#my afternoon was good but honestly the sooner i can get this day over with the better

[justmossyaps]

drinking orange juice to stave off the horrors hell yeah

[gortash-did-nothing-wrong]

Enver Gortash Musings 13

Content Warning: illness, mentions of breastfeeding, feeling like a bad mother, and acknowledgment of a few of the horrible things Enver has done like murder.

About five years into your marriage, you give birth to your second child. A beautiful baby boy that you name Jahson because Enver swears up and down he can't think of a name. Despite your probing about male names in his family, he waves all of those questions off. So you list male names until you get to Jahson, which Enver declares is a strong name. So, tired from the birth and utterly done with the conversation, you declare his name to be Jahson.

You're on bedrest for a few weeks, healing from the birth, and you spend that time tending to your newborn son and four year old daughter, Ember. Ember decides that Jahson is ugly, despite Enver repeatedly explaining to her that all babies are pink and wrinkly right after birth.

Despite thinking he's ugly, she's constantly asking you to let her hold Jahson. You can't get over how much love you feel watching one of your babies hold the other, especially when Enver starts talking to Jahson about her day.

It's when Jason is about one month old that you come down with a fever. A rough fever that strikes quickly and leaves you unable to get out of bed despite your best efforts.

Two days in, Enver catches you out of bed and trying to walk to the nursery. "Absolutely not." He says firmly.

He guided you back to bed despite your protests, and ordered the maids to bring you some tea and water. He tucks you in among your pillows and blankets, scolding you. "Honestly, darling, the doctor was quite clear. No walking around. You were so close to the stairs, what if you fainted?"

You began crying in earnest, and Enver stood there, awkwardly looking down at you. "... Darling? Is it the fever?"

"I'm not a good mother." You sob.

Enver sits on the edge of your bed, "You must be under the effect of some illusion spell, my darling. You are a wonderful mother, the children are lucky to have you."

"Good mother's don't sit in bed while their children miss them." You sniffled.

Enver grabs a handkerchief, dabbing your tears away. "That's quite enough of those silly tears, my love. You're ill, you need to stay in bed until you get better. The sooner you get well again, the sooner you can run after Ember and feed Jahson again."

You look up in a panic, "Jahson! What has he been eating?!"

Enver patted your head gently. "I had a temporary wet nurse hired. Don't be glum, this is only until you get better."

You hated the idea of another woman nursing your baby. Nursing had always been an experience you felt strengthened your connection to your children. A bonding experience unlike any other in the early stages of life. To have some stranger doing it was... Well, not enjoyable. Still, Jahson deserved milk, and you were in no state to give it.

"... How are the children? Is Ember still trying to tie-"

Enver smiles, "She hasn't quite figured out tying shoes yet, I'm afraid. She practiced all afternoon yesterday on my boots as I did some work in my office. When I stood up to go to the bathroom, I fell face first on the floor."

You gasped, suddenly worried. "You fell?!"

"just a tumble."

"Your knee-"

"Is fine." He said firmly. Enver disliked talking about his bad knee. And gods forbid you suggested he stay off it for a day or two, or ice it in the evenings. "I landed on my face, not my knee."

Despite yourself, you giggle. The whole conversation and trying to walk has taken so much out of you that you don't even realize how tired you are until you fall back into your pillows.

Enver takes a cold cloth from a bowl on your bedside, dabbing your forehead. "Easy, my darling. I'll send for the doctor again in a day or so if you don't get better. The maids have been giving you your medicine? On time?"

You paused, "Well... This morning they didn't communicate and they gave me a double dose. It was a simple mistake, the butler has scolded them already, trust me."

Enver grumbled, "Had I been there-"

"You'd make them disappear." You said, the illness suddenly making you honest. "By Ilmater's Grace, Enver, they're young women who made a small mistake that made me a bit loopy for a few hours. They didn't try and poison me."

Enver looks at you, feigning innocence. "I've no idea what you mean-"

"I'm not stupid, Enver." You said softly. "I know the servants who occasionally go missing are because of you. I know the stable hand's scars on his back are because of you. I know a lot more than you think."

Enver sighed, taking the cup of tea from the maid when she brings it in. She rushes out, not wanting to be around Enver again. Enver takes the teaspoon, stirring lemon and honey into your tea before he began feeding it to you spoonful by spoonful.

"I don't want you thinking about those things." He said firmly. "Let me worry about them."

"I know you're the one who brought the brain to The Gate years ago." You say, slurping another spoonful of tea down. "At least you helped undo that one."

Enver sets the tea cup down, taking your hand in his. "Darling, wherever are you getting all these ideas?"

You laugh humorlessly. "What, are you going to make me disappear too?"

"Don't you ever suggest such a thing." Enver's voice is firm, a touch of Bane's cold iron to his tone. His dark eyes are cutting, leaving no room for disobedience.

"Sorry." You whisper. "I didn't mean that. Obviously you wouldn't."

"Obviously." He agrees.

He feeds you a few more spoonfuls of tea, before cleaning your face with the cloth again. "I have to go soon. It's time for Ember and Jahson's evening walk. Will you be alright here alone, or shall I send for a servant to sit with you?"

You smiled sleepily at him, "You're taking them on their walks?"

Enver smiles back. "Of course. You're ill. I'm not just going to let my children be raised by the help."

[myfanfic-urfantrash]

Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

(...but I am very very lost.) - [7]

Kazuha and GN!Reader

CW: Injury mention, medical treatment, and physical therapy.

A/N: Honestly got inspired from my own physical therapy I did months ago. Would have written this sooner but you know life be like that and I'm currently obsessed with other things :3c

-------

Physical therapy with Kazuha sounds like a dream.

Well a dream where you're injured and in pain and it's all not actually very dream like know that you think about it. But it sounds like a dream anyway.

Everyday for about an hour or so you would have physical therapy.

You'd think it was just your arms that needed the therapy but resting for so long with minimal movement(alongside your rather sedentary lifestyle-) caused your muscles and the like to atrophy so here you are in pain but you're a trooper, Kazuha's gentle praise definitely helps keep self doubt at bay.

You wish you could record it, you know it'd do numbers. Just imagine..."Kazuha Praise Asmr"…you begin to feel a bit guilty over what you may or may not have listened to before you crash landed here. Yeah. Just a little.

Now that you think about it you wish you deleted your search history...let's not think about it and focus therapy with Kazuha!

...That would also do numbers on U-Tube...anyways!

Kazuha's patient, not like he isn't always, and guides your limbs through the motions while adding minor resistance so you regain some strength in your body. You never realized how bad it was to stay sat inside all day not moving until now.

But did it have to hurt so much? Yes, yes it did.

It's not so much pain as it is underused muscles being pushed to their frankly tiny limits. But you pressed on, the softened clay you pinch with your fingers helping you build strength in your hands. As you struggled with the clay a knock was heard. Kazuha leaves your side to answer as you focus.

One...two...threeeee...!

Next finger one...two...threeee!

You sigh finally finished with your therapy for the day and flop onto your back on your bed.

"You've done well for today, I'm sure you won't have trouble holding your tea with one hand soon enough." You grimace remembering how you're so weak you can't hold much of anything without both hands, even then it's a struggle. Kazuha hums plopping himself beside you.

"I just got word that Beidou will be docking this afternoon,-" You sit up with frightening speed nearly startling Kazuha if he weren't already used to your antics. "-if you're feeling up to it we can head to the harbor-" You nod rapidly nearly giving yourself a dizzy spell if Kazuha didn't place a hand on top of your head.

He smiles clearly amused. "Alright we'll go," He stands up helping you stand alongside him. "-it'll be much farther out than what you're used to but it should be a good exercise for you."

He grabs a small satchel and fills it with your medication and another bamboo water bottle you still forget the name of. "We can see Doctor Baizhu while we're there as well." You nod again, giddy to finally get out of the hotel (read: house) for once.

You follow him outside the hotel waving at the owner and employees as you pass them by. You still forget their names but you consider them like family at this point with how often you see them. You're legs are still a little sore from physical therapy but you're excited to finally make it to the harbor itself.

You're slow but you manage to catch a golden leaf yourself this time as you walk past the easy to miss sign of the hotel. Kazuha smiles helping you climb the stone steps and you're stunned by how beautiful everything is from here.

Ships of varying sizes come to and from the harbor, from a distance the hustle and bustle of the people look like hard working ants as they make sure everything runs smoothly. You think you spot a head of blue and almost lose it at the idea of meeting Xingqiu and his friends but shake your head, one thing at a time. Kazuha holds your hand down the steep steps towards the main gate, making sure you don't fall while you try not to squeal at his hand in yours, you're chill you swear.

The guards greet you curiously but let you pass with no trouble. By the time you finish passing over the bridge your legs feel like jelly so you take a break on near by bench for a bit and take some of your medicine with a quick snack Kazuha bought you.

You pick at the bandages around your fingers. Normally you'd be put off by all the loudness and the size of the crowd around you but you've never been happier to be out than now. Now that you know that this isn't a dream you find yourself not minding it too much even if you miss some things of your own world like any friends and family you might've had.

Might've being the key word here you don't quite remember if you did have friends or if you even had a great relationship with your family. This should concern you but you truly find yourself not really caring...too much. Kazuha takes your hand in his own breaking your near spiral. He pats your bandaged hand gently with his own before standing up.

"Are you ready to continue? I can carry you if you still need rest." You shake your head before standing up, you'll let him carry you again later, perhaps on the way back but for now you'll stand on your own feet.

You sorta regret thinking that after walking up to Bubu Pharmacy.

WHY DID IT HAVE SO MANY STAIRS?! THIS IS NOT ADA COMPLIANT- wait what's an ADA?

You don't have time to think about that too deeply before Kazuha is kneeling to let you climb on to his back. Yay! Piggyback ride :D

You have no idea how you thought in emoji-what's an emoji- before you're at the top of the steps and inside Baizhu's shop the smell of herbs filling your nose.

Wow Doctor Baizhu is so pretty- Oh he's smiling!

You feel Kazuha's laughter through his back. Dang it, you must have spoken out loud again.

-------

[ 1 ]  /  [ 2 ]  /  [ 3 ]  /  [ 4 ]  /  [ 5 ]  /  [ 6 ] / [ 7 ] / [ 8 ] / [To be continued...]

[yoosmekihyun]

Conversations in the Dark (pt. 2)

Summary: After a series of major personal events, you decide to move to New York (in part) so you can have a relationship with your newly discovered half-sister, Karen Page. Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson become additional important figures in your life as you navigate new relationships and figure out how to live your life.

Genre: Fluff, Angst, Smut (eventually), we run the spectrum of emotions here

Warnings: mention of death, grief, anxiety, drinking, pining (so much pining), self-deprecation, chapters with sexual content will be marked with their own warnings, violence or attempted violence (i.e. Daredevil related)

Word Count: 2.2k

Part Two

Standing outside Josie’s you took a deep breath to steady yourself. After embarrassing yourself in front of Karen, Foggy, and (oh God) Matt you knew you needed get it together to avoid a repeat of the afternoon. You were going to be living in this city and, most likely, spending a lot of time with Matt and Foggy based on how much Karen talked about them so you needed to start acting normal around them, the sooner, the better.

You scrambled to complete the introductions earlier that day and bolted out of the office as fast as you politely could. Karen, holding back the commentary you knew she was dying to give, told you the address and time to meet them that evening so you could go back to your hotel and regroup. It had been a long time since anyone had made you react like that upon first meeting. It didn’t help that you could hear your mother’s voice in your head, “Oh honey, the two of you would make me some beautiful grandbabies.”

Taking a deep breath, you opened the door and stepped inside. Josie’s was grungy and dirty and just perfect. You weren’t lying when you told Karen that you liked dive bars. Something about them stripped away pretense and allowed you to be yourself and see others for who they were too. There were no ridiculously named cocktails with too little alcohol and too much sugar at places like these. You valued the simplicity.

You ventured a bit further and saw Karen moving chairs to a table and made your way towards her. “Hey, we the first ones?”

Turning, Karen smiled and gave you a quick hug. “Yeah, but they’re right behind me, just wrapping up. I told them I’d secure our table and meet you.”

“You know,” you started, “you could have warned me that one of your friends looked like that.”

Karen laughed as she sat, and you took the chair next to her. “Honestly, I kind of forget about it since I see him every day. I didn’t think the first meeting would have you reacting that way.”

“Kareeeennnn,” you whined, “you know my dry spell is basically breaking records and then one of the first men you introduce me to is not only your friend and co-worker but the hottest man I have ever seen. I’m a puddle over here!”

“He’s smart and kind too,” Karen replied as she patted your hand. “And, most importantly, single.”

You dropped your head in your hands as you groaned, “Don’t tell me that! If you add smart and kind into that equation, I’m doomed! A hot guy who can keep up an intelligent conversation and not be a total asshole about it? Dear lord, it’s my kryptonite!”

“Kryptonite? You a comic book fan?”

You whipped your head around to see Matt, smirking again, with a cane in one hand, two beers in the other standing next to the table with Foggy a couple steps behind with the remaining beers.

“Something like that,” you quietly replied while shooting a glare at Karen for not warning you. For her part, she was trying very hard not to laugh behind her hand while giving you a thumbs up with the other and a wink.

Matt settled into the seat next to you while Foggy took the remaining empty one across from you, apparently oblivious to your current flustered state. Matt slid one of the beers he was holding over to you, “I hope this is okay to start. We didn’t really know what you like.”

“Beer is good. Always a solid choice,” you answered with a sip. Not your favorite but also not the disgusting cheap kind you drank in college.

“Now that we’re all here and off work, a toast!” proclaimed Foggy, holding his beer up. “To friends, the new resident of Hell’s Kitchen, and beer!” Laughing you all clinked your beers together and you drank a bit more from your bottle.

“Thanks for the warm welcome; it’s nice coming into a new place and meeting people so fast,” you replied.

“I’m sure you have a lot of items on your to-do list now that you’re here,” Matt started, “but Karen never said if you had a job, or something lined up? Or if you need us to keep the ear to the ground for places that are hiring, we could do that too.”

“Well, um, I don’t really need to find a job. I’m a writer. My biggest task after finding somewhere to live is places to write when I need a change of scenery.”

“So, are you a writer like a journalist?” asked Foggy.

“Actually, I write both historical non-fiction and historical fiction. Occasionally, I write or edit for textbooks. I know it seems a little dry, but I love it and it’s paid the bills so far.”

Matt spoke up, “How do you get into something like that? It’s pretty specific.”

You took a swallow of your beer and considered him and his question, “Do you want the long answer or the short answer?”

Foggy chuckled, “We’re lawyers. We want both!”

With everyone laughing, Matt signaled to Josie for another round of beers knowing it would take her a few minutes. He turned to fully face you with his undivided attention. You became overwhelmed at the intensity of his smile and focus, and you could feel your heart start to race again. “Start with the short answer and then give us the context,” Matt encouraged.

“Well, the short answer is that I sold my doctoral thesis to my university press, and I was able to maintain interest in my work after.

“Wow,” said Foggy. “That thesis must have been good to be picked up and published like that. Did they contract for more?”

Smiling, you answered, “They did. It actually was pretty successful, and not just with professors and history students. They ended up selling it for mass printing to another publisher, so I was able to get interest in a second book. It sold well too.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” started Matt. “Are you saying you’ve contracted and sold multiple successful history books? To the point where you can write full time?”

“I am saying exactly that,” you responded with a chuckle. You felt pride looking at the impressed looks on Matt and Foggy’s faces. You had worked hard to get where you are and didn’t brag about it, but it always felt validating when you got such positive reactions to your work.

“Give them the slightly longer story,” Karen encouraged as she sipped her beer and leaned back.

“Well, essentially, I got a full ride to a local university that had a decent history program for my B.A. I didn’t know what I wanted to do at the time, so I wasn’t trying for the best programs then. Once I took a couple of the required history classes, I was hooked. I was able to get into a really good competitive graduate program. A couple of the professors liked my writing and research skills and they advocated for me and my thesis to the university press. One of them wanted to use it as required reading for a course he was due to teach.”

You paused and took a swallow of your beer and assessed the others. Matt and Foggy didn’t seem bored with your story and Karen, while already knowing this, was paying attention as well. Reassured, you continued, “The crazy part of it was that one of the main editors took a copy of my book home and his husband saw it and read a few pages. He got really into it, apparently, and finished it in just a couple days. After, he called me and asked if he could publish it at his company too because they had widespread distribution. We hashed out the details and they got it into bookstores, and it did really well. That led to more book deals and here we are.”

Matt whistled softly and looked impressed.

“What was the title of the first one? Do you think we would have heard of it?” asked Foggy.

“Maybe,” you replied and gave him the title.

“Goddamn! My mom read that! She went on and on about how fascinating it was and that it was written so anyone could understand.” Foggy added.

“Told you guys she was smart,” added Karen as she sipped her beer.

You laughed, “Tell your mom ‘Thanks’ for reading it. That book was such a labor of love.”

“I’ve heard of it but haven’t read it. Is it on audiobook?” asked Matt.

“It is! I was actually able to do the recording for it which was such a cool experience.”

“I’ll definitely be giving it a shot since I know the author now,” Matt replied and the grin he gave you would have made your knees give out if you had been standing. “But I have another question. You said you also write historical fiction?”

At his question you blushed a little since you were hoping the focus would stay on your non-fiction work for now. “Um, yes, I do. I get really into the research for my non-fiction, and it often involves a lot of first-person accounts. I started asking myself ‘what-if’ and imagining a different path for some of the people I was reading about. Or how I would handle certain scenarios and then started writing bits and pieces for myself, sort of like a wish fulfillment. Before I realized it, I had a fairly historically accurate novel on my hands, so I passed it along to my second editor and he loved that too. I’ve written two so far and they’ve done pretty well. I do publish those under a pseudonym though, to keep the work separate.”

Foggy downed the rest of his beer and blew out a big breath. “Karen, you kind of undersold your sister to us.”

Karen laughed loudly at this while you chuckled, “It’s more impressive with minimal hype. She brings the thunder all on her own.”

You waved away the compliment as you added, “I’m seriously just lucky. I was encouraged to follow my passion and then had some really supportive mentors. Timing plus luck and all that.”

“No, Karen’s right,” Matt interrupted with a grin. “You definitely bring the thunder. Are you writing a book right now? Or have ideas for your next one?”

Your heart skipped a beat as you took in Matt’s smile and attention, “I submitted my last one around the beginning of the year and I finished up the last edits before moving so I think it’s going to the printers soon. After…everything…I was kind of stuck and none of the ideas I had made me motivated. Once I decided to move here though, I started researching the city and I have a couple ideas I’m excited about, but I need to do more preliminary research first to make sure there’s enough source material.”

“Don’t leave us in suspense!” encouraged Foggy, making you laugh.

“Well, Hell’s Kitchen has a really interesting history with different immigrant populations. I’d love to be able to write something focusing on the journey through the lives of a handful of people, or maybe follow the genealogy and talk to families who are still in the neighborhood, or at least on Manhattan. I’m still brainstorming the approach.”

“I don’t think you’ll have any problems finding what you need for something like that,” said Matt. “There’s a lot of pride in the neighborhood so if the information is out there, people will want to share it if it means stories of Hell’s Kitchen get told to a wider audience.” Matt reached out and placed his hand on your arm and continued, “Foggy and I know a lot of people and places that have a deep history so we can always point you in the right direction.”

“Absolutely!” exclaimed Foggy. “So, if you’re going to be writing and researching in Hell’s Kitchen, I’m assuming you’ll want to live nearby? Is there anywhere in particular you know you want to live? You don’t need our help on the job front but maybe we can help give pointers on where to check out.”

You only met Foggy that day, but he was clearly eager to help you with this transition in your life. It was another bittersweet reminder of your mother, and you felt touched by his insistence.

“Well,” you started as you fidgeted with the label on your beer, “I have a meeting with a broker tomorrow to start looking at places. You’re right, I do want to be in Hell’s Kitchen and also walking distance from Karen. I’d like to be closer to the top floor of the building with good windows for some natural light. I only need one bedroom so hopefully it won’t be too difficult to find something quickly. If there’s anywhere you guys know of that would be good, send it to me so I can take a look.”

Matt made a humming sound as he tilted his head towards you as if he were considering something. You noticed Foggy and Karen had exchanged glances and then looked over at Matt as if he could see their stares. Unsure of this sudden shift, you sat quietly and observed while finishing the remainder of your beer.

“It’s quite the coincidence,” Matt started, “but my neighbor recently moved, and I don’t believe they’ve found a new tenant for her apartment. If I’m not mistaken, I think her floorplan is like mine and might be what you’re looking for.”

Oh shit.

Copyright © 2023 by yoosmekihyun. All rights reserved.

[belethlegwen]

You are so wonderful and I hope things smooth out for you sooner rather than later. Obviously you should prioritize yourself first (god knows we all have sooo much good fic of yours to reread), but it leads me to a question I’ve been too shy to ask 👉👈 how do you feel about recursive fic about your fics/characters? Would you be ok with us sharing it with you/others, crediting you for the creation of such good characters of course? I have serious Stranding/Rescue brainworms and it’s making me want to write drabble & fluff for the first time in a long time 💕 of course it’s fine if you’d be more comfortable with me not posting it — either way, thank you soooo much for sharing this lovely world & worldbuilding & all the characters within. I will be rotating them in my head for years no matter what 🙇

Hello and good morning! Or afternoon, I'm not sure. I'm drafting this answer over a late breakfast because I got a precious day of sleeping-in and I'm still thinking deeply about it.

