#mmmm starch

[rabbitrah]

A continuation on my post about unloved foods, specifically this is my in-depth defense of root beer.

Root Beer isn't inherently gross, it's just one of those weird local flavors that's off-putting to people who didn't grow up with it. We all like different things and also we all tend to like flavors that are similar to what we grew up with. That's okay! But honestly root beer is pretty unique and, in my opinion, delicious.

One of the main complaints against root beer is that it tastes like medicine. Funnily enough, it was originally marketed as medicinal! This is true for most OG sodas actually. Pretty much as soon as carbonated water was invented, people were drinking it to soothe various ailments. A lot of the original soft drinks were actually invented by pharmacists. I just think that root beer is especially cool because the main flavor came from the root bark of sassafras, a common North American shrub. Because it's so widespread and aromatic, all parts of the sassafras plant have been used in food and medicine by many different Native American tribes throughout history and was subsequently picked up and used by European colonists. In the 1960s, some studies indicated that that safrole oil, which is produced by the plant, can cause liver damage. Whether or not this would actually remain true after it had been boiled and added to root beer is unclear, but it was really easy to replicate the flavor, so the sassafras in commercial root beer these days is artificial. Another fun fact about safrole is that it's a precursor in the synthesis of MDMA. None of this information has stopped my childhood habit of eating sassfras leaves right off the shrub whenever I walk past it on a hike. I'm like 85% sure it's safe and also mmmm yummy leafs go crunch.

Another root beer complaint is that it tastes like toothpaste. I think this is probably because another key flavor in most root beer recipes is wintergreen. I'm assuming that the people who think this are the same people who think mint chocolate chip ice cream tastes like toothpaste. I can understand and even respect that some people don't like mint and associate it only with brushing their teeth, but like. Mint is a pretty common flavor. I mean I think it's safe to say that humans have been eating mint flavored stuff for longer than toothpaste has existed... anyway!

Other common flavors in root beer (real or artificial) are caramel, vanilla, black cherry bark, sarsaparilla root, ginger, and many more! There's not one official recipe, and root beer enthusiasts often have strong opinions about different brands. Some root beer is sharper, with more strong aromatic flavors, and others are mild and creamier.

Another thing I think is cool about root beer is that it's foamier than most sodas. This was originally because sassafras is a natural surfactant (and why sassafras is also a common thickening agent in Louisiana Creole cooking.) These days, other plant starches or similar ingredients are added to keep the distinctive foam. Root beer foam > all other soft drink foams. That's why root beer floats kick more ass than like, coke floats.

If you've never had root beer before, imagine if a sweetened herbal tea was turned into a soda, because that's basically what it is. If your first response to that is a cringe, fair enough. That's why lots of people don't like it. If your first response to that is "interesting... I might actually like it, though" then I encourage you to track down a can of root beer today, hard as that might be outside the US and Canada. Next time you see an "ew, root beer tastes like medicine/tooth paste" take, know that there's a reason for that, but also the same could be said for literally any herbal or minty food/drink.

My final take on root beer is that it would be the soda of choice for gnomes. Thank you and good night.

[zablife]

Did You Miss Me?

Tommy Shelby x wife reader

Summary: You’ve gone without Tommy’s touch for two weeks while he’s been away on business, but he wants to make you wait a bit longer for your release. 

Author’s Note: This is porn with no plot, but I regret nothing!! 

Warnings: 🔞, smut, possessiveness, orgasm denial, cockwarming, unprotected sex

Tommy watched you enter the bedroom, fresh from the bath and he beamed at you. It had been two long weeks since you’d seen him and his sudden appearance in your bedroom made you smile back at him, happier now that your husband was home. However, you wondered what he was up to sitting in the large red armchair which he had positioned in front of the full length mirror.

He was still dressed in his work clothes, minus the suit jacket. He had discarded that across the bed where he had also kicked off his shoes. He looked comfortable sitting there with rolled shirt sleeves exposing his muscular forearms, a glass of whisky held in one hand.

Obviously enjoying the view, he gave a sigh of satisfaction as you dropped your towel and headed toward him. As you perched yourself on his lap, he gave you a long welcome kiss before pulling away. Grasping your chin between his thumb and forefinger he asked, “Did you miss me, love?”

“So much, Tommy,” you answered, attempting to grind yourself on his lap. He stopped you by placing his large hands on your hips and squeezing until the pressure was almost uncomfortable. 

“No,” he said firmly. “You’ve waited this long for me. I want to see if you can be a good girl for me and wait a bit longer.” You pouted at him. Tommy always took you as soon as he walked in the door. What was it he wanted, you wondered?

Running his thumb over your bottom lip, Tommy explained, “You’re mine. My property, aren’t you?” 

You nodded obediently. He smiled at you, pleased with your response. Tracing the outline of your lips he said, “You trust me?”

“Yes, Tommy,” you said unsure what he would ask of you.

“Good, because I want to play with you tonight. You’re going to be my little toy, you understand? And you won’t cum until I say,” he told you, pushing his thumb into your mouth to silence your whimpers. “You want to be good for me, don’t you?” he asked, crystal blue eyes piercing your soul. You inhaled sharply as he pressed against your tongue and you swallowed around him, sucking his digit with a sudden need. “Mmmm,” you replied with your mouth full.

He pressed a kiss to your temple praising, “That’s my sweet girl. Now do as I say.” Withdrawing his thumb with a pop, he urged you to lean your back against his upper body. His starched shirt scratched against your back and your ass squirmed in spite of yourself before Tommy slapped your thigh in warning. “Do as your told and I’ll be so happy with you, sweetheart,” he promised. You bit your lip afraid you were already disappointing him.

Sliding a hand down your arm, he left a trail of goosebumps along your tender flesh and your breath hitched for a moment. “Breathe, baby,” he instructed. You glanced at the mirror and noticed him watching you, eyes roving over your naked form, pupils blown wide with lust. His fingertips continued over your dimpled thighs, stroking you gently. “You look so fucking good,” he said as he explored you with a feather light touch. His fingers mapped your stomach and shoulders next, but he couldn’t resist your breasts any longer. His hands cupped them and lifted them feeling their weight. 

You swallowed harshly, wanting his touch along your sensitive nipples, but he left them painfully neglected. Instead, he began squeezing your breasts lightly at first and then harder, eliciting the soft moans he longed to hear. As his fingers finally ghosted across your nipples, your mouth dropped open at the feeling of the little buds tightening under his touch. A sudden harsh pinch had you crying out and his mouth was on your neck in an instant, lightly sucking the spot below your ear that drove you wild.

“Tommy!” you whimpered as you closed your eyes to the exquisite feeling. Rolling your other nipple between his fingertips gently, he watched your face contort with pleasure. You lifted your hips wanting more, but he pressed a hand to your side to stop you. 

As you regained control, his fingers snaked down toward your pussy, but didn’t touch you. Desperate for friction, your own hand joined his, but he jerked it away harshly. “Don’t touch. Don’t fucking touch,” he warned in a low voice so deep it sent shivers down your spine. You gulped and nodded in understanding. Then much more gently he added, “You know I”m going to let you cum, but not yet. I want to hear more of those little whimpers.”

He began squeezing your breasts again to distract you. Then you felt his hands everywhere, rough palms dragging across your stomach and your hips until you felt dizzy.  His hands finally came to rest at your thighs and he spread your legs wide before resting his fingertips over your cunt. Your heart skipped a beat as you waited for him to continue, but he stayed agonizingly still, allowing the warmth of his hand to radiate over you slowly. 

When you thought you couldn't wait any longer, you felt him pinch your pussy lips together between his thumb and forefinger. Your clit throbbed as he massaged you and your head fell back against his shoulder, nose grazing his neck. You bit your lip, afraid to ask for more when he was finally giving you attention where you needed it most.

You heard him chuckle as he removed his hands, leaving you breathless. “How does it feel when I stop? Is your pussy aching for me yet?” he asked with a smirk. You knew better than to complain or pout so you caught his gaze in the mirror, silently pleading with him through your eyes. You looked down at your glistening cunt and he followed your line of sight. “So wet for me already,” he observed. 

