#mc x jaime lewis

[ladykateofledfordpark]

A New Future (Jaime x MC)

This fic is inspired by Day 5 of the Choices August Challenge hosted by @cora-nova !

After too long, I finally wrote a Jaime fic. I missed his relationship with Charlotte. =)

Dedicated to @mariaoz , my beautiful friend who came into my life thanks to Jaime! And @itsbrindleybinch , my talented writing partner! <3

Tagging also @lady-kato @jlpplays1 @desiree-0816 @flyawayboo and @meepmeepmeep ! Every one of you is amazing, and thank you for your support!

Day 5 Prompt: Cosmos

Pairing: Jaime x MC (Charlotte)

Summary: Jaime takes Charlotte to a special place, where they sit and talk while making an important decision about the future.

Unedited.

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“Jaime, where are you taking me?”

Jaime squeezed Charlotte’s hand. She glanced at him in confusion, but he couldn’t let her know where they were going. Not yet.

“It’s a surprise.”

He led her to the car, and after a short drive they arrived at their destination. Charlotte smiled when she noticed their surroundings. They stood atop a tall cliff overlooking a beautiful lake, a beautiful mountain standing across from them. The stars twinkled in the night, almost as they did then, so long ago.

“It’s beautiful up here.”

Jaime smiled. He took her hand, his warmth sending tingles down her arm. Charlotte blushed, and for a moment she felt exactly as she did a year ago: uncertainty took the reins and her nerves went haywire. Why was she like this?

“Remember when we camped together? Just you, I, and our families?”

Charlotte laughed. “That was a nightmare. I was so nervous the whole time.”

Somehow, it was even worse now.

“Why?”

“Well, I had this crush on a guy, so camping with him wasn’t the most appealing idea.”

Jaime chuckled. “Well, I’m sure this guy was just as nervous.”

They sat at the edge of the cliff. Jaime pulled Charlotte closer, his heat the most comforting feeling Charlotte experienced. She sighed in content and lay her head on his shoulder, sighing in relief.

Jaime started playing with her long hair, just like they always did ever since they were little. “Char, I think I’ve loved you even then. On that camping trip, when we looked at the stars, I wanted to kiss you so badly. The problem was that I was sure you never felt for me that way, so I was forced to keep it inside.”

“Well, I did friendzone you only a few weeks before. Which was stupid, if you think about it.”

Jaime’s brows furrowed. “Why?”

Charlotte opened her eyes. She shook her head at the fond memory, laughing at the mistake she regretted for years to come. “I friendzoned you right before I realized I had a crush on you. That knowledge tormented me for years.”

Jaime’s eyes twinkled. “Really? How did I never notice?”

“You’re just as dense as me, apparently.”

Jaime pulled her even closer. “Apparently.”

They gazed silently at the view. It was so beautiful, the silence of the hills, the quiet of nature. Charlotte snuggled into Jaime as she listened to the chirping crickets and the still waters. It was as if, for once, the world truly was at peace.

“You see the stars?” Jaime broke the silence. His voice was but a whisper, his body as relaxed as hers.

Charlotte nodded. Jaime smiled before he cupped her face. “They can’t even rival your beautiful eyes.”

His eyes searched hers, as if looking for something there. Charlotte looked at him, searching desperately for words she couldn’t find. How did he always manage to steal all thoughts from her mind?

“Jaime… I…”

“I love you, Charlotte. I’ve loved you forever, whether as a friend or something more. You’re the highlight of every day, everything beautiful in this world. You taught me to open myself to this world, so long ago, and I can’t thank you enough. You’re everything to me.”

Charlotte gently cupped his cheek. “I love you too, Jaime. Without you, life would just be dull and colorless. I can trust you with anything, anything at all. Whether mind-reading abilities or other, more stupid secrets. You’re always the first person I’ll call.”

Jaime lowered his head. His lips gently brushed Charlotte’s, and she closed her eyes once again. He kissed her gently, sweetly, just like their very first kiss so long ago.

She sighed as Jaime gently brushed her cheek with his thumb, her body automatically coming closer.

“Char, can you please keep your eyes closed? I have a surprise.”

She nodded hesitantly. Jaime kissed her forehead once again before his warmth completely disappeared. 

Charlotte frowned. “Jaime? Where are you?”

“Turn around and keep your eyes closed.” Jaime requested, his voice slightly uneven.

Hesitantly, Charlotte did. It was a bit strange, doing it with her eyes closed, but she did it anyway. Because she trusted Jaime with all her heart.

“Charlotte, on that first day of our friendship, I never knew how much you would change your life. You changed me, transformed my world. You were the first light of this new life I found myself in, and you were with me at all the other lights I lit. Never in a million years did I think I would be this lucky, but somehow I’m still here.”

He took her hand in his, comforting warmth passing through her at the touch. “I love you, Char. I’ll always love you, every second, every minute, every hour. I can’t imagine my life without you, and I dare to hope that with you it’s the same.”