Firstly: I want to hug you so tight (if you were down) because this is wildly sweet and flattering, thank you so so much for reaching out at all even just about the works, but the wishes that things smooth out are highly appreciated ;-; We're looking… solid? Right now? But there's still so much up in the air and hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I won't bore you with it, it's not the reason I'm drafting this out.

ABOUT RECURSIVE WORKS [very long, read under the cut, tl:dr summary at the end]:

I would love it. I would genuinely, honestly love it, with the caveats that you laid out that proper credit would be given (thank you so much you lovely beautiful soul), that it be clarified wherever it is shared that it's based on characters/settings/storylines of the current works, but truly importantly that it would clarify that the works are actively still being written at this time.

That's my biggest hesitation, if I'm being honest. The stories are both at this time unfinished (they are all unfinished, I am a creature with heavy need to process things through writing and, quelle surprise, I am never truly finished processing anything, new shit just needs to get processed, wheeeee) and being that they're unfinished, there's a chance that any recursive work could hit on a scene/plotpoint/moment that I've already got plotted out for the future. I'm not Neil Gaiman or anything, I'm not planning to make money off of this work, so it's not my concern that you or anyone else is gonna turn around and try to sue me for stealing something or whatever-- that's not the problem. I just don't want you or anyone to feel at that point that the effort you put into something was then copied and put in the main work or something.

It's an odd situation. The odds of it actually BEING a problem I know are astronomically low, but I didn't get to where I am today without chronically overthinking everything.

I love that you have a desire to create, and I do not know who you are-- I don't know if you already have projects and characters of your own and just want to branch out with something familiar-but-new, but I want to encourage you to use this energy and focus for writing all the same. If you can put it into your own works, hell yeah, but also: yes I would be flattered if you used my dorks and their silly little worlds. It's just the concern where I'm not finished with the stories yet. I just am, again, overthinking and overworrying, likely, but if I could stop doing those things then life would presumably be easier.

I would be absolutely down for like, experimental works I believe is the best term for what I'm looking for. Characters and stories based off of my works that are wholly new. Want to write a refracted AU about Melinda and Hank in Space? Fuck yeah, yes. Though I mentioned this to Zip and they immediately told me No, We're Doing That One and we laughed about it for a hot minute, so maybe not exactly those names hahaha

I guess another question here is, if you were to put in the effort and the focus and the pride of writing something based on my characters, of a scene you had in your head, and got through the beauty and pain of creation to get it down and then put it out there, how would you feel if something similar then happened in the main work? Not the same, not based on what you did, but that similarity still there and still noticeable at least to you. Like if someone had written (before I had posted them) something similar to Melanie being involved in a Naval battle, even though I have the receipts that that arc was written in November of 2022 and only finished posting in September 2023, I don't know how they would feel to still see that like, a similar idea had been there.

On one hand, personally, I love being in the G/t community and reading other people's works when I have the spoons and focus and time to do it, because I love that something as simple as "small person falls and big person catches them" permeates the ideas so often, and what that can mean to dozens of different creators. Refracting the same light through a diamond and watching the facets all scatter it differently, etc etc. It's beautiful. It makes me happy. But that's a personal thought, and I know how deep and personal writing can be. I know how much the process of creation can mean to the individual. I don't want you to go through that, to write something beautiful even if just for yourself, and then think in some possibility later that because I did something similar I was trying to do it 'better' or whatever. It's not the case, it's never the case.

So, after chatting about this with people I love in this community (I love you Zip and Kelly <3), I think the solution is: If you want to chat with me about the like, basic bare-bones of the ideas you might have just to give me a heads up, and I can let you know if it's something that'll be in the main works soon and if I'd rather you wait on something, or if I'd go 'oh fuck yeah, go ham', I would adore to chatter away with you about it all regardless. I'd love to chatter with you about writing in general! My characters, your characters, whatever. I'm down. Please feel free to hit me up and I'll get back to you whenever I can <3

Let me know what you think! Thank you so much for the sweet message and the ask!

Cheers,

~ Belle

[TL;DR]

When it comes to recursive works I'm interested and open to them provided they're not something major/heavy I'm planning to tackle too soon in the future canon, as the works are still being written and posted. I am always down to receive DMs about writing, and would prefer to get messages about the recursive fic ideas (as vague as you'd like them to be!) just so I can give a quick yes/no on if it's something I'd rather you wait on until I can get it out myself, or whathaveyou. I don't see this being a huge problem, and if you're good for chatting then I'm positive we'll have a good time with this <3

Writing recursive fics for my existing, in-progress works means agreeing to the caveats that credit be given to me and the existing works, and clarifying when posting that the fic is not canon and the works they're referencing/possibly based on are still in progress/being written. It also means accepting that there is a chance that things tackled in your fics may be similar to things that have not yet been posted for said works.

When it comes to experimental fiction based on my characters, settings, or plot: hell yeah go full 50 Shades if you want to. File the serial numbers off of it and/or write something New Enough. It's what I did to Jonathan Swift, please feel free to do it to me hahaha.

Shortest answer: Yes, just send me a quick message first <3

[deadlifts-and-deadlines]

Today is day two of the ice storm.

The first picture is how thick the ice was when I scraped off my car around 1:30pm yesterday. I haven’t been outside yet today, but it’s been raining most of the night and it has been hovering around freezing so it might not be too frozen out, but it is still slick. Picture two is Ender’s decorated cookies; he went over to Mimi and grandpas for a cousin cookie party yesterday afternoon - perks of living in the same neighborhood as our family. One of my SIL’s makes a massive batch of sugar cookies every Christmas and just kind of doles them out over the next few months for the little kids to play with and decorate. They aren’t edible, but they love to decorate and it keeps them busy so I approve, lol.

I am tired AF and feel like I’m running on fumes. No appetite. No solid poops. The stomach and chest pain has subsided significantly though, and I actually felt pretty good once I got up and going yesterday. It sounds fake, but working out and getting moving in the early AM helps me so much. I can’t really do CF of anything heavy or cardio intensive during these times, but light lifting and bodybuilding style workouts seem to energize me. So I usually work out, shower, try and actually get dressed, clean the house up a little, eat something small, and then I can usually trick myself into feeling well enough to keep going, or I go down, but at least then I accomplished something for the day.

I take Stelara on Saturday, but if I have another night like I did on Sunday night I will probably take it sooner. I don’t think a couple days will make a huge difference in the scheme of things but it does mean the difference between me getting really sick for a few days. I refuse to go to the ER within the week of an injection, I’m not paying for that even though it’s cheaper for my insurance to do it this way then just�� give me the dosing I need. I would legit just take the shot early. I’m a little nervous though because my prescription for the next 8 weeks hasn’t been released yet… and I have still heard nothing from the GI or insurance so I have no idea what’s going on. Usually I have the next injection within a couple weeks of having to take the first. So I’m a little nervous I’m getting taken off of it. I guess I should call and find out; I’m so sick of spending time on the phone dealing with this shit - honestly it is a full time job on top of being chronically sick - another full time job!

I’m going to figure this out though. We’re getting closer, but I truly never thought it would be this long and complicated of a process for me. I don’t know why. I think I just thought that as soon as we got a diagnosis we’d know what to do. Now it feels like the more we try the more we find out is wrong with me 🤣

[sweetmusingss]

Oscar just stares seriously back at you, hating that you felt like you couldn’t reach out to him to help you. He knew the two of you were not really on speaking terms, sure, but he would have dropped everything to be there for you and help you. “I wish you would have told me sooner, my love. But I will definitely fix it, no problem. I am just really stepping into the role of your husband, fixing things for you,” he smirked softly at you, his eyes lit up with amusement. He thanks the waitress politely for the drinks before going ahead and ordering for the two of you, ordering every single breakfast option that you had mentioned and some extra things as well. He knew he was going overboard but you could bring any leftovers to his parents’ house. “I honestly look forward to the day that you’re pregnant and I can fuss over you even more. I can’t wait to buy you each and every craving that you’re having,” he admitted, smiling softly back over at you. He wasn’t scared about talking about your future, not thinking about how this might be so out of the norm to what the two of you were used to.

“I know, you’re so good with your hands... in more ways than one.” I giggle, smirking at him and wiggling my brows suggestively. I smile at him fondly as he orders everything I mentioned, knowing there was no way in hell that we’d be able to finish all of this food but we had Max back at Oscar’s parents house and he’d eat more than half in one go. “I bet I’ll be that weird pregnant woman who just wants pickles dipped in peanut butter or something.” I giggle, taking another sip of my iced coffee, frowning when I didn’t get any liquid to come up, realizing my straw had a little hole in it, pouting. “I’m gonna go grab another straw.” I scoot out of the booth and over towards the bartop counter. I smile at the guy who was working, “Can I get another straw please? Mine unfortunately ripped itself somehow.” 

The guy behind the counter smirked at me, having watched me since I walked in and he felt like it was fate that I was now giving him a reason to talk to me. He saw I was with a guy, but he didn’t really see any chemistry there, feeling like he could shoot his shot now. “Oh no, I’m sorry about that, love. Let me look through every straw here to make sure you don’t get another defective one.” He smiles at me, making a show of picking up each straw out of a little container and pretending to check them for holes. “Your accent is absolutely adorable, we don’t get many Americans around here...”

I smile when he says my accent was adorable, letting out a soft laugh and shaking my head. “I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard anyone say an American accent was cute! I definitely feel like a fish out of water here... you guys all have sweet little ways of saying things and I’m over here being all... American.” I was super friendly and bubbly, being such an extrovert that I didn’t often notice or realize that someone was flirting with me, which probably helped explain why I was so blinded to Oscar’s obvious attraction. “This is some wonderful service, by the way.” I motion to him checking all the straws, laughing to myself, not thinking much of it.

__

I smirk playfully at you, not moving my hand at all. “I’m sorry but you’re the one who is wearing shorts and you’re expecting me not to be tempted by those sexy legs?,” I flirt with you, leaning forward and kissing your cheek gently. “I am taking you to my favorite mall now. I have a few things I want to get for the week but I promise we won’t be there long. I know shopping is not a boyfriend’s favorite thing to do,” I laugh softly. I also knew we wouldn’t have much time to be there without it becoming a big deal of being recognized. “We’re not far away now, baby. I just wanted to have a little casual date afternoon for your first day in New York.”

“It’s the middle of summer, engel, what do you expect me to wear? My fireproofs? Oh, you’d probably love that more than me wearing shorts, wouldn’t you?” He smirks at you, placing his hand over yours and continuing to drive just one-handedly. “Hey, I love shopping! I spend a good part of my downtime shopping! I’m not a typical boyfriend, baby, I thought you’d know that. I spend a lot of time car shopping or house hunting or even looking for things for my boat... but it’s still in essence shopping and I love to do it.”

[free--therapy]

It's anon!

Thank you so much for all the kind words and advice, it always helps a lot!!

Also, you mentioned how me dwelling on the "negative thoughts again and again" led to a big part of my mind ending up believing them to be true. And honestly you don't know how much I needed to hear that! Thank you really 😭

I'd been having an especially rough rough time since yesterday and today I just read something on twitter that really set off my guilt and overthinking related to it about one of the topics I've worried extensively about over the last two years and again, since this afternoon, my mind has found new angles to that thought to worry about and it's been crazy.

Honestly, it's crazy how the mind can try to find non-existent "connections" or "proofs" just to try to convince me of certain intrusive thoughts and what ifs. And I swear it seems so real, no matter how absurd it might be, that it becomes almost impossible to leave the thought alone sometimes.

Like sometimes, it feels like just telling or reminding myself that "you know that thought isn't true, let it go" or reminding myself "no matter how many times this thought comes, let it pass and move on" just doesn't work you know? Because it feels like I'm just denying the obvious or something 😭 Even I'm amazed sometimes by how realistic or catastrophic the worry seems. Like it might be about the smallest thing (like what I like in a game) and yet seem like the most threatening life-ruining thing ever.

When I take some distance from the whole thinking, I can see how it's so minor and stupid honestly but yet if I do get too entangled with it, the details end up contradicting and stuff and it just ends up becoming this complex web which seems like I'd never escape from it or something. It's weird.

This might be me venting honestly but can these thoughts just go away because I know you're (the thoughts) not true and I know whatever you're (the thoughts) trying to convince me of is not what I am. I know I'm fine and I know it's just overthinking.

Oh but I've realised the worse the setback is the more the negative thoughts seem more realistic. In fact, the deeper I am in a spiral, the more out-of-touch the thoughts seem from my actual reality. What I mean is...say on my second or third day of a spiral or even the first week or so (after a good period), it's much easier for me to rationalise and let go of the thoughts but like after a month or so of a spiral, it's comparatively harder to get myself out because I've gotten too used to the overthinking by that point. So in that sense, the longer I spend worrying or overthinking, the more I get used to it and that also ends up increasing the frequency and absurdity of the thoughts too. Which is a bit scary if I have to be honest with you.

I mean, the negative thoughts flow more freely and in general, the thoughts get more negative or absurd/crazy/weird or even the smallest of negative thoughts can throw me in a loop when I'm weeks or months into a spiral as compared to the first few days of the spiral.

Is this something that commonly happens?

Hey Anon,

Thanks for your patience as I wasn't able to get to your asks sooner. You are so very welcome!

Yes, the mind is SO good at making connections with just about anything, it's crazy! But also so unhelpful when you're trying to figure out which ones are real.

The reason why they can affect you so much is because the part of your brain that is regulating the fight-or-flight mode/anxiety is always on high alert for danger so even thoughts (no matter how small they can seem) end up feeling like such a big deal and turns on your survival mode into high gear. By challenging your thoughts, you're essentially telling your brain that the worry you're having in the moment is not as big of a threat as say a car that's coming your way that you have to jump out of the way so you don't get hit.

The negative thoughts flow so freely because you've been so used to thinking them for so long, so it's all you know. That is why I believe having different perspectives on things is so helpful. The more you can see things differently, the easier it'll be for you to consider some new thoughts instead of the same ones you keep going back to over and over again.

[nymphoheretic]

Good afternoon! I hope you are having a good weekend and taking care of yourself!

Things have been a bit hectic lately with my grandma breaking her back. It’s been a bit stressful. But I’m hanging in there and doing my best which is really all I can do!

I saw some people talking about dub! I also watch the dub and only the dub! Mainly due to the fact it’s hard for me to read fast and pausing every second to read kinda makes it a bit hard to finish an episode in a timely manner XD I still love demon slayer very much though! I’ve been in the fandom for 8 years! It’s a big part of my life. First and only fandom I’ve ever been in. I just enjoy it in dub and only dub! Which is okay! I know some people get picky about that but it’s the exact same content.

I hope you are enjoying your summer! Do you have any plans? I’m honestly just planning to relax and help family but I hope you get time to do things you love!

Sending you tons of positive vibes

From <3

Hi, bby!! I love getting updates and check ins from you. They make my day so much brighter.

Firstly, I'm sorry to hear that about your grandmother. I pray for a speedy recovery for her, but as a nursing student, I do know that older people tend to heal more slowly and require a lot more special care. But I', sure you're doing a fantastic job!

I love both the dub and sub. The sub because I can feel and hear the raw emotions that the Seiyu's put into it and also because that means I can get the content a lot sooner because some never get the rights to be dubbed. I remember the first time I had to watch anime in sub. It was Sailor Moon Stars because they never gave the dubbing right over until like 2 years ago.

But there are some shows I recommend watching in dub like Yu Yu Hakuho, the dubbing is excellent and is so much more fun! The Sub is more serious.

I just plan of relaxing and making the best of everything that has happened. The found my car, so I'm working towards getting it back looking pretty so I don't have to keep using tape to hold up the bumpers 😅

[khoicesbyk]

The Royal Romance.

Love Everlasting.

A/N: I had a different name and plot for this fic over a year ago. But after being in the RP community for more than a year, I've decided to write the current Royal Life of my favorite OTP.

Rated: Mature (at times can and will be Explicit. I'll be sure to change the rating when and if that happens). | Contains sexual content and strong language. (You know? The usual. Y'all should be used to this from me by now 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: King Marquise Rys (LI) and Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and original characters created by me and/or other authors [their characters have been mentioned and/or used in the story with their permission] ) are property of Pixelberry.

Current Word Count: 50K words. (may be slightly more or may be slightly less. Look, I stop counting after editing and re-editing and driving myself insane. 🤷🏾‍♀️)

If you’d like to be added to my tag list. Just reblog or dm me and I will gladly add you! 😁😘

This series is rated Mature and/or Explicit. It is NOT reading material that is safe for those under 18. Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised!

Missing a chapter or want to read a chapter again? I got you covered! Click ——> Here!

Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations

TW: Mentions of Cancer. Reader Discretion is STRONGLY ADVISED!

Matrimony. Part 4.

That night, after an entire day of revelations and interviews, Shanelle had so many questions for Marquise as they stood on his balcony. 

“Okay first question, when did Connie develop cancer?” Shanelle asked.

Marquise took a sip of his whiskey.

“About a year and a half ago. He was getting treatments and chemo quietly but they weren't working, so his Oncologist suggested surgery to remove the tumors. He had his surgery 11 weeks ago. But it didn't take. Cancer has spread throughout his body but it metastasized itself to his liver where it's inoperable and that makes it terminal.” he replies.

“Jesus Christ. How do you feel about it?” she asked.

Marquise shrugged.

“Honestly, I don’t care. I know I should but I don't. His cancer is his karma for everything he's done to people.” he replied before taking another sip of his whiskey.

‘Marquise…”

“You sound like mom.”

“Does she know?” Shanelle asked.

“Yes. A very small circle of people know. And we are all forbidden from speaking about it.” he replies.

“I’m sure that's hard for you.”

“Not really. Far as I’m concerned the sooner he dies the better the world will be.”

“Are you sure?” she asked. 

“Positive,” he replied.

“Okay. I won't pry.” 

Marquise sighed deeply. 

“I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound like that.” 

She kissed his cheek.

“I know you don't mean it…mostly.”

He smiled softly at her as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.

“Thank you for understanding my mood. I'm not trying to pile on you. I swear.”

“That's why I'm here. I want to relieve whatever stresses you.”

“You are my Superwoman.”

“I think you mean I’m your Kryptonite.”

“That too.”

They watched the stars above for several minutes before heading to bed. The rest of the week went by in a blur of interviews and internal eye rolls. By Friday afternoon the couple were in a train car making their way to Princess Naya’s duchy of Arnaud. Which is in the northeastern part of Cordonia. 

“Just so we're clear, I won't have to kill the Princess this weekend right?” Shanelle asked.

“Yes. She'll be too busy trying to appease her husband. I spoke to him shortly after she left my office and he was not happy. He read the article and saw the footage Donnie put out and couldn't apologize enough. He swore to keep her in check this weekend.” Marquise replies.

“Good. Because I'm not trying to embarrass her again

 even though I will.”

“Down Crusher! No embarrassing her! Because I won't be tempted to stop you.”

Shanelle snickered. 

“So tell me more about The Grand Hunt. Mr. Master Of The Hunt.”

Marquise threw her a cocky grin.

“Basically it's a skills competition. Archery, skeet shooting, axe throwing that sorta thing. It harkens back to the Cordonia of old. But the main event is groups of 4 will go along into the woods looking for a rabbit that has been tagged. First one to find it wins. And by the first one to find it wins, I mean me.” 

“So who's in our group?” Shanelle asks.

“It'll be you, me, Drake, and Maxwell,” he replies.

“So I'll finally meet your two friends?” she asks.

“Yes. And we might even do a little diverting from everyone else.” 

“By diverting you mean we'll be cheating?” she asked 

“It's only cheating if you get caught.”

“You are so bad!” 

Marquise shrugged.

“Just the way you like it.”

They arrived at Naya’s estate later that night. Once they were settled in their room, Marquise was called away which gave Shanelle time to check in with the girls.

“Wait! So you’re at that floozie’s house?” Aly asked.

“Yup. Have to be here for the Grand Hunt. Marquise and I have our own room.” Shanelle replied.

“Girl! Be careful! She might have booby-trapped the room or she'll try to have your food poisoned!” Rob said.

“A.) the guards have been doing a security sweep of this room at my request all week. and B.) the palace kitchen staff is doing the cooking. So I'm good.” Shanelle replied. 

“You sure?” Nina asked.

“Yes, babe. I'm sure. I'm safe.” Shanelle replied.

“So what are you actually doing this weekend?” Bron asked.

“I'm going rabbit hunting,” Shanelle replied.

The girls all stared at Shanelle.

“Deadass! I'm getting on a horse and I’m going rabbit hunting.”

“I'm calling it now, you will be on your ass,” Nina said.

Shanelle rolled her eyes.

“Whatever.” 

Nina snickered.

“I'm not you Miss Keane. I know how to ride a horse. And a man.”

The girls shared a laugh, just as there was a knock at Shanelle’s door.

“Now who could that be?” Dee asked.

“I don’t know. Give me a sec.” Shanelle before calling out to the door, “Come in!”

Naya walked in and when Shanelle got a look at her face, she died laughing.

“Bwhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!” 

The girls on the phone were confused. 

“What is it?” Rob asked.

“Yeah, what's so funny?” Nina asked.

“Take a look for yourselves,” Shanelle said as she turned her camera around to show Naya’s face. The girls fell out laughing. 

“Daaaaaaaaammmmmmmnnnnnnnnnn!!!!” Rob piped up. 

“We fucked her ass up!” Nina said with a cackle. 

“Yoooooooo!!!” Bron said. 

“We did all that?” Aly asked smugly.

“We! Did! ALL! That!” Dee and Chut said in unison.

“Indeed we did ladies. Now let me deal with this and I'll call y'all back.” 

