#in chicago but none of them were sick and my family back home

[bluebellthesponge]

maybe if i wasn’t sick af and didn’t have to stay with my conservative family members when i last went to stay over at my family’s wisconsin middle of nowhere house maybe staying over at a house last remodeled in the ‘70s with no wifi and only living off of watching dvds and vhs tapes and the only video game console being an n64 could’ve been a healing experience but i was 12 and experiencing the worst sickness ever for a week so ofc i didn’t appreciate the time to be able to just relax and appreciate being stereotypically midwestern at its peak and pretend and romanticize my life if i wasn’t chronically online all the time

[delirious-robot]

I lost both my parents by the age of 27.

I was adopted at birth. 

I found out at age 12.

I lost my mother at age 4. 

I remember her dearly. I was born in Chicago. 

But at age 3, my mother and father and I migrated to Perth Australia, the country of my mother’s (June Goth) heritage which would soon become mine too.

I’ve only ever been in 3 long term relationships in my life by age 43. 

One of them I was married to and had 2 kids with.

I was kicked out of home at age 15 because my dad (John Goth) couldn’t handle me anymore. He never remarried. 

We moved across the world when I was 14, he moved me out of my school and home where I was really happy and stable in Glendale California to a tiny little sea side town in New South Wales called Shellharbour, and I protested and rebelled. 

If I ever tried to talk about it with my “new friends” there they would just roll their eyes at me, scoff at me and say “well why don’t you just go back there.�� and then ignore me. 

I became left out at school and pretty much an outcast and often sat by myself, being an onlooker, feeling humiliated. 

Needless to say, I took whatever available friendships I could get… one of them ended up being a great friend and I have many happy memories with. 

But we did a lot of naughty things.

I lived with her and her family for a while, then lived in government housing in Australia in the Illawarra area, because my dad would not accept me back home.

When I was 15 I joined a religious sect in Sydney, because I had a purpose to help people and it was “my calling”, and I was tired of living without my purpose. 

That didn’t work out at the time and I was out by age 16, alone, in Sydney Australia.

I started in the work force.

I had a few various jobs but finally landed the best job I never should have quit, to go back to the US when I was 19 - at Telstra in Sydney. 

I was making over $50K per year as a high school drop out in the 90s, and my expenses were about $500/month. 

I had lots left over at the end of every pay check and could do whatever I wanted - all the freedom I could ever ask for. 

I had friends to go out with on the weekends to pubs and clubs and had a great job. What more could I want. 

Yet still, I felt something was missing… and there was something gnawing at my mind, that I could not shake…

I was so dumb for leaving Australia to move to the US when I was 19, but I felt that I “wanted to be where the artists area and do acting” in LA. 

What a fucking sham.

I was miserable because I was homesick and missed my job and my friends in Sydney for at least 9 months and because of this I tried to branch out and got distracted from my dreams. 

Hook line and sinker I became involved in other “dreams” and goals that had nothing to do with who I really was.

I partied my way through my early-mid 20s, only to figure out that none of it actually mattered and I had wasted several years of my life and the people who said they were my friends were actually just using me and didn’t really care about me at all.

The evidence is in the fact that none of those people have talked to me in over 15 years.

I finally realized my mistakes, and tried to get my head screwed on straight. 

I started volunteering again and doing self improvement courses.

I learned a lot and had some bright epiphanies.

I made a dumb mistake with a guy I really liked at the time.

Somewhere in the middle of all this…I was painfully missing my dad, and desperately was trying to figure out how to get back to Australia to see him. 

Without paying $2500 for a return ticket.

Sadly, I figured out how to get there and back for only $600 many years after he had passed to see a fella I’m no longer with…

When I broke up with a boyfriend when I was 23 (who turned out to be a criminal, and I stayed with him an extra 6 months to try to help him resolve his issues) I borrowed some money from my dad to be able to get into a new residence and cope while I transitioned.

Years later, I didn’t realize, but my dad was really sick, still in Australia, and he really needed the money back for health care because he could not get government assisted health care, even though I had tried to repay him on my hamster wheel paycheck to paycheck lifestyle.

He very patiently asked me to pay him back, and I kept on stalling and could not. 

Finally, I found an opportunity to take a job out in Boston MA as a personal assistant which promised me a way to get him paid back fast.

My accommodation and food would be paid for, as well as my travel expenses out there, plus paid a wage plus bonuses for booked appointments for the sales guy I was booking for. 

Great.

So, I cancelled my then accommodation, put everything in storage, and left on a whim thinking that everything would be fine and dandy.

My employer at the time really liked me working at their company, and asked me about the situation. 

He gave me a severe caution about going. 

He said, you shouldn’t do it. 

He was a nice wise older man. 

Again, I didn’t listen, and I went. 

Thinking it was the answer to all my problems and to get my dad paid back so that I could finally fix things with him.

I went to Boston. 

It was cool for a while. 

My employer however withheld my pay from me each week saying something was wrong with his bank account and we’d get it sorted.

He hit on me. 

I let him know I was just there for work.

He didn’t like that.

He flew out my best friend at the time to help keep me company.

Little did I know she was my replacement because he wanted to be rid of me because I rejected him.

He ended up losing his (crap) on me over nothing and flipping out, and telling me to leave, and I had no money. 

He said he would give me a few hundred dollars. 

He still owed me about $2500 which was the exact amount I needed to pay back to my dad.

Which could have saved his life.

I was traumatized when I left Boston. 

This was in 2007.

I left and only made it to Denver CO, with nothing in my bank account and I had run out of money.

I was lucky that my birth mother lived there, as well as my birth sister.

They saved me.

My birth mother ended up offering to pay for me to go back to LA, or get set up in Denver with an apartment.

Having nothing left for me in LA, no home and no job and no one there to really welcome me back or so I thought, I opted to stay in Denver, just get to know them better for a while.

I continued with my self development and self improvement study.

I had an apartment of my own for the first time in my life.

It was so cool until I realized the area was not really that great. 

I was in the heart of Denver.

And until I got the phone call.

“Your father was found deceased in Shellharbour Australia."

I couldn’t really process it properly, because it was mixed with so much guilt. 

I felt it was my fault. 

If only I had only… done things different or been there for him… 

if only I had never left Australia. 

Had not been so selfish. 

If only… a million other things…

The impact of those emotions is almost too much to face. It sends me into a tailspin.

I stayed in Denver another 2.5 years. 

Mostly only because I met a guy who wanted to date me, asked me to live with him after a few weeks of dating, and asked me to marry him after only 2 months of knowing me.

Kids, don’t ever ask someone to marry you after only knowing them for 2 months. 

I knew this at the time but somehow I went along with it anyway - very stupidly.

He’s an alright guy and I wish we could have just recognized really early on we weren’t a match, and not have this sort of "must have” thing about it and just left it and stayed sort of distant friends. 

I tried to break it off many times and he insisted on it and I felt obligated and I obliged… 

***please understand, this is different than some other things…*** 

we knew after a few weeks of being together that it should not be. 

We lived together. 

There were many instances where we knew it should not be. 

It was dumb to continue. 

*I never felt in love with him* 

and I don’t think he really did with me, 

just the idea of being with someone. 

I never really felt like he actually knew me. 

Just treated me like I was supposed to be someone that I was not.

So, we got married, moved back out to LA, and had 2 kids really quick.

The kids are awesome.

The divorce was not. 

No one ever gets married with the idea they are going to just get divorced a few years later. 

Of course we tried.

I’m sorry it happened. 

It was hard on the kids. 

But at least they were still young. 

I think it would have been harder on them had it happened later.

Honestly, I would have stayed in it even though I wasn’t happy and continually put down, just to keep a home for the kids… 

but I realized that I didn’t want the kids growing up seeing what passed for a marriage between their dad and I as normal.

I wanted them to understand that if you feel miserable and have tried making it better so many times and you still can’t live together happily in a marriage, it’s ok to say hey we should not do this anymore.

And I didn’t want them to grow up seeing their parents not like each other, or truly love each other. I wanted them to see a better example.

I wish it could have been a happily ever after, I always wanted a happy family home.

But.

I am happy that he has moved on, and I am years away from feeling disappointed about it all. 

We speak cordially with each other lately anyway when we have to speak about the kids.

(Skip a bunch of stuff I’m not ready to talk about - maybe in a year or two over a bottle of wine lol.)

And there you go.

I am focusing on business stuff. And putting order into things. 

And enjoying and admiring life, liking where I live and liking learning things. 

And creating my own glorious success story. 

More on that to come. 

I have big dreams and working hard at it - it’s all that matters right now.

And raising my kids into wonderful humans. Which they are.

This was written entirely off the cuff and unplanned. It just sort of came as a stream of consciousness, out as I sat down at the computer. 

As if someone wanted to know… Cheers. 

Now you know a bit more about me, if you have read this far. Thanks for reading.

Word of advice: Don’t fall in love with me. You’ll regret it later - bad idea. I still have a long way to go and need a lot of work before I can be considered “acceptable” and am up to par with regular standards.

I am also not an "option". I'm a ride or die, all in or nothing.

[auroras-blend]

The Enemy of My Enemy

Summary: Vittoria meets the one, the only, the woman who convicted her father, the ex-wife of her arch-nemesis, a dynamite lawyer: Marie Thibodeaux!

Notes: Told in Vittoria's POV. Marie is only a cameo 😢

A myriad of blue and purple puzzle pieces surrounded her skirt. Well, how am I supposed to do this in just an hour? Vittoria was more or less sour that her father left her with Sawyer in his office as he ran errands, because 1) she was with Sawyer and 2) she was bored out of her mind. When the door had shut, Sawyer had barked at her to be quiet and quite literally threw the puzzle box in her face and told her to play with it. It was brand new and she could only assume it was to go to one of the grandchildren he’d never seen. He barely has any photos of his family! There was a picture of him, his first wife, and two sons on his desk and another photo of his daughter to the side that both looked to be taken decades before she was born. I’d be sad if he were my father.

Sawyer was busy writing aggressively, his tone sharp and bitter as he was on the phone with someone. I should scream he’s killing me...that’d be funny. She giggled at the thought and earned herself a nasty scowl from the man himself. What was lovely about Sawyer was that he would swear around her because he knew damn well her mother did and he really seemed to be the only person who understood there was no more protecting her poor little ears, that he says stick out worse than Mickeys. They do not!

With a little huff, she began to assemble the puzzle of the sea, or at least that's what it said it’d be according to the box. And in her opinion, she was doing extremely well! “Look!” she pointed gleefully, “I’m almost done!”

“Wooooow,” Sawyer murmured, his eyes glued to his paper, “We should have you tested to see if you’re gifted…”

Vittoria pouted. “This is why you’re not married anymore.”

That little jab may have hit too close to home because he flung a paperweight at her that hit her in the face again. It wasn’t too heavy and it most certainly didn’t break anything, but the hate and suddenness of it made her start crying. “Keep your trap shut,” he growled.

It seemed he was even crueler today and of course she was his victim. Her little hands gripped the smooth glossy paperweight and threw it back, but it couldn’t go much farther than to bounce against the top of his desk. Her strength didn’t match his and she started bawling, “Pathetic weak little thing…”

“You’re so mean to me! I hate you and-,”

“WHERE IS THAT COCKSUCKING MORALLESS CLOWN-,” boomed a voice that made Sawyer go white as a sheet of paper.

The whites of his eyes were on display as he sprung out of his chair and shut the blinds. He ripped her off the ground and put a finger to her lips, “Shut up,” he whispered, “Shut up right now.”

Sobs still heaved from her body, the sounds being drowned out by the woman outside. “I-I can’t! You hurt me!”

“Fuck,” he cursed, “I’ll give you...two dollars! Two dollars if you’re quiet right now!”

Her cries quieted down, but not completely. Sawyer was close to trembling, his grip on her shoulders and the look in his eyes were pleading. Huh, he’s desperate… “Five,” she said.

Might as well...He grit his teeth and growled, “Fine. Now shut up.”

Vittoria nodded and retreated into the corner. “Ma’am, you can’t go in there-,” screamed the secretary.

Right as Sawyer was about to turn out the light, the door slammed open and smashed his hand against the wall. “Fuck!” he screamed in pain, pulling it close to him as he scrambled away.

The lighting fixtures flickered but remained on as who Vittoria imagined being the goddess Nemesis stood between the doorway to the firm and to Sawyer’s former safe haven. The woman was dressed in a dark navy blazer and skirt with a white undershirt. Circular glasses were falling down the bridge of her nose as her hateful gaze met Sawyer’s beady one. She had a straight-cut bob that fell beneath her chin, her hair grey in a way that demonstrated that too many people annoyed her in her lifetime. For a moment, her heart sank because that's what she could imagine her Mama to look like if she had lived that long. “You motherfucking son of a bitch!”

She even curses like Mama, well she has an accent. It sounded southern to her but with an air that she couldn't quite place. Despite being more or less terrified of everyone around her, she was unafraid of the woman. And she’s right. “Marie, you psychotic cunt, get the fuck out!”

The woman stormed right up to him and put her finger in her face. “HOW DARE YOU?! BRINGING HIM BACK!”

“It’s none of your business anymore, now get out! Call security!” he shouted at his poor shaking assistant.

“This entire case is my business! How much did it cost you to sell what you pass off as a soul?”

Vittoria giggled and right when she did, she clapped her hands to her mouth. The red-eyed gazes shifted to her, puffs of air coming out from their noses and mouths. “Oh...another one of your spawn’s spawn?” she sneered.

“No!” Vittoria protested, “I’m not related to him!”

The thought of being related to Sawyer revolted her to her core. “How fortunate for you.”

“I think so,” she smiled.

“Didn’t I tell you to be quiet? You lost that five bucks,” he seethed.

Damn.

“Who’s the kid?”

“I’ve been kidnapped!” she cried dramatically, wiping the remaining wetness from her eyes, “He’s a predator!”

Sawyer jumped, “No, she’s not! I did not!”

Her words seemed to be more terrifying than what the woman, Marie, threw at him. “You sick son of a-are you prostituting kids now?”

“ENOUGH!” he shouted, “Where’s that damn security?!”

“Because that’s the only way you can get rid of me, huh? Not in court but by men bigger than you to do your dirty work. Hell, you’re not even the boss. You don’t call the shots! You worthless piece of shit! How can you stand to look at yourself?”

“I ask him the same thing every day,” Vittoria shook her head sorrowfully.

“I’m this close,” he pinched his fingers and left a barely visible space between them, “To cutting out your tongue.”

Vittoria stepped back in fear. “Threatening bodily harm to a six-year-old? You really are a jack shit lawyer-”

“I’m nine actually. I’m just small,” Vittoria added. That information wasn't relevant but Vittoria thought it was.

“He also threw a paperweight at me,” she said pointing to the ball that stood still on the floor, “It hurt.”

“Oh...and assault. You really can’t get any lower,” Marie hissed, “I hope you can afford a good lawyer. I’d offer, but I despise you and I hate to take lost causes.”

Shivers rolled down her spine as she heard Sawyer grind his teeth. “Go back to the pits of hell where you belong, or whatever they’re calling Chicago these days, and maybe I won’t charge you for trespassing,” he snapped at the woman.

Marie scoffed, “You were so close to being free of him. And you brought him back, you pathetic worm.”

She could tell that dug into Sawyer deep. “He’s been a-,” he began to defend before eyeing Vittoria, “No. Just get out. I’ve got work to do.”

He retreated back to his seat and stepped on the puzzle she had been working on. No… Marie scowled at him, “You’re gonna end up dead one day.”

“We all do,” Sawyer sighed.

Anger rolled off Marie before her eyes met Vittoria’s. “Are you really okay, kid? You need any help?”

“I’ll survive,” she said politely.

Marie nodded. “If you ever need a good lawyer, don’t call him. He’s terrible, I should know, I was married to him,” she smirked, her eyes glowing with vindication at Sawyer whose own hazel eyes were full of hostility, “And I also beat his ass in court.”

Vittoria gasped. She was starry-eyed and already adored her, unknowing that this was the woman who convicted her father. Sawyer was glowering at her over papers, “ I’m meeting one of his ex-wives! “You poor woman. I’m so sorry,” she said with true genuineness, before clarifying her statement, “For being married to him. Not for beating him.”

Vittoria giggled at the last part. I love her. She’s mean to Sawyer. I’d do anything for her. She reminds me so much of Mama. With a last smile, she pushed by the security guards who finally arrived. Ooooh, Sawyer’s gonna fire them. Part of her was sad to see her go, knowing that Sawyer would wring her neck soon. For a moment, she had been transported back to how it was with her mother. It was probably a good thing Marie didn’t stay, otherwise, Vittoria most certainly would’ve imprinted on her and followed her around like a little duckling. “Can I be her?” she asked dreamily.

“No,” Sawyer said in a cold tone, “Come sit here.”

Vittoria obeyed and climbed into the large leather seat across from him, letting her legs swing back and forth as they couldn’t touch the ground. Wow, I feel like a grown-up. Sawyer put down his pen and looked at her. He wasn’t angry, just thoughtful and that confused her. He sighed and got up to open a globe in the corner of the room, “Whoa!”

Inside was an assortment of drinks and liquors that were half-empty. Beautiful amber-brown liquids filled the crystal cruet set, and Sawyer took the liberty to pour himself a drink. Sawyer closed the globe and gripped his glass and another empty one. Sawyer paused in front of a cabinet before opening the bottom door that revealed a mini-fridge. The cold air whooshed out when he pulled the door open, featuring rows of sodas, sparkling in their cans. “Rootbeer, black cherry, or strawberry?”

“What?” she whispered.

“Which one?” he asked again, gesturing to the sodas.

“Papa...Papa won’t let me. He won’t even let me have juice,” she frowned.

Sawyer shrugged, “Fine then…”

“Wait!” she called out before he closed the door.

She bit her lip. This is wrong. Maybe he’s doing this as a trap...but I’ve never had soda before. What if we get in a car crash on our way home and I die never having a soda?! No...Papa won’t let me and I have to be good for him, so no...I can’t have soda. And that’s that. “I’ll have the strawberry one please,” she said aloud and watched him pour the brown fizzing drink into a glass and hand it to her.

I can hear the bubbles! Vittoria felt giddy, excited to have something forbidden and sweet. Something she’d always wanted to try! A smile spread across her face as she put it up to her mouth, the foam and bubbles tickling her nose and causing her to sneeze. “Achoo!”

She wrinkled her nose to get rid of the itch as she pressed the thick crystal rim to her lips and tilted the glass back, allowing the sweet bubbly drink to drip into her mouth and leave a burning sensation down her throat. Vittoria coughed, “It burns!”

“That’s the carbonation,” Sawyer said plainly as he sat down again, “Vittoria...you know how we hate each other?”

She blinked, surprised at how honest he was being. “Yes…”

“Hm, well you know how we both love your father very much? And want him to be happy and safe?”

“Yes,” she said again, her voice worried.

“That woman who came in, my ex-wife, she doesn’t want that. She doesn’t want your father to be happy and she’s one of the people who believe lies about him. In fact, Marie is one of the people who spread those lies,” he scowled.

It was the first time she ever believed something Sawyer said. It was said with such a raw intensity that he couldn’t be lying to her, or at least lying to her entirely. “What?” she whispered.

“Vittoria, she’s not our friend. You can’t trust her and the moment she finds out you’re his daughter, she’ll want to exploit that, you. Marie will stop at nothing and will use you to take him down, which is why you can never tell her anything. Please, never talk to her again,” he said seriously.

“But...but she was nice,” she mumbled, to me.

Sawyer rolled his eyes, “Well this isn’t about us. It’s about protecting your father. So can you put our differences aside and treat her as what she is? A threat to our family?”

An alliance with Sawyer? She never wanted to agree with him on anything, but the way he was speaking set her nerves on alert. He means it...he’s serious. “Yes,” she agreed, “Anything for Papa. I-I don’t want to see him get hurt…”

“Good,” Sawyer nodded, “Then it’s agreed. You won’t speak to Marie or about her, ever again.”

“Agreed.”

