#i wanted to write henry meeting everyone

[aperrywilliams]

I'm Sorry I Couldn't be Here for You Sooner (Spencer Reid x Fem!BAU!Reader)

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Author Masterlist

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Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!BAU!Reader.

Summary: You have one of the worst days in a long time at work. When Spencer returns from an assignment to the BAU and sees your current state, he must do something.

Word Count: 2.8k

Warnings: Frustration/Hurt/Comfort. Just a self-indulgent rant. A lot of cuss words. Spencer is the best boyfriend in the world.

A/N: I just need Spencer to hold me now.

-----

The clock ticks and ticks, but the time seems to stand still. Even if you don't know how long you have been looking at that piece of wood, plastic, and metal, it feels like an eternity.

In the distance, a voice keeps throwing out words and sentences to which you should pay attention. However, even if you tried, looking at the clock on the wall is still more interesting than hearing Hotch talking about new protocols for field agents.

Still lost in your head, you don't notice the meeting is over and people are starting to leave the room. Only when someone squeezes your forearm. It's JJ.

"Are you okay?" she asks, eyebrows furrowed. You look at her and blink a few times.

"Uh- yeah," you mumble. 

Are you okay? No, you're not. But why bother others with that?

On second thought, this may be a chance to spill what's on your mind. JJ is usually a forthcoming and wise person. 

"Well, actually-" you begin, but before saying anything else, JJ cuts you off.

"That's nice. Because I want to ask you if you can babysit Henry tomorrow night. Will invited me to a romantic dinner, and our babysitter is sick. Hope it doesn't make much trouble to you?" the blonde probes.

Okay, you didn't expect that.

Not in the mood to turn the subject back to you, you say yes, and after thanking you, JJ quickly leaves the conference room. Alone with your thoughts for a few seconds, you wonder if the tightness in your chest isn't an exaggeration. You decide to forget about it and go back to your desk.

Opening a folder with the information on the last case, you are ready to write your report. But not too so far on it, Emily approaches you.

"Hey, how are you?"

You have doubts about how to answer the question. A few minutes ago, when JJ asked, you lied to her, and she didn't even notice. Maybe it's good to be honest.

"Actually, not so good," you sigh. And Emily raises an eyebrow. 

"Yeah? What happened?"

"I just don't know, I don't feel good," you try to explain. But you're not sure how to do it either.

"I'm sure it's something you can manage," Emily muses. "Look, whatever it is, have a drink when you get home today, relax a little, and I bet you'll be as good as new tomorrow!"

You open and close your mouth several times, trying to get a word out, but nothing comes to mind. 

A drink and relax? Is that simple?

You let out a hum, and that's enough for a response to Emily.

After wishing you good luck, she heads down the hallway, presumably to Garcia's office.

It's clear that Emily didn't grasp your actual emotional state, but you don't blame her either.

The last case was hard for everyone, so there is no reason to take it personally.

Focusing on your report again, you expect the sour mood surrounding you to fade eventually.

To finish your paperwork, you need to make copies of the reports. So you get up and head to the copy machine. After carefully placing the papers in the tray, you press the start button. When you think it will start copying, the machine stops mid-scan. You frown, and after a few seconds of nothing, you press the 'start' button again. Nothing. You do it again. And again. It's not working, and you feel your blood running hot.

By pressing the button again and again, anger comes.

"What the fuck is wrong with you stupid fucking machine!"

It's not enough to swat with force the button panel; now you're kicking the machine out of pent-up frustration.

"Whoa, whoa, stop right there, pretty girl."

Morgan steps between you and the machine, putting distance with his palms. And that's when you realize your outburst. Panting and still with the heat of rage on your cheeks, you are not yet satisfied.

"What the fuck, Morgan. Now you're defending a fucking copy machine?!" You hiss. Derek narrows his eyes to assess your current state. He's seen you mad, but it usually goes away easily. You are not a dense person.

"Okay, what's wrong, pretty girl? Since when do you unleash your frustration with pretty boy on inanimate things?"

Pretty boy. Spencer. Your boyfriend. Today, your boyfriend is conducting a cognitive interview with a convict in a DC jail—Hotch's orders. You wish he were here.

Morgan knows you usually laugh at his jokes, and even when you are in a bad temper, they help to light the mood.

Not this time, though.

"Don't talk about Spencer or me like that!" You snarl. "He doesn't have to do with any of this!"

Morgan doesn't like you are talking to him. Folding his arms over his chest, he let out an unamused scoff.

"Come on, don't you think you're overreacting here? Was this whole outburst only for a joke? What, are you four years old?"

You want to keep yelling, but a lump forms in your throat that is making it difficult for you to speak or even breathe. Morgan doesn't even wait for you to say something.

"You know what?" Morgan continues. "If you cannot stand the pressure of this job right now, maybe you should go home."

With that said and shaking his head in disappointment, Dereks leaves you there.

Stumped. Frustrated. Broken.

All the anger from moments before turns into an almost uncontrollable urge to cry. What have you done to these people? They are supposed to be your friends, your family. They are supposed to understand you and support you when you need them. And now that it's the time, they've only ignored you, minimized your problems, and even questioned your worth. Maybe Derek is right, and you should go home.

Defeated, you're strolling to your desk when Hotch peaks out of his office and gestures you to come.

Great, just what you needed now.

When you walk into your boss's office, he is already sitting in his chair, sternly looking at you.

"I won't ask you what's wrong with you today because it's your private life. However, I must remind you we are all professionals on this team. If you need time off, you have the right to get it, but I will not tolerate disrespect, like when you are distracted as I give fundamental instructions. If you don't pay attention, it could affect your work in the field and even put the lives of innocent people at risk."

If you didn't feel trampled before, now you feel like a ton of dirt was dumped on you.

You know Hotch can be sharp with words, but his ultimate goal is always to look after the team. But why does it feel like you're not part of that team right now?

"Do I make myself clear?"

With no more energy left in your body, you just let out a 'yes, sir.' Without waiting for another response, he sends you back to your desk.

It's already noon when you resume your work. Your mind spins at a mile an hour, and although it's hard, you force yourself to concentrate enough to get your job done, so at least the salary they pay you is worth it. 

Like a mollusk in its shell, you close yourself in that bubble and stop paying attention to your surroundings. It's your safe place—only you. 

In the distance, you feel your coworkers come and go. Never do you look up. Time goes by, and your throat feels dry from not speaking for hours.

Before everyone starts planning lunch, you are already picking up your lunch bag.

Social interaction is out of the table, so you are secluded in the building roof where an improvisated garden has benches. You sit alone, and the breeze helps to steady your breathing. As you open your Tupperware, you tentatively plunge the fork into the almost-cold pasta.

Even so, you're better here than in the bullpen minutes ago.

-----

Spencer walks through the doors of the BAU. It's 2 in the afternoon, so hopefully, the team is still having lunch in the conference room. Slightly worried that he wouldn't be able to reach you when he wanted to let you know he was on his way, he assumed that you had a lot of work and that your phone was mute.

Arriving at the conference room, Spencer scans the place and immediately catches something odd. You are not there. JJ, Prentiss, Morgan, Rossi, and Hotch are, though.

With an eyebrow furrowed, he asks, "Where is she?"

His teammates perk their heads up.

"Hello to you, pretty boy," Morgan teases.

"How was the interview?" JJ asks.

"Did you eat? You still can sit with us," Prentiss offers.

"Did you get the interview done?" Hotch asks with a raised eyebrow.

Spencer gets an uneasy feeling about what's going on. He knows you weren't feeling so okay this morning, and even if he tried to convince you to take a sick day, you didn't let him.

"Neither of you responded my question," Spencer points, voice harsher than when he asked first.

"(Y/N)? I thought she went home," Morgan muses.

"Why would she do that?" Spencer questions, alarmed. "Something bad happened?"

"She said she was okay when I asked earlier," JJ explains. "Maybe she has an errand to do."

"She was way distracted when we were at the meeting in the morning. She didn't listen a thing of what I said," Hotch adds.

"And you sent her home?" Spencer directs his question to Hotch.

"No, I didn't. She didn't ask it either when I called her to my office."

"You called her to your office? Did you reprimand her?" Spencer asks in disbelief.

"Of course, I did it, Reid. She did something disrespectful to the team," Hotch defends.

"And considering her rage moment directed to the copy machine, maybe it's better if she went home," Morgan supplies.

"Why are you being so dramatic, Reid?" Emily questions, very confused about why Spencer is so upset.

Spencer huffs, frustration running in his veins.

"Are you fucking kidding me right now? Did you ever realize she wasn't doing okay and nobody took her seriously? Yeah, sure, she said she was okay, but did you really check on her? Did you really ask her what was wrong? Did someone listen to her?"

The people in the room go silent after Spencer scolds them. 

Did they help in any way?

"You are unbelievable, and you call yourself profilers," Spencer huffs, turning to exit the room in search of you.

"What are you doing, Reid?" Hotch asks. No turning around to face his boss, and halfway out, Spencer replies.

"The thing you should have done in the first place. And I don't care if it doesn't fall protocol, I can give you my resignation letter tomorrow."

-----

When Spencer reaches the building roof and sees you sitting on one of the benches, he lets out a sigh of relief. He suspected you might be there, considering your things were still on your desk.

You can't see it since your back is turned. Your eyes look at the horizon without focusing on anything in particular.

The breeze is nice despite the November weather in Virginia.

Not wanting to scare you, Spencer slowly approaches you as he clears his throat. You turn around and see him standing a couple of meters away from you, but close enough to see your eyes red from crying.

You know he noticed it, and you avert his gaze.

You don't like the idea of ​​looking vulnerable right now. The morning was already catastrophic enough to explain your current state of mind to Spencer.

Spencer is a man of many words. He is known for his diatribes on any topic at hand. So you expect some kind of rant or even some statistical data about what could be happening to you.

But contradicting his very nature, he just silently approaches, takes your hand to get you up from the bench, and pulls you into a tight, comforting embrace.

And for the first time all day, you feel like you can actually breathe, and your chest isn't tight anymore. Words are not necessary; just being held like that is enough for now.

Spencer kisses the top of your head lovingly.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be here for you sooner. I'm sorry you had such a horrible morning," your boyfriend laments.

You shake your head, still buried in his chest.

Tears fight to come out from the corners of your eyes, and you no longer want to hold them back.

"Let it out, baby. Just let them out."

And that's what you do. For the first time all day, you allow yourself to cry without holding back. Spencer has you the entire time, rubbing your back soothingly.

"I don't know why I feel so bad, Spencer. I don't understand," you muffle your words into his embrace.

"It's okay, love. You don't have to explain to me, or anyone for that matter. There are days when we are not okay, and it's completely valid. Never think you don't have the right to."

Hearing Spencer say that relieves some of the pressure on your head, but you can't help but think about your teammates' words throughout the morning.

Separating yourself from Spencer to look at him, your eyes still denote your inner struggle.

"What if they are right? What if they are right when they say I shouldn't make so much fuzz and rather think about doing my job well?"

Spencer cups your cheeks so you can look at him.

"They are not. Okay? By any means, you are the most professional person I have ever met in my life. Not only that, you are also the most compassionate, selfless, and willing to help to the fullest extent of your capacity. Does JJ need help babysitting Henry? You don't think twice. Does García need assistance organizing a girls' night? You are the first one to be there. Does Hotch need to finish a stack of reports in one night? You offer to help him. Does Derek need a backup to kick his way into a place and catch the unsub? You're the first to watch his back."

You are indeed like that, and you do all that. But you've never seen it as something extraordinary. For you, being part of a team and a family means all that and more.

"And that doesn't even scratch the surface of what you have been to me.

My love, you have been the person who has entitled me to open my heart and love without reservation. You have taught me to trust and that asking for help when you feel bad is okay. You are the light of my life, and I swear I'll do everything in my power so you can see the wonderful person you are and that you deserve all the love and support in the world."

Without a doubt, Spencer has something with his words and eloquence. How can you not believe him? The veil of doubt indeed emerges from time to time, but having someone who is by your side showing you what is really important makes the doubts not cloud your path.

A shy smile appears on your face, your eyes filled with gratitude.

"There she is," Spencer whispers, stroking your cheek with love and never breaking eye contact.

"Maybe I should have listened to you this morning and called in sick," you sigh. Spencer kisses the top of your nose.

"I know you weren't going to do it anyway." 

You giggle because he's right. Spencer knows you too well.

"Lunchtime is almost over. We should come back to work," you remind him. Spencer pulls a face, and you raise an eyebrow at him. "What was that?" You inquire.

Spencer laughs nervously. "It's just I may or may not have made a scene in the conference room earlier, and I may or may not have offered my letter of resignation to Hotch if he didn't allow me to come find you."

"You did what? Spencer, oh my God!" you start laughing. "Does that mean there's a chance we'll both get fired today?"

Spencer thinks about that for a second.

"Honestly? I don't think Hotch would risk losing his two best agents," he decides, winking at you.

"Hope you're right, Dr. Reid. Hope you're right," you voice, grabbing his hand in yours and making the way back to the sixth floor.

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Spencer Reid's Taglist: @dreatine @nomajdetective @jayyeahthatsme @rosalinasam2 @averyhotchner @lovelyxtom @princessmiaelicia @pastelbabygirl19 @reidsbookclub @alexxavicry @gspenc @spencerreidisbae123 @calmspencer @pauline5525mgg @anamiad00msday @milivanili99 @laylasbunbunny @leahblackk @miaxx03 @missabsey @taintedstranger @khxna @hiireadstuff @pleasantwitchgarden @dysphoricsanity @levi-of-starz @themoonchildwhofell @silver138 @lovelybaka @shinytinywhispers 

[talaok]

Summary: you come to a realization as you see Spence with Henry

warnings: none, just fluff

A/n: yes please, I love this, send me thousands of fluffy Spencer prompts, writing them is better than therapy (sorry @rrrogertaylor Tumblr hates me and deleted your ask)

I want one

“Uh excuse me, everybody, I’ve got an announcement to make,” JJ said, walking into the office ” as I’m sure some of you were aware, Henry was a little nervous about going trick or treating this year” she stopped in the middle of the room, as she got the whole team’s attention “but, he’s decided to go anyway”

You smiled, joined by everyone else.

”great, what changed his mind?” Rossi asked.

“The bau did” she said”, I told him that he should go out on Halloween and try to figure out which monsters are real and which ones are not” she explained 

“so he wants to be a profiler,” Derek grinned.

“Ah” she raised a finger to correct him “he wants to be his favorite profiler”

She stepped aside, making space for Henry's big entrance.

The moment he and Penelope stepped into the room, a series of surprised and joyful shouts filled the room, the whole team melting at the cuteness in front of them.

But not you, no sound came out of your mouth when you saw the little, adorable, blonde-haired kid.

he was dressed like Spence, vest and all, even the sachel was exactly like his.

