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jtargaryen18 · 12 days ago

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The Arrangement ~ Chapter 4

Series Masterlist

Words: 8k (Because apparently I lack self control)

Pairing: Thomas Shelby (Peaky Blinders) x Reader F

Warnings: References to disappearances, kidnapping, threats, and emotional angst. Explicit sex (reader is taught a couple of things). The calm before the storm.

Your stepfather is spreading rumors like wildfire, pushing Tommy to consider his options. Polly tries to prepare Tommy for what's coming soon. You're still awake when Tommy gets home late after a long day of business. You surprise him.

Disclaimer: The author of this work claims no ownership of characters aside from the reader, and original secondary characters mentioned. This work is not intended for those under the age of 18 due to explicit sexual content and darker themes. By reading this work or any works on my blog (jtargaryen18), you agree that you are at least 18 years of age. I do not consent to have my work hosted on any third party app or site.

The dull roar of conversation and the sound of clinking glasses filled the Garrison’s packed front room. Music from the old upright piano came from somewhere in the background, a few drunken voices rose in song, and boots scuffled against the floorboards. It was Friday night, and Small Heath drank like it needed to forget its many troubles for one night.

But behind the frosted glass of the Shelbys’ private booth, the mood was anything but festive. Here, the air was filled with cigarette smoke, tension, and quiet calculation. Tommy Shelby’s eyes scanned the manifest in front of him—half reading, half somewhere else entirely. Because truthfully, he wanted this meeting over with. The logistics, the dock delays, the endless talk of cargo and contacts and who needed reminding of which alliance—he could recite it all in his sleep.

He wanted to get through it quickly—to get back to the quiet of his house, to the girl sleeping upstairs in his bed right now. Each day, she seemed to feel a little better, refusing the laudanum after the third night. In the last week, he'd managed to take a couple of his meals there with her, enjoying the fragile bond that was forming between them.

It was more than that. She’d been calmer in his presence. There was trust in her eyes, in the way she looked at him when she thought he wasn’t paying attention. Each night she fell asleep on her side of the bed, and he woke up with her sprawled across him and his side of the bed early the next morning. Fortunately, she never woke when he did before dawn. It spared her from seeing the state their newfound intimacy left him in every morning.

Everything was still going according to his plan and he reminded himself of that in those moments when impatience got the best of him. Soon, Small Heath would learn the lesson he wanted to teach them. He'd have himself a nice young bride, all that was left were the formalities the way he saw it. Maybe he'd have her brother too as an addition to his crew.

All he knew was that it made him want to leave the ledgers behind, push the folders across the table, and walk out the door without a word. But for now, he focused on the task at hand —because business came first, and nothing could look out of place.

"Tom?" John's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

The three brothers and Liam were seated around their private table. The door was closed, the whiskey untouched, and the air held the kind of tension that meant money was moving, and so were men. The ledgers were open, papers spread across the table—manifest lists, customs logs, coded letters from France. Tommy scanned a page in silence, a cigarette between his fingers, while the others waited.

“Imports from Marseille docked two days behind,” he said finally. “Customs was paid off, but someone held the cargo. You and Liam’ll see who’s sniffing around the docks,” he told John without looking up.

John nodded. “We talking bribes or trouble?”

“Could be both,” Tommy said flatly. “But we find out before they do.”

Arthur was still nursing a hangover from last night. He wasn’t talking much—just watching, brooding, his eyes red and tired. Liam took notes quietly, nodding when assigned to shadow the dockmaster, handle payouts, and verify the goods hadn’t been tampered with. It was business that had to be dealt with. The kind that kept the guns loaded and the books nice and clean.

At least, it was—until John mentioned the whispers from the street. “You hear what they’re saying about us down by the canal?”

Tommy didn’t look up. “They're always saying something.”

“No,” John said, a little firmer, leaning in now. “This is different.”

That caught Arthur’s attention and he tensed.

John continued in a low voice. “Sean O’Grady’s running his mouth about the coin toss he had with Arthur. He's complaining that the Shelbys took more than they were owed. Says the girl’s gone—vanished.” He glanced sideways at Arthur. “People are saying he took her and didn’t return her.”

The words hung thick in the air like smoke that wouldn’t clear. Arthur’s jaw locked. That old, familiar twitch started just below his eye—the one that usually came right before something got broken. No one spoke in that moment. Even John, who’d just delivered the news, went still. He watched carefully, knowing he just lit a fuse.

Arthur abruptly rose, color flooding his face. “Fuckin’ bastard,” Arthur muttered, fists already curling. “Talkin’ like I’m the one who crossed the line.” He was breathing harder now, pacing like a caged dog trying to burn off the anger in his blood. “I didn’t even touch her. I passed out cold, just like he planned it. And now my name’s getting dragged through the muck while he—” Arthur gestured to Tommy without finishing the sentence.

The tension was thick. John looked between them, like he was waiting for someone to throw the first punch—or stop the second. Tommy stayed in his seat. He pinned Athur him a stare. This wasn’t just about Sean O’Grady’s lies. It was also about Arthur’s pride.

And the Shelby's control in Small Heath.

“Arthur,” Tommy said.

But Arthur was already marching for the door. He didn’t slam it, but the click behind him was louder than any shout.

John leaned back as he watched him go, whistling low. “That’s not gonna be the last time we hear about it.”

Tommy stubbed out his cigarette, lit another one.

John swirled his drink in its glass. “Apparently no one’s seen O’Grady’s wife in days.”

That got Tommy's attention. “What’s that?”

John shrugged. “Could be nothing. Could be she’s embarrassed. But Polly heard the mother’s beside herself. Grieving, crying. Not taking jobs.” He paused. "No one's really seen her."

Tommy exhaled slowly through his nose, smoke curling upward in a lazy spiral that drifted toward the low ceiling. Their room fell silent again, just the din of the rest of the bar in the background. John and Liam sat still, watching him. They knew what had happened. They’d been part of it. John had helped move the girl. Liam had been there that night too—a silent shadow keeping things tidy while the rest played out.

It wasn’t a secret. Not between them. Tommy didn’t lie to his own—not about business. Not when it mattered. And did he care that they knew? Not really. They were family. They understood the difference between personal and strategic—how sometimes the lines blurred when power was on the table. Besides, he hadn’t asked for approval. He didn’t need it. They might whisper when he left the room, might wonder if this one girl would shift something deeper inside their brother—but they’d still follow orders. Still fall in line. Because Tommy Shelby didn’t ask for permission. He moved pieces. And they knew better than to question the hand that moved the board.

Tommy hated rumors. Not because they were lies—he could handle lies. Lies were useful. Lies could be shaped, steered, crushed under a boot or fed back to the streets with a smile and a drink. But rumors… rumors had teeth. They spread without control. They bred in silence, passed from one mouth to the next until truth didn’t matter anymore—only perception. And perception was power.

The Shelbys thrived on it—on the fear, the respect, the sharp silence that followed their name down every alley. But now the whispers said Arthur Shelby couldn’t finish what he started. That the girl had vanished. That the Shelbys were hiding something—or someone. He could feel it coming. There would be glances that lasted a little too long. Men would lower their voices when he passed. They were watching. Waiting. And Tommy knew—that couldn't stand. Not because his pride demanded it. Because power demanded it. And if Small Heath thought for even a second that the Shelbys could be questioned, that a drunk like Sean O’Grady could take a swing at their name and walk away unbloodied—then everything he was building would begin to rot from the inside out.

And it was more than just the bloody rumors. It was about damage control. Arthur’s pride, dented and dangling in front of the wolves like bloody bait, was a match in a powder keg. His girl’s safety, and the fragile hold Tommy had on the peace she was beginning to settle into, was at risk. It was about the next move in a game Sean O’Grady didn’t realize he’d already lost.

Tommy leaned back slowly in his seat, tipping his head back as thoughts layered one over another. He considered her mother who no one had seen in days. Was she truly ill? Or had Sean raised his hands, punishing her for his shame? Polly described the woman was delicate, quiet. The type who would break easily in silence.

Then there was Rory. The lad had steel in him—enough to walk into a Shelby-owned betting shop with a weapon tucked in his coat and a question in his heart. If he’d seen his mother bruised, broken… would he act on it? Would he go for the knife this time instead of turning it over in his palm? Tommy’s fingers tapped against the edge of the table. If Rory made a move now, it could really throw a wrench in his well-laid plans.

And then, his thoughts shifted to her. She was still unsure, but inching closer to trusting him. She didn't know about the rumors nor her stepfather's public slander. She didn't know about her mother. He had to keep it that way. She’d bolt if she found out and run straight back into danger.

Stubbing out his cigarette, Tommy regarded each of them slowly—John, then Liam. Arthur was gone, and letting him stew wasn’t the worst thing. He needed to burn some of that fury off before Tommy could use it properly. But these two—they were still here. Still waiting. Time to make a move. Before someone else did.

“We don’t let this drag,” he said finally, voice low but sharp enough to cut through the silence.

John sat up straighter, already keyed in. “You want him silenced?”

Tommy shook his head once. “Not yet. Silenced men can’t suffer. We make it slow.”

Liam raised an eyebrow, but didn’t speak.

Tommy continued, eyes narrowing. “Find out where he drinks, who he’s talking to. Find the wife. I want eyes on her, too.”

John nodded. “You think he’s laid hands on her?”

Tommy didn’t answer right away. “We make him nervous,” Tommy went on. “Not dead. Not yet. Let him feel the breath on his neck. Then we remind him what it means to put the Shelby name in his mouth.”

He sat back again, lighting another cigarette with quiet finality.

“And if he sends anyone near the house…” John didn't finish the sentence.

Smoke curled from Tommy’s lips as his gaze met John's. “We send them back in pieces.” His kept his tone casual. It wasn't a threat. It was a fact.

John didn’t smile. Didn’t joke. He just gave a single sharp nod.

Let them whisper about wagers. Let them question Arthur’s name, the girl’s disappearance. But if anyone came near that house, near her, if Sean O’Grady so much as looked in that direction—the response would be surgical. No negotiation. No second chances.

Tommy tapped ash into the tray, slow and steady. “If they test us,” he said, eyes still on John, “I want the answer to be so clear they never ask again.”

Then he looked away, finally, his attention shifting to the window and the distorted shapes of the Garrison beyond the glass. Because the game had changed. Now it was personal. And that meant it had to be handled… perfectly.

Tommy took a long drag from the cigarette between his fingers, as the others absorbed what he'd said. But even as he laid out the next steps—another name edged back into his thoughts.

Rory.

The lad had held it together the first time. Had come to Tommy instead of spilling blood. That had earned him a measure of respect—and, more importantly, a stay of consequences. But this was different. Sean’s name was in everyone’s mouth now. The girl’s absence wasn’t just whispered about—it was noticed. The mother had disappeared, and if Rory had seen what Tommy suspected he’d seen, his temper would be at a rolling boil. And Rory Flynn, for all his quiet strength and good intentions, was still young, desperate, and dangerous.

Tommy sighed, the thought twisting in his chest like a nail worked loose. He couldn’t risk Rory doing something stupid. Not just for the boy’s sake. Not just for hers. But because if Rory acted out of emotion now—if he laid a hand on Sean—he’d throw the whole balance off. It would disolve into chaos.

Tommy turned to Liam. “Find Rory Flynn. Tonight.”

Liam straightened. “Want me to bring him in?”

“No,” Tommy said. “Just watch him. Make sure he doesn’t do anything... irreparable.” He tapped ash into the tray. “If he starts sharpening a blade, I want to know before the first drop spills.”

John leaned in slightly. “Think he’ll go for O’Grady?”

Tommy stared at the swirling smoke in front of him. “He wants to... But he won’t. Not yet. He’s smart. Smarter than people give him credit for.”

John leaned back in his chair, one arm slung casually over the backrest, but there was a flicker of something sharper in his eyes—curiosity, maybe. Or caution. He took a sip of his drink, then asked, “So… are you givin’ her back?” John didn’t say her name.

The question hung in the air—blunt, bold, and only something one of his brothers could get away with. Liam looked down quickly, pretending to reread the papers in front of him.

Give her back? As if she were borrowed. As if she were something he’d taken on a whim and could now return like a misplaced coat. No. That wasn’t how this worked.

Now, when the meetings dragged too long or the nights stretched thin, he thought of her. Not as leverage. Not as property. As someone. He thought of the way she looked at him—guarded but watching. Waiting to see if he was a man or just another monster in a sharper suit. He thought of her voice when it softened. She'd stopped flinching when he entered the room now.

Tommy wasn’t used to being someone people trusted. Feared, yes. Respected, when it counted. But not trusted. She made him want to be that man. Even if he didn’t believe he could be.

So no—he wouldn’t give her back. Not to Sean O’Grady. Not to anyone.

Tommy turned his head slowly, met John’s eyes with a cool, unwavering look. “No,” he said simply.

John nodded, like he expected that answer. “Didn’t think so.”

***

The house was quiet and still when Tommy returned. It was well after midnight. Only the soft tick of the grandfather clock echoed as he hung his coat and cap, running a hand through his hair, weariness clinging to him like smoke.

Everyone was in bed—except Polly. She waited in the archway to the sitting room with her arms crossed. The dim lamplight cast deep shadows across her face. “We need a word,” she said, not asking.

Tommy didn’t argue, just followed her inside. She poured a splash of whiskey into a glass—just one—and handed it to him before sitting.

“Arthur’s melting down.” Her voice was steady, but her eyes were sharp. “Everything coming from O’Grady’s camp is eating at him. He’s not just angry, Tom. He feels betrayed. By you.”

Tommy didn’t drink, just stared down into the glass for a moment. “I know.”

“What do you plan to do?”

The answer wasn’t simple. Arthur was fire and glass—burning and breakable all at once. You couldn’t just scold him into sense or soothe him with empty reassurances. He didn’t respond to softness, not when the damage ran deep. The weight of what had happened—the lie, the shift of control, the humiliation of having his name whispered through pubs like he’d lost his edge—that didn’t sit quietly in Arthur’s chest. It twisted, boiled, curdled into something worse. He’d trusted Tommy and followed his lead, even when it meant swallowing his pride and taking a step back. And now he was being painted as the weak one, the fool who’d made a deal he couldn’t finish.

It was the sort of thing that festered in Arthur. He’d take it in for a while, laugh it off, drink it down. Until something snapped—and then, it would come out in a burst of fists or a broken bottle or a body left in the wrong alley.

And Tommy couldn’t afford that.

Arthur needed to be managed—not with orders, but with truth. And maybe, this time, Tommy would have to give him more than he usually did. A glimpse behind the curtain. A reason not to burn everything down. Because if Arthur went off the rails now, they’d all feel it.

And Tommy was already holding the line tighter than anyone realized.

“I’ll talk to him,” Tommy said at last. “Soon.”

She leaned forward, lowering her voice. “We also need to talk about what I’ve been hearing from O’Grady.”

Tommy’s gaze lifted, sharp and immediate. There was a different edge to Polly’s tone—one that meant it wasn’t gossip.

Polly nodded grimly. “His wife hasn’t been seen in days. Word is, she’s taken to her bed, worried. I doubt that. O'Grady's a brute. Always has been. He used to beat his first wife black and blue. She died with the child she tried to birth. After that, many of us hoped he wouldn't marry again, but...”

She trailed off, lips pursed in quiet contempt.

What a bloody waste. That Malachy Flynn’s family had fallen into the clutches of a bastard like Sean O’Grady. He'd died a war hero. And what was the fate of his family? His daughter, bartered like livestock. His wife, left to rot under the bruising hands of a man who never should’ve been allowed to lay claim to them. And he’d left behind a good son, too. He’d walked in ready to take on the Shelbys, not because he was stupid, but because he was desperate. Because he loved his sister. Because someone had to protect what was left of their family. His were the actions of a man. Malachy would’ve been proud of that. Would’ve wanted better for his boy. Better than the factory lines. Better than a household soaked in silence and bruises. Better than being forced to carry the weight of a man like Sean O’Grady.

It sat wrong in Tommy’s gut. Not just as strategy—as a man.

He downed the rest of the whiskey and set the glass down hard enough to rattle. “He should’ve been buried with his first wife.”

Polly just nodded, grim and silent. “It’s getting out,” she continued, folding her arms. “People are talking. They’re saying the girl disappeared after the wager, and that her mother’s sick with grief. And O’Grady?” She gave a humorless laugh. “He’s unraveling, but still loud enough to make it sound like we’re the villains.”

Tommy didn’t speak. He moved instead—slow, deliberate—rising from the chair and walking to the sideboard. He poured himself another measure of whiskey, let the bottle clink softly back into place. Then he turned, lifting the glass, taking a slow sip as if he were thinking it over—but he wasn’t. He already knew.

O’Grady was shifting public sympathy. Playing the wounded father. Painting himself as the man whose household was ripped apart by Shelby greed. And worse—people were beginning to listen.

“The pity changes things,” Polly said quietly, reading the same map Tommy was. “When they start feeling sorry for the girl, for the mother… the pressure builds. They’ll want answers. And they’ll come looking. Eventually, someone’s going to try and find her.”

Tommy stared into his glass. “Then they won’t like what they find.”

It was going the way he’d planned—for the most part. The girl was safe. Hidden. The message was building. The streets were talking. Good. Let them wonder. Let them whisper. Let every man in Small Heath who’d ever tossed a coin and wagered a woman’s dignity feel the cold edge of consequence tightening around their throats.

But what he hadn’t counted on… Was O’Grady attacking Arthur. Not with fists—but with whispers. Spinning the story. Playing the victim. Rewriting the wager as a betrayal. Painting Arthur as the man who couldn’t keep his end, stealing more than was owed. And worse—people were starting to believe it.

Because Arthur, loud and volatile, always wore his shame on the outside. And Sean O’Grady? He knew how to bleed in front of the right crowd. A drunken brute turned grieving stepfather. It was clever. Cowardly, but clever.

And now Arthur was fraying at the edges, his temper boiling just beneath the surface, and if he broke—if he snapped in public— everything Tommy had set in motion would come undone.

He'd put men around the house, unseen but there, until everything was done. To keep his family safe and to protect her.

“She can’t hear it,” he said flatly. “Any of it. Especially not about her mother. Not until I know the truth.”

Polly nodded, lips pursed. “So you do care what she thinks of you.”

Tommy didn’t take the bait.

“She’s feeling better,” Polly said, shifting gears. “Restless. Getting underfoot a bit. She reminded me that she worked as a seamstress and can do sewing or mending if we have any.”

Tommy looked up at that. He remembered. That's how he met her, taking his coat for mending. But she hadn’t said anything to him about sewing. Not a word. He thought back—how she’d been quiet, polite, cautious, always watching for signs of what he expected from her. How she’d never asked for anything more than what was given. And even then, only what she thought she could return in silence. A bitter taste rose in his mouth at the thought of it—how little she must expect from the people around her. How small she still made herself, even now.

He could see it clearly in his mind—the old Singer sewing machine tucked in the corner of one of the guest bedrooms, covered with a cloth no one had moved in years. It had belonged to his grandmother.

And those dresses she now wore. Ada’s old clothes—well enough for a temporary fix, but they weren’t hers. They didn’t fit her right. They didn’t move like they belonged to the woman who now walked his halls. He didn’t like it. Didn’t like that she was walking around in someone else’s shape, like she didn’t deserve her own.

“If she wants to sew,” he said at last, voice low, “let her. Make sure she sees the machine.”

Polly tilted her head, watching him. “We're in agreement then. Good. She’s not asking for much, Tommy. She's barely asked for anything since she got here.”

“Then give her what she needs.” Because if she was going to stay—and she was—he didn’t want her patching together the pieces of someone else’s life. He wanted her building something new. Something that was hers.

Polly watched him, reading more than he gave. “She’s not just sewing, Tommy. She’s looking for something to do. Somewhere to belong.”

He downed the rest of the whiskey in one drink. “Then she’ll have it.”

And he meant it. Whatever came next—Arthur’s temper, Sean’s trap, the girl’s questions—it would all be dealt with. Because keeping her safe wasn’t just about the outside world anymore. It was about keeping her whole, even if he wasn’t.

Tommy just stared into the fire, thumb slowly circling the rim of his glass.

Polly sighed. “You do realize that she doesn’t know.”

His gaze shifted, but he didn’t interrupt.

“Not really. Not the truth of it. She thinks she was caught in a bad deal between men.” Her eyes narrowed, voice low but cutting. “She doesn’t know you were the one who steered Arthur into making that wager. You had her delivered. That you drugged him just to keep her untouched until you could step in.”

He didn’t flinch. But he knew she saw it anyway.

“You created the entire bloody scenario, Tommy. Don’t pretend it was all about sending a message to Small Heath. You used that to justify your reasons.” She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, voice softer but sharper now. “You did it because your eye fell on her. And you decided, in all your brilliant, broken logic, that you were going to have her.” She let that sink in. “What happens when she finds out?”

He looked away, only for a second. When his gaze returned returned to hers, it was steady. Polly wasn’t accusing. She was warning.

“You think she won’t? That someone won’t slip up? That she won’t put the pieces together herself?”

Tommy’s grip tightened on his glass in his hand. Polly was right. She would find out. And when she did, he’d have to face more than her fury. He’d have to face the possibility that she’d never look at him the same way again. And that, more than anything, unnerved him the most.

Polly watched him closely, her tone softening slightly. “I can usually hear you at night, you know,” she said. “From across the hall. When the nightmares come.”

Tommy didn’t look at her.

Polly continued, her voice low, matter-of-fact. “You thrash. You shout. Sometimes you cry out names you don’t remember in the morning. Sometimes you don’t sleep at all.”

The darkest visions from the war visited him often at night. The nightmares didn't come from the bullets or the blood, but from the silence between the shell blasts—the moments when he had time to realize he was still alive while better men were not. Now that Polly mentioned it, he hadn't had a single one since he'd moved her into his house, his bed.

Polly waited, but he said nothing.

“But since you moved her into your room…” She paused. “Well, I've heard some things... But not your nightmares.”

The truth settled between them like smoke.

“She calms something in you,” Polly said, quieter now. “And maybe you don’t want to admit that, maybe you can’t… but it doesn’t make it any less true.” She straightened, blowing out an exhale as she studied him. “So the question isn’t if she’ll find out what you did to get her. The question is what you’ll do when she does. Because if she walks out that door, Thomas…” Her gaze was sharp, but not cruel. Just honest. “You won’t sleep again.”

And with that, Polly turned and left the room, leaving him alone with the fire and the weight of everything he hadn't yet said.

***

The moonlight spilled across the floor in soft pools of light, casting long shadows across the floorboards. You sat in the window seat, knees drawn up, arms wrapped loosely around them, chin resting on the crook of your elbow. The night was quiet and still. But your mind wasn’t. Your eyes followed the curve of the moon as it rose over Small Heath, pale and full in a sky smeared with clouds. You hadn’t meant to stay awake this long—had tried to will yourself to sleep—but your thoughts wouldn't quiet.

When the door opened, your fatigue evaporated.

Tommy. He looked tired tonight—shoulders tense, tie loosened—but he smiled when he saw you.

“You should be asleep by now,” he said, voice low and warm as he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

“I tried,” you admitted. “But it’s hard… It's like my mind won’t stop when it gets quiet.”

He said nothing at first, just watched you for a moment—like he understood more than he was saying.

But you had another reason for staying awake. You wanted something. You lowered your knees until you were sitting normally at the window, fingers twisting gently in your lap. It was worth a try. The endless days of being confined to Tommy's house with nothing to do were wearing on you. You were prepared for his answer no matter what it was. But a needle and some thread to do any mending they needed wasn't a lot to ask for.

And if he wanted something in return?

Tommy had been so kind to you for the last week during your monthly. To your surprise, he hadn't demanded anything at all. Your mother had once explained that keeping men happy in a marriage was one of the few cards women had to play. Granted, you weren't married to Tommy, didn't know if you'd ever be married to anyone now. But you'd already been intimate with him. It was only a matter of time before he turned his attention back to that, right? Someone as powerful as him wasn't doing any of this out of the kindness of his heart.

