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jburrgf · 3 months ago

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Champagne Coast, JOE BURROW.

“Finishing 8 or 9, tell me what’s the perfect time. I told you i’ll be waiting hiding from the rainfall.”

◦pairing: ¡long hair!joe x ¡college student!reader

◦summary: fwb, no attachment relationship, attachment problems, forbidden type of love. +18 readers only!

◦description: academic pleasure is your thing, and that means that you put nothing over your education. literally nothing. but when a long-haired football player that just got transferred from the north just pops in front of you, it’s too hard to say no to him.

◦n/a: i’m doing this for my latina girlies (like me! <3). she has curly hair and slightly tanned skin.

Mornings were always the hardest.

Not because I wasn’t a morning person—I was, to some extent—but because they reminded me of how much I had to do and how little time I had to waste.

My alarm went off at 6:30 a.m. sharp, vibrating against the nightstand with a persistence I could never ignore. I didn’t allow myself to hit snooze. I couldn’t afford to. Instead, I threw the covers off, stretched until my spine cracked, and made my way to the tiny bathroom in my apartment, eyes barely open as I turned on the sink.

The mirror reflected my exhaustion back at me. Dark circles had made a home under my eyes, the evidence of another night spent hunched over my laptop, working through notes, assignments, and emails.

I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and tied my hair back into a loose ponytail before heading to the kitchen. Breakfast was always a rushed affair—black coffee, a piece of toast if I wasn’t running late. Today, I had just enough time to spread some butter over it and let the warmth seep into my fingertips before taking a bite.

As I stood there, leaning against the counter, I flipped open my planner, its pages filled with neatly written notes, deadlines, and reminders. Between classes, assignments, and shifts at my internship, every minute of my day was accounted for.

But today felt different.

Excitement buzzed under my skin as my eyes skimmed over a note I had scribbled down the night before: New project meeting – 2 PM.

My internship had been one of the best things about this year. It was demanding, sure, but it gave me a sense of purpose. The chance to work on something real, something tangible. And today, I was finally getting assigned to a project I had been hoping for.

I double-checked the details, making a mental note to grab an extra coffee before the meeting. If I was going to impress them, I needed to be on my A-game.

After slipping into a pair of jeans and pulling on a navy-blue sweater, I slung my bag over my shoulder and stepped outside. The crisp morning air bit at my cheeks, the sky a soft, muted blue, but I barely had time to appreciate it. My days ran on a tight schedule, and I had no room to fall behind.

The walk to campus was second nature by now. I moved on autopilot, weaving through streets and past coffee shops, my earbuds in, music humming softly as I mentally prepared myself for the day ahead.

By the time I made it to the library, my coffee was already half gone, but the caffeine was finally kicking in. I settled into a seat by the window, pulling out my laptop and opening the file I had started last night. I had about an hour before my first class—plenty of time to go over my notes, make sure I hadn’t missed anything.

This was my routine.

And I liked it this way, but today, my friends had another plan. Rachel and Nathan have been keeping me busy about every single gossip on this campus, and the new one was The transferred quarterback from Ohio State. And of course, the whole campus needed to celebrate.

I wasn’t planning on going to the party that night. It was the kind of LSU house party that smelled like cheap beer and desperation, packed with sweaty, screaming students all trying to forget their midterms or bad decisions. But my roommate, Rachel, had another plan.

A few hours earlier, I had been sitting in my psychology class, half-listening as the professor droned on about the power of love in humanity. It was some philosophical tangent about how emotions, particularly love, played a crucial role in human development and scientific progress. I struggled not to roll my eyes. Love, to me, had always been a concept romanticized beyond its worth. Sure, it made for great literature, but I had never been convinced that it held any real power beyond that.

When class finally ended, I packed up my things and headed to the campus diner, where Rachel and a few other friends were already gathered in a booth, their laughter rising above the chatter of the busy place. Jess, my best guy friend Nate, and his roommate Lucas were already deep in conversation when I slid into the seat beside Rachel, who immediately pushed a menu toward me.

"Are you actually eating or just here to mope about your long, miserable week?" she teased.

"Neither," I replied, scanning the menu without interest. "I just need a drink."

"That’s the spirit!" Jess cheered, raising her iced coffee like it was something stronger.

"So, you’re coming to the party tonight?" Lucas asked, drumming his fingers against the table.

I sighed. "Yeah, but I’m not really in the mood for it. I just need to blow off some steam."

"That’s what parties are for," Rachel said. "Besides, have you heard about the new transfer? Joe Burrow?"

Jess wiggled her eyebrows. "Apparently, he’s not just good. He’s supposed to be the guy. Like, NFL material."

Nate scoffed, leaning back against the booth. "Everyone’s acting like he’s a god or something. He’s just another quarterback."

I shrugged, uninterested. "I’m sure he’s good at what he does, but that doesn’t mean he’s obnoxious."

Rachel smirked. "So, you’re saying he’s just a great professional player who happens to be really good?"

"Pretty much. I don’t get why everyone acts like he’s the second coming or something."

"Because he might actually be," Jess said with a dramatic sigh. "And you, my dear, are going to meet him tonight."

Nate chuckled. "Yeah, maybe you two can talk about quantum physics and see if he can keep up."

I rolled my eyes, but I knew there was no escaping it now. The party was happening, and whether I liked it or not, Joe Burrow was about to become part of my night.

[…]

I got to the party slightly late. My friends were already over there, bouncing over songs that we used to listen to together and talking louder above the speakers. To me, that was irritating. I love parties, but after a long week of work, the last thing I wanted to do is partying all night on a friday.

The music thumped through the walls, a steady, pulsing beat that rattled through my ribs as I wove through the crowd, my plastic cup clutched loosely in my fingers. I wasn’t even sure what was in it anymore—some neon-colored mix of whatever they had at the bar—but I had taken exactly two sips and decided I didn’t need more.

I was about to turn around when a voice cut through the noise.

“You’ve been standing there for a while.”

I looked up.

I turned, expecting one of my friends, but instead, I was met with someone unfamiliar. He was tall—really tall—with messy blond hair that fell over his forehead, and sharp features that the dim lighting only made more defined. His sweatshirt hung loose on his frame, sleeves pushed to his elbows like he had just come from somewhere else, and the cup in his hand was barely touched.

“I was just—” I hesitated, glancing at the dance floor. “People-watching.”

A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Yeah? Anything interesting?”

“Not really,” I admitted. “Just the usual: drunk freshmen, a couple making out in the corner, a guy who’s definitely going to regret that keg stand tomorrow.”

"You don’t look like you’re having fun," he said, his voice cutting through the noise of the party.

I raised a brow. “And you’ve been watching me?”

He let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. “I just noticed. Everyone else is either dancing, drinking, or trying to do both at the same time. You, though? You’re just… here.”

I huffed, half amused. “I guess I’m not very good at parties.”

He lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “Nothing wrong with that.”

I turned my head, surprised he was talking to me. "That’s because I’m not."

He smirked. "Then why are you here?"

"Peer pressure."

"Same."

I looked at him, doubtful. "I find that hard to believe. Isn’t this your crowd?"

He shook his head. "Not really. I’m still figuring out who my crowd is here."

I hummed in response, not sure I believed him. He was too comfortable, too effortless in the way he carried himself.

"What’s your major?" he asked.

"Psychology," I replied. "And you?"

"Consumer and family financial services.”

I raised a brow. "That’s oddly specific."

He chuckled. "Yeah. I like numbers."

"So, you’re actually smart?" The words slipped out before I could stop them.

“But I’m here cause of football.”

I raised a brow. “Of course, you do.”

He chuckled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I shrugged. “You have that whole… football player look.”

He looked vaguely amused. “Is that a bad thing?”

“Not necessarily.” I took a sip of my drink. “I just feel like I already know your whole deal.”

Joe leaned in slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “Yeah? And what’s my deal?”

I pretended to think. “Cocky, thinks he’s smarter than he is, probably way too competitive.”

“You don’t know me at all. He laughed, a deep, genuine sound that made something flicker in my chest. He stepped closer, but at a safe distance "I like to think I'm smart. Want to test me?"

I leaned against the counter, intrigued. "Alright, what’s the capital of Lithuania?"

"Vilnius."

I blinked, impressed but unwilling to show it. "Okay, what’s the powerhouse of the cell?"

"Mitochondria. Come on, give me a hard one."

I bit my lip, thinking. "Fine. Who wrote ‘Pride and Prejudice’?"

He didn’t even hesitate. "Jane Austen."

My mouth parted slightly. "Huh."

He grinned. "Not what you expected?"

"Not even close."

He tilted his head, studying me. His blue eyes went all over me, starting at my face and getting down all over my body. "What about me gave you the impression I wasn’t smart?"

I hesitated, but he was looking at me with genuine curiosity. "The hoodie, the wristbands, the fact that this house is a frat-football house. And, no offense, but most guys like you care more about throwing balls than reading books."

He let out a breathy laugh. "Fair enough. But I promise you, I’m more than that."

I found myself wanting to believe him.

“Oh, I bet.”

The night stretched on, and we kept talking. The party faded into the background. He told me about growing up in Ohio, about transferring to LSU for a fresh start. I told him about my dream of being a psychologist, working with kids was my whole goal.

At some point, we ended up outside on the porch, sitting on the steps as the humid Louisiana night wrapped around us. I hadn’t realized how much time had passed until my phone buzzed with a text from Rachel: "Where r u???"

I looked at him, his hair messy from the night, his blue eyes watching me like I was the most interesting thing in the world.

"I should go," I said reluctantly.

He nodded, but there was something in his expression that made my pulse skip. "I’ll see you around?

I hesitated, then smiled. "Yeah. See you around."

As I walked away, I felt his gaze linger. And for the first time in a long time, I wondered if maybe, just maybe, I had been wrong about people like him.

[…]

The city buzzed with the hum of conversation and the scent of freshly brewed coffee as we walked the familiar route to our usual spot. The sun had begun its slow descent, painting the sky in warm hues of orange and pink. It was the kind of late afternoon that felt like a soft exhale after a long day, the air thick with the scent of summer and distant laughter from students scattered across the campus.

Rachel, Jess, Nate, Lucas, and I had just wrapped up another draining day—classes, internships, and the slow crawl toward graduation looming over us like a deadline we weren’t ready to meet.

"I swear, if I have to listen to one more professor drone on about case studies, I might actually drop out," Rachel groaned as she linked her arm with Jess’s.

"You say that every semester," Nate teased, shoving his hands into the pockets of his hoodie.

"And yet, here I am. A survivor," Rachel shot back, flipping her hair dramatically.

I trailed slightly behind, exhaustion weighing on my shoulders. My internship at the counseling center had been particularly draining today. A few tough sessions had left me with more questions than answers, the complexities of the human mind unraveling in ways I hadn't yet learned how to piece back together.

"I don't know how you do it, Y/N," Lucas said, as if reading my mind. "Listening to people’s problems all day would drive me insane."

I smirked. "That’s kind of the point. Psychology is about understanding people, not just fixing them."

"Yeah, yeah," he waved. "Just remind me never to tell you my problems."

We finally reached the café, a cozy little corner of campus life where we had spent countless hours avoiding responsibilities. The scent of espresso and fresh pastries welcomed us as we pushed through the doors, greeted by the comforting hum of low conversation and the occasional clatter of dishes.

Sliding into our usual booth by the window, we settled in, each of us instinctively knowing our roles in the ordering process. Rachel and Jess debated over which overpriced latte to get, while Nate and Lucas argued about football stats neither of them would remember in an hour. I, meanwhile, busied myself scrolling through my phone, half-listening to their conversation.

That’s when the notification popped up.

A follow request.

Joe Burrow.

I frowned slightly, the name unfamiliar for only a second before my memory caught up. Joe Burrow, the new player. Why was he texting me like that?

And then, a message.

“Finally found you. Do you know how hard it was to track you down?"

I blinked, confused.

Then another message appeared.

"It’s Joe—the guy you thought was dumb. We met at the party last Saturday."

The guy I met at the party.

Joe Burrow, the quarterback.

The transferred dude and the new quarterback were the same person.

My stomach did a weird little flip. I had spent the entire night talking to him, intrigued by the way he had effortlessly thrown back every challenge I gave him. I had walked away thinking I’d never see him again.

And yet, here he was.

I stared at the screen, my mind racing with possibilities.

"Earth to Y/N?" Jess’s voice broke through my thoughts.

I looked up, realizing they were all staring at me.

"Who’s got you looking like you just saw a ghost?" Rachel asked, sipping her drink.

I hesitated, my fingers hovering over my phone.

"No one," I said, too quickly.

But the smirk on Rachel’s face told me she wasn’t buying it.

And truthfully? Neither was I.

I stared at my screen, my heart pounding for reasons I couldn’t explain.

And he texted me again.

"So, did I pass your intelligence test?"

#joe burrow #cincinnati bengals #joe burrow fan fic #joeburrow #joe burrow imagine #joe burrow fluff #joe burrow x reader #bengals #joe burrow smut

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oaksgrove · 3 months ago

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Hello ! Just found your acc but, even if I'll take my time reading your fics later, the one shot I just read is enough to fill my heart so here I am.

I have a tiny request.

Because I love soft romance, I need retired König meeting reader (gender neutral!) at a pond, or a park, feeding the ducks in company of their old dog. The details are totally up to you. ♡

A Quiet Place

Pairing: König x GN!Reader

Synopsis: König never planned on stopping by the park, but something about the quiet morning and the gentle ripples of the pond drew him in. He didn’t expect to meet you there, feeding the ducks with your old dog by your side. He especially didn’t expect to feel so at ease. But when you mention you’ll be back the next morning, he finds himself doing something he hasn’t in a long time—choosing to return.

Warnings: Fluff, soft König, mentions of military routine, a very good old dog, and just a touch of loneliness being soothed.

word count: 1317

The park was quiet in the early morning, the air cool and fresh with the lingering crispness of dawn. The pond shimmered under the soft light, its surface rippling as a few ducks paddled leisurely, their soft quacks the only break in the hush of the hour. It was peaceful—just the way König liked it.

He hadn’t planned on stopping here today, but something about the sight of the water, the way the trees bent over it like silent sentinels, had drawn him in. So, he sat on a bench near the edge, a small bag of cracked corn in his lap. A habit from childhood, feeding the birds—something simple, something grounding.

That’s when he saw you.

You were settled a short distance away, cross-legged on the grass, your own small bag of feed in hand. Beside you, an old dog sat with its front paws stretched out, watching the ducks with mild interest but making no move to chase them. The dog’s coat, a mix of grays, faded black and soft whites, hinted at years well-lived, a loyal companion in its golden age.

König didn’t mean to stare, but there was something about the way you tossed the seeds, careful, unhurried, watching the birds with quiet patience. Your dog let out a slow huff, shifting its weight, and you absentmindedly ran your fingers over its ears.

Something about the whole picture settled in König’s chest—something warm, something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

You must have sensed his gaze because you glanced over, meeting his eyes. Instead of awkwardness, there was an easy smile on your lips, a simple acknowledgment of another person enjoying the morning.

“Yours are behaving better than mine,” you said, nodding toward the ducks in front of him.

König glanced at the small group by his feet. One particularly bold duck was pecking insistently at his boot, as if demanding he hurry up with the next handful of food. He let out a quiet chuckle. “They have no patience,” he said, his accent thick, voice low.

“That one’s a troublemaker.” You pointed at the duck pecking him. “I see him here all the time. He tried to steal a sandwich right out of my hand last week.”

“Ja?” König’s brow lifted. He tossed another handful of food, watching the bird waddle greedily after it. “Brazen little thing.”

Your dog let out a deep sigh, shifting closer to your side. You scratched behind its ears absentmindedly. “He’s been coming here since he was a pup,” you said, noticing König’s gaze. “Now he’s too old to chase the birds, but he still likes to watch them.”

König hesitated, then asked, “What’s his name?”

“Archie.”

König nodded, a rare softness in his expression. “Good name.”

A comfortable silence settled between you, broken only by the sound of the water lapping against the bank and the occasional rustle of leaves. The moment felt… easy. Uncomplicated.

After a while, you glanced at him again. “Do you come here often?”

“Not really,” König admitted. “But maybe I should.”

Your smile widened just a little. “Yeah. Maybe you should.”

König found himself lingering longer than he meant to. The morning was peaceful, the kind of quiet that didn’t feel empty but full—of soft rustling leaves, of birdsong, of the gentle huff of Archie’s breath as he settled against your side. König hadn’t had a morning like this in a long time.

For years, his world had been noise—gunfire, radio chatter, the rhythmic stomp of boots on concrete. Even after retiring, the silence he lived in wasn’t quite like this. His apartment was too still, too hollow, and though he liked the solitude, there were moments when the quiet pressed too heavily on his chest.

But this? Sitting by the pond, watching the ducks waddle and bob along the water, listening to the steady cadence of your voice as you spoke to your dog—it was a different kind of silence. A good kind.

“You know,” you said suddenly, breaking him from his thoughts, “I think they like you.”

König followed your gaze to the ducks still crowding around his feet, the boldest one once again testing its luck by pecking at the laces of his boots. He let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. “I have nothing left for you,” he told the bird, his accent thickening slightly as he nudged it away gently with his foot.

You laughed, and König’s chest tightened unexpectedly at the sound. It wasn’t loud or grating—just warm, like the first sip of coffee on a cold morning.

“Traitor,” you said to the duck, tossing another handful of food into the water.

Archie grumbled at the movement, stretching out his front legs with a groan before resting his head back on his paws. The sight made König smile. “How old is he?” he asked.

“Fourteen,” you said, your voice fond as you ran your hand over his back. “He’s slowed down a lot, but he still drags me out here every morning. Routine, I guess.”

