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puckinghischier · 3 months

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Meet the Parents

Jack Hughes x fem!reader

summary: reader is nervous to meet jack’s parents

notes: got the itch to write again, and this request has been sitting in my inbox for awhile. this was very fun to write, and i’m learning i absolutely LOVE writing jack! the ending is kinda weird bc i didn’t really know how to end it, but i hope you enjoy it nonetheless! happy reading!! 🫶🏼

request: jack bringing his gf to meet the rest of his family and they all quickly adore her, but can tell she’s really important to jack and he really just loves her but she is also super close to Luke and that makes ellen very happy!! just something sweet have fun!!!

[4.2k]

“Darling, chill out. Everything’s going to be fine. I’m telling you, they already love you,” Jack brings a hand over to calm your bouncing knee.

You worry that Jack made a reservation at the wrong restaurant, seeing as the two of you have been sitting in the half circle booth for fifteen minutes already, and there’s no trace of the rest of the Hughes clan to be seen.

Jack’s parents had flown into Jersey yesterday, wanting to be there when the Devils play the Canucks tomorrow so they can see all of their children on the same ice once again.

Quinn and Luke were joining you for dinner tonight, too, but you had no fears about either of them being in attendance. If anything, the fact that both of them will be here calms your nerves a little more.

Luke was actually the reason you had met Jack in the first place. The small café you worked at being one of Luke’s favorite spots to come and decompress after practice or before big games. He would come in and sit at the same table in the back of the small dining room, ordering an iced green tea and a grilled ham and swiss every time.

You went to take your break one day, going to sit at your favorite secluded corner booth, only to find the space already taken by none other than your curly-headed regular.

He offered for you to sit, claiming his table had been taken when he came in, but he was about to take off anyways. You insisted he stayed and you share the booth, then spent your entire break chatting with the hockey player, as you had learned, and a friendship was quickly formed.

He started sitting in your booth instead of his table, causing you to spend most of your breaks talking to your new friend. The conversations during breaks and between rushes became him inviting you to games and outings with his teammates.

He had introduced you to Jack the first time you agreed to meet up with him at a sports bar down the road after a shift, and you were instantly drawn to the middle Hughes brother.

The more games you went to and the more you made appearances during post-game celebrations, the closer you became to Jack, until the two of you made the jump from friends to dating.

Luke had admitted that he knew from that first time he sat with you on your break, you were perfect for his brother. He orchestrated the whole thing, from inviting you out to bringing Jack along to a few of his ‘zen’ lunches before games after your first introduction to his older brother.

You were thankful Luke had decided to play matchmaker for his brother all those months ago. You couldn’t imagine your life without Jack in it, now. You had found your person, and gained two brothers out of it at the same time.

And even though you had been with Jack for quite some time, the opportunity to meet his parents had never presented until now. You had met Quinn only two months into your relationship, taking a trip to Vancouver with the two devils players to celebrate Quinn’s becoming captain of the Canucks.

Jim and Ellen hadn’t been able to make it then, flying out a few weeks after the three of you made your visit. Jack and Luke had invited you to spend the week with their family at their lake house this summer, but it was the same week you had flown home for your grandfather’s birthday party.

There were a couple more missed opportunities between now and then, but now is the time that you’re faced with the infamous task of meeting the parents.

You keep trying to tell yourself that they can’t be that scary, considering how quickly you were accepted by all three children they raised. But that seed of doubt keeps digging its roots in your mind, causing you to become a ball of anxious energy all day.

You had shown up and proceeded to clean Jack’s entire apartment at seven o’clock this morning, after cleaning yours last night, because you couldn’t sleep. You color-coded his t-shirts in his closet and re-organized all of Luke’s drawers in his room. Luke had joked that they should take you to a family reunion and maybe you’d start detailing their cars, next. The comment earned him a swift smack to the head from Jack.

Your boyfriend, on the other hand, begged you to stop, and take a breather with him. He took you to a salon to get your nails re-done, the scrubbing you did to your shower last night ruining your current manicure. He also took you to the local animal shelter, remembering how you babbled about a statistic stating that petting a cat for ten minutes can reduce a person’s stress by 50%.

He brought you back to his apartment with plenty of time to get ready, and sat in the bathroom with you the entire time you showered so he could listen to you list your worries about this evening and reassure you everything would be fine. He claimed he wanted to learn and help when you sat down in front of the vanity he had bought and placed in his room for you, eager to help you apply the various creams and powders to your face. He tried to curl a few strands of your hair for you, causing you to break into a fit of giggles when he got the iron so tangled in your hair it stayed without either of you holding on to it.

His actions did ease your anxiety, being so focused on Jack and your love for him to leave any room for the familiar bubble of nervousness in your belly. But the second you stepped foot in the restaurant, it all became real again.

“Jack, are you sure this is the right place? Why aren’t they here yet? Do you think they forgot?” you place your hand on top of the one he just placed on your knee, looking over at him with wide, worried eyes.

“Yes, this is the right place. They’re just running a bit behind. Dad isn’t always the best judge of traffic. He thinks he can beat the GPS every time,” he chuckles, leaning in to place a kiss to your temple.

You close your eyes and lean into his kiss, allowing yourself to get lost in Jack and the comfort he never fails to bring you.

He removes his lips from your temple, lowering his head slightly to speak quietly into your ear.

“I promise, you have nothing to worry about. Mom is so excited to meet you, and Dad always asks about how your classes are going when I talk to him on the phone,” he starts, rubbing his hand up and down your thigh. “Plus, if for some reason they decide they don’t like you, which is literally impossible, by the way, it’s not going to change the way I feel about you.”

He places a kiss to your cheek, your eyes still closed listening to his words. You let out a breath you had been holding, letting yourself fully sag into his side. He starts to speak softly once more as you lay your head fully on his shoulder.

“They will never change how much I love you, Y/N. You’re it for me. I’ll live the rest of my life in familial exile if I have to. You’re the only thing that matters to me, understand?”

“Now, don’t be so dramatic, Jack, I’m a catch. Surely if I can survive all the puck bunnies I can survive your mom and dad,” you joke, his words giving you a small boost of confidence. “Plus, they raised you, how scary can they really be?”

You lift your head off of his shoulder and pinch his cheek, poking fun at the fact the internet claims Jack isn’t very threatening.

“Heyyy,” he draws the word out, feigning offense. “I can be scary. I am a big scary hockey player after all,” he pouts bringing his forehead to rest against yours.

You bring your hand up to pat his cheek. “Yeah, sure, keep telling yourself that, pretty boy.”

You giggle as Jack growls at you and brings his hands to tickle your sides, causing you to yelp and try to squirm away from him in the large booth.

Neither of you notice the hostess escorting the rest of the Hughes family towards your booth.

“Alright, get a room you two, geez. And don’t make it mine this time,” you hear Luke’s voice ring out, referencing the time Jack’s sheets were being washed so the two of you decided to nap in Luke’s room.

You snap to attention, separating yourself from Jack fully.

You look up to see his entire family standing there, looking at you. Jack rolls his eyes at his brother, quickly scooting out of the booth to greet his parents.

“We take a nap in your room one time and you never let us forget it. We even slept on top of your comforter, for crying out loud!” Jack ruffles Luke’s curls as he walks past him.

You wiggle your way out of the booth to greet his family, taking a few deep breaths for good measure.

You find yourself in front of Quinn first, walking into his open arms for one of your favorite Quinn bear hugs.

“How are you, squirt?” he asks, squeezing you tight.

“Quinnifer, I’m only two years younger than you,” you squeeze him back, hearing him chuckle at your own nickname for the defenseman.

“Yeah, so you’re forever and affectionately known as squirt,” he says matter of factly, pulling back from the hug but keeping his hands on your upper arms as you roll your eyes at him.

“So, you doing okay? Any meltdowns yet? Jack told me you were nervous,” Quinn questions you, ducking slightly so he can look into your eyes.

“Well, Jack’s t-shirts are color coded and Luke’s drawers are now sorted in order of how he gets dressed, so if that’s what you call okay, then yeah, I’m doing great,” you reveal, giving Quinn a sheepish smile.

“I thought Jack said you were nervous? Sounds like a typical Thursday night for you,” he teases back, letting his hands drop.

“Ha-Ha, very funny, Quinnifer,” you deadpan.

Quinn laughs at you. “Seriously, you have nothing to worry about. I don’t know if Jack told you already, but they ask about you all the time. I think Mom’s over the moon that Rowdy finally has someone to keep him in check. They love you already.” Quinn tells you with the most sincerity you’ve ever heard from him.

You reach out and squeeze his shoulder, a silent thank you for the reassurance.

“Yeah, I think Mom’s already got the wedding colors picked out,” Luke approaches the two of you.

“Shut up, Moose. You’re just mad Jack snagged her when you were too dumb to,” Quinn elbows Luke in the ribs as he stands next to his oldest brother.

“Quinn, that’s literally the most disgusting thing you’ve ever said to me,” Luke hunches over, rubbing his abdomen.

“Gee, thanks Luke. Glad to know how repulsive you think I am,” you throw your arms up slightly, playfully scoffing.

“Don’t get me wrong, Y/N, you’re a catch and all, but my God, that’s like someone telling me I should make a move on my sister,” Luke makes a gagging noise, emphasizing his point.

“Don’t worry, Lukey, I feel the same way about it. You’re the annoying little brother I never wanted and didn’t have…until now,” you dig back, earning your own eye roll from the tallest Hughes.

You look over to see Jack conversing with his parents when he catches your eye, waving you over.

“Well, here goes nothing, I guess,” you whisper out before walking the few feet to your left where Jack stands with his parents.

You walk into the open arm Jack has held out for you, his arm slipping around your waist, his thumb lightly rubbing up and down to let you know he’s right there with you.

“Mom, Dad, this is Y/N,” Jack introduces you as you place your own hand over his on your waist, grounding yourself to him.

You’re so focused on trying to smile without looking like you’re in pain that you don’t see the look Jack gives you.

Ellen, however, does. Jack told her how nervous you were for tonight, begging her to not ask you too many questions and to let you do the talking, no matter how well intended her questions are.

She sees the way her son looks at you, never having seen such an expression of love on his face before. She notices how tightly you’re gripping his hand, and the slight motion of his thumb.

She knew she liked you before this moment, Jack’s constant talking about you making her feel like she’s already met you before. But witnessing your moment with Jack before the two of you were aware they had arrived, seeing how comfortable you are with her son, and how much joy was on his face every time he looked at you, was enough to sell her even further.

You reach your hand out for a handshake, trying to discreetly wipe your hand on the fabric of your dress.

“Hi, It’s so nice to finally meet you two. I’m so sorry we haven’t been able to meet before now. Jack’s told me so much about you,” you say to both of them, but reaching your hand out towards Ellen first.

Ellen takes your hand. “Oh, honey, we’re not a hand shaking family. You see how Quinn is, we’re huggers,” she pulls you forward, wrapping you in what you can only described as a motherly hug.

She squeezes you tightly before letting go, giving you a wide smile.

You turn to Jim, his arms already open and inviting.

You give him a quick hug, now knowing where Quinn gets his bear hugging tendencies from.

The six of you make your way into the large booth, you and Jack taking your spot in the middle of the booth with his parents sitting to his left and Quinn and Luke sitting to your right.

Jack’s hand makes its way to your leg immediately. Throughout the meal he’s never not touching you. Whether it’s his hand on your leg, his arm around your shoulders, or his hand resting in yours on the table, he always lets you know he’s right there with you.

Ellen and Jim ask you about your school work and what your plans are after you graduate. They ask you about your family and where you’re from, but they mostly let you set the pace of the conversation, which you’re thankful for.

The food comes and goes, and the anxiety you felt earlier melts away the longer you converse with the family.

Once the plates are cleared and dessert is ordered, the topic of hockey finally makes its way into the conversation of the night. You’re thankful, the spotlight finally being taken off of you for a few minutes.

“So, Quinny, hope you’re ready to get your ass beat tomorrow, because Luke and I won’t be taking it easy on you out there, Cap,” Jack changes the subject when there’s a lull in the discussion of how you ended up in New Jersey, giving you a squeeze and a quick wink, being able to tell you were getting a little talked out.

“Oh, I wouldn’t expect you to. Then it’d be too easy, considering we’re going to shut you out anyways,” Quinn teases back.

“I don’t know, Huggy, I think that C added a bit too much weight to your jersey, you’re looking slower and slower every time I see you. Or maybe it’s just that old age catching up with you,” Luke chimes in.

“I’m twenty-four you idiot. I’m still one of the youngest guys on my team,” Quinn rolls his eyes. You notice a lot of eye rolling among the three brothers when they’re together.

“I don’t know, I heard that twenty-four in hockey years is basically like you’re fifty in normal people years,” Jim adds, smirking over at Jack.

“Oh, yeah? So you’re saying you could out skate me if we were to get on the ice right now, huh, Dad?” Quinn challenges his father.

“Sure I could. Who do you think you got all of your talent from, hmm?”

All three of the boys respond in unison. “Mom.”

The table erupts in laughter.

“Alright boys, enough. Before you talk your father into doing something that could get him hurt,” Ellen speaks through the laughter, looking up at her husband while resting her head on his shoulder for just a moment.

You watch the two look at each other, seeing how much love they share.

You turn your head to look over at Jack, laughter still on his face. You can’t help but smile up at him. You love him with everything you have in you, and finally meeting his entire family just solidified that for you. Being able to spend time with the wonderful people that raised him makes you love him that much more. You look around the table at his two brothers, still laughing with each other. You hope that one day you can have this with Jack. A family with nothing but love to give each other.

As you’re picturing your future with Jack, he’s looking over at you, thinking about how lucky he is that Luke happened to stumble into your café on one of his first days in New Jersey. He thanks the universe for putting you in his path and for the fact that you, for some unknown reason, decided to love him out of all the people in this world.

Ellen once again observes the looks both you and Jack gave the other when the other wasn’t paying attention. She feels a warmth settling in her chest when she looks at the two of you. She can see how much you mean to Jack, and how much he means to you. She sees how well you get along with Luke and Quinn, both of them talking about you nearly as much as Jack does. You fit in so well with their family; your humor, kindness, and capacity to love her boys making her feel like you’re simply an addition to their dynamic that she didn’t know was missing until now.

Dessert comes and goes and the boys all argue over who’s paying for dinner until Jim sneaks his card to the waiter while they were too busy yelling at one another.

You all exit the booth and make your way to the sidewalk in front of the building, chit chatting a little more while walking to the parking garage before parting ways.

You’re walking with Quinn, Luke and Jim, listening to them bicker about tomorrow’s game. You notice Jack and Ellen fall behind, Ellen linking arms with her middle son as they walk.

“So, what do you think?” Jack asks his mom, watching you push Luke lightly, wondering what he said to make your head fall back in laughter.

