#i hope you don't mind me adding those Gina

[savebylou]

Hi, here are a few that I know:

@yimmysart has a store with of their art, they have of Louis, Harry, Niall and some 1D merch too.

Dani @lapollypocket-detianguis change the site for their store and they are very active on instagram. They have a lot of Louis merch as well as Harry's merch.

@evenasyoungastheyare has a store they have merch of Louis, Harry and 1D.

@millypins has a store with pins and stickers of Louis and the other 1D boys.

@lemelous has prints in their store.

@sweptawaytvnow has accesories of Louis and the other 1D boys in their store.

In the redbubble store some designs can be on different items from accesories to clothes. If the anon is from México they can send me a message and I can suggest more stores from there.

hi gina, hope you are well<3 maybe you know of a website or place where i can find the louis merchandising designs?

Hi, sweetheart. Do you mean fan-made merch? I know @lapollypocket-detianguis used to have an Etsy store and her art is amazing. I’m really not sure who does merch, but hopefully someone else can add on and give you some links.

Does anyone here know fandom creators who sell Louis merch?

[homemade-ghosts]

why do you think some people are saying ricky's feelings came out of nowhere? because i don't really see that (i got into the show for them so i don't get it)

Do you want the nice answer or the mean one? (trick question, I’ll give you both.)

If I were being nice and giving them the benefit of the doubt, I’d say that, prior to this season, it had been a long time since Ricky & Gina interacted. & If they’ve been watching the show as it airs, then it’s been over a year in real time and roughly half a season (which was maybe a few months in the show’s universe?) since we saw them speak to one another -- so, I can understand how seeing their dynamic for the first time in so long could be jarring to the casual viewer.  

& I would say that, even though Ricky’s feelings don’t come out of nowhere, I get how it could feel that way because, up until this point, we’ve only really seen their relationship from Gina’s perspective. We saw her confess to Ricky on opening night, saw the tears spilling down her face when she told Ricky she wouldn’t quit on them if she wasn’t moving away. We saw her deflate when Ricky sang with Nini at that New Years Eve party. We watched as she fled Ricky’s apartment after telling him that he should sing that song he wrote to Nini over the phone because “every girl loves a sweet gesture”, knowing that she was thinking of that day he serenaded her with "When There Was Me & You" last fall. We watched as she smiled at the thought of Ricky having gotten her those chocolates on Valentine’s Day and then tried to hide her discomfort and heartbreak when she found out he didn’t (at least as far as we know right now, but I’m still a little bit of a chocolates theory truther lol). My point is, Gina’s feelings for Ricky have always been front and center, until now. Now, finally, we are getting Ricky’s perspective on things. I can only hope that the people who want to claim his feelings came out of nowhere will change their minds as more of Ricky’s POV is revealed this season. Ricky himself said it best, “you don’t know the full story.”

Okay, that was my attempt at a nice, calm and understanding answer. If you want my more...honest opinion, then here's where I start to get a little mean.

If someone says Ricky’s feelings came out of the blue it’s because they lack any media literacy or comprehension skills. They can’t grasp a story until it is explicitly spelled out for them or spoon fed to them. Now that it has been spelled out (via Jet picking up on Ricky’s feelings and calling him out on them & now, by Ricky literally telling Carlos he wasn’t pretending to “crush on” Gina during WDYKAL) they want to cry “bad writing” because they specifically didn’t see it coming. That’s not the show’s fault. The writing, if they paid attention and actually thought about it, has been building up to this for a long time. If they didn’t see it, that’s on them. 

I also have to point out that, anytime there’s wildly incorrect criticism like this, it usually comes from pws or Rinis (though I really shouldn’t bother adding the “or” because the venn diagram of people who ship pw and people who ship Rini is a circle) and they actively ignore the story this show is trying to tell in favor of their own misguided narrative. Last season, they claimed that Gina was a homewrecker because she was trying to “steal” Ricky away from Nini, despite the fact that Gina quite literally said she would never “step on what he has with Nini.” and she never did. Same thing is happening this season, except now it’s “Ricky is trying to steal Gina away from EJ.” when we’ve seen Ricky actively go out of his way not to do that because he’s prioritizing Gina and her happiness over his own feelings. They invent plot points and motives that fundamentally don't exist within the show.

