#his sister with the house she’s building only came for her dad so now she’s like let the other one care for our mother

[ninoochat]

I let out something his mom said to me when she was pissed about him and boy did he ran with it, so tonight I think we’re gonna go sleep at his sister’s, help her with her sand shoveling for a couple of days and go home maybe??

[redflagshipwriter]

ANOTHER UNDEAD FENTON

Inspiration came from this post by @stars-obsession-pit !

Word count: 1479

Masterpost of Archive Down Fics here.

(I wrote three dp x dc fics based off of prompts I've seen in the last day for reading while the site is getting maintenance. )

There was a high, shrill scream in the Fenton lab.

Maddie bolted for the stairs, abandoning her coffee without a thought. She flung herself down to see Jack bent over a body in front of the portal.

“Is this person a threat?” Maddie prepared to defend her husband, but the body didn't move.

Jack looked up at her. “No, I was just surprised! I think he's hurt, Mads.”

Her bleeding heart husband. She crossed the room and rolled their intruder over to see it was a kid, maybe Danny's age. In his sleep, he had a sweet, soft face. His face and throat were covered in faint scars.

Well. That was one of hers, now. No getting around it. That was a teenage boy on her floor who has obviously been the victim of violence.

“Well, shit,” Maddie said companionably. She blew out air between her teeth. “Dear, would you put clean sheets on in Jazz's room?”

They were running out of space, between the clones and the past evil alternate future children.

Jack saluted her, shouted an affirmation , and bounded away.

Maddie took a moment to wonder if her children would be an infinitely expanding collection and if so, if it would be better to move into Vlad's castle than to build the home addition they had planned for.

She gathered the teenager up in her arms despite him being her size, and laid him out on an exam table. She started checking his vitals.

A hand shot out and grabbed her by the wrist.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” Maddie said. She redirected her hand to smooth hair behind his ear. He blearily followed the movement, just as obviously intelligent as he was obviously compromised. She didn't know if it was a concussion or drugs or what, but this boy was not well. “It's Friday June 29th, and you're in Amity Park, Illinois. I'm Madeleine Fenton and you're at my house because you fell through a portal. Is there someone I should call for you?”

He stared at her. She could see the moment he decided not to speak to her.

That situation didn't change much all day. The kid walked himself up to bed and peered around at Jazz's old posters. He seemed to want to be alone, but Maddie caught him watching Dani and Dan playing catch in the yard. She made eye contact with him over her book and then looked back at her shrieking kids. Dan was doing flips on the trampoline and launching his sister in the air, catching and tossing her back up in the nick of time between flips.

Their new boy closed his curtains.

“I was thinking about Dante,” Jack said, bringing out a pitcher of iced tea. “Or, how about Jasper! Eh? Eh? You know, like Jazz-per?” Jack belly laughed.

“He probably has his own name,” Maddie said calmly. She'd estimated him at 16 or so, anyway. But whatever. If he wasn't going to give them a name, they did eventually need something to call him. And they needed to sort out accommodation fast, before Jazz got back from her college tour trip.

“Let's go with Jasper until he gives us his real name.” There were enough Ds in her home, honestly.

She lured Jasper out of his room for lunch. He sat at the kitchen table and watched them all warily. He only ate what they ate.

Danny arrived mid-meal. “Mom! Dad!” There was a whumpf as he probably threw himself onto the sofa. “We wanna go to Elmerton, that ok?”

“You should take your brother with you,” Maddie called back. “He needs clothes.”

“What?” Danny clearly pried himself up and came into the kitchen. Maddie silently offered to make him a plate. “No, I ate at Tuck's. Dan, what'd you do to your clothes?”

“Nothing, you pathetic worm,” said Dan, who really was a sensitive boy. “I am not the topic of discussion, you blithering fool.” He jerked a finger at Jasper. “New one.”

Danny stared.

Jasper looked uncomfortable. He gave a sort of hello nod.

“He's, uh, he's not-”

“Not a clone or alternate future version of you, nope,” Maddie agreed. “Though he did come out of the portal. We wondered if he might be a ghost, but it didn't seem necessary to ask.”

Jasper full body flinched at the word “ghost”, but he looked confused.

Danny squinted at his new bother who, it must be said, did look a bit like a Fenton already. “Not a ghost,” he said after a long pause. “But a little undead. Not sure what kind. But yeah, you're walking dead, buddy.” He clapped Jasper on the shoulder.

“You'll fit right in!” Jack cheered. “Dan is half dead! So is Danno! And so is Dani here! And-”

“Thank you, Jack,” Maddie cut him off. “It might be a sensitive subject, don't you think?”

“Nah,” said Danny, stealing food out of the pan despite saying he wasn't hungry. “We aren't that sensitive. Like-” he looked at Jasper and explained: “I got electrocuted to death in the lab two years ago. Dan is from an alternate future where everyone he loved died, so then he killed everyone else on earth. And Dani is a science experiment baby.”

“It's true,” Dani said solemnly. “I'm a work of science.”

“You make me sound so uncool,” Dan complained, stabbing at his spaghetti.

Jasper laughed for the first time. He himself seemed surprised by the sound. It was hoarse but there was promise there.

When the boys were off at the mall in Elmerton with Sam and Tucker, Maddie called up Vlad.

“You want to come here?”

“I’ve got more kids than I have rooms in my house,” she said wryly. “So if the offer is still open…”

“Yes, of course it is,” he assured her. “But- most of the little ones are still in the Ghost Zone, correct?”

“They're not big enough to leave yet,” Maddie agreed. “Which is why I need to be near a portal.” The ghostlings were staying with the LunchLady and Box Ghost, but they needed to be able to be in touch. “But no, I've got another one.”

Glass shattered in the background. “Another- what happened to Daniel this time?”

Maddie laughed at how flustered her old college friend got. “Nothing to do with Danny, actually, this one fell out of the portal. He's some level of partly dead, but we don't think he's a ghost at all.”

Left unsaid was that they needed to do a lot of research to figure out what other possibilities there were. If they could get into contact with Danny's GP, he might be able to get them on the right track.

“Well.” Vlad took a moment to rally. “When will the family be arriving?”

Two months later, all the kids were pretty settled in.

Jasper had never shared a name, but he was happy to let them call him Jay. He was a phenomenal big brother to Dani. He wrestled with Dan. He bullied Danny into doing his homework. It had been something of an administrative nightmare to get Jaspen enrolled in school, but Vlad had pulled off whatever magic trick he'd done for Dani (applied a lot of money to the problem, Maddie supposed) and Jay had settled in very well.

“Your debut in society,” Maddie hummed, making a point of straightening Jay’s tie. He was growing already, she was sure of it! He was going to wind up as tall as Jack.

“I've been to parties before, Mom,” Jay drawled, and then flushed a dark red that meant he didn't want to be asked questions. Maddie tweaked his nose instead of answering.

“But this is the first one where Vlad's introducing you to his business friends!” She said, already dressed up for a fun night. Vlad had flown them all in on his private jet for the day.

“Queen is a family man as well,” Vlad had said the night before, aiming for calculating and coming off soft. “It will put him off his guard or perhaps make him sick with envy that I have brought a higher quality child than he could ever manage to produce.”

They arrived together, Maddie on Jack's arm, keeping her flock of kids within eyesight as Vlad led the pack. She had a perfect view of Oliver Queen seeing them arrive, the smile dropping off his face, and him choking on his drink. He did look very silly, Maddie had to admit.

“Inept,” Vlad hissed, very pleased. “The fool can't even drink. His company will be mine-” he looked at Danny for some reason. Vlad faltered at whatever be saw. “....Through legitimate business practices, such as buying a majority of stocks,” Vlad weakly finished.

Maddie slapped him on the back. “Go get him, tiger.”

[cameronluvr]

JAILED PART 2 — toxic!rafe x fem reader

summary: part one here — rafe gets out of jail the next morning after his dad bailed him out, and he is forced to apologize to you.

warnings: none in this one! rafe is much less toxic than in part 1.

after spending a few hours in jail, rafe’s dad bails him out after signing tons of paper work and hours of talking to the officers.

: ̗̀➛ 𝓶𝔂 𝓶𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽 ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

“come on, cameron. you’re free to go” an officer begins opening the cell, watching as rafe grabbed his stuff and walked out. he greeted his dad at the end of the hallway, who looked less than amused.

“hey dad” rafe says, but ward didn’t have a response. the disappointment look on his face said it all. “really? nothing?” rafe asks as the pair begin heading out of the building and into ward’s car.

“rafe, it’s 6am. do you really think i wanna be here right now?” ward replies, swinging open his car door and angrily shutting it after he got in. rafe got in the passenger side. “i’m sorry” rafe says in a non-meaningful way, but at least he said it. “don’t say sorry to me, say it to y/n.” ward tells him, turning the engine on and driving away.

“y/n? is she at the house?” rafe asks, looking at his dad who isn’t looking back at him. “yeah, she’s at the house. she came in last night crying her eyes out because of you” ward says, taking a quick glance at his son. rafe doesn’t respond, he just looks down in his lap to rethink about what he did, and how he made you feel.

“huh, you gonna say sorry to her?” ward asks, almost in a demanding way in which rafe doesn’t have a choice. “yes, dad” he nods. “good. she’s staying in your room, so don’t go in there until she’s awake.” ward tells him, making him frown.

“but it’s my room..?”

“don’t go in there until she’s awake. you hear me?” ward repeats, not owing his son an explanation. “fine” rafe rolls his eyes, finally agreeing.

“she’s a good girl, rafe, what the fuck are you doing?” ward asks, needing to know the reason as to why his son is abusive towards the girl he loves, the girl who cherishes him.

“i don’t know, dad, alright? we just had too much to drink.” rafe blames it on the alcohol, but he’s just as much the same when he’s sober. “so you got in your car and proceeded to drive with her shit scared in your passenger seat? begging you to stop?” ward argues.

rafe sighs loudly and rolls his eyes, not knowing what to say now. “you could’ve killed her, and yourself!” ward continues to argue, wanting to know why his son is the way he is. “yeah, i know!” rafe argues back. it’s done now, it’s in the past you could’ve died, but you didn’t.

the rest of the drive home was silent. neither of them wanted to speak to each other, nor about the situation to avoid more arguments. when they finally got back to tannyhill, it was around 6:30 am, rafe got out and slammed the car door moodily.

“hey, watch it.” ward scolds him, pointing a finger at him as they both walk into the house. rafe avoids his bedroom with you in it, walking past it to get to the guest room. he didn’t get any sleep all night, so he decided to have a nap.

when he woke up, it was almost 10 am. he got out of bed and left the guest room, checking if his bedroom door was open yet. and to his surprise, it was. he peeked into the room, only seeing you nowhere. moments later, he hears the sound of your voice coming from downstairs.

he makes his way down the stairs, where your voice gets closer and closer. finally, he spots you in the living room, sitting on the couch with his sister, sarah. you were really close to sarah, so obviously you’d already told her what happened last night. when you both saw rafe come into the room, your mouths fell silent. sarah’s eyes darted at rafe, giving him a look of disgust.

“hey y/n” he says, “can i talk to you?” he asks, eyeing his sister to get her to leave. “whatever you have to say to her, i wanna listen” sarah says, not moving from her seat. “no, get out” rafe bickers with her.

“no, i wanna listen too.” ward’s voice suddenly says as he walks in from the kitchen. rafe rolls his eyes at the fact his dad and sister wanted to hear his apology for themselves. he accepts that they aren’t going to leave, and he sits down next to you.

“y/n, i’m sorry” he says, more sympathetic than he was with his dad in the car. you didn’t know what to say, because it certainly wasn’t ok, but you still loved him regardless. “i didn’t mean to scare you like that, or hurt you…” he went on. after a little, sarah and ward could see he meant his words, and they didn’t need to be there anymore. they both got up and walked out, leaving you to be alone with rafe so you could talk it out.

“i know…” you respond quietly, looking down at your lap and fidgeting with your hands. “no, hey, i really mean it. i love you, i didn’t mean to act like that…” rafe grabs your hands, holding them which made you look up into his eyes. “i love you.” he says again.

“i love you too, rafe. i just wish you would’ve said sorry before you got arrested and spent the night in jail. i stayed up for most of the night feeling guilty.” you huff, knowing you shouldn’t feel guilty but you were unsure if you made the situation worse or not.

“don’t feel guilty, baby. none of it was your fault” he tells you, which calms your mind a little. “i didn’t mean to make you mad at the beach, it’s just, i—” you begin to explain, but he cuts you off. “no, no, shh. i shouldn’t have gotten angry at you, it was my fault.” he says, his hands still holding yours and rubbing them softly.

“i’m sorry baby, do you forgive me?” he asks, watching as you struggle to find the right words to say. “…yes, i forgive you. just, don’t do that shit again. you really scared me” you sigh, tearing up just thinking about the whole situation.

“hey, i know. shh, come here” he comforts you, pulling you into a hug. you rest your head on his shoulder, side hugging him back. after a few moments of silence and just hugging each other, ward walks back into the room to see how it went.

“everything ok in here?” he asks, seeing rafe nod in response. though he isn’t looking for rafe’s answer, he wanted yours. you look up at him, sniffling and wiping your tears away. “yeah” you tell him, he watches as rafe rubs your back to comfort you.

ward nods, seeing as you put your head down to look into your lap, he looks at his son with daggers to remind him to behave. you dread to think what he would do if rafe did something mean to you again.

THIS WAS SHORT. but as requested, here’s part 2! rafe is much less toxic in this one, obviously:) hope you guys enjoy! <3

@cameronluvr

[totalswag]

happy new year — DREW STARKEY

authors note happy new years lovies. i hope you all had a safe and fun new year with your friends and families. sorry this was posted a couple days after the new year but i’ve had to go back and fix a few things on this fic. dad!drew is expecting baby #2 omg !!!

summary entering the new year with a new starkey coming into the new year

warnings crying, cussing, family, excitement.

A few weeks ago you took a pregnancy test and it came back positive. You had a feeling that you were from random cravings and morning sickness. Knowing you are carrying your second baby is a blessing in disguise.

You went to the doctors to get scanned and to find out you are six weeks pregnant. Seeing your second baby made you emotional, you couldn’t believe it.

Tatum was told a day later. It took her a few minutes to calculate there’s a baby in your stomach. Once Drew and you explained to her she started yelling out of excitement.

Drew and you had talked about having another baby in 2024 but you never thought you would find out right when you were entering the new year.

Plus, it was the perfect time to find out and tell your entire family all together on New Year’s Eve.

Your mother contacted you and Drew's mother about celebrating the New Year at their home. Only because Drew and you are always on the go. It felt natural to share your pregnancy news with everyone you care about.

You guys are staying for a two weeks in your hometown. Drew and you grew up in the same town and happened to bump into each other again when he was filming season one of outer banks.

Everyone is at your parent’s house. There was so much going on all at once. The kids were running around the house, football games were on, getting food situated for dinner, and other things too.

"Y/N why aren't you drinking?" Brooke inquired, intrigued. She knows you well enough to know that you will never refuse a drink.

"I'm just not feeling it right now, but maybe later," you say with a smile.

She gives you a puzzled look but nods in understanding. Your sisters in the kitchen looked at each other, then back at you, taken aback by your response to Brooke.

The sound of Tatum's voice filled your ears around the corner of the hall that leads into the kitchen. She turned the corner into the kitchen with her cousin chasing her.

"What are you doing running around, huh?" You chuckled, tickling her sides as she ran past you.

“Bella and I are chasing each other” she laughed, stopping her tracks when she runs into you as she looks back at Bella.

“I can see that, be careful please” you pick her up, placing her on your hip. She lays her head on your shoulder, wrapping her right arm around your neck.

