#jackie: how would you like to be my next husband?

[biromantic-nerd]

I think it'd be kind of funny if in s2 Spanish Jackie shows up again with Lucius as her 21st/19th husband (depending on how you're counting)

and it's played as everyone is more shocked that he's married to a woman than the fact that he's alive. Bonus points for Lucius mainly marrying her to expand his drawing repertoire and Jackie marrying him just for the eye candy of it all.

[klemen-tine]

Please Please Please (Mom! Reader x Batfam)

Don't prove I'm right~ I love that song so much. Anyways! Not extreme Yandere, but part 2 will have some. This is just the setting up for it. Also, while writing I won't lie, I forgot about Damien, so he will have a lot of showtime in the next part. FYI

TW: Cheating, slapping (Reader slaps Bruce), Reader also throws something at Bruce.

In now way do I condone partner violence. no matter how mad you get, you should never hit or throw something at your partner.

In case you have never heard this song before, first of all who are you? Secondly here is the link

@Rosecentury 

@Problematicreblogger

@Kurai-hono-blog 

@Lunaluz432

@testishere

Y/N had put her life on pause for Bruce and his hero complex. She is a top-model. A supermodel that is still being asked to do photoshoots, make guest appearances, and dominate the runway despite her time away from it. The strict workout regime was still her daily exercise, and she still was conscious of what she ate. Age had not affected her the way it has to some of her friends because Y/N lived to be a model. 

Yet, she had put that on the backburner for her husband and kids. She forced her attention onto the scarred and vibrant children that her traumatized husband brought in like strays. Y/N raised them, alongside Alfred. It’s because of them that their sons and daughters did not turn out as crooked as Bruce Wayne. A man that was full of jagged and sharp pieces, piercing the skin of whoever got close. 

E/C eyes rolled nearly out her socket, taking a sip of the morning coffee and waiting for her youngest to come down. She ignored the nervous glances being sent her way from her sons, and instead pulled out her phone to look for a familiar contact. 

“None of you have anything I need to be here for, do you?” Tim and Jason quickly shook their heads, and Dick gave a nervous smile, “Not really… although it would be nice if you stayed here though.” Y/N raised a delicate eyebrow, and a sharp smile formed on her lips as she pressed ‘call,’ “Ah, don’t worry Dickie, I’ll come back. I’m just going on a trip.” 

The person answered, and before they could start spewing curses, Y/N greeted them, “Hey, Jackie! It’s Y/N.” 

“Y-Y/N! What’s going on?” 

“Remember those gigs you were telling me about?” 

“Yeah?” 

“Book them.” The boys stood up while her manager on the other line sputtered in excitement, “Really?! Oh my gosh Y/N this is so exciting! Which ones do you want? I know you want to stay close to Gotham -heaven knows why- but I can find some in-” 

“All of them.” 

“...what?” 

“Book all of them.” Jackie hummed, “Some are out of the country though.” 

“Even better! Pack your bags Jackie, we are gonna be gone for a while. Bring Stella too, I’ll pay for both of your tickets and lodgings.” Jackie was stuttering, “The-the first gig in a week is Venice, Italy! Is that enough time for you to-” 

“Let's leave tonight.” 

“Tonight?!” Everyone screeched, and Y/N gave her sons an annoyed look, “Yes, tonight. Let's enjoy Venice like when we were young, and show Stella around. I’m sure the two of you could use a vacation anyways.” 

“....Y/N, is everything okay?” 

“Peachy. See you tonight.” Y/N hung up, and threw her phone on the opposite end of the couch, continuing to sip her cup of coffee as the news reporter continued to talk about Batman and his risky rendezvous with Catwoman. The perfect love story. 

The pursuer and the pursued. The cop and robber. Batman, the man of justice, and Catwoman, a thief. 

Her jaw clenched, and her fingers tightened around the handle of the mug. The air around her was full of jitters and Dick was basically vibrating with worry, Jason focused intensely on his phone, and Tim was drinking even more coffee. 

“Um, mom, are you… is this…” Dick was fumbling, trying to find the words, and Y/N smiled, “C’mon on Dickie. It’s been a while since I went on the runway, or even in front of a camera outside of Gotham. You’re all old enough now, it’s fine.” 

“What about Dami?” Y/N smiled sadly, “Dami will be fine. Hell, today I’ll have him help me choose the jewelry and clothes that I will be packing.”

“You’re gonna have him help you pack your bags to leave?” Tim wondered, and Y/N flinched out how terrible that sounded, “Not like that. It’s a trip. A fashion trip and a girls trip.” Jason scrunched his nose, “Ma, fucking Bruce just go caught cheating and was broadcasted across the NEWs, and you’re now leaving for a trip. Do you think Dami will understand that?” 

Y/N took a sip of her coffee, “He will. It’ll be a conversation but it will be reiterated as many times as he needs to hear it. Plus, it’s not like you guys can’t call me.” Damien came stomping down the stairs, dressed in the Gotham Academy Uniform, and Y/N threw on a smile that would have had actresses crying, “Dami! I need your help today, so nevermind school.” Green eyes blinked in shock, his gaze taking in every one in the room before landing back on her, “Are you needing my assistance in packing?” 

“Only for a trip. So there’s no need to pack everything.” Damien nodded, “Fine. I will assist you. You have an abysmal amount of jewelry and some of them are simply deplorable.” Y/N chuckled, “Thanks Dami.” He went back up the stairs to change, and Y/N turned back to the NEWs where they were finally talking about something different. 

Sighing, Y/N stood up from the couch, “I’ll be in my room packing if anyone needs anything.” Silence followed her, and once she was out of earshot, Dick proceeded to panic even more. 

+++

She’s in Greece now. After spending a week in Italy, a week in Iceland, two weeks in France, and now four days in Zakynthos, Greece, she knows her vacation time is limited. Y/N has been using Bruce’s card to pay for the three luxury hotel rooms, one for herself (obviously), Jackie, and Stella. She’s used them for the plane flight in first class, the first class train ride, the yacht to get to this island, the fancy dinners, shopping sprees, any time that she needed to put money down she was using his card. 

Bruce is a billionaire, he doesn’t care and Y/N is also a billionaire, but this is her way of being petty. Why would she waste her money? 

A delicate eyebrow raised at the man in the mirror, followed by two of their sons and a butler dressed in a Hawaiian shirt. 

“Lady Y/N, it is great to see you.” 

“Hey Alfie, vacation looks good on you. I highly recommend the mimosa’s here, none of them have been bad.” 

“Hi Ma, you look relaxed.” Jason walked further into the room, taking a seat on the plush chair and grabbing a grape, and tossing some to Dick. Their oldest son smiled and waved, “C’mon mom, I know you’ve been here before, but you could at least try and look like a tourist.” Y/N rolled her eyes, smiling lovingly and flicking her hair over her shoulder. She leaned close to the mirror again, rubbing sunscreen on her face and massaging it into her skin. 

Her husband made his way a little closer as the family spread out in the room. Jason sitting in the chair, Dick on the bed, and Alfred standing near the door. Y/N sneered at Bruce through the mirror, “Bringing the kids to see you get humiliated is something I would have never thought you’d do.” 

Bruce sighed heavily, and Y/N wiped her hands on the towel and sipped her mimosa. Piercing blue eyes, filled with exhaustion and guilt, met hers, “Y/N, how much longer are you scheduled for?” 

“Hmm, for a while Bruce,” She pretended to think, “After all, I’ve been wanting to get back into modeling now that most of the kids are becoming independent, and what better way to announce to the world that I am back than a hard launch.” Bruce raised an eyebrow at her, “Will it be my card you’ll continue to use.”

“Of course! It's the least my darling, idiotic, and hormone-rivaling-a-teenager husband can do after that stunt, right?” The room got colder and Dick sat up straighter at the tension between his two parental figures. Y/N has always had a sharp tongue and quick wit, one she used on Bruce a lot. Rarely ever was it aimed to be hurtful though. 

“Y/N, temper.” Dick’s jaw opened and Jason made an exaggerated gasp. Alfred looked pained as Y/N whirled around and seethed at Bruce, “Temper? Temper?! Who the hell are you to tell me to watch my temper when you can’t even control your own hormones? 

“If you wanted to see my temper you just had to fucking say so!” Dick turned to Alfred, trying to see if there was anything he could do, but at the resigned look the man gave him, the oldest son choked on a noise, “This is a new side of mom.” 

“Lady Y/N has always had a temper, one that rivals Master Bruce.” She looked like a puffed up cat while Bruce was cowing like a dog with puppy eyes, “When they were younger, she would put even the adults in their place.” Her hand grabbed the now cold coffee pot, and Dick feels like it was only because Bruce was used to stuff being thrown at him and catching things that he was able to grab the projectile before it landed on the walls and carpet. Alfred raised a brow, “Sometimes that temper bleeds into other things.” 

Their mother was seething in front of Bruce, looking like a bull and was ready to charge into a china shop. While Bruce may not be as delicate as one, Dick has money on Y/N still doing a lot of damage if she were to charge. Metaphorically and physically.  

“Y/N, please.” Bruce tried again, only to see her get more angry. His hands were up in a placating manner, and Y/N held her own hands tense and ready to swing if he came closer. 

“Y/N, it genuinely was an accident.” 

“ ‘it genuinely was an accident’–” She mocked, purposefully making her voice annoying “-fuck off! Like your tongue going down her throat is an accident. Didn’t know that could happen!” Y/N looked around again for something to chuck, while Bruce closed the space between them inch by inch. 

“What’s next? Are you going to trip and accidentally find yourself between her legs with your pants down?” Jason and Dick blanched at the imagery. 

“Over a decade of marriage, of me playing the perfect ex-model-arm-candy wife for Bruce Wayne just for you dressed in a fucking furry suit to go and makeout with another fucking furry! 

“Like! I know we weren’t in this for love, but there. Are. Still. Standards!” She enunciated each word with a swat of her hand on Bruce’s shoulder. 

“I still have standards! You don’t see me making out with anyone else do you? Even as I’m playing Supermodel Y/N, dressed to the millions and making everyone drool, I don’t go making out with them!” 

“How could Batman, of all persona’s you wish to play, do that? I expected that from Brucie, not Batman, defender of Justice or whatever bullshit you spew when dressed in that gothic suit.” 

Bruce sighed, “Y/N, it was bad timing.” He gave her a hard look, “Justice and this are different. You cannot compare the two.” The man knew he messed up once the words left his mouth and he closed his eyes in regret. 

Jason saw the slap coming and he braced himself for the impact it would have. Bruce didn’t catch it, despite him being fully capable of it, and when it landed everyone winced at the sound and the red mark. 

“Well this is my justice. Now go away. I have a photoshoot to get ready for and you are just pissing me off!” The hand print was immaculate. One that had Jason biting back a laugh and Dick looking horrified. Y/N whirled back around to face her vanity, where all her jewelry laid on the surface, and her attention was focused back on picking which one would go with her outfit to the shoot. 

Jason whistled when Bruce turned around to face his kids and Butler, “Good hit Ma. You should hit the other side to even it out.” Y/N gave a laugh, picking up the pearl earrings encased with gold, and she continued to pick out a necklace. 

“Jay, help me out here please.” Rough hands replaced her’s, and green eyes met furious E/C though the mirror. Using the safety of her son’s larger frame to hide herself, Y/N slowly let herself crumble a little bit. Jason could see the anger, hurt, and sadness that was slowly turning the sclera red from holding back tears. There was a subtle shake in her shoulders and the trembling of lips, but Y/N held it together. She was holding onto it by the seams, desperately waiting for the man causing her pain to be gone. 

When the gold clasped, Y/N reached over for her large hat and sunglasses, “Enjoy the beach. Alfie, you especially should enjoy this vacation. Don’t let this  stupid, untrustworthy, and manwhore of a furry disrupt it.” With that, she slammed her hotel room door on her way out, and they all listened as her heels clicked down the hall until they were out of ear shot. 

Alfred glanced at his ward, “Well, I am not one for violence when there are disputes between partners, but I will say that one slap was well deserved, Master Bruce.” The man sighed, slightly rubbing his cheek, “I think the last time she hit me that hard was when we were in grade school.” 

“She put all her body weight into that.” Dick glanced at the hand print, “Woah, I think you can see the ring too.” Jason whistled, and Bruce closed his eyes and took deep breaths to keep himself steady, reflecting on the conversation and where exactly he messed up. 

“I think this is the third time she’s slapped me…” 

“Fourth, sir.” Bruce nodded, remembering the third time. Jason raised an eyebrow, “I only know of the time you were both 6, and you said something mean so she hit you.” Dick pouted, “I know of the one in Middle School, when you were once accused of touching her butt.” 

Alfred raised a brow, “The third time was when she dropped you off at the manor after a long night of drinking and you—” 

“Thanks Alfred, there’s no need to tell that story.” Bruce’s cheeks were now flushed from embarrassment rather than the slap on his cheek.  Y/N truly has seen him through it all. When he got into fights in school, it was always her eyes he sought out after each one. Bored E/C eyes, framed by thick lashes and elegant eyeliner, always watching with a blank expression. Bruce Wayne rarely phased Y/N L/N. When he was younger, he noticed how his last name made people stumble or stutter when talking to him, allowing him to say whatever he wanted. It did nothing to Y/N, who met his gaze and taunts head on with her own witty comebacks that stuck at parts of Bruce that had him fumbling. 

He can remember his dad, Thomas Wayne, laughing when he caught Y/N’s sly comeback directed at Bruce after he said something about her dress. Y/N’s own parents looked mortified. 

Y/N L/N-Wayne was a flame that never wavered. It’s what made her successful at modeling, and a supermodel in her first two years. That flame is what had photographers, stylists, fashion designers, and make up artists still call her up, begging for her to come back. A force of nature that had only paused for Bruce and their children. 

“C’mon, Y/N. Even you can see the benefits of this.” The woman raised her brow at a younger Bruce, who was smiling at her. 

“Your life does not pause, and now with the Wayne name as yours, your options are endless.” 

“And what about you?” 

“This means I no longer have to play as a playboy in public and everyone will stop asking me to marry them or their daughters.” Y/N laughed, “Nah, you’ll still get them. They’ll just now be whispered behind closed doors.” 

Bruce smiled, “The standards of a regular marriage will still apply. Obviously not the sex part or anything, but everything else will. Think of it like living with roommates.

“This will work for the both of us, Y/N.” The woman smiled into the rim of her cup, red lips leaving an imprint on the glass. 

It took him five tries for her to finally agree. There might have been some manipulation on his side of things, but he got that ring on her finger, and 2 months later she was walking down the aisle in a wedding dress that was deemed ‘The Dress of the Century.’ She was beautiful, even more so than usual. 

Dick glanced at him, “So, what’s the plan?” Bruce sighed, “Just make sure she doesn’t get hurt.” 

++++

It took 4 months for Y/N to come back to the manor. Within those 4 months, one of them were always with her. Switching off when they hit a new city, and each one had tried their charm on having her come back to the mansion. Bruce was going crazy, therefore Batman was more brutal than usual, and that the meant the other birds had to pick up the slack when it came to emotions. Bruce had all but shut down every other part that wasn’t Batman. 

However, nothing returned to normal once she was back. Her and Bruce were rarely in each other’s presence, and she refused to see or do anything about Batman. Y/N was trying to remove herself from Bruce Wayne completely, and no one liked that. 

Bruce and Y/N may claim that they were never in love, and that they only married for convenience. However, Dick will always remember watching Bruce and Y/N dancing in the main hall of the manor. He was hanging onto the chandelier, not yet noticed by either, as a song began playing and they both began dancing. 

They had been dressed in casual clothes, which consisted of dark blue jeans and nice tops and shoes. Dick’s young eyes watched as the two of them swayed and twirled around each other, Y/N laughing at the whispered words Bruce would share, and the stern man relaxing for the duration of the time. 

They were far from the perfect couple. Their parenting styles were different, and it took a while for Y/N to warm up to Dick. She was never cold or malicious, but just like Dick and everyone else, she was lost. However, it was her awkward arms he sought after when he had a bad day, or when Bruce got on his nerves. It was her eyes he always seeked approval for. 

When she caught him hastily packing, dying to get away from the man that had his rules tighter than the Robin suit, she helped. Y/N had folded his clothes, snuck a bottle of Smirnoff and Titos into his luggage, because moving required at least two bottles of alcohol, and she hugged him goodbye. 

Every member of this family has a memory tied to Y/N. A gentle one. 

Damian had kind memories, where Y/N smiled at him for no reason. She did not expect perfection, and one time she stated how she wished Damian would fail sometimes. It was something that had him seething and jumping to defend himself, but Y/N laughed, “Failure is our best teacher, Damian. What better time to fail then when you knwo you have people willing to help you up?” 

Jason remembers peeking on Y/N when he was younger. Watching through the cracks of the door as she and Bruce swayed to music, laughed at old memories, or simply sat around each other and read a book. Sometimes, he’d catch her trying on her jewelry, or reorganizing her perfume. Every now and then she would go through her closet and donate clothes she no longer wanted or needed. 

He watched how Dick, would seek her out whenever he and Bruce argued. When Jason finally allowed himself to be wrapped in those arms– arms that always had Bruce looking ready to sacrifice everything, that had Dick relaxing, and Alfred smiling endearingly– and he can see why they did so. It's different from Bruce, because Bruce makes you feel protected. In Bruce’s arms, Jason knows that there is almost nothing that can harm him. 

In Y/N’s embrace, Jason feels at peace. There’s no need to worry about protection because he’s in a place that does not need it. When he dances with Y/N, to their song nonetheless, there is nothing that can ever disrupt the moment. Y/N stares at him with adoration, just how she does with Dick, only her attention is on him. Him! A street rat from Dowry, Crime Alley, and he has the attention of the woman that is Bruce’s equal in the highest social circles. 

Those soft E/C eyes, that always stared at them with warmth and love, stared back at him through the mirror. He and Tim, because Timmy loved her just as much as he did, watched as Y/N emptied another glass of the Rose, and how the exhaustion from all the shows, photoshoots, flashing cameras, and the ordeal with Bruce seeped into her bones. 

“Hey Ma, let's get some sleep.” Jason walked closer, carefully minding the scattered jewelry that looked more expensive than any of his weapons, and Tim, who was forever on the same wavelength as Jason, scampered over to the large bed and lit the diffuser. 

Y/N hummed, running her hands through her hair, before tilting her head back and looking at Jason once more, “You both shouldn’t be here. I can handle this myself.” Y/N never liked it when any of the kids saw her less than presentable. She was always dressed in nice clothes, with nice jewelry, and makeup even at the manor. It's one of the worries of being a model, she had told Dick, always scared that the nosey paparazzi will catch you at your worst and share it with an even crueler audience. 

Jason had once confided in her about Willis Todd, and how he hated it when she drank in front of him. Whether it was scotch or champagne. 

After that, Y/N always drank in her room. 

The thing is, that Jason knows Y/N wouldn’t ever hurt him. She’s not like Willis who purposefully seeked out to hurt someone smaller. Jason knows that no matter how mad she got at him, she wouldn’t do anything (unlike what she would do to Bruce).

This is why, despite all the trauma he has with alcohol and people being intoxicated, he can confidently move the bottle away and the glass. Noting how both were empty. 

Tim strolled over, and gave a small smile through the mirror, “I’ll brush your hair, Mom. Then you should sleep.” Y/N tried to wave him off, “Don’t bother. I can do it myself. You both should go.” She sluggishly reached out for the vintage decorated paddle brush, only for Tim to snatch it before she could. 

“I want to do it. Besides, if it bothers you, think of it as me returning the favor.” The confused look Y/N gave him had him smiling patiently as he stood behind her and gently began to brush the locks of hair. Y/N sighed, “This is embarrassing. My kids should not be taking care of me.” 

“I’m an adult.” 

“CEO of Wayne Enterprises as well. Taking care of you when you are in a low spot is the least I could do.” Lord knows how many times Y/N has cared for them at their lowest. When Tim believed that Bruce was stuck in the Time Stream, Y/N didn’t seem all that confident in it, but she still believed him and helped him narrow down locations. She kept the press busy while he went out and searched. 

He heard later that she refused to talk to Dick when she found out they wanted to put Tim in Arkham. She shook her head in disappointment when Dick told her that Damien is now Robin. Tim always thought Dick was a bit stupid on that part. Parading Damien, a child from another woman, around and in front of Y/N nonetheless. Yes, thankfully Y/N warmed up to Damien and vice versa (although for Damien it took longer),  but that could have gone bad in so many ways. 

“Still my kids.” Jason pulled a chair next to her, so they could all be in the view of the mirror, and in a rare show of affection that is only reserved for Alfred and Y/N, he rested his head on her shoulder as Tim continued to work the brush carefully through her hair. Y/N’s shoulders sagged and her back hunched a bit, and for the first time in a while, Y/N let herself look how she felt. Exhausted. Utterly and completely exhausted. 

Tim can see the dark circles under her red rimmed eyes, and the way her skin looked duller than usual. Granted, she finished a long gig, working tirelessly for months posing, getting dressed up, and traveling around the world to forget Bruce’s infidelity. 

‘Standards,’ she said in response to his excuse. Tim isn’t stupid to believe that neither Bruce or Y/N have feelings for the other. He’s seen it. It's in the way that Bruce concedes in arguments, or the flowers and necklaces he buys her when he’s apologetic, how the harsh glare that was directed at Tim when he first became Robin eased the moment Y/N pulled the boy close to her. Acting as a shield and sword for him. 

Her message was clear, and Bruce decided to read it. 

Y/N on the other hand lessened Bruce’s stress when he was CEO, the breaks from brooding to dance in the main hall to their song, or even acting as the sound of reason for him. She keeps him tethered to Earth, never letting his thoughts stray too far from reality. 

They may not be in love, but they still liked each other. Enough so that Bruce went along with her whims, just how she does with him. Enough so for Bruce to chase her across the world. Looking at it, perhaps Bruce was the one in love. 

“Jason, can you pass me the scrunchie?” He grabbed the silk scrunchie from large hands, and began braiding his mom’s hair. 

“You guys are being so silly,” Y/N huffed, and Jason beamed at her, giving her a boyish smile that he never shows anymore, “Anything for ya, Ma.” She subtly shook her head, a smile on her face as she looked back into the mirror. 

“Is this still about Bruce?” Tim kept his eyes on the braid, but from the tension in her shoulders, he hit the jackpot. Y/N brought her hand up to rub her forehead, “That idiot…” 

“Join the club, Ma.” Y/N took a deep breath, “He’s so stupid. It’s one thing to kiss another woman, which is fine. Do what you want to do, it’s not like we married for love.” A glare formed on her face, “But to get caught is another thing. Fucking idiot, he can only think with his hormones like a teenager. Even Dami isn’t like that, thank god.” 

Tim tied off the braid with the silk scrunchie, watching Y/N get heated again, “I hate him.” Except it was said with no bite, and the way Y/N’s lip wobbled had Tim hearing other words alongside the ones she mumbled. Jason leaned into her, offering her comfort while Tim watched from the reflection in the mirror.

Y/N to Tim was what Janet Drake had failed to be. He learned a lot from both of them, and it helped that both women were huge players in their social circles and socialites. They both taught him how to play with people’s perception of someone. Only Janet taught him to keep a straight face and not show emotion, while Y/N taught him that with a correct smile and a well placed chuckle, someone can be eating out of the palm of their hands. Both women approached the world with different weapons and tools, and both women used and taught them to him. 

Only Y/N also knew when it was time to put down the mask and become a reliable person for Tim, while Janet continued to only be Janet to Tim. 

He loves them both. Except, with Y/N he felt that if she were to ever leave him the way Janet did then he would have no choice but to follow and bring her back. Wherever Y/N goes, Tim will follow. 

“Boys.” Jason and Tim snapped their attention to the door, and Bruce was standing there, menacingly longingly. His face in an unusual expression, but one he’s worn a lot throughout the time Y/N was gone. An expression all the boys have gotten to know. Tim escaped, saying goodnight to both parental figures, before leaving for the cave. 

Jason pecked Y/N’s cheek, whispering good night and glaring at Bruce, “Don’t fuck this up old man.” To which Bruce sighed and nodded, closing the door after Jason. For the first time in months, it was just Y/N and Bruce. Alone with each other’s company and Bruce knows that if she could, she’d probably be strangling him right now. 

With great hesitancy, one that he could never show as Batman, he sat on the bed about a foot away from her. 

“I paused my life for you.” Y/N glared into blue eyes, “I paused almost everything, for you. For your mission. For the children you brought into our home, without asking me about it beforehand, may I remind you. I love them, and don’t you dare twist that, but I would have liked to have been consulted about it first.” Y/N didn’t want to be a mother. It was never in the cards for her, and yet here she is having more children than she had ever dreamt of. 

She loves them. She’d die and kill for them, but they were never in the cards of life she wanted dealt to her. 

“I paused so much, just for you to go and.. And… and do that.” Bruce winced at that, and Y/N felt happy that he did. Gritting her teeth, Y/N turned her attention to look at the fire. The heat of it reminds her of her own rage and the coldness she feels when in the presence of Bruce. 

Sighing heavily, she closed her eyes and bit back a groan, “And once I start getting my life started again, having fun, going on the runway and magazines, here you come storming back.” 

“You looked like you needed the break.” Y/N shook her head, “Did you know, that that is one of your worst habits. Always making yourself out to be the hero.” She took a glass of wine and watched the liquid swirl in the glass, “Of course, you let me have that moment. Of course you were thinking of me, and my happiness. How kind of you.” 

Bruce sighed, watching her sip the alcohol that left a red stain on her lips. He can remember the first time he saw her in red lipstick. Shockingly, it was in-person and the red made her skin look warm and teeth appear even whiter despite the knowledge that red lipstick can make your teeth look yellower. It was a beautiful shade, matched by her dress. 

She was beautiful. Breathtakingly so. Even as time progressed and she and he got older, Y/N remained beautiful. Defying the laws time and age as she remained ethereal. Unfairly so. 