I’ve heard it all. “Ricky doesn’t have any feelings for Gina.” *next season* “Okay, so he does, but they came out of nowhere.” *one episode later* “Okay, they didn’t come out of nowhere, but Gina doesn’t like him back. She’s moved on to EJ.” *watches their WDYKAL performance* “...so maybe Gina does have feelings for Ricky...b-but she shouldn’t break up with poor EJ because that’ll break his wittle heart!!” (as if I’m supposed to care about his feelings during their inevitable breakup when he’s the one actively ruining his own relationship by being selfish, non-communicative, insecure + keeping secrets from and not spending time with his girlfriend). 

They’re scrambling for a reason, any reason, for Ricky & Gina not to end up together and I’ve yet to hear a single one that wasn’t nonsensical and completely disproven by the show. Just loud and wrong, every single one of them. 

[verobatto]

Destiel Chronicles

Vol. LVIII

It was a love story from the very beginning.

Cain's Mark vs Profound Bond

(10x15/10x16/10x17)

Hello my friends! Today we are going to talk about three episodes from this season exploring the big fight between Cain's Mark (the monster inside Dean) vs Profound Bond (Destiel).

Cole: another switch mirror

In episode 10x15 'The Things They Carried' we meet Cole again.

But again after to jump into that, let's recall that glorious scene in which one sheriff offered Dean a piece of cake...

Gif set credit @deanwinchesters

And is time for the crazy colors old lady here...

You know what cake means for Dean, okay, is not pie, but is like... He wants to eat Cas, and who don't? 🤣🤣😏

Okay... Blue plate... (CAS) Right? Dean is trying to reach it but Sam blocks it. Dean longs for that cake... Then, the cake is divided... There one big piece with a green and yellow candles (the two brothers) but green is Healing!Dean so, is good... Another piece with Blue and Res candles (Toxic/Violent!Dean and Cas). So one is good the other not so, maybe representing the end of the season in which Dean and Cas will have a very violent encounter, and Sam will be able to reach Dean in that Mexican bar (Las episode from this season).

Okay, my rant has no limits. I know. I also know you like me as I am. So is okay. 🤣🤣

Now. Cole's time.

Rick was Cole's best friend, he was a soldier. When Sam and Dean went to talk with his wife, this is what she said about his husband...

Gif credit @yaelstiel

BETH: Rick was a kind soul. He never took more life than he had to.

Is like talking about Dean here, knowing Dean will become a thirsty of revenge monster by the end of the season, this is an accurate description.

Talking about thirst of revenge...

BETH: No. But . . . Rick was . . . he was so . . . He was thirsty.

DEAN: Thirsty for what?

BETH: Water. He'd spend half the day drinking from the garden hose. And then, one night, I caught him in the tub drinking the bathwater. When l told him to stop, it was like he couldn't even hear me. And his skin, it got so dry it bled.

Another wife asking his husband to stop.

When Cole enters finds the Winchesters, he knows the brothers wanted to kill 'the monster'

So, here is when he became Sam/Cas mirror...

Gif set credit @loiah

Cole keeps his hopes, he wants to save his friend. Just like Sam and Cas want to save Dean.

Then, when the worm takes control of Cole, leading him to a metamorphosis into a monster, slow and painful, he switch to Dean mirror.

The parasite is Cain's mark. Hopefully Cole is healed. But the whole scene is like Dean looking at his reflection, trying to fight the monster/Cain's mark/parasite.

But at the end of the episode, this is what Dean says...

Gif credit @bellamy-octavia

Terrible, a self sentency, right?

The betrayal and what Dean really wants

Episode 10x16 'Paint it Black' we have two important point to watch.

