#john biebe series

[mystery-star]

Now you’re Back – John Biebe (Part 4 / 5)

Pairing: John Biebe x fem!reader

Warnings: abusive ex, self-doubts

Words: 3’450

All Parts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Do no repost my work on other sites or platforms

-

To your surprise, John came home earlier than usual.

“What’s wrong?” he asked when he saw you curled up on the couch “Justin again? Is this the reason you wanted me to watch the little bud?” you just nodded. Since Simon was with him, your husband told him to give you two a moment. He sat down next to you and pulled you into an embrace. You took it as a cue to tell him what had happened, breaking out in tears again while you talked.

“And I assume you’re crying because of that?” you pulled away and tried to glare at him

“He wants to take Simon away! He’s got money for real good lawyers and…”

“Hey” he held your hands “If Justin tries anything like that I’m quite sure he’ll lose”

“Lose?” he chuckled

“Well, they don’t just want the child to have a good home. Also stuff like school is part of the child’s wellbeing. And I mean thanks to Justin Simon has been too late to school, didn’t do his homework three times, got into a fight, was rude, just left in the middle of the day…” you looked up, wiping at your tears

“You think?”

“They surely will blame him for that. And another reason he won’t win is because he has mistreated Simon before. You could also mention he neglected Simon”

“But without witnesses…”

“He doesn’t have witnesses either”

“He could ask his friends to lie”

“Don’t you have friends at your old place who knew the truth? Besides, we got what he’s done here. He molested you and attacked me. In front of Simon’s eyes. That won’t do him no good. Oh and he is obviously trying to manipulate Simon to get him on his side. We got witnesses for that as well” you wiped the rest tears away, feeling able to smile again

“You’re right. He’ll have no chance”

“You see? I bet he only wanted to scare you. He sure is clever enough not to do that because he knows he will lose” you nodded.

“And I want you to know… that no matter what he says or does. I don’t ever want to go back living with him. Or even leave Mystery or you” he kissed your forehead and pulled you close again

“He won’t get our son” you sat back up and looked at him

“Our?” John winced

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“No” you interrupted him “No. I’m not mad. I’m happy you called him your son” you cracked your knuckles “And I’m sorry he still won’t call you Dad or something. Maybe I shouldn’t have called you John all the time when I talked to him. Like instead of saying “John will take you to school tomorrow” I could have called you Dad.”

“It’s alright” he pulled you closer “He can call me whatever he likes or is comfortable with. Maybe he’s ready in a while” you doubted that, now that his real father was back.

“Mom?” your son had entered the living room as well “What’s wrong? Are you sad? Or sick?” you shook your head. He sat down on the couch as well.

“But John said you’re not feeling well when we were in the car” you sighed

“I…” you wanted him to know the truth. Or at least a part of the truth “I met your father today. And he told me that he wants to get sole custody for you. That you will live with him instead of me. So, I was scared he would do that and I would lose you”

“You can come and live with us. Then we’d be a family again”

“I already told you at the hotel that I can’t do that. I don’t like Justin anymore. So, I can’t live with him because we would only be fighting and I would be unhappy. Besides, we got John” you placed a hand on your husband’s chest as if the illustrate the words.

“Dad said he will change if you want him back. And that he is sorry. Could you… at least try it? I mean when I get in a fight with my friends we are still friends the next day”

“Sweetheart…” you didn’t know what to say or how to explain it to him that as an adult, fights were more serious and this wasn’t just about friendship but also love

“Remember the time I took you on a trip back after we first met?” John asked

“Yes”

“I’m sure you also remember the moose we saw. The huge one that made you cry” Simon nodded. you had never really heard the whole story, only that they had to stop the trip because a moose had been on the road and Simon had been almost scared to death. Since then, your son had been afraid of these animals and it had gone so far they even had to remove the antlers of one that hung over the entrance of the school because he had refused to go again “Now imagine the moose was back today. And it would ask you to go live with him. Would you want that?”

“No!” at least you now knew what John was getting at

“Well, you see, it’s similar for your mother. Not that she is that scared of your father. But he has hurt her before. And it’s her good right to be scared that will happen again. This is why she can’t live with him again” Simon’s eyes were big and he stared at you

“He hurt you?” you only nodded “Did he attack you too? Like John?”

“No, not like that. But he hit me. Two times. And he was mean and insulted me all the time.” you found it better not to mention the other things he had done that had actually hurt a lot more. But you told him what he had done to Simon and this had been why you had left Justin

“He shook me?”

“Yes”

“I don’t remember that”

“You were little” you were surprised he even remembered his father at all, given how little your ex had ‘taken care’ of the boy. Simon gave a nod and hugged you too.

“I’m sorry he hurt you. Maybe Dad can stay here so I can visit him?”

“I don’t know” you said “He will want to go home. And to be honest… I don’t know if I want him to live here”

“Because you’re scared?” you nodded although it wasn’t the whole truth. But he finally seemed to understand that his father might not be as good as he thought.

“However, I’m sure we can arrange it that you can visit him. Not all the time but maybe during vacations?” you didn’t really like that idea but if it made your son happy, you didn’t really care. Maybe if Justin realized that he had no chance to hurt you or get Simon to himself he wouldn’t even want to see him at all.

-

Besides all the trouble with Justin, you had been feeling weird lately, so you had decided to get to the bottom of it. Since your suspicion was that you were pregnant, you got a test in the pharmacy. Unfortunately, people seemed to have gotten wind of it and while you finished your shopping tour three people had approached you about it, asking if you really were expecting. That really was a little problem in Mystery; when something special happened, it spread like wildfire and soon the whole town knew. There were basically no secrets or privacy here. However, what currently bugged you most was the fact that you didn’t even know yourself because you had not yet taken the test. And you also feared that someone might tell John before you even saw him. You didn’t want to tell him unless you knew for sure. After all, you didn’t even know if he wanted a baby.

After having finished today’s shopping, you picked up Simon in school and drove him home. Sometimes you spent some time in town with him. But not today. In fact, you had stopped doing it a bit ever since Justin was here. Once at home, you told your son to get started with his homework. In the meantime you wanted to do the pregnancy test. Once you had the positive result, you sat down on the bed and stared at the two lines in disbelief. You only caught yourself when you heard Simon call for you, asking if you were okay. You put the test on the nightstand and joined him in the kitchen, putting away the rest of the groceries. How would Simon feel about being a big brother? A part of you feared he would get jealous or sad. Then another thought came to your mind: What if Justin heard about it and would try to have your son believe you wouldn’t love him anymore?

That particular fact had taken away almost all of the joy you had previously felt about the pregnancy. Now the bitter taste of your ex’s reaction remained and as you cooked dinner, you probably were more of a sleepwalker. That was also the state your husband found you in, stirring the pasta deep in thought and staring into nothingness.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked standing directly behind you. Suddenly, you snapped out of your thoughts.

“Yes” you replied “Just was lost in thought”

“Good” he gave a nod and squeezed your shoulder “Thought you’d run into Justin again” you only shook your head. Though it was weird; he still was the reason you weren’t all too happy right now.

“No, I didn’t see him today” you said

“Then what was on your mind? It seemed to bother you” you let out a sigh. You didn’t know if you should tell him. Or had the word already spread to him?

“Later” you only said “Dinner’s ready soon. Can you tell Simon to come back inside? He’s behind the house, trying to build an igloo for Bearnie”

-

You had told yourself that you would not mention the fact that you owed John an explanation again today. First you wanted to see the doctor in town tomorrow so he could confirm your pregnancy. After all, even if John had heard you’d gotten a pregnancy test or would do so tomorrow, you found you weren’t obliged to tell him right away. But as you got ready for bed, your glance fell onto the pregnancy test on your nightstand and you let out a sigh.

“Are you alright?” John asked “The same thing as before?” you gave a shrug and put on the pajama top. “(Y/N)?” Well, now he had basically asked again. But should you really tell him already? Wasn’t it better to wait and see the doctor tomorrow? Suddenly, you realized that John was in front of you, holding your arms and gently rubbing them. With another sigh you hugged him and the two of you sat down on the bed “Aren’t you gonna tell me?” instead of answering, you leant over to the nightstand and handed him the pregnancy test. He let go of you to examine it “What’s this?”

“A pregnancy test” you said “It’s positive” it seemed to click a second later

“You are pregnant?” when you nodded you felt tears in your eyes and wiped them away. “That’s great!” you tried your best to smile “What’s wrong? Are you sad about it? Or...” he swallowed “Did Justin...?”

“No!” you shouted quickly “No, no. It’s yours of course” placing the test on the mattress, he pulled you into his lap, nuzzling the side of your neck

“Then what’s wrong? Do you not want a baby?”

“No that’s not it either. I mean I was worried about what you would think” he chuckled, pulling you closer

“Worried about me?” not replying, you dug your fingers into his shirt and pressed closer to him “You don’t have to be. I’m happy. Really happy”

“What about Simon?”

“Are you scared he’ll be jealous?”

“Yeah”

“So that’s what bothers you?”

“Mostly. But also someone saw me getting the test yesterday and soon everyone seemed to know. What if Justin heard about it and he’ll tell Simon that when we have the baby we’ll forget about him? Or that you wouldn’t love him anymore because you have your own child now?”

“I see. Then we better make sure he hears it from us first. In the morning”

“Do you think it helps?”

“Yes. If he hears our version – the truth – first, we will rather believe us”

“Okay” you nodded “Thank you”

“For what?”

“Dunno” you smiled running your hand through his hair “Just everything”

“Are you at least happy now? About the pregnancy?” you thought for a while, then nodded

“Yes. But I’ll have to wait for the talk with Simon tomorrow to get rid of all the negative thoughts”

-

John had offered to make breakfast tomorrow, so you could tell Simon about the pregnancy. But you insisted that he was included in the talk as well. So you prepared it together and told Simon as you ate.

“A baby?” he asked “Does that mean I’ll be a big brother?”

“Yes, exactly” he tilted his head

“Will Dad like it too? The baby?”

“I don’t know. But that doesn’t really matter. I mean it’s not his child”

“Will you still like me when the baby is here?” he asked John, sounding very anxious

“Of course I will. Nothing will change what I feel for you”

“But you have to understand” you added “your little sister or brother can’t do anything alone. So we will need to take care of the baby almost all day. That can be really stressing and tiring”

“Can I help?”

“That’s nice of you and I’m sure there are things you can help us with. But you already do us a great favor if you won’t get angry at the baby or the fact that we will spend a lot of time with it. It doesn’t mean that we don’t love you anymore. Or that we love the baby more. It just means that you are a big boy and can take care of yourself already of which we are really proud. You can also help us with that; by being as independent as you can” he nodded, pride visible on his face.

“When will it be here?”

“I’ll have to ask the doctor. But it will be a couple of months until the birth. Maybe in September.”

“And then I can play with him or her?”

“Well, in a way. But in the first year, babies don’t really play. I mean they do in their own way or special baby games”

“So, no hockey?”

“No” you chuckled

“But the baby could be in the goal”

“And then you shoot pucks at it?”

“Well no, I don’t want to hit the baby; I wanna score”

“Look” you said, also with a small side glance to John “The little one won’t play hockey until he or she is steady on skates!” John and Simon exchanged a conspiratorial glance and your son smirked. Then your son turned back to you

“Now Dad can’t make you leave. Because if you did then John would be in the same situation. That you took his child away”

“Both children” John corrected, looking at the boy “You’re my son too” looking down, Simon nodded, then eagerly continued eating

“What will we call the baby?”

“We still got time to discuss that”

“What about Coco?” it was the name of his stuffed bunny

“I don’t think that’s a great name for a child”

“Bearnie?”

“Wouldn’t that be confusing? Then no one knows who is being called”

“Ah. And Winnie the Pooh?”

“Hm, I don’t really think that’s a good name either. But we surely will find something nice”

-

That day in town even more people seemed to have heard what you had bought yesterday. Luckily, the first thing you had done after dropping Simon off at school was visiting the doctor, so you felt safer confirming their questions if you really were pregnant. It wasn’t that you really wanted to share the information but you couldn’t lie and found you didn’t want to tell them that it wasn’t their business and seem rude. After all, sooner or later everyone would know anyways. And maybe it was even good if Justin heard of it. It would surely displease him and he would talk to Simon about it. However, you had already told your son that he shouldn’t listen to whatever Justin might say because he couldn’t know how you felt about your son and the baby. You had also tried to explain him that his father would probably only say these things to make him sad or try to make him into leaving. When Simon had assured you that he would never want to leave you, not even to be with his father, (and would also really miss John) you had felt touched and suddenly all your fears about Justin were gone.

So when you saw your ex two days later you were only annoyed. But somehow, you also were looking forward to what he would say that time.

“Why is my son calling me a liar?” was how he greeted you and you couldn’t even hold back a smirk “What are you grinning at, whore?”

“I was just thinking you would know pretty well why he might call you that…”

“Careful” he came a step closer and although you wanted to back away you stayed.

“I didn’t do anything but tell my son the truth. Maybe you should do the same” you smiled “I guess that time I won. He saw right through you”

“He didn’t because I’m not lying. And you will see, in the end, he will choose me! Once he realizes that you having a baby with that bloke means you will not love him anymore”

“That’s the difference between you and me. I can love both of my children. You can’t even love one. I don’t know what you want or why you’re even here but you won’t get either of us back. Never again. However,” you cleared your through, unsure why you would even make the offer you were about to tell him about “if you pull yourself together and tell me honestly that you really want to see your son and be there for him we surely can arrange something that he can visit you. I’m not doing it for you but for Simon. Because it would make him happy.”

“So you put his happiness over what you want?”

“No, not really. And that doesn’t mean I’ll come back to you just because my son would want it. Which he doesn’t.” he snorted

“As if I had ever wanted you back, you dirty little bitch. Just look at you; you’re worthless. To be frank, I was glad to have your ugly face out of my sight when you left. You and that dumb child. And soon your darling husband will too realize what you are and will cast you away, all on your own with two little bastard children” his voice was dangerously low and he spoke very slowly. “But you have hit me where it hurts. You stole my money and I will have you pay for this” to your surprise, you didn’t even really mind his words or the threat.

“And do what? No matter what you do, this time I will have the police on my side. And the whole town too.” with that you turned around and left.

-

You hadn’t told John about the most recent encounter with your ex. Why should you? You had it under control yourself and knew that Justin couldn’t do anything against you. Also Simon wasn’t asking to see him all the time, so you figured the matter had finally resolved itself and that Justin realized he had lost and would simply leave, best without even saying goodbye.

As you wanted to pick up Simon at his friend’s place a couple of days later, you heard that Justin had already done so. Angry that no one had even informed you, you went to the hotel but before you could go up the stairs, the owner called you

“That guy Justin left. He checked out this morning”

“What?”

“He checked out. And he came back about an hour ago and gave me this” he pulled out a folded piece of paper “Said it was for you”

“For me?” with apprehension, you unfolded the paper. It contained a single sentence

‘You will never see your son again’.

[mystery-star-masterlist]

Current Series Masterlists

John Biebe x reader

no ongoing Series

Jack Aubrey x reader

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Ben Wade x reader

No on going Series

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[oldmilfenjoyer]

revamp of hot celeb goss as entitties

Last time my post didn’t show in the tag so I threatened to revamp it and add ******* ****** ** ****** ****. Anyways there’s been quite frankly too many pandemic pregnancies. Still not touching t*yl*r sw*ft or b*y*nc*/j*y-z/k*nye goss & warning for mentions of drugs, sex, cults, gross stuff involving dogs, and a weird kink I think that’s it?

The Lonely:

neil gaiman left his WIFE and CHILD during the pandemic

in honor of Petey Lukas: billie eilish’s parents were gentrifiers and got fucked up by the 2008 housing crisis HA (also they helped commit money laundering that the FBI later investigated)

The Flesh:

the catering of the new power rangers movie being just “a pile of coke w a little spoon” to quote

The Corruption:

as the only tma entity w horny eps corruption gets the timothee chalamet/sprouse twins/eddie redmayne chlamydia saga they’re the origins of chlamydia in new york. have any of them done the treatment for it yet who knows

chris pratt, elizabeth moss, justin bieber, the kardashians, and idk who else are all in the Hillsong cult (the kardashians may not be in it anymore tho?)

also will and jada smith are probs ex scientologists given their hard core mentioning of scientology in past interviews so they get blacklisted by the cult (side note thanks will for bearding jada for all these years + they have an open relationship)

jameela jamil vs bee (every version)

so many celebs have lyme disease despite not living on the east coast but I’m specifying yolanda + bella + anwar hadid bc yolanda wrote a whole ass book abt it. also j biebs did live in Canada so maybe but also considering the timing, drug stuff, and him also writing a book Makes You Think 👀👀👀👀👀…

The Slaughter:

mitskis dad is a cia agent and probs def a war criminal

I think the exact wording from theocseason4’s blog is: “zoey deschanel sings quietly during sex and will not stop if asked”

The Dark:

Kerry Washington ultimate fake relationship w her husband they don’t even LIVE TOGETHER

jessica biel’s gay but specifically the photo of a woman grabbing jessica biel’s ass while justin timberlake is standing in front of her not looking

The End:

I don’t care about the YT shane/tati/jeffree/that other one (john?) gossip I really don’t there’s so much more interesting goss out there so I Do Not See It 🙄🙄🙄 that being said sh*n* d*ws*n poop knife

also jeffree said he lets his dog lick his teeth every night before going to sleep bc dog saliva has “anti aging properties”

also also on dogs: influencer Caroline Calloway’s dog shit on her bed once before a party and instead of cleaning it up she put the sheets in her OVEN. idk who you are but caroline you HAVE the money for laundry detergent.

The Desolation:

almost all the glee celebs being in that one sex club it makes me want to scream who looks at lea michele and has like. Any positive emotions. also the implications of a whole circle of Hollywood having a glee kink.

that one sub on theocseason4’s blog abt lea cutting off a chick’s hair @ a sleepover when they were in middle school or smthg bc of theater drama competition

also the lea michele is illiterate video series Makes You Think 👀👀👀👀👀…

The Hunt:

ok…did john hamm haze a dude to death. did lady Gaga kill that chick and steal her identity. how involved were the Olsen twins (coke dealer) in heath ledger dying in Mary Kate’s apartment.

The Eye:

however jonny depp absolutely killed joaquin phoenixs brother.

george clooney married amal clooney to get a leg up in eventually running for president. also they’re secret divorced.

angelina jolie being v vocal about pegging her bf

on that note this isn’t goss but I just want to know what’s going on with the danai gurira/lupita nyongo/tessa thompson/janelle monae love quadrangle

The Web:

shakira evades spanish taxes.

this isn’t a conspiracy the queen definitely orchestrated princess diana’s death. also meghan and harry leaving the royal family for a netflix or amazon deal that’s going to get them $$$$$$$$$.

I lied I’m bringing t*yl*r sw*ft in. I’m not a swiftie and I refuse to get involved w swift discourse. but taylor in 50 years will be remembered for being The Beard for fake dating closeted gay celebs (ex tom hiddleston, joe alwyn, joe jonas, I cant remember who else) and also for giving everyone involved hella publicity

The Vast:

bella thorne getting carded when she didn’t have her ID, asking the bartender “don’t you recognize me”, him saying no, her exiting stage left

The Buried:

the jameela jamil munchausen theories (sorry jameela but like…the cancer thing)

I’ll say one thing about b*y*nc*/j*y-z and that is beyonce and jay-z had separate security teams in the met gala 2014 elevator

The Stranger:

this isn’t gossip. please look at a time lapse of ariana grandes eyebrows WHERES she putting her forehead.

whatever tf yolanda hadid is doing w gigi and bella in like general. also one of them is experiencing major nose bridge collapse bc of all the plastic surgery but I can’t remember which.

brie larson staging whole foods paparazzi pics w her (fake) bf. like we know all pap pics are fake but staging whole foods/ trader joes pics?? why??