“You are a smart girl, then,” he grinned, “One more thing, let me tell your father everything.”

“I’ll let you if you give me back my five dollars.”

“Not a chance.”

“I’ll go home and say it anyway,” she reasoned.

“Two dollars.”

“Three.”

“Two and a strawberry tab.”

“Three,” she insisted.

He narrowed his eyes, “Fine.”

“Thank you, Mr. Sawyer,” she said pleasantly.

Sawyer smiled greasily and leaned forward against his desk, holding out his drink. Vittoria took her cue and tapped her glass against his, a sweet clink, sounding out as they toasted. As she took a sip of her soda, she couldn’t help feeling like she made a deal with the devil.

[five-rivers]

Darkness/Poison

This is part of the ‘Doorways’ series (aka Danny is an eldritch abomination and Jack and Maddie have no normal friends so they decide to go on a road trip to make sure none of their friends from college have become semi-satanic soul-eating holes in reality AU).  

AO3 link to series.

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The Fenton Ghost Assault Vehicle did not have the smoothest ride in the world, but Danny was used to it.  Also, he had driven the Specter Speeder through the Carnivorous Canyon and ridden in Johnny 13’s sidecar.

Point being, if his parents didn’t want him to fall asleep, they should have told him.  Or, at least, not dragged him out of bed at four thirty in the morning (both to get an early start and to avoid the reporters and other undesirables who had taken to circling Fentonworks like vultures).

Look.  Danny might have been an unspeakable eldritch horror, a superhero, and one of the richest human beings on the face of the Earth, but he was also a teenager.  Not to mention sleep deprived.  

Besides, Mom and Dad had said their next Paranormal Research Club friend was miles and miles away.  They wouldn’t reach his town until much later in the day.  Danny had plenty of time to sleep safely.  

Which is why he was so disgruntled when Dad shook him awake with a cheery “We’re here!”

“Where’s here?” asked Danny, rubbing his eyes and noting sadly how far away his portal back in Amity Park was.  

“Breakfast,” said Jazz, voice heavy with sleep.  Apparently, he wasn’t the only one trying to take advantage.  

“’Kay,” said Danny, briefly wrestling with the seatbelt.  He caught Mom staring as he opened the door.  “What?” he asked frowning.  

“Nothing,” she said, unconvincingly.

Whatever.  Danny could figure it out later, when he was more awake.  He jumped to the ground.  

“I think you guys will really like it here!” said Dad, waving at the building.  “The food’s great!  An old friend owns the place.  Your mom and I used to come here all the time before you were born, when we were commuting between Amity and Chicago.”

Danny nodded along, staring up at the neon sign that read ‘Red Flower Dinner.’  Then his brain caught up, and he slowly turned his head to look at Dad.  

“’Old friend,’” he said.  “What do you mean old friend?”

Dad blinked at him, uncomprehending.  Jazz came to his rescue.  

“Dad, we’re doing this whole trip because all of your old friends are lunatics,” she explained.  

“They’re not!” said Dad, defensively.  “Besides, Marianne was never part of our club.  She didn’t even go to U of M.”

“She was a waitress at our favorite hangout,” explained Mom.  “She got enough saved to buy this restaurant around the time we graduated.  She’s few years older than us.”

“Saved?  I thought a relative died, and she got an inheritance?” asked Dad.

Danny groaned.  “Do you not see how suspicious that is?”

“Come on, Danno!  We can have normal friends.”

“No, you can’t.  If a normal thing ever interacts with our family in any way, it immediately becomes abnormal simply because of how unlikely it is for anything like that to happen.”  He dug the heels of his hands into his eyes until he saw stars.  

“He’s got a point,” said Jazz.  “Maybe we could go to a different dinner?”

“But,” said Dad, “she makes the best breakfast. And she really is normal.  She wasn’t involved in any ghost stuff.”

“Are you really telling me you never talked to her about ghost stuff at all?” asked Danny, suspiciously.  

“Well, we did,” said Dad.  “But we talk to everyone about ghost stuff.”  

“Dad…”

Dad inhaled and heaved a huge sigh, shoulders sagging.  “Alright, Danno.  I get what you’re saying.  We can go somewhere else…  Even if it won’t be as good.”

Okay.  Now Danny felt bad.  

Unfair.  

“Well,” he said.  “I guess we could check and make sure she’s not, you know, haunted or anything.  That’s why we’re doing this, I guess.”

Dad brightened immediately, and Danny had to grab the back of his shirt to keep him from running in.  

“But remember, if I say we have to go, we have to go.  That’s the deal.”

Dad nodded.  Danny let go.   He sighed as Dad disappeared into the building.  

“Is the food really that good?” asked Danny.

“Marianne grows a lot of her own herbs,” offered Mom with a shrug.  “Everything she makes is at least decent.  But, well,” she grimaced as she held the door open for her children. “The reason we liked her so much was that she always seemed interested in our research.  We liked talking to someone who took us seriously.”

“Wonderful,” deadpanned Jazz.

The décor inside the dinner was bright red and floral.  The seats and benches were upholstered in shiny, dyed leather.  A long glass counter displayed pies and other desserts under bright lights.  The air was warm and smelled faintly of cherries.  A radio station played quietly in the background, blurring the chatter of the other guests.  

Danny rubbed his eyes again.  Ugh.  He was tired. Sleeping in a moving vehicle was a special kind of unrestful.  Heh. Unrestful dead.  More like unrested dead.  That was him.  

(Someday, he was going to track down the first person to say, ‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead,’ and give them a stern talking to.)

“Marianne!” boomed Dad, waving at someone in the kitchen behind the order window.

There was a gasp.  “Jack Fenton!  Is that you?” A woman with greying brown curls leaned out, then ducked away briefly before reappearing through a door.  “I haven’t seen you in years!”  She threw her arms out, hugging first Dad and then Mom.

Danny bristled at the perceived threat to his parents but managed to control himself.  This was nothing.  Everything was fine.  Just because every one of his parents’ friends so far had something weird and potentially fatal going on so far, it didn’t give him the right to police their every interaction with other human beings.  

“Are these your kids?” asked Marianne, excitedly. “Oh, my goodness, you must be Jazz, and you’re Danny?  I’ve only seen you in pictures, but you’ve grown so much.  You’ll be as tall as your dad in no time.”

“Hope so,” said Danny, knowing there was no chance of that happening whatsoever.

Not with his human body, anyway.  

“I hope we’ll get a chance to talk,” she continued, “but I have things on the stove.  Why don’t you go ahead and find a seat?  We’ll get to you soon.”

“Looking forward to it, Marianne!” said Dad, waving again.  

“Is she alright?” asked Mom quietly as they slid into a corner booth.  

Danny wound up in between Mom and Jazz, which was good, because Dad tended to elbow whoever he was sitting by.  In this case, Mom, who could take it.

“I think so?” He rubbed his eyes.  “But I can’t just sense everything. Don’t forget that.”

“Stop rubbing your eyes,” said Mom.  

“They’re itchy,” said Danny.  “I think I got some sleep sand in them or something.”

Mom’s expression softened.  Danny blinked at it and wondered when he’d gotten so used to seeing an edge of suspicion on her face.  

“It could be allergies,” she said.  “It’s that time of year.  Or it could be that you keep rubbing them.”  She tugged his hands away from his face.  “Either way, it isn’t healthy to keep touching your eyes, sweetie.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t have a point, but Danny wasn’t entirely sure he could get sick.  Not anymore.  Maybe if he was far enough away from Amity Park, spread thin enough between his two major physical manifestations…  If his body was human enough…  Maybe figuring that out could be a fun family bonding experience.  Not.  

He yawned.  He wanted to go back to sleep.  Being in here, with the warm scented air and not-quite-white background noise, only made slumber more inviting.  

Still.  His family’s ability to protect themselves was lacking.  Danny at least had to stay conscious in case Marianne decided to channel the spirit of Locusta or something.  Ancients, wouldn’t that be typical?  

A waiter came, introduced themself, and handed out menus.  Danny failed to process most of the waiter’s prepared speech, and his eyes drifted down to the menu.  

It seemed… normal, for lack of a better word. Slightly worn, a couple stains on the paper behind the plastic protector.  The pages had a border of blotchy red flowers.  The items were all typical breakfast foods.  Nothing jumped out at him.  

He wasn’t even hungry.  Actually, if he thought about it, he was a little nauseated. Sometimes that happened when he didn’t eat for a while, though, so maybe he was hungry, after all?

Why did bodies have to be so complicated?

“What are you getting?” asked Jazz, who was morally unable to make a food order until she’d taken a poll.  

“I don’t know,” said Danny, folding his arms on the table and letting his head rest on them.  “I’ll probably just get whatever you’re getting.”

Jazz frowned at him and repeated the question to their parents.

The waiter came back after a few minutes.  

“I’ll have the Variety Breakfast!” said Dad, excitedly.  

“The number five, please,” said Maddie. “Sausage links, not bacon.”

“Um,” said Jazz.  “How about the Red Flower Special?”

“Excellent choice,” said the waiter, smiling. “Marianne grows all the seasonings for that herself, and the presentation is lovely.”

“I mean, it’s pancakes, right?” asked Jazz, nervously.  

“It is, it is.  What would you like for your side?”  It took just a few seconds for the waiter to get the rest of Jazz’s order, then they turned to Danny.  “And what are you having today?”

“Same as her,” said Danny, waving in Jazz’s general direction.  

“Good choice, good choice,” said the waiter.  “We’ll be back soon!”

“Thanks!” said Dad.  He reached over Mom to pat Danny on the shoulder.  “See?  This is just a completely normal restaurant.”

“Mhm,” said Danny, dubiously.  He’d believe it when he got out of here with his questionably mortal coil and squishy, murderable human family intact.    

Okay.  Maybe he was being a bit overdramatic, now.  Was it because he was too far from the Amity portal?  He’d been sure it wouldn’t significantly affect him, though. It wasn’t as if physical distance meant much in this context.  Sure, he wasn’t on his home turf, but still…

Of course, he was a teenager. Teenagers were supposed to be overdramatic.  At least, that’s what he’d heard.  Being a teenager didn’t come with a manual any more than being a half-ghost superhero did, quirky TV shows about middle school notwithstanding.  

Yeah.  That sounded reasonable.  He was a teenager who’d been woken early, and it was still early, and that meant the world was terrible.  Excellent math.  

He sipped at the water the waiter had left him, pleased with himself.  

Which is when his and Jazz’s orders arrived. Danny caught a glimpse of red on him plate, abruptly recognized the prickling feeling in his eyes, expelled the water he was drinking from his nose, and propelled himself sideways across Mom and Dad and out of the booth.  

“Ah!” he said, pointing at the red-tinted pancakes and the pretty little flowers on top.  

The plating really was nice.  Just like the waiter said.  

The whole dinner was staring at him.

“He’s got allergies,” explained Jazz, her voice just a little too high pitched.  “Just—Really horrible allergies.  To flowers like this.”

“Blood blossoms,” said Danny.  He was reasonably certain the things wouldn’t kill him, he wasn’t sure that anything short of something like Gula could kill him, but every encounter he had with them had been painful beyond belief, and he doubted that their being cooked would help very much with that.  

“Right.  Blood blossoms.  The name always slips by me…  Haha.”

“Oh my gosh,” said Marianne, rushing out of the kitchen.  “I am so sorry.  I didn’t know anyone was allergic to them!  It’s just, you guys always talked about how they were lucky, and they got rid of bad spirits, so I thought I’d incorporate them, and they’re red, which is also lucky, and they taste so good—”

“Marianne,” said Mom, poking at one of the flowers, “where did you even get these?  I thought they were extinct.”

“Oh,” said Marianne, “my uncle, the one who died, well I guess they’re all dead, now, but…  The one who left me enough to buy the dinner?  He worked in seed conservation.  I got his personal collection.”  She sniffed, apparently on the edge of tears.  

“Ah,” said Mom, glancing at Danny.  “That’s interesting.  Um.”  She slid out of the booth.  “I’m really sorry, Marianne, but,” she gestured in Danny’s direction.  “Food allergies.”

“He’s had breakouts just from being around them, before,” added Jazz, helpfully.  

“Oh, no, no, I understand.  Um.  One second, let me give you my number, I don’t want to fall out of contact again, oh, dear.  Tracy! Give me your notepad!”

It took several more minutes for all the Fentons to make their way back outside, most of which Danny spent staring into the dinner through the large front windows, keeping an eye on his family. Maybe he didn’t have ‘allergies’ in the typical sense but being around blood blossoms was making his skin itch and prickle unpleasantly.  

Eventually, however, after Dad had shoved most of his order down his throat in a single go, they all got back into the GAV.  

“Oh. My. Gosh,” said Jazz.  “You two have no normal friends.”

[prettyboyjackhughes]

-Maybe it wasn’t meant to be- |J. Hughes| [Part 3]

I just wanted to put a little note here and say thank you for reading and all the support! You guys are awesome and have been the whole reason I enjoy writing this story so much! Let me know what you think!

Jack had been in a daze ever since his phone call with Alex a few days ago. Charlie was at the center of his thoughts. Memories and images of her; the way her body looked, her smile, the excitement in her eyes. He knew everything about her, had seen every inch of her body. And that’s all he could think of.

Charlie was still shaken over the fact that Jack knew she was in Colorado. He still thought about her, if he had talked about what had happened between them. As she lay in her bed, hugging a pillow to her chest, she thought about what it had been like before.

Alex was at a loss with the two of them. It was very clear to him that they still had some sort of feelings for each other but neither was going to step up and talk to the other. So he did what he always did when he wanted something done. He called Madi. Madi Anderson was Charlie's best friend since the 7th grade and Alex's girlfriend for the past 4 years. She had been studying abroad for the last year and a half and was finally coming home next week. Maybe she would have an idea on how to get things fixed between Jack and Charlie.

"Mads, it's crazy. They still love each other. I didn't mean to get involved or anything but Char is miserable and you've seen the stories about Jack. " Alex says, sitting on the couch in his apartment.

"I mean, it's to the point that Charlie took down the picture of her and Toews because it reminds her of Jack." On the other end of the phone call, and a ridiculous number of miles away, Madi's eyes widened. Charlie’s favorite player since she was 15, the year he got drafted and started playing in the NHL, had been Jonathan Toews. Her family had lived in Chicago for the first 4 years of her parents’ marriage and her oldest brother’s birth, solidifying her and her family’s love for the Blackhawks. She had always joked with Jack that she loved Jonathan Toews more than she loved Jack. For her 16th birthday, Jack had taken her to the Blackhawks convention. He had gotten her a meet and greet with Jonathan Toews. She had screamed when she had opened the envelope, jumping up to hug Jack. The two of them had spent the 3 days of the convention in Chicago, by themselves, playing as adults. Jack had made sure to get Charlie to take a picture with Toews and get him to sign it, something she had treasured for years afterwards. But her favorite picture was the one with Jack and Toews in it. That was the one Alex was talking about.

“Mads, we gotta fix this. I can’t watch them fall apart like this anymore. It’s been 3 years and it’s…it’s too hard.” Alex said, his voice breaking a little. Madi’s heart broke a little for Alex.

“Honey, we’ll get this fixed. And if they don’t work out, we’ll figure something out.” Madi said, comforting Alex. After being together for almost 4 years, most of it spent being long-distance, Madi knew how much Alex cared about his friends. He would put everything into making sure his friends were taken care of before he would even think of taking care of himself. That’s why she knew this was so important to Alex. So, to make sure her boyfriend would take care of himself, she had to come up with a plan.

“Okay, sweetheart, here’s what we’re gonna do. I’m coming home at the end of next week. You’re gonna figure out a way to get Charlie back to Plymouth when I get home. On my way, I’m gonna stop by Jersey, grab Jack, drag him home. You said the boys are gonna be home too right?” Madi asks, tucking her leg underneath her as she sat on her bed in her room.

“Yeah. Trev, Coley and Patty are all gonna be home.” Alex says, wishing more than anything that Madi was there in person, talking this all through with him.

“Okay, we fill the boys in, make sure none of those idiot dumb asses try and make a move on Char and stage a movie night. Just like we used to do back in the NDTP. But the only issue is going to be keeping Jack and Char from seeing each other before we do that. Especially since they live 3 houses away from each other. But maybe forcing them to see each other and having the movie night will stir up those old feelings from before and make them realize that they both still care about each other a lot.” Alex smirks, just as in love with his girl as he’s always been.

“See this is why you’re the mastermind of all our good plans. Thanks, baby. I love you. I’m gonna go look at tickets and head over to Charlie’s to convince her. See you in a week.” Alex says, listening to Madi’s goodbye before he hangs up. He texts Charlie, letting her know he’s on his way over.

Jack closed his eyes, seeing Charlie asleep on their bed, her face buried in her pillow. He had woken up before her, the weekend before he had left for the road trip that would eventually break them. He sat up, tracing the curve of her spine, tracing shapes on her back. The thing that killed him about this memory was the fact that things had seemed so good. He had felt like he loved her more than he ever had when they were in Plymouth. He had been thinking about asking her to marry him but had decided to wait, giving both of them a little more time to grow up and get settled. As he was thinking about all of this, she had slowly opened her eyes, smiling at him and he leaned down to kiss her. She clawed her way on top of him and cuddled into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight to him.  They had spent the day in bed, savoring every minute of being with each other before he was on the road for two weeks. Things had been so perfect. And then he had left for the road trip, they fought and she left. Everything changed all because of a few stupid things he had said out of exhuastion, irritation and in all honesty, missing her. He wanted her back, he wanted that feeling back so badly that at this point, he would give anything. He’d give up hockey, his entire life, to have her back.

Alex knocked on Charlie’s door then turned the handle, letting himself in with the key Charlie had given him. She was somewhere in the apartment because he could hear music playing and her singing along very loudly. It was good to see her somewhat happy since she had been at a really low point for a while now.

“Char? I’m in your apartment.” He called, walking back towards her room and knocking on the door. The door creaked open and he could see into the bathroom where Charlie was.

“Hi Turcs! Can you order food? I’m starving!” She shouted, leaning back so he could see her. He smirked, sat down on her bed and got his phone out to order them dinner. A few minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom, brown hair dye stained all over her shirt and her hair a much darker color than it had been this morning when he saw her at the rink.

“You like it?” She asked, flipping her hair around. Slightly stunned by the color change, Alex nods.

“It looks really good on you, Char. I like it. What made you decide to do that?” She tugs off her t-shirt and pulls on a sweatshirt, one Alex instantly recognizes as Jack’s. He chooses not to say anything.

“I don’t know. I guess I was just kinda sick of being blonde. So I decided to change it up. Cool how I can do that, huh?” Alex shakes his head, lifting his phone up and snapping a picture to send to Madi.

“Hey, speaking of changes, Madi comes home for good next week. How would you feel about going home to Plymouth for the week?” Alex asked, casually. He glanced up from where he was ordering pizza on his phone to catch her reaction as he asked the question. She stiffened for a second but then her shoulders dropped and she turned to face him, a smile on her face.

“Um, hell yes! I haven’t been home in almost 4 years, I need to go home and visit.” Alex tries to hide his thrill that their plan is starting to fall into place.

“Okay then! It’s settled then. We’ll leave Thursday?” He asked, knowing that Madi would hopefully be getting in with Jack late Friday night. Charlie nods and the two of them spend the rest of the evening eating pizza, watching New Girl and eventually, Charlie fell asleep on Alex. He helped her to her room, made sure she got changed and did all her nighttime routine stuff, got her into bed and left, locking the door with his key on the way out.

Jack had just sat down on the couch, turned the TV on and was scrolling through Netflix when the knocking started. He ignored it at first, figuring it was probably Mallory, coming to try and ‘talk things out’ like she had tried to do when he started ignoring her calls and texts. But the knocking didn’t go away. If it was Mallory, she would’ve given up by now. She wasn’t exactly what you would call a ‘driven girl’ in any sense.