First of all, the ghost Love's story talks about betrayal. The artist betrayed her. Betrayed their bond. Another Destiel foreshadow, another clue to is about to come, Dean finding Cas with Sam acting behind his back. Always with a romantic parallel, of course.

But this episode had a very, very important scene. Dean's confession.

Keep in mind we jus had two episodes with Dean eagerly eating cake. Cake represents his bi-self, the side of him that longs for Castiel.

So, the confession starts with Dean naming PIE, I mean... Women.

DEAN: Right. Good. Yeah. So, that, and, um…so the women. Uh, and this is not something that I’m proud of, but I let them think that we have more of a future than we do, you know? Ah, Gina.

Gina doesn't exist, is just a name in the name of all the women he knew. That's why Gina appears in the same paragraph he names women in general. The pie.

FATHER DELANEY: Gina?

DEAN: Well, now, don’t get me wrong. I mean, she was – it was good times. I mean, you know how it is – the sex, the lasagna – but I was not honest with her. And sometimes, I was seeing two, maybe three girls at the same time, sometimes in the same day. [Chuckles] you get the picture. And it wasn’t just Gina. It was endless. It’s making me sick.

This is a complex dialogue we have here. Gina is women, but it also is Dean's fem side. He wasn't honest with himself. He had so many women, not being honest with it, and it got him sick. Superficial encounters, not feelings, just sex. Not compromises. But inside of his soul... He was getting sick... Because that's not what he is or what he wants... He wants cake.

When the Father was about to end the confession, thinking Dean was over... Is when the real thing came out to light...

Gif set @yarnyfan

Dean wants to experience those feelings he has for Castiel for the first time. Because Cas gives him security, and profounding. Cas has done for him what no one did before. So Dean knows that what he feels for him must be true, must be love. And he wants to embrace it for the first time. Is one of the reasons why he doesn't want to die. So after talking about the superficial, the women, the pie, he goes for the cake. Is the good thing, the new thing, the different thing. He wants Castiel.

Now, just to finish this episode, there was another little foreshadow...

SAM: Is this you thanking me for not doing what you told me to do?

DEAN: You know, if you would have burned the journal, then we wouldn’t know how to kill it, would we?

Okay, remember when Dean asked Sam to burn the Book of the Condemn? And he didn't? Okay... We know Sam will give it to Rowena and through that book... They will erase the mark. Thanks to Sam who didn't obey his big brother this time.

The Plan to save Dean

Episode 10x17 'Inside Man' or... Bobbyyyyyy!!!! *horribly crying* sorry.

Mostly a beautiful Sam/Cas work team episode, and how they began to assemble the perfect work team of the entire show! (Sorry again, I love their dynamic) but I will talk here just a few things...

Bi!Dean winking at the bartender, and the bar full of red, (toxic!Dean).

The psychic just seeing colors when trying to read Cas. We love our gay angel.

Hannah saying Cas he was desperate to save Dean. Yes. She knows what is going on there between Cas and Dean.

Dean facing persons under the beast spell, thanks to Rowena, like a foreshadow of Dean facing Cas under the same spell.

To Conclude:

These three episodes talked about the fight inside Dean between Cain's mark, the parasite, the monster, and his profound bond with Castiel, expressed into words in his confession.

There a little clues foreshadowing the end of the season and how they will be erasing the mark.

I hope you like this, see you in the next one!

Tagging @metafest @magnificent-winged-beast @emblue-sparks @weirddorkylittlediana @michyribeiro @whyjm @legendary-destiel @a-bit-of-influence @thatwitchydestielfan @misha-moose-dean-burger-lover @lykanyouko @evvvissticante @savannadarkbaby @dea-stiel @poorreputation @bre95611 @thewolfathedoor @charlottemanchmal @neii3n @deathswaywardson @followyourenergy @dean-is-bi-till-i-die @hekatelilith-blog @avidbkwrm @anarchiana @dickpuncher365 @vampyrosa @foxyroxe-art @authorsararayne @anonymoustitans @mybonsai1976 @love-neve-dies @wildligia @dustythewind @wayward-winchester67 @angelwithashotgunandtrenchcoat @trashblackrainbow @deeutdutdutdoh @sadpotato00 @destiel-shipper-11 @larrem88 @charmedbycastiel @ran-savant @little-crazy-misha-minion @samoosetheshipper

