#left is phoebe right is jasmine

[whoopssim]

Form of payment? Face card please.

[a-tale-of-legends]

I finished the relationship post ( family guy death pose) Right now it's mostly like. Who's with who and familial stuff. A lot of uncertainties, that'll probably change in the future. But with that all said, here. I spent way longer on this than I should have ha

Prof Oak - Had a thing with Agatha sometime in the past. Most likely didn't end up together long term ( I mean obviously) and Oak married someone else. She's no longer alive, as is their child, alas.

Red - with blue

Green - unsure

Blue - with red

Daisy - probably has herself a boyfriend

Brock - focused on work, but is bi questioning ( considering dating men)

Misty - ????? She has a boyfriend in the games????? So possibly????

Surge - closeted gay man. He comes out eventually when it really sinks in how queer the league is lmao.

Erika - Happily dating/ married to her old archery partner.

Koga - has a wife that's still alive

Sabrina - Not sure how to feel about dating. Focusing on herself.

Blaine - Simply not interested in dating.

Giovanni - Gets so many bitches lmao. But is married to Ariana in this au.

Ariana - Also swimming in bitches imo. Married to Gio, had two kids that ran away from them rip. Likes getting catty with Archer lol

Pertel - unsure

Lorelei - dated a lot but doesn't get anywhere

Bruno - Isn't interested in relationships atm,but is pan ( much to people's surprise for some odd reason)

Agatha- Had a Thing with Oak once. Terrible experience never again, she's single but probably had a trail of dead husbands in her wake.

Lance - aroace, single dad of 7 ( Kanto trio, johto quartet)

Elm- Wife and two kids ( one of them being Aiko)

Silver - Bi. User to date Aiko before turning his eyes to Kenji

Falkner - Not sure if I want him and Janine to just be mlm wlm besties or an actual couple.

Bugsy - Nonbinary/Agender and waaaaaay more focused on their work with bugs than any relationship atm. ( debating if they're aroace or gay as hell)

Whitney - Gay and dating Jasmine <3

Morty - Morty/Eusine. Not sure if they are dating by the johto arc or not.

Chuck - Has a wife and maybe a kid of his own

Pryce - is a granddad himself. A widow.

Clair - unsure. Has gay aunt vibes but again. Unsure.

Proton - Gay. Gay ass man

Archer - Down bad for Giovanni, insanely jealous of Ariana……probably is Giovanni's side bitch tho lmao

Karen - Honestly, probably gets with Will and maybe Grimsley. Maybe.

Will - Same as above

Birch - has a wife and kids!

Wally- Ends up dating Jin and Kohaku after a long ass time pining.

Roxanne - Maybe with Brawly I dunno.

Brawly - Maybe with Roxanne, again dunno.

Wattson - Unsure. I think in the anime he has a son so maybe????

Flannery - Not dating anyone, but she is pretty gay

Norman - has a wife and kid

Winona - need to think about Steven-Wallacd backstory, but I am liking the idea that she used to date Wallace. Though overall, I'm unsure.

Liza and Tate - ( shrugs ) Tate, for some reason, reads me the type to get crushed easily. But outside of that, they probably don't think about dating until they're older.

Wallace - Looks above at Winona. Still, he ends up with Steven for the long term.

Juan - Single man, doesn't plan on having kids, since Wallace exists.

Phoebe - Unsure

Sidney - Unsure. Wonderful hype man tho

Glacia - Okay so. I saw one hc that Glacia was Siebold's mom and it stuck with me for so long. So I think she had a husband, that left one way or another ( either he died or she divorced him) and she's been single ever since. Her relationship with Siebold is…. complicated. Edit: Glacia is no longer Siebold's mom, rather she's his aunt and legal guardian. They're relationship is still complicated, but there's a level of care here.

Drake - Not interested in relationships

Steven - with Wallace.

Archie - after prison and a lot of therapy, I imagine he gets back with Maxie

Maxie - Same as above.

Shelly - Shelly x Courtney is an interesting ship I've seen but not sure if I want to make it canon. Shelly does get a lot of bitches tho.

Matt - Same with Matt lol. Matt x Tabitha is something I've considered but not sure on. Probably not, given how both parties are, but I'm keeping the option open.

Courtney - Look above at Shelly. Also she does have that obsession with Maxie, though I'm not sure if I want that to be familial or romantic.

Tabitha - Look above at Matt. Tabitha is. Interesting to say the least. The more I think about it, the more I think the ship I mentioned above…. probably wouldn't work. Same with Shelly and Courtney to an extent. Honestly I think he's perfectly fine being single.

Lisia - Bi bi bi, baby. If I wasn't clear, I do plan on making her and Anabel an item.

Anabel - Look above

Noland - Unsure

Greta - Unsure

Tucker - gay as all hell and has had many flings.

Lucy - Serial dater than just can't get them to stay. Probably at a point where she thinks it's better for her to just focus on herself for now.

Spenser - Has a loving wife that's still with him, even at this age.

Brandon - Single, is married to the live of adventure

Zinnia - Requires therapy and traveling around to her to really get with someone.

Prof - Rowan - single. Probably dated a bit in the past but is now married to his work.

Johanna - Not exactly divorced ( yet), but hasn't spoken to her husband in years sooooo. She's not exactly looking for someone right now.

Roark - unsure

Gardenia - unsure

Fantina - Unlike her cousin/sibling ( Tucker), Fantina does actually have a partner. And lots of fans lmao.

Wake - Unsure

Byron - Divorced, but is living happily.

Maylene- Ends up with Candice

Candice - Ends up with Maylene

Volkner - Flint duh

Aaron - Not entirely sure. Definitely queer I think.

Flint - Volkner duh

Bertha - Hmmmm. She deserves a wife. I'm giving her a wife

Lucian - I like the idea of him having feelings for Cynthia, but it's unrequited. Sorry bud.

Cynthia - Bi and has her eyes on a certain actress

Cyrus - Choosing to focus on himself before even considering any type of romantic relationship. Will combust if someone flirted with him.

Mars - Likes the idea of going on dates, never actually been on one.

Juniper - People are too scared to get close with her. Probably for good reason. Fantina is trying ( and failing ) to set her up with someone.

Saturn - Used to be hella gay for Cyrus, but now is just picking up the pieces of everything. Doesn't know how to feel about him, so he's focusing on himself and work.

Charon - No bitches

Palmer - wife and kid

Darach - far too focused on taking care of Caitlin to even consider dating.

Argenta - Wine aunt. Happily single

Thorton - aroace

Dahlia - a free spirit, so she likes having her options open.

Cheryl - Gay

Marley - Also gay. Maybe I should make the date ( shrugs)

Mira - A kid who's main concern isn't dating or noticing who she likes. As for in the future when she's older…no clue.

Buck - Has a crush on a boy on Stark mountain. Doesn't have the guts to confess ironically enough.

Riley - :)

Cedric - Divorced

Aubrey - Married to Fennel :)

Cheren - Gets with Lear*

Bianca - Gets with Roxie

Cilan - Single, too shy to really consider putting himself out there.

Chili - Aroace

Cress - Single, is looking.

Lenora - Canonically married to Hawes. Doesn't plan on having children as of now. They kinda have Cheren for that, ha.

Burgh - I'll give him a win and let him have himself a boyfriend

Elesa - Is with Skyla

Clay - I've definitely seen different takes on him. For now he's a single father of one ( Wayne)

Skyla - Dating Elesa

Brycen - This came to me out of nowhere, but he and Marshall are dating. No one knows except Alder.

Drayden - I already have him as Ingo and Emmets grandpa so, he definitely got with someone, though I think he's single now.

Marlon - Has so many bitches but is too intertwined with the ocean to notice lmao. Maybe one day.

Grimsley - I mentioned he might be a part of a polycule with Will and Karen, but like. Grimsley's a mess. He has many many failed relationships under his belt.

Shauntal - Happily single.

Caitlin - " What? No. Go away"

Marshall- As mentioned before is dating Brycen.

Alder - Widowed granddad.

N - I know he's asexual biromantic. However I'm unsure of what to define his relationship with Kamari. But for now I'll say he's single, living his best life.

Ghetsis - ….I have. No clue.

Colress - Also have no clue!

Sycamore - Has a whole Thing with Lysandre. The sap in me wants them to get back together, but alas.

Dexio - I just saw someone else do it and thought it would be fun. He ends up with Cassius.

Sina - Not sure. I don't even know if she's truly interested in anyone. Possibly aroace.

Shauna: Probably had feelings for Jude and Dante at some point. Probably over then and living her best life.

Trevor - As of Kalos arc, faaaar more focused on the pokedex. After that he probably gets with Tierno.

Tierno - Same as above except he's more focused on dancing.

Viola - *clenches fist* Viola and Perrin are so freaking cute but I don't think they fit in my timeline!!!! So sadly, Viola's gf is someone else.

Grant - Has major feelings for Siebold, but unsure if he feels the same way.

Korrina : Wants a girlfriend so bad ( another sad case of two characters being at different points in the timeline so I can't ship them within the au. This time it's Bea)

Ramos - Was married to his husband for a long time, until he unfortunately passed away. He tries not to let it get him down.

Clemont- His sister keeps trying to get him to date someone lmao. He's moreso interested in his machinery but maybe one day?

Valerie - Debating if I want her to already be with Grant and is aware of the budding feelings between him and Siebold ( it ends in a poly) or just have her single in her own world.

Olympia - Single and is completely fine with that.

Wulfric - has a wife and two kids of his own! Loves them a whole bunch.

Drasna - :)

Siebold - Has not yet realized any of his feelings lmao.

Wikstrom - He has a wife. No kids.

Malva - Messy. Loved and resented Diantha in their relationship. Wished Lysandre would stop putting Diantha on a pedestal, while alSo wishing she was on that pedestal instead. Didn't know how to feel when Diantha ended up with Cynthia.

Diantha - Tried dating a man once. A publicity stunt if anything. After that she realized she was very much a lesbian and was talking more to Miss Cynthia.

Aliana - Unsure.

Bryony - Dating celosia

Celosia - Dating Bryony

Mable - Unsure

Xerosic - lmao

Lysandre - Was with Sycamore. Was.

Kukui - Married to Burnet and ends up having a kid together. Guzma joins in a poly.

Burnet - see above.

Hau - gets with Gladion in the future

Lillie - ends up with Ames

Gladion - gets with Hau in the future

Illima - Big ass crush on Kiawe. Thinks he's being the perfect flirt. He is not.

Hala - has a wife, one son ( who left ) and of course, little Hau as his grandson.

Lana - Unsure *

Mallow - Unsure * ( might make their relationship like the anime tho)

Kiawe - Thinks Illima is kinda weird ( but does have feeling for him)

Olivia - Canonically and chronically single. Girl suffering out here.

Acerola - Unsure ( child)

Sophocles - Unsure ( child )

Molyane - Has a boyfriend of his own, both of them are nerds together.

Nanu - Meowth man. So no one.

Mina - 👍

Hapu - Unsure but she gets flustered very easily.

Wicke - Aroace, happily looking after her friends children.

Faba - No rizz at all. Bitchless.

Guzma - Ends up in a polyam relationship with Kukui and Burnet. Genuinely doesn't know how he got to that point, but he's….happier.

Plumeria - Had the hots for Ames' mom but that didn't go anywhere. Single.

Kahili - Unsure

Magnolia - Still is with her husband. Sonia is her only grandchild.

Sonia - Dating Nessa

Hop - Um. Not sure. I like Hop x Bede but also not sure of I would want it in canon. Hop is ace too, so he's not really focused on those kinds of relationships for the most part. He does get flustered easily lol.

Marnie - It takes her 5 years to get with Naomi. But they get there!

Bede- Similar to Hop. Though I'm honestly just having fun writing his platonic relationships with everyone. He did mistake his platonic feelings/friendship with Naomi for a crush but he quickly realized it wasn't the case.

Milo - Ends up with Gordie

Kabu - Uncertain only bc I like so many hcs. Like I like him and Peony together but also just him vibing by himself is fun. Also him and Melony is cute. So yeah, not sure.

Bea - Eh. She's more focused on school and martial arts to care.

Allister - Has experienced a crush before but is waaaay to shy to do anything about it. Grateful to have the crush as a friend though.

Opal - Much like Agatha, has a history of dead husbands.

Melony - Divorced and has 5 kids ( Gordud, a daughter, and then triplet sons)

Gordie - Ends up with Milo

Piers - I might change this later only bc I'm really thinking about it, but I do see him in a poly relationship with Leon and Raihan. Again might change.

Raihan - Look above. But unlike piers, him and Leon are always end game.

Leon - Again. Look above.

Rose - Had a relationship with Cassandra before realizing she was pregnant was Carol. Was pretty much married to his work after that.

Oleana - similar case to Courtney, though maybe after a lot of therapy she gets with a nice lady.

Mustard and Honey are a couple, with Hyde.

Peony - Similar case to Kabu. Not sure. He has Peonia and recently Carol so he's honestly living his best life.

Klara - Way too toxic to be in a lasting relationship atm. She probably gets better after IoA but uh. Yeah. Not a great dating life.

Avery - Probably had never dated anyone ever…..yeah I can see him and Klara getting together at some point. It is, surprisingly, pretty healthy.

Sada and Turo are, miraculously, together in this au. They're also both dead.

Clavell- Unsure, waiting for the indigo disk to come. To really make my judgement. Was planning on giving him a husband.

Nemona - Unsure. Power of friendship real tho.

Penny - Unsure. above.

Arven - Unsure, again. Look above lol.

Note: I have shipped Arven and Ramona and Nemona and Ramona before but I'm ultimately unsure if I want either to be canon.

Giacomo - Unsure ( please understand I am in shipper hell here)

Mela- Slow to any romance, due to past experiences.

Atticus - Unsure

Ortega - is only 13, and while he knows who he is, he takes much more enjoyment being around his friends.

Eri- Is with Carmen. Duh.

Okay gonna cut the single format, let's get right to the case.

Dendra/Miriam.

Larry is Divorced…..and also has his eyes on Hassel and Brassius who are already a couple. Has not made a move and plans to never ( he fails at this btw). Giacomo is his son ( until I change my mind).

Ryme has a partner but they broke it off. She's happily single now.

Tyme is the opposite with a husband of her own.

Iono doesn't date cause that would mess with her viewers.

Katy and Saguaro seem really cute,I'm considering it.

Jacq - Single dad ( Ramona). Is unaware of a theater teacher's feelings towards him.

Geeta and Rika definitely has a Thing but neither of them really addresses it. They're in their own world.

Poppy - Just wants Larry to say he likes Hassel and Brassius already. Also thinks boys have cooties.

Grusha - Was too depressed to consider dating anyone but is coming around to the idea.

Raifort scares people away lol.