“Jack, she’s great. But you already knew that. Not that you need it, but my approval was given the second you called and said you’d met someone,” Ellen responds, following his gaze, watching you pull Jack’s jacket tighter around your shoulders.

“God, I love her, Mom. More than I ever knew was possible,” Jack sighs out, letting his head fall onto the top of Ellen’s as they walk.

“I can see it, Jack. And I can see she loves you just as much,” Ellen starts, bringing her free hand up to pat Jack’s arm. “My only advice? Don’t let her go. She’s special, Jack. The way she gets along with your brothers, and the way they love her like she’s been part of this family for years, that’s rare.”

Ellen blinks back tears, just overwhelmed with happiness that Jack found someone that’s able to love him as much as she knows he deserves to be loved.

“I know, Mom. Trust me, I know. I don’t ever plan on letting her go. In fact,” Jack pauses, pulling back from his mom as you round the corner into the garage with his dad and brothers, “I bought this about two months ago. Not gonna give it to her just yet, but I couldn’t stand it any longer. Had to go ahead and buy her one,” he pulls out a small velvet box, popping it open and showing his mom the ring he picked out for you.

“Oh, Jack,” Ellen coos as she takes the box from his hand, looking at the princess cut diamond sitting on top of the gold band.

Her eyes fill with tears for the millionth time this evening when she looks up at Jack, finally letting them spill over. She keeps looking down at the ring and then back up at Jack while the tears stream down her cheeks.

Jack feels his own eyes sting at his mother’s reaction, knowing they’re happy tears.

“Jack, I’m so proud of you. And so happy for you,” Ellen sniffles through the tears. “She’s going to love it, honey. Just…let me know before you do it, yeah? And don’t forget her parents, you gotta let them know, too.” She wipes her eyes, closing the box and handing him back the ring.

“Already taken care of. Asked them when I bought it. Told me they’d love nothing more, but to just let them know when it’s happening. And to send them lots of pictures,” Jack chuckles, placing the box back in his pocket but not taking his hand off of it.

“Oh, yes, I want lots of pictures too. Don’t want to miss a second of the moment I finally get a girl!” Ellen exclaims, throwing her hands out in excitement.

“Don’t worry, I plan on flying everyone out when I do it. Know it’d mean the world to her to have everyone here to celebrate afterwards. Got it all planned out and everything,” Jack tells his mom, pulling her in for a hug.

Ellen squeezes him as hard as she can, letting every ounce of pride and love she has in her body flow into Jack through her hug.

“Oh, and just in case you get too far ahead and start planning the wedding before I propose,“ Jack breaks the silence, knowing how excited Ellen can get, “Luke already called dibs on being the flower girl.”

Ellen bursts into laughter so loud it alerts you and the rest of her family that they were no longer behind you.

You back track just a little to find Jack and Ellen walking towards you while hugging each other and laughing.

“Where’d you guys go? I thought you were right behind us?” you asked, noticing the puffy nature of Ellen’s eyes but choosing not to overstep and comment on it.

“Oh, honey, we were. And always will be. Right here behind you, whenever you need us,” Ellen says as Jack comes up beside you and tugs you into his side.

Her sentimental comment confuses you, but you catch Jack smiling down at you out of the corner of your eye, any confusion forgotten the second your eyes met his.

“Alright, I better catch up with the rest of my crew. You boys need your rest tonight, you have a big game tomorrow,” Ellen points at Jack.

She makes her way over to you, Jack letting go of you in order to let his mother pull you into a hug.

“Y/N, it was so lovely to finally meet you. I’ll see you at the game tomorrow, okay?” She pulls back, bringing her hands to rest on your cheeks. “Welcome to the family, dear,” she tells you, pulling you in for yet another hug.

She meets her son’s gaze behind you as she squeezes you, a knowing look shared between the two.

You squeezed her back, willing yourself not to cry as you digest the words you wish you could go back and tell yourself this morning, so you could let her know it would all be okay, and to leave Jack’s closet alone.

She finally pulls back, walking over and giving Jack a kiss on the cheek before giving the two of you a small wave before disappearing around the corner, following her husband and two other sons.

You turn to look at Jack, tears in your eyes.

“Does that mean she liked me? Or was she just being nice?” you ask him, wanting to make sure you really did make a good impression on his family.

“Darling, she meant it, trust me. You’re one of us now. Have been from the start, really. The only thing you’re missing is the last name,” he assures you, earning a laugh as you shake your head and grab his hand, leading him in the direction of his parked car.

He watches as you walk in front of him, feeling the weight of the ring box in his pocket, finding no humor in the idea of you officially becoming a Hughes, knowing that day is coming sooner rather than later.

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padfoot-lupin77 · 4 months

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I mean this in the most lighthearted manner, but: Every person who has ever said that Kaz and Wylan have a “father-son dynamic” must be an only child and therefore unable to recognize a sibling dynamic (to quote Nina) “even if it sidled up to you and stuck a lollipop in your mouth”.

“Isn’t this all for Inej?” Younger sibling making fun of their older siblings for their crushes? Check

Wylan saying that no of course he doesn’t want to be like Kaz and then mimicking his behaviors? While still calling Kaz out on his shit? Peak younger sibling behavior

Kaz being a little cruel to Wylan but still giving him advice, especially on overcoming his shame

Kaz letting Wylan think he fooled him while he knew everything all along (as an older sister we do that a lot, even though it usually doesn’t involve one’s not-so-dead mother)

Kaz constantly pairing up Wylan with Jesper like the ultimate matchmaker he is (let’s see how you handle your crush buddy)

Kaz lost his brother and had no one to guide him. (The way I see this) he’s to Wylan the older brother he (Kaz) needed but didn’t have.

#please let this reach the right audience #also I need to know Hope’s opinion on this so just in case she sees this: please let me know your thoughts!!#six of crows #crooked kingdom #Kaz brekker #Wylan Van Eck #wylan hendriks #grishaverse

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youcancallmeelle · 11 months

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She’s got a boyfriend anyway…

Rating: 18+ (Minors DNI)

Word count: 7K

Warnings: Semi public sex, Missionary, Cowgirl, Unprotected Sex, Creampie, Cunnilingus, Teasing, Sneaking around, Secret relationship, Brief David mention, Ellie being a menance, Tommy trying to play matchmaker.

Summary: Tommy has been trying to set Joel up for AGES, he’s got other interests.

You and Joel have secretly been seeing each other.

A03

Read below…

Life in Jackson is promising, nearly a year and half here and Joel feels comfortable, no longer itching for a way out of civilisation because he’s just not used to that no more. Ellie is settled too - finally. She’s attending school three days a week, enjoying the new responsibilities that come with being sixteen and the tad bit of freedom it brings. She helps out at the stables, in the kitchen too but she’s not a fan. She likes being in the library most, checking in and out books, tidying shelves, using her art to create eye catching displays aimed at the younger generation of Jackson.

Joel is proud, his heart feels like it could burst out of his chest all the time. Ellie is still full of wit and charisma that comes out in curses and daft puns that make Joel roll his eyes and get her in a headlock until she’s laughing so hard she’s pink in the face.

There’s times when she skips school completely if a male teacher has subbed in, she flinches away if someone comes too close and sometimes if it’s stew night at dinner, she’ll stare blankly into her bowl at the chunks of meat and see a severed ear, she’ll try to swallow but gag instead. These are nights Joel gives her his bread and Tommy will too, then he’ll make her a fruit salad when they get home with a little double cream poured over it.

The nightmares are persistent on these bad days where triggers occur, he finds Ellie in bed screaming and thrashing multiple times a week. She’ll sob and cry hoarsely as he holds her, hushing her gently and resting his cheek on her head. Most of the time she’ll fall back asleep with him beside her, curled into him like she did back at Silver Lake when death was close.

But mostly, everything’s okay.

Joel had been with Tommy every single day this week so far and it was Thursday evening, they’d been focusing on fixing up the bathroom in a house way further down from his, they were getting it ready for a family that had expanded to move in. The floor was rotten and the pipes wrecked, neither of them were particularly fond of plumbing but they sorted it between them. There was still the kitchen to do but that was a job for tomorrow and probably Saturday too but not Sunday, that was his day with Ellie.

Sunday’s were for late breakfasts of bacon and pancakes - before and after the world ended. The only thing that changed was the kid for Joel, he used to serve Sarah indulgent breakfasts on a Sunday and they’d do something together and the tradition was carried on with Ellie and Sarah remained tucked in his heart.

Tired and stiff from working hunched over all day, Joel was enjoying a quiet drink with Tommy. They were tucked away on a small table with two stools, Joel would have preferred something with a back but beggars can’t be choosers; he was grateful for the cold glass of bourbon nearly empty in front of him and the sound of Dire Straits playing over the old speakers.

As always, Tommy is picking and prying into his lack of a love life. Since he’s noticed his older brother being more settled within the community, he’d been trying his hardest to set him up with various women and Tommy Miller was nothing if not persistent.

At this point in the day, Tommy’s voice is almost just white noise.

“Cath is nice.” Tommy pointed out, Joel snorts.

“She’s also gay, Tommy.”

“Oh shit, really? I didn’t know.”

“Clearly. Can we please stop talking about this? It’s the same thing every fuckin’ time I come drinking with you.” Joel begs, Tommy sighs heavily but drops it for now.

Joel takes in the scenery as he sits there, grateful for the moments silence from Tommy. His eyes stray to the left of the table and he listens as you speak to Denton, an older gentleman in his late sixties with a love of horses. He’s quizzing you about the new mare in the stables, he hears you mention checking on her again after your shift because she’s been particularly temperamental since she was brought in from outside but you’ve developed a nice bond with her, she’s slowly becoming more trusting.

It occurs to Joel that everyone likes you - literally everyone, even Ellie and she was a tough nut to crack. You’re sweet, soft spoken yet confident. You’re always helping out where you can; on patrols, stable duty, in the communal garden, sometimes at the school and also here at the bar when Darius needs his shift covered.

You find good things on patrol and give them to Joel or Ellie before taking the rest for the community, so they get first pick of everything.

You’re just the sweetest thing.

Tommy sees you and beckons you with a friendly wave, you mutter a goodbye to Denton and pat his hand.

“Hey.” You hear your name called over the music and you turn as Tommy Miller grabs your attention as you scoop up two glasses and an empty bowl that once held nuts and dried berries from the table two away from his and Joel’s.

“Yes, Miller?” You patter over with your hands occupied, you sneak a look at his older sibling, sparing him a wink as a greeting, he smirks softly back.

“Has Darius got an other fuckin’ music or are we strictly limited to the sounds of 1985 tonight?” He questions and you laugh, shaking your head.

“You don’t like Dire Straits?”

“He doesn’t appreciate good music.” Joel interjects, shaking his head at Tommy.

“I do - but other music. Eminem or even fuckin’ Britney! Anything but this shit.” Tommy groans, tossing his head back.

“Keep talking smack about Dire Straits, Miller - and I’ll snitch to your wife about the fact you’ve switched patrols with Mark twice this week because you were too hungover to go.” You smile sweetly at Tommy, tilting your head.

“Snitches get stitches.” Tommy remarks playfully, not an ounce of malice in his dark brown eyes and your eyebrows rise, you beam back.

“That right? Well, troublesome men get barred for life.”

“Oooooh.” Joel chimes in, looking amusedly between you and his younger brother.

“Touché.” Tommy quips, folding his arms.

“Tell you what, next time I’m in, I’ll have a rummage out back and see if I can find you some Britney. Bless you.” You pinch his cheek as you walk past and he swats your hand, rubbing the spot while Joel laughs.

“You’re pushing your luck giving her lip, I’m not sure if you’re aware but this is the only operational bar in Wyoming.”

“Tell me about it.” He grumbles back, Joel shakes his head once more as the door behind Tommy on the back wall opens.

“Joeeeeeel?!” He hears yelled from close by, he looks up and sees Ellie dragging her sneakers across the floor, scouring the bar for him with her honey coloured eyes eagerly. She spots him within seconds, beaming and practically skipping over to him and Tommy in the corner. “There you are, I looked fucking everywhere for you.” She groans dramatically, throwing her head back. “I wanna go out, I’m bored shitless at home. There’s nothing for me to do and yes - I’ve done my school work.” She quickly adds.

“You done those quadratic equation questions we were going over last night?” He raises his eyebrow.

“Yep. Easy peasy lemon squeezy, though I did ask my teacher because I’m pretty sure you were figuring them out wrong. You were, by the way.” Joel puffs indignantly, rolling his eyes. Ellie spins to Tommy, the soles of her shoes squeaking. “Can I try that?” She’s laser focused on the bourbon swimming between globes of ice in Tommy’s glass.

“What have I said the last twenty times you’ve asked, El?” Tommy’s dark brows are high on his forehead, his mouth is twisted with hidden laughter. Ellie rolls her eyes with annoyance, sloping over to Joel now.

“No.” She huffs, swinging her lanky arms around Joel. She hums and rubs her face into his shoulder bone, resting there for a second before her attentions shifts comically fast. There’s a warmth that spreads through Joel every single time she does this, she’s so casual about it and he’s drawn the conclusion that it’s a teenage thing because Sarah was the same. There’s a sadness that blossoms too, a darkness that twists and anchors in his chest as he thinks of her and who she’d be now. He can’t dwell for too long, not now - he did that for too long.

At one dark point in time, human connection was not key to survival, hence why he always kept Tess at arms length and then referred to Ellie as cargo until one snowy day it became apparent she was no longer cargo when she was frenzied and panting in his arms, splattered with the blood of a predator and gasping like she was taking her last breath. The sound haunted him for a long time, all memories of Sarah hitting him like a freight train. He had to protect Ellie, the minute he drew her in - oh baby girl - and held her tightly, wrapped in his coat and clinging to him just as hard.

Ellie’s his kid now. She’s his. He’s hers. They’re a family. Ellie Williams Miller - that’s how she’s known now. It’s scrawled on her school books. The love he feels for this human tornado in sneakers is unmatched, the one thing he’s ever been truly good at has been restored and it’s a role he knows well; being a father.

Sure, this teenager that he’s raising is the furthest from bubblegum pink and Avril Lavigne she could be, she’s particularly jagged around the edges and does have the temperament of an unsocialised cat that will bite if you get too close.

He looks down at her, rubbing into him like she’s trying to get his smell on her because it’s comforting and she feels safe and feels his heart ready to burst.

Of course the sweet moment of affection is shattered when Ellie yawns directly into his fucking ear because why wouldn’t she?

He grunts when she bears most of her weight on his aching shoulders, leaning easily into him and twisting her small fingers into his flannel.

“So? Can I go or not?” She presses.

“Go where?” He prompts, raising his eyebrow.

“Toni’s from school. Her cat had kittens a few weeks ago and they’re starting to play. Five of them, Joel! That’s a lotta kittens!” Ellie enunciates, brown eyes wide and Joel can’t help the smile that graces his otherwise tired face.

“You mean a litter?” He corrects and Ellie pauses, frowning.

