#i was hoping to put up our christmas lights today

[virtie333]

Not me having a post-holiday/crazy work week migraine...

[safetypinxtales]

Santa baby | Azriel

summary: it's nearing solstice and you have an extensive list for your mate Santa.

words: 1.5k

warnings: fluff, a bit of seduction, Azriel is stupid in love, like absolutely whipped, reader sits in Azriel's lap, feminine reader (lipgloss, hair below shoulder-length), otherwise neutrally described reader, no use of y/n, it's an AU where everything is the same except Santa is a thing.

notes: well, it's been a while but it's Christmas and I have free time for once so why not write? I whipped this one up in like an hour whilst waiting for our guests to arrive today, and it has minimal editing, but it's something light and sweet for the holidays. Hope you enjoy and merry Christmas! 🤍

masterlist

The glass is cold in your hand as you waltz into the living room. The winter sun had already set on the quaint seaside cottage you shared with Azriel. He had surprised you with it after your mating ceremony last solstice, and as you took in the shadows dancing around on the walls, cast by dim candle light, a feeling of contentedness enveloped you. The amber liquid in the glass sloshed with each step you took, but never quite enough to spill over the rim. It was a practiced routine, bringing him a drink whenever you found your mate a little too stuck in his work.

His head lifted from the paperwork he had been going over as he sensed your presence entering the living room, the hand that had been carefully turning a leaf falling slack on the armrest.

His eyes dropped down to your hips, watching them sway with every step you took, gaze fixed as if in a trance.

You let out a low hum as you reached him, extending the glass. His eyes met yours as he put the paperwork aside and accepted your offering.

Slowly – gracefully and practiced – you slid into his lap, one arm snaking its way around his shoulder. The warmth of his hands on your waist spread all the way into your chest, making your heart beat just that little bit faster.

Grabbing his face, feeling the slight stubble of his cheek under your palm, you planted your lips on his. 

The kiss was soft and warm, and perfectly matched the feeling blooming in your chest has he murmured a low:

“Hello, my love.”

“Hello,” you hummed back and felt that slow tug in your chest that you had come to love so. 

You gave a loving tug back and felt Azriel shudder beneath you.

Letting you gaze flit over his face, you marveled at his features. 

The dark lashes framing those mesmerizing hazel eyes of his. The colour of the finest of honey, all swirling and golden. 

The constellations of freckles adorning his cheeks, like a map only you were privy to read.

His lips, currently smeared in your lipgloss and stretched into a dopey smile making him look just as lovesick as you felt inside.

“Hey, Az?” You broke the warm silence that had enveloped you.

“Yes, my love?” He murmured, his eyes flicking down to your lips briefly before finding their way back to yours.

You leaned in to give him another soft peck, only pulling away to rest your forehead against his.

“I have.. I’ve been thinking about something,” you whispered, feeling the breath from his curious yes? on your lips. “About what I want from Santa this year.”

He pulled back slightly at your words, eyebrows raised and that dopey smile still plastered on that pretty mouth of his. He knew as well as you that Santa meant Azriel himself.

“Oh, really? Please, do tell,” his curious hum sent you heart fluttering as you settled in further in his lap.

“Well, do you remember that dagger I liked so much when we visited summer? The gold one?” You purred and ran your fingers through his hair. His eyes fluttered as your nails lightly scratched his scalp.

“The one with the eye-sized ruby in the pommel?” You nodded. “My love, that blade is useless. You couldn’t even cut an apple with it, much less cause any real damage,” he scoffed, ”you’d be better off fighting someone with a cotton ball. That you could at least shove down their throat – hope they choke to death.”

His eyes gleamed at the gasp you let out. The soft swat you landed on his chest drawing out a quiet chuckle.

“I know it’s useless in combat, but it’s so pretty isn’t it? Besides, why would I need to fight when I have you to defend me?” You chirped with a flutter of lashes. 

You just managed to catch his eyes darkening before he pulled you into yet another kiss, this time firmer. Purposeful. 

Claiming.

When he pulled away his breath was heavier and his voice rougher as he swore, “I will always protect you, always defend you.”

“Even if I’m in the wrong?”

“No such thing.”

Your toes curled at his admission, and the hand that was tangled in his hair tightened its grip.

“Good answer,” you mused, and his thumbs swiped at your waist – up and down. 

��What else should Santa put on his list?”

You pretended to think for a moment, pursing your lips into a glossy pout, knowing just how crazy the act drove your mate.

And just as you could have predicted, his eyes dropped down to your mouth, his smile fading slightly, his eyelids growing heavier.

“Well you know that necklace that Feyre has? That she wore on our mating ceremony?” You asked.

He nodded in response, eyes still focused on your lips.

You let your cheeks pull into a broad smile, “well I saw that the jewellery shop by the Palace of Thread and Jewels has its twin in gold.”

“The diamond necklace you kept sighing about for weeks after the ceremony? The one that had me questioning if it was the mating bond that was making you so blue?” He questioned, his voice laced with disbelief.

“That’s the one,” you replied. Removing your hand from where it was nestled against his head, you moved to push your hair over your shoulder, exposing your décolletage.

”Wouldn’t it fit me so well?” You asked, letting your hands graze the bottom of your throat, following the curve down to the top of your chest, watching his eyes track the movement with a predatory focus.

Azriel’s throat bobbed, “It would.”

Your hand fell to his arm, giving the muscle hiding under his sweater a light squeeze. 

“Yeah, you really think so?” You gave him your best hopeful look, batting your eyelashes for added effect.

He simply nodded, too much of a lovestruck, mess of a male in your presence to form any actual words. 

“That’s good,” you hum, “now I only have one last thing on my wish list.”

Your mate didn’t verbally respond, but you took the squeeze of his hands on your hips as a sign to keep going.

“An apartment in the city.”

That seemed to bring Azriel back to life.

“An apartment? Is the cottage I got for us not enough?” He asked with a playful glint in his eyes.

“Well, no, I love the cottage – you know that. But sometimes it would be nice to have somewhere closer to go to after having spent the evening with the others, don’t you think?”

“It takes half a second to winnow from there to here,” he deadpanned, causing you to roll your eyes.

“But I think it would be nice to stay in the city sometimes. To be able to walk home, a stroll along the Sidra,” you gave him your sweetest, most innocent smile and added, “just you and me?”

You could see his resolve melting, and felt the largeness of his hand leave your waist in favour of gently stroking your thigh. 

“An apartment, huh?” His soft voice still had some reluctance hanging on to it, but you could tell he was warming up to the idea pretty quickly.

Your head bobbed up and down in confirmation, and an amused sigh left his lips.

“You must think mighty highly of yourself, dear, to think Santa would give you such special treatment,” he mused as he pulled you closer. 

“Well, I just have it on a hunch that Santa might know that my wonderful, loving mate, who – if I haven’t already mentioned – loves me so,” Azriel’s eyes crinkled at the corners as you continued, “works for the high lord.”

Amusement danced in his eyes, and a soft red glow started making its way up his cheeks.

“So maybe someone like that, like me. Like the mate of the Night court spymaster, deserves to be a little spoiled.” You leaned in to kiss his jaw, and stopped to whisper in his ear, “it sure would make her happy.”

He hummed in agreement, his thumb stroking across your thigh at a slow but steady pace.

“Besides,” you continued, leaning back to look him in the eyes, “I have been such a good girl this year.” 

Azriel’s administrations on you leg stopped, his large hand instead coming up to cup your face. 

He hummed lowly, eyes locked on your lips, eyebrows drawn together in a pensive look.

“You really have,” he murmured.

Again, he pulled you into a kiss, molding his lips to yours. You let yourself melt into him – your wonderful, loving spymaster – into the warmth radiating from his large body. Into the secure grip of his hands and the gentle softness of his lips. You let yourself melt into your mate, with no care in the world, besides kissing him back.

When you finally pulled away you leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “if Santa is very kind to me, I promise I will be just as good next year.”

“Yeah?” His voice was thick with emotion.

“Yes, maybe even better.” You promised, and leaned back to look at him. 

You cupped his jaw, the slight stubble adorning the skin scratching your hand in the most comforting way.

He shook his head slightly, his gaze never leaving yours.

“Not possible.”

Want to be added to my taglist?

tags: @missussimonriley @azrielshadows1nger @anuttellaa @tele86 @aria-chikage @lilah-asteria

(since I haven't written in a while, lmk if you want to be removed)

[writingwithciara]

blinking lights -quinn hughes-

summary: with planes grounded for the holiday due the snow storm, y/n & quinn are forced to spend christmas together. but oddly enough, neither of them seem to mind much

word count: 3.4k

pairing: quinn hughes x roommate!reader

note: i LOVE writing roommate quinn honestly

"i'm sorry mom. i won't be able to make it home this year. all flights out of vancouver are cancelled." y/n looked at the website opened on her laptop. her mom was sighing on the other end of the line. "i know. i'm sorry. but i should be able to visit in the new year. i promise."

"it's okay honey. i'm just glad that you'll be safe." her mom sighed again. "are your roommates stranded too?"

"i'm not sure. quinn left earlier to catch a flight so it's a possibility."

"well for you sake, i hope you're not alone for the holidays."

"i hope so too, mom." y/n looked up when the door opened. "gotta go, mom. quinn's home."

"okay sweetie. i'll call you tomorrow."

"alright. sounds good. love you."

as y/n hung up, quinn sat next to her on the couch.

"no luck?"

"unfortunately." y/n sighed and closed her laptop. "i'm guessing the same goes for you?"

"yeah. it kinda sucks. it's the first christmas i won't be able to see my family."

"at least neither of us will be alone this year."

"fair point." quinn chuckled and turned on the tv. "what should we watch?"

"frosty the snowman. always makes me feel better."

"got it." quinn smiled and put the movie on. he glanced around the bare apartment. "since we'll both be here for christmas, why don't we decorate? we can also combine traditions and do them together."

"i guess it beats sitting in an empty apartment. we definitely need some christmas spirit in this place."

"strongly agree. we'll go out tomorrow to get some decorations and we'll make a day of decorating and traditions."

"alright." y/n turned her attention to the tv screen. "my mom is supposed to call me tomorrow and she may want to talk to you."

"why?"

"i don't know. i suppose it's because i talk about you a lot but i think she's not sure if you're a guy or a girl. never really specified, honestly." she smiled. "i'm only telling you now so you're not completely shocked when she calls."

"alright." he smiled. "should i expect any questions?"

"she'll probably asked why i'm living with you and stuff like that."

"okay. i think i can handle it." quinn smiled.

after the movie, they both went to their rooms to get some sleep. decorating their apartment was going to be a huge task but if anyone could do it, it's y/n & quinn.

the next morning, y/n woke up early and sent her mom a text.

hey mom. i'm going shopping with quinn today and we're gonna be decorating our apartment after. i'll call you later, alright? love you <3

the second she heard quinn moving around in his room, she smiled and put on a pot of coffee. y/n watched him walk into the kitchen slowly. he smiled at her and sat at the counter.

"ready to shop for decorations today?"

"you bet." y/n smiled and poured them each a cup of coffee. she was excited to spend more time with quinn than she was used to. for the past 3 years, she had been harboring a crush on her roommate but the timing to tell him was never right. he was almost always in a relationship and his girlfriends barely liked her. they tolerated her, at best. and that was why she didn't spend a whole lot of time with him.

when the time came, quinn drove them to the seasonal store downtown. they went their separate ways once inside so they could get the decorations faster and have more time putting everything up.

while walking down the 'gifts for her' aisle, quinn saw something on the shelf that he knew y/n would love. it was so perfectly her that he just couldn't pass it up. he couldn't help the way his heart beat faster just thinking of what her reaction would be. he was so far gone for her but didn't want to risk pushing her away. especially not when she was finally spending time with him again.

it took 20 minutes to get everything and quinn insisted on paying for everything. he didn't y/n to see the gift he was getting her.

when they got home, quinn quickly hid the gift in his room, deciding he would wrap it tonight and give it to her in the morning. by the time he made it back to the living room, y/n had all the decorations sorted out in piles based on each room they were going to work on.

"so i figured you could get started in the kitchen while i worked out here. fair warning, i may need your help after."

"then why don't we work together?" he chuckled. "wouldn't that make more sense?"

"well i was going to play christmas music and when i dance, it looks weird."

"i highly doubt that." he smiled. "i've seen you dance before."

"that was always choreographed or because i was drunk. but i'm sober and don't want to make a fool of myself."

"y/n, i don't think you're capable of doing such a thing. just let me help you out here."

"alright, fine. but no judging me on my dance moves, hughes."

"i would never." quinn smiled and grabbed a box of lights. he grabbed the necessary items to get started while y/n put some music on the speaker. "wanna start on opposite ends and meet in the middle?"

"yes sir." y/n grabbed the other decorations and went across the room. halfway through the 3rd song, quinn was done hanging lights. he turned to look at y/n. she was dancing and in her own little world and quinn couldn't help but admire her more. how could she think she'd look like a fool? he thought she was beautiful and one day, he was going to get the courage to tell her.

when y/n turned around to grab something, she noticed quinn staring at her. it suddenly made her self conscious. "what?"

"nothing. i was just watching you dance."

"oh. i'm sorry about that. i told you i looked like a fool when i dance sober."

"quite the opposite actually. it was pretty cute." he chuckled and headed to the kitchen to start decorating, leaving y/n to stare with red cheeks.

it took her a minute to follow but when she finally got to the kitchen, quinn was already halfway through decorating.

"wow. you work fast." y/n smiled and instead of offering to help, she just leaned against the counter and watched him.

"yeah. sorry about that. i just couldn't help myself. i know you wanted to help with the decorating."

"no. it's perfectly fine. i like observing." y/n smirked and pulled out a mug. she poured herself some hot chocolate and sipped it while quinn went back to work. while he worked, y/n climbed onto the counter and smiled. this was the perfect way to admire quinn without feeling too guilty.

by the time quinn was finished, y/n had a mug of hot chocolate made for him. when she handed it to him, their fingers brushed against each other, causing y/n to draw her hand back quickly. the moment was interrupted when y/n's phone was ringing. she glanced down at the caller id.

"it's my mom." y/n showed him the phone and hit the 'accept' button. her moms face filled the screen in seconds. "hey mom."

"hey sweetie. how's your day?"

"it's good. quinn and i have been decorating for an hour. the place looks amazing. wanna see it?"

"in a minute. i want to meet your roommate."

y/n looked up and held the phone out to quinn. he took it and moved to stand beside y/n so they'd both be on the screen.

"hi. it's nice to finally meet you."

"oh my. you're certainly not what i was expecting."

"y/n informed me that you would say something like that." he smiled.

"how's it going, living with my baby?"

"mom!" y/n turned her face into quinn's shoulder while he chuckled.

"it's great. we're having the best time." he couldn't stop smiling. y/n's head fit perfectly in his shoulder. it was like a dream come true to have her this close. "she's amazing and probably my best friend."

"i'm glad she has such a good friend, honestly. i was so worried about her."

"you don't have to worry about her now. she's in good hands." he chuckled and threw his arm around y/n's shoulder. she grabbed the phone from him and smiled.

"alright. we gotta finish decorating. i'll talk to you later. bye mom. i love you."

"bye you guys. love you too."

after she hung up, y/n turned to quinn. "i'm your best friend, huh?"

"yeah, actually." he turned to stand across from her. "and it kind of hurt when you distanced yourself a little bit over the last 2 years. thought it was something i did. but i'm really glad you're coming back around."

"yeah i'm sorry about that. but none of your girlfriends liked me so i thought it'd be easier for your relationships if i wasn't around a whole lot."

"why didn't they like you?"

"i don't know." y/n shrugged and turned to refill her mug. "but for the record, you're my best friend too."

"glad to hear it." quinn smiled slightly before walking out to the living room. although he had just called her his best friend, he didn't like hearing the word come from her mouth.

"quinn," y/n called out after him as she followed him into the living room. "i'm never going to distance myself from you again, okay? it was hurting me too."

"i'm sorry you felt like you had to give me space. and i'm really sorry they didn't like you. i don't understand why they didn't. you're one of the most likeable people i know."

"i try to be. and i don't understand why they didn't. but it's all in the past and i've learned from my mistakes." y/n sat and looked at him. "i can never stay away from you, quinn. it'll probably kill me."

"well i'm glad you're sticking around because it would probably kill me too, if i'm being honest." he turned to face her and smiled. "so, are there any traditions you have with your family that we can do tonight?"

"my mom and i usually bake cookies and eat some random take-out while watching home alone or how the grinch stole christmas. but we don't have to do that."

"why not? it sounds like fun."

"you'd really want to bake cookies with me?" y/n's eyes widened and she couldn't help the way her smile grew.

"of course. if it makes you happy, then i'll do anything."

y/n tried to ignore the way her heart wanted to beat out of her chest. never in her life had she met a guy so willing to do anything she had asked. it took everything in her not to launch herself across the couch and kiss him. she had to keep reminding herself that they were just friends.

while they baked cookies, both of them enjoyed the closeness of the other. side by side and covered in flour. usually, quinn hated messes but with y/n, he didn't care.

when they put the cookies in the oven, quinn wiped his hands on a towel.

"i'm gonna go take a shower. you order dinner and pick out the movie. i'll be out in a bit." quinn didn't wait for her to reply. he just headed into the bathroom to shower. he spent half an hour in their and when he got out to get dressed, he realized that with his quick exit, he forgot to grab a new shirt from his room. the one he was wearing was covered in flour but luckily the rest of his clothes were fine. he put on his shorts and walked out into the hallway.

y/n looked up from the couch and watched quinn walk into his room. she only got a brief look at him but she was still speechless, regardless of having seen him without a shirt many times. she quickly turned her attention to the tv when he came walking back out to join her on the couch.

"food should be here in 10 minutes and i decided to go with home alone this year. is that okay?"

"it's perfect." quinn smiled and threw his arm around the back of the couch. the couch was big enough for at least 7 people but they were sitting on the same cushion. not close enough to be touching but close enough to feel the heat radiating off of each other. and every few seconds, quinn's thumb would rub against y/n's shoulder. but neither of them seemed to care.

when the food arrived, quinn went to grab it. and when he sat back down, he was closer to y/n than before. as they ate, y/n tried not to focus on the closeness of her best friend. it was hard but she was able to do it.

until he swung his arm back over the couch. he may as well have just placed it across her shoulder with the way his hand was resting there. as they watched the movie, quinn had moved his arm down to where it was actually resting across y/n. she looked at him with an innocent smile, which he adored, then went back to watching the rest of the movie.

when the movie was finally over, y/n stood up and stretched. "well i'm gonna get ready for bed."

"before you do, i was wondering if you wanted to take part in one of my family's traditions."

"it's not going to be something weird, is it?"

"no." he smiled. "unless you count wearing matching pajamas to bed on christmas eve."

"oh my gosh. my family does the same thing." y/n giggled. "wait, do we have matching pajamas?"

"yeah. i bought them a few days ago and was intending to give you a pair before i left for the holidays but i guess it was just meant to happen this way. be right back." quinn smiled and ran to his room. he returned seconds later with the pjs. "i hope you like them."

"they're a gift from you, quinn. i always like those." y/n smiled and headed into her room to change. quinn did the same and they managed to come out at the same time. all he could so was admire the way the clothes fit y/n perfectly. "how did you know my size?"

"because i know you." quinn chuckled, not wanting to admit it was because he stared at her so long that he memorized everything.

"you're the most perfect roommate, quinn." she smiled and threw her arms around him. "thank you."

he immediately hugged her back. "you're welcome."

"okay. well it's bed time now. i'll see you in the morning. good night quinn." y/n ran off the her room to try to get some sleep. but she knew that would be impossible, due to the overwhelming attraction she was feeling. if she didn't tell quinn soon, her emotions were going to shut her down.

as quinn sat at the desk in his room, he couldn't stop thinking about how excited y/n had been when she came out in the pjs. he had seen her happy many times but there was just something different this time.

he wrapped her gift neatly and set it down beside his bed. it was going to be the first thing he grabbed in the morning and he hoped she would love it as much as he loved her.

when the sun rose the next morning, quinn grabbed the box and headed out to the kitchen. y/n was normally a morning person so he was surprised that she hadn't woken up yet. he set the box on the counter and began making coffee. just as he was adding the finishing touches to y/n's coffee, she walked out of her room.

"good morning, quinn."

"good morning, y/n" he smiled and handed her the coffee. when she took a sip, her whole body instantly warmed up.

"this is the best coffee i've ever tasted. thank you." she grinned and continued to drink it as they both made their way onto the couch.

"so what else does your family do for christmas?"

"we stay in our pjs all day and spend time together. it's pretty boring but if you're around the right people, you can have the best time."

"well then that's exactly what we will do today." quinn smiled. "oh, before i forget, i have a present for you. close your eyes." he got off the couch and grabbed the gift from the kitchen before returning. "i hope you like it."

y/n unwrapped it carefully and opened the box. she pulled out a teddy bear with a canucks jersey on. and not just any jersey. a demko jersey. he even came with mini goalie pads and a helmet.

"i know how much you love thatcher so when i saw this, i just knew i had to get it for you."

"i love it so much. thank you, quinn." y/n set the bear down and hugged quinn. "i didn't get you anything. i'm sorry."

"it's alright. you being here is enough of a present for me." he rubbed her back and smiled. when y/n pulled back a little, her whole expression had changed. she was still happy but there were tears in her eyes.

"i appreciate that, quinn. but i feel like it's just not enough to make you truly happy."

"y/n, you're more than enough. you are the perfect gift."

y/n smiled and placed her lips on his. he was shocked at first and just as y/n was about to break the kiss, quinn pulled her closer and kissed her back. they stayed in that position for a few minutes before either one of them wanted to let go. when they separated, quinn rested his forehead against y/n's and smiled.

"if i had known that would be the outcome, i would've told you those words a long time ago." he smiled and held her face. "i've been wanting to say it for as long as i've known you but the timing was never right. you had steven and i had my own relationships. but i guess that's kind of a cowards excuse, huh?"

"nothing about you says 'coward', quinn." y/n smiled and closed her eyes. "you're the most kind, patient and sweetest man i've ever known in my life. these last 3 years of random relationships and hook-ups have all brought us to this exact moment. the moment where i can finally tell you that i've had the biggest crush on you for the past 3 years. i know it sounds insane but i like you a lot quinn. and maybe that's why your girlfriends were always jealous. they could probably tell how i felt and they didn't want me around to screw up their chances with you. that's why i had to keep a distance from you. i didn't want to have to make you choose between me and them because it would've been a losing battle for me."