Bruce had wanted to preserve that beauty, in the same way that many tried to preserve the flowers from the garden and the expensive smelling perfume. He wanted nothing more than for Y/N to continue smiling and for the fire to remain bright. 

To do that, he had to stay away. He could not allow himself to love her, because if he fell then he would drag her through the mud with him. Yet, here he is on the other side of that cold look, one that had him hesitating. That kiss with Selena was terrible timing all around. She had caught him in a moment of weakness, and someone just so happened to be there at the worst moment to catch it all. 

Staying away proved to be ineffective when here she is drinking wine with red-rimmed eyes and anger in her brows. 

“This marriage was never one for love, but there are standards. Ones we talked about beforehand.” 

“I know.” Y/N pursed her lips, tilting her head to the left and watching Bruce with distrustful eyes. The man sighed heavily and he sat in front of her, taking his own glass and pouring himself some wine. He didn’t like this type of wine, and from the very small scrunch in her nose Y/N didn’t like it either. 

The more he stared at her, taking in her still youthful features and eyes that burned bright, the more he could feel his emotions rising to the surface. Feelings and emotions he long tried to bury, but never quite succeeded. He had hoped that kissing Selena would just prove that he is only missing her as a sexual partner, and it only confirmed for him that he was in love with her. 

He is in love with Y/N L/N-Wayne. His kids are in love with Y/N. Alfred loves Y/N. The whole Wayne family, extended and all, are in love with this woman. This woman has nothing to do with their vigilantism, but instead reminds them that they are also normal and exist outside of masks and costume. That they are human and not shadows of the night. 

That they are the Wayne family. 

God, he loves her so much. So much. She is his weakness, his strength, his everything. The fancy cufflinks that are only brought out for special occasions, the expensive wine cracked open for celebrations, the pearl earring worn for the best performances. Y/N is the treasure of the Wayne family. 

Carefully, he wrapped an arm around her waist, slowly inching his way around her, testing the waters to see if she would shake him off or hiss at him. When there was no sign of that, he tightened his hold only slightly and pressed his forehead into her shoulder, gently laying a kiss on the joint, “Like I said, it was an accident. She caught me at a bad time, and I wasn’t expecting her to do that.” 

Y/N released a heavy sigh, and Bruce hugged her tighter, “I swear. It wasn’t consensual.” She rubbed her forehead, and Bruce watched how the lines slowly faded and melted back into her skin. Y/N never wore exhaustion well, which was why on mornings she had early photoshoots, she would sleep in her room instead of Bruce’s. She always woke up when he would stalk in and climb under the sheets with her. 

“Please, Y/N. Give me a chance. Let me take care of you the way you should be.” Y/N chuckled at that, “Careful Bruce, keep saying stuff like that and I might start to believe you have feelings for me.” Ice blue met E/C, and Y/N hesitated for a moment. Something chilling going down her spine, “I guess, I should start saying it more often then.” 

“Bruce…” He pecked her cheek, careful of the fire he was playing with, and carefully watching her reactions. His arms encircled her tighter, and he kissed her shoulder. Bruce watched, and observed how the tension slowly left her and reluctant acceptance came across her face. His arms tightened, and Bruce fought back a smile. 

“Ever the charmer,” She mumbled. Bruce huffed a laugh, and Y/N shook her head, “If I catch you with your mouth on anyone else’s but mine, I’m going to sick the kids on you.” An image of four rabid dogs, followed by a few more, filled his mind. Bruce grimaced as he remembered the tongue lashing he got from everyone, “Noted.” 

Y/N chuckled, and Bruce smiled, throwing his weight back on the pillows, bringing Y/N with him. His arms still tight around her waist, and a promise on his lips. 

‘I’ll never let you go again.’ 

________________________________________________

Not super Yandere, but it is getting there.

[cranberrymoons]

have a cup(cake) of cheer

prompt: cooking together (@steddieholidaydrabbles) rated: t word count: 668 tags: future fic, rockstar eddie/teacher steve, evil pta moms notes: this one is part of the future fic series! it stands alone, but just for context, corroded coffin exists and is very successful! steve is a teacher and they have four kids 🥰

welcome to Day 6 of the fic advent calendar – bite-sized fics posting every day during the month of december. enjoy!

“Give me the –” Steve says, gesturing at the pastry bag on the counter. “The that.”

He pushes his glasses up the end of his nose with the back of his wrist and shakes his hair out of his eyes, frustrated and sticky and – Eddie glances up from where he’s diligently adding glitter sprinkle snow to the top of the iced cupcakes. He makes a face.

“You realize we could’ve just bought these,” he says under his breath as he hands it over. “No one would have even known.”

Steve lets out a hollow laugh. “You clearly haven’t met Jackie from the PTA.” He squeezes out a dollop of chocolate icing. “Sorry, Jaqueliiiine , even though everyone knows she’s not actually French. She’s from Texas.” He ices another cupcake. “Jackie from Texas who’s out to get me.”

“Baby, come on,” Eddie says. “I doubt she’s harboring some secret vendetta against you. You just don’t like her because she put you on ticket-taking duty at the start of year picnic.”

“She told me to buy the cupcakes,” Steve says. He widens his eyes. “Because she was – how did she put it – ‘just so concerned about how difficult it must be to manage a family and a career with a partner who’s always leaving on tour’.”

Eddie snorts. “I take it back,” he says. “She sucks.”

Steve looks up from his cupcakes. “Right? Thank you. Robin said I was overreacting.” 

He squeezes the pastry bag again with more force than necessary, and the icing comes out faster than he means for it to, drooping down over the sides of the cupcake.

“Does she realize who she’s dealing with?” Eddie asks, shooting Steve a sideways glance. “I mean, you’re not being nice to her, are you?”

“No, but I’m biding my time,” Steve says. He finishes with the tray he’s working on and sits back in his chair, watching Eddie work. “I just need to figure out how to hit her where it hurts.”

Eddie lets out a laugh as he pulls Steve’s tray of cupcakes toward himself to start adding sprinkles. 

“Run against her in the next board election,” he says. “That’d show her.”

And he sort of sounds like he’s joking, but Steve frowns as he turns it over in his mind, staring out the darkened window at the shadowy shape of the lemon tree in the backyard. He doesn’t know why he didn’t think of it first.

“That might actually work,” he says after a moment.

“I know,” Eddie says. He glances up, flashing a smile. “That’s why I said it.”

Steve gives his ankle a little kick under the table. “Don’t be a dick.” He squints. “Do you think I’d win?”

“You’re the only hot dad on the PTA, and you have a very famous rockstar for a husband,” Eddie says. “Just tell them you’ll get Coldplay to do the winter carnival next year or something. They’ll vote you in for sure.”

“Isn’t that kind of cheating?” And then, maybe more importantly because he doesn’t actually really care about being fair, “Can you actually get them to play?”

“Please,” Eddie scoffs. “They owe me a favor after that thing at the VMAs last year. This is worth cashing in for.”

“I love you,” Steve says. He hooks his foot around the back of Eddie’s ankle. “So fucking much.”

Eddie grins at him. “As if I’d let King Steve go down to Jackie from Texas without a fight.”

Steve laughs and reaches over to snag the over-iced cupcake. He peels off the paper and breaks it in two, taking a bite as he passes the other half to Eddie. 

“Jackie can suck it,” he says. “She doesn’t even know how to make her own cupcakes. Did you know she brought store bought ones to the Thanksgiving bake sale?”

Eddie looks genuinely scandalized as he takes a bite of his own cupcake half. “She didn’t.”

“She did,” Steve says. “And they weren’t even good ones.”

[also on ao3]

[absurdthirst]

Just Your Average Suburban Couple {Dave York x F!Reader}

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 13.3k

Warnings: Cheating, extramarital affairs, marriage of convenience, rough treatment, derogatory language (slut/whore/bitch), choking, rough sex, spanking, threats of death, guns, orgasm denial, fighting, oral sex (male receiving), hating fucking, murder

Comments: You are married to Dave York, on paper only. Both of you using your marriage as a cover for your work. Happy-ish with the arrangement even if he annoys you until Dave finds you tangled up in a neighbors arms and you find out exactly how much he does not like that.

Co-written with @storiesofthefandomlovers

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|| MasterList || Dave York MasterList ||

Click Keep Reading only if you have read the Rating and Warnings and understand the warnings may not be complete to avoid listing spoilers. As AO3 says 'creator chooses not to use warnings'. You also agree that you're the right age to be consuming anything here.

Dave sighs as he sips his beer, standing by the group of men who are gathered around the BBQ debating the best way to cook a steak. “Medium rare.” He inserts his opinion, just a couple of words to make him seem interested, and his dark eyes slide across the yard to where you are standing with the wives. This suburban heaven, perfect for the new couple looking for the white picket fence and yard perfect for a dog to run around while they work on the 2.5 kids. A perfect cover. 

You catch his eye, sipping your spritzer, and he tilts his beer towards you, making you sigh. He wants to go. The food hasn’t been served yet but you know Dave has a job to go to tonight and he likely wants to prepare. You don’t want to leave yet, you’re starving and you want to put in an appearance. 

Your eyes shift and you meet the gaze of Kyle Tyson. Your next door neighbor and husband of Jackie. A small yet aggravating woman that makes you grit your teeth. You smile at Kyle and he winks at you, making you chuckle and bite your lip. You jerk your chin towards the house and he nods, letting you lead the way into the house. Dave sees it, the small actions that no one seems to notice but he does. He clenches his jaw, downing the rest of his beer as he follows you and Kyle into the house, determined to discover what you’re up to.

“Everyone’s outside.” Kyle pants, as he presses you up against the wall, running kisses down your throat as he slides his hands up your stupidly cute sundress. 

“That’s the point.” You giggle, reaching down and squeezing his rapidly hardening cock before your fingers quickly start to work his belt. You hate suburban life, you hate your husband and you need to get laid. This thing with Kyle is new and fun, plus it’s always amusing to pretend to be interested in what Jackie has to say when you have a load of her ‘perfect’ husband’s cum dripping out of your cunt and are sore from fucking him. “You know you like the idea of wearing my cum on your dick while you eat your hot dog.” You purr, reaching in and pulling out his cock to pump it a few times while his fingers slide through your wet folds. 

Dave watches you from around the corner before he makes his entrance. “What the fuck is going on?” He growls and Kyle pushes you away, fumbling to tuck his hard cock away. 

“No-nothing Dave.” Kyle stammers. Pussy. You want to roll your eyes. 

Dave shakes his head, “it didn’t look like nothing. You had your fucking hand down my wife’s panties.” Dave growls, stepping closer to Kyle who holds his hands up. 

“I didn’t - we - she - she seduced me.” He lies and Dave shakes his head, looking at you. 

“We are going home. Now.” He demands, grabbing your arm and you whine in protest. 

Kyle is helpless, terrified when he says “you’re not gonna tell Jackie, are you?” The idea of his wife finding out is horrifying. She would kill him.

Dave snorts, looking at Kyle. He doesn’t need to get involved in that kind of drama. This is between you and Dave. “No. That’s your business but you should fucking tell her before someone mysteriously does.” Dave threatens and Kyle’s eyes widen. Before he can say another word, Dave drags you through the house and out of the front door, along the sidewalk to your own slice of suburban heaven. 

“What the actual fuck were you thinking?” Dave hisses when you’re inside your home in the hallway.

“Oh come on.” You roll your eyes and pull your arm out of Dave’s grip, scowling at him. “No one was going to walk in and catch us. They hadn’t yet.” 

Dave growls, shaking his head and pushing you up against the wall. “You’ve done this before? You can’t do this!” He hisses angrily and your eyes turn cold, hard. 

Pushing back against him, you shove him away from you. “Don’t fucking touch me, David York.” You spit. “You might be married to me, but this is farce, remember? Who I fuck is none of your concern.” 

Dave hisses at you, crowding you against the wall with his chest but not touching you, “it might be a fake marriage but no one around here knows that. They just see my wife cheating on me with the neighbor. I won’t be made a fucking fool of, sweetheart. You are testing me. And him? Of all the men in the area. Jesus Christ. You picked a winner. What - does he cum in 3 pumps?” Dave snorts humorlessly.

Kyle didn’t have the longest stamina, but he made up for it with his tongue. You aren’t going to tell Dave that. “No one knows but the people I’ve fucked.” You tell Dave with a smirk, knowing he will seethe until he knows who all you have slept with. He wouldn’t be able to stand it. His downfall as an operative was letting his emotions run him at times, being too hot headed. It was going to get him killed one day. “I’m sure you’ve been such a good little boy since we’ve been married, haven’t you? Kept it in your pants?”

“That’s different. I didn’t fuck the woman across the street for people to find out.” He hisses at you, blood boiling. He hates to think that you are getting fucked by these neighborhood losers. “You- you are giving us a bad reputation. Me, you’re embarrassing me. They- they will think your husband doesn’t fuck you properly.” He shakes his head. Dave is all about keeping up appearances. Both of you have too much to lose to be fucking around. You both need this cover for your jobs and yet you’re putting everything at risk for some mediocre cock. 

“You don’t honey.” You coo mockingly and Dave breaks, his hand coming up to grab your neck, slamming you against the wall. 

“You’re a fucking cunt.”

Instead of crying out and trembling in fear, you scoff and laugh. Glaring back at him, you jut your chin out defiantly. “I’m the cunt you married.” You remind him softly, your words cutting through him like a knife to the heart. “The only time you’ve liked yourself was when you were trying to be someone this cunt might like.” Twisting your lips into a smirk, you lean back against the wall, panting softly. “I’m that cunt.” 

Dave’s blood boils, that vein in his forehead popping and he hisses your name, “how many of them have you fucked?” He growls, tightening his grip on your neck. “Tell me.” He demands, his patience wearing thin and he doesn’t want to admit why he’s acting this way.

You take more pleasure than you probably should at the way Dave’s eyes glitter darkly. He’s always pissed you off with his total disregard of your appeal, so it’s amusing to see his ego bruised. “Let’s see….” You hum playfully. “Jerry and Damon, Alex once…..” You pretend to think about it. “Everyone at the party but Scott.” You shudder slightly, something about the neighbor across the street made your stomach churn, and not in a good way.

Dave squeezes your throat a little harder, “you’ve fucked the entire street behind my back.” He growls, “you’re a fucking whore. Everyone is laughing at me, laughing at me not knowing my wife is the street slut.”

“Maybe you should have satisfied your wife if you didn’t want to be the laughingstock of the neighborhood.” You taunt him, your pussy clenching from the tight grip he has on your throat. No one knew and the men in this area were all to shit scared of their wives finding out about their dalliances and leaving them, taking half their money and draining them with spousal and/or child support.

“You didn’t want to fuck me. You didn’t want a wedding night. Sweetheart, we had a courthouse wedding, took photos, and both flew across the country to kill our targets. You would’ve bit my cock off if I had come near you. Instead, you’re fucking every single man in the goddamn zip code.”

You tut, shaking your head. “I’ve seen your dick, I wouldn’t have bitten it off. I wanted to suck it.” You shrug, “figured you would have shot me before I could get on my knees.” Despite the fact that you don’t share a bed, you’ve seen him naked by chance and have heard him jerking off in the shower several times. It seemed like Dave couldn’t stand you so you just moved on. You deserve to find satisfaction somewhere.

Dave can't stop himself. Your words have him hardening in his pants. He keeps hold of your neck, squeezing it as he surges forward to press his lips to yours, his tongue sliding into your mouth. He's not delicate, he's rough, desperate to remind you that you are married to him. You are his wife.

Surprised, you quickly moan into the kiss, feeling like it is some sort of lesson. Not that you mind, you’ve always been one to like to learn. You learn that Dave enjoys biting, breaking away from your lips to map your jaw and neck with his teeth. Your arms come up and your fingers sink into his hair, pulling on it just as roughly as he bites. “Fuck, Dave.”

His fingers grip your jaw and he presses his forehead against yours. "I'm gonna fuck you. You are gonna take whatever I give you." He orders, pushing down on your shoulders to force you to kneel. "You are gonna suck my cock. Don't you dare bite or I'll fucking kill you." He warns, working on his belt buckle to pull his hardening cock out of his pants.

You have half a mind to refuse, just to spite him, but you’ve been curious about David Anthony York and he denied you your pleasure earlier. Instead of arguing, you slap his hands away to take over exposing his cock. Eager to see what it takes to make this man moan your name.

Dave smirks, watching you as you pull his hard cock out, eyes widening, and you look up at him while wrapping your fingers around his girth. “You impressed, sweetheart?” He chuckles, grabbing the back of your neck to push you towards his cock. “None of those fuckers in this neighbourhood impressed you with their dicks?”

You lift a brow, wanting to make a smart comment back about how there were a couple of men who could give him a run for his money but you don’t. Instead you lean in and press your tongue to the underside of his cock.

Dave groans when you wrap your lips around his cock, his grip on your neck loosening a little. You take him deeper and he pushes his cock further into your mouth. “You can take more. You’re a whore, you know how to take a cock down your throat.” He taunts you, “you can take more of it.”

Pulling your lips back, you show him your teeth just to watch him scowl at you. You hollow your cheeks and push him deeper into your throat until you hit the back. He wants to taunt you, but he can’t hurt your feelings.

He groans when you take him deeper, suctioning his cock into your mouth. You moan around him and he grabs your hair, “don’t act, sweetheart. I want real. I don’t want the bullshit you give those pathetic assholes down the street.” He hisses, pushing his cock down your throat and you choke on his girth.

The funny thing is, you aren’t acting, you like it. You like blowing a guy and having him fall apart under the direction of your mouth. Tears slide down your cheeks and you feel the spit bubbling out of the sides of your mouth.

Dave has no sympathy for you, his hips thrusting as he pushes his cock down your throat over and over again. He doesn’t care about you choking or gagging, he just wants to own you. You’re his, legally. He groans, pushing his cock deep one last time before he pulls his cock back, making you gasp as he suddenly withdraws. “Get in the fucking bedroom.” He demands, grabbing your hair to drag you up from your knees.

It amuses you that he thinks he can treat you like you are actually some suburban housewife. Like you aren’t deadly in your own rights. You have every intention of fucking him, but now you’re going to be a brat about it. Grabbing his wrist, you twist around until the pressure forces him to let go of your hair and you shove him back. “Who the fuck do you think you are, York?” You hiss, enjoying watching his face scrunch up in anger.

Dave grabs your arms, pulling you into his chest. “I’m your fucking husband.” He growls, letting go of you and he bends over, grabbing your thighs to lift you over his shoulder. He stalks into the bedroom, tossing you down onto the bed. “Fucking undress. Now.” He hisses his final warning, working on his button down.

You snort, wondering if he would rip your dress off if you refused. Since you actually like the damned dress, you shift to your knees and pull it up over your head, revealing your lack of bra since the top had one built in and the skimpy lacy panties that you had been wearing for Kyle. “Good enough?” You ask, admiring his smooth chest as he pulls off his button down.

Dave knows you were wearing those panties for the insipid prick next door and he clenches his jaw. “You’re a fucking whore. You know what happens to whores? They get fucked. Hard.” Dave promises, shrugging off his shirt and he pushes his pants down along with his boxers, kicking them aside. He grabs you, flipping you onto your stomach. “Are you wet enough? I don’t fucking care.” He chuckles darkly, straddling your thighs and he grips his cock, positioning it at your entrance and he pushes into you without any foreplay. He’s girthy but you can take it.

All you give him is a grunt. Not wanting to let him know how hard you are biting down on your lip to keep from moaning. He stretches you out amazingly and it’s been a long time since someone fucked you this hard. The only thing that surprises you is that York didn’t put on a condom. Controlling your breathing, you look over your shoulder. “Are you going to fuck me? I don’t have all day.” You taunt.

Your words make him smirk, his chuckle echoes through his body to yours, and he reaches out to smack your ass. “Patience, wifey. I will fuck you when I want. How I want.” He clicks his tongue and you whine when he doesn’t move. He waits until you’re squirming before he pulls back, nearly falling out of you until he thrusts hard and deep inside of you. He sets that same pace, fucking you hard and fast, his hips slam against your ass.

This time you can’t hold back the moans. Gripping the sheets of the bed you sleep on without him every night you cry out. “Fuck, Dave!” Your eyes roll back, loving how deep he’s getting and you know that you will be sore tomorrow. “More.”

His hand presses down on the back of your neck, pushing you into the mattress, “shut the fuck up. I’m in charge now. You’re my slut now.” He reminds you, rocking his hips and he suddenly slows down, making you whine in protest. He pushes two fingers into your mouth, his cock slowly dragging through your walls.

It’s demeaning and if it were any other man, you would snap his fucking neck. But because it’s Dave, you suck on his fingers and whine as your walls clench down around his cock. He feels incredible, scratching an itch you’ve had for a long time and you love the rough way he’s treating you. You bite him just to see what he would do. 

When you bite down on his fingers, he snorts, withdrawing them from between your teeth so he can slap your cheek. “Don’t bite. It’s rude.” He reprimands and grips your jaw. He presses his entire body over you, his face near yours and he starts to fuck you hard once more. “You’ve been such a naughty girl. Fucking all the neighborhood husbands. Been a bad little whore. You’re my whore now, baby. You’re mine. My wife. The only one who gets this pussy is me. Tell me it’s mine.” He orders, still gripping your jaw.

Your eyes roll back again, his filth pouring into your ears and going straight to your cunt. “Yours.” You moan quietly, mouth going slack jawed when he hits something deep inside you and you squeal when he hits it again. “Fuck, it’s yours.”

His cock twitches inside of you upon hearing the words that your pussy belongs to him. He loves that. “Don’t fucking forget it.” He growls, slapping your cheek again and he continues to thrust deep and hard into you. His hands shifting to grab your tits, sliding his hands under you to squeeze them while he rocks deep into you. “Did you let them cum inside of you?” He asks you, wanting to know.

You squeeze his cock with your cunt, enjoying the harshness of his tone rasping in your ear. Jealousy drips from his words and it makes you smirk. For a man who was just married to you on paper alone, he was acting like a husband. “Yes.” You hum, aware of the fact that you wouldn’t get pregnant, but he doesn’t know that. “Ev-every time.”

​​Dave growls, sliding his hand up to squeeze your neck. “You’re a fucking slut. What if - what if they knocked you up? You could’ve jeopardized our entire fucking cover having a baby daddy. You stupid whore.” He slaps your cheek, reprimanding you as his cock pushes deeper, spearing against your cervix.

You choke out a moan at the slap, giggling slightly at how furious he is. Instead of correcting him, you just push your hips up. “Le-legally it would be yours.” You tease, knowing that would make him even madder. Your fingers twist around the bedding and you moan again, loving how brutal he is being. He was right that the men in the neighborhood weren’t vicious like this and you needed it.

Dave hates the thought of you pregnant with another man’s child. “I would kill you if you had another man’s baby.” He threatens, slapping your cheek again as he keeps up his pace.

“Temper, t-temper.” You pant out, eyes closing as the delicious knot of pleasure starts to build in your core. You’re so close to having the best fucking orgasm you’ve had in a long time and it’s thanks to the asshole you married. “So- fuck, so close, Dave.”

Dave lets go of your throat, pushing deep and he grabs your ass as he buries his cock inside of your walls, twitching while a loud groan escapes his lips, his orgasm making him shake and he pulls out while he’s still spurting, his hot seed hitting your ass and lower back. He pants, closing his eyes for a moment until he shuffles off of the bed, spent cock still aching with his release. “Don’t you ever fucking disrespect me like that again. Clean yourself up.” He orders and grabs his pants, walking out of the bedroom to leave you laying there, his cum cooling on your skin.

Huffing, you turn on your side and feel his cum drip down your skin and you can’t help but get in a parting shot. “Seems like you’re the one who can’t satisfy your wife, David!” You yell after him, rolling your eyes to yourself as you climb off the bed and move towards your bathroom, eager to finish what he started with the toy you have in there. 

Dave ignores you, heading for his room so he can get into the shower. He’s still fuming that you fucked the entire neighborhood, especially when his own liaisons have been far away from home. He’s had hints from several wives but he’s never done anything for fear of risking your cover. He is annoyed that he’s jealous. Hating that you’ve somehow gotten under his skin. He washes off and gets ready for his op, deciding to leave early so he can get his mind straight.

In your own shower, you grind against the toy that is suctioned to the wall, not nearly as satisfied with it as Dave had felt inside you. Biting your lip and sinking your hand between your thighs, you wish that you had just fucking cum when he had fucked you. Hating that he feels as if he has the upper hand now. Like he has claimed you. He had been the one to tell you that it was a sham marriage and now he’s pissed that you treated it as such. Your fingers circle your clit and you moan quietly, cumming with his name on your lips. 

****

When Dave gets back from his op the next morning, he finds you in the kitchen, sipping your coffee and staring out the window to the back yard. “Morning sweetheart.” He announces his presence, setting his duffel bag down on the floor. “Missed me? Hopefully you didn’t fuck the neighbor while I was away.”

Rolling your eyes, you turn from the window and send him a smirk. “You missed it. I invited all of them over last night and they ran a train on me.” You taunt, taking a sip of your coffee. “It was wild. Just finished cleaning up all the cum before you walked in the door.” The funniest part of that was that your sheets are in the washing machine, the weekly cleaning but the sound of the machine can be heard from the kitchen. “Anyway, welcome home, dear. Do you want me to cook you some breakfast like a good little housewife?” 

Dave knows that’s not true. He monitored the security cameras. No one came inside the house. He rolls his eyes and sits down at the table, still mad at you for putting you both at risk. “I want some eggs. Coffee. Bacon.” He rattles off what he wants, knowing he’s being a dick but you have some making up to do.

“Good.” You hum, walking over to him and setting your coffee down in front of him and kissing him on the cheek before you stand straight. You make sure the kiss was wet, sloppy and leaves a mark on his skin that he will have to wipe off. “Have fun making that.” You turn to walk out of the room, having no intention of acting like his good little wife. You are married on paper and the fucker didn’t even let you cum yesterday. 

