#like every night i work on crosswords with my right hand and not to brag but i think im decent

[the-physicality]

please expand on the left handed thing...

i'm left handed so naturally i think people who are left handed are better than everyone lmao

[sambergscott]

a peralta guarantee

“I promise I’ll come home safe, Ames. That’s a Peralta Guarantee.”

(missing scenes from 7x08 - amy worrying about jake)

hUge thanks to johanna for inspiring this fic and helping when i had a lil breakdown halfway through

When he approaches her desk mid-afternoon with a decaf coffee and the white chocolate chip cookies she’s been craving from the bakery across town, she knows he’s either a) broken something, b) wants something or c) has bad news. She narrows her eyes suspiciously, detecting an excited bounce in his step which can only mean it’s b and c; he wants something she’s not going to like.

“Hey, babe,” he tries to play it cool, clearing a butt-sized space on her desk on which to sit. “I come bearing gifts.”

“What do you want, Peralta?” She cuts to the chase.

“Damn it, you know me too well,” he mutters. “OK, so, here’s the thing: Doug Judy’s gettin’ married. He invited me to his Bachelor Party this weekend and I know he’s a criminal, Ames, but I really wanna go. Like, so bad. Would you be cool with that?”

She conjures up a mental pro and con list. On one hand, Doug Judy is The Pontiac Bandit, known felon, committer of God knows how many crimes, an overall bad dude. On the other, he’s Jake’s friend, singer of the smush songs CD in the glove box of their car that they always forget to take out, giver of the Le Creuset pot she adores. He’s always been nice to her and—.

“Sarge?” Gary interrupts her decision-making process with a quick question about a perp he just brought in, snapping her back to reality. She’s a Police Sergeant, her job is to serve and protect the city they call home and as much as she loves cooking her mom’s beef casserole recipe in Judy’s awesome wedding gift, she has a responsibility to bring him in.

“I’m sorry, babe. I just think it’s a bad idea.”

His face falls, his disappointment coming through loud and clear.

“What were you expecting me to say? Ignore the million arrest warrants out on this guy, many of them submitted by you, so you can drink beer and go to strip clubs?”

“You’re right,” he sighs. “You’re obviously right. Man, being good at your job sucks.”

She nods in agreement. “Remember last month when I had to shut that binder store down for running a secret drug dealing operation out back?”

“How could I forget? You cried for three days straight.”

“They had the best binder collection I’ve ever seen!”

(It was actually what was so fishy about it. In four trips to buy pregnancy binders, she hadn’t seen any of the founding members of the Brooklyn Binder Babes blog — Mary Sue, Catherine, Margaret or Jane — once. And there’s no way a stationery start-up would attract such long queues without their recommendation. It was a pretty easy solve from there).

“The point is, you can’t go to a criminal’s Bachelor Party.” She pats his hand. “You’ll just have to come maternity clothes shopping with me instead. None of my jeans fit me anymore.”

“As much as I would love to, you can take Kylie. I’m going to the party.”

“What?” She double-takes. “Jake, did you not listen to what I literally just said? We’re cops. We cannot be friends with criminals.”

“But we can be friends with informants who have helped us catch numerous, even bigger, more dangerous criminals,” he says with that look on his face, the one he gets when he finds a loophole that he can use to his advantage. She recognises it from home videos Karen has shown her where, instead of tidying his room like she asked him to, seven year old Jake shoves everything under his bed and carries on enacting a police chase with his race cars. “Captain Holt has given him immunity before, so technically I should be able to go party it up with him in Miami!”

“Wait... It’s in Miami? Miami... Florida?”

It’s a stupid question, she knows. Of course he means Miami, Florida. It’s just... they both promised on the flight home that they would never, ever go back there. After everything that happened with Figgis and not knowing if they’d ever see each other again, a statewide travel ban seemed a good way to put it all behind them, focus on all their future moments together, not on all the moments they missed.

“This isn’t like last time,” he reassures her. “It’s only for a weekend and then I’ll be coming straight home for snuggles with you and —,” he lowers his voice to a whisper because they haven’t told anyone she’s pregnant yet, “the baby.”

Her eyes fill with tears and she bites her lip so hard to stop them overflowing in front of all her uniformed officers. It’s pretty clear that he wants to go and she never wants to be one of them wives who control their husbands’ every move. All she wants is for him to be happy. And if going to Doug Judy’s Bachelor Party makes him happy, he should go, no matter how much she hates the entire state of Florida. She agrees, on one condition: “You have to text me hourly updates to let me know that you’re still alive.”

“Don’t I text you constantly anyway?”

“I guess so,” she sniffs.

He lifts her chin so she’s looking him in the eyes. “I promise I’ll come home safe, Ames. That’s a Peralta guarantee.”

“You better,” she warns, tears suddenly flowing down her face at the thought of him not coming home, not being there to watch Property Brothers with her, not raising their baby and proving to everyone what a great dad he will be.

Used to her extra strength pregnancy hormones shifting her emotions from 0 to 100 faster than John McClane can say “Yippie-Ki-Yay, motherfucker”, he pulls her into a tight hug, careful not to crush the precious cargo that is behind said mood swings.

He strokes her hair and whispers that he’ll be home before she knows it and that nothing, not even the worst state in the country, will tear him away from her.

When it’s time for him to leave, she follows him out to the street and, after a brief argument over the fact he packed his bag before he OK’ed the trip with her and another hormone-induced cry when his cab shows up, reluctantly waves goodbye.

True to his word, he texts her before the car is even out of sight. Miss you already 😘.

--

Her phone buzzes periodically throughout the rest of the day.

In a meeting with Holt and Terry: flying on mark cuban’s dope ass private plane!!!!! ✈️

Cooking dinner: florida is HOT (not as hot as u babe, dont worry)

Doing her crossword in bed: g’night ames, g’night baby, love u both SO MUCH

She smiles, tells him she loves him too and braces herself for the barrage of drunk texts and selfies coming her way.

--

Sleeping without him sucks. The bed is cold, her pregnancy pillow is not as good of a cuddle buddy and she tosses and turns all night worrying about him, where he is, what he’s doing, whether he’s safe.

Her eyes finally slip shut around 1 am when her phone buzzes. Again. And again. And again.

She tries to ignore him, bury her head under her pillow and go back to sleep, but the messages keep coming thick and fast. She groans, giving up and unlocking her phone.

There are 47 new messages from him.

Forty-seven.

Her initial annoyance at being woken up quickly disappears as she scrolls through the thread. He’s mostly sent her random, meaningless emojis and keysmashes, interspersed with the odd “I love you”, “you’re my best friend” and “I’m thinking about you” that warm her heart. He mentions something about their proposal, about crying with Doug Judy, which obviously makes her cry too.

(Dumb pregnancy hormones).

By the time she reaches the bottom, he’s sent her 10 more.

She decides for her sake — and the sake of all of her officers who would have to deal with a tired, emotional pregnant lady — to turn off her phone and reply to him in the morning.

She returns her phone to her nightstand, settles back into a comfortable position and closes her eyes.

She lies motionless for what feels like hours, unable to fall asleep. She tries the breathing technique her brother David brags about constantly, counting sheep like little Matthew, even reciting police codes like Teddy used to go to sleep after sex. Nothing works. She’s still awake.

She turns her phone back on to see what Jake’s up to now, only to see his messages ended abruptly with a caterpillar emoji over an hour ago.  

She immediately panics, dialling 911 into her phone.

Her thumb hovers over the green call button.

She’s heard thousands of crazy operator call stories, frequently reminded the general population to only call in a genuine emergency and watched the YouTube compilations for fun. She deletes the number, positive that if she told an operator her husband was missing because she hadn’t heard from him while he’s at a Bachelor Party, she’s positive she would be added to those videos.

