#minnie cunningham

[lubentina]

Walter Richard Sickert (German/British 1860–1942)

Minnie Cunningham at the Old Bedford ,1892. Tate collection

oil on canvas

[hellcheer-heaven]

Okay, okay: The Hellcheer bench scene except Chrissy sounds like Minnie Mouse and Eddie sounds like Goofy

[ijustwanttoreadfanfiction]

Friendly Sex - Chapter 1 - The Party

Eddie Munson X AFAB!Reader

Your 6 year long unrequited crush on Steve Harrington is starting to wear thin, and after discovering Eddie Munson feels the same way about Chrissy Cunningham you decide to make a pact. After all, what's the harm in a little casual sex between friends?

  A/N: Story opens April 1986. Slight AU, all the events of seasons 1, 2 and 3 happened, except Hopper didn't get transported to Russia, the gate was closed and Joyce, Hopper, Jonathan, Will and Jane all move to California as one big happy family. Jonathan and Nancy break up (necessary for plot, apologies to any shippers). Nancy and Steve are together. Reader is 18 and in final year at Hawkin's High School, alongside Robin and Eddie etc. Reader works at Family Video with Robin & Steve. Vecna storyline is not a thing, strange things will not be happening. This has been festering in my brain and I don't know what to do with it, so, tada!

Warnings: NSFW. SMUT, (MDI) 18+ only, drugs, sex, alcohol, underage drinking, public sex, dirty talk, name calling in sex (consensual), explicit language, adult themes, there will be angst, it will get messy.

More warnings to be added.

Revised edition.

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

  It was Robin’s idea to go to the party, one of those let’s have a party for the sake of having a party, parties, the all American standard, under-age keg fest.

It was an unwelcome change from your regularly scheduled Saturday night plans of doing nothing.

But argue as you might, Robin had made it clear you were going, even if she had to drag you.

"I'm tired of watching your ass wallow in self-pity." She said in true blunt Robin fashion, pulling outfit after outfit out of your closet, throwing them haphazardly in your general direction.

"I thought you loved watching my ass." You bite back, holding up a rust-coloured corduroy mini skirt to your hips.

"Ha, ha. I'm serious though dude, this whole moping Minnie routine is getting old, you just need to get out there and get yourself laid." She groans, pushing past you, flopping face first onto your bed in frustration.

"The skirt looks good, you should wear it with your tan knee highs." She adds, laying on her front to look at you.

"I'm working on it Rob." You grumble, fishing your boots out from under a pile of clothes. "It's not easy to let go of a 6 year crush you know."

"Well maybe if you had made a move 6 years ago, we wouldn't be in this mess." She huffs in exaggeration.

"Gee, you're right, let me just hop in my time machine, go back and tell my 12-year-old self to man up and ask out Steve Harrington. Huzzah!" You quip dryly, yanking the zipper of your boots up none too gently.

  "Honestly Harrington has a lot to answer for, it's like the women of Hawkin's see him and suddenly all rational thought disappears." Robin laughs.

"It's the hair." You agree, fluffing up your own in the mirror. "And only the great Robin Buckley, lesbian superheroine, is immune to its hypnotic powers."

"Then I must use my powers for good!" She declares in a manly tone, hauling herself off the bed to wrap her arms around your shoulders. "My mission, gentle citizen, is to break the spell cast over you." She places a wet kiss on your cheek casting an appraising eye over your finished ensemble. "Very hot."

  ***

  It's not that you disliked parties, after all it was a time honoured tradition to go to some random person's house whilst their parents where out of town and get absolutely wasted, chintzy picture perfect living rooms suddenly overrun with overactive hormones, sweaty bodies and dubious punch bowls, however after the initial buzz wore off you usually found yourself longing for the quiet solitude of your bedroom. Of course, when you express this to Robin, after half an hour of being there, she merely rolls her eyes in disgust, thrusting another cup of mystery alcohol in your hand, ushering you back into the throng of young adults.

"Would you stop?" She implores, holding your left shoulder with her free hand. "Your problem is you think too much. So, give those little grey cells a break by killing some of them off." She lifts her own drink in a mock toast, nodding at you to do the same.

"You are a terrible friend." You relent with a laugh, toasting quickly and taking a gulp, face scrunched up in distaste as the alcohol burns your throat.

"The very worst." She says with an evil grin, which fades somewhat as she focuses on something behind you. You turn towards the source, and despite knowing what you would see, your stomach still swoops uncomfortably at the sight of Steve or more precisely Steve with his arm wrapped around Nancy Wheeler looking incredibly loved up. "Shit." Robin declares.

"Shit." You agree flatly. 

  You move to go back towards the kitchen, but Robin takes your hand, holding you in place, Steve having already spotted you both, his own hand thrown up in greeting, weaving through the crowd with Nancy in tow.

"Fancy seeing you fine ladies here." Steve grins broadly, leaning in to give each of you a one-armed hug, your skin burning from his touch.

"Fancy that." Robin agrees sheepishly, you get a grim sense of satisfaction at the uncomfortable look on her face.

Nancy, who had been hanging off of Steve's free arm for the majority, leans forward to speak to you over the pounding music. "I love your skirt Y/n." She smiles sweetly; and you feel the rather irrational urge to stick pins in her bright blue eyes.

"Thanks Nancy." You call back, trying to return her smile. "I- uh -I like your bracelet." You say, noticing a golden glimmer on her wrist, plastering on the enthusiasm.

Nancy, being an actual angel, flushes with pleasure at your compliment. "Steve bought it for me." She sighs, toying with the gold bangle,

and you try not to urge as they share a sickening saccharine look.

"Of course he did." You mutter grudgingly to yourself, desperately wanting to escape.

"What did you say Y/n?" Steve asks absent-mindedly, still gazing at Nancy.

"I'm gonna grab another drink." You say in a clearer voice, not that it mattered, because at that moment Steve seemed to find a very interesting spot on Nancy's neck that required the immediate attention of his mouth. Grimacing you slip past them, purposely ignoring Robin's pleading calls for a top up and/or a sick bucket.

  Reaching the kitchen, you chug a cup of punch straight off, before refilling it to the brim, whilst you knew alcohol wouldn't solve your problems it could certainly try and soothe the jealous beast currently roaring in your head at the human octopus that was Stancy.

Deciding the garden was the best place to avoid a front row seat to the lovefest, you steer your body around bumping and grinding couples, careful not to spill a drop of your precious emotional medicine. The backyard to your pleasant surprise is empty, the party having not yet spilled out, and the chilly night air was a welcome contrast to the stale humidity inside. You wander out onto the pristine lawn, and find yourself releasing a breath you didn't realize you had been holding, ears ringing slightly as they adjusted to the now muffled thumping bass.

"Well, well, well what brings you out here Sweetheart?"

You groan heavily at the teasing drawl behind you.

"I was trying to get some peace and quiet, but that's not likely to happen with you around, is it Munson?" You sigh, turning to face Eddie Munson who was perched on a swing set to the far right, slightly obscured in semi-darkness, but a Cheshire cat grin clearly plastered on his face.

"Ouch, you wound me." He says, placing a dramatic hand over his heart, still grinning away like an idiot. "Seriously though, I wouldn't have pegged you for this kinda gig." He gestures with his head back towards the party.

"It was Robin's idea." You mutter darkly, glaring towards the shut French doors.

"Well, if looks could kill, I'm guessing you'll have a best friend vacancy by this time tomorrow." He laughs again, which irritates you further. 

  "What are you doing here?" You deflect back, hiccupping slightly as you drink some more punch. "Place is like jock city in there, hardly your regular stomping ground either."

He nudges a battered black tin lunch-box with his foot, slightly tucked under the swing. "You know me sweetheart, got a business to run, empires to build, horizons to expand." He says with the usual Eddie flair.

"Dealing drugs to inebriated teens, I should've guessed." You say wryly, rolling your eyes.

"You make it sound so dirty." He mocks you, irritating smirk still fixed.  "And you've never complained before." He reminds you pointedly.

Whilst far from being a hardcore user, you were a semi- frequent customer of Eddie's when it came to weed, finding him to be discreet, reliable and most importantly for your minimum wage ass, cheap.

"Well maybe I'm in the mood to complain tonight," You mutter suddenly feeling bitter about the way the night had gone downhill so quickly, scuffing your boot into the neatly trimmed grass.

Eddie leans down to extract something from his tin.

"Joint for your thoughts?" He offers, holding out a perfectly rolled spliff, quickly adding. "No charge." You mull it over for all of 2 seconds, concluding your jealous inner demon will not be calmed by alcohol alone. 

  "'Atta girl!" He calls happily as you stomp over to squeeze beside him, he pats your knee in encouragement, then lights up, graciously passing you the joint for the first drag which you take gratefully.

You both sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes, offering the smoke back and forth. You could tell straight away that the weed was a much higher quality than you could ever normally afford and therefore hoped its soothing effects would kick in a lot quicker.

"Soooo," Eddie gently ventures after a few more minutes, "you wanna walk about it?" 

"What's there to talk about, I'm in love with a guy who is in love with someone else." You shrug on a heavy exhale.

Eddie whistles between his teeth, regarding you carefully as you take another hit.

"Ah, that old cliche huh?" He nudges you lightly, taking the joint back for his turn.

Now Eddie had said it, you couldn't help but laugh in agreement.

"I guess it is pretty clichéd." 

"Yup no points for originality this time princess. So, who's Captain Oblivious?" He asks, offering you another hit, shaking your head you opt to take a swig of alcohol, mentally bracing yourself for Eddie's inevitable teasing.

"Steve Harrington." You sigh glumly into your cup.

Eddie let out a muttered "Damn." 

"The former King of Hawkin's High himself. I don't envy you there babe."

  You snatch the joint back from his ringed fingertips, fed up with his teasing. "Don't take the piss Eddie, I'm not in the mood." You mumble defensively, leaning forward so as not to see the smirk on his face.

"Hey." He says in a surprisingly genuine tone, his hand rubbing your back, making you turn to look at him. "I'm not ragging on you sweetheart. Harrington is a nice enough guy now he's not hanging out with the douchebag brigade. I can see why you'd like him."

You lean back and Eddie slips his arm around your shoulders. 

"Well, I'm glad you can see it, he doesn't even know I exist, at least not in the way I want him to." You sigh, resting your head on his arm, seeing off the last of your drink and feeling distinctly sorry for yourself. 

You both lapse into silence again, the swing swaying gently beneath you as you burn through more of the joint , somewhere inside the house voices were shouting "Keg! Keg! Keg!"

  After a few moments, Eddie shifts slightly, arm wrapping more securely around you.

"Can I tell you something?" He asks, sounding nervous.

"I mean I just bared my soul to you, so I guess it's only fair." You murmur, glancing up at him.

He breathes a heavy sigh, right leg jiggling.

"I have been head over heels in love with Chrissy Cunningham since middle school." He confesses with a wince.

You wanted to say something encouraging, maybe even profound, or at the very least offer some words of comfort, so you felt a little guilty when you couldn't suppress the giggle that passed your lips.

"Chrissy Cunningham?!" You exclaim, staring at him wide-eyed "Cheerleader extraordinaire, Chrissy Cunningham?"

He looks at you, lips pressed tight as though he was trying to hold back his own laughter. 

"Yep." Letting the 'p' pop. "Ever since she shook her pom-poms in the talent show."

You were barely holding it together, attempting to keep your voice level as you spoke. 

"Wait, wait. So not only are we both in love with two very attractive people who are waaaay out of our league, these people are also in long term committed relationships with two other very attractive people." 

Your statement hung in the air for a second, both of you then erupting into fits of laughter at the ridiculousness of the situation.

  Eddie chuckled throatily around the stub of the joint, almost burnt out. "Oh man, we are pathetic." Shaking his head.

You jam your elbow lightly into his ribs. "Hey, speak for yourself!" You jokingly admonish. 

"What, you think you have a chance?" He snorts incredulously.

You pretend to weigh up your options.

"If Nancy Wheeler gets hit by a bus, sure I'll shoot my shot… after an extended mourning period of course." You say.

"Of course." Eddie agrees, both of you collapsing into fits of uncontrollable giggles once more, fuelled on by excessive alcohol and weed.

  "So, what do you think you need to do to get over little old Stevie?" Eddie asks you somewhat more seriously, stamping the remainder of the joint out under his sneakers, leaning back against the swing, taking you under his arm again.

You shrug, settling comfortably against him, staring up at the night sky, your own arm wrapping lightly about his waist. "Robin says I just need to get laid." You sigh flatly.

"I mean it's not the worst suggestion in the world." He says reasonably. 

"Yeah, but c'mon Munson, guys aren't exactly queued around the block waiting to give me a service." You say, gesturing to the empty garden, Eddie pulling a face at your phrasing.

"Maybe that's because you've spent the past however many years with your Harrington blinkers on." He suggests, and it hits a nerve within you, quite often you wondered if you had missed opportunities with other guys because of your Harrington fixation. Your first and thus far only proper relationship, at 16 ,was doomed to fail from the start as Bobby Cooper just couldn't live up to the standards you had set in your daydreams of Steve.

"Well, what about you and your Chrissy conundrum? Your on-tap supply of groupies not helping to ease the pain?" You bite back, on the defensive.

Rather than get shitty with you, Eddie just gives you the classic Munson smirk.  

"You think I’m good enough to have groupies?" He teases, squeezing your side, with a saucy eyebrow raise.

You pinch him back playfully. "I've seen you play Eddie; you know you're good." You admit with a smile.

He heaves a dramatic sigh, hand to his brow like some wretchedly poor southern belle.

"And yet, the tour bus-"

"Your van?" You chip in snidely.

"-my van" He ruefully concedes "is decidedly empty, even with the new air freshener."

"It's a crying shame, Eds." You laugh, patting his cheek.

  He places an affectionate kiss on your head, cuddling you closer against the chilly breeze, it feels nice to be held, and even nicer to talk to someone so openly, other than Robin of course.

You lapse into comfortable silence once more, the strains of some Blondie song thumping from inside, the party was kicking up a gear but you found yourself lost in thought.

You had always had a soft spot for Eddie, conversation flowed easily enough, and you appreciated his dry sense of humour, both of you were regular outcasts in comparison to rest of the high school cliques, and you had found yourselves in detention together more times than you cared to count; you had a bad habit of disagreeing with your English teacher. And if you were being honest, he was actually really kind of pretty when you took the time to really look at him, chocolate brown eyes, full lips, awesome hair.

You hadn't realised you had been staring at him until he cleared his throat, you pulled away from his arms sheepishly, cheeks aflame from the embarrassment of being caught out, but feeling sure Eddie had been staring at you for the same amount of time.

"Uh- sweetheart, and by all means please let me know if I have completely misread some signals here, but I think I may have found the solution to both our problems." It surprised you to hear a note of uncertainty in his voice, particularly as Eddie was normally shockingly cavalier to a fault, it made you turn back to face him.

"Go on…" You encouraged him, finding your mouth oddly dry.

  He took a deep breath, leaning closer, his arm snaking about your waist, warm fingertips tracing absentmindedly across the inch of exposed skin between your skirt and top, goose pimples erupting that made a shiver run up your spine.

"You need to get laid." He stated. "I need to get laid. We both have stuff we need to get out of our systems. You're a stand-up girl," he gave you a courteous nod. "...and I think I'm correct in saying you find me tolerable at the very least." The uncertainty was back, steeling yourself you placed a hand on his denim clad knee giving him a squeeze. 

"More than tolerable Eds." You offer a smile.

"Thanks sweetheart." He mutters blushing. "So, uh anyway, what I'm trying to say here is… in a pretty roundabout way and you can of course say no-"

"Eddie"

"Sorry, rambling, what I'm trying to say is we could… help each other out?" He was staring at you, pleading with you to chime in.

"You mean sex?" You ask slowly, noticing his blush creep up to his ears.

"Uh, y-yeah that thing." He stammers. "If you wanted to, with me, we could have sex as friends every now and then, friendly sex."

  You glanced at your wristwatch, 26 minutes ago you came out into the garden of some unknown person seeking a quiet place to drown your Steve induced sorrows, and now you were sitting next to Eddie Munson, seriously considering his offer of 'friendly sex'. Maybe Robin's kiss from earlier really had broken a spell, you laughed aloud at the thought, mirth quickly turning to frantic apologies at the look of horror on Eddie's face, forgetting that he was not privy to your inner monologue.

"Oh my god Eddie, no I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you!' You cried, cringing at your own social ineptitude.

"Hey, it's ok honey, I told you, it's cool if you don't want to-" His tone was calm, patting your side, making to stand and walk away with what little dignity he had left.

"NO! Don't go, I do want to!" You let out a shout, grasping his arm to pull him back down, your face burning in mortification that you essentially just begged Eddie to fuck you. 

"Alright sweetheart, calm down I'm not going anywhere, no need to shout." He soothed; devil- may-care smirk back in place, holding you firmly about the waist again. You tried to turn away at his teasing, but Eddie cupped your cheek, the numerous rings on his fingers cool against your prickling skin.

