#how is a girl meant to air drum if she can't even see what's going on back there?

[daisychain-unchained]

every Led Zeppelin concert needs a Bonzo Cam

[helloalycia]

a bitch [two] // leigh shaw

summary: when you finally decide to confront leigh about the incident, things don't go to plan.

warning/s: cheating, arguing, confrontation

author's note: here’s part two! hope you like it :)

part one | masterlist | wattpad

I refused to paint Leigh in the worst light, even if I'd seen her that way. She ended up staying the night at mine to pass out without being around her sister with her hangover, and I tried not to mind. I was patient for the rest of the evening and the following morning, trying not to assume the worst. But it was hard to do that when she continued to act like nothing was out of the ordinary.

My paranoia get the better of me, as whenever she got a text or slipped out for a phone call, all I could see was her and Abby making out at the party. Why hadn't she told me what happened if it wasn't what it seemed? The only explanation could be that she didn't want me to know, which meant she was hiding it, which meant she was cheating on me. Just like Alex.

It was later that following day after the party when I was sat on the dining table doing some work on my laptop and she was sat on the couch. Her phone vibrated, followed by a tone, signalling she got a text, and I tried not to writhe with discomfort in my seat. She scoffed before tossing her phone to the other end of the couch.

"What is it?" I asked, trying not to seem too interested, even though my heart was bruising.

"Nothing," she mumbled, eyes fixated on the telly.

I gave her all of my attention now, curious. "Go on, what is it? It's clearly not nothing."

She tilted her head to look at me. Sighing, she said like it was no big deal, "Drew wants me to work on a piece, but with somebody else. And you know I'm not a fan of collaborative writing."

Forcing a smile, I hummed in acknowledgement. "Who is it? The person he wants you to work with?"

Looking back to the TV casually, she shrugged. "Abby."

Just the mere mention of that girl's name in Leigh's mouth left a bitter taste in mine. And the longer I watched Leigh staring at the TV without a care in the world, oblivious to the fact that my heart was breaking because of her, the more I wanted to burst. And I eventually did.

"I know you're cheating on me," I blurted, making her look to me with a baffled expression.

"What?"

Deciding to roll with it, I closed my laptop and met her confused stare. "Don't try to hide it, Leigh, I know. I saw you last night. At the party." She continued to play dumb, so I added with distaste, "You were kissing Abby."

Leigh opened her mouth, half-gasping and half entertained as if I was suggesting the most ridiculous thing. "You're kidding, right? That's– that's what you think of me?"

I stood up quickly, glaring at her through glassy eyes. "Don't act coy. I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt. I tried to wait for you to explain yourself just in case I misinterpreted, but you continued to hide it. No doubt hiding every other moment you spend with her, too, right?"

Leigh's confusion was quickly replaced with anger, as she stood up from her place on the couch and walked towards me, pointing a finger my way.

"How dare you jump to conclusions like that!"

"It's not jumping!" I shouted, unable to stop my emotions getting the better of me. "It's facts!" Smiling bitterly, I shook my head, vision blurry with unshed tears. "I always had my suspicions that she liked you, but I never thought it could be the other way, too..."

Leigh's glare was fiery. She clenched her fists by her side as she studied my expression, attempting to find an explanation for this accusation. And the fact that she was still playing dumb pissed me off.

"God, everybody told me that you could be like this," I muttered between gritted teeth. "You flip-flop between emotions. The constant mood swings, an explosion that everyone gets caught up in."

She crossed her arms, shrugging sarcastically. "Don't hold back or anything. Say what you really mean."

I clenched my jaw and stared at her, tears finally flowing. How could this be the same person I was in love with?

"I shouldn't have expected any different when it came to your partners," I finished with a hurt voice.

Her eyes narrowed as my words settled in. "Fuck you."

"Well, you won't be, will you? You're too busy fucking Abby!"

"You're not even giving me chance to explain!" she shouted with irritation.

"Explain what?! How you kept this from me? How you had all day to explain and you just didn't?" I scoffed, shaking my head. "You know, sometimes you can be such a..." I searched for the right word before my frustration landed on only one. "Such a bitch."

She pressed her trembling lips together as she glowered at me through teary eyes. It stung, knowing I was the reason she was upset. But she cheated on me. I had every right to be.

"Fuck off," she said harshly, before turning to grab her phone and jacket.

Slipping on her shoes, she stuck a middle finger in the air before leaving my house. I glared at the space where she was stood, heart pounding in my ears and chest tightening with discomfort. She deserved it. She did exactly what Alex did.

But this hurt so much more.

—

I woke up late the next morning since I didn't have work and I was too devastated to do anything but stay in bed. Last night was difficult, just like the night before, and when I finally found myself falling asleep, all I dreamt of was Leigh.

Even though I didn't want to, I felt a guilt thrumming in my chest when my words came back to mind. I shouldn't have reacted so badly... and I definitely shouldn't have called her a bitch. My anger just took over, pushing away my love for her, and attacked her without question. But God, it still hurt. Just thinking about her with someone else reminded me of Alex and the voice message and–

Staying in bed sounded like the best option. But of course, the world had other plans.

My phone dinged, signalling I had a text, and I reluctantly reached over to my bedside table to pull it off charge. Through sleep-filled eyes, I tried to make out the name on the screen.

           Leigh ♥️

Suddenly awake, I swiped to open the message and felt my heart drop as I read it.

          Leigh ♥️: Fuck you.

Attached was a video, and as much as I wanted to get pissed at her text, I was curious to know what she'd sent. Playing it, I soon realised it was CCTV footage from her workplace, outside the toilets. At first, I squeezed my phone, thinking she'd sent it to rub it in my face. But then as I continued to watch, I saw the moments I missed last night.

Leigh walked out the toilet and Abby pulled her to the side, attempting to talk to her about something. There was no sound to the clip, but it was clear that Leigh was trying to back away and go elsewhere. They talked, Leigh using that smile she used when she was trying to be polite, before Abby suddenly pushed herself on her, kissing her. I pulled a face at the sight, reliving it all over again, but then Leigh shoved her away with anger.

Again, there was no sound, but I recognised that familiar Leigh wrath she subjected people to when they pissed her off. Hands were waving around as she seemed to be shouting in Abby's face, her face set into a permanent scowl as she did. Then she turned and stormed away, and the video ended.

Lowering my phone, I stared at the ceiling with a lump in my throat. She hadn't cheated, I'd just walked in on the wrong moment. Every horrible thing I'd said to her... completely uncalled for. No wonder she was angry and upset when I'd accused her – she hadn't done anything wrong.

"Fuck!" I shouted to nothing, before throwing my phone to the end of the bed with annoyance.

How the hell was I to make this right?

—

I spent the remainder of the morning trying to think of what I could do. Leigh wouldn't want to speak to me, understandably, but I had to try. It would be a terrible apology, but I couldn't just leave it. I loved her and I could only hope she'd still love me, even after every nasty thing I spat her way.

Knowing she'd be at work, I gave her boss and best friend, Drew, a call. Hopefully she hadn't told him everything I'd done otherwise he was definitely going to ignore me.

After a few rings, he finally answered and I couldn't stop my fingers from drumming against my thigh nervously.

"Y/N, thank God you rang! I was just about to call you," he said before I could build up the courage to speak.

I furrowed my brows. "You were?"

"You should come pick up your girlfriend," he said, and I figured he didn't know. "I don't know what her problem is and, don't get me wrong, I love Leigh, but I can't condone violence at the workplace."

My eyes widened so much I was surprised they didn't fall out my head. "What?!"

With a mixture of amazement and disappointment, he answered, "She punched a colleague of hers, Abby, in the face. It was so out of the blue – a solid punch to the jaw. Broke her knuckles, I think."

Jaw dropping, I forgot how to speak.

"She's at the hospital," he continued. "Thankfully, Abby isn't pressing charges – no idea why not, not that I want Leigh to get arrested obviously – but damn, there's a lot of paperwork to do and–"

"Drew!" I cut him off, worrying myself with thoughts of Leigh at the hospital by herself. "Text me the address. I'm on my way."

The drive to the hospital was agonisingly long, but I reached it quite quickly. I did attempt to call Leigh, unable to stop myself from checking if she was okay, but she didn't answer. This did nothing to ease my concern.

After making my way through the hospital, I finally arrived at Leigh's room. I let myself in, seeing her sat on a hospital bed with an ice pack covering her hand, balanced on a table. At the sight of me, she rolled her eyes.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she muttered lowly, refusing to meet my gaze.

I stepped inside hesitantly, my guilt returning as I remembered everything I accused her off. "Drew told me what happened."

She clenched her jaw. "Well, I'm not a baby. I'm fine on my own."

Ignoring her rightful annoyance, I sighed quietly. "Really, Leigh? You punched her?"

As if realising how silly it sounded when I said it aloud, she looked the other way and stayed quiet. Her jaw was still clenched as she contained her anger.

"What's the damage?" I asked, hoping my concern wouldn't piss her off. As always, I was wrong.

"None of your damn business," she snapped, still not looking my way.

I frowned, approaching her bedside, but she still refused to look my way. "Leigh, I want to apologise, I do, but I need to make sure you're okay first."

She rolled her eyes before finally looking to me and glaring powerfully. If I hadn't experienced being in a fight with Leigh before, I would have definitely tucked tail and ran. But I'd known her long enough to know that the mask of anger she wore right now was only a cover for the hurt she felt. The hurt I'd caused her. 

"You don't need to do anything," she retorted, before nodding to the door. "You can go."

My heart pounded with guilt. "Leigh, please.”

"Sorry, I don't mean to be a bitch or anything," she cut me off bitterly, before looking away and frowning to herself.

The words I'd said to her in a moment of fury returned to mind and I'd never hated myself more than in that moment.

"You know, since Matt died, almost everyone I know called me a bitch," she revealed quietly, voice filled with pain rather than hostility. "Even my family. Especially my family. But you... you never called it me, Y/N. Not once. Not even when I deserved it."

The silence that followed her words was deafening. Why the hell did I have to call her that? Why?

Before I could even think of how to respond, the door to her room opened and in walked a doctor, holding what looked like print-outs of x-ray scans.

"Oh," he said with mild confusion as he spotted me by Leigh's bedside. "I'm sorry, I don't think we've met. I'm Leigh's doctor. Doctor Syed. And you are?"

"Her girlfriend," I replied, just as she also replied, "My ex."

I gave her a stern look, accepting if she wanted to break up, but definitely not leaving her here alone.

"I'd like to stay if that's okay," I told Doctor Syed, sensing his confusion as he looked between Leigh and I, attempting to make out whatever was happening.

To my surprise, Leigh didn't argue, even when the doctor looked her way to see if she had a problem. She simply rolled her eyes, scoffed quietly, and said nothing.

Taking this as a response, Doctor Syed proceeded to explain about Leigh's injury, particularly the broken bones in her knuckle. Apparently she'd punched Abby with so much force that she'd literally broken the bone with a crack. The x-ray proved just that and gave the doctor a perfect sight of where he could fix it, thankfully, without surgery.

I waited with an unusually quiet Leigh as he put a splint and cast on her hand there and then. He then spoke about recovery times and how she was to look after herself. After writing up a prescription for pain meds and handing it to her, he quirked a brow questioningly.

"Is that all okay, Miss Shaw?" he asked.

Leigh was too busy brooding to listen, so I smiled at the doctor instead.

"I'll make sure she does that," I answered for her. "Thank you, doctor."

He nodded and returned the smile before wishing us luck and leaving. I looked to Leigh, who was quick to get up and grab her jacket, being careful with her hand. The two of us said nothing as we left the room and hospital, making our way out onto the street. Before I could ask how she was getting home, she began to walk away from me.

I groaned inwardly before following after her, stopping her from going any further. She glared across from me.

"What?" she said through gritted teeth.

"I can give you a ride home," I offered. "I parked down the street."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm fine walking."

I gave her a knowing look. "Leigh, you just broke your hand."

Realising my point, she sighed. "Fine. I'll call literally anyone but you for a ride."

Okay, I deserved that, but it still stung.

"Fine," I said, before waiting with her as she made the call.

She took a seat on the bench to the side of the road, waiting for a taxi, and I joined her, making her scoff.

"Just to make sure you get home safe," I said, when she gave me an incredulous look.

"Whatever," she mumbled, before watching the road for her taxi.

When it finally arrived, she didn't even spare me a glance before getting in and leaving. I sighed with regret, glad she was okay but realising I still hadn't had the chance to apologise to her. I was still yet to make this right.

—

It was the next day when I'd deemed it enough time to have given her space whilst also deciding I had to tell her how sorry I was before it was too late.

Building the courage to approach her front door was one thing, but knocking was another. I'm pretty sure I stared at the wood for ages before actually lifting my hand to knock. And even then, my heart was still pounding nervously in my chest.

