#i got to That part in Rebel Yell and i'm just like. you can see that these dudes are so exhausted they can't help but start making

[beauzos]

the Confederate generalships whenever they got orders from each other during the Seven Days Battles

[totallyunidentified]

Auntie Omega

A/n This is dedicated to my best friend who gave me this idea and let me run with it.

Omega lives to see the fall of the Empire and the rise of the First Order. She joins Leia and helps train pilots for the resistance. 

This is a part one of what I’m hoping to make a longer series

I hope you enjoy!!

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

“Leia, I'm just about done.”

Omega looks at her old friend who she had been fighting alongside since the early days of the Rebellion. In the years between the Empire’s fall and the first order’s rise the two had always been friends. Wrinkles had started to show on her face as much as they did on her own.Growing up and old together. Leia had accompanied Omega to visit Pabu many times, and was with Omega when she returned home the three times when it was the hardest. She had held her as she cried and reminded her that, though her brothers were gone, she was not alone. She would always have her fellow Rebels and she’d always have Leia.

“I don’t know why you would think that, You know as well as I do these pilots aren’t gonna train themselves. I need you here, Mega.”

“I know, I know,” Omega chuckles. “I just want to retire to Pabu, like my brothers did. I’ve had twice as many years as they got, I want to be able to put fresh flowers on their markers and watch Batcher’s great grand pups play on the beach. Wrecker’s kids aren’t getting any younger, I want to see them grow.”

They’d had this conversation before, sitting at this very briefing table. Omega felt done. The First Order was relentless and she didn’t want to lose any more people she loved. She fiddles with the necklace around her neck as Leia speaks.

“How ‘bout this? I’ve got this one kid — huge pain in my ass,you’ll love him — he needs training. He’s already good but you can make him great.”

“You are trying to appeal to my ego,”

“Is it working?”

“….yes,” Omega grumbles as Leia laughs

“Listen Megs, this kid is crazy. You were trained by crazy.”

“Hey!”

“You said that yourself! Crazy knows crazy so I need you to train him. You’ll like him, I promise. You’ve trained all my best pilots. Who was that last girl? Hillary? Holland? Oh, Holly! That’s it. You made her one of our best. She’s just about as good as Luke was, you know.”

Omega sighs, leaning more onto the table.

“Fine. But if he's a little shit then you owe me dinner.”

“Add it to my tab,” Leia laughs and stands up, motioning for Omega to follow her. They walk out of the briefing room and down the hall to the hangar, passing many who either greet or salute them as they pass. Both women smile and salute in return. Everyone on base had almost grown up with Aunt Omega and General Leia. If they hadn’t then they were surprised to find that Omega would adopt them eventually.

If Omega didn’t personally adopt you then she found you others who would be your family. She knew what it felt like to be isolated while surrounded by people. If she saw you sitting by yourself then she made sure to send someone else over and would make you start talking to each other. Omega always had an uncanny ability to bring people together exactly how they needed it.

As they walk into the hangar they squint as the bright sun comes through the open hangar doors.They hear it before they see it. Two figures, one man and one woman, both human,both in flight suits. Pilots. The space between them narrows as their voices get louder.

“You can’t shut off the karking engine mid-flight!” the woman yells up at the man in front of her.

“With enough altitude and, oh I dunno, life and death, then yes! I can!” the man yells back.

The pair is nearly nose-to-nose by the time Omega steps in.

“You two! Holly, you’ve got a cooler head than this.Tell me what's going on.”

“This nerfherder thinks that shutting the engines off would make for an effective escape strategy.”

“In the sky, or out in space?”

“In the sky, Aunt Mega. He’s got a kriffing death wish.”

Omega looks at the young man,standing there with his arms crossed and chest heaving. He’s ready for a fight.

“Well? In the sky would you turn your engine off?”

“He said tha—”

Omega holds up her hand, quietening Holly immediately.

“No. I want to hear this from him. It is his idea after all. So Mr. Trouble-maker…”

“Poe.”

“Gesundheit. Mr. Trouble-maker, care to explain why you think killing your engines in the middle of a battle would help you in any way?” Omega questions.

Poe thinks over his answer before beginning what she knew would be a long-winded speech bloated with chest-puffing and exaggeration. She knew both well.

“Well, as I was saying to my lovely acquaintance — Holly, was it —,if you’re skilled enough, a pilot could kill your engines only halfway and dropped behind enemy fighters and become the one doing the chasing.”

He finishes his explanation with a nod to a glowering Holly and turns his gaze back to the woman in front of him.

Poe had heard of the “Aunt Omega” of base camp. In her eyes there was a sparkle that spoke of wisdom, kindness, and love. Her hair is white as Hoth, held back by a red bandana,her face covered in laugh-lines that were evidence of a good life full of happiness. Everyone said that she was kind, loving, caring, and more. They also said she was hard-headed, extremely quick, and took no bullshit from anyone.

“Your response, Holly?” Omega turns to Holly looking to create a discussion instead of an argument.

“I said bullshit because your engines wouldn’t be able to turn off and then back on quickly enough to escape.”

“Half off,” Poe snaps back.

“Oh yeah well I’m gonna cut half your—“

Holly isn’t able to finish her sentence before Omega stops her once again.

“Thrusters.”

“Pardon?” Poe looks at Omega incredulously

“Not the engine but the thrusters. You have to lower the thrusters and pull back if you even hope to dream of finishing that tight of a turn.Technically, it could be possible if you lowered your thrusters to slow down already but kept the engines primed when you shut them off. And then turned them back on and immediately throttled all the way up.” Omega says, rubbing her chin in thought, though she already knows the answer. Her brother had taught her this years ago.

Poe turns to Holly and very maturely sticks his tongue out. She flips him off in return.

“All right, all right. Since you two have decided to be as immature as possible, why don't you test this out?”

“Mega, I don't know if that's a good idea,” Leia tries to start before Omega shoots her a trust me look.

“Those two x-wings have your names on them. Troublemaker, you get to test your theory and if you’re wrong, Holly you get to take out your frustrations in a game of tag,”

“Tag? What are we, twelve?”

“Did you play tag in x-wings at twelve years old?”

“Wouldn't you like to know, flyboy”

“Real mature.”

“You’re one to talk.”

Leia and Omega watch the two bicker before looking at each other and laughing, grinning at the next generation of youngsters who would be taking their places.

“If you two are done, I want to see what you’re made of. Go.”

The pilots shoot one last glare at each other before racing to their x-wings,throwing on their helmets, each one trying to beat the other to their ship. They carefully race through their pre-flight checks obviously safety is a large concern when playing tag with an X-wing.

“I’ll give you a couple seconds head start, Troublemaker.” Holly can be heard throughout the hangar, Omega turns and sees that there is a group starting to form around a radio connected to the com systems.

“The name’s Poe.”

“Is it?”

“Fifty credits the new kid eats it, Holly’s got this,” one mechanic says as he and another pull up crates for the growing crowd to sit on.

As Holly takes off she makes eye contact with Omega, giving her a two fingered salute.

“See? Crazy needs crazy,” Leia comments as they turn their attention to Poe who had been doing some tricks to warm up.

“You said he could fly, what is it that he's doing now? That's just fancy flippage and twirling.”

“Meh, he's got the foundation. I need you to help build the rest.”

They both practice for several minutes, getting comfortable in their fighters before hearing Omega’s voice through the speakers.

“Alright, I want a nice clean game. The guns are set to simulation so you can shoot as normal without messing up those beautiful paint jobs. Three tags and you're out. Got it?”

“Affirmative Auntie.”

Silence…

“Troublemaker?”

“It's not— ugh! Nevermind, yeah got it,”

The two fighters swing away from each other. The crowd on the ground cheers as Holly spins and hits the accelerator immediately closing in on Poe,

“Tag! You’re it!” Her joyous shout can be heard over the coms. The responding muttered string of curses isn't heard as clearly over the audience’s cheers for their friend.

“That’s one for Holly! Troublemaker, I’m still waiting to see that fancy trick of yours.”

The two fighters round back at each other, playing a game of chicken before they pull away and turn in opposite directions. This time it’s Poe chasing Holly as they zoom through the sky. She manages to evade him for a while as the sun gets lower and lower.

Leia and Omega sit by the radio as more people drop off, leaving to go finish work or rest in their quarters. Finally, after ages of cat and mouse, Holly makes a mistake and Poe lands a tag on her.

“Ha! Tag! How's that feel?

Holly scoffs in frustration as they return to the starting points.

“Alright kids this is taking a while. Next point wins, free for all. Go!”

At first Holly has the upper hand and chases Poe across the sky. Both pilots maneuver their fighters through tight turns and large loops, trying to get the other in their sight.

Eventually Poe gets tired of being chased. It’s time to test his theory.

He makes sure Holly is still behind him before opening a private com channel to her.

“Ready for that special move?”

“Never gonna work, I’m gonna have to fish you out of the jungle after this,” she says confidently as she narrows in on him.

Poe grins under his helmet as he locks the brakes slamming the throttle back, cutting the thrusters off, killing the engine, and spinning around full force before tagging Holly and slamming the thrusters back on and shooting right past her. Spinning around 180 degrees and tagging her before she can even turn her head.

Holly’s frustrated yell can be heard as Poe whoops in celebration.

“Great flying kids, come back in for a landing. We need to talk,” Omega says into the coms.

“That's totally not the scariest phrase in the galaxy.”

“I’m sure you hear it a lot, Troublemaker,.”

“You know what, I'm gonna come up with a name for you and you are not gonna like it.”

“I'd love to see you try.”

The two continue to bicker as they come in for a landing, parking side by side.

Holly jumps out of the x-wing and holds her helmet to her side. She walks towards the two older women still sitting on crates, now the only spectators left.

“Ho-ly shit,” is all she can say as she shakes her hair out and joins Omega and Leia as the sun starts to envelope the room in a golden glow.

“I have to admit Aunt Mega, he is pretty good.You could make him great though,” Holly admits, grinning and giving Omega a hug.

“Not you too! Leia put you up to this didn't she?” Omega realizes she walked straight into a trap as Leia and Holly exchange a knowing look.

“Who, me? Conspire with our favorite General to make sure my Auntie stays here for a little while longer? I would never.” Holly keeps her eyes wide and pouty for Omega who can't help but laugh.

“You little shit, you lost on purpose didn't you?” Omega shakes her head as Poe lands and hops out of his own X-wing. He saunters over, helmet on his hip, winking at Holly as he joins the group.

“Seeing as I won and my nerfherder theory was correct, what’s my prize?”

Holly looks from the General to Poe smirking.

“Lessons with the best.”

“If the lessons are with you, Pretty girl I will never be late to class.”

“Pretty Girl. That's all you got?”

“You don't like it? How about—smart girl?”

“Funny, the lessons are with Auntie Mega. She’s the best around here.” Holly informs Poe who spins to look at a smug Omega who simply waves at him. Holly waves goodbye to the small group as she runs to escape Omega’s glare.

“Alright then, what kind of lessons are we having? You gonna teach me any more tricks? I like that spin, you got a name for it?” Poe questions Omega, rapid fire.

“First you are gonna go get cleaned up, then you are gonna meet me up on that cliff in 15 minutes. I need to destress after dealing with you children.”

With these words Omega turns headed towards the end of the hangar, ready to go to her special place. Her shadow long behind her as the sun continues its descent into the horizon.

[harrysmimi]

CEOrry Pt.5

Synopsis: YN and Harry attend her friends wedding. A lot of things said and confessed

Ps. This is the last part.

Series Masterlist | More of my work

It was time for the twenty week prenatal check up and the ultra sound of course.

He was nervous. He haven't seen YN in about two weeks and half. He had to go back and forth Los Angeles and New York City for business last minute. But he had Jeremy drive YN to and from work, he has Lizzie check on her every other day or so. He didn't get to talk to her much.

Just to make sure she's doing alright.

The image of her in pain and misery is still hard to shake from his brain. He just wants to do everything possible to make sure YN isn't in any discomfort.

As new as it sounds. He cares for her. In more ways now. That is new.

She's sweet and caring. She is fiesty when she has to be, which is understandable. Being a woman is hard enough itself, though she's agree it's not an excuse for being an asshole to him.

He's seen her check up on her family as much as she could. Text her brother and dad as much as she could, especially when they're waiting for their turn at the doctors and she's got nothing better to do.

But today, it was something else.

She was going to see him at his place before they went to the doctors. He had an urgent meeting and he's been at office si ce last night, working overnight on this project with his team. He needed a nice hot shower and a change of clothes. And some food of course.

Just when he was coming downstairs, he heard YN's angry whispers from the patio. The door qas closed as she walked back and forth, bare foot, furiously yelling at someone over a phone call. He couldn't understand a word even though he could hear her clearly. She was saying something in her native language, except a few English words she used here and there.

"No, you listen to me you little bastard, you're going to give your phone to Papa at six every night. No going out, no drinking with friends, no seeing all these girls you see every other week." She was yelling at her brother she reckoned, "you're grounded until I see that degree of yours." She paused talking for a moment.

"Then I told you, do what you're interested in, you dumbo! I never forced you to study Business. I worked two jobs here just so you can go to the best college and study, I never expected this from you Veeraj! No! You're going to go take the re-exam, I want you to at least pass, my love! Then you can go ahead and do whatever you want. At least you'd try something."

Harry could see YN was on verged of breakdown. She looked so hurt and exhausted. Mentally exhausted. But she seemed to be calming herself there.

"That's okay! Everyone is not same, Vee, you gotta understand. I understand that. No one is really pressuring you to do anything you don't like. Rebelling is not going to be a answer to anything. I'm trying my best to help you out here. Just so you don't end up drowning in student loans. Now is really not the time for this. You've got to stop drinking, stop hanging out with friends who just take away from your energy. Set up boundaries for yourself. I'm not asking for you to grow up, I'm asking you to learn to take up your responsibilities. I'm going to be here to help every step of the way, whatever it is you want to do I'll find a way to support you, okay? Do you understand me?" She paused for a moment, "That's what I thought. Now I'll ask my friend to take you in for a few lessons. I want you to promise me that you'll do something to get yourself to be a better person, okay? Yeah. That's what I thought. Now go to sleep, and start fresh from tomorrow."

He found her very attractive. He kept staring up until after a few byes and I love yous YN hung up her call and sat down on the step of the patio, crying.

That's when Harry decided to step out and talk to her. "Hey, what's wrong?" He sat down next to her.

"It's nothing. I've been crying since last night." She said.

Lie!

He talked to her last night and she was laughing and joking, having the time of her life making fun of him over the voice call.

"That's not true, YN. You know you can talk to me, right?" He suggested.

"I know." She nodded, "it's just my little brother. He's got weird circle friends and drinking problems. I mean he's barely twenty. It's going since he was seventeen. It got worse when I moved here for my dissertation. Our dad can look after just so much, he's sick and his work took so much toll on him. He failed three of his classes last semester. Which is a lot given his last two year record. If he fails he's got to start all over again."

"It's all my fault. I never asked him what he wanted to study before I gave my own suggestions. I shouldn't have moved here." She mumbled as she sobbed.

"Hey, no, no!" He pulled her closer to his side with his arm around her back, "you try your best, don't you? And that's what matters."

"I don't know. He's like my own baby, I've been taking care of him since I was six. I can't see him doing things which are going to make his life miserable in long run. He's not like this." She finally chose to confide in Harry there.

She isn't a saint, she got drunk too. But that was the first time. That made her more guilty for yelling at her brother like that.

"We'll get him the help he needs, yeah?" He assured her, "you don't have to beat yourself up for something you can't have control over."

"You've done enough for me, Harry, I can't bother you more." She sniffled, "he'll get throught it, he's done it once when our dad found out."

"If you think so." He sighed, "did you had your lunch?"

"Mhmm." She nod her head, "I was hungry so I ate before I came here."

"Good." He smiled, "now do you want to come inside?"

"Just five minutes?" She asked, "and did you eat?"

"I'm going to do that now." He tried to hold back his stupid grin the best he could. She cares about him enough to check up on him even though she's an emotional mess in that moment.

"Okay."

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

Another hour of wait for the monthly check up (twenty four weeks). YN was already over it today. She'd call it a day off she didn't had to go run some errands after at the bank and pick up a few things from the post office and things like those. Julia was going with her, so she didn't had to take cabs and tube and such.

She was just sat there, slumped and dazed off. Not noticing that Harry had quietly slid his hand into hers on his lap. She didn't realise until she heard another couple comment something along the lines of 'they're so adorable' now maybe it was for something else, but it caught her attention. Warmth in her hand grew slowly closing towards her heart there.

YN had so much going on in her mind, especially in that moment when she could feel the baby move.

They started moving just a week before she went to appointment solo. She couldn't bring herself to share that with Harry. She can control not sharing that. Even though she knows she shouldn't.

She can't have a say in the baby's life but she can at least have a control over this. Of course he won't touch her without her permission, or she'll kick his ass. But he won't.

YN have picked up on the baby's pattern. They were active mostly when she's feeling tired. Not to mention, the heartburn. She just wishes they're not as hairy as she was a baby. Her mum used to tell her how she couldn't even lie down when she had her. She was five and she remembered, she was just lying on her mum's lap as she asked her stupid toddler questions, her mum would answer to her the best way her five hear old self could understand. But with her brother, she could lie down and eat because her brother was a bald baby. But adorable none the less. She missed her mum.

Also she didn't wanted to share too much, before the baby was taken away from her. Well, it isn't her technically. She never wanted to give up her own child, but she did so she wasn't parentless. That was to save ber dad, who's perfectly fine and healthy.

And even though they're on time, they still have to wait at least two and half to three hours for their turn. Which is annoying on many levels.

"Hey, you're tired?" She heard Harry whisper in her ear to which she nodded. "C'mere." He draped his arm behind her on the chair, "just relax, yeah? Everything is going to be fine, I'm here."

She wanted to punch him in the face, but she understood what he was trying to say. Everything is going to be fine, she's going to be fine. So she leaned to his side just to be hit by the fragrance of his cologne in the face. But it was comforting. Weirdly enough.

"We've still got an hour and half." His voice was nothing more than a whisper, "you can take a nap, I'll wake you up, yeah?"

"I'll try." She agreed.