“Huh?”

“A bunch of kittens is a litter, Ellie.” He informs her and she somehow manages to frown even more, she makes a noise like she’s computing the new information.

“Yeah, whatever.” She mumbles, Tommy snorts in amusement. “So I can go see them?” She presses, shifting her weight again and Joel groans louder now, unhooking her arms from his shoulders with a quiet ‘don’t do that, baby’ that’s full of affection.

“Yes but you’re back at nine latest, okay? Nine. I’ll be waiting for you, the minute those street lamps turn on, you’re home.” Joel says, Ellie’s mouthing along to his instructions that he’s been laying out since Summer began and the evenings stretched longer. “Be good.” He speaks more softly now and she nods, he presses a kiss to the side of her head, her eyelashes flutter happily as the warmth blossoms in her too with the security that’s Joel Miller.

“Peesh. I’m always good. Bye Tommy!” She says excitedly, fist bumping him when it’s offered.

“See ya, squirt.” Tommy replies but before he’s even voiced his reply, Ellie’s hurrying away and knocking into a patron while waving to you on the way out of the door so hard it slams. Joel sighs, thinking she’s a literal hurricane.

The door hinge has barely stopped shaking before Tommy starts with the suggestions of suitors once more.

“What about Myleene?” Tommy proposes, Joel shakes his head quickly, downing the remainder of his drink.

“Too young.” He replies.

“She’s twenty five.”

“Too young.” He repeats firmer this time.

“Okay, fine. What about Michelle? She’s what forty? I was talking to her in the cobblers the other day, she’s definitely interested - mentioned something about making you a pie?”

“I’m good.” He grumbles looking down into his empty glass but quickly shifting his gaze to the bar, you’re leaning on your elbows, laughing heartily with a patron.

You look beautiful tonight - just like every other night. Your shoulders are sunkissed, your cheeks a little flushed and skin glowing from the summer humidity. He absorbs the way your hair tumbles down your shoulders and the way the thin straps of your tiered sundress slip down occasionally, only to be tugged back into place with dexterous fingers.

“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.” Tommy jibes, Joel looks over with a firm scowl.

“What?” He asks, Tommy shakes his head.

“You can dream, brother.” Joel rolls his eyes, trying to act nonchalant. “She’s got a boyfriend anyway.” Tommy adds, Joel eyes him with full attention.

“A boyfriend?” He asks, trying to be sure he heard right.

“Yeah, overheard her talking to one of the girls in the garden a few days ago. Didn’t mention no names but she definitely said she was seein’ someone.” Tommy shrugged, Joel hummed with interest. “Anyway, it don’t matter because she’s way out of your league.”

“Thanks.” Joel retorts, sneaking one last look before focusing on the door behind Tommy, the one Ellie had not long barrelled in and out of just moments ago.

He wonders about the kittens she mentioned and gulps as he imagines her taking to one with its big eyes and soft paws, his mind is pulled back to a time in April when he’d come downstairs one morning to a sink full of tad poles she’d ‘rescued’ from birds out of the neighbours pond.

Basically, his girl can’t resist animals she deems too vulnerable to leave.

“Scared Ellie’s gonna come home with one of them kittens?” Tommy wonders, reading Joel’s mind.

“Terrified.”

********************************************

The sun is setting in bursts of burnt orange and marigold by the time he leaves Tommy to his own devices at the bar, he hazards a look around as he makes his way in the complete opposite direction to his and Ellie’s house.

He slinks around the back of the school house, slithering through the gap and walking up the winding path that leads to the stables. He climbs the short fence and hops to the other side, his boots kick up the dust from the dirt path and the crickets chirp beneath the skyline.

With one more look around, he opens to rear door to the stables and slips inside, shutting it softly behind him.

Immediately he hears the horses further down huff and puff, he can make out the swish of their tails hitting the walls as they munch on hay, there’s a neigh that is absolutely Shimmer kicking up a fuss about something.

He slopes around the riding gear and sees you leaning against the wall, hands behing your back. You grin.

“Took your time, cowboy. Was beginning to think you couldn’t take the hint and stood me up.”

“Never, honey.” Joel prowls towards you, ready to grab you. “Missed you.”

“You just saw me.”

“Not the same.” He yanks you close like a man starved, you’d shared company less than 24 hours ago but you greet and leave each other like it’s the last time you’ll ever be together. It’s the apocalypse affect, you know that, he does too

This arrangement had been going on for almost two months now, all started by a late night patrol together where you’d shared more about yourselves in an eight hour shift than both of your time in Jackson combined. There was an instant attraction, it was so easy to talk to one another and that’s what you did every single time you were partnered together and it became the highlight of your day. It started innocently and friendship had bloomed, then before you knew it you were sharing a rum laced thermos of tea with him in the bed of a truck and kissing him with reddened cheeks shortly thereafter. You’d first slept together in the same truck, just as dawn began to break. It was clumsy and quick but you couldn’t get enough of one another. You hadn’t cum but Joel promised next time would be better which lead to the question of next time? You’d been seeing each other most nights since.

Any chance you got, you were together. Nobody knew about you both, hence why Tommy was incessantly trying to hook Joel up with other women around town and jealousy burned as you listened in on their one sided conversations in the bar whenever you were covering for Darius.

You’d left the bar shortly before Joel had, waving farewell to him and Tommy, coming straight up here to check on the mare just as you’d told Denton. This was a usual spot to meet Joel, it wasn’t your first rodeo in the stables with him. It was the one place you could be alone after a certain time.

“Were you hiding from me, honey? Hmm?” He growls playfully, pulling you to him even though you were barely a millimetre away in the first place. You hum in response, so utterly lost in him. You’re nuzzling his throat, fisting his shirt, desperate for his attention. “God, you look so good today.” He murmurs, mouth finding yours. You moan softly, standing on your tip toes and kissing him in a way that makes his lungs and loins burn alike. His grey tinged moustache prickles your upper lip beautifully, his beard feels familiar beneath your soft hands.

He’s crowding you and guiding you backwards, kissing you hotly in a sense that makes your cunt throb eagerly. You moan into his mouth when he nips your bottom lip, squeezing the left cheek of your ass.

You love when he’s like this - playful and easy. He feels lightyears younger around you, it’s like the heaviness dissipates the moment he’s in your company. He loses himself in the way you smell, the way your hair feels when his fingers are entwined between the sun kissed strands, the way in which your eyes sparkle with mischief.

It’s easy to pull him towards the back of the stable, where the bales of hay were stacked created a nice wall of privacy. You’d been in here a couple of times with him, having gone as far to stash a flannel blanket in one of the cupboards to lay down as to protect you both from the cold floor and the prickle of loose hay.

Once behind the hay and seated on a bale with you in his lap, strong hands are moving the thin straps of your sundress down your shoulders, you momentarily break away from his mouth to aid the removal of your dress to your waist where Joel roughly bunches it up so that your underwear is now on show and so are your tits.

His eyes light up at your bare chest, like he hasn’t seen your breasts countless times before. One thing among many that you first noticed was that Joel Miller is a tit man through and through. His rough and work toughened hands cup them both gently before his tongue swirls around your left nipple.

“Joel.” You murmur, arching into him, rolling your hips into his. He’s hard already, age not affecting him like that in the slightest. He’s a hot blooded male, every single inch a man and that warms you to your core. You grab his hand, bringing it to the top of your panties and he slides it in without hesitation.

“Christ.” He curses, exploring your lips with his fingertips, gliding through the dewy wetness gathered there and coming back up for a split second to drag it over your clit roughly. You whimper, bucking into his hand. “Mmm, babydoll.” Joel huffs against your cheek in a hot pant, repeating the action.

“Need you so badly, Joel. Almost got started without you.” You confess.

“Fuck. You can’t- don’t say shit like that, honey.” He growls lowly, unbelievably hard beneath you. His fingers explore again, you aid his explorations by canting your hips just so.

Joel is eager to get things moving, he’s hard and frustrated, he has a beautiful woman in his lap and the perfect setting. He pulls his hand from your underwear, looking down to see the shine of you on him. He loses his mind when you take his hand and lead it to your mouth, sucking the tips of his index and middle finger as he watches with eyes blown wide; they look black instead of the earthy brown that sometimes melts into caramel or runny honey.

The minute you hum like a content cat, he has you lifted off his lap and braced against him. You squeal at the sudden shift, the ceiling looking closer than the floor but then he gently lays you back on the blanket and settles between your legs.

“Hey, who was Tommy trying to set you up with?” You blurt, Joel pauses.

“Cath.”

“She’s gay.” You frown.

“Michelle too.” He adds before diving down into your chest, pressing your breasts together, mouthing at the swell.

“I’m not sure you’re Michelle’s type, she’s a cougar apparently.” You remark, Joel ignores you in favour of sucking your nipples until they feel raw. “Why Michelle? I don’t understand why Tommy thinks she’s a good match for you.” You don’t know why this is coming up now, your mouth seems to have a mind of its own, the jealousy settling like lead in your stomach.

“He said she wants to make me a pie.” Joel pipes up, the confession half muffled.

“What kind of pie?” You ask, pulling his face from your tits. Joel groans frustratedly, looking up at you with eyes dark and deadly.

“I don’t know. Why does that even matter?”

“A cream pie probably.” You snarl under your breath, the jealousy swirling in the pit of your stomach like a rattled viper.

Joel laughs, shaking his head and coaxing your mouth back to his. “Gross.” He murmurs, kissing you softly and squeezing your hips as if to guide you back. “You know I only like your cream pies.” He jokes, this time you break into a smile.

“Now whose gross?” You snort, tugging his plain grey undershirt over his head and to the side. You run your palms over his chest and down to his softer stomach, digging your nails in as they drag a long his skin. Goosebumps erupt all over him.

Joel is softer in his older age but strong too, years of walking different terrain, heavy lifting and fighting have made him lean also.

You hum contentedly, tracing over those familiar scars that have been made in the 20 years since the world imploded.

“He said you were out of my league.” Joel suddenly admits, resting his hands on your spread knees. You frown up at him. “Tommy said you were out of my league.”

“Tell Tommy he doesn’t know shit.” You retort with an eye roll, grabbing Joel by his belt and yanking him forward. “I like you, Joel. Fuck what anyone else thinks, it’s not anyone’s business who we choose to be with.” You say softly now, kissing your way up his chin to his lips. “I like you.” You affirm again, Joel kisses you tenderly, weaving his hand into your hair as you moan quietly.

“Well, I like you too.” He says, kissing you with so much passion yet so much tenderness all at the same time as you fumble to unbuckle his belt. You yank it apart, tugging open the button and prying the worn denim apart with the hiss of his zipper.

He barely lets you wrap a hand around him over his boxers before he has both your wrists pinned above your head, you make a sad whine but all disappointment quickly dissipates when he shuffles down the length of your torso and yanks your underwear down so fast you feel the material leave a friction burn. He grabs your thighs and then manoeuvres your legs by the backs of your knees, you like where this seems to be going.

Your spine curves against the hard floor when his mouth makes that first contact, he starts slow with a lick up the length of you, then he lightly suckles your lips and gently licks over the hood of your clitoris.

“Joel.” You murmur, twisting the blanket beneath your fingertips, scrunching it and bitting down on your lower lip as he continues his gentle assault on your clit, the rubber toes of your hi tops dig into his ribs almost painfully.

His thumb comes up to gently push the hood of your clit back, the sensation of his tongue directly stimulating the nerve causes you to gasp and wind one hand down into his hair, you tug and he groans against you.

You’re transported back to one of the first times you’d been intimate together after sleeping together in the truck.

For some reason, it had shocked you that Joel Miller ate pussy like a champ. The first time he’d gone down on you - behind the bar just after you’d blown him - you’d prepared yourself for dissatisfaction and disappointment, only it never came. Joel had licked into you with such ferocity and precision that you’d almost keened over.

He’d made you cum so quickly that you’d barely had time to process the first swipe of his tongue on your clitoris and the climax that followed minutes later.

He’d looked up at you, moustache and beard slick with his eyes wide; ‘I forgot how much I enjoyed doing that’ he’d panted while you squeaked back in shock.

Now, as you live in the moment, you feel that tingle of pleasure building but you don’t want to cum without him inside of you. As much as it pains you, you tug on his hair, urging him back up.

“Wanna cum with you.” You pant when he looks up with dazed brown eyes, frowning a little. He seems to accept that and sits up, shucking his jeans and boxers down over his ass with the help of your clumsy hands. “Lay back.” You demand, he does so and you move to take his place.

You throw your legs over his and settle above his lap, he’s got one arm behind his head and watches as you take him in your first and tease yourself with the flushed tip of him. He breathes in sharply through his nose as you do it again before notching him at the site of your heat, you steady yourself and begin to sink down.

“Fuck me.” Joel sighs, closing his eyes briefly because he’s so sure he’s in heaven. The sensation of your wet heat surrounding him never gets old, he’d forgotten how much he loved sex before meeting you.

“You’re so big, Joel.” You whimper, stroking his ego deliciously and he hates to be such a guy but the compliment goes straight to his dick.

“Fuck, honey. Take what you want, I’m yours - just fuck me.” He begs as you slowly begin to move, your nails scrape across his torso as you fall into an easy rhythm of rolling your hips into his. “You’re so fucking perfect, baby.” He babbles, looking up and admiring the curve of your back and the way your tits bounce as you ride him.

“Mmm.” You whine, picking up the pace and throwing your head back which exposes your jugular and Joel just wants to sink his teeth into you because you truly look good enough to eat.

“Come here, babydoll.” He urges, pulling you down so you’re chest to chest. Your peer at him with pretty doe eyes, your lashes flutter as they shut to kiss him deeply, your tongue swipes his and you taste the tang of yourself on him. You moan louder when he manages to plant his boots on the floor and thrust up into you roughly, tangling his hand in your hair to keep you pressed against him.

It’s so hot in the stables, you’re both sticky and warm. But with your pretty moans and keens filling the air, Joel manages to easily forget the irritation from the heat.

You push against his chest to sit up and Joel grabs your hips, guiding you easily and you feel yourself getting close but you can’t achieve orgasm through penetration alone.

You brace one hand on his thigh behind you, tipping your head back as the pleasure becomes almost too much to handle. Your hips roll in an easy rhythm, his cock head hitting your G spot perfectly and you whine when the hand on your left hip moves ever so slightly until Joel was able to thumb your clit. He knows you so well.

“Oh f - fuck. You feel so good, you’re so good - fuck.” You babble, your hips moving faster.

“Jesus christ.” Joel huffs, throwing his head back against the hard floor, biting his bottom lip hard to stave off his orgasm. You feel so good wrapped around him; wet and snug, like crushed velvet.

He knows he can’t stay like this, he’s too close to finishing and he can sense you’re not quite there yet despite being edged so he makes the conscious decision to hold you and flip you both over with a nimbleness he didn’t know he possessed in his older age.