Kofu - Unsure

Tulip - Just doesn't have the time to date

( aggressively points to Luca and Kieran) Kindergarten Divorce.

Carmine - Unsure. Wouldn't be surprised if she scares some people away.

[starrybbarnes]

brewing romance | [b.b]

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: bucky sucks at flirting, and Steve is trying to give pointers on how to hang out with you. and idea brews, quite literally, and bucky takes the chance

Word Count: 3.1k+ (it’s long as hell)

Author’s note: this has been in a draft for so long. but inspiration struck, and i was able to finish it. this one story is inspired by the song love potion no 9, so you’ll see some allusions to it. of course, i hope you guys enjoy the story, and please leave any feedback ! 

Warnings: lots of hollering, steve making a fool of himself, sam making a fool of himself. you’ll see. 

“Man, you gotta stop staring, your drool is gonna ruin the table!”

“Your face is ruining the table.”

“Just ask the girl already, Buck, you aren’t helping anyone here.”

Steve had a point. Ever since you joined the team, Bucky was left in awe. By your looks, your generosity, your compassion. He was absolutely in love with you. 

But Bucky has made several attempts to capture your attention. And every time he does, he either freezes or there’s an externality that throws him off. 

Whether it be untied shoelaces, a criminal on the loose, or Peter begging you to be his karaoke buddy, something was always in Bucky’s way. 

And if he did get a chance to capture your attention, he would always freeze. Everyone thought T’Challa was bad when it came to freezing up, but Bucky easily beats him 3 times over. 

“I can’t, Steve,” Bucky sighed, setting his mug on the kitchen island, “I just don’t have that charm anymore.” 

“What are you talking about, you always find a way to charm those waitresses or receptionists whenever we go out,” Steve interjected. 

“Yeah, well, that’s because I don’t know them,” Bucky explained, “I don’t really put myself on the line with those dames.” 

Steve hummed in response. He wanted to help out his buddy, and he knows how much Bucky cares for you. 

“I know this might sound crazy man, but I think you should get a potion to make you suaver,” Steve suggested. 

“What are you even talking about,” Bucky responded.

“You know, those love potions like in the old days!” Steve explained, “we’ll just grab a recipe from online and brew something up.”

“This is probably one of the dumbest ideas you’ve ever concocted,” Bucky jokes, earning a snort from Steve, “but I’m open to the idea.”

“You guys really have no perception of potions, do you?” 

Suddenly, Wanda walked into the kitchen, eyebrows raised and with a slightly amused look. 

“And what would you know about love, Wanda?” Steve inquired.

“... you do realize who you’re talking to.” Wanda said with certainty, “I may not know about love, but I do know someone who can manifest charm.” 

Steve and Bucky looked at each other, and then back at Wanda. It is an offer that no one can give up, and if it happens to be true, then the Winter Soldier might be in luck. 

“Who is this ‘person of manifestation,’ and how can we trust them?” Bucky asked with concern.

“Lucky for you, this ‘person’ happens to be my great cousin, Phoebe!” Wanda exclaimed, “she’s an absolute whiz at this stuff.”

Bucky sighed, “I don’t know, Wanda, is it really the real deal?” 

“Trust me, Buck, she has the experience and is trusted by all her clients,” Wanda reassured.

“Where is it located anyway?” Steve chimed in, “do we have to go halfway around the world to book an appointment with her?

Wanda chuckled, “Nope, but we do have to go to Lower Manhattan.”

。。

The trio stood in front of a brick building with grey columns as a facade, and it looked quaint. Bucky was at an unease at the building’s exterior, a sign with The Cauldron in bold black letters being the only things decorating the outside.

“I think this is a mistake,” Bucky spoke up as he turned on his heel to get back into the car.

“Oh no you don’t,” Wanda replied, grabbing Bucky by the forearm and dragging him to the entrance.

“You sure we’re at the right place, Wanda”  Steve asked, “‘cause this place is lookin’ real suspicious if you asked me.”

“Relax, boys,” Wanda announced, “we’re in good hands.”

The door opened to a little bell chiming against the handle. From ceiling to floor, the place was filled with plants, books, and bottles coming in every color imaginable. 

In the center, there was an island table, with a sink and a couple of books splayed open. A soft scent of rose and jasmine permeated the building. A cat and a dog were napping besides in the far right corner, without a care in the world.

Bucky began getting cold feet at the thought of the potion. Would this really help win over your heart? Would he change at all if he went on with it? And more importantly, would Sam keep giving him shit for having a crush on you?

As more thoughts began to flood Bucky’s mind, a bright and chipper voice greeted the trio. A young woman, no taller than 5’5”, came out from the back, wearing some plaid pants and a denim jacket. The simplest outfit a witch could wear. 

From the look of Bucky’s face, Phoebe could tell he seemed confused. “Not your typical witch, eh?” 

“Those storybooks tell me otherwise,” Bucky jokes, earning laughs from everyone. He then introduced himself to Phoebe, who only would reciprocate in charm.

The trio sat on the big table, with Phoebe center stage. She brought out a handful of beakers and flasks and placed them on the table.

“So, how can I be of service?” 

“Well... “ Steve started, “a good old friend can’t seem to charm the ladies...” 

“Oh brother...” Wanda sighed. 

Phoebe tried suppressing a smile, “ah, someone’s got cold feet, I see?”

Bucky could not be more embarrassed. It’s hard to adjust when you’re a centurion. A centurion with a crush, more specifically. He had a huge crush on you and, well, he sucks at flirting. 

He explained his plight with Phoebe, and she intently listened. After assessing what Bucky said, Phoebe asked him to extend his palms out.

“What you need is love potion number nine,” Phoebe answered as she made magic signs against Bucky’s palms, “don’t worry, it’s very effective and not that hard to make.” 

Phoebe turned to face her cupboard and brought out a dark liquid and some herbs. As she opened the dark liquid, the room began to smell very strongly of floor cleaner, and Bucky looked terrified.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Bucky huffed, as Steve was dramatically coughing at the smell.

Phoebe grabs the liquid and pours some into the mini cauldron on the table. She then puts the rose, the rosemary, and some lemon into the vile concoction. Little spurts of gas rose from the cauldron, and Bucky swore he heard some cackling coming from it.

Phoebe once again waved her arms and made some hand motions, and a flash blinded the team momentarily. The gas subsided, and Phoebe took out a ladle from her drawers.

She pours the dark liquid into a small clear glass, and by the looks of it, it’s as dark as the night sky. She hands Bucky the glass, and tells him to quickly drink it. 

Bucky stares down the glass for what seemed like an eternity. “This stuff can wear off, right?”

Phoebe reassured him that he’ll be alright, “should anything go awry, I’m just a phone call away.” 

The concoction was taunting him, some grime started floating to the top of the glass, and almost started making a face at him. For love, you’ll do anything, Bucky thought to himself… right?

Steve sensed his friend’s concern, and offered to take a sip with him. Phoebe served him up a glass as well, and the boys looked at each other.

“How ‘bout it, Buck?” Steve encouraged, “To romance!”

Bucky sighed as he brought his glass up to Steve’s, “one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and here we go…” 

The two boys drank the elixir, and Wanda looked on with nervousness. Phoebe seemed like she was having a good time, and congratulated the boys for tag-teaming it. She offered them water to get rid of the aftertaste, and Bucky could not be more grateful.

“Now, for some, it’ll start working in about twenty minutes,” Phoebe started as she started putting the leftovers, save for one small bottle for the guys to take home. “Don’t freak out if it doesn’t start working right away, you’ll know when it’ll start.”

“If you guys really want a speedier reaction time, I’m giving you two extra doses: one for each other. But take heed: it’ll really hit with just once. Wands, I suggest just takin’ ‘em home right now, just to avoid any trouble.”

Wanda nodded approvingly, “boys: let’s go. Who knows what's in store.”

As the trio gets up to leave, Bucky is frantically trying to pull out his wallet, dumping out any cash that he has on hand. He has about 32 dollars and a punch card for his favorite burger place.

“There’s no need for that Buck,” Phoebe argued, giving his money back, “A friend of my cousin is always welcomed here! If you insist, put it in that jar over there where I collect tips for charities.”

Bucky smiled as the trio walked away, “Thanks, Phoebe! We’ll update you if anything happens.”

Phoebe waved back, “if you happen to get married to this young lady, please invite me to the wedding! I’ll take any credit where it’s due.”

And with that, Bucky and Steve roared with laughter as Wanda closed the door behind them.

。。

The trip back to the tower was uneventful, as the only thing Bucky did was to stop and admire a candy shop that was by the tower. Other than that, no effects so far. 

The elevator opened to reveal the next of the team lounging around. Some were eating, others were chatting. Bucky’s eyes trailed over to you, where you were seated on the living room floor, writing stuff down on a notebook on the coffee table.

Before Bucky could walk towards you, Steve called out for Natasha. Natasha responds, asking what’s up. 

“I don’t know, just wanted to say you look nice today,” Steve said nonchalantly, then added, “by the way, great job on today’s presentation. Very solid work.”

“Alright old man, cough it up,” Nat countered, “what are you scheming this time around?”

Steve puts his arms up in defense, “I just want to compliment my friends on all their hard work that they’ve been doing. In fact, I’m going to go around the room and personally compliment everyone.” 

Bucky watches the scene unfold: one by one, Steve walks up to every Avenger and gives them two compliments, whether it be on looks or anything Steve deems “honorable.” When Steve walks up to you he exclaims: “Oh, y/n! What a wonderful young woman. You are so smart and intelligent, you’re gonna far, that I know of.”

You couldn’t stop laughing at this newfound side of Steve. He must’ve gotten back from a date, because it has been a while since he’s been this giddy. Everyone’s confused at what’s happening, but are appreciative of Steve’s kind words.

Once again, you and Bucky lock eyes and you start smiling. Bucky gave himself a little pep talk before he cooly walked towards you. Bucky leaves the little bottle of the love potion on the kitchen island and then proceeds to walk. 

You scooted over to make room for Bucky on the floor, and he brushed his hand against yours while he got himself situated. Intentional or not, but it did make your cheeks flare-up. 

“So what brings you over here?” you asked, as you continued to work on your notebook.

“Nothing really,” Bucky replied with all honesty, “I just wanted to see you working, it’s soothing, if I’m being frank.”

Bucky flashed a small smile and you reciprocated. “It’s nothing too crazy, Buck. But I’m glad you enjoy my company. In fact, I too also enjoy your company. How about that?

Bucky was really happy at how things were going between the two of you, that he outwardly forgot about the potion he drank. He didn’t feel any change, except for the fact that he wanted to hang out with you.  He just feels… a little bit more confident. 

An hour had passed, and in that time you and Bucky had resorted to playing tic-tac-toe, hangman, and even teach Bucky some calligraphy. This couldn’t be classified as a date, but Bucky is enjoying the moment anyway. You and Bucky had decided to move to the kitchen island, where you had made him a cup of tea. 

Then, in comes Sam bursting into the large room, with Steve slowly tagging behind. They must’ve gone to play basketball outside, as they were heaving and glistening with sweat. Sam was creating a loud ruckus, talking about how Steve cheated, and there should be a rematch.

Bucky started to zone out Sam’s blabbering and gave his attention to you. Right now, you were trying to draw Bucky, to no avail. It looked like a chunky stick figure with outlandish hair. Bucky complimented you on how the sketch should go to the Met, earning a laugh from you.

Suddenly, Sam eyes the glass bottle on the island. “Oh sweet! Beet juice: a nice refresher after working out.”

Bucky hummed in response, eyes glued on the paper that you had. It wasn’t until Sam made a loud aahh sound, and then proceeded to say, “that juice must've expired, ‘cause it smelled like floor cleaner.”

Steve and Bucky whipped their heads to each other, eyes wide in surprise. Oh no, Sam drank the concoction. You saw the look of concern on both the super-soldiers’ faces, and you’re trying to think of any possible outcome. 

Steve scrambles to Wanda, and tells her what happens. She shoots up from her seat and goes over to where you and Bucky are seated. She orders Steve to keep an eye on Sam while dialing Phoebe. 

“Is everything okay, Buck?” you asked with such innocence. You really don’t know what’s going on, and a part of you doesn’t want to know.

Bucky reassures you that everything is going to be okay… probably. Truthfully, he didn’t know, but he didn’t want to frighten you.

Steve comes running back into the kitchen and pants out, “it’s bad… he’s talking to all the ladies… couldn’t catch up… but Thor is after him…” 

Wanda yelled at Steve for leaving behind Sam, and then her attention went to the phone. It was Phoebe, and she was on speakerphone:

Wanda, you didn’t tell me that I was dealing with super-soldiers! I gave them both regular-sized doses, and that’s why they didn’t feel anything…. And you’re telling me Sam chugged the bottle?! Jesus, what are we gonna do. I’m on my way! I’m gonna be using magic to get there, so don’t get alarmed. And whatever you do: don’t leave Sam out of sight.

As Wanda and Phoebe kept raising their voices at each other through the phone, your head was spinning as to why there was mention of doses and potions. You turned to Bucky, who still looked mortified at the situation at hand. 

“Mind telling me what’s all the hubbub, James?” you proposed. 

“It was Steve’s idea!” Bucky retorted. It was time to come clean, and start the healing process, stat. “Steve told me I should do something about my crush on you. But I was too scared to initiate anything because you’re so pretty and amazing… And then Wanda’s cousin Phoebe gave us a love potion but it didn’t work on us. It did make Steve super complimentary to everyone, and I just got super nervous,  but that’s it. But it did work on Sam.”

You blinked at what Bucky just said. It was… a lot. You didn’t know where to start when it came to this newfound news. Then you started to laugh.

“Oh, James,” you sighed, earning another blush from Bucky, “I’m glad you tried to take some type of initiative to talk to me, but I didn’t know you had a little pick-me-up. But since you said it didn’t work on you and hardly on Steve… then how did you muster up the courage to talk to me?”

You got Bucky there. He was stumped, and started pondering. “I guess by my own accord? If a potion wasn’t gonna work, then I guess it was time for me to make a move. Hopefully, it worked?”

Your smile towards Bucky says it all. You nodded and then went up to his cheek and planted a kiss. “Next time, just strike up a conversation, Buck. I mean, look at what we accomplished today.”

Bucky nodded in agreement, and as soon as he was going to go in for another kiss, Wanda burst in.

“You gotta come check this out, quick!” 

Sure enough, you and Bucky raced to the lobby, and basked in the sight in front of them. 

There was Sam, chatting up every girl he sees. He was kissing everything in sight and was endlessly flirting. Sam made eye contact with you and quickly ran up to you and planted the wettest kiss you’ve had in a very long time. “When you’re no longer busy with Tin Man tonight, give me a call, sugar.”