In an attempt to stop her spiral, she contemplates the possible scenarios in which his constant texts would cease.

Scenario 1: He’s living in the moment and has put his phone away (something she has been encouraging him to do lately to reduce his screen time)

Scenario 2: He’s very drunk and has completely forgotten about his promise

Scenario 3: He used up all his battery texting her and his phone has died

Scenario 4: He’s fallen asleep (although a quick check of Trudy Judy’s insta reveals the party is very much still in full flow)

Scenario 5: Judy’s criminal buddies have killed him and thrown his body into the ocean

Once the thought pops into her head, no amount of squeezing her eyes shut will make the image go away.

Holt giving an emotional eulogy about wearing ties and being an amazing detective/genius.  

Some rookie taking over his desk.  

The sympathetic looks when she tells all the other moms in baby group that her husband died.  

Usually Jake is there to hold her when her nightmares get bad. She rolls over, expecting to see his kind eyes and soft smile, the untouched side of his bed only serving to make her cry harder.

She can’t lose him. Not yet. Not until they’re old and grey, and maybe not even then. She spent so long denying her feelings for her dorky partner, rueing every missed opportunity to be together, and when they finally, finally took the plunge, she had never been happier. She can’t lose him yet. They have so much more life left to live.

She can’t lose him because he promised her he would come home safe. He guaranteed it.

She clings onto the tiny grain of hope like one might cling onto a raft in the middle of the ocean.

He would never break a Peralta guarantee.

--

Her phone finally buzzes again an hour later.

From: Unknown

Ames, it’s me, Jake. Judy’s buddies found out I’m a cop + destroyed my phone. So sorry I couldn’t text before. Hope you didn’t worry too much, although I know you probably haven’t slept. You can stop worrying now. I’m safe. Love you + see you tomorrow.  

Love you too, she responds, yawning as she places the phone back on the side table.

Relieved that he’s OK, and exhausted from all the worrying, she falls into the easiest sleep she’s ever had.

--

Before she knows it, it’s the next afternoon, Jake’s keys are turning in the lock, he’s dropping his holdall on the floor and rushing to her side to kiss her all over her face.

“I missed you too,” she laughs, kissing him properly.

“Sorry it took so long — Doug and Trudy made me fly commercial —.”

“Don’t worry about it. You’re home now. That’s all that matters.”

“I’m never leaving you two again,” he swears.

“You’ll have to leave us eventually to go to the bathroom and stuff,” she points out, raking her fingers through the unruly curls that she so hopes their baby will inherit. “Just don’t go back there.”

A solemn understanding passes over his face and he nods. “Never again. Not even if our kid wants to go to Disney World. We’ll take them to the California one instead.”

“Smort,” she says, stealing his line and in an instant, that familiar grin is back.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

A dozen memories flood back, of oldies in short shorts and shuffleboard and Doug Judy getting away again. Of noice and smort and saying “I love you” for the very first time. Her eyes fill with tears — dumb pregnancy hormones strike again — as she buries her face in his shoulder.

“Let’s go to bed,” he whispers, pressing a kiss to the top of her head and lifting her bridal style to carry her to their room. He places her carefully onto the mattress and flops down next to her.

She snuggles into him, eyes closing once more. “Did we even get an invite to the wedding?”

“Not even close,” he sighs.

“Damn it. I would’ve loved to see that trainwreck.”

“You and me both, babe. You and me both.”

[aboysbestfriendishismum]

Chapter 52 - Deer, dog tags and microwaves

In the previous chapter: Angie agrees to go out with Dave. Eddie keeps calling to talk to her and she has to spill the beans and tell Meg what happened in San Diego, she also tries to explain her point of view on the matter and why she's avoiding him. Grace and Meg planned to spend the evening together at Meg's place. Eventually Grace remains alone in the apartment for a few minutes and that's when Stone calls. Gossard is tender as always with her and she almost seems intimidated by his behaviour. Grace speaks to Eddie too and since she doesn't know about the kiss between Angie and him, she decides to shake things up a little and make him jealous by telling him about Angie going out with Dave that night. Eddie takes it really bad. Grace thinks her plan worked until she tells Meg and finds out where Angie and Eddie are really at. Once Angie comes back home  the girls finally have her call Eddie and tell him the truth. Angie confronts Eddie and reveals Dave has just started dating Jennifer, L7's bassplayer, and she simply went to one of their concerts with him so he wouldn't go alone and feel awkward. Eddie apologizes to Angie and confesses what he feels for her in a way he never managed to do before. Angie's friends hear it all since they forced her to put him on speakerphone.

***

Strong fragrance used in perfumery. Four letters. Starts with an M. Magnolia! No, it's eight. Mango... Mandarine... Ugh what the fuck? I strangely managed to put my hands on the copy of the Seattle Times that sometimes we happen to buy before Angie, so she hasn't done the crossword yet. But now I guess I'll have to ask my friend for help because I don't know how to go on.

“So, what was I saying? Oh yeah, I turn up at the table, usual protocol greeting with smile incuded, I ask the woman what she's having and she asks, literal words, a cheeseburger without chees and some fries” the door of her bedroom is open, I cautiously look inside and see her on the phone. Of course I already know who she's talking to. Since that night when Grace and I managed to convince her to call poor Eddie, there have been lots more calls, every day. Unfortunately not on speakerphone. Fuck, when he was there spilling his heart all out to Angie, Grace and I melted in sighs and aaaaaws and Vedder almost caught us. Am I nosey? Yes. I meddle in other people's love life to avoid thinking of the disaster which is mine? Yes, I do. Am I also genuinely happy things are going great for my friend as she deserves though? I am!

“Wait. I'm just standing there, kind of confused for how she spoke, then I reply: great, I'll take you the Go-go meal with hamburger + fries + medium drink for $ 4,99. Well, basically she doesn't even let me finish talking and says: No, no, I don't want a hamburger. I want a cheeseburger with no cheese” Angie rocks left and right on the swivel chair as she listens her sweetheart's answer with a big smile on her face.

“Exactly! Hahaha same thing I told her: So... you mean... a hamburger, madam? NO! She says, very bitterly. I said I don't want any hamburger, I asked for a simple cheeseburger with no cheese! I swear she was yelling, I was so ashamed for me but for her too” Angie rotates a little more on her chair, sees me and nods at me.

“I didn't bat an eyelid and said: So you wanna pay one dollar more for a cheeseburger but you want it without the cheese?” Angie and I burst our laughing together as I enter her room, then she goes on “Yes, that's the point, 'cause the Cheeseburger menu costs more, that's the most absurd thing! If I take an order as cheeseburger, even if I tell the guys in the kitchen not to put cheese in it, it'll still be considered as a cheeseburger. Well, you know what, this bitch widens her eyes to me and goes like: Yes, exactly! Was it so difficult for you to understand? Ahahah yeah, I told you, she was a bitch!”

“The customer's always right!” I state as I sit on her bed.

“Hey, you and Meg said the same thing almost at the same time! Anyway, since the customer's always right and this woman had just basically told me I was an idiot, whereas she was the real idiot, I cheerfully replied: Not at all, madam. There goes a Marilyn meal with cheesburger with no cheese + fries + medium drink for €5,99 for you, ok? And the bitch: Yes, that's it, now you're talking. Thank you. Oh fuck you! Hehe... wait a second, ok?” Angie laughs with Eddie, then takes the phone off her ear slightly and addresses me “Did you need anything?”

“Strong fragrnce used in perfumerie, starts with an M, four letters” I ask her, showing the newspaper.

“Musk” she answers in a couple of seconds. Yes! That was it! Why didn't I think about it. I hate her.

