#it's very cute it was my mum's pillow case before I was even born

[partywithponies]

I can accept people being transphobic in my inbox but if you're gonna come into my inbox and be wrong about Paddington you better be ready for a fight. Lads I was raised on Paddington. I'm literally in bed laying on my Paddington pillow right now. Don't test me.

[ickle-ronniekins]

forever, i choose you

desc: he’s always been everyone’s second choice, in every aspect of his life. george weasley just wants to be someone’s first.

word count: 3.9k

pairing: george weasley x muggle!reader

warning(s): idk you might cry, i sure did but what else is new. loneliness/discussion of sexual content/idk

A/N: i still have no motivation to write and/or read. and it’s the absolute worst. but i wrote the bulk of this story back in december/the beginning of january, and i figured maybe i’d try and write the ending and publish it and see if it’ll spark any inspiration in me. i’m real, real, real sorry if i haven’t gotten to your fics to read (i’ve got them all saved!) i just don’t know what’s wrong with me atm and it’s THE WORST. also it might evoke more emotion if you listen to this while reading this lil fic. thank you, to all of you, for your support and patience, always.

disclaimer: i do not give consent for my work to be posted on ANY other platform.

Seven-year-old George Weasley watched with wide eyes and a goofy grin as his father twirled his mother in the family space of their normally bustling and loud home. But tonight, the Burrow was quiet. Everyone was already sound asleep, his five brothers and his younger sister. George should be too, but he just couldn’t fall asleep no matter how much he tried. He fidgeted uncomfortably in his sheets and kept groaning, and it wasn’t long before his twin brother Fred threw a few pillows at his face, and eventually, George decided to get up and go for a stroll.

He hid strategically on the staircase so his parents wouldn’t see that he was still wide awake at nearly midnight, and he watched as they swayed lightly to the music emitting from somewhere in the house. It was light as a feather, the music, a small piano tune that echoed through the lower level, its sounds traveling effortlessly up the stairs of the home. Mr. Weasley dipped his wife and Mrs. Weasley giggled like some of the young girls George had seen in the village, kind of a nervous giggle, and he watched her blush. He saw his mother placed her head gently on Mr. Weasley’s chest and they both closed their eyes, and George wondered if they were happy to have a moment of peace without their seven children running around causing mayhem.

He wondered if they danced like this every evening, after everyone had already gone to bed.

George noticed a weird sort of feeling in his chest; he wondered why his heart was hurting. Was it because there was something wrong? But then he realized that wasn’t the case, for the aching in his heart came from his pure desire to find exactly what his mum and dad had -- a love like none other, with seven children, a home with multiple stories, and more treacle tarts than one needs.

He vowed in that moment, as he watched his parents from the staircase and tapped his foot quietly in rhythm with the music, that he’d find love like that one day.

He wanted someone to choose him first, just like his parents chose one another.

He brought his hand to his chest, as if to calm his rapidly beating heart, for the sheer idea of finding a love like theirs filled him with such excitement that he was certain he wouldn’t be able to sleep now. Seven-year-old George Weasley laid in bed, ignoring the soft snores from his twin across the room, his eyes wide with wonder as he dreamt of the woman he’d dance with one day.

Twelve-year-old George Weasley wasn’t ready to date. He was only twelve years old! He much preferred to dream.

He knew when he looked at the girl across from him that she wasn’t the one, lovely as she was. He adjusted his Gryffindor tie and cleared his throat and focused on the Potions assignment in front of him. It wasn’t exactly a date, was it? He was in a Potions lesson with his classmates, and Snape. But when the cute blackhaired Hufflepuff approached him and asked if he’d like to work together on the next of Snape’s ridiculous concoctions, Fred poked his brother in the ribs and winked, as if to say, If you don’t partner up with her, you’re a right prat.

And so George did what he thought was gentlemanly and he said yes. He could tell by the rose pink colour that flooded her cheeks that she was smitten with him, and that she’d asked him to be her partner because she was smitten. And he had to admit, she really was quite cute and very, very kind.. and rather smart for her age as well. And he knew that she’d make some man very, very happy someday. It just wouldn’t be him.

He did what was asked of him. He measured out the correct amount of powdered Griffin claw. He made sure he and his partner had enough salamander blood for their strengthening solution. And he smiled back at his partner, though his heart and his mind were still with the girl he’d dance with one day.

The Hufflepuff tried her hardest to capture his heart, but it belonged to someone he had yet to meet.

She wasn’t the one that felt like home.

-- -

Sixteen-year-old George Weasley didn’t understand why all of his classmates wanted to snog people and move onto someone else without so much as a blink.

So many people were pairing off and lasting less than a week before moving onto someone new. George rattled his brain for answers, he searched the eyes of his classmates for explanations, but he couldn’t understand why people would want to hop from one person to another. Didn’t they want to find love, a love that’s long lasting and pushes boundaries and moves mountains and weathers the storms it meets?

But perhaps, he worried, maybe that’s where he was going wrong.

Maybe, in order to find what he truly yearned for, he needed to be reckless and love without really loving.

Maybe he needed to search less, in order to find her.

And so he decided, with much persuasion from Fred, that he’d ask that pretty brunette Ravenclaw to the Yule Ball, and he’d dance and drink firewhisky and maybe he’d even kiss her, if the courage he tried to summon stayed with him throughout the night.

And maybe if he did all those things, he’d forget about the one his heart desperately craved.

And for a little while, he really did forget. Perhaps he could get on board with this “love the one you’re with” mentality. Maybe he could just be in the moment without worrying about everyone else. Maybe he could kiss girls without feeling anything, maybe he could date casually, maybe he could be like everyone else his age and not think about weddings and marriage and having children.

“Georgieee,” the Ravenclaw slurred on the dance floor. She tugged on his tie and pulled him close. He could smell the firewhisky on her breath and his heart began to pound when she pressed her lips lightly to his cheek. “Dance with meeee.”

No, this wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted more than this. He’d always wanted more than this.

George begrudgingly agreed and caught Fred’s eye from across the dance floor. The elder twin threaded his brows together and pushed the air with his hands, as if encouraging his younger brother to go for it. The Ravenclaw dazedly draped her arms across George’s shoulders and he sheepishly looked down toward his feet, but didn’t wrap his arms around her.

“George Weasleeeeyyyy,” she slurred again, hiccoughing in between giggles, “I said dance with meeeeeee.”

He tried to fight it, tried not to think of what he always did, but he couldn’t help it.

This girl was not the one. He could tell, because there was no love in the way she said his name. There was no true feeling in the surplus of kisses she kept pressing to his jawline, and there was no warmth radiating from her -- not the kind that mattered, anyway.

He knew, as he placed his hands gently on her waist and swayed with her to the music, that this was not what love felt like. This is not what home felt like.

He danced anyway, even though it was not the kind of dancing he’d seen his parents do all those years ago, and he allowed himself to think about what the rest of his classmates weren’t -- the person he’d hold in his arms, who��d be the mother to his children, who’s kisses would send him spiraling, who’s embraces would become all too familiar in a way that would comfort him in the darkest of times.

He allowed himself again, to dream of true love.

-- -

Seventeen-year-old George Weasley was sick and tired of waiting for the one.

It sounded kind of dramatic in his own head, seeing as he was only seventeen, but he’d known now for ten years exactly what he was looking for, and ten years seemed like a lifetime.

It didn’t help that nearly all of his friends had gotten over their casual dating scene and were now all enthralled with their significant others. He felt so painfully lonely, though he’d never admit it to a soul. He could hardly admit it to himself.

One evening, he shot up from the couch and out of the common room in a fit of fury, for if he had to see Fred and Angelina snogging in the corner for one more minute, he was quite certain he was going to explode from disgust. He was happy for his brother, of course he was, but he didn’t need to see it. Not as often as that.

He found Ron sitting in the Great Hall with Ginny, Harry, and Hermione and plopped beside them all before engaging in exciting rounds of exploding snap. But as the night grew darker and he grew more tired, George noticed the undeniable chemistry between his sister and Harry and his brother and Hermione. Though they all hadn’t admitted to one another how they felt, George had found it obvious, and he politely excused himself before he tugged his jacket rather angrily around his shoulders before he walked out into the winter storm, just to feel the cold air numb his skin.

He walked out of the castle, over toward the owlery, through the treacherous amounts of snow. Anything to distract George from everyone who’d apparently been hit by Cupid’s bloody arrow.

Ever since he was born, it had always been Fred and George. What about George and Fred? Was it because Fred was older? And why were people always lumping them together? Just because they’re twins? George loathed that. They were individuals too. He was always second, in everything.

In getting hand-me-downs from his older brothers. In being referred to with his twin. In lessons when the professors would call out their names for attendance, because F came before G in the alphabet. And even when it came to love; all the girls always seemed to flock to Fred instead, because he was more exciting. More boisterous. Less shy.

The cold, winter air bit violently at his exposed skin, and he reckoned it hurt less than watching everyone around him find someone that chose them, all while he was still waiting for the right person to choose him.

George Weasley didn’t want to be someone’s second choice.

He wanted to be someone’s first.

-- -

Twenty-year-old George Weasley didn’t know how exactly he ended up here.

He didn’t know how he ended up in a relationship three years deep, without having said “I love you” once and actually meaning it.

George thought he might’ve found her, his person, during his seventh year. She was beautiful and kind and everything he thought he’d hoped and dreamt of. Her soft touch, her yearning eyes, the way she curled up next to him in the dormitories late at night and held onto him as she slept -- it was everything, and it seemed to be perfect.

He thought that maybe, perhaps, she was it. But even so, he found himself waiting, still, for that feeling… the one on the staircase he’d felt so long ago.

But the pain of realizing that she wasn’t who he’d been searching for was more heartbreaking than the pain of him asking her to leave.

He’d been looking at her through rose coloured lenses and had been ignoring the truth that was right in front of him.

He should’ve left years ago, when that Gryffindor girl began to make backhanded jokes about the shop, and his dreams of becoming a business entrepreneur, claiming that she was only joking around.

He should’ve left when that girl showed up late to the grand opening of their shop, nearly a year into their relationship.

He should’ve left when he held her in his arms, and still didn’t feel comfortable beside her.

His heart ached for it, what he’d felt on the staircase at the mere age of seven. And perhaps he’d become so desperate for it, that he took something disguised as true love.

But the truth was that he knew, deep in his soul, that this Gryffindor girl wasn’t the one. He’d just chosen, outright, to ignore it. Perhaps if he could forget that idea that “the one” would smack him square in the face with an overwhelming sensation of knowing, he could have learned to love her, even when he hadn’t had that smack in the face moment when he’d met her all those years ago.

But it hadn’t happened, had it? He hadn’t grown to love her. Not truly, anyway. And she hadn’t grown to love him. Not in the way he wanted to be loved, at least.

Because it was more than just heated kisses and lazy days in bed and all things physical that he wanted.

It was about love. Pure, blinding, unadulterated love.

He stood frozen solid in the middle of his tiny flat and watched as that Gryffindor girl grabbed her coat off of the hanger and raised her hand slightly before slipping silently into the dimly lit hallway for the very last time. And George poured himself a glass of bourbon and sat near the window, looking up at the stars, expecting to feel sad at her departure, but in fact, he didn’t feel sad at all.

He felt hopeful.

He hadn’t found the one yet, but he knew she was out there, getting to him as fast as she possibly could.

Though his brothers had urged him to come to the pub and meet someone else, George didn’t fancy the idea of doing that. He was over that entire scene, just as he was in school when everyone was pairing off and moving on immediately. He didn’t want something fleeting, and he didn’t want something meaningless.

He wanted something true.

-- -

Twenty-three-year old George Weasley was certain that he was never going to find that feeling ever again, for as long as he lived.

While all of his friends were out at the pubs, meeting people and fooling around as if feelings weren’t involved, George was walking aimlessly through the streets to work. He was constantly dealing with the haze above his head, waiting for it to lift. He was turning down girls left and right and ignoring his brothers’ insistence on dating casually again.

He didn’t want to waste any more of his time on people who weren’t going to reach out and trace circles onto his chest in the middle of the night, or who weren’t going to dance around the kitchen in his clothes while cooking dinner, or who weren’t going to look at him with eyes so tender, it would render him useless for days to come.

He’d been waiting sixteen years to find his person, the one who would choose him everyday over everyone else, and in hindsight it didn’t quite seem like a long time. But as he cried silently to himself every few nights in bed, feeling the empty space next to him and yearning for the one who was meant to be there, sixteen years felt like a lifetime.

He thought for a long while, that maybe she was in another country, or maybe she was an auror or something, fighting her way through the monsters of the wizarding world.

He’d thought for a bit that perhaps he just hadn’t met her yet.

But as the days dragged on and he found himself lost in crowds, searching face after face, looking for hers, he truly felt as though all hope was lost.

