#im heating up hashbrowns

[pup-pee]

doodled them bc i miss them & i wanna feel better

[paper-mario-wiki]

Hey how do you cook chicken so often. It's always a huge fucking hassle to me to prep and cook chicken and it's so expensive I usually don't bother. Is there some trick you know for making it easy?

the answer's a lot more simple than ya think. i just have a huge bag of chicken breasts in the freezer. dont remember PRECISELY how much it was, pretty sure under $25 for 10 pounds at costco, and it'll last you several weeks when cooking for one.

the only real "prep" for making it easier is, when i don't have any chicken thawed in the fridge, i take some out of the freezer and put it into a plastic bag in the fridge. then, by the next day, ive got chicken that can be cooked and eaten up in 10 minutes. while still raw, it'll stay good for 2 days refrigerated, and up to 4 if you're stupid.

the breasts are actually a little bigger than i'd like when cooking just for myself, so while they're still frozen i find their middle and split them in half on the hard corner of my kitchen counter.

before seasoning, pat down the breast with a paper towel to get excess moisture off. it'll cook more evenly and make seasoning stick easier. i only use salt and pepper before cooking because im lazy and spiceless (poor), but you can definitely use herbs and whatnot when cooking. also smash down some of the thicker bits of the meat with the bottom of a cup or a mallet if you've got one. as long as the breast isn't thicker than, say, the width of your index finger, it'll cook through very easily, mostly in its own juices. otherwise you'll have a harder time cooking it evenly, though it can still be done. it just takes longer and might not look as nice.

pan-frying is as easy as putting in a splash of olive oil (not a ton, just enough for the breast to rest in), and cooking for 5 to 7 minutes on both sides, depending on how brown you want it. this is on medium-high heat, so i set my stove's little heat dial to 6 or 7.

for reference, the meal i made today (chicken breast, hashbrown, fried kale) was prepared in about 15ish minutes, including prepping the chicken and getting it on the pan, which was done first cuz it takes the longest to cook. the hashbrowns cooked on the far side of the pan away from the chicken, and the kale in my air fryer for 3 minutes. the chicken came off the pan first, and i let it rest for a few minutes while i let the hashbrowns finish cooking.

it sounds like a lotta work, but sincerely the most tedious thing about cooking with chicken is thawing it out, so having a few single-person servings of chicken in the fridge makes the whole process much simpler.

make sure that you're wiping down surfaces and utensils that the chicken touches while still raw, and try not to let any of the other foods at all. salmonella is easily avoidable, but still no joke.

[abandonedsdjfhcvndfbv]

LITERALLY just eating scraps tonite like the 4 crackers and cookies left in some lone bags of snacks inmy room theres food but idotn want to heat it up plus i want to wait until breakfast burger is an optoon and This time im gonna try out hashbrown for the First time inmy entire life. Also i have energy drink:3

[texas-junk-drawer]

Nutrition isn’t only for the rich (aka how to fuel your body when you have basically no money)

I grew up pretty poor in an Appalachian family, so I’ve picked up a few things when it comes to filling bellies with an empty bank account

Staples: things you can do a lot with. Most of these can be found at the dollar tree or your local variant

Dry Beans: pick a kind of bean you like. I’m personally a fan of kidney

Rice: more expensive, but you can get a deal at bulk stores (ask your friend with a membership to let you go with) you can usually get 15lbs for 10 or so dollars, and if you’re just feeding yourself, you really only need one cup per meal

Bread: I like Sunbeam brand. It’s cheap, and it’s a great source of carbs and a good vessel for many liquidy food

Butter: get a big tub of the cheap shit ie country crock

Crackers: saltines are cheap carbs and sodium, another vessel

Peanut butter: lots of protein, you can make sandwiches, put it on crackers, use it as a dip for whatever fruit you can get your hands on, or just eat a spoonful as a pick me up snack. I found a 4lb tub for $10 at my local Asian market which is definitely better than $7 for 2lbs

