#if the Swifties fail let them do it

[bugwolfsstuff]

I think we should get Trump to talk shit about Taylor Swift

Because honestly I have more faith in the Swifties actually shooting him than the rest of ye

[nicohischierz]

outed: adelaide hughes au

tagging: @ivy-34, @francesfarhadi, @hzstry8, @cixrosie, @itsnotgray, @estapa94, @trevs-swiftie, @heartz4hisch you want to join the taglist let me know!!

trevor zegras

adelaide and matt had slept in seeing as neither of them had training or a game.

the thing that woke them up from their nap was when addy’s older brothers best friends voice rang through their apartment.

“addy, are you home?” trevor asked.

trevor knew no limits so he walked straight into the younger girls room ready to jump in her bed. however, he was greeted with a sleep adelaide on top of a sleeping matt rempe

the new york native screamed causing addy and matt to jump out of bed.

upon seeing trevor, adelaide moved away from matt and stood on the side. she slipped a sweater over her head and turned to her brothers friend

“z, what the fuck are you doing here?” addy asked. she threw a shirt at her boyfriend, who simply pulled it on without a word.

“what am i doing? i came here to spend time with my honorary sister and im met with the rangers number one fighter. im concerned addy,” trevor rambled.

matt couldn’t help the smile on his face. after all the stories he’d heard about your brothers, trevor seemed like a true friend.

adelaide’s eyes softened as she lunged at the boy for a hug. “i’m fine z. matty makes me happy, like really happy,”

trevor patted the younger girls head and glared at matt. “that’s all i want addy,”

.·:¨༺ ༻¨:·.

cole caufield

adelaide was having her monthly catch-up with cole as she cooked dinner for her and matt.

however, half-way through cole had to answer some texts on the team group chat leaving the two in silence.

whilst adelaide was cooking, she failed to notice her boyfriends arrival. the tall canadian stood by the doorway, admiring his girlfriend.

“well don’t you look so pretty,” matt complimented

the taller boy stood behind adelaide and pressed kisses on her neck as she plated their food in front of the camera.

when adelaide looked up she was met with cole’s shocked face. matt looked at her girlfriends phone and stepped back a bit.

“shit. is this what z meant? he mentioned you were seeing someone but i thought you’d tell me!” cole ranted.

“and you. you may be taller than me but i will fight you. god damn addy now i owe trevor $100.” cole muttered before ending the call.

.·:¨༺ ༻¨:·.

william nylander and matthew knies

adelaide had been having a tough couple of weeks so she took some personal days and flew to toronto without telling anyone.

“adelaide?” willy asked as he saw the girl outside the practice arena.

he noticed her sunken eyes and the frail state her body was in. william immediately rushed to the girl and held her as she broke in his arms.

“come on älskling. you’re coming home with me,” willy asked matthew knies to help him, knowing that you two knew each other.

matthew helped put you in william’s car when your phone started ringing excessively. willy was tempted to ignore it but he didn’t know whether you’d told anyone of your whereabouts so he answered.

“ada!” matt rempe answered on the other side.

“this is william nylander, who are you?” he asked.

matthew urged his teammate to put the phone on speaker and that is what the blonde did.

“i’m matt. is adelaide there?”

“matt who?”

“matt rempe. look i just got back to our apartment and she isn’t here. i’ve called barzy and the martin’s but they haven’t seen her either”, matt rambled.

“she here. she’s in toronto,” willy answered.

“is she okay?” matt’s voice was timid, worried about his girlfriend.

“not really, but i’ll keep her with me for a bit,”

“can you hand her the phone please,”

william turned the phone off speaker and handed it to adelaide.

“matty,” she mumbled.

“hi ada, is willy going to make you feel better?” matt knew how close the two were during their time in toronto. he also knew that other than barzy and tito, willy was the only one who could get her out of a slump.

“willy’s the best. he always looks after me and kniesy’s here too. i miss you,” adelaide smiled at the two leaf players.

“i miss you too princess. get some rest and call me later, i love you,”

“i love you matty,” adelaide ended the call and was about to close her eyes.

“so you share an apartment with matt rempe.” kniesy stated.

adelaide hummed “i share an apartment with my boyfriend,”

.·:¨༺ ༻¨:·.

brendan brisson

brendan and adelaide were in the latters room playing smash or pass whilst they waited for dinner.

brendan was scrolling through a girls list of hockey players on tiktok as they both shouted out their answers.

“eww i can’t believe people find my brothers attractive,” adelaide groaned seeing jack for the sixth time.

brendan laughed and continued scrolling until they landed on matt rempe.

“oh i’ve seen him on fyp, the girls really seem to like him,” brendan added.

adelaide let out a nervous laugh. “pass. he’s a ranger, i’d be hung,”

of course, the knights prospect read between the lines. “okay forget his team, smash or pass?” he asked.

“well pass, he’s not really my type i guess. i don’t know briss,” adelaide answered truthfully.

brendan scoffed. “i think you’d smash. actually i think you already have,” he accused the girl.

adelaide got off her bed and looked to her best friend. “w-w-what, you’re crazy brendan. why would i hook up with a ranger?”

“i don’t know addy but i think he’s the guy you’re soft launching. i mean when i showed you the picture you started blushing. whenever any of the guys brings your boyfriend up you just say he’s tall. also i saw the way he looked at you at the isles vs rangers game i went to,”

brendan gave his best friend a pointed look.

the girl caved fast confessing everything to brendan from the time she met matt to them living together.

“who else knows?” brendan asked.

“well cole, trevor, my team, kniesy, willy, our parents and braden schneider,” addy answered.

“how do cole and trevor know before me!!” brendan exclaimed.

“they caught us,” adelaide replied sheepishly.

.·:¨༺ ༻¨:·.

mat barzal and the team

the islanders were out having drinks after their season and to celebrate adelaide's new sponsor.

of course, adelaide celebrated too much as she hung onto mat and slurred her words. her teammates found it amusing as she gave them all advice on their love lives.

"mat. i love you, i really do but i swear if you show up to training camp with a shaved head finding a girlfriend would be the least of your worries," she threatened.

the boys laughed as mat dropped the girl off on their goalie ilya sorokin. the girl then started counting in russian and muttering random curse words causing the others who understood to look at the girl in amusement.

"oh no, i have to factory reset her to english," mat groaned as adelaide began rambling on in different languages intertwining with her sentences.

adelaide then laid her head onto ilya's shoulder. "i miss matt," she mumbled in english. the poor goalie then pointed at his two teammates with the same name, making the girl excited.

"eww, that's not matt. i want to go home to matty," she whined.

matt martin carried the younger girl out the bar as she stumbled over her feet, mumbling about 'matt'. barzy was given her bag as he searched for a contact under that name.

just as he was about to hand the phone back to adelaide, she received a call from 'remmy 🐀'.

"ada, it's 2:30. you told me to call if I don't hear from you at this time," matt answered on the other end.

"are you matt?" barzy asked.

matt straightened up and prepared to head out the door. "yeah, I'm matt. umm is ada alright?"

"she's fine. i mean a little wasted but functioning,"

"i'll come pick her up. i've got her location, i should be there in ten minutes,"

barzy put adelaide's phone in her bag and hung it over his shoulder. "addy, matt's on his way," he told the younger girl, holding a bottle of water to her lips.

despite some having families and significant others, they all waited to ensure that adelaide got home safe even if that meant they walked across the city for her.

the sounds of matt's jeep alerted the crowd and the boy pulled up as close as possible before stepping out.

adelaide smiled at the sight of her boyfriend. she pushed away from her teammate and stumbled into matt's arm, the boy catching his girlfriend.

"matty, look this one and this one has the same name as you!" she exclaimed, pointing at the other two.

matt smiled at adelaide's teammates and fixed his grip around her waist. "come on ada, let's get you in the car and then I'll run you a bath when we get home,"

adelaide’s teammates looked at one another and then at how comfortable the girl was. “bye friends! i’m gonna miss you,” she shouted out the car door.

“is that?” one of the guys asked as they watched the couple drive away.

“yup,” barzy replied.

“with ..”

“we all pretend we don’t know until she tells us,” anders lee told the group before they split.

[goldfades]

Assembling nursery stuff together 🥰

Joe talking to the baby bump

Joe spoiling you rotten 🥺

joe is the ultimate husband u cannot convince me otherwise. also he's a swiftie, there i said it (im projecting)

the soft hum of taylor swift's fearless fills the nursery, her voice bouncing off freshly primed walls as you and joe sit on the floor, surrounded by paint cans and brushes. he’s not even trying to hide the mock pain on his face as the opening notes of you belong with me come on.

“really? this one?” he groans, dragging the roller across the wall in slow, deliberate strokes. “this song is ancient.”

“it’s a classic,” you counter, dipping your brush into the pale sage paint. “besides, the baby likes it. don’t you, little one?” you glance down at your growing belly and grin.

joe pauses, leaning on the roller handle to give you that look—the one where his lips quirk up just slightly, like he’s pretending to be annoyed but failing miserably. then he’s on his knees, already abandoning the wall, paint forgotten as he scoots closer to you.

“you hear that, baby?” he says, his voice softening as he places a hand gently on your bump. “your mom’s turning you into a swiftie before you even have a choice. but don’t worry,” he adds, leaning closer, practically nose-to-belly. “dad’ll sneak in some joe cocker or bruce springsteen when she’s not looking. we’ll balance it out.”

you roll your eyes but can’t help the laugh that bubbles out, watching him talk to your stomach like the baby’s going to answer him. he’s been doing it constantly lately—every chance he gets. sometimes you wake up in the middle of the night to find him lying beside you, whispering to the baby about his day, about how excited he is to meet them.

“you’re a dork,” you tease, brushing a streak of paint onto the side of his arm.

he doesn’t even flinch. instead, he looks up at you with this ridiculous, wide grin, the kind that makes you feel like you’re still falling in love with him every day. “you love it,” he says simply, and then, because he can’t help himself, he presses a kiss to your belly. “and you love it too, don’t you, kid? don’t worry, we’ve got her wrapped around our little finger already.”

“oh, please,” you groan, but your heart is so full you think it might burst.

later, when the walls are finished and you’re sitting cross-legged on the drop cloth, joe spoils you the way he’s been doing for months now. he won’t let you lift a finger, even to clean up. “just sit there, pretty girl,” he murmurs, handing you a glass of water before crouching down to start gathering paintbrushes.

“joe, i can help,” you say, but he shakes his head without even looking up.

“you’re doing enough,” he says. “you’re growing a whole human in there. let me take care of the rest.”

his tone is matter-of-fact, but the way he looks at you when he finally glances up? it’s something else entirely—pure adoration. and suddenly, you’re overwhelmed with the thought that if this baby has even a fraction of his heart, they’re going to be the luckiest kid in the world.

[happeehippie]

instagram j.b.

summary: follow along with joe and his WIFE evie as they go through his football career.

*face claim is yasmin quintana*

series masterlist.

liked by bengals, joeyb_9, and 983,729 others…

evie: honeymoon avenue.

view all 4,738 comments…

user: i love you guys together!

> evie: 💗💗

user: am i the only one that doesn’t like her?

> millyg: it’s the jealousy in you.

> user: i don’t see how anyone can’t like her, she’s so nice!

user: yikes

joeyb_9: no complaints, probably the best avenue out there.

> evie: thanks for your input, i totally agree.

> millyg: gtfo you guys 🤣

joeyb_9

liked by evie, lahjay10_, and 902,519 others

joeyb_9: we will send a post card.

view all 5,739 comments…

user: nooooo that’s two times in a row he’s posted ev

> user: they are literally married now, she’s not going anywhere.

user: in his *husband* era

user: i can’t stomach this

millyg: still mad i got left at home.

> user: i don’t like them together, im not jealous or anything something just feels off.

> user: i think that means your jealous.

evie: the views were 10/10

> joeyb_9: i was only looking at you.

> lahjay10_: 🧀🧀🧀

evie

liked by joeyb_9, millyg, and 810,826 others

evie: some small things…🤍

view all 3,738 comments…

user: i’m SO single

user: she doesn’t have to rub it in

user: NOT THE PRETTY GIRL. ladies he is everything..

user: if he wanted to he would

millyg: not joes failed cursive attempt

> evie: it wasn’t TERRIBLE 🤣

user: being with joe burrow is this girls whole personality

joeyb_9: the prettiest pretty girl.