You couldn’t stop cracking up at Sam’s antics. The whole team was stunned at what Sam was doing, all while Phoebe was trying to cast a spell to stop the chaos. Phoebe was fast, but Sam drunk on a love potion was much, much faster.

“Guess I saved myself on that one, eh Doll,” Bucky offered, earning a snicker out of you.

“You may be right, but I would’ve given you a big wet kiss if you asked,” you responded while cackling. Bucky joined in the laughter, happy that he was still able to have that spark with his girl, potion or not. 

As you leaned closer to Bucky, you saw Sam run up to a cop outside the building and saw him give him a full kiss on the lips. The cop got enraged and called his other buddy and started handcuffing Sam. At that moment, Phoebe used a spell to wear off the potion, and sure enough, Sam slowly started to calm down.

At his new state, Sam’s eyes widen. “Steve! Barnes! What the hell did you do to me! What the fuck was in that beet juice!”

Bucky cackled, “oh you know, a love potion. Nothing too crazy.”

Sam started shouting obscenities at the boys, while he was being escorted back up the tower, presumably now under house arrest.

“When I get outta house arrest, I’m  gonna put that potion where your mouth is!” 

“Have fun with that, lover boy!” Bucky called out, as you couldn’t control your laughter. “Now, where were we?”

“Staring into each other’s eyes, I assume,” you answered, as Bucky grabbed a hold of your hand.

Bucky smiled at your response, “that sounds like a wonderful activity to resume, y/n. Ah, but don’t worry, there is no potion in my system anymore.”

“I hope so,” you warned, “otherwise you’re gonna get an earful again.”

You and Bucky shared a laugh, the first of many while observing Sam’s chaotic energy.

[mirkwoodshewolf]

Freddie Mercury lover of life, singer of songs; Queen x reader

*Author’s note*

Alright guys this is it, I have for you all THE chapter that everyone’s been dreading for my Rock Angel series. This will be the last chapter where Freddie is alive. So get out the comfort snacks and tissues ready cause this chapter WILL. GET. SAD. I was planning on saving this update for later but after some debate, I’ve decided to just post it up now.

Warnings: Death, loss of loved one/icon, mourning, ANGST. This is a sad chapter yall. 

Taglist:

@plethora-of-things​

@waddles03​

@psychosupernatural​

@ixchel-9275​

@simonedk​

@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels​

@queensdivas​

@queendeakyy​

@platawnic​

@geek-and-proud​

@labessieisallama​

@starswin​

@onebigfangirlworld​

@klausidiot​

@dj-lowkey​

@isabella-bby​

@5sos-wdw​

@bohemiansweede​

@naturalswifty89​

_____________________________________________________________

The day after Kelly’s birthday, Jack flew back with the rest of the family and took the kids with him while I stayed behind in England to be with the one person who I needed to be with.  In fact I even stayed at his place along with Terry and Phoebe.

God he—he looked so frail, so fragile, it’s almost unbelievable that this was the very man just 11 years ago who looked so fit and healthy and who just six years prior wowed the world on stage before 1.5 billion people. But I won’t deny that he still has that same Freddie humor, even when he’s—god I can’t even bother to say it.

It was my turn to take the afternoon shift of watching Freddie before his doctor came in.  On the bed with him was Delilah, his faithful cat who hadn’t left his side except when she wanted to be fed or use the litterbox.

I lay there beside Freddie, his faint but raspy breathing was the only thing echoing in the room.  My arms were wrapped around him and I heard him softly whisper to me.

“My angel……is that you?”

“Yes Freddie. I’m right beside you.” I was told by Jim that due to the AIDS virus, his vision sometimes goes out, almost making him blind at times.

“My rock angel……my protegee…….go into my drawers and pull out the—manilla folder.” I stroked his head and got up from the bed and did as he told me.

I went over to his drawer that held his large circular mirror and pulled out the only drawer it had and I soon found the folder he was talking about.  I went back over to his bedside and I told him.

“I got it Freddie.”

“Open it.” He merely told me.  I looked at him slightly confused but I opened it as he kept stroking Delilah’s back and she purred softly.

Inside the folder I found some legal documents inside for copyright approval of some songs.  I pulled the papers out and even though I skimmed most of the legal words and actions there were a few song titles that caught my eye.  They read as followed:

Somebody to love.

Killer Queen

In the lap of the gods (revisited)

Liar

March of the Black Queen

Ogre Battle

“What is this Freddie? I don’t understand.”

“I talked with Miami, and—I told him he could do with whatever he wants with my music, my legacy, my name. I only told him to never make me boring.” We both softly chuckled. “And darling I know that music will always be covered by someone else. And let’s face it rock and roll is slowly dying with the way pop and hip-hop is growing. I don’t want any of those people to touch one of my songs before you. So we talked it over and legalized right there in black and white are the songs of mine that I want you to cover. And release on your next album.”

I was shocked.  These were some of my favorite songs that I’ve told him that I loved hearing live on stage.  And the fact he’s gone so far back and chosen the very early Queen songs for me to cover as my own…….I didn’t have the words to say.

“Freddie I—”

“Please say you’ll do it darling. You’re the only one I trust to make a great cover of a Queen song. Promise me you’ll do it.” He reached out and held his hand out for me.  I placed his hand against my cheek and leaned against it as his thumb gently stroked my cheek.

“I promise Fred. I promise I’ll make you proud.”

“You already have darling.” I tried to hold in a sniffle and keep my tears at bay but Freddie was smart. “Don’t be so tragic darling.” I choked out a laugh and said to him.

“Can’t blame me. You always knew I was an emotional woman.”

“I’ve seen worse dear.” We both had a soft laugh before Freddie started to cough.  Quickly I grabbed his cup of water and held it out but he refused it and continued to close cough as well as tried to breathe normally again. “My sweet rock angel……”

“Yes?”

“Do you—remember the song you sang when we first met you?” I smiled fondly at that memory.

“How could I forget? It’s the song my mum used to sing to me to help me feel better. And now I sing it to my children when they’re unhappy.”

“Will you sing that song for me now? I want to relive that glorious day. The day I heard an angel grace the Earth with her sweet voice. But I want to hear it now that you’ve matured from that little teenage girl you once were.” I smiled and resumed my position once again.

Freddie adjusted himself so that his head rested on my chest right over my heart and I stroked his hair gingerly.

“Just know that this time I don’t have a piano so my voice won’t sound as glamourous.”

“Your voice is glamourous with or without music dear.” He softly exhaled.  I took a deep breath in before exhaling out and I softly began to sing ‘Hallelujah’, the very song that I sung the day I first met Queen.

Freddie remained cuddled close to me as I sang to him and continued to stroke his head as his breathing grew softer and softer till he fell into a deep sleep.

I heard footsteps coming up towards the room and soon standing at the doorway was Mary Austin.

“He just fell asleep.” I told her.

“I can take it from here. You can leave now (Y/n).” she told me in almost an urgent matter.  Almost like she didn’t even want me there anymore.

I looked down at Freddie and gently kissed the top of his head and as Mary and I walked pass each other, I felt this coldness brush up against me and Mary immediately took my spot holding Freddie in her arms.

I walked down the stairs and saw Jim, Terry, Peter, and dad all downstairs together.  Roger must’ve just gotten here and somehow managed to slip pass the paps that were literally camped outside.  He came up to me and the two of us immediately embraced each other.

He rubbed my back as I buried my face into his shoulder finally letting the tears slip.

“I’ll go get everyone some tea. (Y/n) would you like some?” Jim said as he stood up.

“She’ll have her usual and I’ll have a coffee if you don’t mind Jim. Bring it to us out on the back deck.” Dad then guided me towards the backyard and the two of us sat down on the wicker couch and looked out to the back garden.

“He’s not going to last much longer.” I said more as a statement than a question.  I heard dad take a deep exhale and he said grimly.

“Fraid not love.” His hand rubbed my right shoulder gingerly and comfortingly.

“I can’t believe we’re going to lose him. He was always so strong.”

“Is strong. He’s always strong. He’ll never stop being strong lovie.” He told me as he leaned his head against mine.

After a bit of silence and just sitting there, Jim came out with our tea and coffee and we thanked him for the drinks.  I took a sip of my Jasmine tea and that’s when Roger said.

“You know…..my son Rufus saw a picture of you last week and he said ‘nana’.” I smiled softly. “Of course……”

“Roger I know what you’re going to say next but I’ve been meaning to speak my mind about this.” I set my tea down and said as I just stared out into the backyard. “You know that bitch has always hated me. Never once treated me with any respect, nor seen me as anything but a threat to you and her. I’ll be involved with your new son in any way I can but—please for the love of god. Don’t. Mention. Her name. I refuse to have anything to do with her. Even her name is like poison to my tongue. Just like the bitch who raised me after my parents died.”

“Alright. Just—thought I’d break the ice and get your mind off of….well all this. But I respect your decision. Not really the choice of words but…..” I glared at him. “Shutting up now.”

“I don’t even see what you saw in her besides her looks. Dominque at least respected me.” I stood up and walked to the middle of the garden with my teacup in hand.  I took a large gulp of it as he said.

“I—I have no excuse.”

“Of course you don’t.”

“And just what is that supposed to mean!?” he snapped.

“You love your beautiful women. You always have. I’ve seen it countless times Rog. I’m just thankful none of your exes turned out to be a crazy ex. I can’t even imagine what would happen if I, my family or even your own family got hurt because of a crazy ex.” He remained silent.  I took another sip of my tea. “I don’t want to fight about this anymore. Not with—him listening in on us. He wouldn’t want that. Not now.”

“Agreed. In fact I’m sorry I even brought it up to begin with.”

“As I said before dad. I don’t point the blame on the child. Rufus, he’s a cute kid. Much like his father probably was when he was born. I just have a problem with the mother. But I won’t show the drama before him. And if she has any love and respect for her son, she’ll do the same thing.”

“You know, I’ve never heard you be so honest and blunt like this in a long time.” I felt his hand gently take mine.  I sighed out deeply and solemnly.

“I’ve barely slept the past few days. With Kelly’s party and of course taking care of Freddie. Brother mine won’t return any of my calls, Jack calls to tell me that America is already starting to get the news of Freddie’s ‘rumored AIDS reveal’. And now our family’s starting to hound Jack whether or not the rumors are true. I just……I’m drained dad. Emotionally, physically and mentally, and I don’t know how much more I can take.” My voice began to crack as my walls began to crumble down.

I wanted to cry more tears but they refused to come out. Dad held me in a tight but comforting embrace as he rocked me side to side.

“It’s not easy for me either love. For none of us. You’re not the only one whose feeling drained by all this lovie. Brian, John, Fred’s friends, everyone that knows about this is drained. But the only thing we can do now is—be there for Fred in his last hours. To let him know we love him.”

I sniffled and clung onto his jacket so tightly, my knuckles went white.  But dad held me even tighter and snug as the two of us just stood there embracing each other in the garden.

*Nov. 24th, 1991. Sunday morning*

Three days later.  I remained at Garden Lodge, calling Jack whenever I could telling him how Freddie was getting worse and worse.  I was there when Freddie decided to stop taking the medication he needed to slow down the virus and he just decided to take an oral morphine pill.

I was there when Freddie’s lawyer and him made the official written statement, revealing to the world that Freddie did in fact have AIDS and tested positive for HIV for the past six years.

And I was there when……when he……

I was at the phone trying one last chance to see if I could reach Deacy, just so he could at least say one final goodbye.  I get that he’d rather wish to remember Freddie as he was and not as he is now but—if he doesn’t take the chance to say goodbye to Freddie now, he’ll regret it for the rest of his life.

The phone kept ringing until the operator told me that the line had been disconnected.

“Damnit Deacy.” I muttered softly before hanging up the phone. I then picked up the phone to ring Brian up when I heard Jim’s panicked voice cry out.

“(Y/N)! (Y/N) GET UP HERE NOW!!!” I dropped the phone and as quick as I could, I took the stairs two at a time not even caring that I tripped several times.  I raced towards the bedroom and found Peter and Jim holding Freddie’s limp body.

“(Y/n) quick go get Dr. Atkinson! Hurry!” I nodded and raced back down to see Dr. Atkinson sitting out in the garden reading over some files.

“Dr. Atkinson!” he looked at me and I choked out. “It’s Fred.” He abandoned the paperwork and he and I quickly raced upstairs.

When we got to the room, Peter then began to explain.

“He—he woke up and—he wanted to uhh….go to the toilet. And-and we were lifting him and…..” Dr. Atkinson went up to Freddie’s body and checked his pulse.

He then leaned in close to Freddie’s face.  His eyes were shut and his mouth slightly opened.  He was as still as a painting, a photograph even. Then his doctor said the two most horrifying, and graving words that would haunt me for the rest of my life.

“He’s gone.”

My whole world crashed.  Jim and I immediately embraced each other as we cried.  I could hear Peter sniffling and softly weeping and that’s when Dr. Atkinson adjusted Freddie’s corpse so that he was now lying flat and he covered him up with the bedsheets.

After that……Peter rang Roger up (who was just 300 yards away from arriving at the house) to tell him not to bother coming cause Freddie was gone.  

At 7:01am, Freddie Mercury was pronounced dead.

I was now driving down the road towards a house that needed to know of what happened instead of hearing about it on the news.  When I arrived at the quaint little house, I rushed to the door and knocked on the door as hard as I could.

I didn’t stop knocking till it opened and there stood Veronica.  She looked at my disheveled look and without a word embraced me as I wept into her arms. She brought me inside and sat me down in the living room.

As she put a blanket around me, that’s when I saw Deacy come down the stairs and the minute he saw me, his face went stoic and he froze right there on the spot.

“He’s gone brother mine.”

Deacy’s eyes shifted almost not believing what he had just heard.  He then went back upstairs and Ronnie went to stand up to follow him but I stopped her. Wordlessly I took the blanket off my shoulders and followed Deacy up the stairs.

From the hallway towards their bedroom, I could hear the sniffled and muffled cries of my brother mine.  I peeked in and saw him pacing around before finally collapsing to the floor, his arms clenched tightly against his chest, his face streaming down tears but he bit his lip trying to hold in his screams of grief and agony.

His whimpers sounded like a heartbroken dog that had just lost their parent forever and it broke my heart to see him fall apart like this.

“Aunt (Y/n), what’s going on?” soon enough coming out of their rooms were Robert, Michael, Laura and Joshua.

“Robert, take your brothers and sister downstairs now.” I told Robert urgently.

“What’s wrong with dad is he okay?” asked Joshua.

“I’ll explain everything later kids but now isn’t the time. Just please go downstairs with your mother and don’t come up here unless she says you all can.” Robert being the adult that he was, guided his younger siblings downstairs leaving their father and I alone.

I slowly opened the door up just a little bit more to allow myself in before closing it behind me.  There on the ground Deacy still kept crying and holding his screams in.  I sat down at the door and waited for him to calm down because I knew going to him right away wouldn’t be the best thing.

