#need him to pick me up by the throat and carry me like a Walmart bag

[callme-pyrettablaze]

This MoFo is absolutely making me want to watch The Bad Batch again 😩

[im-his-druidess]

Guess who just watched Speak No Evil starring the delicious James McAvoy

[callme-pyrettablaze]

His little head tilt 🥺

Jason Momoa in Wolves (2014).

[countrymusiclover]

1 - An Unexpected Visitor

Part 2

My Genius Prince

Tag list - @the-girl-wh0-cries-w0lf

Walking through the store Islas of Walmart I was hanging out with one of my friends named Malia. We were hanging out at my apartment until we got bored so we decided to run around the store at midnight. “Let’s go raid the toy section.”

Malia and I headed over to the toy section. We found the aisle that had dress up clothes hanging on the walls on either side of us. “Oh hey, try on the blue one.”

“Got it. You need to try on the pink or yellow one.” I pointed at the set hanging behind her head until she turned around and took each one down. Picking out the yellow one to look like Belle.

I chuckled seeing her twirl around in the dress that was made for young girls or that was only worn on Halloween. “You look almost like Belle.” I didn’t care if we were adults in our late 20’s who still mess around as kids every once in a while.

“Oh it is a pleasure to meet you, Cinderella.” Malia teased me with a curtsey once I had slipped the light blue dress over my head and it fell down all the way to the tile floor.

She placed her hands in mine and we began spinning around in circles. Our laughter could be heard through the store but we couldn’t care. My hair that was in a braid was falling apart and in my face so when I tripped over my own feet I didn’t see I tripped myself. “Woah ah!” I was close to hitting the floor but I felt someone holding me up by my forearms.

“Easy, easy. I’ve got you.” I heard a guy’s voice respond in my ear and I felt some of his hair brushing against my cheek.

Glancing over my shoulder I was met with a pair of chocolate brown eyes and brown curly hair. “Oh uh I’m sorry mister. I didn’t mean to be so clumsy.” I apologized, getting to my feet as quickly as I could.

“It’s okay. Glad I was able to catch you. Uh, are you and your friends dressed up like princesses for a party or something?” The stranger tilted his head standing in front of me where I had to lock up at him since he was taller than me.

I lowered my gaze to the ground blushing at how childish this made us both look. “No. To be honest we were bored and decided to just come down random stuff around Walmart. Oh geez that makes me sound so childish.” Smacking a hand to my forehead I groaned.

“Sometimes we all have to embrace our childish behavior every now and then. It doesn’t make me think any less of either of you.” He responded by looking between me and my friend Malia.

Tilting my head to the side I became curious at his words, never seeing any guy embrace my child like wonder. “What’s your name, stranger?”

“Uh, it's Dr. Reid. Spencer Reid…you don’t have to call me Dr…it’s just Spencer.” He cleared his throat, clearly becoming nervous by my question like he was shy about talking to girls. “What’s your name?”

Extending my hand he eyed my hand before briefly shaking it and then we dropped our hands down at our sides. “Rosalind, Rosalind Maxon. It’s nice to meet you, Spencer.”

“Could I buy you two a coffee or something?” He asked shifting his attention to Malia briefly but he held his focus on me the longest now.

Malia looped her arm through mine after we had hung the dresses back up the way we found them. Squeezing her hand in mine I nodded towards the nervous doctor. “Sure. I think we’re down for that.”

“We sure are, Spencie.” I grinned up at him following him when we walked towards the Starbucks inside the grocery store.

2 years later

Coming down the stairs carrying my light brown boots in my left hand and my other hand opens the door revealing my boyfriend of two years as of today. I was wearing a light red lace shirt, some blue jeans with my hair loose except for two strands tied back. “Hey Spencer, what do you think?”

“Hi Rosalind, you look….beautiful.” He hung his mouth open and was frozen in the doorway.

He was wearing a black jacket over one of his blue dress shirts paired with some dark brown pants and his sneakers. He also carried his sachale around like normal. “Come on in. Don’t want you getting cold or someone snatching you off my doorstep.” I moved out of the way and he stepped inside, shutting the door behind himself.

“You know we should probably make a password or get you a security camera. That way you can see the people outside your house before you answer the door.” He suggested sitting his bag by the door.

Grabbing my keys from the kitchen island I raised a brow at him. “Is that really necessary?”

“Studies have shown repeatedly that it is.” He said back.

I nodded. “Guess I should not argue with a genius with an eidetic memory. So am I picking where to eat tonight or you?”

“You pick. But I’m paying for dinner.” He says picking up his bag again and heading towards the door. I shut the door behind me, locking it following behind his one stride to my two strides. We drove to the Arby’s near my house.

Sliding into one side of the booth Spencer slides in on the other side. We both had gotten roast beef sliders with cheese and I got some curly fries. Spencer and I have been together secretly for almost two years. “I know we haven’t had this conversation yet, but why aren’t we telling your team yet?”

“I just don’t want to rush you into it. I told you before about the job that I have. The things that we see day in and day out. I just don’t want to freak you out.” He explained sitting his slider down on the napkin.

Shaking my head at him I smiled. “Spencer, calm down. You won’t freak me out.”

“Yeah but when we met you and Malia were dancing around like princesses. You have an innocence in you that I don’t want to see gone from you.” Spencer replied.

Reaching for a fry I smiled tossing some fries at him. “Oh you mean like this.”

“Roz!” He chuckled, holding his hands up to not get a fry in the eyes.

I picked up some more fries and threw them where some actually ended up in his hair. “Don’t pretend you don’t like it. You freaking love Halloween. This is no different.”

“If I do this right then it should land…right there.” He bent his spoon back with a fry on it. He released it and I scrunched my nose when it hit me dead between the eyes.

Blinking my eyes I glared at him briefly before I giggled back at him. “See you like your inner child, same as me.”

“Yeah we make a good team that way.” He chuckled, staring down at his watch seeing it was almost ten now. “Oh we should probably go. I have to be at work early tomorrow morning.”

He laid down enough money and a tip then we drove on home. Unbuckling my seatbelt Spencer came around opening the car door for me. Putting my hand in his he led me up to the house and I got the door open again looking over my shoulder at him. “Hey I know you said it’s late and you have to work early. So I was thinking you could sleep here for the night if you wanted to, I mean.”

“Uh I appreciate it. I don’t want to intrude though. It’s your house.” Spencer shrugged his shoulders at me, he ran his fingers through his locks.

Throwing my hands up from my sides I tired once more. “Come on, Spencie. I don’t mind one bit. Otherwise I wouldn’t offer.”

“I appreciate the offer. I really do but I don’t want us to move too fast.” He avoided my gaze for a minute and I knew why. He wasn’t used to having a relationship. Even though it’s been two years we have only kissed a couple of times but we never slept the night at the other place.

Walking up to him I smiled, draping my arms over his shoulders, kissing him gently. “Can I still call you if I’m bored later?”

“Yes.” He smiled putting one hand on my waist holding me close to him, but he broke the kiss briefly.

Parting my lips I paused thinking about what I had told him a few months after we had been dating. “If I have nightmares again can I call ya?” Something that I didn’t like talking about after what happened to me. He never judged me over what happened.

“Definitely yes.” He nodded, kissing my forehead where we separated and I walked backwards into the doorway. He turned on his heels reaching into his pocket drawing a necklace from his pocket. “I almost forgot to give you this. I found it at the store one day.”

He dropped it into my hands and I grinned seeing it was a necklace with a tiny silver looking slipper attached to it. “Awe Spencer. It’s my own glass slipper.”

“Yeah I remembered Cinderella was your favorite.” Spencer smiled, clicking his tongue and I saw him get slightly embarrassed.

Clipping the jewelry around my neck I waved bye to him finally going inside and shutting the door behind me. “Night Reid.” Turning around on my feet I moved past the kitchen feeling the cold wind coming in but I knew I didn’t leave the windows open when we left. The wooden floor creaked underneath my boots and I paused when I noticed broken glass from the back door.

The floor creaked in a different room making me whip my head around and I gasped stumbling backwards to see my father Deacon. “Long time no see, Ella.” He stood in front of me holding something behind his back.

“How did you find me?” I questioned him.

He responded back. “It took time after your mother put me in jail. But it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I’m here now and that we can pick up where we left off.”

“I was six when she got you locked up. We can’t go back and change the past.” I attempted to walk away from him and grab my phone from my pocket but I heard a gun cock behind me.

He instructed me to aim the gun at me when I slowly turned around to face him again. “We’ll see about that, princess. You come with me willingly or we have to do this the hard way.”

“Like hell I will!” I ran forward and managed to tackle him to the floor. My father dropped the gun but was stronger than me so he held me down with his body.

He snatched the gun that was by one of my feet, aiming it at me where I froze knowing he meant business now. Wrapping my hands around his wrist he only had the gun barely from pressing my chest. “You’re done fighting now.” He raised the gun and hit me over the head with it where I blacked out.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[im-his-druidess]

Oh my 🥵

A hot Friday the 13th

[lillupon]

AEV Deleted scene(s) immediately following the events of chapter 21 + commentary

I fiddled with the idea of giving AEV minwon a long talk followed by a smutty ending, but I ultimately decided to scrap it. Their relationship is too complex to neatly tie up all the loose ends within a chapter, or even two. Attempting to do so would just needlessly drag out the fic; it’s really material for a sequel. Mingyu and Wonwoo have been apart for many years. During their separation, they’ve grown and changed as individuals, and they will need time to re-learn each other. There are many insecurities regarding age and experience to address, and they will have to reconcile who they were with who they have become. There’s a lot they need to unpack before they get back together and I don’t want to write that lmao (ah… the real reason appears… it’s too much work and I’m tired ;w; writing longfic is hard). Anyway, I think the end of chapter 21 was an appropriate place to close.

In the bonus below, they fall quickly in to bed together because I was being self-indulgent. But I’m not really sure if it makes sense for them to pick up right where they left off and bang in the car. At the same time, they’ve never been able to keep their hands off each other, so… I dunno! If you like the idea of them fucking, you can accept it as canon. If you like the idea of them taking their time, talking things through, that works too.

I will leave it up to your imagination <:

What happens next...

They kiss! Right there, in public, where anyone could walk by and see them. Because it doesn't matter now—they're both adults. Mingyu is no longer his student, hasn’t been for five years.

The kiss starts chaste at first: two people who have been separated for years, unsure of how they will fit together. Their mouths meet, Wonwoo's lower lip slotting between Mingyu's. For a brief moment, they part. And then they're kissing again, and each time, their kisses grow longer and deeper. Mingyu cups Wonwoo's neck in his palms, hands sliding back to tangle into short locks. A firm yet gentle grip tilts Wonwoo's head. Wonwoo moans, and it flips the switch on everything. 

Mingyu's tongue delves into his mouth. His body awakens under Mingyu's touch, fire surging in his veins and arousal roiling between his legs. They're in public, but Wonwoo can't help himself: the first dribble of slick leaks free. He can tell the exact moment Mingyu catches scent of it. A growl rips through Mingyu's chest; Wonwoo can feel the vibrations of it. 

They don't even make it as far as his apartment. Mingyu slides into the backseat of his car, Wonwoo slipping in after him. It's reminiscent of all those years they had sex in a Walmart parking lot. Except this time, Wonwoo is the one who initiates. He's the one who presses Mingyu against the angle of the seat and door. He makes himself at home between Mingyu's legs and kisses him with all the hunger and passion that he has tamped down for years. 

Meanwhile, he's fumbling with Mingyu's belt. The heel of his palm bumps against Mingyu's straining erection. Finally, he works the belt free. Pops open the button. Yanks down the zipper. He jams his hand down the front of Mingyu's pants, both of them breaking the kiss to moan. The burning hot and solid heft of Mingyu's cock feels so good in his hands. It's even better in his mouth. 