A warmth invaded your body at the sight,

a feeling so deep and resonant you could physically feel it,

one you had felt before,

and were feeling a lot lately,

but never like this,

never this clearly.

“Wow" Spencer bent down to meet the boy, his smile so wide its edges almost touched his ears " you look great henry” his eyes were glowing, happiness all that was visible.

 ”put this on here,” he said, reaching for his own badge to clip it on Henry's vest.

Your heart had either stopped or was beating faster than the speed of light, you weren't sure.

” oh, he’s official” Derek joked

”tell him” Penelope whispered into henry's ear

“E = mc2” The boy recited, making Spencer laugh, fully, happily.

“Oh, there it is!” Derek said, as Spencer gave Henry a high five.

“the other monsters don’t stand a chance” Blake joked

“I know," Jj said "should we go get some candy?" she asked her son" come on!” she gestured for him to follow her, which he more than happily complied to, dashing to take his mom's hand.

“Watch your back pretty boy” Derek patted spencer’s back, as he and Rossi exited the office.

Spencer was waving goodbye at henry as you walked closer to him, your knees feeling weak from all the combined emotions you were feeling,

you had no idea how to describe it, 

it was all confused,

but one thing wasn't

"I want one" you whispered to his ear, putting your arms around his torso,  hugging him from behind.

"mh?" he hummed confused, turning to you completely.

"I want one" you repeated sweetly

"what do you mean?"

"Babe" you smiled "I want one"

His mouth widened before it twitched into the biggest smile you had ever seen on him.

His eyes were twinkling as they scanned your whole face.

Were you being serious?

Yes.

Yes, you were being serious.

And he couldn't believe how lucky he was.

"You- you mean-?" he struggled to spit a whole sentence out as ecstasy took over him.

"Yes" you smiled widely too now "yes Spence, I want a kid" you said finally, leaning up to kiss him "I want your kid"

[henry-fox-biggest-stan]

It’s SO funny to me when I see movie fans writing alex as this daddy dom, himbo guy because Alex is so!!!

If you scream at him a little too loudly he’ll probably cry, just not in front of you. He falls in love really hard and deeply but it takes him so long to accept that he can also be loved hard and deeply! He has the highest grades ever 1) because he’s smart and 2) because he bases his self worth on making others proud, on being useful. He overworks himself, he runs to clear his head until his feet bleed, his coffee is bitter but so are his thoughts. He’s a softie, who writes his bf love letters and who probably giggles and kicks his feet while reading what henry writes back to him. He can absolutely destroy you in a debate, don’t even try to argue with him he’ll win each time. He talks a lot but he has never been listened to. His rivalry with Henry started with a bad meeting and also with constant comparison, because everyone compared them both, and it was just a constant reminder than Alex will never be enough. Henry was born on the spotlight, Alex wasn’t. Henry was white, Alex wasn’t. Henry had everyone’s support, Alex didn’t. *He is a jester and a devoted knight. He knows hundreds of fun facts and will tell you. He loves Texas despite the bad memories of his childhood and teen years it brings. He feels guilty for making his sister worry so much. He loves his mother despite everything, and she loves him too, but they have an unusual, almost unhealthy relationship. He needs to prove himself every minute of the day. He works as a distraction. He puts on a façade around everyone, golden boy, America’s heartthrob, no one sees his house key, his glasses, the hundreds of papers hidden under the windowsill, the pills stolen from Liam. Someone teach this man healthy coping mechanisms. He is a child of divorce, and this affects him more than he lets on. He is actually a huge nerd. He grew up poor. He was in denial about his sexuality for years. He definitely has abandonment issues. He might be impulsive sometimes (storming Kensington palace after being ghosted by Henry) but he usually thinks things through, and is very reasonable. He makes lists, tons of them. He has undiagnosed adhd and this has shaped him as a person in a way I can’t even describe. Before Henry, bea, and Pez, he didn’t have any friends aside from Nora and his sister. He grew up catholic. He is a romantic. And a dork. He is just as passionate about history as Henry is. But Nora makes friends, and Alex ends up with acquaintances who think they know him because they’ve read his profile in New York Magazine, and perfectly fine people with perfectly fine bodies who want to take him home from the bar. None of it is satisfying—it never has been, not really, but it never mattered as much as it does now that there’s the sharp counterpoint of Henry, who knows him. Henry who’s seen him in glasses and tolerates him at his most annoying and still kissed him like he wanted him, singularly, not the idea of him.

Always the talker, never the heard. Always good, never enough. Always ogled, never seen. Always the first son, never Alex.

[its-tortle]

firstprince fic recs 👑🇺🇸

put this together for my bestie a few weeks ago and thought i may as well share it here :)

(baby) don't make me spell it out by extaswings - 2k - the most popular proposal fic and for good reason omg

fsotus & hrh feat. the web's most searched questions [for approval] by loveonpurpose - 2.4k - silly little transscript of alex and henry doing the most searched questions interview

class(room) warfare by @cha-melodius - 7.7k - alex and henry are both professors and alex doesn't wipe the board before henry teaches in that room so he has to write a strongly worded email that obviously turns into argue-flirting, and so on.

what we might do (if we stop keeping a secret) by @indomitable-love - 8k - lovely lovely au where their emails don't get leaked and they get to come out how they want to. bonus points for the bleachers title

am i the asshole by @everwitch-magiks - 9.5k - a fun reddit aita gets posted and everyone thinks they should fuck

right at home by @omgcmere - 10k - college au with a library study buddies meet-cute and a little fake relationship schtick

all the old showstoppers by @cha-melodius - 20k - in an au where alex didn't go to the royal wedding, they meet a few years later on bake off

god save the blessed american president mom by @zipadeea - 31k - someone attempts an assasination on ellen, and alex gets hit instead. this fic is absolutely amazing. make sure you have tissues tho

rule number nine by clottedcreamfudge - 43k - the kissing booth au that is way better than the movie

hit (my love) out of the park by bleedingballroomfloor - 49k - baseball au!!

and history remembered by sherryvalli - 55k wip!! - rwrb from the perspective of twitter in the rwrb-verse. so so so well done it all feels so real i am screaming

camp llwynywermod by bleedingballroomfloor - 56k - camp couselor au!!

[bruhstation]

literally had to close my mouth with my both hands while reading this. this is an absolutely STELLAR read

also I can’t stop thinking about this line in particular. mfw something that used to bring me joy now just makes me feel hurt...... oh so so cruel

Universal Mishap (A Short Casa Tidmouth Fic)

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We all know that in the alternate universe, labelled “Casa Tidmouth”, fate has never been really kind to Gordon. But one day, fate decided to give back to Gordon just a little bit. However, I truly emphasize on the fact that it was only a little bit...

.

.

.

It was a very rainy day on Sodor, but it was also a busy day for the workers. Many were with their engines, waiting for their passengers to come aboard, and some were waiting for their trucks to deliver. A splatter and splosh came when Gordon arrived in Knapford Station. The walls were rather damp and the rain came down hard. The hall was filled with many visitors, that the station was rather cramped.

Gordon walked down the puddle-ridden floors, making sure he didn't slip. Passing through, he stopped and took a look at Sodor's Rumours. And there he saw what he didn't want to be reminded of everyday:

SODOR NEWS NWR'S EMPLOYEES DROPPING DEAD LIKE FLIES!

Here on Sodor News, drivers in the North Western Railway have been starting to disappear with no trace. The reason for this event is unknown, however.

Many of the police have been looking for the missing drivers, as they were an important part to this railway.

“What a shame, what a shame”, said one. “I knew one of them. He was a very kind soul, and I'd say he was friends with many people. I don't know what cruel person would wanna lay a finger on him”....

Gordon stopped there as he couldn't stare at it any longer. Waking up alone was already hard enough. His heart had sunk deeper and deeper the more he read the article. He shifted his attention to the rain. The earthly smell and the calming sound reminded him of another rainy day he had with two other people, whom he cherished very much...

“Gordon, look!”

“Oh, bother. It's raining...Henry, do you have an umbrella?”

“What? Why are you asking me? I wasn't aware it was going to rain.”

“Well boo-hoo, neither did I. Edward?”

“Nope. Sorry, Gordon. Looks like we’re all gonna get damped here. Oh, here it comes!”

“Heavens sake! I just got this dried!”

“The rain isn’t that bad, Henry.”

“Huh...wait a minute....”

“Gordon? What are you...—”

“Here, get in.”

“Ah! Come on Henry!”

“Finally! Some shelter from this cursed weather!”

“Hahaha, we're all rather cramped up here! Not that I don't mind.”

“Pah! Of course. It's always an honor to be under the rain with me. After all, I was the one who came up with this clever idea.”

“Well, congratulations, Mr. Cleversome. So wonderful of you to help us ’damsels in distress' with the rain.”

“You were the one complaining about it, you hypocrite!”

“Hush, you two! That's enough. Now, let's go back home, shall we?”

He winced at the memory that was once jovial, now painful to think about. “If only you were still here with me”, he muttered under his breath. Gordon let out a heavy sigh as he turned away and continued walking down the station. “After all, I still have a student to train”, he said to himself.

But just as he was making his way down the crowd, he had a hard collision with someone. The person was just about to fall, until Gordon grabbed them.

At first, he was annoyed. He had enough to deal with this morning and didn't want to add more to his plate. He was just about to lecture them. “It’s okay, just.. please, watch where you’re going next ti....”

But his words trailed off when he saw who was in his arms.

He couldn't believe his eyes.

This person...was..rather old. His skin was wrinkled and he had an average structure. He was shorter than Gordon. His hair had been grayed out with two whiter streaks showing, and he wore a black collared shirt accompanied by a blue vest that had a number 2 imprinted on his right arm, and vibrant overalls, all with red and gold touches. His frail skin had beautiful ivory patches all over it, and most importantly, glasses, that looked similar to the ones put on his face right now. Gordon couldn't believe what he was staring at, and refused to do so. Until, the person opened his voice....

“...Gordon? What happened to you?”, he said in an concerned voice. “You look pale, and...your eyes.. You look terrible! What's the matter?”

His voice was tender and gentle, but the hints of firmness and hoarseness was enough for Gordon to tremble in realization.

To say he was shocked is an understatement. He was terrified. “I must be dreaming”, he thought, as his chest grew tighter and tighter. “This can’t be possible...”

He looked down at the man with a mix of emotions; regret, misery, shock and fear. But the image of this mysterious person only made Gordon hold him tighter. It's feels the same way when he once held one of his friends like this. He felt warm, reassured, safe... But the feeling in his body made him wake up to the reality that this person isn't his, and it made him feel bitter. It was a long moment of silence before Gordon finally spoke...

“...Edward..?”

-----------------------------------------------

You know, maybe we should call this the “Let's Torture Gordon” show instead of “Casa Tidmouth”! /j

I got this idea after looking at @hkpika07 's crossover comic. I liked the idea of torturing Gordon with someone who made him feel happy, but isn't his. I'm kinda happy with how this came out lol

Okie thas it i hope ya like it!

(Casa Tidmouth! Gordon belongs to @bruhstation . The Edward in here is mine.)

[exoticb-utters]

Hello!

So I saw that your requests were open, and would like to ask for a Hank McCoy (Wolverine and the X-Men) x Reader short story, if that isn't too much trouble. If that's not on the table, I'm sorry for bothering you.

YES OFC, I haven’t been writing much, and instead, I’ve been posting a lot more art so it’s about time I get back in touch with my roots 🙏🏽 (sorry this took me forever omg) pls enjoy 😘

Confessions

Hank x Mutant Reader Word Count: 2.7k Words

Mutant Power: Water Manipulation

You’ve been a member of the X-men for the last 3 years. Yes, that’s almost 3 years you’ve had a crush on Henry McCoy. 

I mean, how could you not? He was so sweet, and always put aside time for you whenever you needed it. He’s also, like, insanely hot…

While you do have a huge soft spot for Hank, everyone had given you a warm welcome when you joined of course, this team was your family. More of a family than your parents; who called you a freak for doing ‘tricks’ with their drinks.

You’d make frequent trips to the lab, knowing all too well there would be a big blue hermit waiting for you. As you did this, Hank could never bring himself to admit the embarrassing fact- but your frequent visits were the highlights of his day.

The rest of the team were amazing family to him of course, but no one checked in or visited Hank as often as you did.

Most of the time anyone usually ever came down was if they needed something; nothing this personal. It was new, but it was nice for a change. 

Your jokes with him never got old, and your smile that came with it could only make it better. The willingness you had to sit around and let him rant about the latest experiment that had him losing sleep, to even offer a hand with whatever he was struggling with. Your innocent praises glorifying how smart he was had him hiding his growing blush by looking behind a microscope. 

“I’m afraid blue blushes too, my dear…” He would joke, causing you to smile and chuckle. Ugh who loves a hot, funny nerd. You’d chuckle to yourself. 

Oh who was he kidding, Hank was head over heels. While he tries to use his brain to rationally sugar coat things, he knew he was helpless. 

Your attention to detail was incredible, you somehow remember all of his favorite things without fail. You were just so…thoughtful. 

He couldn’t help but feel a bit selfish, wanting more than your visits down to his lab, the long talks, your presence. He was going crazy.

Then, every night you’d find yourself laying awake in your thoughts, knowing he couldn’t possibly feel the same.

You’d never put your friendship on the line for something so…selfish. 

The thought ate away at your conscious, the numbing sound of your fan tuned out by your busy mind. You sigh, rolling over to your side while pulling your blanket with you. 

You don’t know why you were like this.

You and Hank are…friends. Which is fine- even though it hurts. You are fine with it, and you’ve been fine for the past 3 years.

…for the most part anyway. 

♡ ♡ ♡

You were now hanging out with Hank in his lab, legs dangling over the edge as you talked to each other. Something about a new opera showing happening in town.

Suddenly, you hear Xavier telepathically call for the rest of the X-Men to meet him in the control room, suited up. Must be a mission.

You were informed the Jaggernaut had escaped custody, again.

All X-Men that were on stand-by were now assigned on this task. The team consisted of you, Hank, Cyclops, Jean, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and of course Storm. Stacked team if you say so yourself.

Everyone was in the Blackbird with the sole goal of neutralizing the Jaggernaut before he caused severe harm. 

Cyclops was put in charge, giving direct orders as he looked to you and Ororo. “I need you and Storm to direct him towards us, we need to keep him separated from civilians. Meaning I need a tall wall of water, Storm you freeze it making sure he won’t be able to get through.” 

You both looked to one another with nod. Scott then turns around to Hank who was piloting the jet. “Hank you go with them and watch from above and make sure things don’t get to out of hand. If they do we need your strength to counter-attack.” 

Hank replies with a “on it” before tilting the jet to left, bringing the stealth instrument closer to the designated location. 