After what felt like hours, he finally calmed down and he just sat there broken, empty, and dazed.  I slowly crawled towards him and sat down in front of him.

“This is all my fault.” He croaked out.

“There’s—there’s no fault here Deacy. You weren’t the one who gave Fred AIDS. Nor did you know about it for as long as he did.”

“But you were right. I can no longer say my final goodbyes to him. I hide and refused to see him.”

“Because you wished to remember the way he was, instead of the shell that he was starting to become. And I think he knew that deep down. He loved you Deacy, and he always will.” The two of us went silent for awhile before he choked out.

“I can’t believe Freddie’s gone……I feel so alone.” I scooted closer to him and nuzzled myself into his chest and said to him.

“You’re not going to be alone. I promise. I’ll stay here with you and Ronnie if that’s what it takes.”

“Oh (n/n).” I felt his arms wrap around me. “When did you get so maternal?”

“I learned from the four best guys I know. You all have been there for me in my lowest times, now it’s my turn to be there for you three.” I looked up at him, both our eyes gleaming with leftover tears, “You, Bri and Rog…..we’re all gonna get through this. Freddie was important to all of us. We need to be together now more than ever.”

I leaned my forehead against my brother’s.  Our noses gently grazing against one another’s as I nuzzled him like a mother lion would her cub or another pride member.  He soon followed suit and the two of us embraced each other and stayed in each other’s arms.

*Jack’s POV*

I had gotten the call from Roger at around 3 in the morning. At first I thought it was just him wanting to stir up drama or call to see how Kelly and the boys were doing, but when he bluntly told me that Freddie was gone, my whole world fell apart.

For the rest of the morning I couldn’t sleep.  When everyone else in the family woke up I told them everything and we all cried and mourned at the loss of a beautiful and kind-hearted man.

“This—this feels like…….like a bad dream or something.” I said sitting at the kitchen table.  My mom standing over me rubbing my shoulders comfortingly.  She leaned down and hugged me from behind as she said to me comfortingly.

“I know. I know. But you know—at least Freddie is no longer in anymore pain. You know.”

“We know how much he meant to you Jack. He meant a lot to us too.” My dad said.

“There’ll never be another man nor artist like him. Never.” Jensen said as he sipped his morning coffee.

“We’ll all miss him.” Said Jared.  Mom reached over and stroked Jared’s shoulder.  I stood up and snapped out.

“It’s just—it’s not fair! If I had been there! Hell if I met (Y/n) earlier than I did maybe I could’ve…..”

“Jack, Jack sweetie, sweetie honey.” Mom came over to me and embraced me tightly. “There was nothing that you could do. There was nothing that any of us could’ve done.” She separated from me and wiped my tears away.

“I know. It’s……it’s so unfair.” I choked out.  I walked back towards my seat as I continued to choke out. “He was such a beautiful man. So full of love and life. Now he’s gone…….” I felt Gen and Dani rub their hands on either my shoulders or back trying to comfort me.

“Morning everybody!” Kelly’s voice rang out.  We all quickly wiped away our tears and my daughter came up to me and hopped up in my lap.

“Morning baby girl. How’d you sleep?”

“Great. I had a dream that I was playing alongside uncle Freddie on stage. Can I call him and tell him about it?” at her innocent question, the room grew quiet and depressed again.

“Kelly sweetheart I—don’t……” she looked up at me and she knew immediately that something wasn’t right.

“What is it daddy? Why are you so sad?”

“Sweetie this isn’t easy for me to say but umm……a few hours ago your godfather Roger called me. And he told me that—” I trailed off, swallowing my tears and sobs.

“It’s okay kid.” Jensen said to me.  I took a deep breath and finally told her.

“Kelly sweetie, your uncle Freddie died this morning back in London.”

“What?” she snapped.

“It’s just…….the virus he had was getting stronger and stronger and—he lost the fight.”

“No. You’re lying! NO HE’S NOT DEAD!!!” she screamed at me as she quickly ran back up the stairs.  I turned to my mom and dad and they gestured for me to go upstairs and talk to her.

I took the steps two at a time before finally reaching Kelly’s room.  She lay there on her bed, her head buried into her pillows as I heard her cry (which broke my heart immediately).

“Baby girl.”

“Why did uncle Freddie have to die? It’s not fair!” she wept as I stroked her back.

“I know. Death is never fair. But it’s the way of life.”

“I thought mummy was gonna take care of him! Why didn’t she?!”

“Now you listen here Kelly Michelle Kline. Your mother did everything she could to help your uncle. But—there are just somethings that…..cannot be cured. At least not yet. This is something that the world hasn’t seen yet, so we don’t know how to fight against it. But hopefully in the future we can.”

She sat up and sniffled as she wiped her nose with her sleeve. I wrapped my arm around her and said.

“And your uncle Freddie wouldn’t want you to be sad. He wouldn’t want any of us to be sad. Though he is gone, he’ll always be with us in our hearts and our memories.”

“I wish Jackson and Georgie got to know him a little more.”

“Me too sweetie. But we’ll tell them all about him. And how much, even though a short time, how much Fred adored them.”

“Is—is mummy okay?”

“I don’t know. She’s—she’s hurting just like we all are, and most likely what the whole world is feeling right now. Your uncle meant a lot to millions and billions of people worldwide.”

“I’ll miss him.” She stated sadly as she lowered her head.

“Me too sweetheart, me too. Is there—any more questions you have about what’s happened?”

“No. But—can you hold me daddy?”

“Of course love, c’mere.” I held my arm out to her and she crawled into my lap and clung onto me and I embraced her and rocked her softly, doing all that I could to comfort my baby girl.

Soon enough the whole wide world had gotten the news of Freddie’s death and the final confirmation that he had died of AIDS like so many of the gay community and dozens more from either blood transfusions or infected needles from drugs taken in the past.

Reports came in calling Freddie out for his sexual deeds and that this was karma (the bastards).  It was unbelievable that there were people out there tearing at Freddie’s name and saying that him getting AIDS was his fault because of his recklessness and wild antics.

Eventually I got a call from (Y/n) and the two of us talked on the phone for hours on end.  She told me that she’d be staying with Deacy and Ronnie till Freddie’s funeral in three days, and she’s invited all of us to come to the funeral.

So we all packed our bags and in three days the whole Kline family took a nonstop flight to London.  When we arrived the day before the wedding, as we drove on by, there were tributes out on the streets with flowers as far as they eye can see, all for Freddie Mercury.  From people of upper, middle or lower class, celebrities or normal people.

Everyone had paid tribute to the greatest showman the world ever known, and the kindest man some had personally came to know.

Then the day of the funeral arrived.

*Nov. 27th, 1991. My POV*

I pressed down my black dress and adjusted my bracelet that Freddie gifted me for my 20th birthday as well as a moon necklace he bought me in Argentina.  I looked at myself in the mirror before sighing softly.

“Baby.” I saw Jack’s reflection in the mirror. “Louis is here with the car. Shall I get the kids inside?”

“Yeah. I’ll be there in a moment.” I told him.  He nodded and left the master bedroom.  I gripped my necklace in my hand and whispered to the heavens.

“Looks like you’ll finally get to meet my parents after all Fred. I only just wish it was when you died at 102.” I took another deep breath and proceeded down the stairs.

I soon noticed that outside in the backyard was Kelly. She was sitting on the swing set all by herself in her little black dress.

“(Y/n)! (Y/n) I can’t find……how long has she been there?” Jack said.

“Can you tell Louis to wait up for just a few more minutes Jack?”

“Sure babe. I’ll be in the car with the boys if you need me.” He kissed my temple and left me alone to stare out at our daughter.

I walked towards her and I tapped my fingernails to the metal swing stand and she looked up at me and I asked her.

“May I join you?” she nodded and I sat down at the swing beside her.  The two of us gently swaying like the branches on a gentle windy day.  “You practically ran your father ragged little miss.”

“I wanted to be alone.” She said softly.

“I get it. You really miss him don’t you?”

“I know daddy and grandma said that death was a part of life, and that Freddie is with God and Jesus now, but—why couldn’t he stay here with us?”

“Believe me love if I had that kind of power, he’d be standing right here and probably tickling you till you smiled that sunshine smile of yours.” That made her crack a small smile. “But—the type of illness he had, doctors have never seen anything like it before. And a whole lot of people are dying because of it. But hopefully soon, they’ll get enough samples and study it more to the point that we can cure it so that no one dies of AIDS and HIV again.”

She got off the swings and walked a few feet in front of me and she said.

“I really loved uncle Freddie. I was his little nightingale.” I smiled solemnly.

“And I was his Rock Angel.” I looked down at my bracelet and fingered it. “Taught me everything I knew about being a rockstar. Now when he needs me the most I couldn’t even take care of him.” She came up to me and said as she placed her hands on my nylon knees.

“It wasn’t your fault mummy. Like you said there was no medicine to make him feel better. But you were there for him when he needed you.”

“I know sweetie. It……it still hurts though.” I felt her small hand reach up and touch my chin.

“It’s okay to be sad.” I cracked a smile and looked at her. Those were the exact words I told her when they had first arrived and we had our little talk about sharing our feelings about Freddie’s death.

“Now where have I heard that before?” I teased.

“Mummy?”

“Hmm?”

“Is it—okay to cry before we go?” my heart broke as she made the same heartbroken expression I make whenever I’m about to burst into tears.

“Of course baby.” I picked her up and embraced her tightly and the two of us softly cried in each other’s arms.

Kelly and I then got into the car after our emotional release, and at the address where the funeral was taking place, I could already see mourners piling in.  Already I could spot Brian and Anita standing side by side, and I even saw Elton John just starting to come in.

“Thank you Louis.” I thanked him.

“Anytime ma’am. I’ll be right here after the service is over.” I got out of the car with Kelly at my hand.  Jack then came out and took the boys out of their car seats and held onto them.

We walked towards the church and the first person we came up to was Elton.  The moment he saw us, he softly smiled and said.

“The whole Kline family.” I smiled solemnly and greeted Elton with a hug and kiss.

“I just wish it were on happier occasions.” I told him.

“Same here. How are you holding up darling?”

“Numb, empty. But I should be asking you and the guys that. You all have known him longer than I have. Heck I know about your little nicknames for each other. You’ve lost your Melina.”

“Yes, but she wouldn’t want me to be sad. She’s laugh and call me tragic if she caught me bawling like a baby.” We both chuckled softly.

“That sounds like Fred alright.”

“We’ll talk after the service okay?” I nodded and the two of us hugged and kissed each other once again and he nodded to Jack and waved at the kids before entering inside.

We all took our seats in the same row as the Deacon family. Deacy and I sat side by side and soon the church was completely crowded with people.  Then by 10o’clock the funeral began.

The chosen few men came in carrying a light brown casket down the aisle and placed it before all of us.  

Right next to it was a proud picture of Freddie during the Magic tour wearing the proud yellow jacket and looking radiant and strong, and around the picture was a large bouquet of yellow daffodils and lilies.  

His mother, sister, and Mary spoke their eulogies about Freddie’s life and what he meant to them.  After Mary spoke for almost 20 minutes, the pastor stood up and he said into the mic.

“And now, as requested by the deceased party, I would like to invite the Rock Angel (Y/n) Kline to come up and sing her song for the departed.”

Yes.  I had been told by Kash that Freddie had written to her to let me sing for his funeral. I stood up and walked up the steps and stood before the microphone stand.

“I—I had written this song for another reason. But—now it seems it’ll have to be for this occasion. Freddie Mercury—you always said my voice was of the angels, hopefully they’ll hear me and take you up to paradise.”

I took a few deep breaths to stall my tears.  Originally I had this song reserved for Freddie and Jim’s official wedding (and I didn’t care how long I’d have to keep it storage, I was willing to do it) but now it seems it’ll have to be his funeral song. As the piano player began to play the tune, I softly began to sing.

Play video

As I sang the song, memories of first meeting Freddie came flooding back.  All the good times we had together back during my internship, to him teaching me how to get over my stage fright, him helping me become the Rock Angel.

Every little memory I had with Freddie came rushing in as I sang with more passion.

*Me*

Wish I could, I could've said goodbye I would've said what I wanted to Maybe even cried for you If I knew it would be the last time I would've broke my heart in two Tryna save a part of you

Don't wanna feel another touch Don't wanna start another fire Don't wanna know another kiss No other name fallin' off my lips Don't wanna give my heart away To another stranger Or let another day begin Won't even let the sunlight in No, I'll never love again I'll never love again, oh, oh, oh, oh

When we first met I never thought that I would fall I never thought that I'd find myself Lying in your arms, mm, mm And I wanna pretend that it's not true Oh, baby, that you're gone 'Cause my world keeps turnin',

And turnin', and turnin' And I'm not movin' on

Don't wanna feel another touch Don't wanna start another fire Don't wanna know another kiss No other name fallin' off my lips Don't wanna give my heart away To another stranger Or let another day begin Won't even let the sunlight in No, I'll never love

I don't wanna know this feelin' Unless it's you and me I don't wanna waste a moment, ooh And I don't wanna give somebody else

The better part of me I would rather wait for you, ooh

Don't wanna feel another touch Don't wanna start another fire Don't wanna know another kiss Freddie, you’ll stay on our hearts

Don't wanna give my heart away To another stranger Don't let another day begin Won't let the sunlight in Oh, I'll never love again Love again Oh I’ll Never love again

I'll never love

Again

I won't I won't I swear I can't I wish I could but I just won't I'll never love again I'll never love Again Oooo oo oo oo oo Hmmm

By the end of the song, tears glistened in my eyes but none came down my face because I knew he wouldn’t want that.  The whole church applauded and I walked down the steps back to my seat.

As the pastor led a prayer, I felt Jack’s arm wrap around me and he leaned his head against mine while rubbing my arm comfortingly.

A couple hours later, after some more eulogies were spoke from Brian and Roger and other close friends of Freddie, it was time to bury the casket.  The men who brought it in, all came back up and resumed their positions and carried it back out and put it back in the car.

Only the close friends and family were allowed at this point to come to the burial of the casket.  So it included me and Jack (we had his parents take the kids back to their hotel), Roger, Deacy, Brian and Anita, Jim, Mary, Freddie’s family, Elton, David, Peter, and Miami.

We all stood around as the casket was being lowered down into the Earth.  I leaned up against Jack trying to draw in as much strength as I could and soon a couple of men began to bury the casket.

I then knew that it was now real.  Freddie Mercury was officially gone from this earth.  The Lover of life, and Singer of songs was dead.

Nothing would be the same after today.  Lives would be forever changed.  And the world just got a bit more darker without the large sunray that was Freddie Mercury.