She could really use a nap. But in her own bed. Under her fluffy blanket, and AC on blast. Not at her place here. Back home. She's got a huge bed with comfiest mattress and bedding, she missed it now more than anything. She can cry to go back home and hug her dad.

She tried to sit there as still as she could with a baby inside her having a rave party. She watched Harry check few of his emails, they were from a same person with lists of products for a baby and a nursery. She doesn't mean to peep, she wouldn't have looked into his phone if it were related to his business. But it's not.

Now Harry thought she was fast asleep when he checked his emails until he heard a few soft sniffles from her. He peeped down to find her crying. "Hey, why you crying, darling?"

"It's nothing." She shook her head, "I just don't feel well, that's all."

"Just a few more minutes, yeah? Then we'll ask Doctor Wilson if we can do something for it. Hmm?" He suggested.

"Yeah."

"It's okay." He hugged her close to his chest.

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

"Baby's got a lot of hair on their head." Dr. Wilson shared, "this sort of explains the heartburn." Harry looked back and forth between YN and the screen in front of them. "You can still feel the baby move?" To which YN nodded.

"You can?" He whispered looking at her with puppy eyes.

"Mhmm." She nodded.

"You want to know the sex of your baby, Mr. Styles?" Doctor Wilson asked.

Now that made YN's heart sink to her tummy. But was the truth. She signed up for this. Doctor Wilson was the one who have helped her with everything from day one. She knew everything about the IVF and her being the surrogate and everything. But she noticed Harry glance at her for last minute approval. She didn't know what to say.

"We'd like to wait, thank you." He smiled.

He said we.

The appointment went smooth as always, doctor Wilson gave YN some advices to help her heartburn. She then had a little bit of time with just YN because she wanted to ask her some questions, which given if both the parties were couple she wouldn't mind asking with the partner in the room.

Doctor Wilson is very thoughtful, especially when she knew YN had personally asked for a female doctor, and that YN was a bit uncomfortable with Harry in the room at the beginning of the screening to see if she can carry a fetus to full term in a healthy manner. But her one question only directed towards Harry had her puzzled with her emotions that day.

She should just really talk to Harry. Right? Or at least try? He'll understand, right?

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

She held off.

More so that more weeks went by, her health wasn't getting any better (the baby is very healthy) plus she's got a wedding to get through with. YN passed out three times in her bathroom, lucky she sustained no injury. She lied down on the floor carefully when she felt it coming. Her friends almost rushed her to the Emergency department the fourth time. But it was controllable. She went to see her doctor the very next day.

Harry wasn't in town again. He'd gone on another last minute call, this time it was for award ceremony for entrepreneurs and such. He was awarded with couple of awards there, it was just going to go to his every growing college in his office. YN had to go to her monthly checkup alone this time. And it was going to be only time she has to go alone.

But when he came back it was just time for Josh and Kayla's wedding. Harry was actually late, so Jeremy ended driving YN to the wedding venue two days before. He had no idea what went on.

It was the time when the bride and everyone was done getting ready, and they were taking pictures.

YN's dress was loose, she wasn't showing much even though the baby weighed half a pound more than it should be at twenty-one week. It was easier hide her belly.

Now she doesn't want to draw attention to her belly and take away from her best friend's special day. But she did snuck off to the bathroom in her own room next door to take a few of pictures on her phone, posed as where her belly is visible.

"YN you're being dramatic and extra. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it." She scolded herself as she looked through the pictures, just as she was about to delete those, she heard the bride calling for her.

"YN, your alright in there?" Kayla asked, "talk to me so I know you did not pass out in there, babe."

"Yeah, I'm fine." She called out. But not until she heard, the door knob being violently being shaken from the outside.

"Unlock the bloody door YN!" He banged on the door, "open rhe fucking door damn it!"

It was Harry knocking on the door, hard. She hoped he didn't bruise his knuckles when she quickly opened the door worried. "Why are you knocking so hard? Is your hand okay?"

"Why didn't you tell me?" He glared at her ignoring her concerning questions. There was a hint of worry behind his anger.

YN looked at her friend. She just threw her hands up in defence, "I didn't tell him anything. He over heard it." Kayla explained, "I'll give you two a moment." With that she fled the room. YN sighed and walked to the bed in her hotel room so she could put on her shoes.

"Why didn't you tell me YN?" He followed her.

"You were away for work. I didn't wanted to burden you with my problems." She answered and picked up her left shoe. She was going to wear her sneakers because she can't walk properly even when barefoot. She trips and falls, especially at weddings.

"I expect you to share things like with me, YN." He sighs in frustration and kneels down in front of her to help her with her shoes. "How many time have I told you that, hmm? This is ridiculous. You, you think that stupid award function is what I cared about more?" She didn't say anything. He just looked up at her when he was done putting her shoes on for her and found her looking at him with puppy eyes.

Honestly, she can fight with him right there. But it's her friend's special day she doesn't wanna ruin it.

"You wanna talk later?" He asked to which she nodded. "Yes or no?"

"Yes!" She huffed getting up and walking towards the bathroom where she left her phone.

"Hey, YN, I'm sorry. Shouldn't have talk to you like that." He tailed her around as she gathered her stuff. She grabbed a lipstick, and stuff it in the pocket of her dress.

"You tied my shoe lace too tight." She ignored him like he did not yell at her even five minutes ago. Without a question he knelt down again to retie her shoes for her.

For the rest of the ceremony, leading upto the reception party none of them talked to one another but yet managed to savour and enjoy every minute, for her friends at least.

First it was the dinner then the reception according the bride and groom's plans. It was emotional, funny and sarcastic with all of the speeches. And the drinking and dancing began again.

YN was getting overwhelmed already. Especially after her little speech. She could still see Harry there, he looked pissed. She went to get herself a glass of water by the bar.

"Hello there." Someone went to sit on the stool right next to hers. It was Doctor Micheal Jones.

"Hi..." YN was confused seeing him there.

"Been waiting to talk to ya whole night actually. How have you been?" He asked.

"I've been good, what about you?" Oh how she hated the small talk.

"I'm great." He smiled. She noticed he's got dimples too, a blond stubble and both his arms were covered in random tattoos, she could see from the rolled up sleeves.

Wait, has she got a type?

"You're from the bride or groom's side?" She asked him before he could say anything further.

"I am Heidi, Joshua's step sisters cousin." The blue eyed man explained.

"Oh, that sweet."

"And you're from bride's side I believe?" He asked.

"Oh no, I'm technically from both of their sides." She giggled, "they're both my best mates."

"YN, darling can I talk to you?" It was Harry interrupting Micheal before he could even utter a word. "Come on darling it's urgent please." He grabbed a gentle hold her hand as he helped her down the stool making sure to take her water bottle from the counter. He guided her out.

YN didn't get to take in the venue when the sun was up. But the wedding was at the Stourhead House and Gardens in the county of Wiltshire, near the Apollo Temple.

It's the exact place where Kiera Knightley's Pride and Prejudice was filmed. Kayla's a huge nerd for books, hence her PhD in English literature. YN never understood how that girl can read three to four hundred page book in a day to a day and half max. The venue was also something Kayla and Josh had little arguments over until they booked the place for the day.

"What?" YN slipped her hand out of Harry's, the metal of his rings was warm and cosy but she's mad at him for talking to her like that. They're out of the party now.

"Let's go there, it's a little loud here." He grabbed her hand again and walked towards the Apollo Temple which was barely fifteen feet away from the party. Which didn't make sense because it was still loud. They sat by the edge of the temple there. "You're feeling any better now?" He asked. Watching her lean into the pole next to her.

She looks tired and sleep deprived there. Her phone placed in between him and her with the lockscreen lit up, it was half part ten then and the the background was of the first ultrasound picture he sent her. It was the phone he gifted her, she's really using it. And the bracelet, she was wearing it. The piece of jewelry went so well with her baby blue dress, a stretchy bodice and off shoulder opaque sleeves ending just by her wrists. She wore a silver necklace with a little gold charm on it.

"Hey, come on, I'm really sorry darling." He scooted a bit closer to her, "why didn't you tell me, hmm?" He tucked the loose strand of hair behind her ear gently and she finally looked at him.

"I told you, I didn't wanted to tell you because you were away for work." She shared, "you said you have important meeting. I went to the appointment so I'm fine now."

"You also said, and I quote, I don't want to burden you with my problems, care to tell me what that means?" For the first time they're having a conversation without yelling at one another, "because I never said you're burden, did I now? I apologise if at any point I made you feel that way, I never intended to."

"You didn't, I, I, I just didn't wanted to disturb you that's all." She shook her head.

"I was done with my meeting on day one, should have told me YN." He insisted, his thumb caressing the apple on her cheek tenderly, "don't want it to happen again, but you'll tell me when it does, no matter how busy I am, yeah?"

"Yeah." She agreed.

"Have you been sleeping well?" He enquired.

"No, I can't lie down without feeling like my esophagus is burning." She shared. Truthfully. "Doctor said the baby's got way too many hair on their head. I'll give you the picture when we're back in Hampstead."

He cracked a smile, "about that..."

"What?"

"I, I actually forgot what I was about to ask you." He covered up for himself. He wanted to tell her that she can be in the babies life, he can get the agreement terminated and all. But it felt weird.

He knows she wants her own kids, that's why she was hesitant at first. But telling her now would sound wrong. He doesn't know if she wants to be a parent just yet. He'll tell her when he finds a better way to approach this subject.

He also so badly wanted to tell her how he felt. He really, really liked her. Hell and heavens he thought he's borderline already in love with her there. But he just held off. At least for now. It'll be too much for both of them. He actually really wanted her to be around the baby, he's seen how she always tries to look away from the screen at the ultrasound or talk less about the bahy with the doctor. How she asked for him to send pictures of the ultra sound print they got, and now it's her lockscreen.

"do you wanna go back inside?"

"Not really, I don't like weddings." She shrugged, "I told Kayla, 'if I got MIA for after a bit, don't worry'. Do you want to go in?"

He chuckled softly. "No, I don't like weddings either."

"Awh! Why?" She cooed, "sorry, I forgot no questions."

"You've asked me way too many questions, we're way past that." He pointed out.

"And I got no answers to those questions." She added immediately.

"Touché." He looked down sheepishly. "I found out my Fiancé and partner of six years was cheating on me, the morning of the wedding."

"No, that's so fucked up!" She gasped, "I don't get it why people cheat? Like what the hell?"

Harry giggled at her very honest and blunt reaction, "it's alright, I'm over it now." He shrugged. "It was the second time actually. Being cheated on. Wanted to adopt a kid at first but a single man with a busy schedule is not anyone's first choice. Tried for about three years."

"Understandable. I'm so sorry that happened to you."

"Why do you hate weddings?" He diverted the subject to her now.

"My reason is a bit more depressing." She said with her hand into a pinch to say how much more sas her reason is with a slight wink of her eye.

"I'm sure, but I'm here to listen."

"Trauma bonding, are we now?" She nodded her head squinting her eyes, "my mother died when I was six and my little brother was just two-three weeks old. Of course there was a wedding in our house so everyone was away except me, my dad and my mum with my brother, well 'cause she was sick."

"I'm sorry." He mumbled.

"It's fine, I've had twenty years to learn and grow." She shrugged.

"Do you mind me asking what happened?"

"She had a c-section with my brother and the internal stitches ripped open because she was throwing up and coughing so much. I was there when she, uhhh, you know... My dad was out getting us dinner when all of that happened." She moved back a little bit to sit comfortably with her legs criss cross, using the pole as a back rest, her hand resting on her bump as if on autopilot.

Harry just sat there looking at her as he processed all of what she said. She was six. Watched her mother die. That explains her fear of throwing up.

"Don't look at me like that, your green eyes scary." She laughed.

"I'm just trying to process." Harry shared, "What was her name? Your mum's name, I mean."

"Sofia." YN shared.

"That's a beautiful name." Harry cooed and took a moment to mirror how she sat. "Why don't you tell me about her?"

"You want me to talk about my Mummy?" She looked at him puzzled to which he just nodded, "well I've only known her for six years. But she was a doctor like me. A little crazier 'cause my dad told me once she was going for another doctorate. I never want to touch that ever again!"

"So you come from a family of a geniuses." He commented joining her laugh.

"You can say that. She had like three cats, only one of them is still alive. He's old man now. I brought him home on my way back from school he was about three months old, so he's technically my cat. My dad was furious, but who can go against mum's. I mean who's got that kind of audacity, right?"

"Exactly!" He agreed with his own dramatics, "Mum's are the best!"

"Not all of them, my step mother is a total witch. Witch not a bitch. Can't swear like that." She shared. "My mum was the principal of my school. And everyone loved her, obviously. As they all should. That's pretty much it. What else you want to know?"

"She sounds like an amazing person." Harry said. "I'm trying to figure out something though. I wasn't a hairy baby, nor my sister or my mother or dad. How is this baby so hairy? How did doctor Wilson even see that?"

YN looked at him in disbelief, "you failed your science classes by any chance?"

"Yeah, twice but what does that have to with--" he paused, "oh, oh. I'm sorry I didn't to say it like that. I also didn't want to assume. Just looking out for you that's all as you said you can't lie down and--"

"Okay, okay calm down." She stopped him, "it's okay, it's okay."

"Did she tell you what you can do to help with the heartburn?" He asked.

"Nope. Can just hope for the best." She shook her head.

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright. F.Y.I. sir, I was a very fussy baby as well. Good luck with that."

"You're joking?"

"Nope."

"You're joking!"

"I am not."

"Yes you are, you cheeky, you're laughing."

Now she was laughing, "you saw how much I still cry, right?"

He sighed, "yeah."

"We should go back in, they're about to play my favourite song." YN suggested. Harry was up on his feet immediately ready to help her up.

"Yeah? How do you know that?"

"I made the playlist, duh!"

They walked to the wedding party back. Or more like, Harry followed YN like a little smitten little kitten. Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran started playing.

"Would you like to dance with me, ma'am?" Harry offered his hand with extra add on of his charm.

"I'd love to." YN placed her hand in his. Harry took the opportunity to lace his fingers through her in a delicate hold, and slid his other hand around her waist. The baby in between wasn't enough to keep a modest distance.

"This alright?" He whispered as he swayed both of them to the soft tune.

"Mhmm." She nodded.

"What is with you and that doctor?" He asked all of a sudden looking behind her.

"Who? Doctor Jones?" She asked.

"Mhmm."

"Nothing. He's just a nice dude. Why did you ask that?"

"He's been oogling at ya the whole day!" Harry scoffed.

"By the way this is my favourite song." YN tried to change the subject and it worked.

"Is that Ed Sheeran?"

"Yeah!"

"He's one of my best mates." He casually bragged.

"You're kidding?"

"Nope."

"You are kidding!" She gasped.

"I am not. I have his number."

"You have Ed Sheeran's number?" She sounded gobsmacked.

"Yeah."

"Oh my god! Can you get me his signed record?" And she gasped again at her own idea.

"He's on tour right now, but I'll try." He couldn't help but laugh at her reaction, he place her hand in his on his shoulder as he reached to tuck her hair behind her ear again. "You look very pretty tonight, have I told you that?"

"I don't know." She shrugged nonchalantly, but she's screaming inside.

YN tried her best to keep her feelings in check. Like, it's not right. Today though, she did took time to really just take all the feelings in.

Oh boy, did he looked extra, extra dreamy today!

His hair grown out a tiny bit. He now styled his hair in a middle part, his stubble ever so slightly showing. His eyes looked so vibrant and relax, like there were no worries about anything behind them.

And today is about celebrating love too!

He wore a baby blue suit, with his staple white dress shirt. Which is always see through and top three buttons undone. His classic cross necklace, he switched it out to a gold one few weeks ago. And the tattoos on his pecks peeking through as always, which she believed are some kind of birds surrounded by little hairs on his chest.

It was touch of his soft thumb just under her lip which brought her back on earth. His face was just so close to her. That's when someone screamed her name.

"Oh god!" She was spooked.

"It's alright, who is that?" Harry asked looking behind her. It was one of Kayla's childhood friend, Hadleigh.

"YN!" The girl exclaimed as she approached her.

Now, Hadleigh and YN hardly talk to one another. But when they first met, they were really good friends. Until Hadleigh went ahead and shot her shot, telling YN that she had started to like her.

Well, it isn't like YN's not into girls, but she's confused if she's in girls like that in the first place. But most importantly, she wasn't looking for a partner that time (nor is she now unless it's Harry). YN's always been so focused on her career, she never gave going out or being in a relationship a shot ever. It just haven't been her cup of tea to begin with.

Plus, she didn't want to be vulnerable and open to someone.

Hadleigh of course was very understanding and respected her feelings. She got busy with her job as real estate developer. And life went on.

"Hadleigh, so nice to see you!" YN exclaimed.

"Same here," the blue eyed girl smiled as she took YN in for a hug, "I know I missed the ceremony but gosh this is amazing!"

"It is." YN had to agree, the party was lit.

"Oh, you're pregnant!" Hadleigh almost squealed.

"I, uhhh..." YN stuttered, "yeah."

"Congratulations!" She gave YN another hug.

"Thank you." YN smiled not knowing what to say, "this is Harry by the way." YN turned to Harry was stood just half a step behind her. "And Harry, this is Hadleigh. Kayla's kindergarten friend."

"Oh, nice to meet you Hadleigh." Harry approached her with a handshake.

"Nice to meet you too, Harry." Hadleigh shook hands with him. "Oh, looks like the bride is finally free. I'm gonna go talk to her before she gets busy again."

"Yeah sure." YN nodded.

"You want to go back to the hotel?" Harry asked once Hadleigh was gone, YN looked exhausted.

"No, I'll just go sit somewhere." She shared.

"Come." He grabbed her hand and guided her to the now empty dining tables set to a side, he pulled a chair for her to sit facing the dance floor, he pulled a chair like he did at the ice cream place on her birthday that night. His knee touching hers.

"Is it really that obvious, I'm pregnant?" She asked, her hand on her swollen belly now really showing she is in fact very pregnant. But she's been feeling insecure lately. She had to run last minute to the tailor to get her dress readjusted, even though it was made keeping in mind she'd grow by the time of the wedding.

Well, she's almost in her third trimester (twenty eight weeks). It was obviously going to show. YN just doesn't want to admit that this time is going way too fast.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, confused of her sudden change in mood.

"I-- she knew just by looking at me?" She wondered.