König understood that. The military had drilled routine into his bones, and even in retirement, he still woke up early, still exercised, still needed something to occupy his hands. He wondered if you felt the same, if taking Archie to the park was more than just a morning ritual—if it was something that kept you steady, too.

You tilted your head slightly, studying him. “What about you? Do you have a dog?”

“No,” König said, shifting slightly in his seat. “Not yet.”

You hummed in understanding. “You thinking about getting one?”

König hesitated. He had thought about it, in the way someone thinks about fixing a leaky faucet—something that lingered at the back of his mind but never felt urgent enough to act on. Maybe because he wasn’t sure he could be what a dog needed. Maybe because part of him still wasn’t sure he knew how to care for something soft, something that would depend on him in a way nothing ever had.

“I don’t know,” he admitted.

“Well,” you said, glancing down at Archie with a small smile, “if you ever do, I’d say it’s worth it.”

König nodded, watching the way your fingers ran gently over the old dog’s fur. He thought about how easy you were with him, how unbothered you seemed by his presence, by his size, by the quiet way he spoke. Most people—especially strangers—were intimidated by him. But you weren’t. And for some reason, that made him want to stay just a little longer.

When the bag of feed in your lap finally emptied, you dusted off your hands and stretched. “Alright, old man,” you murmured, scratching behind Archie’s ears. “Time to head home before you start getting cranky.”

König stood as you did, brushing the crumbs from his hands. He watched as you adjusted the leash clipped to Archie’s collar, letting the dog take his time getting to his feet. You weren’t in a rush. You let him move at his own pace, patient and unhurried. König liked that.

You looked up at him once Archie was steady. “I’ll probably be here around the same time tomorrow,” you said casually, like it wasn’t an invitation—but König knew it was.

And for the first time in a long time, he didn’t feel the urge to turn it down.

“Maybe I will be, too,” he said, shifting his weight slightly.

You smiled. “Good.”

With that, you gave Archie a gentle pat on the side before leading him down the path, your pace slow to match the dog’s. König watched you go, hands in his pockets, something unfamiliar curling in his chest.

When he finally left the park, his steps were lighter.

And the next morning, when he woke early and the world was still quiet, he found himself pulling on his jacket, slipping on his boots, and heading back to the pond.

taglist: @honestlymassivetrash @pythonmoth

#call of duty fanfic #cod modern warfare #cod mw2 #call of duty #call of duty modern warfare #cod mwii #könig #könig call of duty #könig x reader #könig x you #könig cod #könig mw2 #konig x reader #cod #kortac #konig cod #konig #konig call of duty

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callsign-rogueone · 2 months ago

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the twins

Brennan Sorrengail x f!reader (Duchess!) words: 1.7k 🏷: just some little scraps I have of Bren and Duchess before the arrival of their sweet twin mini Brennan’s. set in the happily ever after that we are absolutely going to get in book 5 or beyond. mentions of pregnancy, and the boys being born a little early. it’s implied that there were complications with the birth in the last scene, but it’s not described in detail or shown at all. and Brennan came to the rescue, like always 🧡

“What is up with you guys today? Do I smell like sheep or something?” you ask as another dragon comes up to sniff you, the fourth this morning.

“No,” the green swordtail answers, sounding amused. “Not that.”

“Then what?”

“I believe you humans call it being with child,” another says slyly.

“What?”

This shouldn’t be a surprise to you, given the frequency with which you and Brennan have been… trying, but you definitely weren’t expecting to hear it now, from the riot.

“You’ve been mated for five years now. It was about time, considering how short you humans’ lives are.”

Are they really calling you old right now?

“Congratulations,” Ban says warmly, sounding like she’s known for a while now. “The mender will be pleased.”

He definitely will be, considering that this whole thing had been his idea, that he’d been the one to sweet-talk you into it, to stop taking the tonic and let nature run its course. But how are you going to tell him, and when? What does this mean for your roles in Tyrrendor’s army and in caring for the riot?

“I was wondering where you were.”

You jolt in surprise, your heart jumping, and the tiny shock has one of the dragons stepping forward, ready to defend you.

“He’s her mate, you imbecile.”

“Oh.”

You laugh, pulling Brennan into an embrace. “Hi, love.”

“They’re in rare form today,” he says, still eyeing some of them with apprehension.

“Rare indeed,” you agree quietly.

His forehead creases, that cute look of confusion on his face. “Why are you looking like me at that?”

You won’t tell him now, even though you want to — you’ll have the healers confirm it first. Not that you don’t trust the riot, of course, you add down the bond. But they’d be able to better guess how far along you are, and if you’re progressing healthily.

“Can’t a woman admire her husband?” you ask, bringing a hand up to rest over his heart.

There’s another look you know and love — his eyebrows raise, a sly smile curving his lips. “She can.”

“After the meeting,” you answer before he can ask. “I couldn’t look Xaden in the eye for days after we were late to the last one.”

“After the meeting,” he agrees, putting a hand on top of yours. There’s a barely-audible hum as your rings come into contact, the connection runes in them satisfied with your proximity.

You don’t plan on leaving his side any time soon — and he likely won’t want you to, either. He’d likely become so much more protective, knowing the news. You're honestly a little excited to see what he'll be like, the extra care he'd take of you...

You’ll see the healers tomorrow, you decide, while he’s busy researching with Violet. Today, you’ll just go about your day, content to keep your secret.

—————————

Now seems as good a time as ever — it’s the end of the day, your work set aside for the evening in favor of finally resting, taking the time to unwind.

He’s sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for you to be done brushing your teeth and doing your skincare, so he can wrap you up in his arms and keep you there all night, where nothing and no one can hurt you.

You move to stand in front of him, tilting his head up with a gentle hand on his jaw. He nuzzles his cheek into your palm, leaning into your touch, letting his eyes fall closed.

“You’re going to be such an excellent father, my love,” you say softly, brushing your thumb over his cheekbone.

He smiles, but he looks like he doesn’t quite follow, he isn’t sure why you’re bringing this up now — and then his eyes snap open in realization. “Wait, really?”

You can’t keep the grin off your face. “Really.”

He wraps his arms around your waist, hugging you tightly, but not too tightly, laying his head over your heart. You bring a hand up, idly working your fingers into the short hair at the back of his neck. "If it's a boy, I hope he looks just like his daddy," you say quietly.

He pulls back, making you giggle at the insulted look on his face. "Are you saying that you chose me for my looks?"

"Not just for your looks," you answer, "but they definitely helped."

You squeak as the hands he's had resting on your back move to your waist, tickling the exposed skin between your shirt and shorts. "Not fair!"

He scoops you up with an arm under your knees, settling you into his lap. "All is fair in love and war."

You lean forward, still a little breathless, your nose brushing his. "I suppose so."

"Now," he murmurs, "if you'll let me, I'd like to thank you properly."

—————————

You rub your hands across your face, shaking your head to clear it. “What were you saying?”

He’s still looking at you with an expression you can’t quite place. “You’re gorgeous,” he says softly.

You look up at him, still not quite all there.

“I mean it, my love, you’re stunning. Walking around in that uniform, carrying my baby,” he breathes, settling his hands on your hips and pulling you forward ever-so-gently. His thumbs stroke over the material of your flight pants, toward your stomach.

You are quite the sight. The sleek black uniform has your shared name stitched onto it — no longer Aisereigh, but Sorrengail now, since you’d both come out of hiding in Aretia — and you’ve got that glow to you that people always talk about, your skin bright and clear, hair soft and shiny, lose from its usual intricate updo, instead tied back by a scrap of silk ribbon.

“Smell divine, too,” he adds, pressing his lips to the side of your neck, his beard tickling the skin.

You giggle. “Who’s the hormonal one now?”

“Can’t help it,” he says between kisses. “Gods, I want to keep you like this forever. My gorgeous wife, my Duchess, mother of my children…”

“Children, plural?” you ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, this is just the beginning,” he replies, entirely serious. “Two more to go after this.”

“Two more?” you echo, laughing. “You want three?”

“Or as many as you’ll give me,” he says with a sly smile. “But three would be perfect.”

You raise your eyebrows in challenge. “Oh, yeah? The commander in chief of Tyrrendor’s army is going to be leading assembly meetings with a toddler on each knee?”

“Absolutely,” he answers, and you know he means it. “They’re coming with me everywhere.”

—————

“Bren?” you murmur, reaching across the mattress for him.

“Right here, my love,” he soothes, taking your hand and gently stroking his thumb over your knuckles. “you’re okay, and so are our boys.”

You blink, processing his words. The last thing you remember was him carrying you down here, and all the blood… how long ago was that? How does he know you’re having boys?

It hurts his heart to see the look on your face, the sleepy confusion he’s seen in so many patients as a consequence of the sedation, combined with the delicate condition you’d been in from the blood loss.

There’s a soft cry from across the room, and that seems to snap you out of your haze— motherly instinct, maybe. You push through the fog to sit up, looking toward the sound.

“Easy,” he soothes, helping prop you up with a pillow behind your back.

The babe settles as soon as he’s held in his father’s arms, not minding the delicate movement of Brennan laying him down on your chest.

You’ve never held anything this carefully in your life, never seen a baby this tiny. That stands to reason — the pair of them had been born nearly a month early.

You can already tell both of them going to look exactly like Brennan, with their slight dustings of auburn hair and the shape of their noses. They probably have his eyes, too, but they’re shut, resting.

“Hi my loves,” you whisper down to them, in awe. “Oh, they’re perfect.”

“They are,” he agrees quietly, settling down on the edge of the bed beside you, the other twin in his arms.

Yours makes a soft sound like a yawn, a tiny hand moving to rest over your heart.

There’s a moment of quiet, guilt starting to seep through the cracks. “How long has it been?” You ask in a whisper.

He glances up at the clock. “About eight hours since I brought you downstairs.”

That makes this close to midnight. When had they been born? How long had it taken you to wake up?

“I don’t remember any of it,” you say quietly. “I should remember my own children being born, but it feels like it was all a dream that I’ve already forgotten.”

You lay a hand on your stomach, realizing you’ve already been mended back to normal, leaving no sign of your body ever having held your children. You feel… hollow.

“Hey,” he coaxes, “I don’t want you to blame yourself for a second. You did everything right. You carried them and helped them grow for eight months, and they’re perfectly healthy. The healers and I chose to do what was safest for the three of you.”

You nod, closing your eyes to fight back the tears and resting your head on his shoulder. “You’re right. I know you’re right. But it still hurts.”

“I know,” he says softly, stroking your hair. “I know.”

There’s another moment of comfortable quiet, the four of you relaxing into each other’s embraces.

You still need to name them, you realize. “Naolin and Asher,” you say quietly, looking up at your husband. “For the two men that gave you life.”

He leans forward, still carefully cradling his twin, pressing a kiss to your temple. “Naolin Liam and Asher Xaden. For your brothers.”

“I like that,” you say softly. “I like that a lot.”

“The question is, which one is which,” he says with a soft chuckle.

You smile. “I have a feeling that’s going to be the question for the rest of our days, my love.”

#brennan and duchess #fourth wing #fourth wing x reader #brennan sorrengail #brennan sorrengail x reader #mine #fw boys as dads

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lissomelace · 8 months ago

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THE EUROPA CLIPPER LAUNCHED THIS MORNING, AND I AM SO NOT NORMAL ABOUT IT!!!!!

Space is so fucking awesome. We're headed to one of JUPITER'S MOONS!

Every time a launch happens, it makes the latent space enthusiast in the back of my brain jump up and down. It also derailed all my plans for today. I did have plans.

Instead, someone made one comment about how I could now maybe make mission patches on my embroidery machine, and the space thing crossed over with my current hyperfixation (silm) to produce THIS:

Mission patch for the launch of Gil-Estel! A bit messy, but a good place to start!

Design and linguistics details under the cut, because I put WAY too much thought into it and now must talk SOMEONE's ear off about it. Feel free to ignore this bit:

So, to start: Elvish NASA. I chose to call them Vardildi Elengolmo Vilciryamoyë, or VEV. The Followers of Varda, Astronomers and Astronauts. This could very much be totally wrong. Vardildi is Varda+the suffix used in Yavannildi, the followers of Yavanna. Elengolmo comes from the coined word for astronomer, Elengolmë (star-lore), with the -o suffix from nolmo, wise person. Vilciryamoyë takes the vil- from the root of vilya, meaning air, sky. ciryamo is mariner, and yë is the suffix added to the second word meaning 'and'. (I may be very, VERY wrong on this! If anyone has better ideas, I very much welcome input/guidance/constructive criticism)

So I stuck the tengwar for this on either side of the patch. (None of the tengwar is all that legible, though, I'm working on getting that sorted out) Most NASA mission patches don't actually have NASA on them, but I put it on anyway. Here is the tengwar and the start of a logo I made an attempt at (the tehta is supposed to be a shooting star, but that did NOT come through clearly in the embroidery [because it's tiny]):

(Probably going to try to make an elvish NASA patch before too long, honestly)

Most NASA patches (from research I did with great self-restraint here) have the (last) names of the astronauts. Not sure if they also have the name of the craft or if that's generally somewhere else, but I put both--Eärendil Ardamírë (his fathername and mothername) are the tengwar at the bottom of the patch, and Vingilotë is written on the keel of the ship. None of these are legible because they are small, and my machine has limits. It's a work in progress. Also I apologize for the bad lighting in the photo.

NASA patches sometimes also have a mission motto. That's the tengwar across the top of the patch here-- aiya Eärendil elenion ancalima, Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars (a common cry among elves and Frodo [when facing Shelob]).

(I half wanted to do something a bit more funny--maybe something like 'Now I have become Venus,' or 'Do I get to come down?' but this was a bit easier since it comes pre-translated into Quenya and tengwar, and also I have no faith in my Quenya translations that are any longer than a word)

The horizon is flat because Númenor exists, in the middle there between the shore of Middle-Earth and a teensy bit of Valinor and the Enchanted Isles.

The design for the Silmaril is sort of taken from the heraldic device Tolkien designed for the Silmarilli (though it isn't clear), and it is rayed with the six-pointed star from Eärendil's device. (I stuck the moon phases from the same source around the edges as well)

This was really fun, even if it might be the silliest thing I've ever made! It definitely needs some workshopping--i don't mind the black lines framing some sections from the background fabric, but I might try turning all the tengwar into lines of stitches instead-the satin columns really are illegible.

I now need to restrain myself from doing some sort of NASA/Astronaut Earendil AU, because it now sounds kind of fun (I do not have the background knowledge for this)

Sources:

NASA patches here: https://www.shopnasa.com/collections/patches

Quenya translations here: https://www.elfdict.com/

Tengwar transcriptions here: https://www.tecendil.com/

And if you want info on the Europa Clipper mission, here: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/europa-clipper

Embroidery digitization done with Embrilliance Stitchartist 1, embroidery done with a Brother SE630 machine. Thread is Brothread Cotton and YLI cotton bobbin thread, with a little sulky rayon on the Silmaril. Cloth is a black linen from Fabric Wholesale Direct.

#earendil #silmarillion #space is cool #machine embroidery #pityahano #craft #surprisingly pleased with how this turned out #since it was less 'trace this colored pencil drawing by Tolkien'#and more 'what does a ship look like in 3000 stitches or less'#space #astronaut earendil #vev-elvish nasa #lord of the rings #silmaril

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bohnerrific69 · 6 months ago

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WASTING TIME? ﾉ EKKO

pairing: alternative!ekko x fem!reader

blurb — theme/content: fluff. "angst" if you squint? idk. reader has fomo (fear of missing out) implied. it's ekko from s2 ep7. ꒰ word count: 960 ꒱

"babe?..." you said as appeared on ekko's room door, seeing him sat in front of his desk with a million papers above, his inventor plan of attack as he liked to call. he was resting his face in one of his hands while his elbows were resting on the table and its papers.

"hm? yes miss? whatcha need?" he rubbed his eyes and mumbled without looking at you, from far away you could notice a little smile appearing on his face, making yourself smile too knowing that his one it was because of your presence. it was like this since your relationship started, being on the same tune, contagious.

"you done? i mean... doesn't look very done to me, but..." you replied while getting steps closer to his desk, contouring his body just to being up behind him, leaning down to put support your hands on his shoulders. "just checkin' you up.”

"ah, i think i am really on the final steps to conclude this... am only securing it all goes fine," ekko muttered concentrated doing some more scribbles, at the same time using his left hand to catch one of yours from his shoulders, bringing it closer to his face so he could kiss the inner palm of your hand, making you smile. "besides... why the shawty is awakened this hour?”

"aah i- i missed you on the bed, the usual..." you yawned lazily and leaned all your body on his, being with your chin above his head and arms wrapped around his neck. his body heat was radiating and smelling so good as he took a bath some minutes before, making you sniff his hair just to feel the loveable coconut shampoo smell that you buyed for him.

“i am managing my time very well lately and the project is in the dead end, this time it's the only last time i'll be overworking, ‘kay?” he giggled at your sniffing on his hair, at this point it turned out to become common you doing this, it was cute; lifting his head to look at you, endened giving you free access to kiss his forehead, as you should and did.

“i know… i just can't sleep because of that thing,” you pointed out with your chin the blackboard on the wall with various drawings about this new invention. “i don't want to not be here when you finish this…,” you sighed, catching a chair nearby and sitting really close at ekko's side.

your sudden change from a tired expression to a worried and sadden one was not missed by him, who quickly dropped his pencil at the desk and turned his torso to look at you directly with those frowned big eyes so sweet of him. “babe? what is wrong? you- you don't need to worry about that.”

“nah… just some bullshits passing through my mind… i'm tired, only that.” you looked away from his gaze and scratched your forehead, squirming on the chair a little to see if it could make you comfortable to talk about the subject. it wasn't helping, you're not the kind of person who likes to talk about serious things like this. always praying and hoping for better days, trying to ignore the rocks life throws at you, till you reach the limit and suddenly explodes as a tiny thing goes wrong. like this you wouldn’t worry anyone but only yourself.