Tatum stayed with you for another two minutes before she wanted down to play with the rest of her cousins.

For dinner, your dad made steak, his famous steaks. There was plenty of food for everyone. The dinner so was delicious, you went for thirds too.

You guys just finished dinner, put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, cleaned everything else up so your parents didn’t have to do it.

Drew and you were sitting on the couch next to each other watching football with your family. Your head resting on his shoulder, arm wrapped around his arm as a sign of comfort.

"I can't wait to tell them," Drew says quietly in your ear, kissing your head and bringing you closer.

“Me too,” you smile.

As it grew closer to midnight, everyone was hanging out in the living room with a movie on and the kids were in the playroom down the hall watching a Disney movie.

Mackayla and you were talking about the new house Drew and you are planning to build. The house you are in now is a two-bedroom; it's a lovely place, but it's time for a change.

You place Mackayla's daughter, Liliana in your lap and give her a gentle bounce as you explain, "I have cute ideas for the kitchen that I think will make it look more homey."

"Did you see what I sent you yesterday?" she asked, nodding. You can always keep that in mind," referring to the backsplash she has in her kitchen, about which you always rave.

“Everyone thirty more seconds till it’s the new year!” Your older sister, Melissa, yells from the living room, drink in her hand.

Both families gathered in the huge living room with beverages or loud whistles bought from a party store by your mother.

Drew and you look at each other, nodding in agreement to announce the pregnancy. Nervously playing with your hands in a ball, Drew notices and takes your hand in his, squeezing it softly.

When Drew appears in front of Tatum, she raises her arms in a picking gesture. She's wearing a new year's hat and has a whistle ready to go off when the clock strikes midnight.

"I'd like to tell you guys something as we enter this new year together," you say clearly, standing behind your little family.

Everyone was watching you with curiosity.

By this time, the clock is getting closer to midnight. The anxiousness from your families started showing.

“You are making me nervous” Jodie, Drew’s mom blurted.

You turned around noticing the count down getting lower. You put your hands in a prayer motion towards the top of your mouth.

Drew smiles as you gaze up at him, giving him the signal to announce it, "We are welcoming baby Starkey number two in 2024."

What the fuck

Oh my gosh this is amazing

Congratulations you guys!

Best news to start the new year

I’m gonna cry

So many words were being said when Drew made the announcement. Tears were flowing from some family members. You can tell how excited everyone was to hear the news of Starkey number two.

A lot of hugs were exchanged.

“How far along are you?” Jodie asked, “About six weeks” you answer.

“I’m so happy for the both of you sweetheart!” Your dad smiles, bringing you into a hug, rubbing your back.

“Thank you dad” you sniffle.

As you pull away Brooke comes up to you with her jaw dropped, “this explains why you haven’t been drinking today” making you laugh along with everyone else.

“Haha, I love you” Brooke brings you into a warm hug.

Once you three made it back to your airbnb, Tatum was changed into her pj’s and knocked out the minute her head touched the pillow.

Drew and you were laying in bed about to close your eyes till Drew spoke up, “goodnight to my little bundle of joy growing in your mommy’s tummy,” leaning down, kissing your stomach.

“And of course I love you too” he smiles.

my taglist

if you would like to be in my taglist and be notified whenever i post my fics leave a comment.

if there’s a line on your username, that means i couldn’t find your account :/

@runningfrom2am @winterrrnight @brooklynscherry-z @kaydsr3venge @johannelis2302nely

[fandom-lover2]

Wayward Adjacent

What if, when Sam and Dean met Adam, he wasn't the only child of John Winchester they found.

Chapter One - Who Are You

Word Count - 1163

Chapter Two - Why Are You Here

I slipped my key into the lock and twisted, and realized that the door was already unlocked.

Well fuck…

Maybe I could still recover from this. Before I had the chance to pull my key out the door, the front door swung open, and I came face to face with a pissed older brother.

“I dropped you off at school two hours ago.”

I shouldered past Adam and into the house, not bothering with my shoes. I wouldn’t be here long.

“Didn’t watch me go into the building.” I shot back, intent on ignoring him for the journey up to my room.

I stopped however when I unexpectantly found two men in our front room. One was freakishly tall, and had longish hair that ended below his ears. The other was tall, but not as tall and had clean cut hair. Both dressed like they came from a small town romance novel, boots, flannel, leather and Carhartt jackets.

“Who the hell are they?”

“Who the hell is she?” me and the shorter one spoke at the same time, and then blinked at one another.

Adam walked in behind me, for some reason holding the framed picture of him and John at his 14th birthday. “This is Andrea.” he introduced as he gestured to me. “Andrea, these are our brothers; Sam-”

 “And Dean.” I finished, John’s words resonating in my head.

The men, my brothers, looked at me with a mixture of surprise and horror. The shorter especially looked mortified at my existence.

“Wait, you knew about them?”

“John mentioned them in passing.” I answered distracted, eyeing them up and down closely.

So, these were the guys I was supposed to turn out like. Jonathan would get a kick out of meeting them

. Wait, but if they were here, then I was right. Kate’s disappearance wasn’t natural, the things in the dark had something to do with this.

“Andrea is only my half-sister.” Adam went on to explain. “When her mother died, John brought her here, and my mom took her in. She’s been living with us for a year and a half.”

The shorter one recovered from his shock and was now pissed. And that pissed off look was the one I knew all too well, because it’s the one I saw every time I looked in the mirror. “So, what did Dad do for your birthdays?” he ground out.

“John never came around for my birthday.” I fired back. “Didn’t even know when it was.”

His eyes softened, pity replacing the pissed off.

“How long has your mom been missing.” the taller spoke suddenly, bringing everyone back to the problem at hand.

“Three days.” Adam answered.

“You the last one to see her?” Shorter one addressed me, now studying me differently.

“No.”

“The neighbor saw her get home Tuesday night but she never made it to work Wednesday morning.”

“Where were you?” Taller one asked me.

“School camp. Got back last night.”

Smaller one froze, his eye catching something. I followed his gaze to the framed picture of Kate and John. He dropped his head, eyes clenched. Maybe my mom wasn’t the only cheating one in the relationship. Adam continued answering taller one’s questions about Kate and her disappearance.

“Should have been here.” Adam added to the end of his explanation, eyes tearing up.

I personally wasn’t as affected by this as I should have been. Sure, Kate was welcoming and nice, but we never really formed a bond. Besides, she was always at work so. And Adam was leaving for college as I moved in, so I only knew it from the few times he was home.

Mostly, I was still thanking God that John was dead. If he found out I’d let something happen to Kate, he’d fucking kill me.

“What the uh, what the cops say?” Shorter one saved us from all the emotion.

“Uhh, they searched the house. They didn’t find anything.” Adam answered. He was quiet for a moment, his eyes getting more tear filled as he bounced a little on his feet. “She wouldn’t leave without telling anybody.” his voice cracked.

I’d been like this, with my mom. A crying, emotional wreck the second anything was wrong with her. When you grow up with a single mom, they become more than a parent. They are a friend, a mother, a constant. Loosing the only parent you have leaves the inner child in you scrambling for something to hold onto.

I’d long since given up needing someone to kiss my boo boos, but Adam was still close with his mom.

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end again. Since I’d gotten back yesterday, I felt on edge. I couldn’t figure out why. Something wasn’t right, had my hackles up. It was beginning to piss me off.

“It looks like she just dropped off the face of the earth, you know?” Adam continued.

It was silent for a few seconds, as the two men, my eldest brothers, looked at one another. It was in that moment that I realized this was the first time all three of my brothers and I were in the same room. I knew of them, Adam didn’t. They didn’t know about Adam and me. In this room, I had the most knowledge. Which meant, I was going to be questioned soon enough.

“Well, I’m just here for my laptop so I’m gonna…” I made to move out the room and back towards the stairs.

“Wait, where are you going?” The tallest asked.

“Somewhere.” I replied, leaving the room and charging up the stairs.

Once at my room, I closed the door and locked it.

Oh my god! Sam and Dean were here! How did they get here? What had Adam done?

If Sam and Dean knew, if Adam had called them, did that mean John know? Would John come? If John knew I’d let something to Kate, if this was all something metaphysical, I had failed.

He was going to kill me. I needed to get out of here, before he got here. Clean my tracks long before he rolled into town. I didn’t have time to waste.

Darting around my room, I grabbed my backpack and began packing everything I thought I needed. Shirts, only 2, a change of pants, spare hoodie, a handful of underwear and three socks, hairbrush.

Why the hell would Adam phone them? Why the hell would Adam think of calling John? I didn’t even know Adam and John were still in contact. Of all the stupid things my older brother had done, this one took the cake.

All I needed was my toothbrush and I’d be set.

Switching out my jacket for a warmer, waterproof coat, I slung my backpack on my shoulder and pulled my door open. And almost collided into a chest.

Shorter one stood before the door, crossing his arms when he spotted my backpack. “Going somewhere?’

Well crap…

[inlovewithpandora]

✧˚ · . — New Beginnings ᝰ A Miguel O’Hara New Years Special

Lyrics — On New Year’s Eve, you drop a bombshell on Miguel: you’re pregnant with your second child, a surprise that neither of you had planned for.

Music Advisory — fluff, comfort, angst [if you squint], unexpected pregnancy, pregnancy reveal, implied marriage, mom!reader, Dad!Miguel, mention of Gabriella, domestic!Miguel, takes place on New Year’s Eve

Duration — 2k words

Words from Artist — Happy New Year Everyone!! I wanted to write a cute and fluffy fic for the holidays with Miguel and this is the idea I came up with because Miguel is definitely a family man! As always feel free to comment and reblog, I love reading y’all reactions! I hope you enjoy!!

Current Platforms — Main M.list・Atsv Taglist・Navigation

The soft hum of the television and the glow of the fireplace are the only sounds that can be heard in the house. New Year’s Eve is winding down and New Year’s is soon approaching, and most of the neighborhood has settled in for the night, the fireworks a distant echo from where you live but you can see them flashing in the night sky. Gabriella is sound asleep, her new toys scattered around her room that she got for Christmas, and the faint scent of cinnamon and baked cookies still lingered in the air, reminders of the day’s joy.

You and Miguel had spent the evening in a whirlwind of laughter and moments of joy, playing with Gabbi, helping her set up her new dollhouse, and enjoying a nice dinner together. New Year’s Eve had always been a time to reflect on the past year, to think about everything that had come and gone, and to dream about what the new year might bring. But this year, you found yourself more reflective than usual, the weight of your secret pressing heavily on your chest, making it hard to shake the nerves that have been building all evening.

At first, telling Miguel tonight wasn’t a part of the plan. You’ve been putting it off, dreading the moment when you’d have to share the news with him. You found out you were pregnant weeks ago, but it had taken you this long to find the courage to reveal it. You considered telling him on Christmas, but with everything happening around you: Gabbi’s excitement, spending time with your family, and the festive chaos, you couldn’t bring yourself to do it. You told yourself you’d wait for the right moment, but the longer you waited, the harder it became.

When you saw the two pink lines on the pregnancy test, it had completely caught you off guard. You and Miguel hadn’t been trying for another baby. Sure, you’ve talked about the idea of expanding your family someday, but between the chaos of raising Gabriella and the constant juggling of both your careers, it always seemed like something to think about in the distant future. Now, the future felt much closer than you had expected.

Knowing that you’re carrying another child in your womb, your emotions are all over the place: happiness, shock, and an undeniable thread of uncertainty. There’s a part of you that can’t stop smiling, imagining Gabriella as a big sister, her bright energy embracing the role with excitement. But then came the doubts, creeping in during the quiet moments when you’re alone with your thoughts.

Would Miguel be happy, or would the unexpected news feel like too much, too soon? He’s always been a provider, a protector—someone who carried the weight of responsibility so heavily on his shoulders that it sometimes left him tense and withdrawn. Another child would mean another set of needs, another person to care for, another layer of complexity in an already full life.

You’re worried that he’ll see it as a disruption to the balance you both worked so hard to build and maintain. You aren’t naive, you know how much he loves Gabriella, how fiercely he adores her. But that love comes with a relentless need to ensure her safety, her happiness, and her future. You can’t help but wonder if he’ll see this new baby as something to celebrate or another burden to bear?

And then there were your own doubts about your capabilities as a mother, the guilt that bubbles to the surface whenever you think about how busy your life already is. Gabriella is still so young, still so full of energy and needs of her own. Would this baby mean you’d have less time to focus on her? Would the transition be harder on her than you imagined?

Some nights, you lay awake with your hand resting on your stomach, torn between excitement and fear. There were so many unknowns, so many variables you can’t predict. But amidst the worry, you couldn’t ignore the warmth that filled you when you thought about your growing family.You hope that Miguel would feel the same way, that he’ll take one look at you, at the tiny symbol of new life you two created, and see it as something beautiful. A gift, even if it came at an unexpected time.

Miguel was in the living room, cleaning up the last of the Christmas decorations that were still up and placing them in their designated storage bin until next year. He insisted on finishing it tonight, wanting everything to be tidied up before you cross over into the new year. He likes things a certain way, neat and orderly, his way of setting a foundation for the fresh start that the new year promises.

You’re standing in the kitchen, staring at the small gift box resting on the counter. Inside, the positive pregnancy test sat beneath a tiny newborn onesie. Doing it this way feels like the best way to tell him, it’s quiet, cute, and a symbol of the unexpected changes the new year is bringing into your lives.

You take a deep breath, your fingers brushing against the edge of the box as you gather your thoughts. The house is quiet, save for the faint crackle of the fireplace and the muffled pops of fireworks outside. The weight in your chest feels heavier now, nerves twisting in your stomach, but you know it’s time. You’ve been holding onto this secret for weeks, and as the clock inches closer to midnight, you realize there’s no better moment than now to share it with him.

You step into the living room, the soft glow of the lights illuminating Miguel as he finishes storing away the last of the decorations. His broad shoulders are relaxed, his focus entirely on the task at hand, and for a moment, you feel a pang of guilt for adding to the load he already carries. But then you remind yourself—this isn’t just another responsibility. It’s a gift, a new chapter for your family.

Miguel looks up as you approach, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Hey, you okay?” he asks, his voice low and warm.

You nod, swallowing the lump in your throat. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just… I have something for you.”

His brow furrows slightly, a mix of curiosity and concern crossing his face as he sets the storage bin aside and straightens up. “Something for me? On New Year’s Eve?”

You offer him a small, nervous smile, holding out the gift box. “It’s something I’ve been meaning to give you. I figured tonight was the right time.”

He takes the box from your hands, his gaze flickering between you and the neatly wrapped package. There’s a brief pause as he studies you, his sharp eyes catching the subtle tremor in your hands. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

“Just open it, Miguel,” you urge softly, your voice barely above a whisper.

Miguel hesitates for a moment before following your request, brushing his fingers over the tissue paper before carefully lifting it off and placing it off to the side. When his eyes fall on the tiny newborn onesie, his body freezes. His sharp features are caught somewhere between disbelief and awe, his gaze lingering on the shirt as if he can’t quite process what he’s seeing. He lifts the shirt, his thumb running over the words ‘Hello Daddy…’ printed on the front, and when he notices the pregnancy test sitting underneath it his heart practically stops for a second.

“Is this…?” Miguel’s voice is barely above a whisper, his eyes searching yours, as if hoping you’ll confirm the words he’s afraid to say aloud, that you’re carrying his child.

“I’m pregnant, Miguel.”

For a long, tense moment, Miguel doesn’t speak. His expression is frozen, his gaze intense but unreadable, moving between the onesie in his hands to the pregnancy test beneath it, and then back to you. His features remain in a state of shock, as if the weight of your words hasn’t fully settled in his mind yet. His mouth opens slightly, as though he’s about to say something, but no words come out.