"I'm going to kiss you now." His voice low and surprisingly authoritative. "Ok?" He asks, inching closer to your lips. Unsure if you had the nerve to speak, you merely nod. "Use your words princess, I need you to tell me that it's ok for me to kiss you." He teased; lips just shy of brushing against yours.

"I-it's ok, kiss me, please." You whisper, hands fisted in his jacket, pulling him in to close the final gap.

Eddie surged forward with an urgency that made you gasp, kissing you hard, your teeth clacking together painfully but you didn't care, adrenaline coursing through your veins like rocket fuel. You quickly found the right rhythm for each other kissing back with equal enthusiasm, his grip tightened moving you to straddle his lap, with you kneeling. He kneaded your ass, grinding you down, you gasped feeling the hard outline of his dick, taking full advantage of your open mouth, his tongue slipping in to meet with yours. Releasing his jacket, you tangled your fingers in his hair, tugging harder than intended as Eddie nipped at your bottom lip, but he hardly seemed to care judging by the groan that escaped his throat. You smirked, tucking the knowledge away for later use, Eddie also appeared to be mentally cataloguing your reactions, like the way your hips rocked involuntarily as he sucked your neck just below your right ear, and how your breath hitched whilst he felt you up under your shirt, brushing the underside of your breast.

So lost in each other you didn't notice the sudden increase in noise coming from the party, signalling that someone had opened the screen door, it was the violent retching sound of vomiting that had you jumping apart as though you had been electrocuted, scrambling off Eddie's lap. You grimaced in disgust, Chance from the High School basketball team spewing chunks over the once pristine lawn, to the jeers of others inside.

  "Hey…" Eddie spoke breathlessly, pulling your attention back to him, his lips kiss bitten, pupils blown wide. "You uh, want to get out of here?"

Grinning you snatched up his hand pulling him none too gently in the direction of the back gate, the sound of Chance's digestive pyrotechnics mercifully fading away, Eddie now pulling you along in the opposite direction to the house.

My van is this way."

Your heels clacked against the concrete, the pair of you moving at a light jog, keen to pick where you left off, both breathless as you came up on Eddie's van.

"Your chariot milady." He gestured proudly to the beat up vehicle like it was Cinderella's magical pumpkin carriage.

"Eddie, calling me milady is a total turn off." You teased, nose wrinkling.

  He pulled you to him, spinning you so your back was pressed against the passenger side door, 

"Oh well in that case, I best stick to sweetheart, huh sweetheart?" Caging you, his smile almost predatory as he set to work sucking what would no doubt be a prize-winning hickey just above your throat.

You grabbed the scruff of his neck when the skin got too sensitive, pulling his lips back to yours, both of you fighting for dominance in the kiss, thoroughly making out. Eddie palmed your tits, as you reached down trailing a teasing hand along the bulge in his jeans, he broke the kiss huffing out a low "Shit…."

Feeling bold, you flashed him a mischievous grin, unbuckling his belt, your hand slipping inside the tight denim stroking his cock properly, he was fully hard, your thumb swiping a thick bead of pre-cum around the mushroomy head.

"You keep doing that sweetheart and I’ll have no choice but to fuck you right here in the street." Eddie panted against your neck, his words going straight to your cunt.  

"Promises, promises." You said with a purr, jerking him slowly.

He laughed breathlessly. "Fucking tease." His hands quickly hitching up your skirt, hips pressing you closer to the van, slipping your panties to the side, you gasped as he trailed a finger through your wetness up to your clit and back down again.

  "Jesus baby, you're soaked. All this for me?" He asks incredulously, kissing you deeply again, two fingers moving slowly pumping in and out of your cunt as his thumb plays with your clit. The pair of you working each other, quiet moans slipping past swollen lips 

"Eddie." You whined softly, there was a tiny voice in the back of your mind which was terrified about getting caught in such a compromising position, but a much louder voice was screaming, begging to let Eddie have his way with you in the street where anyone could see.

"What is it princess?" He murmured, biting at your lower lip.

"I want -" You hiccupped on a moan, all four of his fingers now working over your swollen clit, spreading the slick from your cunt, you could only hold his cock, brain not functioning enough under his ministrations.

Grinning, taunting you openly he nipped at the sweet spot under your ear, whispering "Use your words baby."

"Oh my god." You whimpered. The screaming in your brain reaching a fever pitch; you wanted him to fuck you, right now, you didn't care if you got caught. "Eddie, do it, fuck me, fuck me right here." You say frantically, his movements stilling in shock. 

"You sure sweetheart? I-I can wait, we don't have to do anything you don't wanna-" He cut off, watching as though in a trance, you turned yourself around, pushing your ass out toward him, in the dim streetlight your pussy glistened with wetness all swollen and pretty.

  "Ho-ly fuck." He breathed out in awe, fishing hurriedly for a condom in his jacket pocket. You were breathing hard against the passenger window, watching Eddie's reflection, staring, cheeks flushed with excitement and lust as he yanked his jeans and boxers down enough to free his length, panting as he rolled the condom on. Coming up behind you, he crowded you against the van once again, his body covering your back, feeling his cock line up with your entrance; shivering at the slow press and delicious stinging sensation as he worked his way in.

"Christ you're so fucking tight baby." He hissed, balls flush to your ass as he bottomed out, one hand coming up to play with your tits, the other bracing against the van as he started to thrust.

"Eddie…fuck." You choked out, rubbing at your sopping clit, you were already so close, bouncing your hips back against him as he thrust harder.

"Oh my fucking god, you're perfect, so fucking tight and perfect. I can feel you dripping on my balls." He groaned, grabbing your hair, turning your head to capture your lips in a frantic kiss, you keened into his mouth. He was pulling your top up, freeing your breasts, pinching at your puckered nipples, his other arm wrapping tight  around your middle, holding you steady, pounding deeper.

  It was lewd, it was indecent, it was sinful and you had never felt so alive.

  "Eds, Eddie, I'm - fuck I'm fucking close, please." You begged, pleading, hovering over the edge, heat swimming deep in your belly.

"Oh shit, yes, such a good girl." You could hear he was close, the words passing through gritted teeth. "Taking this cock so well. You wanna cum baby?"

"Yes." You whined desperately, the coil within you tightening. "Please, I wanna cum so bad, fuck me harder." 

You didn't know where the words were coming from, had never felt this pent up, never craved sex this way before.

Eddie's balls were slapping against you in a faster rhythm, the sound penetrating the otherwise still night air.

"Fucking hell baby, yes take it, so fucking good - shit - that's it fucking cum for me sweetheart. Cum-on-my-cock-you-little-fucking-slut." He punctuated each word with brutal thrusts and at the word slut you felt the dam break, wave after wave of throbbing pleasure seized your body, head thrown back in a wordless cry, spasming around his dick.

"Shit,shit,shit,fuck,fuck." Eddie was chanting in a low whine, hips stilling against you, even with the condom on you could feel the pulse of him cumming.

  You both stayed perfectly still for a moment, your shared heavy breathing the only sound now.

"That was… holy fuck that was…" Eddie muttered leaning heavily against your shoulder, you clung onto the side mirror for support, legs feeling like jelly.

"Uh huh." You agreed breathlessly, you felt his hand on your back rubbing soothingly, unable to stop yourself from hissing as he pulled out, gently righting your panties for you and pressing a fleeting kiss to the back of your neck.

It was a remarkably sweet gesture, particularly in stark contrast to your position moments before, you tugged your top down, and skirt back up leaning against the van with a heavy exhale. Eddie had tucked himself away, and was now busy tying the condom off, stepping into the road to drop it unceremoniously down a gap in a drain cover, your face scrunched in distaste at the action.

"Giving the swimmers a new lease of life." He said winking impishly.

"I'm sure the sewer rats will be ever so pleased." You deadpanned.

  You were unsure what the plan was now, should you go your separate ways, you back to the party, him to - well wherever Eddie spent Saturday nights?

Returning to the party felt like a hellish idea, not just because you probably looked like you had just had sex, which you had, but you'd also have to face Steve and Nancy and whilst you now seemingly had the option of sex on tap, emotionally your heart still very much belonged to Harrington. Also you had the beginnings of a headache no doubt from the toxic punch.

"Uh- sweetheart you in there?" Eddie asked you, waving his hand in front of you, evidently you had zoned out.

"Huh?"

"I was talking about milkshakes." 

'Milkshakes?" You repeatedly blankly.

"Yeah, ya know, you take the milk, you take the shake you take them both and then you have the facts of life." He said moving past you, opening the passenger door.

You just stared vacantly.

"Oh my god I fucked the intelligence out of you." He giggled, ducking to one side as you tried to punch him in the arm, catching your hand he pulled you to him.

"Sweetheart I would very much like it if you would accompany me to a diner where we can have milkshakes and discuss the intimate details of our little arrangement." He clarified, gesturing for you to get into the van.

"Details?" You ask cluelessly, clambering into the seat, maybe he had fucked you dumb.

"Details." Eddie cooed, tapping you on the nose and strapping you in like a child, before handing you his drug box and slamming the door.

You were unsure whether to be amused or concerned at how he skipped to his own driver's side, lighting a cigarette. 

"Eddie, what exactly are we doing?" You ask, completely exasperated. He revved the engine, jamming the play button on the car radio, head banging along to Ace of Spades - Motorhead for a few moments.

"EDDIE!" You yell over the music impatiently.

"You and I are making a pact princess" Flashing you a huge grin before peeling down the street.

[imaginespazzi]

Happy night before the WNBA regular season starts to everybody who celebrates! I've gotten a couple of asks about trying to get into the W and which teams to support etc. etc. The best way to actually get into it, as with anything, is probably to just start watching games and seeing what team you vibe with. But I also figured I'd give y'all a ranking of my support of teams based solely on my opinion, partly based on player/playing style and partly based on vibes.

New York Liberty: Listen, I'm not actually a Liberty fan if we're honest but Breanna Stewart is my GOAT, and my favorite player of all time. Therefore where she goes, I go. Also on the Liberty, we have JJ who I adore (and has apparently locked a new level) and Betnijah Laney who is so underrated but so fucking good. If you're gonna root for the Liberty, a reminder that Sandy Brondello might have coached a team to a championship, but it doesn't mean she isn't gonna make you question her coaching at least once every game. When the Liberty are great, they're GREAT. When they're not, well...

Connecticut Sun: The closest I have to a home team and home to the most versatile player in the country, Alyssa Thomas. Can do everything, will do everything and is still so underrated. Brionna Jones is back from injury this year and I'm so excited for her and DB to be a lethal frontcourt duo. And if you're here for the Huskies, MoJeff is back home baby and I have a feeling ONO is going to take a big step this year. The issue with the Sun is they are very much always a bridesmaid, never a bride meaning they make it to the semis/finals but never win, will things change? Stay tuned!

Seattle Storm: For the longest time, because of Stewie, this was my team and I'll always have a soft-spot for them. They've gone out and made themselves into a super team of sorts with a core-4 of SDS-Jewell-Nneka-Ezi and while the pre-season hasn't quite shown that super team, I think time to gel will make them as good as ever. They also have a young core that I'm really excited to watch them develop with Nika (MY GIRL MADE IT) and Jordan Horston. Seattle's culture is one of the best in the league and while they might not win this year, if you're looking to stan for a long time, Seattle, with new team ownership member Sue Bird, is a solid choice!

Minnesota Lynx: The dynasty in rebuild. If a man hadn't ruined it, this would still be Maya Moore's team and she would be the face of the league but I digress. You know who the Lynx do have though? Napheesa. Fucking. Collier. My girl has been underrated for so much of her career, robbed of so many things (*cough* NPOY her senior year *cough*) but watch, this year or the next, Phee is gonna make the league give her her things i.e she's gonna be MVP. Also in Minny, your all-Rookie team favorites Dorka and Diamond are back and my girl AP is also in the mix. Again like Seattle, this is a team with a solid winning culture and if you wanna be here a long time, Cheryl Reeve will figure it out.

Washington Mystics: No Elena Delle-Donne and Mike Thibault is clearly tanking for Paige (mans is literally admitting it this not an assumption) so if this is your team, you'll be good soon, but probably not this year. Despite that thought, the Mystics always just kinda figure it out a little bit and I'm excited to see how Shakira Austin develops. And of course my MVLi is on the Mystics and she's gonna get a lot of playing time and I'm just very excited for her.

Phoenix Mercury: The Mercury have no business being this high on any list I know but they have DT and BG and I'm always gonna love those two. How far can a coach whose only qualification is basically being a "girl dad" take a WNBA team? Well I guess we'll find out (it's looking unlikely). Also the potential for drama on this team is always high because if you've seen the infamous picture, they have Kahleah Copper and Sophia Cunningham, what could possibly go wrong right?

LA Sparks: Before we get into now, let's get into the past because this team once upon a time had Nneka-Candace-Chelsea and fumbled all three. Just think about that. ANYWAYS moving on, Curt Miller (traitor of all time) is an interesting character, some love him, some hate him, but most can agree he's relatively a good coach. I genuinely do not know what's gonna happen but I think Rickea and Cam have the potential to become one of the best duos in the league eventually. Also Kia Nurse? Apparently in a mood to be a menace and I'm here for it.

Dallas Wings: Arike and Satou. That is it. That is all. I personally think Dallas is one good move (idk what move but it definitely wasn't a good move to trade Crystal) away from becoming a perennial championship contender. Arike and Satou is a good duo to start with but they're missing something and I can't quite put my finger on it. Either way, this is team built for offense and when they're winning, it's fun to watch, when they're not well...it's a good thing I'm not that invested. ALSO LOU IS BACK FOR THEM THIS YEAR!!

Indiana Fever: Never underestimate the Fever's ability to fuck it up. A lot of new fans are about to realize that this franchise does not know what the fuck they're doing for the most part. You hope having two generational talents in AB and CC will change that and I genuinely hope it does, because I would love to have them higher on my list. But for now, with absolutely no trust in anybody on that coaching staff, I'mma just watch it play out and hope for the best. Also shoutout Nalyssa Smith who I think is gonna get overlooked but have a great season.

Las Vegas Aces: Is it blasphemous to have the reigning champs this low? Potentially but blasphemy is also in treating a pregnant woman like shit and not putting your teammate with domestic violence charges/allegations on blast. Listen I'm not a complete hater and I do genuinely think the world of A'ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray. But I hate their us vs the world mentality and I'm not a huge Becky Hammon fan (that woman can coach her ass off though). Despite all of that, Vegas is still a fun team to watch and I expect them to continue to be the best team in the league.

Chicago Sky: GOOD FUCKING RIDDANCE JAMES WADE. The Sky are this low for me solely because it feels like a brand new team. They've lost a lot and gained a lot and I'm so excited to see Angel and Kamilla be the twin towers. More than anything I'm very excited to see T-Spoon as their head coach. Ngl though, beyond that, nothing really moves me and the Sky as an organization, we all saw the press conference room, really, really, really don't move me.

Atlanta Dream: Honestly they just kinda dropped this low for no reason other than for some reason, I just don't really care about them? But it's also because I keep forgetting that they have Tina. Fucking. Charles on their team now, which means if I ever do this again, they'll be much higher because Tina Charles is AMAZING and I love her and she raises this ceiling of this team to something else. Also very excited to see Rhyne Howard progress along with her.

That was long for no reason really and I think it was more me ranting then anything of actual help but it's W season lovelies, prepare to potentially be sick of me! WBB IS BACK!!

[whatstruthgottodowithit]

Here You Come Again [Part Fifteen]

Fandom: Elvis Presley, RPF, American Actor

Pairing: Elvis Presley x Original Female Character

Characters: Elvis Presley, Addison Goodwin, Original Female Characters, Priscilla Presley, Colonel Tom Parker, Vernon Presley, Gladys Presley, Minnie Mae Presley, Marci Cunningham, Jerry Schilling, Red West, Sonny West, Marty Lacker, Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge, Lamar Fike, Alan Fortas, George Klein, Memphis Mafia

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 8422

Summary: When Addison Goodwin was seventeen years old her life was turned inside out after a chance encounter with her past. Now, fifteen years later her life is the best it’s ever been. She has a home, a good job and a daughter she loves more than anything in the world but will all that remain when an old familiar face rolls into town.

Tags: Angst, Fluff, Graceland, Las Vegas, The International Hotel, Elvis In Vegas, 1970s, 1970s Elvis, Friends To Lovers, Rekindled Romance, Parenting, Time Line is Sketchy, Guilt, Betrayal, Teenage Pregnancy, Hawaii, Hidden Pregnancy, Jealousy, Sex, Absence of Parent, Single Motherhood, Trauma, Oral Sex, Tension, Addison's Dress

Notes: Feel free to hate me because I hate myself rn.

[there's only two chapters and an epilogue left and I promise it gets better x]

LINK TO ALL PARTS // LINK TO AO3 // LINK TO PINTEREST

Anyone would think that being on a vacation with your ex in the most romantic place on earth immediately after having shot him down for kissing you would be awkward. Well for the most part they’d be right. However Addison was finding that wasn’t the case entirely. As with everything that Elvis did she had found that where most people fit into a mould he didn’t and even though their situation wasn’t exactly an orthodox one he managed to navigate through it with ease. She had been in the middle of packing, folding her clothes neatly into her case when he had found her, coming into the room via the bathroom, watching her closely though she hadn’t realised he was there.