“Byeeeeeee!” the girls said before they hung up. 

Naya crossed her arms.

“Are you finished?” Naya asked.

“Nope. Nowhere near,” Shanelle replied. 

“I came here to ask if you like your accommodations, Your Regency.” 

Shanelle smirked.

“You mean your husband sent you here to offer an olive branch? But to answer your question, no, actually I don't like these accommodations. You have zero taste in interior design and it shows. Even more than that bruise under your eye that your makeup is doing a terrible job of hiding.” 

Naya took a deep breath.

“Look, I'm just trying to get through this weekend.”

“You mean you're trying to salvage your damaged name and reputation. I bet your husband was on your ass when he came home.” 

Naya set her jaw.

“You had all that attitude and bravado last weekend when you challenged me and lost. And now you look like a dog with its tail tucked between its legs. As a matter of fact, I have all weekend to be on your ass. And it's exactly what you deserve.”

“You're lucky that you–” Naya started to say before Shanelle cut her off. “Sweetie, let me stop you right there. Because you know you can't fight. You proved that last weekend. But anytime you want a round two. I got time for you.”

Naya just stood there fuming.

“So happy we could have this conversation, Princess. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Have a nice night.” Shanelle said as she dismissed Naya. 

Naya looked at Shanelle one last time before leaving the room. 45 minutes later Shanelle was coming out of the bathroom when she saw Marquise laying on the bed with his arms behind his head.

“You are a menace. You know that right?” he said to her. 

“Why Your Regency! I have no idea what you mean.” Shanelle said in mock innocence. 

“You don't like our accommodations, my love?” he asked with an eyebrow raised.

Shanelle looked at him with a smirk.

“Did Naya tell you that? Did she bat her eyelashes as she shed her crocodile tears?” she replied.

“No. She ran to her husband and cried about you being mean to her when all she was trying to do is be a good hostess. So I had to tell him that you were only joking.”

Shanelle rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically.

“Oh, the poor Princess! Someone was mean to her.” Shanelle said with a cackle.

Marquise shook his head with a smirk.

“Again, you are a menace.”

Shanelle sat down and started applying her lotion.

“Yeah yeah. I'm hungry. Let's get something to eat.”

“Okay. I hope you like venison. This part of Cordonia is known for it.” 

Shanelle made a face.

“What?” Marquise asked.

“I've never had venison. Sounds kinda weird. And bougie.”

“It's deer. And it's also a local delicacy.”

“Whatever happened to good old pizza and wings?” Shanelle asked.

“My love, we're not in New York but, I can have that made for you. How about Pizza Bianca with Prosciutto, shaved Fontina, and aged Balsamic Vinegar, plus wings?” he asked.

“Garlic Parm. All drums,” she replied.

“I prefer flats.”

Shanelle made another face.

“God! You are so weird!”

Marquise snickered before putting in a call to have room service delivered.

“This Pizza Bianca is fucking incredible! I love everything about it,” she said as she took a bite of her slice. 

“Mmhmm. And these wings are amazing. Compliments to the chefs.” 

“You know you could've told me no right?” she asked. 

“I know. But my job is to make sure you are as comfortable as possible.” he replied.

“Yeah but that doesn't mean just hand me whatever I want.”

“Are you saying that I’m a doormat?” he asked.

“I'm saying that you don't have to always hand me the world on a silver platter Marquise,” she replies.

“First of all, I would never hand you the world on a silver platter. That is beneath me. What I would do instead is, I would hand you the world on a diamond-studded, gold-plated Sterling silver platter. Second, they'll more than likely serve venison tomorrow at the reception dinner. And lastly, this is how I show my love to and for you. By reminding you that you are deeply loved and greatly appreciated by me.”

“Even if it inconveniences you?” she asked.

“Especially then,” he replied as he tucked her hair behind her ear. “When it comes to you, nothing will ever inconvenience me.”

She smiled at him before kissing him softly.

“You have garlic breath,” he teased.

“So do you, Blacula.” 

“Blah! Blah!” 

The two laughed before they finished their food. 

The next day, they were walking to the stables after Marquise had won the archery and axe throwing and Shanelle won the skeet shooting competitions to see the horse they would be riding for the hunt. 

“Are you ready for today?” Marquise asked her. 

“As ready as I can be. We're not actually gonna kill a rabbit, are we?” she replies.

“No. They stopped killing rabbits 40 years ago. It'll be released back into the wild.” 

“Okay good. So let's go find me a horse.”

“Way ahead of you.”

When they got inside the stables Drake and Maxwell were standing with three horses. 

“Is that Marabelle’s Dream?” she asked.

“Yes. I had her brought here from your duchy,” Marquise replied. 

“And these two jackasses must be Drake and Liam,” Shanelle said, pointing to Drake and Maxwell.

They winced. 

“Lord Maxwell Percival Beaumont, master of all things dance, shimmy, shake, rattle and roll. Good times and all. At your service, Your Regency.” Maxwell said with a flourish.

“Is he?” Shanelle asked.

“Always.” Marquise and Drake replied.

“Okay then…”

“Does she know?” Drake asked Marquise.

“Everything,” Marquise replies.

Shanelle crossed her arms.

“Yeah, so start talking.”

The two looked at each other before they launched into an explanation of what happened and the parts they played in the blowing up of her relationship with Cassian. At the end of their explanation, Shanelle shook her head.

“You two are something else. However, I can forgive the two of you as long as you two swear to stay the hell from Cassian. Got it?” she said to them.

“Yup,” they replied.

“Good. Now I’m no mathematician but there are only three horses and four humans.”

“Ask him.” Drake and Maxwell said, pointing to Marquise.

“Where's your horse?” Shanelle asked Marquise.

“Marabelle’s Dream is my horse,” Marquise replied.

“No. She's MY horse. And her name isn't Marabelle’s Dream.”

“It's not?” Marquise asked.

“Nope. This noble steed with all her beauty will now be known as Midnight Wander.”

Marquise shook his head with a smirk.

“You and that damn book.”

Shanelle shrugged.

“So go find your own horse.”

“Nope. You and I are riding together.”

“I don't wanna ride with you!” Shanelle protested. 

“Too bad!”

Shanelle sucked her teeth.

“Like you'd pass up the opportunity to throw our relationship in Naya’s face.”

The idea did intrigue Shanelle.

“Well…when you put it that way…”

“Exactly. Now get up there.”

Shanelle climbed into the saddle with Marquise right behind her. When he wrapped an arm around her and grabbed the reins, she felt her heart race.

“You ready?” Marquise whispered to her.

Shanelle nodded her head.

Marquise pulled at the reins and led their group to where the hunt would be starting. Once everyone was gathered, Tariq gave his opening remarks.

“Good afternoon everyone and thank you all for joining my wife and I at this year's Grand Hunt. We are grateful to be able to host and have you all. To their former Majesties, it is always an honor to have the four of you attend. And to their Regencies, my wife and I look forward to you both attending. Especially when you become King and Queen.” 

Many in the crowd cheered and clapped politely. As Tariq continued on with his opening remarks, Shanelle noticed Naya sitting stiffly in her saddle next to Tariq.

“Your ex does not look happy,” Shanelle whispered to Marquise. 

“She'll get over it,” Marquise whispers back. “All I need now is for the signal to be given and we'll be off to the races.”

Just as Tariq closed his opening remarks a cage with a rabbit was brought out. Everyone watched as the rabbit was released.

“And so, let the hunt begin!” Tariq announced.

“Is this–” Shanelle started to say before Marquise grabbed the reins and urged their horse on. Soon they were galloping down the route. She was realizing why Midnight Wander was the Derby winner.

“So is there a plan here?” she asked Marquise.

“Yep. Hang on and let me do the driving.” he replied.

“Oh, God! I'm gonna die!” 

They rode deeper into the woods following the trail. And when they were far enough ahead, Marquise purposely veered off with Maxwell and Drake behind them. When they finally came to a stop and dismounted, Shanelle was still trying to catch her breath. 

“I almost died! You tried to kill me!” Shanelle said to Marquise. 

Marquise rolled his eyes.

“You did not almost die. I did not try to kill you.” he replies.

“I mean you were riding kinda fast.” Maxwell quipped.

“Yeah. We know this trail. She doesn't.” Drake added.

“See?! Even they know that you tried to kill me!”

“Quiet! Before I leave you to get lost out here!”

Shanelle stuck her tongue out at him again. Marquise smirked before he turned to Drake and Maxwell.

”You two got everything ready?” Marquise asked. 

“Yup,” Maxwell replied.

“And what about the distraction?” Marquise asked.

“As soon as you give the word, the rest of those lazy nobles will get the scare of their lives,” Drake replies.

“Distraction?” Shanelle asked.

“Just watch,” Marquise replied before nodding to Drake. “Go for it.” 

Drake smirked before pulling a small remote from his pocket and pressing the button on the front of the remote. Soon, shouts, shrieks, horse whinnying, and screams could be heard in the distance. Marquise and his two friends died laughing. 

“What in the world?” Shanelle asked. 

“A little distraction. I had Drake and Maxwell plant cherry bombs around the route. Not enough to hurt anyone but enough to spook their horses and throw everyone off course. And maybe have some of them thrown into the mud along the way.” Marquise replies.

Shanelle shook her head while laughing. 

“And you have the nerve to call me a menace,” Shanelle said to Marquise. 

“You are a menace. I just have fun at the nobles' expense. Now we have a rabbit to catch.” Marquise replied.

Everyone mounted their horses and took off. But Shanelle had one question.

“How do you know where the rabbit will be?” Shanelle asked.

“The one they released? I don't. That poor thing is probably long gone. But! I did get one that is identical to the one they released. Same tag and all. Oh, and it was microchipped. So I know how to track it.” Marquise replies.

Shanelle shook her head.

“I'd like to reiterate: you’re. Cheating!” 

“It's either I win or you deal with having to hear your uncle brag about his wife winning. Because her father was an avid hunter.”

Shanelle winced.

“Good point.”

“Glad you see things my way.” 

They rode until they got to a clearing where a trap was set up. Once everyone dismounted, the men went to work setting up for when everyone else arrived. 

“Alright! Flare gun?” Marquise asked.

“Got it!” Maxwell replied.

“Food to lure the rabbit out?” Marquise asked.

“Right here,” Drake replies.

“Perfect! Max, you stay here with Shanelle and ready the trap. Walker, let's go find Roger.” 

Shanelle watched Marquise and Drake disappear into the woods, before turning to see Maxwell struggling to set up the trap.

“Need a little help?” Shanelle asked.

“Me? Nah! I got it. I have everything under con–” Maxwell started to say before the trap fell apart. 

Shanelle stifled her laugh.

“Y’know maybe I could use an extra set of hands.” 

Shanelle walked over and started to help Maxwell set up the trap. She even took the time to find out a little bit more about her fiance.

“How long have you known Marquise?” Shanelle asked.

“Me? Maybe 15-20 years. Drake has known him longer. They met when Drake’s dad Jackson joined the King’s Guard and was assigned to the Royal Family. Jackson was Connie’s lead guard.” Maxwell replies.

“That's a very long time to know someone.”

“Yeah. He's a good guy. Loyal, firm, stern, fair, understanding of the people around him, caring, and he's protective of everyone and everything that he cares about. His mother Eleanor was the same way. He tries his hardest to be just like her.” Maxwell replies.

“So I've heard. So he's nothing like his dad?” she asked.

Maxwell took a deep breath.

“No. At least not in the way you may think. He and Connie are like night and day. Except for when and if you are stupid to piss him off. Marquise tries his damnedest to never be anything like Connie. But not even he can run away from who he is. No matter how hard he tries to.” Maxwell replies.

“Why don't they have a relationship?” she asked.

“Because Connie feels like Marquise is only here to haunt him. Marquise looks a lot like his mother and Connie can't stand it. He feels like Marquise is a constant reminder of the one true love he lost. So he's always taken whatever he’s feeling out on him. Especially when he's drunk.” Maxwell replies.

“Jesus Christ!”

Maxwell nodded solemnly.

“Marquise doesn't like to talk about it. And I really think I shouldn't have told you. But at the same time, you deserved to know.”

Shanelle nodded.

“Thank you, Maxwell.”

“You're welcome. And call me Max.”

Shanelle smiled at him.

“Oh! Look! We did it! We got the trap set up!” Max triumphantly exclaimed.

“Yeah, we did.” Shanelle agreed.

“Teamwork high-five!” Maxwell said to her.

“Teamwork!”

The two high-fived just as Marquise’s voice rang out.

“MAX! GET THE TRAP READY!”

Maxwell and Shanelle scrambled to their feet just as the rabbit came darting out of the woods, with Marquise and Drake hot on its heels.

“NOW!” Marquise and Drake yelled.

“Push the button, Max!” Shanelle said to Maxwell.

“Pushing the button!” 

Shanelle watched as the trap sprang and they caught the scared rabbit.

“Woohoo! We did it!” Max cheered.

“Nice going! You did it!” Drake said as he congratulated Marquise.

“HAH HAH! I win again! The title of Grand Master is MINE!” Marquise said triumphantly.

“Congratulations handsome. You won. Even though you cheated.”

Marquise gave her a cocky smile.

“Beats the alternative.”

“Fair enough. So what happens now?” Shanelle asked.

“Max send up the flare,” Marquise instructed. 

Max grabbed the flare gun and then handed it to Shanelle.

“Why don't we let her do it?” Maxwell asked.

Marquise shrugged. 

“Okay. Send up the flare love.” 

Shanelle sent the flare signal and within 15 minutes the rest of the nobles began making their way to the group. Including a very disgusted-looking Queen Genevieve. 

“It seems His Regency has won the competition. By winning 5 years in a row, he is now Grand Master Of The Hunt!”

Many of the nobles cheered and congratulated Marquise, who had a firm arm around Shanelle’s waist. Directly in the sight line of his jealously seething ex.

“Thank you, everyone. I appreciate you all and I couldn't have done without this one at my side. Oh and Max and Drake too.”

Many in the crowd laughed.

“And to her former Majesty who was looking to regain the title of Master Of The Hunt, better luck next year. Assuming I don't win again.” Marquise said to a fuming Genevieve before throwing her a cocky grin. 

“Now if His Regency will do the honors of releasing the animal into the woods,” Tariq said.

“Actually if you all don't mind, I’d like Her Regency to do the honors,” Marquise said.

“Very well,” Tariq said to Marquise before turning his attention to Shanelle, “Your Regency if you will.”

Shanelle had Maxwell set the trap down before she opened the door of the cage and pulled the rabbit out and set it down on the ground.

“There you go, little one. You’re free.” Shanelle whispered to the rabbit.

Everyone watched as the rabbit hopped off into the woods. 

“Now that the Grand Hunt has been completed, let us all head back to the main estate and get ready for the reception dinner,” Tariq announced. 

As people began to head back to the estate, Connie rode up to his son.

“Congratulations my son. You managed to keep your title. While gaining a new one.” 

Marquise rolled his eyes.

“I'd tell you to go to hell, but you'll be there soon enough.”

Connie’s face soured before looking at Shanelle.

“Does she know?” Connie asked Marquise. 

“Yes, she knows. Everything.” Marquise replies.

Constantine gave Shanelle a haughty expression.

“I take it you feel the same way as he does,” Connie said to her.

“Let's just say that whenever your time comes, I won't cry at your funeral.” Shanelle spat at him.

“Petulant child!” Connie sneered.

“That's Her Regency to you. Now if you'll excuse us.” Shanelle said to Connie before she and Marquise left.

After returning to the estate and taking a long hot shower, the couple was ready for the reception dinner.

“You look beautiful my love,” Marquise said to her as they walked to the dining room.

“And you look like a King. Very official yet dapper.”

Marquise brought the back of her left hand to his lips for a small kiss.

“Thank you, my love. Now let's make our debut.”

Soon the herald made the official announcement.

“All rise for Their Regencies, Marquise Rys and Shanelle Miller!”

As they walked in, all eyes were on them. 

“Wait until they announce us as Their Majesties,” he whispered to her.

“Ooh! Your ex will hate that,” she whispered back.

“Believe me when I say I don't give a fuck.”

They walked to the center of the room where Naya and Tariq were standing. 

“Thank you all. Please be seated as we present His Regency with his official trophy.” Tariq announced to those in attendance. 

Shanelle watched as the staff walked with a beautiful bronze statue.

“Nice! How many of these do you have?” Shanelle whispered to her fiancè.

“Including this one? 5 all together. The other four are at the main house of my Duchy,” he replied.

“Your Regency, I present you this statue as a token of your victory today,” Tariq said to Marquise.

“Thank you, Lord Tariq. I humbly accept your token.” Marquise replied to him as the two shook hands before posing in front of the statue. Marquise turned to Shanelle with a grin. 

“Join me?” he asked.

She stepped next to him as Tariq stepped away and the couple snapped a few pictures together. 

“Now that His Regency’s trophy has been presented, dinner can be served.” Tariq announced. 

Before they took their seats Tariq pulled Shanelle and Marquise to the side.

“Again I’d like to congratulate you on your win, Marquise,” Tariq said to him.

“Thank you, Tariq. It's an honor to win and it's a privilege to be able to stick it to Queen Genevieve for another year.” Marquise replies.

“Indeed.”

Tariq turned to Shanelle with a polite smile.

“And to you Your Regency, I would like to formally apologize for my wife’s heinous and atrocious actions toward you. She has had no right whatsoever to belittle or demean you. And she certainly had no right to attack you. And for that, I am horrified and do humbly apologize to you for any harm my wife has caused.” Tariq said to her. 

Shanelle nodded politely. 

“Thank you, Lord Tariq. I appreciate your kind words and I accept your apology.” Shanelle replied.

“You're quite welcome, Your Regency. Now, I believe my wife has something she’d like to say.”

Shanelle internally rolled her eyes and braced herself.

“Shanelle, I'd like to sincerely apologize to you for my behavior. I let my jealousy cloud my judgment and I took it all out on you. I am…appalled by my actions. Especially when I'm a married woman. I had no right to do that. And for that, I do apologize.” 

Shanelle looked at Naya with an eyebrow raised.

“I want to believe you but I know you don't mean any of what you just said. But, for the sake of the kingdom and peace within it, I will be a bigger person and accept your apology.”

Naya nodded.

“Thank you, Your Regency.”

“Now that apologies have been given. I believe it is time we took our seats.” Tariq said. 

They took their seats and dinner was served. Instead of serving her venison, Marquise had one of her favorite dishes prepared, Spaghetti Alla Vongole (Linguine and Clams).

“Mmm! So good!”

“I'm happy you like it, my love.” 

“I am curious though,” she said to Marquise.

“Hmm?”

“Not that I’m not grateful but why am I eating this and not venison like you?” she asked.

“I told you why. Venison is a bit adventurous for you so we can try it another time when it's just us. I want you to always be comfortable. But if you want to try it now, you can always steal a bite of mine,” he replies.

“You're impossible.”

He winked at her.

“Here. Try it,” he said as he offered her a small bite of his venison.

“Okay. It's not bad but I think I prefer my pasta with clams, olive oil, and Parmesan Cheese.” 

“Told you.”

After dinner, it was drinks, dessert, and dancing. Everyone in attendance watched as the couple gracefully twirled and glided around the dancefloor. 

“Well, whaddya know? You do know how to do a proper Cordonian Waltz. I guess that private lesson in your bedroom paid off after all.” he teased her.

“Shut up before I step on your foot!” 

He snickered as they continued to dance. By the end of the evening, Shanelle’s feet were barking and she was ready to crash but she soldiered on as she stood in the receiving line with her fiance. Many of the people the couple received were friendly and most pledged their support for the new Monarchy. Including Maxwell’s brother Bertrand.

“Hello, you two!” Maxwell said in greeting, “Shanelle, I’d like you to meet my older brother, Bertrand Archibald Beaumont. The Duke of Ramsford.” 

Bertrand bowed to Shanelle.

“Good evening, Your Regency. It is a pleasure and honor to meet you.” Bertrand said to her.

“The pleasure is mine, Duke Ramsford,” Shanelle replied.

“I am here to formally give you and His Regency, Duchy Ramsford’s full support to the new Monarchy.”

“Thank you, Bertrand. I always knew I could count on you.” Marquise replied.

“Of course Your Regency. Ramsford has always been about progress, growth, and change for Cordonia. And with you and Her Regency at the helm of that change, I know we are all in very good hands.” 

Marquise nodded politely.

“And besides, anyone better than King Constantine is a win in my book,” Maxwell added.

“I knew I liked you, Max.” Shanelle said to him.

“Quite. Now we shall take our leave but we do wish you both the best. Come along now Maxwell.” Bertrand said as they left.

When the couple got back to their room, Shanelle was thankful the night was finally over. 

“You did it, my love. You survived your very first state dinner. Without so much as an hors d’oeuvre needing to be thrown at someone.” 

Shanelle snorted.

“Shut up and rub my aching feet.”

“Gladly.”

Shanelle melted into the foot massage. She deserved it for all she had to endure that weekend. 

“How are you so good at this?” she asked him.

“You already know why, my love,” he replies.

“Y’know if this whole ruling a kingdom thing doesn't work out, you could make good money giving out foot massages.”

Marquise snickered. 

“Unless the money is coming from you for services rendered then I don't want it. You are the only woman I would do this for.”

“I can live with that.”

“So how would you rate this weekend, my love?” he asked.

“Not too bad. I know it won't always be like this but it wasn't too bad for my first experience. And I didn't have to kill your ex. So that's a win.” she replied.

“Yes. I'm proud of you for showing restraint. It's never easy with her. Even though I wouldn't have stopped you if you did decide to clock her.”