"if that had ever happened, you would've won every single time. i never really cared about all those other girls. the only one that matters to me, is you. and i hope i conveyed that well enough in that kiss."

"seems pretty evident now." y/n smiled and finally opened her eyes. "guess that was kind of stupid of me, wasn't it?"

"not at all." quinn smiled. "like you said, the last 3 years of random relationships have brought us to this moment right here. the most perfect moment." he placed a kiss on her lips again but didn't give her enough time to reciprocate. "i love you, y/n. everything about you is so perfect and it's been driving me crazy for 3 years."

"i can't believe that the planes being grounded are the reason we're here together."

"me either. but i wouldn't change it for anything."

"i wouldn't either." y/n leaned up to kiss him again. "for the record, i love you too."

[ginkgooou]

family trip | alexia putellas

summary: alexia joins you and your family on a new year's trip to cortina d'ampezzo. on the first day, you go skiing, but alexia forgot to mention something important: she's never skied before.

6,736 words

my first alexia fic...i struggled a lot writing it and i'm still not completely happy. it ended up being quite long. anyway, i hope you like it. english is not my first language.

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alexia relished these quiet moments - a stark contrast to the whirlwind of her life. the past few months had been intense – gruelling training sessions and back-to-back football matches had taken their toll on her, while you were equally buried under tight deadlines and new projects at work.

in early december, barcelona was bathed in the soft glow of christmas lights, casting a warm shimmer over the streets. you and alexia wandered through the city, hand in hand, your breaths mingling in the crisp night air. you were on your way home from dinner, admiring the display of lights around you. conversation had long since faded into comfortable silence, simply basking in the rare calm of the usually bustling city.

as you got closer to home, a piercing wind picked up, causing alexia to shiver. you, seemingly unfazed by the cold, noticed her shivering and instinctively pulled her closer. your girlfriend immediately pressed herself against you, seeking your warmth and letting it shield her from the biting chill.

it wasn’t long before you were finally back at the apartment, the awaiting warmth a welcome change to the chill outside. alexia headed straight to your bedroom to change into a hoodie and pants, while you moved into the kitchen to prepare two cups of hot cocoa, the sweet aroma soon beginning to fill your home.

as alexia came down the stairs, she could hear the clinking of mugs and the faint sound of movement from the kitchen. following the noise, she came to a halt in the doorway, watching you with a soft smile as you busied yourself, completely unaware of her presence. you finished making the hot cocoa, taking a cup in each hand and turning around - startling when you saw your girlfriend standing there, nearly spilling the drinks.

“ale…”, you whined. “stop doing that. I nearly spilled our drinks.”

she chuckled, eyes twinkling in amusement. “lo siento.” with a quick, affectionate kiss, she took the mugs from your hands. “i’ll take these and find us something to watch. you go change.”

with that, she turned away, and you watched her carry the drinks to the living room before making your way up to change into one of alexia’s shirts and a pair of pants. when you came back down, you saw alexia already settled on the sofa, a thick blanket draped across her lap, and a steaming mug in her hands. on the tv, an episode of your favourite show was lined up, ready to play.

walking over to the couch, you picked up your drink from the table and sat down next to alexia. she immediately lifted her blanket and looked at you expectantly. being mindful of your drink, you carefully slid under the blanket, your body pressing against hers. your girlfriend’s arm naturally wrapped around your shoulder, and she placed a gentle kiss on the side of your head. taking the remote from her lap, you pressed play, and the familiar intro of the show began to fill the room.

throughout the episode, you quietly sipped the hot cocoa. once you had finished, alexia put the mugs back on the table and laid back down next to you. you adjusted your position, resting your head on her chest as her fingers carded through your hair. as the show came to an end, your thoughts began to wander.

suddenly, you remembered the conversation you had with your mother earlier in the day.

feeling you tense beside her, alexia gently nudged you. looking up at her, you could see the concern in her eyes. “what’s wrong?”, she asked softly.

sitting up to get a better look at her, you said, “i called my parents today. we were talking about the new year’s trip. i think i’ve mentioned it before - maybe you remember?” alexia thought for a moment before nodding. “yes, i remember. you spend new year’s in italy, right?” “yes. and…welll, my mom wanted me to ask if you’d like to join us this year.” you added, carefully watching her reaction.

this trip had long since become a family tradition. ever since you could remember, your family would go to italy around new year’s and spend a week in the dolomites. you would stay in your grandpa’s chalet in cortina d’ampezzo, escaping the hustle of daily life.

as you got older and eventually started to build a life of your own, your mom insisted on keeping this tradition alive. over time, the trip had become a much-needed escape from your hectic work life and you cherished the time you got to spend with your family.

the prospect of sharing this experience with alexia filled you with excitement. you’ve been together for nearly a year now, and inviting her had been on your mind for a while. however, knowing that she liked to spend this time with her own family made you hesitant to ask.

it was your mother who gave you the final push. after meeting alexia a few months into your relationship, your parents had quickly come to adore her. when your mother called you today, she spent the majority of the time trying to convince you to ask your girlfriend to join you. her persistence paid off, as you eventually agreed.

now, as you sat on the couch and the silence stretched between you, your anxiety grew. you became restless the longer alexia remained silent, your hands fidgeting nervously. alexia, on the other hand, was simply stunned, taken aback by the unexpected invitation.

feeling you pull away snapped her out of her daze. she quickly reached for your hand, pulling you back toward her. “wait!”, she quickly said. “i’d love to come,” your girlfriend continued, her thumb tracing circles on your hand. after hesitating for a moment she added, “but i don’t want to intrude.”

hearing the uncertainty in her voice, you immediately tried to reassure her. “you wouldn’t be intruding.” with your free hand you reached up and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “you’re part of my family and i want you there.” you paused, letting the words linger in the air. then, you added, “lucy and her family will be there, too. they'll be so excited if you come.”

your sister, lucy, was a few years older than you. the two of you had always been incredibly close, talking nearly every day. she and her family – her husband, joseph, and the kids, jacob and toby - often came to visit you in barcelona.

alexia had met them during one of their visits, a few weeks into your relationship. she liked lucy. her warm and open nature made it easy to get along with her. from the very first meeting, lucy and alexia had clicked, a friendship forming quickly.

it was clear that your whole family adored alexia, her natural charm winning them over almost instantly. she put in a genuine effort to make sure they liked her, knowing how important family was to you.

and you could see how hard she was trying, even though it wasn't necessary - your family would have loved her no matter what. they saw what you saw in her: someone kind, thoughtful and loyal.

they could see how happy the spanish woman made you, could see in her actions and in the way alexia looked at you how much she loved you. they welcomed your girlfriend into the family, treating her like she had always been a part of it.

you could see the wheels turning in your girlfriend's head. understanding that she needed a moment to think to herself, you kept silent, patiently waiting for her to talk.

after a while, alexia looked into your eyes, her hand tightening around yours. “if you're sure it's okay, i will come.”

an excited grin spread across your face. you leaned into her and pressed a series of quick kisses to her lips, murmuring between each one, “i love you.” alexia's lips curled into a soft smile at the affection.

wanting you closer, she gripped your hips and pulled you onto her lap, your knees on either side of her. you let out a surprised squeak, your hands instinctively moving to rest on her shoulders as you looked at her with wide eyes. one of your girlfriend's hands moved up to the back of your neck, pulling you closer, your lips nearly touching.

as you tried to lean in, alexia stopped you. “tell me more about the trip, amor. i want to know what to expect.”

you looked at her incredulously, completely caught off guard with the sudden shift. leaning back slightly, you asked, “that's what you're thinking about right now?”

alexia gazed up at you. “well, i need to prepare.” you shook your head in disbelief, but a smile started to form on your lips despite yourself. “we can talk about that tomorrow.” before she could answer, you cupped her cheeks and kissed her.

☆

the next day at breakfast you started telling her everything about the trip.

“we'll be staying in cortina from the 27th to the 2nd.”, you said. “my grandpa owns a chalet there. it's very old, but still beautiful. it's situated on a hill just outside town and the view is amazing.” your voice was full of excitement. “the whole week is pretty much about spending time together and catching up. and now with the kids, there's always something fun going on...”

alexia listened intently, her eyes fixed on you, feeling the sheer excitement coming from you.

with sparkling eyes, you continued, “we take them sledding and build snowmen and go hiking. but, the best part of this trip is the skiing. it's just a short drive to the lift station…”

alexia had been listening to you with a soft smile on her face, but as soon as the word ‘skiing’ left your lips, that smile faltered. her expression shifted, the warmth in her eyes replaced by a flicker of unease.

you didn't notice, too caught up in your own excitement. “it's so much fun, especially now that jacob can join us. we spend hours on the slopes together.”, you gushed.

alexia's heart raced. skiing. she had never done it before. not once. her stomach twisted at the thought, but she didn't want to ruin the moment or disappoint you by admitting it. the footballer stayed silent, forcing a smile back onto her face.

“that sounds fun.”, she managed, voice a little too tight. you were still oblivious to her inner turmoil. “you'll love it.”

☆

with just a few days to go, you started packing. however, alexia was unsure what to bring, not being used to the cold weather. she simply resorted to tossing every warm piece of clothing she owned into the suitcase - hats, scarves, gloves and many, many sweaters.

meanwhile, you were already finished with packing and had carried your suitcase downstairs. now, you were leaning against the doorframe, watching her in amusement. “you do know we're not going to the north pole, right?”, you teased, a grin tugging at your lips.

alexia shot you a defensive look, grabbing yet another sweater and tossing it in her suitcase. “i just don't like being cold, okay?”, she threw back, picking up a scarf next.

shaking your head with a smile, you walked over and gently took the scarf from her hands, placing it back in the wardrobe. “i know”, you said softly, “but trust me, you don't need all of this. the most important things are ski jackets and ski pants and we have those in the chalet already.”

right. skiing. alexia had already pushed that to the back of her mind. the footballer hated not being good at something and the idea of fumbling her way down a slope in front of you - and your family - made her stomach twist. should she just tell you? admitting it felt embarrassing, but pretending she knew what she was doing might be even worse.

no, she decided, she wouldn't tell you. how hard could it be?

maybe it was her competitive mindset, but alexia figured she'd just learn on the go and hope for the best.

pushing the thought aside, alexia sighed, glancing at the mountain of clothes in her suitcase before reluctantly starting to take out some sweaters and scarves. “fine.”

with a much emptier suitcase now, you turned to leave her. pausing at the doorway, you glanced back with a playful smile. “if you're really worried about the cold, just remember - i'm pretty great at keeping you warm.”

alexia laughed softly, looking over to you. “i'll keep that in mind.”

after you left the room, your girlfriend went back to packing. she quickly finished up, zipping up her suitcase and carrying it downstairs to place it next to yours.

☆

a few days later, you and alexia boarded the plane to italy. the flight was smooth and passed by quickly, and soon you found yourselves stepping into the airport, relatively quiet due to the late hour. while waiting for your luggage at the baggage claim, you turned to alexia and said, “joseph will be picking us up. he should be out front. from there, it's about an hour's drive to cortina.”

after collecting your suitcases, you made your way through the terminal and stepped out into the cold night air. you quickly spotted your brother-in-law, leaning casually against his car, eyes fixed on his phone. "joe!”, you called out, your voice cutting through the night. joseph looked up, his face spreading into a wide smile as he tucked his phone into his jacket pocket.

“hey, you two.”, he grinned, pushing off the car. you quickly made your way over, engulfing him in a big hug. “long time no see.”, he laughed, patting your back before pulling away.

next, he turned to alexia, enveloping her in a quick hug. “good to see you again, alexia.” “likewise.”, your girlfriend replied.

then, joseph moved to help you load your suitcases in the car. “you ready for the cold?”, he asked playfully, glancing over at alexia, knowing full well she was more used to the warm climate of spain. she chuckled, wrapping her coat tighter around herself.

“i'll survive.”, the footballer joked.

as you all settled in the car, the engine purred to life, and soon you were off, the lights of the airport fading into the distance as the quiet roads of the italian countryside took over.

the drive was peaceful, the soft hum of the engine and quiet conversation filling the car. along the way, the scenery changed, the ground becoming covered in more snow. by the time cortina came into view, the landscape had transformed into a white winter wonderland - snow-covered trees lining the road and snowflakes falling from the sky. the dolomites loomed in the distance, their peaks hidden in the night, adding to the magical view.

soon, you spotted the familiar silhouette of your family's chalet, its wooden structure and the light coming from the windows standing out amidst the white blanket pf snow.

when the car came to a stop in front of the house, you couldn't help but smile, feeling a wave of happiness wash over you. you stepped out of the car, snow crunching under your feet, your breath visible in the air. you closed your eyes, taking it all in. alexia, having followed you out, stood next to you, shivering slightly in the cold.

with a contented sigh, you opened your eyes and looked over at your girlfriend, seeing the shivers run through her body. taking her hand in yours, you were just about to turn around when you heard joseph shout from behind you. “well, i don't know about you, but i'm heading inside. i don't really fancy freezing to death.”

you quickly turned around and threw him the finger, making him laugh as he carried your suitcases into the chalet. eager to escape the cold, alexia interlaced her fingers with yours and pulled you toward the house.

inside, you quickly slipped out of your jackets and took off your shoes. hearing laughter coming from the living room, you turned to alexia with a soft smile, holding out your hand, and asked, “ready?” your girlfriend nodded, taking your hand and pressing a gentle kiss to the back of it. together, you made your way toward the noise, stepping around the suitcases that joseph had left in the middle of the entrance.

in the living room, you found your brother-in-law chatting with your parents. as soon as they saw you enter, your mother jumped up from the couch and hurried over. she enveloped alexia in a warm hug. “i'm so happy you could join us.”, she said, her voice full of warmth. alexia smiled softly, her eyes reflecting the sentiment. “i'm happy to be here.”, she responded.

you smiled brightly at the exchange, but couldn't help and tease your mom a little. “i'm here, too, you know?” your father and joseph laughed at your remark while your mother just gave you a stern look. “yes, i know.”, she replied, her tone softened by affection as she pulled you into a long hug. “i missed you, darling.”

after your mother released you, your father stepped forward, greeting you both with a short hug. as you looked around the room, you wondered aloud, “where's lucy?”

“she's upstairs, getting the kids to sleep. she'll be down later.”, joseph chimed in from his place on the couch.

your mother turned to you and suggested, “how about you go up into your room and unpack?”

nodding at your mother's words, you looked to alexia and gestured toward the stairs. “come on, let's head up.” you went back out to the entrance, alexia picking up both of your suitcases and following you up to your room.

as you reached your room, you and alexia began unpacking. you quickly finished putting everything into the closet and were now looking for something to change into. as you were sorting through the clothes, you felt alexia's arms wrap around you from behind, pressing close. “you're so warm.”, she breathed into your neck, making you shiver. “are you still cold?”, you asked, turning around and putting your arms around her shoulders. she hummed, her eyes falling to your lips and leaning in. “you said you'd keep me warm.”, alexia whispered against your lips before closing the gap and kissing you deeply.

you melted into her embrace, the kiss chasing away any lingering cold. as she pulled away, you remained with your eyes closed, a contented smile on your lips. she smirked, resting her forehead against yours as she admired the flush of warmth on your face. “thank you for warming me up, mi amor.”, she said softly, her voice full of affection. you spent a few more moments in her embrace before reluctantly letting go of her and turning back toward the closet.

you pulled out a sweater and joggers to give to alexia. for yourself, you chose one of alexia's hoodies and a pair of your sweatpants.

after getting changed, you made your way back downstairs into the living room. as you entered, you noticed your sister had joined the rest of the family on the couch. when she saw the two of you, lucy immediately hurried over to the both of you, a wide smile spreading across her face.

“hello, little sis! oh, i missed you.”, she said, peppering your face in kisses. “luce, stop!”, you exclaimed, trying to push her away from you. she looked at you with an offended look. “you know, when you were little, you liked that.” you just rolled your eyes, finally getting out of your sister's grasp. unbothered, she turned to alexia, hugging her tightly. “ale, it's good to see you again. toby hasn't stopped talking about you.”, lucy told your girlfriend, laughing softly. “he wanted to stay up until you arrived, but he fell asleep. he's so excited to see you tomorrow.”

alexia blushed, the color creeping up her cheeks as she smiled softly. “i'm excited to see him, too.”

lucy grabbed your hands and pulled you over to sit on the couch. grabbing a blanket, you draped it over both your and alexia's laps, cuddling close to her.

with everyone settled, you easily fell into conversation, catching up and enjoying the evening together. soon, the conversation shifted to plans for the next day. joseph leaned forward with a grin. “tomorrow should be quite sunny - no snow and not too much wind. so, how about skiing?”

you immediately nodded in agreement, as did your dad. “sounds like a plan.”, you said eagerly.

your mom and sister exchanged a look, shaking their heads with a smile. “we'll pass on skiing.”, lucy said, “but we might head into town instead, maybe do some shopping.”

not having said anything yet, you turned to alexia, asking, “what about you? want to join us on the slopes?”

alexia hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “of course.”, she said trying to sound confident. her mind ran a mile a minute. ‘oh god’, she thought, ‘this will not end well.’ you were unaware of her inner turmoil and just smiled excitedly at her, squeezing her knee.

turning to your mom, you asked, “we still have extra gear in the basement, right?” your mom smiled warmly at you and nodded. “yes, of course. tomorrow, you can look for something that fits.”

with the plans settled, you all decided to head to bed. climbing up the stairs, joseph said, “let's head out around 8, that okay for everyone?” you and your father nodded in agreement. saying your goodnights, you parted and went into your rooms.

after quickly getting ready for bed and setting an alarm for tomorrow, you slipped under the covers, waiting for alexia to finish up in the bathroom. a moment later, you felt the bed dip behind you as alexia joined you in bed. she wrapped her arm around your waist and pulled you close to her, leaving a gentle kiss on the nape of your neck.

“good night, mi amor.”, she whispered. “good night.”, you replied, her gentle breath against your skin and the warmth of alexia’s embrace quickly lulling you into sleep.

☆

the next morning, alexia stirred awake, the early morning light just barely peeking through the curtains. she reached for her phone on the nightstand and saw it was only 6 - half an hour before the alarm. turning her head, she glanced at you, still fast asleep beside her. a soft smile spread across her face as she watched you, your features relaxed and peaceful. she couldn't help but think of how adorable you looked, curled up beneath the blanket.

unable to resist, alexia leaned in and began peppering your face with kisses - forehead, cheeks, nose - until you stirred slightly, blinking your eyes open in confusion.

“what time is it?”, you mumbled, still half asleep.

“it's six.”, she whispered, brushing a loose strand of her from your face. groaning, you looked up at the ceiling, muttering something about it being too early.

your girlfriend chuckled softly, rolling on top of you and nuzzling into your neck. her lips found your skin again, kissing your neck softly, sending shivers down your spine. “come on, cariño.”, she murmured between kisses. “it's time to wake up.”

you let out a sleepy sigh as she moved up to your lips, pressing a kiss there. now, more awake, you blinked up at her, half-smiling. “i haven’t brushed my teeth, yet.”

alexia grinned, eyes sparkling as she leaned in again. “i don't care.”, she whispered against your lips. with a small laugh, you gave in, wrapping your arms around her and pulling her closer.

after that early wake-up, the two of you spent the next half hour nestled under the covers, enjoying the warmth and quiet before the day began. when the alarm went off, you reached over to silence it, letting out a groggy sigh as you sat up and stretched, trying to shake the last bits of sleep from your body.

meanwhile, alexia got out of bed and padded across the room toward the bathroom. you watched her disappear behind the door, the sound of running water soon filling the silence. with a yawn, you pushed yourself up and walked over to the window, pulling the curtains open to let in the early morning light. looking out the window, you saw the snow glistening under the soft glow of the rising sun.

stretching once more, you made your way toward the bathroom to join alexia, both of you getting ready to head down for breakfast.

as you made your way downstairs, the smell of pancakes and freshly brewed coffee greeted you. walking into the kitchen, you saw your mother stood at the stove, flipping pancakes, while the others were sitting around the table, eating breakfast and chatting.

“good morning.”, you and alexia greeted everyone.

toby, who was halfway through his breakfast looked up and his eyes lit up instantly when he saw your girlfriend. he let out a high-pitched squeal and jumped up from his seat. “tia ale! i missed you sooo much!”, he shouted, running over and leaping into her arms. alexia caught him effortlessly, her face breaking out into a bright smile as she hugged him tightly and planted a kiss on his cheek. “i missed you, too.”, she told him.

you stood there watching them, a soft smile creeping onto your face. “not even a hello for me, huh?”, you teased, though the sight of alexia and toby warmed your heart. your nephew glanced at you, resting his head on your girlfriend’s shoulder. “hello, auntie.”

suddenly, you felt small arms wrap around you. turning around, you saw jacob, his face beaming up at you. “good morning, auntie. i missed you.”

you laughed softly, ruffling his hair and hugging him back. “at least someone still likes me.”, you joked, pressing a kiss on the top of his head. soon, jacob let go of you and went back to breakfast.

with toby still in her arms, alexia made her way to the table. your eyes fell to her toned arms, admiring the way her muscles flexed as she carried your nephew. the sound of your mother calling your name brought you out of your thoughts. “honey, come get your pancakes.” you walked over to her and took the two plates she held in her hands, thanking her with a kiss to the cheek.

meanwhile, alexia sat toby down in front of his breakfast before taking the seat beside him. in between bites, he excitedly told her everything about his latest football practice.

with the two plates in hand, you walked over to your girlfriend, setting one down in front of her. she glanced up, her eyes soft as she quietly thanked you. you smiled in return, placing your own plate on the table and sitting beside her. as soon as you settled into the chair, alexia's hand found its familiar spot on your thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. then, she grabbed the coffee pot and poured two cups of coffee, handing one of the cups to you, her fingers brushing yours briefly.

as the two of you dug into breakfast, alexia's attention shifted back to toby. the boy was still talking animatedly, his words spilling out in a rush as he continued recounting his practice. alexia nodded along, her face lighting up at his excitement, while you glanced over at them every so often.

after finishing breakfast, you put the plates in the dishwasher and headed upstairs into your room to get ready.

the both of you changed into warm leggings and a long shirt. you then pulled out a ski jacket and ski pants for alexia, turning around and handing them to her with a smile. “these should fit you.” she accepted them with a smile and began changing.

moving back to the closet, you grabbed your own ski gear and changed quickly. you also pulled out a pair of gloves, tucking them into your pocket, then turned to see alexia doing the same.

“ready?”, you asked, a small smile on your lips.