‘Marty’s doing a last-minute run to the store if you need anything picking up,’ he said, his low gravelly voice capturing her attention and making her whip around like a deer in headlights. He smiled at her, kind of enjoying the way he had gotten her at odds – given he had spent the night the same way after their kiss.

‘You scared me,’ she said, shifting nervously before she added, ‘I’m good thanks.’

‘Well if you think of anything just let him know,’ he said with a nod. Addison nodded, her fingers tracing along the edge of the suitcase behind her as she tried to think of what to say. If anything she wanted to keep her mouth shut. Everything had been going so well between them and she didn’t want to lose that, but as he turned to leave she found the words coming out of her mouth, ‘Elvis about last night-’

‘Forget about it,’ he said with a smile, sympathy in his crystal blue eyes that made her heart flip flop.

‘But-’

‘Addie honestly don’t worry about it,’ he said, ‘it was just a kiss.’

‘Just a kiss,’ she agreed though he could tell she was still over thinking it from the way she was gnawing on her lip.

‘Now c’mon,’ he smiled trying to reassure her, ‘we’ve got a vacation to get to.’

But it wasn’t just a kiss. It had been all she had been thinking about for the past two weeks. He had stayed true to his word and if she didn’t know any better she’d say that he had forgotten it himself. Yet the way he was around her made her feel as through that wasn’t the case. Their dynamic didn’t change. He wasn’t any more caring or attentive than he had been beforehand, but he didn’t pull away either, become cold or distant like he had the first time they had been working through their feelings for one another. No, if anything he had been pretty damn perfect.

Yet she was a mess. She didn’t know what to do about any of it. Her mind was screaming at her to pull away. That her priority should be Jess, making sure she didn’t get hurt. After all Addison had been the daughter of a mother who thought only of herself and she refused to put Jess through anything like that. But her heart was screaming at her the other way.

It hammered against her ribcage whenever he was near her, whenever their hands touched or he sat down beside her. Warmth spread through her chest whenever he laughed, the sound of it something she wished she could wrap around her like a blanket. And desire. Desire flamed through her whenever she saw him in the outrageously tight swim trunks he liked to wear as he frolicked in the sea with the kids or when he came down for dinner in a relaxed pair of shorts and a shirt – totally at ease and peace.

It made her want to give into those delusions. To believe that they could be a normal couple, on vacation in Hawaii surrounded by their family and friends. To believe that they could leave the family dinner and go back to their shared room where they’d spend the night together, no longer confined to small gestures, their desires allowed to run free. She wanted to believe that when the plane touched down she’d be home in Memphis and not trudging back to the desert heat, working endless shifts and trying to balance being a mom, running a house and working full time. She wanted to believe that it would be that easy. That Elvis could take care of her like she wanted, like she so desperately needed, that it would be fine.

But with every thought like that came a seed of doubt. It came when he placed his hand on the small of her back or his arm around her shoulders and no one batted an eye – his displays of affection with God knows how many women becoming common place to those around him.

It came when she looked at Lisa, a child now torn between two homes because despite the love her parents had for one another it hadn’t lasted. It came when she looked at Jess. When she remembered how he had promised her the world at seventeen years old and it still hadn’t been enough. How her daughter’s love had been the only thing to keep her truly afloat. How she wouldn’t have made it if it hadn’t been for her.

She wanted to trust her heart but it had been wrong before. At least when she listened to her head it made the pain hurt a little less.  

Their vacation was winding down and though two weeks of sun and sand had been nice the threat of normal life was looming. Jess and Addison were due to go back home, Lisa was due to fly back to California and Elvis was due to head out on tour yet again though this time only for a week. And as much as she had told herself that it was for the best, that it was what was needed for all of them, Addison couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Especially as she got ready for dinner, watching herself in the bathroom mirror, knowing that this would be one of the last times she would be doing it.

This time of day had become therapeutic for Addison. Whilst their days may have seemed lazy, only ever starting around noon, they were far from it. Elvis seemed to be intent on making this a fun vacation for the girls and so their days were spent on the beach, learning to surf or jet skiing, or in and around the pool playing endless games. Sometimes they were joined by some of the guys and their families, meaning that it was quite the rabble wherever they ended up, but sometimes they were alone, sitting out on the balcony of Elvis’ room as they watched the day go by. And though their nights were just as busy they felt completely different. Around dusk everyone would retreated to their rooms emerging back an hour or so later so they could have dinner where they’d spend the entire evening talking and laughing.

That hour had become important to Addison. It gave her chance to think, to breathe. Something that was becoming harder and harder to do whenever she was around Elvis.

As she slipped a new set of earrings into her ears, ones Jess had bought her for her birthday, she heard a knock at the door.

‘Are you ready?’ she heard Marci say from the other side. Addison gave herself one last glance in the mirror and then opened it finding Marci standing in front of her, practically leaning her ear up against where the door had been though she straightened up as Addison appeared.

‘Just need to get my shoes on,’ Addison said though as she looked past her friend she noted Jerry standing by the open door to their hotel room so she added, ‘you guys go.’

‘Are you sure?’ Marci said glancing at Jerry and then back to her friend.

‘Yeah, I’ll not be far behind ya,’ Addison said with a smile.

‘I’ll save ya a seat,’ Marci said before she headed to the door and slipped out with Jerry shutting it closed behind them.

Addison moved to the bed, grabbing her shoes from the closet so she could sit down and put them on. As she slipped on the tan wedges she found her eyes drifting around the room clocking every item that lay strewn around the place fresh from Marci’s wake of getting ready. Though it annoyed the life out of her that her room was in such disarray she couldn’t help but smile. Having her friend back for the past two weeks had been a blessing she couldn’t deny - a sense of normality in a chaotic world. Not to mention it had only taken being in close quarters for half a day before Marci had come clean about what had been going on with her and Tom.

She wasn’t happy. She had thought that her new life would be similar to her old one and that hadn’t been the case. Where she had expected to be able to start another shop, lay the foundations of their relationship before anything serious, Tom wanted to speed into a life together. He wanted marriage, he wanted babies, he wanted things that Marci wasn’t sure she was ready for yet and so when Elvis had invited her to join them she’d jumped on a plane without question hoping that Memphis and now Hawaii would bring clarity to what she did want.

It was news that broke Addison’s heart and made it sing at the same time. She felt heartbroken that her friend had been going through it but also glad that this might mean she was coming home. Which is why she hadn’t told her about her and Elvis’ kiss. She felt guilty that Marci had been sitting on all of this, unable to share it with Addison because of the whirlwind the last few months had been. She also didn’t want to sway her decision, force her to come back thinking that Addison would need her help getting over him like she had the first time. It was also why she hadn’t said anything as watched her and Jerry grow closer. Just because an old flame wasn’t right for Addison didn’t mean it wasn’t what Marci needed.

Once her shoes were on she grabbed a couple of pieces of clothing up off the floor and hung them back in the closet, smiling to herself as she went. It didn’t fail to amaze her how she had forgotten just how chaotic sharing a space with Marci could be. How their living arrangement had often felt as though Addison was living with two teenagers instead of one. And yet she couldn’t believe just how much she had missed it. How placing a couple of bathing suits up to dry properly could feel as though she was back home, before Elvis had strolled back into her life, when things were a little less complicated.

‘But were you happy?’ a voice in the back of her mind whispered making her snap back to reality. She wanted to say yes. That her life with just Marci and Jess had been a happy one. Because it had.

‘But Elvis makes you happy too,’ it reasoned. With that Addison slid the closet door closed with more force than she intended meaning the sliding door bounced back forcing her to repeat her action only gentler. This was what she had been living with. Every good thought countered by a bad one. Every bad one countered by a good one. It was exhausting, and she didn’t know how to stop it.  

So she did the only thing she knew would help and headed out to dinner given that being around people, especially the buzz of Elvis and his entourage or the giggles of the girls, often forced her to tune those thoughts out.

As she left her room she could hear the rabble not too far away. Given the number of people they had in their group they had practically commandeered an entire quarter of the resort and their hotel rooms were all on one flowing line opposite a view of the exquisite resort gardens that eventually led down into the beach. The stone walkway led off to a courtyard, one covered by a thatch roof that housed a table for thirty as well as a fire pit and seats should they want to stay there. That’s where she was headed but as she walked down the path the door one room up from her opened and Elvis appeared. The timing of it made her wonder if he’d been waiting for her but he looked surprised when he looked up and noticed her coming towards him.

‘Hey,’ he said as she slowed down, his eyes roving over her outfit for a moment though he pretended he hadn’t, ‘I thought everyone was already at dinner.’

‘Just headed there now,’ Addison said gesturing for him to walk with her which he did.

‘No Mar?’ he asked checking behind them before they fell into step beside each other.

‘She headed down already with Jerry,’ Addison said.

‘That so?’ Elvis mused.

‘Yep,’ Addison said with a wry smile. Whilst Marci’s love life had taken her mind off of what was going on between her and Elvis it had also helped them. It had given them a talking point, one that meant they could keep their relationship just as it had been before any of the kiss business.

‘Where are the girls?’ Elvis asked.

‘Joe took the kids down to the games room I think,’ Addison said.

‘Poor Jess,’ Elvis chuckled as Addison looked at him puzzled, ‘all those kids.’

‘I don’t think she minds,’ Addison said suddenly feeling guilty. Though she and Jess had spent a lot of time together on this break there were pockets when she was lumped in as one of ‘the kids’, something Addison hadn’t realised might not have been a good thing on Jess’ end.

‘Well either way I bet she’ll be glad of five minutes peace,’ Elvis said, they were rounding the corner now finding they were the last ones down to the dining area. Most of the kids were gone from the party now save for Lisa, Jess and Dee’s boys who had congregated at one end of the table.

As Elvis took his seat at the head of the table Addison slipped into the only chair that had been left for her next to him. Jerry and Marci were sitting across from her, chatting away to one another, something she didn’t fail to notice made Elvis smirk as he unfolded his napkin and shifted it onto his lap. Fortunately he didn’t say anything and dinner kicked off without incident.

Elvis was enjoying himself, in fact he’d been the happiest he’d ever been on this vacation. He didn’t know how she had such an effect on him. How the past fifteen years felt as though he’d been living his life as though he was watching himself on TV. He remembered it all, every moment lived and yet it felt as though it was this other guy. This Elvis Presley that was somehow him and not him at the same time. With Addison he never felt like that Elvis. He felt like her Elvis. That boy from Memphis.

He knew he’d never truly gotten over her, though he had moved on and for a time he had been happy. But now it felt as though there had always been something niggling in the back of his mind, wanting to pull them back together. That was why he hadn’t pushed her. He hadn’t demanded she be ready to get back together, after all he knew pushing her might only make her pull away and that would devastate him. No he’d let her see that they were good together. That they could be a couple this time, a proper one. No hiding, no caring about what anyone thought or said. He’d let her see that their lives could finally fit together.

He was watching her, enjoying the way she laughed as she told Joe a story he was definitely not listening to given he was too distracted by the woman telling it. There was something about her tonight, something he couldn’t put his finger on. He always thought she was pretty, even when she was chastising him it still made him hot under the collar, but tonight was something else. Her skin had a radiant glow to it, her light brown locks glinted with streaks of gold from where they’d lightened in the sun, and her eyes, her eyes sparkled as she smiled. He wanted to believe it was just the radiance that came with being on vacation but as she noticed him watching her, a smile playing on her lips as she took a sip of wine, he realised what it was. Love.

It made him smile too though he was forced from his thoughts as Jess appeared in between them, looking down on them with a sweet smile.

‘Everything okay honey?’ Elvis asked making her nod.

‘Yeah, I was just wondering if I could go back to the games room,’ Jess said.

‘Alone?’ Elvis asked.

‘No with the boys they’re gonna play pool,’ Jess said looking to where Elvis’ stepbrothers were loitering at the other end of the table. Addison glanced at them. The games room wasn’t too far away though she didn’t like the idea of Jess being split from the main group, especially as night had fallen. It didn’t help that the last time Jess had spent a substantial amount of time with one of the Stanley boys she’d gotten drunk though she figured from the nervous way Rick was watching Elvis that wouldn’t be a problem this time. Not to mention that what Elvis had said was playing on her mind. Jess had done her fair share of being lumped in with the kids, maybe it was time for her to have a bit of time being a teenager. After all it was her vacation too. She could feel Jess’ eyes on her and even though Elvis had spoken he too was now watching her, waiting for her final say.

‘Can I?’ Jess asked watching her mother closely, unable to tell if her decision was falling in her favour. If it was an outright no she probably would’ve just told her so but at that moment she decided to let Elvis take the reins. He was her parent too and she trusted his judgement.

‘If it’s okay with your dad,’ Addison said looking at Elvis.

‘Oh uh, sure,’ Elvis said taken aback that she had deferred to him.

‘Thank you,’ Jess said wrapping her arms around his neck in a quick hug before she tore off to where they boys were waiting. As she disappeared out of sight his eyes drifted back to Addison who smiled at him. It was a small gesture. A barely significant decision in the grand scheme of things but for once she had let him have some control. They’d worked as a team, instead of Addison out there alone. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world.

‘Can I go?’ came a little voice that captured their attention. Lisa was standing at his other side watching Elvis with hope in her little face that made him sigh.

‘I don’t think so button head,’ he said making her pout.

‘Jessie gets to go,’ she said folding her arms across her chest indignantly.

‘Yes but it’s night time and Jess is a lot older than you honey,’ Elvis reasoned.

‘Yeah, besides you don’t wanna hang out with a bunch of silly boys, right?’ Marci said with a smile as she tried to coax her round.

‘Yeah Memphis,’ Jerry said nudging her cheek with his finger, ‘not when you could hang out with us.’

‘What do you say honey?’ Elvis said watching her.

‘Okay,’ Lisa said though there was still a definitive pout on her face as she climbed onto Elvis’s lap. She sat there quietly for a minute, her head resting against his shoulder as she sat astride his knee but then Addison watched as the cogs ticked over in her brain before she said, ‘Daddy?’

It was a good tactic Addison couldn’t deny. Her voice was sweet as sugar yet there was an air of disappointment to it that made Elvis frown as he said, ‘yeah baby?’

‘Can we go to the beach?’ she said looking up at him with hope in her big blue eyes.

‘I don’t know sweetheart,’ Elvis said, ‘it’s getting late.’

‘Please Daddy?’ she said, her bottom lip jutting out so much Addison had to take a swig of wine to stop her smirk from being too noticeable. She didn’t blame him. The sweetness, the puppy dog eyes and the fact she hadn’t failed to call him Daddy instead of Elvis as normal was the perfect trifecta and Addison could see he was falling for it hook, line and sinker.

‘Okay, we’ll go down in minute,’ Elvis said quietly.

‘Ooh can we have s’mores?!’ Lisa said immediately brightening.

‘Whatever you want honey,’ Elvis said stroking her hair as she fell back content with the way she had managed to bend his will so easily.  

After that they stayed at the table for a while before eventually heading down to the beach. Whilst some of the group retired to their rooms a few couples joined them taking seats around the roaring fire Elvis had arranged to be waiting for them, along with everything they needed to make s’mores. Lisa sat between them allowing Addison to help her make s’mores though that didn’t stop her from getting a face full of chocolate which she didn’t think twice about wiping on her dress. And though she felt like teasing him something rotten for being able to be won over by a five-year old’s whim she couldn’t help but enjoy herself. Seeing him out there, unbothered and happy made her heart flutter.

Yet he wasn’t her Elvis out here. He was the new man, the one she was still getting to know, and yet the more she saw of him the more she felt as though the two versions of him could meld into one. As she watched him carry Lisa up the steps towards their rooms she felt as though this was what she wanted. All she wanted.

They didn’t take long to get Lisa settled. Jess was already in bed and fast asleep when they both walked into the girl’s room and with some silently skilled manoeuvring Elvis and Addison managed to get Lisa into her pyjamas and in bed without disturbing either of them. Yet as he clicked the door closed he found Addison watching him, that look of love back in her eyes.  

‘What’s the matter with you?’ he asked as they walked slowly towards Addison’s adjoining room, neither of them wanting to go much faster as that would mean the end of their night.

‘Nothing,’ she said with a smile.

‘No go on smart ass,’ he chuckled, spinning around to face her as they stopped outside her door.

‘She wanted s’mores on the beach,’ Addison said simply.

‘Yeah and?’ Elvis asked.

‘And you just gave her s’mores on the beach?’ she questioned. Elvis shrugged.

‘Why not?’

‘And if Jess asked for a car tomorrow?’ she probed.

‘I mean I don’t think I’d manage to get it past you but if she wanted one, I’d give it her,’ Elvis said.

‘Just like that?’ Addison asked watching his face closely. There was still a smile ghosting his lips but she could tell what he said next was serious, from his heart.

‘I love her. I have the means and if it’d make her happy I’d do it…’ he said looking down on her as he added, ‘wouldn’t you?’