The silence between you both is heavy, it’s so quiet you can hear a pin drop. The only sound you’re able to hear is the rapid beat of your own heart as you watch him, waiting for him to process the news. His eyes are wide, his usual composed demeanor slipping as disbelief takes over. The moment feels like an eternity, and you can feel the uncertainty creeping in, the fear of how he might react if the shock wears off and leaves him with doubts.

The silence becomes unbearable, each second stretching longer than the last. Your nerves fray under the weight of his stunned expression, and before you can think twice, the words spew out. “I know it’s a lot, and I wasn’t sure how to tell you, but… it’s real, Miguel. We’re really having another baby.” Your voice is soft but insistent, as if saying it aloud again might break through his shock.

Miguel doesn’t respond immediately. He just stares at you, his expression still unreadable, and you can feel your chest tighten with the pressure of waiting for him to say something, anything. You open your mouth to speak again, but before you can, Miguel closes the space between you in a single, swift motion. His lips crash against yours in a kiss so deep, so full of emotion, that it sweeps all the air from your lungs.

When he pulls back, his eyes are soft, his usual intensity softened by something tender and new. His hand rests gently on your cheek, his thumb brushing over your skin as he looks at you with an emotion that takes your breath away.

Miguel pulls away from the kiss, his brow furrowing slightly as he holds the onesie in his hands, his eyes not leaving it for a moment. He exhales slowly, trying to process everything that’s just been said, and then looks up at you, his gaze steady, though his voice is full of warmth. “You’re right, it’s unexpected,” he begins, his tone gentle. “But I’m not scared, mi vida. I’m happy. Another baby? That’s… that’s a blessing.”

You can feel your chest tighten again, the weight of everything you’ve been carrying for weeks making itself known. “Are you sure? I mean… life’s already so busy with Gabbi. And with everything we’re juggling, I just—” you break off, unsure of how to finish the sentence without sounding like you’re doubting this new life growing inside you.

Miguel steps closer, reaching for your hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I know it’s going to be a challenge,” he says, his voice calm but firm. “But it’s not too much for us, not with the love we have. I’ve got you, and we’ve got each other. We’ll figure it out, just like we always do.”

You search his eyes for any hint of doubt, but all you see is certainty that makes your heart ache with relief. “It’ll be hard,” you murmur, “but… I don’t want you to feel like it’s another thing we can’t handle.”

Miguel smiles softly, the lines of tension on his face relaxing as he brings your hand to his chest. “It’s not a burden. It’s a gift, a new chapter for us. And I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.” He leans in, pressing his forehead against yours, the world outside momentarily fading into the background. “We’ve got this, y/n. No matter what, we’ll handle it together. And this little one?” He places his hand on your stomach, his voice full of certainty as he begins to think of his future son or daughter. “They’re gonna have two parents who will love them more than anything in this world.”

You feel your breath catch in your throat, and for the first time since finding out about the pregnancy, the anxiety in your chest begins to melt away, replaced with a quiet joy. “Okay,” you whisper, finally feeling the peace you’ve longed for.

Miguel smiles again, his lips brushing over your forehead as he pulls you close. “We’re gonna be okay,” he repeats softly, and you believe him.

The weight of his words, the certainty in them, makes tears spill over once more. You cling to him, the fear and uncertainty melting away in the warmth of his embrace. You feel his hand settle gently on your stomach, and when you look up at him, his gaze is full of love, determination, and a soft smile that makes everything feel right.

“Happy New Year, Mig.” you whisper, a small smile breaking through the tears.

Miguel chuckles softly, leaning down to press his forehead to yours. “Happy New Year, mi vida.”

Fanbase — @savagemickey03 @soilmayo @baizzhu @solanawrld @onlyloaksgf @popeheywardssecretgf @taylormarieee @h3art-l3ss-blog1 @mellagzz @em-x0x0 @3zae-zae3 @miguellover6969 @beargracecanbeanyone @ban-al3x @kxllanxtdoor @maxlynn17 @iwanttogohomeandtakeanap @d0ubl-tr0ubl3 @tater-tot0423 @theitgurl2 @miguelsesposa @novaaahearts @migueloharasoulmate

[thatmexisaurusrex]

What if Tommy had a box? A little box, maybe a shoe box or maybe even a cigar box, of things of his mother's. He talks about how terrible his father was, but what if his mother left? What if she left and didn't feel safe enough to take Tommy with her? Or that she didn't feel like she could support him? Or that she was broken and the only way to survive was to leave, even if she had to break her own heart and leave Tommy behind?

And Tommy has a box of her.

She's out there somewhere. Tommy hasn't looked her up. He's scared to. He has his father's name. He knows what his father was like. He doesn't want to find her if there's a possibility that seeing him might bring back all that trauma for her. He doesn't want to find her in case someone catches wind of where she is; if his father somehow finds where she is because he went in search of her.

But he has this box.

It's not a big box. As I said before, maybe a shoebox or an old cigar box. It has her name on it.

And when Buck finds it in Tommy's closet while helping Tommy clean his house, he gets curious and asks Tommy about it.

And.

And Tommy sees that box.

And he smiles.

And he sits down on his bed. And he pats the space next to him. And Evan sits there with the box and hands it to Tommy. And Tommy tells Evan fondly, "This is all that I have left of my mom."

And he opens the box. Maybe he pulls off the lid. Maybe he unlatches the top. But he opens it and what he has is basically nothing.

It was whatever he could save from his father when his dad trashed, burned, and dumped anything that had to do with Tommy's mother. It was a photo or two of his mother when they were young - maybe a small Tommy, a little big for his age even then, posing on a peer with a mother who looked like him.

Same chestnut brown curly hair, if a little golden from the sun, if a little longer. Same blue eyes. Same tall build. Even some of the angles of the face reflect in Tommy's. Same crinkle-nosed smile, even. Hugging Tommy as they laughed together.

Another photo was of them hiking somewhere. His mother helping a little, chunky toddler Tommy walk over a small stream.

There were little notes - "I love you" and "Have a good day" and "Miss you, Tomcat". Things Evan had only seen in other people's lunches - little lunch notes.

There was some sort of decoder ring from a cereal that Buck couldn't place, and Tommy confessed he didn't really remember why the ring was in there, but he knew it was important.

There was a lighter - the one his mother used despite the fact that his mom kept telling Tommy she was going to quit, she swore she would.

And there was a bigger note.

A goodbye.

I wish I could take you. I wish I was braver. I wish I was stronger. I love you, Tomcat. One day, I'll come get you. I want to. Be a good boy for me.

Mama

Tommy was maybe five when she left. She never came back. Tommy didn't feel like he held up to that standard of "Good Boy" while she was gone - he found himself increasingly becoming what he hated out of survival in that home with his father. At work in the army. At the station with Gerrard.

Tommy wasn't sure he felt up to that standard even now.

But his mom had been a coward.

She had left him.

And he still loved her.

So, maybe she'd still love him despite needing to unlearn a lot of terrible things; needing to work on himself to get back to being someone he liked; someone he felt proud of, even if that pride felt fleeting most of the time.

Buck doesn't ask Tommy if he wants to reach out to her. He sees this strange reflection of a box and talks about the baby boxes his sister has and Daniel has, but he doesn't. Not with his parents, at least. His baby box is the postcards he sent to his sister for seven, eight years.

And he couldn't send them to her at her house for fear of Doug finding them and tossing them out.

And he didn't interact with her much outside of that despite wanting to talk to her every day because he didn't want Doug to find out and hurt her.

But he was at least able to send her those cards.

And they both sit there.

With the box full of sparse memories.

With the heaviness of love still so vividly alive even without much contact, if any.

And maybe Evan puts a hand on Tommy's shoulder and pulls him close.

And maybe Tommy rests his head on Evan's shoulder.

And maybe Evan leans his head on Tommy's.

And Evan tells Tommy that he hopes it's safe for her to reach out someday.

And Tommy says he hopes so too.

[topazy]

Teen spirit

Pairing: Carl Grimes × reader, Maggie Greene × sister reader

Warnings: Swearing, violence

Chapter: 6.05

Leaning against the window in Carl’s bedroom, you stare up at the night sky and count the stars. You know Carl is watching you across the hall from the other room as he rocks Judith to sleep, but you can’t bring yourself to look at him because he would see the tears in your eyes.

Your fingers gently touch the delicate cross hanging around your neck. Maggie, Rick, and the others had returned and were currently having a meeting in the house next door. Your sister had briefly returned from visiting another community called Hilltop; she negotiated with their leader, Gregory, and somehow ended up agreeing to take out another community called The Saviours, which was run by a very dangerous man, Negan.

You hated it.

You hated everything about it.

Sneaking into other communities and killing people who hadn’t done anything to your group isn’t who you are. Daryl and Rick tried to reassure you this was the only way, but it just didn’t seem right.

You sense a presence behind you; “they were only meant to trade for food. Not to become hired hitmen.”

Carl doesn’t say anything. You wonder if he’s feeling just as confused and scared, especially since his dad was leading the group that would be leaving in a few hours.

“What if something goes wrong and they don’t come back? Or the Saviour’s retaliate and come here? Who’s going to defend this place? Me, you, Judith?”

He chuckles at the last part, “She’d be a better aim than some of the people in Alexandra.”

“Is Judith asleep?”

“Yeah.”

You spin round and aren’t surprised to see how close he’s standing behind you. Placing your hands on either side of his face, you smash your lips against Carl’s. He seems slightly stunned at first, then kisses you back.

When your lips eventually part, Carl pulls you in for a hug and kisses your forehead, “I won’t let anything happen to you or Judy, I promise.”

—

You weren’t exactly sure what happened when most of your group went to go hunt the saviors, but none of them had come back the same.

“Heard you’re going on a supply run.”

You don’t reply.

“Still giving me the cold shoulder?”

You glare at Abraham, “You’re a real asshole, you know that?”

The redhead frowns, “Since when did you become a little shit? Got something you want to get off your chest? Now is the time.”

Sitting on the front porch, you continue lacing up your boots, finding it hard to look at him. You liked Abraham, which is why hearing him being so horrible to someone so kind was shocking. “I overheard you breaking up with Rosita; she didn’t deserve to be spoken to like that.”

Before Abraham can respond, Eugene calls him over, and you get up and go to go meet Denise just as she’s walking out of the medical clinic. Denise had managed to convince Rosita and Daryl to take her on a supply run not far from your community to go get medical supplies.

“Hey, you ready?”

“Yeah, are you sure Maggie is fine with this? I don’t want her chasing me with a large wooden spoon when we get back.”

“Trust me, she’s fine with it.”

At first your sister was hesitant, but she trusted Daryl to keep you safe. Besides, Glenn agreed keeping you locked behind a large wall wouldn’t do you any good in the long run. If you forgot what it was like to be on the other side, you’d become sloppy when it came to killing walkers.

—

You mentally curse yourself for not wearing a waterproof jacket. As soon as you got out of the truck, the heavy rainfall started. A tree had fallen on the road blocking it, so the four of you walked along train tracks until you reached the small outlet mall.

The buildings look abandoned; the windows had been paneled up with wood and had bloody handprints covering them.

Daryl knocks on the door to see if anything moves inside. When he doesn’t hear anything, he hands you one of his guns. “The two of you stay back while we check it out.”

The shop smells a mixture of dampness and death. While you look for anything that seems useful, Daryl and Rosita stock up on medication from the store's pharmacy.

Denise shines her torch over at a door. “What’s that?”

You stop moving and listen to a thudding sound. “It’s just one of them,” Daryl says. “Sounds like it’s stuck.”

You resume looking around and out a few bars of soap and shampoo into your backpack. You turn to ask Denise if she wants to bring some back, but she’s gone. “Where…” you notice the door the knocking sound was coming from is open and go after her, “Denise?”

Your stomach sinks the moment you see a baby’s crib that has mould growing on it. Turning the corner, you see Denise standing over a rotten-looking walker. The man must have broken his leg before the apocalypse, and the clumpy white cast on his leg is why he stayed in the one location. You pull the blade from your belt and stab the walker in the head. “We need to go.”

Denise shines her torch over the wall, and the word ‘hush’ is written all over it in red pen. “Come on,” you try to pull her back. “This is like being a freakin’ horror; we need to go.”

Ignoring you, she shines the torch further down till it lands on a sink that’s almost overflowing; it takes you a few seconds to realize what’s inside it. Denise runs out of the room and straight into a counter, knocking broken glass off it. You run out behind her and vomit just as you reach the doorway.

Denise leaves the store. Rosita comes over and rubs your back while you continue to throw up, “What the hell are you doing?”

You point down the doorway, “Don’t go in there.”

“Why what’s back there?” Daryl asks, alarmed.

You vomit again, thinking of the sink overflowing with blood and sludge. You wipe tears away from the corners of your eyes. “There’s a dead kid in the sink. Can’t be much older than Judith.”

—

The sun shines again as you walk back to the truck, drying in the dampness of your clothing. The walk back was mainly in silence, aside from the occasional small talk.

Hearing a commotion from behind, you look back and see Denise struggling to fight off a walker. You had been so caught up on your thoughts that you didn’t even notice she was gone. Daryl and Rosita rush over to help, but by the time they reach her, she’s killed the walker.

You keep watching as Daryl and Denise start to argue; you were paranoid their raised voices would attract the dead.

“Who gives a shit? You could’ve died killing those saviors, both of you, but you didn’t. You wanna live; you take chances. That’s how it works. That’s what I did.”

“For a couple of damn sodas?” Daryl asks, sounding unimpressed.

“Nope,” she picks up a can of soda and walks by them. “Just this one.”

You hand back to walk with Daryl on the train tracks as Rosita catches up with Denise. “Are you seriously that stupid?”

“Are you?” Denise stops walking and stands in front of her. “I mean it. Are you? Do you have any clue what that was to me or what this whole thing is to me? See, I have training in this shit. I’m not making it up as I go along, like with the ditches and the surgery and the...” she trails off and looks directly at Daryl. “I asked you to come with me because you’re brave like my brother, and sometimes you actually make me feel safe. And, shut Y/n, you’re just a kid and more fearless than me. The way you followed me into that room and took out that walker? I wouldn’t have been able to do that. Rosita, I wanted you here because you’re alone. Probably for the first time in your life. And because you’re stronger than you think.”

You’re taken aback; this supply run meant far more to Denise than you realized.

“And because you’re stronger than you think you are, which gives me hope that maybe I can be, too.”

You look over Denise’s shoulder while she continues to talk; you can see movements in the trees on the opposite side of the tracks. “I think—”

An arrow goes through Denise’s eye. Daryl shoves you behind him and raises his gun as a group of at least ten men appear.

“Drop your weapons now!”

A man with dirty blonde hair and a large burn mark on his face drags Eugene over and forces him onto his knees. You notice the man has Daryl’s crossbow.

“Get your fucking hands off me!” You hiss when a man starts patting you down for weapons.

“The little one is awfully feisty,” the man laughs. “I’m Dwight; what’s your name?”

“Hey,” Rosita snaps. “You don’t talk to her, ever.”

Dwight finds her reaction amusing, “Fine. So, what’s your name?”

“Rosita. What do you want?”

“Well, Rosita… It’s not what I want. It’s what you and Daryl and the kid are going to do. You’re going to let us into your little complex. It looks like it’s just beautiful there. And there you’re going to let us take whatever and whoever we want.” He pats Eugene, who looks terrified on the shoulder. “Then we will blow Eugene's brains out then yours.”

You think Maggie, Carl, Judith, Glenn—all the people you wouldn’t get to see again. All the people you’d most likely die trying to protect. You just hope it’s worth it.