"She hugged you, darling." Harry defended her from herself, "I mean it's not a bad thing, is it?"

"No," she shook her head.

"Are they moving now?" He asked.

"Yeah, like crazy!" She sighed, "see!"

Harry carefully kept his hand where her's was, she placed hers on his. He felt a jolt which made him almost jump. "That was strong!" He commented laughing.

"Yeah." YN nodded.

It warmed her heart how he already adored the baby, they aren't even born yet.

And it also makes her heart sore thinking this is the only time she'll get with the baby. She's been contemplating to ask him if she could still see them from time to time. She would be fine if he never told them she's their mother. But it felt wrong.

After all he's just a complete stranger she met through a surrogacy agency website online, got pregnant via IVF, failed one time but worked the second, he paid her for carrying the baby. She's already grown to love the baby so much that it also felt wrong that she did it all for money at first.

She doesn't want him to think she's in with wrong intentions if she asks to see the baby in future.

Though, she's already paid one of the installments to the remaining amount he had lent her. He doesn't know about it, but his accountant and Personal Assistant does.

"You good?" Harry sounded concerned. That's when YN realised her eyes were getting watery as she thought about everything.

"Yeah. Just a little sleepy." She made an excuse, which he surprisingly belived.

"Do you really want to go back to the hotel, YN? You know we can." He suggested.

"No, I'm fine. I promise." She assured him.

They sat there in corner watching the party go on. Until Kayla came and approached YN herself, she was little tipsy but she pulled a chair next to her.

"You look tired." She spoke, "I think should really go and rest."

Harry jumped in too, "that's what I said."

"See, he agrees too." Kayla pointed out. "You need to rest!"

"I know, but I'm having fun just sitting here." YN shared. And she is indeed having fun there.

The party eventually came, newly weds were off to their honeymoon. This was all new to YN, as everything was over in merely three days.

Harry drove YN back to the hotel room. His was booked right next tk hers. They walked as it was just to the walking distance.

"This ended very quickly." She commented.

"Quickly?" Harry got confused.

"The wedding." YN shared, "it went on barely three days, it was just a bachelorette party, then going over some things the next day, then the wedding, this happened really quickly."

"That's a long time."

"No, it's not. Wedding functions usually last for weeks. Not that I like or enjoy any of those, but it was still significantly different experience." She explained.

"Yeah?" Harry sounded in amusement. They reached her room there, it was too quick for Harry's liking.

"Hmm, Indian wedding usually last for about two weeks to a month." YN shared as she opened up the door to her room.

"Have to attend an Indian wedding myself then, eh." He beamed, "I'm just next door to you, call me if you need anything, hmm?"

"I will, thank you." She nodded. "Wait... This is not my room." She checked the card key.

"Got you stuff moved here. It's a lot more comfortable." He explained.

"This is a freaking suite Harry, who's going to pay for it?!" She opened the door and was shocked to see the room.

It had light blocking curtains, a massive bed she doesn't have to now share with Julia. It had it's own sofa and coffee table by what she reckoned is a floor to ceiling glass window.

"I did." He said, "try to get some sleep now darling."

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

It was middle of the night and YN was craving chocolates.

Now, she can hold herself off till she can get something to eat which she is craving. It was a different kind of urge now. Especially when she couldn't eat the chocolate desserts as they had Rum in it. Kayla almost killed off the caterers for not having a Alcohol free dessert as she asked for specially for her best friend.

YN could go down to the hotel gift shop and buy a very expensive bar of chocolate but she just want to get out of her room. The bed is awfully comfy. And she couldn't sleep because every time she goes to lie down, her stomach acids want to gush out of esophagus. So she called Harry. Sent the man out to get her chocolates. And he did so. The gift shop was closed off he messaged her so he drove to a nearest shop to get her what she wanted. It looked like he bought the whole store when he got back with just more than just chocolates she asked for.

"Is this enough, darling?" He set everything on the little coffee table by the floor to ceiling window which was now closed off by light blocking curtains.

"That's too much Harry!" She walked upto him. "Just asked for a few chocolates."

"Well, I figured you might be hungry as you didn't eat much tonight." He pulled out a few bags of crisps, "usually don't condone eating junk food, but this is the best we can do at two in the morning."

"Thank you!" She cooed and hugged him tight.

Harry was taken back. Not by her hugging him but by the butterflies in his tummy. He hugged her back though. Her hugs are always warm and welcoming.

"Of course, my love." He rubbed her back gently, "why didn't you sleep?"

And she got to opening a bar of chocolate as she sat down on the sofa chair, right next to him. "I can't sleep. Everytime I try, my stomach acids want just gush out." She munched on the chocolate and yawned.

She really needs sleep, but she can't sleep sitting up. It's very dangerous. She might fall off her bed, or sleep in a position which might hurt the baby.

"Oh look," she grabbed a hold on his wrist and place it on her stomach for Harry to feel the punches. "And there goes the jab!"

"Ouch!" Harry almost felt that under his skin, "they're being a trouble maker, aren't they! Go to sleep now, will you little wrestler!"

"What the hell!" YN stopped feeling them move out of nowhere. "Did they just stopped moving?"

Harry chuckled, "they already listen to their Papa, don't they?" His thumb ran gentle strokes over the oversized shirt she wore.

"Yeah." She's in awe again. But took advantage and moved back to relax maybe take in a nap before long car ride back home the next day. Harry got up quickly and got the blanket from the bed.

"C'mere." He sat next to her again with his arm draped onto the back rest of the sofa. YN hesitantly leaned in resting her head on his shoulder as she tried to sleep.

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

Next morning was chaos.

YN was throwing up so their drive back was delayed. Julia was accompanying them as Harry offered. He saved her the hassle of taking a train back home. So it was now Julia and YN play arguing over some snacks they bought just before getting in the car.

Harry had a great time watching them bicker back and forth without offending one another. He'd act as if he's not paying attention when either of them tried to bring him in their pretend argument, not wanting to be the bad guy.

That was pretty much it for the day.

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

The very next day was when Harry resumed his duty of taking her to and from work.

He wants to make sure she's safe and sound himself. Sure he trust Jeremy with his own life. But he gets more time to spend with YN.

"Hi!" She greeted him with a warm smile on her in morning when he picked her up.

Harry took to this very lovely breakfast place, one because Lizzie is on a vacation, and two he can't cook to even save his life without burning down his kitchen. He's hungry and he knows she might have not eaten well either.

"I can't believe you out of all people are eating out today!" YN pointed out sipping on her smoothie.

"Lizzie is on a vacation." He shared.

"You didn't cook?" Harry just glanced at her sheepishly, "so you're going to eat out till she comes back?"

"I guess, or maybe I'll crash at my mum's."

She giggled, "come over tonight, I'll make you something to eat."

"You don't have to darling, you're already tired enough." He found her glaring at him, enough to be intimidating. "Alright!"

And that's what they did. Harry picked her up from work and they went straight to grocery shopping, because she didn't had much left at home and they went back to her place.

Julia was home, watching TV.

Harry had figured the blondie is fun to hang out with, she just hated him for reasons he doesn't know. Well, maybe for treating her best friend like crap that night at his bar.

"Hello mamas, how was your day?" She spoke looking behind, "oh look mister grumpy pants is here too!"

"Hello to you too, blondie." Harry waved at her.

"You're staying in tonight, J?" YN asked to which Julia nodded, "I'm making dinner."

"I was just going to order us Pizza!" Blondie gasped in excitement and followed the pair into the kitchen. Harry noticed a few boxes in the kitchen. Like someone was moving out.

"Who's moving out?" He asked.

"The newly weds." Julia shared as YN made a run to the loo. "They got their own place now."

"Awh!" Harry cooed. Both of them took out the ingredients from the bags mean while YN came back, in a civil manner. Civil manner from Julia mostly.

"Can I please have the kitchen to myself?" YN asked as she stepped back in the kitchen. She doesn't like the clutter in kitchen when she's cooking, and knowing her best friend, Blondie would definitely pick a fight with Harry.

"I'll leave." Julia saw herself out to continue watching whatever animal documentary she was watching.

"I'm staying to help." Harry announced as he rolled up sleeves of his white dress shirt. YN said nothing as she handed him an apron, knowing his short costs as much as a month worth of rent.

She started off by chopping onions and tomatoes. Harry's eyes almost started tearing up as he stood there waiting for her instructions to do something.

"Oh my god those onions!" He hissing covering his eyes and making YN laugh.

"Go sit out, I can do this." She told him.

"No, I'm fine. I'm fine." He sniffled. "What are we having though?"

"Okra, which is Bhindee, Roti, rice and Daal." She shared the menu with him.

"Never had that before." He sounded intrigued to try new food, "the most I've had is Biryani, Jeremy's wife made."

"You're missing out." She sighed dramatically.

"Really?"

"Really!"

"Guess we'll have to ask Lizzie to make new foods then." He announced. And he for sure is going to ask his cook to make some new foods.

Harry had a few things to share with her, but given her friend is in other room he figured he'll do that the next day.

Barely two and half months till baby is here, the appointments were now every other week instead of every month. He wanted to know when was she planning to put in her maternity leave.

He just wants her to be comfortable, standing for hours on hours teaching is very fucking tiring. And dealing with teenagers? That's whole new level of difficult in his opinion. Though the summer vacation have already begun, she still went to work.

The cat, Noodle just walked past his legs to YN and lingered around the kitchen as she cooked.

"Can you stir this a few times in between?" YN asked him.

"Yes!" He's been waiting for this, he took on the work. The dinner was done in no time. Even the cat was given it's dinner around the same time.

Harry had a quiet night watching a Dinasaur documentary. YN seemed very interested in that as they all sat on the floor with coffee table as their dining table.

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

The very next week. Kayla and Josh were back from their honeymoon as they got ready to move out.

Even Julia had found herself a place to move to so she can afford the rent. YN was going to live at Harry's place, as per the contract as she's nearing the due date.

Like promised, Harry took days off to help YN pack up her stuff. She just clothes and a few things to move, like her bed which she sold as she'd have nowhere to keep it. And that was it.

It was pretty emotional leaving the place she called home from past five years. She hoped she'd finally get to go see her dad this summer but maybe she can go during winter break.

Back at Harry's, she got the room she spent a night at once. The closet was empty for her to fill it up.

YN didn't know what was upstairs, maybe Harry didn't used that floor. His bedroom was downstairs, maybe the floor above had guest bedrooms. She remembered Lizzie saying it is a six bedroom house. There were few people working in the other spare room that day. Maybe he's getting the nursery ready.

That thought made YN's heart sink again.

She spent a couple of hours just putting her clothes away from the boxes. She didn't know she had that many clothes, and none of those fit her anyway now. So she placed all of the clothes which don't fit her and she doesn't want to wear in a separate box to donate.

She was just on her last box when Harry came in with tea and a few snacks. He knew she needed to take her vitamins and few other medications doctor have prescribed to her, she needed to eat something for that. They had a very early lunch.

"You want me to help you with those?" He asked as he placed the tray on the ottoman in the closet.

"I'm almost done. Those are for donation." YN explained.

"That's like half of your closet." He pointed out, she just sighed and continued to place last few closed in their shelves. "We'll go shopping tomorrow, yeah?"

"It's fine, I am fine with these for now." She gesture at the clothes she had.

It looked like the closet was empty. She never had a walk in closet before, it was very new to her. She had very limited space at her last place anyway.

"Come on now I got Chai and snacks. Made it just the way you showed me yesterday." He grabbed a gentle hold of her hand as he walked her out. "You want to make any modifications to this room? We should add a study table so you can work comfortably."

"I just have a week and half of work left, don't need a study table. But thank you." She tried her best to smile but all she could think about was the baby she will never see again.

"You alright?" Harry could sense she is in deep thoughts but he let her decide if she wants to share it.

"Yeah, I just need a nap." Maybe she can sleep and her worries would go away. Yeah, she can try that whilst the baby is not moving.

"Okay, but at least eat something, yeah?" He suggested, "I'll be just outside."

"Mhmm." She picked up the mug of chai. She is going to eat before she sleep though.

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

YN couldn't sleep. So she decided to take a warm shower, got everything ready but she got a call from her dad. She just sat there talking to him for a while.

She hadn't told her dad that the baby was her's too, and she wasn't just carrying it for a couple. Not that he would be mad, but she just wanted someone to share it with. Someone who she shared that close bond with.

They talked about her little brother's latest behaviours, how he's getting back on track and getting the help he needs. Her dad shared that he went upto him to talk about it. YN was relieved from that worry of her. Her dad also shared how her brother was interested in modeling and that he's gone to a few casting too and all that stuff. He also shared that the doctors gave him a pass that he can go work in person in a next few months given his very fast recovery.

YN was over the moon hearing that. That was the reason she took that very big decision.

She had a nice cry and stayed in her designated room all night, sulking in her bed.

At least she got some sleep.

Harry didn't bother her until the next morning when she had breakfast in her room. He went to check in on her and take her shopping like he said last night. He managed to convince her to with him. But that was it.

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

Harry had managed to get YN's input on the nursery, which was very slowly coming together. He didn't mind if it was finished before the baby is here, because they won't be sleeping alone for a long time. She helped him build the cot, the dresser and changing table after the room was painted.

It was all wholesome and animal themed, on her suggestion. The room was already filled with a load of sensory toys, stuffed animals and loads of story books. The half of the room was already being planned to be padded with crash pads and a pretty soft rug on top and a small play fence. Everything was baby proof in the entire house already.

He was working from home now so he could do rest of work himself. Of course he encouraged YN to help him because all she did was sulk in her room after she was done working. But now she's not working. Her summer break as teacher had begun and she'd miss the next semester due to her maternity leave.

Just two weeks and half to the due date. It was rhe thirty-ninth week, almost fortieth.

"I don't know mum." YN overhead Harry talking to his mother about something. He was on his laptop looking for something, "yup that's great idea, I'll ask the doctor." She reckoned it must be about the baby so she waddled carefully towards him.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"I don't know which diapers to get. What if little bean has sensitive skin?" He whined in concern.

YN tried to hold back her laugh but failed, "get the reusable cotton ones. But yeah, you'll have to wash like a fifty of them at least twice a day."

"Is that really a good choice then?" He asked, now intrigued.

"Hmm." YN nodded. "I've usually seen grandma's making cloth diapers from used cotton clothes for babies. It's not harsh on their skin. I looked after my brother when he was a baby and my dad and grandma prohibited the use of single use diapers, unless we were going out or something. I've heard from a few friends back home that now you can buy those online too."

"Yeah?" He was impressed, "how many do you think will the baby need?"

"The more the merrier." She shrugged and started waddling back in kitchen.

There was a lot of left over noodles left in the fridge from lunch, which Lizzie left because she had leave early due to some emergencies. Or that all would go to the homeless in the community. The lady hated seeing the food go to waste.

Harry followed after her. He found her new waddle adorable. "You having dinner?"

"Yeah, you want me to heat up some for you too?" She asked as she took out the container.

"Yeah," he nodded, "do you want to watch a movie or something?" To which she surprisingly agreed.

He's been worried about her lately spending all her days in her room. Making up excuses so she can be in her room. They ate and sat watching The Witcher together on the sofa.

Harry had her tucked closer to him with his hand on the bump. Both were getting comfortable with one another. It was getting harder and harder for Harry to find a way fast enough to confess his feelings for her. He doesn't want it to be too late, but he barely knows how to. With a baby in mix.

He is in a complicated situation.

So is YN. She's grown comfortable around him. It's difficult when he's got to go for in person meeting last minute. She's gotten used to his antiques and how he bugs her every other hour to eat something or just do something with him. He's also managed to get her out for a nice walk, luring her with promises of ice cream. Which worked all the time.

She knows she's way past her infatuation, crush, and like phases with him. She's halfway sure she's in love with him. It was new.

She's only been with one person before but it only lasted for barely three months. She's been through the first few stages, but not this.

And there is a baby in the mix. Everything is happening backwards or out of order to confuse her even more.

But she's sleepy because has stopped moving for a few minutes now, or at least they've stopped kicking and punching her insides. She's learned to. She snuggled closer to Harry as her eyelids got heavier and heavier, until she was fast asleep.

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

It was the forty-first week. Harry and YN were out on a walk to go get ice cream. He had just gotten home from his last minute meeting. Lizzie so nicely offered to stay with her until he's back home. He hadn't even got to change as he directly to serving YN the dinner before he took her out to ice cream place.

They met his elderly neighbours who thought that he's got a wife now, they congratulated the couple as they walked past after a few minutes of talking. It was awkward, but made YN feel silly and giddy inside.

Turned out they know Harry very well, but the elderly couple seemed to be in hurry before either them could say anything. The walk to and from ice cream shop was slightly awkward. But they had to hurry back as YN was felt a sharp contraction.

Highly likely, it wasn't a Braxton Hicks thing, given the baby could arrive anytime.

YN wanted to be back in comfort of her bed in case anything happens. And Harry said he wanted to talk about something to her, maybe share something.

Maybe it was about how she'll have to leave the baby now. Maybe there were a few legal obligations. She had so many maybe's running through her mind in that moment. And Harry forgot about it in worries of what was happening.

Her contractions kept getting closer and closer rapidly every hour and half. It wasn't until her water broke. She was in bathroom luckily.

YN started panicking inside. She's not the one to scream when in pain, but she is wincing. It felt like her period cramps were on some heavy drugs and steroids.

"Hey, hey look at me." Harry tried to get her attention, "breathe with me, darling, it's okay." He did the rapid breathing exercises with her a few times before he got to getting the hospital bag. Even stuffed a spare outfit managed to get in the bag.

The drive to the car was painful and slow. There was no traffic given it was four in the morning. Harry had to drive carefully. He just hated seeing her cry in pain like that, getting flashbacks. This time the baby is healthy, YN is healthy. He parked closee to the entrance.

"Help me out please." YN mumbled.

"Yeah, yeah," Harry hurried out, but another contraction hit her. "It's okay, breathe baby." He held her hand tightly.

"It hurts, it hurts so bad!" She is crying, tears falling down her cheeks and all.

"It is going to hurt more if you keep holding your breath, darling." He rubbed his hand on her back.

She sighed, "I'm good, I'm good." Announcing she carefully stepped out of the car.