Dailymail lily james post where she’s in the park CLEARLY snorting smthg but the article’s like “aaw she has allergies”

The Spiral:

me writing this post TWICE

Bonus Extinction:

the absolute worst goss: Freddie Prinze Jr, husband of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, has a diaper kink and she, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, changes his diapers.

[yewtongue8-blog]

The Year in Celebrity Bagel Drama

Despite the wild popularity of crepe towers, banana split sundae croissants, and Russian honey cakes, the humble bagel was the breakfast option that kept making headlines throughout 2018. Some celebrities attracted the attention of gossip sites with their unusual bagel-ordering habits, while other famous people told surprising stories on late night shows that involved the old roll-with-a-hole. Here’s a look back at the year in celebrity bagel drama.

Kendall’s New Year’s bagel revelation

Getty Images

As the clock ticked down to midnight on New Year’s Eve 2017, model/reality TV star Kendall Jenner was embroiled in a bagel-related controversy. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star had shared a photo of herself wearing a tight, midsection-hugging party dress, prompting some Instagram users to question whether she was trying to tell the world that she was pregnant (this is often how members of the Kardashian clan announce these big life changes). During the last moments of 2017, Jenner shared a message to her fans, setting the record straight: “i just like bagels ok!!!” This oddball intersection of celebrity drama and bagel fixation would set the tone for the year to come.

The time Jim from ‘The Office’ got bagel bombed

America’s TV boyfriend, John Krasinski, had an incredible year, becoming both the new Jack Ryan in a televised Tom Clancy series, and the writer/director/star of one of 2018’s biggest hits, A Quiet Place. But things weren’t always so rosy for the Hollywood hero. Many years ago, when he was a lowly intern at 30 Rock in New York City, the Boston native was the victim of some carbohydrate-related bullying from a complete stranger. “I was wearing a Nomar Garciaparra jersey,” Krasinski told Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show in April. “I was walking along about to get lunch and just something hit me in the back of the head. It was a full, cream cheese bagel.” The actor concluded that the bagel bomb was hurled from a “taxi going like 20 miles an hour.” Clearly, this incident still haunts Krasinski till this day.

Bieb’s sad Brooklyn bagel run

In August, Sleazcore couple du jour Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin surprised guests at Frankel’s, a neo-delicatessen in Brooklyn, by gracing the bagel shop with their mopey presence. After placing their order, the couple proceeded to shuffle around the store, their arms draped around each other in a loose embrace. Guests were clearly weirded out by their demeanor, and Instagram users also questioned why they looked so sad and/or zonked out during this bagel run, prompting one commenter to remark, “They look miserable.” But, strange though it may seem, this might just be what true love looks like between an international pop mega-star and a runway model in 2018: Justin and Hailey got married just a few months after these photos were taken.

The bagel order heard round the world

Getty Images for PRIDE MEDIA

On Sunday, September 9, Sex and the City actress-turned-politician Cynthia Nixon placed an order at famed Manhattan market Zabar’s that would send shockwaves throughout the bagel-loving community. In an interaction that was surreptitiously caught on camera by Gothamist, Nixon ordered a cinnamon-raisin bagel stuffed with cream cheese, capers, tomatoes, onions, and lox. This combination, which she referred to as “a full load,” only has one element that throws people off: the sweet bread hugging all of those traditionally savory ingredients. And yet, the New York Post found this melange of textures and flavors to be outrageous enough to earn the title of “strangest bagel of all time,” while a Food & Wine staffer called it ”basically criminal.”

Nixon tried to change the conversation by owning up to the order on Twitter and urging her fans to donate to her campaign for Governor of New York, but this move didn’t stop the Twitter snarking about Nixon’s breakfast of choice. Later that week, she lost the primary race to Andrew Cuomo.

The bagel surprise of the year

Getty Images for IEBA

Although Ice-T has spent much of the last two decades filming a New York-based cop procedural, last month, the rapper-turned-actor revealed that he somehow had never tried one of the quintessential NYC foods — the bagel — until he filmed a recent scene on Law and Order: SVU. This detail was revealed on Twitter, when the celebrity responded to a fan’s inquiry about his favorite bagel variety by tweeting, “Lol. I’ve never eaten a Bagel in my life...” A few hours later, after many Twitter users had expressed their shock and disbelief at this revelation, Ice-T told fans, “White people.. Don’t lose your Fn minds because I’ve never eaten a Bagle [sic].. Take it easy.... lol.” During a Tonight Show appearance a few weeks later, Ice-T explained why he’d never tried a bagel before this year: “I’m from South Central. Can you imagine Snoop singing, ‘Rolling down the street smokin’ indo eating some lox and bagels?’”

And in other bagel news...

Twitter users found the original sketch of the bagel emoji to be hilarious, but the revised edition — which featured cream cheese and a craggily surface — was a much bigger hit. Former New York Times critic Mimi Sheraton incurred the wrath of Montreal bagel lovers by tweeting that eating their local speciality was “like chewing broken glass.” And speaking of Montreal, that city’s Plateau-Mont-Royal borough imposed a ban on wood-fired ovens, but thankfully, ancient bagel shops like St-Viateur (pictured above, with Adam Sandler and his family) and Fairmount Bagel are exempt from this piece of legislation — long may they reign.

• All Year in Eater Coverage [E]

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Source: https://www.eater.com/2018/12/19/18146004/cynthia-nixon-ice-t-bagel

[lightwood-alec]

TV Episodes 2017

13 Reasons Why (13) 1x01 - Tape 1, Side A 1x02 - Tape 1, Side B 1x03 - Tape 2, Side A 1x04 - Tape 2, Side B 1x05 - Tape 3, Side A 1x06 - Tape 3, Side B 1x07 - Tape 4, Side A 1x08 - Tape 4, Side B 1x09 - Tape 5, Side A 1x10 - Tape 5, Side B 1x11 - Tape 6, Side A 1x12 - Tape 6, Side B 1x13 - Tape 7, Side A 8 Out of 10 Cats (1) 20x08 - Jamali Maddix, Rick Edwards, Kate Humble & Joe Lycett (New Year’s Special) 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (1) 12x01- Stephen Mangan, Noel Fielding, Fay Ripley & the Brett Domino Trio A League of Their Own (9) 11x11 - Christmas Special 11x12 - U.S. Road Trip 2, Part One 11x13 - U.S. Road Trip 2, Part Two 11x14 - U.S. Road Trip 2, Part Three 11x15 - U.S. Road Trip 2, Part Four 11x16 - U.S. Road Trip 2, Part Five 12x01 - Rob Beckett, Dele Ali & Stephen Mangan 12x02 - Emma Bunton, Mo Farah & Anthony Joshua 12x04 - Charlotte Dujardin, Cesc Fabregas & Romesh Ranganathan American Gods (1) 1x01 - The Bone Orchard American Horror Story: Cult (11) American Horror Story: Hotel (4) 5x07 - Flicker 5x08 - Ten Commandments Killer 5x09 - She Wants Revenge 5x10 - She Gets Revenge An Unfortunate Series of Events (1) 1x01 - The Bad Beginning: Part One And Then There Were None (1) 1x01 - Episode One Animal Kingdom (14) 1x08 - Man In 1x09 - Judas Kiss 1x10 - What Have You Done 2x01 - Eat What You Kill 2x02 - Karma 2x03 - Bleed for It 2x04 - Broken Boards 2x05 - Forgive Us Our Trespasses 2x06 - Cry Havoc 2x07 - Dig 2x08 - Grace 2x09 - Custody 2x10 - Treasure 2x11 - The Leopard Archer (2) 8x01 - Archer Dreamland: No Good Deed 8x02 - Archer Dreamland: Berenice Arrow (1) 6x08 - Crisis on Earth-X, Part 2 Atlanta (10) 1x01 - The Big Bang 1x02 - Streets on Lock 1x03 - Go for Broke 1x04 - The Streisand Effect 1x05 - Nobody Beats the Biebs 1x06 - Value 1x07 - B.A.N. 1x08 - The Club 1x09 - Juneteenth 1x10 - The Jacket Ballers (8) 1x02 - Raise Up 1x03 - Move the Chains 1x04 - Heads Will Roll 1x05 - Machete Charge 1x06 - Everything Is Everything 1x07 - Ends 1x08 - Gaslighting 1x09 - Head-On Bates Motel (3) 5x05 - Dreams Die First 5x06 - Marion 5x07 - Inseparable Big Fat Quiz of the Year (2) 1x24 - Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2016 1x25 - Big Fat Quiz of Everything 2017 Big Little Lies (7) Big Time Rush (1) 2x15 - Big Time Reality Bill Nye Saves the World (2) 1x01 - Earth Is a Hot Mess 1x02 - Tune Your Quack-o-Meter Billy on the Street (18) 1x01 - And Away We Go... 1x02 - Television is the Greatest Thing to Ever Happen to Me! 1x03 - Drunk Rich 1x04 - Can Rachel Dratch Name 20 White People in 30 Seconds? 1x05 - The Meryl Streep Showdown 1x06 - Where in the World is Scarlett Johansson’s Vagina? 1x07 - Ask an Asian! 1x08 - Are You Smarter Than a Gay Fifth Grader? 1x09 - Did You Hear Madonna Died? 1x10 - Joan Rivers Gets Quizzed in the Face 2x01 - Billy Meets Mr. Singh! 2x02 - The Lesbian Lightning Round, with Andy Cohen 2x03 - Scream for an American Girl Doll, with Will Ferrell 2x04 - It’s Spock - Do You Care?, with Zachary Quinto 2x05 - Whistleblow that Jew!, with Rashida Jones and Maya Rudolph 2x06 - It’s Debra Messing, You Gays!, with Debra Messing and Christian Borle 2x07 - Do You Think Gisele Bundchen Understands the Jokes on Portlandia?, with Nas and Ashley Benson 5x08 - Curbside Conga Line with James Corden The Blacklist (4) 4x03 - Miles McGrath (No. 65) 4x04 - Gaia (No. 81) 4x05 - The Lindquist Concern (No. 105) 4x06 - The Thrushes (No. 53) Black Sails (10) 4x01 - XXIX 4x02 - XXX 4x03 - XXXI 4x04 - XXXII 4x05 - XXXIII 4x06 - XXXIV 4x07 - XXXV 4x08 - XXXVI 4x09 - XXXVII 4x10 - XXVIII Boardwalk Empire (2) 1x04 - Anastasia 1x05 - Nights in Ballygran The Bold Type (10) Brooklyn Nine-Nine (23) 4x11 - The Fugitive, Part One 4x12 - The Fugitive, Part Two 4x13 - The Audit 4x14 - Serve & Protect 4x15 - The Last Ride 4x16 - Moo Moo 4x17 - Cop Con 4x18 - Chasing Amy 4x19 - Your Honor 4x20 - The Slaughterhouse 4x21 - The Bank Job 4x22 - Crime & Punishment 5x01 - The Big House, Pt. 1 5x02 - The Big House, Pt. 2 5x03 - Kicks 5x04 - HalloVeen 5x05 - Bad Beat 5x06 - The Venue 5x07 - Two Turkeys 5x08 - Return to Skyfire 5x09 - 99 5x10 - Game Night 5x11 - The Favor Castlevania (4) 1x01 - Witchbottle 1x02 - Necropolis 1x03 - Labyrinth 1x04 - Monument Dear White People (10) 1x01 - Chapter I 1x02 - Chapter II 1x03 - Chapter III 1x04 - Chapter IV 1x05 - Chapter V 1x06 - Chapter VI 1x07 - Chapter VII 1x08 - Chapter VIII 1x09 - Chapter IX 1x10 - Chapter X The Defenders (8) Difficult People (28) Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (4) 1x01 - Horizons 1x02 - Lost & Found 1x03 - Rogue Wall Enthusiasts 1x04 - Watkin The Exorcist (9) 1x08 - Chapter Eight: The Griefbearers 1x09 - Chapter Nine: 162 1x10 - Chapter Ten: Three Rooms 2x01 - Janus 2x02 - Safe as Houses 2x03 - Unclean 2x04 - One for Sorrow 2x05 - There But for the Grace of God, Go I 2x06 - Darling Nikki The Flash (3) 2x04 - The Fury of Firestorm 3x17 - Duet 4x08 - Crisis on Earth-X, Part 3 Freedom Fighters: The Ray (3) 1x01 - Episode One 1x02 - Episode Two 1x03 - Episode Three Future Man (13) Game of Thrones (2) 7x06 - Beyond the Wall 7x07 - The Dragon and the Wolf The Get Down (11) 1x01 - Where There Is Ruin, There Is Hope for a Treasure 1x02 - Seek Those Who Fan Your Flames 1x03 - Darkness Is Your Candle 1x04 - Forget Safety, Be Notorious 1x05 - You Have Wings, Learn to Fly 1x06 - Raise Your Words, Not Your Voice 1x07 - Unfold Your Own Myth 1x08 - The Beat Says, This Is The Way 1x09 - One by One, Into the Dark 1x10 - Gamble Everything 1x11 - Only From Exile Can We Come Home Girl Meets World (1) 3x21 - Girl Meets Goodbye Glue (6) 1x01 - Everyone 1x02 - James/Janine 1x03 - Eli/Rob 1x04 - Tina/Dominic 1x05 - James/Rob/Cal 1x06 - Rob/Tina The Good Place (21) 1x01 - Pilot 1x02 - Flying 1x03 - Tahani Al-Jamil 1x04 - Jason Mendoza 1x05 - Category 55 Doomsday Crisis 1x06 - What We Owe to Each Other 1x07 - The Eternal Shriek 1x08 - Most Improved Player 1x09 - ...Someone Like Me as a Member 1x10 - Chidi’s Choice 1x11 - What’s My Motivation 1x12 - Mindy St. Claire 1x13 - Michael’s Gambit 2x01 - Everything Is Great! (Part 1) 2x02 - Everything Is Great! (Part 2) 2x03 - Dance Dance Resolution 2x04 - Team Cockroach 2x05 - Existential Crisis 2x06 - The Trolley Problem 2x07 - Janet and Michael 2x08 - Derek Gotham (22) 3x12 - Ghosts 3x13 - Smile Like You Mean It 3x14 - The Gentle Art of Making Enemies 3x15 - How the Riddler Got His Name 3x16 - These Delicate and Dark Obsessions 3x17 - The Primal Riddle 3x18 - Light the Wick 3x19 - All Will Be Judged 3x20 - Pretty Hate Machine 3x21 - Destiny Calling 3x22 - Heavydirtysoul 4x01 - Pax Penguina 4x02 - The Fear Reaper 4x03 - They Who Hide Behind Masks 4x04 - The Demon’s Head 4x05 - The Blade’s Path 4x06 - Hog Day Afternoon 4x07 - A Day in the Narrows 4x08 - Stop Hitting Yourself 4x09 - Let Them Eat Pie 4x10 - Things That Go Boom 4x11 - Queen Takes Knight Halt and Catch Fire (1) 3x01 - Valley of the Heart’s Delight House of Cards (13) 5x01 - Chapter 53 5x02 - Chapter 54 5x03 - Chapter 55 5x04 - Chapter 56 5x05 - Chapter 57 5x06 - Chapter 58 5x07 - Chapter 59 5x08 - Chapter 60 5x09 - Chapter 61 5x10 - Chapter 62 5x11 - Chapter 63 5x12 - Chapter 64 5x13 - Chapter 65 How to Get Away with Murder (2) 3x10 - We’re Bad People 3x11 - Not Everything's About Annalise Iron Fist (13) 1x01 - Snow Gives Way 1x02 - Shadow Hawk Takes Flight 1x03 - Rolling Thunder Cannon Punch 1x04 - Eight Diagram Dragon Palm 1x05 - Under Leaf Pluck Lotus 1x06 - Immortal Emerges From Cave 1x07 - Felling Tree With Roots 1x08 - The Blessing of Many Fractures 1x09 - The Mistress of All Agonies 1x10 - Black Tiger Steals Heart 1x11 - Lead Horse Back to Stable 1x12 - Bar the Big Boss 1x13 - Dragon Plays With Fire The IT Crowd (5) 4x03 - Something Happened 4x04 - Italian For Beginners 4x05 - Bad Boys 4x06 - Reynholm vs. Reynholm 5x01 - The Final Episode It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (10) 12x01 - The Gang Turns Black 12x02 - The Gang Goes to a Waterpark 12x03 - Old Lady House: A Situation Comedy 12x04 - Wolf Cola: A Public Relations Nightmare 12x05 - Making Dennis Reynolds a Murderer 12x06 - Hero or Hate Crime? 12x07 - PSTDee 12x08 - The Gang Tends Bar 12x09 - A Cricket’s Tale 12x10 - Dennis’ Double Life Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (30) 4x01 - February 12, 2017 (Trump vs. Truth) 4x02 - February 19, 2017 (Russia) 4x03 - February 26, 2017 (Affordable Care Act) 4x04 - March 5, 2017 (Tibet) 4x05 - March 12, 2017 (American Health Care Act) 4x06 - March 19, 2017 (United States Federal Budget) 4x07 - April 2, 2017 (Cannabis) 4x08 - April 9, 2017 (Gerrymandering) 4x09 - April 16, 2017 (2017 French Presidential Election) 4x10 - April 23, 2017 (Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner) 4x11 - May 7, 2017 (Net Neutrality) 4x12 - May 14, 2017 (Dialysis) 4x13 - May 21, 2017 (Stupid Watergate) 4x14 - June 4, 2017 (Paris Agreement) 4x15 - June 11, 2017 (UK General Elections and Brexit Negotiations) 4x16 - June 18, 2017 (Coal Mining and Bob Murray) 4x17 - June 25, 2017 (Vaccine Safety) 4x18 - July 2, 2017 (Local News and Sinclair Broadcast Group) 4x19 - July 30, 2017 (Alex Jones and InfoWars) 4x20 - August 6, 2017 (United States Border Patrol) 4x21 - August 13, 2017 (North Korea Crisis) 4x22 - August 20, 2017 (Nuclear Waste) 4x23 - September 10, 2017 (Joe Arpaio) 4x24 - September 24, 2017 (Corporate Consolidation) 4x25 - October 1, 2017 (Forensic Evidence) 4x26 - October 8, 2017 (Confederate Monuments) 4x27 - October 15, 2017 (Equifax Security Breach) 4x28 - October 29, 2017 (National Flood Insurance Program) 4x29 - November 5, 2017 (Economic Development Incentives) 4x30 - November 12, 2017 (Donald Trump’s Presidency) Legends of Tomorrow (18) 2x09 - Raiders of the Lost Art 2x10 - The Legion of Doom 2x11 - Turncoat 2x12 - Camelot/3000 2x13 - Land of the Lost 2x14 - Moonshot 2x15 - Fellowship of the Spear 2x16 - Doomworld 2x17 - Aruba 3x01 - Aruba-Con 3x02 - Freakshow 3x03 - Zari 3x04 - Phone Home 3x05 - Return of the Mack 3x06 - Helen Hunt 3x07 - Welcome to the Jungle 3x08 - Crisis on Earth-X, Part 4 3x09 - Beebo the God of War Legion (8) 1x01 - Chapter 1 1x02 - Chapter 2 1x03 - Chapter 3 1x04 - Chapter 4 1x05 - Chapter 5 1x06 - Chapter 6 1x07 - Chapter 7 1x08 - Chapter 8 The Lodge (3) 1x01 - The New Girl 1x02 - Reality Check 1x03 - Opportunities Luke Cage (6) 1x08 - Blowin’ Up the Spot 1x09 - DWYCK 1x10 - Take It Personal 1x11 - Now You’re Mine 1x12 - Soliloquy of Chaos 1x13 - You Know My Steez Master of None (5) 2x01 - The Thief 2x02 - Le Nozze 2x03 - Religion 2x04 - First Date 2x05 - The Dinner Party Making History (2) 1x01 - Pilot 1x02 - The Shot Heard Round the World Me, Myself & I (2) 1x01 - Pilot 1x02 - The First Step The Mindy Project (17) 5x08 - Hot Mess Time Machine 5x09 - Bat Mitzvah 5x10 - Take My Ex-Wife Please 5x11 - Dibs 5x12 - Mindy Lahiri Is A White Man 5x13 - Mindy’s Best Friend 5x14 - A Decent Proposal 6x01 - Is That All There Is 6x02 - A Romantical Decouplement 6x03 - May Divorce Be With You 6x04 - Leo’s Girlfriend 6x05 - Jeremy and Anna’s Meryl Streep Costume Party 6x06 - The Midwife’s Tale 6x07 - Girl Gone Wild 6x08 - Doctors Without Boundaries 6x09 - Danny in Real Life 6x10 - It Had to Be You Mr. Mercedes (3) 1x01 - Pilot 1x02 - On Your Mark 1x03 - Cloudy, With a Chance of Mayhem Mr. Robot (10) 3x01 - eps3.0_power-saver-mode.h 3x02 - eps3.1_undo.gz 3x03 - eps3.2_legacy.so 3x04 - eps3.3_metadata.par2 3x05 - eps3.4_runtime-error.r00 3x06 - eps3.5_kill-process.inc 3x07 - eps3.6_fredrick+tanya.chk 3x08 - eps3.7_dont-delete-me.ko 3x09 - eps3.8_stage3.torrent 3x10 - shutdown -r Narcos (4) 1x01 - Descenso 1x02 - The Sword of Simon Bolivar 1x03 - The Men of Always 1x04 - The Palace in Flames New Girl (1) 6x04 - Homecoming The Night Of (7) 1x02 - Part Two: Subtle Beast 1x03 - Part Three: A Dark Crate 1x04 - Part Four: The Art of War 1x05 - Part Five: The Season of the Witch 1x06 - Part Six: Samson and Delilah 1x07 - Part Seven: Ordinary Death 1x08 - Part Eight: The Call of the Wild NTSF:SD:SUV:: (22) 1x01 - One Cabeza, Two Cabeza, Three Cabeza...DEAD! 1x02 - The Birthday Party That Was Neither 1x03 - Exes and Oh-No’s! 1x04 - The Risky Business of Being Alone in Your Home 1x05 - Dolphinnegan's Wake 1x06 - Tijuana, We've Got a Problem 1x07 - Full Hauser 1x08 - Up Periscope, Down with San Diego 1x09 - Cause for ConCERN 1x10 - Piper Doesn't Live Here Anymore 1x11 - Twistin’ the Night Away 1x12 - I Left My Heart In Someone's Cooler 2x01 - 16 Hop Street 2x02 - The Real Bicycle Thief 2x03 - Sabbath-tage 2x04 - Lights, Camera, Assassination 2x05 - Time Angels 2x06 - Whack-A-Mole 2x07 - Robot Town 2x08 - Comic-Con-Flict 2x09 - The Return of Dragon Shumway 2x10 - Family Dies Powerless (9) 1x01 - Wayne or Lose 1x02 - Wayne Dream Team 1x03 - Sinking Day 1x04 - Emily Dates a Henchman 1x05 - Cold Season 1x06 - I’ma Friend You 1x07 - Van vs. Emily: Dawn of Justice 1x08 - Green Furious 1x09 - Emergency Punch-Up Preacher (8) 2x01 - On The Road 2x02 - Mumbai Sky Tower 2x03 - Damsels 2x04 - Viktor 2x05 - Dallas 2x06 - Sokosha 2x07 - Pig 2x08 - Holes Prison Break (10) 4x01 - Scylla 5x01 - Ogygia 5x02 - Kaniel Outis 5x03 - The Liar 5x04 - The Prisoner’s Dilemma 5x05 - Contingency 5x06 - Phaeacia 5x07 - Wine Dark Sea 5x08 - Progeny 5x09 - Behind the Eyes The Punisher (1) 1x01 - 3AM Queer as Folk (UK) (1) 1x01 - Episode 1 Riverdale (7) 1x01 - The River’s Edge 1x02 - A Touch of Evil 1x03 - Body Double 1x04 - The Last Picture Show 1x05 - Heart of Darkness 1x06 - Faster, Pussycats! Kill! Kill! 1x07 - In a Lonely Place Saturday Night Live (2) 42x19 - Chris Pine / LCD Soundsystem 43x03 - Kumail Nanjiani / P!nk Scream Queens (4) 2x07 - The Hand 2x08 - Rapunzel, Rapunzel 2x09 - Lovin’ the D 2x10 - Drain the Swamp Sense8 (11) 2x01 - Happy F*cking New Year 2x02 - Who Am I? 2x03 - Obligate Mutualisms 2x04 - Polyphony 2x05 - Fear Never Fixed Anything 2x06 - Isolated Above, Connected Below 2x07 - I Have No Room in My Heart for Hate 2x08 - All I Want Right Now Is One More Bullet 2x09 - What Family Actually Means 2x10 - If All the World’s a Stage, Identity Is Nothing But a Costume 2x11 - You Want a War? Shadowhunters (20) 2x01 - This Guilty Blood 2x02 - A Door Into the Dark 2x03 - Parabatai Lost 2x04 - Day of Wrath 2x05 - Dust and Shadows 2x06 - Iron Sisters 2x07 - How Are Thou Fallen 2x08 - Love Is a Devil 2x09 - Bound by Blood 2x10 - By the Light of Dawn 2x11 - Mea Maxima Culpa 2x12 - You Are Not Your Own 2x13 - Those of Demon Blood 2x14 - The Fair Folk 2x15 - A Problem of Memory 2x16 - Day of Atonement 2x17 - A Dark Reflection 2x18 - Awake, Arise, or Be Forever Fallen 2x19 - Hail and Farewell 2x20 - Beside Still Water Sherlock (3) 4x01 - The Six Thatchers 4x02 - The Lying Detective 4x03 - The Final Problem Silicon Valley (10) 4x01 - Success Failure 4x02 - Terms of Service 4x03 - Intellectual Property 4x04 - Teambuilding Exercise 4x05 - The Blood Boy 4x06 - Customer Service 4x07 - The Patent Troll 4x08 - The Keenan Vortex 4x09 - Hooli-Con 4x10 - Server Error Smallville (1) 9x06 - Crossfire Stranger Things (9) Supergirl (1) 3x08 - Crisis on Earth-X, Part 1 Superstore (3) 1x01 - Pilot 1x02 - Magazine Profile 1x03 - Shots and Salsa Teen Wolf (6) 6x11 - Said the Spider to the Fly 6x12 - Raw Talent 6x13 - After Images 6x17 - Werewolves of London 6x19 - Broken Glass 6x20 - The Wolves of War Time After Time (2) 1x01 - Pilot 1x02 - I Will Catch You Trial & Error (13) 1x01 - Chapter 1: A Big Crime in a Small Town 1x02 - Chapter 2: A Wrench in the Case 1x03 - Chapter 3: The Other Man 1x04 - Chapter 4: An Unwelcome Distraction 1x05 - Chapter 5: Right-Hand Man 1x06 - Chapter 6: Secrets & Lies 1x07 - Chapter 7: The Case Gets Big 1x08 - Chapter 8: A Change in Defense 1x09 - Chapter 9: Opening Statements 1x10 - Chapter 10: A Hostile Jury 1x11 - Chapter 11: Unusual Suspect 1x12 - Chapter 12: The Defense Rests 1x13 - Chapter 13: The Verdict The Twilight Zone (1) 3x08 - It’s A Good Life Twin Peaks (9) 2x11 - Masked Ball 2x12 - The Black Widow 2x13 - Checkmate 2x14 - Double Play 2x22 - Beyond Life and Death 3x01 - The Return, Part 1 3x02 - The Return, Part 2 3x03 - The Return, Part 3 3x04 - The Return, Part 4 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (13) 3x01 - Kimmy Gets Divorced?! 3x02 - Kimmy’s Roommate Lemonades! 3x03 - Kimmy Can’t Help You! 3x04 - Kimmy Goes to College! 3x05 - Kimmy Steps on a Crack! 3x06 - Kimmy Is a Feminist! 3x07 - Kimmy Learns About the Weather! 3x08 - Kimmy Does a Puzzle! 3x09 - Kimmy Goes to Church! 3x10 - Kimmy Pulls Off a Heist! 3x11 - Kimmy Googles the Internet! 3x12 - Kimmy and the Trolley Problem! 3x13 - Kimmy Bites an Onion! The Vampire Diaries (2) 8x00 - Forever Yours (Retrospective Special) 8x16 - I Was Feeling Epic Veep (10) 6x01 - Omaha 6x02 - Library 6x03 - Georgia 6x04 - Justice 6x05 - Chicklet 6x06 - Qatar 6x07 - Blurb 6x08 - Judge 6x09 - A Woman First 6x10 - Groundbreaking Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (8) When We Rise (8) 1x01 - Part I 1x02 - Part II 1x03 - Part III 1x04 - Part IV 1x05 - Part V 1x06 - Part VI 1x07 - Part VII 1x08 - Part VIII Will (7) 1x01 - The Play’s the Thing 1x02 - Cowards Die Many Times 1x03 - The Two Gentlemen 1x04 - Brave New World 1x05 - The Marriage of True Minds 1x06 - Something Wicked This Way Comes 1x07 - What Dreams May Come The Young Pope (10) 1x01 - First Episode 1x02 - Second Episode 1x03 - Third Episode 1x04 - Fourth Episode 1x05 - Fifth Episode 1x06 - Sixth Episode 1x07 - Seventh Episode 1x08 - Eighth Episode 1x09 - Ninth Episode 1x10 - Tenth Episode Total: 675 TV 2016 TV 2015 TV 2014 TV 2013 TV 2012