But sometimes... it felt like he was.

No, you had to stop thinking like that. As soon as Tommy got what he wanted from this situation, you had some plans to make. You'd need to go somewhere else and pray this scandal didn't follow you.

But first, you had to get through tonight. If he wanted something... Honestly, it wasn't too unpleasant, especially the second time. You'd even enjoyed some of it. But what kind of woman did it make you to be thinking like that? Shaking your head at yourself, you sighed, battling your anxiety.

“I actually stayed up because… I wanted to ask you for something,” you admitted, wilting under his steady gaze.

He raised a brow, moving closer now. “Go on.”

You glanced back out at the moon for a breath, gathering yourself. "You probably remember that I help my mum with sewing for people. Mending and repairs. I can even make clothing. Nothing fancy, but… if there’s anything in the house that needs stitching or patching, I’d like to help. If you'll allow it." Your gaze met his. “You told me to ask you. So… I am.”

For a moment, he said nothing. Just stood there, painted by the soft gold of the lamp by the bed. His eyes stayed on you—unblinking, unreadable. It made your breath hitch, the way he could go so still. You looked down again, already regretting it. Maybe it had been the wrong time. Maybe he thought it was foolish. Maybe—

“Alright,” he said, simply.

You blinked, glancing back up. His expression had softened, just a little. Enough to make your chest tighten.

“You’ll have what you need,” he added. “Thread, fabric… whatever Polly hasn’t already set aside.”

You could only nod, the relief flooding through you too quickly to find words. He stepped closer, slow, and crouched a little to meet your eye level.

“That wasn't so hard. I'm hiding you from Small Heath right now.” His voice was quiet but firm. “But in this house, you're not invisible. You're allowed to ask for what you need."

You swallowed hard, trying not to look too moved by the kindness in that—because it wasn’t just approval. It felt like permission to exist. Your lips parted. A quiet, shaky, “Thank you.”

He stood again.

Then, without quite thinking, you added, “I think about my mother, and Rory, every day. This will help keep my mind busy.”

His shoulders stilled, just slightly. Tommy looked at you with something close to understanding—and something else, too. Something fierce and quiet. "I’ll see to them,” he said. “When the time is right, you’ll know everything. You'll get to see them.”

And strangely, you believed him. Not because he said it gently. Because he said it like a vow. You thought him saying you'd "get to see them" was a little odd. Once everything was over, you'd be going back home, right?

You watched him in silence as he moved about the room—shedding the weight of the day one layer at a time. Jacket off. Waistcoat next. He rolled his sleeves up with practiced ease, every movement smooth and unhurried. It wasn’t the first time you’d seen him like this—quiet, tired, thoughtful—but there was something different about tonight. Maybe it was the way he paused slightly, glancing over his shoulder at you as he unbuttoned his cuffs. Maybe it was the way his brow lifted just a little—curious.

“You got your answer,” he said casually, the corner of his mouth tugging upward. “Was there something else?”

You shifted your weight slightly, embarrassed to be caught lingering. "I'm sorry," you muttered, rising from the window seat and moving to the bed.

He didn’t say anything as you crossed the room—just followed you with his eyes. You climbed onto the bed, keeping close to your side, careful not to take up more space than necessary. The sheets were cool, the pillow soft, but your skin tingled with awareness. You turned to your side, back to the wall, knees drawn slightly up. It was habit by now—putting a little distance between yourself and him, even if he’d never asked for it.

Still, you couldn’t help it. You watched him. Tried not to, but you did.

He finished unfastening his shirt, pulling it off with a fluid motion before draping it neatly over the back of a chair. The soft lamplight caught the lines of his back—strong, lean muscle shifting beneath skin marked by old scars. Pale against the shadows, silent testaments to a life that had never been gentle. He moved with a kind of quiet confidence, not trying to impress or intimidate—just existing in the way only a man who'd seen too much could.

"If you're going to keep looking at me like that," he said, "I might start wondering about your intentions."

Your breath caught. You were caught. Still, your gaze lingered just a second longer before you turned your eyes away—but it was too late. He'd seen it.

And when he crossed the room to join you, it was with a quiet, self-assured ease. He stretched out on his back beside you, one arm tucked behind his head, the other resting loosely across his abdomen. A small smile played at the corners of his lips—not smug, but amused.

“Something else you wanted?” he murmured, tone casual, teasing.

The hint of amusement in his voice was unmistakable, and it made your stomach flip. You looked over at him, just briefly, then back toward the ceiling.

What were you doing? He'd given you the answer you were hoping for and he wasn't asking for anything in return. Maybe he was just being kind and not wanting to bother you during your time. Men had no idea how any of that worked. Or maybe... You didn't like the small voice whispering in the back of your mind that maybe he didn't want you anymore. Maybe once his business was settled with your stepfather, he wouldn't need you anymore and you'd be on your own. Maybe he already had what he wanted from you.

Those worries lingered but didn't feel quite right.

"Someone's thinking very hard over there," he mused, still with that note of teasing in his tone.

Just sleep. Tell him goodnight and go to sleep.

No, you couldn't. Because you wanted an answer to that question. You needed to know if you were reading too much into things.

He was the most powerful man in Birmingham. If he hadn't been trying to use your stepfather to get his point across, would he have even looked at you twice? Was it just the wager? You'd never seen him with anyone but if he ever had a woman on his arm, you'd expect her to be beautiful, sophisticated. You were neither of those things.

Still, it was the random moments when you were alone together that made you wonder if there was more to it. The way he could be caring. Those rare smiles he'd flash. Was it only in your head?

With no idea what you were doing, you sat up in bed. His gaze stayed on you, the look in his pale-blue eyes pure intensity. You moved closer to him, your hand trembled as you raised it, sliding it along his cheek. Tommy held completely still for you as you held his face in your hand but his expression shifted. The amusement faded, replaced by challenge and desire. How easily the man could burn you down with a single look.

You leaned in close, feeling like you couldn't breathe but unable to turn back now. You just brushed your lips against his at first, soft and seeking. Tommy wasn't stopping you. He held still and you took it as permission to continue. You kissed him again, more insistently. You weren't sure what to do with your tongue so you shyly ran it along his bottom lip as you went. From there you weren't sure what to do next, and started questioning yourself on what you were doing to start with.

The moment you hesitated, his arms closed around you tightly, hauling you against him. He claimed your mouth with a kiss that sent your heart flying. One hand clutched the back of your gown, the other clutched in your hair. Your hands landed on his bare chest, your fingertips smoothing over muscle and warm flesh. He smelled of sandalwood and whiskey. His warm breath pelted against your face as he pulled back, his gaze searching yours.

Apparently he found no lie, no duplicity. He smiled, it was just so gorgeous, so genuine that it had your heart shifting in your chest. "Is this what you were after, love?"

You didn't know what to say. You just wanted him to keep smiling at you like that. You nodded. And for good measure, you slid your arms around his neck and kissed him again. You were learning. The deep moan you pulled from him with that kiss made your entire body tingle. Your lips danced together feverishly as his hands yanked up your gown with haste. He only broke the kiss to pull it over your head, to reveal you to him, leaving you only in your drawers. Yes, you were exposed and didn't like the vulnerability it brought, but the heat in those pale blue-colored eyes as his gaze moved over you, froze you to the spot.

"I called you pretty before," he whispered, "but I changed my mind... You're fucking beautiful."

He left you no time to react to that. His rough hands skimmed all over your body as he tantalized you with his kisses, seeking out the places that would make you tremble. Your nipples were so tight they hurt under his palms. Tommy pulled you onto his lap as he kissed you but arranged you so that you straddled his body, the center of you just above his muscular thighs. He left you panting when he broke the kiss, his hands going to the front of his trousers, pulling them open and pushing them down his slim hips. Tommy laid back then, taking himself in hand. You watched how his hand moved, the carnality of the act fascinating you.

"Touch me," he whispered, his voice rough. Impatiently, he grabbed your hand and guided you to wrap your fingers around him. He felt like warm velvet under your fingers as his hand closed over yours, showing you what he liked in gentle, easy movements. Once you picked up the rhythm he wanted, his own hand fell away, landing on your bare thigh. You must have done something right because his eyes slid closed, his jaw slack like the only thing he wanted in the entire world was your hand on his cock.

"I've thought about this for days," he whispered. "Could barely focus on my meeting earlier, thinking about you."

You knew he was only talking about sex but you couldn't help the way your heart skipped a beat, hearing that he thought about you at all. You kept your hand moving on him, trying to be careful. When you squeezed him just a little, his breath huffed out. He hardened in your hand. You made your grip a little firmer and he moaned, a deep sound that you felt everywhere. It had your own body clenching in need, weeping for him.

"You're a fast learner," he muttered, his eyes slitting open to watch you. "Now, put your mouth on me."

While you had no experience with men before Tommy, you had heard of what he was asking for before. Your mum's best friend had a daughter named Anne who was only a couple of years younger than you. Once when your families visited each other, she told you about what she got up to with the local boys. How she drove them wild. She hadn't been instructing you per se but she told you enough about her exploits that you had an idea of how it went.

You pressed a kiss to the head of him, shiny and smooth. Then another. You jerked a little at first, to feel his hand on your head, not moving you but there. When you swiped at him with your tongue, he sucked in a breath. You froze. Was that a good thing or had you hurt him? A quick glance at his face showed you that amazing eyes were on you, watching you as you teased him with your mouth.

When your lips spread around him to pull the head into your mouth, you tasted him. Slowly, you kept going, wrapping a hand around him at the base while your mouth teased the top. You got braver, working more of him into your mouth as he watched. You kept your tongue moving around him, kept your teeth away. Tommy's hips moved with you now, a silent demand for more. All the while he watched, color flooding his face, that blue-eyed gaze on you so intently. Now the hand on your head did guide your movements, urging you to continue.

"Such a good girl." Tommy was breathless. "Feels fucking amazing."

You carried on but within seconds, both of his hands were on your head, urging you to stop. Tommy was panting above you and when your gaze met his, you were so confused. Had you done something wrong? Had you hurt him?

It was like he could see the question in your mind, his expression softened. "That's good. Too good... Not the way I want to end though."

You weren't sure what that meant and you didn't get a chance to think about it. His hands darted between your thighs, fingers sliding into the drawers you wore, sliding easily on all the wetness he found there. He groaned, grabbing your hips and moving you up his body, positioning you over his cock. You didn't understand what he wanted until he pulled your drawers to one side, creating a path for himself at your entrance and you were shaking. Him pushing into you while your drawers were still on was indecent, had your heart pounding in your chest.

He was inside you but this time you were on top and you weren't sure what to do. Tommy realized that, holding onto your hips and pushing up into you. It felt different, hitting new pleasure points inside you. His movements had you leaning forward, your hands on his chest. He started rolling his hips up into you, using his hands to pull you down on him at the same time.

"Ride me," he whispered as he kept moving you on his cock, his thrusts speeding up until it felt like he was punching the air from your lungs.

Changing the position of your legs, you found a way to move on him, helping him along. Your walls clenched around him and you tried circling your hips on him as you moved.

"Fuck, yes." The heat in his gaze letting you know you were onto something.

You kept going, moving in ways that you hoped made him feel good. It definitely made you feel good. Your nails raked over Tommy's chest as those sensations built in your lower body. Your gaze locked with his as you were joined as one, both chasing relief from the heat and the lust rushing through your veins. When you leaned closer to him, each thrust hit your most sensitive point. You were shaking as all that sensation came for you, and when it hit, it took your breath away. Beneath you, Tommy went faster, his grip on you almost painful as he came.

Your arms trembled and gave way, leaving you to collapse over him, both of you struggling to breathe as if you'd run a mile. His heartbeat was so loud as you lay sprawled over him and his arms wrapped around you. You liked the way his fingers drew lines over your back, the way his damp skin felt against your cheek.

He pressed a kiss into your hair. "Ever used a sewing machine?"

"No," you replied. "Always wanted to. Mum and I once thought about trying to put some money back each week from what we made to try and save up for one. There was always something more important that came up, that we needed the money for."

You didn't mention that your stepfather with his drinking and gambling was the reason you could never save money, why you struggled to put food on the table.

"We have one," Tommy said. "Polly will get it for you tomorrow, along with any sewing notions we have for you to use."

You lifted your head in excitement, your gaze meeting his. "Really?"

"Really," he said, the corners of his mouth curving up. "Tomorrow. It's after midnight right now. Get some sleep."

You were sleepy, and happy to have something to do tomorrow to keep from worrying about your Mum and Rory every waking moment. And your future.

You fell asleep in his arms, unaware he stayed awake for a while, just watching over you. Polly's words ran through his mind, haunting him.

@outlanderuniverse

@alyssajunelle

@gothic-chinadoll

@sparda1234

#The Arrangement #Peaky Blinders #Thomas Shelby #Tommy Shelby #Cillian Murphy #Polly Gray #John Shelby #Arthur Shelby #Ada Shelby

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cheshireliam · 26 days ago

Text

"The Past Records: Liam Evans & Harrison Gray" Party Event: Chapter 3

Lies and Transparency

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

Read this before interacting

Liam: I felt relieved when Harry said “you don’t have to say it”.

Liam: At the same time… I was also impressed.

Liam: Despite having the ability to expose lies, Harry also has the kindness to let some lies remain lies.

Liam: It was at that moment when I genuinely thought I wanted to be friends with Harry.

Ellis: I see, so that’s what happened… wow, that’s a really good story.

Ellis: How did your first mission end?

Liam: We killed the mastermind. It was nothing exciting, really. I barely remember what happened in the end.

The topic came to a close with the understanding that the friendship between the two stemmed from being mutually considerate of each other.

— But their story doesn’t end there.

…

Harrison: — Liam.

Liam: What's up, Harry? Oh, could it be that thinking of old times made you fall in love with me?

Harrison: Don’t be stupid. … But, thanks.

Harrison: For lying that you “barely remember what happened in the end”.

Once again, time rewinds back to their first mission.

This is the part of the story they never told the other members of Crown.

…

After dealing with the mercenaries hired by their target, Harrison and Liam were getting information out of one of the survivors.

Thick-Browed Policeman: Damn, looks like this is the end of me…

Harrison: Hand over the list of criminals you helped escape prison.

Liam: Along with the details of their hideouts.

Resigning to his fate, the policeman pulled a notebook out of his breast pocket.

Harrison: Is this all of it?

Policeman: Yeah, that’s all.

Harrison: … You’re not lying.

Finally done with the mission, Harrison and Liam both heaved sighs of relief.

All that was left to do was get rid of the policeman in secret.

However, just as they were about to do so, the policeman gasped and approached Harrison.

Policeman: You. You’re Gray’s son, aren't you?

Liam: … You know him?

Policeman: I knew it! I had a feeling I’ve seen that face somewhe—

His words were cut off by a gunshot.

Policeman: Ugh… ggh…

With a look of agony, the man breathed his final breath.

Harrison: Sorry, but… forget what just happened.

Harrison spoke with a heavy tone while holding the gun that fired the fatal shot.

Liam: … Okay, got it. I won’t ask for details.

Liam: Like you said before, Harry… as colleagues, we only have to share things like the signal for jumping into action, details about our curse’s abilities…

Liam: How fast we can run, our well we can swim… stuff like that, right?

Harrison: … That helps.

Liam: But that's not the reason why I’m not going to pry.

Liam’s tone sounded cheeky, but Harrison stared intensely at him with his mint-green eyes, silently questioning his true intentions.

Liam: I won’t ask questions you don’t want to be asked, and I won’t say things you don’t want to hear either.

Liam: I’m doing this not as a colleague, but as a friend!

Harrison: A friend…

Meeting Liam’s gaze, Harrison looked slightly surprised.

Harrison: On the day we first met, you said “I have a feeling we’ll get along”, and that was a lie…

Harrison: Is this thing about being “friends” not also a lie?

Liam: Ah—... back then, you see, I think it sounded like a lie because of my personal issues.

Liam: I often throw myself into dangerous situations, have episodes that cause problems for others, and…

Liam: Even if I wanted to get along with you, I just thought you wouldn't want to get along with me.

Harrison: And that’s why… “I have a feeling we’ll get along” ended up being a lie.

Harrison fell silent when he ascertained the truth hidden behind Liam’s lie, and Liam didn’t force him to say any more.

…

After concealing the evidence at the scene, the two were on their way back to the castle.

The mission was carried out in the darkness of the night, but somewhere along the way, the morning sun had risen.

Liam: What was that book you stole from the target’s mansion just now? Do you like books?

Harrison: … You’ve been asking way too many questions ever since a while ago.

Liam: Nah… it just got awkward because you suddenly went quiet.

Harrison: Oh… I was thinking about some things.

Harrison slightly slowed his pace. He hesitantly opened his lips, as though carefully choosing the right words.

Sensing that he was about to say something important, Liam kept quiet and waited.

Harrison: … Maybe I trust my curse’s ability too much.

Liam widened his eyes at the unexpected timidity in Harrison’s voice.

Harrison: When I found out you were lying, I assumed it meant you wanted nothing to do with me.

Harrison: That’s why I kept my distance from you, but… turns out that's not the case, huh?

Liam: Yeah! I genuinely want to be friends with you, Harrison.

Harrison: That’s why… I’ve been rethinking things, and I guess my ability isn’t as absolute as I thought.

Harrison: I shouldn't have refused to shake your hand back then… sorry, Liam.

Liam: No need to feel bad about that. I didn’t take it to heart at all!

Liam: Alrighty then, we’re officially friends from now on!

Harrison: Friends… hang on, that’s not how it works.

Liam: Huh? Then how does it work?

Harrison: … Hanging out? Eating together?

Liam: Then let’s do everything you can think of, Harry! Then we’ll really REALLY be friends. Alright, it’s decided!

Harrison: This is the first time I’ve ever had a friendship forced on me…

Harrison: What are your intentions?

Liam: My intention is to be your friend! Because I’ve taken a liking to you, Harry!

Liam: So we MUST become friends no matter what!

Harrison: *Sigh*... You’re weird.

Harrison let out an exasperated sigh and kept walking, but he was no longer stopping Liam from calling him by a nickname.

With the clear morning sky above them, the doubts and misunderstandings born from lies disappeared.

And so, that was the start of the unlikely friendship between the lying fox and the cheshire cat who were polar opposites.

#ikemen villains #ikemen series #ikevil translations #liam evans #harrison gray #cybird ikemen #cybird otome #otome

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reccyls · 14 days ago

Text

Victor's Main Route: Chapter 13 + His POV Story

< Previous Chapter | Masterlist | Next Chapter >

Surprisingly, I felt better after spending all of last night crying. When I looked at myself in the mirror in the morning, I looked so terrible I started laughing. I rang the bell to call for a maid, and asked her to bring me a hot towel. But my face was apparently so awful that she gave me a massage in addition to the hot towel, to try and make me feel better. Thanks to that, my eyes were no longer swollen when I sat down in front of the mirror again.

(I wish crying too much could make all of my feelings disappear, though.)

My heart was still a mess.

Perhaps due to how I couldn’t stop crying, I didn’t have room to actually think deeply about things.

(I’m hungry… I guess I’ll think things through over breakfast.)

…

Liam: Oh, good morning, Kate!

Kate: Good morning, Liam.

When I arrived at the dining hall, Liam, as well as Harrison and Roger, were already there. As I sat in an empty chair, Liam spoke again.

Liam: Victor was here too, but he actually just left.

Kate: Oh, really?

Liam: Yeah. You guys must have just barely missed each other.

That made me a little bit relieved, and I helped myself to breakfast.

(Still, that doesn't mean I can slack off. After I eat, I’ll go to the office.)

…

Elbert: …Kate.

Kate: Oh, hello, Lord Elbert. I didn’t expect to run into you in the palace.

As I was walking towards Victor’s office, I noticed Elbert coming from the opposite direction and came to a stop.

Victor: Victor… told me that I hadn’t sent him the invoice for a painting I bought recently…

Elbert: …Are you going to help him with his work now?

Kate: I was planning to, yes.

Elbert tilted his head to the side.

Elbert: …Victor said he had something to do today… so the two of us left his office together after that. Elbert: He’s probably… somewhere… in the palace right now.

Kate: Oh… Thanks for letting me know.

Another chance to meet Victor was gone. I couldn’t help the slight feeling of relief, again.

(I guess I can take a nap until it’s time for the mission…)

…

Ellis: Ah, Kate.

Kate: Hi, Ellis. Did you just come back?

Ellis: Mmhm. Is your mission also finished?

Kate: Yes. Good work today, Ellis.

As I was climbing up the stairs after the end of my mission, I ran into Ellis. Ellis cocked his head to the side.

Kate: What’s the matter?

Ellis: I thought I saw Victor heading this way earlier, but he isn’t here. Ellis: He would’ve been right about here, I think.

Kate: …Huh.

Ellis: It’s late, so I’ll walk you to your room.

…

The chirping of birds drifted to my ears as I stared blankly at the ceiling of my bedroom. That’s when I came to a realization.

(Is he…)

Kate: …avoiding me?

-----

I couldn’t find Victor. I hadn’t seen him at all since yesterday, and during the usual time when I went to see him, he seemed to have vanished entirely.

(This is–)

Harrison: Why is Victor avoiding you?

Kate: That’s what I want to know…

(It sounds worse when you say it aloud like that.)

My shoulders slumped and Harrison sighed.

Harrison: This is the first time I’ve seen Victor try to avoid someone.

Kate: Really?

Harrison: I’m actually jealous that he’s going out of his way to avoid you. He’s such a pain.

For someone like Harrison, who really disliked interacting with Victor, My current situation must have seemed like a dream come true.

(But this is more like a nightmare than a dream for me…)

I admit that I had been relieved at first. But the longer I went without seeing Victor, the sadder I became. I just wanted to see the person I loved again.

(I guess I am worried that he won’t look at me with the same kindness ever again, if I do manage to find him.)

Now that I knew his secrets, I doubted we’d be able to return to how we were previously.

(Can I even return to my old life knowing what I know?)

I was a bit anxious about what would happen from now on. However…

(I want to see Victor again more than I care about that.)

The longer I went without seeing him, the more I missed him.

Harrison: So, what did you do?

I think I made him hate me. (+4/+4)

It was an accident.

…Not telling.

Kate: I think I made him hate me…

Harrison: Is there even anything that would make the geezer hate anyone? Harrison: Seriously, tell me. I want to know.

Seeing how down I was, Harrison crossed his arms.

Harrison: Well whatever it was, you didn’t do it on purpose. Harrison: He’s just using it as an excuse to avoid you.

Kate: I guess so.

He leaned against a pillar and glanced towards me.

Harrison: Then that means you need to tell him exactly what you're thinking.

Kate: What I'm thinking...

(...If he thought that I would reveal his identity, then I’m pretty sure he would have done something about it already.)

He could have made me sign a contract, or even killed me, to prevent that secret from ever coming out. But he hasn’t done anything of the sort, or even put any restrictions on my actions. He’s just making sure we don’t meet.

(What is he thinking right now…?)

Before I could meet him, I needed to know what was going through his mind. But even if I knew, would I even be able to find him?

(He would know every single hiding spot in both Crown’s castle and the palace.)

As I slumped in defeat, Harrison began to speak again.

Harrison: Will told me once that Victor has a lot of work, so he stays at the palace until late at night. Harrison: So there’s a chance you’d run into him if you wandered around the palace during the night.

Kate: Harrison…

Though he still looked reluctant, he offered his advice. My eyes were shining with gratitude as I looked at him.

Harrison: I can’t believe you actually want to meet him, weirdo.

-----

Kate: Right.

After night fell, I marched over to the palace to find Victor.

(I got so cold while I was walking from the castle to the palace.)

Crown’s castle was built on a lake, so to reach the palace I had to cross a bridge and make my way through the woods. The only people who used that route were Crown members and related people, so it was usually deserted. The forest canopy was very dense so it was always dark inside even during the day. And tonight the moon was covered by clouds, making the whole thing even spookier. It made me walk faster than normal to finally reach the palace.

