#it’s 6 am and I’m going back to sleep

[mistyshane30]

You Were Never Mine to Lose (Chapter 6)

Synopsis: The other night was a lot, and now here you are, at an amusement park. It’s supposed to be a distraction, but you can’t help but feel like something’s just… waiting to happen. Just not yet.

Word count: 6k

Warnings: Subtle angst, Lingering tension, Unresolved emotions

A/N: Just wanted to say a big thanks for all the awesome comments on my fic! Your support really means a lot to me. I love hearing what you think! I can’t wait for you to see what’s coming next♡

The sharp chime of the doorbell jolts you awake. Groaning, you reach for your phone, squinting at the screen as your eyes adjust to the bright light. 

12:07 PM 

Your heart nearly stops. Noon?! 

Your notifications are a mess—17 missed calls from Jen, 10 from Wanda, and an explosion of texts from the group chat. A sinking realization hits you: you must have accidentally muted your phone last night. Not surprising, considering you tossed and turned until at least 3 AM overanalyzing every moment with Agatha yesterday. 

Another impatient ring of the doorbell makes you groan. You drag yourself out of bed, feeling dizzy and a little off from the lack of sleep. You’re moving in slow motion as you head for the front door. When you open it, your friends are standing there, looking less than impressed. 

Jen’s arms are crossed over her chest, a mix of concern and irritation on her face. Alice, Wanda, and Lilia are behind her, all looking like they’ve been up for hours while you’ve just barely dragged yourself out of bed. Your eyes immediately flick to Agatha, naturally.  

She stands there effortlessly put together in a camel brown structured sleeveless top, black well-tailored wide-leg trousers, chunky dad sneakers, a Loewe crossbody bag, and black shades. It’s criminal how good she looks in something so simple. Your gaze lingers longer than it should before you snap back to reality. 

Jen crosses her arms. “Seriously? You’re just waking up?” 

Wanda huffs. “We thought you were dead.” 

“You guys are so dramatic,” you mumble, stepping aside to let them in. “I accidentally muted my phone last night.” 

“And?” Jen presses, still unimpressed. 

You scratch the back of your head. “Overslept. I had to check work emails before bed, so I ended up sleeping late.” 

Technically not a lie—you did check your emails. But the real reason? You couldn’t stop thinking about Agatha. Her lingering gazes. The way her breath hitched at the beach. The way she looked at you across the table at Nobu. 

Agatha hums, arms crossed over her chest. “That’s cute. Imagine taking a vacation just to work and look like shit in the morning.” 

You scoff. “Imagine going on vacation just to go from a hot tub to a sauna like you’re trying to get heatstroke.” 

She smirks. “Maybe I just like being warm. Unlike you, who apparently enjoys hibernating.” 

Jen pinches the bridge of her nose. “Can we not do this first thing in the afternoon? Y/N, go get ready. Now. We’re going to Pacific Park, and you have five minutes.” 

You hold up a hand in surrender. “Alright, alright. Ten minutes.” 

“Seven.” 

“Deal.” You turn to head upstairs. “Try not to miss me while I’m gone.” 

Agatha mutters under her breath. “Not possible.” 

You pretend not to hear it. 

Fifteen minutes later, you finally head downstairs, fully dressed and ready to go. Okay, maybe you took a little longer than planned. Sue you. 

You opted for a white fitted cashmere tank top, Hermès brown tailored high-waist shorts, Dior sneakers, a YSL Lou camera bag, and a deep olive green cap. A perfect balance of casual and effortless chic. 

Jen checks her watch. “Not bad. I expected worse.” 

You grin. “You have so little faith in me.” 

Wanda looks you up and down. “I mean, you still look like you just woke up, but at least you’re dressed.” 

You roll your eyes. “Can I at least eat something before we go?” 

Lilia waves a dismissive hand. “We’ll hit the McDonald’s drive-thru on the way.” 

You sigh. “Fine. But if my McMuffin gets cold, someone’s paying.” 

Alice smirks. “We’ll send the bill to Agatha. She’s the one who called you a hibernating bear.” 

Agatha scoffs, tilting her head at you. “Only because it’s true.” 

You roll your eyes and grab your bag. “Let’s go before I actually commit a crime today.” 

As you step out of the villa, the sun warming your skin as you make your way to the main entrance of the resort. The van is parked just a little ahead, waiting for you and the others. You’re the first one to get inside, claiming the back seat behind the driver. You sit down and pull out your phone, scrolling through social media to distract yourself from the anticipation of what’s ahead. 

Agatha slides in beside you a few moments later, as effortlessly composed as ever. She flashes you a smile, one that’s way too confident for your liking. You return the smile, but there’s something about it that feels a little too forced. You quickly avert your gaze, focusing on your phone like it’s the most interesting thing in the world. 

Wanda sits down beside Agatha, followed by the others, and the van slowly pulls off. The hum of the road is calming at first, but you can still feel Agatha’s presence beside you like an electric current you’re trying to ignore. You scroll through your feed, hoping to lose yourself in the digital noise. 

After about 45 minutes, you start to spot the signs of the amusement park from the van window—ferris wheels, roller coasters, the blur of bright colors that instantly reminds you of childhood summers. The excitement in the air is palpable, and soon, the van pulls up to the entrance. You step out into the warm air, your stomach doing a little flip at the thought of all the rides. 

Jen heads straight for the ticket booth and returns with wristbands. She hands them out to everyone—Unlimited Ride Wristbands. You stare at the plastic band in your hand, already dreading the rides ahead. 

Jen claps her hands together. “Alright, let’s get a photo first! You guys need to remember this moment.” 

You all gather together, everyone flashing smiles as Jen takes the photo. You try to smile, but something about the whole thing feels a little off. Maybe it’s the weight of the rides you know are coming. 

Alice, always the one to jump into the action, suggests the West Coaster as the first ride. 

Your heart drops at the mention of it. “How about we start easy? There’s the Sig EV Alert. It’s a little more chill, right?” You try to sound casual, but your stomach churns at the thought of a big roller coaster. You know yourself, dizziness is your worst enemy. 

Agatha shoots you a sideways glance, her lips curling into a smirk. “Oh, come on. What’s the matter? Are you scared?” 

You roll your eyes, trying to brush off the feeling of nerves creeping up on you. “I’m not scared, Agatha. Just think it’s better to ease into things.” 

She leans back with a challenge in her eyes. “Really? A vote’s been called, then.” 

The group eagerly agrees to start with the West Coaster, and you immediately regret your attempt to steer them away from it. You tell yourself you can handle it, though—you’re fine, you repeat like a mantra, even though you know it’s a lie. 

As you approach the roller coaster, Wanda nudges your elbow gently. “Hey,” she says softly, leaning in close. “Are you sure you want to do this? You know you get dizzy easily.” 

You force a smile. “I’m fine, Wanda. Really.” 

She doesn’t look convinced, her brow furrowing. “You can sit this one out. No shame in that.” 

But you shake your head, refusing to back down. “No way. I’m not letting Agatha think I’m backing out. I can handle it.” 

Wanda sighs, her concern still clear. “Alright, but if you pass out halfway, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” 

You give her a small smile and step forward with the group. But just as you’re about to sit down, something happens—you realize Agatha is sitting right next to you. Your stomach twists again. 

Her smirk is almost too much to handle. “I’m gonna enjoy this,” she murmurs, low enough for only you to hear. 

You roll your eyes but try to play it cool. “We’ll see about that.” 

The ride begins its slow ascent, the familiar clicking noise echoing through the air. You feel every inch of the climb, your heart thumping in your chest as the coaster makes its way higher. For a brief moment, everything is calm. Too calm. It’s the kind of calm that makes you realize just how much you don’t want to be here. You grip the safety bar tightly, knuckles turning white, your palms sweating against the cool metal. 

Your stomach flips, and you feel the weight of the height sinking in. You glance over at Agatha, sitting beside you with her usual cool, confident demeanor. She seems completely unfazed, her eyes glinting with something like amusement. You swallow hard, trying to keep your cool. This was your idea, right? You had to prove you weren’t scared. 

Then, the coaster pauses at the peak—that peak—the one where it feels like you’re teetering on the edge of the world. Everything below looks so far away, a blur of colors and tiny dots that might be people, but you can’t focus on that. The world seems to hold its breath, and so do you. 

Then—BAM! 

The coaster shoots forward with sudden, brutal speed, your stomach dropping out from under you. You don’t even have time to prepare before the wind rushes through your hair, and the shrill scream that escapes your throat is one you didn’t even know you had in you. Your hands instinctively shoot out to grab onto anything, everything. 

Your fingers latch onto something warm, soft, and surprisingly firm. You don’t realize what you’ve done at first. Your brain is too busy trying to process the chaos around you, the twisting and jerking of the ride, the air rushing by in a constant scream of its own. Your eyes squeeze shut for a moment as the coaster dips and turns, the ride's movements jarring, sending your stomach into an endless loop of flips. 

Oh God, what have I done? Why did I agree to this? 

The twists and turns keep coming, faster, harsher, as the ride whips you through the air. Your scream isn’t just fun now; it’s a primal, terrified sound. It feels like you’re falling forever, your body jerking this way and that. You feel the pressure in your chest, your breath coming out in shallow bursts, but through it all, your hand is still clenched around whatever is in front of you. 

That “whatever” is Agatha’s hand. 

It’s only when the coaster starts to slow down that you realize what’s happened. Your hand, still gripping Agatha’s, is now nearly crushed in your panic. Your face flushes red as you snap your eyes open, trying to catch your breath, the noise of the ride dying down around you. You feel disoriented—nauseous, even—and your heart is still racing. 

The ride finally halts, and your body slumps against the backrest, drenched in sweat. You feel like you’ve just run a marathon, your skin clammy and cold, your breath coming in gasps. You’re still dazed, but you suddenly become acutely aware of the hand you’re holding. You jerk your hand away from Agatha’s, mortified, hoping no one noticed the unintentional closeness you shared. 