Wonwoo wastes no time closing his lips around the head of Mingyu's cock, moaning as the salty taste of precum bursts across his palate. He kisses and licks and slurps, drinking up the ambrosial liquid bubbling up at the slit. And then he swallows as much of Mingyu's cock as he can down his throat. Above him, Mingyu groans, hands flying to Wonwoo's hair and hips jerking. There's a thunk as his head falls back against the window. What Wonwoo can't fit into his mouth, he curls his fingers around. Sheathing his teeth, Wonwoo begins to bob his head up and down. Every time he rises, he swirls his tongue around the head of Mingyu's cock. 

Mingyu is barely restrained energy beneath him: his stomach is taut as a drum. The muscles of his thighs flex and release and shake with tension. Mingyu plays with the short hairs at the nape of Wonwoo's neck, low murmurs of praise punctuated by groans when Wonwoo sucks and licks him just right. 

Wonwoo is high with the knowledge that he is bringing his alpha this much pleasure. His head is blissfully empty of everything except for the sound of Mingyu's moans and the stretch of his mouth around Mingyu's cock. 

"Fuck, I'm close," Mingyu grits out. Wonwoo responds by stuffing Mingyu's cock down his throat. Mingyu's hand on his hair tightens, keeping him in place. Tears spring to Wonwoo's eyes. Mingyu's shaft goes rigid on his tongue and then begins to pulse hot and thick spurts of come down his throat. 

Wonwoo, moaning, swallows and swallows. There's so much of it. It spills out the corners of his mouth. Under his hands, Mingyu's hips spasm, and all of it is so hot that Wonwoo can't help himself. Without a single touch to his cock or hole, he begins to come, making a mess of his briefs. Wonwoo pulls off Mingyu's cock with a wet pop, cleans it up with laps of his tongue. Doesn't let a drop of come go to waste. 

Mingyu groans. “God, how are you this fucking per—" He cuts himself off and hauls Wonwoo up by the collar and kisses him, hard. 

They make it back to Wonwoo's apartment, the edge of their hunger slaked just enough to make the commute. Mingyu can't keep his hands off him. Kissing and mouthing at Wonwoo's neck and jawline and generally being very distracting, as Wonwoo fumbles for his keys. He's not in heat, but it sure as hell feels like it. At this point, his hole is so ready to be filled that it hurts. Slick drips down his inner thighs. Wonwoo wants to cry, he's so frustrated by his stupid door. Mingyu's making the task even harder by setting a proprietary on his ass, finger slipping between his asscheeks to rub at his clothed hole. Mingyu's grinding softly on him; Wonwoo can feel the hard ridge of Mingyu's erection on his hip.

Mingyu lays him down on bed and undresses him. Tugs down his trousers and finds out that Wonwoo has soiled his pants. "When did this happen, hm?" 

Wonwoo, embarrassed, throws a forearm across his eyes. “While I was sucking you," he mumbles. 

It isn’t long before Mingyu is pumping three fingers in and out of Wonwoo's ass. His other hand plays carelessly with Wonwoo's cock.

Mingyu still knows exactly how to touch him, how to make him squirm. His hips swivel of their own accord, bearing down on the fingers inside him. 

Wonwoo is lying on his stomach, a pillow beneath his hips, when Mingyu slides into him. Wonwoo reaches behind him to grab Mingyu’s ass, forcing him closer, urging him to go deeper. 

"So good," Wonwoo moans, voice thick with pleasure. He needs to know: "Is it good for you too?" The words are stuttered, punched out of him with each thrust.

Mingyu drapes himself over Wonwoo's back, planting a forearm by his head so he doesn't completely smother Wonwoo beneath his weight, but Wonwoo wants to be smothered. Mingyu drops a kiss on his shoulder. "Yeah," Mingyu breathes. "S'good for me too. You feel so good."

Their first fuck is hard and fast and exactly what Wonwoo needs. Mingyu ends up hauling Wonwoo up onto his hands and knees to better pound him. He digs his fingers into Wonwoo’s waist, pulling Wonwoo onto his cock every time he plunges inside.

It isn’t until their next round that they slow down. Mingyu lies atop him like a heavy blanket, his groans and ragged breathing hot against Wonwoo’s ear. He fucks Wonwoo with slow and deep rolls of the hips. Under him, Wonwoo has fallen apart into a moaning mess. 

His whole world narrows down to the place where they are connected. He swears he can feel it, the pounding of Mingyu’s heart against his back, the way his own heart beats in resonance. He can’t believe how good it feels to have Mingyu inside him, around him. It’s overwhelming. Wonwoo’s eyes go hot with tears. He buries his face into the sheets below. The next moan that leaves him almost sounds like a sob. 

Mingyu stops moving. Nuzzles against the nape of Wonwoo’s neck. “Hey, are you okay?”

Wonwoo nods. Doesn’t trust his voice. 

“Wonwoo?” Mingyu tries again. 

Wonwoo exhales shakily. “I’m okay. It’s just a lot. But in a good way.”

Mingyu hums an unconvinced noise.

“It’s good, I promise. Oh, god—please don’t stop…” 

Afterwards, they lie curled on their sides, pressed chest-to-back. Mingyu’s knot is lodged inside him. 

“I swear,” Mingyu says, nuzzling his neck, “I just wanted to talk to you, but you are irresistible.”

Everyone can smell it on Wonwoo when he goes to work the next day: an alpha's claim. No one mentions it because as teachers, they are nothing if not tactful. But Wonwoo catches the subtle flaring of their nostrils as they detect a new scent on him. Some of the nosier teachers even watch him as he limps down the hallways, wrecked by Mingyu's knot. 

They get their honeymoon. Mingyu fucks him over every available surface in his apartment: in the shower, over kitchen counters, up against a wall, over the back of a couch. Mingyu even holds Wonwoo suspended in the air as he fucks him, Wonwoo's legs wrapped around his waist. The position has Mingyu's cock reaching deep, and the display of alpha strength has an orgasm shaking out of Wonwoo within minutes. 

But as amazing as the sex is, what Wonwoo loves the most is the aftermath: Mingyu holding him and kissing him softly. Wiping him down with a washcloth and then carrying him to the bathroom. Mingyu prepares for them a post-sex meal. Even feeds him.

They spend a lazy Sunday afternoon together. Wonwoo's belly is pleasantly full from the lunch Mingyu had made: soy-glazed pork belly and stir-fried vegetables on rice. 

They're lounging on the couch, Wonwoo curled up against the arm of the sofa with a book in hand. Mingyu has fallen into a food coma and is using Wonwoo's lap as a pillow. Mingyu isn't even doing anything—blissfully asleep—and he is still distracting. Wonwoo has read the same sentence in his novel twenty times. 

With a sigh, he tucks a bookmark between the pages and lightly tosses the book onto the coffee table. He gazes at Mingyu, eyes following the straight slope of Mingyu's nose down to his lips. The years have been kind to Mingyu, turning him from a boyishly charming kid to a devastatingly handsome man. He is truly the alpha of Wonwoo's dreams, and Wonwoo thinks, with a thrill of excitement-fear-anticipation, that he might be able to fall in love with Mingyu, if he hasn't already.

[rookie-ramsey]

Curveball, Chapter 6

Description: Two months after the ski lodge, life throws them a big surprise.

Preview: The words left Sienna’s mouth in a rush. “Olivia’s in labor. She’s in the ER right now. She was in a car accident and isn’t badly hurt, but it triggered labor.”

At that, Ethan felt his heart stop. His throat clenched, suddenly dry with worry. He didn’t remember breaking into a run, but the hallways of the hospital blurred past him as his feet carried him to the ER.

previous chapter

The baby shower began with lunch. Olivia got to go first, making sure to take at least one of everything. She took a seat next to Ethan at the table and leaned against his side as they started eating.

“How does it feel seeing a baby shower in your apartment? It looks like the baby aisle at Walmart exploded in here.”

Ethan chuckled. “I’m more concerned about what the conversation over there is related to.”

She arched a brow, watching curiously as Sienna whispered with Olivia’s mother and siblings and Alan in the corner of the room. “What could our relatives be gossiping about? My sister is writing something.”

“It’s hard to tell.”

After a few minutes, Sienna stood up and grinned. “We’re going to warm up with a little guessing game. I’ll tell a childhood story about one of the parents, and you guys get to guess who it was!”

Olivia couldn’t contain an amused smirk. “I guess this means I get to hear some more delightful Little Ethan stories.”

“Apparently so.” Ethan sighed.

Sienna glanced down at the paper and giggled before reading. “This parent used to wear a white bathrobe and plastic stethoscope and played hospital with stuffed animals. Who thinks that was Olivia?”

Several hands went up. Ethan bit back a smirk as her cheeks flushed a little.

“That’s right,” her mom confirmed. “She waltzed around the house in a little white robe, used every room in the house as a hospital room for her ‘patients,’ and insisted that we had to give them privacy.”

“It sounds like I’m finally getting some blackmail material,” Ethan whispered, earning an eye roll.

“Sure you are. Nothing will ever be more embarrassing than little you making out with your teddy bear.”

Sienna moved onto the next one. “True or false! When Ethan was really little, he had a fascination with Band-Aids.”

“Why do I think that’s true?” Olivia grinned.

“Because it is,” Alan confirmed. “When he was a toddler, all it took was a box of Band-Aids to keep him amused for several minutes. Of course, he put them on everything he could get his hands on. His toys, the furniture… the interior of the car on a road trip.”

Olivia laughed. “That’s adorable.”

“It’s wasteful.” Ethan shook his head, trying not to smile. The game continued for several minutes until people were finished eating.

Curious, Olivia watched as Sienna set out several unlabeled jars of baby food. “What are those for?”

Sienna grinned. “People have to guess the flavor by smelling it or taking a tiny taste if they’re brave enough. Just a heads up, the smells and tastes may not always be accurate!”

“Who goes first?”

“You pick.” Sienna handed her a basket containing slips of paper. Olivia reached it into, digging her fingers through the papers until she picked one. She opened it slowly to increase the suspense and smirked when she read the name.

“Zaid.”

Zaid startled, his eyes widening. “What?”

Amused, Olivia revealed the paper slip with his name on it. “You get to go first.”

Ines laughed and nudged Zaid toward the table. “Do it.”

He sighed. “I should have listened to my conscience and not put my name on that paper. I should have known better.”

Baz rolled his eyes and grinned. “Okay, Eeyore. Be a fair sport and play the game.”

Giving in, Zaid picked up the first jar and took a tentative sniff. He immediately set it down. “Is that supposed to smell edible? Because it does not.” He jotted down an answer on the slip of paper and reluctantly moved to the next one.

Olivia picked the second name. “Bryce, you’re up. Don’t chicken out.”

“You think I’d really back down? Never.” He picked up the first jar and smelled it, wrinkling his nose with uncertainty.

Jackie snorted. “I’ll pay you ten bucks to taste a mouthful.”

“Deal.”

Sienna handed Bryce a clean tongue depressor from the bag of supplies. “Here you go.”

Ethan arched a brow. “Are those from the hospital?”

“We didn’t have enough plastic spoons!”

“Stealing an entire Ziploc baggie of tongue depressors from a hospital that has thousands of them? Badass.” Bryce laughed and dug out a scoop of the baby food. He put it in his mouth, immediately making a face.

“Ten dollars,” Jackie reminded him.

Bryce swallowed it and tried not to gag. “That… was gross. Zaid, I’ll do your clinic hours if you try it.”

Zaid rolled his eyes. “Do I look like a moron? Don’t answer that.”  

After a few more games, they sat down to open the inordinate number of presents occupying their apartment. Olivia grabbed the first one and dug through the tissue paper until she found two tiny sets of pajamas designed to look like scrubs.

“These are so cute!”

Elijah grinned. “You’re welcome.”

Olivia picked a large present from her mom and nudged it toward Ethan. “Open that.”

Ethan removed the paper, exposing a box that seemed to contain some sort of sophisticated trash can. “What in god’s name is this?”