“Yeah, it can be actually”

“It cannot be, it actually is!” she gloats then puts the receiver back against her ear “What? Did you know it too? He knew it too”

“Well thank you both but there's no need to brag!” I throw a pillow at Angie, who manages to dodge it, then takes it up from the floor.

“Sadly used in perfumerie I'd add... What do you mean why? Musk is extremely harmful, both the synthetic and the natural one... Well, in doubt, I'd rather not have to choose between either the total extinction of an animal species or pollution and maybe choose other kinds of perfumes, don't you think? What? What animal? What do you mean? You know where does musk come from, right?” a debate starts between Angie and Eddie and I can only hear one side of it, which I think it's the most consistent part anyway “Plant? What plant? Musk is not a plant! I mean, yeah, there's also some plant but that's not what's used to make perfumes. No! It's an animal secretion, from a deer, the musk deer. No, I'm not kidding, Eddie, I swear! There deer have a gland, like a small sack under their belly, that emits this substance and they spread it around to mark their territory, especially during mating season... Hahahaha no, Eddie, it's not deer's sperm!”

Not the typical conversation between lovers, right?

“Anyway now it's basically all synthetic” I remark once I write the correct word in the puzzle.

“That's even worse because it's extremely polluting and ends up in the food chain.” Angie answers both to me and Eddie “What? Hahaha no, don't buy me musk perfume, thank you. And don't buy me any presents in general... you already did too many... yes you did... yes you did... Eddie? Please... Come on...” now we're back to more couple stuff, Angie holds the pillow tighter and tighter and I think it's time to get out of here and go back to my room. Well, or to keep eavesdropping from outside without being seen.

“Wait, Meg! Yes, I'm gonna ask her now.” I stand up and am about to leave, walking backwards and waving bye, but Angie stops me “Will you go and see the guys tomorrow in Portland?”

“Yeah, that's the plan. Grace and Laura are coming too”

“Did you hear that? Meg, Grace and Laura, the perfect trio ready to cheer and throw bras at you”

“Haha I've got very little to throw!”

“No, Eddie, I told you, I can't... Roxy will kill me, it's even a Thursday, the night school nurses finish earlier... I can't take another day off”

I see our little Romeo is impatient. His dreams started to break when he found out Kelly had planned a series of radio promos and interviews right during the two days break between the two Oregon shows and that he'd have to wait before coming back to Settle. Eddie tried to avoid it by explaining that he doesn't really count in Stone and Jeff's band and that they could do the job but apparently it didn't work.

“Come on, I'll see you the day after tomorrow, no big change... Oh shut up, it doesn't change anything... Hahaha no!” I'm still here standing in the middle of Angie's room while she plays arond with that pillow and I'd really want to know what was that last no about but I know my friend will never tell me.

“Say hi to him, ok?” this time I leave for real, yet stopping in the hallway 'cause, as I said, I haven't learned how to mind my own business yet.

“Meg says hi! Anyway I was thinking of something. Hahaha no, not that! I was thinking, if the girl come to see you tomorrow... well, for someone it'll be like losing that famous bet once again... don't you think? Hehehe I have no idea, I don't know Portland, I don't know if there are any 70s discos in town, you should ask Stone. No no, ask him, I'm sure he'd be willing to set one up by himself so he could make fun of the losers! Haha yeah, that'd be a can't-miss event. Oh yeah? Why? Uh sure, my presence would definitely make the difference”

The lovebirds' phone call goes on for a little while, with Eddie probably telling her something sweet and Angie joking about it, maybe because of her natural embarrassment or because she knows exactly I'm right her listening to them. After she ends the call, she dispels my uncertainty.

“Meg!”

I keep my mouth shut.

“Meg? Come on, I know you're there!”

“Uhm? I was going to the bathroom” I magically show up back on the doorway, right in time to be the target of a weak pillow throw.

“Sure...”

“So?” I sit back on her bed, waiting for Angie to finally share something without me trying to forcefully extort information from her.

“Grace is coming with you tommorrow then?” Angie immediately kills all my hopes.

“Yeah, she is”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I called her in the morning and she told me she's in. Why?”

“I don't know, it's just... she doesn't really look like she can't wait to see Stone... does she? Am I wrong? I mean, it sounds strange but...”

“Wait a minute. Angela Pacifico... gossiping?!!”

“Hahaha fuck you, Meg!”

“Who are you? What did you do to my roommate?” I stand up straight, pointing at her with a trembling hand.

“I'm not gossiping, I'm just worrying about a couple of friends”

“Worrying huh?” I pull my arm down and snicker at her.

“Two dear friends I care about. And look cute together. And Grace seemed really into it at the beginning but now... meh... I mean, do you think there's something we don't know?” the new gossip queen is beating around the bush and I decide to play along. Also because one more conversation about Grace is one less about me and my non existent love life.

“Nah, I think it's normal. Grace had a crush and Stone played it cool. Now he doesn't act all cool anymore and she's confused, that's it”

“Stone looks pretty straight forward to me”

“Oh yeah, actually... He reminds me of someone else we know” this time I can't help picking on her but she rolls her eyes and goes on.

“He basically thinks they're a couple already, whereas she kind of shut him off” sure, a kind of behaviour you're really familiar with, right Angie? I don't say it loud this time.

“She will open up tomorrow, trust me”

“I don't want them to suffer, that's all” my friend shrugs and plays with the phone still in her hands. Are you saying this to yourself maybe?

“So... no musk perfume?” I aske her after a while and Angie starts rocking on her chair again.

“Haha no, please!”

“I have to remind Eddie to take one that's fruit scented” I wink at her while she puffs and takes a 360 degrees spin.

“Please...”

“Banana would be perfect”

“MEG!”

“What? What did I say?!”

****************************************************************************************************************************

Beer pong. Twenty six years old and I still play beer pong? Well, Kim's thirty and he organizes tournaments of these fucking games. It should console me. Twenty six, a steady relationship, a serious music project, a bank account that allows me to pay my bills without struggling at the end of the month... and I wake up at six in the morning in my bassplayer's bathtub. Fucking back pain! And why the fuck am I still in this shitty condo? I curse as I insist pressing the button to call for the elevator tht will never come. Then I give up to climb up four flights of stairs.

I drag my tired bones up to the door of my apartment but when I put my hand in my pocket looking for the keys the cold metal feeling is replace by total void. I can't fucking believe it. Did Matt have to find himself a girlfriend right now? I quickly feel up all the pockets in my jacket and in my pants, can't find shit and punch the door.

“Fuck” as throw the punch I clearly hear the clink sound of keys and I try and search better but I can't find anything. I punch the door once more and there's the sound again. I start jumping in place like a moron in front of the door and at every jump there's a jingle. I take off my jacket, shake it, same sound. I inspect each and every pocket more attentively and I find something: not the keys but a big hole in the left pocket. Mistery solved! Now I only have to use that little lucidity I've got left to determine the exact position of the keys inside the lining of my jacket and take them out. As I try to take them, I can hear another sound, not metallic but “human”, that catches my attention. A voice, like someone hummig very quietly without words. At first I think maybe it's someone singing while shaving or dressing up, after all it's morning for the rest of the world. But I can clearly hear this voice, although it's faint, and has a little echo that makes me thing the person's already left home. So why am I not seeing anyone passing? I walk through the hallway and I'm still feeling my jacket for the keys when I turn the corner and see him: Vedder, sitting on the floor, well on the mat just outside the girls' apartment, writing on a notebook, with a paperbag on his legs.

“Eddie?” I call him 'cause he doesn't seem to notice me.

“Oh, hey, hi Chris” Eddie stops writing and says hi, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

“What are you doing here? Aren't you on tour?”