Dave mutters under his breath, unable to believe you have just left without cooking anything. He scowls as he wipes his cheek, huffing before he stands up. “Fucking bitch.” He hisses and stalks after you, finding you just about to walk up the stairs. “You’re such a bitch.” He growls, grabbing your ankle to pull you down and you gasp as you land on your hands on a step, his hand dragging you down the stairs.

Twisting your body, your free foot kicks out, striking Dave in the jaw and making him let go of your ankle with a curse. Instead of scrambling to get away, you decide to attack. “Bitch?” You screech, launching yourself at him and forcing him down to the ground before you punch him in the ribs. “I. Didn’t. Do. Anything. Wrong.” You spit out as you and Dave wrestle for control, your legs straddling his waist. 

Dave grabs your arms, stopping you from punching him, and you struggle to get free. He keeps his grip tight and pushes your legs open with his so you can’t flip him. You continue to struggle until you decide to fight dirty, grinding down onto him. “You - you fucked everyone in the community. I haven’t - no one can know about us.” He reminds you, groaning and his cock hardening as you grind down onto him.

“They just- they think I’m unhappy.” You hiss, smirking when you feel him start to grow against your panties. “Like they are.” You don’t care what they think, they have enough issues without throwing stones at what you have done. It doesn’t hurt that you’ve dug up enough dirt on everyone in the neighborhood if you need it. “What pisses you off more Dave? That I fucked them or I didn’t fuck you?” 

His hands let go of yours and he grabs your hips instead, moving you on his cock. “You’re my wife. You should be in my bed. If you wanted to be fucked, you should’ve told me. I would’ve fucked you however you wanted. You didn’t need to go to those pricks down the street. My cock is yours, both legally and in reality. All you have to do is ask.”

You stop moving, staring down at him for a moment and narrowing your eyes. You can’t tell what his game is, if he’s playing one. All you know is that he is acting like he wants this to be real, more than a cover marriage. Biting your lower lip, you pout slightly. “You didn’t make me cum.” You point out. “You got what you wanted and left me high and dry.” It sounds pitiful, because it is, but you had wanted to scream his name and he denied you. 

Dave chuckles at your whine, “you had to be punished.” He explains, slapping your ass as you continue to grind down onto his cock. “Take what you want, sweetheart. You want to cum? Take my cock out and ride it until you cum.” He orders, wanting you to do it but it has to be your decision.

You contemplate your options. The toy had technically gotten you off, but it wasn’t the same as getting fucked. Plus it will be another encounter with Dave where he’s clothed. Still….you huff and shuffle your hips down so you can unbuckle his belt and pull his cock out. You are still in your nightgown and you have no intention of taking it off. 

He chuckles at the way you eagerly take his cock out and lift your gown so you can sink down onto him. “Jesus.” He hisses at how tight you are as you lower yourself onto him. “Baby. Take what you want. It’s your chance.” He informs you, watching your mouth as you pout.

You whine softly, the sting of him stretching you out again after the rough sex making your cunt flutter. “Fuck, Dave.” Tilting your head back, you give yourself a moment to adjust while you make small circles with your hips. You hate that he feels so good, that his cock makes you gasp when he twitches inside you. “You’re going to make me cum this time. Or you won’t fuck me again.” You warn when you look down at him again. 

Dave snorts, “it’s all you this time, darling. Make yourself cum on my cock. I won’t deny you this time. If you deny me though, you’ll fucking regret it. Come on, ride my dick like you’ve probably done to every other man in town.” He slaps your ass again but doesn’t move you, wanting you to take what you want.

Rolling your eyes, you slap your hand down on his chest as you start to move. Pressing your lips together so you don’t give him the satisfaction of hearing you moan out in pleasure. Closing your eyes when he smirks at you, guessing what your game is. Fuck him. Fuck him and his cocky attitude. He wants to dictate you to not deny him when he left you unsatisfied? Your lips twitch and you decide to piss him off. “Fuck…Kyle.” You whimper quietly. 

Dave reacts immediately, his hand coming up to grip your jaw. “Don’t you fucking dare say his name while I’m inside of you. I’ll fucking kill him if you do it again.” He warns, knowing you know he’s serious. “Faster.” He demands, thrusting up into you.

For someone who wanted you to take what you wanted, he’s awfully demanding. It’s your turn to slap his cheek, smirking when his eyes narrow on yours. David York doesn’t scare you. “You lay there.” You huff. “This is my fucking time to cum.”

Dave chuckles, “there’s the woman I married. Come on, fucking ride me.” He demands again and you grip his jaw, leaning down to slide your tongue into his mouth. 

“Shut the fuck up.” You demand, biting down on his lower lip. 

Shit, Dave kind of likes that. He squeezes your hips, keeping still for you.

Now it’s your turn to use him. Bracing your hands on his chest and starting to ride him harder. Your hips are rolling and your body starts to shake as you bounce on his cock. Leaning forward until he hits perfectly inside you. Gasping and clenching around him while you keep that same pace. 

Dave hisses when you start to bounce on his cock, using him for your pleasure and his hands quickly find your tits, squeezing and pinching your nipples. “Come on sweetheart, you can do better than that.” He taunts you, slapping your tit through your nightgown.

You hiss, slapping his hands away and then slap his cheek again. “Keep it up and I’ll zip tie you to the floor and make you watch while I fuck Kyle.” You threaten, enjoying the way he snarls and snaps his hips up. You laugh, leaning down and biting his bottom lip again. “You forget I can kill you too, York.” 

That reminder is unbelievably sexy to Dave, his cock twitching violently inside of you. “Jesus Christ. You- I’d kill you before you could kill me.” He defends himself, knowing you’re an incredible assassin but he’s better, stronger. You’re smarter, as much as he hates to admit that. “Are you gonna keep threatening me or are you gonna cum?” He taunts you breathlessly, your cunt so tight and hot around his cock.

“Oh you liiiiiike that.” You chuckle, biting his lip again and moaning when you start to fuck him harder. Pushing up from where you are laying across him so you can bounce on his cock harder. “Fuck, fuck, you’re an- an asshole but you have a- a good cock.” You moan, rocking your hips harder while you chase your release.

Dave watches you as you push yourself closer to your orgasm. Your tits bounce and he keeps his hands by your hips, not holding, just hovering. “Is my little slutty wife gonna cum all over my cock?” He asks, a breathless chuckle escaping his lips. “Come on baby. Cum for me. Cum for your fucking husband.”

“Fuck you.” You pant, grinding down on him just as your world explodes in a kaleidoscope of colors, blinding you while pleasure shoots through every pore of your veins. “Fuck! Fuck! Dave.” His name falls from your lips by accident, caught up in the bliss of your orgasm.

He fucking loves hearing his name on your lips, a groan escaping his mouth as he squeezes your hips, working you up and down his cock. He hisses when your walls grip him in a vice and he struggles but manages a dozen thrusts up into you before he buries his cock deep and paints your walls with his cum.

Panting quietly, you close your eyes, dropping your head down until your chin rests on your chest. You feel him relax underneath you and his hands let go of your hips. Reminding yourself that he just wanted to fuck you because he found out you were fucking the neighbor, you lean forward and tap his cheek with your hand playfully. “Good ride, York.” You tease. “Now you can say you made your wife cum. Once.”

Dave rolls his eyes, “only the best treatment for you, Mrs. York.” He retorts, grabbing the back of your neck to pull you down for a surprisingly tender kiss, his tongue licking along your lips. He hated finding out that you were fucking the neighbor.

You let yourself kiss him back, giving into the moment and imagining if you are really married to him. That it was for love rather than an arrangement between two assassins to maintain their cover. Your tongue slides into his mouth and you remember that isn’t reality, pulling back with one last kiss. You slide off his cock and stand up, looking down at him on the floor of your entryway. Instead of saying something stupid, you turn around and walk up the stairs, needing to go clean up.

Dave sighs, his head hitting the floor as he rubs his face. “Fuck me.” He murmurs, trying to process what just happened. He groans as he sits up, tucking himself back into his pants and he walks into his office, deciding to just get stuck into work. It’s going to be a long day. When you appear a while later, dressed and with a coffee in hand, Dave looks up from his computer. “Is it poisoned?” He asks, raising his eyebrows.

You roll your eyes, about to make a sarcastic comment before you stop yourself and just shake your head. “Not poisoned. And there’s a bacon and egg sandwich waiting in the kitchen if you want it.” You had broken down and fixed his fucking food, telling yourself it was just because you wanted some eggs.

Dave’s eyebrows raise at the news that you cooked for him. He stands up, grabbing the cup of coffee and he walks over to you, kissing your forehead as he passes, “thanks wifey.” He calls and makes his way into the kitchen, starving since he hadn’t eaten all morning.

You snort and purse your lips as you decide that you won’t push things. You have some paperwork of your own to finish up from your last assignment. The good thing about having such a big house and no kids is that you both have spaces to retreat to. The office downstairs is Dave’s and you had taken one of the upstairs bedrooms as your own space. Settling into your chair, you boot up your laptop and get to work. 

*** 

Dave grunts as he wakes up, your back is turned towards him, naked and illuminated by the morning sun. Dave can’t help himself, he shuffles closer to you, kissing along your shoulder and neck, your sleepy whimper making him chuckle. “Morning wifey.” He teases, nipping your shoulder.

It takes you a moment to remember why he is in the bed beside you. Last night when you had got to bed, Dave had come into the bedroom and demanded to sleep beside you. Claiming that your cover required it and it had turned into another satisfyingly rough session of sex. Shivering because of his lips on your skin, you crack your eyes open and turn your head to look at him, “morning hubby.” 

Dave leans away from you, looking down at your sleepy face and his heart thumps in his chest. That makes him frown and he shuffles out of the bed, deciding to have a piss. After washing his hands, he looks over at you when he comes out of the bathroom. “I’ll go put the coffee on.” He says, making his way downstairs to the kitchen with his boxers on.

It’s amazing how fucking hot and cold Dave York blows. You roll your eyes and climb out of the bed, annoyed he had left you to make up both sides since he had just walked out. You pull your nightgown and  robe on, muttering to yourself as you straighten the sheets and blankets, putting the decorative pillows against the headboard. This is ridiculous, you married him so you wouldn’t have to deal with issues like hurt feelings or bruised egos and you’re having to deal with it anyway. Plus you hate the way you had been disappointed he had left the bed.

Dave sips his coffee, yours waiting on the counter, and he watches you walk into the kitchen. “You have that target tonight?” He asks and you nod, grabbing the cup of coffee. He likes how you look in the morning, hair messy and face clean and sleepy. You’re beautiful and he hates that he seems to be softening towards you.

“I do.” You groan after taking a sip of the coffee and letting the strong brew sit on your tastebuds. “I’ll be back tomorrow. So don’t wait up for me tonight.” It’s normal for either one of you or both to go out of town, so it’s not unusual. “I’ll have to make sure it’s clean because the target has gotten paranoid.”

Dave nods, knowing it’s more complicated when the target realizes they are on someone’s hit list. “No problem, baby.” The nickname slips out and he decides to not act like it’s a big deal. The doorbell rings and Dave frowns, grabbing the glock he keeps in the kitchen drawer and he holds it in his hand while he makes his way towards the front door. Hardly anyone comes to the house. 

You follow Dave into the hall and he turns to look at you, “get back.” He hisses and you shift around the corner. Dave braces himself as he opens the door. 

“Oh Dave. I, uh, didn’t realize you were home.” It’s Kyle and Dave clenches his jaw as his finger twitches over the trigger. It would be easy to kill Kyle and God, he’s tempted, but he lowers the gun, tucking it into his boxers as he opens the door. 

“Honey, it’s Kyle.” He says through gritted teeth.

You straighten up, still in your robe and walk towards the door. Annoyed that the dumbass has decided to come to the house after being caught yesterday by Dave. “Kyle, what are you doing here?” You frown, stepping out from behind the wall and walking towards the two men. The last thing you need is some sort of pissing contest on the front lawn. Or for Dave to kill the poor bastard.

Kyle swallows harshly, looking between you and Dave. “I just - I wanted to make sure you’re okay. I didn’t - I was worried he had hurt you.” 

Dave scoffs and opens the door, “come in. See for yourself. She’s fine. I wouldn’t hurt my wife.” He emphasizes the word. Kyle nervously walks into the hallway, his eyes fixed on you. Dave wants to shoot him, fingers twitching, but it wasn’t worth the clean up. Or the move after the wife buys the bullshit story that he shot himself. Wasn’t worth the hassle, no matter how much Dave is glaring at him.

You want to scoff and tell Kyle that he shouldn’t insult you like that but he doesn’t know. He doesn’t know that both of you are skilled and deadly. “We’re fine.” You promise him, crossing your arms over your chest. “But obviously we can’t continue sleeping together.” You roll your eyes. “And I know you don’t want Jackie to find out. Dave isn’t going to tell her. He doesn’t want it to get out, so I trust this stays between the three of us?”

Dave’s fingers twitch with the urge to strangle the fucker but he remains calm, letting you handle this. Kyle looks between you and Dave, “what about - you said - I don’t - Jackie doesn’t give me what I want. He doesn’t give you what you need. Please baby, can we - can’t we just continue? You said you don’t love him.” 

Dave is furious when he hears that, grabbing Kyle and shoving him up against the wall. “What the fuck did you say?” He hisses, his fingers wrapped around his neck.

“Dave!” You rush forward and grab his arm, certain that he is about to kill Kyle. It’s ego, it has to be ego. That’s why Dave is reacting like a mad man. “Don’t!” You hiss, digging your fingers into the pressure points. “If you kill him, everyone finds out why.”

Dave growls at you, dropping his arm. He’s tried so hard to keep his cover and it’s crumbled in a matter of moments. “Don’t you fucking ever look at my wife again. Don’t talk to her. Don’t even breathe in her direction otherwise I will fucking kill you.” Dave threatens Kyle.

“Woah man, yeah- yeah, I won’t- I won’t ever look at her again.” Kyle promises shakily and you swear he’s on the verge of pissing his pants. True to his word, his head doesn’t turn towards you as he slides past Dave, ducking his head as he fumbles for the door and bolts outside. 

“Shit.” You huff. “Did you have to threaten him?” Closing the door, you wonder why the fuck he cares so much.

Dave huffs, turning towards you, his blood is boiling. He doesn’t hesitate to grab you, spinning you and pushing you up against the wall. “You liked his cock?” He asks, shoving your nightgown up your hips with one hand, his other hand grabbing your thigh to lift it into his hip and he pushes two fingers inside of you after letting go of your nightgown.

You hiss, hating the way your walls clench around his fingers. “Stop acting jealous, David.” You spit, glaring at him over your shoulder. “You and I never touched each other. Don’t believe I didn't know about the secretary at the office who sucks your dick every Thursday after the department meeting.”

Dave pumps his fingers into your cunt, feeling you get wetter by the second and he leans in to kiss your neck. “She just sucks my cock. Nothing else. Likes that I give her more time off for it.” He reasons with you, knowing you don’t know about the liaisons he’s had during ops. “I get to act jealous. You’re my wife. How would you feel if I was fucking that pretty blonde down the street, Delilah?” He counters, pressing his thumb against your clit.

You moan, hating yourself for the flash of rage that floods your body and you imagine killing her. “That dumb bitch?” You scoff, fingers digging into his shoulders and your hips roll forward, eager for his touch. “She- fuck, she would bore you. Lay there like a limp fish.” You don’t have a clue how she would be. You know Dave assumes you fucked her husband, but you haven’t. You whimper when he curls his finger again and clench around him. “Fuck Dave, fuck me already.”

His cock is hardening but he wants you to suffer a little longer. “No. You’ll cum on my fingers first like a good little slut.” He reminds you, nipping your jaw before he pulls back to look into your eyes. “Then maybe tonight I’ll go find Delilah?” He taunts you, “maybe she has a tight little pussy for a limp fish.”

Your lips curl into a sneer, hating how fucking jealous you are and your hand comes up to grip his jaw. Leaning in, your eyes dark with anger, you whisper, “you can’t dictate to me who I fuck and think you can do whatever you want.” It’s more of a hiss but David, the bastard, just gives a smug chuckle and curls his fingers deeper. It pisses you off and you shove at his chest. “Get the fuck off me.” You demand, pulling his fingers free of your cunt and shoving him again. “I’ll finish it my fucking self. Don’t touch me.”

Dave lets you push him away and he snorts, “you finish yourself off, sweetheart, you and I both know it won’t be the same. You’ve gonna be aching for my cock to fill you up. I might as well take care of myself.” He has no qualms reaching into his boxers and pulling his hard cock out. He spits into his hand and starts to jerk himself, watching your chest heave.

“You’re a fucking asshole.” You spit, hating how you want to fuck him even now. Dave confuses you and it pisses you off. This was supposed to be a simple arrangement. “Go fuck the limp fish, see if I care.” You huff, turning around to walk away. You do care, but you’re not going to let him know that.

Dave snorts, letting go of his cock and striding towards you. “You want me to fuck you.” He says as a statement rather than a question while he pushes you up against the wall again. His cock now pressed against your stomach as he cups your cheeks, “tell me you want my cock, sweetheart. You can have it. It’s not hers. Legally, it’s yours.”

You seethe, knowing that you will hate yourself for this but you want him. He’s very caught up on the legality of this which is funny considering you both break the law for a job. “I told you to fuck me.” You remind him. “You’re the one playing games. You could already have made me scream your name. Your name, no one else’s.”

“I like the chase.” Dave tells you, shoving your nightgown up again and he hitches your leg over his hip, using his other hand to notch himself at your dripping cunt. He slowly pushes into you, wanting to feel all of you, to savor it.

“Chase.” You scoff. “What good is a chase when we’re married.” You lean back against the wall and moan his name, breathless at how good he feels inside you. If you had known he would feel like this, you would have arranged to fuck him when you needed relief. “Fuck.” You whimper, feeling him throb inside you. “You better make me cum.”

Dave chuckles, grabbing your other thigh to put it on his hip, lifting you off of the ground so he can fuck you into the wall. “Don’t worry baby, wanna feel you soak my cock this time.” He works his hips, shifting the angle with each thrust until he hears you cry out. “Tell me what feels the best.”

When he’s not being a dick, Dave can fuck. “Har-harder.” You beg, holding onto his shoulders and moaning at every sharp snap of his hips. Banging you against the wall and filling you just like you need, scratching an itch you didn’t even realize you had.

He slams into you, following your order, and he hisses your name. “You like this, don’t you? My wife’s a little whore. Are you my little whore?” He asks, gripping your thighs and bouncing you a little on his cock.

"Shi-shit." You moan, nodding frantically as you hold onto him. "Ye-yes. I'm your whore." You would say anything right now with the way that his cock drills into you and hits just right inside you.

He loves hearing that. Fucking loves hearing you call yourself his whore. He groans your name, continuing to push into you in that spot, wanting you to gush around him.

He presses you into the wall and keeps hammering into you. "F-fuc-fuck!" You gasp out, loving how you feel with him fucking into you harshly.

“You gonna cum for me baby?” He asks you with a growl, “you gonna soak my cock? I want you to cum for me.” He orders, growling as your walls flutter around him. He crosses your ankles behind his back and lets go so you are secure, his body pressing you into the wall so he can press his thumb to your clit.

“Shit!” You cry out, eyes fluttering closed and your body stiffens when he presses your clit and start rubbing circles on it. “Fuck, I’m gonna cum- I’m- I’m gonna-“ you cut yourself off, gasping out his name when you cunt clenches down around his cock.

He groans when you grip his cock, making him hiss in response and he thrusts harder into you to try and work you through your orgasm. “That’s it baby. No one else makes you feel like this, do they?” He says through gritted teeth, “only me.” He adds, thrusting into you. “Beg me to cum. Beg me to cum inside of you.” He demands, his thumb now off of your clit so he can grab your thigh, adjusting the angle.

“Fuck.” It shouldn’t be that sexy to hear him say that. But it is. Your arms are wrapped around his neck, clinging to him and you pitch forward to lick a long line up his neck and over his jaw. Biting down on his chin, you hum, “cum for me. Fill me up.” You kiss his jawline. “Want to drip your cum while I kill a man tonight.”

Fuck, that does him. He loves hearing that and he sends him over the edge. He buries his cock deep inside of you, moaning your name as he cums, painting your walls with his hot seed while he turns his head to press his lips to yours, tongue plunging deep to smother his own moans of your name.

Heat fills you, eyes closed while you kiss him back during the long moments it takes for him to ride out his high. Grinding into you as he pumps his cum deep and finally comes to a rest. You almost hate when he pulls away, eyes opening to find him staring at you and you wonder what he is thinking.

Dave stares at you for a moment, wanting to tell you what he’s thinking but he knows it wouldn’t help either of you. He grunts, pulling out of you and moving your panties over to stop his cum from dripping onto the floor. “You’ve got to prepare for your op.” He says as he clears his throat, tucking his cock back into his boxers.

“Right.” The moment is gone and you nod, turning and walking on shaky legs towards the stairs. You’re going to have your wish, you’ll be dripping his cum all day. Except now you want to know what he would have said, biting your lip as you climb the stairs and wonder when the fuck you decided to start falling in love with your fucking husband.

****

Dave watches you as you finish the eggs and toast he cooked this morning. You've been sleeping together for a few months and as far as he knows, you haven't slept with anyone else. Neither has he, even stopping the secretary sucking his cock every Thursday. You sip your coffee, offering him one of those smiles that makes his heart clench and you tell him thank you for breakfast. "You're welcome, baby." He winks and stands up, grabbing your plates.

It’s been almost like a honeymoon with Dave. The past few months have brought both of you closer together in a way that seems almost natural. It’s almost on the tip of your tongue to admit your feelings for him, but you stop yourself. You don’t know how he feels and you don’t want to make yourself vulnerable to him if it’s just about the sex and “claiming” his wife. “You have a job tonight, right? For a few days?” You pout slightly, knowing it will be the first overnight job since the morning you came back after the showdown with Kyle.

“Yeah. International job. Gotta fly to London.” He tells you, trusting you with the details. It would be so easy to give all of himself to you, to tell you how he feels, but he can’t put himself at risk like that. “Don’t worry baby. I’ll bring you back something nice.” He promises, winking at you as you pout. “Plus I promise to make you cum as many times as I would’ve made you cum if I was here when I get back.” He promises you, winking as he loads the dishwasher.

“You better.” You smirk, watching Dave bend over and admiring his ass. There’s something sexy about watching your husband be domestic. The best part about it is that you never have to ask him to cook or clean up. “I’m going to just stay home this weekend while you are gone. Drink some wine and use my toy.” You tease with a wink of your own.

“Take photos. Videos. I want to see when I come back.” Dave growls, leaning down to nip your neck. The domestic life suits you and if he’s being honest, him. He likes how easy it is with you. You know him, the darkest parts of him, and you don’t reject him. He likes that. He love- no, he won’t say that. He finishes loading the dishwashers and he stands up, leaning down to peck your lips. “I'm gonna go get ready. I can’t be late for my flight.” Dave says and walks out of the kitchen, trying to focus his mind.

****

The house seems lonely without Dave, too big for just you. Instead of focusing on that, you decide to tackle the project you wanted to surprise your husband with. Despite sharing a bed for the past few months, all of Dave’s clothes were still in the now spare bedroom’s closet. You want to move everything over and organize it. Hopefully show him that you are open to a more realistic marriage with him.

Dave misses you. Fuck, that takes a lot for him to admit to himself. He thinks about you during the eight hour flight, during the taxi ride to his hotel, during the pre-op prep, even during the fucking op itself. As soon as the bullet is in the asshole's brain, Dave is heading to his room to grab his bag, eager to get back to you. He buys you a perfume that he knows will drive him crazy and you will love before he boards the flight home. He's early and he can't wait to surprise you. Cutting down the trip to two days instead of three, he doesn't call you to tell you he's on his way home like he normally would. 

He frowns when his phone rings just before he gets to his car. "Hello?" He answers the unknown number, glancing around the parking garage. 

"Hello David." The voice isn't familiar but the tone makes Dave narrow his eyes. 

"Who are you?" He snaps, immediately on edge. 

"An old friend. Decided to pop by and visit your beautiful wife. She's so pretty. I wish you didn't threaten me to stay away from her. Her little cunt was perfect for me. Shame you fucked up my little gig." 

Dave frowns, quickly putting the pieces together. "Kyle?" He scoffs, "what the fuck are you doing in my house? I'm gonna fucking kill you." He growls and his heart is pounding, realizing you might've fucked this asshole again and that hurts far more than any bullet.

Humming to yourself, you smirk as you run your hands across the numerous suits that Dave has, stroking the fabric. Your favorite is lined up first, it makes his ass look amazing and you might have snuck a look at the tags so you can order him another. All his clothes have been moved over. From socks to underwear and all his shoes. All you need to do now is bring over his toiletries into the master bath from the one he had been using. It’s just as the music that you had been playing changes to another song that you hear it. The slight creak downstairs, a floorboard that Dave had told you that he would fix when he got back.

"Tick tock, Dave. I'm gonna fuck her one last time before I slit her pretty little throat. She's got quite the bounty on her fucking head." Kyle chuckles and hangs up. 

Dave growls, his anger echoing in the parking garage and he rushes to get into his car, speeding out of the parking lot and revving through the parking levels as he rushes to get back to you.

Just because you are in your own home, doesn’t mean you are helpless. The second you realize that you aren’t alone in the house despite the alarm being set, you move towards the door where your weapons are stored. Quietly pressing your thumb on the biometric lock, the door slides open and you pick up your weapon, the weight of the handgun firm in your hand. You decide to place innocent, daft. “Dave? Baby? Did you come home early?”

Dave curses the traffic as he speeds back to the house. He keeps dialing your phone but you aren't answering. "Pick up. Come on baby. Pick up." He begs, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. "Pick the fucking phone up." He growls, grabbing his cell to try and call the house phone. It rings and rings and goes to the answering machine. He says your name, "pick up the phone. Kyle is trying to kill you. Please. Let me know you're okay." He pleads, knowing the message will be played in the hallway.