And so George paced back and forth in the kitchen of his flat, biting at his nails and pouring himself hefty glasses of wine, keen on ignoring everyone’s attempts at getting him to come out.

Maybe this was what he deserved.

Maybe because he wasn’t out there, sleeping with people whose names he wouldn’t remember come morning like everyone else, he was just going to be alone.

Maybe there really wasn’t someone out there for him. Maybe not everyone finds true love. Maybe his parents had just gotten lucky.

The dull ache in George’s heart grew stronger, and for the upteenth night in a row, he laid in bed and gripped the covers and cried himself to sleep, his tears sliding down his cheeks the same way the evening rain slid down the window terrace.

-- -

Twenty-four-year old George Weasley stopped dead in his tracks as soon as he felt it.

That feeling. The one from the staircase as he watched his parents dance, all those years ago.

Heart pounding, chest rising, hands freezing.

It hit him square in the chest without warning, nearly knocking him over though his feet were rooted into the ground at the spot, smack dab in the middle of that cafe in the middle of London.

Someone was playing a slow, soft piano tune coming from the other end. People were filtering in and out, asking the man in front of them what exactly he was staring at and why he wasn’t moving. But George Weasley stood where he was, not taking his eyes off of you.

You were reading furiously, flipping through pages of a book gripped tightly in your hands, as though you couldn’t devour the plot fast enough. George watched with admiration as a gentle smile tugged at your lips, as your eyes scanned the words quickly, as you tapped your foot on the ground, in rhythm with that slow piano.

He watched with dazed eyes and parted lips as you finished the end of your book. You dabbed your eyes with a tissue and clutched the book tightly to your chest, overwhelmed, clearly, by the end of the plot. George’s heart soared so high at your passion that he found himself struggling to hold back the I love you that was pressing behind his lips.

You immediately took a long sip of your tea and placed your finished book back into your bag, only to pull out another and immediately immerse yourself in the next story. George laughed to himself, stunned that you were so intent on falling into someone else’s storyline, if only for a little while, that you hadn’t dared take a break from one book to the next. You merely jumped right in.

He wondered if his overwhelming feelings called out to you like a signal of sorts, because just as he was working up the courage to walk over to you, you looked up. You searched the room for a moment before meeting his gaze and suddenly, the world around you both stopped.

George found himself wanting to know everything about you. He itched to devour up any and all information you’d be so kind to provide to him -- your name, your favorite color, your birthday. He wanted to know what book you’d just been reading, and what about it had moved you so much to the point of tears. He wanted to know everything, but deep in his soul, he also knew that he’d have years to learn it all.

In fact, he’d have the rest of forever.

Your eyes went soft and George began to feel the steady pounding of his heart increase, and to his amazement, he noticed a gentle smile tug at the edges of your lips.

And he smiled back.

He’d been right all along. That feeling of finding the one would smack him square in the face. He wondered, as he peered at you now, biting down on your bottom lip and looking toward the ground, why he’d ever doubted himself in the first place. And he wondered when you looked back up at him once again and raised a hand to say hello, if you’d been smacked in the face with that feeling too, just like he had.

He resisted the urge to pour his heart out to you, right here and right now. He’d have time.

Perhaps today was just about having today, and recognizing that you were everything he’d been looking for since that evening on the staircase.

He’d tell you this one day.

-- -

“And what does… Lumox mean again?”

George laughed and squeezed your hands. “You mean, Lumos?”

You bit your lip in embarrassment and laughed, too. “Yes! Lumos. That’s the one that produces light, right?”

George brought your hands to his lips and kissed them gently. You two were seated inside a bustling restaurant in Diagon Alley, and he wondered if people passing by realized just how cozy you two looked together. “You’re more brilliant than most witches I know.”

You cocked your head to the side with an air of confidence and batted your eyelashes at him. “What can I say, Georgie? I may have been born a… Mugglie… but maybe I was meant to be a witch.”

George had to bite down on his lip to keep from laughing. He couldn’t get over how painfully adorable you were as you attempted to pronounce these wizarding words and learn spells and charms and things as he taught you all things about the wizarding world. You took his wand and pointed it at your wine glass, pretending to transfigure it. You couldn’t, of course, since you weren’t a magical being. But George didn’t mind. He could watch you pretend all day long.

In all his years of studying magic, he’d never felt anything quite like this.

BONUS, just because i hate feeling sad asf:

Thirty-two-year old George Weasley rocked his redheaded daughter back and forth in his arms, until he was certain that she was sound asleep again -- her mouth open wide as she began to snore softly when he placed her back into her crib.

He peered up at the clock on the wall and blinked a few times before 4:32 a.m. came into focus. Exhausted, he made his way back into his room before sliding into bed.

And there it was again. That feeling.

You turned over in bed to face him, squinting in the darkness as your eyes adjusted to the scene unfolding before you. Groggily, you reached out and traced your fingers across his jawline. His heart nearly stopped. “Is she alright?” you asked sleepily.

George grinned softly and leant forward before pressing a kiss to your forehead. He whispered, “She’s alright. Go back to sleep.”

Though your eyes were already shut, you reached out again and took his hand in yours before bringing your lips gently to his fingers. “Okay.. I love you.. G’night..”

But you were asleep again before George could respond, so instead he pulled you closely to him and began to gently trace circles on your bare shoulders. He breathed in the smell of your shampoo, and listened intently for the beating of your heart that had fallen into sync with his.

Tears pushed at the edges of his eyes, but he slowed his breathing and reminded himself, again, that there was no longer an empty space beside him in bed.

Maybe he shouldn’t have ever given up hope, but perhaps giving up hope was what made finding you so much sweeter.

If only he could tell seven-year-old George what he’d find when the time was right.

And in the darkness, as the rain pattered on the rooftop of his house and he felt your embrace tighten around his body, he whispered into the silence, “I love you, too.”

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[stina-is-a-punk-rocker]

jacqueline wilson’s ‘love lessons’

tw: abuse, pedophilia, characters making Bad Decisions, long unnecessary spiel about my childhood like I’m running a recipe blog

It’s funny how loads of the authors who helped shaped me into the vaguely humanoid being I am today have names beginning with the letter ‘J’; Judy Blume, Jeff Kinney, John Green, J.K. Rowling (yikes, I know) … and Jacqueline Wilson.

I’ve never owned a Jacqueline Wilson book of my own; they were always borrowed from a friend, or from a friend of a friend, or from a friend of a cousin- you get the gist. Her books, for me, come with an entire aesthetic: something reminiscent of yard sales, and reading under the covers with a flashlight, and being lulled into a false sense of security by the deceptively innocent Nick Sharratt illustration on the cover until someone’s best friend gets mowed over.

So I knew what I was getting into when I picked up Love Lessons. I knew this was going to be Fucked Up; and boy, was I right.

(Here’s the part where I warn you about spoilers.)

From an abusive dad to creepy child predator teachers to slut-shaming and victim blaming, this book has it all.

The main character is Prudence ‘Prue’ King, who is homeschooled at the beginning of the book, along with her sister, Grace. Their parents remain rooted in the early twentieth century, and are very strict about- well, everything. No TV, no computers, not a single mobile phone in the house; their clothing worse than the orphans’ from Annie; and their father remains distinctly distrustful of modern institutions like the school and the hospital; and so on, and so forth.

Daddy King suffers a stroke, and has to be taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, Mrs. King (a floppy, spineless woman who lives in fear and awe of her, frankly horrid, husband) sends the girls to school, behind the then invalid Mr. King’s back. Cue Prue and Grace being the freakshows of the school, with their strange clothing and overbearing mother.

Grace manages to make friends, but Prue remains alone. The kids are dicks, the teachers are dicks… well, all of them but one. And that’s the art teacher, Mr. Raxberry (I just couldn’t get over that name; it seems like something you’d name a mythical plant from Pixie Hollow or some shit. I’m assuming it isn’t an actual name, since the spelling & grammar check on my computer doesn’t seem to recognize it), or Rax, as he’s called.

Oh, yeah; Prudence’s favorite subject in school is art, and she’s a whiz at it. This is relevant, because reasons.

And here’s where stuff gets murky. Prue develops a crush on Rax- which is perfectly normal. I’m definitely no stranger to it; I’ve had crushes on my teachers, my mum admitted she used to think one of her professors was cute. And yeah, as I grew older, I grew out of those crushes and now have a markedly more refined taste in men (unless he’s 5’ 7’’, born in ’97 and named Bang Chan, I don’t want him); and my mum married my dad, so I’m assuming she did, too. Admittedly, now that my dad teaches at a university, it’s icky to think that there might be students who have crushes on him- but I digress.

My point is, loads of us have liked our teachers. But I doubt the majority of us have acted on it.

And Prue actively showing her interest in Rax isn’t the worst part. That’s a spot reserved for Rax reciprocating her feelings.

Guess Ezra Fitz and Ms. Grundy (yes, I watched Riverdale; please don’t cancel me) have a new addition to the Creep Club.

The age of consent in the UK is 16, if I’m not mistaken. Prue is 14. She’s just barely become a teenager, and she’s being preyed upon.

Because that is what Rax is. He’s a predator; he preys upon this vulnerable girl who’s never been in a relationship before- hell, she’s never even had friends- her father’s abusive, so she obviously doesn’t have the best experience when it comes to men- she’s unpopular at school, with the students and staff alike- and he lures her in. I don’t care how bloody nice he is to Sarah, or what a good dad he is (well, he’s really not, seeing as he cheated on the mother of his children WITH A BLOODY FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD CHILD)- the guy’s a fucking pedophile.

I was staunchly stuck at a yellow light with him; like, sure, maybe Prue thinks he’s flirting with her- maybe she’s looking at this all wrong, she doesn’t know how relationships work- see, he drew a picture of Sarah, too, in his secret notebook- Prue’s just reading into this too much- up until he says he loves her.

Dude. Humbert fucking Humbert. She’s fourteen, for Christ’s sake, and you’re married. You have two children. She’s a child. She’s probably closer to your son’s age than she is to yours.

(This is the part where I bury my head in my pillow. And scream. Extensively, and with passion.)

The book does make some genuinely good commentary on slut-shaming and victim blaming and abusive parenting. And on one hand, I can see why so many people find issue with the romanticization of the when I kissed the teacher trope- but I can defend it, too.

The book is in Prue’s perspective. She thinks she’s in love with Rax, so obviously, she’s not going to throw in some valuable moral at the end- because she’s too young and inexperienced to think otherwise. And sadly, there are loads of instances of child abuse that go unreported because the victims just don’t know better.

What I have issue with is how the school dealt with it, ultimately. Prudence, a child, has to deal with the consequences of the actions of a literal child predator. Sure, Rax ‘clears his name’ by cooking up some bullshit story about how it was only a crush and he didn’t encourage it, but you’d think other adults would know better and, oh, I dunno- dig deeper into it, instead of blaming it on a child?

“She says you told Mr. Raxberry you loved him and he held you in his arms and fondled you.”

Which Prudence denies, because, again, she doesn’t know better. She then goes on to say that they did nothing wrong. To which the adult speaking to her, in this case, the principal, Miss Wilmott, goes on to say:

“I’m not sure that’s entirely true… I feel that there are some aspects of your friendship that could be considered inappropriate.”

FYI, lady, he kissed her- multiple times (not that kissing her once makes him any more redeemable), and told her he loved her, and admitted to fantasizing about running away with her and leaving his family behind. Fun fact: do you know Prudence is underage?

You’d think that Miss Wilmott would maybe give this whole fiasco a favorable ending, but it turns out she listens to school gossip;

“I haven’t been at all happy with your attitude. You don’t seem to understand how to behave in school. I’ve heard tales of unsuitable underwear and then a silly romance with one of the boys in your class. I feel that in the space of a few short weeks you’ve made rather a bad name for yourself… I don’t know whether you intend to be deliberately insolent but you certainly come across as an unpleasantly opinionated and arrogant girl… I can’t help feeling that you’ll be much better off elsewhere. I shall try hard to engineer a suitable transfer to another school.”

And then she comes out with this gem:

“If you won’t leave, then I shall have to ensure that Mr. Raxberry finds another position.”

“No, you can’t do that! He’s a brilliant teacher.”

“You should have thought of that before you started acting in this ridiculous and precocious manner. If I were another kind of headteacher, I would have Mr. Raxberry instantly suspended. There could even be a court case. He would not only lose his job, he could find himself in very serious trouble. Did you ever stop to think about that?”

Girlboss, gaslight and gatekeep. The fucking trifecta.

Also, by ��another kind of headteacher’, does she mean the kind of headteacher WHO DOESN’T LET CHILD PREDATORS ROAM FREELY WITHIN THEIR HALLS?

This bitch is out here blaming a child, a literal child, for the crimes of an adult man.