“Logan you’re taking the wheel while those three get dropped down. Everyone else is with me.” Scott said finally while Hank clicked some buttons before switching with Logan. The bottom hatch of the plane opened up, allowing you, Storm, and Beast to exit. 

Storm flew to her position in the air, leaving you and Hank free falling towards the ground. Hank turned to look at you expectantly, blue hair blowing wildly in the wind. 

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.” You chuckle. You outstretched your arms towards a nearby pond you spotted earlier. Pulling your hands back to your chest in a stream-like manner, a large funnel of water shot out towards you and Hank. 

You grabbed Hank’s arm as the funnel reached you, changing the water into a shape similar to a slide with your free hand. You surfed down the water, holding onto Hank making sure he kept up- and knowing him, it was also preventing him from falling off.

As you neared the ground, you spun the water into a wide spiral to slow down your momentum for an easy landing. 

“I’m still impressed you can do that with your hands.” Hank comments as you reach the ground, earning an amused huff from you. “Well it took some practice,” You trail off, your eyes now looking at his crazy wind blown hair. 

“Actually, I’m more impressed your hair can take that shape…” You snort, biting on ur fist to hold in your laugh. It looked like he had an insane cowlick…well, maybe if the cow had 4 tongues.

“…what?” He said before quickly bringing up a hand to his hair. While he was busy fixing his crazed hair, you spot Storm flying over.

“I’ve located the Juggernaut, he’s down the street!” She briefly informs you before taking off, flying further down the street. 

“Right right, back to business.” You say, waving an arm around yourself to recollect your water. Hank takes off, leaping after Ororo as you ride your stream of water. 

You hear loud commotion around your surroundings the further you went, hopefully you arrived in time. You spot the Juggernaut on the street, wildly flipping cars as if he were in a mad rampage. One was now launched and flying in midair- towards you, specifically.  

You expertly weave around it, spinning upside down in doing so. Before he can flip anymore cars you jump, using all surrounding water to form a wall as Scott instructed. 

You hear a crack of thunder overhead as you land, the air chilling and the clouds growing darker. With a strong gust of wind, the walls you made froze over. You see Storm fly into view along with the rest of the X-Men behind you.

Beast jumps onto a light post, swinging on the end before propelling himself onto the large wall of ice.

The Juggernaut’s actions were now solely limited to facing the X-Men head on. Realizing this, he began charging with full force towards the rest of the team.

“Get his helmet off!!” Cyclops orders before bringing two fingers to his visor, firing off his laser beams.

Night Crawler bamfs around the brute, landing on his shoulders for brief moments, attempting to unlatch the dome.

You shape your water into a whip, ready to attack if the villain closes in. You see Storm raise her hands, calling down thunder as lightning begins to target the Jaggernaut.

You even see Jean pressing her temple with two fingers, using her telepathy with the other outstretched hand to slow down the pursuer.

He wavered just barely under her prowess, the strong bolts only slowing him down slightly before Wolverine decides it’s time he steps in.

With a growl, Logan leaps towards him with his adimantium claws extended before being swatted away by the Juggernaut’s large hand.

Not a moment later he grabs onto Nightcrawler and tosses him aside as well, throwing him on top of Wolverine.

The X-Men were losing options, and fast.

You had to do something.

You swing your water whip from underneath the Juggernaught before quickly whipping it back against his head, effectively tripping him and causing him to topple toward.

Before he could regain his footing completely, you call back all your water to blast him with as much force as you could muster.

And…It was working! He was regressing in distance.

…Until he took a step.

And then another.

And another.

It wasn't long before he began fully charging toward you.

Your concentrated expression quickly fell to one filled with fear and disbelief. “Watch out!” You heard Jean, Scott, and Cyclops warn in unison.

Their cries were all in vain, a large hand splashing out of the water had taken hold of your face. You felt your feet lift off the ground as you were directly dangling in the air, at the mercy of an unstoppable force. In this position, the Jaggernaught could easily crush your skull if he so pleased.

“I will find Xavier. And I will make him pay.” The brute speaks as his grip on your head steadily tightens, your chest burning as you screamed in sheer horror at the increasing pressure.

From above, Hank was almost hesitant to give away his position as the others before you attacked- he knew they could hold their own. But watching you face the Juggernaught head-on…Seeing how your life was in such jeopardy, hearing your screams, Hank had no second thoughts about intervening and saving you.

With a distant roar, you hear Beast come down on the Juggernaut. He releases you, but at the cost of you falling; and of course- hitting your head on the pavement.

Your head began pounding, ears ringing as the corners of your vision grew fuzzy with dark spots. All you could see was a flurry of blue viciously wrestling with a large brownish blob. More figures rushed into the picture before a redhead precluded your vision, concern written all over her face.

“Stay with me! Don’t close your eyes and just listen to my voice…“ Her words began to fade out as the black dots in your vision clouded the world around you.

Your head rolled to the side, your closing eyes finding the blue figure before your heavy eyelids inevitably shut.

Hank.

♡ ♡ ♡

You slowly awoke to a steady beeping of a monitor nearby, your eyes softly fluttering open. Looking up to the ceiling, you recognized it as the flat cement ceiling of Hank’s Lab.

Before you could get up, you felt the intense throbbing pain coming from the back of your head. Had you really hit your head that hard?

Well if it had knocked you clean out it must’ve been…

“You’re awake!” You hear a familiar voice call out to your right. It wasn’t long before a blue face came into view, blocking the blinding glare of the overhead fluorescent lights.

“How are you feeling?!?” Your vision slowly focused in on the figure in front of you. “Good…I think.” You slowly sit up, rubbing the back of your head tenderly.

You notice you had an IV inserted into your right forearm. Without another thought you removed it, ready to go…to wherever you were needed.

“Woah, there- you should slow down it’s been…a bit and you're still recovering.” Hank warns, grabbing your wrist to keep you from moving any further.

You looked to his face…he was worried??? ��Hank, I’m fine! See?” You said reassuringly; though, Hank himself didn’t find himself too convinced.

“Hey, what are you so worried about?” You ask, brows drawn together hoping to get a straight answer out of him.

He was worried about you, obviously. You suffered several traumatic head injuries within a short span of time! If you had not been a mutant…he didn’t even want to think of the possible outcomes of that situation.

Hank sighed heavily, organizing his racing thoughts. “I thought I’d lost you.” He managed to drag out.

Huh?

Scared??

That he lost...YOU?!?

“Hank, I think I’ve suffered greater injuries. You should know this.” You say with a small laugh before quickly stopping, his solemn expression instantly killing your attempt to lighten the mood.

His large hands grab your wrists firmly. “You have been out for a month.” His words shook you, so much so that you found yourself shaking your head in disbelief.

You hadn’t been out for longer than a day, right?

Hank must’ve sensed your reluctancy to believe your current situation because he started again. “You suffered several fractures to your skull, luckily, nothing broken or opposing threats to your brain. Unfortunately the stress your skull took on added with the hard contact of the ground practically split your head open.” He explained, running a hand down his tired face.

You hadn’t realized this had happened. “But I’m…I’m okay now, aren’t I?” You ask hesitantly, raising a hand up carefully to the back of your head. You felt stitches, running up the back of your head. Your stomach dropped.

“I performed an emergency medical procedure…which I won’t go into details with you so soon…” He sighed heavily once again, plopping down in his wheeled office chair.

“I hadn’t realized…” You quietly trailed off while fidgeting with your fingers out of nervous habit.

Hadn’t realized what? How bad the situation was? How worried the other X-Men must be? How much Hank went through to make sure you were well?!?

“Please, it isn’t your fault. If anything, this situation has made me realize something…” Now it was Hank’s turn to dramatically pause, his head in his large, blue hands.

“What? What is it?” You ask nervously, fearing your health was in critical condition at this point.

He grabbed you by the shoulders once again, looking into your eyes deeply, “Because…because I fear I’m falling in love with you.”

You stared in utter shock. Had you heard him correctly? He feels the same way?!?

“I-I want to come home to you, to kiss you like it’s been eons since I last saw your face. I need you safe, I don’t know how I’ll live with myself if you aren’t-” You didn’t need to hear anymore. 

You grabbed him by his lab coat, pulling him into you as your lips pressed together in a flurry of passion.

He held onto you, hungrily chasing after your lips as he poured all the love he’d helplessly held in for so long.

Your hands slowly slid up his broad chest and towards his neck, finding themselves tangled in his soft hair. “Hank” You sighed against his lips, the kiss ripping all oxygen from your lungs and leaving you breathless in the process.

He groans into your mouth in response, his tongue running against your bottom lip, silently begging for access.

Your heated ‘session’ was abruptly cut short by the lab door sliding open. Hank shot up, nearly taking a tumble trying to remove himself from you- to avoid any suspicion of…previous actions of course.

Though, the scene didn’t look too convincing; seeing how Hank’s glasses laid crooked on his face and his hair was well tussled. You had to cover your giggle at his appearance.

It was Morph, Cyclops, and Logan. They all start laughing, causing the rest of the X-men to come in, groaning in defeat.

“Woah, woah- were all of you just standing outside the door?!?” Hank exclaimed.

“Pay up, daddy’s waiting.” Logan holds out a hand expectantly towards the other X-Men, a smirk displayed across his face while completely ignoring Hank.

“I knew I should’ve bet with Logan.” Rogue mumbles, fishing out money from her pockets along with the rest of the team.

Oh yes. This was only the beginning of a long, beautiful (and heavily teased) relationship with Hank.

I hope you enjoyed this cute little one-shot! ;)

If you want more like this or want something written, please hit up my ask box! Requests are always open 💕 Until next time🫡🫡

-Mae

[stormgrl19]

𝑁𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑 | 𝑃𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑎𝑛

Peter Pan x Fem!reader

Credits: All credits go to the authors / the producers / etc. of the show / the book / the movie. I own my OCs and their plot and any differences from the original plot.

Request: Idk if your requests are closed but if theyre not could you write for peter? Somthing like the reader came to the island to help find henry but shes fascinated with the island and peters fascinated with her? Ty if you can !! < 3 ( @akumazwrld )

Summary: You go to neverland with Emma and the others to help bring Henry back and on one of your secret midnight strolls you meet a really… fascinating boy.

A/n: I am so sorry it took so long! I hope you like it!

Warnings: use of y/n, not proofread /edited/ …

Wc: 799

Part two

You don’t know how many days you had been on this island, just that it couldn’t be a week since you arrived with Emma, Hook and the others to help Henry. Back in Storybrooke you lived alone in an apartment over a flower shop, where you worked. You weren’t a main character of any fairy tale, just a side character with no known family, but before you all got your memories back, you sometimes babysat Henry, which is why you were now here, in neverland.

Walking under the stars, in a jungle with beautiful plants everywhere, you let your mind wander and carefully craft on your silly dream of living here. Nature brought you the feeling of peace, it always had and even so, neverland was dangerous, you somehow knew deep down, that as long you were surrounded by nature, nothing bad would happen to you. It was foolish to rely on your feeling, the others would definitely call you delusional, but neverland was to wonderful to just walk through it, without taking time to really take everything in.

That’s why you had been secretly going on little adventures to explore the mystical island, while everyone else was sleeping. So far you had seen a lot of trees, flowers and last night you saw for the second time in your life real mermaids! If you hadn’t had to be silent you would’ve squealed like a child on Christmas. The more you saw of the island the less you wanted to go back to your boring and lonely life in Storybrooke. Why would you, when you could life here? Explore the island until you knew it like the back of your hand, nature always by your side and (and know you were really far gone from any reality) befriend the mermaids, swimming together and play around.

 Walking slowly, you stopped right before you walked into a bush with dark green leaves. It was dark, but the moon shone through the trees and you could see the little thorns. The stems looked like they were black and without any logical reason you reached your hand out.

“I wouldn’t do that.”

Hastily you withdraw you hand and turned around. Before you, a few meters away was a boy, looking at you with an arrogant smirk and his hands crossed before his chest, while leaning on a tree.

“Why?” You asked, cursing silently for not bringing something to defend yourself.

“Because that is dreamshade. It is poisonous,“ he answered, still looking, no scanning you with his eyes.

“Oh.” You looked around, searching for a way to escape.

“Well, I think I have to go, so… It was nice meeting you?” The last sentence sounded like a question, but you really had to get away from him. He probably was one, of the people that held Henry captive.

He laughed and pushed himself off the tree, walking to you. Now you could get a better look on his face, and God was he handsome, but you really shouldn’t talk to him, should you?

“That was certainly a short meeting. I don’t even know your name.”

“Yeah, well-“ You stocked. Talking to him couldn’t be that bad and maybe he could help you with Henry? “Only if you tell me yours!”

His brow raised and he answered: “Ah, a little trade? My name for yours?”

“Seems fair, don’t you think?”

He hummed, “You can begin.”

“I can- fine. Hi, I am Y/n!”

“Y/n? That is a pretty name.”

“Yes, now tell me yours!”

“So impatient, are you? Don’t worry, I always stick to my word.” “So?”

He chuckled and walked closer to you, only three steps away from you.

“Hi, I’m Peter.”

You stared at him with wide eyes, it couldn’t be…

“Peter as in Peter Pan?” you asked hesitantly.

His eyes darkened and his smile changed from arrogant to something more… dangerous.

“Why, yes!”

“I really have to go now.” Panic was a feeling you knew all too well in this moment.

“Not so fast!” He grabbed your wrist and spun you around.

“I know why you and your friends are here - without my permission by the way - but-“ he leaned in, now only centimetres apart from your face “You won’t succeed. You hear me? I always win.”

He stepped back: “You should go now before your friends wake up!”

He sent you one of his smirks and seconds later he was gone.

You stared at the spot, were he stood only seconds ago. Scrunching up your face, you think about how you thought of him as handsome, he really is, with his hair, and his green eyes and-

You had to focus! You crushing on the enemy was not helping or useful.

At least you now knew: neverland was really fascinating.

[rwrbficrecs]

The Monarch Haven by @redlightsandicedtea (book-verse)

@na-dineee: I found this fic through @lieselsart's wonderful illustration. Alex isn't the First Son, but his parents are high-ranking politicians. Due to serious mental health issues, he lives secluded in Texas, where he runs a mental health refuge for teens— the Monarch Haven. Secluded, until a real prince seeks refuge there. Alex isn't thrilled but still wants to help. What follows is 76k words of slow burn and domesticity! It's beautifully angsty, with a gradual and moving development. A total comfort read !!

Whiteout by HarmonyWhitlock (book-verse)

@na-dineee: Snowboarder Alex and skier Henry almost collide on the slopes, followed by a heated exchange of words. At the end of the day though, they meet at the bar and, well... This story is part of a series which is all about the CMQ-influenced trope 'In every universe'. I got all giddy with every beautiful story I read: So carefully composed and very well crafted, the emotions and attraction swept me away. Hopefully many more to come !!

