#it was Fear by Michael Grant | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

sarahsmi13s · 2 years ago

Text

Pink, Blue, Navy True

pairing: jake ‘hangman’ seresin x sarah grant (fem!oc)

characters: jake seresin, sarah grant, the bradshaws (hlg), the grants and seresins, the entire dagger squad (include cyclone, warlock, and maverick), penny and amelia benjamin, random students of sarah’s, dr. mallard (oc)

warnings: language, pregnancy, deployments, talks of death, talks of cannon dangers, fluffy hangman, doctors appointments, gender reveal, i believe that’s it

word count: ~8.2k

a/n:�� this story is inspired by ‘His Little Girl’ (bradley bradshaw x reader) by the lovely @roosterscockpit ( @milesdickpic ) and characters from this story are mentioned. also, yes, the oc is based on me lol (well a fantasy version lol)

here is the pinterest board for this part ---> seresin twins

this is part 7 in the j and s series ---> found here

loose summary: just before jake and sarah found out the gender of their twins, jake is told he’s being deployed and that he might not be home for the twins birth. but they press on as if everything is okay and surprise everyone with not one but two new editions

***********

Jake’s alarm went off, pulling him out of his dream.

“Shhhhh,” he threw his free arm behind him and turned off the annoying old piano alarm sound.

Bringing the arm back, he placed his hand on Sarah’s baby bump. Being pregnant with twins had her looking a little further along than she was, but Jake loved the bump so he wasn’t complaining.

He really didn’t want to get up. He was comfortable and cozy with Sarah all cuddled up into his side. Jake also didn’t want to wake her up. She’s been having trouble falling asleep since being in the second trimester.

There was a likely chance she’s only been asleep for maybe an hour, if that. But Jake had to get up to get ready for work.

He turned back over, grabbing his phone to check the time. 04:00. He could spare 30 more minutes, he didn’t need to be up until 5.

Turning back to Sarah, Jake pressed a kiss to her forehead. She hummed contently in her sleep, snuggling into him a little more.

He smiled to himself and looked up at the ceiling, his hand resting on the bare skin of Sarah’s stomach.

****

Sarah’s eyes fluttered open as Jake pressed kisses to her eyelids.

She smiled sleepily, her eyes meeting his, “G’mornin’.” “Mornin’ Sweetheart,” Jake smiled at her, pushing some hair out of her face.

“Are you leaving for work?” She asked, her neck tilting back to look at him. He shook his head, “No, not yet. I just wanted to let you know I was about to get ready.” She hummed and kissed his lips, “Okay baby.”

Jake kissed her forehead and got out of bed, giving her his pillow to snuggle with.

Sarah giggles a little, getting comfortable with the pillow, “It’s not the same, but it’ll do.” Jake laughed, “Get some sleep, I’ll wake you up before I leave.” “Don’t need to tell me twice, you’re little trouble makers are wrestling at the worst hours.” Jake laughed again, “Hey, we were both athletes – don’t blame their athleticism on just me.”

She rolled her eyes at him and shooed him, “Get dressed, you big oaf.”

Jake went to the shower and Sarah let her eyes shut again.

****

It didn’t take long for the twins to start kickboxing again and pull Sarah out of her sleep.

She went to get up, but Jake walked out of the bathroom in just his boxer briefs drying his hair with a towel.

He turned to his drawer of undershirts.

“Mmm mmm mmm,” Sarah hummed, smirking as she propped her head up. Jake whipped around, “What are you doing up?” “Our kickboxers started a new match,” she groaned and stretched, rolling onto her back. She made grabby hands at Jake and he chuckled, grabbing her hands and helping her out of the bed.

When he had her standing, he knelt down. “Hey you two, you need to give your mama a break. She needs her sleep so she doesn’t strangle daddy because he chews too loud.”

Sarah scoffed, feigning offense as she shoved his shoulder, “I would never strangle you. May have the occasional urge to stab you with a fork - but never strangle you.”

He pointed back at her bump, “You’re makin’ mama violent.”

Jake stood up and kissed Sarah’s hairline, “I love you.” She smiled up at him, “I love you too.” She moved past him and towards the bathroom.

He turned back and went back to his drawer.

She turned to say something but forgot what it was the moment her eyes landed on Jake. “Do you understand how unfair it is that not only are you super attractive and have perfect teeth, but how nice your ass is?” Jake stood up, “Thank you?” “It’s frustrating that my fiancé has a better ass than I do.”

He gave her a look, “Darlin’, my ass isn’t better than yours.” “You’re just sayin’ that,” she threw him a teasing smile and finished her trek to the bathroom.

****

Once Sarah got dressed, she went downstairs to the kitchen.

Jake was standing by the sink, cutting strawberries as the microwave hummed. He was listening to some history podcast while humming ‘American Pie’ and swaying back and forth.

She smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist, “And they were singing ‘bye, bye, Miss American Pie. Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry. And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye. Singing, "This'll be the day that I die". This will be the day that I die.”

Jake smiled to himself when she sang, sitting the small knife down and turning in her arms. He wrapped his arms over her shoulders and rested his head on top of hers. “It’s too early, Jake.” He chuckled and looked at the kitchen clock, “Sugar, it’s 05:20. You start getting ready at 05:30.”

“Exactly, I’m already dressed for the day and you’re still home,” she yawns a little bit. “I’m gonna need a nap at some point today.” Jake laughs, “I’m sure Mrs. Hapler will lend us her couch.” “Us?” He looked down at her, “Yeah, we’re doing lunch today, remember?”

Sarah blinked, brows pulling together before her mouth dropped in realization, “Oh, right. I’m sorry. Baby brain.” He smiled at her, shaking his head, “It’s okay. Maybe I should have left it a surprise.” She hummed in amusement and pulled back, holding onto Jake’s hand.

Jake took this time to look her over.

“You’re glowing, Sugar. You look absolutely beautiful,” Jake reached out and twirled a loose piece of hair around his finger. She was in a simple green, knit cardigan with one of his older plain gray t-shirts, leggings, and some gray Vans.

She smiled at him, squeezing his hand in appreciation, “Thank you, Honey. But is too-” “Do you like the way you look in it?” She nodded. “Are you comfortable?” She nodded again. “Then it’s perfect.” She smiled at him again, “Thank you.” Jake nodded, “Anytime.”

“I’m gonna go check my bag and make sure I have everything. If I don’t do it now, I’ll forget to do it before I leave.” Jake nodded, smiling as he watched her waddle towards the hooks by the front door.

The microwave beeps, signaling to Jake that the oatmeal was finished.

He grabbed a pot holder and pulled out the hot ceramic. Reaching up he grabbed the peanut butter from the cabinet. He moved over beside the sink and reached for a spoon, only to be met by an empty basket.

“Hey Babe?” He called out. “Yeah?” “Are the dishes in the dishwasher clean?” He had his hand hovering over the handle as he waited for her response. “Uh, yeah, yeah I think so.” “Sweet.” He opens the dishwasher and takes out the silverware basket.

Sitting aside a spoon, he puts the rest of the silverware in its respective holder before placing the basket back in the dishwasher.

Once he finished that he used the spoon to get a hefty scoop of peanut butter and stirred it into the oatmeal. After it was stirred in thoroughly, he sprinkled in the strawberry pieces and mixed them in as well.

He grabs a mason jar off the top dishwasher drawer and pours orange juice in it.

“Okay, I have everything,” Sarah confirmed when she walked back into the kitchen. “That’s good,” Jake smiled and grabbed the breakfast, holding it out to her.

She arched her brow, “Whatcha got there?” “I made you breakfast.” She stopped in her tracks, looking down at the bowl and cup in her fiancé’s hand. “Wait, is that peanut butter oatmeal with strawberries?” She took the bowl in her hands as Jake nodded, “It is. I bought the strawberries yesterday.”

Taking a bite made her eyes tear up, “Jake… you didn’t have- strawberries aren’t even in season.” He sat the glass down, cupping her face, “I know, but these looked perfect and I know you’ve been craving them.” “You’re too good to me, Jake.”

He shook his head and planted a kiss on her forehead, “I’m just giving you what you deserve. You know, for putting up with me and our little MMA fighters down there.” Sarah let out a watery giggle, making Jake smile as he knelt down to be eye level with her stomach.

“Okay, Daddy has to go to work, don’t give your mom a hard time,” Jake placed a kiss on her bump before standing up. “I’ll see you at lunch, Sugar,” he kissed her lips, tasting the peanut butter. “I love you, Jake. Be safe, okay?” “Always am,” he kissed her again. “I love you too.”

****

Sarah checked her watch, “Okay, girls, bring it in!” The seventh graders jogged over to her. She clapped her hands together, “I know it’s only Monday, but I just want to make you all aware. I won’t be here on Friday. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment. Jake and I are going to find out the gender of little Seresin.”

All the girls lit up, jumping a little bit and giggling in excitement.

“June, call it up and you girls go get changed and get to lunch,” she laughed, putting her hand out and all the girls stacking their hands before June called it up and they went to the locker room.

****

By the time Sarah made it back to her classroom, Jake was already there.

“Hi, Lieutenant Seresin,” she teased a little. “Hi, pretty mama,” he teased right back, rolling her desk chair over to her. She laughed and shook her head but sat down anyway.

Jake rolled her back to her desk. “So, Mav ordered pizza for everyone and I managed to sneak out two cheese pizzas.” She arched her brow, “Two whole pizzas?” She opened one box, “How’d you manage that?” He shrugged, “I guess I’m just that good.”