> evie: 😭💗

user: so when are we expecting the divorce?

user: take notes fellas

user: joe and ev being so taylor coded makes me sick

> evie: swifties are superior, even if jb likes to pretend he isn’t one.

joeyb_9

liked by obj, evie, and 1,785,002 others

joeyb_9: had the basketball versus football convo too many times

view all 2,372 comments…

user: low key forgot you weren’t just some guy from cincinnati

> evie: THE guy from cincinnati

obj: Da boyyyyyyyy

user: tough. basketball tho

> evie: wrong answer. 😭

user: Joey B is A list now

evie: it was so nice of you to take photos with a few fans today.

> joeyb_9: 😎

> user: ev is coming for those opps

user: not him hanging with obj

user: such a weeb

evie

liked by millyg, joeyb_9, and 1,037,927 others

evie: went to something called a white party?

view all 2,801 comments…

user: you win

user: he actually took you with him?

> evie: i actually got invited to come with him.

> user: standing on business.

user: YOU MISSED TAYLOR FOR THIS?????

> evie: marriage is about sacrifice.

joeyb_9: 🥵🥵🥵

user: this is everything

user: that joe pic is my new background thanks

> evie: charity work is my passion.

user: i keep coming back to look at this post

user: second pic sent me into cardiac arrest.

> evie: you should’ve seen it in person.

joeyb_9

liked by bengals, lahjay10_, and 710,991 others

joeyb_9: “It’s time to go mobile.”

view all 3,729 comments…

user: YESSIR

lahjay10_: My step brother

> evie: hell yeah

user: do you want my mobile phone number

> evie: he doesn’t have a mobile phone.

> user: you are so funny mrs. burrow. 🤣💀

> user: why are you always so rude?

> user: she isn’t rude, but she’s always going to let us know that’s her man. don’t play like you wouldn’t do the same thing if random girls were coming at your bf with this kind of shit.

> user: i agree, she isn’t being rude but she’s never really let people show blatant disrespect for their relationship. even when they were in college.

tylerboyd: levels

> evie: BIG LEVELS

evie: you’re so hot. there is said it.

joeyb_9: 🪞

user: return of shiesty

user: YEAH BABYYYY

evie

liked by bengals, lahjay10_, and 810,003 others

evie: volume 4. 🤍🧡🖤

view all 2,761 comments…

user: you’re special

user: do you ever get sick of having to pretend to be interested in football?

> evie: never pretending.

user: he needs a tall blonde that has a brain.

> evie: my masters in marketing is offended.

user: i’m so excited to see the team smash it this year!

joeyb_9: very big fan of this.

> evie: your sunnies really tie it together.

> user: not you sharing sunnies. 😭

user: i love ev truly, but im also jealous of her.

> evie: i’m not sure what to say here. 🤣💗

joeyb_9

liked by evie, bengals, and 789,524 others

joeyb_9: Mask off.

view all 2,751 comments…

user: clothes off

> evie: the clothes will stay on. (for now) 🤪

user: Burrow is back!

user: solid W

evie: put the mask back on, i can’t think straight.

> joeyb_9: keep it on all night?

> user: i wish i could unsee this

> user: joe. please. this has to stop.

user: i’ll never quit you.

evie’s instagram stories:

a/n: hiiii. i’m going to finish this series up in the next post so i can work on some of the other requests i have. if you guys are interested in me continuing it once the new season starts let me know and i’ll see what i can do. thanks for all the love on this, you guys rock. and as always im taking request so if you have an idea i’d love to hear it.

[batboyblog]

Less than 60 days out from the election, how do you think we’re doing, considering the recent debate and Taylor Swift unleashing the Swifties?

I'll start this by saying we're with-in the margin of effort, if either side really puts their backs into it, and pushes and shows up, volunteers in big numbers and turns out voters it could go either way.

So having said that, I feel good, right now the national polls are close, but all show Harris ahead. The swing state polls likewise are close but mostly show tied or leaning to Harris. On top of which Senate Democrats (and the candidate for Governor in NC) are running far ahead of her in polling, I hope thats a sign that late undecideds will break Democrat, they often do break toward the incumbent.

On the debate, I'm often skeptical that debates shift things. That said I think anyone watching would say that debate is pretty unique in the history of Presidential debates. The media has been working very hard to uh "sane wash" Trump and what he says. That debate was an unfiltered view of Trump. I'm frankly shocked he brought up the pet eating, the right has been meming about it but I thought he'd only say some dogwhistle to it not just straight up say some of the most racist shit imaginable on live TV. The bar for Trump was very low and he still failed totally to meet it. Likewise Harris had a high bar and met it, she was claim, she was professional, she came across as ready and smart while also serving as the audience surrogate to let us all know "yeah this is as crazy as you think it is"

just briefly here the attack on Haitian Americans is crazy, and racist, and the whole "the immigrants are eating dogs" goes back 100+ years, I've read people accusing NYC Jews in the early 1900s of kidnapping and eating neighborhood cats and dogs. But also its politically crazy too since Florida where Trump and Republican Senator Rick Scott have both been slipping in the polls as America's largest ethnic Haitian community, just over 500,000 or roughly 2% of the state, so great plan to call them pet stealing and eating monsters just before an election.

The other factor is the Laura Loomer. If anyone doesn't know who she is click that link and enjoy, but basically she's a white nationalist and Islamophobe (that's according to her) and the person extreme far right Republicans point to as proof that they're not "that bad" any ways, Loomer seems to have been with Trump, on his plane the day of the debate and every day since, and Republicans are wigging out

MTG, and any number of Trump super supporters are sounding off about how much they don't like this, and the internet is "joking" that Trump and Loomer are sleeping together. Together with his unhinged debate being connected with one of the worst people in American politics might cause serious problems. In any case a campaign of just alt-right memes is not gonna win most Americans.

On TSwift, I mean the data I've seen showed a really big jump in people exploring registering to vote after her message which is good. I'm again skeptical about how much of an impact she'll have? celebrities in general don't have that big of an impact, basically 90% of famous people are Democrats/liberal, but their fans don't always go along, don't get me wrong I'm happy she endorsed I just am unsure how big an impact it'll end up having.

So to repeat what I said at the top, we're in the margin of effort, if everyone who doesn't want Trump volunteers and puts in the work Harris will win, so

VOLUNTEER

[joesalw]

Some good comment on this 1830s line from reddit thread about swifties harassing Maitreyi Ramakrishnan:

As someone with a masters in poetry, who has analyzed, graded, and critiqued poems, lyrics, and lyrical prose, it 💯 seems like the work of a younger white student just starting out, romanticizing a random decade bc it would make them seem deep. During workshop someone will mention that time period wasn’t so great for POC, and then the writer will stick on “but without all the racists” and think that solves the whole problem, when that’s only part of the issue to begin with.

ETA I’m getting a lot of messages from people who are supplying me with the lyrics in context, which admittedly I had not seen before. I took a look and I remain unconvinced at the assurances that the lyrics are doing the opposite of what I had first interpreted.

If this song were in front of me during workshop, I would absolutely inform the writer that because of a lack of clarity, this could be interpreted in a variety of ways. I would then ask:

“Nostalgia’s a mind trick” for whom, and why?

Because nostalgia isn’t a mind trick for marginalized communities.

It’s whiteness and privilege that allows for nostalgia in the first place. It’s whiteness and privilege that would write about “the highest bid” as referring to marriage and not chattel slavery during a time of literal chattel slavery while referencing the time period’s racists in the same stanza/verse. (If marriage as the highest bid is a metaphor for sexism and transactional marriages, the metaphor fails in context).

It’s whiteness and privilege to tell a story about a speaker being supposedly so aware of their whiteness and privilege that they educate their friends on it during a game (which also implies they never played this game with someone who was a member of a marginalized community, a game that with the lyric “used to play” implies it was played fairly regularly for a time), but concludes that “nostalgia is a mind trick” without adding that it’s only a mind trick for those immersed in privilege.

This is emphasized by “Seems like it was never even fun back then.” This line implies that at one point, it seemed fun to the speaker.

“If I’d been there, I’d hate it.” I would let the writer know that I as a reader am not convinced of this conclusion due to a seemingly lack of comprehension on the speaker’s part. I would let them know many readers would interpret this lack of comprehension as willful ignorance. If that is the writer’s intention, then proceed, if not, a revision is in order.

!

[letters-adressed-to-the-fire]

so this is why i think peter is the one looking in people's windows

A few days ago, I saw a swiftie on TikTok talking about how I look in people’s windows could be taken as the other perspective of the same story narrated in Peter, and I just couldn’t stop thinking about it. So, I decided to go in-depth and start a self-assigned quest to look for any clue that could interweave these two stories in a way that made sense.

I know this could sound a little absurd or could be taken as a stretch of some sort, but I believe, and I’m sure most of her fans would agree, that most of the beauty in Taylor’s writing comes from the countless different interpretations people bestow on her lyrics. I’m not asking you to take this analysis as absolute truth because I’m genuinely just having fun with it, and I hope you do too.

I’ll analyze “I look in people's windows” from Peter’s point of view and “peter” from the other character’s pov, whom we’ll call Wendy given the obvious parallelism to Peter Pan.

Well, the main and obvious connection is given by the “window” element. While Wendy is waiting for Peter by the window, Peter is looking for her from outside that window. If you look at this through very literal and rational eyes, I believe you’d think it doesn’t make sense that they were both looking for each other through the same window but never met again. So HERE is where I want to insert my interpretation.

There are two options I can think of that would explain the failed meeting. 

Peter intentionally avoided Wendy while still looking for her every day.

Every time they were looking for each other, it happened at different moments.

The first case presents a lot of questions, like, is the pledge to grow up what is stopping Peter because he knows he can’t do it? Or was he cruel enough to wait for Wendy to move on and then come back? Either way, the conclusion remains the same. In this scenario, Peter was a coward. If it was because he didn’t want to grow up, if it was because he just wanted Wendy to never move on, or if it was because he never gave her a real answer.

On the other hand, the second case talks about something that’s closer to a tragedy. They were always doomed by the narrative. While Wendy was waiting for him, Peter was looking for her, but Wendy never saw him—not when she waited or when Peter was looking for her. We would need to assume some things here tho. Either it all comes back to the first option and Peter had been avoiding her the entire time, or he thought she had already forgotten about him. The first option shows us, once again, that Peter is a coward, but the second one also tells us something important: he may be too scared to grow up, but he’s not selfish enough to stop her from moving on.

“Northbound I got carried away As you boarded your train South, south, south, south, south, south A feather taken by the wind blowing I'm afflicted by the not knowing so”

Based on this verse, we can design a new theory. He watched her leave and he was aching for her to come back to him. So he started looking for her in other people’s windows, wondering if one of them was gonna be her. Even when he had already said goodbye to her.

And here’s where another verse of peter will acquire significance:

“I thought it was just goodbye for now”

With both songs in mind, it sounds like he said goodbye to her, hoping they were gonna see each other again, but he also knew he had to let her go at the time and that he was condemned to miss her. But what Peter didn’t know was that Wendy was gonna go through the same thing, but she wouldn’t have the comfort of knowing what he did (wait for her).

“promises oceans deep, but never to keep”

This is why we get two completely different endings for both songs. While Peter is still addicted to the what-ifs, Wendy has turned off the light; the fantasies have expired for her. Wendy grew up; Peter didn’t. While I look in people's windows gives you the feeling of being running from house to house in a neighborhood you don’t recognize anymore, trying to fit into a routine you were used to in the past; peter reads like the last chapter of a book you’ll never touch again.

[arctichotch]

the cod boys at the eras tour ✨

Johnny “Soap” MacTavish:

this man might actually be more excited for the show than you are.

he’s made his own friendship bracelets, handed some out on base. he would never mention it, but he saw ghost wearing his while training rookies.

a dedicated swiftie, knows the setlist off by heart. makes a list of surprise songs he wants.

only listened to taylor for you, but fell in love with her. wants to buy the poster from your show.

maybe tears up a little seeing how happy it makes you and loves that you guys can share this together.

beyond fascinated at the pyro during bad blood. maybe you shouldn’t tell him about the picture you sent to ghost of johnny eying up all the fire.

won’t take any mocking that he’s a taylor swift fan. that’s his singer and he will defend her to the death (not literally but close enough)

Simon “Ghost” Riley:

less into her and more reluctant to attend the show with you. doesn’t understand why you wouldn’t want to go with a friend instead of him. he doesn’t think he’d fit in.

definitely the tall ass boyfriend who blocks people’s view and feels bad about it.

allows you to jazz up a balaclava of his for the show. he normally wouldn’t wear one in public, but he doesn’t exactly feel comfortable in a crowd of thousands, especially with his scars. doesn’t want to scare kids (:()

listens to you talk for hours about taylor swift. anytime you guys are driving together, she’s playing.

wouldn’t consider himself a swiftie, but he knows his stuff. you saw him swaying at times and vibing to shake it off at the show.

you love any reference to ghosts in her songs, even though they’re mostly extremely depressing, because that’s your man!!!!

one of the best nights of his life, but he’d never admit that.

thinks the tortured poets department is one of the best albums ever made. listens to it constantly when he’s away from you.