“If you wanna kill someone, you start with our companion.” Eugene looks over at metal barrels that were nearby. “He’s hiding over there behind the oil barrels. He’s a first-class a-hole, and he deserves it so much more than us four.”

You step back, waiting to see if anything happens. Abraham had left your community with Eugene, and although he was an asshole you didn’t want him to die. Daryl suitably signals for you to get ready to get down.

Eugene suddenly lunges forward and bites Dwight’s dick through his jeans, and Abraham comes from the opposite direction and starts firing at the men.

You take cover behind a car and start firing at the men. You scream, feeling a sudden sharp pain in your side, and fall backwards. You had been so preoccupied by shooting the walkers that you had been attracted by the noise you didn’t notice the man coming up behind you. The bastard had stabbed you. When you start shouting at him, he quickly runs away.

Dwight falls to the ground and yells for the remaining men to fall back, but they still continue to fire as they run away.

Rosita notices what’s happened and rushes over, ducking to avoid stray bullets. She takes her belt off and puts it around your stomach, pulling it tightly. “Y/N and Eugene are hurt!”

The pain is so intense your vision starts to blur and your eyes become heavy. The last thing you remember is Daryl scooping you into his arms while Abraham and Rosita help Eugene.

[lowkeyerror]

Warmth

Wanda Maximoff x Reader

Word Count: 2.7k

Notes: Slightly sad but overall happy and super fluffy, Christmas themed, happy holidays everyone!

Summary: You miss your family during the Christmas season, making you feel isolated. However Wanda reminds you that there are still people who care about you here.

Masterlist

Christmas was hard for you. It reminded you of all of your losses. Your parents, your sister, and your team. Watching the snow fall together only reminded you of those that fell with you during the war. You were always a little more zoned out during the season. Focusing was harder than it ever would be.

You had a new team that was not dissimilar to your military family, the Avengers. This wasn’t your first Christmas with them, but it was the first time you couldn’t pretend to be filled with the Christmas spirit.

They didn’t really know what was going on with you, but they could guess based on your past. Earth’s mightiest heroes were string warriors on the field, but they weren’t savvy when it came to emotional turmoil. So, they let you sulk to an extent. They would drag you out of the house, but they let you sit out any activities.

That’s how you ended up sitting alone in a nearly emptying ice rink Tony had rented out. You watched as members of the team skate on the ice with their friends and family members. Clint had brought Laura and the kids, Tony brought Morgan, Bruce brought his cousin Jen, Thor had brought Valkyrie along with Loki. Even Natasha brought Yelena out for the day.

You hold a sad smile on your face seeing them enjoy each other.

“You aren’t going to skate?” Wanda sits next to you adjusting her skates.

You shake your head, “I think I’m good just watching.”

Wanda sighs at your words, “Where’ve you been these past couple of days?”

Your brow furrows, “I haven’t gone anywhere.”

Wanda jabs a finger against your forehead, “We both know you haven’t been present up there. What’s bothering you?”

You want to close off and you are prepared to do so, until you catch Wanda’s eyes. They’re filled with genuine care and worry. As much as you hate to admit it to yourself, you don’t want to push her away.

“I miss my family. My parents, my sister, my friends, they’re all gone. It’s hard to not think about them around this time of year. The past couple of years I’ve been good at keeping it inside, but it’s too much this year.”

Wanda understands, probably better than anyone else in the building. She finds herself reaching for your hand, “Tell me about them.”

Your eyes grow wide for a second, but nonetheless you search for a memory to share, “For Christmas my mom would always make this pie. It wasn’t really a pie, more like a cheesecake. She called it a banana split pie. My sister and I would always have some silly competition for the last slice. One year we did a performance for my mom and dad and the winner was supposed to get the last slice of the pie. So, picture me 13 years old, scrawny as can be, determination on my face, as I belt out the lyrics to Last Christmas by Wham. It’s just as over the top as you’re imagining it.”

Wanda laughs a bit, which only widens the small smile playing on your lips.

“Now my sister wasn’t going down that easy, she did a dance routine to All I Want For Christmas is You. My parents were split, they couldn’t pick a winner. So, while my sister and I were arguing about who was better, my dad ate the last slice of pie,” you can’t help but roll your eyes.

Wanda cackles openly this time, “All that hard work for nothing?”

“Exactly! I poured my heart out, I could almost taste the pie.”

The two of sat with the warmth of your story. The woman had succeeded in lifting your mood. It almost made you want to go out and skate with the others, but there was a lingering sadness after you realized that you’d never share a moment like that again.

“I miss my family too. Pietro loved Christmas. I never really knew if he preferred getting gifts or giving gifts. I think he was just happy to have everyone together” Wanda speaks up.

“Do you have a favorite gift from him?”

Wanda smiles while looking at the ring that adorns her finger,” He gave me so much more than just physical items. For a long time, it was just us, my parents died when we were young. Piet gave me comfort, more than anyone probably ever will. This ring belonged to my mother; it was a gift to her from my Papa. I thought it had been lost in the bombing that destroyed our home. Years later, after our parents were long gone, he gifted me this ring. I don’t know how he got it, but he did. I don’t think I ever hugged him that hard. I cried against him, and he held me. I was only a teen, still a child really, but I cried like I was a 4-year-old. This ring, it’s like my entire family on my finger. My mama, my papa, and Piet.”

You have tears brimming your eyes as they shift from Wanda to the ring, “It’s beautiful, Wanda.”

She nods her head, holding back her own tears. She takes a large breath and holds out her hand, “Skate with me.”

It’s not a question, but even if it was, you doubt you’d say no to her. Reluctantly you lace the skates and follow her on to the ice. The red head nearly falls after her first step onto the ice. You were quick to place your hand on her waist.

You chuckle from behind her,” Have you done this before?”

You don’t see the rosy hints of her teeth, “Yes, I’ve just never been particularly good at it.”

Once you’re sure that she’s steady, you move to face her. This time you hold out your hand and she looks at it skeptically, “And you’re good at this?”

You scoff and tell her to watch you. Skating around the rink is simple enough, you show off a bit with a simple figure 8. Then you skate back up to her, “I think I’m pretty ok, what did you think?”

She gives you a side eye, “I get it you’re a professional skater.”

You shake your head and extend your hand again, “Let’s do a lap together.”

Wanda hesitates.

You reassure her once again, “We’ll stay close to the wall, I promise to not let you fall.”

She places her hand in yours, “If I fall, I'm taking you with me.”

“Fine by me.”

The two of you begin to skate laps in the rink hand in hand. Wanda refuses to let go of the rail for the first few laps, until she’s content with just holding on to you. True to your word, the woman doesn’t fall. You revel in the happiness that radiates off of her as you move on the ice.

“Teach me how to do the 8.”

“I can’t promise you won't fall if we're going to do the 8,” you warn her.

She shrugs a bit, “Just promise you’ll catch me, and we should be fine. “

Now it is you that has the tint on your cheeks. You nod and slowly show her how you do the figure 8. You can feel her eyes intensely watching every little detail of your movement.

She tries a few times on her own, coming really close but not being able to complete the 8. The frustration that’s building within her shows on the outside. It reminds you of a child having a tantrum. It’s quite adorable. She’s nearly ready to give up and you can tell.

“Hold on to my hips, we’ll do it together.”

Wanda lets out a huff of defeat before carefully skating behind you. Her hands rest respectfully on your hips. You begin to make the figure 8 and she follows holding you tightly, scared she might fall. Once you’re down you hear a small applause erupting for the two of you.

“Double infinity, nice,” Tony says slow clapping.

“I think the real miracle is Y/n keeping Wanda from falling on the ice,” Natasha chimes in.

“Careful Nat, before my powers accidentally trip you,” Wanda playfully taunts the spy.

Nat holds her hands up in defense, “It was just a joke, Wands.”

This moment feels warm, like the memory of you singing your heart out in front of your family on Christmas day. It’s partially the playful banter from the Avengers, but the other part is the woman standing besides you with her arm steady around your waist.

Her kindness, her comfort, it was like a heater in a cold room.

The attention naturally shifts from you and Wanda when the kids call for attention. You take this as your moment to head back to the benches and sit for a bit. Wanda trails behind you, a little more skilled than when she first stepped on the ice.

“I needed that, thank you” you say to Wanda, eyes shining up at her.

“It was nothing, Y/n. Besides I feel like the one who won the exchange, now I can skate without falling on my ass.”

The humor does little to cut through the sincerity of your voice, “I mean it Wanda. Thank you for skating with me.”

She matches your sincerity, “I know it’s a hard time for you, but it’s nothing that you have to face alone."

“Wanda, Y/n! You lot done for the night already?” Thor screams from across the ice.

Wanda looks like she wants to skate some more, but she can tell that you want to rest.

You beat her to it, “Go, I’ll join back in a bit.”

She eyes you tenderly, sticking out her pinky finger “Promise?”

You nearly snort at the childish antics, but still find yourself locking your pinky with hers, “I promise, now go."

She gets back on the ice, and you watch gleefully as she skates around with much more confidence. Fearful of breaking your promise, you find yourself back on the ice not long after Wanda. You skate with her and the others until it’s time for the rink to close. You almost don’t want the day to end, but you’d be lying if you said you weren’t exhausted from the activity.

As soon as you’re back at the compound you quickly shower and then prepare for bed. For the first time this month the minute your head hits the pillow you’re out like a light. No intrusive thoughts, no unwanted feelings, just sleep. It feels good when you wake up a full 8 hours later.

You get ready for the day in your room. As you open the door to exit, you’re met with your skating partner from the day before.

“Good morning,” she says cheerfully.

You send her a grin, “Morning, what can I do for you?”

She extends her hand, and you grab it, letting her lead you through the compound.

“Where are we going?”

“The kitchen,” she says as if it is a full answer.

You continue to allow her to pull you around, “What’s in the kitchen?"

She shrugs, “You’ll see in a second.”

Once you’re finally in the kitchen, Wanda stops walking right in front of the refrigerator. “Okay, close your eyes.”

You give her a look as if to say ‘really’ the look in her eyes directly challenges yours and with a huff of annoyance you shut your eyes. You hear Wanda going into the fridge but resist the urge to open your eyes. It seems like an eternity before you hear the fridge close. You fidget in your spot a little as your anticipation builds.

“How long until I get to open my eyes?”

“Open them now.”

When you open your eyes, they immediately widen. Tears build at the edges of your eyes. Your eyes move from the counter to Wanda.

“Is this- did you make my mom’s pie?”

Wanda smiles softly, “I don’t know if it’s exactly like your mom’s, but after hearing your story, I Googled a recipe. You didn’t really describe it in great detail, but I wanted to do this for you.”

Without any hesitation, you wrap your arms around the redhead. You hug her tightly, unable to properly express the immense amount of emotions you are feeling right now. She hugs you back just as tight, rubbing your back soothingly.

“I know it’s morning, but do you want a slice?” Wanda’s tone is delicate as she speaks to you, knowing how vulnerable you are at the moment.

You pull away from the hug and wipe at your eyes a bit, “I would love a slice.”

Wanda cuts you a slice and watches nervously as you lift a fork full to put in your mouth. As soon as the dessert hits your tongue, your mind is flooded with memories of your family Christmas parties. It was just like your mom’s. This time the tears spilled over as you put the fork down.

Your glossy eyes meet Wanda’s, “It’s just like hers.”

There’s so much more you want to say to Wanda, but you can’t. The tears are flowing too fast. The magic user attempts to wipe them away, but they’re coming faster than she can manage.

“I really hope there are some happy tears in there or else I’ll just feel like an asshole for making you cry,” she continues wiping away your tears.

Her statement makes you laugh, “They’re all happy tears, I promise. I’m just- this is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me.”

“Just think of it as a thank you for the skating lessons,” Wanda says nonchalantly.

“Why did you make this?”

Her eyes don’t meet yours as she gazes at the floor. You can see the bright pigment dusting her cheeks as she plays with the ring on her finger.

“It just seemed like the right thing to do. I wanted to do something nice for you for the holidays.”

You want her to look at you. In fact, you need her to look at you. You place one of your hands on the small of her back pulling her closer to you. Once she is as close as can be, she has no choice but to meet your eyes.

“I want to thank you,” you say, eyes boring into hers.

She nods ever so slightly, “Thank me then.”

Your lips press against hers gently. The first thought that slips into your mind is the softness of her lips. What follows is the feeling of warmth spreading across your body as the two of you kiss. You wonder for a moment if your lips taste like bananas (they do). Wanda doesn’t mind, your lips against hers fills her heart. The same warmth you feel courses through her. The kiss doesn’t end until you hear someone clearing their throat in the kitchen, but even then, you don’t jump apart, you just pull away from each other.

“I hate to interrupt, but uh I was wondering if I could get a piece of that pie,” Clint says eyeing your pie.

A protest was about to leave your lips, but instead a smirk played on them instead, “Sure Clint, you can have a piece.”

The man reaches for the pie, but you pull it out of his reach, “If you can beat me in a talent show.”

Clint looks from you to the pie a few times before rubbing the bridge of his nose, “Fuck it, I accept.”

You smile at the archer, “5pm sharp, hope you can impress the team or else no pie for you.”

He leaves the kitchen grumbling, but the smile never leaves your face.

“Old habits die hard I see,” Wanda says teasing you.

“It’s the pie, it makes me do it,” you laugh, and she laughs with you. You peck her lips again, “Thank you, Wanda. This means everything to me.”

“I’ll make it over and over again if it keeps you kissing me like that,” she says like a joke, but you hear a slight seriousness to her tone.

“I still have to kiss you a thousand times, just to thank you for this one. So, expect plenty more kisses in the future. I think kissing you might just be better than the pie.”

The two of you laugh again, warmth filling the kitchen of the Avengers compound. It floods into your system as you revel in this moment with Wanda. She feels it too, as she tries to memorize every detail of this moment. It was more than just a first kiss; this was the moment that you knew Wanda was the warmth you needed to get through the winter.

[yuri-is-online]

Okay so Trey in the Blotpocalypse timeline or where Yutu comes from also Overblotted right??

And I like to imagine he became an extreme sadist or really really evil once he overbloted, and his Yutu does NOT buy the stories of Trey being actually a very chill and “I don’t want problems, don’t involve me with whatever shenanigans you have” guy.

And when goes to the timeline of now he just.

“Wait, this guy fr??? I saw this guy overbloted and being a sadist maniac, the FUCK you mean he is just the son of the baker”

¬‿¬ you read my mind camrastuff. Overblot Trey is a sadistic bastard, and his children are three of his favorite people to pick on... because yeah the original idea for Trey! Yutu passed peer review, and Furubatsu was kind enough to give us the names Yutres and Yushi for the other two triplets. You will regret giving me this power because I am going to use it to hurt you ψ(｀∇´)ψ

notes: they/them used for Yuu, for context on the fyuuture kid au can be found here and here. This post is heavier on the angst than the other Yutu posts and contains references to gore, depression, and major character death. Please engage responsibly.

They grew up associating home with violets.

Yuu would always keep a few plants on their bedroom windowsill, but the violets spilled all over the house. "They remind me of your father." They would always say, with a gentle look in their eyes that turns sad when they reach for the memories that just aren't there. As the triplets grow, they take turns caring for them so Yuu can rest and wonder about what that man was like and how Yuu came to associate him with the flowers. Yutres is the one who brings up their association with newlyweds and wonders if they were planning a wedding.

"There would be a record of it if they got married." Yushi says it like she's searched for the license already, and knowing his sister like he does Yutu is pretty sure she has. Yutres pulls her blanket around herself in embarrassment and Yutu finds himself speaking up before she can feel any worse.