(Time to look for Victor.)

After psyching myself up, I started making my way towards his office. However…

???: Good evening. It’s a lovely night, isn’t it?

Kate: Aaah!

I let out a scream of shock when someone suddenly spoke to me from behind. Whirling around, I spotted Darius standing there.

Darius: Hehe. You have a very funny startle reflex.

Kate: I’m sorry for yelling.

Clad in white with hair and eyes the color of honey, Darius looked like an angel. Even the way he laughed with his hand over his mouth radiated beauty.

Darius: What are you doing out alone this late?

Kate: I’m looking for Victor. Have you seen him?

Darius: I haven’t, no. Did you need something from him?

Kate: Not really, I just have something I want to talk with him about.

Darius: Hmm…

He seemed disinterested. I didn’t want to take up any more of his time, so I bowed my head.

Kate: Sorry for bothering you. I’ll get going now.

As I turned and was about to start walking–

Darius: By the way, I heard that the queen was attacked quite recently. Is she alright?

Kate: You…

I spun around again at his words. Darius continued smiling pleasantly, as always.

(Why does he know that?)

Even Crown hadn’t been told that there was an assassination attempt on the queen.

(William probably noticed that something had happened, but it didn’t look like that information reached any of the others.)

Victor made the choice not to inform them.

(So why does Darius know?)

Darius kept speaking, his expression unchanging.

Darius: Just like rumors, things that people want to keep quiet about end up reaching people’s ears one way or another. Darius: It just so happened to be my ears, this time.

And then he said this:

Darius: Do you think the queen even exists?

Kate: What?

It took me some time to process what he said.

Darius: I just have some suspicions as to whether she’s real or not.

Kate: …Why?

Holding his hands behind his back, Darius began to walk while inspecting the flowers in the palace garden. He looked like he was just taking a pleasant stroll.

Darius: Don’t you think it’s strange, too? Darius: She always wears a veil that covers her face, and because of the different heels she wears, her height is difficult to judge. Darius: You could count the number of times she’s spoken aloud on one hand.

But the air around him was unsettling.

Darius: When we went to greet her upon our arrival here, she was seated far away and hidden behind a curtain. Darius: I think she said something to us but I couldn’t even hear it.

My body reacted without my conscious thought. Wary and on high alert, I tried to take a step back. It didn’t escape Darius’s notice.

Darius: How well does that aide know her?

In an instant, Darius crossed the distance between us, his gaze never leaving mine. Though his mouth was smiling, his eyes were not.

Darius: So? Darius: What do you think?

It may have been the first time that a whisper in my ears made my blood run cold.

(The moment he smells blood, he’ll pounce.)

My reactions and words here could lead him closer to Victor’s secret if I wasn’t careful. Darius was waiting for the slightest crack to appear. It was only a few seconds, But it felt like eternity. Darius’s white-gloved hand reached up towards my face. And just as his grip was about to close in on me–

Victor: What are you doing?

I was surrounded by the scent of night. I found myself in Victor’s arms. His low voice came from above my head, his large hands caught my shoulders, his long black hair drifted around me, like his scent. As I took everything in, I felt myself relax.

Darius: Good evening. It’s a lovely night, isn’t it?

Victor: …Good evening. What were you doing?

Darius: Don’t make such a scary face. We were just speaking, that’s all.

Because I was wrapped in Victor’s coat, I couldn’t see their faces.

Victor: It’s bad manners to put your hand on a lady’s face.

Darius: Did you think I was going to grab her face? I would never.

Though the atmosphere was tense, Darius shrugged his shoulders.

Darius: I would have liked to speak more, but that’s enough for tonight. Darius: Until next time, miss Fairytale Keeper.

We stood there for some time, watching as Darius turned around and walked away. Saying nothing, Victor stepped away from me and took me by the arm. And he began walking into the palace.

…

Victor: Are you alright?

When we finally stopped, he looked at me with a worried expression. However…

Kate: …Why are you avoiding me?

What left my lips wasn’t gratitude. It wasn’t how much I wanted to see him, or thanks for rescuing me just then, or even telling him I felt relieved. There were so many things I wanted to tell him, but what left my mouth was only my unhappiness.

Kate: Is it because you think I’m going to tell someone about your secret?

Victor: Not at all. I trust you.

Kate: So why–

Victor: …

Silence settled in the hallways.

Kate: …William told me about your past.

Victor: …I see.

(He’s not even upset that I learned about it without his consent.)

Even now, Victor said nothing.

Kate: Aren’t you going to say anything?

If I could do something for him, give something back even if just a little, that would be enough.

(He doesn’t want anything from me.)

He protected me, kept me far away from anything dangerous. But then he also refused to let me anywhere near the things that mattered, and put up walls between us. He had given up everything.

Kate: If you trusted me, I wanted you to tell me yourself. And if you can’t, then I don’t want you to treat me so kindly.

If he’d just pushed me away at the beginning, then this wouldn’t have happened. My thoughts were a mess. Afraid that I would take it out on him even more, I turned around. I wanted to believe in him but I couldn’t. I wanted to meet him but I couldn’t look him in the eye. If these feelings stemmed from love, then I wish–

Kate: If we had never met…

Just then, I was grabbed from behind, and pressed against the wall. I tried to look up, but–

Victor: Then let’s do as you say.

In the periphery of my vision, I could see his hair illuminated by the moonlight.

Victor: I won’t treat you kindly anymore.

Kate: Wha- Nn.

Suddenly, his finger entered my mouth, pressing down on my tongue so I couldn’t speak.

Victor: I’ll keep you from speaking like this.

Kate: Mmf-

The finger on my tongue began exploring the inside of my mouth. The sensation sent tremors through my spine, and I couldn’t stop the sounds that tried to escape my mouth.

Victor: I can give you pleasure, and then push you away.

Kate: S-sto–

I shivered as his finger continued to ravage my mouth. Saliva spilled out over the corner of my lips.

Victor: “If you trusted me, I wanted you to tell me yourself. And if you can’t, then I don’t want you to treat me so kindly.” Victor: As you wish, no more kindness.

As pleasure and distress mixed in my heart, I desperately craned my head back to catch Victor’s gaze.

(Ah…)

His eyes were so, so cold. I twisted my body to escape his finger.

Kate: Stop!!

Victor stepped away immediately.

Victor: …Would you prefer if we had never met?

His smile was pained as he spoke.

Kate: I’m sorry, I… I didn’t…

I didn’t mean it. Unable to bear how hurt he looked, I turned and fled.

Victor: …

As I ran, I caught sight of the moon in the sky, just beginning to wane. Through blurry eyes, its distorted light illuminated the world.

His POV Story: Hurting and Being Hurt

Victor: Ah…

I was avoiding Kate.

(This is all my fault.)

The last time I saw Kate was when I brought her back to her room after she fainted in the audience chamber. Since then, though we had previously met every day, I was now avoiding her.

(This is my second slip-up.)

Though it was just a coincidence that she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, I was the one who created the circumstances for that coincidence to arise.

(When I learned that there was a group plotting to assassinate the queen, I had originally planned on capturing them for interrogation.)

However, the moment I realized that Kate was standing on the other side of the door, I couldn’t help myself. I ordered them, under the king’s name, to take their own lives.

(If I didn’t kill them, Kate could have been in danger.) (You would have thrown yourself in harm’s way if it would save the queen.)

It must have been a spur of the moment decision. But the instant I noticed her starting to move, I knew that she would have tried to put herself between me and the gunmen. So I changed my plans. And now here we were.

Victor: Of course what I wanted to keep hidden had to be revealed to you, of all people. Victor: The queen’s aide would be shocked to hear that.

When it came to Kate, nothing I did ever seemed to turn out right. Standing in the hallway in front of my office, I ruminated over my failures again, when–

Victor: That’s…

Beyond the window, I could see a familiar figure standing with the leader of Vogel.

(Why is she here at this hour?)

For a moment, I was lost. But then I realized–

(Is she here looking for me?)

I’d been avoiding her for a while, and yet she had still come all this way just to find me. I should have known she would; I knew she highly valued facing others head-on.

(But anyway…)

Darius had a smile on his face as he spoke to Kate, but there was something unsettling about him.

Victor: !

His gaze met mine from beyond the window, and his smile deepened.

(Kate is in danger.)

As alarm bells rang in my head, I ran to her as fast as I could.

…

Kate’s body had been shaking as I held her. That devil in white had said it was a pity he had to leave, but he didn’t sound sincere about it. He smiled as he walked away, and I stared at his retreating back until he had fully vanished from view. I still had no idea what Vogel’s true aims were. I couldn’t let down my guard around them.

(Even though I don’t know what they’re here for…)

It was obvious from the beginning that their goal of building relations was a cover for what they truly wanted to do.

(...If they harm Kate, I’ll show them no mercy.)

As I pulled her away, I noticed that she was starting to resist, so I stopped.

(Kate takes priority right now.)

Victor: Are you alright?

I kept my voice as gentle as possible as I looked her over.

Kate: …Why are you avoiding me?

The expression on her face was terribly sad.

(...Ah. I see.)

I had thought that devil had scared Kate. But I was the source of her distress.

(I really am the worst.)

Because I couldn’t help but feel pleased.

Kate: Is it because you think I’m going to tell someone about your secret?

Victor: Not at all. I trust you.

Kate: So why–

Victor: …

I wasn’t lying.

(I trust you.) (More than anyone else, I trust you.)

Kate bit her lip and looked down, admitting that she had learned about my past from William. I said nothing to that. She had a right to know. But that only seemed to deepen her distress.

Kate: If you trusted me, I wanted you to tell me yourself. And if you can’t, then I don’t want you to treat me so kindly. Kate: If we had never met…

My hands moved almost as if they had a will of their own. Before she could finish that sentence, I pushed her against the wall. I think those words broke something in me.

Victor: Then let’s do as you say. Victor: I won’t treat you kindly anymore.

Kate: Wha- Nn.

I pushed her finger into her mouth and pressed down on her tongue so she couldn’t speak.

Victor: I’ll keep you from speaking like this.

Kate: Mmf-

Victor: I can give you pleasure, and then push you away.

Kate: S-sto–

As I swept my finger around her mouth, a trail of saliva trickled out of the corner of her lips.

Victor: “If you trusted me, I wanted you to tell me yourself. And if you can’t, then I don’t want you to treat me so kindly.” Victor: As you wish, no more kindness.

She looked up at me, then jolted and pulled away from my finger.

Kate: Stop!!

Her voice startled me. The next words that left my mouth were terribly, terribly faint.

Victor: …Would you prefer if we had never met?

I wanted to say it with my usual smile. But when she looked back at me again, the expression on her face was that of someone who couldn’t believe the words that had come out of her own mouth.

Kate: I’m sorry, I… I didn’t…

With tears in her eyes, she turned and ran away. I kept my eyes on her shrinking back, unable to look away. And at last when she had vanished from view, I leaned back against the wall.

(All I do is make you sad.)

I treasured her, and wanted to give her as much freedom as possible. But the more time we spent together, the more hurt and confused I made her. Despite the fact that I decided not to ask anything of her, and be satisfied with the peaceful days that passed.

Victor: …I have never once wished that we had never met.

Because, all this time… The next words that left my mouth were swept away by the wind, and vanished.

#ikemen villains #victor (ikevil)#my translation

98 notes · View notes

gejo333 · 10 months ago

Text

Art credit goes to @kit-and-wolfe ! Thank you for fulfilling my wish to see Miguel in a wedding suit!🥹🥰💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

An Unexpected Match XIII

DBF/DILF Miguel O’Hara x female reader

18+ Warning

Pt.1 Pt.14

Summary: The months of preparation for the big day!💐💍🔔

Only three chapters left of “ An Unexpected Match!” (Not including this chapter)

Enjoy🥰

Wc: 15.6k

————————————————————————

When you and Miguel arrived from Miami, your family, friends, and future in-laws met you in the backyard for a surprise engagement party.

You were both happy and shocked that Stephanie and Gabriel could quickly pull something spectacular. Yet again, it was Stephanie and Gabriel. If they wanted something done, they'd get it done. Of course, you weren't surprised that your parents weren't attending. Probably because you didn't tell them that Miguel had proposed to you. Despite all the drama, you still wanted to share the news of your happiness. But you were smart to know they wouldn't be happy.

Jack had told you that they found out about your news from your Instagram and were not pleased, saying, like a broken record player, that you were too young and that Miguel was too old for you. Of course, you smiled when Stephanie added that Jack defended your relationship with Miguel and said that he cared for your happiness and thought Miguel was a good man for you.

You chuckled from the memory when Liam approached the four of you, 'Now that you're going to be my future brother-in-law, can I test drive your Aston Martin?' As soon as the words came out of his mouth, you and Jack scolded your childish younger brother. God, you were glad you weren't a sophomore in college anymore. Of course, Miguel, being the gentleman he is, agreed as long as you or he were in the car. And, of course, you didn't help but brag to Liam that you had driven it before, to which his reaction was priceless.

You sat at a cafe basking in the warmth of the almost-summer sun, scrolling through wedding catalogs.

"Damn, I knew wedding planning was a lot, but I didn't think it was this detailed! Like why is everything individually priced! And way overpriced! I saw this same napkin set for $5 at Target, and this is $30 for two?!" Stephanie stressed as she quickly flipped the pages of her catalog. "God, I wish I snagged a billionaire. But my heart is for your brother." Stephanie dramatically places the back of her hand on her forehead before moving it over her heart. You only rolled your eyes and chuckled at your best friend's childish antics.

"I still don't 100% understand when you're so amazing, and he's just, well... Jack. But I am happy for both of you. I can't wait till he proposes so we can legally be sisters." You waved the waitress's attention to the check, which they saw and nodded.

"Honestly, I don't think I want to get married now that I have realized how much debt my dream wedding will make me." Stephanie gasped as she saw another overly-priced item. "Do you know your budget?"

"Funny thing is, there is no budget. Miguel won't let me pay for any of it, and there is no limit. I want to help pay for it too, but he refuses to let me, which is frustrating, to say the least." You sigh as you place your card down on the bill.

" I love that the only issue you have with your fiancé is that he wants to pay for everything." Stephanie chuckled as she finished her coffee, to which you sent her a light glare.

" Steph, you know how I am. I don't want to be some dependent trophy wife. I want to contribute to the expenses. But enough about that. I invited you for coffee because I want you to be my maid of honor." You hold her hands as you smile brightly at her.

"I'd be honored to be your main wingwoman at the wedding. You can count on me!" Stephanie squeezed your hands as she returned your smile. "I will also take on the role of wedding planner! Only I know what your dream wedding is, not some overly-priced, stuck-up designer."

"If you're up for the task, Miguel and I would love the help." After saying your goodbyes, you plan to see each other to start brainstorming themes for the wedding. You head back home, welcomed by your happy six-year-old daughter.

"Mama, you're back!" Gabi ran up and gave you a bear hug. You smiled lovingly at her as you leaned down to return the hug. The smile on your face disappeared when you noticed a cut on her arm.

"Baby bug, what happened here? Are you okay?" You check her arm to get a better look at it. It already had a scab, which meant it happened hours ago, most likely at school.

"I fell during P.E. and scraped my arm when it happened. But I was a big girl, and I didn't cry." Gabi smiled, proud of her statement. You comb some of her fly-away curls behind her ear as you give her another hug, kissing the top of her forehead. "Oh, sweetie, that sounds horrible. It's okay to cry when you get hurt. There is nothing wrong in that."

"I know, but I didn't want to cry in front of the boys because they would make fun of me." Gabi's lips quivered slightly, pouting.

"Well, if they ever make fun of you for crying, tell them you don't care what they think. And you shouldn't care what others think about you, Gabi. Just be your amazing, sweet self. But hey, if they still are giving you trouble, we'll have Papa scare them off. Cause no one upsets our baby bug." Placing one last kiss on her head, you let her go as she smiles brightly at you before running back to her playroom.

You smile before heading towards the office where your fiancé spends most of his time when he's not with you or Gabi. You notice the door slightly cracked open, signaling he wasn't too busy. As the new CEO of a mega-corporation, you were surprised by how much time he still gets to be with you and Gabi.

You gently knock on the door to alert your presence before walking in.

"Cariño? How was coffee with Stephanie?" Miguel called out, still focused on his various computer screens. You walk up behind him as you wrap your arms around his shoulders from behind, resting your head on his shoulder. With one hand, Miguel entangles his fingers with yours and kisses your knuckles near your engagement ring. Half-focused on work. Half-focused on you.

"It was nice. I asked her to be my maid of honor, which she was happy to accept. She is also going to help plan the wedding. Her sense of taste is way better than any wedding planner that I looked at."

"She did do a really good job with the engagement party," Miguel added.

"She did. I have always trusted her taste in design and decor. Have you talked to Gabe about being your best man?" You chuckled at his slight pout from your last words.

"I just haven't had the patience for his energy lately. And he won't leave me alone when I ask him." Miguel sighed as he leaned his head against yours, and you kissed his cheek sweetly.

"Well, it's better to rip off the bandaid than leave it. Plus, you know he's been waiting for you to ask. On a different note, can we discuss something more seriously?"

Your change in tone brought his full attention as he guided you to the front of his chair, both serious and curious brown eyes looking up at you. You smile as you straddle his lap and comb a few stray-away curls from his face. You always loved it when he had his glasses on.

"Don't worry, honey. It's nothing bad. I just wanted to talk about expenses."

"What about them?" Miguel's hands rested on your hips, gently brushing his fingers against your clothing.

"I want to be more a part of it. I want to help chip in. Like for our wedding, the house, and Gabi."

"Like I've said before, Hermosa, save your money. You know I can easily take care of everything."

"I know you can, Miguel, but I want to contribute. Please let me help pay for things. I don't want to be financially dependent on you. I love you and can't wait to be your wife in a few months, but I will not be a trophy wife. So please, for my sake, let me help pitch in." You tried your best to give him a serious gaze without wanting to melt into his strong and warm embrace.

A small sigh escaped his lips before he smiled. "It's hard to say no to you. Alright. You can help pay for Gabi's soccer things and groceries."

"And half the wedding."

"No."

"A quarter?"

"How about just the cake."

"Cake and flowers?"

"Fine. You have a deal, mi amor, if I can have a kiss." Miguel smirked, pinching your hip.

"Well, you can have a kiss anytime you want and as many times as you want." You smile, leaning in as your lips meet his in a soft and sweet kiss. "Here's another one," you say before placing another kiss on his lips, "and another because I love you."

The kisses formed into a slightly heated make-out session as sweet kisses were placed on lips, necks, and light squeezes and touches. However, the enjoyable moment paused as you both heard light footsteps descending the hallway. You get off Miguel's lap and ensure you still look presentable. A few seconds later, barged in your daughter wearing a plastic tiara with pink gems and a matching tutu on her soccer uniform.

"How cute do you look, baby bug. You look like a princess."

"I'm the soccer fairy princess. And I am inviting you and Papa to my royal tea party." Gabi handed you, and Miguel slips of paper with colorful drawings and writing. Of course, knowing your handwriting, you could tell she tried to spell out 'Momma's tea party invitation.'

"We would be honored to attend, Princesa." Miguel smiled as he got up from his chair, stretching to relieve the tension in his muscles from sitting too long. Would you like to be carried to your palace?"

"Yes, please!" Gabi cheered in excitement before he picked her up with one arm. With his available hand, he entangled his fingers with yours as he led his family to the royal tea party upstairs.

.....

10 months before the wedding

"We're here!" Cheered Gabi from her car seat. You chuckle from her excitement as you exit the driver's side and unbuckle her from the car seat. Of course, as soon as she is out of the car, she runs to the car parked in front with a wild woman standing.

"Auntie Steph!"

"Hi there, girlie! Are you here to help your Mama out with choosing a dress?" Stephanie smiled as she leaned down to hug Gabi, who happily reciprocated the gesture.

"Yeah! But I promised her not to tell what the dress looks like even though Papa asked me to."

"Oh, I see. Is Mr. O'Hara already getting impatient to make you Mrs. O'Hara?" Stephanie chuckled as she grinned at you, to which you replied with a smile and a playful roll of your eyes.

As you entered, you were met by more of your wedding party, including a few more college friends as your bridesmaids and Conchata, Miguel's mother. You had met her only a few times, the last time at the engagement party. Ever since the beginning of your relationship with Miguel, you knew he wasn't close to his mother. Still, she was a good grandmother to Gabi and really sweet to you. When Miguel introduced you to her, she was overly excited to meet you, saying she was happy her son had found a nice woman. Even though she and Miguel weren't that close, it was nice to know that at least one parent approved of your relationship. You had invited her to your wedding dress appointment because she always had wanted to be a part of the bridal process but never thought she would be able to since she only has sons.

"Hola y/n! Que tal mi hija?" Conchata smiled as she hugged you, to which you happily returned. (Hi y/n! How are you, my daughter?)

"Hola Conchata. Bien. Estoy muy emocionado." (Hi Conchata. Good. I am very excited.)

"Me alegro. ¡No puedo esperar a verte probar vestidos! Asegúrate de que ese hijo mío no te deje embarazada antes de la boda. Lo era y odiaba que no pudiera caber en mi vestido."

(I'm glad. I can not wait to see you try dresses! Make sure that a son of mine does not get you pregnant before the wedding. I was, and I hated that I could not fit into my dress.)

"No te preocupes. No habrá noticias de futuros bebés hasta después de que se haya celebrado la boda." (Don't worry. There will be no news of future babies until after the wedding has happened). You chuckle at your future mother-in-law's words. You knew Miguel would say otherwise.

He would be happy if you had told him you were pregnant today. Thankfully birth control prevented that from happening no matter how many times he tried overpowering the drug by staying inside you for hours after an intense amount of time fucking you. Lately, you have been falling asleep in bed with him deep inside you.

Of course, your smile faded slightly when you saw your mother sitting next to your bridesmaids. She stood up with an awkward smile as she hugged you. "I'm shocked I was invited, especially since you didn't tell me you were engaged."

"Well, every daughter wants their mom to be part of their wedding preparations, including dress shopping, despite your behavior."

"My behavior? I'm telling you that what you are doing is a mistake.

"My son is not a mistake. And neither is this relationship. They are perfect for each other." Argued Conchata.

"Sarah, just be happy for her. Okay?" Steph touched your mother's shoulder, hoping to reason with her.

"Let's just get on with this," your mother scoffed as she returned to her spot. You took a deep breath to calm your anger. You would try on wedding dresses; this is supposed to be a happy occasion.

The bridal dress concierge walked towards your group. "Good afternoon, ladies. Now, who might be the bride?"

"My mama is!" Gabi happily hugged you, and you chuckled as you looked down at her with a loving smile and gently caressed her head.

"I am."

"Lovely! Follow me right this way, Ms. L/n." The woman said warmly before walking into the bridal boutique with you, Gabi, and everyone else following behind.

"Everyone can sit here while I take our lovely bride to the fitting room. The dresses you chose online are already in there for you. Please follow me."

Before you leave, you turn to face Gabi, "I'll be in the dressing room, baby bug. Come in if you need me. Aunt Steph and Abuela will look after you." You kiss the top of her head before following the woman to the fitting room.

You had goosebumps on your skin, as you couldn't contain your excitement when you saw the dresses hanging up in the dressing room.

Of course, no one told you how hard it was to get into a wedding dress. You only thought jean shopping was a nightmare. You sighed in contentment after finally getting the first dress on. This was going to be a workout. You look at the dress in the mirror, smiling as if you were happy with how it looked on you. But you knew it wasn't The dress.

"Are you ready to show everyone?" said the concierge lady, her eyes meeting yours with a smile in the mirror. You nodded happily as you walked out of the fitting room and into the private sitting area.

Your smile faded for the second time today when you noticed one person missing. Your face said it all as Stephanie answered your question before you even asked.