John Price:

this dude is old!!! he’s not really that old, but acts a lot older than he is! so he honestly doesn’t have a clue who this “taylor swift” is when you two first get together.

boy, does he know her now.

honestly, a swiftie. he can’t deny it. she has some bangers.

cheered you on when you were in the ticketmaster battle to get tickets, not letting on that he was also in the queue on base with his own code. ended up surprising you with the tickets after your attempts failed. will never forget the look on your face.

(he definitely also had selfish reasons trying to get tickets. he just has to go!)

loves it. i mean he doesn’t look like he’s in the eras tour spirit but inside he’s feeling it. looks like someone’s grumpy scary dad, but also knows a solid 80% of the words.

he was big into rock and metal type bands when he was younger. went to tons of shows as a teenager before enlisting. this was his favourite he’s ever seen.

can’t stop admiring the technical aspects. finds it all fascinating. thinks he could’ve been a roadie in another life.

Kyle “Gaz” Garrick:

now this man has been a swiftie since before you two got together. teardrops on my guitar was his jam in secondary school.

glad he can be open with you about how much he enjoys taylor swift when you are together.

you both compiled a comprehensive list when trying to get tickets. with who was going to try for what shows, budgets, codes, dates, times. it reminded him of a mission brief. almost with the same stakes.

you ended up getting tickets for 3 shows across the UK.

had the best time at all of them. would go another 18 times if he could. kept noticing things at each show that he hadn’t seen before and you both kept pointing different cool things out to each other.

definitely one of the best summers of his life, and he got to do it with the love of his life by his side.

cried when the kids got brought up for the 22 hat.

[svechnikovvv]

happy birthday

trevor zegras x fem!reader

a/n: in honor of z’s birthday today, i wanted to post this 🫶🏻

masterlist: here

y/n.insta

liked by trevorzegras and 969,034 others

y/n.insta happy 22nd birthday to the bestest boyfriend in the world. you’re my favorite swiftie & you never fail to bring a smile to my face. there’s more i could say, but let’s keep it simple. i love you zegralicious <3

(👤: trevorzegras)

view comments

trevorzegras why did you post that first photo?

y/n.insta i’m reminding you of your roots 🥱

trevorzegras you’re not funny

y/n.insta i will take back my happy birthday, my i love you AND i’ll archive this post. i don’t see any of your little boyfriends posting you 🙄

trevorzegras don’t bring the boys into this

y/n.insta just did, what are you gonna do about it?

trevorzegras report your account multiple times

y/n.insta you, me, kroger parking lot. 5pm

jamie.drysdale mom, i’m scared

y/n.insta go back to bed, sweetie. your father and i are having an adult discussion

jackhughes zegralicious?

y/n.insta it’s like fergalicious, but better

user1 it’s confirmed, y/n is the better parent

user2 i love how they all play along

user3 ZEGRALICIOUS DEFINITION MAKE THEM BOYS GO LOCO

liked by y/n.insta

_quinnhughes i’m gonna need you to send me that first photo

y/n.insta check your messages, huggy

_quinnhughes you’re the best 🙏

y/n.insta just doing god’s work 💁‍♀️

_quinnhughes like ariana grande said, “god is a woman”

y/n.insta damn right, and her name is ellen hughes

jackhughes real

y/n.insta adam sandler, what’re you doing here? 😧

jackhughes you can’t keep saying that everytime someone shows up somewhere

y/n.insta sigh, you’re taking away my paddles to my curiosity voyage

jackhughes no wonder you and z are on the verge of divorce 🙄

y/n.insta and this is why cole was trevor’s best man 🥱

lhughes_06 i just know he’s blasting 22 by taylor right now

y/n.insta this is the third time he’s played it. i’m about to que we are never getting back together

lhughes_06 you should que never gonna give you up

y/n.insta …genius

jamie.drysdale always knew he was a fake duck 👎

y/n.insta you got your amazing intuition from me 😌

jamie.drysdale thanks mom?

user4 i love the ganging up on z moment we’re witnessing

user5 fake duck ‼️

masonmctavish23 22 years ago today, a 🐐 was born

y/n.insta that explains why he’s not potty-trained yet

trevorzegras i’m taking jamie from you y/n.insta

y/n.insta you. wouldn’t. dare

trevorzegras wanna bet?

masonmctavish23 oh no.. what did i start

jackhughes the custody battle of ‘23

_quinnhughes blind leading the blind

_alexturcotte this is an amazing post

y/n.insta thank you, turcs. at least someone appreciates it

colecaufield tell my husband i’ll be home from war in a few hours

y/n.insta trevorzegras you’re cheating on me now?? 😧

trevorzegras cat’s out of the bag now, surprise?

y/n.insta i’m feeling very ricky bobby betrayed rn

anaheimducks happy birthday z! 🧡

y/n.insta (trevor typing here) thank you!

trevorzegras on a real note though, thank you baby <3

y/n.insta you’re welcome my love

user6 i’m glad to say i lived to witness the custody battle of ‘23

jackhughes

liked by y/n.insta and 978,894 others

jackhughes happy birthday zegrasi. live it up man 🧡

(👤: trevorzegras)

view comments

trevorzegras not you too, hughesy (but thank you)

jackhughes i had to 🤷‍♀️

trevorzegras did y/n make you do this?

jackhughes i would never give in to conformity 😧

y/n.insta what a loser that trevor zegras is

trevorzegras i hope you think the couch is comfy, because that’s where you’ll be sleeping tonight. you made your bed, now lie in it

y/n.insta i feel like i’m in salem with that threat

colecaufield two 🐐 in one picture

y/n.insta run while you can, caufield

colecaufield hello???

user7 FETUS ZEGRAS

user8 y/n’s comments are what fuel me

user9 so true

_quinnhughes is this an anti-z club?

y/n.insta yes and i’m the ceo. julie is my sponsor. mama zegras for the win 😎

trevorzegras and to think i gave you all that praise, quintin

_quinnhughes nobody told you to do that

y/n.insta when do you start _quinnhughes ?

_quinnhughes today

_alexturcotte favorite duo 🤝

liked by jackhughes

njdevils happy birthday to our favorite duck! ❤️

trevorzegras thank you!

user10 i love that first picture

lhughes_06 by the end of the day, that first picture is going to be engraved in my brain

jackhughes let it consume you

lhughes_06 what??

colecaufield

liked by y/n.insta and 965,032 others

colecaufield happy birthday zeg2nasty 🧡

(👤: trevorzegras)

view comments

trevorzegras WHY IS EVERYONE POSTING THAT PICTURE??

y/n.insta it’s a zegras cult and i’m the ring leader

trevorzegras you terrify me.

y/n.insta you signed up for this

jackhughes just a couple of boys

liked by colecaufield

y/n.insta you’re a godsend for this

colecaufield can i join the club now too?

y/n.insta what‘s your availability?

colecaufield yes

y/n.insta welcome to the club!

user11 so everyone’s just gonna post that picture?

user12 oh yes kids, i remember the zegras cult of ‘23

user13 i love y/n’s friendship with all of them

user14 i wonder which friend will post next

_alexturcotte the good ole days

colecaufield now we’re old and decrepit

_quinnhughes when y/n starts something… it spreads

y/n.insta you make me sound like a disease

trevorzegras because you are

y/n.insta go back to where you came from

jamie.drysdale

liked by y/n.insta and 897,043 others

jamie.drysdale happy birthday z! i hope it’s a good one 🧡

(👤: trevorzegras)

view comments

trevorzegras STOP POSTING THIS PICTURE. I’M BLOCKING ALL OF YOU AND TAKING YOU OFF MY CLOSE-FRIENDS

y/n.insta ah, i’m so scared

trevorzegras i hope you get cholera

y/n.insta stub your toe, zegras

trevorzegras i’m kicking you out my room. you can go room with jamie now

y/n.insta i’m a delight, i’ll have you know

jamie.drysdale they’re typing this whole conversation while sitting next to each other on the couch with straight faces

trevorzegras nobody likes a tattletale, jimbo

y/n.insta ONE OF US

jackhughes ONE OF US

colecaufield ONE OF US

user15 these posts just keep getting better and better

user16 can we talk about how good they both look in that second picture though?

user17 yes.

masonmctavish23 jimbo’s finally joined the zeg train

jamie.drysdale it was either now or later

anaheimducks that first picture is golden

liked by jamie.drysdale

colecaufield jamie is the better duck (confirmed)

trevorzegras after all i’ve done for you?

colecaufield sorry not sorry

jackhughes he’s never going to forgive us for this

jamie.drysdale oh definitely not

y/n.insta the grudge is already forming

trevorzegras formed*

y/n.insta welcome to the club, jamie!

jamie.drysdale wow, it truly is an honor to be here today. i’d like to thank my mom y/n for telling me to never give up and that someday i’d achieve my dreams.

y/n.insta so proud of you son 🫶🏻

user18 i’m scared for what y/n’s gonna post for the others’ birthdays

trevorzegras i’m starting a gofundme to free me from these shackles. #freeZ

tags: @goldenbrokenheart @liquidflyer @woodruff-edwards @hockeyboysarehot @ajbird2010 @hughesx3 @iheartzegras @theywantedplayer @k1ttyt3ar @jackhughesily @fratboyzegras @marauderzkinnie @babydollmarauders @akengii @livs-garden @nowandkei @starsandhughes @jackhues

[soothinglee]

what's it like dating ethan landry - scream iv.✓

synopsis: what's it like dating ethan landry.

caution: taylor swift hate (sorry if you like her, i guess.), !black reader implied. gender neutral reader, light swearing, headcannon/ dialogue, short(er) reader, not necessarily cannon, no spoilers, mention of toxic family. if there's anything i left out please let me know.

word count: f if i knew.

authors note: this is my first time writing for the scream franchise, let alone writing something like this (I think) so it's going to be something. let me know if i should do more like this for the future. don't forget to like and reblog!<3

masterlist | request | rules ☆

legit the best boyfriend you could ever ask for.

will carry your books from classroom to classroom.

it wouldn't even matter if you guys weren't in the same class, he would be 10 minutes late to his and still would accompany you.

though he doesn't really have to worry about tardies because your teacher will see you walk in first and already have a slip ready to go.

he loves helping you do your hair, will literally stop anything he's doing to tangle his crusty fingers in your braids. (if you are not black, you can ignore these next couple of bullets.)

tells you all the time that he wants to watch you take them down. a.k.a, grab your keys and come over to my house.

if your hands start to get tired from hours of taking down, combing out, and cutting your braids, expect that he will notice and expect that he will expect you to ask him to help you.

before you could even get the words "ethan, i need your help :(." out of your mouth, he's sitting behind you with some scissors and a comb with a goofy grin.

wash days with him are terrible. and I mean god awful.

somehow (bless his heart) he gets shampoo in his mouth, water all over the counters, dripping onto the floor, and the back-half of your shirt wet, AND half a bottle of conditioner wasted because he doesn't know how to listen.

safe to say that he's learned his lesson after you come up from the faucet with the angriest face ever.

imagine, glaring eyes, scrunched nose, and the mom butthole lips.

his music taste sucks. slightly. before dating you he was a big swiftie-country lovin' freak.

afterwards- superb. i'm talking pinkpantheress, beyoncé, brent faiyaz, childish gamibno, clairo, don toliver, hell even frank ocean.

the song "heaven sent" by tevomxntana reminds him of you.

tries to do his best helping you pick out your outfits when you guys go somewhere but fails drastically.

but it's excepted because all he wears is polo's and plain long sleeve shirts. and if he's feeling fancy- slap a flannel over it.

it's safe to say that you've helped him develop a style of his own.

"ethan, help." another thrifted shirt flies over your head and onto the bed next to ethan's feet. he looks up from his econ textbook and sets it down, getting up to stand behind you. wrapping his arms around your waist, resting his chin on your shoulder. you can see his hunched over figure in the mirror in your peripheral. it makes you giggle lightly.

