#i need to climb up him like a deranged squirrel

[dimeadozencows]

Waiting an appropriate amount of time to post this so that I don't spoil anyone

Anyway

I am a feral fucking animal

[gustafsnightangel]

Shattered Lives Ch 25 Pt 1

He rose before her and smiled at her sleeping form all sprawled out over the mattress and hoped she woke less stressed than the past few days. They were making it work, there were some rough patches but they were still learning to be a family, a couple. He’d really messed up yesterday and stepped over a line with her, it was no wonder she’d lost her shit. He had usurped her independence, forced her brother on her and the kids, made her feel anything but the intelligent, beautiful woman she was. Not what he’d intended at all.

Quietly collecting the charm from the nightstand he had Brendan keep an eye on things for a hot minute and went to the garage. It was important for her to still have these connections with her brother. He was hoping the books in her office would be perceived as that as well.

Friday couldn’t come soon enough he thought as he changed Lily and sat her with Brendan. He’d see her purge the grief again and he had his own agenda. He’d burn that fucking notebook, he had a feeling she’d finished and that it was weighing on her now too. He didn’t want anything else piling onto her plate if he could help it, he couldn’t watch her go through last night again. It tore at his soul seeing her like that. He wanted to love her, for her to let him love her, but it would only happen when she was ready for it to happen. He couldn’t force it, and maybe unknowingly he had been, too much, too quickly.

“Morning love.” He murmured as those talented lips destroyed her neck. She rolled over and wrapped herself around him kissing that mouth she’d craved.

“Good morning.” She purred, her kiss sinful. A fresh start she thought, she had to try and put yesterday behind her. That started by her not being so much of a control freak.

“Fuck me, Friday can’t get here soon enough.” He growled. “You need to get up love, cases to slay.”

She didn’t want to, she wanted to curl up with him and rock his world.

“I could kiss you all damn day.” She said dreamily and gave him one last blazing lip lock before pulling the sheets back.

“Saturday you can do that if you want.” He chuckled. She seemed happier today so far, the stress of yesterday left where it belonged. “Come on, up you get.”

She did the adult thing and climbed out of bed and headed to the shower after kissing him again. Letting the blistering hot water pound on her face she thought about what transpired last night, the guilt for raging at him like she did weighed heavily. Rarely did she lose her temper but when pushed, when cornered, she went nuclear and in spectacular fashion.

She’d hurt him, could see her words had cut him deeply and she had no idea how to heal that wound. How did she let him take care of her, how did she let him in without losing sight of who she was? She wouldn’t see her identity, her independence lost to a man ever again, the first time was bad enough.

She also had to tell him about his notebook and knew that was going to kick him after last night. Sometimes life just didn’t play fair or nice, it just got messy.

“You look as sinful as ever.” He growled as she came out of the bedroom as he went in to take a shower.

“Wait until you see what’s under it.” She purred and kissed him so his brain short circuited.

“Oh, that’s not fair.” He breathed. “You can’t tease me like that all day.”

“Ha! Yeah I can.” She giggled and kissed him before wrapping her arms around his half naked body. “Hey, um, not to drop a bombshell on you after last night but, I finished your notebook.” She said gently as she pulled back to looked at him. He blew a breath out, and looked at her. “We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but I figured you would like to know I’d finished and to have it back in case you wanted to do something with it.” She kissed him tenderly, that love flooding his system.

“Do you have anything you want to talk about, ask me about?” He asked shakily and was relieved when she shook her head.

“Not unless you want to talk about it. Thank you, for letting me read it. So I could understand what she did, who she was, what she is.” She said softly hoping she hadn’t set him up for a shitty day, the remnants of last nights argument was bad enough. He rested his forehead against hers and breathed. He could burn it and be done.

“Thank you.” He said gently and kissed her, the love pouring out of him. “Thank you for reading it. I know it wasn’t easy.”

“No, it wasn’t.” Her finger trailed his jaw. “You ok?”

“Yeah I think so.” He was a little taken back. He knew this day would come and thought he was prepared for it but it still stung. His relationship, his faults, his thoughts, laid bare for someone else to read. He’d been terrified she’d read it and leave, those old wounds sneaking into his psyche and wreaking havoc.

“I didn’t mean for it to fuck up your day.” She said softly and cupped a palm to his face stroking a thumb over his cheekbone.

“It hasn’t. I’m relieved actually.” He looked at her. “I can finally be rid of it.” His smile settling her. “I can put it in its place.” His kiss was searing, that burn of passion, of love.

“Join me for lunch today?” She asked. “Just lunch.” She added when he smirked.

“I’d like that.” He kissed her again and started the shower. “Go eat. You need to get going soon and you need food.”

“Mmm.” She agreed and kissed him again. “You’re always so tasty.” Grinning she walked away. She heard the groan and couldn’t help but laugh, it was the reaction she’d hoped for to pull his mind back from Ana. Seeing him for lunch would give her the chance to make sure he was ok, she knew this would destroy him if he stayed in that headspace for too long.

She smiled as she sat in his car and adjusted the rear view mirror, her fingers gently caressing the Celtic charm. It was the little things he did that floored her the most. He knew that lump of silver was special to her and without a second thought placed it where it belonged, even though this wasn’t even her car. Even when she’d hissed and spat at him last night like some mentally deranged cat.

The morning flew by, well he thought, that’s what you get when you go car shopping. He hadn’t purchased it, yet, but if her car was indeed a brick he had something lined up to make her life easier until she could purchase her own.

Her admin all but swooned at his feet, poor kid, and he had to stifle the chuckle as she did that dreamy sigh as he walked into Sildie’s office. Sildie was a sight, on the phone railing some poor schmuck, the deadly tone quite arousing when it wasn’t at him. He closed the door quietly and sat at the coffee table to wait until she finished. Setting their lunch out he grinned when he heard the phone click and her unmistakable “asshole” as she breathed out.

“That was an interesting one sided conversation.” He said, humor thick in his voice.

She snorted a laugh. “I love chewing up opposing counsel and spitting them out for breakfast when they think they can be lazy and still expect to hoodwink me and win.” Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she logged her conversation and the progress, or lack thereof, of the case.

“I take it said lawyer isn’t winning today.” He grinned.

“No, no he is not. He’s about to have a very unpleasant afternoon.” She ripped her glasses off and looked at him as he pulled the Chinese takeout from the bag and placed it on the table.

“What?” He asked, looking up as he felt her gaze upon him. Those eyes of glacial blue were undressing him.

“Nothing, just enjoying the view.” She smirked and leaned her head on her hand, damn he looked fine in that dress shirt, she thought, and how she wanted to fuck him in it.

He got up and stalked to her, those ridiculously long legs eating up the carpet with ease, nothing but a predator stalking it’s prey in those eyes. Spinning her chair slowly so she was facing him he placed those massive hands on the arm rests and leaned down to kiss her, slow, seductive, and she was sure, highly illegal.

“Hi beautiful.” He said, that low timbre she loved rumbling out of him.

“Hi handsome.” She kissed him, that unhurried sinful kiss that set fire to his brain.