Somewhere, in the midst of all her thoughts, Charlotte heard Jaime’s voice. Open your eyes.

And when she saw Jaime he took all her breath away.

“Charlotte, I’ve thought about this for so long. At first I wasn’t sure, but now… well, I guess somewhere I always knew.”

Jaime swallowed. He fingered the ring which shone in the moonlight, its beauty nothing compared to the love in his eyes.

“Charlotte, will you marry me?”

She couldn’t think, couldn’t speak, couldn’t say a word. Instead she put her other hand on top of his, and slowly guided the ring to her finger.

And then, somehow, she found one word. “Always.”

Jaime carefully slipped the ring onto her finger. Charlotte gazed at it, it’s silver band with intricate carvings, simple, unique and beautiful. Just like Jaime, who always reminded her how beautifuly simple life could be. How wonderful the world was when people stood by your side.

Jaime pulled Charlotte up, so they were now looking once again at the view. This was the place where they shared their first kiss, opening the door that led to a beautiful future. This was the place where Jaime, after so long, finally asked her the question she wished to hear.

“It couldn’t be more perfect.” Charlotte whispered. Her eyes met Jaime’s, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks as a smile smile rose to her face.

He shook his head. “You couldn’t be more wrong.”

She met his eyes, a mischievous and adoring twinkle in his eyes. “Why?”

“Because,” Jaime pulled her closer, “it isn’t you. You are the only perfect thing in this world, Char. Everything else pales in comparison.”

And when he kissed her, Jaime promised her everything Charlotte never needed. Because now he was hers and she was his.

Forever.

[ratanslily]

for @choicedits song challenge

song: formidable- twenty one pilots

pairing: jaime lewis x mc (my fav friendship and relationship ♡‿♡)

i cherry picked some lyrics suitable to the pictures!

[takingcourage]

By Your Side

Pairing: Jaime x MC

Word Count: 1,150

Rating/Warnings: Teen; mild innuendo

Summary: New nightly accommodations lead Jaime and Arden to reveal their true feelings. 

Note: This story is a half-baked variation of the “there’s only one bed” trope, written for @choicesficwriterscreations​ ’s Silly Love Stories event. It also fits the @choicesfebchallenge​ prompt for “Gossip,” if you squint. 

Arden turned the corner sharply, small backpack hitting the ridge of her spine with an audible thump. She took a deep breath, resisting the urge to sigh with her exhale. Here, the air was clean and clear. 

If she wanted to, she could still catch the scent of the city on her clothes: the traces of asphalt and stale beer held tight to the collar of her denim jacket.

Maybe it was a good thing Ellen hadn’t been available for this trip, after all. It was difficult to imagine the older woman blending in at the downtown hostel for five whole days without setting off someone’s alarm bells. Comfortable as Arden was conducting interviews on the set of The Ellen and Arden Show, undercover investigations remained her favorite part of the job. When this opportunity had arisen, it had been too tantalizing lead for her to pass up. 

Behind her, a taxi slowed and came to a stop. The smack of the door was followed by a well-known pattern of footsteps. With Ellen otherwise engaged, she’d traded one partner for another. 

Patience running low, she slowed her tread for Jaime to catch up. This far from the city, she was no longer worried about people seeing them together. 

“Miss me?”

“Always,” she replied, a giggle hovering at her lips. 

The entered the hotel together, Jaime staying close as she checked them in for the night. He’d insisted many times that he was comfortable with the arrangements of the past week, though his unspoken concerns as they’d passed one another in the hostel hallways had been frequent. Clearly, he was just as relieved as she was to have reached this stage of the journey. Tomorrow's flight would take them both back to Northbridge and the normalcy that came with it.

Leaving the front desk with a smile, Arden pocketed the key cards and made a beeline to the elevator. The doors sealed shortly after, leaving her alone with Jaime for the first time in nearly a week.

“Did you--” 

“I can’t wait to--” she hesitated upon realizing that they’d been speaking over each other. 

Sorry, too excited there. 

Arden smiled knowingly. “You go first,” she prompted, reveling in the feeling of his proximity and the comparative silence. These past few days, her mind had been so full. 

He shifted closer, the flannel of his sleeve raising the hairs on her forearm. “I was going to ask if you’d filled that notebook with new leads. I know I only saw bits and pieces, but it seemed like things were going well.” 

“So well! You would not believe how believe how much intel I got talking with those women.” 

"I might, actually, considering your ‘secret weapon’...”

Arden winked at his exaggerated air quotes. 

“...Anyway, what were you saying?”

“I was saying that I can’t wait to get cleaned up and put on fresh clothes.”

Their legs swayed with the motion of the elevator before it stabilized. “You’ll have your chance soon.” 

Key in hand, Arden led him into the hallway until they reached room 437. Jaime was close behind, still taking his role as protector a little too seriously. “This place is going to seem like a mansion after the bedrooms in the hostel,” she mused as the light on the handle flicked from red to green.