@shadows-and-padlocked-hearts @mishtho @dancingtuesdaymorning @nerditoutwithbooks @mikennacac73 @justmeand-myinsight @idontwantpeopletoknowmyname @tenshilover20 @teddybeardoctor @pepevons @helevetica @isthisdestiel @dizzypinwheel @jawnlockwinchester @horsez2 @qanelyytha

@imjuatkipping @destielle

If you want to be added or removed from this list just let me know.

If you want to read the previous metas From this season, here you have the links:

Vol. LI, LII, LIII, LIV, LV, LVI, LVII.

Buenos Aires April 21st 2020 8:53 PM

[romanticsuspense]

If I see one more person say that the show is forcing Bree and Roger on us 🙄🙄🙄 the show is months away and it's already started. Everytime there is something Bree and/or Roger related released there are always hateful or rude comments. I really don't understand people's need to hate on them all the time. If you don't like them don't talk about them. Is that really so hard? And don't get me even started on the people who can't wait for Roger to get hanged. That's really disgusting.

We are on the exact same page about this, anon!

Sorry for not answering this sooner.  I think I received this a week or two ago?  So, I’m not sure what Brog related promo was released to incite the hateful comments at the time.  But, I do know I’ve seen some fresh hate after this perfection was posted on the outlander_starz Instagram a couple of days ago:

I don’t see quite as much of the anti-brog sentiments as I used to.  I block anyone who posts anything nasty in the Outlander tag or on other people’s positive posts, so I don’t have to see their negativity anymore.  But, since the show has been added to Netflix, there are more anti-brog fans sprouting up every week it seems.  

I’ve given all of this a lot of thought and tried to rationalize it.  But, it’s really impossible to rationalize other people’s subjective feelings and opinions.  At one point, I really wanted to do a series of posts defending Roger.  But, ultimately decided not to because…the anti’s aren’t going to read it, and they’re definitely not going to change their minds, so what’s the point?  I could go on and on about the double standard by which Roger and Jamie’s characters are judged.  I could pull quotes from the books that showcase how decent of a man Roger is (a better man than Jamie, IMHO).  I could explain, in ridiculously long essays, how much I love Roger.  But, there are still going to be people out there who hate him.  And I can’t change that.  I don’t understand it.  I don’t like it.  But, I can’t change it.  

This fandom is just super weird and crazy and there are a lot of inexplicably angry people.  I’ve seen hate directed towards Bree, Frank, Roger, Matt Roberts, Caitriona Balfe, Richard Rankin, Sophie Skelton, David Berry…pretty much everyone but Jamie and Sam!  So, I am strangely comforted by the fact that it’s not just my favorite character getting dragged through the mud.  

I’m with you, anon, in that I just don’t understand the compulsion to make hateful comments all the time.  I think they’ve formed their own little Tumblr circle where they rile each other up, stew in their indignation, and assume that the rest of the fandom feels the same way they do.  They talk about the show in absolutes and extremes.  It’s Jamie and Claire always and forever, and if you like any of the other characters, or defend any of the other characters, you must hate Jamie and Claire.  Measured, critical analysis of characters is rare in that circle.  Also, I find it interesting how the hate evolves and changes.  It used to be “Sophie is a terrible actress and Bree is a seflish brat.”  Now it’s “Roger is a misogynistic pig and Bree deserves better.”  It’s almost like it’s cool to hate on certain characters or actors, like a fad.  Right now, there’s a lot of Brog hate, but they’ll circle back around to Frank-hate in a couple months, then it’ll be Cait-hate, before getting back to Brog-hate.  There’s always something to complain about.        