“hey, i know when something is wrong with you…” but of course he knew, ekko being your best friend who turn out to be your boyfriend, always being a great observant to notice every detail of you, and care about each one of them. that's why it was so easy for you to fall for him.

“it's that thing we talked about before?” he asked while softly catched your chin with one of his hands to make you lock eyes with him, he looked so worried and still so caringly about you, it made your butterflies on the stomach do flips. “y-yeah… it's making me anxious…”

“hey, you’re not- you don't lose anything not being here when i finish this…,” he fixed his posture on the chair, quickly catching your hand and intertwining your fingers. “i promised you that everything that i create, you will be the first eyes besides mine that will appreciate it when finished. just because it's not your thang to understand inventions, or not being here when i end those things… doesn't mean you're less of a girlfriend or bad person.”

ekko was so damn comprehensible with everyone, and mainly you, that it made you heart aches everytime you had every time you had a moment of low self-esteem and your anxiety spoke louder. but he was always so careful and always knew what to say to calm and reassure you, how can you not love him?

“and not to forget too, you're never gonna not be enough for me, never. you heard me?” you felt that warm and asphyxiating feeling gathering on your throat wanting to cry but holded enough and only sighed tired, giving him an agreeing smile. “i know… i'm sorry for-”

“don't need to apologize babe, i understand you…” he pulled you to make you sit on his lap, hugging your waist, making you feel safe. “life is stressing me out these days ekko, but… you make it better,” you mumbled on his neck, hugging him back and closing your eyes.

“i love you” he replied, by the proximity you could know and feel that he was smiling. “i love you more” and now you too.

(...)

after spending some minutes staying like this you happened to start sleeping, there, on ekko’s arms and lap while he continued finishing his invention, feeling safe, loved and enough.

a/n: this was writed only for satisfy myself! i love him so much, i'm so enchanted. ngl, write the universe from s2 ep7 it's easy for me😭 he's still the same but i love how there's no conflicts around. this is the actually the third writing piece i post here, i hope you enjoyed and it's not ooc, writed this while almost sleeping + english is not my first language. (i edited this ekko image here.

tagging some mutuals to boost the post! sorry for the bothering. 🤍 @strawb3rrystar @marchsfreakshow @wcnderlnds @decaf-mother @jazzy-reads @mistysconcilium | join my taglist here.

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m4rv3l-girl · 7 months ago

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Forget Me Not

Bucky x Y/N

Bucky wants to pop the question. Except, he’s forgotten one very important thing…

Requests Open!

Warnings: None. Just fluff!

The night was perfect.

From the clear autumn sky dusted with stars to the way the city seemed to glow just for them, Bucky could tell this was their moment. He’d spent weeks planning, going over every little detail to make this evening unforgettable. But as he adjusted his shirt for the hundredth time, nerves began prickling down his spine.

Across from him, Y/N looked stunning. Her smile was warm and knowing, and Bucky could tell she’d noticed his antsy energy. She seemed suspicious, maybe even expecting something big, and he couldn’t help the soft grin tugging at his lips as he watched her. She always knew him too well.

“Kitten, you’re staring,” he teased, breaking the silence and reaching for her hand across the table.

She raised an eyebrow, giving him a playful look. “Me? You’re the one who’s been adjusting your shirt for the last five minutes. Is something up?”

“Just want to look my best for you,” he said smoothly, though his heart was pounding. He could feel the tiny box in his pocket, a little weight pressing against his chest with each beat. “Can’t a guy want to look sharp for his girl?”

“You always look sharp to me,” she replied, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “But there’s something else, isn’t there?”

Bucky swallowed, trying to find his calm. “Maybe. But I think it’ll be worth the wait.”

As the dinner continued, Bucky did his best to act natural, though every word and every touch felt like a countdown to the question he was about to ask. The restaurant was quiet, with soft music playing in the background and a gentle hum of conversations around them. He’d chosen this place because it felt intimate, a cozy spot tucked away from the rest of the world where it could be just them.

They had fallen into a comfortable rhythm, sharing memories, laughter, and quiet looks that spoke volumes. Bucky smiled, watching as Y/N took a sip of her wine, and felt his heart nearly burst with the quiet joy of being here, in this moment, with her.

“So, remember that time you tried to teach me how to cook?” she teased, raising her eyebrows at him over the rim of her glass.

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Oh, come on, Doll. I wasn’t that bad.”

“Not that bad?” she echoed, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Bucky, you set spaghetti on fire. Spaghetti. I didn’t even think that was possible.”

“Hey, the stove was more complicated than it looked,” he protested, his lips quirking into a grin. “Besides, who needs fancy pasta when I make such a good breakfast-for-dinner?”

“True,” she admitted, laughter still in her eyes. “I will give you credit for those pancakes. I mean, only a man as charming as you could convince me that a plate of slightly burned pancakes was a five-star meal.”

“‘Slightly burned pancakes,’” he muttered, feigning offense. “I prefer ‘crispy edges.’ And let’s not forget, you said they were the best pancakes you’d ever had. I still remember that.”

“Did I really?” she asked, a hint of a blush creeping up her cheeks as she glanced away.

“Oh, you absolutely did. It’s one of my fondest memories, Doll,” he said, leaning in slightly. His voice softened, carrying the weight of his sincerity. “Anytime I can make you smile like that…those are the moments I want to remember forever.”

She stilled, looking at him with wide eyes before a gentle smile softened her features. “You always say the sweetest things.”

“Only for you, Kitten,” he murmured, his voice low. He couldn’t tear his eyes away, captivated by the glow of the candlelight on her face, the way her eyes shone with laughter and warmth. In that moment, he knew without a doubt—this was it.

This was where he was supposed to be.

As they finished their meal, he decided it was time. He reached into his jacket pocket, feeling for the small box, but instead, his fingers met…nothing. His heart stilled, and a sense of dread clawed its way up his throat. He checked his other pockets quickly, all while keeping his expression neutral.

No box.

Panic settled in as he realized what this meant.

The ring—the one he’d spent days picking out, picturing the exact moment he’d slide it onto her finger—it was sitting at home, in his nightstand drawer. He’d been so focused on planning every single detail of tonight that he’d forgotten the most important part.

Y/N’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Bucky, you alright?”

His gaze snapped back to her, and he realized he was probably giving her the most ridiculous, deer-in-the-headlights look. He tried to smile, but he could feel the strain. “I…uh, yeah. Just…y’know. Maybe I’m just nervous.”

“Since when does Bucky Barnes get nervous?” she teased, her eyes sparkling with affection. She reached across the table, taking his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “You can tell me anything, you know that.”

His shoulders slumped slightly. There was no use hiding it from her, especially not with her looking at him like that. He took a deep breath, brushing his thumb over her knuckles as he held her hand.

“Alright, so, full disclosure,” he said, his voice low and a little sheepish. “I had this whole night planned out, Doll. Every little thing, down to the music they’d be playing and the wine we’d drink. And I was gonna…ask you something really important.”

He paused, watching her expression carefully. Her eyes widened slightly, a faint blush rising to her cheeks, and he could tell she was already piecing it together.

“You were going to propose,” she whispered, a smile beginning to form.

“Yeah,” he admitted, letting out a chuckle that was equal parts relieved and embarrassed. “Except…I forgot the ring. Left it right at home in my nightstand.”

For a moment, there was silence. Bucky braced himself, half expecting her to be disappointed or to tease him mercilessly for messing up such a big moment. But instead, she broke into soft, melodic laughter, her eyes filled with the same warmth that made him fall for her in the first place.

“Oh, Bucky,” she said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “Did you really think I’d care about a ring?”

He blinked, his heart hammering in his chest. “I just…I wanted it to be perfect. Wanted everything to be just right for you.”

She reached across the table, resting her hand on his cheek, her thumb brushing over his cheekbone. “You don’t need a ring to ask me. I’d say yes a thousand times over, even without it.”

He swallowed, a rush of emotion catching him off guard. Here he was, standing on the edge of everything he’d ever wanted, and she was telling him it was already perfect, just because they were here together.

“Doll…” he began, his voice rough with emotion. “You’re sure? No fancy ring, or the big speech…?”

She smiled, nodding. “Positive. Just you and me, right here.”

He got up from his chair, kneeling beside her with a grin, his hands cradling hers as he looked up into her eyes. “Then let’s make it official. Y/N, will you marry me?”

Her answer came in the form of a radiant smile, a simple “yes” whispered through her tears.

He pulled her into his arms, the two of them laughing and holding each other, oblivious to the other diners. She was everything he needed—everything he’d ever wanted—and in that moment, nothing else mattered.

They left the restaurant hand in hand, walking down the quiet street with the stars shining above them. Bucky looked over at her, feeling that familiar warmth flood his chest as he squeezed her hand.

“When we get home,” he murmured, pulling her close, “I’ll give you that ring. Promise.”

She laughed, leaning into him as they walked. “You could’ve proposed with a ring pop, Hun, and I’d have said yes..”

He grinned, pressing a kiss to her forehead, then her cheek, then her lips. “Doll, you’re my best girl..”

“Damn right.” She stated.

And as they strolled through the city, wrapped in each other’s arms, Bucky knew that forgetting the ring had been the best mistake he’d ever made.

#bucky x reader #bucky x y/n #bucky barnes #bucky fluff #marvel

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seresinhangmanjake · 1 year ago

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The Favorite

dad!Jake "Hangman" Seresin x reader

Summary: The Daggers meet your and Jake's baby girl for the first time and arguments over who will be her favorite aunt or uncle quickly follow.

Notes/Warnings: part of the Oh, Baby Universe, but can be read alone. Based on a suggestion from @tgmreader

Words: 1288

Between the ‘She’s like your clone, Jake,” from Nat, the ‘Is anyone else surprised Hangman beat us to the baby train?’ from Bob, and the offended ‘Wait, you two were hooking up and you didn’t tell me?’ from Javy, Jake is clearly exhausted. Not that he didn’t anticipate being worn out after introducing his daughter to his team, you both did, but the last forty-five minutes have far surpassed expectations.

Being confined in a room with the Daggers historically proves to have its drama—whether in the form of unnecessary argument or playful teasing—but with your new baby girl at the center of everyone's attention, drama has started to take on new meaning in the form of obsessively watching Eve as if she might start doing tricks or giving you both grief for not spilling every detail of your ‘sneaky, secret relationship’ before this moment. To your relief, though, they’ve steered clear of asking questions about your absence over the majority of the past year. They don’t push, knowing that information will be revealed with time.

“It’s just…” Mickey begins as his eyes snap back and forth from the baby to Jake, “...so weird.”

When you chuckle, Jake rolls his eyes. “It’s not weird,” he counters.

“It’s pretty weird, man. You’re, like, a dad.”

“Lots of people are dads,” Jake says as he runs his knuckle down the cheek of the infant in your arms—his new little love.

“Yea, but you’re the dad of Y/N’s baby.”

As Bradley snorts at the obvious, you look to Jake to check on the effect of Mickey’s unfiltered words. His eyes are on your face and you smile to soften the sudden twinge of uneasiness speckled amongst the various green flecks in his irises.

Though Jake has expressed mental security in his place within the lives of you and your child, you fear what might occasionally be running through his mind. The last thing you want infecting his confidence is the consideration that maybe this situation is weird, that maybe he isn’t meant to be the father of your baby because he wasn’t intentionally chosen for that role.

Eve wasn’t planned. You can’t change that. And the choices you made when you discovered your pregnancy are enough to have any man reasonably questioning himself. But there is no other man you want as your baby’s father. Jake is it. You’re pretty positive he was always meant to be it, because your brain refuses to picture another in his place.

Jake’s stare breaks when Bradley starts to speak. “We all knew how these two felt about each other, even though they were doing nothing about it,” he says, shooting you and Jake a smirk so quick it’s barely acknowledged before he looks back to the group of pilots. “I promise you guys, once it fully sinks in, it won’t feel so wild that they accidentally made a tiny human.”

Nat’s head snaps up from Eve, but her finger remains wrapped in the infant’s smaller ones. “When, exactly, were you given enough time for it to sink in?” There is suspicion in her tone. Then her eyes go wide. “Did you already meet the baby?” she asks before turning to you and Jake. “Did Rooster meet her before the rest of us?”

As if sensing the shift in the room, Eve lets out a little whine and starts to wiggle in your hold.

“Yes, Nat,” Bradley answers for you. You can feel the sass bubbling around him as his arms cross over his chest. “By a whole three days.”

“Three days matters,” she retorts. “It could be the difference that makes you Eve's favorite. The earlier the interaction, the better.”

“She’s only a few months old. You might still have a chance, Nat,” Reuben chimes from the sideline.

“Don’t bet on it,” Bradley snorts. His sass is so expertly conveyed you’re shocked his tongue doesn’t stick out to accompany his words.

You’d scold him if not for the fact that these two often enjoy ruffling each other’s feathers when the opportunity arises. It’s all in good fun, but sometimes, depending on the topic, the teasing aspect goes over their heads.

You suppose it’s flattering that being your child’s favorite is enough to cause a bit of an upset, but it’s wasted energy. Jake will be Eve’s favorite. The Father and The Favorite are not mutually exclusive, and you know in a room full of the people she loves most in the world, Eve will never fail to run straight into her father’s arms.

Nat, however, does not consider that inevitability as she carefully slips her finger from Eve’s to face the six-foot-tall brunet head-on.

Jake mutters a curse, fingers rubbing across his forehead.

With his hands raised, Javy takes a step forward as if to prevent a physical altercation. “Alright, everybody take a breath,” he says. The winning, cocky grin that has tempted a woman or two or thirty is spread across his face. Then he points to himself. “I'm going to be the favorite. I'm her father's best friend.”

“I don't think that guarantees anything,” Bob says, only to receive a scowl in return.

It’s then that Mickey throws his own name onto the ballot. “You know, if we base this on entertainment value, she’ll obviously like me best. I’m the funniest.”

“Also the most irresponsible,” Reuben adds.

“What’s that got to do with it?”

“Um, everything,” Nat clarifies as Bob nods in agreement. “For one, you’ll never be the babysitter.”

“If you were the babysitter you’d need a babysitter,” Bradley chuckles, patting Mickey on the back.

Bob clears his throat and pushes his glasses up his nose. “That is very true; it would be chaos. What baby Eve here could use is a calming presence, and that’s me, so–”

“I’m calm,” Reuben interjects, pulling a scoff out of Javy.

“You also come up with insane ideas that make everyone miserable,” Javy says. “What are you going to do, have the baby compete in challenges only to suffer through two hundred push-ups if she loses?” he asks. “I think that’s grounds for immediate disqualification.”

Reuben’s response is drowned out by the additions of each pilot arguing their case for favorite aunt or uncle, and you’re too drained from the last hour to attempt untangling voices.

Jake sighs and shakes his head before taking your hand in his and leading you out of the living room, up the stairs to where Eve sleeps. You’re thankful that, at some point, despite the noise filling the room where your friends remain, your little girl managed to fall asleep. As you place her in her crib, you glance at Jake.

He’s sitting on the loveseat on the opposite side of the room, one hand running down his face, the other reaching out for you. When you take that hand, he pulls you onto his lap, shifting around until you’re comfortable with your back leaning against the armrest. A palm draws a lazy line of warmth up and down your leg.

“You’re a trouper, Honey,” he says, eyes unmoving from your knee.

You chuckle. “It could’ve been worse.”

“We should’ve done it one at a time; single-file line. The last thing I wanted was for you to be overwhelmed.”

Sitting a little straighter, you reach up to cup Jake’s cheek and guide his face toward yours. “Jake, I wasn’t overwhelmed. I’m fine and so is Eve,” you promise him. “Besides, they’re my friends, too. I knew what we were getting into.”

Jake leans into your touch before turning his head to kiss your palm. “They’re all crazy,” he says.

“Yes, but they’re ours,” you reply. Then you nudge your head in the direction of the crib. “And now hers.”

---

tags: @wkndwlff @kmc1989 @sagittarius-flowerchild @dempy @oliviah-25 @rosiahills22 @xoxabs88xox @matisse556 @hardballoonlove @lynnevanss @pono-pura-vida @tgmreader @amgluvsbooks @ravenhood2792 @djs8891 @shakespeareanwannabe @sailor-aviator @penguin876 @tgmavericklover @athenabarnes @emilyoflanternhill @wretchedmo @shanimallina87 @crowsreadsarahjmaas @mamachasesmayhem @sky2nd @jessicab1991 @rosedurin @averyhotchner @horseshoegirl @roosteraloha @b-bradshaw @memeorydotcom @ryiamarie @ateliefloresdaprimavera

#jake seresin #jake seresin x reader #jake hangman seresin #jake hangman seresin x reader #top gun maverick #jake seresin fic #top gun #jake hangman seresin fic #jake hangman seresin x y/n #top gun hangman #dad!jake seresin #jake seresin fanfiction #jake seresin fanfic #jake seresin fluff #tgm #tgm fic #dagger squad

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naughtyneganjdm · 2 months ago

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Christmas in Jackson - Chapter 13

Summary: Against better judgement, Joel goes to the party that Maria and Tommy have with Y/N. Things seem fine at first until someone in town decides to start trouble for Joel when they alert Y/N to Joel's dark past.

Characters: Joel Miller, the reader (OC), Tommy, Maria, Ellie, Dina, etc.

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/61159651/chapters/165787558

Warnings: Swearing, Fluff, Sad Moments, Tiny Amounts of Smut (Not very detailed), Graphic Depictions of Violence, Joel being very depressed, blood, etc.

Notes: I have this whole story done now! I know it's in the middle of April lol, but what can you do when life doesn't let you relax for more than ten minutes. So I will have this up ASAP. There are two chapters left after this one. Just a reminder that this is an alternate universe, so Joel's origin story is close to the same, but a little different since there was never an outbreak. Thanks to anyone that still reads this! If you'd like to read previous chapters, check them out here.