She hit the switch for the overhead light as she passed, taking in the quaint accommodations with an appreciation born of recent experience. Sensing Jaime’s presence nearby, she looked up to find his attention directed to the center of the room. 

“There’s only one bed,” he whispered. The hand that had been floating at her side made contact, thumb finding its way beneath the hem of her sweatshirt.

“Of course there is.” She arched into his touch, leaning her head back until it nudged his collarbone. "We’ve been married and sharing a bed for four years, Jaime. Were you expecting me to book a room with two?”

His eyes screwed up with distaste. “I’d push them together if you did.” 

“And I’d help. Hostels are excellent for blending in and getting in on local gossip, but not so much for spending time together.” She dropped her bag to the chair and began searching for her small pack of toiletries. 

"I’m just saying, I’m glad we’re together tonight.” 

“I am too.” Locating the desired object, she ventured toward the ensuite. “Turns out, it’s hard for me to sleep without having you there to grope me all night.” 

“Grope?” 

She showed him a sliver of tongue when he joined her at the sink. “You know what I mean.” 

“I’ll keep my hands to myself tonight,” he threatened, though his thoughts told her a very different story.

“Ha ha,” she intoned blandly before cutting a length of floss. Jaime grazed her with a hip on his way to the faucet, and quiet reigned for a few moments as they completed their respective tasks. Though his mouth was obscured by a toothbrush, she could make out his smile by the squint in his eyes. 

She grinned back, leaning away from him momentarily to dispose of her floss. “Also, I never realized how much your breathing lulls me to sleep. The room at the hostel wasn’t quiet, but it was the wrong kind of noise if that makes sense.” Arden prepped her own toothbrush while she waited for him to spit. 

“Perfect sense. I kept expecting to hear you to start talking half-asleep like you usually do when you’ve been researching all day.” 

Her eyes widened at the undesireable prospect. “Let’s hope my poor roommates weren’t subjected to too much incoherent mumbling. I try to save that for you.” Arden shoved the toothbrush into her mouth, expecting Jaime would follow his normal routine and hop into the shower within moments.

As predicted, the faucet started running just seconds later. “There’s one thing I didn’t miss.” He’d chosen the perfect moment to make his revelation: he was out of sight, and she was unable to speak. 

It didn’t take long for curiosity to get the better of her. “Hmmhh?”

“You trying to tuck your ice-cold nose into my shoulder blade.” 

Arden rinsed her mouth quickly. “Sorry, but I can’t promise I won’t do it again. You’re awfully warm.” 

One end of the curtain opened to reveal her husband’s familiar face. Even from several feet away, Arden could make out the glimmer of water on his dark lashes. “As long as my days end with you next to me in bed, Arden, I don’t care what state you come in.” Although you did kind of stink earlier... And come to think of it, I’m very, very warm right now. 

Without waiting to hear anything further, she shed her jacket and sweatshirt onto their growing pile of clothes on the cold floor. She’d been planning to shower regardless; resisting her sudden urge to shower with him seemed foolish. 

“Thought so,” Jaime chuckled, pulling the curtain shut again as she entered from the other side. 

[brightpinkpeppercorn]

Choices MC Appreciation Week: Day Four // hosted by @choicesmcappreciation

Inspiring Individuals: Leoni Link from Wishful Thinking

This sweet commission was from the incredible @shazrystyles . Thank you!

[justapenguinfanatic]

Jaime for @choicescocappreciationweek 💖

Day 6: Wishful Thinking

[omgjasminesimone]

Pets

Jaime x MC

A/N: Quick ficlet for day 3 of @choicesmonthlychallenge

...

Jaime lifts the diet cat food to his nose, taking a whiff. His nose scrunches in distaste. That is absolutely foul.

He’s schooled his expression into a pleasant smile before he places the bowl to the floor in front of Jinx. “Mmm!” He exclaims.

Jinx sniffs the food, and then gives him a look.

“Don’t look at me like that. This stuff is good for you!” Jaime insists.

Jinx’s unimpressed stare only intensifies.

“The vet says you need to lose ten pounds.” Jaime counters. Jinx glares at him. Jaime turns to Lydia, who’s enjoying her morning coffee at their kitchen table. “What is she thinking?”

“You don’t want to know.” Lydia replies.

[the-unconquered-queen]

It’s been months, but it still needs to be said:

That 30 diamonds scene with Jaime in the WT finale did not make use of the full extent of MC’s mind reading abilities. It could’ve and should’ve been god-tier if PB hadn’t been cowards.

[edenbrooks]

a self-indulgent western au

[endlessflame]

Melanie Barnes and Jaime Lewis

For Choices Character of Color Appreciation Week @choicescocappreciationweek

[krishu213]

My best birthday Ever

Pair : Jaime x MC(Prakriti) (Prakriti means Nature )

Characters included : MC,Jaime,Harry(Mc’s dad) Willie and lola(lola is willies friend and mate)

All characters are owned by pixelberry.