Harry followed her behind closely because she said she can walk just fine. Or waddle just fine enough. They were just halfway through the maternity department when another contraction hit her.

She stopped mumbling, grabbing onto Harry for support.

YN knew she can't handle this pain, she can only imagine how it would be pushing a heavy ass baby out through her vagina. It was going to hurt even more. A lot more. She can't do that now. Can she back off?

"We're so close love, you think you can walk?" Harry asked.

"Yes." She nodded and walked to the reception where they were checked in.

YN was asked to change into a hospital gown immediately and checked on. She was dilating on a good pace, and she was advised to move around to speed up the process even faster. She paced back and forth in the room but her pain was getting worse every passing contraction.

"You, you want to call your family and tell them?" YN suggested as she sped walked up and down in the labour and delivery room.

"I will do that later, YN," he shared, "you can ask for the epidural, you know?"

"I know, I know, just not now." She sniffled on her tears, but she broke down crying sat on the edge of hospital bed.

"Hey, c'mere." He hugged her, "everything is going just fine."

"I don't know, I don't know if I can do this." She sobbed, "I want to have a C-section. I can't do this."

"It's more risky, darling." Harry was surprised, "you can do this."

"Just talk to the doctor for me, please--" another contraction hit her right in the crotch.

And Harry did. After all it's her body, she can decide whatever. Given she's in agony and her decisions might not be right. He wouldn't invalidate her feelings like that. But Doctor Wilson adviced against her idea, unless there is an emergency, because honestly it had more risks to her. That made her real upset.

"Hey, you know there are cons to it." Harry cooed as he sat next to her, "the recovery time is longer, it's more painful, there are more chances of hemorrhage. I know you can do it."

"I don't care, I just want them to healthy."

"They're healthy, love, look you can see and hear their heartbeats there." He pointed at the heart monitor which was keeping track of the baby's heartbeat.

It was half past six in the morning, when YN finally gave in and asked for an epidural at eight centimetres dilation. Harry was asked to step out just so the room is clear and the procedure is done without any interruptions. It took them a whole hour to call him back in. Meanwhile he called his mother and asked her to come over if she could, he honestly didn't know what he could do. YN was in so much pain and it was getting just as hard on him to watch. He cried on the phone call with his mum.

But just a few minutes later YN seemed less stressed. "How are you feeling now?"

"Can't feel much waist down." She chuckled slightly, "this is why I waited so long to get the epidural."

"At the pain is less now, right?"

"Mhmm."

"You want anything?" He sniffled.

"You were crying?" She realised, "no, why are you crying Harry, the baby is fine."

"I know, I know." He nodded, "I'll get you more ice chips, yeah, just five minutes?"

"Okay."

Harry so badly wanted to tell her that he cares about her as well there. He is crying of two reasons, the baby is going to be here today and he just can't see her suffer like that. His mum was there by that time. She brought him coffee and said Gemma was on the way with breakfast for everyone.

Harry just couldn't bring himself to eat until way after the baby is here. But it was nice of his sister. His mum went out to get more bottles of water whilst he brought the ice chips to YN. He noticed the contraction were way harder than he last checked but she wasn't hissing in pain like before rather she lied there with her eyes closed.

"Hey YN, you want anything?" He asked again handing her cup.

"No, I'm fine. Thank you for this." She smiled.

"Those are higher than the last time I checked." He looked at the monitor again.

"It's feels like period cramps now." She shared, "it's bearable."

"That great!" He flashed his dimply smile finally. "Now, I, I-- to be honest I don't know what to do or say, so I just asked my mum to come over. She can be a great help, I, I can just call her in if you need to talk to her about anything which she can help with."

"No, you didn't had to bother her. I'm fine." A crease formed between her brows, a look of worry. He should asked his family to come visit after the baby was here, especially his mother. She bet the lady has more important work to do than be there to help her.

"It's alright, love." It was his mother. Pretty evident as Harry looks like a copy of her. "You're not a bother." She placed the water bottles on the side table. "I'm Anne, Harry's mum."

"Hello, I'm YN," she greeted her with a smile, "I feel bad now."

"It's okay, you can tell me what you need. I had two kids of my own, so I bet I can be pretty good help." Anne smiled.

She waited around the back as nurse checked on YN twice already. Harry sat next to her on the edge of her bed. His mum of course knew everything, he told her before he even told YN about it. In hope she might have a way to help him. She tried but he is just too anxious for that.

"What are you going name them?" She asked.

"Have a few names picked out, you want to help me?" He pulled out his phone and opened his notes app before she could say anything. "Let me know if you have any suggestions too." He handed her his phone. He had a list of ten names each for boy and girl and some just neutral names.

"You sure you want me to have a look?"

"Of course!" He shrugged.

Another good few hours went by, YN was starting to feel more pain but it was not something crazy. She was finally given a green flag for pushing. It wasn't as painful as she thought it would be due to the epidural she got, though she's sure it's gonna kick once it wears off. She didn't know how long she has been pushing for or now many were needed, all she thought about the baby's health. A nurse placed a clean towel over her chest.

YN panicked as the baby didn't started crying immediately, but they did once their back was rubbed. It was a loud high pitched scream cry.

"It's a girl!" Doctor Wilson announced as she placed the girl on her chest and YN stopped breathing in that moment.

That shouldn't have happened. They should have taken the baby away immediately. Now she was holding onto her, she doesn't want to let go. She started sobbing too.

"She does have a lot of hair." Harry commented, that's when YN realised she wasn't alone in the room with the new baby girl, her crying had gotten down to just few whimpers.

"Yeah!" YN cooed.

"Alright, YN a few more pushes for the afterbirth." Doctor Wilson caught her attention and someone was picking up the girl off her chest.

"No, no don't take her please." YN panicked, "please!"

"Can we please hold her longer?" Harry asked the nurse who of course agreed to it. YN held onto the girl the entire time until the pediatrician said they really have to weigh and check on the baby.

Harry stayed by her side as his mum was there whilst they checked the baby girl. YN looked at him confused. "You want some water?" He fetched her the bottle of water, "you did so amazing, she's here. It's a girl!"

"Like you wanted." YN nodded.

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

YN was all changed up into a clean hospital gown. She was given a very hearty meal.

The baby girl weighed nine pounds and eight ounces, no wonder why YN couldn't walk by the very end. She's definitely got a lot of hair on her head.

YN wasn't asked to feed her, hell, she haven't even got to see her again even though they're in the same room. She have been bleeding very bad so her stay at the hospital will be by the next evening. It was way past afternoon now. Harry has been going back and forth between her and the baby girl. She had asked him to talk to the pediatrician saying she's fine there as the nurse checked on her.

She doesn't even know what's her name is going to be.

"Ms. YLN, do you have family or friends we can call up for your discharge next day?" A nurse asked YN, everyone knows it's just a surrogacy case. By the talk of nurse, looked like Harry could take the baby home by tonight or even by early evening.

"Yeah, I, I'll call my friend." She nodded. The lady then proceeded to ask her questions on her pain levels, how she was feeling.

"Alright, we'll move you to the recovery room but you are advised to walk around every hour or so, for as much as you physically can." The nurse explained, "please don't push yourself to do more than you can."

"I will." YN nodded again. She tried to get off her bed and go find her phone in the mess which was the sofa chair now. It was painful, every step but she has to move around anyway, it wasn't certainly her first time out of bed after giving birth. She can say it was teeny bit less pain. She found her phone to text Julia to come over toni to the hospital. "Hello."

"Hey sexy, what's up?" Julia spoke.

"Just had the baby few hours ago." YN shared, talking as low as she could, "can I please ask you for a favour?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"I want you to come pick me up tomorrow, they want to keep me here overnight so I don't bleed out." YN shared, "and uhhhh... I'll also be needing help to get, ummm... my clothes and stuff the next morning. I, I promise I'll be out as soon as I find a flat."

"Are you kidding me?" Is the first thing Julia yelled, "isn't Harry going to be taking care of the afterbirth thing too?"

"I don't know. I forgot. I'm just feeling so alone right now. I don't want to bother him, he's with the baby and his mum." YN was trying hard not to cry. "Please come and see me?"

"I, I will as soon as I get off work, yeah?" Julia now sounded worried, "I'll ask if I can clock out early."

"Thank you!"

"Don't mention it, I'll be there. I promise!"

"Okay." She hung up the call.

"Hey, what are you doing out of bed love?" She heard Harry, "you feeling better now?"

"Yeah." She sounded walking back to the bed, "nurse said I'll be moved to the recovery room. They want to keep here for the night."

"No, what's wrong?" He followed her, baby in his arms. YN watched Anne leave whilst on a phone call, "what did they say?"

"It's nothing, I, I am bleeding too much." She shared, "I, I should probably go to the bathroom now."

"You want me to call the nurse?"

"No, I'll be fine." YN walked to the loo as fast as she could. When she came out the baby was crying and whining. The nurses were in and out of the room since they got there, she is already overwhelmed enough.

"Do you know how to swaddle her?" Harry sounded terrified, "changed her nappy, I don't know what's going on!"

"Let me see." She went ahead and put the new baby in a warm cosy swaddle.

"That's incredible!" Harry gasped, "look at her, all cosy now."

"Yeah." Baby girl is still whining. She's defin hungry. "Did she eat anything?"

"No, I wanted to ask if, if you wanted to breastfeed her. Only if you're fine." Harry shared, "the nurse is gone to bring the formula just incase."

"You'd be fine with that?"

"You sound surprised. Of course I'd be fine with that." He doesn't know what is going on. "I mean it's your choice at the end."

"I, I know--" before she could say anything further the nurse was back. But she rather ended up showing YN now to feed the baby.

That made her feel like dying now as she watched the baby nurse from her breast. She's in an awful state in that moment. But the baby had a full tummy, was burped and lied on her cot. It's exhausting being born, isn't it!

"Hey, what is going on YN?" Harry asked, finally.

"Nothing, I told you."

"It's not nothing. You're spacing out, come on talk to me darling." He cooed as he sat on the edge of her bed, "what did you mean they're going to move you to the recovery room? I don't know what is going on."

"You're not going home with her?"

"Not without you, no." He seemed more confused, "I'm more confused, YN."

"The nurse told me to call family or friends so they can take me home the next day." She shared, "I, I guess you can take her home in a few hours."

"You're coming home. Can't leave you like this here." He is now getting mad, "I told you I'm going to take care of you after the baby is here as well, didn't I? Not going to leave you alone. Little bean needs you, I need you."

"Why did she said it like that then?" She looked at him with eyes pooled up with tears.

"I'll talk to them," he assured her, "I know why she said it like that. I promise you I'm not going to leave you here. Why didn't you tell me before, hmm?"

"You were with you mother and baby, didn't wanted to bother you."

"I'm sorry you felt that way, but you're never a bother. Especially to me." He pushed her baby hair out of her face, "we'll go to the recovery room, have something to tell you."

"Okay." YN nodded, "I, I need to tell Julia, I, I called as I panicked. I'm sorry."

"It's alright." He assured her again, "you can ask your friends to come see her when we're out of here so it's more comfortable."

Harry made sure to make it clear that the baby and the mother are going to stay until she is discharged too, and that she is to be treated kindly there. He's seen a few nurses there being mean to her. Just because they knew little bean is related to her too and she was just giving away her child like that. Those nurses had a shift change anyway.

Gemma came over to see the baby too, she came with warm and healthy lunch. It was from a restaurant as she burnt the lasagna she was making on accident, hence why Anne hurried out. Least to say Gemma cried holding little bean.

"Is that hair underneath the hat?" She slightly pushed the hat back to check, "oh my god, yeah!"

"Yeah, got that from her mum." Harry bragged, YN almost choked on the water she was drinking hearing him say that.

Both of the ladies stayed till the last visiting hours. Finally there was quietness. Little bean had yet another meal, and is now laying on YN's shoulder. She's also been already holding up her head, and opening her eyes. She got those from Harry. Her fluffy cheeks had the slightest of the dimples.

It was a Styles trademark now, the dimples.

"When we get back," Harry spoke catching YN's attention, "I wanted to ask you a few things, make sure you're fine with them."

"Mhmm."

"I don't quite know how to help, this is obviously new. So I looked into it, found out about the Doula, they come in and help with the postpartum period, help take care of the baby. It'll be healthy for you and her." He tried his best to explain it in a best way possible, "I, I also know it's a huge part of the culture where you're from. We can or not go with the confinement thing, however you prefer it. So if you're fine with that, or we can figure it out as we go."

"No, no, I'd really like that." YN agreed, "frankly I don't know what to do either, I'm more tired now."

"We can stay in our little bubble until you recover and she's a bit older then, yeah?" He suggested, "and also, I've been wanting to ask you this for a while."

"Hmm, what?"

"I, I know you did not sign up for this. Was thinking of terminating the agreement you signed." He was holding onto his breath tightly, readying himself for her reaction, "I, I think she'd be more happier to have her second parent around."

"Really?" She's now crying again. The baby can call her Mumma now.

"Mhmm, I've already told my lawyer to get on it." He explained and a few more things, "we'll just have to sign the discharge papers and her birth certificate tomorrow before we take her home."

It warmed his heart to see how much little bean is loved already. The first time he got to hold her, all of the air was sucked out of his lungs. So tiny, and she felt warm against him, just how she moved her head to find a comfortable position to sleep on in his arms, hopefully feeling safe and sound.

It was a rainbows and unicorns moment for him. He thought he wouldn't be able to feel that connection with her, though she's a whole new person. He needs time to get to know her. It was all unexplainable.

It made him furious seeing how she's been treated by some of the nurses today, but it all sorted now. He dropped a quick message to his assistant to get the Doula on board. He found someone just perfect. It was an Indian lady around his mum's age with decades and decades worth of experience. It would also make YN feel at home.

Even though he stayed away from making his own conclusions, he could tell YN was slipping away in her thoughts with the baby. He's seen how bonded she already was and he'd hear her randomly talking to bump, or taking pictures in the mirrors around the house. Her initial decision of declining his offer has always been enough to remind him. She held back on so many of her opinions.

He wanted to hear them all. He figured it would be very unfair for both baby girl and YN to be away from one another.

"Is it going to be me visiting her every weekend? Or how, how do you want it to go?" YN asked.

"About that..." Harry shuffled in his seat, which has been the same since they got to the hospital, right on the edge of her bed. "Can I hold your hand for this?" And he grabbed a hold of her hand which didn't had a IV needle in it. "Don't want you slapping me across the face."

"I would never!" She gasped making him chuckle sheepishly.

"Just kidding." He took in a deep breath. "I want to make that everyday. I'm going to be so bad at this, at least for a while. But I've grown fond of you. So, so, so fond of you, couldn't realise when I fell in love with you. I want to be with you if you want that. Things are not planned but they can be figured on the way. We can do this together." He doesn't even want to think about her rejecting him.

"Wait," a blank look on her face made him more and more anxious. She's just processing he reckoned. "You're saying you like me?"

"Yeah..." He tried to process her question too, "well, it's more than that actually."

"You like me?" She asked again, emphasising the first and last word of her question.

"Let's switch that like for love, then yes. Most definitely, yes!" He said, little firmly. She just looked so flabbergasted.

"So you don't like me?" She spoke overwhelmed of everything in that moment, "wait, what? My brain just... What?" That made Harry giggle.

"Is it that hard to believe I'd ever say that?" He asked.

"Never imagined you'd say that, to me." She scoffed in disbelief, she still doubts he might be pranking her.

"And why would you say that?"

"I don't know," she sighed almost on the edge of crying, "I've been nothing but mean to you all this time, even though I didn't mean to. I'm sorry I don't mean to cry either, I don't know what is going on!" And the water works started.

"Awh, darling it's alright!" Harry cooed and immediately pulled her in a hug, he recieved one right back, "today have been so overwhelming for you, I know that but couldn't wait till tomorrow. We have to sign up the paper work and I reckoned it would be bad idea to put you in spot on the last moment, in case you have changed your mind about anything."

"No, I, I will not." She shook her head now sniffling. "Did you really mean what you said?"

"Every single word." He placed a feathery kiss on top of her head. He would be contained if she doesn't feel the same way, he at least tried.  "I love you. More than a friend, more than just being mum of our new girl."

YN squeezed him tighter. Would be too awkward to tell him she loves him too? Why would it be awkward? She would sound stupid, wouldn't she?

"I love you." She mumbled.

"I love you!" He chuckled softly squeezing her right back.

"Oh, my back hurts." She shared pulling away from their hug. Her back really did hurt, every bone in her body hurt in that moment.

"Oops, sorry," he helped her with the pillows behind her back.

The baby girl softly sighing in her sleep right next to YN's hospital bed caught his attention. Her small mouth curled up in a O as she let out a long breath.

"It's tiring being born, isn't it?" Harry pulled the cot closer so he can place a kiss on his baby's head. She squirmed raising her swaddled legs kicking him right in the face, earning a gasp from him. "Oh, now I know how your Mummy felt."

"Hey she's just a baby!" He heard YN from behind.

"Yeah you two are going to team up against me." He surrendered in defeat already. "Just want to hold her for hours."

"She'll get used to it and won't let you sleep." YN shared. He agrees. She needs space to grow, he can be smothering all the time.

"A little smothering can be excused." He shrugged giving his full attention to her now. "This is going all backwards, isn't it?" He moved closer, holding her hand close to his heart after he placed a kiss on her knuckles.

"Doesn't matter though."

"No it doesn't." He smiled at her. "It's nearly dinner time, the Doula will be here anytime now."

"You already called her?" She looked rather shocked, "whem did you do that?"

"Texted my PA, and I got a text from her when you were feeding Bean, firmly warning me from giving you anything other than water." He shared.

"She's going to be the ultimate mama bear." YN giggled.

She's seen her Nani, her mum's mum looking after her daughters and her grand daughters during their postpartum confinement. It seems to be brutal that she has to give up icecream for the next six weeks, and burgers, and pizza, and every one of her favourite junk food, nothing but warm healthy food she'll be eating. It's going to be tough, but she signed up for it when she agreed.

Of course it isn't her Nani so it's going to be different she reckoned.

"Are we going to keep calling her Bean?" She asked.

"Not quite settled on any names you picked out." He said, "which one do you like the most? You chose, Starla, Evara and Juniper."

"I don't know." She shrugged.

"Come on, help me out here." He affirmed, "you know we're in this together."