After a moment, the door opened and revealed Leigh. But as soon as she recognised me, she made a move to close it.

"Leigh, please, wait–!" I tried, and put my foot in the doorway so she couldn't close it.

"I have nothing to say to you!" she exclaimed with irritation, glaring at me when she noticed my foot in the way. "Move it, Y/N."

"You don't have to say anything," I said with a frown and apologetic eyes. "Just hear me out. Please."

She pressed her lips together firmly, disguising her hurt with frustration. But when her eyes met mine, the pain was there and I felt guilty all over again, knowing I'd made her out to be the worst.

"I never should have said what I did," I started quickly, not wanting to lose my chance. "And I definitely shouldn't have called you a–" I winced, hating the word more than ever. "A bitch. I know you get angry when you're upset and that should've been my first indicator to knowing something wasn't right. I should've heard you out."

"But you didn't," she cut me off with a terrifyingly calm voice. "You jumped to conclusions instead. When I've never given you any reason to doubt me."

I licked my lips and looked down shamefully. She was right. "I know."

"Do you?" she asked rhetorically, a hint of resentment in her voice. "Because you jumped on me so fast that I didn't even see it coming."

Risking looking up, I saw the defensive stance she took, arms crossed judgementally and jaw tensed with annoyance.

"For the record," she added, expression softening a little, "I didn't tell you about the kiss because it meant nothing and I didn't want to upset you for no reason."

I swallowed the rising lump in my throat, the guilt thickening and squeezing the life out of me.

"I can't believe you'd think I would do something like that to you," she admitted with a heartbreaking voice, uncrossing her arms. "I love you, Y/N. I'd never hurt you like that. Never."

Squeezing my eyes shut, I pinched the bridge of my nose, memories of Alex flooding to the surface. "I know, Leigh, I know. I do."

She sighed before me. "Then why?"

Releasing my nose, I opened my eyes and was surprised at the blurriness, tears having formed. I was losing the woman I love because of my stupidity and I couldn't. I couldn't lose her. She deserved to know the truth, no matter how much it hurt.

"Do you remember my last girlfriend?" I asked reluctantly, before clearing my throat. "Alex?"

Her brows creased together with confusion. "Yes. What about her?"

Letting out an embarrassed sigh, I avoided Leigh's gaze. "We broke up because she cheated on me. With... with someone from work."

When Leigh didn't say anything, I looked up and saw her shocked expression.

"What?" she asked with disbelief. "You said it was a mutual breakup."

I pinched the skin inside my palm to feel something other than hurt and awkwardness. "I– it was easier to say that than admit the truth because the truth was– is embarrassing." Unable to hold her gaze for much longer, I focused on the door next to her. "You were going through a lot at the time, Leigh. The last thing you needed was to deal with my bullshit, too."

She frowned, trying to meet my eyes, but I was too ashamed to look her way. "You should've told me, Y/N."

I shook my head slowly. "I shouldn't have. Just like I shouldn't have assumed you'd be like her. I just– I got horribly insecure and I know that you're not her. You're nothing like her. And I shouldn't have treated you like the villain."

"No...," she began, still adjusting to my words. "No, that makes so much sense." Her good hand rested on my cheek as she forced me to look her way. "I'm so sorry that happened."

I pulled back, her hand dropping to her side, and wiped away a stray tear. I'd never meant to earn her pity – I'd done something wrong. This wasn't me earning sympathy, I just wanted her to know the truth.

"I don't want you to apologise," I told her. "I just want you to understand that I'm sorry. So sorry, Leigh. I hate that I– I ruined something good, something amazing. I never meant for this to happen," I motioned to her hand, "and I don't want you to think of me like– like– like this. Like–"

She moved forward and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, pulling me close. "I don't. I really don't."

I closed my eyes and stuffed my head into her neck, holding her tightly. She stroked the back of my hair soothingly and pressed a kiss to the side of my head.

"I forgive you," she murmured, and just like that, relief spread through me. "I'm so sorry about what happened to you. I promise I'd never to that to you. Never in a million years."

I pulled apart, wiping my tears away sheepishly whilst nodding. "I know you wouldn't, Leigh. I'm sorry for even thinking that you would."

She cupped my cheek, using her thumb to swipe away a tear. Green eyes met mine, sparkling with unshed tears that made me feel guilty because I'd never wanted to make her cry.

"I know you are," she said gently, before offering me a small smile. "Come inside, yeah? You can make it up to me by watching movies with me."

I let out a small laugh and she smiled, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to my lips before holding out her hand. I rested mine in hers and let her lead me inside, hand tingling where her skin touched mine.

Leigh Shaw was anything but a bitch. She was the most caring, considerate person I'd ever met, and when she flashed me a reassuring smile as we headed to the couch, I knew one thing.

I was lucky to have her.

[foodieforthoughts]

Journey through time - Part 3

Summary: Your relationship with Syverson over the years.

Warning: a little bit of angst and a lot of fluff. If you blink you might also see some smut.

A/N: Continuation to Part 2 of the photo series. Here's a link to Part 1 too. Thank you all for reading. I love you guys 😘♥️

Staying alone in Sy's house gave you an opportunity to find out more about your man. You were cleaning his study when you found a box shoved at the very back of a drawer with pictures inside. The first picture was a black and white photo of young Sy, probably in his early twenties. It looked like a candid picture, clicked by someone who must have attentively watched him while he read through some papers. As you rummaged through the box, you found a couple more candid pictures and a hand written letter addressed to Sy.

The box also contained polaroid pictures of a much older Sy. You picked up the one which looked fairly recent, maybe from only a couple of years ago. He had his signature beard, dressed in his suit with his smoldering eyes staring back at you. Behind were the words, "I count myself as extremely fortunate to have accompanied you on your big night, my love." Signed only as "M". You got the sinking gut feeling that it was from an ex-girlfriend, but what affected you more was that Sy had kept her things still.

Opening the letter and finding another picture inside, you took a moment to look at your man. You had no clue who were those people with him in the picture which only made you realise how little you knew about Sy. The letter mentioned how the person felt like they weren't a part of Sy's life anymore. "I invested too many years to be with you and yet I am here, all alone. I can't take it anymore." It read, continuing to jot down ways in which the person felt lonely while Sy was away and that is why she was deciding to break off their relationship. Your hear sank as you read it over and over again, noting how the edges of the paper was crumbled from being opened too many times. Keeping the box back in its place, you couldn't help but think back on everything that was mentioned as the silence in the big house seemed to envelope you.

You stared at your computer screen showing that you were online, waiting for the green dot to appear on Sy's image signifying that he was online on Skype too. It was your birthday tonight and before leaving, Sy had promised he would have long distance birthday dinner with you over video call. You had cooked his favorite recipe of Sloppy Joe's and got his favorite beer brand, even if you hated the taste of it. Your wait for a few minutes turned to hours with your food gone cold and beer turned warm. You looked at the screen, noting that it was past midnight now and your birthday was over. You couldn't help but cry when you shut down your computer, leaving your food on the table untouched and crawling into bed while thinking back on the letter and imagining if this is exactly how the other girl might have felt.

You sucked in a deep breath before receiving the video call from Sy. It was unexpected and unplanned, but it made your heart swell when his face appeared on the screen. Sy did not smile, he looked lost and deep in thought. Even with the awful quality of the call, you noticed the new scars on his face and how he looked like he had aged over a decade. Your talks were formal, mostly asking about how the other had been, general talk about health and wellbeing. But then you couldn't help but blurt out, "You missed my birthday." Sy sighed, rubbing his hands over his face, "I'm sorry but I had a rough week." You wanted to be understanding but the letter kept repeating its words in your mind and when you looked around, you only saw the emptiness. "But you had promised about dinner on my birthday." In an instant, Sy's voice came out like rumbling thunder. "If you want someone to be at your beck and call, maybe you should think what the hell are you doing with me. I can't be there all the time, I have a job to do here." His roaring voice came out loud from your speakers, bringing tears in your eyes. Anger and sadness mixed together and with a trembling voice, you said, "Maybe I really should think what I'm doing with you. Goodbye, Sy." You disconnected the call with painful heaviness in your heart.

Over the next weeks, you got several calls from Sy but you only spoke to him asking him about his health. The moment he would try to talk about what happened over the video call, you would change the subject. Then one day you got a video message sent to you by Sy. It was being filmed by someone else while Sy stood with a spray painted green German Shepherd. You watched as Sy instructed the dog called "Aika" to fetch a writing pad with papers stuck to it from the steps of the building and turn it around to face the camera. Sy crouched down next to Aika and the first paper read, "I'm very sorry about missing your birthday." He turned the sheet of paper over and the next one had "I'm sorry about acting like a dick the other night." When he turned the paper again, it read in bold letters, "I love you and I don't want to lose you." You felt the stinging feel of tears in your eyes as Sy came forward and spoke directly into the camera, "Dinner with me tonight? I'll make up for everything, I promise." Before the video cut, you heard men laughing in the background with someone shouting, "Captain's so whipped!" and imitating the sound of a whip slashing through the air.

That night, dinner was less about eating and more about sharing your feelings. Sy listened to how you felt about him missing your birthday, apologising profusely about it and telling you he'll make up for it when he gets back. But you felt like a bitch when he told you about his week and how he had lost two of his men during an attack on them. It was now your turn to apologize with tears in your eyes as you imagined losing Sy. You didn't want to ruin the mood but you had to ask about the box. "Who's M, Sy?" You watched as his expression had turned solemn and he had sighed heavily. "I take that you found the box? She was my girlfriend before you. We had been together since college and I won't lie, I really wanted to marry her. But, I couldn't give her the kind of life she wanted." You could hear the sadness in his voice while he spoke. "Do you still love her?" he answered in an instant, "Of course not! I love you, babe. I want no one but you. You can even throw away the box if you want, I just never got back to it and throw it away myself." He then proceeded to tell you he wanted to make you feel his love and explained what he had planned, which made you blush but reluctantly you obliged. Even with the distance of many, many miles between the two of you, you pleasured one another over the call while repeatedly professing how much you loved each other.

You had bounced on your feet nervously while watching the arriving flights displayed on the screen. Sy was coming home and your excitement knew no bounds. His tour had been extended by four more weeks which meant you hadn't seen him in person for almost half a year. But family came first so when he had asked if he could go directly to Austin to meet his folks, you hadn't objected. "What's one more week until I meet you?" You had joked although deep down you craved to be in his arms again. When newly arrived passengers started filing out through the doors, your heart drummed in your chest with anticipation. You nearly skipped a beat when Sy walked out the door with his bags, thinking about the time when many months ago you had bumped into him at this very airport, searching through the crowd for you. His bearded face broke out into a huge smile when he spotted you and you almost made a run for him, launching yourself into his arms while planting kisses all over his face. "God, I missed you so much." He said, hugging you tightly to his chest and not letting go of you for a long time.

The very next day, Sy had taken you out for dinner at the most fancy restaurant in town. You noticed how he was fidgety and nervous, looking at his watch several times. It worried you even more when for the third time that night, he excused himself and left the table. You wondered if he was sick but then were left confused when all of a sudden the speakers started playing the familiar tune of your favorite romantic song. You looked around puzzled but was taken by surprise when Sy walked to you and dropped down on one knee. With a tender smile on his lips he said, "I never knew what I really wanted from my life until I met you. Countless times I have prayed to the heavens for making you bump into me on that day. I was at the right place at the right time, for I met the most amazing and beautiful woman on this planet." You felt you heart pick up a pace knowing exactly what Sy was going to do. Fishing out a blue velvet box from his pocket and opening it to reveal a magnificent diamond ring, Sy continued, "Darlin' will you marry me and make me the luckiest man alive?" There was no hesitation in your voice when you nodded fervently and repeated "yes" several times, hugging and kissing Sy before he placed the ring on your finger while everyone around clapped for the two of you.

Continued to Part 4

[mikkomacko]

Sweet As Honey 8

Harry can feel the drum thumping in his bones as the bar vibrates with the music from the DJ. He pushes a sweaty strand of hair out of his face, tilting his chin down as he does so. Y/n, plastered to his chest, presses a sloppy kiss to his lips that has him chuckling into her mouth and cupping her warm face in his equally warm hands.

Behind him, the lads from the gym and their friends all holler, someone smacking Harry on the shoulder in congratulations. It makes him chuckle again, this time a bit bashfully, and his ears prickle with heat. His lips detach from y/n's and she blinks her eyes open, looking at him with buzzed eyes and pink cheeks, and he doesn't care about the group of people watching them. He wraps his right arm around her, pulling her even closer to his chest and swaying them back and forth softly. The rhythm is far too slow to match the song but it doesn't matter.

A voice he can't place hollers over the music, "Is that the same girl from last week, Styles?"