"hm," he thinks for a second, taking a thorough look of your closet. after a minute his eyes light up quickly before releasing himself from you and to the clothes. it takes him a few second to find stuff in the mess, but eventually pulls out a one-size-smaller pink polo shirt on one arm, and low-waisted khakis underneath.

after shoving them in your hands, you take a look over the outfit, and through digusted eyes shrug your shoulders to say "why this?"

he releases a short but airy huff and widely grins, "we'd be matching!"

"hell no."

since he's taller than you (taller then everyone really) he helps you get things off of the top shelf, and will scream at you if you try to do it without his help.

to be completely fair, the last time you tried to be independent and do it yourself it ended with a week long hospital visit and 12 stitches.

if you bend over, let's say under a table, to get something and there's a sharp edge, his hand will be over it to make sure you don't get hurt.

the type of boyfriend that when you spill something over your shirt in public and get embarrassed, will take his shirt off and give it to you and just walk around shirtless. (you'll have to go into a store and buy him another because people won't stop staring.)

will walk on the side of the sidewalk near traffic.

will boast about how tall he is but will get mad when you retaliate.

he'll help you with your econ work but if you still don't get it he'll end up just doing the whole thing.

you force him to get couple manicures(but he's not one of those that gets the clear polish, will go neon pink with hello kitty stickers if you ask him to.)

says cringey things like, "yellooow?" when answering the phone, "don't let the bed bugs bite," when you guys say your final goodbyes before you sleep, or "you got this one?" when the bill comes back at a restaurant after you both agree that he's paying this time.

a cold shiver runs over your spine every. single. time.

but you're around him so much you catch yourself saying the same things to your friends.

(they've noticed, and it takes a lot out of them to not mention it.)

if you own plants and they start dying, just leave them on his doorstep and he'll return it back healthy and a fresh green. you never know how, he just has a green thumb.

he doesn't talk alot about his home life, all you know is that his dad was very toxic.

knows how to make you feel better after a rough day. it's like he senses it because as soon as you walk through the door there's a large mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows, your favorite dish, and a movie playing on the flat screen in the living room.

he's just overall the best, and everyone deserves an ethan :').

thank you for reading! :)

[its-actually-minicika]

Imagine 03 (18+)

A shaky hand went to his aching cock. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down in quiet surrender. The heat waves of immediate pleasure sent a shiver down his lithe spine, and droplets of precum pooled at the base of his shaft, coating his veiny hands and running over his whitened knuckles.

Aemond's eye was closed in utter concentration - he focused desperately on the task at hand, on the image that was forming behind his clasped eyelid.

You.

Oh, how he throbbed for you. How he needed you.

The things he would do to feel your skin against his. The thoughts he beared for you - sinful enough to make even the least pious of Septas writhe and beg for forgiveness through tear-stained cheeks.

As his hips began moving in unison with his leisure pumps, the man let out a low growl, and he slowly arched his back off the satin of the ruined sheets.

"Fuuuck..." He sighed into the peaceful night, and soon found himself speeding up his ministrations.

He was close. Oh so close to his fourth release of the night - but no matter how much he teased his stones, or brushed his thumb over his weeping slit, the momentary relief just wouldn't heed his call.

"Hobaenka issa... hobaenka nopāzma." He cursed under a strained breath, as he slowly rose onto his forearm, to properly fuck his hand.

"Qrugh... Nyke jorrāelagon naejot māzigon sīr quba..."

A frustrated sigh parted from his swollen lips.

This simply wouldn’t do. Not anymore.

By the Gods, he needed you.

He needed you, but he wouldn't dare have you. At the very least, not yet.

You were a vision of the Maiden, a Lady pure, and good, and kind.

He would be proper and thoughtful about it. He would marry you. And fuck you. And breed you. And mark you.

He would take his time with you. Be balls deep inside of you. Fuck you gently, or make love to you roughly - in whichever way you wanted, you needed, you pleaded.

Indeed, he would be yours to command. And he would dedicate himself to learning all the intricate ways to please you. Make you come on his tongue, tens of times before he'd even think to tease you.

He would teach you how to make him happy. He would teach you how to ride and suck him.

The Targaryen Prince couldn’t tell what posessed him to get up from the comfort of his bed, and venture into the empty lanes of the Street of Silk.

Neither could he tell what sparked his interest towards the rear-end brothel - a brothel he knew his sorry brother and uncle eagerly frequented, as well.

He just prayed and hoped he wouldn't bump into neither one of the two on that cursed night.

The figure of a plump woman rested at the hilt of the oak door - the debaucherous sounds of slick and flesh that slapped against each other rang from the other end of the Pleasure House back to his tainted ears.

Tens of whores flocked to him, baited on by his silver locks of hair - the gratuitous allure to the heavy pockets they grew so accoustomed to.

A new line of girls was formed and dismissed each minute. For Aemond Targaryen had his own paculiar tastes.

The first to go were the women who failed to possess a similar hair and eye colour to yours. Swifty followed the ones who were too tall, too lean, too stubby.

None of them were good enough. None of them were you.

The owner's patience was wearing thin, as was his very own. Perhaps coming down here was a mistake. Perhaps he'd find better release with the aid of his right hand.

And just as he was ready to depart from the dismal scene, the sound of giggles flooded the entire room.

Could it be...?

But it wasn't.

And yet...

The sight of his uncle ought to have vexed him. Embarrass him to no end, given the position he'd been viciously caught in - yet long gone were the dutiful son, the responsible Prince, and the honorable man within him.

In the stead of cowering away and leaving the brothel in a hurried conflict, Aemond's eye trailed over Daemon's whore, drinking in her every feature. A rumbled moan etched its way from his tightened throat.

Her skin bared your complexion. Her eyes held in the very same shade of luring pigment. Her hair, despite being of a lighter colour, fell perfectly over her shoulders - much like your own used to when you let it down during the cold winters.

Before he knows it, Daemon's hand wraps itself around his shoulder.

He wordlessly allows it.

"Beautiful, isn't she?" The Prince's voice erupts in a low purr. "It's unbelievalbe how much she looks like her."

His uncle plays with her loose strands of hair, and sends her his nephew's way through the musings of a laugh and rough spank on her rear end.

Aemond wouldn’t sheathe his cock within her. He needs not use what thousands have used before him - and his seed should take only in you.

Her mouth and warmth are enough to satisfy him. Aemond cums with your name upon his lips; shouted so hopelessly, that the whole of Westeros would hear him.

He pays her handsomely for her service - and swears to never step foot inside that wretched place again.

But it is far too late.

For the rumours spread and quicken.

He finds that your tourmenting eyes never rest over his face again. You make yourself scarce, unseen. He sees it in the way you huff your breaths out, in the way your pale cheeks redden - you know. And you are disgusted with him.

He seizes you once, in a secluded corner of the Red Keep. He tries to explain - deny - all that you might have heard from the gossips of the Court. But you purse your lips together and sway your weight from one foot to the next.

Defiantly, you avert his gaze.

Scared, you make your way around him.

And when you must find reclusion from him, it is Daemon who offers you sanctuary. It is his arms that snake around you, his hands that caress your cheeks. It is his voice that whispers inside your ear. It is the Lord of Fleabottom who poisions you against his will.

Translations of High Valyrian:

"Hobaenka issa... hobaenka nopāzma." = Fuck me... fucking hell.

"Qrugh... Nyke jorrāelagon naejot māzigon sīr quba..." = Shit... I need to cum so badly...

[messedupfan]

Chapter 13

Summary: Rachel is being released from the hospital but with that comes the stress of the bills. What happens when Jean, Anna, Y/n can't stay home with her during her holiday break?

A/n: Hello!! Okay, so because this is the 13th chapter and I'm a Swiftie, Dr. Maccas has challenged me to make 13 references to my lord and savior T-Swizzle. So I have carefully made 13 intentional references to Taylor Swift. Let me know if you catch any of them! Like, comment, and most of all, enjoy!

Masterlist | All Stories Taglist | All Chapters

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

You yawn and stretch as you crack your back by bending your torso. You do not like sleeping on the cot that the hospital provided you when it was decided that you would be the parent responsible for Rachel during the night. 

“Good morning,” Rachel says sweetly as sets the remote to the TV on the table that stands beside her bed. 

“Good morning, sweetheart,” you say as you get close to her. “How are you feeling?” You ask as you gently smooth her hair back. 

“I feel okay,” she starts, “I’d feel better if you brushed your teeth.” Her little crack makes you snort and grin. 

“You are my kid,” you kiss the top of her head as you think about how she is the best thing that’s ever been yours and move to the restroom that is within the private hospital room. The nurse had already left two toothbrushes and a tube of toothpaste for the two of you. When the news hit that Rachel was required to stay for observation for a couple of days, Derek insisted on getting her a private room. He told you and Jean that he would cover that bill because the two of you were adamant that he couldn't pay for all of Rachel's medical bills. According to your mom, he was too reckless with money so you have always made it a point to draw a line with the man. 

“Knock knock,” the nurse Ms. Temple, who has given permission to be addressed as Claire, says as she enters the room. “How's my favorite patient doing today?” She asks walking further into the room to start her routine check of vitals and function. 

You step out of the restroom to be present for the check. You wanted to hear and witness the good news every time. You hadn't been scared of losing Rachel since the night she was born. 

Jean had been stressed with working and studying for school plus taking extra care of herself and the fetus growing inside of her. You weren't there to witness it, but she ended up getting in a nasty fight with her parents. She was being berated because she had missed another day of school because she overslept. They weren't trying to upset her, they only wanted to make sure that she understood the severity of the responsibility that she was signing up for when she decided to keep the baby. They didn't want to see her fail. All they were trying to do was prepare her.

But they didn't know how to properly communicate that so it turned into a screaming match that went sideways. What you had been told of the story was that she was yelling at her parents until she clutched her stomach and later found blood on the way to the hospital. You were at work when you got the call and had to run out. The delivery was long and terrifying and you couldn't be in the room because you and Jean weren't married yet. Which influenced you to marry her the moment you got to. When she was born they immediately took her to the NICU and you couldn't see her for hours. Once you did you were startled by how tiny she looked. Before that day, you weren’t sure if you were ready to be a young parent. Laying your eyes on her with tubes connected to her in a plastic case, you swore to protect her forever. 

“Everything looks good,” Claire states with a comforting warmth in her tone. “Vitals are strong. Are you ready to start your walking lesson?” She asks Rachel with her hands in her pockets. 

Rachel laughs, “I know how to walk!” 

“I know you do. But we need to practice with the crutch, so you don’t hurt yourself more,” Claire explains. 

“Yeah, hon, it’s going to be tricky walking around with that cast and only one crutch,” I say as I move closer to help her out of the bed. She broke her right leg and her right wrist. Because of the way she fell on her wrist, it caused her shoulder to dislocate. Meaning half her body was heavily injured. You had no idea that she was so fragile and you asked the doctor if there was any health related reason to it, they promised to test her. But after an insurance investigation at the school to find out if they were liable, they found out that the stage is a foot higher than what is standard and the front of the stage is supposed to be carpet but instead is real hardwood for plays that require the band and/or orchestra. Because it’s a school, they want all of the students participating to be shown for the families in the audience. Typically there is supposed to be space under the stage for instruments so that they are heard and not seen. Bottom line, Rachel’s bones are stronger than previously thought since she is lucky to have survived that dangerous drop. 

Unfortunately for you, Jean, and Anna, you can’t sue the school for damages because of the airtight contract that the school has had many lawyers draw up to prevent a lawsuit if anything like this happened. Therefore, all medical bills are yours, Jean’s, and Anna’s responsibility to cover. 

“Why can’t I have the scooter? Teddy from down the hall has the scooter,” Rachel pouts as she struggles to stand with her crutch. Claire looks at you to see if you're able to come up with an answer and when she recognizes the helpless look on your face she answers. 

“Because your leg is not as hurt as his is. You have only one break in your leg and he has three breaks in his.” She explains and you mouth your gratitude, she nods and smiles. 

A couple of hours later, you and Rachel are watching a movie when her moms walk through the door with big smiles. The two women embrace their daughter where she sits on the hospital bed. You greet them each with a standing hug of your own when they finally do let your daughter breathe. 

“I can't stay long, I have to get to the store soon. But have you heard anything about when she can leave this place yet?” Jean asks you as she looks at Rachel from over her shoulder. 