“sì.”, she replied, walking over to the door and holding it open for you. “lead the way.”

as you walked past her, you placed a quick kiss on her cheek. she smiled and followed you down to the basement.

you flicked on the lights, revealing an array of ski gear. first, you headed toward the helmets, scanning through them before taking one out. “try this one.”, you said, handing it to her.

after putting it on, she said, “it fits.” you couldn't help but chuckle as you took in the sight of her, looking both endearing and slightly awkward in the bulky gear.

“why are you laughing?”, alexia asked, shooting you an offended look.

“it's just…you look adorable.”, you replied with a grin.

alexia frowned. “i'm not adorable.”, she said, trying to sound serious but failing to hide the smile on her lips.

you laughed. “ok, not adorable. but pretty cute.”

she shook her head with a smile. “don't we need to…?” she trailed off, gesturing toward the ski boots.

“oh, right!”, you said, moving toward the boots.

you sifted through the various sizes until you found a pair that seemed right. pulling them out, you handed them to alexia. “try these on.”

your girlfriend sat down on the bench along the wall and began to put on the boots. she struggled a little, her movements clumsy. but finally, she managed to get both of them on. “stand up.”, you instructed as she looked up at you.

she wobbled a little, but quickly caught herself, giving you a thumbs-up with a dorky smile on her face. “they fit, too.”

you smiled at her adorableness. “great.”, you said, giving her a pat on the back. as alexia continued to walk around a little, getting used to the boots, you quickly slipped into your own, followed by your helmet.

once you were ready, you grabbed your girlfriend's skis and ski poles, turning around to see her now sitting on the bench, watching you. giving her a smile, you approached her and said, “here are your skis and poles. i'm going to grab mine and then we can go and put everything into the van.”

alexia nodded and took the ski gear. after you retrieved your own, you made your way outside. your dad was already at the trunk, loading the equipment. as you approached, he looked up and said, “just put your stuff here. i'll load it in.”

with a quick thank you, you and alexia set all your gear down and walked back to the chalet. your mother was standing by the door, chatting with joseph and jacob. when you saw jacob in his ski gear, you ruffled his hair.

“you joining us, bud?”, you asked with a smile.

jacob's face lit up with an excited grin as he nodded vigorously. “yeah!”

after saying bye to your mother, the four of of you walked back to the van. your father had already finished putting everything into the back and was now sitting in the driver's seat, waiting for you.

with everyone in the car and buckled up, he started the engine and began the drive to the ski lift. the conversation flowed easily, filled with jokes and excited chatter about today. but as the slopes came into view, you noticed alexia growing quieter, her gaze fixed on the towering mountains outside the window.

when you arrived at the lift station, everyone piled out of the van, your dad and joseph heading to the back to grab the gear. you and alexia joined them, getting your skis and poles.

as alexia stood by the car and looked at the mountain, her heart started racing. it loomed over her, and the reality of what she was about to face hit her like a wave. she clutched her poles tightly, trying to keep her anxiety at bay.

when you offered to grab everyone's passes, alexia quietly followed you. she walked alongside you, her mind racing. every step closer to the ticket booth made her stomach churn more. the mountain seemed to get bigger, steeper, more intimidating with every glance.

while you bought the tickets, your girlfriend's eyes darted nervously around. she watched people clipping into their skis, moving effortlessly across the snow. she couldn't back out now, could she?

when you came back over, you handed her the ticket with a smile. you looked at her and could immediately see the fear in her eyes.

“what's wrong?”, you asked her, your voice concerned.

alexia immediately looked down, face burning with embarrassment. “nothing.”, she muttered, hoping that would be enough, but she knew it wouldn't.

“alexia.”, you said, your tone more serious this time, urging her to talk.

she swallowed hard, feeling the knot in her chest tighten. it took everything in her to finally look up at you, her voice barely above a whisper as she confessed, “i don't really know how to ski.”

the words hung in the air between you and as she looked at you, the shock was clear on your face.

you hadn't asked her, and she hadn't told you. now here you were, standing at the base of a mountain she didn't know how to conquer.

“why didn't you tell me?”, you asked softly.

she couldn't explain it. maybe it was pride, maybe it was fear. she shrugged. “i don't know.”, she said, frustration creeping into her voice.

you didn't push, but the question still lingered in the air. “then…why did you agree to come today?”

“i don't know.”, she repeated.

you sighed softly, trying to think of ways to help your girlfriend. “it's okay. i can drive you back if you want. you don't have to do this.”

no. she couldn't leave, not after coming this far. alexia wanted to be with you, wanted to experience this trip with you. no matter how scared she was, leaving wasn't an option. “no, i'll stay.”

you looked at her carefully, stepping closer to her and placing your hand on her shoulder. “are you sure?”, you asked, wanting to make sure she wasn’t pushing herself just for your sake.

“yes.”, alexia said, trying to sound more confident. “i want to stay.”

you nodded, your expression softening and squeezing her hand. “okay, but we'll go on our own.”

you looked over alexia's shoulder, seeing the others approaching. when they reached you, you reluctantly stepped away from your girlfriend to give them their ski passes.

“so, where should we go first?”, joe asked, looking over toward the lifts.

you glanced over at alexia, then spoke, “actually, would it be okay if alexia and i went alone? i think we'll take it easy today. you go and have your fun.”

joe and your dad nodded in agreement. albeit your brother-in-law couldn't help but tease you. “want to spend time alone with your girlfriend, i see.” you just rolled your eyes at him, making him chuckle. “no, but really, it’s okay.”, he said. “we'll meet back here at noon?”

after you agreed, the three of them made their way toward the lifts while you stayed behind with alexia. she took a deep breath as you turned to her with a reassuring smile.

“we'll take it slow.”, you said softly. “just you and me.”

looking away from your girlfriend and over to the slopes, you said, “let's head to the children's area. it's the easiest place to learn.”

alexia immediately frowned. “i'm not a kid.”

you chuckled and glanced back at her. “i know that. but we need to start somewhere.” with that, you led her toward a small hill, where the slope was really flat. your girlfriend followed behind you, grumbling under her breath.

when you reached the slope, you turned to her. “alright, put your skis down.”

alexia did as you instructed. you then demonstrated how to clip into the skis, encouraging her to do the same. she managed that without any trouble. “good job. ready for more?”, you asked while adjusting her poles to the right size.

she huffed. “sì, but i'm still not a kid.”

“noted.”, you replied with a grin. “okay, so…when you're skiing, you have to bend your knees slightly for stability. like this.” you showed her, flexing your knees.

she mimicked you, bending her knees awkwardly. “this feels really weird.”

“i know, but you'll get used to it.”, you reassured her. “and now, push with the poles and try to stay upright.”

alexia began to push off, wobbling slightly on the skis. “whoa.”, she exclaimed, her eyes wide as she began to move.

after a few more pushes, your girlfriend became more comfortable. as she looked back to you, you smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. “you're doing great.”

skiing after her, you said, “ now we'll try the plough. it's the simplest way to slow down. you just have to make a v-shape with your skis.” you demonstrated, going up a small incline and slowly coming back down. “just like that.”

alexia watched you, her brows furrowed in concentration. “ok.”, she said, determined, trying to copy your movements and gingerly making her way down the slope.

when she reached you, she looked at you with an excited smile. “i did it.”

you grinned back at her. “you did! great job.”

agter she tried it a few more times and became more comfortable, you gestured toward the carpet lift. “come on, we'll take the lift and ski down from further up.”

when you reached the top, your girlfriend's nerves returned. she stared down at the hill, which looked much steeper than before. “i can't do it.”, she muttered, shaking her head.

“you can.”, you said, moving in front of her. “i'll ski ahead. you just have to follow, okay?”

alexia looked unsure, but gave you a nod. “okay.”

you began to ski down, stopping after a few turns and turning back, checking on her. “don't forget to bend your knees.”, you reminded her as your girlfriend pushed forward.

when alexia started to move, the nerves got the better of her. she leaned back instead of forward, making it hard to control the skis. losing balance, she let out a scream and toppled forward, landing on the snow with a grunt.

you had to suppress a laugh as you moved toward her. she sat up, glaring at you as you fought to hold in your amusement. “are you laughing?”

“no.”, you denied, trying to school your features, as you extended your hands toward her. “come on, i'll help you get back up.”

alexia groaned, clearly frustrated, but allowed you to help her stand. after she brushed off the snow from her clothes, you set off down the slope again and this time, your girlfriend was able to stay on the skis. you skied beside her, encouraging her, and soon you were safely back at the bottom.

looking at alexia with a proud smile on your face, you said, “you did really good.” your girlfriend blushed at your words, smiling shyly. “thank you.”

time flew by as you skied down the hill again and again and again. with each run, alexia grew more confident.

when you took a break, you smiled up at her. “you're doing really great. i'm really proud of you.” alexia smiled back, clearly proud of her progress. “maybe skiing isn't so bad. it's quite fun, actually.”, she told you, making you smile even wider.

when you glanced at your phone, you noticed it was nearly noon. turning to your girlfriend, you said, “i think whe sould head back. it's nearly 12:00.”

alexia looked up in surprise. “already?”, she said, glancing around. you nodded, “yeah, it didn't really feel that long.”

you got out of your skis and headed toward the van. the others were already there, loading up their gear. after you and alexia put your own gear in the trunk and with everyone in the car, you began the journey back to the chalet.

as you were driving, you asked the others, “so, what did you three get up to?” the car filled with lively chatter as they told you about everything they did.

when they turned the question to you and your girlfriend, you glanced at alexia, smiling and relaxed.

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

“eventful.”, you replied with a grin, your eyes meeting hers.

i've got a few more ideas for this fic. let me know if you'd like to see more :)

[stars1997]

Pls do a long freaky Quinn smut:)

Fantasies

sorry that I that i haven't been posting. i will be doing my best to get to all my request! hope you enjoy this one!

Paring(s): Quinn x reader

Warnings: (18+) smut, shower sex, jerking him off, unprotected sex, vocal Quinn, oral, some spanking, some hair pulling

(Not edited)

2.2K words

Summary: Quinn and you visit his family for Christmas. Quinn and you end up doing it in his childhood bedroom.

______

This year you and Quinn were going to spend Christmas with his family. Last year the both of you spent it with your family. Even though you and Quinn have been together for two years now you haven’t really spent much time with his side of the family. You never really understood why. Whenever he went to go spend time with his family there was always stuff stopping you form going. College was a big reason why.

But you graduated this summer so now school isn’t in the way, and you don’t start your job till the beginning of January, Quinn to this opportunity to bring you home with him for Christmas this year. You obviously said yes. Excited to finally spend more than one day with his family.

But now as you pack your bag you grew more anxious. Your foot taps fast against the carpet. You mumble to yourself about what else you should be packing when a pair of arms wrap around your waist. You let out a gasp.

“Quinn!” you turn so you’re now facing him.

“I could hear you tapping your foot all the way in the living room. Why are you nervous? You have meet them many times and they love you.” both of his hands rest on your lower back keeping you pressed against his body.

“This is the first time that I’m spending more than a day with your family. What if they change their minds and end up hating me.” You pout. He kisses the top of your head.

“Now why would that happen?” you shrug your shoulders then rest your head on his chest.

“I need to finish packing.” You mumble.

“You should pack that one dress that I like.” He smiles down at you. his hands squeeze your butt making you gasp and smack him on his chest.

“Get out so I can pack in peace.” you try to push yourself out of his grip. But he doesn’t let up.

“How about I help you pack so I can pack all the things I think you should wear.” You laugh, shaking your head before responding.

“If you packed my bag the only thing that would be in there would be my lingerie. So no, but if you want to stay in the room feel free to sit on the bed and don’t distract me because I will forget something if you do.” You poke his chest as you talk.

“Yes ma’am.” He does a little salute before letting go of you to go sit on the bed.

By the time you finished packing it was almost dinner time. You and Quinn order take out form your favorite Greek place and spent the rest of the night watching tv. You both ended up falling asleep on the couch. You woke up the next morning to Quinn shaking you awake.

“Honey its almost time to go so we can get on the plane. I already put the bags in the car and laid out your clothes for today on the bed. You just need to get ready then we will be on our way.” His voice was soft as he talked to you. you sit up on the couch taking a minute for your eyes to adjust to the lights that were on in the apartment.

You look out the window to see that it’s still dark out. You let out a little huff before getting up off the couch. Whenever you have to wake up early for something Quinn is always gentle with you. he knows that you’re not a morning person, so he always does things to make your morning just a bit easier.

It didn’t take long for you to get ready, no more than fifteen minutes. the car ride was quick too. when you finally got onto the plane and settled into your seats you were asleep with your head resting on Quinn’s arm.

_

When you got to the house you were greeted by everyone. Luke and jack helped Quinn bring your bags to your room. Ellen grabbed your hand and brought you inside. She was talking your ear off and asking you a bunch of questions before Quinn made his way back to you.

“Mom, leave her alone.” Quinn huffed out as he wraps his arm around your waist pulling you into his side.

“Fine I have to finish making dinner anyway. Everyone be in the kitchen for six o’clock please. Now you guys go change and shower to get the planes germs off you.” Ellen gave you a soft smile before Quinn pulled you upstairs and into his childhood bedroom. Quinn basically pushes you into his room closing the door shut behind him.

“You and I are so having sex in here before we leave. That’s a promise.” You let out a little giggle at his serious tone. “Don't laugh at me. 16-year-old me would high five me for sleeping with such a hot girl in my room.” You giggle again.

_

You have been with the Hughes family for a few days now. Christmas passed and they all got you a present. The rest of the family is out grocery shopping. You said you were going to stay behind to pack up your bags because you have to leave in two days. Quinn said that he was going to stay behind to help you, no one batted an eye and let the two of you stay behind.

You were bent over the bed putting Quinn’s cloths into his suitcase right above yours. Quinn comes up behind you giving your ass a hard slap.

“Exactly how I wanted you. your ass looks so good in these leggings baby. Fuck I’m getting so hard just looking at you.” he’s now standing behind you his hands on your hips.

“Fuck. Baby, please can I fuck you. I need you so bad right now.” he grinds his hard cock into you as he kisses your shoulder.

You would be lying if you said you didn’t want him too. you grind against him, matching his movements. he moves you over so he can push the suitcases out of the way before he bends you over the bed.

He spreads your legs with his hands before getting down on his knees. He grabs the seam of your leggings and rips them. You let out a gasp. he moves your underwear to the side before he dives right in to eating you out. His tongue sliding in and out of you a few times before he moves his mouth to suck on your clit.

“Fuck Quinn. Don’t stop please. Need more, please.” He was quick to answer your request by sliding two fingers into you. you scream his name your hands gripping the sheets.

His other hand comes up to slap your ass. Quinn loves eating you out he could do it all day if you let him. but Quinn knew that you had limited time. He pumped his finger a few more times before completely standing up. you hear shuffling behind you but only for a second.

His cock now resting on your ass for a second before he lines his tip with your entrance slowly pushing in. he didn’t wait too long before he started pounding into you.  you let out a moan. Reaching one of your hands behind you to grab on to him.

one of his hands rest on your hip as he thrusts into you his other hand now holding onto your wrist. he slows his thrust down a little so he can spread your legs wider.

“Give me your other hand. good girl.” you bring your other hand behind your back. his hand now wrapped around both of your wrists.

“Now you got to keep quiet for me. Do you think you can do that?” his thrust now picking up again. you nod your head in response not able to form any words. he gives you a little slap on the ass.

“Fuck. you like this don’t you? you liked being fucked knowing that my family can come home any minute. You like the idea of being caught don’t you baby? That why you always make me fuck you in the car after a game.” all you could do was let out little moans with every thrust. His words turning you on even more.

“You know you’re the first girl I have ever fucked in my room. Aah fuck. You’re squeezing my cock so tight baby, fuck.” He let go of your hands so he could grip your hips with both of his hands. He starts pulling your hips to match his thrusts. You could feel yourself getting closer to your release.

Your hands grip the sheets your knuckles turning white. You have to bite your tongue to keep from letting out a moan.

“Good girl. Fuck your doing so good baby. Cum for me, fuck.” You let out a moan. Quinn was quick to follow behind you. his movements stop as he cums inside you.

He grips your hair and pulls so your body is now up right. He turns your head so he can see your face. He kisses your lips.

“You did such a good job baby. Your always so good for me. How about we go and take a shower and ill help you get cleaned up.” you give him a lazy smile and nod your head.

-

Luckily for you guys’ Quinn had a bathroom that was connected to his room. You followed Quinn into the bathroom. He turned on the water and after a few minutes stuck his hand in to feel the temp of the water. When he took his hand out, he turned around to look at you, you were taking of your bra.

He pulled you closer to him by your waist, kissing you all over your face then moving down your neck. His lips stop between your tits before he grabs one of them and wraps his lips around your nipple. He flicks his tongue a few times before sucking. Your head fell back as your hands move to his hair.

Your grip on his hair was tight. Pulling hard on it as he continues to suck on your nipple. He lets out a grunt with every harsh tug on his hair.

“Quinn, please.” You breath out.

You don’t know exactly what you were asking him to do but you needed him again so bad. he took his lips off you before pulling down your pants and then taking off his cloths.

You both make your way into the shower. the nice warm water hitting your skin. you put your hair under the water before reaching over to your shampoo putting some in your hand before rubbing it into your hair.

You and Quinn took the time to just enjoy the quiet but all your brain could think about is repaying the favor. You grab the soap and lather it up on the scrubby, rubbing it up and down Quinn’s back. you bring both your arms around the front of his body bringing both your hands to his chest. You scrub his chest, brining your other hand down to his cock. you wrap your hand around the base of his cock stroking it slowly, your thumb swiping over the tip. His hand wraps around yours, moving your hand faster.

“Fuck, yes. God your hand feels so good. I love when you jerk me off. I love your hands on me baby.” You squeeze his cock; he lets out a hiss.

“Fuck, baby, don’t tease me. You know just how to get me off, you always have.” You let out a giggle. You focus on his tip for a second before going back to stroking him.

“Yes, oh god yes. I’m going to cum.” He grunts his hands move to the wall in front of him so he can support his weight as he cums.

He turns to face you, smiling at you. he grabs your face and kisses you hard.

“I love you so much!” he kisses you again. before pulling you under the water with him letting the water run down your face.

[lincolndjarin]

Not So Secret Santa

javier peña x fem!reader

this is a part of the @pedrostories gift exchange!!

summary : you get the only person you didn't want for your offices secret santa.

warnings/tags : 18+ mdni, enemies/friends to lovers, canon divergence, steve is your boss/close friend, reader and javier have a complicated relationship, reader is insecure, brief mentions of alcohol, porn with plot, smut, light angst, javier and reader fight physically but it's very light with no actual injury, masturbation, semi-public sex, p in v, idk how to properly tag this but javi likes boobs in this so he touches boobs, unprotected sex (don't do this, wrap it this holiday season), use of a makeshift gag, rough yet very loving sex because it's christmas and christmas magic means i can write what i want.

tldr : you and javi have sex in his office and you put his tie in his mouth to shut him up.

word count : 4.4k

✦ : merry christmas @taro-666 !!! i'm your secret santa !!! i hope you're well this holiday season and i hope you enjoy this fic !! i haven't written much peña, despite how much i love him so i hope i did him justice and i hope you have a wonderful holiday <3 <3 (also sorry this is a little late (20 minuetes left before midnight so we're good). i was out with family all day and was only just now able to get to my laptop, i promise i didn't forget about you lmao)

no use of y/n, reader has hair and painted nails & javier sort of half picks her up at one point, nothing else is described besides clothing.

lovely dividers by @saradika-graphics

“Please, Steve, I’ll give you a week's pay.” You lean across his desk, genuine desperation in your voice after an hour of begging. 

“Not gonna happen.” He doesn’t even bother looking up from his computer.

“A month.” Your voice is starting to pitch up, something similar to anguish in your tone. Your offer finally gets a reaction out of him as his eyes widen, head tilting up.  

“Jesus, you can’t be serious.” He’s examining your expression, trying to determine the sincerity of your claim. 

“My entire Christmas bonus.” 

“Okay, stop.” He sighs, giving you a sympathetic look. “We’re not allowed to switch.”

“When did you become such a stickler for the rules?” You cross your arms in front of your chest. 

“It’s just a secret Santa. He’s our friend, whether you like it or not, you two are close and this shouldn’t be this big of a deal, now go, please, I need to finish up here so I can leave at a reasonable hour.” He loosens his tie as you sigh. 

“It’s not just a secret Santa, Steve. It’s an opportunity for him to tell me that I once again didn’t do something right. No matter what I get him, it isn’t going to be good enough.” Even as you’re saying it you can see that he isn’t going to change his mind about this. 

“He’s a dick to everybody. That’s inevitable, it just means he’s comfortable with you.” He’s already turning back to his work. 

“Please, Steve.” 

“No.”

You glare down at him, giving him your angriest look as his gaze tilts back up to meet yours. 

When it’s clear that he isn’t going to switch you turn and leave, slamming his office door in the process. 

“Don’t forget, I need you here early to help set up for the party!” His muffled voice seeps out into the hall as you walk away. 

Once you’re out in your car and far away from prying eyes you unfold the damned slip of paper you’d drawn earlier today. 

Javier P. 

Of course, you got stuck with fucking Peña, a nickname you’d given him a few months ago. He absolutely hates it but the entire time you’ve worked for the DEA he’s gone out of his way to bother you. Sure, he’s your “friend”, in a strange, complicated way. But he still drives you up the wall with his constant need to one up you and the way he’s constantly making passes at women around the office. 

And it’s not like you have any problems with him sleeping around, lord knows you’ve had a fair amount of one night stands, but he just has to hit on every woman you work with. 

Every single woman, except you. 

You’d never admit it of course but a part of you will always be self conscious about that fact. It doesn’t help that Javier absolutely adores bothering you at every possible moment. He loves nothing more than to pester, annoy, and mock you, spending nearly half his day leaning over your desk despite the million complaints you’ve sent Steve about his persistent partner. 

He’ll sit on your desk, doing an endless amount of things to cause you distress. Like crowding you with his cigarette smell and vanilla cologne as he tells you you’re filling papers wrong, or telling you what colors to paint your nails, or solving your cases before you can even get to them, or teasing you about your shitty car. Today he wouldn’t stop bothering you about your weekend plans like he doesn’t already know exactly where you’ll be. 

“Are you doing anything this weekend?” He’d asked with that devastating smirk and eyebrow raise combo. 

“I have to go buy my secret Santa gift, just like everyone else.” You’d turned away, avoiding eye contact as he scoffed. 

“What about Saturday?” He continued to pry, you wanted nothing more than to shove his perfect ass off your desk. 