You glance around quickly. Everyone else is laughing and talking excitedly, their voices a blur. They didn’t notice. Thank God. 

Except Agatha. She saw. Of course, she did. 

Her lips curl into that sly smirk, the one that makes you want to crawl under a rock. She looks over at you, that gleam of recognition in her eyes. “You look a little green there, Y/N,” she teases, her voice dripping with amusement. “Roller coasters not your thing?” 

You want to disappear. The heat creeping up your neck is nearly unbearable. You manage to cough out a nonchalant response, your voice a little higher than normal. “It was fine. Totally fine.” But even you can hear the lie in it. 

You don’t meet her gaze. You can’t. The thought of her knowing what just happened—of her knowing you—it’s too much. 

The group continues to tease you, laughing and poking fun at your reaction. You try to laugh along, but it comes out flat, forced. You wish you could just blend into the background, escape the spotlight that feels like it’s shining just a little too bright on you. 

Wanda, however, seems to sense that something’s wrong. She quietly steps up beside you, her voice low and concerned. “Y/N, are you sure you’re okay?” She looks at you with an almost protective gaze. “Like, really okay?” 

You manage a weak smile, brushing off her worry like it’s nothing. “I’m great. Totally great. Really.” You try to sound convincing, but Wanda doesn’t look entirely convinced. 

She doesn’t push further, though. Instead, she just pats your shoulder lightly and nods, though you can see she’s not buying your act. The others are still bickering amongst themselves about the next ride, oblivious to your inner turmoil. 

You don’t know how you make it through the rest of the day. You feel like you’re walking in a fog, each ride making your stomach churn more than the last. You’re so dizzy you could swear you’re going to pass out. But you keep pushing through it, knowing Agatha’s eyes are always on you, even when you try not to meet her gaze. 

Finally, you find a little relief on the Sig EV Alert ride. It’s simple. Fun, even. It’s a bumper car ride, something you can do without fear of your stomach trying to escape your body. It’s a tiny break in the chaos, but as you steer your bumper car, you can’t stop yourself from looking at her, and just like that, she catches you. Her eyes twinkle with amusement as she leans forward in her seat, an eyebrow arched in challenge. “What’s the matter, Y/N? I didn’t think bumper cars were so interesting.” 

Your heart thuds in your chest again, and you force yourself to look away, cheeks flushed. “It’s not,” you reply, but the corner of your mouth betrays you with a tiny, involuntary smile. 

After all the rides, your group decides to grab something to eat at Smashie’s Burger. You take the chance to slip away to the bathroom, needing a moment to catch your breath after all the chaos. You wash your face, trying to shake off the dizziness from the rides. You’re not sure if you’re more worn out from the rides or from trying to act like everything's fine in front of everyone. 

When you come back to the table, everyone’s chatting and laughing, already a little more energized from the food. You slide in, a little quieter than usual, and take your seat. Your eyes drift to Agatha—she’s got her phone in hand, typing something, looking all serious. You wonder for a second if she’s texting Ralph or maybe dealing with some work stuff. Either way, you can’t help but watch her. It’s like she’s in a world of her own, and it pulls you in even though you’re trying to look away. 

You start eating, trying to pretend like everything’s normal. It’s harder than it should be, but you make yourself focus on the food, even as you keep stealing glances at her. Her phone goes down, and she finally takes a bite of her burger. There’s something about the way she eats—so casually, so effortlessly—that makes you feel like you're standing just a bit too close to something you’re not sure how to handle. 

Before long, Jen’s done with her fries and is already looking around with that excited energy of hers. “Okay, who’s ready for the next round?” she asks, clearly buzzing. 

Wanda’s practically bouncing in her seat. “I’m heading to the Cat Rack. I need to win a stuffed animal.” 

Alice’s grinning, not to be outdone. “I’m hitting the Ring Toss. I’m definitely gonna win this time.” 

The group starts breaking up, everyone heading off in different directions. You’re left with Agatha, and for a split second, the silence feels a little too loud between you two. You can’t tell if it’s awkward or just... weird, but you feel it. 

You clear your throat, trying to make the best of it. “So... where do you want to go?” 

And, of course, you both speak at the same time. “Where do you want to go?” 

You both freeze for a moment, then laugh, but it’s not the easiest laugh. It’s more like you're both trying to fill the space that’s been left hanging. You smile, trying to ease the tension. 

“Sorry, didn’t mean to—” 

Agatha shakes her head, cutting you off. “It’s fine. I was thinking Water Race. Let’s do that.” 

You give her a look. “Water Race? Really?” 

“Really,” she says with that grin you know is always a little too knowing. “I wanna see if you’re as good at this as you say you are.” 

You roll your eyes but can’t help the smirk that pulls at your lips. “Oh, I’m great at it. Just wait and see.” 

You pay for both of you, the two of you standing side by side, staring down at the game ahead. You tell yourself it’s just a game, but the competition is starting to feel a little more intense than it should. Agatha’s in the lane next to you, her water gun aimed perfectly, and you know this is it. Time to prove you’re better. 

The game starts, and the water blasts out from the guns, splashing against the targets. You’re both giving it your all, but after a few rounds, you realize it’s not just the two of you in this race. There are other players too. And none of you are winning. 

You try to stay casual, hiding the irritation that’s slowly creeping up on you. You keep buying new entries, trying to beat the other players, but every time, someone else wins. The frustration builds, and despite how much you want to pretend it doesn’t bother you, it does. It really does. 

Agatha notices. “You okay there?” she teases, her voice light but that hint of amusement in her eyes. 

You force a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just warming up.” 

But after another round, when you lose again, you can’t hold back the annoyance anymore. You feel it in your chest, tight and heavy, and you can’t shake it. The other player keeps winning, and you just want to win something. Anything. 

Finally, after what feels like a hundred tries, it happens. You hit the target, and the bell rings, signaling that you’ve won. You almost can’t believe it, the rush of victory flooding you as you hold the water gun in triumph. Your heart’s pounding, but there’s something about it that feels better than all the other wins you’ve seen. 

The prize is a stuffed bunny. It’s not the biggest or most impressive thing, but to you, it’s everything. You hold it up in the air, your face lighting up in the purest, most unfiltered joy. 

Agatha’s standing next to you, eyes wide with surprise at how over the top your reaction is. “Really? That’s how excited you are about a stuffed bunny?” 

You can’t stop grinning, bouncing on your feet. “I won! I really won! This is the best thing ever!” 

You hold the bunny to your chest like it’s the greatest prize you’ve ever gotten. It’s ridiculous, but it feels like you’ve just won the lottery, and for once, you don’t care how silly it looks. 

Agatha snorts, clearly amused. “You’re kind of ridiculous, you know that?” 

You just shrug, still holding your prize. “I don’t care.” 

She shakes her head, smiling despite herself. “Alright, alright. You win. I won’t argue with you and your little bunny.” 

You stand there for a second, still buzzing from the win, when you glance at Agatha again. She’s looking at you in that quiet, knowing way, like she’s seeing you in a way she hasn’t before. For a brief moment, everything feels lighter, like maybe, just maybe, there’s something else here between you two. 

After your victory at the Water Race, you’re still holding your prize, that stupidly adorable bunny stuffed toy, when the mystery player who had kept winning approaches you. She has a confident smile on her face, and there’s something about her that catches your attention. Maybe it’s the way she walks up to you without hesitation, or how she looks like she knows exactly what she’s doing. 

“Hey,” she says, her voice smooth and warm. “That was some impressive shooting. No one’s ever beaten me at this game before.” 

You glance at her in surprise, a little thrown off by the compliment. “Thanks,” you reply, trying to keep your cool, but there’s a flutter of nerves in your stomach. 

She grins, her gaze lingering on you just a bit too long. “I’m Rio Vidal, by the way,” she adds, extending her hand. “Nice to meet you.” 

You shake her hand, still feeling a bit off balance. “I’m Y/N, and this is Agatha.” 

Agatha, standing nearby, doesn’t seem to react much, but you can feel her attention shift, just slightly. Rio doesn’t seem to notice. She’s too busy smiling at you, her eyes sparkling with something that feels... too intentional. 

“So,” Rio continues, her tone teasing, “What brings you to the Water Race? You definitely look like a woman who’s up for a challenge.” She leans a little closer, voice lowering in a way that makes you blink in surprise. “I like that.” 

You catch yourself before you do something weird, like laugh too loud or look confused. Instead, you go with it. “Well, I’m actually on a bachelorette vacation with my friends,” you say with a playful shrug. “It’s all about letting loose and having some fun.” 

Rio raises an eyebrow. “A bachelorette? That’s interesting... you’re clearly not shy about winning.” She holds out a business card. “If your friend is still looking for flowers for her wedding, I’m your girl. I’m a florist, you know. I’d be happy to help out.” 

You take the card from her, half-smiling. “I’ll let her know. Thanks, Rio.” 

She lingers a little longer, her eyes not leaving you. “No problem. It was nice meeting you... maybe I’ll see you around, yeah?” 

You’re pretty sure she means something more than just “seeing you around,” but you just smile and nod. “For sure. Take care.” 

As she walks away, you glance at Agatha, who’s giving you a look that’s almost... incredulous. “What the hell was that?” she asks, her voice thick with something you can’t quite pinpoint. 

You give her a confused look. “What do you mean?” 

Agatha huffs, crossing her arms, still staring at you. “That lady was literally flirting with you.” 

You shrug, trying to act like it’s no big deal, even though a little part of you feels flustered. “Nah. She’s just being friendly. Nothing more to it.” 

Before Agatha can respond, you quickly hold out the stuffed bunny toy you just won. You catch Agatha off guard with it, her eyes widening for a second as she stares at the toy in your hands. 

She looks at you, confused. “What’s this for?” 

You try to keep it casual, but your heart’s thumping in your chest. “You can have it,” you say, your voice casual even though the butterflies are going wild in your stomach. “I’m not really into stuffed toys. I just liked the idea of winning. You can take it home with you, though. Maybe give it to your kids after the trip.” 