[trendingnewsb]

The Weird Origin Story of the Viral, Dangerous Hoverboard

A few weeks ago, I bought a new toy. $595 on Amazon, Prime shipping, showed up 36 hours after I clicked buy. It weighs 22 pounds, and, after about an hour of practice, I had it going top speed, about 6 mph. (It feels faster than it sounds.) I’ve fallen off it a million times, often after it does this weird seizure-crash thing that I cant figure out how to stop or predict.

My new toy is called a Two Wheels Smart Self Balancing Scooters Drifting Board Electric (blue), and it’s kind of like a Segway—but with no handlebars. It’s not a skateboard, but it’s kind of like a sideways skateboard? It’s like a scooter, ish? The world has mostly decided to call it a hoverboard. I don’t know what to call it.

Whatever it is, I love it. And it’s all Justin Bieber’s fault. It just looked so fun in his Instagrams.

All it took was one Instagram of Kendall Jenner on the board for the PhunkeeDuck to blow up.

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve seen it before. It’s sort of a phenomenon. Here is a (very) partial list of celebrities who have tweeted, Instagrammed, or YouTubed themselves riding one in the last couple of months: The Biebs himself, Chris Brown (who is awesome at it), Nick Jonas, Zedd, Soulja Boy, Kendall Jenner, JR Smith, Nicki Minaj, Wiz Khalifa, Nina Agdal, David Ortiz, Karim Benzema, and Skrillex. It’s been on the Tonight Show, and showed up at the NBA Finals.

Every time anyone uploads a video or picture of this scooter, the commenters all want to know two things: What’s that called, and where can I buy it?

That’s where it gets weird.

What’s in a name?

In late May, in front of a Fleet Week audience of military members, Jamie Foxx rolled onto the Tonight Show stage on a scooter. Once he figured out how to get off it, Foxx explained to Jimmy Fallon, “It’s, uh, a PhunkeeDuck,” as he rolled the board toward himself to make sure he had the name right. Fallon got on it, and did what everyone does their first time: wobbled jelly-legged for a minute, and then slowly inched around before getting comfortable.

That whole scene really annoys IO Hawk’s Curtis Hedges. Because, he says, that scooter was not a PhunkeeDuck. It was an IO Hawk, his companys product. Hedges tells me to look closely at the wheels, where there’s clearly an “IO” logo in the center. He’s laughing, too, as if he can hardly comprehend the idea that PhunkeeDuck isn’t stealing. And he’s right: PhunkeeDucks look just like IO Hawks, right down to the IO logos on their boards and wheels. That, Hedges says, is because they’re exactly the same thing. “Put a sticker on it, call it a totally different name, and start selling.”

That’s exactly true, actually. The PhunkeeDuck guys don’t even deny it. But they’re quick to dispute the idea that theyre rebranding IO Hawk’s board. “The owner of IO Hawk went around telling everyone he was the inventor of this product,” PhunkeeDuck co-founder Matthew Waxman says, referring to IO Hawk CEO John Soibatian.“That’s just completely false.”

PhunkeeDuck and IO Hawk are the two biggest players in this nascent scooter market, but there are many others. There’s Oxboard, Cyboard, Scoot, Future Foot, Monorover, Airboard, Freego, Esway, Airwheel, iEZWay, Overoad, and a hundred names more along the lines of Two Wheels Smart Self Balancing Scooters Drifting Board Electric (blue).

The real story doesn’t begin with IO Hawk or PhunkeeDuck. It begins, as just about any modern technology story does, in China.

Depending on which one you buy, you’ll pay anywhere from $600 to $1,800 for a scooter. But make no mistake: They’re all the same. The designs may vary slightly—sometimes the faux hubcaps are shaped in Mercedes-like triangles, sometimes there are five or six spokes—but like painting tiger stripes on your kitty cat, nobodys getting fooled here.

The real story of the scooter doesn’t begin with IO Hawk or PhunkeeDuck. It begins, as just about any modern technology story does, in China.

Made in China

Before we go any further, I need to admit that I don’t know, positively, where the scooter comes from. The Chinese manufacturing industry moves so quickly and with so little documentation that it’s basically impossible to fact-check any company’s cries of “first!”

But here’s what I think I know: Theres a company called Chic Robotics, which is also known as Hangzhou Chic Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd, and I think it invented the scooter. (There’s a scooter called the Hovertrax that predates it slightly, but it’s not quite the same thing.) Chic’s logo—the horizontal line on top of an oval that just so happens to look like “IO” when rotated 90 degrees—is plastered all over most versions of the board. And Chic’s name keeps coming up when you talk to the people selling the thing.

The company was founded in 2013, born in connection with China’s Zhejiang University. It was created to make stuff, obviously, but also to champion IP protection in China, to improve patents and copyrights and and foster what the company calls “sustainable innovation.” It holds a series of patents related to the scooter, and has diligently (and apparently pointlessly) attempted to protect them.

Chic’s first scooter was called the Smart S1. It debuted in August of 2014, with a goofy commercial that almost certainly isn’t meant to be goofy. It shows a man walking down the hallway, laden with heavy books and a heavy heart, before finally being saved by the smooth ride of the Smart S1. It’s like a bizarro take on a heartwarming Coke commercial.

In the fall of 2014, Chic took the S1 to the Canton Fair, China’s largest trade show. This semi-annual extravaganza attracts more than 180,000 buyers from around the world, there to see tens of thousands of Chinese exporters hawk their wares.

In China, the reward for being first is still just being first to be copied.

Chic’s supply of scooters disappeared quicklyeverybody wanted one. Soon, people were riding them all over the gigantic convention center. The hordes of buyers and suppliers were all over the Smart S1. Distributors across the world noticed, and so did other factories in China. Before long Alibaba was littered with manufacturers offering the same board—often using the same images and promotional videos, their logos hastily Photoshopped over Chic’s.

If you’ve seen one…

This manufacturing virality, where as soon as something is created it is immediately everywhere, isn’t unique to two-wheeled self-balancing scooters. It’s how Chinese factories make and sell everything from iPhone chargers to televisions to headphones. Or e-cigarettes, another recent favorite Justin Bieber accessory: Just about every brand is the same thing with a different label. “All you have to do is make a phone call to one of the six manufacturers or so in China that are producing these e-cigarettes,” says James Monsees, CEO of e-cigaretteer Pax Labs, “and youd say how much? And oh, I want it to be an orange tip on the end and say Orange on the packaging. Its an hour-long conversation…and youre in the e-cig business.”

In many ways, that’s one of China’s greatest assets as an industrial country. From iPhones to Harry Potter to Starbucks to basically the whole country of Austria, China’s ability to take anything and build it faster, cheaper, and maybe even better, is without equal. But China has made clear that it doesn’t just want to copy Apple anymore—it wants the next Apple to be Chinese. That would require better patent protection, and better regulation from the government. “The political economic institutions and system in China make it so entrepreneurs cant make profit by developing novel innovation,” then-Georgia Tech professor Dan Breznitz told the New York Times in 2011. As it is, the reward for being first is still just being first to be copied.

Because the Chinese manufacturing industry is so centralized, anything new spreads like crazy through the supply chain. One manufacturer creates a product; another reverse-engineers it and makes it too. And that next company can make it cheaper and faster, because it has no R&D costs. In most cases, this endless game of product-telephone makes the product worse.

Jeff Wells, who sells a scooter he calls The Scoot, ticks off a number of corners he’s seen factories cut. “Weaker motors, not as reliable batteries, gyro boards, improper motherboard design,” Wells says. “There are a lot of areas where they can shortcut.” He laughs when I tell him about my board’s nasty tendency to randomly start shivering uncontrollably, before spinning completely out of control and shutting down.

The PhunkeeDuck costs $1,499.99, and there’s a waiting list to get one.

“You probably, right now, have five manufacturers in China that are beginning to make these,” Wells says. He’s been importing products from construction materials to medical equipment for years, and says the key is quality control. “Youve got to tour the facilities, youve got to see them manufacturing over the long-term basis.” Because when factories take shortcuts, the problems that crop up can be hard to see in an online listing, and they can be devastating.

That’s why the Scoot costs $695, when you can buy a seemingly identical device on Alibaba for $200 or so. (He thinks the magic price is somewhere in the $500 range, though, and says we’ll be there by Christmas.) The craziest part? Wells is actually leaving a lot of money on the table. IO Hawk, an LA-based company with a virtually identical story (and product), sells its scooter for $1,799.99 and still can’t keep up with demand. The PhunkeeDuck costs $1,499.99, and there’s a waiting list to get one.

Lets talk about the PhunkeeDuck. Its sold by PhunkeeTree, a New York-based company that began as two guys repackaging and re-branding phone cases and chargers for stores like Nordstrom and Forever 21. Last year, the guys went to the Hong Kong Electronics Show, to talk to their existing suppliers and to see what else they could add to their selection of chargers, cases, and cables. “While we were there we actually found this other factory that for the first time debuted this product to a select few,” Waxman says. “And we happened to be in the right place at the right time, so we started working with them to customize our own version of it.”

“Customize,” at least in this first version, consists of putting PhunkeeDuck stickers on the board and its box. Waxman and co-founder Maxx Yellin say they’re working with the factory—which they won’t name—to modify it in more significant ways, and says patents are a-pending. But they won’t share details yet.

Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

IO Hawk is a step ahead, having launched first—at CES in January—and already offering a few improvements in its model. Theres a metal frame, for one thing, which can take a heavier load. It can handle up to 400 pounds, though they don’t advertise it as quite that high. The company is also developing custom firmware for the device to make it run better. And, like PhunkeeDuck, IO Hawk claims it has big ideas it’s not ready to share for fear they’ll be stolen.

While they wait for patents to be granted and modifications to be implemented, though, this scooter just keeps popping up in unexpected places under new names. And with every celebrity appearance, every Instagram of Chris Brown dancing or Nick Jonas rolling into a pool, the pace picks up even more. After PhunkeeTree managed to get Kendall Jenner a board, thanks to a well-placed friend in LA, all it took was one Instagram of her being a little bit too confident on the board for the PhunkeeDuck to blow up. (That gram alone netted 1.1 million likes.) Celebs starting hitting them up left and right for samples, and as they shared their adventures on social media more people wanted to try them too. “We didnt have to ask them to post,” Waxman says. “They just loved it so much that Chris Brown was riding it around, and Wiz Khalifa was using it onstage.”

One of their most consistent askers was the rapper Soulja Boy, who finally got a PhunkeeDuck after months of pestering. A couple of days after his board arrived, a new device hit the market: The Soulja Board. $1,500, available in green and red. Its site, souljaboard.com, was put together so quickly there’s still dummy text on the About page.

“He starts posting, hey guys come buy my Souldja Board,” Waxman says. “And he’s standing on our PhunkeeDuck!”

Read more: http://ift.tt/2esRPIZ

from Viral News HQ http://ift.tt/2oLFm7k via Viral News HQ

[mystery-star]

Now you’re Back – John Biebe (Part 2 / 5)

Pairing: John Biebe x fem!reader

Warnings: abusive ex, molesting

Words: 3’248

All Parts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Do no repost my work on other sites or platforms

-

To your dismay, you saw Justin again the following day. Since you had been working in the afternoon, John had, as always, picked up your son from school and took him to his office until you were done. That was also where you saw your ex, outside the sheriff’s department, in a discussion with your husband.

“Oh finally, someone with brains arrived” Justin commented as he turned to you “Could you tell that hillbilly that he cannot simply give me a fine for parking here?” you frowned

“There’s a sign that says ‘reserved parking’. So a fine sounds about fair”

“Reserved for who? Family? Because I am family”

“No you’re not” John commented, simply continuing the ticket

“Oh come on, you’re not really pulling that through. I’m just here to see my son. If you hadn’t made such a drama about it you wouldn’t even be here” your husband looked up

“As I see it, you’re the one making a drama”

“Well, maybe you have to if you can’t even get your rights regarded up here”

“We do have law up here. You break it, you get punished”

“More like arbitrariness” your ex muttered “Well, fine go on. I don’t care. I probably make more money a day than you make in ten years. You know what? I bet you’re just jealous”

“That I have to buy my son’s love with presents and faked niceness? Or need trying to woo back my ex?”

“Oh no” Justin shook his head “I’m definitely not the jealous one here. You better get that in your head asshole” again your husband looked up

“You want another fine or libel writ?” his tone and the way he held his little notebook made him look so much like a waiter offering a guest a coffee that you had to snort with laughter.

“Do you think that’s funny?” Justin sounded pissed. For a moment you wanted to shake your head but then you nodded

“Actually, I do. Is Simon still inside?”

“Yeah” John agreed and you entered, finding your son waiting outside your husband’s office already.

“Dad said John’s gonna arrest him”

“What?”

“It’s something about a car. And Dad said John will arrest him because of it”

“No, of course not. But you know; Justin did park his car where he can’t. And that is not allowed. So he will need to pay a fine as punishment. It’s just money. No one is arrested for illegal parking”

“So Dad will be fine?”

“Yes” sadly.

“Can we go outside now?” you nodded and waited until he got dressed completely before you went outside with him. Instantly, the boy ran to his father and Justin picked him up

“You ready to go?”

“Go?” you asked

“Oh, he’ll spend the rest of the afternoon with me. Or are you gonna forbid it and disappoint your son?”

“Don’t say no Mom. You can come with us”

“Oh yeah that’s a great idea”

“I don’t have time” you lied “But you two can spend the afternoon together” you disliked it but you didn’t really have much of a choice.

-

It was very late when Justin brought your son back but you didn’t really mind because at least you knew that your ex hadn’t abducted him or something. While he wouldn’t admit it out loud, you knew that your son was dead tired and told him to get ready for bed. As he went to the bathroom, Justin asked if you wouldn’t like to spend time with him too and you finally could tell him what you really thought of him and send him to hell. But before he left, Simon ran back to you

“I lost Bearnie!”

“Bearnie?” Justin asked

“His ice bear plushie” you supplied. It was your son’s favorite toy and he needed it to fall asleep. John had given it to him the first time they had met. To your surprise, he really loved it right away and it became one of his ‘must-haves’ to fall asleep. The other thing being the stuffed bunny that was with him since the day he was born.

“Ah come on, the boy is seven, he doesn’t need that stupid thing, right Simon?” your son just broke out in tears and John joined you, kneeling down in front of the boy and placing his hands on his shoulders.

“Where’d you leave him? At my office with your new car?”

“I don’t know. I know I took the car to Dad’s place. But I don’t know about Bearnie”

“Alright. You promise me to get ready for bed, I’ll go and look for him”

“What?” Justin started laughing “You go back to town because of a child’s toy? Can’t you get it tomorrow?”

“He needs it to fall asleep” you said

“Are you serious? He’s seven” he turned to John “You shouldn’t support that. How’s he supposed to grow in a man if he can’t fall asleep without a piece of cloth?”

“What if he gets cold?” your son whimpered

“He’s an ice bear. I’m sure he’ll be fine. And John said he’d get him, okay? And maybe he’s still inside” you could see Justin roll his eyes and when your husband got his keys he tried to stop him again but to no avail. Before he left, however, John made sure that also your ex left.

-

To your surprise, John appeared the next day as you wanted to pick up Simon from school. Apparently, he had gotten a call from your son’s teacher, Skank Marden that he should come because he wanted to speak to the two of you.

“What’s going on?” you asked the blond man after the children had left the classroom and you had entered instead.

“Sit” exchanging a glance with your husband you did as he asked.

“So?” Letting out a sigh, Skank sat down too

“Your son’s been behaving odd today”

“Odd?”

“He didn’t finish his homework. I think that’s a first”

“You called me here because he didn’t finish it?”

“No because apparently you told him he didn’t need to do it. That homework was useless and that he could just copy it from a classmate”

“You said what?” you turned to John. That almost couldn’t be. You had a feeling he was even stricter what concerned homework than you were. There was no way John would have said that

“However that’s not even the main problem”

“Come again?” what else had happened?

“He got into a fight”

“A fight? With whom? Why? Is he okay? And the other kid?”

“Yes, a fight with Bill. They’re both okay, luckily”

“What happened?”

“I only know what happened from what I was told by bystanders and the two boys. Apparently, Simon asked Bill to show him the homework so he could copy it, as John had advised him to do. Bill refused and so your son kicked him because that was something you have told him to do as well if someone didn’t do as they were asked”

“Why do you think it’s John who told him that?”

“Simon said so”

“Okay…” you glanced to and fro between the two men “I don’t have a clue what’s going on. I mean… come on, Skank, you know John too. You know he’d never teach him such things. Or do them himself”

“Yeah well…” Skank seemed embarrassed “I thought it sounds strange too. That’s why I called you, John” you too glanced at your husband, who had gone silent as he usually did when something happened that he wasn’t happy with.

“But why would Simon lie?”

“And where did he learn it then? On TV maybe?”

“No, he hasn’t watched anything out of the ordinary lately…”

“He said he heard it yesterday. You’re sure he hasn’t watched TV while you were working or something?”

“No, John always takes him to his office after school’s done”

“I started helping him with the homework” John said “Then, after he’d completed half of it, I allowed him to take a break and he could go outside to play with his car before he continued. But before he came back, Justin arrived. He’d have taken the boy with him without me even knowing if he had not come back to get his stuff”

“Justin?”

“My ex”

“He wanted to take your child? Just like that?”

“Well, I cannot really forbid it since he’s his real father” a thought crossed your mind “Wait a minute, what exactly did Simon say when he told you who gave him these stupid ideas? Which words did he use? Better said how did he call the person who told him?”

“His Dad. He said his Dad showed him” he glanced back to John

“Ah. Oh well” you sighed in relief “that makes sense”

“How so?”

“Well, Simon doesn’t call John Dad yet. But ‘Dad’ is his biological father, Justin. I can see him telling my son stuff like that, ‘cause that’s just thing he would do himself…” the teacher nodded.

“Makes sense. What are we gonna do now?”

“I’ll talk to Simon. I’ll tell him that what his father told him is completely wrong and that he has to apologize and never do something like that again. Where is he?”

-

Luckily your son seemed to realize himself that his action weren’t right (at least hitting someone because he tried to discuss the fact that homework had to be properly done). But what bothered you most was that he still didn’t seem to grasp the fact that Justin was an asshole who only cared about himself and that Simon shouldn’t listen to him. It seemed like you needed to have a discussion with Justin instead to have him stop telling your son such things and get him in trouble.

However, it seemed that your ex also had ideas that got yourself into trouble. For example the following day, as you were waiting by the car for your husband and son to return from the locker room after the Saturday game. But only John returned

“Where’s Simon?”

“Went with Justin” he sounded pissed

“Why? How? What happened?”

“He must have waited for us and intercepted us. He said he needed to talk to Simon. I mean what could I do? Ben and Galin tried to persuade him to stay with us and come to the locker room but the little bud said he’d go with Justin. So I tried to talk him out of it and Justin was like ‘What John, are you gonna make a scene now in front of your friends?’ you let out a growl. You wanted to say something but didn’t know what.

“Did he at least say when he’d be back?”

“He said they needed to talk”

“They ‘need’ to talk? That can only be something I’ll dislike” you clenched your fists. “I wish I could just….”

“He’ll be back any minute” John said, placing a hand on your arm. “He can’t take him anywhere far. His car’s still here, so we’ll see them if he tries to take him” you gave a nod, feeling at least better that he couldn’t just abduct Simon or something. But then you saw your son walking towards you with a huge beam in his face. At first you smiled too then you saw his father behind him.

“Mom look what Dad gave me!” Simon shouted and ran the last couple of feet until he was in front of you and shifted his arms so you could see the kitten he was holding. “He said she’s mine and I can keep her”

“Well, boy” Justin said with a grin “Of course your mother will first have to agree. I mean it’s an animal and it will be living in her house” damn that man. He was once again trying to make you the bad guy.

“Oh can I keep her, please Mom?”

“Hey bud” John said “You know, an animal is a load of work. And it costs. I don’t think it was right of him to just give it to you without asking us first and getting your hopes up”

“I can’t keep her? But I would take care of her”

“A pet still costs money” you said “Hey” you looked at Justin “How about you keep the animal at your place. So Simon can see it whenever he’s with you?” you knew that he actually disliked cats “I mean it’s your gift after all. So it will always have a connection to you”

“Yeah” John said “That’s a great idea. You keep it. That settles the matter”

“But…” you could only smile when you saw Justin’s helpless face. And hell it felt good to give him a taste of his own medicine

“Don’t wanna keep it? When you first gave it to him?”

“No, of course not!” he crossed his arms “It’s just a bit sudden. And I don’t have anything prepared”

“Well, the shops are open in the afternoon. Come bud, let’s give the kitty to your father, shall we? Ah I think the hotel you’re staying at charges extra for animals. And make sure to close the doors not that it escapes and gets lost. That would break the little bud’s heart. To have his new friend gone and worrying about her welfare”

-

While you had almost had a feeling that Justin would want to get back at you for what happened on Saturday, his ‘revenge’ still came unexpected. At least if it was his form of revenge and not just another of his usual crazy ideas. When the school director called you to inform you that your ex had just picked Simon up from school in the middle of the break and didn’t bring him back for the rest of the day, you were taken by complete surprise. After hanging up the phone you directly went to town, better said Justin’s hotel room to ask him what the hell he was thinking and who he thought he was. Somehow, you were almost a bit surprised that he even was here.

“Yeah, can I help you?” he asked leaning into the doorframe with his bare chest. He probably was currently doing his daily training.

“You just took Simon from school today! They called me to say that you picked him up in the break. Where is he?”

“Oh come on, I didn’t abduct him or something. I just passed by, saw him and asked if he wanted to do something more fun than school. Simon agreed so here we are”

“You know exactly that this is wrong and you can’t just take him from school when the day isn’t over! I want that you tell me where he is so I can get him back to school”

“And you think he’ll like that” he leaned closer “Do you think he’ll like it if Mom came here to tell him he’s gotta go back to school”

“He might not like it now but later when he finished school and gets a good job he’ll thank me. Thank me for not having become like you” you must have pissed him off more than you thought because he grabbed you by the jacket and pulled you inside

“What did you just say, you bitch?” you wanted to make another witty remark but fear overtook you “What was that, huh? All silent now that your darling husband police man isn’t around to protect you?”

“That’s what I meant” you said “you probably didn’t finish school so you’re too dumb to understand” still holding onto you, he pressed you against the wall and came closer. Just as you wanted to scream, he pressed a hand over your mouth. Now a panic rose in you and you fruitlessly tried to fend him off

“Look at you” he tutted “All helpless against me, huh? Don’t you worry” the hand he had used to grab your jacket instead wandered down “I’ll have you enjoy this. I’ll make you regret you ever left me. You’ll be begging for me in no time” his hand reached your thigh and he squeezed it, moving even closer so you could feel his arousal. You started to feel awfully sick when his hand wandered up and it impeded your ability to think straight. However, in the end, it was a good thing because the sickness made you vomit and when Justin pulled his hand away from your mouth, it went all over his legs and feet. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” he pulled away and after a moment of shock, you wiped your mouth and ran away “Just you wait! If you dare to tell anyone about this I’ll tell them you vomited over me and have you arrested for it!” not even thinking of Simon right now, you stormed out of the room, down the stairs. But not even outside did you stop to catch your breath. Leaving your car behind, you ran the short distance to your husband’s office.

“(Y/N)” one of the deputies greeted you “What are you doing here? Are you alright?” first you nodded, then shook your head and finally gave a shrug. One of the women brought you a cup of water but you shook your head again.

“W-here’s…?” you panted

“John? In his office” once you stood in the room did you realize that you had forgotten to knock

“Hey” John greeted but his smile disappeared after a short while “What’s wrong?”

“I...” you still had to catch your breath and rubbed your hands together. He came over to you, taking them into his own

“Are you okay?”

“Dunno” you whispered and tried to fight the tears. You wanted to tell him what had happened but were scared about Justin’s threat. “Can… you be arrested for vomiting over someone?”

“Vomiting over someone?” he sounded surprised

“Well you know, if you accidentally vomit over someone. Can this person charge you?”

“Of course no one can stop him or her from reporting it. But I highly doubt that someone will look into it. How did you even get that idea?”

“It’s a long story” you told him everything that had happened in the past half an hour. But once you reached the part where Justin had pushed you against the wall, he more or less pulled you out of his office and got dressed, telling you to tell him the rest in the car.

“Calm down” you told him when you noticed how aggressively he was driving. He only gave you a look that spoke volumes and didn’t change anything about his driving style. You sighed and wondered if it had been better not to tell him everything.

“Do you want to stay in the car?” he asked once you had arrived. Shaking your head you got out and followed him to Justin’s room

“What now?” Justin bellowed when he opened the door, this time only dressed in his boxershorts. For a moment he froze once he beheld John “So you did run off to the police for backup, huh?”

“Where’s the little bud?”

“What’s all this fuss about? We’re just making us a nice afternoon. Where’s the matter with that? By the way do you know what actually bothers me? That you’re calling my son ‘little bud’ all the time. You don’t have the right to give him a nickname since…” he stopped when John simply pushed him out of the way to enter the room.

[mystery-star]

Now you’re Back – John Biebe (Part 1 / 5)

Pairing: John Biebe x fem!reader

Warnings: abusive & toxic ex (being abusive), talks of past noncon/rape

Words: 4’104

All Parts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Do no repost my work on other sites or platforms

-

You found you had fought enough in your life. Therefore, it was a huge relief and elation to have a loving and caring man by your side. To be able to let go and feel safe in his arms and forget your worries for a moment. And to have found a devoted father for your son who could be an actual role model, compared to his biological father who was a bragging numbskull, prone to get violent when something displeased him.

Of course that didn’t mean that John and you now had a storybook marriage, take the last weeks for example, you had grown apart a little with your husband starting to exclude you from his problems and life. You weren’t sure what exactly the reason was but you supposed it was because he had been kicked out of the local hockey team and then had to take the coaching role when the others had the opportunity to play against the New York Rangers. It had only gotten better when he could pass that role to the judge, who had been coaching more in his life and John was made team captain instead. After that you had confronted John, telling him you felt a little neglected and that he now had no reason to play the sorehead anymore, now that his sorrows were gone. The situation had been resolved on the following day and you finally had your husband back, enabling you to look forward to the game.

Now that the game was over and with the Rangers having departed normality was coming back to your lives. Of course it still was topic number one in town but slowly, all the excitement died down. Still, the Mayor expected growing tourism in the following weeks and you could clearly live without this. But as you were waiting in front of the school on Tuesday at noon, you had to realize that there already was one visitor. Someone you had hoped to never see again – Justin, your ex-boyfriend and father of your son. And you instantly knew he was here because of you. He must have seen you on TV! Gulping, you checked your watch and saw it still were 5 minutes before your son’s lesson ended. Maybe you should go waiting inside so you could intercept him before Justin saw the two of you. Then you only had to consider how to get to John since you had agreed that he’d pick you up at the school and you’d have lunch together. Unfortunately, before you could make up your mind, Justin had seen you and came over.

“Well, well, look who’s here” you turned your head away

“You’re the one who came up here” you reminded him “What do you want?”

“Oh wow, so spiteful. I’m here for you and my son, of course”

“No chance. I’m never coming back to you” you growled “So you might as well leave”

“Oi” he grabbed you by the hip and yanked you around that you faced him “You left me! You took my son away from me! You stole from me!”

“It was my money. I earned it and you bagged it without giving me anything”

“I paid for everything you and the little one needed. That not enough?”

“Let me go” you hissed, trying to push him away but he only pulled you closer. For the first time in more than three years, since you had left that asshole, fear welled in you. He only gave you a grin

“Come on, I know you still want me. You always wanted me” you gave him a push and he just looked like he was about to hit you but stopped when the doors of the school opened and kids ran out. It was your son’s class and you swallowed. Hopefully Simon wouldn’t recognize his father. Maybe, if you just left the two wouldn’t even recognize each other. But you knew Justin well enough that he wouldn’t give up until he had seen his son, at least if that was why he was in Mystery. After he spotted you, Simon hurried over to you. Then his glance fell on Justin and he stopped short a couple of feet in front of you.

“Dad?” he asked and you bit back a groan.

“Hey look at you, all big now huh? How you doing, son?” he squatted down and spread his arms and Simon ran towards him, hugging him tightly “Oh I’ve missed you, little one” yeah, likely story…

“I missed you too, Dad.”

“Well, apparently your Mom thought you don’t deserve to see me and separated us” manipulative ass you thought.