Rating- nothing mature 

A/N :Please do leave comments , like and reblogs .This fic is also for May’s prompt list for day  11 .Birthday.

also please note 

the line in italics are willie and lola thoughts

 Happy Reading!!!!

______________________________________________________________

She glanced at her watch to match the time.. and waited for a few mins

After a few min.. the clock chimed five times .. and arranged the photo frame around it.

Prakriti sighed in relief finally after hours of work it is repaired.. .. she took out cells from clock  and kept in drawer….

Finally, his gift is ready… I hope  it works .. she thought…soon she heard peter patter of paws nearing towards the guest room

Willie and Lola (Willie’s friend and mate)  came out of nowhere  ..running towards her.. greeting her with hugs and kisses

They entered the room.. but on finding her safe..  they asked her questions…!!

“What was that.. that sound ..  I have never heard it before Willie?  what sound is it that Willie..?”

“I don’t know… Lola dear… .never heard it before..oh whose pictures are this.. momma?”

“why are you laughing momma…?”lola asked 

“Do you need us to fight with that clock? Or the hoomans in the photo?” willie asked constantly looking for  any signs of danger from clock 

Again the clock chimed.. and both of them were super surprised when they heard sound was coming from clock…

“ Is this new kind of bell? Some new kind of hooman inventions bells.. gosh!! I love bells… I  love this sound” lola jumped with joy

Prakriti laughed at their thoughts.. how much she loved to hear their thoughts…she bends down to pet them

“ hey guys it’s your daddy’s birthday gift.. but don’t tell him okay.. and yes.that sound is coming from that clock.. and it's not a new invention. it’s an  old clock and few old pictures,,. do you know it belonged to your grandma Paula

She was happy with her family in 4 years of her married life, they were expecting their first child. She was 6 months pregnant and couldn’t be happier. Her father had moved in with them as after that hospital episode she didn’t want him to be left alone.

Next day…

As per her plan, Prakriti woke up before Jaime knowing that he would be up any min

She went to the kitchen  and prepared breakfast for all

When she entered the room Jaime was up.

Putting the tray on their side table  She gave him a   hug  

Happy birthday Jaime!  She wished him  followed by a kiss

Thank you!! He kissed her.

Thank you so much … love .. but why did you wake up so early and made breakfast I was going to do it.. you and baby should rest,  he tried to argue

But that words were deaf to her ears.. she gave him”  a look “ which told him she will not listen to him..he again tried to argue but was cut off  by her,

“I will be on maternity leave from work after a month.. so I will be having enough rest…and it's your day today Jaime.. and I want to make it special, she said while handing him a sandwich

You truly are a rare person Prakriti I can’t even get angry with you when you don’t listen to me…

Awww that’s so cute Jaime!!

After finishing his breakfast.

so where is my gift?  He asked

“You have to wait for it” she replied while taking another bite from he sandwich

“well I want my gift now  and by the gift I mean…he leans forward   to kiss her but they were interrupted by

“Ahem. Ahem”.  They heard someone clearing throat to get there,

harry who was standing at door.. all three of them froze for a moment looking at each other like a statue….

Breaking the silence…

“Happy Birthday Jaime!! My lad…..!!” Harry said cheerfully.

Soon it was Willie and Lola who entered and attacked Jaime with kisses and face licks and hugs…

Soon they all got ready and went out for lunch as planned

After lunch, Harry had gone back to their house… as he was feeling a bit tired. On the other hand, Jamie and Prakriti went for a movie.

But it didn’t go the way she wanted as Prakriti had a heated argument with ticket counter person who by mistake or intentionally as per her thinking gave their pre-booked tickets to someone else…

Jaime tried to pacify her but damn her hormones mixed with anger was not a good situation she was not ready to listen. Even he was angry with such behavior and irresponsibility from the manager of the cinema but right now at this moment, he was more concerned about her health.

 “I am sorry mam, But that customers were important and we can’t ignore their wishes, ”Manager replied timidly

“Unbelievable.. !! Unbelievable.. !!! Listen I don’t want to hear anything… but this is wrong, Just because they are so-called loyal customers you can’t give them our tickets”. She answered back

“ Mam!! I am sorry but we can’t help it.. the customers who bought your tickets are relatives of this cinema owners so we can’t say no to them.”

Before the situation worsens Jaime.. speaks in….

“Can you give us their tickets I will talk to them “, they handed him the tickets.

“Prakriti, I will talk to them okay, I don’t want you to get angry now and affect your health, it affects your health okay”, Jaime said more like requested her when they left the counter,

“‘Whoever it is I will handle him, I don’t want you to get upset’”…

She heard his thoughts

“Okay but better they don’t try to say something foolish …” she said while searching for their seats

They saw two youngsters were spoiled bratty kids who occupied their seats

Jaime decided to talk with them keeping his mind cool, no matter what he wanted to reprimand them for their behavior, but it turned out worst as those kids were a real pain in the head.