Even with his back to the group and his nose in y/n's hair, he can feel the beat of silence as they all await his answer. Y/n fists the silk material of his dress shirt in her hands, looking up at him with curious eyes. Her chin digs into his chest but he enjoys the little pinch of discomfort.

"Course it is." Harry says, loud enough to be heard over the music. A tiny smile twitches at her lips, so cute it has Harry biting back a grin. She goes shy under his gaze, hiding her face in his chest again. He chuckles softly, petting at the back of her head and she pinches his side softly.

"How long is that gonna last?" A voice he recognizes to be Marx calls out. He says it teasingly but Harry knows he's genuinely curious. Him and a couple other boxers always pick up Harry's old one night stands. But he's not getting y/n. The thought of them anywhere near y/n has his stomach twisting.

"As long as I want it to last." Harry replies, affectionately squeezing her shoulder. Y/n presses into his chest even closer.

He knows the next voice immediately. "So I can have her tomorrow, aye?" It's Issleberg, another one of the fuckers that gets his sloppy seconds. Harry doesn't bother answering. He knows y/n isn't sloppy seconds or someone he'll just toss out when he's tired of her. It's been a month and Harry doesn't think he'll ever get tired of her. Issleberg's comment is so unbelievably untrue it doesn't deserve a comment from Harry.

After a moment the guys all resume chatting and trying to hit on the girls around them. Harry ducks down, lowering his lips next to y/n's ear. "Let's go get a drink darling."

She doesn't respond but she lets Harry spin her around, his right arm staying locked around her torso. He keeps his front flush to her back as they push through the crowd. They make it to the bar, Harry keeping his arm slung around y/n as he waits for the bartender. He looks down at her, expecting to find her happily watching him or snuggling into his side. Instead she's typing something into her phone, the device lighting up her glossy eyes.

"Hey," Harry questions gently. She locks her phone, looking up at him with sad eyes. "what's going on?"

"I think I want to go home." Her words shock Harry because just five minutes ago they were having a blast. Before he can even respond, she's shaking off his arm and marching towards the exit. The sight of her practically running away from him chases all traces of his previous drinks away.

Harry's quick to follow her, grabbing her wrist to keep her from walking away from him. "What'sa matter darling?"

She turns to face him and he doesn't like the look he receives. "Nothing," y/n says with a forced smile and a shrug. "just want to go home I guess." Her tone stays casual but Harry notices the growing glossiness in her eyes and he knows it's not the drinks doing anymore. It's his own.

"I'll go with ya," He offers but it's a weak attempt. He can tell by the way she's already angling herself away from him. She's going home alone tonight and so is he.

"No, stay with your friends," -she pulls her wrist from his hand-"I already got a cab."

His heart thumps painfully and his fingers tingle as he panics. Did he really fucking mess this up? "Let me pay f-"

"Stop it Harry." Y/n says firmly, fingers wrapping around the wrist that was already heading towards his pocket to dig out his wallet. "I'm sure you've paid for a lot of girls' rides so just save that for the next one, yeah?"

Her words aren't malicious or spiteful. They're soft and certain. Like she's 100% sure she won't be the only girl Harry's giving rides to for the rest of his life. And it really fucking hurts because he did this. He let her believe he wouldn't fight for her when that's all he wants to do. Screw Marx and Issleberg and every other boxer at the gym. He doesn't want to fight them, he wants to fight whatever demons are trying to push y/n away.

"Can I walk ya out then?" He please, desperate for a sign that he's still got her. Her nod is small, but it's there, and Harry's quick to link their hands together. She leads the way, tugging Harry by his hand as he drags his feet to try and extend their time together. Unfortunately, they reach the exit of the bar far too soon and the cold air that blows his hair back is biting.

A cab is waiting at the curb, flashers blinking in the dark and y/n marches over to it. Harry panics, pressing the heels of his boots into the sidewalk. Y/n is pulled back with a jerk, spinning around to glare at Harry. He doesn't like her looking at him like that.

"I don't want you to go," Harry mumbles, eyes flickering to the cab and his nose scrunches in offense. He doesn't want her riding home in a car without him.

"No?" Y/n shrugs. "You just want me to wait until you want me to go?"

"Tha's not what I meant baby."

She huffs, looking down at his feet. His chest aches. Since when does she not look at him? "It doesn't matter what you meant Harry because it sure as hell sounded like I was just another fling."

"You weren't-you aren't!" Harry swears, tugging her closer by their hands that are still locked together. "You know tha' I care about you."

Harry cups her face in his free hand, urging her to just look at him. Her eyes seem to look everywhere but him, flickering to the floor and the building behind him. "What do ya want me to do? You want me to go back in there and tell 'em?"

"What would you tell them? We're not dating Harry." Ouch.

He squeezes her hand. "I'll tell 'em that I'm gonna be with ya for as long as you want me around. Have a feeling you're gonna want me gone before I want to leave."

He meant it as a joke. Well half joke because of course he's not enough for her. He should've known that he was going to mess it up, that's just what he does. But that doesn't mean that he's not going to try and be with her for as long as she'll have him.

Finally, her eyes meet his and they knock the wind out of him. "Why would you say that Harry?" Just like her gaze, her tone is sad and vulnerable. Harry can't believe that just this morning he was sat in the bath with her, kissing every inch of her skin within reach just to make her giggle. Not even ten hours later he's on the cusp of losing everything that he's ever wanted.

"What do you want me to say?" Harry whispers and he hates the way his words tremble. "You were the one that just threw it in my face that you're not mine."

"I thought I was yours until you decided to tell the whole bar that I'm just temporary."

"Baby," Harry gasps, releasing her hand to slip his arm around her waist. She doesn't push him back but she doesn't melt into him like she usually does. "you're not temporary. You're my girl, you're my-I l-please don't leave like this."

"I don't want to do this now Harry. " Y/n says, her hands coming up to hold his jaw. Harry leans into her, eyes desperately searching for some kind of comfort. "I want to go home and I want to shower and go to bed."

"A-and what about tomorrow?" Harry whimpers. "Can I see you tomorrow?"

"You can come see me when you've figured out what you're doing Harry. I'm not going to push you into dating me, I'm not going to force you to label this, but you need to figure out what you want."

He can't stop himself. He presses his forehead to hers, lips slotting with hers in a last resort attempt to show her that all he wants is her. Y/n kisses him back briefly, offering him that bit of hope he was looking for but she still pulls back with a sad smile.

"I'm going to go," She brushes her thumb over his bottom lip and he presses a tender kiss to the pad of it. He knows he can't keep her any longer. She's made up her mind and who is he to demand that she stay with him. He gives her a nod, releasing his hold on her waist and face. Like a kicked puppy he follows her to the cab, pulling open the back door for her. She stops before getting in, turning to Harry and leaving one last kiss to his cheek.

"Bye Harry." Her words crack his chest and he's a bit embarrassed about the tears welling in his eyes. For how long is this goodbye? Forever? Until tomorrow? A few days? The unknown makes him nauseous.

Y/n gets in the cab, Harry closing the door behind her. She doesn't look at him as she buckles up. He walks to the front passenger window, softly knocking. The driver, an older man dressed in a thick winter coat, rolls it down and gives Harry a sympathetic smile.

"What can I do for you son?"

Harry rests his elbows on the window. "Can ya take extra care of this one for me? Make sure she gets home safe?"

"Of course,"

"And uh don't drive away until you see her go inside? She hates walking to the building by herself at night." He hears y/n sniffle in the back and he knows she's crying too.

The man glances in his rearview mirror and his smile grows. "Don't you worry. I'll get her home in one piece and I'll make sure no one messes with her."

"Thank you sir." Harry reaches forward to shake the man's hand. He pulls himself away from the car, shoulders slumping as it drives away from the curb, leaving Harry more lost then he's ever felt before.

~

"We've got tea for mumma, nice warm tea just for mumma." Harry sings quietly, holding y/n's cup of green tea in his right hand and Arlo on his left hip. She giggles at them, endeared by the dimpley smile on Harry's face and sits up, leaning against the headboard of their bed.

Harry hands her the mug, her sweater pawed hands wrapping around it. "And we've got kisses for mumma, extra sweet kisses just for mumma." She giggles again and Harry presses his lips to each cheek and then her lips.

"And now it's bub's turn." Harry holds Arlo out to y/n, fingers wrapped around his little torso and tilting him down. Arlo smushes his lips to y/n's, drooling more than he is kissing and it makes her laugh, reaching up to wipe her mouth with the back of her hand.

Harry chuckles, plopping Arlo down on the bed next to y/n. She sips her tea, placing it on the night stand as Harry crawls over her to his side of the bed. She brings Arlo up to her torso, smiling when he lays on his tummy on her chest. She strokes her fingers through his thin blond hair and Arlo let's out a little coo. Harry lays on his side, his hand laying on her tummy that's housing the baby that had caused a fuss of morning sickness earlier.

"Sure ya still want to go trick or treating tonight darling?" Harry mururms, stroking his thumb over her stomach. "We can stay here and hand out candy if ya want?"

Y/n's fingers comb through his hair, similar to the way she's carding through Arlo's hair. "Of course I still want to go. We already got costumes and I know how much you want to show Arlo off in his."

Harry presses his lips to her side. "S'not a big deal if you're not feeling good darling. Don't want you an' the baby getting a cold."

He knows her answer before she even says it. She's selfless, she knows that the last thing Harry wants to do is hand out candy with Anne and Gemma but he'll do it for her. However, he doesn't have to because y/n is the saint he could never be.

"I really really want to go trick or treating."

"Yeah?" Harry asks, lifting his head to look up at her. His chest goes warm at the sight of Arlo tucked into her breast, eyes shut as he sucks on the loose collar of the shirt she took from Harry.

Y/n nods at him, smiling gently. "Yeah. Plus mom and dad can't wait to see him for his first Halloween."

Harry presses another kiss to her stomach. He can't wait to show the whole neighborhood his little family.

~

It's days before Harry works up the nerve to go see her. He knows it's his fault. She told him to come see her when he was ready. She left everything in his hands and the only person he can blame this period of silence on is himself.

It's not like he didn't want to see her. That night at the bar he wanted to go to her apartment and fall asleep with her. But she had asked for answers and he hadn't had them. What was he supposed to say? That's he twenty years old and he's never had anything close to a relationship? She knows that he's been with a lot of girls, it's not like it's a huge secret after the scene everyone made when she went to his first fight as his girl, but she doesn't know that those girls were nothing. They never stepped foot in his place. He never took them on dates. He never offered his clothes to them. He didn't cuddle them. He can't even remember half of them.

That doesn't seem like something you tell a girl you're trying to commit to. How could he say he wants to one day call her his girlfriend after explaining that he's never even had a girlfriend?

He thought he was going to be sick as he stood outside her apartment, knuckles stinging from knocking on her door in the cold. The few seconds it takes her to open the door feel like the longest seconds of his life and he's stuttering on his own breath when she meets his gaze.

It's her day off, just like he knew it would be, and she's dressed in a pair of worn grey sweatpants and a tee-shirt he'd left there. The sight of her in his clothes knocks the wind back into him and he's able to find his voice.

"Hi," He mumbles, still caught up on the shirt. She missed him then, right? Why else would she be wearing it? Because it reminded her of him?

"Hi Harry." She gives him a small smile, albeit a little awkward. A gust of cold wind blows through the entrance and she immediately shivers. "God that's cold. Come in before we freeze."

She steps off to the side and Harry happily enters, kicking off his shoes as she closes the door behind him. In the warmth of her home, Harry pulls off his coat and hangs it next to her. It feels weird setting his shoes by hers and hanging his coat on the empty hook after a week of being away.

"Are you ok?" Harry asks, nervously raking his fingers through his hair. He looks up at her, frowning at the way she's defensively crossed her arms over her chest.

She nods. "Are you ok?"

Harry shrugs. He doesn't feel very ok. He's felt like hell all week without her and now that he's standing with her, knowing he'll have to tell her why he couldn't stand up for her, he feels sick. Overall, that's not even close to being ok.

"I really missed you," He admits. Y/n opens her mouth, probably to tell him that's it's his fault but he beats her to it. "S'on me. I know tha' darling. But I couldn't show up here without an answer."

Y/n nods again, shuffling her sock clad feet. "D-do you have an answer then?"

Harry swallows the lump in his throat. "I want to be with you." He takes a step closer to her, his stomach twisting uncomfortably. "I-I've never done this before, obviously-" Harry chuckles, "and I'll admit I'm a little lost but I know that I'll be ok with you."

"W-what does that mean Harry?"

His palms have become so sweaty he has to wipe them on his jeans. He wishes he could just hold her, that he could physically transfer everything he wants to say to her through just a hug.

"I'm not ready to label this, you know I have a hard time with that, but I want us to one day reach that point. I know that I can love you, that I can give you everything you could ever want but I need time." He notices that he arms have fallen to her sides. "C-can we do that?"