Pancake mix: cheap af and can make an ass if pancakes, can also be used to make waffles. You can use these waffles as bread for sandwiches if you can’t get a loaf

Eggs: a bit more expensive but very worth it for the protein. They can be scrambled and put in anything

Oats: extremely filling, and can be flavored with whatever you like

Seasonings: absolutely crucial to making half this shit edible. do NOT buy these at the dollar store. Many have been recalled for heavy metal contamination but not pulled, instead go to the Mexican supermarket and get the bags of spices at a similar price point

Canned soup: keeps forever, and when properly watered can be 2-3 meals instead of just one

Potatos: can be made into hashbrowns, chunks, mashed, or baked. Lots of options here

Meals

Here’s some meals I used to eat and a quick rundown of preparation

Bean soup: the absolute worst, but it’s food. Beans cooked in some sort of broth with bacon bits added for flavor

Chicken and rice: cook a batch of rice and in another pan heat up canned cream of chicken and mushroom soup to serve over the rice. If you have chicken on hand, cook some and toss it in the gravy as well

Chili: cooked ground beef, tomato paste, canned pinto and kidney beans, and a little bit of water. Season with chili powder and cumin

Taco chicken: chicken parts of your choice marinated and then slow cooked in bottled salsa, can be served on whatever you have around, or just eaten with a fork

Spaghetti: one box of pasta and a bottle of sauce will run you about $4 and feed three

Shake and bake pork chops: exactly what it sounds like. Pork is trash meat so it’s cheap af. If your religion says you can’t eat pork, G-d will forgive you if it keeps you alive and healthy I promise.

Buttered bread: not very nutritious, but covers most of the food groups and will keep you going

Misc aid

Food banks are awesome, but not everyone has access to them, or they’re severely understocked.

If you can, grow edible plants, a single slice of tomato laid in dirt can yield loads of plants, potatoes want nothing more than to return to dirt. Learn what plants in your area are edible. Most libraries have books on local flora. (please don’t eat something unless you’re entirely sure what it is.)

Poaching. Im so fucking serious, if a game warden is the only thing standing between you and a meal, fuck them. Hunting for FOOD is never wrong, even if the animal isn’t in season. If you have the means to acquire and clean game, do it. Geese are basically nothing but tender dark meat, and fairly easy to acquire. squirrels aren’t much but if you bag a couple you can incorporate it into a meal. Same goes for opossum, it reeks when you cook it but boy is it good. Find a secluded spot nobody goes to to fish, just don’t catch more than you need for the day so it’s easier to fly under the radar

If you do decide to hunt, use the whole animal. Wash feathers and restuff your couch pillows, tan the hides if you’re able or sell them to someone that can.

That’s all from me and I hope this helps even one person.

[that-one-weeb-buts-its-the-main]

Family Reunion (2)

Reader: female | Romantic - Strange | Plantonic - America

Type: on going series 2/?

Note: sorry Im finishing off my senior year in highschool so I've been busy (You can read part one on the masterlist)

Warning: N/a

Masterlist: Marvel | The "Playlist"

░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░

America was one of the first up. She woken up by the smell of cooking.

She slipped from Y/n's grasp carefully making her way out the room.

Walking down the hall she walked into the connected dinning room and living room.

Amy was sat on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket with a cup in her hand. An Italian cartoon playing.

In came Y/n's mother, she smiling and wishing America a moring telling her to sit down on the couch besides Amy just to be wrapped up in her own quilt and soon handed a warm mug of her own.

"Thank you." America thanked with a smile, warm milk in the cup watching Mr.Castiglione walk away then looked at the Tv.

"America right?" Amy asked.

America nodded, "Amy?"

Amy nodded in response.

"what's this?"

"I don't know. I don't understand any of it. It's in a different language." Amy spoke, the two taking sips of the warm milk.