They didn’t agree with exchange and behaved liked they owned everyone here. But at last, after many arguments, those kids left their seats, but as if the day was laughing on them the movie was turned out bad so bad that they left the movie theatre after the interval.

They decided to take a takeout… for dinner and stop by the park for star gaze….

After their dinner and they sat down and watched the sky. Jaime tried to make some conversation but he only got a response in “hmm” or nothing.

Their ride back home was a silent one. Jaime decided to give her some time, after retiring to their room.

He heard little sobs

Prakriti hugged him taking in the warmth from him ‘ I am so sorry your day didn’t go as planned… its ruined  .. I wanted to make it special for you but it ruined and it ruined your birthday. I wanted to make it special. For you … you know.. ..I wanted to wear that purple dress you bought for me years ago..you loved that dress “

“ I made some alterations…. but it didn’t fit me… right from evening things didn’t work out it’s ruin. And now top of that I don’t even remember where did I kept your birthday present”, she let out another sob…

 He cupped her face making her face him, he couldn’t see her sad face or seeing her cry,” Hey now… now… come on don’t say that. Trust me no matter what it was the best day, no matter  how much bad food that was or the  movie but it was memorable , I enjoyed it  seriously. I would love to spend some time with you and the baby.. it has been a while.. when we have spent some time alone.. just you and me and baby. And doing our fav.. hobby to stargaze...so it's been a great day for me”. .. Jaime assured her.

“ you are just sugar-coating it”….she said timidly

Taking her in an embrace he kissed her forehead..,” nope I m not sugarcoating it is the truth I loved our day today, it was a  memorable day for me…

Now.. come on sleep.. you are tired ..and you both need rest,  we can find our lost gift tomorrow now please rest, he   started rubbing  her back.. to comfort her

Feeling she was not convinced he then  continued,

‘ Prakriti?

“Hmm ..” she responded while tracing some unknown patterns on his hand,“ I  don’t need a gift….  I have already got a wonderful gift and  that gift  is you, our baby, Harry, Willie, and Lola are the best gift  in my life. I could have never asked for more  Prakriti .. I don’t need anything.. “   she didn’t mean to cry but this pregnancy mood swings made her cry

Her sobbing was cut by the clock chime.. it chimed eleven times,

She sat up with wide eyes realization hit her.. now she remembered where she had kept the gift..

‘oh my god now I remember where I had kept it… she got up from bed  and went out of room  

Jaime followed her..

“Hey, I remember that clock chime… it’s the same chime…I know it..  I have heard it “.                                Jaime said

He found her standing near the guest room and she was smiling finally..smiling like a child who has just found his lost treasure.

He opened the door and was speechless.

He found the old clock shining brightly with new paint coat ,  hanging on the wall along with a few photo frames.

She waited for him to take in the surprise,

“Happy Birthday Jaime , It’s the same clock Jaime remembers which Paula bought from the garage sale and after some time it got lost.. well a few days ago I found it in some unattended boxes in Paula's room and these photos too.  I found them along with the clock now I remember it where I kept it. I kept it in the guest room.. to hide it from you”. She paused for a moment to see his reactions.

He still didn’t believe that finally the clock was found. he had some precious memories attached to it with Paula.

 It was broken  so  I fixed it with dad’s help  and I wanted to give you as a gift.. she continued..looking at him

He immediately took her in his embrace making sure not to hurt her and baby...

“ Thank you, Thank you so much Prakriti but you are my precious birthday gift from god I could have asked for, it was my best birthday ever,” he whispered.

[ladykateofledfordpark]

A Call From A Friend (Jaime x MC/M!Avery x MC)

This fic is based on Day 15 of the Choices July Challenge hosted by the amazing @kinda-iconic under the profile @choicesjulychallenge!

Dedicated to @mariaoz @itsbrindleybinch and @lady-kato my amazing friends! ❤

Also tagging @jlpplays1 @flyawayboo @choicesarehard and @desiree-0816! Thank you for all your support!

So... I tried another crossover fic. Don't know if it's as good as the first, but I wanted to write this for a while. And which friendship fits better than Dawn and Charlotte?

Day 15 Prompt: Friendship

Pairings: Jaime x MC, M!Avery x MC

Summary: After a lobg time in which Dawn and Charlotte didn't talk, Dawn calls.

Notes: Unedited

----------

Charlotte looked down at her phone. It flashed and shook, a familiar song by Avery Wilshere playing at full volume.

“Really, Avery Wilshere?” Jaime smiled. He lay on her bed as if he was the king of her room. Which he was not.

Charlotte shook her head. “Shush or you’re out in five minutes.”

Jaime pouted, but Charlotte ignored him. Once again she lowered her gaze to her phone, before she hesitantly answered it. “Hello?”

“Char!” A familiar voice echoed from the speakers, “Hi!”.

She hesitated. “Who is this?”

