#it should be vance with a couch as a wife come on

[a-sassy-bench]

how is it real life that jd vance just photoshopped a picture of him and trump as a couple with vance as the wife wtf is going on

.

[uncpanda]

Back to the Navy Yard: Part 8

Sypnopsis: Being the daughter of Leroy Jethro Gibbs wasn’t easy, but you made it work …right up until you decide to break away from the “safe” life plan and join the FBI. When your father and the family you’ve made stops talking to you, you find a new one with the BAU. But years later, when murders connected to you and your father start popping up, you’re forced to examine the past along side your fiance and unit-chief Aaron Hotchner, and soon to be step son Jack. Really, your whole world is up in the air.

Notes: Eli David and Jackie Vance are both alive, also the timeline between Ziva and Tony was sped up, because slow burn is only good for so long.

Master List

It’s the sound of cursing that wakes you up. Aaron is still curled around you, his nose nuzzled into your neck, one of his legs slotted between yours, and his arm is wrapped around your middle, pulling you flush to his body. It takes some maneuvering to get out of the hold, and he lets out a grunt when your body heat disappears.

You pad out to the living room and find Mcgee and Tony asleep on the couch together. You doubt they started out that way. You take a picture and make a note to send it to Ziva.  They had arrived late last night to relieve Uncle Dwayne and Leon. You and Aaron had been in the middle of putting Jack to bed, and had gone to bed yourselves, so you hadn’t seen them. 

You turn your attention to the kitchen and find your dad there with Jack sitting on the counter. He’s adding chocolate chips into the pancake mix. “Hi Marmee!” 

You swoop down and kiss his cheek before swooping back up and kissing your dad’s. Morning bubba. Morning dad.” 

“Pop-pop said a bad word.” 

Your dad gives Jack an exasperated look, “What did I say about telling on me.” 

“Marmee knows everything.”

You comb your fingers through his hair, “It’s true. Plus I heard it in my room. Watch the marine talk around my kid please.” 

He smiles, “Of course. Watch this. What do we say Jack?” 

“Semper Fi!” 

You give your dad a look, “Starting the indoctrination early I see.” 

“I could have started it earlier and had him in a buzz cut . . .” 

“First of all, not a chance in hell.” 

“Bad word Marmee!” 

“Sorry baby. Why don’t you go play with your legos.” You lift him off the counter and make sure to lower your voice, “Second of all, that was your fault. Not mine.” 

You watch as he scoops some batter out onto the griddle, “It was a little your fault.” 

“Yes. How dare I not follow the grand plan?” 

“Twenty one years and you never said anything against the plan!” 

“You came up with the plan with I was like eight. SO it was more like thirteen years, and it doesn’t matter when I said it, because it’s my life.” 

“And what about now? I’ve heard about your job. Who stays home with Jack when you’re both gone?” 

“Haley’s sister Jessica. Aunt Jess. She also happens to be one of my best friends.” 

“He should have his parents at home. No matter what, I made sure you had access to me.” 

“By making sure I never left your sight. I was homeschooled.” 

“He needs you.” 

“He has me, and he has Aaron. Jack comes first. If he needs us, we’re there.” 

Your dad flips several of the pancakes, “What about when you have more kids? When they’re babies? Is this Jessica supposed to take care of them too?” 

“We haven’t talked about that yet.” 

“Really, because talking to your fiance yesterday he seemed pretty gungho about more kids.” 

“He told me what he said, and all he said is that we’re waiting to get married before we start trying.” 

“That doesn’t answer the question. You both can’t be on the road all the time. Part of being a parent is sacrifice. And I’m telling you right now, if you’re the one to give up your career and stay home, you’ll resent him for it. This entire thing is . . .” 

“You’re going to want to stop right now, before you say something that has you never seeing me ever again.” He straightens a bit, and you move in closer, “You do not get a say in this. I’m a grown woman. I’m a federal agent. I’m a mother. I’m a wife in every way but a piece of paper. Aaron and I will make those decisions together. We will work together. Because you don’t just give up when things get hard. I’m not you.” 

You feel guilt at the last jab, and you close your eyes and take a breath, “I’m sorry . . . that was. . .” 

“A fair shot.” 

He places his hands flat on the counter, “I had no right marrying any of those women. Not when I was still in love with your mom. Hindsight. I just don’t want you to make the same mistakes I made . . .” He turns and looks down at the pancakes. 

You suck in a breath, “Aaron and Jack have never been a mistake. I don’t know everything that’s going to happen, but we’ll figure it out. We may get a nanny, I don’t know. But I know that, anytime we have to leave, Jack runs to hug and kiss us. And he likes to reassure us that we have to go because we’re able to help people. Aaron is his hero. And I’m very lucky to be his Marmee. 

“I don’t know what happens next. I just know that we’ll figure it out.” 

You feel arms slide around your waist and a moment later Aaron presses a kiss to your cheek. “Push comes to shove I can always go back to practicing law.” 

That sentence is said with so much intent, intent at getting under your dad’s skin, that you groan. You’re not used to seeing playful Aaron come out around anyone other than your small family. You suppose he’s having fun. Your dad turns to face the two of you, “He’s a lawyer?” 

Aaron’s delivery is fact, “Youngest federal prosecutor in DC history.” 

“Rule 13!” 

“He still has his license and keeps up with stuff, but he’s not practicing.” You say it as innocently as you can, while Aaron hides a smile in your hair. 

“Unbelievable.” 

“At least he isn’t a lumber jack.” 

Your dad rolls his eyes, and you move to go get Jack as your dad serves pancakes up on a plate. You watch as they bicker but work in sync, making sure there isn’t too much butter or syrup, cutting them up into bite size pieces, and sliding it in front of the boy along with a fork. 

They continue to bicker about the advantages and disadvantages of the law while fixing you a plate. McGee and Tony sleep through the whole thing.

The next few days see the relationship between your father and Aaron remain pretty much the same. Although they do take Jack on a few nature hikes. The rest of your dad’s team is introduced to Jack and Aaron, and Ziva quickly becomes the favorite when she teaches him a few words in Hebrew. 

“He is adorable.” 

You and Ziva are sitting on the front porch watching the sun rise. Everyone else including your dad is still asleep. 

“I got really lucky.” 

“And you didn’t have to go through labor. Count that as a win.” 

You smile, “I’d walk through fire for him and Aaron.” 

“A mama bear.” 

“You’re one to talk.” 

“Sometimes Tony is more of a baby than Tali. Lately he’s been talking about having another one. I’m not so sure about it. Tali is my life, and sometimes I wonder if I have enough room in my heart, enough love for another child.” 