“It's over! I mean, technically it ends on 3rd March but since the last three shows are here in Seattle we're basically done. I mean, we're done touring. Away” Eddie calmly explains, clicking his pen and putting it inside the notebook, then putting it all in the inside pocket of his jacket. As he does this, I can see his t-shirt: a white one with Air love bone written on it and the silhouette of a long haired basket player looking more like Jeff rather than Jordan. I've got one of those t-shirts too but mine is dark blue.

“Aren't you supposed to play in Oregon?”

“We were, we played in Portland last night. Small crowd but good atmosphere, great show” Eddie nods at himself and doesn't get up.

“Did you play yesterday? And when did you get back?”

“What time is it now? Uh half past seven. Well, a few hours ago”

“Hehe so you guys jumped on the van and dashed back home right after the show, right? You couldn't wait huh?” I guess he was especially looking forward to it. It's not like Eddie has ever told me anything about this stuff, I'm neither his confidant nor Jeff. But maybe I'm one of those, together with Ament and a few other people, who knows him a little better. Anyway it doesn't take a genius to figure out that if you're here outside a girl's door instead of at home in your bed to sleep the tour off, well, there's something big going on.

“Well, ehm, I don't know about this... I mean, don't know what the others did, I... I came back by myself” for a second Eddie loses his apparent composure.

“By yourself?”

“Yeah”

“How?”

“Hitchhiking” he replies raising his thumb.

“Hitchhiking?”

“Yes”

“You mean, you dropped everything and said I'm out of here, bye and hitchhiked to Seattle?”

“Village People inspired me”

“Uh?”

“Do you want to spend the night? Do you know the song?”

“Are you fucking high, Ed?”

At that point he explains it's about one of the infamous bets of Stone and Jeff and that part of our friends performed in the Melody Ballroom's parking lot. I know the place. I played that venue and I even saw Fugazi there. It's always made me smile thinking that they also do wedding and high school dances in that place. Well, congrats to the owner's versatility and open mindness.

“And at some point I thought: what the fuck am I doing here? And I asked some guys I already saw at some of our shows here if they could give me a ride” the reason he had this sudden realisation is right on the other side of that door, we both know, but none of us feels the need to point it out.

“And why did it take you so long?”

“Well, not that long...”

“How long have you been sitting on that fucking mat?” I ask when I finally find my fucking keys and try to fish them out.

“No, well, I've been here for an hour. Maybe two”

“And why?”

“Because it was too early”

“So fans dropped you here and then you noticed it was too early?”

“No, they didn't drop me here”

“And where?”

“At Pike Place” he answers like it's obvious and I'm stupid for asking.

“Pike Place” I nod and repeat, going along with him as you do with crazy people.

“I had to buy something” he adds grabbing the paper bag and putting it aside on the floor on his left side.

“But isn't it closed?” I ask skeptical.

“Bakeries open early”

“Ah” playing along, yeah, that's the best strategy.

“I had a coffee, something to eat, bought something for Angie, then came here”

“Hitchhiking?”

“Hahaha what? No, by street car!” once again he replies as if I'm the dork and maybe he's not entirely wrong.

“I came here and when I was about to ring the doorbell I realised it was like five o' clock in the morning”

“As another Village People's song says”

“Uhm, yeah... but what's that got to do with this?” he asks serious all of a sudden with a straight face and I basically burst out laughing at his face. With Eddie you never know if he's being serious or he's making fun of you and that's something I like in people. He surely must have understood I'm not exactly sane either, I think he learnt that the first time I took him out for a drink. Or when I showed up at the mini market and took him away after his shift ended, telling him I'd show him how local rockstars spend their friday nights. And we spent the night drinking beer and chasing my dogs, well Susan's dogs actually, in the woods.

“Hahaha nothing! So you parked your butt on that mat, right?”

“Yeah...” he answers, still confused “waiting for a more decent timing”

“Well, come on, half past seven seems acceptable” I walk up to him and try to ring the doorbell but Eddie stops me grabbing my wrist.

“No!”

“Why not?”

“I haven't heard any sounds, she hasn't waken up yet. I'll wait until she gets up” I back up and picture Eddie putting his ear against the door waiting for the sound of the microwave blip or the toilet flush and I laugh my ass off, internally. Don't wanna hurt the guy”

“What about your stuff?”

“What stuff?”

“Your things, your bags”

“Oh I only had a backpack, it's on the van. Jeff will bring it to me, I think”

“You think?”

“Well, I think so”

“But... did you tell your bandmates you were going back home?”

“Mmm... wait... oh yes, I told Mike” oh well, in that case, you really got nothing to worry about.

“Was he sober when you told him?”

“It looked like...” while Eddie begins describing Mike's state during last night's aftershow, the door he was leaning his back against abruptly opens and he falls dead weight backwards. I figure out he's still alive when he finishes the sentence from Angie's apartment's floor “... he was... yes!”

“What the fu... Eddie? Chris?” the girl gives each one of us a confused look, as she ties the belt of her pink robe.

“Hi sweetie! I found this on your doormat. No name tag but he looks well fed” I joke while Eddie's still lying on the floor.

“Hi Angie!” he exclaims enthusiastically as he looks her up in all her... sugarcandyness? Does it exist? D'uh...

“Eddie! What are you doing on the floor, get up” Angie offers him her hand and he gladly accepts, he takes her hand and grabs the doorknob and gets up.

“I fell” haha yeah, it's pretty evident you fell for that chick, you jerk.

“Did you get hurt?” she asks perplexed.

“Nah”

“He didn't hit his head, that's just his natual self, trust me. Hey Eddie, be careful” I warn him pointing at the paper bag he's almost trampling on.

“Oh fuck, thanks Chris” he takes the bag and holds it like it was a newborn baby to cradle.

“What's that?” she asks, more and more puzzled, also because she must have just got up and as first activity of the day she has to deal with two assholes.

“Breakfast!” Vedder replies, all smug and pleased with himself.

“Oh... thank you... well, let's have breakfast” Angie points back to the inside of her apartment and I guess it's time to get out of here now, considering I also found my fucking keys.

“See ya then, ok?”

“Aren't you having breakfast with us?” she asks so innocently. Eddie's look is enough for me to find the right answer.

“No, thank you sweetie, I'm too tired. And just the idea of eating or drinking something right now makes my stomach cry”

“Mmh, ok, see you later then”

“Bye Chris!” Eddie disappears into her apartment.

“Good night guys... I mean, good morning... well, you got the idea”

“Night Chris”

****************************************************************************************************************************

“What the hell were you doing out here chatting? I heard noises and-” I close the door after I make sure Chris can walk straight enough to get to his apartment and as soon as I turn around I'm swept away by Eddie who engulfs me in a hug and corners me against the door.

“Sorry if we woke you up”

“N-no, but no! I... was already awake”

“I missed you”

“Oh, ehm, I missed you too” I reply and I really hope the mouthwash I used last night really has prolonged action as the label claims because Eddie's basically breathing against my lips, rubbing his nose against mine.

“So fuckin' much...” he's getting closer and I don't know where to look, if I should look, if I should close my eyes, kiss him, wait for him to kiss me, if I should just keep my mouth shut and enjoy the moment.

But I am keeping my mouth shut...

Well, you should shut up in your mind too, you idiot!

But not thinking... it's impossible. Even thinking about not thinking... it's a thought after all, isn't it?

But why are you coming up with this shit while Eddie's torturing you so sweetly? And your hands? Where the fuck did you put your hands?

Wait, I've got them... just... hanging, mid air, I'm basically hugging him with my elbows.

With your elbows? What the fuck, are you a mechanic? Not touching people with your hands dirty with grease?! You look like the young sheperd in nonna's presepe, the marvelled one, with his hands thrown up in the air.