He brushed a lock of hair from your eyes and returned his fingers to part your pussy lips, gathering your wetness as you arched your hips up to meet him. Afraid he’d stop, you stilled beneath him. 

“I want to be good for you, Tommy,” you moaned and he began rubbing small circles over your clit to soothe you. “So good for me,” he praised, rewarding you by sliding two fingers inside you gently as though it were the tip of his cock. You exhaled a heavy sigh as he eased in and out and you couldn’t help but arch your back to force him closer to your g-spot.

“You look so beautiful,” he said, hot breath fanning your neck as he curled his fingers inside you, expertly massaging your inner wall. You gave into the feeling, beginning to get light headed, but then he slid his digits out of you completely, leaving you clenching around nothing.

You watched him with ravenous eyes as he sucked his fingers lewdly, savoring the taste of you on his tongue. You nibbled along his jawline hungrily, teeth grazing his stubble, desperate for his attention. When he was satisfied he’d enjoyed all of you, he leaned down to your waiting mouth and you finally received a kiss along with a generous taste of yourself.

You licked your lips as Tommy repositioned you on his lap, explaining that he was going to free his aching cock, but you weren’t allowed to touch him. You salivated at the thought of him filling you, but knew you’d still have to behave if you wanted to cum. Making you face the mirror Tommy slowly lowered you down onto him, hissing with the feeling of your velvet warmth sucking him in greedily. The torture he had inflicted upon you now his own as he was seated deep inside you, unmoving. You were so wet you were practically dripping down his length as he flexed a muscle deep within his core, making his cock twitch inside you.

He slid his arms around your waist, watching your face as he slowly raised you off him and back down again. He fucked you deep and slow, filling you completely. He was so hard you felt him in your stomach and his hand suddenly came to rest over your abdomen, pushing against the bulge. “Filling me up so good, baby,” you whined.

He forgot himself for a moment, thrusting up into you with abandon as you moaned against him, hand reaching backward to grasp the back of his head. You felt a familiar, pleasant warmth pool in your belly and you forgot the rules, rubbing your clit in desperate need, the volume of your cries increasing with your pleasure.

It captured Tommy's attention and suddenly he snapped, clamping his hands around your wrists in a tight grasp and pulling them out to your sides. He knew your body all too well and had felt the fluttering of your walls, deciding you’d had enough. “Not yet,” he said with a shake of his head. Lifting you off him without warning he said, “I’m in control, remember?” 

The tears brimmed in your eyes as Tommy observed you standing on wobbly legs before him. You braced yourself on his shoulders, chest heaving as he studied your pathetic appearance.

“Do you feel empty, sweetheart?” he asked, brushing your cheek with his knuckles. 

“Tommy, please,” you begged. “I need you,” you said, resting your forehead against his. Your hand found it’s way to his cock, despite the lack of permission. Watching his eyes carefully, you gripped him tightly and he nodded his approval with a low groan. You pumped his thick shaft, heaving a breath against his neck in wanton desire. When he felt he might explode he swatted your hand away, bringing you in for a kiss and tasting the salty tears you’d cried for him.

“Gonna make you cum now. You were so patient,” he said adoringly and your heart thrilled at his words. You’d been good and Tommy would reward you now. 

He turned you to face the mirror, lowering you onto his cock as you fell forward slightly, the exquisite stretch of him making you cry out. “Look at yourself,” Tommy commanded, pushing the hair from your face and raising your chin to the mirror. “You look so fucking good on my cock” he said as his hands settled on your hips. He slumped in the chair behind you watching you push back against him, one hand splayed across your back urging you to continue. “That’s right, take what you need,” he instructed, squeezing the flesh of your ass.  “Keep fucking yourself, but don’t cum yet. I want you to beg first. Beg me to fill you up,” he commanded in a rough, lust filled voice.

Chasing your high, you were drunk on him and you would have said anything he wanted, but the idea of being filled with his hot cum was all you needed to feel complete. The idea spurred you on and you whimpered, “Fill me up, Tommy, please.” You were brought right to the edge of desire and Tommy felt you tighten around him in anticipation, his own release moments away.

“I can feel you, you can’t stop now. Cum for me, princess. Cum all over my cock like a good girl,” he urged you, pumping into you. His words triggered your release, walls tightening around  him in a vice like grip that sent electric shocks through your body and into his. He’d never had anyone as good as you. That was the last thought that crossed his mind as he glanced you in the mirror before his eyes squeezed shut, ropes of cum painting your walls white.

You slumped against him in exhaustion saying, “I can’t move, Tommy.” 

He placed a gentle kiss to the side of your head before uncoupling from you. “It’s alright, I’ve got you,” he said sweetly before carrying you to bed. It was the last thing you heard before you drifted off to sleep, Tommy pulling the duvet over you both and tucking you into his side protectively.

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

Tag list:

@peakyswritings

@evita-shelby

@shelbydelrey

@alanadetigy

@wandawiccan60   

@severewobblerlightdragon

@lovemissyhoneybee

@theshelbyslimited

@kittycatcait219

@peakyrogers

@christinasyellowflowers

@theshelbyclan

@cillmequick

@runnning-outof-time

@moral-terpitude

@mythos-writes

@look-at-the-soul

@l1-l4

@gypsy-girl-08

@little-diable

@peakyscillian

@dearshelby

[smalltowngnoll]

Request: Angel Hair Jacket Potato

Mmmm... starch.

Woe be upon you, for that is a very apt description of the final product! I don’t know who at Neopets thought of all the potatoes with unusual fillings, but I hope they are mentally in a better place now.

Weird jacket potatoes include tuna, calamari, carrot stuffed, ice cream topped, sugar sprinkled, and orange filled. Chili cheese jacket potato? Yeah, sounds good. Baked apple potato? Not so much.

This was my first request for the blog. Here you go, anon!

Recipe is so easy. Rub a potato in oil, drizzle some salt. Cut a shallow cross into one side. Bake for an hour at 400*F. For some extra crisp, force it open, put in some butter, sliced garlic, and Parmesan and bake it for 10 more minutes at 425*F

For the pasta, cook 1 box of halved cherry tomatoes in a pot with 4 cloves of garlic, salt, pepper, and a TBS of tomato paste. Once cooked, add in 1/2 a pound of angel hair and some sliced basil leaves. Top it with balsamic if you want some flavor.

Put your pasta in a potato and here is the abomination that results:

It IS starchy! Also, it’s really hard to stuff a baked potato with angel hair pasta. Something I would have never known with certainty, but probably would have assumed.

[fiberfaerie]

I am constantly daydreaming about being able to wake up and just go walk through a cute town area that has a fresh bread and coffee shop within walking distance of whatever dreamy loft I wish I lived in as my morning ritual.

Fresh warm bread and coffee.

thats ALL I WANT!!

[coffeequ33n]

“Anyway,” Shallan said. “Pattern, you’re to be our chaperone tonight.”

“What,” Pattern said with a hum, “is a chaperone?”

“That is someone who watches two young people when they are together, to make certain they don’t do anything inappropriate.”

“Inappropriate?” Pattern said. “Such as … dividing by zero?”

...

She eyed it, remembering the times as a child when she’d sneaked tastes of men’s food—though not this specific dish.

Pattern buzzed. “Is this the inappropriate thing I’m supposed to stop you from doing?”

“No,” Shallan said, and Pattern settled back down.

....

“Oh!” Pattern said suddenly, bursting up from the bowl to hover in the air. “You were talking about mating! I’m to make sure you don’t accidentally mate, as mating is forbidden by human society until you have first performed appropriate rituals! Yes, yes. Mmmm. Dictates of custom require following certain patterns before you copulate. I’ve been studying this!”

“Oh, Stormfather,” Shallan said, covering her eyes with her freehand. A few shamespren even peeked in for a glimpse before vanishing. Twice in one week.

“Very well, you two,” Pattern said. “No mating. NO MATING.”

...