Agatha blinks, clearly taken aback by your sudden generosity. “You... want me to take it?” 

You nod, trying not to let the heat on your cheeks show. “Yeah. I mean, I’m not really gonna keep it. And I figure you could use it.” 

She looks at the bunny again, then back at you. For a moment, there’s this unreadable look in her eyes, and for a second, you think she might turn it down. But then, she sighs and takes the bunny from your hands. 

“Thanks,” she says softly, her tone warmer than you expected. “I’ll... keep it safe.” 

You smile at her, feeling the rush of your little exchange with Rio slowly fade away, replaced by this new, quieter moment with Agatha. As much as you try to convince yourself it’s no big deal, something about the way she accepts the bunny... it feels a little more personal than it should. And for once, you’re okay with that. 

You and Agatha were lost in the competitive spirit of the games, going from Whac-A-Mole to Balloon Bust to Roll-A-Ball, each one more ridiculous than the last. Neither of you were willing to back down, constantly teasing each other over every small win and every tiny defeat. The laughter and playful banter between you two felt natural, easy... but it wasn’t until you realized the sun was starting to set that you looked around and noticed how dark it had gotten. 

"Whoa," you muttered, glancing at your phone. "It’s already six?" 

Agatha glanced up, eyebrow raised. "Guess we’ve been here longer than we thought." 

You shrugged, your competitive streak still burning. "Well, I’m not done yet." 

"Maybe I’m done." Agatha smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes, but you could tell she wasn’t serious. 

"Alright, break time," you said, stretching your arms out. "Pretzels. I’m starving." 

You headed to Wetzel’s Pretzels, the smell of warm dough and salt filling the air. As you placed your order and grabbed the food, you got a text from the group chat. 

Jen: Meet us at the Pacific Wheel when you’re done! 

Taking the pretzel and frozen lemonade, you turned to look around for Agatha, but she wasn’t there. Confused, you glanced over the park, but she was nowhere to be found. You started walking around, trying to find her amidst the crowd. Finally, you spotted her in the quieter part of the park, her back turned toward you. She was on the phone, and her voice was sharp, like she was holding something back. 

Your steps slowed, and you stopped a few feet away, not wanting to intrude. But you heard it. The tension in her voice, the way it wavered when she spoke. 

“I can’t keep doing this, Ralph.” Her words were clipped, cold, and there was something raw underneath them that made you pause, your heart sinking. 

She didn’t notice you at first, so you lingered quietly, unsure if you should stay or leave. It didn’t feel right, intruding on whatever this was. From the bits and pieces of her conversation, you pieced together that whatever she was dealing with—whatever was going on between her and Ralph—was more serious than you expected. 

The call ended abruptly, and Agatha’s shoulders tensed, her hand slipping to her side as she hung up, visibly angry. She didn’t turn around right away, but when she did, her eyes met yours—frozen, wide, like a deer caught in headlights. 

You opened your mouth to speak, but before you could find the words, you cleared your throat awkwardly, pretending you hadn’t overheard anything. “The group is at the Pacific Wheel,” you said lightly, your voice casual, even though your heart was pounding. “Jen texted in the group chat.” 

Agatha stared at you for a beat longer than necessary, her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t comment on the phone call. Instead, she sighed, walking toward you. You handed her the pretzel and frozen lemonade. She took them wordlessly, her fingers brushing yours for just a second. 

The two of you walked in silence, the air between you thick with unsaid things. You could feel the tension radiating from Agatha, the way her usual confidence had shrunk a little, replaced by something... quieter. You wanted to ask her if she was okay, but every time you opened your mouth, the words felt wrong. 

When you finally reached the group by the Pacific Wheel, they immediately teased you both, noticing the awkward atmosphere. 

"Look at you two," Jen grinned, winking at you. "Looks like you’re back to your old bickering." 

But you didn’t hear her. Agatha hadn’t smiled in hours, not since that phone call. She was quieter than usual, her sharp edges dulled by something you couldn’t touch, something heavy weighing her down. You could tell it wasn’t just the usual gruffness, this was something different. The way she seemed distant, as if she were carrying an invisible burden. It was the same look you’d seen before, back when she thought she could keep everything together, even if her world was on fire. 

You opened your mouth to say something, to ask if she was okay... but Jen beat you to it. 

“Alright, we all need to ride the Pacific Wheel now,” she announced, grinning. “It’s the last ride for tonight.” 

Agatha barely even glanced up. “Pass,” she said flatly, a tiredness in her tone that wasn’t usual for her. 

“You’re on vacation, Governor,” Lilia teased, emphasizing the title just to see her roll her eyes. “One last ride won’t kill you.” 

Jennifer caught on and nudged Agatha toward the line. “Yeah, come on. This’ll be the last ride of the night. Just do it for the fun of it.” 

Agatha didn’t have a choice anymore. She was trapped. 

The group made their way to the gondola, Jen and Wanda taking the first one. Then Agatha climbed into the second gondola, and without thinking, you sat beside her. She didn’t even try to protest—just gave you a look, her eyes soft and a little tired, but she didn’t say anything. You could feel the weight of her silence next to you. 

The gondola slowly began to ascend, the lights of the amusement park flickering below, casting a soft glow on the quiet faces around you. But the stillness between you and Agatha felt louder than the sounds of the park. 

The ferris wheel spun gently, and for a moment, you thought about reaching out to her—asking if she was okay, if she wanted to talk. But she was already looking ahead, her eyes fixed on the horizon. It was clear she wasn’t ready to talk. 

The quiet stretched on, thick and heavy, as you watched the city lights twinkle below. You couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever Agatha was dealing with... it was more than just a phone call. More than just a bad moment. But for now, all you could do was sit there beside her, the awkward silence wrapping around you both like a heavy cloak. 

The gondola rocks gently as the Pacific Wheel lifts you both higher, the amusement park shrinking below. Neon lights flicker across Agatha’s face, reflecting in her stormy blue eyes. The silence is thick, heavier than the humid air, but you’re the one who finally breaks it. 

"Wanna talk about it?" Your voice is quiet, unintrusive. You’re not pushing, but the door is open if she wants to walk through it. 

Agatha doesn’t respond right away. She exhales slowly, eyes fixed on the horizon, and when she finally speaks, her voice is measured. "How much did you hear?" 

"Enough." You don’t elaborate. You don’t need to. 

Another beat of silence. Agatha’s fingers drum against the metal bar in front of her, and when she finally looks at you, her expression is guarded, like she’s waiting for a hit to land. 

"You’re gonna scold me, aren’t you? Tease me? Tell me how I should’ve seen this coming? Go ahead, get it over with." 

It’s defensive, a preemptive strike. The kind of thing she says when she’s bracing for a fight. When she wants to keep you at arm’s length. But you don’t take the bait. 

Instead, you just look at her—really look at her. And when you speak, it’s only one word, "No." 

Agatha stills. Maybe she expected you to gloat, to mock, to treat this like another battle in your endless war of words. But you don’t. And that makes her pause. 

You soften, let your voice dip into something almost gentle. "I just think... you deserve better than this." 

Then, without thinking too much about it, you reach out, fingers brushing against hers. It’s not a grand gesture, just a quiet reassurance. But Agatha, who has spent years pretending she doesn’t need anyone, doesn’t pull away. 

She looks away instead, scoffing like she can deflect the weight of this moment. "God, you’re such a sap." 

But the bite isn’t there. And for the first time, you see it—that flicker of doubt, the crack in the foundation she’s built so carefully around herself. 

The Ferris wheel slows at the top, leaving you both suspended in midair. Agatha exhales, tipping her head back against the cool metal. 

"It’s Ralph," she admits finally. "He’s... not doing well. And I’m the one keeping everything together." Her voice is bitter, laced with exhaustion. "I work my ass off, and he just—he doesn’t even try anymore. And I don’t have time to fix him." 

You don’t say anything right away. You don’t mock. You don’t lecture. You just watch her carefully before offering something she doesn’t expect, "That sounds exhausting." 

Agatha tenses at first, then exhales shakily. No one has ever acknowledged that before. 

The Ferris wheel lurches, the descent beginning. 

You lean in slightly, tilting your head. "So... are you gonna keep pretending everything’s fine?" 

Agatha lets out a dry laugh, one that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. "Of course. It’s what I do." 

You shake your head, smirking a little. "Classic Agatha Harkness." 

There’s a beat. And then, unexpectedly, she teases back. The words are soft, almost... fond. 

"Shut up." 

You only grin, but there’s something lingering between you both now—something unspoken, something fragile. 

The Ferris wheel reaches the bottom. The moment is over. 

As you step off together, you murmur, "You should tell them. The others. They’d understand." 

Agatha scoffs, rolling her eyes. "You give them too much credit." 

You shrug. "Or maybe you don’t give them enough." 

That makes her pause. She turns to you fully then, studying you in a way that makes your chest feel tight. 

"And you?" Her voice is quieter now, layered with something deeper. "Do you understand?" 

You swallow. There’s something vulnerable beneath her usual sarcasm, something you’re not sure what to do with. 

"I’m trying to," you admit. 

For a second, it looks like she might say something else. But before she can, the moment is gone. 

Agatha exhales sharply, straightening like she’s shaking something off. Then, without another word, running a hand through her hair, then moves toward where the group has gathered. You follow, watching as she exhales and schools her face back into something neutral. 

Then she smirks, sliding back into her usual armor. "Well, if this was your way of trying to comfort me, you’re terrible at it." 

You roll your eyes, falling into step beside her. "And yet, you didn’t push me away." 

She glances at you from the corner of her eye. "Maybe I’m slipping." 

Maybe she was. 

Or maybe—just maybe—she was finally letting you in. 

The group gathers for a final photo of the night, all smiling. Just as the camera clicks, fireworks explode behind you, painting the sky in golds and blues. 

Agatha is standing beside you. And for the first time in forever, she feels a little lighter. 