You hear the phone ring, the house silent around you. If you were actually a civilian, you might have thought the squeak of the floor was a figment of your imagination. The answering machine picks up, an antiquated thing that Dave enjoys, and you hear his voice coming through the speaker - telling you that Kyle is the one who is in the house to kill you. “Kyle?” You call out. “What are you doing here?”

Kyle sighs as his cover is blown, stepping into the bedroom to find you with the gun in your hand. “Come now baby. Don’t be mean. I’m just here to do my job, same as you what are. Put the gun down or Jackie is gonna make this messier than it needs to be.” The red dot appears on your chest and you curse. Kyle smirks, “York seems pretty pussy whipped by now. I get it. You aren’t worth losing $2 million though.” He tuts, aiming his gun at you.

Your brows shoot up, wondering who the fuck put a $2 million price on your head. “You sure that it wasn’t just Jackie pissed off she had to go back to sucking your dick? I’d be pissed if it were me” You ask, smirking slightly at the scowl on his face at your insults. You wonder where Dave is and hope that he comes home after this is done.

Kyle shakes his head, "you always have been a mouthy bitch. Made for sloppy blow jobs." He snorts and aims the gun at you. "Don't make this difficult for me, beautiful. Get down on your knees...won't be the first time you've done that with me." He smirks, flicking the safety on his gun as he waits for you to kneel.

“I’m good.” You quip, not willing to give in or try to beg for your life. “Have to hand it to you though, you played your role of a no balls pussy extremely well. Never would have taken you for an operative. Hopefully Jackie has the balls in your relationship.”

With a chuckle, Kyle knows you're going to make this difficult. "Jackie knows her place. I'm just a good actor. Your little beau, Dave, isn't so good. He's too...temperamental. I didn't realize he was an op too until he threatened to kill me. That was the look of a man who knows how to kill." Kyle snorts, "he wanted to murder me for fucking you. You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say that poor fucker is in love with you. He's gonna be mad when he comes home to find your brains splattered across the wall." Kyle lifts his gun, "smile like you used to baby." He coos, finger on the trigger.

You refuse to die in this fucking house tonight. The gun you had set down on a table is right beside the perfect cover. All you have to do is reach for it. Your eyes flicker to the window and then back to Kyle before you shake your head “Fuck-“ before you even say “you”, you are diving for the gun and safety.

**** 

The tires squeal as Dave pulls into the driveway, barely managing to cut the engine as he grabs his gun and rushes into the house, slamming the car door behind him. He yells your name as soon as he's inside, running around downstairs and his heart is pounding as he runs around the house, yelling your name. 

He stomps up the stairs, calling your name, gun aimed and ready until he nearly trips over Kyle's body. He sees you laying there, blood on the floor, and he panics. Surging forward to kneel beside you, he keeps his gun aimed at Kyle and he grabs you to pull you close. "Baby. Baby, are you okay? Please be okay." He begs, hating how you are limp in his arms. "Please sweetheart. Wake up." He begs, checking your pulse and he is relieved when he finds it, looking over at Kyle to see the bullet wound in his head and two in his chest. 

"Damn sweetheart. You got the bastard. Shit, I am proud of you." He murmurs until a bullet wizzes past his head. "Fuck!" He yells, pushing you behind the bed and he ducks, trying to avoid the bullets coming into the house through the window, the glass shattering.

“Dave?” You groan, head throbbing since you had slammed it against the dresser and nearly blacked out. “Dave! Jackie- she’s an assassin!” As soon as you realize that he is actually here. Opening your eyes, you look around frantically until you see him, crouched down next to you and looking furious. “They- I have a $2 million price on my head?” Kyle might have been lying but you don’t know, hand reaching for your own gun instinctively.

Dave has to stop Jackie, “stay here. Stay down.” He demands, carefully shifting out from the bed. Jackie must need to reload as the bullets stop for a moment and Dave takes that opportunity, rushes out of the bedroom and down the stairs. He sprints out of the back door, knowing Jackie will expect him to come from the front and he uses her confusion to find out where she is. He sees her on the second floor of their house next door and he wastes no time. She’s confused. He has to act. 

He practically jumps the white fence between the houses, running to the back door and shaking his head in relief when he finds it open. When he enters the house, he sprints, trying to find Jackie on the second floor. She hears him coming, prepared with gun in hand but Dave is too fucking angry to worry about her shooting him. He’s faster and stronger. When she shoots, it hits him in the shoulder but he doesn’t feel it, high in fury and adrenaline. He grabs her, pushing her to her knees and she struggles but he’s quick. Pulling his gun out, he shoots her in the head. “That’s for trying to kill my fucking wife, you bitch.” He hisses, glad he has his silencer still on from his op. Jackie slumps to the floor and Dave shoots her in the chest twice before he lowers the gun. 

He turns towards the open window, the sniper rifle still there and he quickly dismantles it, shoving it in the bag at the base of the window to take it home, a silencer on the rifle. Turns out, everyone still wanted to keep their cover despite the bloodshed. Dave glances down at Jackie one last time then makes his way back into the house. He will deal with the bodies later, come up with some story of a robbery gone wrong. For now, he’s desperate to see you. When he enters the house, he’s reminded that he got shot in the shoulder when you come barrelling towards him, wrapping your arms around his neck.

“Dave!” Relief pours through you, nearly knocking you off your feet when you see Dave. Blood on his jacket but he’s alive. Throwing yourself at him and sobbing his name, you only pull back when you hear him hiss and feel him flinch. “I- you’re shot, aren’t you?” You should be more professional, less emotional, but you can’t right now. All you could think about was Dave dying, Jackie taking him from you before you could admit to him how you feel. 

“Just hit me in the shoulder.” Dave grunts, wincing as you move your hand down to probe the wound. 

“I- we need to get the bullet out if it didn’t go through.” You murmur, needing to make sure he’s okay. 

Dave nods, letting you lead him into the kitchen now that the threat is eliminated. There’s no ambulances or police on the way. No one knows anything, peacefully unaware in their little suburban faux peace. Dave grunts as he sits down, relaxing for the first time since he got into his car and he looks up at you while you rush around, trying to find the medical kit you both kept in case of emergencies. It’s not like you could go to the ER with your injuries. Too many questions. 

When you set the bag down on the table, Dave reaches for your hand, stopping you from continuing with the medical shit. “I love you.” He blurts out, the words feeling foreign on his tongue but he couldn’t stop them even if he tried.

You swallow harshly and you know that there is a tremble to your chin as you stare into his eyes. “I moved your stuff into the master bedroom closet.” You tell him. “I- I was planning on surprising you, asking you if you wanted to- to make the marriage real.” You exhale and manage to send him a small smile even though you are rattled. “I love you too and there’s something else you need to know.” Dave’s grip on your hand tightens slightly and he frowns, but you need to get this out. “I haven’t slept with every man in the neighborhood.” You confess. “Kyle was the only one and he pursued me. I didn’t- I wasn’t looking for anyone to fuck here until then.” As much as Dave hated the idea of everyone in the neighborhood fucking you, you figured he deserved to know the truth. 

He inhales deeply, relieved and yet so angry that he didn’t kill Kyle that day in the hallway. He could’ve prevented all of this. “When that motherfucker called, I- I was furious and - and so fucking scared.” He admits, “I can’t believe you took him out with a fucking sniper on you.” He says in awe, letting go of your hand so he can grip your hips, pulling you closer. “I can’t lose you, sweetheart. I’ll kill every person in this damn town before I let anyone take you away from me.” He promises, pressing his face into your stomach as he breathes you in, uncaring of the pain in his shoulder now the adrenaline is wearing off.

You don’t care that there is blood on your fingers, Dave’s and probably Kyle’s, you hold him close and run your fingers through his hair. “I love you.” You whisper quietly. “I- I was hoping that if something happened, you wouldn’t be here and be safe.” It’s crazy, but you didn’t want Dave to die because of you. Somehow he has come to mean more to you than your own life and it surprises you. But then again, it doesn’t - knowing that Dave feels the same with his confession. 

Dave shakes his head against your stomach, “I wouldn’t be anywhere else. I- I’d burn the world if anything happened to you.” He promises, kissing your stomach. “Baby, let’s get the bullet out.” He says, pulling back and hissing at the pain. He wants it out and bandaged.

Cutting his ruined shirt off, you play doctor with Dave. Concentrating carefully as you clean the wound and use a small pair of forceps to dig around in his shoulder for the bullet. Murmuring to him softly when he hisses a curse. Knowing that he needs to have it out and can’t really take much in the way of painkillers so he doesn’t bleed more than he already is. Finally, you pull it out and drop it into a small cup so you can start to sew the wound closed in order to bandage it.

“Fucker.” He hisses, “can’t believe that bitch caught me. We need to clean up the house, make it look like they abandoned it.” Dave says, “get rid of the bodies. Make it as clean as possible. I’m not ready to move.” He winces when you clean him up and start to stitch up the wound. “Fuck.” He grits his teeth while you finish up.

“There’s a pit, about ten miles away.” You tell him as you finish sewing him closed. “It’s a mine shaft that flooded. Plenty of things in the water that will appreciate a fresh meal.” It’s harsh, but you know that there would be an investigation with the execution style deaths of the couple. It’s better to make it look like they disappeared. “Take their cards and give them to someone to use.” Setting the needle down, you smear the stitches in antibiotic ointment and cover it with a clean bandage. “All done.” You promise, caressing his cheek gently. 

He turns his head to kiss your palm, “thank you, sweetheart.” He murmurs, watching you as you put everything away, tossing the used needle and things you used. “Come here.” He says, reaching for you to pull you into his lap. “I love you.” He nuzzles his nose against yours in a display of affection that seems to be reserved for only you.

“I’m sorry.” You murmur quietly, knowing this is your fault. If you hadn’t started sleeping with Kyle, this might not have happened. “This is my fault. I- do you think he was telling the truth? Is there a bounty on my head?” You don’t want to put Dave at risk if he wasn’t lying to you. You won’t make him live with a target on his head.

Dave bites his lip, pondering what you said. He has contacts who can confirm if there’s a price on your head. “He wouldn’t have done what he did if there wasn’t a price, baby. I’ll call my contacts tonight, find out if it’s true and if it is, we will move. Get new identification. I promise you, I’ll keep you safe.” He vows, kissing your cheek. “I can’t believe you killed Kyle with a red dot on your chest. That - that’s fucking sexy.” He chuckles, running his hand down your back.

You can tell that Dave is moving past the idea of there being a contract out on you, his hands sliding down to caress your ass through the leggings that you were wearing during your closet organization. “Yeah?” You smirk and make sure that you don’t touch that shoulder when you shuffle closer and start to straddle him in the kitchen chair. “You like that? Like that your wife is a killer too?” 

“You know I do.” He rasps, not wanting to play games. “I need you, sweetheart.” He admits and he leans in to kiss your jaw, “I want you.” He continues kissing along your jaw, “I love you.” He brushes his lips against yours, “I want to feel you.” He finishes before pressing his lips to yours, his hand squeezing your ass to rock you on his hardening cock.

“Don’t move.” You warn him, not wanting him to rip his stitches open on the arm that is curled against his chest. “I’ll do all the work.” You want him as much as he wants you and with one last kiss to his lips, you slide off his lap so you can strip down. Smirking as he watches you pull off your shirt, no bra underneath and then push you leggings off. Kneeling down, you bite your lip, working his belt open. “My brave husband, coming to save me.” You coo, reaching in and pulling his cock out. Wanting to make him feel good for putting his life at risk for you. Leaning in, you don’t waste time, sliding him deep into your mouth. 

“Oh shit.” Dave hisses, head tilting back as you take him deep into your mouth. “Baby. You- you don’t have to-” He feels so differently from that first night you sucked his cock. He doesn’t want you to do this, especially since you hit your head. He wants to feel you, to connect with you. When you hollow your cheeks, his eyes roll into the back of his head. “Shit. I- I - I want to be inside of you.”

Pulling off of him with a pop, you don’t tease him for how whiny he sounds because you know you are just as desperate. Instead, you climb back to your feet and straddle his thighs again. “I want you inside me too.” You moan, reaching between you so that you can place his cock against your entrance. When you feel the head pressing against you, you make eye contact with him as you start to sink down on his length. 

He doesn’t say a word as you sink down onto his cock, his mouth open slightly as he watches your micro expressions, falling in love with the way your brow furrows as your ass settles on his thighs. “Jesus, you’re so beautiful.” He murmurs, reaching up to cup your cheek with his hand, leaning in to kiss you.

You don’t hold anything back from the kiss. Opening up and letting him deepen it eagerly while you grind onto his lap, making sure that you are nice and open for him. You love the way his cock curves up inside you and the head butts up against your cervix. “I love you.” You breathe into his mouth when his tongue pulls back. “I love you, hubby.” 

“Love you too, wifey.” He chuckles breathlessly, kissing down your neck and his hand on his injured side grips your hip, making him hiss but he ignores the pain. He’s had worse. He loves how you grind down onto his cock, barely lifting up an inch. “No one's gonna separate us. I’ll kill anyone who tries.” He promises between kissing along your chest until he is taking your nipple into his mouth.

“Fuck Dave.” You gasp out, leaning back so that he can suckle harder. Your fingers tangle into his hair and you whimper when his teeth bite down gently. “Oh fuck, I love you.” You pant, closing your eyes and start to roll your hips a little harder on his cock as you get used to the angle. “It- it’s so sexy that you will do that.” 

“I’d do anything for you. Anything.” He promises, kissing over to your other tit and he groans into your flesh when you start to ride him a little faster. “That’s it baby. Take what you need.” He growls, biting down on your nipple before he sucks it, soothing the marks from his teeth.

You love how he always insists that you take what you need from him. Far different from the first, rage fueled fuck you had when he had discovered you were sleeping with Kyle. Every time turning into something deeper and more meaningful until you were right here. Your cunt clenches around him and you swivel your hips like you know he likes. You are going to get yours, but you also want him to enjoy this. 

Your moans and his grunts are the only noise in the kitchen combined with your skin slapping against his when you pick up the pace. “Come on baby, cum for me. My beautiful wife. Mine. No one's gonna take you away from me. I’ll fucking kill them if they try. I love you. Cum for me.” He pleads, his cock twitching inside of you as his emotions threaten to overwhelm him for the first time in his life.

You whimper, holding him tighter and feeling your entire body start to tighten up. It only takes a few more bounces on his cock before you are cumming, crying out his name and soaking his cock with your juices. Breathlessly panting as you feel him start to take over, chasing his own release. “I love you, I love you.” You promise him. “Fill me up baby.” 

He pants as you grip his cock, soaking him with your cum and he hisses when you continue bouncing despite your body shaking against his. His arm wraps around you to help you rock on his cock and he lets out a low groan when he cums, cock throbbing against he spills inside of you. “Shit.” He hisses and buries his face in your neck.

The feeling of Dave filling you up is amazing. Holding him close while he paints your walls, humming softly at the closeness, the love in the moment. “God I love you, Dave.” You whimper, turning and kissing his shoulder gently. 

Dave sighs, breathing you in. “Love you too sweetheart.” He murmurs, just pleased to have you in his arms. He’d take another bullet if it meant you being safe. “Let’s clean up and go deal with the bodies. It’s nearly midnight. We don’t want anyone walking out to ask what we are doing. We need to get their phones and cards too.” He is already transitioning into the killer again, methodical and precise. He won’t risk your life together.

“Yes sir.” You huff playfully, stealing one last kiss before you pull off his cock with a small groan and move to get your leggings and shirt. All of it will have to be burned anyway so you put it back on. “We’ll get everything taken care of.” You promise, relieved that he is home and both of you survived this. It could have ended very differently. 

**** 

Dave stands beside you while you watch the bodies sink, his arm around your waist as he pulls you close. There’s no one around and he takes a moment to just be beside you. He turns towards you after a few seconds, his gloves shoved into his pocket as he cups your cheeks, “I love you. We are in this together from now on.” He tells you, leaning in to press his forehead against yours. 

“Together.” You echo and Dave pecks your lips softly. This marriage was supposed to be a cover but Dave wouldn’t change it for the world. You are his wife and he will do anything to protect you. Even if it means murder. 

“Come on, let’s go home.” He says after a moment. 

“Home.” You nod, taking his hand so he can help you up the hill to his car. “So I was thinking we might need a baby to add to our cover…” You say as you get into the car. 

Dave stares at you in surprise, “a baby?” You nod, biting your lip, nervous for his answer. Dave sighs, pulling away from the curb after reaching for your hand. “Guess that means I’ll have two people I’ll kill for.” His answer sounds annoyed but you know Dave, a grin appearing on your face. A suburban life sounded like a nightmare at first to Dave but now it’s become his dream come true.

[babydollmarauders]

El!hughes au, taking her to the lake house for the first time and Jack just wanting her all to himself and not letting anyone else hold her

i sit in the living room of the lake house, snuggled into Jack’s side, watching El sleep as he holds her. we never told his parents and Quinn what time we would be arriving, just that we would get here sometime today. Luke having joined us for the long drive back to Michigan. we didn’t wanna put a time limit since we didn’t know how often we would have to stop to change diapers and feed Eleanor. but i guess we happened to arrive about the same time Quinn’s flight got in, because Jim and Ellen have been nowhere to be found since we arrived.

the front door opens, and Jack and i look up to see Quinn stepping through the doorway, their parents got on his trail.

“Quinny!” i cheer, standing to give him a hug.

“hey, twinkle toes!” he exclaims, wrapping his arms tight around me. it’s no sooner than a second after we pull apart that he speaks again. “where’s my niece?”

“Jacky has her.” i inform him, pointing to my husband who sits on the couch with an excited grin. this will be Quinn’s first time meeting Eleanor in person, having never gotten a long enough break in his game schedule to fly out and meet our now three month old.

Quinn smiles and makes his way over to the couch, sitting down beside his brother and gazing at the baby.

“god, she looks so much like Jack as a baby.” he whispers, seemingly to himself more than anyone.

“i know! it makes me feel like i’m holding baby Jack again when i hold her.” Ellen smiles, standing over the back of the couch to look at her granddaughter.

“can i hold her?” Quinn asks, looking between Jack and i.

“of course!” “not right now.”

i look at Jack with furrowed brows.

“Jack, let your brother hold his niece!” i scold him, making him frown and hand Quinn the baby.

“i was holding her.” he pouts as i sit back down beside him. i smack his arm lightly.

“it’s his first time meeting her. you get to hold her all the time. don’t be rude.” i roll my eyes before setting them back on Quinn, who looks down at his niece with a soft smile.

“you guys did good.” he tells us, making me giggle.

“well, someone had to give mom a grandchild because lord knows you two weren’t doing it.” Jack jokes.

“i’m eighteen!” Luke defends himself, throwing his hands up in the air. “i have plenty of time. besides, don’t act like you planned for El.”

“oh shush, boys!” Ellen laughs. “Quinn and Luke have plenty of time to have children if they choose to do so. i’m content with this one right here.”

she scoops Eleanor up from Quinn’s arms, making Jack scoff.

“hey! i wanted my baby back.” he exclaims.

“Jack, share the baby, please.” i tell him, wrapping my arms around his neck and hanging onto him. “you’ll have plenty of time with her for the next eighteen years, i promise.”

**

i walk down the stairs in the morning, in search of my missing husband and child. it doesn’t take me long to find Jack out on the back porch, sitting in an adirondack chair with Eleanor in his arms.

i slide the glass door open, stepping out into the sunshine and find that he’s not out here alone. Jim sits beside him in a matching chair. i smile, standing behind them and watching silently as they discuss Jack’s season, which just ended. El starts to fuss in Jack’s arms, letting out tiny huffs as she moves around to try and get comfortable.

“here, let me take her.” Jim says, holding his arms out for the baby.

“no, i got her, dad.” Jack tells him, switching El around in his arms. she calms down but i can’t help but roll my eyes in annoyed humor at Jack’s stinginess with her.

**

we all sit around a bonfire, Jack holding Eleanor as i make him a s’more. he’s holding her up in the air, watching her grin in delight as he brings her back down before repeating the process, and i can’t help but smile lovingly at my little family.

“hey Jack, can you help me with rekindling the fire?” Quinn asks.

“uh, i’ve got El.” Jack responds, making me chuckle at his resistance.

“i can hold her, Hughesy.” Trevor tells him, holding his hands out to take the baby.

“nah, it’s okay. why don’t you help Quinner?” Jack asks, and Trevor just nods, standing and making his way over to help Quinn.

“Jack, babe, you gotta let people hold her. it’s how she’ll bond with them.” i tell him. “don’t you want her to be close with her grandparents, and her uncles? and even her uncle Trevor?”

“well, yeah. but she’s my baby.” he replies, and i give him an understanding smile.

“i know she is, love.”

“i just, i know i get her for longer than they do. i understand that. but, i go on roadies and i feel so bad leaving her. i just want her to myself for a while.” he explains. “i’m sure, in a few more days, i’ll be happy to let them hold her so i can do other things. but for now, i just want my baby.”

[m1kad00]

How it would be like to be in a relationship with them (Cyberpunk 2077 Characters)

Characters included: Judy Álvarez, Young!Viktor Vektor, Muamar Reyes, Misty Olszewski

Reader: fem. reader for Judy, otherwise no pronouns mentioned :)

Judy Álvarez (fem. reader)

-Judy is a really REALLY good girlfriend

-literally the best romance option in the game

-she was probably a bit nervous to actually tell you she had feelings for you, because of her last relationships/crushes

-but after you assured her that you indeed loved her back she was over the moon!!

-date nights include going to her lake house and having a good time

-she wouldn't care for "fancy" dates, just you and her sitting on the roof of a house and just talking for hours

-she'd also invite you to go diving with her to show you her old hometown ("I'm picky about my girls" JAZGHDZABJSIGIB)

-Judy loves gifting you stuff and hanging out with you!

-she would gift you a BD she made of her favorite moments together (probably copied it too, because she also wanted to look at it

-she's a messy girl, won't put anything where it belongs

-but she's not lazy, she'll clean eventually (probably)

-she's the big spoon

Young!Viktor Vektor (gn reader)

-you first met him when you went to watch a boxing competition

-then you saw that GORGEOUS boxer with ENORMOUS talent

-he won the fight (pretty easily, even tho he doesn't even have any chrome)

-you went over to congratulate him and he was super friendly

-of course you went to his next competition, and to the one after that, and so on

-it got so bad (or good) that Vik was even expecting you

-he began to look forward to seeing you in the crowd

-it even felt like he was fighting just for your entertainment

-at some point he just asked you out, it was obvious you'd say yes

-you went on a few dates and eventually got together

-anyone from miles away could tell he was down BAD

-when he eventually got second place on one of his competitions he found the courage to tell you he'd stop boxing

-you were fine with it of course, it's his life after all

(Ripperdoc husband is better anyways lol)

Muamar Reyes (gn reader)

-let's be real, you were one of many

-he is a FINE man, had a lot of money and he was one of NC's well known fixers

-what more could a person want?

-he really thought he wasn't the one to settle down, until you entered his life

-normaly you wouldv'e just been another merc

-but there was something about you..

-he probably confessed to you, and you returned his feelings

-after you started dating you guys spent more and more time together

-you watching him fix cars, driving around NC or just chilling together at his place

-he's a cocky bastard, so you would have a few arguments over little simple things, but you would eventually forgive him because he's just an sarcastic ass most of the time

-but when you both are overlooking Santo Domingo, without anyone disturbing you two he'd eventually talk about his feelings and how much he loves you

-also he would tell you about his life growing up in Santo, becoming a corpo and then eventually turning into his now-self

-he also would like to have kids at some point, but if you don't want any he's also okay with that (he'd also be fine with adopting)

Misty Olszewski (gn reader)

-she's a super sweet girl!!

-she met you months after Jackies death

-Misty never would have thought she'd get over what happened to him

-but there you were, listening to her problems and taking things slowly

-so after a while, you two fell in love

-you guys could talk for hours on end about the most random things

-also random tarot-board dates and doing silly stuff!

-she'd also read your futures and would teach you to read hers

-she's SUCH an artsy girl (trust me)

-you two would upsycle thrifted chlothes and do random Trends, like the one where you make bracelets based on the others eye color or the Trend where you paint eachother

-she has a thing for plants and candles

-your shared apartment is FULL of them (also those Fragance sticks)

-it constantly smells like a perfume shop

-she's a cat person, you guys would have a black cat 100% (if they'd still exist)

[iguana-eyanna]

We'll Be Fine

Summary: You get nervous when you try to announce a big surprise to your friends with the help of your husband, Damien.

a/n: I've been watching Smosh a lot and decided to write about Damien cause i love him

You were all on set, getting ready for shooting the next episode for Eat it or Yeet it. You were a part of the cast, joining Smosh at the same time as Damien. Shayne could clearly see how both of you and his friend hit it off. So, Shayne became your personal cupid and set you guys up on your first date. You guys had amazing chemistry, and later became engaged in 2022.

Now you were pacing back and forth, fiddling with your fingers. You were currently hiding in the office as everyone was getting ready in the studio. You hear someone come out and see Damien.

He gives you a nervous smile as he races towards you.

"Hey, we're about to shoot soon. Everyone was wondering where you went." He says.

"I had to step for a second, I was getting nausaus." You said, rubbing your non existing bump.

Today was going to be a special episode as most of the cast members will be doing the episode, but also the announcement that you were pregnant.

You and Damian found out you were three months along when you went to the clinic. You two thought what would be a great way to tell your Smosh family of your news and you knew what to do. You called Garret in secret and helped you cook the whole menu, but catered the big bite.

Now, you felt like your insides were flipping around.

"Hey, don't worry! They're going to love it and they'll be happy for us." He says, hugging you.

You started tearing up and wiped your tears.

"You'd think the hormones would be coming later on." You said.

Damian chuckles and kisses your head.

"You're going to do amazing, We'll be fine. Ready?" He asks.

You nod your head and you two walk in hand to the shooting.

Everyone gets their mic and you talk amongst yourselves till they were ready to film. You take a deep breath and stared at the camera.

"Hey, y'all! Welcome to Eat it or Yeet it. I'm not your regular host as you can see here that Courtney here will be eating instead!"