You shake your head, “The doctor hasn't been by yet. Just Claire so far. To get Rachel's walk in.” 

Jean smirks, “Nurse Temple is Claire now?” 

You shake your head again. Jean didn't tell you or necessarily show it but you could tell that she was pretty happy about your breakup with Daisy. She never said it to you but she has made it clear to you that she didn’t like the two of you as a couple but she kept her opinions to herself like a good friend, co-parent, and ex-wife. “Yes, she has all of her longer term patients call her by her first name. You can ask your daughter. She talks with the other kids on this floor,” you gesture to Rachel and she can’t help but focus on your words and ignore the mom trying to have a conversation with her. 

“I’m just saying, you could do worse than a nurse. Especially one that is as pretty as she is,” Jean says encouragingly. “And you have,” she mutters and you open your mouth to defend Daisy when Rachel cuts into the conversation. 

“Baba doesn’t like-like Ms. Claire!” She bursts out. You are quick to quiet her down. You sigh as you share a look of concern with Jean. After the outrage she displayed when she found out about you and Daisy, you and Jean did some research on why she reacted the way she did. The two of you came to the conclusion that she didn’t want you to split your attention between her and a romantic partner. Rachel had gotten used to you being single and she didn’t know how to adjust to the change so she acted out. Or at least that’s what you thought was going on. But you thought when she started to warm up to Daisy. 

“Honey, mom is just teasing. She knows that,” you tell her softly. 

Rachel has a pout on her face and her arms crossed. “Well that’s bullying and you guys say it’s not nice to bully.” 

You shake your head and move some of her hair behind her ear, “Honey, I wasn’t being bullied.”

Jean takes the cue to join in when you tip your head in Rachel’s direction. “Yeah, I wasn’t bullying, Baba. I was being playful. You know how we are with each other.” She pets Rachel's hair bringing her hand down from the top as Anna moves out of the way to let Jean through. It was moments like these where she felt left out of the parenting loop. It reminds her that even though she has legally adopted Rachel and she is very involved and loves her, she still wasn’t her child. Rachel belongs to you and to her wife. She mentally curses herself for making the moment about herself in her own mind. Anna knows that she wasn’t part of the moment because she wasn’t the one being offensive or defended. 

“Well I didn’t like it!” Rachel repeats herself, breaking Anna out of her thoughts. 

Anna looks at her watch, “Oh shoot, babe. We have to get going if I’m going to drop you off at work.” 

This catches your attention and you crease your eyebrows. “Wait, you carpooled?”Jean sighs through her nose as she gives you a look that tells you that will be for a later discussion. You nod once to let her know that you understand. 

“I’m sorry that you didn’t like my joke sweetheart. I’ll come by with dinner,” she kisses her daughter on the forehead and kisses her good hand. You hug her goodbye as Anna says bye to Rachel, when Anna is done you hug her as well. 

Then it’s back to being only you and Rachel. You worry that she prefers it that way a bit too much. Around lunch time, she starts to get restless and Claire returns for another check in and a walk. Rachel isn’t as talkative since her mom put the image in her head that Claire and her Baba might like each other. It made her not like Claire. Her quietness concerned the nurse and she asked that you leave to grab a fresh meal for you and Rachel. She tended to separate a patient from their parent or parents whenever that child started to exhibit weird behavior. Just as a safety precaution. She had seen the video of Rachel’s fall so there is proof that these injuries weren’t a flag for physical abuse but she liked to be certain that her mental state was in good health and it’s difficult to get to the bottom of the truth if the parent is present. 

Besides, she liked you as a person and hoped that she wouldn’t have to be reporting you to child services. She is filled with relief when she finds out that Rachel’s behavior had nothing to do with abuse. Claire even has to hide her amusement when the little girl tells her that she doesn’t want Claire to be with her Baba. “Awe sweetheart. You don’t have to worry about that. Do you want to know why?” The woman asks in a soft tone that makes Rachel feel comforted. The little girl nods and Claire leans in. “I already have someone that I like-like,” she sweetly reveals. 

“Really?” Rachel lights up as Claire nods. The two turn around to start walking back to Rachel’s room.

“Sweetie, can I ask? Why were you so upset about someone like-liking your Baba?” Claire asks as she continues to walk beside the patient. It wasn’t unusual for kids to have certain attachments to single parents. Sometimes it was the hope that they might get back together with their other parent, but she’s seen the way she lights up around her moms. She doesn’t think that’s the case here. Sometimes kids pick up on the bad behavior from their single parent when they’ve had romantic partners and might think they are better off alone. 

Rachel looks around to make sure no one that will tell you this overhears. Especially cautious of spotting you nearby. “Can I trust you with a secret? You can’t tell no one. Especially not my Baba.” Rachel makes Claire swear and she does. “Okay. I don’t want just anyone to be with my Baba. I want Ms. Wanda to be with my Baba,” she reveals. 

“Oh,” Claire draws the word out, again in relief. “I see. And who is this Ms. Wanda? Is she a character in your favorite show or?”

Rachel giggles, “No silly, Ms. Wanda is my Baba’s friend. My Baba fixed her wall.” 

Claire nods with a smile, “So why do you want Ms. Wanda to be with your Baba and no one else.” 

“They’re enchanted to be together,” Rachel whispers, making Claire want to protect this little girl's innocence and purity. Then Rachel shrugs, “Plus I’ve always wanted big brothers and she’s got two of them! Only by a couple of months but that’s even better because we all go to the same school! Tommy is so cool, he protects me from bullies and he is so funny too. And Billy always helps me when I don’t understand something in class and we like a lot of the same stuff.” Rachel continues to go on and on about her fantasy family and Claire hangs onto every word with a smile. Happy to see how happy this little girl is to bring a family together. She knows that’s not how it works. But she doesn’t spoil that joy for the ten-year-old. The world is cruel enough. People tend to throw rocks at things that shine and she wasn’t going to be one of them. Claire is certain the girl will let go of the idea in a couple of years when hormones hit and she realizes that she wants a boyfriend more than she wants a brother. Or if she has a falling out with one or both of the boys. Even if none of those things occur, Claire isn’t going to be the reason Rachel has her dream killed. She’s going to leave that up to you.

After lunch, well into the mid afternoon, Wanda brings the boys to come and visit with Rachel and so that she can see how you’re holding up. You feel a little embarrassed to be around her because of what happened once everything seemed to have calmed down. She had driven you back to the school to pick up your truck. She parked in the space right next to your truck so that you didn’t have to walk far but you couldn’t get out. Wanda didn’t say a word as she shut her car off. Since you were finally away from your family, everyone that you had to put a brave face on for, every emotion from the night hit you all at once. You broke down in tears. Sobs burned your throat and attacked your body. She held you as you let it all out and she sat with you in silence when you stopped but were still too frozen to do anything. Since then, you’ve kept your distance. 

Wanda, however, hasn’t. She has been very aware that you tend to take care of everyone over yourself and no one really stops to check on you. So she has taken it upon herself to be that person for you. It’s only been a few days and she has been by every single one of them. Each time, finding a way to get the two of you to be alone for a few minutes. She doesn't pry, she's just there and it almost makes you break down every time. But you don't let it. Because you are fine. You're not the one in a cast. 

“Have you been able to discuss Rachel's release with the doctor yet?” Wanda asks as she sits close to you. 

“Um, no. We've only seen the nurse so far today. How was the Christmas celebration last night? Was it as bad as you were anticipating it to be?” You ask as you nudge her shoulder with your elbow. 

Even though Vision was out of town, his parents and brother still extended an invitation to Wanda and her boys to join them in their festivities. Wanda held no animosity against the Starks. They saw her as family regardless of the divorce. Maria and Howard made it very clear to Wanda last night that she will always be their daughter in their eyes and want to maintain a relationship with her and the twins. She has started to wonder how someone as cold as Vision could come from such warm and caring people. Until she remembers that they adopted him when he was ten years old. He hardly ever spoke about his childhood past the Starks adopting him but as far as Wanda knew, his birth parents should have never been allowed to have children. 

“It was actually a very healing experience and I had a lot of fun. My former brother-in-law, the playboy I told you about,” Wanda recalls one of the people that she has mentioned to you before. You nod in recognition so that she can continue. “He is actually engaged.” 

“Really?” You act surprised because of the way she has talked about him in the past. He didn’t sound like the settle down type. 

“Yeah, I got to meet his fiancee. Her name is also Virginia which was kind of triggering at first but she goes by Pepper. She is really nice, I think she is going to be what balances him out.” Wanda then goes on to tell you all about the night she had with her former in-laws. Midway through the stories she shakes her head at the term. “After last night it kind of feels rude to call them that.” She sighs as she looks up at the ceiling, then to the bathroom door across from her, then to the white board that states which nurse and doctor is assigned to Rachel. Wanda doesn’t really pay attention to the colorful names that are scribbled on the white background. Then she shrugs and looks back at you to continue the story. “What my family and I did next was,” and she felt more comfortable calling them that. They are her family and she is happy to have them back in her life. “How was your celebration?”

You take a deep breath as you mentally unpack the previous night. It had an awkward start since it had to be held in this small hospital room. But it got better as it went on. You grin at Wanda. “I think we had one of those ‘true meanings’ of Christmas experiences. You know, because it wasn’t about all of the presents. Those are still waiting at home. Well, except for the gifts I got for the family that doesn’t live around here and have already left. It wasn’t about the food, we just ordered chinese food because that’s what Rachel was craving. It was all about each other’s company. I got to see all of my parents be civil and even make one another laugh. That was a real miracle in itself.” You have a dazed expression as you remember the gift you were given to spend a night with your family that didn’t end in an argument. It’s not ideal to spend a holiday in the hospital, especially when it’s your child that is the one admitted, but there was something special about last night. “Kate couldn’t be here because until further notice, she isn’t allowed in this hospital unless she has a medical emergency. But my mom had her on a video call so that she could still spend the time with us. Jean and Anna stayed home with Anna’s parents and had their own thing.” 

Wanda puts a friendly hand on your thigh and smiles at you, “I’m glad that we both had great holidays.” 

“Thank you,” your gaze locks in with hers and you feel a warmth spread through your chest as you’re hypnotized by her freckles and bright eyes. The tingling from her touch makes you very aware of her presence, but you don’t feel the need to pull away. Neither of you says a word and neither of you notice that your children have stopped chatting. All three pairs of eyes were watching the two of you in anticipation. Hoping that the universe will finally pull the two of you together. 

“Knock, knock,” Claire taps her knuckle on the door, breaking the moment between you and Wanda. “Has the doctor been by yet?” You shake your head as you clear your throat to give her a verbal response. Clair checks her watch with a frown. “That’s weird. I was told he was supposed to drop by soon to discuss discharging you. I wonder what is holding him up today.” She checks Rachel’s vitals while she is here. “Everything is excellent,” she smiles at you. “I’m sorry, I don’t believe I’ve met you yet,” she walks around the bed with her hand out. 

“I’m Wanda,” the woman next to you greets the nurse with the hand that’s not on your lap. 

Claire has a smirk as she looks between the two of you. “Ah you must be the Wanda I’ve heard so much about.” At this, Wanda removes her hand from you and gives you a funny look before asking Claire what she’s been told. “Nothing bad, I promise. Miss Rachel here thinks the world of you and your boys. I’m happy I got a chance to meet you.” 

“Same here,” Wanda says politely. 

“This will be the last time I get to check on you.” Claire moves about the room. “I better never see you in here again and I mean that in the best way possible.” She smiles with both hands in her pockets. Rachel waves goodbye to her favorite nurse before returning her attention to the twins' portable gaming console. You stand up and properly thank Clarie for taking care of your daughter before she goes. 

Wanda and the twins stay for dinner. You warn Jean and Anna that you have already ordered and paid for Chinese food and ask them to pick it up on the way. Which they do. The seven of you enjoy the meal together. Although something seems off with Jean and Anna , they don’t let it show too much. It’s not until Wanda is getting the boys ready to leave that the doctor comes in with the discharging papers. Wanda says that she will be in the waiting room and you hug her before she goes. The doctor goes over the care plan for Rachel and because of her limited mobility, he thinks it’s best that she stays with one parent that can take the time off to take care of her until school starts back up. The three of you thanked him and Jean took the papers to start signing them as you started to pack up everything that belongs to you and Rachel. 

As Jean signs the papers she stops when she sees the medical bill and she almost breaks down into tears. “Shit,” she curses in a whisper. You walk over to see what’s wrong and your eyes widen. It was not a good number. 