“You’ll get us into trouble if you kiss me like that here.” He murmured, her pussy throbbing for his touch. “Come and eat before it gets cold.” He held out his hand for her and she took it, his touch sending all sorts of lovely sparks through her system. As she stood his arm snaked around her waist and he pulled her to him, that soft curvy body pressing against him. He kissed her, that lustful burn that had her melting in his arms.

“I love it when you kiss me like that. Makes me all gooey.” She giggled.

“I know.” He growled and kissed her like it all over again.

They sat and ate, talking of the astronomical cost it was going to take to fix her car.

“I don’t see the point in fixing it when you could get a new one for half that again.” He said, eating another delicious morsel of chili beef.

“Yeah.” She sighed out, and poked her chopsticks into the rice angrily. “Just, fucking fuck.” She huffed, defeated.

“What is it love?” He looked at her and she blew a breath out.

“I’ve spent the last year squirreling money away to section off part of the living area for Lily’s room and now that’s going to have to wait, again, because I need a new car. It’s just... fuck.” She spat. “I’m just sick of planning, working hard and saving like crazy to have it all go pear shaped. I’m just tired of it.” Her voice trembled and she got up to pace. “I’m tired of working my ass off and getting fucking nowhere.”

He could hear the threatening tears. The remnants of last night slinking their way back in. “Hey.” He soothed and stood, sweeping her into his arms gently as she walked past. “Don’t cry love.”

“Mmnot.” She mumbled as she held onto him, she wanted too though. Her thoughts were still raw from last night for more disappointment and stress.

“We’ll work it out.” He kissed her temple. “For the moment you have my car and I’m more than happy for you to use it. I only use it for longer trips so I can catch a cab if I need to go anywhere.”

“But I don’t want it messing with your schedule either. It’s your car you should be able to use it when you want to.” It came out more of a whine than a statement and she hated sounding like a petulant child, but it really wasn’t fucking fair.

“It’s not. Hey.” He hooked a finger under her chin and tipped it up so she’d look at him. “Use the car. It’s a squeeze for you guys but use it ok? For as long as you need to.”

“Ok.” She said and he could tell she wasn’t happy about it.

“It’s either that or I buy you one.” He quipped, knowing what her reaction would be.

“And I’ll be extremely angry with you if you do.” She looked at him and he saw the fire kindle in those eyes.

“That’s what I thought. Use the car Sildie. It sits there half the time collecting dust anyway.” He kissed her. “But I understand your frustration. We’ll sort it out ok? Give it some time, let things settle down, there’s no rush.” Especially when things could potentially change come Christmas, he thought. “What else is troubling you love?” He asked and kissed her gently.

“You sure you’re ok?” She asked quietly. “I didn’t want to blindside you this morning but I felt like I did.” She rested her forehead on his. “I didn’t mean to, especially after my bitch fit at you last night. Which again, I’m sorry.”

“I’m ok, we’re ok, and you didn’t blindside me, I had a feeling you were getting close to finishing it.” He looked at her. “Reading it upset you.” It was more of a statement than a question.

“Yes.” She kept her answer short not wanting to force him to talk about any of the contents from that toxic book.

“I’m sorry. I never meant for it to get under your skin.” He never meant for any of it to touch her or her life. His sensitive goddess, she felt everything so keenly.

“It’ll be fine, it’s just, she’a a nasty piece of work.”

“She is. Was that part of being upset last night?” He asked softly.

“A little, I think it just got added to everything else.”

“I’m sorry.”

She kissed him. “I’m glad I read it though. You’re enough, and you’re stronger than her.”

“I am, and I have an ace up my sleeve this time. I also have you to help me get through anything that decides to try and kick my ass again.” He smiled.

“Always love.”

“Come finish your food, you haven’t eaten enough.” He guided her to the small two seat sofa and sat next to her.

He glared at her as she stole a coconut shrimp off his plate and grinned at him.

“Damn it woman I was saving that.” He said playfully.

“You should eat them first, that way I can’t steal them.” She quipped with a grin.

“You’d find a way.” He grabbed her hand when she went in for the kill again which had her giggling. He brought her hand to his mouth and ate the shrimp that she’d managed to skewer on her chopsticks not taking his eyes off hers. “Mine.” He growled and she bit her bottom lip gently when her pussy suddenly throbbed for him. That look made her all sorts of needy. “Careful love.” That dangerous tone making her wet. He pulled her in sharply and kissed her, sucking her bottom lip free. “You don’t want to be teasing me with that lip here.” He warned.

“I need it to be Friday.” She whispered. Fuck me she thought, the way he looked at her was enough to have her almost climax.

“One more day.” He kissed her seductively until she moaned softly. “Eat your food.”

“Tease.” She grinned.

She went and made tea once she’d eaten and found she liked knowing he was comfortable coming here for lunch. It was one of those normal things that made her day brighter. She knew it wouldn’t be everyday but for those days he could swing it she would cherish them.

“I swear you’ve broken my admin.” She said, setting the tea down and closing the door again. Her admin was trying to find an excuse to walk past her office to catch a glimpse of him.

“All I said was hello.” He chuckled.

“I think she has a crush on you. She went all dreamy eyed when she saw the flowers Monday.” She wouldn’t tell him she was just as wistful. They sent her to mush every time he sent them.

“Did you get all dreamy eyed?” He smirked as she sat beside him.

“Not a chance.” She said a little too quickly and he grinned.

“I like turning you to mush.” He growled and kissed her sweetly.

“You did when I got in your car this morning.” She murmured, her fingers trailing his jaw and resting at the deep V of his shirt. “Nearly made me cry.”

“It’s important to you.” He shrugged.

“It is, thank you.” She kissed him.

“You working late tomorrow? I saw your calendar.” He said sipping his tea.

“Yeah, I need to square some things away before you kidnap me for four days.” She chuckled.

“Want me to pick up the kids?” He asked gently and watched her. He didn’t want to push, especially after last night, but it made sense.

“Only if you’re ok with it. I don’t want to dump them on you if you have things to do.” She said hesitantly. “I think it would be nice for them, for you.” She shrugged. “Time to bond.”

“My calendar is pretty clear until after Christmas.” He leaned over and kissed her. “You drop them off tomorrow morning, I’ll come by for lunch and collect the car to pick them up. Just don’t stay at work too late. I won’t be happy if I have to come and collect you on the way to our getaway.” He said gently.

“I should be done around seven. Just depends what sort of day I have.”

“I’ll have a car pick you up.” He said without thinking.

“I’ll catch a cab.” She shot back and he knew he was toeing that line and left it well alone.

“I like taking care of you Sildie, when you let me.” He said gently.

“I know, just don’t like being coddled. It suffocating.”

“I’ll try to remember that. I don’t do it intentionally love.” I do it because I love you, he said silently.

“I know.” She leaned her forehead against his. “I like it when you take care of me, but I’m having to learn to let you. I have to consciously let go of the control. I’m not used to having someone like you be there for me. I like it though.” She added and let her fingers feel his chest, trail the edge of the deep V. “It makes me feel safe, you make me feel safe.”

“Good.” He murmured and felt his heart swell, he was doing something right at least. He understood her need for control, with how her life had taken such a dramatic change in direction it wasn’t surprising. She needed to feel in control of everything to know she had done the best she could for the kids. It was an enormous amount of pressure she put on herself and hoped he could relieve some of that pressure for her.

