, as they stared at each other.

"So...Mary Snow? I like it...better than Blanchard," he mentioned. She smiled.

"Really?" she asked. He nodded.

"It really suits you," he replied.

"Thanks...my father's name just means to many negative things, so I made my own identity," she said, as they enjoyed the music together and drank their cocos, while watching Alice get to open one present. As it got late, David knew he had to go, but he found himself sad about that.

"So...Christmas dinner is tomorrow at two," she mentioned.

"You mean...you want me to come?" he asked. She smiled.

"I told you...you've been adopted," she mentioned. He smiled.

"I'll be here," he confirmed, as they noticed they were standing under the mistletoe at the door.

"Mistletoe…" she whispered.

"Mistletoe…" he uttered, as they stared at each other, before their lips finally crashed together. And that was the night that Christmas changed forever for David and Mary for that matter.

"See you tomorrow, Snow…" he said fondly and she grinned.

"Snow?" she asked. He shrugged.

"I like it...I think you're going to be Snow to me," he replied, as she saw him out and watched him go, her heart fluttering in her chest.

"Snow…" she muttered, finding herself giddy that he had his own name for her and at the incredible kiss they had just shared. Christmas certainly was the most wonderful time of the year…

[singledarkshade]

Entwined Hearts

Part Three It was the day of the funeral and Rip didn’t know how he was going to make it through. His mother was getting Jonas ready, while Rip stared at himself in the mirror after his shower. Something that wasn’t easy to do with the cast on his arm.

The week since the accident had been the longest and shortest of his life as he tried to arrange a funeral, relieved and grateful for his friends who helped. People kept bringing him food, he had no idea why but Dinah, for the first few days and then his mother, just accepted it.

“Rip,” a knock on the door came, “Mary is getting worried about you, mate. Are you coming out?”

“I’ll be a few minutes, John,” Rip said dully, still staring at himself.

There was a moments silence before his friend called through again, “Jonas is looking for you too.”

“Mother can handle him,” Rip replied before adding, “I just need a minute.”

Taking several deep breaths, Rip finally opened the door to the bathroom finding John sitting on the bed. Lounging there in a way Rip would find him so often over the years. They’d met at University, paired as roommates and had become the best of friends quickly. Miranda hadn’t been too sure of the wise-cracking layabout at first, but it didn’t take her long before she’d warmed up to him. So much so that the three of them had been inseparable all through University. Coburn, Constantine and Hunter, the three musketeers who could tease and call each other anything they wanted but woe betide anyone else who did.

It was a long running joke that John had followed Rip and Miranda to America but moved to Central City to pretend he hadn’t.

Without a word John hugged Rip, holding onto him tightly. Letting him go John rested one hand on Rip’s cheek and the other on his uninjured shoulder before looking him square in the eye, something no one had done since it had happened.

“You’re going to get through this,” John told him, “I won’t leave your side until you’re ready. Okay?”

Rip nodded, relieved to have his best friend with him.

 “I need to get dressed,” Rip sighed, “Or Mother will come and chase me.”

“Probably dress you herself,” John chuckled softly, “I’ll let her know you’ll be out soon.”

  Jonas had fallen asleep halfway through the funeral to Rip’s relief, it let him hold his son without having to try to keep him entertained. On one side sat his mother while on the other sat John, who had basically steamrolled over everyone keeping them at arms length, with the exception of the Lance family, to make sure Rip was able to hold himself together.

Finally, it was over. Miranda had been cremated and they were taking her ashes with them back to England to scatter in the spot where Rip had proposed to her.

Mary and Dinah had organised the wake in the Lance’s home, where Rip simply headed into the small spare room with Jonas. Resting his sleeping baby boy on the bed, he sat on the floor exhausted.

He was grateful that his mother had managed to get here so fast, John had collected her from the airport having appeared himself the day after the accident.

Sleep hadn’t come easy to Rip the last few nights, instead he’d spent almost the entire night, every night so far watching Jonas sleep. It had been so long since he’d slept without Miranda beside him that the bed felt too big, too cold without her.

A knock preceded the door opening, Sara Lance poked her head through, “Brought you something to eat and some tea,” she said, holding up the tray.

“Thank you, Sara,” Rip gave her a quick smile as best he could.

Placing the tray down on the floor, Sara sat beside him.

“Your mom is nice,” she said, “But I don’t think I’d want to be on her bad side.”

Rip let out a slight snort, “Believe me you don’t.”

“Why does she call you Michael?”

“Because it’s my name,” he shrugged, “At least it was until I turned eighteen and could legally change it.”

Sara tilted her head in thought, “You changed it to Rip? Why?”

“I didn’t want to be called after the father who abandoned me,” he explained, forcing himself not to get choked up at her name telling her, “Miranda chose Rip.”

Wincing Sara nodded.

“When Jonas was born,” he continued not really talking to Sara anymore, “I promised him I would do everything to make sure he had a real family. I failed. A horrible father like my own.”

“No,” Sara caught his hand making him look at her, “You are an amazing father, and Jonas has a real family. My folks adore him and so do I. Laurel practically has a college fund started for him. Not to mention your weird friend John who Jonas follows like a mini-shadow copying everything he does.”

Rip gave a slight smile, “John is his godfather. It’s rare that Jonas gets to see him in person.”