"I'd love that Harry." Y/n nods and before he can react, she's tackling him into a hug that knocks the wind out of him. He wraps her up, shoulders relaxing as he realizes that he opened up to her, not very well, but he still did. And she's still here. She's still holding him, she still wants to be with him.

"Really?" Harry breathes in disbelief, burying his nose in her hair. She nods into his chest.

"Just next time those assholes ask about me-"

"I'll tell 'em." Harry swears. "I'll tell 'em that you're my girl and that they'll never get a chance with you because you're all mine."

Y/n tilts her head up, resting her chin on his chest much like she did that night. He presses his lips to her forehead, his whole being feeling so much lighter now that he knows she's sticking with him, that she's his.

~

"Harry, you got his mittens too big!"

Harry finishes laces up his boot, tucking in the pants leg of his white jumpsuit. "Just put them under the sleeves!" He calls to y/n, standing up from the edge of the bed and brushing his costume off. Y/n comes into the room, a scowl on her face and Arlo craddled in her arms, pacifier bobbing between his lips.

Harry can't help but grin at the pout on her face. She tosses the pair of black mittens at Harry, hitting him square in the chest. He manages to catch them before they fall to the floor. "Wha'?"

"You can get him ready yourself," she states, already handing Arlo over to Harry before disappearing into the bathroom. Harry chuckles quietly at her, patting Arlo's stomach through his bumble bee costume.

"Mumma's grouchy, huh bug?" He mururms, laying him on his back on the bed. Arlo just stares at him, the antenna clad hood falling over his eyes. Harry pulls it back, fully revealing the green eyes that match his own.

"Look at ya," Harry breathes, adjusting the little black booties on Arlo's feet so the bottom of his pants tuck into them. "all cute in ya little costume, just like daddy."

Arlo kicks his legs up, hips jutting up quickly, and he giggles around his pacifier. Harry manages to catch one of Arlo's waving hands, slipping a mitten over it to protect his hands from the cold. Harry does the same with the other, pressing a delicate kiss to Arlo's nose once he's finished.

"There we are bug." Harry grunts as he lifts Arlo up. Arlo relaxes into Harry's chest, soft suckling noises leaving his mouth. "Shall we go check on mumma?"

They find her in the bathroom, dressed head to toe in all black as leans over the sink, staring intently into the mirror. Her tongue pokes out of her pretty lips, eyebrows pinched together as she focuses on pining her hair back into a classic beehive style. Harry smiles, heart fluttering giddily.

"There she is!" He gasps quietly, knowing she can hear him but wanting to make it seem like he's conversing with Arlo. "Isn't she pretty bub? Loveliest honey I've ever seen."

Arlo, with his eyes big and soft as they look up at Harry, coos something unintelligible but he takes it as an agreement. Harry flicks his eyes up, a shit-eating grin on his face when he catches her rolling her eyes in the mirror. His grin grows when he notices her pink cheeks. All these years and he can still make her blush.

"Stop flattering me and help me get my hive on." Y/n orders, nodding towards the stuffed beehive she'll be wearing tonight. Harry chuckles, pressing a sweet kiss to her cheek.

"Hold ma baby and I'll help ya darling."

Harry lays Arlo's in her arms, grabbing the beehive by the two shoulder straps. It's light so it it's easy to lift over her head. He just has to be careful of her hair.

"I'm holding both of your babies, thank you very much."

Harry laughs at her grumbling, maneuvering the costume down her body without disturbing Arlo or causing any fly away hairs.

"An' I love ya so much for it." He pecks her cheek. "Now give me my son 'fore ya squish him."

Y/n giggles, lifting her arms up so that Harry can grab Arlo. Once Harry's gotten him back against his chest, y/n slips her arms under the straps of the hive. As a unit, they turn to the mirror. Harry can't help but smile. A beekeeper, his beehive, and their little bee.

~

They left Anne and Gemma at the door, three huge bowls of candy and extra bags stacked next to them, and the gate programmed to stay open until 1 a.m. for all the trick or treaters. Harry felt good climbing into the car with his wife and babies. His family. It's refreshing to not have to think or worry about Gemma and Anne for a night because tonight is all about Arlo's first Halloween.

As a trio (or secret quartet) they roamed the neighborhood, Arlo held tightly in Harry's arms and y/n stuck to his side like honey. Y/n carried the little reusable pumpkin pail they'd be using to collect candy and Harry had on the backpack holding warmer clothes for Arlo and the bjorn in case they needed it. It clashed with his beekeeper costume a bit but he didn't care. This is all for his little bug.

They approach the first house, the home of the Risner family, and y/n presses her thumb to the doorbell. Harry bounces Arlo just once to gain his attention and the door swings open to reveal Ms. Risner in a witch's hat with a cauldron of candy.

"Trick or treat!" Harry and y/n cheer in unison and Harry tickles Arlo's thigh to get him giggling, a bubbly and light little noise that has their neighbor cooing.

"Oh my," she gasps, looking at the little family. "aren't you all just adorable! Do I get to be little Arlo's first house of the night?"

"Yes ma'am." Harry grins and she fishes out a few pieces of candy, dropping them in the pail y/n holds out.

"Well I'm honored!" She smiles, bringing a hand up to her chest as she oggles Arlo. "Oh I remember when mine were that little." She mururms longingly. "You two remember, if you ever need a sitter I'm right here."

Harry nods appreciatively as y/n responds, "Of course Mrs. Risner and if you ever need anything you can call us."

"Oh you're such sweethearts." Mrs. Risner coos and if weren't for the sound of another group of kids approaching the door, Harry thinks she might have roped them back into another conversation about her kids.

"See ya around love," Harry smiles, making his way off the porch. He lifts his hand in a wave. "Happy Halloween!" Ms. Risner repeats the wish and Harry drops his hand, linking fingers with y/n.

They travel house to house, Arlo beaming every single time Harry and y/n cheer "trick or treat", and Harry can't help but swell with gratefulness each time. His family is adored, not only by him, but the people around them. Call him too philosophical, but Harry can't help but think he was given such an incredible home because he'd survived his bad one. He tries not to think of the bad family that is currently watching over his house, instead focusing on the feeling of y/n holding his hand and Arlo snuggling into his chest.

~

Harry can't stop checking his phone. It's a bit pathetic considering he'd stayed at her place all week, smothering her in cuddles and unhealthy treats as they rewatched Hocus Pocus daily and carved pumpkins. Maybe it's the cold weather that's making him clingy (it's not, he's always clingy) or it's because they're nearing a year of being together, and Harry's so grateful for her he can't stand to not be holding her every minute of every day.

He's got a text from her. His heart jumps up into his throat at the message.

Wow, there's a really handsome vampire in one of the back booths

He chuckles, his false fangs digging into his lip as he looks up and glances around the jamming club. Every time he spots someone with her hair color or in a costume he thinks might be her he freezes, but seconds later he realizes they're not her. What could she possibly be dressed at that he can't find her.

Maybe he'll buy you a drink. If you give him a kiss

He glances up excitedly, looking to see who's grabbing their phone. It's useless, everyone is on their phone.

"What are you pouting for? Kate told me their here."

Harry tries to quirk up his lips but he knows he fails when Scott chuckles at him. Next to him, Lionel slumps into Nick, sloshing the drink he was sipping down his Han Solo costume. Harry does smile at that.

"She's hiding from me."

Scott chuckles again and Harry can tell by the look on his face that he knows where they are. How could he not, he knows what they're dressed as.

Maybe he should come find me if he wants a kiss

Harry huffs, rolling his eyes at her teasing. All day today she'd been boasting about her costume, claiming it was "far superior" to Harry's. Laughing he had told her it wasn't hard to beat his costume considering he was just a plain old vampire.

Stop being mean to me :(

Three dots pop up, signaling her typing. Harry simpers eagerly, hoping she'll give in and tell him where she is.

Boo...

His smile falls, brow furrowing. Boo? Before Harry can ask her what she means, two arms are slipping around his shoulders and draping down his chest. He recognizes the smell of her and instinctively reaches up for her hands. He frowns when instead of being met with warm skin, his fingers find the squishy padding of a pair of boxing gloves. A pair of very familiar yellow boxing gloves.

"Hi," Y/n mururms into his ear, pressing a sweet kiss to his temple.

Harry grips the elbow that's closest to the edge of the booth, tugging her around the back until he can see her. He can't help but gawk.

Her usually wild hair is pulled into two braids, falling down her shoulders. She's wearing a silk robe, one that's far too big on her considering it's made for Harry's broad frame. She's left the robe open, revealing a plain black sports bra he's seen her wear at the gym with him, and then a pair of slick black shorts that look like the smaller version of Harry's pair at the gym. She's wearing long yellow socks that reach a little past her mid-calf and match the yellow boxing gloves she's taken from him, and her feet are tucked into a pair of white Converse. It's obvious she's a boxer but it's the carefully copied tattoos on her skin that let him know she's him.

She's got his intricate butterfly on her stomach as well as the beautiful laurels on her hips. Two swallows peak out of her sports bra, placed in the same area on her collarbones that Harry's are located. The sleeves of his robe cover her arms so he doesn't know if she's copied a few of the designs on his arm and the boxing gloves hide her hands so he's sure she didn't recreate the cross on his thumb. And, while he'd love to see his tiger tattoo inked into her plushy thigh, he's almost positive she hasn't got it considering the shorts cover her thighs.

His eyes trail back up her body, meeting her bashful gaze and bitten smile. She sways softly, awaiting his reaction. He means to coo over to her, to murmur how precious she is, but all that manages to leave his lips is a throaty "fuck."

The lads behind him snicker and Harry's face suddenly burns with warmth but he's positive it's not embarrassment. By the stir of his stomach, he knows it's Y/n. It's always Y/n.

"That good huh?"

Harry chuckles at her smug response, knowing exactly what she's thinking. I told you so. And she did tell him. She told him all day.

"Come 'ere," Harry murmurs, swinging his legs off the side and gesturing for her to step between his parted knees. She settles herself between his thighs, arms draping around his neck, and he's so fucking glad the booth is on a platform because her lips are perfectly lined up with his. And much like he requested of her earlier, he slots their mouths together. Too overwhelmed by the sight of her to keep the kids PG, Harry parts her lips with his tongue. Y/n shakes with soft giggles, arms tightening around his neck.

"Does he really turn himself on that much?"

Nick,Scott, and who he assumes is Katey all chuckle at Lionel's words, pulling Harry away from y/n's sweet mouth.

"So you like it?" Y/n murmurs, twinkling eyes flickering from his mouth to his eyes.

"Love it," Harry says hotly, pecking her shiny lips once more. Y/n smiles proudly once again and it adds to heat in his veins. "want a drink baby?"

She hums, nodding. He grins again, patting her hip so she can give him room to stand up. They walk to the bar in the front, Harry's hips attached to Y/n's from behind. He didn't even ask the rest of the table if they wanted a drink.

He can't help himself, pushing against her as she leans into the bar. His arms grip the edge of the dark wood, caging her in. She giggles, dropping her head back on his shoulder to look at him.

The bartender greets them, smiling politely at Harry. He orders him and y/n a Coke and rum, not even waiting for the man to move away before tilting his head down to y/n.

"It's awfully dangerous to expose a neck that pretty to a vampire." Harry breathes, lips brushing her jaw. She shivers against him and smiles sweetly.

"Well someone promised me the kiss of a vampire."

He chuckles, pressing his crotch further into her bum and ghosting his lips over the skin of her throat. He brings a hand up to her neck, fingers gently splaying over the column of it. He dots a few pecks up and down her soft skin, lightly scraping his fangs just to tease her. Their drinks are placed in front of them, Harry not bothering to thank the bartender.

"The Harry Styles being rude to a bartender?" She gasps dramatically, but Harry can hear the tremble in her breath. He smirks against her skin. "Scandalous."

"Think it'll be all over the newspapers tomorrow?" He murmurs, offering a few more gentle pecks.

"Obviously, a stuck up professional athlete? They'll eat you right up."

Harry lifts his head. "That's a shame," he pecks her cheek. "I was planning on doing the same thing to you tonight."

He leans over her for their drinks, smiling a wicked grin at the wideness of her dark eyes. "Come on darling. Got a party to show you off to."

He nods towards their booth, holding his elbow out for her. She slips her hand through it, laying her head on his shoulder. The whole walk back is spent with burning gazes following them and Harry's ego swelling with every step.

~

The door is thrown open before Harry's even lifted Arlo out of his car seat. Y/n, holding their overnight bag and Arlo's little backpack on either shoulder, laughs softly and waves towards the house.

"Hello mother!"