The light knock at the door broke them apart as Sildie got up to answer it.

“My one o’clock is here.” She said collecting all the trash from their meal.

“Then I had better get going.” Not that he wanted to.

“Thank you for lunch, this was nice.” She said softly.

“We can do it again when ever you want love.”

“Tomorrow, for sure.”

“It’s a date.” He cupped her gently around the neck and drew her close, his kiss destroyed her brain and curled her toes.

“I love it when you kiss me like that.” She sighed.

“I know.” He growled.

“Turning me into mush before you leave, that’s not fair love.” She grinned.

“I’ll make it up to you tonight.” He growled. “I want to see what you’ve got hiding under this.” He said tugging her blouse gently.

“Come on I’ll walk you out.” She chuckled. “And no breaking my admin please, I need her coherent.”

“Maybe I’ll hook her up with Valter.” He smirked as he pulled on his coat.

“Oh hush.” She chuckled, playfully slapping him. “I think she’d prefer you or Alex.”

“She couldn’t handle Alex.”He kissed her, one of longing, a promise of more. “And I’m taken.” He murmured. “Very, very, taken.”

“See you for hockey?” She asked gently as they walked out.

“You will.”

“Bye love.” She said quietly and he noticed she tensed slightly as he went to kiss her in view of her entire office. Still too new for her with everyone watching he thought.

“Bye.” He said and kissed her cheek softly. “Relax, they’ll lose interest soon enough. Just keep ignoring it.”

“I’m trying.” She said softly and nodded.

She willed the flush of heat, the red that was no doubt staining her face to disappear as she walked her client back to her office. She didn’t like an audience when she kissed him and she knew it was only going to get worse as they went out together more. She worried about how that would affect the kids and knew she’d have to talk to him about it.

She didn’t want them approached by reporters or fans wanting the scoop on their relationship, or have their faces plastered across magazine covers. Yes he was famous, but they were entitled to a private life and she’d see they got it. The kids were off limits, no exceptions.

With the day done she collected the kids and headed to the rink. Gustaf was already seated when they arrived and smiled as Lily squealed a dad dad and ran to him, a little wobbly still, but running.

“Well hello little lady.” He chuckled as she hugged him tightly, snuggling her in. “Hello lovely lady.” He said snaking an arm around her and kissing her.

“Hi.”

“Everything ok?” He asked, the stress in her voice wasn’t what he’d hoped for tonight.

“It’s fine. We just need to talk about the kids and reporters.” She said getting the twin situated.

“What happened?” She watched as his entire demeanor changed, suddenly fiercely protective, of her, of the kids. She relaxed, no doubt in her mind he’d rip them to shreds if they fucked with the kids.

“Nothing, and I’d like to see we keep it that way.”

“Absolutely.” He kissed her again slowly and felt her relax.

“Just something that’s been circling my head since this afternoon.”

“Talk tonight?” He didn’t want this getting out of hand, he wanted it off her mind and her plate, and he should have thought of it sooner.

“Sure.” She kissed him quickly and sat as Brendan’s team took the ice.

With a 2-1 win they headed home, the twins goofing off with an overtired Lily in the back seat keeping her from imploding completely.

“Ama?”

“Yeah B.” She chuckled at the outrageous raspberry noises coming from the back seat.

“Can you phone us Friday night? When you get to wherever Gustaf’s taking you?” Brendan asked quietly.

She looked over at the teen as she pulled up at a stoplight. “Of course.” He was scared and she should have seen it. Oh hell she should have been ready for this. It would be the first time they’d been separated for more than a day since the crash took their parents. And you fucking idiot, she swore in her head, you should have seen this coming a mile away. “If it’s too much B I’ll cancel.” She didn’t want to, she’d been looking forward to some adult time, but if this was going to spiral him she would, the kids came first.

“No, I don’t want... you guys need some time together and I don’t want to ruin it.” He mumbled.

“Look at me B.” The teen did and her heart sank, the kid was terrified. “You guys come first and if it’s too much, Gustaf will understand, so will I.”

“No, I still want you to go, just call when you get there?” He asked again.

“You’re sure? Absolutely a million percent sure you’re ok with it?” The kid nodded. “And yes I’ll call when we get there. I’ll even send pics.” She smiled.

“Do you know where you’re going?” He asked as the light went green.

“No clue.” She chuckled as she drove. Brendan snickered and the grin said it all.

“You know don’t you? You holding out on me?” She joked.

“Yep and I’m soooo not telling.” He giggled.

“Oh come on he won’t know.” She said slyly.

“Nope. You’re gonna love it though.”

“Yeah well we’ll see.” She said pulling into Gustaf’s parking space. She frowned at the car next to her, someone had parked in her spot. “Damn it. The nerve of some people.” She grumbled as she pulled Lily out and cuddled her in. She’d deal with that once the kids were upstairs. Just because her car had died didn’t mean her parking space was no longer hers.

Gustaf had beaten them home and dinner was waiting for them, the boys whooping when they saw it was pizza. Hockey nights had turned into pizza nights. Lily cried a dad dad for him and Sildie smiled.

“Looks like she wants you tonight. Not that I blame her, I kinda want you too.” She murmured and kissed him as he took Lily. “Hey you good with these guys for a hot minute I need to go down and report the asshole who parked in my space.” She sighed, not really wanting to deal with something else tonight.

He grinned and kissed her. “That asshole is me love.” He chuckled.

“Oh, sorry.” She huffed. “Wait...”

“I figured one car was going to get old real fast and we couldn’t go away this weekend and not have a car here for Alice to use.” That was his reasoning and he was sticking to it.

“Oh, yeah, I didn’t think of that.” She scrubbed a hand over her face. There was way too much shit going on for her to think straight.

“Anyway, that car is roomier so I’ll put Lily’s seat in there after dinner. You can take that one tomorrow.” He wasn’t going to make a big deal over it because as soon as she realized he’d bought the damn thing she’d flip her shit.

“The one it’s in is fine.” She looked at him suspiciously, did he buy another car, she wondered?

“I know, this will be better, there’s more room, and I like driving my car for longer trips.” She’d told him he wasn’t allowed to repair or buy her a car, she didn’t say anything about him buying another car for himself. She’d rage at him when she figured it out. But he had a plan, gifts and food were off limits and Christmas was three weeks away.

They sat and ate, the kids dragging homework to the table so they could multitask. As they finished up Gustaf headed to the garage to take care of the car seat and Sildie got Lily in a bath. She was a grumpy little lady and screaming by the time Gustaf got back.

“Oh Lily bear, it’s not that bad honey.” He cooed with a chuckle as he stepped into the bathroom.

“Anyone would think I was murdering her with the amount of noise she’s making.” Sildie chuckled as she pulled the plug and bundled the child into a towel. Gustaf took Lily when she launched herself at him and dressed her for bed.

“You said earlier you were worried about reporters, media.” He prompted gently, he wanted to get to the bottom of that potential shit storm immediately.