“The Christmas party, Javi. Just like everyone else.” You had sighed, squeezing the bridge of your nose as Emilia had walked past your desk. Javier immediately forgot your entire conversation as he turned to her. 

“I love your nails.” He’d pushed his hair out of his face, holding his hand out to take hers, getting a closer look at the well manicured designs. 

You had tuned out after that. Not wanting to be involved in the exchange as you went back to typing. Acutely aware of your own nails. 

Red chipped paint. 

You couldn’t help but wonder what it must be like to be the object of his affection.

It wouldn’t matter if he did hit on you, you would probably reject him anyway. 

Probably. 

It doesn’t matter, it’s never gonna happen so why let it bother you? 

With a sigh you toss the paper into your cup holder, reaching to turn on the radio, maybe some Christmas music will make you feel better. Of course nothing happens as you turn up the volume knob but it makes you want to scream regardless. 

Stupid fucking Peña. 

Stupid broken radio, stupid shitty car. 

“Fuck.” You mumble under your breath as you shift into drive.

Before you know it you’re back in your car in the DEA office parking lot, this time a few things are different though. 

You’re dressed nicer, trading your slacks in for a skirt and your dress shirt for a sweater. And of course you now have a small wrapped box in your lap. 

Since you had yesterday off for the holiday you spent your Friday at the mall, searching for a gift for Javier. Eventually you had settled on three little things; Nicotine gum, mostly because you’ll get more work done if he isn’t constantly dragging you outside for his smoke breaks. He complains too much about going alone and it’s always been easier not to argue, now he can stay at your desk with his gum. Beard oil, the fancy stuff he always insists on using in his mustache. You’d bought him the wrong kind last year for his birthday and you still haven’t heard the end of it. And a lighter, you had to beg the shop owner to make an exception and do a same day engraving of his birthday. 

Jesus. 

You know way too much about him. 

You arrived two hours early as requested by Steve to help him set up. With the wrapped box tucked under your arm you anxiously tap the patterned wrapping paper with your freshly manicured nails. 

“You should paint your nails green, I love green.” He had said through a drag of his cigarette. 

Why did you let that idiot's opinions influence this decision? You feel foolish. The green chrome polish shimmering in the street lights in the parking lot as you step into the building. You had extra time while you were waiting for the engraving and you just couldn’t help yourself when the salon was just a few stores away. The image of Javier holding your hand and examining your painted nails while telling you how nice they looked was just too tempting. Maybe he’d even ask if you did it just for him, and you could drag him into a closet at the party, the exact situation you watched unfold last year. Except in that scenario you weren’t the lucky lady he’d run off with that night. 

There’s no time to be thinking like that.

You shake off whatever filth you were imagining as you look around the hectic mess of garland and glitter.

Steve is already stressing, setting up tables as you set your gift under the tree before getting to work. The office is already mostly decorated but with his new position as supervisor Steve is insistent that everything be perfect his first Christmas in charge. So you plate food, and you mix drinks exactly as he wants them, and you hold the ladder steady when he insists on putting more lights up. When you’ve got about a half an hour before guests start arriving you’re finishing up and last minute touches, the two of you crowded around a drink tower. 

The tension from your conversation yesterday seems to have fizzled out as you become engrossed in your work, when you’ve both finished he gives you an appreciative look.

“Thank you, seriously, it means a lot.” You help him adjust his tie as he straightens out his shirt. 

“Anytime, although I’m surprised you didn’t just ask Javier.” You pat his shoulder as you finish, brushing a stray blonde hair out of his eyes. 

He laughs, a nervous chuckle that makes you raise an eyebrow but when you open your mouth to comment on it he lets out a relieved sigh as the first of your coworkers arrive.

More people show up than you could have expected. 

You stay near Steve for most of the beginning until he gets dragged away by one of the higher ups who had made an appearance, leaving you alone to sip your drink against the back wall. You hum along to a Christmas song that plays loud enough to drown out any conversation you might eavesdrop on to entertain yourself in his absence, your eyes scan the crowds as you try to match up the people you work with with their spouses. 

You’re getting ready to find another group to talk to when you catch a glimpse of him standing against the opposite wall, talking to Bonnie, the woman who works in the cubicle next to yours. 

Fucking Peña. Dressed in a stupidly tight green dress shirt. 

You should leave them alone, especially if he’s trying to make a move on her. But you can’t help it as you make your way around the room towards them, a vague sense of jealousy settling in your stomach. 

String lights twinkle across the ceiling of the office, creating a warm ambience throughout the space, just as you’re about to tap him on the shoulder you overhear their conversation. 

“I had to beg Steve to switch with me, took an hour of convincing and a week's paycheck but it’ll be worth it to see the look on her face.” His back is to you as he leans in closer to Bonnie. 

He’s probably talking about one of the other women from the office. Steve probably had someone Javier was trying to impress and that’s why Steve didn’t want to trade with you, he had already promised his pick to Javier. 

Whatever, you can’t be too bothered about that. It does make you want to return to your spot on the other side of the room but you don’t get the chance to as the music is turned down rather suddenly.

One of the secretaries, Benjamin, stands on a chair, making an announcement that it’s time to do the secret Santa. You manage to twist through the crowds so Javier never sees you, finding his gift and bringing it to where he now stands, simultaneously keeping an eye out for your own gift.  

You hand him the box, watching the way his face lights up. 

“You picked me?” He grins as you nod, carefully peeling back the wrapping paper as you feel a tap on your shoulder. Benjamin waits behind you, leaning in to whisper while you watch Javier open his gift. 

“It was short notice so we didn’t have time to get you a back up gift but your secret Santa told us at the last minute that he forgot to get you something, he promised to bring in something after New Years, I’m so sorry.” You feel a little disappointed as he murmurs but it isn’t that big of a deal, it’s a busy time of year and people can forget things. 

“No worries, do you know who it was? I’d like to at least tell them it’s fine.” You turn away from Javier as he smiles at the nicotine gum, Benjamin's eyes flicker from your face to Javier’s before he gives you a sympathetic look, walking away. 

Javier traded for your name? 

As your head tilts to look at him now you can see the smirk he’s now sporting. 

“ …but it’ll be worth it to see the look on her face.”

Javier had made a conscious effort to get your name just so he could not get you something.

Huh.

That doesn’t feel great. The look he gets to see on your face is betrayal and then just sadness. You don’t really care what the reason for his decision is, you turn and walk away from him regardless. If he tries to say something to you it’s drowned out by the music that starts once again. 

Why are you so upset over some stupid joke? If it had been anyone else you wouldn’t have cared, you’d have brushed it off as a harmless accident but this wasn’t an accident. 

Maybe he didn’t really think of you as a friend. 

Maybe all of the teasing and one-upmanship really was from a place of animosity and you were just too blind and too infatuated to see it. You want to cry but you don’t want to give him the satisfaction so you sift through the bowl of keys, searching for the Star Wars keychain attached to your lanyard but you can’t find it. The combination of the blaring Christmas songs with the frustration you’re currently feeling only makes you more emotional.  

You don’t want to go to the bathrooms where you might run into someone and you can’t go to Steve’s office because he might be talking to his supervisor, so you go to the only place you know there won’t be people. 

Javier’s office. 

You walk as quickly as you can, slipping inside as you slam the door shut behind you, clicking the lock in place before turning around, resting against the door as you feel tears spilling from your eyes. It isn’t until he clears his throat that your head snaps up.

Today is just not your day.

Did he know you’d come here? How the hell did he beat you here? He’s fidgeting with the lighter you bought him, watching it light and go out as he sits with your keys in his other hand. 

Your face feels hot as you take in the sight of him. 

“Give me my keys.” You hold your hand out, wiping your eyes with the other as you wait. Of course he doesn’t hand them over, that would be too easy and today is insisting on being difficult. 

“I really liked your gift. Seriously, this is… outrageously thoughtful.” He murmurs, seemingly unaware of your mood until he takes a closer look at you, his expression shifting as he realizes your eyes are rimmed with red. “Why are you so upset? What happened?” He slides open a drawer, tossing your keys into his desk while you consider calling a cab. 

What a foolish question. 

How could he possibly not know?

“I want to leave, I’m sick of this party.” You turn to leave, maybe Steve can drive you home. 

“Come on, the parties barely started.” He’s on his feet, he doesn’t try to corner you, if anything he sets himself against the wall. 

“And I want to leave.” When you reach for the doorknob he grabs your wrist, holding it as he stares at you, a look of impatience crosses his face. 

“Don’t tell me you’re mad about the secret Santa.” His brows furrow. 

“This isn’t about a stupid secret Santa.”

“It sure seems like it is.” He’s still holding your wrist, why is he still holding your wrist?  

This isn’t about the secret Santa. It’s a lot more than that, and after ages of keeping your thoughts to yourself in front of him you just let it out. 

“This is about the fact that you don’t even care about me enough to make any sort of effort. I know you deliberately chose me, you specifically chose to do this to me and I don’t care that it’s just a stupid prank. It still- It’s still a shitty thing to do.” Your voice starts cracking half way through and you can feel your eyes welling up again but it doesn’t matter anymore, you were wrong, the two of you aren’t friends. 

“So this is about the secret Santa.” 

Of course he wouldn’t get it. 

“You’re an idiot.” You finally pull your wrist from him. 

You aren’t sure what else to do so you shove him, his back hitting the wall with a soft thud as you push past him to get to his desk, hoping to grab your keys but he catches your waist first. 

“Can you stop being so stubborn for five seconds and just let me explain myself?” You can tell his patience is wearing thin, his voice is strained as he pulls you back against him, caging you against his chest with his arms. 

“Fuck Javi- let me go-” You try to kick his knees but he anticipates it, shifting his legs to avoid you.

“Just wait- listen to me.” He swings you around a bit as he tries to still you, you can feel his breath hitching, the buttons of his shirt digging into your back. The two of you thrash around for another moment until you freeze, feeling something poking your hip. When he realizes why you stopped putting up a fight he lets you go in an instant. “Shit- I-I’m sorry.” He stammers as you turn around towards him, eyes wide. 

You never thought you’d see Javier Peña flustered yet here he is. When you take a step back his cheeks are burning red, his fingers twitch nervously at his side, and as much as you try to ignore it, his pants are tighter than usual. (And considering how tight they usually are this is quite a feat.) He won’t look you in the eye. 

“It- It’s fine, Javi.” You adjust the hem of your skirt, trying to fix your hair. You just can’t catch a break today. “It was an accident, there was a lot of- of friction and it happens. I think I should just go.” You stutter a bit trying to find the right words. This entire evening has been catastrophic, and you’re more than ready to call it a night. 

“It’s not an accident.” He mumbles, finally looking at you, not bothering with subtlety as he adjusts himself. “You should probably go.” 

If it’s not an accident you don’t want to go. 

You want to stay and keep making accidents, starting with rushing forward into him, taking his face in your hands and kissing him. Which is exactly what you do. At first he doesn’t react and you worry you read the situation wrong but when you pull away, just an inch, his hands envelop you. 

Hips, waist, back, shoulders, hair. He’s everywhere, all consuming as his teeth graze your lips, in an instant your backside hits his desk.

When he finally does remove his lips from yours his are slick and a tiny bit swollen, his pupils swallow his irises whole. 

“I loved your gift, I wasn’t joking, it’s perfect and the last thing I want is for you to think that I don’t care about you. Of course we’re friends, you-” As he rambles on you ball up the end of his tie, unceremoniously shoving it between his teeth. 

“Talk later, this now.” You grab the bottom of your sweater, pulling it up over your head, watching his jaw tense at the sight of your chest, his hands playing with the strap of your bra as you hop up onto his desk. Hiking your skirt up, he slots himself between your legs, your own fingers push your panties to the side as he reaches behind you, easily twisting the clasp of your bra to release it, tossing it to the side as his enormous palms engulf your breasts. 

You dip your fingers into the wetness between your legs, briefly taking a moment to wonder how you found yourself here. Just moments ago you were ready to leave and consider your friendship with Javier over, yet now you’re spread out on his desk, on display for him as you sink your fingers into your eager cunt. 

You don’t get to linger on the thought for long because he groans into the fabric of his tie and you’re pulled back into the moment. 

Jesus you’re soaked. 

You have no trouble pushing two slick digits into yourself. You can feel the outline of him against your thigh and you know that you need to warm yourself up to take him. He’s too engrossed in your tits to do it right now and you’ve waited too long for this, you don’t want to wait, you just want to have him. 

He’s tender at first, squeezing and softly tracing the outline of your areola until he seemingly can’t control himself any longer and he pinches, rolling your nipples between his thumb and pointer finger as your whine. Back arching of the oak of his desk as you curl your own fingers. Even through the tie his moans are still somehow louder than yours, you’re briefly worried about someone hearing as you let out a whimper while he tweaks your nipple but the music’s so loud at the party you can hear Mariah Carey from here. 

You don’t stop for a second, putting your focus on reaching the peak that you find yourself already getting startlingly close to. You can feel yourself pulsing as you pick up the pace, reveling in the way his eyes devour the very sight of you. You’re agonizingly close when he grabs your wrist, removing your fingers carefully as you try and resist, wanting to finish what you started, you’re about to whine when he begins unzipping his pants. You can feel your pussy clenching at the very sight of him, of course he isn’t wearing any underwear under his dress pants so the second his zipper is fully down his cock springs free.

Javier fucking Peña has a gorgeous cock. 

Standing stiff and proud without either one of you even having to touch it. Pretty and pink on the tip, already leaking down the shaft. And heavy, as he takes it in his hand, his other hand gripping your waist as lines himself at your entrance. He takes a moment, eyes scanning your face, silently asking for permission. 

You can’t nod fast enough but the second that you do he slides into you. 

You could never conjure up something this good in your fantasies. The way he fills you, stretching you open as he whimpers into the fabric of his tie, you like that he listened, that he kept it in his mouth this long. His strokes are needy and fast, like he’s been waiting for this for so long and now he can’t help but be ravenous. You were already painfully close before he filled you with his perfect cock, it takes only a few minutes for you to be right back there. His fingers dig into your waist so hard that you’re certain he’ll leave marks as he slams in and out of you, pulling out almost entirely with every thrust. 

You’re vaguely aware of the sound of his trinkets rolling off his desk and onto the floor. 

“Javi, Javi, Javi.” Between gasps you chant his name, the sound encouraging him as he pushes in deep, his pelvis grinding against your clit until you see stars. Your cunt clenching around him as your orgasm is ripped out of you. Messy and loud and blurry, he fucks you through it. You’re so blissed out you can barely focus on the persistent pounding into you until you manage to come back to your senses and his hands leave your waist, instead intertwining with your fingers as his hips twitch forward and you feel him hastily pull out of you.

He spits his tie out, opting to instead bite your shoulder as he comes, the groan that leaves his throat is obscene. Raspy and filthy as he collapses down on top of you, the two of you sweating and gasping amongst the paperwork and pens now scattered across his desk. 

Did that really just happen?

He manages to collect himself first, leaning back and tucking himself into his pants before quickly tending to you. He grabs a few tissues, wiping your stomach where the product of your activities lay, before redressing you, slipping the flats that had slipped off, back onto your feet, pulling your skirt back down to cover you as he slides your panties back into place, and retrieving your bra and sweater, lifting you into a sitting position as he redresses you, kissing your cheeks, nose, and forehead the entire time. 

“All good?” He whispers, gentler than you’ve ever heard him as you nod, grinning. 

“Good enough to make me forgive you for not getting me a present.” You reach into his drawer, grabbing your keys before sliding off of his desk. 

“Maybe this was your present.” He tilts his head, kissing you again, smiling all the while. 

“That was the perfect gift then.” Probably the best you’ve ever gotten.

“Are you gonna stay for the rest of the party?” He takes your hands in his, his thumbs absentmindedly rubbing circles into your skin. 

“I think I need to go to bed after that.” You laugh as you jingle your keys, turning towards the door as he catches your lips in another kiss. 

It makes your heart flutter. The continued affection makes you think this isn’t a one time thing. You want more. You want conversations about feelings, and to talk about what just happened, you want to feel him inside you again, and the look in his eyes tells you that you’re going to get all of that. But right now you’re tired, so the rest can wait. 

“Can I walk you to your car?” You nod as he murmurs.

He doesn’t let go of your hand, walking you out of the building towards your car, opening the door for you and giving you one last kiss with a promise that he’d call you tomorrow, before you watched him walk back into the building.

Your phone buzzes as you turn your key in the ignition, the sound of Wham! fills the car, Last Christmas playing softly. You take your phone out of your pocket, checking the text notification from Javier. 

[ i forgot to tell you how pretty your nails are. merry christmas hermosa ]

Your head turns up in surprise as you realize your radio is working. A new radio system is installed in the center of your dashboard, with a little green bow taped to the top, and a paper tag with Javi’s familiar messy handwriting. 

from : your secret fucking santa

a/n : happy holidays everyone!!

[rosenclaws]

One More Present || Logan Howlett drabble

summary: Logan has one more present for you

warnings: light smut, STILL MINORS DNI AND 18+ ONLY TY, light bondage lol

wc: 546

a/n: So this is a really stupid drabble I thought it would be funny and so here it is lmao. To all the people who wanted a wolverine under their Christmas tree <3

Christmas with your neighbors was more fun than you've had in a long time. It was also the most you've drank in a while. Wade really went all out with his party and his gifts.

Though you really didn't need the uh, interesting picture calendar he had put together for everyone. You're pretty sure you saw Logan throw his into the fireplace when Wade wasn't looking.

The day after Christmas was spent doing pretty much nothing. Logan had taken refuge in your bed as he normally does since you started dating but he was forced to go back to help the clean up. Waking up without your personal space heater was a lonely experience but he left you his flannel at least.

Unfortunately for you, you couldn't escape going back to work and were trapped at your boring job wishing you could be home with Logan instead. Your phone pinged and you looked to see a text from Logan.

Wade's finally fucking gone.

You laugh as you can picture just how much Wade had gotten on Logan's nerves today.

I'm almost done, I miss you

You text back. Logan accidently hits a few different things before finally thumbs uping your message. He really was an old man with technology sometimes. As the time ticked and you were nearing the end of the day you got one more message.

Found something in our bedroom, I think you have one more present to open.

Your brows furrowed in confusion. You can't remember leaving anything and Logan isn't really one for surprise gifts. He would have given it to you yesterday. As you clocked out you tried to call him but he didn't pick up. Weird.

"Logan?" You call as you step through the door.

"In here!" He calls from the bedroom. You shrug off your coat and drop your bag, expecting to find him lounging on the bed or something.

"Hey what..." Your voice trails off as you walk into the room. Logan was laying in bed for sure, but completely naked.

He's smirking as he sits in his totally naked glory. His abs are on full display, thick thighs, and big arms. You swear he was...shiny? But you weren't complaining.

What really catches your eyes is his fat cock, a big red bow tied around it. The red ribbon trailed up his body and sat at one of his wrists which tied him to the bedframe. His muscles flex as he sits up.

"How did you know this is what I asked Santa for?" You tease as you move over to the bed, admiring your stupidly hot boyfriend. He shrugs, the ribbon straining against his muscles.

"You got one more present sweetheart." He looks down to the bow.

"Want to unwrap it?" You smirk as you slowly strip your clothes.

"Merry Christmas to me." You purr as you climb onto the bed.

He watches with hungry eyes as you take the edge of the bow in your teeth and pull it, freeing his cock. Winking as you lower your head. Logan groans as you take the tip of his cock in your mouth, dancing your tongue just the way he likes it. He tugs on the ribbon and somehow it doesn't rip.

"Hope that ribbon can hold you, because I want to have a little fun tonight."

[misfit0789]

Holidays from Hell

Alyssa Naeher x Reader

Summary: Alyssa and R's Christmas is crashed by R's family. It doesn't end well.

Word count: 4.7k

Warnings: Nose bleed, emotionally/mentally abusive family, hurt/comfort, homophobic comments

This has been done for a couple of months, and I wasn't planning on posting it just yet, but since Uncle is officially retired from the national team, I thought there was no better time to post it! Hope you enjoy!

I slowly open my eyes to adjust to the morning light peaking in through the blinds. I stretch as best as I can

with one arm under my partner of 4 years. I feel her start to stir as I cuddle back into her from behind.

"Merry Christmas baby," I whisper into her ear as I press a kiss just behind it. She turns in my arms to look me in my eyes, before she presses a kiss to my lips. I relax into the kiss savoring it knowing we will face chaos shortly.

"Merry Christmas my love, are you ready to see your mom?" She asks her left hand coming up to cup my cheek. I sigh and lean into her touch.

"I don't think I will ever be ready to face her. It was a lot easier to ignore her when I moved out and could put the blame on practice and other stuff. But when she shows up on my door step 2 days before Christmas demanding to spend the holidays with us I'm not sure I can ignore her then. I'm pissed that she ruined our plans though. I was so excited to spend the holidays with your family. I was looking forward to seeing them all." I take a deep breath to try and get my emotions under control. She gives me a soft smile before she leans in and places another kiss on my lips.

"We will power through this together. Besides my sister will be here this afternoon to help prepare dinner before my parents arrive at 5. We only have a couple hours of your mom alone today. We can do it." She says, I give her a small nod and one more kiss before moving the blanket to the side. Knowing my mother she will find some way to fuck this up just as she has everything else in my life.

I stand and stretch before making my way to our ensuite bathroom to do my morning routine. Alyssa not far behind. As we make eye contact through the mirror I pull a funny face with my toothbrush hanging out of my mouth causing her to laugh. I smile at the sound as we both finish our routines before returning to our bedroom to get dressed.

"Remind me why I let you talk me into matching sweaters?" Alyssa sighs. I give her a smile before pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"Because you love me, and because you are stuck with me for the rest of your life and you know better than to argue." I give her a cheeky smile before pressing one last kiss to her cheek as she rolls her eyes. I stand in front of our closed bedroom door and take a deep breath as I reach for the door knob. Just before I can open the door though it flies open smacking me right in the nose.

"Shit!"

"Oh my god! Y/n! Are you okay?" Alyssa runs over to check my nose. I tilt my head back to help control the bleeding. I peak one eye open and see my mom standing there.

"Oh please, you are fine. Allyson there is no need to worry over her. She will live. Now what is for breakfast? I am starved. You'd think it's our first Christmas together in years and-"

"Mom! First off her name is Alyssa, second you invited yourself here. There is no reason for you to barge into our bedroom demanding food. It will be ready when it is ready. Go sit in the living room. We are doing gifts before food anyway." I say before taking another deep breath, moving to the bathroom to get a tissue to plug up the bleeding. I can feel Alyssa following behind me.