I Want Candy by @vanillahigh00 (book-verse)

@suseagull04: Alex as a dad and Henry's house being his daughter's first stop on her quest for Halloween candy are the ingredients to this very sweet fic!

Tiempo de Vals by @14carrotghoul (book-verse)

@suseagull04: Authentic Hispanic details (that are always one of my favorite things about this author's writing), a high school AU, and firstprince dancing- what's not to love?

Workin' On My Fitness by bananamilks (book-verse)

@na-dineee: After gushing to Pez about how hot fitness trainer Alex on Instagram is, he is actually indignant when Pez gives him a gift certificate for a training package to reach his (decidedly not) fitness goal: to be able to lift hot men onto countertops. As always, these two have the hots for each other. And the story around it is really sweet, two seconds angsty, also funny, and just delightful.

If U Seek Amy by @14carrotghoul (book-verse)

@dot524: Such a cute and meaningful 5+1 centering on Amy Chen and how she views the different members of the First Family. Love an outsider PoV and the sweet moments in this one.

Adrift by @milowren29 (book-verse)

@read-and-write-: An addicting pacific rim AU. I don't even go here and I fully enjoyed it, packed with action, life-threatening monsters and alex-and-henry typical obliviousness and refusal to talk about their feelings which is y'know, canon. Everyone needs to give an opportunity to this one.

In Plain Sight You Hid by @nontoxic-writes (movie-verse)

@dot524: Ever reflect deeply on why everyone hates Miguel? This story fleshes out what he did to Alex and expands on what happened during that hookup and what it had to do with Henry. This is also a study of Alex’s relationship with Henry and what made it special. An insightful and angsty (and sexy) addition to the movie canon.

the beagle, the ghost, and the wardrobe by @dumbpeachjuice (book-verse)

@suseagull04: I was immediately intrigued by this fic title's Chronicles of Narnia inspiration, and the fic itself didn't disappoint! Ghost Alex, star-crossed lovers- what more could you ask for?

Jump in with your heart first by @dumbpeachjuice (book-verse)

@suseagull04: This is a blind date that, despite a hiccup or two along the way, will make you believe in soulmates!

Foxden Park by @myheartalivewrites (book-verse)

@dot524: Really enjoyed the slow burn of this one as the story unfolded. So many fun scenes - horse riding, canoeing, sneaky rendezvous in the library. An addicting, enjoyable read!

check out our past Monthly Faves here ❤️

[inkdemonapologist]

My BatDR Take That Used To Be Hot But I Left It Out On The Windowsill To Cool So You Should Be Able to Eat It Now Without Burning Your Tongue

its not actually that hot, is what im saying

Anyway my BatDR hot take is that BatDR's story is not fundamentally worse than BatIM with one exception; an exception that, for BatIM, covers a multitude of sins:

BatIM has a theme.

I can't presume the intentions of the creators, but if I had to write an essay on the themes in BatIM, it wouldn't be hard to pick one out: the cost of obsession, or even just, the ruin Joey brought on the studio. In the very first chapter, Henry asks "Joey, what were you doing?" and every single thing in the rest of the game revolves around that central question: what WAS Joey doing? Each audiolog is a snippet of the studio's path to this messed up state; each character you meet is someone ruined by Joey. The major antagonists echo Joey's flaws -- obsession with Bendy as more than a cartoon, obsession with perfection, obsession with fame and greatness and legacy -- but even without that, they're also each a picture of how the lives of people caught in the path of Joey's dream were ruined by it. Bertrum, for example, doesn't match the concept of rubberhose cartoons, but as yet another person screwed over by Joey, he fits the central question of the story, so he feels like he belongs here. Ultimately, in a narrative sense, the Ink Demon isn't the story's monster -- Joey is; the Ink Demon is just the consequence of his reckless ambition.

But what's the theme or central question of BatDR?

You can... try to pick out a theme. There's some promising options, because it feels like the story WANTED a theme, stating its emotional intentions more overtly -- "there's always a choice" to leave the darkness and chose hope; family and the struggle of living in a heavy legacy's shadow; or even just good old mewtwo-brand The Circumstance's Of One's Birth Are Irrelevant, It Is What You Do With The Gift Of Life That Determines Who You Are.

I think, even WITH the clumsy execution of Joey's "arc" and Audrey's lack of real choices, any of those could work about as well as BatIM. But unlike BatIM, the majority of the game doesn't tie in. Joey's tour can be considered relevant -- a picture of the family legacy and the "darkness" that Audrey doesn't yet know she's inheriting -- but like, the audiologs and hints and environment of BatDR are mostly teasing the question of What Is Gent Up To, and the takeover of Gent is detached from Audrey's choices, her family, her legacy, and Gent never really becomes a relevant threat to those things in this game. The Cult of Amok and the Ghost Train have nothing to do with any of these ideas. It might've been neat if Audrey had ever considered, "Did my father really drive all these people insane?", a hint of actually having to wonder about the darkness in her past. Even Wilson only barely brushes against these concepts; he doesn't like Joey and he also is trying to escape his family's heavy legacy, but it doesn't really reflect on his actions and we don't find that last part out until he's about to be dead.

There's also the question Wilson poses of "real" people versus ink creations, and what counts as valid "life." It would be an interesting theme with a lot to build off of in this setting, it ties into Wilson more as Wilson seems to represent the opinion that Inky Things Aren't Really Alive, which could've tied to Audrey (as an ink-person who has yet to accept that part of herself) and maybe given Wilson a reason to think it's fine to sacrifice her, it could've even tied to Gent (who don't even seem to value human life) -- but after Wilson asks the question, it doesn't tie into the direction things go. He smooshes a little Bendy, we see hints of his disregard for Betty, and then everyone continues with their plan to destroy the Ink Demon without any further moral quandaries about inky life.

The thing is, when you compare an element like, say, audiologs, there's a lot of differences you can point to -- but I don't actually think Lacie Benton's audiolog is notably better, taken on its own, than Grace Conway's or Kitty Thompson's, and yet tons of people were intrigued enough to flesh out Lacie. None of them are big plot points or compelling characters on their own; Lacie and Grace both give us a little note on what it's like working in the Studio, and Kitty shares a little bit on how Gent's expansion is affecting people. But when Lacie talks about Bertrum trying to make a creepy animatronic, that ties back into Joey's ill-fated schemes that are the point of the whole story. The question we're asking through the whole game is "what happened here?" so the fandom is interested in who Lacie is and what her life was like and extrapolates a whole person out of a couple sentences. But that's not the question in BatDR -- what has Wilson done to the Cycle and the Demon? Why? Who is Audrey really, and why is she here? Telling us new things about the Studio's fate seems strangely irrelevant to those questions, just an attempt to create a Mystery To Speculate On like the previous game did... but what question you're asking and how it fits into your story's main theme, like, matters. I absolutely believe that one clock animator guy would've been in EVERYONE'S crew if he'd been introduced in BatIM, but the context makes a difference; fleshing him out feels less relevant here.

The explanations of how and why Wilson did everything he did are baffling and handwavey, but in and of itself that's not a worse problem than anything else in the franchise -- I STILL don't understand why the Ink Machine needs pipes in the walls or even how it works, there's no good reason for Sammy to believe the Ink Demon will "set him free," most of Alice's motives don't make sense, etc etc etc. But the thing is that in BatDR, the wibbly bit is the closest thing to a central question we have! Wilson, what were you doing? The theme doesn't really explore or connect to that question, so the explanations that are finally tossed our way feel lacking in a way that BatIM's handwaved elements don't. There's a lot about Joey's motivation in BatIM that we can't know, but the heart of it resonates -- Joey wanted something, he was willing to exploit people to get it, and he became obsessed and prioritised that dream at any cost. We'll weather a thousand logistical inconsistencies if it's got heart.

But all of that said.... to be honest, I don't think Lacie overtly fits that theme anyway. Even, like, Sammy is iffy -- we don't really know what happened to him, only that he didn't used to be made of ink and worship Bendy, and now he does. We assume Joey's nonsense had something to do with what happened to him (though the books later assert his influence was indirect at best), because when there's a pattern, we can fill in the blank. So many fan creators found a place for Lacie, Grant, and Shawn in the cycle as butcher clones or lost ones, so many people imagined that Wally must be the Boris we meet, because that would've fit the pattern, the idea that the point of what we're seeing is the downfall of the studio. It's not actually that BatIM did a great job tying everything together -- it's that BatIM gave us a compelling idea and that was all it took to make everything else SEEM like it could find a place to fit. This is what I mean when I say BatIM's theme covers a multitude of sins. There's a LOT of characters in BatIM that don't make sense. There's a lot of inconsistencies and things that just sort of happen without any real reason. Characters don't really have "arcs" so much as different states they happen to be in at different times. But because there's a central question and the story doesn't wander away from it, our pattern-loving human brains will slot in all the pieces and do all the work to make the story feel at least somewhat coherent.

The things that happened in BatDR aren't a whole lot less coherent than BatIM imo, they just don't tie into a bigger theme or any of the questions the story's asking, making "how do they fit into all this" feel irrelevant, making it easier to forget entire sections and harder to get invested in audiolog characters. I think a lot of the other criticisms people have for BatDR's story are very valid, but I also suspect that if BatDR had a more successful theme/central question, then a lot of its flaws would be easier to overlook -- just like BatIM.

[justrainandcoffee]

“Good Morning” (Tom Hardy x fem!oc)

Part 1 of the series: “Only for tonight”

Summary: It's 2012 when Hannah received a call from an important executive to work with them. She's a great musician only until that moment she didn't have the chance to really show her natural talent. The BBC offered her the opportunity to finally do it and at the same time the opportunity to meet him. || Three years later, everything is very different. Two different realities linked by the same phrase: “good morning.”

Warnings: None. Although there's some angst towards the end. || This is pure fiction. All names are made up except his. Even in future chapters all filmography named here was invented. || The story is divided in past (2012) and present (2015)

Words: 2.7 k. || Remember that English isn't my first language. Please, consider leave a comment or reblog considering this is the first time i post this and still don't know what I'm doing 👉👈🥺.

Three years ago.

Hannah Murphy was born in London a morning in middle of May. His father was architect, her mother owner of a several beauty centres and her eldest brother was a neurosurgeon now working in Boston, United States.

Big things were expected from Hannah. Maybe being a doctor like Eric, her brother, or having a PhD in Economics like one if her cousins because first and foremost, the Murphys were successful people. Her grandfather, Mr. Andrew Murphy, was the one who designed the building for one of the most important corporations that existed nowadays in England. So, considering that everyone had their eyes on her, even as kid. But Hannah W. Murphy wasn't born with numbers and theories in her veins, she was born with music.

"You're wasting your life," her mother said when she was 10 and her father accepted to take her to a conservatory of music to learn to play piano. "Look at Eric, he's reading books that are for advanced students! And you're nothing compared to him, Hannah. Music! What kind of shit is that?"

But Hannah knew, even when she was 10, that music it was going to be her life. And she was right.

"Your daughter has a gift," one of her teachers said not longer after she started to study there.

But Greta Murphy, her mother, insisted on study something that could give her a name in the future and her brother thought the same as her. The only one who supported her was her father, Andrew Murphy jr, who was also the only one who went to her first solo in a theatre when she was 15.

Hannah was 16 when one of her plays, composed by herself, was part of a local play. Small, but it gave her some money and the hopes that her dreams could be possible.

Yet, when she finishes school, to stop hearing her mother for once, she decided to study engineering.  During those years, she didn't stop writing music but she just kept it to herself.

At the age of 23, she finished her career and threw the diploma in front of her Great. Hannah never worked as engineer.

Teaching kids and offering her music to different people who was interested in her talent, she was able to earn enough money to rent her own apartment and lm have her the freedom she was craving for.

Seven years later Hannah Murphy, 30 years old, was about to face the biggest change of her whole life.

She was walking Solomon, her black staffy and the most brainless dog in the whole world, when her phone on her pocket started to vibrate. It was an unknown number but she answered anyway.

"Hannah speaking."

"Ms. Murphy?" A female voice on the other side of the line made her stop walking.

"Yes?"

"Good morning, Miss Murphy I'm calling you in name of Mr. Henry Atwood, he wants to have an appointment with you, miss Murphy."

The first Henry Atwood that crossed her mind was the director and executive producer the BBC had and the brain of one of her favourite tv shows the last years. But the idea of someone calling her and saying that  that Henry Atwood wanted to see her was ridiculous.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand. Who's Henry Atwood? and how did you get my number?"

"Mr. Atwood, the tv producer," by her voice tone, Hannah believed that the girl considered her stupid. "I'm his secretary and I got your number because he asked for it to one of the directors you worked with."

"Scott?"

"Mr. Scott, yes"

If it wasn't because she was in middle of a park, Hannah could've screamed.

Travis Scott was a director working on a play and he asked her to help his team with the music. Finally after several failed meetings she ended up working alone and the final result in Travis's words was "the best fucking thing he ever heard."

That was four months ago but she didn't know that he knew Atwood and even less than he was going to receive a call from him. Or his secretary to be more specific.

"Ms. Murphy?"

"I'm sorry I'm trying to understand what's happening… I- the answer is yes! If he wants, yes of course I can. I just need to know when."

"Great. I'll make an appointment, then."

.

Two days later a very nervous Hannah was waiting for Atwood in the waiting room. It was perfectly tidy, with magazines on the glass table, some flyers prompting the movies and TV shows to come and some from previous months. The tiles shone reflecting the lamps on the ceiling.

Hannah felt stupidly nervous. Most people there arranged things thanks to secretaries or managers but she didn't have any of those. She had a dog without brain cells and she was sure Solomon didn't know how to talk. Although she did know that the staffy was the best to calm her and right now she needed his comfort.

Hannah would remember that day for the rest of her life. It was 20th of June, 11:30 am and it was a  guy talking about the European football league on the radio sounding in the background when he saw him for the first time. He was wearing a white shirt and jeans. He'd have been any other man but he wasn't.

"Good morning," Tom said to her who was sitting in the chair next to the office's door, so still that she wasn't sure that was even blinking.

"Good morning," she managed to say.

Don't be awkward.

Tom smiled before walking towards the elevator "call me, okay?" he said to the other man.

"I will."

Both him and Hannah look at Tom go. "Quite a character," he said. "You are Hannah, right? I'm Henry Atwood."

Hannah was still seeing the corridor where he disappeared from their sight and Atwood couldn't help but chuckle.

"Tom Hardy," she said "It was him?"

"Yeah, it was him. We hired him for future our project. And I have an offer for you, too, But please first, come in."

Hannah called Betty, her best friend, as soon as she left the building like if everything was a dream. All was so surreal that she needed something to drink and to eat to process what just happened. Both women went to a pub, ordered beer and fish and chips.

"The main theme?" Betty asked. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"No, I'm not!"