“But you’re here now”

“I am” Simon smiled and it was like a punch to your stomach. Great. He had already managed to win him over. Tousling his hair, Justin got up and turned to you “I’m finally back. And you’ll leave with me”

“No” you muttered that your son wouldn’t hear it. He placed his hand on your face but you removed it. Again, his hands were on your hips and pulled you closer.

“Leave me alone”

“Well, Simon, it seems like your Mom doesn’t want to kiss your Dad. How mean of her”

“I’m not kissing you. In case you somehow didn’t get the message, my leaving is equivalent to us breaking up”

“Are you sending me away? To leave your son without a father?” oh how you hated him.

“He has a new father” you corrected “And I have a husband now, so fuck off” Justin only chuckled and you felt his hand squeeze your buttock. Tears were burning in your eyes and to top it all off, your ex leant closer to kiss you. At that your vital spirits were revived and you had the strength to push him away and tried to remove his hands from your body.

“Why did you hit Dad?” and you had thought this couldn’t get any worse.

“Yeah, (Y/N), why do you hit me?”

“Sweetheart…” you turned to your son. But what did you want to say? What could you say? You heard car door being slammed and all three of you turned your heads. A relieved moan left your lips when you saw John. He came over to you and Justin glanced at him.

“Is there a problem, sheriff?” he asked, not so friendly. Stopping two feet in front of you, John raised an eyebrow and you tried to push your ex away while looking at your husband, silently begging him to help you.

“Let her go” he then said, crossing his arms. Justin just chuckled

“Oh no it’s alright. That’s my girlfriend” again, John came closer and gave the other male a hard glare “Who are you even?”

“Her husband”

“You’re her…” he laughed “Ah right. I remember you”

“Remember me?”

“From the game”

“So that’s how you found me” you muttered although you had already suggested it.

“Yeah. And I’m glad for it. ‘cause now I’m with my family again” he tried to pull you closer but you stepped back and finally managed to break away from him. Instantly, you clung to John’s arm, trying to hide behind him.

“Come, I’m hungry, let’s go” you said, hoping you could finally leave your ex.

“Can’t Dad come with us too?” Simon asked, making you swallow. You glanced to your husband, hoping he wouldn’t agree to it. Oh, how you wanted to say no and send the idiot to hell but you couldn’t do that in front of your son. But John just remained silent.

“Another time, maybe” you said, hoping it wouldn’t come to that.

“Well” Justin said “I’m sorry, Simon. It appears your mother doesn’t want me with you” he let out a deep sigh. “Means I won’t be able to come with you, little one. I’m sorry I know you were really hoping to talk to me after you haven’t seen me in such a long time” you wondered if John would arrest you if you beat the hell out of that asshole right now. Or if maybe he would help instead. “Well, have fun you three” he turned to your son “Don’t worry, we’ll surely see each other again soon. I’ll make sure of it!” you almost felt like vomiting but at least he left.

“You okay?” John asked and you gave a little nod, not wanting him to know how much the meeting had distraught you. At least not while your son was here. “Who was that?” your husband wanted to know as you were in the car.

“Justin. My ex”

“The little bud’s real father? What… why is he here?”

“To win me back of course, at least that’s what he said” you spat with a dismissive hand movement. John’s mouth fell open and he glanced at you quickly before turning away and nodding. He tried to play it down but you knew that it was bothering him. You sighed “I don’t want him though. Never again” John’s face had a surprised expression on it.

“You don’t like him?” you shook your head in disbelief and let out a bitter laugh

“Just how much do you think I like him if I just grabbed my son, most important belongings and moved up here, into this lonely little town within less than 20 hours? I was hoping to never see that asshole again” again he nodded but you still had a feeling he didn’t believe you. And if you were honest, this was almost worse than Justin being here. John was supposed to be on your side and help you! Once you arrived at the diner, you told the other two to go inside already, you needed to look for something. After they disappeared through the door, you pulled your feet onto the passenger seat, buried your face against your knees and cried in peace. You only shot up when you head the car door open again. Of course it was John and you quickly tried to dry your tears.

“Hey there” he said “What’s wrong?” at first you considered not telling him but he set one foot into the car and took your hands in his. “Is it because of your ex?”

“Of course it’s because of him! I told you I never wanted to see him again and yet here he is, talking about wanting me back!” you didn’t care that you were shouting “And then, to top it all off, you have nothing better to do than to be jealous and imply I still like that ass!”

“I didn’t imply…”

“But you thought it! You doubted my word. That’s bad enough” he was silent for a while

“Did he do anything?” you didn’t know if you liked that he changed the topic. But you also didn’t really feel like fighting. After all, you knew how emotional he was and that he might think like that in the first second. Deep down, however, he knew what he meant to you and also believed you.

“Touched me. And he tried to kiss me. But what bothers me most is how he tries to set Simon against me. To make me look like a bad person in his eyes” you sniffed and wiped your nose. “What if he wins him over?”

“He won’t” John promised

“Can’t you just arrest him, send him away or I don’t know?”

“Not unless he did something illegal. And if he does, I promise, I’ll make him pay” you gave a tiny nod “Come, let’s go inside. He’s not worth the tears. We’ll distract you” after you agreed, he helped you out of the car and led you inside.

-

Luckily, you had heard nothing from Justin the following day. But the day after, as you prepared dinner, there was a knock at the door and of course it was your ex. You wanted to ask what he was doing here but could already guess the answer.

“How the hell did you find me again?” you asked instead.

“It’s a small town. I asked around for you” he made a move to enter the house but you stopped him “What?” he raised his voice a little “You wanna forbid me to see my son?” much to your dismay your son came running at the door from his room. But you were glad that also John came.

“What the hell do you want?”

“Seeing my family of course. Or is that now illegal?” you wanted to retort something but instead Justin turned to your son “Hey there, I was terrible last time we saw each other, I didn’t even think to give you something. Here you go, Simon” he handed him a large present.

“Wow! Can I open it?” Justin nodded and Simon proceeded to rip the package open in the doorframe

“Sweetheart, don’t do it here please” you turned to the man “Thanks for bringing it here but I don’t want the cold to come inside the house… so see you another time” you wanted to close the door in his face but he grabbed the door too to stop you.

“You’re sending me away?”

“Can’t he eat with us?” Simon asked, having looked up from his present. John took it and placed it on the table, calling your son with him

“Oh yeah, that’s a great idea. Then we can try out the present later on!” you glared at your ex.

“I haven’t cooked enough for four”

“What?” Justin chuckled, then turned to John “You letting her starve or can’t even feed her right?” either your ex was oblivious of John’s death glare or didn’t care. “Well, might be better if she’s on a diet. She did put quite a bit of weight since she left”

“That’s enough” you growled, trying to push him away from the doorframe.

“A car!” Simon squealed that moment and Justin just moved past you into the house “Look, Mom! It’s a remote controlled car”

“That’s great” you replied, trying to ignore Justin who helped your son to open the box and you turned to your husband instead “Please tell me that’s trespassing and you can arrest him”

“Arrest me?” your ex protested and also Simon didn’t look too happy

“No, you can’t arrest him!” you clenched your fists

“Get lost” John said

“Or what?” Justin taunted “You gonna arrest me anyways?” he put on a big smile and stepped closer to you “See, the way I see it, we’re like one big family”

“We’re not” you corrected “the only thing that connects you to any of us is the fact that you’re related to Simon”

“Ah come on, I know you still want me”

“I most certainly don’t! The only reason I haven’t thrown you out yet is because I cannot find a reason to forbid you to see Simon” you refrained from adding that you would find one in fear he could say it out aloud that your son heard it

“You know, (Y/N), before my visit’s over I’ll have you begging for me on your knees”

“Get out” you breathed, glad your voice still worked at least.

“Hey Simon, wouldn’t you like to have dinner with me now?”

“Yes!” he jumped up, leaving the half-unpacked car on the table and joined his father “Can I?” you exchanged a glance with John. Hell, you didn’t want that asshole to take your son. What if he never brought him back? But if you said no, Justin surely would find something to make you the bad guy in the eyes of your son again.

“Well, it’s a little late…” you started “If you leave now, eat something and then have to come back you won’t really have time to try out that new car”

“Then Dad can stay and eat with us”

“That’s a really great idea! And I’m sure your Mom will be happy to be able to talk to me as well. And I could get to know your step-father here and we’d become great friends”

“Yes!” your son was thrilled now while you just wanted to cry.

“Okay” you finally said “fine by me, you can stay” you glared at your ex.

“There, I knew you couldn’t resist me” he gave you a charming smile but you only turned away, to your husband

“Unless you want him to leave?”

“You really wanna be the bad guy and send me away? You think Simon here would like that?”

“I never said I’d send you away” judging by his tone, however, you knew there was nothing he’d rather do.

“Well” Justin said and sat down at the table. “How ‘bout a beer before you go back to work, (Y/N)?”

“I’m not your slave. Besides, there’s no beer in the house”

“No?” he turned to John “What do you drink then?”

“I don’t”

“You don’t drink? What kinda man are you?”

“A decent and nice one” you muttered as you retrieved glasses and plates to set the table

“John, could you get that box to the living room and help Simon to get it started? Then I can set the table” two could play the game you thought. Justin may have brought the gift but if it was John who helped to get it working it gave them a reason to bond.

“Wait a moment that’s my present”

“Oh, I’m sorry, you seemed busy sitting in that chair” before he could do or say something, John already grabbed the box.

“Let’s go bud” giving a vigorous nod, Simon followed your husband to the living room. Not looking too happy, your ex did the same.

“Oi, just a second that is my car”

“Technically, it’s Simon’s because you gave it to him” you simply had to smile. “Or you wanna forbid me to help the little bud?”

“No, no ‘course not” Justin muttered and returned to the kitchen. Of course it bugged you but at least you could retort this time because your son wasn’t around.

-

By insulting your cooking skills and then ‘magically’ conjuring up some chocolate to help your son avoid the ‘stinky vegetables’, Justin had almost succeeded in breaking you. For a moment you had to excuse yourself and you started crying in the bathroom. A little later you were joined by your husband who wanted to make sure you were okay and couldn’t stand sitting at the same table as your ex without wanting to beat him up as he admitted. Despite everything, you were glad he was with you and was on your side.

When Justin finally left, of course after having tried out Simon’s new car with the boy, you felt huge relief. You didn’t even care that Simon stayed up longer than usual because he wanted to play with his car. But finally, you managed to get him to bed anyways, after John promised to let him try out the car outside tomorrow where he had more space. Shortly after, you went to bed as well but sleep wouldn’t come. It was like Justin’s visit had ripped something open in you that made you scared and unsure of yourself.

“What’s wrong?” John finally asked “Is it about Justin?” you gave a little nod. “What is it exactly?”

“Don’t know” you replied “Just everything. I’m scared he’ll take Simon with him”

“He won’t. The little bud loves you and he’d never leave you” you swallowed

“But what if Justin’s right and he manipulates me or threatens me so I’ll have to go with him?”

“You think he’d do that?”

“Dunno. It could be. I hope not”

“Hey” he placed a hand on your cheek, moving closer “I’m here to help you. No matter what he does, you tell me, okay?” you only nodded.

“Today he told me he wanted to make me pay. Because I stole from him”

“Stole?” you sighed

“When I said that he was an ass and I left him I… played it down a little. I mean it wasn’t that he hurt me all the time. Just sometimes. It were mostly words. But I couldn’t go anywhere because he made sure that my wages that I earned in the store I worked were directly paid to his own account” you let out a sigh “Maybe I was stupid for having put up with it so long”

“Why didn’t you go to the police?” you looked at him and let out a snort

“I did. Twice actually. The first time after he hit me. I wanted to report it and the officer just asked ‘Are you really sure it’s your boyfriend that hit you?’ Well, in my anger I told him that no, it actually was the president who’d dressed up as my boyfriend. He didn’t seem to like that and I figured it’s better if I left”

“What was the second time?” you were silent because that particular memory was one you were less fond of “It’s okay” John said after a while, “you don’t have to tell me”

“No” you said “I need to get it out” you took a deep breath “Justin’s had a bad mood and we got in a fight over something. I think it was because of Simon and the fact I’ve been taking care of him ‘too much’. He demanded I make it up to him but I told him to go fuck himself and he actually did back off. But then as I was in bed he joined me...” you swallowed “he tried to convince me again but I said no. He didn’t care. I tried to push him away but I had no chance” you rubbed at the tears that were forming in your eyes “First thing I did the following day was going back to the police station to press charges. Just that time, they were even worse. If I was aware of the ‘gravity’ of my claims and what it could do to Justin. Or if I was certain I didn’t want it. Whether or not I had had an orgasm as well and how much I enjoyed it. If I had done anything to turn him on before. Or had agreed to it beforehand and then forgot to tell him. Maybe I should have left already then but I stayed, answered the questions. They asked what I had been wearing. I still stayed and answered the questions. Then this one guy went like ‘Were you aware that your boyfriend had those needs in that moment?’ When I agreed he just asked why I had refused to take care of them in the first place. I told him that I was not his fucking sex doll and didn’t have to listen to his every whim. ‘But you could have agreed to help the both of you’. At that I just got up and asked how they even wanted to investigate murders if they couldn’t even pester the victim with questions like ‘are you sure you don’t want to be dead?’ or ‘And you say you didn’t enjoy being stabbed at all?’” you were really glad that you didn’t break out in tears as you had imagined.

“Was that when you left him?”

“No. I still couldn’t because I had no money. But first thing did after leaving the police department was heading to the bank to open my own account. Then I asked my employer to pay my wages to that account. That went on for about three months. Justin didn’t even notice because he didn’t even check the money regularly. But then I came home after a shift one evening. Simon was having a temper tantrum and Justin just was holding him by the shoulders and shaking him violently, shouting at him to ‘shut the fuck up, you dumb baby’” you shook your head as if to get rid of the image “I got up very early the next morning, took his credit card and after he left to work, I packed mine and Simon’s stuff. At the bank I withdrew the amount that was rightfully mine, destroyed the credit card and quit my job without notice. Three hours later we were on a plane to Fairbanks”

“I don’t think that’s stealing” you chuckled

“Well that’s good or I’d be in trouble for telling you that” again he placed his hand on your cheek, gently stroking it

“I’m sorry you had to go through all this. The moment he tries anything I’ll have him arrested, I promise”

“I know” you said “But thanks” he buried his nose in your hair. “Thanks for being here for me” you added more quietly.

[mystery-star]

Now you’re Back – John Biebe (Part 5 / 5)

Pairing: John Biebe x fem!reader

Warnings: abusive ex, child abduction

Words: 3’851

All Parts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Do no repost my work on other sites or platforms

-

The words struck you like a lightning. They paralyzed you and you could only stare at them, as if you hoped for them to change or disappear. Your thoughts started spinning. So that was Justin’s revenge. He was taking your son with him. Or would he just abandon him somewhere, or worse, hurt him? A feeling of sickness welled in you and you had to support yourself against the counter.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” you could only shake your head but finally, you got a grip on yourself and stormed out of the building. At first you only wanted to get in the car and try to go after your ex and Simon. But you didn’t even know where they went. So instead, you went to see your husband. Underway, tears started to spill but you didn’t really mind. Once you were in the office, you marched straight for John’s door.

“Wait!” Bobby called “He’s in the middle of an important call, you should…” it was too late because you had already opened the door and were inside, so he stopped talking. But when you saw John on the phone you did start to feel bad and the crying increased. You clung to the piece of paper as if your life depended on it.

“I’ll call you back later” John said and came over to you “What’s wrong?” you sniffed “What happened?” he pulled you into an embrace. Digging your fingers into his jumper, you continued crying. He started stroking your hair “Shhh. It’s alright”

“Justin left” you whispered.

“Why does that bother you? I thought that’s what you wanted?” you gave a small nod “Then what happened? Did he do something?”

“I wanted to pick up Simon from Eric’s place. But I was told that… Justin already picked him up. I went to the hotel and heard he left. He-he left that letter for me at the reception” wiping your nose with your sleeve you handed him the letter. He slightly opened his mouth and didn’t utter a sound. “We have to go to the police” you said quietly.

“(Y/N)…”

“No!” you shouted “Don’t you even try to talk me out of this. He abducted my son. Our son! We have to do something. So I will go to the police” when you saw him smile, you hit his chest “Do you think that’s funny?”

“Just wondering where you intend to report it”

“So what? Mystery sure has… oh” you realized what he had found so funny. You basically already had gone to the police. The sheriff better said.

“Did he say anything about how he arrived?”

“No, not really. Only that he took the plane. I mean he rented a car somewhere up here because he complained about the prices. So I guess he’ll leave by public transport as well” he nodded.

“Good. We can get him!” he squeezed your upper arm and then nudged you to follow him outside of his personal office. “Betty” he called writing something down on his notepad “I need you check a license plate for me. A rental. I need to know where it’s from and if it’s already been brought back” she nodded and got to work. Someone else was tasked with going to the hotel to ask the receptionist if he knew anything where Justin might have gone to and that he should confiscate the trash from his room in case they needed it later on. You could see that someone threw him a glance as if she wondered if he still was right in his mind. After all going through someone’s trash was something you only knew from TV. And usually only for murderers. Then, John took you back to his office to go through the formalities together. Later you returned to the house of Simon’s friend to hear when he had picked up your son, which obviously must have been at around the time he deposited the letter at the reception of the hotel. Eric’s mother also told you that Justin had seemed a bit in a hurry so he had forgotten to pack Bearnie and left him behind. Not that your son took the plushie to school everyday but sometimes when he wasn’t having a great day or visited friends he liked to pack it. You returned to the sheriff’s department together

“It’s a company in Fairbanks” Betty reported “But they haven’t gotten the car back yet”

“I understand” John gave a nod “Tell them to let us know the second it’s returned. Who returned it, who was with him and so on”

“What are we looking for?” she asked.

“Simon” he just said

“Simon?”

“Her ex took him and intends to take him to where he lives. Bobby, you call Fairbanks International Airport. Ask them to let us know if he booked a flight there and where he intends to go. Tell them it concerns a child abduction” he gave the full names of both Justin and Simon and their descriptions. “Allow him under no circumstances to take the little bud to that plane! And if he’s not there, try other airports in the area”

“Got it”

“(Y/N), you’re coming with me”

“What? To where?”

“The airport”

“I’ll let them know you’re coming” John nodded and you went back to the car, ordering them to tell him anything of importance that they found and packing a mobile phone since the radio only had a limited range.

“Thank you” you whispered, not sure what else to say. At first you were both silent and you felt the bad feeling increasing “Do you think we can do it?” you asked, pressing Bearnie to your chest.

“We can” he said. But you knew that you had get Simon while he still was in Alaska. Unless of course Justin sill lived in the same flat as you used to a couple of years ago. But you doubted he was stupid enough to take Simon there.

“What… what if he doesn’t even plan to keep him? What if...?” you couldn’t voice the thought that he might just want to get rid of your son.

“I don’t think he’d actually hurt him. Maybe abandon him somewhere” again you broke out in tears “Not in the wild. Somewhere with people”

“Like the airport?”

“Maybe” you nodded although it didn’t really calm you.

“What if we hear that he booked no flight for Simon?”

“Then it’s a clear case of abduction. We’ll call reinforcement” his tone and body language told you it bothered him too. After all, if Simon wasn’t with Justin it was a lot harder to find him. To calm you both, you placed a hand on his lower arm and gently rubbed it a little. “We won’t give up until we find him. I promise”

-

The drive to the airport seemed to take forever. John instantly went to the counter, explaining the case and asking if there was someone he could talk to. They referred you to airport security. You had to wait a little but once the officer was here and after your husband identified and introduced himself, the other man immediately went to the computer. It was a relief to hear that Justin had bought two tickets for the same flight; one for him and one for Simon. And they had even checked in already!