Finally getting annoyed by the constant knocking, Jack tossed the remote to the side and got up to answer the door. As he pulled the door open, nudging Luca out of the way, he was met with a glare. Madi Anderson, Charlie’s best friend and self-designated protector, tiny as she was, still scared the hell out of him. When they were in high school, everybody knew not to mess with Madi. Even with her only being 5 feet, 3 inches, she terrified Jack and majority of the boys at Plymouth High School. Alex was the only one who could manage her. Plus, she went soft for Alex.  

"Do you not know how to open a door?" Madi asked, crossing her arms and glaring at him. Jack said nothing, only stepped out of her way and let her into his apartment. Despite being terrified of Madi for the majority of his school career, the two of them had gotten onto good terms. They were pretty good friends now.

“Uh hi to you too? Why are you here?" Jack asked, following Madi into the living room of his apartment.

“I'm here because your dumbass made a mistake 3 years ago and hasn't come home since then. Get packed, Jacky. We’re going home." Madi said, flopping down on the couch and petting Luca. Jack's eyebrow went up.

"Plus all of your best friends managed to be home this weekend. So I decided, on my way home from Germany, which is an 8 hour flight I might add, to drag your sorry ass with me back home." The other thing about Madi was that she swore more than anyone he knew. Even more than Quinn when Jack had forced him to play goalie for him and he was taking shots on him.

“Mads, I can't go home. There's...There's too many memories there.” Jack spat out, running his hand through his hair. Madi sat, watching him. She and Alex had talked through this whole little scheme they had, a thousand times. Alex would get Charlie home a day before Madi and Jack would get into town, enough time to fill in the rest of the boys on what he and Madi were doing so they wouldn't get in the way. They would say that they were having a movie night, just like they used to do, back in the NDTP. Which was technically the truth but the surprise would be, for Jack, that Charlie was there. For Charlie, it would obviously be that Jack was there. This would force the two of them to face each other, possibly bringing those feelings they both still had to the surface.

“Jack Hughes come on. You’re coming home and there’s no more moping allowed. You’re gonna go home, get drunk with your best friends and have a good time. Now go pack.”  Jack stood and Madi nodded, satisfied. Jack walks back to his room, thinking about how it would be going back to Plymouth. He had missed his family of course, but they always came to visit in Jersey. He was still scared that he would fall apart because to him, everything with Charlie was in Plymouth. He shook his head, refusing to think about that. He grabbed enough clothes to last a week, mostly sweatpants, t-shirts and a few sweatshirts. He tossed two pairs of jeans and some socks, plus a few other things into his duffel bag. He walked into the bathroom and heard both Madi and the dog come into his room. Luca hopped up on his bed and Madi settled herself on the floor; something she had gotten from Charlie. He packed some stuff from the bathroom then walked back out, setting his bag on the floor.

“We’re bringing Luca home with us.” Madi says, looking up at Jack. Jack raises an eyebrow.

“Luke told me we had to.” Madi says, standing up and crossing her arms. Jack shakes his head, knowing Madi wouldn’t budge on this. So he packed up Luca’s leash, food and water dishes, food, and treats and the 3 of them headed out the door to the rental car Madi had. Madi let Jack play music, knowing he would stay quiet if his music was on, plus that meant the topic of Charlie wouldn’t come up. Even though Madi was the most terrifying and intense person everyone knew, she sucked at keeping secrets. So the less Charlie was talked about, the less issue there was of Madi blowing their little plan. The two of them rode in silence for the whole ride, only really talking when they would stop to let Luca out to run around and go to the bathroom. But the whole ride, all Jack could think about was all the memories that he was going to have to suffer through being brought back as soon as they crossed the Plymouth city limits.  

[iamwhoami]

Flutter (Chicago PD)

Chicago PD

   Y/N, a firefighter at Firehouse 51, meets Hailey Upton through a case and ends up continuing to see her afterwards.

Warnings: None

Requested = Yes

   It didn’t turn out as I was expecting but hopefully it’s good enough for the person who requested this. 

   It all started with a fire that seemed suspicious. Something just didn’t seem right so you guys looped CPD into it.

“So what makes you think it’s arson?” Hailey asked. Her and Halstead and come to the scene where you and Severide were to show them what the two of you had found.

   You lead them over to the corner of the room and gestured towards the broken pieces of what looked to be a timed arson device.

“This,” You told them and the two detectives bent down to take a closer look.

“Yeah, this does look like arson,” Halstead grimaced, “I’ll loop in the rest of the team. Thanks for calling us in.”

   Severide nodded, “Of course.”

   As they were leaving though, you couldn’t help but stare at Hailey and when she turned around briefly back at you, the two of you made eye contact.

   The thing was though, you two then held it for what seemed like a few minutes when it couldn’t have even been a whole second.

   When Hailey smiled softly at you, you felt your heart flutter and your cheeks turn red as you smiled shyly back. She then turned back around and headed out of the building.

“Someone’s in love,” Severide teased you once they were both out of earshot and you felt yourself blush harder.

“Shut up,” You punched Severide in the shoulder but didn’t deny anything as you two headed back to the firehouse.

~~~

   It had been a long shift and you were spending your evening at Molly’s with your 51 family when someone took a seat next to you.

“Can I buy you a drink?” 

   You turned to face whoever had offered, a decline all ready when you saw who it was.

Hailey Upton.

“What’s the occasion?” You asked, trying to remain calm despite the fact that your brain was running around like you were a teenager who’s crush had just walked into the room.

   Hailey laughed, “There is no occasion but if you need a reason, we just caught the arsonist of that building fire, something we couldn’t have done without your help.”

“Severide helped you too,” You couldn’t help but blush.

“I’ll buy Severide a drink later,” Hailey chuckled, “So, back to my original question, can I buy you a drink?”

   You nodded, “You know what? Sure actually.”

   With your drinks in hand, you and Hailey started talking. From each other’s job to the other person’s job. The more the two of you talked, the less your heart fluttered every time she spoke to you.

   It was getting late and you and Hailey both knew that she had to work the next day but she never called it a night.

   Another hour went by before she brought it up.

“I hate to end this wonderful night but I do have to work tomorrow.” Hailey told you, the disappointment evident in her voice.

“That’s the perks of being a firefighter,” You smiled good naturedly.

   Hailey laughed and you couldn’t help but feel almost proud in a way. It was childish this crush you had on Hailey. You felt like you were a teenager falling in love for the first time again.

“I had a really nice time with you Y/N,” Hailey said and your heart gave another flutter at those words.

“So did I,” You managed to say over your pounding heart.

“I hope we can talk again soon,” Hailey seemed genuine about that.

   You nodded, “I hope so too.”

~~~

   Six months later, you and Hailey were dating. You knew you loved her since that night at Molly’s and so did she, but neither of you were brave enough to tell the other. 

   Finally, Jay and Kelly were sick of you two being completely in love without the other really knowing and got you to cave into telling Hailey how much you loved her.

   From that moment on, you two were almost inseparable, except when the two of you needed to work of course. 

   She was worried about your job as a firefighter and you were worried about her job as a cop so whenever the other was working, the one staying at home was in constant worry. 

“Hey there,” You said as Hailey came up from behind you and wrapped her arms around your waist while you were brushing your teeth, getting ready for bed.

“I missed you today,” Hailey mumbled into your neck.

   Even though you were at home, Hailey was at work and this was something you heard quite often when that happened.

“So did I,” You replied once you had spat the mouthful of toothpaste into the sink.

   You finished up and allowed Hailey to take your hand and lead you into the bedroom where the two of you crawled under the covers with only the lamp on.

“You know I love you right?” Hailey asked.

“Of course I do,” You shifted on the mattress so you were laying on your side, facing Hailey. “Why do you ask that?”

   Hailey bit her lip, “We both have dangerous jobs. If I died, or if you died, you need to know I love you.”

   Your heart cracked slightly but just leaning over and kissing Hailey made it mend right up.

“I love you Hailey,” You said when you parted and your eyes met her blue ones, “I love you so much I could never leave you.”

“But death doesn’t really work that way,” Hailey whispered quietly.

   You shook your head, “Even if I’m dead, I’m still with you.”

   Hailey nodded and you reached over before tucking a strand of Hailey’s hair behind her ear.

“Besides, you know I can’t go dying on you, and you can’t go dying on me,” You felt your heart give a little flutter. “That’s apart of the deal.”

“What deal?” Hailey had a confused look on her face.

   You smiled, “The deal we’re making right now.”

[tobesoadores]

Chicago

In which Derek is arrested for crimes he didn’t commit and his girlfriend, Lennon, learns about his past

Masterlist: x

Derek and his girlfriend, Lennon, were sitting on the sofa after dinner. His mother went above and beyond with the meal, regardless of the fact that it was her birthday. Derek wanted the most important women in his life to meet and that’s why bringing his girlfriend along on the home visit worked out so well. His sisters were coming back, too. They all loved her. No one expected Derek to find someone who would be the complete opposite of him yet remain ever so amazing. The man adored the way in which they interacted, it felt easy, practically natural for them to bond. He couldn’t have asked for a better experience. They dined and conversed and it tired everyone out. Sarah and Desiree hit the bed quite early on, both of them being fairly exhausted from not only travelling but also from previously working full days at their jobs. Fran, their mother, was overjoyed by the company she had and celebrating tired her out. That left the lovebirds alone with each other.

“You were right,” she told him after a while of simply gazing at his side profile. The stern jaw, smooth skin, perfectly curled ear and narrow nose, always managed to make her get lost in her own world. Morgan was used to it, he loved it, in fact. He noticed her staring but didn’t mention it as he watched the TV with a beer in his right hand, his left resting on her knee. She pulled her legs to her chest as she sat with her feet tucked under his left thigh. Derek faced the television and she faced the cabinet on the right.

Turning to face her, he hummed, “Yeah? About what?”

“Your family,” she smiled sheepishly, making him grin even bigger. At first, she had her doubts, genuine insecurity nipping at her insides when Derek brought the topic up between them. Although the two had been dating for almost six months now, she still found it to be early to meet the parents. Then again, much like Morgan, she never had a proper relationship before him. They were both new to this, so, their approaches to milestones like this were going to be different to what she’d heard. With that being said, she felt this meeting went wonderfully, so much better than her mind could’ve ever imagined it.

“Wanna tell me how you came to that conclusion?” he raised his eyebrow, hooking his finger under hers until they linked and he gave it a gentle squeeze.

“They’re amazing which I didn’t doubt but you know how unsure I was about their opinion on me,” Lennon admitted, even though Derek knew this and tried to change her mind on multiple occasions. No matter how many times he’d mention that his sisters and mother were ecstatic to meet her, it didn’t change anything. He knew it wouldn’t, not until they actually met. “I think they like me.”

“See?” he chuckled, placing his left arm over her legs, the underside of his arm on her stomach as he leaned closer. “I told you, baby. Not one thing to dislike about you.”

“I’m sure there’s plenty,” she rolled her eyes, finding his compliment to be a little blown out of the park.

“Nah-ah, none of that,” he denied. Reaching his arm out, he could cup her chin to bring her face closer, connecting their lips in a soft kiss that made her sigh against him. Morgan couldn’t hold his smile back, breaking the gesture almost immediately. Her little sounds drove him crazy and if they weren’t in his mother’s home, tangled on her couch, he would’ve made sure to listen to his girlfriend all night long. “You’re everything, you hear me? Funny. Loving. Kind. Smart. Compassionate. A little crazy,” he broke a smile and she blushed. Whenever he’d tell her these things—and it happened often—she didn’t know how to take it so she sat there, cheeks burning, ears prickling, and let him tell her. She liked the sound of those words from his mouth, they were powerful coming from him, seeing as he truly meant each and every one of them. “But that’s how I like ‘em,” he added, making her chuckle.

This time, she initiated the kiss. Moving around, Derek settled between her legs and she wrapped them around his waist. He hoisted them upwards and encouraged her, simply because he enjoyed their closeness, the warmth and weight of her against his body. Pushing his hands under her, he held her as she connected her arms around his neck. Their mouths linked until he swept his tongue across her bottom lip, inviting a gentle sigh out of her throat that allowed him to deepen the kiss. She moaned into his mouth as their tongues touched, tangled and hot, yet still innocent and soft. Neither of them was looking for sex, it was a pure moment between them, where kissing meant more than anything else in that moment.

Derek broke apart to catch his breath, his eyes already set on his girl. He couldn’t even look away from her for longer than needed, much more preferring his attention focused on her than anyone or anything else. He loved the way her eyes fluttered open, oh so innocent to what they may find once fully aware of her surroundings. The earthy, brown buttons felt like dark holes at times, a path to get lost in forever. He loved her eyes because they watched him and loved him, where her words couldn’t possibly explain her feelings for him, they did the job.

He pulled his right hand from under her and traced his index finger down the bridge of her nose. Intently, she watched him, never taking her pretty eyes off of him. Derek swam in the attention, the care that those irises radiated.

“Derek?”

“Sounds like music to my ears,” he flirted with her because he knew she’d giggle and feel flustered, then proceed to try and play off the way his words made her feel. Six months and he knew her better than she knew herself. Granted, the fact that he read people and their behaviour for a living played into his pocket, he was sure he could’ve done well without that advantage, too.

“Stop it, I’m trying to be romantic,” she swatted at his chest then placed her soft hand on the side of his neck. Derek rolled his lips in his mouth, wetting both of them soon after. “You no longer need to win me over. I’m yours, aren’t I?”

“What’you talking about, woman?” he laughed. “Of course, I gotta win you over. Just because we’re together, doesn’t mean I stop being a gentleman.”

“Okay, whatever,” she sighed.

He leaned down and kissed her lips. “What were you going to say?”

“Huh?” she furrowed her brows.

“Before. You said my name. What’s next?”

“Oh, right,” she smiled, making him lose his breath and his heart miss a beat. God damn it, baby. He thought. Still giving me the butterflies. “I just wanted to say that—,” much to his dismay, she stopped midsentence. Interrupted by loud knocks on the front door, they both whipped their heads in that direction. “Who’s that?”

“Sarah probably ordered some food,” he sighed, getting off of his girl as he pushed his weight into his left arm, pressing himself up by using the back of the couch. “There’s this milkshake place, they do delivery all night.”

“Oh,” she breathed. Then feet padding against the steps could be heard, rushing, before Derek and Lennon saw Sarah slide across the floor in her socks, planting her hands on the door. All three of them laughing, the woman looked in the peep hole but even without saying much, it was easy to tell her milkshake wasn’t on the other side of the door.

“What’s wrong?” Derek asked his sister as he got up properly, his girl going right after him.

“Why is the, um, police here?” she asked, gulping as she furrowed her brows while her brother stepped beside her.

“Huh?” he looked at her confused, looking through the tiny glass. “What the hell?”

His girlfriend stepped closer to Sarah to see, only to be welcomed by four men, two dressed in police uniform, the other two casually. One of them was on the bulkier side, no tie and loose shirt worn under a brown blazer, the other skinny, slightly smaller in height and bald. He wore a tie, tightened till he couldn’t breathe, black blazer and matching trousers. His hands were on his waist, a scowl on everyone’s face.

“Gordinski?” Derek asked with one hand on the door handle still. He was confused, Lennon could tell, and it made her nervous. If he had no idea why the police were here, then it couldn’t have been good. She knew Derek used to work for the Chicago Police Department, but that was more focused on bomb squad than anything else. To her knowledge, anyway.

“You armed?” the bald man asked, almost expecting an answer but never making it clear. He seemed sure of himself and it made Lennon worried. She wasn’t sure why they asked that because it wasn’t like Derek was a threat to anyone.

“Excuse me?” Morgan asked as though he didn’t hear it right.

With an attitude, the bigger man asked, “Are you wearing a gun?”

“What’s going on?” Lennon asked at last, not being able to stand the situation anymore. Derek didn’t take his eyes off of the police but he reached backwards and grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently as his way of reassuring her.

“No,” he gave the answer. Then added, “Not right now.”

That was all it took for the bald man—she didn’t know his name and she wasn’t too bothered by this—to reach for his handcuffs while he said, “Then turn around,” in a sure, authoritative tone, the metal clinking as he grasped it in his hand. Lennon was about to say something when Sarah took a hold of her other hand, making her look at the sister and she shook her head.

Derek scoffed, looking from one of the officers to the other as he eventually pressed, “This ‘some kinda sick joke, right?”

“Don’t make us get physical,” the bigger man said in a cocky tone and Lennon wanted to speak up. Who were these men trying to arrest her boyfriend? He barely made it back home to celebrate his mother’s birthday and on the night of, the police show up? This had to be a joke. “It’ll only make it worse for your family.”

The last sentence made him look back at his mother, his sisters, his girlfriend. In the process, somehow, he let go of Lennon’s hand and he didn’t manage to notice it. Rubbing his ring finger against his thumb, his lips slightly parted, he felt his heartbeat increase as his eyes met hers. She was worried about him and he knew but there wasn’t anything he could do.

“You’re under arrest, Derek.”

/

Lennon paced. Up and down. Up and down. She didn’t know what happened. Well, she did—the police came, cuffed Derek and they drove off. Most likely to the police station. The man he addressed as Gordinski seemed rather proud of himself for getting that done, only making her blood pressure rise and her hands ball into tight fists.

That was last night. It was the morning now but nothing has changed. Derek was still not back.

“Hey, sit,” Desiree called to her when she couldn’t take Len’s moving anymore. She was stressed and angry and nervous and nothing was going to help her calm down. Derek was arrested and he stated he didn’t want anyone going to the station after them. It pissed Lennon off, it made her feel like he was hiding something and she hated the thought. Derek never lied to her, not to her knowledge, anyway, and she would’ve preferred if he didn’t start doing that now.

“I don’t get it,” she shook her head, searching through her thoughts as though she’d be able to find an explanation for what was happening. “What did he do?”

“Lennon, I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding,” Sarah sighed as she sat down at the table. The girlfriend furrowed her brows, now officially confused. Who arrests someone based on a misunderstanding? “Gordinski always had it out for my brother. Anything he can pin on him, he will.”

Before she could’ve answered, there was a knock at the door and Fran was the first to reach it. Opening it, Lennon found out a little later, it revealed the same bald man from before and two familiar faces. Spencer Reid and the new addition to the team, Emily Prentiss. She sighed, feeling slightly more relieved, knowing that his colleagues were here, hopefully to get this shit sorted. If Lennon had to go there herself and sort that detective out—it shocked her to find out the man’s position within the department—then it wasn’t going to go down pretty or quietly.

“Spencer, is he okay?” she asked immediately, without any welcoming or catching up. She had to know.

“Yeah, he is being interrogated right now, or was, when we left,” he responded honestly. While she knew Derek could handle questions thrown at him because he was much harsher when he was in position of power, it didn’t make her feel better to know he was cornered and blamed for something, whatever it was, he didn’t do.

“He wouldn’t let us go there with him,” his mother added, shaking her head as she sat on the chair, Desiree standing behind her, hands on her shoulders. They were all worried for him.

“He’s fine. Our boss is with him,” Emily added in a reassuring tone, glancing at everyone in order to make sure she was heard. If Aaron Hotchner was with him, he had to be in good hands. He would do everything in his power to get Morgan out of there, she knew it.

Then, in a very annoyed tone, knowing that the bald man was there to hear, Sarah directed her words at Emily and Spencer, “Did he tell you Gordinski’s been harassing him since he was a kid?”

“Why’s that?” Spencer questioned, intrigued. Lennon noticed the bald man’s posture change at that, rubbing his eyebrows with his hand. He disagreed with Sarah’s comment.

“Well, you’d have to ask that bastard,” Sarah said, making Lennon scoff. She had a couple of ideas as to why he had it out for her boyfriend.

“Oh, Sarah,” Fran said in an alerted, surprised tone since an official was standing in the room. Multiple officials, but the man with CPD threw the mother off more.

Standing up for her sister, Desiree said, “It’s true, mum.”

“Sure, it is,” the man behind Emily said, fingers on his lip while the other rested on his waist. Lennon scowled, though expected him to defend his boss.

Before Lennon could have said anything—she had too much she wanted to put out there—Sarah interrupted, “What are you even doing in my mother’s house?”

“They asked me.”