"Oh, my god! Your mother is going to freak out and probably pass out. Imagine her telling her friends about this."

"She's going to say that the BBC isn't Hollywood and no one outside England is going to see it. And probably she's going to say that the music is horrible."

"She doesn't know a shit about music."

"But she does know how to destroy people. Believe me, I know."

"Then fuck her. Don't tell her a word, better that way."

"I won't."

"But you already signed the papers?"

"No. I mean I said yes, but I need to make it official. I'm going to read it tonight and then sign them. Fuck me, I can't believe it."

Betty smiled at her Hannah couldn't help but imitate her. That was a good day.

Good morning.

Hannah was very tempted to say to her about her seeing Tom inside the building, but suddenly she felt really silly.  What she was going to say? Do you know I saw Tom Hardy today and he said good morning to me? Besides, it was something so random and something that Hannah believed that wasn't going to happen again that she felt unnecessary to say it.

Next week, Hannah returned to the BBC building with the papers signed and her hopes higher than ever before. Hannah was happy and it was good. Not long ago she ended a relationship that left her with debts, without her motorbike but with Solomon. The only good thing the bastard did was abandoning the dog in her house. Solomon was just an eight-month puppy, playful and sweet, but according to his ex, he was just a waste of money. As if he himself wasn't a waste of money and oxygen.

So these unexpected good news was exactly what she needed. And her first salary was more than welcome.

"There's a meeting this Friday. The whole team," Henry Atwood said. "Including you."

"Including me? But I have nothing to do with the cast."

"That's the point. It's not just the cast. There are always new ideas to add or to erase from the plot, suggestions, new plans. Etc… maybe you can create something even more great if you know what it's this about. Can you come?"

"Yes, I'm free, so… yes!"

"Good then!" Henry offered her a big smile and his hand to shake it "Welcome aboard, Hannah."

Hannah preferred to be one of the firsts to arrive there instead of being there late. It was her first meeting and officially it was also her first day at work. It'd be considered rude to be there late. Not to mention that the idea of people looking at her was something she wasn't used to. Not without her piano as shell, at least.

The meeting office was big and chairs and tables were in a circle so everyone could look at the rest.

Hannah couldn't help but felt nervous. The idea of working for them suddenly hit her in her face with fury.  On her first day at work, she had to leave the office and find an empty place to calm herself. She felt sick and she was hyperventilating. Her mother's voice in her head didn't help at all "You're going to fail, because you're a failure."

"Look at your brother, head of the surgeon committee of Boston."

"Your music is quite mediocre."

"Shut up! Shut up!" she said to herself resting her forehead on the cold window that was in that corridor. The last thing she needed that special day was her mother and her awful vibes with her. "Please, go away."

Hannah closed her eyes and tried to think about good things. Her dog, her best friend, her piano… she imagined herself sitting in front of it and tried to breathe normally again.

"Are you okay?" A male voice brought her again to reality.

Hannah gasped and back off surprised by the unexpected company.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry," he said.

It took Hannah few seconds to recognise that Tom was in front of her, but when she did it, she rushed to reply. "Yes, yes. I- uhm, I was nervous and I felt anxious. I needed to clean my mind. It happens, from time to time."

"Are you sure?"

Hannah nodded as Tom walked to the water dispenser and offered seconds later a glass of water.

"Thanks," she said smiling briefly.

People tend to see celebrities as deities, not humans. Because of course they're people but also, they're beyond of what could be considered approachable. Not everyone could be near one. And suddenly Hannah was few inches away from a famous actor that seemed to be concerned about her. Like, indeed, any good person in the world could be worried about another. Famous or not.

"I started today," Hannah said "I think my brain felt I couldn't do it."

"It's normal, a new job make everyone feel nervous. You'll be fine. You'll see. What's your name?"

"Hannah Murphy."

"The composer," Tom said. His voice denoted surprised and he smiled at her "Henry talked a lot about you. You're a little celebrity here."

"Oh, please, no! I'm just- I'm not. I Just play the piano."

"It seems to me that more than that. Were you in the meeting?"

"I tried to be there before feeling sick."

"Come on, Hannah. They'll love you, don't worry about it."

Tom smiled at her again and something in his reassuring made her feel better. Together they entered in the meeting room.

___

Now. Three years later.

The apartment was still dark, the windows were closed despite the morning was a reality. She could hear the cars, people… even birds. Everything was the proof that outside those walls nothing changed.

Hannah didn't sleep in the whole night in that bed  that now semeed to be awfully big for her. The empty spot.

She didn't want to cry again, but new tears appeared in her eyes.

Where was her morning kiss on her shoulder? The beard tickling her skin? The "let's stay five more minutes"? His morning coffee, too strong for her taste, but whose smell was synonymous with the beginning of a new day?

It's not like Hannah didn't break up with another person before… but never before everything hurt that way.

Tap tap tap.

Solomon was wagging his tail against the wooden floor because he saw her moving in bed. Against all odds, she smiled briefly. She pat the mattress and the dog didn't waste time to jump and snuggle with her in a single motion. His big head was now on her chest and she caressed it with her hand.

"You're hungry, aren't you?"

The animal looked at her. He didn't know anything about broken hearts, empty beds and tears. But he could feel her sadness. He'd wait for his breakfast until she felt better. Solomon settled closer to her.

It was 10am when she finally decided to go out of bed. The sun was shining, the city was indeed awake long time ago. Looking through the window she'd say that everything was the same. Only it wasn't.

Her phone was full of messages from her family and friends. Especially Betty. But Hananh didn't have the energy to deal with them, especially not her mother that for sure was ready to say that she was nothing but a disgrace, not even smart enough to keep a relationship with the best man she ever found. And for the first time in her life, Hannah hated the feeling that her mother was right.

She sat on her couch with a cappuccino mug in her hands and some toasts on a plate. On a chair on the opposite side of the living room still was one of his T-shirts, one that she stole from his wardrobe and ended its days as her pyjamas. She didn't use it for a while and she didn't want to touch it now, afraid that it'd smell like him.

The memories of the previous night overwhelmed her. It was her fault, she knew. For being too weak. Her mother was right, she wasn't like the rest of them, never was.

The sound of a new message caught her attention. She didn't need to see who it was. That was his ringtone, she personalized it long time ago.

Hannah took her phone and read the message.

[Can we talk? Ily]

Hannah pictured Tom in his house with his own dog next to him. His phone next to his nose because probably his glasses were somewhere where he couldn't find them.

She ruined it.

She received a new message from him.

[Pooh, let's talk]

Hannah broke into new tears when she read her nickname. No one before him ever called her Pooh. And everything started the moment he knew her second name was Winifred. Winnie. Hannah hated the name and she always used just the W, as reference for it. But with Tom, Hannah learnt to love her second name, even before dating. Or maybe it was because it was him.

Hannah called Tom.

He answered before the second ring, for a moment no one talked until he did "Good morning, Pooh."

[echooefrost]

TGS MEDIEVAL AU :0

Is this Historically accurate? no. Does that matter? no.

Alright, This is gonna be a lot, so thou shalt be warned

In the Au, Robert is a prince and Lanyon Sr. is the King, they rule over a small kindom somewhere in England - name TBA (so not like real monarchies which rule over entire countries etc.) The premise is basically; The Lanyon's personal/private doctor recently passed away so they call in a new doctor/chemist from Scotland - did you guess? yep, It's Jekyll. Hyde exists before Henry/Edward meets Robert (I haven't worked out the exact logistics about it yet, but I will) Jekyll/Hyde are more Chemists/Alchemists than Doctors but they are both still very good doctors regardless (so they don't really wear the 'plague mask' thing) I aged only Jekyll, Hyde and Lanyon down to about their early 20's so it matches around the original timing of when J&H met Robert in TGS. There are other smaller reasons but they aren't to important, all you need to know is that it doesn't really change anything

Lanyon is betrothed to Everly from a neighbouring kingdom -this is where it differs slightly from TGS, it's a political marriage not a lavender marriage. Neither Robert nor Everly are happy about this however, they are both only children in royalty so they don't really have an option.

Hyde is essentially the local gremlin that has in-built eyebags and a sense to sell you things not very discreetly that he probably shouldn't be selling. His Cape is comedically large and has a very extensive collection of illegal powders, drugs, and other nefarious items. Almost everybody knows Hyde becasue at some point they have all needed some rare item from him. - this is where the blackfog comes in (yes it exists!) the Blackfog is basically the same but Hyde really wants to go so he can buy/sell lots of items for his little side-business he has going on, however Lanyon Sr. is opposed to it and it's existence because well... illegal.

*Hyde also goes by: The Spirit of [insert Kingdom's name] at night (soooooo original, ik)

Jekyll stays pretty much the same, He really cares about his reputation so he can move up on the social ladder and create his own Science business at some point, and I mean he doesn't want to make a fool of himself in front of the King of all people, that wouldn't be a very good look, would it?

In this universe, The lodgers are all citizens of the small kingdom and they all sort of have different occupations/roles in the town. They can't all be scientists, but do not fear because they still as equally crazy and chaotic as before. Rachel is the Lanyon's personal chef but she also helps run the bakery in town with Mr. Doddle. Jasper looks after most of the animals and creatures in the kingdom, he used to be a farmer but moved to get away from home. I am yet to work out how Jekyll and Jaspers relationship dynamic stays the same in this universe but I will figure something out.

There is A LOT of Jekyon and Lanyde going on here, so I've got something for everyone, (there may or may not be a masquerade at some point...) and it's not just centred around romance, there is lots of other plot stuff happening so do not fear my ace/aro friends (or just people who aren't a fan of romance)!

That's most of it for now... I'll draw some more stuff at some point and give some extra details, If you have any questions please ask (my asks are open) I'd love to hear from you all!!! Don't be afraid to offer any suggestions or other criticisms. Maybe I'll write a fanfic one day who knows, we will see.

Thanks for listening to my rant (*^▽^*)

*Footnote - I don't think you guys realise how hard it was to make hyde not look like either A.) a fucking elf or B.) Link. Did I succeed? not sure.

[caterpills]

WIP Wednesday!

Hi everyone!! Thanks so much for the tags this week from @suseagull04 @thighzp @sophie1973 (and everyone else who tagged me in the past week writing prompts!)

I'm still in recovery mode from This Is More of a Comment Than a Question (which is complete now if you've been waiting and haven't seen me shouting about it) so writing hasn't really been ACTIVE but it's been passive! The kind of writing that is brewing in the back of my mind, with inspo collecting and a brainstorming doc, etc etc.

I have TWO things coming: a little fluff-tober fic coming (prompt: haunted house), and my next multi-chap, which I'm tentatively calling: saudade fic (Alex and Henry meet when they are young, briefly, then again later in college, with a twist.) So here's the opening (???) line to that:

Drowning is a strange way to die.

Super no pressure tags and always OPEN (this is barely a WIP to share) but tag me please! I feel fic hungover and I want to eat everyone's words! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

@alasse9 @taste-thewaste @firenati0n @thesleepyskipper @suseagull04

@myheartalivewrites @miss-minnelli @judasofsuburbia @thinkof-england @onthewaytosomewhere

@anincompletelist @14carrotghoul @porcelainmortal @wordsofhoneydew @blueeyedgrlwrites

@stellarmeadow @faketrex @sophie1973 @littlemisskittentoes @thedramasummer

@tailsbeth-writes @milowren29 @tinyarmedtrex @sparklepocalypse @clockwrkpendrxgon

@cricketnationrise @kj-bee @thighzp @theprinceandagcd @bitbybitwrites

@miharaikko @dani-dabbles @msmarvelouswinchester

[lalixlizzie]

Sky full of stars

_______________________________________________

Regina Mills x fem!Reader

A/N: This is the first time I write something like this, sorry if you don't understand something, English is not my first language but I try to write the best I can.

Warnings: None.

_______________________________________________

It was a starry night, the moon was shining brighter than usual, everyone was having fun at Granny's. It had become very common for you and them to meet almost every day in that cafeteria.

They are celebrating that they prevented another curse from being carried out in Storybrooke, to be honest you think everyone is already tired of how repetitive this situation is. You think everyone needs a break.

Everyone is having a good time, but there's someone you can't get out of your head. Regina was the only person who didn't seem to enjoy the night.

She was sitting alone at one of the tables in the place looking out the window. You didn't like that, she should be happy and celebrating, not sad looking out the window waiting for it to be time to leave. You took a deep breath and went straight towards her.

“Hey.” You said as you reached her table. Mills looked up and her eyes connected with yours.

Those beautiful almond eyes were now looking at you. Oh god, you could faint right now. You never had the chance to tell Regina how you feel about her, whenever you wanted to try, things happened that prevented you from doing so.

“Hey...” She looks at you confused and then looks at the others. “ I thought you were celebrating with Emma and the Charmings ”

“It's tiring, they smile all the time, it seems like something is happening to them. ” You joke, to which Regina laughs. You never get tired of hearing her laugh. “Can i sit?”

The mayor nodded and with her arm indicated the place where you could sit. As you do so, she looks at you with a smile.

“ Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face? ” You began to touch your face to get rid of what made the brunette smile.

“No...” Mills moved closer to you to stop your hands, moving them away from your face as she intertwined her fingers with yours.

You started to get nervous, but you couldn't show it. What happens if she realizes that you like her? Will she talk to you again? You did not know. But after asking a thousand questions in your head, there was something that made you return to the conversation.

“Henry told me he had a lot of fun with you the other day. ”

“Oh, I just took him to the arcade and then we went for ice cream. It wasn't a big deal.”

“It's not what you did, but what he told me you told him”

You said a lot of things to that kid, you don't really remember the things you guys talk so much about. Emma almost always asks you to take care of him for a while while she finishes paperwork at the police station.

And that was a problem, many things went through your mind again. What could Henry have said to his mother?

You had no problem letting Emma know, since you have been friends for years and always tell each other things, no matter how stupid they are. And Henry liked to be part of your conversations, so you always included him.

But Regina... She wasn't the same as Emma.You don't know if she would take things well or badly.

“And... what did he tell you? ” You said as best you could, you weren't going to show that you were nervous.

“He told me something funny, that you like me.”

You swore you were going to kill that kid. Your cheeks began to burn, you were embarrassed, surely the former Evil Queen could see it.

“Everyone likes you, Regina. You are charming and a very good person. ” You tried to make an excuse so she wouldn't see the obvious.

She started shaking her head. “Not in a friend way. He said you were in love with me.”

“Oh...” These moments are the ones you wish the earth would swallow you and disappear. You never thought you'd feel this way. “I'm so sorry, I don't know how he could say that to you, I've never said that. I'm really sorry if you felt uncomfortable, I didn't mean...”

You couldn't finish your excuse because you felt the softness of Mills's lips on yours. You felt a million butterflies in your stomach. You couldn't believe what was happening. Did she silence you with a kiss? Like in the movies? Oh God.