He leaned down. His breath smelled of spices, his uniform of the crisp, clean starch Dalinar required. His lips touched hers, and her heart fluttered. So warm.

“No mating!”

--Sanderson, Brandon. Oathbringer: Book Three of the Stormlight Archive (p. 150-153). Tom Doherty Associates. Kindle Edition.

[mistihayesfix]

See You Through a Clearer Lens

Jihyo crooked her finger, the invisible tie at the end drawing Sana into her arms.

“Hmmm, I’m so glad those glasses don’t have lenses,” Jihyo said in a deep whisper. Her arms went up around Sana’s neck after tugging her in by the black tie over her starched white Thom Browne blouse.

“Why’s that?” Sana questioned with a sweet smile that rounded her cheeks and caused her eyes to sparkle with a smile of their own. Her hands held Jihyo tight at her baby blue pants-clad hips.

She searched the younger woman’s rich brown eyes. As Jihyo’s affection permeated her, a shiver ran the length of her spine, her eyes fluttering closed. When they opened again Jihyo’s full, pink lips were closer, a whisper of a centimeter from her own.

Her coral-colored pouty lips trembled when Jihyo’s breath landed on them. A slight tilt caused Jihyo’s bobbed raven locks to flow like water to the side. Sana’s eyes flicked up to inviting chestnut eyes one last time, seeking permission.

Jihyo barely finished nodding before one of Sana’s soft hands gripped her chin, fingers splayed over her cheek and neck to pull her in. The warm pressure she felt against her lips was inviting and dizzying.

More than a week passed since the last time their lips met in such passionate fashion. Their hectic promotion schedule kept them apart even when they were physically near each other. The women usually withheld romance publicly, seeking the privacy and comfort of their home environments for their blossoming love to grow. But for Jihyo, Sana’s glasses for the SCIENTIST stages became her Kryptonite, weakening her. And the only antidote and hope of salvation for her was Sana’s touch.

The scent of lavender and sweet taste of citrus made a disorienting perfume, whisking Jihyo away from the quiet corner of their green room to an imagined haven all their own. Her own voice echoed a muffled moan in her ears, a signal of her growing desire brought on by Sana’s firm hold on her hip and the exhilaration of her bottom lip between the older woman’s soft lips.

A contented sigh left Sana as she leaned into Jihyo, their foreheads touching, the air between them thick with want. Two more quick pecks on the apples of her girlfriend’s cheeks. Another on the mole at the tip of her nose. And one final lip-to-lip tap followed by two deep breaths.

“Definitely happy there are no lenses,” Jihyo said again as her fingers played with the soft, platinum silver hair at the nape of Sana’s neck.

“Mmmm, why’s that?” Sana asked, her thumb smoothing over Jihyo’s cheek.

“Because if you had lenses, they’d be completely foggy now,” Jihyo giggled.

“That’s because my girl is the hottest woman in the world,” Sana said, lifting her hand to remove the silver wireframes. Jihyo immediately covered it with her own, stopping her.

“No, leave them on,” she requested, cheeks flaming. “I like it this way.”

Sana gave her best Cheshire grin, causing Jihyo to flush a deeper red. “Then we should get home quickly so you can see me in my birthday suit and glasses.” She whispered the last part in her ear and Jihyo’s knees failed her.

“You’re so unfair,” Jihyo whined, holding on tightly.

“And you’re spoiled, but we still manage,” Sana grinned, touching noses one last time.

“Come on, you two,” Momo called. “I’m tired of standing guard and we’re going for dinner together.”

“See you later,” Jihyo whispered, giving Sana a full-body once over.

“Is that a threat or a promise?” Sana’s eyebrow piqued up.

“Both! Let’s go.”

[like-i-need-a-hole-in-my-head]

I am a very happy camper today. I hate waste and especially food waste. I looked around my fridge and had waaaay too much bread from a bbq last weekend. So I made croutons and bread crumbs.

Then I found the leftover brisket from Monday. Score! I shredded it and used it and the breadcrumbs to make bitterballen. I even managed to use up some egg whites and an onion that was looking sad - I needed a half so this was a good way to cut away the brown parts and use the good stuff.

The recipe:

I had to adjust because I had only 200g of beef, and I accidentally forgot to halve the milk, but it worked out ok.

I chopped the sad onion until it was mushy.

Mmmm beef. I cut away the crust from the brisket. I got Italian parsley from the pot on the roof.

Then I fried the onion in butter, and then added flour to make a sort of roux. After adding the milk, beef stock (I used a knorr gel + water) and the parsley and nutmeg, it looked like this (left) and after I added the beef it looked like this (right):

I let it cool, then used a cookie scoop to make balls. Then I put them in the refrigerator for about half an hour while I did other stuff. Then I rolled them into better balls, dipped them in egg whites, and rolled them in breadcrumbs. I added some corn starch to the breadcrumbs because it helps crisp them up.

These are now in the freezer, and we have a yummy snack for later in the week. Deep fry until golden (not long because everything is already cooked) and serve it with mustard and beer or bitters.

P.S. I forgot the carrots but I’ll try them next time.

[inevitably-johnlocked]

STEPH!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR

and also sending good vibes <3

I wish you some very good poutine if you like it to make your day better, or any cheesecake you wish to get

All the love xx

AHH Thanks Nonny!!

God I would kill for either of those things. I'm not really supposed to eat starches anymore (getting old sucks), and my health specialist doesn't want me eating high-calorie, high-lactose anything anymore (health scare in the summer I never really talked about, is the TLDR of that), but I can in moderation, so like... if someone sold like a sliver of a cake..... mmmm.

ANYWAY, Love to you too, Nonny! Happy new year!! <3

[mego42]

mostly posting this to hold myself accountable but also so y’all can validate me and rest assured I’m making SOME progress on my WIPs

from song:

Beth huffs, glaring over where Annie’s kicked back, her feet propped up on said table, wrinkling and getting god knows what all over the gingham tablecloth Beth had painstakingly starched and ironed that morning.

“You could help, you know,” Beth says, trying to keep the edge out of her voice. 

“Mmmm, pretty sure I hit my quota for helping when I lent you my kid to look after yours.” Annie says it without looking up from her phone, so she doesn’t see Beth wince, guilt leaving an acidic taste in the back of her throat.

from listening: 

All of which is definitely not helped by the site of the bounce house guy with his hand tucked into Beth’s back pocket. She’s got her phone out, taking a picture of Emma and her friend clutching matching rose bouquets—and shit, in his rush, Dean forgot to grab flowers—but she’s still leaning into him. Dean’s steps stutter as she drops her head onto his shoulder and he presses his cheek against it for a split second, so fast it’s like neither of them even realized they did it. 

It’s— It’s not— Every time Dean’s seen them before, that guy’s been looming like a storm about to come crashing down on Beth. Dean didn’t even know it was possible for him to be anything other than barely contained rage in a, a...well, an unfairly muscled package—like we get it, you go to the gym, some people have like, actual jobs they work at for a living. 

But this? This is...it’s soft. It’s intimate. Beth’s got this content little smile on her face that Dean doesn’t know if he’s ever seen and it makes him...he doesn’t know what it makes him but it’s not good.

aaaaaand a super rough bit from something else don’t ask questions nothing to see here:

“What does it for you? Is it that I went through with it? I was a...was it you said?” She drops her voice an octave to something ridiculous. “A boss bitch?”

He laughs. “Is that what you think you are now?”

“Isn’t that what you wanted me to be?” She shoots it back, not missing a beat. “But that’s not it either. That’s too easy.”

Elizabeth sits up further and now she’s the one cocking her head, studyin’ him. He settles back in the chair, curious in spite of himself.

“I thought about it a lot and I’m not stupid. I know you said whatever you needed to get me to do whatever you wanted. I know what you saw when you looked at me: sad, lonely, more than a little desperate.”

“You talkin’ ‘bout your life or your marriage, sweetheart?” Rio interrupts with a smirk.

[dangermousie]

Their chemistry is seriously on fire.