“Not really,” Spencer added, making Len chuckle under her breath as their eyes met for a short second. The two of them got along well.

Emily then spoke to the man and told him to cool off. It was better that way, than if Lennon had to interfere. All those built up emotions she stuffed down inside of her were begging to show but she couldn’t go crazy in front of Derek’s family and colleagues. It wouldn’t have been appropriate, no matter how much she hated the situation.

“I don’t understand how they could think he did this,” Fran spoke, putting one of Len’s thoughts into words. Truth be told, she was busy setting the man in the suit on fire in her brain. He was the one to cuff Derek last night and had almost a smirk on his face while doing so.

The rage she felt inside of her was getting to her head. She no longer participated in the conversation between the sisters, mother and FBI agents. She could not focus on what was being said. The only thing that made sense to her was to get up and go to the station. Why didn’t Derek want them there? She wanted to be there. She needed to be there to support him. Waiting around all day was not going to do it for her.

/

“Where is he?” she barely caught her breath before her eyes found JJ, a phone pressed to her ear. The blonde woman turned around in an instant and Lennon, standing under the arch of the main room inside the station, repeated her question. “Where is Derek?”

“Lennon,” she called her name, excusing herself from the call right after. She pressed a button and slid the phone in her pocket. “He’s fine. Come, sit.”

“Where is he?” she questioned again, ignoring what she told her. She didn’t want to sit down. She didn’t want to know if he was fine. Of course, he was fine! Derek was always fine.

“He’s not here,” JJ answered eventually.

“What?” she spat, looking around frantically. She only saw local police officers, no one else. Spencer was still at the house, Emily was gone when she left, Aaron must’ve been off somewhere else and she assumed that Jason was with him. That left JJ here alone. “What do you mean he’s not here?”

“The door was left unlocked and no one kept an eye on him. He found the opportunity and snuck out.”

“Did he say where he was going? Is he on his way home?” she asked.

“No one knew he left until an officer checked on the room,” JJ told her and that’s when Lennon decided to sit down. Burying her face in her hands, she couldn’t believe this was happening. She didn’t sleep the whole night because she had no idea what was happening with her boyfriend and now that she was here and ready to see him, he was gone. She’d never been to Chicago and it was never a topic between them that Derek talked about in detail, so she had no idea where he could’ve gone.

“Derek snuck out and no one noticed,” she repeated the words, laughing at the end because that was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard. A 6 feet tall man managed to sneak out of a police station. The past however many hours have been the most hilarious to ever have happened to her. She was sure of it.

JJ’s phone rang. She excused herself as she said ‘Hotch’ but the rest was unclear. Lennon prayed it was about her boyfriend as she sat on the chair, elbow rested on the table. Her chin sat in the palm of her hand, fingers over her mouth and touching her nose. Her right leg bounced up and down which she didn’t even notice until she stopped. Curling her fingers inwards, she bit down on her nails, watching as the blonde agent walked back to her.

“Hotch—Aaron, is on his way here to pick you up. They found Derek.”

“How does he know I’m here? And where is he? Is he okay?” Lennon asked immediately. The phrase ‘they found Derek’ could mean a lot of things and the worst of those came to her mind.

“All you need to know is that you’ll see him soon and he’s fine,” she repeated with reassuring eyes and a gentle touch to her shoulder. JJ wanted nothing more than to soothe the woman because she knew she loved Derek. That was precisely why she knew Lennon wouldn’t stop asking around and stressing until the two were together. “Let’s go.”

Stepping outside, the familiar black SUV stopped just as the door closed behind her. The window rolled down, revealing Aaron, who told both women to get inside. JJ declined and said she needed to take care of paperwork and she’ll gather their belongings so they’re ready to leave when everything is settled. None of that mattered to Lennon. She wanted to be there, wherever they were going, already. Jason asked if she was okay and if she needed anything but she only responded with one worded answers, a yes then a no. The two agents at the front glanced at each other and left it at that.

The journey to the location was fast and quiet. Lennon focused on the cars passing, the trees melting, the lights blurring together. Almost there. She knew Derek would be okay but she couldn’t be sure. Her heart couldn’t be sure until she held him.

When the SUV stopped, she threw the door open. She saw police cars outside and officers standing by. Locals. They watched, observed what was going on. It was the youth centre, she realised, the one that Fran spoke about before Emily left. It only came back to her in short flashes, she didn’t remember the exact conversation just a man’s name—Carl. Carl and him helping Morgan in the past.

“Ma’am, you cannot go in there,” the officer stepped in front of her, making her settle back into reality. All shaken up by what was happening, she lived inside her head, barely speaking. To her, it made sense to want to burst in there and drag Derek out so they could go back home.

“Why? What is going on?” she asked the only question she could but like before, she never got an answer that fulfilled her expectations. Feeling stupid for repeating the same damn sentence all day, she couldn’t help it.

Aaron and Jason walked up to her, asking the same question. The officer explained that Detective Gordinski and Detective Dennison—so that was the bald man’s name—were in there already, waiting for a confession from Carl Buford regarding the murders of all those innocent boys. Lennon gasped, suddenly realising what was happening. They framed Derek for murders when the person who committed these crimes was someone who people trusted and looked up to. She listened in on Hotch and Gideon’s conversation from time to time on the way, she knew bits and pieces but nothing specific.

“Come on,” Aaron nodded towards the door, urging Lennon to follow him. Jason stepped behind her to keep her going. She could hear people arguing—Derek, was arguing with someone. Lennon gasped and stopped in her tracks, afraid of what she might find. “You okay?”

“I—,” she began but stopped, when Morgan’s broken voice filled the air. Loud.

“They’re not lies! You did the same thing to me,” he shouted in a hoarse voice, so deeply filled with emotion that his girlfriend couldn’t stop the tears that prickled at her eyes. She felt them burn and her lips parted at the realisation.

“I did nothing to you. Or James,” another man spoke, his words carried out in a deep tone.

“One by one, they’re going to pile up, until there’s so many accusations you can’t say that they’re all lies!”

“Do you have any idea, how many kids I’ve helped get out of this neighbourhood, hm? How many lives I’ve provided?” the man, whom she believed to be Carl Buford, tried to make a point, but began to get and sound upset once he realised Derek wasn’t seeing it his way. “Look at you… you’d probably be dead by now.”

Then, not expecting it to happen again, she heard her boyfriend speak, pain shooting through each of his words as he asked, “Yeah, well, it wasn’t for free, was it?”

“I pulled you out of the gutter.”

“I’ve pulled myself out of the gutter! All the way to the FBI. I did that!” Derek exclaimed.

“You’re saying I had nothing to do with making you who you are?”

“No, Carl… actually, I’m saying you have everything to do with making me who I am,” Lennon wasn’t sure when she let her tears flow free but from one moment to another, they began wetting her cheeks and she wasn’t sure if it was from the pain that Derek’s voice carried that nipped at her heart or from the relief that he was standing up for himself and he was physically fine. “Because of you, I’m somebody who gets to spend the rest of his life making sure guys like you go down.”

“Look… Derek… I never hurt you. You could’ve said no.”

That. That comment was the one that set her off. She gasped and stumbled back. She didn’t know why it hit her so hard and she didn’t care. Her heart was aching and it was aching bad.

“You’re under arrest, Carl,” said Gordinski. That let Lennon know that maybe, he was capable of doing his job and arresting the people he should be arresting.

“I’ve helped a lot of kids,” he tried to argue.

“Let’s go.”

“The neighbourhood won’t be the same without me. It’s gonna be worse—without the centre.”

So then, Derek said, “Somebody will keep this centre running. The neighbourhood will. I will.”

“Wait… wait,” Carl struggled, trying to shake the hands of the detectives off of him. “Derek, isn’t there something you can do for me?”

“You go to hell,” he spat, watching as they took him away. His eyes locked back onto Gordinski, who said nothing to him. Their eye contact remained until the man was out of the room and that’s when Lennon pushed past Aaron.

“Derek,” she called for him, arms reaching to the front with tears down her cheeks.

“Baby,” he breathed, bringing her close to him and hugging her like his life depended on it. Hiding her face in the crook of his neck, she sobbed, and he tightened his arms around her body. One of his hands crawled into her hair, holding the back of her head as the other one remained on her waist. Being surrounded by his warmth and smell, Lennon’s heart could finally rest. “Sh, sh, sh, it’s okay. I’m okay.”

“I’m sorry… god, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry,” she repeated as she clung to him, refusing to let go or loosen her hold. Almost a whole day without him, not knowing what was happening, yet it felt like weeks she could barely get through.

“Lennon, baby girl, look at me,” he tried to pry her off of him but it turned out to be a struggle. He chuckled under his breath but he finally got her to look at him. Raising his hands, he wiped her cheeks and caressed them with his thumbs. Derek sniffled as the tears in her eyes made him get a little emotional. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry for. Nothing.”

“You didn’t deserve that, any of it.”

“I know, baby. But it’s over. It’s done. He’s never gonna hurt anyone, ever again,” he reassured her and it made her feel guilty because she should’ve been the one to say that. She did the only thing she could do in that moment. Rolling onto her tiptoes, she held his face and kissed him. Lennon didn’t care who saw. She needed to kiss him for herself and for him. She needed to be close to him.

“I love you,” she told him, interrupting the kiss to whisper the words onto his lips. Derek nudged his nose against hers, feeling her tears still. “That’s what I wanted to tell you last night. I love you, Derek Morgan.”

“I love you more, baby,” he said with closed eyes and their foreheads touching. He brought her closer for one more hug, wanting to feel her against him. “Let’s get out of here, hm?”

Lennon nodded, sniffling as she let go of him, only to grasp his hand, her fingers slotting between his. Gideon and Hotch were no longer in the doorway which surprised Lennon but she was glad they didn’t witness that moment between them.

She was exhausted, emotionally and mentally, and all she wanted was a bed and her man in it to hold and kiss goodnight. Yeah. That sounded like the most perfect dream.

[jaehyunspeachparty]

1.5

"MIGA! MIGA!" Yuna, a friend of Miga's who went to school with her, ran to her. "He broke up ... from her ..." Yuna was out of breath, but Miga still didn't understand. She was just packing up her books and was about to go home. "Yuna, who are you talking about?" But when she asked her at the moment, her friend suddenly widened her eyes and fell silent. "Hey, Miga." She knew that voice too well. When she turned around she saw him. Soori, her ex-boyfriend. Two years ago she was so in love with him and they were a couple for a few months. But then he cheated on her and started a relationship with that person. "Hey," she said, taking her backpack. The two of them hadn't talked to each other for a long time, and that just made things weirder. "Can we talk?" Soori looked at his ex-girlfriend. Miga didn't know what to say, after all, she had cried after him so much. "Ok ..." She just shrugged and went on. Soori immediately followed her and Yuna looked after the two in surprise. She was always a fan of the two as a couple and hoped that they would get back together.

"What do you want, Soori?" Miga sighed and leaned against her car. "I want you ..." He rested his hand on the top of the car and leaned over her. His face was near to hears and Miga got a little nervous. Soori was clearly one of the most attractive boys in school, a future idol, and currently a trainee at JYP. "Soori ... I don't know." Miga turned away and Soori sighed. "Okay, but let me prove that I'm serious. Give me a chance ..." He looked at her with faithful eyes and Miga sighed. "Hmm..okay. I don't have a day of shooting today, you could come to me." She smiled and Soori nodded in amusement. The two got into the car and Miga starts driving. It was briefly quiet between the two because it was still strange between them. Miga doesn't know what to think of all this. After all, everything had ended so ugly with him. "You look really beautiful," said Soori, biting his lip. "Um, thank you. You too." She still didn't know what was happening here. She wanted to open the garage, but her remote control didn't work. Miga pressed again, but nothing happened. Then you came to the car of your daughter and she opened the door. "What's going on? Why is the door not working?" She asked, looking at you in confusion. "Kiwoo and Geon have all the locks glued. I can't get into the mail, the garage, or the house. The locksmith is already on the way. I tell you, the twins are driving me crazy with their pranks." You sigh and you go through your mind how you will punish the two. But your thoughts were already interrupted when you see someone else getting out of Miga's car. "Good afternoon, Ms. Jung." Soori stood behind his ex-girlfriend. "Soori ... what are you doing here?" You weren't so happy to have the boy back here. Miga had been crying about him for too long and he treated her so badly. "Miga helps me with my homework." He smiled softly and you just nod. Your eyes go to your daughter, but she doesn't dare to look at you. You didn't know what to do because you think she's making a big mistake with him. But you didn't want to get involved in her love life.

After the locksmith was there and he changed the locks, you sit in the kitchen with an espresso and go through your emails. "Shouldn't you give up coffee when we try to make a baby?" Jaehyun was suddenly behind you and put his hands on your hips. The tests were there, your hormones were still perfect and you had the IUD taken out two days ago. You agreed to try again. "I also got pregnant with coffee before." You grin and Jaehyun gently put his lips on yours. "Are we alone?" He asked then and you knew what he had in his head. But you shake your head. "No. Do you know who Miga came home with today?" You look at your husband with wide eyes. Jaehyun shook his head. "Soori." "You mean the one who looks like a young Cha Eunwoo?" You nod Jaehyun didn't like Miga's ex-girlfriend. He checked always exactly what they were doing. "Is he still there?" He asked in a panic. "Yes, they do homework in her room." You shrug your shoulders, but Jaehyun didn't like it at all. He immediately broke away from you and went to Miga's room door. "MIGA OPEN THE DOOR!" He called angrily and knocked on the door. When a boy was there, he never wanted the door to be closed. His daughter followed his words and looked at her father. "You know what to do when there's a boy." He glared furiously into the room where Soori was sitting on the bed. "Daddy, I'm 18 years old." She sighed. The two had a close relationship, but they always struggled on this topic. "And when you are 30 years old. As long as you live here, I want to know everything." Jaehyun was really angry and Miga really annoyed. "MUM!!!! DAD WILL NOT LEAVE ME," she called then after you. You go to the two and sigh. "Miga, just leave the door open and Jaehyun, come with me." You take him by the hand and pull him away from your daughter. "Jaehyun, we have other problems. We have to do something about the twins. They have all the locks glued." Miga was an adult, what she did with boys is up to her. But Kiwoo and Geon are testing your limits very hard right now.

Sunoh sits on the bench and sees Chichi waiting in the distance for Sana to pick her up. He dreamed of her that night, but this dream was not a normal one ... it was intimate...dirty...something he saw only in adult movies. Since then, Sunoh has been unable to stop thinking about it and she triggered certain feelings in him. Because of this, he couldn't look her in the eye that day. "Haven't you already finished school?" Sunoh looked up in surprise and saw Jaina standing in front of him. She was finally back from Chicago and today was her first day at school for her. "Yes ..." Sunoh was still looking at Chichi who was just getting into the car. "Are you going on the bus home or someone picking you up?" She asked. "Dad ... we'll go boxing then." When Chichi was gone, Sunoh slowly came back to reality. Jaina nodded and sat down with him. "How was Chicago?" He asked then and turned to her. "Well ... Dad was just sad and I almost went crazy with my siblings. You can't call it a vacation." She sighed and brushed a strand of hair aside. "Did Irene's child come too?" He asked. Jaina just nodded and sighed. She didn't find this whole patchwork family so funny. Ever since her father was with Irene, the house had been wild. Too many children and she was the oldest. She preferred to be at home with her mother. She and Jasper each had a room and therefore always her peace. "I'm glad you're back," Sunoh said suddenly. Jaina looked up in surprise and blushed. She also had a crush on him for a long time. Her heart was pounding and she was happy that he apparently missed her. "Yes?", She giggled and stroked her hair to one side. At that moment, Sunoh saw his father's car and got up. "Yes. The girls exclude Chichi and she needs a friend here." He waved to Jaina and got into his father's car. Jaina sat there, staring at him in wonder. It was always about Chichi. Chichi here, Chichi there. Slowly it was enough for her.

The next day was the weekend. You and Jaehyun just quickly went to the bakery to buy something for breakfast. Meanwhile, Miga was sitting on the couch in the living room and reading her script because she had another shoot in the afternoon. Sunoh came sleepily down the stairs and sat down to his sister. "Good morning," she said with a grin. Sunoh just grunted and rested his head on the back. "Do you have any plans for the weekend?" She asked, but Sunoh just shook his head. "Do something with Chichi," she then suggested to her brother. "Migaaaaa ... it's too early for such conversations." "When do you want to tell her that you like her?" "What if she only sees me as a friend?" "Oh God Sunoh! Are you blind? She doesn't see you as a friend." Miga rolled her eyes and cannot understand how long the two have been acting back and forth. But before he says anything else, the Kiwoo and Geon pass by. They giggled and had something in their hands. "Kiwoo, Geon? What have you done now?" Miga sighed because after all you and Jaehyun had confiscated all their video games and their pocket money was canceled for a time since they had glued all the locks. The twins ran to their siblings and grinned mischievously. "Do you want more trouble?" She asked her brothers and took the letter from Kiwoo. The boys shrugged and just laughed. "What is that anyway?" Asked Sunoh. "No idea. It was in the parents' bedroom," said Kiwoo, sitting down next to his big brother. "I think it is a test of Mum's doctor." Miga looked at the paper and didn't know it either. "Is Mummy sick?" Asked Geon and climbed to Miga too. She went to the next page and then stopped. "It's none of our business," she said then and closed the letter again. "No, I want to know what's inside." Kiwoo got up and leaned over to his sister. "Kiwoo! No! We don't care." Miga tried to keep the letter away from her brothers. In the meantime, Geon tried to take it too. "Come on Miga. We want to know what's inside now," said Sunoh and laughed. Before Miga could say anything, Geon took the letter and gave it to Sunoh. He opened it and read it out. "The results showed that the hormones are all normal and that Ms. Jung should have no problem getting pregnant." Sunoh froze and looked at his sister. "Huh? What does that mean?" Asked Kiwoo, also looking at the letter. "Do Mum and Dad want another child?" Sunoh still had the result firmly in his hands. Miga just sighed and doesn't know what to say. "But Mummy and Daddy are really old," Geon said and laughed. "Yuck, Mom and Dad still have sex?" Sunoh looked at the paper in shock. "Come on, leave it. They will tell us when they are ready." Miga took the letter away from her brother and glared at him. But at the moment she hears the door open and you and Jaehyun came into the house. The siblings grew quiet and looked at each other in panic. "Hey, we're here! We can eat breakfast now." Jaehyun called into the room and the siblings started whispering. "What's going on?" You ask when you see how all of your children behaved suspiciously. The four looked at their parents in panic and you crossed your arms. Jaehyun also came to you. "You want another child?" Sunoh then asked, almost a little angry. "From where...?" You look around and see that Miga was holding the letter from your doctor. "MIGA!" "Mum, it wasn't me! Geon and Kiwoo found it." She immediately defended herself and the twins started grinning. "KIWOO! GEON! What did I tell you about privacy?" You were angry with them. Lately, they have been out of control. "Y/N, I think we should tell them the truth." Jaehyun sighed and looked worriedly at you. "So is it true? Mum, Dad, you are too old for another child. We are already too old!" Sunoh was clearly not enthusiastic about the idea. Miga couldn't stand the whole mess. After all, she knew about the secret. She took her phone and went into the garden. She dialed a number and when she heard a hello on the other line, her heart started pounding fast. "Hey, I have a bit of a mess at home and you offered to give me tips. Do you have time for me to come over?" Miga knew exactly what she was doing. "Yeah sure, you are welcome to come," said the man and she smiled. "Great I'm in 30 minutes here, Jaemin."

providentia masterlist

daddy jaehyun masterlist

[champagne-bucky]

Prescription for...

Summary: Steve Rogers tells Bucky about his first time.

Warnings: pre-serum Steve x reader, smut, loss of virginity 

Notes: This is my thank you for hitting 500 followers this weekend. This may or may not turn into a mini series following the adventures of pre- serum Steve and the reader. Let me know what you guys think! Please make sure to like, comment, reblog, and follow for more!! Enjoy guys!! 