I manage to interrupt the inner quarrel with myself for a moment and place my hands on Eddie's shoulders. He must perceive it as a green lights signal and kisses me.

Dave Gahan is nowhere to be seen or heard and the same goes for his bandmates, uncle Tome Jones doesn't show up, no Sonny, no Cher, nobody. For a minute there I almost feel like an adult, at least until I hear castanets clanking and Phil Spector literally throws the Crystals trio on stage unceremoniously.

He kissed me in a way that I've never been kissed before

He kissed me in a way that I wanna be kissed forever more

The concert doesn't end when Eddie pulls away for a second and looks at me in the eyes, as if he was searching for something. Maybe he's trying to understand if I'm on this planet or not and he already knows there'll be no point asking me directly. I don't know what kind of answer he finds but he must like it because he smiles, perfectly showing his fucking dimples... as if I needed other stimulation! And he kisses me again. This time it's small kisses slowly going from my lips to my cheek, then down towards the neck. One of his hands moves up along my hips, it may or may not, maybe I dreamt it, brush against my left boob. He tickles my arms even through a pretty thick layer of fleece, caresses my face and buries his hand into my hair, while his neck kisses turn into bites.

I gotta do something.

But I don't want to!

But you have to, can't you see you're panicking? Do you wanna wait until your head starts spinning, you see white dots and then you pass out like a loser?

It's so delightful though.

And what if he wants to do something more delightful?

I wish...

God, Angie, pull yourself together!

“What's in the bag?” I manage to snap out of it.

“Uhm?” he mumbles still nibbling on my neck and nape.

“In the bag you brought...”

“I told you... earlier... breakfast” he replies following the same trail as before but backwards, between kisses.

“That is?”

“Croissants” he reveals before planting a kiss on my nose.

“Custard cream?” I ask, suddenly very interested and for real, not just as an excuse to break this pleasurable moment.

“And chocolate” he nods deliciously, almost in a childish way “I took them very early this morning, for you, as soon as I arrived”

“By the way, when did you arrive?”

“Early” and he tells me about his hitchhiking and the different stops and everything that led him here to my place. And I'm still one with the door, crushed against it. And against Eddie, who doesn't show any intentions to let go of me. He did all that... for me? To see me a few hours earlier than we planned?

Well he must have problems if he hitchhikes with strangers at night only to see you with sleep in your eyes, still unshowered, your teeth unbrushed and your hair pinned up messily.

“Need to be warmed up then...”

“What?”

“Croissants, they must be cold now”

“Uh! Hehe well, yeah...” why is he blushing? But most of all, how many hands does he have? Theoretically he has one still in my half up half down hair and the other one on my left hip, but I feel his touch everywhere.

“Have breakfast now? I have to be in class in like one hour” I try and come back to my senses.

“Oh... do you really have to?” and do you really have to look at me like that?

“Huh... yeah, the monographic course about Renoir's waiting for me. And today the professor is gonna explain the passage from silent to sound movies, that is a very important part, which is gonna be in the exam too, so...”

“Ok” he lets go of me but takes me by the hand and leads me into the kitchen, where I spot the paper bag on the table. I was just wondering where he put it.

No, not true, you weren't wondering, you werent' thinking about the fucking bag at all.

Ok, can we just stop! Can we just shut up and stop quarrelling here? I'm trying to remain conscious and not to miss a second of this thing. And it's breakfast time now.

Eddie's hands are on my shoulders as I take the envelope out of the bag, I quickly open it and soon find out he bought like a ton of inviting croissants.

“Is this breakfast for the whole neighborhood?” I giggle.

“No, just for us” the grip on my shoulders gets tighter and a quick scorching kiss is planted on my cheek.

“I'm gonna warm four of them, ok?”

Eddie doesn't say anything, he just kisses me on the other cheek and I don't know if I'll make it to see La Chienne.

“Are you microwaving them?” he demands as I put the plate into the small oven.

“Yeah, but for a very short time or they... ehm, or they'll get too hard... like unedible rocks” just like me, stiffening all up like a board for kisses, caresses and hugs. Like this one, the tight hug from behind, with Eddie's curls tickling my neck.

“I trust you” he whispers into my ear.

I don't, I don't trust you at all, because you clearly want me dead.

When the croissants are ready I take the steamy plate our of the microwave and basically storm out of the kitchen and reach for the couch in the living room, placing our breakfast on the coffee table, thinking I'll be safe now. Safe from what? No idea. But it's just like jumping from the frying pan into the fire because Eddie walks up, leans on me and kisses me again, with resolution, before even touching the couch sitting beside me. His determination is put into practice as he literally throws himself on me and, as expected, I think I've just got into rigid corpse mode because Eddie pulls away almost immediately.

“Are you alright?”

“Huh? Yeah”

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, why?”

“Are you sure? You look... strange” he goes on with his inquiring ocean blue eyes that I'm looking up to and that look even deeper from such a close priviledged position.

“No, it's just... well, it's late and-”

“Too much?”

“Well, not too late but...”

“No, I mean... me... what I'm doing... Too much? Too fast?”

“NO!” I basically yell at his face so loud that I almost mess his hair. A devilish grin appears on his face and at this point I'm sure he totally knows the effect he has on me “Ehm no, it's not that, it's just... I really have class and I can't...”

“You're perfectly right, I'm sorry.” Eddie gives me a tiny little kiss on the lips that leaves me wanting ten thousand more just now and sits back down “And croissants are getting cold, that'd be a pity” he adds with a dimpled smile as he takes one with custard cream.

What about me? No, I definitely don't run the croissants' risk.

[hanny-writes-spn]

Simple Man

Pairing: Sam x Reader

Word Count: 1357

Warnings: None, I don’t think.

Summary: Based off of 5x03 “Free to be You and Me” when Sam takes a break from hunting and begins to try to have a normal life as a bartender.

A/N: I got the inspiration for this fic during my rewatch and realized how much I hated how pushy Lindsay (the girl in the episode) was, so I thought I would change that... Let me know what you think... I’m willing to go on if you want me too :-) Special thanks to @melonshino and @like-a-bag-of-potatoes for looking this over for me! I love you guys <3

------------------

Garber, Oklahoma

Ten years you worked as a waitress at the local bar in town.

Ten years you spent serving googley-eyed men staring at you like they were starving and you were their last meal. You had gotten used to the stares. It wasn’t as if you were unnaturally beautiful or anything; in fact, you found yourself quite ordinary looking.

The women you worked with always told you that it was because you were a waitress. It happened to all of you. So you just went with it, and the tips always showed.

After waitressing for so long, you began to get into this mindset that all men were like the ones that came through your little town. You began to resent them and although your dating life wasn’t exactly something to brag about in the first place, you had stopped dating altogether.

It was quite the shock when you came across a man that had no interest in hitting on you.

He went by Keith, although you could tell that probably wasn’t his real name when you would call out to him and it would take him a minute to respond. He got a job on the spot, as the owner of the bar was a woman who was incredibly vocal about how beautiful she thought he was. His hair was long and brown and no matter what kind of shirt he would wear, his muscles would make the material stretch across the defined muscles covering his body.

But it wasn’t just his looks that drew you to him. No, it was the cloud of mystery that surrounded him.

He rarely talked to you or any of your co-workers. When he did, he spoke as if he was well educated. You even saw him finish the New York Times Saturday crossword puzzle in record time during one of his breaks. He did all of his work thoroughly and while most bartenders would have to train for a few days before being sent on their own to do their job, he had only one hour of training before he was ready to go.