I share your disgust about fans who are already expressing glee at the prospect of Roger getting hanged.  I am truly baffled that there are people out there who think Roger deserved to be beaten nearly to death by Jamie, or that he deserves to be hung in Season 5.  The reason those story lines are so powerful is because he doesn’t deserve it.  As readers and watchers we are supposed to be horrified by Jamie’s actions, not applaud them.  We are supposed to be upset by Roger’s suffering, not happy about it.  I say “supposed to” not to dictate how anyone should feel about fiction, but because of the framing of the story in both the book and show.  It’s not framed as a “villain gets his comeuppance” story line, but that’s how many of the anti’s are interpreting it.  Roger is not a villain.    

As much as I’ve criticized the writing of Roger and Bree’s relationship in Season 4, I still don’t think the level of vitriol directed towards Roger and/or Bree is warranted.  The fan reactions have been way out of proportion to what was actually portrayed on screen.  It doesn’t make a lick of sense that fans are wishing and hoping for Roger to die.  Luckily, they can wish and hope for his death all they want, but Roger isn’t going anywhere. 

All this to say that I’m trying my best to not let the haters get to me.  But, even though I’ve taken measures to avoid seeing the negativity, it still surprises me and gets under my skin when I see those comments and posts.  I wish there weren’t trolls in this fandom, but unfortunately there are. The block button is your friend.  Find fellow bloggers who actually enjoy watching the show.  Try to ignore the “extreme” sections of the fandom.  One of my favorite advice bloggers, askamanager.com, will tell people who write in for advice about their coworkers doing crazy shit to re-frame it in their minds.  So, instead of becoming really frustrated by the bonkers things your co-workers say or do, you take a step back and look at the situation through a different lens—one in which you’re able to accept that you have limited control over the situation and almost be entertained by it.  I think this same advice can be applied to fandom.  I’m trying my best to be Gina Linetti 👇🏼

[three-drink-amy]

fic request: johnny and dora AU where captain holt doesn't leave so jake and amy don't have the third kiss in the evidence room...where do things go from there

Okay, so I’m sorry that it has been actual MONTHS since you sent this! My life has been crazy and it took me a while to plot this one! I hope you’ll enjoy it! Thanks for the request!

“Tall butt!” Jake yelled as he walked from the break room. Hechuckled to himself, feeling proud of them that they weren’t going to let theweird events of the night get to them. Amy was right, everything didn’t need tochange. They were good the way they were. Jake felt sure in that.

The next day, Jake and Amy went about business as usual.They didn’t mention the fact that they’d kissed twice the night before. Theynever mentioned the fact that before that, Jake had expressed an interest inasking Amy out. They were just partners as usual. In fact, everything at theprecinct seemed the same as always. Captain Holt worked from his office, no bigannouncements to make. Gina stayed on her phone at her desk, unfazed byanything. No one new entered the precinct to rule over it. Jake couldn’t takehis mind off of Amy. It was truly just a normal day.  

Around lunch time, Jake decided he needed to get out of theprecinct. He walked out of the building, not even knowing what it was that hewanted to eat. He let his feet direct him as his mind was elsewhere. He walkedfor several blocks before stopping in front of a small storefront restaurant.Looking up, it was Amy’s favorite polish place. Shrugging, Jake decided hecould be up for some pierogis.

Jake opened the door and walked in. He was standing at thecounter, trying to decide what he wanted when he heard his name. Turning, hesaw Amy at a table close by. “Amy?” She looked equally shocked to see him. Heheld up one finger to her and turned back to the counter, ordering exactly whathe’d predicted would be her order last night: pierogis, potato pancakes, and acup of hot chocolate. He walked over to Amy as he waited for his order.

“What are you doing here?” Amy asked. “I didn’t think youliked polish food?”

Jake shrugged with a grin. “I don’t know. It sounded good.”

Amy was standing at a table, looking back and forth betweenit and Jake. Finally she held out her hand. “You’re free to join me if youwant. I was gonna eat here before heading back to the precinct.”

Jake smiled at her softly, pushing down all the thoughtsthat had been running through his head all morning. He nodded. “Yeah, okay.”They sat there and chatted as both their food came and all through their meal.