"Morin." Frank yawned

"Moring." The two replied: they both watching the cartoon they didn't understand, Frank kissed Amy on the temple as he passed by.

"Morin." Y/n spoke walking into the living room, hand up her shirt and set on her stomach.

"Morning." The two replied again, Y/n kissing America on the temple as she passed by.

Oh they were even twins when parenting.

Both walked into the kitchen to get coffee.

"You look like shit." Y/n argued with a yawn sipping on coffee.

"Feel like shit..." he spoke into his mug, taking a drink of his own coffee.

"Go! Sit sit! Breakfast is almost done!"

They walked to the dinning room, from there they took a seat and watched cartoons from the dinning room.

"Is pa in the back already?" Y/n asked.

"You know him." She called from the kitchen.

Y/n took another sip of coffee, the smell of hashbrowns and bacon in the air.

"Gettin married."

Y/n looked to Frank who only pointed to he hand, a simple band, nothing over the top, it was black, with a small little green stone surrounded by orange markings.

"Yeah." Y/n smiled looking down at it.

"To an Avenger."

Y/n chuckled, "You forget I was almost officially one myself."

"Right. Who would of been your big bad?"

Y/n sat in thought, "Francis Castiglione."

He chuckled finishing off his coffee, "I would of won that gun fight."

Y/n laughed: "You keep tellin yourself that soilder boy."

"Whatever you say Widow."

Y/n shook her head, standing up and grabbing his mug to go get refills.

"Go get you're father from the back yard."

Y/n nodded, filling Frank's mug along with hers.

"Go get Stephen up as well. Breakfast is done."

"Yeah."

Bringing the mug to Frank first she went out the back door. Calling for her father her own mug in hand.

He only waved her off: "mom heated the cinnamon rolls up!"

That got her father moving like a child again, the dog following him as he hurried up. Y/n shook her head going to get Stephen.

He was still asleep when she walked in, she turning on the bed side lamp, making sure it was on low light and setting the mug down before sitting besides his limp form.

"Hey..." she spoke softly, "morning sleepy head..."

He didn't budge, Y/n tucking a strand of his hair behind his ear.

"Baby." She spoke rubbing his shoulder, "come on..."

Stephen hummed rolling to his back. She smiled as his eyes opened to look up at her.

"Morin." She spoke softly looking down at him.

His hand came up to cup her cheek, "What time is it?"

Y/n looked at the clock "almost ten. Ma cooked late for us."

Stephen smiled, rubbing his thumb over her cheek, "You'd sleep good?"

Stephen nodded, "Did you?"

Y/n nodded, hand holding his wrist with a smile.

"Come on. We gotta leave at one for the reunion, and Ma will get mad if we don't eat breakfast."

Stephen sat up, leaning in to kiss her, she pecking him lips and grabbed the mug up, "coffee."

She handed it over: "I'll be in the dinning room. Hurry along."

Stephen got up to follow her, she chuckling with his quick motion as he followed her to the dining room.

"Sit! Sit!"

They all were rushed to sit down, food set in the middle of the table, her father bringing yet another fresh pot of coffee over.

"How'd you sleep, Stephen?"

"Just like home." Stephen complimented, sipping his coffee.

"And you Francis?" Their mother asked: "Didn't think I wouldn't know you went out?"

Y/n stifled a laugh: "I'm surprised you didn't sneak out with Francis either Y/n."

Y/n became quiet in embarrassment.

"Woah you mean Y/n and Frank use to sneak out together?" Amy asked, "They seem like they go at each other's throats constantly."

"That's what happens when you get put with an angry teenager with an ex-widow at 17."

"You were married at 17?" Amy, Stephen, and America asked all at once.

"What?" Y/n spoke, "No- Why did you all ask that- Anyways I was in the Widow program. You know ever heard of Black Widow-"

"You're related to Black Widow!?" Amy and America asked happily.

"No." Y/n told, "It's a program."