‘I try my best,’ Addison said honestly. She did try to keep Jess happy as much as she could but that wasn’t always feasible. Sometimes she had to do what was right, what was best for her daughter even if that didn’t always please her. Elvis seemed to be the opposite. He seemed to bend to his daughters will, to make them happy, hence why Lisa could wrap him around her little finger. And yet she couldn’t see that as an entirely bad thing because he acted out of love. Like she did.

‘To make her happy?’ Elvis said moving in a little closer.

‘Yeah,’ she said placing a hand on his chest trying to keep him at a distance though it didn’t do much to stop him.

‘And what about you?’ he asked moving her hair off her shoulder as she peered up at him.

‘What about me?’ she asked.

‘What makes you happy?’ he probed.

‘Lots of things,’ she said quietly, the scrutiny in his blue eyes making her heart beat so loud in her ears she wasn’t sure she had even spoken aloud.

‘There’s nothing you don’t want?’ he asked, his thumb brushing along her jaw making her heart beat even faster though she didn’t know how that was possible, ‘what do you want Addison?’

‘To go to bed,’ she said pulling from his grasp as she laughed nervously, ‘night.’

‘Night,’ he said watching as she threw herself inside her hotel room, the door closing heavily behind her. Elvis sighed and headed to his own door, stepping inside before he closed it gently behind him, resting against it. He was barely there two seconds before he heard a knock on it and turned back to open it. Addison was standing on the other side.

‘Addie-’

‘I want you to kiss me,’ she said and before he could say anything else she flung herself forward their bodies hitting one another in a frantic collision as their lips met. Elvis pulled her to him, allowing her to kick the door closed before she moved them towards the bed, pushing him down on it with a thud. She was on his lap in seconds, her fingers working on the buttons of his shirt as he kissed down her neck, his lips warm against every piece of skin on offer. Yet before he could tackle any of the buttons on her dress she was pushing his shirt off his shoulders and climbing off him, stationing herself between his legs as her hands immediately moved to his shorts.  He wasn’t wearing anything underneath, the thin material of his shorts providing no barrier as she moved her hand against him.

‘Fuck Addie,’ he said. They should’ve slowed down. He should’ve taken time to absorb the moment, to enjoy that everything he had wanted for months, no years, was now coming true, but as she yanked his shorts from under him, her hand meeting his member as she swirled her tongue around his tip everything else was lost. As his eyes closed, his fingers running through her loose brown curls Addison continued to use her tongue against him. When they had first been together she had been a naïve schoolgirl. He had taught her everything and in those instances she had allowed him to lead, but not tonight. Tonight she wasn’t thinking about anything else other than what she wanted, what made her happy, even if that was how he groaned as she took him down to the back of her throat.

‘Ads,’ he panted, feeling his excitement speeding ahead with the way she worked him. He wanted everything she had to give and more but as he looked down and caught her eye he was snapped back to reality. He wanted everything but he wanted it with her. He didn’t want their first time back together to be some haphazard quick thing.

‘Addie,’ he said pushing her off him gently. She pulled back, moving to come and sit in his lap, her arms around his neck.

‘What’s the matter?’ she asked breathily.

‘Is this what you want?’ he asked, his blue eyes meeting hers as he watched for any flicker of uncertainty. It didn’t come.

‘Yes,’ she said.

‘Promise?’ he asked. He didn’t know why he was pushing, as if he wanted her to tell him no.

‘I want this Elvis. I want you,’ she said placing her forehead against his. He nodded, kissing her gently before he felt the excitement she had already created start to take hold once more. He stood up, her legs wrapping around his waist as she shrieked making him chuckle. As he placed her down on the bed she started to unbutton her dress, watching as he discarded his shorts completely and returned to hover over her, his mouth returning to her neck.

For a moment it was a frantic rush, a dash to get them completely barren of anything that separated them but once they were both there, everything seemed to slow. Fingers danced along skin, kisses became more languid and passionate, and they seemed to meld into one.

‘You ready?’ Elvis asked from where he had moved to kneel between her legs. She was resting on her elbows, watching him with a smile before she nodded. Elvis didn’t need to be told twice, instead he eased himself in with a groan, moving back so he could kiss her as he started to move his hips. She felt like heaven around him, the content little sigh she offered as he buried himself in her neck music to his ears. His could feel his climax coming, threatening to spill over any moment as if he was some teenage boy who’d just gotten hold of his first playboy, but he made him pace himself. Instead of focusing on his own excitement he watched her, committing every moment to memory, the way he had the first time they had ever done this.

He watched as her eyes fluttered closed, how her chest heaved against his, how she wrapped her legs around him forcing him to go deeper. He listened to her breaths, each now coming a little quicker and punctuated by moans as he did something to elicit them, immediately repeating his moves whenever they came.

‘Ads…honey I ain’t gon’ last much longer,’ he said with a groan as he felt that coil in his belly move to take over. Her eyes fluttered open at his voice, a smile on her lips.

‘I’m right behind you,’ she murmured, her fingers stroking his face gently giving him the go ahead. Elvis shifted, pulling back until they were no longer entangled and instead he was kneeling, her pulled onto his thighs as he moved in and out of her, his fingers playing with her clit as he did. Her head fell back with a moan, her own hands caressing her chest as she fluttered around him.

‘Fuck Addie,’ he grunted, any tenderness now thrown to the wayside for want and need.

‘Right there,’ she panted, ‘oh fuck.’

‘I’m gonna cum,’ Elvis said feeling himself start to spiral. Then she clenched around him and he was gone, spilling into her as she hit her own stride her walls locking onto him like a vice until he was completely empty. As he pulled out he flopped down beside her, immediately moving her onto her side so he could take in everything. Her eyes only opened as his hands found her waist and they fell quiet for a moment, Addison’s finger tracing the planes of his face as he watched her – his heart so full he thought it may burst.

‘Addie,’ he said after a moment but she shook her head silencing him.

‘Can we just do this for a minute?’ she asked hesitantly, ‘no autopsy, no dissecting, just…this, please?’

Elvis watched her. It didn’t escape his notice that she was employing the same tactics Lisa used whenever she wanted something. How her expectant gaze tugged on his heart strings. He could see she was hesitant, nervous even, that was why she was asking. But it didn’t worry him. That glow from before hadn’t gone and he could feel the love there, lingering between them. So if she needed him to take a minute, to allow her to breathe, he’d let her. He give her what she wanted.

✵✵✵

When Addison woke the following morning she was tucked into Elvis’ side, her hand on his chest, the steady thump of his heart underneath her fingertips. Yet it brought her no comfort, not when she knew she’d have to break it.

She’d allowed herself to lose focus, to give into what she wanted rather than what was best. When it came to her daughter she could make those decisions in an instant but he had this thing about him, this way of making her lose all senses. Senses that only came back into play when everything came back down to earth with a crash. She had spent the night watching him, analysing the planes of his face as though this would be the last time she’d ever see him. The way she had the day he had left for the draft. She supposed it was in a way. This was the last time he’d be with her like this, the last time their relationship would be truly okay before she wrecked it. And yet she couldn’t risk not doing. At least if she was the one to do the wrecking, if she got out before it all became a disaster she could minimise the damage. For all of them.

As he started to stir she realised she couldn’t lay there any longer. If he woke up and she was still in his arms it would give him hope, hope she’d have to spark out. So she slipped out of bed, throwing her discarded underwear on before she grabbed her dress off the floor. Yet as she started to button it he stirred, noticing he was lying in bed alone which forced him to open his eyes properly.

‘What’cha doing?’ he mumbled rubbing his eyes before he propped himself up on his elbow.

‘We slept in,’ Addison said continuing to button her dress though she refused to look at him, ‘the girls are probably wondering where we are.’

‘Daddy’s got ‘em,’ Elvis said though when she still didn’t look up he felt ice form in his veins. She was backing out.

‘Addie,’ he said moving towards her, wrapping the sheet around his waist as she picked her discarded shoes up off the floor.

‘I should check on them,’ she said though before she could get away he grabbed her by the waist, holding her still which finally forced her gaze to fall upon him. Her face was riddled with guilt, a quiver playing on her lips as he said, ‘Ads please don’t do this.’

‘Elvis,’ she said thickly.

‘Don’t, honey please don’t do this,’ he said, he was sure it sounded like begging but he couldn’t bring himself to think about pride at a time like this, ‘last night, last night you said you wanted me-’

‘I know,’ she said, tears brimming in her eyes.

‘So don’t do this,’ he said stroking her cheek, ‘please let’s just get back into bed and be what we want to be.’

‘I can’t,’ she said, her hand clasping around his wrist though she didn’t push him off unable to bring herself to get rid of the only comfort she had.  

‘Why not?’ he said, ‘I thought we were finally-’

‘I thought so too,’ she said sadly, ‘but I just can’t.’

‘Addie,’ he said as she pulled his hand away and moved towards the door.

‘I’m sorry okay,’ she said, grabbing her purse off the floor, ‘I wish I could but I just can’t. Not again. I’m sorry.’

And then she was out the door barrelling down the stone walkway outside towards the patio area. She could hear him calling her name, unable to get out of the door to follow her quick enough given that he was still undressed. Tears were brimming in her eyes now, but she forced them back hoping she wouldn’t bring too much attention when she got to the courtyard. Fortunately there weren’t many people around and she found Jerry and Marci sitting at a table by themselves.

‘Hey, we were just wondering when you were coming down,’ Marci said though her smile disappeared as she noted her friend’s forlorn expression, ‘what’s going-’

‘Have you seen the girls?’ Addison asked cutting her off.

‘They’re on the beach with Vernon,’ Jerry said feeling just as worried as Marci was as he asked, ‘everything okay?’

‘Can you watch them? When they get back I mean,’ Addison said hurriedly, knowing it wouldn’t take long for Elvis to appear if he had chosen to chase her.

‘Sure, Addie what’s going on?’ Marci said reaching out to touch Addison’s arm but she moved it out of her reach, looking away as she felt those tears start to spill down her cheeks.

‘Just watch them please?’ Addison said and before either of her friends could protest she walked off heading in the opposite direction she had come. Marci watched her friend go. She knew she should probably chase after her, ask her what was going on, but she also knew her friend well enough to know that wasn’t going to help anything. Not yet.

Instead she flopped back in her chair with a sigh, finding Jerry’s eyes on her as he said, ‘what the hell was that about?’

‘I don’t know,’ Marci sighed, ‘but my guess is it isn’t good.’

‘You’re probably right,’ Jerry sighed the cogs turning in his mind for a moment before he said, ‘was she wearing last night’s clothes?’

✵✵✵

Addison didn’t come back that day. She didn’t even come back that night. The thought of facing Elvis, knowing he would watch her with that same heartbroken face he had looked at her with that morning was too much. Yet it didn’t hurt as much as losing him all together had. How knowing they’d been kept apart had torn at her, breaking her into fractions as she tried to jumble the pieces into something coherent enough to look after a child. It didn’t hurt the way being left on her own had, how much it would hurt if she were to lose him again.

As she lay bed, just on the other side of the hotel yet feeling a million miles away, she thought of everything.

She thought of Jess. She thought about how this might affect her. She knew she wouldn’t understand, not yet anyway, but she hoped that eventually she’d see that Addison was making the right decision. She hoped that she’d understand that this didn’t change anything. That no matter what happened between her and Elvis she’d always be her number one priority, like she had been from the moment she was born.

She thought of Elvis. She thought of how he had loved her both then and now. She thought of his touch, his lips murmuring loving whispers into her ear when he thought she was asleep. She thought of that boy who had fought for them and failed. She thought of that boy who had been torn away from her time and time again coming back a whole new man who had never failed to turn her life on its head.

And then she thought of herself. Well not herself as she was now but that scared seventeen-year-old. The one that had cradled her baby bump as she cried herself to sleep night after night wondering if the pain in her heart would eventually make it stop altogether. She thought of the exhausted twenty-year-old trying to comfort her inconsolable child enough to make her fall asleep when the only background music was the screams of girls on the set of the Frank Sinatra show, agog at the idea of Elvis Presley being back on US soil. She thought of the twenty-seven-year-old. The one who had to ignore the twinge in her chest as she listened to the old dears in Marci’s salon rave about the wedding of the century, Elvis and Priscilla.

She couldn’t protect any of them.

She couldn’t make any of them feel any better, heal the hurt in their hearts.

But she could do it for herself now.

She had to.

✵✵✵

To no one’s surprise when Addison awoke the following morning she found she was exhausted and she didn’t expect her day to get any better as she trudged across the resort back to where she should’ve been staying. As she walked through the beautiful scenery she couldn’t help but feel cheated, the sun shining down on everyone, yet a cloud of gloominess seemed to engulf her. When she reached their part of the resort she was relieved to find there was no one around, given the early hour she doubted that anyone would be up which was good because she didn’t feel up to seeing anyone else. The only person she needed to see was Elvis.

She stood outside his door trying to work up the nerve to knock on it. She didn’t know why it was this hard, it wasn’t going to hurt any less if she did it now or ten hours from now, but just as she moved her hand to knock it opened and a woman appeared, Elvis just a step behind her.

‘Oh, uh hi,’ the woman said smiling awkwardly at Addison who looked at her dumbfounded, yet the woman didn’t seem to give her much thought as she turned around looking back at Elvis as she said, ‘call me tonight?’

‘Yeah sure,’ Elvis said though his eyes didn’t leave Addison who was now looking away from the pair of them, a scowl on her face.

‘Well, bye then,’ the woman said before she glanced between them one last time and then headed off down towards the courtyard. Only when she was a way up the pathway did Addison look at him, irritation flaming behind her eyes.

‘You are unbelievable,’ she said, her jaw clenching as she felt anger surge through her forcing her feet to move as she headed towards her room. Whatever she wanted to say now was gone, replaced by anger and a sense of foolishness. Of course he had bedded someone else in her absence. She’d spent her life trying to get over him and yet he’d done it in a night.

‘Addison!’ he called, ‘Addie wait!’

‘For what?! Why you got someone else in there you want me to meet?’ she asked whipping around to find him a step behind her, regret plastered all over his face though it flashed to irritation at her words.

‘Hey you were the one who said no remember,’ he said quietly before he stomped off back to his room. He left the door open, anticipating she would follow him which she did slamming it closed behind her hard enough to make the wooden beams that kept the place together to sway in its wake.

‘So your immediate reaction is to jump into bed with someone else?’ she scoffed.

‘Believe it or not I wasn’t exactly feeling my best last night,’ he snapped making her run her tongue across her teeth, ‘what you don’t believe me? I mean it wouldn’t surprise me seeing as we don’t seem to know what each other’s feeling anymore. I mean I thought we were on the same page that night but then you just dump me like trash on the side of the road-’

‘It wasn’t like that!’ Addison objected.

‘Yeah, well that’s how it feels,’ he countered adding with a mirthless laugh, ‘I guess that’s just your MO.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Addison scoffed, immediately making regret flow through him. They were getting into dangerous territory and he knew it.

‘Nothing, just forget it,’ he said.

‘No go on, if you’ve got something to say, say it,’ she snapped, fury in her eyes as she awaited his answer. He knew he shouldn’t. He knew the words that were dancing on his tongue were bound to cut deep and yet he couldn’t stop himself. She had broken his heart and he wanted to hurt her just as bad.

‘Okay you want to know what I think?’ he asked as though her giving him permission would make it any more justified.

‘Hit me,’ she said sarcastically.

‘You’re selfish,’ he shrugged.

‘What?!’

‘You’re selfish. You pretend you’re not. You hide behind it pretending that you’re just thinking of other people but you’re not. You’re thinking of yourself. Doing what you want,’ he said honestly.

‘That’s not true,’ she protested.

‘Isn’t it?’ he laughed, ‘who were you thinking about when you stomped all over my heart yesterday? Not me. Who were you thinking of when you let me fall in love with you again? I mean did you have any intention of loving me back? Because when you said you loved me for some reason I thought you might be telling the truth-’

‘It’s not that simple!’ Addison shouted. Their voices were loud now, the hurt unable to keep either of them civilised as it poured out of them, fifteen years of anger pain and frustration rearing their ugly head.

‘Because of Jess?’ he asked.

‘Of course because of Jess!’ Addison screamed.

‘Really? Because I think she’s fine with it. I think she’s been fine with it all along. I think you’re using her because you’re worried about how it’ll hurt you. How if this thing collapses, which I don’t understand how you could believe that, how you’ll feel. Not Jess,’ Elvis spat.

‘Don’t I have that right?’ Addison said moving towards him, he was staring down at her, his jaw tight and his chest heaving from where they had been shouting but she pressed on anyway, ‘don’t I get to decide what’s best for me? After everything I’ve been through-’

‘And what about what I went through?’ Elvis retorted angrily.

‘Oh yeah I’m sure a pretty new wife and a cute little kid tore ya up real bad,’ Addison sneered.

‘How about not seeing my daughter for fifteen years? Where does that rate in the Addison pity scale,’ Elvis snapped. It was a low blow, he could tell from the way she inhaled sharply, the pain of the accusation hitting her square in the chest.