You feel her gaze linger longer than it should. But when you glance her way, she looks away fast, pretending she wasn’t staring at all. 

You pretend you don’t notice. 

And then, just like that, the night is over. 

You all head back to the resort, splitting off into your separate villas. But even as you close the door behind you, the weight of the night lingers, something unspoken settling deep in your chest. 

Agatha Harkness is slipping. 

And maybe... so are you. 

Taglist:@6stolenangel9 @charlottelinlin1 @milflovers4 @claramelooo @loveshineslikethesky @kaymariesworld @marcelinaceciliarose @misskassycollins @greyella @theothersideofthescreen @whitelotus00 @agathaallalongg @psychickryptonitebouquet @sweetmidnights @angel-kitten-babygirl-u-choose @filmedbyharkness @brekker157 @rizzlesregal13 @starbucks-06

[onebadassunicorn]

Love Lies

pairing: Azriel x Reader

content warnings: angst, talk of revenge, death and mind manipulation, light smut

word count: 3.4k

Permanent taglist: @motheroffae @tele86 @demon-master-zero @thegoddessofnothingness @rosecobollway

Azriel permanent taglist: @kathren1sky-blog

Taglist @sinfully-yoursss @sillyfreakfanparty @phoenix666stuff @ quiet-because-it-is-a-secret @hellohauntedturnstudent @love-over-fears @kk191327 @i-am-infinite @historygeekqueen @yourdarkrose @fr0stfall @dnfhascorruptedme @azzydaddy

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

********

Chapter 22

The days blurred together, time slipping through the cracks like grains of sand.

You drifted between sleep and wakefulness, your body weak, your mind heavy with everything that had happened.

Azriel never left your side.

Not once.

He slept beside you every night, his body curled around yours, his wings a protective cocoon.

When you cried in the middle of the night, he was there—holding you, whispering reassurances, running his scarred fingers through your hair.

"I'm here, love," he murmured into your temple. "I'm not going anywhere."

And he never did.

The pain was suffocating.

Not just the physical wounds, though those still ached.

But the emotional devastation.

The betrayal.

The heartbreak.

The horror of almost losing him forever.

The memories of that night plagued you, haunting you in the quiet moments when your mind drifted too far.

And eventually—you had to talk about it.

One evening, as the sun dipped beyond the horizon, you lay in bed, Azriel beside you, his fingers tracing idle patterns along your arm.

The moment you shifted, trying to sit up, he was there—helping you, adjusting the pillows behind your back.

"Are you in pain?" he asked softly, watching you closely.

"No," you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

You were hesitant, unsure how to bring it up.

But you had to.

"Azriel—" you swallowed hard, meeting his gaze. "We need to talk about what happened."

Azriel stiffened, his wings tensing behind him.

But he nodded, gripping your hand tightly.

"I know," he said quietly.

You took a deep breath, searching for the right words.

"When I saw you with her—" you hesitated, your throat tightening. "I know it wasn’t you. I know it was the spell."

Azriel’s jaw clenched, his entire body rigid with tension.

"But," you continued, voice shaking, "It still hurt."

Azriel let out a sharp exhale, as if the air had been punched from his lungs.

His hands tightened around yours, his thumbs brushing against your knuckles.

"I know," he rasped. "I know, love."

You looked away for a moment, gathering your thoughts. "Seeing you like that—half undressed, with your hands on her, kissing her, looking at her like she was the only thing in the world—" your voice broke, and you squeezed your eyes shut.

Azriel shook his head violently, his hands trembling around yours.

"Don’t," he choked out. "Don’t say it."

But you had to.

"And then you looked at me—" You let out a strangled breath, blinking away the tears threatening to fall. "You looked at me like you didn’t even know me, Az."

His breathing staggered, his face contorting with sheer, unrelenting agony.

"I know," he whispered, his voice barely there. "I’m so sorry, Y/N. I can never—" his voice broke completely, and he buried his face in his hands. "I can never undo that. I can never take that pain away."

He was shaking now, his wings trembling. "But I swear to you, I will spend the rest of my life making it right."

Tears slipped down your cheeks. "You almost lost yourself, Az."

He lifted his head, his eyes red, full of anguish.

"I know," he said again, his voice hoarse, raw. "And if I had gone through with it—if I had consummated that bond—" his breath hitched violently, "Even Helion wouldn’t have been able to fix it."

You nodded, your lips trembling. "I know."

And then—he shattered.

A broken, guttural sob ripped from his throat, and suddenly, Azriel was clutching you, burying his face into your lap, his body trembling uncontrollably.

"I almost lost you," he choked, his voice thick with despair. "I almost let her take you from me."

You ran your fingers through his hair, trying to soothe him, even as your own tears fell freely.

"You didn’t," you whispered. "We’re here. We’re together."

His arms tightened around you, as if he was afraid you would slip away again.

And for a long moment, neither of you spoke.

Just held onto each other.

Held onto what was left.

Held onto what still remained.

After a while, you finally murmured, "I think I need to go home for a little while."

Azriel lifted his head, his eyes red-rimmed, filled with sadness. "Velaris is your home."

You gave him a small, sad smile. "No, Az. Dawn Court. I need to go back to where I grew up. To where I was before all of this. Maybe… maybe it will help me heal."

His breath hitched slightly, but he nodded. "I understand."

Then—you reached for him, cupping his face. "I want you to come with me."

His eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across his features. "You do?"

You nodded, squeezing his hand. "Yes. We both need time, Az. Time to heal. Time to be away from everything. Time to be us again."

A muscle jumped in his jaw.

Then—he nodded. "Then I will go wherever you go."

Azriel lifted his head from where he had been clutching you, his hazel eyes red-rimmed, filled with anguish, with longing, with love. "I love you."

The words shook, raw and desperate, like they had been carved from the deepest part of his soul. "I love you, Y/N."

His voice was strained, thick with the weight of everything you both had endured. "And I will do anything—anything—to make sure we heal together."

His fingers brushed against your cheek, gentle, reverent, as if he was trying to memorize every inch of you.

"I swear to you," he whispered, his forehead pressing against yours. "No matter how long it takes, no matter what we have to do, I will never stop fighting for us. I will never stop proving to you that I am yours."

You let out a shaky breath, your eyes burning with fresh tears.

"Az—"

But he wasn’t done.

"I almost lost you twice now," he said, his voice breaking. "I won’t make that mistake again. I will never let anything or anyone come between us. Ever again."

His hands cradled your face, his thumbs wiping away the silent tears that had begun to slip down your cheeks.

"I will spend the rest of my life proving to you that I am the male who loves you, who will always love you, who will always put you first. I don’t care how long it takes, Y/N. I don’t care if I have to fight every day to make you believe me again. I will never let you go."

A soft sob broke from your lips, and you collapsed against him, burying yourself in his warmth, in his strength, in the place that had always felt like home.

He held you tightly, his arms wrapping around you, his wings curling around you both like a shield.

"We will heal together," he whispered into your hair. "I promise."

*****

The knock on your door came just as you finished packing the last of your things.

You knew who it was before you even opened it.

"Lucien."

Your voice was soft, full of affection and warmth as you took in his familiar amber eyes, the streak of burnished gold in his red hair catching the light.

He looked good.

Calmer.

More at ease than you had seen him in weeks.

Lucien offered you a small, almost hesitant smile before stepping inside, his eyes scanning the packed bags.

"So, it’s official then," he murmured, hands in his pockets. "You’re leaving."

You nodded, swallowing against the sudden tightness in your throat. "Just for a little while."

"I know," he said quietly, his gaze flickering over your face as if he was memorizing every feature. "Still doesn’t make it any easier."

You let out a soft, breathy laugh, stepping toward him.

"Lucien," you said, voice gentle, full of gratitude. "I don’t know where I would be right now if it weren’t for you."

His eyes softened, but he didn’t speak.

"You took care of me when I couldn’t take care of myself," you continued, blinking away the tears that threatened to fall. "You fought for me. You believed in me. You… you never gave up on me."

You reached for his scarred hand, squeezing it tightly. "Thank you."

Lucien exhaled sharply, his throat bobbing as he tried to mask his emotions.

"You don’t have to thank me," he said gruffly, but his fingers curled around yours, holding on tightly. "I would do it again. A thousand times over."

His voice dropped into something rough, something raw. "I love you, Y/N."

Your chest ached, your heart swelling with warmth and deep, unwavering affection for him. "I love you too, Luce."

"No," he said, shaking his head, his grip on you tightening just slightly. "You don’t understand."

His amber eyes burned with something deeper, something unshakable. "I love you, and I always will. As long as I am alive, you will always have me."

A single tear slipped down your cheek, and Lucien wiped it away with his thumb.

"No tears, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice teasing, lightening the heaviness in the room.

"I don’t want to cry. I just…" you sighed, pulling him into a tight hug. "I just want you to be happy, Lucien."

"I’m getting there," he murmured into your hair. "Slowly. But I am."

You pulled back slightly, your eyes searching his face. "How are you coping? With what happened?"

Lucien hesitated, his jaw tightening just slightly.

But then he let out a quiet breath, rubbing the back of his neck.

"It was hard at first," he admitted, his voice lower now, tinged with something unreadable. "But talking with Helion helped."

His eyes darkened, his expression shadowing. "She wasn’t going to stop. Not until you and Azriel were both dead. And I couldn’t—" he cut himself off, shaking his head. "I couldn’t let that happen."

You nodded, understanding his burden.

"And Feyre and Nesta?"

Lucien exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "We talked. I made amends with them. They’re not banishing me."

He smirked then, and your brows lifted.

"Okay… what’s up?" you asked suspiciously. "What is with the smirk?"

Lucien’s eyes gleamed with something mischevious, something lighter.

"Well," he drawled, rocking back on his heels. "There is a certain artist that is in business with Feyre that I don’t want to stop seeing."

He winked, and it clicked instantly.

Your jaw dropped. "No."

His smirk widened. "Yes."