Steve Rogers days were numbered. It’s sad and unfortunately true. No one thought the day would come where the world would be saying goodbye once more to the Patriotic American War Hero, but it looks like the end is approaching.  

Steve’s decision to go back in time was a hard one for anyone to grasp, especially his best friend Bucky Barnes. Bucky and Steve were side by side always. Even when they weren’t, there wasn’t a day that went by where Bucky and Steve weren’t on each others minds.  

Bucky knew his time with his forever pal was coming up. He knew for a while now that he’d have to prepare for the day when he’d say his final goodbyes, which is why Bucky made is a point to visit Steve every free minute of the day. Steve insisted that Bucky didn’t need to come to the lavish retirement home everyday, but Bucky was insistent and being with his friend just in case the ‘end of the line’ was drawing to a close.  

“Hey, Buck.” The old man laying in the bed greeted the other walking through the doorway.  

“Hey, punk. How we feelin’ today?” Bucky took a seat on the plush chair next to Steve’s bedside.  

“Same as everyday, tired.” Bucky frowned. His best friend has been feeling tired lately, should he be worried? 

“Oh, wipe that look off your face, Buck. I’m not dead, yet,” Bucky cringed, “it’s what happens when you get older, bud.” Steve flashed him his famous smile.  

“What’s got you so upset today?” Steve eyed Bucky up and down.  

“Nothing. What makes you think that?”  

“I may be old, but I’m not senile. You’ve been sporting that look for weeks. Now what’s wrong?”  

“It’s just,” Bucky sighed, he didn’t want to say it. If he didn’t it’ll all feel to real.  

“That I’m should be dead soon?” Steve grinned as Bucky gasped.  

“Don’t say that Steve! You’re not going to die, not for a while.” Bucky couldn’t help but choke back the tears.  

“Bucky, you know it’s gonna happen. Sooner rather than later. I’m old Buck, it’s about time I leave this place.” Bucky was crying now. The tears fully falling down his face.  

“C’mon you big sap. Wipe those tears away. I want no crying today. Don’t cry until after I’m gone. I wanna remember you smiling.” Steve had been doing this a lot lately. Anytime Bucky would be upset during his visits with Steve, he would try his best to make him smile. Bucky being the god sport he is decided to go along with his charades for he didn’t know how long they’d be doing this.  

“I’m not crying cause of that,” Bucky sniffled, “I’m crying cause you’re gonna die a virgin.” Steve chuckled and Bucky cringed. He wished he could’ve taken that back.  

“Just like the 40s all over again, huh?” Bucky had always been on Steve in their youth about getting Steve a nice girl. Someone that’ll take care of him. Someone that’ll hold him close those long lonely nights when Bucky couldn’t be there for him.  

“I’m serious, pal. We gotta get you laid before...before,” Bucky’s voice trailed off.  

“Before I go off to the army.” Good ole denial, one of Steve’s favorite games to play.  

“Yeah, before you go off to the army.” Steve smirked at Bucky. It was that all knowing smirk.  

“What?”  

“I just realized. I never told you.” Steve’s grin grew even wider, the wrinkles in his face becoming more prominent.  

“Told me what? That you got laid?” Bucky shook his head and laughed. He didn’t doubt he did. He had a few brief flings before Steve reunited with Bucky.  

“Yeah, Y/N Y/L/N, remember her?” Bucky was confused.  

“Umm, Steve, I’m sure she’s long gone by now.” He remembers the name all to well. That was the girl who worked in her dad’s pharmacy. The girl Steve was so smitten with.  

“I know that idiot, I’m talking about before. When she was alive.”  

“You slept with an old lad- OW!” Bucky exclaimed as Steve picked up his newspaper from the side of his bed and whacked Bucky over the head with it.  

“I’m talking about before, Buck. Before I joined the army, before you joined the army.”  

“Don’t bullshit me.” 

“I’m to old for bullshitting, don’t ya think?” Bucky knew Steve as a lot of things. A risk taker, danger seeker, and because of his mother, hypochondriac.  

“Okay, so when was it?” Bucky was curious now, he was hoping to catch Steve in a lie.  

“Summer of 1935.”  

“Bullshit!”  

“How?” 

“You would’ve told me.” Bucky was looked for any signs of joking, to his surprise there was none.  

“I’m telling you now aren’t I?”  

“Go on.”  

“It was 1935, just after my 17th birthday. Remember, you and your family left for Chicago for the rest of the summer. You went to go stay with your aunt.” Wow, Bucky didn’t even remember the summer of ‘35.  

“So, how was it?” 

“I��m trying to tell you a story about how I met her and you wanna know how I enjoyed it?” 

“Well it’s not everyday your friend over 100 tells you a dirty secret about their life.”  

“Don’t make me smack you again. Now pay attention.” Bucky nodded and urged Steve to continue.  

**Flashback** 

1935 

The air was hot and sticky. Kids were running around the streets while the fire hydrants were spraying water to keep them cool. On the other side of Brooklyn, a young James Barnes had just finished packing the car for Chicago.  

“You gonna be alright without me, pal?” Bucky looked down at his short and unhealthily skinny friend.  

“Yeah, you know me Buck, I can hold me own.” Bucky chuckled and patted Steve in the back.  

“Sure ya can. Just don’t getting into any trouble, not without me of course.” Bucky hugged Steve tight.  

“I’ll see ya when I get back. Don’t go kissing any pretty girls without me.” Bucky called out of the window of the car before it took off down the street.  

“No promises.” Steve yelled back.  

— 

Steve waited until the car was out of sight before he made the long walk back to his home. There, his mother was in the kitchen preparing a delicious dessert for the two of them. Sarah Rogers was a kind and patient woman, one who always encouraged her son to take care of his mind, body, and soul. However, his health was Sarah’s biggest concern.  

Steve had not grown up like the normal boys. He never did hit a growth spurt or sprout an impressive beard like his counterpart Bucky. No, Steve was a boy who was bullied and teased for not looking like a man. Sarah believe that maybe if he took better care of his health and changed his lifestyle that there would be hope for him yet. After all, mother knows best.  

“Come in here Stevie and help mommy with the pie crust. Mrs. Leny from down the street gave me some apples from her tree.” Steve kicked his shoes off by the door and made his way to the kitchen.   

“Make sure you wash up real good, honey. Don’t want to be sick for the remainder of the summer now do we?” Steve rolled his eyes at his worrying health obsessed mother. She was always on him about getting sick or not eating the right foods. It was rather annoying for the young Rogers boy. All he wanted to do was be like the normal kids in the neighborhood and go out and get his hands dirty, however the “normal kids” never wanted him to join in on the fun.  

“Oh, Stevie!” Sarah called for her son as he finished washing the plates. 

“I need you to make a run down to the pharmacy for me. Dr. Y/L/N called earlier and your prescription just came in.” Steve rolled his eyes and made his way to the door. 

— 

Steve had never considered himself a nervous man, not even around girls, but she, she was an exception. The pretty young woman behind the counter was mindlessly flipping through her newest book as Steve waited outside the drug store. He was going to have to talk to her. The beautiful woman that was unknowingly stealing his heart. Bucky had been teasing him for years about asking her out, but Steve could never find the courage.  

"What girl would go out with a guy like me?” Bucky would frown hearing those words come out of his best friends mouth. 

Slowly, Steve opened the door to the drug store, careful to not make the bell chime loudly. However, his plans were corrupted when he saw the unlikely fellows pushing him through the door altering the woman behind the counter of his presence. Buddy Bedestow and Hank Schumacher, Steve’s worst nightmares. 

“Aww look who it is Hank, skinny boy Rogers. Hey Rogers, where’s your pal? Guess he’s not here to protect you now.” The two large men squished Steve between them. They have been on Steve’s ass since grade school, always picking on him for no particular reason. Well, Bucky thinks there is no reason, Steve mustered up the idea that the boys were jealous of his friendship with the most suavest fella in Brooklyn.  

“Say Bud, did Stevie here run out of menstrual supplies? Ya think its our little pansy’s cycle again?” Unbeknownst to the boys, the woman was making her way around the counter. 

“Nah Hank, I think Stevie here was gettin’ some rubbers, musta’ ran out when he was going down on his old lady. Is that why you’re here twig? Need to get back to momma?” Steve blushed as the boys kept berating him. 

“Alright, that’s enough! Hank, Buddy, get out of here before I call your ma’s and tell them you’ve been stealing.” 

“But we haven-“ 

“My pa may be old, but he sure ain’t dumb. Now scram.” The boys reluctantly let go of Steve and made their way out of the store.  

“You're the Rogers boy I’m guessing?” Her painted lips curled into a smile and Steve’s heart stopped functioning.  

“Y-yeah, how’d you know?” A simple joke, she laughed, Steve felt the heat rise in his cheeks. 

“I have my ways of figuring it out. I have your prescription by the way.” She returns to her spot behind the counter and shuffles through the copious amounts of white paper bags. 

“Here you are. Oh, and Steve?” Steve looked up at the woman, bottom lip fitting snuggly between her top teeth. 

“Yes?”  

“Don’t listen to those boys, they’re just jealous of your charm and good looks.” Steve was beet red now. Charm? Good looks? Was the girl mad? Did she really see him like that? 

“Miss your kindness is greatly appreciated, but you don’t have to lie.” She frowned. 

“You don’t believe those boys do you? Steve, you are possibly the most handsome fella I’d ever laid eyes on. Steve couldn’t believe it. He’s pretty sure no one would believe him. 

“Don’t try and make me feel better, beautiful dames like you don’t go for boys like me.” 

“You are sorely mistaken, Steve Rogers. Maybe some girls like the handsome momma’s boy types.” She leaned in and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. Steve gasped, an unwanted stir of arousal started to build. 

That’s where it all started. That one simple kiss. Its innocence could not foreshadow the wild adventures Steve Rogers and his little pharmacist had planned over the summer. It started out slow, little dates at the local theater and trips to the ice cream shop, but they both wanted more they both needed more. 

So that’s how Steve found himself that mid-August afternoon, standing in only his boxer shorts while his pretty little pharmacist laid out naked and panting in his bed. Sarah Rogers had gone out for the day, leaving Steve and his girl to their own scandalous devices.  

“You know, my ma would skin me alive if she saw what we were doing right now, said this was a sin.” Both Steve and his girl were told at a very young age that virginity was a special thing to share on a wedding night, however, with both parties wanting more they couldn’t help themselves but give in to their ungodly urges.  

“You think the big man will be upset?” Steve disregarded his shorts and reached to take a rubber from her shaking hand. 

“Nah, I’m pretty sure Buck’s did worse than what we are doing.” She let out a breathy chuckle. 

“Steve, hurry up. I need you.” Steve’s member twitched as he pumped himself a few times and rolled the rubber down his length. 

“Patience is a virtue my love.” Steve smirked as his fingers began sliding around her lower lips. 

A whine escaped his love’s mouth, soft and breathy. They’ve been practicing for a moment like this. It finally all led up to this. Their first touches, first orgasms, first time seeing each other naked, it all led up to this moment. 

Softly, his fingers slide into her tight entrance, a guttural moan echoed throughout the small bedroom. She was still tight after all the sessions they had gone through. He couldn’t resist the urge to keep pumping in and out of her. He was addicted to her moans and movements, Steve wanted to be greedy and make her cum before he got inside of her. 

“So beautiful, wish I could have you like this all day.” He moved a tad fast, the pad of his thumb maintaining circular motions on that special spot she always heard about. 

“God Steve, I need you, please.” She whined one more as she fisted the sheets below her. 

“In a minute my love, I wanna see you come undone around my fingers.” She moaned loudly at the dirty talk. Since their sessions had began, Steve had acquired a tasteful vocabulary that was enough to make anyone gasp in shock. 

A few more pumps, each faster then the last, and the beautiful woman before him was quivering around him. His hand had gotten soaked from her arousal, a little had gotten on the bed sheets below her too. He can clean those later anyway. Right now he was determined to be inside his girl once and for all.   

“I heard it’s suppose to hurt.” Steve began to feel worried as he placed his covered head at her entrance.  

“Only for a little, but it’ll feel better.” She was an angel before him, sweaty and sticky with lust and arousal. She was insatiable and Steve needed her now.  

He slowly entered her, she winced a little in pain and Steve began to pull back. She looked up and him and urged him to go on. Little by little, he filled her out. He stayed in her, not wanting to move and hurt her. She nodded her head and urged him to move. It was indescribable, the pleasure the skinny boy above the beautiful woman was sending him over the edge. Steve was expected to release quickly, but he was determined to have his love finish first.  

“C’mon my love, give me another one.” His thrush we’re at a steady pace now and she was a mess. Hair sticking to the bedsheets and hands gripping her lovers shoulders. She wanted move, but they would both have to wait to delve into new territory.  

“You feel so good. Please don’t stop.” He back arched and Steve almost fell over the edge.  

“One more my love and I’ll come with you. One more.” On command she came and Steve followed suit. Both lovers were a panting, sweaty mess.  

Steve eases his soft shaft out of her and she whined at the loss of fullness. He quickly removed the rubber and tossed it in the waste bin near his bed. He laid down next to his beloved and wrapped his arms around her.  

“Till next time my love.” She turned her head and kiss Steve.  

“Till next time.” He kissed her back, deeply and full of love.  

**End Flashback** 

“Holy shit.” Bucky was bug eyed.  

“And you really thought I was lying to ya.” The old man from the bed smirked.  

“I can’t believe it.”  

“I knew you wouldn’t.” Steve chuckled.  

“Well I’ll be damned. Steve Rogers was a scoundrel.” Bucky shook his head still in disbelief.  

“So whatever happened between you two? You both just jumped into it right away?” The metal armed soldier was curious now.  

“That’s another story for another day, Buck. You’d be surprised how much we did before that day.” Bucky paused for a moment.  

“How much you what?!”  

[stayathomesurveys]

011.

What did you last bite?  Chicken sandwich.

Have you ever been lost in your own neighborhood? No.

Is your bed big enough for two people?   Yes.

What is your favorite board game? Life.

When was the last time you used a calculator?  The other day.

Was your last smile real?  Yes.

Can you live without the most important person in your life?  No.

Have you ever done something to harm yourself? Yes.

When was the last time you climbed a tree?  When I was a kid.

Have you ever been so hot that you became cold?  I think so.

What is the closest thing to you that is rainbow colored?  Nothing.

Do believe that wishes come true?  If you work for them.

What is the last thing you watched on tv?   I’m currently watching Chicago Med.

Can you touch your toes?  Yes.

Have you ever been hospitalized for more than 2 weeks?  No.

Have you ever talked to a therapist?  Yes.

When was the last time you showered?  Like 20 minutes ago.

What can you do that none of your friends can do?  Not sure.

When was the last time you heard someone scream?  Not sure.

Who was the last person to call you baby? Correy.

Why did you last go to the airport? I was coming back home after visiting my family.

Who was the last person to see you in your underwear? Correy.

Have you ever showered with another person?  Yeah.

Whose room were you last in? Mine.

Is there something you are keeping a secret from your parents?  No.

When you woke up how did you feel?  Tired.

When was the last time you were sick?  A couple weeks ago.

Where is your thinking place? Uhh, I don’t particularly have one.

Have you ever pretended not to like something because of friends?  Probably when growing up.

[loserslibrary]

pairing: Eddie Kaspbrak/Richie Tozier [Reddie], Stanley Uris/Patricia Blum Uris [Stanpat], Mike Hanlon/Bill Denbrough [Hanbrough] & Ben Hanscom/Beverly Marsh [Benverly]  written by: Ashley rating: Teen word count:  2,905 prompt: from @ticomat​ “Ok, so, for a prompt, how about the Losers having a Dinner night in which all pairings have big news they planned to tell the others, and end up collectively stealing each others thunder?”

Eddie knew that he and Richie were the boring friends. They had been for years, and Eddie supposed that was normal. When you’ve been in a serious, committed relationship since… well, forever, it seemed only natural that they wouldn’t have as many crazy stories as their friends. Especially since Richie had been banned from telling sex stories. Eddie didn’t mind, he was never bored with Richie, and he much preferred the most adventurous part of his month being he and Richie trying a new brand of pasta sauce that gave Richie stomach cramps over failed Tinder dates or coworkers setting him up on blind dates with horrible, poorly smelling people. 

Eddie and Richie have been together officially since he turned sixteen, but they’d practically been together for years before that. They’d had their rough spots like any other couple; choosing colleges had been one of the lowest points that Eddie could remember and he still sometimes felt sick when thinking about how close he and Richie had come to ending things when it came down to New York City vs Los Angeles. Richie had crawled through his bedroom window, crying and swearing to go to with him to New York City- or “wherever the fuck in the world he wants to go”- and Eddie couldn’t imagine them ever living anywhere else.

So, no. Eddie didn’t feel any lack luster in his life and he didn’t envy his friends’ wild stories whenever they got together the past couple of years. As they rapidly approached their thirties, Eddie was more than content with being settled down and married. Job he liked, financial stability, a loving husband in a surprisingly spacious New York apartment. It was more than Eddie had ever thought he’d be able to have growing up, and he wouldn’t trade it up for all the dating scene moments in the world. He wasn’t sure why anybody would. 

There was, admittedly, one thing in his life that he and Richie had been discussing. Something that could only make things even more perfect. And tonight, Eddie was sure that he and Richie would finally have the most exciting news at the reunion table. 

“You sure you want to tell them?” Richie asked, rubbing his hands between Eddie’s shoulder blades as Eddie used the mirror to do up his tie. Dressing up to Richie was a button up shirt with jeans that didn’t have rips in the knees or thighs, but Eddie always tried to go that extra mile when they were going out for a meal. Especially one that felt as important as this one.

“Yeah, of course.” Eddie said, finishing up the tie and pressing a quick kiss to his husband’s cheek. “I know that maybe we should wait until we have more news but- the Losers are as much family as your mom and dad, Rich. I want them to know.”

Richie smiled and pulled Eddie in for a quick kiss, and rubbed their noses together as he pulled back. “Alright, then I guess we better get going then. Bev is going to talk our ears off the second she sees us. Since the dweeb skipped Christmas.”

“I’m sure that her finishing the designs for her first leading collection  was more important than our Boxing Day dinner.” 

“You sound just like her.” Richie swung his car keys around his fingers as Eddie slipped into his jacket. “You’re such a sham, Edward Spaghetti Kaspbrak. You don’t need a jacket from here to the freakin’ car. You just wanna show off your nice threads to our friends when we get there.”

Eddie buttoned up the jacket up and beamed at Richie. “So what if I do? My husband has a big fancy Saturday Night Live job now, so I can spend my salary on whatever I want. Jackets included.”

Richie rolled his eyes and guided Eddie out of their apartment door. “Yeah.” He said in a soft voice. “For now.” Eddie never thought he’d be so happy to have financial restrictions.

Bill and Mike were already sitting around the table when Eddie and RIchie were shown to the Losers’ usual table. “Hey guys!” Richie half-jogged over to them as Eddie thanked their hostess. He tossed an arm around Bill’s shoulders and tugged him into his side. “Mikey, I swear you get hotter every time I see you. How do you do it?” 

Bill yanked away from Richie and punched him in the side. Richie made a loud, wounded noise and Eddie came over to give him a patronizing pat on the cheek. “Hush.” He said softly, before smiling at their friends. “How was Florida?”

Bill and Mike exchanged small looks that made alarm bells start ringing in the back of Eddie’s mind, but they both quickly replaced the looks with smiles. “It was amazing!” Mike said happily, waving towards the entry of their private room as Stan came in with Patty on his arm. 

Stan had started dating Patricia Blum about three years earlier, and she had been an instant click with their tight knit group. It was rare for anybody to connect with the other Losers so quickly, more often than not the Losers’ partners found their little group hard to fit into. Patty hadn’t been like that, thankfully. She and Richie had been practically best friends by the end of their first meeting. 

This was made apparent again, as Richie launched himself from Bill’s side and rushed through the little room to scoop Patty up in his arms and spin her around. 

“I swear, Richard.” Stan rolled his eyes but there was smile spreading across his face. “We saw you not even two months ago.”