[zalrb]

Is it ok to as a friends question? Did it bother anyone else that it was never made clear in the show that "her ankles are a little chubby" was said by Joey and not Ross in the list episode. For the longest time I thought Ross was a pig and then I rewatched it recently and realized he didn't really say anything that bad.

It’s always OK to ask a friends questions ;) It’s OK to ask me questions in general, guys! lolololol.

But yeah, I spoke about that a couple of days ago:

Added to that, no one talks about the fact that the oh-so-infamous list Ross makes is actually Chandler’s idea and Joey contributes to it. Nobody talks about the fact that both Chandler and Joey feed Ross’ jealousy over Mark and tell him to act like a possessive asshole. Nobody talks about the fact that Joey and Chandler tell him to keep the fact that he slept with the girl from the copy place a secret because “you have to think about the trail!” They share in the same mindset that makes Ross so deplorable to people.

Receipts:

Joey: Mark's a genius!

Ross: Why?! How?! How is he a genius?

Chandler: Look, don't you see what's happening here. Instead of hitting on her right away, he's becoming her confidant. Now he's gonna be the guy she goes too to complain about you.

Ross: What am I going to do?

Chandler: Well, why don't you send her a musical bug, op, no you already did that. All right look, you're going to have to go there yourself now, okay, make a few surprise visits.

Ross: I don't know you guys.

Chandler: All right fine, don't do anything, just sit here and talk to us, meanwhile she is talking to him about you. And he's being Mr. Joe Sensitive, and she starts thinking 'Maybe this is the guy for me, because he understands me.'

Chandler: He paints quite a picture doesn't he?

*

Chandler:  Ok, all right, look. Let's get logical about this, ok? We'll make a list. Rachel and Julie, pros and cons. Oh. We'll put their names in bold, with different fonts, and I can use different colors for each column.

Joey: Ok, let's start with the cons, 'cause they're more fun. All right, Rachel first.

Joey: Oh, her ankles are a little chubby.

*

Ross: You think?! God, I, ah, I’m in hell. I mean what, what am I gonna do? Rachel’s all like, ‘I love you and, and let’s work on this.’ And all I can think about is, ‘What is she gonna do? What is she gonna say?’ when I tell her what I did.

Chandler: Well, before we answer that, I think we should address the more important question. How dumb are you?

Ross: What?! Look, we’re trying to rebuild a relationship here, right. How am I supposed to do that here, without being totally honest with each other?

Joey: Look, Ross look, I’m on board about this totally honesty thing, I am, just not about stuff that’s gonna get you in trouble.

Chandler: He’s right. Nobody’s gonna benefit, and you’re just gonna hurt her.

Joey: Yeah, and there won’t be a relationship left to rebuild.

Ross: Yeah, but don’t you think....

Chandler: All right look, if you absolutely have to tell her, at least wait until the timing’s right. And that’s what deathbeds are for.

Ross: Yeah, okay.

Joey: All right, okay, now, we just have to make sure she doesn’t find out some other way. Did you think about the trail?

Ross: What trail?

Joey: The trail from the woman you did it with to the woman you hope never finds out who did it! You always have to think about the trail!

Ross: Oh, I-I don’t think there’s any trail.

Chandler: Okay, okay-okay, ah, Chloe works with that guy Issac. Issac’s sister is Jasmine. And Jasmine works at that message place with Phoebe. And Phoebe’s friends with Rachel. And that’s the trail, I did it!

So I’m just like THEY. ARE ALL. TRASH.

[reyesstrand]

Tag Game!!

@ao3theskyisblue thank you for the tag, this gave me a much-needed break from online schoolwork!! 💗

1. What was the last movie you watched in theatres? Birds of Prey!! Before that I caught Parasite when it was re-released in theatres before the Oscars! 

2. What’s your favourite game to play? I’m very boring and don’t play much besides classic board games, so I have to say Scrabble aksjdsdfks

3. Chocolate or vanilla? Oooh tough one, but probably chocolate. 

4. What’s the last show you binge-watched? I feel like I’ve always got a show on the go, but the last one I fully binged was Tiger King with my family, and The Other Two right before that. 

5. Do you have any pets? I do! A gentle giant, three-year-old rescue dog! She’s a Great-Pyrenees/Retriever mix, and is appropriately named Elsa. 

6. What’s your favourite fairy tale? Hmmm, I remember reading The Little Red Riding Hood a lot as a kid, so let’s go with that! 

7. Who’s your favourite superhero? This is a difficult one, but I’d probably have to say Thor, honourable mentions to She-Hulk, Falcon and the whole Young Avengers team from my teenage comic-reading phase. 

8. Who’s your favourite Disney princess? I adored Jasmine as a kid, so either her, Mulan or maybe Rapunzel. 

9. Where’s the first place you’re going to go after the social distancing is over? Hopefully to see a movie (whenever most of them are re-scheduled to be released lol) or back to my job when they re-open.

10. Cookies or cake? Ooh, I’ve gotta go with cake, I think. Especially on special occasions. 

+10 questions 

1. Which show could you watch over and over? Let’s see...definitely Schitt’s Creek, especially when it ends in a couple weeks (cut to me crying) and I can re-watch the whole series; 9-1-1 Lone Star (because of course), The Get Down, Fleabag, Veep, Black Sails, and Bob’s Burgers. 

2. Favourite song lyric? It’s impossible for me to just pick one, so here’s some favourites from a few songs: 

“I buried a hatchet, it’s coming up lavender, / The future’s unwritten, the past is a corridor, / I’m at the exit, looking back through the hall, / You are anonymous, I am a concrete wall” — Phoebe Bridgers, “Smoke Signals” 

“Hold my hand and float back to the summer time, / Tangled in the willows, now our tongues are tied, / How can I believe you, how can I be nice? Tripping round tree stumps in your summer smile” — Glass Animals, “Gooey”

“So if I feel real good tonight, / I'm gonna put it high on the loudspeaker, / If I feel like crying, I won't hide it / I am a loudspeaker” — MUNA, “Loudspeaker” 

“Be as you've always been (Lover, be good to me), / Be like the love that discovered the sin (Lover, be good to me), / That freed the first man and will do so again, / And, lover, be good to me (Lover, be good to me), / Be that hopeful feeling when Eden was lost (Lover, be good to me)” — Hozier, “Be”

3. Favourite season of your favourite TV show? This one’s difficult too! Ah! I really love seasons 3 and 4 of Schitt’s Creek, and I of course love the only (for now) season of Lone Star, so I’ll go with those choices as I can’t think of anything else right now!! 

4. What never fails to make you smile/happy? Watching the sunset while reading a good book. My dog. Cooking. And I have to agree with @ao3theskyisblue — getting any AO3 notification makes my day brighter every time, without fail, and I want to thank anyone who’s ever even interacted with my fics because it brings me so much joy!! 

5. How are you doing with all that’s going on in the world (virus, having to do social distancing, etc)? I’m very much so introverted, so staying in is something that I normally find myself doing. I feel very grateful of my privilege in being able to stay home with my family and knowing everyone in my personal circle is healthy, though I do feel spikes in my anxiety whenever more news comes out. I’m stressed right now with how many school assignments I have, on top of participating in online lectures/seminars, but there’s only a couple weeks left of that so I’m pushing through!!

6. We all love new music to listen to, name an artist that is underrated/you think people should check out? boygenius!! FKA twigs!!! Christine and the Queens!! Perfume Genius!!

7. TV show or movie? Yet another tough one!! I have to say both, here, I love them for different reasons! 

8. Favourite holiday? I generally enjoy Halloween for the movies and weather, and I’d have to also say Christmas even though I’m not religious, I just love getting to have time to see my whole family and relax from school! 

9. A song that describes you? This is very difficult and something I haven’t thought of before...going through my music library now, though, I’ve always felt a pull toward Landslide by Fleetwood Mac for the sentimental value since I was younger so I suppose I’d go with that. But I’m definitely going to keep thinking of another answer!! 

10. Describe your tumblr in three words? Side-blog, writing, and (hopefully) welcoming! 

+5 questions

1. What is your favourite hobby? Writing, reading, cooking, discovering new movies/tv shows. 

2. What is your favourite book? Or/and a really good book you’ve read recently? Okay, so, I’m an English major and read lots of old books for my classes and I recently haven’t had much time for reading for pleasure (sadly), but I’d recommend The Goldfinch by Donna Tart, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller! 

3. What is your favourite ship that will never happen (or hasn’t happened yet)? Oh boy, I guess FinnPoe from the recent Star Wars movies? 

4. If you could spend the day with any living celebrity, who would it be? I feel like I have so many possible answers! Dan Levy would be amazing, so would Natacha Karam, Florence Pugh, Taika Waititi, Tessa Thompson, Janelle Monae...I could go on lol!! 

5. The best worst movie you’ve ever seen. A movie that you know objectively is trash but you can’t help but really enjoy it. The first thing I thought of were the live-action Scooby Doo movies from the early-2000s that my sister and I recently re-watched on a whim and I think that has to be my answer askjsdfks

Questions by @ao3theskyisblue

1. What is one thing you’ve recently watched/read that left you absolutely heartbroken? Oh, definitely the documentary I watched on migrant workers in Canada for a class the other day.

2. An activity (e.g., hobby, sport...etc) you wish you were better at? I would love to be able to draw/paint better!!

3. If you could stop time for 24 hours, what would you do? It’s very boring to say, but catch up on sleep!!

Questions by @reyesstrand

1. What is your all-time favourite movie?

2. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

3. If you could alter any questionable plot point from a tv show or movie, what would it be?

Feel free to try this out, if you’d like, or haven’t already! @tkstreyes @cateyesinlove @summerfiing @tylerkennedysstrand @aziraphalescrowley @hcnkycat @anadearmsa @lonestarbabe @evaneddie @hawkeeyes @oscarissaac @brillliantbanshee @derek-shepherds & anyone else who wants to!

[brattywriters-anonymous]

I’m Never Wrong

Erik x Reader story

Warnings: This story is really long. I’m warning you now. Smut, SoftErik! RedeemedErik!

32 days before Christmas

I gotten in from work pretty late tonight. Working on all of these damn briefs and defenses so I can be case free for the Holidays. Erik hates when I bring work home so I always either don't or I hide it and work in the office when he's out or sleep. Tonight, I chose not to bring it home. The slave ship that is Lawman & Sholtz Associates got fifteen hours out of me today. It's almost 11 PM and I just want a glass of wine in my bed. I walk into a dark foyer and an even darker living room. Erik is usually in there playing Fortnite or Battlegrounds, cursing out little nine year olds on live. This is the quietest my house has ever been since we moved in six months ago! It's truly been an adjustment living with N'jadaka Stevens-Udaku. He is the noisiest, nosiest, grumpiest roommate I've ever had!

That's including my law school roommate, Phoebe. She never liked having company over, same as Erik. She was hella territorial over food that we both bought, same as Erik! They both even have a mean snoring problem. I'm pretty sure if I could find the damn girl and let them meet, they would hit it off they're so much alike!"

Babe?! You home?!" I yell out, silence. I dropped my briefcase, coat, and keys on the floor so I can lose my uncomfortable ass heels. "I know he better be home tonight! He knows it's our.." "Baby! I'm back here! Bring yo ass, woman!" I quickly shimmy out of my pencil skirt and blazer down the hallway. I just know I'm in for a long night tonight. It's our three year anniversary. It's also been two years since I almost lost his dumb ass, tryna chase a throne with nothing but rage and oppression on his heart.

"Hey bae, I'm ba--" FAP! A sharp slap landed on his right cheek, he couldn't even react to it before he felt a jab connect to his left one. "You got some fucking nerve coming back here! Six months N'jadaka!? You said you would be back in a week or two! How the fuck did that turn into six--fucking--months!?" My last three words turned into three more punches. He grabbed my wrists with one hand and used his other hand to push me against the back of the door. "Look baby, I'm sorry. I went to Wakanda and shit went left, okay? I beat my cousin in ritual combat, I thought I killed him. I was about to send the vibranium weapons out to our wardogs and come back to you. Then, he returned. All hell broke loose and.. I died." My eyes grew wide before I could open my mouth to scream he let go of my hands, "Dont! Hear me out, Y/N. I died. T'challa stabbed me in my chest--" He lifted up his shirt to show me the mostly healed wound. "--I told my cousin if he was gonna lock me up, just let me die. Bury me in the ocean. I guess he chose not to lock me up and he saved me. When I came to, he told me that he bought the old apartment building my father and I lived in and made it an outreach resource center, that it would be the first of many.. That he needs my help in running. Even though it's a small step in the direction of progress, it's a step. I gave Cha my word, I'll help him. But I had to come here and explain myself to the love of my life." I shook my head in disbelief. In disbelief of the entire story! How do you die and come back? Can vibranium do that? Wait. "I'm your what-now?" He smirked and kissed my neck gently, "You're the love of my life. I love you, Y/N." I've never heard this man tell me he loved me before today. He's always tip toed around saying it. Even before he left for six months, his last words to me was, 'I care for you so much baby. Swear I'm coming back for you. On my parents. You coming back home with me.' His stubby finger swiped across my cheek wiping the single tear that fell from it, "I'm sorry. I love you." He embraced me as I cried in his arms, "I love you, Erik."

I get to the doorway to be met by pink candles trailing to our master bath and rose pedals spread throughout the layout of our room. Who's cleaning this up? I approached the door frame to see my fine ass man in nothing but a towel, accompanied with two flutes full of champagne. "What is this?" "This is for you, gorgeous." He hands me a glass and I gladly take a sip, I been waiting all day for this. Bollinger Brut Rose, my favorite. I moaned at the bubbles hitting my nose with that sweet aroma. It's what I imagine what heaven must be like. "I been waiting on you to get this bath started. I didn't want the water getting cold so.." He starts filling up the tub as I tell him about my day with these colonizers stressing me out, I thanked him for the lunch and edible arrangement that he sent me. "You ate it all, didn't you?" I raised my eyebrows at his question and throw back the rest of my champagne, "Mhm. You know I love chocolate covered strawberries!" He beams at my response, "Good thing I got two dozen and kept the other one here!" He pulls out a dozen of the delectable fruit on ice. "God, I love you. Have I told you that?" He shrugs, "A time or two." I laugh and jump up, "The bath!"