"She left. We tried to convince her to stay. But she wouldn't listen." Her words made your heart snap in two. You never would have thought you wouldn't be close to your parents anymore. That when your big day arrived, they wouldn't be there every step of the way. Guess you really saw their true selves. You tried your best to keep a smile as you stepped on the small stage to see the dress.

"I think you look beautiful in this dress." One of your bridesmaid's friends said.

"You'll look gorgeous, mama!"

"Sexy as always, but I can tell this isn't your dress." Added Stephanie with a small smile. You knew she could see right through your barely believable act.

"Yeah, I agree. I think I'll go try on the next dress." You say before heading back to the dressing room. Once you were back in the dressing room, out of the dress and in the provided robe, you collapsed onto the cushioned seat in tears.

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry that happened to you. Is there anything we can do?" The sales clerk passed you a box of tissues, and you gladly accepted, not wanting to ruin your makeup.

"Thank you."

"I'll be right back to get you water." The woman left as you continued to sit there to calm down your tears.

You didn't realize how long you were in the dressing room until you heard Gabi's voice from the sitting room before hearing familiar large footsteps approaching you. A light knock was heard, followed by one of your many loving nicknames as Miguel walked in, the concern becoming more apparent when he saw your distressed state.

"Miguel? What are you doing here?" You try to wipe away your tears and hide them, not wanting to have him worry about you.

"My mother called me, saying Sarah walked out, and you were heartbroken." Miguel kneeled before you as he brushed your hair away from your face. When he noticed your tear-stained cheeks, his blood began to boil. How dare that woman make you cry? It broke his heart to see you upset.

He stood up and sat down beside you before grabbing you and making you straddle his lap. He placed butterfly kisses on your face and neck, something Miguel always knew would make you smile.

When he saw your beautiful smile reappearing, he placed one last kiss on your lips before he stopped to meet your beautiful gaze.

"Need any more of my love to wipe away those tears, cariño?" Miguel lightly chuckled as he used his finger to wipe away your last tears. You smiled as you gently shook your head before leaning in to kiss his lips.

"Hey, you know the place where you wanted to have the wedding?" Miguel brushed your hair behind your shoulders, trying to hide a large smile on his face.

"Yeah. It would have been so amazing to get married there in Portugal. But I can't wait three years to marry you." You caress his face, trying to memorize all the lovely details.

"Well, I was going to tell you later tonight, but it's better now. I got that venue for our date."

Your breath caught in your throat as new tears appeared. Happy tears threaten to spill. "Oh, Miggy. I thought it was impossible to get it."

"I might have pulled a few strings." He chuckled at your cute reaction as he wiped away your tears.

You peppered his face with kisses before placing one on his lips. "Thank you for being so sweet. For loving me. Sometimes, I don't deserve to have someone as amazing as you."

"You have it all wrong, Hermosa. It's me who doesn't deserve a goddess like you. You have changed my world. You made me see all the good things. You made me feel loved for who I am and not what I am. I love you."

"I love you too."

You stayed in each other's arms for a few more minutes before you heard the rumble of his voice. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm much better. Thank you." Your eyes widen when you realize the time of day. "Miguel, did you come here from work? Oh my god, I'm so sorry that I disturbed your day. You probably have way more important things to deal with than coming across the city to console me." You get off his lap, a blush coming across your cheeks when you realize underneath your robe were only your panties.

"Mi Amor, I would drop any of my work stuff to be with you. Family is always number one to me. And why did you leave my lap." Miguel pouted as he tried to bring you back.

"Miguel, I know what you're trying to do. Not happening here. Not in public." You chuckled as you got out of his grasping radius. He stood up from the chair as he walked over towards you. You walked backward until your back hit the wall. He tilted your head as he leaned down to whisper into your ear.

"It never stopped us before. And you look so good in only a silk robe." Miguel's hand went inside your robe, lowering towards your sensitive lips.

Your arms wrapped around his neck as you felt two of his fingers slide past your underwear and enter your now aching hole.

But of course, as soon as it began, it ended as you both heard your daughter running out of Stephanie's grasp and towards your dressing room.

Miguel sighed as he rested his forehead against yours, removing his fingers from you and licking them to remove any trace of you from his fingers before kissing your lips.

"She's been doing that a lot lately." Miguel huffed.

"It's alright. She's only six and wants to be with us whenever she can. We only get so many years of that." You caress his cheek, placing one last kiss on his lips before leaving your sandwiched spot between the wall and your fiancé, knowing he probably wouldn't be able to control himself if you didn't.

" I know mi amor. I just love having my alone time with you." Miguel hugged you from behind as he kissed your neck, breathing in your scent.

"And I love it too. But if we don't separate now, our baby daughter will need therapy." You chuckled as you left his hold, rewrapping your robe to better cover yourself.

Within seconds, Gabi opens the curtain, followed by Stephanie, who gives you and Miguel an apologetic look. "This girl is fast."

"¿Qué está pasando, princesa?" (What's going on, Princess?) Miguel chuckled as he picked her up.

"Abuela asked me to check on you and Mama to ensure you weren't playing around. What does she mean?" Gabi smiled as she began to play with her dad's curly hair. You went on Miguel's other side; he instinctively wrapped his free arm around your hips. You gently bumped her nose, making her giggle as you said, "Nothing happened, baby bug."

"But why were you two in here for so long?"

"I was consoling Mama because she was sad. And don't listen to what your Abuela said. She should have thought about her words first before saying that."

The three of you left the dressing room and into the private showing area, where everyone awaited you. People came up to help console you, the bride, but you smiled, assuring them that you were alright.

Miguel set Gabi down. Gabi then ran to your legs for a hug, which you happily accepted and returned. Your gaze goes to Miguel and Conchata, who bicker quietly in Spanish.

You couldn't hear all of it but could make out most of it.

"Por qué le dirías a Gabi que tú y yo estábamos 'jugando', no le digas que no entiende y que es demasiado joven para saberlo de todos modos'?"(Why would you tell Gabi that y/n and I were 'playing around? Don't tell her that. She doesn't understand and she is too young to know anyways.)

"Bueno, ¿estaban ustedes dos 'jugando' allí?"(Well, were you two 'playing around' back there?)

"no, y ese no es el punto de esta conversación"

(no, and that is not the point of this conversation.)

"No lo niego del todo, hijo mío. ¿Qué diría Dios?"(I am not fully denying it, my son. What would God say?)

"No hablo de esto contigo. Eso es privado entre mi prometido y yo."(I am not talking about this with you. That's private between me and my fiance.) Miguel's watch buzzed, meaning he was getting a call from work; he looked down and glared at his wrist. "Tengo que tomar este." (I have to take this.)

"Peter, this better be an emergency." He said before he walked outside the store.

Gabi squeezed her tiny hand in yours, jumping up and down in excitement. "Mama, can we look at more dresses. I saw a really pretty one in that room."

"Of course! Show me where it is." Gabi leads you to one of the rooms filled with various long white gowns. After a few minutes of looking, she points out the dress, to which you happily take it out. Just from the hangar, you think it is beautiful.

"This one is gorgeous, Gabi. You have great taste. I'll go bring it to the room to try on next."

After looking through more dresses and grabbing some, you were ready to return to the dressing room. Miguel also walked back inside, looking frustrated. Of course, as soon as your eyes met his, his demeanor softened, and he smiled lovingly at you. You walked up to him, caressing his cheek.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes, just a few annoyances have come up at work. I need to get back to them so they don't do anything stupid. I'll see you this evening." Miguel kissed you, which you happily returned before he hugged Gabi goodbye and walked out the door.

After trying on almost all the dresses, Gabi picked out the last one. Tears prick the corners of your eyes when you see yourself in the mirror as a smile graces your lips.

"This is it. This is the one."

......

8 months before the wedding

"Here are the invitations and the lists for where they go." You slide over the different 'Save the Date' wedding invitations to the postman.

"I love the design of the cards. Very elegant." The man smiled as he happily took the invitations and address list.

The bell to the door entrance rang, signifying someone had entered. The person who had entered walked up right next to you, his hand on your lower back.

"Everything all done here, Hermosa?"

"Yep. Just finished now. Was Gabi able to make it to soccer practice?"

"She did. Jumped out herself and ran straight to the field where her friends and coach were." He chuckled.

"Aw, she's growing up too fast. She did that the other day when I took her to her friend's house for her play date. Let's get her favorite takeout for tonight. "

"That sounds like a good idea." A buzz came from Miguel's watch, and he saw Jess's name pop up. "I'm sorry cariño. I have to take this call." Miguel kissed the top of your head.

"No worries. See you outside." You gave his hand a love squeeze before he left to answer the call.

"Everything is all set. One thing I just have to say. Damn girl, you really snatched up a fine man." The man winked at you as he fanned his hand against his face.

"He sure is an amazing man. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him."

You left the post office with a smile on your face. You saw Miguel in the driver's side of his car, still on the phone. You quietly entered the passenger side, trying not to disturb his call.

A few minutes later, his call ended, and he sighed.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just the same everyday stress I have to handle." You place your hand on his knee as you lean towards him and kiss his neck before whispering, "How about when we get back home I can help relieve some of that stress."

Miguel's eyes widened, and a smirk rested on his lips. Instead of driving straight home, Miguel turned the car into an indoor parking garage. It was an underground garage that goes quite deep into the Earth.

As soon as you reached the lowest levels where no car were in sight, you turned to look at him, confused by the sudden detour. "What are we doing here?" You chuckle as you see him park in the corner. When he turned off the car, he moved the seat back.

"Come here, cariño." He gently patted his lap. With a smile, you exited the car and went over to his side, where he opened the door for you. You easily get on his lap as you wrap your arms around his neck, capturing your lips with his. One of his hands trailed down from your back to your ass, squeezing your cheek while closing the door. You gasp, letting his tongue slip past your lips. The door is now closed, and his now other free hand goes to your ass. He pushes you closer against him as your tongues explore the familiar parts of each other's mouths.

Miguel grunts as he feels you rub yourself on his hardened crotch. Too impatient, he moves you slightly back, unbuckles his belt, and unzips his pants before taking out his glorious thick cock.

"Guess you couldn't wait to get to the bedroom." You giggle when you see him send you a playful glare as his lips mark your neck with kisses and love bites.

"You were teasing me all day. You're lucky I didn't do anything at the store when we registered for gifts." Miguel's lips kissed up to your ear as he lowered the straps of your tank top, revealing your uncaged breasts. "You know I can't last minutes without being nestled deep inside your walls when you act like that."

You chuckled at his needy words as he brought his lips towards yours into a heated kiss as you unbuttoned his shirt. You slowly dragged your hand down his chiseled tan chest before your hand wrapped around his cock.

"I swear. Your wish would be to be inside me 24/7." You chuckle against his neck as you kiss his sweet spot.

Miguel groaned impatiently as he lifted you and not so gently guided himself inside of you; a gasp from your lips as your reaction and a beautiful sound Miguel would never get sick of.

"Well, that wish will come true for two weeks after we tie the knot." He takes your chin, reddish-brown eyes staring down at you as he begins moving you on his cock. "And you'll officially become Mrs. O'Hara." He begins to quicken his pace, to which you even have to give him the full reins as his right-hand grasps your waist to give you the level of satisfaction you both desire. You never felt self-conscious about your riding skills, never with Miguel. He always knew when to say the right words and touch you in the right places.

Of course, whenever you did feel a little subconscious about it, Miguel would just whisper in your ear, "A beautiful woman like you shouldn't have to pleasure a man but to have him pleasure you."

From his sultry words in your ear to the cosmic pleasure ravaging your insides, you felt your knot come and release in an instant.

Your euphoric high made your walls squeeze tightly around his cock. With the way he's been trying to paw down his boner all day long, he didn't mind releasing himself inside you so quick as long as he knew your needs were satisfied.

Miguel kisses your brow as you gently lean into his touch, both catching your breath.

"I guess we need to head back to the house," Miguel murmured against your brow.

You look up at him with a suggestive grin as you brush back some strands of hair sticking to his forehead before caressing his cheek. "I think we can spare a bit more time."

Miguel's grin widened, agreeing, "Be careful what you wish for, cariño." Miguel purred in your ear as he pulled the side handle of this seat, which made the car seat go all the way down.

.....

4 months before the wedding

You woke up at 4:45 am when your eyes finally adjusted to the light of your phone, seeing the time. You groaned out loud, annoyed with yourself for waking up so early. You never were an early morning riser, the opposite of your fiancé, who you know was downstairs in the home gym doing his morning workout routine.

You were impressed by his strict early morning regimen. No matter how tired he was the day before, he always woke up at 4 am. He worked out until 6, took a shower, and was back in bed by 7 before you woke up at 8.

However, this morning, you were awake. Maybe it was the nerves and pre-wedding jitters as the clock for your wedding was ticking closer to the date each day. Being too impatient to wait for Miguel to finish his workout, you decided to bother him. Of course, in his words, you never bothered him as he always loved you being in his company, embraced in his arms.

Before heading to the basement gym, you put on pajama shorts and a tank top. You leaned against the doorway, admiring how your fiancé's muscles flexed as he lifted dumbbells.

"Like what you see, Hermosa?" Miguel chuckled as he turned around. You bite your lower lip as you gaze over his sweaty physique. Your core grew tighter as you saw his biceps flex from the weights.

"Mhm, maybe a little bit." You walk towards him, trying to hide your smile, but fail when you see his bright smile. You place your hands on his chest, gently moving them to his shoulders to rest.

Miguel set his weights on the bench before returning to the same spot. Your eyes widen slightly in surprise when you feel his hands cupping your ass and pulling you closer.

"Only a little? Will this change your answer?" His lips met yours in a sweet, loving kiss. "Though I'm happy to see you up early this morning, why are you awake now? Is everything okay?"

He cupped your face, concern growing in his eyes.

"Yeah, you don't have to worry about me. I just woke up feeling nauseous and couldn't fall asleep, so I thought to come down here to keep you company."

"Are you still feeling nauseous?"

"Yeah, but I probably just need to eat something."

"I'm sorry cariño. I'll go make you something."Miguel began to lead you both upstairs. You stopped, pausing his movements.

"You don't have to do that. I'll grab something while you finish your workout." You tried to move from him, but before you could comprehend what was happening, all you could see was Miguel's tight ass in his workout shorts as you were now hauled over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Miggy. What are you doing?" You laughed as he began to climb the stairs to the first floor.

When you arrived at the kitchen, he placed you on the counter and gathered the ingredients to make you an omelet.

"You always come first to me. I can skip a workout to feed my fiancé."

When he stood close to you to chop vegetables, you leaned over to kiss his cheek in appreciation.

You suddenly need to throw up when you smell the eggs on the pan.

"I'll be right back." You hid your pale face with a smile as you headed back up to the master bathroom to empty your guts. Not hearing Miguel's footsteps behind you meant he bought your bluff, to your relief.

When you began to feel better, a thought passed your mind, and you suddenly felt sick again.

Flushing the toilet and turning on the faucet, you lean your upper body against the sink. You slowly sink your body to the ground in front of the cabinet. Opening the doors, you grab the box for wandering thoughts like the one now currently plaguing your mind.

As you were anxiously waiting for the haunting test on the sink, you lifted your top to reveal your stomach in the mirror. You took an intake of breath without exhaling as you realized the very subtle baby bump. You quickly went to the test, eyes wide, as you saw the positive mark.

You go back to the kitchen downstairs and see Miguel just plating the food.

"Your food is ready."

"Thank you for making this for me, honey. But I lost my appetite because...well...this." You show him the pregnancy test.

Miguel sits down on the stool, staring at the test in shock. He looks back up at you, a smile spreading across his lips. He shoots up from his seat and twirls you around excitedly before kissing you.

"I know it's a lot sooner than you wanted. But I promise to be there every step of the way."

"Honestly, after my accident and almost losing my chance to ever have kids. I'm completely fine with having one now."

"I'm assuming you held that information for a reason?" He chuckled.

"Of course I did. The second you found out I wanted to have kids, I don't think we would ever leave our bedroom until I was pregnant." You laughed.

"You're not wrong on that, mi amor."

You laugh with your fiancé as you are about to give him a sweet, loving kiss to celebrate your little discovery. However, your body says otherwise as you feel a wave of nausea hit you as you race back to the bathroom, followed by Miguel.

The nausea only grew worse throughout the day. It wasn't helpful that the final tasting menu and your hair and makeup trial were today. Despite Miguel reassuring you that he could reschedule those events, you refused, as you were hell-bent on your wedding plans not being delayed.

Instead of you adventuring outside, Miguel made a few calls and could move everything to the house simultaneously.

"So why the sudden location change?" Hummed Stephanie as she leaned on the kitchen counter, sampling one of the dinner choices for the wedding reception. You had called her over this morning asking for her opinion, which she was more than happy to do. However, when she saw your sickly-looking skin tone and your constant need to excuse yourself with Miguel looking anxious every time questions were raised in your best friend's mind.

"It's supposed to rain all day today."

"Haven't see cloudless rain before. Must be something new."

"Gabi was sick, so we needed to stay home with her."

"Mama, I'm not sick." Gabi looks up at you, confused from the kitchen stool she was sitting next to you drawing.

You look back to Stephanie with a nervous smile as she narrows her eyes at you.

"Hermosa, I don't think you can hide it much longer," Miguel added.

"Oh, I could tell something was up when I first saw you today."

You sigh as you look at Miguel, who is trying his best to hide his amusement. You look at your daughter, who is happily coloring. "Baby bug, would you like to tell Auntie Steph the big news?"

Gabi smiled brightly as she held up the picture she was drawing. It was her, Miguel, and you with a round belly.

"I'm going to be a big sister!"

Stephanie's eyes widen in surprise before she goes straight to hug you.

"That's amazing! Ahh, I'm going to be an aunt again! Congratulations, you too!"

You happily hug her back. " Of course, you can tell Jack. But is it possible for you and him to keep it a secret? Just until after the wedding. I don't think Miguel and I could handle the extra annoyances from the in-laws if they knew."

"I totally understand Jack and I's lips are sealed." Stephanie zipped her lips and tossed the invisible key away. "Now, do we all agree neither dish is perfect for your guys' reception?" Stephanie pushed the plate away.

"I've been waiting for someone else to say it," Miguel added as he dumped the food in the trash.

"From the smell of it, I can agree." Your nausea gets the better of you as you rush back up to the bathroom, followed by a worried and doting Miguel.

Stephanie chuckled as she watched the couple rush up the stairs. "Your parents are adorable. Aren't they, Gabi?"

"Yeah! Am I adorable, too?"

"You are the most adorable." Stephanie booed Gabi's nose, making her giggle.

.....

2 months before the wedding

"Everything looks good and healthy." The Doctor smiles as she helps wipe up the gel on your stomach.

"How far along am I?"

"You're three months along. Now, make sure to follow all these instructions." The Doctor handed you the paper, which you happily accepted before handing it to Miguel, knowing he would be more responsible for not losing it.

"Do you have any questions?"

You chuckled when you saw Miguel take out his list of questions, which he had been writing down for the past few weeks since you had scheduled the Doctor's visit.

Even though you have a daughter, neither of you have gone through the pregnancy process, making him act like a first-time and nervous father.

After letting Miguel ask questions for another 30 minutes, it was time to go. Bless the Doctor's heart for being so patient. Even your bladder couldn't handle it, leaving the room twice.

You both get in the car as Miguel drives you to the bridal boutique. Ever since you both found out that you were pregnant, Miguel has been a little bit overprotective, if you were putting it nicely.

Despite being the CEO of Alchemex, he was able to go to work only two times a week. And despite being dotting before, he is at your beck and call, whether that be driving you somewhere since he has been too nervous to let you drive while pregnant despite you telling him you were fine or getting you a glass of water every time you were thirsty.

Miguel placed his free hand on top of yours, intertwining his fingers with yours. He glanced over at you with a heartfelt smile.

"Are you still good to head to city hall after your appointment?"

"Of course. I'm glad to be out of the house a lot today. I feel like I've been cooped up all week." You smiled back at him as you placed your other hand on your small baby bump.

"Just double-checking Hermosa. I know the morning sickness has improved, but I wanted to ensure you were okay with being at city hall for a bit. Even with the expedited appointment, we might still be waiting."

"I never thought you had to apply for a marriage permit." Your cheeks tinted pink out of embarrassment.

Miguel chuckled as he lifted your hand intertwined in his and kissed your knuckles.

"Don't feel embarrassed, mi amor. You're 22. I doubt you were thinking of getting married anytime soon." Miguel's fingers gently fidgeted with your engagement ring.

You chuckled as you squeezed his hand out of love. "Well, before us, I definitely wouldn't have imagined being a pregnant mother of a six-year-old getting ready to be married in two months to the love of my life." You look over at him as you take in his appearance. "And I wouldn't want it any other way."

"I love you," he lovingly looked over at you. You leaned towards his seat and kissed his cheek.

"I love you too, Miggy."

After some time in the bridal shop, you say your goodbyes and leave to see your fiancé in the car working. You were relieved that the dress fit with plenty more wiggle room for when your stomach gets bigger. You were thankful for the bridal store's kindness for the sudden change so close to your wedding. You guessed it didn't help that you had told them as soon as you found out about your pregnancy, and maybe because of the extra sum given to have it done.

Around 20 minutes later, you arrive at City Hall. When you get to the right floor for marriage permits, you internally groan when you see the long line going around the corner and down the hall. You hear Miguel sigh, which makes you smile, knowing he feels the same way.

Another 20 minutes passed, feeling more like an eternity with your swollen feet, and the line barely moved. You felt Miguel wrap an arm around your waist as he brought you in front of him. He leaned against the wall before moving you to lean against him.

"Lean on me, cariño," Miguel whispered in your ear.

You look up at him: "Are you sure? You must tired, too."

He smiled lovingly down at you, brushing some of your hair behind your ear. "I'm perfectly fine. You're carrying our child. You must be tired from standing. Lean on me to relieve the stress in your back."

You smile up at him as you get on your toes to give him a quick kiss and thank you before you wrap your arms around his waist, hugging him as you lean your head on his chest. You sigh in relief as leaning against him relieves some of your soreness.

"Thank you, honey." You say against his chest. Your heart flutters when you hear the vibration of his chuckle before you feel him kiss the top of your head.

"Anything for you, mi amor."

Another 20 minutes went by, and it was beginning to become mentally painful to see how slow the line was going.

"There you are, Mr. O'Hara." A man walking by stopped in front of the two of you, making you turn around.

"Yes?" Miguel spoke.

"I've been searching the halls for you. I'm going to get you and Ms. L/n your marriage permit. I apologize for the delay. When the security checked you in, they should have sent you straight to me. Please follow me this way." The man gestured for you and Miguel to follow him.

You look up to Miguel as you shrug your shoulders before following the government official.

You enter an office that would be deemed very nice for a government-paid room. You sit and smile as tears threaten to spill from the relief you feel in your feet and lower back.

"You know, for someone of my standing, maybe you should have been waiting at the check-in to bring us to your office and not depend on a security guard to do your job. Instead, my pregnant fiancé and I had to wait in line for almost an hour in an unconditioned building. You're lucky she didn't faint from the heat." Miguel's tone became serious, with an obvious tone of anger.

Your fiancé's death glare alone could send someone into an early grave. Should you be scared? Maybe. But all you felt was how hot he looked doing it.

"My deepest apologies, Mr. O'Hara. I can waive the fee for the permit." The official swallowed nothing, and his nerves were evident on his face.

"That's not needed. I'll pay for it. Just do better for the next couple."

"O-of course, sir."

Thankfully, after a speedy process through all the paperwork, most likely from Miguel's glare going straight into the official's soul.

"Bring this to the ceremony, sign it, and mail it in for it to be registered afterward. And that's it for here. Once again, I apologize for the earlier inconvenience. If you need anything from us, please don't hesitate to contact me. Here is my personal phone number." The man hands Miguel a paper with his number. "Have a lovely evening."

You and Miguel stood up from your seats to your dissatisfaction as Miguel led you out of the office. Once you left the building, Miguel sighed in relief.