"Lucien!" you gasped, grinning despite yourself. "Your old flame?"

"What can I say?" he said with mock arrogance, adjusting his cuffs. "I’m trying to make up for what I once lost."

For the first time in so long, you felt truly happy for him.

"I’m proud of you," you told him honestly, grabbing his hands again. "You deserve happiness, Lucien. And if she makes you happy, don’t let her go."

"I don’t plan on it," he said lightly, but there was depth in his words.

He pulled you in for one last, tight embrace. "I’ll see you when you and Az come back from Dawn Court."

"You better," you whispered into his ear.

And as you pulled away, watching him smile for the first time in what felt like forever, you knew—

That even in the darkest of times, light could always be found again.

*****

The soft glow of sunrise bathed the rolling hills of Dawn Court, painting the sky in hues of gold, peach, and lavender. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of citrus groves and blooming jasmine.

Azriel stood beside you on the balcony of the estate overlooking the valley, his arms wrapped around your waist, holding you close.

It had been weeks since you’d arrived.

Weeks of quiet, of peace, of learning to breathe again.

And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, you both felt free.

The weight of Velaris, of war, of betrayal, of loss, had begun to slip from your shoulders.

Here, in the land where you had been raised, you were rediscovering who you were.

And in doing so—Azriel was rediscovering himself, too.

In the early mornings, you would take him to the gardens, showing him the places you had played as a child, the trees you used to climb, the lakes you used to swim in.

You would tell him stories of your past, watching as his shadows curled around your wrists, their movements no longer anxious, no longer restless.

At midday, you would visit the temples, kneeling before the pools of shimmering water, the same places you had once learned to heal.

Your gifts, the light within you that had been dulled by heartbreak and pain, began to return.

And when Azriel woke in the night, drenched in sweat, his body shaking from memories of Alatar’s spell, of Nettlewisp still lingering in the shadows of his mind—

You were there.

Your hands glowing softly as you pressed them to his temples, easing his pain.

Your touch soothing the remnants of nightmares that tried to consume him.

"It’s okay, love," you would whisper against his brow, pressing kisses into his hair, his cheeks, his lips. "I’ve got you."

And slowly, steadily, Azriel began to believe it.

That he was not tainted.

That he was not damaged beyond repair.

That he deserved to heal, just as much as you did.

And that he could.

With you.

The days in Dawn Court were spent in laughter, in warmth, in quiet, in touch.

Azriel would take your hand in his, pressing soft kisses to your fingertips, your palms, your wrists.

He would lie with you beneath the shade of olive trees, watching as the sky shifted from blue to dusk, memorizing the sound of your voice, the way your laughter carried in the wind.

He would press you against the soft grass, make love to you beneath the open sky, whispering between each kiss, "You are mine. You have always been mine. I will never let you go again."

And you would answer each time with soft, reverent touches, with whispered declarations of love, with sighs of pleasure that filled the air around you.

Because you had found each other again.

And nothing, nothing would ever take you from him again.

One evening, as the sky turned to twilight, you sat on the balcony of your childhood home, Azriel beside you, his wings stretched lazily against the railing.

"We could stay," he murmured, brushing a stray curl from your face.

You smiled, leaning into his touch. "We could," you agreed.

Azriel exhaled deeply, watching the distant horizon.

"But it’s not home," he finally said.

You knew what he meant.

Dawn Court had given you peace, had given you time.

But home was with him.

"No, it’s not," you whispered, tracing the scarred planes of his knuckles. "Home is waiting for us in Velaris. In our cabin."

Azriel swallowed hard, emotions flickering in his gaze. "Are you ready?"

You thought about it.

Thought about everything you had endured, everything you had lost.

Thought about Elain, Alatar, the pain, the betrayal.

But then—you thought about everything you still had.

Everything you and Azriel had fought for.

You nodded. "I’m ready."

Azriel’s fingers tightened around yours.

"Then let’s go home, love."

And as he swept you into his arms, winnowing you both back to the city beneath the stars, back to the home you had built together—

You knew.

That no matter what had been lost, love had found its way back.

The cabin stood untouched, just as you had left it, nestled deep in the mountains beyond Velaris, surrounded by whispering trees and crisp, fresh air.

This was where it had all begun.

Where you and Azriel had first truly fallen into each other, into the love the Mother had woven into your very souls.

And now—you were home again.

From the moment you stepped inside, the need to be close, to touch, to feel, was unbearable.

It was as if the mating frenzy had struck anew, as if your bodies and souls were desperate to remember every inch of each other.

You didn’t make it past the threshold before Azriel had you pressed against the wooden door, his hands gripping your waist, his lips devouring yours.

"I missed you," he murmured between kisses, his voice rough with hunger, with love, with longing. "I missed this."

You whimpered against his mouth, your fingers tangling in his hair as he lifted you into his arms.

"Show me," you whispered.

And he did.

Again.

And again.

And again.

That first night, you never left the bedroom—Azriel made love to you beneath the stars shining through the open windows, the firelight dancing across your tangled bodies.

"Mine," he growled as he thrust into you, his hands gripping your thighs, your waist, your breasts. "I’ll never stop proving it to you."

And you let him.

Because you were his.

And he was yours.

For as long as the stars burned in the sky.

The next seven days and nights were spent in a dreamlike haze—one filled with breathless laughter, stolen kisses, and bodies intertwined beneath the blankets.

You couldn’t keep your hands off each other.

Not for longer than a few minutes.

When Azriel cooked, you would come up behind him, wrapping your arms around his waist, pressing kisses to his spine.

"Distracting me, love?" he would tease, grinning as he turned to catch your lips in a slow, deep kiss.

"Always," you would whisper against his mouth.

When you bathed together, he would trace every inch of your skin, his hands memorizing you all over again.

"I need to feel you," he murmured against your shoulder, his lips skimming the water-slicked column of your neck. "I need to make sure this is real."

When you hiked through the forest, he would pull you onto his lap at every rest stop, whispering filth into your ear, pressing soft, reverent kisses along your jaw.

"You're never leaving my sight again," he murmured against your temple.

"Good," you whispered back.

Each night, you returned to the fire, your bodies entwined, moving in perfect rhythm, slow and deep, urgent and desperate, tender and raw.

It was worship.

It was devotion.

It was love, in its purest form.

And every morning—Azriel would wake with you in his arms, his hands tangled in your hair, his lips pressed against your skin.

*****

The sun rose slowly, casting a soft golden glow across the room.

Your body was sore, deliciously spent, your limbs tangled with Azriel’s beneath the sheets.

His wings curled around you, his warmth seeping into your skin as he nuzzled into your hair.

"Good morning, love," he whispered against your neck, his breath hot, his voice husky from sleep.

"Morning," you murmured, your eyes still heavy with exhaustion.

He pressed a kiss to your shoulder, then another, then another.

"Az," you sighed, shivering as his lips trailed up the curve of your neck.

"Mmm?" he hummed, dragging his nose along your pulse, inhaling deeply.

"What are you doing?"

"Memorizing you."

Your chest tightened, your heart aching in the best way.

He tilted your chin, forcing you to look at him.

His hazel eyes burned with warmth, with reverence, with undying love.

"I love you."

His voice was strong, unwavering. "I will never love anyone else. I will never want anyone else. You are my heart, my soul, my forever."

“You are my home, Y/n”

Tears filled your eyes, spilling over before you could stop them.

"Say it again," you whispered, your voice trembling.

Azriel cupped your face, brushing his thumb over your cheek.

"I love you, Y/N. I will love you until the end of time."

You pressed your forehead against his, letting the moment settle deep into your bones, into your very soul.

"I love you, Azriel," you whispered back. "I always have. And I always will."

And as he wrapped himself around you, as the morning sun bathed your cabin in golden light, you knew—

The nightmare was finally over.

You were home.

With him.

Where you belonged.

********

Thank you so much to all the readers who have stuck with me through this series! I hope you have enjoyed it!

I will be finishing Cassian's Leather and Lace story and Lucien's Echoes of Yesterday stories over the next week.

And I have about 8 stories coming for Azriel, Cassian and Lucien coming over the next month so if you want to be on my permanent taglist, drop me a comment below!

[prettygirl-gabi]

Headcanon/one-shot

Heyyy i wanted to do both headcanon and a one-shot so I combined them

Headcanons – Married Life with Paige, Nevaeh, and Your Fur Babies

• Your little family is everything Paige ever dreamed of. She swore basketball was the love of her life, but the moment she married you and you two had Nevaeh, she realized nothing could compare.

• The Dachshund and the Cat Rule the House. Kobe, your spoiled dachshund, is obsessed with Paige and always curls up on her lap the second she sits down. Mocha, your sassy cat, only acknowledges Paige when she wants something, but she’s your little shadow, following you everywhere.

• Nevaeh Is the Definition of Chaos and Cuteness. She’s a perfect mix of you both—stubborn like Paige, sweet like you, and way too energetic. She loves watching basketball with Paige and trying to dribble in the house, but she also insists on twirling in her tutu because she wants to do “all the cool things Mama did too.”

• Game Day Traditions. Whether Paige is playing in the WNBA or just watching with y’all at home, Vee wears her mini jersey, sitting between you both with her tiny foam finger. Paige hypes her up like she’s calling plays, and Nevaeh eats it up, running around yelling, “Let’s goooo, team!”

• Fast Forward to Age 6-7 – The Athlete & The Dancer. Nevaeh is determined to be the best at both basketball and dance. She wears her little leotard under her basketball shorts and tells Paige, “I wanna be just like you, Mama…but also like Mommy!” Paige teases that she’s going to be the first ballerina in the WNBA, and Vee takes it so seriously.

• Soft Nights Never Change. Even I when Nevaeh gets older, she still climbs into bed with you two on occasion, snuggling between you and Paige, saying, “Mama, Mommy, I love you.” Paige never stops looking at you like you hung the moon, and your little family is her greatest win.