“It was something that came to mind after you left. Everyone watching us. I don’t like it but it’s part of your world that I’m going to have to deal with, I just don’t want the kids involved. They deserve to be left alone regardless of who you are.” She said honestly as she kicked off her heels and shucked the suit jacket.

“I agree and I can assure you, I’ll do everything to see them shielded from it.” He said softly as he snuggled Lily in. “You as well.”

“Is there anything we can do to sort of say the kids are off limits? I mean I can go all lawyer on them but I don’t really want to do that. Yet.” She said toying with his shirt.

“I’ll talk to Daisy and Jack. I have a few strings to pull on that end.” His knuckles brushed her cheek and he kissed her tenderly. “I’m sorry I didn’t do anything sooner. I didn’t think of it until you said something and I should have.”

“It’s ok. It’s just bad enough with my work colleagues, I don’t want the kids going through that.”

“Completely understandable.” He kissed her again letting seduction take the wheel until she moaned. “Your work colleagues will calm down once the novelty’s worn off.”

“Or I send them a cease and desist memo.” She muttered. “Oh and one thing for Friday.”

“Mmmmm?”

“I need to be able to call the kids when we arrive.” She fiddled with the buttons on his shirt and couldn’t look at him. She felt so silly for even asking, of course she could call them, it wasn’t like he’d take her phone away.

“Look at me.” He whispered. “You ok?” He asked when her eyes met his.

“Never mind it’s fine.” She shook her head and his hand caught her arm before she could fully get out of reach.

“No, not never mind.” He said gently and kissed her reassuringly. “What’s going on?”

“Brendan asked if I could call them when we land, park, dock, to wherever it is you’re kidnapping me to.” She huffed.

“Of course.” He pulled her in so he could wrap and arm around her and secure her to him. “My two best girls.” He kissed her temple and let the closeness relax her, hoping she’d spill what was really on her mind.

“Talk to me love.” He said softly when she clammed up.

“This is the first time I’ve been away from them for more than a night, further away than next door.” She mumbled. “Brendan talked to me in the car on the way home. I should have seen it earlier, dealt with it earlier but to be honest it didn’t even cross my mind until he asked. I’m so fucking hopeless at this shit.”

“He’s scared.” Gustaf stated more than asked.

“I think terrified would come closer.” She murmured.

“I’ll chat with him.”

“No, leave it, please. I said I’d call him and I don’t want this turning into a big deal.” She said, eyes pleading.

“You sure?”

“Yes, and I can text Alice some pictures. I want to make this a good thing, not something they dread or get anxious about.” She sighed out and rested her forehead against his. “Even though I’m anxious enough for everyone. Things have to level out to some sort of normal soon, right?”

“It will love, give it time, and you’re far from hopeless at this.”

“I’m nervous.” She said honestly.

“I know.” He whispered and kissed her brow. “Together love. One step at a time.”

“She’s almost asleep.” Her fingers caressed Lily’s hair as the child’s eyes started to droop.

“Then dance with me until she is.” He held onto her and swayed as she relaxed into him, head on his shoulder, kisses to Lily’s forehead, and soon the tiny child was drifting under.

Gustaf put Lily to bed and lingered as she settled, his large finger gripped tightly in her little fist. He could hear Sildie reading to the boys and headed to the kitchen to make tea. She would want to read now, get it out the way before coming to bed and he’d try and coax her into an early night considering the lack of sleep and overwhelming stress she endured yesterday. He was sitting on the couch with his tea when she came in and closed the hall door. She didn’t sit to read, instead she came over to straddle him and rested her head against his chest. He felt the stress leave her, melt clean off her bones as she slumped.

“You ok?” He asked with a chuckle.

“Yamnow.” She mumbled.

“Not reading?”

“I should but I’m beat to hell.” She said wrapping her arms around him. “Fuck I missed you.” She sighed and grinned as his laugh rumbled through his chest. “And I was an ungrateful bitch to you last night.”

“I missed you too love.” He kissed the top of her head and lingered breathing her in. “And that was last night, let it be done.” He kissed her temple and felt her relax further into him. She’d said the same thing to him after he’d had his meltdown, he’d show her the same courtesy.

“You know I’m grateful you came into our lives right? I don’t say that enough to you.” She brought her head up to look at him. “There not a day that goes by that I don’t wonder how we got so lucky.”

“I’m the one who got lucky.” He murmured, that deep rich timbre she loved. “You and four great kids. Whoever let you go is an idiot. Absolutely certifiable.” His kiss was that slow burn, seductive and potent. “I won’t be making that mistake.” He growled before kissing her so her pussy throbbed.

“You should go read.” He said as she deepened his kiss and lingered, her fingers toying with his buttons.

“Yeah, you’re right, I should.” She purred, as her hands undid the top few buttons of his shirt.

His hands stroked up her thighs and under her skirt, that single digit grazing her heat through the black lace. Her moan into his mouth made his cock twitch. “Fuck Sildie I want you.” He growled and swiped his finger over her clit and through that wetness he was growing hard for. Her moan against his lips had his fingers yanking her g string to the side and circling her entrance.

As he deliberately toyed with her, arousing her until her brain was ready to explode, her fingers hastily freed his erection. He savaged her mouth as she stroked him, those nimble fingers delightfully destroying his manhood. Palming a breast he pulled the fabric of her blouse aside so he could nip that one spot on her neck.

“I want you to fuck me.” She purred as two fingers circled her entrance teasing her. “I want to feel every inch of you.” She breathed.

“Anything for you love.” He kissed her hard as she shifted to rest his cock where his fingers had been. He gripped her hips and pulled her onto him as he snapped his hips forward. The mutual groan of ecstasy echoed softly around the room.

They found a brutal rhythm, the hard plunge deep into her, his cock hitting her in all those secret places. He ravaged her mouth as she held onto him while he filled her, his girth stretching her wide. She rode him hard, the bounce driving him deeper until he bottomed out.

“Fuck, you’re so tight.” He growled, biting down on her throat.

“No love.” She sighed. “You’re just so fucking big.” She purred, nipping his ear to emphasize her words. “So big.” She moaned as his hips snapped faster pulling her onto him, forcing himself into her with long deft strokes.

“Gustaf.” She peaked quickly and cried into his mouth as his cock pounded into her, her hands clutching at him as she tensed.

It was a fast, rough mating, an urgent need to fuck and claim each other, to scratch that itch. He plunged a hand between their bodies and assaulted her clit, the added sensation sending her over the edge. Her climax shattered her as he continued to fuck her hard, his own release thundering through him as he filled her with his seed.

“You drive me fucking wild.” He murmured, nuzzling her throat. “Stroking my ego like that.” He grinned as he nipped her ear, her throaty laugh making his cock twitch.

“Just stating the truth love.” She purred, that sly smirk tugging at her lips as she rested against him.

“Reading or bed?” He asked as they caught their breath, wanting nothing more than to strip her naked and take her again. Knowing she had reading, was tired, and had a crazy day tomorrow, he would have to settle for curling up in bed so she’d get an earlier night.

“I’m still gonna have to read for an hour.” She said, determined to be somewhat productive tonight.

“Want me to sit with you?”