Also I love that he’s incredibly awful at verbally opening up (both because he’s a reserved person and because he still has serious issues from her leaving him before so he’s like snail hiding in his shell in terror) but you can tell he is so so utterly and completely in love.

Reserved, intense, madly in love and fucked up? SIGN ME UP!!!

I love how his partners totally know him and know that under his quiet, starched exterior is is possessive and kinda too much. Mmmm.

I mean, look what his partner texts him asap.

[sablelab]

Covert Operations - Chapter 121

SYNOPSIS: Jamie is worried about Claire and Fergus enables him to visit her without detection from Madeline and Operations’ ever watchful eye of surveillance cameras.

Chapter 120 and all other chapters can be found at … https://sablelab.tumblr.com/covertoperations

My appreciative THANKS for reading, blogging and liking my story.  I hope that you enjoy the next few chapters that are Jamie and Claire centred.

  CHAPTER 121 What Jamie had previously imagined in his mind's eye about Claire had uncannily proved to be very close to the truth. He watched the slow rise and fall of her chest as she slept; her breathing was steady but to his ears it was still a little shallow. Walking around the bed, he leisurely trailed his hand along the starched white sheet covering Claire’s body. As he gazed down at her, the temptation of being so close to his love after not seeing or touching her for several days suddenly became too much. He longed to take away the hurt and pain and unable to stop himself, Jamie tenderly slid his fingers across her temple and down the side of Claire’s features re-familiarizing himself with her contours. When he traced the welts on her bruised face, he could feel the blood throbbing just below the surface.  His fingers lingered ever so gently over the black and blue reminders of what she had suffered. Jamie felt a slight tear moisten his eyes and he drew back his hand a little.  He knew her welts would heal in time but seeing how the bruises had intensified caught him unprepared for how he would react. He never wanted to see her suffer like this ever again.

“Oh, God, mo nighean donn,” he whispered softly. “Oh, Christ, yer lovely face.”

Jamie’s mouth tightened a little as his gaze moved slowly over her injured features, taking inventory. His eyes were soft and dark but the corners were tight with pain. He ached to kiss her better … to swathe her face with healing kisses that would erase the horrendous memories of the mission. His gaze caressed Claire’s face from her eyes closed in repose to the eyelashes that fluttered like butterfly wings and then across her cheeks until his eyes rested on her parted lips. His gaze triggered his heart to skip a beat until he could feel and hear his blood begin pumping away and pulsing in his veins. Every time he looked at his Sassenach, he felt another burst of love for this woman consume him.  Desire gripped him and he capitulated. Bending his head, Jamie pressed his mouth tenderly to hers. Claire’s lips yielded a little under the pressure of his kiss, but he had to pull away before he surrendered completely … before he was totally lost to the overwhelming urge to gather his love up into his arms.  Breaking the kiss, Jamie moved his lips to her ear whispering her name like a prayer as they softly brushed the outline of her ear. 

“The sight of ye tears my heart Cl-aire …” 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Immediately she shuddered recognising an all too familiar voice crooning soothingly near her ear and stirred in her sleep at the sound of her name. She could have sworn that she could hear Jamie’s voice and feel his touch. A soft, peaceful sigh of recognition echoed on her lips.  “Mmmm … Ja-mie.”  Fingers soothed her brow and lightly caressed her face with gentle tenderness and concern. His touch comforted her but it was all too brief … then … it was gone.  She must be dreaming. Like Jamie, she would have moved heaven and earth to be near him, but she’d been unable to visit him this time because of her own injuries. Nevertheless, her images of James Fraser were as vivid as if she was there in his room right now beside him to comfort and support him. Her subconscious was willing him to be here … near to her … but she knew he was unable to leave ICU because he was badly injured as well. However, in her mind’s eye she could visualise him and a hundred times over she had done just that.  Having visited Jamie in Medical on numerous occasions when he’d been injured on previous missions, she had a kaleidoscope of images to recall.  He was dressed in the standard white undershirt that operatives wore in the infirmary. She’d stood by his bed and watched as Jamie had slept never knowing if he knew she was there or not. Somehow, she believed that he did know. Nevertheless, it was comforting for her to see him with her own eyes. Jamie always seemed so different in repose. The cold Section operative had gone and in his place she saw a vulnerable man, the man she loved ... the one who smiled in his sleep and her valiant knight in shining armour who had gone to great lengths to find and rescue her. Claire’s eyes fluttered as her mind remembered all that Jamie had done and all that he had endured in his effort to retrieve her.  They had been to hell and back. Knowing what Jamie had risked and the consequences of his actions to save her was something she could never forget. They had a bond that was indomitable … a unique understanding that had grown from a mentor and material to so much more. It was a bond that Madeline and Operations could not understand. It worried them to the point where they placed obstacles in their way to try and fracture their relationship. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger was the adage and they lived that mantra every time they were on a dangerous mission and lived to return to Section One. Resilience also made you stronger … but she knew it was Jamie’s love that now really made the difference. The bonds that tie could not be broken. She wondered if Madeline and Operations would ever come to realise this.  She never thought she would say it ... but to say that she was relieved that they were back in Section was an understatement. She was just happy that they were alive and got the chance to live another day ... even if it was here in Section One. Murtagh and Fergus had told her how Jamie’s recovery was coming, but hearing wasn’t seeing. Hearing merely visualised her fears and concerns about his welfare … seeing was the tangible component. It was what she needed to reassure herself that their words were true and not just pandering to her to waylay her anxiety. Murtagh had said that the bullet went right through Jamie’s chest and had caused some major damage. Tears welled in her eyes knowing that he must be in pain, although with James Fraser you just never knew. His threshold was phenomenal and he would never let it be known how much he was hurting.  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Jamie saw a tiny tear trickle from Claire’s eye and slowly make its journey down her cheek. With the pad of his thumb, he brushed the tear away then placed a flutter of kisses to the path the tear had travelled.  What was she dreaming about? Whatever it was it was obviously causing her distress.  Tentatively he sat on her bed; he reached out his hand and held hers. Lost in his thoughts he unconsciously stroked the delicate skin of Claire’s hand with his fingers and waited for her to wake up.  However, he suddenly had a sick feeling in his stomach. He was filled with a horrifying feeling of helplessness, for her and also for himself as well ... both of them had endured horrendous torture at the hands of the triad.