The only time Prue seems aware of the fact that Mr. Raxberry is actually a very shit person is her immediate thoughts that follow after she tells Miss Wilmott she’ll take the fall;

I so wanted to save darling Rax- and yet why hadn’t he wanted to save me? Had he told Miss Wilmott it was all my fault, that I’d got a ridiculous crush on him, that I’d made ludicrous advances to him? … I wanted to tell this horrible, patronizing woman how hungrily he’d kissed me, but I couldn’t do it. I loved him. I had to help him.

NO, SWEETHEART; YOU MOST DEFINITELY DO NOT.

And maybe I’m going overboard with all these excerpts, but here’s what Rax has to tell Prue, after school, following her expulsion:

“I let her think the worst of you, the best of me, just to save my skin. I said it was ridiculous talking about a love affair between us. I said you simply had a crush on me, and that I was just trying to be kind… You were brave enough to stand up to me and force me to acknowledge the truth… I love you… That’s why I had to take a risk and see you this one last time. I didn’t want you to think I didn’t care… Every night when I close my eyes, I’ll think of us together in this car and how badly I wanted to drive off with you. I’ll imagine us walking hand in hand at the water’s edge… I wish I wasn’t such a coward.”

(I burrow into the pillow further. I’m trying to suffocate myself.)

And that’s where I think Wilson went wrong. Sure, Prudence getting expelled for something that was completely out of her hands is unfair, and horrible, but it’s real. That shit can happen.

What’s bad is showing Rax in a positive light after all that. If only Wilson had written Rax to not be the Romeo he thinks he is. Make him ignore Prudence, throw her under the bus in front of her face, instead of this star-crossed lovers bullshit it’s made out to be. Show your younger audience that Rax is not a good man. I’ve got a little over two weeks left for my twentieth; I can see why this is unacceptable. But I was a little younger than Prue when I watched Pretty Little Liars, and my only gripe with Aria dating Ezra was that Noel Kahn was so much cuter.

It shows when you scroll down the Goodreads reviews; you’ve got adults giving it one or two stars, and teenagers giving it four or five, with their biggest complaints being, “but Toby was cuter!!!”

Other non-pedophilia related complaints regarding the book include: Prudence being unlikable- which I didn’t really notice, considering she reacted to some people way better than I would’ve, even at 19 (which probably says a lot more about me than it does about Prue, but oh well). Still, Prudence obviously isn’t the most prudent of people- and again, she’s fourteen. Look me in eye and tell me you weren’t an arsehole at that age (unless you’re fourteen now, in which case, I assure you that you’ll look back on yourself someday and go ‘wtf was I thinking’). Bringing up Toby’s dyslexia in an argument was low, though.

There were people who thought the Kings’ almost-Amish lifestyle was exaggerated and unrealistic, but I assure you, it may very well be real. There are 8 billion people on the world- it’s fair to assume that several of them are complete weirdos.

Grace was a sweet character, and I adored her with every fiber of my being. As were her friends Iggy and Figgy. Honestly, I would’ve loved a book about Iggy, Figgy and Piggy’s (mis)adventures too.

[wolfstar-supremacy-innit]

"Tell who?"- Part 1

Remus smiled into his pillow. Why’s he so cute? He felt something rustle under his stomach. Reaching under himself, he pulled out a wrinkled piece of parchment. His resolutions list. Remus flipped onto his back and squinted at the letters. Warmth was pooling in his chest. Something is missing here. He patted the bed in search for his quill and ink, then wrote:

5. Fuck this I wanna tell him I love him

The paper slipped to the floor as Remus’ arms gave out and he drifted into an instantaneous, profound sleep.

Alternatively:

The Marauders are in their 6th year at Hogwarts, it's New Year's Eve and Remus writes a New Year's resolutions list. Sirius finds it the next day. The story is written from Remus' point of view. It's wolfstar and lighthearted. Kinda inspired by this fanfic.

This is part 1 of the story. I will be posting the other parts separately here and also the full fic on ao3 (I will link everything when it's done, check this post for that in some time). Warnings: underage drinking and smoking, mentions of anxiety disorder.

Enjoy! :)

Part 2 Part 3

Remus sat on the windowsill in the 6th year boys’ dormitory rolling a cigarette with magic. Well, trying to. He carefully placed the tobacco and filter on the small paper and tapped it with his wand, but half of the contents plopped out. The spell needed perfecting, obviously. Remus had picked up the habit of smoking socializing with some muggle kids back home during that summer. He knew it was stupid, but he had thought it looked cool. Later, he also found out he quite liked the lightheadedness that followed smoking a cigarette quickly. And some more time after that, there was a boy at school to try to impress, but that's a little embarrassing to admit. A nicotine addiction was surely well on its way to becoming a reality, but Remus didn't like to think about that. And anyway, with the war looming over everyone's head, who cares if a 16-year-old werewolf is addicted to nicotine? The problem was that cigarettes were expensive and Remus didn't have a lot of money to spare, so he resigned to rolling as it was cheaper and lasted longer. With some practice, he'll be able to assemble them with magic effortlessly anyway.

"Hiya, Moony," James said, walking into the room, "you're not getting ready?"

"Yes, I am." Remus pointed at his cigarette rolling arrangement, although James was probably referring to the fact that he wasn't dressed for a party.

It was the 31st of December. The four of them were staying at Hogwarts for the entirety of the holidays, given that the full moon had been on the 26th. Well, that was the excuse they gave their parents. The real reason why they hadn’t gone to the Potters after the 26th, where they usually spent the Christmas holidays, was that Sirius had stumbled upon a flyer for a gig and party occurring in Hogsmeade that Friday. James and Sirius were ecstatic, but Remus was pretty apathetic towards the idea of going. With his crush on his best friend and all. In fact, he had been trying to steer clear of settings in which he was sure Sirius would look particularly, well, hot. However, there was a flaw in his thinking, he had realised. Day by day, Sirius was beginning to look extraordinarily hot to Remus in every setting, and there was nothing he could do about it.

When Sirius had arrived at their train compartment at the beginning of that school year, Remus was very, very confused. Sirius had run away from home and spent the majority of the summer at the Potters, but in the two months, he had changed profoundly. Although they had been exchanging letters the whole summer, nothing could've prepared Remus for the feeling of panic bubbling up in him when Sirius had stepped through the sliding doors. After finally being released from his family's clutches, the freedom and eagerness to express himself had been immediately evident. Sirius had let his hair grow out longer than usual, past his shoulders, messier and curlier, but all the better looking (if that was even possible). He'd gotten taller and his shoulders broader, his muggle clothes sitting flawlessly on his lean figure. He’d looked cool, to say the least- chunky black lace-up boots, black trousers, a small silver loop earring in one ear and, of course, a black leather jacket. Remus had been perplexed and silent the whole train ride. What is wrong with me, he had thought. It wasn't envy or disapproval. It was excitement for his best friend's joy after years of trauma, of course, it was. But what the hell was that lump in his throat and the inability to look Sirius in the eye? Later that week, as Sirius had stepped out of the bathroom with his shirt hanging loosely around his neck exposing his prominent collarbones, Remus had realised with a sinking feeling that it all impossibly resembled a crush. A crush on Sirius?? I am so fucked, he had thought as he swallowed a lump.

In the following months, Remus had been desperately attempting to push his feelings into the deep dark depths of his mind and just forget about it. Still, as it turned out, Sirius' natural charm and charisma were impossible to look past. He would casually sling his arm over Remus' shoulders on their way to class or wink at him when James said a sentence without picking up on the innuendo of it. And it made Remus' heart jump out of his chest. On top of all that, Sirius was, in all likelihood, the most handsome bloke in the whole of Britain. So much so that talking to him made Remus' stomach twist with nervous energy most of the time. Anxious talking to my best friend of five years... He felt completely off his rocker.

In the present time, Sirius threw the dorm door open, stepping inside with Peter following and Remus jumped a little. "Lads," he said rubbing his palms together, "tonight's the night. We're getting plastered!"

"No," Remus said, still struggling with the cigarettes, now resolving to roll them manually. He wasn't very keen on his big mouth outrunning his drunk brain as it so usually happened after a few drinks. And now he had a dangerous secret to keep...

"Oh come on, Moony! This is our night off the chain!" There wasn't much Remus could say no to with those big grey eyes looking into his. Before he could say anything, Sirius asked: "Mate, could you roll me a few?" He had picked smoking up from Remus, of course. Sirius had said it looked "wicked" and “punk rock”. Remus was more proud of that than he was willing to admit.

"Sure," Remus replied.

"Cheers." Sirius winked at Remus and his stomach flipped. "Right. I'm going to get ready. We gotta clear off when I get out," Sirius said disappearing into the bathroom.

Remus successfully rolled up enough cigarettes for him and Sirius and placed them into his case. Oblivious to James' and Peter's conversation, Remus contemplated how he would survive the night. He'll have his cigs and the music, he concluded. He'll be fine.

He changed into his teal sweater and dark jeans and plopped onto his bed, gazing into the wooden board above him for a while. He sighed. In a few hours, 1976 would die and the illusion of a new slate in the form of a new year will be born. Remus was aware it was silly, but he liked creating little lists of goals for himself for the following year. They were never anything revolutionary, just a couple of small and realistic things he would like to accomplish. He thought about it for a few moments, then reached into the drawer of his bedside table and pulled out some parchment, ink and a quill. He wrote:

1977 New Years resolutions:

1. Get mum that record she's been talking about for months now

2. Master the cig rolling spell

3. Improve on non-verbal magic

4. Complete that muggle reading challenge Lilly and I compiled

Sirius then came out of the bathroom dolled up and with very discreet lines of black eyeshadow around his eyes. The parchment and quill slipped from Remus’ fingers. The deep grey now stood out even further than usual. "Should we get a move on, then?" Remus rolled on his bed, pressed his face into the pillow and groaned softly, pretending it was because of his reluctance to go. He didn't know how many more of Sirius' little surprises he could take before his head imploded. This was clearly one of those times Sirius would look just exceptionally fucking fit.

"You're wearing that, Moony?" Remus picked his head up to look at Sirius, not being able to suppress the disappointment that was creeping up.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Well, you wear sweaters every day, don’t you? This is a party we’re going to!” Remus sat up and peered at him silently, allowing himself to take a better look at the eyeshadow that suited him wonderfully.

“Where did you get that?” James piped in, finally noticing Sirius’ make up.

“Borrowed it from Marls. Now, Moony, let’s see...” He started rummaging through his wardrobe and emerged with a dark grey shirt with a band logo on it. “Here you go, mate.” Sirius held it up for him to look at, then tossed it on the werewolf’s bed. Remus loved that shirt, especially because it was one of Sirius’ favourites.

“It’s December,” Remus said, but excitement was swirling in his stomach at the thought of wearing Sirius’ clothes. “Well, wear your coat.” He flashed Remus a smile. As the other boys started pilling their belongings into their pockets and putting on jackets, Remus reflected on changing into the shirt. Then he did it, quickly. Heat rose swiftly up his neck and cheeks at the realisation it smelled like Sirius. It felt like he would melt into the carpet any second now. Maybe he could allow himself to simmer in his infatuation just for tonight.

“Looking good.” Sirius smiled at him in the mirror as Remus checked himself out. The blush intensified.

The four boys crept down hallways using the Marauder’s Map to avoid Filch and the teachers and made it safely to the One-Eyed Witch Statue on the third floor. Sirius and James were practically skipping down the secret passage leading to Honeydukes. Even Remus felt a little giddy, but that may or may not have been because of the shirt. They arrived at the pub without hindrances and made their way inside. The place was loud and crowded as they pushed their way to a round wooden bar table. There were decorative lights of different shapes and sizes everywhere as well as tiny glass lanterns with magical flames flickering inside. The atmosphere was bewitching.

“Right,” Sirius clapped his hands, “what’re we drinking?”

Remus wanted a Butterbeer, but it was decided on his behalf that he would be having Firewhiskey. After all, Sirius was now of age and this was his first opportunity to take advantage of it. And so, Remus was coerced into his first glass of alcohol. He downed it quickly when the first girl approached Sirius. This was nothing new, of course. He was showered in attention from girls at school all the time. What was different now was that it gravely bothered Remus. However, Sirius paid no attention to the lady and instead turned to Remus to ask for a cigarette. Sirius smoking was a work of art; Remus could testify to that.