“Awwe.” Richie cooed, putting Patty back on the ground and moved to kiss Stan hard on the head. “You know me, Manly Stanny. I’m like a dog, waiting for you to get back from work. Very over excited when you come back inside because you forgot your keys.” 

Stan chuckled at Richie’s awkward analogy and flicked him in the face. “Yeah, you’re a big oversized lap dog. I don’t know how Eddie puts up with you.”

Eddie walked over and wrapped his arms around Richie’s mid section and stuck his tongue out at Stan. 

“I told you we’d be the last ones here.” Ben said, quickly undoing his scarf and giving everybody a forced smile. “Sorry, sorry! Somebody claimed the traffic wouldn’t be that bad.”

“Don’t blame me!” Beverly said, swooping into the room in all her usual beauty. She pressed a kiss to Mike and Bill’s cheeks before turning to look at Ben with her arms on her hips. “I live in New York! I don’t drive. I take the subway like any self respecting New Yorker.”

“I’ll drink to that!” Richie cheered, despite none of them having ordered any drinks yet. The group all started moving towards the big round table, chattering amongst themselves. Richie bumped his hip against Patty’s and grinned at her.

“Take your hand out of your pocket, baby doll.” Richie whispered in her ear. Patty turned him, cheeks turning a little pink even under the red tinge of the dining room. She just shook her head and Richie leaned in to kiss her forehead. “Well, congratulations. Even though I’m not supposed to know.” 

Patty smiled to herself, and reached out to grasp Stan’s hand under the table with her own. Richie couldn’t hide his own grin as Eddie took the empty seat next to him. Never one to disguise his affections, Richie leaned over and pressed a chaste kiss to Eddie’s cheek. 

Beverly made overly loud gagging noises and Richie rolled his eyes lovingly at her. “Cram it, Marsh. Let me love on my husband!” 

“Oh I’m sure that you smother Eddie enough in the privacy of your own home.” Bill said with a chuckle. 

“It’s not smothering!” Eddie shot to him, before pressing an almost rough kiss to Richie’s stubbly cheek. He immediately pulled away and wiped his hand across his mouth. “Oh god, Richard, you need to shave. I’m not going to keep kissing you if it feels like rubbing my face against sandpaper.”

Richie tossed his head back and cackled, wrapping an arm around Eddie’s shoulders and pulling him against him. Eddie whacked at his chest lightly, and Richie kissed him on top of the head.

“Truly disgusting.” Bill said with a roll of his eyes. “But enough of Dad and Dad’s domestic crap. How have you guys been. Some of us haven’t seen each other since the summer.”

“How targeted.” Beverly laughed, pouring a glass of water from the pitcher in the middle of the table. “But I’ll admit, I actually do have some news since the last time I saw you guys. And before you ask, no, it’s not about my new line so you don’t have to pretend to understand what I’m talking about.”

There was a moment of relief around the table, as they all smiled at their childhood female friend. Even after they’d started having more women in their group, Patty, or Bev’s roommate from college Kay, or Bill’s ex-girlfriend Audra whom he was still friendly with, they’d never really joined forces with anybody who was on Beverly’s level with clothes or trends. The closest was probably Richie- and only because with his career, he has to at least attempt to keep up.

Beverly reached out and tangled her hands with Ben’s on the top. Eddie looked at Richie from the corner of his eye, getting a raised eyebrow in return. Ben and Beverly had been having the ultimate will they or won’t they story in the history of the world, tracing back all the way to the eighth grade. They’d dated off and on all throughout high school, somehow always finding some sort of reason to break up, and then another to get back together. Two years earlier, they had rekindled the high school relationship and the Losers had been sure that they were going to be in it for the long haul this time. Then Ben’s job had promoted him six months into the relationship, sending him to live in Chicago, and they had broken it off once again. Not feeling as though the long distance could work for them. Though the two years had passed since then, the Losers could all tell that the feelings still lingered. Would possibly always linger between them. It was one of the few things that they all knew better than to interfere with. 

Ben smiled sheepishly, rubbing his thumb along the back of Beverly’s hand. “My company are starting a new project to create affordable living in New York City. They want me to head up the project.” His sheepish smile broke into a full blown grin. “I’m moving back. For good.”

The table erupted into cheers, which were quickly and embarrassingly quieted when the waitress came to take their drink orders. As she left, the gang all turned their attention back to Ben and Beverly, whose hands were still clasped together on the table. 

“So…” Richie sang, wagging his eyebrows. “Somebody’s gotta address the elephant in the room-”

“Jesus, Rich.” Bill groaned, though his voice hinted at laughter.

“Are you guys gonna be New York’s Next Hottest Couple or what?” Richie barrelled over top of Bill as though he hadn’t spoken. 

Ben and Beverly glanced at each other, stars in their eyes, before Beverly looked back at Richie and nodded. “That was my news. Ben and I are back together- and we’re moving in together.”

Softer, but no less enthusiast, cheers broke out then. Mike reached over and clasped Ben on the shoulder. The other man’s face had turned a bright red under the attention, always a shy boy deep in his heart, and started waving the others off. “Thank you guys! Really! But Mike and Bill! How was Florida?”

“Yeah!” Beverly jumped onto Ben’s attempts to deflect. “We want to hear all about it!” 

Bill cleared his throat. “It was great. You know, it’s always nice to go somewhere warm and know that your friends are all somewhere else freezing their asses off.”  

The group all grumbled and complained, while Eddie narrowed his eyes at his oldest friend. His hand was clenched around his glass and he used it to gesture towards Bill. “You’re holding back. Something happened. What is it?”

Bill and Mike glanced at each other. “Welll…” Mike said slowly. “I sort of feel like we’re stepping on Ben and Bev’s toes here but… Yeah, something did happen.”

“Oh shit, did you guys fuck?” Richie blurted out. Stan let out an exasperated “Richie” while Eddie swatted at his arm. “What!?! We were all thinking it!” 

“That’s not exactly the tactful way the rest of us would have put it.” Eddie said before knocking back the rest of his drink. 

Richie just rolled his eyes and slumped back in his seat, pouting until Eddie reached over and rested his hand on Richie’s knee. Richie dropped his hand on top of Eddie’s and squeezed. 

“Okay, so that’s not exactly how we wanted to say it either.” Mike said with a small smile. Bill was watching him from the corner of his eye, leaving all eyes on Mike. “But yes. We’re dating now. We’ve taking it slowly because we weren’t sure what this was, so please don’t be upset that we didn’t tell you right away-”

Eddie burst out laughing. “Billy. Richie and I were together for like two years before you we told you guys. We’re the last people be mad about that.”

“We weren’t talking to you.” Bill said happily with a toothy grin. “We were talking to all our normal friends.”

“Well, that’s fucking rude.” Richie muttered under his breath. A small rumble of laughter moved through the group, even Eddie chuckling. “Whatever. I haven’t decided if I saw this coming or not, and my gaydar is definitely a little off, but I’m so happy for you guys!”

“There’s no such thing as a gaydar.” Ben said with confidence.  Eddie, Mike and Richie all exchanged looks and Beverly kissed Ben gently on the cheek. 

“Well…” Patty spoke up then, her face looking like her cheeks were about to burst with joy. Richie nudged Eddie and wiggled his eyebrows, while Eddie frowned at him. 

Patty lifted her hand up away from Stan’s and held it out towards the table. The light coming from above them reflected off the rather large diamond on her left hand.

“Oh my God…” Beverly whispered. A hush fell over the table following Beverly’s words, everybody silently awaiting the confirmation of what they’d already pieced together. 

“We’re engaged.” Patty said softly. Stan’s ears and the back of his neck were both a deep red under the attention. The group remained quiet for a moment, then broke into cheers so loud that Richie was surprised they weren’t kicked out of the restaurant altogether. 

Everybody jumped to their feet, quick to hug the happy couple. Richie scooped Patty up in his arms and spun her around slightly, nearly sending their table flying. Both laughing, Richie sent Patty off into a teary Ben’s awaiting arms and turned to find himself facing Stanley. Stan’s cupped the back of Richie’s head as he pulled him into a hug. 

“You’ll be my best man, right?” Stan whispered directly into Richie’s ear. Though his friends would often say he had none, it took every inch of Richie’s self control not to immediately burst into tears as he nodded into Stanley’s shoulder. 

It took a couple minutes to get everybody calmed down and back into their seats, and their poor waitress came in to take their food orders. Richie was sure that once they sat back down all the couples were holding hands under the table. They all gave small chit chat until their meals showed up, and Richie dug in excitedly. 

“Oh, wait!” Beverly lowered her spoonful of pasta and blinked dramatically. “We totally forgot! Eddie, Rich, what’s new with you guys? Anything big happening in your lives since the last time we all hung out?”

Without even needed to look at his husband, Richie knew exactly what to say.

“Nope. You guys know us.” Richie draped his arm around the back of Eddie’s seat. “28 going on 88. Watch the news, in bed by 7.” 

The table all laughed, and dinner carried on without anymore cheering. The meal was peaceful and comfortable, Richie feeling almost blissful with Eddie’s heat pressing into his side while surrounded by their closest and most beloved friends. 

After saying their goodbyes, Eddie and Richie walked hand in hand to their car. “So,” Eddie started, with a smile in his voice. “Not ready to tell them after all?”

Richie laughed. “Nah, we’re ready.” He said. “But I didn’t wanna steal anybody’s thunder. We got enough news tonight. Ours can wait.” Richie pushed Eddie up against the car and kissed his jaw lightly. “What do you say? Let’s keep it our own little surprise. Just show them all by posting it on Instagram. Show up at the next get together with a baby.”

Eddie grinned. “We wouldn’t be the boring friends anymore.”

“Hell the fuck no.”

[ugly-crying-over-bucky-barnes]

Roguish Women Part 21

Summary: Kate Rosseau is an American who fled to Paris to escape her past life. Now she's dancing and playing the part of a courtesan at the Moulin Rouge. There she meets Tommy Shelby who thinks she can be useful in expanding his empire. But has he been blinded?

Part 21: The moment Kate has been dreading for years. 

           Kate wasn’t sure if she could move at all. But she didn’t even want to see the man in front of her. Everything about him sickened her. He had deep brown eyes but there was hardly any emotion in them other than smug self-assuredness. His dark hair wasn’t slicked back as it usually was. In fact, he wasn’t wearing the same airs he usually did. Not the expensive clothes, polished shoes, gold watch. It indicated to her that he hadn’t been conducting business, but traveling. Traveling from London to Birmingham to catch her off guard.

He stepped toward her with a smile. “No words for me? None at all?”

“I have a gun on me.” She spat out, trying her best to sound fearless. There were so many men who she could dismiss, men she would never be afraid of, men she could take over in minutes. But Santo was different. He knew things about her. He could control her if he wanted to.

“You’re not gonna kill me, you’re smarter than that.”

“Yeah? Seems like a smart idea to me.” She lowered her hand to the edge of her jacket, prepared to reach to her holster tucked beneath.

“Because you know the repercussions already.” He stuck a hand in his pocket, making Kate flinch. “S’alright.” He held one hand up like he was soothing a spooked horse. “Here.” He pulled something out and reached his enclosed fist out to her.

Kate remained on her front steps, watching him warily. “What is it?”

“What, you think I’ve got a live snake in here or somethin’? A spider?” He chuckled. “C’mon.”

She glared at him but stepped down to hold out her palm. Santo gently dropped something gold into it. Still cautious but curious, she examined the piece of jewelry. Her breath caught in her throat when she recognized. The oval-shaped locket wasn’t anything expensive. It was badly tarnished from decades of being worn for so many years. It was the same locket her father had given her mother when they were just lovesick teenagers. It was the locket that her mother had gifted to her when she became of age. It was the locket she had lost when she fled America.

“Where did you find this?” She whispered.

“In Boston, you dropped it on the street before you disappeared.” He answered.

Her expression hardened. “When you set my building on fire.”

He nodded slightly. “I can admit my methods were harsh back then.”

Kate’s fingers curled around the necklace, not willing to let it go again. “You haven’t changed at all.”

“Now, how would you know that? You’ve been running around Europe while I’ve been trying to find you. You don’t know how I’ve changed.” He took another step toward her, almost testing the waters to see how far he could get before she threatened to shoot him again.

She tensed up but didn’t move away. “Was anyone killed?” She asked the question that had been haunting her for years. The screams coming from the burning apartment building still kept her up at night. She never knew if her neighbors were saved or perished. She had no idea the destruction Santo had caused. And yet while he lit the fire, she felt responsible for giving him reason to.

“Come now, Katie, that’s not what I’m here to talk about.” He said in an almost unrecognizably gentle voice.

“I know why you’re here. You’re not going to get what you want.” Kate crossed her arms over her chest, holding her mother’s necklace close to her.

“Could we talk inside?” He gestured to the door.

“You won’t be able to kill me in there and get away with it.” She asserted.

He chuckled and shook his head. “I don’t want you dead, micina. C’mon, let’s talk inside.” He passed by her and went up the steps.

It was against her better judgment to let him in. The man she’d been hiding from. But she knew she wasn’t going to get rid of him easily. She wondered if she cooperated even just a little, he might be more lenient. Besides, she was self-assured that if he did try to harm her, she could fend him off.

So, with a deep breath, she went back to the door and unlocked it. She let Santo inside. He acted as if it were an old friend’s home, taking off his hat and coat and hanging them on the wooden pegs by the door.

Feeling awkward and on edge, Kate led him into the kitchen. She sat down and pulled out a cigarette to calm her nerves.

Santo slowly walked behind her, taking in the surroundings as if each piece of her personal belongings were artifacts in a museum. “I didn’t think I’d find you in a place like this.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She asked defensively.

He chuckled and finally found a spot to sit at the table. “I mean, I remember the way you used to live in Boston and Chicago. I mean you used to stay at the Palmer House and the Omni. You knew people, I mean for fuck’s sake Crowninshield wanted to put you on the cover of Vanity Fair.”

Kate averted her eyes. They were memories she had chosen to set aside. The lavish lifestyle she once had. Things people in Birmingham didn’t know about. The circles she ran in afforded her things that perhaps someone like her didn’t deserve. Things she ate up because she was just a young woman who wanted the world. It all seemed well and good until she attracted the interest of very dangerous men. One of whom was sitting in her kitchen.

“I was different then.”

“Hm.”

Kate loosened the grip she had on her locket. Instead, setting it on top of the table in a neat pile. “Just tell me what you want, Santo.”

“It’s not really about what I want, micina. It’s about what you want.” He proposed. “Is this really where you want to be? Stuck in this filthy city? You want to be locked up for something someone else did? You’re so much better than that.” He urged.

“You don’t know anything about this place.” She muttered. He made it seem like she was locked up in hell.

“But I know the people you’ve been running with.” His eyes darkened with disapproval. “Thomas Shelby. Him and his brothers don’t know their fucking place. I heard what they did to Kimber. I know what they’ve done. Now you’re suddenly a favorite of his? Where do you think that’s going to lead, Kate?” He questioned.

“Fuck off.”

“And even in London, you managed to find the lowest of the low. Alfie Solomons.”

“Don’t you fucking dare.” She warned, not about to allow him to talk shit about a man who actually respected her for the person she was.

Santo took the hint and backed off a bit. “I’m just saying, there’s so much more you were meant for. When was the last time you danced? Do you still have your shoes?”

She did. The ballet pointe shoes that she adored so much. They were perfectly broken in and allowed her to lift up inches beyond how tall she usually stood. She felt like a different person when she laced them up. Someone more elegant and refined. That’s why she didn’t take them out of the box that was carefully tucked under her bed. They would remain there until she was free. Free to finally dance on stage again with a production. Free to have enough space to practice her leaps and spins.

“Kate, that’s all you ever wanted. To be a dancer no one could take their eyes off of. You didn’t want all this mess. Not here or in America. I can give you more. I can give you what you want. Any company will take you on. You’ll be the lead in every production.” He enticed her with bedazzling dreams of some utopia back in America. “You won’t have to worry about money or anything. I’ll take care of you until the day I die.”

She was absolutely sick to her stomach. Everything Santo was promising her was so alluring. To finally be free of the burden she’d been carrying for so long. To finally dance again. To put her murky past behind her and just shine. But then she looked into his eyes. There was still nothing there. No emotion, no adoration, no concern. He didn’t hold the same feeling that Tommy. She could recall seeing an array of strong expression in those blue eyes. But Santo never showed her anything. Nothing. Not the respect that people in Birmingham and London did. He never laughed with her like she laughed with John and Arthur or Alfie. Never confided with her like she did with Ada or Lizzie or Polly. He never held her heart in his hand like Tommy did.

“I don’t want that.” She replied. “I may have at one point, but I don’t anymore.”

A flash of anger passed across his face but he seemed to try and suppress it. “So, I can’t convince you with anything? Designer clothes, five-story town-house on Beacon Hill, cars? Nothing?”

She shook her head. “No.” She knew what she wanted. She wanted Tommy. She wanted the Shelby family. She wanted the relationships she had cultivated over the last couple of years.

“Well.” He cleared his throat and stood. “I suppose I can’t force you into anything.”

It was surprising to Kate that he was ceding so quickly or easily. “Um…okay.”

He pointed to the locket. “May I?”

Wary, she nodded and stood up. Santo picked up the locket as she brushed her hair away from her neck. He placed it around her neck and fixed the clasp.

When she expected him to step away, instead he grabbed her by the neck. His fingers dug into her throat, threatening to completely cut off her air supply. She reacted quickly out of shock, scratching at his hands to get him off her.

But he only tightened his grip and leaned in close to her ear. “You’ll come back to America with me, whether you like it or not.” He hissed. “I’d give you the fucking world and you turn me down? Not happening.”

“You can kill me.” She rasped, still clawing at his skin and trying to elbow his torso. “I don’t give a fuck.”

He let out a low chuckle. “I know you don’t. That’s why I won’t kill you. If I had wanted you dead, you never would have made it out of Boston alive. No, no, I’m not going to kill you. I’m going to kill those fucking gypsies that you seem to like so much. I’ll kill that fucking Jew if I have to. I’ll make you watch as I burn down this disgusting city. I’ll make you watch as I slit their throats.”

Tears began to slip down Kate’s cheeks. She had been so naïve to think Santo would let her off the hook. This was much more like the man she once knew. Violent and psychotic. “Please.”

“Please? Please what? You want me to spare their lives?” He asked in a simpering tone. “Do they really mean that much to you? Huh?”

Kate felt so weak crying in front of him. She always expected that if he returned, she would either kill him or at least fight tooth and nail. But there she was, crying and helpless against him. She couldn’t kill him. Not when the Changrettas were already breathing down Tommy’s neck. Not when he had so many other allies who would be willing to cross the Pond to teach him a lesson. She couldn’t bring harm to the Shelbys. “I’ll do anything. Just leave them.” She gasped for breath.

“Oh, micina, I thought you learned not to catch feelings for others. They can always be used as your weakness.” He tsked sarcastically. “Very well. If you go willingly, I’ll leave them all be.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek making her stomach flip with disgust. After a few more moments, he let go of her neck and stepped away from her.

Kate felt her knees buckle as she rubbed her throat and took a few shaky breaths.

“I’ll get tickets to the next ship. Should be less than a week.” He straightened up and acted like everything was all well and fine. I would keep you company for the night but I don’t want to spend another second in this dumpster.” He sniffed. “And you’re smart enough to know that if you run, I’ll keep my promise. Every single one of them will die and it’ll all be your fault.”

She nodded. “Okay.” Her voice was weak and didn’t even sound like her own. “I’ll be here tomorrow.”

Santo smiled, victorious. He had finally won. “Good, sleep well.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

Kate didn’t spare any time. She went right to the phone once Santo left. Her calls to the office, the betting shop, and Arrow House all went unanswered. No one seemed to be around or willing to pick up the phone. She stayed up all night trying to call everyone but didn’t get a response.

Finally, the next morning, she got through to Polly.

“Is Tommy still in Warwickshire?”

“Kate?”

“Is he still there?”

“Yes, we were supposed to meet with him today. He didn’t say to bring you…”

“I need to speak with him.”