“Up to you, but I like it when you do.” She placed her hands on his chest and stretched up to kiss him. “As much as I want you to fuck me all over again, I have to be the responsible adult and do my homework.” She said wistfully.

“Do your homework, playtime later.” He said playfully and she giggled.

“Now that’s incentive.”

“Whatever works.” He grinned.

They disentangled themselves and dressed enough to be descent if the kids came out. Seated at the table she got to work, the cup of tea magically appearing by her legal pad.

He kissed the back of her neck an hour later, not a second more and she shivered. He watched as her pen hand went lax, unable to put thought into action, as his lips kissed a trail on the exposed strip of skin between her hairline and blouse. That soft sigh as skilled hands massaged the rocks in her shoulders.

“Time for bed my lovely lady.” He murmured as his kiss found the spot below her ear.

“Ok.” She mumbled dreamily as he continued to relax her.

“Pack your work up.” He prompted.

“I can’t while you’re doing that, my brain won’t work.” Her mumble was barely there, he’d relaxed her into a puddle of goo.

His hands stopped and she moaned her displeasure when he pulled away. “Pack up and then I’ll take care of you.” He murmured and took the teapot and cups to the kitchen.

He watched her and smirked. She was still sitting there blinking as if trying to coerce her body to cooperate. He’d rendered her incoherent. Those lips she thought, those hands, he’d turned her to mush. She tidied up, packed her bag for tomorrow, and dragged her ass out of the chair. With everything set for the morning she headed to bed, Gustaf followed a little later.

“Those lips are deadly Mr.” She huffed as his arms wrapped around her, the kiss landing on her temple as he snuggled her in. “And so are these.” She mumbled tapping his hands as they flexed out across her torso, cupping a breast gently. His quiet chuckle made her smile.

“Sleep love you have a brutal day tomorrow. We’ll save playtime for Friday.” He murmured. He calmed her, the warmth, the strength, those protective arms keeping her close, home.

“But I have you to come home to.” She mumbled, already falling into sleep.

“Yes you do.” He kissed her head and breathed her in.

She shifted until her mouth found his, the kiss loving and soft. “Thank you.” She slurred.

“Sleep love.”

“You’re my home Gustaf.” She mumbled as sleep claimed her and he felt his heart lurch and his eyes prickle at her words.

“You’re my home too love.”

It had been a rough few days for her and with her birthday next week he knew her stress and grief would only worsen. Their four days away would hopefully settle her, or at least take the edge off. He knew she’d work herself hard tomorrow and was looking forward to taking care of the kids. It gave them all time to bond and he found he craved to spend time with them. He held her close, his Sildie, his home, as sleep pulled him under.

**************

@hausofobsession @ill-skillsgard @grandpa-sweaters @authentic90skidd @tuckersgirl @fairlyfallacy @flowers-in-your-hayr @raewritesfiction @stinkerbelle007 @kamie-b @mrsaugustwalker @skrsgardspam @loliwrites @trippedmetaldetector

[seven-oomen]

Hi, Ben!  Sending this this way because it’ll probably (definitely) be too long for an ask.  That whole Venom/TW has me cackling and wishing I’d seen Venom and could visualize it better. 

Also totally picturing Peter’s wolf manifesting a la Venom (I see this in a lot of fanart, don’t know how often it happens in the film), and it’s this little black wolf-like creature somewhere between his alpha form and a regular wolf, with glowing blue eyes and a slightly too long panting tongue.

Also, an internal (hopefully) argument:  (Peter and Noah talking while waiting to see the mayor.)

Wolf:  PEEEETTEEEERRRR… WE WANT THIS ONE PETERRR…

Peter:  No, love.

Wolf:  BUT HE JUST SMELLS SO GOOD, PETER…

Peter:  No, this is neither the time nor the place.

Wolf:  JUST ONE LITTLE TASTE, PETER…

Peter:  For the last time, not right now!

Wolf:  PLEAS-

Peter:  NO!!

(How much of this Noah can follow or is confused by is up to you.)

Also, I don’t know the specifics of what drives the lobster scene, but I’m just picturing stuff like Peter randomly grabbing squirrels out of trees to munch on, or wandering into the Sheriff’s station and forcibly climbing into Noah’s lap (he usually remembers to shut the office door at least, and if any of the deputies notice they’re just like “fucking Beacon Hills, man”, so once Noah figures out how to do his paperwork around the wolf in his arms he just rolls with it), or being the one to bring in Erica and Isaac because his wolf was trying to be helpful and “THIS ONE SMELLS SICK, TOO!” (Isaac tries to insist he’s fine, but the wolf just keeps yelling “SADNESS IS ALSO A SICKNESS!”).  Having occasional arguments with the wolf that just because Chris and Allison smell vaguely like Kate, it doesn’t mean he can kill them.

Also, if Laura wants to play at being alpha now, I hope she plans on apologizing for abandoning her uncle and leaving him to die instead of taking him along so that they could heal him together and not let him stay trapped in a haze of grief and rage and agony for years.  And somebody needs to do that claw ritual thing if only to ask Talia “hey, quick question. What the actual, ever-loving fuck?” re: all the memory stealing.

Anyway, even knowing as little about one of the sources as I do, I second that the idea is hilarious, and has definitely helped distract me from the fact that my phone decided not to charge overnight and was dead as a brick this morning, and the resulting anger issues.

Hope you’re feeling better today!  Take care!  *Hugs!*

I’m feeling a lot better today pain wise today, it def feels like my body kinda caught up like; wait a second.. we’re not supposed to be doing this anymore. I mean it’s still there just not painful.

As for the Venom thing. GIMME!! I hadn’t considered it physically manifesting like that but that would honestly be really funny. I personally thought of it more as a spectral image of his wolf form that appears and that only he can see. 

(Because Venom manifesting can be seen by everyone around Eddie, and I honestly think it’s a lot funnier to have a spectral wolf bugger Peter because that would make him seem more deranged.)

Noah (and the rest of the room, lol) only heard the last NO! and everyone is kinda staring at him at that point so he has to find a quick way to make that seem sense.

Peter: “Don’t try the deviled eggs they’re honestly not that good.” 

*Cue an entire room of people eyeing the eggs suspiciously.*

Noah has to hold his laughter because holy shit that was both the worst and best thing he’s ever seen. It’s a good thing he likes this asshole.

The lobster scene in Venom is mostly about Eddie trying to show Anne (his ex) what’s going on. So in this case it would be Peter trying to show Noah or Chris who set the fire and that he has proof and people should listen to him but he’s rattling to something nobody else can see and people think he’s lost his mind. And honestly just so HUNGRY. So he randomly grabs a squirrel out of tree and starts eating it raw/alive. 

People are DISTURBED. Especially Stiles/Liam/Allison. And Peter’s just eating and rattling and has pure chaotic energy and someone has to get him to calm down. So either Chris or Deaton or maybe Noah has to come in and get Peter to let go of the squirrel and come back inside for a nap.

For reference this is the scene in venom:

And yes, that is Dan carrying Eddie out in a deleted scene. So imagine Chris, Deaton, or Noah having to do that for Peter.

And oh god I can just imagine all the fucking deputies being like; “Oh hey Hale, yeah door’s open, it’s fucking Beacon Hills, go right in.”