“You’d let me get away with murder if you could.”

Marquise cleared his throat.

“Your words not mine.”

“So what happens now?” she asked.

“Don't you have a wedding to plan?” he replies.

“Seriously?! I can start planning?” she asked.

“Yes. Your official Royal Business here is over. So you’re free to plan the wedding of your dreams.” he replied.

“Does that mean?” 

“If you want to head back to Boston or New York you’re free to do so.” 

Shanelle’s face lit up.

“I gotta call mama! I gotta call the girls! We have a wedding to plan!” Shanelle squealed. 

“Indeed you do.” Marquise agreed. 

“Is there anything you want before the girls and I go crazy?” she asked.

“What are the colors?” he replied.

“I know the official colors of Cordonia are Royal/Navy Blue and Gold but I was thinking of Purple, White, and Silver.” 

“I can live with that.”

“Anything else?” she asked.

“I want a VERY PRIVATE penthouse suite for after we get married,” he replies.

“You got plans for that suite?” she asked.

“I got plans to fuck you all over that suite, my Queen,” he replied with a wolfish grin.

Shanelle snickered. 

“Then I better get a move on.”

“Yes, you should.”

After traveling back to the palace the next day, Shanelle grabbed Ozzie and headed to the airport. She was on her way home.

“I'm gonna miss you,” she said to Marquise.

“No worries. Besides, the next time I see you will be in a church at the altar.” he replies.

“What are you gonna do while I'm gone?” she asked.

“You have a wedding to plan and I have coronations to plan,” he replies.

 “Oooh!”

“Exactly.” 

With a sweet kiss, it was time to say see you later.

“I'll see you soon, my Queen.”

“See you soon handsome.”

With that Shanelle boarded her flight home to Boston. When she finally touched down at Logan Airport that night, she was happy to be back on U.S. soil.

“It's good to be home, isn't Ozzie?” she said as they got into the car that was waiting. 

When she got to the brownstone and set her bags down, she noticed two giant vases sitting on the island counter. One was full of red roses and the other full of white carnations with a handwritten note from him in front of them.

Welcome home, my love. Soon, you'll be my Queen.

She couldn't help but smile and blush at the note. After taking one last look at the flowers, she headed up the backstairs and went to bed. The next afternoon Shanelle was on a FaceTime call with Nina and her mother. 

“Alright, you two! I trust the two of you to be the main voices of reason while I plan this wedding.”

“You mean while WE plan this wedding.” Shantel corrected her. 

“What she said!” Nina added.

“Yeah yeah. So here's the plan mom, you and I will handle the wedding. Nina, you and the girls get to go crazy on planning the Bachelorette Party and Bridal Shower.”

Nina rubbed her hands together. 

“Oh, yessssss!”

“Nina, don't you have my daughter and the girls doing something crazy.” Shantel warned. 

“Yes, mom,” Nina replied. 

“Now I will handle the catering, flowers, and decorations. Also, what are the colors?” Shantel asked.

“Purple, white, and silver,” Shanelle replies.

“And who's officiating?” Nina asked.

“My dad,” Shanelle replied.

“Awwww! Pop is gonna dust off his preacher suit!” 

Shanelle snorted and Shantel cackled. 

“And what about the venues?” Shantel asked.

“Well, they have to be big enough to host at least 300 people,” Shanelle replies.

“Hmmm…the only place I can think of that can accommodate that many people is St. Francis.” Shantel said. 

Shanelle and Nina groaned. 

“The Catholic Church off 87th?” Shanelle asked.

“Nobody wants to go into that mausoleum!” Nina quipped. 

“No. The Baptist Church off 129th. The presiding Elder’s granddaughter is in my class this year. I'll talk to him and his wife.” Shantel replied. 

The girls let out a sigh of relief.

“Now, what about the venue for the reception?” Shantel asked.

“I want either the Marriott Marquis in Times Square or the Waldorf Astoria Hotel,” Shanelle replies.

“Well, you can rule those two out. Their capacity limits are max 200 people each. The only other place big enough to hold that many people is the Consulate.” Shantel said. 

“Fineeeeeee! I guess I'll just pick the penthouse suite of Marriott Marquis.”

“What are you gonna do with the penthouse suite?” Nina asked.

“It's not what I’m gonna do. It's what I’m gonna do.” Shanelle replies.

Nina snickered and Shantel groaned. 

“Well, that takes care of the venues. As I said, I'll work on catering. Do you know what you want to eat?” Shantel asked.

“Yup! I had a sample menu in Cordonia. I'll text you the menu.” Shanelle replied.

“And what about the cake?” Shantel asked.

“Surprise me,” Shanelle replied.

“Very well. Well since I have all I need to do, I'll let you girls talk. Just remember, we're going dress shopping in LA this weekend.” Shantel said.

“We won't forget. I'll talk to you later.” Shanelle replied.

“Bye, mom!” Nina piped up.

“Bye, girls.” 

“And then there were two!” Nina said after Shantel hung up.

“Exactly. Now, what do you have planned in that head of yours as far as my Bachelorette Party and Bridal Shower are concerned?” Shanelle asked.

“I'm not telling you! It's a surprise!” Nina replies.

“For the record, I am not going to Vegas for my Bachelorette Party!”

“What's wrong with going to Vegas?” Nina asked.

“Besides the fact that Vegas is basic? Nina, I am marrying a man who is to be King. The last thing I want to do is spend my last days as a free woman staring at Fat Elvis impersonators,” Shanelle replies.

“You know you’re a brat right?” Nina asked. 

“Spoiled rotten. And it's all your fault.” Shanelle replied.

“Okay fine. Where would you like to go?” Nina asked. 

“Somewhere that screams, exotic, chaotic, and erotic,” Shanelle replied.

“Once again, you are a brat.” 

“And it's all your damn fault. What's your point?” Shanelle asked.

Nina tapped her fingers in thought. 

“Yeah…I got nothing.”

“You got all that intelligence and beauty and can't think of anywhere else?” Shanelle asked.

“First off, thank you and secondly, you shot down my Vegas idea so no,” Nina replies.

“I gotta do everything my damn self. I have three places in mind.” 

“Okay, what are they?” Nina asked.

“Monaco, Ibiza, and lastly Milan,” Shanelle replied.

“Okay. Maybe you were right. Vegas does sound basic.”

“Thank you.”

Shanelle took a piece of paper, tore it into three pieces, wrote down the names, and then threw them into an empty cup.

“Okay gimme a drum roll.”

Nina gave her a drum roll.

“That's a terrible drum roll.”

“Shut up and pick!”

Shanelle snickered before pulling out a name.

“Pack ya bags and grab ya passport baby! You, me, and the girls are going to Ibiza!” Shanelle announced.

“Looks like Bron will get her Spanish Prince after all.”

The two friends cackled.

“Alright. I'll send out the text and I'll see y'all this weekend.”

“Yup yup.” 

“Uh huh. Uh huh.”

Nina rolled her eyes.

“Bye Princess!”

“Bye bestie!”

If there were two people that Shanelle could always count on it was Nina and her mother. That Friday Shanelle, her mother, Nina, Chut, Robin, and Dee were all on a jet headed to LA. Aly was filming a movie there and Bron was finishing her clinical residency. They all went out to dinner at Spago when they touched down. 

The next day the girls were visiting a custom bridal shop on Rodeo drive. 

“Shantel!” the shop owner called to Shanelle’s mother.

“Hello, Ingrid! It's been far too long.” Shantel said in greeting. 

“Indeed it has my dear. I was so happy when you reached out about needing dresses for both of your daughters.”

The girls looked at each other.

“Daughters?” Shanelle asked.

Shantel smiled and took her and Bronwyn by the hand. 

“This is my oldest daughter Shanelle and my youngest daughter Bronwyn. Ingrid, I want you to spare no expense and make sure both look stunning at their weddings.” 

Ingrid nodded.

“Of course! Of course! I will make sure your daughters look like Princesses. After all, they will be wearing Ingrid Kozlov originals. Now let me gather a few things and we'll get started.” Ingrid replied before going into the back of her shop.

The girls all looked at Shantel completely stunned.

“Mom?” Shanelle asked.

“Yes?” Shantel replies.

“You're buying my dress?” Bron asked Shantel.

Shantel gave her a motherly smile.

“Yes. A mother always buys her daughter’s wedding dress. So when and if you have a daughter, you can buy her wedding dress. Besides, it's the least I can do for the beautiful smart young woman who is marrying one of the two boys that always ran through my house.” 

Bron looked at her with tears in her eyes.

“But…”

Shantel took Bronwyn’s hands in her own.

“I can not replace your mother. I would never even try. But that doesn't mean I can't treat you like you are my daughter.” 

“You don't have to do this, Mrs. Miller.”

“My students call me Mrs. Miller. You call me Mom. Got it?” she asked.

Bronwyn nodded tearily.

“Yes ma'am,” she replied. 

“Mom.” Shantel corrected her.

“Yes, mom,” Bronwyn said. 

“Good. Now you girls have dresses to get fitted for.” Shantel said as Ingrid returned. 

“Now to my brides and mom, step this way and I'll get your measurements. The rest of you ladies, please feel free to browse around. My shop is open to you.” Ingrid said to everyone. 

The girls spent the rest of the day browsing around the bridal shop. When they left Shanelle and Bronwyn had their custom-made wedding dresses as well as their bridesmaids' dresses ordered. Later that evening, while Shantel was at her spa appointment, the girls were lounging around the pool at the Cordonian Consulate in LA.

“I'm still trying to process this. Shanelle, your mom bought my wedding dress. Lo and I don't even have a date set.” Bronwyn said.

“Yup. She did. And think of this as one thing crossed off your list of things to do.”

“Did you know?” Bron asked.

“Nope. Otherwise, I would've warned you.” Shanelle replies.

“I love her. She didn't have to do it.”

“I've been trying to tell you for months that she loves you but you wouldn't listen.”

“I'm sorry I didn't listen. I should have.”

The girls laughed. 

“Shan, I can't believe your mom knows Ingrid Kozlov. She's one of the best in the fashion business.” Aly said.

“I mean to be fair this is the same woman who used to fuss at us whenever we went through her jewelry,” Dee added.  

“Well, that's only because we never put it back correctly.” Nina quipped. 

The girls laughed as a staff member came out with a box in his hands.

“Pardon the interruption, Your Regency, but this was just delivered for you,” he said as he set the box down.

The girls all looked at each other before looking at the box.

“So you gonna open it, Princess?” Nina asked.

“No. I don't know what's in there!” Shanelle replies.

“Maybe it's not that bad,” Robin says.

“Okay well, then you open it.”

“It's not addressed to any of us Nelle. So open it.” Chut quipped.

Shanelle looked uneasily at the box before gingerly lifting the lid with her eyes closed. 

“We're still alive right?” Shanelle asked.

“Yeah, we're still alive,” Nina replies.

“Good, that means this wasn't a bomb.” 

“Yeah, yeah whatever. Now, hurry up and look inside so the rest of us can open our eyes.” 

Shanelle looked inside and when she did her jaw dropped.

“OH. MY. GOD!” Shanelle exclaimed. 

The girls quickly opened their eyes. 

“What is it?” Rob asked.

Rather than answer Shanelle reached into the box and pulled out a surprise.

“WHAT?!” Rob and Dee said in unison.

“No way!” Bron said in shock.

“Oh my!” Aly said.

“Wow!” the cousins said together. 

“It's a tiara,” Shanelle said in shock.

The girls stared at the tiara sitting on a pillow in Shanelle’s hands.

“Are those real diamonds?” Nina asked.

Shanelle numbly nodded her head yes. Robin looked in the box and pulled out a card.

“I think this is yours too, babe,” Robin said holding the card. 

Shanelle gingerly set the tiara down and took the card from Robin before reading it out loud. 

“This is the first of many. My Queen. I love you.” 

Shanelle covered her mouth with a hand. When she looked up at her girls there were tears in her eyes.

“Marquise for the win!” Dee said.

Shanelle slowly sat down and broke down into tears.

“Awww babe! Don't cry.” Nina said as she wrapped her arms around her.

She knew the girls were there and they were super supportive but all she could hear was her heartbeat. She couldn't believe he would send her a tiara. But he did and she was just overwhelmed. She took a deep breath and dried her eyes.

“Thank you, babies. I appreciate it. I just…I just got a bit overwhelmed.” she said to her girls. 

“We get it. You're getting married to a man who's about to be a King. And it's a lot. But I promise you we will send you off right and we'll always be there.” Robin said to her. 

Shanelle laid her head on Robin’s shoulder. This is why she was thankful to have her girls. They have her back and she has theirs.

“She's right, you know,” Shantel said as she stepped outside. “They'll always be there for you. And so will I butterfly.”

Shanelle smiled at her mother. 

“Thank you, Mommy.” 

Shanelle was thankful for her tribe.

“Now I don’t know about you girls but I do believe we have a Bridal shower to get ready for.” her mother announced.

“Yay!” Shanelle cheered.

“Quiet girl! You don't get a say. This is between me and the girls.” Shantel said to her.

Shanelle pouted and Shantel rolled her eyes.

“Oh, girl bye! That face stopped working on me when you turned 7.” 

Shanelle made a face as the girls cackled. 

“Poor Princess. Shut down by THE Queen.” Nina teased.

Shanelle sucked her teeth.

The next day Shanelle, her girls, and her mother were celebrating her Bridal Shower. Her mother had rented out the South Coast Botanical Gardens for the occasion. Shanelle felt nothing but love from her crew and her mother. There was food, presents, and giggles. Lots of giggles. Even a few groans.

“What is this?” Shantel asked as she dangled a flogger. “And what are you supposed to do with it?”

The girls just looked at Shantel.

“…mom?” Shanelle asked. 

“Yes, my dear?” Shantel replied.

“Stop dangling the flogger, please.” 

Shantel smirked before swinging the flogger.

“Why? Is there a reason why I should stop swinging this?” Shantel asked.

“Because it's creating a mental scar none of us need. Least of all me.” Shanelle replies.

“But I like swinging this thing. It's a whole lot of fun!” 

“MOM STOP SWINGING THE DAMN FLOGGER PLEASE! THANK YOU!” Nina said.

Shantel cackled.

“You girls are no fun.”

The girls looked squeamishly at Shantel who was still laughing. 

“I want it put on the record, your mama is mean!” Robin says.

“Duly noted.” 

Shantel rolled her eyes with a smirk.

“But I do hope you girls have had a great time.”

“We have!” the girls replied.

“Good. That was the plan. And Bronwyn.”

“Yes, mom?” Bron replied.

“I can't wait to hear about how beautiful you'll look in your dress.” 

Bron got up and hugged Shantel.

“Thanks again, mom.”

“Always honey. You girls are family to my daughter. Which means you’re family to me too.”

“Since we're family mom…can I get some brownies?” Dee asked.

“When you come back from Ibiza,” Shantel replies.

“Thank you!” Dee squealed.

“What about us?” Chut asked.

Shantel shook her head.

“Get your orders in.”

The girls clamored at once.

“One at a time!” Shantel told the girls.

“Logan would cry if I didn't ask for your jerk chicken,” Bron said to her.

“I would love a strawberry cheesecake,”  Chut said.

“Your lasagna rolls,” Aly said.

“Curry Chicken!” Robin said.

“Curry Fish with Green stew!” Nina said.

Shantel died laughing.

“Nina, you and your brother are the green stew eatingnest people I know.”

Nina shrugged.

“It's your fault that I love it so much.”

“Fair enough. Okay, girls. When you all get back from Ibiza, we'll have a big family meal before the wedding with all of your favorites.”

The girls cheered. 

“Thanks, mom!” they answered. 

Shantel smiled at the girls.

“My pleasure. Now let's finish up because we all have flights to catch tomorrow.”

The next week went by in a blur. Before Shanelle knew it, she and the girls were off to Ibiza for a weekend of Bachelorette debauchery. They couldn't wait to touch down in Spain that Thursday. Marquise had put them up at a high-rise condo that had a rooftop pool and bar. With a 360° view to die for. The girls were gonna live it up that weekend.

“Take it all in, ladies! Because this weekend we will conquer Ibiza!” Shanelle said as she toasted her bridal party.

“Hell yeah!” the girls replied.

“Operation: Babes, Bodies, Bachelorette Party is in full effect!” Nina announced.

“And who knows? Maybe we'll find Bron’s Spanish Prince while we're here.” Rob teased.

“Whatever! Can we drink now?” Bron asked.

Shanelle popped a cork. 

“Drink up girls! We have an island to conquer!”

The girls cheered before downing their wine and going out to a local club. They spent the night dancing, laughing, club hopping, and winning three wet t-shirt contests thanks to Nina. 

The next morning, Shanelle came stumbling out of her room into the common area, hungover with a giant migraine. She took a seat at the bar in the kitchen and was soon joined by her crew. Who were also hungover as hell.

“Dude! What did we do last night?” Dee asked massaging her temples.

“Ask me that question when I have the mental capacity. Because right now, I ain't got it,” Nina replies.

“Ugh!” the girls groaned collectively.

Shanelle laid her head down on the counter with a loud thud.

“The room is spinning,” she whined.

“Princess, what's in that pitcher in front of you?” Robin asked.

Shanelle looked up to see a pitcher and a note.

“Hair of the dog,” Shanelle said as she read the note. 

The girls groaned again.

“Anything but THAT!” Aly whined.

Shanelle poured herself a small glass.

“You're not actually gonna drink that are you?” Chut asked Shanelle.

“It's either drink it or we look like shit for the rest of the day,” Shanelle replies. 

Shanelle shook her head and squared her shoulders. 

“Down the hatch as they say,” Shanelle said before she pinched her nose and downed the drink in one gulp. The girls squirmed as they watched. When Shanelle set the glass down she started to seriously question her life choices.

“Well, how bad was it?” Bron asked.

“Terrible. But it's working. My head isn't splitting like it was when I hobbled my ass outta my room.” Shanelle replied.

The girls looked at the pitcher suspiciously.

“Maybe it won't be so bad?” Robin asked.

“Speak for yourself!” Nina replies.

“Maybe Rob has a point? I mean what else do we have to lose?” Dee asked.

“Our dignity maybe?” Nina replies.

“I thought we did that last night?” Shanelle asked.

The girls laughed.

“Okay fine. But I’m not trying it first!” Nina replies.

“I'll try it,” Bron said.

“My baby for the win!” Shanelle cheered.

“Don’t cheer for me! Because if this shit tears up my stomach I'm fucking you up! Princess or not.” Bron replies.

“Duly noted.”

Bron chugged her glass back and made a face when she was done.

“Who the hell thought this was a good idea?” Bron asked.

“Not I, said the spider to the fly,” Shanelle replies.

“Nope. I'm not drinking it!” Nina protested. 

“Shut up and chug Keane!” Shanelle said to Nina.

Nina rolled her eyes as she poured herself a glass. The rest of the girls followed suit.

“Bottoms up,” Shanelle told the girls. 

She watched as they drank and looked disgusted afterward.

“Instant regret!” Nina said. 

“Never. Again.” Robin said as she put her glass down.

“That shit is nasty!” Chut quipped.

“It tasted like death warmed over!” Aly said.

“That should be illegal!” Dee added.

“Should be but ain't. How y'all feeling?” Shanelle asked.

“Starting to feel better for the most part,” Nina replies.

The girls nodded their heads yes. 

“Good. Now I can ask the question, Nina, what happened to the guy you brought back with you?” Shanelle asked.

Before Nina could answer, each of the girl's bedroom doors opened, and out walked SEVERAL half-naked men. The girl's jaws dropped. 

“I'm gonna ask again, what the hell did we do last night?” Dee asked.

The girls burst out laughing. They spent the rest of that Friday hanging around the rooftop pool. The next day was a big day. It was Shanelle’s Bachelorette Party. The girls got dressed and went out to an amazing restaurant to celebrate Shanelle’s final days as a free unmarried woman.

“Here's to my beautiful, smart, amazing, incredible, bestest best friend ever. You, me, and Chut have been together since kindergarten. Then we met Dee in the 6th grade. And Aly in 8th. And of course the last two of our crew. But you and I have had each other’s backs for years. And we always will. You have fought for me. You have fought over me. You have protected me. You have defended me. And I am so happy for you. I am happy that you found your literal Prince. You found your happily ever after. I can't wait to see you in your wedding gown. I can't wait to celebrate your marriage. I can't wait to celebrate you becoming a Queen. Here's to you bestie.”  Nina said in her toast to Shanelle.

Nina was right. Nina and Shanelle have been through it all together and have remained at each other's side. 

“I love you, baby. So goddamn much. I would not be where I am in life without you by my side. Without all of you really. I rely on all of you so much. You are my rocks. My loves. My best friends. My sisters. My everything. I could never do what I do without any of you. I love you girls so much. Each of you deserves true love and unbridled happiness. That is my hope, my wish, and my prayer for each of you.” Shanellw said with tears in her eyes.

“We love you!” the girls said to her.

Shanelle dried her eyes as their food was delivered to the table. They had a full spread delivered to them.

“Now THIS is how you spend your last days! Damn good alcohol! Damn, good friends! And damn good food!”

The girls dug into their food and alcohol. As they ate, a small gift box was delivered to Shanelle with a note attached.

“What's in the box?” Dee asked.

Shanelle shrugged.

“Open it.” Aly piped up.

Shanelle unwrapped the box and looked inside before dying of laughter.

“What? What's so funny?” Rob asked.

Shanelle reached in and pulled out a box of condoms and a note. The girls died laughing.

“What the hell? Who would send you a box of condoms?” Robin asked while laughing. 

Shanelle just shook her head.