Courtney waves at the camera eagerly. In order, she sat with Kimmy, Damian, Shayne, Jackie, Noah, Keith, Olivia, Angela, Chanse, Ian, Amanda, Spencer, and Tommy.

You were getting nervous as this was one of the biggest table yet.

"So, today we're doing something a bit different. Today, the contestants must figure out the theme before the big bite! Due to all of us being packed on this table, they must buzz their buzzer first to get the dish they want."

"Because this particular episode is very different from the last, I just know every dish will make us crap out our minds." Noah said.

"I don't why I'm even here, I purposely made sure I had my day off today." Shayne acclaimed.

Damien shares a nervous laugh but no one makes of it.

You then bring over the first dish covered and placed it in the middle of the table.

"Hope you guys are ready for our first dish!" You said, revealing a plate of what appeared to be dyed blue and pink deviled eggs.

Everyone gasps at how vibrant the color is, but you all started the countdown and Chanse buzzed first.

"I need to eat this now cause I can't eat whatever monstrosity there is next." Chanse exaggerated.

You all laugh and count down for him to eat it, and surprisingly he hums in delight.

"Not really a fan of eggs, but it tastes good!" He says.

"The dish is called blue and pink devil eggs! It is pickled egg filling and eggs that have food coloring!"

The next dish, you brought out pigs in a blanket with jelly filling and Kimmy buzzed it. She liked it as she was cheering, saying how it complements the salty taste.

Everyone tries guessing along the way, saying the theme is probably cartoon characters or something relating to their past try not to laugh bits. Oh, how they're all wrong.

Some dishes that you served was a casserole with marshmallows and chocolate but baby corn and baby carrots were buried underneath. Amanda got the dish and yeeted, not liking the combo.

Then the last dish before the big bite was lamb chops, and Shayne and Courtney tied buzzing. Once you all saw the footage again, Courtney was a second ahead by Shayne and got the dish.

The camera pans to Shayne as Courtney indulges on the lamb.

"I just- I'm just going to accept my defeat." Shayne said, as he looks like he's giving up.

Everyone aws as they know that Shayne always gets the worst dishes. You were kinda hoping that Shayne would get the last dish and you had something in mind.

"Okay, this one is a bit heavy so I need Damien to help me." You said since he ate one of the other dishes.

Damian looks up at you, surprised but he surpresses his joy as he follows you to the back.

"They're bringing in a live squid!" Ian screams and everyone shouts out what they think theyre bringing.

Soon, you two walk out with a white box, trying so hard not to smile so much.

"Ready Shayne?" You ask.

Shayne gives an exaggerated sigh and holds out a fork.

"Bring on the pirahna" Shayne says.

Damian places the box on the table in front of his friend and you count down, lifting up the top.

Shayne closes his eyes, thinking that it will jump out. But, he opens one eye and leans over. Both his eyes widen as he sees a cake, but more at what the cake was written with frosting.

"Shayne?" Jackie asks as she looks over his shoulder, reading the cake. She screams out loud and looks up at you and Damian, now close to each other.

"No, you're not!" She says, but smiling as her hands fly up to her cheeks.

Everyone gets up at their seats and look down to why they were acting weird, but saw the pastel rainbow cake with white frosting writing that read:

Baby Haas Coming Soon!

"You're pregnant?!" Kimmy and Courtney screamed.

You nod your head eagerly as Damien hugs you from behind.

"Yep! I'm three months along." You said.

Everyone cheered on and off camera. They all got up and hugged you and Damien, saying congrats.

Shayne was the only one who was in his seat, still shocked.

"Shayne buddy, you okay?" Damien asks, worried what his best friend would say.

He looks up with tears in his eyes.

"You guys are having a baby?" he asks.

Damien nods his head.

"Yeah, man. We are." Damien says, smiling as he finally gets to tell the news to his best friend.

Shayne gets out of his seat and hugs Damien, crying.

"I'm so happy for you two!" Shayne acclaims.

He looks at you and open his arms.

You join the hug and everyone joins in. Courtney turns to the camera.

"We're so happy for our friends starting their family. Like and subscribe and we'll see you all soon!" Courtney said.

You and Damien shared the cake with the cast and crew, as everyone can't wait to see your baby. You and Damien sat next to each other, cuddling on the office couch.

"You see? Everything turned out perfectly." Damien says.

You smile as you lean in and kiss him.

"I'm glad it's off my chest. I couldn't have done this without you." You said, beaming. As you try leaning in for another kiss, your friends disrupt you, fighting over who will be god parents.

Chaos ensued, but you knew you both wouldn’t have it any other way.

[jerzwriter]

This series tells the story of how Tobias and Casey's second child, Brooke Vivian Carrick, came to be. In this second installment, Tobias and Casey let a couple of their friends in on their plans just before they celebrate a memorable Valentine's Day.

Book: Open Heart (Post Series) Pairing: Tobias x Casey Carrick (F!MC) Characters: Sienna Trinh, Jackie Varma, Vivian Carrick (F!OC) Rating: Teen Words: 1,600 Summary: See above. A/N: This little series will be a few (?) short stories leading up to Brooke Carrick's birth on August 30th.

Sienna burst into the Diagnostic Team’s office, still shivering from commuting to work during a brutal Boston winter. “That’s it,” she said. “I’m applying for a job at UCLA Medical Center. I cannot do another winter here.”

Casey glanced up from her laptop, a sly grin spreading on her face. “Oh no, you’re not. Sure, the winters are tough, but you know what Boston has?” She gestured between herself and Jackie, who had also stopped by. “Us. Boston has us. You're not going to find friends like us in L.A.”

Sienna sighed as she took off her coat, stretching her back. “You’re right. I know, you’re right.”

“No, she’s not!” Jackie retorted. “You and I can go to L.A., and we’ll see Casey twice a year for girls’ weekends. Problem solved. We’d be fine.”

“Gee! Thanks, Jackie,” Casey replied. “I can just feel the love.”

“Speaking of girls’ weekends,” Sienna continued. “Should we book Smith Rock for March? I’d love to get out there before tourist season begins.”

Casey scrunched her nose. “For someone complaining about the cold, I don’t think you’d enjoy rock climbing and kayaking in Oregon in March.”

“I don’t think I would, either,” Jackie agreed.

At that moment, Tobias sauntered into the room, and Casey smiled tenderly when he placed a kiss atop her head.

“What’s this about rock climbing and kayaking?” he asked.

“Girls’ weekend,” Casey replied. “Though I Sienna might be rock climbing solo if Aurora can't make it. But I’m down for kayaking.”

Tobias sat next to his wife and gave her a knowing look as he bit into an apple. “Maybe hold off on that.”

Jackie’s eyebrows shot up. “Wow! Casey, tell me you’re not turning into one of those wives who lets her husband tell her what to do! Are you?”

“Of course not!” Casey retorted. “The only place he's allowed to boss me around is in bed."

Tobias chuckled contently as Sienna and Jackie gagged.

“Ignore us,” Casey laughed. “Mr. Eternal Optimist here thinks he has super sperm or something.”

“Uh, before I run out of here and lose my breakfast... what?” Jackie cringed.  

Casey glanced at Tobias, who gave her a nod.

“We’re trying for another baby,” Casey beamed.

“Oh my God, Casey!” Sienna exclaimed, running over to hug her friend. “That’s amazing news.”

Jackie, still seated, looked puzzled. “Uh, but didn’t you just have one?”

“Jackie! Samantha was born nearly two years ago. Besides, it takes the average person six months to conceive, so based on my calculations, I’ll be pregnant by June. Our new baby would be born next spring when Sammy is three, it’s perfect! And I can go on the girl’s trip in March, to boot!”

“Only one flaw in that plan, sweetheart,” Tobias chimed in. “I’m not average. You’re not average. We’re not average. Our little bambina will be on board much sooner than that.”

Casey rolled her eyes. “You still leaving, Jackie? I might join you!”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Tobias smirked, sliding his arm around his wife. “In fact, I think we should get some practice in right here.”

Sienna grabbed Jackie’s hand, pulling her toward the door. “Aaaand on that note, we’re out!”

As the women left, Tobias pulled Casey close. “Told you I could get rid of them,” he murmured with a playful growl.

“You’re incorrigible.”

“Maybe,” he said, tapping her nose with his finger. “But you love me.”

“I do.”

~~~~

Valentine’s Day, 2025

Already dressed for their date, Casey wobbled toward their bed as she slipped on her diamond stud earrings. She took a deep breath. Tobias had been looking forward to this evening for weeks. Valentine’s Day was his thing; he loved turning up the romance, and he was so proud of himself for getting a reservation at Mistral. She didn’t have the heart to tell him she couldn’t go.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, and her mother-in-law, Vivian, stepped inside. She was babysitting Sammy tonight, and her granddaughter needed her elephant plushie, which had been left on Tobias and Casey’s bed. But one look at Casey and concern spread on Vivian’s face.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” she asked. “You look absolutely peaked.”

Casey glanced up sadly. “I feel awful, Vivian. I think I caught that stomach bug Tobias had last week.”

“Oh my!” Vivian replied. “Then you need to tell Tobias and stay home to get some rest! I’ll stay and watch Samantha; this way, at least you two can spend the night alone.”

“With Tobias taking care of me? Hell of a romantic Valentine’s Day,” Casey groaned.

“Well, the fortunate part is that you two just brim with romance every day of the year. You don’t need a Hallmark holiday to celebrate that.”

“You’re right,” Casey said with a wan smile. “Can you send Tobias up?”

Moments later, Tobias burst through the bedroom door, worry etched on his face. “Baby, what’s going on?” He asked, placing a hand on her forehead.

“I think I caught the stomach bug you had last week.”

“Yeah, but I was burning up, and you don’t seem to have a fever. Did you eat anything that might disagree with you?”

“Eat?” Casey chuckled weakly. “I've barely eaten. My stomach has been off for days.”

Tobias paused, a realization dawning in his eyes. “Casey, are you… late?”

“Late?” she repeated, almost stunned by the question. She mumbled to herself, counting on her fingers. “I haven’t been keeping track as well as normal with everything going on, but if I am, it’s only by a few days.”

Tobias’s eyebrows lifted.  

“No!” Casey insisted. “It’s entirely too soon! That’s impossible.”

“Casey. Baby girl, let’s go back in time,” he teased. “Pretend you’re in college; no, let’s go all the way back to high school. High school biology class.” He stood up and cleared his throat. “All right, Miss MacTavish, I assume you read chapter 2. So, can you tell the class how babies are made?”

“Tobias,” she laughed with a shake of her head.

“Excuse me? That’s Mr. Carrick to you, young lady. Now, unless you want to admit that you didn't do your homework, tell the class how babies are made.”

“Babies are made through unprotected sex, Mr. Carrick,” she giggled.

“OK, I'm gonna switch back to husband mode now, or this is gonna get real weird real fast,” he smirked. “Now, about how many times do we have unprotected sex per week?”

“Five to seven times more than the average American couple,” she sighed. “Depending on the study, of course.”

Tobias grinned at her silently, then finally said, “I’ll go buy a test.”

“But our dinner plans,” she protested.

“Do you really want to eat, baby?”

She looked at him, her complexion turning green just thinking about being in a crowded restaurant surrounded by the smell of food. “You’re right. Go buy a test.”

“Buy two,” she called after him as he reached the door. “Maybe three. I like to be sure.”

He turned back and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight and kissing her forehead. “This could be it,” he smiled. “This could really be it.”

“Well, if it is, I won’t feel guilty about being too tired to shop for a Valentine’s Day gift for you this week.”

Tobias handed her a nightgown with a smile. “Get changed and get under the covers. I’ll tell Ma I’m running out to get you medicine. We don’t need her to know what’s happening just yet. I’ll be right back.”

~~~~~

Tobias and Casey locked the door to their en suite bathroom. Tobias opened the first box and handed the plastic test trip to Casey.

“OK, time to pee on this,” he instructed with a grin.

Casey stifled a laugh. “If you’d told me we’d be celebrating Valentine’s Day with you ordering me to pee on something, I would’ve thought you had a new kink... not this.”

“Good point,” he chuckled. “But let’s get to it, and I’ll set the timer.”

They sat on the bed, hands clasped as they waited. “This feels so different from the first time I took a pregnancy test,” Casey mused. “I was all alone and so scared. I didn’t know how you’d react, and I was barely an attending... I couldn’t imagine it all working out.”  

“And look at us now,” Tobias said, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Do you think we’re ready for this?” she asked. “Two children, two demanding careers....”

“We are,” he nodded confidently. “Honey, don’t you know by now? There’s nothing we can’t handle together.”

They shared a tender kiss, disappointed when it was interrupted by the timer.  

“Oh boy,” Casey sighed. “Ready for this?”

“Very much so!”

They walked into the bathroom and picked up the first test. Tobias pumped his fist and whispered, “Yes!” while Casey let out a squeal.

“OK, OK, OK,” Casey cautioned, trying to keep her excitement in check. “Let’s check the others... that’s just one test.”

They checked tests number two and three, which had the same results. Casey turned to Tobias, simply beaming. “Looks like you’re going to be a daddy again! And not in the kinky way we roleplay every other weekend.”

Tobias lifted her in his arms, chucking as he spun her around. “Do I tell you enough how much I love you? How perfect you are for me?”

“You do,” she smiled. “But considering I’m about to grow another baby for you, you can tell me again... every day of this pregnancy... and beyond.”

He kissed her again, only for her to pull back suddenly as a wave of nausea hit. Tobias sat by her side, lovingly rubbing her back. When she finally sat up, her hair was a mess, and her face looked tired, but she still managed a weak smile.

“You’re so beautiful,” Tobias said, his eyes full of admiration.

Casey let out a chuckle. “This isn’t my best look.”

“Oh, yes, it is,” he said, holding her close. “We’re going to have another baby!”

“Yes, we are,” she grinned. “Happy Valentine’s Day, love!”

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Tagging others separately.

[witchyleehibernates-fics]

To Live (Or Not at All)

Summary:

“Don’t worry, Papa’ll move the offending light out of the room Jackie.” Remy murmured as he walked over to his phone and picked it up. 6 missed calls from Logan, and 3 from the same unknown number. His guess was that Logan had tried to call from his husband's phone. There was a pang of guilt as he saw a text message come in. You don’t answer my next to calls and I will drive my ass out there Gumbo. “Damn feral.” Remy muttered, walking to the other side of the bed as his phone started ringing once more. He tucked Vinny in with Jacqueline, who was pouting at him. “Get some sleep, Jackie. You too, Vinny. Papa’s going to step out of the room.” He was only so thankful that his kids didn’t need him in the room to sleep anymore. He stepped out of the room, waiting for the second call to come in, and when it did, he answered.

Content Warning's/Trigger Warnings: Stressed Characters, Sleep Deprivation, Slight Mentions of Stalking, Breakdowns, Single Father Remy LeBeau, Fantasy AU

(If I think of others, it will be added here or in a reblog when/as I update about chapters)

Characters: Remy LeBeau (Gambit), Logan Howlett (Wolverine), Kevin Sydeny (Morph), Original Children Characters

Chapters: 3/?

Words: 5,377

Status: In Progress

Fanfic Links:

|| Ao3 || Fanfiction Net ||

......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .........

Remy was fighting back tears as he dialed Logan’s number, praying that Logan was out for a smoke or something and not sleeping, because he would absolutely hate to wake up the feral or the morphling that he married. His breathing was slightly shaky and he could feel that Jacqueline or Vinny was close to waking up again. He bowed his head, resting it on his knees which were pulled up to his chest, as the phone rang.

“S’il vous plaît.” Remy quietly pleaded with the ringing call, his voice breaking just a little. “Logan, please answer…” He murmured, ears straining just in case one of his kids started to cry. He was a newly single father, and he knew taking his kids away from the farm was going to cause issues. He wished he’d known what kind of issues before he moved them, however, because he wouldn’t have moved them then.

“Cajun you better have a good reason for calling me.” Logan answered the phone, a quiet growl in his voice. Normally Remy would tease him for sounding so much like his animal instincts, but he also knew that Logan and Kevin recently adopted a little girl who was traumatized from her previous home.

“Thank fuck.” Remy cringed a little at just how desperate he sounded, but Remy was desperate. He just hated sounding desperate. “I-” He could hear crying in the background and felt terrible. “Sorry. Nevermind. I… calling was a mistake.” He moved and hung up the phone.

Remy wasn’t the Prince Thief of New Orleans anymore. He was a single father to two half faerie quarter demon quarter human children in the middle of a city that he knew nothing about. Calling Logan wasn’t something he could do anymore. Logan had his life, pretty figured out too by the sounds of things, and Remy would need to join the game at some point.

He was struggling at his job, not having worked an actual job that he needed to keep semi permanently. His daughter was in dance classes that he had to get her to at 3 in the afternoon everyday, and daycare wouldn’t take her for the first half of the day, and Vinny was too young to go. He had to figure out how to enroll his daughter in school, because she would be starting kindergarten this fall.

Remy buried his face in his arms as he began to cry. His phone dropped to the ground beside him as he tried to take a stable breath. He was trying to keep his sobs down, still needing to listen for his kids just in case they needed him, but he still had somehow missed Jacqueline knocking on his door.

“Papa?” He lifted his head, eyes locking with Jacqueline’s. Bright red eyes were glowing in the dark, confusion on her face as she leaned against the doorway with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

“Jackie, princesse, what are you doing awake?” He pushed himself up, walking to the door and picking her up when she silently asked. “Did you have another nightmare?” He asked quietly, to which Jacqueline nodded against his shoulder. “I’m sorry, princesse,” He murmured as he rubbed her back.

“Yous non s’eeping?” Jacqueline murmured as Remy began to gently rock her. He began to pace the room too, ignoring his phone, which was lit up with an incoming call from Logan. Remy felt a little guilty about calling Logan in the first place, knowing that he woke up the feral and it was possible that Logan’s growl woke up his daughter. Remy felt guilty about that.

“No, Papa’s not sleeping right now. He’s taking care of his Petit Prince et Petite Princesse.” Remy murmured. He needed to clean his room when Jacqueline was at dance and Vinny was down for a nap. The only reason he wasn’t tripping over his own clothes was from years of training as a thief.

“Jackie s’eep in Papa’s ‘oom?” Jacqueline asked, her head moving as if she was looking up at him. He glanced towards his bed, which was still made from the day before, he’d had yet to even sit down on it.

“Oui, Jackie can do that.” Remy nodded. “Wand Vinny in here too?” Maybe he could get some cleaning done if his kids were sleeping in his room. He’d have to pick up his clothes first, he decided as his eyes scanned over his room.

“Oui,” Jacqueline nodded.

“Okay, let’s get you laid down in bed, and then Papa will go get Vinny.” Remy murmured, moving to one side of the bed, and pulling back the blanket. He had almost thought that he’d be able to get Jacqueline and Vinny to sleep in their own rooms for a night, seeing as it was nearly three in the morning. But alas, his kids needed the comfort of his scent and no windows letting in tons of light from outside.

He laid Jacqueline down and smiled when she turned and hid in the pillow, a small laugh escaping him as he ruffled her hair. He still felt like crying, but his children came first and whatever breakdown Remy was going to go through could wait for all he cared.

He tucked Jacqueline in, kissing her temple, and then moved to leave the room. Humming lightly as he moved to Vinny’s room, finding him awake and sitting up in his crib with his hands holding the crib bars and seemingly waiting patiently.

Remy wished he could ask whoever had him as a baby if this was normal. Because neither of his children should be able to predict his movements and actions as young as nine months old. His humming stopped as a breath of laughter escaped him. He walked over and picked the infant up. He’d changed Vinny’s diaper almost an hour ago, so he knew he didn’t need to change him just yet.

“Let’s lay you down with Jackie, huh?” He asked as he made sure Vinny had his pacifier and reached down to grab Vinny’s favorite blanket. He wrapped the blanket around Vinny carefully as he walked back towards his room, finding Jacqueline made a face towards the area where Remy’s phone was still vibrating.

“Don’t worry, Papa’ll move the offending light out of the room Jackie.” Remy murmured as he walked over to his phone and picked it up. 6 missed calls from Logan, and 3 from the same unknown number. His guess was that Logan had tried to call from his husband's phone. There was a pang of guilt as he saw a text message come in.

You don’t answer my next to calls and I will drive my ass out there Gumbo.

“Damn feral.” Remy muttered, walking to the other side of the bed as his phone started ringing once more. He tucked Vinny in with Jacqueline, who was pouting at him. “Get some sleep, Jackie. You too, Vinny. Papa’s going to step out of the room.” He was only so thankful that his kids didn’t need him in the room to sleep anymore.

He stepped out of the room, waiting for the second call to come in, and when it did, he answered.

“Was tryin’ to let you sleep again.” Remy told him, moving towards Jacqueline’s room to make sure all the windows were locked. Sometimes the kids' nightmares were caused by feeling unsafe, even subconsciously. Her window was locked.

“Or having a breakdown, cajun.” Logan’s voice responded. He had a faint rumble to his voice, and he wanted to curse the other out. Either he was also holding his adoptive daughter, who Remy still didn’t know the name of, or he knew Remy was actually on the verge of the breakdown he mentioned. Remy found Vinny’s window unlocked, so he locked it after making sure it was shut fully.

“Jackie had a nightmare and I was laying the two down in my room.” Remy told him. He knew he sounded petulant at best, but he had a right to sulk, at least a little bit. Right? “Just go back to bed if your daughter isn’t awake, mon ami.” He checked the guest room, also locked.

“No. You called and sounded like you were breaking down. So now, you are going to talk to me.” Logan told him, and dammit, Remy hated that rumbling thing that Logan could do. It made him spill everything every time. He felt safe enough to actually talk to Logan about whatever was bothering him. He glared at the ground as he checked his own room, though he vaguely remembered locking it around eight. It was locked.

“Haven’t slept much this past week. Kids are having nightmares every half an hour, job is a hassle because I don’t trust no one enough to watch the kids, and Jacqueline’s too old for daycare, and I don’t know how to enroll her in school, and Vinny’s too young for daycare.” The words just began to tumble from Remy as he fell back onto the couch, staring up at the ceiling as he felt the tears beginning to build up.

“She told me this would happen, Lo.” Remy’s voice was near silent. “I can’t take care of my kids without her, but she-”

“No.” There was more of a threatening growl that escaped Logan then before it settled back into that gentle rumbling. “No. You don’t need her. The kids don’t need her. You know a lot about halfling kids, Gambit. Think.”

“Don’t call me that.” Remy gasped, feeling like he’d been punched in the chest. He hadn’t been called that name in a long, long time. It brought back too much of who he used to be, as a teen and a bit of who he was as a young adult.

“It’s one of your names.” Logan reminded him. “Prince Gambit of the Thieves Guild, Heir of the Underground of New Orleans.” His tone held no room for argument, but Remy still tried. There was a whine that escaped him as the tears started to fall. “It’s who you are.”

“No… No, that’s not me anymore Logan.” Remy shook his head, even if Logan couldn’t see him. They’d been friends long enough to know how the other would react in many different situations. “I’m just Remy, single father to two half fae children and they are suffering because of me.”

“Gamb-Remy, I’ll be down tomorrow afternoon. Kevin and Charlie are coming with. You need help, desperately.” Logan sighed, and Remy felt himself flinch.

“Remy don’t need help, Logan.” Remy told him sullenly. “I’m not… Remy’s not useless at this.”

“I never said you were, Gumbo. But you’re exhausted and beginning to trip over your words.” Remy closed his eyes as a sob began to build in his throat. That damn rumbling, something that Remy would call a purr but not quite, was making it hard to get a grip on his emotions. He had better control of himself than this, but Logan was reminding him that he didn’t.

“But you implied it.” Remy whispered.

“Cajun, you called me at three in the morning, crying, and sounding more desperate than a child after a nightmare.” Logan told him. “More desperate than when you told me you needed an out of your relationship, while also protecting your kids.” Remy flinched, almost feeling like he’d been hit. He’d realized how desperate he’d sounded, and he knew that Jacqueline had seen it too.

Damn, how much of his breakdown did Jacqueline see?

“Don’t go all silent now, not after how many times I told you to shut up in the past and you wouldn’t.” Remy could hear Logan light a cigar or something, all he knew is he could hear that light flip, and he closed his eyes.

“I’m so tired, Logan…” Remy muttered, his eyes fluttering. He was exhausted, he knew he was, and he bet Logan could hear it too.

“Get some sleep, Gumbo, Kev and I will be there around three at the latest.” Remy made a noise, probably of agreement, and the call dropped. His phone dropped to the ground as he ended up falling asleep on the couch.

He’d wake up to Jacqueline shaking his arm, tired and wanting pancakes for breakfast, and his phone nearly dead with three texts from Logan reminding him that he was coming down that afternoon. Good thing on Logan texting him, because Remy certainly didn’t remember anything that happened the night before.

[letsdeerintheheadlightsuniverse]

<<Previous Chapter <<

**Masterlist**

>>Next Chapter>>

Pairing: Izzy Hands x gn!reader

Synopsis: The fallout from the storm leaves more answers than questions for the crew, as they do their best to heal from wounds past, present and future.

A/N: Hiiiiiiii, besties! Chapter 5 is officially here! Whoop whoop! Who's ready to board the Angst express? Also, Happy Easter!

Content Warning: Knives, mention of injuries, trauma, sensory overload, mentions of drowning and blood. I think that's everything. This series is 18+, so minors dni. Go away (politely).

DISCLAIMER: PLEASE DO NOT REPOST, REPUBLISH, OR TRANSLATE MY WORK ANYWHERE WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT PERMISSION. I DO NOT OWN OFMD OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

=============================

She watched as the ship came rolling in. A flurry of activity upon the main deck, as the anchor was dropped, and a plank lowered to connect the boatside and port. Something was wrong- she could sense it. Usually when the Revenge paid a visit to the Republic of Pirates, there was a certain frisson of excitement and promise of good times. This time around, the crew's calls were not sentiments of hopeful anticipation but anxious haste to disembark.