After the first drink, it was no trouble following up with more and the boys wanted to try weird sounding beverages from the menu. Thick, white smoke covered their table when James brought over the Simison Steaming Stout. Later, Remus had a shot (or three) of something called Checker’s Quick Everclear which made him inexplicably snap his fingers a few times after swallowing it. It was incredibly amusing and enough to get him rather half cut. After that, things became somewhat fuzzy. The band was fine, so they danced and drank and Remus felt just swell. It could’ve had something to do with Sirius ignoring the girls or plainly the amount of alcohol in his blood. By the time people began counting down from ten, Remus had half lost his ability to comprehend what was going on. He caught sight of James hugging Sirius when the clock hit midnight as the two of them shouted: “Happy New Year!” A couple seconds later Remus felt hands around himself and realised James hugged him next, yelling the same words, frankly a bit too close to his ear. It seemed that James was either holding his drinks well or just hadn’t drank that much. Sirius’ eyes, however, were half-closed, Remus noticed, as he moved to embrace him. It was just a smidge underwhelming. Remus was numb all over and barely felt the touch of Sirius’s arms over the colossal spike of adrenaline that flashed in his insides. He likely held him tighter than necessary and reluctantly pulled away when Sirius did too. Their cheeks brushed briefly in the process. When Remus looked at him, Sirius was smiling. His hair was messy, lips full and smooth. The eyeshadow hadn’t moved. Remus almost leaned in, but chose to just smile back instead. I have a secret to keep. Big secret. Scary secret. He slyly avoided hugging Peter (who was really sweaty) as his stupid, drunk brain kept repeating: Big. Scary. Secret. Secret. But he had already forgotten what was so confidential. He was really fuckin’ pissed, wasn’t he? Remus sniggered to himself.

Sirius and James wanted to go to the dancefloor and Peter followed them. Remus, however, wasn’t quite sure he could stand very well without having a table to hold on to once in a while. So he stayed put, fetched a cigarette from his case, lit it with his wand and leaned on his forearms on the table. Reveling in the fact that that he was allowing himself to feel all his forbidden feelings tonight, Remus observed Sirius in a manner he hoped was subtle. Sirius was dancing with his eyes closed, smooth, controlled movements, face tilted upwards. Christ, Remus banged his forehead on the table, why does he have to look like that?! It felt strangely pleasant, so he stayed in that position for some time. His head was swaying lightly and he got an inexplicable urge to laugh.

“Alright, Moony,” a voice brought him back to reality. Remus forced his head up.

“Splendid,” he said. Sirius smiled at him.

“We got any more fags?”

“Yup.” He pulled out the case out of his back pocket and handed it to Sirius, just as he asked: “Having fun, Moony?” Remus’ mouth stretched into a stupid, crooked smile.

“Oh, I’m having a brilliant time.”

“Good.” Sirius struggled pulling his wand out of the pocket of his tight-fitting (Sigh...) jeans. Remus brought his own wand to the cigarette hanging from the other boy’s lips and produced miniature blue flames. Sirius sucked in the smoke, held it briefly, then exhaled. “Cheers.”

Remus downed whatever it was leftover in James’ glass. Then his mind blacked out. The next thing he was aware of was being dragged up the stairs by James to their dormitory. “You’re a miracle,” he mumbled, thinking how James could have possibly snuck him through the castle in this state without getting caught. James laughed softly.

“Okay, Moony.”

Remus plopped on his bed face first and let out a long, loud half-sigh, half-groan. He heard Sirius laugh from his own bed. “Nooo, we’re not getting plastered tonight! No waaay,” he said in a teasing voice. Remus smiled into his pillow. Why’s he so cute? He felt something rustle under his stomach. Reaching under himself, he pulled out a wrinkled piece of parchment. His resolutions list. Remus flipped onto his back and squinted at the letters. Warmth was pooling in his chest. Something is missing here. He patted the bed in search for his quill and ink, then wrote:

5. Fuck this I wanna tell him I love him

The paper slipped to the floor as Remus’ arms gave out and he drifted into an instantaneous, profound sleep.

Part 2 Part 3

[bazypitchandsimonsnow]

Coming Home

Rating: T

Genre: Fluff

Word count: 4326

Summary: Simon Snow arrives home from work to his messy, tired, amazing family. Based on "a nap" request.

Read on AO3

AN: So this is the request I misread. I got the number wrong and thought it was first kiss, not nap. But it's all good because I had this idea immediately and it's very fluffy and cute. I love kid fics and always looking for an excuse to write more. Enjoy!

———————————————-

Simon

When I get home, I expect to hear the oven going and Baz’s classical music playing as he cooks. He bragged this morning about trying a brand new roast beef recipe he found online. Ever since staying at home, he’s been obsessed with online cooking videos, even though he’s usually too tired to actually make them. But he was very determined this morning, shouting about it from the other room while was trying to wrestle Tasha into her overalls.

But as I enter the flat, there is zero violin music, or oven whirring, or even baby cries. Wow, this place hasn’t been quiet in eleven months. (Coincidentally the age of our daughter.) Maybe they’re out for a walk. Baz takes Tasha out a lot. He tends to get stir crazy when he’s stuck inside for too long. The trials of a stay at home dad.

“Baz?” I say, very quietly in case Tasha is asleep but just loud enough for Baz to hear. Thank Crowley for a husband with vampire hearing. There’s no answer though. Huh.

I carefully place my bag next to the entrance, then take off my shoes. As I walk down the hall, I navigate around Tasha’s many toys left strewn about. Baz says she gets her messiness from me. I always remind him that she is a baby. I bend my head around the corner into the living room, and my heart instantly melts.

No wonder Baz isn’t in the kitchen. He’s right there, sprawled out on his back on the couch with messy hair and lazy clothes. He’s sleeping very lightly if his rapid eye movement is any clue. His right arm is hanging off the edge with some thick book in it while his other is on his chest. Or more accurately, placed lightly on Tasha’s back as she sleeps on top of him. She’s dressed in that duck onesie she loves so much, laying completely still and snoring softly. She looks like an adorable little freckled bean topped with a mess of tiny black curls. And they look far too adorable for words. I can’t help put snap a picture on my phone. Looks like I’ve got a new lock screen.

I walk over and kneel near his face. I put a piece of hair behind his ear. Apparently, that’s too much, because it startles him awake instantly. He inhales sharply as his eyes fly open, all his muscles tensing. I put a soothing hand on his shoulder.

“Hey, hey,” I whisper, “it’s alright, it’s just me. Tasha’s fine.”

He runs a hand down his face. “Sorry. I was reading and I shouldn’t have fallen asleep with her like this. It’s not safe-”

“Shhh, it’s fine. You’re a light sleeper. If she had moved you would’ve felt it. Besides,” I look at the sleeping baby with a grin, “you two look really cute.”

He sighs, but I can hear his smile. “Thank you. Though I think she’s the more adorable one between the two of us.”

“Hm, I love you, but I have to agree.”

“Aw, I’m so hurt,” he deadpans. He runs a hand up and down her small back. She yawns adorably, shifting against him, flexing her tiny hand. I put my hand under it, and her fingers curl around mine. Aleister Crowley, I never knew my heart could feel so full.

“How was your day?” I ask quietly.

“Quiet,” he replies. “Tasha and I watched some Postman Pat, then we went to the park, where she attempted to eat dirt again.”

“She’s curious.”

“She’s going to get sick.”

“Then luckily her Papa is a wizard, and a very good one.”

He chuckles softly. “True, thank Merlin. Well, after stopping her from eating dirt, she played with that Tyler kid. They still get along very well. Though his mother is also still relentless in her pursuit of me.”

I sigh, instinctively placing a protective/possessive hand on his arm. “I don’t know what else we can tell her. You’ve said you’re gay, and married, and not ever leaving me. She must tune us out to stare at your face.”

“What can I say, Snow? I’m irresistible.”

“Hm, don’t I know it.” I push my nose against his neck, and revel in the sigh Baz lets out. “Did you two have fun though?”

“Yeah, definitely. We usually have fun.” He makes a strange noise, somewhere between wistful and sad. “I can’t believe I’m supposed to go back to work in a month. It’s going to be so...weird.”

“Good weird or bad weird?”

He shrugs, a habit he’s reluctantly picked up from me. “Sort of both. Of course I love being with Tasha, and I’ll worry about her non-stop when she’s not right next to me. But it’ll be nice to talk to actual adults regularly again.”

“You see me everyday. Am I not an actual adult?”

Baz, my wonderful husband, gives me a deadpan look that silently says, “what do you think?” I return a large grin and kiss his cheek. He softens immediately.

“So, no fancy roast beef tonight?”

“Ugh.” His head falls back against the throw pillow. “Yeah, that’s not happening. After the park, Tasha had lunch and passed out on me while I was reading. It was too cruel to move, obviously.”

“Obviously. Want me to whip something together while she keeps resting?”

“No, no, it’s still my turn. And Tasha’s slept the whole afternoon, she’s fine. You take the baby, I’ll make spaghetti.”

“Huh, that rhymes. You’re a poet and you didn’t even know it, love.”

“Yeah, you’re not adult.”

I glare at him, but when he kisses my cheek, I immediately soften. He carefully lifts Tasha as he sits up. She starts to wake, dark blue eyes blinking up at Baz, and I can see the moment she recognises him. I love the little smile she makes.

“Papa,” she coos, reaching out to him, pawing at his face. He grins brightly.

“Good morning, little puff,” he says softly. “You had a nice nap, didn’t you? Yes you did.”

She giggles and grabs his long nose. She’s got a thing for noses, unfortunately. Baz winces when she inevitably grips too hard. He slowly pries her hand off.

“Her strength gives mine a run for it’s money,” he says with amusement and exasperation. “Take her before she tries to rip it off again?”

“Of course.” he passes her off to me. Tasha immediately goes for my nose this time. I try to pull my face away but it’s no use.

“Dada!” she shrieks, then babbles at me in her random made up words.

“Hi, lovely girl. Missed you all day.” I bring her closer, and get a whiff of what’s obviously in her nappy. “Whoo! Someone’s stinky.”

“Ha!” Baz shouts from the kitchen. “I’ve changed two nappies today. Your turn, Snow.”

I flip him off as I pass by with Tasha on my shoulder. She’s trying to gnaw on my shirt. Teething has been a very fun time.

I carefully place Tasha on the changing table. It’s very hard to change her nappy when she keeps trying to eat her own toes. I want to be annoyed, but it’s hard when she’s looking at me with big, beautiful blue eyes.

“Yeah, you’re cute and you know it.” I lean down and blow raspberries on her stomach. She shrieks and giggles, but also grabs my hair a little too hard. I pull away slowly. “Ow, ow. Papa is right, you’re very strong, love. We’ll have to teach you to use your powers for good.”

She burbles and goes back to sucking her own toe. My mobile buzzes in my back pocket, as I’ve been waiting for it to all day. I put a hand on Tasha to keep her steady while I check.

Penelope: Talked to Micah. He’s cool with ur idea. Talked to your vamp?

Simon: Not yet. Will at supper. Check out these cuties I came home to tho <3

Simon: [sent a photo attachment]

Penelope: Awwwww tired puppies huh?

Simon: Pooped from playing at the park and fending off single mums respectively

Penelope: Lol Baz needs “gay and married” tattooed across his forehead.

Simon: Yeah I thought the wedding ring did that

Penelope: Obvs not.

Penelope: It’s midnight here so I’m off to bed. Night Simon!

Simon: Night Pen <3

I pocket my phone and go back to my self-cannibalistic daughter. She’s gnawing on her big toe quite vigorously. I sigh and carefully pull it away from her mouth.

“That’s not gonna work, sweetheart,” I say kindly.

She smiles anyway, because of course she does. Tasha is a very happy kid. I hope she stays so throughout her life, and I’ll make sure she gets the chance. Her childhood is never going to be as scary as mine. It can’t be perfect, of course, but it won’t involve any group homes or super villains or civil wars. I promised her that the day she was born. I’m not ever going to break it.

“Shitty supper is ready!” Baz shouts.

I sigh and do Tasha’s onesie back up. With her on my shoulder, I walk into the dining room to see Baz setting out plates.

“You really shouldn’t swear around her,” I say. “She’s going to pick it up.”

“She’s not even a year old. It’s fine.”

“Fuck!” Tasha chirps right on cue. I give Baz a pointed look. He goes wide eye, then clears his throat and looks down.

“Okay, maybe she’s learning,” he says reluctantly.

I walk up and kiss his ear. He flushes instantly “Of course she is. She’s smart, like her Papa.”

He scoffs, but keeps on blushing. “Smooth, Snow. C’mon, let’s eat.”

Getting Tasha into her high chair is always a production. She’s stubborn and fidgety as anything, and hates being strapped into something so she can’t move. She squirms away from me and hits my face with her small hands.

“Darling, you have to sit in your chair,” I sigh.

“No!” she yells back.

“If you want to eat, you have to sit.”

“No! No no no!”

Crowley, fighting goblins and a chimera is nothing compared to a baby with sharp fingernails. After a lot of slaps and screams and scratches, I finally wrangle her into her chair. She pouts and glares at me. (It’s scary how much she looks like Baz when she does that. She really does learn a lot from him.) I sit down with a heavy sigh. When I look at Baz, he’s smirking as he places down the plates.

“What’s so amusing, Basil?” I ask with a slight edge.