"She was just saying it's romantic." Yutu doesn't like fighting with his sisters. He likes it even less when they fight with each other, everyone who isn't the two of them says it's because he's the oldest. That he has an instinctive need to protect them as their big brother, . "A lot of the things they say about dad are very romantic." Yushi rolls her eyes, but doesn't disagree. Domestic is the word Yutu would prefer to use for how Yuu talks about his father. They think about him most when they're cooking or taking care of him and his siblings. It's not enough to give him a clear picture of the man, but it's enough to feel like he might have loved him. He's willing to go with what Yushi theorized after looking far harder than he or Yutres, that Yuu ran away from home and settled down with their dad, only for him to die and ruin the good future they were trying to build with each other. It does nothing to dissuade Yutres from seeing it as romantic, or Yushi from blaming him for all their problems. Yutu refuses to take sides, forever the peacemaker destined to drown his own opinion under the weight of not wanting to make anyone mad. Deep down though, he doesn't care about what his dad was like. He just wishes someone was there to help, to make things less financially strained so he could play a sport at school and maybe make some friends.

When he meets his father he takes it all back. He wishes he never met the man at all.

Yutu per tradition is the oldest sibling, Yutres is the second born and Yushi the third. I like to think they have darker colored hair since Trey's green hair is rather dark, their eyes are "normal" for Yuu's world but turn yellow when they arrive in Twisted Wonderland. Yutres inherits Trey's height and poor eyesight, and she's deeply insecure about both due to the large amount of bullying she received growing up. Yutu is also tall, just not as tall as his sister while Yushi is at least a half foot shorter than her siblings and enjoys complaining about it. She accuses her siblings of stealing her height in the womb, but says it's ok because she got all the brains.

The kids grew up extremely poor. Three kids on a single parent's salary is no joke, Yuu was deeply stressed for a lot of their younger years. None of the fyuuture kids like Yuu's home town but the triplets especially hated it there. They felt like animals in a zoo or cast members of a freak show with how acceptable it was to point and stare at them. When they moved away once Yuu managed to secure a place with a better middle school for them to attend they were ecstatic. It was a nice change of pace to just be bullied for being poor.

They spent a lot of time as children playing made up games with each other, a lot of them revolved around cooking since Yuu seemed to really like doing that. They used to run pretend restaurants, or ice cream parlors, or cafes, anything that served food really. They always colored the menus together and asked Yuu to give them good reviews (5 stars for the babies obviously, yuu has a bunch of them in a folder somewhere they look at when things get rough)

I really like the idea of Trey being with a Yuu who has a vague interest in candy making? Because it's a similar interest to baking but still very different and I really like the idea of one of the triplets being interested in it. As the three get older, Yutu and Yutres learn as much about cooking and baking as they can, from Yuu, from the internet and the local library while Yushi applies herself more to experimenting with making things like taffy and caramel. She convinces her siblings to sell their product on the down low at school to bring in some money they can hopefully use to start a business someday. She's the most business minded of the three of them, Yutu privately thinks she has the biggest personality in an effort to make up for being the shortest.

The three of them are obviously major sweet tooths, but they disagree about what desert is best. Yutu loves custards and ice creams, Yutres thinks cake is best especially if it's fluffy, and Yushi likes things made with jams and candied fruits. It made trying to do something for their birthday a nightmare until Yuu realized they all loved hot chocolate and was able to convince them to have a "tea party" for their birthday where they got copious amounts of hot chocolate and some homemade cookies. It's a memory they all treasure and recreate when they arrive in Twisted Wonderland.

That arrival is much easier on the three of them than it is on a lot of the other Yutus. It helps having two other siblings you're deeply connected to when learning you're from another world, your parent is dying from a curse, and that magic is real but only two of you have it. NRC has ceased to be a boys only or even a mage's only school at this point, but it's still hurts for Yutres to learn that her siblings have something special about them while she's still just her. Crewel takes her aside to speak with her as the ceremony goes on without him, asking her if she thinks poorly of Yuu for just being themselves and Yutres can't fathom why she would do that. "Because that's what you're doing to yourself. Your siblings won't love you any less and you won't be of any less help. You are your parent's child after all." Something that Crewel sees as being made all the more true when two first year Heartslabyul students burst through the door and start whining for their sister to do their make up.

Yutres draws a Spade on Yutu to represent a knight's spear, because she thinks of her brother as someone who wants to protect people, and she's deeply grateful for all of the times he's stuck up for her. Yushi gets a diamond because Yutres thinks her sister is very classy and well put together, "diamonds are a girl's best friend or something" is how she words it, but that trademark Clover smirk is there to suggest there's more to it than that. She settles in to Ramshackle almost immediately after meeting the ghosts, who are overjoyed to have another Yuu in their happy haunt.

Heartslabyul suits her siblings well enough. Yutu thinks all these rules are exhausting but he tries his best to do his best so as not to rock the boat. Yushi is more or less the same, but she sort of wants to become Dorm Leader so she can throw a bunch of Unbirthday Parties because those sound fun. The lack of fresh food available to cook with is a drag sure, but she's sure she can at least find some good teas to serve... she just feels like the people around her could use some hope and she drags Yutu into figuring out how to find it.

That journey is long, at the end of it are six known phantoms wreaking havoc on their father's world and one that so few people know about they aren't sure he exists. At some point, all three triplets join a mission to the Queendom and debriefed by S.T.Y.X. about the phantom that roams there.

"Your quest is not to kill the Queen or her mini boss level minions." Idia is a strange person, Yutu can tell he's on the same page as his sisters without bothering to look. "You're just there as support for the front line mages and to get a realistic idea of what they're fighting against." He lets his hands fall to his sides and drops eye contact, chewing on his lower lip as he hesitates. Finally he takes a deep breath and turns towards the display, flicking through footage of the various monsters he had been talking about earlier. "A phantom is a husk using what's left of an overblotted mage to find and feed off of new magic sources. They can get very creative in how they do that." He focuses on a video of the Phantom Hatter, enlarging it so the triplets can get an uncomfortable look at it's facial features and know why Idia was struggling to talk to them. The monster is tall, with glasses and a top hat that would be sort of comical if he wasn't overseeing a table filled with rotting cakes and pastires for a party attended by corpses in varying states of decay. "This one talks. Don't listen to a word it says."

Trey has lines during lessons and in various other places suggesting he could never obey the Queen, and since Riddle is more Queen now than himself Trey has a degree of independence when compared to the other card soldiers. The S.T.Y.X. staff classify him as a rogue phantom and highly dangerous. He can talk, he uses his unique magic to make people confused about their surroundings, to mimic the voices of their loved ones and lure them towards packs of monsters where he'll watch silently as they die. He's picky about who he "invites" to his mad tea party, it's difficult to get a drone close enough to his base to analyze who the victims are.

Idia was vehemently against sending the Clover triplets anywhere near an area that the Hatter could be. That's beyond cruel to them and extremely dangerous, he just knows that Trey will find them and that it won't go well. Phantoms corrupt the natural instinct of the person they're feeding off of, and while Idia thinks Trey was always a sketchy bastard he knows that he was a domestic one too. If there's enough of him left to recognize his children... his worries are soothed by Ortho promising to keep an eye on them and the fact the mission isn't in Trey's usual territory.

It doesn't help. A familiar sees the strange looking children and speeds off to fetch its master. The Phantom Hatter doesn't show himself immediately, he watches, waits for everyone to relax just a little bit before he strikes, chasing everyone into one of the Queendom's many hedge mazes and isolating them from one another. The stress causes Yushi to discover her unique magic as she desperately tries to feel for her siblings, she is able to form a brief telepathic connection with someone she knows and see things as they are. She can tell that Yutu and Yutres are in danger, and decides to run for her brother first. She's sure he'll be half way to their sister by the time she finds him, he's the oldest. He always knows what to do. And while she's right she's also wrong, by the time she finds Yutu he's already found Yutres, but someone else has too. The Hatter doesn't blink. He doesn't breathe either she notices, but her sister still shrinks back, pulling an injured Yutu closer to her.

"Well that's just rude." It's not a voice they've heard before, but he's somehow so familiar. Like they heard this voice before, sometime long ago, whispered into the warmth that existed before they were torn from this world to be born in another one. "I'm just trying to say hello." Yushi doesn't think he's noticed her yet, she focuses on holding her breath and looking for a way out. Yutres maintains eye contact with the monster as she applies a potion to Yutu's wound and prays, to who or what she doesn't know, that he heals. "Have we met before? You seem awfully familiar." The monster summons bones up from the ground, closing in around the triplets and knocking Yushi out of hiding as the phantom looks over his shoulder to tip his hat and wink. It's an opening Yutres immediately takes, throwing Yutu behind her and jumping to hit at the monster's rib cage, landing a blow that causes a sickening crunch.

"RUN!" Yushi screams, she thinks she grabs her sister and brother's hands and drags them on instinct and adrenaline back to the base camp until a senior smites down the phantom the Hatter had mimic her sister and takes an unconscious Yutu to the medical tent.

Ortho tries to track down Yutres, but he's unsuccessful. It's months later when Idia finally thinks to send drones to check what's left of the Clover family bakery and finally finds her body. She's been laid in a children's bed, covered with a blanket. He can't tell if what's left of Trey couldn't bear to look at his dead daughter or if the phantom thought he was just putting her to sleep. It's too much even for Idia, he personally retrieves her and helps the surviving kids plan the funeral. It's not the first time he's felt responsible for getting someone's child killed, but it's the most personal.

Yutu's numb. Yushi is looking to him for guidance, and he doesn't know what to say to comfort her or to make it better. They're missing a part of themselves and are much too quick to agree to Idia's plan to send them back in time, their parents are the last thing on their minds they just want their sister back. When Yushi arrives in the Queendom she's able to tell where everyone is and go searching for them. When Yutu arrives at NRC he's terrified he's lost his only remaining sister, and that's before he has to deal with his dad.

Trey is a freak, but he's a domesticated freak. A domesticated freak who is deeply in denial about being in love with you or anything other than normal. He appreciates that Riddle feels comfortable enough to invite you to Heartsabyul, whether it's for a casual tea or for an Unbirthday party since it saves him the trouble of having to do it himself and you're always so eager to help... but then Yutu arrives and suddenly your attentions are a bit split. You still come around for the parties, but casual teas are becoming less and less. He tries to tease you about it, asking where else you're going to get your cakes from and that's when you mention it. "Oh Yutu bakes a lot and he's really good at it. I always feel bad for bothering you so, it's nice to not have to do it so much anymore." Oh? Well isn't that just cute, Trey isn't bothered by this at all. He might not think there's a difference between something bought from a store or something "made with love" but he certainly thinks there's a difference between him and another guy. And he wants you to choose him.

Yutu is terrified of his father. He still has nightmares of what happened to Yutres, and he's afraid he's lost Yushi now too. No one had much to say about Trey in the future, most all of his friends were either dead or phantoms and while Grandpa Crewel was enthusiastic in describing his interest in science he didn't give them much backstory. Idia never spoke poorly of him, and tried to impress on him that what killed his sister was a monster using his dad's magic and not actually his dad but when that thing kills your sister...

He doesn't know what to make of him. Trey's extremely chill so long as no one is causing trouble, he convinces himself to keep an eye on the Phantom Hatter, but he doesn't see any signs of that. The guy is really weird about teeth, and definitely in denial about his feelings for his parent but he is, weirdly enough, closer to that word Yutu would have associated with him before he came to Twisted Wonderland than he is anything that would describe that monster. He's domestic, a guy who looks like he'd be more at home in socks and sandals than surrounded by corpses. He overworks himself and takes naps on the Guest Room couch, he confesses that he was hoping to join some sort of cooking club but settled for the science one, and the way he looks at Yuu when he thinks no one is looking is so soft Yutu wants to choke. Idia's original warning, that a phantom isn't a person anymore and that the monster will do anything to convince you otherwise. But what would his sisters think if he ever thought about forgiving him?

"Is there a specific reason you wanted to grow violets?" Trey tries to keep his voice down, but Yutu still starts when he hears him. He didn't jump 10 feet in the air this time, so he likes to think he's making progress, though towards what he doesn't know. Yutu looks at the flowers, Trey can't see his eyes, but his grip on the watering can is tense. "Not judging, just curious." He tries to soothe him in the same tone of voice he would one of his younger siblings, and it does seem to work somewhat. "I really like them myself."

"My sister..." Yutu chokes on what sounds like a half sob, and Trey immediately regrets trying to help. "My sister really liked them she... she always thought they were romantic." The past tense catches Trey's attention immediately and something in him aches, he couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose one of his own siblings and he does talk about them a lot... was he being insensitive? Did he hurt Yutu by reminding him of his sister?

"Are they?" He isolates a few particularly well tended blooms and snips them to add to his basket next to Riddle's strawberries. "I'm not really good with those sorts of things." Yutu snorts, and Trey can't help but feel slighted somehow. "To me they just taste good."

"They taste good?" Yutu squeaks. He sounds indignant and Trey just shrugs.

"Yeah, candied flowers are really popular in the Queendom of Roses. I really like candied violets, ha when I was a kid I didn't realize you needed to cook them first and my parents had to stop me from eating them off the ground." There's quiet for a moment, Trey wonders if he's pushed it too far but Yutu's mouth finally lets out a small noise before he breaks into loud peels of laughter that sound like a weight is lifting off of Yutu's shoulders.

The first thing Yutu thinks when he hears about his father eating flowers is how Yushi tried to do the same thing when she was little. The second is how funny Yutres had thought that was, how she had smiled and laughed and Yutu cannot keep himself from laughing as well. How did this man become that creature? Did the loss of his home hit him that hard? Yutu doesn't know, but he's not afraid anymore. Some of his tension lifts, Yuu tells Trey during one of their hang outs that he's started speaking about his sisters more and that they now know he's a triplet (trey: wow those poor parents yuu: i know right? i could never). He starts getting into lighthearted (from his perspective anyway) spats with Trey over who can bake better. Trey says he has no complaints because he doesn't have to make as much for Unbirthday Party's now but ooooooh he'll be so upset if you say you think Yutu is better than him. If that was the case why's the little shit so interested in listening to what he has to say huh? And how did he pick up on Trey's feelings enough to reassure him he's got nothing to worry about?

The truth about Yutu is revealed during another monster attack. It happens during a science club trip to Crane Port, the sky grows eerily dark, and Yutu tenses out of instinct. Everyone else is confused, is it going to rain? And why is Yutu sprinting away from the group like a bloodhound with a scent? Rook is the one to give chase, Trey tagging along begrudgingly determined to keep the two of them from causing more trouble. But a bunch of trouble is exactly what they find, a monster that resembles an undead, overblotted version of Yuu is thrashing about as a group of... mages they don't recognize attack them. Trey and Rook prepare to help when Yuu notices them and their eyes narrow onto Trey and two of the unfamiliar looking mages absolutely lose it.

Yutu's disguise is knocked off, and Yushi was never wearing one to begin with so it's difficult to deny the similarity between the two now that Trey has a look at them. It's the eyes that he notices first, yellow just like his but bereft of glasses. Yuu's story about Yutu being a triplet rings dully in his mind as the fake Yuu fades from view, banished back to wherever it came from and Trey closes his eyes to do some math.

"There's one of you missing." It's not the statement they're expecting clearly, all justifications for their existence die on their tongues as they exchange a painful glance. Yushi was able to use her magic to see some of what Yutu's life was like at NRC, and she warmed up to what she saw of her dad much faster than Yutu did. Yutu doesn't want to be the one to tell Trey he killed their sister, but he also doesn't want to push that burden onto Yushi so he steels himself, and explains his story. Trey listens and he thinks. He's silent, arms folded as Yutu stumbles through his story before he interrupts his grief by pulling both of his children into his arms. He's a big guy, but they're big kids and he can barely get his arms around them both but he still feels empty.