He grabbed a piece and took a bite. “Jake, there is no way you snuck out with two pizza boxes around 11 aviators that have a scarily good sense of smell. And you definitely didn’t get past Phoenix, she knows everything.”

He laughed and held his hands up, “Okay, you got me there. But I did just grab the boxes and when they tried to protest, I told them it was for you. They know better than to stand in between a pregnant lady and her food.” Sarah hummed in amusement, grinning as she took a bite of pizza.

After they had their fill, Sarah pulled out a gallon zip lock and put the remaining pizza from the opened box in it before putting it in her mini fridge.

She dusted her hands off, “Looks like you can return the other pizza.” Jake scoffed, “Um no. I’ll swing by the house and put it in the fridge.” She laughed and shook her head, getting up to throw the empty box away. “No, Babe, I got it.” “Jake, I’m pregnant, not injured. I got it.” She kissed the side of his head and went out into the hall.

When she came back, Jake had turned off her room light, leaving her fairy lights on, and had sat down on the little reading couch that could fit two people – but only if they were sitting.

“Jake?” “I know it isn’t the most comfortable but Mrs. Hapler left early today. So, I figured if I was here, it’d be a little better.” She smiled at him, “It’s always better when you’re here.”

She got about 15 minutes of rest before students started coming in.

“Hey, Hangman,” one of the football players greeted. “Hey Johnny, how’s off season treating you?” They kept their voices hushed so they didn’t wake Sarah. “It’s okay.”

Johnny sat his bag down, “My mom was wondering if you guys knew the gender of the baby yet?” Jake shook his head, “We go on Friday to find out. And then we’ll have a reveal party on the 25th, I think.”

Johnny nodded and sat down, “That’s cool. What do you want the baby to be?” Jake shrugged, “I’ll be happy with either. But I have a feeling it’ll be a girl.” Maybe two, he thought to himself.

“You look like a girl dad, Hangman,” Ginny, one of the softball girls said when she came in and sat down across from Johnny. “But Coach gives me ‘boy mom’ vibes.” Jake shrugged, laughing a little as he checked the time.

He sighed and gently woke up his fiancé.

Sarah groaned and put her face in his neck. He chuckled, “Honey, come on. The bell’s ‘bout to ring.” She huffed and sat up, going to rub her eyes.

Jake grabbed her wrist, “No, you’ve got mascara on.” “Oh, right, thank you.” He kissed her ring, “No problem.” He stood first and helped her up as the rest of the class piled in.

He kissed her forehead, “I’ll see you at home, Sugar.” “See you at home, Lieutenant.” Jake grinned and gave her a hug, tucking her head under his chin. “Be safe,” Sarah mumbled into his chest. He chuckled and kissed the top of her head, “Always am.”

“I love you,” he gave her hand a gentle squeeze before grabbing the box and leaving. “I love you too,” she blew him a kiss and he caught it, shoving his hand into his flight suit pocket. “Saving that for luck,” he sent her a wink and was out the door.

****

Jake shut his truck door, locking it as he walked into base.

“Seresin!” Cyclone called for him as soon as he entered the door. “Yes sir?” “I need to speak with you in my office,” he crooked a finger for Jake to follow him.

Coyote, who was standing at the front desk, raised his brows, “What you do this time, Hangman?” Jake shrugged, frowning a little as he followed Cyclone into his office.

He shut the door and stood in front of the admiral’s desk. “Is everything alright, sir?”

Beau sighed as he looked up at Jake. “You’re being deployed, Lieutenant.”

Jake felt his stomach drop. He clenched and unclenched his fists, “How long?” Cyclone looked out the window, “I’m not sure. Could be anywhere from 9 weeks to 22 weeks.” Tears pricked the back of Jake’s eyes, “22 weeks?” “At the longest, yes.” Jake took a deep breath, trying not to cry at the possibility of not being there when the twins were born, “When do I leave?” “April 3rd. I’m sorry, Jake.” Jake just nodded. “You’re dismissed.”

He promptly left, going straight to the locker room and sitting against his locker. He pulled out the photo of him and Sarah on her graduation day and the sonogram photo from their last appointment.

She wasn’t going to take this well.

****

Jake trudged in the door, his boots feeling heavier than usual.

He put his things down by the door and untied his boots. He shook out his hands and took a deep breath.

He could hear Sarah in the kitchen singing along to Luke Combs’s ‘Lovin’ On You’.

Jake walked into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her. “Hi, Sugar.” She turned and kissed the side of his head, “Hi, Jakey. How was work?” He shrugged and buried his face into her neck, “It was work.”

Sarah furrowed her brow, reaching over to pause her playlist.

She rested her head back on Jake’s shoulder, “What happened?” He shook his head and planted a kiss on her shoulder, “Nothin’ happened.” “Jake…” He cleared his throat a little, standing up straight.

“I’m getting deployed.”

He felt her stiffen up. Sarah braced her hands on the counter, taking deep breaths, “When do you leave?” “The third of April.” She nodded, “How long?” “I’m not sure.”

She turned around, “You’re ‘not sure’? What do you mean not sure?” Jake ran a hand through his hair, “Cyclone didn’t really give me an exact time.” “What did he say?” “He said it could be anywhere from 9 weeks to 22 weeks…” He rushed to say.

Sarah arched a brow and leaned closer, “Come again?” He closed his eyes and hung his head, letting out a deep breath, “He said anywhere from 9 weeks to 22 weeks.” “That’s what I thought you said.” She took in a breath and walked away from him.

“You’re mad,” Jake stated. “You think? Yeah, I’m mad.” Jake pointed a finger at her, “You know I don’t control when I leave and how long I’m gone for.” She put her hands on her hips and huffed a breath out through her nose. “Sarah, you think I want to go to the middle of the damn ocean and be away from you!?” She stayed silent, tears making her nose burn.

“Do you think I want to run the risk of missing out on the twins' birth?” She crossed her arms and Jake felt a stab in his chest; she was closing herself off from him. “No, Jake, I know you don’t. But-” “But what?”

She swallowed and shook her head, “Nothing. Let me get back to cooking dinner, go get changed.”

She brushed by Jake and he gently curled his fingers around her bicep, “Sarah, don’t do this. Talk to me, please.” “Dinner will be ready in a little bit,” she tried to shake Jake’s hand off and he let go; but he grabbed her hand. “Sarah-”

“I’m scared, Jake.”

Tears slipped past her lids and Jake brought his free hand up to cup her cheek. “What are you scared of?” One of her hands ran over her bump, “Doing this alone.” Jake furrowed his brow, “You won’t be alone.” She gently held Jake’s face.

“I will be if you die.”

Jake shook his head, frowning, “But I won’t die.” She gave him a watery smile and shook her head, rubbing his cheekbones with her thumbs, “You and I both know you can’t promise that.”

Sarah dropped her hands and changed course, going out to the back deck. “Just give me a few minutes okay?” Jake swallowed and nodded, finally taking his cue to get changed.

****

He came back to see Sarah still on the deck in a chair, playing with her hands.

He felt terrible. He knows he can’t control when or where he goes, nor how long he’s gone. And he knows she understands that too. But that doesn’t make it any easier.

Jake knows to give her space, despite wanting to go out there and hold her for as long as he can; that’s not what she needs.

Seeing the ingredients on the counter, he decides to start making dinner.

By the time it’s finished, Sarah still hasn’t come back in and he debates going outside to tell her it’s ready.

As he’s contemplating, he misses the shuffle of the back door opening and closing. But he hears her voice.

“I’m sorry.”

His head shoots up and he nearly cries when he sees the blotchy red patches on her cheeks. He steps towards her, “Oh, Darlin’…”

She takes a deep breath before speaking again, “I know you can’t control these things and that every time you leave it’s just as hard for you. I knew that when we got together and I’ve handled it well throughout the years… This is your job, this is your dream, and you know I would never ask you to give that up.”

Jake just nods, not speaking yet to let her air out her thoughts.

“I’m not mad at you, Jake. I need you to know that. I just- I’m scared, I’m always scared when you leave. But this is different, I’m carrying our children this time. And I hate thinking that they may never get to meet you,” her hands were rubbing her bump again.

He steps even closer, but doesn’t touch her yet. “I’m scared too, Sarah. I’m scared every time, but I use it as fuel to get home. You know I’d fight through hell to get back to you, this time is no different.”

His hands cover hers, “But please don’t shut me out. I know you try to keep your concerns to yourself to protect yourself and to protect me and keep me from worrying but I’m gonna worry anyway.”

She nodded, “I know. I’m sorry.” He wrapped his arms around her, “I love you.” Her arms went around his neck, “I love you too.”

They held each other for a few minutes, just needing the comforting weight of the other.

“Let’s eat before it gets too cold.” She nodded, “Yeah, I’m starving.” Jake shook his head and chuckled, pressing a kiss to her head before pulling back to kiss her on the lips.

******

When Friday rolled around, Sarah and Jake were ready. They had left early to grab breakfast before going to the doctor.

“So,” Sarah started, sipping her orange juice. “Do you think we’re having two girls, a boy and a girl, or two boys?” Jake looked up at her from his french toast, having just shoved a bite into his mouth. She giggled, “Finish your bite then answer.”

She took a bite of her biscuits and gravy as Jake swallowed his bite to talk.