“They’re here” John tried to calm you “We’ll find them” he turned back to the other man “When is their flight scheduled? He mustn’t take the boy onto the plane”

“The flight goes at 8.35 PM. And how do you want him to be stopped? Arrested?” your husband explained the situation and that he didn’t care if Justin left. Just that Simon stayed here. The man seemed skeptical

“I’m his mother. Simon’s” you supplied

“And do you have any proof for that?”

“I… ah wait, I can show you my driver’s license” you handed it to the guy, glad that you had not taken John’s name upon the marriage but insisted on a double surname for yourself; for Simon’s sake who had your surname. “But how did they check in? Where did Justin get Simon’s passport?”

“Good question” he handed you the mobile phone and told you to call their department in Mystery and ask if it looked like someone had broken into your house. Giving a nod, you went outside to take care of it. Bobby answered the phone and informed you that he had received the information that Justin and Simon where at the airport you currently were even before you could say something. Then it was your turn to tell him what you suspected and asked him to check out your house. He promised to do so and you asked if there were any other updates or information John or you should know about. Since the call probably cost a fortune, you soon hung up and returned to the office. In the meantime, John must have asked the security officer to start a search for your son. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much that you could do besides sitting here and waiting. At least the man offered you a drink. Suddenly, the door opened and another officer entered.

“Mr. Paulsen? A word” the man gave a nod and the newcomer leant closer, whispering into his ear. Mr. Paulsen nodded. Then he turned back to you

“It seems we have them”

“You have them?” you breathed “Where are they?” he explained that apparently, your ex had a quarrel with a security officer and once he got physical, they took him in.

“And-and Simon?” he nodded.

“They boy’s there too” again he turned to his colleague “Bring us there” as you left the office, John took your hand and squeezed it. Near the check in you were stopped. Apparently, the other security people weren’t gonna let you through without a ticket. There was a lump in his throat but John already took over, explaining the situation and showing his ID and that he was after Justin because of child abduction. Mr. Paulsen confirmed and so the other officer nodded and allowed you to pass. However, as you wanted to follow them, he stopped you

“Not you”

“What?”

“She’s with me” John said

“And it’s my son!” you protested

“Sorry, Ma’am”

“But…” you didn’t know what to say. John came back and put his hands on your arms

“It’s okay. I’ll get him. Just wait here” although you didn’t like it you nodded. “I’ll be back as soon as I can” before he let go of you, he pressed a kiss to your forehead.

“John?” you asked, handing him Bearnie “Can you give it to him?”

“Sure” you saw the man that had come to Mr. Paulsen’s office giving you a sympathetic look, then they continued. With a sigh you took a step back and looked after them. Once they were gone, you started pacing. About a minute later you saw the security guards throwing you a weird look. So you decided to stop. Instead you read all the instructions and signs you found. Because you didn’t know what else to do, you read them a second time. Later you sat down on a bench and started playing games with the people that walked by. For example, counting all people with green jackets. Or that wore black hats. However, once you saw a mother saying goodbye to two little kids before going through the check-in you stopped. Instead you started reciting Simon’s favorite bedtime story as good as you could inside your head. Finally, you saw John approaching, carrying Simon in his arms. With a gasp, you jumped up and hurried towards them. Your son noticed you

“Mommy” he cried and after he was put down, he ran over to you and fell round your neck. You pulled him closer and tried your best to hold back the tears that were forming in your eyes. Although you were glad to have him back, it almost broke your heart to hear his sobs.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. I got we. We got you” you glanced up at your husband, whispering a thank-you.

“Can we go home, please?”

“Yes, of course” John said. You were glad to hear it. You feared you had to stay here for statements or other stuff that needs to be taken care of.

“They don’t need us?”

“No. I settled everything. They might contact me again tomorrow though”

“What… about Justin?”

“Not our problem. Airport security will deal with him but it’s looking like they’ll just let him go”

“I hope so” you muttered. After all, what would happen, if Justin couldn’t fly and had to stay? Would he return to Mystery to torment you further? Banishing the thoughts, you picked up your son “Come, let’s go home” Simon nodded and wrapped his arms tighter around you. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” your son shrugged

“He shook me. And shouted at me”

“Why? What happened? How about you tell me everything?” as you walked to the car, Simon explained how his father had asked if he wanted to do something fun. But they would need something first so he took him to your home (probably to get his passport, as you assumed) before coming here. Upon arriving Simon had started to feel weird but his father had assured him they’d just take a little trip.

“Then I saw the ice bear” you supposed he referred to the stuffed one at the airport “I wanted Bearnie to meet it. But I couldn’t find him” he sobbed. “I told Dad I want to go back and get him and he said I wouldn’t need him. He got angry and pulled me along. He said if we got him, we couldn’t do the trip. I asked about you and he said you didn’t come. I-I… didn’t want to go without you and I was scared. He got angry when I said I want to go back” he stopped and let out a hiccup

“Is that when he shook you?” you barely saw his nod

“He said you’re a… whore and that we don’t need you. What’s a whore, Mom?”

“Oh... uhm… that’s a woman with a special job. To… sleep with men to get money. But it’s also used as an insult” again he nodded

“He also insulted John. And said that I would live with him now. And that he hated me. That I was dumb and I would never see you again. So I did what you told me”

“What I told you?”

“When someone I don’t know talks to me or takes me and makes me scared. To hit him and bite him and scream and shout” he sniffed “Dad got very angry. Then a police man came and asked what is going on and now Dad started insulting him. He tried to attack him and got arrested. They took me too. We were in that room and they questioned us” he looked up for the first time during his tale “Then John came” this time you nodded. When you reached the car, you insisted to be on the backseat with Simon. The three of you were all silent. Sometimes you caught John looking at you in the rear-view mirror and you gave him a smile. Not even twenty minutes into the drive, Simon fell asleep against your shoulder.

-

When John stopped at the sheriff’s department in Mystery, you were confused.

“Need to take care of a few things” he said “You take the little bud and go home already” although you weren’t pleased, you nodded. As you tried to transfer your son to your own car, he woke up, clinging to you

“Where’s John?” he whispered

“He has something at the office to take care of. He’ll be home with us any minute” at least you hoped so. “I’ll cook some dinner in the meantime. I bet you’re hungry” it was already past 7.30 PM and you realized only now how hungry you were.

Since you were too tired to cook something big, you just opened a can of goulash soup and heated it up. John wasn’t home yet, so you decided to eat already. Although you doubted he completed his homework while he was with Eric, you didn’t go through it like you usually did. You just asked if he was ready for school tomorrow and left it at that when he nodded. Surely his teacher would understand if something was missing tomorrow. Or if your son wanted to stay at home. He surely had already heard what had happened. You began to worry when John wasn’t home in the next half an hour. Simon seemed to be feeling the same because he insisted he couldn’t sleep until he was here. So you let him watch TV with you just for once. As soon as the door opened, he dashed away and when you came into the kitchen as well, you saw the two of them hugging.

“Not in bed?”

“Mom said I can wait for you. I couldn’t sleep” your husband picked him up

“Then off to bed you go” Simon obviously was so tired he didn’t protest at all. He only insisted on getting a bedtime story but quicker than usual, he was fast asleep. You closed the door to his room and let out a sigh.

“All done?” you asked “There’s some soup left if you’re hungry” he only nodded and helped himself while you sat down next to him, pulling up your knees. “I checked the house. Justin didn’t seem to have stolen anything. Well, except for the passport. But that one was in Simon’s bag. I put it back” you rubbed your temples and leaned over the table to squeeze his forearm “Thank you. For everything”

“Just did my job” when he smiled, you did the same.

“But how did they just let you take Simon at the airport? I mean for all they knew you could have been the one abducting him”

“Simon’s told them his story. And the second I entered the room, he jumped up to hurl himself into my arms. Guess they noticed he knows and likes me. They asked Simon if he knew me anyways. Plus, I identified myself as sheriff” he shrugged

“Yeah, probably” your finger traced a pattern on the table

“Never saw the little bud so scared. He clung to me like his life depended on it. He only let go of me when he saw you” you nodded

“I know. He does like you a lot. I mean… as I told Justin before, you’ve been a greater part of his life than he was. I bet he likes you more. And after today he would choose you over his father” he only nodded. For a while he was silent

“(Y/N)” he spoke in a questioning tone as if he was unsure about what was to follow “I was thinking… would you mind if I adopted him?”

“Adopt him? Simon?” he nodded “Yes. Yes, I think that would be wonderful. I mean… since he’s your stepson already that should be quite easy?” he chuckled

“If we wait a couple of months yeah”

“Why that?”

“You need both biological, better said current parents’ permission. Unless one parent has abandoned the child for six months and not paid any child support in twelve months” now you chuckled too

“I see. Justin sure will just disappear again, I hope” you nodded “That really sounds great” you squeezed his lower arm again “Thank you. But maybe we should talk to Simon too. I don’t think he’d disagree though”

-

A nightmare must have woken Simon just an hour or so after John and you went to bed. Before you could get up to have a look, he already toddled into your room with both his plushies in his arms.

“Come here, sweetheart”

“I want to sleep here” he declared once he was lying in the bed between you and your husband

“Of course” you tousled his hair.

“Will Dad come back here again?”

“I don’t know. I hope not”

“Will he hurt me again?”

“I won’t let him” John promised “He won’t get anywhere near you. Or your mother” Simon turned to John

“What about you? What if he hurts you?” he chuckled

“I’d like to see him try” satisfied, your son nodded

“And the baby?”

“I will protect all of you. All of us, okay?”

“Somehow I wish he wasn’t my father” he sniffed

“You don’t need to see him again if you don’t want to”

“But why was he so nice when he came here? He said he hates me”

“Oh baby” you stroked his hair “He tried to win us back. I mean not really. More to win you over. He hoped that you would leave me to be with him. Because he knew that would hurt me”

“He only wanted to hurt you? Not spend time with me?”

“I don’t know. But he did it because he wanted to hurt me. That was a huge reason.”

“Why does he do this?”

“I don’t know. Some people enjoy hurting others. Or think they can always get what they want, no matter the cost”

“That’s mean”

“I know” he cuddled closer to you but took John’s hand and held it tightly

“I don’t want to leave here” he said quietly “I like it here”

“We won’t leave” you promised. Sometimes it astonished you. You hadn’t really planned to stay there. Maybe a couple of months before going to a bigger place. And you would have left, had it not been for John.

“Will the baby like it here too?”

“I’m sure it will”

“But… is it really my brother or sister? I mean John is not my Dad”

“The baby will be your half-brother or half-sister, officially. But I bet you’ll be as close as twins anyways” you ticked his side.

“But doesn’t it confuse the baby if it calls John Dad and I don’t? What if he or she doesn’t like me?”

“Why would your sibling not like you?”

“Because I’m not part of this family”

“Of course you are” you assured him at the same time John did.

“I have an idea” Simon said, in a conspiratorial voice “What if we don’t tell the baby the truth?”

“Not tell him the truth?”

“That I’m only the half-brother. We could tell it that John is my real Dad” you exchanged a look with your husband. Was it clever to tell him of the adoption idea now? Before you could decide, John did it anyways. “You mean then you would be my real Dad?”

“More like your official father. Your new father”

“I like that” he said, turning to him and clinging to his nightshirt “Can-can I call you Dad then? Or no, I don’t want to call you like I used to call… Dad. I will call you…. uhm….” John patted his head

“Think about it in peace and then call me whatever you want, okay?”

[mystery-star]

Now you’re Back – John Biebe (Part 3 / 5)

Pairing: John Biebe x fem!reader

Warnings: abusive ex, mentions of violence

Words: 2’929

All Parts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Do no repost my work on other sites or platforms

-

“Simon?” you called and went further in, hoping to find him.

“What’s wrong with the two of you? Are you forbidding me to spend time with my own flesh and blood?”

“If I were you I’d shut up”

“Oi (Y/N), you got any idea what’s it with this guy? Can’t he behave like a normal human instead of a caveman?”

“Says the guy who can’t even dress properly”

“In contrast to you I got a body to show off. Can’t believe she left me for… this”

“Stop it you two” you hissed. You had seen your son in the bedroom, watching TV and wanted to focus on him without fearing the two men might beat each other to pulp. “Hey sweetheart” you greeted and your son only now looked at you

“Mom? What are you doing here?”

“The school called!” you were only relieved to see him “They said you left. I was worried”

“Dad said this would be our little secret”

“Well, he didn’t say anything but that’s what happens when you miss school. Come here, let’s get you back to school” for a moment you thought he would refuse but he got up and walked over to you

“Dad said I could watch TV all I want”

“I know. But there’s much more than that in life” you ruffled his hair “Come on, I’m sure your teacher’s worried about you”

“He hates me. Because I hit Bill. I got punished”

“He doesn’t hate you. It’s just to make sure you won’t do something like this again. It’s like I said the other day. If you do something that is wrong, there will be consequences”

“Am I in trouble now because I left school?”

“Maybe” you said. If you were honest you hoped he would be. So he would see that his father wasn’t a hero and could be the cause for trouble… “But maybe they’ll consider the fact that you returned if we leave now” he nodded and you led him back into the main room

“What are you doing here, John?”

“Your mother brought him” Justin said nonchalantly “I don’t know why. Maybe because she thought she couldn’t handle it alone” ignoring him, you got your son’s jacket and helped him put it on

“What happened to the kitty?” John asked

“Oh that? Turns out I’m allergic” Justin said, faking a cough.

“So Dad promised that I can choose a pet once we get home”

“Home?” you asked

“Yes. When we go back home with him” he put on his hat. In shock you let go of Simon and felt your shoulders slack.

“Sweetheart” you said with a teary voice “We’re not going ‘back home’ with Justin. He and I broke up, our relationship is over. Besides, we live in Mystery now. With John. That’s our home and you like it here, don’t you?”

“But Dad said he wants you back. That he is lonely and he wants to spend time with us” more fool him, you thought

“And what about John?” you asked “He would miss us too if we left. And you would miss him too, wouldn’t you?”

“He could come with us!” Simon was all enthusiastic now

“I doubt he’d do that” Justin said “He lives here, knows only this. He’s got a job here. Don’t know if he could ever fit into society. And he’ll get over you. You’re not his son” you avoided looking at your husband.

“Stop saying things like that” you told your ex “You can’t decide all alone. It’s mine and Simon’s life too”

“And you really think staying here is best for him? What about his future? And you really want to stay in this shithole for the rest of your life, (Y/N)?” your son was looking to and fro between you and Justin. “You know, I’m sure we’ll have a lot of fun, Simon. You could play any sport you want, not just hockey. We could even get you into a club so you can train properly. How’s that sound? And we could get you a nice bike”

“Yes!”

“I’m sure you’ll love it. It’s a big city where…”

“Stop talking!” you shouted with tears in your eyes then turned to your son “Sweetheart look… Moving somewhere is a big deal. And it costs a lot of money. You don’t just do it lightly. And your father and I we… I mean I don’t love him anymore. That’s why we left. We had a huge fight and we’re mad at each other so we don’t want to live together. Because this is big too. You see each other every day. Besides, John and I are married now. I cannot just leave him. I also love this place here and the people. And you wouldn’t want to leave me, do you? Or leave your friends here”

“But…”

“Don’t be so egoistic, (Y/N). I said I was sorry. You know I miss you and how lonely I am. And I bet you feel the same about me, deep down” you hated how soft his voice was. But you knew that it was all a lie and he was only trying to set Simon against you even more. “You know exactly that it’s not the best for the boy to stay here. Or do you want to ruin his future because you fell in love with a pile of snow?”

“Will you really be lonely if we don’t go with you?” Simon asked his voice sounding teary. And you were on the verge of tears too. You hoped that John would say something too but he probably was too hurt to say anything right now.

“You are my family. Of course I will be lonely without you”

“Mom” Simon turned to you “I don’t want him to be sad”

“Sweetheart…” you placed your hands on his shoulders “He’s exaggerating. He won’t be lonely. He just wants us to be with him. If he really cared about me he would accept the fact that I am now happy here. But he thinks that he has the right to make us leave with him. He could find someone new if he really wanted to. And…” you swallowed “I mean I’m not saying that you never have to see him again. You could visit him”

“Visit? You want to take my son from me again? He can’t just come over for a weekend! He’d have to travel across the country”

“Well if you cared about Simon that much you could move up here so it’s closer. Fairbanks is rather big, maybe that will do! If this really was about seeing him”

“Oh, so I have to move? You took him! You left me all alone! It’s your fault. You should be the one moving”

“I left you because you hurt me! And you hurt Simon. That’s why I’m here in this little town. I wanted to avoid that you’ll find us and hurt us again”

“Bad for you they arrived here with national TV… Just like it was fate”

“Please, stop fighting” Simon said.

“Maybe we should ask Simon what he wants. Maybe he wants to come and live with me now instead of you”

“Oh yeah?”

“At least I never robbed him of his father and had him leave everything behind because I was being on an ego trip and had a fight with someone. This is all your fault”

“I only left because you have been hurting Simon! But I should have left earlier for all you’ve done to me. I stayed for Simon’s sake. Because I love my son!”

“He hurt me?” Simon asked.

“See? He doesn’t even know what you’re talking about! I would never hurt my son! You are lying”

“I’ve had enough” you said getting up “We will not continue this discussion” Justin let out a sigh

“Oh Simon, I’m sorry. It looks like we won’t be able to live together like that. That or you’ll have to leave your mother if you want to be with me. But I suppose she just has to be like that. Doing whatever she wants without thinking about anyone else”

“That’s not true!”

“It seems like your mother doesn’t want you to be happy, son. She doesn’t consider your wishes at all. Or mine. She only thinks of herself”

“Mom…” you didn’t know what to say.

“Let’s discuss this another time” you said

“So you can think of more lies or ways to manipulate our son?”

“You started this by promising him that you’ll take him ‘home’. Because you wanted me to disagree so he’ll hate me”

“Why don’t you say it out loud, huh? Why don’t you just tell your son that you love that man more than him? Or me? That you’re an egoistic little bitch who only thinks of herself”

“I have the right to be happy” you said, feeling yourself shake with anger “And I wasn’t happy with you. So I left. And I was scared you would hurt Simon if I left him with you, so I took him. I might have taken away his biological father. But when I married John I gave him another father figure. Did you ever go and play with him on Sundays? Would you have agreed to babysit him when I’m out? Or would have helped him with his homework? You never liked him. You called him ‘the baby’ or ‘the brat’. You never spoke his name and ‘scolded’ me for paying too much attention to him. Whenever you interacted with him you did everything completely wrong. You held him wrong. You shouted at him. You shook him. You insulted him! You knew nothing of children and you don’t know either now. You can’t always spoil them or let them do whatever they want. They need some form of guidance. And if you cared about him, you would see that” you took a deep breath “And while John may not be his real father he treated him better than you ever could. From minute one, he’s been there for him and tried his best to be a great father” you wiped some tears away “And he nailed it”

“You dare…” you just interrupted him again

“The road to Mystery isn’t a one-way street. Simon can always leave the town to do his studies or move away when he’s grown up. It’s not that his future is doomed here. He’s made friends here. Quite a lot of them and you can’t expect him to leave all this behind because you’re feeling lonely. Which is your own fault by the way because you didn’t know how to treat me right. And maybe one of the reasons I don’t want to leave John is because I have the feeling that if Simon is back with you he’ll lose the one person who was an actual father to him! The only things you’ve ever done since you were here was trying to win his love with presents or by twisting everything to make me look bad in front of my son. And I’ve had enough of that! I don’t know what exactly you want but you surely don’t want Simon back because you love him. Maybe you just want him in order to hurt me. But I won’t let you. Because I love my son and I will protect him at all costs. Even from you, his own father if I need to”

“Are you done now?” he sounded annoyed.