There was a soft sigh over the phone line but Polly didn’t seem to have the energy to argue. “Alright, I’ll come by to pick you up."

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

The door to Tommy’s study was locked when Kate tried to barge in. Ada looked alarmed that she had shown up.

“He didn’t need to talk to you today.” The Shelby sister tried to intervene.

“Well, I need to talk to him.” She insisted and banged on the door. “Tommy, open up!”

Polly rand Ada exchanged looks but neither of them knew what was going on. Kate hadn’t disclosed anything to Polly on the drive over.

Finally, the knocking on the door got Tommy to open it. He was stone-faced and didn’t say a word. Instead, he moved right past her.

“Tommy, I need to talk to you there’s something going on and it’s-”

He just kept walking, right out of the room and out of the house entirely.

Close to tears, Kate followed. “Tommy!”

His footsteps crunched across the gravel as he made his way toward the stables.

She finally broke down in tears. Everything was too much to handle and she couldn’t hold her composure for another second. “Tommy, please!” She sobbed.

The agony in her voice made him finally stop and turn around. There was clear pain written across his face. Their last interaction obviously had put them both in drastic moods.

“I’m so sorry, this is all my fault.” She choked out.

He wasn’t sure what she was referring to. Whether it was about walking out on him when he expressed his love for her, or not. But he didn’t have the strength to turn away from her. “Sorry for what?” He walked back toward her.

Too overwhelmed, she just let out another sob and shook her head.

“Kate…” That’s when he noticed the fingerprint-shaped bruises around her neck. “Who did this to you?”

She could hardly breathe right, she was all out of sorts. “Santo. Santo did it.”

//If you’re looking for more Tommy fics, I just started a new one call Field of Poppies that details Tommy’s life before and going into ww1. Check it out!

Permanent Tag: @papa-geralt-of-cirilla @giftofdreams @biba3434 @kimmietea @karmezii @enrapturedbythemoon

Tag list: @radical-gecko @actorinfluence @meltingicequeen

Masterpost

Masterlist

[foodbytesback]

The Good, The Bad, and the What-the-Fuck of Foodie Gift Idea Lists

It’s that time of year again, when we’re forced to ask ourselves “fuck, how does giftgiving work again?”  While the pandemic might have vastly reduced the number of white elephant/secret santa type gift exchanges, if you’re anything like me, you a.) don’t know what to ask for, because you’re an adult and just go buy things when you want them, and b.) your immediate family has no determinable personality so giving an actually thoughtful gift is a nightmare.

Thankfully, pretty much every single website out there has their own holiday gift guide. 

Problem is, I suspect some of these companies just trying to sell us something might be trying to... sell us something.  By which I mean they’re looking to find ways to pawn off their surplus products no one actually wants. And even if that wasn't the case, SOOOOOO many of these lists are mindnumblingly mundane and repetitive (I’m looking at you, every “Men’s Guide” that’s just a bunch of leather wallets, straight razors and beer paraphernalia)  Who’s to say if any of these gift ideas are any good or not?

Me.   Me’s to say.  

So here’s my guide to the holiday gift guides, aiming to show which of these foodie publications is most in touch with what their readers want in a holiday gift.  It may be with noting that none of these sites are really involved with producing the products mentioned and that each list is just things that their writers liked, so, optimistically, there shouldn’t be too much random useless garbage.  Also, uhh, Christmas is Friday.  I’m not saying it’s too late if you’re looking for actual gift ideas, but you’re probably gonna have to pay out the ass for overnight shipping at this point.  This is mostly an exercise in making fun of stuff.

delish

The Good

Bernzomatic Kitchen Torch: I’m 90% sure this is the same model we use at my work, so yes, I will vouch that this is a good torch.  I can’t really think of anything you can use a torch for other than creme brulee, quickly searing tuna tataki, or getting a flambe to start the easy way, but that’s a different matter.

Salvaged Wood Cookbook/Tablet Stand: While the aesthetic of this particular one isn’t really my thing, I will say that a cookbook stand is one of those things that might come in handy on a cramped kitchen counter.  It looks like this one also has a little hole for sticking the charging cable for your tablet through, so that’s a plus. 

The Bad

Cake-in-a-Mug: I remember when cake-in-a-mug became a thing when I was in college.  I remember it never really working as well as promised.  Unless you or the person you’re getting this for doesn’t have an oven, don’t get this.  Especially not for $20.  For half that price you can buy a mug and a whole box of cake mix, and if you want to add a personalized touch you can weigh out the individual cake mix portions for them.

Bacon shirt: It’s not 2010 anymore, you can’t just slap the word “bacon” on a shirt and call it a day.

Churro Maker: This thing looks like a fucking Play-doh extruder.  Churros can be made with a piping bag with a star tip, which are both cheaper and more versatile than this… thing.

Hot Dog Toaster: There’s a reason it’s marked down from $30 to $20, and it’s because it’s a kitchen appliance that does one thing (probably poorly) and will probably just take up space on your counter.

The What-the-Fuck

Sriracha2Go Keychain: Listen, we all love sriracha.  But do you know what’s better than sriracha? Not having 5,000 things on your keychain.  Maybe it’s different for people with purses, but I remember getting a sushi keychain charm a while back that was even bigger than your ordinary piece of nigiri, so after like, 2 days of trying to cram all of that in my pocket I eventually had to take it off.  And really, you can’t go one meal without sriracha? 

Pink Lemonade Candle: I’m putting it here because it’s not even pink.  I’m sick of your lies.

Donut Warming Mug:  This whole thing is a garbage fire. When I went to investigate what sets this apart from just, like, putting a donut on top of a mug, I found that this company hasn’t even set up their domain for their Shopify site, so you couldn’t even buy this if you wanted to.

Final Verdict: 50+ ideas doesn’t mean much when half of it isn’t anything anyone wants.

Food52

The Good

Five Two Silicone Oven Mitts: I (by which I mean my parents) have a pair of silicone pot holders like this, so I can confirm they are some of the better once on the market.  The fact that these are magnetic and can be slapped against any metal surface when not in use intrigues me.

Food52 X Staub Round Cocotte: Ok, so yes, the whole enameled dutch oven craze may be a little overrated.  I have a small Staub that I picked up on sale for $100, and while I’ve only used it a couple of times I do think it was a worthwhile investment.  It’s a good gift idea if you have a rich aunt who wants to know what you want, or something like that.  (Also yes, Food52 is, in fact, the only one on this list where they do have their own store and regularly do collaborations like this.  I’m not saying you have to specifically get the Food52 version or even a Staub, just saying these kinds of dutch ovens are sorta, kind, almost worth the hype.)

Dish Rack With Drain Spout: Yes, this is a very boring gift.  But, it’s also something I would have loved to have at my last apartment.  Maybe more of a housewarming gift than a holiday gift, but I’m feeling generous so I’ll put it under “good.”

The Bad

TRUFF Truffle-Infused Hot Sauce: I just can’t imagine truffle and spicy playing well together.  The person who put it on the list seems to expect this level of incredulousness. Maybe someday I’ll try mixing hot sauce with truffle oil on my own.  But I’m not paying $40-$72 for this. 

The What-the-Fuck

Lovely Taper Candles: That’s not even food related. And it’s literally the first thing they put on the list.  Why.

Final Verdict: A much smaller list, but more quality ideas.  Even if some of them are pushing their own products.

Eater

The Good

BALMUDA The Toaster:  Let’s ignore the fact that this Japanese appliance has the Japanese word for “useless” in its name (oh shit is that a JoJo reference?) A while back I wrote that while I hate most kitchen gadgets, I would, in a heartbeat, jump at the chance to get a home-version of an industrial combi-oven, which can be set to bake, steam, or a hybrid steam/bake setting.  While this unfortunately doesn’t have a full-blown steam setting, it does have a number of different humidity settings to do hybrid steam/baking, so it’s probably the closest we’ll be getting anytime soon.

“In Bibi’s Kitchen” Cookbook plus Spicewalla Spices: The idea of a cookbook bundled with the spices needed to make the recipes is ingenious.   

The Bad

Justice of the Pies “Cutie Pie” Earrings: I will give them some credit, as apparently this is merch from a wildly popular Chicago pie bakery.  If you, like me, didn’t know that, you’d think they were just really fucking ugly earings.

The What-the-Fuck

Laundry Room Studios, the Guest Check Collection: I put this in the what-the-fuck in an endearing way.  Posters of all the Dumb Shit Customers Say™ will always be a perfect gift for anyone who’s worked customer service.  The only downside of these is the fact that they’re all relatively small, at about the size of a standard sheet of paper.

Heliograf Fish-Shaped Light: It’s… a lamp… shaped like a fish… wild.

Final verdict: Still generally good ideas, although a lot of merch for restaurants I’ve never heard of and sorta generic sounding subscription boxes.  

[hockeylvr59]

Proving Your Worth Part 9 || Jonathan Toews

Requested: [ ] yes [ ] no [x] sorta

Authors Note: Well this is another thing that took me forever because I wasn’t quite sure where to take it. It’s kind of another transition chapter but there’s some cute relationship content in it as well. Hopefully, you enjoy it. Gif credit to jokiiharju.