‘You said you understood,’ she said, quieter than she had been since this whole thing had kicked off.

‘I did.’

‘And what now I don’t want to get back together you’ve changed your mind? Now you can’t get me into bed I’m a bitch is that it?’ she said.

‘I’m just wondering when you’ll take off again. Hell maybe it’s a good thing I know about Jess. At least this time I’ll get a say in what’s best for her instead of you doing what you think is right like always,’ Elvis said bitterly.

‘How dare you!’ Addison screamed, ‘everything I have ever done is for Jess. She is my family Elvis. The only one who never left me.’

‘I left for us! To save us!’ he yelled at her, ‘hell I even got rid of the Colonel for you!’

‘I never asked you to do that,’ she replied.

‘No but I did it anyway! Because I love you Addison,’ he said his voice dropping in volume as his declaration of love spilled out, ‘but you can’t see past yourself to think about it.’

They were quiet for a moment, the tension in the air palpable as they watched one another. He had done enough, tore into her so much he was sure that any hope they had would be lost by now. He should’ve stopped. He should’ve kept the words inside himself and yet they were there once more threatening to come out as she watched him with pain splashed across her face. He wanted it to hurt. He wanted to make her feel the pain he had been living with the moment he had noticed she was going to bolt. And so he went for the thing that would hurt her the most.

‘You know maybe it’s better this way,’ he said with a mirthless laugh, ‘maybe it’s better if we don’t play happy families. Maybe it’s better if we just stay apart, hell, maybe she should stay with me full time.’

‘She wouldn’t leave me,’ Addison said in a whisper, ‘you wouldn’t dare.’

‘Wouldn’t I? I mean you got her for fifteen years why shouldn’t I? You know something? Maybe she’d be better off. She’d sure as shit learn a few things.’

‘Oh yeah like what? How to buy everyone’s love? How to pout like a petulant child when something doesn’t go your way?’

‘Maybe she’d learn that doing what you want, what makes you happy isn’t such a bad thing. Maybe she’d learn that you don’t have to be a god damn martyr all the fuckin’ time and that being miserable doesn’t make you any better than anyone. Maybe she’d learn not to run away at the tiniest hint of a problem,’ Elvis ranted.

‘That’s not what this is,’ Addison snapped.

‘Isn’t it?’ Elvis scoffed, ‘you know maybe the Colonel was right. Maybe you are just like Mona.’

He heard it before he felt it. The ear-splitting thwack as her hand slapped him hard across the face pain flooding to it in an instant though he didn’t know how anything could hurt as much as his heart did at that moment. His cheek was hot to the touch as he rubbed where hers had connected with it and yet it didn’t sting as much as the way she was looking at him did. It was a look of betrayal.

He knew he shouldn’t have said it, how his words would cut deeper than he had intended and given the way she was moving towards the door in haste he realised he was right.

‘Addie,’ he sighed stepping forward to follow her though she raised a hand to stop him.

‘Don’t,’ she said trying to remain stern though it was betrayed by the way she was gnawing on her lip trying to keep herself from crying.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said hoping she’d realise he was being honest.

‘You know what?’ she said sadly, ‘if you want me to stick around maybe you should stop giving me reasons to run away.’

And then she was gone, leaving Elvis standing there wishing he’d kept his mouth shut.

SERIES TAGS

@girlblogger2002 @sania562 @caitlin1996 @literally-just-elvis-fics @notstefaniepresley   @artlesson8892 @18lkpeters​ @velvetelvis @jaqueline19997 @elvispresleyxoxo @amydarcimarie @presleyenterprise @everythingelvispresley @elvispresleywife @lillypink @richardslady121 @lettersfromvenus @louisejoy86 @ccab

[the-cricket-chirps]

John Singer Sargent, Mrs. Hugh Hammersley, 1892

Walter Richard Sickert, Minnie Cunningham at the Old Bedford, 1892

Walter Richard Sickert, Minnie Cunningham, c. 1892

[ptbf2002]

My Top 30 Favorite Disney Characters (Part 3)

30. Kiff Chatterly (Kiff)

29. Barry Buns (Kiff)

28. Kim Possible (Kim Possible)

27. Molly McGee (The Ghost and Molly McGee)

26. Phineas Flynn (Phineas and Ferb)

25. Ferb Fletcher (Phineas and Ferb)

24. Perry The Platypus/Agent P (Phineas and Ferb)

23. Anne Boonchuy (Amphibia)

22. Luz Noceda (The Owl House)

21. Marco Diaz (Star Vs. The Forces Of Evil)

20. Star Butterfly (Star Vs. The Forces Of Evil)

19. Kick Buttowski (Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil)

18. Randy Cunningham (Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja)

17. Lightning McQueen (Cars 1/2/3)

16. Mater (Cars 1/2/3)

15. Dipper Pines (Gravity Falls)

14. Mabel Pines (Gravity Falls)

13. James Sullivan (Monsters Inc./Monsters University)

12. Mike Wazowski (Monsters Inc./Monsters University)

11. WALL-E (WALL-E)

10. Nick Wilde (Zootopia)

9. Judy Hopps (Zootopia)

8. Wander (Wander Over Yonder)

7. Wreck-It-Ralph (Wreck-It-Ralph/Ralph Breaks The Internet)

6. Vanellope Von Schweetz (Wreck-It-Ralph/Ralph Breaks The Internet)

5. Pluto

4. Goofy

3. Donald Duck

2. Minnie Mouse

And 1. Mickey Mouse

Original Template: https://www.deviantart.com/patricksiegler1999/art/Top-30-Favorite-Disney-Characters-Meme-Base-898343691

Kiff Belongs To Lucy Heavens, Nic Smal, Yearim Productions Co., Ltd. Flying Bark Productions Pty. Ltd. Studio 100 N.V. Titmouse, Inc. Disney Television Animation, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Kim Possible Belongs To Mark McCorkle, Bob Schooley, Rough Draft Korea Co, Ltd. Toon Boom Animation Inc. Starburst Animation Studios Co., Ltd. Toon City Animation, Inc. Disney Television Animation, Disney Channel, ABC, Toon Disney, Disney XD, Freeform, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

The Curse of Molly McGee/The Ghost and Molly McGee Belongs To Bill Motz, Bob Roth, Mercury Filmworks, Disney Television Animation, Disney Channel, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Phineas and Ferb Belongs To Dan Povenmire, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, Rough Draft Korea Co., Ltd. Wang Film Productions Co., Ltd. SynergySP Co., Ltd. Hong Ying Animation Co., Ltd. Elliott Animation Inc. Hosem Animation Studio Disney Television Animation, Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Disney XD, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Amphibia Belongs To Matt Braly, Saerom Animation, Inc. Sunmin Image Pictures Co., Ltd. Sugarcube Animation Studio, Rough Draft Korea Co., Ltd. Disney Television Animation, Disney Channel, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

The Owl House Belongs To Dana Terrace, Sunmin Image Pictures Co., Ltd. Sugarcube Animation Studio, Rough Draft Korea Co., Ltd. Disney Television Animation, Disney Channel, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Star vs the Forces of Evil Belongs To Daron Nefcy, Mercury Filmworks, Toon City Animation, Inc. Rough Draft Korea Co, Ltd. Sugarcube Animation, Disney Television Animation, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil Belongs To Sandro Corsaro, Mercury Filmworks, Disney Television Animation, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja Belongs To Jed Elinoff, Scott Thomas, Titmouse, Inc. Boulder Media Limited, Disney XD, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Cars Belongs To Dan Fogelman, John Lasseter, Joe Ranft, Kiel Murray, Phil Lorin, Jorgen Klubien, PIXAR Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Cars 2 Belongs To Ben Queen, John Lasseter, Brad Lewis, Dan Fogelman, PIXAR Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Cars 3 Belongs To Kiel Murray, Bob Peterson, Mike Rich, Brian Fee, Ben Queen, Eyal Podell, Jonathan E. Stewart, PIXAR Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Gravity Falls Belongs To Alex Hirsch, Digital eMation, Inc. Rough Draft Korea Co., Ltd. Yearim Productions Co., Ltd. Disney Television Animation, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Monsters Inc. Belongs To Andrew Stanton, Daniel Gerson, Pete Docter, Jill Culton, Jeff Pidgeon, Ralph Eggleston, PIXAR Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Monsters University Belongs To Dan Gerson, Robert L. Baird, Dan Scanlon, PIXAR Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

WALL-E Belongs To Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Pete Docter, PIXAR Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Zootopia Belongs To Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush, Jim Reardon, Josie Trinidad, Phil Johnston, Jennifer Lee, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Wander Over Yonder Belongs To Craig McCracken, Mercury Filmworks, Boulder Media Limited, Disney Television Animation, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Wreck-It Ralph Belongs To Rich Moore, Phil Johnston, Jim Reardon, Jennifer Lee, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Ralph Breaks the Internet Belongs To Rich Moore, Phil Johnston, Jim Reardon, Pamela Ribon, Josie Trinidad, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Mickey Mouse (film series) Belongs To Walt Disney, Ub Iwerks, Floyd Gottfredson, Celebrity Productions, RKO Radio Pictures Inc. Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. Sony Pictures Releasing, Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. Sony Entertainment, Inc. Sony Corporation of America, Sony Group Corporation, United Artists Corporation, United Artists Releasing, LLC, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc. MGM Holdings, Inc. Amazon MGM Studios, Amazon, Inc. Walt Disney Studio, Walt Disney Productions, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Hollywood Party (1934 film) Belongs To Howard Dietz, Arthur Kober, Walt Disney Studio, Walt Disney Productions, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. The Walt Disney Company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc. MGM Holdings, Inc. Amazon MGM Studios, And Amazon, Inc.

Fantasia Belongs To Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, Samuel Armstrong, James Algar, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield, Ben Sharpsteen, David D. Hand, Hamilton Luske, Jim Handley, Ford Beebe, T. Hee, Norman Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson, Walt Disney Studio, Walt Disney Productions, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. The Walt Disney Company, RKO Radio Pictures Inc. Radio-Keith-Orpheum Corporation, RKO Pictures Corporation, RKO Teleradio Pictures Inc. And RKO General Inc.

Fun and Fancy Free Belongs To Sinclair Lewis, Homer Brightman, Eldon Dedini, Lance Nolley, Tom Oreb, Harry Reeves, Ted Sears, Walt Disney Studio, Walt Disney Productions, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. The Walt Disney Company, RKO Radio Pictures Inc. Radio-Keith-Orpheum Corporation, RKO Pictures Corporation, RKO Teleradio Pictures Inc. And RKO General Inc.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit Belongs To Gary K. Wolf, Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman, Silver Screen Partners L.P. Amblin Entertainment, Inc. Amblin Partners, LLC. Touchstone Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas Belongs To Walt Disney, Ub Iwerks, Dick Lundy, Art Babbitt, Frank Webb, Charlie Cohen, Thomas Hart, Scott Gorden, Tom Nance, Carter Crocker, Richard Cray, Temple Mathews, Eddie Guzelian, Toon City Animation, Inc. Animation Studio Basara Co., Ltd. Disney Animation Japan Inc. Disney Animation Canada, Inc. Disney Television Animation, DisneyToon Studios, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Platform Distribution, Inc. Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Fantasia 2000 Belongs To Don Hahn, Pixote Hunt, Hendel Butoy, Eric Goldberg, James Algar, Francis Glebas, Paul Gaëtan Brizzi, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse Belongs To Walt Disney, Ub Iwerks, Roberts Gannaway, Tony Craig, Thomas Hart, Toon City Animation, Inc. Disney Television Animation, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Platform Distribution, Inc. Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Mickey's House of Villains Belongs To Walt Disney, Ub Iwerks, Roberts Gannaway, Tony Craig, Thomas Hart, Kevin Campbell, Elizabeth Stonecipher, Henry Gilroy, Jymn Magon, Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida, Disney Animation Australia Pty. Ltd. Toon City Animation, Inc. Disney Television Animation, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Platform Distribution, Inc. Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers Belongs To Walt Disney, Ub Iwerks, Dick Lundy, Alexandre Dumas, Art Babbit, Frank Webb, Pinto Colvig, Tom Palmer, Art Babbitt, Evan Spiliotopoulos, David M. Evans, Toon City Animation, Inc. Disney Animation Australia Pty. Ltd. DisneyToon Studios, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Platform Distribution, Inc. Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas Belongs To Walt Disney, Ub Iwerks, Bill Motz, Bob Roth, Peggy Holmes, Chad Fiveash, James Patrick Stoteraux, Matthew O'Callaghan, Shirley Pierce, Jim Peronto, Carole Holliday, Michael Shipley, Jim Bernstein, Theresa Pettengill, Colin Goldman, Blur Studio, Sparx* Vietnam, Sparx*, DisneyToon Studios, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Platform Distribution, Inc. Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

[sporadiceagleheart]

Thursday edits for angels surrounded by angels Shan'ann Cathryn Rzucek and Bella&Nico and CeCe, Candela Sol Rodriguez, Alyssa Jane West, Emma Nicole Speer, Avielle Richman, Ava Jordan Wood, Leiliana Wright, Saffie-Rose Brenda Roussos, Lily Peters, Olivia Pratt Korbel, Sara Sharif, Charlotte Figi, Jersey Dianne Bridgeman, Lucy Morgan, Mercedes Losoya, Norah Lee Howard, Sloan Mattingly, Audrii Cunningham, Judith Barsi and Heather O'Rourke, Makenna Lee Elrod Seiler, Eliahna Torres, Jackie Cazares, Mary E. Sullivan, Olivia Grace Thompson, Lester Stillwell, Alexis Brianne “Lexi” Stempien, Blake Lee Stafford, Emma Grace Stacks, Kelly Doyle Sparks, Christy Lea Sparks, Kelsey Shelton Smith-Briggs, Michael Daniel Smith, Alexander Tyler “Alex” Smith, Laura Ashley Skinner, James Asa Rudder, Ashley Nicole Romer, Jennifer Jailene Rodriguez, Angel Divine Randall, Miakailah Renee Ramsey-Franklin, JonBenét Ramsey, Kelli Shay Powell, Allyceea Mabel Brynne Ennis, Janet Carol Pierick, Patricia Sue Phillips, Pete Peterson I, Kaitlyn Nikol Pukatsch Parsons, Cheyenne Rose “Chey Chey” Newton, Emanuel Wesley Murray Jr., Maud H. Munn, Doris Denise Milner, Bruce Edward Miller, Ruby Miller, Lucille Miller, Gwenyth Marie McWethy, Natallie Elizabeth McNelly, Minnie E. McKendrick, Bradley Gene McGee, Joanne Ena Lynn, Jessica Marie Lunsford, Brittani Lynn LaFollette, Eva Gladys “Gladys” Kincaid, Elisa Izquierdo, James Alan Ray Hubbard, Catherine Violet Hubbard, Janessa Micheala “Nessie” Horner, Nina Viktoria “Tori” Bashenova Hilt, Angela Dawn Harter, Michelle Heather Guse, Lori Lee Farmer, Anna Katherine Grudziecke, Edith Clare “Edie” Grierson, Aiyana Emily Gauvin, Thomas Edwards Gallagher, Gerald Alfred Gaddy, Annie L Foster, Leah Foster Whitacre, Julie Alliot, Rowan Damia Ford, Kathy Fiscus, Mary Ruth Davis, Ettie E. Davis, Joan Angela D'Alessandro, Tessara Kate “Tessa” Crespi, Samantha Joy “Sammie” Crespi, Nina Craigmiles, Lacy Cheyenne Cook, Eleanor Emily Cook, Edward Parsons Cook, Dakoda James Clapper, Nevaeh Amyah Buchanan, Hayley Renae Reasor Briggs, Noelle Elizabeth Braun, Skylar Mark Brady, Edna Louise Blank, Celeste Elizabeth Berg, Teri Earlene Bender, Katherine Marie “Kathy” Beets, Barbara Ann Barnes, Bessie Barker, Baylee Almon, Marivel Mercedez Alvarez, Jessica Anders, Elli Grace Perez-Speer, Adilynn Holmes Speer, Anniston Noel Speer, Ciara Nicole Floyd, Nelani Ciara Koefer, Jade Nicole Simmons, Elizabeth Ann Byrd, Story Wren Worth, Abigail Elizabeth “Abby” Fedosoff, Kezia Mason, Isabella Sara “Bella” Tennant, Avery Lana Linda Brown, Sadako Sasaki, Sarah McKayla Brooks, Jessica Scatterson,Jessica Marie Bock, Layla Salazar, Emma Catherine Grace Thompson,

[krueger4eva]

My Favorite Animated Ships

Bugs Bunny and Lola Bunny (Looney Tunes)

Daffy Duck and Tina Russo (The Looney Tunes Show)

Porky Pig and Petunia Pig (Looney Tunes)

Pepé Le Pew, Sylvester, and Penelope Pussycat (Looney Tunes)

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse (Disney)

Donald Duck and Daisy Duck (Disney)

Gyro Gearloose (DuckTales 1987) and Gadget Hackwrench (Chip n Dale: Rescue Rangers)

Drake Mallard and Talaya (Darkwing Duck)

Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera and Gandra Dee (DuckTales 2017)

Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera and Drake Mallard (DuckTales 2017)

Drake Mallard and Launchpad McQuack (DuckTales 2017)

Launchpad McQuack and Della Duck (DuckTales 2017)

Fethry Duck and Steelbeak (DuckTales 2017)

Huey Duck and Violet Sabrewing (DuckTales 2017)

Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Storkules (DuckTales 2017)

Baloo and Rebecca Cunningham (Talespin)

Goofy and Peg Pete (Goof Troop)

Goofy and Sylvia Marpole (An Extremely Goofy Movie)

Zazu (The Lion King) and Timon’s Ma (The Lion King 1½)

Kion and Rani (The Lion Guard)

Kion and Janja (The Lion Guard)

Kion and Jasiri (The Lion Guard)

Janja and Jasiri (The Lion Guard)

Ono and Anga (The Lion Guard)

Fuli and Azaad (The Lion Guard)

Bunga and Binga (The Lion Guard)

Rapunzel and Eugene Fitzherbert (Tangled)

Crow and Skunk (Crow: The Legend)

Mr. Wolf and Diane Foxington (The Bad Guys)

Piccolo and Chi-Chi (Dragon Ball franchise)

Piccolo and Yamcha (Dragon Ball franchise)

Elsa (Frozen) and Barley Lightfoot (Onward)

Buster Bunny and Babs Bunny [No Relation!] (Tiny Toon Adventures)

Hamton J. Pig and Fifi La Fume (Tiny Toon Adventures)

Fred Jones and Daphne Blake (Scooby-Doo)

Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps (Zootopia)

Geoff and Jeff (The Ghost and Molly McGee)

Pepe and Félix Madrigal (Encanto)

Agustín and Julieta Madrigal (Encanto)

Dolores Madrigal and Mariano Guzmán (Encanto)

Marianne and the Bog King (Strange Magic)

Moxxie and Millie (Helluva Boss)

Fizzaroli and Asmodeus (Helluva Boss)

[thegravekeepersdaughter]

Good Mourning, All that we see or seem is but a cemetery within a cemetery, or whatever Edgar Allan Poe said. Fast growing as the sycamore, Indianapolis developed and stretched its branches outward, replacing small residential areas with industrial parks. Nestled amongst the residential areas were not only homes, but the family burial plots along with them. In an effort to preserve the smaller pioneering cemeteries, lost to time and industrialization. The Greenlawn Cemetery, Rhoads Cemetery, and Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery were relocated to the Pioneer Cemetery within Crown Hill, each grave dug the same way they were originally by hand. The Greenlawn Cemetery, established in 1821 was the first cemetery known to exist in Indianapolis, originally located near the White River on the southwest end of Kentucky Avenue. In the year of 1912, over 1,160 pioneers originally buried in Greenlawn Cemetery were moved to Crown Hill. This memorial honors these original citizens of Indianapolis including Colonel Aaron C. Johnson, former Sheriff of Fayette Co. Ohio, Veteran of the War of 1812, Sarah A. Baker, Clarence Cooper, Craighead (four unknown), Mary Francis Cunningham, John Given, W.D., Barbara and Sarah Hanch, Nancy F., Julia P., Infant John and George Hollands, David, Martha R., Mary, John, Moses, John, Rebecca A. Margaret, Martha A. and infants Hunter, John W. and Wife, James M. Johnson, Lawson (two unknown), Lewis (one unknown), Benjamin Orr, Eli, Elizabeth and Mary I. Petticord, George Porter, Phillip, Jenny and one unknown Sponable, Iane and Minnie Wallace, Abner S. West and Benjamin Yates. Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery, established in 1841. Originally a small cemetery located on the Wright family farm in Lawrence Township. In 2008, twelve adults, fourteen children and seven infants were reburied in their final resting place within Crown Hill Cemetery. Members of the Wright family, headed by the Reverend James T. Wright, founder of the church now known as Castleton United Methodist Church, and extended family members of the Whitesell, Gentry, Easterday and Gates families were buried in the small cemetery with the last burial taking place in 1905. Also interred is Civil War Private John W. Gentry, who served in the 26th Indiana, Co. "I" from March of 1864 until it was disbanded in January 1866. Much like the Greenlawn Cemetery and Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery, the Rhoads Cemetery was a small cemetery established in 1844. In 1999, twelve adults and thirty-four children of the Rhoads, Rude, Foster, Foltz and Johns families were buried at their final resting site within Crown Hill. Among the identified burials are James Rhoads, died - 1844, Hanna Rhoads died - 1849, Sarah Rhoads died 1857, John Rhoads died - 1860, Emma Rude died - 1862, Willian Rude died - 1866 and William Rhoads died - 1906. Monday Mournings are in loving memory of the dearly departed. By exploring their burial sites we can connect to their lives, continuing to honor their memory so they will not be lost to time. Memento Mori. Rest In Peace, Mori 🥀

[thalasophobic]

Minnie Cunningham at the Old Bedford. Walter Richard Sickert. c. 1892 C.E. Oil on canvas.

[lescuriositesdelafoire]

Walter Richard Sickert (1860‑1942)

‘Minnie Cunningham at the Old Bedford’ 1892

[ambrossart]

DANCING WITH MYSELF

— PART ONE

summary: eddie crashes senior prom hoping to steal a dance with his dream girl, chrissy cunningham. instead, he spends the night stuck in the women’s restroom with you—her snarky, insecure best friend. ❖ pairing: eddie munson x fem!reader ❖ word count: 2,489 ❖ genre: fluff with some angst ❖ series status: complete ❖ warnings: no season 4 spoilers, some coarse language, body image issues, allusions to eating disorders, typical teenage insecurities, angst, jealousy, anxiety, secret crushes, childhood memories, happy ending, lots of 80s music one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten

You were more than a little caught off guard when Chance Gallagher asked you to the senior prom.

Chance was popular; Chance was on the basketball team; and you were just Chrissy Cunningham’s snarky best friend. The “bitchy” one—yeah, that was your identifier (so that you wouldn’t be confused with her other, much perkier friends). You were confident that ninety percent of the student body had no idea what your actual name was. To them, you were simply Chrissy Cunningham’s Bitchy Best Friend. Depressing as that was, it was an enormous step up from constantly being referred to as her “chubby” best friend. All that dieting must have finally paid off.

Needless to say, you were a little skeptical when Chance Gallagher, dressed in his green letterman jacket, showed up at your locker six weeks before the big night.

He swung by and said, “Hey, you…”

In hindsight, that should have been your first clue that this was going to end in disaster. Hey, you? Come on, the boy clearly didn’t know your name. But at the time, you weren’t thinking about that. No, you were too busy admiring his long dark hair, those deep-set brown eyes, and that shy, crooked smile that slowly crept up the side of his face…

“Hi,” you said back, and you thought your voice sounded oddly high-pitched for some reason, like Minnie Mouse. You had to clear your throat and try again. “Hey, uhh, what’s up?”

“Nothin’ much.” Chance paused and ran his hand through his hair. Shamelessly, you watched him do it, and you caught yourself wondering if his hair was as soft as it looked. It probably was.

“I was just thinking,” he went on, “you know, about prom coming up…”

You retreated into sarcasm. “Oh, is prom coming up?”

“Uh… yes?” Chance cocked his head, looking so confused.

You winced. “Sorry, just ignore me. So, what about prom?”

“Well, I was wondering if anyone asked you yet.”

You squinted at him for a second, thinking, Seriously? “Uhh, no, no one’s asked me yet.”

“Good,” said Chance, nodding and smiling, and you stood there, thinking, Wow, those are some white teeth.

Then, while you were distracted by those white teeth, he snuck in a quick: “So you wanna go, then?”

You blinked slowly. Once. Twice. “I’m sorry… what?”

“I’m asking if—”

“You’re asking me to prom?”

“Well, I’m trying to, but you’re making it kinda difficult.”

“I’m a difficult person,” you said under your breath. Then: “Wait a minute, is this like a Taming of the Shrew scenario? Is there a Bianca somewhere in this?”

Chance’s brow furrowed. “Taming of the what?”

“The shrew.”

“What’s a shrew?”

“Well, it’s actually a small, mouse-like animal, but it’s also the word for an ill-tempered woman, which is the definition I’m referring to—not the mouse, obviously; although I could see the mouse making sense too, you know, within a different context… Anyway, The Taming of the Shrew is a Shakespearean comedy. We read it in English last week. We took turns playing the parts… well, not me, I mostly just read the stage directions. See, I’ve got a thing about public speaking and, you know, speaking in general…”

“Really? ‘Cause you seem pretty good at it.” Chance was smiling at you.

And now you were smiling back… and laughing, too. It was a colorful laugh that burst out of your chest like confetti out of a New Year’s Eve popper.

“That was a good joke,” you said. “I liked that.”

Silence. Heavy and awkward.

Chance broke it. “So… is that a yes to prom? Or do I need to leave, come back, and start this process all over again?”

You laughed again, but this one made your chest hurt a little.

Your gut reaction was to say, Yes, absolutely! but you never listened to your gut. You listened to the small voice in your head, the one currently showing you all the possible worst-case scenarios on a teeny tiny projector: frame after frame after frame. This is a bad idea. This is a terrible idea. You should just say no right now and save yourself the embarrassment.

But then you heard Chrissy’s voice in your head, that sweet Disney princess voice. You know you’re the only one getting in your way, right? Stop sabotaging yourself. You would be so much happier if you would stop shutting everyone out. Just open up a little, let people in, and I promise they’ll think you’re amazing, just like I do… and then I’m gonna have to tell them all to back off because you’re my best friend. I found you first.

You closed your eyes and took a deep breath. “Okay, look, at the risk of making this all blow up in my face, can just I ask why? Why do you wanna go to prom with me, Chance? I mean, sure, we sit at the same lunch table, and yeah, you’re friends with Jason and I’m friends with Chrissy, but we’ve never spoken a word to each other… so why?”

Chance shrugged. “Because I want to? Because I think we’d have a good time? Do I need another reason?”

You bit down on your lip. That wasn’t the answer you were hoping for, but then again, maybe that was just your anxiety talking.

You shook all those ugly thoughts away and said, “Okay.”

Chance took a step back, seeming delightfully surprised. “Okay?”

“Okay… yes, I’ll go to prom with you.” And you felt a little like Sissy Spacek in the movie Carrie.

Was this your Tommy Ross?

Oh, hopefully he doesn’t die…

Chance pumped his fist. “Well, all right!” And for a second, you thought he was going to give you a high five or a slap on the back. Instead, he backed away from you slowly, heading toward his own locker. “This will be great. Yeah, I’m really looking forward to this.”

“Me too,” you said.

And that was the problem. You started looking forward to it. You started getting excited about it. Daydreaming about it. Flipping through magazines and dog-earing your favorite pages, because suddenly you had favorite pages. And that’s why you were absolutely gutted when Chance called you up six hours before prom and said he couldn’t make it.

With just five words, all your prom plans went up in flames.

“Food poisoning? Are you kidding me right now?”

You were sitting on your bed with the phone pressed against your ear. It almost slipped out of your hand when you first heard the news. “Can’t you, like, take some Pepto-Bismol or something?”

“Seriously?”

“No, not seriously, Chance. I’m not a monster.” You let out an angry huff and switched the phone to your opposite ear. “What am I supposed to do now? I bought tickets and a dress and some really, really painful heels.” You had even practiced walking in those painful heels so that you wouldn’t look stupid—or worse, trip and fall on your face in front of everyone. “There’s gonna be pictures and dinner and a frickin’ limo… Oh my god, I’m gonna be the only one there without a date!”

“I know… I’m so sorry.”

“Well, great, can I bring your ‘sorry’ with me to prom? Can I pose next to it during pictures?” You swallowed hard, feeling the sharp sting of oncoming tears. You lowered the phone to your shoulder (while Chance continued to utter apology after apology) and squeezed your eyes shut before a single one could escape.

After a minute, you heard Chance say, “You still there?”

So you brought the phone back to your ear. “Yeah,” you said, and wiped your runny nose on your wrist. “Look, don’t worry about me, okay? I’ll, uhh, I’ll figure something out.”

“Yeah, okay… and, hey, I’m really, really sorry.”

“Yeah, I know,” you said, numbing yourself to it. “Anyway, I’m gonna go. Uhh, feel better, okay?”

You slammed the phone down before he could say goodbye. Then you saw the stack of magazines on your nightstand. And the pink shoebox on the floor. You buried your face in your hands and had yourself a good five-minute cry before picking the phone back up and frantically dialing Chrissy’s number.

She answered in a chirpy voice: “Hello, hello… Cunningham residence.”

“He’s not coming!” you blurted out in a stuffy, near-to-tears voice.

“What? What do you mean, he’s not coming?”

“Food poisoning! He got food poisoning!”

“He got food poisoning? Oh, no…”

“Yeah. That’s just my luck, right? I just spent three hundred dollars for nothing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, obviously I can’t go now…”

“What? But you have to go!”

“Chris, I can’t—”

“No, Y/N, you have to go! This is the senior prom. This is supposed to be our special night.”

You rolled your eyes. “Pretty sure Jason thinks it’s his special night.”

“Well, he’s wrong,” Chrissy said, and stifled a laugh. “Come on, you didn’t go to junior prom, and that was fine, but this is the senior prom, our last prom, and I wanna spend it with my best friend. I want us to get our hair and makeup done, and put on these outrageous, obnoxious dresses, and go make asses of ourselves on that dance floor. That way, when I’m old and wrinkly, I can look back on this moment and think, Wow… I so peaked in high school.”

You both laughed. Despite the tears, you laughed.

“Yeah,” you said, “I want that, too… but I don’t have a date, Chris.”

“So what? You can come with me and Jason.”

“Oh, the third wheel. Yeah, I bet your boyfriend would love that.”

“He won’t mind. And if he does, screw him. We’ll leave his ass at home and go to prom together. Deal?”

You smiled and dabbed your eyes dry with your sleeve. “Deal.”

Overjoyed, Chrissy squealed so loud you had to pull the phone away from your ear. “Now, hurry up and get your butt over here, pretty lady! Our appointment’s in an hour.”

“Fine, fine…”

You said your goodbyes and hung up. That’s when the dread finally set in, twisting your stomach into one giant pretzel.

“Food poisoning, huh? Boy, is he lucky.” You rolled onto your back and stared at the ceiling for what felt like forever.

“I’m calling it now: this is gonna be the worst night of my life.”

Three streets down, Gareth Lozinski’s garage was exploding with the thrashing chords of heavy metal.

Corroded Coffin was currently six songs deep into their ten-song setlist (a tribute to all their favorite metal bands), which would eventually get whittled down to just five songs. Any more than that and the owner of The Hideout would pull the plug on them. That happened last Tuesday, after Eddie Munson tried to sneak in a second Iron Maiden song when he thought Cliff had stepped outside for a smoke break. They were six bars in when their mics and amps suddenly died. Eddie, lost in his music, played another eight before he realized what was going on.

“Boo,” he’d said into the dead mic; then he strummed an angry riff and walked off the stage.

The band took a short break after Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” so that Gareth could help his mother carry in the groceries. Mrs. Lozinski made a comment about their playing, said they were “really coming along” because she didn’t know what else to say. Gareth’s little sister was more succinct with her feedback. She skipped past the open garage with a paper bag full of fruit and said, “No, you guys still suck.”

Five minutes later, Gareth returned with half a turkey sandwich, sat down behind his drum set, and played the majority of Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades” with the sandwich hanging out of his mouth. He wolfed the rest down during Eddie’s excessively long guitar solo.

Just when you thought he was done, the guy kept on going…

These rehearsals usually carried on well into the evening. Gareth’s family sat down to dinner at around six-thirty, and they didn’t appreciate the unique ambiance of Eddie Munson’s screaming guitar, so that’s when the band typically called it quits.

Today, however, was no typical day. Today was the senior prom.

Jeff was the first one to unstrap his guitar. “All right, guys, I’m outta here.”

Gareth, a junior who had yet to experience prom, said, “Dude, it’s only three. Prom doesn’t start for another four hours.”

“Yeah, but Tara’s parents wanna take pictures, and my parents wanna take pictures, and then we gotta go to dinner… It’s a whole event.”

Grant heard that and unstrapped as well. “Yeah, shit, I better get going, too.”

Meanwhile, Eddie Munson was staring off into space and silently strumming his guitar, trying to work out some of Motörhead’s trickier chord progressions in his head. He stopped momentarily when he felt Jeff’s hand on his shoulder.

Jeff said, “Hey, good luck tonight, man.”

The corner of Eddie’s mouth raised into a lazy smile. “Thanks, man. See ya.” Then he bent his head and went back to strumming, his left hand fingering the beginning chords of Dio’s “The Last in Line.”

Gareth put down his drumsticks and stood up. “You’re really going through with this, huh?”

“Mhm,” said Eddie, only half listening.

Gareth shook his head, utterly dumbfounded by his friend’s reckless determination. “You’re crazy, man. What makes you think Chrissy Cunningham’s gonna wanna dance with you?”