“That’s after insurance?” You ask and she nods. “Okay, let’s not panic. We’ve had to deal with something like this before,” you remind her. “It’s not nearly as bad as last time.” 

“Yeah, but last time we had our parents pay it and we paid them back over time. Right now,” Jean shakes her head. “My car broke down,” she admits as she stares at the bill. “I can’t afford to take it in to figure out what the problem is. I definitely can’t afford to fix it right now. Bills have been piling up since the wedding. I just,” she closes her eyes. “I can’t hear you say I told you so right now either so please save it.” 

You shake your head and crouch in front of Jean with a frown. “When have I ever said that to you?” She wanted to have a bigger wedding with Anna because she didn’t get to have it the first time. But this time, her parents couldn’t contribute and Anna’s parents could only contribute so much as they weren’t very smart when it came to their finances. You advised against a big party that neither of them could afford but when it came down to Jean’s happiness, you did what you could to contribute. “Look at me,” you say softly and repeat yourself until she finally does. “We can do this. Okay? There are three of us with three incomes. We can set up a payment plan with them and take care of it little by little. Besides, one of the bills we’re sending off to Derek. We’ll do the math after that and hopefully it will look a lot less scary.” 

Jean nods and closes her eyes again. Anna keeps Rachel distracted. Her and Jean had recently spent any alone time with each other arguing about their financial troubles. Anna might have developed some bad habits from her parents and Jean wasn’t like her. She didn’t see life as always somehow finding what you needed exactly when you needed it. She was a planner. If she needs something in a moment of crisis she should already have it. This month alone, they’ve had to cut off streaming subscriptions and watch the same collection of movies they did own, over and over again. The house was almost always dark to save on electricity, especially with the anticipation of the holiday with all of the lights for decorations and the responsibility of hosting. They never ate out. They were happy when Jean’s parents sent gifts for Rachel and Anna’s parents arrived with more because they were scared they would have to tell Rachel that she wasn’t getting gifts at all. At least, not from them. The way Anna sees it, things have been working out for them in the end. The way Jean sees it, she has been an irresponsible mother who should have planned better for something like this. It’s made her see her partner in a new light that she isn’t sure she can accept. 

You look at the numbers again, “What are we going to do about her care during the day? It looks like neither of us can afford vacation days right now. That’s only half a paycheck.” 

Jean shakes her head and reopens her eyes, “I don’t know. Do you think Kate could-” 

“She went with our parents to their home in New York to take her friend. Apparently, Yelena has never been so she wanted to show her around.” You reply as you mentally cycle through the people you know that might be able to help. 

“Are you guys ready?” Rachel smiles at you and Jean. 

“We have until the end of the night to figure it out, but I’d feel more comfortable if she’d stay with me until school starts,” you state as you stand up. “I can feel tension between you and Anna and it doesn’t feel good. You two should take the time to be together.” Jean bites her cheek as she tries to think of a reason to fight you but she can’t. Instead, she thanks you. 

You spot Wanda on the first level of the hospital in the waiting area. It’s a busier day so she has the boys sharing a chair while she stands in front of them. It makes you smile, knowing that she stayed when she didn’t have to.  Jean tells you that she and Anna will help Rachel get into your truck as she takes your keys from your hand. “Yeah, okay,” you say as you struggle to snap out of your daze. 

“Stop gawking and go talk to her,” Jean nudges you and that’s when you’re brought back to reality. You scowl at Jean. 

“I wasn’t gawking. I have a lot on my mind,” you retort. 

“Yeah, okay,” she deepens the tone of her voice in a mocking manner as she scoffs and walks away. You roll your eyes. It reminds you of being a kid growing up with her. Sometimes it’s like she never grew up, but you tend to respond the same way so you weren’t any better. 

You walk over to Wanda and touch her elbow as you come into her view. You hug her and thank her for being here for your family and she tries to play it off as nothing. But you have friends that you’ve known longer that never dropped by. They sent messages which you appreciated but they weren’t there like Wanda was. “So she’s okay to go home now?”  You nod and try to hide the stress of the situation but she can see right through you. Wanda narrows her eyes as she tries to read your expression. “What’s wrong?”

You sigh and look at the boys who are fighting sleep behind her. “You should get them home,” you deflect. Wanda looks back and agrees, they need to be tucked into bed. 

“Help me get them to the car?” Wanda asks, assuming that Rachel was already on her way home with her moms. You don’t tell her that everyone is waiting for you as you agree to walk her to her and the twins to her car. She manages to wake up Tommy but Billy is out cold so you pick him up and carry him to the car. When both boys are in the backseat of the vehicle Wanda stops you from walking away by catching your forearm. “What is happening with Rachel?” She demands with worry evident in her tone. 

Your eyes widen when you realize that your weird behavior might have made it look like the situation was worse than it is. “She’s going to be fine. That’s not… she isn’t…” you huff and clench your jaw, annoyed that you can’t get a straight thought out. “The problem is we don’t have someone who can stay with Rachel during the day while she’s on break. None of us can afford to take off work because that bill is,” you make noises close to laughing but not quite to express the exorbitant amount without stating the number. 

“Stay with me,” Wanda doesn’t miss a beat. You’re about to reject the offer when she pleads her case. “I’m off until a few days after the new year begins. You can go to work knowing she’s being taken care of. The boys would love to have her over. Come on,” she says but you still try to say no. “You don’t need another restless night. I bet you’re tired from this long hard week. And you’ve said it yourself, my guest bed is better than your mattress at home.” She makes a good point, you haven’t been sleeping much because the cot was brutal on your back. It would also help lower your bills a bit next month since you won’t be using anything at your apartment.

“Where is Rachel going to sleep if I’m taking the guest bed?” You ask. “It wouldn’t be fair to ask either of them to give up their beds.” You point to the boys that are asleep with their heads back and mouths open. 

Wanda bites her lip as she thinks, “They’ll probably fight over who gets to volunteer and not in the way you’re imagining. They love Rachel. But we do have a no ‘sleepover with girls’ rule that I think I should stick to. Besides, they’re sleeping now but the three of them might hype each other up enough that they don’t get the rest they need.” You nod as you agree. Rachel especially needs her rest. “You can have my bed and I can take the couch,” Wanda suggests. 

You shake your head, “Wanda that’s crazy. I’m not kicking you out of your bed, I can take the couch.” 

“No, it’s a horrible couch. I’ve been meaning to replace it actually,” Wanda shakes her head. 

“Then why would I let you take the couch?” You tilt your head to the side and Wanda sighs. She has never had to work so hard to convince someone to let her help them. You feel bad for resisting her generosity and you bite the inside of your cheek. “Why don’t we share the bed? Put up a pillow wall. I know you have more than enough,” you chuckle as you recall teasing her for her decorative pillows on her bed once. You said she had more pillows than she had space on the mattress. 

“Okay, that can work,” Wanda nods, wanting to ignore the excitement she has at the idea of sharing a bed with you for a few nights. But all she can feel in her stomach is butterflies, the beautiful kind. “I’ll meet you at the house in an hour or so then?” She plays it cool and you nod. As you try to tell yourself over and over that it’s nothing more than two mature adults sharing a bed to sleep. 

You hug her and confirm that you’ll see her after you’ve packed a bag for yourself and Rachel. Jean and Anna have to bite their tongues when you inform them that Wanda agreed to help with Rachel and invited the two of you to stay with her. But you can see a playful glint dance across their eyes as they smirk at each other. You choose to ignore them out of exhaustion and bid them a goodnight just before you climb into your truck. As you start the vehicle, a song comes on the radio and it puts Rachel in a good mood as she sings along. 

“Our song is a slamming screen door, sneaking late tappin’ on your window,” Rachel sings happily and you love seeing her smile and sing. You’re glad to know that nothing has broken her spirit just yet. 

You leave her in the truck with it still running so that she still has her music and the heat because it would be too much of a hassle to bring her into the apartment just to take her back to the truck shortly after. You are quick to add more clothes to the ones you already had in the bags from the hospital stay. You rush back to the truck once you have your work gear packed, figuring that you could come back here tomorrow after work to grab more things if you need more. 

Wanda is waiting in the driveway to help with your bags as you carry your sleeping daughter into the house. She helps you make the bed cozy for Rachel and the two of you tuck the girl in together. Your heart jumped at putting your daughter to bed with someone once again. It never got to this point with Daisy. You clench your jaw at the thought of her. You can’t help but think that maybe the two of you got lost in translation. Maybe you asked for too much. But you think about how much you tried to push back and then stop yourself from the spiral. You didn’t need to go there. 

Together, you and Wanda set up her bed to make the pair of you comfortable with sharing it. When the wall is set up, you get changed in the bathroom in the hall and knock on her bedroom door before entering. Wanda is already laying on her side of the bed when you enter and you make sure to shut the door and turn the light off before joining her. You try to calm down once you’ve laid down but you are being enveloped by her scent and it causes your heart to race. 

“Thank you for this,” you whisper into the dark, unsure if she is even awake. The wall is pretty high. 

“Of course,” she half whispers, “you’re my friend and I know you would do the same for me and my boys if you could.” You smile to yourself because even with only being friends for a few months, both of you are already ready and willing to take care of each other. The pair of you go silent again but you can tell by the pattern of her breathing that she isn't asleep yet. 

“I called Daisy about Rachel being fine today when I had a moment to myself,” you admit with a bit of sadness to your tone. 

“Oh yeah?” Wanda says softly. “How did that go?” 

You frown with one hand resting on your stomach and the other set between your head and your pillow as you look up at the ceiling. “Not great,” you state. “Something seemed off but she wouldn't tell me,” you sigh. 

“I know you said that you weren't going to before but, do you think that you'll try to win her back?” Wanda is laying on her side, staring at the pillow wall. Imagining you on the other side. She wishes she could be closer to you. But she respects your space as you've taken the initiative to respect hers. 

“No,” you reply confidently, “we are never getting back together.” 

Wanda hums as she closes her eyes. She feels you shift on the bed and she hopes that you're facing the pillow wall the way she is. She wonders if you're thinking about her the way she is thinking about you. Wanda hasn't admitted before, not even to herself, but she was developing feelings that were more than friendly towards you. Her phone began to buzz and she felt embarrassed. Nights were usually when she would sext with potential hookups because she wasn't able to sleep. 

“Geez who's blowing up your phone this late?” You mumble the question and the way your voice carries, she can tell that the two of you are facing each other. She almost tears the wall apart just to look at your face. Then her phone buzzes again and it breaks the urge. 

“I don't know, could be any of the guys I've been talking to,” she admits and she can't believe how that sounds. She saw herself as a progressive woman. Her friends encouraged her to not see herself as a slut or any of the derogatory terms that were generally used to describe a woman exploring her sexuality. But right now, admitting her activities to you, she felt ashamed. 

“Oh,” you're unable to hide your shock and she takes that as judgment. Wanda gears herself up to defend herself. But she doesn't have to. “You can answer them if you need to. They seem very persistent for an answer,” you say as you move to face away from the wall. She can feel the movement and hear the way your voice travels. It breaks her heart to know that it's caused you to turn your back on her. Even though she can't see you. Knowing still hurts. 

Wanda doesn't say anything as she turns towards her nightstand to open her phone. This guy was one of the more annoying ones and she didn't want to give him the time of day anymore. She quickly typed out a polite rejection and blocked him as soon as she was met with a tantrum. Calling her a tease with comments about single mothers being the worst whores out there. He even claimed that she wasn't even hot, that he was only taking pity on her because she is a single mother. She rolled her eyes once he was blocked and deleted as she turned her phone on silent just in case and set it back on the nightstand. She kept her back to you as she closed her eyes and hoped that tomorrow would erase the tension that was created tonight. 

You are the first one to wake up in the morning. The pillow wall is scattered about. Pillows fell on top of you or to the ground and were mirrored on Wanda's side as well. One arm extends past the wall and her fingers rest against your shoulder. Each of you have a leg touching, hers resting on top of yours. She looks so peaceful in her slumber. Even with her hair covering most of her features, you can tell how relaxed she is. 

You don't get to enjoy the moment for long since you have to be at work in thirty minutes. You yawn and stretch, careful to not wake her as you do. The house is completely quiet as you leave for work and for a moment, you wish this wasn't just a temporary living situation.