"Okay, how about you pick from Juniper or Starla?" She shortened the list for him.

"Hmm, lets see." He looked at the baby for a second and back to YN. "Looks like she's meant to be named..." She looked at him eagerly, so hoping he'd pick her favourite name, "...Juniper?"

"Yeah!" She exclaimed, beaming at him now. "Is she going to have a middle name? It's a thing here right?"

"Don't you have a middle name?"

"I don't. We use our dads, or most recently either one of our parents name on the legal documents and stuff, otherwise no middle name." She explained.

"Shes definitely going to have a middle name." He nodded, "I have it picked out already."

"You do?"

"Mhmm, it's going to be a surprise for you till the morning." He leaned in closer, hoping he could steal a kiss finally.

"Okay--" before she could say anything there was a knock on the door. It was the Doula.

"Hello, I'm Mrs. Nimrit Singh." The lady introduced herself. Right off the bat, she had a very homely vibe to her, "I am the doula you contacted."

"Oh yes, I am Harry." Harry introduce himself, "and this is YN."

"Hello beta." She greeted YN with a bright smile and a warm hug.

"Hello," YN smiled back, all of a sudden feeling her anxiety and stress about how she'd deal with everything related to her postpartum. "This is Juniper."

"She's absolutely precious!" Mrs. Singh awed at the chubby baby sleeping in her cot.

"She is." Harry agreed.

"I brought you two dinner." She said, "and I also be wanting to know when you two will be going home so I can prepare accordingly."

"Doctor Wilson said we'll be discharged by tomorrow evening." YN shared and few more things Mrs. Singh asked for.

"Okay then, I'll bring breakfast in the morning." Mrs. Singh announced, "and Harry I want you to make sure she gets enough sleep and she doesn't drink or eat anything cold, it's not healthy for her or the baby."

"I will do that." Harry nodded, "no ice cream for you then Missy."

"No!" YN whined.

"Just six weeks and you can eat whatever you want." Mrs. Singh assured her, it melted YN's heart.

"Okay." She made a puppy face.

They all ate dinner together, getting to know one another as they'll be spending next month and half to two months together. Mrs. Singh is a very lovely lady, calm and bubbly at the same time. She stood shorter, graying hair at her hairline, pretty gray eyes held so much motherly love behind them. She also wanted to in and check herself jf the house was ready enough for the baby and the mother, ready a warm bath and stuff. It was all new to Harry but YN seemed to know what she was talking about there.

Mrs. Singh bonded well with YN and Harry. Apparently fathers go through a lot too during the postpartum, so she had asked him to tell her anything which is bothering him like she's his mother.

"Mrs. Singh, our house keeper and chef Lizzie will be there by five-thirty to six tomorrow if you needed anything." Harry shared as the lady was getting ready to leave for the night. "I'll let the guard know you'll be there."

"Thank you." She smiled again. She stayed for well over three hours before she left.

"She reminded me of my Mumma." YN shared, "she talks like her. She's even got gray eyes like my Mumma."

"Yeah? That's nice, isn't it?" Harey went and sat back on his place next to her, "I quite like her too, love her jokes."

YN moved to a side to make space for him, she patted the pillow, "come on."

"You sure?"

"Mhmm." And he got in, as he pulled her closer with his arm around her shoulder.

"You know this is probably the best day of my life." He shared.

"Is it?"

"Hmm." He sounded in agreement, "just took me too long to tell you how I feel. You've been anxious all day today."

"It's nothing, I forgot about it."

"Hope you at least could experience this to the fullest." He looked down to find him already looking at him, "you know the birth and all."

"Well, it was too enjoyable getting ripped open down there, but once doctor Wilson placed her on my chest it was everything!" And she'd give everything to experience that moment over and over again.

"Felt the same way when I held her for the first time." He shared too, "she was still whimpering, but calmed down as soon as I held her."

"You're her favourite."

"Oh come on, don't be jealous." He rolled his eyes jokingly.

"Don't roll your eyes at me." She scoffed.

"Bean's mummy is my favourite too." He gave her a cheeky smile making her blush, she hugged him tight in response. "Hey, look at me please?"

"Yes?" She raised her head yet again to look at him action nonchalant, that earned a laugh from him.

"Promise me we'll give everything to make this work?" He intertwined his fingers with hers over his tummy, "if this, for any reason doesn't work out, we'd work together for Bean?"

Harry's anxiety about this has been all time high, since he came to terms with his feelings. He's been cheated on twice, went through messiest breakups, he wants Juniper to have the best life as possible. Regardless of what happens to him.

"Don't want to jinx anything. You know I've stayed away from all this for long now." He continued, "just to give this a try with you. Hopefully it works out."

"Why won't it?" She said, "I know I'm not in place to say this, but everything works out at the end and if doesn't it's fine. Well, I just need a moment to freak out a little before, you know that's just how I function. We can make this work."

"Don't know how you do this." He just shook his head in disbelief, not even twelve hours ago she has been freaking out, wanting be cut open thinking it'll be easier way out. "We can make this work, yeah."

"Yeah, that's the attitude!" She hyped him up. He knows it's her teacher side coming out.

"I didn't want it to be this way, but will you be my girlfriend, YN?" He leaned in closer to just feel her warmth.

"Mhmm." She rested her forehead on his. It was enough for him to make the first move, place his lips on hers. Butterflies made their way upto her head from her tummy making her brain grow fuzzy for a moment.

"Waited so long for this too." He mumbled before he was kissing her again, feeling her hand rest over his cheek. He eventually pulled away to let her breathe. "Think we should try and get some sleep?" He placed a delicate kiss on the tip of her nose.

"Yep."

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

Harry and YN slept all fine the entire night. In fact YN was still asleep when Bean woke up. She was given her vaccines and checked on once again. She's all healthy and fit to go to her home. They were being discharged just before breakfast.

Harry forgot the car seat at home, so he asked Jeremy to get it who so kindly agreed too. Harry got all the paper work done, his lawyer had already had the previous agreement terminated first thing this morning.

"And what will be her full name?" The nurse asked. YN looked at Harry because she doesn't know her middle name yet.

"It will be Juniper Sophia Styles." Harry spoke, "or it can be YLN-Styles, YN?"

"Oh, I," she was flabbergasted again, "I, I don't mind."

"It'll be YLN-Styles please." Harry told the nurse, even spelled out the name. Just a few signatures later they were walking out with the baby and their stuff. Harry held the bag with his arm around YN's waist as she had Bean in her arms.

They're just gonna call her Bean. It suits her more. She is a bean.

"You picked my mum's name to be her middle name?" YN asked and she waddled next to him.

It is still painful to walk okay!

"Of course I did, darling." Her agreed.

"Is that the new baby!" Jeremy gasped.

"She is!" YN cooed walking over to him.

"Oh she's precious!" Who knew Bean would melt a tough looking six and half feet bulky guy awing like a little person, but she did. "Can I hold her?"

"Of course you can!" YN handed Bean to him carefully as she helped Harry with the bags. Yep, they came with one bag but are leaving with two as the hospital gave YN some stuff which she needs, like medications, sanitary products, there was a pump and jar or formula just in case. There was a lot of stuff.

The car ride home was peaceful and calm, Bean was awake just staring at her mum sitting next to her, but she's mostly sleepy. She's all bundled up even though it's a little warmer on Mrs. Singh's advice. She needs time to adjust because it has always been warm in her mummy's belly. Her tiny hands were in tiny mittens and there was tiny beanie on her head which her Aunty Gemma knitted just for her by hand.

Jeremy drove as Harry was sat in the passenger seat.

They're going home.

YN is both anxious and excited to see what life has in store in future. At least she wouldn't have to leave her baby and act like she doesn't exist for the rest of her life. That was like the universe worth of weight lifted off her back.

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

N O T E :

Phewwww! It took longer than I expected to finish!

If you kept up with this story, this is the last part. There won't be more parts of these.

I might do little check-ins with them, if I get enough requests and responses. If not then I won't. I left it on an open ending.

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

Tag list:

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Lemme know if you want to added to the tag list

[khaleesiofalicante]

Then I will fix it for you,” Papa said. “Now. What’s the rule?”

You go fix your brain and your personality and the fact that you exist asshole

He was studying a lot lately – with Claude and by himself. 

I'm sorry, with Claude? How is Claude not in prison by now?? Oh my god, is the guy David yelled at in front of Max Claude?? Please tell me it's not?? Please tell me Claude died a painful death?

“I think you are ill,” Marcel whispered. “I think you know it too.”

HOW MANY ASSHOLE CAN EXIST IN A SINGLE CHAPTER??I'm so so glad we only get Albert in one fic. I'm so glad that in all the other ones he's already dead or not a part of David's life. Because the "he got away, he survived" always makes reading this part, learning what David has been through slightly easier. But here he hasn't and that hurts even worse. And we've never seen it in such detail. It makes me truly sick.

“Good,” Papa nodded before leaving the room. “Remember that’s how I feel every time I look at you.”

SOMEBODY PUSH HIM OFF A BALCONY

David was thirteen when he had his first kiss.

Okay I really liked how you separated Madeleine kissing him and being kissed by a boy. Because the first one didn't mean anything and the second one did. That is a very important distinction

Henry was in the choir too. Henry could sing really well. Although Henry wanted to be an actor – just like his dad.

Henry being the first male character introduced in this chapter I didn't want to throttle, we stan Henry. Thank you for existing Henry. When we first saw him in the Star Wars premiere I didn't think much of him, but he is one of the few people that made David's life a little brighter and we thank him for that, this bouquet is for him💐

When David returned to his own quarters, wiping away tears that weren’t there, his dairy was gone too.

What happened to his dairy? I'm scared, what happened to his diary??

David turned the copy of Paradise Lost in his hands, slow and careful, and smiled at the man. “Thank you, Uncle Lucien

BE GONE SATAN

Lucifer rebelling against God?” David asked.

“I wouldn’t call that disobedience,” Uncle Lucien tutted. “Justice perhaps. Retribution?”

Of course you wouldn't you psychopath. Can we even call Lucifer a psychopath? The actual devil doesn't seem as gratifying

Uncle Lucien smiled and touched his face. “I want you to come to Oxford

See Lucifer says he wants David in Oxford and suddenly I want David as far from Oxford as he can get. Honestly I miss TLND, the only world where David has healthy male role models/ father figures in his life (and LBAF but his memories were tampered and he is very different there plus in LBAF 5/6 we didn't get a lot of David/Jace and I feel like they are distant? Hope that never happens in TLND)

Please note that every Lucifer/David interaction kinda made my skin crawl, you've described as super creepy and his gaze kinda prickling at your skin? Amd that has been conveyed beautifully to us, I get goosebumps every time he is mentioned

I don’t need to know,” Jackson shook his head. “No reason could ever justify abuse.”

I'm so happy David always gets to have Jackson. That he is a canon event. He is to David what Malec/Rafe are to Max. Family, the person who is always there, the home you turn to when you've lost your way. It's really beautiful

He wrote the things he wanted to tell some man in the future. A man he’d probably never meet.He wrote about how he wanted to be loved. Even though he might never know what any of it might actually feel like.

I want Max to read that notebook and know he loved David in ways David himself never thought existed. He will be so proud of himself. And David will be so happy to know what he once thought was impossible is now his reality

Claude is indeed there and David is forced to spend time/share a space with him. A lot of children who are abused by people they know (which is more likely to happen than by a stranger) continue to share a space (or even a home) with their abusers, and I didn't see it being any different in David's case.

Fun fact: Marcel is mentioned in LBAF. Points if you know who he is.

I'm glad you caught the 'first kiss' bit. I was hoping someone would.

Henry was neat. Also, I named him after the rwrb character hehe.

I think a couple of people inquired about David's diary. One of the students stole it/read it. We see Albert asking Jackson to spy on David in uni. He does the same during David's school years too.

GET DAVID HEALTHY MALE ROLE MODELS 2KFOREVER.

Lucifer's obsession with David reminds me (in a very different way) of Mallory's obsession with Max. I KNOW THEY ARE PERFECT. LEAVE THEM ALONE.

David and Jackson 💜

The beautiful thing is Max never has to read that poem David wrote. He loves David without being asked. He cares for David without being prompted. And that is everything to David too.

[kahlanmars]

BAD FEELING part. 15

HI. So, Daisy had a bad bad day (week... month...) in this chapter. What do you think about Inez? And mommy Holly? I admit I'm a little upset about Holly lol.

MASTERLIST

«You really think this is good for you.» You know your mother means well, and you honestly love her so much, but something shifted when you came back.

After a week you can sense it. She doesn’t get that in the games, and before the games, you had to do things you didn’t want to because you wanted to protect the people you cared about. She still thinks Clark’s death has been unfair. She blames you for this, even if she never tells you that. And she blames you because you changed, you get along with a Capitol girl, basically because you survived.

And to think she doesn’t know what you had to do with the orders of President Snow. She would hate you. She already hates you because you managed to get black eyeshadows from ashes with Effie.

«Yes, I think he is good for me and I’m good for him.» You deadspat, and you are sure of it. Well, you are sure he is good for you, because there’s no feeling matching when you are in his arms. The other part… not so sure. It is a fact you only gave him problems. He didn’t want to be attached to you, he didn’t want to like you, you forced his hands. You forced his hands by being adorable and incredibly sexy, but it doesn’t change the result.

«Of course you are good for him, you are twenty four, he must be on cloud nine.» She spat. Holly has to stop the urge to close your door and ground you, you can see it on her face. She wants to behave like you are sixteen.

«He doesn’t care about those things.» If you have to be sincere it’s you the one who always wants kisses and cuddles.

«Like hell he doesn’t.» 

«Mom!» You yell, exhausted. You don’t push a hunger games tribute this way, not even your daughter. It is dangerous. You only want to get out, have some fresh air you can’t have in Thirteen, or at least speak with someone who is not sure you are the devil reincarnated.

«And that woman! Are you friends with Effie Trinket? The woman who reaped our children? A woman from Capitol City? Hell, the woman from Capitol City!» You feel the urge to scream at her again, even if she’s your mom and you never did it before. But Effie is the most precious person after Haymitch, and she’s being incredibly unfair.

«Holly, Effie is a good person. She protected me.» You try to tell her, but she doesn’t want to listen to you, she is so sure she is right. You used to think it was a miracle you looked so alike when she adopted you: both with brown hair, same height, heart shaped face. Now it just irritates you.

«After she said your name in the reaping?» 

«Mom! When I was there she made sure I got out alive! If it weren't for her… she was just a girl who decided on a career when she was too young and then got trapped. She is here, right? With us, with the rebels.» 

Holly only scuffs and eyerolls. She’s insufferable. 

«It is okay if you are friends with the girls from your games, because you shared a traumatic experience, but her-» At this point you snap. You can’t take it anymore.

«You don't get to decide who I talk to, who my friends are or the man that I like! Stop it. I’m not a child.»

«Then stop acting like one! And clean your face, you are ridiculous.»

With that she tries to take your arm and push you to the sink, probably to wash your face, but you resist her. It’s not District Twelve anymore, hell you are not twelve anymore and you won’t let her treat you this way.

«Get off of me!»

«What is going on here?» The door is open, and at that moment Perla must have been near your room. Her room is close to yours, she is with Lora.

You are spending a lot of time together, the three of us, usually with Effie and Finnick. Sometimes even Katniss, but she’s with the oldest Hawthorne boy most of the time.

The tears from the moment don’t come, because you need to be your best self. Today is the day they let you see Haymitch. You wanted to put on a pretty dress, but of course the grey suit is what they permit, so grey jumpsuit it is.

«Nothing.» You tear up, but you don’t want to cause a scene. «My mom was just leaving.»

The nurse is not Inez, it’s an old woman who seems sweet, but she gives you a look before leaving. You only imagine what she must think of you, these days you figured people have two sides of you: you are either a victor slut who used her body to seduce a poor old guy, or a naive little girl who fell in love. 

«Don’t tire him.» She recommends. Maybe she's right about that.

«I promise.»

You turn to Haymitch, who’s apparently sleeping. It’s not his best form, he is tired, sweaty, he has dark circles around his eyes and his hands are shaking when you reach them.

«Ehi.» You whisper. 

«Ehi gorgeous.» He strokes your hair. He’s clearly in pain even doing this. How could they do that to him? «So gorgeous.» 

«They told me you are the perfect patient.» You sound proud. You expected him to be an asshole, but he’s behaving and that means this hell is going to end soon and you will have your not-boyfriend back.

«The hallucinations are gone, they told me.» He reassures you. «I’m just… so tired now…»

«Sleep!» You suggest, and you climb into his bed to be closer to him. «If you want to sleep I’ll stay here with you. I’ll watch over you.»

He manages to bring you even closer as he pulls you in a hug. Nothing feels good like his hugs, even when he is trembling and shaking. «I missed you.»

That’s a big thing. He never admits things like this. He can say things like “Hey sexy” or “Gorgeous”, but he is not sweet. He doesn’t admit things, because things you say out loud could go wrong.

«I missed you too.» 

«How’s Katniss?» Katniss is a wreck, she doesn’t have Peeta and that is torturing her. She spends all her time with Gale or Primrose, which is a good thing but she is a sixteen years old who doesn’t deserve all of this madness. The poor kid.

«She’s surviving.» You tell him the truth. There’s no point in saying “She’s good!”, he knows when you lie. 

«She’s a survivor, that kid.» He has a violet shake, which he suppresses almost immediately. You can’t see him in such pain. «And you?» 

«I’m okay. I stay with Effie, she’s incredibly strong. And I’ll begin a class for the kids.»

He just hums. You hope he is calmer now. 

«Mh, this thing we have, you know…» His hands reach for your ass and you can’t help but giggle. «Does that mean I get to do this whenever I want?»

«Yeah.» You nod. He changed the subject with something lighter, of course. But you think it could be a confirmation too, that you are not tired of him, of waiting, that you didn’t meet a cute boy from district thirteen and decided you didn’t want him anymore.

«And this?» He kisses you, and you are a little embarrassed that you are so assertive to his touch, but you feel like heaven. 

«I’m yours, Abernathy. Every inch of my body. Can you please get out of here soon?» You caress his hair, and you wonder if they have showers there. Did they change his sheets? Washed his face? Or he is left to his destiny?