And the best part was, he never looked at you like you were a snack to eat. When he looked at you, he looked you in the eyes. He was sincere and respectful - something that you had a hard time believing that any man was capable of being.

So when you and Keith ended up closing up the bar alone one night, you decided to try to get to know the guy once and for all.

“Hey Keith…” you started as you were wiping down one of the tables.

He looked up at you with those beautiful hazel eyes and cocked his head. “What’s up, Y/N?”

“Look, you’ve been here for almost two weeks now? And I know absolutely nothing about you other than your first name…” You said. Studying his reaction, you trailed off and waited for what he had to say.

“I… I don’t really like to talk about my… past.”

You let silence fill the air and just kept cleaning. “Well, that’s okay, I won’t pry… why don’t you just tell me a little bit about the things you like?”

“The things I like?”

“Yeah… like your hobbies and stuff. Like for me, I like to paint. In the summer when the pool is open, I love to swim. I play the guitar from time to time, and my guilty pleasure, which I don’t admit to a lot so don’t tell anyone, I am a sucker for reality television.”

Keith threw his head down and laughed at your confession. You couldn’t help but smile - this was quite possibly the first time you had ever seen him smile.

“Okay… I like to read. I’ll read anything really…” He began but started to trail off. You could tell he was having a hard time having the conversation with you.

“What kind of reading do you do?” You asked politely, trying to keep the conversation light.

“Usually fiction, but I do love non-fiction. I am such a sucker for learning about history.”

“Is that what you studied in college?”

He looked at you with furrowed eyebrows. “How do you know that I went to college?”

You shrugged and joined him behind the bar, grabbing a rag to help dry and put away the glasses. “Just a guess. After working here for so long and being an observant person, I guess I’ve just picked up on things…”

You could feel his eyes on you but didn’t want to look over and see what kind of expression was on his face. “I went to Stanford and studied law… Did you go to college?”

“Ah, well that explains the intelligence,” You said with a chuckle. “I didn’t go to college. The plan was to take a year off of school and work so I could save up money, but that didn’t exactly work out. So here I am, 10 years later.”

Keith continued to clean as you talked, making you add “good listener” and “easy to talk to” to your never-ending list of good qualities about him.

“What did you want to study in college?”

This time, you were the one hesitating answering questions. “Erm… law enforcement. FBI, profiler stuff, more specifically...”

He smiled at you and nodded. “That’s really great, Y/N.”

“I just… want to make a difference in the world. I want to help and save people while also giving the bad guys what they deserve.”

You watched as Keith’s adam’s apple bobbed as he took a thick gulp. “Yeah, that’s one of the reasons I wanted to get into law, too.”

Smiling at him, you chose not to push any further. Once you finished breaking down the bar, Keith walked you out to your car. But right as you were about to part ways, you called out to him.

“There’s just one more thing I think I’d like to know about you tonight.”

Keith shot you that charming smile of his. “And what’s that?”

“What’s your real name?”

His face went white when you asked the question. “Wha… What do you mean?”

“Every time I call you Keith, it takes a second for you to respond to me… plus, I just don’t really feel like you look like a Keith,” You chuckled.

He stared at his feet, fiddling with his hands in his pockets. “I, uh…”

You waited for him to answer but all he did was scratch the back of his head.

“Oh, c’mon… You know what? If you tell me your real name, I’ll stop asking so many questions. I’ll let you keep being mysterious and kept to yourself. I won’t tell anyone we work with, either.”

Keith’s eyes didn’t leave yours as you talked. He looked as if he was contemplating the deal.

“Sam… my name is Sam.”

You felt your heart skip a beat when you heard his real name. It suited him. He definitely looked like a Sam.

“It’s been great talking to you tonight, Sam. I hope you plan on sticking around our little old town for a while longer… you’ve been a great addition to our staff here,” You smiled as you stuck your hand out to shake his.

He gently shook your hand then you walked away. He stood there, watching you as you walked over to your car to unlock the door.

“Y/N!” He called out to you, taking long strides over to your car. “What if… what if I don’t want to stop getting to know you?”

You breathed a sigh of relief. Standing up on your tiptoes, you reached up and pressed a quick peck on his cheek before opening your car door.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Sam.”

Driving away, you looked in your rearview mirror to see Sam still standing there with a grin on his face. You let your hair down and pressed a little harder down on the gas pedal, speeding down the open highway.

For the first time in 10 years, you had finally felt like you had met someone who was going to be different than anyone else you’d ever met before.

Let me know what you think here! <3

Sam Tag List: @applepie-and-angelwings @raylin19 @coopeli831 @angel-blazing

Forever Tag List: @mogaruke @melonberri @holding-on-to-francis @dyingwhaleseatpizza @impalaobsession @feelmyroarrrr @pureawesomeness001 @raylin19 @sammynughh @angel-blazing @boho-chic-123

Pond Tags: @writingbeautifulmen @manawhaat @thing-you-do-with-that-thing @leatherwhiskeycoffeeplaid @blushingsamgirl @notnaturalanahi @bkwrm523 @whispersandwhiskerburn @roxy-davenport @impala-dreamer @deathtonormalcy56 @samsgoddess @wildfirewinchester @frenchybell @for-the-love-of-dean @mysupernaturalfics @spn-fan-girl-173 @deandoesthingstome @jelly-beans-and-gstrings @fiveleaf @deansleather @curliesallovertheplace @whywhydoyouwantmetosaymyname @waywardjoy @mrswhozeewhatsis @captain-princess-rose @imadeangirl-butimsamcurious @kayteonline @supernatural-jackles @idreamofhazel @wevegotworktodo @ilovedean-spn2 @babypieandwhiskey @wi-deangirl77 @deantbh @supermoonpanda @sinceriouslyamellpadalecki @deanwinchesterforpromqueen @chaos-and-the-calm67 @memariana91 @teamfreewill-imagine @chelsea-winchester @fandommaniacx @revwinchester @ageekchiclife @your-average-distracted-waffle @drarina1737 @lucibae-is-dancing-in-hell @castieltrash1 @supernaturalyobessed @mysaintsasinner @ohwritever @ruined-by-destiel @winchester-writes @deals-with-demons @maraisabellegrey @faith-in-dean @winchestersmolder @bohowitch @clueless-gold @melbelle45 @winchester-family-business 

[pendragonfics]

Frozen Watermelon Yoghurt

Paring: Steve Rogers/Reader

Tags: fluff, gender neutral pronouns, gender not specified for reader, reader is a nurse, hurt!Steve (end of CA:TWS)

Summary: Reader is a nurse taking care of Captain America after the helecarriers come crashing down. They're totally not into him. Not a bit, nuh-uh.

Word Count: 1,307

Posting Date:  2016-05-22

Current Date: 2017-05-11

Steven Grant Rogers was always in trouble. Whether it be by signing up to be the world's first super soldier, going off to war, having dalliances with death in the ice, or where he lay now. In a hospital bed, eyes closed, sleeping. It wasn't like you were a stalker or anything, or a very crazy fangirl of Captain America. No. You were a nurse, not quite fresh out. Two years in the business, and quite shocked when it came in your rota you had to care for the unconscious Mr. Rogers. Now would be the moment you would brag and say your grandmother knew him, but she didn't. You were just a kid from D. C., here by scholarship and borrowed dreams.

And yet, Mr. Rogers didn't wake.

His friend, an amicable man named Sam Wilson would always sit by him, reading a little book or doing a crossword when you came to do your rounds. It was always you; maybe your boss decided one nurse was enough contact the full time superhero needed.

"Eight o'clock, as always," Sam greeted you, nodding kindly. "Good morning, Nurse _______."

You stifle a giggle to your favourite visitor. "Good morning, Mr. Wilson. Any change in Mr. Rogers since my night round?"