How long would the scars remain? Not the outward scars but those inside. He would recover but he wasn’t so sure about his brave and courageous Claire. His beautiful Sassenach had endured more than any operative should. This time had been far, far worse that when Red Cell had tortured her. Only time would tell if he could help her forget.  Claire’s condition seemed to have stabilized, but that was of little comfort in the face of what she had endured at the hands of Jonathon Randall. She would need time to recover. He knew her personality inside and out. His Claire was different to other Section operatives … she had a kind heart and the one thing that Madeline and Operations wanted to drum out of her … compassion. This mission would have affected her to the core. He was sure that whatever was going on inside her head was going to affect her recovery unless he could do something about it. She needed to be away from this place and the horrible memories of their time at the Rising Dragons’ base. His Claire needed to be surrounded with love.  She needed his love. How long would it be until they were in a position to capture the perpetrators and bring them to Section justice? They’d been in Medical for several days now. He knew that Madeline and Operations would be expecting a speedy recovery so that they could go back out into the field. The Rising Dragons’ triad members had escaped. In Operations’ eyes this meant that the mission was a failure and hence they were a failure too. Containment of the enemy was the ultimate goal and this was not achieved. Section was back at square one. A new mission scenario would have to be profiled when they were able to establish where Sun Yee Lok and the other triad members were. This could take time, but it was the one saving grace that he needed to see that both he and Claire recovered fully. It was the only way for them to see the Rising Dragons’ end game to its conclusion. Madeline and Operations knew this, however much they were in denial. He had an urgency to make sure that what Dr Foster had proposed to Madeline happened for the both of them.  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ “Mmmm.”  The sound of Claire rousing brought him back to the present. When he heard her take a deep breath, Jamie opened his eyes and stood up next to the side of her bed. Without releasing her hand, he reached out his other to caress her forehead, his face close to hers. So close he could smell the scent of her warm skin. Claire felt the gentle hand stroke her temple. She roused a little more.  “Mmmm.”  Her quivering moan caused the blood to rush to Jamie’s face. His eyes travelled tenderly all over her features.  "Ssshhh ... Sassenach ... It’s me.”  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Claire heard her name once more. No… It couldn’t be true … Jamie wasn’t here. Was he?  She fluttered her eyes open without really focusing, sighed then closed them again. It was just wishful thinking.  “Cl-aire.” This time, at the sound of Jamie’s voice washing over her, she blinked her eyes trying to focus on the lulling timbre of his voice. Although not fully awake she opened her eyes and looked around her to see his concerned face close to hers. She wasn’t dreaming after all … her Jamie really was here. He wasn’t an apparition; he was standing by her bed. Claire moved her head so that she could look up at him. When he smiled at her, a radiant smile bowed her mouth in return and his name echoed on her lips.  “Jamie.”  They searched each other’s faces for a long moment; the intensity of his gaze equally shocked and thrilled her. Claire couldn’t believe he was really here … that she could see him … touch him. Her hands started to shake with this need. She felt her face grow hot as he caught her stare. Jamie too felt the draw she had on him. He needed to gather her in his arms once more, to feel her closeness and reassure his love that they were going to be okay. Tenderly his eyes travelled all over her face. He longed to press gentle kisses to her temple and hold her lovingly until the nightmare of the mission dissipated. He ached to caress Claire back to good health with healing kisses. Jamie wanted to do all of that and more … much, much more.  Suddenly she was nervous, but it was a nervousness borne from relief and desire. Jamie was okay. He was going to heal. He was alive. Her skin prickled cold then hot as she felt a shiver course through her body from head to toe at his nearness. He was the stimuli that she responded to. Just the sight of him made her toes curl. James Fraser did this to her every time … it was an involuntary reaction … one she could not control. Claire stared at him as his voice invaded her senses doing funny flip flops in her heart. But it was his smile that sent her emotions soaring.  “Hi.”  Oh my … I must look terrible, she thought subconsciously running a hand through her hair in an attempt to make herself more presentable. Wriggling in the bed, Claire tried to raise herself up but felt Jamie’s resistance to her movement as he held hand captured to his. To him she was beautiful in every way. His eyes lingered on Claire’s parted lips when her head fell back into the pillow. She was unable to break her gaze from his as Jamie leaned closer. The alluring scent of her skin filled his senses until desire grabbed him, and he surrendered to its pull. Bending his head, Jamie placed his mouth to hers. The kiss was gentle in its intensity … yet everything was in that kiss. Claire could barely breathe. His touch thrilled her to the bone. Her lips moved a little under the pressure of the kiss until breathlessly, they parted for him. Ever so gently, he slipped his tongue into the warm recess of her mouth. She sighed when Jamie deepened his caress, but he was careful not to apply too much pressure to her swollen, cut lip. His tongue retreated then teased the fullness of her lips once more before reluctantly releasing her from the kiss. He knew he had to pull away before he yielded more to the embrace and couldn’t stop the irresistible urge to gather her in his arms. 

He continued to place tender kisses across Claire’s face to all of the blemishes on her porcelain skin one by one. Moving his lips up and down and across her face his caring kisses seemed to draw out the pain from each discoloration to her skin with his lips. James Fraser instinctively knew that this was the beginning of his Sassenach’s healing and if they could get out of this place soon, he would take her somewhere special as far away from Section as possible so that together they could heal properly.

Claire’s emotions were running wild. Each poignant caress seemed to penetrate deep inside that place where she was hurting. She closed her eyes momentarily feeling that Jamie’s words had somehow lifted some of the pain she had suffered. It had been too long since her face and lips had felt the pressure of her lover’s kisses. Her eyes widened as she recalled the things that he’d said to her on the mission. These kisses were a reconfirmation that the personal things they’d shared … the feelings he’d revealed … were true. Suddenly all the raw emotions in her heart burst free.  “I love you.”  She peered into Jamie’s eyes with the pure honesty of her words. Her statement was his undoing.  The last time he’d heard those words from her lips was when they were preparing to die at the monastery. Jamie remembered the passion of Claire’s gaze then. This time it had multiplied. It continued to surprise him that this beautiful woman could love him … the man who had constantly manipulated, the one who had hurt her so many times in the past. He would never tire of hearing her say those three profound words. He loved Claire beyond all reasoning, beyond all common sense. His desire for her was greater than he’d ever had for any other woman in his life. Claire was the other half of his soul. She was the very air he breathed. Without her he was a shell of a man but together they soared. Claire Beauchamp was his everything. Reaching for her, his arms pulled her into his embrace. Then, inclining his face into the side of her neck, Jamie fought to keep his own resolve but to no avail. His voice was thick with emotion as he spoke into Claire’s ear.  “I love you too mo nighean donn.”

He meant every word.  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Claire closed her eyes, as did Jamie, and they were reluctant to pull apart. Just knowing that both of them had survived the atrocities at the monastery despite all the odds was miraculous. Jamie was grateful that Dr Foster was the physician that he was. He and the team of surgeons in Med Lab were responsible for putting them back together physically and now he had all the intentions of putting his Claire back mentally and emotionally once they were out of here in a day or so. Then their real healing could begin. Finally Jamie stepped back a little, but he kept his face close to his love as he explored her features. She felt his eyes take inventory of each bruise, each mark that Jonathon Randall had bestowed and that he had lovingly kissed. She knew Jamie was livid for she saw his eyes turn cold for a split second as he saw the evidence of her welts. Claire knew that look … he could neither forgive nor forget. He was filled with such rage that god help Jonathon Randall when they next met for nothing would save him from Jamie’s wrath. However, no sooner had she seen these thoughts cross his face than they were gone.

Their foreheads touched and Jamie’s finger lightly glided over the puckered edges of her split, bottom lip. Her lip tingled at the feel of the sensitive pads of his fingertips and Claire held onto the moment any way she could. But all of a sudden it dawned on her that the surveillance cameras would have caught every moment of their reunion. Worryingly she tore her gaze away from Jamie with a herculean effort, and tried to suck some air into her empty lungs. Her eyes darted upward to the closest surveillance camera. If Section had suspected something before … then Operations and Madeleine would know everything now. It was almost too much for her, she began to panic.  “Jamie the cameras …” He pulled back, then smiled enigmatically, “They’re disabled Sassenach. Fergus has them on a feed.” “Oh … And they don't know?”  “No. It’s all right.” Her breathing slowly returned to some normalcy at his explanation, but it was still difficult because Jamie was so close. 

Raising her hand reassuringly, his lips kissed her knuckles with reverence. “Christ, ye were a brave wee thing.”

“Was I?” she responded not quite believing his compliment of her bravery under duress.

Bending toward her, Jamie took her words from her mouth and kissed her yet again brushing his lips upon hers as soft as a feather. “Aye, ye were Sassenach. How are ye feeling now?”  Claire took a deep breath. “Okay, I guess.”  “Good.”  He brushed the hair off her face, his eyes caring and caressing. “Ye've been through a tough time. We both have. It will take time to heal.” “I’m so glad you came … I’ve been so worried.”  Reaching up Claire timidly touched her mouth which Jamie had caressed. That kiss had instantly made her feel a 100% better. His kisses were the healing balm she needed, but that was out of the question unless they were able to leave Section One.  Maybe this time would be different. “I’m fine …” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* “So what's going to happen now?” “We'll have to wait until Madeline and Operations debrief us further.” “When?” “Who knows?” They exchanged searching looks, then Jamie gazed back at her and whispered back, “Soon my love. Be patient.” Claire looked up at him then away. She swallowed and looked ahead.

She couldn’t bear the prospect of staying in the infirmary one day longer than necessary. She hated being in here. The sooner she was released the better it would be or she’d go stir crazy. Physically she felt fine … she just needed to get out of here and somewhere … anywhere on the outside with Jamie that would not remind her of the mission … the Rising Dragons or Section One. But their fate was in Madeline and Operations’ hands.