Spanish Jackie's eyes narrowed, as she spied upon the weary form of one Oluwande, supporting an equally worn out Jim and Archie. Damn, she had never seen them looking for forlorn and exhausted. Sure, pirating was not the most glamouroud of professions but cuts, bruises and...what even was that staining their clothes? Yeah, the trio had seen better days, that was for sure. "What the fuck happened?" the bar owner forgo her usual greeting, demanding to know what the hell was going on.

Oluwande regarded the business woman with a look of pure reluctance. He was tired- no, scratch that- he was bone-achingly, soul-wearily exhausted, to the point where talking felt like a curse and a chore. Every fibre of his very being was screaming in unison for him to collapse upon the ground and become one with the dirt. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust and all that jazz.  "Ship got caught in a storm."

"Any casualties?"

It only happened occasionally but there were times when Oluwande would get overwhelmed and it was like something in his brain switched off, needing to go on standby for a while, until he felt more settled and assured. His partners were aware of the main triggers that would induce a sensory overload. Things like a cacophony of clashing ambient sounds or extreme exhaustion would prompt him to remain silent for a while.

It had never really phased Jim, Archie- and when she was visiting- Zheng. As soon as he had explained it to them, their only main concern was making sure Oluwande felt supported during those periods of quiet. Whether it was finding him a safe space to decompress or making sure he got enough rest- the great loves of his life always endeavoured make sure his needs were met.

Sensing their partner's increasing distress at having to be verbal, Archie quickly spoke in Oluwande's place. "We're bringing them out now. Is there a doctor nearby?" the grateful upturning of his lips confirmed her suspicions. Always happy to help, the pirate have him a gentle squeeze around the shoulders.

"Yeah, yeah...Oi, you! Yeah, you!" Jackie called out to one of her many husbands. How she kept track of them all was anyone's guess but damn, Archie was impressed. The lady had mad game. If the pirate weren't so burnt out, she might have been even more impressed byt in the particular moment, she just wanted a comfortable seat and a warm meal. "Send the doctor to the local Inn. Tell him he's gonna have a real busy fucking morning. Oh and that The Genital Pirate will be paying!" like hell was Jackie going to foot what was going to undoubtedly be one expensive bill. She knew Stede was loaded but hopefully he had enough coin in that silk purse of his to pay the handsome fare.

Jackie's attention refocused when she caught sight of Swede supporting Blackbeard's right hand man. Damn, did every single member of the Revenge look equally as haggard? "Fuuuuck, you look like you've seen better days." Izzy could not bring himself to respond with his usual sharpness. Gods, he felt as fucking wonderful as he looked. The rescue mission had been an absolute nightmare. So many collective moments of thinking, 'this is it, this is how I go', that amounted to finally pulling Pete's unconscious body from the watery depths. It was a miracle that the First Hand himself had not drowned. In all honesty, Izzy could not decide which was worse, this storm or the night he lost his leg. "Wow, must be bad if you aren't even telling me to 'fuck off'."

The sound of more footsteps took the spotlight off of the weary First Mate, who was glad to have Jackie's attention directed elsewhere. In that moment, the silver-haired pirate allowed himself a moment of weakness to lean upon Swede more than he generally would have done, under different circumstances. But he was tired. Tired of always having to be capable and strong fir those around him. It was quite nice having someone support him for a change.

The charismatic business woman offered her signature wolf-like grin at the two co-captains, who had finally made their way to shore. No obvious wounds to be seen upon their persons, she noted, wondering who it was out of the cohort whom required such urgent care. "Eddie. Hello, Stede. So, a storm, huh?"

A storm, yeah. Some storm, Stede thought, as he felt Ed's grip around his waist tighten at the mere metion of what they has all just survived. Before the blonde could even open his mouth to give a retort, his lover beat him to the punch with a bitter laugh. "If you could call it that. Felt more like a trip to fucking Hell."

"Heard you got some injuries..." the words died, as she and the rest of the waiting crew, moved to let Fang and Roach carry the first of several makeshift gurneys up the hill. "Oh, shit."

"Yeah. 'Oh, shit'." Ed muttered, watching was a solemn gaze, as the body was carried into the nearby Inn.

"That's a lotta fucking blood."

====

Perhaps they should have washed up before sitting down in the Inn's small dining area. Well, if you could really call it that. It was more of a gloried room with a few tables and chairs. Still, the plates of cheese and bread were more gratefully recieved by the famished pirates, who could barely recollect when they had last eaten. What day was it even? The storm had felt like it had lasted an eternity.

"There was so much blood." Wee John commented, as he bit into another piece of bread. It was almost inedibly dry but thankfully, the cold pitcher of water, in the middle of the table, solved such issues.

Swede nodded with mild enthusiasm. He did not mind the bread's texture so much, having eaten some truly horrific meals during his time at sea. However, the cheese. Oh, the cheese. It was chalky in texture. The blonde was not aware that cheese could be so powdery. "So much. Maybe even too much?"

"I didn't even realise a person could bleed that much." yeah, no. The cheese was actually worse than the bread, John decided, pushing away his plate in disgust.

"Surely that was an abnormal amount of blood, right?"

Whilst Roach was the most seasoned out of them all when it came to seeing blood...and severed body parts, even he had to admit, it had been an alarming amount of...red. "Yeah, that's gotta be some witchcraft or something. People don't bleed that much." he blamed the fairies. Yeah, it was the fairies fault for sure. They must have been displeased with his offering of thanks, after they made the bread rise.  and cursed the ship with their fairy magic. That was the only logical answer.

Also, the bread at the Inn really was fucking disgusting.

====

It felt almost sickeningly self-indulgent to allow someone so intrinsically well-meaning to tend to such a wretched soul as he and yet, Ed could not bring himself to push away Stede's gentle touch. In fact, the once gruesome legend found himself leaning into the tender caresses. Despite the apparent care he was receiving, Ed could not quieten his racing thoughts. No matter how much he proverbially tried to smother the insidious voice,  that whispered vile realities, from the recesses of his mind. "Fuck." he cursed, as his lover carded his fingers through the silvery tresses. "This is bad, Stede."

The Gentleman Pirate faltered in his ministrations, knowing full well that Ed was not referring to his loving gestures. "I know." there was a graveness that tinged his tone, confirming all of Ed's most intimate fears. If happy-go-lucky Stede Bonnet thought the situation was dire, then Ed was well and truly fucked.

"The crew's gonna blame me for everything, you know?"

He did not want to agree. Oh, how he did not want to but despite his whim-prone ways, Stede knew that they both had to be realistic about the given situation. It would be a fool's error to assune that everything was okay with the crew, that things would magically go back to the way there were and a few weeks time, the Revenge would set sail once more. "I do."

"And they've gotta point. If I hadn't royally fucked them all up during the last storm, we'd've had all hands on deck. And..." the question tasted bitter on his tongue, souring the lingering taste of all the sweetest kisses they had ever shared. Ed knew that Stede's answer had the potential to break his heart into a million pieces but as a suckered for punishment, the pirate had to know his lover's honest opinion. "Do...do you blame me?"

Moving to stand between his lover's legs, Stede gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind Ed's ear, noting just how defeated his boyfriend looked. That would just not do, he thought. "Honestly? No, no I don't." the co-captain's attempt at a smile was strained at best but still, it allowed sone light to encroach on the heaviness that dwelled within Ed's heart. Stede Bonnet, the Gentleman Pirate, truly was a lighthouse to the once lost soul. "In fact, I blame myself. I underestimated how deeply traumatised the crew was. So, if anyone is to blame, it's me."

What, no! No, no, that did not make any sense to the silver-haired pirate. No, he and he alone was to blame. How could some so...so good and loving as Stede be to blame for the atrocities caused in the name of Blackbeard? "But they wouldn't have been traumatised if I hadn't-"

As much as Stede was usually a firm believer in talking things through as a crew, he also was well-versed in the thought pattern of his fretting amour. Such a conversation could go round and round in circles for hours, if he did not shock the man into breaking the spiralling of his mind. Nothing too drastic, just enough to snap him out of the self-loathing and bring him back to the present moment. A tender kiss was often the best option for such a task. It was short, sweet. No taking, only giving. Providing comfort and a promise of unconditional love.

Pulling back after a beat, Stede kept his forehead pressed against Ed's, savouring the closeness and allowing the pirate the option to lean in for another, should he crave such a thing. "Guess we'll just have to be co-blamed, hmm?" Stede whispered, offering another freely given smile. This time, it felt more genuine. Easier. Almost as easy as breathing.

And with that, Ed tugged the

Gentleman Pirate closer into his encircled hold, until the blonde was situated on his lap, needing him to be as near as physcially possible. "I needed that." the silver-haired man mumbled, as he buried his face  against the drenched fabric of Stede's shirt.

The once pristine material was tainted with...he did not even know who's blood it was. All he had witnessed was the bloody aftermath in the hold, before he ordered Buttons to clean what he could and leave the rest for the repairmen to  deal with. The familiar iron scent overwhelming Ed's senses. Man, the stench of decay transported him back to that unwelcome memory of when the night the Kraken was truly purged from existence...

====

"Did you see his face?" the mystic questioned his drinking buddy, as they sat side by side, outside in the pleasant warmth.

Though he preferred the silvery light of the divine moon, Buttons could certainly appreciate all that the sun had to offer. The basking rays of golden splendor were a much welcome gift from Mother Nature, after the heavy downpour of the previous days. It was too nice a day to be stuck inside. Plus, someone had to pay mind to the crew's clothes, as they dried outside on the line.

"Who's face?" Fang questioned, as he took another swig from the bottle he had brought from Spanish Jackie. Though his usual preference was rum, the fresh orange juice was definitely a nice change of pace. Good for you too, he thought, savouring the sweet, citrus flavour.

He was thankful to be able to experience something as simple as drinking juice from a bottle. After the events of the storm, he had been so sure that none of the Revenge's crew would live to see another day, let alone taste an orange. It was terrifying to even pause and consider how close to death they had been only a mere twenty four hours ago.

No, no, enough of that, the pirate chided himself, as the tell-tale sting of tears threatened to blur his vision. He was safe now. They were all safe. Well, most were safe, Fang thought glumly, remembering how all good cheer for surviving the beast of a storm, had instantly been snuffed out at the emerging form of Captain Stede. Damn, there had been so much blood.

Fang was well-versed at witnessing so much gore but outside of a raid environment, the sight had turned his stomach. He had fight back the waves of nausea, that threatened to cause bile to spill past his lips. Thankfully, no such incident had occurred. The last thing the pirate needed was a vomit-inspired nickname.

"Izzy's."

"No."

"Looked like he'd seen a ghost."

Were Izzy sat with them now, he would have undoubtedly told the pair to 'shut the fuck up' but the First Mate was nowhere in sight. In fact, Fang could not recall when he had last seen the other pirate. He assumed that, like the rest of the crew, Izzy had locked himself away in one of the many rooms but now that he pondered on it more, had Fang caught sight of Izzy following in tow, as your body had been carried off the ship? Perhaps he was by your side right now. Fang liked the idea of that better, than Izzy being holed away in some dingy space, with only a bottle for comfort. He also liked the prospect of you being kept company.

"Probably has." Buttons continued, his gaze scanning the nearby shoreline. On the horizon, you could easily spot the Revenge, in all her damaged glory. Once a proud vessel, now a shell of her former self. "The ship'll be haunted now, for sure. No way anyone can survive bleeding that much and live to tell the tale." he added gravely.

====

"What's the damage?" the once fearsome First Mate asked, as he sank into a nearby armchair opposite the lengendary- oh, who was he kidding, it was fucking Edward, for goodness sake- who was busy doing fuck all but getting lost in his spiralling thoughts.

Pouring his new companion an equally large dose of rum into a secondary glass, which had been meant for Stede but he was off somewhere, talking to the doctor about an update. "Multiple crew injuries, a damaged ship and a potential mutiny on our hands." he rattled off the list as if it merely contained supplies needed for the crew.

At the sound of the word 'mutiny', Izzy could no suppress his scoff. After everything that had happened, the pirate highly doubted that the shipmates of the Revenge were even thinking about rebelling against their co-captain. If anything, their main focus would probably be getting a change of clothes, food and getting absolutely stinking pissed in their rooms. Hell, that was all that Izzy had planned his agenda that evening. In fact, a glass of this poorly aged rum was a good start. Downing the drink in one go, he savoured the familiar burn, as it warmed his throat and chest. Urgh, it was truly disgusting. Had the owners watered it down? "The crew actually mentioned anything about kicking off, or are you just being a narcissistic prick?"

"Izzy..." Ed all but begged for the man to take him seriously. Emotions amongst the crew were surely running high and once the option of a mutiny entered their minds, the idea would spread like wildfire, burning through everything he and Stede had fought so hard to build together, leaving in it's smoldering wake nothing but ash and potentially, his charred corpse.

"Look," "I'll keep my ear to the ground, see if I hear any actual rumblings, okay?"

"Thank you."

"Twat."

"Have you been to see them?"

"Don't-" during his time on the rocky waves, he had been thankful that you were at least safe in the hold and not there to witness both the demise of him and your friend. If only he had known what was really afoot in the hold, Izzy would have kept you by his side. Hell, he would have left the crew to their own fucking devices- storm be damned- and kept you hidden from sight in the safety of his cabin. "I can't...not with you. Not right now, Edward. I..." the uncharacteristic break in his voice caught his lifelong companion by surprise.

Ed knew how much Izzy cared about you. For fucks sake, the man was not as subtle as he thought he was when it came to his pining. However, Ed could list on one hand the amount of times he had witnessed the First Mate's stoic mask crack under the pressure of intense emotion. It felt almost blasphemous to pay witness to the glassiness, that built up in Izzy's eyes, as the silver-haired pirate tried his damned hardest to not breakdown right there and then. "I'm not blaming you but-" a gloved hand came to settle over his mouth, as a sob ripped through his body.

Gods, it was just one nightmare after another. But you. Oh, you. Just the mere recollection of your body being bundled onto a makeshift gurney and carried past the crew, as they stood in horrified silence on the hill, was sure to haunt Izzy for the rest of his wretched days. And Izzy could not even blame Frenchie for what had happened. The poor bastard had been lost in a hallucination, caused by unresolved trauma. Had he been in control of his mind, there was no doubt that the young man would never have dreamed of injuring you- accident or otherwise. "you might as well have been the one to put the knife in his hand." he all but whined, sounding as broken as he felt.

"Iz, I'm-"

"No. No, I don't want to hear it. Fuck your apology, Edward." he meant every word. Izzy did not want Ed to feel any worser than he already did. Isreal Hands was many things but he was not vindictive. Well, he was not feeling vindictive at that particular moment. Calm him soft but sailing the seven seas with Bonnet's ragtag group of misfits had shown the First Hand an alternative life to being a pirate. One full of love and a found family. While Izzy could still be hurtful with his words, he was trying so desperately to be better. Anything for those he loved. Had he not promised the exact same thing to you? "I'm at fault too." but before Ed could even dare to interrupt with a protest, the silver-haired pirate was quick to shake his head. Roughly drying his tears, Izzy delivered one last line to his captain, "I fed your fucking darkness back then. Let them blame me too."

Let (y/n) hate me too, it's what I deserve, Izzy thought, as he downed the rest of the glass and stood to make his exit, wanting nothing more now than to get blind drunk on whatever disgusting excuse for rum the inn could offer.

====

"I'm not saying I blame him completely. I'm just saying it's his fault." Jim whispered to her partner, as the sat outside the door to their shared room. Oluwande was inside decompressing after his sensory overload and while the two pirates knew he needed space, they felt more assured remaining at least in the hallway, should he need anything.

It felt good, Archie thought, as they took a bite of the cheese Wee John had brought up for them to share, to be able to rest for a moment. After everything that had happened, it was a miracle that they had survived the storm. What a blessing it was to be able to sit beside their partner, share food and even breathe the same air. When quite frankly, they should have all been sleeping with the fishes. "Completely, yeah and I hear you, babe. It's just that- you know- if Izzy hadn't poked the bear-"

"Oh, no. Totally. The guy fucked us all over." Jim agreed half-heartedly. It was not anything personal to Archie. Usually, the pirate would be all for talking things through. However, it had gotten to a point in the day where, they felt unable to really process any more information, let alone mentally dissect the thought pattern of another person. So, whilst they were not fully engaged in the conversation, Jim recognised that Archie obviously needed a sounding board while the worked through some things. And, hey, once Oluwande was awake, he could take their place, while they got some much needed rest.

Taking another bite, they ruminated over the chalky consistency of the cheese. Yeah, there was something  definitely not quite right with it. After one more testing bite, it was then they realised that the kind gesture had not been all that kind. Wee John had proffered bad cheese on them! That bastard...

The more Archie considered the gravity of the situation, the more she found herself not being able to completely cast the blame onto the First Mate.

So much had happened during the Kraken era. So many horrible, terrible, unforgivable things. And yet, she knew that deep down, things could have been so much worse. There were times when they had been so sure that Blackbeard was going to punish them for something but the cut of a knife never came. There was no barrel of a pistol to stare down. Archie had always considered those moments to be based on pure luck or prayers answered by the snake god, Manasa. Knowing what she did now, the pirate realised that it had been Izzy taking the fall for their shortcomings. He was not a guardian angel by any means but credit was given where credit was due, the guy had suffered for his infatuation with the lethal myth. His anatomical sacrifices had saved their lives on more than one occasion. "I guess he did kinda pay the price by losing his leg."

====

"We've managed to stabilise them. It'll be a bit touch and go over the next few days but right now, we're optimistic for a full recovery." the doctor explained in a hushed tone, as he and the co-captain lingered outside his patient's door.

A sigh he had not been aware he was holding, escaped his lips. Okay, that was something, right? They could work with 'touch and go'. The battle was not over yet, at least. There was still hope. "That's...that's really great news. Thank you for all your hard work. Myself and the crew really appreciate all your efforts."

"I'd recommend in the meantime, minimal visitors. Only people they're closest to on the ship, that kind of thing. Just while we're monitoring things." at the mere mention of visitors, Stede was already knew who should have be first in line to pay the patient a visit. The only question was, were they sober enough to sit by the bedside without throwing up everywhere? He highly doubted it. The last he had seen of the other man, he had been clutching a bottle tightly to his chest, as he made his way up the stairs and to hide away in his room.

"Of course, I'll let everyone know."

"One last thing, Jackie did mention that you'd be footing the bill."

"Ah, yes. Of course." the blonde dare not think about the extortionate amount that the doctor was about to charge him. Still, the gentleman had at least stabilised any serious wounds, so Stede supposed he did deserve some coin. "Let me get my purse."

====

With your fight or flight insticts in overdrive, the sound of the door opening, had caused you to reach for the knife you kept concealed under a nearby pillow. The pirate would have assumed that following your plight in the hold, you would have been unsteady upon your feet and yet, you moved at an surprising speed. In the blink of an eye, you had abandoned your post on the bed and had the serrated edge of the blade pressed against his throat.

If anyone else had dared to attempt such an act, they surely would have been impaled on their own weapon but with you, the silver-haired pirate, fought tooth and nail to keep his insticts at bay. He let you slowly regain your sense and return to yourself, as you blinked a few times. Whatever fear plagued your mind, slowly lifted, allowing you to recognise your surroundings and not deem the man before you as a threat.

The blade clattered to the floor, as you arm dropped to your side. You supposed this was the moment you were meant to feel shame for having threatened the life of the man you called co-captain and yet, you felt nothing. No emotions bubbled to the surface. All that remained, in the wake of your momentary lapse of mental control, was a much-welcomed numbness, that sat heavy as a stone within the center of your sternum. The feeling of nothing was far better preferred to the overwhelming waves of grief and terror, that had previously coursed through your veins.

Ed's gaze momentarily broke your intense eye contact, to survey the discarded knife. Only then did he notice the tarnished metal. Crimson coated it's exterior and while he could not be fully certain that it was not your blood, that adorned the crude metalwork, there was not doubt in his mind that, this was the same weapon that Frenchie had brandished in the storage hold. The Captain had his suspicions as to why you had kept it in your possession but such thoughts would have to remain entirely his own, until you were suitably taken care of.

You watched the man warily, as he bent to pick up the knife. Despite the tensing of your muscles, he did not pay your on edge disposition any mind, while he took his time to place the blade upon the modest writing desk. Ed was conscious to keep his movements steady- no sudden gestures, nothing to spook you in your heightened state of alert.

With the knife out of harm's way, his attention zoned in once more on you, as you stood just a few feet away, anxiously wringing your hands, as if you expected something foul to befell you, now that you were without your trusty blade.

Despite your fears, your demeanour softened a fraction, when the once fearsome myth of a man offered you a rare smile. It was small. Hell, barely even noticeable to the untrained eye but you spotted it all the same. It was a gesture meant to comfort, to put you at ease and well, whilst your nerves remained frayed, you could not deny that, his presence was more than welcome in that cramped space of yours. Company served as a distraction from the intrusive memory of your time in the storage held.

He dared to take a step towards you, and then another, when you did not cringe away from his approach. Edcarefully watched you for any subtle changes to your physical appearance. From the rise and fall of your chest, to the wide-eyed stare- any discernible flicker of your trepidation rising by even a fraction, he would back away. All he wanted was to help you feel more like yourself again, not worsen your mental and physical stare further.

Toe to toe, you now stood. So close in fact, you could feel the much welcomed heat radiating from his leather clad body. Perhaps you should have listened to the adrenaline-fuelled alarm bells that screamed in your head, as you allowed the pirate to take your hand in his but there was something about his gentle touch, that kept you rooted firmly to the spot. He turned your hand to be palm up, as he examined the crude, jagged line, that marred the skin from the base of your digits, to the crook of your elbow. Really, it should have been cleaned and bandaged hours ago by the doctor. Roach had tried his best but your hysteria had prevented any actual medical intervention. Now that it was just you and Ed, alone in some random room at the inn, you finally became aware of how painful and itchy the wound felt.

You winced, as his ran a thumb along the inflamed skin, noting the budding infection that bloomed beneath the damaged surface. You could have sworn you had heard him mumble a quiet, "Sorry." Though, in your current state, it could have just been your mind playing tricks on you. "You have two choices." he suddenly stated, interrupting the stifling silence that had sat heavily in the atmosphere. "Get cleaned up and then have the doctor take a look at this." Ed explained concisely, carefully letting your arm drop to your side. "Or you can see the doctor now and we'll get you cleaned up later." his arms roamed over your shirt. The once pristine (colour choice) was now completely ruined by the nauseating dark red, that now saturated most of the cloth. Ed doubted that it was your arm that had caused such monumental stain.

The overwhelming sense of guilt reared it's ugly head, as the pirate felt the familiar tug of sorrow pull at his heart strings. To hell with what Izzy had said, this was his fault and his alone, Ed thought, blaming himself for the precarious predicaments of his crew's wellbeing. Izzy may have instigated his bad behaviour all those many moons ago but Ed had allowed himself to thrive in the darkness and pain of Blackbeard. This was all his doing but by the grace of Calypso, he was going to make amends. Anything and everything to make his crew feel whole and mentally stable once more. Starting with you. "So, what'll it be, (y/l/n)?"

=============================

A/N: It's your choice, dear reader, what would you prefer- get cleaned up first and then see the doctor or vice versa? Chime off in the comments or vote in the poll here and I'll write whichever decision gets the most votes.

P.S. oh, just one more thing, either choice will completely change the trajectory of the story. So, pick wisely!

[hannahssimblr]

Chapter Twenty-Three

Evie, what do you think of the article in the Tullamore Tribune? Have sent it to you via text message. Big news here at home. Must speak to Caroline soon. Saw Jackie Doyle’s husband at the butcher with a cast on his leg this morning, says he had the foot reversed over outside his house. Ouch! Love mam.

Mam, did you send a link to the article or a photo of the paper? Either way neither has sent. It’s probably too many megabytes, don’t worry about it. I’ll chat to you about it when I’m home next. 

“Texting your other boyfriend?” Jude says casually, his back to me as he zips himself into the only pair of trousers he brought on holidays. 

“It’s my mother, she’s obsessed with some article she saw in the local paper, I don’t know what it is, probably that the parish priest has died or something, God knows, but the article hasn’t sent.”

“You could ask her to email it maybe?”

“Ugh, it’s not even worth it, the computer at home is barely usable and I’d have to use all my roaming minutes to coach her through that process. I’ve already tried to tell her that texting is expensive.”

He puts his shoes on, “Does she know you’re in Cyprus?”

I pause, “I can’t remember. You can turn around now,” I smooth out the lightweight linen of my new dress, “What do you think?”

Jude pretends to pass out, collapses onto his bed and then slides onto the floor, “Evie,” He groans, “You’re a babe.”

“Get up, you clown,” I snicker, “Why are you always so dramatic?”

“Where did you get that?”

“The market in Paphos.”

“Do a spin for me,” I do, and he clutches his heart and rolls over onto his front. 

“Get up! You’ll get dust all over your clothes.”

“You’re right, my only nice clothes too,” He pulls a hair, probably mine, off the front of his shirt, “Something with buttons on it, imagine. I bet you didn’t think I had threads like this.”

“I like it, you look smart. You should wear more shirts with buttons.”

“I would only my fat fingers always fumble them,” I glance at his hands, the most nimble, dexterous and beautiful hands I’ve ever seen on a man and roll my eyes, “Alright, get up, we have to leave now.” I head for the door while he scrambles across the floor to grab a hold of my waist to stop me, “Wait, let me have another look at you.”

“You have a whole evening to look at me,” I protest, hoping my voice doesn’t give away the fact that my entire body is prickling from that look in his eyes, and how much I like seeing him on his knees in front of me. “Come on, we don’t want to keep the guys waiting.”

He tightens his fingers around me, and with a kiss to my belly, says “Here’s to a great last night in Cyprus.” 

The restaurant that Claire booked is spectacular. Located in the ruin of an old church, it showcases a perfect, uninterrupted view of the Mediterranean Sea. Aphrodite’s Rock is highlighted perfectly by the setting sun, and the full moon behind it appears enormous as it rises from the glittering horizon.