“What's the note say?” Bron asked.

“There's a surprise waiting for you at the penthouse.” Shanelle read out loud.

“Ooh!” the girls said in unison.

Shanelle rolled her eyes.

“So what are you gonna do, Princess? Are you going to see what this surprise is or are you going clubbing with us?” Nina asked.

Shanelle sat and thought for a few, looking between the box of condoms and her friends then made her decision.

“Y’all go ahead and go party. I'm gonna take these and see what this so-called surprise is,” she said to her crew.

“Okay,” Nina replied.

“And no more than two random guys per person. I won't be able to explain any number higher than that to people.” Shanelle said to the girls.

The girls laughed before finishing their food and going their separate ways. When Shanelle got back to the condo it was quiet. And after looking around and not seeing anything she headed up to the rooftop pool. 

That's when she saw the last person she'd ever expect to see sitting at the bar. Her ex.

“What in the hell are you doing here Cass?” she asked.

“Enjoying a drink and the view. How did you score a place like this anyway?” he replies.

Shanelle sat at the bar next to him. 

“How did you get in here?” she asked.

Cassian reached into his pocket and pulled out a keycard that was identical to hers. 

“This and directions to this place were mailed to me last week. Then I got assigned to a prisoner transport team here,” he replied before pouring himself another drink.

“A prisoner transport? The Marshals don't do prisoner transports.” 

“I know. But apparently, I came highly recommended so here I am.” he said as he finished his drink, “damn this bourbon is good. What's the name of this brand?”

“La Couronne Du Roi,” Shanelle replies.

“What does that mean?” he asked.

“It's French. It means The King’s Crown,” she replies.

“How do you know?” he asked.

“Because I've had it before,” she replied.

Cass rolled his eyes.

“Of course, the Princess has had this before. The Princess has had everything before.”

“Shut up before I take that bottle and crack it over your head.” she sneered. 

“Threatening a Federal Agent is against the inst law Princess.”

“It would be if we were back in America. But we're not. You are however a Federal Agent in a foreign country where you have no jurisdiction, jackass.”

“I have never been able to figure out how you do that.”

“Do what?” she asks.

“Always get away with it,” he replies.

“I've always been the smart one between the two of us.”

Cass rolled his eyes.

“Whatever,” he said before pouring another drink.

“Poor Golden Boy. You never did like hearing the truth.” 

“What makes you think you’re smarter than me?” he asks.

“Well for starters, I've never been arrested for breaking into our principal’s home. Nor have I ever failed World Studies 3 years in a row,” she replied.

“First of all, I got arrested because of you! It was your idea!”

“It was a suggestion you idiot! But you and your hero complex took it too far. You’re lucky she never pressed charges.” 

“And secondly, it's not my fault that Mr. Griswald’s voice puts people to sleep!” 

“Funny how you were the only student that went to sleep in his class. The rest of us seemed just fine.”

Cass let out a frustrated sigh.

“Why are you so infuriating?” he asked.

“Is it the fact that I’m infuriating or is it the fact that I’m the only person in the world that has ever held you accountable for your own actions because everyone else lets you slide because of those green eyes?” she replied.

Cass went quiet as Shanelle propped her chin on her left hand with a smugly satisfying smirk.

“Well, Hotshot. You gonna answer the question or not?” she asked.

Cass mean mugged her.

“I don't like you.” he sneered.

 She leaned in closer.

“You're right. You don't like me, you love me,” she said as she snatched the bottle of bourbon away from him.

“Hey! I wasn't finished with that!”

“Yes, you are. You’re not about to drink up all my alcohol boy.” 

“Give it back!”

“No.”

“Shanelle, do not make me chase you over a bottle.” 

“You couldn't catch me even if you wanted to.”

“Is that a challenge Princess?” he asked.

A slow smirk bloomed across her face.

“I don’t know Hotshot, you tell me,” she replied.

Cass shook his head.

“Stubborn brat.”

Shanelle scoffed. 

“Pot. Kettle.”

And with that, the chase was on.

The two ran around the poolside area, with her evading him at every chance she got. It was just like old times when they were kids. He’d run after her on the blacktop until they were both out of breath and laughing. Like now. 

“You give up yet?” she asked him.

“Never,” he replied, trying to catch his breath.

“You alright over there? You look a little outta breath kiddo.” 

“I'm fine! Or at least I will be once I catch you.”

Off they went again. Running around the pool area again. They missed this. They missed the friendship between them. They ran around until they no longer could.

“Now do you give up?” she asked.

“You know what? Fine! Keep your stupid bottle.” he replied completely out of breath.

“Poor Golden Boy. He can catch America’s most dangerous but can't catch little ole me.”

Cass glared at her.

“How are you not out of breath?” he asked. 

“Well, for one thing, I ran track for 10 years. Secondly, because I ran track I know how to breathe while I run. And third, you can't run correctly because of your chicken legs.” she replied.

Cass groaned. 

“You just had to get that dig in.”

Shanelle shrugged innocently.

“You know me.”

“All too damn well.”

She shook her head before tossing him the bottle.

“Took you long enough,” he said to her. 

“Had to make you work for it.”

Cass took the top off the bottle and knocked it back.

“Tell your boyfriend to send me a bottle of this.”

“Get a pair of balls and ask him yourself.”

“I have balls!”

“And yet his are bigger than yours.”

“Careful Princess. I do have a pair of cuffs on me,” he warned her. 

“Look at you trying to be kinky. And failing miserably.”

“I know you're into all that weird shit.”

Shanelle rolled her eyes.

“If you’re scared, Golden Boy just say so.”

“I'm not scared. I'm Casssian Keane. I can do anything.”

“Except keep up with me.”

“I can keep with you.”

“You always were a terrible liar,” she said before turning to head back inside. He chased after her.

“Where you going Princess?” he asked.

She tossed him the box of condoms.

“Had to grab those,” she replied.

[rolandtowen]

Read on Ao3 or under the cut:

Charles takes a deep breath, filling his lungs with Genosha's humid air. It's his second spring on the island, which is finally starting to feel like home.

Erik jokes that retirement suits him, and honestly – Charles has to agree. While he occasionally misses his students, he now finds so much joy in just living. He’d missed out on so much over the years, trying to hold the world together. Now, he reads; he tends to the community garden; he drinks tea with Erik in the afternoon, and plays chess with him in the evenings.

For the most part, Erik has been enjoying retirement with him. But he is still the leader of Genosha, which sometimes requires him to step away from the home they’ve carved out for themselves. Recently, there’s been an influx of mutant refugees, and Erik has been busy trying to expand Genosha’s housing to accommodate everyone. Whenever Charles tries to get him to rest, Erik points out how much faster he is than any other mutant on the island at building new houses – which they desperately need right now.

For the past two weeks, Erik has been leaving their home before sunrise and coming home just before dinner. Charles is worried that he’s going to overwork himself, but when has he ever been able to get Erik to take a break?

Luckily for Charles, Erik’s body decides to force him to rest.

On the fifteenth day of Erik working himself to the bone, Charles is sitting in their front garden, reading, when he sees Erik staggering towards their cabin. He closes his book immediately, tucking it away into his wheelchair satchel. Erik? Charles reaches out, but pulls back immediately when he’s confronted with searing pain behind his eyes.

Well, shit. That’s not good.

As Erik reaches their door, Charles tries his best to offer support, guiding Erik into their home and towards their bedroom. “Lay down.” Erik doesn’t have to be told twice and collapses into their bed immediately.

Erik is experiencing a power-induced headache, something Charles has seen quite a few times after missions together. Whenever he exerts his mutation particularly strongly, or for long periods of time, his brain starts to rebel. Given that Erik has been lifting dozens of shipping containers a day for the last two weeks, no wonder his body is starting to shut down. If anything, Charles is surprised that it didn’t happen sooner.

Charles closes all of the blinds in their bedroom before returning to Erik’s side. “Hey, love,” Erik opens his eyes blearily to see Charles looking down at him. “Headache?”

Erik nods, immediately regretting how the movement made the pressure behind his eyes flare. Closing his eyes against the pain, he feels Charles’ hand against his forehead. “No fever, that's good.”

Erik instinctively leans into the cool touch. “Feels nice,” he murmurs.

“What does?”

“The cold.” Erik whines when Charles pulls his hand away. “It's okay, darling. I'm going to go get some stuff to help. I'll be right back.”

It could have been minutes or hours, but eventually Erik heard the telltale hum of Charles’ wheelchair motor beside him. “Erik, can you sit up?” Erik groans. “Just for a minute, love. I want you to take some medication.”

Erik complies, and Charles hands him two pills and a glass of water with a straw. “Take these. And drink all of that. Slowly ,” he emphasizes. When Erik has drained the cup, Charles guides him to lay back down. “I've got some ice packs, can you tell me where you want them?”

“Back of my neck, and – and over my eyes.”

“You got it.” Charles slides one towel-wrapped ice pack under his husband's neck, right where the skull meets vertebrae, and places the more flexible ice pack over his eyes. “Is that good?”

Erik gives a thumbs up, refraining from nodding to keep the ice packs in place.

“Anything else? Room temperature okay?” Charles has learned that a power-drained Erik presents with many of the same symptoms as the flu: headache, fever, chills, body aches, you name it.

“Can you crack the window?” Erik whispers. “Fresh air.”

Charles opens the window a bit, letting a cool breeze into the room. “Are you feeling nauseous?” That’s not an unusual symptom either.

“No, it’s just – stale.”

“Rest of your body feel okay?”

Erik ponders this, scanning through his body. “Just sore.”

Charles settles himself at Erik's side, taking one of Erik's hands into his. Pressing his thumb into Erik's palm, he works out the tension there. There's some poetic parallel here, he thinks – Charles dispersing the pain in Erik's hands, the same hands that are so often tending to Charles. Erik channels almost all of his power through his hands and arms, it's no wonder he's feeling the strain there.

Charles moves up to his forearm, pressing a bit harder into the muscles there. Erik's breath hitches, and Charles pauses. “Good pain or bad pain?”

“Good,” Erik breathes out. “Keep, keep going.”

Charles reaches the muscles right below the elbow, stiff enough that he switches from the pad of his thumb to his knuckles. “Erik, we really need to do this more often. No wonder you feel sore.”

“S'fine, most of the time,” Erik slurs a little bit, spaced out.

Charles smiles softly, happy to be the one helping Erik relax so much. Finishing Erik's right arm, he moves to the left side of the bed and starts the process anew. He tries not to think about the tattoo on this arm. “How's the head?” He asks to distract himself from his hands ghosting over the inked numbers.

“Better,” Erik sighs, and Charles can tell he means it. Charles presses a kiss to Erik's shoulder when he's done. “Want me to change out the ice packs?” He asks, noting how much they've thawed in the last thirty minutes.

“No, just – stay here?” Erik gestures to the room around them. “It helps to know you're close by.”

“Alright, love.” Charles takes a moment to transfer into their bed, and one of Erik’s arms wraps around him, pulling Charles into his chest. “I'll be right here reading, just let me know if you need anything.”

“Read to me?” Erik whispers, like he's ashamed of asking for it. “I can't – the quiet, you know?” Erik spent 10 years in near total silence. Charles understands immediately.

Charles nods, then realizes Erik can't see him, and says: “of course, love. Any requests?”

“Whatever you want, liebling.”

Their room is bursting with books now (Erik really needs to get that library put together), but Charles pulls the book he’d been reading earlier from his wheelchair bag. Finding his way back to Erik’s arms, he begins to read. Erik’s hand finds his hip, thumb slipping under the hem of his dress shirt. A shiver runs down Charles’ spine as Erik’s calloused hand meets his bare skin. “I’m okay,” Erik murmurs. “Just needed to feel you.”

Charles hears everything that Erik leaves unspoken. I just need your warmth. I just need to remember that you’re alive. Even after all these years, Charles knows Erik still carries so many burdens. Shame, responsibility, grief, guilt – are all wrapped up in this cyclone of a man that Charles loves. “I’m right here, love. Always.”

Hurt!Erik lovers, come get yall juice!

[whoreadsnowadays]

hi 👁👁 first i just wanna say that u are so awesome. and like the other person said, u have great vibes💪 ur blog feels very home-y if that makes sense 😨

ANYWAYS. if i may… can i request a rottmnt leo x reader where leo is yk super flirty with them all the time (and they’re just like 😒) but one day reader says like a super good pick up line to him and he’s like 😳😳😳 LMFAOSBDKSN sorry i just love seeing blushy leo it’s like my fav thing ever

also i hope u have a great day/night!!!

:0.. dude that's so sweet I'm flattered !!!! I'm glad my blog has a homey feel to it, it's good to hear people enjoy my stuff and my vibes :]

and of course- YESSSSS YES YES YES BLUSHY LEO <3<3 I adore him sm

Honestly I had to edit this a bunch to get it to where it is, bc I just couldn't get the story to feel the way I wanted, but I'm quite happy with it now :) so hopefully you enjoy it too!

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( Romantic ) Rise! Leo x Gender Neutral Reader (they/them pronouns used in fic)

Warnings: curse words, nothing else that I can think of

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Fluster The Flirt

Leo knows plenty of things, even if Donnie likes to disagree. He can make plans, charm his way out of most trouble, and he's pretty confident in his ability to play medic. One thing he doesn't know, surprisingly, is romance.

So when he fell for you (and he fell /hard/) he had absolutely no idea what to do. So.. he did the only thing he really knew /how/ to do. Flirt. Badly Flirt.

Of course you had to catch on eventually. And fortunately for him, eventually would be sooner than he thought.

You were hanging in the arcade with the boys one saturday afternoon, when suddenly Leo was leaning himself against your back, and grinning that dumb fucking grin of his.

So you sighed, turning your head a bit to give Leo the attention he so obviously desired.

"Hello my wonderful and brilliant friend. How are we on this fine evening?" He asked, moving his arms to rest over your shoulders, just barely stopping himself from cuddling up to you entirely.

Raph gave him an odd look from across the room. "Leo, it's noon."

You watched as Leo's expression quickly shifted to a glare in Raph's direction. "Hush. Let them answer." And in an instant his attention was back on you, blinking up at you with his big puppy eyes.

You hummed, reaching up to gently pat Leo's arm, your silent request for him to remove himself from your shoulders. "I'm fine Leo. Just watching Mikey and Don play.. whatever they're playing? Honestly I haven't been paying attention."

"Well to fill you in!" Donnie cut in, right as Leo (a bit reluctantly) detangled himself from you, "Mikey is currently being beaten to a pulp by yours truly!"

"Not for long!" Mikey exclaimed, before pressing some long sequence of buttons, resulting in Donnie letting out a long string of indignant bird like noises.

You smiled and rolled your eyes at them, before turning back to Leo. "Yeah, that's what I'm up to. Barely paying attention to Dee's annoyed squawks."

"Hey!"

Leo hummed and nodded, both of you ignoring Donnie's offended exclamation.

"So.. what I'm hearing is, you're free to hang out?" He asked, leaning a bit more into your personal space.

You smiled and hummed, crossing your arms and tilting your head at him.

"I guess I am. Why? You wanna ask me out?" You didn't even realize what you were saying until it had already come out of your mouth. And instantly your heart dropped to your stomach, dread filling the empty space.

But then Leo's smile wobbled, and so did he. He almost fell forward, but quickly pulled himself back up to his feet, and if you weren't mistaken, you could've sworn you'd seen a blush on his face.

"Uh well, uhm, if you- uh-" he stumbled over his words, silently cursing himself as he tried to get out even a single sentence.

You blinked, watching as he averted his gaze to the floor between the both of you. And as he continued to stumble over himself, you came to a sudden realization.

He liked you. He liked you just as much, if not more, than you liked him.

You smiled as Leo finally pulled himself together enough to look at you again, a more nervous version of his usual grin on his face.

"Well.. yknow uh, it could be.. a.." he trailed off, and you hummed.

"Sure."

He blinked, looking at you with wide eyes. "..seriously?"

"Mhm. Sure. How does tonight sound?" You asked, watching as he slowly bobbed his head in a nod.

"Uh yeah- Yeah! Yeah sure! That's cool, great even, awesome!" He grinned, balling his hands into fists at his sides, just barely keeping his excitement in check.

"Cool, uhm.." you glanced over at the others, noting that they were all crowded around the arcade game, paying no mind to the two of you.

You smiled and turned back to Leo, "Meet me at the park by the library." You hummed and quickly grabbed one of Leo's fists, pressing a quick kiss to the back of his hand before turning and quickly making your way out of the lair.

You were too embarrassed to stick around, so you rushed home as quick as you could. But in your haste, you missed the way Leo gaped at his hand after you kissed it, the wide lovestruck stare he gave you as you scurried off, and the way he jumped and squealed and celebrated as soon as he was in the comfort of his room.

Surely the date you hastily planned would be one to remember, but for now you could both simply relish in the excitement and anxiety that new love brought.

[whiskeynwriting]

did we ever get the wedding/honeymoon for daddy whiskey? if not can I request for that please, and of course gotta add some cute white lingerie for the new bride too

I have not given you Daddy and Babycakes' wedding and honeymoon yet! But here it is now!! And the fact that you asked for it makes me want to cry from happiness 😭🥹♥️

Life is Better

Agent Daddy Whiskey x Female Reader

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Word Count: 9.4k

Warnings: 18+ (minors DNI)

Alcohol consumption, established relationship, brief mention of having kids, descriptions of a wedding/marriage/honeymoon, dirty talk, praise kink, daddy kink (that’s my daddyyy), spit kink, spanking, vaginal fingering, oral sex (m and f receiving), unprotected vaginal sex, cumplay

◆

A/N: I'm sorry for not posting this sooner babies! Still getting over this cold :( but it’s only one day and hey, who’s counting? (Me me definitely me I’m counting 😅🥲)

◆

Daddycember '22 Masterlist

Join My Taglist!

◆

When days aren’t easy for him, for whatever reason, he knows coming home to you will make it better. Today had been a hard day for him, mainly because of a case he’d been given. It required him to work at HQ during the week, which was in New York and away from you. Not only that, but he was working overtime on top of it all, and the workload was draining him. His body was tired and sore, and all he wants to do is come home, take a hot shower, and cuddle up in bed with you. 

“Honey?” He calls, his voice noticeably strained. 

The harsh sound of keys clanging in a metal bowl echoes throughout your shared home, his tired sigh following shortly thereafter. When he doesn’t hear your response, he frowns, stepping forward to look around once his boots are off. 

“Babycakes?” He shouts a little louder, turning down the hallway to the bedrooms. You’re not in any of them, and you’re not in the bathrooms, either. 

Coming into the living room, he takes a seat on the couch, groaning. He was looking forward to seeing you. But then, your sweet voice floats through his frustrated head, this morning’s words returning from his memory. I’ll be home late today, baby. 

If you were here, you’d probably coddle him. Honestly, it’s what he needs. He’s a big enough man to admit that. More often than not, Jack wore the pants in your relationship, and you were absolutely fine with that. But there were definitely days where he wanted to be kissed and caressed, times where he wanted to be held and tended to. Today, he needed you. But he’ll have to take care of himself.

He’s a grown man, he can do that, but it isn’t easy when he’s feeling down. But he goes through his routine like it’s nothing, something he consistently relies on. Walking into the master bedroom, he begins to undress, readying himself for a shower. Normally, he wouldn’t take one this early in the day, he usually did so before bed. But with the strain from his job now making his muscles ache, he figures the hot water will do him some good. Afterwards, he’ll find some comfy clothes to slide into, comb his hair and re-apply some deodorant. Maybe even make a snack. But for now, he’ll focus on the first step, getting undressed.

While removing his outer jacket, he reminds himself that it’ll only be a single afternoon spent without you, that he’ll be in your arms soon enough. If he distracts himself, it’ll feel like minutes instead of hours. There has to be something new on TV, a new novel he can download on his iPad, something. But just as his mind truly begins to wander, his fingers slide across something that pulls him away from his rambling thoughts. 

Looking down, the pad of his first digit slides over the thin metal of his ring, the one on his left hand. And he smiles, the first sense of relief he’s felt since the beginning of his day. He remembers when you’d put it on him, the words you said right before you did it, the way you looked, the day that it happened. 

It was springtime, the two of you tying the knot earlier this year. The day was sunny, no wind with the sky full of puffy, white clouds - perfect for an outdoor wedding. It might come as a surprise, but the event was small, much smaller than you yourself had expected given Jack’s outgoing nature. He had many friends, and loved his family. But when it came down to it, the only people he wanted there were the ones that mattered, the ones that contributed to your relationship. 

In all honesty, he completely expected the wave of emotion that consumed him once he saw you at the end of that aisle. Since the night you met, you’ve been his heart and soul. Tears welled in his eyes the moment you stepped before him, and he found it incredibly difficult to not just run down the aisle and sweep you off your feet right then and there. You’re his, and he finally had the chance to make it permanent. 

While your hair and makeup took more than an hour, you couldn’t stop the tears that spilled over the edges of your lash line. But at this point, you didn’t even care. Seeing Jack standing at the altar made you realize that he truly is your future. All the time put into the wedding venue and its decorations, it seemed pointless in that moment. Because you weren’t looking at the people who attended or the color schemes you chose, you were looking at him. 

The pastor had explained the concept of marriage to the two of you as you stood there before one another, you still holding your hand-picked bouquet. 

“Marriage is the clasping of hands, the blending of two hearts, the union of two lives into one.” It made your heart pound, hearing these words. “And your marriage must stand, not by the authority of the State, nor by the seal on your wedding certificate, but by the strength and power of the faith and love you have in one another.” And you know it will, you both do. 