The girl from the other end of the line laughed. “Really, Char? Forgot me already? I’m your best friend! One of them, at least.”

Charlotte frowned. “Um… sorry, my only best friend is with me. In my room. Right now. Wrong number. Nice guess with the name, though.”

Was Jaime still her best friend, though? They haven’t really had the “What are we?” talk, but for some reason Charlotte wasn’t worried. When she met Jaime’s gaze, a rush of pleasant tingles ran through her. There was no doubt this was not just a passing crush.

The girl sighed. “Char, it’s me! Dawn!”

Charlotte’s mouth dropped. “Dawn?!”

Jaime’s eyes grew to the size of saucers. His only reaction was a surprised “Wow.”

“Now you finally remember me! Phew! I was worried you forgot about me!”

Charlotte laughed. “Don’t worry, Dawn. I’ll never forget about you. You ruined my life too much for that.”

Dawn sighed. “Yeah, yeah. Now, what was that about your best friend? Hmm?”

Charlotte blushed. “Well, Jaime’s here.”

“Interesting. May I talk to him?”

She silently nodded before she handed Jaime her phone with a threatening look. He smirked as he took the phone and brought it to his ear, his smile now genuine.

“Yup! Charlotte’s hosting a new TV show with Ellen Thompson. Ever heard of her? Oh, I’m just a handyman. Nothing too special.” He listened for a while more, before a smile bloomed on his face. “Well… we’re kinda together.” Jaime laughed at what he heard before playfully shaking his head. He lowered his phone and pressed on speaker, releasing Dawn’s voice to the empty room.

“Seriously, Char?! Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”

Charlotte shrugged. “I never really had the chance, Dawn.”

The girl sighed. “Fine, fine. You win.”

“But what about you? What are you doing now?”

“Welllll I’m here with Avery Wilshere. In New York?”

Charlotte shot a winning smile at Jaime, and he chuckled in reply. “How did you manage that, Dawn?”

She sighed. “You really don’t watch reality shows, huh?” When she didn’t get anything but silence, Dawn continued. “I was in One in A Million and won. So now I’m working on a debut album that’ll hopefully be released soon. Avery was my mentor, so he’s here with me.”

Charlotte traded a look with Jaime. “Really?”

“I mean not right here. That would be- I mean- Um…”

A mischievous smile rose to Charlotte’s face. “I can’t believe it! You have a crush on Avery!”

“I don’t! Sure, he’s so cute, sweet and handsome, but-” she sighed, “I can’t be with him because Hollywood believes I’m with Raleigh Carrera. He’s also okay, but-”

“You like Avery.” Jaime interrupted.

Dawn sighed. “Well… yes.”

“What about Shane?” Charlotte inquired, “How’s he doing?”

“He’s also here, actually! I see him often, since he’s a film major. He even helped with the filming of a music video I did!”

Jaime laughed. “Cool! Tell him I said hi.”

“So you don’t have any feelings for Shane?”

Dawn laughed. “Give it up, Char! It didn’t work in middle school, it’s not gonna work now!”

She sighed. “I guess…”

“But at least you two worked out! Finally! I’ve been rooting for you two forever!”

They laughed, and once they relaxed Jaime spoke. His voice was hesitant, as if he was treading on broken glass. “Hey, Dawn. Thanks for keeping my secret all that time.”

Dawn’s voice shook stronger than an earthquake. “Of course, Jaime.”

They talked for a few more hours, before Dawn hung up. As the silence enveloped them again, Charlotte sat on her chair and watched Jaime silently.

Her best friend looked at her, frowning. “Char, what’s wrong?”

“What secret were you talking about?”

He closed his eyes. “Remember the party?”

“You mean Fiona’s party?”

Jaime nodded, his eyes still locked tightly on hers. “I did what I did because, well, I didn’t want it to happen. Not that way.”

Charlotte blushed. “What do you mean?”

“You deserved so much more than that, Char. I couldn’t do that to you just because of peer pressure.”

She was silent for a moment, before she spoke again. “Okay.”

“Really?”

She nodded. “Of course, Jaime. I get your reasoning. And honestly, I kind of agree.”

He let out a heavy breath, and suddenly seemed much lighter than before. “Good.”

Not long after, Charlotte found herself curled up in Jaime’s arms, the warmth of his chest sending soothing beats throughout her whole body.

“Char?” He whispered in the dark.

She smiled lazily. “What?”

His warm breath touched her ears, sending warm tingles down her spine. “I love you.”

She turned so she was facing him, before cupping his face in the most gentle way she could think of. “Jaime Lewis,” she kissed his forehead, and then his nose, “I will never tire of hearing you say that.”

He chuckled, pulling her closer. “Is that all?”

Charlotte’s smile grew, and her eyes shone in utter happiness. “You’re right. Let me try again,” she cleared her throat, a playful smile on her face, before she spoke. “Jaime Lewis, I,” she kissed his cheek, “love,” his other cheek, “you.”