Her phone rings before you can say anything, “Excuse me. I need to take this, it’s my father. He wants to come visit, and I’m trying to talk him out of it.” 

You wave her away as she heads back into the house, muttering quietly into her phone. 

You stare into the distance for several seconds before the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. A second later you hear a twig snap, and suddenly a woman is pointing a gun at you. 

Her hand is twitching, and she’s blinking a lot. You watch as she chews on her top lip and then lets it go. “I found you.” 

You need to placate her, you need to move her away from the house. Away from your family. “Yes. You did.”

“Why did you run? You know I wouldn’t hurt you, right? I mean, I promised Kelly I would protect you.” 

You do your best to keep your breathing normal, “I didn’t have a choice.” 

The woman’s eyes flash with anger, “They made you right? The same way your dad made you move after Kelly died. The same way Agent Hotchner forced you to be his son’s mother. They’re no good. They just get women killed. They’ll get you killed.” 

You take a few steps towards her, “Then we should go, right? They’re all inside. Now is a perfect time. We can go.” 

She smiles at that, “Exactly. We can go. I can keep you safe.” She waves the gun around, “I have this. No one can hurt you when I have this.” 

You steal your nerves, “Do you have a car?” 

“A few miles away. I wanted to make sure no one could hear me come.” 

“That was so smart.” 

Her brow furrows, as it dawns on her. “You don’t remember me do you?” Before you can respond she rationalizes it, “You were little when it happened, so that’s to be expected. And you hit your head in the crash. It’s me, Lily. Kelly’s best friend.” 

It takes every ounce of control you have to keep your body language relaxed and to keep your facial muscles from moving. Lily had been a girl in the neighborhood. She’d been a rather clingy child but Kelly had always been kind to her. When Lily had declared the three of you sisters, Kelly had gone along with it. Later that night, she told you she felt sorry for the girl. Sorry that she didn’t seem to have anyone. 

“I remember. We’re sisters, right?” She looks so relieved that you remember. 

“Good. Good. Now you need to sleep.” 

“What?” 

“You need to sleep, and when you wake up you’ll be safe.” 

You barely have any time to react before a needle is shoved into your neck. 

[boneandfur]

Scars [Parker x MC; n*fw-ish]

Scars // Rated N*FWish for adult topics // Words: 1155 // Pairing: Parker Shaw x M!MC // Notes: Anon wanted Parker x F!MC but my muse wanted Parker x M!MC and what my muse wants, she gets. // Summary: Moss thinks he's falling for Parker Shaw, and he's afraid of what it means.

•••

"What's this from?" Parker touches the scar on Moss' jaw, faded now beneath his stubble. Moss turns his head into the caress, holding for just a shade too long, then leans back, fingers linked together behind his head. His heart is pounding like a steel drum. If anyone sees us... But there is no one to see, not here in the dark of his grandfather's cabin, Elliot fast asleep upstairs.

Yet he can't bring himself to care, not quite, not when he's sitting beside Parker in the dark, their thighs inches away from each other's. He wonders what Parker's lips would feel like brushing against the hollow of his throat, and reflexively brushes his fingertips across the delicate skin there.

"There was this girl... Wren. I wanted to impress her." Moss rubs his jaw, the ridge of the scar just barely there. He remembers how his mother screamed when she saw him, how she'd wanted to pay to get it lasered off. No son of mine will have face tattoos! This will destroy your life, Moss! "She was this girl I met when I was visiting my bio dad in Montreal. Really gorgeous, older girl with long elf locks and..." he cups his hands against his chest. "Like grapefruits. She was a train hopper." He takes a sip of beer, finishing the bottle, aware of just how close Parker Shaw is, how he smells of fresh air and woodsmoke.

Parker hands Moss another beer, dripping with condensation. Their fingers brush, and he hears Parker's sharp intake of breath, the air between them growing thick and heavy with things unspoken, or maybe he's just imagining things. Maybe he's only thinking that because he wants... "Was she impressed?" Parker clinks his bottle to Moss's, and outside the window, a loon cries in the dark for its mate.

Moss shrugs, remembering: Wren's soft giggles, their hands fumbling in the dark. "Sure." He remembers her pink lips, the way she'd wiped her mouth off afterward and looked at him expectantly, though he'd been unsure of just what it was he was supposed to offer in return. In the end, he hadn't offered enough, and they'd drifted to sleep in her sleeping bag, cuddled up like puppies. In the morning, she'd disappeared, taking his wallet with her.

Sometimes, he looks at the scars that spiderweb under the white tattoos on his arms, how they make a map of his life, one bad decision after another -- until he went back on the straight and narrow for Elliot's sake.

"How about you?" Moss traces a circle around the lip of the bottle with his finger, it makes a singing noise. Outside, the loon responds: Kwuk kwuk kwuk.

Parker raises a brow and smiles, teeth flashing white in the darkness, throwing an arm over the back of the couch. In the moonlight, every muscle of his chest under his wife beater is thrown into sharp relief, and Moss adjusts his jeans, trying to focus on Parker's face, not the way his fingers itch with the urge to trace that washboard stomach, down, down, and to feel Parker come apart under his tongue.

"...I was an Eagle Scout, I told you that, right?" Parker pulls up his undershirt, and takes Moss's hand, guiding it to his chest. His flesh is just as Moss has imagined it, hard and smooth as marble, but not cold, no: it is hot and supple, and Moss has to bite on his tongue to suppress his groan. "Guess how I got this."

Fuck. Parker's thigh is pressed up against his, and Moss's jeans are so tight now that his thoughts feel muddled, hazy, swimming with desire and drink. Does he imagine that Parker shivers as his fingers stroke the raised flesh? No. No. You're just imagining things, Moss. "Long and shallow. Bet it bled like hell." He presses his beer bottle between his lips, trying to quash the rush of heat that comes over his face.

"Mmm. You're good at guessing blades, Moss. That's a bit unexpected," Parker chuckles, the sound reverberating through his chest. "Jack knife. It slipped." He pulls his undershirt back down, and takes a long gulp of beer.

Moss inhales deeply, trying to calm his breathing, as though it's every night he sits down in the dark with a man he wants to kiss. "How do you get a scar on your chest, though?"

"I'm very, very good with knots. But the person I was playing with... wasn't." Parker's lips ghost along the shell of Moss's ear as he leans in, and Moss feels himself stirring, stiffening, glad it is so dark, that Parker can't see how damn much he wants to fist his hand in Parker's shirt and slam his mouth against his. "Scars just mean we survived. They aren't who we are." His fingers ghost along the scars on Moss's forearm, and Moss goes completely still.