Arlo stirs, whining low in his chest as Harry cradles him to his chest. He shushes him, patting his back gently to keep him asleep. Arlo fidgets just once before relaxing into the fabric of Harry's jumpsuit, releasing a little puff of air.

"Oh I missed you so much!" Marie calls out to them. Harry chuckles. She saw them just last week.

He grabs Arlo's diaper bag, throwing it over his free shoulder. Y/n close the car door for him. Marie stands on the porch, already dressed in her robe and pajamas. Peeking out from behind her legs is a familiar pair of blue eyes that has Harry smiling.

"I sure hope Charlie's here." Harry says, directing the comment to y/n but saying it loud enough for Charlie to hear. A little giggle breaks out from behind Marie.

"Charlie is my faaaavorite!"

Before he's even finished the sentence a mop of blonde curls and piercing eyes is barreling into his legs, almost knocking him back down the steps.

"I am here Uncle Harry!" Charlie practically screams, nuzzling his cheek to Harry's thigh. "I'm here! And you're my favorite too!"

Harry chuckles, ruffling Charlie's hair with the hand not holding Arlo. Y/n pouts beside him.

"Am I chopped liver or what?"

Charlie laughs when she scoops him up off the floor, carrying him bridal style to the door. She pauses to kiss her mom's cheek before disappearing into the house with a squealing 6 year old in her arms.

"Those two," Marie tells him, rolling her eyes humorously. Harry kisses her cheek.

"Gonna reek havoc on your house."

Marie closes and locks the door behind them, chuckling. "This place survived her and Louis. It can survive her and Charlie."

Harry drops Arlo's baby bag on the floor next to the two bags y/n has already left there. Arlo snuggles deeper into his chest.

"Where is everyone?" He asks, taking in the blankets sprawled out on the couches and the TV that's stuck on the play menu of Paranorman. A squeal of laughter from the kitchen answers his question.

The high pitch giggles and dramatic groans coming from the kitchen continue, the bubbly laugh of y/n making his stomach swirl.

The dark wood table made to sit 8 is only preoccupied in two chairs. One holds Y/n's sister in law, Chloe, with Layla perched on her laugh. Layla's stiffling giggles into her palms but majority of the noise is coming from the chair holding four. Steve is sat first, y/n laughing hearty giggles on her father's lap. Charlie is giggling away on her lap, squirming under the weight of his father.

"Louis Tomlinson, get off of your child!" Marie scolds, flicking his forehead as she walks by them. Harry chuckles, ruffling Layla's hair as the others pile off the chair.

"Hi pretty girl."

"Uncle Harry!"

Layla launches herself up from her mom's lap, directly into Harry's side. Harry's quick to catch her on his hip, wincing slightly when Arlo grumbles.

"Did you miss me Uncle Harry?"

Harry pecks her cheek. "Course I missed ya. How could I not miss my squinklett?"

Layla giggles bashfully at his words, laying her head on his shoulder. Her eyes fall on Arlo, immediately cooing at him.

"Why's Arlo always sleepy?"

"He gets it from his mumma." Harry whispers, flashing his eyes up to y/n. She's locked in a bone crushing hug with her brother.

"Will he ever wake up?"

Harry snorts. "Of course he'll wake up. Just had a long night."

"Really?"

"S'tough being a bee sweetheart."

"Oh," Layla hums thoughtfully. "I've never been a bee."

"Maybe one day." Harry tells her.

Chloe chuckles at them, climbing up and holding her hands out for her daughter. Layla reluctantly pulls back from Harry, flopping into her mom's chest.

"Hello Chlo," Harry greets.

"Hi babe," Chloe pecks Harry's cheek. "oh what a doll." She coos, stroking a finger over Arlo's cheek, careful to not wake him.

"Trick or treating was a bit exciting. Wore the bub right out."

Chloe nods in understanding. After two babies of her own, she knows how the first holidays go.

Y/n and Louis have separated themselves long enough for Harry to greet him and Steve. As usual they coo over Arlo, informing Harry that he's grown so much.

"Why don't you two go change and put the little one to bed?" Marie offers, already urging y/n and Harry out of the dining room. "We'll pick a movie to watch together and get snacks together."

Y/n links her hand with Harry's, leading him back to their bags and then through the hallway. Louis and Chloe have taken over his old room and set up Charlie and Layla in the spare, so Harry and Y/n take her old bedroom.

Harry lays Arlo in the middle of the bed, watching him carefully as he strips out of his boots and jumpsuit. He tosses the costume to the side, tugging down his boxers a bit because they've ridden too high. Y/n digs through Arlo's bag for a nappie and onesie while Harry begins to strip him out of his bee costume. By the time Harry's got a new nappie on him, Y/n has changed from her costume into shorts and a big tee-shirt, and pulled her messy hair into a bun. Her arms slip around Harry's waist as he fastens the buttons on Arlo's onesie.

"Feeling okay darling?"

She hums, nuzzling her cheek into his bare back.

"Did you have fun tonight?"

"Yes,"

"Glad we went?"

"Absolutely,"

Harry manages to turn, cupping her cheeks in his hands. "Good." He pecks her lips. "Now let me some clothes on yeah?"

Y/n pouts and whines just to tease him but releases him. She stacks pillows around Arlo to keep him from rolling to the ends of the bed, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead. Once Harry's slipped on clothes he too gives Arlo a kiss goodnight.

"Movie time?" Harry asks.

Y/n nods, kissing Harry's lips just once. Harry grins, pulling her to his chest and leading them out of the room. Charlie's laugh is ringing out from the living room and it makes Harry chuckle. Glancing down at Y/n, her eyes tired but lips smiling as she rubs her fingers over her stomach, much like she did when Arlo was still living in there, his stomach flutters. He loves being with his real family and he wouldn't give it up for anything.

[docholligay]

False Reality

This is a really old fic, that Rachelle commissioned. It’s silly and goofy and fun, and I think everyone would love that right now! 2,500 words. 

Want to support my releases? Thank you! Patreon –  Ko-fi

Michiru sighed heavily and folded the map. “Rei, I don’t believe you have the slightest idea where you are going.”

Rei knit her eyebrows in annoyance. That Michiru was entirely right was beside the point--Rei did not appreciate the show of bad faith.

“How is there no cell service?” Rei looked at her phone, as if staring at it one last time would somehow magically make a cell tower appear.

This hadn’t been Rei’s idea, she would remind Michiru, once they’d had a chance to settle in at the hotel. Michiru’s family was the one with the membership to the ski resort, a place Rei had never even heard of, which made sense, seeing as it was on another continent and the memberships were invitation only, and tens of thousands of dollars a year besides. And Michiru was the one who had said they could simply drive, when the private airports nearby had been full.

Yes, this was certainly Michiru’s fault, and not Rei’s, no matter how many turns she had taken down side dirt roads into nowhere.

“I imagine there is no service due to a lack of cell towers.” Michiru looked out the window at the snowy plain, falling away into the distance as the car climbed. “Haruka will be worried.”

“Oh, who cares about Haruka, we’re going to freeze to death.” Rei kept driving, stubbornly, as if driving deeper into the dark would make something appear.

“A more peaceful end than I ever believed might have been possible for us.” Michiru looked at her watch.

And then, the miracle appeared. Rei rounded yet another corner, and there was a light. It was small, a yellow haze against the darkness, at the corner where a road led off the main path. The road was barely illuminated, but one barely squinted,

“See?” Rei gestured proudly, as if she had called it into being. “We’ll ask these people. It’s late, they'll probably let us stay the night.”

Michiru looked at the humming light, unimpressed. “Rei, you’ve just promised me I was going to freeze to death, if you swap it out for an axe murder I shan’t be pleased.”

“I don’t know why I try to talk to you when you’re always so morbid.” Rei rolled her eyes and jerked the steering wheel to the side, venturing down the dark road.

___

It was the sort of place that Michiru generally avoided, for a constellation of reasons particular to herself, but namely her aversion to being murdered in a common way. Rei ignored these protestations, however, and so she chose to simply stop offering them, as Rei trudged up the snowy stairs to the door.

She rapped hard, the response of the wood echoing into the cold night sky, and Michiru could not help but have her attention drawn upwards, following the curl of her breath on the air, staring into the jewelry-store case above her, fates twinkling with each facet of an individual life.

The door swung open, and there was a small redhead in a delicate pink dress, a glass of whiskey in her hand. A TV show boomed from the living room, pressing out into the night.

She looked in her glass, and then back at Michiru and Rei, and then back into her glass, and then back up at the girls once more.

A deep, loud woman’s voice came from the living room. “What the hell, Holligay?”

“I need to stop drinking.” The redhead turned called back into the living room. “Did you dose me with something?”

Michiru stepped forward and extended a hand. “My name is Michiru--”

“Kaioh.” She finished Michiru’s sentence. “I know.”

Michiru and Rei exchanged glances--Michiru’s family was very well known, so it wasn’t as if these things never happened, but out here, in the middle of the wild, it seemed odd. Another redhead, clad in a t-shirt with a bright yellow chicken on it, walked into the entryway.

The four of them all stared at each other for a moment.

She broke the silence, her eyes whirling like the chicken on her chest. “What.”

“Oh good,” the smaller redhead put her hand on her hip and took a swig from her glass, “we’re both hallucinating.” She extended a hand. “Doc.”

Michiru shook her hand firmly. “We seem to find ourselves lost, and in need of a place to bed down for the night. It would appear you’re some sort of...inn, I suppose?”

“Yeah, it’s a tax dodge.” Doc tucked her hair behind her ear, “But we’ve got rooms.”

Rei grabbed Michiru by the shoulder and hissed into her ear. “Why is that one staring at me?”

The woman stood there, hands clasped together, whimpering softly, eyes wide with reverence and wonder.

“Oh don’t mind her,” Doc waved and took a quilt out of the closet. “That’s Jet.” Doc turned to face them and sighed. “So...upstairs we have rooms, I guess. For you to sleep in. Since you’re definitely not hallucinations.”

Jet suddenly found her capacity for speech, and it was in scolding Doc. “Holligay, don't be rude.” She picked up pillows. “You can totally stay here. Why don’t you have a seat at, uh, the table?”

Doc nodded. “Yeah, sure, good as any place.” She ran up the stairs in her normal fashion, without pause or consideration, blankets in hand.

Michiru regarded Jet carefully, and then, perhaps against her own better judgement, took a seat at the table, Rei following her, though she was careful always to keep her eyes at every entrance and exit.

“Sooooo,” Jet drummed her fingers against the table, “How did you...get here?”

“We drove.” Rei looked at her skeptically. “What else are we supposed to do?”

“I mean…”

Doc skipped back down the stairs and landed on the hardwood floor with a satisfying thump, still staring at the women at the opposite end of the table.

Michiru cocked her head, studying them. “Is it truly so incredibly odd that someone might lose their way in this part of the country? I can’t imagine we have been the first, nor that we shall be the last.”

Jet and Doc looked at each other uneasily, and Doc raised her eyebrows at Jet, shrugging at her aggressively. Jet looked back over at the two girls in front of her, so much more fully realized than she ever thought they could be.

“I don’t know how to tell you this,” Jet shifted in her chair, “But I think we’re… I mean you can't…”

Doc took another slug of whiskey, “You’re not real.”

“Holligay.” Jet looked over at her, scolding.

“What? They aren’t.”  

“Oh, well then, more fool me, sitting here on this realm of existence.” Michiru put a hand to her cheek, feigning boredom.

“Well, I mean, if you want to be that way about it.” Doc walked over to a lawyer’s bookcase and lifted the lid, pulling out a DVD and setting it between them. “Behold! You’re gonna need a drink.” She walked into the kitchen, leaving them sitting with a Jet, who had been, briefly, wondering how to bring this up with tact, forgetting that the word itself had little meaning with regards to Doc’s general demeanor. Tact, she con

Michiru studied the DVD case carefully, trying to make sense of the information in front of her. Rei simply grabbed the case out of her hands and scowled.

“I don’t look like that.” She snapped at the case.

Michiru took it back from her. “Rei Hino, Sailor Mars, you’re correct Rei, this couldn’t possibly be you.”

“WELL IT’S NOT!” Rei crossed her arms and slumped back in the chair grumpily.

Michiru sat back in her chair, eyes drifting thoughtfully about the room, never quite landing on anything “Let us say,” she rubbed her finger and thumb together, “That I believe you--”

“Michiru.” Rei looked over at her incredulously.

“I’m simply entertaining an idea, Rei. We are princesses of somehow the both the past and future, tasked with an impossible mission and elemental powers, the time for my mind to live only in the common and explicable is long past,” she looked over to Jet, “ Let us say that. What sort of,” she waved her hand thoughtfully, “enlightenment might you be able to offer?”

“I mean, you die, so.” Doc came back into the room and set the glass of wine in from of Michiru.

“We die??” Rei was enraged at the mere suggestion that she might do anything but win the day, effortlessly.