Looking into Jack’s eyes, you take a breath, steadying your emotions. You’d waited for this day to come practically since you met this man. He’d charmed you that very first night, swept you off your feet and honestly, neither of you looked back after that. 

Once instructed to do so, you turn, giving your bouquet to your maid of honor. Moving to face your love once again, his hands are already out, waiting for your acceptance. And with a heart full of devotion and love, you do, placing your hands in his palms. 

Jack’s vows were first, his chest tightening with emotion to the point of him needing to take a breath. Lovingly, you squeeze his hands, his eyes returning to your own. You ground him. 

“I vow,” He begins, holding onto your hands with a secure grasp. “To protect you from everything bad in this world.” Immediately, you know what he means, what he’s referring to. “My passion and adoration for you can’t be expressed in words, baby. I just want you to know that I love you, more than myself, more than anything in this world. And every day that I’m by your side, I will provide for you, I will keep you happy and safe, honey. I’ll always care for you, I’ll always put our relationship first.” 

Smiling, you do your best to contain your own emotions, having already cried today. 

“You make me a better man than I ever thought I could be.” He tells you wholeheartedly, “For the rest of our lives, no matter what may come, I will always be here with you, sweetheart. I’ll be here to support you, to keep you warm and happy. I’ll never leave your side.” 

Gently, he lifts your hands, glancing down at them. Inhaling deeply, he continues, finishing the lines he’s memorized. “In life and death,” He promises quietly, “You are mine.” And then, he kisses your hands softly, gazing into your eyes as he lowers them. 

The muscles in your cheeks hurt from smiling so adoringly at your soon-to-be. Everything he just promised you is more than you could have hoped for or expected. Truly, Jack is everything to you. And after taking a moment to collect yourself, you recite your own vows, too. 

“Baby, you’ve given me a life I never knew I could have. Your love, your generosity, your devotion, it’s more than I could possibly ask for. But you give it all to me without a second thought, and I vow to return your sentiment, in every way that I can, for every day that you call me yours.” 

Honestly, Jack never knew he could love you more than he already does. But with each word that leaves your lips, he finds his adoration expanding, his passion burning brighter than it ever has before. 

“I promise, from this day forward, you’ll never have to face the world alone, baby.” With your voice wavering slightly, you swallow, inhaling a small breath. “I’ll be here to hold you when you need it, and support you when you don’t. I promise to uplift you every single day, reminding you of the wonderful man that I know you are.” And it’s true, he’s the best person you’ve ever known. 

“I cherish you, my true love. You’re everything I could ever want in a partner, in my best friend. I am forever thankful to have you, and beyond proud to call you my husband.”

Those deep, warm, kind brown eyes, never leave your own. He’s smiling too, a close-lipped grin that’s so bright his dimple is showing. And when you recite your final words, his hands tighten around yours, holding you as if he’ll never let you go.

“Today, and every day, I choose you.” 

The way he kissed you after you’d offered your rings took your breath away. With his dominant hand finding the side of your face, his other secured itself to your hip, bringing you in. Both of your own palms held his jaw, pulling him to you with just as much enthusiasm. 

“Jack,” It was a short giggle, pressing your forehead to his in the midst of his incessant kisses. 

“I love you.” He expresses, smiling before leaning in again to kiss you.

“Baby,” Comes your happy sigh, accepting his plush lips. “I love you, too.” 

Back in your shared home, Jack sits on the sofa, sighing. Lord, he misses you. He hasn’t seen you all week, not in person, at least. When you talked this morning, it had been over FaceTime. And damn, was he missing your pretty face.

He decided to make himself a snack, grabbing some fruit you’d cut up a few days prior. Taking a seat on the sofa, he glances around, admiring the space. It used to be his, his and his alone. And things were fine like that. But that was before you came along and made it something great. 

Kicking his feet up on the coffee table, he glances down when his heel knocks against something. A few special books were always stacked up on this table, the one on top being the most important of them all. Your wedding photo album. Immediately, he leans forward, grabbing it in hand. Something shot through him when he saw it, when he saw you, especially in that dress again. Flipping it open, his heart is struck with a love like nothing else he’s ever experienced. Thumb rubbing over the simple band of his ring, he grins, eyes scanning the pages. 

You looked ethereal in your gown, the pictures of the two of you at the altar truly taking his breath away. He’ll never get tired of seeing these memories. As he continues scrolling, he comes across the photos from the reception, of all your family and friends, the decorations you chose and the food you ate. It was extravagant, something he’ll never forget…

Now this, this was more up to Jack’s speed. Instead of a few people, your reception held hundreds. The wedding had been held outdoors, what with the beautiful weather and all. The venue you’d chosen was a fairly refined winery, with the reception taking place in a rather lively and modern barn. And boy, how lively it was. 

Jack hadn’t seen you the entire day, the two of you holding the tradition of him not admiring you in your bridal gown before approaching the aisle. And now that you were back by his side, he wasn’t planning on letting you out of his sight anytime soon. 

“C’mere, sugar.” He says, pulling you into his side. 

Happily, you moved where he tugged, meeting his lips once again. “Baby,” Putting a hand on his chest, you sighed. “Can’t you wait until our honeymoon?” You were teasing, he knew. 

“Oh honey,” Comes that deep southern drawl, “You bet I can’t wait ‘till our honeymoon.” 

Your entrance was lavish, your friends and family cheering and clapping while the two of you walked into the reception. And when he dipped you only moments ago, you smiled, once again being swept off your feet by him. 

But your first dance, that was truly the main event of your reception. He’d held you so closely, so warmly, that it made you fall in love with him all over again. The two of you had gone to a few dance lessons, but it was mainly for you, not him. And with him leading the dance, it went quite smoothly. And the way it made you feel… to have him fully, completely, and utterly tied to you for the rest of eternity, it was a sensation you’ll never be able to describe. 

The first time you were able to enjoy the details of your wedding was when you’d sat down with Jack at your sweetheart table. You opted for this instead of a head table for your wedding party, letting them each sit with their own dates and families. And from this view, you can see everything, all of the decorations and lighting choices, the flowers you chose and the entreés you favored. The beige and sage green coloring looks brilliant inside this spacious setting, the emerald hue to your bridesmaids’ dresses matching nicely. It was gorgeous, astounding, everything you dreamed it could be. Truthfully, it was the best night of your life. And it all happened because of Jack, he’s the one that made this possible. 

One of your favorite parts about this night was when the two of you cut the cake. After eating the extravagant dinner you'd both picked out, you walked over to the center of the room. The dinner though, was an excellent addition to an already excellent night. 

A mixed fruit salad with an infused raspberry vinaigrette started the sit-down meal, served alongside bruschetta with each table having their own charcuterie board. The main course consisted of either seared steak or herb roasted chicken, alongside grilled asparagus and a spring arugula salad. And lastly, of course, was dessert. On top of being offered slices from your cake, your guests had the options of assorted cheesecake, fruit tarts, mini pies, as well as a fruit table with a chocolate fountain at its center. Throughout the entire night, champagne was served alongside an open bar once your first dance had ended. 

When you finally got around to cutting your cake, Jack was an absolute gentleman while doing it. He held the knife with you, slicing it gently and feeding you a small piece of it. He didn’t want to be playful and get any on your face, he knew how long it took you to get ready today. And you did the same for him, but he accepted this slice of dessert a little differently than you. Briefly, before you pulled your hand away, he grabbed your wrist, bringing it back to him. Noticing the small amount of frosting on your finger, he wrapped his lips around it, quickly sucking it off while giving you a small wink. How was he so handsome? How is he so goddamn charming? And how on God’s green earth did you get lucky enough to call him your husband? 

After that, Jack couldn’t stand it. He needed to have a moment alone with you. And somehow, even when you were the center of attention, Jack managed to pull you aside. Bringing you down the short hall to the bathrooms, he corralled you into one, locking the door behind him. 

“Really?” You ask, offering an amused grin while you tease him. 

“Really.” He immediately returns, voice deep in his throat as he kisses along your own. 

His hands roam your waistline, sliding down to your hips and squeezing firmly. Your dress is tight, mermaid in style with long sleeves and a plunging neckline. You wanted it to remain elegant while still showing off your curves, and you’d say you succeeded in that. 

Groaning, he smirks, running his lips over you. “You got me in some kinda trance, woman.” Grabbing a fistful of your ass, he pulls you even closer to him. 

“Baby,” Gasping quietly, your hands slide up to his shoulders, holding onto him. 

“Baby, huh?” He asks, biting into your skin both gently and briefly. He won’t leave a mark, not until tonight. “What? Now that I’m your husband I’m no longer daddy?” 

“Jack,” At this, he lifts his head, looking into your eyes. “You’ll always be my daddy.” 

And just like that, his gorgeous grin returns, diving in to mouth at your lips. 

“I fuckin’ love you, babycakes.” While releasing a satisfied sigh, the hand on your ass slides down to the back of your knee, lifting your leg and wrapping it around his waist. “I can’t wait to take you tonight; make love to my wife.”

“Daddy, I love you.” It can’t be said enough, not on this night. “I love you.” 

Smiling to himself, Jack remembers when he had pulled you aside after cutting the cake. Jesus, you looked so good that night. You were perfect to him, you always are. He remembers how he looked at you, how he spoke to you and cared for you. It hasn’t changed. No matter the distance, your love for each other has never wavered. 

Distance. All week, he’d been hundreds of miles away from you. And he was so close to you now. You’re only a few miles away at work, he wishes you’d just come home. Jack loved to travel, but if it wasn’t by your side, then what was the point? He had so many journeys before you met, but only the best ones came after you entered his life. In fact, he had so many new experiences with you that night, ones he never thought he’d get the opportunity to have. The destination of your honeymoon had originally been your idea, and it didn’t take much convincing on his end. In fact, he was more eager to get there than you were… 

“You want another one, sugar?” All night, Jack has been doting on you. Escorting you to the bar, to the bathroom, retrieving refills of your drinks and taking you in hand to dance to every other song with you. He was having the time of his life, and you absolutely adored him like this.

“Sure, baby. Thank you.” 

Grabbing your hand, he smirks, kissing the top of it. “I’ll be right back.” 

While watching him walk away with your empty drink, you grin, a dreamy sigh slipping past your lips. Jack looks amazing in his tux, handsome and honestly stunning, in every sense of the word. Everyone always focuses on the bride and her dress, and while you’ve received many compliments tonight, you don’t think nearly enough have been aimed at him. His hair is styled perfectly, his skin smooth and bright. He smells incredible, too, his normal mix of fresh cedarwood. And his tuxedo fits perfectly, having been tailored to fit him exactly. Even after your multiple years together, he was still so fit; so tall and so strong. He didn’t have to promise to keep you safe, you know you’ll always be safe with him. 

“Here you go, honey.” He says, returning with your drink and setting it before you. “You doin’ okay?”

And then he looks at your pretty face, finally realizing your loving stare. Smirking, he furrows his brows, “What?”

“I’m doing so good, baby.” Your voice is smooth and light, happy. So beyond happy. 

Leaning down, Jack takes his seat beside you, looping his arm around your shoulder and pulling you in. With his hand on your cheek, he brings you in for a kiss, but when he’s done, he still keeps you close. 

“You know,” He whispers, fingers sliding down to tenderly stroke your chin. “I’ve been thinkin’ about us headin’ out for the night.” 

“Really?” Genuinely shocked, you grin. “I thought I’d be the one to give in.” 

Before today, the two of you discussed how you’d leave the reception. Say goodbye to each and every one of your guests, or… sneak out without being seen? It was a family tradition on both your sides. In fact, if you were able to leave without being noticed by your guests, it was supposed to be a sign of good fortune for your marriage. Plus, how fun would it be to be a little sneaky? 

“Yeah…” Warm brown eyes scan your face, that enticing smirk never leaving. “I’m havin’ a hard time keeping my hands off of you.” 

All you can do is smile; you’re absolutely smitten. 

“You look absolutely stunning, sweetheart.” When he says it, he sighs dramatically, eyes roaming the beauty that is you. “The prettiest thing I have ever seen.” The exact words he said to you on the first night you met. 

“Thank you, daddy.” It’s whispered, meant for only the two of you to hear. 

“C’mon,” Jack’s leaning in now, his face still only an inch away from your own. “Let’s go, babycakes.”

Ever the planner, Jack had made sure the limo stayed near the back exit of the establishment. You made your grand escape just as a song began, drawing everyone to the dancefloor and away from you. At this point in the night, it was nearly midnight, and while that may seem too early to leave your own party, you still had a flight to catch. You’d entertained the thought of flying to your destination the next day instead of early in the morning, giving yourselves time to rest after the wedding. But neither of you wanted to wait. 

With Jack’s hand on your lower back, he uses the other to open the door for you. Grinning wildly, you lean down into the limo, your husband’s hand falling lower to give you a gentle tap. Making sure the coast is clear, he takes one last look around. 

“Come on!” You hiss, laughing when he finally ducks his head in. “Did anybody see?”

That pearly grin washes over his face when he shakes his head. “Nope.” Grunting slightly, he situates himself beside you, sighing. “Looks like we got lucky.” 

“Maybe we were meant to be together after all.” You joke, smiling. 

Frowning playfully, he leans in, hand on your face once again. “Baby, you were made for me.” Without his prompting, you lean in to kiss him, cutting it short when you hear the driver climb in behind the wheel. Quietly, Jack finishes his sentiment with, “And don’t you ever forget it.”

This part of the night was incredibly busy. Once you’d arrived home, you had to change and get your luggage as quickly as possible. You both agreed on packing your wedding attire and bringing it with you on your private vacation, wanting to undress the other of it on your first marital night. And you thought that was a sweet idea. Honestly, it made you even more excited for it. 

Knowing how long the flight was, you both dressed yourselves in comfortable clothing, sweatpants and long-sleeved tees. You’d be seated for about ten hours, give or take, and then you had an hour car ride to your private lodge. So to say it was a lengthy day of traveling was putting it lightly. But Jack made it easy for you, carrying everything he could and keeping track of your itinerary. Even when you got a little crabby, Jack still treated you like his sweet baby. 

“You want some?” He asks, offering the bottle to you.

“Jack, I already told you I don’t want juice right now.”

“But that was when I had orange juice.” He replies, pouting. This time, he went and got grape. You’d told him you were thirsty, so why wouldn’t he go get something for you to drink? 

“Do you want me to get you some water?” Turning, he points further behind the two of you at a small shop. 

“I don’t want to inconvenience you.” Grumbling, you rub your head, your temples throbbing from lack of sleep. 

“It inconveniences me when you’re like this.” He mumbles not-so-quietly under his breath.

Turning your head to the side, you stare at him, releasing a heavy breath. Jack eyes you briefly from his peripheral while taking a sip of the grape juice he’d just bought, quickly looking away. 

Sighing in defeat, you slump back in your chair, closing your eyes. “I’m sorry, babe. I’m just tired.”

“Nah,” He shakes his head, leaning back and looping an arm around your shoulders. “It’s alright, babycakes. I know you’re tired.” 

Kissing your temple, he mumbles against your skin, “I’ll get you some water, baby doll. It’s never an inconvenience.” 

And on the plane, he was just as wonderful. He let you have the window seat, him sitting beside the aisle. It was first class, of course, Jack Daniels would have nothing less.

“Mr. Daniels?” A stewardess came by once you were seated, offering the two of you a drink menu. It was late by the time you were in the sky, but they wanted to offer you something before the cabin lights went out. 

Smiling, Jack takes a menu, glancing down at it. You intend to lean over and take a look yourself, but then the woman speaks again.

“Mrs. Daniels?”

Eyes going wide, you look up at her, and then to Jack. And he’s looking right back at you. Smirking wildly, he repeats her words to you. “Mrs. Daniels?”

Smiling shyly, a bashful heat washes over your face. This is the first time either one of you have heard someone say your new last name. Pride swells inside Jack’s chest, watching you reach across him to take the small menu from her hands. 

“Thank you.” Nodding slightly, you keep your grin, settling back into your chair with a sense of gratification. Truly, this is such an accomplishment. Finding the person you love more than anything else and getting the opportunity to build a life with them. Looking over at him again, you softly place your palm over his hand. How did you get lucky enough to call him your husband? 

Reliving these memories isn’t half as nice as it’d be if you were here. The two of you have looked over this photo album many times throughout your first year of marriage, pouring glasses of wine and lighting a fire, making a night of it. It’s the first time he’s looked at it while alone, and he thinks he’ll offer to do it together when you get home. It always makes you happy, how could it not? And it’s doing wonders to lift his own spirit right now.

Flipping through the pages, he stumbles across a new section, the one beginning your honeymoon. Neither of you had ever been to Switzerland before, and your romantic vacation had a beautiful blend of both sight-seeing and relaxing. Pictures of the two of you skiing, the two of you enjoying a night in the lodge’s hot tub, surrounded by a real-life winter wonderland. The cabin was so gorgeous, absolutely perfect for a two-person stay. Your honeymoon lasted two weeks, but neither of you ever wanted to leave. 

But just as he’s become lost in the memories of the snowy land you decided to vacation in, a picture falls from between the pages. Frowning, he looks down, picking it up from his lap. It had been taken on a polaroid camera, and as soon as he realizes it, he knows what this is. Smirking, he turns it around, witnessing your intricate lace lingerie spread out across a messy bed…

By the time you’d arrived at your private lodge, it was seven o’clock at night - a little past noon Kentucky-time. Napping on the plane gave you both a leg up when it came to finishing the day’s travels, so when you finally stepped foot inside the luxurious cabin, the two of you were ready to start the night. 

“You need any help, honey?” Jack asks, watching you begin to put your things away.

“I think I’m okay, baby.” Smiling, you turn around, walking over to him. “You know, I have a little surprise for you.”

Hands sliding up his shoulders, they land on the back of his neck, pulling him in. Easily, Jack follows your lead, his own hands running up your back.

“Really?” 

“Mhm,” Nodding, you lean up, kissing the tip of his nose. “I think you’ll like it.” 

“Well,” He sighs, that famous grin returning. “I could say the same thing.” 

Raising an eyebrow, you offer him an intrigued expression. But he doesn’t give you any hints. “Why don’t you go freshen up in the bathroom, babycakes? Put your weddin’ dress back on for me, too.” 

Leaning in, he sighs, kissing the shell of your ear before whispering, “I wanna be the one to take it off you.” 

Jack’s words send a spark right through your very being. The way he handled you sexually made you see stars, and you’re sure tonight won’t be an exception. 

Doing as he says, you turn, but not before giving him a quick kiss. While humming giddily, you stride into the ensuite, but just as you begin shutting the door, Jack shouts to you, “When you’re ready, darlin’, come into the living room.” 

One might think that from the way Jack presents himself, he’s cool, calm, confident, and collected. And while that is the case most of the time, when it came to you… he was different. At least on the inside. While he set up the living room, waves of anxiety continuously crashed into him. This is your first true wedding night together, why is he so nervous? You love him, you love him entirely; there’s nothing he should be worrying about. But since your very first date, worry has been plaguing his mind. Only when he did things such as this, though, only when he made grand surprises for you. Are there enough candles? Too many candles? Is the lighting right? Did I set the mood? Will she like it? Is it to her taste? 

If only he knew how impressed you were by him. Since day one, Jack Daniels has been the man of your dreams.

“Do you like it, honey?” Turning around, nervous eyes meet your own, his hands clasped together with fidgeting fingers. 

Breathless, you both stop in your tracks, staring at the other. You in your gown, and him in his tux. It feels like a dream all over again. And now, it’s just the two of you. 

Before you get the opportunity to answer him, he speaks again, entirely enamored by the sight of you. “Sweetheart,” Stepping forward, his hands find either side of your arms, sliding up until he’s holding your face. His eyes, roaming your figure, his heart, beating out of his chest. “You magnificent thing…”

“Jack,” You breathe out his name with a wide grin, tears welling in your eyes once again. “You… did this for me?”

“Of course I did, baby.” Finally, he brings you in, mouth finding your lips for a quick kiss. “‘Course I did."

Now that you don’t have your makeup on, he feels free to kiss your beautiful face, lips pressing to your chin, your cheek and jawline, before making their way to your neck. Now, he does bite you, now, he does leave a mark, sucking and mouthing at your delicate skin. And while he’s busying himself, you take this opportunity to scan the room, eyeing what he’s set up for you. 

This part of the lodge is made almost entirely of glass, windows covering every wall and even the ceiling. It’s so you can see the Northern Lights, once it’s time. On the main wall sits a grand fireplace, already lit with yellow flames burning, their glow dancing across the glass walls. Along the mantle sit candles of numerous shapes and sizes, all with their own miniature fires burning. And on the ground lay multiple blankets, maroon velvet with white pillows scattered along their edge. And finally, flowers, the same as your bouquet, placed in a vase on the coffee table. 

“Is it too much, my sweet thing?” He asks, sounding desperate already. 

Jack’s dominant hand slides down to your hip, his other rising to the back of your neck. He’s kissing you incessantly, the hairs above his lip tickling your skin. 

“Baby,” Turning to face him, your movement forces him away from your neck. “It’s everything.” Looking into his eyes, you smile, hands rising to hold his face. “You’re everything to me.”

At this, Jack nearly drops to his knees. His mouth is on your neck again, hands finding the back zipper of your dress. Simultaneously, he lowers himself while sliding it down, kissing along your midsection. Speechless, you watch as he reveals your body, freeing your arms of the sleeves, your torso of the gown, your legs from its hem. And once on his knees, the dress pools at your feet. It happens when he’s kissing your stomach, his realization. Grinning, he places both hands on your hips, looking up at you from his knees.

“For me?”