Getting up to leave, Amy laughed. “You know, it’s funny howdifferent this was to lunch in the break room.”

Jake echoed her laugh. “You mean without the weird smellsfrom Charles’s foods and without Gina making remarks about everything and noScully or Hitchcock doing anything?” He grinned. “Yeah, it’s not too bad.”

“Why don’t we leave more often?” Amy wondered aloud.

“Because we’re too invested in our jobs to take a reallunch,” Jake reminded her. Or to riskother things, he added mentally.

“Ah, yes, that,” Amy replied. She looked over at him as theywalked down the street. “Maybe we should do this more. Have a partners lunch.”

Jake wrinkled his nose. “Partners lunch?”

“Well we don’t have to call it that, but you know what Imean,” Amy argued. “You know, just get away from the precinct. Get away fromall the weirdos we work with.”

“And recalibrate our partnership,” Jake added.

Amy burst out laughing. “Now that sounds weird.”

Jake nodded sadly. He looked over at Amy. He could tell shereally did mean what she was offering. “Yeah, why not?”

Amy smiled, whooping at their plans for her partners lunchidea. But as they walked back to the precinct, Jake could think of severalreasons why regular lunches with Amy could be a bad idea. And they all had to dowith his ever-growing feelings for her. He happily agreed to their next lunch,wishing more than anything that he could tamp down how he was feeling.

And for three months, Jake did his best to tamp thosefeelings down. They had their partners lunches. And occasionally partnersdinners. And sometimes celebratory partners drinks at Shaw’s. On randomoccasions they had partners trips to the movies. Basically, they startedspending much more time together outside of work. As partners. Or friends. Butnever more. And while Jake was pleased to be spending so much time with Amy, itonly added to the way he felt. But he promised himself that he wouldn’t bringit up again. He’d brought it up once and ultimately been shut down. He broughtit up begrudgingly nearly a year later and had basically been shut down again.No matter how much Jake cared for Amy, he was keeping his lips shut this time.

“Great, thanks, man,” Jake said, shaking the hand of hiswitness, getting ready to walk him to the elevator. They both stood, poised toleave when Amy was walking to her desk.

“Amy Santiago?” The witness asked. Jake’s eyes flashed backand forth between the two of them. Amy turned around and recognition spreadacross her face.

“Ben Michaels?” Amy asked, gaped at him. Jake just stood andwatched the interaction.

“Wow, it’s been so long,” Ben said, wrapping Amy in a hug.

“Yeah,” Amy agreed. “What? Since that one party aftergraduation?”

Ben burst out laughing. “Oh you’re right it was. That was acrazy night.”

Amy shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I was only there for like anhour before Kylie and I left.”

Ben shook his head. The look in his eye as he stared at Amygave Jake a knot in his stomach. “So are you and Kylie still as tight?” Amynodded happily. “Wow, I can’t believe I’m seeing you again.”

Amy shook her head. “Yeah. Crazy. It’s really good to seeyou though. What are you doing here?”

Ben turned and pointed at Jake. Jake wished he could be leftout of the conversation. He had a lot going on in his mind. “I was a witnessfor a burglary. I was just being interviewed by this guy.”

Jake nodded, finally sitting back down in his chair. “Ohthis is my partner,” Amy informed the newcomer. Jake nodded again beforeturning back to his computer, trying to ignore what was going on before him. He’dseen that look in Amy’s eyes before. It was Tactical Village Day a year agowhen she’d reconnected with Teddy. Jake felt sick at the comparison. It wasn’tlike he had any claim on Amy, he obviously didn’t because Amy was her ownperson, but he couldn’t deny that he still had feelings for her.

Amy talked to Ben for easily five more minutes until finallyJake could get up and go to lunch. As he was leaving his desk he heard Ben say “Wouldyou want to get dinner tonight? Maybe catch up more?”