Between them, the air beats quietly, the night outside is muted, soft, the monsters all asleep under the lake. But what Parker Shaw doesn't know is that monsters still walk around in plain daylight, that sometimes the monsters are right in front of you, the kind you never see until it's too late. "Dude, it's getting kind of late. I should go to bed, you know? Don't want to set a bad example for Elliot."

"Let me walk you upstairs? Those steps look like they can be treacherous in the dark." Parker stands up, offering a hand, and when Moss takes it, Parker pulls him up, his grip firm and warm. "Moss. Hey."

Moss realizes he's steadied himself with his fingers hooked in Parker's belt loops, and he feels his face heat, glad Parker can't see it in the dark. "Sorry, bro. I'm usually better at holding my liquor."

"You don't have to pretend when I'm around, you know." Parker's voice drops to a whisper, and somehow they are both standing close, so close that they are breathing one another's breath, deep and unsteady, the embrace of the night humid and heavy around them. "I'm here, Moss Vance. And I'm not going anywhere."

Their lips crash together, Parker's hands are in Moss's hair, he's fisting Parker's shirt and moaning, Parker's stubble scraping against his lips, tongues hot in each other's mouths as their hips grind together. His knees might buckle if his fingers weren't locked into Parker's belt loops. It feels good, it feels right to kiss Parker Shaw with abandon, to groan Parker's name aloud.

"Parker... Oh, fuck." Parker's teeth press against the delicate skin of Moss's collarbone, sure to leave a mark come morning.

Yes, Moss can pretend by light of day that he isn't falling for Parker Shaw, but when night falls, he discovers that the darkness holds all of his secrets, that it lies beneath the skin, written in his scars.

•••

Permanent Tag list: @littlecrookedheart @lizeboredom @walkerismychoice @debramcg1106 @enmchoices @breaumonts @gardeningourmet @tmarie82 @youwontlikewherewewillgo @darley1101 @choiceslife @blackcatkita @ritachacha @christopher-powell @writtenbycandy

[lilacmoon83]

Lightning in a Bottle

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 27: Dead Reckoning, Pt 1

Flashback - the plane

The plane shuddered and the distress continued, as the turbulence became more violent, jarring them around and sending panic among the passengers into overdrive. David could swear that he felt the plane dip in the sky and instinctively, he put his arm over Henry, even though he knew that wouldn't make any difference if the plane went down. Fortunately, after a few harrowing moments, the lights in the cabin came back on and they steadied in the air.

"Sorry about that, folks...we hit a bit of turbulence, but we came through it just fine. We ask that you remain seated with your seat belts on though and we should be coming into New York shortly," the Captain said. David breathed a sigh of relief.

What followed, of course, was the shock and disbelief at learning that almost five and a half years had somehow passed during that brief, but harrowing moment of turbulence. No one knew how or why it had happened. But it had. David returned to Margaret, as she had rushed into that hanger, hoping that her broken world was about to be whole again. And it was. He had been so impatient though, as they had been kept by the government for questioning for hours. He remembered the particular question about the turbulence, as it seemed to be one of their focal points.

"I don't know...I told you. There was some violent turbulence, but it only lasted a few minutes," David explained in exasperation.

"We must be thorough, Mr. Nolan. I'm sure you can appreciate what an unusual circumstance this is," Vance said.

"For you maybe...but for me, I have a son that is sick and needs a doctor and a wife that's waiting for us," David snapped.

"Mr. Nolan...it's been five and a half years for everyone else. Are you sure you still have a wife waiting for you? You've all been presumed dead. Many of those that lost passengers from this plane moved on. Some remarried. Some moved away entirely. Some may have even died themselves," Vance said.

"Because I just know, okay? If I was really dead, I'd want Margaret to move on, but I'm not sure that our hearts would let us. I know what it sounds like...but I know my wife and she's waiting for me. She'd wait for me to find her as long as it took," he insisted. He had perplexed Vance that day and intrigued Gold.

Emma had much of the same experience. She told them the same thing about the turbulence and insisted that she needed to call her boyfriend, before correcting herself and calling him her fiancé. Except her reality was the one suggested by Vance. Killian had moved on and married someone else.

For Regina, she had given the same answer as well. Violent turbulence for a few frightening moments and then a smooth ride home. Regina was asking for her father though that day, hoping that he had not passed away while she was gone, as Vance had suggested probably happened to some aging parents of passengers. Fortunately for her, Regina's father had survived to greet her upon her return.

For Aurora Rose, the questioning began much the same and her answer was the same about the turbulence. But that was where her questioning took a different turn. While the other passengers got to go home, she had to stay behind. It wasn't like she had a home like some of the others or anyone to claim her. So when Vance revealed that she would be detained due to several warrants out for her arrest, she shouldn't have been surprised. It seemed that five years had not been enough to erase her troubled past.

~*~

Present Day

David got home and smiled, as he saw his wife sitting on the couch, reading something on her tablet.

"Hey beautiful…" he greeted, as she looked up and he immediately noticed the pensiveness on her face.

"Hey...what's wrong?" he asked, as he sat down beside her.

"Sidney Glass came to my classroom again today," she replied.

"What?!" he exclaimed, as he was ready to barrel down to the man's office building and give him a shiner he wouldn't forget.

"Wait...that's not really what has me upset though," she interjected, as she pulled him back into his seat.

"What is it then?" he asked, as he looked at the article she was reading. It looked old and was definitely a scan of the original.

"He was going on about telling our story and how it was intriguing that my father married Cora years after my mother died, considering that he had once chosen her over Cora," she explained. His brows furrowed.

"He did?" he asked, as he scanned the article.

"Apparently, Cora and my mother didn't just know of each other. They knew each other quite well...and hated each other," Margaret replied.

"Wow...your father chose Eva over Cora years ago," he said, as he further skimmed the article.

"And I had no idea…" Margaret said.

"Cora hated my mother...and felt like she was cheated out of the high life so to speak," she added.

"I'm sorry...your father should have told you that Cora was an old flame when he introduced her. He acted like they met after," he said. She nodded.

"Except I think there's a reason for that," she replied.

"What do you mean?" he asked, as she swiped to another article and he scanned it as well.

"Wall Street Tycoon's wife dies mysteriously," he read and then shook his head.

"But I always thought your Mom got sick," David replied.

"So did I. Johanna told me that they found late stage cancer and it was untreatable. I never questioned it, but thinking back...she was fine one day and sick and gone the next," Margaret said. He nodded.

"We were kids...and you trusted Johanna. But yeah...even with late stage cancer, she could have still had a month or so left," he reasoned, as he squeezed her hand and noticed the look on her face.