We cheers with our wine glasses when our drinks arrive, and all of us, tanned, gorgeous and tired, look out over the beach and take languid sips of our drinks. Nobody has called me out on the fact that I swore I wouldn’t order wine and then did anyway when I realised I’d be the only one not having something to drink. 

“Claire,” Jude says, ankle to knee, one arm draped over the back of my seat. “Why is it that your parents had a house out here the whole time, and you still decided to spend a summer in Shane Healy’s mobile home?”

She laughs, “Because I was seventeen, and the idea of being on holidays with my parents was really embarrassing,” a waiter brings our food over and places it down in front of us, “I thought it’d have been a bit more craic to be with my friends instead, and like, yeah obviously it wasn’t the most glamorous holiday I ever had, but I still had a good time.”

“She made the right choice,” Shane says, placing a hand around her shoulder. 

Jude grins, “And this is the first time you’ve had friends here?” 

“Yeah, actually it is.”

“Well, hopefully not the last.”

“Agreed,” I say enthusiastically, “Let’s do this every year, this has been just amazing from start to finish.”

Claire smiles and quickly picks up her fork. “Let’s eat, will we?”

The food is amazing. I have scallops and Jude has Monkfish, but we end up sharing with each other like we usually do, with me putting half of my food onto his plate and him putting half of his onto mine. I try some of Claire’s linguine too, and even a little bit of Shane’s steak despite the fact that he’s not entirely on board with the idea of sharing, as usual. The conversation is so good, it flows as easily as our drinks, and just like at the very best times with friends, everything is easy. I laugh when Claire drops a ribbon of pasta onto her lap, at the face that Shane makes when I hold out the bottle of wine to him and he says “Go on, you’ve talked me into it,” and as the evening settles down and the full moon rises in the sky I’m filled with a rare kind of contentment, like absolutely everything is alright in the world. 

“It’s so sad that we’re leaving tomorrow,” Claire laments as our empty dishes are cleared away, “It’s just been so nice to be with all of ye  and have a little bit of time away from college and all of that, you know, like you don’t actually get these kinds of breaks very often.”

“True,” I say, “But there’ll be so many more, this is really just the start of it now, I can just feel it.”

“Yes…” she says, and she looks down into her lap. Her lips part as though she wants to say more, but then she doesn’t. I watch her exchange something unspoken with Shane, and as he adjusts himself uncomfortably in his seat the very first seeds of uncertainty settle in my guts. “What?” I say, “Was that awkward of me to say? I didn’t meant to imply that I expect you to put us up in Cyprus every year or something, no, I just meant like-”

“No, it’s fine, Evie. I wasn’t thinking that,” says Claire, “It’s just, like…” She trails off. 

“We wanted to invite you on holidays with us because we have to tell you something important,” Shane says. “Something that’s good, like. It’s not bad news at all, it’s just…”

“What-” 

“Shane’s been scouted,” Claire blurts out, “By the AFL. They like the way he plays football, so they want him to go play professionally, like.”

I’m already out of my seat and reaching over the table to hug him before the last words have left Claire’s mouth, “Oh God, Shane!” I cry, “That’s amazing, I’m thrilled for you, what the hell, that’s like the best case scenario, you must be so happy,”

“I am, yeah,” He says with a big awkward pat on my back, “Sure it’s good news.”

“It’s amazing news, wow, you kept that one quiet.”

“Well we weren’t really allowed to talk about it until it was fully confirmed,” Claire explains, “You know, just in case anything fell through at the last minute, but like, yeah, at this point it’s fully confirmed, it’s happening.”

“Wow, oh my God, I’m stunned, I just-”

“Hang on a second,” Jude says, “Just to confirm, the AFL? So you’re moving?”

I look at him and then to them and back again, “Moving?”

“Yeah,” Claire says, and tears suddenly spring into her eyes, “To Sydney.”

“Australia?” It’s quiet for several moments after the word leaves my mouth, and nobody even says yeah obviously, Evie, what other Sydney is there? You dope. My hands start to tremble. 

“Yeah,” Shane speaks carefully like he’s afraid to spook me, “Oz, like. We’re going in September.”

“Four months?” I cry, “That’s all we have left, four months? What am I going to do when you’re gone? That’s crazy, guys, it’s so far, you can’t just go.”

“Evie, it’s his one chance to do this, we have to try.”

“I’m finishing my degree, I’ll be qualified so I’ve a backup plan, but like, I’ll spend a few years trying to get the football thing going, and if it doesn’t work out that’s fine, I just really need to give it a go.”

“A few years is a long time.”

Claire grabs my hand, and I suddenly feel like a toddler who is throwing a tantrum and needs to be managed. “We’ll be back all the time, for Christmas and different things, and you can always come out and stay with us.”

My lip is trembling, and I realise that she is crying, so I cry too, and let tears careen down my face while the waiter comes back with dessert menus and awkwardly places them in front of us. “It’s good, Evie. This is what we want.”

“But your degree,” I whimper, “Aren’t you going to finish it?”

She laughs thickly, “I couldn’t give two shits about my degree, chick. I’m only in college because my dad paid the fees for it, I’m useless.”

“But-”

“I’m just doing what I’m supposed to be doing, this is what I want, and yeah, I’m sad that I’ll be leaving Ireland but I find it exciting too at the same time. Sure we’re only young, there’s loads of time to try things out,”

“No, I’m happy,” I mop tears from my cheeks, the napkin coming away glittery. “Obviously, I’m really happy, this is amazing…”

“Amazing,” Jude echoes. 

“…I’ll just miss you both so much.”

“We’ll miss you too.”

“I never imagined that this would happen.”

“Me neither,” Shane says, “I never thought that the AFL would want me, honestly.”

“Oh of course they would,” I throw my eyes skyward, “Shane Healy, extraordinaire. The most talented man on earth.”

“Dunno about that, now.”

I try to smile, but I end up grimacing hideously instead, teeth clenched, eyes overflowing with tears, “What will I do without you?”

“You’ll be grand, you don’t really need us,”

I don’t think either of them realises how much I do. Who will I confide things in? Who will give me advice that’s hard to hear? Who will take me to doctor’s appointments, force me to get in shape, cook dinner with me, braid my hair, tell me I’m doing alright when I feel like I could fall apart at any minute? 

Jude strokes his thumb over my knee beneath the table, “It’s bittersweet, you know? I’m happy for you, Shane.”

“Thanks man,”

“Let’s focus on the time we have left. We have a whole summer before you guys leave, and I really think we can make the most of it, and look,” he turns to me, “We can visit Australia, I’ll take you there, yeah, the flight is long but it’s worth it. It’s amazing, you’ll love it, actually, you’ll all love it. This is something to really look forward to.”

I understand that he’s being optimistic, as usual, but a little toxic part of me wishes that he wouldn’t be, that he’d say something about how it’s too hot in Australia, how the spiders are as big as cats and the food is disgusting just so there’s a chance that Claire and Shane might stay, but I know it’s far too late for that kind of thing. 

“It’s so great,” I say through my teeth, “It’s a big change, but it’s just amazing.”

Claire smiles at me tearfully from across the table. “I know,” She mouths. 

“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m crying so much,” I fan my face as though it’s actually going to achieve something, to dry even a friction of the torrent of moisture on my face. With every blink I feel my mascara transferring onto my lower lids. “I think I just need some air.”

“We’re already outside,” Shane points out, and Claire thumps him on the arm, “That’s not what she means. Go on down to the beach for a walk, Evie, it’s fine. We can just finish up here, and you can text us when you’re feeling a little bit better.”

I get up from my seat, “Okay, I’ll just… I’ll just go down there now, I’ll be fine. I’m delighted, really, it’s just a surprise is all, I’m grand.”

“We know, it’s okay.”

“Wow, what big news,” I try to laugh at myself but the sound that comes out of me is more like a wet rattle. “Fab.” I partially shove my way through other diners to get out of the restaurant, absolutely loathing myself for having such an intense reaction. I wonder what is wrong with me during the whole walk down the sandy bank and towards the beach, and I hate myself even more as I face the sea and hack out one huge, outrageous and unjustified sob. 

Beginning // Prev // Next

[demons2003]

Mother of Two (Eddie x Steve x Reader) Part 1

Description: Your crazy ex-husband is after you and your babies. You move countries to protect your twins (6) from him. You end up living next door to the hottest couple you've ever seen. What happens when feelings become mixed with everything you are going through?

Warning: Mention of Abuse

Ao3

"Mumma, is this our new house?" Jackie asks me as we pull up to our new home. I turn around in my seat and smile softly at her, "It is baby girl. Are you two ready to have a look inside?" Jackie and Cass furiously nod their heads and jump out of the car. "Wow now! Wait for me!" I yell as I quickly jump out after them, earning cheeky little laughs from both of them. "Hurry up Mummy!" Cas yells back at me. I laugh and run after them. Instead of stopping at our door, they decide that the house next door looks more interesting. "Cas Jordon L/n and Jackie Hope L/n!" I yell at them in my best mum's voice. They both freeze at the mention of their whole names and walk back over to me, the biggest grins still on their face. "But Mumma, we wanna go see our new neighbours. We could make friends," Jackie begs me. I smile warmly at them and lean down to their level. "How about this, you both help me get everything in the house, including what I put in the trailer, and we can make cookies to say hello," I ask them both. They both look at each other, seeming to have a very in-depth conversation about it. They break out into smiles and nod their little heads, running back over to the car to grab their stuff first. I laugh and unlock the car so we can move in and out with ease.

"Come on Mummy, you have to help us too," Cas wines as he walks past. I laugh as I notice Jackie giving me a very similar look and say, "Of course, I'll be helping you. You're both strong but you can't carry everything inside." I move over to the trailer and unlock it as well, looking around to figure out which boxes my little ones would be able to carry without hurting themselves. "What's next Mummy?" Cas asks, pocking his head into the trailer. I laugh at him and tell him, "Any box I put outside you and Jackie can take inside, if it's still in here please don't try to move it, I don't want you getting hurt. Ok?" Cas nods at me and runs off to most likely tell his sister the same information.What am I going to do with these little rascals?I quickly grab as many boxes that are light enough for the twins and start to carry the heavier boxes inside and to the room that is written on the box.

//

Although the twins didn't know it, I ended up bringing in most of the boxes. But I was happy that they were pleased that they could help me get the house ready. "Okay little ones, who wants to make some cookies for the neighbours?" I ask them both while starting to look for where I put the food and baking stuff. "We are!" They both yelled at me simultaneously, running over to a random kitchen box each and finding exactly what we were looking for. "Did you two plan that?" I ask them as I move over to them both. They laugh at me and shake their heads. "Of course not Mumma, we are just really lucky," Jackie exclaims, moving her box which is full of food to the counter. I look through the box Cas has and grab what we need to make a batch of cookies. We grab all the stuff we need and I help the little ones make the cookies.

"Can we go over to next door now Mummy?" Cas asks me, giving me his best puppy dog eyes while I put the cookies into the oven. "Please Mumma," Jackie asks, giving me the same look. I laugh a little at the two of them and ruffle their hair up a little. "Not yet babies. When the cookies are ready and cooled we can. How about you start getting your rooms ready for tonight?" I tell them, starting to make my way upstairs so I could get my room ready. They both sigh but nod their heads. "Is aunty Robin coming over today?" Jackie asks when we get to a bedroom. I shake my head and say, "Not today sweety, tomorrow she's coming. Wanted to give me some space." Jackie nods and looks into the bedroom. "So who's room is one?" She asks. I move over to the other rooms and say, "These two on the right are the same size. You both could share a room or you can pick one each. I'll leave it up to you." They both look at each other, seeming to have another silent conversation and run down the stairs. I laugh at them and go into the master bedroom.Hopefully, this will be a promising new start.

I start to pull all of my stuff into my room, listening out in case one of the twins needs my help but they don't seem to call. When I've gotten most of my stuff in my room I notice that the twins have been way too quiet since I last saw them. "Jackie? Cas? You need any help?" I call out only to not receive a reply.Maybe they're just too involved in their unpacking. Probably talking really quietly with each other downstairs. I move over to the first bedroom to find only boxes in there.Ok, that's a little weird. I move to the next room and find the same thing. "Jackie!? Cas!?" I yell again, panic filling my voice. I start to run down the stairs to find the front door wide open. "No, no, no, no," I whisper and run straight out the door. "Jackie!! Cas!!" I yell again, the panic building up so much more.

I look around only to find them over at our next door neighbour's house. I let out a breath and make my way over to them. "Hey Mumma! We met the next-door people!" Jackie excitedly tells me. I smile at her and wrap them both in my arms. "Never do that again," I tell them, burying my face in both of their hair. "Mummy, let us go," Cas wines, pulling away from me. I pull back and both look at the door again. I look up to find two very sexy men leaning against the door frame. One looked like he came straight from a metal concert while the other was in a suburban outfit. I smile at them both and stand back up. "I'm so sorry about these two," I apologize to them, putting my hands on both of the twin's heads. The one with long curly hair grins at me and shakes his head. "It's all good. We're used to having unexpected kids around here." I smile at him as Jackie yells up, "Mumma, you gotta introduce yourself. You can't talk to strangers." I laugh at her and nod my head, saying, "You are so right Jackie." I look back up at the two men and put my hand out, "Hi I'm Y/n. We just moved in next door." The curly head boy smiles and shakes my hand. "I'm Eddie and this is Stevie," The metalhead, introduced. Steve rolls his eyes and shakes my head as well. "It's Steve. My husband here thinks it's funny to have others call me that." I smile at the two and nod my head. "That's kind of cute," I tell them, ruffling up the twins hair once more. "Why Mum," Cas wines, pushing his hair back down. "That's for running off," I tell him, moving his hair down as well.

The boys in front of me laugh and Steve says, "These two seem like a handful. Your husband home to help you with them?" I freeze a little and try to keep the smile on my face. Jackie and Cas look up at me worried but I just shake my head. "He's not in the picture. These two are all mine," I whisper while I pinch one cheek on each twin. They both laugh and pull away from me. I look back at the two men in front of me to find them looking questioningly at each other. "Mumma! The cookies!" Jackie yells, looking back at our house. I look over as well and notice smoke coming out of the kitchen window. "Shit!" I exclaim and quickly run through the front door.

I look for the fire extinguisher which was in the pantry and open the oven to let the smoke come out. I use the fire extinguisher on the small fire and look at the mess I've made again. "Are they ready?" Cas jokes when the other 4 walk into the kitchen. I laugh at him and say, "Yeah buddy, don't think they're edible anymore though." I look back at the mess and sigh.Take out for dinner now. Not cooking anything in the oven tonight. In the corner of my eye, I notice Jackie turn to Steve and Eddie and tell them, "We're sorry we lied. We can't give you cookies anymore." I turn to the group and find both other boys softly smiling down at the twins. Steve bends down to them and softly asks, "That's ok, how about sometime you come to ours and we can all make cookies?" Jackie and Cas look back at me and give me puppy dog eyes. "Can we please?" They both ask at the same time. I smile at them and nod my head.

They both cheer and look back at Steve to find him already smiling at them. "Could we tomorrow?" Jackie asks, clearly excited to get to know these two men. Eddie looks over to me and says, "I feel like that's up to your mum, not us." I look at my kids and ask, "But Aunty Robin is coming over, don't you want to see her? And she's bringing her special friend to meet you both." Steve and Eddie look at me shocked while Cas says, "Yeah, we can see them quickly and then go to Steve and Eddie's. We won't be that far Mummy." I smile at them and say, "Well, if you be good for the rest of the night then sure. If that's ok with you two?" Steve and Eddie nod to me but still seem very shocked by my previous sentence. "You ok?" Jackie asks, pocking Steve on the cheek. Steve shakes his head and looks back at the twins. "Yeah, yeah. Aunty Robin's last name wouldn't happen to be Buckley would it?" He asks, looking back up at me. I look confused and say, "Yeah. Why?" Eddie laughs while Steve explains, "She's my best friend. Or more my Platonic Soulmate." I smile at the boys and say, "Small world." Steve nods and Eddie helps him off the ground. "Well, we should probably head off. See you tomorrow maybe kids. See yah Sweetheart," Eddie says, winking at the end. I blush while Steve lightly smacks his husband on the back of the head. He waves at the kids and me and they both leave my house for the night.

//

"Mumma! Mumma! Mummy! Mummy!" I hear Jackie and Cas yell before I feel them both jumping on my bed. I groan and open my eyes. "What?" I ask, sleep still trying to pull me back in. "There was a knock at the door!" Jackie yells at me. I nod and slowly get out of bed, the twins hot on my heels. I open the door to find Robin, Steve, Eddie and another girl standing in front of me. At the sight of Eddie and Steve, I blush a little, not expecting to see them in my PJ's. They looked just as handsome as they did the day prior.Stop it. They're married. You aren't breaking a marriage for a one time thing. "Aunty Robin!" The twins yell before pushing me out of the way and running into Robin's waiting arms. "Hey, my favourite twins!" Robin yells at them. I laugh and open the door wider. "Come on in. I'm gonna get dressed and then make us breakfast." Robin smirks up at me and says, "Not like I haven't seen you naked before." I laugh in surprise as everyone else gives us confused looks. "Why has Aunt Robin seen you naked Mummy?" Cas asks me. "College roommates. Someone didn't know boundaries." I say, looking straight at Robin while she stands. She walks over to me and whispers, "Oh yeah, that's what it was." I shake my head and walk back to my room. "Hurry up! I want all the gossip!" I hear Robin yell before I close my door.

I change as quickly as I can and move to the kitchen so I can make some breakfast. As I walk in I find everyone sitting at the counter waiting for me. "And tomorrow we start big person school," Jackie explains to the group of adults. They all look at them in amazement and Robin says, "Wow! It feels like yesterday you were tiny!" I laugh and say, "Yeah, time flies with these two." Everyone laughs while the twins look confused at us all. "Pancakes?" I ask them to distract them. They both nod and run behind me to grab the stuff. I go to turn around but Robin grabs my hand and gently moves me over. "You doing ok?" She whispers, the other three in their own conversation. I nod and answer with, "Yeah. Glad to finally get out of that house." She nods and motions over to the kids. "You should probably deal with that."

I look at her questioningly and turn to find both twins covered in flour. "What did you two do?" I laugh as I move over to them. Cas shakes his head, making flour go everywhere while Jackie looks up a little scared. "We're sorry," She whispers to me. I shake my head and lean down so I'm level with them. "It's ok, you aren't in trouble. How about you two go upstairs to clean and I'll make some pancakes?" I ask them. They both nod and quickly run up the stairs. I stand back up to find all the adults looking at me. Steve, Eddie and Nancy look amused while Robin looks worried. I shake my head at her and start to make the pancake batter. The girl that came with the four stands up and moves in front of me. "We weren't properly introduced. I'm Nancy, Robin's girlfriend." Nancy introduces. I smile at her and shake her hand. "It's so good to finally meet you. Robin's been talking about you for years." I exclaim. Robin glares a little and whispers, "Stupid husband wouldn't let you fly here," crossing her arms over her chest. I softly glare at her and give a warning, "Robin." Everyone looks confused but Robin raises her hands. "Sorry. Sorry," She says back.

I continue to make pancakes while the other three start to talk again. "So Y/n, what made you move here?" Eddie asks, leaning in close to me. I look up at him and say, "New start. Plus get to be closer to Robin." He nods and asks, "So, what do you do for a living." I smile at him and say, "I'm a therapist. What do you do?" He smirks at me and says, "I'm a mechanic. I work down in the shop closest to here." I nod and tell him, "Yes we saw it when we came in. I was thinking about putting my car in. Haven't had it checked in a while." He smiles and says, "I'm more than happy to have a look under the hood." Steve hears him and turns to us, giving Eddie an elbow to the arm. "Ow," Eddie whispers but Steve ignores him. "The twins were saying that they're starting school tomorrow. I'm guessing it's the local primary school?" Steve asks me. I stir the pancake batter and nod my head. I look over to Steve as he says, "I work there. There's a good chance I'll be their teacher." At this, the twins both come running back to the room. "Really!? That's so cool!" They both yell. I laugh at them both and pour some batter into the pan I'd gotten out. "See? You'll have someone at school now," I tell them both, turning back to see their reactions.

"Hey Mumma?" Jackie softly asks, pulling on my pants legs. I look down at her questioningly and flip the pancakes. "Yes sweetheart?" She looks back at everyone else to see them talking among themselves and turns back to me. "Daddy won't find us right?" I freeze a little and look over to the adults again to find only Robin looking at us. I bend down to Jackie and place both hands on her face. "No baby. And if he does I'll protect you. I will always protect you." I whisper to her. She smiles a little and nods her head, going back over to everyone else. I quickly finish all the pancakes and set up three plates for me and the twins. "Okay troublemakers. Time to eat." They both jump up from their seats and run over to the dining room table. I grab two of the plates and put one in front of each twin. "Thank you," They both say at the same time before digging into their food. I go back to the kitchen and eat my food while listening to my guests.

"So Robin, apparently you have another Platonic Soulmate?" I question, smirking at her. Her eyes widen and she smiles guiltily at me. "Well, Steve's my male soulmate and you're my female soulmate. Please don't make me choose," She begs a little, leaning over the counter with her hands in prayer. I laugh and shake my head. "Never. Just thought that would be something you'd tell me," I say, a big smile on my face. She laughs and wraps an arm around Nancy's shoulder. "I did tell you about my real soulmate," She tells me. We laugh and Steve asks, "What is the deal with you and Robin? How do you know each other?" "We met in college. We were roommates and found we liked each other. When the twins were born she just became Aunty Robin," I explain to everyone. Robin laughs bitterly and I give her a glare. "Robin, please don't," I ask her. Everyone looks confused at us as Nancy asks, "What are you laughing about?" Robin stops and looks at me to give the go-ahead. I sigh and explain, "My ex-husband and Robin didn't get along. He kind of moved us so far that it was difficult for Robin to visit." Everyone nods but before more questions can be asked the kids run back into the room.

"We're done!" They both yell, holding up their empty plates. I smile at them and take their plates. "I've very proud. Now, what do you want?" I ask, knowing they only got my attention so that they could get something. They look at each other, seeming to have a silent conversation while I ask, "I can't hear you when you do that cuties. Does this have to do with something we talked about yesterday?" Remembering the cookie conversation from yesterday and looking over at Steve and Eddie. They both smirk at me and nod while Jackie finally asks, "Can we please go to Steve and Eddie's so we can make cookies with them?" I laugh and nod my head. "Of course, but I need you back here before lunch. After we need to go get some stuff for school tomorrow." I tell them. They both cheer and look back at Steve and Eddie. All four of them get up and make their way next door. I look back at Robin and Nancy and motion to the lounge room. "Let's move in there." They both nod and we walk in.

We spend the next couple of hours catching up and learning all about each other. It's then that Robin starts to ask hard-hitting questions. "So, what finally made you leave him?" Robin asks. I look over to Nancy and she gives me a sympathetic look. "I overheard Robin talking to you at one point. I already know." I nod and sigh. "A couple of days before I called you that night, Jack had beaten me so bad I was sent to the hospital. That wasn't new but when I came back I found out that he'd taken his anger out on Jackie while I was gone. She was terrified that she was gonna get yelled at or slapped again. That was enough for me," I explain, tears falling down my eyes as I remember the look on her face the night I finally came house. Robin moves over to me and wraps me in her arms. "I should've left sooner. The twins always asked if Daddy would hit them and I promised he wouldn't. I was wrong and it only hurt more," I whisper, falling further into her arms. Nancy moves over to my other side and says, "Shhh, no. You did what you thought was best. You didn't know he was going to hit Jackie. You were trapped in something you didn't know how to get out of. You're all safe now though. We'll make sure of it." I nod and say, "But what if he finds us?" I look up at Robin to find her already looking down at me. "Then we'll be standing right next to you. The boys will also be a big help. Everyone is terrified of Eddie because of how he looks." She says. I laugh a little and say, "When we finally left the house, he threatened he would kill me when he sees me next." Robin tenses a bit while Nancy whispers, "He's coming nowhere near you or the kids."

Before we can say anything else on the topic, the door bursts open and two little figures speed into the house. Steve and Eddie walk slowly behind them and look over to find me crying. I wipe my face and get up from Robin's arms while I smile at my two babies. "How was cookie making?" I ask them. Jackie and Cas come running into my arms and Cas says, "So good. We made different shapes!" I laugh as Jackie explains, "They also let us lick the spoon." I stare in fake shock at them and look up at Steve and Eddie. "You let them lick the spoon. Oh no, you've spoiled lunch." I say dramatically. Eddie laughs while Steve looks a little panicked. Cas and Jackie giggle in my lap and look over to the boys as well. "Come on troublemakers. Let's make you some lunch," I say as I push the twins off me and drag them over to the kitchen. "Come help us Aunty Robin!" Cas yells, quickly getting out of my grip and running over to Robin. She laughs and stands as well. "I'm coming!" She exclaims. I laugh at the two and turn to find Steve and Eddie looking over at Nancy questioningly. She shakes her hand and looks over to me to find me already standing. "Come on you three. We'll need all the help we can get," I tell them, walking further into the kitchen. We spend the rest of the day making lunch and going shopping for the twins. It was one of the happiest days that I've had in a while.

[amyzaaiman-blog]

On Grief & The Hard Time That People Are Giving Jackie Howard:

I just have to say that I lost my mom 3 years ago & have no relationship with my father, so I'm essentially an orphan. I feel like I shouldn't have to say this, but everyone grieves differently. You don't know how you're going to respond until you're in that situation, so don't judge so hastily. My mom was the closest person in the world to me (besides my husband, who has been an amazing support) & losing her turned me into a complete mess. I didn't leave the house for about a year (that's not an exaggeration), I picked up about 17kgs and then proceeded to vomit everyday for the next year and lost all of the weight again. My hair fell out in clumps. I couldn't sleep. My period stopped for about 1.5 years. I did things I would NEVER have done beforehand, such as seeking escapism like smoking weed everyday. I couldn't function properly or work. I had permanent brain fog. Other people have different ways of responding to this type of situation. I was in such a confused, repressed haze for so long that I only feel as if I'm properly processing her passing now. For the first time in 3 years, I'm finally experiencing anger (which is one of the key phases of bereavement). You just never know.