“You know, I thought the whole point of a shower was for us to get clean,” Y/N panted with Joel peppering kisses over her shoulder from where they were standing in front of the bathroom mirror. Snickering against her skin sent chills down her spine. The warmth of his breath lingered over her neck, with his short facial hair scratching at her flesh. Gradually, Joel’s eyes lifted to meet her stare in the slightly fogged over mirror from the hot shower they had taken together that likely lasted longer than it should have. Dragging his hands up over her sides caused her eyes to flutter to a slow close. A broken breath mirroring that of a whimper escaped her throat. Caressing his hands lower led to her hips where he gave a soft squeeze. Unhurriedly, his hands continued their journey downwards until he was able to palm in over her thighs. Pampering her shoulder with slow kisses had her leaning back further into him. “We were supposed to take a shower so we could be ready for the dinner, but now? Well, now we’re messy all over again.”

“Only on the inside,” he growled, nipping faintly at her neck causing the tiniest of moans to fall from her lips. Sliding his right hand up, he caressed in over her abdomen before lowering downwards to palm between her thighs. Almost immediately, a tremoring exhale filled the air as he buried his nose in against the side of her neck. “There really isn’t anything wrong with being dirty. Dirty is nice.”

So easily Joel could have her reacting to him and he knew it. It never really took much. With his free hand, he raised it up to drag it across the length of her breasts. Stopping at one of them, he gave it a firm squeeze provoking her to coo out, “You’re not playing fair with me Joel Miller.”

“Maybe not,” he snickered against her jawline as his kisses continued up over the side of her neck. “But this is more fun than anything we have planned today. And I like this kind of playing. I like watching you squirm. It makes me very happy.”

“And that kind of happy leads to things we don’t have time for,” she purred out, her fingers curling around his wrist to try to stop him from distracting her from what she knew they had to do. “I really don’t think it would be okay with me going to your brother’s dinner with your come dripping down my thighs.”

“I mean, I don’t see a problem with it,” Joel snickered, tipping forward just enough to look down toward her thighs. “It’s just marking you as mine.”

“I’m yours regardless,” she turned just enough to meet Joel in a lingering kiss that had him humming against the warmth of her lips.

“I’ll clean you up,” he assured her, brushing his tongue out against hers as he gave one final squeeze at her breast. Everything took her breath away when it came to him and he knew that. With one simple touch he had her melting in the palm of his hand. Forcing her to turn toward him, he picked her up in his arms and set her down on the edge of the counter. Almost instinctively her arms hooked loosely around his shoulders causing a bright smile to tug at his handsome features. Brushing her fingers through his damp hair, she swept it back out of his eyes and sighed. “You look happy.”

“I am happy,” she countered, leaning in to pepper kisses against his lips. Curling his fingers around the back of her neck, Joel pulled her in closer to him to deepen their kisses. What was first playful and sweet grew passionate and hungry. With a smile, she pulled back just enough to rest her forehead in against his. “Although, I think I’m going to be a little sore and tired.”

“But pleased?” he snickered, extending his right hand out to steal a tissue from the counter. Looking down between them, he dragged it along her inner thigh pulling out the tiniest of moans from her as he cleaned his release from her body. Lifting his stare, his eyebrows bounced up at her reaction to him doing what he was. Biting down on his bottom lip, he continued to clean her up with a smile. “Y’know, I’d really rather stay here tonight.”

“I think we both would,” she pointed out with Joel throwing the tissue away in the trashcan beside the counter. When he returned, Joel’s hand found its way back between her thighs. Dropping her head forward against his shoulder, she bit down on her bottom lip when he pressed a finger inside of her. Inserting a second, he wasn’t rushed in the way he pumped his fingers into her body while nuzzling his nose in against the side of her face.

“Then why bother going tonight?” Joel slurred, pulling his fingers from her body seeing that some of his release was coating his fingertips. Tipping his head back, he lifted his fingers and took his time to drag his fingertips across her bottom lip. “Let’s just focus on us again tonight. Find new ways to enjoy one another.”

A raspy moan rumbled deep from within his throat with her tongue dragging out across his fingertips. By the time her lips wrapped around them, it had his heart kick starting inside of his chest, “Fucking hell…”

A wet sound surrounded them when her mouth pulled from his fingers. Growling out, Joel could sense the liquid rush that flooded through his veins after she cleaned his fingertips of his release, “I think we’ve discovered many, many ways to enjoy one another. I’ve had sex more in the last few days than I probably have in years. My body is feeling it.”

“Then how about we cuddle up by the fire? I’ll grab the blankets again, we can turn a movie on. Watch something?” Joel rambled on, his thumb caressing over the curve of her jawline with his dark eyes narrowing. “And if we have sex, I promise I’ll be very romantic. Gentle, slow. Drag it out.”

“You really don’t want to go tonight, do you?” she wondered, brushing her fingers through his naturally curly hair. His cheesy smile faded to a frown with him sighing loudly. “We already told Tommy that we would be coming over tonight honey.”

“I know that, but you have to understand…” Joel started, stopping when he genuinely wanted to be honest with her, but he didn’t know what to say. “Y/N I don’t like being out in public. And Maria’s family? They don’t like me much. They don’t hide it neither. I always leave this dinner feelin’ really shitty about myself.”

“Then why did you agree to go to it in the first place? People shouldn’t be allowed to make you feel like that,” she declared as his hands settled in against her hips. “I know it sounded like Tommy wanted us there to be his moral support because Maria’s family is driving him crazy with the whole baby stuff.”

“I wanna be there for my brother, I do,” he sighed, nuzzling his nose in against hers in attempts to try to calm himself. “I just feel like my way of helping my brother is gonna be me being the primary target of these people. They know about my past and somehow, it’s always brought up. Snide comments here and there.”

“I’m not going to force you to go to something you don’t want to go to,” she whispered, palming in over the side of his face realizing that he actually did seem pretty upset about things. “I can meet Ellie some other time. Hell, I’m good with hot chocolate, some popcorn and cheesy action movies until the end of time if that’s what you want.”

“I knew there was a reason I loved you,” he rumbled, releasing a long exhale when both Ellie and Tommy came to mind. “I do have to go, don’t I?”

“That’s not my decision to make,” she reminded him, sweeping his hair out of his eyes and behind his ear. “If you go? This time you have something you didn’t before. And that’s me. I don’t care about your past. I don’t care what they say. I will always defend you. I promise. I’m not afraid to put someone in their place.”

“I’m very much aware of that,” he snickered, biting down on his bottom lip and leaning back enough to look her over. “I guess we can test the water and see how it goes. I reckon if things get too overwhelming for me, Tommy would understand if I had to leave early.”

“I support anything you want to do,” she whispered, pressing another tender kiss over his lips. “Although, I do think I need to hop in the shower and clean off first if that’s what we’re planning on doing.”

“Now why would you do that?” he hushed her, his southern drawl growing thicker as he shook his head. Sweeping his rough fingertips in over her inner thigh, he smirked and shrugged his shoulders. “I kinda like the idea of you being at that party with my cum inside of you.”

“You’re fucking naughty,” she laughed noticing the way his eyes dilated with lust for her. “I’m serious Joel Miller, I think you have some serious kinks going on in that brain of yours.”

“Oh come on,” he growled, nipping at her chin before tipping back to stare out at her with his chocolate-colored eyes. “You like it just as much as I do. You like the feeling of being mine. Plus, you were the one begging me to come inside of you. As you do most times we are together. So, I reckon, you’re just as naughty.”

Clearing her throat, her eyes came to a tight close with Joel pressing delicate kisses over her jawline and toward her neck, “Nothing turns me on more than when you’re beggin’ me to come inside of you. Clawin’ at my back, cryin’ out my name.”

Somehow, his voice grew raspier and his accent was that much more intense, “The sounds you make when I come inside of you are like fucking heaven. I tell you that. You cling so tightly to me, like you don’t want to let me go. So if I’m a freak? You’re my equal honey.”

“Fair enough,” she panted, whimpering out at the ache that was starting to grow inside of her again. An amused rumble escaped Joel noticing the way she was breathing. Just talking to her like that had her nipples hard and it made him suck in a sharp breath of air.

Raising his hand up, he circled his thumb over the hard bud and felt a lump growing in his throat while she braced herself on the counter before him, “How late are we?”

“I imagine we’re going to be pretty late,” she commented with Joel pulling her right to the edge of the counter. Gasping out, she clung tightly to him as he buried his nose in against the side of her neck when he thrust himself deeply inside of her again. “Joel…”

“A few more minutes couldn’t hurt,” he slurred against the side of her neck leaving hot, wet kisses there. Her arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders with his arm hooking firmly around her waist. Flexing his bicep drew her closer to him. With slow, determined movements Joel swallowed down hard recognizing his timing was probably extremely bad. “I have a question.”

“Yeah?” she panted, leaving kisses along his jawline eliciting him to moan at the sensation. Unhurriedly her lips trailed in over his and he growled when she left wet kisses over his bottom lip. “Daddy?”

“I uh…well…” he paused his movements, clearing his throat when he tipped his head from side to side. Maybe this wasn’t the best topic to approach so early in their relationship, but his conversation with Tommy yesterday was still lingering in his mind. “I was wondering, what do you think about kids?”

“Kids?” she repeated, sucking in a sharp breath of air with his hips rolling up against hers in slow, powerful movements. Really? It was hard to focus. Even if they were unrushed movements, her body was already incredibly sensitive. “I guess it depends on the kid. Usually they are pretty cute. Depending on their ages, they can be really fun to hang around with. Of course there are some that are…”

“No, no,” he interrupted her with a laugh, shaking his head when what he was trying to ask went right over her head in that moment. Her face scrunched up in confusion. Trying to gather his courage, he shifted before her and sighed. Stopping his movements, his dark eyes locked with hers and he felt his heart hammering inside of his chest. “I mean…would you ever consider the idea of having children with me?”

Almost immediately, a sense of shock flooded into her face with her eyebrows bouncing up. Shit, that’s when he started to panic. Shaking his head, he forced himself to look away from her and felt his heart skip a beat, “Y’know what? I’m sorry, forget it. That was so stupid. I don’t know why I even…”

“Joel,” she reached up to place her hand in over the side of his face to draw him back to her, trying to pull him away from his stressed nature. “That just wasn’t what I was expecting from you while we were…doing this. You’ll have to give me a second to gather myself.”

“I just don’t want to scare you away from me,” he frowned, leaning into her touch with her caressing at the side of his face. “It’s just, I was talkin’ to Tommy about something yesterday and it made me think how I’m not young anymore. And then I started thinkin’ about how I want to live life the best way I can. I love you. I’m excited at the thought of you movin’ in here and I just, I don’t know. I thought maybe it’d be nice to have children with you. Maybe it’s cus’ Maria and Tommy are havin’ a baby, I don’t know. But? Y’know what? Forget it. That’s a big question to put on someone that…”

“Honey, give me time to answer before you decide the answer is no,” she requested, cupping his face in her hands lovingly. Taking a moment to think of her answer, she shrugged her shoulders before locking her eyes with his. “I haven’t really thought about the idea of having children. I’ve always been so busy that I didn’t think I’d have time for them. But now? Considering I’m moving here and I don’t know anything about my future, yet. I could see myself having a family with you.”

“Yeah?” his eyebrows bounced up, a sense of excitement flooding through his features and his whole body language changed. “I mean, I don’t wanna force you or nothin’. I know it’s fast and…”

“What hasn’t gone fast with our relationship? People are already going to think we’re crazy as it is,” she responded, dragging her thumb out across his bottom lip. It had his eyes fluttering to a close with him pressing kisses against the pad of her thumb. “Something tells me that you’d make a really good dad.”

Pausing, Joel’s kisses came to a slow stop with them gradually opening. Swallowing down hard, his Adam’s apple bounced in his throat. At this point? He knew that she was aware that he used to be a father. It’s just she wasn’t aware that he knew Maria told her about Sarah. With a weak smile, Joel reached for her hand and pulled it up to place a loving kiss over the back of it.

“Y’know, Tommy pointed out to me yesterday that we weren’t using protection when we were sleeping together. And while I reckon it’s creepy as hell that my brother is thinkin’ about that with us,” he heard her laugh at it made him pause for a second to get a chuckle in himself. “I don’t know, I just realized he was right. And I don’t know if you’re on birth control or…”

“I am,” she claimed, her eyes narrowing out at him when he exhaled loudly. “Why? Are you asking me to stop?”

“I mean…” he stammered to find the right words but was falling short. “I wouldn’t ask you to do that so soon. I reckon you’d want to move in first and figure out what you were doing…”

His words came to a quick halt when her lips slammed in over his, interrupting his train of thought. Over and over again she kissed him with their breathing growing louder. Pulling her closer to the edge of the counter had her gasping out but clinging tighter to him. Starting to bounce his hips up toward hers had their winces filling the smaller bathroom. Her fingers sank into his hair, tugging firmly at it with his fingers digging into her flesh.

“I’d do just about anything for you Joel Miller,” she purred against his lips, breaking away from their kiss with a pant. Tracing over the side of his face, she shook her head and sighed loudly. “Anything to make you happy. And I’d be okay with it. Because you make me happy.”

Passionate sweep after sweep of his lips over hers had her crying out his name with every movement he made beneath her while she clung tightly to him, “That was the most in-depth conversation I’ve ever had during sex.”

“I highly doubt that,” he winced, nuzzling his nose in against hers. Hovering his lips just over hers had her smiling.

“Sure, there has been dirty talk,” her nails bit into his shoulders with him nibbling at her bottom lip. “But never such a serious…conversation. No one was ever asking if they could impregnate me.”

“I’m happy to be the first,” he hummed against her lips causing a chill to run down her spine. His eyes slammed shut with his continued thrusts enjoying the way she held him close while tugging at his dark hair. It didn’t take long for them to finish since everything was already so sensitive as it was with their previous sex. When they were done, he just rest his head against her shoulder loving the way it felt with her leaving kisses over his freckle covered skin. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m gonna wake up in front of the fireplace at the inn.”

“What do you mean?” she leaned back enough to look him over. By his expression, he looked embarrassed as he sighed.

“I mean I often wonder if I conjured you up in one of my dreams. The perfect person walks into our inn and all of this happens in such a short amount of time?” Joel stammered, looking for the right words to describe how he was feeling. “It doesn’t often feel real. So I’m waiting to wake up from my dream.”

“You’re very much awake,” she assured him with a weak smile, her hand reaching for his so she could hook their fingers together. Giving a firm squeeze, she brought his hand up to place a kiss over the back of it. “Sure, we’re a little crazy, but I think we’ve already learned to accept that…”

“A very long time ago,” he smirked, dropping his head forward to lean it in against hers. “I just love you. And loving things scares me.”

“That’s normal. It just means your human,” she claimed, pulling him in for a loving hug where she stroked her fingers tenderly against the back of his neck. Placing tiny kisses over his neck and toward his shoulder she knew that he yearned for this kind of touch. How touch starved Joel could be was one of the first things she noticed about him. “When you love something, it wouldn’t be normal to not feel that way.”

While Joel knew that to be true, he just wasn’t used to this kind of feeling. When they finally did start to get ready, Joel knew that he didn’t want to go to this thing. Dealing with his family? That was one thing. Dealing with the rest of the world and the people in the town? That was another. There was only so much socializing he could do and he couldn’t trust a stranger to not say something.

Sitting at the bottom of the bed after they finished up in the bathroom, Joel watched Y/N getting ready. Bracing his hands back on the bed, he tipped his head to the side and sighed loudly, “Y/N? You could really see a future with us, right? One where we’re together and you’re happy?”

“I don’t like to live in the future, I’d rather focus on the moment,” she stressed to him, turning to face him realizing that his expression showed that he was ill at ease. “But I know how I feel right now whenever I’m with you and it’s not a feeling I can ever see leaving me. You’ve made your mark on me Joel Miller. I can’t get it to leave.”

“Good,” he grumbled pushing up from the bed onto his feet. Heading over toward her, he faintly cupped her face in his hands. Sweeping his thumbs in against the side of her face, he sighed loudly. “I don’t want that to leave.”

The sound of Joel’s phone buzzing in his pocket interrupted the two of them right when he was about the kiss her and it made the both of them smile, “I’m guessing that’s Tommy having a meltdown that we aren’t there yet?”

“Most likely,” he frowned, stepping back to dig into his pocket to find his phone. Staring down at it, she was right, it was Tommy calling him. Exhaling loudly, Joel considered answering it, but ultimately swiped away the call. “We’ll get there when we get there. I reckon they have a lot of help.”

Putting his phone back, he stepped before Y/N and reached for her hands to grab a tight hold of them, “I do feel like I need to warn you today that you might hear some things and some people might be awkward with you. Maria’s dad don’t like me much, so he might throw some jabs in there. And I think my brother has Ellie convinced that I’m having a mid-life crisis with how I’m handling things with you. Other than my brother needing someone to lean on and maybe Ellie, no one really wants to see me there.”

“Then don’t bother with anyone else,” she blurt out, shaking her head as she spoke. “You don’t owe anyone anything. And I don’t care what people say about you. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is going to change my opinion of you. Do you understand me?”

“Yes ma’am,” he weakly smiled realizing that all of his fears were weighing heavy on him, but like she always did, she was very reassuring and comforting for him to help him work through it. Every year he went to this dinner previously, he just came home feeling worse about himself. But this year? At least he had her by his side. So maybe things would be different. “Where have you been my whole life?”

“Halfway across the country,” she teased him, tickling at his ribs and it had him chuckling against the side of her neck. “But I’m here now. And that’s all that matters. You’ve got me on your side. I promise you that.”