Jake turned back to see what Amy said. She was wearing abright smile as she said “Sure!” The knot in Jake’s stomach tightened. He couldread the subtext. It wasn’t just dinner, it was a date. Jake sat there broodingover his lunch. Luckily, no one else was paying attention to him. He was 99%sure that he and Amy had loosely had plans for the evening, but he wasn’t goingto remind her of that now.

Jake shook his head to himself, cursing himself for lettingit get this bad. He’d been here before, desperate to tell Amy about hisfeelings. He’d been there as he watched her go out with someone else. Andthough he knew that he’d promised himself not to say anything, it was eating athim. How had he let them reach this stage again? They’d spent the last threemonths hanging out constantly. Had there never been a moment when he could havetold her how he felt? Was he too afraid of being rejected a third time? Why hadn’the said anything? Now he had to watch her moon over someone new.

As the day went by, he could barely focus on anything thatwasn’t Amy. As his case hit a snag, he chose to change courses. He wanted totell Amy how he felt, but he’d already done so twice in person. Maybe he neededa new tactic. He was thinking about watching a movie with Amy where the maincouple wrote letters to each other. Suddenly inspiration struck him. He lookedaround the precinct nervously. No one was paying him any attention. He turnedto his computer and started typing. If he was going to pour his heart out toAmy, he wanted her to be able to actually read it.

Dear Amy,

It’s almost weirdwriting to you like this when you’re sitting right across from me, but I havesomething that I need to say. We’ve known each other for so long and beenthrough a lot together and I hope that you won’t hate me for what I’m about tosay. I know you’re about to go out with this new guy. But I didn’t want you todo that without knowing that I still have feelings for you. I’m not going totell you what to do, I just want you to know all the facts. And the facts arethat I still really like you and wish that something could happen between usromantic stylez. Maybe I should have said something before this happened, but youknow me and expressing feelings.

If you get this andyou hate me, I’m sorry. I hope that no matter what you choose, this won’taffect our partnership. Whether you want this or not, you’re still veryimportant to me. We’re a kickass couple of detectives and it would be silly tolet my stupid feelings get in the way of that.

Anyway, have a nicedinner. Feel free to ignore this mess.

Jake

Amy jumped up to go print something, and Jake found the perfectmoment to sneak the sealed letter in her purse. He looked around guiltily tomake sure that no one was looking and he slid it in Amy’s large purse. Now, itwas up to fate as to when Amy would find it.

For the rest of the day, Jake panicked any time Amy opened adrawer. He may have wanted her to see the letter, but not at work where all theircoworkers could see. Jake tried working on his case some more to take his mindoff Amy. It was always difficult though, with her sitting directly across fromhim.

Jake was finally hot on a lead in the case when everyoneelse was packing up to go. “Jake, you going home?” Charles asked as Jake typedaway madly on his computer.

Jake looked up. “Huh? Oh, no, not yet. Gonna stay here andkeep working on this case. I just found an interesting lead.”

Charles nodded. “Anyone want to go to Shaw’s?” he asked. “Amy?”

Amy shook her head. “No, I have a date. Dinner. Whatever youwant to call it.” Jake wrenched his eyes shut, hoping Charles hadn’t noticed. Amystopped at Jake’s desk as she was leaving. “Don’t work too long.”

Jake looked up at her with a small smile. “I’ll try.” Heturned back to his computer, as everyone else filed out. He kept to his wordand did stay working on his case. It hadn’t even been a full hour sinceeveryone left when he was running to the evidence lock up for an old file tocompare.

He was rifling through a box of papers when he heard thedoor to the evidence lock up open and close. Rather than looking up, Jake justkept trying to find what he was looking for. Whoever it was didn’t seem to movefrom the door.

“Hey.”

Jake picked his head up quickly to see Amy standing at thedoor. “Amy? I thought you were on your date.”

“I didn’t go.”

Jake stood there, praying his poker face was intact. Hehated how happy he was that she didn’t go. “Why’s that?”