"For what?" America asked.

"It's an assassin program. They take kids and raise them to become killers." Y/n informed, "luckily my brother still gave a shit about me when he found me."

"Tell them how you found him." Their dad spoke up: he loved this story.

"Not this again." Frank spoke drinking the coffee in his mug.

"I was actually going to kill him." Y/n laughed, "Till I realized I was looking in a mirror. Basically rocked his world."

"You didn't rock my world." Frank grumbled,

"Right just threw you over a ledge three stories high into a dumpster." Y/n spoke eating some of her eggs, "He shot me in the thigh afterward."

"Wow." Stephen spoke with a smile, "Great way to reunite."

Y/n laughed: "oh you have no idea. Should we tell them what happened during the "raid."

Frank chuckled: "Together we had a whole magazine I was sure."

"Great to know you can take a hit." Stephen teased her as she rolled her eyes.

"Please Stephen I could rock your world before you even try." Y/n teased back, finishing off her hashbrowns.

"That's true. I seen it happen." America spoke up, "can I have the syrup please?"

Y/n handed her the syrup for her pancake, "She fought this giant octopus monster."

"The one in the news?!" Amy asked.

America nodded, "Yeah! She was super cool. You should of seen it. It was kinda my fault it was there in the first place though, through Multi dimension portals."

"I thought an Avenger handled that." Her mother scolded Y/n filling her mug once again.

"They did." Y/n spoke, into her mug.

"A certain Dr.Strange."

Y/n nodded, "Yep..."

"I asked you to stay away from witchcraft."

"It's not witchcraft." Y/n protested, "I don't use Witchcraft. Never have. Anyways just because I assisted Stephen doesn't mean I became an Avenger."

"It's you?" Her mother asked, "You're the Dr.Strange!"

She was angered, "Doll let's take a deep breathe. They've saved the world. Multiple times." Her father tried to persuade.

Y/n thanked her father mentally.

Her mother stood up, "Francis Y/n. Do the dishes. I have to get my share ready for the reunion."

"Yes." The two responded, there mother walking off.

"Ah! Don't worry bout her." Their dad tried to comfort, "she's just an old cranky lady that worries for her kids."

" Our line of work isn't actually rainbows and sunshine." Stephen told.

Y/n stood up with her plate, Frank collecting his own: "come on. We gotta get ready." Y/n told the table.

"I can help." Stephen told Y/n.

"No need." Y/n smiled, "Maybe just grab the bags out of the trunk? America you can go take a shower."

"Okay."

"Go get ready Amy."

"For what?" Amy questioned.

"Just go get ready."

Amy got up Frank collecting her plate as Y/n helped along.

"I suppose I should go calm down the beast."

And with that they wede left alone.

"You'e really into that magic shit huh?" Frank questioned.

"Not too deep. Really just dating a Sorcerer. Nothing really too big." Y/n told.

"Dating an Avenger. I'll Remember that when I go date one."

Y/n laughed shortly, "He's a man either way. I just hope Ma sees that."

Stacking the rest of the plates she walked into the kitchen, Frank following her.

"And what about the kid?" Frank asked.

"America?" Y/n responded turning on the water, "What about her?"

"How'd that happen?"

Y/n shrugged: "just did."

"You make it sound like it was an accident."

Y/n nodded, "it was. You know I don't go looking for lost kids that can just threw multi dimensions. Im not a Catcher in the Rye you know."

Frank chuckled placing the plate of uneaten eggs on the floor, "How long you've had her?"

Y/n thought, "...uh...Actually don't know. Maybe a few months may have been a year already."

Frank whistled the dog rushing in and too the plate of eggs. Y/n scooting over for Frank to help.

"So when's the wedding?"

Y/n shrugged once more: "Really haven't planned that out. I don't think I need one."

"Don't let Ma here that." Frank chuckled.

Y/n laughed: "Imagine."

"I'd rather not."