“Mhmm…I don’t doubt that either,” he hummed, holding her in close to him. Did he want to go to this thing? No. But by Tommy already calling him, he felt like he had to. “I love you.”

“And I love you,” she responded, brushing his hair behind his ear. Kissing him once more, she traced her thumb across his plump bottom lip and it made him smile. Just the sight of that could warm her heart, even in a moment like this where he was uncomfortable. Even though he was trying, it was obvious in everything that he did that he didn’t want to go. But he still followed her out of the house and stopped when he saw that the street was already lined with cars she hadn’t seen before. Considering they were later than they said they would be, it only made sense for it to be that way. The closer they got to Tommy’s the more Joel seemed to tense up. Maybe it was an involuntary reaction, but Joel seemed to drag his feet in the snow like he was regretting his decision. Pausing, she looked toward the door of Tommy’s home and then back at Joel. “You know what? Screw it. We can just go back to the house and…”

“Joel,” a voice called out after the front door was heard opening. Gazing back over her shoulder, Y/N saw a young woman moving out from inside the house. The sight of her made Joel smile brightly when he slowly released Y/N. It was the first time he seemed happy instead of miserable. “Goddamn. I know you’re old and shit, but Dina’s dead grandmother is moving faster than you. I was worried about you. Tommy was having a meltdown. You should have fucking seen him.”

“Ellie,” Joel grunted, laughing as Ellie made it down the stairs to wrap her arms firmly around Joel’s torso. With a loud exhale, Joel wrapped his arms tightly around her and pulled her close. By the expression over his face, Y/N could tell that Joel wasn’t expecting this kind of response from the young woman that he told her he took under his wing years ago. “You haven’t changed. It’s good to see you kiddo.”

“It’s good to see you too,” Ellie smiled, stepping back and lifting her hand up. Tapping faintly at the side of Joel’s face had some color flooding into it. In that moment, it was obvious that Joel’s eyes were burning over and he was doing his best to keep it together. But the moment made him emotional and it was obvious. Finally looking up at Y/N, Ellie pointed out toward Y/N and gave a weak smile. “So this is her, huh?”

“Yeah,” Joel shook off the feeling of the overwhelming emotions that he was experiencing. Motioning Y/N closer, Joel grabbed a firm hold of her hand and hooked his fingers with hers. “This is Y/N. She’s…well she’s my girlfriend.”

“I sadly know about her more than I probably should because Tommy can’t keep his mouth shut,” Ellie began, noticing the way that both Joel and Y/N seemed to get pale with that comment. “I just…I mean, I know that she’s a doctor and that she’s from New York. What did you think I was saying?”

“Nothin’,” Joel was thankful to hear that considering Tommy had a problem with keeping his mouth shut about what he had walked in on with Joel and Y/N previously. And their sex life was not something that Joel wanted Tommy talking to Ellie about. “I just, Tommy has a problem with talkin’ too much sometimes.”

“Oh no. I just mean, he told me all of the things I could have asked her to know her. But that’s okay! Because we will just have to find time to talk today to learn other things,” Ellie outstretched her hand to introduce herself to Y/N. Accepting the gesture with her free hand that wasn’t holding onto Joel’s, Y/N offered a welcoming smile. “It’s nice to meet you Y/N. You’ll have to forgive me. This man right here means a lot to me so if I interrogate you with a lot of questions, it’s for a good reason.”

“I would expect nothing less and I’m an open book,” Y/N was very accepting of what Ellie said. In fact, it made her happy to hear that Ellie felt that way. In previous discussions it felt like Joel may have thought that Ellie didn’t care about him anymore, so Ellie saying that? That quickly shut down Joel’s theory. “I know it sounds crazy, but I do love this man. Very much. So, I’m willing to go through just about anything for him.”

“Oh wow,” Ellie blurt out, looking to Joel with big eyes. It seemed like she was impressed. Yet? Surprise flooded through her young features when she released a laugh. “How did you brainwash this one Joel?”

“I’m irresistible. That’s how,” his voice changed by deepening the tone of it. Waving his hand about had both Y/N and Ellie immediately bursting out in laughter afterwards. It caused a warmth to flood into Joel’s face and he turned a light shade of red. “What? I am?”

“Of course you are honey,” Y/N agreed with him and the arrogance that Joel had feigned now had him rubbing at the back of his neck in a moment of tension. “You’re the most irresistible man I know.”

“See,” Joel defended his comment, holding his hand up toward Y/N. Giving Joel a nod, Ellie wiped at the corner of her eyes from the good laugh she got from it. Sighing loudly, Joel shrugged his shoulders and reached for Y/N again to pull her in close to him. “Truthfully? I don’t know how I got so lucky. Somehow fate led her to the inn and I’ve never been more thankful.”

“Well just a pre-warning Y/N, you’re the topic of discussion for most people here today. A lot of them want to meet you because a lot of people didn’t think Joel would ever get with someone. So they are very curious about you and who you are,” Ellie claimed, giving her attention fully to Y/N. Circling her finger in the air, Ellie tipped her head from side to side. “But? Dina and I saved a place at the table for you two to be with us. That way I’ve got you in case people overstep their boundaries.”

“Overstep their…” Y/N was about to question that, but then remembered where she was. Most of the people here consistently did that. “Right.”

“Damn big brother, could you take any longer?” Tommy’s voice grumbled from the front door of the house. Pretty quickly Tommy was approaching them, moving down the steps in a hurry. “I thought you were abandoning me here all alone today.”

“You weren’t alone. You had Ellie,” Joel insisted, pointing over toward Ellie while his fingers squeezed firmly around Y/N’s. What he needed was that support to know that she was there. He was uneasy and she knew it. But he was doing his best to hold it together. Following Ellie into the home with Tommy made Y/N realize Ellie was being serious. Everyone that saw her stopped to talk to her. And it felt like she was meeting someone new every few minutes. But thankfully, so far, it seemed like everyone was nice. No one said anything inappropriate or rude. They were just introducing themselves and being friendly. Talking to her about her life in New York and her career. Some people would talk to her about their favorite places they visited in New York, happy to associate her with something that they knew. Even though people were talking to her, Joel was never more than a foot or two away from her. While she was talking to strangers, Joel was still very focused on talking to Ellie and who Y/N assumed was Ellie’s significant other. “Hey Y/N…”

Hearing Joel’s deep rumble of a voice, she turned around to see that Joel was holding a baby in his arms and he looked thrilled to be doing so. Cuddling the little boy closer to his chest, Joel gave her a cheesy smile and nodded down, “There is someone I want you to meet.”

“Oh hell. Who is this,” Y/N turned toward Joel, feeling a sense of awe at the little boy in his arms. His big brown eyes were staring up at her, a tiny smile tugging at his features. Enthusiastically she continued to talk to the baby who liked the way she was giving him attention. “You are gorgeous aren’t you? Wearing that suit makes you look so handsome.”

“Oh he is going to eat that up,” Ellie chuckled hearing the giggles of JJ follow with his smile spreading out across his chubby cheeks.

“This here is JJ,” Joel introduced her, slightly bouncing on his feet with his head tipped down toward the little boy. Ellie was smiling at the way that Joel was interacting with the baby and it was very noticeable from where Y/N was. “This is Dina and Ellie’s son. And that right there is Dina. She’s Ellie’s partner…”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Y/N lifted up long enough to introduce herself to Dina who seemed very shy in comparison to Ellie. By the sounds that JJ made it was obvious that he wanted Y/N’s attention again causing her to smile. “Well you are the cutest thing I’ve seen in a long time.”

“Hey,” Joel feigned being offended with a laugh surprising Ellie with the way that Joel genuinely seemed happy. Even the way he was being so affectionate toward JJ impressed her. “I thought I was the cutest thing.”

“Well, second best to this little guy,” Y/N winked with JJ reaching his hand out to try to curl his tiny fingers around Joel’s thick finger. Right on time JJ giggled and it made both of them laugh.

“You’re stealin’ my woman little man,” Joel grumbled under his breath wiggling his finger about having JJ giggle again. What was surprising is that Ellie saw something in Joel she hadn’t seen in a very long time. A light that brought forth a happiness inside of him. What she expected to have to do today was lecture Joel about finding some random woman, but instead she could see that this actually seemed to have a positive effect on Joel. “You gotta stop being so damn charming.”

“Holy shit, are you seeing this?” Ellie muttered under her breath, pulling Dina in closer to her who was watching her son with both Joel and the new woman in his life. Giving a single nod, Dina couldn’t help but smile at how much JJ seemed to be enjoying the attention from both of them. “I think he likes you Y/N.”

“Well I like him too. He has the cutest little cheeks and laugh,” she expressed to Ellie, finally standing up straight and moving forward enough to extend her hand out to introduce herself to Dina. “It’s really nice to meet you. JJ here is a handsome little guy in the suit you put him in.”

“Oh, he eats it up,” Dina waved her hand about, smirking as she noticed Joel continue to bounce JJ in his arms. Giggling out, JJ reached out to grab a hold of Joel’s face when Joel puffed his cheeks out.

“Is JJ short for something?” Y/N wondered, looking back at Joel who was whispering something to JJ before peppering kisses over the little boy’s cheeks.

“Jesse Joel,” Ellie was quick to respond, having Joel lift his head up to stare out at her with a proud expression. “He’s named after his father and well, the man that saved my life a long time ago. It’s just easier to call him JJ so we don’t get confused.”

“That’s beautiful,” Y/N acknowledged, happy to hear that kind of thing. For the longest time, Y/N didn’t think Joel had anyone. He was so lonely, but seeing that Joel had Ellie, JJ and Tommy in his life was a good thing. “Jesse? I’ve heard that name somewhere…”

“Oh, he works at the inn,” Joel reminded her pulling her attention from Dina and Ellie. That’s when it struck her that Tommy mentioned the name when he was lecturing Joel and Y/N at the inn not long ago.

“He’s here somewhere,” Dina explained, circling her finger in the air. Really, she didn’t know where Jesse was at the moment. Loud laughter spilled from JJ as he played with Joel’s hair. It had been so long since they had gotten to spend time with Joel that she never really realized how in awe of Joel JJ was. “I’m sure you’ll get to meet him at some point. He makes his presence known.”

“Hey there JJ,” another voice interrupted them by placing their hand in over Joel’s shoulders. Gazing over his shoulder, Joel saw Maria standing behind him and she nodded her head toward an empty corner of the house. “Do you mind if I steal Joel for a second?”

“Sure, we’ll keep Y/N safe,” Ellie promised with a wink, reaching out to grab Y/N’s wrist to pull her in closer to her and Dina.

Even though Joel wasn’t entirely too comfortable leaving Y/N, he followed Maria regardless. Once they were alone, Maria started to speak softly, “I just want you to know that I asked my family to tone it down today. They promised that they would be respectful and bite their tongues. I asked them to do it for me. So you don’t have to worry about my father making a smart remark today.”

“Yeah?” Joel was relieved to hear that as he adjusted JJ in his arms. For a long time Maria wasn’t always incredibly fond of Joel herself, but she managed to seem to start liking him more over the last few years. Moving forward, Joel used his free arm to hug her tightly, surprising Maria at the movement. Pressing a kiss against her forehead, Joel sighed and stepped back. “You have no idea how much I appreciate that.”

“I have an idea,” she replied, reaching out to place her hand in over the center of Joel’s chest. “Don’t fuck this up, Joel. This woman really loves you. I hope you know that. Even against better judgement with how fast this has been, I can see it in the way she looks at you. The way she talks about you…”

“I don’t want to fuck this up,” Joel stressed to her, exhaling loudly when he gazed upon Y/N talking with Ellie and Dina. Something Y/N said managed to make the two girls laugh out loud and it made him smile. How quickly she connected with the people in his life was amazing. Plus, even though he mentioned it to no one, he heard Y/N and Maria together the yesterday talking about Sarah. Joel knew what he meant to Y/N. “I like the way this feels.”

“I like to hear that Joel,” Maria tipped up on her toes to return the kiss against Joel’s cheek before moving off to continue to prepare the dinner that she was finishing up for everyone.

Going to head back to the women, Joel stopped when he saw the door open. When his eyes fell upon the person walking in with Maria’s father, he felt his heart drop. Stepping forward, Joel grunted when Tommy cut him off before he could head in that direction.

“You invited Seth?” Joel snapped at Tommy, his brow line creasing when Tommy hushed him and urged him to step back toward another area of the home. That relaxed demeanor that Joel had? Yeah, that was quickly gone once he saw the man that was known in the town for being the biggest asshole. “Fucking Seth? Tommy! What the fuck? Do you know what he did to Ellie?”

“Yeah, I was there when you two butted heads,” Tommy recalled, making sure that Seth got a good distance away before finally stepping back. The older man in town known for causing trouble at The Tipsy Bison was never someone that Joel got along with well. “Maria’s father found out that he was alone for Christmas and he invited him. Maria nor I really had a say.”

“He’s a homophobic piece of shit,” Joel snarled, trying to contain his anger while he held onto JJ who was staring up at Joel with his big eyes. “He’s lucky I didn’t break his nose for the way he talked to Ellie that day. I can’t believe you have him here.”

“You invited Seth?” Ellie’s voice interrupted the two of them with Tommy dramatically throwing his hands up in the air. “Why the hell did you invite him?”

“I didn’t! Neither did Maria. Maria’s father did because he felt bad for Seth for being alone,” Tommy turned on his heel, his dark eyes surveying both Dina and Y/N following Ellie not far behind. “It’s just one dinner. We’re all at one very big, long table that we put across the dining room and the living room. He’s at one corner, you guys are at another corner. I promise you, it’s gonna be fine.”

“He was alone on Christmas cus’ he’s a fuckin’ prick Tommy,” Joel snarled, carefully handing JJ back to Dina who accepted him readily in her arms. “I’m pretty fucking sure neither of us would have come if we would have known Seth was gonna be here.”

“Which is why I didn’t tell you,” Tommy reasoned with them, opening himself up so he was able to talk to both Joel and Ellie. “He’s just stayin’ for dinner and that’s it. I promise. He won’t linger.”

“I’m guessing this guy is bad news?” Y/N spoke up feeling bad that both Joel and Ellie seemed to be upset with what was going on. They were on edge and she could see it from the moment that man walked through the door. Both of their body language changed as soon as they saw him.

“Yes,” both Joel and Ellie answered at the same exact time very firmly. It had Tommy stressed with him dropping his head down and pinching at the bridge of his nose.

“Trust me, I don’t want him here either,” Tommy assured them both, placing his hand in over the center of his chest to express how he felt about the entire situation. “I know you both are upset, but I would really just like to have my family here with me. Maria has this big family and all I have is you two. So please, if you can just keep it together for today…”

“That’s asking a lot Tommy. He’s a prejudiced asshole,” Ellie reminded Tommy under her breath letting out a tense sound. But by the expression that Tommy was giving her, she knew this meant a lot. “But because I care about you I’ll shut up. But if he opens his mouth…”

“Then he deserves whatever he gets,” Tommy interrupted Ellie, lifting his hands up and pointing back toward the kitchen. “I need help carrying things to the table. Would you two please help me while Dina and Y/N here get settled in at their spots at the table.”

Agreeing to help Tommy, it was hard to really shut down the idea that the town’s biggest asshole would be eating dinner with them today, but they knew they couldn’t fight any further about it. Seth was already here and there was no changing it.

At dinner, Joel remained entirely too quiet for Y/N’s liking. There was potential with things going well originally when they showed up, but after the arrival of this Seth? Things went down south. Instead of talking or trying to socialize with anyone, Joel just kept his head down. Unless someone was directly talking to him or mentioning him, Joel didn’t add anything to the conversations that were being had.

Many times throughout dinner, she would place her hand under the table to hold his. Giving it a firm squeeze showed him that she was there for him and was his support system. No matter what was happening. Often, people would talk to her. About her life and who she was. Asking her medical questions or simple things like how she was enjoying Jackson. At the start? It was all pretty easy to handle. Their curiosity was there and she tried to play friendly as well as she could.

“So, what was a big New York City doctor doing coming out here?” a voice that hadn’t spoke up yet called out from the other side of the long table that they were seated at. The voice had drawn Joel’s attention and it was then she realized that it was Seth. The man that had upset Joel and Ellie with just being there. “I mean, if you’re such an important surgeon in New York, what are you still doing here?”

“It’s a long story,” Y/N noticed there was a demeaning tone in Seth’s words, but she wasn’t going to let it bother her. “But as far as being here? I’ll have to head back soon. I guess my future there really doesn’t matter because I’ve decided to move to Jackson to be with Joel.”

A few of Maria’s family dropped their silverware, obviously surprised to hear that the woman Joel had only just met was moving that fast, “I figure once I get everything in order back in New York, I can get settled here and maybe join the team at the hospital in town. Or I could open my own place…”

“That’s probably a good idea,” Seth spoke up, getting a confused expression from most of those that were at the table. “I’d assume the people in charge of the hospital in New York wouldn’t be entirely too comfortable once they got the news. Hell, I wonder if the hospital staff here would be okay with it either.”

“What news?” Ellie spoke up this time, her young face twisting in confusion. Answering for Y/N was probably rude, but she felt protective of this new woman in Joel’s life. Especially when it came to the asshole she had many encounters within the past that always led to some kind of fight.

“That she’s dating someone like Joel,” Seth retorted and this time it had Tommy coughing, the color draining from his face when he looked over to Joel. Instead of reacting, Joel lowered the fork that he was holding and turned his stare over toward Seth. Maria whispered something to her father and her father was trying to stop things from going further, but the older man shook his head with his jaw flexing. “I mean it. D’you really think anyone you worked for would be okay with you dating a murderer? One that has a nasty habit of beating people damn near to death to the point that they are a bloody pulp. I mean sure, he somehow always got away with it with a slap on the wrist, but that kind of shit gets around don’t you think?”