You stutter out a choked moan, arching into his strong hands. You drag your nails down his toned back, leaving a little spatter of blood in the red tracks.

Joel hisses when your nails puncture the skin on the globes of his ass, somehow trying to pull him closer and push him away at the same time.

“Where?” He asks, nodding downwards as he fights off his climax.

“Inside.” You reply without hesitation. You’d counted your cycle days, marking in a blank notebook the day number and your symptoms, pretty accurately guessing your fertile window and probable ovulation day by cervical mucus alone. You were four days from your period being due, it was safe.

“You sure?” He hesitates, brow furrowed hard with concentration, he’s a stroke away from finishing. He knows better than most people to not trust the pull out method and he knows the importance of contraception but he still ended up a Dad before he hit his mid twenties. Pushing sixty he’s still playing a dangerous game but so far, neither of you had gotten burnt.

“Yeah.” You gasp, fingers on your clit rubbing faster. You groan suddenly and twist into him, making pretty little whimpers and purring. He groans too, thrusting in hard once, twice and then three times. You feel his cock stiffen and twitch, then the pulse of subtle warmth of his cum spreading inside and aiming for your cervix. He works himself through it, you push in return as the aftershocks slow to a flat line.

Joel heaves a breath, resting on his forearms as you lazily kiss his neck in satisfaction and rapture. You sit there for a minute, basking in the afterglow until Joel grows too stiff and has to withdraw from you slowly, kneeling up between your legs to pull his boxers and jeans back up but he leaves them unbuttoned and his belt loose.

You don’t miss the primal look in his eyes when they drift to between your legs, he can see his cum leaking and the pearlescent finish it leaves on your lips. His cock twitches, perhaps if he was younger he could go for another round but alas, he settles next to you on the blanket, pulling you to his chest and cushioning your head with a strong bicep.

“I think that might have been the best time yet.” You pant breathlessly, looking up at the ceiling and seeing the evening sky through the cracks of wood.

“Maybe one day we can do it in an actual bed, I’m not sure how much more of these places my back can take.” Joel jokes, you giggle and turn into him, listening to the rapid pace of his heartbeat as it settles, a perfect mirror of your own.

“Not bad for an old timer.” You tease, giggling when he growls and squeezes your hip.

“Was patrol okay today?” Joel questions you, you nod lazily against him. “You come across anything?” Now you speak, leaning up to peer down at him.

“A couple of runners. We shot them in that abandoned gas station near the entrance to the offices off the trail. I think they were probably people passing through, one was infected on the journey and turned, then bit the other.” Joel hums, rubbing your lower back and hip. “I have some things for Ellie I found, by the way. I’ll drop them over tomorrow. Nothing crazy, just some things I thought she needed.” You say between kisses down Joel’s chest and sternum, your delicate fingers tracing out old battle scars.

“What like?” He asks, catching your hand as it reaches his happy trail, bringing it to his lips instead where he presses tender kisses to your fingertips.

“Pyjamas, underwear and some toiletries. Oh! And get this, a new casette tape for her walkman.”

“What tape?”

“Teardrops.” You grin.

“Womack and Womack? She’s gonna love that.” Joel says, laying back and smiling at the ceiling of the stables, humming the song in his head. “Fuck, I haven’t heard that song in - jesus - years.” He’s frowning, contemplating lost time, the whole concept of time evades him, it never used to at the start but now? It’s one big jumble, his time is defined by events and not a calendar.

“She still playing that one you got her on repeat?” You wonder.

“Yeah.”

“What was it again?”

“Bowie. Heroes.” Joel replies.

“Nice.” You nod.

As you lie there together in an easy silence, content to be together in the quiet solace of the stables, Joel’s mind wanders back to his earlier conversation with his younger brother:

“Hey, er - Tommy actually said something else earlier.” Joel winces at how awkward he sounds and you huff loudly, ready to hear what other dumbass thing he’s said. “He said he heard you say you have a boyfriend or that you were seein’ someone.”

You sit up, frowning down at Joel.

“Okay…” You reply hesitantly, uneasy now. “Am I not seeing you?” You frown.

“No - no! It’s… that came out wrong. I just meant - “ Joel grumbles, covering his face momentarily while you try to will your stomach from not sinking. “I don’t know, I just wanted to know if you meant me.”

“Seriously, Joel? This conversation is going so well.” You say dryly, utterly unimpressed.

“No! Oh my god! I can’t do this.” He groans, realising his mistake. “I’m sorry, that came out so wrong.” Joel apologises, you snort.

“Look Joel, I was talking to Mrs Patterson in the garden and she was telling me about her late husband, saying how lovely he was and how men just aren’t like that anymore. She asked if I’d found anyone and I let it slip that I was seeing someone, I didn’t mention any names and I can totally understand why you’re freaked when we haven’t even had that conversation ourselves. I shouldn’t have assumed this was anything more than sex, I’m sorry.” You annunciate, warm in the cheeks.

“You want to just have sex?” Joel is sat up now, matching your frazzled expression.

“If that’s what you want.” You shrug, taking an interest in your cuticles. A large hand lays over yours, squeezing. You shift your focus to his knuckles instead, tracing out the scars.

“Honey, look at me.” He urges softly, you hesitantly meet his eyes. “I think somewhere we’ve miscommunicated.”

“How so?” You press.

“Look… it’s been a long time since I’ve done this, I’m a little rusty. I’m sorry if I haven’t been clear about what we are or what I want us to be, I kinda just assumed you knew and yeah, that’s real shitty of me.” He says sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “But I wanna be exclusive with you, honey. I mean, I have Ellie to think about so we’ll need to go slow just so I can ease her into the change. Is that okay?” He whispers, pressing his forehead to yours.

“That’s more than okay, Joel. I completely understand, I don’t want to spook Ellie either.” You confirm, Joel let’s out a relieved sigh.

“Good - good, okay. We’ll figure it out, baby.” He assures you, nuzzling his nose against yours and kissing you softly.

It’s easy to lose yourself in Joel Miller, you’re swept up in the gruff voice and strong arms, the softness beneath his outer shell reserved for those closest to him.

You’re kissing him back in earnest, he’s reclining to lay back down with you on top of him and you’re sure this could lead to round two or at least head from either one of you, maybe even both.

However, the moment is spoiled when you hear voices creeping closer to the stables. You both stiffen and wait, looking at each other with eyes opened wide.

The voices are getting closer and you decipher it’s two sets, it’s not made clear who it is until they’re walking behind the stables and you can see their shadows slink between the thin gaps in the planks.

It’s Ellie and Tommy.

You and Joel scramble, you yank your dress back over your breasts and pull the hem of it over your ass. Your panties are on the floor and you narrowly dodge Joel’s elbow as he hastily buckles his jeans back up just in time for the door around the corner to open with a shriek of the hinges.

“What if he’s gone out on patrol without telling me? Or maybe he’s swapped with someone and gone hunting? I know I’m back way earlier than he said but he said he’d be home! Do you think he’s left the gate? What if he’s hurt? What if - “ Ellie begins to ramble and Tommy sighs.

“Kiddo, stop worrying. I’m sure he’s around here somewhere, let’s look at the whiteboard and see if his name’s on there. I highly doubt he’s swapped shifts and he wouldn’t leave without telling you, he’s gotta be around here some…” Tommy’s reassurance comes to a stop when he round the corner of the hay bale wall and abruptly stops, staring at you and Joel with as much shock as you return.

Ellie slams into his back and he wobbles but his gaze never falters.

“What the fuck, man!” Ellie exclaims, shoving Tommy and stepping around his statue like form but also freezing too.

You look between them both, trying to formulate an excuse but Joel shoving his t-shirt on, the fact your clothes are crumpled and there’s absolutely hay in your tousled hair says it all.

Your panties are shoved behind your back out of view.

“Well I’ll be damned, you’re the guy she’s seein’!.” Tommy snorts, looking between you both. Joel growls, yanking on his flannel while Ellie manually retrieves her jaw from the floor.

“What the fuck is this?” She asks, looking between you and Joel. “You have a girlfriend? What the fuck, dude? You didn’t say anything!” She fumes, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Look, it’s complicated and new.” He says, which placates her slightly. She stares at you again and you see the betrayal hidden behind a scowl, she looks at Joel again.

“Fine. I guess this isn’t that bad, it could be worse - we could of caught you with Esther.”

“That’s true.” Tommy nods, pointing at Ellie, she nods back.

“Esther?” You question, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, Tommy’s neighbour, she totally fancies Joel.” Ellie tells you. “You should fight her.”

“No, she doesn’t and stop shit stirring.” Joel warns Ellie, she hides a smirk which tells you she’s winding Joel up.

“I could take Esther.” You say, playing along, Ellie’s eyes brighten with mischief.

“Nobody’s fighting no one.” Joel settles, you’re all silent for a millisecond and then Tommy throws in his two cence.

“You could take Esther.” He agrees.

“Enough about Esther, please!” Joel begs, beside himself.

“This is fucking embarrassing, Joel. What the fuck do you expect us to do? It’s awkward!” Ellie complains, Tommy nods in agreement, you do too.

“Yeah? Try being where we’re stood, kid.” He retorts.

Ellie kinda has to resist the urge to throw up in her mouth because Joel has sex which is so horrifying that she almost can’t bare to look at him but she’s equally happy for him and utterly disgusted, she swallows back a retch.

“Fine, whatever. I’m very happy for you and my da - Joel.” Ellie bursts and corrects herself at the last minute, you don’t miss the hitch in Joel’s breathing but this is not the time for that discussion. “I’m willing to negotiate a price for the emotional damage you’ve both caused me by lying to me, sneaking around and also having sex in front of my horse.” She lists.

“My horse too!” Tommy adds.

“And Tommy’s horse too, Crash and Shimmer didn’t want to see your bare ass.” Ellie continues and for some reason Joel knows exactly where this is going, so he braces himself.

“Name your price.” He bites, Ellie looks at him with a levelling glare, it’s getting hard not to laugh when you see Tommy observing like he’s watching a mafia deal go down.

“A kitten.” Ellie reveals.

He fucking knew it.

#joel miller smut #joel miller x reader #the last of us #joel miller fic #joel miller #the last of us fic #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller one shot #pedro pascal fanfiction

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kodaiki · 3 days

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┊.˚🏹 ༘┊͙ 𝐂𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐃'𝐒 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ; ↳ as one of the leading stars of "jujutsu kaisen," yuuji itadori shines brightly in the spotlight, captivating hearts all over; it's only obvious that he'd capture yours as well. so, in a time of utter hopelessness, believing you'd never get a chance with him without help, you turn to the person you never thought you would: his older brother.

pairing: fem!reader x sukuna tags: smau/partially written; acquaintances to lovers!au, actor!sukuna, model!reader, matchmaker!sukuna, friend!yuuji, jjk is a live-action show in this au, grumpy x sunshine dynamic, sukuna is yuuji's older brother, he’s dark and brooding, age gap (sukuna is 29 and reader is 23), fluff/angst/humor length: 1/?? note: omg next au mlist dropped,,, v much hype lol; bc yuuji and sukuna are related, itadori is his last name too! there may be spoilers so beware! dedicated to @ilvrs bc i love her 😌😌 taglist details: will open at the conclusion of SCRIPTED HEARTS! pls don’t ask until i announce it’s open!

[disclaimer: the way the reader is portrayed is just for the reason of style/posing! this is not what the reader looks like (she should look like however you’d like her to!) just wanted to clarify!!]

COMING SOON . . .

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lenoraah · 11 months

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𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥

pairing - daniel ricciardo x james!reader

summary - when Chloe decides to play matchmaker, she just so matches her sister-in-law and the one and only honey badger together

a/n - she’s giving ‘your my brother but i don’t care’, also there is a eight year age gap so the reader is twenty-six 🤍

★ ☆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“Scotty? How come you never introduced me to your, friend?”

“Yeah, how come you never introduced me to any of yours?”

“Because I knew eventually you would find a hot and sexy woman that would become your wife.” Y/n nudges Chloe in the arm with a grin on her face. Chloe rolls her eyes playfully as she smiles herself.

Scotty rolls his eyes and Daniel laughs at the two siblings. The four of them had just so found the time to hang out and conveniently, Scotty had called both Daniel and Y/n to come. This was never supposed to happen, Scotty did not want this to happen. Ever.

“So, tell me about yourself.” Y/n leans against the armchair that Daniel is sitting on. She has a curious and quirky smile on her face. Daniel raises an eyebrow, an interested look on his face.

“Okay, what do you want to know?” Daniel asks as Y/n sits down in the chair next to him.

“Anything and everything,” The two of them keep smiling at each other, making Scotty gag and Chloe smile at the sight of of sister-in-law and her husband’s best friend talking and being intrigued in each other.

Chloe even takes a picture when the two are completely distracted by the other person. She smiles and leans against Scotty’s shoulder, only to see a scowl on his face as he glares at the sight.

“What’s your problem?”

“What’s my problem? Look at them,” Scotty points an accused finger at Daniel and Y/n.

“Scotty, they’re getting along. Isn’t that what you want?” Chloe looks is at him with a soft smile on her face. She really can’t understand why he’s so annoyed about his sister and best friend getting along.

“Yeah, but- But- Look at them!”

Y/n and Daniel are laughing at something and Chloe couldn’t think of another time where she had seen the two of them so happy. While Scotty’s face is turning red, annoyance running through his blood.

He couldn’t even begin to express how much he didn’t want his best friend and sister to be in any kind of relationship. Especially romantically.

“Scotty I know what you’re thinking about.” Chloe shakes her head, Scotty’s cheeks brighten and he slowly turns to face her.

“They’re eight years apart, I’m going to kill him if anything happens to my sister.” At this point Scotty and Chloe are whisper yelling at each other and Y/n and Daniel are still indulged in their conversation.

“If anything happens they probably will tell you first. And Daniel is a great person you know that,” Chloe smacks her husband in the arm and scowls at him.

“Right, you’re right. Nothing can go wrong,”

————————————————————————

“Chloe!”

“Yes?” Chloe turns her head around to see her husband stomping towards where she is sitting on the red and white checkered blanket.

“You said she would tell me! Chloe, she let the world know before me.” Scotty has a small pout on his face as he sits down next to his wife.

Chloe sighs, quickly turning her head to look at Daniel and Y/n running around on the park. Everyone else around them aren’t paying attention, doing their own things, not caring at the four of them.

“Scotty, they are grown adults. They can do what they want. Besides haven’t you been saying that you wanted Y/n to find someone?”

“Yes, but not Daniel!” Scotty groans, burying his face in his hands. “He’s eight years older than her and what if they’re not right for each other?”

“They are consenting adults and look-” Chloe points at the two.

Y/n is laughing as Daniel picks her up by the waist, swinging her lever his shoulder. Chloe can’t help but have a smile on her face as she leans on Scotty’s shoulder.