"Are you okay love?" I sigh and give her a nod before starting to clean up the blood from my face.

"I've had to experience her like this before. It's nothing new unfortunately. I'm just happy we were dressed. She once did that and acted that way to an me and an ex. Let's just say that ex and I were over by that night. I'm just happy you stuck around after your first go around with her." She gives me a soft smile and presses a kiss to my cheek. Taking the towel from my hands to help me clean up. She steps in front of me and leans her back on the bathroom counter. My hands move to rest on her waist.

"That's why I said 'I do' when you put this on my finger." She holds up her left hand showcasing her wedding ring. I look at her with what I know is a love filled look.

"And I would ask you all over again in every lifetime." She gives me a smile and continues to clean up my face. "Besides at least she didn't ruin my sweater," I give her a cheeky smile before she leans up pressing a kiss to my lips. "I love you,"

"I love you too, now lets go get this over with before she comes back in here and does worse than bruise your nose." I laugh and nod taking a step back from her so she can throw the towel in the laundry.

We walk out of our room and make our way to the steps, though I stop when I hear more than my moms voice in my living room. A voice that haunted every memory from my childhood since the day she could talk.

"She did not," I whisper. Alyssa looks at me confused. "Looks like you are about to meet the favorite child that you've been lucky enough to avoid. Her and mom together are never good." She widens her eyes in surprise.

"Don't tell me your sister is here," I sigh and give her a nod. "Why is she in our house? We did not invite her!" She whisper shouts.

"We may not have but mom certainly did. I didn't even think she lived near Chicago!" I whisper back. "Text your sister and parents to warn them. Nothing good ever comes from those two being in the same place." The day has barely started and I can already feel the headache and its not the one from a door being smashed into my face either.

"Okay, Amanda and my parents have been warned. Amanda is coming by earlier. So are my parents they said they'll be here around 4 instead of 5. They've heard the stories of your mom and sister and don't want anything bad to happen." Alyssa whispers pocketing her phone. I nod before taking a deep breath.

"Let's get this over with." She presses a kiss to my lips before giving me a nod. I give her a smile and make my way down the stairs.

"Finally, we are starving. What took you and Allyson so long? And why is your face so red?" My sister asks once Alyssa and I make it around the corner.

"I already told mom. Food is after gifts and it's Alyssa not Allyson. Her and I have been together for four years you both know this. Mom opened our bedroom door smacking me in the face. Thanks for the concern." I end sarcastically. I feel Alyssa's hand on my back. I relax at her touch before reluctantly stepping away to start making Alyssa's coffee. I move towards the hooks on the wall we keep our mugs on stopping when my mom speaks.

"There's no need to do gifts." My mom says. I slowly turn towards her a confused look on my face.

"And why is that? It is Christmas is it not?" I ask giving my mother a sarcastic look.

"Well yeah but your sister and I have already exchanged gifts. There isn't anything else to give out." I look at her dumbfounded.

"What about Alyssa and I? You didn't get us anything?" I'm honestly not surprised, mom and Heather have already exchanged gifts. They did this all the time growing up. Heather would throw a fit so mom would give her all my gifts to placate her. I enjoyed the Christmas' I've been able to spend with Alyssa and her family as I finally got to feel the love of a family.

"Uhh, nope." Mom says turning to look at what Heather was showing her on her phone. I make eye contact with Heather over mom's head to see her smirking at me. I roll my eyes and flip her off with my own sarcastic smile before quickly looking to Alyssa.

"If your sister doesn’t hurry up she will have to drive you to the jailhouse to bail me out for killing them." I whisper. She chuckles and nods before giving my shoulder a squeeze in reassurance.

When it's just Alyssa and I we are very touchy and loving to each other. We even show some PDA with her family as we are comfortable with them. My 'family' and anyone else, even her teammates, we are less touchy. Both our love languages include physical touch so we are more lowkey with them. Instead of hugs, kissing and handholding, we usually interlock our pinkies.

"I already texted her. She's on her way my love." She whispers back. I give her a nod before reaching for her hand and giving it a squeeze.

"I need a bit more than linking pinkies right now," I breath out. She nods leaning up to press a quick kiss to my temple. I release her hand and quickly move about the kitchen to finish up making her coffee while she works on my hot cocoa as I was never a coffee drinker.

As we work I can feel her hands brushing against me from time to time as she moves around the kitchen from the kettle on the stove for the hot water and the fridge for the whipped cream. I relax knowing she has no other motives than to keep me calm and from hurting my mother and sister.

~~~~~

"I'm here and I brought donuts." I let out a breath of relief before standing from my seat next to Alyssa at the kitchen island and turning in my spot to greet Amanda.

"I can't thank you enough for coming over sooner. It's been a nightmare already." Amanda waves me off moving to set the donuts on the counter in front of Alyssa who opens the box and grabs one, before Amanda is turning to give me a hug. I relax into it knowing Alyssa and I won't have to fend the demons off alone. She pulls back and cups my face in her hands slowly moving my head around as she looks at my red nose.

"Don't sweat it. Lyss explained it all. I had to get here before you killed them. Although they did a number on your nose. Have you iced it yet? You don't want it to swell." Just before I can respond my mom and sister walk in.

"Oh hello, who are you? You look like Allyson but she's sitting at the counter with - ooh donuts!" My mom is cut off by Heather pushing Alyssa to the side to grab the box from in front of her. I reach out and catch Alyssa before she can hit the floor.

"Hey! Watch it Heather! This is Amanda, Alyssa's twin sister. She's here to help cook dinner. Alyssa and Amanda's parents will be here at 4 for Christmas dinner. If you two aren't going to help please leave the kitchen." I let Alyssa sit in the seat I was previously in before moving towards the fridge to start grabbing ingredients for dinner.

"But-" My mom is cut off as Alyssa shoves the box of donuts, more so what's left that Heather hasn't eaten, into mom's hands. Mom and Heather share a look before leaving the kitchen.

"I'm sorry about the donuts but I will make you whatever you want for breakfast. I just needed to get them out of here before Y/n killed them. Her and her twin are nothing like us. They have competed all their lives, they will kill each other." Alyssa explains. Amanda nods in understanding.

"Don't worry about it Lys. I can tell from that interaction just how bad things can be for Y/n. I mean you two have been together for 4 years and they still don't even know your name." I roll my eyes setting the armful of veggies down before leaning on the counter.

"I still don't understand why they showed up here. I haven't spoken to mom or Heather for over a year. Hell they don't even know Alyssa and I got married!" I whisper to Alyssa and Amanda, knowing my mom and Heather are listening. They could never mind their own business growing up. "I know that day was ten times better because of them not being there. There is no way for Heather to ruin the day if she doesn’t know it even happened," Alyssa and Amanda laugh at my words.

"I know, and it was the best day of my life," Alyssa whispers moving over to me and pressing a kiss to my lips, her arms moving around my neck as my hands move to grip her waist. I smile into the kiss relaxing for the first time today since I woke up with my wife in my arms.

"Okay I get it you two are in love. Can we please start on dinner?" Amanda asks, the disgust clear in her voice. I reluctantly pull away from my wife leaving one hand on her hip, and turn to my sister-in-law.

"Fine," I fully pull away from Alyssa and move towards the knife block on the counter, grabbing a knife to cut the veggies.

Alyssa, Amanda and I work together in the kitchen to get dinner sorted and ready to be put in the oven for when their parents arrive. Thankfully mom and Heather seem to steer clear of the kitchen.

~~~

Just as I set the last tray in the oven for dinner the doorbell goes off. I turn to look at Amanda and Alyssa who are working together on cleaning up the dishes we used when cooking.

"I'll be back," I say before walking towards the front door, but Heather had beat me to it.

"Who are you?" She asks with a bitchy tone. I roll my eyes placing a hand on her shoulder pushing her to the side.

"These are Alyssa and Amanda's parents. They're here for dinner," I say looking at Heather, before turning to my in-laws with a smile. "Hi Donna and John. Merry Christmas!" I move toward Donna to give her a hug, as we pull back I press a kiss to her cheek and turn to John holding my hand out for him to shake. He shakes his head chuckling.

"Your family now Y/n come here," He reaches out pulling me into a hug. I laugh and return the hug, patting his back before pulling away.

"Oh honey what happened to your face? Your nose is all bruised." Donna says.

"Had a disagreement with a door this morning," I supply, "Mom barged into Alyssa and I's room this morning demanding food. She hit me in the face with the door when she came in,"

"Oh sweetheart! You need to ice that!" She exclaims.

"Your daughters have been helping me cook dinner all morning, they've been helping while I ice on and off for 20 minutes at a time. Is Abigail not coming?" I question noticing the absence of my wife's youngest sister. John shakes his head.

"Her and the kids are with Abby's husbands family this year they did send us with the gift for you and Alyssa though!" John says gesturing to the boxes he's holding in his hands. I chuckle and help him with the boxes before turning and leading them into the house.

"May I?" I ask gesturing to their coats once I had set the gifts by the tree next to the front windows. Donna nods and turns allowing me to help her remove her coat before hanging it on the coat rack by the door. I take John's from his hand and hang it next to his wife's.

"Thank you Y/n. I knew Alyssa did right by choosing you," Donna chuckles. Her husband nodding in agreement. I laugh along with them before leading them to the kitchen, but of course we're stopped before we make it there. This time by mom.

"Oh hello! And who might you be?" She asks. I can tell by her tone of voice she doesn't actually care who they are, she's just nosey.

"Mom, these are Alyssa's parents Donna and John. Donna, John this is my mom Y/m/n." I introduce them.

"Nice to meet you!" Donna says holding her hand out. My mom hums looking at Donna's hand in disgust before turning and walking towards the couch where Heather is sitting, some Christmas movie on the TV. I roll my eyes leading Donna and John to the kitchen where their daughters are.

"Remember at the wedding you had asked why my family wasn't there?" I whisper to the two. I glance back seeing them nod. "That's why. None of them care for me, they would have made the day hell. I'm glad they weren't there." I say once we were in the kitchen. Amanda and Alyssa look up from where they are drying dishes, eyes lighting up when they see their parents. They set down the dishes and rags before moving to greet their parents. I stand off to the side letting the family talk, getting lost in my thoughts. 

Why can't my family be like that?

"Babe?" I jump feeling Alyssa's hand on my arm.

"Sorry, what?" I ask, she gives me a soft smile bringing her hand from my arm to rest on my cheek. I sigh and lean into her hand relishing in the comfort she provides.

"You zoned out on us. Are you okay?" She asks brushing her thumb along my cheekbone. I bring my hand up resting it over hers, rubbing my thumb along the back of her hand.

"Yeah, just wish we didn't have the holiday crashers here. I was looking forward to a holiday with just us and your family." I press a kiss to her forehead pulling back to rest our foreheads together.

"Our family," She whispers into the air between us, "They became yours too the day we said 'I do'. Those crashers will not ruin our first Christmas married, Amanda and my parents won't let them," She says pressing a kiss to my lips, "I won't let them," I give her a smile and nod, pressing another kiss to her lips before turning to see her parents and Amanda talking but glancing at us every so often. I turn back to Alyssa looking into her eyes.

"I love you," I say. She smiles pressing another kiss to my lips sensing I need the comfort.

"I love you too. Now lets go enjoy our first Christmas as a married couple," I nod taking her hand from my cheek and intertwining our fingers, before letting her lead us to the island where her-our family is sitting.

"Oh Y/n! Alyssa was telling us that your getting ready to publish your new book. It's the next one in the Awaken series right?" John asks. I smile and nod.

"Yea, the detectives story isn't over yet. Alyssa has been a big help with the details and helping me work through the story line. I think I have at least two more books worth of ideas." I say happy to finally be able to talk about my writing with people other than Alyssa and her team. Those girls are obsessed with the series and keep asking for spoilers.

"Oh that's so exciting! What is the publish date? I want to be sure to get a copy before they sell out!" Donna asks. I move from my spot next to Alyssa to grab the 3 of bags from the counter.

"For you guys? Now," I say handing them each a bag before moving back to Alyssa, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Wait? Really?" Amanda asks in shock, pulling out her copy of the book. Donna and John doing the same giving me a questioning look.

"Yeah, I had asked the published for a few copies before they hit the shelves in the new year. I wanted my family to have the first copies." I shrug as if it were no big deal.

"Aww thank you! I look forward to reading it!" Donna says setting the book on the counter before moving around it to pull me into a hug. I remove my arm from Alyssa to be able to return the gesture. Donna pulls away and cups my face in her hands looking into my eyes. "I'm proud of you. You've accomplished so much since Alyssa first introduced you to us 4 years ago." I try and blink away the tears ultimately failing. "Oh honey," Donna whispers pulling me into another hug. I feel three more sets of arms around us, without having to look I can tell it's Alyssa, Amanda and John. We stand there for a few minutes before breaking apart at the sound of the doorbell. I turn to Alyssa confused.

"Did you invite anyone else?" I ask, she shakes her head in response.

"No, everyone we invited is here," she says returning the confused look. I excuse myself from them before making my way to the front door. But of course mom is already there. I look at her confused when she turns around with a pizza box in her hands, after shutting the door.

"What's with the pizza? Dinner is almost done," I question. She shrugs handing me something before moving towards the couch, setting the box on the coffee table and sitting next to Heather. I take a deep breath seeing my wallet. I open it and see the cash I had in there gone. "Why do you have my wallet? This was upstairs in my room." I continue to question.

"Your sister wanted pizza, and neither one of us had any cash. I know you always have cash on you so I didn't think you'd mind." She says as if that's enough of an explanation as to why she'd steal my wallet and why they'd order pizza on Christmas.

You've got to be kidding me.

"We've been cooking Christmas dinner all day! Why would you order pizza? Why did you go into my room and take my wallet and money?" I try and keep calm knowing I've been on the verge of lashing out all day.

"What's going on in here?" Alyssa asks walking out of the kitchen. The rest of her family following behind, all looking confused.

"Y/m/n and Heather ordered pizza for dinner meanwhile we've spent all day cooking Christmas dinner." I say, closer and closer to finally losing my cool. Alyssa, sensing this, moves quickly to stand by my side resting her hand on the small of my back rubbing small circles knowing that clams me down. I let out a sigh and slightly relax into her touch.

"It's okay baby, relax." Alyssa whispers into my ear. I relax further at her words but my eyes snap open at the comment from my sister.

"Gross, haven't you gotten over that gay thing yet? I thought that was just a phase in high school." she scoffs. I glare at my 'sister' looking to my mom who is standing by nodding in agreement with Heather. "You could do so much better than her any way. I mean look at her-" she gestures to Alyssa who's touch halts on my back.

At that point all I see is red.

"Seriously?!?" I exclaim cutting her off from continuing. I slowly push away from Alyssa finally at my breaking point. "You can say anything you want to about me. I'm used to your bullshit having been exposed to it all my life, but when you start talking bad about my wife. That! Is where I draw the line." I say moving towards the guest bedroom my mom was staying in.

"Wife?" I hear behind me but I ignore it continuing on my way. I stuff all of her belongings into her bag before moving to the front door. I open it and throw her bag onto the front porch. I turn to her and Heather who look at me like I'm crazy.

"I've had enough of you two ruining my life. You need to leave. Now. Or I will not hesitate to call the police and have you forcefully removed from the premises." I stand and point to the open door waiting for them to move.

"But sweetheart, it's Christmas you can't throw your family out onto the streets," Y/m/n says trying to guilt me like she used to. I walk towards her stopping behind the couch.

"No, you haven't been my family for a long time. My family is those people over there who actually care about me unlike you who has always put Heather over me. For once in my life, I will not back down. Now leave or I will call the cops." The two share a look before moving to the front door. I grab the pizza box off the coffee table before following behind them to the front door.

"Don't forget your Christmas dinner," I call as they get to the steps on the porch. They turn to me, Y/m/n reaching out to take it, I smile sweetly opening the box before throwing it at her causing her to scream and shock. "Oops…I tripped." I shrug before closing the door. I lean my back against it letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Baby, are you okay?" I feel Alyssa's hand on my cheek, muck like earlier, softly brushing her thumb over my cheekbone. I bring my arms up to wrap around her waist before taking a deep breath, opening my eyes looking into hers. I lean forward pressing a kiss to her lips letting it linger for a moment before pulling back resting my forehead on hers.

"I've never been better. Now I get to peacefully enjoy our first Christmas together as a married couple with your- sorry our family," I whisper, she smiles pressing another kiss to my lips. I pull her closer to me, resting my head on her shoulder as her arms move to wrap around my neck holding me in a hug. I glance up over her shoulder to see Amanda, Donna and John back in the kitchen sitting around the island laughing together.