Sam shakes his head, and lays down his book. "No change, nothing bad. And please, call me Sam, this is a hospital, not a courtroom."

"I'll keep that in mind, Sam," You nod, moving to check all the vitals on the computer, and start to do the nitty gritty things. "If you don't mind, maybe leaving for a minute, I need to -,"

"Say no more, say no more," Sam beams, joints popping as he stands. "I'll be right outside. You want coffee? A bagel? I'll grab coffee."

Before you can refuse, he's off.

"Now, to clean the wounds," you mutter to yourself, gazing on the man before you.

If it weren't for the neat stitches in his face, and the IVs, you would believe that Steve Rogers was sleeping before you. But he wasn't. And you weren't a fangirl. You were a professional, and you worked hard to become one.

"I wonder if you're always reckless, going on dangerous adventures," you tell him, not expecting a response as you're changing the fluids, and tucking him in the blankets again. "But history repeats itself, it would seem, Mr. Rogers."

The rest of that checkup you continue in silence, with the beeping of the monitor and Mr. Steven Roger's even breaths.

"I didn't know if you wanted sugar or not, so I grabbed a little sachet for you," Sam enters, two coffees in hand. "There you go, Nurse ______. Liquid morning juice."

You sigh, looking at the cup morosely. "Sam, I'm on duty, I really shouldn't -,"

He takes an exaggerated sip, nearly moaning in pleasure. "Mmmm, ambrosia."

You give in.

The routine continues - for another week. You're in periodically every four hours, sometimes missing the doctor when they come to consult Sam for Mr. Roger's closest family, for medical history. One day, it's three o'clock on a Thursday afternoon, and you're walking back to the room, having brought Mr. Rogers crushed ice from the cafeteria to try him with food through the mouth. Just as you're three steps away from the door, your pager goes off.

"What's wrong?" You rush in.

Blue eyes meet yours the same time as warm brown ones. "He's uh, awake. Steve's awake. Damn, that pager works real good."

You make your way to the end of the bed, hands behind back. "Good day, Mr. Rogers, I'm Nurse _______."

Sam motions to you. "This nurse is the one that's been slaving over your unconscious ass for a week," he introduces you. "And they have an iPod playlist solely dedicated just for the Jackson 5."

You click your tongue. "It's called having good taste, Sam."

He winks. "Yeah, it is."

You hand Mr. Rogers the crushed ice, while you take his pulse, assess his vitals. He frowns at the little paper cup, and bites his lip. "This is just ice?" He speaks. Your heart almost stops at his voice, but you try not to let him see you falter.

"Yes, it is, Mr. Rogers," you tell him. "Maybe when you're feeling a little better, I'll grab you something more tasteful."

It goes on like this. Banter, babble, smalltalk and helping Mr. Rogers in his tasks. Days pass, and Steve only improves; someone guesses it would be something to do with his superhero blood. The doctors take out his stitches, other nurses enter just to swoon and sigh and make talk over Mr. Rogers' bountiful muscles and deeds.

"Alright, everyone out!" You call out to all fifteen personnel who've crammed themselves in to hear a story Mr. Rogers was clearly reluctant to give. Sam rushes in, a thunder of footsteps, a deep frown on his pretty face.

"I leave for five minutes to go to the bathroom -,"

After a few moments, Mr. Rogers speaks up. "You didn't have to do that," he mumbles.

You frown, handing him a different paper cup and a yellow spoon. "Yes I did. Anyone would be uncomfortable talking about war stories if they've lived them." You gesture to the small cup. "It's watermelon, I, thought you'd like it. And uh, I'm here to tell you some good news."

Mr. Roger's eyes dart upward.

Sam stashes his book away.

"This is my last visit to see you." You preface, standing tall. Trying to keep it together. Of course you've developed feelings for him. He's a stubborn patient. You're an unrealistic dreamer. "You're being released, tomorrow morning."

Sam nudges his shoulder. "That's great! I'll text Nat."

You move over to check on the monitor.

"Nurse _______," he starts, the usual confused frown on his face, "Won't you be the one to release me?"

You shake your head. "No, we have doctors for that thing. I'm just a nurse, sir."

He made a noise that begged to differ.

"I'm sure you're itching to go to your home by now." You tell him, and gesture to the paper cup. "Hey, don't let it melt, mister. I spent eight and a half dollars on that frozen watermelon yogurt."

The off-pink yogurt slides in the cup as he takes a mouthful.

"Good?" You ask, monitoring his heart rate.

Steve's face has turned to yours when he answers. "Much better than crushed ice."

It's been almost a month since the secrets were leaked from S. H. I. E. L. D., weeks since you last saw him. The hospital is not the same without Captain America. You're not pestered by the other nurses on the status of the good captain, you don't see a blonde crop of hair everyday. Even when someone else is placed in that room, an scrawny elderly man hooked up on nearly all known types of life support, you can't help but miss Mr. Rogers.

You miss him.

"Nurse ________?" A familiar voice calls out.

You turn, and catch yourself before you do something crazy like jump for joy. It's Captain America - Mr. Rogers. His face has healed almost completely, a lingering shadow of his broken nose remaining.

"Mr. Rogers! How can I help you?" You beam, walking to him.

"Please, call me Steve, Mr. Rogers was my father," he tells you. "I came to say hi. That was all, I didn't come for medical reasons." He nods, "I, I was wondering if I could take you out for frozen yogurt sometime? A way of saying thank you," he confesses.

"You don't have to, it's okay," You feel a blush rush over your features. "I mean, I, I would love to, sir - I mean, Steve," you gush. "My shift actually ends in ten minutes, would you like to -,"

Steve Rogers beams. "Sounds like a plan, Nurse _______."

[haetbits]

Brian!!

The relationship my dadsona (Aiden) and Amanda has T-T I really really reallllllly love Amanda!! I can’t imagine having to be a bad dad to her ;_;

The first meeting with Brian didn’t go so well?? Maxwell is super cute hahaha but Brian and his bragging thing was a miss for me hahah but I had to get through with his route to get my $15 worth, man!! I persevered~ XDDD

Anyway, the first date with Brian…I was very bad at the mini golf mini game hahaha What kind of crazy courses were those??!! XD;; I don’t know how I won the mini golf ‘competition’ and apparently got drinks with Brian at the bar. Here, we find out that he’s a contractor. Cool, I guess. Aiden still wants to beat him at absolutely everything and agrees to the invitation to fishing. 

That night Aiden has a dream about his own dad (and it wasn’t a very good one) and the background is so pretty, I had to take a pic hahah 

Next! Second date! Well, Brian seems nice. He let Aiden borrow his fishing pole cos apparently we ‘left it at the shop’ hahaha and he brought Maxwell! And put a dog-sized life vest onto him!! How stinking cute is that??!! He offers Aiden one and Aiden was too proud to take it, I think, and jokingly asks Brian to save him if he falls hahaha (He’s cute!!) 

Amanda and Daisy goes off into the forest to play after they ‘skipped’ rocks or, well, Amanda threw the rocks into the water XDD;; She’s seriously so cute wowwww On the canoe, Brian starts another competition. Walao, can’t you take a break hahaha Aiden was like like ‘I’m so knowledgeable about fishing’ when he ISN’T! Yes boy, fatherly pride will be your undoing.

To no one’s surprise, Aiden cmi at fishing haha Brian so nice give him his fishing pole aww hahaha 

& my eyesight is bad, what’s new hahaha I didn’t do very well in this match 3 mini game either XDD

My thoughts too, brother hahaha 

All of a sudden, a fish tugged on Aiden’s line and, kabam!, a rainbow trout!! Aiden’s so happy to have caught a fish and tipped the canoe over haha 

Yeah, should’ve thought of that earlier, huh??