“Enough,” Tommy demanded from Seth, his dark eyes glaring out at the older man who simply just smirked and shrugged his shoulders. Tommy didn’t lie, he went into protective brother mode the moment that Seth started to say something shitty, but by Joel’s expression and the way the color drained from Joel’s face? The damage was already done. “One more word…”

“And what?” Seth snapped, pushing his chair back and throwing his hands up in the air. “Don’t you think she deserves to know what kind of man she is risking her whole life for? Hell, he can run from the things he did, but your past always comes up to bite you in the ass. How many times were you arrested for your violent outbursts Joel? Does she know about those? Or how you and your last woman got in trouble back in Boston? What was it the two of you were doing again? Dealing?”

“That’s it…” Ellie dropped her silverware and stood up from the table ready to take out the man that was running his mouth. A moment later, Joel was reaching up to grab a hold of Ellie’s arm to stop her from moving. Shaking his head, he motioned her to sit back down and he cleared his throat. “Joel? This is bullshit.”

Turning his head, Joel’s dark eyes narrowed when he looked over Y/N. His lips parted like he was going to say something, but then he simply just sighed. Getting up from the table, Joel grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and nodded toward the front door, “Maria, you’ll have to excuse me. I’m gonna head out.”

Moving around the table caused people to whisper since they expected Joel to snap, but instead of responding to the things that Seth was saying, he instead decided to leave. Having trouble pushing her chair out from the table, Y/N was quick to get up and follow after Joel. Unlike Joel, she wasn’t polite about it nor did she even acknowledge anyone as she chased after Joel.

“Joel,” Y/N called out to him, doing her best to keep up. Slamming the door shut behind her, she stumbled down the stairs and into the snow that started to fall during their time in Tommy’s house. By now Joel had reached the gate to the yard and stopped when he heard her voice. Not turning to look at her had her worried as she moved down the sidewalk. “What are you doing?”

“You should stay. Enjoy the rest of the dinner,” Joel muttered, just barely being heard when she got closer. Looking back over his shoulder, he realized that she had left without grabbing her jacket. Huffing out, he moved toward her and wrapped his jacket around her shoulders after he took his off. “I should have never come here in the first place.”

It sounded like there was yelling coming from the house and it made Y/N look back over her shoulder. Right when Joel was about to leave, she reached for his wrist and shook her head, “I don’t care what people say about you Joel. I don’t. I told you that I loved you and I meant it. Whatever happened in your past was your past. All I know is that I love you. I love you with everything that I am.”

Something about her words was making him emotional with his eyes burning over with tears. His Adam’s apple bounced in his throat with him forcing himself to look away from her. Before he could even respond, there was a disgusted breath coming from behind them.

“That’s real fucking sweet honey, but you might want to consider the man standing before you is poison,” Seth’s voice returned causing Y/N to let out a frustrated breath when she turned on her heel to see the silver haired man pulling on his jacket as he left the house. “Just ask anyone who is in his life. You should probably do your research before you decide to spend forever with someone.”

“Haven’t you had enough?” Y/N snapped at Seth stepping forward when he got to the bottom step. An amused smirk tugged at his features when Y/N shook her head. “Are you out just to make people miserable? People have empathy for you and you decide to use that as an excuse to be an asshole? You didn’t have to follow us out here.”

“I wasn’t following you out here sweetie. Baby Miller and his wife just threw me out,” Seth explained, pointing back toward the house and now it made sense where the screaming was coming from. “I was just leaving and heard what you said. I however do have empathy for you which is why I’m telling you this. Joel Miller is poison. He’s a horrible person that ruins the lives of anyone near him. Which is why I’m saying this. You don’t deserve that.”

“Shut up,” she warned Seth, shoving into his chest when he took a step forward noticing that Joel was in a vulnerable state. In that moment, Seth was taking advantage of it in the best way he knew how.

“Honey, I’m not saying anything that isn’t true,” Seth defended himself, throwing his hand up in the direction of Joel. “There is a reason people are scared of Joel here. They either respect him or they avoid him out of fear. Just ask him about Tommy. Tommy was a fucking mess when he came to town. And it was his brother’s fault. Or why don’t you ask him about his dead girlfriend that he had back in Massachusetts. The one that he got in trouble with? Ask him about how she got in the crossfires of a bad deal that they were running. Ask Ellie, he poisoned her life too. She wouldn’t even talk to him for months because of his disgusting past. I guess the best example would be Joel’s dead daughter. Why don’t you tell her about that Joel? How you being a shitty father led to your daughter’s death. How about we talk about the men you hurt? Or better yet the man you killed?”

That struck the fire inside of Joel with him approaching Seth who looked like he was fully ready to have a fight. Placing her hand in over the center of Joel’s chest, Y/N knew that Joel had every right to attack this man but she didn’t want Seth getting what he obviously wanted in this moment.

“I’m guessing you knew none of that, right?” Seth confirmed, looking to Y/N and avoiding that Joel was in his face looking like he was ready to rip the limbs from his body. “There is a reason Joel would avoid telling you those things sweetheart.”

Grunting out, Joel shook his head. There was anger and rage flooding through his veins, but he wasn’t about to let this asshole bait him into doing what he wanted. Turning on his heel, he headed for the gate again. Instead of reacting to the things Seth said, Joel was leaving. And that left her furious for him, “Go fuck yourself Seth.”

Going to follow Joel, she heard Seth scoff out with him following them toward the exit, “I was just trying to warn you, y’know? But I can’t help that for some reason you decided to be a slut and sleep with someone you only just met. How you fell in love with him is…”

A moment later, Joel was spinning around on his heel. Somehow he managed to get completely around Y/N before stepping in front of Seth who looked happy to see that he got Joel’s attention, “What? Does it bother you that I called your girlfriend a slut? Everyone knows what she said at the bar that night Joel. Things get around fast in town.”

“You’re a pathetic, small man,” Joel insisted, his eyes narrowing with his breathing incredibly broken. Beside him, Joel’s fists were clenched at his sides and he shook his head slowly. “It must destroy you that someone like me could find love because you never will. You’re a pathetic, hateful, old man that no one likes or cares for. And when you die, not a single soul will care that you are gone Seth. Cus’ you’re trash. You’re scum. You filled this world with so much hate, that people will be glad that you’re gone. The world will be a better place when you finally leave it.”

With an angered sound, Seth reared back and hit Joel who barely seemed effected. He just turned his head with the hit. Turning his attention back to Seth, Joel nodded his head and grunted, “Thank you.”

Gasping out, Y/N watched Joel tackle Seth onto the hard pavement leaving her surprised when Joel hit Seth with several punches. Considering what to do, she stepped forward and called out Joel’s name. Turning his head, Joel’s dark eyes narrowed and he cleared his throat. Lowering his fist, Joel frowned and started to get up from the ground.

Instead of just accepting that the fight was over, Seth tried to scramble to his feet to fight further with Joel, but Y/N was doing her best to press into Joel’s chest to get him to back up. In that moment, his swing that was meant for Joel connected with the side of Y/N’s face and it had her stumbling back into Joel who caught her.

“Oh, fuck…” she hissed out at the pinging sensation that was in her face. Pushing herself up from Joel’s arms she could see that Seth was as white as a ghost, clearly shocked that he had hit her instead. Without saying a thing, she reared back and firmly punched Seth in the center of the face leaving a cracking sound filling the air. “You fucking asshole.”

“You stupid bitch,” Seth blurt out, pulling his hand away from his face to see that she had undoubtedly broken his nose. It looked like Seth was about to advance at her when Joel shoved his way between them. And any chance of Joel stopping now was gone.

So quickly Joel had gotten Seth down onto the ground where both of them were throwing fists. Although it was no use because Joel was so much stronger than Seth. Seth’s face was proof of that. It was a short amount of time, but it was enough for Joel to do incredible damage before Tommy was wrapping his arms around Joel’s waist dragging him back through the snow. Ellie had stepped between them holding her hands up trying to get Joel to calm himself.

In his eyes, it was obvious that Joel was lost to rage with his breathing labored. One of Maria’s family members was checking on Seth while Y/N moved in beside Joel to try to calm him. Seth was slurring out swear words and threats with Tommy trying to order his brother to let it go.

“I’m calling the police. He’s going to jail for assault,” Seth threatened, clearly throwing out the one thing that he was attempting to get from Joel this whole time. “You’re going to jail this time Joel. And you’re not going to get out of it.”

“Good luck with that one,” Maria’s voice called out from the porch drawing her family member to move away from Seth back over to her. “I have cameras installed. And from the window I saw you hit Joel first. And then you hit Y/N. As far as I’m concerned? It was self-defense. And I’ll provide the video to prove it. We welcome you into our home Seth and this is the shit you pull? Unbelievable.”

Spitting out the blood that was in his mouth, Seth dropped back into the snow and whispered what Y/N was pretty sure was a few choice words he had for Maria. Hissing out, Joel pulled away from Tommy and Y/N watched as he pushed open the gate to walk across the street toward his home. Tommy and Ellie looked panicked about everything.

Moving to Seth, Y/N stared down at him. Blood covered his face and it was obvious that he would be swollen later. Reaching up, she dragged her finger over her bottom lip where there was blood from her split lip that Seth’s hit had given her. Grunting out, she brought her foot into Seth’s ribs making him groan out with her hit. Shaking her head, she moved around Seth to head for Joel’s home. From the corner of her eye she could see that both Tommy and Ellie were shocked to see what she had done. But she didn’t care.

Heading back to Joel’s home, she let out a surprised sound when she found Joel at the door with a first aid kit and a pack of frozen peas, “Joel?”

“Come here,” Joel reached for her hand, getting the door shut before he led her back toward the couch in the living room. Urging her to sit down, he moved in beside her and prepared everything. Faintly grabbing at her face, he looked her over before reaching for the first aid kit. Cleaning up her split lip, Joel frowned and she could see that he was upset. “More than anything I wanna kill him for hittin’ you.”

“I kicked him in the ribs for it as I was leaving,” she informed him, a lump growing in her throat with how delicately he was cleaning her up and taking care of her. By the way he didn’t respond, she wondered if he even heard her. He was so locked in on her being hurt that she could tell he was only focused on that. After he was done, he reached for the bag of frozen peas and placed it over her face where Seth hit her. “Joel?”

Swallowing down hard, Joel had a hard time looking at her while he took care of her, “Please, I can see it in your face that you’re thinking bad things. I’m okay.”

“You got hit because of me,” his voice was broken, his jaw flexing when she lifted her hand to curl her fingers around his wrist. Grasping both his hands in hers, she caressed her fingers over the back of his hands realizing his knuckles were bloodied. “It was my fault.”

“It was Seth’s fault,” she corrected Joel, shaking her head when she realized where this was headed. “Not yours. I inserted myself into something and he was an asshole. He should have kept his mouth shut is what he should have done.”

“He’s not wrong about me Y/N,” his hands were tremoring with her gentle caress over his battered hands. What Seth had said had visibly shaken him up and he shrugged his shoulders. “I’m poison. I really am. And I was a fool to think that I wouldn’t hurt you because…”

“Hey,” she tried to calm him, reaching her left hand up to palm in over the side of Joel’s face. Misery flooded into his dark eyes and she shook her head. “We’ve already talked about this. You can’t poison me, I’m a doctor,” with a half smirk, she tried to get him to smile, but it wasn’t working this time. “I’ve got remedies for that kind of shit.”

“I’m being serious,” Joel stressed to her, but she didn’t really care what he was saying. They had been on this topic many times already.

“So am I Joel,” she frowned, releasing a saddened breath when he let go of her hands and lowered his head down. Cupping his face in her hands again, she forced him to look at her and she could see that he was crying. “I don’t care. I don’t care what you did. I don’t care who you did what to. I love you. And some asshole isn’t going to change that.”

“But loving me is gonna get you hurt,” he released a noise that sounded like a whimper. How he looked broke her heart. It looked like he was on the verge of having a break down and that was the last thing she wanted. “I loved my daughter Sarah more than anything in the world. She was the best thing that ever happened to me. When her mom took off on us, I promised I would do everything to take care of her. And I couldn’t keep that promise. I…”

“You don’t have to do this,” she assured him, sweeping her fingers over the sides of his face when he started to cry. Yesterday when Maria showed her the photo booklet she had learned that Joel lost his daughter tragically, but she didn’t want to force him to experience that pain. “You don’t have to explain things to me. The last thing I want you to do is hurt yourself telling me things because I love you.”

“And that’s why you deserve to know,” he stressed to her, leaning into her touch. His breathing was labored, his southern drawl growing deeper as he started to speak again. “I know Maria told you about Sarah. I was in the hallway yesterday when she did.”

There seemed to be a sense of panic that flooded through her when Joel shook his head, “Sarah’s mother abandoned us when she was a baby. Took off on the both of us. I tried to be the best father I could be, but I was working all the time. I was taking care of us. I was running my own business. I was just barely keeping our heads above water. Tommy was a fucking mess and I had to take care of him too. I was having to bail him out of jail consistently at that time. We lost our parents young and we didn’t have a good relationship with them. I did everything I could to help Tommy, but he had this savior complex. He had gone off to the war and he was getting in so much trouble. I did my best, but I was drowning. Life was so hard.”

Joel’s voice was breaking causing him to stop speaking every so often in attempts to control himself. A lot of the relationship between Tommy and Joel was making sense now with him opening up to her about their past, “And I wasn’t the best father I could have been. In a lot of ways Sarah was taking care of me. On my birthday when I had just turned thirty-six…”

That was where Joel broke, his head dropping down into his palm and she didn’t know how to respond with him growing so emotional, “I had to work all day. I came home to find that she went to the city all on her own to get the band on my watch fixed. I was always late to things and I kept complainin’. I was supposed to bring a cake home to celebrate, but I forgot. We fell asleep watching movies together. I was so tired that I didn’t wake up when Tommy kept calling me. He got himself in trouble again and he was coming over to talk. He needed someone to talk to. She picked up the phone and she just wanted me to be able to sleep cus’ I wasn’t sleeping well. She just went outside to go wait for Tommy. She was shooting some baskets and this drunk asshole was racing down our street. Her ball rolled into the middle of the street and he didn’t stop…”

Sliding closer beside Joel, she could hear his crying by now and he had to stop completely. He was shaking, and she leaned in to hold him. Right now there was nothing she could do to console him other than wrap him up in her arms.

It took a while until he could finally get the strength to speak up again, “Tommy saw it happen. The guy fucking took off. And he didn’t know whether to chase after the guy or help Sarah. But he stayed with Sarah and got me. That son of a bitch hit my baby and just took off. My baby died on my birthday because I was too exhausted to wake up and answer my damn phone. She just wanted to be there for Tommy and…”

“Joel, I am so sorry,” she stroked her fingers through his messy hair wanting to comfort him, but she knew there was no way she could ever ease that pain for him. Everything about Joel suddenly made sense to her, but it still broke her heart to hear. Especially with it happening on his birthday. “But that wasn’t your fault.”

“But it was,” Joel refused to believe that, his voice breaking when he shook his head and pulled slightly away from her. “So many factors led to that happening. And it’s all on my shoulders. I just lost it after I lost her. The guy that hit her was found. And he was drunk as a skunk. Blasted off his ass. It was his fault, but somehow he got the minimal amount of time when it came to punishment because he knew people. I didn’t think it was fair. My life fell apart. I drank, I tried…I tried killing myself, but I just couldn’t. And then when I found out this guy was released from jail? I became obsessed with him. I wanted him dead. He didn’t deserve to breathe the air he was, he killed my baby girl.”

“And I’d want him dead too,” she reasoned with him, realizing that in the same situation she would likely do the same thing he did. Thinking about things, it began to strike her just how alike they were. Her family died in a car crash that she blamed herself for and his daughter died in a way he blamed himself. “I’d do the same thing Joel.”

“No, you don’t understand. I’d follow him. And the son of a bitch was still drinking and driving. Risking other people’s babies out there, putting them in harm’s way with the way he was driving. He wasn’t even supposed to be driving anymore. But he was. I followed this man every night preparing myself to kill him. I was gaining the courage to do it. It shouldn’t have taken as long as it did,” he explained to her, holding his hand out and waving it about while he spoke. There was passion in his words and he shook his head. “On the night I decided I was finally gonna do it, I found him assaulting a woman. So I went nuts. I beat the hell outta him. And I could have killed him that night, but this time? He couldn’t get away with almost killing a woman. At the last minute I decided to stop and call the police. He was gonna go to jail for real this time for what he had done. It still wasn’t justice, but it would be longer. Multiple women stepped forward after he got in trouble. He was gonna go away for a long time. They had put him in an ankle monitor while awaiting trial. He found out who I was and decided if he was gonna go to jail he was gonna go for what he considered a good reason. So he broke into my home. He had a shotgun with him and I fought him off with a baseball bat that ended up breaking in our fight. I had the upper hand. I was choking the life outta him and I woulda killed him. But then he took the broken handle of the bat and somehow stabbed me with it. It’s how I ended up with the scar on my stomach. I was bleeding profusely because it got pulled out…”

“I understand why you killed him Joel,” she repeated, realizing that he was having the hardest time continuing. His dark eyes were so upset and she didn’t want him to have to go through all this pain in telling her what happened. “You don’t have to tell me how you killed him because…”

“He didn’t,” a voice interrupted her causing her to lift her head to see that Tommy was standing at the entrance of the room with his hands buried in his pockets. Joel turned pale with Tommy saying what he had. Shifting on his feet, Tommy looked down almost ashamed. “I was staying with Joel back then cus’ I was scared he would kill himself. I saw what was happening when I got home. I grabbed the shotgun and when he went to kill my brother I shot him. My brother never killed no one. But the police would have hammered me if they found out I did it. I was a trained soldier. I knew where to shoot him just to knock him down. Stop him from killin’ Joel, but I shot him and killed him.”