«I’m trying.» He kisses your cheek. «I really missed you. The hallucinations were hard. They tied me up.»

«They told me I couldn’t come.» You feel guilty. They tied him up, you repeat in your mind. These bastards. 

«Yeah, not a pretty sight. I really had a crazy thought… but now you are here.»

«I’ll always be here if you want.» You whisper against his lips. 

«I want it, yeah.» 

There’s a moment of silence, and you really believe everything is going to be okay.

«Do you have any alcohol?» He murmurs in your ear, but you shake your head. 

«Haymitch, you know if I could… but they won't let me.» You try to make him resonate, but you feel his grip become stronger. 

«Please, love, you have to.» His body is on yours, his hands on your wrists and you begin to feel threatened. In his right mind, Haymitch would never hurt you, you are sure of that. Now he is not in his right mind. «You don’t understand, they are killing me.»

«I don’t have any alcohol, Haymitch please! Please, you are hurting me!» 

You can see the realisation in his eyes. He immediately let you go, and you see red signs on your wrists. You are both exhausted and terrified, your eyes are watering now and his are the image of the shock. 

You are the one who shakes it out first. «It’s okay, it’s okay we knew it was going to happen.» You caress his cheek, and you even try to smile. It doesn’t work.

«I hurt you.» He states, still upset. 

«You didn’t want to.» And it hurts, but it’s not his fault. You get that. He just slipped, he was going so well. This is wrong, a rehab facility is not supposed to be like this. You know it exists in Panem, in Capitol City and District One mostly, but you can bet it’s not this violent.

«I hurt you.» He repeats. You can’t say anything else, because Inez comes into the room. Maybe it was a change of turn. 

«Time’s up, little lady. Oh, you are not supposed to be in the bed.» She points out, a little annoyed. 

«Don’t go with her!» Haymitch suddenly shouts, and this time it is you who are shocked. You don’t expect this kind of reaction. «Don’t, she’s not real.»

«She is real, she’s the nurse.»

The hallucinations again. You shake your head, but he is hugging you and shaking you and you are not strong enough. Fuck, it hurts. 

«She has broken ribs, she can die!» 

«You stay away from her, you demon!»

You are a little lightweight, but Inez must have a lot of strength because she pulls you out so quickly you almost don’t know what happened, it’s all a blur. The next thing you know is that you are crying your heart out, curled up on a chair, and Inez is patting your back.

Inez seems like a good person. She has blonde hair, with just a few white strands, and sweet green eyes. She must have been beautiful when she was young. 

You don’t want to admit it, because you just had a fight, but part of you wants your mama. 

«We have to check the bandages. If you don’t feel okay you must tell me immediately, do you understand me?»

You nod, but you don’t feel so bad. Not physically. 

Oh, cut the crap, a voice tells you. Your voice. He is not in his right mind. He has been captured and he has an addiction. He was hallucinating, for fucks sake, he didn’t want to hurt you. 

You don’t know if the voice is right, or is simply too used to a world where violence is justified. He isn’t in his right mind, but you still don’t deserve it. 

«He didn’t want to.» You feel the urge to defend him.

«Still did it.» It’s the only comment the nurse makes. 

«He is a good man.»

She pauses, she’s clearly conflicted, but then she speaks again. «That is how your life will be. I’m not saying he is a bad man, for what I’ve seen on television he is… well, he is problematic at least. And okay, he may be a good man, but are you ready for this?»

You try to stop her to defend him, but she seems very determined to go on. «You are young. Too young for him and he should know better. You won’t want to spend your evenings cleaning his vomit because he had a bad day.»

You gulp. The memories of that particular day in the penthouse return. But then again, he was trying to save your life, he was desperate because District 13 didn’t want to risk the mission to save you.

«You seem to know a lot about this life.» You whisper. 

The speech succeeded in something your mother failed to do: giving you doubs. You return to your room puzzled and confused and at dinner you watch Perla and Lora giving you gossip about the new district, Finnick so upset about Annie, and Effie glued to your side (because all District 12 hates her, you admit) but you can’t participate in the conversations.

She just chuckles. «My father, my boyfriend’s father… It's a habit in our district, girl. And you have the chance to get out. Get. Out. Don’t trap yourself in something you want because he behaved like Prince Charming for five minutes.»

It is little Primrose who wakes you up. «Tomorrow you will give us lessons?» She asks. She is very polite, but you can hear incertitude in her voice.

«Yes, Prim. I’ll be your teacher.»

«I don’t want to sound rude…» She begins and you smile at her.

«I don’t think you could even if you wanted to.»

«…What for?»

You stroke her hair before you answer that. She is just the sweetest person alive. «This war will be over, and I want you and your classmates to be able to read, count and write. You want to be a nurse, right? You’ll need maths. Plus, books are a joy to read. They really could bring happiness! I don’t want you to miss that.»

Her face lifts up. «With that I could be a good nurse?»

«From what I’ve heard you already are a good nurse, but you can improve.»

She looks a little happier now, and after she nods and go away, at her table with Katniss and Mrs. Everdeen, Effie sighs.

«What’s wrong, Effs?» 

«Nothing, she is a wonderful kid, isn’t she?» 

Oh, guilt. She was the one who picked her name, she was the one who started all of this, and she was the one who grew fondly of Katniss and now she loves her like her own daughter.

She has a soft spot for Primrose too, you can see it.

«They know you are a good woman. Maybe not Mrs. Everdeen, but Katniss loves you, and Prim recognizes a good heart.» You squeeze her hand. «You are as a rebel as I am, Effie Trinket.»

«You are so good with her. You are wonderful with kids. Tomorrow will be a great day, and you know, maybe you’ll want some of your own too.» 

You swallow but try not to make it clear. Yes, kids Haymitch, so safe, such a great idea. 

«Let’s go to sleep, I’m exhausted.» You declare, and you get up. «Goodnight.»

[smokeygrayrabbits]

OK SO REWATCHING BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES AGAIN AND y'all remember how coryo and sejanus had that lil confrontation right after they got to twelve over sejanus hanging with billy toupe and coryo was all 'you have to learn to make the best of our lives and roles here or have your father buy you a discharge and do something' and we as the viewers (idk about readers bc I have yet to read the book 😭 but movie anyway) can see the spite he says that with because sejanus is there willingly and coryo isn't. coryo had everything taken from him by being sent out as a peacekeeper. sejanus gave everything up to do the same.

coryo told sejanus not to throw his life away because he had the means and opportunity to make a real difference, and what did sejanus do? he turned straight around and threw away all of his power inorder to become a peacekeeper medic out in district twelve. as far as possible from the capital and any real position of power to make the change he was always talking about. and the reason that coryo told sejanus that in the first place? he was forced to risk his life to go and get sejanus!

sejanus had everything that coryo was working so hard to get a scrap of and threw it away on a whim, right after coryo was forced to risk his life to save sejanus.

coryo was exiled. forcefully placed in the military by highbottom with the goal of taking away any future power that coryo might have had. and sejanus, who already had the money and power that coryo was being kept from, threw it away! sejanus volunteered for the job that was meant to replace coryos death sentence. and then he starts running around doing illegal shit, dragging coryo into it by association, meanwhile coryo is doing his best to get back to his family and NOT GET KILLED. CORYO BASICLY ALREADY HAD TWO STRIKES AGAINST HIM WITH THE CAPITAL, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SO EASY FOR THEM TO KILL HIM OFF IN THE DISTRICTS, LEAVING HIS FAMILY ALONE AND FUTURELESS. AND HE KNEW THAT. HE KNEW THAT EVERYTHING HE DID WAS BEING WATCHED AND SEJANUS JUST KEPT PUTTING THEM AT RISK! ID BE PISSED TOO.

BUT SEJANUS DIDNT KNOW THAT. HE DIDNT SEE IT THAT WAY BECAUSE HE DIDNT KNOW ABOUT CORYOS SITUATION WITH THE STARVING FAMILY AND THE DEATH SENTANCE AND THE TRAUMA FROM THE WAR AND ITS AFTERMATH AND HIGHBOTTOM WANTING HIM DEAD. GOD IF THEY HAD JUST TALKED ABOUT IT THEN I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT SEJANUS WOULD HAVE KEPT WORKING WITH BILLY TOUPE,

seriously! from coryos perspective everything sejanus did was basically a slap in the face to everything he was struggling and suffering for! but sejanus probably just thought coryo was blind to the capitals cruelty because sejanus was always trying to do what he thought was the right thing! but coryo knew people who had been labeled treasonous rebels for doing less than sejanus, and since they were friends and squad members coryo would have been blamed too. and unlike sejanus coryo doesn't have a rich dad to save him. he also had people relying on him, unlike sejanus, who only thought he was risking himself.

BUT ALSO coryo saw everything sejanus did as a wasted opportunity. and he was kinda right! sejanus had the money and the platform and the future to make real change if he would only spend some of his father's money and play the game. but just like coryo yelled at him in their fight, sejanus was too blinded by his own guilt over his father's actions and how they benefited from the war to actually do anything. which while moral and kind and very sejanus of him, was also such a wasted opportunity!

and then later at the jabberjay collection part where, before turning on the recording, coryo told sejanus to stop his sketchiness and sejanus was all 'YOU told me I could make a difference! thats what I'm doing!' and coryo makes that frustrated pissy face but doesn't really say anything he was totally thinking 'YEAH BUT THIS ISNT WHAT I MEANT!' when coryo told sejanus that he could make a difference back in the arena he was talking about sejanus using his familys wealth to make large scale change in the system, not risk his life on some asshole like billy toupe. but he doesn't say that because that's treason and he never says stuff out loud like that because he actually has people to protect. AND THEN SEJANUS GOES 'i can't stay here I wont!' SAYING THAT HES CANT STAY IN DISTRICT TWELVE ANYMORE AND CORYO MAKES THAT FACE AGAIN CUZ SEJANUS YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS YOU VOLUNTEERED!!!!!!! GOD! I CANT!

AND THEN SEJANUS SAYS 'im just doing what you told me to do back at the arena' AND CORYO SAYS ' I WASJUST TRYING TO SAVE YOU THE FIRST TIME YOU DID SOMETHING STUPID ENOUGH TO RUIN MY LIFE' AND HE MEANT THAT BECAUSE WHAT SEJANUS DID PUT CORYOS ENTIRE FUTURE AT RISK BUT HE DOESNT KNOW THAT AND THEN SEJANUS SAYS 'its worth the risk to do the right thing' ANF THATS WHERW CORYO FINALLY GETS OUTWARDLY MAD AND SAYS 'ITS WORTH THE RISK FOR YOU. YOUR FATHER WILL JUST BUY YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS LIKE HE ALWAYS DOES BUT ILL BE HUNG JUST FOR KNOWING YOU' BUT SEJANUS DOESNT KNOW HOW TRUE THAT IS BUT ALSO HE SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE CORYO FULLY TOLD HIM AND HE JUST DIDNT GET IT! AND ONLY THAT DAY CORYO HAD LEARNED THAT HIS FAMILY WAS EVICTED AND THEY LOST HIS CHILDHOOD HOME AND HE WAS TRYING SO HARD TO SAVE THEM BUT SEJANUS WAS GONNA GET CAUGHT AND GET HIM KILLED AND GOD

[coyote7dreamland]

Fanfic Snippet

Here’s a bit from a Yoshiden AU I’m working on where there are lab experiments, underwater sea monsters, and a crew of rebels sent by Public Safety into the deep with only a submarine to protect them from what lies outside…

No content warnings for this snippet, but the story will have side-character death and blood

——————-

Denji was drooling over the couch in the Common Room when someone shook him awake. He grunted and cracked open one eye. Kiko shook him again and informed him that backup arrived, albeit in barely functioning condition. Denji shot up off the couch and stumbled up the ladder toward the observation deck. One more ladder later and he saw what Kiko had meant. A busted pod was seen floating outside the porthole. It looked like something huge had squeezed it like a can. He was honestly surprised anyone had survived that at all. Denji skittered towards the crowd surrounding the newcomer. He jumped up and got on his tip-toes, trying to see over everyone's shoulders

Eventually, the crowd parted and he could see the stranger fully. Dark, almost empty eyes stared back at him from behind soft curtains of raven-y hair. A small, mysterious smile curled up on the newcomer’s face like he knew things Denji did not--and wasn’t about to tell him either. Aside from his good looks, there were a few other notable details of his appearance. Eight piercings glinted in the fluorescent lighting of the Observation Deck and a small mole was dotted below his lip on the right side. The stranger stepped forward and offered his hand in a practiced manner.

“My name is Hirofumi Yoshida, but you can just call me Yoshida.”

Denji blinked and took his hand. The first thing he noticed was that his skin was incredibly squishy. The second thing he noticed was that his skin was incredibly cold. Denji frowned and started rubbing his hands over Yoshida’s.

The other man tilted his head, slight confusion and amusement crossing his face, “…What are you doing?”

“Tryna warm up your hands! The water must have gotten to ya,” Denji kept it up until Jasmine coughed pointedly and he dropped the other’s hand.

Yoshida stared at him intensely for a moment before turning back to the other crew mates. They fretted over him a bit more as he reassured them he was fine, just a bit shaken up. Meeko eventually got him to go sit down in the Med Room. The group followed, crowding around him like ants to a carcass. Tino yelled at everyone to go back to their post and leave Yoshida alone. They sulked away, leaving the excitement behind them. Denji shifted from foot to foot, standing awkwardly in the corner as Tino looked over Yoshida for any injuries. The newcomer raised an eyebrow.

"Don't you have duties, Denji?"

He coughed and shrugged, "Oh, totally. You just happened to come during my minuscule break--"

Tino rolled his eyes and interrupted, "Don't listen to him, he's practically ballast."

"Oh? Then why are you on this..." Yoshida paused for a millisecond as if trying to remember something. "...submarine?"

Denji scratched his neck, "Ahh...I mostly make mediocre coffee for people and do errands..."

"I don't know why Makima let him come...No offense, Denji," Tino lifted Yoshida's arm to check its mobility.

"None taken!" Denji smiled. "I'm sure Makima just knows how cool I am!"

————-

Ta daaaaa this probably won’t be finished for a while though.

[jpitha]

We need A Ride 4

Part 3 Part 2 Part 1

Sophie looked up a Chloe, who in her mind's eye was standing next to her, even taller and more imposing than in person, with a faint blue glow around her, as if she was emitting particles going faster than the speed of light. She sighed.

"I trust you Chloe. I'll do it, but after we're going to have some words about consent and explaining things."

"I look forward to it." Sophie said. For Cereni's benefit, Chloe spoke out loud. "Abyssal, are we ready to go?"

"I've got the reactors at 225% and the capacitors and batteries charged. I can link three times in quick succession, but I'll need a few to recover after that. I can get us down, but I won't be able to link to safety until we're up in orbit. Sophie, that's your time to shine."

"Got it." Sophie was getting the hang of the interface. Chloe was right, it was just like the ones she was used to, just easier to operate. She just had to think, and it would obey.

"Okay then. As the acting captain of the Abyssal Plains, and current commander of this mission..." Chloe paused for a moment to see if anyone said anything. "I authorize War Emergency Power for the duration of the mission, and should I become incapacitated I authorize you, Abyssal Plains, to complete the mission, protect the cargo and save the crew in that order."

Abyssal replied. "Acknowledged, but you do realize you don't have to do that anymore Chloe? I own myself as a private craft, I'm not technically crewed. Also, don't you mean 'complete the mission, save the crew and protect the cargo'?"

"I said what I said." Chloe replied coolly. "You'll see why when it's aboard."

"Hrmph. War Emergency Power authorized. Thing are going to get hot and noisy from here on out."

Aboard the small command deck, Cereni noticed the change immediately. The lights darkened and shutters came down over the windows, leaving only a small front facing window open. The ship's thrumming hum became a roar and the pads of her feet felt the ship vibrating.

"Oh! I nearly forgot!" Abyssal said. "I'm sorry Cereni, let me patch your headset in, you must think we're ignoring you!" Cereni heard a click in her headset and she heard Sophie mid sentence "--you have so many flares, and chaff pods. Were things really that hot when-- Oh Cereni! Hi! I probably look weird right now, but I'm okay. Abyssal and Chloe are showing me how to work my rig."

Cereni looked over at Sophie. She was sitting upright in her chair, belted securely, but her eyes were closed and her mouth wasn't moving as she spoke. The bunny ear antennas were moving gently.

"You don't look okay, but I'll take your word for it" Cereni said, unsure.

"Okay everyone, we're linking in 3, 2...now"

****

From a distance, with a powerful telescope, one could watch what happened next. The Abyssal Plains disappeared in that blinding flash of white light that accompanies the human's wormhole generators and in very short succession appeared off to the left then linked again and was in the atmosphere of Spruces.

****

The Abyssal Plain was in the atmosphere and falling.

They were a dropship though, they were doing what they were designed to do. The stubby wings and flight controls that looked useless in space came to life and helped orient the ship belly first as it screamed through the stratosphere. The speed of the decent was such that the air around them rebelled at being pushed aside so violently and was imbued with energy and became a glowing plasma.

When Abyssal was enveloped in plasma, and most vulnerable, the attack started.

"Missiles incoming!" Sophie yelled as she felt the lock. "Beginning countermeasures."

Hundreds and hundreds of white hot flares poured out of two mounts in the rear as the huge dropship rolled away. Chaff canisters popped out the top and exploded, all trying to confuse the missile's tracking radar and make the Abyssal seem both smaller and not where it really was.

Sophie began scanning for the launchers and jamming their signals.

"Those missiles were from the ground!" she yelled, surprised. "They weren't from orbit! Who is shooting at us on the ground?"

Chloe replied "It is as I had feared. Someone has landed on Spruces and captured it and is trying to keep it. I've sent a signal to our contact, they're getting things ready as fast as they can. Cereni, be ready to begin loading the moment we touch down."

The K'laxi nodded nervously, and glanced towards the door outside on the command deck where she'd be directing an unknown number of vehicles of an unknown weight into the large loading area of Abyssal.

Abyssal spoke up "Touchdown in 10 seconds. We're going to do it the old fashioned way, with rockets. It's rough, but fast. See why I told you to buckle up?"

5 seconds before the announced touchdown time Cereni heard the loudest sound she has ever heard in her life. It sounded like someone was ripping cloth, but the sound was so loud she looked down and saw her fur vibrating from the pressure waves. She clamped her hands over her ears and pressed down on them with the headset in place.