Would Section’s leaders allow them to recuperate together and without surveillance 24/7? Would they demand a debriefing of the mission or a psyche analysis first or would they be compassionate and give them downtime? By god they needed it.  “I’ll try ... but it might be difficult.” Her reply amused Jamie as he fully understood where Claire was coming from. He too hated being in Med Lab any longer than necessary. Suddenly he could see his love’s eyes darken as her gaze roamed his face then locked on his eyes. There was something compelling in them that made him take note, but he was not prepared for the quietly whispered command she would say next. ~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* to be continued TUESDAY 19th May

[thatsaweirdwaytospellundead]

Grand Opening! Guy’s Food Stall /1

Summary: There is going to be a Vietnamese Lantern Festival nearby and Guy has recently gotten into Vietnamese cuisine. He makes a pretty good beef Pho, but Citron feels like Guy could elevate his cooking and open his own food stall...

Izumi  

(Wow, it’s lunch time already? I’m starving..... Guess I’ll take my break now, I wonder what I should eat...)

Sakuya  

Is there anything I can help you with, Guy?

Guy  

Yes. Could you please set the table?

Azuma  

Hey director, good work today.

Sakuya  

Guy is making lunch today!

Izumi  

Oh, I see. What are you making?

Guy  

Pho. Would you like to try?

Izumi  

Oh, are you sure? Alright, thank you!

Sakuya  

Guy made some reaaaallly good Pho!

Azuma  

He’s been making it quite a lot lately. The Prince seems to have grown quite fond of it after trying it with some of the ladies in the shopping district.

Guy  

Yes. Citronia is the one who requested this today too.

Citron  

Mmmm~ Something smells good~! My tummy is bumbling!

Guy  

Here is the Pho you requested.

Citron  

Thank youuuu! I also brought back a cool souvenir for you!

Guy  

Souvenir?

Citron  

But first lemme have some Pho! A warrior cannot starch on an entree strung ache!

Sakuya  

Starch on an entree strung ache?

Izumi  

I think what he means is ‘a warrior cannot march on an empty stomach’, right?

Citron  

That’s right!

Guy  

So then, please eat before it gets cold.

Citron  

Thank youuuu~!

Sakuya  

Thank you so much for the food!

Izumi  

The Pho Guy made was super delicious!

Azuma  

Yea, no surprise there.

Citron  

Wow, of course I would have never guessed it...

Guy  

What is this now?

Citron  

The souvenir I got you, here!

Guy  

A flyer for an event?

Sakuya  

Lantern Fes.... ? Oh it looks like an event taking place at the town nearby!

Azuma  

Yes, it is an event based on the Vietnamese Lantern Festival.

They decorate the town with lanterns for the event and people wear Ao Dai, traditional Vietnamese clothing. It’s a pretty good chance for instablam pics, it seems like it’s gonna be a trending event.

Izumi  

Azuma knows quite a bit. Have you gone before?

Azuma  

No, I haven’t gone myself, however I heard about it from an acquaintance.

Guy  

So why the Lantern Festival?

Citron  

Because I applied in your name at one of the food stalls!

Sakuya  

HUH!?

Citron  

It’s cuz I heard this event is also to celebrate Vietnamese cuisine. Guy makes really delicious Vietnamese food so I thought it would really suit him!

Guy  

But the food I make at the restaurant is all Zahran.

I am afraid that the Vietnamese food I cook is not high enough quality to actually serve it at a food stall.

Izumi  

I agree with Citron, your food is delicious. I think a food stall would be great for you, Guy!

Sakuya  

I would be happy to help if you’d like!

Azuma  

I can lend a hand too. I am quite interested in this event myself and I would love to help share Guy’s wonderful cooking with other people.

Citron  

Ohh, sowwy. I’m actually going to be performing a dance at the festival so I won’t be able to help. But I will definitely come visit you guys!

Guy  

-- I see. Well if you already put in the application I guess there isn’t much else I can do. If everyone is going to help, I will do my best.

Yukishiro, Sakuya, I am grateful for your assistance.

Sakuya  

Soo, let’s start thinking about the menu!

Izumi  

How about Pho? What you made today was supppper delicious! It really tasted like authentic Vietnamese food.

Azuma  

True. I think we can serve this beef Pho just as it is.

Citron  

I agree, but we should also have some sweet shrimp Pho too!

Sakuya  

Sweet shrimp?

Azuma  

I have heard of Pho using things like shrimp and manila clams,

Izumi  

Wow, so I guess sweet shrimp would definitely be something that would go good in Pho.

Guy  

I do not fully understand what you mean, however it is worth a shot. I was thinking of beef or chicken, but I will try to use other ingredients as well....

If I am going to have a food stall I was thinking I should make other things besides Pho.

Sakuya  

That’s true. I will do some research and find other things that would be good.

Azuma  

I will too. Let’s tell Guy what we find.

Guy  

Thank you so much, you two. It really helps.

 To be continued.... Read part 2 here!

[aph-australia]

20 Questions

thanks for tagging me @rose-colored-candies !!

1. Zodiac sign- virgo

2. Chinese Zodiac- Tiger

3. Coffee, tea, or soda- definitely tea

4. Fave ice cream flavor- mmmm peach!!

5. Fave holiday- i don’t really celebrate any tbh, i like the day after halloween candy sales tho

6. Fave animal- probably red panda or owls?

7. Fave show- very hard choice... i love it’s always sunny in Philadelphia... just finished Black Spot on Netflix which was amazing... probably the newest Blue Planet tho, that’s timeless

8. Fave sport- lmao, “fave sport”... i used to ride motorcycles and horses, a long time ago, i do miss it a lot 

9. Fave time i love the morning but let’s face it i’m only active at night, like a vampire

10. Nostalgia cue- uhhhh... i didn’t really have the happiest childhood... maybe fireflies at dusk on a humid summer night? i liked catching/immediately releasing them 

11. Best smell- fresh pumpkin or apple pie

12. Fave carb or starch- RICE, i eat it plain all the time

13. Artist you’re currently listening to- i have my spotify on shuffle, right now it’s Joywave but i’m kinda over them. my fave artist rn is probably the oral cigarettes, a japanese band that goes hard

14. Fave fandom- hetalia, it’s p much just history, so flexible, you can do anything w it. 

15. Hobbies- travel is 99% of my personality, when i have actual free time I’m either dicking around on tumblr or on photoshop making transparents for my side blog transparentalia. meanwhile i’ll keep telling myself to practice my spanish

16. Fave movie- it’s a tie between Interstellar, Some Like it Hot, and Man from UNCLE

17. Fave weather- powerful thunderstorms with ear splitting thunder!!

18. Fave subject- i actually did pretty well in school, I’ve always loved history bc people have always been dicks just pretending to know what they’re doing.

19. Pets- back in the States I’ve got 2 cats, a longhaired chihuahua, a 90 gallon fish tank and a 55 gallon fish tank. here in australia I’ve got a lutino cockatiel named Banjo

20. Fun fact- i need a job someone hire me pls

tagging: @aph-danemark @larckla-blog @hopeless-chicana @blaklokke

[missguomeiyun]

dinner @ HanJan

Annyeong~~~~~

You know when something goes wrong.. . & then the things that follow don’t go according to plan either? lol That’s how Clara, Derek & I ended up at HanJan for dinner a few days ago.. . (Reason will be shared at the end of this post!)

Got a table in one of their “booths”, which was right in the corner of the restaurant.

Their menu. I’m sure they’ve had some revisions since the last time I was here, which was last. .. October. So let’s take a look at their current menu!

Page 1.

Page 2-3.

Page 4-5.

Page 6-7.

Page 8-9.

Page 10-11.

Page 12.

Complimentary banchan’s: kimchi, bean sprout, radish, potato salad.

Tbh, I only enjoyed the radish, & the potato salad was ok. I actually didn’t like the kimchi nor the bean sprouts =/ they were both not very... flavoured.