You turned around and placed your hands on his chest.

"You were very impressive in there, Mr. O'Hara."

He placed his hands on your hips as he grinned down at you. "I try my best, Mrs. O'Hara." He leaned down for a kiss, but he stopped by your finger.

"Not yet, your Mrs." You winked at him with a smile as you walked out of his grasp and towards the car. Miguel chuckled deeply from behind you.

"I love it when you feisty Hermosa."

.....

1 month before the wedding

You mindlessly stared at the white wall as you lay in bed. You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to stop the tears as you felt another wave of pain in your abdomen.

You heard voices from outside the bedroom door.

"How was she today?" Miguel spoke in a whisper.

"Nothing new. She's been in bed beside the few times she needed to use the restroom too well. You know. She still hasn't eaten anything. I'm worried about her. She won't listen to anything I say. Maybe you can get through to her today." Spoke Stephanie.

"Thank you for watching her and Gabi while I dealt with that emergency at work."

"Of course. You know I would do anything for her. How have you been managing?"

"It's been a hard two weeks. But I'm more worried for her. It breaks my heart to have her go through this. If I ever see that bitch Sofia... I probably would end up in prison myself for what I would do."

"Fortunately, she has been behind bars for a long time. I'll let you go in there. I'll help finish the seating chart and the remaining small details that still need to be done."

"Thank you for all the extra help you and Jack have been doing for the wedding. It means a lot to both of us."

You heard Stephanie say goodbye before you heard the door to your bedroom open. As the bed dipped, you felt arms wrap around you.

You closed your eyes to pretend to fall asleep, not wanting to talk.

Two weeks ago:

You stood in front of a corkboard with circles organized according to importance. You stared at the board for hours, figuring out where to place your parents.

"Urgh. Should I place them at the main family table? I don't really want to interact with them. If they even decide to come to the wedding." You mumble to yourself out loud. You look down at Gabi lying on the ground, watching her favorite morning cartoons. You smiled at how adorable your daughter was.

"Hey, baby bug. Where should my parents sit at the wedding?"

Gabi stood up and walked right up next to you with her usual happy smile. You passed her your parents' little name tags as she took them and went to the board. On her tiptoes, she put your parents' name tags at the main family table.

"When I have my wedding, I want you and Papa to sit right next to me." You smile as you see her go on her tiptoes to put the name tags in the right place on the board. Over the course of the time you've lived here, you've seen her grow so much already. You knew she would get some of her father's height from how tall she was now at 7.

"Perfect! Do you want to help with the gift bags?"

Gabi's eyes sparked with excitement as she jumped up and down towards the dining room table. You chuckled as you followed behind her. After a few minutes of showing her what went into each bag and seeing her do one, you left her on her own while you went to the kitchen to make you and her lunch.

You felt something unusual in your abdomen. Your hand went to your round belly, a smile coming to your lips when you thought it was the baby kicking for the first time. That happy smile quickly turned as you felt another sensation, but it was a sharp pain. Your hand clenched your stomach as the pain kept on coming. A wet patch forms between your legs, but when you look down, your eyes widen to see blood drip from your thighs to the floor.

You grunted in pain as it became worse, making you collapse to the ground before you could grab your phone.

"No, no, no, no." You cried out loud in pain. This couldn't be happening. On that day, Miguel had to go to work.

"Mama?" Gabi walked into the kitchen. When she saw you lying on the floor in pain, you saw her face scrunch up as you saw her tears start to fall. She runs up to you as she kneels beside you.

"Mama! You're bleeding! Are you hurt?" Gabi cried, scared for you.

You gain enough strength to caress her face to try and soothe her. "I'll be alright, sweetheart. But something is not right with your brother or sister. Can...can..you...can you get my phone?"

Gabi nodded as she stood up and went to the kitchen counter. Getting on her tippy toes, she grabbed the phone. When she had it, she came back to your side and handed it to you.

You start to feel your vision go in and out.

"Sweetie, you remember how we taught how to dial the phone?"

"Yeah."

"Mama is having a hard time with her vision. Can you press 911 and then the green button for me?"

"Okay." You heard her sniffling as you tried to console her and let her know everything would be alright.

You last heard a knock on the door before everything went black.

You groaned as you awoke from what seemed like a deep slumber. You feel your hand in another's grip tightening slightly when you move your arm a little.

"Mi Amor?" Your fingers gently brushed against your cheek as you smiled, leaning into the warmth.

"Miguel?" You start to notice your surroundings in a hospital. Once again... you sit up suddenly but are met with a stinging pain in your lower abdomen as you cry out in pain.

"Y/n, don't strain yourself so soon. You have lost a lot of blood." Miguel sits on the bed next to you as he brings you into his loving embrace. You look at him and notice his tear-stained face and tired red eyes. You place your hands on his face, concerned about why your fiancé was so upset.

The pain in your stomach and your fiancé's distressed face made tears fall down as you realized what had happened.

"The baby...they're gone?" Even though you knew the answer, you hoped Miguel would reassure you. Instead, the pained look in his eyes worsened as he brought your head into the crook of his neck.

"I'm so sorry."

You cried in his arms for the remainder of the Night until you passed out from exhaustion. Not once did Miguel leave your side as he stayed in the bed with you, consoling your broken heart.

Nurses came in every hour to check your vitals and ask if you needed anything. It wasn't until morning that you woke up to see the Doctor walk in—the same one from the last time you were here.

That morning took a piece of your heart away when the Doctor explained to you and Miguel the cause of the miscarriage. Ever since your car accident and almost losing your uterus, it has become not the most suitable place for a baby to grow, and it would be very hard for you to carry out a full-term pregnancy. Pretty much tells you that you couldn't have kids. At least, that is how you took the news.

"Y/n, please talk to me. You haven't left the bedroom in two weeks and barely eaten anything. It's breaking my heart to see you like this." Miguel whispered in your ear as he kissed the side of your head.

You turn yourself to face him as you look up at him. You could see the bags under his eyes and how tired he looked. You knew he was grieving as much as you were, but still being strong to keep everything together, unlike you, who broke apart.

"Maybe you should marry someone who can give you and Gabi the family you deserve." You say barely above a whisper.

You feel strong hands on your face as he lifts your chin to look at him. Brown eyes are now serious.

" y/n, don't ever say something like that again. You are the only woman I love and want to marry and have a family with. No one else. And you know that is not true about your inability to have kids. You still can have children. We just have a few extra obstacles, and that's all."

"But what if I can't."

"Even if we never have a baby, we still have that little girl who loves and idolizes you more than her favorite sport. More than the world. Even more than me." He chuckled, which made you crack a small smile. He added: "We still have our little Princess and will always have her. And just having you and Gabi in my life is more than enough. I couldn't see my life without either one of you."

"I couldn't live without you and Gabi either. I think having little family outings and focusing on planning the wedding will help make life normal again."

Miguel leaned down as he placed a sweet and loving kiss on your lips before smiling, "I couldn't agree more."

.....

The Night before the wedding

After a relaxing day of shopping and lounging at the pool with your bridesmaids, you're glad to be heading back to your room to rest and prepare for your big day tomorrow.

Instead of heading to the elevators, Stephanie directs you to the bar area. Heading to the bar, she sits down, followed by you right next to her.

"Two glasses of champagne, please." Stephanie smiled at the bartenders, who nodded with a smile at her request.

You look at her in surprise that she ordered you a glass. " Steph, I'm not sure I'm ready to drink yet. I haven't had a drop since before finding out I was pregnant."

"I know it's only been a month since you lost the baby, but it's the night before your wedding. The champagne is barely alcohol. Plus you shouldn't have anything else so you can look your best tomorrow. But honestly. You could look like a train wreck, and Miguel would still think you are the most gorgeous woman on Earth."

You smile as you look at the glass handed to you. "You're not wrong there. You know this is the first time I feel completely fine talking about the miscarriage." You smiled. The bartender arrives with the glasses. Stephanie lifted hers towards you. Taking a deep breath, you smile as you pick it up and clink your glass with hers. "To the start of a new chapter." Stephanie smiled before taking a sip. You smiled, " To a new chapter." Before taking a sip.

You noticed the time as you were chatting away about memories from your childhood or college.

"Oh shoot, I guess I need to head to bed if I want to get at least a full night's rest."

"Good idea. You definitely won't be getting any during your honeymoon," Stephanie winked as she took another sip of her drink. "Oh, I have something to give you," Stephanie said as she grabbed a medium-sized box from one of her shopping bags.

"Oh, Stephanie, you didn't have to do that. With everything you've done with planning the wedding. That's been an amazing gift."

"Of course, girlie. Anything for my BFF. Then let this be your post-wedding gift. I'll let you open it in private." Stephanie grinned before gently pushing the box to you on the counter.

You narrowed your eyes at your best friend, wondering what she was up to before flashing her a smile.

After saying your goodbyes, you made it to your bedroom. You sighed as you entered a quiet room. There is no sign of a warm, deep voice greeting you or a giggling voice in front of the T.V. in the other room before small footsteps come running towards you for a hug. You and Miguel wanted to be in a suite together as a family. But Conchata insisted you were in separate rooms. Even separate floors. You both agreed only because she stopped breathing down Miguel's back.

You sit on the bed, too big for one, and glance at the box Stephanie gave you. Grabbing it and setting it on your lap, you take the top off the box. Your cheeks go bright red once you lift the tissue paper. A card is placed on the intricate white silk lace lingerie.

A little something to spice up the wedding night. It's not like the two of you need it, though; - )

-Steph😘

Your eyes widen as you lift the piece of clothing.

"How in the hell do you get this on?"

You notice another card fall out. Setting the lingerie back in the box, you leaned down to pick it up.

Knowing you: Here are instructions on how to put it on.

You roll your eyes as you set the instructions on the bed.

You were in the bathroom suite, trying to put these strings on your body right. You stopped midway as you looked at yourself and then at the photo, knowing you had already messed up.

"How the fuck do I put this on?" You growled to yourself.

You heard a faint knock on your door. Quickly getting out of it, "At least it's easy to take off."

Back in your comfy lounge, you head to the door, where you hear another faint knock, this time a deep voice followed by a young one.

You smile as you open the door and see Miguel and Gabi looking very tan from being at the beach all day. While your bridesmaids whisked you away, Miguel and Gabi spent the day together. Although you love spending time with Steph and all your old friends, you would have liked to spend all day at the beach sitting beside Miguel while watching Gabi making sand castles or collecting shells nearby.

"Mama!" Gabi ran in as she hugged you. You happily picked her up and kissed the top of her forehead.

Miguel followed behind her as he closed the door.

"Hola, Hermosa." Miguel smiled as he brought you close and gave you a sweet kiss on the lips.

"Hi, you two. I thought I wouldn't get to see you both until tomorrow. I've missed you all day," you say as you walk to the sofa with Gabi and sit down with her on your lap. Miguel follows as he sits right next to you.

"We missed you too! Especially Papa. He kept saying how much he missed you and wished you were with us."

"Can I not have any secrets kept from your mother?" He chuckled as he picked her up from your lap and tickled her.

"Nope!" She squealed in laughter. "Mama, help me!"

"Did you say tickle you too? Okay." You laugh as you also begin to tickle her.

"No, mama, I said help me!" Gabi giggled as she tried to get away from the both of you.

After a few minutes, you finally give your daughter her freedom, and she immediately hops off the couch and away from our reach.

"Mama! I have a present for you! Papa, where's Mama's present?" Gabi said as she sat in between you and Miguel.

"A present? For me?" Your smile widens as Miguel hands her a rectangular envelope.

"Here you go." Gabi smiled.

You look at the envelope as you see hearts drawn all over and in Gabi's handwriting:

To: Mama

Love: Gabi♥️

"I hope you like it." She smiled as she kept jumping up and down in her seat, and Miguel lifted her to his lap to stop.

"Aw, I bet I will, baby bug. I like anything you get me."

"But this present is extra special."

"Oh?" You gently open the envelope, careful not to tear it, and take out a folded paper.

Opening it up, you read the first few lines—it was a government form. Tears began to brim the corner of your eyes as you read the first word at the top of the paper: adoption.

You looked at Gabi as tears began to spill. A wide smile made its way to your lips as you wrapped your arms around Gabi, brought her to your lap, and gave her a big hug.

"Aw, Gabi. This is the best gift you could ever give me. Thank you."

"I'm happy you love it, mama." Gabi smiled as she wrapped her arms around your neck.

Miguel smiled as he brought you both to his side.

"I guess the gift I have for you might not compare."

You turned to look at him, surprised by his words.

"You got me something else?"

" I did. But you can't know what it is until the morning. Are you fine with waking up really early?" Your smile widens from his mysterious words. You lean up to kiss his cheek.

"I can't wait. Do you know what it is, Gabi?"

Gabi giggled as she covered her mouth and shook her head before she said, "I can't tell you. I pinky promised Papa."

You brushed her hair behind her ears as you gave her a hug. "Oh, alright. I guess I'll just have to wait until morning then."

You all ended up getting cozy as a family on the bed, all in pajamas. Gabi sat between your legs as she watched the family-friendly movie on the T.V. while you braided her hair.

"Pass me your other hair tie, sweetie." Gabi took the blue scrunchie with the charm of a soccer ball and handed it to you. "Thank you. Annnnd All done!"

Gabi looked at her two braids with a smile on her face as she turned around and gave you another hug. You lifted her to the covers and said, " Okay, it's time to go to sleep. We all have a big day tomorrow."

"Aww, do we have to? The movie isn't over."

Miguel pulls the covers over her to get her settled. "You can watch it from right here. And yes, we do. All three of us have to be up super early. Good Night, princesa." Miguel kisses the top of her head before turning off the light.

As soon as the lights were off, your eyes suddenly felt heavy, and you fell asleep surrounded by the love of your life and your baby daughter.

You awoke to the sound of an alarm. It was 4:30 am, and it was still nighttime outside. You got out of bed and went to freshen up in the bathroom. When you walked in, you saw Miguel holding a familiar piece of paper in his hand. You blushed as you snatched it out of his hands.

"You aren't meant to see that until later today." Your reddened cheeks said it all as Miguel saw the box on the counter. You move in front of it, knowing what he was thinking.

Miguel chuckled, "And what is it that I can't see until then?" His voice is still low from just waking up. He walks right up to you, putting his arms on both sides, trapping you between him and the counter.

"Trust me. You will want to wait on this one."

"I can't wait."

You smiled as he lifted your chin, leaning down to kiss your lips with a sweet, long kiss.

"We're getting married today."

"Maybe a lot sooner than you think. I have something for you in the closet." Miguel lets you free from your intimate trap as you go to the closet. You gasp as you see a beautiful, long white silk sundress with a low back and a few accessories.

When you were finally dressed, including your hair and makeup, you walked back into the main area of the suite. You smiled as you saw Miguel wearing a nice dress shirt and pants.

"Mama, look at my dress!"

You saw Gabi in a beautiful light blue dress, matching her father's shirt.

"You look beautiful, baby bug." You pick her up as you twirl her around.

"You look really, really pretty, Mama. You too, Papa!" Gabi smiled in your arms. Miguel placed a hand on your lower bare back, sending a spark up your spine.

"We better get going. The boat is waiting for us." Your fiancé's words piqued your interest, and you looked up at him with a smile and a curious look.

"A boat?"

"You'll see soon enough, cariño." Miguel chuckled as he led you out of the hotel and to a car, the driver waiting for all of you.

After a 10-minute drive, you were at the beach. You felt a beautiful peace, as the only thing you could hear was the beautiful song of the ocean.

(Play here if you want😊)

Miguel took your hand in his, giving you a love squeeze. "You're going to love this, Mama!" Gabi smiled as she was skipping slightly ahead of the two of you. A few minutes walk on the beach on a dock before you saw a gorgeous small yacht decorated with hanging lights and music.

"Miguel, this...this is beautiful. What is it for?"

You both followed Gabi as she was already boarding the boat. When you got on the boat, you gasped at how beautiful everything was up close. The front of the boat was decorated with your favorite flowers, and the petals made a path to a small white pergola with a person standing underneath.

The boat began to move on the water as you marveled at the beauty of The Algarve of Portugal from the water.

"Now, can I know what the rest of this wonderful surprise is?"

Miguel turned to you with the happiest and most loving smile, his eyes showing just as much. He took both your hands in his.

"I know that the last month has been stressful. And not only the miscarriage but the stress of everyone a part of the wedding. I could see the stress and sadness in your eyes during the rehearsal with your parents and the annoyance of some of your bridesmaids. I know everything we have planned will be beautiful, and I can't wait to see you walk down that aisle later today and pour out all my love to you in front of everyone. But this is just for us. No loud noise. Let's get married right here. Let's have a memory of today that only the three of us will keep close to our hearts. I love you so much, Y/n L/n, that I want to marry you twice. Will you do me the honor?"

You wrap your arms around his neck as you get on your toes—easier since you are wearing heels—and kiss him sweetly, giving your answer.

You spent time in each other's arms, watching the moon begin to dip behind the horizon while watching Gabi play around the boat.

"Hermosa." You can hear the smile in Miguel's voice as he gently calls out to you, waking you from your slight slumber. You were so cozy sitting beside him, keeping warm from the ocean breeze, that you dozed off on his shoulder.

"It's time." You look ahead to this beautiful natural archway. When you look carefully, you see that it makes a heart shape.

Miguel leads you to the pergola, where the official is with Gabi ahead, throwing more petals. He leaned towards you, his lips by your ear.

"Locals say that if you kiss the one you love under this archway just as the sun rises and lights it up, the couple's souls will be connected forever."

Just as the sun begins to peak over the horizon, bringing the bright colors of the world, the official begins. Despite the beauty of nature around you, you can only look into the eyes of the man you love with your whole being.

After the official says the words that bind you and Miguel forever, sunlight lands on the archway, and Miguel puts his hand behind your head and kisses you with all the love he has for you as you do for him.

"I love you, Miguel O'Hara."

"I love you too, Y/n O'Hara."

You spend the rest of the early morning having a celebratory breakfast as a family on the boat before returning to the hotel. Miguel takes you back to your room and places one last kiss on your lips.

"I'll see you at the altar." He winked at you with a smile before he and Gabi returned to their designated room.

After resting and bathing again, you heard a knock on your door, and a group of women were exchanging their words on the other side.

You open the door in a robe. "Good morning, everyone." You smile happily. Miguel was right. This morning, all your stress and worries for today disappeared, as you already got what you wanted from today.

After you and everyone were ready, you looked at yourself in the mirror. Tears well up in the corner of your eyes at how beautiful you looked. The dress your amazing baby daughter had picked out. The white gown was covered in a beautiful lace hat that hugged your figure perfectly to the ground, and the middle end of the dress was a bit see-through. The lace formed your shoulders, arms, and chest just as the neckline dipped to show some of your cleavage. Your favorite part was the beautiful long and wide dress skirt hanging from your hips that covered the sides and back of your dress as it trailed down to the ground, along with a gorgeous soft white veil that went to the floor being held by a beautiful diamond encrusted headband as your hair flowed around your shoulders pulled back a little at the top to reveal more of you face.

"Hey, no ruining my makeup masterpiece." Stephanie chuckled as she handed you a tissue. "But you look stunning. Miguel is totally going to tear up on that altar."

You chuckled, as you had only seen your now secretly husband tear up a few times, so you weren't sure if he would in front of a lot of people.

Everyone walked out of the room and headed outside to the car. You smiled as you saw your father exit the driver's side of a beautiful silver-white vintage Rolls Royce.

He walked up to you with a smile on his face. Only a few days ago, when everyone arrived in The Algarve, your father regretted everything that was said and done. He finally realizes how much you and Miguel mean to each other. It was when you had the miscarriage. He was the one who got you to the hospital as he was planning on visiting you that day to apologize. When he called Miguel and met him at the hospital, he saw all his anger for his friend dissolve and saw how much Miguel loved you.

Of course, after that apology, you told him it would take some time to fully forgive him, but you were happy that the process was starting. Well, at least for one parent. You had asked him to escort you to church and walk you down the aisle, which he was more than happy to do.

"You look beautiful." He said, which made you smile.

"She didn't come and see me." You said to him.

"She's at the church. It wasn't smart for you to have seen her.”

"Do you think she'll ever come around?" You looked up to your father, hoping for a reassuring reply. " Let's get you to that church."

As the car takes you to the cliff where the church is, you smile as you see the locals congratulating you from the streets. When the car comes to a stop, your heart feels like it's beating in your chest, and butterflies begin to fly in your stomach.

Your father gets out before going to the back, where he opens the door and helps you out. Stephanie and your other bridesmaids, who were in the car behind you, came up to you to make sure everything looked right before walking the remaining feet away to the church entrance.

You saw Conchata and Gabi outside the entrance waiting for you.

"Mama!" Gabi ran to you as you happily leaned down to hug her. "You look like a beautiful princess!" She added.

"Aw, thank you, baby bug. You also look like a beautiful princess in your flower girl dress." You did love her dress; it was a light pink silk dress, and the skirt puffed out a bit with tulle underneath. She wore her hair in a bun wrapped with a braid with diamonds on a pink headband. Similar to yours.

"You look beautiful, my daughter." Conchata hugged you.

"Thank you, Conchata."

Conchata left to go inside to take her seat. And that's when the music began to play. The bridesmaids and their partners began to go in, with Jack and Stephanie being the last ones to go. Jack gave you a hug, saying, "You look amazing, y/n."

"Thanks, Jack."

You took a deep breath, clutching your bouquet tighter as you started to feel the nerves growing.

"Just look at Miguel and no one else when you enter. It helps with the nerves." Your father smiled as he offered you his arm. You happily put your arms through his. "Thanks, Dad."

The main chorus begins to play, hinting that you should enter. You took another deep breath before you and your father entered the church. You marveled at the beauty of the interior, as it was all wood with flowers that matched your bouquet, which was placed perfectly on the ends of the pews and the altar. You saw Stephanie and Jack up there looking at you joyfully. You saw Gabriel standing on the other side with Gabi right before him.

Your eyes finally land on reddish-brown as your heart grows bigger. Your smile widens as you keep them on him. You finally reach the altar steps as Miguel walks down to receive you. Your father takes your hand and places it in Miguel's. "Take care of her now. Which I know you've been doing. Thank you." Your father says to Miguel with a smile. Miguel looks at you and replies to your father, "I will."

As Miguel leads you up the altar, he leans toward you and whispers, " You look so beautiful. When I saw you walk down that aisle, it felt like I was falling in love with you for the first time."

You give his hand a love squeeze. "I felt the same too." You notice that tears are threatening to spill from his eyes.

"Oh, Miguel." You gently wipe a tear from his face.

"I can't help it, mi amor. You're just so beautiful."

The officiator began the ceremony. It felt like time was still going on, as you could only look at Miguel. Before you knew it, the officiator asked for the vows.

"Miguel, I am so happy that you swept me away from that random guy at the bar all those years ago in Miami. I'm so happy the universe reunited us to have that weekend not be the only time spent together. I am so happy and grateful to be a part of your family. I am so grateful to be loved by you and our daughter, and to you for bringing her into my life. The time I have spent with you has been the happiest days of my life, and I can't wait to continue having more happy years as your wife." You wipe away the tears falling down your face. Miguel moves closer to you, helps wipe away the tears, and smiles lovingly at you.

"Y/n, mi amor. My sun and universe. When our eyes met across the bar, I knew you would be someone special to me. You have made my soul complete since you came back into my life. Every smile and laugh of yours makes my heart glow. I've been so lucky to wake up beside you every morning and be the person you see first thing every morning. I can't wait to do that every morning for the rest of my life." His words brought your tears back, which made both of you chuckle as he helped you again wipe them away.

You looked up at him again as you put his wedding band on his finger, and he looked at you with so much love and desire putting on yours.

After a few more words were said by the officiator.

The words you've been waiting for...