Trey hates doing work he isn't responsible for, but he loves his family and doesn't see them as constant work. Three children? That Yuu was forced to raise by themselves? Unacceptable, the closer he has been getting to Yuu the more plans he's made for the future he wants with them. He knows what he wanted for these kids, and none of it is what they're describing. Trey might not want to be the best of all time, but he still wants to be the best he can be. Changing the future sounds like a big ask, something that Trey Clover should see as none of his business and easy to ignore. But it's not, it's different when it's his own family. If Idia thinks he's scary now just wait until three Clovers show up on his doorstep demanding he get in their party and stop the apocalypse. Four technically if you count yourself, something they really hope you do.

[venerawrites]

I swear your writing is the best, and your depiction of the Naruto guys as dads really warms my heart and gives me such baby fever. Could I please have something with Kiba x female reader where you're married and bring your new babies (I really love your headcannon that Kiba would have twins) home, and the babies meet Akamaru for the first time? Your headcannons for him were so beautiful and really made me want more of your husband / dad Kiba. I hope you're having the best week <3

author's note: aw, this message is so cute! I love that recently I have so many requests for Kiba - my boy deserves so much love and I am pretty sure he would be amazing dad! I really enjoyed writing this one and I hope you enjoy reading it! Thank you for requesting! <3

Getting pregnant was an unexpected event in your mid-twenties. You've always imagined that you would build a solid career, get a nice house in the outskirts of Konoha and marry your childhood sweetheart before you have any children. But life was full with surprises and you only accomplished becoming Mrs. Inuzuka before finding out that you are carrying the fruit of your love inside of you.

Or more precisely - fruits.

You still remember clearly the moment both you and Kiba heard the two heartbeats for the first time. Holding hands, you stared at the little monitor where you could see two blurry blobs, before your wide eyes found each other's.

"Congratulations!", Sakura enthusiastically patted your knee, giving you a wide smile, "You are having twins!"

Too shocked to say anything, you just blinked at her a few times with unreadable expression. Kiba, on the other hand, kept opening and closing his mouth, unsure of how to voice his thoughts.

"If you need some more time to process this, I can leave the room for a bit...", the kunoichi offered, her brows furrowing at your weird reactions. Before she can even stand up, however, the man next to you finally found his voice.

"TWINS?", the word came out almost like a yell making you and her cringe at the loudness, "Like.. like two people?"

Sakura closed her eyes, obviously holding herself back from rolling them, before her lips stretched into the most polite smile she could offer to a question like this.

"Yes, Kiba", she said slowly, emphasizing each word, "Twins means TWO babies."

She twirled on her chair tapping the edge of her pen on the little screen showing you each baby, but her explanation fell on deaf ears. For you it felt like the whole world has stopped and you couldn't really focus neither on the woman's voice or your husband's questions.

Since being a teenager, you have imagined yourself with multiple kids in the future. But two at once? Kiba and you were still living with his mother and sister while saving for your own house. On top of that while you were doing pretty well job wise, having two kids at home meant that your career would surely be halted at least for a few years.

The feeling of your husband's fingers on your cheek brought you out of your trance and you looked around, only to find that you were now alone in the room. Taking a seat next to you, he gently grabbed your chin, turning you toward him.

"Hey", he softly said, "What's wrong, baby?"

Letting out a sigh, you tried to turn your head to the side, but his grip was firm. Why did it feel so hard to voice your worries to him? You have been together for years and best friends for twice as many. There were thousands of secrets you have shared with each other before, some of them way more embarrassing and bad than what you were currently feeling.

"C'mon, talk to me", this time he brough your hand to his lips, landing a small kiss on the back of it. You stared at him for few more seconds, before finally finding the courage to speak.

"What are we going to do, Kiba?"

His brows scrunched, a confusion written all over his face.

"What do you mean?"

You laid your free hand on your stomach, rubbing small circles on it and suddenly your eyes started to burn with tears. In your best try to blink them away, a few of them fell down your cheeks, catching your lover's attention. With one swift move, he was on the bed next to you, holding you in his arms, while your body kept shaking with sobs.

"I am just... so scared! I never thought I would be having twins... two babies! How are we going to manage with two babies? We can barely keep up with Akamaru! Oh my, I am alread-"

The rant was interrupted by Kiba, who pressed his finger against your mouth silencing you. Expecting a more defensive reaction from him, you were taken aback when he pressed his lips against your forehead, letting them linger for a while.

"Baby, we are in this together, yeah? We are going to manage, just like we always do", his eyes found yours while saying this and it was enough for all your racing thoughts to stop, allowing you to look realistically at the situation.

Your husband was right. It was hard to think of a time when you were not side by side - knowing each other since you were little kids, you've experienced everything together. Your first day at school, your first mission, your first kiss, your first party, your first promotion, your first intimacy, your first (and hopefully last) war... The list was long, yet there was still much to be added to it.

Your first pregnancy included.

"Stop doing that!", he scolded you, flicking you with his middle finger on the tip of your nose. Your brows immediately furrowed, a frown forming on your lips once you felt him do it a second time.

"Doing what?"

"Stressing about stuff", he grinned, reaching toward your face for a third time, which you manage to dodge by leaning back, "We are going to be fine, baby, I promise!"

Unable to stop the warmth from spreading inside your chest at the sound of his words, you leaned forward, softly capturing his lips with yours. The kiss was short and sweet, very different from the intense make out sessions you usually shared and which eventually got you to your current situation.

"I love you, Kiba", the words came out as a whisper once you pulled away from him and pressed your forehead against his.

"I love you too, baby", he said back, rubbing his nose against yours lovingly. Moments like these were rare - not only because living in the Inuzuka compound meant you rarely had any moments of privacy when you can allow yourself to be vulnerable, but also because you relationship was better described as flirty and teasing, rather than sweet and romantic.

True to himself, your husband let you enjoy this side of him just for a bit, before he ruined the moment once again.

"Damn, your hormones must be going crazy right now! You're changing moods faster than- OW!"

He rubbed his shoulder when you just hit him, sticking his tongue out when he noticed the unimpressed glare you gave him.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"One more step... Here you go! Almost there!"

Following Kiba's voice, you gripped your lover's hand so hard in yours, he tried his best not to wince in pain. But hey, it was his idea to blindfold you when he picked you and your babies from the hospital, so he couldn't really complain, right?

"Kiba, I swear to Kami, if I fall down these stairs...", there was no need for you to finish the sentence for him to nervously gulp, letting out a nervous chuckle. Placing his palm on your lower back, he supported your body, making sure there is no risk for you to trip or lean backwards.

"Do you think I am going to let you fall down the stairs, silly?", he tried to joke, but he could tell by the low grumble that left your lips that you were not really amused by it.

When he first tried to put the cloth over your eyes, you refused to entertain his gimmicks. Being in a hospital for over two weeks after giving birth to your twin boys had mentally drained you and more than anything you just wanted to go home. Thankfully there was nothing wrong with you or your sons, but as this was the first pair of twins Sakura had treated, she insisted on keeping you for supervision longer than was really needed.

One thing about your husband, however, was that he was so stubborn it was almost impossible to fight him when he had his mind set on something. So after nearly half an hour of him whining he wanted to surprise you, you finally agreed to be blindfolded. He insisted carrying the twins on the clothed baby carrier his mother had handmade for you, placing one of the children in front of his chest, while the other one was comfortably resting on his back.

Much to your dismay and Kiba's happiness, your twin boys were an exact replica of their dad. Save for the eyes, which they both took from you, their brown hair, red cheek markings and face features were a clear indicator to which clan they belonged. This was a big stroke to your husband's ego and he never missed a chance to point out to you how they were going to grow up just like him.

"Okay, okay!", the man excitedly said after he let you through, what you assumed was, a door, "I am going to remove the blindfold now... Are you ready?"

"Yes, baby, I'm ready", you replied with a tired voice, yet there was a note of excitement in it. Your beloved was not usually one for surprises, so you were eager to see what he had prepared for you.

Without wasting a second, he moved behind you, untying the piece of cloth and sliding it from your head. Taking a few seconds to adjust to the light, you blinked a few times, before letting out a loud gasp.

Looking around, you found yourself in a completely new house... YOUR new house. It had most of the furniture from the home you shared with his mother, but you had noticed he intentionally left some of the interior to be finished by you.

So this is what he must have been doing during the past two months, when he kept having to leave the hospital early because he had "work to do". With a small laugh, your turned to him, carefully circling your arms around him, so you don't hurt any of the babies, who were curiously examining their new surrounding.

"Do you like it? I know for how long we've been talking about getting a house and now it felt like the right moment.."

"Like it? Baby, I love it!", you pressed a sweet kiss to his mouth, small tears of happiness forming in the corners of your eyes. Before you could say anything else, your attention was caught by the sound of distant barking. Turning around, you could see Akamaru running toward you, while wiggling his tail in excitement.

"Akamaru! Hi, my favourite boy!", you crouched down to his level, laughing once he attacked your face with wet kisses, "Yes, I'm excited to see you too! I missed you!"

"I thought I was your favourite boy...", Kiba muttered next to you and you playfully rolled your eyes, getting up to your feet.

"Aw, don't be jealous now! He is my favourite boy... with fur!"

Losing his interest in you, Akamaru start sniffing Kiba, circling his form, while letting out a bark at the new, unfamiliar family members. Carefully taking out the baby that was placed in the front of his chest, Kiba felt your hands doing the same with your second son strapped to his back.

Holding one baby each, both of you kneeled down, letting Akamaru take a sniff. Surprisingly, instead of being scared, the twins found the big white dog intriguing, as they tried to reach toward his face and grab his nose.

"Careful, boy!", Kiba warned, as he noticed Akamaru trying to lick one of the children, who in return wriggled uncomfortably in his arms, "They are too little for kisses like that... Be gentle!"

Understanding his owner's warning, the dog stepped back before sitting down, his eyes still traveling between both boys, studying them.

"Good boy", you praised him, before putting your hand out for him to put his paw in. Once he did, you let the baby in your arms reach toward the paw as well, smiling as you saw Akamaru wiggle his tail at the touch, "Oh, you already love each other, huh?"

"Of course they do, they are all Inuzuka, after all", Kiba said smugly, bouncing one of your twins on his knee. Clicking your togue, you stood up, eager to explore the rest of the house.

Your husband swiftly followed, taking it upon himself to give you a tour of the project he has been working on for months. To say you were impressed would be too weak of a description of how you were feeling right now - you were absolutely amazed at the amount of effort he put into making this place your own.

He had already prepared a nursery for the babies, with its own bathroom and closet, as well as two empty rooms, which would turn into your children's rooms once they grow old enough to be separated. There were a big bathroom, kitchen and a dining room, all of which were looking over the nearby forest.

At the end of the corridor and next to the nursery was your own bedroom, which was spacious and light, with a backdoor leading to a small garden.

"And this is our room... You know, where I will make sure you carry another set of twins soon!"

Gasping, you lightly hit his arm, your face going bright red at his words. He only laughed, smacking your bum with his free hand, before heading to the twins' room to put the one he was holding to sleep.

Looking at the baby in your arms, who was looking at you curiously, you shook your head, a small smile playing on your lips.

"Please don't turn out to have your dad's personality or I may actually go crazy."

cc artwork: Joanne Tran

[look-at-the-soul]

HIII ANGEL <3 can I request 'Hometown Glory' for the Adele music thing? I love that song so much overall so no specific lyric or anything for reference 🙈

Hello my darling! How have you been? 🥰 thank you so much for sending in this song as request!! As I started playing it over and over, I was playing different scenarios of how to make Tommy go back to his hometown. ✨

⚠️ There’s a bit angst but comfort after it

Lyrics and flashback in italics 😊 I hope you guys like this! Would love to hear your thoughts about it 💕

Song: Hometown Glory by Adele

Hometown Glory

Tommy sighed loudly as they entered the Birmingham territory, he got tense immediately, his energy changed and the atmosphere as well.

Charlie was sleeping in the back of the car, he saw his son through the rear-view mirror.

I've been walking in the same way as I did

Missing out the cracks in the pavement

It had been a while since he came back, over the years he changed, both mentally and physically. Unlike him, everything in Birmingham was the same, but worse; the smoke irritated his eyes, he found more factories than he could remember, people on the streets, smoke clouding around.

He took a turn and found the old church where his mother would take them every Sunday, he hadn’t stepped in one in ages. In the corner he found the old building where he and his brothers used to go to school when they were little, it was now abandoned and falling into pieces, he saw broken windows and the door was replaced by blocks.

"Is there anything I can do for you dear?

Is there anyone I could call?"

"No and thank you, please Madam

I ain't lost, just wandering"

No matter how hard these people worked, they’d never be able to get out of Small Heath, they could only hope to repeat the same story of their parents. They were still digging, but instead of getting out of the hole, they were moving deeper and deeper.

Tommy looked to the side, finding the pub where his Dad used to send him and Ada to get a bucket of beer for him, he even remembered the one time when he and his sister decided to bet who could run faster and the spilled almost half of the bucket, when they got home his father got pissed for the missing booze and started raising his voice, then Tommy saw him taking of his belt. It was only natural to ask Ada to run and hide while he took the beating for her.

As the memories were too vivid for his own liking, Tommy had to shake his head to them brush away.

Somehow his heart felt at ease with the familiarity as he stopped his vehicle outside the Watery Lane house, the place held so many good moments.

'Round my hometown

Memories are fresh

Taking Charlie’s sleepy body into his arms, Tommy had to hold his breath as he looked in the small space between two houses in the other side of the street.

Flashback

“Tommy!” Y/N squealed as his hands pulled her body towards his. “Someone might see us!”

Y/N tried to push him away, but his hands were resting firmly on her waist.

He laughed and the sound echoed in the small corridor while her palms attempted to stop him, but there was no use because he had other intentions.

Leaning towards her face, Tommy captured her lips in a soft kiss.

Y/N gave in, not only to his kiss but her hands gave up and instead of trying to push him away, she moved them to the back of Tommy’s head.

Taking a few blind steps, and Tommy had her pressed between the wall and his body.

“Let them see.” He replied after pulling apart to have some air.

He always waited for her there, he knew the exact time where she would go out to buy some bread for dinner and they’d sneak around before it was time to walk her home.

End of flashback.

'Round my hometown

Ooh the people I've met

Are the wonders of my world

Tommy felt the heartache was unbearable, but as Charlie stirred in his arms, he hurried to open the door to the house where he was once happy.

Shifting his son’s weight to one arm, he carried his kid upstairs, into his old bedroom, the same bed where he and Y/N would lie together to watch the stars and the moon. Memories of the two of them making love right there, burning his skin.

Tucking Charlie in, he stared at his son for a few seconds, before turning around to walk out of his room.

“Mama?” Charlie called half sleep.

Charlie’s voice made him stop on his tracks abruptly. His son had only started calling Y/N Mama.

“She will be back very soon, sleep well my boy.” Tommy lied and his eyes filled with tears.

Charlie had already lost Grace, his Mum. He couldn’t let him lose Y/N too, she was now his Mama, the woman who tucked him in and read him bedtime stories, the one who kissed him better.

Exhausted, Tommy flopped on the couch, he was quiet but his mind was already working at speed to find a way to get Y/N back.

His enemies finally found a way to make him surrender, by taking Y/N he no longer cared about any business, deal or wealth. For the very first time he was powerless, he wasn’t ahead of everyone else like he used to, he didn’t see that coming.