After a few seconds, Regina separated her lips from yours and you just stared at each other, no one spoke for minutes. You could only concentrate on the moon reflected in the brunette's beautiful eyes.

“Does this... Does this mean anything to you?” You asked, afraid that the answer would be "no."

“Of course yes, I also have feelings for you. I thought Henry told you.”

“He didn't.” You said quickly.

“Well, now you know it.” She came a little closer to you, and gently and delicately placed her hands on your cheeks, and then kissed you.

[crazyunsexycool]

My little love

It's Christmas!!!!!!!!

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Word count: 7.2K

Warnings: FLUFF CITY BABY!!!!!!! Little bit of tears but they're happy ones.

A/N: Finally our sweet Angel and Sweet Boy get to celebrate their first Christmas. I was so excited to write this and just give our favorite Barnes duo the love and happiness they deserve. I hope you all like it and happy holidays!!! Also see end of bottom of the post for some explanations on certain gifts....

Series masterlist

It was your favorite time of year and you couldn’t wait to share it with Charlotte and Henry. The year had its ups and most definitely its downs. It was definitely time for some holiday cheer. You wanted to make sure that everything was just perfect because it was also Lottie and Henry’s first Christmas. Although the kids were excited they still weren’t sure what they were celebrating. Lottie heard the word present and she was on board with the holiday immediately. 

The first thing you needed to do was go shopping for decorations and a tree. You and Bucky took the kids to a tree farm first to pick one out. 

“This one, mama?” Lottie pointed at a tree that was not much taller than her. 

“I think that one is too little, Sweet Angel. We need one as tall as daddy and Steebie.” 

“Is so big.” 

You chuckle as you slowly walk around the trees. “It is big but we have a big living room.” 

“T-wee goes inside?” She looks up at you with huge curious eyes. 

“Yes, and we get to make it pretty with decorations and the presents go under the tree.” 

“I get pwesents?” 

“Of course you will. So will bubba and daddy.”

“An mama and Steebie?” She asks. 

“Yes. Everyone gets presents.” You crouch so that you’re eye level with her. “The best part is getting to buy presents for everyone. Are you gonna get bubba, daddy and Steebie presents?” 

Her eyes light up at the thought of getting her favorite people presents. Charlotte was a gift giver at heart.

“Yes, can buy pwesents.” 

“Then we can have a mommy and Lottie date.” 

“Yay.” Lottie bounces in place and giggles.

“Hey Sugar.”

“Yes?” 

Bucky’s head pops out of one of the rows and smiles in your direction. “Henry found one.” 

Lottie gasps and she runs towards Bucky, who catches her and lifts her up in the air. She laughs and wraps her arms around his neck when Bucky settles her on his hip. You catch up and take his hand so that he can lead you to the tree Henry has found. 

****

“Are you lost honey?” A worker asks Henry. 

“No ma’am, my daddy just went to call my mama to show her the tree I found.” 

“Well it’s a very lovely tree. I’m sure she’ll love it. Are you excited for Christmas?” She gets down to his level and smiles. 

“Yeah, it’s mine and my sister’s first Christmas and mama says we can bake and decorate cookies.”

“Well your first Christmas is the most special. I’m sure you’ll love it.” She says before looking up at you and Bucky. Her eyes go wide when she recognizes both of you.

“Thank you.” You tell her before turning to Henry. “Ok bubs, where is the tree?”

“It’s this one.” He points over his shoulder with his thumb. 

You take a step back and look at it, giving a little hum. 

“Mama is a big t-wee.”

“It is.” You nod as you do a little walk around it. Henry anxiously awaits for the verdict. “I think it’s perfect.” You smile at him. 

“We’ll take this one.” Bucky tells the worker. “Do you deliver?” 

“Yes sir. Where would you like the delivery to be?”

“The Avengers’ tower.” 

She gapes at Bucky before quickly nodding and tagging the tree as sold. “And if you don’t mind me asking, what are the kids' names?”

You and Bucky look at each other, a bit reluctant to answer. 

“We make ornaments with names on them and seeing as it’s their first Christmas I thought they should have one each.” 

“Henry and Charlotte.” 

“Ok. You can meet me in the front in a few minutes. There’s also a hot chocolate bar by the entrance if you’d like to wait there.” She says and makes a quick exit.

****

The four of you sit at a picnic table drinking some hot chocolate and waiting for the worker that helped you. 

“Careful Doll, it’s really hot.” Bucky says as he sets Lottie’s cup on the table.

“Is kay, I wike it.”

“Just blow on the hot chocolate a little bit. We don’t want you to burn your tongue.”

“Kay.” She says before pursing her lips and blowing on her drink. 

Bucky takes a seat across from you, smiling as you enjoy this small moment of family time. Since finding Charlotte all you and Bucky wanted was to be able to go out together and show her, and then Henry, all the good things the world had to offer. Henry and Lottie talk amongst themselves and giggle as they watch people trying to move trees around. Soon enough the worker that had helped you stops by your table.

“Here you go.” She holds out three clear boxes that hold one ornament in each. “Everything is set for delivery.”

One had Henry’s first Christmas and the other had Charlotte’s first Christmas. The third was a surprise, it had The Barnes family’s first Christmas.

“Merry Christmas.” She says and waves at the kids before stepping away again. 

You smile as you look at the ornament and then hand it over to Bucky so that he can see it as well. 

“It’s perfect.” He murmurs before looking up at you. “We should go.” 

You nod and you all finish your drink. 

****

“Wow.” Henry says under his breath as he takes in all of the colorful Christmas lights and decorations everywhere. It’s like he was in a trance. You had to grab his hand to avoid him bumping into people and things. 

“Careful bubs. Alright, now we have to do the second most important thing.”

“What mama?” Lottie looks up at you before she turns to look around the store.

“We have to pick out everything we need to decorate.” 

“Can help?” 

“Of course you can sweet Angel.” 

“Uppies dada?” Lottie stretched her arms out and did grabby hands. It was unusual for her to get tired so quickly but it had already been a busy and exciting morning. 

“Big uppies, Doll.”

Bucky grabs her and settles her on his shoulders so that she can see everything. Lottie’s eyes go wide as she looks over the crowd. 

“Alright, let's get some decorations. First stop is the Christmas lights.”

****

There were boxes upon boxes of Christmas lights and bows and ornaments. It was starting to feel like a lot but at the same time not enough. The kids decided they wanted every color for the decorations and you wouldn’t deny them that. You even picked out a small fake tree that could go in their room. As the four of you walked through another aisle Lottie stopped in her tracks and gasped before rushing to a shelf and grabbing a box. 

“Wook it. Is a goat!” She shrieked. “Can habe it? Pwease.” She clutched the box to her chest and looked up at you and Bucky.

“Of course you can, Doll. But…” Bucky had moved toward the same shelf. “Goats need friends so let’s take another one ok?”

Charlotte was practically vibrating with excitement as she held onto her inflatable Christmas goat. Henry just giggled as she babbled about how cute it was. 

“Alright. I think we have everything we need. Charlotte, can you put the goat in the cart please?” You say as you look over everything you’ve grabbed. 

“Mama, is my goat.” She whines at the thought of giving it up. 

“Sweet Angel, we just have to pay for it and then I’ll give it back. You can hold it in the car too.” 

Lottie pouts but holds up the box she’d been holding for the last half hour. 

“Thank you, baby.” 

Once everything was paid for and put away in the trunk of the car the four of you finally went home to rest.

The goat sat in Charlotte’s lap.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The tree is delivered bright and early. After breakfast you get to working on decorating. Of course Bucky, Henry and Lottie are very excited to help. Steve is even recruited to help by the kids. At the store the previous day you had bought them Santa hats and Charlotte and Henry ran around with them on. 

Christmas music played as Bucky put the lights on the trees and you organized the ornaments. With the help of the kids you decorate around the living room. The inflatable goats were placed outside by the door at Lottie’s insistence.

Once the lights were ready it was time to decorate the tree. Henry and Lottie were bouncing all over the place with excitement as they ran around the tree and hung ornaments anywhere they could reach. The three ornaments you had been given were neatly placed front and center. Seeing them there made you tear up a bit. Bucky kissed your temple as he admired them.

“It’s kind of insane isn’t it?” He murmurs. 

“After all we’ve been through? Yeah. But I’m glad I get to celebrate with you.” 

Bucky’s smile is soft, eyes full of adoration as he looks down at you. He gives you another quick kiss before stepping away. 

“Alright now the most important part of the tree-“

“The pwesents?” Lottie interrupts Bucky. Everyone chuckles at her excitement. 

“No. The most important part is the Star.” Bucky says as he grabs the star out of the box. “Who wants to put the star at the top?”

“Bubba do it.”

“Henry, wanna do the honors?” 

“Yeah.” Henry grabs the star and stares down at it with wonder. 

“Ok, let’s get you on my shoulders bubs.” Bucky nods at Steve who grabs Henry and has him stand on Bucky’s shoulders. 

Carefully, Bucky moves towards the tree and gives Henry time to place the star right at the top. You record the whole thing and cheer Henry on once the star is set in place.

“Doll, come do the honors and turn on the lights.” 

With Bucky’s help she plugs in the tree. 

“Wow.” Charlotte says under her breath. Her eyes are wide as she takes in the sight of the finished Christmas tree. 

You, Steve and Bucky stand in the middle of the living room and admire the completed room before some sniffles get your attention. When you look at the kids you find Lottie wiping away tears and Henry shifting between solid and translucent.

“What’s wrong?” Steve asks as he looks between both kids. 

The question seems to be what breaks the floodgates. 

“Is so pwetty.” Lottie hiccups and runs to Bucky who catches her and holds her close. 

Henry quietly moves to your side and lets you pull him in for a hug. 

“What’s going on bub?”

“I love it, everything is so nice. I never wanna go with the bad guys again.”

“Oh my sweet boy. Daddy and I will never let that happen.” You squat down to be at his eye level.

“I know.” He hides his face on your shoulder as he hugs you. “I just want it to be like this all the time.” 

“We’ll see what we can do.” You smile up at Bucky and Steve. 

“Why don’t we watch a movie?”

“What moobie mama?” 