--

We settle in the bathtub with our refilled glasses and strawberries on hand, then he grabs something else. It's pretty dim in the bathroom so I really can't make out what it is. "Any more surprises, lover boy?" I tilt my head backwards to see his boyish grin as he nods and holds out a ball. "I went to lush." I gasp and squeal "You hate that place baby!" "I know! I wanted to make tonight special for you. I know I ain't always the best. I'm not the happiest camper in the woods all the time, but you put up with that shit. You always make sure I'm as happy as I can be. So I'm tryna make tonight as special as possible for you. For us." I turn myself around to face him and give him a long, passionate kiss. This is single-handedly the best anniversary ever. Especially considering the first was the worst, the second was when he finally came back from Wakanda and that one wasn't any better. He's really making up for that. He breaks our contact, "Damn baby, you gon make me drop it!" "What did you get?" He pondered on the question, "Uh, I told the lady it's our anniversary and you love the place, I told her what smells you didn't like and she gave me this..She said its a..sex bomb I think." I shake my head, "Oh, so you tryna really get it poppin' tonight, huh?" "Hell yeah, Y/N. You thought you was getting away with what you did this morning?" I look up to the ceiling in deep thought, "I'm sorry, I do not recall." He nudges me, "Oh, so you don't remember how I woke you up, told you you were moaning in your sleep--" He drops the bath bomb in front of us..as it starts to fizz and the Jasmine aroma releases, he starts caressing my outer thigh, continuing, "--and that I could help you out with that. You let me get you out your pjs, and just as I was about to eat you like my last meal--" He stops to kiss my shoulder, I let out a whine, "Your alarm went off for work and you pushed me off you." He takes a strawberry and devours it whole, sucking all the juice out directly in my ear, making sure I could hear it. Then without moving, he whispers, "You don't remember that baby?" I bite my lip and my eyes darted back at the sex bomb, it's still fizzing. Turning the water to a beautiful lavender hue. "It's coming back to me.." He feels me closing my thighs together, then he places one hand between them, prying them back open. "Nah gorgeous, we not doing that tonight. I already called your job after you left. You not even getting out of bed tomorrow unless you coming in here, let alone going to work. I called out for you." His finger grazed past my clit as he said it, distracting me, I let out a muffled moan. "Damn..this bath is working. Otherwise I'd be curs--ooh!" Erik takes his other hand to wrap it around my neck and firmly press against that spot that makes me wet every single time, "You not cursing me out, you gon thank me tomorrow for how I'm about to tear you up tonight. You ready for it, Y/N?" I nod, words are completely out of the question while he's giving me this euphoric feeling. He huffs, "Imma let you slide this time gorgeous, but you know when I ask you something, I wanna hear an answer." He releases his hold, "Right?" "Yes sir."

"Good. Good. Now, back to these." He feeds me a strawberry, "So, remember our first date?" I burst out into laughter, "How it was about to be our only date, yes!" "Aye! I told you I was late because--" "Yeah, yeah. Because you robbed a museum and you almost got arrested but the cops lost your tail. I thought you were bullshitting." "I wasn't though. I had to make some bread to take you out." I sank deeper into the warm water, "You lucky you're a charismatic SOB, I had all intentions of not giving you a second date." "Look at us now. Living together, you partner at your firm. I'm running the Wakandan outreach center. We living our dreams." He gave me my glass and held his up to mine, "To three years, and a million more." Our glasses clink and I threw my second glass straight back. "Oh so you tryna get it poppin' tonight, huh gorgeous?" I roll my eyes, "Since I'm off tomorrow, hell yeah."

--

We get out of the bathtub and we're practically all over each other. Lush outdid themselves with that bomb. We barely got ourselves dry with the one towel we had between us as we stumbled onto our California King. I straddle him as his hands find their placement around my hips. I hungrily kiss him, occasionally licking his soft bottom lip and pulling it in with mine. He lets out the most beautiful moan I've ever heard in his deep tone. I swear, I can't get any wetter than what I am now. I kiss his outer jaw then whisper close to his ear, "Happy anniversary, baby." I trail kisses back down his jaw, to his neck. He hands move from my hips, through my scalp, running his fingers through my hair as he felt a slightly sharp pain of my bite. He cooed as I left two nice sized hickeys where he likes to be kissed the most. I make my way back up to his lips as I'm grinding into him, he's standing at full attention at this point. He starts mirroring my movements while his fingers are still entangled in my hair. He breaks our kiss and whispers, "So beautiful." I whisper back, "I love you." 

As he opened his mouth to return the sentiment, I grabbed his hard member and dragged it across my dripping slit. His mouth hangs open when I drop down onto it. I bottom myself out as I rock back and forth on him, I just hear 'Ah' over and over as I go each way. I occasionally roll my hips around as he hisses and grabs my hair with full force. My lips go back to his ear, "You like that baby?" I can tell he's biting his lip because I hear a muffled moan come out as I roll my hips around again, "I love it." I kiss his lobe as I groan at his hips crashing into mine. I place more distance between our lower halves, moving up and down on his glistening member. As his head continuously grazes my g-spot, my tone rises. He removes his hands from my hair and return them back onto my hips as he crashes into me harder, making sure to keep the same pace. "Right there, Y/N?" I groan through my answer, "Yes! Right there!" The harder he crashes back into me, the more incoherent my moaning becomes until my voice goes into a falsetto and my first orgasm flows out onto the both of us.

"Ride it out baby, keep going." I'm shaking as my body is trying to give out but his words give me the strength to hold myself up to keep bouncing on him. At this point I'm only hearing the smacking of our skin as we collide and his voice saying my name over and over again, motivating me to keep going. I feel my thighs quivering as he continues hitting my spot, All I could let out was a group of yeses, one higher than the other until my second orgasm surprises me and leaves my entire body quaking. He holds himself right on my g-spot as my walls contract against him, my fluids splashing down my inner thigh onto his pelvis. "Shit, Y/N. Hold up." He digs his hands into my hips and rolls himself on top of me. Once my orgasm finishes washing over me, he starts digging me out like he's on a mission to do it again. He takes his turn to lean into my ear, "You wanna cum again baby?" I yelp as he bottoms me out, holding it there, "Yes!" He pushes himself further up, "Yes, s-ir!" As he almost completely pushes himself out, his hands snake back around my neck and squeezes tight. I become displaced again, the only sense I clearly have left is hearing and I hear myself struggling to groan loudly, splashing, and him yelling my name again. He eases up around my neck and I come back to. I look down and our lower halves are drenched, Erik is looking at me with his eyes halfway shut as he confesses, 

"Baby, I love you so much! You feel so.." I felt my walls involuntarily close around him as I shiver, "Ahh..damn you feel so good." I pull him down to me. Now, we're face to face. He slows his pace all the way down, but the intensity is still present. We're kissing each other through our coos and moans, we both feel my third orgasm creeping up on me. "I love you Erik." I look him in his dark eyes as mine release tears of joy, he wipes one side of my face as he kisses me, slowly pushing in and out of me, "I love you too, Y/N. You're everything--I could ever ask for. I can't be without you. Ever." Erik kisses me again. I open my eyes and I see his fingers fiddling with a ring. I gasp and cover my mouth as more tears are coming down my face, "Marry me. I'm asking you to make me happier than I've ever been. I'm asking you to go through life's ups and downs with me, as one. Marry me, Y/N."

I hold my left hand out, "Yes N'jadaka. Yes!" He places the ring on my finger and I tightly embrace him. He quickly reminds me what we were doing before he asked me to be his wife, pushing himself deeper than he's ever been. I gasp as my nails embed themselves into his muscular back. He pulls back out of me then back to that same spot. I hear a squishing sound that makes me jerk back, he presses back on it making me scream, "N'Jadaka!" he moans in my neck, "Say it again." "N'jada-- ohh!" He drills into me again and again back in that same spot as my orgasm unfolds right then and there. I spill out, more than I ever have before, splashing the sheets, myself, and him. The more he keeps pressing that spot, the more I cum. He huffs out as he lets himself go. We're both shaking and holding onto one another. As he's shooting into me, I'm shooting out on him. He collapses on top of me as we drifted off for the rest of the night.

--

Six days before Christmas "That's everything?" Erik zips up the third suitcase of mine as I'm looking around my room mentally checking off everything that's in my bag. "Yup. That's it." "You plan on leaving me?" I look in his direction, puzzled. "What?" He stretches his arms out over the three large suitcases I have verses the one duffle bag he has. "You literally packed for three people." "No I didn't. Ass. I have two suitcases of clothes, we're gonna be there for two weeks! The third one is for my shoes and toiletries." He shook his head, "This is about to be expensive as fuck." He's right about that. We're going to Toronto this year for Christmas and New Years. My parents moved there about three years ago after my youngest brother moved out. We've never been there so I don't know what to expect weather wise. "You got your passport Erik? We don't have time to turn around if you forget it." He holds two blue booklets up, "I got yours and mine, now lets go." -- WELCOME TO PEARSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

I hear over the intercom, my eyes are squinting at the bright lights. Erik and I are hand in hand as we navigate through the busy airport looking for baggage claim. We finally find it and with that we find my parents with a big sign reading, "The Stevens" I cover my face in embarrassment. My mother squeals "Y/N! My baby!" She grabs me up and hugs me really tight, rocking me left and right. "How was your flight?" "A nightmare, ma. Seven hours of the same toddler screaming, people coughing in my personal space..I'm tired. Can we go to the house now?" She nods, "Okay baby. Hello Son! How are you?" He hugs my mom, "I'm good Raina, I was tryna keep her comfortable for the entire flight." "You know how fickle Y/N is about packed flights." "She hates it." They say in unison. "Aye! Enough ragging on my daughter. We both hate crowds in cramped spaces! I'm glad you made it out here to see us, lovebug." My daddy kissed me on the cheek and gave Erik a firm handshake, "It's nice to finally meet my son-in-law to be." "Likewise Mr. Y/L/N." "Call me Wallace, or dad." They both smiled at the informality. 

-- We settled into my parent's house quite nicely, and damn is this house nice. Five bedrooms, Seven bathrooms. A Spacious back yard, a minibar in the living room, the kitchen with white appliances and white marble counter tops, the island in the center. They even have a wine cellar for their vast collection of wines! This is truly their dream house. I'm so happy for them. As a retired physician and banker, they really made their dreams come true as empty nesters. Suddenly, I felt a lump in my throat, like I couldn't swallow my saliva. I shook my head and forcefully swallowed. Not thinking much of it, I head to the kitchen where I bump into my brother, Jordan.

"Hey bighead! Wassup?" I nudge him, "Shit, tryna get some water if you'd move!" He steps aside, "My bad. Daaayym! That must cost a grip!" Jordan grabs my left hand, "Nice. Where's my bro anyway?" I point upward, "Upstairs sleeping, we're hella jet lagged. Where's my sister?" Jordan married Daisa last year, she's expecting their first child in February. "She's in the office, talking to dad about plans for our nursery. You know he's hella excited to be a pop pop." I giggle at the name, "Why don't grandparents ever wanna be called grandpa and grandma?" He shrugs, "I don't know.." "Because we're not old." My mom slides in the kitchen from the wine cellar. She slaps Jordan's hand, "You better get a coaster for that cup! Wash it when you finished, too!" "Okay ma! I'm going to check on Daisa anyway!"

I sit on the island as I gulp down my bottled water. "Have ya'll thought about any plans for the wedding yet, baby?" mom sips some of her Cabernet. I shake my head, "Nah, we've just been so.." "Engulfed into each other that you haven't thought about it?" We laugh at the same time, "What can I say? I really love him, ma." "I know you do, baby. You've been glowing since he asked.." She takes a sip, then continues, "Speaking of glow, you know I dreamed about fishes the other night." My eyes instantly rolled at her phrase, my mom being from Florida, she always has these superstitions. The fish dreams are always on point though. She dreamed about fishes last year, Jordan and Daisa found out they were pregnant. Three years before that she dreamed of fishes, my oldest brother Stephan got his fiancee Joyce pregnant. I shake my head at her, "Maybe Daisa is having the baby early." "Girl, she's carrying too small, that baby is just fine in there until February, maybe even March. Erik has been sleep since you guys got here four hours ago. Jet lag, my ass." I then thought about how my older brothers were before they knew their women were pregnant. The Y/L/N tradition always stood, the woman may have some symptoms, but the men always carried the sleepiness and the over eating. It never failed. My dad gained a total of fifty pounds thanks to the three of us.

Last week

Erik had been staying late at work all week, Friday is finally here and I decided to take a half day and cook his favorite. Fried chicken, brown rice, gravy, collards, and cornbread.  He finally got home as the collards finished boiling down. "Hey babe, whatchu in here cooking?" "My baby's favorite!" I sniffed the aromas from the foyer "Y/N, you want something don't you?" I shook my head as I fed him some greens and kissed his olive oil ridden lips, "I just wanna take care of you tonight. I know you been working late this week, So wash up and get ready for dinner." He pulled me in for another kiss as he smacked my ass, "What about dessert?" I giggled, "Nigga. You get dessert every night. Tonight ain't no different." He stretched his arm out and pulled it back to him, "Yes!"

--

I look at him dumbfounded as he devours his meal like he just got home from prison. Erik is eating everything at once, smacking obnoxiously and moaning. "Is it good?" He nodded as he continued smashing his plate. 

SNAP SNAP! "Y/F/N, Y/M/N! Are you here?!" I blink out of my flashback and swallowed hard, "Uh..yeah. Yeah. I'm here. Uh, I'll be back." I run upstairs to our room and closed the door. Almost out of breath, I drink the rest of the water in the bottle and pull my phone out. I immediately pull up my period tracker app..

Day 38, you are six days late (Pregnant?)

Oh, No. I start pacing around the room. Erik and I never talked about kids. He's awesome with the kids at the outreach center, but those are school aged kids. I've never seen him with a baby, baby. I'm still out of breath, I look over to Erik, his eyes are fluttering..shit, he's about to wake up.

DING DONG!

I hear Stephan's annoying ass scream out, "Food's here!"

-- Silence falls around the dinning room table, nothing but forks hitting plates can be heard, with an occasional sip here and there. I look to my left to see Erik smashing his plate once again, which is putting me off of my food. "Son, have you eaten today? You okay?" My dad asks as he passes Erik the box of takeout. "Blink twice if Y/N is not feeding you!" Stephan jokes as Jordan laughs with him. Erik finally slows down, "Oh, nah. I haven't eaten since breakfast. We had a long flight. I guess I'm really hungry." He looks to his right, lightly headbutting me, I return a nervous grin. "So, I dreamed of fishes the other night!" The entire table groans out except for mom and Erik. Stephan objects, "Man look, it's not us! Joyce is on that ICU thing!" She quickly interjects, "It's an IUD, stupid. I'm not pregnant, Raina. We might revisit the conversation in a year or so, but there's no fishes this way." Joyce holds up her wine glass and throws it back, confirming. I gulp down my sweet tea, which is tasting quite nasty, but I had to get this food down one way or another. My dad looks over at Jordan, Daisa yells out, "It's only one in here! She's not coming until February!" "Maybe March!" My mom interrupts, then winks at me.