I like it in the city when the air is so thick and opaque

Because one morning she was kissing him say goodbye by the door, talking about going out for lunch together since she would be in the city visiting the orphanage and the next thing he knew is that she never showed up to have lunch, she was barely ten minutes late and Tommy knew something was wrong, she was never late.

As if she knew someone would take her, she left Charlie at home that day since he was sleeping. He wouldn’t be able to keep going if they took Charlie too.

Staring into the flames he made a silent promise; he wouldn’t stop looking for Y/N. He would give anything those bastards wanted, anything to get her back.

***

Looking at her nephew, Polly rubbed her forehead. Dark circles under his eyes, lines of worry decorating his features.

Just like she did for her nephews and niece all those years ago, now she stepped in again to take care of Charlie, she had help him have a bath that morning, get him dressed and have breakfast, all while Tommy was still waiting for a phone call.

As she was wiping her hands with a small cloth, she heard the unmistakable sounds Charlie was making from the living room. The image broke her heart; Charlie was playing on the floor with a horse made out of wood and he was holding a small photograph of Y/N, making voices as if she was riding his horse, but what really hit her like a bucket of cold water, was Tommy’s lost stare, his eyes fixed on his son and the photograph, his cigarette hanging from his lips, still unlit.

She quickly moved with the lighter in her hand and the movement made Tommy snap out.

“Jimmy McCavern called.” Tommy stated without an ounce of emotion.

“Charlie? Sweetheart go and find my shawl, it’s by the window in my old room.” She ushered the kid out of the living room, to then look back at her nephew. “So? What happened?”

“They want the racing licenses, the exportation permit, two pubs and Arrow House.”

“What?”

“It’s the Billy boys Pol, they want everything or nothing at all.”

“But..” She tried to reason with him.

“They planted explosives in my property, they almost killed my boy!” Tommy exploded, his heart was beating like a drum, hammering his ribs, his head. “I’m not going to risk Y/N, I’m giving them what they want.” He explained with fear in his voice and eyes.

Then before Polly could do or say anything else, he stormed out of the room.

“Is my Dad mad at me, aunt Pol?” Charlie looked from the floor to her with sadness.

“Oh no my sweet boy, no…” she tried to stop the tears forming in her eyes as she hugged Charlie, “he’s worried about Mama, that’s all, he sent a letter and she hasn’t written back,”

“But she’s alright, she’s shopping.” He explained sure of himself.

“That’s right, but you know Dad right? He worries too much.” Bitting the inside of her cheek, she extended her hand to Charlie. “How about you help me bake a pie?”

Charlie nodded and rushed to the kitchen, allowing Polly to take a deep breath, she wasn’t sure how long they could keep lying to Charlie and if Y/N would come back from the Billy boys on one piece.

I like it in the city when two worlds collide

You get the people and the government

Everybody taking different sides

Tommy slammed the door, making Lizzie jump in the process.

“Do you have the papers I asked you?”

Lizzie looked away.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.” He was about to lose his patience.

“Tommy…”

“Lizzie give me the fucking papers!”

When she didn’t move, Tommy walked around her desk, took the keys from her skirt and after fumbling with the keys for several seconds, he finally opened the drawer. Rushing towards his office, he took the pen and signed the papers.

As he was about to go out, the ringing of his phone made him stop on his tracks.

“How’s the paperwork going Mr. Shelby?” Jimmy asked.

“I need to talk to Mrs. Shelby first.”

Jimmy groaned. “Fine, you can say hi to the wifey.”

The next thing Tommy heard was Y/N gasping and letting out a sound of pain.

“Y/N!”

“Tom… don’t believe anythi-”

“That’s enough bitch, now…” Jimmy tore off the phone from her ear and threw her to the floor.

“Don’t you dare to hurt her, prick!” Tommy yelled, feeling frustrated and useless.

“Oh, what are you gonna do about it tinker-boy?”

“I’ve the papers.” Tommy made a huge effort to control his emotions, he needed to think.

“That’s what I like about you Mr. Shelby you know how to make a deal.”

“I’ll have the rest of your demands by the end of the week.”

“Fabulous, meet me at the canal at five o’clock. And you can have the wifey back after you hand over the rest.”

“Charlie’s yard. But I need to see she’s alright.”

“Ha, that’s not going to happen, I need to have a little fun first.” Jimmy hang up before Tommy could say another word, and it only left him more agitated than he already was.

Bonnie was already dead and Aberama was injured badly, he couldn’t let Y/N get hurt.

Tommy wanted to throw away the phone but deep down he knew it wouldn’t change a thing. So he walked towards the bar, finding only another memory unlocked as he saw the decanter, Y/N bought it for him after his horse won a race. Just like the globe and the black horse figure, she also added an hourglass in one his shelves.

Everything, reminded him of Y/N. No matter where he looked at.

Taking the checkbook from his drawer he started filling the information on the cheque.

***

Let’s leave the wives out of this. Tommy had whispered to Jimmy before turning his back at him.

It required all of his strength to not kill Jimmy right there at Charlie’s yard, but his message was loud and clear.

Subtly, Tommy let slip a direct threat to Jimmy’s wife by handling him the £500 cheque. Then pointing at Isaiah patrolling around should’ve made clear that he wasn’t joking.

About a couple of hours later, Tommy got a phone call from the Midland Hotel, announcing Mrs. Shelby was dropped at front desk.

He couldn’t drive fast enough to the hotel, smoking frantically to release some stress. As he saw the building another memory hit him hard, as the big salon was the place Y/N chose for the wedding back in the day.

For an instant he was transported back in time to that day, watching her in her wedding gown walking towards him, with her big smile and eyes sparkling from the love they felt.

'Round my hometown

Memories are fresh

Nothing prepared him for what he was about to see, surrounded by a sea of people carrying towels and a first aid kit. Tommy felt like his heart stopped beating as Y/N appeared in his eyesight, there was a deep bruise decorating her cheek, her chin scraped just like her palms, they were already putting some kind of ointment.

“Mr. Shelby I ran a quick checkup on your wife, but I’d like to run a few tes-”

But Tommy finally reacted and pushed past the Doctor to get to his wife. Kneeling in front of her, his hands trembling before caressing her face gently, he didn’t want to make her even flinch from the pain.

“Are you alright love?” He asked with fear in his voice, he was terrified to learn she was hurt.

Y/N threw herself in his arms, feeling relieved to finally see him. “Oh Tom!” Tears flew freely as she wrapped her arms around his neck, his came to rest behind her back, trying to convince himself that she was safe now.

Are the wonders of my world

Taking his gloves off, he took a deep breath.

“I’m hungry.” Y/N stated easing the tension, her statement made Tommy chuckle slightly feeling like he was getting his wife back.

“You heard Mrs. Shelby, she wants to eat something!” He cracked a small smile, leaning forward to catch her lips in a soft kiss, allowing her to give him back the part of his soul that was missing.

Wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, Y/N arranged Tommy’s tie.

“So… I really need to leave all of this behind, I want to go home, have a bath and give Charlie a hug and then snuggle with you all night.”

“You know I can’t just look the other way around and pretend nothing happened, right?” He already had a plan to get to that prick and not lose anything in the process.

“I know,” her voice faded away as her hand squeezed Tommy’s. “Just let me have this moment, yes? I was terrified that I’d never see you again.”

Tommy swallowed hard as her voice broke. His hands rested at each side of her face, to make her look at him.

“What makes you think that you’d get rid of me so easily, ey?” Tommy asked with glossy eyes.

“Never.” Y/N moved her hand to the back of his head.

“Charlie has been asking for you a lot, Polly told him you were out of town, shopping.”

“Oh! Then we really need to get a few things, to keep the lie going.” Y/N joked, earning a scoff from Tommy.

“Everything reminded me of you… the house, the neighbors, places we’ve been together, this hotel, where we got married.”

Tommy motioned Y/N to stand up, his arm around her waist for support. Kissing her hair softly, he could only think of the memories they still have yet to create.

***

Masterlist

Tag list: @lyarr24 @runnning-outof-time @cillmequick @datewithgianni @cloudofdisney @gretelshelby @gypsy-girl-08 @lespendy @onlydeadcells @fastfan @stevie75 @prettylittlehoneyeyesxoxo @esposadomd @forbidden-forest-witch @ange-thoughts @moral-terpitude @elenavampire21 @forgottenpeakywriter @thenattitude @winchestergirl22 @zablife @heidimoreton @imichelle-l-rigby @allie131313 @already-broken144 @peakyscillian @babaohhhriley @shelbydelrey @shaddixlife @sloanexx @sydneyyyya (can’t tag) @adaydreamaway08 @pono-pura-vida @thomashelbyswife @darleneslane @everythingelseisextra

[i-heart-yellowstone]

30 - A Boy Named Cooper Norris

Part 31

Raised Fair Share of Hell

Comments really appreciated ❤️

Eight Years Later 

Alissa’s pov 

“Are we sure we have everything packed in the truck?” I questioned through the large cabin house at six in the morning.  This morning was a normal work day for our families.  Today is the day Faith heads off to college at Texas Tech for her freshman year. 

For the past few months I had been preparing everything that she might need but I certainly had never been to the Lone Star State in my life so I had no clue what to expect.  

Footsteps came from the kitchen where I saw it was Tate who was sliding his boots on.  “You’re packing like she’s going off to war or moving out forever.” 

“She’s staying there for months, Tate.  So yes in a way she is moving out but we don’t talk about the thought of that.” I sniped back to my son, feeling tears forming in my eyes until I sniffed pushing them back down not wanting to cry. 

I heard boots moving on the creaking wooden steps of the staircase before I heard my husband’s voice entering the living room.  “Tatum, be nice to your mother.  You're going to miss your sister when she’s not around everyday.” 

“Nah.” He stuck his tongue out until someone jumped on his back causing him to tumble to the ground with a fit of laughter and giggles from his younger sister. 

Madeline Evelyn Dutton looked more like me than her father.  She had her hair pulled back into pigtails with a tan cowgirl hat sitting on her head. 

Tate gently pushed her off of his body untangling their legs from one another.  “Get off me, Mads.” 

“Okay.  Everybody get in the truck, we've got a long drive ahead of us.” Kayce hollered, causing the two kids to run outside and we saw our eldest daughter coming down the stairs with a backpack on heading out the door.  The five of us piled into the Livestock Commissioner vehicle with everything else stuffed into the truck bed. 

The drive was really long meaning Kayce and I took turns on who drove letting the other person get sleep so we didn’t get into an accident.  After hours of being on the road we finally parked the car near her dorm building and carried whatever we could in the direction of her building.  

Sitting down the last box of her stuff I raised my voice at my youngest daughter who was jumping from one bed to the other giggling loudly.  “Madeline! Stop jumping on those beds and say bye to your sister.” 

Madeline slides off the bed running over to Faith wrapping her tiny arms around her sister crying into her shoulder.  “I’m gonna miss you.” 

“I’m going to miss you too, Mads. But don’t worry I’ll always call you before you go to sleep.” My oldest daughter ruffles her sister's hair, wiping away her tears before going over to Tate. 

Tate was trying to act like he wasn’t going to miss her but we knew better.  Her brother wiped his hand under his nose holding back tears.  “Faith!” It didn’t last long before they embraced one another crying for about 30 minutes. 

Kayce and I watched them hug the other until they had got all the crying out of their system.  Tate broke the hug sitting on his sister’s dorm bed with his younger sister.  I bolted across the room and around the boxes, flinging my body into my daughters bawling out tears.  “I’m going to miss you, baby.  But I know this is what you want and so I’ll have to get used to you only being home for the holidays.” 

“Don’t worry, mom.  I won’t get myself into too much trouble here.” I held onto her forearms when we separated from the hug.  Faith had decided to bring her light cowgirl hat to college with her even though I was sure she wouldn’t need it.  “Just keep an eye on those too and remember that I love you.” 

“Stay away from college boys.” 

Faith and I turned our heads in the direction of her father’s voice.  I knew he wasn’t a fan of her liking boys.  We hadn’t had to worry too much since she grew up her whole life on a ranch working.  But now this would be different. 

“Dad, you don’t have to worry.” Faith attempted to reassure him. 

Her father came up to her when I took a few steps backwards letting them have their moment together.  “Sweetheart, listen to me, you may be able to outrun the boys here. But they are going to look at you differently and you’ll look at some differently too.  I don’t want you to talk to any boys or even look at one the whole time you are here because if he breaks your heart and I’ll -“ 

“What your father means to say is we want you to have fun but be careful most of all.” 

Faith jumped up into her father’s arms holding back tears before he kissed her forehead.  “I love you, dad.  I’ll be careful, cross my heart and hope there’s horses in heaven.” 

“Don’t break your promise, baby.  I love you.” Kayce warned her, burying his face into her hair holding her for a long time before I looked at my watch seeing what time it was, meaning we should start heading back to the ranch. 

“We should probably start heading home.  We don’t want to be driving in the dark the whole way home.” 

“Can I walk back to the truck with y’all?” Faith asked with tears welling in her eyes. 

I extended my hand looping my fingers with hers never being able to say no to my baby girl.  “Of course, Faithy Rae.” 

Faith’s pov

Walking on the campus I felt the wind blow up the back of my green dress. Thankfully I decided to wear leggings underneath it even if it was another hot day in Texas.  Frantically moving my head back and forth I knew that I probably looked like a fool not being able to even find my way back to my dorm room after leaving my family in the parking lot seeing as they had a long drive home.  

I should have paid better attention to what directions we went to find my dorm room. 

Stopping on the middle of the sidewalk I turned the campus map in different directions in my hands hearing someone walking up behind me so I asked my question.  “Excuse me, could you point me in the direction of the East Wind dorm building?” 

“I can show you something better than that.  My bed specifically.” A guy tan with short black hair smirked quickly walking up and pushing my body up against the nearest campus light post. 

I grunted against his tight grip on arms, dropping my backpack and map on the grass.  “Please let me go.  I - I don’t know you.  I’m just looking for my dorm.” 

“You want me.  You want me by walking on this campus by wearing that dress.  I know it.” The guy put his face closer to mine making me get even more uncomfortable. 

Shaking my head I attempted to push him off of me but he was much stronger than I was.  “Please just let me go.” 

“Nah.  I’d rather have my way with you.” 

Another male voice joined the conversation causing me and the guy holding me hostage to turn our heads in the direction of the new voice. “The girl said to let her go.” 

“I wasn’t asking for your permission.” The stranger snapped at the other guy who had begun to take a few steps toward us. 

The new guy who was wearing a red baseball cap with a big letter T on it.  He turned his hands into fists challenging the stranger.  “Clearly you didn’t ask for hers.  Now you heard her, let her go before I make you.” 

“You’re gonna make me.  Ha. Yeah right, little worm.” The stranger dryly chuckled hiking up part of my dress 

The other guy suddenly ran forward tacking the guy who previously had his hands on me.  The new guy wrapped his arms around the guy's waist slamming him down onto his back on the grass.  “I warned you once.  I don't want to have to warn you a second time.” The guy who was bothering me moaned in pain, stumbling up to his feet. 

“I'll remember this, worm.” The stranger spat in his direction walking away and leaving the two of us alone. 

Releasing a breath I didn't realize I was holding in I brushed my hands down my dress fixing it as much as possible.  “Thank you.  Um can I ask how you learn to fight like that?” 

“I wrestle here at Texas Tech.  I haven’t seen you around here before.  Are ya a new student?” 

Tucking some loose hair behind my left ear I replied.  “I am actually.  My parents had to head back to our family ranch in Montana this morning.  And I um - don’t even know where my dorm building is at.” 

“I can help you find it.  Oh here's your stuff back.  I'm Cooper by the way.  Cooper Norris.” He reached down scoping my backpack and map into his hands while introducing himself with a weak smile on his lips. 