“Tommy,” Joel’s voice rumbled with Tommy getting emotional himself. There were tears sliding down Joel’s face with Joel shaking his head.

“No Joel. It’s time someone knew the truth. It was my fault that Sarah was outside. I watched that son bitch hit Sarah. I watched my niece die in my brother’s arms. The man was about to kill the only family I had left. So I killed him without thinkin’ about it. Joel knew they’d hit me hard for it cus’ of my past. I had gotten in trouble so much that he took the fall for everything. He staged it to make it seem like he was the one that killed the guy in self-defense. They didn’t punish him cus’ of all the evidence they had on that son of a bitch.”

“Tommy,” Joel whispered, his face twisting with confusion as Tommy stepped forward and shook his head slowly.

“I know Joel, we both agreed we’d never say that again, but she needs to know you’re a good man. And so do you,” Tommy defended his brother, seemingly upset that everything led to this. “Sarah wasn’t your fault. And you knew that for a while. You were so mad at me because it was my fault. I was the one always getting in trouble. She was outside cus’ of me. Waiting for me. If I hadn’t called she would have never gotten hit. And then after I killed that guy, I should have never abandoned you, but I did. I was messed up and I found this place. I healed and you went into a spiral because you had no one. You got mixed up in some bad shit and it was my fault. Not yours. And no one knows it because you never let them know it. You carry the burden and the weight of something that was never yours to carry in the first place. Sarah wasn’t your fault. You aren’t a murderer. Yeah, you beat the hell outta some guys, but they fucking deserved it for what they did to Tess. You’ve had a hard life, but you remain to live for others. You take care of others. You can’t let this shit destroy you.”

There was a silence that fell over them and Y/N reached out to caress over Joel’s shoulder in a loving way as Tommy started to speak again, “I told Maria. A while ago. I should have told you, but I couldn’t keep lyin’ to her. I couldn’t keep lyin’ to myself. Now two people in the world know beyond us.”

“I…” Joel looked between Tommy and Y/N and he almost dropped his head in shame. “I’d like to be alone for a while if that’s okay.”

“Yeah,” Tommy looked shocked that was what Joel requested of him, but he gave a small nod. Swallowing down hard, Tommy didn’t want to get emotional to the point that this became about him. He was doing his best to hold back on his own tears. “I’ll leave the two of you alone together.”

“No,” Joel called out to Tommy, his dark eyes locking with Y/N’s when he let out a tremoring breath. “I want you both to leave. I wanna be alone. I need to be to myself right now to think about things. So would you please take her with you. Take her back to the inn.”

“Joel?” she frowned as he slid out from beneath her touch, surprising her with his movements. “I don’t think right now is the best time for you to be alone. With your past and the way…”

“I’m not gonna hurt myself, I promise,” Joel stopped her immediately, trying to put her worries at ease. “I wouldn’t do that to the people I love and care about. Just please. I need to be alone right now. So please leave. Please.”

“Joel, I agree with her that you shouldn’t be alone,” Tommy grunted from where he was standing, pointing his hand out toward Y/N. “The last thing you need right now is to be alone.”

“If you love me, if you truly love me…” Joel started, his teary eyes looking to hers when he gave her a nod, “then you will leave right now with Tommy. You can come back in the morning, but right now. I need time alone.”

“Joel,” she tried to speak again, but he hushed her. Standing up from the couch, he headed for the stairs. Sitting there, she didn’t know what to do as he headed to his bedroom and they heard him close the door behind him. “Tommy? What do I do?”

“I…I don’t know,” Tommy frowned, shakily sweeping his fingers through his long hair realizing this was something he had no answer for. “I don’t know what’s the right thing to do here Y/N. I just don’t.”

----

Tags: @pedrospascaled @carolineesnell @ayumi-wolf @dilfsandmartinis @christinamadsen

@brittmb115 @thegirlwiththemostcake3 @ashleyfilm

#Joel Miller #Joel Miller fanfiction #Joel Miller x reader #Pedro Pascal #The Last of Us #Pedro Pascal Character fanfiction #Joel Miller x you #Joel Miller Smut #The Last of Us fanfiction #tlou fanfiction #Christmas in Jackson #Joel Miller Imagine #Tommy Miller #Ellie Williams

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greenbubblefactory · 2 months ago

Text

Matchup for @morganexpress

Congratulations you have a match with..

Malleus Draconia !

From the moment Malleus meets you, he is utterly intrigued. Not many people are brave enough to interact with him so naturally,whether out of fear or reverence but you are different. Your ability to feel deeply, to love unconditionally yet still value yourself, makes you stand out in a way that captivates him. You are neither afraid to wear your heart on your sleeve nor hesitant to call out injustice when you see it, and Malleus finds this balance incredibly admirable.

At first, Malleus would observe you from afar, fascinated by how genuine you are. He is used to people either fearing him or attempting to gain his favor, but you do neither. Instead, you are kind but not a pushover, loving but not blind. He sees the way you put effort into making those around you happy, how you plan your entire day around the people you love, and while it warms his heart, it also makes him a little sad. He wonders,has anyone ever done the same for you?

For someone like Malleus, who has spent his life lonely despite his status, your devotion to your loved ones strikes something deep within him. He may be one of the most powerful beings in Twisted Wonderland, but even he cannot control true, genuine love and yet, you give it so freely. It’s something he has never experienced before, and he can’t help but gravitate toward you, hoping to understand this warmth you bring.

Malleus is the type of partner who notices every small thing you do for others. The way you remember tiny details, the effort you put into surprising your loved ones, the joy you feel when others are happy,he sees all of it, and it only makes him admire you more.

But he also notices something else,you often put yourself last. While you are self-aware enough to stand up for yourself when someone disrespects you, he worries that you might not always realize when you are giving too much. If he ever sees you sacrificing your happiness for someone who wouldn’t do the same for you, he won’t hesitate to step in, in his own way.

He won’t outright tell you what to do, but he will remind you,you deserve the same love and care that you give to others. And if no one else is willing to make sure you feel valued, then he will gladly take that role. He will ensure that you are never overlooked, never unappreciated, and never made to feel like your love is something to be taken for granted.

One of the things Malleus admires most about you is your ability to balance emotion with logic. You do not blindly follow your heart,you analyze situations carefully, ensuring that you make choices that honor both your emotions and your intelligence.

Malleus respects this greatly. As someone who has lived for centuries, he is used to seeing people act either too impulsively or too coldly, but you strike a balance. You call out injustice when you see it, whether it’s directed at you or someone else, and you never allow yourself to be treated with disrespect. This is something Malleus finds incredibly refreshing.

He has met many people who either fear him too much to be honest or seek to manipulate him, but with you, he knows your words are always sincere. If he ever does something that upsets you, you will tell him directly and this is something he will appreciate deeply. It means he never has to guess where he stands with you.

Malleus would absolutely adore the way your voice gets louder when you’re excited. He is not someone who interacts casually with many people, so seeing your unfiltered joy would be something that completely mesmerizes him.

At first, you might try to hold back around him, worried that your enthusiasm might be too much, but Malleus would gently reassure you:

"I find it endearing."

And he truly means it.

In fact, he would subtly encourage it. He would bring up topics he knows you love just to see the way your eyes light up, just to hear your voice rise in excitement. He enjoys the contrast between your usual calm demeanor and the way you become completely unrestrained when something truly captivates you.

Even if you ever felt embarrassed about being "too loud," he would simply smile to himself, thinking that it’s one of his favorite things about you.

Malleus would love that you would rather spend your time reading, playing games, or simply relaxing indoors instead of constantly seeking stimulation. To him, company does not need to be loud to be meaningful. Simply being in the same room as you, existing together in comfortable silence, is enough.

He also loves listening to you talk, especially when you share stories, theories, or thoughts about a book or game you’ve been into. Even if he doesn’t understand every reference, he enjoys watching your expressions, the way your hands move when you explain something passionately.

If you ever wanted a quiet night in, he would gladly join you, whether it’s sitting beside you while you read or playing a game together. To him, the best moments are the ones spent in peaceful, shared companionship.

Your love for gothic fashion would fascinate him. As someone who has always been drawn to elegant, dark aesthetics, he would deeply appreciate the way you put effort into your appearance.

He would love watching you experiment with different styles, finding beauty in every new look you try. And if you ever worried about how you looked, he would remind you, in that deep, steady voice of his:

"You are breathtaking as you are. There is no need for you to doubt that."

But his admiration wouldn’t just stop at your appearance,he would also love your creativity. Whether it’s your music, art, knitting, or crafting, Malleus would treasure everything you create.

If you ever made him something,a knitted scarf, a handmade trinket, or even a simple drawing he would keep it as if it were the most precious artifact in the world. To him, the effort you put into making something is far more valuable than any material gift.

Malleus would love every single part of you,your devotion, your passion, your strength, and your kindness. He would make sure you never feel unappreciated, ensuring that your love and efforts are always recognized and returned.

You would never have to question his feelings for you,his loyalty would be unwavering. In his eyes, you are not just someone he loves, but someone he deeply respects and cherishes.

With Malleus, you would always be treasured, protected, and endlessly adored.

English is not my first language !

#matchup #twisted wonderland matchup #twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland x reader #Diasominia #malleus draconia x you #malleus x reader #malleus draconia #malleus twisted wonderland

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emyluwinter · 5 months ago

Text

Hey honey.

It's been a long time since I've thrown out some theories.

Before the new part is released at the end of January. I want to share a few ideas about what can happen in general in the arc of Dissomnia.

In Riddle's dream, we see that his subconscious (no, guys, Malleus doesn't create all these dreams, he just gives them sand and various shapes and throws them into the sandbox) made his childhood very…Happy? His loving mother, who doesn't treat him like she's cultivating some kind of experiment. On the contrary, she has a big heart with a tender love for his son. Maybe his parents will be one of those sweet romantic couples with a long and strong marriage. A quiet, serene life. The friends who had been with him for all those years that he was actually locked in the house. Lots of hobbies. Lots of fun, lots of childish curiosity, games and adventures. Yes, he is still respected. But he is loved. Love as a friend and an undergraduate who has earned a good reputation.

Well, it can also be as tall as a two-meter-high Epel. Ahahaha.

Or 1.1, as we saw in Leona's dream. For Riddle, the dream is a nightmare where he continued all his mother's instructions and ended up….broke down. When he realized that the world was completely different from the narrow, tiny world in which he was trapped.

Ace's dream is something wild. It haunts me that we didn't see Ace at the very beginning. You see, we met the characters exactly in the order in which we met them. For example. Epel-Rook-Vil, Floyd-Jade-Azul. Jack-Raggie-Leona and so on. The meaning is clear. But in the arch with the dreams of Hearts, everything went topsy-turvy. It's pretty funny if they just switched places for the sake of Alice's chaos theme.

Ace is definitely going to be a wild card in every sense. Maybe his dream is a simple school life? Or is it an endless amusement park?

But you know, I want to see one detail….

What if Ace's subconscious gave Yu and Grimm better conditions? A Loving Family? A house?

I had an idea what he could give to Yu's - parents. Yuu mother, for example, is a famous photographer and artist (Yu's love of photography and art), and Father is an inventor or craftsman (I will fight with anyone who says the opposite, that Yu does not understand repairs and all sorts of things, after so much has been done in their dormitory) Definitely a man who has golden hands, in short. And Yuu will be their favorite child, having inherited their passion for certain crafts. A modest but very very cozy house where you can exhale and leave all your sorrows at the door. Where there is always a smell of something delicious or pleasant.

Grimm is a part of this family unconditionally. Is he also loved, also slightly spoiled?

The reason, which has strong and deep roots in the form of family and home, is that neither Yu nor Grimm will leave college. Yuu doesn't have to go back to his world, Grimm doesn't have to get used to living alone without Yuu.

Maybe Yuu will even have magic in Ace's dream, who knows?

2.2 We turn the chessboard around again and his dream is all his hidden fears. The horrors and nightmares that haunt him.

Riddle remains the same Tyrant, the rules are becoming suffocating in every sense. There is no help from senpai, teachers, or the principal. Yuu either returned to their world, or were injured or died in one of the overblots. Or they were expelled when Grimm's behavior was no longer tolerated.

Consciousness and subconsciousness are very complex things. Therefore, it is difficult to say what can break out and turn into a dream.

The arc of the other characters' dreams will end. Finally, these filler series will end.

The plan of Idia and Styx. Discussing exactly HOW to wake everyone up and reason with Malleus. Most likely, this will again be a division into groups. 22 characters in one scene, it's a nightmare for a screenwriter!

After we wake up the "last one," Malleus decides to make a move. You know, I couldn't help but think that this Dragon, beautiful as a god, was just waiting for a very convenient moment to attack. And this guy, let's not forget, is also smart. VERY Let's say we woke up the whole "gang for a fight". What's not a great opportunity to sneak up and not destroy the entire pillar? My bet is that there will be a repeat of the sleeping beauty scene. Silver started it, so there will be an attack on him. He's the only one who can walk through other people's dreams without Draconia's knowledge. Permissions NOT too.

What is easier to deprive the only chance to wake up the others again than to fix the main problem? We put Silver to sleep, we throw everyone back into their dreams. Voila!

This will most likely happen after Riddle wakes up. It would make sense because we started the game with Riddle (figuratively speaking), and Malleus closes the door back at the very end. They have some similar themes, which would be well reflected by some of their parallels. Both have a theme of roses and thorns. Both follow their own "rules", both have their own "reputational image", both don't know much about the "outside world".

Finally, let's bring Lilia back into the story. Yes, I miss the reunion of the Diasomnia family.

Yuu will see more dreams about "Sleeping Beauty" as a warning that Malleus has been watching them all this time and waiting for the moment to cut down this weed.

7.1. Yuu also sees all the horror, all the nightmare from the prologue.But not fleetingly in a moment like before…..and live every second of this desperate and hopeless situation. It's like they're being burned alive, torn to pieces, and they see each death in slow motion, like an endless torture.

Silver, because of his unique Magic, can see this nightmare too… and they both realize that this is not a dream at all, and not because of Malleus.

Lilia drinks blood. (maybe Yuu, maybe not) LISTEN, he ate frogs and mice, and another Bag knows what else. Technically, he's a flying mouse fairy. Sooo some species feed on blood. What's not a great solution to give Lilia the "opportunity" to regain her powers and magic before completing the entire arc of studies? It might work as some kind of move that just nobody knew about. Let's think that the Senate hated Lilia because his kind could feed on someone else's blood and become stronger? It's not the most pleasant thing, but we have something. It's a good and logical argument why they didn't want him in the capital so much.

So far, these are all the points that I can come up with in my tired head.

and also

Chapter 8!!

Each chapter has its own "theme" that is discussed one way or another throughout each arc. I may be wrong, but I only use the ones that I noticed myself during the passage. Chapter 1. tyranny and despotism, parental overprotection. Chapter 2 other people's hopes, a brick ceiling (I don't know how to say for sure that even if you give it your all, there is something that you can't go through in any way to achieve more) Chapter 3 - bullying, self-doubt. Chapter 7 the inevitability of loss, grief and loss, and so on.

For chapter 8, it could be Loneliness, isolation, and the outsider. Loneliness? It seems that this topic has not been raised in other chapters.

Yuu's loneliness, because they're not from here. Grimm's loneliness, because he doesn't belong to any part of society either. It's possible that the "puppeteer" is so distraught from loneliness and grief from the loss of something.

Hmm. Most likely, I'm wrong, and the topic of chapter 8 will be different.

They are both isolated from the world in one way or another. Remember how in the same novel, everyone kept them at arm's length and a mop, just to avoid dealing with them.

I understand that we still have a lot to see in Chapter 7, but frankly I have no idea what they have in store for Chapter 8!!

Oh, yeah. Most likely, on this anniversary, the 8th dormitory will be made official and they will be given a "badge", the one with the ribbon that students wear on their uniform jackets. In any case, it's very likely. If they also give you a uniform for Grimm, it will be very cool.

That's the end of my brain gum and I'm taking a break from work.

What do you think, dear?

#twst #twisted wonderland #twst wonderland #disney twst #twst yuu #twst thoughts #twst theory

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notjustjavierpena · 2 years ago

Note

OKAY HEAR ME OUT Husband Javier and the reader are fighting the whole day but trying to repress it because of their kids- After they're asleep the two are arguing again and then boom makeup sex 😋 thank you angel !!!!

Fight

Series Masterpost | Main Masterpost | Support a disabled creator

A/N: This request literally had me up all night, and now it has come to life and possibly turned into one of the most sensual pieces I’ve ever written. I’m obsessed with them.

Summary: You feel overlooked and unappreciated. Javier says the wrong thing and hell breaks loose, but he also knows how to say sorry.

Pairing: Javier Peña x f!reader (no y/n)

Tags: +18 Smut (mdni!), domestic life and dynamic, grownups being assholes to each other, hurt/comfort, saying sorry to each other and to your kids because I’m healing my inner child, crying, pregnancy, pregnancy sex, passionate and rough sex, MAKEUP SEX!!!, clit stim, creampie, dirty talk, praise kink, love love love, they are just crazy about each other

Word count: 4.2k

Link to this work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/49596877

Fight

Chucho Peña is coming over tomorrow and that’s fine.

You’ve made plans to make plans at this point though. The list of things you need to do before he arrives still gets longer every time you have a moment to think about it to yourself, teeny tiny details adding up to a day that’ll keep you busy from the moment you wake up. It would have been fine if you didn’t have to get the kids out of bed and prepared for school, and then go to work too, right on top of cleaning, shopping, cooking, and hosting — at 34 weeks pregnant.

Javier is Javier about it, reassuring you that it will be fine and that you just need to take a breath whilst he stands in the door to the garden, back towards you and smoking his morning cigarette whilst you try to tell Inés that she should have cornflakes instead of lucky charms for breakfast.