Story – “Our Biggest Win”

The sound of tiny feet running across the hardwood floors jolts you from sleep before you even get a chance to fully wake up. You groan, barely processing the weight of a small body launching itself onto the bed.

Paige, beside you, lets out a sleepy, “Ugh, Vee, what time is it?” as Nevaeh giggles and climbs onto her stomach.

“It’s morning time, Mama!” Nevaeh declares, bouncing on Paige, her wild curls sticking up in every direction.

You peek at the clock—6:43 AM. Too early for this level of energy. You groan and reach out to pull her back into your arms. “Baby, it’s Saturday. The sun isn’t even up yet.”

“But Mommy! Today’s my first basketball practice and my dance class!” Nevaeh wiggles in excitement, eyes shining as she looks between you and Paige. “I’m gonna be so good!”

Paige stretches, rubbing her eyes before pulling Vee into a tight hug. “I know you are, baby girl. But your moms need at least ten more minutes of sleep.”

Nevaeh pouts dramatically. “Fine, but only ‘cause I love you.” She snuggles between the two of you, her tiny hands grabbing onto Paige’s hoodie while she presses her face into your chest.

Kobe, your spoiled dachshund, takes the opportunity to claim the rest of the bed, hopping up and curling right against Paige’s legs. Mocha, your diva of a cat, sits on the dresser, judging the chaos with an unimpressed flick of her tail.

After a few more minutes of stolen sleep (or pretending to sleep while Vee wiggles with excitement), you finally get up, helping her into her little basketball shorts and sneakers. Underneath, she wears her pink dance leotard.

Paige chuckles as she kneels in front of Nevaeh, tying her sneakers. “You’re really wearing both, huh?”

Nevaeh nods, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “I have to! Mama plays basketball, and Mommy did dance. I wanna do both! I gotta be the bestest at everything.”

You smile, smoothing down her curls before kissing her forehead. “You already are, baby.”

Paige grins, ruffling Nevaeh’s hair. “You got my handles and Mommy’s grace. We’re in trouble.”

The drive to the gym is full of Nevaeh bouncing in her car seat, swinging her legs as she talks nonstop about how she’s going to make so many baskets and do the prettiest twirls.

At practice, Paige sits beside you, an arm slung over your shoulder as you both watch Nevaeh dribble a ball almost half her size.

“She’s gonna be a problem,” Paige murmurs, watching with pure adoration as Vee crosses over—sloppy, but determined.

You smirk, nudging her. “Like mother, like daughter.”

Halfway through, when the team moves to scrimmage, Nevaeh stops mid-play, runs to you both, and dramatically announces, “Okay, I’m ready for my ballet now.”

You laugh as Paige groans. “Vee, you can’t just—”

But she’s already off, spinning in a circle on the court, making her coach sigh in amusement.

“She’s got your stubbornness,” you tease.

“And your flair for the dramatic,” Paige shoots back, shaking her head but unable to stop smiling.

Later that night, after an exhausting day of basketball drills and ballet twirls, Nevaeh curls up in bed between you both, already half-asleep.

“Mama…Mommy…?” she mumbles, her little voice slurring with exhaustion.

“Yeah, baby?” Paige whispers, brushing her fingers through Nevaeh’s hair.

“I love you.”

Paige melts instantly, pulling her close. You press a kiss to the top of her head, whispering, “We love you more, Vee.”

As Nevaeh drifts off, Kobe snoring at Paige’s feet and Mocha curled up in your lap, Paige looks at you with the softest smile.

“I’ve won a lot of games,” she murmurs, squeezing your hand. “But this? This is my biggest win.”

You lean into her, pressing a kiss to her lips. “Ours.”

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                 -Thank You For Reading!🩵🩶

                             -prettygirl-gabi🎀✨️

[bobfloydsbabe]

If you interact with my fics in any way (including likes) and you don’t have an age indicator in your bio or pinned post, I will block you. No hesitation.

[sunsetsandsunshine]

~ 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎 ~

·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚔𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚂𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝟹 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚖𝚢 𝚂𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝚑𝚢𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚒𝚡𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 😭👍🏾…˚*• ̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*＊·̩̩̥͙

𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝙷𝚞𝚛𝚝/𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝 

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜: 𝟺,𝟸𝟽𝟻

𝙻𝚎𝚎: 𝙺𝚗𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚜 🥊❤️

𝙻𝚎𝚛: 𝙼𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚒𝚎 🥨💜

𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢: 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝙺𝚗𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝙶𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝙷𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚜…𝚑𝚎’𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎�� 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚍𝚊𝚙𝚝. 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝, 𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝…

(𝙰/𝙽: 𝙰 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙. 𝙽𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎…𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜. 𝙳𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚐𝚞𝚢! 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚔/𝙽𝚂𝙵𝚆 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚜 𝙳𝙽𝙸!!!)

𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: 𝚃𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚞𝚎𝚜, 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚔!!!

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝙼𝙰𝙳𝙴 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙸𝙽 𝙻𝙸𝙺𝙴 𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙴𝙴 𝙳𝙰𝚈𝚂 𝙳𝙾𝙽’𝚃 𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁 𝙿𝙻𝙰𝚈𝚈𝚈𝚈𝚈˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙

Maddie almost fully leaped out of her spot on the bed her and her husband shared as she suddenly awoke, her eyes darting around the room before taking a deep breath, relaxing herself. 

She didn’t need to use the bathroom…

And she made sure all of the kids (+ Ozzie) were in their beds…

So why did she feel so…uneasy?

Tom broke through his sleep at the sudden movement from his wife, holding her hand as he rubbed it with his thumb gently, “Everything okay, love?” He mumbled out groggily. 

Maddie couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle at her husband’s sleepy voice, giving his hand a quick kiss as she got up from the bed, “I’m fine, babe. I just…I-I just…” She trailed off.

The cop yawned, raising a brow, “Having those random feelings of uneasiness again?” 

The woman in purple pajamas nodded. 

“Gonna go check up on our kids?”

She nodded once more.

“M'kay…” The famous Donut Lord yawned, drifting back to sleep, “Just call me if you need anything…” He mumbled as he closed his eyes and snored like no tomorrow.

Maddie rolled her eyes fondly, putting on her fluffy purple robe that was hoisted on a clothing hanger as put on her house slippers, going upstairs to the attic. 

The nurse quietly made her way to the attic, her heart racing with a sort of…adrenaline as she made her way to the beds…

…Although, she didn’t know why.

First, she made her way to Tails' bed, who, was soundly sleeping peacefully underneath his blankets. Maddie kissed his forehead, adjusting his noise canceling headphones on his ears as she further tucked him in as she made her way to Sonic…

And ohhhhhh, Sonic…

The kid was basically sprawled along his bed like a used up rag-doll…

…Which, Maddie didn’t know whether to mark it off as concerning or impressive. 

Maybe both.

The adult wrapped the blue hedgehog in his favorite blanket, kissing his forehead and subtly giggling as she saw him smile in his sleep at the kiss.

Lastly, she made her Knuckles' bed…

…That was missing, well…Knuckles. 

The woman took a deep breath, taking her phone out of her robe pocket as she tried to calm herself. 

He was going to absolutely GET IT if he went out 'adventuring' again. 

Maddie could not handle another week asking random people in Green Hills of the red echidna’s whereabout’s…

…Her heart just could not take that amount of stress anymore!

And if Wade was even the SLIGHTEST bit responsible he was going to GET IT too.

The brown eyed human made her way downstairs, relief washing over her as she saw the back quills of a familiar red fellow sitting at the bottom of the stairs that led to the kitchen. 

“…Knuckles?” She quietly said. 

The echidna swiftly turned around at the woman’s words, his pupils sharpening before softening upon realizing who was behind him. 

As he met her concerned yet loving gaze, he looked away, focusing on the wooden floor as if it was the most interesting thing as of right now.

Well…at least it was just Madeline. 

Or 'Pretzel Woman' as the red themed teenager liked to call her.

It honestly could have been way worse…

…The blue themed hedgehog could have awoken instead of Maddie…

…And that would have been a whole other problem Knuckles did not have the time or patience for. 

The teenager forced himself to relax slightly, his shoulders still tense in case of anything or…anyonedeciding to…surprise him.

Because he was an echidna warrior! He simply just did not get sneaked up on. 

“Pretzel Woman.” He hummed, “I would not have expected you to be awake at such hours…” 

“I wish I could say the same for you, sweetheart…” The 'Pretzel Woman' in question chuckled lightly, coming down and sitting on the stair the small teen was stifly sitting on, “What are you doing up, love?”

“I am keeping watch.” Knuckles stated simply, his seating spot remaining on the steps but his eyes darting in every which way around the house, seeming to look for a nonexistent threat. 

Or grapes. Those he will always look out for.

“Did…I wake you?” His violet eyes morphing into one of guilt, “I am sorry if that is the case…I tried to be as silent as possible whilst scouting this evening.” 

“No no! Not at all.” Maddie quickly assured, “I-I just…had a certain…feeling to get up, y'know?” 

But Knuckles did not know, only quietly nodding his head as he tried to make sense of what the chocolate eyed human was stating, “…I see.” He hummed once more, now looking up as he peered on the outside door, his eye ridges creasing together. 

Maddie fiddled with her fingers anxiously, not appreciating the sudden silence as she tried to collect her thoughts to think of what to say next.

Because, truth be told…Knuckles has been doing this…'guarding' business ever since he came to live in Green Hills. 

And it was somewhat nice the first week…

A tad bit jarring the second week…

But now it was the third week. 

And Maddie cannot recall one time she has seen Knuckles shut his eyes for more than a second.

“You are distressed.” The short teenager concluded bluntly, observing Maddie’s facial expression and body language, “Are you perhaps…cold?” 

The woman let a small smile strech to her features at that, “I’m not cold, sweetheart. But thank you for your concern.” She said gently, resting her hand on the teenager’s shoulder but drawing it back as the teeanger in question stifened further at the sudden contact. 

“But…I am worried.” The purple cladded woman stated, well…worriedly as she put her hands on her lap. 