“Just watching you get a taste of your own medicine,” he says, sounding annoyingly smug.

“Oh? And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ve finally met someone as stubborn as you; you’re own daughter. And it’s fu- very, hilarious.”

I roll my eyes  “Shut up, arsehole.”

“Language, Snow. For the baby’s sake.” He grins around his fork, pointing his spoon at the eleven month old currently smashing steamed carrots in her mouth.

We eat in companionable silence for awhile. It’s nice, to be quiet and let myself relax. It doesn’t last long though, as Tasha needs help to eat her food. How human babies survive truly amazes me. She only gets about a third of the vegetables and cut up meatballs actually in her mouth. Baz attempts to clean her up and fails miserably.

“There's no use in trying, love. She'll just get dirty again," I say through the spaghetti I'm currently eating.

“I can bloody well try,” he mutters. “Merlin knows I don’t want her to learn your manners.”

“Hey! Not fair!”

“You’re currently talking with your mouth full of pasta, love.”

I wish I could protest that, but I’d have to speak with my mouth full. I settle for a Baz/Tasha style glare. He smiles back. I finish my food before I speak again. I need Baz paying full attention to what I’m saying instead of my poor manners.

“So, Baz, I’ve been talking to Penny-”

“Uh-oh, that’s never good,” he says with a smirk.

I roll my eyes, just like Penny does. “Yeah, yeah, shut up. So she and Micah would really like to take some time off, and American kids are still off school at the end of the month. And since Tasha has never seen Chicago before, maybe we could all go visit them that week.”

Baz raises a brow (he’s so good at that.) “Spend a week in Chicago, huh? So are we going to be the people who bring a baby on an airplane?” He’s smirking with a playful glint in his grey eyes. Bastard. I shrug in the most sarcastic way I can.

“Well, unless you want to leave our eleven month old baby alone with someone while we’re out of the country, Mr. Overprotective, then yes.”

Baz chuckles. “I suppose a trip before I go back to work would be nice. And Bunce keeps saying she wants to see Tasha more.”

“And Tasha wants to see her!” I turn to Tasha with a big grin. “You wanna go see Auntie Penny, huh Tasha? Wanna see Auntie Penny and Uncle Micah and little Lucy and Harold?”

Tasha shrieks excitement. She jumps up and down and burbles, spraying vegetables and meat everywhere. I’m not sure she fully understands (Baz knows more about child development than me) but I like seeing her smile anyway. Even if she gets half chew green bean on my face.

“I think we’re all in agreement then,” Baz says as he flicks carrot off his cheek.

“Wonderful! I’ll text Penny tomorrow.” I lean in to Tasha, tickling her stomach. She giggles and pushes at my hands. “We’re going to Chicago, Tasha!”

Tasha claps happily, mushing more food between her fingers.

“She’s going to need a bath, huh?”.

“M-hm.” Baz starts cleaning up everyone’s plates. “I made dinner, so have fun with that.”

I sigh. Baz keeps grinning smugly. He’s such a bastard, and I love him so much. I unstrap Tasha from her high chair. “C’mon, darling, time for a bath. Let’s try not to get Daddy completely soaked this time, alright?”

She giggles and starts playing with my hair, yelling in her usual baby gibberish as she gets me just as filthy as her. I hear Baz snort from behind me. I promptly flip him off.

“Don’t do that,” I whisper to Tasha. “Not until you’re older. I’m teaching you very bad habits, aren’t I?”

“Dada,” Tasha burbles with her big baby grin. She wraps her arms around her neck, hugging me close. She likes hugging and physical affection in general. Baz says she gets it from me.

Maybe I’m teaching her bad habits, but I’m teaching her good ones too. Guess that’s parenthood.

———————————————-

“And they all lived happily ever after,” I say, closing the book. “The end.”

“Again!” Tasha yells. It’s become her favourite word. We finish playing on the swings or reading a story or watching a show, it’s always “again.” She’s just a very excitable kid.

“Sweetheart, it’s bedtime.” I lift her up from my lap and walk towards the crib. She squirms as I place her down.

“No!” And that’s her second favourite word. Baz mentioned yesterday that most babies her age usually don’t even have her limited vocabulary, so Tasha’s language is advanced. He said that with a very pleased expression.

“Yes, Tasha.”

“Noooooo!”

I sigh and leave her there to scream a bit, let her get it out of her system. But when I turn off the overhead and the night light on, she immediately stops. It projects stars and moons across the ceiling. Tasha loves it. She coos and reaches out to try to touch them. I stand over the crib, just looking at her wide, curious blue eyes. I wonder what it would be like to see through those eyes. To see everything as new and beautiful. Baz says I’m sappy. I say I’m curious, just like her.

“Night night, darling,” I whisper, kissing her forehead. “Love you.”

Tasha yawns, then her head lolls to the side. I take one last look before walking out.

Baz is sitting on our bed with his book when I enter. He doesn’t look up from it though as he doesn’t need to.

“She’s asleep?” he asks quietly.

“For now,” I reply, flopping next to him with my arm over his waist. “Knowing Tasha she’ll be up in half an hour crying for a bottle.”

“Hm, very true.” He carefully closes his book and places it on his bedside table. I have my eyes closed, but I can feel him put his arm around me. His other hand plays with my hair. He feels a bit cold like always, but I don’t mind. I run hot even without my magic. So being next to him cools me down, and I warm him up. We’re perfect for each other in that way, along with others.

“I’ve been thinking,” he whispers.

“Uh oh,” I mutter, “that’s never good.”

“I’m not plotting, Snow. I haven’t ‘plotted’ since we were teenagers.”

“No, but you tend to get lost in your big head.” I tap his forehead for emphasis. “It can get scary up there.”

He chuckles, his breath brushing against my skin. “Don’t I know it.” He holds me a bit tight and it makes me worried. “To be more specific, I’ve been thinking about my mother. What with the anniversary coming up and everything,”

My eyes fly open. Oh shit. I scoot up so we’re face to face. Baz’s face looks impassive, but I’ve been with him for over ten years, and I’ve known for even longer. I can see that it’s just an attempt to hold back the sadness and anxiety he’s feeling.

“Right. It’s next week.”

“Yes, it is,” he sighs. “It’s been awhile since the anniversary has felt this looming. But I’ve been thinking about her a lot this year. And not just because we named Tasha after her. I wonder a lot if she thought the same things about me I think about Tasha. If she’s feeling okay, if she’s healthy, if I’m messing her up too much.”

“Baz.” I hold his chin, making him look me right in the eye. “You’re not messing Tasha up, I promise.”

He chuckles and pulls my hand away, shaking his head. “No no, I probably am. Father says every parent fucks up their child. It’s just the degree that varies. Daphne concurred. My mother probably would’ve said the same thing.”

I humph, gripping his hand tightly. The metal of his wedding ring is a ressuaring feeling against my skin. “Well, I think you’re doing a wonderful job.”

His face softens, half his mouth pulled up. And I consider that a victory. “Thank you, love.”

I lean up and kiss him, because he looks so cute and I bloody well need to now. Plus I haven’t kissed him since I got home. That’s a wrong I can’t let stand. He curls his hand around my cheek, cradling me like I’m special. I suppose I am though, special to him. That thought just makes me kiss him harder. He holds my other cheek as I roll on top of him. He pushes up my shirt and I go for his trousers.

Then Tasha starts wailing.

Baz and I both pull away with heavy sighs. Penny warned us that babies destroy sex lives and we didn’t believe her. But she was right, as usual.

“I’ll get her,” he says. “You get the bottle?”

“Yeah, will do. Pick this up later?” I smirks, and he copies me.

“We’ll see. Now get off me, please.”

“As you wish.”

I roll off him (reluctantly) and scoot to the edge. One big stretch later, I’m walking down the hall with Baz. He turns off at Tasha’s room while I go to the kitchen. Heating up the bottle is easy enough. I’ve done it a lot over the past year, so it takes just five minutes. But by the time I get to Tasha’s room, Tasha is mostly calm again. Baz is rocking her back and forth in the chair. He’s softly singing some lullaby as she whimpers.

“There there,” he whispers, “you’re alright, little puff.”

She hiccups and curls into him. I walk in and sit on the chair arm, lifting the bottle up to Tasha. She drinks it happily. I place my cheek on Baz’s hair. I feel Baz’s other hand on my knee.

“Y’know,” he whispers, “I can’t help but also wonder what my mother think of us right now. What would happen if she got to meet Tasha.”

I lean a bit closer. “I know what happen.”

“Oh really? You can see other realities now, Snow?”

“No, but I can imagine. She’d be here all the time, cooing over Tasha, helping us out, giving us unsolicited parenting advice because she was as much of a know-it-all as you.” He lets out a scoffing chuckle, because he knows it’s true. “And, she’d be really proud of you. For how you’re taking care of Tasha and the life you’ve built.”

He doesn’t answer. He reaches up to Tasha’s face and fiddles with one of her small curls, wrapping it around one of his bony finger. The exact same way he’s been doing with my hair for years. It’s incredibly sweet.

“You’re doing good, Baz,” I say firmly, “don’t ever doubt that.”

“Your grammar is still atrocious at 32, Snow,” he whispers with absolutely no contempt, then kisses my cheek. “Thank you.”

“Anytime, darling.”

“I love you.”

I lean in closer, putting one hand on Baz’s and the other on Tasha’s side. I never had a family growing up, and I never thought I’d get one, yet here I am. It’s certainly what I expected, but it’s all mine. And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

“I love you, too.”

———————————————-

“Good morning, Simon!” Christine chirps. “What happened to you?”

Christine doesn’t give me the courtesy of letting my eye bags and dishevelled hair go without comment. She’s not great at ignoring problems, hence why she’s a good social worker.

“Baby was up at 3am,” I sigh. “I decided to be a good husband and let Baz sleep. I’m currently paying for it.”

“Yeah, your face make me glad I don’t have kids.”

I glare while Christine keeps grinning. She holds up a cup of coffee though and I soften. Whoever has caffeine is my God right now. I take a deep drink and sigh.

“Thank you, Chrissy.”

“Welcome, Simon. How is your little hellspawn doing anyway?”

“She’s good. Almost a year old now and cute as anything. Look what I came home to last night.” I pull out my phone and press the lock button. Chrissy sighs because she's used to it. Yes, I’m that annoying person who has a hundred pictures of their kid and spouse and shows them off to my boss. And right on the lock screen are Baz and Tasha fast asleep together.

“Awwwww,” Chrissy coos, only slightly sarcastic. “What sweeties.”

“I know right? They’re adorable. Also, I gotta ask you something.” She gives me a curious look. “Can I have the last week of the month off?”

“May I ask why?”

“Well, Baz’s leave is up next month. We want to do something before he’s back at work and Tasha goes to daycare. My best friend is in Chicago, so we were thinking we’d go see her and her kids that last week.”

“Ah, I see,” Christine chuckles. “You’re sneaky, Mr. Snow-Pitch. Showing me your adorable husband and daughter to butter me up for vacation time? Diabolical.”

“Hey! That’s not-”

“Sure it wasn’t.” She flashes a knowing smile at me, even though she’s wrong. (Well, she’s half wrong.) “Lucky for you, it worked. You’ve got the last week of August off. Go see your friend and frolic with your family.”

“Thank you, Chrissy!”

She waves at me dismissively. “Yeah, yeah. Just try to wrap up most of your work before you leave. Don’t want to have to fob off too many cases on others while you’re gone.”

“Will do, don’t worry.”

I watch her go into office as I take my desk. Once she’s out of sight, I take out my phone and shoot off a quick test.

Simon: Got the time off. Book the plane tickets!

Baz: Will do.

Baz: Tasha says hi.

Baz: [sent a video attachment]

I put in one earbud and open the video. It’s of Tasha, of course. I can hear Baz’s voice from behind the camera.

“Can you say hi to Daddy, Tasha?” he says. “Come on, say hi.”

Tasha looks up, blinking at it in confusion, probably thinking; that’s not Daddy, that’s Papa holding a little black box. Soon she smiles and reaches out towards it. Her pudgy little baby fingers nearly touch the lens.

“Papa,” she says.

“No no, say ‘hi’ to Daddy. You can do it. Hi. Hi!”

“Hi!” She finally chirps. “Hi hi hi!”

Baz laughs kindly and reaches out to ruffle her hair. “There you go. Good job, sweetie.”

I watch Baz’s arm scoop up Tasha. The camera switches to the front. Baz is smiling in that way he only does around Tasha and me. It’s bright and beautiful and could probably melt ice. And he calls me the sun. Tasha is burbling in gibberish, reaching towards the camera and pulling on Baz’s hair.

“Have fun at work, love,” he says. “We’ll see you when you get home.”

The video ends, freezing on my grinning husband and baby. I take a screenshot. I need a main screen phone background too. I don’t care if some people think it’s obnoxious, I want to see my family all the time. My family. The strange amazing one I always want to come home to.