"Yea, definitely our family," I sigh pressing a final kiss to her lips before moving so one arm is around her waist as I lead us into the kitchen to enjoy Christmas together.

~~~

I watch from my place on the bed as Alyssa gets ready to sleep, moving around the room doing her night routine. The others in the guest rooms having decided to head to bed after we all watched a Christmas movie with hot cocoa. The TV remote in my hand ready to press play on The Santa Clause, one of Alyssa and I's favorites.

"Are you sure you're okay? Today was a lot," Alyssa asks as she climbs under the covers, snuggling into my side. Her head resting on my shoulder but tilted up to be able to look me in the eyes looking for signs I'm lying. I wrap my arm around her shoulder, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Of course, I mean my nose will be bruised for a few days but other than that I am fine. This has been a long time coming. I'm sorry it happened on Christmas but I don't regret that it happened. I hope they take the hint and never contact me again." I explain, she smiles leaning up to press a soft kiss to my bruised nose. "I love you Alyssa," I whisper as she pulls back.

"I love you too Y/n, forever." I send her a smile before leaning back in bed pressing play on the remote before setting it down to wrap both arms around my wife.

Best Christmas Ever.

[raeofsunrise]

can you please make a fluff piece where the reader moves in to boyfriend!Mike’s house? I enjoy reading your work!

hey-o! and thank you! kind of back from the dead with this fic, but i really love this request so i had to do it. for all of those who have put in requests, i swear i’m getting to those! they’re cooking, promise. (also not a christmas fic but i love these christmas borders made by @saradika-graphics so i had to use them) enjoy!! ☆

moving day

words: 409 (short i know, sorryy)

pairing: boyfriend!mike schmidt x gn!reader

warnings: light cursing, and just some cute domestic fluff ❤️

————

“okay, i think that should do it.” mike says as he places the last of your boxes onto the bedroom floor.

“thank god.” you groan, exhaustedly. it had been a long day of moving, walking, and carrying for you both.

moving-in was exciting for you. when mike first extended the offer, you thought that he was kidding. but no. he actually wanted you to live with him, and that made you feel a myriad of happy little emotions.

“now, we just gotta unpack.” he states.

you let out an even more exhausted groan in response.

you had about half a dozen boxes, and unpacking them was not an option for you. due to major exhaustion—and let’s just be honest, unwillingness—you flopped down on his your bed in hopes that you’ll fall asleep and when you wake up, everything would be taken care of.

mike, on the other hand, was more amused than exhausted. yea, getting all the boxes from your car sucked, but this was certainly brightening up his day. actually, just you in general brightened up his day. he wasn’t the type of person to show his emotions, but the fact that he could call his bed “our bed” now made him want to do like, several mental backflips.

so he couldn’t really be mad at your childlike tantrum you were throwing just now. i mean, it was pretty funny. but he knew if you never unpacked today, those boxes would become part of the house, and he didn’t feel like navigating through a bunch of boxes for the next couple of years, so he decided to be a good boyfriend and help you get off the bed,

by pushing you off, like a good boyfriend would do.

you land on the ground with a loud thud, which emits an unusual giggle from mike.

“you motherfucker.” you say while laying face down on the ground.

he walks over to you and crouches down to get on your level. you open your eyes to find him smiling at you in your immature state. before he can react you kiss him and pull him down by his neck so now he’s on laying on the ground kissing you.

he’s quick to wrap his arm around your lower back and pull you, so you’re both on your sides. you put a hand up on his cheek and smile into the kiss.

yeah, you could definitely get used to this every day.

[gloomysoup]

home is where you are

@steddiebingo prompts: hurt/comfort (main card) and home (christmas card)

rating: Teen+ | word count: 2400 | tags: omegaverse, alpha eddie, omega steve, mpreg, insecure steve harrington, hurt/comfort, fluff | ao3

Eddie came home from work to absolute chaos. Addie and Violet were sitting on the living room floor, arguing over whether to put the white lights or the colored lights on the Christmas tree, which he had put up the night before. Addie wanted white, but Violet wanted colored. Eddie was almost certain none of their lights from last year were even going to work, so they'd have to buy new ones anyway. James and Lucy were fighting over an orange crayon at the coffee table, two blank pieces of paper and a whole assortment of other colored crayons in front of them. Steve and their youngest, Grace, were nowhere to be seen, but Eddie could hear movement in the kitchen. Eddie quickly slipped his boots off at the door and swooped in to de-escalate all the arguing.

He started by grabbing a second, emergency, box of crayons from the cabinet that held the art supplies. He pulled out an orange one and handed it to Lucy, so she would stop trying to take the other one from her brother. Then he moved to the older two girls, squatting down in front of them and picking up two strings of lights.

“Why don't we put the lights away for now, my loves? They probably don't even work. I’ll take you both to the store this week and we can pick some new ones out together. How does that sound?”

They easily agreed, and Eddie was incredibly grateful that everything was solved quickly tonight. Once all of the pups were settled and occupied, not a single argument left to be had, Eddie moved to the kitchen. He stopped in the doorway to smile at what he found. Steve was standing at the stove, stirring a pot of boiling macaroni noodles with Grace on his hip. He was swaying back and forth, softly humming a lullaby as he did.

Eddie slid up behind him, leaning in with a hand on Steve’s other hip to kiss his cheek. “Evenin', beautiful,” he whispered. Steve smiled and turned his head to get a proper kiss.

“Hey, baby. How was work?” Steve asked after they had separated.

Grace was grinning, trying to scramble from Steve’s hold while saying, “Da!”

Eddie shrugged, taking Grace into his own arms. “Nothin’ new. Missed you, though. How was your day? Pups drive you too crazy?”

Steve hummed in consideration. “Hectic. Lots of arguments today. Oh, Lucy broke one of the nice glasses that Joyce got us. She was trying to be like Addie and Violet and help put the dishes away, but she dropped it and it shattered. Everyone was okay, though, and I’m pretty sure I got all the glass cleaned up.”

Eddie’s hand looped around further to rest on Steve’s swollen belly. “And how was the little one today? Not causing too much trouble, I hope?”

Steve huffed a small laugh. “Not letting me actually get anything done today.” He put down his spoon and leaned back into Eddie’s chest. “Every time I finally got the rest of the pups settled down enough to do something, I either had to pee or sit down for a little bit. By the time I was done, someone else needed something, and the cycle repeated.”

“That's okay,” Eddie murmured, nuzzling his nose against the shell of Steve’s ear and taking a deep breath of his scent. He always loved how much sweeter his mate smelled during pregnancy. It was one of his favorite parts of the experience. “I'll finish the chores for you after dinner. You just worry about relaxing.”

“Eddie, no,” Steve argued, moving to stir the pasta again. “You just worked a ten-hour shift. You shouldn't have to come home and do everything here too. I'll take care of it.”

“You will do no such thing.” Eddie adjusted his hold on Grace, who was snuggled against his chest after not seeing him since the night before. She had been the only one still asleep when Eddie left for work that morning. “You chased our little pack of hooligans around all day while growing a pup. You deserve to put your feet up and relax for the evening. I'll take care of everything else. Don't worry about anything.”

Steve glanced over his shoulder with a frown. “At least let me help. Then we can get everything done faster.”

Eddie smiled and kissed Steve’s cheek again. “Whatever makes you feel better, my love.”

Dinner in the Munson household that night was quite the affair, as it usually was with five kids under the age of eight. Afterwards, Eddie corralled all the pups upstairs for baths and pajamas while Steve cleaned up in the kitchen. By the time everyone was clean, clothed, and settled on the couch for one last movie before bedtime, Eddie was wrecked. He loved his children more than anything in his life (except maybe Steve), but they were exhausting. He had no idea how his mate did it all day long.

Finally, he started the movie and went to track down his superhero of a partner. It didn't take him long at all. Steve was in the laundry room, loading the washer to get one more in for the evening. Eddie came up behind him, wrapping his arms around his husband and kissing his cheek. He pulled Steve back into his chest and swayed gently. He reveled in the way Steve instantly sank into his hold, body going lax and a sigh of contentment leaving his lips.

“Have I ever told you how much I love you?” Eddie whispered.

“Mmmm, tell me again?” Steve replied just as softly.

“I love you so so so much, my love.” Eddie gently tightened his arms around him. “You are an absolute wonder. I don't know how you deal with our little gremlins all day and not just completely lose your mind.”

Steve hummed, a soft smile on his lips. “They're not so bad. Most days. It helps that Addie, Violet, and James go to school five days a week.”

“A saint,” Eddie said, slowly releasing his hold on Steve to dramatically collapse to his knees in front of him. “I worship on my knees in your holy presence.” As Steve laughed, Eddie leaned forward with his hands on Steve’s sides to press a kiss to his belly. Their pup moved beneath his touch. Eddie would never get tired of the feeling. It always amazed him, just what Steve’s body was capable of, especially when it came to creating life.

“Come on, up off the floor,” Steve finally said, grabbing Eddie’s hand and starting to pull him up. The alpha went easily, rarely one to say no to his omega.

With the pups suitably distracted for at least a little bit longer, Steve and Eddie set about the quiet routine of getting evening chores done. They didn't speak much, just moved around each other in a comfortable silence. Eddie did the day’s dishes and wiped down the countertops while Steve folded laundry at the table. The movie in the living room was still going when Grace started getting fussy. It wasn't long before Violet was calling for them to make her stop.

“I'll get her,” Eddie said softly, not wanting to break the calming atmosphere in the kitchen. Steve nodded, still folding laundry, while Eddie headed for the living room.

Grace was pushing at Lucy when Eddie walked in, and Lucy was quickly losing patience with her little sister. Eddie picked Grace up, trying to remedy the situation, but that just caused a full blown tantrum. She kicked and screamed, fighting against Eddie and her own exhaustion. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. No matter how hard he tried to put out a calming scent to soothe her, it was all for naught. She just kept screaming and kicking and writhing. Steve quickly appeared in the doorway, looking a little worried. As soon as Grace saw him, she reached her arms out.

“Give her here,” he said gently, coming over to take the screaming toddler from Eddie’s arms. “I'll sit with her.”

Eddie nodded and passed her off to Steve, watching as Grace instantly began to calm down. He made sure Steve was comfortable on the couch with Grace curled into his body before leaving to finish cleaning up the kitchen and folding laundry. By the time he was done, the movie was over. All five of their pups were fast asleep on the couch. Grace was curled up on Steve’s lap, her head pillowed on his chest. Lucy was situated firmly in Steve’s side, while the older three were piled up and stretched out across the other cushions.

Eddie was extremely careful in his extraction. He took Addie and Violet upstairs to the room they shared first, then James to his room. When he came back, he slowly picked up Lucy and let her burrow into his neck while Steve carefully tried to stand up with Grace. It was a lot harder the further along this pregnancy got, but Steve was nothing if not determined. He never let anything slow him down; not even being nearly eight months pregnant. Again, superhero. Eddie was obsessed with him.

After a very long, very chaotic night, all of the pups were finally tucked away in their beds. Eddie and Steve could actually take a minute to breathe without someone needing something. As they did every night, once the children were tucked in and sound asleep, they curled up on the couch together with some random movie they'd seen a hundred times before. It was more for the noise and familiarity than the movie itself. Steve was tucked against Eddie’s side, his head resting where he could hear Eddie’s heartbeat, just like every night. Eddie held him close, breathing in Steve’s scent and letting himself finally relax for the first time all day. They both remained quiet for a while.

Something deep down in his gut was telling Eddie that something was wrong. Something was bothering Steve, festering in his mind. Before he got the chance to ask, Steve was opening his mouth to speak.

“Do you think we’re making a mistake?” he asked so softly, Eddie almost didn't catch it. If their house hadn't been so quiet, he might not have heard him.

“What do you mean?” Eddie tightened his arm around Steve’s shoulders.

Steve shrugged as best he could from under Eddie’s arm. “I just- Do you think all of this is just a big mistake?” Eddie’s heart shattered at the broken lilt to Steve’s voice, the tremble of his words. “Is having another baby a mistake?”

Eddie frowned, trying so hard to control his scent. “Of course not. What's wrong, baby? Where is this coming from?”

Steve sniffled a little, pressing his cheek a little more firmly into Eddie’s chest. “I don't know. I just- We already have five kids, Eddie. Our- our house isn't that nice. We don't really have a whole lot of extra money. And with Grace’s medical bills… maybe- maybe we should have just stopped after James, or Lucy. Maybe everyone was right, and this is all just a big mistake.”

Eddie shook his head, feeling the fabric of his t-shirt start to dampen. “Absolutely not,” he said. He pulled away, shifting so he could fully look at Steve. “Baby, this is not a mistake. I don't know who’s putting these ideas in your head, but they're wrong. So what if we don't have the nicest house in Hawkins? That's never mattered. Not to me, not to the pups. It's just a house, Stevie. And so what if we don't have all the money in the world? Our family has a roof over their heads, clothes on their bodies, and they never have to worry about going hungry. Our pups are loved. Why should anything else matter?”

Fat tears rolled down Steve’s cheeks. Eddie caught them with his thumbs as he cradled Steve’s face in his hands.

“I love you, Steve Munson,” he continued, unable to stop now that he was on a roll. “I love you, and I love our pups, and I love our life. I don't care about money, or our house. All I care about is our family. Our five little pups, who bring me so much joy every single day. Sweet little Sophia, who is going to be so loved, just like her siblings. You, the love of my absolute life, who has given me so much to be grateful for.”

Tears were welling up in Eddie’s eyes against his permission. He just loved Steve so much, and he hated seeing him so upset.

“Eddie,” Steve whispered, voice shaking with his emotions.

“Stevie, honey, I cannot even begin to tell you just how amazing I think you are. How strong, capable, loving, and wonderful. The greatest gift of my life is getting to be a dad, and you have given that to me six times now. I am so deeply in love with you, and our big family. I would never trade any of our pups for anything in the entire world. I don't need a fancy house or money, because you and our babies are my home. I don't care what anyone else has to say about it. I am obsessed with you and our six little pups, this house with its scattered Christmas decorations that we haven't had the time to put up yet, and every single other thing about this little life we’ve built for ourselves. Fuck everyone else. This is the only thing that matters.”

Eddie held Steve to his chest as he cried, rubbing his back and whispering all of his love into Steve’s ear in the hope that it would sink beneath his skin and stay there forever.

Later, Grace will wake up and need Eddie to put her back to sleep. Later, Lucy will crawl into bed with them and cuddle up to Steve. Later, Eddie will help Steve make breakfast before going to work. Later, they’ll put up decorations and stick the Christmas presents under the tree. Later, they’ll have a newborn in the house, someone else for Eddie to love with everything he has.

Later, Eddie will still be deeply in love with the home that he and Steve have built together, regardless of what anyone else has to say about it.

[rwshfordgirl]

CHRISTMAS DINNER

all images were taken from pinterest.

where reader and jude bellingham are used to spending christmas together, but this year's christmas could change their relationship forever.

a/n: hope you like it;)

requests are open | check here my masterlist.

"my God, you started getting ready for dinner at two in the afternoon, it's almost seven at night and you haven't finished?" my brother appeared at the bathroom door, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed and completely incredulous. "i'm almost done." i replied. "you're already very pretty little sister, you don't need all this." he said making me smile "but i'm sure jude bellingham will notice all this effort." in response, he received a middle finger and the door closing in his face.

james knows me like no one else, unfortunately. not that i'm trying to get jude's attention with excessive makeup and flashy clothes, on the contrary, i want to be as natural as possible. and now, i have to say that thinking like this, i look like a 15 year old teenager trying to win over the boy she has a crush on school.

and my brother is exaggerated, i started getting ready almost now.

from my room i could hear the voices downstairs in the house, i could hear the voices of all the bellinghams but not jude, he didn't arrive.

my family and his family are friends, our mothers grew up together, he and i grew up together. and it's a christmas tradition to have dinner together, there wasn't a year when we weren't together. 

i think i was ten when i realized i had a crush on jude. he seemed like my superhero defending me from the bullying i used to suffer.  and he always showed concern for me, always sending me messages wanting to know if everything is okay with college, wanting to know if i'm in good health.

i can say that i love everything about jude, especially his worried way, but i also love his polite way of being. the smile he gives when he sees me, the photos he sends me after games, the way he touches my hair.

i don't know if jude is interested in me in the same way that i am interested in him, sometimes i believe that it is just his way of showing affection, even if it makes me fall more and more in love with him.

i was putting away what i had used when two knocks on the door made me jump back. i was distant, caught up in my thoughts."hey, are you ready yet?" it was jude. i was caught off guard again. "oh, hi jude! i'm done now." i said as i opened the bedroom door to see him. i looked bellingham up and down, he was as handsome as ever. "i loved your dress, it looks good on you" jude ran his hand over the back of his neck "thank you! you also chose your clothes well today." he chuckled.

"i bet my mom asked you to come get me." i said, turning off the light in the room and then leaving. bellingham moved a little more to the side. "you got it right." i nodded. "i thought you hadn't arrived, i heard everyone's voice but yours." he smiled. "i'm less talkative today." he commented as he directed his gaze to the floor. "lucky we have time to tell each other our problems today."

i signaled for bellingham to follow me downstairs and he promptly came. "green is definitely your color." his mother said as she hugged me. "you look stunning, jude will be even more in love." my cheeks flushed as i heard my mother's laughter and saw jude rolling his eyes. i was so embarrassed that my thank you came out almost silent. i greeted jobe and his father, then i sat between the youngest bellingham and jude.

jobe and i spent exactly fifteen minutes watching videos on tiktok, jude even laughed at some things but he's acting completely weird today. "what's going on in your head?" i turned my face towards the player who smiled shyly, without showing his teeth "a lot of stuff." i laid my head on his shoulder "do you want to talk about it?" he nodded and i got up from the couch, extending my hand to help him up.

i wanted to take him out to the backyard so we could have privacy, even though no one in the room would be able to hear our conversation due to the noise of the voices. jude sat across from me on the wooden table seat. we stared at each other for a few minutes, i raised my eyebrows when i noticed his eyes analyzing every detail of my face and bellingham laughed. 

"first laugh of the night, we're already moving forward." he chuckled before clasping his hands together and resting them on the table in front of him. "my mom is right, green is definitely your color." bellinghams love to make my cheeks blush "thank you mr jude! you don't look bad in black and white either." i complimented him "and you know you don't look bad wearing any color, that impresses me." i rolled my eyes. he has no idea that his playful flirting makes my heart race.

"i think this is a great time for you to tell me what's bothering you so much." he bit his lower lip "never mind, i don't know how to explain it." he said "oh please, draw a picture with twigs in the snow then." he smiled "does it have anything to do with madrid?" He denied "let's forget about it, i already feel much better." he smiled "ugh, it's okay! if you want to talk about it, i'll be willing to listen."

"let's go back inside, i'm going to freeze." i said, pretending my jaw was shaking. my coat isn't doing me much good. jude got up, I thought he was going to wait for me so we could go back inside my house together, but he sat down next to me. "let's stay here, i'll warm you up if anything! but i just want to stay here with you." i pouted "are you needy or do you miss me?" i turned my face towards him. "both of them." he rested his face on his hand. again i was rolling my eyes, again i was getting nervous.

"didn't you find anyone in madrid?" i questioned as i stood in the same position as the player. "my heart is set on birmingham." i laughed. "i bet it's that girl who used to go to school with us, but i must say she's engaged to a friend of yours." i said as i played with jude's hand "i don't even remember her anymore. unfortunately, only girls in green occupy my mind for a long time." 10 seconds to process what he had said. i laughed awkwardly and licked my lips. "you went from downcast to flirty really fast."

jude turned my face to him again. i looked at him confused. "i'm starting to think you're drunk." he threw his head back laughing. "but seriously..." he ran his hand over the back of his neck before continuing. "seriously what?" i asked. "do you think you and i wouldn't work as a couple?" i was speechless. jude bellingham is out of his mind. 

"are you kidding me?" i laughed nervously "what? you don't think so? if you knew how much i think about you every day you wouldn't say that." jude was serious. i was sure of it after analyzing his body posture. i can't believe what i'm hearing. "of course you think, we are bests." i said and then turned my head to the other side.  

jude put his hands on his face and then shook his head "you know i don't think of you as just a friend." my heart could jump out of my chest at any moment "i know?" i scoffed. jude turned my head towards him once more, his hand promptly brushing a strand of hair that was falling over my face behind my ear.

i could hear his breathing getting louder as he got closer. his mouth was just inches from mine. i want them to stick together.

"was that what was eating at your mind?" i questioned. bellingham's eyes flickered between my mouth and my eyes "maybe." he replied.

"my mom is looking for you, she wants everyone in the room now." james appeared in the backyard, making bellingham and I jump back. "okay, we'll go." i stood up first and saw james looking at me with an arched eyebrow, but he laughed and continued toward the house. "think about what i told you, please." jude held my hand, he was still sitting down. "if you knew everything that goes on in my head, you wouldn't say that." he stood up and again we were close enough to hear each other's heartbeats "and you hid this from me?" he questioned before giving me a kiss on the corner of my mouth. "we'll work, i promise." he continued.

[deepperplexity]

Prompt 24: Christmas Party [OS]

Pairing: Snape x GN!Muggle!Reader

POV: Third, Snape

Setting: Snape lives AU, set many, many years after the Second Wizarding War and life has been kind to Severus at last — with you by his side.

A/N: It’s Christmas Eve darlings! Merry Christmas! 😍🎄✨ We’re in full swing with the celebrations and with the in-laws visiting it’s quite nice. For those who don’t know me, my husband is from Hong Kong and so we have quite different cultures, language barriers (no shared language despite having many languages between us) etc in our family but we always end up having such a great time 🥰

I wish you all the best holiday and I hope next year will be amazing! Let’s end this year’s Rickmas with some Old-Happy-Snape 😍❤

Tags/TW’s: Fluff, Cuteness, Snape Lives, Old Snape, Love, Kissing, Hugging, Comfort, Happiness, Domestic Fluff, HAPPY SNAPE, COMFORT READ

Word Count: 1.1k

LINKTREE // AO3 // MASTERLIST

Christmas Party

There was little to do for him. You always sorted everything needed, with a smile so bright and a warmth so strong he would never have enough of it. Each year, as if it were a magical law, you turned into an energetic ball of joy with a need to decorate every surface of the little house he had come to feel at home in — a feeling he never expected to experience. It had been years of this warmth now, years of having a bright home and that odd feeling in his gut that came with complete relaxation.

It was all you, of course. It had nothing to do with the cosy kitchen where your favourite mug and his stood side by side next to the kettle. It had little to do with the fireplace of natural stone dressed in garlands and two stockings with his and your name hand-stitched into the white fabric in the living room. There was nothing special about the bedroom with the hand-sewn quilt of fabrics procured during all your travels around the world. Not even the cute covered porch with the hanging swing big enough for two to sit and watch the marvellous sunsets during chilly spring evenings had anything to do with it.

It was you. Just you. He could live in a shack at the edge of the world and you’d make it wonderful, he was certain of it. You were magical. A muggle, sure, but more magical than any spell or incantation could ever hope to be.

“Severus! Where are you, love?” you called and he could not help but smile as he put down his book and got out of the comfortable chair of worn-out leather. “The study,” he said, his voice carrying through the house despite it not being loud. You poked your head in with that bright smile and those warm eyes. “Cheeky, love. Come on, they’ll all arrive soon.” “On my way,” he said while you disappeared, your quick steps sounding out through the house while he moved a bit slower.

He stretched out his back, two pops going off before he rolled his shoulders once. He was no spring boy anymore, and time had not been kind to his body — but you seemed to love it as much today as you had all those years ago. That was all that mattered.

He drew a deep breath, not fearing what was to come as he had done for the first decade by your side. Now he knew better. He was better. Again, it was all your handiwork. So, as he walked through the narrow hallway from one end of the house to the other he found his steps to be light and the warmth of the house felt comfortable rather than stifling as it had done all those years ago when life had been dark and he had been broken.

“Can you get the ice chocolate and the fudge from the fridge?” you asked as he entered the kitchen. “The red or green bowls?” he asked as he grabbed the sweets. You looked over your shoulder at him, a little flour on your nose and the amazing smile had gone even wider. “The red ones, I think the green ones for the gingerbread and candy canes.” He nodded. “Certainly. You know best, sweetheart.” You giggled. “Again.” He harrumphed but obliged. “Sweetheart." “Onnnne more time?” you asked, your eyes warming as you’d stopped whisking whatever was in the bowl before you. “Sweetheart,” he said, not wavering in his gaze hooked to yours. “I love you.” You smiled softly all of a sudden and his heart stuttered.