He wiped his mouth, “Well, as we know, I already thought the baby was a girl to begin with – I still think at least one of them is a girl. And if I know anything, it’s that I have a lot of sisters, so I’m thinking we’re gonna have two girls.”

Sarah nodded, “Okay okay, well we have one name-” She grabbed her phone to open her notes to type in names. “Finley Grace is a guarantee. But we don’t have another girl named lined up. Any suggestions?”

Jake taped his chin, “Hmmm, what was your memaw’s name?” “Mary Jane.” “Our girl would get teased relentlessly for that,” he chuckled a little while sipping his coffee.

He snapped his fingers, “Oh! What flower grew right outside her back door?” “There was a rose bush right under the living room window,” Sarah answered, bringing a bite up to her mouth before stopping and making eye contact with Jake. “Rosemary,” they said at the same time.

“Okay, do we want to do Rosemary Jane or another middle name?” Sarah asked as she took the bite off her fork. “I picked Finley’s middle name. This one is on you.” She groaned, “You know I can’t think of na- Wait, I got one.”

Jake looked at her, waiting for the name, “Well, you gonna tell me or do I have to guess?” She smiled, sipping her drink again. “Rosemary Jade.”

He tilted his head, “Why ‘Jade’?” Sarah smiled again, looking directly into Jake’s green eyes, “I just like the name.”

They finished breakfast and drove to the doctor’s office.

****

As he drove, Jake held Sarah’s hand.

“What if we have two boys?” He asked when they came to a stop at a red light. “We’ve only got Finnegan Michael.” She nodded, “I’ve got one.” “Lay it on me.” “Waylen Harper.”

Jake arched a brow, “Like Waylon Jennings, the singer?” “Yeah but spelled differently. ‘E-N’ instead of ‘O-N’. And Harper is after my grandpa on my mom’s side.” Jake smiled at her and kissed her knuckles, “I love it.”

****

Sarah laid back on the exam table, making a small noise of discomfort before lifting her shirt up.

Dr. Mallard rolled over, gel and ultrasound machine in hand. “We ready to find out the gender of these babies?” Both Sarah and Jake nodded as he grabbed Sarah’s hand.

“Are there any bets, I mean, hopes for a particular outcome?” Dr. Mallard asked as she spread the gel around. Jake chuckled, the squad definitely had bet money on it and he was sure the families had talked about it.

“Well, my co-workers actually do have bets with each other. But the thing is, only like two of our friends know we’re having twins. So their bets are kinda in vain, but I find it very amusing.” Sarah just shook her head, laughing at her fiancé.

She looked at Dr. Mallard, “We aren’t hoping for anything other than healthy babies.” She glanced at Jake, who was eyeing the monitor very closely. “Well, he’s really set on at least one of them being a girl.” “I’m telling you, Sugar, Seresin boys are the minority in the family. It’s bound to happen.”

Dr. Mallard arched a brow, chuckling amusedly at Jake before going back to check over the twins.

“He’s the only boy out of his siblings and if you look in his family tree the amount of girls is crazy,” Sarah explained as her eyes also scanned over the monitor. “Well, let’s find out shall we?”

Dr. Mallard found baby A and pointed, “Looks like baby A is a girl! Dad, you were right.” Jake smirked, giving Sarah a ‘told you so’ look. She just stuck her tongue out and turned back to her doctor, “What about baby B?” Dr. Mallard took a quick picture of baby A before moving around a little and finding baby B.

“Baby B is a boy! Congratulations Mom and Dad, you’re having one of each!” Dr. Mallard took another photo. “I’ll get these printed for you.” She handed Sarah a paper towel before exiting the room.

The midwife smiled at the two as she helped Jake get Sarah upright, “So, do you guys have names picked out?” The couple nodded, “We do.” “Finley for our girl,” Sarah said, stretching her back out a little bit. “And Finnegan for our boy,” Jake finished, applying a gentle pressure to Sarah’s back and massaging a little. “Those are adorable. Congratulations, you two. The doc should be back in just a moment with those photos.”

Once they got the sonograms, they headed out to get a late lunch.

****

Sitting in the booth seat of dinner, Sarah and Jake talked about party ideas.

They had already picked a date and set up the event. It was going to be on the 25th and at their place.

“Okay, so, do we want to go shopping tomorrow? You know for decorations and stuff?” Jake asked, tossing a fry in his mouth. Sarah nodded, “Yeah, we won’t really have time next week with the softball games and whatnot. So, let’s go over ideas tonight and then go shopping tomorrow.” Jake nodded, “Sounds good.”

They ate in silence for a bit before Jake watched Sarah’s eyes widen and a grin grow on her face.

He sat up straight and leaned away from the table, “I don’t know how to feel about that look. That’s your idea face and I never know what to expect with that.” She rolled her eyes, “Do you want to hear it or not?” He pretended to think about it, but he nodded, “Of course I do.”

“Let’s mess with Alyssa and Bradley a little bit.” Jake’s brows raised in amusement, “Oh I’m always down for messing with Bradshaw. Keep talking.” Sarah giggled and shook her head.

“We take them shopping with us tomorrow,” she began. Jake opened his mouth to interject, but Sarah held up a finger, “Hold on. Let me finish. We take them shopping, separately. I take Alyssa and you take Rooster. Lyss and I shop for blue, you and Brad shop for pink. That way, they each think they know the genders, but in reality they only know one. So, when the day comes, they’re still surprised along with everyone else.”

Jake’s eyes were wide but his face split into a devious smile, “I love it. How do you come up with these things?” Sarah shrugged, “I’m just that good.” She winked at him before sipping her drink.

He laughed, “Rooster is gonna be so smug, because he bet Maverick 100 bucks we were having a girl.” “It’s gonna be funny watching all of them realize they won’t be making any money.”

Jake just shook his head and laughed.

*******

The next day, Sarah and Jake took Bradley and Alyssa out to shop with them.

Sarah and Alyssa went to one store and Bradley and Jake went to another.

**** (sarah and alyssa)

“Okay, so, what all do we need to get?” Alyssa asked when they got to the store. Sarah pulled out her phone and waved it, “Got it all right here.”

They went in and grabbed a buggy. “They’ve got an entire aisle dedicated to baby parties,” Sarah said pointing in the direction of the aisle.

As they walked, Sarah turned to Alyssa, “Are Leia and Bradley doing a ‘daddy/daughter’ day?” Leia hadn’t come with them so she wasn’t sure if Leia had gone with Bradley and Jake.

“No, Brad and Jake went to do something today. I think he said something about wanting to look at boats? But Leia and Gunner are with Mav and Penny.” Sarah nodded, “Oh okay. Where did you tell Bradley we were going?” “Shopping, but I didn’t say what for.”

They got to the aisle and started grabbing decorations.

“Okay, we need pink and blue fairy lights, navy blue and dusty pink balloons, pink and blue cups, pink and blue straws. I think that’s it.” Alyssa nodded and they both grabbed a few of everything.

They looked at everything in the basket. “Is this enough?” Alyssa asked. “Yeah, it should be. Oh! I need tablecloths,” Sarah reached up and grabbed the off-white ones, dropping a few in the buggy. “Okay, I think we’re good in this aisle.”

Alyssa started to push the basket but stopped, “Wait how are you and Jake doing the big reveal?” Sarah tilted her head, “The fact we’re having twins or the gender of the twins?” “The gender.” “Oh, the smoke things.” Alyssa nodded, “Do they have them here?”

Sarah nodded and pointed right next to Alyssa, “They’re right there. Would you grab two?” “Yeah, sure. What color?” “Blue please.” Alyssa’s movements stopped, “Blue? You’re having- Oh my gosh! Bradley is gonna freak out when he finds out he lost.” “You can’t tell him yet. Jake doesn’t know.” Alyssa nodded, “My lips are sealed.”

“Okay, now we need to get some flowers for the center pieces, and cups and plates.”

**** (jake and bradley)

“So what did you tell Alyssa we were doing?” Jake asked Bradley as they pulled into the parking lot. Bradley undid his seat belt, “I told her we were looking at boats.”

They got out of Jake’s truck, “Boats?” “Yeah, Mav got his boating license and you have one too, so it wasn’t too hard for her to believe.” Jake shook his head and laughed.

“Okay do you know what we need to get?” Rooster asked as Jake grabbed a buggy. “Yes, Sarah sent me the list.

They went to the aisle.

“What do we need?” Bradley asked, looking up at the shelves. Jake checked his list, “Okay, she wants two packs of navy blue balloons, two packs of dusty pink balloons, three packs of white balloons, and three packs of gold balloons.”

Jake grabbed the pink and blue balloons and Rooster grabbed the white and gold balloons.

He checked his list again and the text Sarah had sent him to update the list. “Okay, three white tablecloths.” He grabbed them. “Next is…” Jake clicked his tongue as he read along in his head.

“Okay, Bradshaw, will you get five packs of those plastic champagne glasses that are on the next aisle?” Rooster nodded and jogged around the corner.

He came back and put them in the basket. “What now?” “Do you see the colored smoke thingies?” Jake asked, looking around. Bradley pointed, “Down there by your feet.”

Jake squatted down and looked at all of them. He picked one up, “Am I stupid or is the color not on here?” The color was staring him right in the face, and he knew that.

“Well-” “Actually don’t answer that,” Jake backtracked, turning the tube again. Bradley sighed and held his hand out, “Let me look.” Jake handed it to him.