Rebecca laughed. “It’s a diaper genie! It’s basically a fancy trash can that’s supposed to contain the diaper smell inside them.”

“These exist?”

Rebecca chuckled. “Yes, and believe me, you’ll need it. If not for the diaper smell, then to stop them from getting into it when they learn to walk. When Olivia was a year old, she felt like knocking over a trash can full of diapers. Worst mess I ever had to clean up.”

“Really, Mom?” Olivia groaned. She opened the next present, which was from Sienna. She opened it and grinned as she dug out two stuffed dolphins, as well as two little onesies with dolphins on them.

“What do you think?”

“I love them!” Olivia folded the tiny outfits and put them back in the bag. She opened several more gifts, collecting plenty of clothes, diapers, and other necessities. When she opened the present from Baz, she giggled and held up the four matching sets of Christmas pajamas.

Ethan stared at them, his expression blank. “It’s October.”

Baz grinned. “So?”

“These are perfect. And I will make it my life’s goal to get Ethan to wear his.” Olivia gave Ethan a pointed look, wordlessly telling him he would not win the argument even if it wouldn’t happen for another two months.

Once most of her guests had left, Olivia curled up on the couch and rummaged through the gifts. Bryce and Sienna stayed to help her family clean up while Ethan helped her sort through their presents.

“I think this is my favorite.” She held up the picture frame from Alan, containing a copy of one of their sonograms and an empty slot they would use for a newborn picture when the twins were born.

Ethan thumbed through the customized journal from Naveen. His other hand subconsciously rested on Olivia’s stomach, and a moment later he felt the now-familiar little kick against his palm.

Olivia smiled, lightly placing her hand on top of his. “I don’t think you’ll ever know how cute you are when you do that. I don’t even think you realize you’re doing it half the time.”

“I guess it’s become an instinct.” Ethan slipped his arm around her.

“A cute instinct.” She gave his hand a squeeze. Stifling a yawn, she rested her head on his shoulder. “I can’t believe it’s already October. By December, they’ll be here. I feel like it’s gone by fast and slowly at the same.”

Nodding in agreement, Ethan pressed a kiss to her head. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired. Opening presents and eating is a lot of work when you have two people inside of you.”

He chuckled and drew her closer to his side. “I’m sure it is.”

Olivia draped her arm across him and snuggled into his chest. A mischievous smile lifted the corners of her lips. “I never thought I’d see Dr. Antisocial Ramsey attending a baby shower.”

Ethan rolled his eyes. “You forget that I’m capable of surprises.”

XXXXXX

It didn’t take long for maternity leave to give her cabin fever.

Since twins were almost always born earlier than expected, she scheduled her C-section for the 37th week. Even that was pushing it, but she wanted to let them develop as long as possible.

Halfway through her fourth episode of House, her phone chimed with a message from Ethan. She picked up her phone and grinned when she saw a picture of two baby onesies, each with the caption “Relax, my parents are doctors.”

She grinned as she looked at the picture to see that the onesies were blue and green to match Edenbrook’s logo. She typed a response, glancing at the time and realizing she would need to get ready for her appointment soon.

As she showered and dressed, a kick in her abdomen reminded her of just how soon their lives would change.

XXXXXX

As 1:30 approached, Ethan slipped out of his office to meet Olivia for her 35-week appointment. He pocketed his phone and car keys and made his way toward the elevator.

“Ethan!”

Ethan stopped, turning at the urgency of the voice behind him. He frowned, seeing Sienna rush toward him. “What happened?”

The words left Sienna’s mouth in a rush. “Olivia’s in labor. She’s in the ER right now. She was in a car accident and isn’t badly hurt, but it triggered labor.”

At that, Ethan felt his heart stop. His throat clenched, suddenly dry with worry. He didn’t remember breaking into a run, but the hallways of the hospital blurred past him as his feet carried him to the ER.

He made his way to the closed curtain in the corner and shoved it aside, finding Olivia resting on the bed with Bryce standing at her side. She held an ice pack to her bruised temple, clutching her stomach with her other hand.

Olivia looked up, her eyes wide with panic. “Ethan, it’s… it’s too soon for this to happen! I’m not supposed to have the C-section for two more weeks! My… my water broke in the cab…”

“Shh…” Unsure if he was trying to calm himself or her, Ethan took her face into his hands and met her worried eyes. “Everything’s going to be okay. I want you to take a deep breath and focus on me. Okay?”

Breathing shakily, she tried to take a deep breath. The heart monitor next to her beeped sharply, indicating her rising blood pressure. She winced when a contraction tore through her.

Ethan looked up, forcing his voice to remain steady for her sake. “Lahela, who’s on the OR floor right now?”

“Tanaka, but he’s in a heart transplant right now.”

“Scrub in.”

Bryce’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? I’m her friend.”

“Bryce, please. We can’t risk waiting too long,” Olivia pleaded, her voice trembling.

Bryce took one look into his best friend’s panicked eyes and nodded. “Alright. I’ll do it.”

Taking Olivia’s hand into his own, Ethan let out a small sigh of relief. “How nervous will you be?”

“More nervous than I’d be operating on a stranger, but I can do it. I promise,” Bryce assured him. “Let’s go.”

Ethan moved to the head of the bed. He kept a firm grip on Olivia’s hand as they rushed to the available operating room. Her hand clutched his tightly, seeking the reassurance. When they reached the OR, she squeezed her eyes shut against the threat of tears.

“Hey…” Ethan’s hand cradled her cheek. “Everything will be alright. Please try to believe me.”

“I’m trying…”

He helped her turn onto her side so she could receive the injection for the spinal block. Olivia gripped his hand, wincing when the needle pierced her skin. She let out a long sigh as Ethan gently turned her onto her back again.

Sensing her need for comfort, Ethan brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Talk to me. Try not to focus on the risks right now. Tell me the likelihood of both babies being fine.”

Olivia’s face furrowed in thought as she wracked her mind. “Babies delivered at 35 weeks have a 99 percent chance of survival, presuming that they don’t have pre-existing conditions.”

Ethan nodded, relieved when she seemed to relax a little. “You’re right. Remember that.”

He let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding as he tried to convince himself to believe his own words. They gave the spinal block five minutes to take effect before transferring her to the operating table.

Ethan’s heart thudded against his ribs as Bryce and the surgical team he’d assembled gathered around, ready to begin. “Please tell me this isn’t your first time.”

“I’ve done one solo and assisted on three. I can do this,” Bryce assured him. He took a deep breath and firmly gripped the correct scalpel. “Ready to make the first incision.”

Ethan rested his hand on Olivia’s cheek. His thumb gently grazed her jaw. “Bryce is starting now. Focus on me and think about the fact that in just a few minutes, the babies will be here and they’ll be fine.”

Olivia leaned into his hand and drew in a long breath. With the numbing agent, she couldn’t feel the incisions. She squeezed her eyes shut, focusing on Ethan’s fingers raking gently through her hair.

The minutes that passed ticked by agonizingly as she tried to think about anything other than the chance of something beyond their control going wrong. Her racing heart slowed just a little, allowing some of the tension to leave her body when Bryce announced that they were in.

“Everything’s going fine. Just keep hanging in there, okay? I can see the first baby,” Bryce assured her.

“Hear that?” Ethan laced his fingers through hers. “They’ll be out soon.”

Olivia nodded, her movements slowing a little. The monitor next to her beeped as her blood pressure suddenly started to drop, first to a normal rate and then a little lower. Ethan frowned, worry etching his features.

“Her BP is dropping. She could become hypotensive.” He knew the complication was common during cesareans and that there was only a minimal chance of serious risks, but that didn’t stop his heart from racing faster.

Bryce picked up the pace a little, keeping his hands steady as he finished the incision and instructed one of the other residents to place the clamps. “We’re ready to get baby number one out!”

Moments later, a cry rang through the operating room as Bryce removed the first baby. When Bryce passed the newborn to him, Ethan reacted with an instinct he didn’t know he had and immediately cradled his son in his arms.

Ethan’s heart skipped a beat, swelling with affection. Olivia blined groggily before slipping into unconsciousness. His throat tightened with anxiety as he reluctantly surrendered the newborn to a nurse for an examination.

“Olivia.” He firmly patted her cheek, torn between fear and relief when she let out a subconscious groan in response. A minute later, he looked up as Bryce removed the second baby.

For a long moment, time slowed to a crawl when the baby remained quiet. Just as Ethan felt his chest clench with panic, the newborn emitted a loud cry that made him weak in the knees. He held his arms out, accepting his daughter into them. His heart stuttered in his chest as he gazed down at the fussing baby.

He held her for a few moments before letting the nurses take her. His mind swam with mixed emotions as he returned to Olivia’s side.

Ethan waited nervously as Bryce closed her up. A relieved sigh escaped him when Olivia’s blood pressure started to creep towards normal. “Bryce?”

“Yeah?”

“Good work.”

Once Olivia was transferred into a private room, Ethan stepped into the hallway. He slipped his phone out of his pocket and started the call. “Dad? If you’re not busy, you might want to make a trip to Boston…”

“Is everything okay?”

“Your grandchildren were just born. I thought I’d… did you already hang up?” Shaking his head, Ethan slipped his phone back into his pocket and looked up as Naveen approached him, a wide grin on his face.

“I just heard some gossip that my two favorite employees just became parents.”

Ethan nodded, unable to stop a wide smile from forming on his face. Naveen pulled him into a hug, squeezing him tight. Ethan returned it, swallowing the lump that formed in his throat. “Olivia passed out during the C-section, but she’ll be okay. She should be awake in just a couple of minutes.”

“I won’t keep you from her. I’ll come meet those babies later. You go be with your family.” Naveen released him and squeezed his shoulder.

“Thank you.” The smile never left Ethan’s face as he quietly slipped back into the room to check on Olivia and the babies.

His family.

He liked the sound of that.

Next Chapter

Note: This was definitely my favorite chapter so far. Stay tuned for more! 

[bsbloglife]

September 23, 2021…tomorrow I leave my family for 3 weeks, to care for my parents back home. I’m nervous, scared, excited, sad, relieved, and so many other emotions that I cannot begin to name off because my mind is a jumbled mess. I’m looking forward to finally seeing my parents after a little over two years, but so heartbroken to leave my children and husband behind. I do have a sense of relief that now I’ll finally be able to take care of the issues regarding my parents’ needs.

I take off from Orlando in the early afternoon, to arrive in Toronto a few hours later, only to wait for 3+ hrs before my flight to Montreal. My sister-in-law will be coming to the airport to pick me up, then we’ll be heading over to the hotel where my parents have been holed up for over 4 and a half months. My parents don’t know I’ll be arriving tomorrow, but the caregiver is aware. She’ll be waiting for my call to say that I’ve arrived and that I’m on the way. In fact, I’ll be the one caring for my parents the first weekend that I arrive. My father is the one who needs the most help, hopefully he’ll be ok with me cleaning him up when he needs it. This will be interesting! Maybe he won’t recognize me and think that I’m another caregiver. I’m laughing at the thought, but it’s painful to think he won’t remember me. We’ll soon find out. Tomorrow this time I’ll be at the hotel with my parents.