The fifteen year old’s eye ridges knitted together in slight confusion, letting out a small: “Oh.” 

He looked up at her, “Why is that?”

The nurse started, “You’ve been staying up—”

“Scouting.” Knuckles politely corrected.

“—scouting…” She corrected herself, “…for three weeks straight, Knux. Aren’t you tired?”

“No.” The violet eyed teen uttered, “An echidna warrior is only tired when they need be. Which, I am not.” He stated, ironically burying back a small yawn that was bubbling in his throat.

Which, did not go unnoticed by Maddie. 

“Everyone gets tired eventually…” The human said, “It’s not healthy to just…skip sleep, hun. It’s not good for you.” 

“Only I know what is good and what is not good for me, Pretzel Woman.” The red echidna huffed, completely brushing off the other’s concern, “I will sleep when my duty is done.”

“Your…'duty?'” Maddie repeated.

Knuckles nodded, putting his right fist on his chest as he spoke, “I have promised you, the Lord of the Donuts, the loud hedgehog and the anxious fox to guard the Master Emerald, yes?”

“Well, yes, but—”

“And I have also promised to protect you all.” He announced proudly and matter-of-factly, “A protector never rests.” 

“Hun…I think we’ve proven we’re more than capable at protecting ourselves.” The human lightly joked as she almost immediately regretted her statement and tone as she saw the teen’s expression shift from proud to…distress. 

And there it is...

…You have such a wonderful way of words, Madeline…

…SUCH a wonderful way with words…

A flash of hurt made their way through Knuckles' eyes, though, he tried to hide it as we looked away, glaring at the floor slightly he hugged himself, which made the human feel even more guilty, “…I…I am aware of that fact.”

And immediately the adult started to backtrack at the teenager’s now almost distraught and downtrodden expression, “I-It’s not that we don’t appreciate it— appreciate you, love. I just don’t want you collapsing randomly one day because you’re staying up every single night keeping watch of us and the house.”

“I do not collapse.” The kid said in an almost defensive-like tone, “And when I eventually will, I would gladly do so knowing I have protected you all to the fullest.” 

And right then and there Maddie could have sworn she felt her heart stop at that, feeling the smallest twinge of lightheadedness as she curled her fingers, forming fists on her lap. 

“No!” The human shouted, lowering her voice as she realized she yelled a tad bit too loudly, making Knuckles flinch slightly at the sudden exclamation, “No no no! Knuckles, where is this coming from?!” 

The nurse pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to stay calm but found it really difficult due to the fact one of her kids openly stated he would be fine literally DYING if it meant he would fulfill his 'duty', “I don’t want you staying up guarding, scouting— whatever you call it! I just don’t want you doing any of those things!” 

The echidna’s face morphed to a frown, “But—“

“No, Knux…” Maddie said, her tone leaving no room for argument…

…The 'Mother voice' if you will…

“This is the last time you’re doing something like this. End of story.” The purple cladded human said, crossing her arms across her chest.

And then again, there was…a small silence that fell between the two. 

A silence neither of them liked at all. 

But the air was too thick with…all of a sudden tension that they both stayed quiet, in fear they would say the wrong thing…

…Again.

But eventually, the red echidna couldn’t take the silence; couldn’t take the tension any longer. 

He looked at the figure in front of him once more, fixing his composure to appear more confident…but ultimately just appearing to be straight up panic-stricken. 

“Then what can I do…?” He mumbled out meekly.

Maddie’s hands dropped to her sides, her eyebrows creasing together, “…What…do you mean?”

“To…To repay you all.” The violet eyed teenager further explained, mentally punching himself for sounding so completely and utterly…weak, “To make up for what I’ve done previously. T-To…guarntee my stay in the Wachowski clan.”

And those words alone spoke measures. 

The nurse’s heart might of well dropped all the way to the floor, because all of a sudden she felt like she could not breathe. 

She puts Knuckles' hand in hers, even though the echidna’s hand was obviously and ultimately TWICE her hand size…she didn’t care.

For crying out loud this was her son.

And she would never ever forgive herself if after this he would continue to think otherwise.

Then…

…Everything clicked. 

“…Sweetheart…did you…d-did you think we were going to…kick you out…?” She asked as if she already knew the answer, afraid of what the other would say. 

The short teenager picked up quickly that Maddie somehow knew now, guilt almost immediately hitting him like a train as he hugged himself with his free hand, looking down at his lap, “Yes.” He admitted, hugging himself more as he saw the other start to become teary eyed, “Before coming here to the Wachowski residance…I was responsible for so many casualties…” He muttered, “…I still am.”

The teenager’s tail droops, bringing his fist to his face to try and hide his also now tearing up expression, “I helped Robotnik seize control of your town and almost the entire planet…” 

“…I-If I had just listened to Sonic…your house would not still be under repair. You and the Lord of Donuts would not have to call that 'Uber' you always speak of every morning to simply go to your designated jobs!” He yelled, not really caring if anyone else besides Maddie heard him at this point.

“Growing up, my Father always told me to never put my hands on someone else unless they did so to me first…” He murmured, a hint of fondness in his tone speaking of his as of late Father.   

“I broke that promise when I met Sonic.” He mumbled out, ignoring the feelings of his eyes starting to become more wet, “But…B-But above all else…all my Father wanted for me was for me to be a good person…”

Knuckles let out a small sob, harshly wiping his face as his shoulder hung low…

…Out of hatred or frustration…? 

Maybe a little bit of both…? 

Maddie wasn’t sure.

“A-And I promised him. I swore on my life I would live by those two promises…” The small echidna hiccuped, yanking his arm away from the human as he gripped his arm with one hand until he couldn’t feel it anymore, “A-And I f-failed those two simple oaths b-by j-j-just acting so f-foolish…” 

The taller figure watched the other shake with sobs, swiftly scooting closer to him as she gently held his wrists to stop him from further hurting himself.  

“Oh, sweetheart…” She mumbled, her heart heavy as she saw the teenager duck his head further, “Hey…hey…” Maddie whispered, cupping the echidna’s face in her palms.

And to be completely honest? Knuckles wanted to hurt himself further as he did nothing but melt to the small but impactful form of affection…

“Can you look at me?” The nurse carefully asked. 

Knuckles quietly looked at her, his face scrunched up to try and attempt to stop the tears freely flowing down his cheeks like a waterfall. 

Maddie sighed sadly, wiping his tears with her thumb as she gently rubbed his cheeks, “I need you to listen to me, okay?”

He shakily nodded.

“You are a good person.” She emphasized sternly, “One mistake that you made doesn’t automatically define your worth.”

“This…” She said, gesturing to herself and Knuckles. “…is not a transaction. We are giving you a room to sleep in because we love you. We are giving you clothes to wear because we love you. We are giving you food to eat because we love you…”

“…Even though I would prefer you eat something other than grapes.” She tried to joke, which ended up finally working very effectively as she saw a small but genuine smile appear on the echidna’s face.

Knuckles couldn’t help but let out a soft snort, rolling his eyes before focusing on Maddie once again, “My grapes have nothing to do with this…” 

“And I do also consume Cool Ranch Doritos from time to time…” The teen mumbled, “So saying I onlyeat grapes is inaccurate.” 

The nurse gently squished his cheek playfully, “And this?” She gestured as she wiped away his tears once again, “Is because I love you. Not because I’m expecting something in return.” She explained as she now put his hands in her’s as if the size meant nothing to her…

…Because it didn’t.

“Robotnik tricked you. He tricked you into thinking he was a nice man. That isn’t your fault.” The human sternly announced once again. 

The red furred echidna shook his head, “But I endangered everyone—”

“—But you also saved everyone.” The purple pajama wearing woman quickly added, “You tried to fix your mistakes…don’t think I didn’t see you punching those egg robot thingies, hun. You weren’t messing around.” 

“I am not prone to be one who 'messes around…'” He said, his eyes almost jumping out of their sockets as Maddie planted a small kiss on his forehead.

“And that? That is because…” She gently urged on.

“You…Y-You love me...” Knuckles finished, almost choking on his own words, before lightly pushing her away in an attempt to get her to leave…

…Because she would eventually…

…Right?

“…Y-You hardly even know me.” The violet eyed echidna whispered, looking up at the taller figure as she gently bumped her shoulder with his.

“Doesn’t mean I can’t love you.” Maddie exclaimed as she smiled warmly, the warmness somehow making its way to the echidna warrior as his heart fluttered in his chest.

A small, subtle blush appeared on his muzzle as he looked away, trying to hide his expression. 

He cleared his throat, “I…suppose that is true, Pretzel Woman…”

“Just 'Maddie' is fine, sweetie.”

The fifteen year old swallowed, wiping his eyes with his arm as he finally looked at the taller.

And if Maddie squinted…she was almost 100% sure she saw a small sparkle in the child’s eyes. 

“Alright…Maddie.” The teenager announced shyly but proudly, resting his head on the other’s shoulder.

The nurse had to keep in literally every single fiber in her body to stop herself from squealing like a high-school preppy girl. 

“You don’t owe us anything…okay?” The brown eyed woman stated, “You’re apart of a family, Knux. And one doesn’t protect the whole family…we all protect each other.” She rubbed Knuckles' knuckles gently and comfortingly with her thumb, “You’re a Wachowski. And the Wachowski’s stick together.”

And just like that, another silence fell among the two…although, this one was less tense which Maddie could not be more grateful for. 

But the nurse couldn’t shake the feeling that something was being left…unsaid and undone.

And if you knew her…you knew dang well those two words were just simply not apart of her dictionary. 

“May I give you a hug?” She asked somewhat hesitantly, but couldn’t stop the smile spreading to her face as she saw the echidna perk up at the mention. 

The red echidna collected himself, clearing his throat again as he glanced up at her, “You may.” 

The human wrapped the echidna in her arms, her smile doubling in size as she felt the teen wrap his own arms around her…somewhat stifly and awkwardly. 

But hey, he was trying.