Bahahahaha omg that’s the best.

Noah’s so tired but he’s so used to the snugglewolf, he allows it.

And Laura has sooooo much to atone for but she knows that and I feel like she’d try her best to do so. She knows she fucked up, she knows what she did was horrible. And she tries to atone, she apologizes and tries to be there for Peter now. (I also feel like Laura was like, 17? When the fire occurred. So in a way she was a kid too. It doesn’t excuse her but I also understand her.)

And oooh boy.... Talia will be questioned so much by Peter and her kids. The amount of anger and resentment they share over their mother/sister. They will chew her out in the memories. And when they figure out Jackson and Malia are Hales too, oooooffff. Haven’t decided who their father is in this universe though. A part of me wants to say Chris, because that’s who I usually default to, but it might also be fun to consider Noah?

For extra pain: Talia stole one last memory of Peter and Noah and the birth of their youngest son Theo. For consideration. Don’t know if i’d put that in but if you want to amp up all the drama, there’s a way to do that.

Anyway this ask has me coming up with all sort of wonderful ideas while I wait for the delivery of my Christmas present. (Spiderman Miles Morales). And I thought I’d share before I tackle your other submission. Feel free to add anything or send more asks if you want. <3

Hope your day will go well B!

[mycoronervinny]

re: Quai, Part 3

Vincent sat in his office alone. The blinds behind his desk were drawn, but thin lines of afternoon sunlight still seeped in that highlighted bits of letters that were open and scattered about his desk. It was past noon, or so he thought, and he had done little except for make a pot of coffee (which he then didn’t drink) and let his face stubble get a little longer.

He checked his pocket watch. 1:20 in the afternoon. There were no meetings scheduled, and no colleagues stopping by. His day was completely open, yet he felt like doing nothing.

“Am I depressed or something?” he muttered. He pushed himself off his chair and went to the side door that led to the alley. The view wasn’t anything to rave about, in fact it no longer *had* a view (except for a stone wall, thanks to the business that went up behind his office a couple of years ago, cutting off his back access to the park), but to Vincent, even when the alley was fraction of what it used to be, it was a sanctuary. 

He stepped out into the alley, closing the door behind him. There were a couple of stools out here, including a small garden (though it was nothing but cold hardened dirt this time of year) against the wall. He lit a cigarette, took a quick drag, then leaned back on the brick wall and let out a long, smokey sigh. “Alright.” he said. The next words were about to be “One quick smoke, then it’s time to get work done.” but before he could say that he noticed (and would later internally smack himself for not noticing earlier) that he wasn’t alone.

There was a person, about eight meters to his left, standing over his (now dormant) garden and open trash containers, and appeared to be rummaging around. 

Vincent cleared his throat. “Excuse me.” he said, but the person either didn’t hear or ignored the greeting. Vincent was now used to seeing vagrants in Stormwind, it was a large city after all, and the marathon of Wars left a lot of veterans and civilians displaced from their home or outside of the care of the Crown for some reason or another. He assumed this was another person scavenging, or maybe they were looking for a spare key for his house.

Something was off about this one though, and Vincent realized that there was no physical way for this person to have been able to enter the alley. The wall in the back that went up with the Florist or Jeweler or, whatever it was, went up so high that no normal person should have been able to scale it. And the other entrance was a tall, magically secured gate. Vincent wondered if they perhaps dropped down from one of the rooftops of the buildings that shared his offices. Maybe a third floor window that they climbed out of after fleeing someplace?

“There’s nothing in there but a few dead Peaceblooms,.” Vincent said. “Maybe a walnut that the squirrels left. This is private property, by the way.”

The trespasser didn’t react at first, but they did slow down gradually, eventually coming to a stop. They turned around, showing a disheveled face that was half covered in greasy black hair - a man. He stood straight up as he turned, and Vincent noticed he was quite large, even compared to him. A Kul Tiran, possibly. His eyes were sunken, but not unfocused. This was not some addle-brained wandering homeless, and now Vincent perceived that despite the deep sunken circles around his eyes (which appeared at first glance to be the eyes of your average slum drunk), there was some sinister lucidity behind them.

“The whispers.” the man said. “The whispers brought me...here.” he pointed down at the ground where there was nothing but a cracked stone in the walkway. 

“I don’t recall putting out that type of advertisement.” Vincent said, flicking his cigarette down to the ground. “But why don’t you come by another time, you can even use the front door.” he said, pointing over his shoulder. Behind him, the magic-secured gate unlocked by itself, allowing access to the outer Trade District.

“He showed me, now my eyes are open. Soon, all eyes will be open.” the stranger said as he took another step. Vincent took a step back as well, but kept facing the man. 

“It’s time you saw, too.”

“No thanks.” Vincent said, then hurled a fireball right towards the man’s chest. It soared through the alley, lighting up the stone walls as it traveled. It hit him dead on, and he flew back into the garden bed, smashing it and spilling black dirt all over the ground. Vincent sighed, then started walking towards the body. A small trail of smoke, like that of a burned out bonfire, was twirling off of his singed shirt. He stood over him, then noticed something around his neck. He crouched down, then removed a necklace from him. It was a trinket common amongst Tide Sages. Was this person at one point a colleague of Merrick, his old Tide Sage contact?

Vincent felt a cold hand grip his wrist. He looked down and saw that the man’s eyes had opened. An intense energy enveloped the two of them that filled Vincent with deep terror, and for a moment he thought he was teleported somewhere else entirely, to a place that looked like his home but...not quite. Before he could contemplate this further, Vincent saw that the man’s eyes were lit with that same intense blue glow from before.

“Now you know the truth.” he said, his breath staggered. “You’ve carried this burden long enough-” he looked down, and his expression turned from deranged and serious to one that was more...deranged and confused. He felt his grip on Vincent loosen, but when he tried to grip tighter he felt no response.

“And you’ve kept me from work too long.” Vincent said.

The trespasser’s hand had turned into a hoof, a sheep’s hoof to be exact. And as the man’s eyes followed his arm down toward his elbow, he noticed more and more of his body becoming sheep-like as Vincent’s Polymorph spell enveloped him. 

“N’Zoth rises! N’Zoth...behhhhh.” bleated the sheep.

“Another victim of the Old God.” Vincent muttered. “Maybe that’s why I’ve been feeling so…”

“Off lately?” a whisper from inside his head rang. Vincent wondered if that was his conscious or not. He shook his head, then tied up the sheep.

“You can snack on the crushed Peaceblooms if you get hungry.” he told the sheep. It looked at him, eyes pointing in two directions, then lowered its head and started munching on a partly ruined green stem. Vincent turned around and walked back inside. He would call a guard in a few minutes, but first he would do something he’d been putting off.

He sat down at his desk and pulled out a sheet of blank parchment and a pen.

“Quai,

I received the payment from the job and have deposited it, thank you. I will pass along your regards to Lee as well. As for the next assignment,”

He paused for a moment, twirling the pen with his fingers a couple of times.

“, if there is a next assignment, I hope you would consider bringing me along. I hope you don’t believe I was scared off after last time.”