“A Christmas one of course.” 

~~~~~~~~

The whole team stood in a private section at Rockefeller center. It was the night for the tree lighting event. Tony had always been given an invitation but always declined. This year though everyone was there, including the kids. Your dad, Luke, Molly and Olivia were also there. 

“Make sure the kids keep these on.” Tony held his hand open to you, revealing three pins.

“What are they?”

“I made them for them. It’s to prevent the paparazzi from getting pictures of them.” Tony explains. “I thought it’d be good to give them a little more protection.”

“You’re amazing. Thank you Tony.” 

Tony shrugs but gives you a pleased grin before you turn and call the kids over. Each of them gets a pin placed on their coat. It gives you a little piece of mind that their faces won’t be out there just yet. 

As the show starts Bucky stands behind you, his arms wrap around your waist. Lottie, Henry and Olivia stand at the edge of the private section and dance along with the music. When it’s time to finally light the tree Charlotte is on Bucky’s shoulder. Olivia is sitting on Luke’s shoulder and Henry is standing by your side. You all watch as the tree lights up. Everyone cheers and talks amongst themselves. It’s perfect timing because it starts to snow lightly. 

“Hey kitten.” Ed says as he walks up from behind you. 

“Hey dad.” 

“I was thinking.”

“Uh-oh.” 

Ed raises an eyebrow in your direction. “Careful missy, I can still put you in time out.” 

Henry looks up between you and your dad and laughs. 

“Whatever you say old man. What were you thinking about?”

“The forecast says it’s going to be snowing soon up toward the cabin.” 

“Really?”  Your eyes light up. Now this is a family tradition you’d love to share with the kids. 

“Yup. I was thinking of leaving tomorrow morning and getting everything set up. This year has been really tough on all of us. Maybe it’d be good to spend some family time together. Get these kiddos used to some family traditions.” 

“That would be amazing. We can definitely be there.” 

“Good. I can’t wait.” 

“We should get going, it’s getting late.” You give him a quick hug. “We’ll see you up there.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was only a few days later when you showed up at the cabin. Snow had started to fall just as Bucky parked the car. With any luck there would be enough snow on the ground to let the kids play outside and maybe build a snowman or make snow angels. 

The door opens before you’ve even made it up the porch steps. 

“Gwandpa.” 

“Grandpa.” 

Both Charlotte and Henry exclaim as they rush to hug your father. 

“Hey there kiddos.” He hugs them both before looking up at you. “Hey kitten, Bucky. How was the drive up?” 

“It was good.” 

“Good, good. Let’s get you in here before the cold snaps your toes off.” 

Lottie screams at that and runs inside, exclaiming that she doesn’t want an owie on her toes. You all chuckle before Bucky tells you he’ll get the suitcases and that you should go in. 

“Finally.” Josh announces and he gets up from the couch to embrace you. 

Ever since the team found you and brought you back your family had been more present than ever. Sofia and Joshua, who lived in the city due to being in college, came around the tower the most. There seemed to be some sort of underlying guilt but mostly it felt like they were trying to make up for lost time. 

“Sibling hug.” Sofia announces as she hugs you from behind. 

The hug is finished by Luke who somehow managed to wrap his arms around both twins with you in the middle. You giggle like a little girl as they finally pull away. 

“Hey, Molly.” You greet your sister in law. 

“Hey, Y/N.” 

“Auntie So-So.” Lottie pulls on Sofia’s sweater. “Can make bwaid?” She runs her little chubby fingers through her much longer raven hair.

“Of course I can. How about I give you and Oli matching hairdos?” 

“Yeah.” Lottie jumps up and down and darts toward the room the kids will be staying in. 

Bucky walks in with all of the luggage under his arms. 

“Let me help you with that.” Luke offers and takes the kids' suitcases. “The kids will be in the same room as last time and you’ll be in Y/N’s old room.” 

You and Molly move to the couch as Bucky and Luke disappear further into the cabin. 

“So how is their first Christmas going?” Molly asks.

“It’s going great but I’m constantly fighting the urge to do more. I feel like it’s not enough but I also don’t want to overwhelm them.”

Molly hums in agreement. 

“I just want it to be special, you know.”

“I do but don’t worry about it too much. Those kids adore you and Bucky. Anything you do with them will make Christmas special.” 

“You’re right. We have a whole lifetime to fit in everything we can do during the holidays.”

Ed takes a seat on his recliner while Bucky and Luke take a seat next to you and Molly. 

“So what’s the plan for this weekend?” Bucky asks. 

“Lots of fun.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hold on, Doll. You too Olivia.” Bucky says as he settles a skate mate in front of each of them. 

Bucky held on to the front of the skate mate as he walked them through what they needed to do. Luke was behind them, making sure they wouldn’t get hurt but also encouraging them. You were further up in the rink with Henry. He was a quick learner and not afraid of falling. Soon enough he was gliding easily along the ice, holding your hand as you did a lap. 

“Did you skate a lot when you were my age, mama?” 

“Yup. Grandpa used to take me to this ice rink, just the two of us. We would skate for hours.” You smile down at him. 

“Do you know any tricks?” 

“I do and I’ll show you.”

You pick up a bit of speed and do a few tricks. It’s a bit easier doing them now with the serum. You call Henry over and show him your jumps and soon enough he’s doing them too. The music changes to something more upbeat and the lights flash and bounce to the rhythm. 

“May I have this dance?” Your dad stops right beside you, his hand stretched out for you to take.

You smile and let him lead you around the mostly empty rink. It was just like when you were little. Your laugh filled the space as Ed turned and dipped you. Soon enough Bucky was doing the same with Lottie and Luke with Olivia. You skated over to Henry and took his hands, leading him around the ice the same way your dad did. Everyone was partnered up and a  new tradition was born. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The morning after the ice rink was perfect. It had snowed all night long providing the perfect amount of snow to be able to play outside. Once the kids heard about the plans for the day, breakfast was a quick affair. Dressed in their warmest and waterproof clothes Henry, Lottie and Olivia head outside. 

You make sure to take videos and pictures of them playing in the snow. There’s laughing and yelling and everything a kid’s Christmas should be. 

“Auntie Y/N.” Olivia calls you shyly.

“Yes Oli?” 

“Can you help me make a snow Angel?” 

“Of course sweetheart. Let’s find a good flat spot.”  You take her hand and walk a little bit further from the main entrance and help her lay down. 

“Mama what you doing?” Lottie asks as she watches you.

“We are making snow angels. Wanna make one?” 

“Yeah.” She does her best to run but the snow is slowing her down. 

Henry soon joins too and you teach them how they should move their arms and legs. A few minutes later the  three snow angels are done and you take a picture of those too.

****

“Don’t let him see you ok?” You whisper into Henry’s ear. He’s giggling uncontrollably as you hand him a snowball. “Don’t let him hear you either.”

Henry nods and disappears. The only trace of him are the footprints in the snow but they’re surprisingly light. From your own hiding place you watch as Luke walks out of the cabin and stands on the porch. He had been the only one to stay inside while everyone played. The whole family was in their spots and waiting for just the right moment. 

“Molly?” Luke calls out after not seeing his wife. “Olivia?” 

“I feel bad.” Molly says. 

“Don’t. He planned plenty of these surprise attacks on all of us.” You murmur. 

You hear the snowball hit him, right in the face too. Henry reappears briefly and laughs before there are snowballs flying from all directions. Luke, Bucky, Josh and Henry take it very seriously and soon enough the four of them are in a proper snowball fight. Teams have been formed and snowballs are flying from one side of the yard to the other nonstop. 

You, Molly, Olivia and Lottie decide to make a snowman instead. It takes a bit of explaining from you and Molly so that the girl will understand that the snowman will not come to life like in the Frosty the snowman movie. They’re slightly disappointed until Ed and Sofia walk out with hot chocolate for everyone. 

You sit on the stairs with Bucky pulling you in closer. His eyes are bright and his cheeks are flushed pink and his smile is beaming. He kisses your temple before taking a sip from his mug. 

“So what do you think so far?” You whisper.

“I couldn’t ask for anything better. Hopefully we can do this next year too.” 

You smile and nod before looking at everyone on the porch, grateful for this moment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Bucky where are we going?” You ask as Bucky leads you down to the entrance.

“I told you Sugar, it’s a surprise.”

“What about the kids?” 

“Eddie, Sofia and Josh were taking them into town for some shopping and dinner.” He tells you as he grabs your coat and holds it out for you to wear. 

Bucky looked amazing in his dark blue sweater and jeans. His hair which was just below his ears was pulled into a small man bun. He had also picked out your own outfit since he didn’t tell you where he was taking you. Much like his own outfit you had on your warmest sweater and a pair of jeans. Bucky also made sure you had your gloves and a scarf. 

“Let’s go before it gets late.” Bucky opens the door and lets you go first.

The sight before you takes your breath away. Sitting on the front lawn of the family cabin was a beautiful red sleigh led by two black horses. 

“How did you do this?” 

“Luke helped me out. He’s on his own sleigh ride with Molly. Said it was tradition.” Bucky says as you both walk to the sleigh. “Do you like it?” 

“Bucky this is the best surprise.” You turn and smile at him before wrapping your arms around his neck and giving him a kiss. “Thank you. I love you.” 

“I love you too, Sugar.”

Bucky helps you up and you place the blanket that was waiting for you on yours and Bucky’s lap. He takes the reins and leads the horses down to who knows where. It didn’t matter where you went though as long as you got to spend some time with him. You snuggle up to him and enjoy the beautiful winter wonderland before you. The two of you talked about everything and nothing. You told each other of the things you wanted to do as a family and as a couple. It was wonderful to just be with Bucky.

Houses were all decorated and Bucky would slow down whenever you passed one in order to admire it. Soon enough you got closer to town. And just on the edge there were a few figures you recognized anywhere. Before the sleigh even came to a complete stop you turn to look at Bucky with nothing but love in your eyes for him. 

“You’re amazing, you know that. Tonight is just perfect.” 

“It’s going to get better, Sugar.” Bucky says as the sleigh comes to a complete stop.

“Hi mama.”

“Hi my babies. Hi dad.”

“Hey kitten. Having a nice time?” 

“The best. But apparently it’s supposed to get better.” 

“I’m sure it will but you’ll need these two troublemakers and this.” Eddie holds up a picnic basket for you to take. 

Then he helps the kids up on the sleigh. Once they’re settled with Lottie sitting in your lap and Henry between you and Bucky, Eddie sends you on your way. 

The night did end up getting much better. Bucky took you and the kids to a drive or ride through, Festival of Lights. While enjoying the light shows you sipped on hot chocolate and snacked on what had been packed. Henry and Lottie were ecstatic as they pointed out their favorite parts. You couldn’t help the smile on your face as you looked over at Bucky. Both of you with loving looks in your eyes. 

This was the perfect way to end a small getaway with the family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Mama, why are we taking a picture with someone we don’t know?” Henry asks as he looks at Santa Claus.

“Well it’s Santa Claus, you can tell him what you want as Christmas presents. Then you take a picture, it’s just to have it.” 

“But why would we ask him if you and daddy always get us presents?” 

You smile at that. 

“You don’t have to ask him for anything or take a picture with him if you don’t want to.” You look down at him before turning to check on Lottie and Bucky. “Do you know what you want to ask Santa for?” 

“Yup.” Lottie twists her hips from side to side to make her dress swish. “I wike my dwess mama.” 

“You look very pretty, sweet Angel.”

“Tank you, mama.” 

“Next.” One of Santa’s helpers calls out and you move toward Santa. You give them a piece of paper with the kids names on it.

“Alright Lottie, go ahead.” 

“I’ll go with her mama.” Henry says and takes Charlotte’s hand. 

“Merry Christmas, little ones. Charlotte and Henry, how are you doing today?” 

“Am good.” 

“Good.” 

“Now tell me what would you like for Christmas?” 

They both sit on the bench next to Santa and start listing things they’d love to get. A doll, a new video game, some candy. 

“An I want a huwa hoop.” 

“Oh a hula hoop can be quite fun.” 

“Where did she learn what a hula hoop is?” Bucky murmurs in your ear. 

“That chipmunk song she’s been listening to nonstop.” 

“Oh. I guess I tuned it out after the third time.” You both chuckle.

“An I want-“ Lottie starts talking but then she looks from Santa to you and back, a smile that means mischief on her face. She kneels next to Santa and cups her hand around her mouth to whisper. “A baby sissy.” 

Santa immediately blushes and laughs. 

“Sometimes it takes a while but maybe mom and dad can help with that request, little one.” Santa looks up at you and Bucky and winks.  “How about we take a picture now?” 

“Kay.” 

Santa’s helper sets the kids up and the picture gets taken. Then each kid gets a candy cane and they walk back to you.

“Let’s get you guys changed and then we can go shopping.” 

****

You walked through a department store. Bucky had taken Henry and you were with Charlotte. Although you had already bought the gifts you were meant to give, Lottie also wanted to pick something out for her family.  

She stood in front of a clothes rack, one hand on her hip and the fingers of the other tapping on her chin. 

“Mama, that one.” She pointed at a short black slip dress with a slit to one side. 

You pull the dress off the rack and hold it up for her and she nods happily. Her cart was already full of things for everyone. It was cute how excited she was to go shopping. 

You met up with Bucky, he then left with Lottie and you took Henry. He knew exactly what he wanted to get Bucky. You were in the men’s section and Henry just walked around until he found exactly what he wanted for his dad. 

With all the gifts purchased you meet up with Bucky and head back home. 

~~~~~~~~~

“I have the icing and gumdrops here.” Steve says as everyone sets down all of the ingredients to make gingerbread houses. 

“Alright, let’s start building.” 

“Steebie help me?” Lottie looks up at Steve from her seat. 

“Of course, sweetheart.” 

Clint and Sam get easily distracted by throwing candy at each other to see who can catch more. Tony starts making a gingerbread Ironman suit. Nat and Wanda are helping Henry make something that resembles more of a mansion. 

“What are you making Sugar?” 

“Don’t know, maybe we can make the cabin.” 

“We can give it to your dad as his Christmas gift.” Bucky chuckles.

“He’d love it and then eat it.” 

“It doesn’t sound appetizing.”

“He won’t care.” You look at him and smile. “Now come on and help me put the roof together.” 

There was laughter and lightness amongst the team. Jokes and teasing happened around you. Henry was having the time of his life with his aunties. Lottie looked at Steve like he hung the moon and the stars as he guided her on where to put more decorations. She giggled when Tony leaned in and ate the candy she had been holding. Bucky had to pull the candy bowls from Sam and Clint since they kept tossing them at each other. It was all you could have ever wanted for the kids first Christmas. 

~~~~~~~~~

Music blasted from the speaker in the kitchen. The oven was preheating. There were ingredients everywhere. Everyone’s apron was covered in flour, you could even find flour in Lottie’s hair. It was great. 

“Make sure you keep even pressure.” You stand behind Henry and help him roll out the sugar cookie dough. “If not, the cookies won’t bake evenly.”

Henry was completely focused on his task. He’d double check everything before going on to the next step. 

“Ok now we get to use the cookie cutters.” 

“Can help mama.” 

“Yes you can, come over to this side.” You step back and place a stepladder in front of the counter.

Lottie gets up and looks up at you waiting for instructions. You grab a few of the cookie cutters and show her.

“Which one do you want to use, sweet Angel?” 

“Um-“ she looks them all over before choosing a snowman cutter. “This one mama.”

“Good choice. How about you sweet boy?” 

Henry goes with a stocking cutter. 

“Alright now you just have to press it down on the dough like this.” You show them what they need to do. “Then you pick it back up and do the same thing a few times. You can even change cookie cutters if you want.” 

There’s a little bell that goes off letting you know that the batch of cookies in the oven should be done. 

“I’ll get those.” Bucky says as he walks around the kitchen island and heads for the oven.

“Don’t eat any of them daddy.”

“Yeah, no habe cookies.” 

Bucky scoffs. “I haven’t had a single cookie.” 

“Yes you have. I’ve seen you.” Henry laughs when he turns to see Bucky with a cookie halfway to his mouth. “You see, I caught you again.” 

“Dada. No habe cookie.” 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Bucky says before taking a bite out of the cookie in his hand.

You chuckle and shake your head. 

Recipe after recipe you end up making a nice mixture of cookies. From sugar cookies and chocolate chips to snickerdoodle and crinkle cookies. There was enough to feed the building. 

“Don’t forget to leave some for Santa.”  Henry reminds you as you box some up for the team. 

“Don’t worry, those right there are for Santa.” You point to some cookies that have been separated. 

“Good, I wouldn’t want daddy to eat them all.” 

“Hey!” Bucky pouts. “It’s not my fault you’re so good at cooking and baking. The cookies are too good.”

“Yeah, bubba. Cookies are so yummy.” 

“See it’s not only me.” 

Both you and Henry look over just in time to see Charlotte stuff another snickerdoodle cookie in her mouth. Her cheeks puff out as she tries to chew and she sends a thumbs up Henry’s way. You laugh and finish packing the last bit of cookies. 

~~~~~~~~~

Christmas Eve you spent in your apartment. The four of you watched some movies and listened to more Christmas music. The kids had been determined in wrapping the presents themselves. At the end of it there was wasted tape and wrapping paper and gifts that were poorly wrapped. But they were so excited and proud of doing it themselves and placing them under the Christmas tree.   

****

“Please daddy. We have to match.” 

“I’m not wearing that.” 

“Pwease dada.” Lottie pouted and looked up at Bucky with her big doe eyes.

You held up his pair of matching pajamas seeing as you and the kids were already changed into them. It really wouldn’t have been a problem for Bucky except the pajamas in question were white with little ornaments, presents and characters from The Grinch movie. 

“Please.” You add as you hold out the pajamas the kids had chosen. “Don't be a Grinch.”

“Yeah dada, no be a Gwinch.”

Bucky groans but fails to hold back his smile as he takes the offending clothes and heads into the room to change. You Lottie and Henry celebrate while waiting for him. The kids cheer when Bucky walks back out in his pajamas and Lottie hugs his legs and waits to be picked up. The night is spent playing some board games and watching movies. When bedtime rolls around you and Bucky read Twas the night before Christmas to the kids. They fall asleep quickly and happily. 

****

“Wake up sweet boy.” You rub Henry’s back. “C’mon sweet boy open those pretty eyes for me.” 

“Mama? What’s going on?” 

“You have to come see.” You whisper. 

Lottie was already a pouting mess in Bucky’s arm but the four of you crept your way out from the bedroom down the hallway and stopped short of the living room. 

“Be quiet but take a look.” You whisper to the kids with a smile. By now curiosity had driven away Lottie’s sleepiness. 

Bucky sets Lottie down and takes out his phone to record as she tipped toed toward the entrance of the living room with Henry right behind her. There’s a light gasp from both kids. There in the living room illuminated by the soft glow of Christmas lights was Santa placing gifts under the tree.

“Mama is Santa.” Lottie whispers. 

“I know sweet Angel.” 

“Can we say hi?” 

“Do you think he’ll like my cookies?” Henry looks from Santa to you.

“You tell me.” 

You nod toward the living room and Henry turns back just in time to watch Santa take a bite. He hums in approval, even giving his signature Ho Ho Ho laugh, before drinks some milk. Henry is ecstatic. 

“Let’s go back to bed now before he sees us.” Bucky says as he puts his phone away and the kids run back. 

They were way too excited to sleep now but it was worth it. As Bucky keeps them distracted you stay by the living room waiting for Santa. 

“How excited were they?” 