Jet tried to rush in with a reassurance about Doc leaving out the very important fact of Rei Hino’s resurrection, which was a very Holligay thing to do, and rude besides, but Michiru stepped in before she could begin.

“Why, of course we do,” Michiru took a sip of Doc’s wine, and then looked at the glass, judgment in her eyes, and set it down on the table firmly. “The folly is more yours for imagining that we are meant to do anything else, Rei.”

“Okay, but Usagi--”

“Anything worth having must be paid for in blood.” She said simply, folding her hands in her lap.

Doc’s eyes were wide and sparkling. “I love you.”

Rei crossed her arms and grumbled. “Well maybe YOU die.”

The awkwardness sat between them all as Rei continued to glare at the DVD case, as if she were trying to set it on fire with her mind and might succeed.

“Michiru, judge Holligay’s food next!” Jet practically leapt across the table with excitement. She noticed Doc scowling at her. “What? It’s cooking. You like cooking. I’m HELPING.”

“‘Helping’,” Doc said pointedly. “You're as useless as tits on a boar hog.”

“You’re welcome!” Jet gave her a grin and Doc sighed, pushing herself away from the table. “Fine enough, I spose.” Her mind raced as she tried to imagine what she could possibly have in the freezer and pantry that might fit the bill.

She was drawing up a quick pastry crust when Jet walked into the kitchen, and leaned against the counter. “So how do we--”

“We don’t. This may shock you,” She put a floured covered hand on her hip and looked over at Jet, “But I don’t precisely have any kinda life experience to draw on, for this. You know everything I know.” She looked back to her pastry crust. “For once.” She fluted in the edge and moved back to the stove, pouring milk into a roux.

“What’s that?” She looked into the pan over Doc’s shoulder.

“It’ll be chicken pot pie. Or,” she looked up, trying to draw something classy out of the air, “poulet en croute, avec les carottes et du brocoli.  Or something.” She cracked some pepper into the pot.

“Okay enough with the French!”

“This is the first time I’ve used it.”

“Too many times, Holligay.”

“Will you go be entertaining!” She scolded Jet. “To our...weird hallucinatory guests.”

Jet walked out of the kitchen, huffing, and grabbed a bottle of rum as she went. She poured a tipple into a glass of coke, and looked up at Rei.

“Sooooo, why don’t you tell me about your friends?” She sat down across and offered the bottle of Bacardi silver.

Michiru raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Rei, on the other hand, leaned forward explosively. “Why do you want to know? Are you a member of the Dark Kingdom? Well, I won’t tell you anything, Usagi may be a big crybaby but I--WE, HAVE TO PROTECT HER.”

“Stealth at its most satisfying.” Michiru glanced over at the offending wine once more.

“Yes tell me all about Usagi and how you have to protect Usagi I want to know everything do not leave ANYTHING out.” She folded her hands underneath her chin and grinned.

Rei opened her mouth, and Doc called from the kitchen. “In a technical sense, we already know, so!”

There is a certain quality of awkwardness that takes over a room when it is a assured that ne party has the upper hand. In normal times, one would assume it was the reincarnated beings of incredible power, but in this particular case, it seemed to be two women with a DVD.

Over a meal Michiru kindly described as ‘rustic,’ a difficult situation began to unfold in the two’s minds. When you dream of someone being real, you never consider the fullness of them, and you especially never imagine that what they actually think might be different from what you imagined. Jet found herself wanting to correct Rei in things she said and ways she moved, because that couldn’t possibly be right.

She looked over at Doc, who seemed to be having the same thought, that people are never as you imagine them to be, and the longer you had considered it, it seemed, the more you had created them entirely in your own mind, in all the small ways that it is to be human.

To consider them, and to consider how they thought of the other people in their lives: Doc and Michiru discussing the nature of their romantic relationships, Jet and Rei discussing the exact nature of the Inner Senshi’s friendship, and how it worked, or didn’t at times.

As is often the case, they came away with a mix of happiness and disappointment.

“I suppose, then, we ought to be off to bed.” Michiru glanced toward the stairs. “It is late, after all, and I believe we have all had an odd enough evening to last us for some time.”

Rei grabbed the DVD case one more time, as if she could will it to be something, but tossed it back onto the table.

Doc and Jet just looked at each other, saying nothing. What could be said?

___

When she rose, the sun had been up for several hours, even in the dead of winter, and she thumped her way down the stairs, to where Doc sat on the couch, drinking a cup of coffee, reading a book as if nothing had ever happened unusually in her entire life.

“Mornin’ sunshine.”

Jet paid her no mind, shuffling off toward the kitchen where a kettle of hot water waited, that Doc would claim later was almost certainly for something else, and not for Jet’s tea. She poured the water into her cup and stirred thoughtfully, adding entirely too much sugar. It was, on the whole, unlikely that BOTH she and Doc were hallucinating, particularly since it wasn’t the time of year for her to forage unknown items out of the forest, with a simple ‘eat it’ as identification.

She walked back into the living room and stood in front of Doc. “So last night, then?”

“Is a pact we take to the grave.” She looked over at Jet, setting down her book.“Unless you want to explain to Mike how two people from a 90s anime showed up here, stayed the night, and no Mike, I don’t need it to be seen, really, it happened.”

“I took a picture!” She dug her phone out of her jeans, and it shifted just slightly, jumping out of her hands and into Doc’s coffee, fizzling as if in celebration of a final fuck-you to Jet.

“WELP.”

“Yeah no, this is between us, then.”  

[yurtletheturtlehenderson]

S.T. REWRITE - S2:E2; Chapter Two, Trick or Treat, Freak - [Pt. 2]

A Will Byers x Reader Series

After Will sees something terrible on trick-or-treat night, Mike wonders whether Eleven’s still out there. Tensions grow between Y/n and Mike as does their concern for Will.

A//N: This chapter is slightly different cause I realized I'm a complete Doof™, and I had Max and reader meet twice. It had been so long since I wrote MADMAX, that I forgot they met in the arcade lol. So if you've read this before, the scene in the hallway is different.

||Reader's POV||

"Well, good new is, this is only slightly humiliating," I mumble.

I was doing the best I could to shrink back and be as hard to notice as possible, even though I know it's a lost cause.

Unfortunately, the boys all had the same thought and I had been slowly pushed front in center.

"Oh, my God," Someone laughed.

I did my best to let the side comments and laughter slide off my back.

"Maybe its's not so bad," I tried.

"That's easy for you to say [Y/N], you're not in a proton pack and jumpsuit." Lucas said.

I winced. He did have a point, their costumes are a bit more obvious than mine.

"When do people make these decisions?" Dustin said.

I heard Will speak up behind me. "Everyone dressed up last year."

"Yeah! I mean, who are they to judge, he went as Frankenstein's monster last year, and no one laughed despite that being super played out." My anger was getting the best of me, and I made direct eye contact and let my voice rise as I uttered those last words.

The boy I had targeted, covered his laughs with a cough and grew silent fairly quickly. At least I shut someone up.

"It's a conspiracy, I'm telling you."

"Just be cool" Mike encouraged.

I took a deep breath in, and that's when we all heard some prick speak out. "Who you gonna call? The nerds!"

I had a million things I wanted to say to that kid but nevertheless I took another deep breath in. That's wen I felt a hand grab my own, and I knew it was Will. I gave his hand a light squeeze as a silent thank you and kept walking.

+++

...three to the right, four to the left.

I mindlessly repeat the combination in my head as I've done a thousand times before at this school and my locker opens once again. I let it swing open and I sigh. I pull the fake glasses off my head and fold them, putting them on the small shelf in the locker space. I reach forward and grab my textbook and notebook after scanning for them. It's then that I barely make out my brother's voice.

"...so you probably don't have any friends to take you trick-or-treating,"

I frown and look over to find them just down the hall. Talking to Max. Or, attempting to at least. I continue to exchange my things and get ready for the next class. Although, I can't help but wince when I hear him continue.

"and you're scared of bullies, so we were thinking that it would be okay if you come with us."

My eyes widened slightly, and I took that as my cue.

"'It'd be okay'?"

My eyes widened slightly and I took that as my cue to jump in. I closed my locker and quickly reset the dial.

"Yeah. Our party's a democracy, and the majority voted that you could come."

I quickly made my way over, my things held tightly against my chest. I smiled and spoke up.

"Hey guys," I chirped. I made eye contact with Max and I chose my words carefully. "How are you guys?"

I ignored the frantic and slightly confused looks Dustin and Lucas were desperately trying to send my way.

Max smiled knowingly at me.

"I'm good." And I knew, just like me, she had a double meaning to that.

She turned back to the guys and plastered on a fake smile.

"I didn't realize it was such an honor to go trick-or-treating with you." I couldn't help but smirk at that.

"Yeah, I mean, we know where to get the full-sized candy bars. We figured you'd want in."

Her eyes squinted ever so slightly. "That's presumptuous of you."

I stood there awkwardly before I recalled that Max and I had our next class together.

Desperately wanting to change the subject, I smiled and turned to her. She was already closing her locker.

"Wanna head to class?"

"Sure thing." She smiled, and the two of us walked away, leaving the boys a gaping mess.

I felt kinda bad for the guys, but at the same time, I hadn't realized how nice, and refreshing it was to have another female friend for once.

||3rd person POV||

Max felt a looming sense of dread knowing it was time to go home. Which meant another painful care ride with him. She hated even being around him, he made her life a living hell. As she skated across the parking lot, she knew he was gonna threaten her in some way for being late. She didn't feel bad though, of course.

"You're late again."

"Yeah, I had to get catch-up homework." She mumbled, opening the passenger door and climbing in.

"Jesus. I don't care. You're late again, and you're skating home. Do you hear me?"

+++

Max sits quietly, wishing with all of her might that the car ride could just be over. 

Billy, her older step-brother blasts the song Wango Tango as he drives, wrecklously down the road. He scoffs.

"God, this place is such a shithole."

Max thinks of the [Y/N], the only girl who had actually been nice to her, despite her own short temper. Her only real friend since moving here.

"It's not that bad,"

He looks at her, and she knows - she knew as soon as she said something, anything, Billy would find away to use that against her. And sure enough.

"No?" He said, angrily.

She watched as he reached for the window mechanism and rolled down her window. He watched smugly as she winced at the smell and harsh wave of cold crisp air. He took a deep breath, and pulled his nose.

"You smell that, Max? That's actually shit. Cow shit."

"I don't see any cows." She said, matter-of-factly, reaching over and rolling up the windows.

"Clearly, you haven't met the high-school girls."

Max's head threw itself back at the headrest at the comment. She felt her anger boiling up, but she tried to keep it down.

"So what, you like it here now?" He snapped.

"No," she said defensively.

"Then why are you defending it?"

"I'm not."

Max knew he was getting angry again. He knew his pattern by now and she knew he was already up to no good. He loved to corner her.

"Sure sounds like it," He said calmly.

Max hated it when he got calm like this. It always meant he was going to snap. Go too far. Her heart began to pound. She shook her head, tying to regain her composure.

"It's just we're stuck here, so..."

"Hmm. You're right. We're stuck here," She felt his head turn and his eyes zero in on her. "and whose fault is that?"

"yours."

His attention when back to the road. She couldn't help it, her anger was getting the best of her, and the answer came out in a weak whisper she prayed he didn't hear. But he did, and she knew 

he was going to do anything to make her pay.

He looked at her, then back at the road but then back at her. "What'd you say?"

Max felt like she was shrinking. "Nothing," She mumbled, quickly.

Billy got calm again. Her heart began to beat faster once more. "Did you say it's my fault?"

"No," she said quickly.

"You know whose fault it is."

She stayed quiet. Max knew anything she said would it would piss him off. Her words failed her.

"Say it,"

Her eyes began to burn, but she refused to cry. He always made her feel weak and powerless and she knew she might not be able to do anything now, but she sure as hell wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

"Max..." He said lowly, drawing out her name. "Say it." He growled.

He whirled towards her in his seat, his face inches away from hers. His face was completely red as he screamed his throat raw. "Say it!"

She closed her eyes tried to ignore him. Even though she could feel his spit on her face, and his screams were loud enough to vibrate the car. She couldn't let him see how he got to her.

He returned to road, and reached for the volume dial, cranking it all the way up. His foot stomped on the gas and the car was suddenly going unnaturally fast. Billy threw his hands on wheel to every beat of the song.

She let him take it out on the car, grateful it wasn't her. But she knew there was nothing she could do to stop him anyway, right?

She was prepared to make it through the rest of the car ride, but her pounding heart stopped, her breath hitched and her eyes went wide when she saw four figures on their bikes in the middle of the road, not far up ahead.

"Billy, slow down." She said, quickly.

"Oh, these your new hick friends?" he asked, a scary gleam in his eye.