He considered ending it there, and if he was being honest with himself he wasn’t entirely sure what else he would say anyway. “Sorry I gave you a hard time about the dangerous mission?” The fact was that every mission he’d been on with Blackbay since he joined up had been risky. Something had bothered him about the last mission though, and he wasn’t certain if this letter was the right time to explore that. Perhaps in time the answer would come to him, or if Quai was ever in town again he could talk to her personally. In the meantime though he needed to finish at least one task today, so he ended the letter with:

“Let’s talk soon. Hope you are doing well.

-Vincent”

Outside there was another muffled “Behhhh”.

@quai-mason

[hippopotatomus]

It’s party time! Square dancing is introduced for the intrepid, the inexperienced, and the deranged, and nobody gets hurt. Sylvia’s kids discover the kitchen and the joys of Jello. Finally, they load into Newt and take the refurbished amphibious vehicle for a test run.

Now that there is kind of a plot, you might need to backtrack a bit. Here’s a link if you decide to start reading at the beginning. There’s a helpful chart below to give you a chance to sort out the rodents. Recommended snack: Jello, especially those fancy molded kinds with random foodstuffs trapped inside. Soundtrack: Old Time Square Dance Music. Switch to Truckin‘ (Grateful Dead) once they start driving around.

~~~~~~~~~~

Everybody piles into the amphibious vehicle, otherwise known as “Newt,” and take him for an offroad test drive around the principality and into the River Dobby.

He ran into Bond first and dispatched the little budgie to fetch the hens and have them herd Sylvia’s kids over to the makeshift ballroom in time for the first dance. Then he wandered toward the glow in the workshop windows where the sulky millwright and his crew of naked mole rats worked away on the zeppelin.

“We have plenty of time to finish this. You guys ate, right? And then came back down to work again? Take the night off, listen to some music, have some dessert. I won’t even bug you about dancing. Newt’s ready to drive, and that’s good enough for tomorrow. Come on and take a break.”

Rodney scowled at Dobby but nodded toward his workers and they put down their tools and scampered toward the rowdy ballroom. Dobby stood on tiptoes and tried to peer into the windows of the amphibious vehicle and frowned. He opened the door and looked up at the driver’s seat. Rodney cleared his throat, stepped forward and pulled out a little step from the undercarriage. Dobby smiled and stepped up into Newt, and sat in the driver’s seat. Rodney shut the door and Dobby looked behind him into the Salon. The carpets, couches, curtains, and chandeliers were exactly like his sketches. He turned back to Rodney, who now seemed to be standing way down below him, and clutched the steering wheel to stave off a little dizzy spell.

“I saw that,” said Rodney. “If you’re woozy about this height, well, what are you going to do when the airship lifts off the ground?”

“I’m fine. It just surprised me for a minute. Annabelle is going to be driving, or piloting, or whatever. I plan to ride in the back. I’m going to lay on a couch and let Conchita feed me grapes.”

“What do you think Sylvia will say about that?”

“Oh, Conchita can feed her grapes, too!”

Rodney rolled his eyes. “Okay, come on down from there. Let’s go to the dance. Are the desserts served yet?”

“Of course not, but there’s still some fruit and a couple willow branches left.”

They trudged back up the hill to the ballroom. Three small squirrels screamed past them, a trio of hens huffing and puffing not far behind. The goose was approaching the microphone as they entered the fray.

“That tune was Who Hit Nelly with a Stovepipe. Now, who’s ready to dance? We’re going to need four couples to a square. Looks like we can easily come up with four squares tonight. Can you please give it a bit of thought and choose couples who aren’t ten times as big as you are? That’s okay for some of the circle dances, but it’s kinda dangerous for this one, okay? I’m talking to you, down there. Yes, you. Can you please switch out with that couple in the square next to you? Yeah, that’s going to be better. Okay, how are we doing, now? Need one more couple in this square up front. Prince D! What are you doing? Where’s your partner, get up here!”

Dobby looked around for Sylvia and spotted her in a square near the back, partnered up with Kipling. She shrugged and smiled at him from across the room. Dobby looked around for a partner, grabbed the surprised millwright and pulled him forward into the front square.

“All right,” said the goose. “Rodney’s gonna dance tonight! I’m Silly Goose, and I’m gonna be calling the dances tonight, so pay attention! Couple one is closest to me, couple two is on their right, and on around to four. Make a note of it. Each couple has a raven and a lark: raven on the right, lark on the left.”

There was a lot of talking in the squares, each group determining the couple numbers. Then the raven lark controversy, with a lot of switching around due to some bird preferences, and even some couples changing when someone refused to be a raven. These shenanigans persisted until the caller tapped the mic.

“Quiet up, y’all! We’re going to start with an allemande left with your corner. Ignore your partner for the moment, reach out with your left paw toward the nearest fool, shake paws and turn right around, return to face your partner. Okay, so far so good. Now we’re going to learn a right and left grand, and I sure darned hope at least a few of you know it already.”

She reached down for a sip of water before she continued. The crowd was attentive but unruly, polite but pushy, and they finally made it through the last instruction before they forgot the first one.

“Okay, the band’s gonna play Dogs in the Dishes for us. Everybody ready?

With your corner left allemande, Back to your partner for a right left grand, Hand over hand around that ring, Meet your own for a big fat swing, Swing your partner round and round, Any old way but upside down, Couple one, rip and snort, Down the center and cut em off short, Raven go gee and the lark go haw, Now all back home where you belong!”

Silly Goose called half a dozen dances and after each dance, everybody chose new partners. After the first dance ended, Dobby made a beeline for Sylvia, nearly knocking over the millwright. He was happy to be abandoned until Bianca cornered him and he ended up being ensnared for every dance because the ladies were so excited to see him joining the fun. Sylvia seemed to be enjoying herself, and Dobby only stepped on her toes twice, a new personal best for a night of dancing. Dessert was served, the band kept playing until the final tune, The Snouts and Ears of America.

“Did they get dessert?”

Sylvia snorted and shifted Tix back up onto her shoulder. Dobby had Cu and Sali in a backpack his decorator had made up from leftover curtain fabric.

“I guess you didn’t hear. I don’t know if I want to tell you but the rabbits are going to tell you anyway. The hens were supposed to bring them up to the ballroom, but they were so tuckered out that these little monsters got ahead of them, took a wrong turn and ended up in the kitchen. Fortunately, they had never seen petits fours before and didn’t know they were food. They went straight for the Jello molds. They’d never seen those, either, and decided they were perfect for jumping. Mind you, it’s all rumors, I wasn’t there, and you shouldn’t be mad at your hens, either. Mission impossible, right?”

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Dobby laughed. “I heard. I’m glad we were able to give you a break. Jello is easy to fix, magic, you know. It would have been trickier to create new cakes, but Jello? That was easy. The rabbits weren’t angry, just a bit excited.”

“But my kids shouldn’t be getting away with being naughty like that. It doesn’t help when we get home, you know.”

“I guess you didn’t hear all of it. The hens got there right away, wouldn’t let your kids have any dessert until everybody else had eaten. I hear it nearly killed them. They thought there would be nothing left.”

Sylvia laughed. “Well let’s cram them into bed and call it a day!”