Rooster turned it over, finding it immediately, “This one's pink. Says it right under the brand name.” He held the item back out to Jake. “Okay, sweet, just put it in the basket.” Bradley did and Jake held another one up, “This too.”

Checking the second, Bradley noticed that it was also pink and just dropped it in the basket without a further thought.

Jake stood and checked his phone, “Now we need-” His sentence was cut short by Bradley’s hand reaching for the smoke bombs, “Bradshaw what-” “TWO PINK ONES!”

Jake’s eyes widened in amusement and he laughed as he hushed Bradley, “Yes, two pinks one, you oaf. Now shut the hell up.” “You and Sarah are- Oh my gosh, Hangman you’re a fellow girl dad!! Holy shit!” Bradley clapped him on the shoulder. “Congrats man.” “Thanks Rooster.”

“Okay, we need to get a picture frame and two or three lengths of yard lights, and the good kind, not the shit kind. I also needed to get a cupcake tower and then Sarah wanted me to get something to wear. So we better get started.”

They started towards the picture frames, “Oh hey, don’t say anything about the gender. Sarah wants to be surprised.” “My beak is sealed.” “Did you really just call your mouth a beak?”

**** (sarah and alyssa)

“Hey, do you have an outfit yet?” Alyssa asked as Sarah looked at burlap flags and iron on letters. Sarah nodded, “Yeah, I ordered it about two weeks ago and it came in Wednesday.”

Sarah sat both the flags and the letters in the basket, “What about you?” Alyssa shook her head, “Not yet no. And now that I know the gender, it feels like I’m rigging the bets.” Both laughed.

“No one has to know that you know. It’ll be our little secret. Just try not to look too smug about it around your husband, okay?” Alyssa laughed, “No promises.”

They finished up at Hobby Lobby and then went to the mall.

When they got to the desired store, it didn’t take long for them to find the dresses.

“Oh my goodness, Lyss!” Sarah called from a rack of clearance items. “This dress is so cute!” Alyssa went over and looked at the dress.

She fanned out the skirt, “Oh no..” “‘Oh no’?” “I love it.” “Then why did you say ‘oh no’?” “Because I love it. Bradley’s fashion sense is rubbing off on me.” Sarah rolled her eyes and swatted Alyssa’s shoulder, “Oh hush. Go try it on!”

They went to the dressing room and Alyssa tried it on.

“Oh girl, we are about to be the cutest mama’s in the world at this party,” Sarah said when Alyssa stepped out. “Damn right,” Alyssa chuckled, smoothing the dress out. “I can’t believe I’m about to add more Hawaiian print to our closet.”

**** (jake and bradley)

“Shit, I still need an outfit,” Bradley realized as he and Jake looked for something for Jake to wear. Jake looked over and a bright ass Hawaiian print shirt caught his eye.

Jake went over and found it in Bradley’s size. “Here, wear this,” he held out the shirt. Bradley looked up from the shirt rack he was looking at and his eyes widened. “Wow, that is loud.” “Yes it is. Which is why you need it.”

Rooster rolled his eyes and flipped Jake off as the latter laughed. “Fuck off, Hangman,” he snatched the shirt.

He looked it over, genuinely beginning to consider it.

Jake’s jaw dropped, “You’re not serious.”

Bradley tapped his chin and then crossed his one arm over his chest. “I don’t have this color and it goes great with my skin tone.” “I was kidding!” Bradley grinned, “I’m gonna wear it.” Jake ran a hand down his face, “Oh my- I can’t with you.”

Jake turned his attention back to the rack he was previously at.

“Oh, this isn’t bad,” he pulled the shirt up to look at it. Bradley looked up at it, “There’s not pink OR blue in that.”

Rooster glanced around and found the shorts section, immediately spotting a pink pair.

He jogged over and grabbed them before going back over to Jake. “These are perfect.”

Bradley was grinning, hoping to see an embarrassed blush spread across Jake’s face. But there wasn’t one. “You think I’m scared to wear pink, Bradshaw?” Jake snatched the shorts, “You got the wrong size, ass.”

Rooster threw his arms up, “How was I supposed to know?”

******

The day was finally here.

The party was scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and the big reveal would be at 6:30.

Currently it was 1:30 and both the Seresins and the Grants were in the kitchen and all of the kids were in the backyard with the men. And since they wanted to keep their outfits clean, no one was dressed for the party yet.

Sarah walked into her kitchen, seeing Tilly mixing icing with food dye. “Hey, do you need any help?” The youngest Seresin shook her head, “Not at the moment but thank you.” Sarah nodded and put a hand on her belly., “Okay, well just let me know if you need any help. Jake and I really appreciate you making these cupcakes, Til.” Tilly just smiled and continued to mix the coloring in.

Sarah stepped out into the backyard.

Jake noticed her first, like always, “Hiya Sugar! Everything okay inside?” She nodded, “Oh yeah, everything’s great. Just needed some fresh air.”

Carter looked up from the table he was wiping down, “I thought Selena and them were gonna be here?” “Oh, Selena had surgery and she hasn’t been cleared for travel yet, but Lizzie is gonna FaceTime them when we get to the reveal.” Carter nodded and went back to wiping tables.

“Yeah, Addison and them won’t be here either. Wesley got sick and then Blakely started to show symptoms so they stayed home. KJ is gonna FaceTime them,” Jake said as he and Shawn strung up lights.

Sarah nodded and walked up to her fiancé, placing a palm on his hip to get him to come down from his ladder. He stepped down, “Yeah, Honey?” “Did you get ice?” He shook his head, “Not yet no. Dad and I were gonna go get it after we got the backyard set up.” She patted his hip, “Paisley and I can go get it. We need to go get the food and the candy. Why waste the gas?”

She got on her toes to whisper in his ear, “I need to get out of the house. I need to do something.” Jake pulled his head back and nodded, “Okay, if you’re sure.” “I’m very sure.” He kissed her forehead, “Alright, my wallet is on the hutch. And I’ll leave you the backdrop. We can do that together.” She kissed him, “Thank you, Baby.” “Of course, Sweets.”

Sarah grabbed Paisley and her nieces Reagan and Maisey and then went to the grocery store.

****

It was 5:30 and everyone had gotten dressed.

Sarah wore a blue floral dress with dusty pink vans, and she had a cardigan for if it got chilly. Jake wore a white patterned button down and pink shorts with navy blue vans.

Everyone else was wearing a color that corresponded with their guess.

They were currently getting the tables decorated with mason jar centerpieces, some blue with pink carnations and white baby’s breath, others clear with white, pink, and blue baby's breath. The guest tables had a strip of blue lights and pink light going down the middle. Balloons were strategically placed by Sarah’s sisters all over the backyard and the deck.

Jake and Shawn had strung up the lights across the yard and they looked gorgeous.

The food tables were getting filled. Sarah and Jake decided on finger foods to avoid the stress of cooking.

The dessert table was also in the process of filling up. They chose to have gummy sharks, gummy mermaid tails, mermaid tail suckers, rock candy, iced popcorn, and cupcakes (of course).

For drinks they had pink and blue punch for the kids, Sprite, a variety of other sodas in the coolers, and water. They also decided to not serve alcohol at the shower, but if someone wanted to bring their own they could.

The Sprite was for the champagne glasses, so if guests wanted to take a rock candy stick and put it in the drink they could.

****

At around 5:40, Sarah and Jake were setting up the backdrop when they heard a car pull in.

“I believe that’s Rooster,” Jake said, looking at his phone. “Yup, Rooster. Do you want them to come through the house or?” Sarah shook her head, “Just tell them to come around back and use the gate.”

Jake quickly sent the text and not 30 seconds later the Bradshaws walked through the gate.

“Uncle Jake!” Leia called and ran towards Jake, hugging him when he got off the step ladder.

He picked her up, “Hey Vapor girl!” He looked at her outfit. “Pink huh? You think baby Seresin’s gonna be a girl?” “Well, Daddy’s wearing pink and I wanted to match him.” Sarah came over and placed a hand on her hip, “Is that so?” Leia nodded and pointed toward Rooster, “See.”

Sarah followed the girl’s finger and spotted Bradley in his Hawaiian shirt.

She covered her mouth to hide the laugh, “Oh my that is bright.” “I know, I picked it,” Jake said with a smug grin. He set Leia down and all three walked over to Alyssa and Bradley.

“Hey guys,” they all shared hugs.

Daniel walked by, “I knew I should have worn my Hawaiian shirt.” Sarah shook her head, “Dad, no, just- no.” “Oh come on!” She shook her head again and laughed. “Bradley, Alyssa, this is my dad, Daniel. Dad, this is Jake’s wingman, Bradley and his wife Alyssa.” They shook hands, “It’s nice to meet you.”

Daniel walked off at the call of his name and the group went back to talking.

“So, Lyss, I see you chose blue,” Jake said as he looked at her dress. “I did.” “Seems Leia betrayed you for Bradley,” Jake chuckled. “Nah, she’s just a daddy’s girl. Who could blame her? But Gunner chose blue, so I take pride in that fact.”

Sarah tilted her head, “How did Gunner choose?” Leia spoke up, “I asked him ‘pink or blue’ and he barked when I said blue. Little traitor.” The group laughed and then Sarah and Jake introduced them to both families as they waited on everyone else.

****

When the squad showed up, it was nearly all at once.

Bob, Coyote, Halo, Fritz, Cyclone, Maverick, Penny, and Warlock, were all wearing some shade of blue.