"You think it wasn't cancer at all, don't you?" he asked. She looked at him.

"Think about it. My mother dies, Johanna just disappears the next day, and my father marries Cora years later after I'm out of the picture too," she replied. He nodded.

"Well...the first place to start would be trying to get a hold of your mother's medical records," he said, as she looked at him.

"Then you're okay with me pursuing this?" she asked. He smiled and kissed her tenderly.

"Of course I am...this is your mother and if there's a question or worse, foul play, you deserve to know," he said. She melted into his arms at that point and he hugged her tightly.

"I just want you to be careful and let me help you. If Cora was somehow involved and she finds out you're digging into the past...she could go after you," he warned.

"I know...but I think I know where to start. I'm just not sure it's a good idea," she said.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I think Regina could probably help me get her medical records. But...what if Cora did do something? I don't want to lose my new step-sister by implicating her mother in something," she replied. He nodded.

"Let's just start with the medical records. We'll figure out how to tell her the rest if we need to. If I know Regina, she probably already knows what her mother is capable of though," he reasoned. She nodded.

"And maybe we can have Emma track down Johanna," he suggested.

"How? I doubt Johanna has a criminal record," she said. He nodded and then got another thought, as he grabbed his laptop and sat back with her.

"True...but most people are in the court system in some kind of capacity. We can look her up ourselves," he suggested. She smiled at him.

"Do you remember her last name?" he asked.

"Baines. Johanna Baines," she replied, as they looked up the name on the website. Unfortunately, they heard a noise coming from the garage and set the laptop aside for now. Their search would have to wait, as they got up and joined hands to go see what was going on.

~*~

"What are you working on?" Killian asked, as he approached Emma's desk.

"Nothing," she replied. He rolled his eyes and leaned against her desk.

"Emma…" he started to say.

"No…" she refuted.

"Oh bloody hell...I already know about all of this. Keeping me in the dark now doesn't make any sense," he argued.

"It does if it...whatever this is doesn't see you as a threat anymore," she hissed.

"Emma…" he argued, as she got a phone called. He sighed, as she took it and he listened to her half of the conversation. He could tell it was David by the time she hung up.

"I gotta go," she said, as she got up.

"I'm going with you," he insisted.

"No...you're not," she said crossly, as she left. He stood there for a minute, contemplating his next move and decided to follow her anyway.

"Bloody hell...when am I going to stop chasing this woman?" he murmured under his breath, as he set out to tail her.

~*~

David opened the garage door and they saw a young woman standing just outside. She looked roughed up and terrified. They looked at each other and then he put a hand up.

"It's okay...we're not going to hurt you," he said.

"Are you David Nolan?" she asked. He looked at her in confusion.

"Yes...how do you know me?" he asked.

"The plane...you were on the plane too. I kept hearing your name in my head and I escaped," she replied. Their eyes widened.

"Wait...you escaped from where?" he asked.

"I don't know...a place where they had me and others from the plane. They were doing tests on us. I spit my pills out though and escaped. I kept hearing your name," she explained.

"You have burn marks on your skin," Margaret said in concern.

"She's at the same place Anton is," he realized.

"What's your name?" he asked. Her eyes shifted between them and he put his hand up.

"It's okay...she's my wife and she knows about everything that's happening to the passengers," he assured.

"Aurora...Aurora Rose," she revealed.

"Okay…I'm going to call my sister. She's a detective and she can help you and help us find the other passengers," David said, as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

"No!" Aurora exclaimed.

"What's wrong?" Margaret asked.

"I...I have a warrant out for my arrest. That's why I was detained when the plane landed and ended up on the bus full of people that no one claimed," she explained.

"You don't have to worry. Emma will be more concerned about helping you and the other passengers. You can trust her," David assured, as he made the call, but Aurora didn't look any less nervous about that.

"Emma...one of the passengers escaped. She's in our garage," he said.

"Oh my God...is she okay?" Emma asked.

"I think so...she has a few minor injuries and she was definitely experimented on. The thing is...she spit her pills out and so I'm thinking they're getting ready to start up again. I think we need to go to Vance so he can go in now. I don't think we can wait," David replied.

"I agree...I'll meet you at Vance's office," she said.

"The thing is...she also has a warrant out on her so she's reluctant about Vance," David said.

"I get that...but the other passengers are going to fry again if we don't go now," she replied.

"Yeah...we'll see you there," he said, as he hung up.

"Look…I know you're scared about going to jail, but if the passengers are experimented on again, our son could be in danger too," David explained.

"Your son?" Aurora asked.

"He was on the plane too and he felt it the last time the experiments happened. We almost lost him," Margaret replied. Aurora looked at her for a moment.

"I'll do everything I can to convince Vance to look the other way on the warrant if you help us," David promised. She nodded.

"I don't want anyone else to be hurt," she agreed, as he turned to his wife.

"Olive's not home yet," he murmured. Margaret nodded.

"I'll stay behind with Henry...just be careful, please. I can't lose you again," she said tearfully. He pressed his forehead against hers.

"You won't...I'm never leaving you again," he promised, as he kissed her passionately.

"I'll call Glinda and Regina and have them meet you. They can look at Aurora's wounds," Margaret said, as he grabbed his keys.

"Good idea...thanks," he replied, as he kissed her again.

"I love you," he said. She sniffed and smiled back at him.

"I love you too," she replied, as she watched them go, before making the calls.

~*~

David arrived at the small office nearby where Vance and Gold had allocated nearby the known location of where they were keeping the passengers.

"I thought we told you to go home," Vance said, as he hurried in.

"I did and one of the missing passengers found me. She escaped," he said, as he gestured to the nervous woman beside him.

"I remember you...Aurora Rose. There is still an active warrant out on you if I remember correctly," Vance said.

"Forget the warrant...she escaped and said they're getting ready to start experimenting again!" David exclaimed.

"It's too risky to go in now," Vance argued, as Glinda and Regina arrived moments behind him.

"What is this?" Vance asked.

"Margaret called us," Glinda replied, as she examined the burn marks on Aurora's temples. Vance threw his hands up.

"This operation isn't going to go very smoothly if your wife gives people our location, Mr. Nolan," Vance said crossly.

"Relax...she only called Glinda and Regina. We're all in this now," David argued and Gold only smirked.

"Definitely burn marks...likely from electroshocks," Glinda said, as Regina treated them with a bit of antiseptic.

"I don't understand...what are they hoping to gain with electro-shocks to the passengers?" Vance asked, as Emma arrived too and shared a glance with her brother. She shook her head, fearing that if they involved Gold and Vance that they would be put at risk as well.

"Will someone answer my damn question?" he demanded.