~~~~~~~~~~

After a disaster free brunch, Dobby led Sylvia and her three musketeers (complete with hats) down to the workshop. Rodney was attaching nautical bumpers to Newt’s sides as the Peahen in charge of decorating selected the colors.

“Are you kids ready for a ride? Hop on and check it out. I need to load on the snacks and then we can go.”

“Snacks?” said Sylvia. “We just finished brunch!”

“You never know how long you’ll be away. Best to be prepared.”

Sylvia narrowed her eyes, but perked up when she climbed up into the shiny amphibious vehicle. The little squirrels bounded past her, each one claiming a sumptuous sofa. A rabbit followed with trays, boxes, and bags of snacks to be stowed in the small kitchenette. Dobby walked around to the passenger entrance where Rodney stood ready to load him in.

“I want Sylvia to drive Newt, but I’m coming along to take notes or make adjustments,” said Rodney, as he placed his shoulder in position to nudge our Prince up into the vehicle. “I’ll add a small step on this side, too.”

“Oof,” and Dobby was in. He worked his way back, noting that each tiny squirrel had commandeered a plush couch, leaving him only a selection of smaller club chairs. Sylvia was already in the driver’s seat, and she looked back to check on her smaller charges.

“What are you guys doing? You’ve taken all the best seats so The Prince is stuck with the little chairs! One of you had better give up your seat, pronto!”

“It’s fine,” said Dobby. “I’m already buckled in back here. We’re just driving around, it’s not a test flight, or anything.”

The rabbit grabbed some empty boxes and hopped out the passenger side. Rodney stepped up into the vehicle’s salon, checked everyone’s seatbelts, strapped himself into the co-pilot’s seat, and they were off.

“It’s a standard gearshift, maybe a bit touchy at the clutch—“ said Rodney.

Sylvia shot him a withering glance, and drove Newt smoothly up the slope to the main driveway.

“How about you navigate. Can you talk me through a test course with a variety of terrain? Some slopes, some bumps, some deep water?”

“Yes, ma’am,” said Rodney. “Turn left here, and we’ll go off-road in a jiffy. We can take the scenic route past the final resting place of the walking palace, and go down into the river. Come up at the fields, cut across on a farm road, and head back. There’s a small road just beyond a gazebo on the right. Here it is, turn right here.”

Sylvia expertly turned off the paved road onto a glorified deer trail through the brush. Branches scratched the sides of the vehicle and randomly poked the open windows. Sylvia looked at  Rodney, who was busy peering ahead, oblivious to the forest trying to claw its way into the plush salon.

“The exterior has a fused silicon coating,” he said. “Nothing can scratch, puncture, or gouge this thing. I promise.”

Sylvia alternately bumped and galloped the responsive Newt over the uneven path, slowing to cross over small logs and large boulders. She turned to grin at Rodney.

“This is fun! I’m going to be sad when it’s off the ground, dangling from the airship. I’m glad Annabelle is taking over when the motocross driving becomes boring piloting. Do you know when that test flight is? Any idea?”

“Friday afternoon. We’re going to wait until you get here. You are coming Friday, aren’t you?”

“That’s the plan. The party is Saturday, right? Are you going to that? I don’t quite understand the concept, but I think we are all going by zeppelin.” She glanced back at the prince, who was snoozing in an awkward position in his club chair. “But we haven’t been invited to the actual party. Does he expect us to hang out in the parking lot until the party is over?”

“Nobody wants to go to the party, not even the Prince. He wants to make a dramatic entrance, eat some cake, and leave. He wants us all there, waiting as emergency back-up, and an excuse to leave early. It should be fun, and he’s planned a big bash next Sunday for all of us. The rabbits have already submitted menus three times, and he keeps adding courses. There will be a band and dancing, of course, but he’s also asked for crafts tables and games. Oops! We passed the turn for the river. Can you back up? We need to go back to that clump of macadamia trees. Did you see the path on the right? That goes down to the river past the rusting heap that was the walking palace. Someday I’ll haul it out of there and strip it for parts.”

Newt trundled down the path and as the broken no-longer-walking palace came into view, there was a flurry of furry activity in the back. When Sylvia turned around, all three little squirrels were standing on one couch, leaning out the open window and chattering about the rusted magnificence of the ruined palace.

“All three of you! Sit back down, seat belts on! I don’t want to see you out of your seats again! You understand?”

The wailing started, waking the snoozing prince.

“The windows are too high! We can’t see out,” said Sali. She turned to the Prince. “Can you make us some really really really tall couches?”

The Prince considered this request. “No,” he said. “Sit down, buckle up. Right now. Then I will consider some hanging chairs, maybe those woven bamboo ones. They will have to be on tracks so you can move from one side to the other without unbuckling. I’ll have to think it through, and then, of course I will have to run it past my decorator. Will you need headphone jacks so you can listen to music? Bookshelves? Coat hooks, hat racks, built-in storage, cup holders?”

Cu gave him a sidelong glance. “That’s ridiculous.”

Dobby gave him a wide-eyed look. “What? You don’t want the cup holders?”

“Yes, we do!” said Tix. “But I think magazine racks and a tray table would be better than bookshelves. I don’t think we’ll have time to read a whole book, but I am going to bring my comic books if we have a magazine rack. They’re not going to fly out the window are they?”

Dobby considered this seriously. “I think it will work if it is an enclosed box with a lid. What do you think? You have some good ideas. Is there anything else Newt needs? That’s the purpose of a test drive: to work out the bugs, fine tune the accoutrements, spiff it up a bit. Think about it and let me know.”

Cu stared at him. “We need snacks.”

Dobby stared back. “Not until we are on the river. It’s too bumpy here.”

“Is everything okay back there?” Sylvia took her eyes off the road long enough to catch the stare down.

“Everything is just dandy back here. When we get into the river, it’s kind of boring. Why don’t you hand over the controls to Rodney at that point, join us back here for snacks?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Soon they were driving into the river . . .

Soon, they were driving down the soft bank of the river. The wheels spun a bit, trying to get purchase, a rooster tail of sand following their dubious progress. Rodney took a pencil from behind his ear and made a note on his clipboard.

“I’ll weld on a winch onto the back.”

“Not a sky hook?”

Rodney looked at her to see if she was serious. She was smiling, but right at that moment, her eyes opened wide and her mouth formed an O. Newt slid sideways and there was a gurgling sound as they plunged into the river. Rodney made another note on his clipboard.

“All-weather tires”

Newt bobbed about for a few seconds and then leveled out, spinning slowly to face downstream. They drifted slowly with the current.

To be continued . . .

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The stunning Cast of Characters:

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This story needs a lot more illustrations! Select an event from this story (how about jello?), draw a picture of it, and send me an email. I’ll reply so that you can attach a digital copy of your masterpiece to it. I’ll add it to the story!

Or, if you’d rather help with the glossary, send me the list of words you had to look up (or should have looked up, but didn’t!). Someday, I will start putting together the glossary. Do know what an amphibian is?

[contact-form] We've got more square dancing, more dessert, and (finally) a test drive in Newt, the passenger car part of the zeppelin. It's party time! Square dancing is introduced for the intrepid, the inexperienced, and the deranged, and nobody gets hurt.