Fanboy, Phoenix, Payback, Yale, Harvard, Omaha, Amelia, and Hondo, were all wearing a shade of pink.

Sarah and Jake introduced everyone shortly before beginning the party.

“Okay, before we start, Sarah and I just want to thank you all for coming out tonight. It means a lot to us,” Jake started. “It really does. And we’ve got yard games and other things like that. We’ve got food and drinks, plenty of deserts. So just have fun and in about 30 minutes we’ll have the big reveal, so if you’ve placed bets get your wallets ready,” Sarah said, making everyone chuckle at the end.

She noticed both Alyssa and Bradley’s knowing smirks and how Bradley looked at Mav and held out his hand. “Just pay up now, old man.” Mav scoffed, “Not a chance, Rooster.”

Sarah and Jake shared a look before shaking their heads and rolling their eyes.

****

About 30-35 minutes later, Addison and Selena were on FaceTime and Sarah and Jake were standing in front of the backdrop with two smoke bombs each.

“Okay, Paisley and Elizabeth are you recording?” Sarah asked, receiving a thumbs up from both. “Cool okay.”

Jake looked at a Coyote, “Machado, will you do the honor and light us up?” Javy got up quickly and caught the lighter tossed to him. He lit all four fuses before rushing back to his seat as Sarah and Jake held them above their heads.

It took a second, but soon the pink and blue smoke poured out of the tubes.

And everyone cheered, before becoming extremely confused.

Jake and Sarah laughed, kissing as they dropped their arms, the remaining smoke creating a curtain.

Bradley and Alyssa shared a look of silent realization, smacking each other on the arms. Holy shit…” Was the only thing Bradley could say.

Cyclone caught on pretty quickly, “Twins? Seresin’s having twins.” Everyone gasped shortly looking back at the couple that was embracing.

The couple felt everyone’s eyes and turned to them. “We’re having a boy and a girl!”

Everyone was quick to cheer once more, louder than the last time.

****

The rest of the night was filled with fun.

Jake and Sarah decided to go ahead and announce the name of the twins.

“Okay we’ve gotten a lot of questions about names, so we just want to tell all of you now. Our baby girl’s name is Finley Grace. Finley was all Sarah’s idea. But Grace is for my memaw,” Jake explained.

Sarah nodded, “And it rolls off the tongue easily so when she’s causing trouble I won’t be stumbling over words to get her attention.” Everyone chuckled at that.

She rubbed her bump, “Our baby boy’s name is Finnegan Michael.” Jake chuckled and wiped his mouth, “If I wasn’t named ‘Jake’, I would have been named Finnegan – it’s my ma’s maiden name.” “And if I was a boy my name would have been Leon Michael. So Jake and I decided to combine our ‘almost’ names to make a name,” Sarah added.

“At least we don’t have to come up with a nickname for both of them,” Payback commented. “Yeah, they’ll be known as ‘The Finn Twins’ if we have to refer to both of them,” Alyssa said, sipping her drink.

Fanboy sat up, “Wait, is that why there were mermaid tails and gummy sharks?”

Jake and Sarah shared a look, “Uh, yeah, sure.” “Uh-huh, yup, we definitely planned that.”

After more rounds of horseshoes and cornhole, people started to leave. It was around 8:30.

“Oh hey, before we start heading out, the mom and dad would like for you to sign around the sonograms of the Finn Twins. Pick blue or pink, it doesn’t matter. But this is essentially the guest book,” Phoenix announced to everyone at the request of Sarah.

****

By 10:30 everything was cleaned and people had left.

Sarah and Jake flopped on the bed after getting comfortable in pajamas.

“What a day,” Jake sighed, his eyelids getting heavier by the second. “You’re tellin’ me. I’m worn out,” Sarah said, yawning at the end.

Jake kissed her head, “You had a good time though, right?” She nodded, burying her face into his chest, “I did.”

It was silent and Jake began to wonder if Sarah had fallen asleep.

But she pressed a kiss to his jaw before speaking softly, “I can’t wait to raise these babies with you Jake.” Jake was too tired to hide the emotion that burned his throat and brought tears to his eyes.

He turned to face her, bringing a hand up to cup her face, “I can’t wait to build this family with you Sarah. I love you, so so much.” Sarah kissed his palm, “I love you, forever and ever.”

Jake smiled and kissed her, mumbling against her lips, “Amen.”

*******

The next week went by in a blur.

But it all stopped as Sarah and Jake stood at the docks.

He held her face, rubbing soothing circles over her blotchy cheeks and wishing he could wipe the dark purple bags from under her eyes.

“I’ll be back before you know it, okay?” She nodded, sniffling, but she didn’t trust her voice. “If the time comes, don’t try and wait. If they’re ready to come out, they’re ready to come out. I’ll get word on the ship.” She nodded again.

Jake wrapped her in a hug, feeling her try to stay calm. He rubbed her back and held the back of her head. “You’re gonna be okay. You’re gonna be okay.”

“I’m gonna miss you,” she finally sobbed into his neck. His arms wrapped around her tighter, “I’m gonna miss you too, Sweetheart.”

The ship’s horn sounded and they reluctantly pulled away.

They pulled each other into a searing goodbye kiss, “Give ‘em hell, Cowboy.” Jake pulled Sarah in again before finally stepping away, “I love you, Sarah.” “I love you too Jake.”

Jake finally turned away and walked toward the ramp. But he dropped his bags and sprinted towards Sarah.

He enveloped her in another hug and kissed her passionately again before lowering to a knee. “Daddy loves you both. He needs you both to know that. Be good for your mom, she’s very important to me.” He pressed two kisses to her stomach before standing.

Sarah smiled and held his face to press kisses all over it. “See you when you get home, my love.” “See you when I get home, Darlin’.”

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

thank you for being here! i hope this was enjoyable! and i also hope that you guys are excited for the next parts!

will jake miss the twins birth? will he miss their entire life? what do you think?

I do have a pinterest board set up for this, just to help me get into the vibe (one is to help with future parts, one is only for the current parts)

if you want to check it out and get more of a feel for the dynamic going on---- you can click right ---> here

like mentioned in the last one, feedback is greatly appreciated!

and my asks are open, feel free to request what you would like to see next while i’m working on the next part!

tags <3: @milesdickpic @luckyladycreator2 @hotch-meeeeeuppppp

thank you my lovelies <33

58 notes · View notes

naffeclipse · 4 months ago

Text

Charm Brought It Back Pt. 2

Reader x Witches!Sun, Moon, & Eclipse

Commission Info

Whoo! The darling @jackofallrabbits has all my thanks for the continuation of the DCA Hocus Pocus AU! The boys want every piece of the historian reader, and they have no time to lose! The sun is rising, and they must prepare the ceremony, and you realize that your dear friend Michael has arrived at the witches' home. Very poor timing, on his part. Enjoy the flirts and curses!

Content Warning: Suggestive themes, heavy kissing, heavy touching, injury, disturbing imagery, and fear.

———

The witch carries you across the room, clasping you tightly within a cage of his claws. You’re frozen in his embrace. His towering height and lithe, long limbs make you feel incredibly small, like a mouse before a hungry cat. His extra set of arms disappears into the shadow of his dark cape. How did he summon them so effortlessly? You tilt your head back to gaze up at Eclipse’s face, the eldest brother of the hanged brothers. They should still be dead—they were for almost four hundred years.

His face is inhuman. The markings and color stain his visage in a midnight-red crescent, and a blackened shadow swallows it. His eyes, bright yellow and predatory, glance down at you. A grin splits his lower face with wicked teeth. He runs his tongue over his bone-white fangs.

Your stomach flip-flips within you.

Candlelight flickers ominous over the colonial home as the cauldron continues to bubble in the fireplace. The other two, Sun and Moon, watch you. Their wide eyes gleam in the firelight: one of pale pools of feverish desire and the other glint in scarlet, roiling with appetite.

You cling tighter to Eclipse’s shoulder. A childish desire to bury your face in the crook of his shoulder almost takes hold of you.

“Where are you taking me?” you whisper into Eclipse’s cape.

“To the parlor,” his voice is soft as dusk, and the vibrations through his chest sink into you with a gentle rumble. “The main hall is hardly a place to hold a ceremony.”

Your eyes widen. He strides past the tables with the many candles aflame in a thick, waxy cluster. His claws flex against your shoulder and around your thigh.

“What ceremony?” your voice climbs into a squeaky pitch.

A chuckle echoes behind Eclipse’s shoulder. You turn your head to catch Sun and Moon following behind, and the latter’s lips curl into a sinister smile as his shoulders shake with amusement—as if he finds you utterly adorable.

“Little mouse, there’s nothing to fear,” Moon soothes, almost in a sing-song voice.

“It will be wonderful,” Sun clasps his hands together. Eagerness streaks through his face like falling stars at sunrise. “You’ll see, sunshine.”

A thickness coats your throat. When Eclipse asked you to stay, did you agree to something far more sinister? Do they intend to use your soul or your life to grant them greater power or something else just as nefarious?

“Wait.” You tremble. “Wait.”

“Little comet, we still need you,” Eclipse says firmly but gently. His yellow eyes narrow in the slightest, glancing at the black ribbons on his wrists. “The bells will ring for us at dawn unless we perform the ceremony. You must be part of it. You must speak the vows.”

Your heart scampers within your rib cage.

“Wait,” you say again, panic slithering up your spine. He continues onward.