Fried dumplings as appetizer. Pretty good but also pretty forgettable. The sauce was a spicy mayo-like sauce.

Corn cheese. One of their signature items that I’ve never had before. Very well done! I love crusty melted cheese if that makes any sense lol therefore I almost wished it was served on a flatter plate. I went for the top layer :P

Padak chicken, aka soy sauce-based fried chicken. mmmm there’s really not much to ‘complain’ about fried chicken, but I’ve had better KFC.

Jjim-dak, aka Korean style braised chicken (soy sauce based) with clear noodles, mushrooms, & potato. Clara ordered this dish bcos she likes it. I’ve never ordered this at any Korean restaurant myself but I’ve eaten it at a place in Seoul. However, this was in “pot” form vs a plated version that I had in Seoul. Anyway, I was ok about this; I enjoyed the potato starch noodles & potato bcos they soaked up the flavours.

Jaeyuk bokkeum udon: spicy pork belly udon. Excellent choice for spicy lovers!

Altogether, I wasn’t particularly thrilled about all the dishes on the whole; I’ve had better Korean food elsewhere. However, the vibe is awesome so. .. you gotta sacrifice something for something else, right?

[gray-mark]

Me pouring the chemical yellow powder into a pot of boiled starch: mmmm sustenance

[ladynonsense]

Iowa Bound (RCD, Matt x MC)

Surprise @starlightandwanderlust - I’m your Choices Secret Santa! Hope you enjoy this, my first attempt at a RCD fic with your boy Matt. I really hope you like this silly fluff-filled thing!

Summary: Celebrating their engagement, Jessica (MC) and Matt Rodriguez head out on a cross-country road trip to spend Christmas with her family in Iowa.

Rating: PG

Words: 2800

@choicesecretsanta

Los Angeles, California

Jessica surveyed the collection of vehicles before her, frowning. Matt came up behind her quietly, wrapping an arm around her waist as he kissed her temple.

“So what should we take? The Lambo?”

She cringed. “Absolutely not. We’ll look like assholes rolling up in that thing.”

“Aw, come on. Everyone will love it.”

“No, I’m serious. You can’t drive around Cedar Rapids in that thing. And it doesn’t look particularly comfortable for a cross-country drive, either.”

“You’re no fun,” he teased, pulling her back against his chest and wrapping his arms around her. “How about this one, then?” He gestured towards a beautiful but tasteful black sedan. “Your dad must love BMWs, right?”

“Hmmm,” she considered, relaxing into him. “Honestly, he’s more of a pickup guy. But yeah, that will do just fine.”

“Perfect.”

Within the hour they were packed and ready to go, buzzing with excitement.

Monterey Park, California

“This traffic is unbelievable. I literally cannot believe that we are moving this slowly.” Jessica fiddled with the sparkling ring on her finger, looking up at the roof of the car and the way the light from it danced around above her head.

“Figuratively,” Matt corrected absent-mindedly, his attention still on the stop-and-go traffic ahead of him.

“Don’t be pedantic,” she sighed, staring out the window with a sigh. “Why didn’t we just fly, again?”

Matt frowned. “Because I’m tired of collecting cars like an asshole and never driving them. This trip is about freedom! The open road!”

Jess looked pointedly at the not-so-open freeway crowded with angry motorists, but bit her tongue. This was their first trip together that wasn’t just for a shoot, and she wanted it to be perfect. But she knew that ultimately the only important thing was that they loved being together. She pressed her eyes closed, focusing on what she was grateful for, the way her therapist kept nagging her to do.

Number one, you’re here with Matt freaking Rodriguez. In his car. With his RING on your FINGER. You’re going to see your family in just 3 days. You are a respected actress...more or less. Life is good. This is fine.

She looked over at Matt, gazing at his perfect movie star face in awe. Traffic came to a full stop once more and he met her eyes, his scowl immediately turning to a grin when he saw her looking at him so lovingly. “Hey,” he said warmly, “I love you.”

Chuckling, she reached over and squeezed his thigh. “I love you too, hot stuff. But I’m going to have a nap.”

He took her hand and ran his fingers over her knuckles once before releasing it in favor of the gear shift. “You OK?” he asked, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye as he inched forward in traffic.

“Mmmm,” she answered, not opening her eyes. “Just a bit run down lately.”

“Well then I’m glad I’m taking you on vacation. Rest up, Jess.”

She was already asleep.

Laughlin, Nevada

“Pull over NOW, Matt! I’m not jo--” She cut herself off suddenly, pressing her lips together with a pained expression.

“Jess? What are you...” She grabbed the Venti latte from the cupholder and tossed it out the window, then retched violently into the emptied cup, filling it with vomit. “Oh my god! Jess, I can’t pull over here!”

She didn’t dare look up from the cup, sitting there with tears streaming down her face and twenty ounces of warm vomit in her hands. “Uunngghghh...”

“Five more minutes, OK? We’re almost at a rest stop.”

When they finally stopped, Jess bought herself a Gatorade and sat down at the rundown picnic table outside the rest stop as Matt gently cleaned the stream of discarded latte off the side of the car. When he was satisfied with his cleaning job, he came and sat down next to her, feeling her forehead.

“You look pale,” he said, frowning. “Should we turn back?”

“No, no, please, I’m fine. I want to go.” She leaned against him, closing her eyes. “I just get a bit carsick sometimes.”

Matt stroked her back gently. “Anything I can do to help?”

“I think I need to eat something...but everything sounds disgusting right now.”

“Well we could drive into town and try to find a nice salad...or turkey sandwich...” she grimaced dramatically at each suggestion. “...or we could go into the gas station and grab a bag of chips?”

Jess perked up. “Yes. Salt and vinegar. And I’ll drive...I get less nauseated when I’m the one driving.”

“Deal.” Matt grabbed the bag of chips and various other snacks while she settled into the driver’s seat, feeling much better.

St. George, Utah

Jess pulled into the motel Matt had directed her to: the best accommodations available in St. George, apparently. It was a modest little motor inn but looked respectable enough. 

“I’m starving,” Matt groaned. “Want me to go pick up some dinner?”

“Please,” she nodded. “Can you get some fries?”

“Of course. Anything else?”

“Uh...no, all I want is fries. And some soda.”

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Your trainer is going to have my head for feeding you nothing but starch and salt.”

Jess rolled her eyes. “I’ll do a cleanse when we’re back home. Whatever. Fries!” He helped her unload the luggage and then headed out in search of food while she settled in.

On closer inspection, the room was a little gross. The bedsheets were stained and there was a disturbing amount of hair clinging to the walls of the shower. Jess gave the tub and surround a quick scrub with a spare washcloth before treating herself to a long, hot shower.

She was just rinsing the conditioner from her hair, eyes closed as she worked the tangles out, when she felt an odd little tickle on her forearm. Her eyes shot open and she screamed at the top of her lungs.

Matt came barreling into the bathroom, tearing back the shower curtain. “Jess! What’s wrong?”

The massive wasp flew back to the bathroom window that didn’t quite shut all the way, trying to find its way back outside. Jess laughed, trying to come down from the sudden adrenaline rush. “I hate bugs,” she whined.

“I definitely thought there was a full Norman Bates situation in here, babe.” Matt wrapped her in a towel and then in his arms. “You scared the crap out of me.”

“Sorry! That thing scared the crap out of me!” She quickly left the bathroom, holding the door open just a crack so she could watch as Matt opened the window all the way and shooed the intruder out.

“All safe now. Come on, let’s eat.”

Grand Junction, Colorado

After an early start and six hours of non-stop driving, Jess felt unsteady on her feet as she got out to stretch her legs. “Are we there yet?” she whined, leaning on Matt for support.

He kissed her forehead gently, wrapping an arm around her. “Not even close. But if you can hang in there until Nebraska, we can make it to your parents’ place by dinner time tomorrow.”

She nodded resolutely. “Yes. I can do this. But I will require a bag of Twizzlers, a bottle of ginger ale, and a bag of seedless green grapes.”