Daniel sets Y/n down, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before grabbing her hand and running off to wherever it is. The two have grins on their faces as they run off, not giving a thought about anything.

“They’re in love, Scotty. You know that feeling. And you know Y/n and Daniel. They’re happy, aren’t you happy for them?” Chloe mumbles, looking up at her husband, waiting for a reaction.

Scotty sighs and fidgets for a moment before slowly nodding.

“Fine, yes, I am happy and they are in love. Now one question, when did they get together?”

Chloe pauses before moving back a little away from Scotty. He raises an eyebrow, his mouth opening slightly and face twisting in slight horror, knowing what his wife had done.

“So you know how Lance set us up together. I kind of-”

“Chloe!”

#daniel ricciardo #daniel ricciardo x you #daniel ricciardo x reader #daniel ricciardo x female reader #daniel ricciardo imagine #f1 imagine #f1 x reader #f1 x you #f1 x y/n #f1 x female reader #scotty james #chloe stroll #f1 #formula 1 #formula one #original post #original writing

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bruciemilf · 1 year

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AU where Thomas and Martha don't die, but Batman's still a thing!

Instead of Bruce becoming Batman, its Thomas. He's already a huge help to the city, so this nocturnal passion is for sport.

If it wasn't obvious enough, he's not the most stable guy. But he's a loving dad and exemplary husband, so it's mostly fine.

God forbid men have hobbies.

He specifically picked up a bat theme to hopefully cure Bruce of his fear! Just imagine that 6'5 error of nature cladded in black, claws with his costume cause he's sexy like that,

"See? I'm not scary at all!" But Bruce is already sobbing and hiding behind Alfred.

"Martha, you'll never guess who I saw on patrol tonight. Bruce's college roomate! The blonde one with the glasses and gay vibes. "

" Oliver?"

"Oliver who?"

" Queen?"

" Well! I think that fits you better, amore."

" Bruce's childhood friend? Known eachother since infancy? Came to you for tech?"

"Bruce had FRIENDS?"

Bruce, from the other room, " Her name is Harley! You paid her college tuition and killed her dad."

" I've never met her in my life, and i keep my kill list detailed.Anyway, I adopted her. Shes seeing that clown boy and I think his superpower is boring me to death."

The batkids still get taken in, of course. Bruce is already a full adult and outgrew his Robin costume. He just barges in with a feral Jason and Dick, " Look, Brucie! Papa's got brothers for you!"

But Bruce? Looks at these two snarling kids, kicking, thrashing, clawing, and takes them in his arms, " Babies. My babies."

" Uh... Come again,,-" But Thomas raised a spoiled BRAT, so Bruce definetly bites him and throws a tantrum until he agrees to pass full custody. Naturally, Alfred and Martha have no sympathy.

"But you're too young to be a dad!"

" I'm 27."

" Young. A fetus. Cousin Gomez's newborn is older than you." Bruce is already drawing the adoption papers. Fight him about it.

Naturally, instead of dating his rogues, Thomas parents them. Imagine you're Selina Kyle and Batman scolds you for getting caught by the cops, " You know better. Villain privileges REVOKED."

Mr Freeze? Thomas gets it. Do what you gotta do, King. You need some pocket money?

Khoa? Problematic son. Thomas adores him and brags about him to every family reunion. "Your daughter tried to poison you for inheritance? That's adorable, Agatha. Khoa kidnapped Alfred last week. Beat that."

Ivy? Thomas invites her to beer and game night and plays matchmaker with her and Harley.

Waylon is his favourite. Naturally, he's the only one adopted legally.

He fist fights Ra's for Talia's custody and she is desperately shoving Damian in his face. Trust her. You don't want to go through with it.

the image of Batman not being a broody, stoic vigilante and instead Gomez Addams with a cape makes me weep

#bruce later on becomes red hood but thats when martha has her punisher arc <333 #thomas wayne #bruce wayne #martha wayne #ik Thomas is flashpoint batman but blehhhhh #i like this more #dc #dc comics #batfamily #bruce is like that mafia princess from zootopia and thomas is the justice league dad #jason todd #dick grayson #harley quinn #selina kyle #batman rogues #rogues gallery #batman

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pro-mammonologist · 1 year

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Things that are canon because I said so:

- Lucifer has only ever broken down a total of three times and all three times were in the presence of Mammon and no one else

- Satan goes out of his way to find human folktales about demons and figuring out if they’re true or not

- Mammon thinks science is really cool but he’s a little stupid so it cancels out

- Beel sends recipes to Mc when they’re in the human world so they can make them and freeze them and then send them to him but Mc had to explain it doesn’t work that way and it would rot or just be gross

- asmo is the brothers matchmakers he is the reason for 90% of their relationships

- asmo has tried to have sex with Barbatos repeatedly but has never ever ever succeeded

- Diavolo definitely has gone to Devildom orgies and just watched for fun

- diavolo has seen Asmo at way too many

- demons can’t get stds but angels can

- demons are fertile on their periods opposed to humans

- Satan reads about human history and has a great understanding of human stuff but somehow Levi ends up knowing more because of anime

- Mammon gets angel, demon, and human history mixed up “Whaddya mean demons didn’t have an Adolf Hitler??? He killed lots of people right???”

- Belphie steals pillows from Lucifer’s room all the time

- Mammon has tried every single psychedelic in creation, remembers practically none of them

- Lucifer has Asmo color his grays for him, his pride won’t let him go to a salon

- Lucifer also plucks grays he has in his eyebrows or uses makeup

- Levi knows obscure human animes but doesn’t know the popular ones???? But Mammon has watched the popular ones… (Levi refused to watch the popular ones because Mammon watched them first)

- Barbatos likes to take ice baths to sooth himself

- Diavolo thinks it’s terrifying Barbatos likes ice baths

- Simeon shares Lucifer stories in exchange for good grades with Diavolo (no one knows but dia)

- Solomon secretly stalked Lucifer when he first decided he wanted to make a pact, because of that, he knows Lucifer’s habits better than Lucifer

- Lucifer has secretly been paranoid he’s been watched all this time but he has thought it was his father or Michael, not Solomon

- Michael frequently writes letters to the brothers but never sends them and Simeon is this close to stealing them and bringing them to the brothers

- Lucifer would let the brothers get a pet if Mc asked but actually because he secretly wants one

- Mammon pretends like he’s the big speed racer fan and would totally do it himself but his older brother instincts kick in when he goes past the speed limit by .1737382 miles

- Lucifer is convinced Mammon can’t drive but Mammon is convinced Lucifer can’t drive and both are backseat drivers

- Mammon used to dine and dash until he worked in a restaurant… yeah he doesn’t do that at all anymore

- finally, all of the brothers have this secret part of the hol that they think no one else knows about but they actually all use the same space just ALWAYS at different times

#obey me #obey me shall we date #obey me nightbringer #obey me headcanons

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corroded-hellfire · 1 year

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As You Wish - Eddie Munson x Reader, Part 5

A collaboration with my dearest @munson-blurbs 🧡

Summary: A fun day out with Eddie and the boys has you running into some familiar faces, who may or may not be aware of your current situation.

Note: About time this gang had a little fluff in their lives, huh? Well, let's see if that's what their day brings!

Warnings: Suggestive conversations, should Brittany herself be a warning? i think so

Words: 7.2k

[As You Wish masterlist]

“Okay, you know the rules,” Eddie says to Ryan and Luke as he pulls into the Chuck E. Cheese parking lot. “Stay together, don’t talk to strangers, and try not to spend all of your tokens on one game.” He throws the car in park and turns around to face them. “Got it?”

“Got it!” The boys echo in unison, practically buzzing with excitement. Luke’s been kicking his feet into the back of Eddie’s seat on the entire ride over, much to the man’s chagrin. Eventually, he just reached around and grabbed Luke’s little ankles, jokingly threatening to cut off his feet if he didn’t stop.

You get out of the car, silently reminding yourself that you’re the babysitter today. The kids still don’t know about you and Eddie, and you’re determined to break the news in a way that doesn’t traumatize them. Or make them hate you, for that matter.

Eddie holds out his hand for Luke to take while you all walk across the lot, but the little boy shakes his head.

“C’mon, bud,” Eddie says, a warning tone in his voice. “You know you gotta hold my hand in the parking lot.”

Luke’s gaze drifts towards you. “Can I hold her hand?” He asks softly, and Eddie’s heart just about melts at the way his boys adore you.

“Gotta ask her first,” Eddie reminds him, watching as his younger son carefully walks to the other side of the car, where you’re standing.

“What’s up, Luke?” You say, smiling at him. “Y’ready to go have some fun?”

“Yeah!” Luke exclaims, jumping up and down. He nearly forgets the reason why he came over, until he goes to start towards the building. “Oh! Um, can I hold your hand?”

You beam at him, taking his tiny right hand in your left. “Of course!” At that, he smiles back at you. There’s a hint of mischief in his eyes, but you chalk it up to the anticipation of going to Chuck E. Cheese.

Eddie’s a few paces ahead, but he stops in his tracks when Ryan calls out, “Daddy, wait!” The older boy looks at Luke—and did he just wink?—as their dad turns to them.

Luke reaches out to Eddie with his left hand. “Now you hold this one!” he urges.

“What do you think we are, your personal bodyguards?” Eddie teases, but he clasps Luke’s hand in his own ringed one.

You expect Luke to let go and fly into the building as soon as you reach the sidewalk; instead, you feel his chubby fingers maneuvering against yours. You look down just in time to see him placing your hand in Eddie’s.

You can see that Eddie’s eyes are also drawn to your joined hands, and the both of you lift your heads at the same time and meet one another’s gaze. The heat you feel lets you know you have to be blushing just as much as Eddie is. He gives you a sheepish smile and you can tell it’s a mixture of this is absolutely the cutest thing they have ever done, and should I be letting go? Deciding to take an excuse without making it look too intentional, you step away from Eddie and open the front door for the three of them. Luke’s face has a smug smile on it as he passes you, and the proud glint in Ryan’s eyes lets you know he was the mastermind behind the plan.

“Clever little matchmakers, aren’t they?” Eddie mumbles as he comes up beside you. He takes the door and gives you a characteristically over-dramatic bow. “After you, m’lady.”

“Why, thank you,” you say, following in behind the boys. It seems now that the games and prizes are in their view, and the loud shouts of other children and the chiming of games ringing in their ears, the brothers have forgotten about the two adults behind them.

Luke is about to take Ryan’s hand and make off for some of the machines, when he realizes they don’t have any tokens yet. Suddenly, he remembers his father is there and turns around to give him pleading eyes. Eddie’s already pulling out his wallet by the time the five-year-old turns around, and you take care of watching the kids while Eddie goes to get the bronze coins with a giant mouse head on them.

“Do you like these games?” Ryan asks.

“Some of them,” you say. “I’m really good at skee ball and whack-a-mole.”

“Oh, I’m so good at whack-a-mole!” Luke says, not surprising you in the least. “If you and I play together we can win all the tickets!”

“I’ll do my best,” you promise him.

Eddie returns with a cup full of tokens. He raises an eyebrow as he looks down at his sons. Pursing his lips together, he goes to hand the cup to Luke before pulling it back to his chest. Luke whines and Eddie goes to hand it to Ryan before snatching it back.

“Daaaaddy!” Luke whines.

“Luuuuke,” Eddie mimics. “What are you going to play first?”

“I dunno,” Luke says with a shrug.

“Well, both of you tell me what you want to play first, then I’ll decide which is my favorite.”

Luke groans, but Ryan is still eyeing the cup eagerly. He also knows his dad’s tricks and knows what his favorite game is.

“Air hockey,” Ryan says.

“And he wins right there!” Eddie says, handing the cup to his oldest. “You’re going to share those, though. I hear one little squabble over the coins and I’m taking them away and the grownups will play.”

You choke over a laugh at his choice of words, that being the same term Eddie chose to describe what the two of you did before you got out of bed this morning. Obviously, Eddie did it on purpose as a smirk dances across his lips.

“Yes, Daddy,” Ryan says at the same time that Luke says, “Fine.”

You watch as they scamper off to the air hockey table. Ryan has an advantage over Luke to begin with, but it certainly doesn’t help that the youngest Munson can barely see over the top.

“Think Ryan’ll go easy on him?” Eddie murmurs in your ear, and you shiver at his closeness.

“Not a chance,” you reply. You want to wrap your arms around his waist and kiss him, but you know you can’t.

It’s like he can read your mind, because he says, “I know, babe. I hate having to hide us, too.” There’s some guilt behind his eyes, and you let your arm graze his to tell him that it’s okay.

“Even if we were ready to tell the boys—and they clearly wouldn’t have a problem with it,” you tease, alluding to their earlier hand-holding scheme, “I’m definitely not ready for their mom to know. And asking them to keep a secret from her wouldn’t be right.”

Eddie nods in agreement, scratching at the light stubble on his cheeks. “Have you thought about how we’ll tell them?”

Thought about it? God, you worried about it constantly. What if they blamed you for the divorce? What if they didn’t like you living with their dad? Were you even ready to be a stepmom?

“Uh, a little,” you lie, hoping he’s too focused on making sure the boys follow the rules to notice. “You?”

A blush creeps into his cheeks. “Oh, yeah,” he chuckles nervously. “Which reminds me—I still owe you that official first date.”

You’re about to ask him how the two relate when a familiar voice bellows, “Munson! Fancy meeting you here!” Steve Harrington strides across the thin carpet; baby Amelia is strapped to his chest and his son, Theo, is holding his hand. Nancy and their older daughter, Natalie, follow right behind him.

Eddie grins, jogging over to his friend and his family. “How’s it going, Harringtons?” He presses a kiss to Nancy’s cheek and ruffles Theo’s hair before Amelia begins to coo, taking complete control over Eddie’s attention. Your boyfriend turns to the baby, staring up at him with big blue eyes that look just like her mother’s. She babbles in her baby language and Eddie nods along, as if she’s telling him about what a rough day she’s had strapped to her father.

“Well, hello, Miss Mia,” Eddie says. Her round little fist darts out and Eddie happily offers her his finger, which she takes in her vice grip. The baby giggles, making Eddie’s whole face light up.

You stand watching them from a few feet away. It’s not the first time you’ve seen Eddie interact with a baby, but it hits you just as hard. It’s so obvious how much he wants a daughter, and seeing him play with his best friend’s baby, a genuine smile on his face has you ready to vow right then and there that you’ll give him one. Shaking yourself, you tell yourself to be realistic. You were just worrying about telling Ryan and Luke you were dating. Never mind dropping the news of, “oh yeah, I think I’ll have another kid with your dad, what do you think?”

Eddie’s voice breaks you from your thoughts. You look over to see him waving you over, calling your name. Glancing at Steve, it’s obvious he knows the nature of the relationship between you and Eddie. As you walk over to the family, you look to Nancy, trying to gauge if she knows anything by the look on her face. But there’s nothing there except for a kind smile before her daughter tugs her down to whisper something in her ear.