She quickly shook her head. "No! I don't know them."

"I guess you won't care if I hit 'em, then?"

Max knew Billy was crazy. He was out of his damn mind, but what terrified her most, was that she truly and honestly did not know if he was crazy enough to hit some kids with his car. She felt sick to her stomach, everything was going too fast and her heart began pounding faster and faster. 

"I get bonus points, I get 'em all in one go?" he asked excitedly.

The car was getting close and just like that, her fear was quickly replaced by anger and her adrenaline was pumping. She whirled herself around all the way to face her nasty scum of a step-brother and her voice was rising. "No, Billy, stop. It's not funny."

His body kept dancing, his head bobbing and hands drumming themselves against the steering wheel, but his head turned to her and his eyes were stone cold. He had no emotion in his face and it was enough to send a chill down her spine, but she knew now wasn't the time. He stomped on the gas pedal and the car roared.

Max wondered to herself why and how in the hell do these idiots not here this car and why the hell aren't they moving?!

She kept an eye on the road, the kids, the girl - [Y/N] - noticed the car coming first.

'Why the hell, aren't they moving?' she thought.

Max found her voice one more and screamed at the top her lungs. "Billy, come on, stop it. It's not funny. Stop!" The car got faster.

What she feared most was coming true. He snapped, and he might as well have been in trance cause he was laser focused, she was positive he hadn't even blinked, and she knew it didn't matter whether or not he had any intention of stopping. She couldn't afford to sit around and wait, they were only a few feet in front of them.

"Billy, stop it!"

With a racing heart, Max lunged forward, gripping the steering wheel and the car swerved to the left, just in the nick of time. 

Billy came to life and started shouting again. "Yeah! That was a close one, huh?"

He let out a wild and crazed laugh, and Max whipped around in her seat, peering out the back to see her classmates emerging form the leaves on the side of the road. She was unable to get a good look, the car was over the hill within seconds and they were out of sight. But she breathed a sigh of relief knowing they were alive.

+++

Tag List: @dickkwad @aimee-lucass @iblesstherainsdown-in-africa @miscellaneoustoasts @acexattorney

DM me if you want to be added!

[har-rison-s]

i was born to love you: finale

A/N: Very sad to announce this series is at its end. BUT!! Let's enjoy it ;) I worked quite hard on this, and I've been very busy lately. And one finished fic brings me peace and happiness. I hope you enjoy this. Happy reading!

warnings: None!

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“Why did I agree to going to this?” Y/N asks Mary. Mary laughs. “I'd forgot how loud their concerts were.”

“Thought you were used to them.” Mary says and takes a sip of her drink. The girls are standing in the venue where Queen are supposed be up on stage in practically seconds. Y/N was talked into it by Freddie, said it'll be a 'special' show of something of that sort. She scoffed at it, but after John joined the convincing party, she agreed to going. The two were weirdly insistent about her going, and it freaked Y/N out a bit.

“Well, back in the day, of course I was.” Y/N tells her and nods. “I went to a show every night. That's where we met for the first time, remember?”

Mary nods and smiles happily. “I remember, yeah. You seemed so cool because you were standing backstage.” She says and both girls laugh. 

“I wanted to be out there in the crowd, though... Oh, here they come!” She cheers and turns to the stage once seeing movement on it. The band have come on stage, Brian and Roger first, then Freddie and Deaky come onto the stage as well. Deaky searches for Y/N with his eyes and waves once he sees her, winking. Y/N laughs and waves back. Freddie sees their exchange and blows a kiss at Y/N before giving the same greeting to Mary. She smiles wider and waves at Freddie as well. 

Girls behind her and Mary probably thought the gestures from the bassist and lead singer were meant for them, and Y/N's and Mary's ears almost rip off from the loudness of their squeals. They smile at each other from sympathy, and then turn their eyes back to the stage. Freddie gives the audience a big welcome and everyone cheers back to him.

“So, lovies, tonight's a very special night.” Freddie says into his microphone. “And not just because you're all here. I won't tell you the reason if you listen to this one song, though.” He tells the audience with a smirk. They all cheer, including Y/N and Mary, who try to be the loudest among all their fans. “Do we have a deal?” 

The fans scream loudly and throw their arms in the air. Freddie laughs, as does Brian. “I said—do we have a deal?” Mercury repeats. Their fans scream louder, and Y/N holds her ears closed so she wouldn't lose hearing. “Alright, alright. Rog, we'll do it together, yeah?” Freddie looks at Roger once he turns around and Roger nods.

It takes Y/N's breath away. Her hands fold beneath her chin and her eyes spark. What the hell are they up to? What's going to happen?

Brian and John adjust their instruments on their shoulders and under their arms, and Freddie glances at each of them for confirmation before looking back at Roger. They exchange looks while Roger starts drumming softly and Brian and John start to play their guitars. There's a tear in Y/N's eye for some reason, but she keeps watching. 

Freddie steps closer to edge of the stage and finds Y/N again. He points at her while looking back at Roger, and she furrows her eyebrows. Y/N has no time to think when Freddie starts to sing. 

“I... was born to love you,” he sings softly and his voice grows quieter, and Y/N wonders why, “every single day of...”

“My life.” Roger finishes, singing into the microphone. The present tear in Y/N's eye falls down onto her cheek. His voice blends in with Freddie's and the lead singer harmonises with the drummer. Roger finally looks at Y/N and she thinks that her heart has already stopped. “I was born... to t-take care of you,” he sings, and it sounds more like a regular words than singing. His stutter is caused by Y/N, and that a light is suddenly shining down on her. She doesn't notice it because she's so taken by how Roger's singing and how his eyes look tonight, even though they're very far from her own, “every single day of my life.”

Brian cuts in with a riff of his guitar, playing louder, and steps closer to Freddie as he always does. Y/N doesn't take her eyes off Roger and wipes her fallen tears. The whole audience cheers and girls are trying to take a hold of Y/N, but she doesn't feel anything, even Mary hugging Y/N close to her. 

“I was born to love you,” Roger continues singing while he also plays his drums and keeps his eyes on Y/N through out the whole time, as well. She's crying now, fully crying, ugly crying, in front of hundreds of Queen fans, “with every single beat of my heart. I was born to take care of you, Y/N, every single day of my life!” 

When he calls her name, she smiles widely, her crying face enlightened by the sunny smile. Roger can't fight off the smile on his face. He's so glad that she smiles. He's glad that she cries, as bad as it sounds, but at least he's triggered some sort of emotion and reaction in her. Y/N finally sees him, and she sees that he's ever so sorry for what happened, what he did. 

“You are the one for me.” Roger sings. “I am the man for you.” He says and chuckles. Y/N breaks into a smile, as well. “You were made for me, you're my ecstasy...” Roger drums a little harder, and his eyes disconnect from Y/N's for only a few seconds, but when he reaches for the mic, he looks at her again. “If I was given every opportunity, I'd kill for your love. And you know that.” Roger reassures, and Y/N nods, and wipes the tears again. 

He truly is sorry. She sees that, and takes it into account. He didn't mean it, and it wasn't an affair of long-term. It was just a girl, and he was lonely, but of course that's no excuse. But Y/N sees and understands that he didn't mean it, and he still loves her. He doesn't want to break up. He only wants her, and the girl of the night was a mistake, a big, horrible mistake. 

Y/N doesn't hear what Roger sings next, and she doesn't hear that he stops singing when she starts running towards the entrance of the backstage door. The guards check her to see if she's allowed inside, and let her in. Y/N runs through the back room and reaches the stage entrance. 

Roger searches for Y/N in the crowd, wondering where she'd run off. Has she run away from him? Gave up on him? Will she not be back ever again? There's a light tap on his arm and, anxious, he immediately jolts and turns around on his drum stool. And there she is. Y/N.

He sighs loudly, almost whining, at seeing her and he drops his own drumsticks. They echo against the floor and echo through the whole venue. There's no other sound in the building, only soft whispering between the audience. Everyone's watching the reunited pair. 

Roger's hands reach out to Y/N's face and she lets him hold her teary cheeks while she's still sobbing. Y/N blinks a couple of times to get the tears out, but she can't—they keep on coming. She's also smiling, as is Roger. He's so happy to touch her again, feel her between his fingers, and have the ability and chance to do it all. 

There's pure admiration in his eyes, and love, and he'd love to look at her with nothing else. “Baby...” he trails off in a whisper, his thumb caressing the top of her cheek. Y/N holds onto his wrists and shakes her head. She knows what Roger wants to say, that he wants to apologise again, but he doesn't have to.

“It'll... It will take time, Rog, but...” She starts to speak, her emotions catching onto her words. She looks down, avoiding Roger's eyes for a moment, “but I forgive you.”

Roger nods at her words and closes his eyes, letting tears fall from his eyes now. At least she does forgive him, at least she's giving him another chance. He looks back up at her and smiles softly.

“I still love you.” Y/N says and grips on Roger's wrists tighter. Roger's taken by surprise, and he can't fake it. His mouth opens and closes as he's trying to find the right words to say back to her. 

Roger brings her face closer to his own and presses his forehead against Y/N's. He's panting and tears are streaming down both their faces. The two are also smiling and soon laughing, as well. Roger leans in closer, and carefully moves his lips close to hers. He looks at her for affirmation and Y/N nods, shamefully eager to be that close to him again. Their lips finally touch together and they melt against each other as honey melts into tea. 

The whole audience cheers at their kiss, and Y/N starts to giggle from the attention and silly situation. Brian and John clap for him while Freddie starts to sing the song again. The boys are too much into a celebrating mood to play their guitars, so Freddie's quite alone. As he sings, their fans clap along to the beat. Y/N and Roger watch each other and exchange many kisses while smiling and crying. 

“I love you, too. So much.” Roger says when they pull apart, holding her small face between his hands. Y/N nods and sobs, but happily now. Tears fall and smiles stretch, and they're bound to step out from behind Roger's drums to give the fans what they long for. The perfect pair together again.

Permanent taglist:

@v0idbella @inlovewithmiddleagedcelebs @works-of-fanfiction

Series taglist:

@joalsglasses @nellychick@sherlokiantheatrenerd @ohmygoditsanthonyedwardstark @thewinchesterchronicles @juliarvra @fuckyou-imspiderman​ @magicwithaknife @killer-queen-ofrhye @alexfayer @flaminghotcheetoos @cosmiclunas @falling-stars-never-cry

[you-get-to-exhale-now-cyrus]

i dare you to make a oneshot about the GHC with anyone of your choosing on a haunted hayride but it CAN'T be about tyrus hehehe

((i dare you to read this story without smiling then, anon. challenge accepted ps there is some tyrus but it’s like mentioned))

“It’s right around here,” Andi squealed, dragging Buffy by one hand and Cyrus by the other (and TJ, indirectly, since Cyrus was holding his hand).

“This is ‘the world’s most terrifying Halloween experience?’” Buffy scoffed, crossing her arms when Andi released her hand.

“It’s better once you’re actually on the hayride, genius,” the girl joked, tapping Buffy’s nose lightly and skipping over to the man with the tickets.

Instinctively, Buffy’s hands found a loose curl and she wound it and unwound it around her finger. There was that physical touch from Andi that always made butterflies come alive in her stomach, and her steps a little lighter.

“Four please,” she told the man, sliding her money towards him. Stepping out of the small cabin, the man took his stamper and pressed it lightly to the kids’ hands. The little blue pumpkin meant that they had paid and were ready to go.

“You boys are on trail one, and you ladies are gonna be on trail two,” he explained tiredly, making his way back into the little shack.

“Isn’t there a way we can all be together?” Cyrus piped up, but the man shook his head.

“Sorry. Each ride was only able to sit two more people, since it’s one of the busiest times of the year. Enjoy.” And with that, he closed the door and returned to his station.

“That’s a bummer,” Buffy sighed, her breath out a little shaky. She was going to be alone with Andi on a haunted hayride? If it weren’t for there being other people on the ride she would have taken this for a date.

“It’s alright. TJ and Cyrus get to have a little date,” Andi joked, grinning when the boys’ faces turned a bright red, “and we get to hang out like friends should!”

Buffy opened her mouth to say something but quickly clamped it down at the word ‘friends’. As much as she hated to admit it, she knew that she and Andi were just friends. Yeah. they gave each other gifts and would lean against each other’s shoulders when watching movies, but that’s what friends did.

“Right, friends,” she repeated lamely, curling and uncurling her toes in her shoes, “should we get going?”

“Hm? Oh, yeah. We’ll see you guys later! Bex is gonna pick us up at the entrance with the pumpkins,” Andi reminded them, grabbing Buffy’s hand once again and leading her down the trail.

As if on cue, Buffy felt butterflies erupt in her stomach, and no matter how hard she tried to quell them, they persisted. She wondered what would happen if she just adjusted her hands to fit Andi’s, interlocking their fingers.