I smiled sliding my backpack onto one shoulder eyeing his face seeing he had dark brown hair tucked underneath the Red ball cap and dark green eyes.  “I'm Faith, Faith Dutton.” 

“It's nice to meet you, Ms. Montana.” He chuckled, gesturing with his hand with me standing beside him where we appeared to be almost the same height.  “Come on, your dorm should be just around this next corner.” 

Cooper and I walked in silence but it wasn't awkward, it was a comfortable silence like I had known him for years.  I had to admit this didn't seem anything like Montana.  There was just dessert everywhere, very few trees around and the sun felt like it was melting me by how hot it was.  We entered the dorm building and I got my room key finding I was on the 2nd floor, room 218.  Opening my door I saw that my roommate had made it to our room now.  

The girl turned around, throwing her dark curly hair around and tacking me in a warm hug.  “Hi I'm Caroline.  I'm your roommate.  It's so nice to meet you.” She was dressed in Jean shorts, a white tank top and some worn out tennis shoes. 

“I'm Faith.  It's nice to meet you.” I hugged her back before she broke the embrace seeing Cooper leaning in the doorway. 

“Is he your boyfriend?” 

Cooper and I instantly blushed at the exact same time.  “No.” 

“We just met.  I - uh was helping her get back to her dorm.” Cooper lowered his gaze to the floor blushing as red as a tomato. 

Caroline nodded her head in understanding changing the subject.  “So are you two going to the Patch Party tonight?  I heard rumors that it's supposed to be pretty fun tonight.” 

“No.  What's a Patch Party?” I looked between the pair, never hearing something like that back home in Montana. 

Cooper stuffed his hands in the pockets answering his question.  “They’re not a big deal-“ 

“Pffft. Don’t be telling this girl lies, Norris.  She ain’t grown up here like us.” Caroline glared at the boy in our dorm room, taking my hands in hers grinning giddily.  “We go out to the oil wells, and bring kegs, and circle up the cars on the pad and I don’t know.  Just blow off some steam.” 

“That sounds like fun.” 

Caroline stuck her tongue out at Cooper teasingly.  “Told you she’d like it.” 

“Fine, fine.  I’ll go.” Cooper agreed with his friend. “What's the smirk about?” 

I smirked knowingly breaking my father’s one rule and it hadn’t even been a full day yet.  “I’m about to break my daddy’s number one rule.  Don’t follow in my parents teenage footsteps.” 

Tag list @bvbwestfall @hcwthewestwaswcn @child-of-of-the-sunshine @elenavampire21 @keep-the-wolves-close @kmc1989 @tallrock35 @whatelsecouldgowrong @lover-of-books-and-tea

[storiesbyjes2g]

3.139 Buzz kill

The next day, I noticed Sophia getting around better and looking more lively, so I seized the opportunity to go meet my niece and nephews, with her blessing, of course. When I arrived, a less angry, more serious Alessia greeted me, and I was glad to see her getting better as well. Even though our birthdays were mere days apart, I had always viewed her as a little sister. But if I had gotten older and wiser, so did she. Maybe this situation caused her to mature very quickly. Jace's actions were beyond her control, and stewing in anger every day didn't get her anywhere. I told her I was proud of how she handled it, murderous thoughts aside.

"Don't applaud me yet," she said. "I still dream about killing him."

"No one would fault you for that, Less. What he did was foul, and I personally want to lay hands on him."

She smiled, shaking her head at me.

"I still can't believe my super Jedi Zen brother wants to hurt someone."

"Everyone has limits, sis. Now, can I please meet the babies?"

As we walked up the stairs, I heard one of them crying.

"I'm coming, Lex," Alessia shouted.

"How do you know which one it is?"

"Well, dear brother, when you're trapped in the house with them 24/7, you learn a lot of things," she said in a snarky tone.

She went straight to his bassinet, picked him up, and fed him, and I watched her in awe.

"See? I told you it was in you," I said.

"Yeah, yeah. They're not so bad when they're not screaming at you. That's right! You're not so bad...cute little devil."

She looked at him so lovingly. I knew despite the rough road she would have, everything would be okay.

"So you must be Arvin, then," I said, picking up the other boy. "Do you remember my voice? I'm Uncle Luca!"

Less asked if I could watch them for a little while so she could do some things around the house, and once again, she impressed me. I had never seen her even wash a dish before, and now she talked about taking care of the house? Motherhood did her some good, I suppose. That, or she was that desperate to get away from the babies.

I put Arvin down and met the young queen, Breanna. She had green eyes, just like Dwayne. I shook my head as I thought about his situation. The poor man invested all that time and emotional energy into their relationship only for Mama to abandon him at the end of his life. He had always been so supportive and understanding of the complexities of our family dynamics, and even the complexities of their own relationship. I'm glad he finally stood up for himself, but it was just so sad.

When Alessia came back, I told her I'd love to stay but needed to go because I told Sophia I wouldn't be long. Mama caught me as I stepped onto the porch and said she needed to talk to me. I tried to tell her I'd call her tomorrow and that I needed to get home, but she insisted.

"I don't have long, Luca," she said in a stern tone.

"Mama..."

"No whining. You're going to listen to me, now. This is happening whether you want it to or not, and I want you to be prepared!"

She was right. My parents had been trying to talk about their pending demise, but I didn't want to hear it. And it wasn't like I hadn't noticed them getting older. But I still wanted to build that treehouse with Dad, and I wanted Mama to drop by unannounced with suitcases filled with gifts for Desiree and the dogs. I still looked forward to them being there when she got home from her first day of school. But none of that would happen, and I couldn't ignore it anymore.

"I'm listening," I said.

"I want you to bury me next to Mommy."

"Yes, ma'am."

"And I want you to have that other painting she did."

Tears wet my cheek, so I nodded so my voice wouldn't break.

"I don't want a funeral. Have a party and dance. Don't cry because you wish I was still here. I didn't always do things right, but I lived, Luca. Celebrate that."

"A party, though?"

"Party! Promise me you'll take care of your sister. She's gonna need you more than ever now."

"I always do, Mama."

"I know you do. You've been such a great big brother. I'm so proud to call you my son. You're everything I wanted. If all I did was be your mom, I'd still die happy and fulfilled."

"How can you be so casual about this?"

"I told you. I had a full life. If I could spend more time with you, I would. But I know you'll be alright. I get to be with my parents again! Why would I be sad about that?"

I had so many thoughts swirling through my head and so many unanswered questions. I felt anxious about running out of time to get answers, and that conversation seemed like the perfect time to bring them up. But at the moment, none of that seemed to matter anymore. I wanted her to enjoy whatever time she had left, rather than bombarding her with uncomfortable questions. I was a very grown man who could figure things out for myself.

"You've been a good mom. I may not always agree with you, but that never changed how much I loved you. I just want you to know that."

"I know that, buddy."

"I know you know, but I haven't said it enough. Thanks...for everything."

"It's been my pleasure, Luca."

[queenoftheworldisdead]

Non-compete

Chapter 2

A/N: Reader is female. No physical descriptors used. Let me know if i fucked up and not do that. Chat me up i don't bite!

Summary: Your super genius younger sister is offered a chance of a lifetime to work for either Oscorp or Stark industries straight out of high school. Her choices leave you stuck in an unrequited love triangle.

Warning: Slow Burn, Adult content only! 18+ only please. Dark! There is potentially triggering stories ahead.

Peter Parker x Reader, (not in this chapter Norman Osborn x Reader,)

💻

You stand outside your sister’s closed door, the hallway quiet except for the faint ticking of a wall clock. You should be getting ready for work by now, but something about the heavy silence from her room keeps you planted here.

“Sparks…” You knock lightly, keeping your voice low. Nothing. She’s been holed up in there since the interview—another day of avoidance, of heavy quiet. If it weren’t for the food disappearing from the fridge, you’d be more concerned. You lean in closer, resting your hand against the door. “Please, just open up. I’ll bring home that cake you like from work if you let me in.”

The silence stretches until, finally, you hear the faint shuffle of movement inside. A mix of relief and tension settles in your chest as you wait. You have no idea what mood she’ll be in when she opens the door.

When it does crack open, she’s standing there, eyes red-rimmed and puffy. The sight pulls at something deep in you, but you keep your voice steady. “You didn’t hear back yet, did you? Don’t worry, that’s just how these things go sometimes.”

Her eyes narrow, and her voice sharpens. “I didn’t apply for some dead-end job at a grocery store. He came to me, remember?” Her words feel heavier than they should, like each one is designed to cut.

You inhale slowly, absorbing the sting. She’s said things like this before, made you feel small in ways she probably doesn’t even notice.

“I know Spar—"

“Do you?” she interrupts, her voice edged with frustration. She crosses her arms, her annoyance palpable. “Do you even know who that was?”

You shake your head slightly, bracing for the answer.

“Norman Osborn, Mr. Oscorp himself, as in the founder.," she emphasizes. "The man' whose 's name is on the building,” she snaps, almost daring you to understand.

You open your mouth to speak, but a soft knock from down the hall interrupts your thought.

“Did you hear that?” you ask finally.

“It’s probably someone for dad. Forget about it.”

Maybe she’s right. But your curiosity lingers. “I should get ready for work,” you say, glancing back at her. “I’ll text you later. Just… don’t ignore me, alright? I’ll bring you that cake, and Dino nuggets too.”

She doesn’t respond, just turns away and shuts the door behind her. The sound of it echoes faintly as you make your way down the stairs.

💻

The knock comes softly at first, but the sound echoes through the quiet house, pulling you from your thoughts. No one visits anymore. Your friends? They’ve drifted away, consumed by their own lives, their own problems. You hope it isn’t your father again—you don’t have the energy for another conversation about changing the locks. Love for him only stretches so far when there’s no money left to stretch.

You rest your hand on the doorframe, peering through the glass. A boy stands on the porch—young, maybe Emily’s age—shifting nervously, his hands deep in his pockets. His unease is obvious, as if he's not sure this is the right place.

"Uh, hello? Is Emily home?" His voice is thin, unsure. The question takes you off guard. No one ever came for Emily. She was solitary, always detached from the world around her. Friends were for other people. Not her.

A flicker of curiosity rises. Has she made a friend? Or… something more? No. That’s not Emily. She tells you everything—or so you believed.

“She didn’t mention having anyone over,” you reply, a hint of suspicion in your voice as you push the door open wider. You can’t help but wonder how this boy knows her.

“You must be Emily’s mother.” He guesses to your horror.

The statement hits you like a cold splash of water, and you blink at him, taken aback. Mother? Have you aged that much? The grays, yes, they’ve crept in early, but surely you’ve kept them at bay with the dye.

“Her sister,” you correct, deflated. “Come in.”

His face turns a shade of red, and he stumbles over an apology. “Oh—sorry, I didn’t mean—I mean, you’re beautiful, not to say your mother isn’t—”

A small laugh escapes you despite yourself. It’s sweet, the way he flounders. “It’s alright. Our mom passed away. I’ve just taken on the role since then.” You catch the brief flash of discomfort in his expression as you step aside to let him in. “Would you like something? Water, maybe? Juice?”

You notice it out of the corner of your eye as you close the door—a sleek black sports car parked just outside. You pause for a moment, a small crease forming between your brows. That can’t be his. Someone’s lost, surely. It doesn’t belong here.

“No, thank you… ma’am,” he blurts, his voice cracking slightly as his eyes widen, realizing the slip. “Oh no—I didn’t mean to say that! I mean, not ma’am—sorry!”

You wave it off with a slight smile. “It’s fine. Really.”

His gaze shifts, landing on the scorched wall of the hallway, the burn marks visible even from where he stands. He hesitates before asking, “What happened here?”

You follow his gaze and sigh, embarrassment tugging at your chest. The charred section of wall—remnants of Emily’s endless ‘experiments.’ You’d meant to have it repaired, but life kept getting in the way.

“An electrical fire… sort of,” you mutter, a sheepish laugh slipping through. “Emily thought she could rig up some free electricity. She's always tinkering with things. I told her if she didn't want to live on the streets, she'd leave the car alone.”

He chuckles softly, his eyes still wandering through the room, though you can’t help but feel the weight of your untidy kitchen creeping into your thoughts. Emily never did the dishes, and the trash… well, that was still waiting to be taken out.

You clear your throat and call down the hallway, “Emily!” The shout is louder than you intended, startling him. But of course, she doesn’t answer. She never does.

“I’ll go get her,” you say quickly, stepping back toward the hallway. “Oh, wait—what’s your name again?”

“Peter. Peter Parker.”

[elliot-walker]

The Walker Ranch had been in the family for over a century - passed down and cared for from generation to generation. It was almost 100,000 acres of cattle farming, recreational hunting, and an equestrian center housing the prized horses of the children of the 1%. And of course, each family member was allotted a certain amount of acreage to themselves to build their own home — Elliot, included. 

Elliot was the second oldest of four children, and the only boy. 

“Nice of you to show up,” Lori, his eldest sister, greeted Eli as he walked into the large, over-done dining room. She was slender, of average height, and had long, dark blonde hair. “Good to see you, too,” Eli replied, offering a small smile. Lori’s gaze shifted to the long-sleeved button down that Eli had chosen to wear. It was neatly tucked into a pair of Wrangler jeans. “Smart move,” She commented, then added under her breath, “Mom and dad hate your stupid tattoos...” Eli opened his mouth to make what was most likely going to be a smart ass reply, but more of the family walked in. The rest of his sisters, their partners, his cousins, aunts and uncles — all greeted him in varying degrees. 

“Elliot! You’re here!” He heard his mom as he turned, and her thin arms immediately threw themselves around him. “You’re skinny, you need to eat more meat,” His mother scolded him quietly in Spanish, as she pulled back, brows furrowed in concern. “I’m not skinny, I eat a lot, Mom,” Eli replied back, shaking his head, though his lips smoothed out into a small smile. 

“Everyone, sit.” The loud, stern command came from Elliot’s father. The voices fell silent, and everyone took their place at the table. His father at the head, his mother on his left — Eli attempted to sit next to his mother, allowing Lori to take the place next to their father on the right. “Lori, sit next to your mother. Elliot, here,” His father motioned to the seat on his right. Lori shot a glare toward Eli, then began to move. “Lori should sit by you—“ Eli began, but his father’s eyes snapped to his only son. “Take your seat, Elliot,” He said somehow in a casual, yet menacing tone. Eli held his father’s gaze for what felt like eternity, before he finally stood, and moved to take the seat next to him. 

“Great, now we can begin,” His father announced. 

Lori wouldn’t make eye contact with Eli for the rest of the family meeting. 

— 

Eli sought Lori out after it was over. He found her in the stables, brushing one of her favorite horses. “I don’t need your pity,” Lori said as Eli approached. “I know you don’t,” He replied with a small chuckle, reaching out a hand give the mare a few good scratches along her nose. “It should be you though — at his side. Next in line to take over. Not me,” Eli added in a lower tone, shifting his gaze to his older sister. Lori’s features softened a little, and she just nodded in return. 

A moment of silence passed between them. Lori resumed brushing her mare.  

She then paused. “She dumped you, didn’t she?” Lori then asked, looking over at Eli again. 

Eli let out a small laugh, nodded, and shrugged. “I don’t know why I’m laughing though, because it’s so shitty and I cried like a little bitch, but yeah, she dumped me.” Lori grinned a little and said. “You’ll get over it.” 

Eli exhaled and shrugged again, “Yeah, I’ll get over it.” 

“Let’s go ride?” Lori suggested, lugging the saddle over the mare’s back. 

Eli smiled a bit. “Yeah, let’s go.”