Eclipse easily unlatches an almost hidden door in the back of the main hall while balancing you in his arms. Cobwebs tear apart as it swings open and he enters a smaller but no less intricate room. A window overlooks part of the road cutting through the thick forest. A few shelves are covered in dusty bottles of glass and woven baskets. Ancient and dried fronds, stems, thorns, and petals are stored on wooden tables.

In the corner of your vision, the white rabbit darts inside the room. The one that spoke with a woman’s voice. She bounds across the space, knocking into a small stand that topples over a jar of powder. Sun curses, his voice growling demonically. The claws holding you tense as Eclipse glowers. You shiver under sharp talons pricking into your sweater.

Moon leaps forward and cuts the rabbit off in her destructive path. His eyes, glinting with bloodlust, follow her like a hound eager to tear apart a fox. He steps across the room, into her path, and forces her to correct her race. Her hind legs kick out. Her fluffy body arches smoothly through the air but she lands too close to the door and clips her front foreleg. She topples over, sliding across the hard floor and back into the main room.

With a flick of his wrist and a dark murmur, Moon casts the door shut without laying a finger upon it. It slams close, rattling the walls and causing you to jump in Eclipse’s arms.

“It’s alright, little comet,” Eclipse purrs.

“We now have privacy,” Moon declares with a rasp. He eyes the door with a branding glare as if daring the rabbit to intervene again.

A faint scratching is heard at the bottom of the door. You clutch your hands into small balls of anxiety.

“I’ll rid us of the little beast after the ceremony,” Sun promises as he steps closer, laying a hand upon your arm. “As for you, my little ray of sunshine, we must get you ready.”

“With haste,” Eclipse speaks, and his brothers listen. You snap your head from one witch to the other. Gently, Eclipse sets you back on your feet. You sway, clutching your chest and twisting your fingers into the knitwork of your sweater.

“This is all happening fast,” you say, breathless. The room spins slightly in your exhilarated state. You start to inch away, back to the door with the soft sound of claws gouging into it.

“We apologize, mouse,” Moon whispers as he steps to a black wood cabinet and pries open one low door. “But necessity calls for it.”

“When we have the luxury of time,” Eclipse speaks while approaching a small table where a stack of books resides. His black claws draw slowly down the spines, “We will have a proper ceremony, with all the decorations you desire and a feast that could gorge a village.”

A shudder falls down your back. The chill sinking into your bones is numbing, and fear creeps deeper into your mind, plucking at every wild and frantic thought. Are they going to cook you up and eat you? Are they going to cast a spell to turn you into a toad? This wasn’t part of the fabled story of their return, was it?

You’re not certain you want to find out any more. Are your questions worth your life? They’re being so cryptid, so rushed.

You shuffle further back, away from the focused witches and their enchantments. What are they capable of? If only you could make them stop for a moment and answer you.

“Sunshine, darling, where are you going?” Hands slip down your arms and over your wrists.

A gasp falls from your mouth, quiet and quick. The hands, pale and yellow, with scarlet ribbons tying golden bells to his wrists, lift your hands into the air. You’re not so different from a little ballerina figurine being posed, forced to dance endlessly in a music box.

“I’m not sure I want to stay,” you breathe, frightened. The rate of your heart picks up in tempo, banging like a drum against your sternum.

He leans over your shoulder. His wicked smile fills the corner of your vision. Eyes, pale and gray like mist, hold you captive.

“There’s so much we can show you,” he says. He trails the tips of his claws down your sleeves, and the layer of separation causes your eyelids to flutter. “There’s so much we can do for you. What would you like, my poppet?”

You’re locked in his spell. Did he cast magic or is it simply his touch? Your arms stay in the air as his hands fall down your sides, rubbing slowly over your ribcage before settling on your waist.

“I want to know.” You stare ahead at Eclipse and Moon as they set a blackwood altar in the center of the room, before the window. “I want to know everything about you and your lives.”

Sun’s teeth graze the curve of your shoulder. His breath is warm against the side of your neck, and the air rattles out of your throat.

“You will have it all,” he answers, and whisks you off your feet in a spin. The room blurs before he stops you, hands holding your own as you’re locked in a dance with the witch. His cape shifts over his shoulder, revealing the deep opening of his flowy, white shirt. Your cheeks burn. Flustered, you jerk your head up, tearing your eyes away, and almost become ablaze as you find his cheeky smile.

“I do mean all,” he winks, coquettish and wicked.

You balk.

He takes your hand and presses it to his chest, right above where his heart would be. His skin is smooth and pale, split into two colors of yellow and off-white down the middle of his torso. You feel a strange hum instead. Not a beat, but a constant buzz of energy. Magic, perhaps.

His footwork guides you around the room in a sweeping circle. As he twirls you, one hand on your waist and the other holding your arm above your head, you catch a glimpse of old and age-stained pages fluttering open. Eclipse sets the book on the altar. He bows over it, his eyes roaming over the archaic writings.

Beside him, Moon holds a silvery veil in his arms. He murmurs something to his elder brother, who dips his head in agreement.

You almost stumble as another shock of fright seizes you.

“What is that?” you ask as Sun reclaims you, pulling you flush against his torso—your middle bubbles at the contact.

He simpers with a low hum.

His mouth opens but before he can speak, bright headlights cut into the room from the window. The diamond-patterned panes slice the room into shapes of light and shadow, and you inhale sharply.

A car. Who’s here? The owner of the property?

“What is that?” Moon hisses, his hood falling deeper over his face as he slinks into an alcove of shadows.

“It’s like the sun.” Eclipse lifts his arm to shield his eyes, peering around the blinding high beams.

“No.” Sun’s brow narrows. His arms lower around you, tightening around your waist until you gasp. “It’s unnatural.”

You peek over Sun’s shoulder, pushing up on your tiptoes to see a familiar build of the vehicle just behind the lights. Michael’s car.

What is he doing here? Did he suspect you would come here alone, against his advice?

What will the witches do when they realize your friend is here?

Your gut clenches. You have to warn him. He has to stay away before they try to throw him into their cauldron or turn him into a fox.

A shiver falls down your back and down to your toes. You turn your head to find Eclipse’s wide eyes cutting into you, and you freeze. He couldn’t know it’s your friend, could he?

“We have an unwelcome visitor,” Eclipse declares. The corners of his mouth tug downwards and he promptly slaps the book close with a heavy, dusty thud. “Brothers, what shall we do with him?”

“Let’s cast him into a carrot and feed him to the rabbit,” Moon suggests.

“No, no, I was of the mind that we could make a new rug out of his skin,” Sun muses, his fingers stroking the small of your back, much to your terror.

Michael’s voice rips through the house. Muffled by the door, his shouts turn quick, frantic. You clamp your mouth shut. A horror so cold slips into your veins, and you tremble. He can’t be here.

Eclipse lifts his hand, a hum filling his throat as he stares down the door. You cry out a soft, “Please, don’t!”

His wide yellow eyes turn back to you, surprised. The next moment, the jarring thud hits the wood of the door and cracks it by the wrought-iron handle. Splinters fly outwards.

Michael shouts your name, then commands, “Don’t make any vows!”

Your mind turns blank. What?

A snarl rips from Moon’s mouth. You flinch, the sound right at your shoulder as you realize the hooded brother has joined you and Sun. His clawed hand falls to your shoulder, talons almost digging into your collarbone.

“Who is that?” Moon’s scarlet eyes flash in demand. “How does he know?”

Another kick flies into the door. The entire house shudders as the wood buckles and a boot chops through it. Immediately, you watch a familiar hand snake its way inside and throw open the mangled frame of the door. In the threshold stands your friend.

“Michael!” You stare, stunned. “What are you doing here?”

His eyes widened upon the scene. His dark jacket catches splinters of wood and his unruly hair is extra ruffled from the effort of breaking the door down. Immediately, a white rabbit darts inside. Michael lands on the witches and their snarling, teeth-bared expressions before finding you. His fists clench at his sides.

“Get away!” He dips a hand into his jacket pocket and hurls a handful of small, dried lavender petals.

As if struck with a blade or bullet, the witches all recoil as the flowers rain down. Sun’s and Moon’s hands disappear from you. Backing away, Eclipse almost stumbles into the altar before he rights himself. A hiss, furious and demonic, roll off his tongue. You flinch. Lavender flowers litter the floor.

The white rabbit rushes for you, stopping only to stand on her hind legs and press a foot to your shin. Her green eyes shine with desperation. “Stop standing there and run!”

There’s no thought but of terror. You reach down and scoop up the rabbit just as Michael steps towards you. He grabs your arm and half dragging, half guiding you through the witch’s house, the three of you rush for the exit.

“Little comet!” Eclipse cries. His voice tugs on your heart, but you twist and refuse to be pulled back into his orbit.

A growl follows from Moon, and a mumbling of something wicked and furious slips from Sun’s mouth, but you can’t look back. Through the candlelit main room and out the door, Michael races. His grip almost crushes your elbow.

“I told you not to come here! I told you not to come here without me!” Michael boils. You shrink slightly as he reaches for the passenger side door, uncaring for the rabbit you clutch against your sweater.

“I didn’t—I didn’t know,” you say quietly, defenselessly.

The rest of your rebuttal doesn’t leave your mouth before a familiar and haunting voice shouts, amplified like a poltergeist screeching into your ear. Michael immediately forces you to duck, pushing your shoulder down until you’re crouched behind the car, him protecting you with his own body. Gravel shifts underneath your shoes.