He sat the sweets down, walking up to you. He grabbed at your waist and pulled you close before whispering into your ear. “I love you beyond all things.” “Sev.” “Mmh, my sweetheart…” he murmured before kissing your cheek that was all warm against his lips. “You’re a wonder, each year—” The doorbell rang and interrupted him. “They’re here!” you called out and he chuckled as you scrambled out of the apron, revealing how perfectly dressed you were in greens and silver. He grabbed your wrist before you bolted. “Flour,” he said before brushing it off your nose.

You leaned up and kissed him quickly with all the love in the world shining in your eyes. Then you nearly ran to the door while he walked slowly out of the kitchen just as jolly voices rang through the house in a cacophony of wishes for Happy Holidays and Merry Christmases. It made him smile hearing his in-laws and friends be so happy to enter his home for a Christmas party. Never had he imagined he’d ever have anything the likes of his current life. But, with you, he had all the things he’d thought impossible — despite the differences and difficulties the two of you had gone through at first it had all been worth it.

He chuckled to himself as he entered the hallway. You were in full swing with gathering everyone's coats, hats, scarves, and gloves. You were more of a clothing pile on legs at that moment than a human. He drew out his wand and flicked it, lifting the burden from you and hanging it all up. “Oh, thank you, love,” you said with a chuckle as he nodded. “Now, can we all gather in the living room for some toddy and sweets that would be great,” you said loudly while the general noise of twelve people in the tiny hallway made it quite hard to hear.

Everyone greeted him warmly, happily, before moving through the house and into the soon-to-be packed living room while you brought up the rear end. “This will be wonderful, love,” you said, giving him a quick hug and kiss. “You make everything wonderful,” he said before releasing you. You blew a raspberry. “Sev, love, you make me who I am,” you said — something you had told him several times but it would probably be the one thing he would never fully understand.

“Then I shall keep doing whatever it is I am doing, sweetheart,” he murmured before stealing another quick kiss before the both of you moved to the living room and all the happy guests who wished to spend Christmas Eve with the two of you every year. I am blessed, he thought and you stopped just beyond the threshold — forcing him to do the same. “You deserve this, Sev.” He glanced down at you. “What?” “You think you’re blessed, but you’ve done all the work to get here. You deserve this, so, smile and enjoy it with me?”

That you knew him so well only added to the warmth. He leaned forward, kissing your temple gently. “Every day, sweetheart. Every. single. day, he murmured with that low tone you seemed to adore so much. And, indeed, your eyes warmed further and there was nowhere in the world he’d rather be than right there in the chaos of a loud Christmas party with you by his side...

The end of Rickmas 2024... Thank you for this year, darlings!

LINKTREE // AO3 // MASTERLIST

A/N: HE DESERVES ALL THE HAPPINESS! 😭👏🎄✨❤

Merry Christmas darlings! I hope you've had a wonderful time this December and that you're all warm on the inside with this last fic of Rickmas 2024 ❤❤❤

I can barely wrap my head around having been able to post every day for Rickmas this year without missing a single day, and it's ended up at a total 69k word count in the end - holy moly 👀😅

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[followsfrankiep]

A little (fluffy) Christmas gift for ya'll ❤️

Home Alone

It is the morning of the twenty third of December. It is most likely that everyone is with their families or partners by now. Sadly, it was not the same case with me. The bed felt emptier than usual, a constant reminder that Tom was away filming again. There was nothing new about the famous Tom Hardy being trapped in the film set since he's a prized actor after all. It's almost a month since he left to go to the US and our only mode of communication was through the phone. I sighed, stretching out before reluctantly getting up. I was not looking forward for the upcoming holidays knowing that I will be home alone.

Today was going to be another long day without him.

I made my way to the kitchen, the silence of the apartment almost deafening. Only food can help with my mood. I decided to make a hearty breakfast—pancakes, eggs, and bacon. As I whisked the batter, my mind wandered to Tom. We had been secretly dating for three years now, and his hectic schedule often kept us apart. We thought living together would help our relationship considering his busy schedule. However, it just made me miss him even more since his absence is even more evident now that we are living under the same roof.

The aroma of breakfast filled the air, but it did little to lift my spirits.

After breakfast, I changed into my workout clothes and headed to the living room. I set up my yoga mat and started my routine, hoping the exercise would help clear my mind. Each stretch and pose felt like a small victory, a way to keep myself grounded amidst the chaos of missing him.

Once I finished my workout, I showered and got ready to head to the grocery store. Christmas was just around the corner, and I wanted to prepare a special dinner, hoping against hope that Tom might make it back in time. The store was bustling with holiday shoppers, and I carefully selected ingredients for our favorite dishes. As I picked up a bottle of cranberry juice instead of wine, having wine is not the same anymore this christmas.

Back home, I put away the groceries and settled on the couch with a blanket. I turned on Netflix, trying to distract myself with a movie. But my thoughts kept drifting back to Tom. We usually video-called at night, and I found myself eagerly waiting for his call. The tiny box wrapped in festive paper sat on the dining table, a gift I had been saving for him. I glanced at it often, hoping I could give it to him in person.

As the evening approached, my phone buzzed. It was Tom. I quickly answered, my heart racing.

"Hey, love," he said, his voice warm but tired. I could see him laying down at his hotel room with the lights dimmed as well. "How was your day?"

"Hey, Tom," I replied, trying to sound cheerful. "It was okay. Just the usual—workout, groceries, Netflix..." I sighed, holding back my tears. I got too emotional just by seeing him. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, darling" he said, his eyes softening. He knew I was looking forward to spending this Christmas together and how upset I was when I first knew about his unavailability. "I'm so sorry I can't be there. We're rushing to finish these scenes, and I don't know if I'll make it back in time for Christmas."

"I understand," I said and bit my lower lip, though my heart ached. "I just wish we could spend it together."

"Me too," he sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "I promise I'll make it up to you. You know I hate being away, especially now."

We talked for a while longer, sharing our days and comforting each other. As we said our goodbyes, I looked at the tiny box again, my fingers tracing the edges. I hoped with all my heart that Tom would be home soon, so I could give him his gift and we could celebrate together.

The night grew darker, and I curled up on the couch, holding onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, he would walk through the door and make this Christmas unforgettable.

---

I still remember the day we met. It was at a charity event three years ago. I was there with a friend, feeling a bit out of place among the celebrities and high-profile guests. Tom was one of the speakers, and his passion for the cause was evident. After his speech, I found myself at the refreshment table, nervously fiddling with my drink.

"Hey there," a deep voice said, startling me. I turned to see Tom Hardy himself standing next to me, a friendly smile on his face.

"Hi," I managed to reply, my heart pounding. I mean, who wouldn't be nervous? It's Tom Hardy!

We struck up a conversation, and to my surprise, we hit it off immediately. He was down-to-earth and genuinely interested in what I had to say. By the end of the night, he had asked for my number, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Our first date was magical. Tom suggested a cozy little Italian restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner of the city, far from the prying eyes of the paparazzi. I arrived a bit early, my heart pounding with anticipation. The restaurant was warm and inviting, with soft lighting and the comforting aroma of freshly baked bread. I chose a table near the back, hoping for some privacy. As I waited, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. I thought he wouldn't arrive so I started taking a bite from the bread.

I heard a deep chuckle nearby. When I looked up, Tom is standing infront of me with a cheeky smile plastered on his face, looking effortlessly handsome in a casual shirt and jeans. He flashed that charming smile that made my heart skip a beat. As he approached, I stood up, and he greeted me with a warm hug.

He brushed some of the bread crumbs off my lips as I blushed out of embarassment. Tom Hardy just saw me devouring the complimentary bread. What a way to start a date.

"Take it easy on the bread there." He teased.

"Shut up." I playfully rolled my eyes, earning another chuckle from him.

"Hey, you look amazing," he said, his eyes twinkling. He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ears.

"Thanks, you too," I replied, feeling a bit shy.

We sat down, and the conversation flowed easily. Tom was incredibly down-to-earth, and we talked about everything from our favorite movies to our childhood memories. He shared stories from his filming experiences, and I found myself laughing and feeling more at ease with each passing minute.

The food was delicious, and we savored every bite while continuing our conversation. At one point, Tom reached across the table and took my hand, his touch sending a warm shiver down my spine.

"I'm really glad we met," he said softly, his eyes locking onto mine. "There's something special about you."

I blushed, feeling a rush of emotions. "I'm glad we met too, Tom. This feels...right."

After dinner, we decided to take a walk. The night was cool and crisp, and we strolled through a nearby park, the city lights twinkling in the distance. We talked about our hopes and dreams, and I felt a deep connection forming between us.

As we reached a quiet spot by a small pond, Tom stopped and turned to face me. "I know this might sound crazy, but I feel like I've known you forever," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

"I feel the same way," I admitted, my heart swelling with emotion.

He leaned in, and our lips met in a gentle, tender kiss. It was a moment of pure magic, and I knew then that this was the beginning of something truly special.

From that night on, our bond only grew stronger. Despite the challenges of keeping our relationship a secret and the distance that often separated us, we found solace in each other. And now, as I waited for his call, I held onto the memories of that first date. I miss him even more.

-

The day before Christmas, I woke up with a heavy heart. I sent Tom a message, pouring out my feelings. I told him how much I wished he could be here with me, but I understood his obligations and wished him well. I stared at my phone, hoping for a reply, but none came. I sighed, trying to push away the disappointment.

Determined to make the best of the day, I threw myself into preparing our Christmas dinner. I started with the deviled eggs, carefully mixing the yolks with mustard and mayonnaise, then sprinkling them with paprika. Next, I moved on to the prime rib, seasoning it with a blend of herbs and spices before placing it in the oven. The rosemary roasted potatoes were next, their fragrant aroma filling the kitchen as they baked. I tossed together a fresh garden salad, the vibrant colors a small comfort amidst my loneliness. Finally, I prepared the English trifle, layering sponge cake, custard, fruit, and whipped cream with meticulous care.

As I worked, my mind kept drifting back to Tom. I glanced at the bottle of wine I had saved for us, my heart sinking. With a sigh, I placed it back on the shelf. It seemed pointless to open it when Tom wouldn't be here.

I tried to distract myself by watching his series, "Taboo." Seeing him on screen, so intense and captivating, made me miss him even more. I curled up on the couch, a blanket wrapped around me, and let the episodes play. Each scene reminded me of how much I loved him and how much I wished he could be here.

The hours passed slowly, and the apartment felt emptier with each passing minute. Going back and forth from the kitchen and the living room while checking my phone, hoping for a message, a call, anything. But there was nothing. I knew he was busy, but it didn't make the silence any easier to bear.

As the evening drew closer, I finished setting the table, lighting candles and arranging the dishes. The tiny box with his Christmas gift sat in the center, a symbol of my hope that he might still make it. I sat down, staring at the flickering candlelight, and whispered a silent wish that Tom would walk through the door and make this Christmas unforgettable.

It was almost midnight, and the smell of the prime rib was too enticing to resist any longer. I decided to eat the dinner I had prepared the whole day, even if it meant doing so alone. I served myself two huge slices of the succulent meat, along with a little bit of everything else. It made my heart so happy to see it perfectly cooked. I am so hungry. I feel like I could eat for two. Instead of the wine, I poured myself a glass of cranberry juice.

I settled in front of the TV, still watching "Taboo," and began devouring my meal. The flavors were incredible, and I couldn't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. I was in my sweatpants and hoodie, my hair tied up in a messy bun, completely at ease. For a moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the food and the comfort of our cozy apartment.

As I took another bite of the prime rib, savoring its tenderness, I felt a sense of happiness. It wasn't the Christmas Eve I had hoped for, but at least I had made a delicious meal. I was so engrossed in my food and the show that I almost didn't hear the doorbell ring.

Startled, I paused, my fork halfway to my mouth. Who could it be at this hour? My heart raced as I got up and walked to the door, wiping my hands on my hoodie. I peeked through the peephole, and my breath caught in my throat.

There, standing on the other side, was Tom. His eyes were tired but filled with warmth, and he held a small bouquet of flowers in his hand. I quickly unlocked the door and flung it open, my emotions overwhelming me.

"Tom!" I exclaimed, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Hey, love," he said softly, stepping inside and wrapping me in a tight hug. "I couldn't stay away. I had to be here with you."

I buried my face in his chest, feeling the warmth and comfort of his embrace. "I missed you so much," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. His scent was so intoxicating.

"I missed you too," he replied, pulling back slightly to look at me. "I'm sorry I didn't reply to your message. I wanted to surprise you."

I smiled through my tears, feeling a rush of happiness. It did not matter anymore. I am just happy he's here now. "It doesn't matter. This is the best Christmas gift I could have asked for." We made our way inside, he plopped his things down and inhaled the smell of the freshly cooked food.

He glanced at the table, seeing the half-eaten meal. "I was just about to say "let's eat" but it looks like you started without me," he teased, his eyes twinkling.

I laughed, wiping my tears away. "I couldn't resist. The prime rib was calling my name."

Tom's gaze softened as he looked at me. "You've got a little something right here," he said, pointing to his own lips.

I blushed, realizing I had some gravy on my lips. Before I could wipe it away, Tom leaned in and kissed me, his lips warm and gentle. "Mmm, delicious," he murmured against my lips, making me giggle.

"You're such a tease," I said, playfully swatting his arm.

"Only for you," he replied with a wink. "Now, let's finish this meal together."

We sat down, and I served him a plate. As we ate, we talked and laughed, the apartment filled with the warmth of our reunion. Tom noticed the TV and grinned. "Watching 'Taboo,' huh? Missing me that much?" he teased, pinching my cheek.

I rolled my eyes, smiling. "Maybe a little. It's not the same without you here."

Tom gave me a warm smile, leaned in and kissed my cheek. "Well, I'm here now. Let's enjoy this meal together."

We continued eating, sharing cute banter and stealing kisses between bites. "This prime rib is amazing," Tom said, his eyes lighting up. "You really outdid yourself."

"Thanks," I replied, feeling a warm glow of pride. "I'm glad you like it."

As the clock struck midnight, we put our plates aside and shared a sweet kiss. "Merry Christmas, love," Tom whispered, his arms wrapped around me.

"Merry Christmas, Tom," I replied, my heart full.

Tom glanced at the wine on the shelf and raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you open the wine? I know you love it."

I shrugged, feeling a bit sheepish. "I didn't think it was worth opening without you here."

He smiled, grabbing the bottle and bringing it to the table. "Well, let's open it now and celebrate properly."

As he poured the wine, he noticed the small gift box on the table. "What's this?" he asked, picking it up and bringing it over to me.

"It's your Christmas gift," I said, smiling. "I was hoping to give it to you at dinner."

Tom's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he sat back down beside me. "Well, let's see what it is," he said, handing it to me.

I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Open it," I said softly.

He carefully unwrapped the box, revealing a positive pregnancy test and a small ultrasound picture of a tiny bean. Tom's eyes widened in shock, and then he jumped up, his face lighting up with pure joy.

"Are you serious?" he asked, his voice trembling. "We're having a baby?"

I nodded, tears streaming down my face. "Yes, Tom. I'm twelve weeks pregnant."

Tom let out a whoop of joy, lifting me off the ground and spinning me around. "We're having a baby!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with happiness. He set me down gently and immediately knelt, kissing my stomach tenderly. "Hello, little one," he said softly, his voice filled with love. "I am your dad. I can't wait to meet you."

I laughed through my tears, overwhelmed by his reaction. "I love you so much," I whispered, my heart bursting with emotion.

"I love you too," he replied, standing up and kissing me deeply. "This is the best Christmas gift ever."

He pulled back slightly, his eyes scanning me with a newfound understanding. "So that's why you were so hungry for the prime rib," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "And why you didn't drink the wine, and why you're in your comfy clothes."

I nodded, smiling. "I wanted to be comfortable for the baby."

Tom's eyes softened even more, if that was possible. "You're going to be the best mum," he said, kissing my forehead. "And I'm going to be the best dad."

We spent the rest of the night together, enjoying the meal and each other's company. Tom couldn't stop talking to my stomach, making me laugh with his excitement. "You're going to have the best parents, little one," he said, his voice filled with joy.

As we sat back down to eat, Tom noticed the ultrasound picture again. "I can't believe it," he said, shaking his head in wonder. "We're really having a baby."

"Yes, we are," I said, smiling. "And I couldn't be happier."

After we finished eating, Tom pulled me close, his arms wrapping around me and my baby bump. "I'm not leaving your side tonight," he whispered, his voice filled with love and determination. "I want to be here with you and our baby."

We cuddled on the couch, his hand gently resting on my stomach. "I can't wait to meet you, little one," he murmured, kissing my belly softly. "And I can't wait to spend every moment with you both."

It was a Christmas Eve I would never forget, filled with love, laughter, and the promise of a beautiful future together. Tom held me close, and I knew for the next Christmas, I would not be alone.

[winchesterwild78]

On the Third Day of Christmas

Master List

Characters: Beau Arlen x Reader

Warnings: None, Just Fluff

A/N: Day 3 of my holiday fics. I hope you enjoy this short series. I’m really excited about it. All work is my own, please don’t take it. Reblogs and likes are welcomed. 

I do not own the rights to the characters I use, these will not follow the story lines of the series the character appeared in. This is a work of fiction.

Minors DNI 18+

Beau and I had been married for a few years, so this wasn’t our first Christmas together. This was however, our first Christmas alone. Emily was away at college and decided she was going to spend Christmas with Carla so she wasn’t alone. 

I knew he missed his little girl, but he was also excited to spend the holiday with me. Beau had booked a cabin for us up in the mountains. Today was the day we were loading up and heading up there. 

I hurried home from work and saw Beau’s truck already in the driveway. As I approached the door, the sound of snow crunching under my feet, the door swung open. 

Standing in the doorway was my handsome husband. “Welcome home, darlin’.” He smirked as he greeted me with a hug. “Hey baby. Sorry I’m late. I had a last minute patient. I’ll be ready to go soon. I'm already packed.” 

He kissed my lips before he let me go. “We are already loaded up and ready.” I nodded, “Okay, let me jump in the shower and change real quick.” 

I jumped in the shower, washing the grime of the day off. Then I quickly got ready. Beau was sitting at the table on his computer with a worried look on his face when I came out. 

“Beau, is everything okay?” His green eyes looked up at me, “Yeah, the weather shifted and it looks like the snow is moving in a bit sooner than they thought.”

“Oh okay, do you think we will make it to the cabin before it does?” “Yeah, and if not, we will be okay. I want to stop at the store in town before getting to the cabin, that way we don’t have to go back out.” I nodded my head in agreement. 

We finished loading up and hit the road. It was going to take a few hours to get to the cabin, but I didn’t mind. This was more time with the man I love. Beau held my hand most of the trip. Occasionally he would rub his thumb over my hand.

Anytime he touched me it sent chills down my spine and butterflies in my stomach. I couldn’t get enough of him. 

“Beau?” “Mmhmm.” “Are you sure you’re okay with not being with Em for the holiday? I really don’t mind us going to Carla’s for Christmas.” 

“Darlin’ I promise I’m okay. Carla needs Em right now, and I think they need the time alone to help repair their relationship. Besides, that means I get you all to myself, and I can’t think of anything better than that.” 

I smiled and blushed. “Okay, I just wanted to make sure. I love Em and you know I’d do anything for both of you.” “I know you do, and that’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you. I think you loved her before you did me.” 

We both laughed. 

A few hours later we’d stopped at the store and made our way to the cabin. It had already started to snow, and it was sticking. Beau and I worked quickly to unload the truck and get inside. 

Beau started a fire as I put away the groceries. Pretty soon the fire was roaring and we were unpacked. 

Beau had the owner of the cabin, a cousin of Pop’s, decorate it for us. It was a sweet gesture I was grateful for. The tree was huge and almost touched the ceiling in the cabin. It was covered with what looked like hundreds of colorful twinkle lights and decorated with different colored balls. 

The mantle of the fireplace had lights and decorations, and hanging were some stockings. The rest of the house was beautifully decorated to showcase the upcoming holiday. I had never seen something so beautiful in my life. 

As the evening progressed we crawled into bed. A comfortable silence falling between us. The moon was illuminating the snow covered ground, causing it to appear brighter than it was outside. 

Everything was perfect. From the decorations, snow and now laying in my husband's strong arms. It was more than anyone could ask for. 

The next few days were spent just relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. The snow was still falling and I was starting to get concerned we were going to be snowed in. Beau wasn’t worried, well, at least he didn’t let me know if he was. 

We had FaceTimed Emily to say hello and I know it was so Beau could see her. He missed her, but wouldn’t admit it. We found out she’d met a boy who was a med student, he came from a large family and he was planning on going to Carla’s the day after Christmas to see Em and meet Carla. 

Beau of course gave the whole “Know your worth, don’t let him pressure you, what’s his full name, birthday, etc. so he can run a background check speech.” Em rolled her eyes but laughed. He meant well, but he was still her dad. 

Christmas morning arrived with another blanket of snow covering the ground. I woke up early, turned on all the Christmas lights, and started coffee and breakfast. 

It wasn’t long until the smell of breakfast and coffee woke up Beau. He walked in the kitchen, hair a mess, half asleep with his gray sweatpants and tshirt on. I bit my lip, because damn did he look good in anything he wore. 

He placed a gentle kiss on my lips, “good morning, darlin’, Merry Christmas.” I smirked, “Good morning, Beau, and Merry Christmas to you too. Breakfast is almost done. Grab some coffee.” 

Beau nodded, kissed my lips again and grabbed some coffee before making his way to the counter seats. 

“So I was going to start cooking the ham about 10am. That way we can eat by 6pm. Are you okay with that?” Beau nodded, “More than okay. After breakfast, do you want to open gifts?”

Beau asked with a smile and a giggle. “Sure! I said laughing.” Beau and I ate breakfast, and I could tell he was excited. It made me smile to see him so giddy. Usually he was reserved, but for some reason today he was like a kid. 

After breakfast we went into the living room and sat in front of the fire. Beau started making two piles of presents, one for me, and one for him. Since it was the two of us, there weren’t a ton, but Beau insisted on piles. 

We started to open our gifts, and I saw Em had sent some to us too. Beau loved the engraved money clip she sent, and the brewery tour I had gotten for him. 

I had started to clean up the trash when Beau stood, pulled me close and kissed me. “Merry Christmas, darlin’. I have one more gift for you.” I smiled, “Funny, because I have one more for you too.” 

He smiled wide. Beau handed me a small wrapped box. I opened it. Inside was a silver locket, on a chain. Engraved on the heart was, “Forever your cowboy. XO Beau”. I smiled, “It’s beautiful, Beau.” 

I opened it and saw a picture of us on one side and Emily on the other. 

Thank you, Beau," I whispered, slipping the necklace on. "I love it."

He smiled, relief washing over his face. "I’m glad you like it. I wanted to give you something special this year."

I leaned in and kissed him, savoring the moment. As I pulled away, I met his gaze, a mischievous glint in my eyes. "I have a surprise for you too, Beau."

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You do?"

I nodded, reaching into the tree and pulling out a small, box. I handed it to him, my heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement.

He opened the box slowly, his eyes widening as he read the words inside: "You're going to be a daddy."

For a moment, he was speechless. Then, a wide grin spread across his face. He pulled me into a tight hug, tears of joy streaming down his cheeks.

"Oh, my God," he whispered. "We're going to be parents."

I nodded, “Yes, Beau. We’re going to have a baby together.”

He placed a kiss on my lips and held me tight.

As we stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, I knew that this Christmas would be one we would never forget.

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[jeonjaemark]

the holiday bake off || hong jisoo

content warning: suggestion of sexual themes, MDNI, light mentions of breast play, mainly fluff, i didn’t really edit the post, kind of rushed posting this today || masterlist

i mentally check down the list in my head as i skim the ingredients on the kitchen island needed for baking cookies. i bit my bottom lip noticing something was missing but i didn’t know what it was. i check off the ingredients again in my head when a light bulb goes off. brown sugar.

i scan the cabinets for the sugar and spot it at the top shelf. i press my body against the counter standing on my toes reaching for the container filled with brown sugar. my hand sways around but i could barely get a grip on the container. i huff a breath of frustration taking a mini break to strategize again. my arm reaches up against pressing my hip firmly against the edge counter when i feel a firm and warm sensation hover reaching above me