Y/n smiled, she rather not either. It was silent for a moment.

"You happy? You know with him?"

Y/n nodded: it was the easiest question she could answer.

"I am." Y/n spoke, "And you?"

"Im getting there."

Y/n set the last dish on the drying rack, "we all get what we deserve in the end, you'll find you're happiness."

Patting him on the shoulder she went to get ready. Dishes must've taken longer than expected, America had already taken a shower, her hair wet as she sat infront of Stephen, he french braiding her hair in two sections.

"You never do that for me." Y/n intruppted with a smile.

"You never ask." Stephen shot back playfully finishing off the first braid, he putting the little hair band at the end, as Y/n walked in.

"You look beautiful America." Y/n smiled, kissing her temple as Stephen started on the next one.

"Is your mom mad at me?" America asked.

"What?" Y/n asked confused, sitting next to her, "No. No ones mad at you. Just my ma's got a diffrent opinion is all."

"She didn't seem to like Stephen." America spoke up causing the two to laugh.

"Not many people like me." Stephen responded, finishing America's last braid, "There."

America thanked him and rushed off to look at it in the mirror, "Cool!"

"We should get ready." Y/n told him with a smile, "After all you take longer than I do."

"Oh please." Stephen responded, causing her to laugh and peck him on the lips.

Rustling stopped another kiss, and them to turn there heads, it came from Stephen's bag.

Y/n's eyebrows furrowed and walked over, opening the bag as the cloak of levitation sprang out like there was no way to breathe.

"Man that is one seriously loyal peice of clothing." Y/n sighed as it seemed to sulk, "Im not gonna yell at you."

It perked up happily, Y/n sighing, turning to Stephen, "seems I hurt the capes feelings-"

She was slapped in the back of the head, "Hey!" She shouted at the cloak who quickly flew away from her.

"A cape is givin me attuide great." Y/n spoke, "im going to take a shower."

Grabbing her things from her bag she went to take the shower. She was quick about taking a shower and brushing her teeth, getting dressed in nice slacks and blouse.

She was drying her hair when she passed by the room Amy and Frank were staying in, Frank gone from the room, and Amy and America occupying it.

"Luckily I had bought a pack of these so you can have this one." Amy spoke doing the younger teens eyeliner, her eye make up already done as she tended to America.

Y/n leaned against the door frame watching the two bond.

"So you're like magic?'

"Not really." America answered.

"But you're from a different world?"

America hummed a yes, "it's not too diffrent from you're world."

"Why say in this world out of all ones?"

America shrugged, "this is the only universe where I've seen all of you together. In other universes you never meet Frank, and Y/n never learns she's a Castiglione."

"Sounds werid..." Amy answered.

"Oh! There's one universe where Frank becomes Captain America!"

Amy let out a laugh, "Frank? Seriously?"

America nodded, "What about you're mom?"

"Y/n...hmm..." America thought, "She's a bit diffrent in each one. In some she stays in the Widow Program. Other's she becomes Sorcerer Surpreme. I think she'll have kids soon. There's one where she has kids, a girl and a boy-"

Y/n cleared her throat, that was a rabbit hole unneeded to dive into, and they turned her way.

"What are you two doing." Y/n smiled.

"Messin around is all." Amy responded, "America's technically my cousin now, right?"

Y/n shrugged with a smile, "Why not? Right."

America smiled, "We're almost done. Are we leaving."

"Soon yes." Y/n responded, "We've gotta go in about thrity mintues, its about an hour to two hour drive."

"Okay." America spoke, "Hey can Amy ride with us?"

Y/n looked towards Amy who held a smile on her face, "Yeah sure. Make sure Frank knows."

Amy nodded, "I will."

Y/n smiled walking back to the room, Stephen was already getting dressed, hair wet from the shower.

"When'd you shower?"

"Too busy being nosy to realize I walked by twice and took a fifteen mintue shower." He teased.