Eddie’s fingers slowed and eventually stopped, those final chords lingering for a moment… then drifting away.

“Because this is my year, man.” Eddie was confident, but not arrogantly so. He simply believed his words to be true. “I’m telling you, all the stars are aligning for me. As long as I don’t blow Ms. O’Donall’s English final, and I don’t plan on blowing her English final, I’m gonna be out those doors and on to better things. Now all that’s left to do is steal a dance with my dream girl.”

“Yeah… that sounds great and all, man, but this is Chrissy Cunningham we’re talking about. There’s no way she’s gonna dance with someone like you, not in front of her friends, and definitely not at prom.”

“Really? I think she will, and especially because it’s prom.”

Because Chrissy Cunningham wasn’t like the other popular girls. She wasn’t vain or pretentious. She didn’t strut around school like a princess amongst peasants. No, Chrissy Cunningham was something special, a very rare diamond in a pit of precious stones.

And tonight, for at least one song, she was going to be his.

Eddie unstrapped his guitar and carried it over to its case. “Gareth my good man… Gareth the Good, Gareth the Great… I think tonight might be the best night of my life.” He smiled on his way out. “Wish me luck, buddy.”

“Good luck,” Gareth said, and watched him go. “Boy, he’s gonna need it.”

______________

CURRENT // NEXT

[stargatelover]

Here's some of my photos of the Stargate convention in Chicago from this weekend! It was such a great weekend. Definitely a smaller turnout than usual but between Covid and the price of gas I'm not surprised. I almost didn't come. But it was tons of fun! The cabaret was a blast. David Nykl read a scene from SGA, Tony Amendola read some stories, Dan and Alex did a game show, and Colin Cunningham did an amazing mentalist/magicians show that blew my mind.

The panels were so interesting and fun and I loved when the actors crashed each others panels. Teryl joined Amanda's and they reunited Turleen and Minnie which was hysterical. David called Paul McGillion to ask why he wasn't there but we got his voicemail so we left him a message.

I got photos and autographs I treasure, I got to meet some cool people, see some great cosplays, and of course meet the stars of SG1 and SGA! It was great! I plan on posting some more detailed stuff later once I go through all my photos and notes.

Please don't repost my photos anywhere

[alexzalben]

THE WITCHER: BLOOD ORIGIN TEASER TRAILER AND POSTER ARE HERE

Check 'em out below, as well as a synopsis - and surprise, Joey Batey is back as Jaskier (somehow)!

Set in an elven world 1200 years before the world of The Witcher, Blood Origin will tell a story lost to time - the creation of the first prototype Witcher, and the events that lead to the pivotal conjunction of the spheres, when the world of monsters, men, and elves merged to become one.

Adding a sensational cast to the Witcher Universe, Sophia Brown and Laurence O’Fuarain play Éile and Fjall, two warriors estranged from their opposing clans, Michelle Yeoh takes the role of Scían, a sword master, the last of her tribe, Mirren Mack is Princess Merwyn, Lenny Henry plays Chief Sage Balor, Joey Batey plays Jaskier and Minnie Driver stars as a Seanchaí. Francesca Mills is Meldof, Zach Wyatt and Lizzie Annis are celestial twin sages Syndril and Zacaré. Huw Novelli is Brother Death.

Other supporting cast members include Amy Murray as chief sage Balor’s apprentice Fenrik, Mark Rowley as King Alvitir, Daniel Fathers and Faoileann Cunningham as clan chieftain Osfar and his daughter Ryl. Kim Adis is Merwyn’s handmaid Ket, Nathaniel Curtis portrays Brían, and Dylan Moran is Uthrok One-Nut. Ella Schrey-Yeats portrays the young prophet Ithlinne and her mother Aevenien is played by Claire Cooper.

[whatstruthgottodowithit]

Here You Come Again [Part Fourteen]

Fandom: Elvis Presley, RPF, American Actor

Pairing: Elvis Presley x Original Female Character

Characters: Elvis Presley, Addison Goodwin, Original Female Characters, Priscilla Presley, Colonel Tom Parker, Vernon Presley, Gladys Presley, Minnie Mae Presley, Marci Cunningham, Jerry Schilling, Red West, Sonny West, Marty Lacker, Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge, Lamar Fike, Alan Fortas, George Klein, Memphis Mafia

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 6392

Summary: When Addison Goodwin was seventeen years old her life was turned inside out after a chance encounter with her past. Now, fifteen years later her life is the best it’s ever been. She has a home, a good job and a daughter she loves more than anything in the world but will all that remain when an old familiar face rolls into town.

Tags: Angst, Fluff, Graceland, Las Vegas, The International Hotel, Elvis In Vegas, 1970s, 1970s Elvis, Friends To Lovers, Rekindled Romance, Parenting, Time Line is Sketchy, Guilt, Betrayal, Teenage Pregnancy, Hawaii, Hidden Pregnancy, Jealousy, Sex, Absence of Parent, Single Motherhood, Trauma, Oral Sex, Tension

Notes: OKAY SO.

I've finally finished the entire thing and I'm so excited for everyone to read it. It'll be 17 parts in total with a lil epilogue.

The next couple of chapters are gonna be ROUGH so don't say I didn't warn you

Yes I know I named Marci's love interests Tom and Jerry but idec

Addison's dress looks like this

LINK TO ALL PARTS // LINK TO AO3 // LINK TO PINTEREST

When Addison and the girls got back from shopping it was later than expected. One would think being armed with Elvis Presley’s credit card would’ve meant she had no trouble picking something out but instead it had made her cautious, agonising over what to buy as she debated the perks of not going overboard but also getting something she liked. She didn’t want to force herself to buy something she didn’t love just because it was cheap but then again, she didn’t want to buy something outrageously priced just because she could. So she had spent the majority of the shopping trip helping Jess and Lisa pick out a dress each followed by an endless battle by herself in the dressing room as she debated her ten or so choices.

Eventually she had settled on green satin halter neck dress that fell just short of mid-thigh. It was a tad shorter than she would’ve normally opted for, though her normal wardrobe was mostly nurse’s uniforms and jeans these days, but she reminded herself it was a treat and it didn’t hurt that both girls had told her she looked very pretty in it when she’d emerged from the dressing room.

And watching herself in the bathroom mirror she couldn’t help but feel pretty too. In fact, she had been thinking about what Elvis would say when he saw her, if he would like it. She knew it didn’t matter. That after today her little delusions would have to be put to bed but as she tidied her makeup away – in the section of the Elvis’ bathroom counter he had dedicated to her – she couldn’t help but enjoy it. Once she was done she moved back to her room, transferring everything from her current purse into the one Jess had convinced her to buy since it went with her outfit. Then she headed out into the hall, though she was surprised when she walked past Lisa’s room and found the girls inside.

The plan had been to convert the spare room into Jess’ permanent bedroom but since that would’ve meant Addison finding a room in the annexe Elvis had asked if the girls if they wouldn’t mind sharing and fortunately for Addison, they’d agreed. In fact they seemed to be getting along quite well though Addison was wondering when the fights might erupt. Yet as she looked at them she found the novelty of a new sibling hadn’t rubbed off just yet and the pair seemed to be content in just hanging out together. Jess was splayed out on Lisa’s gigantic bed reading a magazine whilst her sister was playing with her dollhouse on the floor, though they looked up as she entered.

‘I thought I was gonna be the last one down,’ Addison said.

‘We were waiting for you guys,’ Jess said, flipping her magazine close before she tossed it aside and got up.

‘Isn’t your dad downstairs?’ Addison asked checking the clock on the nightstand, ‘he said seven.’

‘He’s in his office,’ Lisa said placing her dolls in the doll house before she jumped up and wandered over to Addison watching her with a smile.

‘Okay, well how about you girls go downstairs and I’ll get him?’ she asked.

‘Okay,’ Jess said, grabbing her own purse off the chest of drawers though she paused by the door watching her mother closely as she said, ‘don’t be too long though, we’re hungry.’

‘We won’t,’ Addison said following them out though as they headed downstairs she went to Elvis’ office door. It was closed but when she knocked she heard no response making her wonder if the girls had been mistaken. Nevertheless she decided open the door anyway just in case he hadn’t heard her.

When she opened the door however she found Elvis was in fact inside, sitting at his desk in deep conversation though he looked up as she opened the door, as did the person sitting in the chair in front of him, the Colonel. Elvis stood as she stopped in her tracks dropping her gaze to the floor as she felt that familiar wash of anger and hurt flood through her as she muttered, ‘sorry, I uh, the girls said you were in here they didn’t-’

‘It’s okay,’ he said capturing her attention.

‘We’re ready to go,’ she said refusing to look at the older man who was now watching her though admittedly not as worriedly as Elvis was, ‘I’ll uh see you downstairs.’

‘No,’ Elvis protested, ‘uh I mean I won’t be long really.’

‘We’re nearly done,’ the Colonel barely turning his head to look at her as he watched Elvis, his hand fiddling with the intricate clown head on the top of his cane.

‘Yeah, two minutes,’ Elvis said. He could see her thinking about it, no doubt wanting to flee downstairs, but that would mean ruining the surprise that was waiting for her down there. So, with a much pleading he could put into his voice without sounding too pathetic in front of the Colonel he said, ‘would you hang on, please?’

She wanted to run, to get as far away as her feet could get her from that loathsome toad but she couldn’t say no to him, not when he was watching her with pleading in his bright blue eyes, and so she nodded.

‘Thanks Addie,’ Elvis said before she turned around and headed out the door. He was right, whatever they were up to didn’t take any longer than two minutes but out on the landing it was enough time to make millions of thoughts whizz through her mind. They only stopped when the door opened and the Colonel shuffled out. She watched him head towards the stairs, even more annoyed that he seemed completely unbothered by her presence, even stopping to smile and mutter, ‘Happy Birthday,’ before he toddled off out of sight. When he was gone she headed into the office, finding Elvis shuffling a raft of papers together on his desk though he looked towards the door as he heard her enter.

‘Hey,’ he said turning around and perching against his desk, ‘sorry about that.’

‘It’s okay,’ Addison said though Elvis raised an eyebrow making her sigh, ‘honestly, I mean it’s not like I can get angry every time he comes around is it. He is your manager.’

‘Actually he’s not,’ Elvis said making whatever she had been planning to say disappear in an instant as she rushed forward.

‘What? Since when?’ she asked. She was standing in front of him now, watching him agog.

‘The first time you guys came to Memphis,’ Elvis said.

‘Why didn’t you say anything?’ she asked, her mind flicking through every conversation since then though she was sure something like that she would’ve remembered.

‘Because he’s not out, not completely anyway,’ Elvis said making her frown as he explained, ‘I fired him but uh well to get rid of him I had to make a deal.’

‘A deal with the devil huh?’ she said and though her tone was that of a joke neither of them missed the punch of sentiment behind her words.

‘Feels like it,’ Elvis sighed though he backtracked as her face fell into a frown, ‘no it’s not that bad. I just… I knew he wouldn’t have gone of his own accord so I gave him an out, but it means he’s with me till the end of the year…I didn’t tell ya because I didn’t wanna get your hopes up.’

‘You think he’ll try and get you to change your mind?’ she asked, her stomach in knots at the thought of all of it. She couldn’t believe he had done all of this, how he had tried to get rid of the Colonel once and for all. She hadn’t liked that he was still adjacent to their lives but the reason she hadn’t demanded he get rid of him completely was because she doubted the Colonel wouldn’t make life a living hell if Elvis tried to get rid of him.

‘No,’ Elvis said honestly, ‘no I don’t. I think he knows where his breads buttered, and he knows there ain’t no way we’re gonna be able to work together again. I think he’d rather cut his losses and recoup as much as he can.’

‘You think so?’

‘Doesn’t really matter if not. Either way I can’t work with him not after what he did,’ Elvis said looking down at her. She was closer than he’d anticipated, her hazel eyes finding him less than two feet away, her hand on his folded arms though he hadn’t noticed.

‘You don’t think he’d do something to spite you?’ Addison asked remembering the venom in the man’s eyes the day he’d told her to go.

‘No…I don’t think so,’ he said, ‘I mean he’s been strictly business since I told him. I think whatever anger he’s got goin’ on has petered out now. Besides I don’t think his anger would match mine if he dared come near you guys.’

‘I thought I’d be the same,’ Addison admitted, dropping her gaze to where her fingers lay atop of his arm.

‘What do you mean?’ he asked, watching her as she fiddled with his sleeve.  

‘When I saw him in Vegas,’ she murmured, confirming his suspicions on why she had spooked, ‘I thought once I saw him again I’d go off on him y’know? I mean all of this, us, Jess… he ruined so much of it…but I just didn’t say anything. I couldn’t…makes it feel like he won y’know?’

‘Oh Addie he hasn’t won anything,’ Elvis said wrapping his arms around her and pulling her until she was standing in between his legs. She allowed him to, her hands on his chest as she chewed on her lip nervously.

‘We won,’ he said peering into her hazel eyes, ‘me and you. Despite all his meddlin’ we still ended up with Jess and she’s pretty damn spectacular all that other stuff is… unimportant.’

‘I guess you’re right,’ Addison said quietly though he could still see thoughts swarming around in that head of hers. It had been why he hadn’t told her. He didn’t want her worrying about the business side of things, that was on him to figure out. He wanted her focused on them.

‘And after the end of the year he’ll be gone and we can get used to being a family,’ Elvis said.

‘Yeah, maybe you’ll even manage to catch a break huh?’ she said, her uneasiness not ebbing though it felt a different version of it as she realised they were holding one another. She didn’t pull away though, she couldn’t force herself to, the comfort his touch brought being something she needed in her core.

‘Told you I might slow down,’ he smirked.

‘You won’t know what to do with yourself,’ she smiled.

‘Good job I’ve got two kids to keep me busy then isn’t it,’ Elvis smiled.

‘You might be better going to work,’ Addison said though her smile dimmed as the worries took over, he sensed it, but he waited for whatever it was to come, ‘it’s gonna be okay isn’t it? I mean work and everything…this is the right decision, right?’

‘You got that little faith in me?’ Elvis said.

‘Of course I have faith in you,’ Addison said.

‘It’s gonna be fine Addie,’ Elvis said. She mulled it over for a minute and then nodded. Whatever delusions she had been living in for the day suddenly feeling real. As she stood there in his arms she chose to believe he was right. That his life, their life, without the Colonel would be fine.

He was watching her, the urge to kiss her growing quicker and quicker by the second but she pulled out of his grasp, suddenly realising just how close the pair of them as she moved to the door.

‘We should get going,’ she said as he stood up, smoothing out his shirt that had started to crease where he had been leaning.

‘Yeah, can’t have him ruining any more of your birthday huh?’ he said as he followed her to the door though when they got there she paused, turning to look at him.

‘You know as birthday presents go, getting rid of him was pretty good,’ she smiled.

‘Yeah?’ Elvis smirked, ‘I guess I better return your other present then.’

‘I knew you wouldn’t be able to help yourself!’ she said swatting his chest as he chuckled.

‘C’mon your other present is downstairs,’ he said.

‘What is it?’ she asked though Elvis stayed quiet, a smug smile on his face, ‘oh come on! You have to tell me. You know I hate surprises,’ she continued though Elvis continued to ignore her, ‘Elvis!’

She was still looking at him when she hit the bottom step so much so she didn’t notice the crowd in the living room, well not until she heard a familiar voice speak from across the hall, ‘if you hate surprises does that mean I should go home?’

Addison’s head turned at breakneck speed to find Marci standing amidst the group watching her excitedly. Before she could even think she was across the room flinging herself into her best friend’s arms. They wrapped around each other, relishing in the moment, until finally they pulled back.

‘I can’t believe you’re here,’ Addison said making Marci chuckle. If anything she couldn’t believe Marci had managed to keep this from her.

‘Well it’s not every day someone turns thirty-three now is it,’ Marci smiled.

‘How the hell did you do all this? What about the shop? I thought you wouldn’t be free,’ she said.

‘Well Elvis called and asked if I would…believe it or not he can be quite persuasive,’ Marci said earning a chuckle from the room. Addison rolled her eyes, and though she kept in her friend’s arms she turned to find Elvis watching the pair of them with a smile on his face.

‘You’re unbelievable you know that,’ she said. It was true. In fact throughout the whole day he had kept her on her toes, been what she needed at every turn. And even when she had protested him getting her a present he had known her too well and knew there would be only one thing she’d want outside spending time with him and the girls.

‘Oh I know,’ Elvis said, ‘now c’mon you guys have got all night to catch up.’

‘And something tells me we’re gonna need it,’ Jess giggled as the women let one another go.

‘Oh I don’t doubt that,’ Marci said slinging her arm around her niece as everyone started to head out of the door. Addison however lingered waiting until she and Elvis were the only ones left in the hall.

‘Thank you,’ she said earnestly.

‘No problem,’ Elvis said gesturing for her to lead but instead she took the hand he held out and slipped it into hers, pulling him with her and out the door.

✵✵✵

‘That’s when Addie barged in and told them they needed to take their heads out of their asses,’ Marci giggled, making Elvis and Jerry chuckle.