Warnings: none        

Word Count: 2,075

~~~~~~~~~

Thanksgiving at home had been something you’d been looking forward to. Because your mom worked retail, she had to work until 2pm meaning that you would just spend the morning with your sisters watching the parade before heading to a family friend’s house for dinner and board games while football played in the background. This had been your family’s routine for quite a few years and it was one you enjoyed tremendously. 

Having woken up with a severe bout of morning sickness was not how you’d wanted to start your day. You didn’t exactly want to deal with all of the questions of why you were vomiting because you still hadn’t told your family that you had gone through with artificial insemination and were expecting. Thankfully your mom had already left for work and only your dad and sisters were home and all three of them were still asleep upstairs as you knelt over the downstairs toilet. You knew you needed to tell them but it was something that was better done in person and you hadn’t wanted to get into it after arriving home the night before. 

Thankfully, after grabbing some crackers from a cabinet in the kitchen your stomach settled and by the time the rest of the house awoke, you were feeling fine once more. The beginning of the parade with the Broadway performances was always the best part for you and your sisters and the three of you chatted while watching, pausing to make brunch partway through and then fast-forwarding through the commercials. 

It wasn’t until the parade was over that any of you made the effort to get dressed, and since this was never a super formal affair, you slipped on a pair of jeans and a sweater, pulling your hair back and doing a bare minimum makeup job. It wasn’t like you were trying to impress anyone, and now that things between you and Jon were serious and committed...you felt even more confident just being yourself. You had been surprised to find that buttoning your jeans had been harder than usual but since you didn’t have a mirror, you didn’t notice that almost overnight your stomach had started to pudge out just a little, the next physical sign that there really was a baby growing inside of you. 

With the Hawks in Florida for Thanksgiving, you were expecting a call from Jon at some point but it hadn’t arrived by the time you left the house headed 20 minutes north. 

Dinner was delicious and the company had you laughing hysterically within minutes of arriving. Your family friends had lived in Chicago for a number of years so you enjoyed talking about all of the things you got to see while living there including all of the home hawks games, your job making their sons jealous. It was while you were talking about the hawks season that your phone buzzed and pulling it out of your back pocket you immediately couldn’t help but smile seeing that Jon had sent you a text. Opening it you were surprised to find that attached was a video...that was new...and after excusing yourself for a moment, you slipped into the next room to play it. 

Jon’s smiling face filled your screen and you watched as he wished you a happy thanksgiving before suddenly the screen was being jostled and you could see the rest of the team sitting around a long table with mounds of food on it all yelling at you with the same well wishes. It was cute and made you smile to know that since he knew you were busy that instead of calling he just decided to make you feel a little bit included into his own holiday. By the time you had finished watching the clip, another text had come through asking if the two of you could talk later that night because he missed you. Your heart fluttered and you knew that you were in so deep, but for some reason, now you weren’t scared of that feeling. 

When you returned to the living room, you found a room full of people figuring out how to cast photos from their iPhones to the new tv your friends had recently gotten. You debated for a moment about the thought that had popped into your head and after a moment you decided that it certainly couldn’t hurt.

“Let me try. I just got a cute video you guys should see.” You declared, quickly following the directions that had been discussed as you were walking into the room. After a moment the paused text message video popped up on the screen. There wasn’t anything in it that would signal anything more than friends and coworkers so you didn’t think Jon would mind if you shared it. Pressing play you watched the video once more, smiling to yourself at the rambunctious group of men that you were becoming closer and closer to through your relationship with Jon. 

When it finished, half of the room was staring at you and you quirked a brow in confusion. “What....you think I don’t know the guys?” You declared playing it off. “They’re in Florida having a team thanksgiving and decided to share.” Though that video itself wasn’t likely to end up on social media you were sure one like it would since at least some of the younger guys had active social media accounts. 

The youngest of the boys shook his head after a minute. “Wait...you don’t just work for the Hawks, you interact with the players?” He questioned causing you to laugh. 

“Yeah...I mean I deal with their paperwork at the beginning of the season and it’s not like I don’t run into them in the halls. I’ve talked with some of them before, been invited to a night out drinking.” 

“That’s so cool.” He stated amazed. You could tell that he was about to start asking a million questions that you really didn’t want to answer if you didn’t cut him off.

“I’ll just tell you that they’re all pretty funny guys and they have some great stories to share but I’m not about to go breaking their trust by saying anything more than that.” 

Thankfully the subject was quickly changed and before long you were all surrounding the table once more with another silly board game in the middle.

The rest of the evening passed quickly and it wasn’t long before you had headed home. With your mom having to work early the next morning she headed to bed and your dad and sisters decided to hit some of the sales to do some Christmas shopping. They’d invited you to join but you were aching to talk to Jon and so you declined, instead deciding to enjoy the beautiful night, grabbing a blanket and heading outside to make a small fire in the fire pit. 

With that going you curled up on the outdoor loveseat and texted to see if Jon was available to talk. Not even a minute later your phone was ringing and an easy smile slipped onto your face as you answered. 

“Hey, handsome.” You breathed, your smile growing as you heard him hum in response through the telephone. 

“Hey.” He whispered back and you could hear the fatigue in his voice. 

“How’s Florida? You sound tired. If you want to go to bed I won’t be mad, I know it’s late.” You stated, quickly being cut off with the assurance that he wanted to talk to you. 

“Florida is good. Warm.” He declared. “Call me crazy but I can’t wait to get back to Chicago on Saturday night.” 

“You might be a little crazy.” You teased. “But trust me, as much as I love home I can’t wait to get back to Chicago too...I miss you.” 

“Miss you too gorgeous.” He murmured. When he spoke again his voice had dropped in volume. “Miss baby too.” He added. “How’s little one doing?” 

“I mean besides still making me sick they’re great.” You assured him, loving that you had reached a point where the air was finally clear between the two of you considering the slightly odd circumstances of it all. 

For a few minutes, the two of you just talked about random things, Jon telling you stories about the boys and you telling him about the “green dumpster monster” in one of the games you’d played. When the laughter died down, Jon went silent for a minute before speaking hesitantly. 

“Can I ask you a question?” He asked. Ignoring the fact that he just had you assured him that of course, he could. “Do you wanna invite your family to Chicago for Christmas? Maybe these family friends you’re close to  too since they’re from the area.” Before you could even respond he continued. “Just hear me out...I was thinking...we’re on the road before and after Christmas so my parents and David are gonna come to Chicago...I thought maybe if everyone was in Chicago we could do our mornings in individual groups and then have everyone over for dinner.” 

There were so many overwhelming things with that question. First, your apartment was not big enough to hold your entire family. You were already aware you needed to find someplace larger before the baby arrived. Two, he wanted your parents to meet his parents. That was...that was really serious, especially because the two of you would have only been official for a month by Christmas. Hearing your silence, Jon backpedaled. “It’s okay if that’s too much I just. I want to spend Christmas with you. And with the baby, I figured...well I figured that yeah our families should meet sooner rather than later.” Thinking about it still, you bit your lip because it was a lot but he was right. 

“No...Jon...you have a point. You just took me off guard.” You admitted. “I just...my apartment isn’t big enough for my family and while you’re right about the second part, that’s just...it’s a little overwhelming.” 

“I know it is,” Jon assured you. “But if it’s something you want I’d be happy to get your family a hotel room and don’t even try and talk me out of that. I...I just want you to know how serious I am about this...about you and with my career family can be hard and I don’t want to let an opportunity pass by because of fear. Little one deserves all of the good things. So do you.” 

With everything Jonathan was doing for you, it was hard to tell him that you wouldn’t do something that clearly meant so much to him. 

“Okay. I’ll talk to my parents.” You declared. “But are you sure about adding even more people to the mix?” You prodded knowing that while his place was large, that would be a lot of people to entertain when he was only getting back into town the early morning hours of Christmas Eve. His response was immediate though.

“Of course I am. If they’re important to you, they’re important to me and if they’d be interested in being in the area anyway I see no reason not to add a few more to dinner. We’ll have a chef of course.” He elaborated, quickly clearing the air that he had no plans on cooking. 

“Okay.” You simply murmured, a yawn slipping from your throat. 

“Okay.” He echoed, and you could practically hear his smile through the phone. “I’ll let you get some sleep.” He breathed after a moment having heard your yawn. “But hey...come over when you get back to Chicago?” He requested. 

“I’d like nothing more.” You agreed, promising to do just that. After saying goodnight you hung up the phone and after adjusting the dying fire so that it was extinguished, you headed inside and to the couch to sleep, thoughts of how to tell your parents about the baby and ask them about Christmas filling your head. 

Three days later you were snuggled up on the couch in Jon’s arms having told your family about your little one and having inquired about Christmas in Chicago. Your mom agreed to see if she could get off work and so though Christmas plans were pending, they were headed in a positive direction. Things were looking up, and it was all thanks to a certain brown-eyed man. 

[izzy-b-hands]

Rock/Queentober 2020, Oct. 16th: Ashes

Assigned band member for this day: Brian

Synopsis: Brian/ Trans M Reader. Set just before the beginning of the 1976 A Night At The Opera USA tour. Your father has recently passed, and it’s a hell of a time, as to be expected. But Brian is there to help you through it, at least. 

TW for death of a parent, though it isn’t described in detail. Also casual transphobia, and descriptions of reader having a shitty relationship with their father. 

My love to all who read/like/reblog!

“Thank you for coming with,” you say softly. 

The lights in the crematorium buzz, and you and Brian shift uncomfortably under their too-bright, clinical glow. 

But then, since your father had first taken ill, it had been uncomfortable. Awkward. 

He approved of Brian, in a general sense. But he had never liked Brian as a person. 

For that matter, your father hadn’t liked you much either. He loved you as parental obligation, but it was not a true love, and he didn’t show it often. When he did, it came in the form of trying to buy your love, offering you expensive things you didn’t want or to pay your rent for a month or two out of nowhere. But always with the catch that you would then do whatever he asked of you, after the money was given. 

You had never taken it. You had a job, and your own paycheck, and love to be found elsewhere with other people. So you had let your father keep all his money, and all the love that supposedly would have come with it on the condition of your obedience. 

The last day you’d visited him in hospice, he’d made all of that very clear, in a long, meandering, often hurtful lecture. 

“As a daughter...you were disappointing, but fine enough, for a girl,” he had coughed. “But as a son...” 

He had rolled his eyes, and asked the nurse checking his IV what she thought it would take for you to get the hint and finally leave him to die in peace. 

That was when you had left. No good-bye, even as the nurse had called after you, letting you know he wasn’t likely to last the night. 

You hadn’t cared then, and you didn’t care now as the crematorium employee handed over the medium-sized white box that held the urn which contained your father’s ashes. 

If he had cared at all, after you left, there was no way to know. And what did it matter? Out of all his children, you were the only one to show up when he first got sick. You brought him to England on your dime so he could receive care and not drown his family (wife and family number four) in medical debt. You offered to fly out your half-siblings, all of them, from wives 2-4, even offering your mum the chance to fly out if she desired, even if only to slap him once soundly. 

None of them had taken you up on it. Most of them hadn’t even replied, by phone or letter. But you had made up excuses for them all, when he got sad, asking where they were. 

You had done all that, and he hadn’t cared one whit. You weren’t the way he wanted you to be, so none of it had counted. 

“He didn’t have any requests, or anything in his will about it?” Brian asks, gesturing to the box as you walk together back to his car. 

You shake your head. “I wish he had. I don’t know what the fuck to do with them.” 

“Rude of him,” Brian says as he helps you into the car, careful not to jostle the box. “Just one last fuck you, it seems like...” 

“It really does,” you sigh, opening the box as you wait for Brian to get into the driver’s seat. The urn is bronze, and a little ugly, if you’re honest. But your father had picked it out himself, and he always did get most of what he wanted, didn’t he? No matter the end result or consequences. 

“Sorry,” Brian mutters as he slips into the seat, quickly starting the car and getting it pulled out into the mid-day London traffic. “Shouldn’t speak ill of the dead.” 

“If he didn’t want anyone speaking ill of him when he was dead, then he shouldn’t have been a fucking shithead in life,” you found yourself sobbing suddenly, the tears an unexpected and unwelcome surprise as they fell. 

“It’s okay,” Brian says gently. 

“It isn’t!” you protest, wiping harshly at the tears. “I want to throw this damned thing out the window!” 

Brian pulls into the nearest open spot on the side of the street. “Y/N-” 

“I hate this,” you whimper. “I said years ago: no more tears over him, or because of him. Not even one more! And yet here I am...” 

Brian undoes his seatbelt and leans close to hug you. “You can’t be upset with yourself for this. Anyone would cry; he may have been terrible and your relationship with him might have been shit, but-” 

You could see him choosing his words carefully. 

“You still knew him. For better or worse, he was in your life, and that means something. Not all good, not all bad, but a mix. And that means having a reaction to this moment, to him being gone.” 

“I don’t want him in our house,” you say as you close the box’s lid. 

“Okay,” Brian nods. “Is there anywhere in particular you want to put him? I mean, his ashes, I should say.” 

“No,” you sigh shakily. “I just want him away from us.” 

Brian’s wearing the look that comes up whenever he’s being clever, but feels unsure about it. “I might have an idea. You still want to come out on a few tour dates with us, yeah?”

“If you guys will have me,” you reply. “And so long as I won’t be in the way.” 

“Never,” Brian smiles, and kisses your forehead. “So then, if you aren’t sure of just one place for him, maybe you could bring him with, and...” 

After a moment, it clicks. “That’s brilliant. What would I do without that brain of yours?” 

“Be perfectly fine, because there are a great many days where you’re much more clever than I am,” Brian chuckles. “And more put together, too.” 

“That’s debatable,” you manage a smile. 

He shakes his head, then looks down. “Keys?” 

“Still in the ignition, love.” 

He blushes, utterly adorable, and nods. “Right. Where they would be, of course. Sorry; I swear I’m fit to drive.” 

For now, the urn has to come into the house with you, though you let Brian put it up on a high shelf in the hall closet. It’s difficult to do, but Brian makes it so much easier. 

And a few weeks later, as the tour begins, you lighten as the urn does. 

Part of him in Boston. A bit left in New York. Some in Chicago. And finally, the rest of him in San Diego. 

You bury the ashes deep in the dirt, under the watchful eye of the public park warden who has given you permission to spread the ashes there. 

She leaves as soon as you’re done, leaving you and Brian alone, staring at the miniscule mound of disturbed dirt. 

He wraps an arm around you. “Feeling better?” 

You nod. “A little. At least he’s truly gone now. I wonder what he’d think of all this anyway, us doing this with his remains. If he’d find it neat, or hate it utterly.” 

“That’s the beauty of this,” Brian says. “He’s gone. He can’t weigh you down with his thoughts or feelings or insults or complaints anymore. All that ugly shit he used to say to you is as dead as he is.” 

“It is,” you sigh happily.

“And you’re here, and alive, and beautiful,” Brian continues. “What say we take that urn back to the hotel and leave it there, then have a walk round here before I have to get to the venue?” 

You nod and follow him out of the park, but stop at the sight of an open dumpster near the park entrance. 

He shakes his head as you toss the urn into it. “I thought you might, as soon as I saw it.” 

“He wouldn’t care anyway,” you say, as you pull him back into the park. “And even if he did, who cares? He isn’t here to yell at me about it, and I wouldn’t care for what he had to say regardless.” 

You know better than to kiss right there, the looks you’ll get. But Brian pulls you down a path with only one woman on it, and as soon as she passes, he kisses you deeply, but sweetly. 

“My father had no idea of how good you are,” you can’t help but whisper as you continue down the path with him. “But I do. And I’m so glad I have you.” 

“He had no idea how good you are either,” Brian replies. “No idea who he missed out on getting to know, to care for. I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to be someone who has gotten to do what he didn’t, albeit in a different way.” 

For the rest of the quiet path, before you reach other people again, you take his hand. 

You won’t say now, because who knows exactly what the future might be. But you know that when you go, you hope Brian will keep your ashes at home. On a mantel, or a side table. Somewhere near him, whenever he’s home. 

[toxicxxmyth]

The Truth Untold; Sebastian Stan

Sebastian Stan

Summary: Y/n Y/l/n, born and raised in south side Chicago. Now raising her five younger siblings, she’s not even sure if some of them are actually related to her. But she takes care of them nonetheless, as best as she can. While her drunk father continues to make their life harder. And her drug addicted mother comes bursting through the door once every to years. Its a chaotic life for a 23 year old, but she made it work. Until one day, the most notorious mob leaders of the country  shows up to do some business in the south side.

Au: Shameless!Au, Mafia!Sebastian

Warning(s): Cussing, slight smut, poverty, drugs etc

Word Count: 3,047

A/N: This is literally a Shameless fanfic, if you’ve seen the show, AMAZING, if not than you should because its amazing. 

A/N 2: Plus this lowkey kinda sucks lol, so watching the show will make up for it.

A/N 3: I didn’t write the whole smut cause i suck at it, but i’ll try my best if you guys ask for it.

prima întâlnire

The whole club glowed with blue and green laser beams shooting out from the rotating lights on the ceiling. Smoke coming out of both ends of the dance floor, the bar area seemed to be the only calm part of the club. It was Friday night and the club was beyond packed with people dancing dirty in the middle of the club. The air was thick, a mixture of the fog machine and marihuana clouds. Making it slightly hard to breathe. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

 Except you, apparently. Stress radiated off you as you sat, tensed at the bar. Watching as the bartender scrambled back and forth to take orders from everyone who crowded the bar. You couldn’t possibly have fun when your father arrived after months of his little rendezvous of drugs and alcohol. Causing even more chaos in your home.

“Y/n, I’m going to need you to get off your ass and start having some fun” Camille stutters over to you, making you lose your train of thoughts.

 “Nah, I think I’ll head home for the night” You shrugged, grabbing your purse and downing your drink.

 “What!? The whole point of taking you to the club was for you to loosen up, Y/n/n” She whines, bringing her hands up to rub your bare and tensed shoulders, a pout adorning her red lips. Making you shake your head with a slight smile at the drunken state of your best friend.

 “I have to get back to the kids. It’s kind of hard to have fun when all I can think about is Ethan blowing up the kitchen” You sigh, wincing at the thought of your little brother destroying your kitchen for one of his stupid experiments.

 “Fine, I’ll take you. It’s no fun without you” She huffs while turning around dramatically. Causing a giggle to rip from your throat. “Don’t move, I’m getting my stuff”

 “You don’t have to though, I can just take the bus. You should stay and have fun with your coworkers” You reassured her as she raised an eyebrow at you.

 “At 1:34am, Y/n, I think the fuck not” She gave you a look as if warning you to stay put.

 Your lip caught between your teeth as you watch your best friends stumble across the club, a smile on your lip as you thought how lucky you were to have such an amazing friend like her. Grabbing your purse to take a few dollars out to pay for your drink, your felt lips against the shell of your ear, and with a husky voice, he spoke.

 “I can feel your stress all the way across the room”

  You turned around quickly, eyebrows raised ready to tell the guy off, only to stop and gasp loudly. Your eyes wide and mouth agape, lucky for you, the music was booming loud so the chance of him hearing your deep gasp was slim to none.

 He’s beautiful, to say the least. The lights didn’t seem to bother you anymore as you analyzed every feature on the man. He had deep blue eyes, ones you could easily lose yourself into. Prominent cheekbones, his facial hair was growing out, causing your thoughts to wonder off to inappropriate scenarios. His lips where a light shade of pink, looking delicious as ever. He was older, maybe in his thirties, but you couldn’t tell. His whole body covered in black designer, he was expensive.

 “Um, I-” You stuttered, brows furrowed in confusion, you’ve never seen this man in your life.

 “What is it? Cat caught your tongue” He smirked, bringing his glass full of scotch to his lips. Cocky motherfucker.

 You scoffed at his attitude, biting your bottom lip to surpass a smile. You didn’t know if you wanted to punch him or ride his dick into the sunset.

 “And who the hell are you? My stalker?” You asked, raising an eyebrow as you gained your composer as you got a clue on what type of guy you may be dealing with.

 “No, no stalker here. I couldn’t help but notice your lack of interest of for being here tonight” He smiles kindly, catching you off guard.

 “Yeah, well clubs aren’t really my thing, feel like I have better things to do” You nod your head, turning away from him, looking at one of the bottles that was placed on the wall along the others as if it was the most interesting thing there. Anything to look away from the beautiful stranger.

“Yeah? Like what?” He asked, downing his drink while calling over the bartender to order a new one, you assumed.

“Finding a job without having to blow the manager” You simply stated. Causing him to chuckle. His smile was absolutely breathtaking.

“What’s you name” He asked, which felt more of a statement, actually.

 “Uh Y/n. Yours?” You looked up at him, only to be met face to face with his beautiful eyes.

 “Sebastian”

 Sebastian, even his name is attractive.

 “So what brings you to south side Chicago?” You asked. Interested in why such a wealthy looking man would end up in this dump.

 “Business.” He shrugged, voice lowering as he said it. Eyebrows raised at you as if warning you not to ask anymore, which exactly what you did. You wouldn’t show it, but his demanding tone scared the shit out of you, but weirdly enough, it turned you the fuck on.

  “Let me buy you a drink” He offers.

 “I can’t, I uh have to get back to my kids” You shake your head and getting up from the stool. Ready for his surprised face a stuttering words at the mention of five kids. But to your surprise, he was unfazed.

  “Kids?” He asked, pulling out his wallet, taking out big cash as he dumped it on the counter for the barista to take. Making your eyes wind just a bit.

  “They’re actually my siblings, but they’re still kind of my kids” You confirmed while nodding your head. His eyes ranking your body, you felt small under his gaze, making you feel insecure.

  “Let me guess” He began, clearing his throat as he ripped his gaze away from yours.

 “First born, OD’d mom, alcoholic father. Leaving you to raise your siblings, you had to grow up at a young age, at maybe” He stops and raises his hands in defense “and this is just a guess, 13, maybe? Didn’t finish high school cause of your deadbeat parents and you’re currently jobless, stealing and scamming for food and clothes in the meantime” He finishes while looking at you with a small smile.

  You couldn’t help but scoff in disbelief. Wondering if you should be offended by the assumption or impress by how spot on he was.

  “Mom didn’t OD though, haven’t seen her in years. But I do know that she’s out living her best life. And I was actually 6 when I realized my parents didn’t give a shit. Ended up raising my two brothers. Then came the rest” You sigh, somewhat sadly at the situation you were in at such a young age, but you loved your siblings nonetheless.

“Must’ve been tough” He gave you a sad smile, taking a sip out of his drink.

“Yeah, but I got used to it pretty quick”

 “Well it seems like you know everything about me, so why don’t you tell me about yourself. I bet it’s much more interesting than my shitty life” You chuckled, hoping to get some kind of information about what kind of business he was running here.

 “It’s really crawdad in here, let’s go outside” He moved his head to point at the door.

 “No” You simply stated. Earning a look of shocked and surprised from the dominant male. Which boosted your ego just a little.

 “This is how things work. I walk out with you, you tell me your oh so tragic childhood which causes me to pity you. Soon, once I’m under your spell, you chloroform me and a white van appears out of nowhere and I’ll be part of a illegal sex and drug trafficking ring” You smiled innocently at him.

 “I’d actually be much more creative in kidnapping people”

 You didn’t know if he was being funny or serious, but it made you feel a mixture of fear and desire.

 “I’m from Romania, actually. Born and raised, came to America when I was 16, pretty hard to adapt to a new life. But I managed it” He offers a smile before continuing. “Dad took off with some young blondie, claiming he was in love with her” He used his fingers to quote on “in love”, “And mom got sick, and with dad gone, I couldn’t take care of her properly. So I dropped out of high school and got a job, one that paid extremely well. And I became good at it, really good, actually. So that’s me. A Businessman taking care of his family” He smiled at you, playing with the drink he had, one that you didn’t notice before.

 “Is your mother okay now” You asked, your ears on full display for him.

 “Yeah, she’s fine now”

 You nodded your head in understatement, but a question kept bugging you, so you asked hesitantly .

“And your dad?” And just like that, his whole body tensed up, eyes darkening at the mention of him. Mentally cursing yourself for being so damn nosy.

 “I’m so-”

 “No, its fine. He’s out of the picture, for good. Has been for years” He had a sinister look in his eyes, which caused an uneasy feeling to burst in your stomach.

    “I can take you home” He smiles, kindly, this time.

 This caused you to furrow your eyes in confusion, until you realized that you claimed to leave and go home when he first arrived.

  “I’m not going to hop in a strangers car and ditch my drunk best friend” You smirked, yet your hand didn’t dare move out of his grasp. And he noticed two due to the smirked that was placed on his lips. Before you knew it, you were pulled into his arms, making you gasp and pull away quickly. It felt incredibly nice feeling his lean fit body against yours, but pulling always was basic reflex.

  “Feisty” He chuckle, tongue swiping across his lips as his ring covered fingers traced your features. The whole mood went from a pity party to testing both your sexual desires. The softness of it all made you lean in while closing my eyes. It’s been a hell of a while since you’ve been touched, even slightly, especially by such an attractive man.

 “And you’re incredibly cocky”

 “I am, aren’t I?” He laughed, and actual laugh. Which left you slightly confused.

  ---

 Before you fucking knew it, your back was being pressed against the dirty walls of the most disgusting public bathroom you’ve probably ever been in while your neck was being devoured by a stranger you met 20 minutes ago. Your hands were firmly pressed against his chest, head tilted to the side giving him as much access to your neck as he needed.

 “Fuck, Sebastian” You couldn’t help but moan as you felt his growing dick press against your underwear. Your dress pulled up to your waist, making you feel like a cheap whore. But the feeling of Sebastian’s lips sucking roughly on your collarbone, his beard scratching against you and his growing dick rubbing against your slick underwear made you forget about your pride.

 His hands found their way to your exposed ass, squeezing them as hard as he could. His nails and cold rings digging into your skin made push your body harder against his. Your breathing was erratic, your hands couldn’t seem to find a place to rest upon. So you ran your fingers through his hair, tugging at it so you could look him in the eye, which were now a dark blue. Pupils slightly dilated, lips bruised and painted by your pink lipstick. The sight alone could’ve made you come undone.

Sebastian had other plans, while you were admiring his features, his hand pass your underwear, pressing harshly against your clit. You gasp loudly as you hold onto the back of his neck for some sort of support.

 Dragging his fingers down your slit, he collected some of your wetness and brought it back up to your clit, so it be easier to play with you. All while biting the shell of your ear.

“So wet, so delicious” He praised while slamming his lips on yours. The kiss was sloppy, but none of you minded it much.

His touch were soft, yet he had you rolling your eyes back as he rubbed you clit in circles.

You were so caught up in your own bubble of pleasure, you didn’t notice him using your thigh to rub his closed dick on. And smirked formed on your lips as your hand reached down to roughly palm him. But before you could do anything else. He grabbed your hand and turned you over the sink. Taking your hair into a makeshift pony tail, forcing you to look at yourself in the mirror, all while grinding his dick on your bare ass.

 “I promise, next time, I’ll fuck you somewhere less disgusting, and more expensive, but for now, you’ll have to deal with this” He growls against your cheek.

Next time...

  --

 Staring at the blank walls of your room at 6:50 became some sort of tradition. Sleep was nowhere to be found as your thoughts kept you up every night. But lately, the only thought on your mind was Sebastian, and his beautiful blue eyes, his ring covered finger and his delicious lips. Fucking asshole.

  It’s been exactly a week since you your encounter, and to be honest, you were devastated, especially after he gave you the best fucking orgasm you’ve ever experience in a smelly bathroom than any guy in your bed.

  Sighing for the 20th time, you decide to get up from your pity party and head downstairs for a glass of water. A sleeping pill would be great if you didn’t have five kids to look after and figuring way to get. You only had 10 minutes before waking everyone up and cooking breakfast. And preparing their lunches for school. A headache already forming at just the thought of it, but you knew it was just lack of sleep.

 Half way down the stairs, you heard a loud knock on your door, causing you to stop and furrow your eyebrows in confusion.

  “Who the hell could that be?” You thought out loud as you reached the end of the stairs, grabbing the robe that was left on the couch and wrapping it over your semi naked body.

  “Delivery for Y/n Y/l/n” Was the first thing that came out of the man’s mouth as you opened the door half way.

 “Delivery? What do you mean delivery, from who?” you asked, opening the door wider and wrapping your arms around your freezing body. Today was Sunday, there are no deliveries on Sundays. Though, the fact that today wasn’t supposed to be mail day, it was the least your worries. What worried you most was the man delivering it. He was dressed in all black, hair slicked back and tattoos adorning his face. A cigarette handing from behind his ear, though it wasn’t enough to surprise or worry you.

  “Delivery from Mr. Stan” He coughs nervously, as if saying the name will cause a curse for all eternity.

 Confused, you take the heavy box into your arms. 

“Who-“

  “Have a good day, ma’am” He smiles and walks away, leaving you confused, and slightly scared of what might be in the mysterious box that looked to be more expensive than your whole house.

 “Ma’am? Who the hell are you trying to fool here” You questioned, mostly to yourself as you shut the door close.

 “What’s that?” Came the voice of the second oldest, Jeremy, as he slouched on the couch, lighting up a cigarette as he did so. Causing you to groan in annoyance while ripping it out of his mouth.

 “I have no fucking clue. Go make yourself useful make breakfast.”

“Like what?” He groans, not really paining attention to you.

Like cereal” You ordered as soon as you heard the alarm from one of the room upstairs, knowing everyone will be down soon.

 “There’s no milk”

 “Then use water”

 Once upstairs, you closed the door, locking it before throwing yourself on the bed with the box in your lap. Pretty stupid of you to accept a box from a drug dealing looking kid, but here you were. Half way opened, you noticed a card sticking out from the side. And saw a neat handwriting, one that you could’ve sworn you’ve seen before.

 “No legacy is as rich as honesty”

 I know you’ll probably think I’m an asshole for this. But here’s a little something for you to get by. I’ve been in the same situation, though, I took a dangerous root. So in the meantime, here’s a gift to help you and and your family. Don’t make a fuss, and burn, just enjoy it. And I’ll see you soon”

 Sebastian.

 Beyond confused, you opened the box only to find a shit load of money stacked on top of another. Maybe, 9, 10 grand? You didn’t know, but you panicked. Your eyes wide in shock, your hand covering you mouth as, your hand covering you mouth as our mind tried to process what was happening.

 “What the fuck, did you rob a bank or something?” Jeremy gasped as he busted into the room, staring at the money. You crumbled the note and placed it in between your legs so Jeremy didn’t notice. Once you were calm enough, you took a deep breath and closed the box calmly

“Count the money. We’re giving it back”

“Who the hell did you get involved with, Y/n?” Jeremy asked, sternly, this time. He closed the door and grabbed the box, making sure the other didn’t hear or see.

“I have no fucking clue, but that money is not staying”