As the morning sun peaks through the curtains, Wanda’s fingers stretch out seeking your warmth but she is only met with the cool bamboo sheets. She opens her eyes to find the bed empty. She doesn't expect the disappointment she feels at not being able to wake up next to you. She knew you had to be up earlier than her. The boys distract her from her conflicting emotions as they bang on the door and demand breakfast on behalf of their friend. 

Tommy was the one to wake up to Rachel calling out for help to the restroom and he woke up his brother. Both were surprised to find her in the guest room but they didn't get distracted with the emotion for long. The pair quickly helped Rachel out of the bed and into the restroom. They stood outside of the door and waited for her to come out. When she did, they were both prepared to walk her back to the bed but she refused and asked for her crutch instead. 

When she got herself situated on the bed, the boys joined her and the three of them chatted until Rachel's stomach growled. Tommy and Billy raced and pushed against one another to their mothers room to get her to help them make a special breakfast in bed for their friend. 

Wanda can't believe that such sweet boys came from her and Vision. She wonders what she did right when it came to them as the three of them head downstairs to make breakfast together. Once everything was ready, Billy made sure that the plates were perfect to present to Rachel on the tray before he and Tommy carefully walked it up to the girl. Wanda shakes her head as she sips her tea. Watching them walk up the stairs from the kitchen. She offered to help them carry the plates but they insisted. 

With whatever is left over, she serves herself and joins the three kids in the guest room to share the meal with them. As she watches them interact she starts to think that maybe things aren't meant to work out between you and her. Maybe the universe brought the two of you together for Rachel and Tommy. She has never seen him be so kind and attentive. When he says something out of line to Billy, Wanda doesn't even have to step in because Rachel is quick to put him in his place and make him apologize. 

As a mother, she always puts her children first. And if this was a sacrifice she was meant to make for Tommy's happiness. She was more than willing. Despite your wishes for your daughter to be repulsed by male attention. 

You don't come back until a little past dinner time. Pietro approved you for overtime so you took advantage of that and kept working a few hours longer. You made sure to stop by your apartment to pick up the things you didn’t have time to last night and you took a shower so that you didn’t show up reeking of sweat. When you walk in, Wanda and the kids are piled together on the couch watching a movie. You greet them all with a grin. You ruffle Rachel's hair as you pass her on the way to the stairs. “I'm going to put this stuff in the guest room for you, Rach,” you announce on your way up. Wanda follows you.

“I have a plate for you in the microwave,” she says, leaning on the door frame. 

“I appreciate that,” you thank her softly, “I don’t expect you to take care of me too. I can make myself something if I come back late like this again.” You know that you’re going to be working late nights until either Pietro cuts off your overtime or the bills get paid in full, whatever comes first. 

Wanda snorts, “And have you burn down my house? I think not.” She steps inside of the room and helps you re-fold Rachel’s clothes neatly and place them in the empty dresser. You were beginning to feel like a useless slob compared to her. “Besides, it’s not a big deal. The boys and I cook together every night and we typically make more than the three of us can eat anyway. I think this week will be the first week that we don’t have a leftovers night before they leave on Sunday.” 

You nod, “Fair enough,” comfortable silence falls between the two of you once again as you set up the room for Rachel so that she is comfortable during her stay in the next few days. Aware of the late hour, the two of you get the kids to their beds before you warm up your food.

Rachel is the first to be tucked in because Tommy and Billy wanted to properly wish her a goodnight. Then help the twins get settled in their beds. Wanda tucks in Tommy and you tuck in Billy. “I forgot to ask before, did you like my performance?” He asks with a hint of insecurity in his voice. 

“Are you kidding? I loved it!” You grin as you start to rave about his part in the holiday showcase. He grins as he thanks you and bids you a goodnight. You smile and start to walk away when Tommy tries to grab your attention. 

“What did you think about me? Was I a good tree?” Tommy worked hard in many other aspects to get the kind of praises that you just gave his twin. Especially from their father but he was slowly starting to realize that his dad was a tough man to please. 

“Tommy, you were the best tree I've ever seen in my life,” you state. “In all of my years of watching school plays, I have never seen a tree have as much personality as you had. The both of you might have potential for great acting careers,” you state encouragingly. Wanda smiles as you compliment her boys more than she's ever witnessed Vision do. They were always being admonished by him. They were always wrong in his eyes. But not in yours. 

Wanda tells you that she will meet you downstairs so she can finish saying goodnight to her kids on her own. You walk down and warm up the food she had waiting for you in the microwave. You find it incredibly considerate that she thought of you. That instead of packing away the food, or leaving it out for you to serve yourself, she had a plate made for you. Ready to be reheated. She joins you at the table with a glass of water and the two of you chat as you eat. She talks about the day she had with the kids and you talk about work. Part of you could envision a life like this. With her. But you don't want to dwell on the idea for too long. Her friendship is more than enough for you. 

When you're done, you insist on doing the dishes that are sitting in the sink. You could have easily rinsed them off and put them in the dishwasher but it seems as though Wanda wants to be in your company, so you wash and she dries. As she stands next to you she listens to you rattling on and on about an idea you have for a business, she can’t get over how caught up she is in you. But you’re untouchable, burning brighter than the sun. When the sink is empty, and she hands you a dish towel, you can't help but look at her as you lean against the counter. 

Wanda takes the towel from you and folds it as she is aware of the strange look on your face. She is curious of what you're thinking, of what you might do, of what you might say. She can see it. There's something on the top of your tongue. “I think,” you start, then sigh as you almost say something that you think you shouldn't. “You're my best friend,” you state instead. 

She smiles in response as she sets the folded towel onto the counter. “Let's get to bed,” she says softly. You nod and follow her up to the room. Her room. 

The two of you climb in bed, this time the pillow wall is two layers instead of four. You make a joke and she laughs. She falls asleep first with her head on top of the wall. She has a hand on your arm to keep you close without breaking the rules of the wall. You lay your head close to hers and her steady breathing helps you follow shortly after. “Come here,” she whispered in your ear in your dream as you passed out.

Chapter 14

Taglist: @princessprudy @sayah13 @agaymilflover @awkwardmandalorian @bentleywolf29 @thatshyboy1998 @artisannat @thisischaismagic @wqndanat @madamevirgo @likefirenrain @tearsofglitter @feltlikethat @the-writer-arcane @natashasilverfox @karsonromanoff @aloneodi @lovelyy-moonlight @red1culous @jovialsublimecomputer @natasha-maximoff @iliketozoneout @doudouneverte @druggedduck @notbornbutforged @when-wolves-howl @lifespectator @justyourwritter69 @wandaromamoff69 @awesomelygayasf @nekoannie-chan @diaryoflife @wuwu96 @wandanats-goodgirl @sincerely-indi @blueredg52 @sisiofthemultifandom @fuzzyuniversityeclipsefriend @arcturusseer @scarlettwidow34 @chasethemoon @raven-ss @canyonyodeler @sokovianbaby @alexawynters @bittysworld @hopeless-romantic17177 @spongebobtentacles

[nicohischierz]

a street interview: mason mctavish

tagging: @ivy-34, @francesfarhadi, @hzstry8, @cixrosie, @itsnotgray, @estapa94, @trevs-swiftie, @heartz4hischif you want to join the taglist let me know!!

mason was walking through the mall with trevor and jamie when he got stopped by a girl holding a microphone.

"hi i have a podcast and this weeks theme is sports so I was wondering if you guys would be interested in answering a question on one of america's major sports," you spoke.

"what do you mean?" trevor asked, looking between his friends.

"well, i'll ask you a question from either the nhl, nba or mlb and if you guys answer it you can win a prize if you're interested," you explained.

the three boys looked at each other and nodded.

you turned to your friend and started rolling the camera. “okay choose a category, nhl, nba or mlb,”

trevor answered first “nhl.”

“the nhl is comprised of 32 teams with 7 of them being canadian. can you name the 7 canadian teams in the nhl?” you asked.

“toronto maple leafs!” mason exclaimed first.

the three then huddled into a group to think of the rest. “what about cole’s team?”

“montreal canadiens!”

“hey isn’t hughes in canada?” jamie asked

“omg the vancouver canucks!” trevor picked up on quickly.

“you guys have a minute to name the other four,” you prompted.

trevor looked at you appalled “hey, you never said it was timed!” he argued. you shrugged at him “now you know,”

“edmonton oilers and calgary flames,” mason added.

jamie and trevor tried their hardest to think of the last two teams but failing short they looked to mason.

“ottawa senators and umm i think the winnipeg jets,” he added.

you smiled at mason and nodded. “congratulations you guys are correct! and you’ve got a little prize. the three of you are the owners of the coffee hours podcast new merchandise and these tickets to the long beach indy car grand prix!” you handed the three their prize.

mason put his beanie on and smiled at the camera as trevor inspected everything.

you signalled to your friend to switch the camera off before turning to the three boys again. “you guys don’t have to keep the merch if you don’t want to but please use the tickets. my cousin gave them to me and i don’t know if i want to go,” you explained.

“i think my sister listens to your podcast,” trevor spoke. you smiled, your eyes twinkling at the realisation that people actually liked your content.

mason thought it was adorable.

"can i get your instagram," mason blurted.

jamie and trevor snickered at the boy as you gave him a warm smile. "sure," you held out your hand for his phone and put in your username.

it took mason three days to gain the confidence to message you. the boy stared at your profile for a whole hour before trevor forced him to say something.

"look she's half swiss and you were born in Switzerland, make conversation about that," trevor suggested.

mason shrugged. there wasn’t much to go on with that conversation starter and he knew deep down trevor also knew that.

zoe.fraser shared a video

zoe.fraser: you’re a hockey player?

“she messaged me!” mason exclaimed showing trevor and jamie his phone.

at that time, trevor’s girlfriend walked in as the boys discussed how mason should respond.

“i think you should send a shrugging emoji” - trevor

“maybe say you weren’t sure if she was a fan and didn’t think it was necessary to mention” - jamie

“girls like it when you’re a bit cocky” - trevor.

trevor’s girlfriend promptly hit her boyfriend over the head and asked mason for his phone.

“holy shit, that’s the host of the coffee hours podcast. i love her content, i always listen to her in my car,” she explained.

“mils, can you help mason?” jamie asked.

millie smiled and formulated a response.

masonmctavish: guilty 😅

zoe.fraser: well then i think you guys cheated

“you were in one of her video?!” millie exclaimed. trevor nodded and asked his girlfriend to continue her work.

masonmctavish: how about i make it up to you?

zoe.fraser: are you asking me out on a date?

masonmctavish: only if you say yes

zoe.fraser: friday 9:30, after your game

masonmctavish: you’ve got yourself a date

mason hugged millie before she moved over to trevor. millie patted the boys shoulder before settling in next to her boyfriend.

“i cant believe you met her. i would actually die and that’s saying a lot cause i’ve met fernando alonso and sebastian vettel,” millie mumbled.

trevor squeezed his girlfriends cheeks “i’ll give you the sweater she gave us. she said it was her first official merch,”

millie kissed her boyfriend before turning to mason. “you better not screw this date up,” she threatened lightly.

mason nodded, gulping hard.

that threat did not help his nerves. at all

[bettyshoweduptotheparty]

Reputation to Midnights and Final TPD Predictions

With 4 days until the Tortured Poets Department and two lines of lyrics we have so far, here are my thoughts on how we got here over the last 5 albums and final predictions for what's coming on Friday:

2016 changed the game - reputation era and long-term bearding

Many people might disagree, but I think the year 2016 changed a lot of things for Taylor. Without going into detail about snakegate, a possible failed coming out and scrapped album and the presidential election, her music has had a different tone ever since reputation (and I don't just mean sonically). As someone who writes a lot about love and relationships, the way she was writing about them changed from fairy tale love, pining and heartbreak to forever/long-term love, commitment/endame, 'us against the world' sort of love. And I do think she wanted to put that album out in 2016 but can't really do that when you're newly single and writing about wanting forever with someone... so in came Joe Alwyn who became the free pass for writing songs about long-term relationships, marriage and kids for the next six years. But LWYMMD (the song and the mv) made it pretty clear that this was not her first choice. Whatever happened, she had her agency taken from her, and she was mad about it. She may have made one hell of a comeback, but rep Taylor was on a revenge mission, and she has been ever since. Now, add to that the very same people foiled her coming out (possibly) a second time in 2019, I can well imagine the tortured poet that Taylor became during the pandemic with all that built up anger and misery pouring out into the folklore and evermore albums. And my guess is that with the plan to re-record the first 6 albums came an idea of how she could possibly get her revenge after all, which brings us to Midnights and TPD.