Like clockwork, the entire table looks at me and Erik. Erik is still looking confused at the entire conversation, "What's dreaming of fishes about?" "Bro, it means swimmers been swimming! Soldiers been marching!" Stephan throws out the ridiculous figures of speech. Erik looks around the table again then his light bulb turned on, "Ohhhh!" He laughs and goes back to eating, "Nah. If Y/N was pregnant, I would know. Ain't that right, baby?" I laugh with him, "Yeah! Mhm." Everyone shrugs it off and my dad changes the subject to Canadian football. I scoot my chair back and dismiss myself to the upstairs bathroom. That tea really threw my entire meal off, I feel myself heave as I'm climbing the stairs, I shake my head trying to shake off the feeling. Then I heave harder, feeling my dinner come up. I run to the bathroom and made it just in the nick of time to reach the toilet.

"Y/N! You okay, baby?" My mom's voice echos through the east wing of the second floor, I'm still throwing up..not able to answer. She leans against the doorway of the bathroom and smiles at me from the mirror, "I'm never wrong." I wipe my mouth and flush the toilet.

--

Three Days before Christmas

The past three days have been torture. I still hadn't bought a test to confirm or deny mom's allegations. I'm scared to know for sure. Even though I'm sure I am, especially since I throw up every night after dinner, and my mom meets me at the bathroom door with sparkling water like clockwork. Saying the same thing, "I'm never wrong." I cringe just thinking of the way she says it. So arrogantly, like she knew all along it was me. Even before I thought it was me!

I slept in this morning, I woke up around half past noon and went straight to the kitchen. The men of the house cooked a continental breakfast that blessed the entire house with it's great aroma. I was the last significant other to get up for breakfast, so as tradition stood, I had to set the table. "I'll help you sis." Daisa waddles over to the drawer where the silverware was as I went in the pantry to grab the tablecloth.

I fan the cloth out over the table and Daisa follows, laying down the forks and spoons in front of each chair. "You ready for my niece to get here?" She sighed deeply, "YES! Ready is an understatement!" I giggle as I grab the glasses from the china cabinet. "Girl, If I could have her now, I would! She keeps kicking me in my damn ribs like she hates me!" I shake my head as I felt a sharp cramp on my side, I paused as I hold myself where the pain is, "It is you, isn't it?" I look up at her and shrug, "I don't know." She smiles at me, "There's nothing to be scared of, Y/N. That man in there loves you. He's been gawking about you all morning! 'Y/N just made partner at her firm! Y/N is a better cook than me! Y/N, Y/N, Y/N.' His world revolves around you. You two will make great parents." Somewhere in the middle of her saying all of that, I start crying. She shushed me as she pulled me into her, "It's okay love. Whenever you ready to find out, we'll go to the store, okay?" I nod as I wipe away my tears.

-- Christmas Eve

"Alright guys, We're going on our last minute Christmas shopping spree! We'll be back--" "Whenever we get done spending your caaaash!" Joyce interrupts my mom as we all laugh out the door. We spend our car ride to Eaton Centre singing along to all the nineties girl group hits. Mom finally finds a parking space and we arrive in the crowded mall. Mom pulls out the directory, "Let's see here, I have to go to the J. Crew to get Wallace his sweater." Joyce joins in, "I have to get SJ his iPad Mini at the Apple store." Daisa links her arm into mine, "I'm done with all my shopping, so I'll just go where Y/N goes." Mom hands me the directory, "I guess I can get Erik this watch he's been talking about from Top Shop." "Alright ladies, We'll meet at the food court at four for lunch!" We all go in opposite directions to our destinations.

"You know, there's a pharmacy in here too?" Daisa says as she's looking through each display window we pass. "Oh, really?" She nods, "There's no time like Christmas Eve to know, Y/N." I sigh and throw my arms up, "You're right. Let's get this watch first." We finally reach TopShop and the store is almost packed wall to wall. We pry through the crowd to the accessory section where I find his Rosefield black and gold watch with a black snake skin-like material band. N'jadaka loves black and gold. I love the way it looks on him. He looks so regal, as he should, since he's Prince of Wakanda and all. Daisa and I waited in the checkout line for almost an hour, but I got the watch, She asked them for a large gift bag, I was about to object before she put her hand up, "I got this. Don't worry about it." "Excuse me!" I stop a girl who looked like she was a local, "I'm sorry, I'm visiting from out of town, do you know where the Pharmacy is?" She nods and says, "Go down this way, down the stairs, make a right, It'll be past the Victoria's Secret." "Thank you so much. Happy Holidays!" She returns the sentiment as Daisa and I walk past her to our new destination.

Daisa and I come to the conclusion to buy three ClearBlue tests since they were the easiest results to read. It was fifteen minutes until four so we buy the tests and make a beeline for the food court. We pass the Starbucks where we find Joyce at the front of the line, she grabs her caramel macchiato, "Do y'all know there's a different word for sneakers here? The barista kept saying, 'Nice runners' I'm like, 'I'm not running nowhere!'" Daisa and I look at each other and bust out in laughter. Mom finds all of us with mad bags in her hands, "What are we eating?"

-- We finally get home around six, the boys are yelling in the living room, we all look at each other and say in unison, "They're drunk!" I hid Erik's present in our room and put the pregnancy tests in our bathroom drawer. I hadn't taken them yet, I was waiting on my mom and Daisa, but her words rang in my head 'no time like Christmas Eve to find out..' I grab one test from the drawer and urinate on the stick. I place the top back on it and put it back in the drawer. I go back down in the living room where my family sat around the TV watching football. My fiancee watching with his lips tucked, dimples poking out, and an egg nog sitting in between his legs. His eyes meet mine and he sets his cup aside, patting in the space for me to sit. I lay against him as everyone else is heckling. His lips connect to my scalp, "I'm tired babe, I think I'm gonna go down early." He rubs my arm, "Okay baby, I'll be up in a while." I nod then get up and look in Daisa's direction, she winks at me tells Jordan she has to use the bathroom and we both go upstairs.

We get to the second floor, "I took one." "What did it say?" I shrug. "I took it and put it in the drawer." My mom nudges us, "Well, go find out!" The few steps to our bedroom feels like a thousand, I peer down to my hands, they're shaking and sweating. Daisa holds my left hand, my mom holds my right, "No matter what the test says, You'll be alright. You're loved, not just by Erik, but by all of us. You're good." My mom flips the light switch in the bathroom. I open the drawer with the used test in it, I grab it and squint my eyes at the results

Pregnant ☺(7-8)

I drop the test, as it hit the tile my mom picks it up and smiles, "I'm never wrong."

Christmas Day       

Babe.. Babe..Y/N. Wake up! My eyes flutter at N'jadaka's voice, "Hm?" "Merry Christmas, baby." He holds out a box. I rub my eyes and sit up, "What is it?" His lips collide with mine, "Open it." I claw at the top part of the box, "What is it?" He helps me, it's his father's chain. "I thought, I'd give the person that means the most to me, the thing that means the most to me." He pulls out the chain and places it around my neck, "The ring, is made of vibranium. It's totally impenetrable." I pull him to me, "I love you. I love you so much." He kisses my forehead, "I love you too, Y/N." "Y/N! Erik! Time to open Gifts!" My mom calls us from downstairs.

We watch as SJ opens up his gifts from all of us, He got all of the clothes, toys, and games his little heart desired. As he was distracted by his new Audi toy car, the adults opened their gifts. Stephan got Joyce and upgrade to her engagement ring. Joyce got him season tickets to the New York Giants games. They only agreed to give each other one gift since they splurged on SJ. Mom got dad private chef lessons from the sous chef of Gordon Ramsey's restaurant, a few sweaters and ties, and a trip to Dubai for next Christmas. My dad got mom two new charms for her Pandora bracelet, an iPhone XS and a Caribbean cruise for the end of summer. Jordan and Daisa agreed to open their gifts when they got back home, they figured traveling with the gifts would be a hassle at customs. 

Daisa waddles out of the living room when Erik hands the rest of us black and purple envelopes. I open mine and it reads:

"You are invited to the union of N'jadaka "Erik" Stevens-Udaku and Y/F/N Y/M/N Y/L/N in matrimony at the Royal Palace of Wakanda on the eighth of June in the year of Two Thousand and Nineteen... Erik.." 

"Baby. I know you said we would plan a wedding, I've been planning it for months. T'Challa and Shuri helped, I got your parents blessing last summer over the phone." "So that's why you welcomed him with open arms?" My parents held each other on the arm of the couch, "Mhm." "Now, all I need is you, your dress, and your answer. Will you marry me, in Wakanda this summer?" 

Daisa waddles back in the living room with the large TopShop bag and a box. "Open your gifts." He stares up at me, puzzled. "What's your answer?" "My answer is, open your gifts." He opened the box first, it had his watch in it, which had a note at the bottom. As long as time exists, you'll have me. Love, Y/N. Erik looks at me as he takes the tissue paper out of the bag, he sees another note, "you'll also have me.." He digs through more tissue paper to find all three tests at the bottom of the bag along with a onesie that says, "Arriving August 2019" Erik stands up with his mouth agape, "You're pregnant?" I nod, "I am. So we may have to reset a date after August." He pulls my arm until I crash into him. I look up into his tear filled eyes, I've only seen him cry like this the first time he told me he loved me. I wipe his tears away and kiss him over and over again until his lips break out into the largest grin, "Y/N, I love you." "I love you more, N'jadaka." Everyone crowded around us in cheers as my mom admits again, "I'm never wrong."

--

[lokisgame]

Lovers, Backwards

[part 1 “Waiting On A Friend”]

tagging @alienbaby-babymama who asked what’s next.

"You'll get the next one," Mulder said paying the bill and there was an undercurrent of hopefulness in his tone that disarmed and silenced all protests.

The wine they had combined with high heels from the fashionable side of her coset, made Scully sway a little but Mulder's arm was there, as always, ready to catch. She leaned gently into his side, accepting his touch, inviting it even, feeling as if she was on a vacation somehow, so relaxed.

They left the restaurant, out into the warm, D.C. night. A sweet scented breeze tugged at her hair, cooling her cheeks.

"Let's walk a little," she suggested, as he led her back to the car.

"Where to?"

Mulder never suspected that his kryptonite would be Scully, letting go of all plans.

They fell into step, a leisurely stroll down the sidewalk. Her heels clicking in time with his shoes, warm hand around his arm, and for the first time that night, he didn't feel the need to fill the silence with talk.

"Mulder?"

"Yes?"

"When we met Gibson, why didn't you want him to tell, that it was me thinking about you?"

"It was you?" He faked surprise and she leaned on his arm as if bumping shoulders, "I was testing the kid, how precise his gift was."

"So it wasn't because you didn't want Diana to know?"

"Oh I told her alright."

"Told her what?"

He shook her hand off only to put his arm around her, drawing her into his side. "That I did alright without her." Scully put her arm around his waist, "an understatement of the century, if I might add."

She looked up and he looked down, smiling at each other without breaking their stride.

They reached an intersection and noticed a tall shrubbery separating a small square of trees from the noise of the street. The gate stood open, inviting.

The paths were white gravel, solar lamps hidden between the trees filled the place with intimate lighting, yet still bright enough to make a woman feel safe after dark. The hour was late, there was no one in sight. The scent was more potent here, sweet and heavy, intoxicating.

Mulder smiled, plucking a cluster of yellow flowers from a low hanging branch and handing it to her, "basswood trees."

Scully smelled them and it was the fragrance that hung in the air.

"Beautiful," she said, playing with the flower as they kept walking, "you know, it's a common herbal remedy for cold?"

"If you say so, doc," he chuckled and before he knew what he was doing, he dropped a kiss on the top of her head. She hugged him back.

How easy it was to hold her, how natural. This woman, his friend, his partner, there wasn't a thing he couldn't tell her, be it work, trouble, random idea that popped into his head. He had no secrets from her, he wanted to share it all, until they grew old together.

He thought of the people back in the bar earlier, she could leave with any man there if she wanted to, no one could resist her, but here she was, with him, smelling the literal and proverbial flowers.

They were passing through an alley lined with wild roses when Scully spoke again.

"When I saw you with Diana," she sounded pensive, absently playing with the flowers she carried, some dark thought intruding on their pleasant walk, "I realized you had a life before we met."

"We both had," he amended as she plucked a rose and smelled it as well, he waited.

"It seemed, as if all it took was a day or two for a familiar pattern to settle back."

"Scully," he hugged her closer, hoping to chase the gathering clouds away.

"I know you two were together."

"It's ancient history, Scully."

"How long were you together?" She asked to his dismay. He didn't want to hurt her, but he didn't want to lie to her either. He drew her closer, hoping his touch could take the edge off.

"Six years," he whispered and she stopped abruptly.

"Six years?" ready for her horrified tone, he gathered her back under his arm, smiling gently.

"People change, move on, meet new people." They walked on.

"Why did you never mention her before?" Head hung low, she played with the flowers, her arm not around him anymore.

"She left me, Scully, it's not something you bring up in casual conversation, and as I said, we never really talked about our past."

The path bent gently to the right, going in a wide circle around the park. Overgrown jasmine shrubs rained white petals from 8 feet high.

"You know about Phoebe and I know about Jack Willis, but you can't honestly tell me he was the only guy you were with, ever" he plucked a handful of flowers and offered them to her, "am I right?" She nodded.

"I'm still me," he spoke gently, trying to bring her back to here and now, "Diana changes nothing between us."

Looking up, Scully saw his silent plea, for trust, for understanding, for a chance. She took the flowers, and put her arm back around his waist. They kept walking in silence.

"We do everything backwards." Scully said a few long minutes later, Mulder let out a silent, relieved sigh.

"How so?"

She gestured with the flowers in hand "Usually it's flowers first, then dinner, then drinks."

He laughed, kissing her temple. "Next time, Scully," he promised, "next time."

When Mulder drove her home it was almost midnight.

Usually, when they came back from a business trip, he parked outside her building, they both got out, he helped her with her bag. They said their goodnight-s or see you around-s and he drove away, it was a time honored ritual. Tonight he got out to get the door for her, but he wasn't fast enough.

“Mulder," Scully laughed as he fell into step next to her, "I know my way home.”

“I know,” he replied smiling, one hand on her lower back.

She went the three steps up to the front door and felt his hand vanish abruptly. He stayed on the sidewalk, their eyes met, one level once she turned around.

“There are rules” he quipped, “on a first date, this is where we say goodnight.”

“Rules?” She teased back, going one step down, “you never follow rules, Mulder.”

"I could try.”

“And now seems like a good time?” He looked away, hands in his pockets, awkward smile.

“Scully, I”

“What?” Sheepish Mulder was a rare sight.

“If I go even one step farther, there won’t be going back.”  

One finger under his chin, she brought his gaze back on her. “We were good for five years.”

“This is different,” he insisted.

Mulder arguing for caution was surely something else, and as nature abhorred vacuum, she filled it with confidence.

“It is,” she agreed taking his face in her hands, “we can break a rule, or three.”

Pressing her lips to his, wet and soft and greedy, she kissed him like she owned him.