In fact, tomorrow almost didn’t happen. I received a call today from my son’s middle school and as soon as I saw that name pop up on my phone at 1:15pm, I knew it wasn’t going to be a good call. When I answered the phone I waited a few seconds, hoping that maybe it was one of those automated calls from the principal. After a few seconds when I didn’t hear that automated voice come on, I knew something was wrong, so I said “hello?”, to which the school nurse proceeded to tell me her name and that she was calling about my son. I’m sure my response, “oh no, this is not good”, confused her a little bit, which I sensed from her hesitation to continue on. I said that for a few reasons; 1 - she’d only be calling me if something bad happened, 2 - I was leaving for Canada the next day, this seriously cannot be happening, and 3 - what if he has Covid?? I would have to reschedule my trip. I think other things popped in my mind, but right now I can’t remember what they were. She then said he was not feeling well; sore throat, chills, headache, but no fever. I told her I’d be there within 10 minutes. When I got to the school he looked ill, with those glassy eyes and sad face, trying to pull his arms into his shirt because he was getting chilly. I carried his bag and we headed to the car. He told me that he was sorry to put pressure on me because he knew that I had to leave tomorrow. I told him that I believed everything happened for a reason and maybe it wasn’t meant for me to go. My first thought was having to reschedule my trip, because if he had Covid I didn’t want to bring it home to my parents. Then I thought that I would need to get him tested, just to be sure. If he was positive, then I would reschedule the trip. If he was negative, then I would continue as planned. Stupid me, I thought that picking up a Covid Home testing kit would be easy. Just go to the closest pharmacy. Little did I know that these testing kits were like hot cakes and everybody wanted them! There were no Covid testing kits to be found…anywhere!!! My very good friend Bri helped me find one of the last remaining kits in town, after she searched and searched and searched, even going to the closest Walmart by her place to pick up a kit which was supposedly in stock. Only to find out that she missed the last kit by a few minutes! She drove with me to the only pharmacy in town with a kit. You know, that’s a real friend. You find out who your real friends are when they inconvenience themselves to help you, but they truly don’t think they are going out of their way. They are helping you because they genuinely care, when anyone else would be telling you, ���good luck finding a kit”, instead she said, “let me get dressed and go to my Walmart that says they have them in stock. I’ll pick it up for you then meet you.” I mean, seriously?!?! Then she drove across town with me to get that last remaining kit, which she found after calling several pharmacies in town, and then begging them to hold it for her. I’ll never forget her kindness. I’m sure she had other things to do than to spend hours searching for a rapid Covid testing kit for my son. What was really beautiful, was that she never made it seem like a hassle. She made it seem that she actually enjoyed helping me. I cherish this girl! (Btw, my son was negative, thankfully!!)

Speaking of kindness, when I texted my cousins back home to tell them that I was coming, they offered me their homes to stay in, they offered me cars to drive, they offered me support in any way that I needed it. My one cousin offered me his daughter’s car, only with her permission of course. I told him that I didn’t mind driving his Maserati, just in case she didn’t want me to drive her Mini Cooper. I still haven’t heard back from him regarding this…. Walter? Hello?? My cousin Nadia was there for me that weekend when I decided to resign, because I needed to talk to someone about my decision to leave my career to care for my parents. She understood my pain. She too worked very hard for her career. She listened, offered her advice and helped me decide that the right thing to do would be to follow my heart. My heart wanted to be there for my parents. If I didn’t follow my heart, my conscience would never be clear and I would be useless to my family. I’ll never forget my cousin Alain and how he took care of my parents needs the day after the fire. He went to the house and dealt with the insurance people and helped my parents navigate the first few days of this terrible event. He was my savior, and theirs too. These kindnesses will never be forgotten.

My best friends back home Tina and Karen, offering me clothing, food, a place to stay. Even offering me their time when painting, decluttering and whatever else I’ll need to get done at the house. I cannot do anything without their support…without all of my friends and families support. My sister-in-law Anna will be there for me when I first arrive and each and every day that I am there. She lives just down the street from my parents place and has often been the one that my mom has called when they needed help. I cannot repay any of these people for their goodness, kindness, love and support. I can only hope that someday I am able to provide them with the same.

Here at home, one of my best friend’s has changed her whole schedule at work to accommodate taking care of my son every morning while I’m away. She rearranged her life for mine. She has literally become the family that I don’t have that lives just down the street. You know what I mean, that family member that lives close by that cares for your kids because you don’t have anyone else?? She literally rearranged her entire life to help me. I cannot thank Lisa and her son CJ enough for caring for my son like he is their family. She spoils him like she does her own sons. I told her to back off a little, because I didn’t want my son to like her more than her likes me. She laughed and said that wasn’t possible, because all my son did was talk about me. He better, good boy!

Speaking of family, tomorrow morning our friends, who we call family and in fact made them godparents to our son, will be driving me to the airport. I feel bad for Pat and Kelly, because they’ll be hearing me cry as we drive away after I say goodbye to my husband and children. I know those painful cries won’t be easy to handle. They’ll be seeing me off at the airport, which I know won’t be easy, because this will mean that I’m really leaving.

Honestly though, I really couldn’t do any of this without my family’s support, especially my husband. If he didn’t have my back, supporting my decision, and taking on most of the responsibilities with me gone for three weeks, then none of this would be possible. He has supported me financially, emotionally and spiritually. Without him I couldn’t do this. Without my children helping me by not begging me to stay, I am able to go. They have cried, they have told me they didn’t want me to go, but they haven’t forced me in a corner where the guilt of their pain would make me stay. I couldn’t do it without their support. My daughter stepping up to the plate by being me for the next three weeks, picking up my son from school, making sure he gets fed and taken to his activities.

Part of me thinks that I’m being such a big baby about this. I should just shut my mouth, stop the crying and just face this head on without fear. I want to, I really do. I feel ashamed that I can’t handle this with the grace and dignity that I know most people in my position would have. I try to have the courage and strength that I need to go forward, but the fear of the unknown has me scared. I’m afraid of leaving my family, what if something happens. It won’t be easy for me to come back home. I have to get a flight. I have to get Covid tested, which takes a day or two. I can’t just jump on a plane and come back. I’m scared I won’t be here if I’m needed. I try to get those things out of my head. I try to have relief knowing that I cannot control things out of my control, I have to let whatever may be just be. Then go from there. I know that this needs to be done and now I’ll finally be doing what I set out to do when I resigned from my career. This is the decision I made, now I will continue on with this journey.

Onward and upward!

[astarions-bride]

His little fangs in the first gif 🥺

[callme-pyrettablaze]

ABSOLUTELY thinking about watching this next...for reasons...😳

[gallickingun]

Are you familiarized/comfortable with the omegaverse? Do you take multiple-requests? Sorry to bother if your answer is "no"! I just wanna to know which are your thoughts/hc about Bakugou, Deku and Todoroki being omegas, thank you for your time!

i’m gonna do a little headcanon thing! i’ve read some omegaverse and understand it okay!! not great, and not well enough to write any fic (yet), but enough to be dangerous! and personally i think that kacchan and todo are definitely alpha’s but deku could be alpha or omega tbh. but anyway! on to the omega headcanons! 

ps, hope this isn’t absolute trash. be gentle with me. 

Izuku Midoriya

- cries when he gets too frustrated, whether it’s by little things like screwing up dinner or forgetting to take the trash out. boy digs his fingernails into his hands and fat tears drip down his cheeks.

- likes to have some alone time, especially after a day out in public. needs time to recharge, and can do so by himself or with his SO!! 

- isn’t assertive, but does like to do his own thing. he’ll wander off so he can be in charge of his own activities and schedule! 

- has very few super close friendships, but is really close to the ones that he does cultivate, including his SO. doesn’t mind being nice to people he doesn’t know too well, but doesn’t trust them with his life story.

- it takes a long time to become friends, let alone romantic. but, once you’ve kissed for the first time? it’s over. always all over you, rubbing up against you, trying to figure out how to drown himself in the scent of you. he’s infatuated with you once he falls in love.

- likes to steal your hoodies. LOVES to use your shampoo. his favorite thing to hold onto when you’re gone to remind him of your scent is an old sports shirt you have from college. there may be holes in it but it smells like you and gives him something to ground himself while you’re away.

- has NO concept of personal space. the second you walk in the door, his nose is on your neck and his hands are under your clothes. laid out on the couch watching a movie marathon? you bet izuku is completely wrapped around you, head tucked into your chest, knee between your thighs.

- has been bullied most of his life so when you tease him, he gets a little defensive at first. he’s not used to being made fun of in “a good way” so he doesn’t understand why you calling him things and picking on him is endearing, but eventually he gets used to it and when you go lighter on the bickering he starts to wonder what’s wrong!!

- his chirping is LOUD. so loud. loves to let everyone know that his alpha takes care of him with sweet little chirps. but everyone knows not to mess with deku, because he will chirp so loud that his alpha will come STORMING into the room bc deku has NO CHILL. and doesn’t understand the varying emergency levels of different situations. it does not matter if someone stole his cart at walmart or if he feels like he’s about to get snatched by another group of alphas, the chirping is the same. 

Todoroki Shouto

- very quiet. much sarcasm. doesn’t like to be told what to do, mostly sticks to his own space so he doesn’t have to deal with other alpha’s that will just make fun of him anyway.

- when he does speak, it’s usually only about something he can relate to, or something that interests him. doesn’t mince words or talk about things that are unrelated or pointless.

- does NOT read social cues and can sometimes act out in public. does NOT understand why his alpha is so angry in starbucks - all he did was tell that other omega that they smelled like shit. he was just telling the truth!!

- when he’s anxious, when he has nightmares, he starts searching for you. your kisses soothe his fast-paced heart, your hands on his skin giving him something to anchor himself to. 

- hums when he’s content. likes to sing in your ear, his throat vibrating with sound. when he sings your scent floods the room and he loves it, so it only makes him sing more. 

- his face gets bright red when he’s embarrassed and he doesn’t mean to chirp as often as he does. the trill sounds that echo out of him scare even himself, and when you come to his aid he profusely apologizes for not being more in control of himself.

- the best thing that carries your scent are the blankets, so he always shoves them at you when you’re going to be gone for more than a couple of hours. you’d laugh at him, because heaven forbid that he ask you to scent him directly. 

Bakugou Katsuki

- angry crier. angrY CRIER. ANGRY CRIER.

- gets really frustrated when he can’t say what he’s thinking, or can’t verbalize it. usually requires his SO running their fingers through his hair to calm him down and try to interpret what he’s trying to say. 

- anti-empathy. doesn’t care what you’re going through. a little self-centered. mostly because he’s pissed that he wasn’t born an alpha, but that passes when he meets you and realizes that not all alphas are dicks.  

- has been alone his whole life and likes it, but once you come into his life he kind of starts to understand the appeal of having a significant other. 

- you find your t-shirts going missing. after some time you go looking on his side of the room only to find them stuffed in his side drawer, mimicking a miniature nest. you even come home to him curled up on the couch with one tucked under his chin and you don’t have the heart to be angry. 

- LOVES to cook for you. can’t stand it when you suggest take out, he takes it as an insult. as soon as you threaten to order pizza, he flips out and speeds into the kitchen, pouting while he’s cutting the veggies.

- cannot get enough of being held! loves to curl up with you, head tucked into your neck where your scent is the strongest, the most comforting. everyone expects so much out of him all the time that it’s relaxing to have someone who will let him unwind and take care of him.

- on that note…omega!katsuki is a total brat. LOVES to be taken care of. LOVES it when you wash his hair and rub his back and take his shoes/clothes off of him after a long day. LOVES the attention once he realizes you’re not out to break his heart. 

- HATES being in public. REFUSES to go to a mall. CANNOT stand in line at a starbucks. WILL go feral.

- is nervous all the time, which only makes him more nervous because he sweats when he’s nervous and he’s scared that his quirk will pop off at any given time. and he hates feeling out of control, especially in public. and especially with you.

—-

WOW that sucked but it’s fine, everything is fine! hopefully i didn’t ruin your expectations lol

[pixiegrl]

Somebody’s Gonna Love You

Luke's not ready for Ashton to spend the night and find out his secret but Ashton does anyway

A prequel of sorts for the Lingerie Luke series

Also on AU at: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27032632

The first time Ashton spends the night, Luke’s not expecting it. They’ve only been officially dating for a few months, tentatively taking their relationship from friends who occasionally kiss to boyfriends . It’s made Luke giddy, makes him feel like a teenager with a crush again, like the 15 year old kid who’s heart fluttered when Ashton walked into band practice, who stopped breathing when Ashton would casually brush against Luke during a show, not a 23 year old adult with a career and a boyfriend.