Before she could get too far into her fantasy, the duo arrived at the location with a sign that read ‘Trail 2′. Mounting their way onto the carriage, they found an empty haybale and took their seats.

“This is so exciting!” Andi gushed, releasing Buffy’s hand and using hers to drum her fingers on her thighs, “you ready to be scared?”

“Please,” Buffy scoffed playfully, pushing her loose curl behind her shoulder, “I’m tough as nails,”

“Okaaaay,” Andi grinned, unconvinced, “but when you grip me so tightly that I lose blood flow, I’ll say I told you so!”

“Yeah, right,” Buffy squeaked, her cheeks burning; thank goodness it was getting darker.

After the rest of the people were loaded on to the wagon, their driver, dressed as a zombie, gave a quick spiel about what they were to expect and that if anyone felt truly uncomfortable during the ride, they could return back.

“Ready?” Andi asked, her eyes glimmering in the moonlight.

“Totally,” Buffy replied out loud. Not, she added to herself.

The first part of the trail wasn’t so bad; a few zombies here and there limping after the wagon, as well as some automated werewolf sounds.

As soon as they passed the lamp post, however, things changed. It got much darker, and it seemed impossible to see anything, were it not for the lights at the front of the wagon.

“Run!” screamed one of the people, attempting to climb onto the wagon. A few people shrieked, and others took sharp breaths in, but for the most part, Buffy and Andi were not alarmed.

“Not scared yet?” Buffy taunted, earning a playful punch from Andi.

“Not in the slightest,” she affirmed, crossing her arms and tilting her head up. Suddenly, one of the vampires started to crawl up the side of the wagon, his hand snaking around the wooden board that Andi was leaning on.

“Boo,” he whispered in her ear, his breath tickling her neck hairs.

“Ahh!” Andi screamed, swatting the man away and clinging onto Buffy for dear life, her heart threatening to leap out of her chest.

Buffy didn’t move; tentatively, she allowed her hands to wrap around Andi’s torso, feeling her friend’s entire body shaking.

“Now who’s the scared one,” Buffy joked, feeling Andi grip onto her jean jacket a little tighter, “I’m just teasing.”

“Make it stop,” Andi whispered through shaky breaths, shutting her eyes tightly to refrain from crying, “I just-”

The short-haired girl was cut off by another zombie clamoring up the side of the wagon, this time choosing to eerily toy with both girl’s hair. Buffy simply flicked the hand away, but Andi broke out into another blood-curdling scream so loud that the people on the other trail probably heard her.

“Andi, are you okay?” Buffy asked gently, soothingly rubbing her friend’s back.

Andi shook her head, dissolving into tears and burying her head into Buffy’s jacket. Her hands were trembling uncontrollably and she could feel her breath coming in short bursts.

“Hey, look at me,” Buffy murmured, her soft eyes locking with Andi’s. Even in the pale light, she looked so terrified, like a child who’s lost their parents in a grocery store. “You’re going to be okay. I’m right here,”

Andi’s lower lip wobbled, and she really wanted to believe Buffy, but she couldn’t. Without a second thought, she took Buffy’s hand and interlaced it with her own. Her shoulder rested on the curly-haired girl’s shoulder, taking in her scent of lavender shampoo.

“And here I was thinking that I’d just be laughing this all off,” Andi muttered, defeated, “I-I’m sorry, this is pathetic,”

“You’re not pathetic,” Buffy assured her, resting her head on Andi’s, “I mean, this is meant to be scary, so they’re doing a pretty good job,”

“You don’t seem scared,” Andi noted, tensing a bit at the howling of werewolves in the distance.

Buffy bit her lip at that, her heart pumping a little faster. “I-there’s other things that I’m scared of,” she admitted, trying her best to keep it vague.

Andi let out a huff of a laugh. “Yeah, right. If this doesn’t terrify you, what could?”

Was this really how it was going to happen? Buffy was going to admit that she liked Andi on a haunted hayride? While both of their emotions were on high?

“I-I like someone,” she began, and Andi’s head immediately popped up, her bloodshot eyes suddenly filling with glee.

“Oooh, Buffy has a crush,” she teased playfully, “what’s he like?”

Buffy grimaced, her free hand wandering up to her loose curl again. “Well, uhm…she’s great,”

“Oh,” Andi replied, with no inflection in her voice, “what’s she like?”

Buffy blinked once. Twice. Three times. “You-you don’t care that I like a girl?”

“Why would I-” she began, before the wagon started to go over a bumpier path, jostling the people in the wagon around. Amidst all the chaos, the girls were tossed around until the road smoothed out, and they were facing each other, a few inches separating their noses.

“Uh, w-why would I have a problem with that?” Andi stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Feeling the other girl’s warm breath on her face made Buffy shiver. A part of her brain was screaming at her to back away, but somehow she didn’t change the space between her and Andi.

“Cold?” Andi giggled, her eyes flicking down to Buffy’s lips for a nanosecond; Buffy thought she imagined it.

“A little,” she mumbled, her eyes widening once she felt Andi taking her hand, linking their fingers.

“Better?” Andi asked, the gentle glow of the lamp posts highlighting her features; her adorable nose, her crinkling eyes, and of course, the way her lips curved. All Buffy could do was nod slowly, her eyes never once leaving Andi’s face.

“Still scared?”

Buffy’s eyes fluttered shut for a moment, inhaling sharply before responding. “Yeah. It’s stupid I just…I hate having to deal with crushes because they’re so confusing,”

“I get it. That’s how I felt around Jonah and Walker, and then when I was talking to Amb-”

“How weirded out would you be if I said I had a crush on you?” Buffy cut in, shutting her eyes tight and bracing for impact.

The only sound that followed was the groaning of zombies and a few strangled screams from the other people on the wagon. How fitting, thought Buffy.

“I’d say I think it’s ridiculous you haven’t told me so that I could make you a bracelet,” Andi chuckled, squeezing Buffy’s hand gently.

“Jokes aside…do you like me too?” Buffy dared herself to ask. Vulnerability was not her strongest quality.

And maybe it was because of the bumpiness in the road. Maybe it was because of the magic in the air. Maybe it was fate. Whatever it was, it caused Andi to surge forward and connect her lips with Buffy’s. Curse the darkness for causing her to almost miss, but she adjusted. It was like Buffy expected her first kiss to be; a little awkward. But it was also way better than her expectations.

Another bump in the road tore the two apart, and although there was minimal light, Andi could just make out Buffy’s blush.

“So…I take that as a maybe?” Buffy joked, slinking her free arm around Andi’s waist.

“Oh, shut up,” Andi murmured, nestling her head into the crook of Buffy’s neck. Before they knew it, the ride was over, and they were approaching the entrance.

“Thank you all for coming! We hope to see you again soon!” The man driving the wagon waved to all of the people, driving away when they had all unloaded. Hand in hand, Buffy and Andi started to make their way to the pumpkin entrance.

“Hey guys!” TJ called, half running half walking to make sure that Cyrus was able to keep up.

“How’d it go?” Andi asked cheerily, spotting Bex’s car in the distance and waving her over.

“Never. Again,” Cyrus whimpered, burying his head into TJ’s chest.

“How about for you guys?” TJ asked, eyeing their hands.

“You could say that we conquered our fears,” Buffy giggled, heading into Bex’s car.

“Did you all have fun?” she asked, signaling to leave the farm.

“Yes!” TJ, Buffy, and Andi exclaimed in unison, while Cyrus groaned “No!”

tag list: @shortstackofpeaches || @seanna313 || @geekingbeautytx || @heavenlybyers || @ghostswasp || @wlwandimack || @giocondasstuff || @lemonboytyrus || @adorejrizzle || @swingsetboys || @ifellintotyrushell || @idk-dude-17 || @rbf-lesbian ||​ @marianara-sauce || @kaptainjinxz || @alex-poster-pizz

[assortedrpmemes]

Disney Lyric Starters

[ Classic, modern, golden days, you name it, i got it. Feel free to change pronouns etc. Also this is a looong post]:

"Some day, my prince will come."

"Some day, we'll meet again."

"Some day when spring is here, we'll find our love anew."

"And soon you'll find you're dancing to the tune."

"There isn't any let up. I hear them calling, calling."

"Every time she/he'd find a minute, that's the time that they begin it."

"They always keep her/him hopping."

"She/He goes around in circles till she/he's very, very dizzy."

"They have stars in their eyes."

"Side by side with your loved one, you'll find enchantment here."

"The night will weave its magic spell when the one you love is near."

"This is the night, and the heavens are right."

"Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?"

"Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?"

"How many wonders can one cavern hold?"

"I want to be where the people are."

"I want to see, want to see 'em dancing."

"Flipping your fins, you don't get too far."

"What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand?"

"Sick of swimming. Ready to stand."

"And I'm ready to know what the people know."

"When's it my turn?"

"I can see what's happening, and they don't have a clue."

"With all this romantic atmosphere, disaster's in the air."

"She'd turn away from me."

"He's holding back. He's hiding."

"Why won't he be the king I know he is, the king I see inside?"

"Love is where they are."

"If there's a prize for rotten judgement, I guess I've already won that."

"No man is worth the aggravation."

"Honey, we can see right through you."

"It's too cliche. I won't say I'm in love."

"I thought my heart had learned its lesson."

"You keep on denying who you are and how you're feeling."

"Get off my case. I won't say it!"

"I steal only what I can't afford."

"These guys don't appreciate I'm broke."

"I can take a hint, gotta face the facts. You're my only friend."

"I'd blame parents except he hasn't got 'em."

"Tell you all about it when I got the time!"

"I think I'll take a stroll around the block."

"Let's not be too hasty."

"They're quick, but I'm much faster."

"Barely even friends, then somebody bends unexpectedly."

"Both a little scared, neither one prepared."

"Finding you can change, learning you were wrong."

"Certain as the sun rising in the east."

"There's something sweet and almost kind."

"I wonder why I didn't see it there before."

"Who'd have ever thought that this could be?"

"True he's no "Prince Charming"..."

"Who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own?"

"We'll wait and see a few days more."

"What I love most about rivers is you can't step in the same river twice."

"To be safe, we lose our chance of knowing."

"Can I ignore that sound of distant drumming?"

"Is all my dreaming at an end?"

"For a long time we've been marching off to battle."

"Our aching feet aren't easy to ignore."

"Think of instead, a girl worth fighting for."

"I want her paler than the moon with eyes that shine like stars."

"It all depends on what she cooks like."

"Bet the local girls thought you were quite the charmer."

"Yet the only girl who'd love him is his mother."

"Whatever you do, I'll do it, too."

"Show me everything, and tell me how."

"It all means something, yet nothing to me."

"It's all so close, and yet so far."

"I wanna know. Can you show me?"

"I wanna know about these strangers like me."

"Why do I have this growing need to be beside her?"

"Come with me now to see my world."

"Don't you disrespect me, little man!"

"You're in my world now, not your world."

"And I got friends on the other side."

"Sit down on my table, put your minds at ease."

"I can read your future. I can change it around some, too."

"You come from two long lines of royalty."

"I'm a royal myself on my mother's side."

"Your lifestyle's high, but your funds are low."

"Mom and dad cut you off, huh, playboy?"

"You've been pushed around all your life."

"Won't you shake the poor sinner's hand?"

"I hope you're satisfied, but if you ain't, don't blame me!"

"All that time never even knowing just how blind I've been."

"At last I see the light, and it's like the fog has lifted."

"If she/he's here, it's crystal clear I'm where I'm meant to go."

"All at once everything is different now that I see you."

"Come on, let's go and play!"

"I never see you anymore."

"We used to be best buddies, and now we're not."

"I've started talking to the pictures on the walls."

"It gets a little lonely, all these empty rooms."

"People are asking where you've been."

"They say "Have courage," and I'm trying to."

"We only have each other."

"It's just you and me. What are we gonna do?"

"Okay, can I just say something crazy?"

"I love crazy."

"I've been searching my whole life to find my own place."

"I've never met someone who thinks so much like me."

"Say goodbye to the pain of the past."

"We don't have to feel it anymore."

"Can I say something even crazier?"

"I've been staring at the edge of the water for as long as I can remember."

"Every road leads back to the place I know where I cannot go."

"It calls me, and no one knows how far it goes."

"I can lead with pride. I can make us strong."

"I'll be satisfied if I play along."

"What is wrong with me?"

"But no one knows how deep it goes."

"If the wind on my sail on the sea stays behind me, one day I'll know how far I'll go."

"Now I know I can be happy as a clam because I'm beautiful, baby."

"Scrub the deck and make it look shiny."

"I just love free food."

"Ouch! What a terrible performance!"

"You don't swing it like you used to, man."

"Send your armies, but they'll never be enough."

"You try to be tough, but your armor's just not hard enough."