“That’s...specific. But I think we can make it happen.”

Ogallala, Nebraska

“This is...smaller than I anticipated.” Matt drove through the mostly-dark streets of the town, hoping to find something, anything open.

“There we go!” Jess chirped, pointing to glowing golden arches in the distance. Matt sighed.

“I was hoping for something other than fries.”

“So get a gross chicken wrap or something. Come on, there’s nothing else to eat this late.”

They hit the drive-through before heading to their motel for the room. The modest room at least appeared to be clean and bug-free, much to Jess’s relief. She piled all the pillows into a nest against the headboard and reclined there while munching her fries. Matt flipped through tv channels, looking for something interesting.

“Hey, go back! That was you!” Matt flipped back a few channels and landed on his own face, frowning beneath a cowboy hat. “Oh my god, Tender Nothings! Let’s watch it.”

Matt groaned. “No way. That’s so cheesy. We are not going to stay up late watching our own movie.”

She reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him back to rest against the pillow nest with her. “I love it, though.” She stroked his cheek softly, his eyes fluttering shut at the sensation. “It reminds me of those months I spent falling in love with you.”

He leaned over her, kissing her softly, gently. “Mmmm,” he moaned softly. “You taste like french fries.”

She slapped his chest, laughing. “Everyone loves french fries.”

He pointed the remote control behind him, turning off the TV. “I’m not complaining.”

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

"We made it,” Jess sighed as she drove into the city limits. “Our long ordeal is finally over.”

Matt rolled his eyes and patted her jean-clad thigh. “Such an ordeal, being stuck with me for three days.”

“The worst.” she agreed, nodding. “So, ready to meet the parents?”

“Of course,” he answered with a smile. “I was born ready.”

They stood on the snowy doorstep, waiting patiently for someone to answer the doorbell. Jess’ border collie, Juniper, barked frantically on the other side of the door.

Finally the door opened, and Juniper bounded out, doing her best to tackle Matt right to the ground. “Whoa, girl!” he laughed, petting her head and neck vigorously. “Pleased to meet you too, pup!”

Jess’s mother let out a shrill shriek as she took in the sight of the two of them. Her father came running out from the kitchen to investigate the commotion, and broke out in a wide grin when he saw the visitors.

“Jessica!” he beamed, motioning for them to come in. “You made it for dinner after all!”

“Of course, Daddy!” She wrapped her arms around him and he squeezed her into a tight bearhug that lifted her feet off the ground. 

Her mother was still standing by the door, dumbfounded. “Mom...are you OK?” She left her father’s embrace to come over and nudge her mom in the ribs with her elbow. “You’re acting like you’ve never met the hottest movie star in the world before,” she teased.

She finally seemed to snap out of her trance, blushing. “He is a looker, isn’t he?” She reached out to shake Matt’s hand. “I’m Janice, and this is Kurt, and we’re just so happy to....oh!” Matt ignored her outstretched hand, pulling her into a hug instead.

“It’s great to meet you,” he beamed. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

Janice grinned and moved to hug Jess, but stopped short, noticing something. Instead she lifted Jess’s hand up to her face, her mouth hanging open in shock. The diamond on her finger reflected the multitude of coloured lights from the Christmas tree. “Jessica...is this...”

“Surprise!” she announced, smiling so wide her cheeks hurt. “We’re getting married!”

“Jessica!” Kurt gasped, as both parents wrapped their arms around her in a crushing hug. Janice broke away to wave Matt over into their group hug, the four of them coming together in a tangle of arms. When they broke apart, no one’s eyes were entirely dry. Janice was sobbing.

“Mom...are you OK?” She nodded in response, unable to speak through the tears. She was grinning from ear to ear.

Once the news had settled in and everyone had calmed down, they migrated to the kitchen, where the turkey dinner was just about ready to serve. Jess’s father muttered a series of obscenities as he searched through a cupboard.

“What’s missing?” Jess asked, innocently plucking a chunk of crispy skin off of the resting turkey and popping it in her mouth.

“Cranberries,” he growled. “We can’t have turkey dinner without cranberry sauce!”

“No problem,” Matt interjected. “I saw a convenience store still open on the way in. I can go see if they have some.”

“Actually,” Jessica offered, “I think I’ll go. I have a few other things I wanted to pick up. You stay here and bond with the fam.”

Matt squeezed her hand affectionately. “Sure, if that’s what you want.”

She gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek, squeezing back. “Yup. I’ll be back before you know it.”

The four of them talked and laughed through dinner, grilling Matt about his career, fawning over Jessica’s career, and gushing over the delicious food.

“We’ll do presents in the morning,” Janice suggested. “We’ll be up all night if we start in on it now.”

Matt looked to the massive heap of gifts under the tree, spilling out over much of the living room floor and piled high against the wall. “Wow, you guys really go all out.”

“My parents have a gift-giving problem. They start buying things for each other and they can’t stop.”

“Guilty as charged,” Kurt confirmed. “We always say we’re going to scale back, but...” he gestured at the mountain of gifts with a shrug, “this always happens.”

They spent the remainder of the evening playing cards, Jess trying to teach Matt the finer points of hand and foot canasta while Janice and Kurt bickered with each other about their team strategy.

“I don’t even know why I play with you people,” Janice raged as Jess announced that her and Matt had won by a narrow margin. “You’re all a bunch of liars and cheats.”

“Janice,” Kurt scolded. “We lost fair and square.”

“I know,” she whined, “but it’s Christmas! They could’ve let me win.”

Jess laughed at Matt’s look of stunned horror. “Mom is a little intense. But she’ll get over it...just in time for us to beat her again next time.”

They all turned in early. Jess left Matt in the guest room, kissing him good night before heading to her own childhood bedroom. 

“We seriously can’t share a room?”

“Seriously,” she laughed. “Give them some time to get used to the idea of us first, OK?”

He pulled her back into the room for one last long, lingering kiss before releasing her. “Of course. I’ll behave.”

“You’d better,” she winked.

Jess woke up sick again, feeling worn out and exhausted. Her mother met her as she came out of the bathroom, pale and listless. “Oh no, sweetie, are you sick?”

She just nodded, locking herself back into her bedroom. She grabbed the giftwrap supplies that were piled up in the corner of the room and reached into her pajama pants pocket for the small plastic stick that laid there.

After grabbing a quick snack and trying to pull herself together until she looked at least somewhat presentable, she knocked on the guest room door. Matt opened the door a minute later, dressed only in a loose pair of shorts, his hair still a wild mess from sleep. He smiled at the sight of her. “Good morning, gorgeous.”

“Good morning to you, hot stuff.” She pushed her way into the room, closing the door behind her. “I have something for you. Before we get stuck watching my parents open gifts from each other for the next four hours.”

His eyes went wide. “Is it seriously going to take that long?”

“It would not be unprecedented.” She thrust the small, roughly wrapped package towards him. He accepted it with a kiss.

“I left your presents down under the tree.”

“That’s fine, just open this one already.”

He tore open the paper, staring dumbfounded at the item inside for a moment, seemingly unable to tear his eyes away from it.

“Well?” She bit her lip nervously, waiting for his reaction.

When his eyes met hers, his smile was the broadest she had ever seen. “You peed on this,” he said accusingly. “Gross!”

She slapped his shoulder playfully. “Are you kidding me!? That’s your reaction!?”

He dropped the pregnancy test, laughing as he pulled her into his arms. “Is this for real, babe? Are you OK? I know we weren’t trying...”

She let out something between a laugh and a sob as she buried her face in his chest. “I’m way beyond OK. Are you?”

“I’m so OK. The okayest. I’m fucking thrilled, Jessica.” They held each other for a long time, both quietly crying and occasionally crying.

Finally Jessica pulled away, looking him in his tear-filled, red eyes. She chuckled softly. “I’m hormonal, what’s your excuse?”

“Just a big softie, I guess. Should we go share the good news?”

She crossed the room to lock the guest room door, before coming back into his arms. “I think we deserve a little alone time first, don’t you?”

“Absolutely,” he whispered.