“Yes. Let’s go, Simon” you took your son’s hand who looked a little confused. “John” you held out the other hand for your husband who instead placed a hand on your back and led you outside.

“Thank you” he said once you had reached the car, making you smile.

“Nothing you have to thank me for. I just spoke the truth” he opened the car door for your son “Well, I didn’t say the whole truth. I only talked about you and Simon. Not about you and me because here I feel the same”

-

“Hey Mom” your son asked a couple of days later during dinner. For you it had been rather quiet days, Justin had spent some time with Simon but somehow he had not had more stupid ideas he told him about. Or at least your boy never mentioned any.

“What is it, sweetheart?”

“Can I practice hockey with Dad tomorrow?” you exchanged a glance with John. Since your son wasn’t on the level as other kids his age here, John always played hockey with him once a week. And also because both of them really liked the sport and bonding together

“I think you should discuss it with John. These are your sessions after all”

“Can he even skate?”

“I don’t know. Or you both could come! That would be great” somehow you had expected John to say no, but he finally nodded

“Alright. Tell him he can come along”

You weren’t sure if you liked the fact that both the men would be together alone. After last time you feared something worse could happen and you didn’t even know why John had agreed. Had he planned something? Or was he trying to be nice? No, you knew John well enough to know that he never tried to be nice to someone he disliked.

Once they returned from their little game, you let out a gasp. A bruise was forming at the side of John’s temple and his lip was split open.

“What happened?” you asked

“Oh that…” he chuckled

“That’s not funny!” Simon dashed to his room to put his stuff there while you dragged your husband to a chair, sat him down on it and got an ice cube from the freezer, holding it against his lip while sitting down in his lap “What happened out there?”

“Turns out your ex really doesn’t know how to skate. So we put him in the goal and played one on one”

“Dad was real good” Simon who had just come back reported “He blocked almost all of our shots” you exchanged a glance with your husband.

“That or did you maybe not even try to score?” you muttered and when you saw his mouth twitch you knew that it probably had never been his goal to get the puck past your ex. But to hit him instead. You just let out a sigh but couldn’t hold back a smile either. Was that why he had allowed him to come? To be able to hurt him or make him stay away from their trainings at least?

“Well, at some point Justin wanted to play too…”

“And you were goalie instead?” you asked, nodding at his injuries

“Nah. The little bud”

“Dad got angry when John hit him”

“Hit him?” in what way had he hit him?

“He wouldn’t accept that it wasn’t a foul and tried to insult us. Well mainly you and me. Then he tried to lunge at me” he shrugged

“They went down and were fighting on the ice” Simon said with almost a little pride in his voice “and in the end, John pinned him down. Dad was angry and left”

“You won?” somehow you were surprised about that outcome. But also happy. Was it just that they were on the ice or was your husband also stronger?

“I told him if he ever dared to make you or the little bud uncomfortable or worse, I’d have him arrested”

“And what if he reports you?”

“For what?” he chuckled “I didn’t do something illegal, not even something that’s not allowed in hockey. I mean he could report me for hitting back but where would he do that? In my own office? And would he want to admit he attacked first? No, I think he’ll keep that to himself”

-

Somehow you felt slight satisfaction when you saw the bruises on Justin’s face the next time you ran into him. He did indeed look a little worse than John. And you could also tell he was furious about what had happened and wanted to know if your husband was still right in his mind for simply attacking him. He added that he would go to the police if John wasn’t the sheriff and was complaining about it for quite a while. For some reason you just stayed and listened, feeling more and more gleeful about his misery. But then he almost suddenly stopped and threatened that he would make you pay. That he would make sure to receive sole custody for Simon. He argued that he had a lot of money after all and could offer the little one a better home and future than he had here. Not wanting him to know the threat scared you almost shitless you told him he’d never get Simon and had left.

Not being able to take care of Simon after that, you had asked John if he couldn’t watch him for a few hours. Then you went home and tried to relax and get rid of the thoughts in your mind. Surely Justin wouldn’t do as he had said. He had only meant to scare you. He wouldn’t want custody. Maybe only to hurt you.  Besides, even if he did, it wasn’t said that he would win. Yes, he might have more money and lived at a better place but with you Simon had even a stepfather. And he knew the place better than he knew his old. That was if Justin still lived where you used to.

[mystery-star]

Kevin Durand as "Tree" Lane and Russell Crowe as John Biebe (and others) in Mystery, Alaska (1999)

@mrs-mikko-rantanen as promised the first gifset from the (background) Tree Lane appreciation series. Hope you like it.

[mystery-star]

Whumptober 2023  - Day 2 | Thermometer

Pairing: none, but from a series that will be John Biebe x fem!OC

Warnings: sickness

Words: 2036

A/N: Now this OC has been on my mind for way too long and I’m happy to finally introduce her to y’all 😊

Today’s prompt: Thermometer

-

February 1982

Another coughing fit wrecked through Bee’s body. It wasn’t before long that the door opened and her mother entered. She placed a mug of tea on her nightstand and sat down on the chair next to the bed, holding out her hand to check her temperature. Bee only let out a moan and tried to pull away, not appreciating to be touched when she already felt so bad. With a sigh Joanne Burns took the thermometer from the nightstand.

“Your temperature has risen again” she commented after the measurement was done, making the teenager shake her head.

“But I’m so cold” she muttered, trying to pull the blanket even further up.

“Then drink some tea, sweetheart” she let out a huff and wanted to retort something when there was a knock at the door. Bee almost shot up, having an idea who this might be. In fact, the visits of her classmate, and probably now something like a friend, John were the highlight of her day. She knew she was right about her thought when she heard her little sister cry out his name in joy. Despite the pain, Bee let out a soundless chuckle. It would seem she was not the only infatuated with John, Marla obviously liked him just as much. After he’d greeted the baby and her mother, he entered her room.

“Hey” she gave him a smile and tried to pat the chair next to her bed but didn’t even feel strong enough to get her arm out from under the blankets. In frustration she tried to paw at the bedsheet but it didn’t work much better either. Luckily, he still got the clue or planned to sit down anyways.

“How are you today?”

“Don’t know. The same. Sick” she grimaced “Anyways, the better question is what you did in school” the main reason his visits had started were because John learnt that her friend Charlie only brought her the homework and she would have appreciated to hear what they learnt firsthand too. So John, who felt responsible for her sickness, even though it was not his fault, started to come to her place every day to not just deliver the homework but also all the papers they did in school and give her a recap of the day. Then she had been well enough to go back to school but not even two weeks later she started to feel worse and worse during school and had finally fainted on the way to the toilet whereupon she was sent home and it was soon discovered that the pneumonia had come back. That had been four days ago. And this time even worse than before because thanks to the last time her body had built up an immunity to the antibiotics.

“Alright” John said opening his bag and taking out today’s papers they must have worked on. Bee turned on her side so she could see it better and also face him a little more. “We got started with the tangent today in math. It’s related to sine and cosine and actually is the quotient of them both. At least I guess” he said getting out the paper. “Yeah right here. The sine of the angle divided by its cosine equals the tangent”

“So I need to know these other two first?”

“No. ‘Cause then he let us derive how you get it using the sides”

“Oh that should be easy enough” she muttered and John handed her the pencil that was on her nightstand and placed the paper on the book “Let’s see…. We know it’s the quotient of sine and cosine, which means we’ll replace that with their respective functions, which should give us a nice compound fraction that we’ll have to solve, which’ll most likely end in another fraction. Alrighty then, we have sine… and the cosine…” she wrote down the functions “Oh would you look at that. Hypotenuse is both times the denominator, guess that makes it gonna get ruled out. Meaning you’ll use the quotient of Adjacent and Opposite but don’t know which one’s gonna be denominator and which the numerator. Probably Opposite for the latter because it’s used for the sine which is on top and won’t be turned upside down” John chuckled

“Don’t think anyone even figured out what to do in the time you basically solved this”

“Well, it’s just rules and logical thinking. No calculating”

“Well alright, finish your ‘thinking’ then so we can go on to the calculations we got to do” with a nod she wrote down the next steps when she felt cold again and then her teeth started chattering “You okay?”

“Ju-just cold” she answered and wanted to snuggle up further when her whole body started trembling and she shivered even harder. That was odd. She usually only reacted like that if she was at a cold place and didn’t realize it was in fact that cold and that perhaps she should have dressed warmer.

“Woah, Bee” he had jumped up “It’s alright, calm down” he tried to cover her up further, taking away the pencil and putting her arm under the blanket too “Here have a drink” he wanted to help her sit up but she felt too weak to move willingly and hell, she also panicked a little because she had had shivered before but never that heavily. “Mrs. Burns!” of course it wasn’t before long that her mother entered, asking what was wrong but then just hurried over to Bee, wanting to know what happened “I don’t know. She was doing homework, then started shivering and said she felt cold. Then she started to tremble like this” her mother put a hand to her forehead and although she wanted to fight her off, Bee was too weak to do it.

“Get me some wet towels from the kitchen. The cupboard left below the sink” she had not even finished when John already left the room and she heard her baby sister coo out his name. Meanwhile, Joanne tried to entice her to drink some tea too but Bee only turned her head away “What do you need, sweetheart?” instead of answering, she shook her head, trying to curl up further to warm herself because not only the trembling was unnerving but the coldness too.

“I didn’t know of you meant cold or hot towels so I brought both” she heard John but didn’t have the strength to look up

“Warm” she just muttered

“Put it on her face” John complied or more like carefully started wiping her face with it instead and her mother got up, opening her wardrobe and then returned with a thick pair of socks and a jumper. Seeing the jumper she almost sat up herself and let her classmate help. He even assisted her with getting her head through the hole in the jumper while her mother lifted the blanket “Where are your socks?” Bee grimaced. Socks in bed were very uncomfortable, even if she was sick or cold. So of course she had taken them off first chance she got. With a sigh Joanne put on the thick socks and Bee was glad she didn’t inquire further or make a comment about it. Then she tried to make her drink a bit but Bee had enough after just one sip. She just wanted to lie down and curl up again. Luckily, her mother complied and then left the room, returning with another blanket which she carefully draped over her daughter. Bee snuggled up further and John helped her adjust the blanket a bit “Are you feeling better?” she didn’t’ reply but at least the feeling of coldness wasn’t that bad anymore but still she trembled. Again, the boy placed the warm towel on her face but this time left it there.

“What else can we do?”

“I guess it’s best to let her rest a bit and wait until it’s over” Her mother sat down on the chair, looking at her daughter. For another time, it seemed like an eternity, the trembling went on, then she finally felt her body calm down. Then Joanne got up “I think it’s better if you continue this tomorrow, she should look after herself.” she walked to the door. Bee let out a little huff. She didn’t want John to leave. After all she still needed to know so much and she was always looking forward to the history lessons, even though it currently was a topic that didn’t interest her currently. Then again, somehow she didn’t feel awake enough to do something herself.

“I think I’ll stay” John said and she smiled to herself “We’ve got to finish a chapter in ‘Wuthering Heights’ until Friday and I thought I could read it to her” a part of her wanted to tell him that she had already finished the book yesterday in her boredom. Also because somehow she felt bad that he spent so much of his time telling her everything they did in school, up to three hours a day when he also needed to complete community service on some of them. And Bee felt responsible because if John’s friends had not pushed her into a pile of snow, from which he had helped her out and got her home he father, the judge, would have never learned what had been going on and leading to John needing to tell the truth; that he had been out with friends drinking and then got punished for underage drinking. Funnily enough, John blamed her sickness on this incident, or mainly her being stuck in snow for a while, which was also the reason he had started coming to see her every day after she had been missing it out for more than three days.

“Alright. But not too long” with a nod he sat down and took her book from the nightstand. He opened it where the bookmark was, on the last page

“You finished it?”

“I…” a part of her wanted to lie but she couldn’t “Yeah. I was bored yesterday”

“Oh well…” he just wanted to put it away

“But if you want to read it you can still do it. Like read it for yourself that you did the homework” he shook his head

“I’m here for you. History it is then I guess”

“Yay” she muttered

“I thought you don’t like World War II?”

“I mean I don’t think anyone liked the war. Maybe Hitler. Or well maybe not so much towards the end when they were losing”

“Which was when?”

“1945”

“A bit more specific?”

“Spring?” he raised an eyebrow

“You mean you can tell which battle happened where on each day of the Civil war but can’t answer this? That was less than forty years ago, Bee”

“There you have it. It’s not even forty years ago. Our parents were alive then. That’s not history. That’s just politics. And politics is boring”

“So how much does it need to be in the past that you consider it history?”

“Dunno. 80 to 100 years I guess”

“So what happened today one hundred years ago?”

“Oh I don’t know. 1882…. Not today but Charles Darwin died. And in March there was some shit going on in Tombstone, Arizona between the Clantons and Earps, you know after the O.K corral gunfight, which actually has been on 26th of October 1881 but their feud went on and one of the younger Earp brothers, Morgan, was killed. No one knows who did it though. Oh and Franklin Roosevelt was born in 1882. See? Now that connects to World War II” he shook his head

“You are something…”

“Oh yeah? You love hockey but can you tell me who played in the NHL finale of uhhh let’s say 1950? Or with what score even?”

“Err no"

“But you can tell me who played yesterday and what the score was? And who’s gonna play today? Or who won the Stanley Cup last year? And probably even who scored the winning goal?”

“Alright I see”

“Well then” she got more comfortable “Do tell me what about World War II Mr. Walker wants us to know so bad”

[mystery-star]

Tagged by @thekenobee thank you!

I actually did a very similar one to this a few days ago but who cares. I'm bored.

Favourite colour: Blue was always nice but nowadays I also really like purple. But I can't really say which type of blue is my fave xD

Last song: Well I am currently listening to music and the last that finished is "Stars" (yes the RC version)

Last movie: Mystery, Alaska

Currently watching: Criminal Minds

Other stuff I watched this year: Well Imma answer this for 2023 still bc this year just was short. See here my top 9 movies bc there just was so much for movies. As for series I went throught Star Wars Clone Cars, The Bad Batch, Kenobi and started Rebels. I also started Criminal Minds and binge watched Heroes xD

Shows I dropped this year/didn't finish: Aka in 2023 too. I mean I haven't really 'dropped' stuff just postponed (like Rebels). But I think I won't watch Heroes Reborn despite starting the first episode.

Currently reading: Smoke by J.S. Wonda and Moby Dick

Currently listening to: Everything I touch by Russell Crowe (aka the current song)

Currently working on: A Ben Wade Gifset and in bigger projects the translation of a Hobbit fanfic and on a very smutty AU fic for Spock

Current obsession: Still John Biebe and Spock but somehow I am also so intrigued by Criminal Minds aka Derek Morgan.

-

I'm not tagging anyone but do feel free to do this if you like.

[mystery-star]

@gohoubi Thanks for the tag to psot the first line of my first 10 fics. I decided to just take the character x OC fics bc there's so many x readers I wrote XD.

The legacy of Durin (Fíli x OC, the Hobbit) [Translated]

Despite the cool weather it dragged me outside, to the river - my favourite place.

2. Descendants of the sea (Fíli x OC, The Hobbit/Pirates of the Caribbean Crossover) [Translated]

Fog pervaded the coast, sadness Kaylin's heart.

3. Lumina Noctis (George x OC, Harry Potter) [Translated]

You could say I grew up in two worlds.

4. Threshold of Space (Spock x OC, Star Trek)

With a deep frown, the brunette stared at her fellow cadet who had just passed out in the captain’s chair.

5. Passing Boundaries (Sequel to ToS) (Spock x OC, Star Trek)

Carissa cracked her knuckles.

6. Beyond the frontier (Sequel to PB) (Spock x OC, Star Trek)

Going back to work was almost impossible for her after what she had just been told.

7. Snippets of Infinity (Short series to above FFs) (Spock x OC, Star Trek)

Carissa didn’t mean to think inappropriately but she had never seen that many non-humans in all her life than on that day.

8. Not Yet Time (Ben Wade x OC, 3:10 to Yuma)

The nightly breeze blew up the dry sand in little clouds of dust, illuminated by the moonlight.

9. One Day More (Sequel to NYT, probably abandoned now) (Ben Wade x OC, 3:10 to Yuma) [unpublished]

“Daddy! Hi!” Jenny shouted as she jumped out of her chair and hurled herself at her father “You’re back”

10. Bee Burns Chronicles (Working Title, literally only have like 2 sentences written for it) (John Biebe x OC, Mystery, Alaska) [unpublished]

“This is fucking ridiculous” Bee cried at her own mirror image.

-

Thank you for the tag, this was much fun to do. And I actually had exactly 10 fics in total lol. (Another one for Master and Commander in the workings but I've never written a sentence aaaand I might have even abandoned it already... and turn it into a imagine series instead.

[mystery-star]

Set it right – John Biebe (Part 3 / 3)

Pairing: John Biebe x fem!reader

Warnings: implied smut

Words: 2714

Series Navigation:  Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

A/N: This one makes a leap in time to the last part

Do no repost my work on other sites or platforms

-

One thing you loved about morning shifts was that you had the whole afternoon for you. Or to spend it annoying John who still was at work. That was what you had planned today, so you walked to the newly built sheriff’s department with some cookies you had baked earlier.

“Oh hello” your father greeted you “what a nice surprise. And how lovely of you to bring me cookies” he came forward and tried to snatch one off the plate you held but you moved it out of his reach.

“No” you protested “I left some at home. You can eat them when you’re home. These aren’t for you”

“And who might they be for instead?” Richard, one of the candidates for the post as sheriff teased “Me?”

“Well, you’d have to ask John nicely” smiling, he nodded his head to one of the offices. John didn’t even look up when you entered so you watched him for a little while “Hey” you said as you closed the door.

“Keep it proper you two” Richard shouted

“He’s just jealous” John said as he walked around the desk to be closer to you

“Look what I brought you” you showed him the star-shaped cookies “but you better hide them from the others. Though I left some at home for Dad but well” you shrugged. He took the plate from your hands placed it on the table and hugged you instead. You pretended to pout “I spent so much time on them and you just put them away?”

“Am I not allowed to greet you properly?”

“Hm okay” you agreed and wanted to hug him back but he already changed his grip on you, so he could kiss you. “Are you nervous?” you asked him

“About the election?” tomorrow evening the election for the sheriff took place. Your father, Richard and John had all been nominated for election. At barely 21 and fresh out of the Police Academy, it would be an honor for your boyfriend to be elected. Although, also Richard had just completed his training at the Academy. Upon arriving in Mystery, your father had to realize that no one even fulfilled the requirements to become a sheriff, so your one and half year stay was prolonged until they had a couple of trained people and elected their first sheriff. Until then, your father led the department and had his two deputies, respectively four during the time both Richard and John were absent to complete their training. Which meant, if your father wasn’t elected (Mystery’s mayor had insisted he’d run for the post too) you would be returning to Anchorage. Somehow you weren’t sure if you wanted that. By now, you had really settled down in Mystery found a good job and you didn’t want to leave John. That was the reason you were nervous about the election because it could again change your life.