Simon: See you two later <3

———————————————-

AN: Awwwww what an adorable family. I always believe that Simon and Baz would have kids and they'd be very good parents. And their kid would be a bit of nightmare because all kids are nightmares haha.

So you guys are awesome and sent me a bunch more requests. I can't wait to get to them, but just be warned I start full time work this weekend (kill me blech) so it may take awhile. I will get to them though with my free time, and I'll keep accepting new ones until the end of August. Thanks so much for the requests though. I love getting them and writing for them :) Have an awesome day everyone!

[jloves-pp]

The Lassie in the Cove-part 8

Chapter 8

It had being many years since Merida and Hiccup met and Hiccup had become a Selkie himself. The couple and Toothless had made it to Merida's home, Hiccup and Toothless were welcomed with opened arms and had become part of the family, which made him content because after the loss of his father. It had taken a while to get used to life as a Selkie but with Merida and her families help he had manage it. Even though the King wasn't sure about the once human Selkie boy (it's normal for fathers to worry about their daughters) he had started to warm to Hiccup and now he thought that not all humans were monsters after all. As for the Queen, she treated him like her own son and was secretly glad that Merida would have a good influence in her life.

As for Merida and Hiccup, their love was still as strong as ever and the pair were inseparable. Even though they appeared to be polar opposites they were drawn together. They never tired of each other's company and they never seemed to have a dull moment when together.

They would go on adventures with Toothless of course. They explored the ocean, near home and further afield. They found hidden treasures, lost cities and magnificent creatures. They went to islands that Hiccup could have never imagined, beaches with white sand and seas that were clear and blue. They found hidden grottos with amazing waterfalls, beautiful lagoons with the fascinating flowers and underwater caves with crystals, which no human had ever touched.

For a while Hiccup and Toothless missed flying, because Hiccup couldn't control Toothless's tail wing and the metal bracket had began to rust. One day Hiccup was moving his fins, as was the dragon with his tail, when he realised that their tails moved in the same way. He planned to make a device that could be controlled by his fin but he didn't have any tools to make it. It was Merida who suggested that he should make his own blacksmith shop, he soon got to work and had all the equipment he needed. After weeks of hard work and a lot of trial and error, Toothless' new tail was finished. They flew as fantastical as before, Merida even invited her family to watch Hiccup and Toothless in action. Fergus was really impressed and the triplets immediately wanted to have a go. Elinor however wasn't sure it was safe but after riding with her daughter, she changed her mind as well.

Now that flying was possible again, Hiccup, Merida and Toothless would travel to islands, seeing the different plant life, wild birds and animals and so much more that Merida had imagined existing. She began to collect seeds from fruits and vegetables and planted them in a patch of earth inside the cave which was their place. It was where Hiccup's blacksmith shop was, which had soon become the teens hangout. They had made a sitting place with pillows and sheets and other pretty things that made it quite homely. The Night Fury also had a space for himself where he could sleep and eat his fish. There were lots of wild flowers growing on the cave wall that added colour to the place. There was also a bedroom just in case Hiccup was working into the night, Merida would sleep on the bed. It was big enough for both them and they would lay there together, relaxing and cuddling. Sometimes they would end up falling asleep and waking up the next morning.

For a long time many people didn't understand what their princess saw in Hiccup. Even if they whispered or made fun of him, he didn't care because he was with his best friend and the love of his life. After solving some of the merpeople problems with dragons and providing help with repairs, Hiccup soon gained repect and praise from the merpeople and other Selkies. A few years had passed, Merida thought Hiccup had become even more handsome. Even the young girls started sighing and became giddy when he was around. One day Hiccup was swimming with Merida, they passed a group of young girls who had crushes on Hiccup, he gave a friendly wave and that was enough to make one of them faint, the young couple thought it was odd but they dismissed this behaviour because they thought the girls were joking about. As they had only eyes for each other, many young people hoped at that they would find the same love and joy that the two had.

When Merida just turned 21, that was when Hiccup ask her to married him. Of course she said yes and they were wedded two months later. They didn't want the usual grand ceremony as they didn't want fuss or to be the centre of attention. They were secretly married by a priest they had saved from drowning with Toothless as witness. They had a grand celebration with Merida's family, it was one of the best days ever.

Hiccup had worried in the past about having children, so imagine the look on his face when Merida told him that she was pregnant. He should have known because she had been acting a bit oddly and she'd been asking for a lots of apples. Merida and Hiccup loved their young pup even before she was born and needless to say how happy they were when 9 months later their little baby girl was born. She was beautiful, she had a round face and button nose just like her mum. She had Hiccups brown straight hair, his tail colour and his green eyes. To her parents, she was the most perfect thing ever; they both knew that she was very special, they named her Ardra (which means Nobel). All family members could see parts of her personality that were similar to theirs. Fergus actually said that she had her father's heart and her mother's spirit. The Selkie couple enjoyed taking Ardra on adventures on land as well as sea, she was showing signs of being as adventurous and a lover of finding new things as her parents were.

Merida loved being a mum, just holding her baby and kissing her in a lovely motherly way, especially when they had quiet times together, like feeding times. Hiccup loved playing games and making his little girl laugh, even though Ardra was small that didn't stop him from teaching her about dragons, which she enjoyed a lot. Toothless also loved the wee baby. At Ardra's nap time it had become a habit for Toothless to cuddle up with her and fall asleep. He loved giving her rides either on his head in the water or up in the air (it was obvious that Ardra loved flying just as much as her parents).

Occasionally Hiccup would wonder about his old life. He thought about Berk and his old friends. Had they looked for him?, Did they believe that he was dead? Or had they move on? But Hiccup still never wanted to go back. Why would he? He had his best friend, his beloved daughter and the woman who he loved. He had a new life now.

When Ardra was about 10 months old, the family were having a day in their cave. Hiccup was at his desk, finishing plans to show the King new homes to build for the merpeople. Merida was feeding their baby in their sitting area she had closed her eyes. Hiccup turned and looked at his girls, Hiccup loved them so much and enjoyed drawing them both together. He slipped from the desk into the water, he swam up near them and smiling at them. Just then, Ardra turned her head and saw her daddy.

"Hey there sweetheart, how was your nap?" he asked softly. His baby didn't say anything but smiled and then she slowly crawled out of her mother's arms, her tail dragging on the smooth rock as she crawled to Hiccup. The young dad smiled proudly at his daughter as she began to move on her side and roll the rest of the way. Hiccup caught her before she fell into water.

"Oh there, Good job, my clever girl" he chuckled before giving a kiss on his little girl forehead.

The Selkie girl began babbling happily, she loved being hugged by her daddy. As he held her up, Hiccup started to move his finger up and down on her lips, making cute babbling noise to Ardra. The baby laugh as she grabbed his finger, he couldn't help but smile with the child as he rubbed his nose to hers. She turned her attention to the water, the end of her small tail flicking in the water, he knew what she wanted.

"All right, here you go" he chuckled. He moved the baby above the water and she dived perfectly into the water. He saw his pup swimming round and round about and then in a circle underneath him. Even though Ardra was just a wee babby, she was a wonderful swimmer, she was fast and it was hard to catch her but Merida was quicker and always caught her.

Soon Ardra jumped out and into her dad's arms. "You're getting better everyday Ardra" he said as he rubbed his nose to Ardra's nose. Ardra began to giggly when Hiccup brush his thumb on her cheek,

"I guess your ticklish aren't you" Hiccup asked with grin "Are you ticklish here?" He started tickling her neck which made her giggle. "Or are you ticklish here?" He moved his fingers to under her arm, that made Ardra laugh even more. "No wait, I remember now. You're ticklish right about..." And he tickled her all over. Ardra laughed so much as he kissed her gently on the cheek.

Merida woke and find them both playing together, she loved to watch her two favourite people interacting. She couldn't think of life without them both, Merida thought she was luckiest woman in the world.

Merida laughed at the scene and it caught the attention of her husband and child. The Selkie baby look upside down at her, a smiled soon appeared on her face as well as on Hiccup's.

"Hello Milady"

"Hello to you my dear" Merida replied, putting Ardra upright, Hiccup swam to Merida. He handed their daughter to her which she happily recieved. "Were you having fun with your daddy" she said sweetly to her pup, hugging her close as Ardra place her tiny head on her mother's shoulder. The young mum softly brushed her thumb on her baby's cheek, looking into her eyes.

Merida felt Hiccup's hand on top for her. She intertwined her fingers with his.

"Hey Merida, you know we still have time before we go home. Is there anything you would like to do?" Hiccup asked. Merida thought as she placed Ardra down next to them.

"I don't know, Toothless is busy on the island so we can't go flying off to any land and we've been to our favourite places already " The Selkie woman said thinking a loud, all the while Ardra was holding her tail in her mouth and was chewing it.

"Well, what about the lake, we haven't been there for a while. What do you think?" he suggested. Merida thought about it, the lake was a Selkies secret place, where Selkies had celebrations.

"I think that's a grand idea" she said with a smile. Merida then turned to see Ardra now playing with an apple as if it were a ball.

"Ardra" Merida softly said, The little girl turned to her mum. "Would you like to visit the lake before we return home".

The Selkie baby squealed, in approval Merida handed Ardra to Hiccup before she slipped into the cool water, she lent over and gave her husband a quick kiss and then they all dove under. They swam out from the underwater entrance, passing the sealife and fish. Ardra laughed at some fish that were swimming by.

They soon arrived at the lake, when they surfaced Merida fixed her hair which was over her face. Ardra mimicked her, both of them chuckled at this. They didn't waste a single second as the wee baby began to play she swam to and from them, then they had a splash fight (the grown Selkies had to be careful not to splash Ardra so much), then exploring some ancient ruins that had sunk hundreds of years ago and Hiccup threw Ardra in to the air, she shrieked with delight. They found themselves at a small arch of rocks. The grown Selkies were sitting on a flat rock while they proudly watched their giggly child paddling and splashing around. Hiccup had one arm around his wife while Merida relaxed her head on his shoulder.

"You know Mer, today is actually a very special day" He said. She looked to him, wondering what he was talking about. She knew it wasn't anyone birthday or their wedding anniversary.

"Of course I remember" she replied with confidence but Hiccup knew she didn't. He raised an eyebrow.

"Do you?" He asked and soon Merida sighed

"No, I'm sorry".

"Well" he began softly "today is the anniversary of the day when we first met".

His wife started to smile before she laughed softly. "Has it being that long?".

"Yeah, look how far we're come" he said as he remember that day. If Merida had never ran away, she wouldn't have met Hiccup, wouldn't have fallen in love or wouldn't had save him.

"Hiccup, are you happy?. Like truly happy?" Merida asked feely a bit nervous. Hiccup gave a look of concern and his eye brows furrowed,

"What's wrong?"

She took both of his hands into hers and took a deep breath. " it's just...I feel like I've robbed your old life from you...and I'll never forgive myself. It was supposed that we chose to be together." Merida confessed with tears rolling down her cheeks. "I didn't know if..."

She didn't finished because Hiccup gently place his hand on her face. "Merida, you saved me" Hiccup explained softly "You've gave me a second chance of life. We have our child and these years have been the greatest years of my life, because I have you" Merida slowly smiled at Hiccup and squeezed his hand. "I said I was forever grateful to you and I'm still am. If it wasn't for you, I would be at the bottom of the sea"

She then realised something "And if you never came to the cove, I'd still been there and who knows what would happened" how funny fate is she thought. They slowly leant forward and kissed. They held each other close, their embrace grew their tails coiling one around the other. When they parted and Hiccup gently moved some of Merida's curls away from her face.

"So, does that show you I love you" Hiccup softly said, then he whispered in her ear "Or do you need more proof", Merida giggled like a school girl, she loved it when Hiccup was romantic. moments like this alway made her bliss.

Mischievously Merida said "You'll have to catch me first", she jumped into the water with Hiccup right after her. The duo began a darting around, underwater, passing the rocks and ruins. She peeked from behind rocks and nudged her husband with her tail. They laughed and chased each other for what seemed like ages. What They did not realising, whose that Ardra had swam away and she had reached the shore. The little girl was laying flat on the sand, looking at pretty seashells and pebbles. She saw a tiny crab scuttle by and was trying to catch it. Ardra babbled in her infant talk when she heard a loud noise from the rocks nearby. It was seals, real seals. There was a group from them, all different shapes and sizes. A few smaller seals lifted their heads they had spotted the baby Selkie, she waved to them. They soon moved over sand to Ardra giggled happily at them and rubbed their noses.

They weren't alone on the beach, nearby two young children were playing together while their mother was resting.

"You can't catch me, Edward" cried the small blonde haired girl as she ran from her big brother.