"I wasn't being nosy." Y/n defended playfully, "I was admiring."

Stephen smiled as he walked towards her, kissing her softly as she kissed back.

Pulling away with a smile she started buttoning up the rest of his shirt for him.

"You're thinking of something." Stephen spoke watching her hands move against his shirt with care.

"...nothin really....just impulse." Y/n informed, messing with the buttons.

"Impulse is still a thought."

Y/n smiled at his sarcastic comment, she looking up at him.

"....I...uh...want a child,." Y/n spoke eyes coming back down to his buttons.

It set Stephen into a shock, she wanted a child? All the sudden?

"I know we have America...but she's not ours...as much as I'd want her to be." Y/n told finshing in buttoning his shirt, "Don't worry, just an impuslive thought."

She smiled up at him, kissing him softly, "Don't worry about it though alright?"

"Part of being in love with you." He spoke kissing back she chuckling into a second kiss.

"Am I that prone to accidents?" She questioned into the kisses, her hand finding it comfortable to rest on his arm as they contuined kissing one another.

They were soft kisses, enjoyable busy work: just to keep the other around longer.

Y/n pulled away, "come on finish getting ready."

"I will. I will..."

Another kiss planted on her lips: yet this was a final one. She smiling as she pulled away: "leave in 20?"

Stephen nodded, watching her leave after shooting him a small smile and walking off.

[flower-boy-roxanne]

i stayed up til like 1:30-2 in the morning and didnt fucking realize we had class today

mmm i have intense stupid energy 24/7

[darlington-v]

Top three breakfast foods:

Waffles. My dad makes the best waffles, and I love them. They're sort of crispy on the outside but soft inside, and you can put so many different things on top, making however you want! And though I'm categorizing these as breakfast foods, I just gotta say, midnight waffles hit different. Best.

Pancakes. Like waffles, but soft all the time! And you can put stuff in them! You just whip them up and they're delicious! One day I'll be skilled enough to flip them without a spatula. Delightful, 10/10.

Breakfast burritos. So much variety all in one thing. You can eat them on the go, sitting down, whatever you want! And all the different stuff you can put inside?? Heavenly. I like mine to have potatoes in them. I just love breakfast burritos so so much man.

ASDFSDAFHJKDFHJKS

waffles, pancakes, and breakfast burritos are great!!!!

i think.... my top three breakfast foods r probably similar? maybe... hrm.

def waffles!!!!! i wish we had a waffle maker but even like frozen eggos that u heat up r still so good. i like just like slathering butter and powdered sugar on eggos n like going ham on them but i also really enjoy like... just a good fresh waffle?

its just... idk theyre good. theyre so good.

biscuits n sausage gravy!!! like white sausage gravy.... regardless biscuits n gravy are so fucking good. i love biscuits n gravy. theyre so... oh my god. im making myself hungry. theyre just so fucking good idk what to say like i just..... mm delciiousl....

hashbrowns or pancakes! pancakes r good but i really like fancy pancakes w/ like... idk ihop pancakes? i dont get them v often most of the time whenever we fix pancakes at my house its just like maple syrup which like theyre good but like.... basic. HASHBROWNS THO>?????? GOD. I FUCKING LOVE HASHBROWNS. I LOVE FUCKING ANY TY- I JUST. HASHBROWNS R SO FUCKING GOOD.

sorry for the late response but thanks for the asks!!! :DD

[shatterthefragments]

So. I am laying in bed. Nearly asleep sort of. But still on my phone.

Mum bursts into my room on the phone and dad’s yelling about oil on there.

So I’m rushing out the door, pants in hand putting them on and thankfully the sister knows where the fuck the oil is that he was talking about so I can bring it.

So I’m rushing to meet him where he said he was and so I take a lap around the lot bc I don’t see him immediately.

So I see him and he tells me to park and I’m still freaking out so I just pull in Willy nilly over two spots and so he and a stranger (the lot is nearly empty btw and humongous) berate me for it and I’m just. Barely not shaking.