“Yeah. Of course the election” he gave a shrug

“A little. Your father told me I most likely won’t get elected because of my age. Maybe it’s also better if I can be deputy for a couple of years now” you gave a shrug.

“Yeah. I get that. I wouldn’t want to get promoted at my job right now either” chuckling, he kissed you again, before he lifted you up and sat you down on the desk. Soon, the kissing turned into making out when suddenly the door opened.

“(Y/N)” your father said “John’s here to work”

“Right” you breathed and hopped off the desk. “I should let you work, not that you’re fired before the grand election” you pecked his lips and wanted to leave.

“Don’t you have your book and you’ll sit in the corner as usual?”

“No. I should clean the kitchen or my father thinks a bomb exploded there” he gave a nod you slipped past your father, giving Richard a smile before you returned home.

-

Since you really had no idea who to vote for, you decided to leave it be and just live with the result. Because your shift started early, you went to bed even before the votes were counted but you couldn’t really fall asleep. There was a knock at the door and you weren’t sure if you were glad or not.

“Hey” John said and his glance fell to your pajamas “Did I wake you?”

“No, I couldn’t sleep” you admitted. He surely had come to tell you the result. Could it really mean he had won? Was that the reason he was here so late? “Do we have the result?” John nodded and smiled

“It’s Richard” you felt your shoulders sag. Out of all the options, this was your least favorite. But well, what could you do? “And your father announced that now I’ll be Richard’s only deputy since he could lean back now” you just nodded. “I mean Richard said I might have to support him here and there because his knowledge is as good as mine. Or bad. I guess that really was the best outcome” again you nodded “Hey, you okay?” you shrugged.

“You know what it means…. my father was only here until Mystery has a sheriff established. It would have been different if he was elected but like this… he’s not needed anymore and he’ll have to return”

“Oh” he looked down “it means you’ll be leaving too”

“Yeah” you may be an adult now but your father still expected you’d go to college and then got a proper job. If you stayed here, you could go to Fairbanks to study but there wasn’t much to do in Mystery with a degree. John hugged you and you couldn’t tell if it was to comfort you or himself.

-

To your surprise, your father didn’t mention anything about returning home the next day and you held the tiny hope that maybe he’d come to like this place and wanted to stay. Early in the evening, John returned, saying you had a couple of hours until your father returned because he was discussing some important things with the new sheriff. As always, you used the chance when you had the house to yourself in the best way you could. Just this time, neither of you wanted to be alone, so John decided he’d stay for the night. And you were happy it would be that time, when neither of you had to leave early in the morning and you could enjoy more time together.

Once it was morning you didn’t do much, you just lay there, a tangle of sheets and limbs and drank in each other’s presence. After all, who knew if that was the last time you ever were that close to each other?

“I’m sure we can visit each other” he promised as if he had read your thoughts “Or after you have finished college you come back. If you want. Or move to Fairbanks, so we’ll be closer”

“I don’t know. I mean I can’t really put my degree to use here, all jobs are taken by someone and since it’s such a little town it doesn’t need more people with that degree. Unless I take a job for which I’m overqualified in the end...” you sighed. Suddenly, the door opened and your father peeked into the room. Instantly, John pulled up the blanket to cover your upper body.

“You needn’t hide her chest, John. She’s my daughter, I’ve seen her like that before” there was something like a warning tone in his voice, as if he meant to say that he would be the only one to see you like that “Anyways” he cleared his throat “I wanted to ask if either of you plans to get up and have breakfast anytime soon”

-

The next day, your father did mention returning to Anchorage and that he was planning to leave within the next week since his superiors had already prepared something. Feeling too weak to say something, you only nodded.

“What about you?”

“What do you mean with that?” he chuckled

“If you want to return to Anchorage of course” you glanced at him “Don’t act so surprised you’re an adult, (Y/N), I can’t force you to come with me if that’s not what you want. I know got to like it here. Might only be because of John but he is a good man and I can see why you wouldn’t want to leave him”

“What about college?”

“Fairbanks is only 55 miles from here; you can go there if you really want a degree”

“No, I meant…. don’t you insist I go to college to study?”

“Of course not. I always recommended it because it would increase your changes in the job market but you found a good job here in Mystery. And I mean you already settled down here, back in Anchorage everything would be new again for you” and maybe there would be people making jokes which you clearly wanted to avoid. But in Mystery, you finally were accepted. Sure, there sometimes still were little comments but you had actually made some kind of truce with Sean and you two interacted like normal people not like bully and victim. But still, your father’s offer surprised you.

“I don’t really know what to say. I mean… I’d have to think about what I want”

“Of course. I know it’s not an easy decision but life’s full of them. Sometimes you might hate them in the beginning but you’ll be happy in the end” you knew what he was referring to. To his own decision two decades ago when your mother had simply dropped a baby that was a couple of months old in his university residence hall, claiming it was his and leaving never to be seen again. (You doubted they’d never seen each other again but your mother surely didn’t want you back and you never saw her) But your father had kept you, even before doing a paternity test that confirmed you really were his daughter. “And you know, Anchorage isn’t running away, in case you don’t like it here or something happens… you can always come back” you nodded. This actually was easier than returning now and then going back to Mystery one day.

“I’ll think about it. But I think I should talk to John too. I-I mean what he never wanted an actual long-term relationship?”

“Do that but I doubt he’s not serious about what he feels for you” your father smiled.

-

Somehow you almost dreaded the talk with your boyfriend. What if he didn’t want you to stay? Or wouldn’t want to be with you if you did? Finally, it was John who brought up the topic because apparently some people were collecting for a goodbye present and how he couldn’t believe you were leaving. You let out a sigh

“Dad said I can choose for myself. I mean… he’s right, he can’t insist that I go with him because I’m not a child anymore. But… I don’t know what I want. I’ll either leave you or my father and one of my homes”

“I understand. And college?”

“He said that’s my decision too and that Anchorage didn’t have the only college in Alaska”

“You’d sure have more options outside Mystery”

“Yeah, I know” you glanced up at him “What about you? What would you want?”

“You mean if I’d leave or not if I was you?”

“No. If you want me to stay or not” he placed his hands on your arms

“That’s not my decision. It’s yours”

“So you don’t even care if I stay or go?”

“Of course I care. But I don’t wanna influence you” feeling tears in your eyes, you hugged him. Maybe you needed him to influence you that you could make this decision.

Also the following days you pondered over your possibilities. Your father also promised you could live in the house he currently owned if you stayed and that he would see to it that you got the rest of your belongings from Anchorage if you wanted. By now, the departure had been scheduled for the end of the month, so in a little less than two weeks. And you knew you should make a decision now because there were things you had to take care of, no matter if you stayed or left. You had even tried to talk your father into staying; just for a couple more months but he refused, saying he was needed back in Anchorage. The impending departure was currently topic number one in the town and also that you couldn’t make up your mind.

“I just don’t feel like I can do it” you told John one day “I can’t make a decision let alone act on it and prepare for my new life. I don’t want things to change” you let out a huff.

“Have you had contact with your friends from Anchorage?”

“A little. But some say I should come back, some recommend I stay others say it’s my decision. And I just don’t know what to do. I’m scared of being alone. No matter what I choose, I’ll lose someone very dear to me. I mean my father is my father forever but if I leave you… you might forget about me or move on”

“Or you’ll be the one to move on” he said making tears spill from your eyes again. You didn’t even care, you had cried quite often already these past days.

“Don’t think I could. Or want to. But I’m scared of being alone”

“You’ll never be alone, no matter what you choose” you let out a sad huff and wiped the tears away

“Well, I’d be living alone if I stayed and I don’t know if I can do that”

“What about a roommate?” you looked at him

“A roommate?” he did have a point.

“Yeah” he said “Or…” one hand let go of you and he reached into the pocket of his jacket, handing you a small wooden box. Giving him a glance you opened it and felt the breath hitch when you recognized a ring “a husband maybe?” again tears were rolling down your cheeks and you stared at the silver ring. “I know I promised not to influence you but I bought it before the election. I asked your father and wanted to propose the evening I told you about the result. Somehow, I’d forgotten you might be leaving”

“You had this all this time and yet you never said a word and let me worry my brain about everything?” you weren’t really mad but the words were harsher than you intended to. It was more like that now everything fell in place. Hell, you didn’t want to leave. Not when John had just proposed!

“Didn’t want you to stay just because of me. I talked to your father and he said I should wait two or three days and do it if you didn’t make up your mind until then to help you along. I mean… not that he wants you to stay as in he doesn’t want you with him but… to help you make a decision” he sighed “And even if you say yes, you can still go and get your degree. Or if you stay you don’t have to…” you cut him off with a kiss.

“If you keep on talking I won’t even be able to tell you my answer” he swallowed and you took his hand to squeeze it “Hey now, don’t worry, of course it’s yes” his smile didn’t just contain happiness but also relief. Guiding your hand to his lips he nodded at the ring.

“May I?” after nodding, he put the ring on your finger and although you wanted to examine it further you first wanted to kiss him again. As so often, the kiss soon got more heated but you pulled away.

“I’d like to prolong this but there’s a lot of packing to be done”

“Packing?” he sounded horrified and you enjoyed your little game even more “You’re actually leaving?” you chuckled, placing your hands on his chest.

“Not me. You’ll be packing ‘cause you’ll move in with me after my father left”

[mystery-star]

Set it right – John Biebe (Part 2 / 3)

Pairing: John Biebe x fem!reader

Warnings: inury, swearing, bullying, allusions to sex, molesting remarks

Words: 2416

Series Navigation:  Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Do no repost my work on other sites or platforms

-

“All good?” he asked

“Shit” you muttered when moving your foot made you see stars. Obviously noticing something was wrong, he came closer and tried to help you up but stopped when you cried out.

“What happened? Where does it hurt?”

“My foot. Ankle” you whined and he carefully moved to have a look.

“Can you move it?”

“Not without pain” you panted

“Do you think you can get up?”

“No” you almost let out a laugh. And even if you could you’d be standing on skates again and you certainly didn't want that right now.

“Alright. Wait here, I’ll get our stuff” he promised and left you, obviously wanting to retrieve your shoes. You considered crawling to the edge of the ice surface but decided against it. Once he was back, John helped you off the ice then assisted you with taking off the left skate “Do you want me to carry you to the car?”

“What?” of course you understood the question

“Or do you want to try to walk?”

“Dunno” you muttered tossing the right skate away and realizing too late that he would have to retrieve it “Sorry I’m such a nuisance today”

“Hey” he said “Don’t you worry. All that matters now is getting you back to your feet” you let out a grunt

“I mean getting you healed, of course” he admitted with a smile “now do you walk or should I carry you?”

“I’ll try to walk” you insisted and after putting on the other shoe, he too changed his shoes, packed up the rest of your stuff and then helped you up. Clinging to his side, you hopped to his car. It took you half an eternity to get there and towards the end you got tired so he lifted you up anyways and carried you the last eight feet or so. “Thanks” you muttered as he sat you down on the passenger seat.

“Do you want to go home?”

“No. To the doctor”

“What about your father?” you shrugged

“I’ll call him when we’ve arrived. I’m sure I can use the telephone in the doctor’s office”

In the end, John had called your father while you were being treated. Luckily, your ankle was only sprained but you’d need to walk with crutches for at least a week. When the doctor told you, you almost laughed because now your teacher had no choice but to let you do the test later. Maybe the day had not been a total mishap. To your surprise, John had still been there when you were discharged to go home; he had wanted to make sure you were doing okay before he left. At least your father was now driving you to school for a week so you wouldn’t have to go there yourself. But unfortunately, some guys from your class approached you.

“What the hell happened to you? Trying to weasel out of the test?”

“Or did you get hurt while trying to skate?” you gave him a glare and they realized that was what really happened “No shit? Wouldn’t have thought you’re that bad”

“Well” you said, grinning “at least I was trying to do something against my deficit. You never tried to become more intelligent” around him, his friends laughed. You saw John among them and he gave you a reassuring smile. The guy you had insulted, however, didn’t like it one bit and he stepped forward, pushing you hard so you lost your balance on your crutches and fell on your bum. Now his friends laughed with him again and when you tried to get up, he wanted to push you down again but this time, John interfered, placing his arm on the guy’s chest

“Guess that’s enough” luckily, they listened and after sharing a high five they walked away “You okay?” only now you saw that John had stayed

“Yeah, I guess” he picked up your crutches, then held out his hand and helped you up when you took it “Thanks. Also for stopping him” he only gave a nod and held out his hand again. Unsure what to do, you took it. He laughed

“I meant to take your bag but that’s fine too” before you could pull the hand away, he tightened his grip on it so you couldn’t let go of him

“I can’t walk like that” you remarked, nodding your head at the crutches.

“How about you give me your bag and I’ll give you back the crutches?” you didn’t want him to carry your bag “or you want me to carry you?” he added in a teasing tone

“No!” you took off the bag and tossed it to his feet, taking back your crutches.

-

The sports teacher absolutely wasn’t happy about your accident and believed you were just lying but luckily the doctor had written you a note, saying you couldn’t participate in sports lessons for two weeks at least. You didn’t know if you wanted to practice again before you had the test and found it couldn’t hurt. Also your social situation seemed to improve a little; it was like you finally had a friend now. Or at least John made sure no one bothered you again and sometimes talked to you. When you had phoned one of your friends in Anchorage and told her about him, she instantly tried to tell you that he probably was in love with you. From them on, it was more difficult to spend time with John without thinking of your friend’s words.

As the finals approached, you spent even more time with John because he’d asked you if you wanted to study together. The good thing was, while you were with him, the bullies just steered clear of you. But not so today, as John led you to his (respectively his father’s) car to get you home for another study session, Sean – the biggest bully – approached you.

“So, what’s the deal, (Y/L/N)?”

“What deal? What the person you sold your brains to gave you in return?” he ignored your comment but you could see it irked him, especially since his friends laughed.

“No. The one you made with Johnny that he spends time with you”

“Maybe I’m just not as much of an asshole like you are” or maybe one of the reasons Sean left you alone sometimes was because you had started to retort. “Though you really are a good friend to your buddies here” you nodded your head at them “By trying to roast me you make them laugh twice because I roast you back. Of course you don’t need the extra laughs, bet you get them all day when you look in the mirror” when he pushed you, you almost were a little surprised and stumbled a step back. John placed a hand on your arm, threw a checking glance at you before he slightly moved in between you and Sean.

“Honestly, now, John, what’s she got we don’t? Or is it just you play her bodyguard and she spreads her legs for you?” you let out a shocked gasp. “What about we make a deal too, (Y/N)? You get on your knees for me and I leave you alone” you were trying to come up with a witty remark but before could even think about it, John had already leapt forward and punched him in the face.

“Stop” you cried, clinging to Johns’ arm, fearing he’d get in trouble if someone saw him. Luckily, he had calmed down but wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you closer almost protectively. No, possessively. Swallowing, you tried to urge him on to his car but Sean spoke again

“What the fuck’s wrong with you? Is this just because you want to impress her father to get that job in the new sheriff’s department? And because you try to improve your grades to increase your chances?” with that he and his friends walked away. This time you swallowed harder.

“You applied for a post in the department?”

“For after graduation, yes” he sounded hurt

“So that is why you befriended me!” you tore away from him “Because you thought if I told Dad about you being my friend, you’d have higher chances” tears were burning in your eyes and you took a deep breath. After he looked down, he glanced back to you, opened his mouth, then closed it again and looked away. “Wow” you just said and left.

-

“Aren’t you hanging out with your friends today?” your father asked when he found you sitting in your room and reading

“It was only one friend”

“Was?”

“I just thought he was my friend”

“What did he do?” your father pulled the chair from your desk and sat down on it.

“He used me”

“Used you?” he sounded surprised

“Dad… I know you’re trying to help but I don’t want to talk about it right now” the tears were back and you were glad your father left so you could cry in peace.

Somehow you were almost disappointed when John didn’t talk to you the next day. A part of you had hoped he would at least try to talk about what had happened or deny what you had blamed him for. To you it proved you were right. This afternoon, your father came home much earlier than expected.

“What exactly happened between you and John?”

“Why do you ask?” you had told yourself that you would not let your father know what John did. After all you didn’t want to ruin his career even if he deserved it. No, he just had to look how to get the job himself, without your help.

“Because today, your friend has been at my office and withdrew his application”

“What?” you jumped to your feet “he did what?”

“He said that after what you’d told me he’d better do it this way than ending up as a disgrace”

“What?! Why would he do that?”

“That’s what I’m asking you. What happened yesterday?” you swallowed

“One of his friends said John only wanted to be my friend because he thought it might impress you if John was my friend. Or that he needed me to study for good grades… I…”

“And just because someone claimed that you believed him rather than your friend?”

“No! I asked John if it was true and he said nothing. Also today he said nothing to tell me I was wrong. Or at least trying to tell me his version” he rubbed his face

“I already had an interview with him… I was pretty impressed and I want him to have fair chances to get this job since he clearly wants it” he gave you a hard glare “So you will make sure he’ll revoke the withdrawal”

“What?”

“You heard me. And maybe it’ll do you two good if you have a talk” with that, he left, leaving your thoughts spinning.

-

After the last lesson on the next day, you wanted to talk to John about it but when you called his name, he didn’t react.

“Would you look at this?” it was Sean. Of course. “No bodyguard this time, huh? Weren’t you satisfying enough anymore?” not knowing what to say, you ignored him and called after John “Hurts, huh? Losing your only friend. Or customer or whatever he was to you” Sean stepped closer and gave you a push “Why don’t you go back to the big flashy city you came from? Bet you got loads of johns there” in your anger you pushed him back and tried to run after John but he was already gone. Luckily, you saw him again outside and after calling out a third time and speeding up you reached him and this time, he stopped.

“Dad told me what you did” you breathed out “That you withdrew the application”

“Suppose I had to. Better than to lose face”

“He was angry at me because he thinks this is my fault” well, maybe it was “I mean… I told him what happened and he got angry at me. He wants me to set it right and have you apply again. Dad says you deserve a fair chance. And I wouldn’t have told him about this. I mean, I don’t want to ruin your future or something”

“He wants me to apply again?”

“Well, more like revoke the withdrawal”

“And he doesn’t think I used you?”

“I don’t know. But it doesn’t sound like it. Or he wants to find it out”

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“What do you think?”

“You never gave me an answer. But you also never denied it. I honestly don’t know what to think. Maybe I reacted too harshly...”

“Sean is wrong. I didn’t befriend you because of the job or your father. Because I wanted to” he smiled “Well, maybe I stepped back from the bullying because of who your father is. But more because I didn’t want a state trooper to hear I bothered his daughter. And because I think what they did was wrong” you looked at him, then you just hugged him.

“I’m glad” you breathed and he pulled you closer to his chest

“It’s the other way round” he suddenly said

“What?”

“I didn’t try to befriend you to impress your father and have better chances for the job… I hoped to get the job in order to impress your father and…” he stopped abruptly

“As if you need to impress my father to become friends with me” it was meant as a joke but then you saw his blush and understood “Oh shit” you let go of him. Was he actually saying he was hoping to date you?

“Guess that time I ruined it for good” he said and turned around, wanting to walk away again. You grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to stop. When he turned to you again, you didn’t even think before you moved your arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. He was too surprised at first to do something, then his hand came to your waist.

“Good thing you have me to set it right, huh?” he just looked down at you as if in shock, so you pulled on his elbow “Come on, as far as I remember we had a study session planned for today. But first you have to drop by in my father’s office or I’ll be in trouble”