"You may kiss the bride." Miguel grinned as he took your waist, brought you close, and kissed you. You placed your hand on his face to bring him closer, and tears ran down both your cheeks and his.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Cheers erupted from the pews as you and Miguel forced yourself to end the kiss. You walked down the aisle hand in hand out of the church, followed by everyone else.

After taking many photos with the hired photographer and getting dressed in reception attire, which was your gown minus the detachable wide skirt and veil, you kept the headband as a gift from Miguel. You loved how it looked in your hair.

The reception was going off amazing. Everyone was happy, most likely because it was an open bar. You smiled as you gazed out into the ocean. The reception was on the beach under a gorgeous white and blue tent decorated to the nines with hardwood flooring and beautiful crystal chandeliers.

You felt a hand placed on your own, turning your attention to your husband. Your brows furrowed when you saw concern in his eyes.

"Is everything okay?" You smile as you give his hand a love squeeze.

"Everything is perfect, cariño. I was wondering if you were okay? You haven't touched your food yet. Do you feel ill? Do u want me to have them get you something else?"

You smile as you lean towards him and kiss his cheek, whispering, "I'm super happy. I'm just reminiscing about this morning." You lean back slightly to see Miguel's eyes fill with love.

"I'm glad you liked the gift." Miguel caressed your face, took your chin, and kissed you.

"I loved it. It was beyond perfect. And it made the rest of today so much easier."

You hear a wine glass chime directing everyone's attention to the live band, where Stephanie and Gabriel now stood.

"Hi, everyone; we hope you have been having a fantastic time." Stephanie smiled as she lifted her drink, causing the people around her to clap and cheer.

"As the maid of honor, I must come up here and talk about my bestie, Y/n. And this speech has not been seen by her, so I'm sorry if I embarrass you a little. But it's all out of love." Stephanie blows you an air kiss, which you laugh as you catch it and blow a kiss to her.

"I have known Y/n since we played little league soccer at 4. We sat on the grassy field, munching on the grass while the other kids ran around with the ball in their hands. And that's when two troublemakers became inseparable. Going on adventures for hours, flirting with older boys, and getting into mischief at the neighborhood barbecues. And god, we were worse when we finally got our driver's license. But that made the adventures even more exciting. Especially that trip to Miami. I found a hookup to get over an ex and you found love. When I saw you and Miguel together for the first time at that breakfast, I knew it was something special. Maybe neither of you knew it at the time. But the way you looked at each other wasn't just lust; it was love. And oh my god. When you came to our room the day of our departure, you left before he woke up. I swear I wanted to strangle you for how ridiculous you were for doing that. When we arrived at that neighborhood barbecue after returning from Europe, we were sleep-deprived and saw Miguel again. I knew you two were fated to be together. And I'm so happy to have gotten to know you, Miguel, and Gabi. I'm thrilled and happy to take the role of the fun Auntie. Congratulations again to Miguel And Y/n O'Hara." Stephanie raised her champagne glass as everyone clapped and cheered. When Stephanie left the stage, you walked over to her and gave her a hug as you wiped away the happy tears.

" Now, the speech my brother has been waiting for." Gabriel chuckled as he winked at Miguel. Miguel face palmed, and he swore in Spanish under his breath. You laughed lightly as you wrapped your arm around his and rested your head on his shoulder.

"Miguel, you have been the best big brother and man this world could ever have. For as long as I can remember, you have always been there to help and support me and anyone who needed it. I know you always wished for someone to be there for you even though it was hard with your position; you didn't know who to trust. But I'm so happy you found someone who lights up your day. Y/n, thank you so much for filling that missing piece of him. You two will have many happy years together because you were meant for each other. To the happy couple."

Once again, everyone clapped and cheered, and when Gabriel sat down next to Miguel, he hugged him in thanks.

"Mama?" You and Miguel looked to see your daughter standing between both your chairs.

"Hi, baby bug. Are you having fun with the other kids?"

"Yeah! I'm happy that you and Papa found each other and that became my mom. You're the best mom in the whole wide world."

"Aw, Gabi. I'm so happy and grateful to be your mom. You're the best daughter in the world." You have her sit on your lap as you hug her.

"I love you, mama." Gabi hugs you tighter.

"I love you too, my baby bug."

As the day turned into the night with food, drinks, and dancing with your husband and daughter, plus your favorite part when you and Miguel cut the cake, you both put frosting on Gabi's nose as she had done to the both of you.

It was time for you and Miguel to go to the airport to catch your flight to your honeymoon. However, Miguel kept the destination a secret from you. After saying goodbyes, especially to Gabi, as she was returning to Nueva York with Gabriel as you wouldn't see her for two weeks.

You sat in Miguel's lap as the driver took you two to the jet. You both talked about today's highlights.

When you arrived inside the jet, you noticed the stark difference between the one you usually take and this one. There were only a few seats and then a wall with a door. Was it storage? You were surprised when the air host walked you both to the back of the plane and opened that door, revealing a large master bedroom with a full-size bed. The air host said to press the call button if you two needed anything before leaving and closing the door behind them.

You were so stunned by seeing a literal bedroom and full-size bathroom on a plane that you were slightly started when you felt Miguel's arms wrap around your middle, bringing you against him as he kissed your neck.

"A little surprised, mi amor?" Miguel chuckled. You turned around to face him and wrapped your arms around his neck as you kissed him.

"Just a little. Never would have thought I would be in a bedroom in the sky."

"Well, let me make it worth your while." Miguel's lips met yours with passion and desire. He quickly turned you back around to unzip your dress. As it fell to the ground, he looked at what you were wearing underneath.

"Was this my surprise from earlier today?" Miguel pulled you closer to him by your hips.

"It is. Like it?" You grin up at him.

"Oh, I love it." Miguel lifts you up and gently tosses you on the bed. He quickly takes his clothes off, leaving nothing to the imagination as he climbs on top of you.

He placed a sweet kiss on your lips before making his way down your neck and breasts, giving each nipple its deserved attention with his mouth, down to your stomach before he made it between your legs. You jilted up a soft moan coming out of you when you felt him nip your inner thigh.

"I love it when your body reacts like that whenever I touch you." He mumbled against your thigh right before his lips met your clit. Your fingers immediately went through his hair as every sensation made you grip his hair and make his mouth work faster.

You felt the jet's engine as it began moving, further increasing your pleasure. Your core tightened as you felt Miguel's tongue enter inside you.

Your mind was half in reality, half on a euphoric high. Thighs tighten around his head as you come undone for the second time just from his tongue alone.

Miguel lifted his body and positioned himself between you. He hovered over you, placing kisses along your neck to your ear and whispering, " I'm so lucky to have such a beautiful woman to call my wife."

Your hands go to his face as you bring his lips to yours, needing to taste him. He licked your lips, wanting to explore your mouth. You gasp as you feel his tongue enter your mouth while he fully thrusts himself into you.

You instinctively wrap your legs around his waist as he begins his quick and swift pace inside of you.

"Miguel." You cry out as you claw at his back.

"Fuck you feel so good around my cock." Miguel growled as his pace grew faster, making you feel your core tighten again.

He grabbed your hips and lifted you to his lap, giving him a new angle to fuck you in, making the tip of his cock hit in just the right place repeatedly. You cried out loud as you reached your high again.

Your hands claw against his back as you have your arms wrapped around his neck as your head falls lazily to the side, letting him mark your neck with love bites.

Going after your third orgasm, your cunt began to feel overstimulated as he continued to fuck you at the same rough pace.

"God, it feels so good." You mewled out loud. Miguel leaned forward as he kissed your lips.

"Only the best for you, Hermosa," He whispered.

Miguel continued to slam into you as his cock twitched, almost at its peak. You moaned out loud as you squeezed around him from your fourth orgasm. The sudden tightness around his cock makes him groan as he spills deep inside you, coating your walls white.

Your upper body lay on his lap in a sweaty state as Miguel continued to thrust inside you, becoming more sloppy as he came down from his sexual high. He kissed your brow, your nose, and then your lips.

"I love you so much." He mumbled against your lips. He laid you down on the duvet as he laid next to you, brushing your hair away from your face.

"I love you too, Miggy." You smile lovingly at him as you kiss his chin and lips. "I have another small surprise for you."

Miguel looked at you with a curious grin, waiting to hear what you had to say.

"I stopped taking my birth control. I still want to try to have a baby."

You can tell your words made his day even more amazing. You knew after your miscarriage the thought of having another baby might be a while away. But ever since the miscarriage, the thought of having a baby became stronger with you.

"You really mean that cariño?"

You happily nodded with a smile. " I do."

Miguel placed butterfly kisses all over your face before hovering over you. You look down and an imaginary sweat mark falls down your face as you see him fully erect again. He brought your open legs against him, smiling.

"Ready for round two?"

———————————————————————-

Hope you enjoyed the chapter🥰

Also thank you for the 900 followers! It means everything to me!💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

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23fallencomets · 10 months ago

Text

chapter four!

this took a while ngl and it’s a bit longer than usual but that’s because there’s a sliver of plot. enjoy reading and i’ll try to figure out when the next update will be 💞💞

[twitter]

user39: anyway do you guys remember the blackout of 2023

user40: babes i can NAWT do this rn

user41: the year-long blackout of logan sargeant

user42: wait what

user43: logan was being hella mistreated by his first agency that we genuinely had no way of knowing anything about him

user43: we knew he was okay when he briefly showed up in a reel Fred had posted towards the end of the year

user42: logan sued and won his case against the agency and we try not to bring it up

[instagram]

logansargeant made a new post

!los angeles

liked by oscarpiastri, olliebearman and 125,490 more

logansargeant: back to the city i go

oscarpiastri: all the way across the country again

logansargeant: win in spain and i’ll attend the triple header

oscarpiastri: deal

user42: bro!??

olliebearman: pls take me with you

kimi.antonelli: aren’t you supposed to be asleep??

olliebearman: aren’t you??

user44: oh my god it’s loscar all over again

arthur_leclerc: can’t believe you didn’t want me to go with you

logansargeant: you have testing in italy

charles leclerc: is this why you were looking for flights to la???

arthur_leclerc: logan’s la apartment is really nice 😞

[twitter]

logansargeantoffical made a new tweet!

user45: alright who are we fighting this week

user46: is it because of what that bitchass company is saying

user47: his old model agency?? didn’t he sue them or something??

user48: yeah, he sued them mid-2023 and won in december of the same year

user49: logan i beg you to go batshit crazy pls pls pls

[instagram]

logansargeant posted a story!

[twitter]

logansargeant made a new tweet!

logan snorts, only liam can grate oscar’s nerves like that. he’s thinking of a reply, wondering how far he can push his pr training. he doesn’t get to in the end, a message from his rep causing his heart to drop. the messages are half congratulatory and half concerned, but he’s more focused on the image.

logan turns his phone off, sliding it across the table and sighing. was he excited for the event? sure, he loves being able to support his community, even if he’s not openly out, his support has never been quiet.

the last thing he needed though, the very last thing on top of a mountain of responsibilities, was a blind item about him. the last one nearly ruined him and the very new and fresh relationship he had been in. despite things turning out okay, logan wasn’t and everything seems to come back to the stupid fucking account that nearly killed him.

his phone goes off, a one-two buzz before the continuous buzz of a call. he debates letting it ring before deciding against it and grabbing his phone.

the smiling picture of oscar gets him to answer it, holding the phone up to his ear.

“are you coming?” is the first thing oscar says, voice still thick with sleep. something tugs at logan, fondness, contentment and the ever-consuming knowledge that he’s horribly in love with his best friend.

“you made pole didn’t you.” logan says back, keeping his eyes on the laptop in front of him. it had gone dim while he contemplated his existence, the email he was in the middle of replying to ignored in favor to talk to oscar.

“mhm, don’t accept lawson’s offer.”

logan laughs, “lawson. you’re ridiculous, piastri.”

he can almost see oscar roll his eyes, “he’s lawson until he apologizes.”

“did you have to threaten him.”

oscar scoffs, “it wasn’t a threat, lolo, it was a promise.”

logan taps the touchbar of his laptop, saving the email reply before navigating his way to mark webber’s email address, cc’ing oscar on it.

“there’s a blind item about me.” he says quietly, “again.”

the call goes silent and logan knows that any residual sleep oscar had has been wiped. there’s rustling on the other side, the ping of oscar receiving the email does nothing to calm logan’s perpetual anxiety.

“god, like the last one wasn’t enough.” oscar snarks, “nearly six months of court visits and questionings and fuck-all investigations.”

2023 wasn’t a good year, half of it being because of Emmeris, the agency logan worked under. the nearly murderous hours, managers and employees that treated their guests like dolls, something to break down and mold to their liking. the other half was about the blind item, that logan was dating an indy driver, a childhood friend of his. the thing was that he was, the relationship itself last three more months before logan called it off. kyle called it dumb, but logan knew it would only be a matter of when it could follow him onto track.

“it’s about us,” logan adds on, “you’re the only one of our friends on the grid, liam and fred don’t count because they are reserve drivers.”

he can hear the cogs in oscar’s mind turn, always trying to be one step ahead, to navigate himself out of a car crash. the car crash in this situation being logan, again.

“let them think what they want.” oscar said, “we can talk about it when you get here, and we can face it together, just like we did last year.”

“with or without liam?”

oscar laughs, “without him this time, please, i do not want him hanging all over you again.”

[instagram]

logansargeant posted a story!

logansargeant made a new post!

liked by oscarpiastri, liamlawson30 and 289,678 more

logansargeant: home

oscarpiastri: watch me win

logansargeant: literally sitting in the mclaren garage as i type this

liamlawson: when did you even take these???

logansargeant: said ‘cheese’ and you said to give you a minute and then you pulled out the guitar

arthurleclerc: i think you just hate me

logansargeant: always 💞

arthurleclerc: hope your fantasy team loses

logansargeant: you’ll wish ill on your brother

charles_leclerc: im on your fantasy team??

logansargeant: it’s ferrari

user50: so glad that logan has a support system

frederikvestiofficial: where’s my pic

logansargeant: in my heart (he kept throwing pillows at me)

[twitter]

#logan sargeant #f1 #williams racing #ls2 #model!logan sargeant #oscar piastri #liam lawson #frederik vesti #ollie bearman #andrea kimi antonelli #throwing the whole gang here #this took forever #praying for at least q2 #williams racing when i get my hands on you #f1 rpf smau #the loscar is no longer becoming vague #loscar WILL thrive #kyle kirkwood mention #creatures in heaven smau

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angelasscribbles · 2 days ago

Text

Personal Update April 2025

Hey guys. It’s been so long since I’ve done a true update. I haven’t posted much at all in 2025 and there are a lot of reasons for that.

Tag list clean up is coming next, just FYI.

I’m not sure what, exactly, was the final straw that pushed me away from Tumblr. Drama, declining readership, real life demands. Probably a bit of all of the above.

September 2024 my sister was dx with terminal cancer. November 2024 a convicted felon took the White House. I have people I love that are part of vulnerable communities, and that’s all I want to say about that here.

I had a rough time, emotionally, for the last six months or so. Add in my own dx with a chronic illness, my kids overwhelming volleyball schedule, rescuing a puppy, etc. I was honestly just exhausted. My entire family has been sick (and I mean, out of it, can’t sit up for days sick) four times since Thanksgiving.

I lost my sister last month. The state I live in is trying to make it illegal for people I love to exist.

And wow, that sounds like a litany of poor me. It’s not. It’s simply what the last six, nearly seven, months have been like. That’s over half a year. When I look at it like that… no wonder I’ve been MIA in a lot of areas of my life.

The good news is that my neurodivergent brain just decided, for whatever reason, to unvapor lock.

My birthday was two days ago, and it was a good one. Despite the last six months, I had fun. I smiled. I laughed. I relaxed. There was ice cream and singing from friends. A campfire and s’mores at home. My husband cooked my favorite steak tacos.

I don’t know. I just feel like I received permission to start living again. To feel joy again.

Earlier this week, I randomly completed a 1200 word one shot and have over 2000 words on another (completely unrelated to the first). And so many ideas, I can’t reign them in. Just like old times lol.

It feels good. Writing feels… joyous to me.

That’s not saying I will ever return to posting two to three chapters a week again. I have other writing projects going on that will never be posted here. In a lot of ways, I have outgrown Tumblr. But TRR will always have a special place in my heart.

So even as I refocus my writing energy on original fiction, I imagine that the one shots and the open ended series I have created will continue to intrude upon my consciousness and demand to be written. And they shall be.

I'm not leaving. I intend to post more than I have been in the last six months, but not as much I was posting two years ago.

I am so close to finishing both Law’s End and Savage Love, I can taste it.

My asks are currently closed because I have a backlog of asks already. I make no promises about any of those. That said, my inbox is always open if you just want to say hi.

Tagging under the cut.

@walkerdrakewalker @kingliam2019 @twinkleallnight @secretaryunpaid

@karahalloway, @harleybeaumont @alj4890 @aussiegurl1234 @nestledonthaveone

@lovingchoices14 @bascmve01

@tessa-liam @queen-arabella-of-cordonia

@emersyn-in-cordonia @indiacater @mattiematt1234

@twinkle-320 @tinkie1973

@differenttyphoonwerewolf @jared2612 @belencha77 @gabesmommie1130

@irishgrl2022 @queenmiarys

@kristinamae093 @sillydg @bebepac

@3pawandme @dcbbw @amandablink

@phoenixrising0308 @lunaseasblog

@hollygirl1269 @mainstreetreader @ohmyeightpastlives

@gardeningourmet @21-wishes @73geenalove @jennieausten

@princessleac1 @kachrisberry @tornbetween2loves @fangirling12566 @pinklipsandmasonjars @savannahdix

#angelasscribbles #writing update #my writing #personal update

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its-avalon-08 · 1 year ago

Text

hearts intertwined (hamilton x sister! driver!rosberg) pt3

chapter three: the rookie rosberg

warnings- none at all

series so far - pt1 pt2

The air in the Red Bull garage hung heavy with anticipation. It was qualifying day for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the first race of the season, and Y/N, perched on the edge of a mechanics chair, was a bundle of nervous energy. Her hands tapped a frantic rhythm against her thighs, a stark contrast to the practiced calm of Max beside her.

"Hey," a voice said softly, startling her. It was Nico, his familiar blue eyes radiating a quiet reassurance. "First time jitters?"

Y/N managed a watery smile. "Something like that. Feels like everyone's expecting me to crash and burn."

Nico chuckled. "They underestimate you, kiddo. Just remember, you belong here. You've earned it."

Across the paddock, Lewis watched the interaction, a strange pang of…discomfort settling in his chest. Nico Rosberg, his old nemesis, back in the F1 world, albeit in a different role. It was a reminder of past battles, and a flicker of competitive fire ignited in his eyes. This season was about winning, no matter what.

The qualifying session began. Y/N, heart hammering in her chest, strapped herself into the car. Liam, Nico's former race engineer, his voice now a familiar comfort in her ear, guided her through the pre-race checks.

"Alright, Y/N," Liam's voice crackled through the radio. "Deep breaths. Let's see what you can do out there."

Y/N took a deep breath, pushing past the nerves. This was it. Years of training culminating in this very moment. As she pushed the throttle down the pit lane, a sense of exhilaration washed over her, momentarily erasing her anxieties.

The first laps were tentative, Y/N pushing the car, learning its limits. Liam's voice, calm yet encouraging, guided her through the corners. The timer on the pit wall ticked down, the pressure mounting.

Suddenly, Liam's voice cut through the tension. "Y/N, that was a phenomenal lap! P2 in Q1. Absolutely stunning work!"

A surprised laugh escaped Y/N's lips. P2? On her first ever qualifying session? The relief was palpable.

The paddock buzzed with disbelief. Y/N Rosberg, the rookie, had just placed ahead of established names like Ricciardo and Bottas. The media frenzy was already brewing.

Qualifying progressed, the tension thickening with every eliminated driver. Q3 arrived, the final battle for pole position. The tension in the Red Bull garage was thick enough to cut with a knife. Max launched himself out first, clocking a blistering lap time.

Y/N, her nerves now steeled with focus, took the track. She pushed the car to its absolute limit, feeling the G-forces pin her to the seat. Her tires screamed in protest as she carved through the corners, her vision a blur of speed.

As she crossed the finish line, her heart pounded like a drum solo. Liam's voice, barely containing his excitement, filled the car. "P2, Y/N! P2! That's incredible! You're just behind Lewis!"

Y/N couldn't believe her ears. P2 beside Lewis, the reigning champion? A grin split her face, wide and genuine. This wasn't just about proving herself anymore. This was about the thrill of the race, the pure joy of pushing herself and the car to the limit. As she jumped out of the car, she was pulled into a tight hug by Max. "I'm so proud of you Y/N!!" he exclaimed.

Lewis, watching from the Mercedes garage, saw the jubilation on Y/N's face. A strange mixture of admiration and annoyance flickered across his features. He couldn't deny her talent. The Rosberg name was back, and this time, it was here to stay.

The desert sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the track. The stage was set for a battle royale. Rookie versus champion. Rosberg versus Hamilton.

time skip to the next day - its race day!

The desert sun beat down mercilessly on the Bahrain International Circuit, baking the asphalt and turning the air into a shimmering haze. This wasn't just any race day; it was the culmination of years of relentless training and unwavering dreams for Y/N. Her heart hammered a frantic rhythm against her ribs as she lined up on the grid, P2 staring back at her from the starting light gantry. Lewis, on pole position, stole a glance at her in his rearview mirror. He saw the raw determination in her eyes, a reflection of Nico in his younger days, and a surge of unfamiliar anxiety shot through him.

Lights out! The engines roared to life, and Y/N launched off the line with a blistering start. She clung to Lewis's tail like a hungry wolf, their tires spitting sparks as they battled for supremacy. Liam's voice crackled in her ear, a calm anchor amidst the storm. "Stay focused, Y/N! You've got this!"

Lewis, fixated on keeping Y/N behind, failed to notice Max weaving his way through the pack like a silver demon. By lap ten, Max had snatched the lead, leaving Lewis fuming in his wake. His frustration grew with each lap as Y/N doggedly pursued him, their cars a blur of red and blue against the stark desert landscape.

The battle for P2 was fierce. Y/N, fueled by a desire to prove herself, pushed Lewis to his limits. "Fuck man, why is she right behind me?," Lewis exclaimed over the radio. Bono replied equally as stressed, "She is really pushing the limits Lewis, reminds me a lot of Ni-", Lewis interrupted him abruptly, "Don't finish that." The radio cackled in silence. They dueled for corners, their tires screaming in protest as they brushed against the edge of control. Finally, Y/N saw her chance. With a daring maneuver, she overtook Lewis on the inside of a tight corner, the crowd erupting in a roar. Lewis, his face a mask of fury, slammed on his brakes, narrowly avoiding a collision.

The remaining laps felt like an eternity. Y/N, her body pushed to its physical limit, held onto P2 with gritted teeth. As she crossed the finish line, the checkered flag waving her on, pure elation flooded her. She had done it. P2 in her first ever F1 race!

The podium ceremony was a blur of flashing cameras and champagne showers. Y/N, still buzzing from the adrenaline rush, beamed as she held up the P2 trophy. Across the podium, Lewis watched, his jaw clenched tight. He couldn't deny her talent, but the thought of a Rosberg on the podium rankled him.

When the celebrations subsided, Y/N, eager for a post-race handshake, approached Lewis. He glared at her, his expression cold. As she extended her hand and before she could utter a word, he shoved her hand away with a force that sent a jolt of pain shooting up her arm. Her hand slammed against the metal doorframe of the cooldown room, leaving a throbbing bruise.

Shock clouded Y/N's features. She knew Lewis disliked her, but this blatant hostility was unexpected. Nico, who had been watching the exchange from afar, felt a surge of anger rise within him. He lunged towards Lewis, but was restrained by a team member.

"Leave it, Nico," Y/N whispered, her voice tight with hurt. "Who the fuck does he think he is? He can fight me, fuck he can kick me or anything, but laying a hand on u? Even for the lowlife that he is, that was not okay," Nico shouted angrily. Lando who watched this jumped to Y/N's defense and grabbed an ice pack laying it on her hand gingerly, pulling her into a side hug.