Slow and gentle? Fuck that! Mulder grinned and met her tongue, pulled her in skipping all the stops, tasting wine and chocolate and her mouth. Crashing and clashing and stroking, tongues and hands. She somehow caught him on exhale and he grasped for air.

"Scully, wait," he gasped, but she was back, catching his lower lip, noses bumping, arms around his neck.

He went all in, if he could die like this, he wouldn't mind in the slightest. The kiss of death, the kiss of life, all rolled into one. He grabbed her ass and suddenly she stopped. Whops.

"Sorry," he rushed, hand back to her hip at once. Scully chuckled, eyes closed, forehead to forehead, they were panting.

"How are we so good at this?" There was laughter in her tone, surprise and delight, "I'm wet and you're hard."

"It's the first date," he drew her closer, almost grinding against her thigh. Almost, but not quite, "it's the"

"Shut up," and she shut him up. This time she didn't flinch when he grabbed her. She held him tight, fingers in his hair, tongue in his mouth, shifting slightly, the friction drove him mad.

Mulder broke the kiss this time, glanced at her lips, red, swollen and stretched in a smile. "Okay, this is insane."

"Why?" she bumped his nose with the tip of hers.

"I don't put out on the first date." He chuckled and kissed her again, teeth clashing. She took a step back almost breaking the kiss, and he was doomed, he followed, one step up the stairs.

"Mulder," another step back, another step forward, the angle changed, the kisses wouldn't stop.

"What?" A kiss.

"When was," he kissed, "the last time" she kissed, "you went," they kissed, "on a date?"

"Don't ask."

Mirth in his tone and kiss the shape of a smile, and a step back, and a step forward, like a dance. Only the music stopped, both back on even ground, they broke apart. Her arms slipped down, embrace loosened and the night seemed four degrees cooler somehow.

"First date." She reminded, drawing a gentle line and Mulder reluctantly took a step back.

"Can I call you tomorrow?" What a stupid line, sure he could and would call her.

Scully glanced at her watch, "in 20 minutes?" He grinned, then nodded. "Sure, why not."

He leaned down, kissing her cheek this time, soft and gentle, as only he knew how.

"Goodnight" he whispered and she missed him already.

She went inside, looking over her shoulder a few times, until he was out of sight.

Mulder couldn't stop grinning, rooted to the spot. He was hard, crazy and in love, or was it all backwards.

He took a step just as the doors behind him flew open wide. She grabbed his hand and dragged him inside. He didn't fight, he was a complete and utter flower child.

[ubwfc]

Development v Bristol Medics 0-0

After a questionable team talk from Becky that had Ella and ref Phoebe giggling, the Dev squad set out to live up to their cocky group chat name and “Beat the Bristol Medics” once more.

We were off to a good start with Vicky making some strong clearances from the back and Ina leading the defensive line. A Dev corner early on caused excitement but ended in a goal kick which was well won by Divya. Back in the Dev half, Eliza took on 3 players and set Tomoka up for a shot at goal which was sadly intercepted.

Good pressure from Lucy forced the ball out for a throw in. Ina stepped up to the challenge with a powerful throw in (Ellie you’ve got competition!) received by Vicky who forgot she was on a football pitch not a netball court, and stuck her hands up for an intercept. She made up for this error in judgement with a solid tackle that sent the ball back up towards the Medic’s goal, with Zoe also playing some lovely balls up the pitch.

Another Dev corner gave the Medics possession, but soon Lisa was dribbling back up the pitch, setting Tomoka up for a shot which fell just wide of the posts. More confusion about what sport we were supposed to be playing (some of us are new to the sport to be fair) meant a throw in from Eliza was met by handballs flying left, right and centre.

Divya and Vicky were linking up well together in the middle, but the no offside caught Dev off-guard and medics made it through (luckily they missed!). Eliza made some great clearances up to Zoe who took a shot forcing the keeper to dive to the ground. The ball went wide to Tomoka who crossed it to Zoe, and she smashed it into goal (unfortunately right at the keeper). Another corner gave Bristol yet another chance but again it went straight into the keeper’s hands.

Motivational words from goal kept spirits high despite the frustrating scoreboard with Jas shouting “DEV YOU’RE SO GOOD AT FOOTBALL” every few minutes. A free kick for the medics was expertly saved by Jas diving dramatically to the floor and quickly moved back up the pitch by Claudia who managed to slot it through the legs and get around 3 medics singlehandedly. Despite the impressive pressure on the Medic’s goal, an incredible ball placed by Claudia into the middle of the box was met by no one and at halftime the score was still 0-0.    

After Becky’s half time pep talk was hijacked by Ina with her “constructive” criticism, Dev took to the pitch for the second half with renewed vigour (thanks Becky for the inspiring one liners). Jas volunteered to stay in goal for both halves (what a selfless team player, definitely not just because she couldn’t get her trackies off over her astros) which meant more motivational slogans/abuse were in store: “COME ON DEV! STAY AWAKE – I MEAN STAY SWITCHED ON!”.

Phoebe seemed to forget she was not playing and couldn’t resist getting near the ball. A solid header from Christina was followed by Becky falling to her knees as if she’d been shot (Dev really going all out with the theatrics for this game). Yet another Dev corner resulted in a Medic handball - Bristol free kick!! An amazing strike by Divya came so close to a goal but the keeper just got her hands to it.

A lot of pressure from Dev and Eliza staying strong on the back line opened up some more chances but nothing converted into goals. Evidently not happy with being limited to conventional tactics, Lisa kicked someone in the head (it’s football not foothead, silly) but as Lucy said, “at least they’re medics” so no one was too worried.

Another strong save from Jas (who managed to stay on her feet this time) meant the scoreboard stayed clean and at full time ended at 0-0. Might have to rename the group chat. Squad:  Becky Bealing Anna Carolina Leonetti Claudia Grace Cristinia Aguilar Divya Dadlani Eliza Wren Jasmine Hynes Lisa Wellsford Van Vroenhoven Lucy Pilkington Shinto Tomoka Vicky Niemiec

Man of the match: Eliza for her rock solid back line

Dick of the day: Lisa for literally kicking someone in the head (although honestly we’re all slightly impressed she managed to get her leg up that high)

[thisisfinch]

“There’s more whiskey than blood in my vein, more tar than air in my lungs    The strung out call I make burned down at the edge of the highway                  I’m sorry for asking but please come and take me home..”                                    

I think she feels me. I started thinking maybe I should try whiskey sometimes so I can feel her as well. I think we share the same pain, except for she’s a drug addict and an alcoholic and god knows what else, and I’m a sociopath, a depressioner, a screwer, hopelesser and an outcast, abandoned by the society.

And i dont smoke, for a matter of fact. I used to hate smoking so much, i hate the smokers, sometimes even despise them. But now i don’t know anymore. Maybe eventually i’ll end up trying that sometimes. You know, when i desperately want to scratch my throat and in a desperate need of something to prevent that then maybe a light of cigarette could be useful. I don’t know. In most days now i don’t know much of anything anymore. I just hopelessly wanna get out. Of this place, of these people, of myself, of this life. Of here, and now. I just seriously wanted it to end. Period.

God i’m obsessed with this song. I’m obsessed with Julien Baker and basically everything she wrote. How could someone capture my life so well. So glad i found her. So glad i found Phoebe Bridgers that led me to find her. Tho i knew it now, that nothing, no fucking thing, is at all coincident. I always found the best music when the biggest shit happened to me

Like how i found Priscilla Ahn in grade 9, when that boy crush taught me first lesson of depression. Think i found Mindy Gledhill after I failed pathetically my highschool entrance exams. Jasmine Thompson was when I started out in that ex-highschool that I hated so much i can’t even talk about it. And of course the same time I befriended that melancholy girl that dropped out of school after i left. Jasmine of course, led me to Noah Gundersen after her cover of Isaiah. And that was when i started to fall for my ex-best friend. And when she almost killed herself cause her ex-bf killed herself first I happened to read all the bright places and found Saturn of Sleeping At Last at the same time. Coincidence? No, i don’t think so. I think God had it planned on me that way, that I was bound to suffer like I am right now. Everything is all planned up.  And after that, knows what happened? Can you guess? You. Exactly. Undoubtedly. You happened. And look how enormous our music playlist became. You were everything that happen and was supposed to happen to have resulted in a me of today like that. And now. After you. The first time that you almost left, I found Clare Bowen and Nashville and the whole cast. Then you came back and adored their songs as well and oh how happily have we sung those together. Then you left again, for real this time, after everything. And i almost died, twice, tho i bet you’d never accept that. I think you don’t believe it almost happened at all. Or maybe its just that you really don’t care anymore. Then there came Keaton Henson that basically sings about us. And I found Phoebe Bridgers. And Julien Baker. And how many more you’d know if you are still following my youtube which i bet is impossible.

I’d come to terms with that. That if I stay myself and in this life I just gotta suffer. The kind of suffering uglier than anyone would ever have to undergo. Why me, why this? I forever ask. How sad, how tragic, how inescapable. Maybe I did something hugely wrong in my past life. Maybe that’s why. And this whole life of mine was designed for me to pay back for all the bad things i did without even acknowledged it. Thats like the only way of explaining all this tragic pain I have to proceed every single day in my life. 

Mon, Aug 13, 2018

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[footyplusau]

AFL Women’s club-by-club 2017 mid-season report

Podcast: Footy from a fresh perspective

From the opening game between Carlton and Collingwood, AFL Women’s competition has produced an excitement rarely seen at this stage of the footy season as a new generation of stars has emerged. Being the inaugural season, a form guide was always going to be difficult to determine, but it is fair to say some teams have exceeded expectations while others have fallen short. So as we enter the second half of the 2017 AFL Women’s competition, let’s look how each team has fared so far.

Adelaide

Crows’ Rhiannon Metcalfe competes with Giants’ Clare Lawton during the opening round. Photo: AFL Media/Getty Images

The Crows have defied most experts by heading into the second half of the season on top of the ladder with four wins from as many matches.

Adelaide were not regarded among the favourites, but they have taken the footy world by storm with their exciting run-and-gun brand of footy, which sees them possess the No.1 ranked attack in the competition and the second-best defence.

Erin Phillips (five goals) and Sarah Perkins (four) have provided almost half of the team’s goals and Ebony Marinoff made a great start to her career with a Rising Star nomination in the opening round.

The Crows are now preparing for the match of the season against fellow undefeated team the Brisbane Lions, with the winners all but guaranteeing themselves a place in the inaugural AFLW grand final.

Brisbane Lions

Lions’ Tayla Harris flies for a mark. Photo: AFL Media/Getty Images

The biggest surprise packet of the season so far they are sitting pretty in second spot undefeated after four rounds with a healthy percentage of over 200.

The Lions boast the stingiest defence in the competition, with just 65 points conceded at 16.25 per game, Kate McCarthy has proven to be an effective weapon in attack with five goals (the equal-third best tally in the league) and a pair of Rising Star nominations in Tayla Harris and Sabrina Frederick-Traub show the team’s future is in good shape.

Craig Starcevich’s team take a lot of momentum into their top-of-the-table showdown with Adelaide, fresh from recording their biggest-ever win – a 34-point thumping of GWS in which they kept the Giants to a record low score of 1.3 (9).

Carlton

Katie Loynes and Shae Audley celebrate a goal. Photo: AFL Media/Getty Images

The Blues’ top-two hopes are still alive, but they will need to win their final three games and hope other results go their way. The final-round clash with the Lions could decide which of those two teams qualifies for the grand final.

Carlton haven’t had troubles scoring, with the second-best offence in the league and the AFLW’s leading goalkicker Darcy Vescio (eight). But they have shown to have a leaky defence at times – particularly against GWS and Melbourne. Injuries to defenders Bri Davey (back) and Sarah Last (ACL) haven’t helped.

Collingwood

Moana Hope, right, has not been able to produce the form that had her as one of the highest-profile players in the competition. Photo: AFL Media/Getty Images

The Magpies have been a huge disappointment.

Their season was basically over before it began after they lost their first two games and star forward Moana Hope has, to this point, only 14 touches and two goals from four games.

The Pies broke through for their first win last week, but that just served as papering over the cracks for a team that has the worst attack in the league.

Emma King has been a huge positive in the ruck, though, and would seem destined for the All-Australian team at this stage.

Fremantle

Brianna Green was injured during the Dockers’ game against the Lions. Photo: AFL Media/Getty Images

The Dockers have had their hopes dashed by a raft of injuries.

Marquee player Kiara Bowers and midfielder Emily Bonser both ruptured their ACLs before the season even began while Brianna Green (broken collarbone), Tiah Haynes (dislocated shoulder) and rookie Kim Mickle (ACL) have all succumbed to injury as well.

As a result Freo are languishing in seventh spot on the ladder without a win to their credit. Ashley Sharp has provided some joy, however, with four goals and a Rising Star nomination to her name.

Greater Western Sydney

Amanda Farrugia leads the GWS into the fray. Photo: Getty Images

Not much was expected of the Giants pre-season and, unfortunately for them, they have lived up to the billing.

GWS are rooted to the foot of the table with just a draw from their first four outings and have suffered two of the three heaviest defeats in the competition – a 36-point drubbing at the hands of Adelaide and Sunday’s loss to the Lions.

But it hasn’t been all doom and gloom. Erin McKinnon was named a Rising Star nominee for round three and Phoebe McWilliams has been a shining light up forward with four of the side’s 14 goals.

Melbourne

Daisy Pearce, seen here being tackled by Lauren Arnell, has been inspirational for the Demons. Photo: AFL Media/Getty Images

There’s little surprise that as one of the pioneers of elite women’s footy, Melbourne find themselves neck-deep in the premiership race.

The Dees are just a game outside the top two and are breathing down the necks of pacesetters Adelaide and Brisbane.

Despite losing Meg Downie (hamstring) and Stephanie De Bortoli (Achilles) for the season after just round two, the Dees, led by inspirational skipper Daisy Pearce, have strung together three wins on the trot to rocket up to third spot.

Alyssa Mifsud is in second spot on the AFLW goalkicking ladder with six and Melbourne has also produced a pair of Rising Star nominations – Lily Mithen and Jasmine Grierson.

Western Bulldogs

Kate Tyndall, left, and Ellie Blackburn reflect the Bulldogs’ season of disappointment after another loss. Photo: AFL Media/Getty Images

Like Collingwood, the Dogs began the year among the favourites, and  similarly now find themselves needing a miracle to qualify for the grand final with just one win to their credit.

Marquee forward and captain Katie Brennan has missed the past two games due to an ankle injury, but more was expected of the Dogs this year.

Wayward goalkicking has been a huge issue, with more behind than goals scored in every game.

The post AFL Women’s club-by-club 2017 mid-season report appeared first on Footy Plus.

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