Michael’s car begins to groan. You lift your head tentatively, then gape. The frame of the vehicle begins to twist and rust, curling at the edges and darkening with burnt-orange marks. You hear a strange, hissing sound, then realize the tire you’re hunched beside is leaking air. As the car withers, glass cracks then pops. You yelp under a shower of shards but Michael’s jacket shields you from the sharp edges. The rabbit in your arms struggles for a moment.

“We have to keep moving! Go to the cemetery,” she demands.

“Right,” Michael mutters. His eyes land on the rabbit you shield in your arms, and his expression only shifts in the slightest at the human voice emerging from the rabbit’s mouth.

Likewise, she stares back at Michael. You pet her fluffy white fur as your fingers tremble. Her hide is soft and her body is warm and comforting.

“You’re an Afton, aren’t you?” she says softly, almost as if she were seeing an old friend.

Your brow furrows. How could she possibly know his last name? Is she a witch too?

“I am.” Michael stares down at her, his grip shifting as he looks forlorn to his car and then back to the house. His mouth twists in a grimace. “I read about you in my ancestor’s journal. You’re Vanessa. I thought… I hoped it wasn’t true.”

“Vanessa?” you echo in your whiplash confusion.

The rabbit’s white ear flops back slightly before she presses a foot to your chest.

“We can’t linger.” Her green eyes flash to you, scathing as she remarks. “The witches want the virgin for their ceremony. We can’t let them complete it.”

Michael’s grip tightens upon you, and you make a sound of discomfort. His nostrils flare, his breath running harsh and heated. You’ve never seen Michael so upset, so close to violence.

“What is going on?” you gasp, clutching Vanessa tighter to your pounding heart.

“I’ll explain later.” Michael moves away, shaking glass from his jacket and jumping to his feet. He surveys the house. You can hear footsteps, curses, and something sweeping the floor. “Follow me. Run as fast as you can.”

“Michael—” you start but he’s already pulling you back to your feet. Vanessa leaps from your arms. She bounds across the road and into the tree line. Michael follows the white rabbit, and you try to catch your breath as the darkness becomes absolute as you try to keep pace.

You have to trust him. He and the talking rabbit. You follow, your feet pounding over pavement and then dirt and leaves. Branches scratch at your sleeves; you’ve long forsaken your poor sweater to being snagged and ruined.

Laughter cracks overhead like black lightning. The echo isn’t too far away, and you shudder at the thought of what spells will allow them to catch you. Witchy howls of both amusement and anger snake through the half-dead canopy of trees. The midnight air hangs heavy. Michael bursts through the treeline to an open field of dead grass with you hot on his heels before you spy what he’s running you toward.

An old wrought fence spans the length of a reclusive cemetery. It’s ancient, by the shape and crumbling aspect of a few of the headstones you spy on within the space. Your mind races to date the burial ground but Michael urges you forward just as a breeze cuts overhead.

You turn your eyes skywards just as Michael finds the corner of the overgrown and neglected corner of the graveyard property. A streak of movement interrupts the constellations of the night sky, and you almost stumble in dawning horror.

Flying just above the near leafless and dark trees are the witches. Brooms, elegantly carved and sleek, carry them effortlessly in the air. Their capes and cloaks billow like black manes to dark beasts behind them, and claws clutch tightly at their flying vessels. Teeth sharp, eyes glinting, their gazes meet yours. Eclipse. Sun. Moon.

Under their harrowing eyes, you feel no more than a mouse running from a cat’s pounce.

“Keep going,” Vanessa urges. Her white form dashes onwards, but she comes to a sharp halt and turns back, ears pricked.

Two stone pillars, cracked and faded from years of standing as sentinels mark the entrance to the burial ground. Michael ushers you into the cemetery. For one desperate moment, you wish you could study the history of this place, find out its name, who lies here, but you are torn from your brief musings.

“I know you.” Eclipse’s voice carries over the field. His black cap settles onto his shoulders as he sinks in the air to hover just above the threshold of the graveyard. “Your kind are all the same, witch hunter.”

Michael stands between you and the witch. His gaze is hard, unyielding. You clutch at his jacket, fearing the lack of barriers.

“What did he call you?” you breathe out. “Michael.”

He huffs at Eclipse as Sun and Moon settle on his flanks. Moon turns his hungry eyes upon you, glinting like blood. Sun strums the staff of his broom. His claws catch on starlight.

Eclipse tilts his head and bares his fangs in a taunting smile. “Do you really think you can keep our lovely little virgin from us?”

You shiver violently. What do they want?

“I’ll watch all three of you return to dust and ashes,” he promises. Vanessa slips against your ankle, pressing close as if she were a guard dog instead of a rabbit.

All three of the witches burst into laughter, wicked and harsh before they rise and fly over the gate, deeper into the cemetery.

Michael pushes you further down an unmarked and overgrown path. “It’s alright. They can’t set foot here. I’ll take care of them.”

“Wait,” you gasp. You stumble as Michael urges you onward. “Wait, don’t hurt them!”

“They’re witches,” he snarls so viciously, it makes you jump. He stops, finding a row of headstones with tall and web-cracked faces. “You have no idea how dangerous they truly are. I will explain everything once they’re gone. Stay here. Vanessa?”

The rabbit hops up beside you. Michael again pushes you down by the shoulders until you curl up in the shadow of a colonial headstone. He stands over you, glancing this way and that to the sky. A few large and overgrown trees cut into the skyline through the burial grounds.

Vanessa noses her way onto your lap. You open your arms and she hops on, her small feet pressing on your jeans.

“Listen to him,” she speaks sternly. “He knows what he’s doing.”

“But—how? Michael? Where are you going?” you call, your voice cracking, but he’s already rushing away from the grave you’re hunkered near. He rushes into a flat, open plot of land filled with weeds and dead grass. Michael looks to the midnight sky.

You peer over the headstone. Vanessa hits your shoulder until you slink back down, but you catch a glimpse of Eclipse emerging from behind a black, dead tree and sailing through the air. He bows low upon his broom, eagerly stalking Michael. Your friend withdraws a cylinder from his jacket pocket. Popping it open, Michael quickly sprinkles something white around him—salt.

Your heart climbs into your throat. You long to call out, to beg Eclipse to spare him, but Michael whips out what appears to be an old charm made of leather. Upon it are scratched archaic symbols you have never once glimpsed before in your historical studies. A few small bones dangle from where the leather is tied with cord.

Your eyes widen as Michael holds it high. Eclipse stops, leaning back and tilting the broom away until he comes to hover. Then, he laughs. Michael remains unmoved, though his brow furrows in the slightest.

A disgusted sound leaves Vanessa’s voice.

With a point of Eclipse’s finger, the charm ignites into flames. Michael yelps, dropping it to the ground and clutching at his hand, no doubt burned by the spontaneous combustion.

“Little mouse, where are you hiding?” A low voice calls, rasping out like a lover searching through the dark. Moon.

You stiffen. Vanessa’s ears pin flat against her skull. You press your back against the headstone, hiding yourself in its shadow. A soft breeze touches your hair, tugging strands across your face.

“We can play so many games when it’s only us.” Moon’s broom appears just a row down, scanning the fallen leaves and grave markers. He perches low, his shoulders shifting under his cloak like a tiger ready to leap upon prey. “Come on out. Let me take you home.”

Your blood runs cold. The ghost of his hands is still upon you, and you wonder if it would be so terrible to return with them. They would leave Michael and Vanessa alone, wouldn’t they?

Moon slips slowly through the air, his broom black as night and silent, and his head lifts. He inhales deeply. Under the brim of his hood, his eyelids flutter.

Then his entire head snaps to where you hide. You squeak in fright.

“There you are.” His jaws split into a ravenous grin as he reaches out a hand, flying over a gravestone just to where you kneel on the ground.

“No!” Michael shouts. “Get back!”

You jerk your head to him and watch as he steps away from the salt he just spilled.

“Michael, don’t!” Vanessa warns a moment too late.

Eclipse sneers. Extending his hand, he speaks. His voice becomes of tongues, lapping and overtaking, but mostly devilish. The air turns sharp and tangy, and the wind picks up, twisting leaves around Michael’s feet. His eyes widened at his mistake.

A flash of horror cuts through you just as Eclipse hurls out a curse.

Michael drops to the ground and begins writhing. You can only catch glimpses of him between rocky headstones, his body twisting and his flesh turning dark and rancid. His body convulses.

A scream tears out of your lungs. You jump to your feet, clutching a hand over your mouth as you witness Michael suffer. Eclipse’s eyes immediately snap at you. Close beside you, a hand brushes your sleeve, cool and blue. Moon. You can’t move.

“Oh, how I’ve yearned to curse your ancestor.” Eclipse leans low, lording over Michael’s writhing form with little more than a delighted glint in his gaze. “He forced my brothers and I upon the gallows. He let us hang slowly. We convulsed and gagged for air, and then we died.”

Eclipse leans closer, hanging over Michael in a taunt. “This is the least I can bestow upon you. Never fear, there is far more punishment to be delivered.”

You’re rooted to the spot. Ice water flows in your veins.

“Come here,” Moon murmurs close beside you. His hand begins to circle your wrist.

“Don’t let him take you!” Vanessa’s voice cuts through the hazy terror fogging your mind, and you jerk back to alertness. You shake off Moon’s hand. His sharp breath of frustration follows as you take off over the graveyard towards Michael.

“Stop it! Whatever you’re doing to him, stop!” you cry out, reaching one hand out. You’re not sure who—Eclipse or Michael.