“I love you, Knux.” The chocolate eyed woman hummed, “And you don’t have to say it back if you aren’t ready.” 

The violet eyed echidna nodded, shyly burying his face into the other’s shoulder as they continued to embrace.

“Do you…want to go back to your room…?” Maddie asked in a tone signifying she was alright with a 'yes' or a 'no'. 

The warrior only held Maddie tighter at that, shaking his head as he buried his face into her shoulder harder, “In…I-In a little bit…” He answered honestly, “I do not want to go just yet…” 

“That’s fine.” The human assured, “How about…we stay on the couch for a while? I bet it’s way more comfy than these old stairs.”

The red furred echidna nodded, “…Alright.” 

He followed the taller to the living room, sitting on the couch as she did, watching her as she flipped through the channels.

“You okay with watching 'F.R.I.E.N.D.S.?'” The woman asked as she flipped to the Nick-at-Nite channel, relaxing on the couch cushion. 

“I am very fond of my companions, yes.” The young warrior nodded, resting his eyes on the TV as this so called….'F.R.I.E.N.D.S.' show started to play.

The two sat on the couch for a while, small chuckles and snickers being shared as they reacted to the show in front of them. 

Knuckles yawned, crossing his arms as he rested his head on Maddie’s arm which the older did not pay any mind to, subconsciously scratching his quills.

The younger’s eyes widened, not moving away from the touch but seeming genuinely shocked by it, “What are you doing?”

At that, the human quickly drew her hand away.

Shit.

“O-Oh, I’m sorry, baby.” She said apologetically, cursing herself for making it seem like she was trying to rush him with anything…

“It’s just a thing I do with Sonic and Tails— they find it calming. I’m sorry, I should’ve asked. It’s just…kind of an instinct…” Maddie said to Knuckles as he looked down, fiddling with his gloved fingers as he looked anywhere but the person beside him, “You do not…have to stop if you do not wish.” He admitted quietly, “It feels nice…”

The nurse tried (and failed) to hide yet another dorky grin that spread to her face as she gently ruffled Knuckles quills once more, cooing on the inside as the echidna subtly leaned into the touch, trying his absolute best to concentrate on the television but obviously clearly enjoying the affection as his tail wagged softly against the couch. 

As the TV ran, Maddie moved her hand to scratch where Knuckles' ears would be and the young warrior absolutely melted at the new touch, his tail wagging faster.

The purple cladded woman fondly smiled at the reaction, moving her fingers to gently scratch the back of the echidna’s neck but nothing would have prepared her for the loud shriek the teenager let out as she did so.

The violet eyed fifteen year old covered his mouth in shock as the human retreated her hand back, her face morphing to worry once more, “A-Are you alright? Are you hurt?” 

The echidna swallowed, not even trying to hide the small blush that appeared on his muzzle now as he put his hand to the side, “I-I am…uninjured.” He said as calmly as he could muster, “I apologize for startling you…I also startled myself…” 

“It’s okay, sweetheart…” The purple cladded human said, “…But what happened?”

“I am…not sure.” Knuckles explained as he rubbed the back of his neck as if to redo the feeling he just felt, “You touched the back of my neck and it felt…odd.” 

“Odd?” Maddie repeated. 

“Odd.” Knuckles said again.

The nurse raised a curious brow, lightly poking the red furred echidna where she was once scratching him as he burst into surprised and confused giggles.

The fifteen year old shook his head back and forth, scrunching up his shoulders as he lightly tried to pry the other’s hand away.

What…was this?

And why did it make him feel so…giddy and carefree?!

“C-Cease thihis s-sohorcery ahahat once!” The violet eyed echidna giggly demanded, hugging himself and falling down on the couch, “Ceeheease ceeheease ceeheeheeheease!!” He snickered as Maddie gently started to spider her finger nails along his sides. 

“It isn’t sorcery, love. Your just ticklish.” The adult chuckled, putting one and one together. 

“N-Nohohoh Ihi ahahaham nohot!” The red furred teen denied through his chorus of laughs, “Ahan ehechidna waharrior woHOULD neHEHEver hahave suhuHUCH AHA c-chihildish weeheeakness!” 

“Really?” Maddie smiled, intrigued as she gently prodded the other’s lower ribs, causing the other in question to automatically jerk, throwing his head back as he buried his heels in the couches cushions, “NOHOH thIHIs ihihis CHIHIHILDIHISH!!” He desperately squealed. 

The woman in purple pajamas couldn’t help the small coo she let out at the teenager’s adorable reactions…

…And Knuckles didn’t even need to look at her to know she found his once-in-a-full-moon flustered expression very amusing.

“Awe, Knux…” The nurse lightly teased as her fingers continued their ticklish torment on the echidna’s ribs. 

“NOHOH— snrk! DOHOHON’T!!” The echidna in question cried as his cheeks started to match his fur color, internally cursing his natural body movements as his tail wagged happily once more.

“Don’t what~? Don’t tickle you?” Maddie sweetly asked, only receiving a small but LOUD snort from the other as she moved down to gently scratch along his stomach, “Looks like I found a bad spot, huh, bud~?”

“IHIHIT IHISN’T snrt BAHAD!!” The teen insisted, banging his fists on the couch, “IHAT JUHAH—! SNRT! JUHUST FEEHEELS OHODD!!”

“Interesting…” The adult hummed, pretending she was pondering something as he dug her hand’s into the violet eyed echidna’s underarms, wincing slightly as he let out a sharp scream before descending into loud cackles.

“This feel odd too?” She asked innocently. 

“IHIHAT’S snrt snrt EEHEEVEN WOHOHORSE!!!” Knuckles laughed, “G-GEHAT snrt AHAHOUT OHOF THERE!” 

“Get out of where~?”

“THEHEHEHERE!” The teen quickly retorted, trying to gesture to his underarm but anytime he tried to the other would just simply make her touches even lighter, “MAHADDIE DAHAHON’T AHACT snrt STUPID!” 

“'Stupid~?'” The nurse dramatically gasped, “And here I thought we bonded!” She huffed as she fluttered her fingers in the crooks of the teen’s neck and under his chin.

And truth be told…Knuckles was absolutely, positively embarrassed of this whole ordeal.

And to be honest…he could have gotten up anytime he wanted…

…But he didn’t.

He hadn’t thought he’d ever feel such…happiness and carefreeness ever again…

…But it’s like Sonic always said…

'Hope is a hedgehog’s greatest weapon.' 

“SNRT! NOHOH!! STOHOP SNRT IHAT!!!” The echidna wheezed out, his legs frantically kicking behind Maddie.

“Guess this is your sweet spot…” The woman smiled brightly. 

“NAHAHAH! SNRT! NOHAHOTHING AHABOHOUT SNRT SNRT MY NECK IHIHIS SWEEHEEHEET!!!” The young warrior cackled loudly, tears welling up in his eyes…

…And for the first time in…well, forever…they were happy ones. 

“AHALRIGHT!! AHAHALRIHIGHT!!!” He relented, lightly pushing on her hands, “IHI SURRENDER! IHIHIHI SURRENDER!!” 

And just like that Maddie immediately let up, sitting back as Knuckles let out a couple more aftermath giggles.

“You okay, baby?” The human asked, wiping away the rest of his happy tears. 

“Y-Yehes. I aham snrt fine…” The red echidna hummed, sitting back on the couch as he layed his head on the figure’s shoulder again. 

“Thank you, Mo—“ Knuckles' eyes widened, quickly catching his slip-up, “M-Maddie. Maddie. Thank you, Maddie.” He exclaimed quickly, quietly praying to his echidna ancestors that the purple pajama wearing woman did not catch his mistake.

But judging by her wide eyes and agape mouth…she most likely did.

“Uhm…I-I must go to my sleeping quarters now…g-goodnight.” Knuckles stammered under his breath quickly and quiety, not waiting for the other to give an answer as he basically sprinted to the attic, quietly closing the door to not disturb his brothers whom were soundly fast asleep. 

Maddie slowly got out of her state of shock, her heart basically leaping out of her chest as she fondly smiled, shutting off all the lights in the living room and kitchen before taking one small glance at the closed attic door.

She felt…so warm and…so fuzzy…

Instead of her heart dropping…she honestly felt like it just soared to heaven. 

“Goodnight, son.” She whispered, wiping her eyes as she slipped into her and Tom’s bedroom, going under the covers next to her husband and going back to sleep. 

·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝙵𝙸𝙽˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙ 

(𝙿.𝚂.: 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚌, 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐!!!)

[sunmisbf]

i washed my hair n took a walk yesterday for the first time in a while so i am feeling unstoppable like maybe i will turn around my life this week wish me luck !

[mars-ipan]

woke up to use the bathroom (well. bedside commode. trying to reduce/prevent foot pain) and folks i am so comfy. i love the pressure from the compression boots they have me in and OH MY BIRTH CONTROL I NEED TO TAKE THAT

[pinkhairandpronounsboy]

They say violence is not the answer.

They’re right. Murder is.

[harapeveco]

I’m very pro “it’s your job to block/eliminate the content you don’t like, people don’t have to do it for you, it’s not their responsibility” type of person (controversial I know) so like I don’t get mad when I see things I don’t like bc me not liking something is not another person’s problem so I won’t really fight them on it…still I can’t help the whiplash I feel every time I see a new incest fic on the knk ao3

[lesbianlenas]

the way my partner & i for our writing assignment spent 3 hrs today exclusively trying to do the meticulous formatting that we had to do for the paper is crazy…..we were legit fighting demons (microsoft word) in the library it was miserable……

[plumspider]

Tomorrow is my last day before I have to go back to school 😭😭😭

[yumeyleo]

that was probably the most unrestful sleep i’ve ever gotten

[fruitylouis]

having a job is the worst thing that has ever happened to me

[totebagbisexual]

oh today’s gonna be so rough

[deus-ex-mona]

being julieta is s u f f e r i n g (derogatory; /srs; no /j)

[rosicheeks]

🤦🏽‍♀️