"Some of us...have been hearing things or experiencing things. A lot of these things have been shared experiences among the passengers," David tried to explain.

"The experiments started after the plane blew up," Aurora offered.

"My son...he was channeling the experience through one of the passengers that they are doing the experiments on. A man named Anton Garcia," David said.

"This doesn't make any sense," Vance refuted.

"That's what put your boy in the hospital, isn't it? It had nothing to do with his cancer," Gold reasoned. David nodded.

"They are using my research on mirror neurons. They are trying to not only connect us all through these Callings, but control them," Glinda tried to explain. Vance shook his head though. He still wasn't understanding any of it.

~*~

"Yes...we're about to start up again. We are expecting even better results this time," Jenkins said, as he nodded to one of his subordinates. Anton was shocked and two other passengers experienced the pain as well.

~*~

In his room, Henry's eyes flew open wide and he held his head in pain.

"Aaahhh…" he groaned.

"Henry?" Margaret asked, as she came into his bedroom and rushed to his side.

"It's happening, Mom…" he said.

"Oh baby," she fretted, as she held his close.

"We have to get to Dad!" he cried.

"Oh honey, I want to, but we have to stay here," she said.

"No Mom...we have to get to dad! He's feeling it too now!" Henry cried.

"You're sure?" she asked. He nodded and she took his hand.

"Okay...let's go," Margaret replied. It was risky, but if David was in danger now too, there was nothing that was going to keep her away.

~*~

"Excellent...increase the power. Let's see if we can get even more of a reaction," Jenkins ordered, as the voltage was increased. This time, all the passengers reacted to this one and he smirked deviously. He had done it and that meant the possibilities were limitless.

~*~

"None of this makes any sense. How can you really think your son is feeling the pain of this other passenger?" Vance asked, trying to wrap his mind around it. David opened his mouth to try and keep explaining it, but he wouldn't have to. Suddenly, Emma, Regina, and David were all holding their heads in pain, while Glinda looked at them with concern. Vance looked around the room in shock.

"What the hell?" he questioned.

"It seems they're all feeling it now. If we wait any longer...there may be no one to rescue," Gold warned. Vance was inclined to agree and made the call. It was time to go in...

[papermoonloveslucy]

LIZ’S INFERIORITY COMPLEX

February 3, 1951

“Liz’s Inferiority Complex” (aka “Liz Develops an Inferiority Complex”) is episode #117 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on February 3, 1951.

This was the 19th episode of the third season of MY FAVORITE HUSBAND. There were 31 new episodes, with the season (and series) ending on March 31, 1951.  

Synopsis ~ After messing up a joke, bombing at bridge, and lousing up George's breakfast, Liz develops an inferiority complex.

Note: This program was the basis for the “I Love Lucy” episode "The Inferiority Complex" (ILL S2;E18) filmed on September 6, 1952 and first aired on  February  2, 1953.  Much of the dialogue is repeated verbatim from the radio program. 

“My Favorite Husband” was based on the novels Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, the Record of a Happy Marriage (1940) and Outside Eden (1945) by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the film Are Husbands Necessary? (1942). “My Favorite Husband” was first broadcast as a one-time special on July 5, 1948. Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman played the characters of Liz and George Cugat, and a positive response to this broadcast convinced CBS to launch “My Favorite Husband” as a series. Bowman was not available Richard Denning was cast as George. On January 7, 1949, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Cooper. On this same episode Jell-O became its sponsor. A total of 124 episodes of the program aired from July 23, 1948 through March 31, 1951. After about ten episodes had been written, writers Fox and Davenport departed and three new writers took over – Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer. In March 1949 Gale Gordon took over the existing role of George’s boss, Rudolph Atterbury, and Bea Benaderet was added as his wife, Iris. CBS brought “My Favorite Husband” to television in 1953, starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson as Liz and George Cooper. The television version ran two-and-a-half seasons, from September 1953 through December 1955, running concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” It was produced live at CBS Television City for most of its run, until switching to film for a truncated third season filmed (ironically) at Desilu and recasting Liz Cooper with Vanessa Brown.

MAIN CAST

Lucille Ball (Liz Cooper) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon.

Richard Denning (George Cooper) was born Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr., in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father’s garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the US Navy during World War II. He is best known for his  roles in various science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Although he teamed with Lucille Ball on radio in “My Favorite Husband,” the two never acted together on screen. While “I Love Lucy” was on the air, he was seen on another CBS TV series, “Mr. & Mrs. North.” From 1968 to 1980 he played the Governor on “Hawaii 5-0″, his final role. He died in 1998 at age 84.

Gale Gordon (Rudolph Atterbury) had worked with Lucille Ball on “The Wonder Show” on radio in 1938. One of the front-runners to play Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy,” he eventually played Alvin Littlefield, owner of the Tropicana, during two episodes in 1952. After playing a Judge in an episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour�� in 1958, he would re-team with Lucy for all of her subsequent series’: as Theodore J. Mooney in ”The Lucy Show”; as Harrison Otis Carter in “Here’s Lucy”; and as Curtis McGibbon on “Life with Lucy.” Gordon died in 1995 at the age of 89.

Bea Benadaret (Iris Atterbury) was considered the front-runner to be cast as Ethel Mertz but when “I Love Lucy” was ready to start production she was already playing a similar role on TV’s “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” so Vivian Vance was cast instead. On “I Love Lucy” she was cast as Lucy Ricardo’s spinster neighbor, Miss Lewis, in “Lucy Plays Cupid” (ILL S1;E15) in early 1952. Later, she was a success in her own show, “Petticoat Junction” as Shady Rest Hotel proprietress Kate Bradley. She starred in the series until her death in 1968.

Ruth Perrott (Katie, the Maid) does not appear in this episode, although she is mentioned. 

Bob LeMond (Announcer) also served as the announcer for the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy”. When the long-lost pilot was finally discovered in 1990, a few moments of the opening narration were damaged and lost, so LeMond – fifty years later – recreated the narration for the CBS special and subsequent DVD release.

GUEST CAST

Alan Reed (Dr. Auerbach) is probably best remembered as the voice of Fred Flintstone. He started his acting career in 1937. He played a cafe owner in “Lucy Visits the White House” (TLS S1;E25) first aired on March 25, 1963. In 1967, he made an appearance on the Desi Arnaz series “The Mothers-in-Law”. He died in 1977 at the age of 69. 