Eclipse straightens upon his broom. His expression brightens into a pleased, unholy smile.

“Little comet,” he purrs, opening his arms.

“Eclipse, please—gah!” Arms grab you from behind. You hear Vanessa’s voice calling out, furious and demanding, but your feet leave the ground and in a heartbeat, you’re airborne.

“Sunshine, there you are!” The cheerful voice falls over you. Sun continues, “The wretched rabbit is getting her fur all over you! I never did like her, not even as a vermin.”

Large hands maneuver over you, pulling you onto his lap and balancing you in his hold while the broom rides faster, racing over the cemetery and away from everyone else. You gasp. You immediately twist and cling tightly to his shoulders. His hands surround you. His palms rub slowly along your back.

“I’ve got you now,” he declares. His breath, warm and misty, tickles your cheek. “One would think a person would be lonely and bored watching our home for all of these years, but that was what she did when she was mortal at her master’s request. So really, isn’t our curse just a lovely gift for her?”

“Sun!” You tremble. The wind tears at your clothes. You watch the ground become a blur underneath you, and a sickness stirs. “Please, set me down.”

“Not yet, sunshine.” The air changes, and the broom gains speed, pressing you deeper against his chest. “I want you for only a moment. You can say ‘I do’ can’t you? I’ll do the rest.”

“What—wait, wait,” your fingernails dig into the fabric of his cape hanging over his shoulders. The flight is far too fast and you feel far too vulnerable, seated upon his legs as your only insurance you won’t fall to your death.

“Although,” Sun’s fingertips slip under your chin and tilt your face up, “it’s not fair that Eclipse kissed you and I haven’t. We can steal one before the ceremony, can’t we?”

Your tongue becomes heavy in your mouth. You can say little, caught in the torrent of the breakneck speed of the broom as well as the Sun’s sultry eyes devouring you whole. He lowers his mouth to your neck. His other hand caresses your thigh, fingertips touching your flesh with reverent want. Heat waterfalls into your middle. He lowers himself to your shoulder and grazes his teeth against your neck.

You inhale, your breath rattling at the touch of a warm and wet tongue dragging over the tips of your collarbones in the hollow of your throat.

“One kiss,” he half pleads, half demands. His lips brush your jawline in their climb upwards.

“Too fast,” you utter. The world spins and blackness swoops in on your vision.

“I can go slow,” he assures, but when he lifts his head, his smile drops from his lips. “Sunshine!”

The world tilts, and you think of very little as hands grasp at you, but the broom rocks and you slide out of Sun’s hold as a curse rips from his throat. A wretched call rattles your darkening visible, and then, you’re falling.

Your eyelids flutter, and you hardly have a second to scream before a second pair of arms catch you and pull you against a cool chest.

“You buffoon!” Moon snarls right beside your ear. “You dropped our virgin!”

A numbness clings to your limbs. You’re still reeling, slumped in his lap as he rides on his broom at a much safer speed.

“I would not have let death take away our chance at happiness and life and love,” Sun shoots back, not unlike a sibling retort in an argument.

“Go help Eclipse deal with the vermin!” Moon demands in a low growl. Sun snarls something back, but his voice fades in the distance.

You feel the wind shift, slowing down until you’re left to hover in the air. Eyes closed against Moon’s chest, you breathe rapidly. Your shaking hands press tight to his white shirt.

“I will keep you safe,” he murmurs softly into your air. “Step here, little mouse. This mausoleum wasn’t blessed, and it lies outside of the cemetery's boundaries.”

“Okay,” you murmur listlessly. You lift your head, trying to stop the spinning from within. Your legs shake like a newborn fawn but you feel dead grass underneath your shoes as Moon holds you up on your feet. His broom lowers gently to the ground and falls still as if there were no magic to the black wood staff at all.

“Breathe.” He moves you slowly, carefully pressing your back to the solid brick of a small, gray mausoleum. “Apologies for my brother. He is eager to make you our bride.”

Perhaps it only houses a small family. What is their history? Your brain churns over senselessly while the oxygen returns to your head.

Did he say bride?

His hands find your shoulders and pin you in place. Chest heaving, you gaze up at the witch now hovering over you. There is no escape. You smell midnight and something herbal and sharp upon him.

“The vows,” he says. His eyes hold you captive. “You can say the vows to marry us.”

“Marry?” You’re breathless, but you ask all the same, “Why am I marrying you?”

“To have us,” he says, low and husky. He presses closer, caging you with his body and holding you hostage against the cool stones at your back. “You will know everything soon. There is so little time—the witch hunter and the rabbit are trying to spoil everything. Little mouse, look at me.”

You try to avert your gaze, turning your cheek, but his command causes you to buckle.

“I will begin the vows.” Moon presses in closely. His chest is flush with your own, and you fear he can sense the wild fluttering of your heartbeat. You are not cool and suave, and you are still falling, falling, falling.

“Will you take me to be your husband?”

“Moon,” you whisper. “I… I… I…”

His teeth flash. Then, he leans in, pressing close to your ear. A soft flick of his tongue against your cheek draws out a breath from you, just before he begins nibbling on the soft flesh of your earlobe. You gasp. Your hands find him, clinging tightly as flutters begin in your middle.

He releases your ear from his teeth but his mouth remains pressed close to the shell of it.

“Will you take me, so I will obey, serve, love, honor, and keep you in sickness and in health?”

Your knees sink deeper but he refuses to let you slip out of his grasp. His claw hooks the collar of your sweater and stretches it, exposing your shoulder to the starlight.

His mouth lowers there. The press of his lips is soft and cool like a stone smoothed by a river. Your stomach burns with a flame you cannot name. He slowly opens his jaws, first licking your sensitive flesh until goosebumps run down your arms, then ever so delicately pressing his teeth into your shoulder. The tease of fang marks. The promise of more. He does not break the skin, but you mewl under his controlled bite.

He releases you. His hand cups your cheek as he straightens.

“And forsaking all others,” he rasps, “keep you only unto me and my brothers, so long as we both shall live?”

Your bottom lips tremble from emotion. Confusion spins you.

Can you say ‘I do?’ Should you?

Moon softly caresses your cheek with his thumb. His eyes are gentle like pools in the starlight.

“I swear to love and cherish you,” his voice softens.

Your fingers curl around his wrists. He lowers himself to you, and your eyes flutter as his lips brush against yours—

“Get away, witch!”

Your eyes flash open. Moon’s gaze narrows into slits as he turns his head, pressing harder against you and trapping you against the mausoleum until you squirm.

“Michael?” you gasp, peering over Moon’s shoulder, only to choke on your breath.

Over the slight hill from the true cemetery, a creature shambles. Purple flesh clings to bones, arms extended. Shuffling over the gnarled, dead grass, you watch as flesh splits and hangs by threads across his cheeks, exposing his molars. His nose is little more than a nasal bridge and two dark holes. His hair is dark and greasy, and his eyes are sunken, barely left save for black orbs and a single pinprick of light in each, like a lone flame of candlelight.

“What did Eclipse do to you?” You feel faint. “No, no, no, change him back! Moon, please!”

“No need,” Moon steps forward to face your zombified friend. You almost drop to the ground when Moon’s hands leave you. A cold fury radiates around the witch’s cloak.

Bounding over the top of the hill, Vanessa appears. Her white fur is now smeared with dirt and her breaths are sharp and quick. She hops over to you.

“Get up! Michael’s lavenders won’t keep the other two back for long!” Vanessa pushes against your leg, her tiny bunny body doing little to bring strength back to your limbs.

“Michael,” you whisper, clutching your mouth where the witch almost kissed you. “Eclipse has to take away the curse. He has to.”

“He won’t.” Vanessa’s eyes are dark, and hard. “We have to go.”

Your chest is hollow and your head swims. You watch Moon approach Michael in swift, sure steps. Michael’s arms are stiff and crooked, but his rotten fingers curl into a fist. Moon strikes and gouges his claws into Michael’s throat. You watch in muted horror as Moon rips away purple flesh and sinew. A rancid smell spills into the air. You gag, then scream out Michael’s name. The pale, bony column of his throat is exposed.

“You’re interrupting my wedding,” Moon hisses slowly at Michael before lifting his other hand.

Unphased, Michael throws a punch at the witch, and it hits with a burst of lavender petals. A screech drawls out of Moon. He falls backward. You hear the faintest sounds of Moon’s wretched snarls as Michael then awkwardly runs. His leg drags at the shin as if it were broken. You realize it is. Moon howls, clawing at the petals and trying to remove them from his person.

The witch calls out your name. You look back. His red eyes are furious, then desperate as Michael cuts in between the two of you. He brings his good foot down hard on Moon’s broomstick, and it snaps.

Moon screeches and writhes on the dried grass.

“Go,” Michael croaks. You stare at his gaping open neck but he takes you by the arms and hauls you back up to your feet. The scent of death is thick. “Now!”

You stumble, tears filling your eyes.

“I’m sorry,” you whisper, “I’m so sorry. I’ll make them change you back.”

“Just run,” Michael huffs, half decayed and struggling. “We have to get to town. We have to lose them. They only have until sunrise.”

Sunrise.

And a ceremony they wish to perform.

#naff's writing commissions #hehe i had so much writing these witchy boys being just their best (worse) selves!#they just want to do a ceremony :)))#hocus pocus au my beloved #witch!eclipse #witch!sun #witch!moon #charm brought it back #naff writing

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