Lewis, oblivious to the drama he'd caused, stormed off towards his garage. He couldn't shake the image of Y/N celebrating her victory, Max by her side. A pang of something akin to jealousy pierced through his competitive spirit. He would have to crush her, he thought, before this rivalry spiraled further out of control.

As Y/N joined Max, who wrapped her in a congratulatory hug, a lone tear rolled down her cheek. The silver war had destroyed her brother's friendship with Lewis. She never realized it would eventually chip away her relationship so greatly. This victory was bittersweet. She had proven herself, but at what cost? The battle lines were drawn, the rivalry ignited. The roar of the desert wind seemed to echo the challenge: could she maintain her momentum, or would Lewis find a way to break her?

credits for gif- @lewishamiltongifs

leave a like! leave a comment! reblogs are appreciated!

🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️

ava speaks <3 -

so lewis is kind of a dick in this one! i promise he gets better but note to all the readers - regardless of how much you dislike a person, violence is not condonable by any stretch of the imagination. also

to those who celebrate eid mubarak! all my love <3

🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️

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kmomof4 · 3 days ago

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A Wedding to Remember Ch. 8 A Wedding to Remember

We are back with the final chapter!!! Yes, everything is resolved, just like I promised, and happy endings abound!! I so hope you enjoy and let me know what you think!!

Once again, thank you @snowbellewells for the lovely artwork above and your most excellent beta skills!!

Summary: Killian Jones, younger brother to the viscount, is home from Cambridge and ready to enter society, including finding himself a wife. Perhaps he may find his future bride here, at a week long house party his sister-in-law is hosting at the Jones country estate before the London season officially begins.

Rating: M (smut)

Words: Almost 1700 of approximately 16k

Tags: Bridgerton Inspired Fic, Matchmaking, Regency Romance

On ao3 From Beginning / Current Chapter

Tagging the usuals. Please let me know if you'd like to be added or removed.

@jrob64 @winterbaby89 @hollyethecurious @the-darkdragonfly @jennjenn615

@donteattheappleshook @undercaffinatednightmare @pirateherokillian @cocohook38 @qualitycoffeethings

@booksteaandtoomuchtv @superchocovian @motherkatereloyshipper @snowbellewells @djlbg

@lfh1226-linda @xarandomdreamx @tiganasummertree @bluewildcatfanatic @anmylica

@laianely @resident-of-storybrooke @exhaustedpirate @gingerchangeling @caught-in-the-filter

@ultraluckycatnd @stahlop @darkshadow7 @fleurdepetite @captainswan-kellie

@soniccat @beckettj @teamhook @whimsicallyenchantedrose @jonesfandomfanatic

@elfiola @zaharadessert @ilovemesomekillianjones @mie779 @kymbersmith-90

@suwya @veryverynotgoodwrites @myfearless-love

Under the cut, unless Tumblr ate it.

Ch. 8 A Wedding to Remember

“Get up, little brother!” Liam exclaimed, bursting into his chamber.

“Younger brother,” Killian grumbled in response, turning his head into his pillow as Liam crossed the room and threw open the drapes. As soon as he’d done at the windows, he strode to the bed and pulled the covers off him, making Killian huff in displeasure and try to grab the bedclothes in order to cover himself again. He’d barely left the bed in the last week and a half, and if he had anything to say about it, he wasn’t going to leave it now.

Unfortunately, Liam was incredibly stubborn, and as head of the household, he didn’t appear inclined to allow Killian to sulk any longer.

When they’d arrived back at Jones House in London after the nuptials of Lord and the now Lady Nolan, Killian had sequestered himself in his chambers and hadn’t left them since.

Yes, he’d seen Emma and Lord Cassidy at the festivities, and it was clear beyond any doubt that her betrothed was his old school mate. He tried his best to attend to the proceedings, but was painfully aware of Emma at all times. As sister to the groom, Emma sat near the front of the abbey, with Killian several rows behind her. He could see nothing in terms of affection from either Emma or Cassidy, and when they adjourned to David’s London home for the wedding breakfast, Killian could hardly tear his attention away from the betrothed couple. He didn’t dare approach them. It was doubtful his heart would be able to stand being in her presence as nothing more than an acquaintance. He loved her too much to risk revealing anything by simple proximity. After observing them throughout the morning, Killian was more certain than ever that Emma had no emotional connection to Lord Cassidy. Nothing but a sheet of paper that she’d had no say in nor hand in drafting.

And he was also certain that Neal’s… tastes… had not changed either.

That was why he’d been stunned nearly speechless by Emma’s revelation of her fiancé. Earl Neal Cassidy held no affection, or desire, for women. His appetites leaned toward the masculine sex. Perhaps that was why his father had arranged the wedding with Emma’s uncle so long ago. To ensure the continuation of his line.

But either way, the betrothal contract was in force and the only people with the power to break it were Lord Gold or David.

David’s wedding day was certainly not the time to inform him of Cassidy’s proclivities - as much as he would have liked to. He would at the same time have also sought David’s blessing to seek Emma’s hand himself, but was unfortunately woefully short of time and opportunity. Then after the wedding, David was on his brief honeymoon trip and would be returning only for Emma and Cassidy’s wedding celebration.

Which was today.

Which was why Liam was forcing him out of bed.

“Get up, younger brother and get dressed,” Liam continued. “You are going to the wedding, if I have to drag you kicking and screaming.”

Killian sat up and glared as hard as he could at his brother. Liam stared right back, his arms crossed over his chest, firm and unyielding.

“You know nothing, brother,” Killian groused, grabbing the covers again and lying back down under them. He’d barely gotten settled when they were yanked away from him yet again.

“I know more than you think,” Liam retorted. “And you are going. I will cut your allowance by two thirds for the remainder of the season if you do not.”

That got Killian’s attention. He bolted upright in shock. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me,” he replied coolly.

The glaring standoff between the brothers lasted less than a minute. Grumbling under his breath, Killian swung his legs out of bed. Liam smirked and began walking toward his chamber door.

“Remember, Killian…” As he grasped the doorknob, Liam’s smirk disappeared to be replaced by a deep love and pride. In him. Killian stilled and looked him in the eye, waiting to hear whatever his brother wanted to say to him. “A man unwilling to fight for what he wants, deserves what he gets. I’ll see you downstairs for breakfast.”

And with that, Viscount Liam Jones left Killian alone.

~*~*~

“Is there any cause why this man and woman should not be joined in Holy Matrimony?” the priest asked.

Killian gulped hard and took a deep breath before rising to his feet. It took a few moments, but soon every eye in the abbey turned to him. Liam and Elsa and his mother looked at him with pride and support. The priest and Emma looked at him with shock. Neal turned to him with surprise that turned to recognition then apprehension. David and Mary Margaret looked at him with hopeful anticipation.

He’d spoken with David before the ceremony began and knew that he had their full support for what he planned to do.

“Yes,” he said, loud enough that everyone could hear him. Emma gasped, her eyes widening as he focused all his attention on her. “They shouldn’t be joined together because she loves me.” He left his seat and approached the front of the abbey where Emma, Neal, and the priest stood. At the bottom of the dias, Killian stopped. “And I love her.”

Gasps and whispers could be heard throughout the abbey, but Killian paid them no mind. He climbed the steps and knelt before Emma. Her gorgeous green eyes were filled with tears, but he wouldn’t be deterred. He pulled the ring he carried out of his pocket and held it up between them. It was a family heirloom with a dark red ruby in the center of the gold filigree, with four small diamonds at the corners.

“I love you, Emma. Marry me. Marry me. Please,” he implored.

Emma couldn’t speak for a moment at the audacious display before her. She’d last seen Killian when they’d left Jones Hall for London, and now here he was kneeling before her, asking for her hand in marriage. Stunned surprise didn’t begin to describe the turmoil buffeting her heart and mind.

She looked out at David and Mary Margaret. Their beaming smiles had nothing to do with their own personal happiness, and everything to do with what was happening on the dias. David had told her before escorting her down the aisle that he wouldn’t force her into this marriage if she didn’t want it. Earl Gold had passed over the weekend and so technically, the contract drawn up between him and her uncle was void. Emma had told him it was too late to stop it, and she was still willing to go through with it. She’d kept her love for Killian to herself, and unless she could have him, she wasn’t going to be the target of the mean-spirited gossip of the ton. She’d thought it rather odd when David had nodded in acceptance of her words, but he must have known of Killian’s plan and expected her to accept his proposal.

She looked at Neal. He shrugged as if it made no difference to him. She knew he had the same amount of affection for her as she had for him - that is, none whatsoever. She looked back down into the face of her love and clearly saw the truth of his words.

He loved her. He loved her. Not anyone else.

The gathered tears began to fall as she nodded her acceptance of his proposal. Killian rose to his feet, joy suffusing his face, and gathered her into his arms. His lips captured hers in front of God, the priest, and the whole congregation, but Emma couldn’t bring herself to care one whit.

The man she loved loved her and had asked her to marry him. Long moments later, the kiss ended, but he still held her close, his nose running alongside hers.

A clearing throat behind him caught his attention. He’d nearly forgotten where he was and who stood around him as he declared his love for Emma for all the world to see. Turning slightly, he saw Neal standing there, profound relief written all over his face.

“Thank you,” he whispered. “For saving me from this marriage, and keeping my secret.”

Killian nodded. Then Neal turned to the congregation.

“I propose that since we’re all here for a wedding, and since Emma and Killian have declared their love and announced their intentions, that they get married instead.” He then turned to the priest. “Is that acceptable?”

Emma and Killian couldn’t have been more surprised, but as they looked at one another, smiles bloomed on both of their faces as they nodded their agreement. The priest agreed as well, and Neal took his seat next to David as the ceremony continued between Killian Jones and Miss Emma Nolan.

Once their vows were spoken, and they were declared husband and wife, Killian kissed his bride, dipping her down as his lips met hers in a passionate reunion. Cheers from the congregation filled their ears when they finally parted.

“I love you, Mrs. Jones.”

“I love you, too, Mr. Jones.”

Killian ran his nose along the side of Emma’s again and then placed a gentle kiss on the tip before they turned to face the guests. Their families were the first to greet them, with affectionate hugs and joyful tears all around.

As they accepted the warm wishes of their friends and family, Killian took a moment to reflect on the last few weeks. He’d hoped when he arrived at Jones Hall that he’d find his True Love sometime this season, but he never would have believed the twists and turns, the trials and tribulations he’d face to find her. Catching David’s eye, and taking in his and Mary Margaret’s beaming countenances, he couldn’t be more grateful for the woman now on his arm, his Emma, looking at him with the same love and devotion that filled his very soul.

All of their hearts had found a home and were exactly where they needed to be. Now their happy beginning could truly commence.

The End

~*~*~

Thank you for reading and sharing! And for coming along on this journey with me! I so hope you enjoyed it and let me know what you think!

#a wedding to remember #krystal writes #gregory bridgerton inspired fic #art by marta

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shadyfestivalperfection · 1 month ago

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The Forever You Forgot~1

Summery: A six year old girl named Nadia Barnes born with a condition called 65 roses uncovers the story on how her dad-Bucky Barnes met her missing mother by narrating her the story and nothing remains the same after Nadia finds out the truth about her mother.

Characters: Bucky Barnes x f!Reader

Note:This story is based on the movie ‘Hi papa’. This story is like what if Bucky Barnes was in this situation that the male and female lead faced in the movie ‘Hi papa’. To be honest I am absolutely obsessed with this movie and I could help but write a Bucky Barnes version of it. I would totally recommend everyone to watch this movie and get some tissues with you before you start watching.

||Master list||

Chapter 1: Late Nights And Fairy Tales

(Bucky’s pov)

I bid everyone goodbye as I left the building in a hurry, the door shutting behind me with a quiet click. Almost a decade ago, I had started this support group—something for soldiers who had fought wars, for those who had been experimented on by HYDRA. It was meant to help them heal, to give them a place where they could talk, where they could remember they were human, not just weapons. Sam helped me build it. Hell, he was the reason I even believed I could be something more than what HYDRA made me. Without him, I wouldn’t be here—I’d still be lost in my own head, fighting ghosts that weren’t real anymore.

I walked down the streets, my steps quick, my mind still lingering on the meeting. It wasn’t easy, talking about the past, but it was necessary. For them. For me.

Stopping near the gates of the school, I spotted my daughter, Nadia, standing there, her small figure unmoving. She saw me, walked forward, shoved her backpack into my hands, and then raised her arms up—her silent demand for me to pick her up.

I did, resting her against my hip. “Hey, doll, what’s wrong?” I asked, noticing the little frown pulling at her lips.

She didn’t answer. Just leaned her head against my shoulder.

I sighed, deciding I’d ask her about it later. Maybe after dinner.

When we reached home, Sam was already there, coming from the kitchen with an apron on. He crossed his arms when he saw us. “You guys are late. Dinner’s almost ready. Get freshened up, and I’ll serve it.”

Nadia grabbed her bag from me and stomped up the stairs, her small feet making heavy sounds against the wood before she slammed her door shut.

Sam raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with her?”

“I don’t really know,” I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck. “I guess I was kinda late picking her up. Maybe that’s why she’s mad.”

“Ask her during dinner,” he said, disappearing back into the kitchen.

I nodded, but I already had a feeling whatever was bothering her wasn’t just that.

Dinner was quieter than usual. Nadia sat next to Sam, picking at her food, while I sat across from them. I glanced between the two before breaking the silence. “Nadia, sweetheart, everything okay? You’ve been upset since you got home.”

She set her fork down and looked up at me, her little brows furrowed.

“There’s this boy in my class,” she said.

I choked on my food, coughing as I looked at Sam, who mirrored my wide-eyed expression.

“Uh… doll, you gotta be more specific,” I said cautiously.

“His name is Liam,” she continued, crossing her arms. “He just transferred to our school. And he beat me—the topper of my class—by one percent! He’s smarter than me and I can’t allow that!”

I let out a slow breath, my shoulders relaxing. Beside me, Sam stifled a laugh.

“Honey, it’s okay if you’re not the smartest one,” Sam said, ever the wise one. “Marks aren’t everything. It’s the experiences that teach you in life.”

Nadia stood up, her plate in her hands. “You don’t understand. My reputation is at risk!”

She walked off, placing her plate in the sink before heading to her room, Alpine—the white cat with striking blue eyes—cradled in her arms.

The second she was out of sight, Sam burst into laughter.

I shot him a look. “What?”

Between chuckles, he shook his head. “You thought she had a boyfriend.”

“What? No.”

“You did! I saw your face when she mentioned a boy.”

I rolled my eyes, ignoring him as I pushed up my sleeves and started washing the dishes.

A little while later, I made my way to Nadia’s room. She was sitting on her bed, a book held up in front of her.

“Read me a story, Dad!” she said, patting the space beside her.

I sat down, took the book from her tiny hands, and flipped it open.

“Once upon a time, there was a king of a beautiful kingdom—”

“Wait! Dad, who should I imagine as the king?” she interrupted.

I smirked. “Me.”

She grinned. “And there was a beautiful princess—”

“That’s me!” she announced proudly.

“Yes, obviously,” I said, chuckling.

I read to her for a while, my voice steady, calm. It was one of my favourite moments—these quiet nights, just me and her, the world shut out.

“…And then the king and the princess lived happily ever after. The end,” I said, closing the book.

“That’s it?” she asked, tilting her head.

“That’s it,” I confirmed. “Why?”

She hesitated before speaking. “There’s no mother in this story either?”

My chest tightened. I stood up, placing the book back on the shelf, ignoring the weight of her question. Instead, I walked over to her drawer, pulled out the small box filled with her medicine, and sat back down.

“Come on, it’s time for your pills,” I said.

She pouted. “Please, Dad. Tell me Mom’s story. Otherwise, I won’t take them.”

I sighed, running a hand down my face. I hated this part.

After a moment, I said, “When you beat Liam and become the topper of your class again, then I’ll tell you your mom’s story.”

A smile spread across her face. “Promise?”

I nodded, opening the box and handing her the pill with a glass of water. Once she was done, I tucked her in, turned on the oxygen cylinder next to her bed, and adjusted the nasal cannula.

“Goodnight, doll,” I murmured.

“Goodnight, Dad,” she whispered back.

I turned off the light and stepped into the hallway, only to find Sam standing there, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.

“How long are you gonna keep the truth from her?” he asked quietly.

“She’s not ready yet,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sam shook his head. “Bucky, you can’t keep this hidden forever. When you’re not here, she asks me about her mother. What am I supposed to tell her?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

Instead, I let the silence settle between us, the ghosts of the past clawing at the edges of my mind.

She wasn’t ready.

And maybe… neither was I.

________

After Sam’s warning, I sat on the cream-coloured sofa in the living room, staring at a framed picture on the coffee table. It was one of my favorites—a snapshot of me, Sam, and Nadia. She was in the middle, grinning like she had just won a battle, her tiny hands clutching onto both of ours like she’d never let go.

Sam walked into the room, his voice pulling me from my thoughts. “The online meeting with Nadia’s doctor is in a few hours.”

I nodded, not looking away from the photo. He didn’t press further, just sighed and headed toward his room.

Nadia was born with cystic fibrosis, an inherited, life-threatening lung disorder. And it was slowly killing my six-year-old daughter.

There was no cure. The only thing that could save her was a lung transplant.

I love Nadia more than life itself, and I’d do anything to protect her. Since the day she was born, I’ve met with specialists all over the world, searching for any breakthrough, any treatment, anything to stop this condition from stealing her from me.

She’s my whole world.

And I can’t imagine a world without her.

———-

(Author’s pov)

Since Bucky’s promise, Nadia had been studying harder than ever. Determined to beat Liam and reclaim her place at the top of the class, she poured over her books day and night. But it wasn’t just about grades—it was about what she would win in return. The one thing she had always wanted.

Her mother’s story.

Nadia knew everything about her father’s past. She knew he had been born in 1917, that he had grown up in Brooklyn alongside Steve Rogers. She knew how he had been captured by HYDRA, turned into the Winter Soldier, and forced to do things he could never take back. She knew about the Avengers, about Thanos, about the blip. She knew every part of her father’s history.

Except for one thing.

Her mother.

No matter how many times she asked, no matter how many ways she tried to get an answer, she was always met with silence. And she didn’t understand why.

On weekends, Bucky and Sam took Nadia to the Super Soldier Support Group. It was a place where people who had lived through war, experiments, and unimaginable pain could come together and heal. Bucky had built it for them, but it had become a second home for Nadia too.

It was there, one day, that she overheard the staff whispering about her mother.

“She abandoned her family for another man,” one said.

“No, I heard Bucky used to hurt her,” another murmured.

None of it was true.

But the rumors never stopped.

And every time Nadia heard them, she felt that same sadness creep in—the same hollow feeling that came with never knowing the truth.

Who was her mother?

And why did no one want to tell her?

-to be continued

#marvel #avengers #fanfiction #romance #sebastian stan #female reader #james bucky buchanan barnes #bucky x reader

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jrob64 · 4 months ago

Text

Drummer Boys, Reindeer and Romance

My Secret Santa gift for @mie779

Merry Christmas @mie779 - I'm your Secret Santa this year! I was very excited to get your name and I hope you like the story and pic set I created for you. I tried to work in some of your favorite things. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Many thanks to @hookedmom who took time out from a busy holiday season to beta for me.

With this story, I can cross off one square on my Winter Bingo Board. Stories in that collection can be found here

Story Summary: An empty seat at an elementary school Christmas pageant creates an opportunity for Killian Jones to meet Emma Swan. As they chat between songs, they feel drawn to each other, but Killian has to be brave enough to ask Emma out…and she has to be brave enough to accept.

Rating: G

Words (Chapter 1/1): 5899

Can also be found on Ao3 and ffn

Stories in the CS Secret Santa 2024 collection can be found here

Story begins under the cut

*********

“Pardon me, lass. Is that seat taken?”

Emma Swan looked up from the program she had been scanning, to see a man standing in the aisle of the auditorium, looking at her expectantly.

“Excuse me?” she asked.

“I was wondering if you were saving the seat beside you for someone.”

She glanced at the empty seat to her left. “Uh, no. I’m not saving it for anyone.”

After an awkward pause, he asked, “In that case, would you mind if I sit there?”

“Oh, sorry.” She stood up, letting him pass in front of her.

When they were settled in their seats, he said, “Thanks very much.” Holding out his hand, he added, “Killian Jones.”

“Emma Swan,” she responded, shaking his hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I don’t think I’ve seen you around Storybrooke before.”

“I live in Portland. I visit from time to time, and stay at my brother Liam’s house when I do. I’m here to watch his and Elsa’s daughters. They’re the two cutest reindeer.”

“Missy and Alice are your nieces? They’re in my son Henry’s class. In fact, I think he has a crush on one of them.”

“Which one?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure. They both look alike to me.”

“Well,” he chuckled, “that’s quite common with identical twins.”

She laughed. “You have a point there.”

“Is your son also a reindeer?”

“I wish,” she sighed. “Reindeer are quiet. My son is the little drummer boy. My friend is the music teacher and I’m pretty sure she cast him in that role intentionallly. Her husband has been dying to buy Henry a drum set ever since he was a toddler, but I keep telling him absolutely not. Of course, once my son got the part, he had to practice, so Mary Margaret sent a snare drum home with him. I can hardly wait until this program is over, so I can get that freaking thing out of my house. I love my kid, but he’s driving me crazy with it!”

Killian’s grin stretched wider across his handsome face. “Well, I can assure you that reindeer are not quiet. At least, not in Alice and Missy’s case.”

“I’m sure having two ten-year-olds in the house can be very loud. I only have one and sometimes I swear he’s trying to split my eardrums.”

“With his drum,” Killian smirked.

“You’re hilarious,” Emma groaned sarcastically, rolling her eyes. However, she couldn’t help grinning a little at his attempt to make a joke.

“Are you, uh, are you sure I’m not taking…anyone’s seat?” he asked tentatively.

“If you’re talking about Henry’s father, he won’t be coming. He lives in New York City with his other family. Henry only gets to see him a couple of times a year.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be. The less time Henry spends with his dad, the smaller the chance Henry will act like him. After six years, he’s used to taking a back seat to Neal’s other kids.”

She opened the paper she was holding again, scanning the information typed inside. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Killian leaning in slightly to have a look at it, too.

“Didn’t they give you a program at the door?” she asked.

“They were out by the time I got here. I left work as soon as I could, but barely made it. Liam and Elsa weren’t expecting me to come tonight, so they didn’t save a seat for me.”

Emma swiped across her phone to look at the time. “They’re getting started a few minutes late. That’s typical for Mary Margaret because she wants everything to be perfect. She’s probably still gluing cotton balls onto Santa’s beard.” Scooting over in her seat a couple of inches, she held the program between them. “I’ll share with you. Looks like Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the next-to-last song.”

Killian perused the offered page. “Your drummer boy looks to be the star of the third song.”

“Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,” she intoned. He chuckled.

The lights dimmed and Mary Margaret hurried onto the stage as the crowd applauded.

“Show time,” Emma commented, then straightened in her seat to listen as her friend welcomed everyone.

*********

Killian shifted in the cushioned chair and tried to focus on what the lovely, pixie-haired teacher was saying. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to pay attention; rather, it was the distraction of the beautiful woman to his right which was occupying his mind. Through no fault of her own, she was making it very difficult for him to concentrate on the acknowledgements of all of the people responsible for helping with the elementary school Christmas pageant.

When she looked up at him after he inquired about the empty seat beside her, he was instantly struck by her beauty. It had been a long time since he gave any woman a second glance. Having his heart broken three years before caused him to swear off of women for good, and he stuck to it.

He may have to rethink that.

Being intrigued by her looks was one thing, but when she began conversing with him, he was struck by how easy it was to talk to her. She was witty and sarcastic, and put him at ease immediately.