Midnights and Tortured Poets Department - Reflection and melancholia

Midnights had a similar tone to me than what we have seen of TPD so far: introspective, sombre and looking back on happier times and missed opportunities (hence the whole '13 nights throughout my life' concept). There is a lot of wondering about what ifs and regrets and always with a sense of vengeance in the background, which shows how Taylor clearly holds a grudge and has a hard time letting things go that have hurt her. And this continues in the two lines we have seen from TPD so far. The 'full eclipse' gives me love blackout vibes and this line

is so similar to many folkmore and Midnights songs where she talks about not being able to move on from a traumatic event (failed coming out *cough cough*). So, this album clearly continues the theme of reflection, regrets and vengeance, but with an additional touch of reckoning or impending judgment. I've seen some people say it seems like Taylor is putting someone (else or herself) on trial, and both the evidence file esthetics and the legal language she has been using in the hidden words puzzle on Apple Music have been feeding that theory:

She told us back in February she'd be entering all of her defenses and her muses into evidence, so is she the one being trialed and we are the jury? Or is she presenting evidence in her defense and accusing someone else? I initially thought the former, but now I'm thinking it could be either or both.

The songs will tell the story of the most painful times of her life and we will be able to decide if she chose her suffering or if the context/industry is to blame. My favourite swifties pointed out this morning that the ‘un-recall’ lyric is a parallel to CIWYW “I recall late November”. So what is she trying to forget? The 2016 election. The start of the love blackout. Much like the ‘full eclipse’ lyric. They almost had it all but then her plans got foiled and Tr*mp was elected which forced them underground. And where did she run off to? London. And what’s track 5 called? So long, London…

So, a lot of this album so far gives 2016 vibes. And I’ve said in a previous post (here) that the visuals seem very rep-inverted. Black vs white and the half yin-yang ☯️ in the logo. It’s looking likely that this is going to be the reflection on that time where her vendetta originated before she goes for revenge. And I’m not trying to clown but the rep parallels haven’t stopped:

This QR code mural in Chicago is very rep-cover coded and leads to a website that has the same 321 error message as the TS website the night of the Grammys. The message then was red herring. And not to sound too crazy, but I've said from the start that something feels off with this album. The absence of proper promo or merch is still weird. And would an entire album as a red herring be too crazy? Probably. But is she a crazy woman? Definitely! 😉

[taylortruther]

Yeah I think the fandom gaslighting around Hoax (and others) was super real. But in a self-gaslighting way bc seeing your experiences reflected in Taylor’s music can be super disorienting if you haven’t admitted some stuff to yourself about your own life/history. Which is the case for many women who stick it out in mediocre and bad relationships. But I also think Taylor has such an authentic songwriting style, so much so, that she writes honestly about situations that she herself doesn’t yet fully understand! The same way any of us would take time to fully grasp why a situation was toxic, and might stumble through describing it to a friend before we lack the language for the experience. And then bc the general culture accepts certain behaviors (and the ways we explain them away and convince ourselves to stay), it creates this feedback loop where fans project their ideals about a successful/failed relationship and it becomes taboo to suggest that she was being rather straightforward with her music. And that’s not even getting into the ways that swifties “raised” her… what does it do to be constantly processing your emotions in front of a jury of your peers/fans who all hold their own stories and experiences and heteronormative relationship biases? What about marketing all of it to be relatable to the masses? It all fascinates me, and I feel so fed by TTPD bc it explores so many of these questions!!

bestie i missed this during hoax hours but idk how because this is so well-said. it really captures so much of what i think re: hoax, or re: "not wanting to make assumptions" about taylor's work. i think it's hard for some people to understand that an artist can make art that reveals something about themselves that they don't yet understand. i mean, it doesn't even require art. we all do this in some way sometimes. we reveal our fears or insecurities in the way we talk about our lives without even realizing it. idk if this makes sense, but you are really touching on how it's helpful to understand behavior when we want to analyze emotional art that's telling a story about the human condition.

also, let's chat more about heteronormative relationship biases. one of my favorite topics!

[merp-blerp]

A Gaylor interpretation of "The Prophecy" because if Taylor never sleeps why should I?

TW: I tried to keep it mostly light, but ended up veering into brief talk of self-destructive behavior and suicide near the end.

Overblown Analysis Under the Cut ↓

"Hand on the throttle / Thought I caught lightning in a bottle / Oh, but it's gone again"

I think this song is about failed coming outs and closeting. Of course, many in this community know of the Lover failed coming out, but God only knows if that was really the only attempt. I think she tried to at least subtly come out several times. But during Lover, she and many others thought she would finally make it out of the closet, a once-in-a-lifetime chance, fully ready to go and take control, but plans were foiled. If it wasn't the first or last attempt, the chance was gone again.

"And it was written / I got cursed like Eve got bitten / Oh, was it punishment?"

Taylor begins to question if her coming out plan(s?) fell short because she's cursed for being who she is. Was she cursed like Eve was for biting the forbidden fruit? Eve in some interpretations of Christianity is often seen as the blame for all the world's sins, with Mother Mary being seen as God's Eve "do-over", since Mary stayed obedient to God's wishes. Sometimes Eve is even depicted as tempting or tricking Adam into eating the fruit, it being her fault he fell, rather than his own choices ruining him. Whether or not Eve is actually to blame could be debated forever, not unlike how Christians debate similarly about whether the bible is okay with queerness or not. Taylor wonders if never being seen as who she is by the general public is a punishment for her simply being. Interestingly, Taylor changes Eve's story, saying Eve was bitten, rather than the biter, possibly by the serpent/Devil in the garden gate of Eden. Being bitten by a snake actually reminds me more of Cleopatra more than Eve, but I'll elaborate more on that later.

"Pad around when I get home / I guess a lesser woman would've lost hope / A greater woman wouldn't beg / But I looked to the sky and said / Please / I've been on my knees / Change the prophecy / Don't want money / Just someone who wants my company / Let it once be me / Who do I have to speak to / About if they can redo the prophecy?"

Somewhat self-explanatory. Taylor anxiously paces as she asks God if her fate can change. If she can just get free. She doesn't want the money that comes from the beardings and closeting any longer. She just wants to be seen for who she is. She wants someone who wants the real Taylor's company, not the showmanship Taylor. She wonders what God or entity she has to ask to be freed from the cage.

"Cards on the table / Mine play out like fools in a fable"

Taylor has used card games as imagery before, usually in situations where she feels like someone isn't being honest with her, playing her. Most significantly for this reading, in "Foolish One" she speaks about how her cards were on the table, or that she was being open and vulnerable, while that song's muse wasn't showing theirs, as they weren't being clear, leading her on. In this situation, Taylor is once again laying all her cards out for the world to see, but it's foolish because the world never sees it, whether it's from not knowing how to or not wanting to. Fables are very similar to folklore or folktales, characterized as short, clear, fictional stories, often featuring animals. Taylor is saying that while her cards are clear, her stories must be told through vague, or "fool" characters that distance her from them, fictionalized. Both Gaylors and general Swifties seem to currently agree that her album Folklore has truth in it and isn't fully fictionalized, but exactly how much is fiction, and who represents who seems to be where opinions differ. And then there's a lot of infighting between the sides of the fandoms, so Taylor stays mostly unseen and caged.

"Oh, it was sinking in (Sinking in, oh) / Slow is the quicksand / Poison blood from the wound of the pricked hand / Oh, still I dream of him"

The feeling that she'll never be free sinks in, slowly over time, like sinking into quicksand is slow, or poison through your body from a small prick. She dreams of someone. One way to look at this is that she's dreaming of someone she loves, the muse of this album. I, however, for now at least, get this feeling that the dream is actually more of a nightmare. I mentioned in my makeshift theory on "The Manuscript" that I believed "The Professor/He" was a personification of the music industry or an industry boss. Taylor's said before that she's had nightmares about the crummier aspects of the industry, like unwanted photos and videos of herself. Maybe she still does (as a slight sidenote, I feel like this could be connected to Kissgate, as that was filmed without her wishes, and arguably when the closeting and bearding amped up heavily). She even mentions nightmares in "Cassandra".

"And I sound like an infant / Feeling like the very last drops of an ink pen / A greater woman stays cool / But I howl like a wolf at the moon / And I look unstable / Gathered with a coven 'round a sorceress' table / A greater woman has faith / But even statues crumble if they're made to wait"

The ink pen feels like Taylor's saying that she's slowly burning out, down to the last drop in her, tired of writing letters addressed to the fire and sending signals, as she runs out of ways to say her truth just for it to fall upon deaf ears. A more stable woman wouldn't show her pain, but she's so loud about her truth like a wolf, yet soundless. She gets more desperate like a helpless child as she continues to wait, still grappling with the guilt that can come from being queer and a Christian at the same time, like she's a witch with a coven. She knows she's supposed to keep her faith by staying in the unseen shade of the closet, after all, "There's no such thing as bad thoughts / Only your actions talk (from "Guilty as Sin?")". But waiting to be free for however long is taking its toll. At the Spotify TTPD pop-up library, Taylor featured what's seemingly a bust of Artemis/Diana, the Greek/Roman goddess of the, most significant to Taylor, archery. (Yes, the name Diana is very curious for Gaylors, but—unpopular opinion—maybe—I don't think it actually means too much to the song itself) After hearing about an Artemis statue being destroyed in regards to that symbolism, when digging, I found a few stories about Artemis/Diana's statues or temples being destroyed, whether it's half of Diana of the Tower burning and the other half being lost or the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus being the victim of arson in 4th century BCE. Just like Artemis/Diana, Taylor gets destroyed unexpectedly. (I've also heard of an Artemis/Diana statue that was destroyed by time, but I can't find a source for that story that doesn't connect to the Taylor pop-up).

"I'm so afraid I sealed my fate / No sign of soulmates / I'm just a paperweight in shades of greige / Spending my last coin so someone will tell me it'll be okay"

Taylor fears that her fate to never be seen is her fault, as she willingly participated in the closeting and beardings, so she's cursed to stay that way forever, never getting to mingle with other queers as one of them, like a soulmate, but an "ally", as she's too big to hang out with them. In slang, a paperweight is a useless object; Taylor probably knows that her coming out could mean a lot for queer people and the movement, but since she hasn't been able to come out, at least not in a way that is universally recognized, she feels useless compared to what she could be. Greige is a combo of grey and beige, much like the sepia aesthetic of this album. It's almost colorless, as she is forced to be grey rather than a rainbow with all of the colors due to closeting. The use of sepia or greige could symbolize that this album still has a thin coat of bearding and closeting attached to it, even though it could also be seen as a big step into the daylight. She tried to see daylight times before, "but the woman who sits by the window has turned out the light" (from "Peter"), at least for now. After her "postmortem", Taylor spends what I interpret as an obol, a coin a shade, or ghost, given to them before burial, that's paid to Charon, the underworld ferryman in Greek mythology; the fee would let a shade cross the river Styx to get to Hades. But Taylor pays only in the hopes of being comforted by someone after her "death". To be told that everything will be okay after the grey fallout. An obol would be the last thing a person would own from their time on earth, so it's her last coin. Taylor being a shade could call back to lyrics like, "Shade never made anybody less gay", in "YNTCD", having the double meaning of shade as in vitriol and the dark shade of the closet, and "Sit quiet by my side in the shade" in "Paris", where her private lover quietly sits in the closet with her. In "The Archer", Taylor mentions "And all of my heroes die all alone", interpretively due to them being queer and not getting to have a privileged life in that sense. Maybe in the afterlife, Taylor hopes to find and be comforted by one of these heroes.

I mentioned Cleopatra earlier, and while as far as I know Cleopatra wasn't queer, she is treated similarly to Eve, often blamed for the temptation of men; Cleopatra allegedly self-inflicted a snake bite to end her life, like how Taylor's Eve was bitten. Taylor has similarly been treated like Eve and Cleopatra, seen as "going through men like potato chips (a real fucking quote I found while researching for this post)" whether that's the exact case or not. Taylor's also illuded to self-inflicting harmful actions that could kill her in several songs, like "Hoax", and including on TTPD: "Love left me like this and I don't want to exist" from "Florida!!!" Even quicksand and poison mentioned in this song are ways to die. Whatever the reason behind these lines might be, I hate that she may feel that way and I worry that it's a somewhat ignored aspect of her music, brushed off as dramatic. It makes the asylum theme of TTPD much more tragic. I wish nothing but the best for Taylor. 🤍

I make a part 2 part to this