"Oh yes, I will Camicazi and when I do, you'll be sorry" the dark haired boy said as they ran over the hill and saw the lake. The two of them had stopped, they were both panting trying to catch their breaths. It was then that Camicazi saw the seals, lying on the sand. The seals soon spotted them and took fright, they rushed away diving into the water as quickly as they could. There was just one seal left, a funny looking one the girl thought because it was an unusual colour. This made her curious. Edward had turned and walked back, but his little sister slowly walked closer.

"Come on, mum will wonder where we are", he called but she carried on closer to the seal. As Camicazi got nearer, she could see more clearly. It was a little baby with a tail. Ardra turned and spotted the wild haired girl. They stared at each other for a long time until the human took another step, this startled the Selkie, her eyes wide she quickly wriggled into the sea. Camicazi was about to race after it when...

"Camicazi, what are you doing", Edward called as he caught up with her. " mum will freak if we..",

"Didn't you see it", she asked which made Edward look at her strangely.

"See what?" He questioned.

"The baby mermaid, I saw a baby mermaid", she explained pointing at the sea.

"What mermaid?" Edward said, Camicazi looked again but there was nothing there.

"But it was there, right there" she pointed where it was and then saw a shadow moving away. "There it goes" she cried and instantly ran after the shadow. Splashing in the water, her brother ran after her, making sure she wasn't going to get in trouble.

Hiccup and Merida, lounged together, Hiccup questioned, "What do you want to do now?"

"Mmm..It depends if you want to or not" she replied in a way that always made Hiccup blush a little.

"When I'm with you, I will always want to", with that they kissed passionately. They couldn't get enough of each other, moments like this were cherished by them.

Before the Selkies could go any further, Merida was distracted she heard a familiar sound "Ardra?" Merida muttered, looking over her husband's shoulder.

"Merida?" He could see worry on her face. Then he heard the sound and it was coming closer. The partners now saw their little girl swimming to them at a top speed. Ardra was crying as she swam straight into her mother's arms and buried her head into Merida's chest.

"Ardra, what's wrong?" Merida softly asked in panic. She looked up to Hiccup who was just as worried. Before either of them could say anything they heard...

"It went this way, I know it" the Selkies immediately dove under.

Luckily, Edward and Camicazi didn't seen them.

"Are you sure what you seen wasn't a seal" Edward asked,

His sister sighed "I did see a mermaid, I really did" before the two could start arguing. They heard a familiar voice calling

"Edward, Cama, where are you?" The kids turned and saw their mum coming around the corner.

"Oh, there you are" she said relieved before she climbed in to join them. "I turned my back for one minute and the two of you run off".

"But...I saw a mermaid, a baby one, on the beach" , Camicazi said pointing her finger to the beach

"Well, she thinks she saw one" Edward explained folding his arms, huffily.

Their mum sighed, they always got into trouble and each were trying to blame the other. "Look, I don't know what you think you saw, and I'm not saying I don't believe you"

"But"

"No buts, from either of you." She said before she hugged them close, but then she saw glints of something behind her children. The mum now has a serious look, her eyes narrowed, "There is something there" she said under her breath.

Camicazi and Edward looked at one another, they knew when she looked like that, she meant business. "Stay here and don't move" as she took out her axe on her belt, she quietly moved to the spot that she had seen something.

The Selkies were hiding with their backs against the rocks. They watched, hoping they would leave so they could leave. They couldn't go now incase they would be killed. Hiccup held Merida close as she held Ardra to her chest. "When do you think they will leave", Merida asked in a whisper, the pair were frozen, too scared to move.

"I not sure" Hiccup replied as he looked upward as well. They weren't sure if whoever it was had gone or not, " I'll go and check, you stay here".

"Ur.. Maybe we should wait a little longer" Merida replied.

"Mer, I'll be quick" Hiccup said, but then saw a worried look on her face. "What's wrong" he could tell even if underwater that she was crying.

Since that day a long time ago, The Selkie had made sure that her Hiccup was safe. Once or twice they had been in dangerous situations but they had always came out of it. Still she feared that one day he would be taken from her.

"Hiccup, I don't want you to go. What if they kill you?"

Little Ardra didn't understand what was going on but she could sense that something bad would happen if her dad left them. She was crying too.

"Sh, sh, please don't you start" Hiccup reassured as he softly brushes her check "I get enough from your mum" this made his wife smile. He placed a hand softly to Merida's shoulder, " Merida, please know that I will always come back to you, always"

Merida knew that he was right and he would do his best to keep them safe. She looked into his eyes, she loved him and he loved her.

"I know you will Hic"

Hiccup return the smile, he then gently place a hand on his little princesses cheek.

" Look after her while I'm gone, OK" Ardra held one of his fingers in her tiny grip and gurgled to him in her infant language, The Selkie man leant in as Ardra reach out and touched his face. Hiccup gave his daughter a kiss on her forehead. He then turned to his wife, after a moment Hiccup swam up an broke the surface. Merida and Ardra could only watch as he went, Merida hope things would be alright.

Hiccup made it out and went behind a rock. He didn't see anyone or anything so he thought who ever it was had left. He sighed in relief, just before he return to his family, he heard.

"Whoever you are, you better show yourself"

Hiccup's eyes widened. He knew that voice, it been years but still he knew that voice.

"Astrid, stop".

The woman froze. Had she imagined it? She never thought she would hear that voice again. "Hiccup?" She asked softly, as she slowly walked around the rock, and there he was. Astrid mouth dropped, is was really him. Of course his looks had slightly changed but there was no mistaking, she wanted to say something but nothing came out.

Finally Hiccup broke the silence by saying cheerful

"Hi Astrid",

Astrid lost her grip on the axe she was holding and fell with a clank.

"Bu...but...you...what...we thought...you were dead" Was all she could say.

"Well, I'm alive and well" he chuckled lighting the mood, which make his old friend laugh a little.

"I just can't believe that you're alive", Astrid said, then she notices his tail "And with a tail"

"Yeah, it's a long story" he admitted while he rubbed his hand through his hair.

Astrid mind whirled she had thousands of questions to ask him, not knowing where to start. Finally one did come to her "Where's Merida? Is she here?"

Hiccup remembered that she was still hiding. He'd have to tell her about this.

"Oh, she here, I'll go and get her. Be right back" The Viking woman watched in awe as Hiccup swam and dove down under the water.

Ever since the awful day, Astrid had hoped that Hiccup had survived. She had always hoped the Selkie would find him and save him from dead. Now finding Hiccup here and being a Selkie himself, she couldn't wish for any thing better. She was truly thankful to Merida.

"Mum", Astrid heard, it snapped her out of her thoughts. She had forgotten about her children. Edward and Camicazi ran around the corner after waiting for a while "Mum, are you all right?" her little boy asked as he and his sister hugged her close. Astrid hugged them back and softly kiss them each on the forehead.

"I'm fine, wonderful actually" she replied after she pulled back to look happily at them.

"So, was it a mermaid" Camicazi asked hopping with excitement.

"Well, not exactly but you were nearly right".

"What", Edward said looking baffled.

Astrid rubbed her son's black hair, "You'll soon see".

As for Hiccup, he soon returned to Merida and Ardra. Merida was relieved to see her husband was alive and well "Hiccup", she called as she swam to him. Their baby also was happy to see her dad return. Hiccup embrace them both.

"Have the humans left?" she asked wondering what happened.

"You'll never believe who it is" Hiccup said with a smile.

Merida was confused. They didn't go near humans so who was Hiccup talking about?

"Who?" She asked but Hiccup had taken her hand and lead her to surface with the wee baby still in her arms, who was also confused about what was going on.

Astrid turned to the water and saw Hiccup and Merida appear.

"Astrid" Merida said in relief and surprise, Astrid returned Merida's with her own smile.

"Nice to see you again, Merida. It's been too long"

"Much to long" the two ladies chuckled happily and Hiccup was grinning at the pair. Edward and Camicazi were gob smacked by the couple with tails, they just stood and stared with their mouths open. Edward tried to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

"Mum, do you know them?" Camicazi asked looking at to Astrid.

She knelt to her daughter level,

"These, are good friends of mine from long ago" she answered.

"And who are these two?" Hiccup asked which made both kids jump.

"Well, this is Edward and this is Camicazi" Astrid said.

They both said hello before the little girl spotted Ardra, curled up to her mum.

"You see, see. I told you, a baby mermaid!" Camicazi shouted proudly, she liked it when she was right.

"Actually, she's a baby Selkie" Merida said, smoothing her daughter's hair "Ardra, why don't you said hello" she said softly. Soon the little creature turned her head and saw them, at first, nothing happen but then...

"Hello there", Edward said quietly as he waved to her "I'm Edward and this is my sister" and he urged Camicazi to join him,

"Hi, I'm sorry I scared you. I've never seen someone like you before", she explained. Just after she said that, Ardra slowly smiled to them. she was happy to make new friends.

After that, the children began to mix they started to swim and play together happily, while their parents were catching up on old times.

"So, Lady Macintosh, it must be hard", Merida said when Astrid was telling about her marriage.

"Yeah but he is a good man and I do as much as he does, we are a very good match" Astird said with a grin, " I'm surprised about all the places you guys have been to though".

Hiccup nodded " I know, I never imaged places like that existed", he had his arms around Merida as he and Astrid watch their children playing tag. The two humans swam slowly, so the baby Selkie could catch them more easily.

"Well I'm just glad you're alright, we were searching for you for weeks, then we decided we had to move on. We do miss you Hiccup", Astrid added.

"I miss them too" Hiccup said regretfully, Merida felt his hand intertwining with hers "but I'm happy here and I never want to change that".

"I know you are", Astrid said softly, She could see how happy his new life was, that is all she wanted for him. Just then, they saw Ardra slowly swimming up to them, she looked so tired. Merida held her up and saw that the sun was setting.

"It's getting late" she said to her husband.

"You'e right, we should getting back" he replied.

"Well, it is time for us to go home too" Astird said her kids groaned at this.

"But we want to stay longer" Camicazi said sleepily. Her mum wrapped warm clothes around them both.

"I think you dad will be really worried about us if we don't go home soon" Astird said combing her small blonde hair girl's hair with her fingers.

"I don't want dad to worry", Edward said "Do you think dad will send the army to look for us?"

Merida and Hiccup had both slipped into water before they turned again to Astird and her chrildren.

" I wish I saw Toothless again" Astird said.

"Well maybe next time" Hiccup reassured her.

"Will we see you again" Camicazi asking hugging her mum.

"Maybe one day, just keep your eyes on the sea. You never know what's waiting", Merida said which made the little girl smile.

They said their goodbyes and Astird and her children watched the Selkies swim to the mouth of the lake. Hiccup and Merida waved to them, Ardra was asleep they slipped into the water and then disappeared from sight. Edward and Camicazi asked their mum about them on they way home, she told them the whole story which they wanted to hear again and again. The two grew up and have children of their own, they told the story which turned a legend. The legend about a boy the son of Chief Stoik the Vast who was an unlikely hero, he trained dragons who became past of the tribe, he found his true love a Selike in a cove, who saved his life and gave him a new family and a new way of living.

The end

[bringmetolife-pwff]

Part 1 : Chapter Seventeen - We’re Both Afraid

Evelyn's eyes slowly blinked open as she rubbed the sleep out of them with the palm of her hands.  Lifting her head up from William's chest she let out a yawn as she looked around.  The telly was still on but the movie had ended long ago.  

William was still asleep as she woke up and started gathering her things she came with.  

"Were you going to leave without saying goodbye?" She heard a deep yet tired voice say from behind her.

Turning around, she saw the blue eyed man she had fallen for rub the sleep out of his eyes.  

"Morning, blue eyes," she greeted him shyly.

"Blue eyes?" He asked eyebrows furrowed as he started to get up from the couch and stretched his sore back before walking to his girl and bringing her closer to him.

"Yeah, because you have the prettiest blue eyes I've ever seen," she said smoothly but truthfully.

"First Captain now blue eyes. . . I like it," he told her with a teasing smile as she laughed which he found to be best sound and wanted to hear more of it.  "Your eyes, there's something magical about them."

"Magical?" she smirked at him thinking that was a funny word to describe someone's eyes.

"Yeah," he nodded his head.  "It's like there's blue and then some grey like before one of London's best rainstorms.  They're stormy but in the best way possible."

"That's very sweet of you," Eve commented to him.  

"What would you say about making it official?" William asked Evelyn as they were in the comfort of her apartment.  

Two months after living with Vivienne, she knew that she needed her own place.  William was back for a short break and whenever he was home in London, he always made sure to pay Evelyn a visit.  

"I'm scared," she murmured quietly as if anyone could hear their conversation.  Like it was a secret only the two of them knew of.

"I am as well," he admitted.

"You?  Why are you afraid?" She asked confused.