And then his lips touched hers, and she lost herself in all the happiness, warmth and security she could ever have.

Because Jaime was here, and he was hers.

[ratanslily]

this is Jaime x mc🥺

[takingcourage]

A Bushel and a Peck

Pairing: Jaime x MC

Word Count: 1,850

Summary: After receiving payment for a job, Jaime and Arden get a little more than they’ve bargained for.

Note: Thanks, as always, to @krishu213​ for her request of “The smell of nutmeg and cloves around every corner” for Jaime and Arden. The prompts you choose are always so much fun! : ) 

Fiddling with the drawstring on her jacket, Arden raised her eyes toward the seasonal menu. It was all for show -- she’d known exactly what she was getting before she’d set foot in the shop -- but Friday afternoons always left her a little antsy and eager for home. As the woman in front of her stepped aside to wait for her drink, Arden exchanged smiles with the barista behind the counter. 

“The usual?”

“Please. Thanks, Stephanie.”

“Extra shot today?”

Arden’s lips pursed with momentary indecision. “Sure -- why not?” 

“It’ll be out shortly.” 

After completing her transaction at the register, Arden migrated toward the other end of the counter. A subtle vibration came from the front pocket of her bag, and she quickly withdrew her phone. 

Any plans for the weekend?

She smiled instinctively at Jaime’s text. Did you have something in mind? My schedule is surprisingly flexible. 

Good to know. 

Her brow was still crinkled at the cryptic text when she went forward to retrieve her drink, and things only grew stranger as she made her way back out of the shop and into her vehicle. If she’d been in a more present state of mind, she would have noticed the hints of nutmeg and vanilla that wafted up from the tiny hole in the lid when she took her first blissful sip. As it was, her thoughts were too trained on the mysterious message from her husband. 

Care to share?

I’ve got a project in mind for tomorrow. 

She swallowed a bit too much with her next sip. Had she been a less-experienced drinker, it might have burned on the way down, but she’d been immune to the heat for years. When her phone remained still, she settled back against the seat, slotted the keys into the ignition, and made her way toward home. 

Jaime was waiting for her in the kitchen, his hand slicing the air as he beckoned her in to join him. “You know those repairs I was doing for Mrs. Ellis this week?” 

Arden nodded and kicked her shoes into the corner of the dining room. 

“She couldn’t stand not being able to pay me for them, so she found another method of compensation.” 

That method became abundantly clear as Arden tiptoed onto the tile. From wall to stove, their counter was covered with heaping paper bags. “She gave you a kitchenful of apples?” 

“Two bushels,” he confirmed. 

She crossed to the nearest bag, hooking the side with an inquisitive finger. “Does she think we’re feeding the whole city? What on earth are we going to do with two bushels of apples?”

“I misspoke earlier -- it’s not actually quite that many. I did manage to give  a couple dozen away...”

“We’re two people, Jaime!” she interjected, turning away from the counter to face him. “I don’t think it’s possible for us to eat this many apples if we tried.” 

Jaime rubbed the furrow from her brow with a gentle thumb, then braced a hand on each shoulder. “That’s why I thought we could make a challenge out of it: we’ll see how many things we can make with them in a weekend. Apple butter alone will get us through at least a quarter of them, and we can make applesauce and pie filling too.” 

At the glimpse of his earnest brown eyes, the hilarity of the situation somehow caught up to her in a breathless laugh. “Jaime, this is ridiculous. We can find people to give them to --” 

“Or,” he countered, pausing for a moment in apology for cutting her off. “Or we can make them into something special before we give them away. But I need you with me on this. I don’t know if I can get through them all on my own.”

It was a hollow statement; Jaime was eminently capable of getting through anything he set his mind to, but she wasn’t going to leave him to drown in apples on his own. 

“We need a game plan,” she replied, words already a little distant as she circled the room in search of a pad of paper. Finding an unopened envelope on the table, she began making a list. “If you find the recipes you want, I’ll write down the ingredients we need. We can make a quick run to the grocery store, then pick something up for dinner.” 

Chinese. 

Arden chuckled at the silent interjection. “...then pick up Chinese for dinner. Are you trying to appease me for putting up with you?”

“Nope.” This time, his words were audible. “I’m just taking care of my wife.”

By the end of the evening, they’d accounted for every single apple. Double checking the recipes over cartons of takeout, the two of them shared more than a handful of giggles over the sheer absurdity of the situation. 

“What have we gotten ourselves into?” 

-----

By noon on Saturday, they'd enlisted her father’s help with peeling and slicing -- a process that would have been much faster if the Harry hadn't insisted on tossing pieces of discarded peel to the floor for Opie instead of into the bag for composting. Between the dog's valiant attempts to catch them and Jinx's determination to steal them from under his nose, the whole scene became very distracting.

Even so, there was no denying that his presence made the process go faster. Their last batch of applesauce was finished by 3:00, followed by apple butter some hours later. When the time came to break for dinner, they'd lined their counter with several jars to give away. 