“Oh,” Javier says after stubbing out the cigarette in the ashtray that Lucas has made for him in arts and crafts class. He turns around and rests against the doorframe, “Can we have that chocolate cake you made last time? The one with the white chocolate frosting?”

You never personally thought that you’d ever get into an argument about chocolate cake. If you’d said this to the child version of yourself, she would have laughed out loud and told you that nobody could ever be angry about anything to do with dessert. Especially not chocolate desserts. Yet here you are, letting your fatigue get the better of you.

“Sure,” you let out a loud sigh, dragging it out to really let your husband know that you are not happy about his input, “Sure, Javi, I’ll just add it to my ever-growing list of things I need to do for your father.”

You hear it as soon as it leaves your mouth but you’re too stubborn to backtrack, watching Javier go rigid in the door. He furrows his brow in confusion, and then his expression turns into a frown and eventually a scowl. He doesn’t look downright angry but not happy either.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He asks defensively, body language telling you that he is getting ready for another attack. He enters the kitchen like he is walking on eggshells, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose, “I only asked you if we could. You have every right to say no, and not be pi—“

Inés looks up at him with big brown eyes that are similar to his own. He swallows down the word, replaces it with something more child-friendly, “And not be rude about it.”

“Say no and watch you be a giant toddler about it? Great, I’ll definitely choose that,” you scoff, running on autopilot and clearing the kitchen counter whilst you argue. Out of the corner, you see Inés starting to squirm in her seat but you’re too far gone by now, “It’s not even my father, and I have to do everything for the preparation because you’re oh-so-important.”

“So we’re just never having my dad over ever again?” Javier seethes, mouth twitching in anger and threatening to put on a violent smile. He has some kind of ability to piss you even more off when he is just about to smile during arguments.

“That’s not what I said, and that’s not the point,” you stubbornly bend down, hand on your round belly, to put your own plate into the dishwasher. Sebastian is due soon, kicking you as your pulse rises due to anger. Javier looks like he is contemplating whether to help you straighten again or not.

“Then what is the point?”

With a hand on the edge of the kitchen counter, you manage to stand upright once more. You face Javier, finally scowling right back at him and he seems to shrink a little underneath your fury, “I’m exhausted, Javier. When do you think I have had a night to myself? I know you have a busy schedule, I do, but God—“

You drag the last word out, running a hand through your hair in frustration, “But you went out with Steve just days ago. I need to cook, clean, do the grocery shopping, take care of two kids, and - by the way - do it all with someone kicking my bladder every goddamn minute of the day. Which - by the way - is your doing.”

There is no reason to sound as venomous as you do, but you suspect that half of it is exhaustion and the other half is hormones getting the better of you and ridding you of better judgment.

“Fine, you win,” Javier makes a display of holding his hands up in surrender but he mixes it with a roll of his eyes, and you almost go for his throat, “I’m a terrible husband.”

“Oh, you did not ju—“ You raise your voice.

Suddenly, you hear sniffling beside you. It pulls you right out of your head and makes you observe your surroundings, and with the way that Javier flinches, it seems to be doing the same to him.

Inés' little voice breaks your heart, the sight of her even more so when you see she has covered her ears with her hands, “Mamá. Why are you yelling at Papá? Don’t you like each other anymore?”

Javier sends you a look that makes your stomach drop, something that tells you that you are not done here. He looks absolutely furious with you, especially after seeing his daughter cry.

But then he sucks in a deep breath and crosses the room to crouch down beside Inés. He rubs her back soothingly, “Nos gustamos mucho, mija.”

Your legs have made you join them before your brain can even get the idea. Ever so gently, you run your hand over Inés' hair, “I’m so sorry, baby. We won’t shout anymore. Sometimes we get bad feelings. Remember when we talked about those?”

Javier looks at you with his mouth still a thin line and you glare back at him without Inés seeing. He straightens to get a piece of paper towel, first dabbing his daughter’s eyes and then blowing her nose afterward.

Lucas Peña peeks into the kitchen from the hallway. He looks like someone who has just woken up, hair sticking out in the same way that his father’s sometimes does, but it’s accompanied by a concerned expression on his face as he watches the scene in the kitchen, “Why were you fighting?”

“We weren’t fighting,” you reassure and hold out your arm. Lucas goes to press into your side, and you respond to his affection by resting a hand on his head, “Okay?”

“Okay,” Lucas replies but he doesn’t sound convinced.

From the outside, it probably looks like the perfect family portrait but you can feel Javier is fuming underneath the surface. He leaves Inés’ side to throw the snotty paper towel out, his shoulders still tense.

“Lucas, can you take your sister into the bathroom and brush your teeth?” You say as neutrally as you can muster, faking a smile down at him as he looks up at you, “I’ll be right there.”

“What about breakfast?” He asks.

“I’ll make you a sandwich for the bus ride. Whatever you want, but we’re already late,” you tell him, and it seems to work as he takes Inés’ hand in his own and leads her out of the room.

When Javier and you are alone again, an uncomfortable silence settles between the two of you. Javier stands against the counter, palms flat on its surface and you can hear the sound of the clock in the background, ticking by as the silence stretches.

You are just about to apologize when Javier turns around. His eyes are wild with fury, not at all as submissive as just moments earlier when you had been the angry one. He points at you, mustache twitching with disgust that you are sure must be directed at himself too, because he says, “Never in front of the kids. I don’t care how angry you are. We don’t do that.”

You can feel your bottom lip tremble.

Javier leaves the kitchen instead of comforting you.

You force a smile, trying your hardest to sound cheerful while tears spill down your cheeks, “Lucas, what do you want on your sandwich?”

The rest of the day goes by without any resolve, and it feels like there’s a brick lying heavy on your chest and making you on the verge of tears all day. Despite this, you manage to get everything on today’s list done before dinner and yes, you buy the ingredients for the stupid chocolate cake, making an effort to ‘casually’ leave the recipe on the counter for Javier to see. It results in him emptying and refilling the dishwasher without a word.

During your bedtime routine, Lucas looks worried. He tugs at your hand when you are just about to leave and you can see the cogs turn in his head as he strings together a sentence, “Mom… It’s okay if you and Dad were angry at each other. I just don’t like it when you cry and… and I want you to say sorry. That’s what you make me do when I get angry at you or Dad. Or Inés.”

Your heart hurts from the love that’s barely able to be contained inside of it. With every single muscle in your body being strained, you manage to bend down to hug his head close to your chest, “Mijo.”

“No, don’t be sad,” he says quickly, hugging you back.

“I’m not, baby. These are good tears because I love you so much,” you kiss his head, “I’m so proud of being your mom, baby. You know this, right?”

Lucas pulls back and you quickly wipe your tears away. He studies your face for a second, “Y-yes, I love you too, Mom, but you need to say sorry to Dad.”

You nod, struggle a little as you try to get up and say your final goodnight. On the way out, you desperately brush more tears out of your face because looking at the photos in the hallway makes them well up in your eyes once more.

Javier is tying the strings of his pajama pants as you enter your shared bedroom. He doesn’t acknowledge you when you strip yourself naked except for your underwear, and not even when you pull a tank top over your head that’s barely covering your pregnant belly anymore. You’re unsure of what to say to get a reaction from him. The silence screams.

“I’m sorry,” you eventually settle for.

Javier turns to you then. His eyes rest on you for a moment before he speaks, “I’m sorry too. I get it… wanting time to yourself. I just didn’t know that was what you needed.”

He is hugging you soon after, strong arms around your exhausted frame. Your round stomach bumps against his flat one, and he lets go with one arm in favor of resting a hand where Sebastian usually kicks during the evening hours. It’s thankfully quiet right now, as if he senses that you need it.

“I wish you could just see how much invisible work I put into this house,” you say softly into his shoulder, “I feel so underappreciated and overwhelmed sometimes.”

“And I wish you would tell me how you’re feeling instead of treating me like a damn mind reader,” he sighs deeply, and you respond by getting defensive again. You’re just about to pull away with an annoyed groan.

“No, no, c’mere,” he tugs you back into his arms and you let him because you’re feeling generous. His hands cradle your face, “I don’t wanna fight. Please. I hate fighting with you. I’m sorry.”

“You make me so furious,” you whine as he bumps your nose with his own, feeling tears prickle at the corner of your eyes and one sliding down to drip from your chin. Javier tuts, catches it with his thumb.

“I’m sorry, baby,” his mouth curls downward as he says it, puppy dog eyes on their highest setting, “I know how much you do. I do. I’m just— you know how I am. Don’t cry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

Javier embraces you once more as you blink tears away, dragging in a deep breath. The air in the bedroom smells like him, comforting and safe, and it makes it hard to keep concentrating on your fight and easier to fall into him.

“I love you,” you mumble into his shoulder, and holy fuck, you do - every single day, hour, minute and second. He is your best friend, your husband, the face of your children, and most importantly, you know that he does his best for you.

It seems that those three words are exactly what he wants to hear because you feel his hands curl around the hem of your tank top. You don’t protest, relishing in the gentle touch of his fingertips against your back as he pulls the piece of clothing up and over your head.

Your shoulders come down to relax from having been tensed up. You haven’t even noticed how much energy you have been using on straining your muscles, but now that you are calming again, you can feel how upset you’ve actually been throughout the day.

“I love you too,” he promises. Your heart drums in your chest. The way he says it makes arousal burn below your belly button, a gentle tingling, and swirling sensation pleasantly taking over your whole pelvic floor.

You look down between the two of you to see that Javier is already half-hard in his pajama pants, words seemingly having had the very same effect on him too. You start untying the strings of his pants slowly until you can tug them down over his hips, and he mirrors you to remove your underwear.

Both of your bottoms pool around your feet, and when you have both stepped out of them, Javier pulls you close by your elbows. He catches your mouth in a desperate kiss, and you melt into him in a way that an apology could never make him feel.

He pushes you back towards the bed whilst never breaking the searing kiss. Your hair is a mess in his hands, heartbeat speeding up as everything moves so fast from then on out; he helps you down onto the bed like the gentleman he is, manhandles you onto your side like the man you were swept off your feet by years ago and finally presses his front up against your back.

“I want you,” you say in unison, and it makes you giggle at how in sync you are with each other despite having spent the day fighting over something already long forgotten. Especially when his arm scoops underneath you to cage you against his chest, hand tightening around your shoulder to hold you in place.

Javier leans over you slightly to kiss the giggles away, bends your knees a little with his free hand so he can let it wander over you. He touches you up along your thigh as you place a pillow under your pregnant belly, takes his time holding you tightly, “Get hotter and hotter every day, mi amor.”

You press your ass back into his crotch, cunt throbbing with impatience as you hear the tiny groan that he lets out. He is so hard against the roundness of your behind, cocktip leaking steadily against your warm skin when he grinds right back into you.

“Put it in,” you plead softly. Your hands come up to grip his forearm that is secured just above your tits, “Javi, please. I need it so bad.”

He is silent behind you as he works. The anticipation is unbearable when it is mixed with the unnerving need to have an outlet for all the intense emotions that you have just been through, your pussy quivering in desperation to be deliciously stretched out to transform your feelings into something physical.

Suddenly, you feel the thick head of his cock between your thighs and you ready yourself for intrusion. Luckily, he doesn’t make you wait, guides himself into you in a slow motion until he is fully sheathed inside you.

“Fuck,” you whine as quietly as you can, nails digging his arm from how hard you are gripping it.

“I know, ahh fuck, shhh,” he soothes but the way his voice sounds makes you believe that he is just as close to losing his mind, “Be quiet, baby. Just let me make you feel fucking amazing. Need a pillow between your knees too?”

You nod, and he is right there with his own pillow to help you get even more comfortable in bed with him. God, why were you even fighting? Something about cake? Either way, it seems beyond ridiculous.

His nose is in your neck, his hand travels up to cup your breast and then he moves his body for a very first thrust inside of you. It makes your eyes nearly roll back into your skull when he keeps the pace lazy and deep, barely pulling out with each roll of his hips.

“You feel so good,” he praises whilst mouthing along the most sensitive spot on your neck, “Makes me never wanna leave. Wanna live here.”

“Inside me?” You chuckle breathlessly.

“Forever,” he gives you a slightly harder thrust, the first where the noise of his skin slapping against yours resonates through the bedroom. You moan in surprise, and he hushes you once more, “Don’t let them wake up and think momma is in pain.”

“Definitely not in pain.”

Javier lets out the quietest laugh. It’s almost unfair how good he is at keeping it down compared to you, but you don’t think you’ll mind having his big palm cover your mouth if you end up causing trouble. It almost happens when he pinches an overly sensitive nipple, making it harden immediately under his touch.

“Help me spread my legs a little more,” you beg at a low decibel.

The hand on your tit gropes obscenely and shakes for a moment before it slips down and caresses your belly on the way. Still lying on your side, he smacks the fleshiest part of where your ass and thigh meet before he cups the back of your knee so he can lift.

The move gives you the access you need to rub your cunt, two fingers going in taut little circles around the swollen nub. You rock with him too, and it goes on until you come with your back arched, releasing a short and hot breath that you didn’t notice you had been holding until it turns into a loud and accidental moan.

“That’s my girl,” he moans too as you clench rhythmically and choke his dick when you release the built-up tension. When your orgasm reaches its peak, Javier’s hand on your shoulder moves to cover your mouth at the fear of you making enough noise to have the door burst open with unwelcome visitors, “I know it’s hard, mi vida, but - shit - but be quiet.”

You take the opportunity to let out a drawn-out and helpless cry into his hand as the sweet pleasure goes on for a few moments more. Then you slump, and he gently moves your leg down again to put less strain on your body.

“My God,” he talks into your ear, thrusts never slowing down and you swear that you can feel his cock jump with every weak noise you make, “I love you so much. Love your little cunt too, she takes me so well.”

Javier’s hand comes down to grip the extra pounds on your hips. He tugs at the flesh almost painfully, but your exhaustion and dopamine overload are making you too delirious to notice that it’s to the point of bruising. He holds tight and uses the grasp that he has on you to pull you down onto his cock over and over.

It takes no time to make a second orgasm stir in the pits of your stomach. Your moans change once more as your body starts responding to him fucking you so hard.

“You think you can come again?” He rasps into your ear, and when the head of his cock slides teasingly over your favorite little spot inside of yourself, you nod frantically and it feels like you are about to cry actual tears. Fuck yes, you can come as many times as he wants.

“Mhm, won’t take long,” you whimper and use all your willpower to lift your leg over your husband’s thigh until you are spread widely. Your belly is still comfortably supported in the new position, but now that your front is stretched taut and fully exposed like a well-trained and submissive animal, it enhances the feeling of Javier gliding over your g-spot repeatedly.

Javier removes the arm that he has caged you in with, but whereas it gives you a moment to heave a breath of air into the very bottom of your lungs, he quickly takes it away from you as he reaches up with his other hand to grab your throat. He doesn’t squeeze like he normally would when you are not pregnant, but the anticipation of him doing it makes your head swim.

And then he is absolutely brutal in his thrusts, and before you know it, you are coming with your clit untouched and a strangled sob. The convulsions are so intense that your thighs shake, your toes curl and your eyes screw shut.

You reach up to put your hand on the back of Javier’s head, holding on tightly as he pounds into you from behind throughout your orgasm. The way he pants tells you that he is close, and when you yank the tiny curls at the nape of his neck, he starts to chase his release.

“Javi,” you whisper loudly as he slams into your sensitive cunt, “Give it to me. Pleasepleaseplease. Need you to fill me up.”

“Fu— oh shit,” Javier swears in a low, rough growl as he snaps his hips a few last times before stilling inside of you. He feels impossibly big inside your cunt as he pumps you full of his come, cockhead resting at your cervix and coating you in warmth.

“Jesus, we’re terrible at being quiet,” you whisper as he pants. You let your leg come down onto the other once again, a giggle suddenly building up in your chest. He starts laughing whilst still inside of you, hugging you tightly into his chest and nuzzling his nose into your cheek.

“They sleep through it, don’t gotta worry about it much anymore, I think,” he notes without care, kissing your cheek repeatedly despite still not having calmed his breath. You smile widely as you stare at the ceiling, overtaken by the love you feel for him every time he gets you to post-orgasmic bliss.

“We need a date night soon though, Jesus. Perhaps Pop could take the kids home with him tomorrow after dinner and I could… do this again,” he smacks your ass playfully, then strokes your hip in soothing circles, and you almost purr like a cat at the gentle move, “Without a mute button on my pretty wife’s mouth, of course.”

“I’d like that,” you say with a soft and sweet sigh, acknowledging his attempt to make things from earlier up to you, “Been a while since you’ve made me scream. Wanna take our time.”

Javier reaches down between you to pull out before he is completely soft. You hiss at being left empty when you are so spent, but Javier quickly distracts you with another string of kisses to your cheek and the corner of your mouth. He adds to the fantasy, “And then I’ll draw you a bath and you can spend as much time alone as you want. Don’t gotta be no one to anyone.”

He moves on the bed as far as his arm that’s trapped beneath you allows him, going for the packet of wet wipes you keep on the nightstand. He had suggested them when it had become too hard during your third trimester for you to get out of bed after sex. He hands you a few and you hold them over your mound, enjoying the coolness of them.

“You know the way to my heart,” you say, wiggling a little and feeling his come seep out. It makes your nose crinkle.

“Well, I did convince you to marry me,” he replies.

“Worst decision I’ve ever made,” you tease. Javier wraps his other arm around you, hand splayed on your belly.

The position you are in is uncomfortable; Javier’s arm underneath you has got to be asleep by now and you feel damp with sweat due to him being like a furnace against your back.

Still, you both drift off slowly into the soundest sleep. You don’t wake up until two unexpected visitors barge in at the most ungodly hours of the morning, causing you to scramble for the blanket to cover your bodies up and hide the come-stained wet wipes in the nightstand drawer.

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