Nodding, you reach forward, fingers combing through his gorgeous hair. “Yes, daddy.” 

It’s white of course, signifying you as Jack’s new bride. And when you tell him that yes, daddy, this is for you, this is all for you, he dives in. Kissing along your stomach, he sighs out a breath, hands sliding down your thighs and squeezing them. And he’s still in his tux, no longer concerned with wrinkling it. 

Gently, Jack lifts your feet, allowing you to step out of the gown pooled at your feet. He’s placing sloppy kisses up your calves, your thighs, mouth coming to your hip with his teeth nipping at the lace. 

“Daddy,” Calling softly for your attention, he stops what he’s doing to look up at you. Caressing his hair softly, you request, “Will you lay down for me?” 

Jack had intended to take the reins, to make you feel small and pretty, make you feel coddled and cared for, to make you cum until you couldn’t think. But it looks like you have something else planned, and he wants to see where this leads. 

“Will you lay down on the blankets for me?” You repeat sweetly, looking into those warm, loving eyes. He nods.

“Sure, sweetie.” It’s a small grin that he gives, one of gentle surprise. 

While he moves back, you lean down, picking up your dress. Carefully, you lay it over one of the chairs in the corner of the room, wanting to preserve it in all its beauty. And then, you turn, making your way over to him. Now, he’s able to see you fully, eyeing the delicate lace wrapped around your curvaceous body. It looks stunning on you, the dainty and feminine fabric.

“Honey,” Swallowing, he watches you kneel before him, settling between his legs. “You look so fucking sexy in that.”

“Yeah?” Slowly, you slide your hands up his thighs, fingers resting on his belt when they get there. 

“Fuck yes.” He replies firmly, nodding. Lowering his head, he licks his lower lip while watching you begin to undress him. 

He assumes you’ll start at his belt, but this time, you go to his shirt. Unbuttoning each little detail before sliding out his outer jacket, the dress shirt beneath soon following. Your husband watches with admiration as you fold the pieces delicately, placing them on the couch nearby. And when you return to him, you’re kissing his skin. Your lips make their way down his tanned chest, the tightness of his ribs and the softening curve of his stomach. You’re worshiping him, just like he worships you. 

“Daddy?”

“Hm?” Licking his lips, his eyes find your own, worry swirling in them. “What is it, angel?”

“Can I put you in my mouth?” Lowering yourself, you hold his gaze, rubbing your cheek over his still-covered crotch. 

“Oh, angel.” Comes that deep, dramatic, southern sigh. “Of course you can. Of course you can.” 

It always makes him crumble, any little narration. With his blessing, you take off his belt, undoing the zipper on his dress pants. While he’d usually assist you in this, he lets you slide them down, taking off his socks, too. You had an agreement about this; he knows you want to undress him entirely by yourself tonight. 

When he’s fully naked, you don’t even focus on his erection, not yet. Making your way back up his body is the soft wetness of your tongue, sliding along his calves and thighs with kisses intermingling. 

He’s trembling, fingers fidgeting at his sides. Jack was a man of practiced patience, but when it came to you? He could never wait. 

“Yes.” It comes out as a hiss, accompanied by a long sigh when you finally grip him. 

Spreading his legs wider, he allows you to shuffle forward between his thighs, watching you angle your head above him so you can spit onto his tip. Your thumb swipes over the head, listening to him whimper it.

“Baby, please.” He’s been dying for you, ever since you said I do. 

Easily, you settle onto your stomach, sliding him into your mouth. It’s a simple motion, his cock gliding over your tongue, the roundness of his head hitting the back of your throat in one go. His skin here is so hot, so smooth, not unlike the rest of him. 

Already, bliss swims through his head. Watching you go down on him while wearing your new, white lingerie is fucking killing him. He feels like he could cum just from this. 

“Jesus Christ,” He huffs out when you gag, his hands falling to the back of your head. “Baby… my perfect little wife.” Finally being able to call you that makes his body fill to the brim with gratitude and pride. He doesn’t know how he found you, doesn’t know how he convinced you to say I do, but he’s beyond thankful for you. He knows how lucky he is to have you and he knows there will never be a day where he stops loving you. 

While keeping your mouth stuffed full of him, you look up, making eye contact while swallowing around him. That alluring grin is quickly replaced by a look of pure pleasure and shock, jaw dropping with his brows knitting together. 

Removing yourself quickly, you take in a breath of air. “Thank you, daddy.”

“Oh, baby. Baby -” He’s reaching out to you, holding your face and bringing you in again. “Put your mouth back on me.” 

And you do, wanting to be his perfect little wife. 

By the way he says it, you know he doesn’t have long. He’s been waiting for even the tiniest semblance of pleasure for hours on end, and you know he has a weak spot for when you look up at him. Pulling that card out of your back pocket, you do it again, innocent eyes staring into his while you drool over his pelvis. 

“Baby… J-Jesus,” The hands on your head pull you in even closer to him, fingers curling into your hair. “I, I… I’m gonna…”

“Mhm,” Mumbling, you nod, staring at him even when his head drops back. 

“I’m gonna c-cum, oh, I’mgonnacum.”

You’d gone down on him for barely five minutes, and already, he’s unloading into your throat. Honestly, it’s a confidence booster, knowing you can do this to him. It’s thick and heavy, salty and sticky, just like it always is. But you swallow it down regardless, your core tingling just from tasting him. Eyes rolling back, you close them, sighing. 

In gentle bliss, Jack’s hips roll up against you, balls tightening as he spills into your mouth. He can feel your tongue moving, swishing his spend around while ushering it directly down your throat. The sound of your cute little mouth-sounds has him reeling, cock hardening all over again. It makes him sensitive, the overwhelming pleasure you give him.

You give him time, keeping him inside until he’s finished. And he loves that, his chest puffing out with every breath. When you do finally release him, it’s alongside a quiet sigh. “That was quick.”

You’re grinning, and so is he. The teasing words coming from your sinful lips make him chuckle, still trying to catch his breath. Honestly, he’s not surprised he came quick. In all his years of living, he’s never seen something as beautiful as you. And now, you’re his, really his. 

“You look so good when you cum, daddy.” Crawling forward, you climb onto his lap, fingers stroking his smooth chin. Leaning in, you kiss his cheek, whispering, “You’re so handsome, daddy.”

“Baby,” Grabbing the back of your head, he urges it to the side, teeth digging into your neck. “You’re so good for me. You know that? You make me so happy, you’re such a good girl for me.” Even after he’s cum, he’s rambling, high on the excitement of this night. 

“Daddy,” Subconsciously, you grind over him, your smooth lace sliding along his growing erection. 

“Take this off,” He demands, already doing it for you with his own hands. “I need to see your body.” 

He doesn’t want to tear it but god dammit, there are too many ribbons and buttons and fuck it, he ends up ripping the front of it open.

“Baby!”

“I’m sorry, honey, I’m sorry, I just -” He can’t even finish his sentence. As soon as your tits spill out, his mouth is on them, sucking your nipple inside and running his tongue across it. 

“Oh my god, yes…” Naturally, you cradle his head, letting him suck on your chest.

“My pretty girl.” He mumbles over your skin, both hands finding your ass to help grind you against him.

Swaying your hips to his rhythm, you smirk, feeling the wetness of him. The wetness of his mouth, his cock, the space between your legs that reacts so openly to him…

“You’re mine - my girl, my precious fuckin’ thing.” He’s rambling, drunk from you, from your touch and your love. “Forever, baby. Always, you hear me? Always.”

“Always.” You repeat, nodding, promising. 

With slow and gentle movements, Jack pushes you forward, laying you on your back with him hovering above. The pillows he’d placed surround the blankets’ edges, allowing you to rest your head on them no matter where he puts you. 

He doesn’t leave your chest, moaning quietly while he licks you. His eyes are closed, enjoying himself while he continues undressing you. Sliding the fabric from your body completes his request, dropping the damaged fabric on the floor outside the edges of your blanketed space. And after that, he doesn’t waste any time, shifting himself to lay between your legs. It’s then that he finally leaves your chest, lifting himself to rest his face in the dip of your neck. 

“Honey…” He sighs, lifting a hand to lick his first three digits. And then he’s lowering them, rubbing them over your sex. 

“Baby,” You whimper in response, hands clinging to his shoulder and neck. 

Sliding a finger in, it’s like he’s testing the waters, seeing how ready you are for him. As if you’d be anything other than soaking on your wedding night. 

“You want me, honey?” He asks, turning his head to kiss your cheek.

“Yes,” Nodding, you lift your legs, encasing him between them. “Yes, daddy.”

Languidly, he pumps his middle digit a few more times, sliding it in and out of your velvety center. It allows him to breathe for a moment, to let himself take it all in. 

“Baby,” The tip of your nose touches his face, his cheek, bringing him back to you with the small whisper of, “Please.” 

His body responds before his mind does, removing his finger and using that same hand to hold himself. Turning his head, he looks at you, the ethereal image of his wife, as he slides into you. 

“Baby,” He drawls, eyes rolling back, head dropping to your chest. 

Naturally, his hips begin to move, slow and lovingly as he plunges into you. He feels thick, heavy, sliding into you all the way to his base until he’s retracting so he can do it all over again. His motions become heated, your arms looping around his neck, hands guiding him back to your breasts. 

“Oh, baby.” He gasps out, the motion of his hips steady yet fluid. You're holding his head, sighing airly while his lips return to your chest. “Daddy loves it, baby doll, he loves when you shove his face into these sweet, pretty titties.”

“Daddy,” Cradling his head, you encourage him, fingers curling into his hair.

That’s all it takes for him to absolutely ravish you, his muscular arms moving between your back and the blankets to hold you. It feels possessive, heated, Jack’s hips rolling into your own as his lips focus on your nipples, licking them repeatedly, tenderly. 

Linking your legs around his lower back, he groans, biting into your neck. He loved when you did that, when you wrapped him in your limbs. He’s all you want, all you’ve ever needed since you met him. 

“P-Please,” Gasping tightly, your eyes pinch shut, hips thrusting up to meet his own. “Please don’t stop.”

But then Jack’s dominant hand slides out from beneath your back, landing on your hip and pushing you down. “Let daddy take care of you, sweetheart.” He’s whispering, lips mumbling over your breasts. “Let daddy take care of the sweet girl he knows you are.”

Easily, he finds your g-spot, his tip repeatedly pounding into it. More so than normal, it takes the breath from your lungs, something about the ring on your finger making everything feel different. 

“Baby doll,” He’s smiling, chuckling. “I can’t wait to fill you up.” And then he lifts his head, kissing your jawline, your cheek. “But I can’t do that ‘til you cum for me.”

“I’m going to d-daddy.” Your head tilts back, pushing into the pillows with your eyes pinched shut. “I’m going to…” 

“Babycakes,” The same hand that’s keeping you down rises to your face, grabbing your jaw and turning you to face him. 

With mesmerized eyes, you stare up at him, at the most amazing man you’ve ever known. “Daddy?”

“Cum for me.” Is all he says before diving in to meet your lips, tongue sliding in. 

Both of your hands hold the back of his head, moans echoing into his throat. And he wants them, wants to keep them, every single beautiful noise you make for him.

Shaking hands cling desperately to your husband, feeling his warm skin, the muscles beneath the surface. And the only reason he leaves your lips is to say, “Honey, you make me feel things,” Jack admits, losing his breaths. “You make daddy feel things that he’s never felt before.” 

“Daddy, please,” Chest tightening with emotion, your hips roll up against him again. 

“Daddy’s got you, baby, you beautiful thing.” His own body shivers from the sensation of it all, holding back from cumming inside you. He wants to feel you. “Are you gonna cum for him?” 

“Yes!” It’s overwhelming, feeling the repeated drag of him against your walls, his unrelenting pace, his sturdy body holding you so possessively, yet so gently. 

It’s quite a rare thing, tears forming from this. The passion, the euphoria of it all, knowing you have this blessing in your hands for the rest of time. You’re floating, smiling while the wetness runs down the sides of your face, the sensation of it rolling through you with grace. And still, you cling to him, never wanting to go without his embrace. 

“Oh my god,” Shaking his head, he kisses your cheek, warm lips pressing tenderly to your skin. 

But he doesn’t let you revel in it, removing himself from your heat quicker than expected. It makes you gasp, the sound shrill and airy. Sitting up on his knees, he gazes down at you, chest rising and falling with rapture while his eyes rake over you. Broad hands fall to your hips, fingertips caressing your stomach. 

“Sit up for me, angel. Please?” His voice is quiet and caring; he’s speaking so sweetly to you. “Wanna cum in you from behind.”

“You do?” 

“You think I’d only give you one round tonight?” Tilting his head, he gives you a half grin, body already reaching out to move you.

Limply, you allow it, grinning giddily as he does it. Hauling your hips into the air is the strength of his broad hands, holding onto you with a firm grasp. Shuffling forward, he brings himself to you, resting his already leaking erection between your cheeks. His hands guide you, urging you to roll your hips back against him as he slides through the curves of your backside, rubbing up and down, up and down…

He enjoys this briefly before you change the angle, allowing him to slide inside. He gasps when he enters you, while you sigh in relief, chuckling slightly from the shock in his voice. 

“Holy shit,” He huffs, holding firmly to your hips once he’s fully seated inside. “Goddamn baby, you’re a needy little thing, aren’t you?”

“Baby, you know I always want you.” You’re grinding back against him, wanting more. You know how harshly he treats you in this position, and you’re eagerly anticipating it. 

Nibbling on the corner of his lower lip, he groans, staring down at the graceful sway of your hips. Pushing you forward slightly, he slides out halfway, only to haul you back against his body. Gripping the maroon-tinted blankets, you force yourself back against him, listening to Jack’s harsh grunts and groans as you fuck each other in earnest. The driving force behind his thrusts is aided in his grip on your hips, jaw dropping as he listens to the lewd squelch of it.

“You’re still so wet,” He tells you, in absolute awe. “Still so fucking creamy, baby…” 

“Daddy, you make such a fucking mess of me.” You’re burying your head in the pillows, crying out and nearly shrieking. He’s punching himself into you, his breaths harsh and heavy. 

He knows you’ll be exhausted after this, and he probably will, too. But he knows he wants more, he wants to do more to you. 

“Daddy’s gonna cum baby, okay?” Heaving out desperate breaths, he then promises, “And then I’ll please your pretty clit. I’ll lick it for you, I’ll suck on it, too.” 

“Oh…”

“You want that, honey?” He asks, grunting as he feels those familiar waves of bliss. “You want daddy to lick you?” 

“Yes, yes please. Please, baby.” You’re still bouncing back against him, pulsing around the thick intrusion of him. 

Seeing you bent over like this was always exhilarating for him. You were always so submissive, so trusting of him. You absolutely adored him. And the feeling of ecstasy flowing through Jack’s body is a beautiful promise of the future ahead of him. 

He crumbles over your body, heaving desperately, wrapping his arms around you. One of his hands finds its way to your chest, just barely fondling your breasts. Really, he’s holding you, rolling his hips into you. The feeling of it isn’t foregin, not to either of you. Emptying himself inside is something he’s almost always done with you, and one day, he hopes it takes root. He knows he wants children with you. But he’s not thinking about that right now; right now, he’s thinking about how he’s feeling. The pleasure buzzing through his body, the way his body reacts to the woman beneath him, to his incredibly devoted, stunningly beautiful, wife. 

Reaching back, your hand finds the back of his head, holding onto him. You’re both panting, wishing the night wasn’t over yet. And with that thought in mind, his hands are on your hips again. Pulling out, he’s much slower this time, head tilting down to watch his spend spill from your insides. 

“Baby doll,” It comes out as a whine, and it surprises you. Turning, you intend to look back at him, but he’s shoving you forward again. 

“Oh,” Your cheek presses into the pillows, hands reaching forward to stabilize yourself on them. And then his tongue lands on your sex, making your eyes roll back. 

He’s whining, leaning over while he eats you from behind. It’s like he’s gone submissive, whimpering while licking into you, his body tingling when he hears your praise.

“Baby…” Reaching behind, you grab hold of his hair. “That’s so good…”  

You’re leaking, and he’s rubbing his face against you, drowning in you. His tongue glides up through your folds, his hands spreading you open from behind. 

“Oh my god,” With your fingernails scraping against his scalp, he gasps against you, suctioning his mouth to your pink and puffy lips. “Daddy.”

“You know I love it, baby.” He slurps from you, groaning deeply. “Sweet fuckin’ thing. Letting me do whatever I want to you.” Fingers pressing harshly into your cheeks, he presses his lips to the plumpness of them, sighing. 

“Daddy, please.” You’re reaching for him again, begging for his attention. 

“What is it, babyakes?” Lifting himself, he peers down at you, lids heavy with lust. 

“Come back to me.” And he does, he immediately does. 

Lifting himself full, he crawls over your body, helping you to lay on your back now. His chest presses to yours, his breaths calming as he wraps his arms around your back. He nuzzles into your neck, moaning and sighing happily when he feels your legs wrap around his lower back. Your hands find his hair again, stroking his full locks with tender care. The moment is quiet, calm, each of your bodies relaxing alongside the other’s. You feel at peace, complete, with the other half of your puzzle piece.

Opening your eyes, you hadn’t even realized you’d closed them until a dazzling ray of color prompts it. Looking up into the night sky, you see it, the sight provoking a warm smile from you. Turning, you whisper to him, getting him to look up, too. 

The Northern Lights, the blues and purples and greens dancing across the sky. It’s mesmerizing - you truly can’t look away. But Jack does. As beautiful as it is, nothing could tear him away from the sight of you. Leaning in, he grins, kissing your cheek. He’s in love with you, and will be until the day he dies, and through whatever comes after that, too. 

Jack remembers that feeling, the intense emotions he felt that night. It was more than he ever could have hoped for or expected. His happiness was incomparable, he was elated, filled with absolute joy. Nothing could have brought him down in that moment, not when he was with you. Your warm bodies pressed together so lovingly, the affection you hold for each other is genuine and true. It was from the start, and it always will be.

The meaning of your relationship brings out profound emotion within him, his chest sucking in a deep breath as he smiles brightly. And his happiness only amplifies when he hears the front door open, listening to the sweet-soft voice of you. 

“Baby?” And then the door closing, the shuffling of you kicking off your shoes. “I’m home!” 

Immediately, he’s on his feet, setting the book down and turning toward you. He’s grinning wildly, striding in your direction and wrapping you in his embrace. With a large and happy sigh, he lifts you, twirling you slightly. 

“Baby!” You laugh, arms looping around his neck. And when he sets you down, you look up into his eyes, wondering, “What’ve you been up to?” 

You’ve always told him that he gave you a life you never thought you could have. What you fail to realize is you’ve done the same for him. He never thought he’d be blessed like this. Before, life was good. But now? Life is definitely better with you. 

[twdbegins]

Having Sex on a Run with Rick

Rick Grimes x Fem! Reader

Request: Hay, I recently became active on your blog; And I love it so much already!? Your work for Rick? 😤 It’s damn fine! We need more for him,,I was wondering if I could get something for Rick where Reader and him are on a run and Reader feels frisky? Lust comes over the two and they make out, getting each other off? Basically they’re having a quickie on a run? Because the adrenaline is pumping if you get my gist... @positive-squid​

Warnings: Smut. Profanity. Sexual content.

Rick could tell that something was off with you.

You weren’t acting badly or mean or anything. 

But you seemed...antsy.

At first, he assumed that you were getting a little stir crazy.

Things in Alexandria had been good for a while, and mostly everyone had been sticking around trying to improve camp.

Even though Alexandria was extensive, he could understand how someone could still feel a bit caged in.

So he suggested that you accompany him on a run.

The two of you were close friends, so he didn’t see any issue with it.

He almost felt bad at how excited you got over it.

Rick figured that the group could always use more resources, so he didn’t feel as if this run was just for killing time.

You were bubbly as you slid into the passenger seat, positively stoked to be getting out for a bit.

Rick knew of a few places that needed to be scouted, so at least the two of you could get a day’s work out of this run.

It started as business as usual.

The two of you chatted as you scrounged for food or whatever else you could possibly use.

“Does Carl still need a pair of bigger boots? I think I just found a pair.”

“Sure, thanks. Do you think that Daryl would use this hairbrush?”

“Very funny.”

It was a pretty textbook run. The two of you chatted while you looked for things, throwing anything and everything even semi-useful into your backpacks.

Not to mention...it was brutally hot.

While it was a bit difficult to really ever truly know what day it was...

It was always unmistakable when summer had come back around.

The days were blistering hot and even the evenings were sticky and warm.

Sweat dripped down your back as you navigated the abandoned building that was somehow trapping more heat that you would’ve anticipated.

You had glanced over at Rick at one point to check on him, when you saw that he was having the same problem.

Sweat beaded around his forehead, some of it sliding down his face and neck.

He glistened in the daylight, his hard work being proven through his perspiration.

You couldn’t take your eyes off of him. 

It was the strangest feeling to be so drawn into him.

Sure, you had always found him attractive. It was hard to deny.

But you hadn’t really ever had a chance to just...look at him.

You eyed over his hands and arms as they moved stuff around.

His muscles flexed and relaxed in the most captivating way.

The veins in his hands and forearms were prevalent from both the heat and all the strenuous movement. 

His dark curls were damp with sweat, yet he still looked so clean.

Your sights diverted to his hips, watching the way his legs moved in such a calculated way.

All kinds of dirty thoughts plagued your mind.

The thought of his hands around your throat.

His fingers in your mouth,

His cock buried somewhere deep inside of you.

He looked perfect.

A little too perfect.