At least Brian stood by his word and saved you, Aiden XD

I’m glad Maxwell had a great time though!! 

Also, once we got onto land, Brian just whipped off his shirt to dry and we get this 

I mean woaaaaaaah serious dad bod. The daddiest (omg) bod I’ve ever seen hahaha My own dad had this bod hahahahahaahhaahha (just that he had black hair, less hair on his head, less pink… I relate to this dad bod) #sorrynotsorry haha

SUUUURE AIDEN

TOO LATE BRUH

SEXY HUH?? *wink wink nudge nudge*

That’s the end of Aiden’s fishing adventure for the day haha 

He accepted snacks from Brian. Lemme tell you, I love snacks so I accept snacks from friends constantly (if they offer them to me hahaha)

Struggles of having O-type blood. Mosquitoes love us. -_-

Yes yes, Maxwell is the cutest, the smartest etc etc❤️

Anyway, anyway, Brian is successful at fishing and knows how to cook in the outdoors. How nice. 

Yay! Great, the children are safe and have returned from their great bug adventures \(^_^)/

…and we immediately get slapped with dad bod fines hahaha

Okay, Aiden. XDD

Aiden accidentally offends Daisy by thinking that they’d be messier after playing with bugs in the forest😞

Apparently, the fish was freaking good and Amanda just had to ask why Aiden’s pants were wet and Aiden was trying to explain that he tipped the boat over when Brian cuts in to say that he did it.😲

I was touched hahaha Idek why hahaha

Me too tbh

…No, Aiden hahaha He’s just trying to be nice!!! Urgh!! 

That is the cutest image!! Amanda, Daisy, and Maxwell cuddling together, aww~

Oh Aiden. Well, at least Brian’s not leaving you at the fishing site so…

Same tbh hahaha 

D’awwwwwwwww

Story progression!! Aiden told Amanda about the competition he and Brian were having aaaand~

I wonder too, Amanda. 

He’s not. 

Aww, I love you too, Amanda~❤️

Thank you!! Aiden is dumb!!

…No.

Same, Amanda. Aiden has issues to work out. 

Every one heads to bed but Aiden just had to have ice cream and he checks in on Amanda. 

Oh, hell no!! Who made my beautiful daughter cry??!!! I made all the ‘caring dad’ choices but she didn’t tell her dad what was wrong and Aiden went to bed worried.

Amanda left the house giving short answers to Aiden’s questions in the morning and Aiden is left at home, thinking about some past memory with Amanda. He decides not to push her to talk to him and bakes a cake to cheer her up.

She looks so sad, let me go at whoever made her feel like this!!

That gets Amanda to open up about her problem. The basis of the story is that her best friend went behind her back (?) and got with her crush. Her friends drop her out of their group chat because the snake she vented to sent screenshots of their conversation to that group chat and, now she has no friends. Aiden explains that real friends don’t do that to each other, telling her that it takes time to weed out the toxic people in her life (this is dependent on the choice made). This helps Amanda feel better. I’m glad😊 Amanda does not have to deal with this bullshit. If her friends can’t treat her right, they don’t deserve to be friends with her!

Next up would be the third, and final, date with Brian!

I like that there’s the ‘I can’t commit’ button there hahaha I would like to press that button one day and play the field XDD;; For now, I’m sure that Brian is my (or Aiden’s) Dreeeeeeammmm Daaaddyyy~

Yes, honey! Dad will take youuuu

…Or not, your dad’s an idiot. 

Look at her, she’s unimpressed with your urgent word jumbles haha Take her to the fair already!!

Hmm, is she planning on a parent trap or something??

I will!!

…Or not. 

Surprise, eh??😏

Aiden sure is dumb~ Hahaha

😏

BRIAN??!!

I knew it XD

Parent trap happening, people!!

WOW!!😂

I fucking know right??!!😂 BELIEVE IT!!

😂😂😂

Amanda and Daisy have such good thoughts, thinking that the other girl is cool but their dads keep complaining about each other~ Meanwhile, Aiden is like:

Aiden and Brian get competitive again and Amanda tried to stop them.

But turns out she’s scared of clowns so…

How competitive hahaha That launches into a mini game which I didn’t do too bad on and won Amanda a goldfish that she named ‘Brian’~

I have a feeling that the girls are just gonna push their dads on the ride and run away after🤔

The girls are so cute though! Daisy was shocked that Amanda got a point for effort when she drew a cat in the blank space of a question she couldn’t answer!!! Here though, your ridiculous answer gets photocopied and passed out as a bad example XD;; and Amanda was touched when Daisy told her that her work will be in female photography books someday. T-T

I KNEW IT!!😂

😂😂😂

HOW CONVENIENT!!

I guess it was about this time that Aiden gets hungry and Brian offered him snacks but he rejected them hahaha

You idiot. 

Anyway, Aiden decided to take out his word jumbles to solve to not look at Brian. However, Brian has a book of crosswords as well.

OMG the drama!!

Uh, yes??!! Then they proceed to arguing about how each of them keeps one-upping the other hahaha

Are you shocked, Aiden??

Only now?? Hahaha

Yes.

Ooh~

D’awwww~

They start over by shaking hands and re-introducing themselves. It’s all cute hwehwehwe But oh-so-conveniently, the ferris wheel starts moving again😂

Yep, y’all could’ve fallen off and died. 

Amanda and Daisy run up to us saying that Brian the fish is in trouble so we play an easy mini game to save him! (Brian held Aiden’s hand!!) After that’s done, the children run home to watch TV. Daisy couldn’t care less about fireworks while I, a 22 year old, was upset cos I couldn’t see the fireworks for our national day parade hahaha

Aiden tells Brian that he doesn’t know anything about fishing XD and Brian just says that he knows HAHAHA he was giving Aiden face!!!

Aiden talks about lawn-mowing *facepalm*

It’s only you, Brian. Just joking.

ERMAHGERD!!!

CAN Y’ALL HEAR ME SCREECHING??!!😍

I fell for him completely here. 

No, Aiden hahaha

So I’m officially a goner but I still have the epilogue part to get through, so I continued on hahaha

Aiden is going to throw a party to celebrate Amanda going to college~

When a parent knows where to get the seasons of their child’s favourite shows hahaha

Apparently, all the dads are present for Amanda’s graduation party!! There’s some talking with them and Amanda tells Daisy to not want to grow up too fast and enjoy being a kid. It’s good advice though!! I want to go back to being a kid. 

I love this child!!! I love that the game has a main character with family ❤️❤️❤️

Here, we find out that Amanda is still friends with her friends from school! Yay!!

There’s only 1 dad that Aiden hasn’t talked to at the party and that’s Brian! So we take a seat next to Brian~

Aww, they’re so cute ^w^

OMG

Uh, no. Remember Aiden didn’t know how to create an SNS profile?? XDD;;

Me too, dude. ❤️

❤️

*screams*

You planning on not wearing a life vest again, Aiden??

Aww~😊

I’m sad that Amanda has to leave Aiden hahaha T-T

Amanda would. 

Omg, I love these children!!😄😄

Hahaha, well I guess that’s where Aiden and I are the same ;w;

I love his laugh. It’s so nice~

SWEET!!! Aiden pls stop hahaha😂

[ E N D ]

Overall, I really enjoyed Brian’s route!! I like that I disliked Brian at first but grew to like him for his confession on the ferris wheel~ Even though we don’t know a lot about Brian, we find out a lot about Aiden/dadsona’s personality (competitive drama king *cough cough*) XD;; I would like to know what happened to Brian’s s/o?? He doesn’t talk about them… Also, I’d like to know what happens after this?? Too much to ask?? Sorry!!