“You remember Steve, the one who burned the burgers at Ryan’s birthday party,” Eddie says, making Steve scoff.

“They were five seconds away from burning when you shoved the spatula in my hand and said, ‘Steve, take over for me.’” Steve rolls his eyes at Eddie before turning to face you. “Hi, it’s great to see you again.”

“You too,” you say, suddenly remembering the joke Eddie made about you fucking Steve. Something must flash across your face because Eddie’s moving on to introduce you to Amelia—or Mia, as apparently “only her favorite uncle can call her that”—and small Theo with the tousled curls. Next is Natalie, the very polite eight-year-old who is the spitting image of her mother. Then there’s Nancy, who intimidates you the most out of the Harrington clan.

“Where’s Dan the Man?” Eddie asks when he only counts three Harrington offspring.

“Playdate,” Steve says of his three-year-old son. “But he sends his warmest regards to his favorite Uncle Eddie.”

There’s a beat of awkward silence before Nancy makes the first move to break it.

“Hi, it’s nice to see you,” she says, extending her hand. “The babysitter, right?”

It shouldn’t feel like a blow to the chest. That’s what you are. What you’ve been. But it feels like with all that’s gone on the past few weeks with you, Eddie, Brittany, the boys…you deserve some other title; you just don’t know what.

“Yep, that’s me,” you say, and out of the corner of your eye you can see Eddie’s body get tense. “It’s great to see you again, too.” There’s an awkward silence before you crouch down to Natalie and Theo’s height. “Ryan and Luke are playing air hockey, if you two want to join them!” You try to pepper some excitement into your voice, and the two small Harringtons scamper off towards their friends.

Eddie clears his throat. “Come sit with us,” he says before lifting Mia from the carrier and placing her on his lap. “I think Mia wants to hang out with her Uncle Eddie, yes she does!” He lets the baby wrap her tiny hand around his forefinger, and she tries to put it in her mouth. “Um, little miss!” Eddie exclaims with feigned offense, “You can’t eat me!”

“Seriously,” Steve wrinkles his nose. “God only knows where those hands have been.” His face blanches when he realizes what he’s just implied. “I-I mean—”

“So, Steve,” you interrupt him, for your sake more than his, “Eddie told me that you’re heading back to work soon.”

“Yup,” he nods. “Figured I’d go back part-time, y’know, three days a week. Now that Amelia’s old enough to go to daycare, and we’re not having anymore kids, unless…” He glances over at his wife hopefully.

“You pushed your luck with four,” Nancy jokes, rolling her eyes. “We are closed for business.”

“If you, um, need a babysitter or something—it’ll be cheaper than daycare, and that way she’s not around all those germs while she’s so little—um, I could do it.” God, why are you such a blabbering idiot? Why can’t you just have a conversation like a normal human being?

Nancy gives you a confused look. “Don’t you watch Eddie’s kids?” The expression on her face tells you everything you need to know—she doesn’t have a clue about you and Eddie.

You press your lips together, unsure of what to say next. Why didn’t Eddie tell his friends? Is he embarrassed? Ashamed? Is he lying about this being long-term? You understood him not wanting to say anything to Luke and Ryan, but why wouldn’t he want to tell his closest friends?

“I-I do watch them, yes. But, uh, Natalie and Theo go to the same school as Ryan and Luke, right? So, I have no trouble picking all of them up from school. A-And, it kind of would work out well because I only have classes on two days this semester. So, I’d be free for Amelia and Danny on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.”

“Huh,” Steve muses, rubbing his hand along his stubbled jaw. “That is perfect, actually. Those are the three days I’ll be going into work. Would you be able to watch them at our house?”

“Of course,” you say. “As long as it’s okay that Ryan and Luke are there too.”

“They’re always welcome at our house,” Nancy says, and you can’t gauge how she feels about this particular situation. It’s not helping the little voice in the back of your head that’s been telling you that Nancy isn’t going to like you.

“Honestly,” Eddie chimes in from where he’s letting Amelia chomp on his knuckle. “It’d probably be better for Luke and Ryan this way, too. Easier to know they’ll be spending the afternoon at Uncle Steve and Aunt Nancy’s rather than wonder if they’re going to their mother or father’s place.”

“Yeah, and after Nancy comes home—or Steve, whoever would be first, I can bring Luke and Ryan wherever they’re staying. The house or the apartment.”

“You got the apartment?” Steve asks, grinning at his friend.

“I did!” he says, bouncing a fussy Amelia in his lap. “Right there on Crane Street. Three bedroom, nice sized living area and kitchen. Moving in a little under three weeks.”

“Wait,” Nancy says, brow pinching in confusion. “So, where are you staying now?”

An awkward silence settles around the table, everyone but Nancy and Amelia knowing the answer to that question. The tension keeps climbing until Eddie finally decides to speak.

“Well,” he says, taking the hand that Amelia is not currently trying to nibble on, and sliding it over the table towards you. His hand slides over yours and you don’t hesitate to link your fingers with his. “With my girlfriend.”

“Your—oh.” Nancy’s eyes widen as they land on your hands. She looks genuinely surprised, but you don’t see any anger there, which is a relief. “I didn’t know you guys were…involved.”

Eddie nods. “This probably makes me sound like a sap, but she’s…she’s been my rock throughout all of this. And she’s been there for my kids, too. They love her almost as much as I do.” He blushes, making you giggle softly.

“Do the boys know about…this?” Nancy asks, and Eddie shakes his head.

“We’re still waiting for the right time. Don’t wanna rush them or make them feel uncomfortable,” he explains. “Although from today’s antics, I don’t think they’d have much of a problem with it.” He launches into their plot to get you two to hold hands, making everyone at the table laugh. Even Amelia lets out an amused coo, though she has no idea what’s going on.

Nancy looks like she’s about to ask another question when you feel a tug on your sleeve. You look over to see Ryan, with Natalie standing next to him.

“What’s up, bud?” You smile, shifting your hand from Eddie’s as discreetly as possible.

Ryan’s suddenly shy, and you suspect it has something to do with the pretty girl he’s with. “Natalie and I were wondering if you would play whack-a-mole with us.”

“Of course!” You jump up, eager to avoid any further interrogation. “Be right back,” you say to the rest of the adults, although you’d gladly spend the rest of the afternoon hammering away at plastic rodents if it meant escaping judgment.

Eddie watches as you walk away, the gentle sway of your hips as you follow the kids to their game. He’s only drawn from his trance at the sound of Nancy’s voice.

“Eddie, what are you doing?”

“Um, checking out my girlfriend’s ass?” He shrugs, giving a sheepish grin.

Nancy shakes her head. “No, I mean, why are you dating someone so much younger than you? And while you’re getting divorced?” She looks at her husband for backup.

“I think what Nance means is, we’re happy that you’re happy, but…we just wanna make sure you’re thinking this through.”

A glare settles on Eddie’s face. “Sounds like you wanna make sure I’m not shacking up with someone younger than me because of a post-divorce crisis or some bullshit.” He hands Mia back to Steve and stands up. “You guys didn’t see what Brittany and I went through. You weren’t the one watching her traipse through the door, acting like she was going out to dinner with friends when she was actually sleeping around. All the family dinners she ditched, just to be with her boyfriends. One time, she got so caught up in one of her little ‘meetings’ that she completely missed the boys’ school holiday concert. I almost ended up going alone, but you know who went with me?”

Nancy and Steve are silent; there’s no need for them to answer.

“And this was before anything happened between us. Before she even knew that Brittany was cheating on me. She did it because she loves my boys. So fuckin’ sue me for wanting to be with someone who makes me feel…” He searches for the right word, “…who makes me feel complete.” He walks off, pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket as he pushes the door open.

Amelia starts to fuss in Steve’s lap, partly because she can sense the tension around her, and partly because her favorite uncle just walked away. Steve tries to bounce her gently, pressing a kiss into her dark red hair.

“It’s okay, angel. Uncle Eddie will be right back,” he says.

“Should…should you go after him?” Nancy asks, craning her neck to try and glimpse Eddie out the front doors. All she’s able to see from her vantage point is his elbow, looking like his hand is planted on his hip.

“Nah,” Steve says with a sigh. “Known the guy long enough to know he just needs some time to cool off.”

Nancy doesn’t have time to acknowledge her husband’s statement before they hear two familiar voices shouting.

“I won it!”

“Yeah, with MY token!”

“So? You kept losing! If you played, you would’ve lost again!”

“Oh, boy,” Steve mutters under his breath, ready to hand Amelia to Nancy and intervene in the brewing conflict between Theo and Luke, but he stops when he sees you crouching down to their level.

He and Nancy watch as you hold out your hand expectantly, and Luke drops a king-size candy bar into your palm. You’re saying something that Steve can’t quite make out, but you’re not speaking from anger; in fact, both boys seem to untense as you talk to them. There’s a pause as you look at the two of them before breaking out into a grin and heading over to the table.

“Everything okay?” Nancy asks, holding her breath for an onslaught of he-did-this and he-said-that.

“Yes, Mommy!” Theo says with a smile. “Me an’ Luke were fighting because he won the candy but I gave him the token. And we didn’t know who should get it. So she,” he points to you, “said to think about a way that we could both have the candy!”

“And then I said that we can split it down the middle,” Luke proudly announces, “so now I get half an’ Theo gets half!”

“And we don’t have to fight!” Theo adds, watching as you take a plastic knife and cut into the chocolate bar. Gooey caramel oozes out of each side, and you hand each boy their piece.

As they inhale their candy and head back to the arcade, Nancy looks at you gratefully. “I can’t remember the last time that an argument between Luke and Theo didn’t end in a WWE smackdown,” she muses, giving a small laugh. “Are you some kind of miracle worker?”

Your heart sings at her approval as you return the smile. “Nah, just years of babysitting experience.”

“Well, you’re hired,” Steve blurts out. “I mean, Nancy and I will have to discuss it, like a team or whatever.”

“No, but seriously, you’re hired,” Nancy says. She looks like she has more to add, but her gaze snaps up, focusing on something right behind you.

“Welcome back,” you say, pulling him in for a quick kiss. His lips brush against yours, soft and tobacco-stained as usual, but he’s stone-faced when you gently break the embrace. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he grumbles, scratching the back of his head as he sits back down in the hard plastic chair. “Everything good here?”

“Just your girlfriend winning Babysitter of the Year,” Steve says, handing Amelia back to Eddie before she starts to whine for him. “Luke and Theo got into it over some candy, and she resolved it before anyone had time to draw blood.”

Eddie’s toughened exterior melts a bit at his friend’s praising words, and he puts his arm around the back of your seat. “Told ya she’s the best.”

“You also think that metal is the best music genre, so excuse us for having some doubts,” Steve jokes, and Eddie flips him off.

“Do you also listen to metal, or do you actually have decent taste in music?” Nancy asks you, giggling as Eddie adds a second middle finger to his response.

“I listen to a lot of different things,” you say, “but my favorite artist has to be Billy Joel.”

Nancy’s eyes widen. “I saw him in concert!” she exclaims. “Junior year of high school, my best friend Barb and I went to Indianapolis for his Innocent Man tour.” She wrinkles her nose. “What year was that? Like, 1984? Way before your time,” she adds with a laugh. It’s a joke; she’s poking fun at her own age and not yours, but it still stings.

“An Innocent Man is his best album,” you say, trying to let the nagging insecurities roll off your back.

“You think it’s better than The Stranger?” Nancy asks. There’s no judgment in her tone, it’s purely curious. But it still makes you feel like you’re being inspected under a microscope.

“The Stranger has some of his best songs on it, for sure. But Uptown Girl is my ultimate favorite, so I’m partial to the Innocent Man album,” you explain.

“Huh, Uptown Girl is your favorite?” Steve asks.

“It is,” you tell him with a smile.

Steve smirks and slides his gaze over towards Eddie, who just raises his eyebrows at him in return.

“What?” Eddie finally asks, Mia playing with a few of his rings.

“Uptown Girl,” Steve repeats, looking at Eddie with eyes that say you really have no idea what I’m getting at? “That’s the one with the music video with the mechanics, right?” Steve says, eyes sliding back over to you. “Where the mechanic falls for the girl who is so clearly out of his league?”

Now Eddie gets it and rolls his eyes. You, on the other hand, start to giggle. A flush of heat warms your face as you realize Steve’s right, that is what happens in the music video. But Steve’s also joking around by saying you’re out of Eddie’s league—which you find preposterous.

“That’s the one,” you affirm. “But I’m no Christie Brinkley.”

“Eddie’s no Billy Joel,” Steve says with a shrug.

“No, Eddie is much better at the guitar. And singing,” you say, glancing behind you to make no kids are around before you lean in towards him. As you do, Amelia picks her head up and eyes you curiously. You give her a wave and a smile before a smile breaks out on her face in reply.

Amelia starts to wiggle in Eddie’s lap, which has him frowning. She’s always so good for him, rarely causing a fuss. But now, her small chubby arms reach out towards you. As her eyes look at you imploringly, you feel your heart melt against your ribs.

“May I?” you ask, looking over at Steve and Nancy. Their youngest clearly wants to be in your lap.

“Of course,” Nancy says. Turning back to Amelia, you take her from a pouting Eddie.

“Traitor,” Eddie huffs under his breath.

“What can I say?” you ask as you settle the baby in your lap. She happily leans against your body, her head resting against your breasts as she picks up one of your hands to inspect it all over. “I’m just so loveable.”

“Amen to that,” Eddie says with a wink.

“So, where was your first date?” Nancy asks with a bright smile. She rests her elbow on the table and her arm props up her chin. There’s a sparkle in her eye, like she’s waiting for a romantic tale.

“Uhhh,” Eddie says, not meeting her eyes, instead watching Mia in your lap. “We haven’t exactly had that yet.”

“What?” Nancy’s dreamy look is quickly replaced by a confused pout. “A few minutes ago you called her your girlfriend but you haven’t even been out on a date yet?”

You’re unable to keep the smile off your face at the fact that Eddie referred to you as his girlfriend in front of his best friends.

“Life’s been getting in the way,” you say, stepping in to defend the lack of an official date. “School, work, kids, and uh, other people.” The look you give Nancy lets her know you’re referring to Brittany without having to mention that bitch’s name. Part of you hopes that you and Nancy become good friends just so you can hear how Eddie’s friends have really felt about the narcissistic woman all along.

The conversation flows smoothly for the next thirty minutes, until Mia starts to wail, signaling that it is way past her naptime. “Looks like that’s our cue to go,” Steve says apologetically, waving his kids over from the prize area. Theo is proudly holding a Mr. Potato Head, and Natalie has enough tickets to trade in for a fuzzy purple journal and a matching pen.

“Yeah, my boys are probably ready to crash, too,” Eddie agrees. As if on cue, Luke comes bounding over with a shiny red Hot Wheels car. “Daddy, look!” He exclaims. “I can’t wait to show all my friends at school, an’ my teacher, an’ the lunch lady, an’ the—”

“I bet they’ll love that,” Eddie replies with a chuckle. “Where’s your brother?”