Bea Benadaret (Iris) played Betty Rubble on “The Flintstones” with Reed.  The character was likely named for comic actor Artie Auerbach. In 1938, he announced plans to marry Cleo, Lucille Ball’s cousin. Ball intervened because she was underage, but the couple later married anyway.  Like most psychiatrists on TV and radio, Reed speaks with a German accent, no doubt inspired by Sigmund Freud.  On the television version of “The Inferiority Complex” the psychiatrist was played by Gerard Mohr and the character’s name was Dr. Henry Molin.  

THE EPISODE

ANNOUNCER: “Let's look in on the Coopers. It’s evening and they're entertaining George's boss, Mr. Atterbury, and his wife Iris. Dinner is over and the group are now in the living room.”

They discuss what a wonderful meal Liz prepared for them. Mr. Atterbury ate a 17 oysters! He's even got a joke to accompany the oysters, about a deep sea diver and a mermaid, but Iris won't let him tell it in mixed company.

LIZ: “Iris, this company isn’t mixed, it’s married!

Liz decides that she'll try to tell one instead, but she's not very good at telling jokes. She cannot decide whether it is about a man or a woman - or a restaurant or a cafeteria.  Liz can’t remember the punch line, but George impatiently interrupts and tells the joke for her. 

GEORGE: “The woman said I’ll take two pork chops and make them lean. And the waiter said ‘yes, ma’am, which way?’” 

Everyone agrees that Liz can’t tell jokes. She dissolves into tears. 

To change the subject, they decide to play bridge instead. Nobody wants to partner with Liz.  This fuels her feelings of inferiority. 

At breakfast the next day, Liz confesses that she’s not so bright and that she doesn’t do things well.  The breakfast is undercooked, so George tells her to talk to Katie. Liz is in tears again - it is Katie’s day off and she has prepared breakfast herself. She can’t tell jokes, she can’t play bridge, and now she can’t cook. She challenges George to name one thing she’s good at.

GEORGE: “You’re very good at....  Well, your wonderful at... You’re really great at, uh...” LIZ: “Waaah!” GEORGE: “What are you crying for?” LIZ: “I can’t think of anything either.”

Later, Iris drops by and find Liz in bed, depressed. Iris refuses to believe that Liz is a failure.  

IRIS: “You can...  Well, for one thing you’re the best at.... Well, you’ve always been tops in...” LIZ: “Those are the same ones George came up with.”

Iris says that at the very least that there isn’t another person in the world who gets their hair the color Liz does! George comes home from work and is surprised to find Liz still in bed.  He takes Iris aside and says that he will take Liz to a psychiatrist.

At the psychiatrist's office, Dr. Auerbach (Alan Reed) examines Liz. 

DOCTOR: “Lie down on the couch.” LIZ: “Why?” DOCTOR: “I dunno. That’s what they do in the movies.”

Liz can’t find anything interesting about herself to tell the Doctor, so she ask him to tell her something about himself. It isn’t long before he is the patient and she is the therapist. 

In the television version, Ricky convinces the Doctor to pretend to be an old friend, and brings him home instead of Lucy going to his office to provide his ‘treatment’.  Ricky gets jealous of the Doctor’s attentions, but Lucy reminds him it is all part of the “Treatment, Ricky!  Treatment!” 

Later, George invites the Atterburys over to tell them the results of Liz’s exam.  The Doctor suggests they try to restore her confidence by building up her ego.  George tells them that whatever Liz does, they should ‘lay it on thick’.  

MR. ATTERBURY (gushing): “Liz!  Dream girl!” 

Earlier, George also called Liz ‘Dream Girl’.  In 1947, just prior to starting “My Favorite Husband,” Lucille Ball starred in a revival tour of the Edgar Rice play Dream Girl.  

Everything Liz says or does, the others break out in laughter and compliments.  Liz is emboldened by their enthusiasm and keeps telling story after story - until the entire room is nodding off from boredom and it is 2:30 in the morning. 

Liz finally tells them to give it up - she heard George on the telephone with the psychiatrist and she’s been on to their scheme the whole time.  Why did she let them go on for so long?

LIZ: “Because this is the first time in my life I’ve gotten to be the center of attention for the whole evening and I liked it.”

End of Episode

[epcompletelyfictional]

Part Nine

Summary: As Portia starts Scandal and Ellen still entertains America, they are struggling with the idea of being empty nesters as Ethan is in and out of the house with his big boy company and working long hours and trying to figure out his feelings for his high school girl, best friend.

Disclaimer: This is all a work of complete fiction. I own absolutely nothing, but the plot. Big events are known in this story, but a lot of this story will focused around the family and their lives.

Note: It will go back and forth between the family’s POV in no particular order.

Portia’s POV

February 13, 2015 - 6:00pm

Watching your baby boy be completely and utterly sick post-chemo isn’t something that you thought you’d ever have to experience. Telling your family that the only nephew and grandson has cancer is never something you thought had to come out of your mouth. Your wife having to prepare a monologue about the health of your son because the tabloids are speculating that in fact your son has cancer is never something you thought you had to deal with. But, here you are, preparing dinner for your entire family, getting ready to tell them that Ethan has cancer. Your wife is sitting at the kitchen bar trying to figure out what to say in her monologue on Monday for Tuesday’s show, asking you for input, something else you never thought would happen.

“I don’t want to take this lightly and make a joke like I did when I was confronting the tabloids about us having any silent partnership with Daniel & DeGeneres Co. What should I say?” She asks with the laptop sitting in front of her.

“Maybe don’t address the tabloids directly,” you suggest. “Maybe address the fans’ concerns, you said it’s been popping up on Twitter a lot, right?” She nods. “Maybe just be honest with your fans. Be heartfelt, it’s just the monologue. You don’t have to be serious the whole show.”

“You’re right,” she mumbles. “You’re always right.”

You smile and reach across the counter and gently place your hand on her hand, “I love you.” You say.

“I love you too, baby.” She says.

“Thank you for loving our son so much to adopt him, to protect him, and to stand up for him.” You say with tears in your eyes. “I don’t think I could do life with anyone else, but you.”

She smiles, “You’re gonna make me cry,” she says.

You smile bigger and lean over to kiss her.

February 13, 2015 - 7:30pm

“So we did gather you all here for a reason,” Ellen says about thirty minutes into dinner.

She looks to you, you both agreed to tag team this, you look over at Ethan who has his arm around Riley’s chair and is stuffing food into his mouth, the most you’ve seen him eaten since before the biopsy and diagnosis, “We told you a couple of weeks ago about Ethan’s biopsy.” You say making him look up and sit up straighter. “Do you wanna tell them, baby boy?”

He nods and clears his throat, “I have Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” he says slowly making everyone that didn’t previously know gasp.

“Wh- what- what stage?” Your brother, who was sitting between his wife and your mother, asks.

He clears his throat again, “Stage 3,” he says. “So there’s still hope.”