‘It got you the loan didn’t it,’ Addison said rolling her eyes.

‘Oh I bet it did. Poor guy was probably terrified of sayin’ no,’ Elvis chuckled earning himself a shove.

‘He should’ve been. It was a great idea and a good shop,’ Addison said, ‘he was just sexist.’

‘Wait do you not have it anymore?’ Jerry asked as he pulled out of his laughter looking at Marci who was sitting to his right. They were in the club now tucked away in the back hoping not to be disturbed which wasn’t liable to happen thanks to the entourage of men between the four of them and rest of the club’s attendees. If Addison was being honest with herself she’d have been content going home with the girls after the dinner. She’d have been happy sitting around talking with her friends over a few relaxed drinks at Graceland but Marci had insisted they go out to Beale Street and celebrate and though it wasn’t her number one option she hadn’t put a dampener on the festivities. In fact she’d been a good sport even spending some time up on the dance floor but as her buzz started to wane she’d retreated to booth at the back where she spent most of her night cosied up with Elvis, just talking. At intervals Marci and Jerry had reappeared, exhausted from dancing or needing a drink, and the pair had been forced to pull apart from where their heads were tucked together. Somehow the topic had landed on how Marci had got her own shop.

‘No, not anymore,’ Marci said taking a sip of her drink.

‘That’s too bad,’ Jerry said adding in jest, ‘I could do with a haircut.’

‘Well I can still give ya a haircut,’ Marci said, ‘though I’d rather cut Elvis’.’

‘Oh yeah?’ Elvis chuckled, ‘why’s that?’

‘Well if I sold the clippings I’d bet I wouldn’t need to work again,’ Marci giggled.

‘She has a point Jer,’ Elvis smirked.

‘Well fine,’ Jerry said, shaking his shaggy mane off his face as he pouted, ‘me and my luscious locks will just have to find somewhere else.’

‘No, no, it’s fine. I suppose I could lower my standards,’ Marci said with faux exasperation.

‘Well you’ll have your new shop open soon right Mar? Maybe you could do all the guys,’ Addison said. Marci smiled though it didn’t meet her eyes and her tone was airy as she said, ‘yeah.’

And before Addison could respond she stood up looking at Jerry as she said, ‘I wanna dance. Wanna come?’

‘Sure?’ Jerry said allowing himself to be pulled by the hand out of his seat before he’d even managed to put his drink down properly. Addison’s eyes narrowed as she watched them disappear into the crowd, her suspicions about her friend running wild inside her.

‘Everything alright?’ Elvis asked waving a hand in front of her face to snap her out of the trance she had fallen into.

‘Fine,’ Addison said with a reassuring smile before she took a sip of her drink. Elvis wasn’t reassured but he was having too much fun to even want to bring up whatever was the matter.

The day had been amazing. Simple and understated as everything was with Addison but it still felt special. He had loved spending time with the three of them, as if they were just any other family. He liked that she had conceded to him too, if only a little which by Addison’s standards was quite something. He liked that after all she had told him about missing her friend he had been the one to bring them back together, the one to put a smile back on her face. That was why he was worried about whatever was bothering her. He was sure it was about Marci but they could come to that tomorrow. Right now he was enjoying himself.

✵✵✵

‘I need to pee!’ Marci said with urgency.

‘We’re only ten minutes away from home can’t you hold it?’ Elvis asked. They were on their way back from the bar. After her questioning about the shop Marci had started acting distant but not only figuratively. She had put quite some distance between herself and her best friend only heightening Addison’s suspicions and by the time they had decided they were ready to go she had found that her friend was completely and utterly sozzled meaning that there would be little to no point in trying to get out of her whatever it is that was bothering the blonde. But her drunkenness had done more than just make her useless to talk to it had also meant that Jerry had had to hold her up to get her into the car and that her request to use the bathroom more than likely should be listened to even if they were only ten minutes away from home.

‘I really need to pee,’ she said shifting in her seat like a child trying to convince them she wasn’t lying.

‘I’d listen to her,’ Addison said, ‘unless you want a wet patch on that seat.’

‘Fine,’ Elvis said gesturing for Lamar to pull over which he did. Marci cheered as the car rolled to a stop before running her hand over the car door until she found the handle which she then tugged on to open. Then she climbed out, a blur of haphazard limbs until she was on the side of the road.

‘You think she’ll be okay on her own?’ Jerry said looking at Addison with concern.

‘No,’ Addison said honestly, ‘but you’re the one who got her drunk.’

‘But…maybe…I mean you’re,’ Jerry said skating over the specifics though Addison knew what he was implying.

‘Come on Jer. Ain’t nuthin’ you ain’t seen before,’ Elvis chuckled earning a giggle from Addison. Jerry looked between the pair of them and then sighed, ‘fine.’

And then he climbed out, shutting the door behind them though they could hear him call Marci’s name a few times, each with a growing amount of concern as he no doubt tried to stop her doing something stupid. Addison sighed and rested back against her seat closing her eyes.

‘Tired?’ Elvis asked making her hazel eyes open looking at him through the darkness.

‘Yeah a little,’ she said, ‘it’s been a long day.’

‘A good one though?’ he asked hopefully.

‘Yeah,’ she said though there was something in her expression that didn’t lift all the way as she did. Elvis sighed.

‘But?’ he asked. He had been trying to avoid it but he could see the cogs turning and whatever was eating at her he couldn’t just ignore, not if he could fix it.

‘I think somethings up with Mar,’ she said.

‘Yeah?’ he asked.

‘Yeah,’ she admitted shuffling to face him in her seat. A position that he mirrored almost immediately.

‘How come?’ he asked.

‘I don’t know,’ she sighed, ‘it’s just any time I ask about the shop she seems to change the topic.’

‘Maybe she’s changed her mind,’ Elvis said simply.

‘Maybe…but she loved her shop and she was good at it. I just don’t know why she’d not want to start again y’know,’ Addison pondered.

‘Well maybe it isn’t what she’s starting maybe it’s where she’s starting it,’ Elvis said quietly making Addison sigh.

‘I was worried you’d say that,’ she admitted.

‘Why? I mean I thought you’d be happy if she wanted to move back to Vegas. I thought you and Jess didn’t like this...’

‘Tom.’

‘Tom guy,’ Elvis finished.

‘It’s not that I don’t like him and I want Mar to be happy I do. And I have missed her,’ Addison admitted.

‘But?’

‘But…our lives are different now,’ Addison admitted, ‘back when she left it was just me and Jess and it felt like a huge hole was there y’know? But I guess…with you it doesn’t feel as bad anymore that’s why I’m worried. I mean what if she gives this guy up and moves back to Vegas and finds everything’s different now? I mean what if she comes back to Vegas expecting me and Jess to be there and we’re halfway across the country.’

‘Well that’s her choice don’t you think?’ Elvis said trying to ignore the way his heart was hammering in his chest at her words. He was filling the gap. Not only that but the way she spoke of their situation made it sound as though it was about them. Not just Jess. If it was just about Jess it wouldn’t make much of an impact on Marci, Addison would remain a constant but the way she spoke made it seem as though she wanted to be there. Every step of the way.

‘I know but what if it’s the wrong one?’ Addison asked worriedly.

‘Well maybe you have to let her make it to find out it’s the wrong one,’ Elvis said moving towards her, his arm thrown up on the back of the seat. He was watching her, those cerulean eyes boring into her face as her fingers fiddled with the material of his jacket.

‘What if she gets hurt?’ Addison said.

‘Well she’s always got you,’ Elvis said. Addison seemed to think on it for a second and then nodded. His words about Marci were true but that wasn’t what she was thinking of. What she was thinking about was them. How she had told herself no but couldn’t help but want it. Especially not with how close he was to her right now, how the smell of his cologne engulfed her, comforting her. How his hand clasped over hers, stopping its movement against his jacket as he watched her.

‘Can I tell you something?’ Elvis asked. Addison nodded, ‘you look beautiful tonight.’

‘You don’t look too bad yourself,’ she said. It was meant to be a joke, a way of deflecting the uncomfortable flutter that her heart made at his words but it came out flat, truthful.

‘I enjoyed myself tonight,’ he said.

‘Me too,’ she replied.

‘I’m glad I got to spend your birthday with you…well one of ‘em,’ he smiled.

‘Me too,’ she said.

‘You know I have one more present for you,’ he said.

‘Yeah?’ she asked in little more than a whisper.

‘It can wait,’ he said and then before she could protest he leaned forward and kissed her gently. It was soft and light, somehow a mix of what he’d been longing for and somehow not like anything he’d been thinking about when he had dreamed of kissing her. She leaned into it, allowing him to move her backwards as his hand caressed her cheek gently. Yet before he could do anything more she pulled back, placing a hand firmly on his chest as a stop signal. His heart was hammering in his chest but he could’ve sworn it stopped beating just for a moment when he noticed the look of guilt on her face.

‘Elvis,’ she said quietly.

‘Ads,’ he replied in a tone he couldn’t help but make sound like a plea.

‘We can’t,’ she said quietly.

‘Addie,’ he said that begging in his voice once more.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said feeling tears prick at her eyes, ‘we can’t…I just… I can’t.’

He watched as she pulled back from him, chewing on her lip as guilt coursed through her. She wanted to, God she wanted to. Her whole day had been nothing but pretending they were the family she had dreamed about but she wasn’t stupid enough to think that they could survive this, that one of them wouldn’t get hurt. And she couldn’t do that to him, or more to the point she couldn’t do that to herself. Elvis watched her closely and then nodded.

‘Okay,’ he said leaning back against his seat. Addison looked out of the window, trying to quell the guilt inside her that was threatening to push her tears over the edge. Though neither of them had time to dwell on it too long as the car door opened and Marci flopped onto the opposite bench, Jerry grabbing her legs to move her properly into her seat. It was the distraction Addison needed and so she grabbed onto it with both hands, sitting up in her seat with a force smile as she said, ‘you survived then?’

‘Oh Jerry was very helpful,’ Marci giggled placing her legs up on the man in question who rolled his eyes.

‘Do I want to know?’ Addison asked raising an eyebrow.

‘She pulled me into a bush,’ Jerry said.

‘Oh?’ Addison asked.

‘Actually I asked him to pull me up,’ Marci corrected.

‘Yeah, then went dead weight pulling me into the aforementioned bush,’ Jerry said.

‘You didn’t land in the pee, right?’ Addison giggled making Elvis look at her which made it dim. As he looked back out of the window she kept a smile on her face determined not to let the others realise there was something wrong. Neither of them seemed to notice.

‘Nah I think I swerved it,’ Jerry chuckled.

After that the car fell silent though on one side it seemed to be because exhaustion had taken over. Whilst Marci strew herself across the seat, her legs on Jerry’s lap Addison looked out of the window trying to ignore that gnawing feeling inside her. Elvis however couldn’t stop glancing at her. He couldn’t stop thinking of how she had kissed him back, how her lips had melded to his if only briefly. It had been all he had been thinking about. All he had wanted for months, if not since the day he had left for the army.

It just hurt that it hadn’t lasted. That she had pulled away before he could do anything more, before he could tell her how much he loved her. It was a blow for sure, but he could see in her eyes that it wasn’t over, not yet. There was love there, more than just the old love they had once shared. Something new, something growing. She loved him just as much as he loved her, he was sure of it. She just wasn’t ready, and he didn’t expect her to be. Last time they had tried to ignore it, the pull between them, and it hadn’t worked and pulling away from one another had only made them miserable. So he wasn’t going to pull away but he wasn’t going to push either. He wasn’t going to expect her to want to marry him off the bat but they were changing. Their relationship was growing each and every day and if she needed time before she felt ready to progress he would give to her. Because he couldn’t lose her, not again.

When they reached the house Jerry and Addison took charge of ensuring Marci got to her room and got in bed whilst Elvis headed upstairs. Whilst he was sure they’d end up okay that didn’t mean he wanted an awkward goodnight at the top of the stairs, not when he was still licking his wounds. However before he got to bed he stopped by the girl’s room and pushed the door open gently.

He had intended to get the spare room into shape in the time they’d been back in Vegas but that would’ve meant moving Addison away from them and he hadn’t had the heart to. Not to mention that he was enjoying the girls were getting along. It was idealistic he knew that and once they got a little older he knew he’d have no choice but to give them their own space, he just hoped by then Addison would have no need for the bed across the hall.

As he watched them he smiled. Jess was laying on her back, sleeping soundly though he wasn’t sure how she was comfortable given that Lisa’s legs were draped across her torso as she had contorted herself so she was laying upside down in bed. Still they looked peaceful and though his heart was aching at the disappointment of the night he couldn’t help but feel peace too because he knew it wouldn’t be like this forever. At least he hoped so.

That night Addison didn’t sleep well. She couldn’t, not when her mind was replaying the entire night over and over again. Elvis had kissed her and she hadn’t hated it. In fact she hadn’t wanted to stop him, instead she had wanted to give into every delusion that she had had throughout the day. She had wanted him to kiss her, to hold her as though they were together. She wanted to come down breakfast in the morning after spending the night in his bed cuddled beside him, their night full of loving whispers and kisses.

But she couldn’t do that. She had already done that before and looking back on those memories hurt too much. To do it all again and it to end badly again would undoubtedly hurt worse. Making a poor choice last time had almost ruined her, doing it again she was sure she wouldn’t survive it. Not now she had to be in his life. It had been easier before because there had been a clean break. This time there was no chance at that.

That was why she was standing behind her bedroom door trying to will herself to go downstairs instead of hiding herself away like she wanted to. Seeing him under these circumstances hurt enough never mind anything else. Would he be mad? Would he want to talk about it? Last night he had seemed content to let it be but she knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t let it go. She just hoped he’d understand that they couldn’t, that they shouldn’t. She hoped he’d let her go.

When she opened the door the floor was quiet something that made her feel a touch more relaxed. Whilst keeping to herself felt like her best option being immersed in people was a close second as she knew he wouldn’t be able to question her then.

Though as she reached the top of the stairs she heard his voice. He was in his office, on the phone, and though she knew she shouldn’t, she couldn’t help but peep around the door. He looked good – something that didn’t help her troubled heart and was speaking low enough that she couldn’t make out what he was saying. Though as she lingered by the door he seemed to notice someone was there and when he looked up his face seemed to be relieved.

‘Hang on Joe,’ he said, ‘Ads-’

But before he could say anything else she bolted, dashing down the stairs as he called her name from the office though she didn’t slow down. She felt bad about it but after spending the night in emotional turmoil she didn’t have it in her to go over everything just yet.

She only stopped when she got to the den where she found Jess sitting on the floor playing her guitar with Vernon and Lisa offering her encouragement from the loveseat they were squashed on together. Marci was splayed out on the couch, her hand over her face as she tried to block the sunlight out. As she headed towards Marci she found Jerry coming in from the kitchen a bottle of water and two aspirin in his hand.

‘Here,’ he said offering them down to Marci who peeked through her fingers at him before she sat up with a groan.

‘Is she alright?’ Addison asked as Marci took the two pills and then opened her water bottle choking the water down so quickly she had almost drunk the entire bottle in two glugs.

‘She’ll be fine. Actually I thought you two might be feelin’ the same since you hadn’t come down yet,’ Jerry said.

‘I’m good,’ Addison said which she technically was, besides it wasn’t as if her issues would be fixed with some water and rest.

‘How about you EP?’ Jerry said looking past her which made her whip around only to find Elvis appearing into the den watching her with concern.

‘I’m fine,’ Elvis said moving towards her though her attention was pulled as she felt arms wrap around her hips and looked down to find Lisa looking up at her with a smile.

‘Miss Addie guess what?’ she beamed.

‘What sweetie?’ Addison said, stroking her hair, happy for the distraction.

‘We’re going to Hawaii,’ Lisa beamed which widened as Addison’s face fell into shock, the novelty of being the first one to give her the news evidently being huge for the little girl. Addison managed to recover quickly, keeping her voice light as she said, ‘we are?’

‘That’s what I needed to speak to you about,’ Elvis said coming towards them. Lisa let Addison go moving to her dad who picked her up and placed her on his hip as he watched Addison awaiting her reaction.

‘Hawaii?’ was all she could say.

‘I was going to tell you last night,’ he said making a vague memory of him mentioning another birthday present flash through her mind. It had been immediately pushed out when he had kissed her, ‘turns out daddy told the girls by accident.’

‘Oh it was no accident,’ Vernon said making Addison look at him, ‘they’re witches both of ‘em. Heard me talking about a trip and badgered me until I broke.’

‘You didn’t have to tell us,’ Jess shrugged feigning innocence.

‘Yeah all we did was ask,’ Lisa agreed.

As the news settled in Addison felt her stomach churn. Being at Graceland after last night was going to be awkward enough never mind cooped up together on one of the most romantic islands in the world. But she could feel everyone watching her. She could see how excited the girls were about a vacation with their dad. And given that she was kind of the reason for the entire trip she couldn’t say no right? Looking at Elvis she couldn’t bring herself to. He was watching her as if bracing himself for her to decline especially when he asked in a manner unlike himself, ‘so what do you say?’

‘Who can so no to Hawaii?’

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