It still makes him smile, full of shock and awe that Ashton would pick Luke. Of all the people in the world, Ashton would choose Luke to be with. That apparently Ashton’s liked him for so long, since that first day at the movie theater and that he wants their relationship to be serious. Luke can picture a life with Ashton, is already imagining what it would be like to wake up next to Ashton, make coffee in the morning, whine until Ashton cooks him breakfast. Luke’s picturing being able to kiss Ashton whenever he wants, cuddling up next to him on the couch at night, listening to Ashton whine about how cold Luke’s feet are but making no move to change their positions. In the dark of the night, when Luke’s feeling his loneliest, Luke pictures their wedding, what it would be like to stand up in front of their family and friends, tell them all how much he loves Ashton. Luke knows it’s too soon, they’ve only been dating for so little time, but Luke’s known Ashton for years. He’s loved him for so long that it’s so easy to picture a full life with Ashton, a life where he gets to bask in Ashton’s love, gets to tell Ashton how much he loves him over and over again.

However, Luke and Ashton haven’t spent the night together since they started dating. They’ve managed to start their relationship during a break from tour, hanging in the limbo of coming off an album and starting to create new music and it’s allowed them the freedom to explore the change in their relationship and go on dates and spend time together. Luke’s enjoying it immensely, for getting to spend time with Ashton, with Petunia, having lazy days at home, dinner and coffee dates with Ashton. It’s been nice, getting to feel like a real person, being able to take the time to just breathe and enjoy having a boyfriend.

Luke doesn’t have a problem with Ashton spending the night. In fact, he’s thrilled by the idea of Ashton staying over, getting to cuddle up to him and wake up to kisses, sitting outside on Luke’s patio and drinking coffee with the sunrise. It’s just that...Luke needs time to prepare for Ashton to spend the night. Both physically and mentally.

Luke’s been wearing panties. There’s no easy way to put it. It had started years ago, sometime after they made Sounds Good Feels Good , when Luke had started to grow his hair out and was wearing makeup. Michael had dared him once, to put on the silky underwear and wear it during a show. Luke had taken the challenge but hadn’t expected just how right it had felt, standing there on stage, in front of millions of people wearing the panties and glittery eyeshadow. Luke had started buying his own pairs after that, going into whatever Target or Walmart they were near and buying whatever he could that looked soft and pretty and floral. He’s been doing it for years at this point, almost completely replacing all of his boxer briefs with the panties now, creating his own perfect collection.

The thing is though, none of the other guys know about it. Sure, there was the dare, but Luke hasn’t told them about what he’s done since then. Whenever they share hotel rooms, Luke always changes in the bathroom, making sure to keep it out of sight. It just feels right , looking at himself in the mirror, the lace and bows, framed in softness. There’s a feeling of being at home in his own body when he feels them, feeling like he can finally breathe .

Which, therein lies the whole problem for Luke really. Even now that they’re dating, Luke hasn’t told Ashton about it yet. Whenever they hook up, before they were dating and now that they are, Luke is very careful to not wear them. He doesn’t know how to talk to Ashton about it, isn’t sure how that conversation would go. What would he even say, “Oh by the way I like wearing women’s underwear because it makes me feel beautiful and at peace?” How would Ashton even take that? What if Ashton takes it the wrong way, thinks its something sexually charged for Luke when it’s only part of the equation? What if Ashton decides Luke’s too weird to date once he finds out?

Luke’s spent an agonizing amount of time thinking about how he’ll tell Ashton, but he never expected for him to just accidentally find out. They’re wrapped up a movie night with Michael and Calum, catching up on the Marvel movies they’ve missed while busy and it’s late. Calum’s half asleep already, head resting on Michael’s shoulder, unbothered by how Michael keeps jostling him whenever he points excitedly at the scene. Luke’s got his head in Ashton’s lap, dozing while Ashton plays with his hair. He’s content like this, Ashton’s fingers scratching at his scalp, warm and loved.

The movie wraps up and Ashton leans down to whisper to Luke. Michael’s arguing with a half asleep Calum about whether or not Civil War is a good enough lead in to the rest of the current MCU.

“Can I spend the night?” Ashton asks. He sounds worried and anxious, like he’s unsure if he can ask this of Luke. Luke wants nothing more than to have Ashton stay, to never have him leave. Luke can’t believe Ashton even has to ask, that he’s even unsure of Luke’s own desires.

“Of course you can,” Luke whispers back, turning to face Ashton. Ashton smiles, pressing a kiss to Luke’s temple and Luke’s shocked by the look of wonder on Ashton’s face. It surely can’t be for him. He’s just Luke, stupid silly Luke, baby of the band.

Ashton nudges Luke off his lap, clapping his hands and starting to shoo Michael and Calum off the couch, even as Michael is caught between half hearted protests and shooting them both a suggestive wiggling of his eyebrows.

Ashton finally manages to get them both out of the house with the promise of continuning another night, shutting and locking the door behind them.

“Aren’t you going to get up?” Ashton asks, lips quirked up in a smile when he sees Luke still curled up on the couch. Luke reaches out towards Ashton, smiling sleepily.

“Carry me? Too tired to stand,” Luke mumbles. He’s not expecting Ashton to oblige him, cross the room in a few strides and scooping Luke up into his arms. Luke lets out a squeak, flinging his arms around Ashton’s neck at the sudden movement. Ashton snorts, pressing a soft kiss to Luke’s cheeks, his forehead, his nose. Luke giggles, leaning forward to capture Ashton’s lips in a soft kiss.

Ashton stops on his way to the stairs, kissing back. Luke tilts his head, trying to deepen the kiss.

“If you keep distracting me, we’re never going to make it up the stairs,” Ashton mumbles against Luke’s lips. Luke laughs, pressing a kiss to Ashton’s jaw.

“Maybe that’s my goal.”

“Please, like you’d have sex in anything but a bed. And besides it’s late. You deserve a bed, someone who can take their time to worship you. I would just fall asleep on you.”

Luke giggles, kissing Ashton on the lips again, “How romantic of you sweetheart.”

“Don’t make fun of me. You’re dating me.”

“I never said it was a bad thing,” Luke says, pressing kisses to Ashton’s lips to try and placate him. Ashton only pouts for a few moments before finally pulling away and continuing up the stairs, letting Luke press kisses to his jaw and neck along the way.

It isn’t until Ashton’s laid him out on the bed, is tugging off Luke’s T-shirt and kissing down his chest that Luke even remembers that he’s wearing the cotton panties. They’re pink, covered in little flowers, bright and vibrant, edged in lace with a little bow in the center. They’re cute, Luke’s favorite pair, and he’d wanted to wear them for the extra boost of confidence for his date. It’s just that wearing the panties have become so natural to Luke, just part of who he is now, that he forgot in that moment that Ashton doesn’t know about them.

“Ashton, wait…” Luke starts to say, but it’s too late. Ashton’s already tugged Luke’s sweatpants down, getting an eyeful of the panties. Ashton pulls back, looking down at them. He’s running his fingers along the edge, just barely brushing against the lace.

Luke tries to prop himself up and out of Ashton’s touch. He’s afraid suddenly, filled with a sense of worry that Ashton won’t love him anymore. That Ashton will decide that he doesn’t like this part of Luke. Luke’s weird and different, he’s always known that, head in the clouds and unable to talk to people without shaking or stuttering some days, but this is out there , it’s more than just different and maybe it means that Ashton will decide Luke’s not worth it.

“Did you put these on for me?” Ashton asks, slipping his fingertips under the waistband. Luke whines, arching slightly into the touch. Ashton smiles softly, lips just barely turned up.

“No I...I wear them all the time.”  

“Since when?”

“Since Michael dared me to wear them on stage.”

Ashton looks up at Luke, head cocked to the side. He reaches out, grabbing a hold of Luke’s hand and kissing the back of it gently. Luke doesn’t realize he’s shaking until then.

“That’s been so long Lu. How didn’t we know?”

Luke shrugs, “I was careful about it. I didn’t want anyone to know. It felt like...too much. Too big of a part of me to share.”

Ashton makes a noise at the back of his throat. He leans down, pulling Luke into a soft, open mouth kiss. It’s warm, Ashton holding onto his face in both hands, and heated. Luke’s dizzy from the love he feels.

“Why?” Ashton asks, pulling back, still holding Luke’s face in his hands.

“Why what?”

“Why do you wear them? Why didn’t you tell me ?”

“I just wasn’t sure how to bring it up. Like it’s not something I can just mention and I was so careful on all our dates. I didn’t want you to know.”

“Luke, I’m your boyfriend. I love you.”

Luke’s eyes feel wet, “I just wasn’t ready. It’s not...it’s not a kink, it’s not like one of those porns Michael used to show us. I’m not wearing them to be hot or attractive, even if I do feel like that sometimes. They just feel right. I put them on and I see myself in the mirror and it feels...like coming home. Like I see myself and it all falls into place. I don’t feel like Luke Hemmings, the rockstar . I just feel like Luke . They make me feel...beautiful. I feel beautiful when I wear them. And I didn’t know how to tell you without it being weird.”

Luke sniffling now, desperately trying to hold in his sobs. He doesn’t know how to explain it, the feeling that wearing the panties gives him. Luke never feels perfect, always feels too clumsy and large and loud. He takes up too much space, too much time, too much energy from everyone, especially Ashton. He’s just too much. But the panties, they make him feel like he can breathe. It’s the first time in a long time he’s felt comfortable in his body. And somehow, even though it’s Ashton , it feels too personal to tell him that.

“Oh Luke. Sunshine,” Ashton says, pulling Luke up and into his chest. Luke starts crying then, tears spilling onto Ashton’s shirt as he clings to it. Ashton keeps whispering into Luke’s ear, soft encouragement and praise, rubbing at Luke’s back.

“It’s so stupid I don’t know why I’m crying. You just wanted to do something fun and sexy and I had to be me. ”

“Luke, honey, I love you. There’s nothing you could do that would make me stop loving you. You are truly so wonderful and golden. You’re the light of my day, the light of my life . I love you in whatever form you are and this is simply just one of them. If it makes you happy, if it makes you feel good, then what’s the harm in it,” Ashton says, cupping Luke’s face in his hands to press a kiss to his lips again. Luke whines slightly into it. He’s so overwhelmed, by how exposed he feels, by the love Ashton feels for him. He can’t even find the words to explain how he feels, instead pulling Ashton into another hug, wishing I love you , over and over into Ashton.

Ashton presses another kiss to Luke’s temple, stifling a yawn. “Can we go to sleep now?”

Luke frowns, “But I thought you wanted to have sex.”

“I just wanted to spend the night with you. I want to cuddle you and deal with your cold feet and spend breakfast with you. Sex is nice, but getting to just sleep next to you, wake up to you? Even better.”

Luke snorts, “How domestic of you.”

“Isn’t that what everyone wants?” Ashton says. The sincerity in his voice throws Luke off guard. The idea that maybe he and Ashton are on the same page, that they’ve both been dreaming about the future and the what if’s, thrills Luke. He wants forever with Ashton and the concept that Ashton wants that too is just too much.

“You can’t say sappy stuff right before sleeping.”

“How about this? We go to bed and in the morning, we discuss the concept of moving in together or getting a new place or something.”

Luke’s breath catches. The look of utter love and devotion in Ashton’s face is just too much.

“Ashton, I love you,” Luke whispers. Ashton grins, kissing him again.

“I love you too. Now, bedtime. You’re cranky if you don’t get enough sleep.”  

Luke huffs, but allows Ashton to pull off his sweatpants, give him another kiss. He tugs his own shirt off, handing it to Luke without asking and tugs off his jeans. Luke realizes that Ashton wants Luke to wear his shirt. Luke blushes, tugging it over his head before he can rethink it. Ashton grins when he sees it, snagging Luke’s sweatpants and pulling them up. He flips the light off, crawling on the bed next to Luke and manhandling him into the perfect position for cuddling.

“Yes.”

“To what?”

“Moving in. I want to move in with you.”