“He started chemo last week,” Ellen says, “and I’m addressing the tabloids speculations on the show on Monday, but we wanted you to know from us.”

“How are you feeling?” Betty asks Ethan.

“Like I’ve bit hit and run over a truck about twenty times.” He admits. “But, these three take good care of me,” he adds gesturing to you, Ellen, and Riley.

“How’s it having to depend on people?” Vance asks knowing how the young man doesn’t like doing that.

Ethan chuckles, “It kinda sucks, but I’ll make it by.” He says.

You place a gentle hand on his upper back and softly rubbed it, “We just wanna take care of you, sweetheart,” Ellen says.

“How are you three doing?” Mike asks you, Ellen, and Riley.

“Okay,” you all say at once.

“And you are going to address the tabloids?” Casey asks Ellen.

Ellen nods, “Tuesday’s monologue.” She says simply. “I’m more addressing the fans concerns than the tabloids.” She adds wrapping an arm around you, “It was Portia’s idea.”

You smile and shrug a shoulder, “It’s the least I could do,” you say.

Ellen kisses your cheek, “It’s still a good idea,” she says softly. “I love you,” she whispers for only you to hear. You give her a soft kiss in response.

“Are you still working?” Joanne asks Ethan.

He nods, “More from home, but I still go into the office every once and awhile.” He says. “Just because I have cancer doesn’t man that I can’t continue to live. I’m not working as much though. I’m sleeping more than anything else.”

You place a gentle hand on your son’s shoulder and lovingly squeeze, you can feel Ellen looking over at him with a soft smile. You both know how hard it is for him to not be working so much, but you are definitely happy that he’s taking care of himself.

February 16, 2015 - 4:00pm

“Thank you all for being here,” Ellen says, “thank you,” she says again because the audience is excited to see her. “Have a seat,” she says. “Ahh thank you. Thank you so much, right back at you. Thank you all for being here. I take all that love and send it right back to you.” She takes a deep breath and looks over at you, you smile and nod, encouraging her to move forward. She then looks at Ethan who is sitting next to you who nods with a smile too. “I want to address something personal today,” she says. “I know you probably have heard about it and have been wondering why I haven’t addressed it yet and there’s a good factor of reasons, but just stick with me please.” She takes a deep breath, “I never thought I was ever going to have to address this because I never thought it would happen in my family, or at least, again,” she says looking over at Betty who is sitting in her usual seat. “However, I’m addressing it and not for the tabloids, but for you, for the fans.” She took another deep breath, “As a family, we don’t read the tabloids, we don’t allow that energy to come into our lives, but there’s a lot of false claims out there that I think is wise to clear up,” she takes a deep breath, “or actually, my son would like to clear up. Come up here sweetheart,” she says.

You smile as he slowly gets up, the two of them had decided that him clearing it up is a better idea, you could tell that he is in pain by how slow he’s walking. Your wife’s arm is waiting for him, he takes a deep breath as Ellen pulls a microphone out of her back pocket and hands it to him, “Hi,” he says. “I’m willing to bet everyone watching this knows who I am, or at least has an idea, if not, my name is Ethan DeGeneres and America’s sweetheart over here,” he gestures to your wife, “adopted me almost six years ago now.” You can tell that he’s leaning against your wife to stand up properly, he’s been so achy since chemo, “I have quite the privilege in calling her mama and that’s something that I don’t take for granted.” Ellen rubs her hand softly up and down his arm, “I’m up here on this stage today to clear up some rumors,” he takes a deep breath. “It is true, I do have cancer,” the audience gasps. “Stage three Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” he says slowly. “What’s not true is that these two,” he gestures between you and your wife, “are arguing over what’s best for me.” He takes a breath, “They’re some of the best parents you could ask for. Yeah,” he let out a strained chuckle, “a little overbearing at times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He takes a deep breath, “My employees, the staff on this show, and the cast of Scandal as well as Shonda have come around me, my girlfriend, and our families during this time.”

“This show will go on,” Ellen then says, “I will still host and bring happiness, laughter, and joy into this studio and your living rooms every single day, but we also ask as a family,” the camera is now on you before going back to your wife and son, “that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”

“We understand all of your concerns,” Ethan says, “and in advance we appreciate the love and support, we as a family will get through this.”

Your wife looks over in your direction and gives you a soft smile, you smile back, she whispers something into Ethan’s ear, and he nods, “And now, my son is going to sit back down and I’ll get this show on the road with a dance.”

February 16, 2015 - 6:00pm

You and Ellen founds yourselves at Ethan’s house more than your own these days. None of the twenty-three year olds seemed to mind, but it made you and your wife feel better to have Ethan close.

You are watching Ellen and Ethan cuddle on the couch of the balcony of his room, listening to the sound of the ocean when you hear Riley stumbling into the room, you look over your shoulder and she mumbles, “Oh hi Portia, I’ll just leave.”

“Hey,” you say softly, reaching out for her, “it’s alright. You okay?”

“As okay as I can be,” she says. “I didn’t realize you and Ellen were here.”

You chuckle, “We practically live here now, sorry.” You say.

Riley runs her hand through her hair, “It’s fine,” she says with a strain in her voice.

“Hey,” you say pulling her into a hug, “what’s wrong honey?”

She begins to lightly cry into your chest, she’s become like a daughter to you over the years, especially over the last several months that she and Ethan had been together, “I’m so scared that he’ll die,” she says softly.

You nod understandingly, kissing her head, “I know, me too.” You let out.

She pulls herself together and then says, “I’m gonna go downstairs, give you three some family time.”

“He actually is having some serious mama time right now,” you say looking out the balcony door, “I’ll join you, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course,” she says. “I can open that bottle of wine and start a fire.”

“I like the sound of that,” you say. “I’ll help you. You start the fire, I’ll get the wine.”

“Okay,” she says. You both walk out of the room and down the stairs, you go to the wine cooler in the kitchen, and open a bottle of wine that you know both you and Riley like and open it and pull two glasses down and carry it to the living room where she is starting a fire. Once she got it started she sat down next to you as your pour two glasses. You hand her one and then lift up your arm so that she could cuddle into you, similar of how you would do for Ethan, she cuddles into you and you wrap your arm tighter around her. “He’s gonna be okay, right?” She then mumbles out.

You shrug, “I’d like to think so.” You say, “But, I really don’t know.”

“He can’t die.” Riley then says. “No, no, no.”

“Hey, hey.” You say, rubbing your hand up and down her arm, “let’s not think like that, okay?”

“I can’t stop thinking about it,” she says. “When I’m with him and he’s sleeping, I find myself staring at him, terrified about a life without him.”