When he verified that he wasn’t taking anyone’s seat, it was also his subtle way of asking if she was in a relationship. He had discreetly checked her ring finger and saw it was bare, but wanted further assurance. He was probably assuming too much by thinking her answer about her ex was proof she was indeed single, because she could be dating someone else. But if she was, that man would surely show up to her son’s Christmas pageant, wouldn’t he?

As crazy as it sounded, after knowing her for all of five minutes, Killian was seriously thinking of asking her out.

*********

Emma could feel the nearness of the man beside her and, shockingly enough, she didn’t mind at all. In fact, she actually found herself leaning toward him.

Her friend Elsa mentioned her brother-in-law to Emma several times, but she had never met him or seen a picture of him. If she had, she definitely would have remembered, because the man was ridiculously handsome. She probably seemed like an idiot when he asked about the empty seat beside her and she didn’t tell him he could sit there right away. She was simply gobsmacked when she looked up at him and had trouble getting her mind to work.

Fortunately, once he sat down, words were easier and the conversation she had with him was very enjoyable. She found herself wishing he had gotten there sooner, so they could have had more time to chat before the pageant began. It had been quite a while since she actually wanted more time to talk to a man. Usually, she wanted them to shut up and leave her alone.

Finding someone to date in Storybrooke was not an easy feat. Not that she put much effort into it. After what she went through with Neal, she swore off dating altogether. He not only broke her heart by leaving her for another woman, he told her he never loved her in the first place and the only reason he stayed with her as long as he did was because she was careless enough to get pregnant. He didn’t seem to realize that he had a little something to do with her ending up in that condition, too. She didn’t regret it, though. Henry was the best thing that ever happened to her. She had been telling herself for years that she loved her kid and he was the only male she needed in her life.

How absurd was it for her to want a chance to get better acquainted with Killian Jones so soon after meeting him?

*********

Killian’s whirlpool of thoughts was interrupted when music began playing and the third and fourth grade students trooped onto the stage to stand on the risers, all of them dressed in homemade costumes for their various roles.

Leaning over, he quietly asked, “Which one is Henry?”

Emma pointed. “The one with the jeans chopped off at the knees, white shirt and a vest made out of a cut up paper bag. Real professional, huh? He reminded me last night that he needed a costume, so it’s the best I could do.”

“I think it’s very effective. He’s supposed to be a poor boy, right?”

They fell silent when a little girl dressed as Mrs. Claus stepped to the microphone to introduce the first song. As Killian tried to lay his elbow on the arm rest, he bumped Emma’s, which was already there.

“Sorry, Love,” he whispered, tucking his arm against his side.

“We can share,” she whispered back, scooting her arm over to give him some room. Under normal circumstances, he would have passed on the offer, but he quite liked how it felt to touch her. Once their elbows were both on the arm rest, he turned his attention back to the stage, where the students dressed as elves were lining up to lead the song Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas, while Mary Margaret was taking her seat behind the piano.

“You were right,” Emma muttered. “Your nieces are the cutest reindeer.”

“Of course they are. They take after their uncle,” he cheeked.

Mary Margaret launched into the accompaniment before Emma could reply.

Frosty the Snowman followed, with students dressed as snow people spinning and dancing on the stage. One snowman twirled himself dizzy and almost fell off of the stage. Luckily, David was quick on his feet, catching the little boy and preventing disaster.

“I can guarantee I’ll hear about what a hero he was for days from Mary Margaret,” Emma remarked as they clapped at the end of the song.

“Your boy is up next,” Killian reminded her.

“Oh, yeah,” she said, scrambling to pull her phone out of her purse.

“Would you like me to take the video so you can sit back and enjoy his performance?”

She looked at him. “You wouldn’t mind?”

“Not at all. It would be my pleasure.”

Emma quickly unlocked her phone, pulled up the camera app and set it to video. “You know how to do this, right?”

He chuckled as he took it from her hands. “Don’t worry, Swan. I’m a twenty-first century man, so I do know a fair amount about technology.”

Henry took his place behind the snare drum and smiled widely at his mom. However, once the song started, he was all business, taking his drum solo very seriously. After filming the entire group of students during the first verse, Killian zoomed in on Henry for the rest of the song, capturing his solemn expression as he struck the drum in perfect rhythm.

At the conclusion of the song, Killian turned the phone toward Emma, who was clapping loudly and shouting, “Way to go, kid!” Through the lens, Killian could see the sheen of proud tears in her eyes. He didn’t stop filming until she turned to him to get her device back.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’m glad I could enjoy it without having to watch him through my phone screen.”

“No problem,” he assured her. “He did a wonderful job. He just might have a future as a drummer in a band.”

“I hope he’s out on his own by then if he does. I don’t think I could handle all of the practicing.”

Killian chuckled and settled back in his seat to enjoy the next two songs. When it was time for the reindeer to take their place at the front of the stage, he dug his own phone out of the front pocket of his jeans.

“Here, I’ll return the favor,” Emma said, reaching for the phone. “Enjoy your nieces’ performance.”

“Thanks, Love,” he said gratefully.

The song went well until one of the twins accidentally stepped on the other one’s foot, who then pushed the unwitting culprit. A short shoving match ensued between the two of them, until Mary Margaret snapped her fingers at them with one hand, while continuing to play the piano with the other.

Killian scanned the crowd to find his brother and sister-in-law. Liam was trying, and failing, to keep a grin off of his face, while Elsa scowled ferociously at her rowdy daughters.

The rest of the song went on without further incident. When Emma handed his phone back, Killian remarked, “I think the girls might be in for it after this is over.”

“Yeah, Elsa looks pretty peeved.”

“Do you know her?”

“We got to know each other through the PTO, and we’ve become pretty good friends.”

“PTO?” he questioned.

“Parent-teacher organization. We do fundraisers to give the school and staff extra things the district doesn’t provide. We also sponsor fun events for students and their parents, like skating parties and bingo nights.”

“It sounds very beneficial,” Killian commented.

Mary Margaret announced that the final song was Silent Night and after the students sang it through once, the audience was encouraged to join in.

The children, who had just sung Rudolph loudly and exuberantly, now sang the beloved carol with great reverence. A hush fell over the crowd as they listened to the sweet voices. Killian turned his eyes toward Emma and saw her swallow hard, clearly trying to keep her emotions in check. He was a little emotional himself and he didn’t even have a child on the stage.

Killian added his rich baritone the second time through. He could hear Emma’s voice and wasn’t at all surprised that it was as lovely as the lady herself.

As the final notes faded away, she turned to look at him. He smiled and winked, beginning to clap with the rest of the audience. When the ovation was over, she quickly collected her coat and purse. “I have to go get Henry from his classroom. I…it was nice meeting you, Killian. Maybe we’ll see each other the next time you come to town.”

He looked stunned. “Aye, Swan, perhaps we will.”

With a final wave, she was gone, swallowed up by the crowd.

*********

As he watched her walk away, Killian felt like kicking himself. He just let her go, without asking her out or even requesting her phone number. He was sure he wasn’t the only one who felt the connection between the two of them, but now it was too late to act on it.

She did say she was Elsa’s friend, so perhaps he could get Emma’s information from his sister-in-law. That was less than ideal, but it might be his only option.

He sighed, grabbed his coat from the chair and set off to locate his family.

*********

Emma hated leaving the way she did, but she knew Henry would be waiting for her. Telling her son how proud she was of him, trumped hanging around to talk to Killian some more. She truly hoped she would run into him again, sometime.

She wished she would have been bold enough to ask him for his phone number. Of course, she could always get it from Elsa, but that would mean telling her friend she was interested in her brother-in-law. Emma didn’t really want to open that can of worms.

So as she fought her way through the crowd, disappointment rose up within her because she knew she was leaving behind the first guy who drew her interest in a very long time.

*********

“Where’s Elsa?” Killian asked, once he found Liam still occupying the seat he sat in during the performance.

“She went to get the girls. I offered, but she insisted. She may knock their heads together after their antics on stage.”

Killian laughed. “Never a dull moment with those two, is there?”

“Not a single one. Thanks for coming, brother,” Liam said, standing up to clap Killian on the shoulder.

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I told Missy and Alice I would try to make it and I didn’t want to let them down.”

“You’re a good uncle.”

“The best,” Killian smirked. Then his face took on a serious expression. “May I ask you something?”

“Sure. What’s on your mind?”

“Uh…how well do you know…Emma Swan?”

Liam’s brows raised. “She and Elsa are good friends, so I know her pretty well. Why do you ask?”

Killian scratched behind his ear. “I, um…I sat beside her this evening. I never met her before, but I…she…she seems very nice.”

Liam studied his brother for several moments. “Are you interested in her?” he queried.

His brother shrugged. “I just…we had a good conversation and I thought about…”

When he didn’t continue, Liam supplied, “Asking her out?”

Killian shrugged again. “I know. It’s a stupid idea. I mean, I just met her and we only talked for a few minutes, but…”

Liam stepped in front of him, placing both hands on his brother’s shoulders. “Killian, I know you had a rough go of it with Milah, but you can’t go through life never taking a chance again.”

“Emma probably wouldn’t accept…”

“You won’t know unless you try.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway. She went to collect her son and then they’ll leave.”

“Then we’ll go find her before they do.”

“Liam…”

“Killian, a man unwilling to fight for what he wants, deserves what he gets.”

Killian considered his brother’s words for a few seconds. “You’re right. Let’s go see if she’s still here.”

The pair took off through the nearly empty auditorium. Liam led Killian down one hallway, then nearly ran into Elsa and the girls when they turned the corner.

“There are my lovely ladies,” Liam said, kissing first one of his daughters on the head, then the other. “Good job, my little reindeer.” Seeing the stern look Elsa was giving him, he added, “But perhaps next time you shouldn’t stand right next to each other.”

“It was Missy’s fault,” Alice began, before being cut off by her mother.

“I’ve already talked to you about this,” Elsa reprimanded. “You were both at fault and tomorrow, you will both apologize to Mrs. Nolan.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they chorused. Then they rushed to get a hug from their uncle.

“You came!” Alice cried.

“Told you he would,” Missy said. “Uncle Killy would never let us down, would you?”

“I can’t promise that I never will, but I’ll try my very best not to,” he assured them, one arm wrapped around each twin.

Liam pulled Elsa aside. “Did you see Emma?” he asked.

“Yes, she was picking up Henry at the same time I was getting the girls,” his wife answered. “Why?”

Lowering his voice so their daughters wouldn’t hear, he said, “Killian sat beside her during the performance and they seemed to hit it off. He was hoping to catch her before she left and ask her out.”

Elsa’s expression went from very excited to downcast. “I’m afraid they’re gone already.”

Killian caught what she said and his heart sank. He knew he missed his chance when he let her walk away.

Elsa saw the look on her brother-in-law’s face. “Girls, hug your uncle and tell him goodbye. I’m sure he needs to start back to Portland soon.”

Missy and Alice took turns getting big bear hugs from Killian, then Liam bid him goodbye and took the girls to the car, clearly aware that his wife wanted to talk to his brother alone.

Killian gave Elsa a questioning look. “What do you have up your sleeve?”

“Do you think Emma was attracted to you?”

He shrugged slightly. “I can’t say for sure, but we talked quite a bit and she seemed to like me.”

“The fact that she enjoyed talking to you leads me to believe she does. I love Emma, but she can be a bit prickly. I think you should ask her out.”

“Did you miss the part when you said she already left?”

“I’m going to give you her address, smart guy. Then you can go to her house.”

“Perhaps you should just give me her phone number instead.”

“You will not ask her out over the phone,” Elsa commanded. “That’s too impersonal.”

Killian nodded. “I see your point.” Pulling out his phone, he brought up Google Maps and typed in the address Elsa read from her contacts list. “It’s only a five minute drive.”

“Yes it is, which gives you less time to change your mind.” She gave him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. “Now get going. Call us when you’re on the way home and let us know what happened.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, saluting smartly. When she rolled her eyes at him, he grew serious. “Thank you, Elsa.”

“You’re welcome. Now go turn on your charm.”

*********

Ten minutes later, Killian pulled up in front of the small, unassuming house where the GPS led him. After cutting the engine, he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, contemplating whether or not he should go through with his plan.

His phone buzzed with an incoming text.

Liam: Remember what I told you. Don’t lose your nerve.

Killian shook his head and snorted out a laugh. Sometimes it was almost scary how well his brother knew him.

“The worst that can happen is she turns me down. I can survive that, right?” he muttered to himself. “Well, I guess we’ll find out.”

He unbuckled his seatbelt, threw open his car door and climbed out. Then he walked up the short sidewalk, lined with lighted plastic candy canes. After knocking on the front door, he nervously brushed one hand through his hair, then tugged at the bottom of his black leather jacket.

The door swung open and he found himself looking down at the little drummer boy, still dressed in his cut off jeans and white shirt, sans the paper bag vest. They looked at each other for a couple of seconds, then Henry turned and yelled, “Mom! Some guy is here!”

“Henry, what have I told you about answering the…” Emma’s words cut off suddenly when she came into view. “Killian?” she questioned disbelievingly.

“Uh, hi. I, um…I hope you don’t mind me stopping by,” he stammered.

She looked flabbergasted. “How did you know where I live?”

“Elsa gave me your address. I hope that was okay.”

Henry looked back and forth between the two adults. “Do you mean Mrs. Jones? Alice’s mom?”

“And Missy’s,” Emma added distractedly.

“How do you know Mrs. Jones?” Henry asked.

“Killian’s brother Liam is Elsa’s husband,” Emma explained. “Henry, please go turn the burner off under the hot cocoa so it won’t burn.”

“If it’s ready, can I pour some…”

“Absolutely not. Do not touch the pan or anything else; just the knob for the burner.”

“But I…”

She put her arm around his shoulders. “After you turn off the stove, why don’t you go ahead and put your pajamas on. Just give me a couple of minutes to speak to Mr. Jones, okay?”

“You did a fine job on your drum solo tonight, lad,” Killian said.

Henry’s face brightened. “Do ya really think so?”

“Aye. You were the star of the show.”

A wide grin split the boy’s face. “Thanks! I practiced a lot!”

“Your mother told me you did. Practice makes perfect, they say.”

“I guess so. We can be in band next year and I want to play percussion.”

Killian snuck a glance at Emma, who closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. With difficulty, he kept from laughing, before answering, “I’m sure you’ll enjoy that.”

“At least one of us will,” Emma mumbled, before reminding Henry about turning off the stove.

“Bye, Mr. Jones. Merry Christmas!” Henry shouted on his way out of the room.

“Merry Christmas to you, lad.”

“So, um, not to sound rude, but why are you here?” Emma asked as soon as they were alone.

He tried not to fidget as he thought of what to say. “I…I really enjoyed talking to you this evening.”

“I enjoyed talking to you, too.”

Encouraged, the corner of his mouth quirked up. “That’s good to hear. So, I was wondering if…if you would consider going out with me.”

“On a date?” she asked, brows shooting up.

“Aye, that’s the idea.”

“I can’t…”

Killian felt his stomach drop.

“...even remember the last time I went on a date.”

“Perhaps we should remedy that,” he suggested hopefully.

Emma pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, chewing on it in contemplation. “I don’t know…”

“Go out with him, Mom!” Henry yelled from the kitchen.

“Really, kid?” Emma said, clearly exasperated.

Henry poked his head around the door frame. “I like him.”

“Weren’t you told to put your pajamas on?”

“I will. I just accidentally heard what Mr. Jones said.”

Emma crossed her arms and gave him a patented ‘mom look’. “Accidentally, huh?”

He shrugged. “I have good hearing.”

“Only when you want to have it,” she stated. “Now, go do as you were told.”

“Okay,” he sighed, trudging down the hallway to his room.

She turned back to Killian, dropping her arms to her sides. “Looks like you have my kid’s approval.”

He studied her for a few seconds. “What about you, Emma? Do I have your approval, too? Elsa said she would be happy to watch Henry for you if we go out.”

She hesitated, then lifted her chin decisively. “Yes, Killian. I would love to go out with you.”

*********

One year later…

Killian followed Emma down the aisle of the auditorium and grinned when he realized what seats she chose. After sitting down, he draped his arm around her shoulders and leaned over to murmur in her ear, “These seats seem familiar, Love.”

She snuggled against his side. “They’re very special, because this is where I met the love of my life.”

“What a coincidence,” he teased. “This is where I met mine, too.”

Elsa and Liam slid into the seats in front of them. “Hello, lovebirds,” Elsa grinned.

“Don’t encourage them,” Liam cautioned. “I already have to witness far too much PDA from those two.”

“You don’t have to watch, you know,” Killian said, lightly whacking the back of Liam’s head.

“Both of you behave,” Elsa said, as Emma giggled.

“Speaking of behaving,” Killian began, “do you think your daughters will make it through the concert without assaulting each other this year?”

“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Liam said. “I caught Missy trying to hit her sister over the head with her flute the other day.”

“Be happy it wasn’t the other way around,” Emma commented. “Alice could do some serious damage with her saxophone.”

They were still laughing when the fifth grade band shuffled onto the stage in all their Christmas finery, instruments held proudly in front of them. Emma and Killian immediately spotted Henry taking his place behind the snare drum. He smiled and gave them a quick wave before picking up his drumsticks.

“He looks so grown up,” Emma said quietly.

“Your little drummer boy isn’t very little anymore,” Killian observed fondly. He and Henry had a very close relationship and he loved the boy as his own.

“A lot has changed in the past year,” she sighed happily.

“Aye, Love. It’s been phenomenal in every way.”

Mary Margaret, who also instructed the fifth grade band along with teaching elementary music, walked out onto the stage, preparing to introduce their first song.

Emma settled against Killian’s side to enjoy the concert. A year ago, sitting in these very seats, neither of them could ever have imagined what that first meeting would mean to them.

As the band began playing Jingle Bells, Killian pulled Emma a little closer. His chest swelled with pride watching Henry concentrating on his music, as he beat out the rhythm on the drum. This year, Emma hadn’t had to endure his incessant practicing alone, since Killian moved in with them just before Thanksgiving.

Emma saw Killian glancing at his watch once the third and final song ended. “Are you anxious to leave? You know we still have to sit through the sixth grade and junior high bands, don’t you?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m aware. I was just trying to gauge what time it will be over.”

“I’d say the concert will last about an hour,” Liam threw over his shoulder.

Killian slumped a bit in his chair. Then he caught sight of Henry, who was sitting in a reserved section to their right with the rest of the fifth grade band. The boy beamed at him and gave him a thumbs up. Killian winked and returned his smile.

Last year, the evening of Henry’s concert ended with Killian asking Emma out on their first date. This year, he had a different question to ask when they got home, one for which Henry had already given his approval.

He hoped her answer would be the same as last year. If so, they would be sitting in these seats next year as husband and wife.

Kissing her temple, Killian impatiently waited for the sixth grade band to begin playing. He intertwined their fingers, imagining how her hand would look with the diamond engagement ring on it. When she turned her face up to look at him, love shining in her eyes, he knew the beauty of the diamond would pale in comparison to the lady wearing it.

*********

Liam’s estimate for the length of the concert was right on the nose. When they finally walked out of the auditorium, light snow was falling. The conversation in the car on the way home was warm and playful. Henry laughed about the sixth grade percussionist who dropped one of the cymbals in the middle of a song, and expressed his hope that when he got older, he would be the one to make the whip sound for Sleigh Ride.

“Lord, help us through seven more years of band,” Emma murmured under her breath, causing Killian to laugh, despite the nerves that were knotting his stomach.

As soon as they got home, Henry went into the kitchen to get the ingredients out for hot cocoa, dubbing it a tradition after the Christmas concert.

“Is it a tradition if this is only the second time we did it?” Emma asked.

“I don’t know,” Killian answered, “but I do know of another tradition that’s been around much longer.” He pointed at the top of the doorway between the living room and kitchen.

“When did you put mistletoe up there?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“This evening while you were getting dressed for the concert.”

“You’re very sneaky,” she said, leaning in until her lips were just a fraction of an inch away from his.

“And you love me for it,” he grinned.

“Mmhmm,” she hummed before kissing him.

“Pre-teen boy coming through,” Henry announced, squeezing past them. “I’m going to put my pajamas on. Please be done making out by the time I get back.”

Emma and Killian laughed into their kiss. “I think we’re scarring him for life,” he quipped.

“That’s what parents are for,” she replied.

Killian pulled back to look at her. “You consider me to be his parent?”

“You’re more of a father to him than Neal has ever been.”

He surged forward to kiss her again. When it finally ended, he asked, “Do you think Henry regards me that way, too?”

“I’m sure he does.”

“Does what?” Henry asked, re-entering the room, now dressed in plaid Christmas pajamas.

“Do you think of Killian as one of your parents?” Emma asked.

“Well, duh,” he stated matter-of-factly. “Can we make hot chocolate now?”

Emma tried to give Killian a look that said I told you so, but he was gazing at Henry with a sense of wonder over the boy’s declaration.

Once the cocoa was gone and Henry was off to bed, Killian and Emma lay together on the sofa. The living room was lit only by the gas fireplace and the lights from the Christmas tree, while Christmas music played softly.

“This is nice,” she sighed.

He hummed in agreement, stroking his hand up and down her back. His thoughts were preoccupied with the perfect way to propose, so he almost missed what she said next.

“Marry me, Killian.”

His hand on her back stilled as his mind registered what she just said. “Wh-what?”

She pushed up on her elbows to look into his face. “Marry me.”

“Swan, you’re depriving me of a dashing proposal!” he protested.

She cocked her head, studying him. “Are you serious?”

He slid out from under her to kneel on the floor in front of the couch, reaching into the pocket of his sleep pants to retrieve the ring and holding it up for her to see.

Her eyes widened as she swung her feet down to the floor. “Oh. My. God. You really were going to propose, weren’t you?”

“Aye.”

“Are you mad at me?”

“Mad? Why would I be mad? Since you asked me first, I’m pretty sure I know what your answer is going to be,” he chuckled.

“You still have to ask. That’s the rule.”

“Whose rule?”

“Mine. Now, let’s hear that dashing proposal.”

He grinned, then cleared his throat. “Emma, you and Henry have changed my life in every way possible. I never knew happiness like this even existed, let alone that it would happen to me. There aren’t enough words in this world to express how much I love you, but right now, there’s only one word I need to hear in response to this question - Emma Swan, will you marry me?”

Tears filled her eyes when she opened her mouth to answer, but emotion clogged her throat, so she nodded emphatically and threw her arms around him. As he held her tight, kissing her and murmuring words of love, she finally found her voice. “Yes, Killian, I will marry you! I love you so much!”

She pulled away, wiping at her eyes. “Henry and I are very lucky to have you in our lives. I know I’m speaking for him too when I say we want you to be part of our family forever.” Framing his face with her hands, she leaned in to kiss him again.

“Do you want the ring?” he asked against her lips.

She giggled and sat back, extending her left hand to him. He slid the ring into place and kissed her knuckle above it.

“It’s perfect,” she breathed.

“You are perfect, my love.”

“Says the man who complains when I leave wet towels on the floor,” she teased.

“Well…nearly perfect,” he grinned.

She held her hand up to admire the ring, the lights of the Christmas tree making the diamond glitter. “We’re engaged,” she said, awestruck.

“Mmhmm. Who would have thought that a little drummer boy and two feuding reindeer would bring us together and give us a happy ending?”

Her eyes met his, laughter and love dancing in them. “Best night of my life, hands down. Until today,” she amended.

Kissing the tip of her nose, he whispered, “Happy Christmas, wife-to-be.”

“Merry Christmas, husband-to-be.”

He stood up and took her hand to help her to her feet. Then they went to their bedroom to share the best gift of all - the love they had for each other.

*********

My heartfelt wishes for all of you to have a blessed and memorable Christmas!

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#drummer boys reindeer and romance #csff #a secret santa gift for mie779 #csss #cssecretsanta2024 #cs modern au #humor and fluff #cs fanfiction #cs Christmas story

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