“Good. I already have places picked out that would be perfect for us. We can start hunting in the morning,” Ashton mumbles, sleep tired, as he presses a kiss to Luke’s shoulder. Luke kisses Ashton’s hand in return. He loves Ashton so much it’s overwhelming. It feels like coming home .

[laylacooke]

Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked || Sam & Layla

timing:  Thursday Morning at Took’s General Store parties: @hackysackace & @laylacooke Summary: Layla loses her job and possibly a friend. Warnings: Some violence towards the end. 

“Ain’t No Rest for The Wicked” played faintly out of the speakers hanging high above in Took’s. Layla had already been late for her shift. She wasn’t wearing the required uniform, and she was snacking on something that looked like it had been sitting on the shelf for as long as the store had been in business. “How did I end up at such a BORING job again?” She sighed loudly. Raising one eyebrow, she hopped off the counter she was sitting on, towards the front of the store. It was nearly empty, but it still didn’t stop the few patrons wandering around from staring at her or in her general direction.

Sam looked up from where he’d been scrubbing the store floor, shoes covered in suds as he moved and swept the mob across the entryway in the aftermath of a syrup and beer incident. “Hey Layla,” he said, sizing her up with an expression of confusion. “Uh, Bill’s gonna want you to put the uniform on when you’re not in the stockroom…” 

Finishing off whatever crumbs remained from her snack, Layla tossed the bag on the floor. Hearing Sam’s voice, she wandered through the aisles with her fingers slapping into the products hanging from hooks and sitting on shelves, “Oh, is he? Well, what if I don’t have it?” She slowly inched her way closer to Sam as she stared at the few customers giving her a once over, “What are you looking at?” Sending a hiss their way, the redhead laughed at the jumpy reactions.

Sam’s puzzlement deepened into a frown whose edges were crinkled with uncertainty. Widened blue eyes glanced from Layla to the heckled customers. “Uh, then you’ll need to get back to the stockroom,” he said upon rising to his feet and gingerly lowering the mop back into the suds bucket. After propping up a doubled-sided yellow “Wet Floor Sign”, Sam crossed the distance to where Layla was doing her Wicked Witch of the Northeast impression. “Heh uh,” he ventured in a cautiously low voice. “You ok?” 

“The stockroom huh? You gonna handle this big store all by yourself?” She glanced around. Took’s wasn’t Walmart sized, but it was a lot for one person to take care of. Layla watched as Sam made his way towards her. Had she been any closer to where he was moping, she would have kicked the sign over, but instead, she stopped and pulled a bag of Veggie Straws off the shelf. Crumpling the bag in her hands in order to form a nice multicolored powder, she popped open the bag and dumped the contents onto the floor spreading the dust around with her foot, “Missed a spot, and I’m great. Haven’t felt this good in a long time.” Dropping the empty Veggie Straws bag into his bucket of water, she made her way towards the back as requested, now, having the opportunity to kick the “Wet Floor” sign down. 

Honestly Sam didn’t relish the thought of manning the floor all by himself with this many people here. He was about to apologize and suggest some other alternative but then Veggie Straws got scattered all over the floor and in the scud bucket. Striding over the fallen sign, Sam tried to catch up to Layla. “Woah what is...Layla what’s the matter with you?! Why…”

She was almost back to the stockroom, when she heard him come up behind her, “Uh, because I can? I don’t see you trying to stop me. Besides, I’m sick of this town walking all over me or telling me I’m too weak. Or to quit whining.” It was like she had a bone to pick with whoever crossed her path, whether it be friends or complete strangers. She had already wreaked havoc all over town, and Took’s General Store was just another place Layla was working on checking off her list. Any remorse she had felt was non-existent now, and while she resented Salva for giving her the curse of being a werewolf, she was starting to relish in the idea of no longer having a conscience. After all, what was the point? She was just a monster to most. Why not act like one and give the people what they wanted.

Sam’s soft features were blank and lost during Layla’s explanation. About the most violent thing Sam ever engaged in was Lacrosse and hauling thrashing Atlantic tuna into the fishing rig. He hadn’t really considered forcefully stopping her, but the taunt still burnt a little. “Look,” Sam pleaded, “you’re not weak. I’m sure you’d do awesome in soccer and can do a lotta reps,” the high school athlete said, perhaps misunderstanding Layla’s deeper meaning. “But, weren’t you just saying you wanted normalcy and all that? Boss is gonna be pissed if stuff is wrecked. C’mon, ill clean this up and we’ll get you a new uniform.” 

“Soccer? You’re thinking about Ariana. I’m a cheerleader.” She turned on her heels to face him, an evil smirk poised on her blood red lips, and blocked his path, “Come on, Sammy Boy. Be aggressive. Be-e aggressive.” She slowly inched forward clapping her hands along with the cheer, increasing the taunt. “Be aggressive. Be-e aggressive.” Before long, she was right up on him, and instead of clapping, she was pushing him backwards as she resumed her chant. Hoping he would fight back. Layla wanted action. The wolf inside of her wanted action, and he was giving her nothing in return

Sam Rainsbottom was an athletic young man with a filled-out frame, much like his father. Although Sam’s mellow mien and boyish features didn’t lend themselves to an intimidating bearing. But being pushed around by a hot girl in front of a bunch of staring customers was emasculating enough to kindle a spark of anger. “Cut it out,” he snapped. “The hell are you doing?!” Sam’s shoulders squared and he stopped stepping backward again Layla’s pushes, choosing to hold his ground. “I don’t know if you're fickin high of what,” Sam snapped, voiced heated but still low enough that it carried only to the two of them. He made no move against Layla however, just holding his place. “But maybe you need to sign out. I’ll cover your shift.” 

Layla stopped chanting, giving him one last firm shove that sent him nowhere, “Well look who finally grew a pair.” The smirk was a wide grin. “Never seen you so angry, Sam. What’s the matter? Afraid a girl might actually be stronger than you are?” She cocked her head to the side, before pulling her long, red hair over to the opposite shoulder. Seeing the people staring at them, she flashed her yellow eyes and bared her fangs, causing them to scatter, and the bell over the door to ring continuously until no one, but Sam and Layla remained. Glancing back to Sam, she gave him a firm pat on the shoulder, “There you go, Buddy. Store’s empty. Now the real fun can start.” Pushing past him, a hard shoulder going into his arm and chest, she started to move down the aisles tossing shit onto the floor, “Let’s see what Bossman thinks now?” 

Holy shit.

Sam had willingly taken a few steps back when Layla had unveiled luminous that seemed almost luminous, and bared fangs that looked like they punch though his forearm like tissue paper. The young woman scowled at himself for losing his grip like that. But those prosthetics looked almost...uh...well they were pretty high quality for sure. “It’s not about who's stronger Layla. You’re running off customers, messing up stock! You could get fired!” 

She stopped what she was doing, and sighed loudly, “Does  it  look  like  I  care? Half this shit’s probably been sitting on the shelves since before your born. Now, do you want to help me or are you going to be a problem?” There was no real motive behind what she was doing. Layla was purely enjoying it for the chaos she was causing; the consequences going straight out the door.

Sam Rainbottom was no saint and had committed all the usual chicanery one might expect of teenage fellows who are perhaps a bit too easily swayed by their peers. However, school roof-climbing, pranks, questionable choices of the sex drive were one thing. Trashing the store in broad daylight where store cameras were likely recording them was another matter, however. 

Sam squared his shoulders and walked up to Layla, blissfully unaware that he was approaching a creature who could rip him in half and grabbed at the latest item she was about to throw on the floor. “I’m going to be a problem. You need to stop.” Sam’s normally placid pond-blue eyes had hardened and chilled in anger. “Now.”

Seeing Sam come over got her heart beating harder in her chest, but what he had said, she didn’t like. His authoritative tone had reminded her of her parents, and the hell they had put her through. A low growl in her throat and claws pushing out of her fingertips, she snarled, “That was the wrong answer, Sam. The wrong fucking answer.” Lowering her head, Layla charged him and shoved him as hard as she could; her wolf strength sending his buff form into the row of shelves behind them.

At this point she didn’t care if she had hurt him or not. Instead, she continued to destroy the store making sure to take extra care of ripping things up with her claws. If he didn’t want a mess, she was going to give him one. She was taking this as seriously as he had gotten with her. As seriously as her parents took hunting, making it very clear that she needed to as well. Her own personal vendetta being released on Sam and Took’s out of the twisted thoughts that lingered her mind now.

There was a ringing in Sam’s head as he tried to get his bearings. Everything was darkness, strange twisting shades. His ribs spasmed and Sam’s curled into a ball on the floor as he tried to cough in harsh rasping breaths. Sam was enough of an athlete to know that some ribs and his shoulder were dislocated, maybe broken. Flares of pain and cold numbness seared through his chest and spine. Being thrown through metal shelving had opened multiple lacerations before he’d impacted the floor headfirst. There was warmth against his cheek as blood welled from his forehead and temple in a growing pool on the linoleum floor. 

Sam didn’t have the thought capacity to consider how a willowy-seeming girl about his age could throw him like that and nearly broken his ribs when Sam’s gotten through plenty of Lacrosse and Football games just fine. There was only pain, darkness, strange colors of vertigo, the mingled warmth and cold of bleeding out. 

Making sure to trash every inch of the place, she didn’t stop until she was done. Bottles lay busted with soda, beer, and other sticky stuff on the floor. Food lay exposed or crushed. Fishing poles, tackle, and other random items that were contained in the walls of Took’s looked as if it were the holidays and there was a rush on the latest deals. She had successfully wrecked a town staple all out of her own form vengeance for all the hurt she had been put through. All while Sam Rainbottem lay in a crumpled-up heap on the floor.

Giving her masterpiece of destruction one last look, a sinister smile slipped over her blood red lips, and without hanging around any longer, Layla found her way out in the street humming the tune of “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked” by Cage the Elephant, not giving a second thought to how much trouble she had just gotten herself into.

[love-carries-on]

Love Carries On: Chapter IV

The next morning, Logan and Virgil left early in the morning to go to the doctor, while the other three took off for the local dog shelter and then to the training facility. The second they walked into the shelter, something about Diego changed. They had filled him in on the plan, but when he walked in, his eyes went flat. He furrowed his brow, teetering on his feet and almost crashing into Roman. Patton reached out and grabbed his shoulder, helping him to stay upright. He blinked a few times, before the look cleared and he smiled brightly.

“Doggies.” He whispered, looking around at them all with wide eyes.

“Yes, D. Doggies.” Patto responded. He looked around at all the different dogs, he saw a few that caught his eye, larger dogs with a playful look in their eyes. But none of them seemed right.

The woman who was helping them with a dog walked behind them, gesturing to dogs and providing information about them. Roman walked away from the other two so that he could think without the woman talking to him. That’s when he saw her. She was sitting laying in the middle of her kennel, panting, but at the appearance of Roman; she sat up, her ears pointed at attention. When Roman was about thirteen he had hyperfocused on learning everything he could about dogs, and from what he remembered, she appeared to be pure-bread. She was a long haired German shepherd, her fur was black and what could only be described as orange or golden. She watched Roman, either waiting for some type of command or waiting for him to pet her.

The woman hurried to catch up to Roman. “That’s Stella, really a sad story. She was brought in after her last owner died. The people who brought her in said she used to be a service dog, and that she might not go well because she wasn’t exclusively a pet.” She leaned towards the fence, like she was fond of Stella. “We’re a nonkill shelter, and quite frankly she’s a sweetheart.”

Roman bounced excitedly, This is the perfect dog for Logie. “Pat, D! I found the dog for Logie.” he gestured them over, clapping his hands.

They came over, and after relaying the information he learned about Stella; they were fully prepared to adopt her. Roman texted Virgil about her, and waited for his go ahead. They wanted everyone to love her just as much as he did.

Virgil received the text as soon as they had stepped into the doctor’s office. It buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled out his phone just as Logan tapped him on the shoulder to say something.