It didn't help.

Mercifully it was only for a few seconds, and with a very rough thump and double bounce they were down.

As soon as they were down, the doors opened and Cereni ran out to the balcony and was dumbstruck with what she saw.

There were at least one hundred wheeled trucks sitting about 100 meters away, all slightly different shapes and sizes and colors. On the roofs of all of them, painted quickly were numbers and scanner codes.

"Oh ancestors." She whispered. "What are we doing?"

"Saving my people" Chloe said. Cereni didn't realize she spoke out loud.

Quickly, she surveyed the vehicles. "Okay Chloe! I need.." She squinted "13, 45, 77 and 38 in first. They'll go along the back wall"

Without a word from Chloe, the 4 trucks wheeled forward and irresponsible speeds, electric motors yelling their protests.

"Next! 22, 89, 12 and.....40"

Again the trucks moved into place.

Suddenly, there was another ripping cloth screaming sound overhead as atmosphere craft shrieked overhead

"We've been found!" Sophie said. "We need to leave!"

"Not until the trucks are loaded." Chloe replied calmly. "This is why we are here."

Abyssal replied "Sophie, I've granted you access to weapons. Use the point defense arrays to keep them off us while we load."

At that, panels slid to the side on the back of Abyssal, large maser arrays, massive slug throwers and missile batteries swung into position. The thundering thumps of their firing added to the din.

"Thank you Abyssal." Chloe said. "Cereni, continue loading. We are in a rush."

Cereni turned back to the trucks outside waiting. "Okay, next: 3, 6, 80 and 15..."

Part 5

[mrsmahito]

The PROMISE

Mahito x Black!fem!reader

Summary: You leave your life in America as you start your dream of becoming a big-time model in Japan after working your way through the industry. At night you work at a club to make extra money on the side. One night you're attacked but strange stranger stops the attack. You tell them you'll keep this a secret, that turns into something more of a promise…

TW: Metinons of assault!!!

Warnings: Alcohol, Blood, Violence, Blood, Gore mentioned, Eventual smut (Slow burn)

.

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Chapter 3~Would you believe it?!

After the encounter with Leah, racing to the back of the club to change, you grab your uniform and head to the changing room down the hall. Stepping into a stall you take off your shorts and crop top, stepping into your black thigh length flared skirt, white slightly wrinkled short sleeve shirt, and finally putting on and zipping up your knee-high black platform boots. Standing up straight you start to adjust your belt and body harness, making sure its tight but not too tight and looks presentable. Exiting the stall, you gaze at yourself in the mirror adjusting your hair, deciding to leave it out for the night.

Of course, the company didn't mind you working here as long as there weren't any scandals or casualties on your part otherwise, you'd probably have to leave but in the worst-case scenario you’d leave before that happen. It was just nice working a somewhat normal job.

Walking back to the main area you flipped on the L.E.D lights on the bar walking to the counter ready to work.

The club was blasting the song “Rebels" By Call me Karizma”, the lights flashing purple, pink, or blue lights, confetti was everywhere and everyone was screaming and shouting. Somewhere in the area was a dance circle where they looked like they were having some kind of dance battle, couples were laughing and making out in corners, women were grinding on random men, along with men looking to grind against women which in most cases ended with them getting slapped or a dirty stare. In another area were the dancers doing their thing laughing and playing with the customers. Some were on the pole others laying in the laps of rich men business or men who may have just got off of work and needed to blow off steam, and you could see a few men being led upstairs to VIP.A couple dancers had “shots” in their hand in which men had brought them but was most likely juice or water, which they requested from you as not to get to drunk.

“Hi, what can I get you?” you shouted assuming he spoke English. Which most of the time they did.

The man was wearing a loose t-shirt black pants with his long curly hair in the back and straight bangs in the front.He smiled at you.

“You..” the man called, giving you a mischievous smile.

You laughed.

“While I appreciate it sir, I'm in a relationship sir.”

The man laughed nervously. “I see. I'll have a fuzzy navel cocktail.”

You began pouring 1 shot of peach schnapps, then 1 shot of orange juice, a shot of vodka and a dash of grenadine into a silver cup. Covering the top you shake the drink, doing tricks like flipping it in the air and catching it then, throwing it around you back and catching it again. A few tricks you picked up from Leah after being here for almost 5 months and he watched you in amazement and awe. He watched in amazement as you poured the drink so delicately in the martini glass adding a slice of orange on the side and slipping a red and white striped straw on the side.

“One fuzzy navel Japanese cocktail!” You yelled, sliding him his drink with a wink.

“Enjoy!”

You had served about 38 different types of drinks before they closed at around 2:50 am. The guy you served the cocktail to was intoxicated but in the least still conscious. Everyone began exiting the club, the dancers stuck around picking up the money they had earned. You on the other hand gathered up the trash and wiped the bar clean. Afterwards you rinsed the glass and dump the trash. Changing into your outfit from today you walk out the back door on the side on the building. The dancers were heading out front.

“Goodbye ladies, great show tonight!!!” you yelled.

“Thanks for the “drinks” doll!!” one of the pink hair dancers shouted.

All of them giggled and waved saying goodbye to you, they mostly loved you as you were sweet and made a mean cocktail whenever they asked for one.

You walked out back looking at your phone when a man come out of nowhere and slam you against the wall. The man traced his finger over your lower thigh trying to take in your curvy yet chubby figure. His eyes looking at yours in such a wicked way, almost leading you to puke.

It was the same guy from earlier in the white t-shirt!

“GET OFF ME!!” you yelled while struggling to get free.

“Shh, your “boyfriend” doesn't have to know.”

You kicked and struggled but weren't getting anywhere since on the left there was the garbage dump. But all of a sudden something pale slithered out from the left of the alleyway.

It looked like a giant worm, but it started taking shape as a human. It was covered by the dark so you couldn't make out features. But while the man was trying to remove your top, a pale hand was placed on his shoulder.

The man looked back angrily.

“WHAT!?”

The eye glowed red in the darkness. Horrified, you took this as your chance to escape sprinted towards the door shoving the man in the white t-shirt to the side knocking him over. Seeing the man try to grab your ankle you jump dodging his hand sprinting to the other side of the garbage instead watching the men and the figure from a safe distance. The man in the white t-shirt crawled backwards afraid of what was in the dark. In an instant the now red eyed monster turned out to be a human???

“NO STOP!! GET BACK” the man yelled terrified. His eye scanning around the area.

“YOU BITCH!!! HELP ME YOU TRICK! YOU WHORE! GET BACK HERE!” the man's voice was almost horse by this point calling you all kinds of slurs and names.

The blue haired man stepped closer and closer, almost slowly as if… he was enjoying this. Backed at the wall the man froze as his back had hit the wall, the same spot he tried to pin you in. The man with blue hair held out his hand and 2 ugly like creatures came out. One was a pale purple its face hallow and eyes sunken in. The other a pale blue with big fat lips, a huge, disfigured body and tiny arms and legs. You had to resist the urge to puke up your mocha the smell was so bad, like a rotting corpse.

The monster, which you didn't know if you could call him at this point, lowered his hand, and the creatures began feasting. The blue one going for the upper body. Its teeth tearing through the fleshy arms as the man scream in agony and pain and the purple one devouring the lower half of his legs chewing through his bone. With every bite they took you could hear a bone snap or break. Eating and tearing like it was nothing. Blood going everywhere. Human chucks of skin falling on the ground. His body now completely open from the ribs down revealing all his intestines. All this while still being conscious... 

Snap! Crack! Crunch!

All this went on for about five to ten minutes. As you watched almost satisfied with the result...

The creatures were devouring the man entirely, all you could hear was his blood curdling scream until all of a sudden it went completely silent.

The man..

      Was dead.

***

[heavensbeehall]

"Mockingjay", Chapter 8

Part 1: The Ashes

Chapter 8: Boggs carries Katniss back to the hovercraft. She vomits on him. Katniss wakes up in her mother's hospital area. Mrs. Everdeen was not told that Katniss was going anywhere. They want to roll her hospital bed directly into Command but she wants to walk (our girl never wants to look weak) and they compromise on a wheelchair. She learns the names of her "insect" cameramen, Castor and Pollux. Pollux is an Avox. She worries the Mockingjay Agreement will be voided--and that Peeta might be hurt--because she didn't follow Boggs' orders, but no one has ratted her out to Coin. Coin "reruns" the first propo which has been aired in all the Districts already. Everyone is pleased, except Fulvia and Haymitch. But Cressida expertly placates Fulvia. So Gale wheels Katniss back to the hospital and she wakes up with an irritated Haymitch at her bedside. He resents (and probably was frightened by) her removing her earpiece. He threatens her with a "head shackle" or implanting a chip in her ear, also he ate her lunch. In the hospital, Finnick and Katniss watch a second propo air together. They are surprised to see another interview with Peeta aired after. Finnick helps Katniss by coming up with a lie that they did not see the interview. No one tells Katniss aboutg it.

I want to take off my vest, since I got a fair amount of vomit on it as well, but it's too cold to think about it. I lie on the floor with my head in Gale's lap. The last thing Iremember is Boggs spreading a couple of burlap sacks over me.

I'm going to point out all the Dad-ly things Boggs does as evidence of my theory that he helps Katniss with her trauma about her own dad's death (and also not having anyone look after her, just her looking after Prim and her mom at a young age). The fact that she vomits on him and he "sighs" is my favorite dad thing. Like she's an infant who just spit up.

They more than do their work, they take pride in it. Like Cinna.

I have a strange thought that if we were in the arena together, Iwould pick them as allies...

There's a theme of art and artists being the heart of the resistance in these books. Obviously Cinna and many of the Stylists were rebels, as was Tigris. Here we see that Cressida and her team also has that same Cinna-vibe. So filmmaking can be an artform, but the Hunger Games is not. Anyway, keep this in mind for the "76th" Hunger Games.

Coin and Gale are in the midst of some exchange that seems positively chummy. When Gale slides into the seat next to my wheelchair, I say, "Making new friends?" His eyes flicker to the president and back. "Well, one of us has to be accessible." He touches my temple gently. "How do you feel?"

His trust of Coin is going to get him into trouble. I want to yell at him to stop talking to her!

At least Finnick doesn't applaud or act all happy when it's done. He just says, "People should know that happened. And now they do."

I am glad Katniss has Finnick here. He gets it and a way others don't.

Peeta's physical transformation shocks me. The healthy, clear-eyed boy I saw a few days ago has lost at least fifteen pounds and developed a nervous tremor in his hands. They've still got him groomed. But underneath the paint that cannot cover the bags under his eyes, and the fine clothes that cannot conceal the pain he feels when he moves, is a person badly damaged.

Katniss realizes the first interview was taped earlier, and that Peeta has been tortured. How long, approximately, was he being tortured for, do we know?

In a minute, people will be here to do damagecontrol on Peeta's condition and the words that came out of his mouth. I will need to repudiate them. But the truth is, I don't trust the rebels or Plutarch or Coin. I'm not confident that they tell me the truth. I won't be able to conceal this. Footsteps are approaching. Finnick grips me hard by the arms. "We didn't see it."

Again, Peeta manages to make decent points in his interview even though he is obviously being forced to say certain things. Finnick, who is now--in my opinion--almost functioning in the role Peeta would usually occupy, again understands implicitly and comes up with a convincing lie for her.

[thehitchhikerguide]

Season 2, Episode 1: Lovesounds

After getting through the first 3 "trial" episodes of season 1, I was delighted that season 2 starts off with a real banger (pun intended) in Lovesounds.

We start out with the wonderful theme song and now I don't have to wonder which Hitchhiker is showing up because the other guy is long gone. After we see...wait what's this?

None other than Werner Herzog's best fiend, Klaus Kinski. Oh boy I wonder if he will get some sort of comeuppance.

Klaus plays a sort of tyrant music maestro named Kurt Hoffman, firing cellists at will and yelling at everyone he comes into contact with. It sounds like this part was not much of a stretch after doing some light research on this actor - it seems like he was not a good dude in real life. I appreciated all the establishing music shots to really clue us in as to what this guy does for a living.

He gets a call from his wife that his new sound system is ready and he rushes home from rehearsal.

Ha ha ha, this is some real 80's technology right here. Complete with state of the art reel to reel action and a Commodore 64.

As he's driving to his house, he encounters our moral hero, the Hitchhiker. Kurt yells at him for hitchhiking on a private road and tells him to go elsewhere. After he drives off, we are informed that Kurt Hoffman thinks people exist for one reason, to serve him! But even the mightiest sometimes see their subjects rebel and the palace walls come tumbling down. Ominous words.

Maybe the Hitchhiker is willing all the bad stuff to happen, because he got yelled at.

We meet Kurt's wife Veronica and the young dude putting in his sound system, Eric. They seem pretty cozy together until Eric makes a move and...

Ooops I guess he read that all wrong. Glass is broken and Veronica's finger is cut, just as Kurt walks in. That would have been a close one.

Now he gets to show off this most excellent stereo. All you need to do to turn it on is press 666, then V for Veronica.

666 huh? I mean is this telling us this thing is possessed? It's a bit on the nose. Eric tries to the code and...

Wow, it knew who was pressing the buttons! But when maestro tries it...

Womp womp. This displeases the maestro. But luckily Eric has one more shot to show it works at Kurt's wonderful dinner party.

Unfortunately, things do not go as planned when Kurt presses the not-so-secret code again.

The stereo sends off sparks almost killing everyone.

Luckily Eric still gets another chance to fix it, while the master, er maestro is away on music business. He gently massages the sound system to get it to work better.

Then we get a look at its kick-ass graphics. I'm guessing this is the love-o-meter.

We hear some weird sounds, like the machine saying he loves him.

And what are these? Are they supposed to be its eyes? What am I even looking at here.

While all of this is amazing since the stereo now seems self aware, Eric instead notices Veronica sunning herself in the beautifully overcast Vancouver weather. They start horsing around and throwing each other in the lake.

Here he is being dorky offering her a flower. Man that water looks cold.

Now that they are both wet, it's time to have some hot laundry room sex. Finally, we get some young attractive actors for this softcore scene, unlike other episodes.

All that infidelity must have somehow fixed the machine because when Kurt comes back from his trip, he tries one more time. 666 V.

Hey it worked! I feel like there is a Seinfeld joke in here somewhere.

Not only can he play his Beethoven at full blast, but Eric has also hooked up a powerful microphone where he can pick up nature sounds from outside just by pointing it in the right direction. Frogs! Wonderful.

All excited with his new toys, Kurt tells Veronica to leave him alone for awhile. So she starts playing with her new toy, Eric, in the boathouse.

We get another sex scene, this time complete with some naked man butt, which is always welcome. Kurt decides he is tired of listening to music and wanted to hear more frog sounds so he starts pointing the microphone all around. He hears a hawk which delights him, but then he hears some other sounds. Are these Lovesounds?

Uh oh, better turn up the volume. It's pretty obvious to him what is going on so he runs to the boathouse.

Well okay we are all adults here, let's talk this out.

Or...maybe just pour straight gasoline on the boathouse. Either way.

There is not much time for the couple to react before...

Wow that lit up faster than a Christmas tree in January! What was that made out of?

Well it's safe to say, they did not make it out on the boat. What to do now? I guess maybe listen to that new stereo system.

After a while, more sounds start playing on the speakers. It sounds like what AI might think two people having sex would sound like. Are the ghosts of these two haunting the sound system?

He's still watching, always watching.

Wow this thing is off the charts!

Now the last 5 minutes of this episode is great, you can tell they just had so much fun making everything explode.

The stereo starts exploding.

For some reason the bar starts exploding.

Kurt is covered in blood from his face and then this happens...

Oh no! That statue explodes!

Well I guess everyone got their comeuppance, but there is still someone who has the last laugh.

No, not him. I'm pretty sure he died in the explosion.

Wow that's a beautiful shot of the evening sky...and the smoldering bodies and wreckage behind him. Well the Hitchhiker finally got his revenge for being called out on his trespassing. He assures us by saying that in time it will be peaceful here again and someday people will come and hear the sweet sounds that even a tyrant couldn't silence.

Yeah, he says that, but I'm also sure all those frogs died in the explosion as well. Unless he's talking about those sex sounds that were haunting the stereo...hmmm where is that stereo....

Oh Dear God! Well maybe I was wrong and he's still there watching...

Season 2 has several episodes I've never seen before so I'm hoping there will be a lot of surprise treats like this one was.

[j-a-nuary]

You know, there's these idols that very consistently get typecast in fanfic. So-and-so is the player, whose-it is the villain, chaboy is the cinnamon roll, etc.

Not to be too The Discourse™️ but thoughts are under the cut.

I'm not saying that's a necessarily bad thing. Our brains create shortcuts based on what we've seen so far, and if chaboy is typically the cinnamon roll when we read, then why not give them the part they seem to play so very well?

But brains creating shortcuts is just a reframing of the fact that we have unconscious prejudices. We, as creators, owe it to the real people we use as inspiration to think about why we've placed them in this box. I don't want to get too deep into it or point fingers, but I've got my personal theories about why we choose who we choose. That's not what I'm here to talk about in this post.

Closer to what I want to talk about in this post is this: Are we, the fic writers, causing harm by always putting whose-it in the roll of the shitty ex/overbearing boss/etc.?

Maybe.

Most rational people can tell the difference between characters and actors. Sure, Mr. Freeze is a dick, but Arnold Schwarzenegger didn't REALLY try to freeze an entire city (I don't think). But we hear stories from actors of people yelling at them for the things the character that they are best known for portraying did. I've read interviews where actors talk about being assaulted and spit on. There are non-rational people that consume media.

I don't know if this is also happening to idols. In fact, in my experience, I often see it go in the reverse direction. A particular idol isn't liked as well or is seen as being cold or rude. Therefore, they get cast in fics as the asshole.

I'm not writing this to say, "Please stop using (whoever) as a villain." Write what you want, write what makes you happy, write what the characters in your head force you to. I'm a writer. I get it.

Just, y'know, maybe take a second and spare a thought for why you chose that person for that role.

Things I figured out from thinking about this:

I tend to make my bias into kind of an asshole, or a somewhat minor character (I think it's a subconscious effort to manage my expectations).