“you know you could’ve just gotten a step stool or i don’t know, called me if you needed something from the top shelf.” josh teases, setting down the container in front of me.

i turn around to face him, “now if i do that, it would ruin my hyper-independent-eldest-daughter image.”

he laughs shaking his head at me, “so what do you have planned for us tonight?”

joshua browses between the ingredients picking up each one. he quietly reads each one while i mentally checked off the list in my head again to make sure everything we needed was here.

“christmas cookie competition.”

“between the two of us? shouldn’t there be a third party to determine who baked the best cookie?” he scratches the side of his head.

“well i was hoping you and i wouldn’t be bias enough to our own cookies to determine the winner but if you want a third party to determine who baked the best then i believe seokmin or mingyu is available.” i reach over for my phone.

joshua quickly reaches over snatching my phone from me, “no, no, no. we can just do it just the two of us.”

“aww joshy, why the sudden change of mind? afraid they’ll pick my cookies over yours?” i chuckled.

“no it’s because you’ll spend the entire time flirting with them and i have seen enough of it.” he rolls his eyes. “and then mingyu will magically end up baking your cookies.”

i bite my tongue at my initial response and noticed something flash in josh’s coffee like eyes. his cheeks turn red as he pouts his lips for a brief moment. for a second i thought to myself, ‘is josh jealous?’ there is no way. he has friend zoned me so many times before. it was to the point where i stopped being flirting around him and made sure to respect his boundaries. however, the last few hang outs have felt more like dates than just us hanging out as friends.

the other night josh and i agreed to go to some christmas festival carnival that he talked about with me for weeks. i had delayed the hang out for the carnival because our schedules never matched. that night it was different.

“y/n, don’t be so grumpy.” he hissed, pulling my long sleeve.

“i am not being grumpy. i told you that i am fine. so leave me alone.”

“you know when you tell me you’re fine, it make me more worried.”

“okay, fine. if it will get you to shut up and leave me alone, i will put on the dumb jacket.”

“see, there. do you feel warm now?” i could feel his breath against my skin as he adjusted the zipper on the jacket.

“maybe.” i muttered looking away from him.

josh gently tugs at the jacket pulling me closer to him. his brown eyes meet mine and i could feel my pulse speeding against my chest. his hands slide down from the collar of my jacket to my waist. his hold firm as he brings me for more warmth. honestly i wish i could get out of this jacket. i felt like i was simply burning up under his touch. my cheeks were burning up red and if josh noticed then he sure didn’t seem to bring it up to me. he just kept his hands on me and my body close to his. he leans his head closer to mine and then ——

“what? no comeback?” josh retorts, bringing me back to reality.

“it’s not my fault for being charming and pretty.” i nudged him in the arm.

“yeah and that’s why it’s dangerous to be around you.”

“aww, josh if you have feelings for me, just say so. you never know. maybe the feeling is mutual.” i winked, nudging him in the arm.

“okay, i’ll confess.” josh runs his hand through his hair. his shoulders tense up as if he is trying to find the words. a mischief grin slips from his lips, “i think… you’re tolerable.”

i roll my eyes at him, shoving at his shoulders. “you’re so annoying. maybe i should ask santa for a new best friend this holiday season.”

josh laughs grabbing the two large bowls and spatula on the counter behind him for us to use. i connect my phone to the speaker playing some holiday music and set the timer for an hour and half. josh starts to measure the flour for his bowl while i danced around the island.

———

the timer had gone off fifteen minutes ago but josh and i were too wrapped up when it came to decorating. so we decided to get rid of the timer and just focus on decorating the cookies the way we wanted to.

i carefully pipe out a thin line onto the snowflake cookie. my tongue sticks out in the corner of the mouth as i remained focus on the details of my cookie. i examine the cookie holding it on the edge between the pads of my finger and thumb. the icing was smooth and clean and i placed it in the plate next to the other.

after some time i look up after using the tweezers to put one white star in the center of my cookie and find josh hunched over the kitchen island. he hand a few sprinkles in one hand and tweezers in the other. he eyeballs each brown sprinkle and delicately places each one along the outside of the antlers of his reindeer cookie. his face scrunch together in complete focus. i bite back a smile watching him.

a sudden rush of warmth floods my veins. the way his biceps flex under the cuff of his shirt. if he was doing this on purpose then he was being cruel. i bit my inner lip watching him as he scans the counter for something before reaching for a piping bag and icing. i cross my legs feeling something pulsing between them while mentally cursing myself.

“are you ogling me because you’re finished decorating or is it because you’re interested?”

“neither.” i hissed, moving back to my cookies.

he chuckles dusting off his hands from any sprinkles and cookie crumbs. he tries to tidy up the island putting away the ingredients and other baking tools we were no longer using. when i finished my last cookie, i helped him clean up a little. his body brushes against mine moving between the sink the island as he collects the utensils and other dishes we used. each time my body sparks to life making the temperature in me rise. i asked josh to hand me the bowl with icing so i could wash it and we start the taste portion of our competition. when josh didn’t respond after i repeated myself, i turn around finding him with the bowl and icing on his fingers. a rush of panic seeps into my veins.

i carefully circle around the kitchen island while josh stalks me like his prey, “hong jisoo i swear if you get icing in my hair, i will never talk to you again.”

“don’t give me an empty threat, y/n.” his voice dropping an octave among the butterflies in my stomach flutter.

i scream running in the other direction away from him. josh snakes his arms around me pulling me to his chest. he places me on the counter running my wrist down to my sides as he swipes the purple icing onto my cheek. i shriek at the coldness of the cream

“revenge never tasted so sweet.” he swipes his tongue gently against the icing on my face.

“you’re dead, hong.” i spat.

i wrap my legs around his waist before he could escape and swipe from icing from the bowl nearby. josh tries to fight me grabbing my wrist in the air as they try to fight over dominance with him. i tighten my legs around his waist when i feel something hard press into my core. my body apparently loved the sensation that i felt my pangies damp a little. josh tries to pin me down to the counter to prevent me from wiping any icing on him when his little hard friend to hits my core. a tingling feeling runs down my legs as pushed myself up on the counter.

josh’s brown eyes lock with mine then slip down to my lips and go back to my eyes. his breath hitched when he realized i was watching him. an unbearable tension fuels the air between us. i could feel his pulse racing just like mine. our breath mingling with one another being so close. i couldn’t pinpoint what this meant but i knew it would changes things between us. without any hesitation, he pulls in closer but hovers near my lips as if to wait for my permission. i nod my head and he leans in completely taking my lips against his. his tongue sliding against mine. i wrap my arms around his neck pulling him even closer. his hands squeeze at my waist as my fingers play with the bottom of his hair tugging at it.

his lips trail down from my neck to my chest nipping and sucking at the skin. he uses his other hand to continue to squeeze and play with my other breast. my head falls back at the pleasing sensation and attention he was giving to each breast. a moan slips from my lips making him smile against my skin.

“fuck josh. m-more.” i gasped.

josh hooks his hands under my thoughts lifting me off the counter. our clothes scattering down the ground as he lays me on the bed and gets to work.

———

“i guess we never got to determine the winner of the competition.” he chuckles collapsing onto the bed and wrapping the sheets around me.

“we can call it a tie since we got caught up in other activities. i don’t think we can be unbiased and make a decision.”

“really? cause it feels like i won either way.” he presses a few lingering kisses against my lips.

“you know we have to talk about what just happened, right?”

“which part? the cookie competition or when i got you to release seven times.” he smirks proudly.

“it was five, first of all. don’t get cocky, joshy. and second of all, i mean what are we? cause i know damn well we aren’t just best friends anymore.”

“well i wanted to ask you out on a proper date and tell you how i felt about you but obviously plans have changed.”

“you can still do that, but no sex until that date happens.” i said firmly.

“you’re going to deny me from heaven.” he falls to the bed in agony, clutching his chest.

“yes, if we want to do this right then you can’t ram me like your life depends on it. just until after the the fifth date.”

“fifth date?” he gasped in horror.

“that’s the number of time i touched heaven earlier so it’s five dates first then you can get a taste of heaven again.”

josh pushes himself up ready to fight me on it decides to think otherwise. “okay so when does this rule go into effect?”

“tomorrow.���

“so what you’re saying is i have until midnight before the no sex until the fifth date rule applies?”

“yes.”

josh hops off the bed throwing on his boxers and a shirt. i furrow my eyebrows together staring at him in confusion.

“josh, where are you going?”

“i am going to make you coffee. if i have until midnight, i need to make sure you have the energy to keep going until then.”

“you’re ridiculous. i have perfect stamina to keep up with you. maybe you need to the coffee more than me.” i joked

“keep talking bratty like that, you’re going to be punished for it anyways.” he winks before rushing out into the hall as i tossed a pillow at him.

[jaegeraether]

Sunsets and footballers (Part 90)

Lucy Bronze x Reader (68) & Jordan Nobbs x Leah Williamson (23)

Masterlist (other parts here)

((3.4k))

YFN POV

“For someone so independent, you’re very needy,” Jordan chuckled.

YFN pouted, looking at her watch again. “They’ve been gone all fucking day. Surely that’s a bad thing?”

The slightly smaller woman shrugged. “Not necessarily. I mean, what if they’re just tying everything up with a pretty bow to make sure that it’s all sorted today? With both Lucy and Leah speaking, and then our testimonials, along with Ridley and Alexia, and your injury report, surely that’s enough to have Kristie locked up for the foreseeable future.”

Kristie. She never wanted to hear that name again. Lucy had no intention of letting her be in the same room as her, and Leah had offered to go as a character witness, knowing that her fame would make them realise how important of a case it was.

Jordan reached out and squeezed her hand. “It should be an open and shut case. Especially seeing as you didn’t want to go for the harshest punishment.”

“I just didn’t want her doing it to anyone else. She needed to know it was wrong.”

“Some jail time and community service will definitely get the message across.”

“And restraining orders…” she murmured. That had been Lucy’s non-negotiable.

“Leah there is going to throw a spanner in the works too. Her platform is massive. No one in their right mind will want her publicly speaking about how Kristie got away with her friends being stalked and then assaulted to the point of this.”

She gestured to YFN sitting up in the hospital bed.

She squeezed her hand. “Thanks for being here, Dory.”

Jordan’s little smile took over from her serious, friend look. “Of course, mate. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

A few minutes later Lucy’s doctor returned, or rather, her doctor too.

“I’m sorry for the delay,” he said as he stood next to her bed with a gentle smile. He was one of those men that you were always comfortable around. The benevolent type. “The scans are good - better than I expected given your… history.” Another smile, though this one was sympathetic. “Would you like the good news or the very good news first?”

She felt herself let go of tension she didn’t realise she’d been holding.

“Save the best for last.”

“Very well.” He put the scans up on the light box and pointed to her collarbone. “The second surgery went well. The screws are holding, though I’m afraid I need you in the sling to keep it immobile for the next 4 weeks or so..”

She sighed, though knew it was the case. Her Christmas was officially in a sling.

He continued. “Unless there’s an incident, or any issues with pain, I won’t need to give it a check-up until just prior to Christmas, and then I’m hoping to have you out of it for the new year.”

She smiled and nodded. “Well, that’s positive…”

He moved onto the next two x-rays. “Your forearm and wrist are healing well, though I’m afraid the cast will need to remain on for the next 6-8 weeks. We’ll give you a check-up when we get rid of the sling. Your jaw is also healing nicely, I know the bruising has been persistent, but expect it to be gone in the next week or so..”

“I can handle the cast,” she chuckled. “My shoulder is just in need of a good movement.”

She’d just wanted to swing her arm around, to roll her shoulder, instead of having it stuck where it was. It was a level of frustrating that bordered on pain.

“There are a few small massages that you can do to help, though you’ll need to be quite gentle with them, and careful not to shift your collarbone too much.”

He handed her a sheet with the exercises.

“Lucy can help with these. Any issues, give me a call.”

“Thank you,” she replied, gratefully. She was always grateful at the opportunity for Lucy to touch her more.

Jordan took the sheet interestedly and looked over it.

“Now onto your ribs. They’ve been thrown around a bit…” he looked at her with eyebrows raised and she blushed, knowing full well that she’d been abusing them a little too much with Lucy. “…which I understand.” He was politely giving her an out. “You already had several past injuries and you’re very limited with your movements given your state, and so it’s understandable that your ribs are catching the brunt of it. Though, you’ll need to be more mindful. No overexertion. No twisting yourself. No…excessive movements.”

To his credit, he did seem entertained by it.

“I think you should call Lucy and tell her that directly,” Jordan joked.

YFN’s mouth dropped open, though he and Jordan shared a good chuckle at her expense. She made a mental note to not tell Lucy so that she didn’t lose any part of her sex life.

“Now onto your kneecap…”

She braced herself for bad news, but how could it be, when he’d said the worst of it first?

“It was only ever a minor crack, however I wanted you to keep your full weight off of it as you can’t exactly use crutches. I’m going to keep the brace on, however you can walk on it again.”

She grinned – her first thought being that Lucy was going to be so happy. She could picture her face lighting up now.

“Now don’t overdo it. Don’t put all of your weight onto it at once. Place your foot on the ground and ease your weight onto it. It’s a slow process, but you need to build that habit up so you’re not overdoing it. The brace will be on for another few weeks, and I’m hoping to take it off just before Christmas.”

No brace for Christmas. Lucy was going to be thrilled.

“Hoping…” he said again, making sure she understood that it was only a possibility at this stage. “…and you can take the brace off for showers now, just don’t put all of your weight on it in the shower.”

No more garbage bags. She nodded. “Thanks, Doc.”

They finished up with him, getting her scripts for medication and some more information. Lucy, ever the anatomy fanatic, would want to know every detail possible. Especially because it was her.

She walked slowly to the car, relished the feel of being able to use her legs like legs again. She was officially The Little Mermaid.

She groaned the relief for her hips and lower back as she did so, knowing this would take a lot of strain from Lucy needing to carry her around.

She slipped into Miles, Lucy’s car, and Jordan slipped into the driver’s seat. The footballers had taken Leah’s Mercedes as it was lower to get into and Lucy hadn’t wanted her dropping into the seat and struggling to get out.

It was later in the afternoon now, and she looked at the time, wondering why it was all taking so long.

“Celebration dinner?” Jordan asked.

“Why do I feel like you all had this planned already?”

“Maybe. You know Lucy…”

“Has she messaged you?!” She looked over at Jordan who seemed to barely be able to see over the steering wheel. She gave a sympathetic smile. “No, sorry. But the table is still booked, so maybe we should see if they make it? I would suggest Katie and Caitlin but they’re not in town. Most of the girls are with their international squads. We can ask Alex but Jill is in Manchester. There’s a few other’s in town.. LJ and Keira, maybe?”

“Oh, that’s an idea!”

Jordan gave them both a call. LJ wasn’t available, however Keira and Georgia were. They met them at the Italian restaurant Lucy had booked and made a night of it. The girls joked about how they’d be in trouble if they were caught eating carbs when they were in season, though YFN had convinced them that they’d deserved it after their hard fought victory over the Netherlands. The more she got to know Keira, the more she got along with her. She opened up slowly, though at the end of the day, they both thought similarly, and had a similar sense of humour.

It was also one of the first times she’d been close and in intimate conversation with Georgia since she’d caught the first kiss between her and Lucy. They spoke about the game, Scotland, how much they needed to win by, Lumos and the interviews. The three footballers had a good catch up now that they all played for different teams, and they saw less of Jordan.

The two opted to skip dessert as they’d apparently already been too bad, though once they saw Jordan and YFN’s desserts, they couldn’t help but try a taste.

When their dinner was ending, she checked her phone and her stomach sank.

“Still nothing?” Jordan asked, seeing her reaction.

She gave a sigh. “No. You?”

She shook her head.

“Doesn’t usually take this long, surely?” Georgia asked. “What, are they hand delivering her to jail?”

“There must be a good reason…” Keira comforted. “Either way, we have time to do the interview if you want?”

They were being efficient, with Keira offering at dinner to come over and do the couch interview that YFN had suggested was best to ease the ‘Wonze’ fanatics of the internet. She still didn’t know Keira well, though she could see that she’d offered partly because not only did she want to get it over and done with, as she hated interviews, but she knew YFN needed a distraction from the current legal situation that Lucy and Leah were tied up in. She called Bridget and Emily to see if they were available last minute for the interview. They were more than eager, as she knew they would be, though still offered them extra pay for the inconvenience.

After dinner, they made their way to Lucy’s and settled in, Bridget and Emily setting up for the interview while she ran through queries with Keira prior to it.

“Did you read the questions and prompts I sent..?”

She hadn’t expected her to, as the interview wasn’t supposed to take place until later in the month, however things seemed to be working this way for her for some reason.

Keira nodded, asking questions and YFN couldn’t help but be impressed at her eye for detail.

She’d said that Jordan and Georgia didn’t have to stay, but they’d insisted, wanting to catch up on lost time.

The interview went for just over an hour, though it was exactly what she’d wanted. Keira had not been tense at all, and she was proud of herself for creating such an environment. To be fair, she even felt like she’d flirted with her a little, which had surprised the Australian. She’d never seen an interview with Keira so comfortable before. Hopefully that would suppress the ‘Wonze’ fanatics who’d been sending her so much hate on social media.

Keira took photos for their interview, while she answered Georgia’s questions about the content process. She had very little content outside of the Lionesses as she played at Bayern Munich and they weren’t exactly known for their social media. They didn’t have time for another interview that night as the girls had training the next day before flying out to Scotland, and needed to get rest.

They all left, though Jordan stayed with her. She looked at her watch as they walked out of the door. 8pm. She hadn’t heard from Lucy since 7am.

She sighed, dropping her hand in defeat. Jordan gave her a cuddle. “They’ll be home soon..”

She cuddled into her friend, allowing herself to relax when her phone buzzed. She jumped immediately and grimaced at the pain that shot through her body as she grabbed for her phone.

Joe calling…

At this time of night?

“Hey, Joe,” she answered, feeling awkward calling her that.

“Hello, YFN. How are you?” Her voice sounded as soft and regally calm as ever. It was comforting to her.

“I’m doing well. It’s late – is everything okay?”

“Oh, yes. I was calling to check in on the hearing today. Did it go well?”

She wondered if she’d used any of her influence to help the situation. Her voice suggested that perhaps she had, though just a little.

“Luce and Leah aren’t home yet. They’ve been gone for over 13 hours.”

“I see. It’s not unusual, though. I’d like an update when they’re done, please. I need to make sure this is all wrapped up so that you’re safe.”

Seeing as you don’t want the security team I offered, she could practically hear her saying. Catherine was worried about her, which made her feel loved. She’d never had that from a mother figure beyond her grandma. Her heart softened.

“Thank you…” she said, gratefully. “I’ll let you know when I know. Also, I had a check up today. Everything is healing well, and I can now walk, albeit gently.”

“I read the report you sent through,” YFN could hear the smile in her voice. “I was very happy to read that. Hopefully you can be moving a bit more freely by the new year.”

“Fingers crossed!”

She gave a light laugh. “Mine certainly are. Now, I was thinking about the Gala event this week that Lucy and Alessia are doing this week. We’re a bit on the back foot with everything since there’s so much going on, however I was hoping that the timing will work out to have our own Lumos event this week, on Friday or Saturday perhaps. Do you think we could get any high profile players in that time?”

“How many were you thinking?”

“Ten maximum. I don’t want the focus to be lost if there are too many.”

“Well, Lucy will be with me for a little before headed back to Barca. Most girls will be back with their teams by then. I think I can get Jordan Nobbs, Leah Williamson, potentially any players from the WSL, and also perhaps… perhaps…”

“Perhaps?”

She pondered. “Perhaps… Alexia. That’s a big maybe, though.”

“Alexia would be the white whale, if we could get her on. Otherwise, it sounds great. Perhaps some other nationalities too, if you can?”

“Coaches too?” She asked, trying to think who would be available at a moment’s notice. “I could ask Sarina. Emma. I could get Caitlin for Australia, Katie for Ireland, Yui for Japan, Ashley for Canada, or similar if they're not available?”

“Brilliant. I do hate to drop this on you last minute, though I have been wanting to get it done before the rush prior to Christmas. If you could look through availability and give me a date and names, I’ll work on booking a location for Friday or Saturday so we can start promoting it.”

“Consider it done.”

“Thank you, YFN. About tomorrow night, I have a location to meet. I’m assuming Lucy will be coming also?”

“I think Leah and Jordan have a right to be there too.”

She could practically hear her nodding. “I’ve sent the location and time to Mark. I have an aircraft departing at night for you. I’ll put you all on the manifest. You may need to clear it with the Lioness management.”

“Leah will handle that…”

“Perfect. I’ll send you the flight details.”

“Cath-” She cut herself off. “Are you sure about this?”

“There’s only so much hiding I can do. This is an unnecessary evil, unfortunately. You’ve been through too much already. I won’t have you fighting him too. I’m hoping to finish this once and for all with him tomorrow night, though from then on, my intention is still to be the silent partner while you are the face of Lumos. Has anything changed for you in regards to that?”

The empathy in her voice had YFN feeling comfortable. Comfortable enough that she could have said no, and Catherine would have accepted it without question.

“Nothing has changed on my end. I’m just very eager to get us onto a schedule where I’m not chasing my tail with interviews and events.” She chuckled. Catherine shared in her chuckle.

“Oh, I know. I’ve been hoping the exact same. It’s good to hear we’re on the same page, though. We’ll speak more tomorrow night. Until then – keep me posted on the hearing and anything you need at all, let me know.”

YFN and Jordan fell asleep on the couch, their feet overlapping under the blanket they shared as their heads were at opposite ends. She wasn’t sure how long she slept for, however she was woken by a warm kiss to the cheek and Lucy’s deep, comforting voice. “I’m here, little one. Everything’s okay.”

“Luce?” She mumbled, half asleep. She opened one eye, followed drearily by the other as she looked at her favourite person. Her expression was peaceful, which calmed the Australian.

She looked down at Jordan who was sitting up with Leah next to her, the two talking quietly. She looked back at Lucy.

“What happened?”

“It’s done, little one.”

She tried to prop herself up, and Lucy helped her, wrapping a strong arm around her waist to pull her up into a sitting position. “It took that long?”

“The incident happened in Spain, so we were delayed due to that, however someone pulled some strings for us.” Catherine. Lucy gave her a knowing look. “Without her, this would have been dragged out for weeks.”

“It’s done?”

She nodded as she reached out to stroke the yellowing bruises on her jaw. “Jail time for a period. Community service for the rest, as you didn’t want her to be stuck in there for the maximum time. Restraining orders for life. She won’t be attending any games in the future. And she apologised. It’s done.”

“She…apologised?”

“Mainly to me, but yes. She cried a lot.”

“That must have been hard…”

“Yes and no. I don’t like seeing someone upset, but she did hurt the person I love so… my empathy was not there for her. I’m just happy it’s all over.” She leant forward and gave her a soft kiss on the temple. “What did you two get up to, love?”

“We had dinner with Keira and Georgia,” Jordan said from across the couch.

Leah gave YFN a smile. She looked tired.

Lucy was caught off guard. “Oh?”

“It was great,” she reassured, putting her hand under the collar of her shirt, and on that strong collarbone of hers. “I did my couch interview with Keira after it.”

Lucy looked impressed, though like she had questions for when they were alone. She didn’t blame her.

“And?” Jordan prompted.

“Oh! And Lumos wants to host a public event with 10 female footballers in London this Friday or Saturday. Are you all free?”

“You know I am,” Lucy murmured, leaning her head against hers.

“I’ll be in town.” Leah answered.

“You already know I’m in.” Jordan agreed, looking at Leah. YFN hadn’t realised until just then that it must have been a while since they’d done something like that together in public.

“And I messaged Riddles, hoping to get Alexia if she’s back in town…”

“Mmn. I’m sure it’ll all be perfect. You’re good at the last minute organising,” Lucy teased.

She rolled her eyes. “And whose fault is that?”

She gave an innocent look. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. But I do wonder how the doctor went today? I have an email titled: ‘No funny business.’”

Jordan cackled. Actually cackled. YFN blushed, a little embarrassed and frustrated that she had to tell her. Lucy didn’t understand. Bless her, she was incredibly smart, though a lot less quick for these types of situations.

“Everything is healing well apart from my…ah…ribs. They’ve not been having the rest they should.”

“I believe he said they’ve been ‘thrown around a bit’…” Jordan offered.

Lucy clicked and gave a guilty look. Before she could speak, YFN jumped in, trying to distract her with ten different things to keep her mind away from limiting sex with her.

“But everything else is healing well… hoping to be out of the sling by the new year and the knee brace by Christmas. Also, I can officially walk.” She gave a proud smile. “No more looking for the wheelchair in Scotland, Luce. I’ll be the one-armed flamingo with the Australian flag.”