"Loads of things.  Making sure you're protected.  This isn't like my last relationship where we were protected from university.  That you don't resent me for what I would put you through just to be with me.  I came out of a four year relationship with someone because she couldn't handle it and I couldn't see a future with her.  I don't know how much more rejection I can take," he all but confessed to the woman who had become very important to him.  "I can't help the family I was born into.  People think that because I'm a prince I was born into all the wealth and privilege and that women just fall at my feet.  But they also don't see my side of everything.  They didn't see how I felt when I was only fifteen when I received the news that my mum died.  They don't live with the tabloids telling lies about you and not being able to comment back.  I'm afraid that you'll one day leave me knowing that someone better can offer you so much more than what I can."

Evelyn's breath was sucked in as she listened to all of his fears and worries.  

"I can't lie and say that I have same worries.  But one thing that I am certain of is that there will be no other man for be who is better than you.  You have been there for me since the day we met and I know you'll continue to just as I will for you.  In the amount of time I've known you you've not only become a good friend but for also have helped me to see it's okay to move on.  To be happy with someone else."

"So this is it then?" He asked wanting to make sure one more time.  "Because when we agree to it, we're all in.  There's no going back now."

"This is it," she nodded her head with confirmation and a twinkle of happiness shown in her eyes.

They sealed it with a kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling the comfort yet small firmness of his hands on her hips as he pulled her closer to him.  It had been a while since either of them had felt this happy.  She looked up at him as they broke the kiss, they both had shit eating grins on their faces as he tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.  The small gesture making her blush slightly.

"I've missed you, you know," she told him.

"Good," he replied cheekily.  "I've missed you too."

"I wish I would've known you'd be here this week" she started.  "I promised by brother Jake and his girlfriend that I would babysit my nephews Samuel and David."

"That's alright.  Were you thinking of going anywhere?  Or just staying here?"

"I was actually thinking of taking the twins to the London Zoo," she chewed on her bottom lip in contemplation.  "Would you maybe want to go with us?"

"That sounds like fun," he told her.  "I'd just go incognito.  Harry and I do it all the time whenever we don't want to be recognised."

"Right then," Eve agreed.  "Do you have everything you need to not be recognised?"

"Yeah," he nodded his head.  "It's in my car."

"Do you always keep them with you?" she asked sceptically.

"Just in case.  Those bloody paparazzi seem to always find me," he shook his head.

"All right," she agreed.  

William and Evelyn went to her mum's place to pick up Samuel and David and headed to the zoo.

***

"What does a lion say, Sammy?" Eve asked her nephew as her and William pushed them in a trolly walking up the hill to the zoo.

"Rawr," he said with theatrics and having the cutest giggle at the end as his cheeks blushed.

"Very good," William told him.  "What's your favourite animal?"

"A lion!"

"A tiger," David chimed in too.

"What's your favourite, Wills?" David asked as he munched on a snack.

"A lion," he agreed with Samuel.  "You know I've gotten up close with some before.  They even let you meet the animals if you ask nicely."

Evelyn turned her head to look at her boyfriend with a sense of pride smile on her face.

"No way," the twins said in astonishment their eyes filled with wonder and excitement.  "Can we, please?"

"You'll have to ask your aunt about that one," he says putting all the pressure on her making her give him an annoyed look jokingly.

"Can we please, aunt Eve?"

"Okay," she dragged out the letter 'y' as the two twins let out cheers and high fives to each other making William and Evelyn chuckle.  "They are something else."

"Yeah, but how can you say no to them?  I may not have known them long but I know they are good boys."

"That they are," she agreed with him as they paid for four tickets.

Thankfully, having two kiddies with them made it a bit cheaper.  

"What's your favourite animal?" William asked her as they started walking around.

"I would say it's between a penguin and giraffe."

"Really?  Why?"

"I don't know," she said shrugging her shoulders with a laugh.  "they're just so cute and I like how tall giraffe's can get."

William smirked at his girlfriend as they walked through the zoo.  Stopping at the concession stands to get some dippin' dots and carrying on.  After they had gone through some exhibits they were finally going into the penguin area to meet them.  They had a guide explaining a brief history of the penguins, how they care for the penguins, how they could tell which ones apart and how to feed them.  

They were told that they couldn't meet the lions seeing as they were bit more problematic and weren't sure if they would lash out at new visitors.  Samuel was disappointed about that but they just wanted to meet some kind of animal.

"If you see that penguin that's right there who has a yellow band on its eyebrow which starts at each nostril stretching above the eye and down the neck that's the Fiordland Penguin.  They normally are from New Zealand but we were able to rescue some of them after they were found hurt on the shore not too far from here," Meredith told the group of four.

"So he will stay here?" Evelyn asked feeling sympathetic toward the penguin.

"Yeah," Meredith said.  "All of the animals that we have at this zoo will stay with us.  Because they've stayed with us for so long and we feed and care for them.  If we released them to the wild they wouldn't know how to survive on their own after being too dependent on us for so long.  They wouldn't last out there."

"Look at them walk," Samuel pointed at the penguins letting out a shriek and a giggle.  

Evelyn squatted down to his level and put her hand on his small back stabilising him.

"It is quite funny, isn't it?" She asked him as she looked up at her boyfriend who had a grin looking at the trio.  

"Do you mind taking a picture of us all?" William asked Meredith to which she didn't hesitate.

"Of course not," she shook her head and Evelyn handed her the mobile to Meredith as the two adults gathered together and held the twins close, wanting to remember this day.  They also took some close to the penguins but not too close.

William had taken off his sunglasses for this part as well as his hat as he wanted to take a genuine picture with the two little boys who had grown close to him in such a short amount of time.  

They were given the option to be able to see tigers or lions up close like they did with the penguins, but Evelyn thought that was too much for four year old little boys and she figured that her brother and his girlfriend would be pissed so she decided against it.  Instead, they had settled for a stuffed animal of a lion and tiger in the gift shop afterwards.  

***

"William?" she asked squinting her eyes as she looked at the alarm clock next to her bed seeing as it read that it was two in the morning.  "Is something wrong?  And why're you calling at two in the morning?" Letting out a yawn she laid her head on her pillow, snuggling into her blankets.

"Sorry Eve," he let out a tired sigh almost as if he had been up for hours and gotten no sleep.  "I thought you might want to know.  Earlier when we went to the London Zoo it appears that the paparazzi found us and took pictures of us with Samuel and David."

"What?" Evelyn shrieked feeling a bit more awake.

Even though Evelyn had been photographed before William the twins were never apart of it.  They always had a normal life never having to worry about the paparazzi as they had respected them.

Jake lived a relatively normal life with his girlfriend, Mia, unlike most of her siblings.  The only time they were photographed was if he were with their dad.  Other than that the paparazzi and tabloids left them alone.  Evelyn felt awful for putting the kids in the public like that.  She knew that they had a great time but unfortunately, the paparazzi have to ruin it.

She felt bad for William that he could never go out like a normal person would and not have paparazzi tracking their every step.  Her stomach was in knots as he was explaining all of the details their family was taking in order to ensure that Samuel and David's privacy would be kept private and that they threatened to sue any magazine and the paparazzi who had taken the pictures -- Justin Carmichael, if they published them.  Taking them seriously, Justin as well as the tabloids didn't want to chance having the pictures front page knowing it would taint their already terrible reputation.

William ran his hand down his face in pure exhaustion.  It had been hours already that he had been up and on the case trying to get the pictures not published for the next day.

"When we were out at the zoo earlier, paparazzi found me and well, they took pictures.  Not just of us but of Samuel and David as well.  I imagine that Jake and Mia would not be too pleased if their children ended up on the front page of the tabloids especially while they were away.  Please know I'm doing everything in my power to make sure those pictures don't make it to the internet tomorrow."

On the inside Evelyn was panicking.  She knew that Jake and Mia tried to give their boys a normal life and so far they had succeeded.  On the other hand, Evelyn knew that she was fully responsible for what had happened but she'd never tell William that.  She didn't want him to bad or like she couldn't handle his life.  Evelyn knew that along with being with William meant possibly being exposed to the paparazzi.  She just hadn't ever imagined that her nephews would be to and what this could mean for the rest of her family.

"I know you are," Evelyn told him, understanding that William didn't like the paparazzi, especially when they were out of line.  "I just didn't think that the paparazzi would find us and them this soon."

"I know, Evelyn," he let out an exhausted sigh.  "If you want out now, I don't blame you."

Evelyn felt her heart pound faster.  William was giving her an out because he felt like she didn't like this?  That she couldn't handle this?  This was nothing to what she was used to.  Sure, she felt protective over her little nephews.  That their identity would be revealed to the world without their parents consent.  But the fact that he even considered giving her an out broke her heart.  She knew why he was doing it though but she felt the need to reassure him that she was in this for him.  

"William, listen to me," she told him with a bit of sternness in her voice as she got his attention.  "I told you earlier today that I'm in this for you.  I know that the media will try and come in between us and fabricate stories but I'm able to look past all of that.  I'll ring my parents and see if they have any ideas as well with their lawyers but I want to give this relationship a fair chance. If you still want to?"

"Of course I do," he told her with certainty in his voice.  "I just don't want you to end up like my mum some day or for you to resent me for the invasion of the press.  I want this to be a normal relationship where we trust each other and can communicate with each other properly.  My families lawyers are over here right now and we are on the phone with the owners of the companies for the tabloids.  I'll call you soon for updates."

"William - I could never resent you.  This is your life and mine.  We can only control what we can. I appreciate that you are doing everything you can to help my nephews keep a normal life though.  That means so much more to me than you'll ever know.  As for me turning out like your mum, I can't tell the future, but I would only hope that the paparazzi have learned from that horrible accident and won't allow anything like that to happen again."

Thankfully, the paparazzi still had no clue that Evelyn and William were actually in a relationship.  They only looked at their relationship as friends that were possibly in a relationship but they were only guessing at that point.  

Evelyn was thankful that she and William were still together and had agreed to give this relationship a fair chance.  To focus on the things that they can control and let go of the things they can't.  Evelyn thanked her lucky stars that she had someone like William who cared deeply about family and privacy and wanted to protect those two very important things.  

***

Evelyn didn't sleep a wink that night after Wills had called her in the wee hours of the morning.  How could she?  She was still waiting on news that the pictures had been deleted.  She had ended up telling Sammy that she wouldn't be coming in to work today.  How could she focus on anything else?  Evelyn stayed in her apartment all day, pacing as she held her mobile in her hand waiting to hear from Wills.  Eve was also still watching her nephews and wouldn't be able to go in today anyway.

Evelyn hadn't talked to Jake or Mia yet as she didn't want to alert them without knowing any further news.  She knew that they were arriving home in a couple of days and didn't want to scare them if there was nothing to worry about.  They rarely had a holiday where it was just the two of them and she wasn't about to ruin it for them.  Instead, she chose to phone her parents and they were at her apartment with her getting in touch with their lawyers as well.  

"It will all be okay, darling," Natasha told her eldest daughter as she saw the worry she held clear on her face.

"What if it's not though, mum?" Evelyn asked her mother as her father was in another room speaking to his lawyer on the mobile.  "What if Samuel and David end up on every tabloid cover and Jake ends up never wanting to speak to me again and Mia doesn't allow me to watch my nephews anymore?"

Natasha knew that her daughter was being a bit dramatic about it all and wanted to calm her down.  

"Evelyn, Mia knows that with our lifestyle and now your relationship with William that the press are bound to take pictures of us.  She accepted that.  She knows that you have a good heart and would never bring any harm to Samuel and David.  Jake knows that too.  He's your brother.  Remember what we promised each other when you all were little?"

"Yes," Eve mumbled.

"What's that?" She wanted her daughter to say it for reassurance that she wasn't the worst sibling or aunt.

"That we would be there for each other no matter what.  That the press wouldn't come in between our family."

"Exactly," Natasha nodded her head with a kind smile.  "You just have to have trust and faith that your brother and his girlfriend know the sweet, caring person that you are and that we are doing everything in our power to stop this from getting out.  Can you do that?"

Even though Evelyn was twenty-four years old, she still needed these talks with her mum.  Her mum always knew what to say even on those days that she didn't want to hear it.  Evelyn nodded her head and hugged her mum.  Just then her mobile rang and saw that it was William who was calling her.  

"Wills?  Is there any news?" She asked right away skipping the pleasantries of greetings.

"It's done," he let out a tired sigh of relief.  "We made it to where they can't publish any pictures of children without the consent of their parents.  From now on though, we have to be careful Evelyn.  We can't have this happen again."

Evelyn let out a sigh of relief but also knowing she still needed to tell Jake and Mia about this when they returned.  

---

a/n: i am so sorry for the late update!  i thought i was going to be able to update this last week but i wasn't anywhere close to being happy or done with the chapter.  i hope the long chapter makes up for it though.  i just got back from being on vacation and have started my new semester of college again so the updates may not be as frequent but i hope you all still read this story and love it!