“How’s the dog shopping going?” He asked carefully.

He couldn’t see the shock on Virgil’s face but it wasn’t hard to assume that he was surprised. “You are aware that Roman is rather loud yes? Besides, you’d have to tell me at one point, I would need to be present when the dog was being trained.”

Virgil sighed, and had his phone read the message to Logan. “We found a dog! Her name is Stella and she’s really pretty! I’ll send you a picture. The lady said that she was training to be a service dog, I bet Logie will love her.”

Logan laughed, and pulled out his phone. “Call Roman.” He spoke to his phone, and the phone started ringing.

He answered after two rings, trying not to sound like he was covering for something. “Hey Lo, how’s the doctor’s going?”

“Roman, I know you’re trying to find me a dog.”

Silence.

“And while I thought it was a bad idea, and I still think it might be a bad idea. Patton was right; I should make use of every opportunity I may have to help myself.” A lie, he was only truly accepting the dog to make Patton and the rest of them happy, he didn’t really want a dog because of how people might look at him.

“I’m glad you’re on board.” Roman smiled in excitement.

“Well you’d need me to train her anyhow.”

“Mr. Hollow.”

“I’ve got to go Ro, but get Stella, and we and we can talk about her training when we get home.” He hung up, and reached out for Virgil’s hand to lead him to the door.

Roman closed his phone and turned back to the other three. “Logan knew we wanted to get him a dog.”

“What did he say?”

“He said that we should get the dog so that he can help us train her and take all advantages of anything that could help him.” He shrugged, but turned to the woman. “How does this all work?”

“You’ll sign some papers, there are a few fees that need to be paid. After that, you have a few things you should do for your dog; but nothing that comes with me.” She opened the kennel door, and let Stella out.

Stella sniffed at the three standing there, and then sat down and waited for them to pet her. Roman moved towards her first, petting her ears and her neck, smiling when she pushed against his hand. The woman brought over a leash and clipped it to Stella’s collar. She handed the handle to Roman, and then led them back towards the front room.

“I’ll get the papers so that you can sign for her.” She slipped into a back room, coming back with a paper. “It’ll be a $25 dollar adoption fee and a signature here and then she’s yours.”

Roman nodded and reached into his pocket for his wallet while Patton signed for Stella. He pulled out the money and set it on the counter. The lady took the money, looked over the paperwork and then bid them goodbye. As soon as they were out to the parking lot, they started to figure out how to fit everyone in Roman’s red 2000 Taurus. He drove, and Patton sat in the passenger seat. Dorian (who it appeared Diego had switched to) insisted on sitting next to the new dog.

He spent the entire time they drove home petting Stella, and cooing at her. As soon as they got home (deciding that the first order of business was to go home so that she would know where she was living and she could explore), Roman made a call to the veterinarian clinic in town. He found out from the person who had answered the phone that they had an open spot in about an hour. He set up the appointment, glad that Logan and Virgil should be home by then so that Logan could meet Stella.

They got home fifteen minutes before Roman wanted to leave to take Stella for a checkup. The minute they opened the door, she went from panting on the floor, her head in Dorian’s lap, to sitting up stiffly, her ears perked and eyes trained on the door. Virgil saw her immediately, and recalling what his parents had taught him when they had a dog, he patted his thigh.

As if waiting for this silent command, Stella bounded over to him, wagging her tail excitedly. He did the hand command for sit, and she followed his commands with ease. He grabbed Logan’s hand and led him down towards her. He seemed briefly confused, and then he felt the dog and a smile broke across his face.

“Hi Stella.” He murmured, and he couldn’t see it, but her tail started wagging.

“Do you want to see if she knows voice commands?” Roman translated Virgil’s signs as he came over. “Or that’s what Virgil asks anyway.”

“Uhm, okay.” He cleared his throat, before turning towards where he thought Virgil was (based on the hand on his, towards his left). “What should I say?”

“Well she’s already sitting. So maybe lay down, or see if she knows how to heel.”

“Okay, umm, down.” He used a firm tone, and despite the fact that he had been petting her seconds before, her fur disappeared from underneath his fingers and he assumed that she was laying down now.

He stepped away from Virgil and more towards the center of the room. “Stella heel.”

He felt her brush up against him, and then the feeling of her sitting down, it was clear that she knew most commands. He reached down and pet her. “Good girl.” His tone was warm. He had been hesitant about getting a dog simply because he was unsure how much love he had, he loved four men, surely that was all his heart could hold, but this dog had already secured a place in his heart.

“Well, I need to take her to the vet so they can do a checkup and make sure she has her shots.” He grabbed his keys off the table. “Want to come along?” He could tell that Logan was already attached to her. “And then afterwards we’ll go shopping to get her all of her things.”

“I would like to go yes.”

“Excellent, we need to leave like right now though.”

“I see.” He walked back towards the door, standing in front of it. He couldn’t hear Stella near him, so he put out his hand just a little bit. “Stella, come.”

Immediately he heard her claws against the floor, and then felt her head against his hand. “Let’s go.” He directed the comment at Roman, stepping back to let him open the door so that they could go get in the car.

Logan opened the back door and patted the seat; waiting for Stella to get in and lay down. As soon as he felt her shift the seat, he closed the door; walking around to the passenger side. He could only tell the difference because Roman directed him around, shouting out the window to direct him.

As soon as he was seated, and buckled in, Roman started the car. It was a short drive into town. The arrived a few minutes early and seated themselves in the waiting room. Stella laying at Logan’s feet. She’d clearly picked her favorite even though she had her head rested on Roman’s foot.

The nurse came out, and seeing as Logan, Roman and Stella were the only people in the waiting room, she gestured them back. They got Stella up on the table, and Logan and Roman stood near the door awkwardly.

Thankfully the appointment went well, the man (who’s name was Dr. Martins) could see nothing wrong with her, she seemed to have a lot of energy and would need some definite exercise, she was about two years old. Nothing out of the ordinary, because the files the lady at the shelter had provided didn’t have a list of shots, he gave her a rabies shot, along with her distemper, parvo, and adenovirus shots. Then, he billed them for it and sent them on their way.

“I’m glad she was in good health.” Logan commented as they went back out and got into the car.

“Yeah so am I.” Roman started the car. “I guess on to Walmart we go, then we’ll make a call to the service training facility.”

“There’s one in town?” Logan couldn’t recall any mentions of that place in town, and if there was he didn’t remember it.

“No, but the closest city has one, and it has really good reviews. I assume they’ll train Stella very well.”

“I presume I will be making the call.” He raised his eyebrow, turning to face him.

“It’d be best yeah.” He paused to navigate a turn. “She’s your dog.”

“Roman, she may have been meant for me but she’s all of ours dog.” He reached back, seeking out her head so he could pet her. He could hear her tail hitting the seat and the car panel.

Finally, he felt her under his hand, and gave her head a warm pat. “Can you get the number pulled up then so that I can dial and you can drive?”

Roman handed him the phone after a couple minutes, and he could hear it ringing. He held it up to his ear; just as someone on the other line picked up.

“Hello, this is Crystal, how can I help you?”

“Hello, my name is Logan Hollow.” He paused to consider what to say. “I would like to talk with someone about setting up a consultation or a time when I can talk to someone about training a service dog.”

There was a pause, like someone was writing something out, or maybe checking something. “We’ve got a lot going on today but tomorrow might be a good time to come in and we can meet you, meet your dog.”

“That should work out,” He paused again, not entirely sure what he can say. “Thank you.”

“We have nine in the morning and noon open if you’d like to pick a time.”

“Noon should work.” He knew how his boyfriend’s were about waking up. “Alrighty.” There was a pause as the woman entered that into the computer. “Thank you, I’ll see you tomorrow at noon Logan.”

“Okay, thank you.” There was a beep as the woman hung up, just as Roman pulled into the parking of Walmart.

“Do you want to come in with me? Or stay here with Stella while I get all the things?”

“I’ll go in, we can crack a window for Stella.” He didn’t want to say it, but Roman tended to be forgetful, so it wouldn’t surprise him if he forgot something important while they were shopping.

“Okay, should I leave the car on then?” He paused before turning the key.

“No, I believe that if we roll the window down she should be okay.” He reached back and hit the button.

He finished rolling it down a little bit and opened his door, allowing Roman to turn off the car and get out. They walked into Walmart, Roman’s hand on his wrist to guide him inside and make sure he didn't get hurt. As soon as they were inside, Roman grabbed a cart and they assumed their usual positions; Logan resting against the handle of the cart while Roman stood near the front with his hands on the cart, guiding it around.

“Where to first?” Roman said it as quietly as he could, stepping closer to Logan as he spoke.

“The pet aisle. We need to get bowls, food, toys, treats, probably a harness, pet bags just in case. A bed or somewhere she can sleep.” He paused his movements. “Which means, no dogs on the furniture.” He meant it, he knew how the rest of them were about their love for animals, and he could already hear the disagreement that him and Patton would get into over whether or not Stella is allowed on the furniture.

Roman led him over to the aisle. “What all should I grab?”

“Metal bowls, treats, a leash and harness, color doesn’t matter. If they have pig ears as a treat grab a few of those too.” He paused to think about where everything would be in Walmart.

“Are the dog beds and kennels in this area?”

“Yeah, do you want me to get the big ones?” Even after he asked it he felt like he asked something stupid.

“Of course Roman, those would work best.” HIs tone was sort of flat, no judgement or confusion, just a simple statement.

Roman grunted as he set down the dog kennel in the cart, settling other stuff on top of it. He had grabbed everything that Logan told him to, except for the pig ears because there weren’t any but he did find a bone instead that looked alright. He had grabbed a red harness and red leash (his favorite color) as well as two metal bowls and some green bags should they be needed. He looked down the aisle but couldn’t see any dog food.

“Uh Logan, what about dog food?”

“Try the next aisle over.”

He went over, dragging the cart and Logan with. As soon as they were over there, he saw that the entire aisle was full of different animal foods.

“What kind do we want for Stella?” There were a lot of options and he felt a little overwhelmed.

“Purina dog chow should work, a rather large bag so that it lasts for a while.” He paused to think about what size. “Maybe like a twenty six pound bag. Let me know if you require assistance.”

“No, I got it.” There was the sound of someone straining to pick something up, and then a thump as he set the bag down in the cart.

“That should be all we need, Patton didn’t send us with a shopping list and I believe that you grabbed everything we need for Stella.”

They went to the front of the store and Logan paid for all of the stuff, helping Roman load it into the trunk. Stella was doing fine, in fact, when they got in the car, she was asleep in the back.

They went home, opening the door to let Stella out to go to the bathroom. As soon as she was done, she trotted to the door, and waited for them to let her in. When they did, they smelled the smell of Patton cooking something,

Virgil got up off the couch as soon as he saw the door open and helped to get all of the bags. AS soon as they were all inside, Virgil set up the dog kennel in their bedroom, setting the dog bed inside of the kennel. He put the bowls in the kitchen and put the bag of food in the pantry; just as Patton finished cooking.

He dished everything up and called them all to the table, kenneling up Stella so she wouldn’t come beg at the table. Dinner was a casual affair, and afterwards, they each went their own separate ways to their bedrooms to spend some time just by themselves doing their own preferred things.

Roman was just lounging around as Patton played with his hair; Logan was listening to an audiobook, with Virgil right next to him listening to music, the only person who was being active was Dallas, who was playing with trucks on the floor. They had moved Stella’s bed out to the floor so that she could be a part of the family happenings.

They just hung out and relaxed for hours, before they all retired at different times. First Logan, who was leading Dallas with him so that he could get some sleep, then Virgil with Stella in tow. Finally, an hour or so later, Roman and Patton went to bed, tucking themselves in around D. Just before falling asleep Roman had one thought; Tomorrow is the beginning of a new chapter.