Luke pinches his eyebrows together at the question, as though he was unaware that he had a brother. “Oh, I think he’s still pickin’ out a prize. But nothing is cooler than my HOT WHEELS!” He yells the last part as loudly as his little lungs allow and sticks the car out in front of him.

“Jesus H, how much sugar did you have?” Eddie mumbles, rubbing his eyes. He glances over towards the prize area again and calls for his older son.

“Be right there!” Ryan calls back, and as he makes his way back to you, you see a matching journal and pen set in his hand, nearly identical to Natalie’s, except this one is yellow.

“I didn’t know you liked to write!” You motion towards the prize.

Ryan flashes a sweet smile. “Actually, this is for you,” he says shyly. “I figured you could use it to take notes at school.”

Your heart melts at the gesture. “Ry, I love it! But you didn’t have to spend your tickets on me!”

“You showed me and Natalie how to win at whack-a-mole, so I wanted to get you a prize.”

“I can’t wait to bring this to class,” you tell him. “And I love the color, too. Very sunny and warm.”

“My Hot Wheels is red!” Luke yells, shoving the car in your face. “See? It goes vroooom!”

Eddie picks up his younger son and flings him over his shoulder. “Munsons, let’s ship out!” His eye catches yours as he says it, but he doesn’t correct himself. “Onwards!”

Once you’ve all bid your goodbyes to the Harrington’s, the four of you pile back into the truck. Luke drives his Hot Wheels over his legs, across the seat, and over as far on Ryan’s legs as he can reach. The little motor noises he makes with his mouth have Eddie raising his volume a little just to get their attention.

“Hey, guys?”

“Yeah, Daddy?” Ryan asks, swatting Luke’s car away from him.

“I’ve got some news for you,” Eddie says. Though he’s driving and focusing on the road, you can see both boys in the mirror of your sun visor. At Eddie’s declaration, they lean in towards one another and Luke points from you to their dad, and Ryan murmurs something too low for you to hear. They both catch you looking at them in the mirror and snap back to how they were originally sitting, Luke giving you an over-the-top cheesy grin, and Ryan’s face turns pink from having been caught conspiring with his little brother.

“What is it?” Luke asks.

“I got an apartment. Which means that you guys can come stay with me half of the time!”

Both boys cheer, forgetting in their glee how they both thought the announcement would have something to do with you.

“Where is it?” Ryan asks.

“Do I get my own room?” Luke questions.

“It’s by the mall. And yes, both of you get your own rooms. I move in soon and then we can decorate your rooms however you want,” Eddie says.

“I want a Hot Wheels room!” Luke says, making his new car do trick flips in the air.

“When do you move in?” Ryan asks.

“A little over two weeks. Maybe before then though, you guys can help me shop. I’m gonna need a lot of stuff.”

“Like what?” Luke asks, his eyes still focusing on his new toy.

“Well, plates and towels and all kinds of stuff,” Eddie says as he turns down the street his old house is on—Brittany’s house now.

“And a dog?” Luke presses his luck.

“Keep dreaming, buddy,” Eddie says.

Luke huffs out a groan, but Ryan speaks up.

“When are we gonna see you next, Daddy?”

The question breaks Eddie’s heart. What’s worse, is that he doesn’t know the answer. Next weekend seems like such a long time away. But if he tells them he’ll see them before then and Brittany doesn’t let him? Then he looks like a liar.

“Not sure, pal,” Eddie says as he parks the truck in front of the house. “Hopefully during the week, but if not, next weekend for sure.”

The lawn is overgrown now that Eddie isn’t there to mow it every other week. The weeds are popping up in the once pristine garden, and Eddie swells with pride at knowing he was the one that kept this place looking as good as it did.

“Should I stay here?” you ask Eddie softly. You briefly have to encounter Brittany every day since she comes home just to tell you to leave—but not in the presence of Eddie. If the kids are in the room when you’re leaving, Brittany’s pretty decent about it. If they’re out of earshot, it’s not uncommon for her to gripe, “You’re free to go. Back to your apartment where you’re fucking my husband while I’m here taking care of our kids.” Before, it might have bothered you. Now it’s all you can do not to laugh in her face before you’re out the door. She never pays you, either, and you know it’s intentional. Brittany must figure that if Eddie has to pay you, you’ll feel like a prostitute or something. Nothing could be farther from the truth though, when the first and last thing Eddie does every day is tell you how much he loves you. That, plus the fact that you know you take care of her children way more—and way better—than she does, has her attempted insults rolling right off your back.

“You can come in if you want to,” Eddie says as he unbuckles his seatbelt. “Don’t let…her keep you out.” Eddie was going to use a far less friendly term, but he remembered the boys are in the backseat.

You get out of the truck along with everyone else, and Ryan takes your hand as you make your way up to the front door. Did you trust Eddie being alone in the house with his soon-to-be ex-wife? Absolutely. Did you trust Brittany to be alone with him? Not on her life.

Eddie doesn’t bother knocking, and why should he? It’s still legally his house as well, after all. The four of you step inside and Luke is instantly running to his collection of Hot Wheels in his room, eager to add his new one to the mix.

“My kids are home—oh. You’re here.” Brittany’s words do nothing but have you resisting the urge to roll your eyes. “You know you’re not getting paid for this, right? Unless you’ve struck a bargain about how much you charge for sucking—”

“Okay,” Eddie says, clapping his hands loudly a few times. He looks down at Ryan and ruffles his hair. “Why don’t you get your backpack organized for school tomorrow?”

“Sure.” Ryan gives his dad a tight hug before moving onto you. “Glad you came with us,” he tells you. “Thanks for helping with the game.”

“And thank you for my new favorite journal,” you say, squeezing him in your arms. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay!” He heads down the hallway towards his room, and once he’s out of sight, Eddie is rounding on Brittany.

“Seriously?” he demands in a low tone. “You were about to say that in front of our seven-year-old? Jesus, Britt. That’s great for me in the custody case, you know, so thanks.”

Brittany rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest. “I don’t need parenting advice from the orphan.”

You don’t realize your fists are clenched and you’ve taken a step in Brittany’s direction until Eddie’s hand is on your shoulder, pulling you back. An amused smile curls on Brittany’s lips as she looks you up and down.

“Look,” Brittany says, turning her gaze back to Eddie. “I’m going out of town so you’re taking the boys. But not to the harlot’s place. So work something else out.”

“And what days will you be gone?” Eddie asks, avoiding the bait she laid before him. “You know, so I can let the neighbors know that if they see any strange men entering the house, it’s not one of your tools this time, and that you’re probably being robbed.”

“I’m leaving Thursday morning,” Brittany tells him with a glare. “Come back Sunday night. Late.”

“Feel free not to come back,” Eddie says, turning around and heading for the door.

“So, you’re watching ‘em, right?” Brittany sneers.

“Of course,” Eddie says, turning back around to face her. “I’m not just going to let my kids sit here all alone. Who am I? You?” With that, Eddie swings his arm over your shoulders and heads out the front door, leaving a steaming Brittany behind you.

Once the door clicks closed behind you, you turn your head to look at Eddie as you walk back to the truck. “Do you want me to pick the boys up from school on Thursday and take them somewhere else?”

“Fuck, no,” Eddie says with a laugh. “I’m staying here with them. You’re more than welcome to join as well.”

“Hmm,” you muse as Eddie opens the passenger’s side door for you. “Fucking in the bed and knowing Brittany will be sleeping on it does sound pretty amazing.”

Eddie presses a kiss to your forehead once you’re in your seat. “I love the way your mind works, beautiful girl.”

Back at your apartment, Eddie flops down onto the couch and heaves his legs over the arms with an exaggerated groan. “Remind me why I continue to chase the boys around Chuck E. Cheese?” He laments dramatically. “I think my arthritis is flaring.”

“First of all, you don’t even have arthritis, you drama queen,” you tease him, gently sitting on his outstretched legs. “And second, you do it because you love them.”

He smirks before pulling you down on top of him, making you yelp out in surprise. “I do love those little menaces,” he agrees, pressing a kiss to your temple. “Hate saying goodbye to them.”

“I know, babe,” you say, nuzzling into his chest. The sound of his heartbeat relaxes your muscles and helps you steady your breath. “Hopefully you won’t have to do that much longer.”

“Yeah, okay,” Eddie laughs bitterly. “I don’t know what judge is gonna agree to give a parentless orphan full custody. How the hell do I even know what to—”

You silence him with a kiss, slow and passionate, while caressing his cheek with your thumb. His echo of Brittany’s orphan comment isn’t lost on you. When you finally break the kiss, you can see his misty brown eyes. “Eddie Munson, do not let her in your head. Ryan and Luke adore you. If you had a fan club, they’d be co-presidents.”

“But—”

“No ‘buts,’” you shake your head.

Eddie pouts. “Not even your butt?” You giggle, and the corners of his mouth tug up in the beginning of a smile. “I just worry that if I do get custody, I’m not gonna be enough for them, y’know? What if I’m not a good enough dad without their mom?”

You brush a lock of hair from his face and tuck it behind his ear. “You are the best dad, and that has nothing to do with her,” you insist. “Everything you’ve done for your kids has been because of the love you have for them. That won’t ever change.”

“That’s true,” he muses, lacing his fingers with yours.

“And,” you add, wriggling in closer to him, “when Brittany’s away, you’ll get to spend every waking moment that they’re not in school with them. And probably some non-waking moments, too, since they love to wake you up in the middle of the night.”

“Also true,” Eddie laughs. “Well, mostly. I’ll have to leave them with Wayne while we go on our date. Unless you found today’s outing to be the pinnacle of romance.”

“Tempting,” you giggle along with him. “Really, though; you’ve already asked me to be your girlfriend, you’re staying with me, and we’ve said ‘I love you,’ like, a million times. You don’t have to take me on a—”

Eddie holds you even tighter, effectively silencing you. “LET ME WOO MY LADY!” he all but shouts, wrapping his legs around yours.

“Okay, okay, I’ve been wooed,” you relent, wiping tears from your eyes after laughing so hard. “So, where are you taking me, my knight in shining armor?”

“That is a surprise,” Eddie says mischievously, wiggling his eyebrows.

“But I have to know what to wear,” you say with a pout, hoping it will work on him as well as his pouts work on you. But no dice.

“I can pick out your outfit, baby.” The gleam in his eye has you immediately shaking your head, though.

“I’ll end up wearing one of the pieces of lingerie you bought for me last week,” you say.

“Would that really be so bad?” Eddie teases, running his fingers up and down your spine.

“You’d want other people to see me in that? You’d take me out in public wearing that?” You raise an eyebrow at him, already knowing what the answer is.

“Fuck no, I’m the only one who gets to see you like that,” Eddie says as he buries his head in your neck. He places soft kisses against the skin there as you giggle.

“Okay, then I need to know what kind of date I’m getting ready for,” you say.

Eddie pulls back and looks at you. He’s clearly deliberating, and you can almost hear the gears in his mind clanking. Eventually, he shakes his head. “I’ll tell Jess where I’m taking you. She can help you pick out your evening attire.”

“Can I at least know when?” you ask.

“Friday night,” Eddie tells you. “I’ll even take off work early and pick the gremlins up from school. That way you can get ready at home, and I can pick you up like a proper date.”

Grinning, you lean in and press your lips against his. “S’gonna be the best date ever.”

A few days later, Eddie’s finishing up his lunch break from work and heading back out to finish installing some new brake pads when he hears the familiar voice.

“Munson!” Steve calls out from the reception area, jogging over to his friend. “How’s it going?”

“Can’t complain,” Eddie replies with a grin. “Got my boys again this weekend, since Brittany’s gonna be out of town.” He leans on the hood of the car. “What can I do ya for?”

“One oil change and one playdate,” Steve laughs. “Nancy really loved getting to meet your girl, and the kids love her, too. Natalie keeps asking if she can take them to Chuck E. Cheese.”

A blush creeps into Eddie’s cheeks when he hears his friend praising you. “Yeah, she’s kinda the best. You want synthetic?”

“Huh?”

“The oil,” Eddie clarifies. “You want synthetic, right?”

Steve shrugs. “Whatever you usually do. You’re the car guy.”

Eddie gives a small salute as Steve tosses him his keys. “I’m gonna take her out on Friday, so maybe we can do Saturday?”

“What?” Even after years of friendship, Steve still has trouble adjusting to the way Eddie’s thoughts bounce all over the place. “Oh, the playdate? Yeah, Saturday works for us.”

“Sounds good,” Eddie says. He goes to head towards the car before stopping and turning back to his friend. “Do me a favor before Saturday?”

“What’s that?” Steve asks.

“Hide all the Billy Joel music in your house.”

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x you #older!eddie #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson fic #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson fan fiction #ayw #AYWs

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ma1dita · 7 months

Text

crazy little thing

a ‘partners in crime’ installment - luke castellan x dionysus!reader

words: 3.4k

summary: (pre-established relationship) The one where he spends all his drachmas to make you smile. Sometimes, the Apollo kids are better matchmakers than Aphrodite herself. Everyone’s tired of you two dancing around each other. Luke Castellan x fem!Dionysus!reader

a/n: lil valentines day special though im working on more est. relationship fluff after this!! happy season 2 renewal babies

(posted 2/9/24 unbetaed)

—

“Come on, you gotta admit—it’s kinda funny!”

Luke is met with blank stares at the camp store after he places a few drachmas onto the folding table in front of the Apollo kids. They’re not sure if he’s trying to convince them, or himself.

Because yeah, that’s the excuse he goes for, wanting to spend his savings on having them sing to a certain head counselor instead of admitting his blatantly obvious feelings, so if you ask Lee Fletcher and his half-siblings, it’s kind of pathetic.

“What do we look like, a traveling mariachi band, Castellan?” he deadpans, watching the usually confident boy scratch the back of his neck with his face red like someone who’s been sitting out in the sun for too long.

“I’m not saying to follow her around all day or whatever, just pick a random time to sing a song and catch her off-guard,” he insists, before meeting the judgmental look of one of Lee’s younger siblings.

Lee chuckles, ruffling his sister’s hair before looking at Luke quite seriously, “She’s a good friend. You’re gonna have to pay us more than that. Special song for a special lady after all.”

The son of Hermes knows he’s gonna regret this sooner or later, but proceeds to throw the rest of his meager earnings onto the table. He has other ways of being resourceful anyway, the box of chocolates he nicked from behind the store counter feeling heavy in his jacket pocket.

“Right… she’s just a friend.”

Luke’s hands fidget at his sides as he stands there, feeling a little stupid.

Lee’s little sister scoops up the coins from the table, her raised eyebrows and light aura mirroring that of her older brother.

“What song were you thinking?” she asks, “Gotta make sure I know it if I’m singing it to your…friend.”