“Ellen does the same thing,” you say.

“She really fell in love with him, huh?” Riley asks.

You nod, “Yeah, when we got together, I told her that he came with the package and she vowed to love him as her own. I didn’t think that she would ever adopt him, but my heart grew four more sizes when she asked if it was okay.” You respond to her. “I want you to know that no matter what happens to Ethan that you, Connor, your family, are all still my and Ellen’s family.”

“Thanks Portia,” she mumbles. “Connor and I have seen you and Ellen as mother-like figures in our lives. We really do appreciate everything you both have done for us.”

You kiss the top of her head and leave you lips lingering there, “We love you,” you say softly. “We love that you make our boy so happy.”

“He makes me so happy,” she murmurs. “Like I’m the only girl in the world.”

“I think he learned that from Ellen,” you say. “He watched how she treated me.”

“Really?” She asks.

You nod, “Before Ellen I was really unhappy and when Ellen and I got together, she started treating me like a queen. I saw that he was watching. The way that she would hold me after a long day or how she would get up to make me tea. The little things.”

“He secretly hated it though,” she says making you confused.

“What?” You ask.

She takes a deep breath, “He doesn’t want you and Ellen to know, but when you two first got together he felt unneeded, replaced basically.” She says.

“Really?” You ask in shock.

She nods, “When you were sick, you always wanted him to cuddle with, and he felt needed, but when Ellen came into the picture, you didn’t need him in that way anymore.” She says. Your face fell into your free hand, she notices, “This isn’t to make you feel bad,” she then says, “just that you know that he didn’t always like Ellen. He hid it for your sake, but he loves her now. He can’t imagine his life without her in it.”

You nod your head and then take a sip of wine, pulling Riley as close to you as you would Ethan.

February 20, 2015 - 3:00pm

You are sitting next to Ethan in chemotherapy holding his hand, Ellen is sleeping in the corner, she hadn’t been sleeping much, you keep thinking about that conversation with Riley. “You okay, Ma?” He asks looking softly at you.

You nod, “I just never thought I’d have to see you in this situation.” You say honestly.

“Same here,” he says. “I’m sorry for putting you and Mama through this.”

“It’s not your fault,” you say. “Don’t apologize.”

“I just see the worried look in your and Mama’s eyes and I feel bad.” He says. “Mama isn’t sleeping, I feel worse because I know she has a busy schedule.”

You look over at your sleeping wife, she looks worried even in her sleep, the nurse had thrown a blanket over her about 30 minutes before, but you know how worried she is, “Mama just loves you so much that she just wants a lot more time with you.” You say.

“Do you two think I’m gonna die?” He asks softly.

“We don’t know what to think baby.” You say. “We’re worried.”

He looks over at Ellen and makes a sad face, “Is it bad that I just wanna cuddle with the both of you right now?” He asks softly.

“No, believe me, Mama isn’t gonna let you out of her grasp leaving here,” you say. “As much as I didn’t raise you to be a spoiled celebrity kid, you know Mama spoils you with cuddles and love. She hates seeing you like this.”

“I hate that I’m putting you two in this situation. I hate that I’m putting Riley, Connor, and their family in this situation. And our family.” He says.

“It’s not your fault baby,” you say.

“I know it’s not,” he says, “but I still hate that I’m putting you all through this. I hate that I have to rely on all of you for everything now.”

“You always want to take care of other people,” you say. “Always wanted to feel needed, huh?”

“What do you mean?” He asks.

You sigh, “Riley told me that when Mama and I first got together, you didn’t feel needed by me anymore.”  You say. “I could tell she didn’t want to tell me, but she’s been so emotional that it came out.”

His head fell a little, “It made me not like Mama at first, but she fell in love with me and became my mama. I don’t get what my 13 year old self was feeling, but I do know this, I love Mama now. So damn much. I’m not sure where I’d be without her.” Tears fall from his eyes, “I felt so bad for not liking her, but she took all of your time and I wanted to be needed by you too. And then I started needing you and I felt bad because that took your time away from her and I thought she hated me because of it. And then she asked if she could adopt me and now I’m trying to figure life out with cancer and she’s still here. She fell in love with me, became my mama, and spoils me rotten with her love.”

You wipe the tears from his eyes, “She really did fall in love with you.” You say. “She doesn’t know who she would be without you… or us.”

You look over at your wife and look at her lovingly, you couldn’t imagine doing life with anyone else.

February 20, 2015 - 7:00pm

You and Ellen are cuddling on Ethan’s couch, your son is sleeping in his bed and Riley is working on her laptop next to him. You’re enjoying the alone time with your love. You have your face buried into her neck, she’s playing with your hair, you’re both watching an episode of Scandal and it’s a scene with you in it and you know that your commentary isn’t wanted, so you busy your face into her neck, kissing it every once and awhile.

“I love this,” she whispers during a commercial break. “Watching a recorded episode of Scandal, holding you.”

“I love this too,” you say. “I’m sorry that we haven’t really. gotten us time lately.”

She shrugs, “Our baby boy is just as important.” She says. “But yeah, we gotta make more time for us.”

“I agree,” you say. “I miss us.”

She nods, “I miss us too,” she whispers. You look to see tears in her eyes and then gesture for her to lie on her back, you lie on top of her and begin to kiss her and as you feel the tears fall your kiss her tears. “I’m sorry,” she cries. “I can’t be strong anymore.”

“Let me be strong for you,” you say. “Let me hold you up like you hold me up. Let me in baby.”

“What if we lose him?” She says. “Can we make it through that?”

It’s a valid question and a conversation you two needed to have, “I’m not sure honey.” You say. “I want to say that we can, but I don’t actually know.”

“For the last ten years, I’ve watched him grow from that shy, awkward boy to this confident young man and I don’t know if I can go on if he doesn’t.” She says. “I’m afraid that I might withdraw so much that you’ll leave me.”

You grab her face and look at her straight in the eyes, “I won’t leave you, Ed. Not now, not ever.” You say seriously. “I fell in love with you as much as I did you. You took in my boy as the whole package. You became his mama. I’m not going anywhere. I need you to know that. Good times and bad, I’m here. I’m always here.” She begins to cry hard into your shoulder, “I love you, Ed.”

“I love you too, Portia.” She says.

“C’mon, I’ll let you spoon me,” you say. “I know that you need that right now. We’ll continue this conversation later, I promise.”

You two get in the position that you two have seemed to have perfected over the course of the decade. She’s holding you tight as it comes back from the commercial break, you both watch in silence for the entirety of the hour.

You know that the conversation will be had at a later time, right now, you just need to take care of your wife.