“So excited, I’ll send you the video.” You look up at Santa and smile. “Thanks for helping with this dad.” 

“You got it, kitten.”

You hug your dad and walk him to the door. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow, kitten.”

“Goodnight dad.” 

You close the door and head back to the kids room and hear them talking about Santa and how they were so excited to open presents. 

~~~~~~~

Christmas morning comes with two little balls of energy. One currently pulling on Bucky’s hand and the other straddling your waist.

“Mama no seeping. It’s Chwistmas, habe pwesents.” Lottie says in your ear rather loudly. 

“I’m awake, sweet Angel but you have to get off of me.” 

“Kay.” She says as she scrambles off of you and the bed. 

“Move faster.” Henry insists from the door. 

They were both practically vibrating in their spots. You turn to look at Bucky who had a sleepy but adoring smile on his face. Henry takes Lottie’s hand and they start running to the living room. 

“We should go before their heads explode.” 

****

Both kids sat by the tree. All the presents you’d finish placing under the tree after they had gone to sleep overflowed. Lottie and Henry pointed at the gifts with special wrapping paper and wondered if those were the gifts from Santa.

“Ok, should we have breakfast first?” You tease knowing the kids wanted to get to the presents.

“No mama. Want pwesents.”

“Please.” Henry looked up with pleading eyes. 

You looked back at Bucky who had a camera set up on a tripod and ready to record. 

“Ok I guess we can open gifts now then.” 

The kids cheer and you all sit down. Gifts are given and wrapping paper is ripped into. Henry and Lottie smile and gasp and cheer as they open each gift. Lego sets and video games, baby dolls and hula hoops. Art supplies and baking items. It was everything they’d wanted. Tears of joy gather in both yours and Bucky’s eyes as you watch the kids get to experience something as wonderful as Christmas. 

“Mama is fo��� you.” Lottie holds out a wrapped gift. 

“Did you buy this for me sweet Angel?”

“Yeah.” She says bashfully.

You open the gift to find a teddy bear, a dress and some of your favorite candy. 

“I love it sweet Angel. Thank you.” 

“So mama no have bad dweams.” She holds up the stuffie.

“Oh baby. You are so sweet.” You hug her tightly and kiss the top of her head. 

“Mama I got you this.” 

You grab the gift from him which was pretty big as well. When you open it you find another bear and a knitted blanket in your favorite color. You smile at him and hug the blanket and stuffie to your chest.

“I think baby and I had the same idea, mama.” 

“It’s ok my sweet boy. I love everything.” You hug him. 

“Fo’ dada.” 

“Thank you doll.”  Bucky unwraps his gifts. One is a very nice watch and the other is a pair of very stylish sunglasses. “These are amazing, doll. I love everything.” He gives her a hug and a kiss.

“Here, open mine now.” 

Bucky opens the gift which is a very nice leather jacket. 

“It’s perfect. How did you know I needed a new one?” 

Henry just shrugs but he has a small proud smile on his face. 

Next you and Bucky exchange what you got for each other. A beautiful bracelet and earring set for you and an expensive bottle of scotch, a cologne you knew he’d love and a rare first edition copy of the Hobbit. 

Even Alpine got treats, toys and at Lottie’s insistence some bows and a cute collar.

“We should have breakfast and meet in the common room to exchange gifts with everyone else.” You said. 

“That sounds like a plan. Let’s go.”

~~~~~~

The whole team and family members gathered in the shared living room after breakfast. Almost everyone was still in pajamas and Sam made sure to tease Bucky about his Grinch pajamas. 

“Alright, alright.” Eddie quieted everyone down. “I think it’s time for presents.” 

Everyone exchanged presents before opening them. Tony gave all the guys, and kids a customized lightsaber, which he had been working on. To everyone else he gave an expensive perfume made specifically for them. Sam gave Lottie and Henry bikes and all of the necessary protections. Bruce gave the kids science kits and even promised to do some experiments with them. Wanda and Nat replaced some of the kid’s favorite things including Lottie’s make up kit and accessories and Henry’s cookbook and toys. 

In turn Henry and Lottie gave everyone their gifts. From mugs to a tool kit for Tony, which he didn’t need but appreciated anyway. Wanda got some sweaters and earrings while Nat got the black dress Lottie picked out and a bracelet. 

Steve was last and you knew he had worked hard on whatever it was that was going to give them. He gave Henry and Lottie their gift bags and he waited anxiously for them to open it. There were two books in each bag. Lottie’s eyes immediately lit up and then watered. 

“Steebie I lobe it.” She murmurs as she looks at the sequel to the Lottie Adventure book Steve had drawn up for her. As well as a copy of the first book, that he had gifted her for her birthday and which was lost when hydra had attacked the compound. 

Her eyes fill with tears as she hugs Steve as a thank you.

“Oh sweetheart you don’t have to cry.”

“Is my fabowite.” 

“I’m glad you like it.” 

Henry opened his gift to find his own Henry’s Adventure book. He rushes to Steve and hugs him as well and thanks him.  

“You’re welcome bubs.” Steve smiles as both Charlotte and Henry cling to him. 

You hold out the gifts that the kids chose for him so that they could give him their gifts. Lottie chose a record player with various records. Henry had opted for a new personalized leather bound sketchbook along with pencils and charcoals. 

The kids played amongst themselves and so did the adults. It was good to be together and be able to share in the laughter and love. 

~~~~~

When the day came to an end and Lottie and Henry were tired and on the verge of sleep, you and Bucky tucked them in. They were mumbling about how much fun they’d had but Charlotte had one complaint.

“Am mad at Santa, mama.” She murmured in her semi sleepy state. 

“Why is that my sweet Angel?” You pushed some hair out of her face and felt Bucky move to kneel beside you. 

“Asked Santa fo’ a baby sissy an no find baby sissy unduh the twee.” 

There was a little pout on her lips as she blinked owlishly at you. 

“Well we can write Santa a letter tomorrow to complain ok?” 

“Kay.” 

“I love you sweet Angel.”

“I love you Doll.” 

“I lobe you mama an dada and bubba.” 

“I love you too baby.” You heard Henry say sleepily from the top bunk. 

With the kids asleep you and Bucky sat in the living room with a glass of wine. You were tucked into his side and you enjoyed the comfortable silence between you two. 

“I’m tired.” Bucky mumbles. “How was this the longest yet shortest month ever?” 

You chuckle and nod in agreement. “It was amazing wasn’t it?” 

“Yeah. I want to see those smiles the rest of my life.” 

“Me too.” 

Bucky turns to look at you. A soft adoring look in his eyes. Then he leans in and kisses you softly. He rests his forehead against yours.

“You’re the best gift I could have ever asked for.” He mutters. 

You smile and kiss him again. 

“Funny, I was going to say the same thing about you.”

Bucky huffs a laugh before you kiss him again. This time leaving him breathless. Neither of you could wait to do this again, to celebrate Christmas again or any other holiday for that matter. Because at the end of the day the best gift you could have was each other and the kids. The laughter and the love. The ups and downs this life threw at you. 

And considering you had been thrown many downs it was nice to end the year in an up with the people you cared about the most. 

Extra notes: So although it's not stated in the main series. For Charlotte's Birthday Steve gifted her with her own book, with Lottie being the main character (as she should be). He did the illustrations and worked with a local children's book author to create a story for her. This was based on an ask that I received and I thought that it would be something Steve would keep adding to. So for Christmas he replaced the one she lost (book 1) and gave her the sequel. He did the same for Henry.

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[firstprincehornyramblings]

WEEEEEEEEEEE Hello, I hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday. I feel like I haven't done a Sentences Sunday in years! Thrilled to be back, with Sugar Baby Alex, AND a new WIP. Things are under the cut so this isn't the longest post in history.

-

Let's get into it with Sugar Baby Alex first, shall we?:

“Alex, I am not ‘putting you off’, I am thirty-eight years old, I do not have that glorious refractory period you have, anymore,” the blond huffed, “As much as I would love to go again right now, and believe me, I would, it’s impossible. So, surely you can wait until this evening when we can both get hard, hm?” “Damn,” Alex whispered, “That fucking sucks actually, I didn’t know fucking an old dude would have drawbacks. So, like positive is that you can make me cum like never before but negative is that your dick has a tim-MMPHM!” That sentence was cut short by Henry picking up a pillow and pressing it into the brunette’s face, holding it in place for a moment as Alex flailed, “Such a mouth on you, I’m almost certain I liked it better full,” he teased before lifting that pillow, “Don’t make me confirm your sister and friend’s worst fear.” “Oh baby,” Alex laughed, smiling so wide now that he was free of the pillow, “Killing me with a pillow is so intimate though, that’s incredibly sexy of you.” “Shut up, Alex!” “Make me!”

AND new WIP time, Doctor Alex :)

What Henry was not expecting was for the door to open and the most beautiful man he’d ever seen in his life to walk in. He was fairytale prince level tall dark and handsome. Even in the scrubs, his physic was broad and built, and the long-sleeved shirt under his scrub top fit tight around wide biceps. He had coal colored, luxurious curls, high cheeks, and obscene lashes over gorgeous brown eyes. His jawline was sharp, covered in a few days’ worth of stubble. Miles of tanned skin, the same dark hair on his forearms, large hands that he was currently slipping into gloves. The few inches of exposed wrist from slightly pulled up sleeves made Henry feel like he was seeing something pornographic. But anything to keep himself from locking eyes on those incredibly soft looking lips. “Hi, I’m Alex, it’s nice to meet you.” Ah, Henry remembered reading something about Alexander the Great being the son of Zeus. Yes, a demigod, right here in Oxford, that made sense. No, wait, that accent- “You’re American?” Henry blurted out before he could stop himself. If asked, he would blame it on this man’s, well- everything. “Yeah, sorry,” Alex laughed, “Always forget that catches ya'll off guard, I’m from Texas. I’m going into clinical medicine, but I’d like to travel, work with the Red Cross and do outreach things; help with natural disasters and pandemics. It’ll be easier for me to break into that if I do the rest of medical school and residency in Europe.” “Oh.” “But that’s not why you’re here, hm, Mr. Fox? May I touch you?” the brunette asked stepping closer to the exam table Henry was sitting on. “Please. Erm, I mean, uhm, yes please, go ahead.”

-

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+ literally anyone else I'm tired and forgot. (Im queueing this at 2am) or anyone who sees this and wants to tag me, I love reading yall's stuff. <3

[gffa]

Hi Lumi. This year I’ve watched The Clone Wars, Rebels, Mandalorian, Book of Boba Fett, and Tales of the Jedi and I’m watching Ahsoka as episodes are released. But I feel like I’m missing some context as to why people are wary of Filoni. What things should I know so I’m caught up, so to speak, in the fandom discussions?

Hi! That's a lot of Star Wars to watch in a year, I hope you're having fun with it all! And I will gently remind everyone that Filoni is not the be-all-end-all of Star Wars creators--Henry Gilroy was there for TCW and Rebels, too. George Lucas was holding writers' meetings years after the show started (at least into 2010!). The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett are far more Jon Favreau's shows. The Bad Batch is Brad Rau and Jennifer Corbett. Resistance was developed by him, but was run by other producers. It's just that Filoni tends to get the most camera time and has become the face of Star Wars creators. That said, the issue with Filoni is kind of two-pronged, though, they overlap. 1. He's done a lot of interviews where he's said a lot of anti-Jedi things that have drifted from reasonable critiques in the beginning to eventually "Qui-Gon Jinn was the only true Jedi. [blatantly wrong citations]" This has put a lot of people off him as a creator, because we love the Jedi Order that Lucas talks about and established, which Filoni has actively contradicted over the years, despite being promoted as someone who follows Lucas' themes. And it's hard not to be aware of his interviews when watching his shows and it's hard to enjoy shows that do your faves dirty, you know? 2. His writing has become weaker over the years for a lot of us--Rebels is a show most of us love and found to be incredible. Many of us really love The Clone Wars, which he was heavily involved in/was probably the central voice after Lucas started phasing out. But his biggest story told over the course of those series--basically, the story of Mandalore's history and fall to the Empire--has been extremely thin for a lot of us. And a lot of us get frustrated at his inability to be objective when it comes to Ahsoka's character, that we love her as a character very much, but it hasn't felt like Filoni really knows what to do with her character arc and yet almost everything he writes is centered around her. His final season of The Clone Wars? Gave her the walkabout arc and the Siege of Mandalore arc, both of which often did not hold up well under scrutiny. His episode of The Book of Boba Fett? I actually really loved it, but it absolutely just stopped the pacing of that show to focus a lot on her. More on Luke, but he couldn't resist putting her in there, either. Tales of the Jedi was half devoted to Ahsoka and so much of it wasn't even about her time as a Jedi! We're frustrated because he doesn't set things up well anymore--Morgan Elsbeth is a Nightsister?? Why wasn't that established in The Mandalorian instead of pulling out randomly in Ahsoka? Why does Sabine Wren suddenly so badly want Jedi training, when they barely even had a conversation in Rebels?? There's a lot of good that Filoni has given to Star Wars, I think he genuinely cares about the Force and what it means--he's very consistent on how it's not easy and how it takes discipline and control, that he has been consistent on how anger and fear are paths to the dark side, even his episode of TBOBF had Ahsoka saying, yeah, attachment is a path to the dark side, because the Jedi mean "attachment" in a more Buddhist-aligned way. A lot of his writing for the character of Ahsoka is actually pretty good, like I've been enjoying her being a prickly, traumatized hot mess in the show! It's just that I kind of hate all the interviews he gives and I think he's a lot less objective than a lot of fans and media coverage that would hold him up as a perfect writer/interviewee about all things Star Wars, and it all comes together to make him kind of a hot-button topic.

So, a lot of people LOVE Filoni's work, a lot of people are frustrated by it, a lot of people are casually fine about it, a lot of people HATE Filoni's work and it can be a fun mix of any of the above or even other issues that come up. (And that's all fine! I have my views on Filoni's work, but it's fine if others hate it more than I do or love it more than I do, there's room for us all, all of it is valid.)

But I think if you want to understand some of the roots of this corner of fandom's frustration, two (admittedly long as heck) homework assignment reads would be:

- My own rebuttal to Dave's behind the scenes Mandalorian Gallery talk (this is jokingly referred to as "Davegate" because I refused to take it too seriously) - @david-talks-sw's collection of comparisons between Lucas' commentary on the Jedi and Filoni's commentary on the Jedi

This response itself is more focused on laying out the problems a lot of people have with Filoni's writing, but also honestly I still have my giant collection of Jedi source material citations that quotes his commentary, I still bring up Filoni's quotes in current meta a lot, I still talk positively about the things I enjoy from his shows, so overall there's equal amounts of both praise and criticism here. So, as short as I can make it (which isn't very, shut up, I know! XD), that's basically what people mean when they say they're wary of Filoni.