Amy didn’t reply. She just held up the envelope he’d left inher bag. Jake nodded, not daring to say anything. He couldn’t yet read Amy’smood. “I was digging through my bag, trying to find my makeup when I found thisinstead,” Amy said after a long silence between them.

Jake blew out a breath. “I’m sorry, Amy. I probably shouldhave just said something to your face instead, but I was…I don’t know, scaredmaybe? I thought I could be more eloquent over a letter, but I don’t think thathappened.” Amy tilted her head slightly with a tight smile. She seemed toagree.

“Look, I couldn’t do it again. I didn’t say it soon enoughthe first time and I watched your whole relationship with Teddy. And I know itwas probably a jerk move to drop it on you like this, but I didn’t want to gothrough Teddy 2.0. I didn’t want to make the same mistake that I made last timeand not tell you. So…now you know,” Jake finished lamely.

Amy nodded like she was thinking things through. She lookedat him skeptically. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”

Jake sighed. “Because you said you didn’t want anything tochange. And I respected that.” Jake paused, hoping to express his thoughtscohesively. “But…I don’t know, then I thought about it, and without us eventrying, things have changed.”

Amy looked confused. “What do you mean?”

“I mean we go to lunches together and we get drinks orwhatever. We do all this stuff outside of work that we never used to. And Iknow we said it was for our partnership but I feel like it’s more than that.Unless it’s just me,” Jake expressed. “But it just felt like things within ourpartnership have changed. I mean we do a lot of things that you do when you’redating someone but we’re not. And if you don’t want that, it’s fine. I’m notgonna push it or ask to change anything. I just wanted you to know that myfeelings never really went away.”

Amy was silent as she stared at him. She looked deep inthought. “Huh,” she said simply.

Jake felt his stomach sink. Why had he even said anything?He looked down at the box in front of him so he could stop looking at Amy. “Look,why don’t you just go on your date. You know, since this isn’t what you want.We can be normal. I can be.”

But Amy didn’t move. Jake couldn’t take it and looked up ather. “Who said this isn’t what I want?” Jake looked at her with a confusedexpression. “I mean, you’re right, we havebasically been dating for the past few months. And I was the one who suggestedit in the first place. I guess if I was being honest, there was a reason forthat. You know, it’s not like I went to see Age of Ultron with Charles.”

“Don’t bring up Age of Ultron,” Jake said quickly.

Amy frowned. “Oh right, I forgot you didn’t like it.” Shewalked around the pile of boxes separating them and stood in front of Jake. “Anyway,I…I still have feelings for you too. I was scared because we’re great aspartners and you’re probably one of my best friends so it’s easier to pretendthere’s nothing here. But there is.”

“Really?” Jake asked stupidly. Amy nodded with a smile onher face. Jake started to step closer to her before stepping back. “What aboutyour rule?”

Amy looked confused. “What rule?”

“Your no dating cops rule,” Jake reminded her.

Amy nodded in recognition. “Ah, that. Well…I mean you’re theone who said rules were made to be broken.”

Jake grinned as he stepped closer to Amy. “Yeah, I think I didsay that.” Jake was leaning in to finally kiss Amy again. His eyes started toclose but his brain kicked in. “I mean are you absolutely sure about this?Because –”

Amy huffed. “Oh my God, Jake, just kiss me.”

Jake didn’t need telling again. He slid his arm around Amy’sback, pulling her gently against him as his lips met hers. Amy’s hands ran overhis shoulders to perch at the back of his neck, eagerly returning his kiss. Theirkiss was gentle and sweet and yet Jake still felt breathless when they parted,arms still around each other, their foreheads pressed together. Jake opened hiseyes and stared at Amy, her face reflecting the way he was feeling. He smiledsoftly at her.

“Amy Santiago,” Jake asked, “would you like to go on a datewith me?” Amy smiled, leaning forward to kiss Jake again. “I’m gonna take thatas a yes,” he said against her lips. Soon they left the evidence lock up, andthe precinct in general. Jake held Amy’s hand, linking their fingers togetheras they walked. This time, the knot in Jake’s stomach was there for a verydifferent reason.