If you read the book, it's clear that Jackie initially does have a very intense, emotional response after her family dies - she falls apart. She doesn't get out of bed for like a month. Then, one day, as a way of distracting herself & making her family proud, she gets out of bed & focuses solely on getting into Princeton. While they don't show all of this backstory in the show, it's very obvious to me that she's bottling up all of her emotions. Her worst nightmare is to be pitied. And honestly, as she says in the show, no one knows what to say to you in such circumstances. Everything sounds awkward/disingenuous/well-meaning but misplaced/alienating.

I'm really not surprised that she shies away from the deep connection that she has with Cole (who, let's be honest, is a fuckboy at the beginning of the show but who she clearly has a unique & immediate attachment to). She's so vulnerable that she latches onto the "safe" brother who makes her feel relatively normal again. He offers comfort & stability, which is exactly what you need when you feel lost, alone & untethered. She can't afford to be hurt again & that's what Cole represents/threatens - especially because of the way he treats other girls. When Cole asks her why she's with Alex, she doesn't say it's because she likes Alex more, but rather cites Cole's behaviour towards other women.

These boys are also forms of distraction from her grief. And to add to the mix, she's only 15 years old. What hormonal teenager hasn't been confused or made stupid, rash decisions that they regret? I'm 33 years old and I'm still making mistakes and cringing from things I said & did a month ago, a day ago, an hour ago. It's really obvious that her attraction to Cole continues percolating throughout the show until he does something so meaningful/thoughtful that she can't ignore her feelings any longer. And what he does for her is especially touching because it's so inherently related to her loss & the absence of her family. Throughout the show, Cole is the only one she really opens up to about her family; how much she misses them & her home. He understands her in a way that others don't because she won't let them in in the same way. He truly sees her. They challenge each other. And while these are beautiful parts about falling in love, they can also be extremely frightening because there's nowhere to hide.

I don't even blame the parents for not noticing what is truly going on (although I think Katherine has an idea). Teenagers are renowned for being secretive (not to mention that the adults are also dealing with much of their own stress). I actually really like the scenes that she has with Katherine. I think that they have an understanding. Katherine is still getting to know Jackie & there's no way that she'll ever come close to replacing her mother. It just doesn't work like that. People aren't interchangeable.

It's also important to note that Jackie's whole shtick & manner of coping is to have a veneer of being "fine". I think that she's worried that if she shatters the illusion, she'll just fall apart again. She's barely holding it together. Particularly at the start of the show, she's just going through the motions & existing. The messy but loving (albeit not in the very, very beginning) environment of the Walter household is what's keeping her afloat. By the end (she even says this), she finally feels like she belongs. She has meaningful relationships with the whole Walter family & extended clan, & the reason that she leaves is because she knows how royally she's fucked up. She's overwhelmed & scared - fearful of her own roiling emotions & how she's exacerbated the rift between Alex & Cole.

Yes, you could call her hypocritical because Cole "stealing" Paige (She's not an object, so let's check that language. She is a person & has agency) is one of the main things that Jackie repeatedly holds against him (& uses as an excuse for keeping him at a distance). But she definitely realises this, which is why she runs away. She knows that she's acted against her own morals.

This is a very long post, but my ultimate point is that people should have a little more compassion. Grief is not a linear process & life is not simply black & white - there are vast shades of grey in between. People can make "bad" choices & redeem themselves. Are we meant to define people by one ill-thought-out/passion-based/heat-of-the-moment decision that they made as a teenager when they were severely traumatised? I think that forgiveness is a better option & that people should be allowed to grow, change & learn from their mistakes. Season 2 is still on its way, remember?

[darklydeliciousdesires]

Runaway - Chapter Six.

I am so thankful to you all for your interactions, guys. Big, big love. All of the hugs! As usual, 40 notes to unlock the next part. I look forward to your commentary. I’m feeling a little blue this afternoon, so having something to cheer me up when you all manage to get to it keeps me going :) 

Previous chapters - Prologue  One  Two  Three  Four  Five

Taglist - In the comments, please DM to be added/removed

Words - 2,538

Warnings - 18+ content throughout, minors DNI!

“Oh, this better be good, honey child, for you to be dragging my fabulous ass out of bed at 8am on a Sunday, over here to god-knows-where-vile, on the morning after I get a call from your mama telling me you ran from your wedding!”

Hannah leaned over, kissing her cheek. “I thought you’d be pleased, about the wedding running?”

Shonda snorted. “Well, I am, but that still don’t explain why the hell I’m giving you a ride from the ghetto, or what you’ve been doing here all night, and who with, more pertinently!”  

She pointed over to the small driveway. “See that big, black Harley over there?”

“Yeah, kinda hard to miss. And what of it?”  

“Well, what I was doing all night was bouncing on the dick of the guy it belongs to.”  

A barrage of almost words and splutters left her bestie’s mouth, Shonda in absolute shock, even though it did sound like something fitting of Hannah. “Y’all better be buying me coffee and a big ole’ stack of pancakes to explain every single last detail of this over!”

“Done,” she confirmed, helping herself to a piece of red rope liquorice from the ever-present bag in the centre console. “There’s a diner not far from here. Head back to the highway and it’s about a half mile away.”  

Shonda shook her head, pulling out from the curb. “It’s never a dull moment with you, pumpkin.” While she drove, Hannah took her phone from her bag, knowing she had to deal with the abundance of messages at some point, so the car journey was as good a time as any.  

‘Hey Han. Tried calling but your phone is off, can’t say I blame you. I called Uncle Rob and Aunt Jackie, and they let me know you’d messaged them to say you’re okay and just needed some time. When you feel up to it, give me a call. Love you.’ Ben, her cousin. She messaged him back to say thanks for reaching out, and she’d be in touch when things had settled a little.  

‘Just messaging to say I’m here for you if you need me. God, it was insane after you left! Wendy went ballistic, you should have seen Jackie clap back at her, fuck, it was legendary! Steve’s kinda sad he missed it now! Come by for coffee when you’re able xxx.’ Ange, her sister-in-law, who regardless of the fact her husband had steadfastly refused to attend, had wanted to show support to Hannah, although she too was no fan of Michael.  

‘I cannot believe what you did to my son, you spiteful, selfish little bitch. How dare you embarrass him like that. If you were having second thoughts, was the altar really the place to act upon them, stringing him along like that only to turn and literally run? We welcomed you into our family with open arms, and this is the thanks we receive? You are a disgrace, and I suppose I should be thankful that I didn’t end up with you as a daughter in law. If I never see you again, it’ll be too soon.’ Wendy herself. She expected as much.

If she was honest, she couldn’t blame her for taking such a stance, Hannah putting herself in her shoes and thinking how she’d feel, should it have been her hypothetical son who’d been jilted. Her feelings would have been similar. No matter how controlling Michael had been, she acknowledged that she’d been very wrong to let it get as far as them standing next to one another at the altar, his treatment of her not excusing her actions at all.  

As soon as they arrived at the diner, those actions were immediately called into question by a very expectant Shonda.

“So, give me the details. Who is Harley guy and how, on your wedding day of all days, did you manage to end up in bed with him? Oh my god, where you having an affair with him or something, and he came and kidnaped you away from it? If this was anyone else, I’d be here with my jaw swaying in the breeze, but you? Well, my jaw is still swaying, but not as much as it perhaps would be. I know you and your impulsive nature of old, so yes. Tell me.”

“I will,” she began, smirking. “When you actually shut up for long enough for me to speak.”

“Don’t you be sassy with me now, Hannah Elizabeth Gray!”

“Okay, so I’ll begin.” She sipped her fresh coffee, feeling good for the smooth hit of caffeine. “No affair, to begin with. You know I would have told you. Anyway, I was at the altar, and it just dawned on me, the lack of family presence, you not there either, and why you weren’t there. It hit me, the size of the mistake I was about to make, and so I ran. That’s when I met Manny, who was on his motorcycle moving through the traffic, and called out to me, asked if I needed a ride. So, I jumped on the back, and he got me out of there, then took me to a bar. We had a great afternoon and evening together, and then I went back to his place and had the best sex of my damned life with him on and off for about seven hours. There, the end.”

Shonda’s eyes widened. “Not the end. I have questions, but seriously, I have no idea where to begin, I’m so stunned by this!”

“Then I will sit here quietly while the counsel prepares her notes.” She sipped her coffee, smiling over the rising steam, Shonda chewing back a smirk she couldn’t quite manage to hide.

“You’re bad.”

“Yeah, he said the same.” She received a gentle slap to her forearm for that revelation.

“I mean... I just...” She ran her hands through her long, wild hair, fanning her face before settling herself neatly once more. “So, you just went drinking with this Manny guy, then ended up in bed with him?”

“Yeah, that’s about the short of it,” she replied, looking down at the menu before her. Hmmm, bacon and eggs, or an omelette? She’d definitely worked up an appetite.

“And what about Michael?”  

Hannah shrugged. “Well, I think it’s fair to say I burned that bridge down to nothing but ashes. His mother sent me scathing message, but unless he’s left me a voicemail I haven’t listened to yet, then I haven’t heard anything from him. I only switched my phone back on this morning. I didn’t want to deal with it yesterday. I just wanted to forget the whole mess. I know I have to deal with it now, though. Now I’m out from under perhaps the most handsome, charismatic man I’ve ever met. Damn.” She grinned then. “No, dayum.”

Shonda leaned in close across the table. “Come on, then. Tell me about him.”

“Oh god, you’d have been cheering from the side lines. Tall, nice body, tattoos, Latino, real mix of gentleman and bad boy. He’s thirty-nine, originally from Arizona, but moved here about a year ago. He’s a member of the Mayans MC, he’s really smart and funny...”

“Woah, hold up!” Shonda grabbed her wrist. “You got your first Latino dude, and he’s a Mayan? Girl, what a score! I swear, every time I see those guys rolling through town, my snatch does a little quiver!”

Hannah almost blew out a mouthful of coffee at her quivering snatch comment, immediately referencing her go-to response from one of their favourite movies. “You’re terrible, Muriel.”  

“No, you are!” she laughed, rolling her eyes. “Are you gonna see him again?”

“Oh, god. I really don’t know,” Hannah confessed, widening her eyes a little. “I have so much wreckage to deal with before I even think of that. I don’t think he’s in the market for anything other than a casual hook up type deal, but to be completely honest, coming out of a six-year relationship in the way that I did, neither am I.”

“Could be fun, though, when you need another ride.” Hannah giggled at her statement, shaking her head softly as they were joined by the waitress, ready to take their order with a cheery smile. “Oh, if you need an alibi last night, just say you were with me. It’s where everyone would have expected you to have gone, and it means you don’t have to reveal anything you don’t want to. It’s no one's business but yours.”

Shonda’s offer had Hannah reaching for her hands, so very glad to have a friend like her. “Love you bunches.”

“Love you, too, pumpkin. Now, I require further regaling with your sexual escapades!” She chuckled softly before as any good girlfriend would, going into the details of her wild night with the handsome outlaw. Much too soon, it seemed, and she was back in Shonda’s car, being driven over to her apartment, promising her bestie she’d call and relay how the looming showdown between her and Michael went, kissing her goodbye before jumping out.  

She felt trepidation with every step she took, deciding to kill a little more time walking up the three flights of stairs to her third-floor abode, immediately noticing the pile of boxes outside of her front door when the hallway came into view.  

Hannah owned the apartment, it wasn’t in Michael’s name, so therefore he’d be the one leaving it. She was glad he’d begun that, as she was expecting some kind of protest there, an unwillingness to vacate the dwelling, borne of him wanting to make her flighty escape from their nuptials as difficult as possible for her. Michael very much enjoyed the entertaining of revenge.  

Pushing the door open, it hit something on the other side, Hannah looking to see suitcases packed. Her suitcases, Michael deciding to liberate them, it would seem. For the sake of not wanting to add further kerosene to the fire she’d lit right under his life, she made a point not to address it, scanning her surroundings to see if anything else that was hers by rights had been pilfered. All her furnishings remained, her books and her vinyl collection luckily were untouched, too.  

Placing her keys down on the breakfast bar, she walked up the small steps that lead to the kitchen area of the open plan apartment, the only rooms walled off being the bedrooms and bathroom, Michael emerging from the latter with a holdall bag over his shoulder just as she was spooning coffee grinds into the French press.  

“Where have you been? I tried calling.” Sharp, accusatory. She expected nothing less.

“With Shonda.”

“Hmph,” he sounded, raising his eyebrows. “Should’ve known it.” He rested the holdall down, moving to the other side of the breakfast bar, Hannah filling the kettle up before placing it onto the hob and igniting the gas. “Do you want to enlighten me over what the hell yesterday was all about, then, why you left me standing at the altar? If you’ve had second thoughts over jilting me, then I’m afraid you’re too late to act upon them, as you might deduce. You humiliate me like that, and I’m gone.”

Talk about stating the obvious.

Reaching into her little bits and pieces bowl, she took out a small hair scrunchie, tying up her slightly messy waves before beginning the explanation he was owed.  

“I know I should have come to my realisation much sooner, and I take that on board, I do. As for why, I realised I just couldn’t go through with it, living a life that is essentially on your terms. You decided everything for us, Michael, and a relationship shouldn’t be like that. It was as I stood in that church that I knew, with so few people around me whom I love, that if I married you, I’d be making the mistake they’d been warning me against.”

His brow furrowed, folding his arms. “Who would you have been marrying, Hannah? Them or me? Their opinion isn’t important.”  

Typical, for him to believe only what he thought bared any credence. “But it is. Because they were right, you’re not the man for me. Some women might like every last second of their existence micromanaged by their partner, but I’m not one of them. The expectations you put on me, the constant need to have your way in everything. I realised I was compromising myself for you, and I shouldn’t do that. I deserve better than that, but equally, I know you deserve better than being run out on,” she explained.  

“It was never an issue for you before.”  

Again, such a stance was one hundred percent typical of Michael. He had absolutely no capacity to be retrospective about how any of his own actions could have resulted in this, but for Hannah, it simply wasn’t her problem any longer. If he didn’t want to see it, then she couldn’t force him to. Best of luck to his next girlfriend, she thought. “Well, it should have been, and I think it always was, but it was easier for me to pretend like it wasn’t an issue. I’ve admitted to my wrong in this, if you can’t own your share then there’s nothing more I can say or do.”

“That’s because I don’t have a share. This was all you and your compulsive nature, one I tried to rein in a little by being the decision maker, to take the pressure off of you, to be steady for you. But apparently, you still fail to see that.” Turning it back on her, she might have guessed. He had a habit of doing that.  

She knew they’d reach zero in way of resolve, so shifted instead to practicality. “Do you want me to help you keep packing?”

He snorted. “Oh, you want me out of your life as quickly as possible, then?”

“Says he who’s already moved half of his stuff out,” she couldn’t help but mutter a little pettily, not prepared to be blamed beyond her fair share. “I just wanted to offer some help, that’s all. If it isn’t needed then that’s fine, I’ll leave you be.”

They didn’t speak another word to her as he ferried his stuff out, his sister turning up part way through, telling him she’d been able to hire a U-Haul, slightly bigger than he needed, Michael complaining about the extra expense. Catherine didn’t even look at her for the entire time she helped with boxes, removing all of Hannah’s things from the only pieces of furniture he’d brought with him upon moving in, the end tables and coffee table, Hannah browsing the IKEA website for replacements as she stood out of their way in the kitchen.  

With his set of keys thumped down upon the breakfast bar three hours later, shaking her from her furniture ordering daze, her former fiancé left her apartment without a second look, Hannah breathing a huge sigh of relief. It was over. Realising that lunchtime had come and gone without her even thinking of feeding herself, she scrolled through her phone, ordering from her local takeout.

She chose a pizza with everything on it.  

[babydollmarauders]

I’d love to see a tense and restless Jack on his and the reader’s first night out since El was born. Like moms are usually the tense ones, but Jack can’t even think straight because it’s weird not having his kid around and not knowing if she’s okay or not.

“Jacky, she’ll be okay.” my hand rubs circles on my husbands back, our daughter held tightly in his arms as i try and reassure him that the four month old will be okay without us.

“there’s prepared bottles in the fridge, you’ll just have to warm it up. and you know the diapers and wipes are in the diaper bag on the table. she just ate like twenty minutes ago, so she might only need one bottle in about two hours, if we’re not home by then. um-”

Jack is cut off by Quinn’s sigh.

“bro, it’ll be fine! you have a whole house of babysitters right now!” Quinn reminds his brother. “go. take. your. wife. on. a. date.”

Jack heaves out his own sigh and nods, finally handing El over to Luke, who stands next to Quinn.

“yeah! remind her she’s sexy, or else i might become El’s new stepdad!” Trevor chimes in from his spot on the couch. i roll my eyes as Jack lets out a sarcastic laugh.

“my wife knows i think she’s very sexy. how do you think we got here in the first place?” at Jack’s words, i lightly smack his shoulder, huffing out a chuckle.

“let’s go, babe. just ignore Trevor, i’m not sure why he thinks he would be a fit decision for a stepdad.” i joke, pushing my husband along towards the front door. “if anyone, it’d be Alex!”

Trevor gasps at my quip, swinging around to look at me.

“i resent that!” he calls out.

“i knew i was daddy material.” Alex shrugs as he walks out of the kitchen and into the living room, dropping his weight onto the couch.

“never say that again.” Cole laughs, stretching his leg over from the armchair he sits in to kick Alex’s leg.

Jack rolls his eyes as i laugh at our friends, a small smile playing on his lips.

“let’s go to dinner, J.” i tell him, finally able to pull him out of the house.

Jack spends the entire drive to the restaurant gripping the steering wheel tight, his eyes glancing down towards his phone in the cup holder every minute.

“Jacky.” i sigh as we’re seated at our table, him immediately checking his phone as i pick up my menu.

“hmm? yeah?” his eyes flicker towards me briefly before setting his phone back down.

“she’s fine. i promise.” i reassure, my voice gentle as i snake my hand to rest on top of his on the table.

“i’m just worried.” he confesses, as if i couldn’t already tell. “what if something happens? we should be there, we’re her parents.”

i can tell the guilt of any hypothetical situation is eating away at him, and i’d be lying if i said it wasn’t setting in slightly for me. but i know that our daughter is in good hands. she has five uncles who love her, watching over her right now and she’ll be okay.

“i know you’re worried, and i know you feel guilty at the thought of us not being there if something were to happen. but we need this, Jack.” his shoulders square when he realizes i didn’t use a nickname, showing him that i’m serious.

“it’s been probably five months since we’ve had a date night. four months since we’ve spent any time to ourselves. there has to be at least some semblance of romance still in order for us to to not turn into a pair of zombie parents who drift apart.”

my voice trails off at the end, and i know he knows i’m referring to my own parents. who after i was born, took their roles as parents much too seriously, thinking i was their only priority, never taking a date night, never putting their relationship first, until eventually they grew apart. they stayed married, but it was somehow worse, as they had fought and became locked in a toxic marriage that hadn’t done any of us any good. they became overbearing and overprotective of me as a result. which only ended badly.

“hey.” Jack coos, squeezing my hand in his to ground me back to this moment. “i won’t let that happen. i promise to you, and to El.”

a smile pulls at my lips at his words.

“i know.” i assure him. “and i know it’s hard to leave her right now, it’s hard for me too. but it’s the first time, eventually, it’ll get easier. i hope.”

he chuckles at my last words, nodding his head.

“i hope so too.” he tells me. “it’s different when i’m on roadies because you’re there. you’re the one taking care of her. but…”

Jack wrinkles his nose.

“my brothers? our friends? do we really think they’re capable?”

i bark out a laugh, covering my mouth to try and muffle the sound in the crowded restaurant. a grin spreads across my husband’s face at my laugh, making my heart race like when we first started dating.

“i really think they’ll be okay.” i giggle. “she’s their niece, they don’t want anything to happen to her.”

“you’re right.” Jack nods.

“i always am.” i shrug and he playfully rolls his eyes as a waitress finally steps up to our table. as i’m telling the girl my order, i can’t help but notice Jack checking his phone again, even typing what i assume is a check-in text to his brothers.

once the waitress leaves, Jack’s phone buzzes on the table and he reaches out for it like his life depends on it. reading his incoming text, his shoulders slump in relief and i furrow my eyebrows at him.

“she’s asleep.”

[boricuacherry-blog]

I sought out Grier because I wondered, with all the testimony emerging from actresses about sexual harassment and assault incidents they had suffered in silence for so long, what must Hollywood have been like for Grier during the alpha male chauvinist '70s culture, when she was one of the few actresses of color playing the heroine in movies like Foxy Brown and Coffy.

Her path has led her to interact with some recently fallen figures - Harvey Weinstein made the Quentin Tarantino-directed Jackie Brown, which reignited Grier's career - and even more recently, Grier said she had been set to star in the Amazon Studios series that David O. Russell was directing with Robert De Niro and Julianne Moore. That series imploded directly because of the Weinstein scandal, but she still is hopeful it will come back around as the Weinstein Company is about to be resuscitated by a female-led board and leadership. I was surprised to hear that Grier experienced relatively little sexual harassment during her rise.

There is a disturbing tale in her book about a time she was invited to Sammy Davis Jr's house where, in front of his wife Altovise, the singer became so aggressive in his attempt to bed Grier that she had to enlist Liza Minnelli and her husband Jack Haley Jr to drive her away from the estate while she hid in the back seat. "It's true. Altovise and Liza helped me. I hid in the bathroom, and Sammy came out looking for me. Liza and her husband pulled up their burgundy Rolls-Royce, where they would signal for me to run out and jump into the back seat of the car, and she'd hide me with her fur, and they'd drive me out of there." But most of the pain caused by men took place far from Hollywood.

Grier said that her saving grace during her rise was signing with APA agent John Gaines, who repped her since she moved from receptionist at AIP to a star.

You read the stories about actresses whose reps didn't have the foresight to accompany them to clandestine meetings in hotel suites, and Grier acknowledges that hers could have been a much different story if she didn't have Gaines, an agent who made sure that she didn't find herself in potentially dangerous situations when she went up for roles. Gaines, who died in 1992, also repped Steve Martin, John Candy, Tamara Dobson (Cleopatra Jones), Shaft star Richard Roundtree and Oscar-winning Shaft singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes. She was able to create a circle of trust within that group.

harassment you might think. I wonder if they saw my films and thought that I could probably beat them up. And you know, I could, because I studied enough martial arts seriously that I probably could have really hurt someone."

She has good memories of Harvey Weinstein, who with brother Bob responded to a fundraising effort to feed the homeless on Thanksgiving, by matching the entire donation, allowing for 20,000 extra dinners. "I don't mean to soften anything he might have done or who he might have hurt, but they matched that money in my honor and they didn't have to."

Grier had sympathy for each woman who swallowed the shame for decades but finally spoke out. Her own decision to disclose the rapes in her life came, she said, from counsel by Gloria Steinem and in observing Maya Angelou's experience in divulging the trauma of a childhood sexual assault. In that case, Angelou was raped by her mother's boyfriend, and she told a family member. Her attacker subsequently was killed, possibly by her uncle - an incident that so upset the future poet that she didn't speak for the next five years.

Grier kept her assaults secret for similar fears. Said Grier: "My grandfather Daddy Ray taught all us girls to hunt, fish, shoot and drive the boat and a tractor. ...If I had told my family, especially what happened when I was 6? The men in my family would have hunted those boys down, for hurting me. It would have destroyed my family, and I decided to stay quiet and see how long I can go and how much stronger I can be with this energy inside me."

Grier hopes that the women who've relived horrible memories in this #MeToo movement felt the relief she did after taking advice that Steinem gave her back when Grier became the first African-American actor to grace the Ms. magazine cover, long before Grier was ready to talk about her sexual assaults.

Grier had a romantic life where she fell in love with Abdul-Jabbar, Prinze and Pryor but stopped short of marriage to all of them because she would have had to become something she wasn't.

That began when she fell in love with UCLA basketball star Lew Alcindor. After he changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and converted to a Muslim, he pressed her to marry. But the required submissiveness was just too much for her. One fateful morning he told her that an arranged marriage was set for him for 2pm that day, with a woman who was a converted Muslim. He would keep the date unless Grier agreed to marry him and embrace his religion. Unwilling to live a subservient life where everything but her hands would be covered when seen in public, Grier basically told him, congratulations on your big day. "Without all of that, he was the perfect man. He loved jazz. He loved sports. He was an academic. He could have been that first love," Grier says.

lost too much.' I think, 'How do I help this man who is so despondent, and who has a gun?' Grier got him money that she hoped would not go to drugs. "I was so compelled to just run over there, but I just didn't feel I could," she said. "I felt there's danger that I can't control. Days later, a friend told her Prinze had succumbed to his demons and killed himself. "I didn't know how to stop him, and I didn't know if I would have survived trying."

Her relationship with Pryor also disintegrated over his drug problem. This after they had a long romantic relationship in which she helped Pryor overcome insecurities that included illiteracy - she helped him learn to read, and they settled into a real home life that settled a comic who'd famously grown up in a brothel. But the bad influences around Pryor, and drugs, got the best of him. She received a similar crisis call as she got from Prinze, only this one came from Sidney Poitier, who was directing Pryor and Gene Wilder in 1980's Stir Crazy.

'" Pam, Richard's high, and we're like 10 weeks behind and they're going to pull the plug on the movie,' Sidney says. 'Gene Wilder...everybody's mad. Everybody's upset. Everyone's afraid they're going to lose their jobs. Can you come down here and talk to Richard? I think you're the only person who can reach him.'

"Just as I couldn't change the attacks or the people who attacked me. I couldn't change Richard. I couldn't change Freddie or Kareem. And I realized it's not about changing other people, it's about changing myself. And that is what I want to tell people with this, that there will be pain in life, but you can survive it and it will make you stronger and protect you from other instances. I wanted to save their lives, but I had to save my own."