"Just pies left to go," Jaime noted, consulting their list from the night before as Arden and Harry cleared dishes from the dining table.  

"I think that’s my cue to head on home. I don’t know the first thing about pies, except that I love eating them.” 

Arden resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she loaded their plates into the dishwasher. 

“We’ll bring one over tomorrow,” Jaime promised. 

Offering a half-hearted farewell over her shoulder, Arden’s eyes glazed as they fell back onto the final bag on the table. The pads of her fingers felt swollen from the repetitive motion of the knife, and she’d started to worry that no amount of handwashing would ever remove the sense of stickiness from her wrinkled palms. Even after the brief time away, there was a phantom tremor between her thumb and pointer finger. 

“I can finish these up tomorrow.” Jaime sank into the chair across from her, his own hand strong and steady as he reached for her leg under the kitchen table. “I really appreciate all of your help today. I'm glad we did this.” 

Eyes darting upward, she caught the smile she’d heard in his voice. His warm eyes sparked golden when she met his gaze. “I might swear off apples for the foreseeable future, but this has been fun.” With renewed vigor, she glanced back to the bag beside her. “And I’m not leaving you to do these on your own. We said we’d finish these tonight, and that’s what I intend to do.” 

He squeezed her knee, chuckling beneath his breath. 

“Stop!” she urged with an insistent whisper. At his raised brow, she clarified. “You’re thinking about calling me stubborn again -- I know you are.” 

Jaime rose and motioned for Arden to vacate her chair as well. “We can finish tonight, but I want to switch out. I’ll take care of the peeling and slicing. You can measure out the dry ingredients.”

“Deal.” 

Tucking her hair behind both ears, she set to work gathering ingredients and whatever clean utensils she could find. Most of their small stash of measuring cups and spoons had been used for previous recipes, and improvising was easier than washing what was dirty. 

“Are you using the 1/3 cup?”

Flicking the remaining crystals into the mixing bowl, she flashed the tin cup for his inspection. 

“To measure 16 cups of sugar?”

Flushing more from embarrassment than indignance, she scooted the 1/8 measuring teaspoon out of his sightline. He didn’t need to know her plan for the spices. “Don’t make me lose count!”

I could if I wanted to. 

His thoughts cut in, and she very nearly lost track of the scooping despite herself. Offering what she hoped was a stern expression, she retrieved her phone and found a playlist of pop music that had fallen from the top 40 charts a decade before. As she finished preparing the ingredients, she couldn’t help giggling at the memories attached to many of them: trips to the pool in the summertime, dances at prom, basement jam sessions with their very short-lived band phase... 

Jaime brought the bowl of apple slices to the counter, nudging her out of the way so that he could access the dry ingredients and the stovetop. She kept him company as he cooked and cooled, legs dangling from her seat beside the oven. 

Though the raw materials were much different from his usual medium, there was the same undeniable magic in watching him bring them all together. Under Jaime’s care, what started as a few basic ingredients no longer felt ordinary or simple. True to his intentions, the unexpected gift had become something special. 

Finally, the last bag had been sealed and the counters had been wiped down. With one concluding look around the room, Arden cranked the dial on the dishwasher and breathed a sigh of relief. Weariness grew with each step, culminating in a sense of fatigue that prompted her to collapse onto the mattress as soon as she’d made it to their upstairs bedroom. 

“What a day.” Jaime stretched out beside her, sounding much more energetic than she felt. 

Drowning a yawn, Arden tried to recover by taking a deep breath. Her nose shriveled as she realized her mistake. “Everything in our house smells like apples,” she moaned, tossing an arm over her face to try to block the scent. “I smell like apples.” 

He burrowed closer on the bed. “You smell like autumn. I’m getting notes of nutmeg and cinnamon...maybe a hint of clove. I’ll be dreaming of applesauce and pies all night.” Jaime kissed her ear playfully, then pulled away with a soft laugh. 

“Ughhh.” Showering would mean postponing bedtime, but she was starting to think that the delay would be worthwhile. 

“You have a bit of peel in your hair. Here.” He brushed aside a few strands to locate the tiny sliver. 

Prying open her eyes, she turned to face him. “And you’ve got cornstarch...or something... on your ear.” Arden swiped at it with a thumb, relieved when the substance came away easily. 

He caught her elbow as she dropped her hand, his thumb etching gentle circles into her skin. “We make quite a pair, don’t we?”

Arden’s eyes flashed with amusement; she knew he’d intended sentimentality, but the setup was too much to resist. “I have to say, that’s not quite the fruit I was thinking of,” she countered, already bracing herself for the well-earned complaint she knew was coming. 

With a well-deserved groan, Jaime leaned over to capture her lips in a sleepy kiss. 

[danniseyebrows]

wt doodles

[walkerismychoice]

I love both of those nerds

[omgjasminesimone]

If there’s not a book 3 where I get to marry Jaime I swear to God....