Sara chuckled at his wry reply.

“You’re leaving Star City,” Sara said after a moment, “Aren’t you?”

“We were always going home for the summer,” Rip told her, “Right now, it’s as far as I can see.”

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

  “What are you doing?”

Gideon looked up when Lily walked into her room, she was getting out of the hospital tomorrow and finally would have her life back.

“I’m writing a letter,” Gideon told her, “To the family of the donor.”

Lily frowned in thought, “Really?”

“Dr Winston told me it might help,” Gideon explained, “For me I can say thank you, while the family get to know how grateful I am.”

Lily mused on this before asking, “Is that a good idea?”

“Someone died so I can live,” Gideon reminded her friend, “A family lost someone they love, and I want them to know that I understand this, as well as how much I appreciate that they allowed the transplant.”

“If you’re sure it’s a good idea then it’s your choice,” Lily smiled, “I will let you finish. I was going to check with Caitlin if she and Ronnie are coming to the dinner that we’re having tomorrow night, since you won’t agree to a party.”

“Someone died to give me my heart,” Gideon frowned at her, “We shouldn’t be partying while somewhere a family are burying a loved one.”

Lily nodded, “I know. I’ll let you finish and be back in a bit.”

She waited until her friend was gone before Gideon turned back to her letter. She needed to write it, to let the family of her heart know of her gratitude to them for giving her another chance at life.

Gideon hadn’t told any of her friends, but she’d had the strangest dream while under anaesthetic. While unconscious she’d seen a woman, with dark hair and dark eyes sitting beside her bed. The woman gave her a warm smile then they had a full conversation about all the things Gideon planned to do once she recovered. The woman had been so full of kindness and warmth but there was also sadness in her voice. She knew that no one would believe her, but Gideon fully believed this was the woman whose heart she was given.

Reading over everything she’d written, Gideon nodded in satisfaction and signed it before sealing it in an envelope ready to give to Dr Winston to send.

  “You know I never really noticed how pale she is,” Cisco noted as he leaned against the car watching Gideon being wheeled out the hospital.

“What do you expect?” Ronnie rolled his eyes, “She’s been ill for years and barely seen the sun. At least now it’s normal pale and not deathly pale.”

“Good point,” Cisco noted.

“Do you two want me to knock your heads together?” Clarissa threatened.

Ronnie and Cisco winced, “No, ma’am.”

“I don’t need an escort,” Gideon frowned at them when she was rolled over to the car to find them waiting for her.

“We’re not an escort,” Cisco told her, “We’re an honour guard.”

Ronnie chuckled, “We just wanted to see you finally leave this dump and know you never have to go back,” he glanced at his fiancé who was standing watching him amused, “No offence, honey.”

“Plenty taken,” Caitlin laughed.

Smiling Gideon stood, with some help from Martin before she hugged Caitlin as well as the nurses who had come to say goodbye.

“Thank you all,” Gideon said softly, “I would never have made it through the past few years without your support and friendship when I wanted to give up.”

After several rounds of hugs, Gideon was finally able to get into the car and leave the hospital for the last time.

She had her life back.

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

  Rip walked slowly through the park near his mother’s house. He’d left Jonas with her for the morning, so he had some time to himself. Two days before they’d taken a trip to the university grounds where they were able to scatter Miranda’s ashes on the roses at the spot where Rip had proposed to her.

Today, he had something else he needed to do. The envelope had arrived yesterday, with the smaller envelope inside addressed to ‘The People Responsible For My Second Chance.’

Rip hadn’t been sure he wanted to read it but had spent all night thinking about the letter so finally decided to do so somewhere neither his mother nor Jonas would be.

Opening the crisp white envelope Rip slid the letter out, noting how nice the stationary was, before taking a deep breath and beginning to read.

  To the family of my Angel,

I know this letter is in no way going to make up for all you have recently lost but I wanted to be able to express to you what your gift has meant.

My heart was damaged by a virus that I assumed was a simple cold, for the past three years I have been in and out of hospital almost every few months.

Your gift came when I was given only hours left to live. I have a rare blood type so the chances that a match would be found in time were astronomical.

I understand that no matter what I say on this page, it can never take away the pain you feel for the one you lost but I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate that, despite the pain you must have been in, you agreed to save others.

I don’t know the name of the person whose heart I now carry but I will always think of them as my Angel. And I will do everything I can to ensure that this gift was not given in vain.

This may not mean anything to you but as I only have a number and no name, I took the number then donated that amount to my hospital in the honour of my Angel.

All I can give you is this letter, my thanks and eternal gratitude,

Forever in your debt.

G

  Rip read and reread the letter several times.

He’d not thought about the people who had received Miranda’s organs, not really thought about much the past few weeks other than the fact she was gone.

It felt…good to know that someone had survived because Miranda had told him if anything happened then she wanted to be an organ donor.

His entire life had been shattered in one moment, but it had given someone else a chance at a new life. Someone who had taken time to write to him, whose words had brought a small comfort to him that he so desperately needed. Carefully, Rip refolded the letter and slid it safely back into its envelope knowing he would read it again.

Probably a lot because he knew he would need those words at times when the pain would be too much for him to bear.

And for one day to let Jonas see, so he knew that some good had come from losing his mother.

With a long sigh, Rip started back to his mother’s house needing to hug his son.