I am indeed susceptible to the typecasting trends of a fandom. [Sorry San]

The character that gets laid and/or the relationship is usually played by an idol that I myself am not particularly attracted to. Not that they're not hot. I'm just ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ about that aspect of them. (Exceptions: oneshots. Sometimes my brain just rebels.)

There's usually an idol in a group that gives me brother vibes, even though I've never had a real brother. That one usually is cast in a comforting yet detached character. No real surprises there.

Maknaes are typically sexless to me for a good long while. I think the only exceptions are like from my OG groups that I moved on from before I ever even started writing, and Changkyun.

If they're a known asshole in real life, they're an asshole in fic. [Side eyes Date Roulette]

I've seen some people over the years post smut the day of an idols 18th birthday, and it grosses me out every fucking time. This isn't necessarily related to what I was talking about above but seriously it creeps me out so much that I couldn't not mention it. I don't get it. I've never got it. Like I only managed to rewire my brain about Jungkook in like 2019 because I was still thinking of him as the 15 year old he was when he debuted. (This is turning into a whole other post at this point)

[aspenonpawzzz]

hollow mind rewrite!

It was supposed to be a normal day for Hunter wittabane, nephew and right hand of Emperor belos, The famed golden guard, and head of the Emperor’s coven. Supposed to be a normal day, but, as with everything in his life, it went horribly wrong. He groaned, and rolled over, opening his eyes slightly. “Why does everything… hurt..” he thought, trailing off when he saw his surroundings. Instead of the cluttered mess of his room, there were imposing gold and beige walls, with torches along the walls. “Did I sleep-walk into the halls?” was his first thought, until he saw the paintings. Hanging everywhere were gold framed paintings of scenes he knew. He was in some for titans sake! Everything that had happened came rushing back. The potion, those rebels, and the human came to him in a stream of images like on a staff at full speed. With a sinking stomach he realized where he was. “ No,no,no,no,no,no! This can’t be happening!” he thought, “This is uncle’s mind!” “Imdeadimsodeadunclesgoingtokillmeitsalloverwhywasinotmorecarefulandwhosgoingtotakecareofflapjack-” “wait.” “Flap?” he whispered, glancing around for his palisman. The little cardinal was nowhere to be seen, however, he did see that darn human, lying on the ground. “Oh right.” , he thought, “Palisman can’t enter mindscapes, stupid.”. He had read a lot of stuff on mindscapes. “What is this place?” “Does she seriously not know?”.

“You know exactly where we are human.” He said as the human whipped her head toward him  “You got us trapped in the emperor's mind!” “HUH!”

{ INSERT TITLE/  }

“We’re in the emperor’s mind?!” cried luz (Huh, when did he start calling her that?) “that's Bananas!” “What are those?” he thought, before voicing his mind “I don't know what those are, and I don’t care to. Remember what happened at the night market?” After Explaining why they  were here, he burst out laughing. “You want to prove my uncle is evil, and you thought I would help?” “ His uncle, evil? That was hilarious!” he thought. “Well, now that I'm in his mind I can find out the truth for myself. Weird though, I've been in Willow's mind before and it had more, uh, trees.” she said, confused. “she was in the captain's mind? Never mind, just focus on showing her that uncle is a good person.”  “ meh, makes sense, mindscapes reflect the individual. I’ve read a lot on this subject.” “woah, look at this memory!” he said, walking to a painting of belos helping people away from a burning town. “You know, wild magic wiped out our family. That's why Belos took in the survivors, and dedicated his life to making the coven system! It's why he’s so well liked!” Then he noticed a memory that he knew well. “ oh, and look, this is when I inherited my staff!” he felt his pride swell at the memory. “Bet you didn’t know i'm the youngest scout to become golden guard! I- uh, never found out what happened to the previous one.” he continued to ramble, not caring that Luz was slowly back away. Then, he felt his senses tingle. “We aren’t alone.” he thought. Sure enough, there was what must be inner uncle, striding towards them. “Emperor! ”  he called, bowing  “you’re here! We beg  for your assistance to return to the real world, so i may capture your enemies.” “and so she can ruin someone else's day” he thought, darkly. Suddenly, a small figure wearing a mask jumped out, waving it’s arms frantically. “REEEEE!” went the inner belos, large blue eyes opening on its back. “HUNTER!” yelled luz, running forward, tossing a fire glyph toward uncle’s form. “Waahh!” they yelled as the two teens rolled backward through the wall. 

Part 2: the real belos.

“AHHHH!” yelled hunter as he fell through the void. He felt luz grab the side, and just before they hit the ground, they stopped, hovering briefly before dumping onto the ground. “Where are we now?” he asked. “This must be his real mind.” “what do you mean ‘real mind’ that gallery-” “was made of all the lies he tells. He’s not who you think he is!” yelled the human. Then he noticed a dead bird palisman shell and walked over too it. He spiked it up before it crumbled in his hands. “We’re probably being punished because YOU provoked his inner self.” he yelled. “Well his inner self had a thousand glowing eyeballs!” she said, spooked. “oH nO! eYeBaLlS! Pft- you’re so easy to scare.” “BOOO” “Ahh!” he yelled as luz pulled out a pink bunny walkie talkie. “Hey, kid, where did you go?” the owl lady's voice said . after explaining the situation they both heard a snapping sound “huh?” the figure from before  came out of the trees. “Its you! Kid belos!” said the hooman “what?” “Thank you for helping us before. You don’t seem nearly as scary as your inner self. “RAHH” yelled inner belos from somewhere else as the kid clung to luz. “If strong emotions can take form, then maybe it's his, idk, sense of guilt?” said the human “why would uncle need to be guilty?” “What? Belos has never done anything worthy of feeling guilt. It's obviously his, uh, sense of innocence! His pure intentions!” “Well, whatever it is, I think it can help us stay safe!” said Luz, before whispering to the kid something he could not hear. “What was that?” “RAAHHGGHHHH!” “No time! Let's go go go!” she said before running to a memory. “You’re going to invade his memories? That's sacrilege!” he yelled. “It's a way to survive!” said luz before plunging into the memory.

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

 *wheooshh* “belos was lying! Wild witches weren’t attacking him!” “How could you help someone like that?” she yelled. “That was probably a special technique to get people to listen to his message! It-it's for the greater good!” said hunter, but he thought, “what if she is right?”

THE END

Thank you for read ing!

[captaincassianandorr]

Australian Survivor Titans V.s Rebels Ep 5

Finally able to watch.

Episode 5

-Wait we're hearing from SCOTT? Who has been PURPLE until now? I'm actually happy to hear/see from some of the players who haven't said anything to see where they're at. -Kelli just keeps blowing up everyone's game. -Kelli's conversation with Alex. What is this? Telling him she wants to bring up mistakes he made as a child?? But Alex isn't buying any of it. Trying to make it seem like she owns Alex. -Kirby is not playing it smartly. That flip flopping of votes is not always wise. -HAHAHA I love Winna and Jaden's duet at the Titans camp omg. So funny. -Mark is going to try and find the treasure chest that Feras told him about. -I am still not happy about the Tobias vote out. I agree with the Titans. How are you going to win challenges without stronger people in your tribe? -Rebels seem to keep winning reward challenges. I've never seen a season quite like this where the stronger players are picked off first. Could make for an interesting merge. -Jaden v.s Feras should be interesting. -HAHAHA Charles and Raymond immediately have a geeky conversation. Also me if I ever played Survivor. -Rebels win reward. I'm kind of glad Sarah gets her party. -Kelli makes me really uncomfortable with her sexual innuendos/ inappropriate comments. A forum I go to loves her even though she acts like a predator and it's disturbing. -Garrick actually does think he's Batman doesn't he. -Kirby how are you going to stay one step ahead of Feras if you don't know what his plans are? He's so chaotic, I don't think you can predict what he's going to do. -Challenge time and I am living for this Viola outfit in tie-dye. -both boys furiously whacking away at their logs lol -The titans and rebels really are neck in neck here. -LOL At Garrick calling Kelli hopeless. -Titans are getting ahead here which is great since I prefer their tribe to the Rebels. -And the puzzle part Charles and Eden just whipped through. -And Nathan is really good at this. Rebels are going back to Tribal. (again) -Kirby trying to work with Kelli(???) Why? I'd be cutting her mind you I'd be the first one voted out in my tribe because I'm horrible at social situations and I'm terrible at challenges. -Kirby is not smart for trying to get rid of Feras right now. -Alex and Scott seem a bit ??? about this plan. I don't understand why you get rid of Feras now. -Garrick calling Alex a sitting duck made me laugh. Quite often I expect these older guys to go home early/pre-merge and so far he lasted longer than I thought he would. -Kirby thinking she is running this show but there's just no way Alex works with her. And now Feras knows about it. -HAHAHA omg the look on Feras' face. He trusted Kirby and now she's thrown his name out/is running the tribe. -Scott is actually speaking?!!? And causing chaos?!! Omg the rebels tribe is always so chaotic. -Kirby it's too early to be making that bigger moves. People are going to put a target on you now. -And Kirby and Ri think they are so in control and that they've "got him" but Alex has told Feras about it. I think Alex who is on the outer needs allies. -this twist is so stupid the saboeteur tribe. I doubt the rebels are going to send Feras now because he has the key. They'd just be sending him to get the treasure chest. -so they're going to send Kelli. Kirby saying it's too dangerous to send Feras. -Now Kirby is really making Feras suspicious. -LOl the facial expressions on Garrick and Feras' faces are so funny. The eye roll and the sour expression. -So wait if Kelli fails this mission does that mean she goes home ? Or she just stays on the Titans? -Lol Raymond yelling out his vote -Kelli is going over to the Titans to blow up their game (though it's Kelli do you *really* trust her to succeed in this mission?) -And she's forgotten what her job is already. She'll probably get over to the camp and be like "why am I here?" -SURPRISE KELLI IS ON YOUR BEACH.

[the-firebird69]

There's a huge issue with these people is driving around bothering people with garbage trucks want them off the street and out of this jobs they're stupid. This huge Army is engaging the clones and they're delayed again, and it's a giant space War which is holding them off and they are going to be in trouble momentarily and they're using the two planets but they're hiding mostly and he has more fleets hasn't called them but it's blackfully it's already cut in half, they sincerely don't know how to use the shield properly. And they are fighting like crazy and turn the shield off and on like they should but they don't power It up cuz they're afraid to burn components and things and it doesn't work now I see a couple of them turning it up and then see how it works and the others are starting to follow suit the rebels and empire and some foreigners are now frying like madness before they can get their shields on.. I'm pretty sure about a quarter more will be out and Tommy will have to bring his other fleets out and then I could very happy about it they're building like madness now yeah they took over the steel ship lay down areas and that's what they've been doing yeah we're there too huge number of them being built and it's going on now giant numbers and they need them every single one of them in the Forgieners are doing it too.

A few things are happening here in punta Gorda Florida and Port Charlotte Florida it's because of the battle in space. The clones are very ornery they got very mean and excitable and up and everyone's face and they are going around town and yelling at people and it's not right and it's not code and they're getting arrested and then figuring out what they have cuz they're telling them and it's going to be a war in the holes again as there should be. And Tommy f is thinking our son is one of them or something because he's an idiot and ruined himself and it's done after this he's all done and it's true he'll be dead and they had him do the job and he went ahead and pushed it all the buttons they wanted him to push it's going to happen quick probably on time for a son to move.

They're an indicators showing that this is happening there are drones being sent there and they're doing scans and certain places. It's only a matter of time before they start to do things but they have to plan it.

They're attacking the Eastern hemisphere warlock bases to fruition they said so just keep attacking them until they're gone and they're doing it. They have probably 50% of the basis targeted today that we are remaining and those bases span from the tip of Africa all the way up to the Greenland North Pole and they're going after them they have huge bases around the North Pole and that's where part of hoth is filmed the other part is on hearth itself which is next to Titan they found another laser there it's not very big it's one of the defensive lasers and the rebels try to take it over and it had it for a little bit and lost it to Darth Vader at the time I think it's Mac. And it could be. But there's another actor in there exactly actually Bob Marsh he's been hiding it because he gets killed at the starkiller incident and the place is destroyed and he's after Ray. Maybe you got a real job to do oh s***.. that was our son first and Bob March responding about Ray getting hit by Garth but it was really to pull the baby out this is one of theirs it's not like it's her fault. And there's more happening

The trash people went by several times if not taking the TV or the debris and they say they're doing a purpose but the bugs don't like that stuff and they're stupid so they keep driving by and they're looking around and we figure out what they're doing and trying to kidnap our son. The max sent police and they're arresting them now and his new trash guys will come and take them to bring away, as these were clones. It's a huge War now this developing into a bigger one it's much needed.

The amazing for us filled up the Yucatan and there's still a force there engaging the clones about the diamonds but it was full all the spaces are empty and they were destroyed rather easily the north of Brazil emptied rapidly, the islands are empty and across the very sea they were sending forces they're in Canada there is a northern border of the United States they were in Canada they're all over the Hudson Bay and it's a Bering strait The empire wiped out all of them except for at the Hudson Bay and the clones came out and fought them and wipe them out. We're going we're going over what happened the last night's Invision Force and that's a sea they have a lot of ships and I think I said 2 million octillion people it's about right and they're all gone the ships were completely destroyed and there are a lot of 5 miles a few 10 miles a couple twenties and tons of 1 mile ships all gone and they have a few shipbuilding areas one is in India believe it or not, just went in China and two in Thailand one of the Philippines and they'll probably be gone shortly because the max will take them over and there's not many of the idiots left and they're going to have to go after ships and it's time to do that down below and they're getting repelled quite easily so they're going after buried ships and if it does the beginning it's so far right now they would have power right now and the fleet of theirs in space has engaged the Black ships finally and is down to around 10% the size of what it was 15% if you add other ships that are not up there that's very small. And the entire force is small when they started attacking they were attacked here and overseas they went from 7% to about 5% of the overall population and their population in Florida shrunk to about 2%. It's going to get smaller rapidly here in Florida as they're going to start doing sweeps and they have to

There's more but we should publish to make sure it gets out

Thor Freya

He think she's healing I think he's in pain. Supposed to be stuff on the way and I know you have no notice but they say it is he's wondering what it is but okay he'll be fine and because were working yes but that's a big loss. Huge.

Hera

We have his best interest in mind and that he should probably stay put today and a lot of people agree with access if he goes up there it's going to cause a hullabaloo and he needs one now

Olympus

[peashooter85]

Whiskey Review Time --- Rebel and Rebel 100 Straight Bourbon

Recently I've noticed this bourbon hitting the shelves and I've finally decided to give it a try. Fortunately, they have those little 50ml bottles that sell for $1.99 so if this turns out to be a bad whiskey I'm not out much. However, this is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon, I've never ever had a bad Kentucky Straight Bourbon before, not even at the price of $17.99 which is what it sells for at the local liquor store. So I prepared myself for some nice budget bourbon sipping.

Apparently this stuff has been around for a while, with the brand being founded in the 1950's but was only available in part of the Southern US. However in the past ten years it's been crossing the Mason-Dixon line until now it's in just about every liquor store in America. Interestingly it's a wheated bourbon. Most bourbons have a mash bill of mostly corn, with the rest being rye and malted barley. This has a mashbill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. It is a blend of bourbons from the Lux Row distillery and bourbons from other distilleries. Supposedly one of the other distilleries is Heaven Hill but I don't think this has even been confirmed. The brand is owned by Luxco which is also the owner of Everclear. It is bottled at 80 proof (40%). They also have Rebel 100, which is 100 proof (50%). There is no age statement, but to legally call it "straight bourbon" it must be aged for at lest 4 years in new oak barrels. You might see bottles of this called "Rebel Yell", sometimes even on the same shelf. Recently they've decided to shorten the name to just "Rebel", and they have been slowly fazing out the older "Rebel Yell" labels.

First I shall try the regular 80 proof rebel. On the nose I get classic bourbon smells, sweet honey, caramel, oak, vanilla, and cherry. It can be a little faint, sometime it seems like I need to stick my nose right in the glencairn to get a good whiff of it. The aroma is nice and pleasant and I really like it. On tasting I get a bit of the corn sweetness common with bourbon with hints of vanilla. The flavor is extremely light, in fact I would say way too light. With bourbons I expect bold rich flavors. This does not have bold rich flavors, in fact it tastes like a bourbon that has been watered down. The finish is very bitter and with lots of alcoholic burn despite being only 80 proof. I'm not pleased with it, but it's drinkable. I would rate it 2.5 out of 5.

Now on to Rebel 100. While the 80 proof Rebel had a light aroma, the 100 proof Rebel barely has any aroma. But if I really stick my nose in the glencairn to the point that it leaves marks on my face, I get an extremely light bourbonish aroma mixed with heavy odors of booze. On tasting ... OH GOD, ALCOHOL ALCOHOL ALCOHOL BURN BURN BURN!!! This stuff is so boozy and alcoholy and burny it has no other flavor profiles. It's strong and metallic tasting. It's not "defiantly smooth" as their brand catchphrase says. It's defiant as in Johnny Reb doing a rebel yell and cracking me across the head with the butt of a musket. It's terrible! This stuff is bad. It's like Canadian Mist bad! I have a feeling that they took regular Rebel and just added alcohol to it in order increase the alcohol content to 100 proof. I mean they own Everclear so it's not out of the realm of possibilities. This stuff is undrinkable, I had to toss it down the drain. Good thing I only got a mini bottle. I rate it 1 out of 5. Absolutely horrible! Worst part is you have to pay 2 dollars more for this than regular Rebel.

So now I'm sure there are many readers who are thinking, Peashooter you bought cheap whiskey what did you expect? Buy cheapass whiskey win cheapass prizes. Well, there is another Kentucky Straight Bourbon out there for the same price range that totally blows Rebel out of the water. In fact where I live it's cheaper at $14.99 a bottle. And that bourbon is ...

I love Evan Williams Black Label, it's the cheapest good Kentucky straight bourbon you can buy in my opinion. There are certainly better bourbons out there and EW Black Label might be a bit rough around the edges, but it's still a very good and solid bourbon for an excellent price. I have a feeling that what Luxco is trying to do is unseat this old contender. If you are short on funds and can't afford better, don't buy Rebel and especially don't buy Rebel 100, buy this instead.