The 18-year-old boy tugs at his dark curls, getting more embarrassed and wanting to retreat with every minute that passes, but he’s never been one to back down from anything–swordfights, monsters, capture the flag, but this—trying to impress you...is a whole different story somehow.

Why are feelings so damn complicated?

It feels like being at the butt of a joke, or more accurately—at the sharp edge of a sword, and Luke never lets his fights end in a draw.

“You guys got it covered. Just…surprise me too, I guess,” he sighs, walking off without finishing his sentence. He wishes he could pray a little harder to his dad for luck, even if he’s unsure of what exactly he’s wishing for (or if his dad will even listen).

“Castellan’s hopeless. You think he knows it yet?” the girl asks her brother, to which Lee laughs.

“I don’t think she does either, even though everyone else can see right through them. The new bets are on who’s gonna break first. Chiron’s been keeping track, but don’t tell Mr. D.”

If Luke wants a show, they’ll make sure he’ll get his money’s worth—and hopefully, it’ll push you two along faster. Lee bet on you two getting together before the summer after all, and he’ll be damned if he loses to Clarisse.

—

Valentine’s Day might be the day of love, but for you, someone who’s single (not by choice), and heavily busy with making sure people aren’t so…enamored in public (you’ve lost count of the reports you’ve written out due to indecent behavior this morning alone)---this just feels like another Wednesday, except with more hormonal teenagers with uncontrollable urges than usual.

Oh, the joys of being the daughter of the camp director, also known as everyone’s favorite narc.

Honestly, love can suck it. With this much love in the air, you can feel it suffocating you like a plastic bag over your head.

That’s an uncontrollable urge. Too much?

Maybe Silena was right, you do need to open yourself up more to romantic opportunities. But if you have to watch another person swap spit and get pawed at like they’re the last dinner roll at the table…. You might commit arson and set this place ablaze.

You just didn’t understand why people had to go all out today of all days. Shouldn’t love be shown year-round? Though you were a person of theatrics and enjoy a good show, it is amazing how much grandiose displays of affection make you cringe. It felt very performative, instead of genuine, and you would know, you’re the best actress at camp. You’ve acted out stories before, knowing all of the greatest romances and tragedies by heart. And you pride yourself on being a decent teacher to the campers, but for some of them, love still translates to a bad rendition of a ballad they heard on the radio.

Nothing gets past you at this point.

But that sucks too sometimes, you know?

Multiple failed flings and a heartbreak or two weigh down on you on days like this one, as you’re stuck being a bystander to outlandish displays put on by the Aphrodite kids being put to work. Love is their domain anyway, and yours…makes you feel a little less undesirable. Each demigod has their own strengths and weaknesses, but perhaps in the name of love, some of them don’t know how to take a hint. Several forgettable prose readings, a Sparknotes version of Eros and Psyche, and too many red roses to count have you reeling from exhaustion and a bit of disgust—-and it’s only lunchtime.

So yeah, maybe you’re a little jealous; they could call you Nemesis at this point.

The only flowers you got today were from the little kids from along the path to the strawberry orchard, and though it’s sweet—the human side of you misses affection.

Devotion.

To be a daughter of Dionysus meant to deal in extremes, obsession or nothing, and there are very few people who can handle that. Always being too much to handle, or uninterested as a defense mechanism. Perhaps that’s what scares admirers away.

That, or the fact that Luke Castellan is always attached to your hip. To be honest, you’ve always preferred it that way—the both of you working as a pair always gets things done faster around camp and he brightens your mood, whether you admit it or not.

But you two are just friends.

Really good friends who look for each other in crowded rooms, hands constantly brushing against the other for comfort, and able to pick up where the other one leaves off. Usually he’s the first person you see in the morning, and the last person you say goodnight to. You know how he likes his coffee and he cuts your apples for you as you two sit together in your unassigned seats in the dining pavilion. You watch each other’s workshops and if one of you is missing, everyone knows to ask the other to get an answer.

Right? That’s totally normal coworker/friend behavior.

If you were ever given immortality, perhaps they’d make you the goddess of denial.

You’re sweeping up confetti from the dining hall floor after an uncoordinated excuse of a flash mob was performed for one of the Demeter kids… and not to sound like a heinous bitch, but maybe next time they should use something biodegradable… or less messy. Sighing deeply, you feel someone’s eyes on you, and when you look up, Luke’s standing there with two full plates of food.

“Take a break, Trouble. No one’s paying you overtime,” he jokes, and you roll your eyes as you put the broom aside.

“No one’s paying me at all…” you groan, before taking the plate out of his hands and knocking your head against his shoulder in thanks. He snickers as his hand brushes the small of your back, tickling your spine as he leads you to sit at a table.

“Just another holiday. You know how it is.”

“It’d be nice to have a night off though. Sometimes I regret taking up the position,” you mumble through spoonfuls of soup. He throws his large hand over your shoulder, kneading some tension from your trapezius. Head jerking along with the movements, you giggle as soup dribbles off your spoon, which makes his lips quirk into a small smile. Being around you felt so thoughtless and easy that if you told him to jump off a bridge he’d do it without question, which should be more concerning—the hold you have on him is irrevocable. Feelings are way too difficult for his teenage brain to comprehend at this stage. It’s easier to wash dishes with lava or fight off a dragon (bad example, he knows, but there’s something about you that already makes him feel like he’s losing before anything’s even happened).

Luke is someone who fights until the end, a soldier who’s always trained and so ready for anything that sometimes it makes you wonder what war he’s preparing for. Infatuation, or the scarier, four-letter word was not something he was ever briefed on.

“No, you don’t. You’re a control freak,” he says with a grin.

Luke watches you play with the pendant on your necklace, the dragon scale he fashioned into your favorite accessory glinting in your hand. Running your fingers back and forth over the smooth surface, your other hand puts the spoon down and you place your head on his shoulder. He thinks if he had to describe the four-letter word on the tip of his tongue, he’d tell whoever’s asking about the way you kissed his healing cheek after you both left the Garden of Hesperides. More than a year later, Luke is still unable to find the right words even if the weakness has made a home in his heart with your name written all over it.

“I swear if I have to hear another person croak out a lovesong I might just drown myself in the Long Island Sound,” you scoff as his fingers trace circles onto your waist.

There’s a low strum of a guitar that reaches your ears and your forehead meets the cool surface of the table as you shut your eyes and grumble. It’s Lee and his half-siblings, beginning to walk through the hall seconds away from singing until they see Luke shaking his head and dragging his finger across his throat to please, gods, stop. The Apollo kids swivel and 180, walking out of the hall as the music stops dissonantly, rolling their eyes and dragging their feet.

“That was quick,” you say inquisitively as your head pops up from the table to see Luke looking off in the distance.

“Heh… I think they were just practicing or something…”

He then had to run off and pay them more drachmas for the inconvenience.

Fucking hustlers.

—

The sun sets quickly on Camp Half-Blood since it’s mid-February, and Luke finds you trying to calm your nerves as you look at the mess of glitter and paper mache that covers the arts and crafts hall from floor to ceiling.

“I can’t believe this!” you say in disbelief as you look at Luke, and he takes the can of Redbull out of your shaking hand.

“There’s just no fucking way everyone decided to use glitter. It’s everywhere! I’m—CONNOR, PUT THE SCISSORS DOWN!”

Luke sighs as he holds his hand out for his younger brother to give up the craft scissors, which he relinquishes with a mischievous grin.

“Guys, go find trouble somewhere else,” Luke mutters, pushing his head away, and where Connor goes, Travis quickly follows, tossing a canister of glitter back at him and not knowing it was still open.

“Oops.”

Immediately, the both of you are showered in iridescent particles, floating over your heads and stuck in your hair as the older Stoll brother looks at the two of you wide-eyed.

“You've already got Trouble anyway,” he says teasingly, and this asshole winks at Luke before bolting out the door.

The room is silent now, and you pinch the bridge of your nose, before speaking, “I don’t care if he’s your brother, Luke. I might just fucking kill him.” You'd say more but your eyes are shut as you try not to breathe in glitter, and then the sound of the doorknob rattling catches your attention. Luke is standing there, finally faced with a door he can’t open, his eyebrows furrowed in annoyance–but the effect isn’t as menacing as it should be when he’s covered in red and pink sparkles.

“Not if I get to him first, the little bastard.”

“Just open the door,” you say panicked, running over and forcing his hands off the doorknob.

“I can’t if you won’t let me do it!” He grits, elbowing you and trying to unlock the door with both his inherited gift and brute strength.

“What kind of demigod even are you? Lockpicking is supposed to be your thing!”

“Well OBVIOUSLY, but it’s not working, now is it, Trouble?”

Luke finishes off the rest of your energy drink before throwing the can over his shoulder and he swears he can hear you cuss at him under your breath as you berate him about the mess, so he chooses to focus on busting the door down instead of looking at the glitter stuck in your eyelashes and thinking about how the idea of being stuck in a room with you makes him feel weak at the knees.

Through the window, his eyes meet the group of Apollo kids staring at the predicament you two are in (and the barricade of chairs the Stolls put in front of the door). He sighs, and Lee’s little sister flips him off as they start to walk away again, instruments in tow.

“You gonna charge him again?”

A tiny Will Solace looks at his elders for guidance as they walk along the path. As one of the youngest in the bunch, he especially idolizes anything his half-siblings do, going along with whatever they see fit.

“No, but we’re close enough to the archery range that I might just shoot them through their hearts myself. Eros and Aphrodite themselves are pretty much begging us to,” Lee grumbles.

“Why are we doing this again?” Will babbles, and his half-sister grabs his hand to help him walk faster.

“A crazy little thing called love. You’ll understand it better someday, kid.”

—

Thankfully, it all starts winding down after dinner. Luke finds you leaning against a tree flipping through your clipboard during the camp sing-along, so he tugs at your elbow to get your attention.

“Wanna get out of here?”

You look at him, slotting your pen behind your ear as you notice faint glitter particles still dotted along his cheeks. As your lips pull into a small smile, you say, "I still have a few things to do after this, don't you?"

"Cleared your schedule for the night," he mumbles, and whether it's the glow of the bonfire or he's actually blushing, a teasing expression crosses your face as you step closer and cross your arms at him.

"You cleared my schedule for the night. How on earth did you do that?"

Instead of a proper reply, he grabs your hand, tugging you out to the docks near the lake.

"Don't worry about it."

He's not going to tell you that he owes Chris and Annie a few favors before the end of the month to make up for the night shift they ended up taking. Instead, you both sit cross-legged at the edge of the dock, a gentle breeze brushing at your clothes and for the first time today, you're able to just exist.

"I hate Valentine's Day," you suddenly say, looking up at the night sky, and he's watching you closely as the gentle shine of the moon casts a cool glow on your face. Luke cringes at your statement, thinking he's already thrown away his shot.

"Why's that?"

"Tell me something Luke, am I unlikable? Like, is there anything wrong with me?"

He looks at you like you've told him you’re secretly a cyclops.

“The fuck? How many times do I have to tell you that everyone thinks you’re great?"

You don't even give him a chance to finish his sentence before you blurt, "I don’t want to be great, I want to be loved!" Reeling back a little, you lean back on your hands to create some distance.

“Sorry... that was a lot, and I’m just...wanting to be noticed. It's nice to have people's attention sometimes, you know?”

You’ve got all of mine, he thinks, realizing he never stood a chance at fighting it—this four-letter feeling you give him is the first and only battle he’ll back down from, and you're the only person he’ll wholeheartedly surrender to.

In short, he’s fucked.

"I always notice you." He pulls out a dented box of chocolates from his jacket pocket, opening it up for the both of you to share, and the look of amusement on your face makes him glad that at least one thing somewhat went to plan today, even if the chocolate truffles are a bit smushed. You’re popping one into your mouth and his dark eyes follow the trail of your fingers to your mouth, feeling his heart beat a bit faster.

But then you both hear the soft strum of a guitar from near the trees, and the two of you turn to hear some of the Apollo kids singing beautifully along the coastline.

I'll be seeing you, in all the old, familiar places... That this heart of mine embraces...

You gasp, grabbing Luke’s arm to push yourself up so that the both of you can turn and face a small group of your closest Apollo friends singing to the both of you. Luke’s eyes soften further when he feels you grab his hand and squeeze, leaning against his shoulder as you listen.

“Did you do this?” you mumble, still entranced by the performance.

“Only if it makes you laugh.”

And you do, in the way that he loves—a bit crazy and too loud, and it’s perfect.

I’ll always think of you that way… I’ll find you in the morning sun….

Whether it’s fireflies or Will bouncing light off the water to look like small, glowing candles, Luke can’t tell—he’s too busy watching your lips pull into a smile so confectionery his sweet tooth starts to ache. The little kid was never good at archery like his other half-siblings, but as your eyes shimmer under the ambient lights, you think his added romantic gesture shot you straight through the heart.

“You know, sometimes I really do hate you, Luke Castellan,” you whisper, and it couldn’t be more far from the truth.

“No, you don’t.”

His eyes flicker to you again, but you’re already looking back at him.

“I don’t.”

And when the night is new, I’ll be looking at the moon… but I’ll be seeing you…

It’s quiet now, and you’re unsure of where the Apollonian ensemble disappeared to but instead of worrying about if they’ll make it back before curfew, you stand there in front of Luke with your guard down.

Getting a little closer than he expected, your noses brush before you pull the slightly crushed wildflowers from your jean pocket, the only physical reminder you’ve kept from today, and tuck them into his jacket pocket, sitting right above his heart.

“Thank you.”

Luke doesn’t realize he’s holding his breath until he feels your lips gently kiss the marred skin on his right cheek, the blemish having an uncanny resemblance to a stroke of lightning; it serves as a reminder of his weakness. The lines blur as his eyes close to savor it and he doesn’t know if weakness is your kisses or his scar—but he is vulnerable to it all the same, realizing there’s a crack in the otherwise perfect persona that he’s worked so hard on.

When his eyes open again, his Achilles’ heel has taken human form.

—

“This has got to be cheating,” Clarisse grumbles as she watches from the distance, hidden behind the trees.

“It’s not cheating if I’m winning. Silena’s gonna get a kick out of this,” Lee chuckles, ushering everyone back towards the cabins. It’s a bit harder to do this in the dark as they try to be quiet and not interrupt whatever will happen next between their favorite counselors.

“Well lucky for you, your gifts are cute and romantic, what am I supposed to do? They fight enough!”

“That’s what got them into this mess in the first place. Come on, curfew’s in 10. We’ll find out which of us wins the bet soon enough,” Chris mutters, pushing them along back onto the main path.

“Easy for you to say, Rodriguez, you live with Luke!”

“Would I ever lie to you, La Rue?” he says with a mischievous grin, and the Apollo kids giggle at the irony.

—

“My body ages,

my anger burns into a seam.

I am so annoyed by love

and still it comes.”

-Kate Baer

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