[callme-pyrettablaze]

Just got done watching Wolves (2014) and...I would happily let Connor Slaughter lick my face and mate me 😩

Me while watching this film:

[justliketherifle]

Trouble Always Finds Me Chapter 4

You woke up the next day feeling recharged. You felt so safe in that house. You'd slept like a baby.

You stepped out onto the deck to watch the sun rise, wishing you could go for a walk. But you knew that would be dangerous. You sighed. Your life was so different now. You closed your eyes and let the sun warm your face, spreading your arms to welcome it. You grabbed your phone and started playing Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles. You sat down and kicked out your legs, bathing in the warmth of the morning light.

You heard footsteps behind you and turned to see Mac taking a seat next to you.

“Hey,” you said with a smile.

“Hey. Nice music choice.”

“Thanks. Seemed appropriate. It's so beautiful here, Mac.”

“Yeah, I love the view here.”

“So what's your favorite memory of your grandpa?”

Your question seemed to have caught him off guard. “Um, probably when my dad left and he gave me his Swiss army knife. Which I later lost on a mission. But my friends got me a new one.”

“That’s really nice.”

“What about you and your mom?”

You smiled slightly. “The day of…the shooting. I was able to walk out of the school. They wanted me on a gurney, but there were so many people hurt worse. I was holding my shoulder, exhausted, all adrenaline worn off. And I saw her in the crowd. The second I saw her face, I burst into tears. She took me in her arms and we fell to the ground. And she rocked me. And I just felt so safe.”

He was looking at you sadly. “I’m sorry that happened to you. But that's a good memory.”

“Yeah. I think about it and it seems to give me strength.”

“That’s good. You're gonna need that.”

You cleared your throat and blinked away tears. “So what's on the schedule for today?”

“Shopping.”

You rolled your eyes. “Yay.”

“Where do you wanna go?”

“Honestly? Walmart.”

“(Y/N). You're not getting your wardrobe at Walmart.”

“Why not? It’s cheap.”

“Money is not a problem. I know a nice place. It's not super high-end. I think you'll like it.”

You sighed dramatically. “Fine. Twist my arm.”

“You know your dad wouldn't let you shop there either, right?”

“I guess. Anything else planned?”

“How does a family dinner sound? I think Jack got a karaoke machine.”

“That sounds great! Gonna have to get me drunk to sing though!”

He smiled. “I think we can manage that.”

After breakfast, you both took showers, Mac lending you a t-shirt and shorts that you tied tightly to keep from falling down. You now smelled and dressed like a guy. The thought made you giggle as you looked yourself over in the mirror.

You went out to the entryway where Mac was waiting, looking fine as ever. He looked you up and down and you blushed again.

“You look good in my clothes, not gonna lie,” he told you.

“Flattery will get you everywhere, MacGyver,” you replied with a wink. You walked past him out the door and he watched you go with a smile.

You both got in the car, Mac in the driver's seat. You asked if you could plug your phone in to listen to music and he said it was okay. Somebody to Love by Queen came on and you smiled.

“’Each morning I get up, I die a little. Can barely stand on my feet!’” you sang along, making Mac laugh. After some coaxing, you got him to join in.

You sang along to music the whole way there, laughing the entire time.

You arrived at a place called Maurice's and found a place to park. Your eyes got huge once you got inside and saw the prices. You smacked Mac's arm.

“Ow, what was that for?” he asked.

“This top is 40 bucks, what happened to 'not super high-end'?”

“I mean, I could've taken you to Rodeo Drive.”

“Not funny, Angus! Can we please just go to Walmart or Target?”

“(Y/N).” He stopped you and put his hands on your arms. “It’s okay. I swear. It's just money. If you want, you can owe me. Okay? Just chill out and have some fun.” He wrapped his arm around your shoulder and led you to the jeans.

You groaned. “Fine. But I really owe you.”

You tried everything on since you'd never shopped there before. You got some cute tops, skinny jeans, and a couple jackets. Mac then took you to a Famous Footwear, where you argued over how many shoes to get. You settled on two pairs of sneakers and a pair of flats.

“Okay,” Mac said, you both exiting the store. “Now we can go to Walmart. You need socks and underwear.”

“Oh yeah, that would be nice. A few bras maybe too. Which is awkward to say around a guy.”

“Relax, I've literally gone to Victoria's Secret with Riley and held her bags.”

“Oh my god, that's adorable. You're such a good friend.”

He smirked. “I try.”

Walking into Walmart, you finally relaxed. This is where you'd always shopped with your mom. Prices were good and you could find everything.

“Hey, while we're here, I'm getting you a laptop and phone,” Mac told you.

“What? Why?”

“Just in case Murdoc can track yours. Hand it over.” He popped your phone open and started snapped parts of it in half. “Also, you need a laptop.”

“I do not! I'm fine!”

“Well, you're getting one anyway, so just relax and say thank you.”

You sighed. “Thank you, Mac. But nothing Apple. They’re overpriced and I hate them.”

“Deal. Meet me in electronics?”

“Sounds good.”

You wondered briefly if splitting up was a good idea, but if Mac wasn’t worried, you weren't either.

You found some nice bras and one sports bra. Grabbed some underwear and socks. Nothing fancy, just comfortable. Carrying your basket, you made your way to the back of the store and found Mac paying for your stuff.

“Have I mentioned how much I appreciate all this?” you asked.

“Once or twice.”

He'd gotten you a Galaxy phone and Samsung laptop, which you liked a lot. Your last phone, which was now in a Walmart garbage, had been a Samsung too.

You opened it as you walked and turned it on, anxious to get it set up the way you liked.

“(Y/N), I need you to walk faster and stay close to me,” Mac muttered.

“Oh god, why? Is he here?”

“Maybe. I think someone’s been following us.”

You moved closer to him and he once again wrapped his arm around your shoulder as he made a phone call.

“Matty, we're just leaving the Walmart near my place. Might have a tail.”

“We’ll get a team there stat. Get her out of there and to the Phoenix.”

“Will do.” He ended the call, leaning down to your ear. “Run.”

You sprinted out of the store, hand in hand so as not to lose each other. You got in the car and sped off as three unmarked black cars arrived and armed men entered the store.

Mac glanced in the rearview mirror.

“You okay?” he asked you.

“I'm really not sure, to be honest. This whole thing is kinda terrifying.”

“That’s understandable. You're not used to this.”

“I’m definitely not. But I trust you to protect me.”

He smiled at you. “Yeah?”

You smiled back. “Yeah.”

“Well, I'm really happy to hear that.”

You drove to the Phoenix Foundation in a comfortable silence, exchanging glances and smiles occasionally. Once there, you parked and hurried inside to the War Room, where everyone was waiting for you.

Jack came up to you and hugged you tightly. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I'm good. Mac had my back.”

He pulled away from you and grabbed Mac into a hug next.

“Thanks for protecting my little girl, brother.”

“Of course, man. It's what I'm here for.”

“You guys are so cute,” you giggled.

They ended the hug and looked at you.

“What? You are,” you replied.

“They're adorable, but let's focus up. Murdoc was indeed at the Walmart following you two.”

“I knew it. I shouldn't have taken her. I'm sorry, (Y/N).”

“Mac, it's okay.” You gripped his hand tightly. “I’m okay. You got me out.”

“Still. I should have known better.”

“I told you I trust you and that still stands.”

He looked down at your hands and smiled. “Okay.” He turned to Matty who was looking between you curiously. “What’s the game plan?”

“Until this threat can be contained, I think it's best for (Y/N) to stay here, surrounded by armed guards. We have cells. They're not the nicest, but they're safe.”

“I'll stay with her,” Mac volunteered.

“Mac, you don't have to do that.”

He looked at you. “I know. I want to.” He squeezed your hand and gave you a wink.

You were definitely blushing again. They led you to the basement to a plain cell with a window to the hallway.

At least it had a bed.

“Everything’s gonna be okay.” He was still holding your hand and gave it another squeeze.

“You know, I can stay too,” your dad said, looking pointedly at your entwined hands.

You let go and walked up to him. “It’s okay, Dad. Mac will take care of me.” You gave him a hug.

“I know it might be too early for this, but I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

He smiled over your shoulder at Mac, who returned the grin.

“All right, we'll keep you updated. Stay safe,” Matty told you.

Everyone left the room, Jack giving you a lingering look, before shutting the door behind him.

You sighed and looked around. Not exactly the fanciest digs.

You and Mac exchanged a look.

“I know this isn’t ideal,” he said.

“It’s okay. I'm just wondering how much you'll argue about switching off on who gets the bed.”

Just then, a couple men opened the door, bringing in a second bed.

“Oh,” you said. “Nevermind.”

He smiled at you before helping push the bed near yours.

“Thanks, guys,” Mac told them.

They nodded and left the room.

“Well, what do we do now?” you asked.

He took a seat on his bed. You sat next to him.

“We could get them to bring us a laptop. Watch something on Netflix.”

“That sounds good to me. I get to pick first!”

“Deal.”

You propped the laptop they brought you on Mac's bed and sat on yours against the wall. You turned on some Marvel movies, but the events of the day had you nodding off fast. You found yourself leaning your head on Mac's shoulder. He wrapped an arm around you.

“I got you, (Y/N). It's okay. You can sleep.”

With that, you fell into a deep sleep. Unfortunately, it was not a pleasant one. Flashes of your mom in her hospital bed. Gunshots, blood, screaming. You were back in your high school hall. You ran toward the shots, just as you had in life.

Dylan was standing over Chris and Jake's bodies. He turned to you.

“It’s your fault, (Y/N). Why didn’t you save him?”

You woke up screaming, still leaning against Mac. He grabbed you and shushed you.

“You're okay, I got you. Just breathe.”

Tears were rolling down your face. Mac pulled you against his chest in a strong hug.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I should have saved him!”

“It wasn't your fault, I swear. I got you.”

The worry in his voice brought you out. You sobbed into his chest, wetting his shirt. You stayed like that for a while, letting it all out.

When your sobs finally subsided, you felt Mac kiss your hair. It seemed surprisingly intimate.

“Mac?” you said with a sniffle.

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. We all have nightmares. It's okay.”

You pulled away and looked at his chest. “I got your shirt all wet.”

He looked down and laughed. “That’s all right. It'll dry.”

You sat forward on the bed, putting your head in your hands.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“There’s not much to say. I saw Dylan and he blamed me for everything.”

“It wasn't him, (Y/N).”

You stood up. “But he did blame me. He even said so before he shot me. 'Why did you let him die?’”

“He could have killed you. He didn't. If he really blamed you and not himself, I think he would have.”

You turned and looked at him. “I really don't know anymore. It's been what, eight years? And I still wake up screaming. I can't keep doing this.”

Mac stood up and walked to you, putting his hands on your arms. “Unfortunately, some things just don’t go away. As much as you'd want them to. But I'm here. You don't have to go through it alone.”

You sniffed and wiped your face. “Thank you, Mac.” You wrapped your arms around his middle and sighed. “It’s been a while since I've let someone be there for me.”

“I’m glad you're letting me. I hate to see you upset.”

“I’ll be okay if you're here.”

You stayed in the hug for a while, both of you clearly needing it. When you pulled apart, Mac gave you a dazzling smile.

“Let's get some sleep. I'll be right next to you.”

You nodded and laid down on your bed. Mac moved the laptop to the metal table in the room. He looked at the beds for a moment before pushing his up against yours.

“Don't tell Jack,” he told you.

“My lips are sealed.”

You both settled in, looking at each other.

“I saw my mom too. In her hospital bed,” you admitted.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s just happened so fast. I lost her so quickly. I think I've been a little lost since then.”

“That’s understandable. I lost my mom when I was a kid. I know it’s not easy.”

“It sucks.”

He smiled sadly. “Yeah it does.”

You went quiet for a moment before slowly reaching over and taking Mac's hand in yours. You shared a small smile with him.

“Having you here really does help.”

“Good, I'm glad,” he murmured. “Get some sleep, I'm not going anywhere.”

You closed your eyes and let sleep overtake you. No nightmares came.