It didn’t take him long to catch your stare, a confused smile as a quirked brow appearing on his features.

“Something wrong?”

You snapped out of your trance, embarrassed that he had just caught you staring. 

“Nope!” You had squeaked, “All good here.”

He brushed it off, thinking you were tired from the day’s work.

It wasn’t until you were loading up the vehicle with all of your found resources that he noticed it again.

He noticed the way your eyes followed his every move.

The way you were listening extra closely when he spoke.

Something was on your mind, but he just didn’t expect that he was on your mind.

The two of you climbed into the truck, him in the driver’s seat and you in the passenger’s seat. 

But he didn’t start the truck.

Instead he looked over at you, catching your bashful gaze.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” Rick asked, this time a little more determined to figure it out.

You refused to admit to him that you had been pining over him for the last hour and a half.

Deny, deny, deny.

“Oh, I’m fine. I’m just tired.”

Rick wasn’t buying it.

He wasn’t buying that at all.

“You know, if something is bothering you, you can tell me. I don’t want you to be unhappy if it’s something I can fix.”

Oh, it was definitely something he could fix alright.

But still, there was no way that you were telling him that.

“I really am fine, Rick. Honestly.”

He still wasn’t convinced, but he didn’t want to push you.

He started the truck, thinking that he’d get through to you sooner or later.

The ride was quiet, both of you too caught up in your own thoughts to say much of anything. 

You had tried to push your dirty thoughts aside, trying your hardest to control your feelings towards him.

But the way he looked in the late afternoon sun filtering in through the windows, mixed with the way he kept throwing side glances at you...you couldn’t.

“Pull over.”

“What?”

“Pull over, please.”

Rick obliged, worried that something was wrong.

He barely even managed to get the truck in park before you crawled over the center console into his lap.

He didn’t even have time to be stunned, because your lips crashed into his before he could speak.

It surprised you, but Rick didn’t really question it.

He kissed back with the same energy, fiery and passionately desperate.

His hand came to the back of your neck, keeping you close and allowing your lips to hover over his when you pulled back for air.

He could feel the heat pooling between your legs through his pants, and he knew it wasn’t from the summer heat.

“I never knew you felt so strongly about me.” Rick had chuckled, already breathless from the heavy kissing.

He groaned when you dragged your clothed cunt over his thigh while you worked on getting his pants unbuckled.

He caught you in another kiss while you stroked his cock to an erection, his spine shuddering at the feeling of you touching him like this.

You praised yourself for deciding to wear shorts, getting them off with your free hand and with ease.

You knew you had limited space, since you weren’t too keen on doing this outside of the truck.

Not that you minded being in close quarters with Rick.

This was going to be a quick fuck. 

You knew that this was the scratch the itch and the address the tension that had been building for a while.

Rick didn’t seem to mind that.

His fingers dragged through your folds, collecting your arousal as he rubbed the pads of his fingers on your clit.

You moaned at the feeling, the waves of pleasure already beginning and he hadn’t even gotten inside of you yet.

“You were really happy to be with me, huh?” Rick teased, spitting into his hand and lubricating himself just to be sure he didn’t hurt you.

Before you could respond, your hips were lifted by his hands and he slammed you down onto his cock to the point where your hip bones touched his. 

A synchronized moan fell from your and Rick’s mouths, both of your head lulling back in ecstasy.

Rick wasn’t even moving yet and he was already stretching and filling you perfectly.

Suddenly, Rick was taking charge, which only added to your arousal.

He gave you a second to adjust to his size, letting you wriggle in his lap until you found an angle that was comfortable.

His hand tapped the side of your leg, prompting you to start moving.

You rotated between bouncing on his lap and rolling your hips, making sure that the satisfaction went both ways.

It was intoxicatingly perfect.

The way he felt stretching you and hitting every bundle of nerves possible.

The hot kisses and the heavy touches were everything you had ever dreamed of with Rick.

Your bounces were met by his thrusts, hitting your g-spot in the most flawless way.

You knew it wasn’t going to take long to get off. 

This had been building up for far too long for your climax to be drawn out.

“Fuck, you’re perfect. Feel so good.” He babbled, cheeks flushed and pupils blown.

His head was reeling, and he wasn’t sure that he was totally comprehending what was happening right now.

All he knew is that he didn’t want this to be the first and only time.

His cock throbbed inside of you, his own release begging to be spilled out into you.

You felt the twitch, and that in and of itself is what caused your orgasm to break out all over you.

You came with a squeaky moan, your entire body tensing up around him as your head fell to his shoulder and your hands gripped the back of the seat.

He thrusted a couple more times before he came as well, his release spurting into you and milking his cock white as he groaned out your name.

Your bodies went limp, chests heaving with heavy breaths and post-coital sighs.

His hand rubbed up and down your back slowly, his cum leaking out of you and onto his bare thighs.

A few minutes of silence passed before you raised your head.

Your dilated eyes met his, and what you saw was pure lust and content.

Most importantly, you could see the anticipation through his eyes, all the way to his soul.

You weren’t sure why, but something in your gut told you that this wouldn’t be the last time that you fucked Rick Grimes.

[myakkun]

CALLING THEM A PET NAME FOR THE FIRST TIME

character(s): sano manjiro, ryuguji ken, haitani rindou, haitani ran x gn!reader

notes: this is probably rlly ooc so i’m sorry in advance!! i just need more practice writing them

warnings: none

SANO MANJIRO

mikey is so used to giving people nicknames but not at all used to that endearment being reciprocated. and you’ve only ever called him mikey and the occasional shortened down mike. (though there are those certain moments when he pisses you off and you pull the full name card. those moments scare him, though he would never admit it).

so one day when the two of you are lounging around, you in the kitchen trying to make dinner and him in the living room watching something on tv, and he hears a “baby, can you come help me for a second?” it takes him nearly a solid minute to reboot himself enough to saunter into the kitchen.

“what?” he asks as he walks in, slippers tapping against the tile as he watches you stir whatever you have in the pot on the stove.

“can you come help me?” you repeat, flashing him a smile over your shoulder. “i can’t stop stirring this, i need you to hand me the spices from the cabinet.”

“no,” he answers immediately, then shakes his head at your pout. “i mean, what did you call me?”

your brows furrow as you stare at him, your stirring stuttering for a moment. “uh, baby? is that.. not okay? we’ve been together for a while now so i figured—”

“yeah,” he nods, cutting you off. as he takes steps to close the distance between the two of you, arms wrapping around you from behind, a wide grin stretches across his lips. “i’m totally your baby. definitely.”

“good,” you mirror his smile as he leans in to give you a toothy kiss. “but i still need those spices.”

“call me baby again first.”

congratulations, you’ve created a monster.

RYUGUJI KEN

honestly, draken had expected you to call him by some sort of pet name a hell of a lot sooner than you did. he’d heard you call your friends babe, been there countless times when you addressed everyone with some term of endearment.

but it still doesn’t mean he’s any less caught off guard when you finally get around to doing it one sunday afternoon.

it’s your lazy day, the only one you ever really get with your boyfriend it seems. you’re sitting on the edge of the couch, draken perched on the floor between your legs as you work your fingers through his hair, braiding it back for him. you run a single finger down the zigzag when you’re finished.

“there,” you hum, sliding your hands down to cup his face in your hands, tipping his head back so he’s forced to look up at you. “all done, pretty boy.”

if it weren’t for the way your palms are pressed to his cheeks, you wouldn’t even be able to catch his reaction. but since they are, you get the experience of his face heating up beneath your hands by the second. and you can’t help the smile that finds its way to your lips.

“aw, kennie are you blushing?” you coo, a laugh bubbling out of you as draken twists onto his knees to bury his face in your stomach, arms wrapping around you.

“i’m not,” he tries to reason, and you can feel him frown against your abdomen.

it’s quiet for a moment. you start to play with the end of his pretty braid you’ve just finished, twirling it around your finger. and then.

“you forgot the ‘my’ in front of that.”

HAITANI RINDOU

apart from ‘brat’ and ‘jerk’, there’s never been much nickname giving within your and rindou’s relationship. it’s all lovingly (sort of) but it’s still not sappy. ever.

and you’re fine with that because honestly you get enough of a kick out of watching your boyfriend attempt to hide how flustered he gets when you call him ‘rin’. you don’t need to do anything else because you’re content with what you do now.

then one night he comes home really late from a meeting (even later than his normal late)—and blame anxiety, paranoia, or whatever—but you can’t sleep for the life of you. you’re stuck pacing around the apartment, fingers fisting up the front of rindou’s shirt you pulled on to try to comfort you, checking the time every five seconds.

the second you hear the apartment door open you’re running and basically throwing yourself at the candy haired man. he stumbles, stabilizing the both of you with a hand to your back all while kicking the door shut behind him.

“the hell’s gotten into you?” he grumbles, though his palm stays pressed to your back.

“i’m sorry,” you breathe out, loosening your grip around him slightly, leaning back enough to look him in the eyes. “you’re late. you scared the hell out of me, babe.”

“babe? since when am i babe?”

“since i just drove myself crazy for two hours wondering if you’d be coming home,” you huff, a slight pout playing at your lips.

rindou’s eyes don’t leave yours as he seems to chew over your words for a moment, and even if his face is a stark neutral (almost a frown, really), the way he pulls you closer, as if he’s trying to comfort you, is enough.

“whatever,” he says, finally. hooking his chin over your shoulder. “babe is fair, i guess.”

HAITANI RAN

the only reason you’d never called ran a pet name is because rindou had told you he hated such things. (but looking back, you were stupid for ever listening to your boyfriend’s brother in the first place. you should’ve known better).

he’s called you by things other than your name, but only when he’s about to pass out in bed or when he’s drunk off his ass after some meeting. so still, it’s not really a normal thing in your relationship.

that all changes when one night the two of you are walking around well after midnight—the only time you feel fully comfortable going out with him really, without feeling the need to look over your shoulder constantly—just peering through store windows and admiring displays.

you pause in front of a jewelry store’s window, stepping out from under ran’s arm to admire a necklace that caught your eye.

this was a normal thing for the two of you. you walking down the streets until you found something you sort of like. admiring it for a few minutes as ran waits for you to rejoin him. then that same thing mysteriously appearing on your dresser a few days later. (along with an article in the newspaper, but that’s not important).

this time though, ran doesn’t just wait on the sidelines. he steps up beside you, bending at the waist to admire the piece in the display.

“this would look so good on you,” he muses, a slight smirk curling his mouth.

and you, well you’re so caught up in admiring the necklace, hand resting just below your neck as you think about wearing it, that you don’t realize what you’re saying.

“you really think so, baby?”

ran jerks up so fast it makes you jump, effectively knocking you out of your trance, and placing a hand over your heart. you glare at him, huffing out a (slightly dramatic) sigh.

“what? you almost gave me a heart att—“

you’re cut off as ran reaches forward and grips your jaw, pulling you closer until his lips are brushing against yours. he’s still making eye contact, a glint in them from the street lamps.

“repeat that for me, yeah? wanna hear you say it again.”

likes & reblogs appreciated !

[trashiewrites]

Symphony

(Simon “Ghost” Riley x Reader)

(I'm B A CK AND WITH A FIC TO SHOW MY RETURN!! I have a job as well as college so writing these haven't been my priority! but I'm glad to be back)

Life has always been simple, wake up, train, eat, work, sleep. That was the just of it. Working with the 141 I've surely seen my fair share of atrocities. I've done so much but there is just something missing. I stared out the window, the sky shined the dark blue littered with shiny white stars.

I tilted my head, taking note of my slight reflection in the glass. "I look so tired..." my brown eyes seemed unamused by it all, the day-by-day routine I've been living in for god knows how long. Either way, no use dreading on it I suppose.

I held my mask in my hands. The marks and scratches that were lightly scattered in the fabric told stories. "We've been through so much, haven't we, old friend?" I glanced at the time, '11:30' "I should sleep... big day, as usual." I gently folded up my mask, placing it at my bedside. Turning off the lamp and lay down on the bed. Letting sleep overtake my senses. ____________________

"Alright! Fall in and settle down." Captain Price spoke loudly over the crowd. From what I hear they have some news, perhaps a new op briefing announcement? I look around someone seems to be missing.

"I wonder where MacTavish is..." I whispered it under my breath. 'Must be doing his own thing I suppose.'

"You've got something to say Ghost?" I stiffen slightly, caught by surprise by the captain's callout.

"I'm just curious on where MacTavish is Captain."

"Well, I'm right here Ghost! Ya miss me or something lad?" The platoon slightly chuckled, quickly silenced by Prices piercing gaze. "Anyways, 141 I have someone I'd like to introduce." Next to MacTavish was a woman who stood there proudly. Yet if you knew where to look, you'd be able to tell she was nervous.

"I'm (Y/N) (L/N)! My specialties are Infiltration and Computer science!" MacTavish wrapped an arm around her shoulder and smiled at all of us.

"To put it, we have our own resident Hacker!" MacTavish took a step forward. "Besides that, we are having a briefing tomorrow in the morning. So training will be moved to the afternoon. Any questions?"

"No Sir!" We all yelled in unison.

"Good, Fall out!" As I was about to turn and head out a hand grabbed my shoulder. "You ain't free yet Ghost. I have to talk to you."

"Is this a personal matter sir?"

"I'd say 50/50 on both categories." Captain smiled as he opened the doors to the captain's offices.

"John! You jerk! You just had to but me on the spot like that!" From inside the room, I could hear the newbie.

"Hey hey! Relax, I have a guest! Yell at me later (y/n)." I walk in from right behind and well her expression quickly changed.

"Why didn't you say that sooner..." she looked away from me, crossing her arms.

"Cause you were busy yelling." I held back a small chuckle, yet in that girl's eyes, I see the urge of wanting to punch him in the face. I'd have to admit, for being new she getting really close to the captain. "Anyways, (y/n) this is your lieutenant, Ghost. He will be training and getting you up to speed."

"What? Why?"

"Ghost, me and Price are busy with work, and I trust you to get my cousin up to speed."

"Cousin?" Well, bo wonder they are so comfy with each other, they're related... "makes sense, bit captain. I mean no disrespect sir but I really don't have time to balance this all out."

"Uh.. lieutenant?" I looked back to see her, hand extended. "I'm really excited to work with you in training. I understand if you are too busy, surely I can catch up by learning from the others!" Her smile... it's adorable... 'cut the shit, Simon.' I sighed, I'll just admit defeat this time. I honestly feel as I can't say no, then again, something is telling me I shouldn't.

I sighed, "fine, I'll train her..."

"I knew you'd come around to it!" MacTavish smiles, him heading to the door. "Now you two have a lot to do! I suggest getting to know each other a bit first!" It's what I'd describe as being informally kicked out of his office. As we stood outside the door silence filled the air.

"I'm really sorry... John has always been a bit of jerk sometimes." I turned over to see her looking embarrassed, frustrated even.

"No need to stress about him kid, I know what he's like. I've been working with him for years." I took her shoulder into my hand gently turning her to face me, "Above all else, he is an accomplished leader. Now, we have a lot to do kid."

"R-right!" I'm not sure what was running through my head but I grabbed her hand. Once I realized I quickly let go.

"Uh sorry... that was improper of me." I need to silently beat myself up for this later. 'God! What is wrong with me today...'

"Ahh, no it was fine lieutenant! No worries! No harm is done"

"R-right, let's go." I continued, pulling my mask up. Hopefully, my face is covered so no one can see this mess.

_____________________

I looked from across the track, watching as the timer ticked each second. It's been a few months and she's grown a lot stronger, and much more confident. She's been pushing herself hard to beat her kilo run time, maybe too hard.

I care for her, I really do. More than I do for even my job, which is a lot. I've been noticing it a lot recently. It's a feeling that honestly scares me. Yet it's not like I can ignore it...

The tiny little details, the bounce of her (h/c) hair, the (e/c) eyes filled with a fierce spark. That welcoming smile and even the way she talks. "Done!" Instinctively I pressed stop on the timer and there she was, wiping beads of sweat off her forehead. "How did I do lieutenant?"

"8:45, good job (y/n)."

"Yes! I beat my personal record!" she wrapped he arms around my waist, resting her head upon my chest. "Thank you, lieutenant, I couldn't have done it without you."

"What are you talking about kid... You did this all yourself." She backed off ever so suddenly, seeming surprised over what I said.

"No, really! You encourage me to be better!" She smiles, grabbing me by the hand, "you are honestly the best lieutenant. I couldn't ask for anyone else to train me."

"I-I'm... glad you feel that way." I didn't really know what to say afterward. my heart was beating fast and blood rushed to my cheeks. I honestly felt like I was gonna say something stupid. "Uhh... I believe that good training for today. How bout you head back and rest."

She groaned, stretching her arms over her head. "I suppose so, I did really push myself. I shouldn't overwork myself. I'll see you around Simon!" As she walked off, I headed into the field. I sat down taking a gander at the sky. I took a deep breath; my chest was heavy, my heart was racing. Yet, the sky seemed to look a little brighter, and the cool breeze kissed the exposed parts of my face. Hopelessly, my mind drifted into memories of the past few months.

"Ghost! Lieutenant!" (y/n) rushed over to the masked man.

"Woah! Settle down there, is there something you need?" A chuckle escaped him, holding her still by the shoulders.

"I was hoping we can do range practice today, sir! I've been training hard, and I want your input!" Her face filled with a sense of pride mixed with determination. He loved that part about you; failure isn't a word.

'It's not a failure to me, sir! Just a slight setback; that's all!'

The memories brought warmth to me... Maybe I should admit it to myself; I'm in love. Love, that's something I haven't felt in so long. "Maybe that's why it feels so sweet..." I spoke to myself. In the distance, I hear the slight crinkle in the grass. Behind me, she came "(y/n)!" 'Shit! I sounded too excited!' "I thought you were gonna rest?"

" I was going too, but I realized I wasn't that tired." she smiled brightly as she stood next to me. "So I decided I was going to ask to hang out with you; not for training though... mind if I sit?"

"no, not at all. Help yourself to the comfy dirt." She laughed as she sat down; I made her laugh! God, I forget just how childish love can make you. Yet, it's the best I've felt in a while.

"You know Lieutenant; you'll never believe what happened as I was looking for ya!" She went on to talk about something funny happening to Roach that she was able to witness. While she was telling it, she could barely hold in her laughter. Due to that, I couldn't help but laugh. She froze in place, slowly looking at me.

" You okay (y/n)?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I-I just have never heard you laugh like that before." I turned my head away from her. "I wanna hear it more... like that." I close my eyes and raise one hand to lift up my mask. We both sit in a moment of silence. My head was on the edge of its sanity trying to keep it from overheating.

Despite that, words just flew out of my mouth. "(Y/n)... How do you know when you're in love?" My voice, those words, flew gracefully in the wind. In return, I hear an audible hum from her.

"That's a rather odd question coming from you lieutenant." I glance over to see her fiddling with her fingers, "Maybe this is just me, but, I guess when you are in love you kinda just want to spend every moment with or thinking of that person." She lifts to hug her knees, hiding a bit of her face as she continues, "I personally get scared to ever be around that person... I really shouldn't be..." she clears her throat and I take her words into thought. "But do you like someone lieutenant? That must be why you're asking!"

"Well... Wait, why do you sound so surprised by that?!"

"Well to be fair Simon, you don't seem like the time to have time for that sort of thing." She leaned back resting her arms behind her, "You have a lot on your plate, you know, with work and all. You just, well I- I mean anyone would have thought you really never had the time to think about that." Her tone of voice grew quiet.

"Well... I am never one to beat around doing the bush." I stood up from where I was seated and extended my arm to help her up. "Why don't you stand for a minute dear." She placed her hand in mine, staring at me cluelessly. I took a deep breath, taking a moment in time to do some last-minute pondering. With my other hand, I lift my mask off my face, I feel my cheeks begin to burn as she audibly gasps. I closed my eyes, letting my heart sink into every word,  "(Y/n), when I'm around you the sky seems brighter and my heart skips a beat. It's been a long, long time since I've felt like this. I never thought id feel this way again. I love you, you make my once simple song sound like a symphony." Coming back to my senses, I was holding her hand tightly. I stared at the ground waiting for a response.

"Simon, look at me." She whispered, she placed her hand on my cheek. I look at her to see a wide smile and her eyes on the brink of tears. "I love you too, I'm so glad you feel the same way..." a wave of relief washed over me, a rush of euphoria alongside it.

"Yes! Yes yes yes yes!!" I grabbed her by her waist and lift her in the air, twirling around. She laughed, wrapping her arms around my neck. "I was so scared to even say it..." placing her feet back safely on the ground.

"So was I, I'd never thought you'd like someone like me." She hugged my chest tightly. I placed my hand upon her head, while the other began to slide my mask back on. I was caught by surprise when (y/n)'s handheld my mask hand from going down. "You think you're going to put on that mask before a kiss?" She pulled my arm down bringing my face inches from hers.

"You like it direct?" I chuckled, "I don't mind that~" our first kiss was sweet and sincere, soft yet loving. Even if it was just a few seconds, I felt as if I could stay like this forever. As we parted, I stared deeply into her (e/c) eyes. She took my mask and finished putting it over my face, letting her hands linger on my cheeks.

"We should probably head back to our bunks."  She walked a step ahead and I followed behind.

"The nights still young! What's your rush dove?" She laughed turning herself around to face me. She extended her arm and laid a finger on my lips.

"Cause we have work tomorrow, Lieutenant Riley." I shook my head, smiling under my mask. I went to her wrapping my arm around her.

"Alright then, let's get you to bed. You need your beauty sleep."

"Hey!" she laughed as we continued on walking as the sun slowly disappeared behind us.