We walk up to where he left the car on the side of the highway and struggle to get the oil cap off. We checked the oil. It still seems to have lots even though he thought it had No Oil At All from the sound it was making. He puts in some oil. It makes the sound once and I am alarmed. It starts and goes though. He drops me back off at the parking lot. I drive home the slow way and mum’s concerned I fell asleep at the wheel. I’m still hopped up on adrenaline.

It’s a Worry About It Tomorrow Problem for when there’s light to be able to see.

I hope I don’t have to bike to work. If there’s another heat wave I’m fucked. I can only really manage it when it’s cool. And I don’t want to sacrifice myself in the afternoon when it’s hot out.

And. Uh. I have no money to fix the car or buy a new one.

And now it’s pretty late so I probably won’t even make it up in time to bike to McDonald’s and get a hashbrown before it’s too hot out.

Im definitely going to cry but I need to brush my teeth first.

[farklelucas]

Thought you could use a nice fluffy Brett and Liam fic after the last couple of days so how about one where Briam is celebrating their 10 year wedding anniversary. And if that doesn't cheer you up then here. *hugs*

hey ily and im sad over the end of teen wolf so i wrote a drabble

He sees a bright flash of light. I’m going to die, he thinks. I’m going to die here in front of my sister. And Liam will have to find me.

He reaches out for Lori’s hand. Everything hurts and when she squeezes back, he thinks it might be okay. The car only gets closer, and closer. He closes his eyes.

Like a snapped rubber band, he sits up in bed. The covers are warm around his waist, sweat pooling from his forehead to his chest, and the sun filters through the window onto the empty space next to him. He reaches for the phone on the bedside table, and dials a number he knows by heart.

After a couple rings, there’s an answer. “Hello?”

Brett breathes a sigh of relief. “Lori,” he says. “Thank God.”

“Hey big brother,” she says flippantly. He glances at the clock - 8 am. She’s probably on her way to work, which explains why she’s so cheerful. “What are you doing up so early? Especially on a Saturday.” She pauses, and then amends, “Especially this Saturday.”

He frowns and shakes his head, still trying to rid himself of his dream. “I just had a bad dream,” he says. “Thinking about… you know. The car.”

“Don’t,” Lori says sharply. “Don’t. Especially not today. But just don’t go back there. We lived, and that’s all that matters.”

There’s a long and thick pause, where the siblings sit in silence together. Eventually, Lori clears her throat. “I should let you go,” she says awkwardly. “I’m sure you have plans for today, so…” She sighs. “Look, I’m sorry if I flew off the handle. I just don’t like thinking about it.”

Brett nods, as if she can see him. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to… reopen old wounds.” He glances at the side of the bed next to him, empty and seemingly cold. “It was twelve years ago, Lori.”

“Twelve years is still too close,” she says. There’s no heat in her words anymore, but he can tell she’s still upset. Another pause, possibly as she turns onto the freeway. “Look, really, I’ll let you go. I’ll see you for dinner on Monday, alright?”

From the hall, he hears a creak on the staircase and he freezes. For the first time, he wonders why the bed is empty next to him and he tenses. “Yeah,” he says, slowly. “Alright. Bye, Lor. Love you.” He hangs up quickly, ready to deal with the ramifications of her wrath later, and stands, ready to fight any possible intruder, especially if they hurt -

The door bursts open, and Liam jumps, nearly dropping the tray in his hands. “Whoa!” He scrambles to keep the tray upright, trying desperately not to drop anything. After at least thirty seconds of juggling the food, he straightens and sighs. “You scared me,” he says. Then he pauses and frowns. “Why are you up? I was trying to surprise you.”

“Sorry,” Brett says, shrugging. “Nightmare.”

Liam’s face falls. “Oh, no,” he says. “Are you okay? Was it about…” He trails off, because they both know. “Alright. Well, climb back on in and I’ll surprise you this time, alright?” Brett rolls his eyes, but nods, and gets back in bed while Liam shuts the door. Seconds later, the door opens, and Liam presents the stack of pancakes anew. “Morning!” he says cheerfully, and God, how did he end up with such a dork?

Brett chuckles and moves the sheets so that Liam can slip in, placing the tray easily over his lap. A stack of strawberry pancakes, a glass of lemonade, and one hashbrown. Brett’s favorites. “Thanks,” he murmurs, looking over to Liam, who’s smiling like an idiot.

Liam leans over and kisses him on the cheek. “Happy anniversary,” he says. “Ten years is a long time.”

“Well, we’ve been dating for nearly fifteen,” Brett says. “So our marriage is practically a baby compared to that.”

He picks up the knife and fork and cuts in, offering the first piece to Liam, who shakes his head. “I ate already,” he says. “This, and the rest of the day, is for you.”

Brett opens his mouth to respond, a quiet thank you only for Liam’s ears, but his own ears pick up on something else before he can say anything. Liam’s does too, if the way he sits up is any indication. Footsteps - slight, but still there. Pit, pat, pit, pat.

Suddenly, the door bursts open and a blur of color throws itself onto the bed. Liam laughs, reaching out for the gangly mess of a person, who’s tangled themselves into a pretzel at their feet. “Come here, you,” he says, and pulls on the hand extended until Rory lands in his lap.

He grins at Brett. “Happy birthday!” he yells, and Brett and Liam both laugh.

“It’s not Dad’s birthday,” Liam explains, petting back Rory’s hair. “It’s our anniversary. Dad and Pop got together a long, long time ago, way before you were even a thought in our heads.”

The four-year-old very carefully considers this, then shrugs. “Happy ‘versary!” he tries again.

Brett chuckles. “Thanks, buddy.” He watches as Rory very quietly eyes his hashbrown. “Ror, I’m feeling really full. Would you like my hashbrown?”

Without waiting for an answer, Brett pushes the hashbrown towards him. Rory points at it and proclaims, “Not mine.”

Liam picks it up and hands it to him. “It’s okay, you can have it,” he assures. Rory takes one last pause to glance between both of his fathers, and then happily puts the whole hashbrown into his mouth. Liam bursts into laughter, and Brett grins at them both.

He watches as Liam plays with their son, in a house that they own, in a life that has been quiet and settled for over ten years now. Finally, they’re home. Any nightmare pales in comparison to this life, happy and wonderful and safe.

[kissmymongoose]

Well, this weekend was super busy.

We went to the park twice to swim, i got lots and lots of sun, so hopefully my psoriasis will clear up some. I dodnt get any pics of gwen cause she was too busy swimming. We actually ran into my neice up there, so gwen had someone to swim with.

But now, Gwen is sick. She had a fever yesterday, has been snotty, and lethargic. Shes feeling some better, and she ate a little bit of a hashbrown from mcdonalds. Shes gonna take it easy with me for the day.

I pulled something in my arm. Okay, actually, im pretty sure i separated the muscle. But we're just gonna pretend it doesnt hurt that bad.

The garden was looking a little stressed today. David watered everything for me, but i was unable to tend to it the way i like to. Im hoping to get up there soon and prune some ugly dying leaves and i plan on picking the ripe blackberries before they get too ripe! Gotta look up a bit of info for the nasturtiums, and i definitely need to do something with my day lilies and my cala lilies. Plus I'm a terrible plant mom, so my tea rose is still in need of being planted. Or at least repotted!

The figs are growing, they love the sun. The okra and the sunflowers are loving it too, but my strawberries are beginning to get stressed from all the heat and sun. Gonna possible plant some new heat tolerant plants nearby to shade them a bit better. I need to do something about shading my zucchini also!

Anyway, theres a half assed update on how im doing. My arm is killing me just from typing this out! 😢